GoodNews Letter
Number 369 April 27, 2011
CHANGING YOUR HEART
"...THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD BY THE MOUTH OF JEREMIAH MIGHT FULFILLED,
THE LORD STIRRED UP THE SPIRIT OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA..." EZRA 1:1.
We love to say, "God is good, all the time." The more we know the Lord and His plan, the more realize that God wants to affirm His righteousness to His people. God wants His people to know what it is and, He wants us to do what it says. If it's in the Book, the Bible, it will come to pass. Therefore, nothing is as secure as the plan. Everyone should know this; for, God says, "I am the LORD, I change not;" (Malachi 3:6.
Man must learn that God's doings are serious and will change our life. The effect is that God causes us to strongly want to get in on the plan. The question is: 'How do we get involved and do what God wants.'
I see two plans; or, two portions of a plan. First, He is going to do what is recorded in the book of books, the Bible. Secondly, the Lord graciously allows man to get in on what He is going to do. These two portions are harmoniously presented in the Word of God. Once saved-always-saved is clear. Since we cannot do anything to be saved, nothing we do can unsave us.
Yet, the Bible calls for the saved to be studious and faithful. The Lord wants us to do what we know we should do. Therefore, it is not hard to locate many verses that instruct man about the walk of faith - verses that have strong teaching. One is the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone that says to me 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven..."
Knowing Jesus as Savior is not the same as serving Him as Lord of the life. When we harmonize Scripture, we clearly see this. Once this truth is learned, the Bible opens up and the plan is seen. It is amazingly and vividly presented. Truly, man is "without excuse" (Rom. 1:20).
Further, at the Second Coming of Christ, we see that faithful SERVICE is rewarded with entrance into the kingdom. Many verses speak of the Bride of Christ. But, many verses tell of that most will miss the Bride. To understand the difference, we are; not only to pray for the kingdom to come, we are to learn of it and walk in its truth, as well. Once we understand the difference between being saved by faith and serving the LORD by faith, the eyes of our heart open wide. Church service takes on a whole new meaning.
While, the salvation of men's spirits and the resurrection of their bodies are the major and final results of God's plan, it is yet, mandatory that the heart of man has to be changed. Romans 10:10 confirms this point. "With the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness."
The changing of the heart occurs when man confesses that he is a sinner and submits to God's Son. Salvation begins with Jesus and sallvation ends with Jesus. No matter what portion of the plan we are in, faith in Jesus is required. First-Faith allows God to receive a sinner based upon the work of righteous that Jesus accomplished for him. Continued-faith allows God to employ us in His plan based upon what Jesus accomplished to set forth New Testament truth.
The gospel - the Good News - says that sin separates man and God but, although the gulf is great, Jesus spans it. Our loving LORD reaches down with one hand and lifts the sinner up; while, with the other hand, Jesus clings to hand of the Father. Yes! God is good, all the time. The Father sent Jesus to save man and Salvation is granted the moment the precious blood of Christ is applied. Man is redeemed, the gospel says, the second we trust Jesus. Now, the plan says that we are to serve our risen Savior. Christians will want to do this, Amen?
Do you beleive in the gospel or what Jesus accomplished for you? If you do, then you know that your heart has been changed. It is faith's transaction and, it is final. Man passes from death unto life; an act sealed in the blood of Christ that makes the exchange eternal. Hallelujah!
But, faith was in the beginning and, faith continues on. Throughout God's plan of faith, men have believed; even if we go way back to Genesis 22 and study the offering of Isaac. Without question, as Isaac was spared by faith, we have our life is spared through faith. Faith is the answer to man's problems.
Yet, AND GET THIS - Biblical faith has always been based upon the faith of someone other than ourselves. Saving FAITH becomes the doing and faithfulness of someone other than ourselves. We don't have faith in us, we have faith in others. It is not our faith in us that saves us, it is our faith in what another has done on our behalf that brings salvation to our hearts.
This is the case of Isaac. We read that a ram had his horns caught in a thicket of vines. How did the ram get there? Well, Abraham did what God told him to do. He walked by faith. And, as always is the case with the Lord - at faith's end - provision awaits. God kept the ram caught till the right time; to see Abraham's faith exercised.
During the walk up the mount, Isaac had questions but, he always relied upon his father. Seeing the wood and the fire, Isaac asked, "...where is the lamb for the offering?" (Ge 22:7). Father Abraham, believing God all the time, tells Isaac, "In the mount of the Lord it will be provided" (Ge 22:14). This ram was a TYPE of Christ. The picture of this type is very evident. We, clearly see that Isaac was taken in another. The ram was offered instead of him. A substitute offering saved Isaac from dying.
Just as Isaac was taken in another, so are we. Our substitute had been ready "before the foundations of the world" (Ist Pe. 1:18-20). But, at the right time, Jesus willingly took our place of death on the mount. It was Abraham's faith in what God told him that saved Isaac. But, Isaac trusted in his father. The same is true, Spiritually. Through the Heavenly Father and His faith, we who believed His Son, Jesus, shall be saved and never taste death. Our Father completes our trust. Thank you, Lord for sending the Savior!
BACK TO EZRA - a time of Israel's bondage. God's people had sinned, but now it was time to work among the nation, once again. Seventy years had elasped since Jeremiah uttered the prophecy. Now, it was time to fulfill the words of the prophet. "For thus saith the Lord, 'That after 70 years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place' " Jeremiah 29:10.
To accomplish this recovery of the nation and send them back to Jerusalem, hearts had to be changed. God moved upon Cyrus, the king of Persia (today's Iran), in order to bring about Jeremiah's prophecy. Thus, the LORD stirred Cyrus to action. And, did Cyrus responsed! He sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom (Ez 1:1).
Yes! God uses other men; even, non-Jews to accomplish His will. In the letter, Cyrus stated, "The Lord, the God of heaven...He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah" (Ex 1:2).
Why, it was no different than when Israel left Egypt. In God's provisions, the Egyptians gave Israel the necessary items for worship. "...let every man borrow from his neighbor...jewels of silver, and jewels of gold" (Ex 11:2). Cyrus provided "silver, gold, with goods, cattle, and with valuables..." (Ez 1:6). He gave back the items that were taken when Babylon captured Israel.
As Ezra traveled with all the goods, I can hear him singing something like: "God provides, All the time." When God is involved, "All things work together to good" (Rom. 8:28). Let us add to this verse, "All the time!" Friend, get all that God has. The Bible is written to inform us of God's plan. Read it! Study it! Believe it! And, do it!
While, I know that you will have a changed heart and serve the LORD, the problem remains that too many so-called believers today, do not. 'They really don't believe what God is doing in their life.' Changing the heart is up to the Father. He provided Jesus and He will provide grace. He, not only gets us to where we ought to be, He also provides the necessary items once we get there. Our heart can be changed. Allow God to stir your heart, today.