The Carpenter's Apprentice Archives

Volume 1, Number 10                                                                                                                    October 2000

Primary Purpose

The Architect's Plan
"Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."     -- Gen. 1:26

In one incredible verse, God proclaims the purpose of mankind.  As we read the story of creation, there is a very clear presence of order and purpose.  We can look at a glorious sunrise or sunset, or a vast panoramic view of the wonders of nature and stand in awe.  

Whether we view the seemingly numberless galaxies of the universe through a telescope or the most minute particles of creation we can visualize, thinking people are overwhelmed with the beauty and design.

Such views may inspire us, but when we view things from God's perspective can we not be awestruck at the most glorious of His creations, mankind?

I am not suggesting some kind of ego trip here; but for just a moment let us attempt to grasp what the verse above tells us about what God had in mind..  His created order was that mankind would have dominion over the earth.

In a nutshell, we were designed to be His co-regents in His creation.  Everything was to be subject to mankind and mankind was to be subject to God.

It was a great plan, but there was a problem; the plan included man and the fulfillment of God's purposes was
dependent upon man's willingness to recognize and honor His dominion.

We don't know how long things went as planned, but based on my own life and the lives of others I have witnessed, I don't expect that it was very long before the situation was ripe for the Enemy to step in.

Adam and Eve sacrificed much more than just life by their disobedience.  They rejected everything that God intended for their good.  It was indeed Paradise Lost.

It would be logical to assume that since the plan went afoul, the purpose was lost.  But those who reason so deceive themselves.  For before the foundation of the world, God knew it's history and because He knew, He made provisions in the plan for its redemption and restoration.

The scripture tells us that God is not slack in regard to His promises, but that doesn't mean that things always happen as quickly as we would like.  It would be thousands of years before God would make it possible for man to recover that which was lost in Eden.  What happened in the meantime?

In a word sin, and the root of sin is self.  It is just as plain and ugly as it has always been.  It hasn't changed, it never will.  God's plan was to wait until the fulness of evil came and then He would step in set things right.  And did He ever!

Now, I know there are some who are still expecting evil such as  has never been known to fall upon the world.  Can we think about that idea for just a moment?

I ask you, what greater evil could there be than that of mankind rejecting and murdering the very Redeemer that God had made provision for even before the creation?  If you can imagine something more evil, please tell me.

In Matthew 21, Jesus tells the parable of the vineyard owner.  How could we miss so clear a message as this?  The owner sends for the payment that is due him.  Twice, those who  rented his facilities refused to pay up.  Instead they beat, murdered and stoned the slaves he sent to collect payment.  Thinking surely they would honor the request of his son, the son is sent and is treated no better.

Jesus poses the question to the Pharisees, ""Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?"  Even the carnal mind can reason that one out quickly.  They affirm that they will come to a "wretched end" and the owner will replace them with others who will pay him what he is due.

Jesus told His disciples that He spoke in parables so that those who were blinded to the light of God would not understand.  The Pharisees didn't understand.  Do we?

Evil worked its vilest deed at Calvary, but from the grave the power of God broke its grip upon His creation and opened the gates of promise to those who would claim Jesus as Lord and Savior.

In Christ, the purposes of Almighty God were recovered and the order of the day is that Christians are His ambassadors to the world: for the spreading of the gospel certainly, but not to that end alone as many in the church today believe.  May we understand the fullness of the gospel message.

The Carpenter's Corner
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."  Luke 19:10

Nowhere in scripture is the ministry of Christ stated so succinctly as it is here at the end of the story about Zaccheus: and what a marvelous message it is.  In the fall, mankind forfeited the position of dominion that God had purposed.

That is why we call it a fall.

Certainly the gospel message means that through the atoning work of Christ a right relationship between man and God has been made possible.  But, it means much more than that.  Christian living is about dominion, not harps and halos!

I would suggest that God has a broader purpose in view than simply the salvation of mankind, for in the fall more was lost than God's relationship with man.  His purpose and plan were forced to take a route that could have been avoided had the first family chosen to recognize their Sovereign and continued to reign as He had purposed.

Christ did not come simply to recover sinful man, He came to restore rightful order and recover all that was lost in the fall.  Satan had his day.  He worked the fullness of evil in the hearts of men.

Then, at that lowest ebb in history, when things could not get worse,  God struck the Enemy a fatal blow by the power of the resurrection of Christ.  Paradise Regained!

As we look at the world around us today, the picture we see may not look like paradise.  Could the reason be that we are not tending the garden?  That is a thought that is worthy of much consideration.

Unfortunately, in recent history much of the Christian world has come to believe that the resurrection power of Christ is to be limited until some future time.  Until then, evil will continue to dominate the scene.  Where is the Church triumphant?

This view leads to the idea that there is nothing Christians can or should do about evil.  And some believe to resist that evil is to work against God's plan for the so-called "end times." I believe this to be heinous deception of the Enemy.   (Space doesn't permit The Chronicles of Christian Skywatcher this time, but this is his realm)

Among Christ's parting words to His disciples was the announcement that He had been given all authority in heaven and earth.  Paul proclaims Him to be the second Adam.  Dominion has been restored according to God's purpose and we as  Christians have been commissioned as His ambassadors to go forth in His name proclaiming His Lordship over earth.

"For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." (Cor. 5:14-15)

We will get more into Paul's teaching shortly, but for now, let us understand what happens as we become new creations in Christ.  We are no longer to live for our purposes and pleasure but for His.

Since Christ has been given all authority and we are called to live for Him, we are to live in and by the authority that is His alone.  Christ's teaching was "revolutionary" if you will allow me that description.  The church was to go forth proclaiming the good news of salvation in Jesus name and "teaching them to observe all that  [He] commanded [them]."  (Matt. 28:20)

We need to contemplate the implications of that commission.  The church is to make the nations of the world its pupils.  The lesson plan is to teach the commandments of Christ. To be sure some have taken this charge to extremes, but their abuses do not nullify our duty to spread His Kingdom on earth.

As we evaluate our daily experience, is the church teaching and having dominion over the world, or is the world teaching and exercising dominion over the church?  God's blood-bought, victorious church is made subject to the world.   Sad, isn't it?

First century Christians refused to be dominated by the world's view.  In spite of unspeakable horrors, Christians throughout the ages have stood in opposition to the wisdom of the world to confront the evil before them and proclaim Christ as Lord.

They refused to compromise their position of authority and power to mere men and so should we.  Indeed, so will we if we are of the same faith.  Remember Christ's proclamation concerning the church in response to Peter's confession?  "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it."  If evil is prevailing, the church is AWOL.

History demonstrates that the church thrives on persecution.  What it has yet failed to learn is how to remain faithful when God honors obedience with deliverance, freedom and peace.

Our culture provides compelling evidence that we have yet to learn that lesson.  A few months ago, we spoke of steadfastness.  That is the quality the church has been lacking.  When things become easy, we grow complacent and apathetic.  Ultimately, we become oppressed by the Enemy.  That is not God's plan!

The opportunity is before us today.  Will the church in America become a light to the ages which demonstrates that even on the brink of collapse God's people can recover their course in steadfastness?  If we do, I believe there will be a revival of faith that is unparalleled in history.

We have not gone into the world, so God has brought the world to us.  Will we make disciples of them and teach them to obey Him?  Or will we sit on the sidelines and obey their Godless directives which they issue in ignorance?  The choice is ours;  will we enlist them in the call to reach the world for Christ?   

The Foreman's Forum
"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil." (Romans 13:1-3a).

[Please take the time to read Romans 12:17-13:7 to put this passage in context]

If there is any teaching in the modern church which has neutralized Christian activism more than others, teaching regarding this portion of Paul's message must surely qualify for that position.

There is no way to address the issue at length here, but let's see what we can glean from what Paul says.  His
instruction moves to the area of how to deal with those who persecute believers.  Paul says that we are not to take the law into our own hands, but to allow God to work through the civil authorities to exercise wrath and vengeance.

God's plan is for civil government to serve as His means of dealing with such situations.  Before we consider our relationship to civil government, we need to see what Paul says about godly government.

Principle 1: There is no authority except that which comes from God.  No ruler claiming any other authority, can be rightfully considered legitimate.

Principle 2: All legitimate rulers are God appointed.  They are His subjects.  Verse 2 isn't just speaking to those under their rule, it includes them under the authority of God.  Our  allegiance is first to God and then to earthly rulers who are themselves subject to His authority.

Principle 3:  God ordained rulers are not a threat to those who behave themselves.  A government which rules by punishing the godly is a usurpation by man, not an institution of God.

Principle 4:  God ordained rulers praise and reward godly behavior.  That government which encourages and rewards evil is not of God.

Principle 5:  God ordained rulers are His servant's (ministers) for our benefit.  Rulers ordained of God serve Him faithfully by protecting the law-abiding and promoting righteousness.

Principle 6: God ordained rulers serve Him by punishing those who do evil.  While there is a final day of reckoning, God has made provision for justice in this life.  He has always hated those who pervert justice, and He still does.

Principle 7: Because rulers are servant's of God, they are to devote themselves to this ministry.  God ordained rulers are to continually and diligently attend to these enumerated responsibilities.

Were you aware that these verses spoke so much about the responsibility of government to God and to the people?  It is amazing that we have traditionally viewed this in the light of our responsibility to civil authority, when on balance, most of the text defines the role and responsibility of government!

There is much more to say here, but let us understand that simply because some bully comes to power does not mean that his usurpation is encouraged or supported by God. God may use such a one for His purposes, but He demands no allegiance of those oppressed by him when his actions violate the will of the Supreme Authority or the social order as expressed in its written code (our Constitution for example).

Wouldn't it be a blessing to live under a system of government that understood and applied these principles?  Flash!!!  That is precisely what our founders had in mind.  What happened?

The rulers are derelict in their duty.  Before you say AMEN!, remember, we are the rulers God ordained in this country.  Like Pilate, we can wash our hands of the matter in an attempt to place the blame on those we elect; but God will not excuse us if we fail to insist that they obey Him.

Once we have dealt with our failure as rulers, we will have no problem being in subjection to our civil government.  Think on these things.

The Carpenter's Toolbox
"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"  (Micah 6:8)

Here's another one of those verses that takes us to the heart of the matter before us.  God wanted Adam and Eve to walk humbly with Him, but they would not, and evil entered into the hearts of mankind.

From before the foundation of the world, His plan has been to have a people who would walk with Him in justice, obedience and compassion.  His purpose has not changed and it will not change.  Will we answer the call, regardless of the cost?

God despised the phony attempts of the Jews to carry on their religion.  It was noxious and offensive to Him because it focused on them instead of Him.  It is a mistake the church is repeating in our day, and it is a deadly one.

There are only two possibilities as we consider civil government.   We will serve the God of heaven, or the Father of Lies.  Our representatives will honor God or they will work evil.  There is no middle ground.

It matters not if we give lip service to what is right and true if we fail to walk with God in the trenches where the battle is being waged for the heart and soul of our families, our neighbors and our world.    

The Apprentice's Journal
Most of my life has been lived without much of a sense of the history that occurred around me.  While I have witnessed a number of historic, as well as infamous, events, I have tended to view them as simply events without putting them into the larger context of history.

Perhaps it is a function of age, but more I think it is a matter of God dealing with me that my eyes have been opened to a bigger picture than I was previously interested in viewing.  Like many, I suffered from immaturity and tunnel vision.

Life seemed more comfortable then, but it seems much more hopeful now.  Not in any immediate sense of the word for us as a nation, but from a long-term view of the world:  This is my Father's World!

Because it is, I have no choice but to live for Him as His ambassador with all the strength and courage He affords.  Life cannot be compartmentalized into the things of the world and the things of God.  As Christians, every aspect of our lives is to be placed under His authority.  Let us not forget that.

My life is a testimony to the fact that being less than diligent in such matters has a huge price tag.  The full cost of my foolishness will not be known until eternity but the specter it raises even now grieves me.

It grieves me because, even in my sincere desire to serve God, I grew complacent and apathetic toward aspects of life that should have demanded more of my attention.  God has a way of adjusting our priorities!

Each moment we live is writing history, not just our own, but of the church, our culture, and the world.  Though I am concerned about what future historians will write and say of our time, I am infinitely more concerned about what God records.  I know you are too.

Let us be diligent to honor God with our vote in November.

©Copyright 2000 ~ Permission to reprint for personal, non-profit use is hereby granted, providing that the context of the quote is maintained and credit is given to The Carpenter's Apprentice.

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