Christian Holiness Journal | a record of struggle and victory to know the mind of Christ

The Test

August 8, 2019 by ChristianHolinessDaily

Genesis tells us that God created humans (male and female) in His image and likeness. The words “image” and “likeness” are poetic parallels conferring the same meaning: we were created to be imagers of God.

In fact, a thorough reading of the Creation Story tells us that we humans had a unique and short-lived relationship with God and the rest of His creation. We walked with God, talked with Him and – indeed – reigned with Him over the rest of His creation. Many Hebrew scholars even go so far to propose that God’s spiritual children, (angels and other heavenly creatures) and God’s physical children (the first man and first woman) shared God’s edenic dwelling with Him.

It was God’s divine will in His wisdom that humankind co-rule with Him on this world. Humans, decided to, instead, trust in their own will. As a result of that rebellion, mankind was barred from God’s earthly dwelling place and found unworthy to rule with Him. But God didn’t give up on humankind. Throughout history, He tested us to prove one worthy.

The Bible speaks of many whose faith was tested, just like Adam and Eve. Yet no human was found worthy to co-rule the earth with him.

God did find many who came close to such worthiness. Enoch walked with God until, one day he walked away with God. Noah was put to the test and passed it; he relied on God’s wisdom and was chosen to help save mankind. In the end, though, he fell back on human wisdom.

Abraham and Sarah were found worthy to be put to the test. They failed, though and did not have the faith to wait on God’s timing. God had promised them innumerable descendants. In a tale that reminds us of the creation story, Abraham trusted the voice of his wife more than he trusted promise of God. Later, Abraham passed the test by yielding to God’s voice on the mountaintop. Still, he was not worthy to co-rule with God in His creation.

Moses was perhaps found to be the most worthy among humans. He met God on the mountain and received His instructions. Being exposed to the glory of God changed him so much that he was forced to cover his face. His outstretched arm by which he parted the waters was called the arm of God. Still, his faith faltered and he would not co-rule on earth with God.

David was called a man after God’s own heart, but he often mistrusted God. Solomon passes the test and asks for God’s wisdom over money and power. At the same time, though, he seeks sexual pleasure and pride. He, too, was not worthy to co-rule God’s creation.

In the midst of exile, Daniel is shown a peek into the future and sees a human ascending to heaven where he will sit on a throne next to the Ancient of Days, God the Father. That man is Jesus.

Because of a sinless life on earth… Because He – the Son of God made human – surrendered his life to His Father in the ultimate test of faith… because He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven… we can once again be imagers of God.

If we trust in God’s wisdom instead of man’s, and if we die to our own will and instead live in the will of God as found in His Holy Word, then we too will reflect His image. We will be a part of The Kingdom of God ruled by Jesus Christ on earth.

For myself, I could never pass the test. But Christ who lives through me gives me strength and faith to take the test and endure. He lives in me eternally. I surrender to him constantly. He passed the test for me.

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The book of Hebrews tells us that it is our faith that saves us, not our actions. In fact, it was by faith that Abraham was made the founder of an innumerable nation. No matter what we do, we can never be found worthy to co-rule with God. That is why he sent His Son to be born as a man, to live and grow and learn and experience life as a frail human who is tempted and tried and everyday dies. It is only because we trust in His wisdom and His sacrifice that we may live as part of His Kingdom.

God tested each of these people and recorded their stories for eternity so that we would see that no one is worthy but His Son Jesus Christ.

What part will we play in His Kingdom? Only God knows, but what part does a child of God play, anyway? We are God’s adopted children, brothers and sisters of King Jesus.

The Abundance of God’s Creation

August 5, 2019 by ChristianHolinessDaily

The Psalmist – You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

Jesus – “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”

The Psalmist – Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.

Jesus – “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”

The Psalmist – From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth.

Jesus – “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?

“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!”

The Psalmist – and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees.

The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

Jesus – “And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”

The Psalmist – He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.

You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about.

The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.

When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens.

Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.

O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Jesus – “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

The Psalmist – Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.

There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it. These all look to you, to give them their food in due season.

When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.

When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works…

Psalm 104:10-31 ESV; Luke 12:22-34 ESV

Adam’s Rib

July 8, 2019 by ChristianHolinessDaily

Fewer movies are more quotable than 1996’s sports romance, Jerry Maguire. Even if you weren’t born yet, it is likely you have heard these references:

“Show me the money!”

“I love him for the man he wants to be… and I love him for the man he almost is.”

“Success consists of getting up one more time than you fall.”

“What do you want from me, my soul?” -“I deserve that much.”

“I love you. You… You complete me.” – “Shut up… just shut up. You had me at ‘hello.'”

I think no better compliment has been paid than the words, “You complete me.” Writer/Director Cameron Crowe was at his best in this flick. I have often wondered if he is a Christian, or – at least – familiar with the Genesis story of creation, because those words could have come right out of the mouth of Adam when God created Eve from one of Adam’s ribs.

Ok, I know I lost half of my readers when I mentioned Creation, because most Christians no longer believe in a literal Adam and Eve. I do, though.

I’m going to lose half of my remaining readers with this paragraph, but what I’m going to say is not sexist and not naive. I urge you to stay with me and let me explain. Most Christians don’t realize that Eve was actually created to complete Adam. Neither Adam nor Eve were created as a whole person; they needed one another.

According to Genesis 1, Adam and Eve were created as equals. One was not master and the other servant. One was not dominant and the other submissive. In the beginning, Adam and Eve were co-rulers with God over His creation.

They were BOTH created in the image of God and their main task was to continue living in His image. They were to be fruitful and multiply, or reproduce the image of God. They were to – together -have dominion over the earth. God, it seems walked with them daily and imparted to them His wisdom. Through God and His Wisdom, the held dominion of the earth.

In chapter 2, we see a more detailed version of the creation of Eve and we learn that she was created to be Adam’s helper, a most unfortunate translation of the Hebrew word, עֵ֖זֶר (‘ê·zer). The KJV used the words, “help meet” to translate the word ezer. That is still insufficient. Helper or help meet, to our 21st century PC ears, sounds subservient. In the original language, it is not subservient.

The International Standard Version of the Bible gets it a little closer when it says that “no strength corresponding to him could be found”. The NET Bible reads “no companion who corresponded to him was found.”

You see, we have no single word to translate ezer. “Helper” doesn’t cut it. The Hebrew word means someone of equal or superior strength and abilities who makes up for one’s deficiencies. In other words, ezer means that Eve completed Adam. Only together did they have the strength and means by which they could rule God’s creation.

If this equal and complementary relationship between man and woman is the ideal Judeo-Christian picture of marriage and family, why then do Christians get such a bad rap over the way that women were treated in the Bible? Why is it said that Christians believe that women should be silent, subservient, and second-class.

That is the result of the curse, the result of Humankind’s first sin. In Genesis 3:16, God tells Eve, “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” it is because of sin that women were ever considered as second-class.

Yet, there are few examples of men and women acting as equals in the Bible. There are even some rules set down by Paul that could – if lifted out of 1st Century context – enforce inequality. The fact is, Paul lived (and we live) in a fallen world. As Christians, we should be aware that God values every life and every soul.

It is only in the Judeo-Christian world that women have made strides towards equality. Only in parts of the world where Christians dominate or once dominated have women significantly benefitted. There are yet many dark places in this world where women are respected little more than an animal, and may be legally abused.

Christian men and women should re-look at the Genesis ideal of marriage. It is only through two equals who emulate God’s image that marriage is successful.