Are We Looking for Jesus in the Wrong Places?

 

Part 1 – The Foundation

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..."

(Hebrews 12:2)

There are certain passages of Scripture that we become so familiar with that we seldom stop to consider what they are actually saying. Hebrews 12:2 is one of them. We readily agree that we are to look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, but have we ever asked ourselves how we are to obey such a command?

The disciples had no difficulty understanding these words. They walked with Christ, listened to His teaching, witnessed His miracles, and followed Him wherever He went. We cannot do that today, for Christ has ascended to the Father. Yet the command has not changed. We are still exhorted to look unto Jesus.

If God commands us to do something, He must also provide the means by which we may obey that command. He has not left us to search according to our own imagination, nor has He left us to depend upon dreams, visions, emotions, traditions, or the opinions of men. If we are to look unto Christ, then God Himself must tell us where Christ is to be found.

The Lord Jesus Himself answered that question plainly.

"Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39)

The command to "look unto Jesus" is neither an impossible command nor a mysterious one. God has already provided the means whereby we are to know His Son. We are not directed to feelings, experiences, visions, traditions, or the opinions of men. We are directed to the Holy Scriptures, for they testify of Christ. If we neglect the Scriptures, we shall inevitably begin looking for Christ where He has never promised to reveal Himself.

There is our answer.

The Scriptures testify of Christ.

If we desire to know Him, understand Him, follow Him, and keep our eyes fixed upon Him, then we must search the Scriptures. Every doctrine, every preacher, every experience, every tradition, and every spiritual claim must be tested by the written Word, because it is the written Word that bears witness to the Living Word.

This immediately presents another challenge.

If Christ is revealed through the Scriptures, then why do so many believers find themselves distracted? Why do so many begin well, only to wander from the simplicity that is in Christ? Why are so many drawn after teachings, movements, personalities, and worldly philosophies that gradually shift their attention away from Him?

Perhaps the answer is not as difficult as we imagine.

John Bunyan understood something about the Christian life that remains as true today as it was when he wrote Pilgrim's Progress. Through the journey of a man named Christian, Bunyan portrays the many voices, temptations, and distractions that seek to draw believers away from Christ. His characters are memorable not because they belong only to an allegory, but because we continue to meet them every day. More importantly, if we are honest with ourselves, we may even discover that some of them have found a place within our own hearts.

Mr. Worldly Wiseman still offers advice that sounds wiser than God's Word.

Legality still persuades men that acceptance with God is found through their own efforts.

Talkative still fills churches with those who speak much about religion while knowing little of Christ.

Demas still beckons believers to pursue the riches and pleasures of this world.

Giant Despair still imprisons many of God's children behind the walls of doubt and discouragement.

Ignorance still convinces sincere people that sincerity alone is sufficient.

The names have not changed because human nature has not changed.

This study is not intended to examine Bunyan's literary genius, remarkable though it was. Neither is it an attempt to elevate Pilgrim's Progress to the level of Scripture. Rather, we shall use Bunyan's characters as mirrors in which to examine ourselves. Each one represents a distraction capable of drawing our eyes away from Christ. As we consider them one by one, we must ask ourselves an uncomfortable question: Have I listened to this voice? Have I entertained this way of thinking? Has this distraction, perhaps unnoticed, drawn my attention away from the One whom I am commanded to behold?

For every character Bunyan introduces, we shall return to the Scriptures, because it is there that Christ is revealed. It is there that error is exposed. It is there that every distraction is answered.

If we are truly to look unto Jesus, then we must continually return to the testimony that God Himself has given concerning His Son.

Signing off,

Tyrone Arthur

Routine...

Routine is a comfortable place to live. How do I know this is true? This morning I woke up without internet. The fibre had been down since 22:00 the previous evening. I was hoping to get on top of the day, but at 04:45 I was still without a connection. I quickly realised how dependent I have become upon it. Work, blogging, communication, entertainment, research, and even the simplest of daily tasks all seem to require an internet connection. Without it I found myself feeling strangely lost and unproductive.

Rather than moving into a tailspin, my thoughts drifted back to an earlier time. A time when a Bible was a physical book in my hands and not simply another application on a screen. There was something about turning pages, feeling the paper between your fingers, and taking the time to slowly work through a passage. Life seemed simpler then, although the demands of life were no different. Every generation has had to work, survive, raise families, face hardships, and ultimately confront death. Yet there was an advantage to the slower pace. When we slow down, we tend to absorb more.

As I sat reflecting on this, my thoughts drifted toward a question that Christians often wrestle with. If we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and if God accepts us because of His Son's sacrifice, why are there still so many instructions in Scripture about how we should live? The answer appears obvious at first, but I think it deserves closer examination.

If I fail and fall into sin, does that disqualify me from salvation? No. Christ paid the penalty for that sin. If He did not, then that sin would still need to be judged and paid for. God is holy and perfect in character. He does not accept bribes, nor does He simply turn a blind eye to wrongdoing. Justice demands that sin be dealt with.

This is where the discussion becomes interesting. Man entered into sin in the Garden of Eden. The covenant was broken, and every generation since has inherited the consequences of that rebellion. The evidence is everywhere. We do not have to teach children how to lie, become selfish, or put themselves first. Those things seem to come naturally. Scripture teaches that we inherit a fallen nature, and human history confirms it.

Now here is the question that many avoid asking. If we inherit this sinful nature, and if that nature inevitably produces sin, how can God hold us accountable?

It is not a new question. In fact, Paul anticipates the objection in Romans. The natural response of fallen man is to question the fairness of God's dealings with mankind. If we are born with a nature inclined toward sin, how can we be blamed for acting according to that nature? Yet Paul never arrives at the conclusion that mankind is innocent. Instead, he reminds us that the Creator has rights that belong to the Creator alone. We may not fully understand every aspect of God's dealings with humanity, but Scripture never presents us as innocent victims. We inherit a fallen nature, yet we willingly participate in sin. We are corrupted by sin, but we are also guilty of it.

The believer knows this through the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of Scripture, but the unbeliever is not without witness. God has given every person a conscience that testifies to right and wrong. It may be ignored, suppressed, or even seared over time, but it remains a witness against us. That is why mankind is accountable. We not only inherit a fallen nature; we repeatedly act upon it despite knowing better. If mankind's problem was simply ignorance, education would have solved it long ago. Yet the most educated societies on earth still lie, cheat, steal, hate, and murder. The problem runs far deeper than a lack of information. The problem is the nature itself.

In a human court of law, a defence attorney may argue that a person was born with a condition that influenced their behaviour. Such an argument may even reduce their culpability. Yet Scripture does not arrive at that conclusion. While the Bible acknowledges the reality of our fallen nature, it also makes it abundantly clear that we willingly participate in sin. We are not merely affected by it; we practise it.

The Apostle Paul understood this tension better than most. In Romans 7 he describes a battle that every believer recognises. He knew what was right yet often found himself doing the opposite. His mind agreed with God's law, yet another principle seemed to wage war within him.

"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." (Romans 7:19)

I think most of us can relate to that statement. How often have we known exactly what we should do, only to find ourselves doing something else? Our actions often contradict what our minds know to be true.

This is why I do not want to underplay what I call the sinful gene. Not because it makes us innocent, but because it demonstrates how hopeless our situation really is. If every human being inherits a fallen nature, and every human being apart from Christ eventually sins, then what chance do we really have of standing before a holy God based upon our own merit? The answer, if we are honest, is none. Not a little chance or a slim chance, but no chance at all. The deeper we understand the problem, the brighter the gospel shines.

If salvation depended upon my ability to overcome my sinful nature through determination, discipline, religious effort, or good intentions, I would be hopelessly lost. The same would be true for every person reading these words. God did not leave mankind to solve a problem that mankind could never solve. Because He is just, sin had to be judged. Because He is merciful, He provided a substitute.

He sent His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world. Jesus lived the life we could never live. He faced temptation in every area of life yet never sinned. He fulfilled every righteous requirement of God and then willingly went to the Cross to pay the penalty for sinners. That sacrifice was not temporary, symbolic, or one of many sacrifices. It was, as Scripture declares, a once-for-all sacrifice.

The question then becomes, what am I supposed to do with that information?

The answer is not to attempt to earn God's favour through religious effort, nor is it to convince yourself that your good deeds somehow outweigh your bad ones. Scripture points us in a different direction altogether.

When the Philippian jailer asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" the answer came back clearly: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." (Acts 16:30-31).

Paul writes similarly in Romans: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)

This requires honesty. We must acknowledge our sin and our inability to save ourselves. We must come to God on His terms, not ours, calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in faith. Scripture makes the promise that "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." 

(Romans 10:13)

The resurrection stands as God's declaration that Christ's sacrifice was accepted, and that death itself has been conquered. Scripture records that the risen Christ appeared to more than 500 witnesses after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6).

Do you believe this?

That is the question every person must answer. Outside Christ, our chances are none. We cannot save ourselves, because the problem runs deeper than our actions; it reaches into our very nature. Christ is not merely one path among many. He is the only hope any sinner has of reconciliation with God.

This brings me back to where my morning began. An internet outage reminded me how uncomfortable we become when routine is interrupted. Yet perhaps interruptions are not always a bad thing. Sometimes they force us to slow down, think deeply, and revisit truths that we have allowed familiarity to hide from view. One of those truths is this: apart from Christ, I am lost. Not merely inconvenienced by sin or struggling with sin but genuinely lost and without hope. That reality is what makes the grace of God so remarkable.

Signing off,

Tyrone

Related passages: Romans 2:14-15; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12-19; Romans 7:14-25; Romans 9:14-24; John 3:16-18.

 

Do you love me...

 

Do You Love Me More Than These?

"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" (John 21:15)

That is the question I find myself asking this morning.

Do I love the Lord Jesus and my heavenly Father more than these?

It is a big question, and one that leaves little room for self-deception. As I sit here contemplating it, I find myself asking the Holy Spirit to strip me bare and expose the truth in every area of my life. But for that to happen, I need to sit at the feet of Jesus.

My mind goes to those fortunate enough to do exactly that. The twelve disciples lived there for three years. They walked with Him, listened to His teaching, witnessed His miracles, and watched Him reveal the heart of the Father. Yet it was not only the twelve who were privileged in this way. Many gathered wherever He went. Some came to hear Him teach. Others came to be healed. Still others were simply curious.

What a privilege that must have been. Yet hearing Jesus and being changed by Jesus are not the same thing. It is one thing to hear the gospel that Jesus saves; it is something entirely different to be saved by Him.

To hear the message is one thing; to respond positively to it is another. True salvation changes a person. It changes the way they think, the way they see the world, and the way they see themselves. Everything around them may remain exactly the same, yet somehow everything looks different because they have changed.

That does not mean they suddenly become perfect. Peter certainly wasn't. The very question that inspired these thoughts, "Lovest thou Me more than these?" was asked after Peter's failure, not before it. The grace of God is not found in pretending that we never stumble. It is found in the fact that Christ restores those who belong to Him and continues His work in them.

I think every genuine believer understands what I mean. There comes a moment when the things that once seemed important begin to lose their sheen, while eternal things suddenly carry a load they never had before. You start looking at life through a different lens.

This morning, I want to sit at the feet of Jesus with intent.

I have much to do. There are responsibilities demanding attention. There are financial pressures weighing on my mind. There are concerns about tomorrow and unanswered questions. Yet all of those things must wait.

After what?

After I have sat at the feet of Jesus.

Nothing else matters until I have heard from Him.

I am not waiting for a voice from heaven. Rather, I am looking for the Holy Spirit to direct my thoughts toward His written Word. I want Scripture to guide me, correct me, encourage me, and confirm that I am hearing His voice and not merely my own.

I think of Zacchaeus climbing a tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. I think of the men who stripped away a roof so they could lower their paralysed friend into His presence. These were not people waiting for an opportunity to fall into their laps. They recognised their need and acted upon it. Obstacles were not reasons to quit; they were simply things to overcome.

The question is whether we possess that same determination today.

To what extent are we willing to go to hear the voice of Jesus?

Or have we become comfortable, expecting everything to come easily? We live in a world that constantly tells us that we deserve happiness, success, and more. But why? On what basis do we make such claims?

Stay with me for a moment, because this matters.

God, who was and who is, decided, before time existed, to write a script, recorded for us many epochs later, the Bible. If you are not willing to refer to the Bible as your go-to manual, you will continue to think that way. He decided to call light out of the darkness and to separate the light from the darkness. He then went on to create what we see with our own eyes, the undisputed fact that creation exists.

The gainsayer looks to dispute that fact. He and many a scientist speak of the Big Bang, with some other concoctions and lies in the mix. The Bible is crystal clear on how we came into existence. You either believe it, or you don't. You either sit at the feet of Jesus, or you don't.

On the sixth day of His master plan, He created man, and out of man He created a woman. They had children, and Cain then killed Abel. Murdered his brother. The proof that sin was alive and thriving even in the early days of creation.

So, from the beginning we were born with a gene that affects our brain and thought patterns, known as sin, no different to a chronic deformity or flaw that affects a person's life from birth. A person born blind remains blind; that is their lot in life. Every person born of a woman is a sinner; that is our lot in life. End story.

But one does not need the Bible to understand that one is a sinner. Ask yourself the simple question. Have you ever told a lie, even just once in your life? What does that make you? A liar, which is a fruit of sin. If we are honest with ourselves, we will understand that we will be found wanting and that we need a Saviour to rescue us from the judgment to come. The Bible is once again clear on that point. Judgement is coming for all. No one will escape unless their encounter whilst sitting at the feet of Jesus brought about genuine change.

Which brings me back to the question that has occupied my thoughts this morning. After His resurrection, Jesus asked Peter a question that has echoed through the centuries and finds its way into my own heart today:

"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" (John 21:15)

Jesus was not seeking information. He already knew Peter's heart. The question was designed to expose Peter's heart to Peter, and perhaps that is exactly what it is intended to do for us as well.

Do I love Jesus more than these?

Do I love Him more than the blessings He has given me?

Do I love Him more than my plans, ambitions, comforts, possessions, and dreams?

Perhaps more challenging still, do I love Him more than my struggles, fears, disappointments, and financial pressures? Have the cares of this life become so large in my thinking that they have quietly occupied the place that belongs to Christ alone?

How can I measure that?

Perhaps the answer is found in every relationship we value. If my wants continually take priority over the person I claim to love, then my actions reveal the truth about my affections. The crowds often followed Jesus because they wanted bread and fish. They were happy to receive from Him, but many were unwilling to follow Him. Yet there were others whose desperation drove them beyond convenience. The men who carried their friend to the roof believed that only Jesus could help him, and their actions proved it.

As I sit here this morning, I find myself returning once again to the same question.

Do you love Me more than these?

Only I can answer that for myself, and only you can answer it for yourself.

Signing out,

Tyrone

 

Related passages: John 21:15-19; Luke 19:1-10; Mark 2:1-12; Genesis 4:1-16.

Abba Father - Thank You...

 

Thank You Father

To be thankful for what we have been given, we say if we don't work, we do not deserve to eat. This is a biblical truth.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

"The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat."

(2 Thessalonians 3:10)

But strip everything down and we will soon understand that without God's mercy we would not exist. We need oxygen to survive. He has given that to all, the sinner and the saint. A habitable planet for us to thrive in. See Genesis 1.

People love to ask, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" The answer is obvious. God created. Then came the cycle of life. The chicken and then the egg. What has become a favourite philosophical question is not nearly as complicated as many would like to believe.

We could spend pages unpacking the grace of God in our lives. That is common grace I refer to, the grace everyone receives. How often are we intentionally thankful?

What I find remarkable is how quickly mankind forgets this. We celebrate our intelligence, our technology and our achievements, and in doing so often begin to think far more highly of ourselves than we ought. Some speak as though the future of creation ultimately rests in human hands, as though God's purposes could somehow be overturned by the actions of man.

Think about that for a moment. The God who spoke light into existence, who separated land from sea, who set the stars in their place and ordained the seasons, is somehow expected to sit helplessly by while His creation slips beyond His control?

This is not an excuse for careless stewardship. We should care for what God has entrusted to us. But let us never imagine that the Creator is dependent upon the creation, or that human failure can somehow derail the sovereign plans of Almighty God. The earth remains His, the heavens remain His, and history continues to unfold according to His purposes, not ours.

These days it seems fashionable to blame previous generations for everything. One would think mankind has the power to bring creation to its knees and cause God's plans to unravel. Really? The same God who spoke the universe into existence is somehow at the mercy of human beings? Such thinking gives mankind far too much credit and God far too little glory.

We honour God for who He is, but do we thank Him for what He has done, or do we sit with the scoffer and moan about our lot in life? It's never good enough. We always want more. If so, we are moving backwards away from the Light instead of towards that majestic Light, from His brilliance.

I don't know how else to describe God but brilliant in all His brilliance.

Think about it.

The ability to speak into the darkness and create light, wow!

Think about what Genesis records:

"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."

(Genesis 1:3)

Let that resonate.

And many stand on the precipice of life, giving God advice, really!

And then with the billions of people on the planet, somewhere along my journey He called me by name and opened my eyes to the reality of His existence. Then to come to a place of understanding that JESUS SAVES is absolutely mind boggling.

This leaves me with one declaration only.

Thank You Father, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Where do you stand on this topic? Only you can answer this. As for me, I am grateful. In spite of my many failures, my sins, my foolishness and the countless times I have gone my own way instead of His, I am truly thankful for all that God has done in my life.

Signing off,

Tyrone

Reflections

Reflections Over the Years

Part One: The Awakening

Over the past few months, I have been working through years of archived blog posts as part of a book project. In doing so, I have found myself revisiting seasons of my life that I had almost forgotten.

Reading those old posts has been a strange experience.

Some made me smile. Some made me cringe. Some reminded me how little I understood at the time. Others reminded me of lessons that God is still teaching me today.

What has stood out most is not the writing itself. It is seeing the fingerprints of God throughout the journey.

When many of those posts were written, I had no idea where the road ahead would lead. I was simply writing about what I was learning, what I was struggling with, what I was observing, and what I believed God was showing me at the time.

Looking back now, I can see that God was doing far more beneath the surface than I realised.

At the time, many of life's events seemed disconnected. There were victories and failures, seasons of growth and seasons of frustration. There were prayers that seemed unanswered and lessons that kept repeating themselves.

Yet looking back through the years, I can see a thread running through it all.

The Lord was patiently renewing my mind.

Not overnight.

Not through one dramatic moment.

But through years of correction, conviction, grace, failure, repentance, and growth.

One lesson in particular keeps appearing throughout the journey.

Jesus said:

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

For many years, I focused more on the second half of that verse than the first. Like many believers, I was often looking at what God might provide, what He might do, or how He might answer prayer.

Over time, however, the Lord began teaching me that the greater pursuit was His righteousness.

That lesson has surfaced again and again throughout these writings. I certainly cannot claim to have mastered it. It remains a lesson I am still learning.

The same can be said of the renewing of the mind.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Romans 12:2

That renewing was never a destination I reached. It was a process that continues today. Looking back through these posts, I can see moments where God was exposing wrong thinking, challenging old habits, teaching dependence upon Him, and slowly reshaping my priorities.

The encouraging thing is not how much I have changed.

The encouraging thing is how faithful God has been.

As I revisit these early writings, I am reminded that while I was often focused on what God was doing around me, He was quietly doing His greatest work within me.

If these reflections serve any purpose beyond recording my own journey, I hope they encourage others to pause occasionally and look back on their own lives. Sometimes only in looking back do we begin to recognise the faithfulness of God that was present all along.

What follows are some of the earliest steps in that journey.

Not the reflections of someone who had arrived.

Simply the observations of a pilgrim learning, stumbling, growing, and discovering that God's faithfulness is greater than his own strength.

Signing off,

Tyrone

 

Hallowed Be Your Name

 

I Lift My Voice Unto Your Name

The very first instruction is to pay homage to God and honour Him for who He is. We need to worship Him for who He is, period.

Thankfully, He is the God He is, full of light, with no darkness overshadowing His light. There is no blemish in Him whatsoever, nothing flawed in His character. He always makes the right decisions, even if at times we, as fallen sinners, find some things difficult to reconcile.

The Lord Himself taught us this principle when the disciples asked Him how they should pray. Before provision, before forgiveness, before protection, He directed their attention to God:

"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."  

Matthew 6:9

The very first instruction is not about us. It is about Him. His name, His honour, His glory. How different that is from our natural inclination. We rush into God's presence with our lists, our concerns, our needs, and our plans. Yet Christ starts somewhere entirely different. He starts with worship.

Remember, when we learn this lesson for ourselves, and it absolutely resonates, not partially but completely, it will leave us in good standing with our God. For now, our summations are outside His perfect will. The only time we will ever align with His will is once saved, born again. This is where it starts. Outside of that reality, it is impossible to please Him.

You may think you please Him through charitable deeds, but when you examine it closely, you will often find that you are doing it to be recognised by others. Our lives are filled with smoke screens. That is why I find Solomon's summation and conclusion at the end of Ecclesiastes so fascinating:

"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

As long as you are trying to evade this reality in your life, eternity will not end well for you.

Romans 1 takes this discussion even further. Paul traces mankind's decline and identifies the root problem. It was not merely that men sinned. It was that they refused to honour God as God.

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Romans 1:21

The judgment that follows begins there. A refusal to acknowledge God for who He is. A refusal to honour Him. A refusal to give thanks. God eventually gives them over to their own desires and imaginations. It is a sobering passage of Scripture because it reveals what happens when mankind refuses to do the very thing Christ taught us from the outset: to honour God.

If you apply yourself to the Word, He will apply Himself to you. More specifically, your faith in Him will produce evidence in your life.

Of this I am completely persuaded.

There are many contributing factors to this reality, including God's intervention in saving faith. If you believe, for one minute, that you are better than the unbeliever because you chose to bend the knee to God, and somewhere along your journey you were "born again" and believe it was all your doing, then I fear for you. Without God's intervention, even in that account, nothing would have changed in your life.

The nagging question is what triggers that in a person's life. These are some of the unseen mysteries that we are privy to. To start speaking on God's behalf with any authority is dangerous.

Remember Miriam?

Recount the time when God called you by name. I remember wrestling for days to understand who God was and what He had done for me. But I have seen it in the lives of others. Jukes, a very good friend of mine, resisted the call so furiously that he arrived at a meeting, refused to get out of his car, turned around to drive away, and had an accident. I think that was the first car accident he had in his life. Now, you explain that for me, coincidence or God tightening the screws to bring you to a place of understanding?

Now back to the starting point of our daily routine. When I rise, the very first words out of my mouth should be:

"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:9-10

And then we work out the rest of the day.

This is my encouragement to you, whilst reaffirming this truth in my own life.

Signing off,

Tyrone