March 2020\u2013about March 2021 was interesting, to put it mildly. A year unlike any other! But in many ways, it hasn\u2019t been all that different from recent years. Yes, a pandemic makes it a bit different. But the relevant topics of discussion haven\u2019t changed very much. Perhaps the passion and urgency of the conversations have changed the main issues haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n
One sad feature behind so many of the topics today is the level of confusion. There are lots of reasons for why there is confusion. For example, the challenge of trying to discern what is true and what sources you can believe adds a significant level of confusion. But beyond the challenge of knowing what sources and people to trust, there is just confusion about what will truly bring joy, peace, satisfaction and flourishing to people and our communities. Issues like gender, addiction, education and race relations rise to the top as issues that confusion swirls around.<\/p>\n
Part of the challenge in regard to these issues is that when you start trying to address them, there is complexity to them. Then add on top of the complexity the harrowing speed and busyness of our culture and there isn\u2019t much time left to think deeply about these issues\u2014at least not with our voracious entertainment fix we NEED daily<\/u>. <\/em>The question for followers of Jesus Christ is what hope is there in such a confused world? <\/strong><\/p>\n In order to answer that, I\u2019d like to consider a passage from the deep recesses of the prophet Isaiah\u2014Isaiah 28:23\u201329. This passage follows on the heels of a very passionate, furious denouncement of the wickedness in Israel and especially the leadership (priests, prophets, and rulers). Against the backdrop of the strong judgments in vv.14\u201322 comes this passage which hopefully will help all of us turn to the right source for answers with the right attitude<\/u>.<\/p>\n Isaiah 28:23\u201329 (ESV)<\/p>\n 23 Give ear, and hear my voice; give attention, and hear my speech. This is a speech from the prophet Isaiah (v.23) and the point of the speech is clear enough. Namely, that a simple, peasant farmer knows how to farm and does the most common-sense farming strategies of the day, because the Lord is the one who instructs him<\/em>. This does not mean, that God physically talked with the farmer and directly told him about these farming techniques. Therefore, the question must be asked, \u201cIn what way did God instruct the farmer?\u201d The answer would be through the created order and physical principles of this world that God has allowed us to learn. It\u2019s not just Christians that know how to farm! Why is that? Because there is a God who created everyone and everything in the world!<\/p>\n The question you might be asking (or should be asking), is what does this have to do with the confusion and complex issues of our modern-day culture? Everything! The issues of gender, education and our belief about this world are being turned completely upside down. And yet, no one is arguing that we should radically change the way we farm\u2014yes, maybe new equipment or fertilizers, etc.\u2014but no one is arguing that we should try to farm by not planting seeds. No one is arguing that we should not use water anymore to plant. No one is arguing that discing your fields is so important that you should do nothing but disc your fields all season and when it\u2019s time to harvest, do not use a combine use a disc!!<\/p>\n The point is, there are basic, simple things that we are not trying to change because it would be absolute nonsense to change something so straightforward and obvious! Yet, there is our problem. We will be instructed by God in obvious outright physical principles, but when it comes to spiritual issues, we refuse to be instructed by God.<\/p>\n Consider 2 physical lessons that men have been instructed by God in, but then refuse the spiritual corollary.<\/p>\n Example: Plants and trees that grow up without wind or storms do not grow deep strong roots that help them stay firm and grow strong.<\/p>\n Spiritual Corollary: Rejoice in trials for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness and when steadfastness has it\u2019s full effect you\u2019ll be perfect, complete, and lacking nothing (James 1:2\u20134).<\/strong><\/p>\n When things get hard or difficult our natural reaction is to complain and run for some kind of escape. That\u2019s why many of us have roots that are too shallow to really nourish us well, or to help us remain steadfast.<\/p>\n Example: If you plant a garden and you do not take the effort to weed the garden, it will be overrun by weeds quickly which could choke out all of your produce. You also have to pull weeds from the garden more than once every season\u2014at least that\u2019s how it seems to work for me! It takes consistent care to keep a garden weed free.<\/p>\n Spiritual Corollary 2: To produce spiritual fruit and growth it takes consistent hard work to root out unbelief and cultivate faith.<\/strong><\/p>\n Physical exercise is a great example of how spiritual growth works. A person who runs every single day will certainly grow their stamina and be healthier than a person who runs one day per month. Our bodies need consistent, daily training to really grow. But when it comes to spiritual growth, we often think we can quickly jam in Bible reading, or sermons or prayer and somehow that will carry us on for the next season of our life. We struggle to believe and discipline ourselves to consistently and daily develop our relationship with Christ.<\/p>\n I would encourage you, to pick one of the physical lessons and its spiritual corollary from above and do an audit in your own life of where you\u2019re rebelling against \u201cthe instruction of the Lord.\u201d \u00a0Here are some examples to get you thinking:<\/p>\n Photo by cloudvisual<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\n24 Does he who plows for sowing plow continually?
\nDoes he continually open and harrow his ground?
\n25 When he has leveled its surface, does he not scatter dill,
\nsow cumin,
\nand put in wheat in rows
\nand barley in its proper place,
\nand emmer as the border?
\n26 For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him<\/strong>.
\n27 Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge,
\nnor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin,
\nbut dill is beaten out with a stick,
\nand cumin with a rod.
\n28 Does one crush grain for bread?
\nNo, he does not thresh it forever;
\nwhen he drives his cart wheel over it with his horses,
\nhe does not crush it.
\n29 This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nPhysical Lesson 1: Resistance and difficulty is necessary for growth.<\/h2>\n
Physical Lesson 2: It takes consistent hard work and effort to produce food, or anything of value.<\/h2>\n
Reflection and Application<\/h2>\n
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