Honest to God

God is merciful, and He is also completely just.  

Psalm 76 describes the ultimate power of God in judging the earth and why those who oppose Him should fear His wrath.  However, on the other side of the coin, verse 9 reveals His heart toward certain others, "When God arose to judgment, to save all the humble of the earth."  He judges wickedness but saves the humble.

The crux of the whole judgment matter is pride versus humbleness.  What does God require but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God?  Scripture is clear that God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud.  Did not Satan fall because of pride, and did not Eve submit to the lie of pride that she would be "like God" if she ate the fruit?   

David, after he repented from sinning with Bathsheba and killing Uriah, prayed with new understanding, in Psalm 51:6, that God, "you desire truth in our inmost being."  What is the truth?  First Corinthians 4:7 explains this truth by declaring that everything we have, our mind, our heart, our faith, our talents, our health, our life, is all received, so we have nothing to boast about.  Since the truth is that we have nothing because of our own efforts but rather all is the gift of God, our only honest response to Him is to be thankful and humbly admit we depend upon Him for everything.  The truthful attitude, being humble and thankful, motivates us to obey and is what pleases God.

Furthermore, Isaiah 57:15 confirms this truth, "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."  When we honestly acknowledge our need for His help and forgiveness, He is right there to revive us.

Be honest to God as you humbly admit your need and walk obediently with a grateful attitude in all He has given you to do.  God will dwell with you and you will be blessed forever!

God: Obvious or Hidden?

Is God hiding?  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings to search out a matter according to Proverbs 25:2.  

The knowledge of God may be hidden to the average person.  Yet on the other hand, Romans 1:19-20 points out that "what may be known of God is evident.  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."  God is ever visible in all He has made so no one can honestly deny Him, but the greater goal, knowing Him personally and intimately, has conditions that depend upon us. 

God has deliberately hidden truth for some and deliberately shown His nature and character to others.  Jesus explained to his disciples that "it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given."  Therefore, I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."  God deliberately conceals Himself and intimate knowledge of Him because He waits for us to desire Him.  In Jeremiah 29 it states this condition, "when you seek Me with all your heart, I will be found."  

There are three reasons why God has concealed Himself.  1) God is not an intellectual concept and as 1 Corinthians explains, "in his wisdom it is impossible to know Him through human wisdom." He reveals Himself to mere babes but declares that all human wisdom is foolishness.  2)  He will not reveal Himself just to boast or satisfy our curiosity.  When Herod wanted to see a sign or miracle just to show off, Jesus refused to even answer.  3)  God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.  He draws near to the one with a contrite and humble heart.  God knows the intents and motives of the heart, so man shows his highest purpose and glory when He humbles himself and chooses to receive the Word of God with meekness. Humbling ourselves to acknowledge sin allows the Spirit to lead us into all truth, especially the truth that Jesus is Lord and Savior of all who come to Him.  

Jesus is the truth.  He openly demonstrated that sin deserves death and that through His death and resurrection the penalty for sin has been paid.  He further declares that eternal life is not just duration, but rather quality of life.  "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)"  He was sent to redeem man and bring us back to God, so obviously He desires all men to be saved and come to know Him forever.  Yet the simple invitation is "Who so ever will."

It is the glory or honor of kings to search out a matter.  The Word, in Revelation 1, declares this tribute to Jesus, "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."  It is our honor as kings to search out knowing God and humbling ourselves to accept His invitation to come into a saving knowledge of God.  He honors those who honor Him with an intimate relationship of glorious life that never ends.  

Wait upon the Lord

  The Isaiah 40 song "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles..." came into my mind this morning, and then in reading Billy Wilson's book, "Gen Z: Born for the Storm," that same theme was repeated. It was the Holy Spirit's way of reminding me that clearly God honors those who receive the Word with meekness, who humble themselves to receive from Him.  

Part of the fall was yielding to Satan's temptation, "you shall be like God."  The great deception is that fallen man now pridefully thinks he is God, and that his opinion is all that matters.  However, God in Isaiah 55 is strong to declare that "HIs thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways."  Therefore, realizing that we need to humble ourselves and let His truth renew our mind and heart in taking time to "wait upon the Lord" is the attitude that God honors with strength, power, and understanding (Isaiah 40:29-31).  

Paul reinforces this principle in Romans 12, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  As we humbly present ourselves to God, the key to surrender is letting the Word of God transform our thinking from the arrogance of man's thoughts to the simple truth of God which stands forever.  In short, according to Romans 3:4, let God be true and every man a liar.

It is difficult to "walk through the valley of death" where man's pride thinks he can alter God's plan for male and female, His statute for marriage, His command not to kill babies, and even the arrogance of man to change what the Word reveals about the nature of God.  So many issues and divisions are directly stemmed to man's pride in thinking his thoughts are always right.  However, God is not mocked, and foolish man will never overcome Him whose truth abides forever. Psalm 119:78 states, "Let the proud be put to shame; for they have overthrown me wrongfully."  

One translation of Isaiah 40 states they that "hope" in the Lord.  Hope and wait have the same root and source, depending upon God to confirm His Word.  Therefore, choose to depend upon God as you cast your cares upon Him, seek Him for wisdom, and let His Word dwell in you richly.  Those who choose to let His "being Lord" go beyond just words but also to be truly yielding will give Him permission and wait on Him to direct their thoughts and ways. 

Feel Close to God?

Are you feeling close to God?  That actually is Not the question.  Our relationship with God flows from our spirit to affect our thinking and feelings, not the other way around.  If you have accepted Jesus' death and resurrection for your sins, you are close to God.

Everyone knows that feelings are fickle. We can be high and excited one moment and depressed the next.  Feelings change in a heartbeat, but reality always remains the same and does not change.  True reality is found in the Word of God, which even though heaven and earth may pass away, Jesus assures us His truth endures forever. 

The primary question of every person who has ever lived on the planet is "how do I stand in God's eyes?"  In other words, am I right with God and will I go to heaven?  There are many religions that give a set of rules to live by, but the problem is that in the heart of every man we know that we have missed the mark and done things wrong.  We have all broken the rules to live by.  Scripture says it this way, all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  There is only one way to get free of sin, and that is to have someone pay for them who is able to do so.  Jesus as the Son of God not only qualifies as able, but He willingly as a man took the punishment that all of our sins deserved, death.  There is only one faith that has a God who paid the price for sin so we can stand right with God.

Many people think that they are trying to live pretty good lives and therefore, God will surely accept them.  Others know about God's mercy but still feel that their efforts to do what is right AND God's mercy will grant them eternal life.  Both are wrong.  All our righteousness, our attempts to do right, are still as dirty rags according to Isaiah 54:6  This is actually good news because it takes away our fear of am I good enough.  Instead, all we have to do is say yes, I am not good enough but I receive the gift of Your righteousness.  Thank You for paying completely for my offences and for the rebellious sin nature of my flesh.  It has nothing to do with our performance, but rather realizing Jesus has said, "you are righteous because I AM."

The principle that Jesus taught is that the humble will be exalted and those who exalt themselves will be humbled.  God honors those humble enough to be like the publican in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican going to pray, "Have mercy on me, a sinner."  

What about doing good?  Everyone knows that love is stronger than fear, and perfect love casts out all fear.  We do good because we seek to please Him.  We keep His commandments because we love Him and all He has done for us, not because we fear rejection from heaven.  As being born from death to life and given the righteousness of God, we can set our minds on the Spirit and actually delight to do His will.  We may still blow it, but the Spirit checks us and we quickly repent, knowing He loves and forgives.  Nothing can separate us from the wonderful love of God. 

So the point is, we are more than close to God, we are actually a temple for God to live in.  He makes His home in us, not because we feel like we have been good, but because He is good and and has done it all to make it possible.  So we know we are "close to God" because of the revelation of our relationship in His Word and the witness of the Spirit, whether or not we feel our performance has been great today.  God desires us to know we are "His beloved in whom He is well pleased," now and forever.  

The Test of Maturity

 Nothing reveals our pride or humbleness before God like how we react to correction.  No one likes to be corrected.  Our prideful flesh is easily offended and screams, "Who do you think you are judging me?".We defend ourselves and make excuses.  We want to "kill the messenger."  Yet God reminds us in Hebrews 12:11 "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.  Receiving correction humbly admitting our faults and repenting opens the door for God who "gives grace to the humble."  God's loving discipline is a way of life according to Proverbs, that when recieved humbly and honestly causes us to be "conformed into the image of Christ Jesus."

Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him.  Paul likwise understood this motivation to do hard things when he corrected the Corinthians, " Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance,  For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.  For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.  For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: what diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication!  In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter."  Iron sharpens iron, a true friend speaks the truth in love because he desires the best for him. 

Just as God instructs parents to being up thier children in the admonition and nurture of the Lord, so He brings up HIs children with "admonition and nurture."  He is all love, giving the ultimate sacrifice of laying His life down for His friends.  He also is all just, because what a man sows he will reap.  The Lord has the perfect balance of grace and mercy "which has kissed" truth and righteousness producing genuine transformation and greater desire to love and serve such a great God.  Hebrews 12 compares human discipline which a father does to a son because he loves him, to that of the Father of spirits which produces life.  "He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness". 

O man, what does the Lord require of you? But to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" says the prophet Micah.  The measure of walking humbly with God is demonstrated by how we let His Word, and truth spoken by another, correct our thoughts and actions.  The Spirit of God is a perfect teacher, always speaks the truth, and convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment.  The question is how good are we at listening, obeying, and responding in humble admission when we are wrong.  

Repentance, the turning away from living just to please our flesh, is a process whenever God or a vessel chosen by God to use in the situation confronts us with what is right.  The difference between the many being called and the few that are chosen is the willingness to receive correction and respond rightly.  Therefore, grow up, receive correction, repent and receive His forgiveness so you can enjoy the life and peace God provided for His chosen.    

 

In Darkness Come to the Light

 One of the most depressing truths about human nature is our pride.  John 3:16-19 reveals Jesus came to save the world so that we don't perish, but men loved darkness -- their evil deeds -- and refused to come to the light.  Jesus didn't come to judge, but to save and yet men will choose to be separated from God and His goodness FOREVER rather than humble ourselves and admit we need His forgiveness. 

In our walk through of Revelation, chapters 8 and 9, we see God seals the tribes of Israel and has a multitude of people from every nation and tongue rejoicing before His throne that salvation belongs to the Lord.  There is and always has been a divine seal and protection over His people.  Instead of being fearful and defeated, the people of God rejoice greatly to see the perfect plan of God and declare "blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever."  Just as a policeman by the road may incite fear in every heart, those who are driving the speed limit can have peace.   

At the opening of the seventh seal, the magnificent masterplan of establishing the Kingdom of God on earth brings overwhelming awe and speechlessness from all of heaven.  All the prayers of the saints, who throughout the ages cried out for God's justice and praised His goodness, were mingled with the coals on heaven's fire to yield a pleasing incense before the throne.  The harvest is ripe and God's unstoppable power and majesty are to be shown. The seven angels with the seven trumpets are ready and this dramatic climax begins.  

Unlike the more "natural" events of the first six seals, this final seal releases significant supernatural consequences.  Hail and fire, mingled with blood destroy a third of trees and grass.  A mountain on fire hits the ocean turning a third of the sea into blood.  A burning star from heaven turns a third of the rivers and springs of water into a bitterness that kills many. The fourth trumpet sounds and a third of the sun, moon, and stars are darkened.  Amazingly, just as Goshen was still in the light when all Egypt was darkened, the camp of the saints will continue to be unaffected.  What a call to "Wake up and repent!"

Even the angels know and declare that the 3 remaining trumpets bring woe to those on the earth.   The angel opens the bottomless pit releasing a horde of supernatural locusts that inflict great scorpion-like torment to those who do not have the seal of God, with such pain that they wish they could die.  Following this, the next angel releases the supernatural beings held by the Euphrates river with their two million army that kill one-third of earth.

At this point, the heart of God, in the midst of these judgments, is revealed.  The purpose of all these catastrophic events was to open the hearts of men to repent, but unfortunately many did not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or thefts. 

God has planted something deep inside of each of us that desires all thing to be right, and to execute His promise that all will reap what they have sown.  As the body of Christ matures and hears the voice of God, the united Church will stand with Jesus calling forth the revealed judgments of Revelation so His purpose can be fulfilled.  Thy kingdom come! Yet God is merciful and even in the midst of judgment longs for all to receive what Jesus has done on the cross.  What a beautiful picture to show us the heart of God.  Count if joy when trials come that we may be perfect lacking nothing.