October 16
Jer 28:1-29:32 | PS 86:1-17 | Prov 25:17 | 1 Tim 1:1-20
Many a good preacher, pastor, evangelist has fallen, either during their lifetime or afterwards, when it appears that they were living a sinful life without many knowing it. Those who placed their trust and hopes in that individual are sometimes left wondering and despondent. Many a physician has spoken confidently about a topic, but has later been found out to be terribly wrong about. Patients and families are left afraid, not knowing who they can trust with their health. Many have placed their hopes for the future in a leader, a politician, a movement, only to find out that they were not who they seemed to be. Many were out for personal gain in one way or another. This does not mean that we live isolated lives and trust no one. It means that we discern who it is that we choose to listen to. We discern based on the word of God, the standard of all standards. When these people fail in one way or another, realize they are people, just like you are. Even men and women of God are sinners, saved by grace and faith in Jesus Christ. But though saved, they remain sinners, and will fight that battle between the flesh and the spirit until they one day enter eternity.
We read in 1 Timothy 1:5-7, "The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently." Speaking confidently, quoting this statistic or that, going to a prestigious institution, being part of the majority opinion does not make that person correct or an authority. What they are saying must be placed alongside the word of God and weighed on that balance. We read in 1 Timothy 2:3-5, "This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus." Jesus is the one Person who is always correct, will never let you down, and nothing will ever be found about to tarnish who He is. We read in John 14:6, "Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." Salvation and hope in Jesus is exclusive. It will never let you down.
All roads do not lead to God or any other form of happiness. Being "spiritual" or "enlightened" under any other banner will lead you down the wrong road. Even within the faith, there is only one Mediator between God and man, and it is Jesus. Others can help you or hinder you in getting to the only true Mediator, but it is in Him alone where your hope lies. No other individual in the past or present can stand in the gap for you. Even one sin is so repugnant to God that it would keep us from being in His presence for all eternity. We don't get to weigh our good and bad things to see if we wind up with enough good. Though that might work with your peers it doesn't work that way with a perfect God. We, and for that matter, any other person can not cross the chasm created by our sin which separates us from God. Jesus alone, our true Mediator, is the only one who can touch both you and God. Trust in Jesus. Know your Scripture and abide in it. This is how you are able to walk with confidence in this very troubling, dark, uncertain and chaotic world.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: