Empty House

Posted on by kevinjandt

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I live in an empty house in many ways…  I desire my house to be emptied.  What is it about my house that I really don’t care for?  I guess it’s the body of death that I wander around in that I’m referring to.  This temple, or as Paul said this tent.  We all live in them and the Christian hopefully has a better understanding of it than the average person.

2 Corinthians 5:1-3

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.

I want my earthly home to be destroyed because it’s not a very good one.  In fact it’s a mess and the closer I draw to Christ and see His amazing goodness the more I’m overwhelmed by my wretchedness.  I desire a better place.  A cleaner place, a place that glorifies and honors Him instead of bringing Him the shame I so often consider in my fleshly life.  I see that my desires continue to shift in that I really hate my sin.  I really hate that I try to overcome certain things and the going is very slow.

Lest I sound too gloomy there is hope…  But shouldn’t we sometimes just stay in this place?  Shouldn’t we just bathe in our own filth for a while?  Not that Christ hasn’t overcome because He has but I mean for me?  And for you?  Shouldn’t this help us understand what it took to accomplish our redemption?  Really give us a glimpse of the misery we are in?

2 Corinthians 5:4-5

For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Here is the good news!

For believer’s we have a guarantee.  We have a guarantee of salvation because the Spirit has been given to us.  The word means a guarantee, earnest money, a down payment and the full amount to be paid subsequently.  It’s a sure thing.

We see two truths existing side by side in the way that God so often shows us things that are sometimes hard to understand.  The fact that we need to detest ourselves yet in that have the utmost of all hope.  We hate our sin, but we love our Savior.  We detest our flesh but seek the Spirit.   There is this bizarre thing going on that is almost too much for the human mind to make sense of.  It’s like a puzzle that makes no sense on the surface but as we stand back and gaze upon it later on it all comes clear.

God is that way in so many of the things He does.  We don’t understand how sorrow and mourning produce repentance and faith.  We don’t get that persecution brings joy.  We don’t get it because we can’t see it the way God sees it.  We only see the short term, the temporary state of our being.

We don’t always recognize that God is producing in us something that is far more valuable than what we want for ourselves.  Perhaps we want something that seems good but maybe God says you are not ready yet.  And so we wish for things but God says, “No, not yet, or maybe ‘No, never’ because I have something different for you.”

It’s hard to understand sometimes and I must admit in my flesh I don’t like it and I want this earthly tent to be gone.  I want to be in glory with Christ where the struggles of the world are done.  But then again, He says “No, I’m not done with you yet…”

And sometimes it’s just great to say it all out loud and cry out to Him for help.  “Lord, cleanse me….  Lord forgive me for I am  in a sad state of affairs… “

In all of it I find if we don’t know what to do  then we can only trust and we can only do our best to obey.  It seems obedience is a recipe for success if you will.  There is a time when just laying down our arms and giving in to that which we know is true is the best way to go.  But yet so often we fight against it.  And I don’t want to do that but yet when I do, when I receive the chastening, it produces a peaceable fruit of righteousness and I know I’m a son that has been trained for it.

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The day is coming friends when we will appear before the judgment seat.  All I have to offer the Lord is my obedience and that is not enough so my hope must be in the Lord Jesus Christ and that is enough.  My focus and my desire needs to be Him and all the rest falls into place.  That is my desire.  I hope it is also yours.

 

Kevin

Critical Conversations

Posted on by kevinjandt

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I consider myself a ponderer…  because I like to ponder things long and hard before I make decisions.  Maybe I’m really just a procrastinator.  I think it’s possible that is more like it, but the bottom line is I should have written this article a long time ago.

I had an amazing conversation this past week with a long time friend.  In the time I’ve known this friend I’ve gone from being a guy that talked about Jesus to being a guy that actually and truly lived for Jesus.

Even before I was truly regenerate I would discuss Jesus with my friend.  And he noticed that.  His wife also noticed it but when the Lord really saved me I went from talking about Jesus to living a life that gave me purpose in really being more diligent in how those discussions went. As my friend and I had this discussion this past week he said a couple things that really resonated with me.

Things like this…  “well I’m not sure I’m all the way there yet, but I’m trying.”  In digging a little deeper I realized that this is not a theologically correct statement, but I understood what my friend meant.  What really encouraged me about this conversation, that was evident to me, was that his life looked very different than what it used to look.  I think he was struggling to say, “hey Kevin, maybe God saved me, but I’m not really certain…”  He didn’t have the words to articulate this but it’s possible he meant it.

As I consider his life before and as he described things that were happening in his life I have to ask the question.  Did God save him?  Is God “saving” him?  It’s a question that takes on a pretty significant issue which is just how does that really happen?  And there are other questions that need to be answered in this whole process.

How does God save?  What does it mean to be saved?  For what purpose does God save?  I’m sure there are more but let’s start with these.

I bring up the topic today because when I look back at my life from pre-salvation, to initial salvation and then the sanctification and growth process I’ve almost forgotten how much God has accomplished in my life.  In my discussion with my friend he said that he desired to learn so much more and in his own way was sharing what little information he knew with others in his life.  And it dawned on me…  wow, that was me…  How could I so easily forget not everyone understand this stuff.  And this “stuff” is pretty important.

How does God save?

This very question has a presupposition that most people will miss.  What do we need to be saved from?

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

To get to our question we have to start somewhere and that starting place is the “lostness” of mankind.  In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it, He created man.  God created man happy and holy (Question 21 in the children’s catechism).  God not only created mankind but he gave us a soul that will never die and told Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil lest he die.  When Adam disobeyed God he plunged mankind into spiritual death.  Mankind was cursed.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sin in which you once walked…  Ephesians 2:1-2

To have a starting point in salvation one must come to an understanding we are not only lost but we are dead.  Dead spiritually with no ability on their own to come to God.   Without hope and without opportunity because we are not only unable, but are also unwilling.

The part of “how God saves” is through an understanding of this predicament.  God moves in the heart of a dead sinner by presenting the law of God that one might come to understanding of their helpless and hopeless condition.   The law is a tutor that brings us to Christ through the message of the gospel (Galatians 3:23, Romans 1:16).  The gospel is the good news which sets a sinner free from his captivity and slavery to sin (Romans 6:7).

This message of the gospel must come from an outside source because the sinner will not come to this revelation on his own.  It generally comes through either reading the word, or mostly through the proclamation of the message through a messenger.  A “preacher” if you will…

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?  And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?  And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  Romans 10:14

God uses the preaching of the word to save souls.  For most all this is a foolish message (1 Corinthians 1:18) but yet this is how God does it.  And if you weren’t saved via the gospel message you must examine if you’ve been saved to this gospel?

What does it mean to be saved?

When God created man the Genesis account says that God created man in His own image.  That God breathed life into man.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

The word breath means spirit, inspiration, soul.  God gave man a soul.  Created in His image Adam would live forever.  Upon Adam’s disobedience he plunged all of mankind into death and the curse of God.

To be saved means that God can redeem us from the curse.  He not only saves us from the curse, He saves us from the power and the penalty of the sin that we are born into.  God did this for a simple reason but a reason that is not popular with most people.  If you’ve been saved you must recognize that you were saved by God, saved for God and saved from God.

The God of the universe acquiesced to take on human flesh that He might accomplish what Adam could not.  Christ came to be the better Adam.  To fulfill the law that we would not be cursed under the law.

For what purpose does God save?

I’m unpopular in present day evangelicalism.  I’m unpopular because God’s word is unpopular and I place my trust completely in what it says.  I’m not trying to be arrogant in that statement because many will claim the same thing.  But yet when it comes to the Sovereignty of God and the claims that He makes in His word we can get to a point pretty quickly that will separate the best of friends.

God saves for His glory

God is a God of love and God loves His people but the Bible says God does not love all people equally and the exclusivity of this statement is offensive.  For many this makes God some sort of a monster that is toying around with people.  I don’t see it that way but yet I’ve struggled with the concept just like I think most “normal” people would.

The Scriptures are clear but yet often times hard to accept.

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. – Ezekiel 36:22

This verse is God focused.  This verse shows us some hard truth.  God has tolerated a sinful creation that rebelled against the Creator.  And to reveal the glory of the Creator, He in His Sovereign plan, for no reason other than His purposes chose out a group of people to glorify His name on this earth.

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. – John 17:24

Man is not a victim.  Man is a willing participant in his sin.  The sin that he loves and is unwilling to give up.  There is so much more to say but yet the gospel message is simple and the offer is free to those that will come.  And today I must ask you a very real question.

Will you come to Him today?  On His terms, not yours?

For as an evangelist brother of mine says…  “God will not negotiate with sinners…”

Do you recognize that, not only do you sin, but you are a sinner?  If you are weary of the battle, then give it over to Him today and you will also find rest for your weary soul.

Do that today; for that is the purpose for which Christ came.  I’m hoping He came to save you.

 

Kevin

R.I.P.

Posted on by kevinjandt

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Rest In Peace…

There have been an abundance of celebrity deaths this year and it is those deaths that cause people to consider life and death.  Most recently we’ve seen George Michael and Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame, a day later Debbie Reynolds the mother of Carrie Fisher died.  This past year has included Prince, David Bowie, John Glenn a total of 72 celebrity deaths in 2016.  Even more shocking is that every year 55.3 million people die.  That’s 151,600 per day and 6316 every hour.

None of us will escape death.  It is as inevitable as taxes right?

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment… Hebrews 9:27

It is my assertion that most people are practical “Universalists”.   In other words, most people believe that almost nobody will go to a place like Hell and be punished for their sins.  That’s why so many people say “rest in peace”.  It doesn’t really matter that a person’s lifestyle and testimony of life completely contradict biblical theology.  It doesn’t matter that they lived in complete rebellion to their Creator.  I won’t pick out any of the above named celebrities but I’m not aware that any of them professed Christianity and even among professed Christians Jesus said few will find life.

What does it mean to find peace?

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” – Luke 2:14

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  – Isaiah 9:6

This all seems pretty straight forward and easy to understand in fact as we are working our way through the holiday season it’s almost guaranteed you had one of these verses on a Christmas card.  We all desire peace don’t we?  Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness can only be found where there is peace in the land and so we must consider if Jesus accomplished His mission and it doesn’t seem like He did.

Where did Jesus go wrong?

If He is the Prince of Peace and He is to bring peace how do we reconcile this?  Did you notice that in Luke 2 it says that He is going to bring peace to those whom He is pleased?  This forces a deeper question…  How can one please God?

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 

If God must be pleased in order for us to have peace then we must understand the difference between the flesh and the Spirit.    God’s word tells us that the natural man cannot receive the things of God for they are foolishness to him and that by nature we are children of wrath dead in our sins and trespasses…  We see a difference in the relationship between the type of a person that can please God and the natural man who is in the flesh that cannot please God.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. – Romans 8:6-7  

It is the Spirit that gives life and it is the Spirit living in us through Christ that causes us to be accepted by God and for God to be pleased.  Through no work of our own, but only through the work of Christ on the cross.  This is the imputation of God’s goodness to the sinner.  The transfer of His righteousness on our behalf.  Not that we are made righteous, but legally we are declared as we should before the Father.

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.  Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.  But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. –  Romans 8:9-10

What an incredible statement of what Christ accomplished on the cross for those that will believe upon His name.  You can have peace with God through Christ and the Spirit indwelling your heart.  Now we can please God.  Now we can be accepted by God through faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6

By faith and faith alone only can we please God and by pleasing God through faith we can now have peace.  We have peace with God, we have peace in our hearts, we have peace with as many around us as will live at peace with us.  As far as is up to us we will live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18).

But it’s not always up to us is it?  And actually the problem with peace comes when you proclaim a truth to those that don’t want to hear it.  This is an attempt to make peace but it’s an attempt to make peace between man and God.  These two things don’t mix and when the gospel is presented it often brings conflict.  Peacemakers are more concerned about others relationship with God than they are about the relationship with other men.  And persecution is sure to follow.

Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword. – Matthew 10:34

This really messes things up doesn’t it?  Or does it?

The Sword of the Word divides.  It brings conviction and it brings truth, it shines light in a dark place.  It breaks up hard ground in some cases but this is not good news to sinful ears.  This is what Jesus meant.  His doctrine would divide people.  Even those of a household.

There is only one way to rest in peace.  And that comes at a high cost.  It can cost our lifestyle.  It can cost our family.  It can cost our job.  It can even cost our life.

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.  – Matthew 16:25-27

What’s it worth to you?  Is Christ worth giving it all up?  I can’t answer that question for you but I do ask you to answer that question for yourself.  Because ten out of ten people die.  The odds are 100%.  And it is appointed once for you to die and then the judgment.

Are you ready?

Will you rest in peace?

 

Kevin

Changed Lives?

Posted on by kevinjandt

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I recently saw this quote on a church sign and I thought about it on my way to where I was going.  It really seemed like a good quote at first blush and as I thought more about it I wondered if it’s true.  I don’t mean to say it’s not true in the fact that Jesus Christ changes lives.  That is unequivocally true.  That is without a doubt what will happen in the life of a believer; they will be changed or they were never converted.

Paul tells us this plainly.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

This is absolutely about changed lives.  It is the evidence of a changed life.  God gives us new desires, new goals if you will…

Why write a blog article about this?  Am I mincing words?  Splitting hairs?  Picking nits?  It seems so judgmental in some ways to take what seems like a positive message and ask questions about it.  The reason I ask the question and the reason I want to think about this topic is that I see, with many evangelical churches, the idea is to appeal to emotion or appeal to our sense for a life that is better in a temporal or earthly sense.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  John 10:10 

Well there you go…  an abundant life.  That is the goal Jesus has for everyone right?

But of course in the context of the Lord’s message he is contrasting killing and destroying with life.

This word life ζωή zōḗ refers to more than just a temporary life.  It means life eternal.  See Matthew 7:14, Matthew 18:8

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  

When we consider the message of the modern church it seems they mostly want to appeal to the desire for things to be better in the temporal sense and this is what drives them and in turn they teach from this perspective leading to more people thinking it’s all about them.

We must look at cause and effect because there is a cause and then there is an effect.  God is the cause and the effect that flows out of that cause is seen.  The effect is fruit and the effect is a changed life.  There is no doubt about this point.  Faith without works is indeed a DEAD faith.

What about the cause, how does the cause factor into the equation and why?  What is the purpose of all of this, although not completely wrong, why is the message somewhat misguided?

Jesus gives us a pretty good clue in His conversation with Nicodemus.  Nicodemus had bought the message hook, line and sinker.  He believed God was there to restore the nation of Israel to prominence.  After all these years of oppression and God’s silence, finally, someone arrives on the scene that is doing things nobody had ever seen.  No doubt this guy is sent from God.  Because NOBODY can do these signs unless God is with him.  That is what Nicodemus said, he clearly got it.  But did he?

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. – John 3:14

Whoa… did Jesus really just say that?  The Son of Man must be lifted up…  He of course was referring Numbers 21:9 and the Israelites needing to look to the serpent on the pole to be saved from sure death, Nicodemus didn’t miss this reference, but by being lifted up He is displaying the glory of God in the work that Jesus was sent to do, the work of salvation for His people.  He came to prepare a way for eternal life for those that would believe.  And in this conversation Jesus refers back to the message that He said Nicodemus should have already known.  In effect He said, “I can’t believe you don’t know these things.”  “What is the matter with you, aren’t you the teacher of Israel?”

What a stern rebuke.

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God:  It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.  And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them.  And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.  Ezekiel 36:22-23

Here is the reason God changes lives.  He does it for His names sake.  It is His glory He is concerned about and while we are the recipients of Divine favor and Amazing Grace, it is all about Him.  That is a seismic shift in the thought process.  Is our thinking focused on His glory or our benefit?

The basic concept of Secular Humanism that all is for the benefit of man and all thought revolves around us.  Instead, Biblical Christianity says it is all about Him and we are just in awe of the mercy that He would show to despicable little creatures is beyond my grasp.

I know it’s subtle and I know to some it appears nitpicky, but what is at the heart of the matter is eternally important to God.  He saved us to be ambassadors to make His name known to all the nation’s and if we are mostly focused on us then it gets tough to think outside our theological boxes.

Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the LORD; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate.  I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it. – Ezekiel 36:36

 

Kevin

Meekness? Who wants that?

Posted on by kevinjandt

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The word meek is not a word that is en vogue today.  Most people don’t know what it means and if they did know what it meant they still wouldn’t be interested in any attempt at being meek.  For the Christian this is an exceptional word and one of the biggest evidences of saving faith we have.  It is so important that Jesus used this in His teaching on the Sermon on the Mount.  It is one of the first qualities that enters into the life of a believer after salvation.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  – Matthew 5:5

Whatever comes to your mind when you think about meekness is probably not what it actually means and the most important thing to understand is that meekness is not weakness.  It does not mean mousy, or shy.  It does not mean cowardly or withdrawn.  It does not indicate a lack of desire to engage people.  Actually quite the opposite.

πραΰς praÿs, apparently a primary word; mild, i.e. (by implication) humble:—meek.

“The term sometimes was used to describe a soothing medicine or a soft breeze.  It was used of colts and other animals whose naturally wild spirits were broken by a trainer so that they could do useful work.” – MacArthur New Testament Commentaries

This is not an admirable quality by an unbelieving world.  In this world we are expected to be aggressive, assertive and take charge kind of men or women.  The only way to get ahead is to attack.  But here Jesus says, “No!”  Be mild, be humble, be meek.

Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle (meek) and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Meekness comes from a lowly heart.  A low moral opinion of oneself.  Not thinking too highly of yourself.  This is the exact opposite of what the world desires in a person.  This is the exact opposite of what we want in ourselves.  We want to be noticed.  We want to be acknowledged for our greatness and our accomplishments.  We desire our fair share of notoriety.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  – Ephesians 4:1-3

I don’t know about you but that is not easy is it?  I mean is that natural for you because it’s not for me…  There is only one way to meekness and that is through the power of the Spirit.

There is also another side to meekness.  Which does not appear weak.  It is a level of boldness that comes through the empowerment of the Spirit as well.  Jesus was lowly and gentle and Jesus was bold.  Jesus was confrontational.  Jesus was sarcastic and sometimes seemingly rude.  Jesus is our perfect model and left us a perfect example to follow.

John MacArthur in his commentary says this:

“Meekness does not connote weakness.  The word was used in much extrabiblical literature to refer to the breaking of an animal.  Meekness means power put under control.  A person without meekness is “like a city that is broke into and without walls” (Prov. 25:28).  “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city” (Prov. 16:32).  An unbroken colt is useless; medicine that is too strong will harm rather than cure; a wind out of control destroys.  Emotion out of control also destroys, and has no place in God’s kingdom.  Meekness uses its resources appropriately.”  (MacArthur New Testament Commentaries)

Meekness is an essential quality for the Christian.  It doesn’t come naturally and it doesn’t come easily.  It is imparted to the believer in regeneration but it is a skill that requires refinement.  It is a way to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.  We need to develop the qualities that God says He gives us in salvation to bring Him glory.  Let him who stole no longer steal… (Ephesians 4:28)  It is an evidence of saving faith that should grow as the believer grows in holiness.

Put off the old man that grows corrupt and put on the new man, be renewed in the spirit of your mind…  Ephesians 4:22-24

When we have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, we develop meekness and are submissive to the call to proclaim His name.  This often takes us to places that require boldness.  It demands a level of confrontation that many are uncomfortable with.  The Christian and the unbeliever can be uncomfortable.  The Lord demands it and it is indicative of saving faith.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  – Matthew 5:11

Most won’t sign up for this.  Most that profess Christ won’t desire persecution.  They won’t seek this type of meekness.   This is hard.  This is narrow and restrictive, this is often viewed as judgmental.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.  And they realized that they had been with Jesus. – Acts 4:13

Can this be said of you?  Can this be said of me?

Will you be accused of being meek and there be enough evidence to convict you?   May the Lord grow us in His grace to be meek and to be bold that His name might receive the glory for which we were saved.

 

Kevin