Thoughts from Camp - Day 7 - God's Plan All Along

"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This 

is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.

The goal has always been restoration. What Adam had in the garden – the perfection, the relationship, the reflected image of God – that is what God has been working to restore from the moment Adam bit the fruit. God created the world perfect and when it became imperfect, God's desire was still to have a perfect world. It wasn't like He was content to have His world remade by one of His creation. The relationship He had before the fall was what He wanted back. So God made a promise to Adam – one day, someone would come who would crush the head of the serpent. Essentially, someone was going to restore what happened before sin entered.

And so this story begins to unfold, from Genesis 3 right to the end of the book, of God's work to restore to humanity what He had with Adam. So God appears to Abraham, and he tells Him He wants to make a covenant with him. God wants to make Abraham's descendants into a country – a people set apart for God. But what interest does God have in a holy people? He wants to restore that relationship He had with Adam – that perfection. So God promises Abraham a son. Why? Because someday someone is coming who is going to restore what happened before sin entered.

And then God appears to Moses and gives him instructions to build a tabernacle. All God is saying is, 'remember what we had back in Eden? I want that again.' So they build this tabernacle, and its made out of the same materials that were found in the garden. And at the center is a room that is a perfect cube, just as the garden was. And a cherubim-curtain guards the entrance to this room. And then we read about heaven and we see the same thing – a perfect cube, made of gold. Why? Because all God was saying was, 'remember what we had back in Eden? I want that again.'

So eventually God sends His son, Jesus. And we find out that this is the one we were anticipating. The one who would crush the head of the serpent had arrived. And He offered restoration to what Adam had in Eden. Someday in heaven, those who are in Christ can enjoy the relationship Adam had in the beginning.

So what is God's plan now? What does He want? The same thing He has always wanted. We are still a part of the story that has been unfolding throughout history – the story of God redeeming man back into the relationship He made us for in the first place.

Thoughts from Camp - Day 5

"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This 

is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.

Three times he denied Jesus, and yet he still became one of the most prominent men in church history. Peter was an incredible man, and after Pentecost, he marched into the world, boldly proclaiming the gospel. We don't know all of his ministry, but the first bit of Acts details his life, and we have two of his letters carefully preserved in the Bible.

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)

Christ is our example. He procalimed truth, and when the crowds rose up to kill Him for it, He did not waver. He continued to proclaim the truth about both God and man. His message was not watered down, it was not simplified, He knew He would be killed for what He was saying, and He kept saying it. As Leonard Ravenhill once said, “If Jesus had preached the same message that ministers preach today, He would never have been crucified.”Leonard Ravenhill

“He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22)

He was perfect. This makes Him uniquely qualified to take your punishment upon Himself.

“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23)

When Christ preached truth and was hated for it, He gave no response, and this is our example. We do not need to defend the truth of Scripture. Truth is truth, whether or not people mock it. Christ simply entrusted Himself to our just judge. He would let God judge those that struck Him. He would not strike back.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,” (1 Peter 2:24a)

Christ's substitutionary perfection is repeated here. His perfection was placed on us, and our sin was laid on Him.

“that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:24b)

Why did he do it? Why did He go to the cross? Among other reasons, so that your sinful nature might be put to death. So that every day for the rest of the Christian's life would be days of hating sin more and loving God more. So that sin might be done away with in us and that righteousness might reign.

“By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1Pe 2:24c-25)

And here lies the central, glorious truth of Scripture. He was wounded, and we were healed. We were lost, but He came down, sought us out, and restored us to a relationship with God. And here we are on Earth, with a shepherd and overseer – a king and a ruler. For the Christian, our sin is on the cross and our lives are in His hands.

Thoughts from Camp - Day 4

"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This 

is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.

He was short, he was unloved, but more than that, he was the epitome of what it means to be born as a descendant of Adam. Zaacheus was greedy, he oppressed the poor and he had no regard for God's authority. But he met with Jesus, and in one meal, his life turned around. His very character was transformed, and after a brief encounter with the Christ, he was a generous, loving man with a desire to look out for the oppressed. This is what Jesus does for people. And as he left his meeting with Zaccheus, these are what Jesus' words were,

“For the son of man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10)

The 'lost' is referring to us. Being described as lost is actually a beautiful thing. When you throw out a popcan, you don't call it lost – its garbage. The only things you call lost are things of value – your wallet, your puppy, your wedding ring. To be lost is to be wanted. Nobody ever called something 'lost' they didn't want to find.

This reveals the heart of God towards humanity. When Adam ate the fruit and was separated from God, God didn't stand back in eternity and shrug his shoulders at our helpless condition, but it has always been His desire to redeem and draw humanity back into relationship with Him.

We all know what it means to be saved. When you are swimming in the lake, and go one stroke too far – when you don't have the energy or strength to pull yourself back above the waves – you need to be rescued. You need someone to plunge their hand down, grab a hold of you and pull you back up. And this is what Jesus did for a 'lost' humanity. Plunged his hand down, grabbed ahold of us and pulled us back up.

Born as descendants of Adam, we are born bound by the power and penalty of sin. Bound by its habits, we do what Adam did, usurp the authority of God, but in a thousand different ways. Knowing some day we will stand before a just God we await the due penalty of our crimes – eternal death.

But Jesus came to save the lost. When the Romans nailed Him to a cross, He was dying the death that we deserve. Taking our penalty. A perfect man died in our place. Which means that you and I, sinners, are given His righteousness. And He, a righteous man, took our sin. A transaction was made – He dies, and we live.

But He did not stay dead – and we do not stay bound to the habits of sin. He rose again, and this same power that raised Him from the dead comes and dwells in our hearts, enabling us to put away sin and to become more like Christ day by day.

So what is left for you and I? Christ has lived the life you could not live, and died the death you deserved. What is left for us to do? Absolutely nothing. There is nothing you can add to the perfection of Christ, and His perfection is the only good that could possibly be seen in you. Does this mean all lost people are automatically saved? Not at all, but in fact, God extends His grace towards those who trust Him with faith.

What is faith? To have faith is to trust, and more than that, to apply to one's own life. A lifeboat is no good on a sinking ship unless a passenger knows it is there, trusts it can save him, and gets in the boat. So it is with Christ's gift. We must know it is there, trust it, and make it our own.

Thoughts from Camp - Day 3

"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This 

is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.

Whenever someone starts preaching on sovereignty, let's get real – all the Bible college grads groan. No one loves having their free will stamped on, seeing Calvinism flaunted, or having a predestination discussion in the foyer after church. But God's sovereignty, like all of His attributes, gives us much cause to celebrate.

Consider Esther – a story that unfolds all too perfectly. Esther happens to be the one girl chosen just at the right time. Haman happens to roll past the king's bedroom at just the right time so that he has to parade Mordecai around the city. And then poor Haman ends up throwing himself on the queen just as the king walks back to the banquet table. It's a too-perfect plot with a kicker-twist ending as the good guy steals the bad guys throne and the bad guy gets hung on his own gallows.

Its a story about God's sovereignty. When someone's not in charge, chaos reigns. That's why the last few chapters in Judges contain some grisly stories we don't talk about in Sunday School – no king means sinful chaos. Our hearts are depraved, and if depraved man ran the Earth, depravity would be law.

So praise the Lord that He's in charge. You can fight about free will if you wish, but God's hand always intervenes in time to see His purposes accomplished. Consider Mordecai's words to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Est 4:13-14). Essentially what he is saying is this, God is far too good for His plans to fail because of your fear, failure or incompetence. Your mistakes do nothing to slow down the will of God.

And what is the will of God? It is incomprehensible as a whole, but He has revealed His desire to see the redemption of the lost and the sanctification of the church. He didn't just have a master plan to save the Israelites from Haman, He had a master plan to bring His Son Jesus to the world to provide forgiveness of sins to all men, and to bring his children closer to perfection.

When God is king, depraved man no longer reigns. Which is why the earth still functions and global anarchy hasn't made our world a Lord of the Flies set. But more than that, it's why the depravity of our own hearts isn't consuming us, and why we trust the Lord life's crazy situations end up making us more godly and not more discouraged. God's good when you're not. When the storms of life rage, the God of the weather is sanctifying you. When the battle seems overwhelming, the God of victory is ready to intervene. When the need looms near, the God who provides is ready to give His children all that they need.

So the lost continue to be drawn in. And the redeemed continue to be made holy. Because God is sovereign. And His sovereignty is worth celebrating. As the Christmas carol goes, 'He rules the world with truth and grace.' And when we let Him rule our hearts, the dark shadows of our own vileness begin to flee away and our good king begins to see His will accomplished in our lives. May we praise the Lord today for the goodness of His sovereignty.

Lessons from Camp - Day 2

"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This 

is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.

God had warned them – He had told them judgement was coming. The prophet Jeremiah had been telling Israel to repent or face judgement for years. But after being beaten, thrown in a well and rejected by his own family, Jeremiah could only watch as the country of Israel was invaded by Babylon. Would Israel be completely destroyed? It is what they deserved. But our God is a good God, and He preserved a remnant – a precious few taken captive in Babylon.

Among them, four brave young men – Daniel, Hannaniah, Mishael and Azariah. And three of those men (presumably Daniel got out of this somehow) were willing to follow the Lord even unto their death. You know their story – although of course, you know it by their Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They didn't bow down. The furnace heated up. Three were thrown in the furnace, but four were inside. Nebuchadnezzar saw and believed.

There's a reason why they got to walk with that fourth man in the fire. Its where He always is - at the end of a road of self-sacrifice and total commitment. These three were willing to go there. Willing to die for the sake of following the Lord. And the reward was to meet the Lord Himself.

As descendants of Adam born in the days of a disobedient Israel these men should rightfully have had hearts to cold to feel any love towards their God. But without faltering. they picked up their crosses and followed Him.

Which is what we are called to do. God has asked for nothing less than our whole lives. He demands to be our top priority. He demands the entirety of our service and the entirety of our lives. He demands we choose the flames before bowing a knee to another.

This kind of faith is contrary to our nature. This kind of love for God is not born naturally in our hearts. And we can flip through Psalm 63 and find out how much David loved God, but we don't naturally muster that kind of excitement about the Lord. About deities we imagine, perhaps, but even then only when they appear to have done something that appease our proud and selfish hearts. Not when they call us to fiery furnaces.

So what does it take to follow this God into the flames? Where does that kind of love and self-sacrifice come from? Because no amount of prayer, time in church or understanding of Scripture will produce in us the kind of faith these three men had.

It takes the work of God. The one that created the universe must create again. We need to have new hearts created in us, or we can not even have the kind of faith we need to pick up the cross He is telling us to carry. He demands something from us that He Himself enables. Which is why salvation is such a mysterious and marvellous mystery from our wonderful God.

Kevin Deane
Posting from Camp Mini-Yo-We
Muskoka, Ontario

Lessons from Camp - Day 1

"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This

is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.

When I think of working at camp, I think about bringing an end to conflict. I feel like that's how a cabin leader spends most of their time – splitting up campers who are angry over cheating or mistreatment of each other. Age, race and gender don't seem to affect this problem– it is simply the human condition to have an inherent ability to engage in conflict easily. More than this, as we conflict with each other, we do so while appealing to some understanding of both morals and rules - as we accuse the other of being in the 'wrong,' we assume there is a 'wrong,' and that they should understand it. The human condition of conflict and morality is surely no coincidence – I believe we all share common roots in both our corruption and our desire to see a standard followed.

In the beginning, God created everything. He made the world, and it was perfect. He created two people, Adam and Eve - the source of our commonality. When God put them on the earth, He gave them one rule - 'do not eat the fruit of the tree.' Now God is an eternal God. And this is an eternal rule. Naturally, the punishment for breaking the eternal law of an eternal God must be an eternal one. No amount of time in prison (or other finite punishment) is going to satisfy an eternal God's justice. The only punishment that could fit the crime was an eternal one - someone had to die.

But God is a good God, and He had mercy on Adam. Someone had to die, so God took a lamb, killed the lamb and clothed Adam and Eve. He counted the death of the lamb as Adam's death, and Adam lived.

What Adam and Eve had done was tried to take the place of God. They had made their own rules. They promoted themselves to the position of God. They usurped His authority and this condition – this desire to be better than God – was passed on to their children. It became the permanent condition of humanity to, in our hearts, replace God with ourselves. Adam and Eve's first son killed their second son, because even after one generation he wanted to take the position of the Creator and be the one to decide who could live and who could die.

Several years later we come to the story of Noah in a day when men are described as being continually wicked, day in and day out, and this grieved God. God was going to judge, again. They had broken His rules, and they deserved to die. Men were breaking the eternal law of an eternal God - they deserved to die. But just like God had been willing to make a way of escape for Adam, He was willing to do that again. He told Noah how to build a boat, and there was a way of escape from the coming judgement.

For us today, not much has changed. We are born with this corruption and desire to make our own rules. We don't believe we are made in God's image, we imagine a god created in our own image. For example, take a look at the ten commandments and compare them to your own life. Keeping the ten commandments does not make us righteous, but breaking them does show us we are unrighteous.

But God has provided a way of escape. And this plan has been unfolding throughout time and throughout Scripture. The Bible, in one masterful story, reveals to us the character of God and the condition of humanity. But more than that, it reveals God's slowly unfolding plan to redeem all men and draw them back to Himself. It reveals His ultimate plan to provide not a lamb and not a boat, but His Son to be the way of escape from the coming judgement of God.

Thought of the day:

We are corrupt, and because of God's perfection deserve His punishment. But He offers a way of escape. If you crack open your Bible, you'll see His plan slowly unfurled throughout history. 

Kevin Deane
Posting from Camp Mini-Yo-We
Muskoka, Ontario

A Proper Fear of God

"And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” So David was not willing to take the ark of the LORD into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite." (2 Samuel 6:6-10 ESV)

The ark was a symbol of both God’s Presence, and His glory. Regulations for carrying the ark had been outlined in Ex. 25, 37, and in several other places in the Torah. In this case, almost every regulation was being broken. Uzzah and the other men were completely dishonoring this important symbol of God’s glory.

This is not a sin of ignorance, it is a sin of disrespect. Uzzah is trivializing God's holiness. He's treating God's commands with carelessness. He has no fear of God. With full knowledge of what He is not supposed to do, Uzzah shows no care for what God thinks. He comes too close and presumes too much. And as they step onto a threshing floor, God 'threshes the wheat,' and Uzzah falls over dead. He has no fear of God, and he dies.

When David sees this, He is immediately terrified. He wants nothing to do with the ark anymore. God just knocked a guy over dead for a simple mistake. And he's like, I don't want go near that kind of God. He sends it to the house of a Gentile because he does not want it in Jerusalem. He's the king of Israel – he is supposed to have it, but he's too scared.

Both Uzzah and David make a mistake in their attitude towards the glory and presence of God. Uzzah has no fear of God, and David is downright afraid of God. God has freely invited men to come into His Presence – He has opened up the door for us to experience His glory, but we must come on His terms and on His conditions. Uzzah has no regard for God’s terms, and David is too terrified to come at all.

When we consider God, we must have a proper fear of Him. We must respect Him, without making Him impersonal. We must care about His rules, without becoming legalistic. Have you ever messed up and felt so guilty you were sure God was going to condemn you right then and there? Don’t be like David and forget God’ love! Do you ever feel like God loves and forgives you, so sinning isn;t a big deal? Don’t be like Uzzah and forget about God’s holiness! We must understand the seriousness of God’s holiness, without forgetting about His love.

We don’t need to live in paralyzing fear of God. But, we also need to be careful to respect and obey Him as the Almighty. We must not be like Uzzah. We must hold God in proper respect. Honour His holiness. We must not be like David. We must not be afraid of God. Remember His love. Fear God without fearing God.