Posts filed under ‘eternity’
All Praise to Him
God in Christ is absolutely worthy of our praise. In fact, as the song says, He is worthy of all our praise. He controls all that we can and cannot see and He does so for His glory. I still have difficulty appreciating what life will be like when I am there with Him. It is difficult for my mind to see because I’m not there yet. There is so much in this life that seeks our attention and desires to be enthroned in our hearts. This is the difficulty of living in sin-laden bodies in a world that is cursed. In spite of our salvation, we remain destined to die because of the corruption of our flesh. Yet, that is also a blessing in disguise because death will free us from everything that seeks to destroy us.
Injustices without Letup
I don’t know about you, but I am tired. I have not found a way to consistently and permanently separate myself emotionally from the evil that exists in this world and the plan that God has for it. In essence, I strive to balance the good with the constant bad and while I try to seek the things I believe are more altruistic, it seems glaringly real that evil appears to have the upper hand, at least in this life. Theologically, I know this is not true. Yet, try as I might, it is difficult to come to terms with it.
Continue Reading December 4, 2024 at 7:20 PM Leave a comment
Marvelous in Our Eyes
Jesus quotes this passage in Mark 12, in his parable about the wicked tenants. In effect, this statement – the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes – is a fascinating statement. I’ve read it. You’ve read it. Pastors have preached about it. Books have been written regarding it. But even though we get a sense of what that means, it isn’t really driven home to us until something in our life matches it. Then our eyes begin to open to that awesome reality. Let me give you a personal example.
God Controls Either Way
I do not know why God has blessed us with an upcoming respite. I tend to think even though the United States deserves major judgment from God, He has chosen to hear the prayers of His children and allow potentially better days ahead. By better days, I’m referring to a break from the constant push toward Communism. As I’ve stated before, Trump is not going to have an easy time. Democrats will do everything they can to keep him from actually going to the White House/Oval Office.
Zechariah 6 – Four Chariots
n interesting note here is that while verse 7 tells us that after the chariots went north, God’s spirit was quieted. What was/is north of Israel? Babylon, Assyria, Syria and ultimately Moscow, Russia. We know the Medes-Persians conquered and absorbed the Babylonian Empire so while the fact that God’s Spirit was quieted is important. Yet, at the same time, we know that even though Ancient Babylon was destroyed, the system that undergirded Babylon has remained to this day and it will once again rise in importance during the coming Tribulation period. This is clear in Revelation 18:2-3.
Worthless Things?
I’ve come to the conclusion that by thinking about or discussing the evil nature of many of those events and gatherings, we actually end up giving glory to Satan, who created those things. While God created sexual union between a man and a woman, Satan has sought to distort that union as much as possible. Because of that, everything is on display today. Because it’s so openly seen and discussed, people become a bit enamored with it (because of its prurient nature), even when speaking against those things. They simply don’t need to be listed, discussed or thought about.
Zechariah’s Fifth Vision
Though Zechariah saw the visions he did not understand their full meaning. Zechariah asks, “What are these, my lord?” (v. 4; also 12-13). The two Olive trees represent Joshua and Zerubbabel, who are the prototype of the two witnesses of Rev. 11:3-12 and it is also important to understand that only as human beings, Joshua or Zerubbabel represent Jesus – the true Priest-King – that a person is able to fulfill this vision at all. Ultimately, in their fullest sense, the “two olive trees” represents Christ, the Lord’s Priest-King (cf. Ps. 110:4).
Continue Reading October 21, 2024 at 11:03 AM Leave a comment
It’s Not About Us
We need to learn to focus on the fact that there is still beauty in this world along with at least some measure of righteousness (from those who know Him and God exercising His restraint). This is solely due to God. This does not mean we will never be on the receiving end of direct evil. It simply means that because of God’s restraining hand, the evil that is allowed to touch us is for our growth and His glory and it will never be fully unadulterated evil that will only exist in hell.
Zechariah’s Fourth Vision
The filthiness of Joshua’s rags reference Israel’s stain of her national sin. Joshua stands in for Israel the way Jesus stands in for us now. Interestingly enough, God removed Joshua’s guilt and Satan is silenced. He has no rebuttal because he clearly understands that God fully pardons Joshua the way He will fully pardon Israel’s sin in the future as God pardons the sins of the unbeliever who comes to God in faith in the finished work of Jesus on Calvary’s cross. Satan cannot dispute this.
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