Luke 14: If the Shoe Fits

“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. - Luke 14:31-32 NIV
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Luke 14:11 NIV

It doesn't take much imagination to apply this to our current political position, or even political posturing that is a distant memory, as in the alleged incident of Kruschev banging his shoe at the United Nations.  As in every case, though, I have to relate what Jesus is trying to say to my own personal life, so I have to ask where do I go to war without first trying to make peace. I think back on the times when I have gone warring on matters that in retrospect seem very petty.  I have come close to ruining friendships and work relationships over issues that could have been discussed thoroughly and coherently.  Many times when I encountered opposition, I told myself I will take the "high road".  I will consider the consequences and look for any concession.   I will be gracious and explore all of the alternatives. I will love my enemies and do good to those who hate me.  Sometimes I even put up a good front while internally I am banging my shoe at the offender and maintaining my superior self worth

 I'm no longer sure that there are any reasons for going to war on a national or personal level.  It seems to make fools of us all which in itself can be very humbling.  Just like the politicians, I have a long way to go.

2 Chronicles 36: No Remedy

Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the LORD, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
The Fall of Jerusalem
The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 2 Chron. 36: 14-15 NIV

Do these words apply to us now?   I know for certain that we have succumbed to all of the ungodly ways of the other nations.  In fact, we are creating new, even more detestable practices for the rest of the world to follow.  While some of the nations of this world are becoming more godly, we have taken the opposite approach and seem to be pursuing our own destruction.  A few years ago, after September 11th, it appeared, for a time, that we were following after God once more, but just as after godly reign of Josiah when his sons reverted to the sins of his predecessors,  I fear that we have despised the word of God too many times and we may be in the same position that Judah was after Josiah's reign.  We have abandoned any semblance of holiness or godliness and are pursuing pleasure at any cost. Will this be the end?  Has the wrath of God been aroused to the point where there is no remedy?

Luke 13: Christians in Name Only

“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 

Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 

Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’  

“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ - Luke 13:24-27 NIV

Our pastor has been teaching about the difference between Christians and disciples.  A search of the Bible shows only three instances where the word Christian is used.   

• The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.- Acts 11:26 NIV
• Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”. - Acts 26:28 NIV
• However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.- 1 Peter 4:16. NIV

On the other hand, the word disciples is used sixty-eight times in Matthew alone and one of Jesus' final statements to his own disciples was that they were to replicate themselves.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. - Matt. 28:19 NIV

Now, as in New Testament times, the word Christian has taken on a derogatory meaning and much of that we have brought on ourselves.  We appear to have been doing everything but making disciples, for if that was our mission, they would have replicated themselves and the world would look a lot different.  Satan understands this principle better than we do as Christians.  His disciples are constantly bringing others into the fold, while we are creating Christians in name only that the Father is unable to recognize. 

2 Chronicles 34-35: Josiah

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.
Now I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’” So they took her answer back to the king. - 2 Chron. 34:27-28 NIV

Josiah could not change the history of Judah and he could not change the punishment that would be inflicted on Judah for their disobedience, but because of his faithfulness, he would see peace and prosperity in his lifetime.  Perhaps we need to take the posture of Josiah, we need to atone for our sins and not concentrate on our history or our future.  What God has ordained for our country and the world is already being put in place.  There is nothing we can to do stop his divine plan, but we can bring peace and prosperity to our own lives by restoring the covenant God made with us, by worshipping God alone rather than the gods of this world.  Once we tear down the idols in our lives, we can live lives as God intended them to be.  We can be complete in him in a world that is increasingly falling apart.

Luke 12: Where Your Treasure Is

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Luke 12:31-34 NIV

I play a lot of computer games.  That may sound silly, but it is my confession and I suppose I could also confess that they have become an idol.  Instead of finding fulfillment, I find that the more I concentrate on the games, the more depressed I become.  Just like a drug addict, they do not satisfy, but leave me nervous and wanting for more, never to be satisfied.

That is not true of spending time with God and in his word.  The more time I spend there, the better my energy and outlook on life become.  The things of this world seem to melt away and I can see clearly what life is supposed to be and even what I am supposed to be doing.  It is only in seeking the kingdom of God that we find satisfaction.  Nothing else compares.  Nothing else is more beautiful.  Anything else is a very poor substitute.

2 Chronicles 29: Our Only Hope is in God

Our fathers were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the LORD our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the LORD’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel.  Therefore, the anger of the LORD has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes.  This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity. - 2 Chron. 29:6-9 NIV

Anyone that wants to understand the current world state of affairs, must look no further than Solomon. "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again, he says; there is nothing new under the sun.There is nothing new under the sun."  Eccl. 1:9 NIV

Over and over again, history has repeated itself.  When rulers and nations follow God, they prosper.  When they do not, they always meet the same end, they fall, or as the Chronicler says, they become an "object of dread and horror and scorn...this is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity."  We cannot blame the state of our nation on any other enemy.  We are the only ones at fault.

In that same vein, regardless of whether it's a nation or an individual, the same fate awaits all of God's children when we choose not to follow him.  He will use any means to get our attention.  He will raise up our enemies and cause us to seek advice from those who only have their own best interests at heart.  Our lives will be thrown into confusion and our minds into captivity.  Any hope other than in God is only an illusion.

Luke 11: American Eyes

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. 
See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 
Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” - Luke 11:34-36 NIV

Years ago, an Indian woman, a native of India who was now living in the United States, told me forlornly, "I still have an Indian heart, but I have American eyes."  I fear it is easy for all of us to succumb to "American eyes".  We live in such a visual society.  We are bombarded on all counts by pictures of the ideal:  the ideal body, the ideal car, the ideal vacation, the ideal wife, the ideal job, the ideal house, the ideal clothing, the ideal trinket.  As most of us have discovered, getting or achieving the ideal whatever, has not made us happier, and for Christians, we must realize it has not made us more Christ like.  On the contrary, chasing after all the things that our eyes have seized a glimpse of has dimmed the light that should be shining.  Most of us are very poor examples of what Jesus was telling us to be.  We look good, we think we are impressing others, but we are not.  We need to stop looking to the world for our light and instead turn our eyes to the light of the world, the only one that can infuse us with the light that illuminates the darkness.