Shalom,
We should believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who has saved us from the mud of sin and always long for His help through His Word. We really should be grateful that now we can worship God on-site in hurch again even though the number of the attendees is still to be limited and we still have to follow the safety protocols determined by the government.
We must believe that God is in control of everything and that we live according to His plan. We know that in life we are faced with choices and decisions. Example: we have chosen and made the right decision to come to church to praise God and listen to His Word.
We have been discussing the Gospel of Luke for the past few months. What right decision must be made according to Luke 12:49-59?
- Jesus came to throw fire on the earth (vv. 49-50).
“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”
In the beginning of creation, the Triune God created the earth and everything in it and everything was good (Genesis 1). But now God in Jesus came to throw fire. Does He have the heart to destroy this earth? Is God so cruel that He easily punishes man as it happened in the Old Testament? Because of man's wickedness, God destroyed the world by flood (Genesis 6-7). And now the earth (which looks beautiful because of the advanced technology) is threatened to be destroyed by fire. God will surely consume this world with fire but He is still patiently waiting for mankind to repent (2 Peter 3:7-11).
Introspection: How is our spiritual life now? Do we attend church just to fulfill religious liturgical obligations? Are we fascinated by this evil world? Do we care for the salvation of our family, relatives and friends? Take heed, this world is not our home because God promised a new heaven and earth where there is truth (v. 13).
Regarding to the coming of Jesus to the world, John the Baptist said that He (= Jesus; Ed.) who would come was more powerful than him and would baptize people with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16); He would gather His wheat into His barn but He would burn the chaff in unquenchable fire (v. 17). There are two works that He does, namely sanctification and condemnation. He pours out the fire of the Holy Spirit to purify His church as a temple of God worthy to be dwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). His words are fire that consumes people who are likened to firewood (Jeremiah 5:14).
The Apostle Paul also said that he, as a builder, laid the foundation of Jesus Christ and then reminded to be careful to build on it whether using gold, silver, gemstones, wood, dry grass or straw because all will be tested by fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-13). We are God's temple and His Spirit dwells in us (v. 16). The fire of the Holy Spirit comes to purify our lives and we must be willing to be purified to become more precious, pure and beautiful. Don't get offended easily and refuse to continue ministering Him, just like dry grass that is easily burned by emotions!
Introspection: What decision do we make? Do we play around with our worship and ministry like people building on the foundation using dry grass or straw which will be burned up by fire or will we come out bright because we build using gold, silver and gems? Remember, man is like grass and all his glory is like the flower of the grass, the grass dries up and the flowers fall (1 Peter 1:24). What can we be proud of? Are we still defending this vanishing earth (1 John 2:17) while God is offering a new heaven and a new earth that are far more beautiful and glorious, that is the New Jerusalem whose streets are of pure gold (Revelation 21:1,11-21)?
- Jesus came to bring division on earth (vv. 51-53).
“Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.”
What division would happen? Father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in- law against mother-in-law (v. 53). Does this mean that Jesus likes to see a peaceful home fall apart and destroyed? Absolutely not! He gives a parable of Satan who never quarrels with his own friends (Mark 3:23-26), instead they team up to drag people down with them. In other words, He reminds us that there will not be harmony in a family if its members are divided. However, the sad fact is there is a lot of contention between parents and children, and between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law.
Mark 3:20-27 tells of Jesus' brothers and His mother who wanted to take Jesus home because they considered Him insane. What did Jesus say? "Whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." (v. 35).
Who is Jesus? He is the Word who should take control of a family. What decision do we choose to have unity in the household? The Word of God or tradition and culture? Do you prefer culture with its idols and myths or Jesus and worship the living God?
Speaking of tradition, the Apostle Paul once rebuked the Apostle Peter for changing his attitude when caught eating a meal with the non-Jews (Galatians 2:11-12). Hypocrisy made him lose his grip on the truth of the gospel (vv. 13-14). A conflict between Paul and Peter did happen, but does it mean that Paul hated Peter? No! It is not a matter of sentiment but rather it is about holding on to the truth. If we join churches only to carry out religion responsibility, we will be prone to become arrogant when praised or angry when rebuked. Take note that God's Word remains true forever.
Was Peter offended by Paul’s rebuke, defending his decision? In 2 Peter 2:15-16 he acknowledged Paul as his beloved brother, meaning that they remained in unity in the truth of the gospel. Discord can occur but when it comes to the truth of God's Word, we must not tolerate and compromise. They could be weak and misunderstood each other at times but remained in unity. At the end of their life, they were both executed at almost the same time in the time of Nero.
Application: We do not need to start a debate but when it comes to the truth of the Word of God, we must dare to take a stand. When the Word of God is present, conflict may occur from the unbelievers’ side; however, once they repent and receive Jesus, unity surely happens. In other words, conflict can be changed into unity in the Lord.
- Jesus came to deal with debts (vv. 54-59).
“… Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Jesus came to earth to deliver us from debt by advising us to make peace with our adversary while on our way to the court (while living on earth) because all will appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give account of all we have done in our lives (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15).
Question: Are we sure we have no debt at all? Every sinful man is in debt to God but He redeemed it by the death of His Son on the cross (Colossians 2:14) knowing that we cannot pay it off on our own. Logically, if a debtor is imprisoned, it is impossible for them to work to pay off their debts.
Before knowing God, we were His enemies but then were reconciled by His blood on the cross (Colossians 1:19-22). We were bought and paid in full, and now we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). In the light of that, we should no longer live in conflict at home, at school, at work and even at church. It is our duty to provide solutions for those who are in debt of sin so that they can live at peace with God.
Let us make the right decision based on the truth of the gospel to worship God earnestly; be willing to be purified by the fire of the Holy Spirit to avoid the fire of judgment; those who are devided, give themselves to be united by the word of God; and be reconciled with God in Christ Jesus until we are worthy to live with Him in the New Jerusalem forever. Amen.