Coming off a week's vacation that was coming off a week of a funeral, two baptisms, guests in our home has made me very tired, but also very thankful. Last night Rebecca and I were talking as we were driving home from a friend's baby shower. As we talked we focused in on a few lessons we have learned recently. I thought I would share them.
I don't know what else to call this except for random thoughts. I called them the three keys (maybe secrets or lessons) that I have learned over and over in the past few years.
Number one, God is sovereign. This is his creation and he will do with it as he pleases. He has the right to do whatever he wills and I have no right to complain or make any demands. He is completely just and holy in every decision he makes. There is no "plan b" and no mistakes in his will.
Two, the gospel is the key to growth as a Christian. So often we think of the gospel as something we learn when we are unbelievers. We think of it as something that we need to preach to others, and we forget that the gospel is the power and wisdom of God. Paul claimed to know nothing but Christ and him crucified. He preached the gospel to himself daily. The simple gospel, which tells us that Jesus lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died, is what God is saying to us today. We are accepted, adopted, and loved in the sacrifice of Christ. We need no other acceptance when we believe the gospel. The gospel has turned the power system of the world on its head. Rich is poor. Great is small. Leading is serving. All of our disobedience is rooted in not believing we are who God has said we are in his beloved son.
Three, we are going to suffer and the sooner we learn to be thankful for it the closer we will be to God. Going back to point one, God is sovereign. He will accomplish his will. Thankfully, he is a loving shepherd. I listened to a sermon last week about Jacob calling God a shepherd in Genesis. We think of a sweet little lamby climbing into its shepherd's arms and baaing thanksgivings as he is carried back to the flock. In reality, the sheep runs from the shepherd out of fear and has no chance of coming home unless the shepherd's dog scares the sheep back toward the shepherd. Once the sheep runs toward the shepherd, the shepherd has to tie its legs and carry it back home. If your feet are tied and you are scared, there is a good chance the shepherd is coming after you. God allows us to suffer in order to show us that he is all we need. Everything - even the good - on earth is fleeting. There is nothing here that can handle our trust and worship, yet we place our trust in temporal things every day. John Calvin said that we are all master idol builders from the moment we are born. God allows us to suffer to show us the futility of our idols and the safety we have in him.
Earlier I mentioned the three keys we talked about. As I have been typing, I have thought of one more. So, fourthly (and lastly) we are pilgrims on this earth. Oh, how sweet it is to know this isn't home. The sweetest of life's pleasures are so temporal. When I play with my nine month old son I find myself thinking, "I wish he didn't have to grow up so fast. I already miss how he was a month ago." I am reminded over and over as I think about the fleeting pleasures of life, that there is a kingdom coming where joy will reign eternally. There is a kingdom coming where none of us get older and there is no sadness. The joys of that eternal city will cosmically outshine the sweetest of life's present joys. I would keep typing, but there is a song that says is better than I can, so here is the hymn of the day - No Abiding City by Sandra McCracken.
Oh, sweet home of love and peace
Where pilgrims tired and troubled rest
Into the hope of Zion lean
Where in Jesus’ arms we will fall at last
Oh, lift up your head
For the day is near
And we have no abiding city here
Addictions empty promises
This broken world cannot satisfy
A sweeter song redemptions bliss
Is sealed for us in paradise
Oh, lift up your head
For the day is near
And we have no abiding city here
Sprit heal our neighborhood
Until your kingdom work is done
Teach us what is just and good
As we look for the city which is yet to come
Oh, lift up your head
For the day is near
And we have no abiding city here
A city filled with and light
God the builder and the architect
When our faith is turned to sight
Oh, I cannot imagine it
Oh, lift up your head
For the day is near
And we have no abiding city here
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