Regrets & Do-Overs

REGRET & DO-OVERS:

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.”

-Jeremiah 17:9

I love love LOVE the whole superhero phenomenon. Movies, books, posters, and especially LEGO! I’m not an expert by any stretch, but it all seems to be rooted in America’s Great Depression (1929-39). Detective Comics #27 introduced The Batman in 1939. There’s just something hardwired inside that won’t let us ignore the vast discrepancy between is and ought, i.e. the way things are and the way they should be. There is also something inherently attractive about the idea of becoming more than the seemingly bland, broken, dreary version of ourselves. There’s something cool and hopeful about being bitten by a radioactive spider and going from invisible geek to The Amazing Spider-Man. Reality tells us we’ll get a nasty infection or that we might even die if the spider is a recluse, wandering, or widow spider. But still, we long for, dream of, and even fight for a less bleak, and more utopian-like existence… now, later, or both.

Recently, my wife and I watched an episode of MARVEL Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Several of the main characters had been replaced by LMD’s (life model decoy / realistic robotic versions). The real characters had been rendered unconscious and placed within a matrix-like artificial reality framework. The creator of the synthetic reality framework designed it to alleviate human pain and regret, thus hoping to keep the inhabitants from ever realizing their disconnect from reality or at least from desiring it. Near the end of the episode, Agent May’s LMD tells Agent Coulson’s LMD:

LMD May: “I know I’m not real...”

LMD Coulson: “You don’t have to feel pain.”

LMD May: “You say you don’t anymore. But that pain, that regret, that’s what made you a person.”

The episode concludes from the main characters’ perspectives within the framework. Daisy is reunited with Ward, Coulson is a school teacher, Mac is a family man, and Fitz is a billionaire. All the pain and regret of their decisions to become S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents is erased within the framework. The problem with this fantastic scenario is the idea that - if we all somehow got a chance at hitting life’s reset button, then we could ride off into the sunset of a happy ending completely regret-free. The truth is that we’ve all gotten second chances, and we muck those up just as quickly.

The storyline is nothing original. In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier Captain Kirk said, “Damn it Bones! You’re a doctor! You know that pain and guilt can’t be taken away with a wave of a magic wand.” In Justice League Unlimited Season 1, Batman and Wonderwoman find Superman under the influence of the wish-fulfilling plant, Black Mercy, which has Kal-El dreaming of an idyllic family life back on Krypton. The Matrix, and countless other movies, episodes, comic books, and stories have all found their genesis in the idea of alleviating human pain and regret.

One of the earliest of these stories is from the non-canonical book of 2 Maccabees, from which the concept of purgatory might be partially attributed. In vv. 43-46 we read that Judas (not the Judas who betrayed Jesus) “sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection… It is, therefore, a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.” One Catholic writer notes, “Unfortunately for Protestants, even if they feel that the book was not inspired, it still tells us of the practice of God’s chosen people.”

It is true that many of the non-canonical books of the Bible (Apocrypha) refer to the practices of “God’s chosen people.” The same can be said for the canonical books. In 2 Kings 21:1-6 we read about some of these abhorrent practices - not just by God’s chosen people, but by their king!

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.” And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.

The point being that just because a particular ceremony, activity, or ritual was practiced by “God’s chosen people” certainly does NOT make it holy or wholesome. The practice of God’s chosen people from the very beginning were that of neglect, disregard, autonomy, rebellion, self-exaltation, grumbling, disobedience, idol worship, even murder and human sacrifice. A large portion of the Old Testament is prophetic in nature, which is not mystical fortune telling prophecy, but rather God raising up someone (prophet) to call idolatrous, rebellious, callous, blind, and ignorant Israel to repentance in order to avoid divine judgment.

The same Catholic writer notes, “In Matthew 5:26 Christ is condemning sin and speaks of liberation only after expiation. ‘Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.’ Now we know that no last penny needs to be paid in Heaven and from Hell there is no liberation at all; hence the reference must apply to a third place.”

The crazy thing is that rather than recognizing the here-and-now as that third place - the fictitious and fantastic matrix-like framework of purgatory is created where pain and regret magically evaporate, faith (in Christ or external payment?) is ceremonially and externally instilled, and the cost of rebellion against God is reduced to insignificant trinkets of atonement. In Matthew’s gospel, and in fact throughout the whole of the Bible, the here-and-now is EXCLUSIVELY where we are lovingly commanded to be reconciled personally and immediately both with God and others in and through the grace of Christ. Stairways to heaven cannot be purchased by petitions of descendants, drachms of silver, pots of gold, the burning of incense, or any other human effort or intervention.

The Apostle Paul spoke, taught, and wrote about this discrepancy between what we know (orthodoxy) is right and good - and that which we actually do (orthopraxy). “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate… For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”

The idea isn’t that we live perfect, regret-free, lives, but rather that we are grafted into the family of God by the will of the Father, the power of the Spirit, and the expiation and propitiation of Jesus.

Regardless of countless do-overs, reinventing ourselves, new beginnings, resets, and restarts, our lives only take a matter of minutes, days, or weeks to erupt and overflow with pain and regret once again. There is no matrix-like framework of surreal bliss. The sociopath and the follower of Christ are the only ones free from the dilemma of regret, but for vastly different reasons. The sociopath’s conscience is seared beyond awareness, while the follower of Christ submits to a largely unseen, yet divine, plan.

If one stops to consider the impracticality, and theologically unsupported nature, of purgatory, then it renders us fatefully aware, and exceedingly conscious, regarding the magnitude of the here-and-now. There is no payment of silver, gold, or prayers that can be made for those who reject Jesus in this life; and there is no need of it for those who accept Him.

Galatians 3:13-15 tells us, “Christ paid the price to free us from the curse… so that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to all the people of the world through Jesus Christ and we would receive the promised Spirit through faith.”

There are no do-overs, but there is the gracious opportunity to be born again of God. This is not a call to any religious systems, programs, protocols, sacraments, or ordinances. It is the gracious fulfillment of God’s promise to reconcile and restore humanity to Himself for eternal life in communion.

“You didn't want heaven without us

So Jesus, You brought heaven down

My sin was great, Your love was greater

What could separate us now?”

-Hillsong Worship

Are you banking on the fabrication of purgatory or the insufficient payments and prayers of descendants who won’t even know you or your name? Are you hoping to atone for your own sin with an endless string of fatefully marred and inadequate do-overs in purgatory? Or will do as Jesus lovingly commands and bank everything on the perfection of Christ who bids you enter through, and find eternal life in, Him?

Are you banking on do-overs or on Jesus Christ our King?

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com

5 by 5

5 by 5?

They use the phrase “5 by 5” in commercial radiotelegraph communication to relay the answer to two questions. The first question is known as QRK, “How do you receive me?” The second is known as QSA, “What is the strength of my signal?” The answer to these two questions is a numerical value on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the lowest value indicating the worst score, and 5 being the highest value indicating the best score. Therefore, the response, “5 by 5” to the QRK (receiving) / QSA (strength) question indicates the ideal.

Chapter 28 of Matthew’s gospel begins with a scene of violent sensory overload! In the midst of the supernatural earthquake, an angel of the LORD explodes from heaven with the blinding appearance of lightning! Understandably, the most seasoned, hardened, and trustworthy guards quaked in their boots (and soiled loin cloths) as they looked on in absolute terror and bewilderment! All this vanishes from consciousness like a drop of dew in the Sahara when the most profound and reality shattering event in history is heralded by this angelic being, “He is not here, for He has risen.”

Place yourself there in that violent scene of unprecedented magnitude. Earthquake - check. Angelic being rocketing from heaven - check. Blinded by something akin to lightning - check. Jesus’ tomb open - check. Battle-tested veteran soldiers wetting themselves and calling out to mommy - check. Empty tomb - check. Now ponder that statement for a moment. “He has risen.”

Now you’re (understandably) sprinting from the scene under the duress of sensory, psychological, and spiritual overload - contemplating, befuddled, and overwhelmed - when Jesus, the risen one, appears before you and says, “Greetings.” Take the index finger of your dominant hand and push your lower until it snaps shut. Scripture communicates the immediate response; “they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.” The tidal wave of emotions and questions ends abruptly as He speaks, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” A few short verses later we read, “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.”

In the violent emotional, psychological, and spiritual calamity of the resurrection - amid all our questions, fears, and awe - Jesus does not sit down to play Q&A with us. “Hey Jesus, what about people in jungles and remote places who have never heard of you?” Matthew’s gospel communicates that, in light of the resurrection, the only appropriate response is knee-bending, foot-kissing worship unto obedience.

We’re told “the eleven remaining disciples went to Galilee… as Jesus had directed them.” When they saw the Risen One “they worshiped Him,” but we also find out “some doubted.” Jesus, Christ incarnate, our crucified Savior was anticipated from Genesis 1:1, “In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” He was foreshadowed in Eden, the ark, the Law, the Exodus, at Sinai, the priesthood, the kingship, the prophets, the miracles, the tabernacle, the temple, and countless prophecies. His birth was anticipated by Scripture, announced by creation, and heralded by shepherds. His identity was confirmed by John the Baptist, and more importantly the Father and Spirit, at His baptism. He demonstrated authority over demons and the supernatural, over storms, disease, sickness, and death. He taught, preached, laughed, loved, and cried with us - not from within sanitized palatial wall, but rather from the pits, trenches, cesspools, and dung heaps. Beaten, ridiculed, mocked, scorned, and utterly rejected, He carried our cross outside the city walls and allowed Himself - Heaven’s Glory - to become sin and shame. Minute after excruciating minute, hour after unbearable hour, He stayed nailed there, parched, heaving, and laboring to breathe… until it was finished. Three days later as they approached His tomb… earthquake, lightning… “He is not here. He is risen.”

Yet, “some doubted.”

At the end of Matthew’s gospel Jesus issues a sort of QRK/QSA survey to His disciples - frequently referred to as “The Great Commission.” In light of who we are as broken, misguided, and corrupted humanity, and in light of who Jesus is as the risen LORD, the first question Jesus asks is, “How do you receive Me?” Do we receive Him as a moral teacher, a fictional character, a religious icon, or as Matthew announced, “Jesus, Christ (Messiah / Anointed One / King), the son of David, the son of Abraham”?

Then Jesus asks the second question, “What is the strength of My signal?” or more appropriately, “What’s the signal of My strength?” How do we receive Him? Is it with rejection, with superficial and polite religion, skepticism and doubt, or authentically as the Christ?

The gauge of how we receive Him is indicated exclusively by the signal of His strength in our lives through worship unto obedience. This is seen in how we respond to His imperative command, “disciple all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you,” (Matt 28:19). How we respond to The Great Commission is our response to Jesus’ QRK/QSA. There is no sliding 1-5 scale.

Jesus asks, “How do you receive Me?”

Then He asks, “What is the signal of My strength?”

Is your honest answer “5 by 5?”

Thank you for reading, liking, and sharing!

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com

THE ALTAR

THE ALTAR:

Blind fools! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

-Matthew 23:19

If you do a quick search on the word altar (Strong’s 4196 - miz-bay'-akh) using one of the free online Bible study sites (biblegateway.com and biblehub.com are a couple of my favorites) you might see some really cool stuff…

First off, it may be a little surprising to note just how far into the Bible story the word altar shows up, which is not until Genesis 8:20. There is no mention of an altar in Eden. Prior to Genesis 3 sin had not yet corrupted things. Without sin it seems logical there would be no need of an atoning, reconciling, redeeming, uniting, propitiating sacrifice; therefore no need or function for an altar. But from the time of humanity’s gracious expulsion from Eden’s garden until the time of Noah in Genesis 8:20 - no miz-bay'-akh / altar is mentioned explicitly.

In Genesis 4:4-5a we read,

and Abel, however, brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering - He had no regard…

Should we find the absence of an altar odd? Some have made feeble attempts to argue Cain’s inherent failure was in providing a grain offering whereas Abel’s acceptance was rooted in his offering being of the zoological variety. Clearly, the cardinal issue is not what they brought, nor is it even the inherent attitude or the condition of their hearts in the bringing. Instead, the critical pith, forgotten crux, and unseen treasure here is the glorious fact they could bring anything at all.

Adam and Eve were BANISHED from God’s presence in Eden because of their rebellion. Yet somehow their offspring (Cain and Abel) - at some point - were either able to waltz past multiple angelic beings (cherubim), and the flaming sword/swordsman (Gen 3:24), directly into Eden, and into the presence of the Tree of Life, viz. God Almighty -OR- God Almighty left Eden to pursue them.

It seems even prior to Jesus’ incarnation the atoning, reconciling, redeeming, uniting, and propitiating impact of His gracious sacrifice at the Cross was somehow made available to fallen humanity. Jesus was our altar before He was our sacrifice.

…the Lamb, having been slain from the founding of the cosmos.

-Revelation 13:8b

Abel found favor with God - NOT because of what he brought, but because of how he brought it, i.e. because of the regenerate condition of his new heart made available -prior to the foundation of the cosmos- in Christ Jesus!

Abel demonstrates the first human reconciled with God by grace through faith. Consequently, Abel also became the first martyr of suffering for the faith in being murdered by his brother, Cain.

Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

-Genesis 4:16

There was no physical (miz-bay'-akh) altar in the story of Cain and Abel. More importantly, we see the explicit and essential function of it, i.e. that which serves to sanctify the gift (Matt 23:19).

When Genesis 6 begins we read:

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

-Genesis 6:5-6

Following the great flood of judgment upon humanity we read about the first physical miz-bay'-akh / altar:

Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

-Genesis 8:20

The point here is that Noah constructed, erected, and synthetically manufactured something that served a symbolic function of what God had already made reality in Christ Jesus, i.e. graciously allowing Abel and Noah to enter into the presence of God and not what they brought, but rather how they brought it, to be received as a fragrant and pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Sadly, the wickedness of man can neither be quelled nor purged externally - not even via a universally consuming deluge. Noah’s well-intentioned symbol of thankfulness quickly became a symbol of humanity’s turpitude and scoundrelism. Our initial search of miz-bay'-akh / altar reveals countless acts of idolatry and rebellion throughout the Old Testament.

In Joshua the Eastern Tribes constructed their own altar, and throughout the books of Kings, Chronicles, and beyond there are innumerable accounts of altars built to false gods.

Beyond the obvious disregard for God, idolatry’s great atrocity is one of enthusiastic lassitude. God promised Eve a male offspring who would crush the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15). The promise was evident in God’s blessing to Abram (Gen 12:3). Eventually, that covenant blessing would come through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and Judah, to David's house (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

Therefore, when we read that Ahaz (Israel’s King and David’s descendant) sacrificed his own son upon an altar to a foreign god (a son who was not only of infinite value to God as a uniquely created divine image-bearer but who also quite possibly might have been humanity’s promised Messiah) God unleashed holy wrath and issued the virgin birth prophecy (Isaiah 7:14).

The tophet-altar created to worship foreign gods was frequently hollow so it could be filled with flammable materials. Sometimes it was shaped like an animal or figure with outstretched hands. Only after the tophet-altar became scorching hot would an infant or child be placed on its hands. Babies and small children were frequently burned alive to appease non-existent gods.

(Ahaz) followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

-2 Kings 16:3

Prior to the founding of the cosmos (and prior to the first symbolic altar) the Lamb, the Christ, Jesus was slain in order to serve us as the perfect altar, i.e. that which makes our presence and offerings pleasing and acceptable to God. Without the true and perfect altar -Jesus- we are left with no way past the cherubim, no way back to the Tree of Life, no way back into the life-giving presence of God Almighty, and no way to ever please Him.

The altar is not merely a place, but rather a person, i.e. Jesus Christ. God lets us know through Scripture that there is only one altar because it foreshadowed and anticipated the one Jesus. It foreshadowed Him as the exclusive way, the only truth, and sole life for humanity’s atonement, reconciliation, redemption, and unity with God.

Maybe today we can reflect not so much on what we bring, and maybe not even so much on how we bring it, but rather on the overwhelmingly gracious fact that we can! Because of Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain from the founding of the cosmos, we are able to waltz - literally dance joyfully - past an army of cherubim directly into the presence of God as fully consumed burnt offerings, holy, pleasing and acceptable in Christ Jesus!

And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,

  to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,

  and to be his servants,

everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,

  and holds fast my covenant—

these I will bring to my holy mountain,

  and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

their burnt offerings and their sacrifices

  will be accepted on my altar;

for my house shall be called a house of prayer

  for all peoples.

-Isaiah 56:6-7

Let us join ourselves to Him. Let us serve Him. Let us love His name! Let us listen to Christ, Who is calling, and not be blind fools! Maybe today we can focus on Jesus Christ who, as the unique God-man and simultaneously our holy altar and perfect sacrifice, is restoring all things, making all things new, and the only One who desire for us to come to Him, the Altar, and bring it!

Jesus is calling.

CLICK HERE to hear Elevation Worship's song "O Come to The Altar."

Blessings!

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com