by David Scott Robertson
(Acts 10:1 NIV) "At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
(Acts 10:2 NIV) He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
(Acts 10:3 NIV) One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
(Acts 10:4 NIV) Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God."
In the passage above the Bible introduces us to a good man - Cornelius.
The scriptures reveal that Cornelius was devout, God-fearing, generous man who embraced the ethic of continual prayer.
Sounds like the qualifications for a Sunday School teacher, doesn't it?
The only problem with Cornelius was that he wasn't saved.
His goodness was not good enough.
Cornelius was destined for a devil's hell.
What? Why?
Because people don't go to heaven for being good or hell for being bad.
People go one place or the other based upon their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Have you ever known a mostly good man?
He doesn't drink, smoke, cheat on his taxes or his wife.
He's pro-life, votes in every election, and gives generously to charities.
He has a high moral code, strong personal convictions and ethics,
And enjoys a reputation of being fair and honest.
Yep, he's a mostly good man all right.
That may be good enough to get him elected to the city council,
But it's not good enough to get him into heaven.
(Eph 2:8 NIV) "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
(Eph 2:9 NIV) not by works, so that no one can boast"
As good as Cornelius was, nonetheless he needed a Savior.
And God saw that his heart was tender and open to receive the truth of the gospel.
So God graciously (and supernaturally) arranged for Cornelius to be introduced to Simon Peter, who was willing and able to introduce Cornelius to Christ, the only name under heaven given among men whereby Cornelius could be saved (Acts 4:12).
It's important to note that the angel was not permitted to share the gospel with Cornelius.
Witnessing and testifying of the gospel of saving grace is reserved for the redeemed.
It's a direct order handed down from high command:
(Mat 28:19 NIV) "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(Mat 28:20 NIV) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Do you know a mostly good man or woman?
If so, begin praying today for the Holy Spirit to tenderize their hearts to be as open to meeting with God as Cornelius was.
And, like Simon Peter, be prepared if necessary to be the faithful witness whom God uses to carry His message of reconciliation and love to that mostly good person.
You, even you, might be the chosen vessel that God selects to partner with the Holy Spirit to help a mostly good person become convinced and convicted of their profoundly sinful condition and learn the eternally important lesson that good is just not good enough.
DSR
1/27/03
Monday, January 27, 2003
Monday, January 20, 2003
And They Lived Happliy Ever After...?
by David Scott Robertson
The married couple celebrates their silver wedding anniversary.
Twenty-five years with the same partner!
Perhaps you know of someone in your family or friendship circle
Who has even achieved the golden milestone of fifty years of holy matrimony!
What a stark contrast these couples are to the epidemic of divorce in our culture
(at this writing hovering around fifty-two percent.)
Imagine being together for twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years and beyond!
This year my family and I will make our way to Southern Illinois to celebrate my grandparents' seventieth wedding anniversary!
Paul Harvey calls people like my granparents "world champion lovers."
Surely to goodness couple who post numbers like these that have endured life's hardships and marital challenges must be considered as outstanding role models for the rest of us married folks, right?
Shouldn't you and I be eager to draw from the wellspring of marriages that have lasted for decades? Young couples like my wife and I (married a mere 15 years) should be standing in line to reap the accrued wisdom, experience, and sage advice of all older couples who have stood the test of time.
Is that right?
Isn't that right?
Surely that's right, right?
Not necessarily.
That would be true if the number of years a couple is married was equivalent to marital success. It's when you start to pin down and define what "success" in marriage is that things get a little fuzzy.
The clear cultural implication is that the longer you have been married the better the marriage. May I ask how much work does it require a husband and wife to do to make time pass? Absolutely none. No effort required.
How much work does it take to maintain a healthy, growing, satisfying, marriage characterized by good communication? Plenty of effort required.
As a matter of fact couples must work themselves to death (until their own selfish flesh dies and they begin to esteem the needs of their spouse as greater than their own (Philippians 2:3).
You see, I don't buy the lie that all couples who have been married for twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years and beyond have successful marriages. That's called a "misnomer."
I've lived enough of life to know and have observed enough married couples up close and personal to realize that there is a phenomena that I call "married singles" entrenched in numerous long-term marriages.
What in the world am I talking about?
Maybe you've seen it without realizing it.
He has his life and she has hers.
He has his money and she has hers.
He has his friends, hobbies and secrets and she has hers.
She's a doormat and he's a tyrant.
She can't do anything right and he thinks he doesn't do anything wrong.
He's a selfish pig and she's a lousy housekeeper who has let her body go.
He's the strong silent type who once told her
"I love you and if anything changes I'll let you know"
And she's dying inside from communication deficit.
And yet the family gathers every year to give them Hallmark cards and gifts they don't need to celebrate another year of marital bliss.
Now that's one side of the coin.
The flip side, and rest assured there is one,
Is that there are indeed sterling examples of truly wonderful marriages from which we can and should draw from as young couples in need of role models.
There are marriage partnerships consisting of two imperfect individuals becoming "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24) and committing to each other to working out and walking out life as a team no matter what.
I have come to two conclusions in this thought today regarding long-term relationships within the God-ordained institution of marriage:
Conclusion #1: Not all that glitters is gold and not all that's gold glitters.
Just because a married couple celebrates their 50th wedding anniversary does not mean that they are shining example of an extremely satisfying relationship.
They may in fact have been repeating the same relational mistakes for the last 49 years.
Conclusion #2: Jesus Christ is the cement that holds a marriage together as He leads couples on a success journey together.
Men and women are so vastly different that it's a wonder any marriage anywhere at anytime succeeds at all. It takes the power of God at work in a marriage to keep it alive and healthy and growing and maturing in the way God intends. When a marriage is good, it is a sign and a wonder. There's nothing better this side of heaven. It's an earthly portrait of a heavenly picture of Christ and the Church.
(Prov 18:22 NIV) "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD."
(Gen 2:18 NIV) "The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
But when a marriage is bad, every other victory in life is hollow and shallow:
(Prov 30:21 NIV) "Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
(Prov 30:22 NIV) a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food,
(Prov 30:23 NIV) AN UNLOVED WOMAN WHO IS MARRIED, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress."
(Prov 21:9 NIV) "Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife."
I would encourage all married couples to take the occasion of their wedding anniversary as an annual opportunity to renew their covenant faithfulness to each other and to the Lord AND to evaluate how they can selflessly carry out that covenant in a life that is ABUNDANT!
Only then can they truly live happily ever after.
DSR
1/20/03
The married couple celebrates their silver wedding anniversary.
Twenty-five years with the same partner!
Perhaps you know of someone in your family or friendship circle
Who has even achieved the golden milestone of fifty years of holy matrimony!
What a stark contrast these couples are to the epidemic of divorce in our culture
(at this writing hovering around fifty-two percent.)
Imagine being together for twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years and beyond!
This year my family and I will make our way to Southern Illinois to celebrate my grandparents' seventieth wedding anniversary!
Paul Harvey calls people like my granparents "world champion lovers."
Surely to goodness couple who post numbers like these that have endured life's hardships and marital challenges must be considered as outstanding role models for the rest of us married folks, right?
Shouldn't you and I be eager to draw from the wellspring of marriages that have lasted for decades? Young couples like my wife and I (married a mere 15 years) should be standing in line to reap the accrued wisdom, experience, and sage advice of all older couples who have stood the test of time.
Is that right?
Isn't that right?
Surely that's right, right?
Not necessarily.
That would be true if the number of years a couple is married was equivalent to marital success. It's when you start to pin down and define what "success" in marriage is that things get a little fuzzy.
The clear cultural implication is that the longer you have been married the better the marriage. May I ask how much work does it require a husband and wife to do to make time pass? Absolutely none. No effort required.
How much work does it take to maintain a healthy, growing, satisfying, marriage characterized by good communication? Plenty of effort required.
As a matter of fact couples must work themselves to death (until their own selfish flesh dies and they begin to esteem the needs of their spouse as greater than their own (Philippians 2:3).
You see, I don't buy the lie that all couples who have been married for twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years and beyond have successful marriages. That's called a "misnomer."
I've lived enough of life to know and have observed enough married couples up close and personal to realize that there is a phenomena that I call "married singles" entrenched in numerous long-term marriages.
What in the world am I talking about?
Maybe you've seen it without realizing it.
He has his life and she has hers.
He has his money and she has hers.
He has his friends, hobbies and secrets and she has hers.
She's a doormat and he's a tyrant.
She can't do anything right and he thinks he doesn't do anything wrong.
He's a selfish pig and she's a lousy housekeeper who has let her body go.
He's the strong silent type who once told her
"I love you and if anything changes I'll let you know"
And she's dying inside from communication deficit.
And yet the family gathers every year to give them Hallmark cards and gifts they don't need to celebrate another year of marital bliss.
Now that's one side of the coin.
The flip side, and rest assured there is one,
Is that there are indeed sterling examples of truly wonderful marriages from which we can and should draw from as young couples in need of role models.
There are marriage partnerships consisting of two imperfect individuals becoming "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24) and committing to each other to working out and walking out life as a team no matter what.
I have come to two conclusions in this thought today regarding long-term relationships within the God-ordained institution of marriage:
Conclusion #1: Not all that glitters is gold and not all that's gold glitters.
Just because a married couple celebrates their 50th wedding anniversary does not mean that they are shining example of an extremely satisfying relationship.
They may in fact have been repeating the same relational mistakes for the last 49 years.
Conclusion #2: Jesus Christ is the cement that holds a marriage together as He leads couples on a success journey together.
Men and women are so vastly different that it's a wonder any marriage anywhere at anytime succeeds at all. It takes the power of God at work in a marriage to keep it alive and healthy and growing and maturing in the way God intends. When a marriage is good, it is a sign and a wonder. There's nothing better this side of heaven. It's an earthly portrait of a heavenly picture of Christ and the Church.
(Prov 18:22 NIV) "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD."
(Gen 2:18 NIV) "The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
But when a marriage is bad, every other victory in life is hollow and shallow:
(Prov 30:21 NIV) "Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
(Prov 30:22 NIV) a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food,
(Prov 30:23 NIV) AN UNLOVED WOMAN WHO IS MARRIED, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress."
(Prov 21:9 NIV) "Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife."
I would encourage all married couples to take the occasion of their wedding anniversary as an annual opportunity to renew their covenant faithfulness to each other and to the Lord AND to evaluate how they can selflessly carry out that covenant in a life that is ABUNDANT!
Only then can they truly live happily ever after.
DSR
1/20/03
Sunday, January 12, 2003
What Bible Character Would You Be?
by David Scott Robertson
The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is filled with actual accounts of amazing people whose personality qualities and faith garnered the attention of Almighty God. Many of their exploits prove that truth really is stranger than fiction. In both ancient and modern times, parents have named their children after outstanding Bible figures.
Just today I was pondering which Bible character I would be if I were able to enjoy the characteristics of any one of these figures that made them great in God’s eyes. What about you? Have you ever thought about which Bible character you would be if somehow that were possible?
The obvious choice would be Jesus Christ Himself, who was sinless perfection. Frankly, it doesn’t get any better than that! But let’s say apart from Him, who impresses you in God’s Word so much so that if it were possible you’d like to bring that Bible character’s personality traits into your life and current culture?
* Would you like to be like Noah - who at one time was the only man on planet earth who found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8 KJV)?
* How about Moses – God’s choice to deliver an entire nation from slavery? Moses walked in more miracles that you could shake a stick, I mean a rod, at.
* Consider Joshua – the servant of Moses who grew up to be the fearless general that led the tribes of Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua had supernatural encounters with angels and experienced more military success than perhaps any general who ever lived. Joshua is a fine choice for those who enjoy conquest.
* Abraham, now there’s a man who delighted God! Would you like to have the faith of Abraham than so captured God’s attention that the Lord made an eternal covenant with him that whoever blessed him would be blessed and whoever cursed him would be cursed?
* Daniel represents another outstanding choice. The word in the English language that might best describe Daniel’s life could very well be the word “favor.” Daniel enjoyed the favor of God and high ranking officials that spanned four governmental administrations! According to Bible history, Daniel’s political career out-lasted four dynasties! His fame and favor even extended to the lion’s den where ravenous beasts refused to harm him!
* Would you like to be like King David? Here’s the only man in the entire Bible of whom it was said that he was a “man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). David was a worshipper whose praise to God was so pure that it drove demons away (1 Samuel 16:16-19). God loved David so much that He made eternal promises to Him personally and most importantly, the Messiah Himself would come from the house and line of David. Setting aside David’s flaws and tragic failures, wouldn’t you just jump at the chance to be like this Bible character?
* What about David’s son, Solomon? That would be a wise choice…literally! God gave Solomon unprecedented and unmatched wisdom! The Bible points him out as the wisest man who ever lived apart from Jesus in whom are hidden ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Imagine what you could accomplish in today’s confused world with that caliber and quantity of wisdom!
* We haven’t even touched on prophets like Isaiah and Elijah and Elisha and Samuel whose lives exemplified a level of consecration to God that is stunning! Any prophet culled out and called out by God would be a fantastic selection!
Fast forwarding to the New Testament era, we find some awesome examples of Bible characters that if we were to somehow be cloaked with their personality traits, qualities, and world changing behavior, we would do well.
* Can you imagine being Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ? How about living day after day, year after year, watching the Son of God grow and mature in your very own home? Think of the countless hours of conversation with this holy Child who grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52).
* Or how about the great apostle Paul? Would you like to have been used by the Holy Spirit to write most of the New Testament scriptures?
* Wouldn’t you just loved to have been like Peter, James, and John, the “inner core” of Jesus who were privileged to see things that few, not even the rest of the 12 disciples of Jesus, were permitted to see? One of the three, John, was even referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23)!
We haven’t even touched on the women of faith that God prized so highly in the scriptures but suffice it to say that there are many splendid examples of believers in both the Old and New Testaments that we could choose from who would be wonderful role models for us to be like.
Having said all that, I want to report to you my choice. If I could somehow be like any Bible character in the entire Bible, I would choose to be like a man named Enoch.
Enoch had a few claims to fame that has drawn my attention. He was the father of the oldest man to ever live on the earth (Methuselah, 969 years – see Genesis 5:27). He was a righteous prophet that God spoke to and through very early in the history of the human race:
“Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him" (Jude 1:14-15).
Moreover, Enoch lived over three centuries on the earth (365 years, see Genesis 5:23)! Impressive but that’s not why I would like to be like Enoch.
The reason that I would choose to have my life patterned after Enoch more than any other Bible character that you will encounter in God’s Word is found in Hebrews 11:5:
“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”
Enoch was a man of faith in God even when there weren’t any Bibles around to explain the concept. There were no churches, no apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to tell Enoch how to believe in God.
Enoch simply had the testimony that he pleased God. And for that reason, and that reason alone, God decreed that this man would be “plucked up” from the earth and taken to heaven to be with God personally (Genesis 5:24). Enoch has yet to taste death even though “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27). The only other man that shares this unique experience is the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 2:11).
Some theologians speculate that the “two witnesses” that the book of Revelation describes whom God will send back to the earth to preach and prophesy and perform signs and wonders as often as they wish for 1,260 days during the Great Tribulation are these two men, Enoch and Elijah (Revelation 11:3).
Little is said about the lifestyle of Enoch. Apparently this man’s walk with the Lord was so pure, so righteous in God’s sight that one day God’s heart was moved to transfer Enoch from living on the earth to be taken alive to heaven.
I want to be like Enoch because I want to have a testimony that pleases God. I want to live my brief life on the earth in such a way that God is able to commend me. I want to one day hear my Master say to me:
'…Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21).
And who knows, perhaps God will count me worthy, like Enoch, to avoid death altogether by being “plucked up” in the Rapture of the church!
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
– DSR
1/12/03
The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is filled with actual accounts of amazing people whose personality qualities and faith garnered the attention of Almighty God. Many of their exploits prove that truth really is stranger than fiction. In both ancient and modern times, parents have named their children after outstanding Bible figures.
Just today I was pondering which Bible character I would be if I were able to enjoy the characteristics of any one of these figures that made them great in God’s eyes. What about you? Have you ever thought about which Bible character you would be if somehow that were possible?
The obvious choice would be Jesus Christ Himself, who was sinless perfection. Frankly, it doesn’t get any better than that! But let’s say apart from Him, who impresses you in God’s Word so much so that if it were possible you’d like to bring that Bible character’s personality traits into your life and current culture?
* Would you like to be like Noah - who at one time was the only man on planet earth who found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8 KJV)?
* How about Moses – God’s choice to deliver an entire nation from slavery? Moses walked in more miracles that you could shake a stick, I mean a rod, at.
* Consider Joshua – the servant of Moses who grew up to be the fearless general that led the tribes of Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua had supernatural encounters with angels and experienced more military success than perhaps any general who ever lived. Joshua is a fine choice for those who enjoy conquest.
* Abraham, now there’s a man who delighted God! Would you like to have the faith of Abraham than so captured God’s attention that the Lord made an eternal covenant with him that whoever blessed him would be blessed and whoever cursed him would be cursed?
* Daniel represents another outstanding choice. The word in the English language that might best describe Daniel’s life could very well be the word “favor.” Daniel enjoyed the favor of God and high ranking officials that spanned four governmental administrations! According to Bible history, Daniel’s political career out-lasted four dynasties! His fame and favor even extended to the lion’s den where ravenous beasts refused to harm him!
* Would you like to be like King David? Here’s the only man in the entire Bible of whom it was said that he was a “man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). David was a worshipper whose praise to God was so pure that it drove demons away (1 Samuel 16:16-19). God loved David so much that He made eternal promises to Him personally and most importantly, the Messiah Himself would come from the house and line of David. Setting aside David’s flaws and tragic failures, wouldn’t you just jump at the chance to be like this Bible character?
* What about David’s son, Solomon? That would be a wise choice…literally! God gave Solomon unprecedented and unmatched wisdom! The Bible points him out as the wisest man who ever lived apart from Jesus in whom are hidden ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Imagine what you could accomplish in today’s confused world with that caliber and quantity of wisdom!
* We haven’t even touched on prophets like Isaiah and Elijah and Elisha and Samuel whose lives exemplified a level of consecration to God that is stunning! Any prophet culled out and called out by God would be a fantastic selection!
Fast forwarding to the New Testament era, we find some awesome examples of Bible characters that if we were to somehow be cloaked with their personality traits, qualities, and world changing behavior, we would do well.
* Can you imagine being Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ? How about living day after day, year after year, watching the Son of God grow and mature in your very own home? Think of the countless hours of conversation with this holy Child who grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52).
* Or how about the great apostle Paul? Would you like to have been used by the Holy Spirit to write most of the New Testament scriptures?
* Wouldn’t you just loved to have been like Peter, James, and John, the “inner core” of Jesus who were privileged to see things that few, not even the rest of the 12 disciples of Jesus, were permitted to see? One of the three, John, was even referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23)!
We haven’t even touched on the women of faith that God prized so highly in the scriptures but suffice it to say that there are many splendid examples of believers in both the Old and New Testaments that we could choose from who would be wonderful role models for us to be like.
Having said all that, I want to report to you my choice. If I could somehow be like any Bible character in the entire Bible, I would choose to be like a man named Enoch.
Enoch had a few claims to fame that has drawn my attention. He was the father of the oldest man to ever live on the earth (Methuselah, 969 years – see Genesis 5:27). He was a righteous prophet that God spoke to and through very early in the history of the human race:
“Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him" (Jude 1:14-15).
Moreover, Enoch lived over three centuries on the earth (365 years, see Genesis 5:23)! Impressive but that’s not why I would like to be like Enoch.
The reason that I would choose to have my life patterned after Enoch more than any other Bible character that you will encounter in God’s Word is found in Hebrews 11:5:
“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”
Enoch was a man of faith in God even when there weren’t any Bibles around to explain the concept. There were no churches, no apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to tell Enoch how to believe in God.
Enoch simply had the testimony that he pleased God. And for that reason, and that reason alone, God decreed that this man would be “plucked up” from the earth and taken to heaven to be with God personally (Genesis 5:24). Enoch has yet to taste death even though “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27). The only other man that shares this unique experience is the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 2:11).
Some theologians speculate that the “two witnesses” that the book of Revelation describes whom God will send back to the earth to preach and prophesy and perform signs and wonders as often as they wish for 1,260 days during the Great Tribulation are these two men, Enoch and Elijah (Revelation 11:3).
Little is said about the lifestyle of Enoch. Apparently this man’s walk with the Lord was so pure, so righteous in God’s sight that one day God’s heart was moved to transfer Enoch from living on the earth to be taken alive to heaven.
I want to be like Enoch because I want to have a testimony that pleases God. I want to live my brief life on the earth in such a way that God is able to commend me. I want to one day hear my Master say to me:
'…Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21).
And who knows, perhaps God will count me worthy, like Enoch, to avoid death altogether by being “plucked up” in the Rapture of the church!
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
– DSR
1/12/03
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