A Picture of Faith

As I looked out and saw my dog contentedly sleeping at my feet I thought of how happy he is to be around us and how he depends on us to provide for him.

90 minutes earlier he arose in excitement, gleefully pouncing up and down.  He wanted two things; breakfast and a potty break.  And in that order.  He was insistent. So much so that on this Saturday morning he woke me from a dead sleep.  Deader than normal because the previous night was especially exhausting, emotionally.  But he was persistent. A picture of persistence.  He wasn’t letting up with his request until I met it.  So guess what?  He won out.  I arose and led him to the back door, gleefully hopping all the way.  He did his business then just as eagerly as he went out he came back, “breakfast dad?!” Bouncing.  Wagging.  Happy.  Anticipatory.

So, I fed him.  I gave him fresh water.  I gave him a quick pat and said ‘good boy.’

I like to provide for him.  It’s my job.  It’s my responsibility.  And once I rub the sand out of my eyes it’s also my joy.  But back to him sleeping.

As I write he’s crashed like a little baby.  (Funny because even providence brought about his name, Baby.  I thought it odd at first but it could not be more appropriate).  Between mom and dad where he feels safe.  Feels loved.  And most content.  He likes nothing more than being by our side.  Often he loves to snuggle close enough to just touch us, even lay his head to rest on a leg or a foot.

You’re probably saying, ‘Ok, I get it.  He’s a dog. You sound like you like him.  Get to the point.’  Ok, I will.

I couldn’t help but think about how I’m like him.  Totally and utterly dependent on another.  Most content, most satisfied in the presence of another.

The Lord Jesus Christ.

Like my puppy I’m most at peace when I’m near Christ. What I desire most is to be in His presence.  It’s where I feel safe.  In fact, where I am safe.  Where I’m protected.

Like my pooch I, in a sense, wake Him up (though He never slumbers nor sleeps) and beg Him to meet me, to answer my need. But get this!  He never groggily arises and meanders to the door.  No, no.  He’s like, ‘I’m here! I’ve been waiting for you to ask.  Let’s go!’

He is an ever present help in time of trouble just as much as He answers my needs exceedingly abundantly above all I can ever ask or think.  He gives peace like a river that attends my way.  Stayed upon Him I find perfect peace and rest.

He said come to me and I will give you rest.  He said I will feed you.  I will be your portion.  He said draw near to Me and I will draw near to you.  He said I will never leave you nor forsake you.

And He hasn’t.

So the little lesson the Lord showed me on my Saturday morning was a simple yet profound one.  He used the image of my contented little boy asleep at my feet to remind me of Him.  

That as my canine is completely dependent upon me so I am completely dependent upon Him.  That as my little doggy is happiest and most content when he’s closest to me I am happiest and most content when I am closest to Christ. 

God pointed me to the scriptures that flood my mind and reveal who I am and who He is.  And He said fix your eyes upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.

Whodathunk?  You can learn a lot from a dog.

He must increase,

Kevin

Death

It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment. 

~ Heb 9:27

Death.  For the most part we don't like to talk about it.  We don't like to think about it.  We prefer to keep it off in the distance.  Out of reach.  Out of sight.  Yet it is always out there, looming as it were.  Waiting.

For most it is something we wish to brush under the rug.  When it approaches we try to slam the door and bolt the lock.  But death.  It knows no boundaries.  It is stopped by nothing.  It is a relentless foe.  A fearless enemy.

You see, death entered this world when our first parents, Adam and Eve, bought the lie and chose self over obedience.  That fateful day in the garden they heard the lies of our great adversary, the devil, Satan, the enemy of our souls.  Though they had paradise they thought to grasp the Divine.  Instead of being satisfied to have been made in God's image they desired to be like God.  And though God reveals His glory in His creation of man He will not and does not share His glory with another.  So death came.  Spiritual death.  Physical death.  And not only physical death but decay.

The moment we were born we started to decay, to run towards our end.  Oh, we may live to 70, even 100.  Perhaps we'll only make it to 50 or just 15.  I've lived long enough to see a lot of death.  It started when I was about 19.  We were one of those group of kids that experienced the death of a friend at the hands of alcohol, who wrapped himself and two others in a twist of metal and an early grave.  Then death came closer to home and beat on my door.  At a mere 25 I watched my father wither and die in just 4 months time.  He made it to a young 57, and I'm not far from that number myself now.  Next was my stepfather about 6 years later.  Another early grave and a quick withering away.  More effects of the Fall.

Sin brought death. 

Just as through one man sin entered the world, 

and death through sin, and so death

 spread to all men, because all men sinned. ~ Romans 5:12

Now looking back just 20 years my life is littered with the death of family and friends.  Death cares not about age.  A 92 year old grandmother, 94 year old grandfather, 2 year old son of a boss, 15 year old son of a neighbor, 15 year old daughter of a friend.   At least 3 deaths last year and already a couple this year with another imminent.  I could go on.  I think you get the picture.  At least I hope you do.

So why do most avoid the topic of death?  Well, it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  For the sinner.  The unregenerate.  For he who has heard the truth about Christ, sin, the gospel, and rejected it.  And rightly so.  You see God has graciously put before us life and death.  He has planted within us a knowledge of Him.  He has revealed Himself in the work of creation.  Yet we, for the most part, have rejected it.  Why?  Simple.  We love ourselves more than Him.  We desire to be sovereign.  We bow to none.  So it is only right that we fear death.  Sin brings death and then judgment.

We desire to live 60, 70, 80 years apart from giving Christ His due.  We may live a moral life, moral on a horizontal scale not a vertical one.  We think that gains us favor and in the end we will 'be ok.'  Yet why when death is at the door do we fear?  Because we know it's not enough.  We know we have offended a Holy God and He demands payment.  That payment is satisfied in Christ.

So this brings us the contrast.  The Christian, the one who has repented of his sin, confessed his offenses, and believed upon Christ's work on Calvary has no fear.  Death is but an entrance into glory.  Glory with the eternal One.  Why?  This person understands that he is a sinner.  He is nothing but a vile wretch, full of hatred and self will.  He has nothing to offer because he is altogether corrupt.  Or should I say was?  By trusting in Christ's righteousness and not leaning on an iota of his own supposed righteousness he has received the imputed righteousness of Christ and been made new.  Entirely new.  He is a new creation who can now walk in the fullness of life.  Perfect love casts out fear.  So death for the godly one is precious in His sight.  And not only in God's sight but for the forgiven sinner.  He has a sure hope.  A confident assurance.  A place prepared for him.  And it shall happen!

Where do you find yourself?  Fearful of death?  Ignoring the elephant in the room?  Do you keep death out of reach?  When it comes do you grieve as one who has no hope?  Or do you look at death and say,

O, death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory? 
~ 1 Cor 15:55

He must increase,
Kevin

Once An Enemy

Over a year ago I renamed this blog to Once An Enemy.  I think it is a better description.  When I started this I had lots of thoughts running through my head, and still do, so my wife said, "why don't you start a blog?"  So I did.  But as I look back I realized I needed re-calibrating  So first I stopped writing and then took a new course.  One with less of a fighting and abrasive spirit.  Oh, my convictions have not lessened.  I believe the Lord has just beat me left and right with who I am, who I was, and Who is responsible for the good.  And, who is responsible for the bad.  Yep, me.  So I thought I'd go back and show you why the name resonates with me and why it is always in my head.  So let's start with where the phrase originates.

The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend

The agonies of Calvary

You the perfect Holy One, crushed Your Son

Who drank the bitter cup reserved for me

Your blood has washed away my sin

Jesus, thank You

The Father's wrath completely satisfied

Jesus, thank You

Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table

Jesus, thank You

By Your perfect sacrifice I've been brought near

Your enemy You've made Your friend

Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace

Your mercy and Your kindness know no end  

Words and music by Pat Sczebel © 2003 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music (ASCAP)/Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)

No one knows the depth of my sin like me. This simple yet profound worship song epitomizes me.  You see, I was a mocker, a blasphemer, a proud, stubborn, self-centered rebel.  For 24 years.  But God.

I never heard the name of Christ as a child except as a swear word coming from a loved one.  I was raised properly yet at best a form of godliness in our family that was nothing more than moralism soaked in sin.  My parents divorced when I was about 13.  At that time I fed a deep loathe for my father that lived for a solid 5 years and I turned.  I turned to my own ways.  I was the "man" of the house and no one was going to tell me what to do.  So I ran into dissipation.  Oh I could have gone much further as some of my posse went.  Yet I went plenty far enough.  Life really was all about me.  It's the Sovereign grace of God I wasn't splattered on the road like another friend was at the mere age of 18.  We boys woke up that day, a little.  I can still see the scene.  A green hill.  Blue skies.  A casket.  But we only partly woke up. 

Years earlier I had started filling my life with music.  Bad music.  Aggressive, dark music.  One of my favorites loved to play on the macabre.  I won't go into details.  I never let myself go there.  It's gone, by grace.  God works in wonderful ways.  He used that wicked band to drive this young rebel into a Christian bookstore to purchase of all things, a bible!  This guy?  Really?!  I had to read the book of Revelation out of curiosity.  So I slinked in, hoping no one I knew would catch me. 

I took that bible home and searched it, mind you out of curiosity, nothing more.  That night I woke up and knew without a doubt I was damned and headed for hell.  I had the strangest dream.  Basically I was at a large table with lots of people.  The verdict came.  And I was doomed.  I was evicted from that table and told everlasting destruction awaited me. 

My mother found me, this 16 year old kid, on my window sill with a broken window, trying to escape the horrors I just saw.  (I do not remember my dreams.  This is the only one in 53 years that is still clear as day to me.)  But sin had a firm grip on me.  I said, later.  I'll become a Christian later.  So I ran another 8 years.  To the point that I openly laughed and mocked Christians.

The lyric by Stuart Townend (copyright 1995, Thankyou Music)

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

fits me perfectly! 

It's why if you're ever near me in church when we sing it, you'll likely catch me choking on these words. 

Because one night, I remember it well, I submitted to the truth I'd known for years.  And at 6:30 on a Tuesday night I prayed my first ever prayer.  A meager, measly prayer.  Not entirely sure what I was doing.  Oh, knowing I was asking for forgiveness.  Repenting of my wickedness. Asking for Jesus to receive me and turn my life from ruin to anything better.  Praying that I would follow Him and forsake all my sin.  But I felt like a ditch digger in an operating room.  What was I doing?  What did I know of prayer?  Of God?  But He didn't want nor expect me to know anything more than, Father forgive me!  I believe you died upon a cross for my sin.  Jesus change me!  And in an instant I was transferred from the kingdom of darkness and brought into His marvelous light! 

You see, Jesus did drink the bitter cup reserved for me.  I cannot comprehend the agonies He suffered on Calvary.  The perfect Holy One crushed His Son.  For me.  Oh the weight of that!  I could almost faint.  For me?!  You have got to be kidding?  Crushed?  For me? 

He's washed away my sins?  His wrath completely satisfied?  The riches of His glorious grace poured out on me?  The wretch?!  His perfect sacrifice has brought me near?

Surely His mercy and His kindness knows no end.

So I remind myself often to stay low, because,

"you were once an enemy but now you are seated at the table!"

Do you know this truth?  This Jesus?  If not, embrace Him, now.

He must increase,
Kevin