The Source of Life - December 31 Readings: Malachi 1–4, Revelation 22, Psalm 150, Proverbs 31:29–31

December 31 Readings: Malachi 1–4, Revelation 22, Psalm 150, Proverbs 31:29–31

It's New Year's Eve. Think for a moment about what is going to be happening across our land. People are going to be going out to "have a good time." Nothing wrong with enjoying yourself, of course, but think of all the ways that people are going to be seeking happiness and fun tonight.

More than a few will seek their joy from a bottle - they will look to alcohol or perhaps some form of drugs to provide them a feeling of exhilaration. Many will seek pleasure through sexual immorality. There will be wild parties and games and activities - all sorts of fun things to participate in. Some are sinful. Some are harmless. But our manic search for fun reveals the fact that we still have not grasped one of life's great truths.

We spend a lot of time trying to find life, to find fun and contentment and pleasure and peace. But in Revelation 22, the last chapter of the Bible, we see a truth that helps us in the search for real life. Observe verses 1 and 2.

Then he showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the broad street of the city. The tree of life was on both sides of the river, bearing 12 kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations.

Coming from the throne of God is a river of living water that feeds the tree of life and brings healing to the nations. Life flows from the throne of God - and nowhere else.

This world can offer us some fun (again, fun does not always mean sin). It is full of beauty and pleasure - things created by God and blessed if enjoyed within proper boundaries. People can be a great blessing. This world has a lot to offer.

But God is life. Real life, true life - it flows from his throne to us. Don't look for, from this world, what only God can offer. Eternal life, abundant life, joy, contentment and fulfillment, these flow from heaven in streams of living water. He alone satisfies the soul with everlasting joy.

The Bible begins with God, speaking the world into existence. Now, the Bible ends with words again.

He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.”
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

First Jesus gives us a blessed promise. He's coming quickly. Oh, of course, quickly is defined by the One to whom a day is as a thousand years. But he is coming. One day. Soon or in the distant future, he will come and consummate this world in his glory. 

And so, we say with the Apostle John, "Come, Lord Jesus." Life can be hard, or it can be good, But come, Lord Jesus. When everything is coming up roses or when its stinking like fertilizer, come Lord Jesus. 

Come, Lord Jesus, Come! We long for your appearing and the display of your glory. In the meantime, may our lives serve your kingdom and display your glory in this earth. 

Play It Again, Southern Hills - The 2015 SHBC Bible Reading (and Memorization) Challenge

This has been one of the more difficult, but blessed, things I've done in a long time. There have been many days when I procrastinated until I needed to be in bed before I did my readings and devotionals. It cost me a few hours of sleep, and sometimes that probably showed in the quality of the devotionals.

But the discipline has been wonderful. I don't want to admit to anything, but this has been my most consistent Quiet Time year ever, since this devotional forced me to stay consistent. During the week I was in Israel I stored a few up in advance, but I was doing a lot of reading and teaching there, so I was in the Word. Even if no one has read these devotionals, they have been a blessing to me.

So, I'm going to keep going at least another year. The title is going to change. The "SHBC 2015 Bible Reading Challenge" begins on January 1. Hope you will join. No one is perfect. Everyone misses a reading or two. Perfection is not the goal. Being in the Word of God is.

• I'm going to switch to a different translation this year. I think I'll go with the English Standard Version, the one I preach from. You can either read along in your own Bible, read in the ESV, or it is very easy, if you use the links above to switch in Bible Gateway to whichever version you prefer. 
• I will probably reuse and revise some of last year's devotionals (especially during the 11 days I will be in Africa in January). I will try to write mostly new devotionals, but if you read through it last year, some of them may be familiar. I'll try not to do that too often! 
• I have re-divided the portions. In 2014 we used a version that was computer generated from my Bible study program. Frankly, it was pretty weird at times. I've gone back through and redivided things. It's not perfect, but I think it will be a lot better than what we had in 2014.
• For those of you who attend Southern Hills on a weekly basis, I'm going to add one new wrinkle to our "Get in the Word" emphasis - a Bible Memory Challenge. When I get back from  Africa we will be starting a study of Colossians 3:1-17, examining the basics of the Christian life. I'm going to challenge my people to memorize those 17 verses over the three or four (or five, or six) months that we will be studying that passage! 
• Also, I'm going to try something different with the links for the readings. Let me know how you like it. Basically, they will all be on one link page, instead of separate. One click and you will go to today's readings. 

Whether you read along faithfully here, or just join in as you can, here's the thing - GET IN THE WORD!  GET IN THE WORD! GET IN THE WORD!  Like Michael Jordan, Just do it!

What Heaven is Like - December 30 Readings: Zechariah 10–14, Revelation 21, Psalm 149, Proverbs 31:27–28

Links to December 30 Readings:  Zechariah 10–14, Revelation 21, Psalm 149, Proverbs 31:27–28

Theologians and preachers have speculated about heaven for a long time. The New Testament is clear about how we get there - we ride the coattails of the righteousness of Jesus Christ to eternal glory. None of us is worthy of heaven or fit for it. Since sin cannot dwell there, and we are all sinners, we are excluded until the blood of Christ cleanses us and the power of Christ makes us new. Clothed in the righteousness of Christ we who deserve hell can become fit for heaven.

That much is clear, but what will heaven be like? On that there is a wide divergence of opinion. The description given in Revelation 21 is not all that helpful. Look at verses 19-21.

The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone:the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.The 12 gates are 12 pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The broad street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

My guess is that John was doing the best he can to describe the glory he saw, but that heaven is so far above and beyond human experience that he did the best he could to write down what he saw. The problem is that I'm not really sure what chalcedony, sardonyx, chrysolite, chrysoprase or jacinth are. How about you? What does it mean that each of the gates was made of a single pearl, or that the street is made of a pure gold that looks like transparent glass? I just don't have a good sense of what that means. Pure gold like transparent glass?  Not visualizing that.

Heaven is beyond our existence. I cannot envision a sinless, perfect world, one that sin has never and will never touch, one that is unaffected by time, where death and decay have no place. In fact, that leads me to my point. When John describes heaven, he spends most of his time describing what isn't there.

• There's no sea (21:1). This may refer to the sinful nations of the world. The roiling and political machination is gone and Jesus reigns supreme. 
• Death no longer exists (21:4). Jesus has once and for all defeated the enemy of humanity and it is no longer a threat. 
• There's no tears, grief, crying or pain (21:4). All the "former things" have passed away as the new order of things has taken over. God is now in charge and all is well. Every trace of sin, of the curse and all of its effects has been forever banished. 
• There's no sanctuary (21:22). No sacrifice or place of worship is needed. God is there personally. 
• There's no source of light - sun or moon (21:23). It's not needed because the glory of God provides all the light that is needed. 
• There's no closing time (21:25). The gates are open eternally. 
• There's nothing profane (21:27). Sin has been banished once and for all. 

I can't tell you exactly what heaven is going to be like, but I can tell you this, everything that is wrong, evil, awful, hurtful and bad about life here on earth - it won't be there. God will. Jesus will. Those who believe in Jesus will be there - redeemed and transformed. But all the mess of this world will be gone.

I can't tell you exactly what heaven will be like, but it's going to be wonderful!

Father, I thank you that Christ prepared a place for me in glory by his blood shed on the cross. I thank you that all the evil, grief and pain of this world will only last a time, but that your glory is eternal. 

When the Books Are Opened - December 29 Readings: Zechariah 6–9, Revelation 20, Psalm 148:9–14, Proverbs 31:24–26

Links to December 29 Readings: Zechariah 6–9, Revelation 20, Psalm 148:9–14, Proverbs 31:24–26

Why do people go to hell?

No one wants to talk about it or think about it, but when we arrive at Revelation 20:11-15, we can no longer pretend the final judgment does not exist. There is a Great White Throne and seated on it is the Judge of all the earth. Every man and woman who has ever lived and died is brought to stand before this throne and is judged.

Here is where my eschatological viewpoint comes in - I believe that the believing dead have already been raised prior to this and that all those who face this judgment are lost. It's not an issue that needs to be fought to the end, of course.

But the key is that we see hints as to how the final judgment of sinners is made. John describes two different sets of books being opened. In verse 12, it says, "the books were opened." This implies that the dead are judged according to their works, and that is something that no human being wants. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Every one of us who is judged according to the works we have done in this life will be found wanting.

The first set of books is opened and every man and woman standing before the throne of God stands guilty, without excuse. No one offers an appeal or justification. Guilty as charged.

But there is another book that is opened, mentioned in verse 12 as well, the "book of life." This has also been called the Lamb's book of life. In this book is written the names of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Why do people go to hell? Because their name is not written in that book! Because as sinners they have not repented of their sin and turned to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. John put it about as clearly as one could in his first epistle.

"He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son does not have life." (1 John 5:12)

Eternity is about Jesus. What did you do with him? There's not a single one of us who can stand when God opens the books and judges our lives. We are sinners. But those who have placed their faith in Jesus have a secure hope in heaven for all eternity, a hope for glory.

It is my guess that most of those who read this devotional "have the Son." You have repented of your sin and put your faith in him. If you haven't, do so now. But if your name is written in the book of life by the grace of God, by the blood of Christ, then give thanks today. Give thanks that your eternity does not depend on you, but on Jesus Christ. Give thanks that Jesus paid with his blood so that your name could be written in the Book of Life. Give thanks that though your works could never earn righteousness, his was imputed to you.

Father, I thank you for your Son, our Savior. Because of him, I have hope for all eternity. I have life I didn't serve and a place in heaven I couldn't earn. 

He Wins! We Win! December 28 Readings: Zechariah 1–5, Revelation 19, Psalm 148:1–8, Proverbs 31:22–23

Links to December 28 Readings: Zechariah 1–5, Revelation 19, Psalm 148:1–8, Proverbs 31:22–23

There is nothing in sports more thrilling than a come-from-behind victory, when one team seems to have surefire victory and the team that seems destined to lose mounts a heroic effort to win. My favorite season as a Yankee fan was 1978 when my guys in pinstripes came from 14 games behind to win the AL East and then eventually the World Series. Almost as wonderful was the 1996 Series, in which the Yankees lost the first two games of the Series, at home, to the Atlanta Braves and headed south for what seemed like certain defeat. Four games later, they hoisted the trophy while I jumped, danced and shouted in my living room.

Revelation 19 is the moment when the apparent victory of evil in this world comes crashing to a halt. Right now, the wickedness seems to be getting its way, doesn't it? The moral foundations are crumbling and people are abandoning truth and righteousness to embrace evil. Even in the church our values are more shaped by the culture of the world than the revelation of the world. I've talked to more than one skeptic who has gloated that Christianity is fading and the church is dying. Sometimes, it seems like they are right.

But they are wrong. At least in the long run they are. I don't know what is going to happen here in America - we may continue in the course we have set, following the European path of spiritual and moral decay. But this much we know - Jesus is going to win it all. If you think he's losing right now, it's all an illusion.

I love to go back in the video archives and watch old baseball games, when I know how they came out. Okay, let's face it - I'm talking about games the Yankees won, especially ones it looked like they were going to lose. I watch the video and feel the tension, but I do so with an assurance that in the end one of the guys on my side is going to get a hit and all will be well.

That is the attitude we need as we face this world. Yes, things look bad and it can be tough to be positive and faith-filled. But remember what the score will be at the end.

Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. ¹² His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on His head. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself. ¹³ He wore a robe stained with blood, and His name is the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. ¹⁵ A sharp sword came from His mouth, so that He might strike the nations with it. He will shepherd them with an iron scepter. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. ¹⁶ And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: 

KING OF KINGSAND LORD OF LORDS.

From this moment until the end, mankind will marshal his strength to continue the war begun in the Garden, when Adam and Eve chose the other side. Most will continue on the wide path and stand in rebellion against the Lord who paid for the sins of the world. That war isn't going to cease, or even lessen. It will intensify until that climactic battle. But at that moment Jesus will ride out of heaven in glory and he will establish his authority over all the world. Jesus is Lord and he will stand supreme. 

Don't forget that. Yes, the world is evil. The god of this age has blinded minds and hearts are bound in sin. We live in a world with loyalties to the kingdom of darkness and we serve the light. It is going to be hard. But as we face hardships, as we see things going badly, we can rest in this hope - that Jesus Christ's ultimate victory is guaranteed. 

The end is written and Jesus wins. Don't forget that during those times when things seem bad right now. 

Father, help me never to forget, when I see the specter of the victory of evil, that your Son will one day stand in glory and defeat all of your foes. He wins, and we win with him - those of us who have been born by your grace. Thank you Lord.  

The Curse of Misplace Priorities - December 27 Readings: Haggai 1–2, Revelation 18, Psalm 147:15–20, Proverbs 31:19–21

Links to December 27 Readings: Haggai 1–2, Revelation 18, Psalm 147:15–20, Proverbs 31:19–21

Every once in a while our readings mesh very well. Today, we read both the book of Haggai and Revelation 18. Interpreters differ as to exactly how to identify Babylon in Revelation 18 - Jerusalem, Rome, the entire world system, other interpretations. I tend to believe that Babylon in this chapter represents the economic and political system of this sinful world, the world that stands in rebellion against God.

What is clear from this passage is that the world as we know it has an expiration date. The helter-skelter, rat-race, materialistic, skeptical, me-focused world is passing away. It makes no sense to invest our lives in that which is doomed to destruction.

If you see a house on fire, you don't run into it hide all your valuables there, do you? You remove them! You try to salvage what you can. In the same way, as Jesus said, we ought to store up treasures in heaven because whatever we invest in here on earth is going to rust, mold or burn.

A youth pastor I knew gave the best illustration of life I ever heard. He rented a limousine and took his small youth group out for a night on the town (in Cedar Rapids). He took them to a fancy restaurant, to museums, to all kinds of expensive places. Finally, he took them to the gates of Mt. Trashmore, Cedar Rapids' dump. He said, "Everything you saw today ends up here." Wow.

That's how we live our lives, isn't it? We devote ourselves to Babylon, which is destined to be destroyed, while we ignore the things of God. It is the worst investment decision any of us could ever make.

Haggai was a prophet to the people of Israel who had returned from exile in Babylon. They had come back to the land with the intent of rebuilding the Temple and reestablishing the worship of Yahweh. But, of course, they first had to erect places that they could live in and walls to protect them. Suddenly, it was many years later and they were living in comfort while the Temple still lay in ruins. They continually procrastinated. "The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt." (Haggai 1:2).

God's patience with this procrastination was at an end, and he sent Haggai to warn the people, "Think carefully about your ways." They were living with (borrowing from Revelation 18) Babylonian priorities. There minds were on their own comfort and convenience and they cared little for the things of God.

There are consequences to that. We could call it the Curse of Misplaced Priorities. When we invest ourselves in this world, we bring certain natural consequences, designed by God, upon our lives. Look at what God said through Haggai in 1:6.

You have planted much but harvested little.
You eat but never have enough to be satisfied.
You drink but never have enough to become drunk.
You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm.
The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it.”

There is an inverse proportion principle at work in the kingdom of God. Jesus mentioned it often. "He who saves his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake will save it." What you seek is not what you get. "Seek first the kingdom and all these things will be added to you as well. Here, the more you invest in your own life, the less you will have of peace, satisfaction and  contentment.

The  less you focus on your own things and give attention the things of God, the more you receive of peace, satisfaction and contentment.

There are five statements there that describe the dissatisfaction, frustration and futility of the life with misplaced priorities. 

• No matter how much work you do, there is little return (eternally) on your investment. In the kingdom, a grain of mustard seed moves mountain. With misplaced priorities, we can barely move the mustard seed!
• The next three speak to satisfaction and contentment. When you invest in this world, it's never enough. Ever eaten a meal so good that you didn't want to eat again for a month? Of course not. The things of this world never satisfy for more than a moment. You eat, but its not enough. You drink, but you want more. You put on clothes, but you are still cold. This world offers fun and good times, but not satisfaction. 
• Finally, misplaced priorities produce lost opportunity - what might have been. You stick money in a bag, but the bag has a hole. The money goes away and you don't get to enjoy it. You had it all, but you squandered it. I hate writing this, because boy-oh-boy have I been there! But it is a marker of misplaced priorities that you squander the opportunities and blessings that God gives you. 

There is a solution, though. Build the house of God. In the OT, that was a building on a hill just above the City of David to the north. But we are the Temple of the Living God today - both individually and as a church. We need to build the church and we need to build our lives as sanctuaries of God's presence. Cleanse it. Honor God's presence. Make the sacrifice (well, honor the one Christ made) and devote yourself to the service of God. 

Father, I have seen so much of the Curse of Misplaced Priorities in my life - work without return, dissatisfaction and lost opportunity. Cleanse my heart as your sacrifice. I thank you for the sacrifice made for me once for all by Christ. Consecrate me, Lord, for your service.