They say that war is hell. But that is just wishful
thinking on the part of those who do not want to believe that there is a
literal hell reserved as a place of eternal torment for those whom are not
among the elect of God. Hell is the place we all choose for our eternal
destiny, except for the grace of God manifest by faith in the hearts, minds,
and spirits of believers in Jesus Christ. From GodŐs love also flows common
grace shown in creation and in all good works either divine or pagan.
War is really just a manifestation of the total depravity
of man. As such, its ramifications are worse than anyone can bare without help. In the aging movie Apocalypse
Now, Marlan Brando plays a Green Beret Colonel gone mad in his assignment deep
in the jungle beyond the Viet Nam frontier. The movie is best viewed on a big
screen, but at least with as big of sound as you can muster. The theme of the Apocalypse comes I
suppose from the line that Brando mutters in the late stages of the movie. ŇOh,
the horror!Ó Oh, the horror!Ó But again Apocalypse Now is not about the God
sent end of time, but just man's inhumanity to his fellow man. It flows from
our own evil heart, unless arrested by the love and the grace of God.
Wars are really the most common means by which society is
radically changed. Someone or some party is trying to oppress, and the other is
trying to remain free, or to achieve freedom from oppression. Today, July 4th
we celebrate in America the production of the Declaration of Independence,
leading to the Revolutionary War and the subsequent establishment of the
American state, based on equality for all, on this greatly blessed continent.
It is well to look at that achievement, as did many of the founding fathers, as
a gift of GodŐs amazing grace
But lately Amazing Grace seems to have become the theme
song of America. It is played at almost every funeral and at countless public
forums. But in this common grace application, we forget that grace does not
come from wishful thinking, but grace comes in response to manŐs total
depravity. It speaks of grace, but not directly of Jesus Christ. In this way
the cross of Christ does not become a stumbling block to anyone. True grace
does not come by many roads but by one way only. If manŐs road to eternity is
totally deprived of doing any good thing on his own, then amazing grace is just
a statement of self-righteous visualization. Amazing as it may seem to modern
man, common grace amazing, as it appears to be manifest, will not get you into
heaven
Jesus Christ the god-man is the only one who has ever
taken on the full force of the sin and the total depravity of mankind, and it
killed him. We, totally deprived humanity, killed him. But He made this
sacrifice out of love for you, me, and mankind throughout history. The good news
is, the really good news is, that he did not remain dead. By that sacrifice,
into sin and total depravity even though He was sinless, accepted by God the
Father, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, He was resurrected from the
dead. It is in that hope alone, through faith, that GodŐs Holy Spirit, resides
in the hearts and minds of the redeemed children of God.
In the last few weeks and months, I have begun to notice
a change in America and more importantly in the church. There seems to be a
division taking place. It is basically between the self righteous and those who
find their righteousness in the dead and risen Christ. On television I have
noticed preachers who I once thought preached warm and fuzzy messages are now
focusing again specifically upon the true gospel of GodŐs grace in Jesus Christ
alone. Others seem to be moving beyond warm and fuzzy American platitudes into
much more self righteous garbage. The winds of change are beginning to blow in
the land.
This should make us focus upon the concept of total
depravity again. For as lines are drawn, the desire to oppress and the desire
to be free from oppression are more clear, more pronounced. The apostle Paul
wrote much of the New Testament as he faced that oppression. He learned from
that the grace of God. How God could deliver him from all sorts of tribulation,
and how GodŐs grace was sufficient in all circumstances. Through those
experiences Paul learned just what grace meant in the freedom from total
depravity.
GodŐs love shed abroad through grace alone, saves people
from hell and damnation. But it also gives us the spirit of adoption as
children of God. A free gift we in no way deserve
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to
fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba,
Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God, and if children then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with
Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For
the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the
sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but
because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will
be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors
with birth pangs together until now.
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even
we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption
of our body. (Romans 8:15-23)
But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear
heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared
for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9 referencing Isaiah 64:4,
65:17)
It is troubling to me that most Christians really do not
grasp just what freedom and power over our own lives, these and other New Testament promises give. That is why I
spend so much time on it. In context, it is the greatest mystery of all time.
ŇWhy God would save a wretch like me!Ó Total Depravity makes us search out
religious doctrines and experiences, to foster our desire for self worth, but
by amazing grace, our worth is found not in either. Our spirit moves us to
study and create doctrines and to emulate or create spiritual experience. We
cannot add, nor can we subtract from what Jesus accomplished on Calvary. Even
though these additions are the epidemic disease within Evangelicalism and our
culture.. When we begin to live in ChristŐs righteousness, we are truly freed
indeed. For those of us in America, and to those around the world who have
begun to understand in a cloudy murky way, this great gift, this great mystery,
let us take some time this week to remember the declaration of independence
accomplished by Jesus Christ some two thousand years ago. For through the power
of GodŐs word, by faith that freedom is available to all who hear.
The words of, and background of Amazing Grace are found
at: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/m/amazgrac.htm.
It would be a good thing to look beyond the first few
stanzas.
This period of waiting seems to have brought about a
solution, or at least the promise to overcome, a personal concern of mine. But
as of this writing, it is not now truly visible. Please continue to intercede
for this, finances, and other provisions to make the Little Dalles Guest Community a reality. Current
finances have gotten better but there is still way too much money outstanding
and you can only push so hard to collect it.