If we had a swimming pool in our back yard, I'm convinced this is what our dog "Murph" would do!

Sin separates us from God...but... (Part 3)

Hey all!
We left off last time with some descriptions of those who “conceive evil and bring forth iniquity”, those that “hatch vipers eggs and weave the spider’s web.” These don’t sound like any who are close to God or even want to be close to Him. I did mention that even we as God’s children, can do the same evil, that we are capable of any evil.

I found in Ephesians 4, Paul’s exhortation to us Gentiles, us who are believers and have received God’s grace and mercy, he tells us;

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Paul in chapter 4 goes on to give us instruction like; “Be angry but do not sin”, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger”. That we should not “grieve The Holy Spirit by whom we were sealed for the day of redemption”. And then the last verse, verse 32 says; “And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Wow!

These Jews in Isaiah needed to hear this! But the sad truth is, Isaiah being the great prophet that he was, speaking the words that came directly from God, could not get these people to listen. He goes on in verses 9-15 to talk about their condition, and their state of mind.
Sin Confessed
9 Therefore justice is far from us, Nor does righteousness overtake us; We look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness!
10 We grope for the wall like the blind, And we grope as if we had no eyes; We stumble at noonday as at twilight; We are as dead men in desolate places.

11 We all growl like bears, And moan sadly like doves; We look for justice, but there is none; For salvation, but it is far from us.

Notice how verse 9 starts out with “Therefore”, well, as my pastor says and as I’m sure you’ve heard before, you have to ask, “What’s it there for?” It means, “in light of what I’ve just said, check this out!”

Isaiah is saying here (forgive the paraphrasing); “In the previous verses I have shown you and told you about your sin and behavior, and now I’m gonna tell you what the results of that sin and behavior are; for one thing, because of your iniquities, justice is far from us, as is righteousness. We look for light, not THE light. but any other light that isn’t God’s light, and we only find darkness. We look for brightness, but we walk in blackness, and it’s by our own choice, and by our own will!

We’re men and women acting blind, we have our eyes and they work fine, but we have them shut and are bumping into walls as if we had no eyes at all. Here we are in broad day light, the sun is shining, “The Son is shining”, and we have our eyes closed as if in twilight. You are acting now as you did and your ancestors those many years ago when you were in the desert, in the desolate place. You are still muttering and complaining as you did when you were sick of the manna, but you forget that God poured down meat for you and yours in those days. You growl like bears, but you moan like doves. You are as an individual standing in the middle of the desert, all alone, and as far as you can see there is nothing. How do you expect to gain justice, and even more, how are you in your own power ever going to gain salvation?”

12 For our transgressions are multiplied before You, And our sins testify against us; For our transgressions are with us, And as for our iniquities, we know them:

Think of the above verse and the fact that it was a pre-Jesus world, and compare it to our post-Jesus world, which is what we live in now. Isaiah is telling these Jews that their “transgressions are multiplied” before them. This is the idea that one sin is stacked on another, then stacked on another, then stacked on another. There was no salvation! Let’s look at it a different way, it was the picture of their sins being laid out before them, rather than stacks, they were end to end so they could see them, and each one of them testified against them, they screamed at them, they reminded them of how awful they really were. These they could not close their eyes to, these transgressions are with them. Compare that to our post-Jesus world, “As far as the heavens are from the earth, so far has He taken our sins from us!” “He who knew no sin, took on the sins of the world!” “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” Amen? Amen!
The end of verse 12 says; “And as for our iniquities, we know them:” We know them!
Isaiah describes what some of those would be.

13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, And departing from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

So what are the consequences of such behavior? What are the results of acting un-holy in the face of a Holy God? What about our un-confessed sin? Verse 14 and 15 tell us;

14 Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. 15 So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

“For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. So truth fails...” I really like how the NASB says it; “For truth has stumbled in the street, and uprightness can not enter. Yes, truth is lacking...” I’m not sure exactly sure what this is saying, so I thought I would start off by looking up the word “equity”, here’s what I found; “Equity – Fairness, Ownership, Right in property.” We know that because of their behavior, strong will and choices, that justice has turned from the direction it was headed, toward them, and is now walking away from them. We know that righteousness is standing “afar off”, I get the picture of righteousness standing on hill with a prefect view of this whole scene, and both are waiting to return to their rightful spot.

“Truth” and “Equity”, what is it that those two have in common? We know that “equity” has to do with “ownership”, “fairness”, and “right of property”. Could it mean that we have the “right of property”, that being the truth? That either we had the truth and lost it, or we never had it, but we can take “ownership” of it? I’m getting a picture of truth stumbling and falling in the street, it’s kinda like a scene from the Omega Man, ya know!? He’s standing in the middle of a New York City street, no people, no birds, no sound, only the wind that blows that newspaper and pieces of miscellaneous paper around for effect. He’s alone in a “desolate place”, truth has “fallen”, and because of these people’s state (and even our own at times) they we’re not in right standing with The Lord and therefore could not go in and rescue it, truth, they couldn’t take “ownership” of it, they didn’t see it as “fairness”. But as Isaiah has already told us in verse 4; “No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.”

In our next part we will look at God responds, and that there is A Redeemer!

Father! Thank You for being The “Hound of Heaven”, for finding us when we were so lost. Father thank You for Your word which shows us what we were at one point in our lives, and for saving us from ourselves. We are so sorry Lord when we fall back into these old behaviors. We are so sorry because we know it grieves You Lord. I pray for those who are still walking around as “blind men”, I pray that they would hear Your voices as You draw them to yourself. I love you Father! Amen!

In HIS Grip
Tony

Sin separates us from God...but... (Part 2)

Hey all!
Wow! Here we are at Part 2...Hey that was kinda easy!
Anyway, in Part 1 we brought together the correlation of who/whom Isaiah (God) was speaking to in the past, and how He speaks the same things to us today. What is sad is that we react, respond, and behave just as the Israelites did those thousands of years ago. We saw that God’s hand of salvation is not shortened and that His ear is not deaf, but because of our sin, and because He is Holy, it causes a separation between us. Does that mean that because we sin He will never hear us? No! He is always open to “I’m sorry Lord!” and “I love You!” He will forgive us 70x7.

We pick up in verse 6 where Isaiah is describing the sin of Israel, and the decline and degradation of sin. He’s just finished saying in verse 4 that they “conceive evil and bring forth iniquity”. He goes on to describe the deep darkness (my words) of sin. This is more to those who are not saved, who have not experienced God’s amazing and saving grace.
Isaiah 59:6-21
Separated from God
5 They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider’s web; He who eats of their eggs dies, And from that which is crushed a viper breaks out. 6 Their webs will not become garments, Nor will they cover themselves with their works;

WAYS TO AVOID SNAKEBITE
(Taken from a website called: “Survival IQ” the italics and BOLD are mine)
Follow these simple rules to reduce the chance of accidental snakebite:
Don't sleep next to brush, tall grass, large boulders, or trees. They provide hiding places for snakes. Place your sleeping bag in a clearing. Use mosquito netting tucked well under the bag. This netting should provide a good barrier. (or keep God’s Word close)
Don't put your hands into dark places, such as rock crevices, heavy brush, or hollow logs, without first investigating. (When it comes to sin, how about at all).
Don't step over a fallen tree. Step on the log and look to see if there is a snake resting on the other side. (Step on God’s Word, ask for Wisdom)
Don't walk through heavy brush or tall grass without looking down. Look where you are walking. (Let HIM guide your every step, once in that gait with HIM you can then look up).
Don't pick up any snake unless you are absolutely positive it is not venomous. (Flee from temptation)
Don't pick up freshly killed snakes without first severing the head. The nervous system may still be active and a dead snake can deliver a bite. (Remember who The One is that crushes the head of the serpent!)

The evil things of this world believe that they can wear their evil as a garment, ya’ know, for recognition. They believe that their works of evil are who they are; they cover themselves with its identity. It’s like being labeled in a way. There have been those who are/were evil who have been given a label, or who from fear, the world has seen the works they wear as evil, but the bottom line is, from a Spiritual sense, they are lost and some for eternity. The Charles Manson’s, The Saddam Hussein’s, the Adolph Hitler’s, all of these, unless they had given their lives to Christ are in and will be in eternal torment for eternity.

Identity is a big deal from a worldly stand point. They ask the same question (until they find THE answer), “Who am I? How do I fit in? And what the heck am I doing here?” Not just evil people ask this, people who are lost ask this, and people who are weak in their faith in Christ ask the same questions. I have a son who will be 30 this year, I’ve seen him go up for alter call after alter call. I’ve seen him cry and rededicate his life to Jesus at Promise Keeper events, but for some reason (actually for a couple reasons) he just can’t seem to let go. He has always battled with who he is and where he fits. I’ve told him over and over that his identity is only found in Christ, but again because he hasn’t fully let go, he doesn’t hear it. I know that when my son T.J. finally grasps that, and lets go as many of us have, he will be free, and will realize that he doesn’t need to conform to this world, but that he has been transformed by allow God to finally renew his mind. I have not given up hope on my son “T”, or any of my kids, because my wife and I can see God working, even in their rebelliousness, He has got them right where He wants them and where they will listen to His message of peace and freedom.

Their works are works of iniquity, And the act of violence is in their hands. 7 Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths.

8 The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.

Again the word iniquity according to Webster’s dictionary is; “gross injustice, wickedness, sinful, outrageous.”
The word “sinful” struck me as I read the definition once again. But you see that’s the reason...the ONLY reason, it’s sinfulness. Think about back when you were one of those walking in darkness, I know for me, I look back and think of some of the things I did and said, and it amazes me. I remember being at family reunions and sitting with my older cousins as we would out do each other telling jokes, and me beating them all by telling jokes and using language that I think may have even shocked some of them.

I wish I could tell you that I’ve never said another bad word since I got saved, but that would be a lie. The times that I have though have been far and few between, and out of anger. When I have let a few those choice words fly, it’s grieved and embarrassed me, and what’s worse is that it grieves The Holy Spirit. But my point is, these people whose “works are works of iniquity, and acts of violence” and the rest, this is pretty much is all these kind of people know, they haven’t experienced God’s love, or at least not that they are aware of. Does God love these people? Yes! Does He want them to really be His own? Yes!

“Wasting and destruction are in their paths”, Wow, I have to think about that a minute. How much of life did I waste before I really began to walk with God, or at least began to see that there is no other path in life? I was saved at age 13, but I didn’t act saved until I was about 30. I think back to that gap, the things that took place in those 17 years, I ask myself; “Were they all bad years, were they all full of destruction as the text says above?” I have to say no, even in the hard times, there were glimpses of Jesus calling me back to His path. They may not all have been destructive, or full of destruction, but I guess the real question is; “Were they wasteful years?”

When I look back now in my weak moments, or in the moments when a fleeting thought comes to mind that says; “Man! If you knew then what you know now in regards to God’s gift of life and peace and joy! Why did you waste all those years Tony?” or the big one “If you had walked closer to God, your family would be walking closer with God now!”

I prefaced that last line of thought as “in my weak moments” in the “moments when a fleeting thought comes to mind”, the truth is that if I really think about all those years, all that time, it wasn’t wasted, it was growth. God’s plan is perfect for our lives; He takes the bad and makes it good. In my life, He has made up for more than those 17 years in last past 20 years of my life. Even in just the last 5 or 6 years, I have felt more complete in Him than I ever have. He will do the same for the lost, he will do the same for those who are living wasteful and destructive lives right now, if they will just let Him. Believe in The Lord Jesus Christ and you WILL be saved.

Father! Thank You for finding me. Thank You that You are the answer, Your path is perfect. I pray for those that are lost, those that haven’t got a clue of Your great love. I pray that we as Your children will be able to give them a glimpse of who You are as I know You put many in my path even during those 17 years, and even today. You are an awesome God! Amen!


In HIS Grip
Tony

Sin separates us from God...but... (Part 1)

Hey all!
As I read through Isaiah 59 this morning, I found so much in it that I decided to write it in a few emails. This is kinda new for me, this whole Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 thing, but we’ll see how it goes.

Again the reason I’m sending this to you is not so much to exhort you or to point out your sin, but to share with you how He has pointed out mine, to share with you His exhortation to me, and because I thought it gave a clear picture of what it looks like when we are in our sin and “separated from God.” If you read ahead in the chapter, you will see that “there is a redeemer”, and that we can’t do it on our own. You will see that God has a promise for us and for the descendants before us and the descendants before them.

I’m never quite sure how to break up the text, I’m sure as I continue doing these that it will become clearer to me, but for now, I’ll just interject where I believe the Spirit has led me to. Keep in mind, we are all still growing in the life of God and in the path of Jesus, no one has grasped it completely, or fully understands it.
Paul says in Philippians 3:12-14;

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Then he exhorts us in verses 15-16:

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

So let’s get into it and see where The Lord leads!
Isaiah 59:1-21
Separated from God
1 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.

First we have to think about who Isaiah is writing to, he’s writing to the Israelites. He’s replying to their grumbling. The Israelites are once again complaining that God hasn’t given them enough, that He’s not hearing their prayers. They’re in essence saying that they are in the dark and that God is not rescuing them. The fact is, God has rescued them, He’s rescued them from the bondage of slavery, and not just from Egypt, but from the bondage they have brought on themselves. More importantly, He has rescued many of them for all eternity.

Their grumblings sound like; “Okay, so You brought us out of Egypt, we’re here in the desert, so now what Lord? Where are You? Have You taken Your hand off us, do You not hear our prayers anymore?” We also have to think about who/whom else Isaiah is talking to? When we read Isaiah’s words, which are actually God’s words spoken through His Word to us, we have to face the fact that He (God) is talking to us too. We grumble just like them, we overlook ALL that He has done for us, even Him giving us His only begotten Son, and ask “God where are you Lord? “How come You don’t hear us Lord? How come I don’t feel You anymore Lord?” which really can mean, “How come You’re not doing it my way? Why haven’t you answered my prayer sooner?”
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Here’s the answer to the Jews (and us). Our sin, when we were unbelievers, had separated us from God, our sin had “hidden His face” from us. Think about what it was like in the garden before the fall, God walked with Adam and Eve. That blows my mind...God walked with Adam, THE God of the universe, the creator of life itself, walked with Adam in the garden, nothing was hidden, it was the purest form of fellowship. But because of sin, Adam and Eve hid themselves from God, because of our sin even as believers, we cause God to turn away because He is still Holy! Even our Savior experienced that emptiness, that darkness on the cross, the One who knew no sin became sin for us, God even had to turn His back on Jesus for a moment. The reality of that moment then and the reality of that moment now, is that it still breaks the heart God. God’s sees our beginning and our end, but He also grieves when we choose our will and not His.

Isaiah goes on to describe their sin;
3 For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity.

I would say that if we had a show of hands, most of us are not guilty of our hands being “defiled with blood”, but as for the rest of it, my hand, like yours is raised.
4 No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth.They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.

I have one question; “WHY!?” Why would they (we) not call out for justice, they knew who has it! Why would we not plead for the truth, they know who has it! But it says “they trust in empty words and speak lies”. It seems to me this is one of those pictures of the digression into sin; we don’t call on the Lord and plead for truth, so we begin to listen to empty words of man, which means we stop seeking His truth and begin listening to man’s truth. From that point on we begin to speak what we’re told, which if it’s not from God but from man more times than not we are speaking lies. Then from there we begin to buy into their lies and believe the lies we espouse as truth then spread that which conceives evil, and that brings forth iniquity. The word iniquity according to Webster’s is; gross injustice, wickedness, sinful, outrageous.

James tells us in 1:14-16;
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

I think I’ll stop there and continue on PART 2. Hey, that was easy!

Father Thank You for Your word. Thank You that it is living and breathing. I pray that You would continue to grow me into Your righteousness, that I would not be ashamed of The gospel, that I would receive Your strength and courage to continue to write out what You have shown me in my life, and given me the ability to share with others in my writings. Jesus, it’s all about you Lord! You are our redeemer; you are The One that is the meaning of life. Thanks You Lord for what You did on the cross so that we don’t have to walk in darkness any longer. We’re not like the blind who bump into walls. You have shown us favor! We love You! Amen.

In HIS Grip
Tony