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Published: 12 June 2020

“God in the Dock,” is an essay by C.S. Lewis.  The dock being referenced is not a place for fishing or securing a boat.  He is referring to the place where the accused sits or stands in a courtroom.  Lewis wrote, “The ancient man approached God as the accused person approaches his judge.  For the modern man the roles are reversed.  He is the judge; God is in the dock.”  In other words, rather than humbly approaching the bench, modern man puts God on trial and demands He defend Himself.  At question here is whether God has to answer to man for His actions.  Does God seek counsel?  Does He owe any of us an explanation for what He does?  Does anyone have a full comprehension of the mind of the Lord?  Lord willing we’ll survey Romans 9-11 on Sunday.  It appears that some of the Jews had God in the dock.  Paul’s explanation of the gospel and his commitment to take it to the Gentiles proved to be a catalyst for some questions about God’s faithfulness.  Paul’s response was lengthy, about 90 verses of history and logic.  This section ends with a doxology reminding us of our place in this world.  God doesn’t answer to us but He loves us, wants us and offers us life.  Meditating on His goodness can keep us from asking God to defend His actions.  “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.”

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Published: 06 June 2020

It may be another one of those overused phrases in our culture but it perfectly expresses the point of a very important section of Romans 8, “The struggle is real.”  Sometimes I feel alone in the struggle.  In other words, it feels like I am the only one that is struggling.  The truth is, the whole creation is struggling!  The birds, the fish, the mammals, the earth and probably even the Spring Peepers!  When Adam and Eve sinned, they thrust the whole creation into a struggle, in fact Paul wrote that the “whole creation groans and labors.”  Have you ever wondered what the earth and all that is in it will be like once the curse is lifted?  Will Mourning Doves still mourn?  Will mosquitoes bite?  How much happier will a Chickadee be when the curse is lifted?   I’m even interested to see what a glorified Cat is like ?.  What does it mean that the “trees of the field will clap their hands?”  This is what we are headed for as believers!  In the new Heaven and new Earth believers will reign with Brother Jesus over a glorified creation.  Paul didn’t give many details but God did give you an imagination, (and I suspect it will be better than we can imagine).  We will not be able to create Heaven on earth, but it is coming!  The King will return and the changes will be so profound and so glorious that I think we will have a hard time remembering the days we are in right now.  “We hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”