that people have widely diverging concepts on what constitutes friendship. Some individuals (introverts -- not to be confused with shyness) only want one or two friends. These friendships are often extremely close.
Other people (extroverts) claim to have large numbers of friends. However, upon investigation one normally finds that most of their contacts would be described as acquaintances.
At some point in life all of us become involved in friendships. Therefore, it is important to be aware of what the Bible has to say about this issue. Our longing is that friendship will be rewarding but this is not necessarily the case. Job had such an experience. When tragedy struck three of his friends came to visit him. For seven days they sat silently with him not saying a word (Job 2:13). They then began to give him all sorts of advice based on incorrect hypothesis. In time their visit became such a burden to Job that he complains about them laughing at him (12:4), scorning him (16:20), turning against him (19:13), forgetting him (19:14) and detesting him (19:19). What should have been an encouraging visit only intensified his agony!
King Solomon had some comments to make about the causes of problems between friends. He states that gossip can separate friends (Prov 16:28). He also contends that it is important to forgive each other because "dwelling on it (the issue) separates close friends" (Prov. 17:9). Solomon then graphically compares a so called friend who lies to us with a madman with a deadly weapon (Prov 26:18-19).
Sometimes people make false claims of friendship. King David describes this kind of situation when he says "They visit me as if they were my friends, but all the while they gather gossip, and when they leave, they spread it everywhere" (Psa 41:6). In other situations "friends" may turn against us. In the same psalm David states "Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely... has turned against me" (Psa 41:9). In fact there are some "friends" "who destroy each other" (Prov 18:24).
What then are the characteristics of a good friend? First of all they will not speak evil about you (Psa. 15:3). That is they will not divulge inappropriate information. Next, according to Solomon friends will give good advice (Prov 12:26). Beyond that they are incredibly loyal (Prov 17:17). They are always there in time of trouble --- they will never abandon you (Prov 27:10).
Now some may say “I do not have a friend.” If you are a believer in Christ Jesus that can never be the case. David in one of his psalms states "The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. (Psa 25:14). Jesus told his disciples "I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me." (John 15:15).
All of us desire good, trustworthy, dependable friends. Hopefully, we will find them although on an earthly level we may be disappointed by so called "friends". Solomon makes a profound statement "Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?" (Prov 20:6). How true! Thankfully though, as believers in Jesus we have a totally dependable friend — one who has promised to always be with us (Mat 28:20).
Copyright. Bruce February 2006
Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.
Friday, February 24, 2006
It is Probably No Surprise
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Friday, February 17, 2006
Have You Ever Had the Sense
that someone was watching you. It may have been in a mall, at a park or on the beach. Sometimes when we discover we are being watched we may feel uncomfortable or even frightened. In these situations this "sixth sense" functions as a defence mechanism. On other occasions having someone watching us may be extremely reassuring.
Theologians refer to God as being omnipresent. This simply means that he is capable of being everywhere at the same time. In the book of Jeremiah the prophet the Lord states "Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?" (Jer:23:24).
The psalmist David recognized this characteristic of God when he uttered the words "...I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there, if I go down to the grave, you are there" (Ps 139:7-8). In the same psalm we read "You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do" (Ps 139:3). Job supported David's view when he made the observation "Doesn't he see everything I do and every step I take?" (Job 31:4).
Knowing that God sees everything we do and is intimately aware of all the situations that make up our lives can be either downright distressing or extremely comforting. If we are involved in things that do not bring honour to him it should cause us to feel uncomfortable, convict us of our sin and draw us back to him.
For those walking in obedience to him it can bring incredible comfort. Through Isaiah God said "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you...When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up" (Isa. 43:2).
There is one other aspect related to God's constant presence. It is this, not only does God watch over the believer but through his Holy Spirit he also dwells within them. The Apostle Paul confidently writes that our "body is the temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor 6:19).
No one can EVER hide from God. He not only watches the godly man or woman but he keeps "his eye on both the evil and the good." (Prov 15:3). Because of his ability to constantly observe the actions of all his creation, when the day of judgment finally arrives for believers (The Judgment Seat of Christ) and unbelievers (The Great White Throne Judgment) each verdict he renders will be totally just and true. There is no getting away from it, we will have no choice but to take total responsibility for all we have done.
Many years ago, we visited my grandparents home. Most of us were sitting on lawn chairs behind the garage. All of a sudden, I had the sense of being watched. On looking up I discover that my grandmother was looking out of a bedroom window listening to the ongoing conversation. With God we will never "see" him watching us. However, that does not change the reality of the situation --- he is watching us through the "windows" of heaven! Truly, "The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth"(2 Chr. 16:9). Oh that we may live our lives in the constant realization that this is a Divine reality!
Copyright. Bruce February 2006
Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Saturday, February 11, 2006
How Could It Ever Be That
God has always existed. He does not dwell in time, instead he abides unceasingly in eternity past, present and future. To think of one living eternally into the future but who had a beginning is a big thought --- however, to try to grab hold of the truth that the Holy One has alway existed is somewhere out there beyond awesome and overwhelming.
The Bible tells us that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1:1). This verse is not referring to the beginning of God's existence but the starting of the creative process that established the heavens (note the plural) and earth. At some distant point in eternity past God started the process of creation described in the book of Genesis. It is not without possibility that he had already been involved in some earlier creative processes of which we are not aware.
When Moses was being commissioned to lead the children of Israel out of the Egyptian captivity he wanted to know how to identify the God of their ancestors by name. The Lord's eternal nature is evident in his response of "I AM WHO I AM, Say this to the people of Israel I AM has sent me to you" (Ex 4:14) . Notice, God's name was not "I WAS" or "I WILL BE" but "I AM" the eternal present tense.
The Lord then states, also tell them "Yahweh (often translated Jehovah)...has sent me to you...This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations." (Ex 4:15). The meaning of Yahweh or Jehovah is "the existing one" which reemphasizes the eternal nature of God.
The enduring nature of God is also evident in the gospels. The Apostle John states "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God" (John 1:1-2). This verse teaches that the Word, (Jesus: see John 1:14) existed before the beginning of creation. One could say that for God he had a beginning that had no beginning.
At the end of the Bible in the book of Revelation Jesus describes himself in this fashion. "I am the Alpha and the Omega -- the beginning and the end,...I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come -- the Almighty One" (Rev 1:8 see also Rev 22:13).
Both the Old and New Testaments testify to the eternal nature of God. This may be a challenge for our finite minds to comprehend. However, it is much easier to believe in an eternally preexistent God who has put everything perfectly in place than to get our mind around the evolutionists position that millions of random accidents have occurred to give us the creation we have today.
Copyright. Bruce February 2006
Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
One of the Most Profound Topics We Grapple With
is related to the nature of the personage of God. There is a three-fold eternal God-head made up of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. For the most part the Trinity is shrouded in mystery. Our finite minds do not have the capacity to understand such a majestic concept as a three-in-one God. However, Scripture reveals some basic truths about God.
The Apostle John in the introductory verses to his Gospel account when referring to God the Father states that "No one has ever seen God" (John 1:18). The reason for this becomes obvious when one observes Jesus' comment to the Samaritan woman that "God is Spirit" (John 4:24).
Even though we have not seen the Father we are not ignorant of him. John goes on to inform us that the "one and only Son is himself God...(and) has revealed God to us" (John 1:18). Through reading and meditating upon the Scriptures we receive glimpses of the character and nature of God. This is accomplished through observing the actions and studying the teaching of Jesus. One of Christ’s greatest desires, while on earth, was to bring glory to his Father (John 17:4).
There is a tremendous oneness between the Father and the Son. It is incredible to realize that this oneness is being extended to all who are a part of the household of faith. Jesus’ prayer on the night he was betrayed contains these words: "I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one -- as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us" (John 17:21).
That same evening the disciples were extremely discouraged because Jesus had indicated he would soon be leaving the earth. As he desires to encourage them he discloses that an Advocate will be sent along side them. They are told that this one who comes from heaven "will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth" (John 14:16). One of the chief responsibilities of the Spirit is to bring glory to Jesus (John 16:13).
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one in nature and character. However, within the Trinity there are differing roles and there is also a chain of authority. The Father is the one who sent Jesus to earth (John 17:3) and it was Christ’s responsibility to complete "the work you gave me to do" (John 17:4). The Father at the request of the Son would shortly send the Holy Spirit (John 14:16) to dwell within the believers (John 14:17).
During our earthly existence we cannot hope to grasp more than the most basic truths related to the nature of God --- the rest will take eternity. Thankfully though he has revealed enough of himself so that we can currently experience a personal life changing relationship with the God of the universe.
Copyright. Bruce February 2006
Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.
