Such a little word-'But.' It would not seem to have much to
offer in the way of theology-in fact, many times it doesn't even
exist in the original text. There are much bigger words that seem
to carry so much more weight. Words like redemption and
propitiation and judgment. Surely these more important and less
used words require more of our study than some commonplace (it's
used nearly 4,000 times in Scripture) word like 'But.'
We all understand what 'But' means. The American Heritage
Dictionary, among its 10 definitions for the word, includes 'On the
contrary' and 'Contrary to expectation.' This is the primary
meaning that has made such an indelible mark on me.
I am convinced that the Gospel, in many ways, is contained in
this one little word.
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Genesis 3:9 - Something was desperately wrong. Like a
child that knows he has just broken his father's most prized
possession, Adam and Eve realize that sin has taken a hold on
creation. They do what any child would do-hide. God knows. He's not
unaware of what has gone on. He would be justified, without fanfare
or decree, to simply destroy everything and just start over-if He
even desired to do that. But. But the Lord God called to the man.
In the midst of the ruin and chaos that had just flooded its way
into the world, God comes and calls out to Adam and Eve. The first
indication in Scripture of the impossible depth of the grace of
God. What we in no way deserved, we received-God pursuing us even
in our sinfulness.
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Genesis 8:1 - Six and a half months. An eternity when all
you've got to look at is a boatload of animals that smell and make
noise and are restless-not to mention the other seven people! Maybe
God had forgotten. How would-No, how could - all this
water ever disappear. It was certainly nice for God to provide a
means of avoiding suffocation through drowning, but at that point
even a long life stuck on a boat isn't very much more appealing.
But. But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock
that were with him in the ark. God had not forgotten. God had
brought about this catastrophe in order to bring about His
judgment. But He had not forgotten. Nor, does He forget us. It may
be months.sometimes years before we get out of the difficulties
that God brings into our lives-but He does not forget us.
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Nehemiah 9:17 - You'd think after several generations that
the people would figure it out. Obey God with your heart and He
will be with you. Disobey Him and there will be punishment. No,
they remained arrogant, stiff-necked, and disobedient-doing their
own thing and going their own way. A perfect representation of what
we are all like. God should give up on them. Start over. He had
even recommended it a couple times. But. But God is a forgiving
God, gracious and compassionate; slow to anger and abounding in
love. Therefore, He did not desert them. He does not desert me.
Even when my life seems like a complete reproduction of the history
of Israel, God remains with me.
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Psalm 73:26 - I am weak. The older I get the more I
realize this. My sons all think they are invincible. They'll all
learn the same lesson I have learned-it is an illusion. My flesh
and my heart fail. To use the line of
another Psalm, who am I that God would even care to consider
me, much less think about me? But. But God is the strength of my
heart and my portion forever. No matter what I go through, no
matter how low things are, no matter how weak I am, no matter how
far my heart wanders, I know that God is my strength and my
portion-FOREVER!
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Isaiah 40:8 - Tied into the same thought as the previous
passage, it is certain that the grass will wither and the flowers
will fall. Entropy. Everything falls apart eventually. There is no
certainty of anything lasting. But. But the word of our God stands
forever. When He states something it is certain to be both true and
real. God has promised me life-His word stands. God has promised
never to leave me or desert me-His word stands. God has promised
that my lowly, underwhelming, sinful body will be His temple-His
word stands. God has promised me eternity with Him-His word stands.
Though everything and everyone else holds potential for
untrustworthiness, God is trustworthy.
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Matthew 26:63 - When injustice is being done against me, I
am afraid that I get a bit obnoxious. I make sure that people know
about the injustice. I kick and scream and spit out words that I
hardly know are being said. And if on the outside I look very calm,
it is only because you do not see into my heart. I will do just
about anything to make sure that people don't think wrongly of me.
But. But Jesus remained silent. While the false accusations flew,
Jesus stood there. He could have spoken in a way only God can
speak, bringing these people to their knees before Him in fear and
worship. He could have set the record straight. He could have shown
all the inconsistencies in what was being alleged and what the
truth was. He could have said something. Yet, for me, He remained
silent. Rather than show Himself to be justified, He waited to be
justified by God (it would only be three days). For me He was
silent.
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Luke 16:15 - If you were to meet me, you'd probably not
think too badly of me. I look fairly normal. I carry myself
relatively well in public. I don't swear, I smile at the right
times. I attend a good church. My wife and I look happy, our
children seem content. The world is pretty good around me and you'd
probably expect to see me in heaven because I'm a pretty good guy.
But. But God knows your heart. God knows the things that go on
behind the eyes. He knows the thoughts that I dare not even
consider typing out for fear that somehow you might find out what I
am really like. The cutting edge of hatred, the slime of jealousy,
the haze of pride. They all reside in me. And God knows it. He is
not fooled by whatever façade I attempt to build up. He knows.
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1 Corinthians 3:6 - My work with the church brings me in
contact with many people. I've learned that it takes a long time
for a person's walk to become stronger, for their love to go
deeper, for them to grow. They need encouragement, guidance, firm
resolve-they need prayer! And in my various responsibilities, I
provide all these things and more to them. Perhaps the fruit is
because of my efforts? Perhaps, I had a hand in making them grow?
It can't be forgotten that I planted seeds and then helped water
them. But. But God made them grow. It was God working in their life
giving them life. If I watered them, then I was only the conduit
for the Living Water. If I seeded them, then I was only the seed
spreader. It was God who worked in their lives and I was but a tool
being used in a master craftsman's hands. Who am I that I should
receive glory? God did it all using me as I was created to be used
and nothing more.
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1 Corinthians 15:10 - If you've been patient enough to
read this far, you may be wondering what right I have to be
involved in the ministry of our church. I don't. I don't deserve
any of it. I don't deserve to be a child of God. I don't deserve to
have the opportunity to touch the lives of the people at our
church. I don't deserve to be used by God in His body. But. But by
the grace of God, I am what I am. And my hope is that His grace to
me is not without effect. By God's grace He has taken a broken,
useless, filthy pot and made it into a tool that holds the living
water so that I can be used to pour that water into the lives of
others. I am what I am-but somehow God sees something more.
Romans 6:23 is what got me thinking about all this. The wages
of sin is death. It starts with such despondency. I am hiding,
waiting, rebellious, weak, shattered, selfish, hypocritical,
prideful and inadequate. This is what my death looks like. This is
my hopelessness. BUT!!!!! But the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord. That one word changes the whole story. A
glimmer of life becomes visible-perhaps only off in the distance on
the horizon-but the light begins to shine when we articulate that
small conjunction - that little conjunction, 'but.' It is at that
word that God steps in with hope that is greater than my
hopelessness-with grace that is greater than my sin - it is the
Gospel!! I am nothing, but God is God!! But that makes all the
difference...