Christ, The Great Divide

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 1:6

What makes the difference between a ‘righteous’ and an ‘unrighteous’ person? Is it that the ‘righteous’ person is just better? Is it that they are somehow superior to all those ‘lowlifes?’ No, not at all. No ‘righteous’ person can take any credit whatsoever for his ‘righteousness.’ Our text today does make a clear distinction. It says, ‘For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.’ To say that the Lord knows the way of the ‘righteous,’ is to say that He recognizes it, or acknowledges, or approves of it. By contrast, the end result of the way of the ungodly is that he ‘perishes,’ or is cast away, utterly separated from God. What makes the difference? Christ. Christ is the Great Divide of Humanity. We are either in Christ or out of Christ, saved or lost, accepted or rejected, approved or disapproved. It is healthy for us to take stock today of where we are, in relation to Christ. Am I today in Christ or out of Christ? Have I embraced Him as He is freely offered to me in the Gospel, or have I, thus far, refused? We have, for the last little while, demonstrated the sharp contrast between those in Christ, and those out of Christ. Once again, we want to make this Gospel appeal. ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.’ He ‘knows the way of the righteous.’ Believe, and receive from Him the imputed righteousness which will keep you from perishing. Christ is here to receive you. Make no delay.  Enter in to that loving relationship with Him that shall never end.

Our most Holy and Wise God,
we rejoice that You have provided the means, whereby,
we may no longer continue in our unrighteousness.
We look to Christ, Our Righteousness, and rejoice in all He brings to us.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

The Just God

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Psalm 1:5

Is Jesus just? That seems to be a silly question, but let us think about it for a moment. We often hear people tout the concept, ‘We must forgive as Jesus forgives.’ Absolutely. How exactly does Jesus forgive? Everywhere in the Scripture, we find that Christ forgives on the basis of repentance. In Luke 13, where Christ spoke of the death of the Galileans, and the destruction of the people upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, He preached repentance. In Luke 17, He lays down the basis for repeated forgiveness of an offending brother as repentance. We may pile example upon example, but the analogy of the faith is that repentance toward God and forgiveness from God are inextricably linked. Therefore, when we come to our text today what must we conclude? ‘Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.’ Why is it that they are unable to stand in the judgment? Is it because Christ will not forgive? No. It is because they refuse to repent. Psalm 130:4 tells us, ‘There is forgiveness with You.’ Christ stands utterly willing to forgive. He is ever disposed to forgive. He loves to forgive. It is but our pride and hardness of heart that holds us back from receiving this open-handed, open-hearted forgiveness. Why should you ‘stand without?’ Repent and believe the Gospel. Let not your soul be numbered with the breakers of Gods’ Law. Repent today, while yet there is opportunity. He will utterly forgive, and you shall be saved.

Our Great and Forgiving God,
we praise You and thank You,
that the Blood of Jesus Christ, Your Son,
does indeed cleanse us from all sin.
‘Wash me O, Lamb of God,
wash me from sin by Your Atoning Blood,
Oh, make me clean.’

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

Like the Chaff

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Psalm 1:4

If God sets forth the blessedness of the person who is in Christ, He must also set forth the alternative. Our text for today, does that in graphic terms, ‘The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.’  What is the chaff? ‘Chaff’ is the leftover, unusable portion which has separated from the wheat by threshing. It is the empty, lifeless hull, which has no real value. It is light, and therefore, when the ancient folk would thresh their wheat, they would do so at an elevated place, where the wind would separate the chaff and blow it away. This is the picture which God gives of the Christless soul. Contrast this to the previous verses where He describes the person in Christ as stable, rooted, and fruitful. What a stark contrast. Herein lies a most appropriate segway to a setting forth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We know not whom God has chosen. Therefore we make a full and free offer of the Gospel. Who wants to be ‘like the chaff, which the wind drives away?’ Who wants to be lifeless, light, and easily discarded? Here is the Gospel appeal; repent and embrace Christ as He offers Himself freely to you. Do not go on another hour without coming to know Him, ‘Whom to know, aright, is life eternal.’ ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.’ Let not your life conclude with the endless regret of being lost. Christ is here for you now. Do not delay. Embrace Him today.

Our Gracious Loving Savior, we pray that by Your Power,
You will cleanse our souls,
from every earth-gathered stain.
Take us unto Yourself,
and make us wholly Yours, in every respect.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

 

Like a Tree

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 1:3

How does the Scripture describe that soul which is united to Christ in faith and love? We find it in our text today. ‘And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.’ Here is an abundance of blessedness. Let us, for the next few moments, take stock of exactly what that blessedness entails. Christ has planted that person, and that is the beginning of his blessedness. He has not planted himself, but is the beneficiary of the largesse of God. Moreover, Christ has planted him in the exact location where he will receive the constant supply which will guarantee his prosperity and productivity.  It is by the ‘rivers of water,’ that He dwells.  This location, along with the care of the Planter, guarantees both faithfulness and usefulness. He ‘shall bring forth his fruit in his season.’ That fruit is for the benefit of others who will prosper by the eating of it. Even in adverse circumstances, ‘his leaf also shall not wither,’ for the same Christ who planted, shall also sustain. Beyond that, this ‘soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,’ shall succeed in every way that matters to God. ‘Whatsoever he does shall prosper.’ This is not success necessarily in the eyes and estimation of man, but success in the eyes of God. This gives us great encouragement today. We are who we are, what we are, and where we are by the Will of Our Eternal Sovereign God. ‘He performs the thing that is appointed for me and many such things are with Him.’  In Christ, we are both secure and prosperous in every way that matters.

Our most Gracious and Loving God,
We praise You for Your wondrous work,
that You have so planted us beside the rivers,
that You have prospered us thus far,
that you have made our souls secure, 
and that You will never leave us nor forsake us.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

A Continual Feast

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalm 1:2

What delights us is an accurate reflection of who we are. A true craftsman delights in work well done. An artist delights in a well-finished piece. A wise counselor delights in a good conclusion to a delicate matter. The ‘blessed’ man of Psalm 1 delights in the words and ways of God as He has revealed them in the Scripture. These things delight him in ways he cannot often adequately express. The joy of them runs to the very soul of him, to his innermost being. The word of God is to such a person a deep well, full of the purest water. With joy he draws water out of the, ‘well of salvation’ again and again, not just occasionally, but many times a day. Here is the chart and compass that guides our wandering souls to Christ. Here is the art gallery wherein we find the manifold portraits of the Altogether Lovely One. Here is the storehouse of the Divine Provider who feeds us with ‘a feast of fat things,’ and gives us to drink of the ‘wine upon the lees, and good wine, well refined.’ So delightful is this Word to us, that we will search it every day, in every way, just to catch another glimpse of Christ. We will open its’ pages, time after time, to inhale the fragrance of the Lily of the Valley, and to fill our noses with the perfume of the Rose of Sharon. This is our delight, ‘both day and night.’

Our Loving, Kind and Gracious Savior,
we rejoice today in You, our Ever-living Well,
we praise You, that You satisfy our thirsty souls with the eternal water
that You so abundantly provide.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning