Forgiveness is Free

In Matthew 21:12-13, Jesus capped his triumphal entry into Jerusalem by clearing out the temple. He rid His house of those who were buying and selling. But why did he call it a “den of robbers”, and why was Jesus so angry?

Note that the people at the tables were “selling doves.” Don’t pass over this. Additionally, I don’t think it’s too much to presume that they were probably selling the doves for more than the MSRP. Why is this important?

The doves were used for the sacrifices that were required for the people of Israel. Most families and clans had come from far and wide and were probably not able to bring their own animal for sacrifice. As a result, they had to buy a dove at whatever the asking price was.

Not only was this highway robbery, but it made Jesus angry for even another reason. The doves were used for sacrifices for the sins of the people. The people were selling forgiveness! And they were selling it at a high cost! Jesus was angry, because forgiveness is free – and in a week he was going to prove it.

This reminds me of something else that happened in the early 1500s. Martin Luther tacked up his 95 Theses to combat the unbiblical actions of the Catholic Church. Specifically here, I am reminded of Luther’s chastisement of the church because they were requiring the purchase of indulgences. Again, they were selling forgiveness. And again, right in the church building. But Luther knew that forgiveness was free.

So I wonder what the church of today is doing to sell forgiveness. What are we requiring of people before we allow them to meet Jesus and his true forgiveness? Are we trying to change the sin of a person instead of showing them the gift of forgiveness? Are we selling them something as a prerequisite to meet Jesus?

Today, I’m thinking that forgiveness is free...although let us never forget that it was very costly for Jesus.

Back to the Future

Would you want to know your future if someone offered to tell you? I dare say that many people would say ‘no’, depending on what tidbit of information was being offered. Would you want to know if you still had the same job in 10 years? Or would you want to know how your kids would turn out? Or would you want to know when you would die?

Some may want to know so they can change a mistake that they will make or to prevent some sort of disaster. But for the most part, we would probably want to avoid knowing every part of our futures, so we can just live our lives and enjoy them.

In my favorite movie, Marty McFly goes back in time to try and warn Doc Brown about the future. Marty is trying to prevent Doc from getting shot in 1985.

As Marty begins to tell him, Doc cuts him off and counters with this statement: “Having information about the future can have disastrous consequences. Even if you're intentions are good, it can backfire drastically.” He goes on to say, “Whatever you've got to tell me, I'll find out through the natural course of time.”

This issue has come up for us recently in two ways. And although it’s not a good idea to argue with the man that invented the flux capacitor, I think there are a few instances when having some foreknowledge can be a good thing. (And if you’ve seen the movie, you know what I mean.)

Firstly, as a couple, we are studying and thinking about prophecy. Prophecy is a spiritual gift – and is still active today. While it may not tell the future like a fortune cookie (“you will get respect at work today”) or be a predictor for some event (“a car will hit your mailbox tomorrow”), prophecy is a way that God communicates to his people – either directly or through others, through a community.

The second issue that has brought up the idea of the future is the Book of Revelation. This book by John can appear very confusing, so it is read infrequently. But if Jesus is telling us the Ending, then we better pay attention. We are to live today standing on the hope of the future. But just like the Pharisees who missed the prophecies about Jesus’ first coming, I’m afraid that we too may miss the signs of Jesus’ second coming.

God has given us two ways to know what lies ahead, and we should take hold of them. The gift of prophecy enables people to experience God and his purposes in the near future. And the Book of Revelation gives us explanation about the not so distant future. Today, I’m thinking that we may need to go Back to Future.

Getting Good Reception

Driving in my car, I tried to tune in a radio station. Unfortunately, after one of our recent snowstorms we were shoveling two feet of snow off by car and broke the antenna. So I was not getting good reception. The radio personality's voices sounded like they had hiccups and the music had too much static.
Back at the house, I tried to adjust my rabbit ears on our TV. (Yes, we've heard of cable.) We have problems with poor reception if there's a storm in the vicinity. Oddly, we also have major issues with TV reception if a cell phone rings or the central heat turns on.
Quite obviously, the problems with reception usually do not have anything to do with the broadcasting agency. In the case of my car radio, I no longer have the proper method of receiving said signal. And in the case of my TV, there is outside interference with that signal.
Maybe your mind started going where mine did. Usually, I have a tendency to ask God why He is not speaking to me, but of course the problem lies with me. My reception is not good even though the signal is clear and the broadcast is steady.
That is not to imply that God speaks like banners behind beach planes ("Eat at Jimmy's Take-Out") or over the loud speaker like an airline pilot ("There is turbulence ahead") - because, frankly, this is rare. Elijah didn't hear God in the earthquake, the wind, or the fire. He heard God in the whisper. So we need to be very attentive and to eliminate everything that will prevent us from hearing the Word of God.
I may have a problem with my spiritual antenna, so that while God is talking to me or singing over me, I am not consistently hearing it because I am not paying attention. I may not be in prayer enough or may not be reading the Word enough. Or maybe I should be spending more time in silence and solitude. I need to fix my antenna.
Or I may be dealing with some spiritual interference. Storms may be blocking my signal or there may be competing signals in my life. I could be worried, or lacking faith, or there could be sin inhibiting me from hearing God.
Today I'm thinking that I need to get the best reception that I possibly can, so that I don't miss a thing that God is trying to tell me.