Throw Them Away

The Canaanites were the people who occupied the promised land before the Israelites arrived. They worshipped idols, and they often enshrined their idols on hills. These idols were a problem for the Israelites. There were even times when the Israelites loved the idols.

We wonder why they would, but idols did not tell them they were sinners. Idols did not tell them to repent—or to feel sorry for sin—or to give up sin. In fact, the people who worshipped idols delighted in encouraging others to get involved in idol worship. When more were involved, they could feel just a little bit better about their activities. At one point, the Israelites said to God’s servant, Give us no more visions of what is right. Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. (Is. 30:10b NIV) They gave themselves to sin.

Throughout Israel’s history, however, a faithful remnant of believers resisted idol worship. And then there were the godly prophets who faithfully brought God's messages of truth.

True messages from God share two facets of His love. Isaiah prophesied judgment. He also prophesied healing from the effects of sin. And he spoke about a time when the Israelites would return to the Lord and throw them [their idols] away. (v. 22)

The Israelites might have felt they could live life however they pleased when they worshipped idols that remained silent. But during times of trouble, the Israelites discovered problems with a god who said nothing—who seemed to be asleep. Then they needed and wanted a living God.

Originally published April 25, 1984 and June 22, 1984.

The Eroded Areas

Frances Fenelon, a Frenchman who lived during the Reformation, compared Christian leaders to plateaus with gullies. Their spiritual life was inspirational—but they all had large eroded areas of sin they could not hide. He concluded this must be God’s plan—because if we saw others as perfect, we might admire them or become dependent on them. Then we would lose sight of God. Instead, when we see others as imperfect people, our hearts turn toward God.

Sinful human nature is painfully obvious whenever we look at people, even when we look at Biblical character in either the Old and New Testament. If we study their lives, we see they were not perfect. Regarding himself and others, Paul said, So then let no one boast in men . . . whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas. . . . (I Cor. 3:21a,22a ASB)

Paul referred to the wonder of God’s reality in sinful people when he wrote, But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in a perishable container that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own. (IICor. 4:7 LB)

People are sinners with eroded areas. Only God is worthy of our complete admiration.

Originally published January 29, 1982.

Cut to the Heart

Of the many world religions, only Christianity teaches that repentance removes guilt. Other religions either deny sinful human nature—claim people are basically good—or they teach that people can pay the penalty for sin with a sacrifice or with good deeds.

But Christianity teaches that people can do nothing by themselves to save themselves from sin. Our only hope is to repent from sin (change our direction) and to receive Jesus Christ. When we repent, we can trust that His death paid—and still pays—the penalty for sin because He shed His blood on the cross. His sacrifice covers any penalty we might incur.

On Pentecost, the day the Christian church came into being, Peter preached a sermon centered on Jesus. Then he confronted people with their sin, and the people were cut to the heart. They said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts 2:37b NKJV)

Peter replied, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. . . . (v. 38b)

Originally published March 16, 1990.

I Have Redeemed You

It seems strange that God would have to redeem or buy back His people. After all, He is our Creator. In a real sense, everything He created—including people—belongs to Him. He’s the One who designed and made us.

But as individual people we consistently reject our Creator. We go our own way because we choose our will over His will. That’s the same as denying His ownership.

When we reject God’s ownership, we separate ourselves from Him. But from the beginning, God foreknew our human nature and inclination to sin. Before we turned away from Him, He had a plan to buy us back. He had a plan to redeem His people.

God didn’t keep His plan a secret. He shared it with the people of the Old Testament. We read in Isaiah, I have formed you . . . you will not be forgotten by Me! I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you. (Is. 44:21b,22 NKJV)

Originally published August 4, 1989.
Picture: Tulips, Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

The Two Criminals

Two criminals were crucified with Jesus, one on His right and one on His left. One cried out with a bitter heart, “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” (Lk. 23:39b KJV) This bitter man ignored his own sin and challenged Jesus. He also ignored and rejected the sinless nature of Christ—placing himself outside of God’s blessing.

The second criminal responded differently. He said to his fellow criminal, “Do you not even fear God . . . we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” (Lk. 23:40b,41b NKJV) This man understood and acknowledged his personal guilt—and he recognized the sinless nature of Jesus. Because the man understood, he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (v. 42 NKJV)

Everyone who hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ must respond the way one of these two criminals responded. We either reject or accept Christ and His righteousness. If we accept Jesus, we accept His ability to save us when we cannot save ourselves. Jesus said to the repentant criminal, “today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (v. 43b NKJV)

Originally published March 22, 1991.
Picture: Cross on Cathedral spire, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2008. Photo by Solveig.

God's Dwelling

The book of Hebrews tells us Jesus came to earth as flesh and blood because we are flesh and blood. (Heb. 2:14 LB) He is our proof that God desires to dwell with people—with ordinary human beings—people like you and me.

When Jesus came, He received and identified with our weaknesses, our frail sinful human nature. Because He identified with our sin-nature, He made it possible for us to identify with Him.

His mission was to sacrifice His sinless life for our sin. When Jesus died without sin while in His sin-prone body, He broke the power of the devil and proclaimed victory over Satan. This is the central doctrine of Christianity.

Because Jesus understands our sinful nature, He is our merciful and faithful High Priest before God . . . For since he himself has now been through suffering and temptation, He knows what it is like when we suffer and are tempted, and He is wonderfully able to help us. (Heb. 2:17b,18 LB)

God cares about us and for us. He chooses to dwell with us. We can receive His love.

Originally published October 23, 1981.

A Stick of Wood

Some of God’s illustrations are simple, but they so wonderfully illustrate His point.

The people of Israel were divided into two nations, had been divided for many years. When Ezekiel prophesied, the northern kingdom had been overrun by Assyrians and the southern kingdom was being ravaged by Babylon. During that difficult time, God told Ezekiel to take two sticks. On one he should write, belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him. On the other, belonging to Joseph (Israel) and all the house associated with him. Then, Join them together into one stick so they will become one in your hand. (Ez. 37:16,17 NIV)

The people of the two countries were all God’s people—and they shared a common faith. But they were separated by sin. They had even been at war with one another.

Even so, during this time of sorrow and great destruction, God reminded the people of Judah of the destiny they shared with Israel. He also continued to draw them to Himself and to speak to them through His prophets. I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (v. 23b)

Originally published May 25, 1984,

Picture: Along the Red River of the North. Photo by Cindy.

"Up to Seven Times?"

Peter asked Jesus how many times he had to forgive someone who sinned against him: Up to seven times? (Mt. 18:21 NKJV)

Jesus might have smiled inside when He increased the number to seventy times seven. That’s four hundred and ninety times. Because Jewish law required all accounts be settled at the end of each day, the requirement for a faithful observer (based on an average of seven hours of sleep each night or seventeen waking hours each day) would be to forgive someone more often than every two minutes!

Then Jesus told a parable about a servant who refused to forgive others, even though his master freely forgave him: The master declared, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt . . . Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant. . . ?’ And his master was angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. (vs. 32-34)

We can never pay to cover what we owe for our transgressions or Sin. But God offers to freely forgive if only we forgive those who sin against us—again and again and again.

Originally published June 26, 1992.

In Full Assurance

The blood of Jesus makes it possible for believers to enter the presence of God. The writer of Hebrews emphasized this when he said, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus. (Heb. 10:19 NKJV)

That doesn’t mean we approach God casually or flippantly. We will never have the right to approach God on our own merits, because we’re sinners who are naturally unacceptable before a perfect, righteous God. To come before God we must somehow get rid of our sin.

It's the blood of Jesus that does this impossible task for us. If we receive Him in our hearts, His blood covers our sin. And then the life of Jesus even begins to cleanse our motivations—to overcome our inner compulsions to sin.

When covered by the blood of Jesus we can come to God, in full assurance . . . having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. . . He who promised is faithful. (v. 22b,23b)

Originally published August 11, 1989.
Picture: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2008. Photo by Solveig.