Signs of Fall

As the calendar nears November, the signs of fall are visible everywhere across Ilinois as the farmers continue to harvest their crops and the leaves continue to display a splash of autumn colors.

Last weekend, we took a trip to the Mississippi River and toured some various river boats as well as examined a museum detailing a brief history of man's dealings with the big river. It was very beautiful along the river with an abundance of colorful leaves and waterfoul gathering to embark upon their yearly migrations.

Another reminder of the cooler weather is the fact that the house is starting to get chilly! One of today's chores will involve getting the fireplace ready and lighting the first fire for the fall season. We have burned wood for several years and find it a nice alternative to the ever increasing costs of LP. It is a lot of work and as we utilize a fireplace insert in the living room, all the wood has to come in to the house and all the ash has to be carried out! It's somewhat dusty and occasionally I let some smoke into the room when collecting the ash, but it is a warm, cheap fuel.

The boys have chores stacking and carrying firewood from where we store it to the house. I enjoy cutting and splitting wood, although my work in my shop sometimes leaves me little ttime to spare. Thanks to the help of my neighbor and a couple of windstorms, we have more than enough wood for the winter with a random assortment of oak, elm, maple, and birch cut, split, and dried and ready to make heat!

As a final completely unrelated remark to the midwest and fall colors, I just read that Hurricane Wilma has deposited 64" of rain north of Cancun. That's incredible! "The Lord has his way with the whirlwind, and the clouds are the dust beneath his feet."

From death unto life

When our family drove through Death Valley last spring, we were fortunate to have visited following one of the wettest winters on records. The desert floor was full of various species of blooming plant life and it was truly a beautiful sight to behold. I was amazed to see flowering plants thriving out of a sandy and rocky soil that seemed like it would be impossibe to sustain vegetation.

We visited during the month of April and the temperatures were only around 90. Soon the searing heat and dry conditions would have their toll and the plants would cease flowering, go to seed, and die - leaving behind only a lanscape void of life, a vast collection of sand, boulders, and rock. Hidden to the human eye, though, would be seeds covered by a waxy material that would protect the seed from the harsh elements, lying dormant for as long as 30 years awaiting another wet winter in which they would sprout and once again cover the desert valley floor. That God could be pleased to display His glory and majesty by so clothing the desert floor is one of the reasons that we delight to praise His holy name.

The greatest display of God's grace and mercy is His desire to save His people by sending His spirit to regenerate the wicked the hearts of those who are dead in their trespasses and sins. What a delight it is to know God's transforming saving grace in giving us the ability and desire to behold the beauty of His Son. How marvelous it is that we, who were once enemies of God, hating the light which is Christ, are the very instruments that God uses to preach the gospel to those who are as yet dead in their trespasses and sins.

I list one of my favorite passages below, a prophecy by the prophet Ezekiel in which he speaks of the delivery of Israel from their captivity. The prophecy also aptly desribes the regenerating work of the Spirit of God in the hearts of men and portrays the power of God, in whom we have placed our faith and believe that He shall be able to raise us up in the last day.

Ezekiel 37:1-14

¶ The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the
Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full
of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there
were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.

And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord
GOD, You know." Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to
them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to
these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall
live. "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with
skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am
the LORD."‘"

So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as
I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them
over; but there was no breath in them. Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."‘"

So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then He said to me, "Son
of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones
are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 2 "Therefore prophesy
and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your
graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of
Israel. "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. "I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.’"

The beauty of Ecclesiastes

I was sharing some thoughts about Ecclesiastes with a friend of mine and thought I might share them here.

It is important to understand the construction of the book of Ecclesiastes because you can really come away with some bizarre opinions if you do not. I've heard some pretty awful interpretations of the book because of a lack of understanding of its intent as a whole. Two commentaries that really helped my get a good grasp of the book were Charles Bridges commentary "Ecclesiastes" and Doug Wilsons "Joy at the end of the Tether."

We know from reading in the chronicles and kings that Solomon devoted a goodly portion of his life to the pursuit of pleasure. The book of Ecclesiastes was written late in life and serve as a reflection of what he had learned. There are two key phrases to keep in mind as one reads the book "under the sun" and "the gift of God."

The book could be outlined in this way:

First, he describes that joy and satisfaction in life cannot be truly obtained and enjoyed by our own power and ability. "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit."

Second, he teaches that God is sovereign in all things. He also answers some objections to this truth. "To everthing there is a season.... He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end."

Third, he shows that only by understanding and believing in God and his sovereignty can we enjoy life "under the sun." " I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God."

Finally, the book closes with sundry thoughts and applications.

In short, here is a brief description from my point of view:

There are many things that are similar between the saint and the pagan. We are born, we eat and drink, we marry, have sons and daughters, we labor, we laugh and cry, and we die. To enjoy our life under the sun, apart from a saving knowledge of God and a belief that He is in control of all things, is vanity, a mere grasping of the wind. "What does it profit a man if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" There is nothing but futility in life apart from God. The lost man strives with all of his effort to obtain for that which perishes. The new car that he purchased 15 years ago is probably in the junk yard. The clothes he bought 15 years ago are either worn out or out of style. The hopes of marriage for the lost man often end in divorce. He can work his whole life to save and collect a fortune and in the end he dies and his possessions may pass into the hands of a fool. Solomon addresses this fact through portions of this book. Everything is vanity if it is not redeemed by faith in God. Labor and living for him are toilsome, monotonous, cumbersome, and useless, because in the end we die and it is forgotten.

This is not so for the man who trusts in God and fears his commandments. He still buys clothes that wears out and his cars break down as well. He understands that that which can be purchased for gold and silver ultimately is destroyed by moth and rust. The believer, though, enjoys his life under the sun as a great gift from God. He knows "that God gives wine to make glad the hearts of men and oil to make his face shine." He knows that he can enjoy his food and drink because they are God's gifts to the man that lives under the sun. He can rejoice in the fruits of his labor. He enjoys the wife of his youth that God has given him under the sun. He enjoys her embraces, her love, her body, her work, and the children that she bears him. It is his portion under the sun.

You know that I enjoy working with wood. I share a picture above of a desk that I made my mother a year or so ago. I can identify the species of wood by its smell. Many times during a project after I cut a board, I enjoy smelling the fresh cut. I enjoy looking at the grain and the color, recognizing that every board has different characteristics. I enjoy taking a pile of rough sawn wood and turning it into something useful. If I was a thoughtful pagan, I would think, "What's the use?" It will soon enough be broken and need to be destroyed. It’s not lasting or permanent. As a saint, though, I know that I am exercising dominion over creation and thus obeying the command of God. I am working with my hands, striving to do all things for His glory with all my might. I worship the Creator as I smell the enticing aromas of cut wood and as I marvel at the pattern of the grain. Thus my labor is not a mere grasping of the wind because I rejoice and worship my Creator as I labor.

I cannot know how God has directed my paths, but I do know that He has! I can work with great peace and joy because I know that all that comes to pass in my life has been ordered by the Lord. I know that all things work together for good for those who are the called according to His purpose. So I rejoice in what God is doing and has done. I will not fear what man can do to me. This why we can truly be anxious for nothing and why we never need despair. God has appointed all the times and seasons - a time to be born, a time to die; a time for laughter, a time for tears; and so on.

"Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

In Christ,

Bob

The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few

Cooler weather has finally arrived in northern IL and the fields, as is this one next to our home, are beginning to be harvested. I have always enjoyed observing the weather and appreciating the world that God has made. The more I read the Bible and the more I read of how often God was pleased to have the writers of Scriptures draw from the created world principles to help explain spiritual truths, my observations of the created world often remind me of the Scriptures. When I hear the wind blowing through corn, I am reminded of the psalm that says: " The valleys also are covered with grain; They shout for joy, they also sing." It is a marvelous thing to behold that which God has made and this created being praises his God for it.

As I observe the machinery moving slowly down the roads en route to the fields and later opserve grain carts heavily laden with corn and beans, I am reminded of the many passages that speak of harvest time. I enjoy this time of year, partly because I really dislike the heat and humidity and enjoy the winter. The first chilly, fall days fill me with an anticipation of winter. I like the long nights, the crisp mornings, and white snow. The coffee tastes better and in the winter I sometimes actually can find an evening with nothing to do but read a good book!

Paul reminds the Corinthians that those who sow sparingly shall also reap sparingly. If these farmers put forth no effort and expense in the spring, they could leave the combines in the barn when harvest times comes. I pray that God will instill in our hearts the desire to be full of good works. I hope that we all will be a people that sow bountifully.

I am also reminded of Christ's words to the disciples: "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest."

Our church subscribes loosely to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of faith. We are among the minority of Baptists these days that believe that God is sovereign in all things. Historically, the majority of Baptists embraced the doctrines of grace, but sadly through the period of Arminian-based revivalism that surfaced in the late nineteenth century, the Baptist denomination spiraled downward into Arminianism.

Many of those who resist the doctrines of grace often accuse Calvinists of being unwilling to evangelize. This is actually a slanderous accusation, considering the fact that the vast majority of Calvinists do believe in the free offer of the gospel and that some of the greatest lasting revivals occurred under the preaching and teaching of Calvinistic men. Spurgeon once commented that if God had chosen to mark the elect with a red X on their backs that he would run around London pulling up their shirts. Since He did not, he added, he would preach the gospel to every creature and allow God to give the increase.

In the area in which I live, it would seem that conversions are scarce these days. It saddens me that we have seen so few brought to a saving knowledge of Christ and added to the church. Our church has grown - babies are being born and occasionally a family who is distraught with the lack of teaching in their own church seeks refuge in ours. I am content to allow God to build the church as He sees fit, but I also wish to make sure that I am faithful to preach the gospel of Christ. Hopefully, we both recognize and believe that our life is but a vapor. We have heard it said a million times before, but each day people from the area breathe their last and slip into eternity.

Let us pray that God will aid us in being faithful laborers and that we would truly be willing to plant and water, leaning upon God's soverein good pleasure to give the increase as it pleases Him. Paul said, " How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

My prayer is that I simply would be one who sows much - and that I would be faithful to preach the gospel. I trust that you will pray with me, in entreating our Lord to send forth laborers into the harvest.

Bob

Faith - the Substance of things hoped for

Everyone is familiar with the beautiful passage in Hebrews 11 that describes the nature of faith as well as provides a snapshot of the faith of the saints. We know that "without faith it is impossible to please God" and I hope that we often imitate the disciples when they asked their Master, "Lord, increase our faith."

I have recently been preaching on a series on biblical stewardship (I hope to post some of these messages soon) and will soon be examining some of those things that can serve as an obstacle that prevents us from giving. For some, there is no interest in giving, which is of course a great contradiction of what God requires. For others, previous financial decisions have led us into so much debt that our obligations prevent us from having much left over to give. Perhaps some of us have never recognized that we acutally have a very small amount of faith when it comes to giving.

There is no doubt that the people of God have always been required to give tithes and offerings. There is also no doubt that the people of God have often been too greedy to give to God what He has required. The prophet Malachi wrote to the children of Israel: "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it!"

I believe this may be the only place in the Scriptures that God invites us to try or prove him in the matter of His desire to pour out blessings upon those who give. In similar fashion, the Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Cor 9 (take the time to read the passage) "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." I pray that God will instill in us a great desire to labor on this earth so that we might accomplish much for His glory as obedient saints. Faith is required to accomplish this, as well as such resources as time and money.

We all exercise faith in varying degrees. We go to the store and buy a can of green beans for our meal and it does not cross our mind that we may not have succeeded in our efforts. We place our faith in the testimony of the label that surrounds the tin can. We cannot see or smell through the confines of the container, we simply trust in the testimony of the label that reveals both a picture and a label that reads "Green beans."

Great things have been accomplished by men who had great faith in their cause. I have been reading a book entitled "1776" by David McCollough and I have marveled at the great faith of General Washington as he took over the ragged Continental army, which was nothing more than some rabble in arms. There was really no reason to believe that they might win a war with Great Britain, which was surely a much more efficient and formiddable force. They had little artillerly, hardly any gunpowder, and the troops were raw and undisciplined. It was reported that when Washington was given command and he saw how meagerly supplied the army was and how undisciplined the soldiers were, that he fell silent, unable to even speak for the space of an hour.

Of course, when we open up our tin cans with beans we always find that we were actually successful in accomplishing the mission. We know that General Washington was able to lead his army to victory. Of course, these examples of faith had no real guarantee! We often exhibit great faith in things that in essence offer us no guarantees. I am to be numbered with the foolish ignorant fans that look with anticipation at the dawning of every new Chicago Cubs and Bears season! These teams have proven to be repetitive losers, but this does not prevent us from following with interest their seasons, until we discover that in reality, no, once again, this is not the year - but just wait until next year!

Why are we so reluctant then to place our faith in God, the one whom we know will lift us up and whose Word is sure? Why do we struggle and resist against the promises of God? Why do we so often prefer to trust in our own wisdom and to lean upon our own understanding when we are invited and commanded to trust in God? I fear that we often expect little from God for we are to faithless to attempt much for Him. Our God is a refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. He has promised us much and we need, like the saints that have gone before, to sieze these promises with eyes of faith and to continue to march forward into battle. We need not go alone. We must always pray, "Lord, increase our faith."

In Christ,

Bob