Light and Darkness

Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

The topic of this week’s article is Light and Darkness. This is so fitting considering the day we live in, with so much of the world living in open and outright sin.

Be encouraged dear believer, your Light (which is HIM) shines better in the darkness, so do not despair, rather let it shine.

Dear reader who does not yet believe, the Day of Grace still is today! Repent and believe the Gospel, and come out of the darkness and into the Light.

Please enjoy the article and May God Bless your Week! John R.


LIGHT AND DARKNESS

We are living in a world of darkness, no matter where we may be on this planet. We cannot avoid the reality of this darkness. To do so exposes our own darkness, even though we be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Did not Jesus say to his own, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness” (Matt. 6:22-23).I believe what our Lord was speaking about is that our own grasp and understanding of God’s Word, and especially knowing Christ, is like darkness, how great is the darkness of unbelief!

There are, at least, two facts of this darkness with which we must contend. The first is the fact that because our hearts are evil by nature we commit evil deeds. We sin because by nature we are the enemies of God (Rom. 6:8). Then because of these evil deeds, we love the darkness because we do not want to be “found out,” either by being confronted or convicted of our sinful attitudes, words, or actions. We are no different than Adam and Eve. We try to hide from the Light! The Evangelist John in his Gospel wrote: And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved (Jn. 3:19-20). The only solution to our lying, deceiving ways is to come to the Light, as John continues—“But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (Jn. 3:21).

But this is exactly one of the barriers against truth with which we must contend. Man’s pride underlies his manifold ways to defend himself against the truth. Yes, the truth hurts, but it does not hurt as much as the lie! It hurts God, others, ourselves, and the whole world suffers on account of it. This is why we read in the Book of Revelation that “…all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). The reason this is so is because only the blood of Jesus can cover sin. As long as we are unwilling to admit and confess our sins, they cannot be covered by the blood of Christ. We read in Proverbs 28:13, “He that coverth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” God have mercy on us that we would be moved by His Spirit to humble ourselves and draw near to God that he may draw near to us (James 4:8).

The second fact of darkness with which we must contend is our natural inability to comprehend it coupled with a determination to overcome it. Again, we read John’s testimony of the Lord, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (Jn. 1:4-5). Luther attests to the fact in his explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles Creed saying: “I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him…” This, he goes on to say, is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Since this is the case, we need not despair if others to whom we preach the Gospel do not understand, for only God can open their ears and eyes. And, on the other hand, neither need we be afraid of those who oppose the Gospel, even to the point of killing us, for no matter how forcefully or viciously people may fight against the Lord, they cannot gain the victory. When our Lord said the gates of hell cannot prevail against His Church (Matt. 16:18), it is so!

Let us, therefore, go forth as soldiers of the cross proclaiming the mighty power of God by which the enslaved and imprisoned masses can be set free from their bondage of sin and death to live in the freedom and victory of our precious Lord Jesus Christ—the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

God’s Peace be with you!
Pastor Wayne Juntunen

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The Leper

The Leper

For five years no one has touched me.  No one!  Not one person!  Not my wife!  Not my child! Not my friends!  No one has touched me! They saw me. They have spoken to me. I even sensed the love in their voices. I saw concern in their faces as they talked. But there was no touch. Not once! No one touched me!

What is common to you, I want. Handshakes, a warm hug. A tap on the shoulder. A kiss on the lips. Such moments have been taken from my world. No one touched me! No one bumped into me!  What I would have given to have been bumped into – to be caught in the crowd. For my shoulder to brush someone elses. But for five years it has not happened.

How could it!  I am not allowed on the streets.  I am not permitted in my own synagogue. Not even welcome in my own house. I was untouchable.  A LEPER.  And no one touched me, until today.

One year during the harvest, my grip on the scythe seemed weak. The tips of my fingers numbed. First one finger, then another.  Within a short time I could grip the tool but not feel it. By the end of the season, I felt nothing at all. I said nothing to my wife, but I knew she suspected something!  How could she not.  I carried this hand against my wounded body like a wounded bird.

One afternoon I put my hands in the wash basin to wash my face. The water turned red. My finger was bleeding. I didn’t know I was wounded. How did I cut myself?  On a knife?  Did my hand slide across the sharp edge and me not feel it? It must have, but I didn’t feel anything!  “It’s on your clothes, too,” my wife said softly. Before looking at her, I looked down and saw my clothes. BLOOD. I knew my life was forever altered.

“Shall I go with you to tell the priest?” she said.  “No, I’ll go alone.”

I turned and looked into her eyes. She had started crying. Standing next to her was our three-year-old daughter. I squatted down and touched her cheek. I stood up and with my good hand I touched my wife. It would be our final touch.

Five years have passed and no one has touched me since – until today. The priest didn’t touch me. He looked at my hand now wrapped in cloth. He looked in my face. I never faulted him for what he said. He was just doing his job. He extended his hand, palm forward and said, ‘YOU ARE UNCLEAN.”  With one sentence he made me know that I had lost everything – my family, my farm, my future, and my friends.

My wife met me at the city gates with a sack of clothing and bread and coins. She didn’t speak. My friends had gathered. What I saw in their eyes is what I have seen since – pity!  As I stepped out, they stepped back.

Oh, how I repulsed those who saw me. Five years of leprosy had left my hands gnarled and the tips of my fingers were missing as were portions of my nose and left ear. At the sight of me, people would pick up their kids and head in the other direction. Children pointed and stared.  I could not hide my sores with my clothes – they were too many. The clothes could not hide the rage in my eyes either.

Many nights I just shook my fist and yelled, “Why me, what did I do?” But never a reply. Some think that I sinned. Some think it was my parents’ sin.  I don’t know. All that I know was that I was tired of it  all.  I grew tired of the bell that I had to wear around my neck to let people know about me. As if I needed it. One look at me and it began – ‘UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN.”

Several weeks ago, I walked to my village. I could still see them working in the fields. I hoped I could see her, my wife, but she was not anywhere that I could see. I could see kids playing and... and for a moment... just a moment... I forgot about myself and watched with enjoyment. I was no longer a leper – just a farmer, a man, a father.

I was so enjoying their happiness that I stepped out from behind the tree and it happened: “LEPER, LEPER, GOOOO AWAY.” I left as quickly as I could, trying to get away rapidly.

BUT THEN I SAW HIM! When I saw Him, I was changed. I can’t explain it, but it happened. One of those mornings that I faintly remembered, it happened. It was one of those beautiful mornings. The sun was up and it was beautiful. I just can’t describe it. When I looked at His face I saw that sunrise.

Before He spoke, I knew He cared. Somehow I knew He hated this disease more than I do.  My anger became hope. I watched from behind a rock as He descended down a hill. A large crowd of people followed Him. 

I watched and then it happened. He was only a step away from the rock and I stepped out and said, “Master!” He stopped and looked at me as did all the others. A flood of fear swept across the crowd as they saw me. ‘UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN,” they said.

Everyone stepped back except Him. It just came out. “Lord, you can heal me if it is your will.” Had he healed me with a word, I would have been thrilled. Had He cured me with a prayer, I would have rejoiced. But He was not satisfied with speaking to me. He drew near. He TOUCHED ME!  Five years ago my wife had touched me – no one had touched me since... until today!  “I WILL!  BE HEALED!”

Energy flowed through my body, like water in a dry field. In a moment, I felt warmth where there had been numbness. I felt strength where there had not been any. My back straightened and my head lifted. I now stood eye level with His face – His smiling face. He cupped His hands and drew me so near, I could feel His breath on my cheek and see the wetness in His eyes, and He said: “Don’t tell anyone about this. But go and show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded for people who are made well. This will show the people what I have done.”

And so this is what I am going to do, I will show myself to the priest and embrace him. I will show myself to my wife and embrace her. I will pick up my daughter and embrace her. And I will never forget who dared to touch me!

He could have healed me with His word, but He wanted to do more.  He wanted to honor me, to christen me.

IMAGINE THAT... unworthy of the touch of man... yet worthy of the touch of God.

(Author unknown) 

The Power of God

Dear Weekly Readers!

May the Grace, Mercy and Peace of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ abide with you all always! Amen.

I have been having thoughts lately about what this time of the year on the Christian calendar means to me. Thoughts of Redemption, Salvation, Justification...the Work of Regeneration! Hope for the helpless, the lost found! The way back for backsliders! Encouragement for the believers!

1 Corinthians 1:18 says this: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Have you felt the Power of God as shown through what Jesus has done for you? The Power of God living in your heart today by the Holy Ghost? The Power of God lifting you up when you have fallen, caring for you each day? This is what God wants you to know! The Power of God.

Let us look into the Old Testament for a real life example of the power of God at work, the proper way to respond to the call, and the way forward for the repentant sinner. The Psalm we will look at, Psalm 51: 1-12, was the plea or prayer of David after Nathan came to him about the affair with Bathsheba.

To me, this story shows that no matter how far one has fallen, if he is contrite, repentant, and seeks mercy, God is willing and able to save. It also shows again that God works through the agency of man to deliver the saving message of the Gospel.

Let us remember first that David was a man after God’s own heart, the apple of his eye…David was a great king of Israel, he was an ancestor of Jesus, he was listed in “Hall of fame of faith” in Hebrews 11.

This great and much respected man fell into sin. This shows very clearly that we also can do the same and we must flee temptation.

David saw Bathsheba as she bathed. He lusted, and acted upon the lust and committed adultery with her. She became pregnant. Then David tried to cover up by calling her husband Uriah home from battle to be with his wife, (which failed because Uriah would not go in unto Bathsheba because he felt it not right when his men were in the heat of the battle). Then David told his general to put Uriah in the front line so then he would be killed and he indeed was. Bathsheba mourned, and then David took her for his wife. David attempted to cover up this entire series of events. Perhaps he thought he had pulled off the perfect crime and cover-up. But can we hide from God? No, the Lord sees all!

This whole series of events displeased the Lord.

The Lord sent Nathan to David, (GOD CALLED THROUGH NATHAN) and Nathan told the story about a rich man and poor man. The rich man had many flocks and herds. But the poor man had only one ewe lamb which was very loved and treasured by the poor man.

A traveler came to the rich man, and to prepare a feast, the rich man did not take from his flocks; he instead took the one sheep of the poor man.

This story made David very angry. He said, "Whoever has done this shall surely die…. And must restore four fold since he has no pity." And Nathan said to David, "Thou art the man."

This thought comes to me here: do we love our friends enough to tell them they have sinned? To say, "It is you. You have sinned." Do we lovingly try to correct them, or do we turn a blind eye and let them alone in those things that have beset them?

So we see the faithful Nathan doing the Lord’s work. Now let’s see how David responded.

2 Samuel 13: And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

David admitted his sin and repented. This is the correct response! What if he ignored the message? What if we listen to the many groups and, yes, even some churches, that would tell us that we are in fine shape as we are? They would tell us that we are Christians because we show up in church, we look like Christians; therefore we surely are Christians.

The Lord allows fallen man when convicted of sin to know better. We know we are not okay when we have not repented. In this condition we need the Saviour, we need to hear the Saving Gospel of the Forgiveness of our Sins by what Jesus has done, by the Power of the Name and Blood of Jesus! By the Power of God. When we obey and believe by faith, the Preaching of the Cross is no more foolishness to us, it is the Power of God!

To say that one is okay before they have died with Christ, before they have repented and received the gospel of and by faith, is immoral and unjust. Let us learn from scripture as it shows us over and over again that all we like sheep have gone astray, each one to our own way. We need to turn from the path of deceit and destruction, and turn to the living Lord who has done all things for us!

The Power of God for every believer!

Lord, allow us to hate sin so much, so as to make Calvary necessary! Allow us to see what Jesus has done on the cross for us!

All of our sin, debt and rebellion has been nailed to the Cross of Christ. He has paid it all, all to him I owe!

Please read the 51st Psalm and notice the number of pleas included. Look for the humble and contrite heart of David as he pleads with his Lord in verse 1 to "Have mercy on me...blot out my transgressions." Verse 2: "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquities..." Verse 3: "I acknowledge my transgressions..." Verse 7: "Purge me with hyssop..." Verse 8: "Make me to hear joy and gladness..." Verse 9: "Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities." Verse 10: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Verse 11: "Cast me not away...take not thy Holy Spirit from me." Verse 12: "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."

Let these be our pleas now and always. Oh how we want to be right with our Lord, oh how we want to really know the power of God, the joy of our salvation, and to have the freedom, peace, and liberty in the Holy Spirit that only He can give unto us!

I hope to someday write more about this Psalm as this article is already too long and there is much to say on these precious verses.

May God Bless your week!
John Ruotsala

The Appearance

Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

We are quickly moving toward that all important time of year when our Lord Jesus willingly gave up His life and rose again so that we can have life eternal!

May God strengthen each of you through His word and by His Holy Spirit. May He Bless your week.

Please enjoy this week’s article by our guest author.


THE APPEARANCE

This verse from the book of Isaiah is somewhat like our Lord’s parables. It is written: “…in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, we will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” (Isaiah 4:1). How are we to understand it?

To understand it correctly, we must see it from the context of chapter three. Judgment had fallen upon Jerusalem because of the total breakdown of social relationships (3:4, 5), a rebellion against the Lord (3:8, 9), a lifestyle of Sodomy (3:9), a departure from the truth of God’s Word (3:12b), the evil treatment of the poor (3:14, 15), and the prideful display of wealth; especially by those who are the believers—“the daughters of Zion” (3:16, 18-23).

The result of all of this evil was famine (3:1), death of leading men at all levels of need and importance (3:2, 3), economic collapse (3:24), and widows mourning the death of their soldiering husbands (3:25, 26). Thus as a consequence of all this deterioration and desolation, a large number of women decide on a plan to take away their reproach. Seven women would enter into a contract with each man in order to be regarded as his wife. They would not expect or desire any support or care by their “so-called” husbands. All they were asking was acceptance by the rest of society to be regarded as legitimate wives. They wanted the appearance of marriage without the commitments of marriage.

How terribly sad! Such an arrangement is hypocritical in the first place. It is not real. It is a “pretend” world. Secondly, it is a denial of the meaning of marriage. There is no commitment by any parties in this pretend relationship to show love, honor, and sacrifice to one another. There is no need to show respect, care, concern, protection, and security. This whole idea is totally devoid of loving intimacy. And, in truth, there is no desire or intention to raise any children to bring forth a future generation. It is the end of a people group!

This is the literal and factual picture that we see in this one verse (4:1). But does it not convey a spiritual picture, also? Place this picture within the framework of Ephesians 5:22-33 that describes the godly standard of the marriage relationship, comparing it to the relationship between Christ and the Church. By joining together Isaiah 4:1 and this passage from Ephesians, we are struck by a horrible contrast. The scenes in these two passages do not fit together. They are as opposite as light is to darkness.

Can you see the twisted wrong if a person were to desire only to be called “a Christ-one”, a “Christian”, but in reality would not be one. Is this not the same as being satisfied only to be saved, to know Christ as our Savior, only, but then living as one pleases? Is it not a picture of hypocrisy to merely “use” Christ as a covering and, at the same time, wear one’s own apparel and eat one’s own bread? Is it so that many who are “members” in a congregation claiming to be “Christ’s own”, but in heart are still conducting their life in the power of their own flesh? Is not this a mockery of Christianity, as much as it was a mockery of marriage for the Israelites of old? By so doing, we make a fool of Christ!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I say as did the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans—“God forbid! Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Rom. 6:15). We cannot claim to have Christ as our Savior, if we do not honor Him, also, as our Lord. Let us heed the counsel given to us in Prov. 23:26—”My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” Lord, forgive us all when we live as one of your own outwardly only, but our heart is far from you.” God grant us grace that we would love him above all things and serve him in righteousness, innocence, and blessedness even as he is risen from the dead, lives and reigns in all eternity. This is most certainly true!

Glory in the Lord

Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

We are quickly moving toward that all important time of year when our Lord Jesus willingly gave up His life and rose again so that we can have life eternal!

May God strengthen each of you through His word and by His Holy Spirit. May He Bless your week.

Please enjoy this week’s article by our guest author.


THE APPEARANCE

This verse from the book of Isaiah is somewhat like our Lord’s parables. It is written: “…in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, we will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” (Isaiah 4:1). How are we to understand it?

To understand it correctly, we must see it from the context of chapter three. Judgment had fallen upon Jerusalem because of the total breakdown of social relationships (3:4, 5), a rebellion against the Lord (3:8, 9), a lifestyle of Sodomy (3:9), a departure from the truth of God’s Word (3:12b), the evil treatment of the poor (3:14, 15), and the prideful display of wealth; especially by those who are the believers—“the daughters of Zion” (3:16, 18-23).

The result of all of this evil was famine (3:1), death of leading men at all levels of need and importance (3:2, 3), economic collapse (3:24), and widows mourning the death of their soldiering husbands (3:25, 26). Thus as a consequence of all this deterioration and desolation, a large number of women decide on a plan to take away their reproach. Seven women would enter into a contract with each man in order to be regarded as his wife. They would not expect or desire any support or care by their “so-called” husbands. All they were asking was acceptance by the rest of society to be regarded as legitimate wives. They wanted the appearance of marriage without the commitments of marriage.

How terribly sad! Such an arrangement is hypocritical in the first place. It is not real. It is a “pretend” world. Secondly, it is a denial of the meaning of marriage. There is no commitment by any parties in this pretend relationship to show love, honor, and sacrifice to one another. There is no need to show respect, care, concern, protection, and security. This whole idea is totally devoid of loving intimacy. And, in truth, there is no desire or intention to raise any children to bring forth a future generation. It is the end of a people group!

This is the literal and factual picture that we see in this one verse (4:1). But does it not convey a spiritual picture, also? Place this picture within the framework of Ephesians 5:22-33 that describes the godly standard of the marriage relationship, comparing it to the relationship between Christ and the Church. By joining together Isaiah 4:1 and this passage from Ephesians, we are struck by a horrible contrast. The scenes in these two passages do not fit together. They are as opposite as light is to darkness.

Can you see the twisted wrong if a person were to desire only to be called “a Christ-one”, a “Christian”, but in reality would not be one. Is this not the same as being satisfied only to be saved, to know Christ as our Savior, only, but then living as one pleases? Is it not a picture of hypocrisy to merely “use” Christ as a covering and, at the same time, wear one’s own apparel and eat one’s own bread? Is it so that many who are “members” in a congregation claiming to be “Christ’s own”, but in heart are still conducting their life in the power of their own flesh? Is not this a mockery of Christianity, as much as it was a mockery of marriage for the Israelites of old? By so doing, we make a fool of Christ!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I say as did the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans—“God forbid! Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Rom. 6:15). We cannot claim to have Christ as our Savior, if we do not honor Him, also, as our Lord. Let us heed the counsel given to us in Prov. 23:26—”My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” Lord, forgive us all when we live as one of your own outwardly only, but our heart is far from you.” God grant us grace that we would love him above all things and serve him in righteousness, innocence, and blessedness even as he is risen from the dead, lives and reigns in all eternity. This is most certainly true!