A Good Thing

He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me. He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me. The LORD rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil. I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees. I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin. The LORD rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence. [Psalm 18.16-24] 

Psalm 18 and 2 Samuel 22 are, chronologically speaking, obviously in the wrong place as today's One Year Chronological Bible reading goes. David's claims in the passage above would simply be outright lies if they were made after the event with Bathsheba. However, the claims of Psalm 18.16-24 would indeed have been true for David up until around the time Saul died.

Psalm 51, in fact, accurately conveys David's (right) attitude after the event with Bathsheba. Verse 17 below tells all:

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. [Psalm 51.17]

There is a tendency among people of faith to want to ignore the fact that they sinned. They want to claim, "Jesus paid it all..." (and rightly so), but because the Bible says there is "no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8.1), they go a step further to declare they are innocent. Something "sets wrong" with such a claim, especially for people who are supposedly associated with the Truth that is Jesus. They want to let "bygones be bygones" until, of course, they "share their testimony."

Living a lifestyle of repentance should never be mistaken for "condemnation." Repentance is an action (not a feeling) that assures the repentant that he or she is doing the works of faith (James 2). Repentance acknowledges that there is indeed an alternative selfish action, but that it has been willfully turned from in order to willfully turn to Jesus and His ways. Repentance is man's active choice in every life situation to "follow Jesus" instead of his own selfish way. Jesus said it clearly:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Anyone who thinks this is a one-and-done event in a believer's life has not actually tried it. Following Jesus requires decided willful action every moment of every day. It requires a broken and repentant heart because life relentlessly calls man to pride and selfishness otherwise. To be clear, a broken heart is indeed a feeling. However, only a repentant heart is one that actually carries out obedience to Jesus. While is may be sad to give up our own way, it is obedience to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

Repentance is a good thing because it is the one and only leg our faith has to stand on (see here). All the faith teaching in the world is useless (and powerless) if it is not built upon the foundation pillar of repentance.

Father, as Your people actually learn Your Word from the Bible (not from the established opinions, commentaries, doctrines, or denominations of man), help them - help us - to understand the power of faith as it stands upon a lifestyle of repentance. So be it.

Repentance Is The Only Leg Faith Has To Stand On

If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He will prepare his deadly weapons and shoot his flaming arrows. [Psalm 7.12-13] 

In his effort to improve his condition and remedy suffering, man is in a constant state of learning about himself and the world in which he lives. Consequently, the knowledge and solutions of yesterday appear ignorant and brutish compared to the knowledge and solutions of today as man perpetually learns more about the intricacies of life and living.

Biblically speaking, "to improve his own condition" should come as no surprise as man, created in the image of God, does so in his inherent creative power. If we believe the Bible, it is only natural that man, like God Who created him, would operate in the same creative manner. But, there is a problem...

If the Bible is true, man's inherent creative power has a limitation. God, as Creator, and therefore, the One in charge, placed a boundary upon man to function and exist (in his inherent creative power) only according to God's will. God warned man of imminent death if he disobeyed God utilizing his inherent creative power for his own selfish outcomes. Man, at the encouragement of Satan, first turned his inherent creative power against God in the thought, "Has God really said...?" What followed was God's forewarned death played out in daily suffering until consummated in physical death. God sharpened His sword; He bent and strung His bow. God prepared His deadly weapons and began shooting His flaming arrows.

We have no record that Adam and Eve ever repented. What started with Adam and Eve, operating in their inherent creative power but outside God's will, remains man's fallen condition today. No matter how much man attempts to "serve himself" with his knowledge and abilities, it is, and never will be, enough. Man's solutions (idols) of debt, insurance, medicine, technology, and even religion all exist today as man's effort to serve himself. Is it any wonder that these solutions never really eradicate man's problems, but merely extend those problems over a longer period of time ruthlessly milking every dollar possible from man as he attempts to improve himself?

For all the "remedy" that man's ever-advancing solutions offer, God's simple solution is repentance. It is a fool's errand for man to continue to use his inherent creative power to provide solutions for himself instead of repenting. This is precisely why man is trapped on the endless "treadmill" of "new and emerging" yet "quickly obsolescent" ways of man to remediate his suffering that have grown into calculated, blood-sucking, for-profit industries whose very existence is entirely dependent upon man's continued suffering. The fact that man disobediently turns to (trusts in) these industries instead of turning to (trusting in) God alone insures their ongoing existence.

If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He will prepare his deadly weapons and shoot his flaming arrows. [Psalm 7.12-13] 

"Oh, but Jesus brought us grace!" one might defensively argue... But in full disclosure, and in consideration of Jesus' own words, how can we assume grace when there is no repentance?

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” [Mark 1.15] 

Every sin of man begins with "self." "Self" is the driving force of idolatry. In all of man's focus upon "self" (debt, insurance, medicine, technology, and religion) he remains in idolatry - he remains unrepentant - he continues to provide for himself his own solutions - his own ways - instead of God's solution of repentance.

If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He will prepare his deadly weapons and shoot his flaming arrows. [Psalm 7.12-13]

With all man's ways to care for himself as the alternative, Jesus clearly defined God's will:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Giving up our own way (our inherent creative power turned selfish and disobedient) is to turn away from it and turn to Jesus (in inherent creative power without selfishness and disobedience). "Repent" means to turn away. And, to turn away from something is to turn to something else. Jesus was explicit regarding what we are to turn to: our cross. As Jesus selflessly lived His entire life in the shadow of - in anticipation of - His cross, we are to selflessly live our lives in the shadow of - in anticipation of - our own cross. But we will never even see our cross as long as we are looking to the idols of our own ways.

Regardless how the "faith movement" tends to overlook it, faith is never the solution without repentance (Jesus said “Repent... and believe...”). And, regardless how those who oppose the "faith movement" depend on it, faith is not abstract. Since repentance is an action of "turning away and turning to," faith depends on repentance because:

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. [James 2.14-17]

So this brings Godly light to Jesus saying give up your own way (turn away (repent) from selfishness), take up your cross (turn (repent) to selflessness - deference to others), and follow Me. 

Repentance is not a bad word. Repentance is the only leg faith has to stand on. Repentance is not a feeling, but an action - the selfless action of love as James described it above and as Paul confirms below:

For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. [Galatians 5.6]

Father, help us to see the truth of Your Word as You reveal it through the Bible. May we see the entire Bible (Jesus in the Old Testament, Jesus in the New Testament, and the Holy Spirit sent by Jesus in our lives) calling us to repentance. So be it.

Have We Repented Enough?

Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” [2 Samuel 19.1-4] 

Talk about torment!

David's grief was far more complicated than that of a father mourning the loss of a son. This was, in fact, the second son David lost. In the midst of crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” David was once again living in the reality that now Absalom too was dead because of his sin regarding Bathsheba.

Nathan's confrontation of David involved two serious sentences upon him. The first sentence was actually the one that was realized in Absalom:

From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own. “This is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. [2 Samuel 12.10-11]

Then, the second sentence following David's repentance was the death of the child conceived in sin. 

Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD by doing this, your child will die.” [2 Samuel 12.14]

We should understand that despising God and showing utter contempt for His Word were serious indictments with serious consequences. Even though David repented, the deaths of two of his sons were set in motion.

What about grace?

Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. [2 Samuel 12.13]

David's repentance worked for saving his own life but did not reverse the damage set in motion upon his offspring.

Until we understand that our selfishness despises God and shows utter contempt for His Word with consequences beyond our own lives, we will continue to struggle with repentance. God's Word is true.

David's response after the child conceived with Bathsheba died might indeed warn us about thinking we have "repented enough."

After Nathan returned to his home, the LORD sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah’s wife. David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused. Then on the seventh day the child died. David’s advisers were afraid to tell him. “He wouldn’t listen to reason while the child was ill,” they said. “What drastic thing will he do when we tell him the child is dead?” When David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the LORD. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate. His advisers were amazed. “We don’t understand you,” they told him. “While the child was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the child is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again.” David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the LORD will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.” [2 Samuel 12.15-23]

David's repentance stopped when the child died with no apparent concern for Nathan's more widespread sentence about his household rebelling against him and his wives being given to another man in view of everyone. I am not making this up - it is indeed what the Bible says happened!

So, while indeed, we might poll God, "What about grace and forgiveness?" He might remind us, "What about repentance?"

Could David have entered a more in-depth repentance that would have prevented Absalom's demise? We simply cannot know that. However, we do know that forgiveness has no application where there is no repentance.

For this reason, Jesus preached a two-fold message:

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” [Mark 1.15]

Are we content, like David, to stop repenting when we think it is enough? It is something to think about.

I suppose it might be said that we have repented enough when we have believed enough...

Father, help me to see that just as my sin affects more people than just me, so my repentance affects more people than just me. May I never selfishly stop repenting just because "I" am okay. So be it. 

Beyond Hope Of Reconciliation

Then Absalom turned to Ahithophel and asked him, “What should I do next?” Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.” So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines. [2 Samuel 16.20-22] 

We should always be careful not to assume the Bible says something it clearly does not say. In contrast however, we should not ignore something that the Bible clearly says! Having established this, a closer look at the passage above in the context of its correlation to the circumstances that led to it, is in order.

Absalom's intentional public insult of his father David was prophesied by Nathan the prophet:

“This is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.” [2 Samuel 12.11-12]

 The causative event that brought about Nathan's prophecy is described below: 

Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. [2 Samuel 11.2]

While it might be assumed that David's palace roof was an inconspicuous vantage point from which he covertly spied upon Bathsheba, Absalom's choice of that very same spot to publicly insult his father proves otherwise. In plain language, David could see Bathsheba and Bathsheba could see David. The palace roof was visible from all over the city.

Furthermore, as the interaction between David and Bathsheba is documented, the Bible offers not even the minutest suggestion that Bathsheba resisted the king's advances in any manner whatsoever. What we find in this story are two consenting adults: two individual adults who fell victim to their own selfish desires - adultery.

We could spend hours debating which of the participants was actually to blame for the adultery, but regardless what assumptions might be made, the Bible is clear that neither David nor Bathsheba made any attempt to avoid their extramarital affair. The "stars aligned" (so to speak) for a three-part titillating voyeuristic opportunity that gave way to a forbidden sexual encounter that ultimately led to a calculated murder. In less provocative language, it might be said:

It looked good - it tasted good - it was poison.

Sound familiar now?

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. [Genesis 3.6-7]

Rarely, if ever, does sin follow a different pattern. Idolatry, that was Israel's repeated sin and remains man's repeated sin today, thrives in this three-part digression: it looks good, it tastes good, but it is poison. Selfishness is the motivation that makes idolatry's poisonous trap so effective.

Man's sin, that is idolatry, is actually quite easy to identify. It always works in the environment of death, theft, or destruction signifying Satan's signature upon it (John 10.10). Of course, idolatry is never presented as "poison" but is always deceptively marketed as "good" at the behest of Satan whom the Bible also identifies as a liar (John 8.44). I mean, what harm could possibly come from consenting adults just pandering to "self" doing what comes naturally (if it looks good, if it tastes good...)?

Having sex with someone who is not one's spouse is no different than trusting in someone who is not God (whether it is someone or something). Just as God set boundaries upon sexual activity, so He set boundaries upon trust activity. And, He is unashamedly jealous regarding the boundaries He set.

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. [Exodus 20.2-6]

But, let's get back to the subject passage above... What was Absalom's goal in publicly sleeping with his father's women? It was to insult his father beyond hope of reconciliation. Just pause and think about the words beyond hope of reconciliation...

Based on my repeated reading of the Bible for many years now, decidedly avoiding extra-Biblical input and opinions as much as possible, I genuinely believe that the poison of idolatry, as it has kept pace with man's ways of advancement, is to get God's people into a place beyond hope of reconciliation. I furthermore believe that this condition is the only condition from which one can truly see and appreciate not only the unlimited blessings and grace in Jesus Christ, but also the highly-exclusive, unadulterated, undiluted faith required to enjoy these blessings. Jesus said it like this:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)] 

And, if there is any doubt about the highly-exclusive, unadulterated, undiluted faith that is to "follow Jesus," Jesus also gave the following clarification:

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]

Are we today so immersed in the sin of idolatry (selfish adultery against God) that we are beyond hope of reconciliation? Our answer to this question is telling... If we answer, "no" then we do not fully understand our own ways of idolatrous sin against God - our fallen nature. If we answer, "yes" then our exclusive commitment to Jesus will in no way allow us to participate in and with the world's idolatry thus requiring that we give it up altogether.

Idolatry offers hope of reconciliation with circumstances but not with God. To remain immersed in man's way - the way of idolatry (selfish fulfillment in spite of God's Word) - may temporarily remediate circumstances but it is beyond hope of reconciliation with God. Is the "looks good, tastes good" idolatry of today worth the "poisonous death" of tomorrow and eternity?

Father, please continue to reveal Truth from Your Word. My opinions are no different than any other opinions - they are just opinions. But may Your written Word reveal the Truth of Jesus Your Living Word. And, may Jesus' Words "give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me" strike a chord in our being whose tone is so different from the world's idolatry that there is no question as to our response... May we give up the selfishness of our own way, selflessly take up our cross, and obediently follow Jesus alone. So be it.

Good News

All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him. [2 Samuel 14.14] 

The wise woman from Tekoa prophesied of Jesus: Life's default setting is expiration and death. But God loves mankind. So, Jesus Christ is God's way to redeem man.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” [John 3.16-21]

That's Good News. 

Father, thank You for this simple little reminder of Your greater plan. May we be found believing in Jesus so that our lives are not just swept away. So be it.

Despising God

From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own. [2 Samuel 12.10]

David's sin with Bathsheba, which became a physical violation against Uriah, was the least of David's concerns. David's greater concern was that he had despised God in so doing. 

Despising God is what Satan successfully convinced Adam and Eve to do in the Garden of Eden. It started with the seed-question: "Has God really said...?" That seed-question was germinated when false suppositions about God and His Word to man - suppositions of selfish human logic and reason - provided the nutrients for sin to sprout into existence and grow. Adam and Eve thereby effectively "idolized" their reason thus despising God's Word, none the wiser that the "plant" of sin they cultivated was an uncontrollable invasive species that would forever affect humanity on earth. David's story is just a pale shoot that grows dim against the forest of idolatry and sin documented throughout the Bible that has only spread uncontrollably up to this very day.

Words fail here to fully describe the mechanics of idolatry. However, it takes only a very few words to understand God's jealousy. David despised God by his adultery with Bathsheba provoking God to jealousy. In his physical adultery with Bathsheba, David committed spiritual adultery against God. Spiritual adultery is idolatry.

Why does this matter? Because idolatry is found negatively affecting Israel's relationship with God in the Old Testament which means it should be suspect #1 in negatively affecting relationship with God in our New Testament time. Idolatry is the universal and timeless root of the sin problem with mankind. Despising God and His Word is idolatry.

In David's reflection following Nathan's rebuke from God, he wrote:

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. [Psalm 51.17] 

It is here we are led straight to Jesus Who said:

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” [Mark 1.15] 

Furthermore, God's jealousy and call for exclusive trust should not be mistaken in Jesus' words to His would-be followers:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)] 

The way of man is the way of selfishness - it is the way of idolatry that despises God. The way of God is recorded in all the Bible and is fleshed-out in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus, being God in the flesh, jealously demands exclusivity and unquestioning obedience.

At its basest form, idolatry is man's selfish doubt/question of God's Word. Every sin of man grows and thrives from the resilient root of idolatry thus despising God.

Father, the sin-problem in mankind is indeed an idolatry problem. The idolatry-problem is indeed a self-problem. The self-problem despises You and Your Word. May Your Word so speak to our lives today that we see how we have despised You with all of our selfishness and the idols born of it. May we be found giving up our own selfish way, selflessly taking up our cross, and following Jesus. So be it.

How Important Is A Beard?

So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame. When David heard what had happened, he sent messengers to tell the men, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow out, and then come back.” For they felt deep shame because of their appearance. [2 Samuel 10.4-5] 

What's the big deal about a beard?

As I understand it, modern society (the Church included) is ill-equipped to answer this question. In truth, the fact that I ask the question proves I too am ill-equipped to answer it. However, because it is recorded in the Bible, we should try to understand why it is important.

So, what does the Bible say about a man's beard?

“Do not trim off the hair on your temples or trim your beards. [Leviticus 19.27]

At this point, it is most common for religion to dismiss this topic pointing out that Leviticus 19 is "Old Testament" and that "New Testament" believers are not bound to it. Following this widely-accepted logic however, we might find ourselves conflicted regarding the whole of Leviticus 19 and forced to classify it as a "gray area" as it relates to the "Good News of Jesus Christ."

While New Testament adherents are quick to praise Jesus that they don't have to abide by Leviticus 19.27 (men not cutting their beards), they find themselves in contradiction adamantly declaring that people must not steal, deceive, or cheat (Leviticus 19.11). So, who makes the decision which Leviticus 19 commandments to obey and which not to obey? Should we not be settled on this issue?

To be Biblically accurate, Jesus never suggested breaking God's Commandments. Yes, in practice, He broke the 4th Commandment (Sabbath), but only as much as He, the Sabbath Rest of God, could Himself break Himself (Jesus is the Sabbath - Colossians 2-16-17). Jesus indeed stayed true to His Father's Commandments and demanded the same from His followers.

Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” [Matthew 19.16-17]

But, as only the "Living Sabbath" could do, Jesus then revealed how that impossible demand could be met:

“Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” [Matthew 19.18-21] 

"Following Jesus" had already been introduced at another time and place:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. [Matthew 16.24-27]

Mankind was never relieved of the responsibility of keeping God's Commandments (including the Sabbath). All the Commandments may be kept however "in Jesus Christ." Only a person "in Christ" then may enjoy the status of "keeping the Commandments" - but only as they are "in Christ."

So it is, that "in Christ" all God's Commandments are fulfilled. As we are "in Christ" we fulfill all God's Commandments. We should not however be deceived: "in Christ" looks a certain way:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

And, that is precisely why Jesus said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me." 

What else tells us what Jesus "looked like"? All the Old Testament:

“If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you. “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.31-39]

The uncomfortable truth of the matter is this: the sloppy grace Gospel being promoted today (where "Christians" are just worldly people who go to church) is not Biblically accurate. Worse, it is making people who are ignorant of God's Word as a whole to be disciples of hell.

So, just how important is a beard?

Father, the more I learn from Your Word, the more I understand the importance of Jesus' demand that I give up my own way, take up my cross, and follow Him. There simply is no other way to You. May this truth ring true to every person who will see and hear it. So be it.