Monday Morning Music Ministry

8-10-26

I call it “Blessed Ambiguity.”

There are some things the Bible does not fully explain. Having been written over several centuries, scribed by many men, in three languages, on three continents – yet confirming itself in thousands of major and minor details, never with a significant contradiction in its 66 component books – we can trust it as God’s inspired Word.

Yet there are points where He left us to wonder. One such point that causes me to wonder “Why mention it in the first place?” is when Jesus was confronted by a bloodthirsty mob of Jews who wanted His opinion on their intention to stone an adulterous woman to death. Scripture tells us that the Savior was calmly writing in the dirt. Huh? Why? And what was He writing? And why even mention this?

My own opinion, and others have different guesses, is that He might have written the numbers 1 to 10… to prepare a reminder to the supposedly religious mob of the 10 Commandments. And “let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” But… that is an opinion.

There are more major points of doctrine – for instance, elements surrounding the Rapture; and when the Tribulation will occur; and many et ceteras – where God could have been clear. But He chooses ambiguity… I believe for three reasons:

• To keep us focused on the more important topics: that is, such questions do not affect our salvation.

• To have us do, in these latter days, what He had the writers of Bible books do before the Apostolic Age – search Scripture, look for antecedents, confirmations, and what God has already decreed on vital topics. After all, that is what Christ and His Church mean to us: “It is finished” is not an open door to engage in everlasting debates.

• To “keep us on our toes” – to be conscious and prayerful about spiritual matters.

Therefore I invite us to think of other “Blessed Ambiguities.” The world and skeptics might see these as “Aha!” moments – flaws in the Bible’s claim to inerrancy, but I see them as God challenging us to prioritize matters that matter in our spiritual lives. Besides, God is God! Trust the ways He presents His truths and His purposes and His will.

• Countless times, a theme of Scripture is presented as “surrender” leads to “victory.” Is this logical? In a spiritual context, this is not a contradiction.

• Similarly, despite examples of God’s people being warriors, e.g., David; the Bible paints many pictures of boldness for the Lord from a posture of… being on our knees. Is this logical? In a spiritual context, this is not a contradiction.

• When it comes to the matter of prayer, approaching our Heavenly Father, the Bible sometimes counsels us to be insistent… but sometimes patient. We often must pray, in other words, about how to pray. Is this logical? In a spiritual context, this is not a contradiction.

• Job, among other heroes of the faith, urgently prayed… and then waited on the Lord. Yet elsewhere we are told to “boldly” approach the Throne of Grace. Is this logical? In a spiritual context, this is not a contradiction.

• God issued Commandments, and uncountable rules for behavior, yet He also invited mankind to “come, let us reason together.” Is this logical? In a spiritual context, this is not a contradiction.

• He is “God Who delivers us,” yet many believers are troubled that He still has us walk through the valley of the shadow of death and enter the fiery furnaces, instead of sparing us the trials. Is that “delivery”? Yes to God, but is this logical to mankind? In a spiritual context, this is not a contradiction.

• There is the basic, and age-old, universal question – Why is there sin in the world? Why does God permit evil? Why do bad things happen to “good” people? People forget God’s sovereignty and the trust we must show. It is a matter of whether this is logical. In a spiritual context, this is not a contradiction.

• Hebrews 11 is called the Hall of Fame of Faith: a list of figures throughout Bible history who are amazing examples of obedience, forbearance, and faith. Yet not one of them realized the goals they adopted and to which God pointed them! Is this logical? In a spiritual context, this is not a contradiction. (This is a list of the faithful, not personal accomplishments: a clear lesson to us of God’s priorities.)

… and so forth. There are many such “blessed contradictions” in this perfect and complete record of God’s will for our lives. Is this logical? In a spiritual context, these are not contradictions!

They are all matters to pray about, however. They all affect our behavior… our obedience… our conduct… our examples to others… our “witness”… our relationship with God… but not our acceptance by Him. Trusting in Christ as His Son, His sacrificial atonement, His victory over death, and His resurrection – those simple (?) matters are not ambiguities!

Is this logical? For God’s sake – and ours – yes..

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Click: God Is God

11-29-21

This essay might change your life, or many things about your life – your priorities, decisions, preoccupations.

Or, of course, not: I do not pretend that any thoughts of mine would have that effect on anyone. I mean my thoughts alone. But I do eavesdrop on God, so to speak, and take note, and notes, on what He said in His Word.

Have you thought about what your last moments of life might be like, if you “pass away” quietly? Perhaps strange, but I never really have – and here I invite you to do the same, especially if you never seriously have done so. It might, as I have suggested, cause you to make some life-adjustments.

I will suggest scenarios that might be easy to imagine.

Will an active, successful business owner think back on the deals he could have made; maybe one more sale or acquisition?

Will a sports enthusiast or athlete regret the one game or match that might have been won; that a little more practice might have meant another trophy?

Will a mom or dad think back in sadness over home remodeling that never was finished, landscaping plans unfulfilled, the car or vacation that didn’t happen?

Will a hobbyist regret the collectibles that never were bought? Will someone with “wanderlust” spend the last breath sad about never seeing Paris? Will a politician regret that one more law was not passed when there was a chance? Will the accountant or lawyer or doctor be bitter over not designing that new promotion that might have attracted new clients?

I think all these answers would be NO. And if any would be yes, please join me in feeling pity for lives that conclude with such regrets. And let us pray, further, that you and I die with no regrets of these kinds.

More probable, however – and this should sadden us all – is that many of us, in our last moments, might indeed have regrets of some sorts. But they would not be things of this world, because the list we just imagined would make little difference in the world, or, ultimately, those peoples’ lives.

What are the things many of us might regret in our last moments?

The extra times we could have told our children we loved them… or hugged our parents more often… or spent those additional times, or made phone calls, to parents and kids… or told someone we forgave them… or asked, sincerely, that someone forgive us… or materially assisted someone instead of “thinking good thoughts,” or letting the government take care of, well, everything… or helped a troubled teen or an abused mom… or withheld judgment when a hurting person needed an “ear”… or encouraged a child… or shared an experience of yours that might have brightened someone’s day… or actually prayed with someone instead of saying “I’ll pray for you”… or really asking God to bless someone instead of mouthing “God bless” in their direction…

God forbid if any of these regrets are things you would recall in your last moments.

Maybe people, maybe even family members or neighbors, are precisely those who populate lost opportunities. Strangers, too; you would not know… but God does.

He knows. And He has a plan for each of us that we can, and should, seek to know. He has a will for our lives. What we might realize at the “end” are things He knew all along – the things that are important, and things we should have known were not so important. As the song “Until Then” said – The things of earth will dim and lose their value; Just remember, they’re only borrowed for awhile.

Can we change our lives now? Should we, when we think about such things? Every day we face questions, as I opened above, about priorities, decisions, preoccupations. We deal with uncountable such questions all the time.

Is it time we have different answers?

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Click: Please Forgive Me