The Meh, The Awesome, The Evil

The Pendulum

Now I have long since left the study of anatomy and physiology, but one of the most interesting things I learned about was our bodies ability to buffer. For example the acidity in your blood is for the most part neutral. When you eat a lemon, your body will in essence create more basic material in the blood to bring it to where it should be.

The Church I think is very similar. Years ago you would see in all the artwork painting of an angry judgmental God ready to send everyone who did not behave every teeny commandment to Hell. People had a strong fear of God and well being sent to the eternal fire.

In the last few decades there seem to be a strong focus on the grace and mercy of the Lord. Almost to a fault we can believe that why would a loving God ever send anyone to Hell. I had one friend that would preach that when a person dies, for that moment time stops for that person and Jesus comes and gives that person one more chance to follow Him or not.

There is a certain TV preacher who if I want to feel good about myself I have tuned him in so that he could tell me how amazing I am. He doesn’t really bother talking about repentance because in his mind repentance is a given.

I think, both are right and both are wrong. The Bible actually talks more about our depravity and the judgment we deserve than it talks about the grace and mercy offered to us through repentance and living a life following after Christ.

So how do we find balance. When his Word describes our righteousness a filthy rags and in the same book tells us we are free from sin, how do we apply that to our daily walk.

Today I want to give you and illustration of God’s grace from want to talk to you about who must have been the most confused person in the entire Bible. Who until Christ’s death, and resurrection and the subsequent filling of the Holy Spirit couldn’t seem to get anything right.

Matthew 16:13–23 ESV

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Matthew

Meh

Simon Bar-Jonah - Just any other guy

The Average American (if there is such a thing)

Theres nothing wrong with that

It’s well meh

Awesome

Peter.. on this rock I will build my church

Isn’t it great when we have those moments when everything goes just Awesome.

These moments were rare in Peter’s life, and are rare in ours.

Evil

Get behind me Satan

Let’s define whats going on name change.

I have never been called Satan - other things maybe

There is real evil in the world (Hitler)

You don’t have to be Hitler to warrant being called Satan.

Just try to get in the way of Christ’s Purpose

Peter’s intentions was good.

Sometimes even when we want to do good we can’t seem to get it right.

But the Amazing Love of Christ.

The greatest part of this story is that no matter what Christ never leaves. When we are at our most mediocre. He is there

When we are at the top of our game, He is there.

And when even our good intentions (let alone our bad ones) try to block God from His plan in our lives and the lives of others, He is there.

Peter hardly ever got it right, but no matter what… Jesus was always right there. Does he excuse the wrong doing?

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Pendulum