The Lion of Judah (Vol. III, Issue 9, February, 98)
by Rev. Charles Lawson
| Hebrews 5:8-9, Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became theauthor of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; |
Notice that He learned: Experientially. He acquired experience in all the areas we would in our lives.
The point in every man's life when he is put to the test of whether he will rely on his faith in God's word or turn to self.
OBEDIENCE means that Christ faced temptation to rebel against God's holiness.
OBEDIENCE means that Christ faced betrayal and temptation to doubt God's faithfulness.
OBEDIENCE means that Christ faced rejection and was tempted to doubt God's call.
OBEDIENCE means that Christ faced hatred and was tempted to distrust God's love.
OBEDIENCE means that Christ faced physical suffering and was tempted to distrust God's goodness.
Being made perfect has nothing to do with sinlessness. He committed no sins. Perfection here has to do with completeness; ableness; fullness.
A perfect Savior is one that can save to the uttermost. He can rescue from the depths of corruption. He can receive the sinner in his fallen state because He has passed through the SAME sin-cursed world and felt all of its power to damn and destroy. He knows where the sinner is coming from and what it will take to set him free. He knows where He will take the sinner and what He will do with him and to him. He is uniquely qualified to do this because He has passed the test Himself. Through suffering He proved His obedience to God and by this He opened the way to God's presence. The savior of man is the MAN Christ Jesus. The MAN has qualified Himself as the obedient servant of the Lord, not only to live a life of Sinless self denial completely dependent on the Father's provision but to follow step by step the path set before Him by the Father. The Divine and the Human merged in one Man. Fully God and fully Man. From the outset every deed was done by the power of the Holy Spirit, thus revealing His dependence and obedience to His Father. "This is My beloved Son" was heaven's confirmation of this perfect life. God could certainly save, there can be no doubt. But it would be as from One on an ocean liner throwing a lifeline to one on a sinking vessel. The salvation would be real and effective, but from One that was distant and unknown. Is He friend or foe? They may question. But if One on that sinking ship that the men had known, for he was one of them, in the darkest of night with lantern in hand beckoned for them to come to Him for He could save them, they would surely follow.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that He "brings many sons Unto glory" Hebrews 2:10, For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Notice the terms: Captain, Hebrews 2:10; Author, Hebrews 5:9; Horn, Luke 1:69, of our salvation. Designed in the mind of God He became the Author; led by the Lord Jesus Christ as our Captain; all through weakness in flesh and strength in spirit He is the Horn of our salvation. This salvation we enjoy in our Lord Jesus Christ was a mystery to the Old Testament saints. 1 Peter 1:10, Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you. They were saved no doubt, but they could not see the familiar friend that had been one of them on their sinking ship hold up the lantern and beckon them to come.
He is the perfect author of a perfect salvation.
by Victoria Thacker
"Thus saith the Lord of hosts;
Consider your ways." Haggai 1:7
These days, remembering Valentine's Day seems to have become a must. But who knows who Valentinus was and what the story behind Valentine's Day is anyway? One legend paints Valentinus as a Christian priest in third-century Rome who was imprisoned for refusing to worship pagan gods. According to this account, he made friends with the jailer's blind daughter, cured her through prayer, and on the day of his execution, February 14, he sent her a farewell note signed, "Your Valentine." Other legends link Valentinus to erotic festivals in ancient Rome which took place during February (named after Juno Februata, goddess of love's fever). Yet another legend has it that the third-century priest secretly married couples against Roman law. Anyway, in the Middle Ages the Catholics canonized Valentinus and he became the patron saint of lovers.
Male and female alike are in a mad search for the perfect mate, the one person who will help complete, share, and fulfill their lives. The only problem is that there are no perfect people: they are nonexistent.
The old cliche, "Love makes the world go round," is one of the many ways merchants capitalize on romance. In 1901, the candy conversation hearts, called "Sweet Hearts," were invented. Sentiments like: Be Mine, Say Yes, Kiss Me, Loverboy, have proved very successful for the candy companies. In 1996, an estimated eight billion of these pastel-colored hearts were molded and marked with all types of different sayings. The most recent addition is "Fax Me."
FTD encourages us to express our sentiments beautifully. "Let Romance Bloom" by sending "Be Mine" bouquets or a dozen long-stemmed roses to our sweethearts. The price of a dozen long-stemmed medium roses, sent through FTD, will increase from $49.95 to $74.95 between the 6th and 17th of February. Interesting, huh? However these customs began, society is mesmerized by Valentines's day. We are magnetized by the sensation of romance. If you don't think this is true, just let a beau forget to give his sweetheart a gift on this holiday.
Is there a difference between romance and love? I believe there is a vast distinction. If you look up both love and romance in the thesaurus, you will quickly see the difference. Under the word romantic it says: adultery, affair, cheating, entanglement, fling, love affair, playing around. There is a totally different listing for the word love: affection, concern, compassion, devotion, commitment, cherish, esteem, and honor. There is a tremendous difference between being romantically inclined and having true love for someone. Society is infatuated with romance. When you are considering the difference between romance and love, think about the giver and taker issue. The foremost distinction between love and romance is that we expect to get something from romance and we want to give something with love. Romance can lead to what I call fantasy figures. A fantasy figure is someone we make up in our minds.
It happens all the time. Boy meets girl; girl meets boy; they insist they've finally found the right person, a dream come true. So why aren't these marriages lasting at lifetime? Good question!
First comes romance, then comes marriage, then comes reality instead of the expected romantic days of bliss. So many people have built their marriages around a delusional fantasy figure that they have built castles in the air rather than in actuality.
Grand expectations can cause grand disappointments. We have fantasized for so long how the pleasing Prince Charming will come into our lives and sweep us off our feet. He will be so very handsome, strong, sensitive, warm, and responsive. He will fill every emotional need, relieve every anxiety and anticipate every mood and we will be together all the time. He will believe in lots of verbal communication and when lost he will always ask for directions from the first available person. This much weight can sink a marriage. When we equate together forever with together all the time that is unrealistic. There is no way that reality can live up to our fictional imagination.
Male and female alike are in a mad search for the perfect mate, the one person who will help complete, share, and fulfill their lives. The only problem is that there are no perfect people: they are nonexistent. We can only make them up. The risk begins when love becomes a game. If you are playing this game, there will be no winner. The figure you have created in your mind and the person that you are really marrying will be completely different. I have heard this story over and over: "He's not what I expected: he has changed so much from when we were dating. He just isn't romantic anymore." My question is, has he changed? or do you have to face the fact that the person you married and your fantasy figure differ? This is where the rubber meets the road. Did you marry a fantasy figure, or has your prince actually turned into a frog? Did your mind make him out to be who you idealized and dreamed of rather than who he really is? Maybe he hasn't been the one who's changed but, on the contrary, you have awakened from your fictional, many times Hollywood-inspired fairytale fantasy. Eventually, when a marriage is built on the faulty foundation of fantasy figures, it will erode.
This reality can occur when he doesn't want to share his feelings all the time, or maybe he disappoints you because his wisdom or knowledge is not what you believed it to be or when you find out this strong, independent, financially secure man can't find something that is staring him right in the face. Then, to top it all off, he is not interested in all the same things you're interested in. Your overblown expectations will inevitably cause heartache. It's OK to want someone who can give us hope and encouragement but don't let your expecting go to far.
Let go of these fantasy figures: they will ruin your marriage. If you are not married, DON'T SEEK a mate using your vain imagination to guide you. In fact, just don't seek a mate. If God has a mate for you, He will bring that person into your life. You do not have to find the mate God has for you. Praise the Lord! God does not play the Dating Game nor Hide and Seek!!
I highly doubt that Valentinus or Sweet Heart candy has been the major factor in causing our fanciful delusions. It's the age-old work of none other than that sneaky snake, Satan. His craftiness attempts to ruin what God intended for our pleasure. "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him," Genesis 2: 18. You need not trust your own judgment in finding a mate, but can and should use solid based, Biblical Principals, allowing God to place the right person in your life. The Bible teaches how to love one another, grow together, comfort each other, accept one another, be companions, face hard times and rejoice in abundance. The Scripture gives you the tools you need to overcome obstacles and support your spouse. (Colossians 3:18-19, I Timothy 5:14, 4:31, Ephesians 5:21-22, 33) Build a strong and satisfying marriage on the unshakable foundation of God's Word! When a crisis arises, use this S.O.S. (Song of Solomon 8:7), "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be condemned