Craig Biehl - Author and Teacher

“Eminently, Perfectly, Eternally”

If you are looking for treat to add to your reading list, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks is packed with life-changing gems.

(A free eBook copy can be obtained here: https://www.monergism.com/precious-remedies-against-satans-devices). For example:

So says the saved soul: Why do you tell me of this and that outward comfort, when I cannot see the face of him whom my soul loves? Why, honor is not my Christ; riches are not my Christ; the favor of the creature is not my Christ! Let me have Jesus—and let the men of this world take the world, and divide it among themselves! I prize my Christ above all, I would enjoy my Christ above all other things in the world. His presence will make up the absence of all other comforts. His absence will darken and embitter all my comforts—so that my comforts will neither taste like comforts, nor look like comforts, nor warm like comforts—when he who should comfort my soul stands afar off (Lam. 1:16). Christ is all and in all to souls truly gracious (Col. 3:11). We have all things in Christ. Christ is all things to a Christian. If we are sick, Jesus is a physician. If we thirst, Jesus is a fountain. If our sins trouble us, Jesus is our righteousness. If we stand in need of help, Jesus is mighty to save. If we fear death, Jesus is life. If we are in darkness, Jesus is light. If we are weak, Jesus is strength. If we are in poverty, Jesus is plenty. If we desire heaven, Jesus is the way. The soul cannot say, ‘this I would have, and that I would have.’ But having Jesus, he has all he needs—eminently, perfectly, eternally.

Quoted from Thomas Brooks. Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices (Kindle Locations 2424-2433). Monergism Books. Kindle Edition.

A treasure trove of over 900 free eBooks listed alphabetically can be found here: https://www.monergism.com/900-free-ebooks-listed-alphabetically-author

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Eminently, Perfectly, Eternally

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A Christmas Story

Once upon a time there was a beggar who lived in a shack. A beggar whose heart was so dark it could dull the glow of the brightest star in the heavens. He lived in Jerusalem. Perhaps you have heard of His splendor, His servants, His armies, gardens, and trees—every possible trapping and trinket to exalt him above his peers. The Queen of Sheba nearly fainted at the sight of his treasures. But he was a beggar. A beggar who lived in a shack. A man whose heart was so dark with sin and guilt that he was utterly unworthy of the attention of the One who crowned him with such privilege and bounty. He deserved great punishment. Yes, such was Solomon in the presence of the King of Kings. As the candle loses its light in the beams of the sun, so Solomon’s splendor dims in the radiance of His Maker and Benefactor. And not a sliver of his fame and fortune satisfied his soul. “All is vanity,” he cried.

Nonetheless, Solomon was the best of the best by earthly standards. Today’s billionaires are amateurs, lacking Solomon’s wisdom and character, and certainly lacking the relative value of His kingdom and toys. Yet, Solomon was, shall we say, a mess. By God’s standard of righteousness, every child of Adam shares Solomon’s moral messiness.

And speaking of Adam, he exalted the lies of a slimy serpent over the word of His perfect and loving Creator. A crime so evil it brought death and put the entire world under a curse. We scowl at Adam for this, yet who among us can say we have not imitated his contempt of God’s goodness and authority? The world, it seems, cannot sleep unless it does Adam one better in biting the benevolent hand that gives them every good thing to enjoy. To provide examples would belabor the obvious. The greater difficulty lies in finding examples of where God and His Word are rightly honored. For, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” to an extent we scarcely appreciate. All this paints an unflattering picture, but an accurate account of what Scripture means when it says the world lies in deep darkness. A deep, deep darkness. But God would send a Light.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2 KJV)

And this Light will never dim. Who, then, is this Light? And how could He rescue the likes of us?

Our condition was indeed hopeless. Only God could save us. And even with His limitless power and wisdom, He would need radical measures to get us to heaven. He would infinitely humble Himself to be one of us, to live with us, to stand in our place and meet the strict requirements for eternal life. And this He did. He came down, born of a virgin, weak in the body and soul of our humanity, but bearing the dazzling white armor of His perfect holiness. And with a heart aflame with love for His beloved in distress, the daring and righteous Savior overcame the greatest of enemies to save her.

Indeed, His love for us began before time and the world. And unlike the objects of our love, with features, form, and demeanor that appear beautiful to the beholder, the object of this Savior’s affection was hideous and deformed, with a heart of malice and disgust for everything He holds dear. We gladly accepted His earthly gifts, but kicked and spat at His advances, insulted His faultless virtue, and spurned His acts of love. But He loved us still. He pursued us as we fled, and suffered to woo His unworthy and homely bride until He gained our heart and hand. Through fire, rain, temptation, agony, and death, He purchased our eternal and immeasurable happiness. And because He cannot relax His perfect justice, He paid our debt for sin on the cross, at infinite cost to Himself. He bore our penalty on His soul. And as we were unfit for the purity and majesty of His kingdom, He washed away our filth and covered us with a beautiful robe of righteousness—His very own righteousness—purchased for us by His perfect life in our place, given to us freely. He will take us from this evil land and bring us to a heavenly home—a kingdom. We will dine with the King at His table as an intimate member of His family, as the bride of His beloved Son. He will make us a sight to behold, with a beauty and splendor beyond the glory of the stars of heaven, reflecting the holy grandeur of our Bridegroom. Our happiness will be without limit or end. Our eternity will be glorious beyond measure. Thanks be to God for this priceless gift.

May gratitude and joy fill our hearts this Christmas season, and every season, as we ponder our salvation, and as we celebrate and worship our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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Vote for Your Neighbor

Directly or indirectly, the policies enacted by the elected officials of local, state, and federal governments affect every aspect of our earthly lives, and the lives of our neighbors. Thus, elections provide believers significant, God-given opportunities to love their neighbors on a large scale. Who, then, is our neighbor?

Our neighbor works hard to provide for his or her family and needs an economy that provides that opportunity.
Our neighbor works hard to provide for his or her family and needs an economy that provides that opportunity.
Our neighbor lives in the womb awaiting entrance into the world, fearfully and wonderfully formed by God, but at risk from the tyranny of the “doctor” wielding the scalpel or syringe filled with flesh-burning fluid to deprive him or her of their God-given right.
Our neighbor desires freedom of religion, speech, and association, of holding to ideas without the threat from mobs that desire to destroy that freedom.
Our neighbor desires the right to own a gun to protect his or her family from harm.
Our neighbor needs law and order to sleep safely at home without the threat of violence.
Our neighbor needs judges, both in the Supreme Court and all levels of government, to rightly judge cases according to law, not personal preference and ideology.
Our neighbor has children in school that need to learn to think, free from indoctrination of those propagating ungodly ideas about life, sexuality, marriage, and the history of our country.
Our neighbor is created in the image of God and needs to be treated as such, not as a member of a class or according to the color of their skin.
Our neighbor lives in a foreign land, in need of missionaries sent by a country that enjoys the freedom to do so.
Our neighbor languishes in prison and is tortured for faith in Christ, while longing to experience the religious liberty we enjoy, even as our government lobbies for their freedom world-wide.
Our neighbor needs Christ, and pastors and friends who can freely speak the Gospel without the threat of jail for “hate speech.”
Our neighbor loves Christ and desires to worship Him, and speak freely of His perfection and marvelous work of redemption to a lost and dying world.

Elections have big consequences. And while God is sovereign and installs and removes kings, we are nonetheless commanded to make choices that love our neighbor, and that includes elections. To abrogate that responsibility by the misapplication of God’s sovereignty neglects our God-given responsibility as much as saying to our needy neighbors, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” while giving them nothing (James 2:16). God’s rule does not excuse dereliction of love and duty.

And lastly, should President Trump and Vice President Pence (a believer) lose the election because thousands or millions of professing believers refuse to vote or vote third party for reasons of “conscience,” I can only cry in shame at the consequences for our neighbor, for the many who will not hear the Gospel of life as a result of the loss of our republic and freedoms, and for the aiding and abetting of those who despise both the Gospel and our country. Should we have fired General Patton and countless other generals during WWII because they used “colorful” language, had big egos, and could not qualify to sit as Elders at our church? Perhaps Churchill should have been run out of town? And, will our neighbors be more inclined to hear our life-giving message of Christ when we are willing to see their country overrun by evil and destroyed because we don’t like the president’s boasting or prior sexual sins? Or, could it be that our pangs of conscience need to take better consideration of our neighbor. Yes, God will have the last word and His will shall be done. But His rule never overrides our responsibility to love Him and our neighbor.

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Vote for Your Neighbor

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Baggage, Responsibility, and the Display of God’s Excellence

We all bear the weight of a boatload of baggage, things of our past that haunt us today. Perhaps you were born into a difficult family, neighborhood, or financial situation. Maybe you have faced severe disappointments or losses, the death of a son, daughter, mother, father, or friend. Perhaps you have been cheated or mistreated, and frustrating and debilitating scars remain.

In my previous article we observed how all people intuitively and immediately know God’s existence, power, genius, and goodness by His works. We have proof aplenty. And while this indictment of unbelief helps clarify its unreasonable rejection of the obvious—the clear, comprehensive, and convincing evidence for God also offers great relief to those who wrestle with the emotional and spiritual wounds of youth. Space prevents a deep or broad examination of the issue, but you may be surprised how a critical apologetic principle provides simple and helpful medicine to those struggling with the nagging effects of their past.

Bruises and Blame
We all suffer the bruises of a fallen world; sin hurts and destroys. Unfortunately, our response to trouble can magnify the damage and suppress the good that might come from it. Frustrated, we might question why we still struggle and blame others for the ongoing effects of our childhood problems. Perhaps you blame your environment, acquaintances, and parents for your personality and emotional quirks and have spent great time and energy recounting and seeking relief from the mess they made of you. Maybe you turned to drugs, alcohol, pleasure, success, or other “cures” to solve your problems and satisfy your desires.

Of course, we should not discount our responsibility for how our actions may affect others, especially how they affect the sensitive and moldable hearts of our children. Ungodly notions of family and child rearing have consequences. But for our present and narrow purpose we ask, how much do we personally share the blame for the persistent effects of our childhood and teenage troubles?

Sufficient and Abundant Wine and Bread
To answer, we must first ask if God has provided sufficient evidence of His existence and excellence that we should have run to Him, cry to Him, cast our cares upon Him, and ultimately seek His infinite love through faith in Christ. Indeed, if His glory so shines that all are “without excuse” for not worshipping and giving Him thanks (Rom. 1:18ff.), then it sufficiently shines that we should seek Him in all things, especially our troubles. We are immersed in the display of His excellence and our dependence on Him, thus we have every encouragement to seek Him.

It’s no wonder, then, that God questions our foolish pursuit of help elsewhere, even as He offers grace: “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?” (Isa. 55:2). “Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” “Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance” (Isa. 55:1, 2). But having gorged ourselves with worthless or poisonous fare, we blame, harbor bitterness, and throw pity parties. What baggage could have been avoided had we run to God?

Running the Wrong Way on Empty
Perhaps we lacked love as a child, but did we run to the One whose love is perfect? Maybe we lacked guidance, boundaries, and purpose, but did we run to the Architect of the universe that made us for the greatest purpose? Perhaps we were deprived of emotional and psychological supports and nurture, but did we run to the One who meets every need, whose love surpasses all understanding? “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:11). “How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart” (Psalm 119:2). Did we seek the God of infinite love or run to vices that deepened and prolonged our wounds?

The Blessing of Confessing and Responsibility
We dare not minimize the profound suffering and trials of a corrupt world. As Christ shed tears for the broken hearts of Mary and Martha, so we should show compassion toward the hurts of others. But while we cannot bear the blame for every ill we suffer, we can take responsibility for our response. Here, as elsewhere, owning and confessing our sin against God goes a long way toward peace and contentment. And as “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28), He can turn the foolishness and effects of our youth into a means of greater godliness and joy. Many will enjoy an eternity of happiness in heaven because God used their troubles to bring them to faith in Christ.

Concluding Remarks
We all groan this side of glory, but “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed” (Rom 8:18). And given the clear display of God’s excellence, we could and should have been wiser. Nevertheless, our remaining baggage gives further opportunity for contentment and blessing as we cling to Christ, “for when [we are] weak, then [we are] strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). In the end, our every blessing is found in Him as our struggles drive us into His loving and all-sufficient arms: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

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Hey Creationist, Prove It!

Have you ever been asked by an evolutionist to prove your belief in Creationism? Have you ever been frustrated by the challenge? In a recent response to one of our videos someone confidently proclaimed that Creationism is refuted by two simple words: “prove it.” Done, slam dunk, end of argument.

Should we tremble? Do we lack evidence for what Scripture clearly teaches? In a few brief paragraphs we will see that the claim not only lacks merit, it represents an unreasonable denial of the obvious.

To illustrate, imagine brothers Tom and Tim admiring classic artwork in a well-known museum. Upon viewing a famous painting by Claude Monet, Tom compliments the genius of the painter. Tim, however, will have none of that and retorts with great temerity, “prove it!” Surprised by Tim’s odd and unexpected response, Tom ponders how he might prove the existence of an artist behind a great piece of art. After a few minutes he replies that no greater evidence of the existence and genius of the artist can be produced than the artwork itself. Further, he adds, the obvious existence of the artist behind the art is known immediately and intuitively by the mere sight of the painting. To deny the artist would be akin to denying a baker while viewing shelves of bread and cupcakes, or denying a builder behind the home in which we live. He concludes that denying the artist behind a Rembrandt, Renoir, or Monet is nonsensical and contrary to how all reasonable people view the world.

The same can be said of all denials of God’s existence, only infinitely more so. The universe we inhabit clearly displays the genius, power, wisdom, and goodness of God as the maker of everything, both in and outside of us. We are drowning in evidence. And like asking for proof of air while grasping a tree for dear life in the midst of a hurricane, so all denials of God willfully reject the obvious nature of His works. As Scripture tells us:

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:18-21)

Thus, we can always point to a bird, a flower, the birth of a baby, to everything from sub-atomic particles to distant galaxies as evidence of God’s power and genius. Moreover, time and chance explain nothing. And since the unbeliever will never accept this reality apart from a divinely changed heart, we need not fret over a supposed lack of proof. Until unbelievers bow before God’s authority and excellence, they will never acknowledge Him behind His works. And until they give God the worship and honor He disserves, we will be subject to the silly demand: “prove it.”

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