The Will to Choose

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates?  Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live?  But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”  Joshua 24:15

Albert Einstein gave an interview in 1929 in which he shared some of his personal philosophy, including a human being’s will:

"I am a determinist.  As such, I do not believe in free will.  The Jews believe in free will.  They believe that man shapes his own life.  I reject that doctrine philosophically.  In that respect I am not a Jew… I believe with Schopenhauer:  We can do what we wish, but we can only wish what we must.  Practically, I am, nevertheless, compelled to act is if freedom of the will existed.  If I wish to live in a civilized community, I must act as if man is a responsible being.  I claim credit for nothing.  Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control.  It is determined for the insect as well as for the star.  Human being, vegetables or cosmic dust, we all dance to an invisible tune, intoned in the distance by a mysterious player.”[1]

I am certainly no match for the likes of Albert Einstein; I have trouble enough keeping up with my grandchildren.  On the other hand, being an individual, I strongly believe I possess the choice to agree (or not) with his philosophy.

Einstein’s deterministic view of human free will borders closely on a religiously hyper-Calvinistic version of irresistable grace, where God has pre-ordained who will be saved, and we have no choice in that matter…or anything else.  On this point I have to take issue, as I believe Scripture already does:

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  2 Corinthians 3:17

Einstein was born a Jew, yet held the full expression of that heritage at arm’s length, choosing a rather sad and hollow deterministic view of life’s meaning and purpose.  Yet, as Christians belive, the image of God, stamped upon his soul, cannot utterly deny the mysterious player of the invisible tune to which he gives place in that interview.  It’s my belief that crack in Einstein’s systematic theology of an imposed will by the hidden tune-player (God) demonstrates something of a humility to admit he doesn’t know everything.

If, as Scripture indicates[2], there is a beginning and an ending which God has pre-determined, and, behind the scenes is orchestrating, there is certainly room for human free will to exist.  What Scripture tells us is God’s sovereign will is determinative…the beginning of things created in 6 days, and the ending of things a re-creation of Paradise.  That does leave the meantime, the middle of things, in which we live, move, and have our being.  If we are to hold Scripture objectively, without prejudice, God gives us this moment to “determine” by our volitional choice where we will be when the cosmic dust settles.

For You Today 

The bottom line is the coming judgment of God.  If all were set-in-stone, determined without room for choice, where would be the grace of God?

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO (read by author)

There are about 2,500 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper explore some of these:   Following the Truth  and  Listening Carefully  

Title Image:  Pixabay.com   Images without citation are in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©  

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[1] In an article Albert Einstein by Lotte Jacobi

[2] In Revelation 22:13 Jesus says: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

God Bless America

 

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly.  Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone.  But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve.  Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates?  Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live?  But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”       Joshua 24:14-15

For those of us who look at history as the unfolding of God's plan and purpose, the winds of nations rushing toward a collision course with disaster are unmistakable.  No nation (especially a powerful and greatly-blessed nation) exists for its own glory; or to carry out its own plans.  The greatness of our (or any) country depends on the adherence of the people to the principles of righteousness and faith toward God. 

Long ago, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, Richard C. Halverson said:

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government.  It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the Public Treasury.  From that moment on the majority always votes for candidates promising the most benefits from the Public Treasury...with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.  That dictatorship may be disguised in the form of a multi-trillion dollar national deficit. 

The average of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through the following sequence:  From bondage to spiritual faith – From spiritual faith to great courage – From courage to liberty - From liberty to abundance - From abundance to selfishness – From selfishness to complacency - From complacency to apathy – From apathy to dependence – From dependence back into bondage."

It would be ridiculous for anyone to say we do not fit this pattern.  We have travelled far down the road from the courage and unselfishness of our Revolutionary forefathers, to the present day with its' "entitlement mentality".  We, as in all generations past, face the constant threat of judgments, both natural and spiritual. 

Joshua took over the leadership of God's people when Moses’ time was done.  He led a bunch of former slaves over Jordan to conquer Palestine.  They had come out of the bondage of Egypt to become the people of God, wealthy, powerful, feared, and respected by every nation on earth.  It was the hand of God that gave Israel everything, just as it was the hand of God that formed the land of the free and home of the brave. 

We sing "God Bless America", and chills run up and down our spines.  Some tremble out of a nostalgic sentiment.  We simply wish for the "way it used to be".  Still others use that sentiment to manipulate a popularity that carries them into public office.  But if you tremble, and your heart is stirred in fear and holy reverence toward a God who put His blessed hand on our nation, and Who (if He so chose) could remove that hand, and watch us fold up like a spider stuck in the belly...well, then you "tremble aright," and with good cause.  It means you have chosen to honor and reverence sovereign God.  That is a choice that will truly bless America.

For You Today

As Joshua challenged Israel to choose honoring the Lord over the culture in which they would shortly find themselves, we also must choose between what may be popular, and that which is right in God’s sight.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!   

[1] Title Image:  Russell Brownworth photo  Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

Listen...and Know

 

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed?  Of course not!  A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.  For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.  Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”  Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear.  The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more.  To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given.  But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”  Mark 4:21-25

One of the most memorable advertising icons was the guy who continually asked, Can you hear me now?  That’s somewhat related to what my Dad would say when talking to his youngest son…Russell Jay, are you listening to me?  (Whenever my tall dad with the steel blue eyes used both my first and middle names it was time to sit up and take notice.  If he had to add your last name, the result would not be pretty).

There is something of that in Jesus’ teaching about listening and understanding.  The meaning is unmistakeable; disciples are not just to hear the words and grasp the connection of what is supposed to be learned.  Rather, it is a matter of listening with the intention of having the message change your behavior.  And the purpose for this can you hear me now moment is also very clear – there are consequences for how we respond.  For those who listen and put into practice what God speaks, there are rewards; skipping this Discipleship 101 class means loss.

So, what are the rewards and losses?  They have to do with what’s going on inside the center of your being, your soul.  For those who develop a listening heart, ready to understand and follow God’s will, it gets easier to hear His voice.  Life, even with all it’s difficulties and complexity, makes more sense; you learn how to be content with God’s ways and will, because you surrendered your will to His.  And when the tough times come you’re not blown off your pins, because you know the entirety of Heaven’s Host has your back…it will be well with your soul!

For those who maintain defiance, desiring little to be a follower, but rather a captain of his own fate and choices, the chances of hearing God’s voice and seeing His blessings in life grow dimmer with each passing year.  The final result is stone cold deafness to the Word of God, and blindness to how empty life can become.

What Jesus was setting up with his disciples is a life principle of surrendering our will to God’s will, so that the unseen God of the burning bush will be speaking, and you will already be un-lacing your sandals to bow at that holy place, because you’ve learned to listen.  Some of that learning was by trial and error…you walked-away, only to find you were lost on your own…but most of it will be because you chose faith in the God you cannot see, but Who sees you, and knows even the intentions of your heart.

For You Today

So, have you made the decision to surrender that inner person to the One who knows every atom in your body, heart, mind, soul, and strength? 

Judson van De Venter wrote about 100 hymns in the 19^th century.  One of his more well-known ones makes the point about this life of surrender:

All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.

I surrender all, I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.[1]

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!   

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[1] Title Image: Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

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[1] Source:  Hymnary.org

When Intelligence Turns Foolish

 

Tuesday of Holy Week, March 30, 2021

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.  As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”  So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters?  God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.  Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.  It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven.  And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom.  So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.  But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.  1 Corinthians 1:18-25

There is a lot of intelligence in the world.  From Albert Einstein, to all the medical, political, and social scientists, added to space engineers, agricultural wizzards of GMO fame, and those who put astronauts in space (particularly those who bring them back safe to earth), the wisdom of humanity has a handle on a quantum truckload of intelligence.

But there is a limit!

The question, answered by Apostle Paul’s message to the Corinthian believers, is when does man’s intelligence turn foolish?  Paul’s answer is that humanity’s intelligence places itself in the trash can when it starts to battle against faith, and, in particular, faith regarding the cross, tomb, and resurrection.

In Paul’s Jewish frame of reference all humanity was categorized as either Jew or Gentile.  And both were guilty of the foolishness of denying the cross. 

To the Jews, who were looking for a Messiah to rule over earth, it was an offense to imagine he would be hung on a cross like a common criminal; it was a curse.  To the Gentiles, particularly the philosophers, thinkers, and debaters, the whole idea of power without human intelligence that can be proven and held in hand, was just pure nonsense.  In other words, faith, genuine faith that trusts God to handle our biggest problem is unnecessary; we can figure it out, thank you very much…no higher power needed.

For humans, endowed with sentient life – an awareness of both sensory and abstract dimensions of existance – dependence on some unseen “Creator” is a nonsequitur – there isn’t anything we can’t do for ourselves, so creating a creator is for the foolish and weak. 

However, for those who care to admit the truth, we don’t have nearly the intelligence with which we credit ourselves.  Chief among the evidence is the most basic question (and, arguably the most important question), that question of what happens when this life is over.  To deny the continuance of sentient existance solely on the basis of flesh decomposing, is to push an argument from silence.  No life seen is only proof that you cannot see with human eyes, or measure with human intelligence, what lies beyond the grave.  There are some things the 0’s and 1’s of aritificial intelligence cannot measure.

For that you need faith.

For You Today

We’re into the sacred season of faith known as Holy Week…the passion is unfolding, and the faithful are seeing the evidence of things not seen.[1] 

All true intelligence is born of, and lives-in faith in God, the author of faith[2].

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!  

[1] Title Image:  Courtesy of Pixabay.com    Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

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[1] Hebrews 11:1

[2] Hebrews 12:2

On the Right Side of History

 

Monday, January 25, 2021

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation.  I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.  I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt.  All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”  Genesis 12:1-3

I’m old enough to have a history with experience.  My first vote in a presidential election was in 1968; in a total of 14 elections, I voted for the winner 8 times.  In Las Vegas, being right 57% of the time means you go home with full pockets.  But I’m not sure this applies; it’s just reporting the results like the newscasters.  “Winning” is so very temporary and having the most votes simply equates with popularity.

As each of those voting seasons came to an end, the “winning side” claimed a new era of peace, justice, and the American way, that the “other side” had been defeated, and now we can begin again to set things right.  And every time I heard one of those afterglow statements of victory, I always had an uneasiness about the certitude of the winner.  Depending on whether my vote had been for the victor, my feeling was either agreeably-uncertain, or disdainfully-uncertain.  I always had a sense of what-if, as in what-if-my-vote-was-on-the-wrong-side-of-history?

Now, before I lose you in thoughts of either gloating over winning, or sour-grapes for losing, this is about neither.  It has to do with choosing the right-side of history, which has nothing to do with which side may “win” or “lose”. 

Winston Churchill is often attributed for originating the phrase history is written by victors, however it is a phrase much older than World War II.  It is also suspect according to some:  One author has it that, [t]he more accurate quote would be, ‘History is temporarily twisted by people who’re going to profit from it in the short term.’[1] 

Whether it comes from the political right or left, I think this expediency motive may prove flawless.  It’s simply a matter of understanding that publicity matters when it comes to staying in power; when it comes to holding the high ground in public opinion, perception is its’ own reality.

Now, all of that is a matter of human relationships, political machinations, and intentions of those who would be the victor, not the vanquished.  The tides of popularity and so-called success are short-lived. 

So, what do we make of all this?  Is this just cynicism, or hyper-criticism?  Should we not participate in it at all…summarily trash everything?  Absolutely not!

So, what then?  What is the purpose in all of this?  Why even bring up the matter if there is no end to it? 

Well, I’m glad you asked.

Like the unknown cards in another’s hand, God stands behind the curtain of our ability to see.  And, as with Abraham, the Lord stands ready to bless or curse, depending on whether we intend to act with or against His will.  This is the nature of God in His complete Sovereignty.  Sovereign God is the ultimate winner in complete righteousness.  His will is immutable and irresistible.  And, therefore, it is God’s will which constructs, writes, and validates any “history”.

For You Today

If you want to be on the right side of history, it is a matter of surrendering one’s heart and life to God’s will. 

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

GO TO VIDEO

[1] Title Image: Courtesy of Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

For other posts on Genesis 12 see Yield - Part 2 and Leaving and Arriving      

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[1] Shubham Jain in “History Is Written By Victors” Is A Foolish Phrase

 

Wrong Way - Right Way - MY WAY

 

Friday, December 18, 2020

For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus:  “You are my Son.  Today I have become your Father.”  God also said, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.”  And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him.”  Regarding the angels, he says, “He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.”  But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.  You rule with a scepter of justice.  You love justice and hate evil.  Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”  He also says to the Son, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.  They will perish, but you remain forever.  They will wear out like old clothing.  You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing.  But you are always the same; you will live forever.”  And God never said to any of the angels, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”  Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.  Hebrews 1:5-14

There is an orderliness to the universe as surely as you put the ice cream on top of the pie, as opposed to the other way around.  Scripture tells us accordingly that we humans are created just a little lower than the angels.  God’s Word also informs us that order includes Jesus as being co-equal with Father God, and the Spirit.  So, the order is God, three-in-one, angels, humanity, and the rest of the creation.  There is a sovereignty that is unquestioned in Scripture (as well as creation; what storm has ever just ceased to rage, just because a man, woman, or mosquito told it to hush?).  And, in that order, God has seen fit, or proper, to allow us a measure of autonomy, free will to make decisions about our existence and relationships.  From the account of Adam and Eve we learn the wrong use of that autonomy, and the resultant effect it has on the quality of our existence, foremost in importance, our relationship to He who is author of time, space, and life, eternal God.

The dictionary definition of autonomy is self-directing freedom and especially moral independence.  Freedom is a dangerous commodity; it implies no restraint.  When granted, it places incredible power for good or evil at the hand of the free agent.  Moral independence is a mixed bag; we are free to explore and choose how we will act towards the creation, including our fellow human beings, and whether we will acknowledge, by our obedience, the Sovereign benevolence of God. 

There is an old sermon illustration of the wise sage sitting atop a mountain being approached by a young man with a question.  The question for the sage is youthful arrogance that attempts to unmask the foolishness he supposes accompanies one who sits on a mountaintop, when he could be down in the city partying.  The young man extends two hands, cupped together, and asks the sage,  I am holding a little bird in these two hands; you cannot see this tiny bird, but tell me, is it alive or dead?  Sizing up the challenge, the sage replies, as you will, my son; as you will.

For You Today

The privilege of a measure of autonomy God has granted to each of us also carries a responsibility to choose well.  The owner’s manual, Scripture, is the place to understand what an appropriate response to that privilege is…not what our friends think, or culture has declared.  When you get your advice for living, it’s wise to start at the top of the food chain, not third in line.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

GO TO VIDEO

Title image, Pixabay.com and    W   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

For other posts on God’s Sovereignty see:  How Was Your Weekend? and God Sovereign – Part 5

 

Listening Carefully

 

Friday, December 4, 2020

I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people.  But let them not return to their foolish ways.  Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, so our land will be filled with his glory.  Unfailing love and truth have met together.  Righteousness and peace have kissed!  Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven.  Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings.  Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.  Righteousness goes as a herald before him, preparing the way for his steps.  Psalm 85:8-13

In this season of Advent the call of Scripture is to prepare the way of the Lord.  This was John the Baptist’s call to the people of his generation:

Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!  Clear the road for him!  Luke 3:4

The question always comes to me rather annoyingly:  what does that mean?  How do you clear the road for Almighty God?  It’s HIS earth and universe…what possible little rock or pothole could stand in God’s way?  And the singular answer to those questions is just as annoying, like a burr under the saddle, everything! 

Everything?  Yep! 

Picture the road as leading from Heaven’s gate to the throne room in your heart.  That is the road John has in mind, because that is the place where either truth and righteousness, or lies and evil dwell; the former being a clear pathway, and the latter being the rubble of our free will that blocks God from entering. 

One thing God has made perfectly clear in Scripture is that He will not abide with evil.  When we give place to the darkness of evil, we block out the light of righteousness. 

The sun, with its 27-million-degree core temperature, gives off light so blinding you can hurt yourself just glancing at it.  Yet, you can block out every bit of it by shutting your eyes.  This is like closing the highway to your heart from God.  Jesus said it plainly, daylight and darkness are mutually-exclusive.

So, what does this have to do with the Psalmist’s listening carefully?  There are many dots, but a simple connect – if we’ll slow down and take the blinders of rebellion off.  God speaks peace to us, but not at the cost of His righteousness.  God does not look the other way when we choose evil.  And, equally, God does not fail to bless us when we choose righteous living.  But the choice is always on us, the ball forever in our court! 

It’s that simple, and as Joshua said to God’s children as they were about to settle into the Promised Land:

“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly.  Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone.  But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve.  Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates?  Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live?  But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”  Joshua 24:14-15

For You Today

Have you listened carefully?  It pays to do that when God is speaking.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

GO TO VIDEO

Title image, Pixabay.com and    W   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

For other posts on Psalm 85 see:  The Mix of Religion and Politics and The Perfect Kiss