The “Eye” Gate

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

This is an uncomfortable verse, particularly for us men. Our eyes, rather what we see, can potentially lead us into sexual sin, because anything with visual appeal can tempt us. In the context of this verse in 2 Peter, he is referring to the visual appeal of a woman to a man, and how the initial glance can develop into something more extensive, intrusive, and even sinful. As we read in Genesis 2, under what seemed to be general anaesthetic, God removed one of Adam’s ribs and created a woman from it. And in Genesis 2:23 we read Adam’s response, ““At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’”” I think the Bible translators may have played down the excitement Adam felt when he saw his new companion! But as usual, our enemy, the devil, has come along and corrupted something that God intended for purity. 

The Bible has several examples of what Peter was warning against. We remember David, and his episode with Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 11:2, “Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath“. Overlooking the thought of why a woman was bathing in public, and at a time when he should have been out doing battle with his enemies, David was lingering at home with time on his hands. His initial and casual glance exploded into a web of deceit and the death of a good brave soldier. After Uriah’s (Bathsheba’s husband’s) death we read in 2 Samuel 11 27, “When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done“. God then sent the prophet Nathan to face David with his crime (a brave act because prophets usually didn’t survive for too long with such a confrontative word), to warn him that God had brought a curse over him and his household. 2 Samuel 12:10-12, “From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own. “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”” The child from the liaison with Bathsheba unfortunately died. David, full of remorse, wrote the Psalm we know so well. “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. … Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just” (Psalm 51:1,4). In this Psalm, the thing David feared most was a barrier between him and God. “Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me” was his prayer (Psalm 51:11). 

Jesus taught about the dangers of the lusts of the eyes. Matthew 5:27-28, “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”‭‭ The Pharisees would have felt very righteous in themselves because they, rightly, could claim that they had never committed adultery. The seventh commandment, “You must not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) would have been very well known to them. But Jesus raised the bar to an extent that it would have brought condemnation to their doors. Even if they did not commit the act of adultery, did they perhaps have thoughts focused in that direction?

But fast forward to living in the 21st Century, with its easy access to all sorts of forbidden “fruits” via internet pornography sites and printed magazines. The Psalmist wrote a timeless verse, Psalm 119:9, “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.” A verse that applied in Old Testament days just as much as it does today, and a verse that applies to men of all ages, not just the young. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “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” (Ephesians 4:22-24). There is a saying, regarding temptation, “You can’t stop birds flying over your head, but you can stop them nesting in your hair”. 

So what do we men do about the “lusts of our eyes”. As the Psalmist said, obedience to God and His Word is a good start, and the Holy Spirit will assist us on our journey. Jesus said in Matthew 5:29, “So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” A drastic solution? Perhaps, but it indicates something that God takes seriously.

Dear God, all we can do is cry out “Please Help”. Thank You. Amen.

Fellowship Meals

Posted on by korgrocker

“These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals.”
2 Peter 2:12-13 NLT

Peter continues to write about the false teachers who abounded in his day. The early Christians were particularly vulnerable to the plethora of dodgy teaching that had emerged in the First Century, and the Apostles worked hard to ensure the teachings of Jesus continued to propagate the message of God’s grace. Many heresies emerged under the heading of “false teaching” but God’s message through Jesus prevailed and left a legacy that endured. Peter’s strong and direct language perhaps communicated the extent of the problem in his day, and his impending death injected into him an urgency to warn his protégés, the early Christians in churches scattered throughout what is now modern Turkey. We find much the same message being communicated from the other Apostles – just read the early chapters of Revelation.

One place where people relax and perhaps let their guard down a bit is in a social event. The early Christians were always looking out for each other and engaged in events such as “fellowship meals”. We read the immediate response to the Gospel message in Acts 2:42, “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer“. Having a meal together was a natural part of being a Christian, and the Apostle Paul encouraged us in Romans 12:13, “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality“. 1 Peter 4:9, “Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay“. Another reminder comes in Hebrews 13:16, “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God“. And there are other verses, all painting a picture of normal Christian life in a community of “one anothers”. If a stranger drops by, even better. Hebrews 13:2, “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realising it!”

There are of course those Christians who prefer to be on their own. They go to church and hurry away afterwards, not wanting to be involved in the “fellowship” bit. The writer to the Hebrews has a message for them – “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25). It’s sad when that happens because in the fellowship often comes encouragement and help. There is an old proverb, “a problem shared is a problem halved”. Galatians 6:2, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ“. We humans have been designed to socialise. Right back in Genesis 2:18, “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”” God set out a principle that has lasted.

So the New Testament message for Christians includes the encouragement to meet with one another, and often over a meal. I can remember a lunch shared in a church room with a number of older people. We had a good time sharing stories of our younger days, and eating the sandwiches and cakes provided for us. Then there was that point when I felt a Holy Spirit nudge to share Communion, the Lord’s Supper, with those present. We had some bread left over and a jug of juice, and we had a precious time remembering what Jesus had done for us by sharing his spiritual body and blood.

We don’t have to wait for a formal Communion service because Jesus said “do this oft in remembrance of me”. There doesn’t have to be an ordained minister leading the occasion. There is nothing more precious and meaningful than sharing a meal with one another and with the Lord.

Dear Father God. When we share a meal with Your people, we are fulfilling Your desires for us. Please help us overcome our natural reticence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Supernatural Beings

Posted on by korgrocker

“He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.”
2 Peter 2:10-11 NLT

We pilgrims have all met them. People who “scoff at supernatural beings” denying that anything spiritual actually exists. They deny there is such a thing as God or the devil. And they certainly deny angels exist. Their office bravado is delivered to impress their fellow workers with their boldness and courage. While they are at it, they deny the existence of anything ghostly or unexplained. The word “scoff” is a good one, as it captures their behaviour exactly. 

But the “supernatural beings” referred to by Peter seem to be fallen angels, or demons, because if they were the angels in Heaven, Peter would have said so. The evil angels are being held in a place called Tartarus, as we read in 2 Peter 2:4, “For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell [Tartarus], in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment“. Perhaps some of these fallen angels have been incarcerated, but others are still free to roam, as demons. But the meaning of 2 Peter 2:11 is not very clear, although there are several theories around.

Practically, however, what do we pilgrims think of angels and demons? Relevant to our everyday lives, or myths from a by-gone and more superstitious age? Because they are not in our faces every day, we perhaps neglect to consider them too seriously, but in days gone by the impact of the supernatural, and in particular, evil forces, had a negative impact on society. If something strange, or even tragic happened to someone in those days, then the blame game would have started, with spells and curses from malevolent spirits coming into the picture. The Bible is clear, however, and Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places“. The picture emerges of an unseen and powerful enemy who is out to get anyone who sides with God. 

We know from Revelation 12:7-9 that demons originated in Heaven, “Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels“. Because there can be no sin in Heaven, the spiritual beings of angelic origin could no longer live there, so the only other place they could find was on earth, to the detriment of the human race. Peter warned us, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). 

We “scoff at spiritual beings” at our peril. There’s nothing the devil likes more than to find the people he  wants to destroy in denial. People who don’t think there is a devil or demons, are adopting a dangerous strategy. We are very familiar with God’s armour, as we read in Ephesians 6. We are well equipped for every demonic eventuality, and in the end we follow Peter’s advice, “Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. … ” (1 Peter 5:9). Great advice to follow in this sad and bad world.

We pray to our Heavenly Father. He loves us. He cares for us. He wants the best for us. But the devil and his minions want the opposite. However, we have no reason to buckle under the enemy’s attack. We read in 1 John 4:4 “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world“. Victory is ours and when we find ourselves oppressed and struck down, we remember that we’re on the winning side, even if the circumstances around us say differently.

Dear Father God. We pray for Your love and presence to surround us like a cloak. Close to You there is nothing to be afraid of. Amen.

Despising Authority

Posted on by korgrocker

“So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling.”
2 Peter 2:9-10 NLT

‭Authority is not a popular word these days. Whether we citizens of Western societies like it or not, there will be people in authority over us. If we are at school, there will be teachers and the head master or mistress. In work, there is the foreman or employer, manager or supervisor. In civil society there’s the police, or a judge or magistrate. If we are sick and end up in hospital, there are doctors and nurses. Then there are the bank managers, politicians, and lawyers. Even in our homes, there will be certain rules to be followed, set there by an implicit authority. We must also consider that there is such a thing as spiritual authority, and this introduces a different perspective, a Godly perspective, on what authority really means. 

In our secular societies, the concept of authority can upset people. Sinful people want to be free. Free to violate laws. Free to insult our teachers, our policemen and women, our medics and so on. And all because many people feel it is their “right” to push back against those who do not share their world view, or do not endorse what they consider to be their “rights”. Whereas people in authority were respected by past generations, even if their decisions or behaviour didn’t warrant it, today’s authority figures are often afraid to exercise that authority, for fear of social media fuelled abuse or worse. Many ideological groups have emerged and they will sometimes violently reject any authority figure who does not agree with them. We see that happening with issues over climate change, over sexuality and marriage, over transgender “rights”. And we see it particularly when opinions about Israel or the Jews are expressed. 

The highest authority that we know of is God Himself. There is no authority higher than Him. We read Genesis, and see how God created everything. That gives Him absolute authority over all His creation. He is free to exercise that authority at any time, but we are grateful that God is kind, compassionate and loving, righteous and fair. He exemplifies true and perfect authority. And we see throughout the Bible, how God delegated authority to certain individuals throughout Israel’s history. We see the laws given to Moses, God’s sovereign laws designed to be followed for the good of the people. Jeremiah had a prophetic message for the Jews in exile – the account is in Jeremiah 30 – and we read that God wanted to bring His people home to the land He had provided for them, and He said, “You will be my people, and I will be your God” (Jeremiah 30:22). His authority was purely motivated by the highest good for His people.

But some people get a bit upset when Holy-Spirit-inspired rules and laws, as recorded in the Bible, cut across what today’s “enlightened” society thinks. Some individuals take authoritative Bible verses out of context and bandy them around to embarrass God-fearing believers. I used to work with a man who always tormented me for my faith by claiming that believers have to hate their families to be a proper Christian, and he quoted, out of context, Luke 14:26 (NKJV), “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple”. But there are other teachings about authority that can be contentious to some. Take for example 5:23-24, “For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Saviour of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything“. But again this can be taken out of context, by omitting Ephesians 5:21, 25, 28, “submitting to one another in the fear of God. …  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, … So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself“. 

There is teaching in the New Testament about being obedient to secular authorities. Romans 13:1-2, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.” ‭This really puts into context the role of a Christian in secular society. Paul goes on, “The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong” (Romans 13:4). There is only one “get out” to these Romans verses – God is the higher authority when there is a conflict, and this fact has cost many their lives, as they stand up in obedience to God and His ways. 

Peter wrote that God “is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority“. Believe it or not, God set out the way humans should apply their sexuality, and it is interesting that Peter particularly emphasised the importance of getting this right. Looking inwards at our own sexual desires in an unhealthy way will apparently lead to the despising of authority. Many in society today lack a moral compass because they have rejected God and all His wonderful Biblical precepts. Without it, they are unable to discern what is right and wrong and try and impose their own “twisted” ways on all they do, or get involved with.

God knows what is best for us Pilgrims. We are saved, are being saved and will be saved (Justification, Sanctification and Glorification) and look forward to that glorious day when God’s authority will shine out in a relationship of love. His authority is perfect. Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light“. That’s how it will be in God’s presence as we journey towards Paradise.

Dear Father God. You are perfect in all Your ways, and we submit to Your authority this day and always. Amen.

Lot and His Wife

Posted on by korgrocker

“But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling.”
2 Peter 2:7-10 NLT

Peter referred again to the situation that caused the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, a situation consisting of wickedness, the cause of which was so vile that Lot “was tormented in his soul”. It was incessant, going on “day after day”, causing agony for a righteous man, ”who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him”. These twin cities were apparently functioning as cities of those times should, with trading, farming, and civic duties and events. People would have been marrying, socialising, paying taxes and carrying on as we would expect. There was a king there and an army keeping them safe from attack. And yet, in all of this, the only thing that mattered to Lot (and God) was the “shameful immorality” that was taking place. 

So fast forward to 21st Century Western societies, and we see a parallel. The “shameful immorality” of same sex relationships flaunted in “Gay Pride” events. The gender wars twisting and distorting what God has designed. Adultery and divorce abounding. Politicians passing laws to legalise immoral practices and our churches accepting wicked people, providing a blessing and even granting them positions of authority. Yes, society and commerce continues much as before with trading, farming, manufacturing, and civic duties and events. People marry, socialise, pay taxes and carry on as we would expect. There is a king and an army. But the offence of “shameful immorality” rises up to God. Wickedness and sin is constant and never ceases, regardless of the society and generation.

Lot was a righteous man, and apparently the only one in Sodom. There were apparently no righteous people in Gomorrah – none that the Bible records anyway. But God saved Lot from the destruction that soon followed, after the angels had led him, his wife and his daughters away from the city. Today there are righteous men and women in our nations, our communities, who too are sick of the wickedness and sin so blatant around them. But there is hope. God physically rescued Lot and his family, and Peter reminded his readers that “the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials”. Even today, there are times when God changes our schedules, our journeys, or anything similar, to rescue us from physical danger. A young woman I know was in the Twin Towers restaurant the day before it was destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attack. Was that a God-rescue, changing her schedule or the time of her visit? We pilgrims will probably never know the occasions when God has kept us safe. There are many other ways in which God rescues us, because although our physical bodies can be affected by this sinful world, our spirits are safe in God’s hands. We read about Job, a man who lost his family and possessions. His body was even afflicted by painful boils. But he never sinned against God and came through terrible circumstances with his spirit safe and faith in God intact. Our bodies and life here on Planet Earth may be susceptible to attacks from the devil, but our spirits belong to God, who keeps them safe. 

But Peter also reminded his readers that He keeps “the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment”. The judgement carried out over Sodom and Gomorrah was immediate and total. But in today’s world, there is a pause. God has deferred His judgement on sinful mankind until a day in the future, when He will present, publicly, a journal of everything everyone has done. Justice will be seen to be done, and punishment dispensed on that “day of final judgement”. 

So what do we pilgrims make of the story of Lot in the context of Sodom and Gomorrah? Will God once again become so dismayed and offended by the wickedness of mankind that He once again eliminates it from the world He created? Thankfully, as Peter wrote, the time for judgement is still some time in the future. God’s grace is present, and through Jesus we have a way out of the terrible judgement to come. As we reach out to Jesus with repentance, we will find forgiveness and mercy.

Jesus told the story of ten bridesmaids in Matthew 25. Five of them brought sufficient oil to keep their lamps burning, but the other five didn’t. We read in Matthew 25:5, “When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep“. But the ones with insufficient oil for their lamps missed out on attending the impending marriage feast. The message here is that we must be ready. Matthew 25:13, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return“. We don’t know when Jesus will return for the second time. But in the meantime, we mustn’t miss out on God’s grace.

Dear Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy, which know no bounds. We worship You today, deeply thankful. Amen.

Sodom and Gomorrah (2)

Posted on by korgrocker

“Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people.”
2 Peter 2:6 NLT

We will have another look at the account of Sodom and Gomorrah in the light of 21st Century Christianity. We considered in a previous post the sins committed in these two cities. We read in Ezekiel 16:49-50, “Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. She was proud and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out, as you have seen”. And the situation was so grave that God removed the only righteous people He could find there – Lot, his wife, and their two daughters – before casting judgement. We read what then happened to these cities in Genesis 19:24-25, “Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulphur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation.” The Genesis 19 account focused on Ezekiel’s “detestable sins” – homosexuality.

But we pilgrims believe that God never changes. Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever“. Malachi 3:6, “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed“. So surely, what God considered a detestable sin in the times of Sodom and Gomorrah He must consider equally detestable today. How does that fit, therefore, in 21st Century Christian beliefs? Today we have certain Christian denominations who are ignoring clear Biblical teachings on sex and marriage. On the 15th November 2023, the synod of Anglican bishops decided to allow the Church of England to bless same sex partnerships. But the traditional wing of the Anglican church issued a press release that said, “This action is offensive to the God of love. It replaces his wonderful gospel of grace with a distorted message, blessing what God calls sin. This is heart-breaking, wicked and outrageously arrogant“. Why is there such a desire to set aside clear Christian teaching in order to satisfy the strident lobbying of powerful groups who would not have survived God’s judgement had they lived in Sodom all those years ago?

It’s time, perhaps, to look at some basics. To start with, who or what is a Christian? The Cambridge English dictionary definition states, “someone who believes in and follows the teachings of Jesus Christ“. Literally, the word “Christian” means “Follower of Christ”, and the word first appeared on the scene in the New Testament in Acts 11:26, “When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians)”. So a Christian is someone who believes in Jesus and trusts Him for their eternal salvation. The “believing” bit includes the virgin birth, the teachings and life, and the death and resurrection, of Jesus. The “following” bit means doing our best to read all that has been taught about Jesus and God’s ways in the Bible, and trying to implement them in our lives. A Christian therefore will fall under the category of being “born again”, as Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:3, “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God””.‭‭ A Christian will be susceptible to sin, like everyone else, but he or she has an Intercessor in Heaven, praying for us, and offering forgiveness for our sins through His shed blood at Calvary.

Quotation from “Gotquestions.org”, “Unfortunately over time, the word “Christian” has lost a great deal of its significance and is often used of someone who is religious or has high moral values but who may or may not be a true follower of Jesus Christ. Many people who do not believe and trust in Jesus Christ consider themselves Christians simply because they go to church or they live in a “Christian” nation”. I have a good friend who calls himself a Christian, because he believes that there is a God in Heaven, and whose father and grandfather were elders in the Church of Scotland, but he never goes to a church service (funerals excepted). He lives a good life, he says, and all that qualifies him to call himself a Christian. A common misunderstanding? The UK census in 2021 found that 27.5 million people identified as being Christian. This is about 43% of the UK population but another survey in 2021 estimated that only 5% of the population actually attend a church service regularly. I know, of course, that church attendance doesn’t make someone a true Christian, but sobering statistics nonetheless.

So perhaps we pilgrims need to qualify what we mean when we refer to Christians. And we perhaps need to be aware that everyone who calls themselves a Christian isn’t quite what we expect them to be, because they neither truly believe in Jesus and certainly don’t follow all His commands. But I’m sure there are many Anglicans who are true Christians, believing in, and following, Jesus, although there are also many, like the bishops who seem to have abandoned Biblical teaching on sex and marriage, who aren’t. 

But back to Sodom and Gomorrah. The problem with those cities was that depravity was total, involving the whole population. Lot and his family were the only ones who stood firm in their faith in God. Today there are thankfully many true Christians who stand as beacons of light in their communities and workplaces, holding back the righteous judgement of God. We must never stop interceding for our friends and families, our communities and workplaces, praying that God will show mercy and compassion. Will God find 10 righteous people in our community? We pray that he will.

O Lord. Please help us to follow Your commands of being Salt and Light in our communities. Your way is the only way. Thank You. Amen.

Sodom and Gomorrah (1)

Posted on by korgrocker

“Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people.”
2 Peter 2:6 NLT

We read the account of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18. But we pick up the context from Genesis 17:1-2, “When  Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants”. At this point his name was changed from Abram to Abraham (“Father of Many”). Later on this chapter his wife, Sarai, also had a name change, to Sarah, but in the whole touching dialogue between the Lord and Abraham we see a relationship building. Chapter 18 in Genesis starts with the Lord returning to Abraham with two companions, and the hospitable Abraham fed them a meal, after which the men started to look across at Sodom. God had a plan for this city and He decided to tell Abraham about it. ““Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. … So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”” (Genesis 18:17-18, 20-21).

The two men with the Lord started their journey to Sodom, but the Lord stayed with Abraham, who had an inkling about what was going to happen. We then have the extraordinary conversation between the Lord and Abraham, where Abraham interceded for any righteous people who may have been found in Sodom. Genesis 18:25, Abraham speaking, “Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”. The conclusion was that God would not destroy Sodom if He found 10 righteous people there. Estimates about the population of Sodom vary widely, but it appears there may have been about a thousand or so. Living close to these two cities as he did, Abraham must have known about the wicked practices going on. But what do we pilgrims make of the Lord becoming interested in Sodom and Gomorrah because of a “great outcry” and “flagrant sin”? We read in Genesis 19:4-5, “But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!”” So perhaps we can conclude that God was appalled with the sin of homosexuality and was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of it. Sodom gave its name to the English word “sodomy”, in the sense of “copulation between two men, whether consensual or forced.” But we receive a little more enlightenment from Ezekiel 16:49-50, “Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. She was proud and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out, as you have seen”. 

Such was the relationship between God and Abraham that Abraham was able to remind God of His righteous obligations. He said, “Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” It is something that we pilgrims sometimes forget – God is a God of righteousness as well as love. Of judgement as well as compassion and kindness. God is perfect in all His ways – Psalm 18:30, “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection“. So everything that God is, is perfect. His attitudes, His behaviour, His thoughts, and His words. So the wicked behaviour in Sodom and Gomorrah was an offence to God and something that reached Him as “a great outcry”. We pilgrims sometimes take for granted God’s grace, in allowing us sinful people to continue our lives here on earth. But there is no sin greater or lesser than any other. Paul wrote, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23). But, praise glory and thanks to God, we read in Romans 3:24, “Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Such grace wasn’t available to the ancient people living in Sodom and Gomorrah, but nevertheless righteous behaviour was not unknown to them. They knew the difference between right and wrong. Between righteousness and wickedness. They made the wrong choices to satisfy their sinful desires. 

There will come a day when the choices of mankind will bring them before God. There, “the Judge of all the earth” will do what is right. So we pilgrims share His grace to those around us, and by so doing achieve two outcomes – we hold back the righteous judgement of God, and we introduce sinners to our wonderful Saviour.

Dear God. In fear and trembling we remember that You are both a God of love and a God of righteousness. Thank You for Your grace. Amen.

The Ancient World

Posted on by korgrocker

“And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood.”
2 Peter 2:5 NLT

We read recently the passage in Genesis 6, where there is an account of angels having a “liaison” with women on earth and producing the giants of the ancient world. God spoke out in Genesis 6:3, “Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years””. In Genesis 6:5-6 we then read, “The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart“. Those last words poignantly describe what God thinks about sin. And He pronounced judgement on the world at that time, “And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them”” (Genesis 6:7). That would have been the end of the human race but… We thank God for His buts! Genesis 6:8, “But Noah found favour with the Lord“.

In Genesis 1, God created the Heavens and the Earth, and we read in Genesis 1:31, “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day”. He was pleased with His creation, exclaiming that it was “very good”. An understatement, I think we agree. But as Peter wrote, God did not even spare His beautiful creation when evil and sin blighted what He had made. God had Noah’s ear, and He shared His plan with Noah, a plan that involved the destruction of all living creatures, except for those that He was going to save. It took Noah 100 years, or thereabouts, to build the ark, because he was 500 years old when he became the father of his three sons (Genesis 5:32), and he was 600 when he populated the ark and the flood came (Genesis 7:6). 

In a generation, a society, that was inherently evil, Noah stood strong in his faith in God. Imagine the abuse and ridicule he received for 100 years, as he built that ark and populated it with all the animals. We must consider that the building of a structure that large would have been too much for one man and his young sons, so he must have employed local craftsmen to help. We must also consider that the people of that day were not familiar with a large expanse of water, and therefore wouldn’t have known what a boat was for. But Noah stood strong in God anyway, and in so doing warned “the world of God’s righteous judgement”. And in return Noah had God’s protection. After the Flood, God made a promise to Noah. “Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth”” (Genesis 9:11). So instead of destroying His creation again for their wickedness, God introduced Jesus to the world. Surely they will believe in Him and turn to Me? Was that His thought?

There are many discouraged Christians around in the West these days. They observe much that is going on in Christian denominations that is directly against Scripture, and they grieve dwindling numbers attending church services. But we can take heart because God always has a “but” up His sleeve. Jesus said that He would build His church, and that will truly happen. In fact, we know that in the last days many will fall away from the faith – Jesus Himself warned us that this would happen, “And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other” (Matthew 24:10). We pilgrims therefore must shine even brighter in this dark society, where even churches are embracing the wickedness that God hates.

How are we shining for God to those around us? For a start, do they know that we are believers in Jesus? Are we behaving in a way that reflects our faith? One thing I believe God said to me recently was that some people are so worn down and depressed in their lives, that even a cheery word is enough to lift them. We have a message of hope, and the Holy Spirit will help us communicate it to this sad, sombre and sinful world.

Dear Father God. Please help us to share Your loving heart to those around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sinning Angels

Posted on by korgrocker

“For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.”
2 Peter 2:4 NLT

Peter told his readers that even angels are not immune from God’s righteousness and justice. The graphic language of this verse stimulates imaginations into all sorts of pictures. But we never think of angels as being sinners, that is until we read Genesis 6. “Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them. The sons of God saw the beautiful women and took any they wanted as their wives” (Genesis 6:1-2). Theologians widely interpret the phrase “sons of God” as meaning angels in the context, and it is believed that the rebellious satan tried the strategy of mixing heavenly and earthly beings in a sexual relationship. And we find out later in this chapter in Genesis that giants resulted from the union. “In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times” (Genesis 6:4).

We pilgrims know of course that God desires justice. He is perfectly righteous in all His ways, as we read in Psalm 145:17, “The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness“. We read in Psalm 7:11, “God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day“. So Peter wrote in our verse today that “God did not spare even the angels who sinned”. It is widely thought that demons are fallen angels, angels who have sinned, so the timing of their incarceration in “hell” (actually in the Greek this place is called Tartarus, a holding area just for these rebellious and sinful angels). We don’t know when these angels were thrown into Tartarus, but it is probably still some time in the future. What we do know is that God didn’t “spare” them, even though they were angels. The use of this word “spare” reminds us of what Paul wrote in Romans 8:32, “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else“? This word “spare” means not holding back. It implies a necessary, but painful, act, perhaps irrevocable. So we might give away our “spare” change into a donation box, or take a “spare” item to a charity shop. But what God refused to “spare” was precious and dear to Him. It was an act of incredible and amazing love and kindness that He even gave up His Son for us. God spared Him.

There are consequences to sin. It has to be judged and dealt with, and the spirit realm is full of the spirits of sinful angels and people, waiting for that time when they are judged for what they have done in their life. Angels are immortal beings but they, like humans, have the ability to make choices. Satan, who, from what we can see in the Bible, was also called Lucifer, was the senior angel, a worship leader in Heaven. Yet he made a choice to rebel against God and suffered the consequences, being thrown out of Heaven along with a large number of angels who sided with him. And Peter reminded his readers that they would one day come to a miserable end in a holding place called Tartarus. 

Is all this of any relevance to us pilgrims? After all, have we ever seen an angel? And aren’t they responsible for their own actions, just as we are? For me, this verse in 2 Peter that we are considering today is a warning that one day the sinful universe in which we live will be rebalanced. Sin will be no more, and all those who have made right choices in wanting to live God’s way through Jesus will find themselves living with Him forever. But all those who reject God will find out that He has rejected them. God has done everything possible to make available eternal life for all those who desire it. He of course could have created a race of robots, zombies unable to make choices for themselves, but instead He created mankind in His image (Genesis 1:27), taking a risk that they would want to live with Him forever. We know what happened, as the Genesis story unfolded. But God had a plan for the future of His creation, involving His very own Son, through whom everything was created (John 1:3). And, for that plan, we will be eternally grateful.

Father God. Once again we praise and thank You for Your grace and mercy. Through Jesus You have accepted us as righteous in Your sight. We are a truly privileged people. Amen.

Condemnation and Destruction

Posted on by korgrocker

“But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.”
2 Peter 2:1-3 NLT

Peter starts 2 Peter 2 with the spotlight turned on prophets and teachers. And he adds the damning indictment of “false”. But how do these people get to such a position? A teacher, in particular, has a very powerful position in any church, because he or she will say things that many people will believe, particularly if what they say is plausible and apparently backed by Scripture. Some people are attracted to a position of power – just look at many of our politicians. And as we know, power can have a corrupting influence. It brings with it feelings of invincibility and superiority.

Teachers will research their material and then expound their conclusions. And it is easy to see how churches and fellowships can become skewed by particular teaching that, although not wrong, over-emphasises some subjects and doctrines over others. A quotation from David Pawson, “building doctrine on only part of what the Bible says on a given subject leads to imbalance and extremism, with unfortunate practical results“. That is why a plurality of leaders and teachers is essential in any gathering of believers. The overall goal is to do what Jesus commanded – make disciples and build up the body of believers in the faith. But this is not what Peter was warning about. He was bringing into the light the problem that some teachers “will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them”. 

False teaching is based on lies and deceit. And we know that the source of all lies is the devil. Jesus, in a conversation with the people around Him, and because they were rejecting Him as being God’s Son, pointed out, “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

False teachers run the risk of having God’s protective covering removed from them. There are those who quote Psalm 121, “He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. … The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. … The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever” (Psalm 121 3, 5, 7-8). And they then think that they can enjoy God’s physical protection. But physical safety from calamities does not fit in with New Covenant theology. No – God’s covering refers to spiritual protection. When we believe in Jesus Christ for salvation, the Holy Spirit immediately enters our lives. We are sealed for eternity and brought under God’s spiritual protection from that moment on. But by heretical lies entwined within false teaching, the teacher will be in danger of voiding such protection. The consequences will be as Peter warned, “their destruction will not be delayed”. 

We must also bear in mind that our eternal salvation can be threatened, as Jesus warned in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” I know these verses may not sit easily with those who maintain “once saved always saved”, but Peter seemed to think that false teachers, who may have started their life as believers, have fallen into error and consequently ensured that things for them won’t end well.

We pilgrims follow in the light of Psalm 25:3-5, “No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you“. If God teaches us, we are truly receiving the right teaching.

False teachers will come to a sad end. They may be sincere. They may even be able to quote Scriptures to justify and support what they are teaching. But it is essential that they minister as part of a team, allowing other Godly men to keep them right. A long time ago, I discovered that a church leadership needs covering and accountability, provided by other men and women outside their church. Therein lies a place of safety, both for the teachers and for the flock.

Dear Father God. Teach us, we pray, to follow Your way of truth in all that we do or say. In Jesus’ name. Amen.