How does God see Time?

What is Time according to God?

A seven day week can be found in both Jewish and Babylonian cultures. Most sources will state that the seven day week originated with Babylon since they have written accounts of that measurement of time going back about 3000 years. They would, of course, scoff at using a religious document like the Torah, which goes back just as far, to justify the origin being with Jews or even a simultaneous idea that originated with both cultures. Days, months, and years all correspond to natural phenomena. The week does not. All efforts to explain how this came to be (as separate from God speaking to the Hebrews) are very speculative.

No matter; Yahweh approved the seven day week since creation when He took six days (starting sun down and ending with the next sun down) to create the world and the seventh to enjoy His creation. Since then, Jews and then Christians, along with many other cultures as they came across those peoples, follow a seven day week.

It all makes you think: God made the week an important concept (particularly the seventh day)for humanity along with a host of annual festivals and holy days. It's obvious the cyclical nature of these observances are there to remind us continually of various lessons, comforts, and warnings. However, was there more to it all? Does it give us an idea of how God perceives time itself?

Lord, You have been our dwelling place
through all generations.
Before the mountains were born
or You brought forth the earth and world,
from everlasting to everlasting,
You are God.
You return man to dust,
saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.”
For in Your sight a thousand years
are but a day that passes,
or a watch of the night.
You whisk them away in their sleep;
they are like the new grass of the morning—
in the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it fades and withers. - Psalm 90:1-6

What does a man gain from all his labor,
at which he toils under the sun?
Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets;
it hurries back to where it arose.
Blowing southward,
then turning northward,
round and round the wind swirls,
ever returning on its course.
All the rivers flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full;
to the place from which the streams come,
there again they flow.
All things are wearisome,
more than one can describe;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear content with hearing.
What has been will be again,
and what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there a case where one can say,
“Look, this is new”?
It has already existed
in the ages before us.
There is no remembrance
of those who came before,
and those to come will not be remembered
by those who follow after. - Eccles 1:3-11

Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. - 2 Peter 3:8

One thing is obvious: we are all but a moment to the eternity of God. Can you imagine every time you love someone, they pass away the next moment? Of course, God is determined to not allow that to happen. As the scripture states, God wants very badly for no one to die the second death of the soul. He wants us to all exist forever with Him and love Him and each other. Some of us are just as determined to not exist one day. This grieves Him greatly.

Another thing is true: to God, nothing is new. Everything that was returns again because humanity has bad memories and worse will powers to resist repeating our offensive histories. In that manner, all of existence is cyclical. That's one reason why God wants us to remember cyclically whose children we are and how deeply He loves us.

Let's look at the Sabbath He instituted. It's a continual reminder of many things: our blessings, our day to day hustle for progress and more is not important in the grand scheme, and we are not in control. The Bible Project Podcast (check out episode 159) brought up this last point. The Sabbath is inconvenient on purpose. We have to stop everything we're doing and pause. It is in this we can finally realize that we are never in control of our time. It exists to serve God, and as we all know, our best plans can be laid to waste quite easily. Yet, our plans are not as good as God's. God is in control, and that's the best thing.

Time is such an abstract concept. Some cultures in the world don't even recognize a past or future in the sense we do like the Amondawa tribe. Many countries like the U.S., Germany, northern Europeans, etc., have a linear idea of time. The past flows out behind us and the future before us, and time can be equivalent to the idea of money. We can waste time or invest it. Punctuality is key.

Many Southern European, South Americans, and Middle Easterners have a multi-active idea of time. In other words, time passing is not bound to a calendar or clock. It doesn't have firm boundaries and either conforms to the person and events or is dispensed with entirely. It's not that they don't have a linear idea of time so much as it's not as firm and unchanging. It stretches between events rather than between blocks on a schedule.

Eastern countries see time as cyclic. The past will also be the future, so they can never waste it, simply apply patience for it to return. However, China is very time-aware. They also look at time as an investment into relationships even in businesses. Japanese have a sense of time "unfolding," as if unwrapping a gift or peeling an onion with many layers.

Now, Madagascar see the future as something that flows from behind and is laid out before them as the past, since the past is the only thing one truly sees. Since the future can not be truly planned for, businesses run differently. Buses leave, not at specific times, but when they are full, stock is refilled once empty, and gas replenished in cars once empty.

It is my belief that God is outside of any concept of time. However, in as much as time exists, He, as an eternal being and as evidenced through various parts of the Bible, must see events returning time and again just with different people and places. Although it is cyclical, in a sense, there is also a past (which must be accounted for and remembered as His various observances note) and a future before us controlled only by Him. Our sense of time is not His as our thousand years are a day to Him and a day to us is a thousand years to Him. In other words, time is of no consequence to Him. Our past, present, and future are all laid before Him at once.

Don’t worry dear soul, about tomorrow. As they say, God is already there.

God bless!





Sources other than Bible:
https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/437-biblical-concept-of-time-the
https://www.pursuegod.org/the-2-concepts-of-time-in-the-bible/
https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/CGG/ID/2368/Time-Gods-Perspective-of.htm
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/390204
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-13452711
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-different-cultures-understand-time-2014-5

To Fear or To Love God

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." -1 John 4:16-18

Some Christians get the fear of the Lord wrong.

It's obvious that we would fear a being who has our very souls and existence in His hands. He created the spinning worlds beyond our eyesight and realms of physical and spiritual beings with inner lives more complex than we can comprehend. He can calm a storm with a word or create one in the void of space, made of comets and planets tossed one into another during the death of a massive sun.

Fear of God makes sense. We are in in awe of His power, and we fear God in the way that we respect Him and His ways. However, whenever the Bible stated that we were to fear God, it didn't intend a fear that causes separation, one that's caused by anxiety and foreboding. That is a distrust of God.

If you're shaking your head right now because you're thinking to yourself "it's not a distrust of God but a knowledge that I'm not good enough for Him," you might be missing the point. You can never be good enough for Him. Yet, you must trust that His love is so grand, so selfless, so majestic, that you're never beyond His reach. You must have faith that His forgiveness is even more expansive than His universe and deeper than the blackness of space. There's a difference between humility, which is exactly what a reverence for God can create, and hopelessness.

If we know in our hearts that God's love is perfect, we know that, as we continue to move forever toward His presence, He moves forever toward ours. We have no fear of judgement or punishment, not because of our own perfection but because of His. This isn't to say we can give up trying. He always chooses us as His children, always. We must always choose Him as our Father, always. To stop trying and trying is to choose to be one of the world, to disengage from a relationship with Him.

Let's not downplay fearing God. The Bible mentions fear of God hundreds of times in a positive manner:

The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. -Exodus 1:17

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." -Exodus 20:18-20

“‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. -Leviticus 19:14

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. -Matthew 10:28

Maybe the key is in Exodus 20. Back up to where Moses tells people to not be afraid of God's displays of power in the desert, but then says that fear of God will keep them on the straight and narrow path. We should be full of reverence and awe, knowing that God is the only being in existence who we should fear. If we fear anyone else, it can sway us to trying to appease them as if they were our masters, but as it is said,

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? -Romans 8:31.

Only God should be your master, and He controls all other powers in the world. Good thing He's on our side! Just remember to remain on His. Just as a child first learns right from wrong by whether his parent rewards or punishes him, we, as Children of God may start on the path of His wisdom by fearing His punishment. Once mature in our faith and relationship with Him, just as a child grows into an adult, we no longer fear in that manner so long as we are pressing onward toward Him. We know He means good for us, and we take the lessons we've learned with us.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. -Proverbs 9:10

God bless!

Cain's Mark

The story of Cain and Abel brings up so many questions.

Was Cain's mark a visible thing or just a sign between him and God? The world had become populated enough that it wasn't possible for word of mouth to travel. Not everyone would know to not kill Cain or harm him without worse harm in return. Why did God do this for him? Why would he be worried that others would know about his bad reputation with God and yet not know that God didn't want him killed? Why didn't God want him killed?

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. - Genesis 4:2b-8

Most of us know the story of Cain and Abel. There was a rivalry between two brothers, a jealousy that ran amok, and a man who turned into the first murderer on Earth. The most interesting theory on their rivalry states that they weren't just at odds in this one sacrifice but rather "which one would have the Temple of Jerusalem built in his domain." (biblicalarchaeology) Throughout the Bible, there could only be one temple. It was the place where sacrifices were made, and one could not build a temple or altar without the express permission of God. It's a possible explanation.

Once God confronted Cain about his murder, He set a punishment upon him as a wanderer who would never again be able to farm the land.

Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. - Genesis 4:13-16

In various parts of the Bible (Ezekiel 9:4; Revelations 7:3, 13:6) God marks his people on their forehands and hands to show ownership and protection. The Beast or Antichrist in Revelations does the same to his followers. We know only one of those will be able to follow through in His protections.

It's hard to say with as little information is given, so we can't tell if Cain repents of his actions or simply is afraid now that there are consequences. So, either God is expressing his forgiveness or He felt wandering the Earth (a symbol of being spiritually lost) without the gift he once had (agriculture) was more punishment than death.

So, what was the mark, exactly? No one knows, so it's all wild speculation, and like everything else, some people used these wild speculations as reason to use the Lord's name in vain. Yeah, they used the Bible to explain why they were breaking it. One racist idea was that the mark was black skin. People used that as a reason to treat others as lesser than. First, that's not being love to others. Second, being hatred and blaming it on God is literally using the Lord's name in vain.

This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. - Exodus 13:9

You shall bind them (commandments) as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. - Deuteronomy 6:8

Just as observances were to be like signs/marks and the commandments were to be attached to your hands and forehead (not necessarily literally) as reminders of God's ways and relationship with His people, God's mark on us would serve as a reminder that we are His. Cain's mark served as a reminder to everyone Cain met that God would punish those who harmed him. He is God's and all punishment remains with God.

It does seem, though, that it was a physical or obvious mark for everyone to know not to harm Cain. However, it could've been a figurative mark, or sign, between God and Cain like a promise of protection. In this situation, if anyone didn't believe Cain that God didn't want him killed, he or she would be met with consequence.

However, when we read that Cain "went out from the Lord's presence" to live even further from Eden, we get this sense that Cain was separated from God's presence. He went to the Land of Nod, which uses the root of the Hebrew word "to wander." His world is upset, and he no longer is connected to God's creation as a farmer. He establishes a city, but it's hard to say whether he settled there or merely established it before his family settled there eventually. Whether he was ever able to live in that city, he remains spiritually lost and disconnected from God and the grounded-ness of his former profession.

This is a story that serves as a reminder that, without God, we're all awash in a sea, lost, and disconnected from our roots, like Cain. Also like Cain, God gives every possible chance for salvation.

One hopes Cain eventually repented and accepted God's grace.

God bless!


Sources other than Bible:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/cain-and-abel-in-the-bible/
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-interpretation/what-happened-to-cain-in-the-bible/
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/mark-cain/
https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/NB-171-Transcript.pdf
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_715.cfm
http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/what-is-the-mark-of-cain.html
http://apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=6&article=5098
https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/6/6/4

He Makes All Things New

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. - Genesis 8:22

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. - Genesis 1:1-31

With the creation of Earth, God instituted a cyclic measure of time. Every dark followed by light is a day, every seven of those is a Sabbath, and after several of those weeks are months, years, all expressing their circular nature by reoccurring events, seasons, and holy days. Time is cyclic, and so are we, in many ways. We wax alert with the sun, wane by the time the sun sets on the horizon. The moon's many phases can calculate a female body's monthly pattern. Every season brings high and low energies, and our lives can be pictured as a circle with childhood, rising maturity to physical and mental peaks, dipping once again back to the frailty of age.

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” - Revelation 21:5

Here we are, just after the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere and first day of autumn in the southern, feeling the slowly turning wheel of this world more than usual. Springtime, especially, has an atmosphere of new beginnings that inspire us to rise once again from our winter slumbers. It's a wonderful time for the renewal of our souls.

Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. – Deuteronomy 32:2

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. – Psalm 51:10

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” - Isaiah 35:1-10

Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield. “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. - Joel 2:22-23

It's a time of year that reminds of us God's constant renewal of the Earth, gift of life, and how He provides for us all to thrive in His warmth and the replenishing waters of His Word.

I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. – Deuteronomy 11:14

For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. - Song of Solomon 2:11-12

'For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. 'The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. 'The fig tree has ripened its figs, And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along!'" - Song of Solomon 2:11-13

He provides and is ever-present as sure as the cycles of sun and moon and seasons. In a way, the cyclic measure of time is a reminder of His constancy and His reliability in a world as chaotic as the open seas in a storm.

Why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. – Matthew 6:28-29

Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth. - Hosea 6:3

May this season bring you blessings and a reminder of God's everlasting grace.

Learning to Be You, Love

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?

You have made them a little lower than the angels

and crowned them with glory and honor. - Psalm 8:3-8 

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 

- Genesis 2:7

Did you know that you are made from the flames of dying stars, freshly turned dark soil, crisp cool falling rain, raw jewels and gemstones hidden in the bowels of the earth, robust trees stretching limbs to the skies, and the eternal hurricanes that rage on Jupiter? Yes, all these are made from the same basic elements as you and me.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. - Jeremiah 1:5

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,

who formed you from the womb:

“I am the Lord, who made all things,

who alone stretched out the heavens,

who spread out the earth by myself, - Isaiah 44:24

Did you also know that everything from the sound of your voice to the shape of your hips were determined long ago by generations of love and yearning? Literally billions of souls came together to ultimately bring you in the world. You had an ancestor who walked the earth, was born, loved, lived, and died with the same nose, hair color, eye shape, toes (or all of the above) as you.

You brought my inner parts into being; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you, for You made me with fear and wonder; marvelous are Your works, and You know me completely. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and intricately put together in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw me unformed, yet in Your book all my days were written, before any of them came into being.  - Psalm 139:13-16 

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.  - Hebrews 11:3 

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.  - Colossians 1:16

Now, as you read this today, one of many protagonists in an epic adventure that started with a void and will end with golden roads, you, lovely you, have been chosen to be a child of a supernatural, eternal King of All. You were formed with His hands into just what He wanted, just what He felt was beautiful, and just what He felt the world needed. You are His masterpiece.

I felt the desperate need to share this with you, and maybe He wants YOU to know just what you mean to HIM.




***

God's Voice

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” John 10:27

Hearing God's voice doesn't just come in the prophetic variety, and you may never hear a literal, direct voice from God. No, God's voice comes in a variety of ways, through His Holy Spirit. You may encounter Him speaking through a book, a TV show, a butterfly, a sunset, a difficult experience, the wind against your skin, etc. He's just not limited in communication as He's in control of everything. He tailors how He speaks to how you'll more likely listen.

You may be wondering how you'll know you're "hearing" God and how you can hear from Him more often. Anytime we have a question about God, we should look to the Word for the answer.

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5

I like lists, so I'm numbering this for both of us. Some ways you can know God's voice:

1) Before you can hear God, you must be listening. Don't say that God isn't speaking to you if you haven't opened His love letter lately. Reading the Bible with purpose and praying in earnest will open your eyes and your ears. He speaks to you on every page!

And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” 1 Samuel 3:10

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2) Sometimes, God wants you to call out to Him before He'll speak. Sometimes, He's speaking, and you need clarity. He wants a relationship with you; He wants you to desire connection too. If you want a conversation, call out to Him!

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

3) Plus, if you ever have a moment when you think God is speaking through any means other than the Bible, make sure it's consistent with His Word. He put it there so you can also test anything else you may hear for truth.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:1-6

4) Anything He says is for your (or others') good, but it's not always rainbows and sunshine. God is love, sometimes tough love, but always love. So, if you think you hear God's voice and it's hateful, harmful, destructive, dishonest, or inconsistent, then it's NOT FROM GOD.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

5) If you ask for guidance, be willing to take it. This is a tough one, I know. Sometimes, you don't ask for fear of the answer, and then if you get an answer, you're afraid to take a first step. Tell God about that too. Sometimes, He does answer, but His answer is "no" or "wait." However, if you certainly heard God tell you the right path to take, and you don't take it, why are you asking?

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Psalm 32:8-9

6) Sometimes, it will feel like He's not answering. You need to remember that worship and speaking with God doesn't always "feel" a certain way. I say that because I know some people are looking for a skin-tingling moment or to feel overwhelmed with some spiritual emotion when God speaks. Sometimes, yes. Most of the time, nope. If you still think He's not answering, keep calling out to Him because He's waiting for the right time to speak to you. He many times comes into your life at the most unexpected moments and in the most unexpected ways.

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; [but] the LORD [was] not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; [but] the LORD [was] not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was [so], when Elijah heard [it], that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, [there came] a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 1 Kings 19:11-13

7) If you're a disciple of Jesus and a child of God, yes, you have the ability to communicate both ways with God. No, you're not the odd man out. No, you're not so sinful or so inept that God doesn't wish to speak with you. He wants to so much! He wants a deeper relationship with you because He loves you, and He wants to guide you through the dark pathways of life.

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17

When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. John 15:26-27

8) Some will not understand God's voice or Spirit, your belief that you can actually communicate with Him, and the paths that He may guide you on. That's okay. This is between you and God. This wasn't between you and them, anyway.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

Open your ears, eyes, mind, and heart to God, call out His name, and listen for His answer. It may not be immediate, but He'll speak.

Love y'all!

We the Priests, the Warriors

This world can be full of troubles, death, and darkness. Most of us have felt helpless at some point in the face of the overwhelming atrocities.

As Christians, we are unique in that God has called upon us to be the light in this darkness, to be a source of hope in the midst of hopelessness.The unbelievers are annoyed by our constant replies that we will send "thoughts and prayers" to victims every time something occurs, yet nothing is put into action or changed to prevent the evil from occurring again. Of course they are! Don't automatically put up a wall when you hear the outpouring of anger against us when you can find wisdom in their words. Put your love of God above your pride and listen. Of course we must pray, pray always and without ceasing. However, we are called to be God's hands and feet, used by Him to lead the world to His way of love.

So, what can we do? How exactly can we accomplish that?

There's a popular, albeit fictional, story of an atheist professor who attempted to shame the believers in his classroom by calling into question the logic of a purely good God. He stated that if good and bad exist, and God created everything, then God created bad and is, therefore, not purely good. Without posting the story in its entirely, a student stood up and turned the questions around in order to show that, in the same manner that darknessand coldness does not exist in themselves but are the absence of light and heat, so too, evil is simply the absence of good and, therefore, God.

We are called to bring light and warmth to a dark and cold world. Anytime, there's a question of how, we can look to the Bible.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people to be his very own and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and exiles to keep on abstaining from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Continue to live such upright lives among the gentiles that, when they slander you as practicers of evil, they may see your good actions and glorify God when he visits them. " 1 Peter 2:8

You are a priest, and what did priests do? They lived their lives as examples of joy, love, and truth, as we are called to be examples to the world. They were those who had direct access to God and His messages, and they were responsible for announcing those messages to all those who would hear, as we are called to spread the gospel. They made sacrifices that appealed to God for others' sins and praised Him for their blessings, as we do when we pray. There's something else they did:

They separated the clean and unclean, the diseased from the healthy. If someone was diagnosed with a contagious disease, that person was quarantined away from everyone until he or she was declared no longer contagious. If someone was unclean for some reason or another, that person was made to stay outside of the encampment to keep from spreading diseases or making the clean unclean. Not to mention that the punishments for those who committed crimes against others were harsh and immediate.

What does this mean for us? We are called, as a holy people, to discern the unhealthy and unclean and push for the powers-that-be to separate them from the rest of us. If those who are unhealthy purposely harm others, we are called to push for the powers-that-be to punish those criminals.

You are a warrior, and what do warriors do? They do not rest in apathy. If you are a Christian, you are called into action as a priestly warrior of God. We all know the verse about the full armor of God:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." Ephesians 6:10-18

Another thing to remember is that we are all made gloriously different with varying points of view. What a shame if we didn't have the strength to see different dimensions and solutions to problems! Let us come together as brothers and sisters and not fight amongst ourselves, but hear each the other's opinions, so that we can find a way to shed God's light and love into the confused, blind, and horrified world.

And also, always, always pray.

New Year: God's Resolution

"And the One seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'" Revelation 21:5

A new year promises new beginnings, and urges us all to look to the future with hope and sometimes a little fear of the unknown. We make resolutions to help us create a better life. Did you know God has His own resolutions?

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man,
and He will live with them.
They will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them as their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and there will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain,
for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

"Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. The one who is victorious will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son." Revelation 21:5-7

Once upon a time, when I was a child, I took it upon myself to "attempt" to read the Bible all the way through. I half-way succeeded (literally only the Old Testament) and then skipped to Revelations. What a horrible idea! I read things like:

"And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." Revelations 6:8

And -

"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places." Revelations 6:12-14

Well then. So, basically Revelations used to be like a horror film to me, full of blood and gore and hopelessness.

I HAD MISSED GOD'S PROMISES AND HOPE. I only caught on to his anger and deep sadness over the darkness of the world.

So, later, armed with greater reading comprehension and knowledge of how to research and dissect literature, I faced the Bible once again. I started at the beginning, when the world held such hope, mourned the loss of innocence, and struggled alongside the prophets, laymen, families, and God as I made my way back through the Old Testament.

Malachi.

This is the last book of the Old Testament, written by the minor prophet... Malachi, of course.

"Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts." Malachi 3:1

"See, I will send my messenger…For he will be like a refiner’s fire... He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years." Malachi 3:1-4

Malachi spoke of hope. Hope that the Israelites lived on for 400 years.

Then, I finally opened the New Testament.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:1-5

The darkness has not overcome it. After all the pain, turmoil, doubt, and silence that the Old Testament addressed, it also spoke of unrelenting faith, everlasting love for others and God for His people, and the pinprick of light that still existed far toward the end of the tunnel. Yet, after all this, that spot of light remained and only grew stronger in the world.

Through the books of the New Testament, I walked with Jesus and His disciples speaking of the love of God and His children and the hope that sinners had in Him. The darkness had not overcome the light, but the light would overcome the darkness. Though life was never easy or fair for Jesus or His followers, they grew from a handful to innumerable as the stars. I remember a resolution God had made back in the beginning.

"He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Genesis 15:5

Did you think God was speaking to Abraham of his future blood relatives back then? Abraham probably did too.

"And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise." Galatians 3:29

You are one of those stars He spoke of so long ago.

When God makes promises and resolutions, He not only follows through but brings them to fruition above our very expectations and dreams.

So, when I finally made it back to Revelations, I read it with different eyes, filled with new hope. There would be terrible things in store for the world. This much was still true. But, did you not realize that we, the beloved children of God, are not the world? We may have to suffer through much, but haven't we already through history? One thing remained the same: God stands by our side and faces it alongside us.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

"For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:17-18

This new year, remember God has His own resolutions, and they involve you.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Happy New Year to all; your future is bright.

***

Other Bible quotes about God making all things new:

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

"Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 45:18-19

"For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness." Isaiah 65:17-18

The Life-changing Magic of... Thanksgiving

"So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the Lord your God… All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt." Leviticus 23:39-43

I've recently started on a purging spree following the cleaning methods of Marie Kondo's book, "The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up." It can be far-reaching for some as parts of it seem like some sort of eastern esotericism. She recommends holding each household item and feeling if it sparks joy, and as you sort each thing (whether keeping or disposing) you thank it for all it has done. I like to thank God for each piece I hold as he is the giver of all blessings. I have actually brought something away from this practice so far besides learning good cleaning habits: renewed gratitude and worship in the mundane.

You see, at first, it was a little funny to imagine a plain pair of socks or a t-shirt sparking joy. Then, as I went from item to item I realized that I was holding something more important than "things." My socks kept my feet warm in the winter and wicked away sweat in the summer. My t-shirt with the funny saying made me smile every time I saw it. I began to look around me and see the many ways my house and all the small, sometimes annoying things (dang keys losing themselves everyday), actually brought me comfort and peace. A broom may not be pretty, but it keeps the floors clean so my child can pretend to be a puppy and fill our home with laughter. A spoon may be simple but accompanies delicious nourishment and family times. If something no longer serves its purpose, it is to be either trashed (if it's no longer usable) or donated so it can go on sparking joy for others.

Fun fact: The word "gospel" comes directly from Old English translations of the Bible, meaning "godspel." Godspel was two words smashed together: god/good + spel/message, itself a translation of the Greek "Euangelion," which means "good news." The gospel, as with any good news, brings with it an aura of joy for all that God has given to us, as undeserving as we are.

Let's be clear on something: Joy does not equal happiness. Some Christians feel guilt over depression or the blues, thinking that they are supposed to be happy all the time. Even God isn't happy all the time. There is a good deal of pain and evil in the world. Your tears are surely a reflection of His in that. Joy in God and His promises can exist at the same time as anger, sadness, even fear.

The Jewish holiday of Sukkot, aka the Feast of the Tabernacles, exists as a reminder of this joy. God is the only permanent in a temporary world. Jews set up shacks made of flimsy materials to symbolize the nomadic Israelites during their escape from an evil pharaoh and life. Although life can be inconsistent and as stable as a stormy sea, then and now, the communion between fellow believers, the family of God, and the gratitude for all our blessings that exists in Sukkot was a reminder for how we should live our lives in God's solid presence. We live in joy and thanksgiving on the Rock.

Does this holiday sound familiar? Many pilgrims, before travelling over to the Americas, lived among the Sephardic Jews in Holland. They picked up some of their traditions, as joy is pretty contagious, and brought it over the New World. We now call this day Thanksgiving. Besides the obvious gathering around a table bursting with food and gratitude, you may notice a similarity between other things like the cornucopia, the symbol of plenty. It's shaped like the Jewish shofar, the horn traditional Jews blow to bring in holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which precedes Sukkot.

As we come upon Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for? What can you do daily to acknowledge your blessings? Remember, it doesn't have to be large, and it could be hidden in your everyday life in something as mundane as a broom.

It may just change your life.

Happy Thanksgiving, and may you be filled with joy this holiday season!



Sources other than Bible:
https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/sukkot-the-harvest-holiday/
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Godspel

Why Does God Let Evil Exist?

God is good, all-powerful, all-knowing, creator of all; yet, evil does exist in this reality God created. So, did God create evil? Why does He allow it to exist? How can He be good and yet allow innocent people and animals to suffer and die, even as children?

God gives people over to what they want. Problem is, we all live in this world, including those who only want good and those who don't know the difference. What gives?

First, what is evil? Evil is the absence of God just like darkness is the absence of light. The Philosopher Augustine surmised something similar. He said that evil is not a thing in and of itself but rather a lacking of something. Just as a hole in a sweater is not a thing in and of itself but rather the lacking of fabric. Because evil is a lacking of God, His truth, and love, it always causes pain in the end. You may not see it immediately, but somewhere down the line, it will always unravel the fabric of some piece of this world and cause a void. Sin and evil cause harm.

You can dive deep into the details of theodicy (theocracy on evil), but honestly, it all boils down to the fact that evil = harm/pain and evil = lacking God.

Please consider reading Job. Job was a Godly man, yet the devil threw down all sorts of evil upon his life. At first he was faithful.

"The Lord gave, and Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21

Yet, after all of his children died, his wealth was ripped away, and he contracted a deadly disease, his will was worn down. Most of his acquaintances forsook him because, to the ancient Jews, suffering meant you had sinned and probably deserved it.

As an aside, Jesus corrected those who erroneously believed this about a man born blind:

"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.' John 9:1-5

Back to Job, he was living in misery for months when three of his only friends left in the world came to visit him. They sat with him for a full week without even a word, simply being there for him. Then, after this time, they started to discuss everything you might ever hear if you or someone you know are struggling with meshing both the reality that innocent people suffer and the faith in an omniscient and omnipotent God. Job wrestles with depression and longing for death.

His friends respond by reasoning that no human is perfect before God, so everyone is subject to suffering. They state that if Job hadn't sinned, maybe his children had.

"Can mortal man be righteous before God... Behold, happy is the man whom God reproves; therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty." Job 4:17

"Does God pervert justice?... If your children have sinned against Him, He has delivered them into he power of their transgression." Job 8:3-4

They are trying and failing to comfort Job by taking up the popular stance that Job's suffering was... his own fault. Hmmm, no wonder this didn't go over well. Job protests his own innocence. He points out that they're really just trying to twist the circumstances in order to confirm their own beliefs.

"It is all one; therefore I say, God destroys both the blameless and the wicked.... Thou dost seek out my iniquity and search for my sin, although thou knowest that I am not guilty." Job 9:22-24 & 10:6-7

He brings up the statement that many say when an innocent has died, that they are now in a better place.

"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last He will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then apart from my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side and my eyes shall behold, and not another." Job 19:25-27

This is true, but it doesn't answer the primary question. Why do innocent people suffer? Even Jesus suffers at the hands of His own people, experiencing death though he did no wrong.

God shows up to speak to Job and his friends, shaming them all. This is but a piece of what he had to say:

"Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

“Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?

“Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,
when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt’? ..." Job 38-41

From my understanding, God was basically saying that, if you truly believe in Him and the fact that He is omniscient and omnipotent, then you must concede that He knows more than you. So, if you believe He is also good, then He must be working for our best interests in ways that we don't know and for reasons we may never understand.

Right now, the world is under evil's command.

"We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one." 1 John 5:19

We should know though, that weeds and wheat are separated at the harvest, not before.

"Jesus presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.

The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At the proper time I will tell the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.'" Matthew 13:24-29

This is my own reading of this verse. If God were to take out all the evil, that would harm those who still hope of salvation. Not all evil in the world is permanent and God wishes for everyone to turn from their sins and become one of His children.

"Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be dissolved in the fire, and the earth and its works will not be found..." 2 Peter 3:8:10

It's little consolation to state that God always has a reason for everything that happens, especially if we've hit rock bottom and are living in misery. Yet, it's a fact. No, God doesn't wish for evil to happen, and He will eventually eradicate it for good. He has begged for evil to never enter our lives and world, yet that's what humans chose starting with Adam and Eve. Since then, he's been waiting with arms wide open for everyone to come to Him. Every soul is important to Him; every person He wants to take part in the joy of His kingdom.

Although there's nothing that will take away all of your suffering right now in this life, let's take some comfort in His promises.


1)http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/evil/
2)

Commandment Series: The Ninth

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." Exodus 20:16

The 9th commandment is a very specific requirement based on the ancient Jewish court system established in the Old Testament. Witnesses were called to testify against wrongdoers before any sentences were carried out against them. In this way, if you lied that someone was guilty in court, they could very wrongly be punished for someone else's transgressions. Punishment, of any type, given to an innocent would be horrible, but the sentences spelled out in the Old Testament were many times death. No wonder lying in court was forbidden in the very important ten commandments; it has to be one of the worst things a person can do.

Many say the 9th commandment itself is, strictly speaking, only touching upon the situation in which a person would lie, causing an innocent to be punished wrongly. However, as with all of God's laws, they are all about matters of the heart. Jesus brought this idea up during his Sermon on the Mount.

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." Matthew 5:33-37

You, as a child of God, need not make promises to others. The words you speak must be so consistently true that, when you open your mouth, every thing you utter is considered in stone. That is the way God is, and He expects us to follow His ways.

What about lies spoken/done in love? God is all about love, right? Satan, get thee behind me. If you think this, than know the world has twisted a truth into a lie, and made you believe it.

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." 1 Corinthians 14:33

He even gives examples in the Bible where people lied in love and caused trouble. In Genesis, we see Rebekah wrapping her son Jacob in furs and deceiving the blind Isaac into giving blessings to him. She certainly was thinking this was done in love for the betterment of her son, but it only caused strife between brothers that lasts for years, making Jacob run away from a murderously angry Esau. Another example is when Abraham feared for his and his wife's life, causing him to lie to the pharaoh that Sarah was his sister and not wife. This caused the pharaoh to almost commit adultery, expelling them from his kingdom when he found out his deceit.

What about bending the truth , half-truths, or concealing the truth? Well, if anything you say has the intention of deceiving the other person, whether your words are literally truth or not, your heart is full of deceit. So, yes those are lies too. If you stand near a cliff, you don't see how close to the edge you get before you fall, you see how far BACK you can get. The Bible gives many examples of just this, but the most prominent one I can think of is that of Joseph. Remember Jacob? His most beloved son was Joseph for whom he made a beautiful coat of many colors. His brothers sold him into slavery out of jealousy. In order to lie without lying (they thought), they covered his coat with animal blood and showed it to Jacob, saying only "Does this look like your son's coat?" They never lied, with words, but their hearts were full of the intent to deceive Jacob into thinking Joseph was dead.

So, you can lie with words, actions, half-truths, or simply concealing the truth with the intent to deceive. If you're lying in court or any other situation that would cause an innocent person to suffer, that's obviously the worst lie you could commit. However, every lie is wrong, and we should adhere to the truth even when it's painful. It is God's way, the way of light and love.

Need more verses about God's view on lying? They're innumerable. Well, maybe there's a number, but it's a really high one, so we won't be putting the vast majority here. Instead, here's a hand-selected few:

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-20

"'You will certainly not die,' the serpent said to the woman." Genesis 3:4

"The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy." Proverbs 12:22

"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." Revelation 22:14-15

Commandment Series: The Fourth

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." Exodus 20:8

There's an epidemic in the world, especially in the United States, of sleep deprivation and stress. Since our early years as a nation, we've prided ourselves on being workaholics, pulling ourselves up with our bootstraps, and standing on our own no matter the costs.

Now, we wonder why heart disease is the number 1 killer of Americans.

Many nowadays speak about being always "too busy" as if they were bragging. If someone asks how we're doing, we say "fine." If someone asks what we've been up to, we answer "busy as always."

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

"And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14

"He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake." Psalm 23:2-3

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:29-31

"The Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will give rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:28-30

How many times and ways does God have to tell you to be still (not incessantly busy) and rest for awhile before you'll listen?

It isn't a weakness to need rest, it is a gift given to us by God from the dawn of time.

"By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven." Genesis 2:2-4

Rest is good for you mentally, physically, and spiritually, and God set aside a whole day of it every week just for us. God never really needed to rest; he's omnipotent after all. However, he was setting a precedent for his creation.

Please look at what others say:

"The biological and chemical factors that trigger mental health issues also could influence heart disease. 'The head-heart connection should be on everyone’s radar,' said Barry Jacobs, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist and director of "Behavioral Sciences at the Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine Residency Program in Springfield, Pa. 'It’s not just being unhappy. It’s having biochemical changes that predispose people to have other health problems, including heart problems'" (American Heart Association)

"Our society is suffering from sleep deprivation and suffering the consequences with mental health issues (anxiety/depression/mood disorders), physical health issues (heart disease, diabetes, obesity), addictions, relationship problems." (CDC and WEBMD)

"There are data showing that working overtime is associated with problems such as high blood pressure, depression and obesity." In a 1960 study, 2% sample slept less than 6 hours per night. In 2004, that figure was up to 30%. (Psychology Today)

There's evidence that religious rituals are "conducive to better mental health... reduce anxiety and uncertainty." The Sabbath gives "freedom from mundane and practice concerns" centering on survival. The "Sabbath provides opportunities to rest from both physical and mental stresses." (Research Gate)

Rest = better health. Sabbath = rest. It doesn't get much simpler than that. So, why did God mandate this rest instead of leaving it as an option? Because we have a difficult time stopping, slowing down, and saying no. We have authority figures who can control us into not resting (i.e. bosses, parents when we are children, etc). Not to mention the fact that we ourselves are over others that need rest as well: other people, animals, even the plants in our backyard.

"At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus." Matthew 12:1-14

So, what is going on in the above verse? Everything needs rest, but humans should be top priority. First, when Jesus says that He is the "Lord of the Sabbath," He is essentially saying that He is master of that day. The only one who can be master of a commandment is the one who created it... He declared He was God (one of many times He did this).

When he mentions the temple bread, he is comparing his disciples breaking the sacredness of the Sabbath to David's men breaking the sacredness of the temple. Both sets of men had physical needs that outweighed, and therefore, were exceptions to the law. He brings up how the priests are the only ones allowed to do their job on the Sabbath (that's how they "desecrate" the temple) as the Pharisees would have agreed that they are allowed to do so. Jesus states "something greater than the temple is here." Again, declaring His mastery over the temple. The only one greater than the temple is... God.

He is basically saying that He's the one who made the laws, and they are acting as if they know better how to keep them. Then, He heals a man, not a man about to die from wounds or illness, not a man who can't wait until the next day for healing. He heals a man with a somewhat minor disfigurement because "it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

"It is not the greatness of the priests which justified their violation of the Fourth Commandment—it was the greatness of the temple, the greatness of the cause or the work in which the were engaged..Verse 7 strikes at the heart of the problem of His adversaries: they have focused on the mechanical, ritualistic, aspects of the Sabbath, and in so doing they have failed to meet its essence, which is mercy and compassion. They have lingered long over the letter of the Law, but they have missed its spirit." (Bible Org)

We were not made to observe the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made to heal us, refocus us, center us back onto the spiritual relationship with God after a long week of survival, to gather us from our corners of the world and bring the followers together for simple human interaction without pretense for commerce or goal-setting.

"Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Mark 2:27

Why would you deny such a huge gift from God?

"Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. … And a certain man was there, who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And immediately the man became well, and took up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. Therefore the Jews were saying to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Take up your pallet and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk’?” But he who was healed did not know who it was; for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may befall you.” The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. And for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God” John 5:2, 5-18

They hated Jesus because He was repeatedly declaring Himself God and denouncing their ways. He didn't find the nit-picking rules that the Pharisees set up to be correct. Instead of just telling them to not follow those legalistic ways, He showed them by action how actually follow the Sabbath. Picking up pallets or plucking a single ear of corn was not breaking the God-given conditions of Sabbath . Mercy and compassion is following the Sabbath. Taking care of your physical needs is following the Sabbath. Gathering with others for worship and connection definitely is following the Sabbath.

So, how do we interpret what He means when He says that God the Father and Himself are working on the Sabbath? Well, you could take this many ways, and I encourage you to always ask God for guidance. However, the way I personally take it is that Jesus was saying God never needs rest. The Sabbath was made for the Creation not the Creator. However, Jesus wasn't actually breaking the Sabbath, either. He was breaking man-made rules, not God's laws. Yet, according to the Pharisee rules, God was breaking those man-made rules of Sabbath-keeping, and therefore, if we're using the Pharisee's viewpoint of "work", God is always working on the Sabbath.

There's a lot to be learned from Sabbath-keeping. You learn the world does not revolve around you, and it will continue spinning whether you're checking off lists or not. You learn how deep a need we all have for rest, peace, and communion. You learn to stop and smell the roses without worrying about how much their worth or where you might plant them next on your property. You learn how stopping the rat-race on a regular basis helps to re-center your life on God. You learn how to be child again, free from obligations and stress, at least for a day.

If you haven't ever observed the Sabbath before, it may be difficult at first. When a person's been spinning for awhile, they can be a bit dizzy when they step down from the ride. However, when you finally learn how to rest, truly rest, you learn a bit about God's promise for peace and restoration. It's like a glimpse of heaven here on earth.


Sabbath: you don't just want rest, you need it. Be still.




Sources other than Bible:
https://bible.org/seriespage/16-sabbath-controversy-gospels
http://www.theheartfoundation.org/heart-disease-facts/heart-disease-statistics/
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/StressManagement/HowDoesStressAffectYou/Stress-and-Heart-Health_UCM_437370_Article.jsp#.WWZcGdIUmHs
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250919744_The_Mental_Health_Benefits_and_Costs_of_Sabbath_Observance_Among_Orthodox_Jews
https://www.sabbathtruth.com/faq/advanced-topics/rest-in-god-keeping-the-sabbath-holy
https://www.cdc.gov/features/dssleep/
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/toll-of-sleep-loss-in-america
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleepless-in-america/201001/are-we-really-getting-less-sleep-we-did-in-1975

Commandment Series: The Second

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 20:4-6

Are you burdened with the weight of carrying gods, or is your God carrying you?

The second commandment is very close to the first (not placing any other gods above Yahweh), so much so, one wonders why they are always deemed separate commands. It seems oddly specific, and in the ancient world, perhaps not a strange thing to ask as many pagan gods had followers dedicating idols to their worship. In this day and time, however, you might wonder how the second commandment affects you.

In the prior post about the first commandment, we clarified that "gods" can be anything you serve other than Yahweh: wealth, pride, electronics, even other people, etc. We must place God above everything else in our life, and He will provide. The second commandment tells us not to set up idols of our "gods." Well, I don't know about you, but I'm not making clay representations of my iPhone and bowing down to it. So, what gives? How do we know what an idol is in modern times?

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” Romans 1:20-23

Like the wind, we may not see our invisible God, but He always moving the world around us. No one is excused from not knowing He exists because, as the author proclaims, He is always around us in everything we perceive. Yet, perhaps out of ignorance on how to connect with a God of His glory, people began to worship the creation instead of the creator.

“‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:26-27

The problem is, we are putting above us things that we were supposed to subdue. In other words, we forget that we are made higher than everything else on Earth (except angels Hebrews 2:7). We are the children of God! Yet, we "worship" everything that should be in submission to us and forget to submit ourselves to God.

One source below states, "An idol is anything we depend upon to meet the deep needs of the heart—love, security, worth, or significance. When we seek to find identity and security in something besides God, we have made it an idol. John Calvin said, “The human heart is an idol factory.” We often search for peace or identity through relationships, substances, money, or entertainment. Addictions are forms of idolatry, as are a host of other worldly enticements that cannot ultimately satisfy. When we give ourselves to the pursuit of manmade gods, we are breaking the second commandment."

I'm going to go one step further. Consider this verse.

“Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God! I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are continually before me. I will not take a bull from your house, nor goats out of your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine and all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” Psalm 50:7-15

The ancient gods, as well as the new, survive on sacrifice. We must give up something of ourselves or our resources in order to keep them alive for worship. Idolatry is all about greed and selfishness. We give something: we get something. If the "gods" are not satisfied with our offerings, we are punished or ignored. They are selfish, and their followers worship them just to receive things. They need their followers almost more than their followers need them.

Yahweh is quite different. HE sacrificed for US. He needs nothing from us, but He wants us all the same. God is all about selfless love in everything He's done, and He expects us to be the same. He rains blessings on the good and bad. As a father, He may discipline us, but it has nothing with what He can gain from us.

"Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low. Their idols are on beasts, on livestock. Your loads are more burdensome than their reports. They stoop, they bow down together, and they are not able to rescue the burden, but they themselves go off into captivity. "Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all you remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld from before your birth, and who have been carried from the womb. Even until your old age, I am the one, and I'll carry you even until your gray hairs come. It is I who have created, and I who will carry, and it is I who will bear and save. To whom will you compare me, count me equal, or liken me, so that I may be compared? Those who pour out gold in a purse, weigh silver in a balance, hire a goldsmith in order to make a god, and then they bow down and even worship it. And they lift it on their shoulders, carry it, set it up in its place, and there it stands. It cannot move from that spot. One may even call to it, but it cannot answer nor save him from his distress." Isaiah 46:1-7

Are you carrying your gods? Are you feeling overwhelmed trying to keep up with the demands of daily life? Are you constantly worried about the future and what it brings? Are you giving up money, time, relationships, or health just to be able to keep your "gods" alive? If you are sacrificing ANYTHING, make sure you are sacrificing for Yahweh, and even then make sure it's out of love; otherwise, even God doesn't want it. Find what or who you're sacrificing for because that's your "god." The one true God doesn't require sacrifice to keep His blessings or love flowing. He won't drain you. He fills you up. He carries you through life. You'll never need to carry Him.

Let's use my phone addiction as an example. I give it my time and attention. In return it gives me entertainment and a sense of social connection. If I fail to give it time, attention, battery charge, it fails to serve me in return. That's because it's fallible and a creation, not a creator. My phone should be serving me when and where I need it, without sacrificing my precious time or attention that would be better given to my family. I just need to make sure that I am in charge, not vice versa.

That show "Hoarders" is an extreme example, but those people sacrifice a lot to hold onto their things. They give up a clean home, relationships, health, their sanity. In return, they expect to hold onto what those things symbolize, like memories, the love of family members who gave them the things, or even protection from the world beyond their home as if their things are a hedge around them. They are never truly satisfied. They should be in charge. Their possessions should not be possessing them.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else." Acts 17:24-25

You'll know you've built an idol when something or someone in your life requires you to "feed" it in order to keep it in your life, and it's draining you dry. God made everything and is in control of everything. He's got you; just let Him do His thing in your life. Let go and let God provide what you need.


Sources other than Bible: gotquestions.org/second-commandment, discovertheword.org