Lots of words, same conclusions

Judges 1; Jeremiah 14; Matthew 28; Acts 5

These days of reading four passages and listening for God’s rhema word to me, I often struggle with hearing truth upon truth and cannot narrow it to a specific thought. I’ll write what I hear today and see if it comes together at the end.

Judges is a history book. God’s people vowed to follow Him but this book has a pattern. They didn’t keep their vow, God sends an enemy to put pressure on them, they cry out to the Lord for help and He sends a judge to deliver them.

The phrase, “Every man did what was right in his own eyes” is common throughout. However, the first chapter begins well. Two of the tribes conquered enemies in the land God gave them. I noticed that what they did to one of the kings was his pattern of dealing with those he conquered. He said, “As I have done, so God has repaid me.”

“Paradise Lost” is an imaginary description of hell. In it the author describes levels of torture that matched the major sins of those in that level. If they were adulterers, they lived in a constant state of adultery but never being satisfied. A liar would be with liars and never hear anything true.

That makes me think of Satan, the Father of lies. He dwells in darkness and cannot ever know or see the truth. In our world right now with the contradictions and media reports, people are saying “they are all liars” yet not having truth is unsettling like a ship without an anchor. Thinking about “getting what we deserve” comes to mind and I shudder.

Jeremiah speaks sharply to God’s people because they have been listening to false prophets who tell them in so many words that they are God’s so don’t worry, be happy, nothing will happen to you. This attitude is an assumption that they can do what is right in their own eyes and God will allow it, even bring them peace and comfort as they do it.

I think of two news items. One was a choir in a church that defied government guidelines about large gatherings. Instead of obeying Romans 13, they wound up with most of them getting Covid-19. The other was a video of police trying to convince church-goers that it was not safe to gather. One woman yelled at them with, “I’m covered by the blood of Christ. Nothing bad will happen to me.” Was that the same line Jesus heard in the Garden of Gethsemane, “You are the Son of God; nothing bad can happen to you?”

Matthew 28 is the climax, the time in history where God stepped in to rescue us rebels. The women who loved Jesus were at His tomb. An angel appeared and said to them:

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:5–7)

At that everything changed . . .  or did it? God’s people are now those who follow Jesus with new life and the aid of the Holy Spirit to obey Him. Yet our wars go on in a different venue. Our battles are not on the hills of Galilee but in the attitudes of our hearts. The desire to do my own thing resists the Spirit who loves me into wanting the will of God.

This shows up in Acts where two people lost that battle and their lives. They wanted to look good and lied to do it. The realization of their sin stopped their hearts. This is a warning to not play around with ego-protection. This same chapter show how the Lord empowered His workers; they defied those who came against them, not with lies or pretense but with the truth. Jesus was their Messiah who came to die for the sin of the world and bring forgiveness and hope to those who acknowledged their need for it and confessed their sin to Him.

Besides hearing God in these readings, I found a quote that says, “Confession no more creates forgiveness than a cheque creates money that you don’t already have in your account . . . it just releases it.” This also speaks to me. He has filled my account with Jesus and because of Him, I can choose to faithfully follow Him.

APPLY: Before salvation, my account was without any resources. But now Jesus is here. He is all that I need to stop sinning and to trust and obey Him even when life is tough and full of tests. I know my way does not work well because Jesus is full of grace, always showing me what is far better. He tells me to keep listening and knowing that He is God and I am not.

 

One day — no more bad news!

My hubby spreads the newspaper out on his desk every morning. I was there today and read the headlines as he turned the pages. Our world is in a mess. Locally, on Christmas day, there were shootings, robberies, terrible accidents, the usual political conflicts and wars far worse. People hurt people. Selfishness steals common sense and common courtesy. Yes, good things happen, but for a newspaper “if it bleeds, it leads.” This indicates how media appeals to the worst in us, thinking that no one cares about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable and excellent. (Philippians 4:8) The assumption is that readers crave lies, muck, and sensationalism.

I usually read the comics first (and skip some strips that are always downers) and do the Sudoku puzzle. If time permits, I’ll maybe hit a few stories if the headline holds promise, but mostly am stressed by the mess. Reading Revelation helps me remember that one day it will come to an end; the mess will be no more.

At the end of this last book in the New Testament, God reveals to John the fate of the one who is responsible for much of the deception in this world. This section describes a time of a thousand years. Is it literal? Bible interpreters disagree. It could be, or it could be a symbolic description: 

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:1–6)

The time and sequence do not matter to me as much as what Jesus Christ will be doing. He stops this Liar and Deceiver from messing with people and nations. He raises from the dead those who have been martyred for their faith. He reigns over the world with His people and for us there is no second death! Try to imagine the headlines in the news when this happens — or the next events . . .

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:7–10)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, there is such contrast between the world’s description of events and Your words, or even the words of Christmas carols. Right now we have no silent night, no peace on earth, no lasting goodwill to men, no resounding joy. We also have nations engaged in treating one another without consideration, only exploitation and the attitude of “what’s in it for me.” Though the wrong seems oft so strong, I know You are the Ruler yet, and You are not done with this planet or the evil that grips it. You give us great hope and anticipation because You will return and set it right. That old Liar will be punished for all eternity. We have Your promises and Your track record. My heart leans toward You and Your grace for I know that Jesus wins.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- God gives us a glimpse of the end when all wrong is put where it belongs.

- God’s care for my sister who now must deal with a broken hip and not being able to talk.

- much talk and texting with family and much prayer for our concerns.

- a big God who can do great things.

- a lighter note (pun intended) I didn’t gain a pound after feasting so much this past few days!

- thoughtfulness of our children and grandchildren.