Pastor Kyle gave us four truths from Exodus that are foundational to understanding Easter. The first truth is that no one is too far gone for God. God created men and women to be in relationship with Himself and the whole world to glorify Him, yet this fallen side of eternity, we have sinful flesh desires and fall short of the glory of God. Still, 2 Peter 3:9 states that “the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”The goal, as stated in the Westminster Shorter Catechism is that man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Just like the Israelites, any people or individuals that would sincerely repent and turn their hearts towards Him, He would forgive them, love them and call them His own. God took this enslaved, broken people of His to show the world that He could deliver and use them. Moses was the chosen leader and intercessor for God’s people. God specializes in lost causes. You may today that you have messed up your life so much that God couldn’t love you or able to use you anymore. But, no one is too far gone for God. The amazing news is that God wants to use us to build His house structure and be part of His spiritual story of reaching the world for Him through the power of Christ and for His name sake.
The second foundational truth is that God desires a personal relationship with Him over mere religion. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines “Religion”, in its most comprehensive sense, to include a belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of His will to man, in man's obligation to obey His commands, in a state of reward and punishment, and in man's accountableness to God; and also, true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all moral duties. It therefore comprehends theology, as a system of doctrines or principles, as well as practical piety. Mere religious assent has never been acceptable to God. Today, it is popular to say that God wants relationship over religion; just belief in God intellectually in order to get out of Hell, get Him off our back about our life choices and on our side. Mere religion asks, what is the bare minimum that I need to do in order to live my life my way and get back to doing what I want to do? Religion from us sounds spiritually deep, but is actually so much easier than building and maintaining a personal relationship with God.
Nominal Christians come to church on Christmas and Easter only because it is a religious tradition. The word “relate” is defined as: to ally by connection. In a relationship, we are implicitly expected to respond and do certain things to maintain the relationship. This is a Creator/creature relationship, yet created in His image, so a heavenly Father/child of God relationship in the family of Almighty God. Of course, there are going to be things in relationship that God is going to expect from us in response, especially when we are disobedient to or out-of-line with His holy Word, Will and Way.
Sometimes in this fallen world, difficult truths about aligning our will with God’s way have to be shared, when they are not being lived out. Every fiber of our being wants to believe that “everything is okay” in order to avoid conflict. It’s easy to talk about pleasantries, current events, places to go and things to do, but the truth must be told when sin and rebellion willfully exist, even if it isn’t going to end well. This conversation has to happen, because in real relationship, speaking the truth in love moves in two directions, one to the other and vice-versa.
When we play “relationship with God, what we are basically telling God is that we just what a skin-deep, surface-level relationship with Him; talking about pleasantries in prayer, how God can bless us, how God can elevate me, about hardship that God can take out of our life for more freedom, joy and happiness. But, God do not talk to me about my life. Don’t you dare bring up things that I need to change. This is my life and I get to live it the way that I want to. God, you are just here to help me along the “my” way. That type of relationship would not “fly” (be acceptable) with any person we have in our life, so it is unrealistic to believe that it would with our Maker and heavenly Father, who is desiring a personal relationship with us.
Let's continue Pastor Kyle's message on the Building Blocks of God's Life Structure in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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