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In attacking Christianity, Nietzsche suggested there is no such thing as “faith,” there is only instinct which Christians cover up as “faith.” For instance, a man decides in his own heart what he should do, prays that God will make it so, and then calls this “faith.”
It was an unfortunate experience to read this and realize that Nietzsche, the Christian-hating nihilist, had defined me so well.
So, really, how faithful are we? How much do we “faithfully” rearrange our lives to fall under God’s plan rather than our own instincts? On the other hand, how often do we presume, practically expect, God will join us on our own quest for success, bless all we touch like Midas, and keep us comfy along the way. He’s little more than a Christian’s Dionysus.
Makes it convenient, huh? Especially when we act so ungodly about our failures and never praise Him for accomplishments.
Here’s what I mean by that: I think we best demonstrate our trust in God and our obedience to his guidance in our attitudes, actions, and the kinds of plans we make. This means that we always filter ourselves through the Word of God irrespective of failure and success. We always align ourselves with his character. We always praise Him. We always live in love. We always exude patience. We always remember that we are citizens of a kingdom, a kingdom whose concerns, intentions, and agenda in no way match the frantic busyness of our American Dream consumerism.
I was thinking about all this because I recently stumbled across an old favorite of mine in the scriptures -
Proverbs 19:3
“A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD.”
Do you ever feel as though you’re always blaming God for the tragedies and never praising him for the gifts? What if it was ME who made the tragedy by my own folly and a bit of wisdom would have transformed the whole situation (or at least wisdom might have transformed the way I perceived the situation).
Sadly, we so easily drift from God when the sly waters of our lives unmoor us from godliness and redirect our course to some chaotic sea, and only then do we cry out.
Often, when my life has been so cast aside I do return to God, but I return angry, embittered, disillusioned, undone and messy. He, the gracious one, so kindly ties me back together and reminds me that he is the single rock, the single fixed point that never falters.
John 14
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Fascinating – if you remember from the previous study, Jesus had just promised the coming of the counselor, the Holy Spirit, who is God, who would indwell and instruct and remind us of all he, Jesus Christ, had said. Then, immediately following that verse, he states, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”
I just think it’s so interesting because two gifts are promised in proximity to one another – The Holy Spirit and Peace – and I think there’s some connection between them.
Firstly, Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Peace, the desire to create peace, to diffuse conflict, to restore relationships, to overlook offence, to refuse gossip, to curb our own anger – these are direct outcomes of the Spirit’s work in our lives. He lives with us, reminds us of the scriptures, and prompts us towards living out the peace they require (among other things).
Secondly, Christ, in his death and life, cancels the enmity which exists between the sinner and God. Not only does Christ cancel it, he transforms it from enmity to friendship; and even more, to sonship – Christ has given us the option of transitioning from being the enemies of God to becoming his children.
And there are benefits!
As children, we have an inheritance. Guess who is our guarantee: “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14
The Spirit is the deposit guaranteeing we will receive the full benefits of what Christ accomplished on the cross.
Later in this same letter, Paul writes further on the role of the Spirit – he grants us intimate access.
13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Man’s greatest problem is not that he is sinful; his greatest problem is that, because of his sin, he is far from God.
God’s greatest gift is that he’s offered us a means to peace with him. Though we were the enemies of God, the objects of his wrath, Christ absorbed that wrath onto himself in our stead and thereby created Justice and Peace between us and God.
What saddens and convicts me is that even though all history hinges on this peace, even though all humanity holds its breath in search of it, even though the cost was so high, even through Christ himself suffered so much simply to create peace between me and God, to reconcile the both of us, to restore our relationship, how rare is it that I actually plunge into that relationship? When do I ever take advantage of that relationship? Do I live as if one in love? As one who has the great privilege of spending time with God?
“Peace I leave with you”
Does that peace even seem present?
