PRAYER!

This picture was taken somewhere on an island off the western coast of Scotland some months ago. In the middle of nowhere. With a storm brewing in the air, foreboding, inky clouds spelling doom. No, I wasn’t in any trouble; the depiction of a deserted phone booth deposited in a desolated domain drew my attention. And, yes, the telephone worked! There was a dial-tone. Not a soul in sight, not a house anywhere around. Lightning on the horizon, thunder rumbling in the skies. But there was a dial-tone in that companionable carmine curbside cubicle with a connection to the outside. The comfortable sound of a link to the beyond.

So it is also for the Christian, one who has placed his or her trust in Christ as Savior. We too have a link to a source of strength and succor in times of stress and strain.

For we do not have a high priest
who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses,
but One who has been tempted
in all things as we are,
yet without sin.
Therefore let us draw near
with confidence
to the throne of grace,
so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help
in time of need.
Hebrews 4:15–16

There is always a line open. Jesus Christ, through whom alone we come to the Father.

For there is one God,
and one mediator also
between God and men,
the human Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5

This God, our God, is with us and for us—“Immanuel”. And …

If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 8:31

This God, our Lord Jesus Christ, too, underwent the rigors of humanity and satanic trials, as he partook of our own human nature, finally, tasting death for us.

For since He Himself
was tempted
in that which He has suffered,
He is able to come to the aid
of those who are tempted.
Hebrews 2:18

An accessible line with an ever-present dial-tone.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Joseph Scriven, 1855

Through Christ, we are to pray. For times are troubled. Days dreary. Warfare on the way. Pray often.

The end of all things is near;
therefore, be of sound judgment
and sober spirit
for the purpose of prayer.
1 Peter 4:7

Only His peace can sustain us in these dreary days. And that peace, amidst the pressures of daily life, is channeled by prayer.

Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything
by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving
let your requests
be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all comprehension,
will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7

Indeed, if incarnate God, Jesus Christ, Himself, had to pray, how much more we?

… He [Jesus] went off
to the mountain to pray,
and He spent the whole night
in prayer to God.
Luke 6:12

Let us follow His example.

Devote yourselves to prayer,
keeping alert in it
with an attitude of thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2

AGING!

Hard to believe. This little kid whom I used to bounce around just the other day has graduated from high school overnight. My nephew, John. When did he become eighteen? Yesterday, I used to give him a hard time, teasing him and pulling his leg. Today, I’m at the receiving end. Yesterday, I was the fount of information. Today, he corrects my mistakes. Yesterday, I was treating the acne on his face. Today, he’s teaching me about “facebook”. Yesterday, he was a cute little elementary school kid. Today, he’s tall and gangly, bidding goodbye to his high school buddies.

I must be getting old! And who knows about tomorrow?

Come now, you who say,
“Today or tomorrow we will go
to such and such a city,
and spend a year there
and engage in business
and make a profit.”
Yet you do not know what
your life will be like tomorrow.
You are just a vapor
that appears for a little while
and then vanishes away.
James 4:13–14

Time flies. Things change. People age. And the clock ticks on, inexorably, irreversibly, incessantly. We might be unconscious of the fact, unmindful and unaware, but life is running out for each of us.

LORD, make me to know my end
and what is the extent of my days.
Let me know how transient I am.
Behold, You have made
my days as handbreadths,
and my lifetime
as nothing in Your sight.
Surely every man
at his best is a mere breath.
Psalm 39:4–5

And as the sand in our hourglasses run out, afflictions abound in synapse and sinew, frailties fell both mind and body. But we are sustained by our everlasting Father, and the eternality of life He gives us.

And now, Lord,
for what do I wait?
My hope is in You.
Psalm 39:7

Indeed! Our hope is in the One who has promised eternal life to those who believe in Christ Jesus for salvation from their sins, a life wherein all things will be renewed. However, in the meantime, as we await those days when things will be as they ought to be—wrongs emended, sin eradicated, joy established, God enjoyed—until then, the Psalmist says …

As for the days of our life,
they contain seventy years,
or if due to strength, eighty years.
Yet their pride
is but labor and sorrow.
For soon it is gone
and we fly away.
So teach us to number our days,
that we may present to You
a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:11–12

Until then, here on earth, may we be wise in all our undertakings, employing ourselves with care during the days allotted to us in this life, as we seek to bring Him praise and glory in all that we think and say and do.

My mouth is filled
with Your praise
and with Your glory all day long.
Do not cast me off
in the time of old age.
Do not forsake me
when my strength fails.
But as for me,
I will hope continually,
and will praise You
yet more and more.
My mouth shall tell
of Your righteousness
and of Your salvation all day long.
And even when I am old and gray,
O God, do not forsake me.
Until I declare Your strength
to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.
For Your righteousness,
O God, reaches to the heavens,
You who have done great things;
O God, who is like You?
Psalm 71:8–9, 14–15, 18–19

We age. Be wise. Serve God.

COMMITMENT!

Until Oct 31, 1517, the medieval practice of the Catholic Church of granting indulgences—a scandalously commercialized transaction by which one could purchase remission from purgatory by viewing relics of saints (and donating money)—went largely unopposed.

Absolution from sin had become a commodity to be purchased. The Schlosskirche (Castle Church) in Wittenberg, in Germany, held one of Europe’s most significant collection of relics, and was center of veneration of these “antiquities”, that supposedly included among other objects of fantasy and imagination, straw from Jesus manger, and the body of one of the children massacred by King Herod.

Until Oct 31, 1517. On that day Martin Luther nailed his “95 Theses” (Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences) to the door of the Schlosskirche. Luther was outraged by the thought of sin being remitted by human works. This, he recognized, was an offense against the grace of God and the doctrine of justification by faith.

(There I am, standing before that famous door in Wittenberg; the original wooden doors, of course, are gone, to be replaced in the 19th century by bronze replicas bearing the Latin text of Luther’s theses.)

Against great opposition, this man of God stood firm. Pope Leo X issued a papal edict in 1520, condemning Luther and demanding a retraction. Luther burnt the edict in Wittenberg! Demands for Luther’s recantation continued. At great danger to his life, Luther refused. There would be no compromise. In 1521, in one of his most remarkable confrontations with church authorities at the Assembly of Worms (also in Germany), this stalwart said:

“Unless I can be instructed and convinced
with evidence from the Holy Scriptures
or with open, clear, and distinct grounds
and reasoning—and my conscience is
captive to the Word of God—
then I cannot and will not recant,
because it is neither safe nor wise
to act against conscience.
Here I stand. I can do no other.

God help me! Amen.

The Protestant Reformation had begun, to a great extent because of the commitment of one man to his God and to the veracity of God’s Word. An unbending, unyielding, undaunted stance.

Every believer in Christ is called upon to be committed likewise to God and His Word. To persevere. To stand firm. To hold fast.

Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding
in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your toil
is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58

Indeed! Not in vain at all! For there will be a reward for such faithfulness. May we not lose those deserts due to lack of commitment. Christ says:

“I am coming quickly;
hold fast what you have,
so that no one
will take your crown.”
Revelation 3:11

We are to hold fast what we have, committed to what we have learnt from the Word: how we should walk with God, abide in Christ, live by the Spirit.

So then, brethren,
stand firm and hold
to the traditions
which you were taught …
2 Thessalonians 2:15

God calls for a commitment. A line is drawn. Whom or what will we serve? As Joshua challenged the children of Israel:

Only be very careful
… to love the LORD your God
and walk in all His ways
and keep His commandments
and hold fast to Him
and serve Him with all your heart
and with all your soul.
.. choose for yourselves today
whom you will serve;
… but as for me and my house,
we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 22:5; 24:15

Will we be wholeheartedly, steadfastly, diligently committed to God?

GLORIFY!

A long-awaited expedition became reality last week. Drew, the organist at the church I attend in Aberdeen, and I set out on a pilgrimage to pay our respects to Herr Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750).

There’s yours faithfully and JSB having a chat in the Bach House at Eisenach, Germany. What a delight to revisit history and to breathe the same air as this musical genius and strong Christian. While there is no doubt that he was God’s unique musical gift to mankind, evidence of Bach’s spirituality and devotion to his Creator abounds. His settings of sacred texts speak (sing?) eloquently of the words they handle, focusing performer and listener upon the conceptual content of the piece, lyrics and music fitting one another with forceful passion and flawless perfection. He knew his God. Bach’s Bible comes down to us annotated with marginalia and comments. He knew his Scripture. Many of his manuscripts, both sacred and secular, contain the acronym “S.D.G”, Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone). He knew his life’s purpose.

Bach is reported to have observed that music exists “in order to make a well-sounding harmony to the glory of God and the permissible delectation of the spirit; and the aim and final reason … of all music … should be nothing else but the glory of God and the recreation of the mind. Where this is not observed, there will be no real music but only a devilish hubbub.”

Quite in line with the biblical mandate concerning not only music but every other human activity.

Whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Of course, there can only be one Bach! But the Bible is clear that all believers have one or more spiritual gifts and that we are called to exercise them, in whatever capacity and in whichever arena, unto God for His glory.

As each one has received
a special gift, employ it
in serving one another
as good stewards
of the manifold grace of God.
Whoever speaks, is to do so
as one who is speaking
the utterances of God;
whoever serves is to do so
as one who is serving
by the strength
which God supplies;
so that in all things
God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ,
to whom belongs the glory
and dominion
forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10–11

To the end, Bach remained faithful to God in his music-making. On his deathbed, blind, and in a darkened room, he dictated to his son-in-law, Johann Christoph Altnikol, a choral prelude. Appropriately, it was on Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit.

Before Thy Throne I now appear,
O Lord! bow down Thy gracious ear,
Reject not from Thy loving face
A [poor sinner] who sues for Grace.
Bodo von Hodenberg, 1646

On July 10, 1750, this musician nonpareil suffered a stroke. Ten days later, “a little after a quarter to nine in the evening, in the sixty-sixth year of his life, he quietly and peacefully, by the merit of his Redeemer, departed this life,” as his obituary put it.

Whatever you do,
do your work heartily,
as for the Lord
rather than for men,
knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the reward
of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ
whom you serve.
Colossians 3:23–24

As children of God, as members of the body of Christ, let us remember whom we serve and why—to glorify God in everything.

Whatever you do
in word or deed,
do all in the name
of the Lord Jesus ….
Colossians 3:17

FORTRESS

A few weeks ago, while traveling in the western Highlands of Scotland with some friends, we literally ran into this fascinating structure!

Eilean Donan (Scottish Gaelic meaning Isle of Donan) is a small island (pop. 1!) in Loch Duich, connected by a footbridge to the mainland. This isle was named for St. Donan (Donnán of Eigg) martyred in that area in 617 A.D. On this parcel is the Eilean Donan Castle. The original edifice dates back from the early 13th century, for the most part a stronghold for various clans; the current restoration by the MacRae clan was undertaken in the early 1900s. For obvious reasons, Castle Eilean Donan has the distinction of being one of the most photographed castles in Scotland.

Enthralling monuments, these castles. And Scotland has a fair share of them—over 3,000, in various shapes, sizes, and states of preservation. Even the ruins look magnificent. Castle, from the Latin, castellum = fortress. These stone productions are both defensive (for protection from the enemy) and offensive (often located in hostile territory to control surrounding land). And, in many cases, castles evolved into residences for the lord or monarch who had them built.

I can’t help but think that the Christian’s “fortress” has all three of these characteristics: it is defensive; it is offensive; it is the home of the King! Indeed, the believer’s fortress is God Himself.

He who dwells in the shelter
of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow
of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD,
“My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
Psalm 91:1–2

This fortress is defensive …

The LORD is my rock
and my fortress
and my deliverer,
My God, my rock,
in whom I take refuge.
My shield and
the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD,
who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:2–3

This fortress is offensive.

In my distress
I called upon the LORD,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice
out of His temple,
And my cry for help
before Him came into His ears.
Then the earth
shook and quaked;
And the foundations
of the mountains
were trembling
And were shaken,
because He was angry.
He sent out His arrows,
and scattered them [enemies],
And lightning flashes
in abundance, and routed them.
Psalm 18:6–7, 13

What can our response be to this great “Castle”, the God who is our fortress?

Praise …

The LORD lives,
and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be the God
of my salvation,
Therefore I will give thanks
to You among the nations, O LORD,
And I will sing praises
to Your name.
Psalm 18: 46, 49

And trust …

For You are my rock
and my fortress;
For Your name's sake
You will lead me and guide me.
How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up
for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought
for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men!
Be strong and
let your heart take courage,
All you who hope in the LORD.
Psalm 31:3, 19, 24

Our great God, a Personal fortress, who loves us and give us victory!

Who will separate us
from the love of Christ?
Will tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
But in all these things
we overwhelmingly conquer
through Him who loved us.
Romans 8:35, 37

Amen!

FINISHED!

Finished! Almost. There I am with the 260-page tome of my thesis (Text to Praxis: Hermeneutics and Homiletics in Dialogue). There I go, early last week, to the University Office to formally submit the thesis to the Registrar. Almost finished. Almost, because there remains an oral exam—a defense of my thesis—to be encountered in late May. Nevertheless, it feels good to have the workload off my back, at least for a while. A sense of accomplishment. Finished!

In the light of Passion Week and the accomplishments of another Person on the cross, my petty accomplishment fades into the abyss of insignificance. He was the one who cried, “It is finished!”, after suffering the physical and emotional agonies of mockery, scourging, and crucifixion. Yet His greatest torment was His “separation” from God the Father, who had forsaken God the Son, because Jesus Christ …

… who knew no sin
[was made] sin on our behalf,
so that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21

The spiritual suffering incomprehensible as holy God took on the sin of mankind. Jesus utter abandonment was echoed in His cry from the cross:

“My God, my God,
Why have You forsaken me?”
Mark 15:34

But in that great act of self-sacrifice Christ atoned for (covered the cost of) our sins, paying the full and final penalty thereof, opening access between holy God and those who place their trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross. Finished! Completed! Accomplished! Paid in full!

“It is finished!”
John 19:30

This exclamation was His last as He died on the cross. The verb not only conveys the sense of “finishing” it also carries the intent of “accomplishing”—fulfilling the obligations that were required of God the Son by God the Father in the power of God the Spirit. In His total obedience to the Father, Jesus Christ drank of the cup that was intended for us, in our place. In the Garden of Gethsemane as He anguished over what He knew was coming, He gave Himself totally to the will of the Father.

“Your will be done.”
Matthew 26:42

And it was. Fully. Finished!

Surely our griefs
He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves
esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through
for our transgressions,
He was crushed
for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being
fell upon Him,
And by His scourging
we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4–5

Finished! An action completed in the past that also points to the continuing state of affairs resulting from that past action. It was finished for all time. For all people. In all places. Now. For me and for you.

For God so loved the world,
that He gave
His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish,
but have eternal life.
John 3:16

The ramifications of the finished work of Christ reverberate across all time. For those have placed their trust in this work (and those who place and those who will place), to them eternal life is given. Death has been conquered. Sin has been banished. Satan has been defeated. And Christ’s resurrection proves the finality of His awesome work. Finished!

Love’s redeeming work is done!
Fought the fight, the battle won:
See, our Sun’s eclipse has passed;
See, the light returns at last. Hallelujah!

Lives again our glorious King;
Where, O death, in now your sting?
Once He died, our souls to save;
Where thy victory, O grave? Hallelujah!
Charles Wesley, 1739

UNGIFTED!

A couple of weeks ago, I was involved in a competition. Cooking!

“Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook” used to be a popular game-show here in the UK several years ago. Two unwitting scapegoats would be utilized to give the rest of the crowd some great entertainment, as those two victims attempted to cook something demonstrated to them by a chef.

Our church decided it was time for some fun. With all the dreariness of winter, the dullness of the clime, and the desperation of darkness, what better activity to engage in. Get two lunkheads to provide laughs for the congregation by duplicating “Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook.” I don’t know how I got into this (well, I do: arm-twisting by a certain person who will go unnamed; watch out, Leonie). All I can say is, that Saturday, the church certainly got some laughs at the expense of David and me. To our credit, folks consumed the stuff we concocted without collapsing on the spot. I can’t vouch for their long-term physical and psychological well-being after ingesting our indigestible indignities. (I did notice that there were a lot less people in church the next day.)

I hate being in involved in stuff I have no clue about. And clueless I was about cooking. My pièce de résistance is a PBJ sandwich and instant coffee. Culinary crafts are not my gift, I can tell you that.

In the body of Christ, the church, we tend to have that same attitude. If I ain’t gifted; I ain’t doin’ it. Evangelism—nope, not me. Acts of mercy—that’s not my cup of tea. Teaching—who, me? Service—my muscles are wasted, my bones weary, my mind weak. Leadership is not my forte. Giving—what do I have to give?

But the Bible teaches that we are all called to be active even in those areas in which we may not be particularly gifted.

Evangelism is everyone’s mandate …

Go therefore
and make disciples of all the nations ….
Matthew 28:19

Giving is required of all …

God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7

Faith we are all called upon to possess …

… for we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7

Mercy is our middle name …

Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted,
forgiving each other ….
Ephesians 4:32

Service we are commanded to engage in …

Bear one another's burdens,
and thereby fulfill
the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

Leadership, at least some facets thereof, we all should exercise …

We urge you, brothers and sisters,
admonish the unruly,
encourage the fainthearted,
help the weak,
be patient with everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:14

Teaching is a role we must all undertake, in some fashion, in some setting …

… by this time
you ought to be teachers.
Hebrews 5:12

So there is no excuse, is there? “Not my gift” is really a cop-out. While we may concentrate on those aspects of Christian life that the Holy Spirit enables us to be good at, we must remember the words of Paul …

I can do all things
through Him
who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

Of course, the greatest gift of all is love. That is the most essential aspect of our life in Christ.

A new commandment
I give to you,
that you love one another ….
John 13:34

A commandment Christ gave His followers a few days before His crucifixion. Appropriate for us this Holy Week. So let’s get to work. And remember …

Whatever you do,
do your work heartily,
as for the Lord
rather than for men.
Colossians 3:23

CREATION!

I was at the Isle of Skye last week with a couple of friends from church. Skye is a 650-sq. mile island (pop. 9,500) off the western coast of Scotland, about 250 miles from Aberdeen by road. What a stunning place! Stark and spectacular, raw and rugged. Dramatic mountains, dazzling lochs, imposing cliffs, impressive formations. (Not to mention a collection of fascinating castles; there I am at Armadale Castle, part of the holdings of the Clan Donald, overlooking the Sound of Sleat.) There is no question but that Skye is one of the most picturesque spots in this country. Photographers galore pay homage to this island all throughout the year, in weather clement or otherwise. If you come by Scotland, Skye is a must-see!

The magnificence of creation!

The heavens are telling
of the glory of God,
And their expanse
is declaring the work
of His hands.
Psalm 19:1

Indeed, God’s creation cannot remain silent. Every lofty mountain and every lovely dale bursts forth the glory of its Creator. His fingerprints are everywhere.

For since the creation
of the world
His invisible attributes,
His eternal power
and divine nature,
have been clearly seen,
being understood through
what has been made.
Romans 1:20

And all of this given to mankind to oversee and to steward.

When I consider Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars,
which You have ordained;
What is man that
You take thought of him,
And the son of man
that You care for him?
Yet You have made him
a little lower than God,
And You crown him
with glory and majesty!
You make him
to rule over the works
of Your hands;
You have put
all things under his feet.
Psalm 8:3–6

This is quite a responsibility. Over His magnificent creation, we humans have oversight. Let’s take that call seriously. It is easy to be dismissive of our duty as stewards of His handiwork. After all, there’s going to be a new heaven and new earth, so why bother about this old one? That’s not very different from asserting we shouldn’t care for these bodies of ours, since we’re going to get new ones anyway, is it? New earths and new bodies notwithstanding, what God has entrusted to us we must care for. The Bible is clear about our being faithful to God for all that is given to us.

It is required of stewards
that one be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2

Oh, and that part in Psalm 8:3 about creation being the result of the twiddling of a few divine fingers? All that splendid and sublime work and only a finger or two involved? Perhaps. But you know what it took for the “new” creation—the creation of a community of believers who have been eternally saved from the sin and its consequences?

While it took only fingers for the awe-inspiring grandeur of nature to be created, it took not only fingers, but hands, feet, whence sorrow and love flow mingled down. A mouth struck. A back flogged. A scalp torn. A side pierced. A heart punctured. A love poured out. For me and for you.

Jesus Christ. Made sin on our behalf. Forsaken by God. Because He cared.

For God so loved the world,
that He gave
His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes
in Him shall not perish,
but have eternal life.
John 3:16

For those who place their trust in Christ, believing in his death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sin, salvation is free. Are you there yet?

TEACHER!

I met Prof. Watson for the last time this week. At least for formal purposes.

In the British system of obtaining a Ph.D., a student works very closely with his or her thesis supervisor, being guided in the writing of that 100,000-word volume. This is the major task of the postgraduate (“graduate student” in the U.S.): thesis-writing commences on day 1 and concludes when the supervisor declares that you’re done. And Prof. Watson affirmed I was, a few days ago. He didn’t want to see my thesis again (and, I confess, right now, neither do I!). Only one more hurdle to cross before I traverse the Atlantic permanently—the final viva voce (oral exams), to be scheduled for late May. But the labor is essentially over! Hurrah!

It has been a privilege working with Francis. A polymath, his facility in languages, his knowledge of the New Testament, his grasp of the major works of hermeneutics in the Western canon, his insightful reading and incisive critique are, to say the least, impressive. And he is also an accomplished pianist. As one of his former Oxford classmates once confided, “The rest of us were hard-working; Francis was brilliant.” So I dropped all and journeyed 5,000 miles to sojourn, once again, in another foreign land, to work with this remarkable man for the last 18 months. A teacher par excellence. I have learnt much.

That is not to say that my learning processes terminate at this point. For everyone, education is lifelong. For the believer, especially, learning about an infinite God and His Word and His work will never cease. While this growth is our personal responsibility—self-motivated and individually driven, just as in a Ph.D.—understanding our great God and applying the Scriptures can be ably guided and appropriately influenced by spiritual, skillful, and sensitive teachers. We all need them. Every Timothy needs a Paul. Every Melanchthon, a Luther. Every disciple, a discipler. And that means every one of us needs a mentor.

A wise one will hear
and increase in learning,
And a person of understanding
will acquire wise counsel.
Proverbs 1:5

We need wise counselors who can teach us about the ways of God and workings of God from the Word of God written out in their lives. This wisdom, this skill in godly living, this development of a pattern of godliness, is what it means to grow in Christ. It is essential therefore that we heed the words of those wiser ones.

Listen to counsel
and accept discipline,
That you may be wise
the rest of your days.
Proverbs 19:20

Paul was proud to call Timothy his “son” in the faith. Here was one who listened to his mentor’s words.

Now you followed my teaching,
conduct, purpose, faith,
patience, love, perseverance,
persecutions, and sufferings ….
2 Timothy 3:10–11

Let’s make sure we have around us one, or two, or more, wiser and more mature counselors, all our lives. Let’s make sure we pay attention to their teaching, emulating their conduct, purpose, faith, love, perseverance ….

So then, brethren,
stand firm
and hold to the traditions
which you were taught ….
2 Thessalonians 2:15

And let’s be proactive about pursuing counsel. Initiating contact with mentors. Seeking them out. Respecting their wisdom. And honoring them.

But we request of you, brethren,
that you appreciate those
who diligently labor among you,
and have charge over you
in the Lord
and give you instruction,
and that you esteem them
very highly in love
because of their work.
1 Thessalonians 5:12–13

DAWGdays!

This is it, folks. After about a decade of existence, this kennel is closing its doors. I’ve mentioned the motley crew of Aberdonian fellow-postgrad students called “Dawgs” in previous blogs. This species gathered weekly to pray and enjoy one another’s fellowship and was, in the 18 months of my sojourn in Aberdeen, a source of support and strength. God bless the Dawgs!

Behold, how good
and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell
together in unity!
Psalm 133:1

All of that is soon coming to an end. Decimated we already were, having lost several to graduation in the last year. Now the remaining few are making plans to abscond from this fair city. So we gathered for one last time to share a meal and take in a movie the other day.

There’s Mark on the left (Canis citharoedus—the troubadour Dawg: he is an accomplished musician). Mark is leaving to go back to the U.S. in a couple of weeks, looting Scotland of one of its treasures, his wife, Dawn. There’s Tom in the middle (Canis helveticus—the Swiss Dawg). He’s headed for parts East. (I’ve heard rumors that he’s joining the French Foreign Legion. I told him to make sure to take his Ph.D. thesis with him: “Festwerden im Glauben an Christum”: Eduard Böhl’s (1836–1903) Proposal for a Re-emergence of Reformation Thought. He could, I suggested to Tom, read a page or two of that glorious work out loud each morning to his fellow-legionnaires of the 13th Demi-Brigade based in Djibouti. What a treat it will be for them! A daily dose of “Böhl”.) And then there’s yours faithfully, Canis medicus, planning an evacuation in ~3 months time.

An era comes to an end. The fellowship has been sweet—one with another, in Christ. It will be missed; but we’ll continue to walk with Christ together, though scattered. The three of us will soon join our DAWGbrothers of the Diaspora, located in North and South America, Asia, and Europe. Headed out to bigger and better things, God willing, to do what He says and to go where He sends. But this will not mean the end of fellowship. No, this will not mean the end of spiritual union. For wherever we are, into whatever fellowship God brings us, in whichever body of Christ we take root, there we intend to …

Be devoted to one another
in brotherly love.
Romans 12:10

For that is what the Scriptures command all of us to be involved in, …

… not forsaking
our own assembling together,
… but encouraging one another;
and all the more
as you see
the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:25

The Bible sees it as is a given and takes it for granted. This kind of loving fellowship is the hallmark of the body of Christ.

Now as to the
love of the brethren,
you have no need
for anyone to write to you,
for you yourselves
are taught by God
to love one another; ….
But we urge you, brethren,
to excel still more.
1 Thessalonians 4:9–10

In the third century, Tertullian quoted unbelievers as being struck by the Christians’ fellowship (Apology 39.6): “Vide … ut invicem se diligant” (“See how they love one another”). DAWGshows are impressive! In any time, in any place. May there be more of those. Till the dawn of THE greatest fellowship that will be upon us soon and very soon. Eternal. Supernal. Spiritual. Continual. Peaceful. Blissful.

And until that day, here on earth, …

Let love of the brethren continue.

Hebrews 13:1

TEXT!

Many a happy hour I have spent in this building—Aberdeen University’s Special Libraries and Archives. This is a fascinating place! A collection of over 4,000 manuscripts and archives, dating from antiquity to the 21st century: an outstanding collection of medieval and early modern texts, relating to science, medicine, philosophy, as well as an important gathering of ancient oriental specimens, papyri, and ostraca (broken pots with writing on them). The University itself, dating from the late 1400s, generated a significant number of those documents.

It was indeed a delightful experience to pore through ancient books on preaching, at least one of which made it into my thesis. A book by John Wilkins (1651) with the most impressive title: ECCLESIASTES, or A discourse concerning the Gift of PREACHING As it fals under the Rules of Art: Shewing The most proper Rules and Directions, for Method, Invention, Books, Expressions, whereby a Minister may be furnished with such abilities as may make him a Workman that needs not to be ashamed. Very seasonable for these Times, wherein the Harvest is great, and the skilful Labourers but few.

Repository for posterity. Texts are particularly suited for the purpose of preservation that those in the future may profit thereby. Unlike speech, for which the hearer has to be in physical proximity of the speaker—within earshot—texts can move. Across space, across time. The mobility of texts enable them to speak to any and to all who volunteer to read.

No wonder God chose to work among His people primarily through a text. Though the Word—the ultimate revelation of God—is the Son, Jesus Christ, in whom dwells the fullness of deity, we see this incarnate Word only through the inscripturated Word, the Bible.

The Bible. The Text. Written, archived, disseminated. Under the governance of the Spirit. Read, preached, applied. Under the governance of the Spirit.

It is no surprise, then, that the Bible itself affirms the validity of its content for all generations.

These words, which
I am commanding you today,
shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently
to your sons
and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house
and when you walk by the way
and when you lie down a
nd when you rise up.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7

For whatever was written
in earlier times
was written for our instruction ….
Romans 15:4

Indeed, the entire ancient text of the Scriptures is archived for our gain.

All Scripture is inspired by God
and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction,
for training in righteousness;
so that the (wo)man of God
may be adequate,
equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16–17

Earnestly must we read this text. Diligently must we heed this text. For in it are the words of life.

Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.
Philip P. Bliss, 1874

May this text be our focus, our lamp, our delight. For its contents …

They are more desirable
than gold, yes,
than much fine gold.
Sweeter also than honey
and the drippings
of the honeycomb.
Psalm 19:10

Practical. Prescriptive. Priceless. Potent. Protective. Purifying. Only this Text. And, of course, providential. From the hand of God. Only this Text.

So, this week, don’t forget to pay attention to that sermon from this sublime Text. (And thank your pastor for his hard work!)

FOOD!

Another culinary pièce de résistance from the kitchen of my good friends, the Morgans. Chocolate chip-pecan-coconut pie.

Chocolate! Drool-worthy. Lick-inducing. Bite-delicious.

Chocolate! Theobroma cacao. That’s the plant that gives us the good stuff. The first word denoting the genus of this precious plant means “Food of the gods”. Amen! “Theobromine” is an alkaloid in cocoa and chocolate, a stimulant with mood-elevating effects. Another equally invigorating, but minor, constituent is “Anandamide”—from the Sanskrit, ananda = bliss!

If you didn’t know it already, let me tell you that it is not chocolate, theobromine, anandamide, or any of your drugs of choice du jour— inhaled, ingested, or injected—that can provide true delight.

The young lions do lack
and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the LORD
shall not be in want
of any good thing.
Psalm 34:10

Indeed! It is in God that true, lasting, eternal happiness can be had. It is in a right relationship with one’s Creator that fulfillment is found. It is in getting right with the King that His blessings are bestowed.

And the first step towards that end is taken when we place our trust in Christ, believing that He died and rose again, paying the full, final penalty for our sins. Jesus said:

“I am the living bread that
came down out of heaven;
if anyone eats of this bread,
he will live forever.”
John 6:51

And not just eternal life. Life-purpose in His plan. Joy in His presence. Security in His protection. Peace in His providence.

For He has satisfied
the thirsty soul,
And the hungry soul
He has filled
with what is good.
Psalm 107:9

From His hand comes everything that is good. Even chocolate! Therefore we give thanks to God …

… who gives food to all flesh,
For His lovingkindness
is everlasting!
Psalm 136:25

And for believers who continue to seek and to serve God, walking with Him, the promises of God are even more potent.

No good thing
does He withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:11

No good thing withheld! Imagine that! But conditioned upon walking uprightly, walking with integrity, walking according to His Word.

Man shall not live
on bread alone,
but on every word
that proceeds
out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4

If our spiritual sustenance is God’s Word, and if …

… the kingdom of God
is not eating and drinking …
Romans 14:17

… and if you, like me, are in need of being reminded constantly about this in the midst of life’s bustle and business, its disorder and din, its madness and messiness, why not consider a sacrificial act of discipline this season of Lent to focus yourself on matters spiritual? Traditionally the church has, over the millennia of its existence, prepared for Easter by self-examination and discipline during Lent—intentional and sustained acts of self-control from a heart of grateful devotion to God. So why not give it a try this year?

Fasting? Financial restraint? Increase in giving? Intensity in Scripture memorization? Self-discipline regarding a habit? Self-control regarding an excess? Engagement in corporate prayer? Exercising solitude? Assuming silence? Abstaining?

… discipline yourself
for the purpose of godliness;
… godliness is profitable
for all things.
1 Timothy 4:7–8

Disciplined. To do His will. To seek Him. To serve Him. To find satisfaction in Him alone.

Jesus said …
“My food is to do the will
of Him who sent Me
and to accomplish His work.”
John 4:34

Bliss. Not in food. Not in chocolate. But in the will of God. Through the Word of God.

TIMEKEEPING!

I was on top of it. Or so I thought. Armed with Outlook and its scheduling calendar, I had it all timed. Down to my departure. Everything planned—the completion of every chapter of my thesis; indeed, every section and sub-section of every chapter had an assigned date of dispatch and delivery to my supervisor, Prof. Watson.

There was only one problem. I was never on time. Either I had scheduling difficulties with the prof—he or I was traveling or otherwise indisposed—or he wanted more work done on some aspect of the writing, another revision and iteration submitted.

I was completely thrown off my schedule. This introduced not a little angst into my otherwise placid life! Alright, I’ll confess: I was disappointed and disheartened, weighed down, worrying that I might not finish my PhD before I hit 50. (For those of you who have been taken in by my youthful appearance, that’s not too far away!)

And then it happened. Sometime after Thanksgiving 2006, I was given the green light. Prof. Watson agreed my progress was sufficient to warrant my wrapping things up by next summer.

You know what that did to my meticulous timekeeping? While I didn’t quit laboring on my writing, I completely quit caring if I missed my picky goals, persnickety thresholds, and puny limits. Hey, I was guaranteed to finish in July! It was auntheticated, assured, ascertained by the boss himself. No more clocking my work or counting my words. No, more calendar or computer program keeping precise track of my progress. With the goal decided, whatever brick, tomato, or egg that came my way could be handled with equanimity, sang-froid, and nonchalance. The end was in sight and I was sure of finishing.

A pox on timekeeping! A hex on all clocks!! I’m outta here!!!

That’s when I realized that, as a Christian, my entire life ought to be lived that way. For us, as believers, the end is in sight. The winning-post draweth nigh. The destination has been promised. The target has been bullseyed. We’re outta here! Poxes and hexes on all momentary light afflictions, said Paul.

For momentary, light affliction
is producing for us
an eternal weight of glory
far beyond all comparison,
while we look not
at the things which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen;
for the things which are seen
are temporal,
but the things which are not seen
are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17–18

Therefore, why the angst, why the anguish, why the anxiety? Instead …

Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, rejoice!
…. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:4–5

Settled, signed, sealed. No doubt, no despair, no despondency. The end is coming and soon! No, not even death can stand in the way of our relentless and unremitting movement towards that glorious outcome of final victory in Christ.

O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?
The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the law;
but thanks be to God,
who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55–57

Let’s keep gazing ahead, to the bright land “that is fairer than day”, where there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more tears, no more death.

Therefore, beloved,
since you look for these things,
be diligent to be found by Him
in peace, spotless and blameless.
2 Peter 3:14

Not clocking ourselves. Not timing our moves. Not disturbed. Not desperate. But peaceful. Peacefully spotless. Peacefully blameless.

RUINS!

Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire, England. Founded in 1132 by a dozen Cistercian monks. By the middle of the 13th century it had become one of richest religious houses in all Europe, excelling in farming, lead mining, iron working, stone quarrying, and horse breeding. A profitable money-making enterprise. Far beyond what was necessary for monastic life. Powerful abbots sat in Parliament and wielded much power and influence. But today? A ruin. (The life of the abbey came to an end in 1539 when Henry VIII dissolved Roman Catholic monasteries during the English Reformation.)

It is still a magnificent edifice that I had the chance to visit a couple of months ago. Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Part of the grand remains includes a ~200 foot-high tower, now without a top. I was there right after Christmas and the National Trust had wired the tower with speakers. And the King’s College Choir of Cambridge (as close to angelic voices one can get this side of heaven) was singing Christmas carols. Reverberating off those ancient walls, the effect was just … ethereal!

What it must have been 500 years ago! Nothing but ruins today. Even the best, the richest, the strongest can, and do, fall. Into ruin.

True also of believers. Not that they lose their salvation, but, sadly enough, ruins do happen, and shipwrecks do occur, as lives lived lazily and lackadaisically can lapse and lurch into lamentable ruin. And it can happen and occur to anyone. Paul lists some of these deplorable instances:

… Hymenaeus and Philetus,
men who have
gone astray from the truth ….
2 Timothy 2:17–18

… Demas, having loved
this present world,
has deserted me
and gone to Thessalonica ….
2 Timothy 4:10

But the Spirit explicitly says
that in later times
some will fall away
from the faith …
seared in their own conscience
as with a branding iron ….
1 Timothy 4:1–2

Spiritual ruin. The writer to the Hebrews confesses how difficult restoration is for those who have gone astray in this fashion.

For in the case of those
who have once been enlightened
and have tasted
of the heavenly gift
and have been made
partakers of the Holy Spirit,
and have tasted
the good word of God …,
and then have fallen away,
it is impossible
to renew them
again to repentance .…
Hebrews 6:4–6

The slow, steady slide into the sewers of sin. And if we are not careful and watchful, we, too, can go slip slidin’ away.

Therefore let him
who thinks he stands
take heed
that he does not fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12

Paul’s paternal concern for his child in the faith, Timothy, is God’s concern for us as well—that we remain faithful.

This command I entrust
to you, Timothy, my son, …
that you fight the good fight,
keeping faith
and a good conscience,
which some have rejected
and suffered shipwreck
in regard to their faith.
1 Timothy 1:18–19

Vigilant we must be. Sober. Earnest. Persevering.

Therefore, take up
the full armor of God,
so that you will be able
to resist in the evil day,
and having done everything,
to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:13

God alone can keep us secure, safe, shielded, sheltered.

Now to Him who is able
to keep you from stumbling,
and to make you stand
in the presence of His glory
blameless with great joy,
to the only God our Savior,
through Jesus Christ
our Lord, be glory,
majesty, dominion
and authority,
before all time and
now and forever. Amen.
Jude 24–25

Let’s stand firm!

CAPITOL!

The 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology is on, and I’m writing this from the locus of the AAD’s festivities this year—Washington, D.C. Great place! The food is fabulous. The museums, marvelous. The edifices, elegant. The climate, alas, too cold for me (at least at this time of the year)!

Washington, D.C. While the centers of all three branches of the U.S. government are situated here, the imposing fulcrum of people’s rule—taxation with representation—is the Capitol in the nation’s capital. It is hard to miss, from the air and from on land. Astride Capitol Hill, this neoclassical structure is the pivot upon which the geography of the city is arrayed: every street address in Washington, D.C., has one of the four suffixes, NE, NW, SE, or SW, depending upon where it is in relation to the Capitol. In a sense, all roads lead thereto.

One day, the Bible says, the Capital City of the Lord Jesus Christ will be even more influential and dominant.

In the last days
The mountain of the house
of the LORD
Will be established
as the chief of the mountains,
And will be raised
above the hills;
And all the nations
will stream to it.
And many peoples
will come and say,
“Come, let us go up
to the mountain of the LORD …
That He may teach us
concerning His ways ….”
Isaiah 2:2–3

That is the city wherefrom Jesus Christ will rule one day, God asserts.

“I have installed My King
upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
Psalm 2:6

This is the city that will disseminate justice.

For the law will go forth from Zion
And the word of the LORD
from Jerusalem.
And He will judge
between the nations,
And will render
decisions for many peoples ….
Isaiah 2:3–4

This is the city called “peace” from which peace will issue forth.

His tabernacle is in Salem;
His dwelling place
also is in Zion.
There He broke
the flaming arrows,
The shield and the sword
and the weapons of war.
Psalm 76:2–3

This is the city transfigured by the presence of its Sovereign.

Beautiful in elevation,
the joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion
in the far north,
The city of the great King.
Psalm 48:2

This is the city beloved to God.

The LORD loves
the gates of Zion
More than all the other
dwelling places of Jacob.
Glorious things
are spoken of you,
O city of God.
Psalm 87:2–3

This is the city ruled by the Great Shepherd watching over His people.

As the mountains
surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD
surrounds His people
From this time forth
and forever.
Psalm 125:2

The city of joy!

For the LORD has chosen Zion ….
“This is My resting place forever;
Here I will dwell,
for I have desired it.
I will abundantly
bless her provision;
I will satisfy
her needy with bread.
… and her godly ones
will sing aloud for joy.”
Psalm 132:13–16

The holy city from which the whole world will be blessed, through the ramifications of the atonement and resurrection of Christ:

Thus it is written,
that the Christ would suffer
and rise again
from the dead the third day,
and that repentance
for forgiveness of sins
would be proclaimed
in His name
to all the nations,
beginning from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:46–47

Our God reigns! His Capitol has been established in His Capital. So …

Sing praises to the LORD,
who dwells in Zion.
Psalm 9:11

May His reign be consummated soon!

HOME!

Anticipating a return from Scotland in the summer, I’ve commenced moving-related endeavors. One of the crucial components of this resettlement to the U.S. is, of course, finding a place to call home. So, during this current trip to Dallas, under the skillful and resourceful guidance of my good friend and real-estate agent Jeff (the other good-looking guy in the picture), I started looking around. Together we scrutinized a dozen homes in the Dallas area. Again. You see, when I first moved to Dallas from Boston in 1999, Jeff and I went through the same operations at that time. Here we were again. I was searching for home.

Peripatetic as I am—the U.K. is the fourth country, and Europe the third continent, I’ve lived in—it seems, on my part, a perpetual undertaking, this quest for home. Indeed, this is not far from being the quest of every believer, one who has been adopted into God’s family at the point when faith was placed in Jesus Christ as Savior from sin. The Bible makes it clear that “this world is not my home, I’m just a-passin’ thro’.”

For our citizenship is in heaven,
from which also
we eagerly wait for a Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20

Therefore, this quest for home will always be unsuccessful on this side of eternity. Here, temporarily situated on earth, we are what Peter calls “resident aliens”. He begins his first letter …

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who reside as aliens,
scattered throughout
Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia,
Asia, and Bithynia,
[and Dallas, and Aberdeen,
and Trivandrum, and Kuwait, …]
who are chosen ….
1 Peter 1:1

We are chosen to belong to a new kingdom, part of a new race of the elect.

For He rescued us
from the domain of darkness,
and transferred us
to the kingdom
of His beloved Son.
Colossians 1:13

And this quest for home will find fulfillment only with the reception of that city to which we already belong, in which we are already participants.

So then you are
no longer strangers and aliens,
but you are fellow citizens
with the saints,
and are of God's household.
Ephesians 2:19

Already citizens and members of the household of God, but not in possession of our land, nor our home … yet. The pilgrimage continues; the quest proceeds.

By faith Abraham,
when he was called,
obeyed by going out …
for he was looking
for the city
which has foundations,
whose architect
and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:8, 10

That quest for the eternal home arises so strongly, beckons so irresistibly, and influences so completely, that even in this phase of temporary earthly life, David, the Psalmist, would rather live in God’s abode, God’s home, in the presence of God.

O Lord,
I love the habitation
of Your house
And the place
where Your glory dwells.
One thing I have asked
from the Lord …:
That I may dwell
in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life.
Psalm 26:8; 27:4

Until, one day, when believers get to that blessed home where …

… there will no longer
be any death;
there will no longer
be any mourning,
or crying, or pain ….
Revelation 21:4

And while we pursue this home, remaining as we do in this already-but-not-yet interregnum, Paul lays down a charge.

Therefore we also have
as our ambition,
whether at home
or absent,
to be pleasing to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:9

May we home-seekers, do so—live lives pleasing to Him.

When he comes, our glorious King,
All his ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we'll sing:
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Philip P. Bliss (1875)

BLOOD!

I had black pudding at a restaurant here in Aberdeen the other day. A sausage … made with blood! Congealed fresh pork blood. Boiled in casings. Then fried. A British delicacy, particularly with breakfast. But not unknown in the rest of the world: blatwurst in Germany, boudin noir in Cajun country, morcilla in the Spanish-speaking world, blood tofu in the Far East. And ancient enough to have merited a mention in Homer’s Odyssey (ca. 8th century B.C.E.).

Blood sausage! Does that make you grimace?

But blood is an amazing liquid. You have at least 5+ litres of the good stuff, holding 300 million RBCs per drop. They do an incredible lap of 12,000 miles a day (= 4 times coast to coast across the U.S.) delivering oxygen and nutrients to the body and exchanging wastes and carbon dioxide. The stuff of life. Literally. A loss of it can kill you. So can a myriad of hematological diseases—underproduction, overproduction, failure to clot, inappropriate clotting, malignancies, genetic abnormalities. The fluid of life.

The Bible agrees:

For the life of the flesh
is in the blood …
Leviticus 17:11

However there is more to this assertion. The rest of the verse goes on to say …

… it is the blood
by reason of the life
that makes atonement.
Leviticus 17:11

What’s this stuff about atonement?

You see, the problem with me, and you, and the rest of the world is sin! Sin is intrinsic to the human condition. Sin creates a barrier between humanity and deity. There can be no communion between the two; darkness and light cannot co-exist. And the ultimate consequence of sin is dreadful one, indeed—eternal separation from God who is infinitely holy. Unless … the price of sin is paid and sin is atoned for.

That’s where the hematological motif in the Bible comes into play.

… without shedding of blood
there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 9:22

In His abundant mercy and awesome love, God opened a way for mankind to enjoy communion with Him, now and forever. He, Himself, Jesus Christ, would pay the price of sin. That’s what God did on the cross, bearing my sin and yours, paying for it with His life, in my place and yours. His blood shed to wash away our sins.

In Him we have redemption
through His blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of His grace,
which He lavished on us.
Ephesians 1:7–8

The moment one places one’s trust in Jesus Christ as one’s Savior from sin, believing that He died on the cross and rose again the third day—the payment made fully, finally, and forever—at that moment of faith, the slate is wiped clean. Sin is no longer an issue between the believer and God. Eternal life with God has begun! What a lavish grace—an undeserved, free gift! What a demonstration of God’s indescribable love!

For God so loved the world,
that He gave
His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish,
but have eternal life.
John 3:16

If you haven’t come to that decision, may I urge you to place your trust in Christ? The most important decision of your life now and life forever!

Have you been to Jesus
for the cleansing power?
Are you washed
in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting
in His grace this hour?
Are you washed
in the blood of the Lamb?
Elisha A. Hoffman (1878)

Oh, and the black pudding? It was alright.

SCALE!

Good friends of mine had their first baby last week. A hospital visit was due, to pay my respects to the proud couple and to the new arrival. Not knowing my way around this place or where the Maternity Hospital was located, I decided to go with Peter, headed to the same place for the same purpose.

Peter suggested I meet him at his place 30 min before the end of visiting hours at the newborn wing. I was surprised. We meet to go to another place just half-an-hour before closing time?

Now you must remember I hail from the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. A megapolis extending about 10,000 sq. miles, packed with 6 million of the country’s best denizens, the fifth largest metropolitan area in the U.S. Where any trip, to any place, at any time, for any reason, by any mode of transportation, takes at least two hours! A good 50% of one’s life there is spent sitting on Interstate 635, affectionately known to natives as “LBJ”, a.k.a. “the world’s largest parking lot”. One could shave off a few percent of that time if one were to commandeer the other main artery, Highway 190, also endearingly named after a President— “George Bush” (the first, POTUS #41). Of course, by tracking this alternative trajectory, a good 50% of the average Texan’s income is spent appeasing the toll machines on “George Bush” that ruthlessly and relentlessly extract their sacrifices. Either way, you lose.

Aberdeen, Scotland (est. ca. 1179), on the other hand, is a different story altogether. 100 square miles. By population (about 200,000), somewhere in the 40s in rank among U.K. cities.

Even after having lived here over a year, the scale of things in this neighborhood hadn’t sunk into me yet. It takes only two minutes to get to any place, at any time, for any reason … walking! Incredible. Peter was right: it took us 42 seconds to get from his house to the hospital! (Of course, we did have to walk—alas!—50 yards from the car to the patient rooms, that took us another 78 seconds).

Two realms. Two scales. Two ways of thinking.

Likewise, it is often difficult for us earth-bound, temporally-tied beings to comprehend the difference in scale between the realm we occupy now and the one those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin will inhabit for eternity. The difference in scale between those two domains is infinite—inconceivable, incomprehensible, incredible! And believers can look forward eagerly to …

Things which eye has not seen
and ear has not heard,
and which have not
entered the heart of man,
all that God has prepared
for those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9

Indeed, a taste of that eternal reality is ours even now—on a scale that is unthinkable, undreamable, unimaginable.

Paul prays that believers might …

… know the love of Christ
which surpasses knowledge ….
Ephesians 3:19

And that they might possess …

… the peace of God,
which surpasses all comprehension ….
Philippians 4:7

All on a different scale in a different time at a different place!

For momentary, light affliction
is producing for us
an eternal weight of glory
far beyond all comparison,
while we look not
at the things which are seen,
but at the things
which are not seen;
for the things which are seen
are temporal, but the things
which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17–18

Keep looking! Eternity’s a-coming! And it’s out of this world!

KINGDOM!

Last week I was in Hay-on-Wye, Wales. While visiting a long-lost classmate of mine in Leeds, we made a pilgrimage to this quaint town a.k.a. Y Gelli (“The Grove,” in Welsh), the mecca for bibliophiles. Inundating the population of 1,864 are 30+ used bookstores. There are books everywhere—indoors, outdoors, and in every imaginable niche, nook, and cranny. Almost heaven! How this hamlet became the booktown of the U.K. is a story in itself.

A certain Richard George William Pitt Booth single-handedly exported the notion of a booktown in the 1960s. Soon thereafter, he purchased the ancient Norman castle in Hay-on-Wye (ca. 1200s). Not only did he set up shop—selling books, of course—in his castle and wherever else he could find room, this worthy also proclaimed himself ruler of the independent “kingdom” of Hay-on-Wye! To his credit, he is quite skeptical about his own monarchical status, employing his horse as his Prime Minister, and choosing to deploy a toilet-plunger in place of a royal scepter. He does, however, still sell cheap “peerages” to awestruck tourists. “Lord Kuruvilla” did sound appealing to me, but I passed on the golden opportunity. However, I did buy books from His Majesty Booth and the good man was kind enough to give me a discount. For his services towards tourism, in 2003 King B received an M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire)—the genuine article, granted by one, who alone, could bestow such honors, the British monarch, H.M. Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen of Britain and of her other Realms, Head of the Commonwealth of Nations, Defender of the Faith.

Not anyone, in other words, can appropriate or apportion crown, title, or nobility. QE II, herself, may be sovereign, by the grace of God, but there is only One who is directly appointed by God to reign over the world, over an eternal Kingdom—the One whose incarnation we just celebrated.

As the angel Gabriel announced to Mary …

“… you shall name Him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called
the Son of the Most High …
and His kingdom will have no end.”
Luke 1:31–33

This is the One of whom the Book of Revelation records …

And on His robe and on His thigh
He has a name written,
“King of kings, and Lord of lords.”
Revelation 19:16

The real King. King over all. And, besides, those of us who have placed our trust in Jesus Christ for salvation from sin are already in that glorious kingdom.

For He rescued us
from the domain of darkness,
and transferred us to the
kingdom of His beloved Son.
Colossians 1:13

Therefore we can, with keen anticipation, expect Christ’s coming earthly reign—the reign of the righteous King, the rightful King, the One who alone is King indeed, ruling over a peaceable kingdom. What a day that will be!

There will be no end
to the increase
of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it
with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
Isaiah 9:6–7

What an endless and unimaginable day of bliss! No more inequalities and injustices; no more unfairnesses and uncertainties; no more disappointments and dangers; no more inflictions and afflictions. The eternal realm of justice and righteousness! The reign of God Almighty! And it will be here soon. “Thy Kingdom come!”

Now to the King eternal,
immortal, invisible,
the only God,
be honor and glory
forever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:17