IT’S NOT FAIR!

Time with Jesus - 25 Nov 2013

Hi all,

There is nothing “fair” about forgiveness. No matter what you do to me, I am required to forgive you. If you murder my family and burn down my home, I am required by the Lord to forgive you. The reason is very simple. Every sin committed, is not only against people, it is also against God. In other words, what you have done to me, you have done to Almighty God. Now God in His wisdom knows what I have done; what sins I have committed. Believe me, they are in the same league as arson and murder. 

In Christ Jesus, He has also forgiven you for your sins. I may only know about the arson and murder. So if I ask Him to forgive me, and I haven’t forgiven you, I’m wasting my time. He will only forgive me to the extent which I forgive you and others. Now here’s the rub. You can believe the entire Bible to the point where you can recite it from memory. You can spend 100 years in prayer and give your body to be burned alive. It’s meaningless unless you have forgiven others. Forgiveness is love!

By way of illustration, let’s look at Paul’s letter to the Romans as translated by the “God’s Word” translation. It states; ¹ Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. Rom 12:1 GW.

To Love is to Forgive

Notice how the verse begins. Paul refers the readers to what he has just shared in the letter. A quick look through the letter reveals he has been writing about the greatness, goodness and generosity of God. He has just written that everything is from him and by him and for him. Glory belongs to him forever! Rom 11:36 GW

In “Jimspeak” Paul has been letting them know, everything they have originated from God. In that sense, we only have it “on loan” from Him. I might have it today. Tomorrow He may give it to you. Since He owns it all, He has the right to do with it as He wishes. Today, I’m the custodian; that’s all. You may be custodian tomorrow. 

However, for the moment, I’m responsible to Him for all He has provided. The fact that I’ve enjoyed being the custodian and have had a pleasant life as a result is purely His grace. However, it shouldn’t be taken for granted. Indeed, if He decides tomorrow to give it all to you, I should be just as glad as I was when it was “mine”. Paul goes on to describe the way to be. He tells us, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him.

Let’s take a look at a sacrifice. Paul was a Jew and when he wrote about a sacrifice, he would be talking about the sacrifices that were offered to God on the brazen alter. The sacrifice would have been a bull, goat, sheep or pigeon etc. These creatures were always slaughtered before they were placed onto the grate. The carcass was then consumed by the fire. Eventually, all that would be left of the carcass was a few ashes. On occasions, a large animal would be tied down onto the grate so that as it expanded in the heat of the flame, it would not fall off. Since God is a “consuming fire” and the fire consumed the animal, it was thought that God was involved and “received the offering”. To “burn to death” on the sacrificial grate, a live animal, would not have been tolerated. The priests were accustomed to slaughtering animals for sacrifice. But for them to place a live animal on the grate would have been unthinkable. In Judaism, there was no such thing as a living sacrifice. The creature may have been selected to be sacrificed to the Lord. It would never have been burned alive.

The "worship" of Moloch

In some of the pagan religions, the offering would have been burned alive. The worship of Moloch or Molech was particularly horrible. This god demanded child or infant sacrifice. It held something resembling a bowl in its “hands” which reached out toward those making the offering. The inside of the bowl was usually red hot or filled with fire to consume the victim. Parents would bring their infants and after going through a ritual of some sort, would throw the infant into the bowl. There was lots of noise in the background to muffle the screams of the infant. It was believed that Molech would bring the parents power or wealth! Incidentally, Hezekiah’s son Manasseh of Judah is described in the Bible as one of the most evil kings ever to sit on the throne of David. We are told that he offered one of his sons to Molech in this way.

Sacrifice on the Grate

As a Jew, Paul would have been thoroughly familiar with this. He would be aware how difficult it would be to keep anything motionless on the brazen altar without tying it down in some way. Nevertheless, he enjoins his readers to be living sacrifices on the brazen altar. Furthermore, as I understand it, he is telling his readers to remain motionless on the grate. “Don’t even wriggle” seems to fit in with what he has written. The KJV translates this verse; ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Rom 12:1 KJV

Thomas Cranmer Burned at the Stake
Burned his writing hand and arm first

I don’t quite follow the connection between holiness and not wriggling on the grate, but this seems to be his comment. In a way, it reminds me of the story of Thomas Cranmer (2 July 1489 – 21 March 1556) a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. (Bloody Mary) Mary was Roman Catholic and determined to return England to the Roman Catholicism. She had him arrested and tried for treason and heresy. He was condemned to be burned at the stake. During the time of his trial, he signed one or two documents recanting what he had said. However on the day of his execution, he withdrew his recantations. Then, he placed his right hand and arm in the flames saying that it was fitting that the hand that signed the recantations should be consumed in the flames. He held his arm there until it was blackened and charred. He then went to his death, burned at the stake. I’m not sure that I could follow his example. What I can say is that it is in line with Paul’s instruction. “No wriggling on the grate”.

The Sacrifice for all time
JESUS CHRIST

The way Paul concludes this Scripture verse is to make the comment that to do so is acceptable to God. Moreover, it is yours and my reasonable service. According to Paul, nothing in this should be seen as unreasonable. Rather, it should be normal behaviour. Paul was not a masochist. He was completely “sold out” to Jesus Christ and all He represented. He expresses his attitude to life and death in his letter to the Philippians. ²⁰ For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honour to Christ, whether I live or die. ²¹ For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. Philip 1:20-21 NLT

Would Paul have wriggled on the grate? Good question. What I can say is that no matter what happened to him, it would be for Jesus Christ. Whether or not he thought it was “fair” is irrelevant.

Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 25 Nov 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	IT’S NOT FAIR!
One of the biggest lessons I learned about life is that people can be very different! This is not intended as an insult to anyone. It’s stated as a fact, not a criticism. By way of illustration, let’s look at one of our Western customs. We try to never walk between two people who are talking. We walk round them so no one is offended. But when a black person walks between us, we get annoyed and say he/she is an ignorant so and so. We shouldn’t. In their culture you don’t walk behind someone’s back. If you do, their culture says you intend to kill then. So they walk between you to show they have nothing to hide. Which culture is correct? The answer is both are correct! In the West we say, ladies first, We walk behind the ladies. We protect them from behind; In the black culture, they walk ahead of the ladies to protect them from the front. Which is correct? Both of them! Yet we evaluate others in terms of our own culture. Could it be that theirs provides the better way for the situation? In our own culture, we talk about fairness. Is it correct for both parties? Even our laws are founded on this principle. Equal pay for equal work. Sadly it appears that there are still differences for women doing the same work as men. But I digress. However, a man is not equal to a woman and a woman is not equal to a man. If they were, why didn’t God create all of us genderless? Procreation may be a problem under those conditions. But He would solve that His way. It would be His problem! Children seem to know instinctively what is and what is not fair. They seem to have minds that can calculate to an almost infinite number of decimals, when one gets more than another! It’s uncanny! But God does not see things from a human perspective. He sees us all as “equal” sinners. He doesn’t count and say I’ve committed 25 more sins than you! He sees us both as sinners needing His grace. Grace is free for all. But it is never cheap. The cost was the Life Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God Himself. He died for all of us regardless how big or bad a sinner we were! Perhaps in the final analysis, I’ve more to forgive than you. Perhaps not as much as Ivan the Terrible or Pontius Pilate. No! Jesus’ blood covers and forgives all who come to Him in repentance and ask for forgiveness. The truth is that if there is not enough of His blood to cover the sins of Adolf Hitler, there certainly isn’t enough to cover mine. The only question is whether forgiveness has or has not been requested. If the individual has repented from what he/she has done to sin against God, Jesus’ blood is the great leveller. It washes our sins whiter than snow. Anyone and everyone who comes to Jesus in repentance will be forgiven. Even a monster like Adolf Hitler. Even the “monster of iniquity” who reads this. If you repent, you will be forgiven! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			21 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' (Joel 2:28-32) Acts 2:21 NIrV	There’s one thing we can celebrate. The Lord God isn’t fair. But He has promised “justice” to all men everywhere. It’s not a contradiction. Fairness isn’t right. If it was, we’d all be sent to Hell this very night! Fairness is a little game we play with one another. If I get a little less, than you give to my brother, I will be offended; feel miserable and pout. Why should he get more than me? There isn’t any doubt, That both of us are equal.  But He’s got more than me. “It isn’t fair” I bellyache and murmur sulkily. How about another? Why should the first be last! I have worked much harder. Perhaps I’m not as fast. I think I’m being “slighted” and give a heavy groan! But how dare I tell God to do with that which is His own? Fairness looks at “human rights” In God we haven’t any. I am just a bond slave. I don’t deserve a penny! If He gives it all to you, then why should I complain? Thinking “I deserve it” is surely rather vain. One thing’s which is absolute. The Most High God is just. Whatever He decides to do, I know that I can trust. I’ve only done my duty. Just that and little more. So, if He has appointed me to sweep and mop the floor, It’s the way I do it, that shows who is my King. I’m doing it for Jesus. To Him my praise I bring. I could be Adolf Hitler. I could be Joan of Arc. God has no objections. In both He’s placed a spark, That draws them to Christ Jesus and He will let them in, Provided they’ve repented and turned away from sin. But pride is in our character. We think it isn’t fair, A man like Adolf Hitler could ever get in there? So we will have a double-take and say, “That isn’t right! What is it he’s doing here? Lord, this offends my sight!” “My child that is judgemental. I know how bad he’s been. Potentially you’re just as bad, so do not sulk and preen. My Word says whosoever will call upon My Name, Surely I will save them; for that is why I came. So when a man’s repented, I wash him white as snow. This fact is universal and always will be so.” Jim Strickland 25th November 2012
			2 Manasseh did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He followed the practices of the nations. The LORD hated those practices. He had driven those nations out to make room for the people of Israel. 3 Manasseh rebuilt the high places. His father Hezekiah had destroyed them. Manasseh also set up altars to the god Baal. He made a pole that was used to worship the goddess Asherah. Ahab, the king of Israel, had done those same things. Manasseh even bowed down to all of the stars. And he worshiped them. 4 He built altars in the LORD's temple. The LORD had said about his temple, "I will put my Name there in Jerusalem." 5 In both courtyards of the LORD's temple Manasseh built altars to honour all of the stars. 6 He sacrificed his own son in the fire to another god. He practiced all kinds of evil magic. He got messages from those who had died. He talked to the spirits of the dead. He did many things that were evil in the sight of the LORD. He made him very angry. 2 Kings 21:2-6 NIrV
			12 When Manasseh was in trouble, he asked the LORD his God to show favour to him. He made himself very low in the sight of the God of his people. 13 Manasseh prayed to him. When he did, the LORD felt sorry for him. He answered his prayer. He brought him back to Jerusalem and his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God. 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 NIrV
			18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:18 ESV
			9 The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 ESV