The Reformed Doctrine of Scaling Walls
Yeah, we’ve pretty much got it all in the Reformed tradition. Since we can do nothing apart from our Lord, every good thing we do is by his sovereign grace. And on that note, check out this banger from King David (Psalm 18:29):
By my God I can leap over a wall.
You’ve heard of the song “Break Every Chain.” One of y’all can make a Reformed remix called “Scale Every Wall.” Our almighty God will get us over whatever stands in the way of trusting and serving him.
The Christian runs into many an obstacle in the way of following Christ. What are we to do? Scale that mug. And keep it moving to the heavenly Zion.
Open Your Word Eye
“The wise have eyes in their heads” (Ecclesiastes 2:14). So there it is, the infamous third eye, or should we say third eyes? And why wouldn’t the mind have eyes? It sees invisible realities which cannot be perceived by the physical eye. Without it the two eyes of the face can’t even make sense of what they see. Truly, “what is seen was not made out things that are visible” (Hebrews 11:3).
But not everyone has these eyes. What makes the difference? The wise person sees things as God sees them. Their mind has been opened to understand his word and through it to understand all things. It’s a way of seeing the world through Scripture, like a great lens upon the mind’s eye. Without it we are blind to the spiritual realities around us. So let’s goggle up with the word and see the most important things more clearly.
Orbology
What have the orbs to do with Jerusalem? Apparently very much indeed. I’ve been reading C.S. Lewis on medieval cosmology and the orb presents itself as a theme.
In short, when the ancients lifted their gaze and beheld the heavens arrayed in circles and spheres, they naturally asked the question, “Why?” Their answer was simple: all created order wishes to reflect its Maker as closely as possible. In this case, the heavenly bodies exhibit not only spherical shape, but circular motion. Of all the shapes, said they, the circle most nearly epitomizes the Divine Nature. A circle (and its 3D counterpart the sphere) has no corners, no shadow of turning, no sides or parts. It is all one. And as for movement, a circular path is also the swiftest motion. Thus, for some ancient and medieval thinkers, the heavens were populated by sun, moon, planet, and star orbs that, embedded into the transparent spheres of the heavens (look it up), moved in circular love for their simple, invisible Creator, who just so happens to be the God of the Bible and the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Not bad, eh?
Knowledge God
This week I’d like to share an awesome quote from one of my good friends, Stephen Charnock:
God knows the forms and essence of things, every circumstance; nothing is so deep but he sees to the bottom. He sees the mass and sees the motes of beings. His understanding, being infinite, is not offended with a multitude of things or distracted with the variety of them. He discerns every thing infinitely more clearly and perfectly than Adam or Solomon could any one thing in the circle of their knowledge. What knowledge they had was from him; he has, therefore, infinitely a more perfect knowledge than they were capable in their natures to receive a communication of. All things are open to him (Heb. 4:13).
Let us stand in awe of this amazing God who sees us fully and put our trust in him today.
The Reformed Doctrine of Coziness
It snowed last night, so coziness is all the vibes right now. Let us ransack this theme for spiritual riches. God comforts us with gifts and graces to keep us spiritually cozy as we march through this cold wilderness of a world.
His Presents
All good things we enjoy are God’s gracious comfort for us. All the spiritual blessings and riches of the gospel keep mighty company with us as well. What friends we have in the doctrines of grace! In addition, even the difficulties we pass through are full of the sanctifying presence of God to us in Christ.
His Presence
Above and beyond (and in and through) all these cozinesses of the soul, God has given us his own special presence. The Holy Spirit lives within us, that divine Person who is called the Comforter. Let us stay warm beside the fires of his fellowship as we press forward through task and trial toward our heavenly home.
Shield Revealed
Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him
-Proverbs 30:5
If it’s written, it’s hitting. God’s word always proves itself true. But look, there’s a promise here too: whoever trusts God through his word, God himself will be his shield.
Our relationship with God happens through the Book, and that relationship is mainly one of him saving us and us being saved by him. Let’s treasure up his words and watch him deliver us from evil by honoring every last one of them.
Meme Theology
Memes are great. If you meet someone who doesn’t like them, you may have a shape-shifting lizard person on your hands. But for us humans, memes just hit. Why is that? One thing that makes them so lovable is the bite-sized nature of the (hopefully humorously-rich) joke contained within the simple digital square.
When it comes to theology, it’s no joke. But we see this same principle at work in the Scriptures and theological works—especially catechisms and confessions. Of course, many matters of faith are complex and require much explanation. But the big stuff, the most important stuff, is straightforward and bite-sized for our faith.
For example, how sweet and pleasant are the meme-sized Proverbs of Solomon? Even the Greater Solomon dropped gems in small compass: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Boom — that’s the whole gospel right there, ready to share with all your friends.
So let’s appreciate and treasure up the meme theologies God has blessed us with.
Elementary, My Dear Aang
I’m not exactly sure who Agur the son of Jakeh was, but I know that he had bars. Check out his utterance:
Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
Surely you know!
-Proverbs 30:4
The hero void in our hearts shows that we were made to worship God through Christ. Even our coolest heroes—in this case, the great benders of Avatar—can only faintly mimic him.
Let It Snow
Snow has become the arch-nemesis of many northern dwellers. However, the living Puritan Dr. Joel Beeke had this to say about it after last week’s snowstorm:
The Bible speaks of snow a few dozen times—either positively, spiritually, or neutrally (never negatively!). He blankets the earth in white to accomplish His purposes (Isa. 55:10; cf. Job 37:13). Snow reflects His power and purity. He even associates the whiteness of snow with the forgiveness of sins (Ps. 51:7): “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:18).
May these thoughts guide us in our interactions with God’s snow for the rest of this winter!
How to Be a Star
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
-Phil 2:14–15
Our brilliance in this dim world is found in our submission to God’s providence. Just as the stars follow their ordered march through space and time, so too the Christian shines brightest when marching in joyful submission to God’s revealed will, and when resigning to whatever his secret will sends our way. Then our lives shall pulse in step with the Great Dance of God’s wondrous decree.