The Weak Need A Rescuer

The Weak Need A Rescuer from Calvary Leatherhead on Vimeo.
Only when we are weak do we realize we need a Saviour. God is our only Rescuer, but it seems only in weakness do we seek God. In this regard, weakness is a blessing because it enables us to call out to a Rescuer.

No Vacancy

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.-Luke 2:7

2000 years ago in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary showed up at an inn desperate for entry. Labour pains searing, aching from a long journey, far from friends and family.

What is interesting to me here is the fact that there was no room at the inn for them. This begs a question. Why was there no room in an inn for a woman going into labour? Could the inn keeper not see the urgency of the situation? True, his inn was full. But it causes me to wonder why he didn't have any other guests leave in order to make room for this most special of guests being born.

He could have feared how his business ethics would be called into question. Maybe he was concerned about how he would be perceived by the community asking someone to leave the inn to make room for a couple peasants. He may be concerned that his status in the community might suffer. It's possible he was afraid of the people who were staying in the inn and thus more concerned about what might happen to him than this critical need. It could be he was more concerned about the effects on his business. If word got out that you might lose your reservation, his future revenue may be affected.

Whatever the case, that which was inside needed to be replaced by that which was at the door.

As Christmas approaches, it is good to consider the effect of the birth of Jesus on others such as the inn keeper. The problem today is that there is no room in the inn of most people's hearts for Jesus to indwell them. They hang a "no vacancy" sign over their hearts because to allow Jesus inside would require the keeper of the heart to evict certain residence. Tim Keller in his book Counterfeit Gods makes a statement throughout the book that gods or idols cannot be removed. They must be replaced. This is the case we find today. There are many things that people are trusting in and treating as a god. These are similar to what the inn keeper 2000 years ago may have been going through.

Some people will not let Jesus be the God of their life because it would mean admitting defeat. To receive Jesus is to acknowledge that your own morality and righteousness are leprous and festering. It is admitting that they are sinners and they need Jesus to bear their sin. Some people today are more afraid of how people will view them if they became a Christian. To them their self-image defines who they are, and to surrender that god of self-image to the true God is more than they are willing to bare. Others find importance in how others perceive them, and so keeping others happy and seeking man's acceptance would cause a person not to open their heart to Jesus. It is too much for them to be accepted by God and rejected by men. Still others keep the door to the inn closed because it will affect their lifestyle, business ethics, home etc.

Christmas is a great time to remember that the one who was refused entrance to the inn now knocks on the hearts of all men. Jesus says, "Behold I stand at the door and knock..." (Rev 3:20). The door must be opened from the inside. And the things we trust in, we need to allow Jesus to throw outside as Jesus is received inside.

Jesus came to dwell among us. He knocks on hearts to dwell within us. Is there room for Jesus in your heart?

Unfair!!!

The children of your people say, 'The way of the LORD is not fair,' But it is their way which is not fair! - Ezekiel 33:17

Having four small children, there are many things that come out of their mouths, both positive and negative. One of the beauties of small children is they say what they mean and they mean what they say. They haven't learned the art of cover-up. If they do not like something, they simply tell you. If they are excited, it cannot be hidden.

One of the phrases that often comes forth in the midst of sibling rivalry is "Not fair!". The essence of the statement is that I have been wronged and dealt with unjustly. You have received what I deserve to have, give it to me. This is obvious in small children (remember, they do not hide their feelings well). However, when it comes to us mature people, we hold the same mindset however enshroud it with a sophisticated arrangement of smoke and mirrors so things do not appear as they are.

The problem is what we may call an ego-centric perspective. We have a wrong assessment of ourselves and therefore deem ourselves worthy of whatever it is we feel we are lacking. Humanity as a whole has the same problem (anthropo-centric). When difficulty happens and tragedy befalls us, humanity is quick to place the blame on God and claim that God has not dealt fairly with us. This is evident by the statement often uttered "If God is good, then why ________?" Fill in the blank! The problem with this perspective is that man thinks that God owes man something. God has somehow deprived him or someone else of the right to health, wealth, comfort, security, and ultimately of self-defined happiness etc.

We see this here in Ezekiel 36. "God is not fair!" They rail their accusation against God claiming Him to be corrupt. However the prophet puts the emphasis of corruption (unfairness) back on the people.

God created a beautiful world and made mankind in the perfect image of God. God, the Creator, blessed man and endowed man with myriads of gifts, the greatest of which was the very presence and favour of God. God had told man that there was one thing he was not supposed to touch. Man then said in essence, "That's not fair. I deserve the fruit of that tree." Thus corruption entered the world. The core of this problem is a high view of man (anthro-centric) and a low view of God (theo-centric). Somehow the roles were reversed and the Maker is to become the servant and the servant then judges the Maker.

Man says he doesn't want God but then demands that God give man those things associated with God (i.e. God's blessings, favour, joy, provision). Maybe God hasn't been fair, but if that's the case it's only because He has been more than fair.

All of humanity has fully earned hell and God's judgment. Yet they cry out for fairness. If God were to deal fairly, all would be under His wrath. Yet God gives bread to the eater and rain to the sower (Isaiah 55:10). God blesses all mankind with this life. As if this were not enough, God has made it possible for us to be saved from our well deserved judgment by sending His own beloved Son to bear the wrath of God's justice for fallen humanity. Anyone who puts their faith in Jesus shall find that God's fairness towards them was given to Jesus in the crucifixion.

If we were to cry out to God and say, "The way of the Lord is not fair!" We should do so acknowledging that "The way of the Lord is more than fair!" Truly it seems unfair for Jesus to bear our judgment. However, because God loves you, Jesus willingly suffered your fair death, that you could have His fair life.

Jesus: The Only Way For Salvation

This 7min 28sec video features RC Sproul. Sproul powerfully explains here why Jesus is the only way to God. This is definitely worth a few of your minutes.