⁹ What do workers gain from their toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³ That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-14

Ecclesiastes means “preacher.” The author seems clearly to be King Solomon so the dating of this book is nearly one thousand years before the birth of Jesus. Solomon was granted the gift of wisdom by God but unfortunately he squandered a great percentage of such in the pursuit of earthly wisdom ad experiences rather than fellowship with God. The far reaching theme and message of this book is that life can become a search characterized as vanity (folly) if your focus is on the temporal and not the eternal.

The Biblical story reveals that it is God who gives work to mankind. Such is to be a fulfillment of life. The entrance of sin into the world transformed work into toil and produced a hardness to life that was not the original intention.

There are two striking characteristics in life that are revealed in the 3^rd chapter of this book. The first is that He “put eternity in the heart of man.” Within the heart, a combination of the soul and spirit, is the awareness that the soul of man is eternal. Who we are as individuals will never die. We therefore are spiritual beings confined at this moment in a physical body.

The second point speaks to a major issue of our day. Did we merely evolve from a lower form of life rather than being created by God as the ultimate of His creature genius as portrayed by the Bible? Prior to the age of Charles Darwin man looked at nature and saw God. Now we are told to look and only see chance. God says through Solomon that man can never figure this out. Its unfolding is by Biblical revelation only. God must tell us.

¹ LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

   You have set your glory
in the heavens.
² Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
³ When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them^]

 ⁵ You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
⁶ You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their  feet:
⁷ all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
⁸ the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

 ⁹ LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8:1-9

The 8^th Psalm is a hymn of praise declaring God as the Creator of all including mankind. He has made man to be a little less than that of the heavenly beings. God has gifted him with both glory and honor and has created him in the very image of God. This image allows him to think and reason, give love and receive it and to glorify God. It is God’s desire to fellowship with man but only on His terms. This fellowship allows us to be in harmony with God despite the great disparity in our natures. Simply, God is Creator and we are the created. All of this is for the glory of God.

3^rd Scripture/ Blue Ribbon

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.   ²⁸ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Matthew 16:24-28

The revelation within the Old Testament prepares us for the coming of Jesus of Nazareth that we accept as God’s Messiah. It is our understanding that the Anointed One of God comes to deal with the aspect of sin that has marred God’s creation and mankind as well. The barrier between men and between man and God has been destroyed by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The benefit of the work of Jesus is claimed by accepting Him as the Savior of mankind. Faith in Jesus makes it possible for sinful man’s eternal soul to go into the presence of God in eternity. The options are only two. Following earthly life, we are either granted an eternal residence in the presence of God or denied such. The choice of which it will be must be made in this lifetime.

Jesus instructs all of us who desire to come unto Him to deny ourselves and to pick up our cross and follow Him. The understanding is quite clear. The cross picked up by Jesus led to His sacrifice of His life so that others could live eternally in the presence of God. Our cross is not likely to require our physical death but does require that we gift our lives to God and to neighbor. In keeping it we lose it, in giving it away we gain it, all for God’s glory. That is why we are here.

The Servant of the LORD

 ¹ “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
² He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
³ A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
⁴ he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

 ⁵ This is what God the LORD says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
⁶ “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
⁷ to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

 ⁸ “I am the LORD; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
⁹ See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.”

Isaiah 42:1-9

 

This is the first of several passages within the Book of Isaiah that are designated as the Suffering servant passages. The Jews of Isaiah’s day did not know whether they referred to Israel as a nation or to a specific individual past or present. Whether of a king past or present they were uncertain. What was certain was that his lot was to be one of suffering and he would be called to do the will of God.

The Book of Isaiah is one of 66 chapters and was written during the ministry of Isaiah between 739 and 686 B.C. Isaiah was a prophet of God for several kings of Judah and for all people of all times. His book is one of both prose and poetry and deals first with the judgment of sin but also with restoration and compassion directed by the guidance of God. Both Judah and Israel that contained the children of Israel were guilty of the sin of idol worship. Despite Isaiah’s call for repentance and abandonment of the forbidden sin of idol worship, the people did not respond and punishment in exile followed. In an act of mercy and compassion God restored the Hebrews to their land and the worship of idols was no longer an issue.

The Servant of the LORD

 ¹ Listen to me, you islands;
hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the LORD called me;
from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
² He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
³ He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
⁴ But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand,
and my reward is with my God.”

 ⁵ And now the LORD says—
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself,
for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD
and my God has been my strength—
⁶ he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

 ⁷ This is what the LORD says—
the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel—
to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,
to the servant of rulers:
“Kings will see you and stand up,
princes will see and bow down,
because of the LORD, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

Isaiah 49:1-7

The second of the Suffering Servant passages deals with the call to service of this Servant who is known by God but neither known or accepted by man. The nature of His role is revealed as His ministry is not merely to Abraham’s physical descendants but to those who will embrace Him in a spiritual sense as well. Faith in His person and His ability to fulfill the task given Him by God will result in the restoration of those who honor Him. Whether respected or ignored all will bow to Him either in worship or in subjugation. Although Jesus deity is not clearly revealed at this time, subsequent events will verify that He is the Son of God. By His obedience and perfection of His soul, He will conquer death and will arise from the grave. Through His ministry sin will be overcome and death will be defeated.

¹³ When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

 ¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. ¹⁵ He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

 ¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

   ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 ²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

 ²² All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

Luke 4:13-22

 

If I announced that we are in full swing in another political campaign, you would perhaps yawn since such seems to be perpetual now. Our mailboxes and e-mail alerts bring us daily requests for money. Many of us have become skeptics and are leery of the process.

Luke is the sole gospel writer who records the announcement of Jesus of Nazareth of His call in His hometown of Nazareth. As a traveling Rabbi, He is requested to read and to teach in His hometown synagogue. He is handed the Isaiah scroll and He unrolls it until He comes to what we know as the 61^st chapter and reads verses 1 and 2.

 ¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,   

 Isaiah 61:1-2 ­_

Luke says that Jesus then sat down to teach and told the audience that this prediction was fulfilled in their hearing. Their response was “Ho Hum. Is this not Joseph’s son?” They refuse His message and soon attempt to kill Him (All in the name of religion, I might add.), but He escapes.

The prediction of Isaiah uttered at God’s direction 700 plus years before is fulfilled. Jesus as the Suffering Servant is spurned and rejected. His words have provoked sufficient anger for His neighbors to desire to kill Him. He escapes because in God’s plan His mission has not been completed.

Your denial must work overtime to prevent one from applying the Suffering Servant passages to Jesus of Nazareth. Difficult as they were to fulfill, the sacrifice of Jesus of Nazareth on a cross 2000 years ago overcomes the barrier between the perfect God and sinful man. The issue, disobedience to the wishes of God, requires a Savior for we are powerless to erase our sin.  Spiritually prepared, the rationale of this message is clear. Man must have a Savior and Jesus of Nazareth is He.

If this understanding has been so clear to so many over the centuries, why is it not embraced by all since all men die? Why is the atheist of our day and history in general so stridently opposed to Jesus as a Savior? Is it because His life, death and resurrection are incompletely documented? The facts of Jesus of Nazareth are as completely documented as any figure in history. Is the necessity for a Savior illogical? No, that is not reasonable. The perfection of God requires and demands perfection in those who seek fellowship with Him. Our egos are large but not so large as to assume that we can demand that God accept us.

What then is at issue between God and man? Openly or in the recesses of our being, man simply hates that He is created. This hate is so malignant that He hates God although it is He who is the author of life. Many ignore or rail against God or attempt to create a Maker in their own image.

What is the sobering fact of all of this? The Bible declares that ‘only the fool says there is no God.’ God loves us enough to die for us. We are finite and limited without a vision greater than ourselves.

What Have You Done?

¹ King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. ² While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father^[a] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. ³ So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

 ⁵ Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. ⁶ His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.

 ⁷ The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers^[b] and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

 Daniel 5:1-7

The scene is one of merriment at a party given by a pagan king, Belshazzar, 2^nd in command of the Babylonian Empire.

In a move perhaps born of pride, he calls for the golden goblets that had been taken years before from the Jewish Temple at Jerusalem. These goblets had been sanctified and therefore set aside for the worship of the God of the Hebrews. In view of this sacrilege, the figure of a human hand appeared and wrote on the wall “Mene, mene, tekel, parsin.”  None of the wise men of Babylon could interpret it, so Daniel, a captured Hebrew, rendered the interpretation. Simply it meant, “You have been weighed in the scales and have been found wanting.” God moves quickly by the power of the Persian army to conquer Babylon as an immediate judgment.

Despite the lack of Biblical knowledge in our day, “the hand-writing is on the wall” is spoken of frequently. It is a statement inferring judgment for past shortcomings or actions.

Another saying known by most everyone is “The Buck Stops Here” This motto or declaration sat on the desk of President Harry Truman in 1945 at the end of WWII.  Germany had been defeated but Japan showed no desire to surrender. President Truman gave the order to drop 2 Atomic Bombs on separate cities in Japan. The Japanese surrender quickly followed. Protestors over the years have uttered “What have you done?”  The carnage of atomic warfare stopped the war and prevented even a greater loss of life.

⁷ Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.

   Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. ⁸ He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. ⁹ So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. ¹⁰ Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.

 ¹¹ “What have you done?” asked Samuel.

   Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, ¹² I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

1 Samuel 13:7b-12

Once the Children of Israel occupied the Promised Land they were unlike their neighbors since they had no king. They clamored for one and the Prophet Samuel anointed Saul as their King. He was both tall and shy and initially very humble. The shyness quickly evaporated and was replaced with pride and self-importance. The scripture from 1st Samuel finds Saul waiting impatiently on the arrival of the Prophet Samuel to ask God’s blessing on his military undertaking. Samuel’s delay prompts Saul to assume an office for which he is not qualified. He performs the duties of a prophet or a priest in the religious ritual of sacrifice. Samuel’s question is “What have you done?” As a result of his disobedience, the kingship is taken from him and given to David the son of Jesse who God identifies as a “man after his own heart.” Such a man or woman would seek the activity that God both requires and demands.

⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

Living by faith in the Christian life requires that you embrace two main characteristics of faith. One is salvific in nature and depends upon one’s complete reliance upon Jesus as the Savior from the consequences of sin. If you have confessed your sin, followed the difficult teachings of Jesus and such has caused you to love both God and neighbor, your sins were dealt with 2000 years ago on the bleeding, abused and dying body and soul of Jesus of Nazareth. His sacrifice is sufficient to free us from penalty of our sins. Sanctifying faith is learned in the experience of trusting God to lead us in this realm to prepare us for the next. As the result, we escape a personal judgment for sin and pursue fellowship with God to His glory.

The judgment seat of Christ of 2^nd Corinthians 5 is not for sin. Why? By seeking Jesus as Savior, following Him in obedience, and being transformed to love both God and neighbor, He has confirmed that we have accepted Him as such and know that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

The question asked of the true followers of Christ is “What have you done?” with the spiritual gifts that Christ gave you when your soul was reborn in His image? Did you hide your gift or gifts in the ground or did you apply them for the glory of God? Your heavenly eternal reward is dependent upon “What have you done?” Failure in this opportunity does not condemn one to a separation from God for eternity. However it does lessen the reward for the follower of Jesus in the Kingdom of God.

¹ Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” ² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

 Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. ⁴ 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, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

 ⁶ Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ 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.”

 ⁸ 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 4:1-8

The first time that you read this story, there is a tendency to come away from it somewhat confused. Both men appear to be worshiping but the offering of one is accepted and that of the other is disregarded. At this point in time, we the reader who has just begun this book, find ourselves wondering “Why does God reject the offering of Cain?” But, if we keep an open mind and come to know God in fellowship thru this book and experiences, we can rule out certain issues. Ultimately we learn that God despises other sacrifices that are presented from the animal kingdom rather than the fruit of the ground. The sacrifice of life and blood seem not to be the issue. Perhaps the worth of the sacrifice in physical terms is the issue. Jesus destroys this reasoning when He notes the worth of the widow’s offering in the Temple centuries later. It isn’t the amount.

Cain has so much anger over the issue that he kills his brother. Perhaps he is jealous of his brother’s success in comparison to his own failure but the flight to rage has a deeper motive. I think we see the true source of this motive in the Atheist of our day. The Atheist doesn’t merely disregard or generally shun God, but in truth hates Him. Since Cain cannot hurt God directly, he does so by killing his brother. The issue therefore would seem to be the heart of Cain. His offering seems not to flow from a loving heart but is from a state of feeling compelled to do so. True worship arises from the heart.

¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

 ³ For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

 ⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

 ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

 ¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.

Psalm 51:1-13

To be contrite is to be truly sorry for your behavior whether manifested by actions or thoughts. Most sins begin with the descent into the whirlpool of envy. We have a tendency to remember the story of King David because secretly we announce that “I’m not that bad.” In our world anger is not as bad as murder and lust doesn’t rise to the level of sinfulness achieved by adultery. However, in the Kingdom of God all are breeches of God’s law.

Psalm 51 finds King David on his spiritual knees, begging for mercy and a restoration of fellowship with God. David pleads from his heart, not from fear, but as the result of true sorrow. Having known fellowship with God in the past, he is now reduced to spiritual sobbing, requesting reinstatement. Since his request is heartfelt, the origin of true worship, he is reinstated and forgiven but the consequences remain.

⁶ Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

   ¹⁷ “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

 ¹⁸ “Which ones?” he inquired.

   Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, ¹⁹ honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

 ²⁰ “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

 ²¹ Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

 ²² When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Matthew 19:16-22

We now move from Cain to David to Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man. His question of Jesus is “What must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus asks him as to why he questions concerning that which is good. Jesus implies that only God is good. Does the man recognize that God is good and equates Jesus with being God? If he knows this, the source for this knowledge is God Himself. It is obvious that he does not, so Jesus questions him concerning his obedience to God’s law. His understanding of the Law and its keeping are superficial and he declares his perfection in so doing. It is at this point that Jesus goes to the very heart of worship and tells him to sell his wealth and gift it to the poor and follow Him. He departs in sadness. His devotedness to God and His law are not as sound as he had previously stated. He departed on his own path.

Before us are three men. They are from three separate historical settings. All three are sinners. They are guilty of worshiping their own self image. What is essential is that nothing else is to claim first place in our lives.

Some are like Cain and are seduced by their own self-image. Others are like King David and are seduced by uncontrolled natural impulses. Many are snared by the world and its possessions.

The question then for us all is “What do I need? “ They and each of us need a Savior. How do we claim such? We recognize and acknowledge that Jesus of Nazareth is our Savior who died for our sins and was resurrected from the grave. We declare this as a public confession. Then we follow His teachings, seeking to immolate His morality. Lastly, we pursue service to others, demonstrating our love for God.

What is the proof of individual salvation? Confession, obedience, and glorification of God by love for His created.

¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

 ³ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

 ⁶ And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” ⁷ So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. ⁸ God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

Genesis 1:1-8

So begins the compilation, the book, that we call the Bible. In actuality it is more than a simple book but is a combining of 66 separate books, composed by more than 40 different authors over a period of 1600 years. Whether you call me ‘Charles’, ‘Wender’, ‘Preacher’ or ‘Doctor’ you may be saying to yourself, “You have told us this before.” If you have this thought, you are absolutely correct. I want you to hear it enough so that you can recall this for it serves as a steady foundation from which to launch your faith in God.

Why is a foundation for your faith in God so important? It certainly is not an important topic for government, entertainment and education which may oppose such either actively or in a passive fashion. Very simply, peace in this life is dependent upon your relationship with God. What is imperative to discover is that we in truth are spiritual beings housed in a physical body and not vice versa. This concept turns the wisdom of the world upside down.

What is the first of concepts that we should be told about the Book of Genesis? Like all of the books of the Bible, they are spiritually inspired by God. Moses as the author for the first 5 books was not there when God “created the heavens and the earth” but he was inspired by God to provide the recording .Moses is responsible for the style but the message is God’s. Another way to look at this is that this is the recorded autobiography of God. Firmly grasp that Moses is not alone when he declares God to be Creator for the same theme extends throughout the length of this book. Many confirm God to be Creator based on spiritual inspiration. We, therefore, are challenged to march with Moses, King David, Jesus of Nazareth, Peter, Paul and others rather than Charles Darwin. Lines are clearly drawn in the sand. Both camps cannot be correct.

¹² “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

   ¹⁴ “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. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

   ¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

 ¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

 ¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. ¹⁹ And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

 ²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

   Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 ²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

 Revelation 22:12-21

The Bible closes with the Revelation of Jesus the Christ by the work of John. Note that Jesus says He “is coming soon.” 2000 years have passed since then and many say He is not returning. Those who make this statement are apt to be in the camp of Darwin assuring us that time is going nowhere. A little musing is appropriate at this point. Genesis is written with the author standing on earth and looking upward to God. The Revelation of Jesus is written from the view point of Christ looking from Heaven down to earth. “Soon” has a different understanding when viewed from Heaven. There are no clocks in eternity.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

 ¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

 ¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

   “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

 ¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

   Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

 ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

   She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

 ¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

 ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

John 20:11-18

 

Of all the events between the beginning and ending of the Bible, none rivals that of the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. It is from the lips of a woman, one who was previously mentally ill, that we hear the first post resurrection sermon. Its brevity is unexpected, “I have seen the Lord.” The tone for the whole of salvation is established. At the time of this writing, women were not allowed to enter testimony in a court of law. You would likewise assume that Mary of Magdala was not likely to be considered as a creditable witness based on her mental status before her liberation by Jesus. Why not choose the assembled Sanhedrin before whom Jesus was tried to first see Jesus? Wouldn’t their testimony have more weight that that of a previously unstable women? The answer is “no” and reveals a critical understanding concerning the Creating God.

The men of the Sanhedrin were confident in who they were. Without truly understanding who God is, they felt entitled to be acceptable to God.  They were rule keepers and public followers of ritual but their fellowship involved the mind only. They surely would have reasoned that Jesus was the Son of God. However, the impact on their souls would have been small. The issue of disobedience, sin against God, would not be resolved and the estrangement of man from God would have persisted.

Key is that we must understand that God is Creator of all, we have offended Him with our disobedience and we are powerless to do anything about it. As in the eyes of a powerful hymn of the church, we must “Turn your eyes upon Jesus”, confess our sins and seek mercy. So approached, God gifts the faith to believe that Jesus is Lord and salvation of the soul results. God requires the ‘all’ of us and not merely our intellects.

 ¹ Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

 ⁴ Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

 ⁶ For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalm 1:1-6

All of us would like to be blessed in the year of 2012 and thereafter as well. God explains to the psalmist the proper steps to take. The key seems to be in believing and in following the laws of God. Such gives life stability which is not appreciated nor enjoyed by those who disregard the law as well as the Law Giver.

Why is the given law so very important in the eyes of God? It is quite true that it dictates the relationship of man to God and also details the relationship of man to man. In the clearest analysis these laws are a reflection of the very character of God and they define who He is in general terms. He is solitary, pure, just and ethical and therefore is dependable. As the result of who He is we should seek fellowship with Him and attempt to pursue His Holy leadership. In lock step with His wishes there is a discoverable peace and contentment.

¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

    He said:

   ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

Matthew 5:1-8

 

Blessed, as translated from the Hebrew, means “happy.” This sermon was directed to the disciples of Jesus who were clustered around Him despite the fact that the crowd exceeded a total of 5000 people. The thrust of this sermon was that happiness was best sought through certain attitudes. The goals seek spiritual peace as members of the Kingdom of God. Happiness is reachable by the mourning and desire to correct our sinfulness. Meekness refers to a willingness to be God led. Thirsting for righteousness considers both fellowship and ethics which promotes satisfaction. The mercy of God is to be expected when you have an attitude of mercy. The purity of heart speaks to a focus on God seeking His glorification. The secret to contentment is to be found in fellowship with God which renders a contentment of soul.

 ¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

   “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

   Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

 ¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

   He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

   Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

 ¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

   Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

   Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

John 21:15-19

Despite what you personally choose in life, you may find yourself standing before a group of people as their leader or teacher. Teaching is an awesome responsibility. Once learned, incorrect information is difficult to erase from our memory. Public speaking comes easily for some but not so for others. I spent a year in medical training in the company of an original thinker. Most physicians have a knack for remembering information. Few bring forth original thoughts however. I was benefitted by being in the company of Dr. Mike Criley in Baltimore. It was he who told me that it was of value to tell information that you wished to be remembered three times. He said “tell them” then “tell them again” and then “tell them what you told them.” Simple information but quite helpful.

In Jesus’ discourse with Peter it would perhaps seem to us that He was repeating the same question for Peter which provoked the same response. However, that is not the intention of Jesus for He was not desirous merely of repetition of His question for affect and remembrance. Our inability to understand Jesus’ probing hinges on the fact that Peter and Jesus used different words for love in this discourse. Remember that the Greek language in which the New Testament was first recorded had numerous synonyms for the same word. Jesus’ request was for Peter to love Him with the grandest form of Love. Peter’s response revealed a word for love that was less than total commitment. Jesus’ repetition of His question made it clear that He required and expected total commitment from His followers. That which is requested of Peter is likewise requested from us. So, let us go and do likewise. We, the sheep of Jesus, are to feed other sheep. In so doing, this reveals the ultimate in love and commitment for Jesus.

What does a New Year bring for all of us? Is it hope, opportunity, accomplishment, or hurdles? I suspect it will include a combination of all of these. We recognize the sovereignty of God since He is in control but what is our part in this undertaking? Satisfaction and peace will come if we pursue God’s will. How do we best discern God’s will for our individual lives? Are we apt to have a divine vision or be struck to our knees as was Saul on the road to Damascus? Perhaps, but not likely. What is clear is that God wishes to direct and lead us by His Word. Let us all resolve to read our Bibles daily, mediate on God’s word and apply it, and pray in reverence frequently. Despite what 2012 bring, these actions will bring us into deeper fellowship with God.

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,  you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,  the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning,    will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,  to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne  and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it   with justice and righteousness    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:1-7

Isaiah brings forth a profound prophecy over 700 plus years before its enactment. Although written in poetic style, the words used are exacting. No one would consider them to be symbolic for the declaration is that a child will be born who is designated “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God.” In view of the reticence of the Jews to utter the sacred name of God, this declaration takes on even greater weight. Obviously, Isaiah had no understanding of how this would come about. 2000 years after the event, we still don’t clearly understand the how, but we truly accept the “Why.” Being created rather than Creator places us in a position of accepting things as true despite not clearly understanding the “how”. Now with 2000 years of investigating the concept of the special child, we marvel at the mind who planned and carried out this unlikely birth. This infant is destined for greatness in a pattern that no one ever guessed or completely understood.

The same author in his extensive writings takes us to the strange circumstance of the death of this child grown to manhood.

See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—
so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Isaiah 52:13-15

No longer a child, He now is referred to as “my servant.” At first glance it would appear that during life “He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.” One would suppose that this is because he is “Mighty God.” Often the prophet says more than he understands and this is certainly the case in this instance. His lifting up is on a tree for the sole purpose of crucifixion as the cause of His death. Paradoxically, it is His death that demands His being exalted because He is resurrected from the grave. This is the proof that He is Mighty God.

The Birth of Jesus

 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Luke 2:1-7

 

A census was taken every 14 years for the purpose of levying taxes. Humanize this scripture by visualizing a 12-14 year old pregnant girl riding on a donkey the many miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The Prophet Micah declared over 700 years earlier that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. This town was small and insignificant at that time and not where one would anticipate the birth of a King.  His ancestry was through the Tribe of Judah and in the line of King David. The validity of this child being the Messiah grew with each prophecy that He fulfilled.

Luke pursues the idea of paradox by involving the shepherds in the story. They are the lowest of the low on the tree of social importance. Mary and Joseph are likewise poor. The seeming inconvenience of “no room in the inn” is perhaps God’s providence since inns were notorious places at that time. So far, nothing seems very royal. He was not born in a place or to parents of means. Except for three Magicians from the East who ultimately arrive to see this child, no one seems to pay much attention. For the first 30 years of His life this seems to be the case excepting a visit to the Temple at Jerusalem at the age of 12. His brilliance, shown as he questioned and spoke, testified to His intent to be about His Father’s business.

A careful look at His life in all 4 gospels showed that He pleased only those that he healed of emotional or physical illnesses. Any respect that He received was sporadic and rarely fitting with what He had accomplished. Later His acceptance by the people occurred in association with the feeding of more than 5000 people. This acceptance quickly evolved to rejection when a crowd echoed the request to “crucify Him.”

To completely understand the birth of the Messiah, we must rush ahead to His crucifixion to see why He must come at all. His coming is very personal for only He could become the perfect sacrifice to cover the sin of man. He Himself became perfected as our Savior thru hardship and persecution.

Perhaps this is the real theme that underlies this story. Jesus becomes the Perfect and perfected Messiah through suffering. Perhaps this is part of the answer to the question of why good people suffer.

This is a time for celebration. Death and sin are overthrown by a son born to a poor unwed peasant girl 2000 years ago. Only God could accomplish this. The compassion of this story arises from the heart of God who is Love.

Judgment and Covenant Renewal

“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty.

 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.

 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

Malachi 4:1-6

The Old Testament comes to a close hundreds of years after its initiation. It begins with a perfect creation by God only to end with a warning of judgment. Also included is the promise that the prophet Elijah would precede this day. His purpose would be to turn the hearts of the people.

What began in perfection became tainted and diverted by disobedience. God’s efforts to overcome sin by the leadership and guidance of the prophets had resulted in the preservation of a remnant of His Chosen People. However, the majority had not responded to God’s desires.

What follows the close of the Old Testament is a 400 year period of prophetic silence when the Word of God was not given. Malachi provided a promise from God of a resumption of prophetic witness before that Day of Judgment, the awesome Day of the Lord.

The punishment of the children of Israel by the invading armies of Assyria and Babylon had cured the Jews of idolatry, however, their iniquity was unabated and their pursuit of sin and disobedience unrestrained. It is into such a setting that God would send His Messiah for purpose. This purpose was to deal with sin and to enable participation in God’s Kingdom.

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Luke 1:5-17

Luke begins his good news (Gospel) with the introduction of John the Baptizer. The angel Gabriel confronted Zachariah, the soon to be father of John. It was as Zechariah was performing his duties in the Holy Place of the Temple. Despite the barrenness of his wife Elizabeth, she was to conceive a son who was to be raised as a Nazerite. His role was to serve as a fulfillment of the prophecy of Malachi to precede the coming of the Messiah. He was to prepare the way, calling people to repentance and revival and a seeking of devotion to God’s will. Soon after, Elizabeth conceived and John was born. He grew and embraced his role as God’s first prophet in 400 years.

Jesus and John the Baptist

 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

Matthew 11:1-6

 

John was imprisoned by Herod for confronting him with the charge of incest since he had married his brother’s wife. Ultimately, John was beheaded based on his opposition to Herod’s marriage to Herodias.

John’s concern for the nature of Jesus’ ministry caused him to wonder if he and others were mistaken in their assumption that Jesus, his cousin, was the long awaited and much anticipated Messiah. Common opinion envisioned a militaristic and political leader who would drive out the Romans and re-establish Jewish freedom. In contrast, Jesus is a traveling prophet who excels in preaching and healing but has shunned the political area. Even His own family has considered Him to be mentally unbalanced. It would appear that Jesus pleased no one other than the ones He healed of mental and physical illnesses.

Another Advent Season is here. It is accompanied with excitement and anticipation. Whether you think Jesus is the Son of God and the awaited Messiah or not, many will celebrate. The economist will draw attention to commerce based on the buying and selling of the next few weeks. Anticipating a giving spirit, most charities will send you at least one but perhaps more requests for donation. We will receive newsletters, cards, notes, calls and perhaps treats from friends. We will decorate our homes and churches and attend concerts, programs and plays. We will all tire but it will be a “good tired.”

The Book of Proverbs tells us that there is a time for all things. This is certainly a time for celebration based on whose birthday we will be acknowledging. The Prophet Isaiah declared 2700 years ago that a child would be born that would be declared to be “Mighty God”, “Immanuel, God with us.” As predicted, we despised Him, abused Him, doubted Him and crucified Him. However, His resurrection from the grave proved that He is the Son of God. He was sent to save the world and is clearly up to the task.

We stand in time, 2000 years beyond the time of Jesus of Nazareth. It is our belief that Jesus is the Son of God, sent to rescue us from sin, the Satan, and ourselves. We anticipate this return as promised so that we may be with Him in eternity. Skeptics voice that He will not return and His crucifixion and death were not followed by a resurrection from the grave. Despite documented evidence to the contrary the majority hold this latter view to be true.

If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and will return to claim His true Church, you do so because you have come to grips with the issue of sin. In the shamefulness that is sin, you have understood the importance of confessing such before God. True sorrow and a desperate cry for relief causes God to mercifully gift the faith to embrace Jesus as Savior and Lord. This gift is the key to eternity in the presence of God.

For this is what the LORD says— he who created the heavens,    he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth,    he founded it; he did not create it to be empty,  but formed it to be inhabited— he says:
“I am the LORD,    and there is no other.
I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants,  ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth;    I declare what is right.  

 “Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.
Declare what is to be, present it—   let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD?    And there is no God apart from me, righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.

“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth;   for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow;  by me every tongue will swear.

Isaiah 45:18-23

The MacArthur Study Bible relates that there are 1,189 chapters in the Bible. The first 2 in Genesis and the last 2 in Revelation are the only ones of this number that don’t deal with sin. Sin in its basic definition is a violation or disobedience against the wishes of God. For those who don’t accept the existence of/or concept of God, sin is a non-entity. However, most would accept the existence of crime. Crime by definition is the breaking of a law that has been hopefully established by human wisdom. Laws of a civil nature are generally made for the supposed welfare of the people. While the consumption of alcohol is not a crime, drinking such to a level of intoxication to impair your safety driving a car turns the driving of a vehicle into a crime. The logic of such a statement seems fairly easy to follow.

Isaiah declares that God exists and is the Creator of heaven and earth and all that is is a part of this creation. Immediately this places those who believe in God at odds with the proponents of Darwinism and natural selection. Without a debating of the issue, I feel comfortable in stating that the Bible’s account of creation and that of Darwin can’t both be correct. No amount of hedging of these conclusions can make them compatible. Isaiah declares in 45:19b that this is the declaration of God and it is truth. (I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

John 14:1-7

Before the arrest, trials, and crucifixion of Jesus, Jesus declares that He is not only the Way to God and the Life, but the Truth as well. Truth by definition implies that it is supported by facts that can be analyzed and established as genuine. In the context of which He speaks, He testifies that He is the Messiah of God, God’s Anointed for purpose. This purpose is to provide a way that allows sinful disobedient men, women and children to go into the very presence of God. This declaration when spoken by Jesus was much greater than had ever been anticipated by the Jews looking and longing for the Messiah. Jesus speaking in truth declares that not only will they be with God for eternity but He Himself would return to guide them into the presence of God the Father.

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.  By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,  and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

This is “the” resurrection chapter of the Bible. The appearance of the Risen Christ is witnessed by more than 500 witnesses. This letter was written soon enough after the event so many of the individuals were still alive and could be interviewed. Such meets the requirements of a historically reliable witness.

What points can we bring forth to verify that the Bible is truthful, dependable and trustworthy?

The Biblical theme itself is one that speaks with veracity in view of the underlying nature of its recording. How so? The Bible was written over 1600 years ago by over 40 authors and is a compilation of 66 books. The understanding of their ability to hold together the same focus on the sinfulness of mankind hints of a common inspiration. This inspiration is the very Spirit of God.

The authors of the Old Covenant (Testaments) listed in upwards of 300 predictions concerning the coming, life, death and resurrection of a Messiah. Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled them all. To do so by chance alone would be incomprehensible.

The statements do not conflict. If they appear to do so, we are most apt to have taken them out of context. A search for a common denominator will likely resolve the issue.

Although many parts are given to hyperbole, the style of the writings is never mythological in nature. It is presented in a historical context and with historical references.

The Bible’s truthfulness is underlined by the truthful portrayal of characters who are both good and bad, by disclosing actions that are brave and sterling or selfish and without luster.

Why is Biblical trust so very important? God’s revelation is essential because of the differences in who we are and who God is. He is Creator, Savior and Guide. We are created, sinners, and dependant. God must tell us who He is; otherwise we create a god in our own image.

Trust in Jesus as outlined in the Bible is imperative. No one else provides an eternal guarantee.

Jacob Wrestles With God

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

   But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

The man asked him, “What is your name?”    “Jacob,” he answered.

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”

But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.

Genesis 32:22-29

Jacob in Hebrew means “grabber.” He was the second of twins who emerged into the bright light of this world holding onto his brother’s heel. This action spoke of his personality. He intended to grab all that he could. He very skillfully “grabbed” his twin’s birthright and as a result he had to flee to a remote area to avoid being killed by Esau. Years later, he was returning home with his four wives and his children when he encountered a man in pitch darkness with whom he wrestled. The match ended in a draw but Jacob (Grabber) receives a name change, “He struggles with God.” Israel pleads for a blessing as well as the name of his opponent. The name is withheld, he is blessed, but he also has a lifelong reminder of this encounter. His hip is dislocated and he limps for the rest of his life. He is forever changed as are all who truly encounter God.

The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

   “This is my name forever,
the name you shall call me
from generation to generation.

Exodus 3:7-15

Hundreds of years later, Moses the reluctant prophet is tending sheep in the desert. He is an Israelite by birth but a fugitive as the result of killing an Egyptian. He has just encountered a glorious image of a burning bush that is standing on hallowed ground. A voice speaks to him from this bush and commands him to serve as the leader of the exodus of his enslaved brothers and sisters in Egypt. He feels woefully unprepared for such a role and pleads that God “send someone else.” His pleas are unheeded and in desperation he requests the name of the one sending him. The reply he receives is “I Am, Who I Am.” God later asserts that such is His name forever.

The phrase “I Am Who I am” is confusing for us in our day but in Moses’ day it conveyed the idea of eternity and forever. The inference is that He is the God of creation and the One who has designated the Israelites as His chosen possession and people. He is to be the personal power behind the release of the Hebrews from captivity. The Great I Am is the One who made a covenant with Abraham, the father of this people.

Saul’s Conversion

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Acts 9:1-6

Saul of Tarsus felt that Jesus of Nazareth was a false Messiah. He likewise concluded that all from the Israelites who chose to follow Him were guilty of apostasy. Sadly, he pursued this belief with great zeal and was responsible for the deaths of many of the early followers of The Way. Not content to purge Jerusalem of such followers, he was on his way to Damascus, Syria, to apprehend those there who also professed and championed this idea. But, God had other plans for Saul. Struck by lightning, he was knocked to the ground and blinded. Jesus, the Risen Christ, then questioned him as to why he was persecuting Him. To which Saul replied, “Who are you, Lord?” Saul became Paul and we are here today as the result of his transformation from persecutor to evangelical missionary.

Jacob who became Israel and Moses and Saul who became Paul all raised the question as to the identity and the name of God. Being face to face with the pre-incarnate or resurrected Jesus, the question is the same. ‘Who are you?’ And ‘What is your authority?’

When small, our granddaughter Kaley was questioned as to who she would like to be. She was undecided and desired to be either a gladiator or a missionary. Now as a young adult she is a mother and wife desirous of being a nurse. She is actually fairly close to fulfilling her original ambitions. Being both a mother a nurse places you the arena of human struggling as well as delivering a message.

Who we wish to be and what we desire to be are important issues for us all. However, more importantly is the understanding of who Jesus is and what you plan to do with Him. Where should we turn to find out who the Great I Am truly is?

Many men and women over the centuries have placed their own spin on who God is. For many, He is in all of nature so that cows and rats become sacred. For some He is vague, undesirable and the enlightened become a portion of this after multiple attempts to “get it right.” Still for others, He is the rule maker of all rule makers and both life and afterlife are dependent upon the whims of a being that no one can truly understand. Karl Marx, an avowed atheist, proclaimed that He was a figment of man’s imagination and an opiate (narcotic) for the pains of life.

Jesus of Nazareth posed the question to His disciples as “Who do men say that I am?” Most thought Him a prophet. Simon Peter volunteered that He was the Messiah and the Son of the Living God.

Critically, all must decide who Jesus is. Our most reliable witness is that of Holy Scripture. Woven throughout this sacred writ is the revelation from God that each soul needs a Savior. This Savior is Jesus of Nazareth, both man and God, who died so that we may have joy in this life and eternity as well. Importantly, we can know only as much of God as the Bible reveals. It declares God to be of three persons but in unity as a solitary Godhead. He is Holy, Sacred, Awesome, and Terrifying but truly Love. To know God best, we must begin with the story of His Son Jesus who desires to be our Savior and Lord. The question for us all is not “Do we know of Him?” but “Do we personally know Him?”