Bed rest vs Rewards

Too often we miss sight of God's provision in the midst of our troubles. It is often once we have had a moment to reflect after everyhting has settled that we notice how prevalent God's faithful Hand was guiding us, abiding with us, protecting us. I think to my son's birth this past week. Deacon Zechariah was born Saturday 9/4 at 6lbs 12oz and 18 inches long. A good healthy baby boy! Thank you God. But that was after 17 hours of labor at 36 weeks. A tough day for any couple. Add to that the 7 weeks my wife was on bed rest at 4cm dialated and the craziness level begins to rise. To think as I was holding my son, what would have happened if I saw him 7 weeks earlier. To think of the problems he would have been faced with, the issues affecting him. The trial brought a fuller reward. Our blessing increased as a family as long as we were able to persevere. And the bed rest that stretched me to limits previously unknown gave us a healthier son. I feel the same principles relate to the journey God often takes us on. The trials we face are often difficult and stretching. But figuratively He has the situation, you directly or a larger piece in the womb, still needing time to develop and grow. How hard I resist God's urge to sit and grow but if I submit to the time God calls me to be in the womb, I can truly become all that He desires. And make His reward, the fuller display of His glory even greater.

Forgiveness with a side of punishment

I was recently asked about a current news story that happened in the greater Cola area. A mom who was stressed out and probably had a lot of others going on, suffocated her two kids under 2 yrs old, put them in the car, and drove it into a body of water trying to make it look like an accident. This person was asked by a co-worker if God would actually forgive her. And they thought that maybe if God would still punish her even if He did forgive her for what she did. But this person wasn't sure how exactly that would work and came to me for some clarification. I wanted to post my reply because I think it has a couple of really important things. For one it is always great to go to someone for clarification if you aren't sure, especially when speaking to non-christians. Openly admitting you dont know everything but modeling the maturity to ask questions and grow, puts your relationship with the non-christian in a safe place. They know you aren't going to act like a "know it all" and if you do come back to them it gives you a chance to show them you value their questions and journey. The other thing is, it is a great chance to put on display the glory of God's grace and love! .... It brings up 2 major issues. First of all, forgiveness. Paul wrote in the letter to the Romans 8:1-14- 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,[d] 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man[e] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[f] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. The major issue here with forgiveness is first of all no longer condemnation for those "in Christ", those people who have submitted their life to God by accepting salvation thru Jesus' death. And if the Father is not going to condemn us for the sins we have committed then we dont have to worry about being punished by Him for a burden of that disobedience or sinful nature once we have asked God to take it away by forgiving us. (of course real moments of repentance that lead to forgiveness are only measured by God but can be known by us in the confidence and peace of our forgiveness that He can give us thru the Spirit). That is the point and purpose of Jesus' life and death on the cross; to absolve The Father's anger and hate of the sin within us without us having to experience the only equal punishment for that sin which is death and hell, a continual seperation from God for eternity. To look at this moms case, she could certainly have a moment in life where she hits her knees and cries out to God for forgiveness confessing what she did and God would forgive her of that sin completely and then not hold it against her. God never forgives us and then brings our sin back up to taunt us or punish us with it later. Once forgiveness comes into affect, its done. Resolved. Gone. As far as the East is from the West our sins are gone (psalm 103:12) And that is a perfect example of God's grace. Giving us this gift of forgiveness when we dont deserve it and have done nothing to attain it or achieve it. Thats why in Ephesisans 2:8 it says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from your selves but it is the gift of God." The second major issue is it also brings up the fact that God is in control of the order of life. The natural causation, the effects and consequences this lady will go thru from having killed her two kids is not something God will automatically shield her from if she repents and calls out for God's forgiveness. God put into place the natural order of life. The pain and disgust that she would go through as part of the grieving process when she is confronted with the hard, cold reality of what she did is not going to be with held. The breaking of man's law and those consequences will not automatically be withheld if she says shes sorry. And I believe that is the case just like the old saying goes, because no man is an island. We are all interconnected especially as we are God's image, meant to show His glory. Paul again says in 2 Corinithians 5 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. And while this does not contradict God's absolution and complete erasing of our sin, at first glance it makes things a little more complicated. How are we held accountable for what we do if God wipes our sin away? Taking my wife's artistic mentality, its best understood with a picture. Say the day you appear before Jesus Christ as He judges your life as a Christian, you are sitting before Him and beside you is one of those home-made, patchwork quilts. You know the ones that are made of the big squares. Now each square is something you have done, good or bad and there is a snap shot of that act or conversation. The ones that Christ has forgiven you for are now a snapshot of Jesus on the Cross, covering anything else that was there before. You also have the good things you have done. And for those Christ will reward you; for your faithfulness to Him, your righteousness, your good deeds. Those are the "crowns"/rewards that will be given to you by Christ. 2 Timothy 4:8 is one place Paul talks about it, Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. So short story is that although you will be judged for what you have done, Christ will cover your sins and won't punish you for something He died for. Otherwise that would be like the Father saying the Son's sacrifice was incomplete. But no, His salvation and forgivness is perfect and His grace free!