Tag Archives: Church Bulletin

Are People Good?

Culture, Daily living, Sin, ,

Are people good? Are they inherently virtuous? Why does it seem that some people are good and honorable while others are dishonorable and even evil? As expected, there is a Bible answer.

Beginnings

Humanity began in Eden. The Bible tells us that as part of God’s creation week, he created the human species. Most importantly, they were created in his divine image. They were image-bearers of the creator (Genesis 1:27). He told them to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:26-31). It is evident that they obeyed this command, for in Genesis 4, two sons have been born to the first couple. A third son is born at the end of the chapter. By the end of Genesis 5, 10 generations from Adam and Eve are recorded.

On the 6th day of creation, as God prepared to rest from his work, he looked upon the totality of his creation. He declared it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). According to the biblical record, only two humans were alive when God declared the goodness of his creation. There is no evidence of any evil in the world, and there was certainly no sin. This is critical. Mankind was very good when created. Inasmuch as there was no evil in the world, we may conclude that the original couple was pure, sinless, and thus very good.

Unfortunately, something very bad was about to happen in the very good world.

Disaster Strikes

We do not know how long this sinless state continued in Eden, but by the time Adam was 130 years old, sin had entered the world with catastrophic consequences (Genesis 5:3).

A choice was given. Adam and Eve could obey God, or they could disobey. Their choice? Disobedience. God had placed two unique trees in the Garden of Eden: the tree of life of which man could freely eat, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was this last tree that mankind was forbidden even to touch. The presence of those two trees provided a choice for Adam and Eve.

All was well in the garden until Satan entered in the form of a serpent (Genesis 3:1). He immediately questioned God’s authority and even called God a liar. He tempted Eve to eat from the forbidden tree. She surrendered to the temptation, as did her husband, Adam (Genesis 3:6). We must emphasize that neither Adam nor Eve was compelled to eat the forbidden fruit. It was their choice. Because they chose to disobey, they suffered the consequences of their action.

Much of this chapter focuses on the consequences of their sin. Adam must now work harder, Eve will suffer pain in childbearing, the serpent is cursed to crawl upon the ground and eat dust, and Satan will be crushed by one who is yet unborn (Genesis 3:15). But the greatest consequence is not revealed until the end of the chapter. God banished man from the presence of the tree of life (Genesis 3:22-24). On that dark day in the long-ago, man’s spirit died when he was separated from God, and the process of physical death began as well. Because man could no longer eat from the tree of life, his body began to age and break down, leading to physical death.

The horrible aftermath of the sin in Eden is seen in Genesis 4. The very next generation, the son of Adam and Eve, Cain, worships improperly, then rises up against his brother Abel and kills him. Even more deadly violence is recorded in verses 23 and 24. The horrific picture of murderous rage is painted in the boldest of colors immediately after the sin in Eden.

What happened?

There was only one way to sin in the Garden of Eden, and Adam and Eve found it. All the joys and pleasures of a perfect world lay before them. But they threw it all away by succumbing to temptation.

Here is the problem for the modern world: Sin was once contained at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But once touched and consumed, sin was set loose in humanity. The very name of the tree explains its dangerous contagion. It opened their eyes and gave them knowledge of sin, thus making them guilty and subject to punishment (Genesis 3:7). The first parents would then spread the influence of sin to their children, who would spread it to their children, and so forth. Sin spreads when we are influenced to choose wrongly.

Sin is not in our DNA. We are not sinful because some ancient ancestor sinned (Ezekiel 18:20). We are sinful because of our choices. Now the upshot of this argument is that people are inherently good. We become evil when we surrender to evil influence.

The real man, the authentic man, is made in the image of God and is, therefore, very good. When we sully the image of God that we each bear, we become evil. Our goal, achieved through Jesus Christ alone, is to find and reclaim the holiness that once defined God’s creation.

Authenticity calls for a return to the original condition seen in Eden. It is not defined by what our corrupted hearts and minds tell us it is. The dark ruler of this world wants you to find pseudo authenticity in anything but the image of God.

We are like a people swimming in a putrid river of sewage. Our world and our culture are corrupt. Sin is everywhere. We are influenced to sin through others, the media, and especially social media. Like those swimming in the festering river, we must not grow weary and must press to reach the other side. To stop swimming means certain death. To surrender to evil temptation means certain death.

Do not give up but continue to search for the inherently good spirit God has placed in each of us. Yet, none of us are strong enough to reach the other side of that river without God’s help. God’s grace empowers us to reach the other side of the river and to return to the authenticity of an image-bearer of God

Yes, people are good.

large fire but if not

Courage: But if not

Bible General, ,
large fire but if not

Christians have questions. Sometimes we even question God. It would be nice if we all went around singing, “It is well with my soul,” but we don’t and probably never will in this life. We face profound challenges almost daily and we struggle to understand why we are facing them. Problems are for others, not for me. Why is this happening to me? Why did she die; she was so good?” Most of the time life doesn’t make sense to us. Do you agree? Have you been there? Did you find the courage you needed?

Three devout men found themselves facing an impossible choice. They could serve God or obey the king. At first, it seems an easy choice – a no-brainer. Except, the king would kill you in a most gruesome way if you did not obey. Many would crumble in the face of such a dilemma. But these three did not.

Men of Unbelievable Courage

The king commanded all to bow to an idol image he built. Failure to do so meant certain death. Three men said no! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)

I’ve read this story since I was a child. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego were Bible school heroes because they went into the fiery furnace and survived. They didn’t even smell like smoke! But lately, their hero status has increased because of three words, “but if not.”

These three servants of God stood before Nebuchadnezzar and staunchly proclaimed their confidence in the God of heaven. Then, after the king confronted them and threatened them with death by fire, they said: “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.” They were confident in God’s ability to protect them from the fire and in his ability to defeat the king’s plans. Maybe they recalled Solomon’s proverb: “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will (Proverbs 21:1). God’s mighty victory over Pharaoh, generations before, could have given them strength too.

But If Not

Like courageous Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we know that God can deliver us from troubles small and great. Our problem is that we assume God will always act the way we think he should! That’s the power of their next statement to Nebuchadnezzar. “But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (vs. 18). “BUT IF NOT.”

If God has a different plan, we’re ok with that too. The three did not doubt God’s ability to save them. Instead, they doubted their understanding of the Lord’s marvelous plans. The Lord said it this way in Isaiah 55:8: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. Oh, how we wish God would answer our prayers our way!

You know how this story ends. Nebuchadnezzar did not change his mind. The soldiers threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the deadly fire. It was then that something truly stupendous happened. The king looked into the fire saw an angel protecting the men! “Come out, come here,” he ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The fire did not singe their hair. God had a plan all along! By doing things God’s way, the Lord provided a timeless story of trust and faith. Plus, Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful ruler of his day, was humbled by God’s show of power.

“Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.”

Daniel 3:28

God’s people gained a great victory that day, for the king issued a decree that protected the Hebrews from any assault on their worship. As for our three heroes, they were promoted to higher positions in Babylon.

God Cares for You Too

God will deliver us, but if not, the end result will always be better. May we live with Habakkuk’s courageous attitude:

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:17, 18

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Broken

Church Bulletin, Encouragement, , , ,

a broken man Jesus breaks Christians. It is a necessity. Every Christian breaks when Jesus shatters his common way of life so that holiness can rule.  Our lives, which seem good to us, are melted in the light of the true goodness in Christ. What seems clean and pristine is discovered stained and ruined when brought before the Lamb of God. Jesus said it this way:

 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17).

These words described a church that thought highly of their spirituality, yet, they were just the opposite. His stern rebuke warned the Laodiceans; he wanted them broken so they could serve.

God broke all of the great men and women in the Bible.

God broke Abraham when he required him to leave his home for an undisclosed home far away (Genesis 12:1). He again shattered Abraham when he told him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac (Genesis 22:2). Can anyone imagine the agony of the three-day journey into the mountains of Moriah? Surely Abraham was tempted to turn around and go home. But he did not.

God broke Moses when the future leader was forced to flee the comforts of Pharaoh’s palace for a job tending sheep in Midian (Exodus 2:11-32). Moses would reach his breaking point again and again as he was tasked to lead the obstinate Hebrews out of bondage.

God allowed Job to be shattered by the whims of Satan. This godly man was wealthy and blessed but lost everything including his health (Job 1:13-19; 2:7-10). Through his struggles, he stood firm and today is an example for all who trust in God.

God shows no favoritism to women. He broke Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Hannah through the barrenness of their wombs. Living in a time much different from today, these women were thought cursed and were frequently the butt of jokes (Genesis 30:23; 1 Samuel 6, 7). Ruth faced the loss of her husband, her father-in-law, and her brother-in-law in a land with little support for the three widows. All of these women came to know God better through their suffering.

Jesus broke Paul as he traveled to Damascus. The apostle-to-be was a man of passion and dedication to the Law of Moses. Jesus had other plans for him. He blinded him (Acts 9:1-9) and sent a teacher who instructed him concerning Jesus. Paul soon found himself without friends and the target of murder. The Jews hated him, and the Christians feared him.

None of these, and there are many more, could effectively serve the Lord until God broke them. Today we must be broken too. We must separate from our former sinful ways. We face the chastening of God which, through unpleasant, brings growth (Hebrews 12:5-11); Revelation 3:19). Paul came to realize that the earthly struggles he faced were working a tremendous improvement in his life (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Let us accept the hand of God who breaks and chastens his people. Our struggles make for glory in the world to come. Our troubles are not pleasant but they do bring improvement and lead to glory.

 

 

 

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

Growing in Christ

Church Bulletin,

In one sense, it is impossible for finite man to know everything about the infinite God. It is just not possible for us to comprehend the glory of God. But thankfully, he has revealed to us much of his nature and character. He has also given us of his knowledge concerning mankind, sin and redemption. Our God has not left us ignorant on any topic necessary to our salvation.

Peter writes:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Notice that all we need has been granted to us. That gift is through divine effort, not human. Through that knowledge comes great promises which allow us to partake in the divine nature!  I’m not sure I fully understand what it means to share or partake in the divine nature but it is glorious and exciting.

It is through the inspired Scriptures that we gain those promises. We enjoy “all sufficiency” in the things of God and need not worry that something has been kept back. We have everything we need (2 Corinthians 9:8).

The question every Christian ought to ask every day is whether he is growing in Christ. Paul said that he viewed all worldly riches and glory as trash when compared to the “knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). For Paul, this is more than simple acquisition of facts about Christ. It is a knowledge that moves him ever closer to his Lord and conforms him more and more into the image of God.

Every child must grow. We are like infants who desire the nourishing mother’s milk so important to maturity and development. It is through this spiritual milk that we “grow up” into Christ (1 Peter 2:2; Ephesians 4:15).

So again, how are we doing? Not everyone grows as they should. The writer of Hebrews argues that some have failed to grow and still need milk, not meat.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.  (Hebrews 5:12-13)

There are several ways to assess one’s growth in Christ. Perhaps the best is to ask whether the word of God has brought a change to your life. Have you taught one of Jesus recently? Could you share the truth with someone? What of your present study habits? Are you regularly reading the Scriptures and meditating on their truth?

Let us all grow up into Christ in every way. Our lives will be so much richer and our walk with Christ so much closer if we would only seek to know him better.

 Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

Legendary Fathers

Church Bulletin, Family Issues, ,

Great fathers are the stuff of legends. Today, more than ever, great fathers are rare. There are many men who bear the title but fewer and fewer are really worthy of being called a legend. At the same time, it seems that many men want to be good fathers but have never learned how. Perhaps they never had an example of a good father in their own lives. We offer some ideas that can take a common man and put him on the road to greatness.

Legendary Fathers are Godly Men

The heroic knights of old were subservient to their king. The vaunted Samurai of the ancient Japanese empires were servants to wealthy landholders and to the Emperor. Today, the very best fathers are men who serve the risen Christ constantly.

Twice, Paul said that “at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow” (Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10). The Christian father demonstrates his loyalty to Jesus through his daily actions. He shows his love for Christ by placing his love for Him even before that of his family. There is nothing above his commitment to God (Luke 12:46; Matthew 6:33).

When a truly legendary father dies, his children will first declare that he was a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). Do you wish to be a legend? Serve God first.

Legendary Fathers Invest Time in their Children

Much has been said about the difference between quality of time and quantity of time as if you cannot have both. Probably, this idea arose as an excuse for men who spend too much time on the job. The truth is that you can be a legendary father or a legendary worker but you cannot be both. Something must come first (Matthew 6:24).

Because our success in our culture is predicated upon the accumulation of wealth and tangible property, we no longer value as much the priceless accumulation of memories and shared time. What a shame. Understand, reader, wealth is nice but it is not necessary. Paul wrote,

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs (1 Timothy 6:6-10).

To invest hours in your children is far superior to investing dollars. The payout is much greater.

Become a legend to your children, Fathers. They need real heroes that can be seen, touched and talked to.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans

 

Knowing the Word of God

Church Bulletin,

You have heard of people described as a “jack of all trades but a master of none.” It describes someone who has some knowledge of many things but is not really good at any of them. Sometimes we say a person has just enough knowledge to be dangerous. The problem is that they have never committed to fully learning a skill. Bits and pieces of knowledge and a little experience here and there is all they have. In medicine, doctors specialize for a reason. They know that by focusing on a specific area of care, they can become better at treating those problems.

I dream of the day when more Christians invest more time in knowing God’s word. David writes that the blessed man’s “delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). He dwells upon God’s word constantly, always considering how it applies to his life, always digging a little deeper. What a wonderful habit! Knowing God’s word and meditating upon it brings great blessings.

Knowing the word of God prevents contagious error.

If you spend time on Facebook you know that people often post extraordinary stories that are just not true. The sensational stories spread across the internet like a stomach virus in a kindergarten classroom because no one has stopped to check the truthfulness of the story. The error spreads rapidly. I recall a youngster who attended our Vacation Bible School. As the teacher told a Bible story the boy stopped him and declared that he was wrong, that he told the story wrong. The patient teacher suggested the class look up the story in their Bibles. As they read the story the boy began to blush. He said, “I’m sorry, but I guess my preacher told me wrong.” Later the teacher told me that the boy had no Bible of his own. When I gave him one he was stunned. “I can keep it?” he asked. You would have thought we had given him the newest tricked out bike on the market. The young man came from a very large church which does not encourage its members to study or even own a Bible.

Knowing the word of God leads to a closer walk with Jesus.

The Bible is breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and its Spirit guided words (2 Peter 1:21) deliver unto us the very mind of God (Romans 8:27). When Jesus died and paid for our sins, he shattered the priestly system (clergy) that stood between God and men. The curtain of the Temple was torn open (Matthew 27:51) and no longer was the mortal separated from the divine. Our hope of salvation is now anchored behind the curtain (Hebrews 6:19) and no preacher, priest, reverend, Cardinal or Pope is needed for my salvation. It is the word of God that informs me that Jesus alone is my mediator (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:15; 12:24). Let me walk close to him by knowing him through his word.

Knowing the word of God

gives me all I need for salvation. We have questions that are hard to answer. We want to know where Cain got his wife and we want to know what Paul’s thorn in the flesh really was. But the questions that we need to know are answered for us. Paul declared that our sufficiency comes from God and rests with him (2 Corinthians 3:5-6). We have all we need (2 Corinthians 9:8).  Consider Peter’s inspired words:

 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.  (2 Peter 1:3-5)

Indeed, knowing God’s word gives all we need for ultimate joy and happiness. Yet we do not simply absorb the word. We work at it as Paul reminded us (2 Timothy 2:15). Work is a bad word for some but what sparkling diamond has ever been found above ground? Know the word of God and you will be richly blessed.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter  @jbevans.

 

 

When Pain Is Good

Church Bulletin, Daily living,

A top college football coach has a motto for his team: “Pain instructs.” One of his top players sports a tattoo that reads, “Pain Lies.” Each is counterintuitive. They seem silly. We think that pain only hurts. That it must be eliminated at all cost. We might even think that pain is the only truth because we feel its reality. Pain is bad. Maybe not.

Pain is ubiquitous. Always with us in some form or to some degree, pain is never far away. We all have physical pain ranging from inconvenient to excruciating. We also suffer mental or emotional pain because of external events as well as our own errors. And there is certainly spiritual pain which is reflected in the knowledge of eternal condemnation because of our own sins.

We cannot avoid pain. It comes along with the frail, mortal bodies we posses. And unless we can find a way to live without ever making a mistake we will continue to suffer emotionally from our missteps. Certainly the pain of living apart from God is not something we alone can change. Even the righteous man sins and even though forgiveness is certain there is still the pain of knowing we have hurt our Lord and shamed him again (Hebrews 6:6).

So if pain is a part of life, how can we use it to our benefit?

Pain teaches us to rely on Christ

All pain is subject to Christ. In Matthew 8:14, Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law from a fever. In Mark 9:14-29, Jesus heals a young boy possessed with demons that would cause the young man to fall into the fire or into the water. Luke 7:11-17 Jesus raised an only child from the dead and healed the deep pain of his widowed mother. In John 14:16-20, Jesus promised his apostles a “comforter”  or “helper” because of their fear over his departure.

Mankind seems to have an innate understanding to pray in difficult times. Who among us has not been driven to their knees in times of trial? Paul says to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Like our Lord we will still suffer. But he alone can soften the blows and bring us through any pain.

Pain teaches us to rely on others

I am thankful for my families. I am thankful for my physical family who cares for me and supports me in all struggles. But I am also thankful for the church, the body of Christ (Colossians 1:18), which is my big family.

The original Christians of Acts 2:41-47 were always supporting one another. In fact, within weeks of the beginning of the church the Christians were already targeting the weak among them, the widows, in an effort to meet their needs (Acts 6:1 ff). While independence is a fine trait, it cannot meet all of our needs. When suffering, reply upon the brethren.

Pain teaches us how to help others

Can anyone understand the fear of cancer as well as someone else who has suffered through it? Can anyone understand the intensity of despondency of one who has lost a child? As we stumble though our agonies in this life, we learn how to persevere and bear up. We then become well equipped to share with others our understanding and to point them to a better place.

Pain and agony are Satanic tools to crush the spirits of the righteous. Torments and afflictions are demonic items which the devil hopes will separate us from our Lord. The wise man however will use pain as a stepping stone to a better place. Even Paul came to understand the proper place of pain his life (2 Corinthians 12:7).

Do not fear pain. Accept it and grow though it.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter  @jbevans.

Enthroned!

Church Bulletin, Government,

Jesus is on the throne. Remember that and do not forget it. Jesus is on the throne.

This week we face an election which has many Americans up in arms over the possible outcomes. People on both sides of the street fear the worst if their candidate fails to win. For some, the church will fail if the wrong candidate wins. They almost seem to think that God himself will be overcome by evil if the polls are against him. The Christian must take a different view.

Jesus is on the throne.

Around the year 4 BC an infant was found in swaddling clothes in a manger. As per their instructions, his parents named him Jesus. He was in a manger because of a decree from a Roman Emperor  who ordered a census of the subjugated Jews. Israel was not what it once was. They had been oppressed by the Greeks and now the Romans ruled their land. For the most part, Rome cared little about their worship so long as the taxes flowed into the Roman coffers and the people behaved themselves.

But the Jewish leadership, such as it was, was not so benign. Thinking that Jesus was a threat to his earthy kingdom, Herod ordered the mass murder of all baby boys under two years of age. His trap failed to kill Jesus who had fled into Egypt. This king would never kill Jesus but his son, Herod Antipas would play a role in Jesus’ death (Luke 23:6 ff). After his death and resurrection, Jesus would declare, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). Jesus stood at the right hand of God just weeks later when Stephen was killed (Acts 7:55, 56). Nothing has changed.

Jesus is on the throne.

Days after the resurrected Jesus ascended into heaven, the church began in a mighty way (Acts 2:38-47). Almost immediately, it faced the persecutions of the Jewish leadership. The leaders threatened the apostles (Acts 4:21 ff), they were arrested (Acts 5:17-21), they were the target of extreme hatred (Acts 5:33) and they were beaten (Acts 5:40). Soon, the deacon Stephen was stoned to death by the Jewish Sanhedrin (Acts 7:59, 60) and the church was found in a state of havoc because of persecutions (Acts 8:3). Soon, the apostle James was killed by King Herod (Acts 12:1-5). But through all of this, the church continued to grow and mature. The persecutions only drove their convictions deeper. Why?

Jesus is on the throne.

As time passed the persecutions would slowly shift from the Jews to the Roman government. Apostles and church leaders would die. Families would be uprooted and move from one end of the empire to another. Struggle became the by-word of Christian life. Yet, through it all, the church continued to grow as people came to know the Lord. No power could stop the body of Christ. For the Christian, our view is far beyond this life. We are pilgrims searching for another city (Hebrews 11:13-16).

I do not know what will happen Tuesday. Like you, I have hopes for my earthly future which may, or may not materialize. But I will not be shaken if things do not turn out as I think they should. I am a Christian first and will not be swayed from serving the Lord because I know that Jesus is on the throne!

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter  @jbevans. 

Jesus and Legion

Church Bulletin, Jesus, Luke, Mark, Matthew, , , ,

The meeting between Jesus and Legion is fascinating. Jesus converses with the demon and then banishes him into a herd of pigs. The story is exciting and curious, and there are important lessons to be learned. The account is found in Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:26-39.

Jesus is preaching in Galilee and has just crossed the Sea of Galilee in a boat. During the crossing a terrible storm frightened his disciples into fearing for their lives. Jesus rebuked the winds and waves, the storm ended and calm descended on the waters. Jesus had demonstrated his authority over the elements of nature. Now, stepping onto the rocky bank of the eastern shore of the sea, Jesus is confronted by a man of some local notoriety. The man was possessed. His life was a miserable existence. He wore no clothes and lived among the tombs perhaps sheltering in them during inclement weather. The man immediately confronts Jesus and the disciples. Within minutes, the demons are cast out into nearby pigs which rush headlong into the sea and drown. The narrative provides important learning for us.

Demons are real.

The story is recorded  here by all three of the synoptic writers. The Bible describes them as demons and notes Jesus interaction with them. Demons were objects of worship in the Bible (Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalm 106:37; 1 Corinthians 10:20-21; 1 Timothy 4:1). The New Testament also records the existence of demons with the word occurring in 68 verses. In most cases, the demons are objects of God’s power to be cast out of men for God’s own glory. Some would wish to ignore the existence of demons and think only on good things. But Satan and his underlings are real.

Demons are not all powerful.

Hollywood, from the days of The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby, have given us the impression that Satan and his demons are as powerful as God himself. But here we see otherwise. In Luke 8:28, the demons came before Jesus and “fell down before him.” This is an act of contrition; it is an act of submission. The demon then begged Jesus not to torment him. The word “beg” translates the Greek, deomai, which means to ask with urgency and with an implied need. The demon knew he needed Jesus’ help and submitted to him.

Demons know and worship the Lord.

It is striking to see a demon bowing before Jesus. We are also caught a bit off-guard when the demon speaks to Jesus and calls him by name. Knowing who Jesus is and even feigning worship to him is simply not sufficient. This echoes James’ statement from James 2:19: “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder!” Mere believe, apart from obedience is useless (James 2:20).

Jesus wins!

This small story really sums up the entirety of the book of Revelation. Despite the trouble Satan causes, despite the pain he brings, Jesus always wins. When the demons asked Jesus to send them into the nearby swine, Luke simply says Jesus “gave them permission´(Luke 8:32). The demons entered the pigs and they rushed into the sea and were destroyed. The man is next seen sitting clothed at the feet of Jesus and in his right mind. This event was so powerful that the people asked Jesus to leave the region because they feared his great power.

While this is an interesting story, it has a purpose. Like all miraculous acts, the purpose was to build faith in Christ, confirm his words and teachings, and to make more disciples. The formerly possessed man begs Jesus to allow him to travel with him but the Lord says no.  “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

What a joy to serve a Lord that can command demons to depart! There is none greater than our Lord!

Jesus and Light

Church Bulletin, Jesus, ,

Light is often used to describe good things. Light describes truth (Psalm 43:3; Ephesians 5:9). Light describes God’s word (Psalms 119:105, 130). Light describes goodness (Proverbs 15:30; Ephesians 5:9). Light describes deliverance and redemption (Luke 1:79). Light also describes Jesus (John 8:12; John 12:35, 36; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Light is a good thing and an oft topic in Scripture.

We do not think much about light until we lose it. We don’t think about light bulbs until they fail. We don’t think about the power grid until a storms plunges us into darkness. When light is gone we are suddenly confronted with the necessity of light. No one intentionally walks through treacherous terrain at night without some kind of light. Uneven ground, holes, rocks, roots and more hide in darkness and bring danger to the traveler. We need physical light.

Light is necessary for life. When God created light on the first day of creation and then the Sun and Moon on the fourth day, he provided a required element for almost all plants and animals. A garden does not grow well unless it has some sunlight fr
om which to draw energy. Nature needs physical light.

Light is also required for our spiritual life. The spirit of man is not fed by food like the physical body (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4) but instead by spiritual things (c.f. 1Corinthians 2:12-16). In the same way, the light the man’s spirit needs is not that generated by physical things like the Sun, but by Jesus Himself. We need spiritual light as desperately as a home garden needs sunshine. We die without the light of God’s word.

Jesus is the light of our life. He alone illumines the way to God (John 14:1-7). The writer of Hebrews explains the important role of Jesus when he says that Jesus is the one who has entered heaven as a “forerunner”  for us (Hebrews 6:19). We could not find the way on our own nor were we powerful enough, sinless enough or worthy enough to blaze the trail for ourselves, not to mention for others too. A forerunner not only goes ahead but he also marks the way for those who follow. Jesus, as our light, has done exactly that.

Isaiah says it this way:

 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;  those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isaiah 9:2).

Jesus is our light. It is Jesus who guides us into salvation. Near the very end of the Old Testament, just as a prophetic silence was about to fall upon the people for 400 years, God makes some promises. He speaks of victory and freedom. This time is associated with the coming of Jesus and his messenger John (Malachi 4:5). He says:

 “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings” (Malachi 4:2).

There can be no one else of whom the prophet speaks but Jesus. The Christ is the “sun of righteousness” who heals. He is light and he has shone upon us to heal us from sin and the dominion of the devil. Jesus is light and there is no darkness in the Son (2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 John 1:5).