"A Thankful Heart"

"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." (Rom.14:19)

In this post, on the first day of 2010, please allow me to wax sentimental for a moment!

I just wanted to express my thankfulness for each one of you whose blog posts I read and enjoy. I am greatly profited by each one! I also am truly grateful for all of the encouraging and helpful comments.

It is a blessing beyond words to know you all, even those whom I have never seen face to face, and to consider together, the unsearchable riches of Christ!

I look forward to the coming days and the food for the soul that I am sure is to come!

Blessed beyond measure!
Tom

"The Mercy Seat"

I am currently pondering the Mercy Seat, which was the covering lid on the Ark of the Covenant, and has so much to tell us in regards to the person and work of Christ.
This "Seat" or place of "propitiation" was the place where the gaze of the Cherubim was fixed and where the blood was spinkled on the Day of Atonement.
It is the place where God had told Moses: "And there I will meet with thee, and I will comune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel." (Ex.25:22)

What a vivid foreshadowing of Christ as the one by whom and through whom God reveals Himself to us, and by which we are able to come into His holy presence!

A study of the these shadows and types under the old covenant make it plain that God has a prescribed way and means of entering in before Him and communing with Him, and that no other way is acceptable.......That way is the Christ, His own Son, "the propitiation for our sins" (1John 4:9-10) .

Paul says....."Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forebearance of God;
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Rom.3:24-26)

Any other approach is denied and condemned. To circumvent God's way to life and the way of acceptance with Him is to place oneself under the wrath of the law. I believe this is illustrated well in 1Samuel 6 where it is written...."And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.
And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?"

When the "mercy seat" is bypassed, all that is left to behold is the Holy Law of God which pronounces death on the sinner!

The blood of the Lamb must be interposed between the eyes of God and the demands of the law. We must be propitiated for and covered with that blood which alone can make the foulest clean.

He communes with us in Christ and because of His righteousness, and in no other way can I come to Him.

As Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

And, as the writer to the Hebrews declares, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
And having an high priest over the house of God;
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
(Heb.10:19-22)

Christ is our Mercy Seat which ensures for us entrance into the holiest of all! Not only now, but for eternity!

"The Three Mountains of God"

In this post I would like to share word pictures that appeared to my mind some time ago as I was meditating on the Law, the Gospel, and the destiny of God's pilgrim people.

A thought arose in my mind that I had never considered before in a connected way, that is, the prominence of Three Mountains in the redemptive history recorded in scripture.

They are, of course, Mt.Sinai....Mt.Calvary....and Mt.Zion

The word pictures in my own mind begin with this question:

"What do we experience as we approach Mt.Sinai?"

"From a distance we see a dark foreboding cloud that overshadows the mount, then we begin to see exceeding bright flashes of lightning shoot forth in every direction. The thunder claps are so loud that human speech cannot be heard and every mouth is stopped and all the world becomes guilty before God!
The voice of a schoolmaster calls out with stern authority...Do this and live, for the soul that sinneth shall die! And....cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things that are written in the law to do them!
Suddenly, I see a smoke arising that seems to ascend forever and ever, as the smoke from the bottomless pit. This smoke rises from the burning of the fiery indignation and wrath of Almighty God!
Quickly, in my mind, I reply....All that the Lord hath said, I will observe and do, but, close on its heels, comes this thought....When I would do good, evil is present with me!
Then, this question, Why?
The reply speedily comes like one of those lightning bolts....The carnal mind is enmity against God, it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be!
OH the Despair!
I strain to see if maybe there is some way around it, but, to no avail, for it fills the horizon in front of me and I dare not take one step closer, lest I be consumed!

Oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?

But Wait!
A heavenly light breaks through my dark hopelessness. It is that light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world! I now hear these words... Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world!
Oh, how I desire to be clean! But, how can this be? Then come these words...Without the shedding of blood is no remission.

Immediately now, before my eyes, appears another mountain. I am struck with the terrible appearance of it because of its resemblance to a skull and I shrink back again in dismay.
I hear these words....Even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. I feel constrained to move closer to this mount, even to climb up its rocky heights and survey what is there.
I proceed, and as I reach the summit of this mount called Golgotha, I am horrified by the scene that fills my view. Before me are three men suspended between heaven and earth on cruel crosses!
My horrrified gaze is drawn to Him in the midst, and I hear these words....Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body thou hast prepared me, and....This is the blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

I also hear loudly declared....Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. And....The Just shall live by faith.

The light of this truth bursts into my very soul and I feel joy unspeakable and full of glory as I hear these words....There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus!

I walk from Calvary in silent awe and contemplation, when, suddenly, this fiery dart pierces my inner joy. This question is raised...He is dead, on what grounds do you account your debt paid before a Holy God?

For three days my mind is tormented with these thoughts. I must go to the place where they laid Him, but wait, the stone is rolled away and the most glorious words that have fallen on my ears since beginning this journey break through my doubts and fears....He is not here, He is risen! And then, it seems as if I am witnessing the very crushing of the serpents head as I hear....He was raised again for our justification!

Oh to dwell in this place of joyous reconcilliation and cleansing, Oh to bask in the light of those words...."NO CONDEMNATION"!

But, again, a voice speaks, come and I will show you another Mountain....."For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.....But ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Home at Last!!

"How Should We Then Live?"

As I consider the present state of our nation and this world, as I consider the turmoil in so many lives, the cancers, the sorrows, the upheavel, I am once again confronted with the reality that things are terribly awry on this earth.

I was reminded of the title of a Francis Schaeffer book that I read some time ago which asked the question: "How should we then live?" In this book Schaeffer deals with the decline of western civilization through the centuries as they move from one form of "leaning to their own understanding" to another rather than looking unto the one in "whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge". (Col.2:3)

This self, man-centered direction has led to misery and chaos rather than the promised utopia that was thought to be at the end of man's self created rainbow.

We are a people who have listened to the arch liar and have spurned the God of truth!

So, I am either, brought to the place of despair and gloom, or I am brought to once again gaze upon my Savior's face and live with the joyous anticipation that sorrow, sickness, turmoil, and death do not have the final word.

These things have an appointed end, and I relish the thought of being delivered from the bonds of corruption in full, and dwelling in the new heavens and earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness!

How am I to spend this "vapor" of a life? What am I to be about? How should I then live?

I believe the word that God has revealed to us makes it plain.

For example, I recalled these passages: "For our converstaion is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." (Phil.3:20-21)

and: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Col.3:1-4)

also: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:11-14)

These passages declare clearly to me that, in the midst of the darkness and distress of the present age, I am to live with great expectation and anticipation of my coming glorified state when I will forever be united to Him who is my life!

And, in the mean time, while I await His coming and the glorious marraige supper of the lamb, I must be about my Father's business, redeeming the time and laboring in His heavenly labors.

What a privelege, to look beyond the outward forms of things that are perishing, and to look into the face of Him who lives forever more! And, because He lives, I live!

"Count Your Blessings"

Here is another reminder of God's great mercy and provision for us. What cause we have for His praise to be continually on our lips!



My God will supply every need of yours.
Philippians 4:19


"The ways of God's providence direct us into the calling and employment that is ordered for us in this world. To have an honest, lawful employment in which you do not dishonour God is no small mercy. If it is suited also to your genius and strength, this is a double mercy. If you have less toil than others and more time for heavenly exercises, ascribe this benefit to the special care of providence for you. How strangely are things wheeled about by providence! David followed the sheep and likely never raised his thoughts to higher things, but God made him the royal shepherd. Some have work, but not enough strength. Others have strength, but no employment. If God blesses your labour and gives you and yours necessary support and comfort in the world, it is a choice providence and should be acknowledged with all thankfulness. If you find yourself scarcely able to provide for the necessities of life, consider: though you have a small portion of the world, if you are godly, he has promised never to forsake you (Heb. 13:5). Provdence has ordered the condition that is really best for your eternal good. If you had more of the world you might not be able to mnage it to your advantage. We are directed to be content with food and clothing, and the little that the righteous has is better than the riches of many wicked (Psa. 37:16). If providence has so disposed you that you cannot only eat your own bread but have enough for works of mercy upon others, and all this is brought to pass in a way you did not expect, let God be honoured in this providence. Remember that the success of your callings and earthly employments is by divine blessing and not human diligence alone. Be well satisfied in the station and employment where you have been placed. God is wise and seeks your eternal good."


John Flavel, Works, IV:387-391