The Good Life

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

When people talk about living a “good life,” I suppose they may have differing views about exactly what a ‘good life’ might entail.

But Paul has no doubt about the subject, and he tells one and all how ‘the good life’ may be attained.

Do people really want a good life? If so, beyond question, here is how it may be had: Allow the love of Christ to flow through you.

This sounds really simple, and it is, but we sometimes struggle with implementation. One of the simplest descriptions I have heard of this life is, “to do the best you can.”

Oh, well now we’re back at what our parents used to tell us. “Try hard. Do your best. That’s all I ask.”

But that’s not it. It really has nothing to do with what you do or what you say. It is total dependency on something far greater. To be at our best we need to be at our least, to allow Christ to be at His most.

To be tenderly merciful is not possible in every case, unless you are in Christ – because He is ALWAYS tenderly merciful. When you are NOT tenderly merciful, you are not at your best. You see it, and so do others. Something is lacking – and that something is the mercy of Christ.

While I (me, myself, and I) may not like being that merciful, I am certainly glad He was that merciful to me. And tenderly so. Apart from that I probably wouldn’t be here, and I certainly wouldn’t be a pastor. Jesus says, in effect, “Pass it on.” To be a Christian who truly reflects Christ, I must be about the business of doing the very best thing I can do for a person in a given situation. This is the definition of Christian love. Christian love is not a feeling, it is action. Try putting that on. You can’t have a better life than that.

-  Pastor Bill

The Broken Body

Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

When Jesus met with His disciples in the upper room, following the Passover supper He took the bread and He held it before them. He then blessed the bread, broke it and gave it to the disciples while saying, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

What exactly did He mean by that – and why did He say it?

Of course we know, looking back over the centuries to the events that transpired after Jesus said what He said. We know the very next day Jesus’ body was indeed broken. We know His description of the bread matched what would take place in His life.

Spiritually, Jesus was foretelling the price required to pay for my sin. (The wages of sin is death. (Rom 6:23))

Isn’t it fascinating the price to pay for my broken body is His broken body? You see, when I sin, I break something. I don’t just break the natural law or the spiritual law, or break my conscience, I literally break my body. The adage is: “Sin kills,” and there is a reason for it: Sin does literally kill. Me. Eventually.

If I keep sinning, parts of me will die, and parts of those in my vicinity will die, and eventually I will die eternally – damned by my own sin. I have no one else to blame.

This is why Jesus’ message was a message of repentance. From the first time He spoke publicly to the end of His ministry Jesus preached repentance. Strictly put, to repent means to “turn around.” I was going one way, (a way of death,) and Christ urges me to turn around and head in the way of life. Only His way is the way to eternal life. His broken body palpably demonstrates the cost of the direction I am presently headed. I need to put that off, and put that away. Now.

-  Pastor Bill

He Nailed It

Colossians 2:4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Nails have a way of settling the issue. (Whatever the issue may be.)

When it comes to construction, nails hold everything together, and they are the deciding factor in what something will look like. An architect can dream, a builder can organize, carpenters can read blueprints, but apart from nails, ain’t much happening. Just sayin’.

And Paul is just saying as well, that the postulating can stop now. For thousands of years the discussion had been ripe. How can a man be saved? Which law is the most important? Must all the laws be kept? Is there any way for someone who is not aware of the law to have a chance at eternal life? Is there eternal life?

Jesus cuts off the debate, if you’re paying attention. If you’re not paying attention, you need to. Jesus did all that by nails.

A lot of people can say a lot of things when it comes to religious topics. They have fancy degrees and expertise in debate. They have written books, and they have directed marvelous philosophical discourses in their time.

But none were nailed to a cross.

Jesus, in effect, says, “Peace, be still!” (And He says it without a word.) Only His hands and feet were nailed. Only He took that position. And only He can save you. He nailed it. All the debate and philosophical argument is finished.

-  Pastor Bill

Where Are You From?

Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

In a land where not many people are from, the question is often asked: “Where are you from?”

It makes perfect sense to ask the question, and as more than just a conversation starter, (though it is often used in that regard.) Where a person is from has a lot to do with where they are now, and it also has a lot to do with how they are now.

Our church, for example, is filled with people from all over the United States, (and even some foreign locations on occasion.) I have observed some notable differences in how people from New York City may respond to a question, as opposed to how people from Alabama may answer that same question. Example: “What’s your favorite food?”

And you know it is more than just the sound of the voice. (The New York ‘thang’ and the Alabama ‘twang.’) It has to do with perspective and upbringing. Where you are from has everything to do with how you are who you are. Someone who grew up in a concrete jungle has an entirely different view of life than someone who grew up on a dairy farm. In part, this explains some of the deep divides which exist presently in our country, and why one group is pitted against another. They simply have a different perspective.

What if the answer to the question of “Where are you from?” was, “I am from Jesus.”? What kind of difference would that make? Well, we see the difference it makes, and probably more so in the church than anywhere else. The church is the one place the kind of differences the world focuses upon as identifiers can be set aside, and the reason is again: perspective.

You see, once I know I am from Christ, where I am from on earth matters a whole lot less. I don’t see the kind of differences I used to see because what I have in common with someone else who is also from Christ matters a lot more than their human birth location - even though that may color the sound of their voice and how they view political and social events. Because once you know you are from Christ, (created by Him,) and for Christ, (created for His pleasure,) you share the love of and for Christ which overcomes human heritage.

-  Pastor Bill

Never You Mind

Philippians 4:10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Considering where you are right now, what would you have to say about yourself?

Considering where you will be in the future, what would you have to say about yourself?

If your answer about your future is that it rests in the kingdom of Heaven, where you are right now doesn’t matter much, and it won’t matter for long.

There is a lot that can have a negative affect on who, what, and where we are right now. Our attitude can be greatly affected by our present state and ALL the things we have to be concerned with and to worry about. What will the president do? What will the congress do? What will happen in the Middle East? What will my boss say? How will my health be affected? Where is next month’s house payment going to come from? Does my hair look funny?

The potential for worry is immeasurable. The reason to worry is real. There are so many things in our lives which greatly affect our lives which we have NO control over. And then, at the end of all of that worry is death.

Paul speaks of the ultimate peace and fulfillment which rests beyond the grave, and how it affects his present state of affairs. It is why he can say with such confidence (and encouragement,) that in whatever state he is in, he has learned to be content. Whether he is in Florida or New York, or Pennsylvania or Michigan, Paul says it does not matter – and the reason is because he is glory bound.

Once you are glory bound, you simply traverse from glory to a greater glory – even while here on this earth. God will inhabit your poverty with the riches of His glory and fellowship. God will inhabit your great wealth with the glorious humility of His lowliness. God IS content with Who He is, and as He is content WITH me, I can also be content WITH God, and with God alive in me, no matter where I am. His contentment is enough for me. In fact, it is more than enough.

The struggle lasts only as far as our determination to prevent His place and His peace. Once we let go and let Jesus rule, rest and contentment will always and forever follow.

-  Pastor Bill

What is True?

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

To meditate on “what is true,” you have to know what the truth is.

Some people say there is “no absolute truth,” deferring to our “perception of truth” as being the only standard we can hold to. “Four blindfolded men,” they say, “stand surrounding an elephant. One grabs hold of the elephant’s tail, one touches his side, one grabs a tusk, and one holds on to the trunk. Each one,” they say, “has a different perspective of an elephant, and each would say something different about what an elephant is, based on their own experience.”

The fallacy of this argument, (though colorful,) is obvious. The men are purposely blind to the truth. Remove the blindfold, and the elephant becomes clear. The elephant is the truth, not man’s blindfolded perception from individual perspective of what the elephant is. It is a position of ignorance which says, “the elephant is a swishing tail, or the elephant is a cool, smooth, bone.”

Only a fool would stand on those findings, and be pleased to remain blindfolded.

Psalm 14:1 says, The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” The fool, according to the Bible, is the blindfolded man who refuses to remove the blindfold because he is comfortable with the information he has and will look no further.

But when the blindfolded man also proclaims this is all he is capable of knowing, then we must see his foolhardiness for what it is – which is self-satisfaction and lack of intellectual curiosity. I refuse to listen to a proclamation of “truth” from a blindfolded man.

I was skeptical when I came to Christ because I could not see Him. But that did not stop me from looking to see what I could see. I could see radically-changed lives all around me. I could see very smart, even brilliant men down through history who believed in Jesus. I could see God’s unchanging Word versus man’s constantly changing assessment of scientific knowledge. I could see man attempting to explain how something came from nothing. All of this seemed like foolishness to me so I kept looking.

At what I thought was great risk, I asked Jesus to come into my heart. Then the blindfold was removed and I saw the Truth for myself. Now I can meditate safely.

-  Pastor Bill

Free Expression

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.

Last week we were talking in church about motivation, as in: What motivates you?

Paul continues that discussion here in chapter 3, and goes much further, revealing the dichotomy which exists between the Spirit of God and the world.

Isn’t it interesting to notice the Spirit of God never ever moderates His position when it comes to worldly things – and yet we do that all the time? The world holds nothing for the Spirit of God.

We are so prone to going back and forth responding to gravitational forces which present themselves to our bodies and our souls. You may have been saved in the first place by responding to the gravitational pull of the gospel. I don’t think that’s at all unusual. But once saved, the gravitational pull of the world does not disappear – in fact, it may actually increase.

Our “belly” is still our belly, and our belly still wants to be filled by fleshy things, ESPECIALLY if they appear spiritual.

This is why Paul so strongly advocates something other than a neutral position. When we stand still and wait for the next wave to strike us, we are more than likely going to be moved – and maybe even sunk. Even while standing in God’s grace? Yes. Even while standing in Christ? Yes. And the reason is we stand in a body made of flesh subject to fleshy desires.

Paul tells us to press toward and to prize of the upward call of Christ Jesus – even though we have already received it. Press toward it – even though you have it. The expression which comes of the freedom found in the grace of Jesus Christ only desires more of it. Those who truly understand Jesus’ grace are not content to stand still, they want more of it – and this is the expression of true freedom – not the slavery of the belly of the beast.

-  Pastor Bill