Good People and Serial Killers

Nicodemus knew of Jesus’ miracles and teachings, and concluded that God must be with Him.  How else could Jesus do such things?  Nicodemus was also a Pharisee, so sought out Jesus in the night to avoid the hassle of his peers bent on persecuting Jesus. 

It seems Nicodemus was sincerely seeking truth.  So Jesus gave it to him.  “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3)  That’s the truth, straight from God Himself.

Nicodemus didn’t need more information, he needed transformation.

How can a grown man be born a second time, he wondered.  Surely that’s not possible.

Jesus went on to explain that we must be born again of water and the Spirit, of God.  With physical birth, we inherit a sinful human nature and separation from God.  By default.

From Adam.  Every single one of us.  Good people, serial killers, and everyone in between.

There is no good that is “good enough for God”.  It doesn’t work that way.  He is perfect, holy, and just, so His penalty for sin is death.  Fortunately, Jesus paid the price for our sins – past, present and future – and now we are saved by faith in Him.  Faith in Jesus recreates us as new beings, born of His righteous Spirit.  And as new creations we are now fit for His kingdom. 

Not perfect.  Not sin-free.  But perfectly forgiven.

Because God loves us, He sent Jesus to pay our penalty.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16)

Jesus came to save, not condemn.  “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  (John 3:17)

We’re the ones who condemn.  “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”  (John 3:18)

We condemn ourselves by refusing and rejecting Jesus.  We condemn our children by not raising them up in Him and His Word.  We condemn future generations by allowing the world to lead them further and further away from Christ.

Until we understand our own inability to save ourselves, we won’t understand and accept Jesus as the only solution.

Did Nicodemus find the truth he was looking for?  Did you?  Please, please, please don’t stop looking until you do.

Whatever

Jesus’ first public miracle was turning water into wine (John 2:1-12).  He was at a wedding in Cana and his mother came to him because the wine had run out.  I love how she expected a miracle from her son – and such a highly practical, seemingly non-spiritual one.  It’s not like driving out demons, healing the sick, or feeding the multitudes.  We’re talking wine here…

I’ve read that wine in the Bible often symbolizes joy, so when Mary said there was no wine she might also have been implying that the guests lacked joy - the permanent, eternal joy that only comes with being saved.  She may have wanted Jesus to reveal himself as Messiah that evening.  Or, she could have just wanted more wine…

As Son of God, Jesus knew it wasn’t yet time for public miracles, but as son of Mary, he wanted to please her and help out.  So Mary turned to the servants and said “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:4)  And Jesus turned 6 jars of water, 20-30 gallons each, into the best wine.

Do whatever he tells you.  As I read this, I felt like the Lord was talking directly to me.  So often we pick and choose which parts of God’s Word to obey, or we don’t read it at all, content with listening to Sunday morning nuggets and then following what we’re comfortable with and have time for.  Mary was right to instruct total obedience, and obedience only to Christ.

Do whatever he tells you. 

Do I do whatever he says?  Key word being “whatever”.  All of it.  Without compromise.  Without excuses. 

And according to his timing?  Because Jesus had told Mary it wasn’t yet time for his public ministry.  Often times we try to speed things up by “helping God out.”  Part of obeying God is having patience with his timing, not striving on our own outside of his will.  I feel like Mary conceded to this and surrendered to Jesus’ will – whether it meant a miracle then and there, or sending the servants out to the corner party store.  It was up to Jesus.

Jesus chose the miracle route (John 2:11) and people believed in him.  Something that wouldn’t have happened if

a) Mary had handled things on her own rather than going to Jesus,

b) Mary hadn’t surrendered to his timing and plans, and

c) the servants hadn’t done whatever he said.

When we do whatever Jesus says, miracles happen and lives are changed.   

The Voice

Finally they asked, then “Who are you?” (John 1:22)  This was the question posed to John the Baptist by the priests and Levites sent to find out what was going on. 

John had been testifying about Jesus as the Son of God and baptizing new believers.  He had also developed a following of disciples wanting to learn more.  “John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’”. (John 1:23)

Because of their departure from God, Israel had become a dry and barren wilderness.  John had been sent by God to give voice to Christ - the living Word of God, the living water that would bring life to a dry land. 

The Word needs a voice to make it known, and the voice is nothing without the word.

As I was reading, I was reminded of my own times of wilderness.  Plodding through the desert in desperate search of water.  Putting hope in mirages only to find they can’t satisfy.  It turns out that Christ is the only source living water, the only way to never go thirsty again. (John 4:13-14)

As I was reading, I could also relate to being merely the voice.  John wasn’t extra-special.  He didn’t possess great skills or have far-reaching power and influence.  He was simply obedient to God’s call as Christ’s forerunner, to be Christ’s voice until he arrived on the scene. 

John shared what he knew from God’s Word.  He shared his testimony.  (I suspect he had his own share of wilderness rescue experiences.)  And he used both to encourage others to repent and follow the way of Christ.

John was just the voice. 

Something we all can be should be.  In total obedience and humility.

John’s message from God was to make straight the way for the Lord.  Clear the path.  Make room in your life for him to reign over you as Savior and Lord.

Giving voice to God’s Word means hearing it, living it, and then sharing it.  Are you willing to give voice to God’s Word?  Are you willing to make room for it in your life?

Not Enough

John’s primary purpose in writing his Gospel can be summed-up in John 20:31.  “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” 

John wanted to prove that Jesus is God’s plan for salvation.  His goal, or should I say God’s goal through him, is to evoke a response of faith and belief in Christ by all who hear the truth.

Knowing isn’t enough.  Choosing to respond in faith and believe is.

John 1 is jam-packed with incredible truths about Jesus.  He existed from the beginning of time (1:1-2).  Through him all things were made (1:3).  He is the life and light of all mankind (1:4).  Darkness cannot overcome him (1:5).  Those who believe in him become children of God (1:12).  He is God’s Word in the flesh, God’s glory, God’s one and only Son, full of grace and truth (1:14).  Both man and Scripture testified to his coming (1:15-17).  And all this in just the first 18 verses.  Wow!

Christ is God’s living Word to man, letting us know what God is like, how much he loves us, even how he expects us to respond.  While Scripture admits that not everyone will receive Christ as their Savior, it also explains that all who do will become children of God, born of God.  Born again. (John 1:11-13)

Verse 13 also tells us how we’re not saved, ways we often take for granted thinking we’re “covered”. 

1) We are not born again through natural descent.  It doesn’t matter if your grandparents, parents, or other relatives believe.  It doesn’t matter if your culture or nationality believes.  Each of us has to decide for ourselves.  Salvation is not passed down through family ties, or passed out like honorable mentions.

2) We are not born again through human decision, meaning the will of our flesh.  In other words, we don’t have the power or ability to save ourselves.  Although we must be willing to be saved, our own will is not enough to do the job.

3) We are not born again through the will of another.  Not a pastor, a parent, a spouse…  While prayer and intercession are powerful, ultimately people can only make the decision for themselves.

To be saved we must be born again of God.  This means that the power to save does not rest in anything or anyone but God.  We just need to make the decision to believe his Word and his Son, and allow him to recreate us as his children.

So is Jesus the only way for salvation?  God himself says that he is.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”(John 3:16)

Some people focus on the lost, thinking God would never let so many perish, therefore Jesus can’t possibly be the only way for salvation.  Except the truth is somewhat opposite.  Because God doesn’t want anyone to perish, he made a way for everyone to be saved…and that way is Christ.  “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)

Think about the great love and generosity of God’s free gift, a gift that is offered to all.

Then throw off any hindrances and misconceptions, respond in faith, and believe.

Everything to Lose

A man blind from birth.  A seemingly hopeless condition.  Forced to depend on others.  Enduring shame as people assumed that sin was the culprit. (John 9) 

Because bad things don’t happen to good people, right?  Wrong. 

Did he live in fear or worry?  Was he lonely?  Had he lost all faith and hope?  Or had his condition become so normal that he didn’t even think about a cure?  We don’t know any of this, we can only assume.  But one thing we do know is that everything changed the day he met Jesus…

 

Jesus explained that sin didn’t cause this blindness, but that God would use it to display His works in this man’s life.  Next Jesus made mud with His spit, rubbed it on the man’s eyes, and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam.  “So the man went, washed, and came home seeing.” (John 9:7)  A miracle happened that day!  And now this man had an incredible testimony about the working of God in his life!

When I’ve studied this passage before, I’ve been touched by the man’s faith – how he believed what Jesus said, obeyed, and how his faith healed him.  Maybe this is where the term “blind faith” came from.  But today, I was impressed more so with his condition.  Obviously he was blind.  Everyone knew it.  More so, he had nothing to lose in obeying Jesus.

Later in John 9 Jesus is defending himself against the Pharisees (religious experts) who, upon hearing about the incredible miracle, were more concerned that Jesus healed on the Sabbath and was claiming to be God than about the man’s incredible testimony.

Physical blindness is obvious.  The bumps and bruises are visible and painful.  Spiritual blindness, not so much.  While the bumps and bruises of life still occur, and hurt, they can be reasoned away, coped with, or ignored.  Blinded to the root cause.  And blinded to the cure – Jesus Christ as the light of the world. 

Unlike the blind man, the Pharisees had everything to lose in following Jesus.  Power, influence, lifestyle, possessions, self-importance, independence, being accountable to no one…  Plus they reasoned that they already knew God.

And ultimately we all worship the same God, Jesus isn’t the only way to eternal life, right?  Wrong.

Therefore, they didn’t want or need Christ.  Their questions went in circles.  Their stubbornness prevented Truth from getting a foothold.  Then they turned to downright insults.  Jesus did the best He could, but even He couldn’t penetrate their defenses.

People think the work we do in South Africa is noble and needed.  The blind, sick and poor need Jesus - they have nothing else, nothing to lose.  But lately the Lord has been breaking my heart for those who feel they have everything to lose and nothing to gain.  Those who know Christ get what I’m saying.  Unfortunately, those who don’t think I’m a judgmental fanatic.  Except that I’m not the one judging here…

Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” (John 9:39) 

Born with sinful natures, we are all spiritually blind – by default.  Jesus came to set us free from the penalty of sin.  We can’t do that for ourselves.  When we recognize our blindness and accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are born again in the spiritual sense.  On the other hand, if we think we can save ourselves, if we think we can already see, then the opposite is actually true.

How do you reach a person who feels they have everything to lose and holds on with white-knuckled determination?

Honestly, I don’t have easy answers or deep spiritual insight here.  But this is something I’ve been reflecting on, praying about, even grieving over, during my time here in the US.  People have so much, do so much, and want so much that they become blinded to life’s greater meaning, missing out on God’s greater blessings.  That was me.  I was also blind, but now I see, and for that I am grateful.  I’m by no means perfect, but I don’t need to be with my trust in Christ.

Jesus didn’t give up, but he did move on…and the Pharisees remained blind, for eternity.   And while that breaks my heart, it doesn’t erode my faith or trust in Him.

My Favs

So far, my trip to the US has been great.  I’ve been busy catching up with family and friends, meeting with prayer and financial partners, and working to raise awareness and support for Ignite South Africa.  It’s been a great time, but definitely not a vacation!  I’m thinking I’ll need one when I get back to SA!!

One of the questions people frequently ask is what do I miss most about living in SA?  Of course my answer is family, friends and my home church – Kensington Community Church.  In this picture I’m at the zoo with my niece Paige and nephew Brandon.

But just for fun, here are some other things that I’ve been enjoying while I’m here – things that are different, or we can’t get, or are too expensive or far away to enjoy regularly…

Some of My Favorite Things (Easy, this isn’t the Oprah show)

Driving an automatic car!!  Thanks to a dear friend who loaned me his.

So many choices.  Everything from dozens of different cereals, sweets and sodas to being close to so many stores and malls.  Where we live in SA, a trip to the mall or movies is a day-long field trip.

Pizza.  My favorite food.  While here I’ve enjoyed Little Caesars, Jets, Buddy’s, Alibi, Mexican pizza, Mediterranean pizza, you name it!

Fast Food.  Drive-thru Arby’s eaten in the car just because I can (yeah for automatics!)  Also Burger King and Taco Bell. Yum!

Ethnic Food.  Mexican and Chinese (favs!) Arabic. Greek. Thai.  Indian.

Sales.  With my limited budget, I’m like a hunter on safari when it comes to finding great deals, discounts and year-end clearances.  I actually don’t buy much in SA, preferring to stock up when I’m back in the US.

Favorite TV shows.  This year my mom got Bones out of the public library and I’ve been catching up.  I have a crush on Seeley Booth.  And somehow I got addicted to Storage Wars.

Costco.  Cheap jeans, bulk coffee and other goodies.  Unfortunately, since most of my favorite things are food, I’m not sure if my new jeans will fit.  Shame!

Super-spiritual, huh?

But on a serious note, I’m so thankful to be able to visit on a yearly basis and grateful to those who help to make it happen.  Thank you!

Storage Wars

It seems only in America can an obsession with possession result in series of hit reality TV shows like Storage Wars.  I have to admit I find this show fun and fascinating to watch!

For those unfamiliar, when storage units are abandoned the contents are sold at public auction.   The show follows the pursuits of 2 auctioneers and 6 buyers in search of great deals. 

The storage unit is opened.  Buyers get a few minutes to peer inside but not go inside.  Then the auction begins – all or nothing.  It’s more like gambling than shopping which adds to the excitement.  Afterwards, we watch as the winner hunts for buried treasure, which sometimes turns out to be trash.  Fascinating!  Who doesn’t enjoy finding that great deal?

But what is even more fascinating to me is the fact that there are so many abandoned storage units that we can have an entire reality series with spin-offs.  Why did the owner leave behind so much stuff?  We can only speculate.

Did they die?  We all know we can’t take our stuff with us.

Did they get more stuff?  Better stuff?

Did they move away deciding to just get more stuff somewhere else?

Did the storage unit become a white elephant, too expensive to keep over time?

The show doesn’t tell anything about the owners.  All we know is that the units are abandoned and up for grabs.  People come from miles around like vultures, and those of us who don’t watch.  Fascinating!

I don’t want to read too much into this fun, light-hearted show…but… it does give me pause for reflection…

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (Matthew 6:19-21)

Yuuup!