One of the things I love about cycling is being out in God's creation. Before I moved to Texas I lived in Washington State. There was some awesome scenery there inculding Mt. Rainier, rushing mountain streams, and trees as tall as the sky. One of my favorite rides took me down to Puget Sound to enjoy the smell of the saltwater. But the Texas Hill Country has it's own beauty too. There are the evergreen live oaks, the cactus, the hills and valleys around every corner. Being able to ride through God's creation at 15 or 20 miles and hour in the open air on a bike gives you an appreciation of nature that you can't get on the freeway at 75 miles an hour.
I thought of all the beautiful sights I've seen on my bike as I read Revelation 15 this morning. Verses three and four include this song: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name?" My sentiments are the same as those who sang the song of Moses in heaven. "Who will not fear you?" When I see the wonders of creation I cannot help but give glory to God.
Sadly, there are some who do not see it the same way. Their eyes have been blinded and their minds are held captive by Satan. Back in March I wrote about this in my blog and had one person post vile comments on my blog because I believed in creation, not evolution. He declared himself an atheist and proclaimed that anyone who believes in God is a moron and worse. He is not alone. Today there are several vocal atheists with best selling books who stridently condemn anyone who is "foolish" enough to believe in God. Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Christopher Hitchens and others refuse to acknowledge the glory of God in his creation, and will not give Him glory.
Those of us who have eyes to see how great and marvelous are the deeds of God in creation should thank God that He has made himself known to us. And those of us who can see how just and true God is in the cross of Jesus Christ should rejoice and give God glory for the salvation He has given us through His Son. In doing so we will join the saints in heaven in praising God and the question will be answered positively which asks, "Who will not fear God?" NOT US! We fear, love, and trust in God who first loved us by creating us and the beautiful world we live in, and by redeeming us through His own Son.
Pray for those who will not fear God. They cannot see the wonders of the Creator even though they are right in front of them. They see only "random accumulations of molecules" and "accidents of nature." Pray that the veil Satan has put over their eyes will be lifted, and they will soon join us in fearing God and glorifying Him.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Chosen Beforehand
Yesterday I picked up the latest copy of Bicycling magazine from the magazine rack in our house and read about the favorites in the Tour de France. It was interesting to read the article after the race was finished. The rivalry which was heralded on the front cover between Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador never materialized, due to some bad luck for Armstrong in the early stages of the race that cost him big chunks of time. The real battle in the Tour this year was between Contador and Schleck, who was also mentioned as a favorite, but was not really expected to win. Other favorites named included Bradley Wiggins, Cadel Evans and Dennis Menchov. Only one of those three finished on the Podium in Paris, so the writers for Bicycling were only half right about their top picks.
I'm sure it was nice for the riders who were chosen in advance to be GC contenders to read about themselves before the race even started, but it didn't change the outcome any. Writers can speculate all they want about who will do well, but the real race takes place on the roads of France and decides the winner.
There is one instance of being chosen beforehand that does make a difference, however. John tells us about it in Revelation 13:8: "All who dwell on earth will worship [the beast], everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain." John warns that all those who are not among the elect will succumb to the seduction of the beast's blasphemy. They will not endure until the end. But the chosen ones will stand firm until the end and exhibit faith and endurance that will allow them to experience eternity with the Lamb who was slain.
This verse makes clear the fact that our salvation is a gift of God's grace. We are not responsible for our own salvation. No, in fact, we were chosen "in [Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." (Ephesians 1:4-5) Certainly, if God chose us before creation to be his own, then nothing we do could be the cause of, or contribute to our salvation. It is a pure gift of God's grace.
This is also a great source of comfort when life is full of tribulation and it's difficult to stand firm in the faith. We know that since we were chosen by God in advance, He will keep us safe in Christ unto eternal life. Our names were written in the Lamb's book of life before the foundation of the world.
There is actually some question whether that phrase (before the foundation of the world) should be connected with names written in the book of life or whether it refers to the Lamb who was slain. It really doesn't make any difference. Before creation God chose his Son to die for our sins and in eternity Christ consented to die in our place. As a result, it is as though he was slain before the foundation of the world. And at that same time, before the world began, God chose us in Christ to be holy and blamless through Christ, so that we could have eternal life with Him. The two go hand in hand, and because they do we need have no fear about the trials that may come before the end of time. God will preserve us safely to the end, because we were chosen and our names were written in the Lamb's book of life before time began.
So our situation is much better than that of the GC contender's in Bicycling magazine. Their pick didn't make a difference. Our being chosen beforehand assures us of eternal life in Christ. Praise God for his grace in saving us!
I'm sure it was nice for the riders who were chosen in advance to be GC contenders to read about themselves before the race even started, but it didn't change the outcome any. Writers can speculate all they want about who will do well, but the real race takes place on the roads of France and decides the winner.
There is one instance of being chosen beforehand that does make a difference, however. John tells us about it in Revelation 13:8: "All who dwell on earth will worship [the beast], everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain." John warns that all those who are not among the elect will succumb to the seduction of the beast's blasphemy. They will not endure until the end. But the chosen ones will stand firm until the end and exhibit faith and endurance that will allow them to experience eternity with the Lamb who was slain.
This verse makes clear the fact that our salvation is a gift of God's grace. We are not responsible for our own salvation. No, in fact, we were chosen "in [Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." (Ephesians 1:4-5) Certainly, if God chose us before creation to be his own, then nothing we do could be the cause of, or contribute to our salvation. It is a pure gift of God's grace.
This is also a great source of comfort when life is full of tribulation and it's difficult to stand firm in the faith. We know that since we were chosen by God in advance, He will keep us safe in Christ unto eternal life. Our names were written in the Lamb's book of life before the foundation of the world.
There is actually some question whether that phrase (before the foundation of the world) should be connected with names written in the book of life or whether it refers to the Lamb who was slain. It really doesn't make any difference. Before creation God chose his Son to die for our sins and in eternity Christ consented to die in our place. As a result, it is as though he was slain before the foundation of the world. And at that same time, before the world began, God chose us in Christ to be holy and blamless through Christ, so that we could have eternal life with Him. The two go hand in hand, and because they do we need have no fear about the trials that may come before the end of time. God will preserve us safely to the end, because we were chosen and our names were written in the Lamb's book of life before time began.
So our situation is much better than that of the GC contender's in Bicycling magazine. Their pick didn't make a difference. Our being chosen beforehand assures us of eternal life in Christ. Praise God for his grace in saving us!
Friday, July 23, 2010
The Time for Judgment
"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great—and for destroying those who destroy the earth." Revelation 11:17-18
In the Tour de France, yesterday was judgment day. It was the final day in the Pyrenees and it included a mountain top finish on the highest mountain of the Tour, the Col du Tourmalet at almost 7000 feet. The Tour de France is won or lost in the mountains and in the individual time trials. Since Alberto Contador is a much better time trialer than Andy Schleck, Andy needed to gain at least 8 seconds on Alberto on the climb up the Tourmalet so that he could ride last in the time trial and try to match Alberto's split times. Andy's teammates set a furious pace up the mountain, seeking to tire Alberto. When his last teammate dropped off, Andy powered ahead, but Alberto stayed right on his wheel. Andy led the whole climb except at one point when Alberto attacked in an effort to break Andy. Andy, however, would not be broken and caught up to Alberto immediately. They rode almost side by side to the top of the mountain, where Alberto allowed Andy to take a well earned win.
On the podium, Andy received the prize for the stage win, but Alberto received the more important prize, the yellow leader's jersey. He will ride last in the time trial on Saturday, and will most likely win the Tour de France. Hence the fact that yesterday was judgement day.
The book of Revelation contains numerous references to Judgement Day. It repeatedly reminds us that the day will come when God will punish evil and reward good. Revelation 11:17-18 is one of those references. On Judgement Day Divine wrath will be poured out on all the unbelievers who were angry with God, all the evil doers who by their wickedness destroyed God's good creation.
On the other hand, Judgment Day will be a day of rewards for all true believers. The servants of God, both Old Testament prophets and New Testament saints who have declared the Word of the Lord and lived in reverent obedience to His will will be rewarded for their faith. And it won't be just the big names of old (like Moses or Paul) but even the small names like Bob who will be rewarded for their faith.
Many people, even some believers, think of Judgment Day with a sense of dread. Only those who despise God and His Word need fear the Judgment. God's servants, both small and great, have been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. Judgment Day for us will be a joyful day filled with God's gracious rewards. We should look forward to it even more than Alberto and Andy look forward to the podium in Paris.
In the Tour de France, yesterday was judgment day. It was the final day in the Pyrenees and it included a mountain top finish on the highest mountain of the Tour, the Col du Tourmalet at almost 7000 feet. The Tour de France is won or lost in the mountains and in the individual time trials. Since Alberto Contador is a much better time trialer than Andy Schleck, Andy needed to gain at least 8 seconds on Alberto on the climb up the Tourmalet so that he could ride last in the time trial and try to match Alberto's split times. Andy's teammates set a furious pace up the mountain, seeking to tire Alberto. When his last teammate dropped off, Andy powered ahead, but Alberto stayed right on his wheel. Andy led the whole climb except at one point when Alberto attacked in an effort to break Andy. Andy, however, would not be broken and caught up to Alberto immediately. They rode almost side by side to the top of the mountain, where Alberto allowed Andy to take a well earned win.
On the podium, Andy received the prize for the stage win, but Alberto received the more important prize, the yellow leader's jersey. He will ride last in the time trial on Saturday, and will most likely win the Tour de France. Hence the fact that yesterday was judgement day.
The book of Revelation contains numerous references to Judgement Day. It repeatedly reminds us that the day will come when God will punish evil and reward good. Revelation 11:17-18 is one of those references. On Judgement Day Divine wrath will be poured out on all the unbelievers who were angry with God, all the evil doers who by their wickedness destroyed God's good creation.
On the other hand, Judgment Day will be a day of rewards for all true believers. The servants of God, both Old Testament prophets and New Testament saints who have declared the Word of the Lord and lived in reverent obedience to His will will be rewarded for their faith. And it won't be just the big names of old (like Moses or Paul) but even the small names like Bob who will be rewarded for their faith.
Many people, even some believers, think of Judgment Day with a sense of dread. Only those who despise God and His Word need fear the Judgment. God's servants, both small and great, have been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. Judgment Day for us will be a joyful day filled with God's gracious rewards. We should look forward to it even more than Alberto and Andy look forward to the podium in Paris.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Never Ending Tour of Disasters
Yesterday's Tour de France was very exciting, but very disappointing for those who were rooting for Andy Schleck. Just as he was shifting into a different chainring to attack Alberto Contador on the Port de Bales he experienced "chain suck" and locked up his drivetrain. In trying to free it, he dropped his chain and lost 30 seconds trying to get it back in place. That mechanical incident cost him the yellow jersey, as Alberto Contador raced ahead of him and on to the finish line 39 seconds in front of Andy. That left Schleck 8 seconds down on the new wearer of the yellow jersey. But it was just one of a huge number of incidents that have knocked competitor after competitor out of the Tour de France this year. The toll has been staggering, and now, with two days still remaining in the Pyrenees this is beginning to feel like the never ending tour of disasters.
I've been reading the book of Revelation for the past week and I'm beginning to feel that same way about the apocalyptic events portrayed in John's revelation. First there's the seven churches with all of their sins and shortcomings. Then there are the seven seals. And when you get to the seventh one, suddenly there are seven trumpets. The punishments threatened and disasters pictured go on and on and on. It's enough to make you lose hope!
But that's not the purpose of the book of Revelation. It is intended to give hope. First, it's important to remember that John gives us a glimpse of the future from several different prespectives. The accounts of the end are progressive and recapitulative. The most important thing, however, is that they all lead to the ultimate triumph of Christ over Satan, and the victory of the saints who persevere to the end. Yes, Revelation 8:13 does warn us: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth." but that is not the end of the story.
The end of this year's Tour de France has not yet come, and there are still six or seven cyclists who have great chance of standing on that podium in Paris if they can avoid disaster and persevere to the end. Revelation makes it clear that the end times will bring much tribulation, but the end will come and Christ's promise from Revelation 2:10 will be fulfilled: "Be faithful even to the point of death and I will give you the crown of life." So just as the riders in the Tour will get on their bikes once again after their rest day tomorrow and pedal on towards Paris, so the saints of God must continue to be faithful even to the point of death, and just as surely as the Tour will end July 25 at the Podium in Paris, so too will Christ return and take us to be with him in glory!
I've been reading the book of Revelation for the past week and I'm beginning to feel that same way about the apocalyptic events portrayed in John's revelation. First there's the seven churches with all of their sins and shortcomings. Then there are the seven seals. And when you get to the seventh one, suddenly there are seven trumpets. The punishments threatened and disasters pictured go on and on and on. It's enough to make you lose hope!
But that's not the purpose of the book of Revelation. It is intended to give hope. First, it's important to remember that John gives us a glimpse of the future from several different prespectives. The accounts of the end are progressive and recapitulative. The most important thing, however, is that they all lead to the ultimate triumph of Christ over Satan, and the victory of the saints who persevere to the end. Yes, Revelation 8:13 does warn us: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth." but that is not the end of the story.
The end of this year's Tour de France has not yet come, and there are still six or seven cyclists who have great chance of standing on that podium in Paris if they can avoid disaster and persevere to the end. Revelation makes it clear that the end times will bring much tribulation, but the end will come and Christ's promise from Revelation 2:10 will be fulfilled: "Be faithful even to the point of death and I will give you the crown of life." So just as the riders in the Tour will get on their bikes once again after their rest day tomorrow and pedal on towards Paris, so the saints of God must continue to be faithful even to the point of death, and just as surely as the Tour will end July 25 at the Podium in Paris, so too will Christ return and take us to be with him in glory!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Truly Worthy
For the past 10 days or so I've been watching the Tour de France. Stage 9 was utterly unbelievable! 127 miles of riding in 90 degree heat with 5 categorized climbs totalling 16,000 feet vertically! I don't understand how the riders do it. I would die attempting such a feat. Yet the two leaders of the Tour, Contador and Schleck, were dueling it out on the final climb, continually attacking and pushing each other to the limit, and ultimately catching the breakaway. And that was only one of six mountain stages in the twenty-one days of racing that make up the Tour de France. Truly, anyone who can make it to Paris in the top three places is worthy to stand on the podium at the end of the race.
Revelation Chapter 5 tells us of one who is worthy, much moreso than any Tour de France rider, or any other human being, period! This is the Lamb that was slain, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Revelation 5:12 says: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
The winner of the Tour de France receives many of those things, but their feats cannot even begin to compare with what the Son of God accomplished. After a day like Stage 9, it may seem as though the cyclists in the peloton have come back from the dead to ride again, but Jesus Christ literally, physically did die and rise again. He was slain for our sins and rose again for our salvation. That is why he sits on the throne in heaven and is acclaimed by the elders and angels and living creatures.
No one is worthy of the acclaim that Christ deserves. We may make certain sacrifices out of love, or for a greater gain later on. Jesus sacrificed everything for us, even for those who would not respond in love to His sacrifice for them. He gave His all freely and willingly.
One who is so worthy deserves everything we can possibly give Him. Team members will sacrifice their own standing in the Tour for the sake of their team leader. How much more should we sacrifice ourselves for the One who gave His all for us? We should be willing to devote our power and wealth, wisdom and strength to bring honor, glory and praise to Him. The man standing in yellow on the podium in Paris may be worthy, but Jesus Christ is so much more worthy that it defies comparison!
Revelation Chapter 5 tells us of one who is worthy, much moreso than any Tour de France rider, or any other human being, period! This is the Lamb that was slain, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Revelation 5:12 says: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
The winner of the Tour de France receives many of those things, but their feats cannot even begin to compare with what the Son of God accomplished. After a day like Stage 9, it may seem as though the cyclists in the peloton have come back from the dead to ride again, but Jesus Christ literally, physically did die and rise again. He was slain for our sins and rose again for our salvation. That is why he sits on the throne in heaven and is acclaimed by the elders and angels and living creatures.
No one is worthy of the acclaim that Christ deserves. We may make certain sacrifices out of love, or for a greater gain later on. Jesus sacrificed everything for us, even for those who would not respond in love to His sacrifice for them. He gave His all freely and willingly.
One who is so worthy deserves everything we can possibly give Him. Team members will sacrifice their own standing in the Tour for the sake of their team leader. How much more should we sacrifice ourselves for the One who gave His all for us? We should be willing to devote our power and wealth, wisdom and strength to bring honor, glory and praise to Him. The man standing in yellow on the podium in Paris may be worthy, but Jesus Christ is so much more worthy that it defies comparison!
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