SCOTT MOORE

Justice Lifted - Christ Found!

I have been taken back by the Treasure as Paul describes and exalts in 2 Corinthians 4.  It is amazing to me that it (the Treasure)is described as the glory of God IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST.  What does this mean for us?  Why "in the face of Christ"?  The truth that is being communicated - or should I say "a" truth that is being communicated - is that the God of glory may only be "safely" seen in the face of Christ alone.  What a wonderful truth!  The King of kings dwells in unapproachable light...and He is the One whom no one has seen...if any were to see Him, they would surely die...EXCEPT they see Him in the face of our gracious Savior Christ the Lord!

Remember the Mount of Transfiguration?  The disciples follow Christ up and then are exposed to the brightness of Christ?  They then hear a voice from the clouds.  What happens next?  They drop.  Faces down!  Don't look up - you will die!  But read south a little and you will see a wonderful image.  Christ walks up to them and says, "Rise and do not fear..." (Matthew 17). 

Where am I going with this?  Well, I was reading today in 2 Chronicles and was astounded to see Christ EVERYWHERE!  We must only seek Him and He will be found - not only in the New Testament but also the Old.  The Word explains Him clearly. 

2 Chronicles 30:9 - "For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away His face from you, if you return to Him."

Even in this verse, Christ is mightily proclaimed!  Why?  B/c justice has seemingly been overthrown or satisfied.  The guilty children of Israel can return??????  How is that?  How can it be?  How could God (the Judge) not punish those who have committed crimes against Him?  Here is where Christ comes thundering in.  Search the Scriptures and find that anywhere you see the demands of justice lifted from the necks of sinful men, you will find the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world!!!!

Grace and peace to you all! 

Justice

after getting the rabbit ears working the television has been occupying a little bit more of my time recently. I cant help but recognize how many television shows are centered around the justice system. the one i like is law and order. what i have realized is that the show has an uncanny ability (just like all shows) to steer your view of reality, morality, justice, and whatever, its way. its like being asleep at the wheel. the car just goes where it likes - and before you know it WHAM!!! well, i have noticed a constant in most of the judicial cases in these shows. there is a desire to push the system to its limits. the shows try to find the hidden places and corners where the system is silent and then expose and use that silence to free themselves from the systems demands.

for example: girl is psychologically sick, girl goes to doctor - doctor recommends that the girl leave her medicine - girl then, being off of her medication murders boy. who is to blame? that was the commercial i saw that was advertising the next episode. i am quoting! "who is to blame?"

is that really a question? what do you mean, "who is to blame..."? isn't it obvious? apparently not. sinful humans have the intrinsic desire to free themselves from their responsibility to act and conduct themselves within the parameters of justice and decency. what is the best way to free yourself - what is the way that these shows have exploited to be free? what is the path that most defense attorneys try to take to get their clients "off the hook"? here is the thinking:

"if i can prove that they are unable to act rightly then they cannot be held responsible for their unrighteous actions." in other words, people cannot be held responsible for things they cannot do. all we have to do when they break the rules is show that they were unable to follow the rules. case closed. the guilty party - free.

unfortunately this is not just in the sitcoms. its in our homes. parents free their children from the obligation to be obedient. they say, "he is not able to be obedient - he has ADD." "i told him to sit still for 30 min. in the corner - but he cant..."

now, don't misunderstand me please. these cases are real and they are tragic. my heart dies when i see them. the greatest tragedy in the universe is our inability to do what we are obligated to do. but we cannot teach ourselves and our children that inability to follow frees us from the responsibility to follow. what a foreign concept! many will reject this thinking. they will say, "if i ought, i am able. surely justice will not require from me what i cannot produce..." well...i am sorry to say that this mind set is contrary to the only True Justice. It does demand what we cannot produce. and we will never be able free ourselves like our 'man-centered' system frees us.

imagine this: teenager dies and stands before the JUDGE. the JUDGE says, 'you have been very disobedient to me over the years and are indeed a disobedient man.' what will the teenager say? well, probably what he has been taught by his parents who freed him from his obligation to obey around the house because he had a disorder. he will say, 'Lord, i was not able to be obedient to you. i have a disorder.' TRAGIC!

my reason for writing this is to get all of us to recognize that we are being sold a bunch of 'you know what'. we sell it to ourselves and we are being sold on this mindset. it is very profitable to let the public know/think that they are free from obligation.

human laws are easily followed - unless you have a disorder. i do not deny the tragedy that there are many addicts our there that are unable to free themselves from whatever bondage they are in. but this is only a shadow. we are all disabled!!!! DONT YOU SEE!!! what Scripture demands is infinitely above what the constitution demands! oh how miserable a state we are in! disobedience is not ok! i dont care who you are or what condition you have. i weep with you! i do not judge! i am a muddy man like you! according to the Bible, i have the greatest disease known to man - a sinful heart that makes me unable to follow the JUDGE'S commands.

i guess what i am trying to say is that we are attempting to overthrow Biblical Justice by blaspheming its mission. Biblical Justice has one mission and that is to prove your inability (aka, sinfulness)!

its easy for us to look at all the criminals in the newspaper. but put it down for a second and read the news that is in your heart. did you get angry with someone yesterday or the day before? if so, place those cuffs on your hands. if we are real with ourselves and if our judicial system prosecuted to the extent of the Biblical demands (not works only but thoughts count too!!) we would all be in jail.

our "individual personalities" do not free us from the 'sinful NATURE' of all humankind.

so what do we do scott about our children with ADD? what do we do about our inability? well...i dont have that kind of wisdom. but i can tell you to allow the law to do what it was designed for - namely to crush us and expose our inability - and to pronounce us all guilty. let your children know that they are guilty and are liable to and a fit object for great punishment. then teach them about the defect of the human, sinful heart (Biblically). then fall on your knees together and weep for your condition. then ask the Father of Light and Power, Christ the Lord for mercy. teach them that He is the payment for their sins. and that He DID WHAT WE COULD NEVER DO - namely, please God by fulfilling the law. teach them that He (CHRIST) alone is their righteousness. then when they die they will say something like, "Lord, you are right. i am a disobedient sinner. but all the praise is given to Christ who is my righteousness. HE was the obedient Son that i was not..."

what a great picture. let us all weep for our condition - but then adore the only Christ who is PERFECT.

in our homes, let us never allow Justice to suffer b/c humans are sinful and defected.

I'm Just Another American Skimming the Surface

I can't stop thinking about it.  I can't get my mind off of it.  It seems that every page of Scripture speaks of it.  I can't get over my ignorance of it.  I can't stop agonizing over the fact that I do not feel the weight of it.  I can't seem to create the tears by reason of it.  Do I have the heart that is demanded?  Do I have the desire that is desired?  Is my faith dead?  Am I just skimming the surface?

There is no doubt that I am.  Deep below - where no man dares to go - there is a severity, a calamity, a sea of sorrow where, ironically, true joy is found.  But I sit and giggle and chipperly gaze at the surface.  I dance in Disney Land while the 3000 daily die.  While the 3 second starving children pass away.  While the parents pass along AIDS to their children by the millions.  What was that?  What did you say?  Silence....shhhhh.....no one speaks....he's getting too serious for me....just tell me how I aught to live....be selective in your speaking from that Book mister...and let me go on my way....let me talk about my doctrine....let me go to my study.....let me eat my dinner and pay my mortgage....ssshhhhh.....dont speak of dying......suffering???.......what is that?.....the pastor is not telling me what I like.....he keeps speaking of those who will have our possessions.....the children - they are not ours.....the widows? - let their children care.....the pastor must stop this craziness.....write him a letter.....let's have a meeting to have him gone.......sssshhhhh....let me keep skimming the surface.....I wrote that check last month....I have given enough.....don't show me the pictures.....pull not at my heart but rather pull at my will.....tell me no more......compassion, mourning, and weeping doesn't fit my job description....let us play our games......the ball in the basket!  the ball in the basket!!!!  I will close my ears if you tell me otherwise!!!  Ahhhhh....my chair.  I am lost in the screen....the children...gone - my conscience now resting.....just skimming the surface.

Behold my mind and the wrestling match within...

Bunyan on "Your Best Life Now"

Here is an excerpt from John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress"...

I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand,
and had him into a little room, where sat two little children,
each one in his chair.  <He showed him passion and patience>
The name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the other Patience.
Passion seemed to be much discontented; but Patience was very quiet.
Then Christian asked, What is the reason of the discontent of Passion?
<Passion will have all now.  Patience is for waiting>
The Interpreter answered, The Governor of them would have him stay
for his best things till the beginning of the next year;
but he will have all now:  but Patience is willing to wait.

<Passion has his desire>
Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag of treasure,
and poured it down at his feet, the which he took up
and rejoiced therein, and withal laughed Patience to scorn.
<And quickly lavishes all away>  But I beheld but a while,
and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but rags.

{78}
CHR.  Then said Christian to the Interpreter, Expound this matter
more fully to me.

<The matter expounded>
INTER.  So he said, These two lads are figures:  Passion, of the men
of this world; and Patience, of the men of that which is to come;
for as here thou seest, Passion will have all now this year,
that is to say, in this world; so are the men of this world,
they must have all their good things now, they cannot stay
till next year, that is until the next world, for their portion of good.
<The worldly man for a bird in the hand>  That proverb,
`A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush', is of more authority
with them than are all the Divine testimonies of the good of the world
to come.  But as thou sawest that he had quickly lavished all away,
and had presently left him nothing but rags; so will it be with all
such men at the end of this world.

<Patience has the best wisdom>
CHR.  Then said Christian, Now I see that Patience has the best wisdom,
and that upon many accounts.  First, because he stays
for the best things.  Second, and also because he will have
the glory of his, when the other has nothing but rags.

{79}
<Things that are first must give place; but things that are last
are lasting>
INTER.  Nay, you may add another, to wit, the glory of the next world
will never wear out; but these are suddenly gone.  Therefore Passion
had not so much reason to laugh at Patience, because he had
his good things first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion,
because he had his best things last; for first must give place to last,
because last must have his time to come; but last gives place
to nothing; for there is not another to succeed.  He, therefore,
that hath his portion first, must needs have a time to spend it;
but he that hath his portion last, must have it lastingly;
<Dives had his good things first> therefore it is said of Dives,
"Thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things, and likewise
Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."
[Luke 16:25]

CHR.  Then I perceive it is not best to covet things that are now,
but to wait for things to come.

Beware of getting "your best life now" and beware of those who promise such things.  I can only think of one who promised kingdoms, riches, and honor in this life...remember??? He tempted Jesus in the desert.  Will he not also tempt us with the same???

Orphans and Widows

As I make my way through the Old and New Testaments this year, there is a request (or should I say requirement) from the LORD that keeps popping up over and over again.  And that is to serve, help, fight for, and love the orphans and the widows.  The Bible speaks louder than our newspapers about the apparent oppression of these people.  Injustice, according to the Bible, seems to be a plague to them.  Distress - a constant of their lives. 

Can you see it?  I don't.  When our Lord says that we should love one another, we say, "Then I will go and love my neighbor."  It's easy.  We can find outlets for this service everywhere.  But what about when He says, "Bring justice to the fatherless..."  WHAT!  Where are they Lord?

Ignorance is no justification but rather a verdict.  Guilty.  What are we doing?!  Why do we spend more time and energy collecting stuff than we do giving and selling and being promiscuous with our possessions???  Why are we so good at keeping away from those who truly need us?  Why do we want to keep away?  I have found - it is quite convicting to look into the eyes of a starving child when our pockets are more than full.  I haven't really seen one but my imagination does a good job of creating such a scenario. 

Every 3 seconds a child dies of starvation.  That's 1200 during your lunch break.  What are we doing?

Christ have mercy.

Watson on Mercy

I was reading Watson's "Body of Divinity" this morning and the topic was "The Mercy of God".  This post is nothing more than a list of some of his thoughts that stood out to me and my small notes on them.  Here is Watson: 

"It is the great design of the Scripture to represent God as merciful..."  Then we should labor to see Him as such in Scripture and feast at this table.  We should not take our eyes from His Word until we have seen this jewel of His crown. 

"The bee naturally gives honey, it stings only when it is provoked..."  Therefore we must see God as merciful before vengeant.  He is not willing that any should perish and 'does not willingly afflict'.  Let us see Him as compassionate before angry and dwell upon His merciful gaze toward us, His children.

Even "such as fight against God's mercy taste of it..."  What an amazing thought!  That those who would defame our Lord taste taste of His mercy.  That though many smite Him, He suffers for them.  He caused the sun to shine this morning!  He gave one more breathe to millions, yes, even billions who would never deserve it.  "Pharaoh's head was crowned though his heart was hardened."  Therefore, we should proclaim such an excellency to all who taste of mercy while they deserve great judgment.

"God's mercy is free.  To set up merit is to destroy mercy.  Nothing can deserve mercy, b/c we are polluted in our blood; nor force it.  We may force God to punish us, but not to love us.  'I will love them freely.' Hos xiv 4.  Every link in the chain of salvation is wrought and interwoven with free grace.  Election is free.  'He hath chosen us in Him, according to the good pleasure of His will.' Eph i 4.  Justification is free. 'Being justified freely by His grace.' Rom iii 24.  Salvation is free.  'According to His mercy He saved us.' Titus iii 5.  Say not then, I am unworthy; for mercy is free.  If God should show mercy to such only as are worthy, He would show none at all."  It goes against the very nature of mercy to have it labored for.  It is not grabbed but given.  There is no map to mercy - it is nowhere to be found! No!  Mercy finds us!  The man who says, "Aha! I will do this and get mercy." is worthy of no mercy.

And I will end with this statement that throws an ax to the root of those who think that God's sovereign choice eliminates human responsibility - they say, "if God is sovereign and chooses accordingly, then I should just sit at home and do nothing until heaven..."  Thomas says,  "To sin b/c mercy abounds is the devil's logic..."  I don't think anymore can be said. 

I would recommend all to read this wonderful book.  Read it before you watch ANYTHING!  Its harder to find God in Hollywood than it is in this book.  By so reading we will all store up for ourselves treasures in Heaven.  Grace to you all and peace.

Calvinism W/out Love: DEAD.

Below are the words of John Newton - the author of that beloved hymn Amazing Grace.  I have learned recently that he, though a strong Calvinist, had a heart more humble than most.  He was very quick to love, encourage, rebuke, and comfort - a pastor indeed!  I have found that his spirit is uncommon among the reformed church. 

What am I talking about?  Well I am simply speaking from my own experience.  It may or may not be this way elsewhere.  But, I have found that those who despise the Reformed Doctrine do so, not necessarily b/c of the doctrine but b/c of what it seemingly produces in those who hold to it.  What tragedy!  Though I hate to say so - their argument is valid.  Edwards himself recommended a cave for new reformers.  I recommend duct tape.  How long?  As long as it takes for us to feel what we believe. Consider Newton:

And I am afraid there are Calvinists, who, while they account it a proof of their humility, that they are willing in words to debase the creature and to give all the glory of salvation to the Lord, yet know not what manner of spirit they are of. Whatever it be that makes us trust in ourselves that we are comparatively wise or good, so as to treat those with contempt who do not subscribe to our doctrines, or follow our party, is a proof and fruit of a self-righteous spirit. Self-righteousness can feed upon doctrines as well as upon works; and a man may have the heart of a Pharisee, while his head is stored with orthodox notions of the unworthiness of the creature, and the riches of free grace.

I am afraid that we, who hold to this faith, have done that very thing we oppose.  We have created a separate sect of officials who are higher than the layman - we have made ourselves a new monastery.  Well, I have stated the problem, but what about the solution?

Again, I can only tell you what I have experienced.  I have pushed many away.  I am broken.  The greatest balm to this bleeding heart has been the community of the Body of Christ.  What has made me feel what I believe?  The poor.  The needy - the orphans and widows.  What has made me feel my depravity?  Loving (or at least begging to) the unlovable.  Dragging my enemies into my prayer closet.  Taking my eyes off of the pages and into the eyes of those who so desperately need Christ - those just like me. 

Sovereign Grace: What difference does it make?

Just a quote:

I do not come into this pulpit hoping that perhaps somebody will of his own free will return to Christ. My hope lies in another quarter. I hope that my Master will lay hold of some of them and say, "You are mine, and you shall be mine. I claim you for myself." My hope arises from the freeness of grace, and not from the freedom of the will.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Just a link:

http://www.covlife.org/audio/2005_10_09.mp3

Labor with all of your might to have this sermon bring tears.  Many will ask, "what difference does election or sovereign grace make?"  Well...here it is.

Jesus: Physician or God

Today my "Bible reading plan" had for me John 11. What a wonderful chapter to confirm, strengthen, and reenforce what our Lord has been teaching me. He is wise and loving - even in the small things. No doubt he began teaching me a few weeks ago about His promises and His nature to do the impossible - and no doubt that He even planned through this small "Bible reading card" that I would see this about Him today!

To quote Watson again, "Our God saves in such a way as we think would destroy". Mary and Martha sent for Jesus to come quickly to heal Lazarus. He was sure to die soon. His situation looked desparate. They needed a physician. The Bible says that Jesus loved them. But then it says that He stayed two more days where He was. Any reasonable person what say, "WHAT!! I thought He loved them. Why doesn't He go immediately?" This is where Christ sets Himself apart. He says to His disciples, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God my be glorified through it."

Here it is! This is where God gets His glory - in being the God of the impossible. People would have Him a physician, but He is GOD. We would have Him act on our terms - but He would stay where He is for a couple more days to get more glory. How many times do we abandon the plan when in a couple more days He would show Himself mighty to raise the dead.

God's Gifts are Free - No They're Not

To start off with a side note: It is a wonderful thing to be continually reminding each other what the LORD has done - and this gift should be given especially to our children.  We should be telling our children how He has saved us and blessed us (not with riches but with Christ and a love for Him).  He has delivered us from the pit.  He has made me a "new creation".  He has brought me to life.  He has "given me a heart to fear Him". What a wonderful God we love.

Okay, now to the topic at hand.  I was reading in Joshua today.  Verse 24:3 says, "Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many.  I gave him Isaac."  (by the way - read the above passage and see where I got the "side note".)  The phrase I would like to focus on is "I gave him Isaac."  If we just sit back and think about it we will see something very beautiful - something so particular to Deity.  There is so much here. As I have been thinking about it, things come to mind like..."unto us a child is born, a son IS GIVEN." and "we are children of promise according to Isaac."  What a wonderful GIFT to Abraham - what a wonderful GIFT to us!!!  And that gift - its free.  No its not.

The "freeness" of God's gifts are what makes them truly divine.  Again, He boasts in that He creates and that He brings something out of nothing.  Through Him all things were created - and all good things come from Him.  See my recent post "God's promises vs. 401K".  In a world with many gods it is hard for us to see Christ as holy or "set apart".  In a county where industry and wealth is common it is hard to feel the thanksgiving that we ought to give the Giver.  Instead we say - "boy did I work hard last month for that..."  It is unfortunate that for most of us to see God clearly, God must act distinctly - and by so doing He reveals Himself as "God of the impossible".  Okay, where am I going???  Let's put ourselves in Abraham's shoes.

I'm an old man...getting older and older.  Sarah over there is getting older too.  My sex drive isn't what it used to be if you know what I mean and Sarah went through menopause about 50 years ago.  Oh yeah, and by the way, I love God - He said, or should I say, "promised" me around 20 years ago that He would give me son. And through him all nations would be blessed.  Funny huh?? Yeah Sarah laughed too (Gen. 17:17)  Years ago I did "what I could do" to get that son out.  Sarah wasn't going to give him to me so I had to go elsewhere.  See ole Ishmael over there.  Man I wish he could be the one.  We're old now...too old.  And no son but Ishmael.  I've done what I can.  Obviously it wasn't good enough.  If that girl Sarah is to have a baby now, it'll have to be a miracle. 

Now this is the setting.  Hopeless.  No chance of a child.  None.  Nada.  AND THEN GOD!!!! "visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as He had promised.  And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son...(Gen. 21).  Can you imagine the surprise!??  Can you imagine the praise!!  This was not the fruit of sex.  This was not the natural thing that happens when a man and woman get together.  This was not a result of NFP!  Abraham tried to produce and got an F+.  This child was GIVEN FREELY!!!  OH how this needs to impress our souls.  Now meditate on the wonderful truth that we are "children of promise" not according to Ishmael BUT ISAAC!  Think about it - the implications are earth shattering!

Salvation is FREE, Grace is free, the child was given freely and so are all of His wonderful gifts - they are free.  No they're not.  You say, "What!"  Think about it - and comment....I will explain later.........