IMMORALITY?

Time with Jesus - Monday, 07 May 2012

Hi all,

A certain Dr Hort, a 19^th century English theologian stated that for Jesus to die for you and me is immoral. Today’s Scriptures speak of Jesus’ suffering. So our meditation focuses on this statement by Dr Hort and whether or not he could be correct.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Time with Jesus – Monday, 07 May 2012
INTRODUCTION	DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	IMMORALITY?
Today we are looking at the question of morality. Was it morally correct for Jesus Christ to die for me. The question is valid. If we see it as immoral, then Jesus would not have done it. Dr Hort, a late 19th century Theologian rejected it out of hand. God would never do anything immoral. As far as he was concerned, if it was immoral it would never have happened. In terms of human morality, for someone else to die for my sin is immoral. If I committed the sin, I should be held responsible for it and not the Lord Jesus Christ. On the surface this is clearly true. If I am jailed for a crime you committed, its wrong! So how do we deal with this? The first thing we must get to grips with is the fact that moral standards vary from nation to nation. A couple of Biblical incidents demonstrate this clearly. One of them is what happened to the people who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. During this period, a number of Jewish men had married non-Jewish women and were the father of their children. There may have been good reasons for this. However, they should not have done so. Ezra the priest told these men to divorce their foreign wives. They did. Now that shocks our 21st century sense of morality. Was it right or was it wrong? Was it acceptable to God in those days? The fact is, they did it with or without God’s approval. So my thinking is being challenged by the Lord. One of the tragedies of the Book of Judges is the way Jephthah sacrificed his daughter; his one and only child because of a foolish vow he had made. Read about it in Judges 11. This could never happen in our 21st century culture. But it happened back then. Thus in my culture it was wrong. In that culture it was the right thing to do. These illustrations of differences are sobering. In terms of my culture it would be wrong for someone to die for me! But in this instance, my culture is not the same as God’s culture. Frankly, His is the only one relevant. Of course, He is God and is free to do wherever He chooses. He does not require my or Dr Hort’s approval. There is another aspect to this. Our cultural standards vary from generation to generation. In the 1960’s the idea of a man and woman living together was never considered. Having children without being married was not even on the radar screen of most young men and women. The men might have liked the idea!  But for the women and her parents it was a “No No!” Today, nobody cares. Many just shack up and live together. Personally, I don’t like it or approve. But my approval is never required. Phyllida and I are just a couple of “old fogies” who are not “with it”. But what is God’s view? His perfect “qualities” – love, mercy, and justice to mention only three are never in conflict with each other. He is able to be 100% consistent with Himself. In terms of this, for me to even try to comment on Him would be arrogance of the worst order. All I can say is that if He approves, who am I and who is Dr Hort, to disapprove? His omniscience means He is always error free. So we must bow to His better judgement. Jim & Phyllida Strickland	26 They attack those you have wounded. They talk about the pain of those you have hurt. Psalms 69:26 NIrV 1 Jesus told his disciples, "Situations that cause people to lose their faith are certain to arise. But how horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith! Luke 17:1 GW 23 But God knew what would happen, and His prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed Him to a cross and killed Him. Acts 2:23 NLT 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?" Matthew 26:67-68 ESV 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders made fun of him. 42 "He saved others," they said. "But he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross! Then we will believe in him. Matthew 27:41-42 NIrV 26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the LORD and against His Messiah.' 27 "In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, Your holy servant, whom You anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to Your will. Acts 4:26-28 NLT 4 But the fact is, it was our pains he carried-- our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. 5 But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him--our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 MSG	Have you ever noticed God is wonderfully unfair? If things were any different, I would be hanging there; And all who ever lived on earth, should be in one great line; Then, after I was dead and gone, each one would have their time, Of suffering and dying on that cruel Roman tree. Instead, the Son of God was there, in place of you and me! It shouldn’t be permitted. It shouldn’t be allowed. The truth is only sinners were members of the crowd, That spat on Him and beat Him and told Him “Prophesy If the are the Son of God, You do not have to die! Prove You’re King of Israel by kindly stepping down. If you choose to do it; that proves Yours is the crown.” But Jesus Christ said nothing. I think I would have screamed, For someone to awaken me from this nightmarish dream. But no one would have answered. They’d know that it was right. I am the one who should have died upon that Friday night. Then, when I had departed, they should have come for you. This was the opportunity for God to really do, Everything He stated was the penalty for sin. And then it should continue for all our kith and kin. Do you think it’s immoral for Jesus Christ to die, To save a sinful monster as bad as you and I? Of course it is immoral! That’s surely what I see. But Jesus and His Father see things quite differently. Humanity in general could never change their ways. Many folk have tried it and wasted all their days. One sin in a lifetime is all it takes to fail, And be condemned for ever, to some quite hellish jail. God saw that as immoral. He knows we’re only dust. The devil had us captive and He thought He should bust, A hole in Satan’s kingdom so we could walk away. Yet that was not the answer, for us to come to stay. I think He had a problem. A problem with no cure. Unless someone has lived a life that’s infinitely pure. And then we both trade places. He gets my sin and pain; And I receive a pardon for which I have no claim. That person must be human or there could be no trade. But if that man was also God, a way would have been made For everyone who ever lived be told they could go free; That God would take the punishment for all humanity. The answer was accepted. The Trinity agreed. We may say it is immoral. But it was right indeed! They thought that it was excellent. Whoever would, may come; And find their full salvation through Jesus Christ, God’s son. Decisions of morality are never mine to take. It’s only His that matter. They’re always His to make! Jim Strickland – Written 7th May 2012

RAISED FROM THE DEAD

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 06 May 2012

Hi all,

In the course of the past few months I've come across a comment from Dr Hort. He was one of the late 19^th century Theological scholars. His comment was that it would be immoral for Christ to die for me. In terms of human morality I must confess that I agree with Him. The issue at stake, is whether or not God thinks so! God would never do anything immoral. It then becomes a question of whether He thinks so or doesn't think so. Clearly He doesn’t see it our way. In other words God, has trumped Dr Hort’s (and my) ace. Hallelujah

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Time with Jesus – Sunday, 06 May 2012
INTRODUCTION	DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	RAISED FROM THE DEAD
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead separates the men from the boys, or the women from the girls. What are we going to do with it? Is it fact or fiction? This has been argued about for the past 2000 odd years. Believers like you and I have no problem with it. We believe! We cannot establish this as a scientific fact. God is the creator of everything. Thus science is the product of His design. In a way it’s a bit like asking a computer to prove the existence of its designer. It cannot. God could prove His existence very easily. A big TV in the sky saying, “This is God Speaking!” would put the fear of God into the hearts of countless thousands of people. One occasion where God spoke generally to the people is recorded for us in John’s gospel: 27 "Now My soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to Your name." Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, "I have brought glory to My name, and I will do so again." 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to Him. John 12:27-29 NLT On this occasion there are three reactions listed. 1) Some believed. 2) Some said it thundered. 3) Some said an angel spoke to Him. What would happen today? In all probability there would be the same or a similar reaction. The real question is, “What would be your and my reaction?” We cannot “prove” Christ was raised from the grave. Not directly. What we can say is that lawyers who have studied the resurrection have declared that there is more evidence that Jesus was raised from the grave than there is evidence that Julius Caesar landed in the UK! Please note that His resurrection is a fact. You have a choice. The Lord leaves you free to accept it or deny it. He will not interfere. It’s entirely your choice. God refuses to stand before the bar of human reason. The facts are there. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. If you believe it, you will find that the Scripture will become a source of inspiration and guidance. If you don’t believe it, you are free to wander on down your path of deception and unbelief. Man says, “If I see it I will believe it”. God says, “If you believe it, you will see it”. It all boils down to faith or unbelief. The writer to the Hebrews states, 6 It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. 6 Hebrews 11:6 MSG Do you have faith to believe Him? It’s up to you! Jim & Phyllida Strickland	35 Some sceptic is sure to ask, "Show me how resurrection works. Give me a diagram; draw me a picture. What does this 'resurrection body' look like?" 1 Corinthians 15:35 MSG 2 But friends, that's exactly who we are: children of God. And that's only the beginning. Who knows how we'll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we'll see him--and in seeing him, become like him. 1 John 3:2 MSG 49 As we have worn the likeness of the man who was made from the dust of the earth, we will also wear the likeness of the man who came from heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:49 GW 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control. Philippians 3:20-21 NLT 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus Himself was suddenly standing there among them. "Peace be with you," He said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! Luke 24:36-37 NLT 5 He appeared to Peter. Then he appeared to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than 500 believers at the same time. Most of them are still living. But some have died. 1 Corinthians 15:5-6 NIrV 11 It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's! Romans 8:11 MSG	There’s something totally unique in Christianity; Something which the world at large thinks cannot ever be. We speak of resurrection life; to them it makes no sense And all those who believe it, are somewhat rather dense. I can’t say that I blame them; it’s hard to understand, But I can no more acquiesce to their absurd demand Than fly into the heaven, on my own eagle wings! It’s just about impossible to prove these very things. Think for just a moment of that which you have seen. Do you think without the Lord they ever could have been? Wasn’t it impossible, in terms of what you know, For it to ever come to pass if Jesus didn’t show? Each one of us have been there at somewhere in our walk. They’ve said, “You are an idiot! Don’t kid me with that talk! Prove it scientifically in the Laboratory It you cannot do so, its pure psychology. You’ve wanted it so badly your mind is telling lies. Frankly it’s just nonsense wrapped up in a disguise, Of personal delusion. Your Jesus is a crutch, You use for self deception! It’s frankly Double Dutch.” It words like this that hurt us. We can’t believe our ears. Why can’t they believe it? God’s written Word is clear. There isn’t an experiment to prove that He is fact. There is no demonstration. By faith we have to act. Seeing is believing, can never demonstrate, The truth of God Almighty. Such folk have to wait, Until the Lord reveals to them the fact that He is true; Believe it and you’ll see it! That’s what they need to do. It’s like the resurrection. Put bulbs into the ground; A bit of warmth and water. What happens will astound, An honest unbeliever. A plant will soon appear As different from the planted bulb, as lemonade to beer! And as for resurrection, which he says is a lie. The only way to prove it, is first we have to die. We know that Jesus Christ our Lord has risen from the grave. We know that He was different and that He could behave In ways which are impossible for folk like me and you. But if the Lord could do it, I’m sure we’ll do it too! We’ll find it all together the moment he returns. We’ll all be raised together. For this, my spirit yearns. We know we will be like Him! He said that it is true. That’s what He said He’ll do for me. Will He do it for you? Jim Strickland Written 6th May 2012

WILDERNESS WANDERINGS

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 05 May 2012

Hi all,

Here we all are in the middle of an international economic crisis. Today’s Scriptures are mainly about the pillar of fire by night and cloud by day. So I started to wonder what that would cost if we wanted to do something similar. As a result, today we have a tongue in cheek estimate of costs! I’m glad God can afford it!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Time with Jesus – Saturday, 05 May 2012
INTRODUCTION	DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	WILDERNESS WANDERINGS
The Children of Israel refused to go into the promised land. They had sent out 12 men to spy out the land. They came back with a wonderful report along with a negative one. It was a wonderful land, “flowing with milk and honey”. But the inhabitants were like giants. Only two of these spies believed they should go in and take the land. Their names were Joshua and Caleb. A careful examination of Scripture reveals that the idea of sending men to “spy out the land” was not from God. It was their own idea. Moses went along with the idea, so the venture was undertaken. Moses describes the tragic details in Deuteronomy. He stated, 2 Normally it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea, going by way of Mount Seir. Deuteronomy 1:2 NLT It’s astonishing how often a good idea is not a God idea. We like to take matters into our own hands and “do it my way”. It doesn’t work. God had told them to go in and take the land. They sent in spies instead. Then, when they listened to the spies’ report, they were terrified and wouldn’t go in. Moses’ tale in Deuteronomy would read like a comic opera if it wasn’t both real and tragic. In the end God told them that because they hadn’t believed and obeyed Him, not one of that generation would go in and take the land. Only Joshua and Caleb went in some forty years later. The ones who did were the children of that lost generation. Unbelief kept them out. They spent forty years wandering round in the wilderness.  Now one of the greatest miracles of the old Testament took place. God preserved the nation for those forty years. That amazes me! They had been “written off” by God. But although He punished them and did not let them enter the Promised Land, He took care of them for all those years of wandering. Would you do that? Not me! Today’s meditation looks at the fact that God did this for His people. It then goes on to speculate about the cost of these wanderings. I’ve estimated that the cost in today’s money would be in the region of one trillion Rand over those forty years. Fortunately, God does not have money problems. We do. Where could we raise a trillion Rand to support a group of about two million people wandering round the desert? Try asking your bank for that amount of money. The bank would ask us for collateral. What would we provide? I’m reminded of the story of the man who went to see his bank manager and told him that Jesus Christ had paid all his debts on Mt Calvary. So he didn’t have to repay the loan. The bank manager told him that Jesus may have paid his debt to humanity. But there was still the matter of his outstanding debt with the bank! Jim & Phyllida Strickland	39 The LORD spread a cloud above them as a covering and gave them a great fire to light the darkness. Psalms 105:39 NLT 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. 14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. Psalms 103:13-14 ESV 4 Indeed, He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. 5 The LORD Himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. 6 The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. 7 The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. 8 The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. Psalms 121:4-8 NLT 4 The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains with the hot breath of fiery judgment. 5 Then the LORD will provide shade for Mount Zion and all who assemble there. He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day and smoke and flaming fire at night, covering the glorious land. 6 It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain. Isaiah 4:4-6 NLT 21 GOD went ahead of them in a Pillar of Cloud during the day to guide them on the way, and at night in a Pillar of Fire to give them light; thus they could travel both day and night. 22 The Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night never left the people. Exodus 13:21-22 MSG 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NIrV	The day-times in the desert are very, very hot. Then, shortly after sunset, the heat they’ve quite forgot! They started to feel icy. They shivered from the cold. And just a little tiny flame was worth its weight in gold. The Lord knew all about it. To Him it wasn’t strange, So He provided something that kept the warmth in range. He covered all His people with cloud during the day And used a fiery pillar to keep the cold away. We see that air-conditioning was Jesus Christ’s design If everyone stayed close to it, they’d all be feeling fine. Of course it was a miracle which lasted forty years, Without an interruption for Moses and his peers. Now stop and think about it. About two million folk, Enjoyed this air conditioning and didn’t once go broke! I’m glad it was the Lord Most High Who had to pay the bill. But who could now afford it? The answer’s plainly, “nil!” I’m living in a pleasant house which I must heat and cool. Three Thousand Rand paid monthly we pay out as a rule. That’s only for ten people. Two hundred thousand more! Six hundred million rand per month! Can you afford this score? The Lord God charged them nothing. He did it all for free. They didn’t have the money. The same as you and me. But God can well afford it; For Him, it’s just small change. To us it’s astronomical. But well within His range. About three hundred Billion Rand or thereabout it seems. It’s bigger than the National debt and far beyond our dreams. For God it’s still just chicken feed. He doesn’t bat an eye. If you add on the water bill, I will not even try, To give some sort of estimate. And then there’s cattle food. The sheep and goats they sacrificed. The finest of the brood. The rams and bulls they offered up; the tabernacle’s price! Where did the Jewish people get their financial advice? About a Thousand Billion Rand. Does that sound out of place? No wonder Jewish people control the human race! I wonder what on Wall Street the bankers all would say? The cost of wandering around. “We don’t invest that way!” But God thought it was worth it. He thought it a good deal, A step toward bringing His Son to make salvation real. Jim Strickland – Written 5th May 2012