God's View of New

Happy New Year!!

Once again we’ve mumbled our way through “Auld Lang Syne” (does ANYBODY really know the words much less know what they mean?!?).

As we sweep up the confetti and recover from staying up WAY past our bedtime, it’s a moment when we look forward to a fresh start. You hear a lot of stuff like, "New year, new me!" these days.

Instead of making some ridiculous New Year’s resolution, why don’t we look at what God has to say about the idea of new? I mean, He DID invent the whole idea!

Is there a better expert on the topic? Our universe began when He decided it would. In a few very simple words, He created absolutely everything out of totally nothing.

He’s the Creator, not the repeater. He’s the last one to slapping yesterday’s leftovers in the microwave. He’s all about fresh, crisp, and the cutting edge. Nobody knows new like You-Know-Who.

So ready or not, here we go. A quick review of God’s view of new.

“Sing to Him a new (Heb. chadash) song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts” (Ps 33:3).

As we flip through God’s greatest hits in the Psalms, it should come as no surprise that He has something to say about music. Here in Psalm 33, the songwriter encourages us to crank up the band and sing along.

The lyrics want us to focus belting out a “new song.” The Hebrew word here he uses for “new” is chadash, which means fresh. It comes from a root word describing a newly polished and sharpened sword. Think cutting edge.

Music is one of God’s favorite ways for us to worship Him. Sing it well. Sing it loud. And He’s not sitting around hoping we’ll dust off some of the oldies. Sing Him a new song. Something cutting edge.

“He put a new (Heb. chadash) song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD” (Ps 40:3).

Another tune in God’s boxed set of hit songs tells us that the ability to sing praise to God is actually a gift from God.

It also reminds us that my praise of Him shines the light on Him and draws others to Him. God apparently will use this fresh new melody to get the word out on His goodness and our deep need for Him.

“What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new (Heb. chadash) under the sun” (Ecc 1:9).

Many folks believe the document we call Ecclesiastes is written by King Solomon near the end of his life. If you don’t know his story, the wisest man who ever lived (other than Jesus, of course) completely went off the rails.

He was stupid rich and that led him to be, well, stupid. He threw cash around chasing every pleasure you could imagine. In the end, he looks back on what a total waste it was.

Solomon’s point seems to be that life is nothing but leftovers without the Lord. Lather, rinse, repeat. No matter how many Benjamins you’ve collected. Without the newness and freshness of God in your life, everything is stale.

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new (Heb. chadash) thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Is 43:18-19).

Here we see God telling us to stop being obsessed with the rearview mirror. Maybe Satchel Paige was right when he said, “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.”

But it’s better than that. This is God’s way of saying that our future in Him is so bright that we gotta wear shades. These words are His way of encouraging His people about the first arrival of His Son.

But God doesn’t stop there. He’s ALWAYS up to something new, something fresh, something cutting edge. And it’s for our good and His glory.

God doesn’t want us to be prisoners of the past but focus on the future. Stand back and just watch what He’s going to do. In the world. In you. He’s about to blow your doors off.

“For behold, I create new (Heb. chadash) heavens and a new (Heb. chadash) earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Is 65:17).

I don’t care whether you believe in climate change but it’s pretty clear our planet is pretty jacked up. I’m not saying God’s glorious fingerprints aren’t all over His creation. But we haven’t exactly been the best gardeners for Eden.

He has some VERY good news for us. God has a plan for not just a fresh new earth but heavens to boot. In the end, He’s not taking us to heaven but bringing heaven to us.

When He does, God will create new heavens and earth so incredible that we’ll forget everything before that!

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new (Heb. chadash) covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah…I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts…for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jer 31:31, 33, 34).

“And I will give you a new (Heb. chadash) heart, and a new (Heb. chadash) spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes and be careful to obey My rules” (Ezek 36:26-27).

FDR is famous for the New Deal. But that’s peanuts compared to God's New Covenant for us in Christ. Oh, He had made promises through dudes like Abraham, Moses, and David. But the Lord had something unprecedented up His almighty sleeve.

Through His Son, He’s bringing a covenant so crazy that He’s taking personal responsibility for making it happen. He’s putting His law IN us. He’s writing it on our very soul/spirits.

He’ll make us fresh and new. He’ll cut out my stale and stony heart of disobedience. He’ll insert a new, soft and tender heart of willing obedience. God promises to never bring up my sin ever again. Yours either!

Bottom line, God promises to do for us what we could never dream of doing for ourselves.

“Neither is new (Gr. νεος/neos) wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and skins destroyed. New (Gr. νεος/neos) wine is put into fresh (Gr. καινος/kainos) wineskins, and so both are preserved” (Mt 9:17).

When we come to the New Testament, we see God really upping His “new” game. No better example than God in the flesh in the form of Jesus has come in the flesh to our rescue.

Our Savior drops a metaphor about wine and wine storage to describe just how new and different things will now be. The Good News is a fresh vintage. “New” is a Greek word (Gr. νεος/neos) which paints of picture of something fresh, recent, pristine, crisp, clean as well as younger and youthful.

This new divine merlot needs a breakthrough new storage method that’s “fresh.” The word here is καινος/kainos, which means something unprecedented, never before, novel, or unheard of, or new in quality.

What Jesus brought is so new, so fresh, so different that the old system couldn’t hope to contain it. The Gospel isn’t the Law 2.0. It isn’t an upgrade. Grace needs something limber and flexible!

“And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new (Gr. καινος/kainos) teaching with authority…’” (Mk 1:27).

Jesus teaches like no one before or since. His method and message is unprecedented. The world has never heard anyone like Him. Often imitated. Never duplicated.

“This cup that is poured out for you is the new (Gr. καινος/kainos) covenant in My blood” (Lk 22:20).

It’s the night before Jesus’ betrayal and murder. His closest crew has no clue what’s about to happen. At dinner, our Savior connects an ancient promise with what will happen on a very bloody Friday.

In the ancient world, you would seal a covenant promise in blood. Jesus tells His closest followers that He’s sacrificing Himself in order to finalize God’s promise of the radical and revolutionary covenant which He made 600 years before through Jeremiah (Jer 31:31, 33, 34) and Ezekiel (Ezek 36:26-27).

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new (Gr. καινος/kainos) creation. The old has passed away; behold the new (Gr. καινος/kainos) has come” (2Cor 5:17)

Forget Chip and Joanna and “Fixer Upper.” The Lord doesn’t fix up anything. This isn’t some sort of holy reno and remodel. This is WAY better.

Once Jesus gets His holy hands on you, everything changes. I mean EVERYTHING! Forget who you used to be. That person is dead and gone. Our Savior has personally handcrafted a new you!!

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and having put on the new (Gr. νεος/neos) self, which is being renewed after the image of its Creator” (Col 3:10).

I must constantly make a point of taking off the crusting and stiff old self putting on the young and limber new self. It’s an intentional decision I must make daily.

Stop putting on the old ratty and worn-out me. Grab the bright and crisp new me my Creator is constantly renewing in the image of His own Son.

So as we roll into the new year, feel free to make a resolution or two. But don’t forget God’s view of the new He’s doing in me and you.

Everybody Loves a Parade...Except the Pharisees

A Long Awaited Day

For centuries, the Jewish people had longed for this day.  The day when their Messiah triumphantly road into Jerusalem.  But as the crowds roared for Jesus as He sat on the back of young donkey, it was a bittersweet day at best.  

The Son of God would certainly begin the most messianic week of His incarnation.  But the same people cheering for Him on Sunday would be the same people calling for His crucifixion on Friday. 

A Power Trip

Luke clearly ties Jesus’ Palm Sunday parade with His Parable of the Ten Minas (Lk 19:11-27).  “And when He had said these things, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem” (v28).  I wonder if the good doctor is tying Christ’s words about stewarding God’s blessings (v26-27) with the Pharisees whining about the cheering crowds (v39).  

The Pharisees had been blessed with a strategic position to bring glory to God and to leverage it for His kingdom.  Clearly they had not.  It had become all about them.  All about their power.  And nothing was going to pull the plug on their power trip.
 
A Visit to Jericho

Jesus’ visit to Jericho was short but memorable.  He has healed blind Bartimaeus (Lk 18:35-43).  He went to home of the notorious Zacchaeus to celebrate His salvation (Lk 19:1-10).  As He headed out of town (possibly while still in Zach’s living room), Christ told of the ten minas (Lk 19:11-27).

Dr. Luke once again reminds us that Jesus is on a mission (v28).  He will not be deterred from what awaits in Jerusalem (Lk 9:51, 53).  The author describes the route as from Jericho to Bethphage and Bethany into Jerusalem.  The trip from Jericho to Bethany and Bethphage is a rugged uphill climb.  

Remember Jerusalem is a city on a mountain.  Jericho sits on the Jerusalem highway on the way from the Jordan River valley, part of the lowest section of the planet below sea level.  Jesus‘ traveling party made the steep ascent from Jericho to Bethphage and Bethany which sat on the hip of the Mount of Olives.
 
Borrowing a Ride

Here, Jesus turns to a pair of unnamed disciples and gives them curious instructions (v29-31).  Go into the next village.  They’ll see a colt tied to a post.  This animal has never been ridden.  Untie it and bring him to Jesus.  Someone may ask what you’re doing.  If so, just tell them, “The Lord needs it.”

Don’t miss the immediate obedience of these two.  They do exactly as Jesus tells them.  It makes me wonder if I'm as I quick to obey? 

Prophet with a Capital "P"

These two “found it just as He had told them” (v32).  Was this because Jesus had made previous arrangements?  Possibly.  But I think it is another indication of the God-Man’s divinity.  In His prophetic omniscience, Jesus knew the young donkey would be exactly as the disciples would find it.  

Jesus is the Prophet with a capital “P.”  

Trending on Twitter

Christ was so spot on with His description of what they would find that He even gave them a preview of the conversation they would have with the owner of the colt.  And even more amazingly, the owner of the young donkey accepted their reason and allowed them to take the animal.  

Was this person familiar with Jesus?  Possibly.  Remember, Christ had raised Lazarus from the dead just days or weeks before in this same neighborhood. It's been all the papers and trending on social media.
 
The Prophetic Donkey

This passage actually drips with prophecy.  On top of Jesus‘ omniscient insight into the young donkey, these verses send us scrambling back to the OT.  Jesus’ choice of a donkey is anything but random.  The prophet Zechariah declared,
            Behold, your King is coming to you;
            Righteous and having salvation is He,
            Humble and mounted on a donkey,
            On a cold, the foal of a donkey. (Zech 9:9)
 
A Humble Ride

Zechariah wrote about this amazing day centuries before.  Messiah would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey.  Not a horse.  Not on a chariot.  On a donkey.  It is a sign of the  humble nature of the Jesus’ incarnation.  And there is some indication that the kings of Israel often road young donkeys as an indication of their position.

The people prepare the donkey for the parade.  They toss their cloaks onto the colt since they don’t have a saddle (v35).  Then they lifted the Lord onto the donkey’s back.
 
The Parade Begins

The Palm Sunday parade had begun.  People began taking off their cloaks, their outer garments, and throwing them on the dusty road before Jesus (v36).  This is an ultimate show of respect.  They did not want the hooves of Messiah’s mount to touch the unpaved street.  

This would be like taking off your suit coat or blazer and throwing on a filthy dirt path so that livestock could walk over it.  Picture Sir Walter Raleigh throwing his velvet cloak over the mud for his queen.  It’s interesting to note that Luke doesn’t tell us that this is Sunday and he doesn’t mention the palm branches.  Just cloaks.
 
And the Crowd Goes Wild!

Things get crazy as the donkey riding Jesus descends from the crest of the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem.  “The whole multitude of His disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen” (v37).  

What a crazy scene!  The crowd goes wild as Messiah rides into the city!  They cheer because they have witnessed Jesus performing miracle after miracle.  Again, this will all change in just a few short days.  Many of these same people will demand this Man’s execution in five days. 

Here Comes the King!

The crowd sang, chanted and cheered as Jesus made His way down the Mount of Olives toward the Golden Gate into the city of Jerusalem.  Once again, our OT comes in very handy.  The people shout, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (v38).  

Peace in Heaven and on Earth

This is a direct quote from Ps 118:26.  The crowd cheers Jesus as King, the long-awaited Son of David to sit upon the throne of Israel.  Messiah has come!

They go on to yell, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  The people joyfully echo what the angels sang to the shepherds in the Judean hills some 33 years ago.  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” (Lk 2:14).  In other words, there is now peace in heaven because the Prince of Peace has come to reconcile God and His people.
 
Furious Pharisees

Everybody loves a parade.  Except of course for the Pharisees (v39).  Some of these goobers had made their way into the crowd.  They are like so many of us.  We like to get mad.  We take some sort of sick joy in getting fired up about our enemies.  How ridiculous and sinful is that?!?!  

Well, these Pharisees were furious.  They yell to Jesus to tell His followers to shut up and shut up NOW.
 
Let the Stones Cheer

I love Jesus’ response.  “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (v40).  In other words, boys, if he told them to be quiet it wouldn’t make any difference.  If the people stopped cheering, something else would start cheering.  The stones.  

All throughout the Bible, we read of creation praising God.  That’s what Jesus is saying.  Don’t miss the fact that Jesus is clearly claiming to be God!  

Not only is He accepting the worship of the people, but He tells the Pharisees that even inanimate objects would sing praise to Him if the crowd quieted down.  In other words, Jesus tells the Pharisees that He is God and there is nothing they can do about it. 

Let’s Go Crazy!

Do you ever find yourself in the role of playing the religious police?  Someone is OVERLY enthusiastic about what God has done or is doing in their life.  You feel they need to pump their brakes just a bit.  Let’s not get crazy about this.  Let’s be dignified in our praise.  Settle down.  

Why shouldn’t we be like King David when he led the parade for the Ark of the Covenant, dancing like fool?  

Why shouldn’t we be like the sinful woman who poured her expensive perfume over Jesus?  

Not only should we not stop these people in their enthusiastic and extravagant worship, we should join them!!! 

©2017 

Jay Jennings

The Good Dishes

“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the Master of the house, ready for every good work” (2Tim 2:20-21).

The so called “good dishes.” Just about every family has them. That very special set of china you use for very special occasions. For us that means big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Occasionally we even bust them out when we’re putting on the dog for certain special guests.

At our house, we only use the good china when we eat in the dining room. Garden variety meals are at the kitchen table with the everyday plates. But when my wife makes the announcement that a particular dinner rises to the level of the dining room, it’s a done deal that we’re using the good dishes.

When those meals are over, we don’t just give them a quick rinse and chuck the good china back in the hutch. We take the time to carefully clean each and every piece. It needs to washed and ready for the next special spread. The last thing you want to see on when you’re loading your plate with a delicious piece of Christmas ham is a crusty chunk of Thanksgiving turkey. They go back in the hutch clean and ready for the next time.

That’s what Paul tells Timothy here in the second chapter of his second letter to his young protege. “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (v20-21). Just like the good dishes, we need to be clean and ready for the next time God wants to use us.

Interestingly Paul couldn’t be any further from throwing a dinner party in the dining room with the good dishes. That’s because he’s locked up on Death Row in Rome waiting for his execution date (2Tim 1:16; 2:9; 4:6-7). The apostle fires off what will be the last letter of his life. He writes to Timothy, his spiritual son he’s left to lead the church in the Ephesus (1Tim 1:2-3; 2Tim 1:2) with a pair of purposes. One, he desperately wants Tim to do whatever he can to see him one last time (2Tim 4:9, 21). Two, Paul passes the torch of spreading the Good News of Jesus to the young pastor (2Tim 2:1-4:5).

A huge part of anyone being a spokesperson for our Savior is doing everything within your power to keep yourself legit and credible. Don’t get suckered into a war of the words over stuff that doesn’t matter (2Tim 2:14). Understand how to safely and effectively use God’s razor-sharp word (2Tim 2:15). Sometimes that means carefully cutting out the cancer of false teachers who drive people further away from Jesus instead of closer to Him (2Tim 2:16-18). Ultimately you must be confident that God and God alone is in total control of who is on His roster (2Tim 2:19a).

Before he gets to his analogy of the good dishes, Paul tells Tim to take a closer look at the cornerstone of God’s immovable foundation, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity” (2Tim 2:19b). If we claim to follow Jesus, we must do what we can and ruthlessly eliminate sin from our lives. If we say we are His, we must constantly “do the dishes.” That means being clean and ready.

From his cold, dark cell in a Roman dungeon, the apostle paints a picture of a dinner party at a mansion. He wants us to imagine a “great house” (v20). He chooses words (Gr. μεγαλη οικιαι) literally depicting a “mega house.” It’s giant joint in the good part of town. Every believer receives an invitation to this particular palace that symbolizes the kingdom of God. Jesus tells His crew that His Dad has a crazy good crib where all His followers will live (Jn 14:2). This party is what is actually the wedding reception for Christ and His church (Rev 19:7, 9). This isn’t just the can’t miss event of the season but for all eternity!

Paul tells Tim all about what to expect once you get inside. “There are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay” (v20). If you’re a Star Trek fan, you know Chekov always says “wessel” when he sees another starship headed toward the Enterprise. But in the NT, the word “vessels” (Gr. σκευος) is  a generic term for any utensil or item like jar, jug, plate, tool, or even piece of equipment.

For instance, the resurrected Jesus tells Ananias how He’s transforming murderer Saul into missionary Paul. “He is a chosen instrument (Gr. σκευος) of Mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Paul goes on to write the folks in Corinth how Christ loves to shine His light through cracked pots. “But we have this treasure in jars (Gr. σκευος) of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not us” (2Cor 4:7). The apostle reminds Roman disciples that our relationship with our Creator is like that of a craftsman and his creation. “Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel (Gr. σκευος) for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?” (Rom 9:21).

In this case, the apostle uses σκευος to describe plates and dishes. It’s almost like he’s looking at a wedding gift list for a couple registered at Bed, Bath & Beyond. (I don’t know know about you, but I’ve NEVER found the “Beyond” section when I go there. Is there some sort of wormhole to another dimension on the far side of the bed linens I need to know about?) These are “vessels of gold and silver” (v20). In other words, the fine china and flatware for special occasions. They’ve also listed casual dinnerware made of “wood and clay” (v20) on their registry. That’s their everyday dishes.

Paul makes the distinction between how certain pieces of dinnerware have specific uses. “Some for honorable use, some for dishonorable” (v20). No, he’s not trying to help us out by telling us which one is the salad fork. The apostle wants each of us as followers of Jesus to see ourselves as plates for a particularly important purpose. “Honorable” (Gr. τιμε) describes anything of high value and usefulness.

He’s not so much pointing out the difference between the good china and the everyday plates but items used for serving a delicious banquet and those used for household maintenance. For whatever reason, the “dishonorable” dishes aren’t good enough for eating meals. Maybe it’s the cup you now use to scoop gunk out of the gutters. Or the glass you keep in the garage for cleaning paintbrushes. It’s like using your trash can as a punchbowl (Not that anybody’s every done that back in the day at a college party!). You’d never even consider putting them on the table at dinnertime.

We can make ourselves available to Jesus by doing what we can to regularly scrub away the crud. “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use” (v21). In other words, I can go from the shelf in the garage to a place setting on God’s dining room table.

Paul uses the word “cleanses” (Gr. εκκαθαιρω) which means to wash thoroughly or completely purge of any impurity. The only other time we see it in the Bible is when the man from Tarsus reminds the Corinthians to make sure they’ve carefully removed the filth of their former lifestyle. “Cleanse out (Gr. εκκαθαιρω) the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened” (1Cor 5:7).

Let’s be clear about what the apostle is NOT saying. He’s NOT saying I have to clean myself up before Jesus will save me. Not possible. Remember the criminal crucified next to Christ (Lk 23:40-43)? In the agonizing moments before death, he simply asks Jesus not to forget him. Our suffering Savior surprises everybody by promising him a spot in Paradise! Jesus doesn’t make him get cleaned up before coming to church. Come as you. Repentant. Broken. In need of rescue.

The kind of cleansing Paul is talking about is to stop messing around with those who not only teach error but encourage sin. Stop playing footsie with folks who are a bad influence (Prov 1:10-19; 13:20; 1Cor 5:6, 11; 15:33; Titus 1:16). While we must never quarantine ourselves from the rest of the world, we need to be careful. We live in a culture that constantly coaxes us to compromise what we believe. The OT story of Daniel is a great example. As Mike Lee says, if you choose to be a person of integrity, God will use you because light cannot be ignored when it’s in the darkness.

Just like Dan-o refused to budge in order to be used by God in a foreign land, we can be “set apart as holy, useful to the Master of the house” (v21). What a powerful reminder of how the Lord can use each and every one of us no matter who we are. Worried about what might come up on your background check? Concerned about your spiritual credit report? Once we trust in Jesus, there’s no reason to be. He knows you and your history better than you do. And He has a special purpose for you. He’s set you apart. He’s made you holy. As the Host with the Absolute Most, He’ll make sure you have a special spot on His table, “ready for every good work” (v21).

God wants you to be part of His good dishes. For that to happen, we have to do what we can to clean ourselves from the daily grime. That comes from regular repentance from sin and daily dependance on Him. Remind yourself of His Gospel everyday because we need His Gospel everyday. It’s all about being clean and ready for use.

Check out the Message paraphrases these verses. “In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to His guests for their blessing” (v20-21 The Message).

If Jesus is going to use us to be serve and be a blessing to others, we need to be clean and ready for use. Just like the good dishes.

A Warning Sign on the Banks of Denial

“If we deny Him, He will also deny us” (2Tim 2:12).

The Nile is the longest river in the world. It runs through eleven countries. And just about every mile on the Nile is loaded with danger. Crocs. Hippos. Snakes. This might make for a fun ride at Disney World but an extended swim in the real Nile is ultimately fatal.

In the same way, a long swim in denial can also be killer. Specifically, when it comes to the longterm rejection of Jesus. (See what I did there?) In a letter to his young friend Timothy, the Apostle Paul warns, “If we deny Him, He will also deny us” (v12). By “Him” and “He,” the man from Tarsus is talking about Jesus. By “we” and “us,” he’s talking about you and me. 

Think of Paul’s words as a warning sign along the banks of denial. A lifetime of rejecting Jesus will make killer crocs seem like the least of your worries. Continually shoving away our Savior with a spiritual stiff arm eventually results in Him giving us the eternal Heisman. That’s because God will give us what us want. If we don’t want Him, He won’t force Himself into our lives. If we reject Jesus here in this life, it would be incredibly cruel for Him to drag us to heaven to spend eternity with Him. As the old saying goes, the gates of Hell are locked on the inside.

Paul sure knows a thing or two about being locked up. He’s writing to Timothy from behind bars (2Tim 1:8, 16; 2:9). Historians tell us he’s a prisoner inside Rome’s Mamertine Prison. It’s a tiny terrible dungeon that’s home to the empire’s Death Row. The apostle knows the clock is rapidly running out (2Tim 4:6-7). He pleads with his young friend to make one last visit before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21).

Why is all that background important? Well, if we don’t know the original reason why the human authors wrote these individual documents we call the Bible, we won’t know how to apply them to our own lives. Otherwise, we’ll make the mistake of pulling stuff completely out of context and totally misuse it. Think of the label that reads “apply as directed.” When something is misapplied, it’s not going to work like it should. Scripture is no different.

One cool tidbit about 2 Timothy 2:11-13 is that these verses contain lyrics lifted from a first century worship song. The apostle’s inclusion of these words lets us know they contain God’s truth. It also makes me wonder if he has this song stuck in his head while he walks the Green Mile. Do you have go-to tunes that you sing, hum, or whistle when times are tough? Seems to be what the former Pharisee is doing here. Call it an ear worm from Jesus.

Paul cuts and pastes four lines of lyrics loaded with great theology. First we see that following Jesus is a matter of life THROUGH death (2Tim 2:11). Second, life with Christ doesn’t come with an easy button but it hold the ultimate in delayed gratification (2Tim 2:12a). Third, we see this warning sign on the banks of detail (v12b). Fourth, Jesus has the faith we need when we have none (2Tim 2:13). Anybody know Chris Tomlin? If so, see if you can get him to cover this tune on his next CD.

Let’s be honest, that third line carries scary stuff: “If we deny Him, He also will deny us” (v12). It SHOULD freak us out. It’s SUPPOSED TO! My rejection of Jesus guarantees His rejection of me!! Is Paul telling us that anytime my faith wobbles and I turn my back on Christ, I’ve booked my ride in a hand basket headed straight to Hell? Considering my rather sketchy track record when it comes to following Jesus, it’s something I need to look into.

The key seems to be the repeated use of “deny.” This is the Greek verb αρνεομαι, which means to refuse, reject, renounce, or repudiate. Think of these four “Rs” as tributaries of denial. We see this word used when we walk down the Hall of Faith in Hebrews and read Big Mo’s plaque. “By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused (Gr. αρνεομαι) to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter” (Heb 11:24). He renounced his royal connection in order to lead God’s people to freedom.

Later in this same letter to Timothy, we read how lazy slacker who fails to provide for his own family “has denied (Gr. αρνεομαι) the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1Tim 5:8). In other words, if someone so self-absorbed that he refuses to care for those God has put under his care, that’s proof he’s never tasted the grace of Jesus in the first place. He’s renounced his faith in a very practical way.

But is there a better place to check out rejection of Jesus than Peter’s denial of our Lord in the early morning hours of Good Friday? Each one of Jesus’ biblical biographers use αρνεομαι when describing the moments when the apostle called the Rock crumbled when questioned by a middle school girl (Mt 26:70, 72; Mk 14:68, 70; Lk 22:57; Jn 18:25, 27). He didn’t just do it once. Not just twice. He went for the triple crown of denial. The rooster crowed when Pete chickened out. 

In one of the most amazing examples of mercy you’ll find anywhere, we later see the resurrected Jesus lovingly restoring the fallen leader of the disciples. Who would have blamed Christ for taking Pete to the woodshed, chewing his apostolic tail, and personally kicking him to the eternal curb? But that’s exactly what did NOT happen. 

Strolling along the beach of the Sea of Galilee, the Lord restores a repentant Rocky (Jn 21:15-19). Matching the same number of denials, Jesus asks Peter if he truly loves Him. Three times the broken apostle says he truly does. Three times our Savior showers him with grace and puts Pete back in the game.

This means there is forgiveness for short term seasons of rejecting Jesus. I mean, if Christ can bring back a three-time denier like Peter, what kind of mercy is there for you and me? The risen Carpenter/Rabbi didn’t stop there. He transforms this cowardly three-time denier into the brave leader who will stare down the Sanhedrin! 

What have you said and done that makes you think you’re disqualified from His love? If you’re like me (hopefully you’re not but probably you are), there have been those times you’ve punked out during a conversation when people are trashing those goofy Jesus Freaks. Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt. Taken the t-shirt to Goodwill. Whatever you’ve done, I’m pretty sure you haven’t denied personally Christ in His physical presence three times in 15 minutes. 

If and when we reject Jesus, there’s just one thing left to do. Repent. Make a 180. Turn back to Him. He’s right behind you. He’s waiting for you. If or when you ever do deny Jesus, repent and ask for His forgiveness. It’s NEVER too late on this side of eternity to return to Him. Rejection. Repentance. Restoration. Do not pass “Go.” Do not collect $200. Do it now.

So Rocky’s rejection is NOT what Paul is talking about here. The apostle writes about those who spend their entire lives declining God’s free gift of salvation. Jesus tells His Twelve, “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies (Gr. αρνεομαι) Me before men, I also will deny (Gr. αρνεομαι) before My Father who is in heaven” (Mt 10:32-33). Dr. Luke records a similar warning using very similar language (Lk 12:8-9). Can you imagine something more terrifying? I can’t deny Jesus my entire life and expect Him to vouch for me when I meet His Dad. 

Over and over and over, Jesus plants warning signs on the banks of denial. It’s His big close to the Sermon on the Mount. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven…And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Mt 7:21, 23). Check out the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Mt 25:1-13). Now flip over to the Parable of Narrow Door (Lk 13:22-29).

And we don’t just read these warnings in the Gospels. Paul tells Titus to look out for anyone who’s all talk and no action when it comes to following Jesus (Titus 1:16). Christ’s best friend John wants us to keep our distance from liars “who denies (Gr. αρνεομαι) that Jesus is the Christ. No one who denies (Gr. αρνεομαι) the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also” (1Jn 2:22-23). And who better to listen to on the subject that Peter (2Pet 2:1).

Don’t make the mistake of thinking Jesus makes a single invitation of salvation to each one of us. Yes, it IS a limited time offer only because it’s limited to the time we spend above dirt. God pursues us our entire lives. Chases us. Hunts us down. The English poet Francis Thompson referred to our relentless Redeemer as the Hound of Heaven. 

It turns out God is the ultimate Seeker. King David wrote a song all about how there’s no escaping our Savior’s never-ending pursuit (Ps 139:1-8). Jesus says He won’t rest if just one runaway sheep from His flock of 100 is on the loose (Mt 18:12). And He doesn’t chase us down to hurt us. Or in the words of David, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Ps 23:6). We’re chased by grace in order to save us from ourselves.

Despite being relentlessly and lovingly pursued our entire lives, many of us make a career of rejecting Jesus. The result is not good. Not good at all. “If we deny Him, He will also deny us” (v12). Our lifetime of denial ultimately leads an eternity of His denial. Here’s the deal. We may think there’s always time left to turn back to Jesus. But the bottom line is we really don’t know how many ticks are left on our clock. Could be a decade. Could be a year. Could be a month. Could be a week. I think you get my point. 

That’s exactly what Paul is trying to get across. So he plants a warning sign on the banks of denial. And you thought killer crocs were the problem.

Enduring Election

“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2Tim 2:10).

Attack ads on TV. Divisive political rhetoric. Zero talk of real issues. Must be an election year. So let’s just cut to the chase. I hate election years. Not dislike. I’m talking full on H-A-T-E. Yeah, I know. “Hate” is such an ugly word. But I’ve come to the conclusion that you can always tell when a politician is lying. Their lips are moving.

It seems like each election cycle gets worse. You come to the final choices for each party in just about every race and you go, “Really? These knuckleheads are the best we can do?” I participate in the election but I also must endure it. I’m Jay Jennings and I do NOT approve of this message!

If you feel the same way, Paul has some VERY good news for you. There’s another kind of election that we can all get behind. “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they may obtain salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (v10). The apostle is a campaign worker and he’s giving every ounce of his energy to the cause. But it’s not on behalf of any political candidate. He’s enduring it all so that those God chooses can fully realize a relationship with Jesus. This is one election I can really get excited about!

As unpleasant as an election year can be, it’s nothing compared to Paul’s situation. He finds himself locked up in a Roman prison (2Tim 1:8, 16; 2:9). Insert “crooked politician in prison” joke here. But this is really no laughing matter for the former Pharisee. He’s on Death Row (2Tim 4:6-7). He writes to his buddy Timothy for two simple reasons. One, he knows he must pass the baton of ministry to the young pastor (2Tim 2:1-4:8). Two, he desperately wants to see Tim one last time (2Tim 4:9, 21). 

The first word we see here in verse 10 is “therefore.” While we’re tempted to blow right by it without thinking, it’s an important connector between what the apostle has just said and what he’s about to tell us. As the old saying goes, “Anytime we see ‘therefore,’ we have to stop and ask, ‘What is it there for?’” 

The original language here (Gr. δια τουτο) actually pulls back the curtain of Paul’s motivation. So let’s back up a just a skosh. He’s devoted his life to preaching the Gospel (2Tim 2:8). It’s the whole reason he suffers in the slammer. But while he’s locked up, God’s Word is on the lam (2Tim 2:9). The apostle tells Tim his time behind bars is worth it because of what’s going on. We’re about to find out the reason for the election season.

“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect” (v10). Paul uses the Greek verb `υπομενω here, which means to remain behind or stay when others leave. It’s the idea of refusing to flee. Standing your ground. Persevering. Bearing bravely and calmly. Folks look at your situation and wonder, “What in the world are you still doing here?”

Check out a handful of times NT writers use the word. Dr. Luke drops it when Joe and Mary head back to Nazareth and didn’t realize “the boy Jesus stayed behind (Gr. `υπομενω) in Jerusalem” (Lk 2:43). When troublemakers from Thessalonica found Paul in Berea, believers there smuggled the apostle out of town while “Silas and Timothy remained (Gr. `υπομενω) there” (Acts 17:14). In both cases, folks may be asking, “What in the world are you still doing here?”

But we get the ultimate model of endurance from our Savior. The author of Hebrews tells us that we should be “looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured (Gr. `υπομενω) the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured (Gr. `υπομενω) from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Heb 12:2-3). 

Christ not only endured the cross so that we would know the ultimate joy of a relationship with Him, but He endured so that we could endure! For those who can’t wrap their heads around the Gospel, they wonder why in the world did the Son of God die on a cross. They can’t figure out why in the world His followers often don’t flinch in times of trouble. Because that’s exactly what love looks like. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures (Gr. `υπομενω) all things” (1Cor 13:7). We endure. It’s what He did. It’s what Paul did. It’s what we should do.

Specifically, Paul preserves through the total package “for the sake of the elect” (v10). The word the ESV translators give us for “elect” (Gr. εκλεκτος) describes something or someone selected or chosen. It’s the one picked out. When folks like Paul use this word, they’re NOT talking about politicians (Well, I guess they could be. If so, it’s just another crazy example of God’s miraculous grace!). In this case, the “elect” are the people God personally picks. The people He chooses. He casts His divine ballot in your favor.

The apostle Jesus nicknamed Rocky writes that God’s people “are a chosen (Gr. εκλεκτος) race” and that He picked us in order to tell others about Him (1Pet 2:9). Paul says that happens when “As God’s chosen people (Gr. εκλεκτος), holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, and patience” (Col 3:12 NIV). When explaining the sequence of events for His incredible return to His posse, Jesus said He “will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect (Gr. εκλεκτος) from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Mt 24:31). Kinda makes an election night victory of balloons and confetti look rather mild, don’t you think?

The shame about it is election in the Bible is just about as controversial as a political election. Relax. We’re not going into some drawn-out discussion of predestination here. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to election and God. We don’t so much choose God as He chooses us! Unlike too many of our political decisions, God is NOT faced with choosing between the lesser of two evils. He doesn’t cast a vote against anyone. He always votes FOR! And He votes FOR YOU because He LOVES YOU!!

Paul reveals to Timothy the entire reason he does it all is so that those God chooses “also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (v10). In other words, this election has nothing to do with fundraising. It has EVERYTHING to do with exploring all that God has obtained for you in and through His Son Jesus. Forget those empty campaign promises (the ones elected sure have!). This is a whole lot better than two chickens in every pot, building a wall, or making somebody other than you pay more taxes.

Few people who follow Jesus never really dive into the deep end of the pool of grace. It’s our own fault that we fail to enjoy the full benefits package of a relationship with the Lord. Our Savior came to bring us an abundant and overflowing life (Jn 10:10). As Dr. Phil likes to say, “How’s that working out for you?” Like Paul, God uses you and me to help the elect find out they’re God’s elect. That also includes unpacking what the life of a disciple looks like. This is one open enrollment meeting that won’t put you to sleep! Getting our hands on salvation means unlocking the full benefits of a relationship with Jesus.

Paul tells Tim how God’s selection of His people is done “with eternal glory” (v10).  In other words, this election isn’t about four more years. There’s no reelection campaign. This is one office with NO term limits. Once God selects you as His, you’re His for all eternity! And it’s going to be glorious!!

Now THAT’S a Candidate I can get behind! How about you? Once I’ve placed my trust in Who Jesus is and what He’s done for me, it’s time to campaign on His behalf. Because Christ endured so much for you and me, we should be willing to endure in order to share His message with others. He elected us. He personally picked us. He chose us to alert the elect! I don’t know about you, but that’s WAY better than suffering through another election season on Earth.

Spiritual Road Construction

I hate road construction. Take the Fortify Project on the Beltline in Raleigh. The DOT's thrown a massive monkey wrench into my commute to and from work. And because of it, I totally avoid that section of highway.

But lets face it. Road construction and maintenance is necessary. In the end, all of the hard work on the highway is going to make it a lot easier for me to get where I’m going.

Did you know that the Bible talks about road construction? 

Back in the ancient Middle East, before kings and emperors hit the road, they would send out construction crews ahead of them to get the road ready. 

Their job was to fill all the potholes, straighten out the curves, and freshly pave the highways. Maybe even build a road where there was no road before.

That’s why the prophet Isaiah talked about the arrival of God’s Son and like he worked for the DOT. 

Isaiah 40:3-5 reads, "Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys and level the hills. Straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and the people will see it together.” (Is 40:3-5 NLT).

Isaiah was encouraging folks to do everything possible to get ready for a personal appearance by God and the first arrival of Jesus.  

It’s VERY similar what we do in First Impressions here at Hope Community Church. We just turn it upside down. 

God sends people to His church every weekend. And they come in all flavors. Believers. Unbelievers. Disciples. Seekers. Doubters. He gives those of us serving there the privilege of filling in the valleys and leveling the hills. Straightening out the curves and smoothing off the rough spots.  

How do we do that? We take away all the distractions and all the stuff that gets in the way of folks meeting Jesus. 

Bill Hybels says church should be "a safe place to hear a dangerous message.” The Gospel is dangerous. A relationship with Christ rocks your world and turns your life upside down.  

We needed a safe place on our first visit here at Hope back in 2009. My wife Debbie and I were already followers of Jesus. But the day we pulled into the church parking lot, we were beat up and bruised. 

Over the past 15-plus years, we had been part of three consecutive church plants that closed. We basically washed up on the shore like survivors of a shipwreck.  

That’s just when Jesus used the folks of First Impressions to come to our rescue. God used them to welcome us from the moment we got out of the car. We didn’t realize how burned out we were until the FI team rolled out the red carpet for us as first time guests. 

It became obvious that Hope was a VERY safe place. They filled in the valleys. Leveled the hills. Straightened out the curves. Smoothed off the rough spots. God has put us in position to play big part in making it safe for everyone who walks through our doors.

Let's do absolutely everything to remove all distractions. There’s too much at stake. Let’s do the hard work of spiritual road construction. Once we do everything we can to remove stuff that gets in the way, folks have a better chance of hearing the Good News and meeting Jesus. 

That’s why we smile. We provide a place to park. We open doors. We answer questions. Maybe even give them a hug. We tell people that they matter to God. We tell them we’re really glad they’re here.  

That’s what it looks like to fill in the valleys. To level the hills. To straighten out the curves. To smooth out the rough spots. Who's ready for a little spiritual road construction.