Richard Alan Edwards: 2009

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Augustine's Conversion

St. Augustine, in his classic devotional work "Confessions", writes of his conversion experience and new-found love for God. Augustine had been a vile and wicked man. His life was filled with revelry, drunkenness, and sexual exploits. But the God of heaven used a most curious

providence to draw Augustine to Himself. One day, while in the gardens, he heard some children playing, and singing a song with the words "tolle lege, tolle lege" - "...take and read...take and read..." Under great spiritual compulsion and conviction, he obtained a copy of the Scriptures, and opened it randomly to the book of Romans, chapter 13, verses 13-14. In this passage he read the inspired words of God penned by the Apostle Paul to the church at Rome some 300 years before he was even born, "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." This was a vivid description of Augustine's life, and the remedy for such a life appeared in the next verse. Jesus Christ was his only answer. His life was transformed in an instant, in the power of regeneration. In his Confessions he writes of his lucid transformation, his salvation through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, "You stir man to take pleasure in praising you, because you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." After his conversion, Augustine wrote voluminously concerning the Lord Jesus Christ; the Confessions, though, are his most famous work.

Friday, June 5, 2009

I enjoy solitude with God pondering infinite theological ideas

Most of us on spaceship earth live in the age of electronic overload. Little time for deep thought. Media throughout the world via it's outlets of internet, television, ipods, music, etc. keeps us glued to its' coercion and its' secret purpose of, "Create more desire". If they accomplish their stated goal then Christians will be no different than others. The old schoolmasters of theology (in Europe and Great Britain) prior to the advent of this modern era had less temptation to fritter away time as we do. That is why I enjoy reading the saints writings from centuries gone by. Augustine of Hippo, the Mystics, the Reformers, the Puritans, the evangelists, pastors and theologians like Knox and Owen to modern "prophets" like A.W. Tozer. Tozer never owned an automobile or wore a watch. While talking with his good friend Leonard Ravenhill who wrote extensively about revival and prayer, they walked into Tozer's office in Chicago and Tozer said, "sit down Len, let's sit for a while and talk." Aiden Wilson Tozer said, you see that rug on the floor Len, sometimes I come to office in the morning and I am so full of God that I place a sign on my door that says "no dictating today" and I lie prostrate on that rug from 8 to 9 to 10 to sometimes 1 pm in the afternoon and say no word of prayer, no word of intercession, I just utter words of praise and worship. Tozer could quote hymns and poetry like no other man.

A.W. Tozer was a pastor with the Christian and Missionary Alliance for nearly 40 years. If you would like to listen to this modern day "Prophet" you can go to Sermonaudio.com and listen to 399 sermons.

THE LIMITED WELCOME OF JESUS CHRIST

What if today you received an invitation inviting you to have dinner with the most admired person of a Royal family? For instance, King Solomon, Queen Elizabeth, George Washington, or Abraham Lincoln ,or whoever you could name. Would you accept and believe the invitation was authentic and go to the dinner, however unworthy you feel, whatever socio-economic class you are in, whatever race, religion or ethnicity you might be? You have been invited by the Creator God, the most Royal person in the world to have ever lived. Why would you turn down such an invitation. This Creator God is going to make you worthy to sit at His table, he is going to cover your socio- economic embarrassment by giving you one of His own Royal robes. What if the language of this Royal individual was different than yours and you sensed you might have nothing to say to this person? Would you still go if he promised you a part of his kingdom and any desire that you wanted? Now those desires would be stipulated by His rules you understand.

So now, you are at the dinner. Imagine if you were a person who had nothing to say to this person of Royalty and education. Maybe you were at the bottom of the socio-economic level, you had accomplished nothing in life, you had no sense of self worth and absolutely zero to offer this person. You were speechless while sitting at the table of this Royal gentleman. This would be very humbling, extremely embarrassing, would it not? Yet now, something has suddenly changed!!!

This Royal Person is totally interested in your little life. He did not want to talk about all His accomplishments, but wanted to ask you, about you. This person is interested in your life. How different would that be? That would be unexpected and outside your normal experience with other people, right? Then that person of wealth, honor and priveledge and glory said, "ALL THAT I HAVE IS NOW YOURS", you will inherit what I have. You would be shocked at such a statement and ask, what do you mean by that? So, would you accept it, believe it, or would you proclaim: "It cannot be true, you are a liar"!!! I really do not believe you and will not have you reign over me, you shout.

You have heard clearly the offer that was made you.

Now we relate this metaphor to Jesus Christ who came from the highest of royalty and has existed before time began, was the person who created the worlds, the infinite space, the infinite galaxies and the infinite stars. In fact, there was never a time He has not existed. In fact, time has always been and that is one thing he never created. "From everlasting to everlasting thou art God". This person of royalty had hundreds of prophecies written about him by many prophets describing the circumstances, time and city of his birth. There are literally hundreds of prophecies about Him. No one can deny these or disprove them. He was born as a human over 2000 years ago to a woman who was a virgin. He lived a perfect life, never sinning and overthrew all of Satan's attacks. He died for the sins of the whole world. He died for you.

It was said by one author John, that if all the things that Jesus Christ did were all written down, that the whole world could not contain the books that should be written.

Would you, Could you, Should you say after never finding anything against Him, say, "You are some sort of Liar, a Lunatic, or a deceiver of billions of people since mankind began?

Jesus Christ, say it out loud, I dare you to shout it out loud. Call to Him and beg for His pardon. Accept that He died in your place receiving in His own body your suffering for your sins. You have sinned against an infinite Creator and a Perfect God. If you turn away, YOU will never be in His presence but forever be away from His presence because an Infinite God demands an Infinite and perfect sacrifice for your sin. Can you pay that price? No one can. We do not even know nor could we comprehend the infinite demands of God. We must meet His perfection in everything we do. None of us can be as perfect as God. Only His own Son who has never sinned can become your righteousness in God's view. After three days of being dead Jesus Christ rose from the grave. He rose up of His own power and appeared to thousands for a period of 40 days.

He says, "Come to me and I will give you rest." Rest for your souls. He is the Great Physician. God, the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth is inviting you to come and is welcoming you to an eternal supper with Him. Will you come? Will you scoff? Will you doubt? Most of us will not say we hate Him we are just indifferent. Will you throw your hands up in the air and say, "I well never let this person rule over me", I hate Him, I reject Him, I call Him a liar!

Or, will you receive the Royal invitation and the Welcome of Jesus Christ? Come to Him as that person who is at the bottom of the socio-ecnomic class, a person who has nothing to offer, a child with no pride, a brokenhearted person. Tell Him, He is listening. Trust Him and believe what He said about Himself and come to His table as a humbled person. He will not accept you otherwise. Call on His Name and He will save your soul. Repent and believe and lay your life down and He will save you. Read the book of St. John on your knees.

INFINITY

This English word is a derivative of infinitas (Latin) which means "unboundedness", without end, beyond human ability to number or even conceive. It is not a number or a concept, therefore it would have to be defined by someone who could understand it. We have tried in philosophy, mathematics, cosmology and theology to explain it the best we can. All our attempts are futile because we live in time and those who live within a boundary that is earthly cannot comprehend any idea or word or principle outside that boundary.

One of the many reasons men cannot think of God is that they are His enemy. They all have chosen to rebel against Him unless His divine providence interupts that process. He has divine retribution planned for each of us at His judgement. Man always is the center of His own universe and everything revolves around Him. Everything revolves around us. After all, are we not at the top of the food chain? In Western egalitarian civilization our view of God is smaller than small. Secular Humanism built upon Darwinism and Uniformitarianism have become our prevalent religion and we worship and serve the creature more than the Creator. We have taken in these non-logical, silly, spurious heresies which have supplanted the need for a God. How could God create the world in six literal days and rest on the seventh? A limited view and comprehension of the Infinite God is replaced. Get outside of time and find a place of solitude where you can focus on the infinte. Go somewhere without taking anything with you. Get alone. Get away from people, the rush, the TV, the internet and meditate on Time and Eternity and God Himself.