2/27/09
Although I sometimes despair at what is clearly and rapidly coming our direction, from an eternal perspective I also have to admit that it’s an exciting time to be alive. As the material world more and more fails to satisfy, there will be a tremendous revival of faith and attention to the immaterial, invisible world that is the kingdom of God.
The panorama of Scripture clearly describes a startling Reality that exists here and now by grace through faith. It announces and describes a kingdom in which all true Christians live. It describes life in this kingdom as eternal, here and now and forever. It welcomes all to enter and begin to live life as it was intended. A life of growth in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - the fruits of the Spirit of God living in and empowering believers…regardless of their material circumstances or what might be going on the world system around them.
Jesus told His disciples, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” This was true then; it is true now.
Bibles are everywhere. Only in this revelation of God does true hope and change exist. More than ever people will begin looking deeply into the Book for the Truth and the Way of salvation, and the Peace that surpasses all understanding.
Seriously, revival is coming…and so is He. Perhaps soon.
2/19/09
Our Creator’s Truth applies at all levels – to the world, to nations, and to individuals. Turning away from Him and His Truth, whether as individuals or as a nation, is apostasy (a turning away from or abandonment of faith or principles). Apostasy, at whatever level, will always eventually be dealt with as He sees fit. Individual reckoning is underway at every moment, everywhere (“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” - Heb 4:13). Many of us are experienceing the overwhelming sense that a national, if not cosmic reckoning may not be far away.
The warning of history and revelation, so oft-repeated, stands:
“I will go away and return to My place
Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face;
In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” (Hosea 5:15)
Thankfully, as Hosea also proclaimed to an unrepentant Israel, the promise of reconciliation also stands:
“Come, let us return to the LORD.
He has torn us to piecesbut he will heal us;
he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence.
Let us acknowledge the LORD;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.” (6:1-3)
The Creator’s Nature will always stand as creation’s only Real Hope.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
It's not paranoia if Someone is really after you...
Unlike any other revelation of God, the person Jesus provides the clearest, most specific picture of GOD PURSUING US.
Other religious initiators (Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, etc.) identify themselves as teachers or prophets. None, except Jesus, claim equality with God. In so many words, Jesus said, “God exists and you're looking at him”.
Though Jesus referred to his Father in heaven, it was not from a position of separation, but of very close union, absolutely unique among humankind. He said that anyone who had seen him had seen the Father, anyone who believed in him believed in the Father. He said, "I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Jesus claimed divine attributes: the ability to forgive sin, free us from our "mind parasites" / habits of sin, and give us eternal life. Others point to their words, Jesus points to himself. He didn’t say, "Follow my words and you will find truth." He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me."
Jesus provided extensive proof of his divinity, routinely performing miracles – spontaneously healing people from blindness, deafness, physical deformities…even raising at least a couple of people from the dead. He exercised power over the material world – creating food out of thin air…enough to feed vast crowds – and power over nature…such as walking on top of a lake, commanding a raging storm to stop for some friends, etc. Many followed him because he constantly met their needs through miraculous acts. He said if you don’t want to believe in me based on what I'm saying, at least believe in me based on what you are seeing.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, Jesus demonstrated God as gentle, loving, patient, aware of our self-centeredness and shortcomings, yet deeply desirous of a relationship with us. He revealed that although we are all sinners deserving nothing more than the punishment of a Holy God, his Love provided a different plan, one that made possible an actual relationship with him. Taking on the form of man, he himself accepted the punishment for our sin…ON OUR BEHALF. Sound ludicrous? Perhaps, but what loving father wouldn’t gladly trade places with his child in a cancer ward if he could.
It is said that the reason we can even love God is because he first loved us. Only through Jesus do you see God reaching toward humanity, providing a way for us to have a relationship with him. Jesus proves a divine heart of love, meeting our needs, drawing us to himself. He is nothing less than God in flesh…in action.
Anyone who doubts the existence of God, really needs to investigate Jesus Christ. It is written that, "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." God does not force us to believe in him, though he could. Instead, he provides sufficient proof of his existence for us to willingly respond to him - the earth's perfect distance from the sun, the unique chemical properties of water, the human brain, DNA, the number of people who attest to knowing God, the gnawing in our hearts and minds to determine if God is there, the willingness for God to be known through Jesus Christ.
Although we know God by faith, it is far from blind. Blind faith is what you exercise when turning away from the One who has so abundantly and clearly revealed himself. Many claim that they need more concrete proof before they will believe, but they are liars – for many who witnessed God “in action” first hand, still turned away. It’s free will, stupid…not lack of evidence.
(FYI - This represents my attempt at paraphrasing a number of other authors, who I know won't mind).
Other religious initiators (Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, etc.) identify themselves as teachers or prophets. None, except Jesus, claim equality with God. In so many words, Jesus said, “God exists and you're looking at him”.
Though Jesus referred to his Father in heaven, it was not from a position of separation, but of very close union, absolutely unique among humankind. He said that anyone who had seen him had seen the Father, anyone who believed in him believed in the Father. He said, "I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Jesus claimed divine attributes: the ability to forgive sin, free us from our "mind parasites" / habits of sin, and give us eternal life. Others point to their words, Jesus points to himself. He didn’t say, "Follow my words and you will find truth." He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me."
Jesus provided extensive proof of his divinity, routinely performing miracles – spontaneously healing people from blindness, deafness, physical deformities…even raising at least a couple of people from the dead. He exercised power over the material world – creating food out of thin air…enough to feed vast crowds – and power over nature…such as walking on top of a lake, commanding a raging storm to stop for some friends, etc. Many followed him because he constantly met their needs through miraculous acts. He said if you don’t want to believe in me based on what I'm saying, at least believe in me based on what you are seeing.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, Jesus demonstrated God as gentle, loving, patient, aware of our self-centeredness and shortcomings, yet deeply desirous of a relationship with us. He revealed that although we are all sinners deserving nothing more than the punishment of a Holy God, his Love provided a different plan, one that made possible an actual relationship with him. Taking on the form of man, he himself accepted the punishment for our sin…ON OUR BEHALF. Sound ludicrous? Perhaps, but what loving father wouldn’t gladly trade places with his child in a cancer ward if he could.
It is said that the reason we can even love God is because he first loved us. Only through Jesus do you see God reaching toward humanity, providing a way for us to have a relationship with him. Jesus proves a divine heart of love, meeting our needs, drawing us to himself. He is nothing less than God in flesh…in action.
Anyone who doubts the existence of God, really needs to investigate Jesus Christ. It is written that, "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." God does not force us to believe in him, though he could. Instead, he provides sufficient proof of his existence for us to willingly respond to him - the earth's perfect distance from the sun, the unique chemical properties of water, the human brain, DNA, the number of people who attest to knowing God, the gnawing in our hearts and minds to determine if God is there, the willingness for God to be known through Jesus Christ.
Although we know God by faith, it is far from blind. Blind faith is what you exercise when turning away from the One who has so abundantly and clearly revealed himself. Many claim that they need more concrete proof before they will believe, but they are liars – for many who witnessed God “in action” first hand, still turned away. It’s free will, stupid…not lack of evidence.
(FYI - This represents my attempt at paraphrasing a number of other authors, who I know won't mind).
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