Come Down, Lord!

[Edited May 2024] For 12 years I enthusiastically subscribed to the Westminster standards.  I signed my copy of the Solemn League and Covenant , I taught my children the catechisms, and I prayed earnestly that they would grow up to subscribe in full to the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF).  For much of that time I was convinced that given enough time I could persuade any Baptist of the error of his ways.  I even went so far as to tell some Baptists brothers that withholding baptism from their children was sinful.  I grieved when Presbyterians became Baptist; and if you had told me of a man who had gone from being a Baptist to a Presbyterian only to become Baptist again I would have felt embarrassment for him.  Sounds more like a ship “tossed to and fro” (Ephesians 4:14) than a man.  But here I am writing to say that I am that man.  Even four months ago I was certain I would always be Presbyterian.  But after a period of prayer and intense s...

 "Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners." There is a promise in this text that is often missed. Jesus was grieved by the failure of the disciples, but He was also at perfect peace.  He knew what He was about.  He knew what was in men.  No one had to tell Him. This - of course - was why He had come.  So He grieved at their faithlessness, but He was not anxious.  He was saddened by their failure to watch and pray, but He was not angry.  They had proven to be what they were: unstable, doubting and weak; but Jesus meant to show them again who He is: merciful, faithful, steadfast and strong.   Klaas Schilder wrote, "He knows they have left Him quite alone, and that they can never enrich Him because they are mere fragments of misery.  And now fully aware of that, He goes to take up the cross for them.  K...

  Paul said that if there is no resurrection then Christ is not risen, and if Christ is not risen then our preaching is vain, "and your faith is also vain (1 Corinthians 15:14)." But then he added these words: " If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable (1 Corinthians 15:19)." Can you say that?  I don’t believe many people in the Church can actually - truthfully - say those words.   They live, after all, a great deal like non-Christians. If Christ isn’t risen that would be something of a disappointment to them because they are banking on getting to heaven. But upon examination I doubt that you could say that, if in this life only they have hope in Christ, they are more miserable than other men.  They live the same pleasant lives, enjoy the same good things, have the same enjoyable hobbies, play the same sports, and lead the same ordinary, safe and healthy life. If Christ is not risen how are they worse off? Here's why ...

  The Bible teaches us that before the return of Christ there is a bliss that our souls will enjoy in the presence of Jesus, but that bliss is not the full glory to come when God makes a new heaven and a new earth. What will it be like?  I want to name 5 things that will characterize the heaven to come.   First, there will be an end to everything that is evil. No more aches and pains, no more weakness and tiredness, no more disease, no more brokenness or disability, no more confusion or memory loss, no more wicked perversions, no more haters of God, no more idol worship, no more heresy, no more blaspheming the precious name of Jesus, no more weariness in worship, no more hard heartedness in praying, no more rebellion, no more dishonesty and stealing, no more anger or disappointment or misunderstandings or broken relationships. no more covetousness, but only contentment. no more sadness and tears, but only joy.   Second, perfection .  What I have alr...

  Why is our answer - like Peter's - to whom shall we go?  Ultimately our reason is that He is worthy .  When others are turning and their back on Him (and you are tempted to do the same), when following Jesus seems to hold only hardship and suffering and the other way seems easy, why go on with Him? Why stay the course? Why then - in the darkest season of your life - would you say with Peter “to whom shall we go?”   The answer is simple yet profound in its significance: Jesus deserves you .  He is worthy. Believer, haven’t you found in Jesus that treasure hidden in the field?  Here is that One whom the Bible calls the pearl of great price! Isn't it true that when you made that discovery you were willing to part with the whole world to buy the field and get the treasure?  And having sold everything to get the field and get the treasure what did you lose?  Nothing!   What did you gain?  Everything!   So what now?  When things...

    Romans 5:8 says, “But God comendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”   John says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us (1 John 3:16);" and then later he adds, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Consider for a moment our problem.   We are, by nature, pathetic creatures destined for hell. Why?  because God is good, and we are not. We were born in sin. We breathe it in, and we breathe it out.  It marks and mars every day of our lives.  We sin in our words, sin in our actions and sin in our thoughts. We sin by what we do, we sin by what we fail to do. And our just condemnation is not merely because of what we did, but rather why we did it. We are self-centered creatures whose whole orientation is away from God.  Apart from the miracle of new birth we do not seek Him, we do not wa...