Ask this question, "What does God know?", in Sunday School and you will receive a Sunday School answer: everything. Have you given much thought to what is included in the "everything" God knows? David writes in the 139th Psalm:
O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
God is closer to you than any other possible relationship. There are thoughts and activities you can hide even from your closest friend or your spouse! God knows every thought, every motive, and every action we take. We cannot attain such incredible knowledge, it is "too wonderful for me." God sees our wickedness. God sees how ugly we think of others, our true motives for doing any given task, and sinful deeds we commit in the dark.
There is good news. Grace is given by God that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-11). Although God knows everything you say, think, or do, even though God knows the massive amount of sin and your inability to atone for such wickedness, God's grace is that He sent His Son to make our payment and give us perfect righteousness instead.
A question for you, dear reader: do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? We hear our Savior preach how "blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6). Do you truly desire all sin and evil to make a hurried exit from your thoughts and your feelings? Then, pray with David at the end of this Psalm:
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
This is a dangerous prayer! Oh, the trembling our flesh might experience if such prayer is answered! This is not a prayer for God to search you for something He is unaware of, for God knows everything. Beloved, this is a prayer for God to search you and find sin in places you have tried to hide it. This is a prayer for God to reveal sin you have given no thought to. This is a prayer to publish what you have tried to hide in private, either by will or by ignorance.
God's all-knowing attribute provides terror, not comfort, to those trying to make it on their own. Perhaps the very thought of an all-powerful deity gives nothing but dread and lament to some. Following Jesus from such a distance as to attend church services and scantily read their Bible, some might say, makes up for what is said in secret and done in nobody's presence. Be warned, God is an all-knowing God. Without the merit of Christ which produces the fruits of faithfulness, you stand in judgment on your own goodness. God sees all thoughts, all actions, and all words.
If the desire for your heart is being led in the way everlasting, the
way of Christ-likeness, then your heart rejoices in God's examination
and granting repentance. Confess your guilt and God is faithful to
forgive you (I John 1:9). This is not a one-time confession, but a life of continual confession and utter dependence upon our sovereign, all-knowing God.
Hiding sin or trading sins for other sins which are hidden more easily
will not disguise your guilt before our all-knowing God. Acknowledge
your guilt, pray for God to make public what sins are in private, and
repent by the power of God.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Jesus, Our Sabbath Rest
The fourth commandment reads, "remember the Sabbath day, keep it holy." This is a command from God which reflects His rest from creation on the seventh day. Was God's intent simply to look back as human history moves forward? Is redemptive history that is founded upon the Messiah Jesus fulfill the Law of God in every respect save the Sabbath? In this article, we will discover the biblical truth of Jesus being our Sabbath rest.
"I'm so tired." An expression repeated often in this age of high-paced living. The very technology we manufactured for our benefit is the same technology that is speeding up our lives in favor of efficiency. The worldview of the mechanical universe in the industrial revolution has given way to the worldview of high-speed computers and fiber optics of nanotechnology. Man is but a speck on the motherboard of the universe built for high speed and efficiency until he is worn out. Such a worldview collectively exhausts us, leaving a wave of depression and despair. The eschatological view in this worldview is man works until he is worn, then dies into a black abyss of non-existence. The atheistic view that exalts human innovation and technology is a lonely, dark hell of existence.
The biblical worldview places Christ, not technology, as the highest praise and exaltation. And, in keeping with our worship of the Messiah, we look back and forward to the Sabbath rest. Jesus claims Himself to be the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). Matthew 12 is a continuation from the end of Matthew 11, where Jesus says,
Remember that the Kingdom of God is here already and not yet completed. At the Kingdom's consummation when the Lord Jesus Christ returns for His church, He will grant us perfect rest in Him. In opposition to the eschatological view prevalent in our secular culture (see above), Jesus gives us hope for that rest. We do not work ourselves to death into nothingness, we joyfully labor for Christ who gives us doctrine and commands that are not burdensome (Matthew 11:28-30) until He returns and completes our rest in Him. Any other work of moralism or pathway to righteousness is a law-keeping that is burdensome and you will burn out. Take upon you the teachings of Christ and He will grant you rest. He will grant you the desires of your heart and you will find joy in obedience. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full" (John 15:11).
We must strive, then, to enter into our rest in Christ Jesus in the end having completed our labors. Do not mistake the Sabbath as a day to rest because you are tired. God "rested" after 6 days of creation, not because He was weary, but ceased in His creative labors in triumph that His glory has been displayed in His "very good" work of creation. By grace, God permits humanity to set apart the Sabbath and join Him in this celebration of His triumph not only in His creative labors (Exodus 16:23, Exodus 20:8), but also in looking forward to the rest the Church receives in Christ's triumph of His glorious work of which the Sabbath was a mere shadow of (Colossians 2:16-17). Let our work for Christ not cease until that day He returns for us. Let us strive to kill sin in our hearts and minds as well as to invited the lowly sinners to the banquet feast. At the Church's rest in Christ completed, our joy will be full and our rest found in God's triumph in the display of His glory to save sinners as His redemptive will rushed through human history to the praise of His glorious Name. As John Piper puts it, "with Christ, a decisive shift from separation ("come see") to declaration ("go tell") occurred in redemptive history" (Taste and See, 264). Now, go and tell the rich glories of Christ.
"I'm so tired." An expression repeated often in this age of high-paced living. The very technology we manufactured for our benefit is the same technology that is speeding up our lives in favor of efficiency. The worldview of the mechanical universe in the industrial revolution has given way to the worldview of high-speed computers and fiber optics of nanotechnology. Man is but a speck on the motherboard of the universe built for high speed and efficiency until he is worn out. Such a worldview collectively exhausts us, leaving a wave of depression and despair. The eschatological view in this worldview is man works until he is worn, then dies into a black abyss of non-existence. The atheistic view that exalts human innovation and technology is a lonely, dark hell of existence.
The biblical worldview places Christ, not technology, as the highest praise and exaltation. And, in keeping with our worship of the Messiah, we look back and forward to the Sabbath rest. Jesus claims Himself to be the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). Matthew 12 is a continuation from the end of Matthew 11, where Jesus says,
Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.Jesus says rest will be given and found by those who follow Him and learn from Him. When and where will this rest be given and found? Jesus allowed His disciples to gather grain and He Himself healed on the Sabbath in Matthew 12, revealing Himself Lord of the Sabbath. In Mark 2, Jesus states, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." The Sabbath is not a day of legalism and a focus on regulation, but a day for man's benefit to rest from the world. In both cases, Jesus claims to be greater than the Sabbath, which He teaches us was to be a blessing not a burden. In so doing, Jesus claims Himself our rest, and in that rest we are given blessing not a heavy burden.
Remember that the Kingdom of God is here already and not yet completed. At the Kingdom's consummation when the Lord Jesus Christ returns for His church, He will grant us perfect rest in Him. In opposition to the eschatological view prevalent in our secular culture (see above), Jesus gives us hope for that rest. We do not work ourselves to death into nothingness, we joyfully labor for Christ who gives us doctrine and commands that are not burdensome (Matthew 11:28-30) until He returns and completes our rest in Him. Any other work of moralism or pathway to righteousness is a law-keeping that is burdensome and you will burn out. Take upon you the teachings of Christ and He will grant you rest. He will grant you the desires of your heart and you will find joy in obedience. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full" (John 15:11).
We must strive, then, to enter into our rest in Christ Jesus in the end having completed our labors. Do not mistake the Sabbath as a day to rest because you are tired. God "rested" after 6 days of creation, not because He was weary, but ceased in His creative labors in triumph that His glory has been displayed in His "very good" work of creation. By grace, God permits humanity to set apart the Sabbath and join Him in this celebration of His triumph not only in His creative labors (Exodus 16:23, Exodus 20:8), but also in looking forward to the rest the Church receives in Christ's triumph of His glorious work of which the Sabbath was a mere shadow of (Colossians 2:16-17). Let our work for Christ not cease until that day He returns for us. Let us strive to kill sin in our hearts and minds as well as to invited the lowly sinners to the banquet feast. At the Church's rest in Christ completed, our joy will be full and our rest found in God's triumph in the display of His glory to save sinners as His redemptive will rushed through human history to the praise of His glorious Name. As John Piper puts it, "with Christ, a decisive shift from separation ("come see") to declaration ("go tell") occurred in redemptive history" (Taste and See, 264). Now, go and tell the rich glories of Christ.
Friday, March 9, 2012
The Watchmaker
On Wednesday nights, we have been going chapter by chapter together through Arthur W. Pink's The Attributes of God. I thought that I would pen (or in this case, type) some thoughts together and share them with those of you who cannot attend.
When discussing God's solitariness, we must first understand that when our Triune God is alone, He has perfect relationship in Himself. Thus, He did not create the universe out of loneliness or an unfulfilled desire for praise. This would render our God imperfect considering that He is in need of something that He cannot provide for Himself. God is not in need of such things from His creatures because God has perfect praise and relationship within His three Persons. God created for His good pleasure, to display His magnificent glory. If perfection in relationship is found in God who is separate from His creation, what tremendous mercy is shown to sinners for whom Christ died to have reconciliation to God through Christ Jesus (Romans 5:10-11)! When we get away from the world and are "alone with God," we are indeed entering perfection. This perfection is alien to us (I Corinthians 1:30); in other words, entering into God's perfect relationship is not a substance or a work found in us, but given to us by Christ Jesus and His work.
How do we come to knowledge of this solitary, perfect, and Triune God? Pink describes the unhelpfulness of the illustration of the watchmaker. Consider a barbarian man in the amazon. He has never ventured further than two miles from his tribal village. He has never seen a photograph or an airplane. He has never known technology beyond that of a stick with a sharpened stone tied to its tip. Imagine this barbarian man walking along the beach and discovering a watch. He examines the watch and notices its fine details and inscriptions. He opens the watch and finds its intricate gear works. The complexity and fine detail would not bring even such a man as this to assume that the sands made this thing. He would not be so foolish as to believe erosion or time managed to form such fine and complex work (Psalm 14:1). This is what we observe with our universe. The complex design of this vast universe as well as the finer details of the human body such as the eye ball leaves humanity with no other understanding than that of intelligent design. The unhelpfulness Pink discusses in reference to this watchmaker is that studying the watch cannot tell us what the watchmaker is like. What are his characteristics? What brings him pleasure?
Studying the universe or sitting in a dark room thinking will not lead us to knowledge of our solitary, perfect, and Triune God. God is unsearchable (Psalm 145:3). Therefore, if we are to know God, He must reveal Himself to us, His creatures. God's glory must be revealed to us, and Christ Jesus reveals God's glory to whom He chooses (Matthew 11:27). The glory of God is observed in the face of Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 4:6). The Holy Spirit raises our dead hearts to a new life renewing our minds to witness the glory of God. Let us increase in the knowledge of God by reading, studying, and obeying the Word of God. The Scriptures tell us who God is, what He is like, and what pleases Him. The Scriptures tell us of our solitary, perfect, and Triune God.
When discussing God's solitariness, we must first understand that when our Triune God is alone, He has perfect relationship in Himself. Thus, He did not create the universe out of loneliness or an unfulfilled desire for praise. This would render our God imperfect considering that He is in need of something that He cannot provide for Himself. God is not in need of such things from His creatures because God has perfect praise and relationship within His three Persons. God created for His good pleasure, to display His magnificent glory. If perfection in relationship is found in God who is separate from His creation, what tremendous mercy is shown to sinners for whom Christ died to have reconciliation to God through Christ Jesus (Romans 5:10-11)! When we get away from the world and are "alone with God," we are indeed entering perfection. This perfection is alien to us (I Corinthians 1:30); in other words, entering into God's perfect relationship is not a substance or a work found in us, but given to us by Christ Jesus and His work.
How do we come to knowledge of this solitary, perfect, and Triune God? Pink describes the unhelpfulness of the illustration of the watchmaker. Consider a barbarian man in the amazon. He has never ventured further than two miles from his tribal village. He has never seen a photograph or an airplane. He has never known technology beyond that of a stick with a sharpened stone tied to its tip. Imagine this barbarian man walking along the beach and discovering a watch. He examines the watch and notices its fine details and inscriptions. He opens the watch and finds its intricate gear works. The complexity and fine detail would not bring even such a man as this to assume that the sands made this thing. He would not be so foolish as to believe erosion or time managed to form such fine and complex work (Psalm 14:1). This is what we observe with our universe. The complex design of this vast universe as well as the finer details of the human body such as the eye ball leaves humanity with no other understanding than that of intelligent design. The unhelpfulness Pink discusses in reference to this watchmaker is that studying the watch cannot tell us what the watchmaker is like. What are his characteristics? What brings him pleasure?
Studying the universe or sitting in a dark room thinking will not lead us to knowledge of our solitary, perfect, and Triune God. God is unsearchable (Psalm 145:3). Therefore, if we are to know God, He must reveal Himself to us, His creatures. God's glory must be revealed to us, and Christ Jesus reveals God's glory to whom He chooses (Matthew 11:27). The glory of God is observed in the face of Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 4:6). The Holy Spirit raises our dead hearts to a new life renewing our minds to witness the glory of God. Let us increase in the knowledge of God by reading, studying, and obeying the Word of God. The Scriptures tell us who God is, what He is like, and what pleases Him. The Scriptures tell us of our solitary, perfect, and Triune God.
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