Old Sandals

Romans 2:11 (YLT)
For there is no acceptance of faces with God. 

Our facial expressions are often very deceiving.  We so easily can hide behind them.

But with God there is no duplicity.  Nothing deceitful.  No shadow of turning.  That is why we are commanded to seek His face.

Romans 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

We certainly fall off the theological horse if we talk about God’s hatred for sin but fail to articulate the holy, loving reason for it. “I, the Lord, am a jealous God”, not “I, the Lord, am a vengeful God” (although vengeance does belong to Him).

On the other hand, as Bob Stamps (the chaplain at ORU when I was there back in the day) used to say, we don’t follow “an icky-sweet Jesus”. The same disciple who leaned on Jesus’ breast in the gospel of John fell at Jesus’ feet as dead in the book of the Revelation.

Perhaps that notable theologian, Mr. Beaver. should weigh in here: “Safe? Who said anything about safe? He isn’t safe, but He’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Acts 28:24-27
And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved….The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet..”Go to this people and say: ‘Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand, and seeing you will see, and not perceive….And their eyes they have closed.'”

How it all works is a mystery beyond our comprehension. The Holy Spirit would have us all to believe, otherwise Paul’s reference to Isaiah’s prophecy would not make sense. Yet not all do.

It is not within our power to believe, apart from God’s grace. But it is within our power to disbelieve.

Acts 27:31
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless [you] stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

We might regard the ship in this story to be representative both of our faith in God, and the Church of Jesus Christ on earth.

Many are shipwrecked where their faith is concerned, dashed upon the rocks of unbelief.

There is no salvation outside the Church, as broadly conceived. There is no other shelter or safe haven from the storms of life.

Acts 26:28-29
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

Today is the day of salvation.  Tomorrow never comes.

Acts 25:2-3
Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed [Festus] against Paul; and they petitioned him, asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem— while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him.

No wonder the Lord rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for committing the sins of their fathers—persecuting and even putting to death the holy prophets sent to them by God.

Acts 24:24
And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

God at times seems so distant, and yet He is ever near. God seems often so silent, and yet the heavens declare the glory of God. “The earth is the Lord’s”, and “His kingdom rules over all”, yet—how it resonates—“the kingdom of God is within you”.

Acts 23:2-5
And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?” And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

Even though the high priest was a wicked man, yet he was to be honored because of the office he held. What solemn responsibility then attaches to offices in God’s church!

Acts 22:16
“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

There is an efficacy in baptism that this verse (and others like it) point to.

The eternal Logos made flesh, water that washes away sins, bread and wine that are transformed into the body and blood of Christ, mortal bodies that become earthly temples of the Most High God—Christianity is an incarnational religion. This is the faith once delivered to the saints.

How far-reaching the implications!

Acts 21:5
When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we  were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed.

Our coming and our going. Our beginning, our continuing and our ending. Our eating and drinking. In happy times. In sad times. All the time. Pray without ceasing.