The lowest point in America’s politics, but God!!!

To be honest I did not watch the presidential debate yesterday evening as my wife and I were traveling at that time, but we did listen to it on radio. I don’t think the optics would have improved my impression of what seemed more to be a scene from Jerry Springer’s show than a presidential debate between the sitting president and his best rival and threat to up seat him.

There were no winners, only losers:

The voters who were robbed of the opportunity to hear the candidates articulate their opposing views on the dire issues facing this country.

The up and coming voters with hopes of one day participating in our democracy. Bludgeoned with the pathetic assault of these two candidates throwing haymakers and trying to one up the other in insults, name calling, loud speaking and hitting below the belt. 

And finally, democracy, was perhaps the biggest loser. Heralded as the best form of government, where the people get a legitimate voice in politics. 

But, as we saw, if there is an overarching appeal to pander to ones constituency, then issues are not debated; toxic differences are inflamed; and a stage is set, regardless of which side wins, for the battle to be continued in revolt.

In the ninth chapter of Genesis, God ordains government, in any form, to suppress evil and to give the people a sense in which justice is available and will prevail.

How can government leaders suppress evil, when they can’t suppress their own tongues?

Finally, the answer does not lie with these candidates. Nor does the answer lie with any other candidate, man or woman. The answer lies with the Son of God to ultimately suppress evil and to usher in a day of justice: 

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah‬ ‭9:6-7‬

Peace Peace

“Peace Peace”, is the cry of many throughout out our nation in response to the aftermath of protest and rioting due to the recent killing of George Floyd by a police officer.

All of the chaos and upheavals we are experiencing today is in one sense is a cry for peace. Peace that our peace-officers would be peaceful and would maintain peace. Peace that a black man can go into any neighborhood in our nation without the threat of being falsely labeled a criminal. Peace in our impoverished communities. Peace amongst all races and ethnicities that would be evident through out all society. Everyone, in one way or another desires peace.

But how to achieve peace has alluded mankind since Cain slew Able. God though, has paved a path whereby one can find peace in the midst of chaos.

There is a Scripture that says, 

“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”” Isaiah‬ ‭57:19-21‬

This passage is not meant to draw the wicked away from God, but rather to draw them to God. It is both a warning that there is no peace apart from God, and an appeal to come to the only One who can give you peace. 

This peace is not racial peace, it is not global peace, it is not necessarily peace with your neighbor, but it is peace for your soul and it is peace with God.

There is told in the Scriptures that a time is to come when peace shall reign on earth. But for now peace is not reigning, but there is peace still available. Even in the midst of chaos, to the soul that would humbly, sorrowfully and faithfully submit to the only One that can give true and lasting peace. 

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans‬ ‭5:1‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Jesus & a Poor Widow’s Mite

The Widow’s Mite, is one of the most familiar story’s told in the Bible, and perhaps also one of the greatest misunderstood stories in the Bible.

It’s not teaching specifically on giving, it’s not teaching on condemnation of certain givers, it’s not teaching who is a model giver, it’s not teaching on the amount one should give.

Jesus is on His way to the cross. He has spent the day rebuking the hypocrisy of those that pretend to represent God:

“And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭12:38-40‬ 

The day is far spent, He goes out from the court where only men could gather to the middle court in the temple where women could also enter. 

There are baskets there to receive voluntary gifts of anyone who so desires. There is nothing compulsory or mandatory about this giving. It’s called, The Sacrifice-Fund, for anyone that would like to give a sacrificial free offering.

Everyone who gave there was giving a sacrificial offering, which in many cases was copper. The larger the gift of copper the louder noise it made  as it was cast in the baskets full of various sizes of copper.

Jesus sits down to observe those bringing a free will sacrificial offering, pleased I believe, that at least in this court of the temple God was being honored by the contributors. Then comes this poor widow, who cast in her two mites:

”And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.” 41-42

What gets Jesus attention, is not the sound her offering makes as it is cast in, likely barely audible. Neither is it the amount of the offering, which is merely a fraction of a cent. Nor is it even that the poorest of the poor is casting in anything at all, but that this poor widow cast in all she had:

“And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” 43-44‬ 

Her offering rose above all the other offerings because her offering most identified with the offering Christ Jesus was soon to make on the cross. 

For her offering was sacrificial: it was complete in that she did not hold back anything, and it was joyful as she cast it in with as much exuberance and excitement as those whose offering made a great sound.

Christ Jesus, I believe was refreshed to see one give as God had purposed in their heart to give.  He too would give of His own life willingly as God the Father had purposed of His Son:

“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” John‬ ‭10:17-18‬

Birth out of Love

Birth out of love was Samuel, the child born of Elkana and Hannah in the first chapter of the book of I Samuel. 

All the heartbreak and sorrow Hannah had endured because she could not give her beloved husband a child of their love greatly tormented her,

“And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children…Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?” 1 Samuel‬ ‭1:2, 8‬‬‬

What added to her torment was Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah, 

“And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭1:6-7‬‬‬

But Hannah is never seen taking vengeance upon her tormentor, instead she sought out God through prayer to remove the cause of her tormented spirit, which was to bare a child out of love.

This desire in Hannah is rarely seen today. Women want children for a thousand reasons other than to bare a child of their beloved: for competition, for friendship, for jealousy, for a check, for retirement, for a tax deduction…but not to bare a child as a reward to their beloved husband. 

Not so with Hannah for not being able to bare a child out of love greatly tormented her and nothing like riches, or status or position could console her.

God would answer Hannah’s prayer while simultaneously answering the greatest need of His people, which was to have a faithful conveyor of the word of God that His people might hear the word of God,

“And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭3:1‬‬‬

God would eventually bless Hannah to bare a child out of love in which she greatly rejoiced,

“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.”1 Samuel‬ ‭2:1-2‬‬

Hannah will do as she promised, which will be to return the child to the Lord in cooperation with God’s purpose,

“For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭1:27-28‬‬‬

And God’s purpose is ultimately fulfilled in giving His people a faithful minister of His word,

“And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beer–sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭3:19-20‬‬‬

So too is everyone that is born of the Spirit of God, is birth through agony of love,”For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son”, who bore our sins in His own body that we might be “born again” to fulfill God’s purpose in the world, to Birth others out of His Love!!!

A Moment in Time & Eternity-All Hail King Jesus

In a moment in time and eternity, a perpetual, concentrated and concerted focus upon the Lamb of God, resulted in a combustion of praise to the Lamb that spread from the throne of God to all intelligent beings that was in heaven, and that was on earth, and even all that was under the earth.

John first said “I beheld” back in verse six thru eight, which was the beginning of a concentrated focus upon the Lamb that was slain:

“And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.”

The Lamb was none other then the Lord Christ Jesus, identified by John the Baptist when Jesus came to be baptized by him,

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

In the heavenly scene, John sees  the Lamb standing, which speaks of the anticipated action He is about to perform by taking the book out of the right hand of the One sitting on the throne, God the Father, and moving in unison with the Seven Spirits of God, the Holy Spirit, as He has been declared worthy to commence this action that will result in restored harmony between the Creator and His creation.

Though the Lamb is encircled by the highest order of angelic and human beings around the throne of God, all attention is upon the Lamb. There is no more searching for who is worthy, for Who is worthy, the Lamb is now the centerpiece.

Far different today when our attention is on so many other things: health and welfare, wars and famine, jobs and finances, disease and sickness, etc.., but the scene in heaven is without any distractions.  All eyes are attentive upon the Lamb that was slain and behold He is standing alive.

This concentrated focus upon the Lamb then erupts into the elders singing in verses nine thru ten,

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

This song of praise to the Lamb provoked the balance of angelic beings in heaven in verses eleven and twelve to also join in,

“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”

This in turns stirs every creature from heaven down to earth and under the earth, to also acknowledge the Lamb: 

“And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”” Revelation 5:13 NASB

Oh that a concentrated focus on the Lamb might be upon Him today that we might also erupt in praise of Him. All hail King Jesus!!!

 

Who is Worthy?

Was the unusual  proclamation heard in the book of Revelation, chapter five, verse 2. This scene in heaven was radically different from the one seen in chapter four, there they sang praises to God, 

 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” 

But in chapter five we hear at the beginning, not a song of praise to God, but a loud voice proclaiming,

“Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” 

In one sense that is the cry heard through out the world today, who is worthy. Who can right the wrongs of society? Who can bring fairness and equity to the masses? Who can heal all diseases and sicknesses? Who can resolve all conflicts and disputes? Who can make us safe from natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods? Who can represent us who is wise, honest, strong and compassionate? 

These are cries of a people also looking for and seeking, who is worthy. The scene in heaven grows even more somber, when it is proclaimed,

“And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.”

No one in heaven nor on earth was found worthy? That is a striking reality and truth that reverberates throughout God’s creation. No one is worthy. 

There goes our confidence in our political leaders. There goes our confidence in science. There goes our confidence in all others. There goes our confidence in ourselves.

If the scene in heaven stopped there, all our hoping and seeking of one that is worthy would forever be hopeless and lost. And we would have to join in with John:

“Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it”

But thank God the scene in heaven doesn’t end there, for immediately upon John commencing his crying, he was abruptly interrupted and sternly told,

“Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.””

Upon which  the scene  in heaven radically changes from somber to cheerful:

“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood, men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”

I trust you also have found Jesus the Christ, the Lamb of God worthy!!!

Eternity at a Glance

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”

This quote is taken out of the fourth chapter of the book of Revelation. There John sees a picture of the sovereign God enthroned in heaven as the One who has created all things. 

And around the throne of God, John sees the highest order of God’s creation in heaven, represented by the four living creatures; and the highest order of God’s creation on earth, represented by the twenty-four elders.

This is a scene in eternity past of the harmony that once existed between God and His creation before either were corrupted by rebellion and sin. This harmony is exemplified by His creation praising Him for His holiness and for Him creating. 

The original state of God’s creation whether in heaven or on earth was perfect and good and in complete harmony with God’s holiness.

Man could be in the presence of God, walking and talking without fear of wrath or judgment. Perfect fellowship with God, perfect transparent conversations with God. Perfect perception of what God was saying. And perfect doing of what God said to do.

“Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it....Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.” Gen‬ ‭2:15, 19‬ 

So the Four Living Beings representing that which God created in heaven sing,  

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”

And the Twenty-Four elders representing  all God’s creation on earth before the fall, who though were not there at God’s original creation, but yet were there, present in the mind of God:

“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love” Eph 1:4

So also, the Twenty-Four elders now representing God’s creation on earth sing, 

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Seeking & Finding a Sanctuary

“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.” Psalms‬ ‭63:1-2‬


We can easily become alarmed and frightened when we focus on the many things that are happening today. The constant broadcasting of the Coronavirus rather news worthy or not is creating a sprit of panic. And the places we seek for sanctuary and solitude like our churches, being not available, may make it all seem unbearable.

But really are sanctuary is with God that can never be taken away:

"Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah” Ps 77:13-15‬

The Scriptures before us is about David, whose spirit is low and in need of reviving on account of the distressing and alarming things pursuing him, but he can’t get to his normal place of sanctuary for prayer and worship of God.
In his cries to God, he discovers God is his sanctuary, and is there wherever he shelters in place: Seeking and finding a Sanctuary

Seeking a Sanctuary
“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.” Psalms‬ ‭63:1-2
‬
Some believe this occurred during the life of David after he had been run out of his capital city Jerusalem by his son Absalon. Forced to dwell in the wilderness and in caves away from his palace and people he loved, but most importantly away from the sanctuary of God.

John Calvin stated on this psalm the following:
"He does more than simply pray; he sets the Lord before him as his God, that he may throw all his cares unhesitatingly upon him, deserted as he was of man, and a poor outcast in the waste and howling wilderness."

This is the state of the godly who momentarily is overtaken by fears within and without, but then He turns to God for help.

Finding a Sanctuary
Turning to God while longing for a sanctuary, he finds a sanctuary in God in the wilderness:

"So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.”

A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, states: "The Psalmist thirsting in the wilderness wishes to be again near to God (ver. 1), as he was previously near Him in the sanctuary (ver. 2), and this longing is based upon the grace of God, which surpasses the dearest and most precious of all things, life"
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If God is your sanctuary in normal times, you will find in Him also to be your sanctuary in the bad times.