Category Archives: Morning Thoughts

Morning Thoughts (II Thessalonians 2:1-2)

Morning Thoughts,

II Thessalonians 2:1-2, "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand."

One of the most harrowing thoughts for some Christian people is the second coming of Jesus Christ. They live in fear of that day for many wrong reasons, such as staying saved themselves or getting their dearest friends saved before that great and notable day of the Lord. Sometimes, I wonder if the song "Wait a Little Longer Lord Jesus" was written by someone wrought up with the same thoughts in his mind. Knowing that the Bible states that all of God's children will be in heaven without the loss of one should bring comfort and peace when looking toward that day. (John 10:28-29) Yet, so many of us that know of free grace and the ultimate coming of our Lord in glory still find ourselves in the throes of sorrow, depression, sadness, anxiety, and trouble.

Paul's second epistle to the Thessalonian brethren is one of the most powerful epistles on church comfort and encouragement in all of Holy Writ. Even though his first epistle is longer, this second epistle seems to show an even more encouraging tone when Paul lays out these people's manner of life. (II Thessalonians 1:3-6) Paul's ultimate thought to drive at with these beloved people is that they should not be "weary in well doing." (II Thessalonians 3:13) Considering the ramifications of that statement, Paul – in essence – tells them, "You are doing right, doing well, and glorifying God. Keep it up." What lovely people these brethren were! Yet, Paul's encouragement also touches on the second coming of Christ and their thoughts of it.

From the language in our study verses, it seems that these brethren took Paul's discourse on the second coming in I Thessalonians 4 as a token that it would happen in a matter of days or weeks. Now Paul encourages them as if it will not happen as imminently as they suppose. What Paul specifically mentions as a precursor to the second coming is found in verse 3. Before His return, there will be a falling away – whether in the knowledge of the truth or spirituality in general, either apply – which marks the "season" that will be upon the world at that day. Now, since no man knows the day or the hour (I Thessalonians 5), Paul encourages them that there are things that mark the season. Those marks shine very vividly today.

Since Paul thought it meet to exhort these beloved people based on their misguided sight of the second coming, what was their probable fault? A favourite series of questions of mine to congregations is this, "What would you do if you thought Christ was coming back today? What about tomorrow? Next week? Next year? Fifteen years from now? After you die?" Do the answers change from question to question? What I should do today knowing He is coming today should not change even if I knew that I would die before His return. Can you imagine these people thinking that Christ was coming today, next week, or next month? Maybe they did not put as much emphasis on their secular jobs. Perhaps next year's crop meant less than it should. However, the right course of life, way of thinking, and attitude towards things should not vary based on circumstance.

Paul exhorts the brethren to two things in our verses: 1. be not soon shaken in mind or 2. troubled. Let us consider these two thoughts in light of what Paul says in verse 3. Knowing that Scripture clearly prophesies that a falling away will occur, what should our outlook be? As we mentioned above, the outlook should be the same regardless of circumstances, for nothing that occurs here changes certain absolutes: He rules, He reigns, and He will return. Knowing those absolutes will be certain and sure even when this world is on fire, why be downcast, troubled, or shaken?

Perhaps my thinking is somewhat warped, but considering the huge decline of spirituality in the world today and massive departures from the church and even organized religion as a whole across the board, perhaps His coming is closer at the doors than many think? While a delightful thought that His coming might be nigh and very near, my course in the face of decline, ruin, and chaos in the world around is still the same. Do not be soon shaken in mind or troubled.

If someone sees the massive departures from the church or spiritual things and becomes shaken in mind, what is the outcome? The outcome is a rash and impulsive decision to "right the ship" as it were. Circumstances have dictated the action, and the end product is the massive ruin of being tossed about by every wind of doctrine and cunning craftiness and sleight of men. (Ephesians 4) Seeing the rapid decline of spiritual mentality and a low priority of organized worship in the minds of many, I should neither be surprised (Scripture declares it) or shaken in mind about it.

If someone sees these things and becomes troubled, what is the outcome? A troubled mind can only think about one thing. Have you ever seen someone going through grief about a hard circumstance in their life? They cannot think about anything else, and their mind consistently and constantly returns to the grief. Sometimes it overwhelms them and "burns them up" in a fiery consumption. Looking at the crumbling spirituality around us should be sad to our minds and something that we work to improve in our communities and immediate circles of influence, but it should not trouble us. Should it trouble us in the sense that Paul encourages them against, we will think of nothing else and be consumed by it.

Pulling all these thoughts together, let us consider not being troubled or shaken in mind in the face of hard situations contrasted against the second coming of Christ. Yes, departures happen, and before His coming, there is a big one. Yes, people will turn their minds and ears away from the truth (II Timothy 4), but none of these things should consume our thinking or trouble us in mind to make a rash decision. Both rash decisions and consumed thoughts have no room for daily consistent thinking of the second coming. If I am failing at one or both of these things, then I cannot focus on the second coming of my Saviour. If my mind is clear from the clouds of trouble and storms of shaken thoughts, then I can contemplate a glorious day when I shall see Him as He is and know Him as He knows me.

Finally, if our daily thoughts should have the coming of Christ at the forefront, one might ask, "Isn't that what you said these Thessalonians were doing? Didn't Paul encourage them out of it?" Paul encouraged them out of changing their life's pattern thinking about the second coming. Friends, I know not whether it will be today, tomorrow, next year, or even in my lifetime. I hope earnestly that I will see it before my flesh is laid down in death, but that may not be. Yet, regardless of the time, the knowledge of His return should be in every day, for that is the strength for today to stay in the right course. He is coming! He is coming! How do we make it through a bad week? He is coming! How do we keep sorrow from overwhelming us like a flood when we see the country and world going down constantly every day? He is coming! How do we deal with sorrow when strife afflicts the church or people depart from it? He is coming! Knowing that blessed thought, we keep ourselves from the dangerous behaviour of shaken minds and troubled thoughts. Also, our lives are more attuned to be sources of strength for our brethren and lights for those to see that hunger and thirst after righteousness.
 

Morning Thoughts (Genesis 43:9)

Morning Thoughts,

Genesis 43:9, "I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:"

Many times people fail to consider the consequences of their actions or a line of thinking. For example, signing the "bottom line" connects us to responsibility for payment of something. Today's economic climate owes much of its distress to people failing to consider (or care) about the repercussions of agreeing to make payment of things that they were unable and then later unwilling to pay. In the theological climate today, many fail to consider the full ramifications of their line of thinking when put to the fullest examination of Scripture. We will attempt to look at some of the far-reaching consequences when considering the work of Christ and how that touches our lives and should touch our thinking.

In our study verse above, Jacob (Israel) is in a quandary of thought. He believes that Joseph (his wellbeloved son) is dead, Simeon is held in an Egyptian jail, and the rest of the family perishes in Canaan with hunger in the widespread famine. The only recourse that Jacob has is to honour the governor of Egypt's request to allow Benjamin to go with his brethren into Egypt on their second journey to buy corn. The problem in Jacob's mind is that Joseph is dead, while Benjamin remains as his only child left of his beloved Rachel. Should evil befall Benjamin as he believes it has befallen Joseph, he will be left childless from Rachel and go down sorrowing into his grave at the bereavement of his children.

Since the brethren report that the governor of Egypt will not even give them an audience (much less buy corn for food) unless their youngest brother be with them, the way for survival is clear: Benjamin must go. Yet, for their survival, how shall Jacob receive calm assurance as to the lad's safety? Earlier, an offer has already been made by Jacob's eldest Reuben. (Genesis 37-38) Yet, Reuben's request cannot bring Jacob hope and comfort, and only by the mouth of Judah is Jacob relieved in his mind about sending Benjamin with the rest. What we see in Judah's statement is a picture of what our Lord has done for us in protection, care, compassion, mercy, and love.

Since Judah agreed to be surety for Benjamin, we need to understand what surety entails. Many times, people confuse words that are similar yet still distinctly different. Such is the case between words like surety and security. When someone becomes security for someone else, that says, in essence, "I will do for them if they are unable to do for themselves." Until I was of proper age and on my own, one of my parents would always be listed as security for my bank accounts, car title, etc. Surety differs from security in that surety does not place the stipulation on "if they are unable to do for themselves." Rather, surety says, "I will do for them regardless." Judah does not tell Jacob that he will be there if Benjamin cannot protect himself, but rather, he will be there to protect and keep Benjamin no matter what comes.

Consider the resolve of Judah in this matter. Chapter 44 shows Judah to be the central character of the entire passage. Joseph threatens to detain Benjamin for supposed theft of his silver chalice. Judah stands in earnest defense and plea for his younger brother as his surety. Had Judah been security for Benjamin, he would have let Benjamin plea his case first and then taken over if the case went south. Yet, as Benjamin's surety, Judah does all the talking, and the matter rests on Judah's ability to convince Egypt's governor to release Benjamin. Judah's resolve is further identified in our verse above in that he will "bear the blame forever" should he fail in his ability to keep Benjamin safe.

Moving past the shadow, let us consider the source of perfect surety: Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 7:22) Just as Judah did not allow Benjamin to plead his case before taking over, Jesus does not give us "chances" to get things right before taking over for us. We do not have to speak before our accusers, for He speaks for us. He does not keep us if we cannot keep ourselves, but He keeps us regardless. Furthermore, should Jesus Christ fail in His work of surety for us, then He would be forced to bear the blame for failure forever. Since it is evident that our Lord sprang from Judah (Hebrews 7:14) as our surety of a better testament and covenant, Judah makes an ideal picture of Christ on the occasion of our study verse.

Many well-meaning, God-fearing people in this world have the mistaken impression that Christ died for everybody, loved everybody, and wants everybody to go to heaven. Should that be the case (which Scripture patently shows is not), what would be the ultimate consequence of that belief? What far-reaching conclusion would be made? As our surety, Christ would bear people's blame forever, should they not be restored safely to His Father. Just as Judah agreed to bear the blame for Benjamin before his father forever, so also Christ would have to bear the blame before the Heavenly Father forever should His care of one leave them to burn in a fiery hell forever. Perish the thought! What goes on in heaven currently between the Father and the Son will go on for all eternity: perfect pleasure and delight in the work and presence of one another.

Furthermore, many well-meaning people will charge the belief of finished redemption and salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ as a "do-nothing religion." Some even lay the charge at Old Baptist's doorstep that they give or offer the hearers "nothing or not much to do." Let us consider what about Judah's case is different from Christ's. Judah agreed to be surety for Benjamin and had to defend his innocency before Joseph. Benjamin was not guilty of the crime laid against him, and Judah brought the case of Jacob before Joseph as the defense. In our case, Jesus – as our surety – defends us, knowing and pre-knowing that we were guilty, and furthermore bore the punishment so that we would not have to.

What is the far-reaching application or consequence of this line of thought? Have you ever heard the charge, "Doctrine leads to fat, lazy sheep"? Some even make the charge that discussions on the finished work of Christ are good, but there is not enough practicality being taught today. One of the striking things about the structure of Scripture is that doctrine serves as the foundation and perfect construct for practical godliness. As I heard growing up, "Good, doctrinal preaching flows into practicality like water flows in a river." When considering that Christ was willing to bear our blame forever as our surety, what far-reaching consequence happens? The feeling struck deep within our conscience should serve as the greatest remedy against licentious behaviour.

Since we were guilty before God, Christ agreed to do for us in our state. As such, He willingly and freely took our guilt, our sin, our repugnant odour, and bore it to the full. Therefore, knowing about the finished work of Christ, His surety for us, and what He went through for us should strike the following thoughts into our minds every time we come short of the glory of God: "My Saviour had to bear what I just did. He had to die for what I just thought or spoke." Furthermore, He did not just bear sins of commission but omission as well leading to these thoughts: "My Saviour had to die for what I have not done. He had to die for what I have not thought about or spoken about lately."

Therefore, whether it be transgressions of a committed nature in adultery, covetousness, theft, murder, etc. our thoughts should be stirred to consider that our Surety stood in our place to bear the blame for those things. And, whether it be trangressions of an omitted nature in failing to read the word of God, faithfully study it, meditate upon it, pray without ceasing, attend God's house, sacrificially serve Him and His brethren, etc. our thoughts should be stirred to consider that our Surety stood in our place to bear the blame for those things as well. Thankfully, we have the knowledge that He did not bear those things in vain, nor does He have to keep bearing blame for things (as though He could not quite finish the job or bear for something He did not foresee). Rather, we can be reconciled to God in our minds (at peace with Him – II Corinthians 5:20) that He really did put away our sins and thereby seek to serve Him more and better than we ever have before.