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The big picture of my writing will focus on writing about "happiness and hope" following this work. After that I fell I am to write on "One in a Million." That is a focus on our uniqueness in Christ Jesus and how we are made for Him.
Thanks to so many for your help, encouragement, coffee breaks and editing.
This Way of That
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.
2Pe 2:4-10 NASB
I see in this passage of scripture two types of judgment
with four possible methods of God in each judgment. There is much more in this
passage, but I want to focus on what we can learn about the “ways of God” in judgment.
What might God be doing when He brings a trial or temptation into our lives? Not
all the judgments of God will occur at the end of time. Daily, many forms of
righteous judgment happen. God cares for His children “through” these trials.
He knows who to take us “out of” these situations. God knows how to rescue us.
We are encouraged when we know how He is
doing it.
Two types of judgment occur here. These two types are the “judgment
of the word” and the “judgment of a culture”.
Noah was living in a time of global judgment and testing. Lot lived in a
time of cultural judgment. When we look at both of these stories, we can gleam
some insights to help us. The world or the society that we live in may undergo
a time of judgment in our lifetime. This scripture can help us. Let’s start by
reminding ourselves that sin has consequences.
I want to highlight that sin is not swept under the carpet, forgotten
by God. God is active against sin. The world suffers because of sin and all of
creation longs for things to be made right again. The weight of sin and its
effects on humanity are beyond our knowledge.
We only understand a part of what is happening now. But the little we do
see should awaken our desire to avoid being judged. A judgment involves trials,
temptations, testings and challenges that come when God’s hand is removed. Sin
does not end in itself, sin has penalties.
In this snapshot, the story of Noah is an illustration of a
Global Judgment. Noah lived through a time when the whole earth underwent a
watery trial. Life on earth was forever changed. Yet through this earth shaking
event, God took care of Noah and his family. When I review the story, I see
four basic elements that we can seek to understand. We are called to know the
Lord and if we understand how He moves in global judgment, it might help us
live through such an event. We want to
know the Lord and His ways. The more we know God, the more stable we will be in
times of shaking. By looking at how God dealt with Noah and Lot, we can grow in
understand. We can gain insight into how God might be dealing with people and
issues in our time. Let’s look at Noah first.
Let’s call the four elements in Noah’s story
1. Patient
2. Witness
3. Work
4. Calling
2. Witness
3. Work
4. Calling
Patient
“Patient” describes the time it took for the judgment to
come about. God moved slowly, He did not send word of judgment and then the
next day judge the world. Noah was a living messenger of God, building an ark
which was a sign to the people of what was to come. Noah was testifying with
his craftsmanship and lifestyle that a time of testing was coming and that some
would ride above that test. It took Noah 120 years to build the ark and for the
troubles to be released on the earth. While it is not always true, God often gives
more time for repentance in relationship to the impact of the judgment. In this
story God worked slowly in the world through Noah.
As you and I go through temptations we are blessed to know
if God is going fast or slow. If God is going slowly, we only frustrate
ourselves with a hurry up and get it over mindset. Many times we can reduce our
own stress by simply agreeing with the timing of the Lord. Slow may also be a
hint to the severity that is coming. God moves patiently as He uses us as a
witness to others.
We may hear a message of God’s coming judgment. A few weeks
later we may look around and surmise that the message was wrong, nothing has
happened. That may be true. It may also be true that God is moving with
patience. God may be giving time for people to change, to repent. We want to be
people who discern what God is doing with wisdom. By being “quick to repent” we
keep a tender heart toward God and avoid a judgmental spirit. Look for the good
and hang onto it. Understand that the patience of God is often misunderstood.
Seek to understand the timing of the Lord.
Witness
Being a witness is the second element. Noah was a living
witness to those who would be judged. Just as the length of time given in the
temptation is related to the judgment, the amount of witness is also. Even when
God moves in judgment, He is good and fair. Noah gave 120 years in testifying that God is
going to act, so get ready. Three generations of humanity watched Noah’s public
display of the coming wrath. God takes no delight in the destruction of the
wicked and is slow to anger. While God waits, he calls people to be an example
to others. Some of us are going through what we are going through, because we
are called to be a witness to others. Understand that your struggle may be more
than a personal issue? You may be in a season of temptations because you are
there to give a witness to the Master? Often our work is related to our
witness.
Work
Work is the third element. There are times when God seems to
do most of the work, and there are times when He has us work. Whenever God
calls for something to be built, He uses us to work. This was true in building
the tabernacle, the temple, and in taking the promise land. Noah had a call to build. God asks people to
build churches, business, relief centers and thousands of others things as a
part of His work and judgment upon that people. God is crafty. God will have
people work and produce music, literature, movies and media that warn of the
coming judgment. Our work is a critical. God plans to save and keep people
through our work. Temptation will come.
We may look around and struggle with the reality that we are
working much harder and making more sacrifices than those around us. Knowing
that your work is a part of His plan gives us strength. Fight discouragement
and fatigue with hope. Set aside times of refreshing. Ask God to confirm that
what you are doing is His will. We will not understand everything God is going,
but He will allow us to see and understand our part.
Be cautious toward those voices that only promote finished accomplishments.
Noah worked 120 years on his project. What if Noah went to the Lord after 80
years and said, “God, I think I missed your voice and I am going to stop?” God’s
will is not determined by how fast something gets done. Be wise toward those
who see success as a standard of God’s call. Most of the time, our life can
only be rightly evaluated when it is over.
Calling
Calling is the final element. A calling involves our work but
is greater in scope. Noah was called to build the ark. He was also called to be
a witness, organize his family, provide daily food and shelter, house the
creatures, sail the seas, and giving a new start to humanity. A calling is a visionary look at our life. A
school principal may be called to pastor and care for the students, going far
beyond administration. A factory worker may be called to intercede for the
business and co-workers. While doing a good job for his employer, His calling
is to fight on their behalf in the spiritual realm. God made each of us for a
purpose and has given us talents, gifts, ability and insights. Each person is
unique in their calling. This calling of yours is what you “live out.” You don’t
have a ministry, you have a life. Your calling is your lifestyle and labor,
your mindset and your attitude, your wisdom and the fruit of your life.
At times we go through temptations, Noah style. When we do,
understanding patience, witness, work and calling will help us partner with God
and not fall into sin as readily. Now let’s look at Lot and the elements of his
ordeal.
The four elements of Lot’s story are
1.
Fast
2.
Hidden
3.
The Work of God
4.
Obey Now
Fast
In contrast to the story of Noah, in Lot’s story God is
moving fast. Fast and patiently are not the only choices in how God moves in
time. But by looking at these two extremes we can work out the middle ground in
our own experiences. We also see in the story of Lot, that Abraham knew more of
what was going on than Lot did. This reveals the truth that while we may feel
like our situation is all about us, we may actually be minor players. Lot had a
part to play in God’s plan. Yet Lot was also separated from the main thing God
was doing at that time. We do not all play the lead, but every person is
critical. The events came upon Lot suddenly. The ordeal took from one evening
until the morning on the next day. Fast describes how God was moving. There was
little time to change your ways.
Hidden
Lot was also hidden from what was happening. God concealed
the plan from Lot. Although Lot was involved, God did not give him the inside
information. Lot was hidden from the full knowledge of the events. Lot was not
living out a witness like Abraham did. Lot was being rescued. Some of our
temptations are times of rescue, others are times of witness. It took some
convincing to get Lot motivated to leave. Often when God is moving fast there
is no time for explanations, trust and obey become the guidelines for the day. It is hard to leave behind your home, your
calling, your work. Lot had only moments to disconnect from what he was
attached to for years. So urgently was God moving that even looking back was
seen as rebellion.
God Worked
God worked in this ordeal. Angles were sent from heaven. The
plan was going forward regardless of who knew and who followed. Lot and His
family were to obey and follow instructions. Abraham was to be faithful over
time. Lot was to be faithful now. While God is always gracious, knowing how God
is moving helps us to understand that grace. Lot needed to know that God was
acting in severity for Lot’s deliverance. When we trust our own reason, our own
ability to understand, it may hinder us from moving quickly when God is
working.
Obey
Obey now was the command given to Lot and his family. Often
the call to obey is given through directions. God impresses upon us what we are
to do. He then expects us to do what He has said. In the temptations of life
God gives commands. Commands are direct actions God desires us to take. Depending
on our personality we tend to embrace a certain way of God. Some of us like
“slow” while others like “fast.” We may be those who naturally take our time in
acting, or we may be those who are “ready, fire, aim.” Regardless of who we
are, conforming to how God is moving is the test. God does not always
accommodate us. God does bring temptations into our lives that are in direct
conflict with our basic nature so that we learn to follow Him more than self.
Both passages teach us that God knows how to rescue the
godly from temptation, from the troubles in life. God may move fast or slow,
with your work or without it. The key is joining in with God and doing things
His way. To help prepare for those times of testing, develop humility. Humility
will lessen your resistance to conforming to the will of another. Humility will
help you trust over the long run and obey in the present moment.
I have often been intrigued by a practice in some of the
monasteries in the middle ages. People from all different backgrounds in life
came together to follow the Lord. In these communities people problems were
common. Conflicts occurred daily. Judgments toward another’s work ethic,
hygiene, humor and personality were prolific. The discipline of “humble
obedience” with practiced by some. In this discipline a disciple would choose
to obey everything another asked of them. As soon as the request was made, the
disciple was to respond to the request. In some communities, disciples were
encouraged to obey someone they did not like or someone who they though was
spiritually less mature then they were. In practicing this discipline they
worked out personal issue of obedience and surrender. I've tried this and found
the discipline to be very beneficial. My will was revealed and my values challenged
as I lived to value others.
In this test, as in all tests, you can mature toward God or
you and grow in self-righteousness. Choosing to humble yourself and train your
nature to obey, regardless of who is giving the command, is a worthwhile
training. The real test continues as the training period is over and life
returns to normal. Humility will manifest to the degree of Christ’s grace
during the training period. The hope being, that no matter how God moves, you
will be able to join Him in His effort.
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