Down2Earth: 5. Our True Nature

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Posted by Larry | Posted on 02-07-2007

Category : Bible, Down2Earth, Genesis, Old Testament, Righteousness

The Lord saw how great man�s wickedness on the

earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.

Genesis 6: 5-6 (NIV)

Oh dear, that doesnââ?¬â?¢t sound too good, does it? Itââ?¬â?¢s even worse when we realise that Godââ?¬â?¢s not just saying this about a specific group of people who lived at a certain point in history. ââ?¬Ë?Manââ?¬â?¢s wickednessââ?¬â?¢ and the ââ?¬Ë?thoughts of his heartââ?¬â?¢ are, unfortunately, just the same now as they were then. So this also refers to the here and now ââ?¬â?? and to you and to me.

Now before you jump up to defend your track record on being a good person, let me explain where Iââ?¬â?¢m coming from. I vividly recall a conversation that I had with a Christian before I became one myself (over 30 years ago), in which I questioned why it was that I couldnââ?¬â?¢t just continue being the good person that I was without me having to bring Christ into the picture. The response was a very wise one ââ?¬â?? he got me to really analyse (for the first time) the true nature of my thoughts. In doing so, I had to acknowledge, albeit reluctantly, that I actually spent the vast majority of the time thinking about myself and how my needs were going to be met. Then, when I analysed my supposed ââ?¬Ë?goodââ?¬â?¢ works, I realised that my motives were often self-centred ones ââ?¬â?? doing things to look good or just to make me feel good.

But ultimately, what really puts things into their true perspective is getting a grasp on the character of God Himself. His perfect righteousness makes everything else pale into insignificance. It�s summed up best by Isaiah in a verse that I referred to in my introduction to the Down2earth series:

All of us have become like one who is unclean and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)

So I cringe when I occasionally hear people say something like: ââ?¬Å?he/she is a really good Christianââ?¬Â or ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m trying to be a good Christianââ?¬Â. To be a ââ?¬Ë?good Christianââ?¬â?¢ is a contradiction in-terms. It misses the point about the essence of what a Christian really is ââ?¬â?? not someone who goes around glowing with righteousness ââ?¬â?? but rather someone (like everyone else) whoââ?¬â?¢s inner nature is basically bad, whoââ?¬â?¢s realised it and whoââ?¬â?¢s come before God and asked for forgiveness. And because of the sacrifice of Christ, that forgiveness is available and extremely forthcoming. Now God is able to look at us and accept us because, in some mysterious way that only He understands, the blood of Christ appeases Him. Thatââ?¬â?¢s why Paul can confidently write that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

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Down2Earth: 4. Why me?

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Posted by Larry | Posted on 19-06-2007

Category : Bible, Down2Earth, Moses, Old Testament

ââ?¬Å?…and now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to

bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.�

But Moses said to God, ââ?¬Å?Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egyptââ?¬Â

And God said, ââ?¬Å?I will be with youââ?¬Â¦Ã¢â?¬Â

Exodus 3: 9-11 (NIV)

We usually think of Moses as someone in the top league of spiritual greats. In terms of what God did through him, he was a profoundly significant character. Yet, ironically, he was very much a reluctant leader. He would have preferred anybody but himself to have been chosen for this momentous role. Inside, he felt insecure, timid and fearful ââ?¬â?? does that ring any bells in your life? If so, then youââ?¬â?¢re probably just the sort of person God wants to use!

We know from other verses in the Bible that proud people donââ?¬â?¢t get to be first pick ââ?¬â?? for example see Proverbs 16:18-19, Luke 14:7-11 and 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. Why not? Well, theyââ?¬â?¢re usually people who want to be in control of everything and who may manipulate others to get what they want. They usually want the credit or glory for an achievement to go to themselves. They find it difficult to trust others to do things. They tend to be very opinionated and take their opinion as being the right one. They may look down on others who are different in some way to themselves. The characteristics of the proud person make it difficult (but not impossible) to be used by God.

But why choose Moses for the job? Heââ?¬â?¢d never done anything like this before, he was scared to bits of Pharaoh the king, he doubted whether his own people would follow him and, to cap it all, he had a speech impediment! Not a great CV. Itââ?¬â?¢s interesting also to note that God didnââ?¬â?¢t disagree that his credentials were poor ââ?¬â?? His answer to Mosesââ?¬â?¢ objections was a simple: ââ?¬Å?I will be with youââ?¬Â¦Ã¢â?¬Â. So it wasnââ?¬â?¢t that God was just going to butter him up and pretend he was something special ââ?¬â?? He was all too well aware of Mosesââ?¬â?¢ shortcomings and did nothing to try and convince him otherwise. In His wisdom, God knew that Moses would have to simply trust Him step-by-step, situation-by-situation until all had been fulfilled. In that place of trust and weakness, he would have to stay open, flexible and responsive to all that God wanted to do through him. Indeed, he cried out to God on numerous occasions.

Over the years, Iââ?¬â?¢ve found myself in many situations where Iââ?¬â?¢ve felt completely inadequate and asked God ââ?¬â?? ââ?¬Å?why me?ââ?¬Â. Iââ?¬â?¢ve known many troubled days and sleepless nights. Iââ?¬â?¢m sure some of you have gone through similar experiences. At times like this, we can look to a guy like Moses who achieved great things by the end of his life, not because he ââ?¬Ë?had the goodsââ?¬â?¢; in fact, quite the opposite. But God, nevertheless, used him in amazing ways and He wants to use you too!

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Down2Earth: 1. Introduction.

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Posted by Larry | Posted on 14-05-2007

Category : Bible, Down2Earth, Jewish, Old Testament

You�d be forgiven for thinking sometimes that the Old Testament seems so completely different from the New Testament. For example, language, style, the character of God portrayed, the nature of events recounted, the relevance to our everyday lives etc. That they both exist in the one Bible can be thought of as a bit strange.

For me personally, growing up in a Jewish family, I only ever knew the Old Testament. In fact, I didn�t know anything at all about the New Testament until the age of about 21 when I was bought a Good News Bible. Having recently been introduced to some of the basic ideas of Christianity, I was hungry to read through the NT and was staggered by its significance. It was like being given the keys to a secret closet that contained great treasures. Or more to the point, it was like being given the last part of a book that I�d been longing to understand and finish for many years.

Two main things struck me:-

First, the OT law (which in the past Iââ?¬â?¢d been strongly encouraged to follow to the letter) was merely a way of revealing our human nature ââ?¬â?? i.e. sinful! It was actually impossible to fulfil the lawââ?¬â?¢s requirements. Iââ?¬â?¢d somehow missed that verse in Isaiah that talks about all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.

Second, that for the first time I glimpsed something of Godââ?¬â?¢s true character through the life and person of Jesus Christ. Heââ?¬â?¢d always been a God ââ?¬Ë?out there somewhereââ?¬â?¢, and certainly a very impersonal God. Now I was realising that God was actually someone I could relate to and who wanted to be close to me.

Anyway, over the course of the next few months (or maybe years!), Iââ?¬â?¢d like to share with you some reflections from the Old Testament, often from an autobiographical point of view – i.e. verses from the OT and some thoughts about the way those verses have really helped and encouraged me in my life and in my journey of faith. Occasionally, I’ll refer to verses in the NT too when it’s appropriate. Iââ?¬â?¢ve called this series ââ?¬Ë?Down2Earthââ?¬â?¢ ââ?¬â?? probably not a very original name but I want to share things that I hope you will find to be meaningful and relevant in your everyday lives ââ?¬â?? in other words, not a load of super-spiritual stuff that’s difficult to relate to but rather things that are strictly down to earth! Feel free to respond by posting your own comments, thoughts or personal experiences.

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