Scoffers

Posted on by korgrocker

“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.””
2 Peter 3:3-4 NLT

‭‭The resurrected Jesus had a conversation with Peter where He asked three times if Peter loved Him. Towards the end of this we read in John 21:21, “Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?””, referring to the disciple John. “Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” So the rumour spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”” (John 21:22-23). Soon after, on the Mount of Olives, we read the account of Jesus’ return to Heaven and we read in Acts 1:11, ““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”” 

There was an expectation in the early Church that Jesus was coming back to Planet Earth, and this was going to happen within a generation. The problem was that as time went on, He didn’t re-appear as expected, and people died without seeing Him again. But apparently there were some “scoffers” who tormented those early believers by asking them, “Where is He?”. “What happened to the promise?”, they said. And they pointed out that the world around them was as it always had been. The seasons still took place. Crops grew. Rain fell. Mountains remained. Lakes were still full of water. People were born and eventually died. Nothing had changed. 

We still have the “scoffers” today, and there seems to be so much more to scoff at. Science, technology, the internet and social media seem to have combined to bring about a plethora of theories and ideologies, each with their own adherents and opponents, evoking a sometimes violent clash, as opposing sides scoff at each other. And as for those who believe in a Man who was crucified two thousand years ago and who said He was coming again, such a “theory” is so implausible (to them) that the “scoffers” say it isn’t even worth scoffing at. Generations of “scoffers” have never left this earth. Regarding my faith, I have been asked frequently, “You don’t really believe that stuff do you?” We pilgrims have all met then “scoffers”, I’m sure.

There was a character in John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress” called Atheist. He once claimed that he was a pilgrim believer, but apparently he left his country out of curiosity and intrigue, not to find relief from a burden of sin or to escape the wrath to come. He sought for evidence of God’s existence and for the hope of eternal life, but finding none, he resolved to give up and go back to his country. And he became a scoffer, renouncing the gospel. He became a person who rejected all forms of religion and turned into a “scoffer“. From the book, 
“So this man drew nearer and nearer until he came right up to them. His name was Atheist, and he immediately asked the pilgrims where they were going.
Christian said, “We are going to Mount Zion.”
Atheist burst into howling and scornful laughter. He said, “I cannot but help laugh on account of it being so obvious that you are both ignorant persons; for you have committed yourselves to a very tiring journey that will provide you with absolutely nothing for your trouble, other than a fruitless journey.
Christian said, “Why man, do you think it possible that we will not be received at our destination?”
Atheist said, “Received! But there is no such place that you dream of in all this world.”

I once worked with a man like Atheist. He was brought up as a Catholic, but sometime in his journey through life, something happened to make him change and turn on his previous belief in God, and he never missed an opportunity to scoff at me for my faith. Incidentally, it was a bitter-sweet experience for him, because part of my testimony for becoming a Christian was because of him and his atheistic and humanistic ideologies, forcing me to confront my agnosticism and reach out to God instead. So while I had the opportunity I replied to his scoffing with a word of thanks,

So how do we pilgrims deal with “scoffers”? Psalm 1:1 is a good place to start. From the Amplified Bible version, “Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favoured by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers)“. About this blessed person, the next verses read, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity]” (Psalm 1:2-3). The Bible has several references to “scoffers”, but in God’s Word we can find the words we need to bolster our faith and keep us spiritually strong on our journey through life.  No “scoffer” will ever stop God loving us, and His strength will keep us from withering in a land of Godless ideologies and “scoffers”. There will come a day when the “scoffers” will find that God isn’t impressed by their foolishness, and they will suddenly realise that Jesus really did come to this world to save us.

Dear Father God. Thank You for the purity of Your Word and its power, shining like a beacon in a cynical world. Amen.

Wholesome Thinking

Posted on by korgrocker

“This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Saviour commanded through your apostles.”
2 Peter 3:1-2 NLT

This is Peter starting to wrap up his letter, reminding his readers in Asia Minor what the purposes of his letter were. In fact, his first letter had the same purpose as his second – making and encouraging disciples. He wanted to strengthen their faith so that they could stand on their own spiritual feet by themselves. If there was anyone qualified to write this letter, with its encouragements and wisdom, its warnings and scope, it was Peter. The fisherman from Galilee, impetuous, outspoken, but with a special place in church history. Jesus said to him, “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (Matthew 16:18). So as a trusted disciple with a trusted mission in the future of Jesus’ church, the local representation of this church in the five provinces of what is now modern Turkey was important both to him and to God. In fact he referred to his readers as “dear friends” perhaps indicating that he knew them all personally. 

In Peter’s day there was no New Testament as we know it. The Apostle’s teaching was the gold standard for those early believers and it was only through the letters written by them, or by personal visits, that the Gospel message was propagated. Peter was executed about 68 AD and his second letter was probably written a year or two before that. The Gospels may have been written just after this, though we can’t be sure. So those early believers were particularly vulnerable to false teaching and error. But Peter carefully “tried to stimulate [their] wholesome thinking and refresh [their] memory“.

What did Peter therefore wish to remind the early believers of? A disciple of Jesus Christ builds his faith on the foundational truths of the Gospel, truths laid down by the Apostles, the men who had been with Jesus. The men who stood up in the Sanhedrin and confounded the Jewish leaders with their boldness and wisdom. Acts 4:13, “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” What a tremendous accolade – being noticed as having been with Jesus. Do those around us make the same connection? Hmm..

Jesus’ first disciples were giants of the faith. They had experienced the tongues of fire at Pentecost. They were men driven by their love of Jesus and the Holy Spirit within them. The words of Jesus never forgotten, words still ringing in their ears. And words they now repeated over and over again to anyone who would listen and who would embrace the Saviour as they had done. Words of eternal life, of the Kingdom of God, of Jesus Himself. 

What is the “wholesome thinking” that Peter referred to? Paul’s words might help us with an answer, because he reminded his readers of how they should align and renew their thoughts. We read in Ephesians 4:21-24, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy“. Those early believers weren’t on their own because they had the Holy Spirit within them, bringing to their remembrance what they had been taught. Bringing to their minds “wholesome thinking” from the teachings of Jesus.

What do we pilgrims think about such a reminder from Peter’s letter? Don’t need to hear it? Or something we take on board and remind ourselves to once again open the Bible, perhaps to a section we have neglected.  There are many distractions in our world and our thoughts can quickly rush off to irrelevancies and even untruths. We are constantly exposed to information, most of which is unwholesome and can even draw us away into wrong thinking. We, like those early Christians, need to “refresh [our] memories”. Regularly, and frequently. And against the timeless truths of Scripture, the things of the world grow strangely dim. We need to become, and stay, close to Jesus – only He has the words of eternal life.

Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways; reclothe us in our rightful mind, in purer lives thy service find, in deeper reverence, praise. Amen.

Returning To Sin

Posted on by korgrocker

“And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.””
2 Peter 2:20-22 NLT

This is a tragedy. I know people who once came to experience God’s saving grace through Jesus, who travelled for a while in His presence, but who then rejected Him and returned to their old sinful ways. Some of these people are personal friends and who are now in a spiritual desert, cynical, disillusioned and in denial. Often it is not God they have rejected, but the church, a fellowship of believers, who has turned them away. There may have been a misunderstanding, or a situation that was clumsily dealt with. But it may have been nothing to do with the church of which they were a part. Perhaps they started the journey but found the going too tough for them. Perhaps sin was so entrenched in their lives that they found themselves unable to rely on God and His love and grace. But in the end, they turned their back on the One who was their Saviour and Lord. 

Why is it that some people, who have received a glimpse of God and His Kingdom, who have even experienced God’s healing love and grace, then turn their back on Him? There was the case in Palestine of people who believed in Jesus but succumbed to peer pressure. John 12:42-43, “Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God“. In the parable of the soils, there was the case of the good seed that quickly grew up but didn’t last for long. Matthew 13:5-6, “Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died“. In both cases, worldly pressure and the pleasures of sin created an environment where following Jesus was too big an ask for them. Their lives were dominated by short term considerations rather than the prospect of eternal life after they die.

After Jesus fed the five thousand, He went on to teach about Him being the Bread of life. We read the account in John 6. He said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh” (John 6:51). He went on to say, “But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day” (John 6:54). ‭Hard teaching indeed for a people who recoiled in disgust at anything that superficially looked like cannibalism. But the outcome was, “Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”  … At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him” (John 6:60, 66). There are some Christians who started their pilgrimage only to find some Biblical teaching that they couldn’t accept. A lady I know has a son who is a homosexual, and she was unable to accept what the Bible says about such a lifestyle choice. Even after much counselling infused with God’s love and grace, she finally decided that God and His ways were not for her. 

The writer to the Hebrews said this, “For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame” (Hebrews 6:4-6). Hard words that surely must penetrate through the façade of those who have rejected Jesus. 

There are some people in my community who have known God in the past, but have rejected Him. People who think they are good people (and they are of course by the world’s standards) but are unable to once again turn to God. Of course, “It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance” by my own efforts. But God will never give up on His children. His Spirit will always be there, drawing them towards the One who has the words of eternal life. Sadly, Peter had to write, “It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life“. But we pilgrims pray for those we know who now live in a life away from the One they once knew. God’s grace in without limit, even for them.

Dear Father God. What else can we do other than kneel at Your feet with grateful hearts? Amen.

Being Enslaved

Posted on by korgrocker

“They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.”
2 Peter 2:19 NLT

I’ve mentioned it before, that old Bob Dylan song. The chorus lyrics go like this, 

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed 
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

Peter wrote, “For you are a slave to whatever controls you”. A slave is a servant, but without the opportunity to escape from their bondage. People think that slavery in the 21st Century in Western societies doesn’t exist, but nothing can be further from the truth. In 2021, over 12,000 people held in slavery conditions in the UK were referred to the authorities, but the true number is thought to be much higher and in the region of 130,000. Criminal exploitation is the most common reason but there are others, and people are held in appalling conditions, under the control of cruel and heartless individuals. In Biblical days, slavery was common and an accepted part of society. The Old Testament contains specific teachings about how slaves should be treated. New Testament writings, particularly from Paul, were addressed to slaves and contain some insights into the conditions in which they lived. Ephesians 6:9, “Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favourites“. And then there is the letter from Paul to a man called Philemon who owned a slave called Onesimus, who had apparently absconded and ended up known to Paul. The Bible doesn’t specifically condemn slavery but it does provide a blueprint showing how we should treat our fellow human beings, reminding us that we are all God’s creation. Those who violate God’s teachings and principles become vulnerable to His judgement.

The Bible does say much, though, about slavery to sin, and that was what Peter was writing about. Paul wrote, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard“. So slavery to sin is a common affliction of human beings, but it doesn’t need to be. John 8:34-36, “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free“. The only way that we can escape being a slave to sin is through Jesus. Only He can set us free, and He did that through His death at Calvary. His shed blood will cleanse us from all our sins. 

So the question has to be, what is controlling us? Our natural state is to be a slave to sin. That governs our behaviour, our habits, our likes and dislikes and so on. In our sinful state we know no better; well, that is until we meet Jesus. It has to be said that sin is, or can be, enjoyable, because it panders to our fallen nature. But sinning isn’t God’s way. When we trust Jesus for freeing us from our sins, and instead taking on His righteousness, we become acceptable to God. In his first letter Peter wrote, “For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy“” (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness is a prerequisite for being in God’s presence, and one day we will truly be perfect and holy, and able to be with God in Heaven. The alternative is to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a while before taking up residence in a place where the consequences of sin knows no limits‭‭. There we will find the ultimate sinner, the devil himself.

Peter wrote that false teachers, rather than showing believers the way to eternal life, corrupted the message about Jesus and God’s saving grace, because they themselves had failed to embrace it. Instead they preached a message that continued the same “sin and corruption” that they themselves were experiencing, and were slaves to. We pilgrims know better of course, and we propagate God’s message of forgiveness at every opportunity. We watch out for any message that preaches otherwise. And we regularly ask God the same question that David did in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” And He will.

Father God. We do ask that question in Your presence today. Please help us to have the courage to face into anything that gets in between us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Being Vulnerable

Posted on by korgrocker

“They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.”
2 Peter 2:18 NLT

‭‭It’s a big transition, moving from the kingdom of the world into the Kingdom of God. From a monochrome darkness into the glorious technicolour of God’s presence. And the devil doesn’t like it because his mission is to kill and destroy anything God has made. We read in 1 Peter 5:8, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour“. The time when a Christian is most vulnerable, comes after they have been born again into God’s Kingdom. They, like a natural baby, will lack the defences they need, and will often rely on others to protect and nourish them. 

The one person a new Christian comes to trust in is their pastor. He or she may have brought them to faith and a dependency, at least initially, can result. But our pastors sometimes have their baggage, and they can bring with them their own world views and ideologies that may or may not be helpful for a new Christian. But Peter was going further then that. He was concerned with teachers whose curriculum extended beyond the purity of the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus. These false teachers had come up with their own version of the gospel and it wasn’t always “good news” for a new believer. One of the things a new believer has to face into is how to deal with their own behaviour and habits, and the Holy Spirit will gently bring conviction to start the baby Christian on the road to maturity. So imagine the scenario where a teacher says something is acceptable when God says it isn’t. Peter mentioned in his writings “twisted sexual desires”, but this is only one area of potential error. 

Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The world is full of spiritual traps and enticements. The society around us has adopted an “if it feels good then just do it” philosophy and to stand firm against such an inward looking ideology takes courage and fortitude. For a person to move kingdoms will mean, as Peter wrote, them leaving behind a “lifestyle of deception”. A believer must therefore be firmly anchored in the truth, discerning and recognising the snares that may be disguised as appealing opportunities. Only then can they avoid replacing one sinful lifestyle with another.

Some years ago, someone in the church I was a member of asked me a basic question about our faith, and I gently asked what the Bible said. To my surprise, they admitted that they didn’t have a Bible, let alone read it. I gave them my own, and suggested that it might be a good idea to go away and read it, because only in God’s Word would they find the answer to the questions about faith and the Christian life. A Scripture I often quote is from John 6:68-69, “Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God”“. We must shift our allegiance and dependencies away from total dependency on another human being, no matter what their status is in life, and onto our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Of course, God uses pastors and teachers to help us in our journey of sanctification, but we must always check out what they say by reference to our Bibles. One church I attended was criticised for preaching sermons based on a book, but not from The Book. Instead of the purity of God’s Word they used a work from an author, albeit one well respected in Christian circles. We need to hear God for ourselves, because only He has the Words He wants us to hear.

Psalm 119 begins, “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths” (Psalm 119:1-3). When we pilgrims do that, there is no room for false teaching to muscle in.

Dear Father God. Indeed, only You, and You alone, have the words of eternal life. As we reach out to You today we pray that You will keep us safe from the evil one and his ploys. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Uselessness

Posted on by korgrocker

“These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness.”
2 Peter 2:17 NLT

Still referring to false teachers and false prophets, Peter defines them as being “useless”. Harsh words perhaps? But words that describe the pointlessness of being someone who is preaching against God’s plans and ways or distorting His message. In the context of God’s kingdom, they add little that is positive and much that is negative. So Peter describes them as being “useless“.

A big question sometimes asked is about the purpose of life. What are we humans here on Planet Earth for? Are we here, as some will claim, by accident? Are we too just the useless result of our circumstances? The product of a mix of chemicals formed by chance on a lump of rock that happened to end up at just the right distance from a source of light and heat, creating an environment conducive to the formation of life? That is what many evolutionists would have us think. Unfortunately for them, the facts don’t fit in with their theories. We pilgrims know how we got here, because the Bible tells of how it happened. The Genesis account describes the formation of our planet, and then there is the verse, “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person” (Genesis 2:7). And the man, Adam, ‭‭was given a job to do, “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it” (Genesis 2:15). He was useful, and, better, he was being useful in a way that aligned with God’s desires for him. We can read on in Genesis, and find that farming for food to live on was the first physical priority. So mankind had to be useful in the sense that if they weren’t then human beings would probably have died out through starvation. And we can see that even us pilgrims have to be useful in our societies where keeping alive is the main requirement. Of course, this is a simplified picture, but it doesn’t answer the question, why are we here? Or, what is the purpose of life? 

We turn to the Bible for meaningful answers. Solomon, one of the wisest men who ever lived, concluded after wrestling with these questions, “That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Another perspective we must consider is that we pilgrims, Christian believers, are assured of a future beyond the grave. One day, our physical bodies will die. This wasn’t God’s plan, because He originally created perfection, but through sin, our bodies will be corrupted and will die. But because we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, He has granted us eternal life. When we die, our spirits will live on with God in Heaven. This will be the time when we will receive a new body. We read in Philippians 3:21, “He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control“. 2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands“. 

So we can see that to be useful, we have to have a relationship with God, and work to provide for both ourselves and our families. Those false teachers were going to find, according to Peter, that their uselessness will lead to an end of the “blackest darkness”. The Westminster Shorter Confession says that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. So in whatever we think or do, is our main focus God, or our own selfish desires? Do we align ourselves to God’s ways, or get absorbed into a society where the main driver is sin? There is no middle ground.

Today we pilgrims have an opportunity to shift our focus from the natural to the spiritual, as we do every day. From our mundane existence into something so amazing and wonderful that it is breathtaking in its implications. We don’t have to wait until we pass over the Great Divide into God’s presence before we can “enjoy Him forever“. He is with us now. We can reach and touch Him. He is that close. There is a poem, which includes, “Two men looking through prison bars; one saw mud, the other saw stars.” Where are we looking today? A useless life will only find mud, but those who are useful will find the stars. Let’s embrace the Creator of those stars today while we have the opportunity.

Dear Father God, our amazing Creator. We reach out to You today, and pray that in whatever we are doing, we will be useful to You and Your purposes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Newborn King of the Jews

Posted on by korgrocker

“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”“
Matthew 2:1-2 NLT

‭Word finally got to Herod. Some men from a foreign land had arrived in Jerusalem, looking for a new king. And worse, they were asking for the whereabouts of the “newborn King of the Jews“. Herod, was a very insecure king in a very insecure land, under Roman occupation, and we read in Matthew 2:3, “King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem“. The consensus amongst the religious leaders was that Bethlehem was going to be the birthplace of the Messiah, and they made the connection with the reference to the King of the Jews. But we know the story, told many times when we were children, and ever since. Nativity Plays with three kings bringing their gifts. Traditional excitement for parents and other relatives. All part of church life and a celebration of the first coming of our Messiah, Jesus Himself. 

Sadly, many people don’t know the story anymore, preferring to focus on the materialism of the holiday season. Strange displays in shop windows stir vague memories or are written off as yet another aid to part people from their money in a season of expense and often stress and anxiety. Any thoughts about Jesus get lost in the leftovers after Christmas lunch, or are quickly forgotten as a New Year with its resolutions emerges from the holiday fogs. Back to work or school dominate. Another year coming with bad news about the climate and taxes and so on. A cynical or negative perspective? Perhaps, but the world around us is locked into a mindset that is dominated by the devil and his influence. As a “type” of Herod, he looks around for any good news of the “newborn King of the Jews”and seeks to destroy it before it becomes a problem to him. We read in Matthew 2:16, “Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance“. There are many people around today, the devil’s “soldiers”, who want to kill off any rumours that there is actually Good News coming. Jesus was, and still is, God’s message of hope. His Good News will never be killed off because we pilgrims propagate it wherever we live. 

So we pilgrims have another opportunity to talk about the birth of the God-man, Jesus. The first advent of our Messiah, the Son of God, has an excitement connected to it that must be communicated. A group of wise men, or Magi, from a far off country went to a lot of trouble and expense to worship at His feet. A group of shepherds were gob-smacked with the angelic vision and song. And 21st Century pilgrims can feel within them a deep sense of gratitude that God had a plan for saving the world. We are a part of that plan, with a mission to tell those around us that Jesus was born to be our Saviour. Man-made efforts to change the world pall into insignificance when compared to the impact of the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

It may come as a bit of a surprise to some, but Jesus will return a second time to this planet. The first time He came as a baby, taking on human flesh, a suffering Servant who gave His life for us sinners. But next time He will come as a victorious King. We read how Jesus finally left Planet Earth in Acts 1:9, “After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him“. But what happened next foretells the way Jesus will return. “As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”” (Acts 1:10-11). 

And how Jesus will return we can read in Revelation 19:11, 14-15, “Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. … The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress“. Significantly, He will no longer be the Suffering Servant but the ” … King of all kings and Lord of all Lords” (Revelation 19:16b). 

We pilgrims have a message of hope, a testimony to God’s goodness. We know the end of the story, and we need to declare it loud and clear to those around us. Psalm 2:12 is a warning to all, “Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!” Let us have a joyful day remembering and celebrating God’s Son Jesus, as we take refuge in Him, worshipping at the foot of a manger in a place far away.

Dear Father God. Thank You that You had a plan for the salvation of mankind. Thank You Jesus for the mission we have and the opportunities it has afforded us. We worship You today. Amen.

Balaam, Son of Peor

Posted on by korgrocker

“They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.”
2 Peter 2:15-16 NLT

Peter introduced the memory of a Jewish prophet called Balaam into his letter, a man he considered a false teacher or prophet who had “wandered off the right road”. And he reminded his readers that this man “loved to earn money by doing wrong”. I’m sure we all know someone, or have heard of someone, who has increased his wealth by doing something fraudulent. But Balaam was a man who was expected to prophesy to order, in return for some reward. We can read the story of Balaam in Numbers 22 and the following chapters. The king of the Moabites, a man called Balak, was terrified of the Israelites, a fear that was made even worse by what they had done to the Amorites. But there was a man he knew with a reputation for hearing from God and who seemed to have the power to bless or curse people. So he sent for this man, Balaam, and we read in Numbers 22:6, “Please come and curse these people for me because they are too powerful for me. Then perhaps I will be able to conquer them and drive them from the land. I know that blessings fall on any people you bless, and curses fall on people you curse“. Strangely enough, Balaam heard messages God gave him, but his integrity concerning what he did with these messages was not always as it should have been. In other words, he was a wicked prophet, but not necessarily a false prophet. 

Anyway, as the story goes, Balak, the Moabite king, hassled Balaam until he went with him to deliver a curse over the Israelites. We read in Numbers, that Balaam blessed the Israelites instead of cursing them, and he delivered God’s positive messages three times. Finally, we read in Numbers 24:12-13, “Balaam told Balak, “Don’t you remember what I told your messengers? I said, ‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord.’ I told you that I could say only what the Lord says!” As we can imagine Balak wasn’t pleased! However, Balaam instead came up with a plan that would mean the Israelites would effectively curse themselves, as we read from the words of Jesus in Revelation 2:14, “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin“. 

The man, Balaam, became infamous in Biblical times and was held up as an example of a man who deceived believers, or at least tried to, in return for money. Jude as well, in his short letter, mentioned him, “What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion” (Jude 1:11). Peter was warning his readers about false prophets, but his warning also extended to real prophets who nevertheless led people astray for their own benefit. Today, perhaps this warning may also include organisations who offer an appointment for people to come and receive a “prophetic word” for their life. Perhaps the seeker is looking for God’s guidance at a critical point in their lives and they want someone to deliver a prophecy from God, giving them the answer to their dilemma. These organisations may not set a fee for their services, but they may suggest a donation instead. Not all of them, of course, follow in Balaam’s footsteps, but the warning is there anyway. Any prophetic words must be treated with caution, and checked out to ensure they line up with what the Bible says. And if there is no direct correlation then they must be discarded. God will never lead anyone into sin.

Our enemy, the devil, will want to mislead people, and if he cannot achieve this directly then he will try and use a back door method instead. Balaam apparently showed a way for Balak to leverage a human weakness he knew would exist in the Israelites. In Numbers 25:1-3 we read, “While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women. These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab. In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the Lord’s anger to blaze against his people“. And it didn’t end well for those who sinned – God sent a plague in judgement.

We pilgrims need to be discerning, particularly when we hear teaching, or even a Scriptural interpretation or emphasis, that we haven’t heard before. God will help us as we pray for discernment, and if we are unsure, we must check it out with a trusted friend. In these internet-enabled days, with media outlets such as Facebook or YouTube, there will be many oddball theories or videos out there. We must check out the messenger as well as the message before we end up following a rabbit trail leading to error and sin.

Father God. There are many false paths that lead us back to the broad highway leading to hell. Please help us to stand firm in the faith with all the resources you have given us. Only You have the words of eternal life. Amen.

The Right Road

Posted on by korgrocker

“They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.”
2 Peter 2:15-16 NLT

Peter continues his tirade against the false prophets and teachers that were around in his day. They have taken a wrong turning, and “wandered off the right road”, he wrote. There is a right and wrong road for us pilgrims, as we know. Life is a journey through many different terrains, some easy going, but others particularly tough, and we often cry out in anguish, “It’s too hard, Lord”. Sometimes we stop to rest for a while, and are tempted to stay there. We find a spiritual place of great blessings and echo Peter’s sentiments in Matthew 17:4a, “Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! … ”  But as we read in Matthew 17:9a, “As they went back down the mountain, Jesus … “. He loves us too much to leave us, even in a place of blessing, and there comes a time when the mountain top has to be vacated and the journey continued. 

But how do we know which road is the right road? There is often a choice of different paths that we can take. Do I take this job? Marry this man/woman? Buy this house? Join this church? All choices that will determine the direction of the road before us. Some choices we make will affect the rest of our lives, so we carefully and prayerfully consider the options. Only God sees the end from the beginning, so who else can we trust for the right counsel? At other times, we open God’s Word, the Bible, and use it to shine a light on what we are doing or thinking. Sometimes the illumination is uncomfortable and draws us back to our knees in repentant prayer. Perhaps this morning there is someone who is facing into a situation where they know they have to make some personal changes. Changes far beyond what they can achieve in their own strength, but changes required nevertheless.

Jesus taught about the difficulties of the broad and narrow roads. In Matthew 7:13-14, we read, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it“. He was right of course. It is far easier to go with the flow in life. Being a Christian inevitably involves being, sooner or later, counter-cultural. Making a choice in life that is different to everyone else draws a variety of responses, mostly negative, from those around us, even in our own family.

The “gateway to life” starts at the Cross of Calvary, where the God-man Jesus died in our place. Because of our sins, we deserved to die, but He took the punishment for us. So with a few tentative steps, we open the gate and pass through. And there in the distance there is a bright and appealing light illuminating the horizon. But before us is the “right road”. We have a difficult journey ahead of us, in fact it is so difficult that many turn back and re-join the broad path, the “highway to hell”, as Peter describes it. But for all those who persevere in the journey along the narrow road, there is help. Jesus knows how difficult it is because He has trodden it too, and there are times when He carries us along. At other times we find a fellow pilgrim, going the same way, and we travel together. God never leaves us and He is always there with us. Worldly success may not come our way, but we are building up treasures in Heaven. Step by step, day by day. 

In Peter’s day, there were false prophets and teachers who tried to turn the narrow path into a broad way, teaching the believers things that did not conform to God’s requirements and ways. Even today, their descendants are still with us, perhaps repeating what the devil said to Eve, “Surely God did not say …”. False teachings that tempt us, draw us, confuse us and, condemn us. 

The Apostle Paul was journeying to Jerusalem and dropped off en-route to speak to some elders and church leaders. This is what he said, “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:27-30). We pilgrims need to hear this “whole counsel of God”. Nothing else will do. And we need to look out for the “savage wolves” and those “speaking perverse things“.

In John 6 we read about the disciples who were facing into some hard teaching, and we read that many deserted Jesus. But Peter was made of sterner stuff, and in response to Jesus asking if the Twelve wanted to leave as well, “Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life”” (John 6:68). Those words will sustain us on our journeys. There is no alternative to a relationship with our wonderful Heavenly Father who loves and cares for us. Only He has the map to keep us on the “straight and narrow way”. And one day He will welcome us home with a “Well done …”. Worth waiting for?

Dear Heavenly Father. Thank You for Your Word and the love and grace that sustains us. Please continue to lead and guide us on our journeys. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Unstable People

Posted on by korgrocker

“They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse.”
2 Peter 2:14 NLT

How can any person be lured into sin? Such a thing is surely not possible. The Bible is a clear and indisputable source of what is right and wrong, and therefore must be the final arbiter over anything that even carries a hint of sin. But one thing I have noticed in my pilgrimage through life is that some people become overly dependent on the minister or pastor for their spiritual lives. And I have also noticed that some ministers or pastors, through their own insecurities, foster dependent relationships. These are mainly harmless I’m sure, because the leaders I have known are people of integrity and well founded in the Bible and its teaching, but the influence is there. This is something that I personally came upon as a young Christian, and I experienced much hurt and disappointment when the person I looked up to didn’t quite live up to my expectations. My house of cards came tumbling down, and I believed God spoke to me about only being dependent on Him, and Him alone. Yes, we look to our pastors for teaching and leadership, but not for an unhealthy relationship. We must hear God for ourselves – that is why Jesus came to this world, that we might have a personal relationship with Him. And that is what good pastors teach.

But that is not what Peter was writing about in 2 Peter 2:14. He was referring to deliberately-false teachers, and the previous verses call them out for their fruit. Peter writes, “they scoff at things they don’t understand“, they do harm, “they love to indulge in evil pleasures”, “they delight in deception”, and so on. Peter is very scathing about such people. We wonder who he had in mind when he wrote this, but what we do know is that the churches Peter was writing to don’t exist today. Perhaps, in the end, the false teaching prevailed, because what has been proved time and time again in history is that a church that lapses into error will, sooner or later, disappear. As an aside, the established Presbyterian and Anglican churches in the UK are in serious decline, and perhaps this is because what they teach is no longer distinct from the society around them. Are they in fact guilty of luring “unstable people into sin”? God will not bless anyone who rejects or corrupts His teachings and principles, and He will turn His back upon them. But we shouldn’t be surprised when people end up in a sinful place. Paul wrote to Timothy, “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” Thankfully, His grace and mercy will prevail, and anyone who falls into error has a path back into His arms through Jesus.

Jeremiah heard some hard words, about false prophets, from God, and he wrote them down in Jeremiah 14:14-15, “Then the Lord said, “These prophets are telling lies in my name. I did not send them or tell them to speak. I did not give them any messages. They prophesy of visions and revelations they have never seen or heard. They speak foolishness made up in their own lying hearts. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I will punish these lying prophets, for they have spoken in my name even though I never sent them. They say that no war or famine will come, but they themselves will die by war and famine!” I think we can see that being either a false prophet or teacher might not be a good place to be in!

Some leaders sadly fall into immorality, and, because of that, inevitably some of their followers will commit the same sins. People in their churches will see their leaders as role models, worthy of respect and admiration even. But apart from some high profile cases that get mentioned in the news, most leaders are good people who try and pastor their flock well. They take seriously the verse, “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16). One church I knew had a leadership that decided that they shouldn’t drink alcoholic beverages. They took this stand because their church was located in a culture that had a problem with alcoholism, and they adopted this position to show that an alcohol-free lifestyle was possible. Their counter-cultural leadership was commendable.

But returning to “unstable people”, the Apostle James wrote, “But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do” (James 1:6-8). In the end, regardless of anything else, our “faith is in God alone“. It’s all about Jesus and following Him with inspiration and help from the Holy Spirit. There is no other way in which we can avoid the erroneous messages of false teachers.

Dear Father God. Only You have the words of eternal life. Please help us to follow them, we pray. Amen.