Style Over Substance

We’re all guilty of it — looking at the surface of things without considering the substance. For example, I like fonts: all kinds of fonts. And if you like fonts, too, then you know that style means a lot; except when you begin actually reading what’s been written with those beautiful and stylish fonts!

God says he doesn’t see the way people see (1 Sam 16:7). He said this to Samuel when Samuel was commanded to anoint King Saul’s replacement. Samuel sees the oldest of Jesse’s sons and thinks to himself, “This is the next king!” But that’s when God says no …

Jesus tells us not to judge by appearances, but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24). I was reminded of the Lord’s statement when this week a convicted felon’s arrest picture became viral on the arresting police station’s Facebook page (30,000+ likes for this dude’s photo). I know some people were trying to be funny about it all, but this is another symptom of our society’s sickness — we’d rather set a man free who looks nice (and that is subjective: he scared me and I believe that if most people saw or spoke to him “on the street,” they’d run away) than let justice be served.

I have also read of preachers criticized for a lack of style over substance (e.g., the apostle Paul by the Corinthians — see 1 Cor 2:4 and 2 Cor 10:10). It's obviously not a modern problem since the same apostle forewarned Timothy that there would be those who would prefer having their ears tickled (2 Tim 4:3-4).

Where else are we more about style than substance? Motorcycles. I really shouldn’t even begin on this subject (it’s one of my favorites). I ride a 2013 Star 950T, and I sometimes get people asking about the bags — e.g., “Are they aftermarket?” Nope, they actually came with the bike and not only look good, but are huge and lockable. And then sometimes the portentous question comes: “Is it a Harley?” Nope, it’s a Star … a what? I love it and that’s all I really care about. I actually came across a man while I was refueling who concluded for me, “If it’s not a Harley then who cares?” Style over substance … and reliability … and cost … and, actually, style!

Let’s care enough to look past the surface. I often heard growing up that you can’t (or shouldn’t) judge a book by its cover. But we do anyway, don’t we? Why do we do it? Sometimes it’s simply because of laziness. And laziness breeds apathy. 

Vanity Sizing

I learned a new term today: "vanity sizing."

You may already know what it is, but as a guy, I didn't. Basically, I was looking online for motorcycle riding pants—something tougher than jeans because jeans don't really protect too well from road rash. One of the mesh pants I was considering mentioned that the sizing was not vanity sizing … and so I wondered: "What in the world is this?"

Vanity sizing makes you feel smaller than you really are. So, those jeans you might now fit in that are size X, may actually be size Y (where X is 36 and Y is 38 … as an example: no, you're not fat). 

This blew my mind. (You're right, it doesn't take much.)

I figured there was "truth" in those sizing labels. It's a simple expectation. But this whole thing about "vanity sizing" makes me wonder what else in this wide world may not be what it's saying it is.

I'm Not Ready!

I’ve been intending to sit down and collect my thoughts about my oldest daughter’s high school graduation. It’s been a bit busier than usual because of all the preparations being made for the event. Translation: my wife has been busy and I have been sitting around complaining about everything. But as with all things in life, “the time has come.”

The funny thing to me is that with all the family that came in, someone would have thought a wedding was about to happen! Thankfully, not yet … although that is another milestone in life that everyone but me will thrill over.

I’m more sentimental than I want to admit. Deep within me I am not accepting the changes well — and it’s probably not all that deep within (I’m actually more or less the kind of person who wears his heart on his sleeve).

The thing is: I’m having a tough time accepting the inevitabilities of life. I do remember when I was graduating high school and how desperate I felt to get out and do my own thing. I’m not sure how my parents felt, but I’m sure it’s a lot like how I’m feeling now.

The bottom line? I am not prepared!

The Great Equalizer

… We will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

—[ Romans 14:10-12 ]—

Life presents everyone with the same end: all who are born will die. And the Scriptures teach that we all have only one life to live and then comes the judgment of our souls (Hebrews 9:27-28).

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:25-29).

Recently while in traffic, I was considering how it is that between lights there are all sorts of different drivers: there are those who drive as if they’re racing everyone else; there are those who are taking their time; and there are those who are stuck between those two types of drivers simply trying to survive the mayhem. The thing is, those drivers who act as if Pines Boulevard is a NASCAR straightaway and those who are simply going along all meet up at the next light! The traffic lights serve as equalizers.

Death is an equalizer. As Solomon observed: “If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie” (Ecclesiastes 11:3). It doesn’t matter whether we are rich or poor (or middle class), smart or dumb—all die, and all will meet the Lord in judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

“… We make it our aim to please [God]. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. …” (2 Corinthians 5:9-11).

“For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:9-12).

As followers we know God’s word. We know the truth, and therefore, we should live it and share it, speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). This means we say what needs to be said for the moment (Colossians 4:5-6). As to this passage—Colossians 4:5-6—Albert Barnes stated it quite eloquently: “Be imbued with the spirit of piety, that you may not utter any thing that would be rash and foolish, but be prepared to answer anyone who may question you about your religion in a way that will show that you understand its nature, and that will tend to edification.”

Again, death is an equalizer; but simultaneously, it will serve as a point of distinction between the good and the evil—not as men judge, but as God judges (Matthew 25:31-33; Hebrews 10:31; 12:28-29). And God’s judgment is fair, just, and true (John 8:16; Romans 11:22).

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:56-58).

Death equalizes; judgment is for eternity …

Written For Our Instruction

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

There is so much comfort and power in God’s word, that we do ourselves an extreme disservice by not making the time and effort to read and study it (2 Timothy 2:15). “The sum of Thy word is truth, and every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting” (Psalms 119:160). As Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

THROUGH ENDURANCE

The word “endurance” used here in the ESV is from the Greek word hupomonē which is also translated patience, perseverance, or steadfastness. I believe the statement here is about our own endurance: in other words, that we are to be steadfast. 

“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven …” (Col. 1:21-23).

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).

Satan wants us to give up. Whether he tempts us to quit from difficulties in life outside the fellowship of our brethren, or from our brethren, Satan doesn’t care: he simply wants us to fail. But our failure will mean our eternal and deserved damnation (Rom. 6:23).

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God, and did not respect man. “And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ “And for a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, lest by continually coming she wear me out.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8)

“Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:7-8).

THROUGH THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES

God—by means of His word provided to mankind by means of the Holy Spirit moving men (2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Cor. 2:9-16; 2 Tim. 3:16-17)—speaks to us now. “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come” (1 Cor. 10:11).

When Jesus was being tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13) He defended Himself by quoting the word of God! We need to do this ourselves, but we can’t do so successfully if we choose not to read it at all. “And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete” (1 John 1:4; see 2:12-14). We must read to know, and know to do. We do not accidentally serve the Lord; it is deliberate action He seeks from us (Heb. 11:1, 6; Eph. 5:7-11).

"Keep Seeking"

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, 

keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated 

at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, 

not on the things that are on earth. 

(Colossians 3:1–2)

God’s grace toward all mankind is unconditional: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Titus 2:11; cf. 2 Pet. 3:9). But God’s mercy in final judgment is conditional: “Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off” (Rom. 11:22; cf. Gal. 5:4; Rev. 2:5). In other words, not everyone who simply wants to go to heaven is going to be rewarded an eternity in heaven (Matt. 5:10–12).

Paul made this point very clear: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:9–11).

The remedy to sin is God’s grace (Eph. 2:4–10). And we do not respond to His gift of grace and thereby merit salvation. “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done’ ” (Lk. 17:10). “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5–7).

The difficulty of our own salvation is not so much at the beginning of the process; it is in the middle in which we are to eagerly continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior (cf. 1 Pet. 2:2). The fuller admonition from the apostle is: “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand [that some distort the Scriptures to their own destruction], be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Pet. 3:17–18).

Too often we put ourselves on spiritual cruise control, and believe we’re okay with mediocre service to King of kings. We choose not to sing with zeal; we pray half-heartedly (whether publicly or privately); our giving is limited (whether money or time); the Lord’s Supper is all about “been there and done that” … In other words, we do those things we know “we have to,” but our heart is not in it the way it should. “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘ This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’ ” (Matt. 15:7–9).

• The Lord is with us when we worship (Matt. 18:20). What does He see from our worship?
• What does our worship mean on Sunday morning when we’ve chosen to live like the world all week long?
• Have we made time to study at all during the week?

Sometimes we may wonder about the generation of those following us—often they do what they have learned from us! Why is it that we expect our children and grandchildren to “get it” when we don’t? We might well be stuck with the elementary principles when we should be zealously growing. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12–14).

I believe many who expect heaven will be surprised in the final judgment because they did not keep seeking.

The Bruising of Jesus' Heel

Messianic prophecy didn't take long to develop in the Bible. The first reference to God's work through Jesus comes pretty early in the text of Genesis: After Satan's deception of Eve, and Adam's consequent sin, God said to Satan — "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15)

"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery." (Hebrews 2:14-15)

God is not trying to save our bodies! He created these "tents" from the "dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." (Genesis 2:7; 2 Corinthians 4:16 – 5:7)

"… when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him." (1 Peter 3:20-22)

The brutality of crucifixion is attested throughout history. I don't think anyone today would find crucifixion an acceptable form of execution. That Jesus was crucified was necessary:

• "And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. …" (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)
• Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree" (Galatians 3:13)

The apostles do not hide the fact that Jesus was hanged on a tree (Acts 5:30; 13:29; 1 Peter 2:24). Again, it was needful for Him to die in this manner; not just that He died in some way, but in this specific way so that He would become the curse for us, and remove the curse from us.

How incomprehensible it must have been to Satan when Jesus, by the glory of the Father (Romans 6:4), was raised from the dead!

It is no wonder, then, that we must DIE to sin, be BURIED, so that we too might walk in NEWNESS of LIFE (Romans 6:1-7).

And here's a simple outline from the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul:

• FAITH (Romans 4)
• GRACE (Romans 5)
• BAPTISM (Romans 6)

Faith and baptism are connected by grace (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:3-7).