AaronEberline.com

Thought toward Easter: Seeing and Knowing

Aaron Eberline — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:00:52 +0000

The reality of Easter is found in seeing that God desires us and knowing our inability apart from Him.

#EasterIsComing

“All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:27-30 ESV)

Raze Your Bar of Life and Live

Aaron Eberline — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:15:54 +0000

How often have you heard people say that “We must raise the bar”? You will hear it at work, from your friends, and even within your circles of faith. What does this mean? What is the bar? In order to measure anything we must first have a fixed, stable, and constant point of reference from which to gauge progress. Can this idea truly be applied to our life of Faith? If our point of reference is God, how is progress measured? The true question is whether anyone can do anything to merit God’s favor. Paul states to all believers, “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:19,20

With no man righteous what is being strived for as we reach for a higher bar? To bring this thought to a personal level let me share my personal journey. I have had many changes in my life over the last year. I transition from having a multitude of time to read and blog through the Bible each day to having my time filled with the mundane tasks of life. My desire was to continue my blogging as I went about my daily routine but it became a difficult. I constantly set more and more goals to keep me going to no avail. I started to get down on myself for my lack of zeal and study time because surely God was disappointed. I made many assumptions about my faith and the measure of it. I was my own problem. What does God desire? Micah 6:8 states, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Can we say that God desires us? There is an unfathomable love that God has bestowed on us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:16-18. God moved and acted to restore mankind and no bar of merit was raised that man should live up to. Jesus Christ is everything that we need! We must raze the bars that we have placed in our lives and realized the complete sufficiency of Jesus Christ. What would happen if the bars of life were razed? Would justice spring forth? Would unconditional love abound? Would self guilt cease? This life is not about what we do or any other person has done. Life is about Jesus Christ and what he has done. Live free in Christ alone.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Colossians 1:15-20

Turn, walk, and love the fear of God: Jeremiah 5 and 6

Aaron Eberline — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:00:54 +0000

Have you ever spent an entire night before and examination studying in the hopes that you can earn a passing grade? I never found cramming to be an effective way of learning. The rapid review of facts may give and illusion of comprehension but there will be no knowledge. “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. Do you not fear me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’”Jeremiah 5:21-24

Just as cramming for an exam is ineffective so also is a life without a fear of God. How do we learn to fear God? We must know God by learning who He is. We must ”Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 By looking back upon who God is and what He has done throughout the lives of those who have gone before us we learn to fear Him. This fear is birthed out of our reverent love for God. Listen to God and find hope in Him.

The people of Israel consistently wandered from their devotion to God. The things of life continually crowded into their lives and upon the slippery slope of apathy and lethargy idols took the throne of their lives. The wonderful truth that God was faithful regardless of the actions of the Israelites is our hope. God worked to redeem Israel and myself, even as we were in our sinful state. What do we do when we find ourselves wandering? What happens when our devotion seems to wain? We must first and foremost remember that God is the faithful constant. We are the ones who wander, waver, and wain. Remember that the path traveled is governed by God. He enables us to walk in Him. Rest knowing that your life is in His hands. Your present circumstances may not transform in an instant but your outlook will be at peace in Him.

Choice is a matter of volition, faith a matter of heart: Jeremiah 3 and 4

Aaron Eberline — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:00:16 +0000

What choice have you made? The choice is one of devotion and dependance. Will you choose to depend on the idols that clutter your life or will you depend wholeheartedly on God alone as the source of sufficiency? The story of Israel in Jeremiah speaks to the wayward human heart that battles against God. The word of God to Israel, ”Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD. Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.’” Jeremiah 3:12-14 Would you turn away from your idols and back to God if you were Israel? Are you worshiping idols today, will you forsake them and cling to God?

We cannot choose to worship and follow God while clinging to detestable idols. There is only room in your heart for God or room for idols. It is impossible to live life as a pagan Christian. Once we are under the grace of God the idols have no hold, God takes preeminence over all parts of your life, and hope is secured even in your frailty. ”If you return, O Israel, declares the LORD, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver, and if you swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.’” Jeremiah 4:1,2 Will you choose the life of devotion to God? Will you trust in the sufficiency of the cross of Jesus Christ? Will you return to wholeness in Jesus Christ? We were made to fellowship with God.

The life that we lead expresses the choice we’ve made. Will the wrath of God be satiated or will you be the object of wrath, the only avenue of deliverance is found in Jesus Christ. Will you hope in Jesus? Will you hope? Will you live? ”A lion has gone up from his thicket, a destroyer of nations has set out; he has gone out from his place to make your land a waste; your cities will be ruins without inhabitant.” Jeremiah 4:7 As you look at the ways the people of Israel ebbed and flowed in devotion to God you will glimpse how your soul ever changes. It is the propitiation of Jesus Christ that brings rest to our souls. Stop striving and rest. Stop binding your soul to idols. Trust in Jesus.

Eloquence and strength manifested: Jeremiah 1 and 2

Aaron Eberline — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:00:07 +0000

How would you react if God told you that were set apart to declare His truth to an obstinate and headstrong nation? Would you fear the people you were going to reprove? Would you question whether God had the correct person for the job? “But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.” Jeremiah 1:17-18

The people of Israel needed to hear how far they had strayed from God. They declined from devotion to God into lustful idolatry seeking to fulfill their desires apart from God. The people abandoned God who intimately led them to the promised land as He daily proved that He was faithfulness and sufficiency. ”Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts. ”For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, ‘I will not serve.’ Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore. Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?” Jeremiah 2:19-21 Why do we easily stray from God even after we have experienced His goodness? We have all we need in God but we believe the lies that we are not truly satisfied in Him.

Is the story of Jeremiah any different than that of Christians today? We are called to be a light in this dark world pointing towards hope. Jeremiah was set apart as a stronghold against the sin in the lives of the Israelites. The world is full of phallic alters that are continually bowed down before. As disciples of Jesus Christ we must navigate this world of idols and speak the truth that Jesus Christ is all that is needed. Strength is not required to go and tell. Eloquence is not a necessity to communicate. The truth that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world is eloquence and strength. Will you tell of the greatness of the perfection that will destroy the idolatry of the world?

True joy glimpsed in a Promise: Isaiah Summary

Aaron Eberline — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:00:08 +0000

How can we summarize Isaiah? Is the book a collection of 66 chapters about a man names Isaiah? Does the book only apply to the people of Israel in a time long past? Is the book of Isaiah a prophetic view of God working through humanity despite the inherent unfaithfulness exhibited? How does the way we look at the book of Isaiah impact our faith today over two thousand years after the death of Jesus Christ. Looking back upon the book of Isaiah the unfaithfulness and disobedience of people is consistently evidenced. Time after time Isaiah tells the people of Israel that they are straying from God. Is the book just a repetitive collection of warnings against idolatry? If you leave your view of Isaiah upon this door step of negativity, disappointment, and discipline you will miss the true joy contained in the text.

The book of Isaiah is a story of God’s faithful love toward those He calls His own. Despite repeated rebellion, God was not thwarted. The continual thread of Isaiah is one of God bringing hope, healing, and wholeness to a hurting world. The promised hope is glimpsed throughout Isaiah. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’ The voice of your watchmen-they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.” Isaiah 52:7,8 The truth found in Isaiah is that God restores. He restores the physically broken, the emotionally persecuted, and the hopelessly lost souls of the world.

The death of Jesus Christ is the hope that we live for today and what the people in Isaiah awaited for with a fervent expectancy. Today we are awaiting again in a fervent expectancy of the day when God will return again. Trust in the hope that is secured in the person of Jesus Christ. Rest in His all sufficient sacrifice as you await His return. Never forget that your hope is secured in Him.

Quotable – Love Unto Faith

Aaron Eberline — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:05:13 +0000

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Amid the minutia God was, is, and will be: Isaiah 66

Aaron Eberline — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:00:40 +0000

What is Isaiah 66 describing? Are we told about the future of Israel, the future of the church, or the collective future of humanity? The language speaks of the birth, death, rebellion, and even restoration. Often we become bogged down in the minutia of the text. How should we interpret these verses? When we vehemently defend our views of end times and what will happen when Jesus Christ returns what gain is there for the collective body of Christ?

“Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:1,2 What did you note from verses 1 and 2? There is a great truth that is destined to bring encouragement. Our identity is defined in these verses. ”For as new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the LORD.” Isaiah 66:22,23 The thought is repeated at the close of Isaiah 66. Can you see the hope given?

In the midst of the minutia a simple fact is given. God made all that was, is, and will be. Can you understand this marvelous fact? All that we see is ordered and created by God. This world is not a chaos driven roller coaster ride that we just have to endure. God is in control and His existence is our hope. There are a great many details that Christians will choose to debate but it is of greater importance to dwell and meditate on the truth that God was, is, and will be our everything. There is no need, desire, or longing that cannot be satisfied by knowing God. What needs do you have? Are there desires that overwhelm you? Has this broken world caused you to long for more? Turn to God and you will find satisfaction.

God will where you cannot: Isaiah 64 and 65

Aaron Eberline — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:00:04 +0000

“Will you restrain yourself at these things, O LORD? Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?” Isaiah 64:12 Why is life difficult? Why does such evil dwell in the hearts of men? Did I do something to deserve this treatment, this life? ”There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.” Isaiah 64:7-9

Do you wish for a time such as the ones of the Bible where God was evidently seen by a pillar of fire and His glorious presence could be experienced in a very tangible way? You are not alone; In the days of Isaiah the people of Israel were looking back upon their past desiring to know God in the ways that their forefathers did. ”Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence- as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil- to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.” Isaiah 64:1-4 Why do we desire the days of yesterday’s faith? As we look back on the faith of our predecessors it is easy to look at the highs of life and think that there were never any times despair or trouble. Could that truly be the case? Can any man or woman live a life of perfect devotion to God?

As we see in Isaiah 64 and 65 humanity is prone to evil and idolatry as our sinfulness strives against God. We are deluded and disillusioned into believing that we can never be complete in God. The twisted lies that the devil has devised against our souls are effective and alluring. We are easily led away from God and towards the life of despairing depression. We need to fix our eyes on God. We need to remember that Jesus Christ died for us, Jesus Christ rose from the grave for us, Jesus Christ live to intercede for us. We must remember as the remnant of Israel did in their exilic captivity that God is faithful and hope is constant within Him. No matter where in life you must trust God.

Does God restore lives? Does God heal? Does God bring wholeness? ”They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.” Isaiah 65:22-25 Will you trust God to make you whole and complete? God will where you cannot. Trust Him.

We only are because God is: Isaiah 62 and 63

Aaron Eberline — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:00:15 +0000

God is Hope. God is Promise. God is Restoration. God is Holy. God is Father. God is. “You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:4,5 We only are because God is. Simply put without God there would be nothing. It can only be by God’s gracious favor that we aspire to endure.

“Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.” Isaiah 63:15 Lord Remember your people. We live in a reality that we cannot fully know you or wholeheartedly follow you. We glimpse you but often find trinkets and trophies we’ve collected blocking our sight. Remove the idols in our way that we may see you. ”For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.” Isaiah 63:16 We are apart of a great story Lord. We can easily feel lost in the void of time that has elapsed since you openly showed your glory. Let us realize that we see your glory all surrounding and your power is evident in the complex simplicity of your creation. ”O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage.” Isaiah 63:17 Lord we are so prone to wander from your goodness and truth. We need your help Lord. It is only in your provision and power that we can live, breathe, and move. Let us fear you and trust in your hope.