The Alpha and the Omega

Posted on September 30, 2019 by drgause@agause.com

Beginnings and endings first appeared at creation. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1). Each of the seven days had a beginning and an ending. And there was evening [an ending] and there was morning [a beginning], one day (v5). It is safe to conclude that beginnings and endings are part of the creation order. We see this all through the Bible down to the last chapter. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev 22:13). Years ago a minister shared with me an application of this fact. “Life is a series of new beginnings.” Integration of this into my belief system has guided me through good and bad times in both beginnings and endings.

Many psychologists divide life into four stages, each having a beginning and an ending. It is helpful to compare them to the seasons of the year—spring, summer, fall, and winter. Children (spring) reach puberty then transition to adolescence (summer); adolescents move into adulthood (fall); adults reach a point they become senior citizens (winter). Each season brings changes in lifestyles, abilities, relationships, responsibilities, interests, etc. Individuals can either embrace the changes or resist them not wanting to change. Endings for adults can produce internal-battles like ‘mid-life crisis’. My struggle has been accepting the endings that come with entering the senior’s stage or winter season—e.g. I can’t climb and repair towers any longer.

Hopefully, everyone understands we experience beginnings and endings in every facet of life. As believers, we need to learn how this applies in our Christian walk. A Scottish theologian in the 1800s brought this into the spiritual realm.  “The victorious Christian life is a series of new beginnings.” The key word in his statement is ‘victorious’. When we accept Christ, we instantly enter our most important new beginning—new nature, new life, and a new relationship with the Holy Spirit. He empowers us to cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit (2 Corin 7:1). The grammar indicates this is a onetime action in which we put an end to all defilement. Paul continued, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. With this verb he used grammar that says the action of perfecting is an ongoing life time process. As we mature and learn the Word, we will find thoughts and actions that need to end to continue in victory.

Christian life is full of new beginnings. We can’t even imagine what God can begin in us. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us (Eph 3:20). I’m amazed every day that God began with a disliked socially awkward teenager who barely graduated high-school and has continually done His work in me sending me around the world to teach His Word. Alongside all my beginnings came many endings, some by God’s design and others by personal failures. When we fail, is the time we must cling to this principle. Believers can feel their failure is so terrible that it is THE END. Satan always adds to the struggle by telling them, “Even God can’t fix this one.” “You’re finished”. But God is infinitely greater than our worst failure. Note David when he committed adultery and murder; Peter denied Jesus; or Jonah ran from God’s will.

Endings are always an opportunity for new beginnings. The first step towards a new beginning is letting go of the past. Whether good or bad, no one can change or fix what happened yesterday, that’s water under the bridge. But we can begin from where we are, with what we have, and with God’s help. Endings and beginnings can bring a multitude of mixed emotions. An ancient Chinese philosopher said, “New Beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” Don’t get bogged down in the hurts or even the successes. Paul declared, Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead (Phil 3:13 NLT).

The second step towards a new beginning is to focus on the future. God’s plan will not be like a blueprint laid out on a table showing all the details. It is like a step by step instruction book in which you can only see one page at a time. This brings the element of faith in the Lord. Don’t expect it to look like the last period of your life. It can bring new talents, a new career, new relationships, a new way of thinking, new locations, etc. This is endless. Often things must be left behind—lifestyles, interest, and sometimes certain people.

This is possible because of all Jesus did and He is “. . . the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev 22:13). He will bring endings and beginnings, but He will never leave you simply forgiven, “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6, ESV)

Sustaining Word for the Week: We all face one last ending—human life, but we receive a new beginning that will never end—eternal life.

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Swamp Briars

Posted on September 9, 2019 by drgause@agause.com

Two annoying weeds gardeners contend with year after year are honeysuckle vines and dandelions. Cut them down or mow over them, and they are back the next week. At our previous house, my neighbor, a professional landscaper, taught me a valuable lesson about certain types of weeds. Two, bamboo or swamp briars grew in my yard. It seemed impossible to get rid of them. I’d cut them off and try pulling them up but in a month they were as big as ever. He noticed my useless efforts one day and yelled, “You got to get the root-tuber and it’s down deep. I’ll be right over.” In a few minutes he drove up with his backhoe. With a couple of scoops he dug out a big bulb a foot in the ground. I never had another problem. Some weeds like swamp briars, honeysuckle, and dandelions have deep roots. It does no good to cut them off, the roots must be dug out.

I can’t begin counting the number of Christians I’ve watched week after week at the altar praying for forgiveness of the same sin. Their weekly repentance only cut off the fruit of their transgression but never dealt with the root. John wrote, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9). All sin has to forgive and some need to cleansed or rooted out. Writers of scripture used the analogy of roots throughout the Bible. Remember the Bible was first written to an agrarian society many of whom were illiterate, they didn’t think in the abstract terms, but understood spiritual lessons corelated with agricultural life. Scriptures speaks of bitterness having a root.  See to it . . . no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble (Heb 12:15). Love of money has a root. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil (1Ti 6:10).  Jesus warned of those who lack secure roots. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away (Mat 13:20, 21).

The Bible also illustrates positive lessons through roots. First, note the characteristics and purpose of roots to a plant.  Roots are below the ground and unseen. Spiritual growth begins with the unseen working of the Holy Spirit in someone’s heart. We can minister to an individual and see nothing happen, but the entire time God is working in the unseen. Roots provide water and nutrition to the plant. Roots anchor a plant giving it stability. Good roots provides us with hope even when life tears us down and destroys all our fruit. For a tree there is always hope. Chop it down and it still has a chance-its roots can put out fresh sprouts (Job 14:7 MSG).

Commentators compare Psalms chapter one to the preface of a book giving an overall view of the contents of the Book of Psalms. It begins by challenging us to become rooted in the Word of God. Believers who do will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers (Ps 1:3). The Psalmist gives both a negative and a positive requirement for this blessing. We must not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers (v1). In other words avoid sinful influences. The positive and most important way to be roots and survive the storms of life is to become saturated with the Word of God. His delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night (v2). The word for meditate is more than just thinking about a verse; it is an action word. The firmly rooted Christian not only thinks about the Word but put it into action.

The Psalm contrast those firmly planted with those who aren’t. The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away (v4). They are like tumbleweeds in the desert that break off at their root and blow wherever the wind takes it. Paul prayers that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love (Eph 3:17). He also wrote be firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith (Col 2:7). The more we build up in Him, the more our roots will grow, spread out, and go deep giving us more stability.

Sustaining Word for the Week: Stop just cutting them off. Dig out the swamp briars. If life has destroyed everything you were, have hope, the roots you’ve grown in Christ will sprout and produce tender new shoots.  

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Another Storm! Why God?

Posted on September 2, 2019 by drgause@agause.com

God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good (Gen 1:31 NLT)!  God made a perfect earth. Creation didn’t start with earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, or floods. So, what happened? When natural disasters take place, people ask ‘why did this happen?’, or ‘who caused this?’, or ‘why me?’ They want to blame somebody or something. All too often, people immediately accuse God. “Can God cause disaster? Yes.” “Does He cause all disasters? No.” Scripture indicates several sources.

Let’s start with the cause most often disregarded, but should be at the top of the list—the laws of nature. In creation the Lord instituted perfect laws to control and regulate His creation, e.g. gravity. However, when Adam and Eve sinned, it affected all of creation. The natural world “was subjected to futility” (Rom. 8:20) . . . Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life (Gen 3:17 NIV). Paul adds, For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now (Rom 8:22). The curse rendered the Laws of Nature imperfect thus causing natural disasters. Until Christ returns and redeems creation, disasters will continue as a part of life.

Some blame Satan for every catastrophe. However, the only verses recording the devil as directly causing disaster through the weather is the Book of Job. Satan used lightning to kill the sheep and the servants (1:16) and a powerful wind to kill all ten of Job’s children (v19). His power to affect weather was limited to God’s consent. This is the only time scripture says God granted the devil this power. Satan brought two additional tragedies to Job through people with attacks we would today call terrorism. The Sabeans attacked and took them (v15) and The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword (v17). Satan continues these kinds of tragedies using people around the world as evil dictators, wars, genocides, drug cartels, etc.  

With advancements in technology humans are increasingly causing man-made disasters. Note a few from the top ten: Chernobyl nuclear explosion, Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, British Petroleum Oil Spill, Gulf of Mexico, and Union Carbide Gas Leak, Bhopal, India. Many scientists claim fracking for oil is creating earthquakes or the construction of large dams creating enormous weight from water causing earthquakes, trash dumped in the ocean has made an island stretching 600,000 square miles or twice the size of Texas. Like the proverbial saying these are only the tip of the iceberg of man-made disasters.

But what about God? God, especially, in the Old Testament brought judgment upon the wicked through natural disasters as Sodom and Gomorrah and the flood during the time of Noah. However, after the death and resurrection of Christ, God is not judging sin as much as warning people to repent and come to Him. The author of Hebrews writes, At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens” (Heb 12:26 NIV). Natural disasters regardless of what caused it, shake people. They remind us we are hopeless and totally dependent on God. They cause people to seek His help, “Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Ps 50:15). They should remind us life is short, and this planet is not our permanent home. We must understand we live in a fallen sinful world; it is under a curse and the earth is dying. Most important, disasters give us hope for a new heaven and earth that will be perfect as God intended.

Jesus warned disasters would increase as His return approaches. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven (Luk 21:11). The word used for earthquake means a disturbance in the ground or air. It includes, hurricanes, tornados, and tsunamis. Are these caused by God, by Satan, by man, by the cycle of nature, or by a dying earth wearing out?

What can we do? Prayer can affect natural disasters. There arose a great storm on the sea . . . but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they [disciples] came to Him and woke Him, saying [prayed], “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm (Mat 8:24-26). We must trust God instead of blaming Him. Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation (Hab 3:17, 18). May we trust God like Job. Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. . . . . Job did not sin with his lips (Job 1:22; 2:10).

Sustaining Word for the Week: Why me? You live in a sinful dying world that is under a curse because of sin. Jesus’ coming will change that. Storms can only destroy earthly treasures. Lay your treasures up in heaven.

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What a Mess!

Posted on August 26, 2019 by drgause@agause.com

Before modern medicine, doctors tried unusual procedures. Asylums practiced one of these odd methods to determine if a patient was ready for release. The medical staff placed the subject in a room where a sink was overflowing. Earlier, someone had turned on the faucet and put in the sink plug to stop the water from flowing out the drainpipe. The patient was given a mop and told to clean up the mess; then everyone left. Fifteen minutes later they returned. If the person had done nothing but mop with the water still overflowing, doctors deemed them not ready and kept for further treatment. However, if the patient had displayed common sense and turned off the faucet, removed the drain plug, and mopped up the mess, the hospital discharged them as cured.

When I read this I thought, “Wow! What a perfect picture of our world today.” How much futile efforts do people spend trying to mop up the messes in society and their lives but never realize the source of the problem? Imagine a doctor treating a brain tumor by placing a band-aide on your forehead or a dentist painting a tooth cavity white, so you won’t notice it. No doubt we live in an increasingly violent period. Yet, people just keep mopping, attempting to clean up the messes through rules like anti-bullying laws, gun laws, laws against hate, laws to stop domestic abuse, laws to prevent sexual harassment, laws to stop killing—oops, I forgot we already have a law against murder. People who believe laws are the answer to evil should read the Old Testament. The root of the problem is the heart (not the pump in our chest) but the seat of our spiritual and moral being. Solutions begin with the Gospel.

People listen to sermons every week on moral principles—’don’t look at porn’, ‘don’t steal’, ‘don’t lie’, ‘don’t commit adultery’, etc. but these are only the overflow of much deeper issues. Principles are powerless to make lasting change. John gives the core of the problem, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world (1 Jn 2:16). We can add a root of bitterness (Heb12:15) and a love of money . . . a root of all sorts of evil (1 Tim 6:10). All these and any others fall under the category of the sin nature. Jesus died in order to render it powerless and give us a new nature. Paul wrote know this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with [rendered powerless], so that we would no longer be slaves to sin (Rom 6:6). We overcome the messes our sinful nature produces by walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (8:4). The Old Testament proved we can’t clean up our mess without help, i.e. Jesus Christ the Savior and the continuous filling with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).

The first step in a cleaning up our messy life is acknowledging we have a problem and that all our mopping has done no good. Then ask the Lord to show you the root of your problem and help you reckon it as dead in Christ. That sounds too simple, but all of us have struggled with issues never realizing the reason. We may blame others, our circumstances, our parents, our genetics, etc. Yet, the source is within us from the old nature, which we have not allowed the Holy Spirit to destroy. God gives us the power to resist temptation from the old nature and freedom to yield to the new nature.

But what about the godless society around us. Realize drugs aren’t the problem; it’s the heart of user. Abortion Clinics aren’t the problem; it’s the heart of the mother. Pornography isn’t the problem; it’s the heart of viewer. Society is made up of a group of individuals. Change begins one person at a time. One great example was the Welsh Revival 1904. Communities became saturated with God, changing the hearts of the worse of sinners. Saloons remained closed for years due to a lack of customers. Houses of prostitution all but emptied because men were free from their sexual lust. The crime rate dropped to the point the police had so little to do they formed quartets and sung at the services. Magistrates came to court to discover no cases were to be tried. Horses in the coal mines had to be retrained because their masters no longer used profanity for commands.  Former drunken men became dutiful fathers and husbands. It began with one teenage girl who surrendered her life to Christ. The following Sunday night feeling compelled by the Holy Spirit, she stood up and announced simply and sincerely, ‘I love the Lord Jesus with all of my heart!’ One by one other teens began coming under conviction. That small step of obedience started what came to be known as the Welsh Revival. It swept across the country destroying the source of the problems by changing hearts.

Sustaining Word for the Week: Are you drowning in the overflow from sin? Do you want to see our godless society change? Put down your mop and let the Holy Spirit shut off the faucet.

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