Predawn Deception

“It is the LORD who goes before you; he will not leave you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed.”  Deuteronomy 31:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  Hebrews 13:8

There’s a phrase seldom used today, “Not one iota.”    It means ‘Not one bit.’ So it is with the Triune God. He’s as good as His Word, and there's not one iota of proof He's not.  In passing out of one of the roughest years in American history (and believe it or not there have been worse), that is good news indeed. We are in need of a happy new year.

The nation is divided and politically polarized.  Corruption in government, and society as a whole, is epidemic.  Totalitarian agendas are open with threats to destroy our constitutional republic and our First Four Freedoms, people are beaten and murdered in our streets while local governments hobble law enforcement, and the national economy has been crippled by the global Covid-19 pandemic. Things for the average Joe and Jill on the street aren’t looking good.

If you’ve ever driven east all night, predawn can be deceptive.  It comes ever so slightly, at different moments causing one to wonder is it getting lighter or is it wishful thinking?  Where is the promise of the sunrise?  But as you drive on, the sky suddenly begins to lighten, growing ever brighter until the sun crests the horizon. 

So, it is with the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will sort all this out in His timing (John 14:2, Revelation 19:11-16, 21:1-2). It’s His promise.  Another seldom used phrase is “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” Or so it seems anyway.  But the qualifier is the promise of a dawn.  God’s promises are many, and many have already proven true with more to be so.  Let this be our anchor.  Words from the One whose Voice spoke creation into existence out of nothing. He will not leave us as orphans. It’s not a predawn deception, but very soon He will be the Son that rises with the light of Grace and Truth in the Brightness of His Coming.  And there’s not one iota of proof that He won’t. The darker the dawn, the greater the Light.  That’s His promise and He’ll stay true to it.

Ken

The Tower of the Flock

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Luke 2:8

This being the Christmas season it is a time to consider the true meaning of why we celebrate it.  At the beginning Christ the Word became flesh and lived among us.  He was called the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

He was God’s sacrificial Lamb who would be the ultimate approval of God in His judgment of sin.  Rabbinic tradition tells of how the flock of sacrificial lambs were kept in the field of David, outside of Bethlehem.  This field is where the angelic hosts appeared to the shepherds the night of Christ's birth. A priest would come to the field every day to inspect the lamb to ensure it was not disfigured in any way.

This job was so important that the shepherds built towers to give them an overall view of the flock, guarding it against harm.  The chosen lamb would be inspected by the priest, and when it was found acceptable it was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger.  It would not walk to the temple as something harmful might happen, and heaven forbid it would squirm out of the arms of the priest. 

A remedy to God’s hatred of sin was needed to satisfy His wrath against it.  His ideal remedy was not to clear the slate of mankind’s rebellion, but to give Himself as the perfect atonement for it.

He instituted the sacrificial program of animal sacrifice showing that the punishment of sin was so serious that the payment of shedding blood and death would be the ultimate payment for the human race.  While the sacrifice was only a temporary covering, it was a picture of a future permanent salvation and an open door to reestablishing fellowship with God. In the First Covenant, the Old Testament, His high tower were the Jewish prophets, who gave an overall view of Messiah, His message, and death (Daniel 9:26).

This Lamb of God is the perfect answer to a weary world and to a weary year that has seen little reason to rejoice.  Yet we have the Chosen Child, born of Mary, wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger, God in the flesh becoming a ransom to satisfy His own wrath.  Amazing grace.  If you want to receive Him you simply need to believe on Him and rejoice that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  If you know Him, rejoice that He ever intercedes for you to our Father God.  Either way this weary world still has reason to rejoice.  The Lamb of God is His Perfect Gift who takes away the sin of the world. Let us rejoice!  Merry Christmas.

Ken

Remember the former age, for I am God, and there is no God beside, neither is there like to Me: Who shew [show] from the beginning the things that shall be at last, and from ancient times the things that are yet not done, saying: My counsel shall stand, and all MY will shall be done: Isaiah 46:9,10

 

Too Amazing to be True

Prophecy is telling the future before it happens. Did you know 1/3 of the Bible is prophetic with over 300 prophecies regarding the Jewish Messiah? Jesus fulfilled 356 Old Testament prophecies in His lifetime on earth.

It is sad that only about 2% of churches today teach biblical prophecy. Prophecy was so important to Jesus He took time to explain to His curious disciples things that were to come (Matthew 24-25, Luke 21). When He prophesied He said, “I have told you in advance that you may believe when it shall come to pass (Matthew 24:25, John 14:29). The hundreds of prophecies fulfilled by Yeshua (Jesus) corroborate Him to be the Jewish Messiah of Israel.

God has told us in advance so we have hope in Him. If He didn't want us to know He wouldn't have told us, so shouldn't we want to investigate these words of the LORD? He tells us in advance not to scare us, but prepare us that we might know His works.

All prophecies are God-breathed (2^nd Timothy 3:16, 2^nd Peter 1:21). He reveals the beginning and the end with total accuracy, so we will know when it comes to pass. His promises are spoken beforehand and are as sure as the sunrise. Take hope in that, Beloved. It sounds too amazing to be true. But there it is. the Sure Word of God.

Ken

 

 

Wonder of Wonders

remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, Isaiah 46:9

In today's devotional thoughts let's take time to consider who God really is. Who He is. Not is He? 

God is a Spirit, not made or existing by anyone's will or creation. He declared of Himself, “I AM, that I AM.” The eternally self-existent One who exists of and by Himself.  He who spoke Creation into existence out of nothing!

I want you to scrap any thoughts or views of God you may have carried, great or small, and let your mind wonder about Who He is. Whatever you can conjure up will never come close to the reality of such a Powerful and Perfect Sentient Being.

This ought to thrill us beyond belief. Whatever you think of Him He certainly is, but even if you amp it up billions of times you'll only catch perhaps His glow but never His fire. Thinking of what that Fullness is can confound our fascination and wonderment of His Being. His reality is seen in everything about us. Whatever you need He can supply. Take note that all things may not be good, but He will bring good out of all things.

Whatever we may build in our imagination concerning His Reality, when it comes down to it, it will only be a God of our imagination. He far exceeds all we can think or ask. Amazing Reality. Amazing Truth. A God above all gods made flesh as the impetus of our Redemption through His shed blood (Hebrews 9:12). Who is like God? No one. He far exceeds our imaginings. He says of Himself, I am God and there is none like me.” Wonder of Wonders. That says it all.

Ken

Worship The King!

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our Salvation! Psalm 95:1

I read once that the 95th-100^th psalms were sung by the Israelites as they went up to worship. These psalms demonstrate the basics of worshiping God.

We sometimes get a particular notion of how spiritual acts must be to be worth anything in God's eyes. In worship He does not desire the outward appearance but the inward heart. He looks on a tender and surrendered heart and a contrite or humble spirit. These He will not despise (Psalm 51:17). When it comes to worship there's not a category of one-size-fits-all. Our worship is as individually crafted as we are. It can be anywhere your heart is moved to do it. 

I've found for myself worship flows from my heart throughout the day as I recall the loving kindness of God the Father who sent His Only Begotten Son, Christ Jesus, to save us from our sins, giving us His Holy Spirit to lead us into all Truth with Power. That flow turns into a torrent when I take time to listen to worship music and meditate on those things. At times it can be a beautifully overwhelming experience.

Worship of God comes with music, prayer and praise. It's not the mechanics or time spent that brings Him intense joy but the attitude of the heart. It helps to know He doesn't have a baseball bat but a beautiful voice with which He joys over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

Search out worshipful songs online and mediate on what Christ has done for you. He lives within the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). Worship the King! He sees your heart. Don't be in a hurry. Remember, He's your Rock, not your clock.

Ken

The Bema Seat-Reward, not Retribution

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2^nd Corinthians 5:10

Today's verse was always one of the most troubling verses for me in the Bible. It pertains to the Judgment Seat of Christ where all believers that have ever believed on Him, from Pentecost to the Rapture, will be judged according to their works, not their sins.

Being judged for the good I've done isn't the issue. Being judged for the evil [or bad] things I have done filled me with the greatest dread and shame. That all changed when I learned the Bema Seat's dual purpose.

The 'judgment seat' is taken from the Greek word Bema. The Bema Seat was used at times to condemn the guilty, but was also used in athletic competitions to bestow rewards. The winner would come before the Bema and receive his reward. This is the meaning Paul was using, and it's significant to our understanding. This judgment will take place after Christ raptures His Bride [the Church].

As believers we have nothing to fear. Rewards will be based on all we have done. Some will receive more and some less, but whatever is received from His gracious hand will be enough. We will never be judged for any evil we have done, for Christ's work on the cross settled that, justifying us through His redemption. In ancient athletic events the losers were never beaten. Nether will we be. Fear not. Judgment or Justification? Justification always wins that race.

Ken

A Tale of Two Testaments

And he said, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Matthew 22:36

When people compare the Old and New Testaments there is a consensus among most that the New Testament gives us a loving God while the Old Testament gives us the godfather. Why the difference? Why study the Old Testament at all? The Law and the mean God who gave it are so last year, and besides, we're under grace now. What's the point? OK, that's a legitimate question.

The Old Testament is really God's First Covenant with the human race, revealing to us His Character, and His expectations as the Perfect Law Giver. Under the Second Covenant, the New Testament, we're no longer required to practice the ceremonial or dietary aspects of the Old Testament, but we are still bound to obey its moral code, for it ever demonstrates to us the unchanging Character of God. Jesus said He never came to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, that is, its righteous demands (Matthew 5:17-18).

We need to read the New Testament with the Old to understand what the Old points to. What has God revealed about Himself in it? He doesn't want us doing something that is opposed to His Character. What does He say? Do not bear false witness, for He is true. Do not commit adultery because He is faithful. Do not murder because He is the Author of Life, Do not be unforgiving because He is forgiving. Do not be unloving for He is loving. Do not be unjust for He is Just.

The purpose of the Old Testament is threefold. (1) To explain what sin is. (2) To expose sin as it is. And (3) to express our need for a Savior. Both Testaments roll seamlessly into one another and find the Second is a continuation of the First. The God of all Creation expresses His Character in the First and finds that Character enfolded in flesh in the Next (John 1:14), becoming the answer to sin, and to His suffering our consequences for it. From Genesis to Revelation it is the most amazing and harmonious tale to be told in the history of the world. The continuing revelation of His story. An amazing and exciting Tale of two Testaments.

Ken