In the book of Job, the main character and his “friends” argue back and forth about the cause of Job’s recent misfortunes and debilitations.  Job maintains his innocence and desire for an explanation from God.  His friends encourage Job strongly to repent because he must have done something wrong.  The youngest friend, Elihu, touches on the workings of God in verses 33.29-30: “Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.”  “Bring back his soul from the pit” sounds like good news; what are “these things” that God does?

The first “thing” is described in chapter 33, verses 15-18.  God sends warnings to men in dreams.  The purpose is conviction of sin – to “turn man aside from his deed.” We hear testimonies in our day, particularly in the Muslim world, of men and women who claim a visit from Jesus in a dream, causing them to seek out the Word of God.

A second thing, in verses 19-22, is discipline in the form of physical pain or suffering.  We also hear stories of people who cry out “Save me, Lord” in the midst of their hurts.

A third thing, in verse 23, is an “angel” who declares the truth to man.  This is our mission as Christians, to proclaim the truth and grace we know in Jesus Christ.  It is cool to think that our evangelistic efforts make us like angels to those we witness to.

And the fourth, most important thing that God does is in verses 24-28.  God is merciful (v 24), he restores to man his righteousness (26), causes man to repent and believe (27) and redeems man’s soul from the pit (28).

Even back in the Old Testament, men like Elihu know how God was working.  This side of Jesus, the Word of Life, we know that God’s mercy and salvation work is all that is needed to save us from the pit, and that God uses multiple means to open eyes, discipline, and provide witnesses of His goodness.

Early in my Christian walk, I was drawn in by the logic and systematic approach of the Bible.  In particular, when I wondered how it is we are supposed to learn and obey the ten commandments, I found the commands in Deuteronomy 5 were followed by how to live them in chapter 6 – teach them diligently to your children; talk of them when you sit, walk, lie down, or rise; bind them on your hand; write them on your doorposts and on your gates (verses 7-9).

And I still learn new pearls many years later in the same passages. It wasn’t just the techniques and the doing, but God’s hand in the learning. Author Jack Klumpenhower, in his book, Show Them Jesus, asks the question, “How were kids in those (Old Testament) days taught to follow God’s laws?”  Check out Deuteronomy 6.20-21: “When your son asks you in time to come, ‘what is the meaning for the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, And the LORD brought us our of Egypt with a might hand.”

Just as New Testament motivation for a Christian walk is based on the salvation provided by Jesus on the cross, the motivation for Israel  to follow God was the salvation he provided in bringing them out of Egypt.

The words for this hymn were written by Charles Wesley in 1742.  A new upbeat version is popular today with music and a chorus added by indelible Grace.  Whatever the music, the words are a strong reminder that Jesus always lives to intercede for his brothers, God’s children (Hebrews 7.25).

 

Arise, my soul, arise, shake off your guilty fears, the bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears: before the throne my Surety stands, before the throne my Surety stands, my name is written on his hands.

CHORUS:  Arise, arise, arise, arise, my soul arise.  Arise, arise, arise, arise my soul arise.  Shake off your guilty fears and rise.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede, his all redeeming love, his precious blood to plead; his blood atoned for every race, his blood atoned for every race, and sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds he bears, received on Calvary; they pour effectual prayers, they strongly plead for me.  “Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry, “forgive him, O forgive,” they cry, “nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

My God is reconciled; his pardoning voice I hear; he owns me for his child, I can no longer fear; with confidence I now draw nigh, with confidence I now draw nigh, and “Father, Abba, Father!” cry.

God’s grand system of redemption passes through Easter.  The centerpieces are the crucifixion and resurrection.  But all the other events of that weekend were necessary to launch the Christian church over the weeks and months to follow.

The disciples were pitiful on Maundy Thursday (Matthew 26), Maundy meaning “command” and the new command was to love.  Their love for Jesus was weak. They could not stay awake to pray. One of their group was the betrayer.  Their physical defense consisted of one ill-timed sword thrust.  They all “left him and fled.”  Peter famously denied knowing Jesus three times.

Good Friday was not much better for them (Matthew 27).  Their master, teacher, and friend was tortured and crucified.  The Messiah, the one who would lead them to great things, was dead.  The disciples blended into the background while others – Joseph of Arimathea and the women – took care of the burial arrangements.

It is very counter-intuitive that the disciples had to feel helpless in order to succeed, but that is the way God works.  He wants us to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  He wants us to acknowledge Him in all that we do and to know that every good thing comes from our loving Father.

God had all the disciples flee to keep them all alive (except Judas) through Easter when they would experience the life-changing resurrection (Matthew 28) and become fervent witnesses of what they had seen.  They needed to know the love of the one who laid down his life was not wishy-washy sentimentalism, but courageous caring, communication, and compassion.  They needed to realize that all miracles came from God, even if they were contributors.  They needed to learn the value of prayer from the risen one who would be interceding for them.

This pitiful, sad band of brothers thus became part of the best church plant ever!

Chip presented a quick gospel picture in the New Members Class last week, based on Romans 6:23:  “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

See the crude picture.  We are on the left side of a great chasm, separated from God, the creator of the universe, by our sin.  What we deserve for our sin is death – not just physical death but spiritual eternal death.  There is nothing we can do on our own to cross this chasm.

But God offers a free gift of life everlasting. The life is made possible by the redeeming, sacrificial work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3.16). This is the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The vision in Zechariah 3.1-5 offers a clear symbolic gospel message:

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by.

Satan stands ready to accuse because the Israelites have indeed done evil in the sight of the LORD; they are not holy like their God.  The filthy garments of Joshua the priest, the representative of the people, testify further to their defilement.   Joshua and the people of Israel deserve condemnation.

But, God steps in.  He rebukes Satan even before an accusation can be made.  God’s saving grace plucks Joshua from the fire of hell.  Joshua’s filthy rags are removed; he is clothed with pure vestments and a clean turban.  His iniquity is taken away.  Their forgiveness is not earned; it is a gift from their merciful Father.

Still to come, in verse 8, God promises the people that his servant, the Branch, will fully resolve the iniquity of the people.  The arrival of Jesus was foretold five centuries before He appeared.

My friend Dave asked “Are people basically good or basically evil?” one evening while I was waiting for him to finish brushing his teeth.  I had not ever thought about it before; I guessed people are good.  He bolted out of the bathroom saying, ”Oh, no! That is wrong!”  His tone of voice and the foam around his mouth made quite an impression.

I offer two more substantial pieces of evidence that people are basically evil.  First, the Bible is clear about the subject.  “There is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14.3, quoted in Romans 3.12).  Second, consider whether you would like to have the last hour of the images in your mind’s eye – your thoughts and imaginings – displayed on a screen for the entire world to see.  What greed, murder, lust, and corruption would be projected?

Consider what we deserve as basically evil people.  The question “why do bad things happen to good people?” does not address the situation correctly; it assumes our good actions merit positive interventions.  But turning it around, a question that better fits man’s nature would be “why do good things happen to bad people? “ The answer lies in God’s mercy and grace keeping us from being as bad as we could be.  The sovereign and providentially good creator of the universe protects us from being the Hitler or Stalin we all despise (most of us, anyway).

Knowing our nature is vital in order to understand our  need for a savior and our inability to save ourselves.  Jesus’ call to repent and believe starts with a realization and admittance of our wretched state.  Acknowledging the truth of the creator’s plan allows one to turn to the One who proclaims, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”  Basically evil men can be redeemed by Jesus’ redemptive act on the cross.

The gospel of Matthew is full of stories, parables, and events that help lead to an understanding of who Jesus is.  The first chapter gives his genealogy. He does miracles, makes claims of divinity, and teaches his disciples until Peter finally admits in Chapter 16 that “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Even though very few could figure out Jesus’ identify, one expects that John the Baptist would know – he was there at his cousin’s momentous baptism; he had leapt in his mother’s womb when Mary showed up at his house.  But in chapter 11, John sends a message from prison, asking if Jesus is REALLY the One.

Jesus response is very instructive about his view of scripture.  He implicitly asks John what he expected to see and hear based on his reading of the Old Testament.  His quote from Isaiah 8 says “this is what the Word said would happen, and your boys can tell you what is going on.  Pretty good signs, heh?”

Then Jesus quotes additional scriptures in telling the crowd who John the Baptist is – a prophet, the messenger from Malachi, and the one who is pointing to the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus is proclaiming.

This powerful Charles Wesley hymn, written in 1738, expresses the awesomeness  of what Jesus has done.  He not only died a painful and bloody death, but left his Father’s side to do so.  He died for ME and his entire chosen race.  I now can see, my heart is free, and I am no longer condemned!  It is a mystery why things are done this way but God, the creator and ruler of all things, decided that THIS was the way to do it.

 

1: And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood?  Died he for me, who caused his pain? For me, who him to death pursued?  Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

 

Refrain:  Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

 

2: ‘Tis myst’ry all! Th’Immortal dies; who can explore his strange design?  In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine. ‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, let angel minds inquire no more.

3: He left his Father’s throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!), humbled himself (so great his love!), and bled for all his chosen race. ‘Tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God, it found out me.

4: Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night; thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

5: No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine!  Alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach th’eternal throne, and claim the crown , through Christ, my own.

Psalm 5.4-6 reminded me of my friend’s recent question.  The verses are

“For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.

The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.

You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”

The question: “If God is all-powerful, why doesn’t he wipe out all the terrorists?”

The answer has several parts.  First of all, God is more.  He is certainly more than able to wipe out all the terrorists.  He is more than all-powerful, He is Holy and Just.  He is also more patient and loving than we can imagine.

God’s holiness is beyond our fallen comprehension.  Any acts against God’s laws, even white lies and minor cutting remarks to a friend, are black marks on the perpetrator’s soul, making that person unworthy of being in heaven with God.  Acts of terrorism are bad, but so is the hubris of suggesting justice for some but not all sins.

God is Just, and indeed all terrorists and other sinners will not only be wiped out, but punished eternally in a place where there is great “moaning and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8.12, 13.42, 22.13). The ONLY escape from the punishment – and all are liable for such punishment because of their actions –  is the grace offered by the redemptive sacrifice of God’s son Jesus Christ. As the Heidelberg Catechism answer 1 says, “He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood.”  The required action on our part is to repent and believe.

God does not immediately wipe out all terrorists for the same reason he does not immediately wipe out all sinners.  He is patient and provides the time needed for coming to Christ.  But the time is not limitless; the offer expires at death.