There are hundreds, if not, thousands of video clips that circulate on social media on a daily basis. Some have an agenda while others are manipulated to force a narrative upon us. I have also found that some just speak for themselves. I came across one of those video clips.
I’ll keep it “anonymous” as to who this was because my point is context. I would normally just brush off such a video clip as this, but I couldn’t. The person involved took the Bible out of context and was “forcing a square peg into a round hole” to make it justify his lifestyle. He was expressing his displeasure with people criticizing him for being very rich. He did not appreciate that people were voicing their displeasure at his owning a mansion and having a private jet to fly him around the world. This television preacher made no apologies for living an “above and beyond” lavish lifestyle. In fact, he claimed them as a blessing from God. I would have just brushed it off at that point and moved on with my day. However, he took out his Bible and read from the Psalms to prove his point that he was “blessed” to have the mansion and jet aircraft. It was Psalm 49:16, “Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased.” He went on and on about how this Scripture says that we shouldn’t be afraid to be rich or to have extravagant real estate. He went on to claim that he was being blessed by God spiritually, physically and financially. He was using this Scripture out of context to justify his elite-level of earthly possessions. Let’s put Psalm 49, that he was reading, back into context. The Scripture is actually warning this preacher about the very thing he is boasting about: possessions and being rich. This is the same fatal mistake that the “rich fool” made in Luke 12:16-21. The rich man supposed that his “much goods laid up for many years” could satisfy his soul. He thought that he could simply tear down everything and build bigger and better. Our trust, faith and allegiance is to God and God alone. We live our lives not in the pursuit of great wealth and earthly possessions, but in the reliance and confidence in the power and trustworthiness of God. He is our source of Life and our Provider. One of the lessons behind Psalm 49:16, is that the worldly pursuit of wealth, possessions, and vast real estate holdings, will all be in vain in the end. In other words, no amount of money or degree of wealth can save you from death. The Psalmist is warning us not to fall into the trap of thinking wealth will be a safeguard against death. One may amass an enormous financial portfolio on this earth, but it will never be enough to “buy your way” into Heaven. Your privileges in this life will not translate into eternity. How do we know this? We just need to read the next verse! Psalm 49:17, “For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.” The Psalmist is telling us what we already know which is “you can’t take it with you.” The rich and wealthy have no advantage over those who are poor or who are financially struggling. We all die and take nothing with us into eternity. Our true fear is a holy and reverent awe of God, our loving Father, who lavishes His love upon us and bestows the priceless gift of our inheritance when we cross the threshold of eternity into His Kingdom. Yes, it was very disappointing to hear this television preacher use Scripture out of context to justify his indulgence in wealth and splendor of earthly possessions. I pray we will stay focused on the reality of the coming Kingdom of God and being faithful stewards of what God does allow us to have, own and possess here on earth. I pray we will recall the words of Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Now that is something I can keep in context!
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I think we could spend hours, if not days, in just the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel. If there is one thing that is made clear in this writing is that God is passionately pursuing us and bidding us to have a relationship with Him that is restored by His Son, Jesus.
There is one verse, in particular, that stands out to me. John 6:37, “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” Those that come to Jesus will never be rejected. If you come to Jesus, just as you are now, he will not turn you away. He gladly welcomes you to come to him. It is not God’s design or plan that we live separated from Him. He makes the way for that relationship to happen. He initiated the plan. He paid the price. He gives freely. He gives us free-will to choose or reject that offer of reconciliation through Jesus, His Son. God makes His intent clear: Ezekiel 33:11, “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?” 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” This is what makes the stories of Zacchaeus, the prodigal son, the vineyard workers (Matthew 20:1-16), and many other parables an overwhelming message to us that God does not want us to live without him now or in eternity. It is overwhelming to think of the extent God will go in order to reach you, to grab your attention, and reveal himself. He wants you to know how much he loves you. There’s nothing preventing you from reconciling your life back to God through Jesus. There is nothing we have done in our lives that could prevent that from happening. I do find it comforting to know that when God sent his Son, Jesus, to save the world from sin (John 3:16), that he already factored in all my sins, mistakes, disasters, back-sliding, and every dark thing my heart could muster. The blood of Jesus shed on the cross covers it all. Romans 5:8, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” God initiated his plan first. He doesn’t wait for us to get our “act together” before he’ll accept us. He won’t put us on a 30-day trial period to see if we can handle being a Christian. He takes us the moment we come to him. God has made it possible for you to come to him. The question is, then, will you go? We need to understand that God is not going to force us to come to him. He wants us to make that decision and to come to him willingly. We must make that decision to believe by faith. John 6:47, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.” We must realize our sinfulness has broken our relationship with God and that Jesus, his Son, is the only one who can repair that relationship for us. We all fall short (Romans 3:23), so we all face this decision in life. We are all born into sin and all need the redeeming work of Jesus Christ in our life. Sometimes, we have a tendency to complicate things that are simple. We question how such a priceless gift as eternal life is already paid for and is “free” to us just by asking. It is pretty clear that Romans 10:9, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” If you choose Jesus, he will not reject you (John 6:37). He will not reject you, but help you. He will send the Holy Spirit into your life to help you become stronger in faith and more like him. If you have truly believed in Jesus Christ and put your faith in Him, you can expect God to start transforming you. The old ways of sin that you used to relish are going to fade, and the new life you live in Christ will dominate your passions. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Remember, every sinful thing you have done in life was already factored into the equation when God sent Jesus to die for the sins of the world. Nothing is preventing you from coming to back to God through Jesus Christ. He will not reject you. In fact, he will gladly welcome you back! Luke 15:20, “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” No rejection there! No rejection for you, either! Wherever you are right now, may you truly understand how desperately God, the Father, wants a relationship with you. He does not reject you. So, go! |
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April 2024
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