A big thanks to Theology Mix for bringing us on board!
First, I’d like to share the most recent episode from sermon number 3467, A New Creation, based on Revelation 21:5. You can read the entire sermon text at the Spurgeon Archive. The music from this episode was contributed by Dust Company and you may download more from them at iTunes and Amazon.
It is no secret that Christians believe God created all things, whether as seen in the world we exist in, or unseen in the spiritual realm beyond our senses. Even more, it is no secret, I hope, that Christians believe we humans are not simply another animal—a monkey that has figured out how to use power-saws and wear pants—but that we are made in God’s image. Bearing in our beings unique marks that display God’s nature, that set us apart from and above the rest of creation and yet still below God, we are beholden to him as his creatures.
One of those markers within us reminding us constantly that we are not our own, but rather of another Who has set the standards for our lives, is our conscience. It cries out against the wrong things we do, convicts us of the ways we are thinking and acting badly, and prompts us to change our attitudes and deeds. Yet one of the most popular pastimes for humanity is the searing of our consciences. We let impulses we know in our deepest core serve only for our ultimate destruction become the ruling force in our hearts and minds. Throughout history, it has been common practice for people to resist the conviction of their conscience by attacking those who would bring the force of God’s truth to bear against them. Without doubt this continues today as humanity industrializes death and seeks after new and more inventive ways to please itself into the grave.
Such things do not exist in a vacuum, and, most assuredly, they bring upon us God’s judgment. I am reminded of a scene from the movie 12 Years a Slave. I have included it for a little context. Full and fair warning: This scene does involve some harsh language, however, it is in a historical context rather than a gratuitous one. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxNvYB-K0wY]
This scene impressed me both for the truth being spoken as well as for the striking irony that so many hearing a statement such as this about slavery would have no qualms about it, nodding in agreement, saying, “Yes! This is so true!” Yet apply that same standard to an area where they act sinfully, or where they hold a position that mirrors that of Epps on a different subject, and the reaction will be very different. Take Bass and put him outside an abortion clinic. Have him tell a mother walking in to to have her child killed, or a worker preparing for a day of participating in such atrocities, that there is a universal truth condemning their actions. They are participating in wickedness that will bring a time of accounting for them before a holy and just God. You wouldn’t get cheers and nods from our hearer. You would get the same derisive responses he gets in this scene, “Easy for you to say, you can’t have a baby. You must be some Bible-thumper trying to control women’s bodies. The law says this is legal, how dare you try to stop it?!”
This is a single example. I daresay I could probably spend a long time finding other examples that pricked the hearts of every listener here. The point is that this is what the law does in conjunction with our God-given conscience—it tells us the truth, it drives us to see reality. And the reality is that every one of us is in need of a change in our relationship with God. It is where things change. It is where, as Spurgeon preaches in this sermon, the real good news comes in: the relationship change is here, it is available, and it comes to us by God’s will and goodness, not by our ability to clean ourselves up. It comes to us by the cross of Christ, by his love that runs deeper than we could ever conceive. Through his righteousness is our only hope of bringing our sinful, tattered selves with our seared consciences before the Maker of the universe, the perfect holy Judge of all things, and finding something other than death. It is here, we find life. We find renewal, we find refreshment, we find that Christ has made all things new. And when the time comes for all God’s children to stand at his throne for the judgment, he will finally and truly make all things new, by the renewing of creation. The work accomplished bit by bit, day by day by the Holy Spirit, will be completely done.
I love it when I find something in a work of fiction that inspires me to worship God. Obviously, from the above, this is not news, even though that work was based upon a true story. But I think about that day to come when Jesus shall return and all creation will end its groaning and find, instead, that complete remaking that is promised. I think about it when I have occasion to read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe again, especially when Wrong will be right,
when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar,
sorrows will be no more,
When he bears his teeth,
winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane,
we shall have spring again.
My friends, my listeners, when I hear that, I am reminded of the great hope of Christ. The Lion of Judah has declared that he will set all things to right, that he will wipe the tears from our eyes and h,e will end sorrow, hunger and despair. No longer will injustice rule the land, but rather the justice and righteousness of God will be the byword and rule over all, to the good of all.
The prophet Isaiah wrote of those coming days:
For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.
–Isaiah 65:17-19
Let those who know Jesus and love him rejoice at this. And let those who don’t, who hear his name and roll their eyes, or who think to any reason possible to resist him, let them this time hear conviction and respond to it, and turn to Christ to find restoration, peace, and real, true life from the great Life-giver.
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Photo via Regency Enterprises
Jon Ladner lives in Denton, TX with his wife, Rachel. He is a high school English teacher, a writer, a musician, and he has been doing audio production in varying capacities for several years. Through the Spurgeon Audio Podcast, he enjoys digging into the compelling writings of Charles Spurgeon. Visit his blog at jonladnertheturingtest.blogspot.com. Follow them on Twitter at @SpurgeonAudio, on Facebook at Facebook at Spurgeon Audio, or visit their website at https://spurgeonaudio.org.
- Charles Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening” – December 13, Morning - December 13, 2022
- Charles Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening” – December 10, Evening - December 10, 2022
- Charles Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening” – December 10, Morning - December 10, 2022
