Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

• Hebrews 9:22

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

• Romans 5:8

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

• 1 Peter 2:24

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• John 1:14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

• John 1:1-2

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

• Colossians 1:15-17

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

• Hebrews 1:2-3

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

• Hebrews 13:8

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

• Romans 5:19

“Paul turned our perspective back in time: ‘He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world’ (Eph. 1:4). Like most spiritual truths, this may be difficult for our finite minds to grasp; but this eternal relationship is just as much true in the past as in the future, since time is not an issue.
“This, then, is the manner in which Christ becomes the center of our lives. We not only are to understand this truth intellectually and theologically, but also to enter into the experience of it by an act of faith. We are not referring to some experience where self or the flesh is permanently removed and we obtain sinless perfection; and we are not referring to what is sometimes termed a second work of grace. We are talking about entering into something experientially that is already ours positionally-—the life of Christ. Though his life is a blessing received the day we were saved, we need to enter into the fullness of Christ, into the Spirit-filled life, into the abundant life or the abiding life, as the Bible variously terms it.”

• Charles R. Solomon, Handbook to Happiness

Before I write my thoughts, I would like to talk about how this book came into my possession.  I found it sitting on top of the “throw away” bin at McKay’s Bookstore in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.  The store sells used books, DVDs, CDs, vinyl records, games and puzzles.  And I think I am missing things, but their throw away bin is for anything that the person selling their things did not want back and the bookstore refuses to make money off a book, if the seller got nothing for it.  Another bookstore that I have used will taken a $1 or $2 Clearance sticker and place it on the book that they gave the original owner nothing for.  But not McKay’s.

The last time I was in the bookstore, I saw a book about the development of Christianity in the last century in the throw away bin.  It was a sociological study that spoke nothing about belief, faith, Jesus, or even being a nice person.  In fact, the author suggested that if the church introduced acceptance of sinful activities that the population liked to do, their attendance would increase.  I have held onto the book, wondering if burning one book won’t be that bad.

But this book was rejected by one word, “Handbook.”  It is not really a handbook, but it is short, only 128 pages.  But like a handbook, it is practical.  I think the McKay’s company rule is that most handbooks are a dime a dozen, very specific, and usually marked up as you complete one task or another.  But I do not mind paying nothing for a hidden gem.

Near the end of his book, Dr. Solomon talks about how Christians all enjoy peace with God, but most do not enjoy the peace of God.  Is their unrepentant sin in our lives?  Have we struggled on our own strength to conquer the evil in our lives, rather than give it over to the One who really can conquer it?

To accept Jesus, we need to be all in, but if you accept Jesus without not fully knowing who Jesus is or how infinite His power is, we might sell Jesus short.  You might have friends, family, or the church guide you into a comfortable spot, but is it the right spot?

The quote from a Narnian book comes to mind.

“Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

• C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Of course, Aslan, the lion is not safe.  But in the Narnian fantasy, Aslan is the character of Jesus in our world.  At times, Jesus is not safe, but He is the King.  And when we realize what “all in” means in our lives, we will definitely need the strength of Jesus to resist temptation and step out in faith to do what God intends for us to do in this life.

I will return to this book, but I may not write much more about it.  I need to squeeze a few more nuggets from this wisdom to help in my own Christian growth.  The plea of the father whose son was possessed by an evil spirit comes to mind, “I believe, but help we with my unbelief.”

We are all like that at times, and right now, I am facing the first step of many steps.  My wife passed away in mid-March.  I have been “busy” ever since then, until now.  She has been gone as of this writing for five months and a couple of days.  The memorial service was in early June.  I worked on cleaning up the house and preparing for the service, with great help from the pastor who basically guided me with many ideas.  But then, I planned on babysitting the grandchildren in that break when our son had to return to school as a teacher, but the children did not return for another ten days or so.

I am now back home, and it is like that chasm in the Indiana Jones movie.  I need to take a step of faith forward, without my wife by my side, and I cannot see the path to take.  Indiana Jones cheated with a few pebbles, but I need to address things in my life that need addressing, so that I can become a better servant of God.

Rely upon the Lord.  God is good, all the time.  And when you realize that your power is pathetic, you will find a God who has power to spare.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.