John Baker

 “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen 12:3). God made this important promise to Abraham as an integral part of His scheme of redemption for all mankind. The “seed” in the promise refers to Jesus Christ, whose appearance many centuries later brought the blessing of hope to all nations (Gal. 3:16). Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is the focal point of God’s scheme of redemption, and through Christ man has access to all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3). Consider the ramifications of this vital passage:

The Promise Remembered — Throughout her history, the nation of Israel was referred to as the “chosen people” of God. God’s special dealings with Israel were directly related to what He promised Abraham (the father of the Hebrew people) in Genesis 12:3. God established a covenant, called the Law of Moses, with Israel at Mount Sinai (Ex. 19ff). Further, God sent angels and prophets to Israel over the years in order to warn His people about the consequences of unfaithfulness to His will. It says something utterly astounding about God’s character that through 2000 years of recorded history, He always remembered His promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3. When Jesus arrived, His credentials as the Seed of Abraham could be well established through 42 generations (Matt. 1:1-17).

The Promise Fulfilled — The fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham came many centuries after Abraham died. Paul speaks about the foresight of God in Galatians 3:8, “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham.” The Jews had difficulty accepting the fact that God had meant exactly what He said when He told Abraham that, “all nations,” would be blessed through his seed. Many Jews proudly assumed that they were a special people because they were more righteous than their pagan neighbors. On the contrary, the children of Israel were primarily chosen for the purpose of keeping Abraham’s lineage pure until Jesus should come. When the promise to Abraham was fulfilled, national Israel ceased to be the focus of God’s plan for redemption (cf. John 8:31-59). Paul told the Ephesians, who were having difficulties along this line, “[Christ] reconciled both [Jew and Gentile] unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby (Eph 2:16).” When the promise to Abraham was fulfilled, all nations of the earth were indeed blessed by the appearance of God’s only Son.

The Promise Is For All — When Jesus died on the cross, He fulfilled the Old Covenant that God had made with Abraham’s physical descendants (Rom. 7:1-6; Col. 2:11-14). Not only that, but He simultaneously established a New Covenant based on His sacrifice for the sins of the world (Heb. 8-10). Now, both Jews and Gentiles are blessed to have a part in the promise that God made to Abraham nearly 4000 years ago. Instead of being a physical descendant of Abraham, those who are Christians are the spiritual descendants of Abraham (Gal. 3:26-29). Christians have participated in the “new birth” of baptism (John 3:5) and have therefore identified themselves with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Himself (Rom. 6:1-6).

God cannot lie (Tit. 1:2), and much of the story of redemption in Scripture hinges on His promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3. The promise to bless all nations through Abraham’s Seed is one for which every Christian should be eternally thankful. What a great God we serve — He makes gracious promises and keeps them! — JB

The first book of the Bible is called, “Genesis,” which means, “Beginning.” This profound book charts the very beginning of history from the creation of the world to the Israelites descent into Egypt over 2000 years later. Perhaps the most helpful way to remember the events of Genesis is to break the book into two parts: four great events, followed by four great men of faith.

Event #1: Creation — The Bible clearly teaches that God created the world in six literal days. Moreover, God had a definite plan concerning how He was going to accomplish this creation. For example, God created light, water, and dry land before He ever created plant life (Gen. 1:1-12). Next He created the sun, moon, and stars, followed by the birds and fish. On the sixth day, when everything else was in place, God created land animals and man. God is wise indeed concerning the intricate relationships among His creation, and His wisdom is clearly seen in its order. He is the Great Creator, and is worthy of our praise because He made us (Psalm 148). Have you ever considered the arrogance of one who would enjoy the benefits of God’s creation without being grateful to the Creator?

Event #2: Fall — God created man, “in our image” (Genesis 1:26) so that man could have a relationship with Him. Adam, the first man, and Eve, the first woman were placed in a beautiful garden where there seems to have been only one law: “Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2:17). From the beginning, Satan was allowed to tempt God’s creation, and Eve chose to disobey God by eating the fruit. Later, she offered the fruit to Adam, who willingly ate as well (Gen. 3:6). Thus was sin (transgression of God’s law) brought into God’s world by the willful disobedience of human beings. The Bible teaches that each person is responsible for his own sin (Ezekiel 18:1-20), but it also teaches that every person of a responsible age chooses to sin (Romans 3:10, 23). Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden was just the first in a long series of violations of God’s will in this world. What tremendous love God shows, however, by alluding to the coming of One who will, “crush the serpent’s head” (Genesis 3:15). Despite our disobedience, God has made a way for our guilt to be passed on to Another.

Event #3: Flood — As time went on from those early days in the garden, men continually sinned to the point that, “God was sorry that He had made man, and grieved in His heart” (Genesis 6:5-6). Friends, from the very beginning the Bible wants us to have a clear picture of the ugliness of sin. God was so offended by man’s actions that He determined to destroy the world in a flood (Genesis 6:7), but one righteous man, Noah, was found. Noah was told to build an ark of gopher wood with specific dimensions (Genesis 6:10-22), and by his faithful obedience Noah and his family was delivered from the destruction of the world (Gen. 6:22). Never underestimate the power of faithful obedience to God’s word. Such faith changes the very course of world history!

Event #4: Babel — Following the flood, God allowed the earth to once again be repopulated with Noah’s descendants. As the people became more numerous, they once again determined to exalt themselves before God by building a massive tower (Gen. 11:1-9). God once again judged mankind in history by scattering the people and confusing their language. Thus were the “nations” of the earth born. God has not ceased to judge nations within history (Dan. 4:17; Prov. 14:34). Though God will never again destroy the world with a flood (Gen. 9:8-17), He can and does destroy wicked nations to accomplish His purposes (Deut. 28:64ff). He is Sovereign in the kingdoms of men!

Abraham — Abram was a very wealthy man living in the land of Ur when God called him (Gen. 11:31-32). Incredibly, Abram left his homeland without even knowing where he was headed (Heb. 11:8-9). Abraham becomes a model of faithfulness in the New Testament because he consistently believes God’s word and acts accordingly (cf. Rom. 4; James 2; Gal. 3). Saving faith is always depicted in Scripture as trust in God’s word conjoined with obedience. God made a promise to Abram that, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). Thus, God “chose” the nation of Israel to bring Jesus into the world (Galatians 3:15-18). What an amazing promise to a man of tremendous faith (Hebrews 11:8-12)!

Isaac — When God told Abraham and Sarah they would bear a son, they laughed (Gen. 17:17; 18:12). When their son was born, they named him “Isaac,” which means, “Laughter” (Gen. 21:1-7). Growing up, Isaac must have learned tremendous lessons from the faith of his father, Abraham. It was Isaac who was nearly offered as a sacrifice (Gen. 22:9-14), and it was for Isaac that Abraham sent a servant into a far country to find a bride (Gen. 24:3-4). Abraham seemed genuinely concerned that his son learn the most important lessons of life: fear God and keep His commandments (Eccl. 12:13). Would to God that there were more fathers so dedicated today!

Jacob — Isaac was the son that God had promised all along, and thus Isaac became the father of twin boys, Jacob and Esau. Jacob deceived his brother and father into receiving the blessing and birthright, both of which had been Esau’s (Gen. 25:29-34; 27). Jacob fled his brother in fear, and thus began a journey that changed the world forever. His name was changed to, “Israel,” and he received a vision of the promise God had made to his grandfather, Abraham (Gen. 28:13-14). Jacob went to work for his uncle Laban and married his two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Through Jacob’s family came 12 sons and one daughter, Dinah. The 12 sons of Jacob became the families of the tribes of Israel.

Joseph — Because their mother was loved, Joseph and Benjamin became the “favorites” of their father Jacob. Whenever parents play favorites, bitterness and resentment are part of family life. Joseph was given a beautiful coat by his father, and his brothers despised him for it. Seeking to do him harm, they cast Joseph into a pit (Gen. 37:12ff), and later sold him into Egyptian slavery. Christians would do well to learn the lessons of Joseph’s brothers: the evil we wish on other people may soon return to become a snare for us as well! Joseph was a faithful man of God, however, and he acted with integrity when tempted to do evil (Gen. 39:7-15). For this, he was again cast into prison. From Joseph’s life we learn that faithfulness is not always easy, nor is obedience to God subject to situation ethics. On the contrary, Jesus called those “blessed” who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (Matt. 5:10-12). Joseph forgave his brothers and explained their misdeeds this way, “you meant it to me for evil, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20). May all Christians have faith like that!

We dare not overlook the fundamental teachings of Genesis. They were written for our learning (Rom. 15:4), and can build up those who live by faith (Hab. 2:4). — JB

Especially during the Texas summers, I have sometimes wondered why God created creatures like wasps, snakes, and cockroaches. The Bible tells us that, among other reasons for their creation, there are often spiritual lessons to be learned from animal species! Nature is often used as God’s way of illustrating spiritual principles. Proverbs 30:24-28 contains a list of wise lessons from animals. The writer says that, “there are four things that are little on the earth, yet are exceedingly wise” (v.24). What could we possibly learn from creatures so small?
Value of forethought and organization — “Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer” (Prov. 30:25). Sometimes it’s easy to “fly by the seat of our pants” in life. God’s word emphasizes the preciousness and importance of time, however (Psalm 90:10-12; Eph. 5:15-17). A disordered, goalless life is a reflection of a life that lacks wisdom and understanding. The ants know that winter is coming and therefore work hard through the summer months to prepare. Many a person knows that death is coming (Heb. 9:27-28), and yet like the “rich fool” they rarely give thought to eternal things (Luke 12:13-21). We could learn a great deal from the ants!
Value of finding refuge — “Marmots [coneys] are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags” (Prov. 30:26). Did you ever see a skittish creature like a marmot? They are instinctively cautious because they know that life is unpredictable. Moreover, these creatures realize that they have little defense when life gets dangerous and so they seek refuge. Legion are the people in this world that would be devastated physically, emotionally, and spiritually if life threw them a “curve ball.” God’s word calls Jesus a “rock” and our hope in Him an “anchor” (1 Cor. 10:4; Heb. 6:19). Will your anchor really hold in the unpredictable storms of life? Little creatures can tell us a great deal about the value of security and refuge.
Value of cooperation and order — “Locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks” (Prov. 30:27). Throughout history, devastating swarms of locusts have been greatly feared in the Middle East. An individual locust will rarely leave its swarm because it instinctively knows that its power and effectiveness is diminished. Some brethren in the Lord’s church seem to believe that they can be the “Lone Ranger” where Christianity is concerned. This, “I can do it myself” mentality does not square with Scripture (Heb. 3:12-13). Other Christians seem to believe that they can be withdrawn and aloof from their brethren with no serious spiritual consequences. Our faithful attendance, our willingness to be hospitable, and our sincere desire to know other Christians better are all important elements of the unity that Christ intended His church to possess (Jn. 17:21-22; Eph. 4:1-3). The church is stronger when cooperation prevails among brethren. Locusts find great strength in cooperation!
Value of boldness — “A lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces” (Prov. 30:28). Seems like many people are afraid of causing offense these days. While we should never deliberately set out to offend someone (Eph. 4:15), there is tremendous wisdom in being bold concerning God’s word (2 Tim. 1:7). People are lost in sin, and we cannot afford to be timid in warning them! The apostles prayed for boldness (Acts 4:29) and then, “spoke the word with boldness” (Acts 4:31). Like a lizard in a king’s palace, so Christians must sometimes dare to enter places that do not appear welcoming. Souls (perhaps even our own) are at stake (Eze. 3:17-21)! —JB

Over the past several weeks we have been studying the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 2-3) together. Jesus, speaking through inspiration of John the Apostle, helps us to understand not only what He sees in the church of Christ, but what He expects of us as well. These powerful messages ought to cause modern-day congregations to re-evaluate their attitudes in light of Scripture. Let’s review what the Lord said:
Don’t lose your focus (Rev. 2:1-7) — The church at Ephesus was doctrinally sound, but the Lord told them they had, “left their first love” (Rev. 2:4). Here was a congregation that had stopped making an impact in the world (cf. Acts 19:17-20) because they had turned inward. Doctrine is important (2 Jn. 9), but so are the souls of men (Mk. 8:36)! May God help all churches to understand the urgency of the gospel message.
Count the cost (Rev. 2:8-11) — At Smyrna, persecution was bad and about to get worse (Rev. 2:9-10). One stirring principle underlies what the Lord says to this congregation: we will not be faithful in trials unless we have first considered what Christianity costs us. Jesus gave up everything to save us, He expects the same kind of commitment from us!
It DOES matter what you believe (Rev. 2:12-17) — The church at Pergamum had done its share of Christian living. One prominent member had even been martyred for the cause of Christ (Rev. 2:13). However, some in the congregation had adopted strange beliefs that led to ungodly practices (Rev. 2:14-15). The message to Pergamum is this: what you believe will ultimately be expressed in how you live. Despite so many today who are teaching that doctrine doesn’t matter, the Lord affirms that it does.
Do not take the “easy” way in life (Rev. 2:18-29) — The church at Thyatira had a false teacher in her midst who was teaching people that they could live with one foot in the world and one in the church (Rev. 2:19-20). Far too many people find it easier to rationalize their ungodly lifestyles than to conform to God’s will. Too many find it easier to compromise their character than to live with genuine integrity. Such cannot be pleasing to the Lord!
Beware of becoming comfortable in your Christianity (Rev. 3:1-6) — At Sardis, the church was evidently busy with many programs, activities, and ministries, and yet despite this “busyness,” Jesus declares, “you are dead” (Rev. 3:1). The problem? Sardis had become comfortable with the status quo and had begun to rest on her sterling reputation built in the past. We cannot live the Christian life while staring in the rear-view mirror. When we’re comfortable, the devil has got us right where he wants us!
Always look for the opportunities about you (Rev. 3:7-13) — Philadelphia was a faithful church, but the Lord admonished them to see the potential in their present circumstances. Dark clouds of tribulation were looming on the horizon (Rev. 3:9-10), and yet Jesus sounds amazingly optimistic about the future in this passage! We too ought to learn to see the possibilities about us. In the strength of Jesus (Phil. 4:13), we can overcome.
Be honest about your faith (Rev. 3:14-22) — Lots of people are living a lie. They fancy themselves dedicated servants when in reality they are spiritually malnourished and lukewarm. Jesus rebukes Laodicea for their self-deception and tells them to honestly assess and reaffirm their commitment to being New Testament Christians (Rev. 3:18-19). May all of us have the courage, honesty, and integrity to examine ourselves whether we be in the faith (2 Cor 13:5)! — John Baker

I am fascinated by thumbnail sketches. On a recent trip to a museum of “oddities,” I saw intricate drawings of landscapes on paper the size of postage stamps. One man had actually painted a detailed picture of ship on the head of a pin! I marveled as I thought about how much information could be contained on such a small medium.

Psalm 117 is a thumbnail sketch of the Bible. It is the shortest chapter (two verses) in Scripture, and in part because of that distinction, it is often overlooked as nothing more than a Biblical curiosity. The Psalmist is inspired to burst forth in praise:“Praise the Lord, all you nations! Praise Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 117). Let’s look closely at this thumbnail sketch and see that God intended us to have more than just a curiosity in Psalm 117:

A thumbnail sketch of the Gospel — The words, “nations” and “peoples” in verse 1 are very significant. At a time when most Jews believed that salvation was their exclusive privilege, God inspired one of their own to pen this Psalm. The fact that “all” nations and peoples are exhorted to praise God rebukes an attitude of exclusivism on the part of the Jews. Indeed, Jesus preached and brought salvation not just to Jews, but Gentiles as well (Matt. 4:25, Eph. 2:14-16). Psalm 117 reminded the Jews that salvation was intended for all: “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues were standing before the throne and before the Lamb… saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Rev. 7:9-10). Psalm 117 is the gospel in miniature. It pointed Jews to the Christian era, when God’s grace and love would be made available to all men in His kingdom (cf. Titus 2:11-14). Because of this, Paul quotes Psalm 117:1 in Romans 15:11 as he explains the gospel system of justification. There’s more to Psalm 117 than often meets the eye!

A thumbnail sketch of God’s love — God’s grace is shown in both His mercy and His kindness (Psalm 117:2). The Psalmist tells us that God’s love in this regard is GREAT toward us. Ancient Jews loved to recite Exodus 34:6, “The Lord God is merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abounding in truth…” In this world, people may or may not love us. Friends may betray us, and loved ones may be unkind. God will never waver in the greatness of His love for us, however! We serve a God who would go to the cross before He would sell us out (cf. Matt. 4:8-10). His merciful kindness is indeed great toward us!

A thumbnail sketch of our responsibility — The overarching theme of Psalm 117 is our obligation to praise God. We were created and redeemed, “to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:3-14). Therefore Scripture says, “whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17). And again, “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). When Psalm 117 tells us to, “Praise the Lord,” it is declaring His sovereign will in our lives, for, “His truth endures forever.” God created man, and because we are His creation, we are obligated to worship Him. More than that, however, Psalm 117 declares that our motive in praising God is more than just obligation; we are also motivated by His love. No wonder Paul would say, “the love of Christ constrains us!” (2 Cor. 5:14). How could someone who understands the lengths to which God has gone in His love for us say anything other than, “Praise ye the Lord!” Thank God for the shortest chapter in the Bible! — JB

 Scripture teaches that every individual will one day face God in Judgment. We can be assured that God’s judgment will be righteous (Acts 17:30-31) — He will condemn no one unjustly. God’s judgment will happen once for all men (Hebrews 9:27-28). His judgment will demand that we account for the way we have used or squandered our opportunities and blessings in this life (2 Cor. 5:9-10). His judgment will be according to a standard — His holy word (Jn. 12:48; Rev. 20:12).

Given that your attendance will be mandatory on Judgment Day (Jn. 5:28-29), let us consider what NOT to say to God at that time.

“God, You weren’t clear about what You wanted of me.” — Scripture teaches that indeed there are some things that are difficult to understand in God’s word (2 Pet. 3:16), but what the Bible says about salvation is not one of them! God demands that you believe in Jesus and confess Him as your Lord (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 10:9-10). Then, He demands that you repent and be immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). God wants you to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matt. 22:37). Could He be any clearer?

“God, other people were more wicked than I was.” — One of the tragedies of Judgment Day will be that some may learn too late that God will judge each individual by His standard, not by our own. This life is our one and only opportunity to do something about sin, a disease which separates even the most moral of people from God (cf. Hab. 1:13; Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 6:23). Instead of looking at the wickedness of others, God wants us to cry, “be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13).

“God, I just followed those whom I loved and respected.” — Each person has a personal responsibility to search God’s word for truth (Acts 17:11). Don’t believe something because your parents, friends, teachers, or preacher told you. People make mistakes — follow Jesus, the only perfect Person who ever lived (Jn. 14:6).

“God, I saw some Christians who were hypocrites, so I did not want to be one.” — This excuse is likely more of a cop-out than a real reason for not becoming a Christian. There are hypocrites in America, but that doesn’t stop most people from wanting to be Americans. Certainly, some Christians are hypocrites, but are you really willing to allow that fact to determine where you spend eternity? (read Matthew 23).

“God, You just didn’t do enough for me.” — God has given us life (Acts 17:28), blessings (Matt. 5:45), opportunities (1 Cor. 16:9), direction (Psalm 119:105), and He has given us His own Son (Rom. 5:8; 8:3). What more could He give to convince you He loves you???

“God, my temptations were just too much for me.” — It is true that all are tempted, but it is also universally true that no temptation will be so great that we cannot still choose what is right (1 Cor. 10:13). “The devil made me do it” is not a legitimate excuse on Judgment day — you choose to serve Satan or you choose to serve God (cf. Rom. 6:11-23).

“God, I was hoping You’d give me another chance.” — Mercy is rightly defined as, “treating someone better than they deserve.” Doubtless, some souls are hoping for mercy in the form of another chance to do right on Judgment Day. These misguided people need to understand that the time for God’s mercy is now. Scripture teaches that this life is our one and only opportunity to accept God’s gift of salvation (Rom. 5:17). Those who reject it will find no further opportunity for repentance after this life ends (cf. Mark 3:28-29). —JB

The account of the Ethiopian eunuch’s conversion in Acts 8:26-40 is one of the most stirring and enlightening records in Scripture. A man of considerable power from the nation of Ethiopia, the eunuch had come to Jerusalem to worship (v.27). Here was a moral, religious man who yet needed to know what God required of him. At the end of this account, the Bible says the eunuch, “went on his way rejoicing” (v.39). What was it that caused this good, moral man to rejoice?

The Lord had sent a preacher — The eunuch rejoiced because God, in His mercy, had sent someone to preach the Gospel to him. Philip the evangelist was commanded by God to go to a deserted place (v.26). Philip did what the Lord commanded, even when it did not seem to make sense from an earthly perspective (after all, couldn’t many more souls be saved in the cities of Israel and Samaria? Why go to the desert, of all places?). All Christians are commanded to be proclaimers of God’s word (Matt. 28:18-20), and it causes a sin-sick world to rejoice when the good news of God’s redeeming message is heard and understood. Every one of us was first taught the Gospel by someone else. What an occasion for rejoicing when we encounter one who serves God by teaching His holy word (Rom. 10:15)!

He understood prophecy fulfilled — The eunuch rejoiced because Scripture was made more plain to him. Who knows how many miles he had ridden in that chariot, pondering the meaning of Isaiah 53:7-8: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a Lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” For centuries the greatest religious minds of Israel had wondered about the meaning of this passage and debated its significance. The eunuch rejoiced when Philip explained the full meaning of Isaiah’s words to him. It is a great occasion for rejoicing when the truth of God’s word is made plain (Mk. 12:37)!

He heard the message about Jesus — The eunuch was introduced to the Savior by Philip that day, and it was an occasion for rejoicing. Acts tells us that Philip, “opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus unto him” (v.35). Whatever else preachers and teachers of God’s word communicate, we should never fail to preach Jesus. He alone is the way to salvation (Jn. 14:6). Only Jesus provides the truly abundant life (Jn. 10:10). Only Jesus has the power to forgive sins (Mk. 2:9-10; Acts 2:38). People can truly rejoice when they hear God’s message about Jesus (Rom. 1:1-5; 1 Cor. 15:1-5).

His sins were washed away — The eunuch rejoiced because he was permitted to respond to God’s abundant grace. It is fascinating indeed that after Philip had preached Jesus, the eunuch desired to be baptized (v.36). This tells the careful reader that baptism is part of the gospel plan for man’s salvation. We do not truly preach the Gospel when we do not tell people what God’s word says about baptism. In baptism, the sinner dies with Christ (Rom. 6:3), is buried with Him (Rom. 6:4), and is raised with Christ as a new creation (Rom. 6:5). The Ethiopian eunuch, having heard Philip’s message, already believed in Jesus (v.37), but he did not rejoice until after his baptism. At the point of baptism, sinners come into contact with the saving blood of Jesus (Eph. 1:7; Acts 22:16), and sins are washed away (Heb. 8:11-12; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). So, the eunuch rejoiced because he understood what his baptism meant.

The Ethiopian eunuch was apparently a good, moral man who was still lost. However, one sincere Christian made all the difference between confusion and rejoicing. May we all be dedicated to helping a confused world find occasions for true rejoicing. —JB

Whenever someone does the unspeakable, neighbors and acquaintances nearly always seem to say, “he seemed like such a nice person, I would never have dreamed he’d be capable of this kind of thing.” So it was with Judas Iscariot. He was possibly the most talented man among the twelve apostles. Judas spoke with wisdom and forethought, unlike the brash Simon Peter. Judas was exceptional at money management; it was Judas, not Matthew tax-collector, who was the treasurer among the apostles (John 12:6).

Most telling of all: when Jesus predicted His betrayal, not one of the apostles suspected Judas (John 13:21-29). “He seemed like such a genuine disciple,” they might later have said, “we would never have dreamed that he would betray the Lord!” A number of sobering lessons can be learned from the tragic life of Judas:

Some people sin against more opportunity than others — Judas was an exceptionally blessed man. He had a good name (“Judas” means “praise”). He was gifted with people, and had tremendous financial ability. Judas also spent three and one-half years of his life with Jesus. He heard the Lord teach, he witnessed countless miracles, and he was trained in evangelism by Jesus Himself (cf. Luke 9:1-6). The lesson? Tremendous blessings also carry tremendous responsibility (Luke 12:48). We are to be stewards, not merely consumers of blessings like our time, talents, abilities, opportunities, and material things. Where God sees great potential, the devil sees great opportunity; Judas likely sinned against more opportunity than any man who has ever lived.

Religious activity does not necessarily translate to transformed character — Judas was as close to Jesus as one could be, and yet he still lived and died a hypocrite. One can be involved in many good works, and still be apostate in heart (cf. Jn. 12:6). Jesus once asked, “why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). It is possible for Christians to live a lie — professing to be close to Jesus while our hearts are far from Him (Matt. 15:8ff).

How we see Jesus makes a difference in how we live — Judas seems to have wanted Jesus to be a national redeemer — an earthly King to conquer the Romans and restore the glory of Israel (Jn. 6:15ff). When Jesus’ proclaimed mission did not meet Judas’ expectations, Judas was disappointed and disillusioned (Jn. 6:60-71). How Judas saw Jesus was one of the reasons for the betrayal — Judas might have been attempting to “force” Jesus to use His power against the Romans and start a Jewish revolution at the Passover feast (cf. Luke 22:47-53). Likewise, how we see Jesus today makes a difference in our lives. Some want Jesus to save them, but bristle at the thought of Him controlling every facet of their lives (Luke 9:23). We might be more like Judas than we would like to imagine!

Someone could tell us the truth and we could still destroy ourselves — Jesus knew the conflict in Judas’ heart, and the Lord continually tried to help him redirect his priorities by speaking truth to him (cf. Jn. 6:70-71; 12:1-8; 13:18-30). Significantly, when Peter was reprimanded by the Lord he repented (cf. Matt. 16:21-23), but when Judas was confronted with truth he resented it (cf. Jn. 12:1-8). It takes more than merely hearing the truth to be right with the Lord! James called those who hear but don’t do, “self-deceived” (James 1:21-27). Judas’ tragic life teaches us the danger of nearness to truth — if we fail to live it, we eventually become impervious to it! —JB

The Bible is filled with references to creatures that are, to say the least, strange in appearance. Some of the most fascinating creatures mentioned in Scripture are the cherubim. Cherubim are angelic beings that appear at very significant places throughout Scripture. Pay special attention to these creatures when they are mentioned — they tell an important story.

Cherubim were at the Garden of Eden — “So God drove out the man, and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). The first reference to cherubim finds them guarding the way to the garden of Eden. Cherubim, in the Old Testament, are always found wherever sin separates man from God.

Cherubim were on the Tabernacle Veil — “You shall make a veil woven of blue, scarlet, and purple thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim” (Exodus 26:31). When the Levite priests entered the Holy Place they immediately saw two cherubim with wings outstretched on the veil that marked the entrance to the Most Holy Place. Only the High Priest had access to the Most Holy Place, and only once a year — on the Day of Atonement (Heb. 9:7). Again, the cherubim are found guarding that which is holy from that which is profaned by sin.

Cherubim were on the Ark of the Covenant — “And the cherubim will stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings” (Exodus 25:20). Scripture says that God spoke with the High Priest, “from between the two cherubim on the ark of the Covenant” (Ex. 25:22). The wings of the cherubim always seem to warn sinful man that God is holy, and that He can have no part of sin (Hab. 1:13; Isa. 59:1-2). When the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the sins of Israel, the cherubim on the mercy seat were a constant reminder of the holiness of God. A sobering thought!

Cherubim were in the Throne room of God — Isaiah’s vision of God’s throne included a description of creatures he calls “seraphim” (Isa. 6:2ff). These “seraphim” look and act just like cherubim, however. They have wings with which they constantly show humility, reverence, and obedience before God (Isa. 6:3). In addition, their constant cry is, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa. 6:4). When Isaiah realizes his sin in the presence of a holy God, one of the “seraphim” immediately purges his lips with a hot coal (Isa. 6:6).

Cherubim were instrumental in Judgment on nations — Ezekiel saw cherubim bearing and guarding the throne of God as He comes in judgment on the wicked nation of Judah (Eze. 1:5-21; 10:2ff). The Psalmist described a wrathful God, “riding on a cherub” (Psalm 18:10), coming to judge the wicked. Because of God’s holiness, cherubim are pictured as instrumental in God’s judgment on nations in history.

Cherubim are seen worshipping with believers — Revelation 4 describes living creatures that look very similar to the cherubim of Isaiah and Ezekiel. However, while the cherubim warned about God’s holiness throughout the Old Covenant, now they are pictured as worshipping God and the Lamb with believers (Rev. 4:8; 5:8-14). The blood of Jesus forever removed the veil of the tabernacle (Matt. 27:51). In Christ, the cherubim no longer warn us not to approach God because of His holiness — now they worship God with us (cf. Rom. 8:1; Heb. 10:19-20)! Keep your eyes on the cherubim! — JB

Perhaps I’m a bit too sentimental, but it was difficult for me to move to a new house this past week. I stood alone in the doorway of my empty old house at 6494 FM 1504, and a feeling of sadness came over me. At first, I didn’t understand where the sadness came from, but as I remembered the last three years of my life, the emotion began to make more sense: I’d done a lot of living in that house! I saw the front steps where I asked Angie to marry me. I remembered giving Daniel his first “tour” of the house when he was just two days old. I thought about all of you and how so many of you have enriched our lives by spending time with us in that house. Remember the Halloween party a couple of years back when we had 47 people crammed into that little place? There have been countless Bible studies, youth devotionals, birthday celebrations, and meals shared together around our table. I couldn’t begin to tell you how many times I would hear a knock at the door and be surprised find some brother or sister standing there with a fresh baked loaf of bread or a sack of garden vegetables.

I bring all these things up not to boast, but to clarify some principles that immediately became clear to me as I stood in that doorway:

It’s not what’s in a house that counts, but Who — Some years ago there was a television show called, “Home Improvement.” Sadly, there are so few in the world who seem to know how to genuinely improve their homes. The word of God says, “unless the Lord builds the house, they who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). That means that God had better be seen in our homes if we really want to create the kind of memories that count! Zacchaeus was more than just a “wee little man” as our children sometimes sing. The Bible says he was rich (Luke 19:2). Yet, when Jesus said He was coming to stay at the house of Zacchaeus, this rich man hurried to welcome the Savior joyfully (Luke 19:6). Jesus pronounced a blessing on the house of Zacchaeus that was greater than all the riches this world has to offer: “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9). Has Jesus been seen in your house? Does your family see Him in the way you speak, the way you act, and the attitudes you exhibit? Jesus is what truly makes a house a home!

Our lives are marked not by the possessions we own, but by the people we touch — Frankly, I realized this week that I have a lot of worldly possessions. However, when I began to think about what has mattered in my life over the past three years, the memories were of people, not “things.” Jesus said, “Take heed! Beware! For a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). Every possession we have is a trust, a stewardship from God. Like the five-talent man, God expects us to use our blessings to prosper His kingdom (Matt. 25:21). Selfishness and covetousness keep us from being the kind of people who make a difference in the lives of others. May God help us all to see our houses and “things” merely as tools we can use to love others more.

God blesses movers — I hope that no single house ever becomes too much my home. God has told us in His word that we are just “resident aliens” here, and that we can expect a lot of upheaval because of that (cf. 1 Pet. 2:11-12). Abraham was a mover. So were Moses and Joshua and Caleb. Ruth, Ezra, Ezekiel, and even Jesus Himself did not count this world to be their home. Paul wrote that, “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20). The point is this: all of us need to put the kingdom and righteousness of God first in our lives, because our real home is not of this world (Matt. 6:33). God blesses movers with a life of adventure through our faithful obedience to Him! —JB