Tag Archives: False

What God Gave Up for Lent Day – 45 (Good Friday)

And divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take. (Mark 15:24)

casting lots

The last of the worldly possessions of Christ, and they conduct a raffle.

Lots. Something as simple as a game of chance. Rolling the dice. Who would win the robe of Christ. Once again we miss the point. We get distracted. Here is The One Who can give to us eternal life; and we’re playing games of chance. At the foot of the cross, they’re casting lots to see who’s going to win some stained and worn out garments; failing to recognize that we can be clothed in something that will last forever!

For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. (2 Corinthians 5:2-4)

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:27)

Rolling dice—or casting lots—is not a wise thing to do when your eternal soul hangs in the balance. Do not place your eternal welfare into the hands of chance. Be intentional. Choose Christ.

I never knew until today the phrase, “My lot in life”, comes out of the practice of casting lots. Now there are examples of godly Jews and Christians practicing this, but the outcome was in the hands of the LORD.

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. ( Prov 16:33)

Thus Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the Matrite family was taken. And Saul the son of Kish was taken; but when they looked for him, he could not be found. Therefore they inquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” So the LORD said, “Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage.” So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king! (1 Sam 10:20-24)

So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:23-26)

The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. (Psalm 16:5) Another way to read this is: You hold my lot.

Now the problem with these guys casting lots at the foot of the cross is common with every false worshiper: it is a practice for which they have seen godly people perform, but for them, it provides the opportunity to cast off blame (e.g.- the decision was made by the gods). Now we all have our reasons, our justifications, and our excuses for what we do, and we can even claim ignorance at times, but none of these hollow rationalizations will stand before The One True God.

But back to the soldiers casting lots; it was actually the fulfillment of prophecy, as found in Psalm 22:18. They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.

The Greek word for casting has several definitions. Most are what you would expect—like the physical act of throwing something. But another translations has to do with lying sick or lying paralyzed. This is an appropriate description for those who are playing games at the foot of the cross. How many of us could come to Christ for healing, but we don’t even know that we are sick?

So what’s the outcome of this passage? One soldier won some raggedy, bloody clothes. Now I suppose they would have had great value in the indulgence market; but like indulgences, they are only a distraction. They all walked away from The One Who could clothe them with new life.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ( Gal 3:27)

Don’t play games. Don’t walk away. Embrace The One Who can give you eternal life.

What God Gave Up for Lent – Day 3

3. In Whose Image

Bull

Many bulls have surrounded me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. They open wide their mouth at me, as a ravening and a roaring lion. (Psalm 22:12-13)

The bulls represent those who have power and wealth that have surrounded Christ. They come before Him in their robes and fineries, with their rings, bracelets, and crowns, wagging and pointing, while the King of Glory is nailed to the cross stripped bare. Is it any wonder how easily wealth blinds us to the truth.

Why were bulls now become a ravening and roaring lion? Ravening means to tear to pieces. This shows the hatred and animosity the enemies of Christ have toward Him, seeking to devour Him so there would be no trace. Although their tactics have changed, this is still the goal of the enemies of Christ two millennia later.  False religions, cults, liberal and tolerant theologies seek to confiscate from history and memory the authentic and Biblical Christ. They seek to cast off the authority and sovereignty that only the King of kings and Lord of lords can wield, and none can take it from Him. So now, today, they have an easier target, they attack the Church; seeking to discredit us; render us irrelevant and impotent. And unfortunately, they have often been successful at this.

There’s irony within this imagery. Bulls, start out as calves; and this was the image the sons of Israel conjured up in the wilderness when they needed an image to worship ( Ex 32). Before Moses could deliver the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, man was trying to define God. For how many days and nights had they seen the power, guidance and care of God manifest as a pillar of fire by night, and a pillar of cloud by day? But it’s tough to create and worship such a manifestation. Yet even with their limited exposure to Him, they felt there was not enough of a deterrent to not create their image of The Most High; and soon all sorts of false theology followed.

Even now, in the 21st century, we still try to make God in our own image (or some other sort of image—pick one). And as such he, she, or it, is easily put aside, and only brought out and dusted off when needed. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. ( Rom 1:20-23)

Somewhere, somehow we need to remind humanity of what they already know: His [God’s] invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature; and in such a way that is not so easily set aside. But how do we do that?

Christ is known as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah: I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” ( Rev 5:1-5).

We see from the above narrative, that in all of creation, there is none who is worthy to open the seals other than Christ. But man in his arrogance and pride, sees himself as one with power and authority. And even though he may convince himself and others of such a claim for a season, there is only One who is worthy and has such authority. Will you accept your true place before God now, humbly accept Him as Lord? Otherwise you will be constrained to do so later, at the judgment.

Save

Save

Singing with the King (15) – Promises, Promises

I will sing your praises forever and will always keep my promises. (Psalm 61:8)

I PromiseAlways is a pretty tough word to keep. When was the last time you broke your promise? The punishment for such a breach is quite severe:

The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you.   The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you.  (Deuteronomy 19:18-20)

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will perish. (Proverbs 19:9)

It could be weeks, months, or years; or just in the last few minutes. It could have been huge, or it could have been small. Maybe you ran out of time. Or it got too complicated. Or it was hurting too much. Or maybe, you had no intention of keeping your promise in the first place. Consider the following:

Who may stay in God’s temple or live on the holy mountain of the Lord? Only those who obey God
and do as they should. They speak the truth and don’t spread gossip; they treat others fairly and don’t say cruel things. They hate worthless people, but show respect for all  who worship the Lord.
And they keep their promises, no matter what the cost. (Psalm 15:1-3)

He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. (Proverbs 10:9)

Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:45)

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Whether keeping your word, or your promises, may your character reflect the Lord Jesus Christ.