What we do in life echoes in eternity

Book Review:
Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ by John MacArthur

A unique and fascinating look at a side of Christianity that no one wants to acknowledge.  A poignant study of the Bible and the story that it tells and the demands that those who call themselves Christians really have.  THis book redefines how we as english speakers must approach our own hermeneutics of the Bible. What MacArthur really does is open up the dialogue of what it means to be a Christian, as well as the message that Paul and the other New Testament writers are trying to tell us about who God is, and who we are in relationship with God.  With constant Biblical and non-Biblical references to specific passages to back up his position and building off of what a few other offers have written in relation to this topic.  There is a plethora of addition information that can be tapped into with in the book.  Slave is more than a book, it is an invitation to study and read the Bible from a new perspective.  If you are a follower of Christ, or want to know more about what it means to follow him, there are few more truthful accounts outside of the Bible to explain what it truly means.  This is a Bible study, a book and an introspective lens all in one.  A truly fantastic addition to any library, theologian or layperson alike.

"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong; that is your oath."\
-Balian of Ibelin - Kingdom of Heaven. 

There was a time once, when chivalry was the standard men lived by, when Sir was a title with meaning and weight behind it, not just a term of respect that  future son-in-laws call their potential father-in-laws. A time when the pen was not mightier, but swords ruled, it was a sign of wealth and status.  It was the best gift that could be passed on from father to son. A time when a a good man was defined by his character, valor, honor, and chivalry.  When you owned whatever you did either good or bad, and took the consequences.  A time when the greatest compliment any man could receive is to have someone who knew your father say to you, "you are your father's son".

Could you imagine that comment today?

Would any guy these days take it as a compliment?

What has happened to men that we no longer take that as a compliment?

Many books have been written about this topic. The problem with fathers, sons, and the relationship or lack there of between them.  Being a true man, and a man of God.  These are important topics.  This is not to say that there weren't these problems in medieval times, but can you think of any man you know, yourself included, and myself included for that matter.

Who doesn't want their own son to take that compliment like gold?

I want my son to take that compliment as the best compliment he could receive.

So what do we do?  First we must learn to live like real men of God, following kingdom principles.  Be men of honor and valor.  Respected by men and God alike. Chivalrous and upright. King David command's his son Solomon and all men on how to be men. "Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: "I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn;" (1 Kings 2:1-3).


What kind of man will you chose to be? Will you follow the Lord, and walk in the ways of a righteous man, a godly man? Or will you walk in the ways of this world, and not be the type of father your son wants to be come, the type of father who draws a violent and negative reaction.


What will your legacy be?


Will your son want to continue it?


“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Joshua 1:9

"What makes Christ glorious, is an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies."
- Jonathan Edwards

Often times in life there are reoccurring themes, those things that just seem to constantly come to the surface.  The first few times this theme presented itself in my life, i brushed it off.  i believe that is something that we often times do, we tend to think its the other people who have a problem, not ourselves. The theme continues to knock on my door however, it cannot be ignored, it must be accepted in, and even if grudgingly we must allow it to chisel away at our exterior, when this happens more of God is revealed in us and potentially through us.

i have always said that one of my greatest strengths is also my greatest weakness.  i am for lack of a better term, a passionate person.  Always have been, and always will be.  When this passion is properly controlled, and harnessed, it can be very dangerous for the Kingdom of Heaven.  However, if i let my passion get the better of me, go uncontrolled, look before i leap, etc. i potentially become very dangerous for the domain of darkness.   Just like any other emotion, on its own passion is not sinful, it is only when we let ourselves be controlled by that emotion, when Satan is able to use it against us.

So how do i keep myself from being controlled by this emotion, and learn how to control it?  Find a role model and work to pattern my life after how they handle it.  Jesus is called the Lion of Judah, and for good reason, He is God, and has all power and authority on heaven and earth.  He could have easily done away with any of his opposition,  done anything that he wanted. But he didn't. In his book "Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ," John Piper has a chapter titled "The Lion and the Lamb,"  in this chapter he discusses all the ways in which Jesus lives out the perfect juxtaposition of these two diverse excellencies.  It doesn't seen possible to be both a Lion and a Lamb.  To be a Lion-like-Lamb, and a Lamb-like-Lion.  Jesus knew how to control his passion, yes he turned over tables and drove people out of the temple with a whip that he made, but it came out of righteousness. He chose to become the lamb of Judah, instead of the Lion to give us all life. There is no greater example.  Being a Lion is a good thing, but being a Lamb-like-Lion is a Godly thing.  So we must "rise and rise again, until lambs become lions," but always be a lion the way that Jesus was, and never the lion that Satan tried to get him to be. 

" The Lion of Judah conquered because he was willing to act the part of a lamb.  He came into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday like a king on the way to a throne, and went out of Jerusalem on Good Friday like a lamb on the way to the slaughter.  He drove the robbers from the Temple like a lion devouring its prey.  And then at the end of the week he gave his majestic neck to the knife, and they slaughtered the Lion of Judah like a sacrificial lamb."
- John Piper Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ