Song Lyrics: "Hold on, hold on....my friend. I will find you....."
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When I feel myself falling in the dark and cannot see past the fog of despair, God whispers to my heart these simple words...."Hold on, hold on, my friend. I will find you." I close my eyes and feel myself being lifted up onto his chest where I rest my cares and worries as he reminds me he will never leave me or forsake me. Oh My Father, My Father! How wonderful you are to me, that your spirit stirs my mind and I recall what you have promised and how you have done it. I have gone from your enemy to your friend not by fear, or by your anger and wrath, but by your limitless love. I will always and forever love you with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind.
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God Said,
"Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD."(1)
God fulfilled his promise,
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (2)...who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. (3)
Jesus Said,
You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.(4) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.(5)
I believe this because Jesus prayed,
"Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world."(6)
And he also said,
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”(7)
Since the beginning, it has always been you, for Job saw you before we knew you and said,
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.(8)
Now that your work is finished, you said,
"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (9)
So Lord, help me remember...
...that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.(10)
and walk in your ways, because you said...
He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend. (11)
"I will bear the burden for the sake of others, for not to bear it brings greater orders of sorrow to them. Grow the seed of love in my Heart, as it is no longer my expiation, but my Joy to gladly carry it for my all my brothers and sisters; regardless if they know you or not. Give me the strength to realize this promise, whispered in the recesses of my heart, to the fullness of its potential."
Blogger's Note: This is by far my favorite piano concerto. I thought the title was fitting, 'The Emperor', to accompany the visual feast and glorious words of Revelation 21. Enjoy!
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"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Revelation 21:1-7 ESV)
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5 ESV)
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Blogger's Annotation: After listening to this for the 100th time today and watching Bernstein conduct, I thought about God as the Grand Conductor of the Universe, the musicians the Angels and Saints, nature the instruments and the Pianist his Son, who is center stage, whom everyone accompanies, but yet is in time with the Conductor. Everyone working together, playing their part, bring forth the hidden song in the heart of God....
This is a reminder of why the family, community and faith are under assault. These three fortresses, ordained by The Living God, are the hedge against the advancing evil. The Spirit of God convicted these men from doing evil to a Saint; His power made manifest in her weakness. When the Spirit of God is removed from the face of the Earth, WOE! WOE! WOE, to the World and to its inhabitants!
"Give...me...what...is mine", it shrieked and clamped tighter.
Why extend this pain and prolong death?
We both knew I had no more to give because what little I had was already taken from me.
With increasingly little air to breathe I wished it would just finish what it came to do.
IsawNOTHING...
...I HEARD nothing
All strength left my body, I could but raise my eyes to Heaven.
I only felt the weight of The Worlds' talon gripping my flesh, demanding what has already been exacted.
"Why can't I see You?"
"Lord, What have I done wrong?"
As The World strangles me, all The Flesh can see is a future void. But I know The Flesh has deceived me before; it is not reliable. It is a lair and an accomplice to The World.
Though I see nothing and hear nothing, and though I cannot lift myself up, in my heart and mind I am dancing on His promises; which are faithful and true. The World cannot understand why I smile and squeezes harder in a fit of rage.
I close my eyes and continue to dance amongst the stars. Dreaming. Hoping.
the spirit recalls that...
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”(1) So I will...
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!(2) because....
God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?(3)
for...
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The LORD is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
and all your saints shall bless you!
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.(4)
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"Powerful," is what one reader has related to me in regards to Chris' illustrations. If you enjoy it as well, please visit Chris' etsy site and browse his other prints. They are affordable and make great gifts! Or, you can collect them, like myself. I encourage every reader who was moved by what they saw here to consider supporting this independent artist financially so he can be free to continue bringing us the fruit of his spirit.
"RevelationApp: Chris Koelle - All in a Day's Work"
I was thinking about everything we talked about and have some final thoughts on the matter. The vitriol we feel toward the bankers and the lawyers (modern day sophists) who create the net that catches men is just, as they contrive laws in their favor at the expense of the mass. But, when I thought about it in terms of what was written in the gospels, relating it to our present time, what came out to me was Matthew, the tax collector. He was despised and hated because the tax collectors exacted more than what was necessary, creating a tremendous burden on families and individuals. Of course the technocratic has usurped the theocratic state, but the essence of our times have a similar spirit. People were upset because Jesus brought Matthew under his grace, for how can there be forgiveness when justice must be satisfied? Does forgivness trump justice?
What came to mind was my attitude and demeanor, and I realized that a demanding justice will always be inherently violent and the violence consumes itself like the ouroboros; in that it necessitates itself for its own consumption. The poison of the serpent is this: It is its own consumption. The ultimate consumption. Regardless, there is still the paradox: how can forgiveness and justice be present in the same space? Thoughts churned and I started to think that maybe my perception about the relationship between justice and forgivness is skewed. We do not struggle against a 'system' per se, but against social constructions designed by men who lack love in themselves. Their crimes are not against us, they are against themselves. They have killed love in themselves, and this is the tragedy because they were once children, filled with awe and wonder, but over time, in a thousand different ways they have slaughtered the love in their hearts and they do not possess peace. Their crime is twofold in that their system strangles the love in ourselves and robs of us peace as well. My anger and frustration melted into pity. I realized that justice, though not necessarily always seen, is being exacted and my compassion for the child-men who have pierced their hearts was also present. Justice and forgiveness co-exist, given the proper context.
This was obviously not on my mind earlier today and am grieved that I got swept away in a demanding justice and lost the proper perspective. I am sorry that I got as upset with you as I did. It is shameful and wrong. You are my mother, who brought me into this world through your love and sustain me to this day by it as well. I broke the law, which is love, and did not honor you today. But, it is a reminder that I must hold steadfast and not let the fleeting vapor, this passing world, strangle my love. I know it is forgiven, but I wanted to let you know the other things that go on in my mind, positive things. Speaking of thoughts coming to mind, just now, while writing this sentence James 1:2-4 popped up in my head:
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
I feel I can say that I am now counting this situation for joy. Love has won the day.
Also, while I was considering all these things, these songs came on my pandora:
I hadn't heard them before, but thought it was perfect timing!
By far one of the most inspired and under played albums of the year, and Josh has made it available free for the year! White Owl (1), Farther Along (3) and Revelator (16) are my favorites, but the whole album can be played through with maximum enjoyment.
I closed my eyes. I stilled my mind. I felt His Spirit on me: becoming the body electric. My eyes broke open and the poison of the world spilled out as I praised him for his grace and mercy; that despite my nature he grants me the pleasure of His glance, a hint of His smile and the warmth of His embrace. The body melts as my soul unfurls and catches the Spirit's breath, sailing me through the fabric of space. On a sea of tears I go, beyond the stars into a new dawn. Into the raising Son, the living heart of God.
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Let all those that seeke thee, reioyce and bee glad in thee: let such as loue thy saluation, say continually, The Lord be magnified. But I am poore and needy, yet the Lord thinketh vpon me: thou art my helpe and my deliuerer, make no tarrying, O my God.
If you enjoyed the illustration used, please visit Chris' etsy site and browse his other prints. They are affordable and make great gifts! Or, you can collect them, like myself. I encourage every reader who was moved by what they saw here to consider supporting this independent artist financially so he can be free to continue bringing us the fruit of his spirit.
"RevelationApp: Chris Koelle - All in a Day's Work"
*This Blog was inspired by this song. I posted the song twice in order to encourage the reader to listen before and after. The lyrics of the song are posted at the end of the blog in order that you read them and hear the song again in the spirit that inspired this entry.*
Like The Wind
Sometimes spontaneous insights come in the most subtle forms in my everyday life. It's never a pillar of fire or burning bush. I'm not sure I can handle that kind of thing. I would probably have a heart-attack or something, and besides, I think there are more interesting things about God other than his omnipotence; which is clearly displayed throughout all of nature. His Spirit speaks to me more and more about the things I don't know that much about: His character. Now, I listened to the song I posted at the beginning of this post many times before, but something switched in my brain and I thought about the song as if God were singing it to me. The Spirit put the Book of Hosea in my mind, as if the essence of the song and that book were one in the same. What struck me when reading through it was the subtle Gospel story that unfolded. I'm not going to review the whole book, I'll let you read it for yourself if you're interested, just a few things that stuck out to me. For instance, at the beginning of the book Hosea is asked to take a prostitute as a wife. She then gave birth to children, and each child is a condemnation against Israel:
The first son: And the LORD said to him, “Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.” (Hosea 1:4-5 ESV)
The first daughter: She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the LORD said to him, “Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all. But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen.” (Hosea 1:6-7 ESV)
The second son: When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. And the LORD said, “Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.”
After the children are born, God follows up with this:
"Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.” (Hosea 1:8-10 ESV) **Blogger's Note: None of the verses were taken out of order, or out of context. I broke them up to help separate out each point which will be expanded on later.
Schizophrenic God?
It's difficult to understand why God would tell Hosea, a prophet, to marry a prostitute who then gives birth to the condemnations of Israel. Before throwing out the Old Testament in all its barbarity, I want to suggest to you that there is more going on here than what one reads on the surface. If there is one thing that I cannot emphasize enough, to the tremendous failing of the modern Church, it is the lack of understanding and fleshing out the multi-dimensional essence of the inspired Word. It is impossible to understand the Bible if one is reading it from a one dimensional perspective; engaging it superficially and then reorienting the content to equally superficial knowledge and understanding. Let's be honest, many Christians have not really studied the Bible, and if they do, they prefer to remain in the waters of the New Testament and then flounder when trying to reconcile its apparently new message with the Old. As a result, the Old Testament is largely ignored. And if you don't believe in God, well, you've got a different problem because your perspective on the content will be with an eye to justify your unbelief. No matter what side of the fence one is on it's time to be honest here; The Old Testament, at face value, is pretty scary, brutal and doesn't always make sense. There are lingering questions that many have difficulty with, such as:
Who knows if it's even translated correctly?
What's the difference between the Bible and Mythology?
Why was God so angry all the time?
Since the Old Testament is read through those filters it's little wonder why the content is pretty difficult to grasp. I understand this issue deeply since I used to be on both sides of the fence: as an adversary to the God of the Bible and then as a Christian attempting to navigate the cultural performance while trying to understand the OT in a modern context. It has been my experience that if one does not entrust his soul entirely to the Gospel it will be impossible to understand the OT in its proper context. This spiritual state is not something that's exclusive for non-believers, in fact, many Christians struggle with this and as a result fall away from or pervert the faith. Scriptures must be illuminated by the Holy Spirit, acting within you, who gives understanding. We might not see truths in scripture even though it is right in front of our eyes, but if you persist in engaging scripture, participate in fellowship, worship from your heart and keep knocking on the door for God to open your eyes, you will see it. It is hidden in plain sight. The truth of this reality is found in the New Testament:
....after the the crucifixion there was much confusion and great sadness. Read the following passage with my argument in mind:
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
And he said to them,
“What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?”
And they stood still, looking sad.
Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him,
“Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
And he said to them,
"What Things?"
And they said to him,
“Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
And he said to them,
“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.Andtheir eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other,“Did not ourhearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:13-32 ESV)
Multi-Dimensional Layering: Scripture and Harmonic Resonance
I find it interesting that people who were part of the proto-church, who were learned in the scriptures, who had seen Jesus and possibly even walked with him had their eyes kept from recognizing him. They also had no idea that the scriptures and prophets were speaking of him despite the fact that Jesus reiterated that truth throughout his ministry. I also find it interesting that he is the one who opened their eyes to another layer of reality by illuminating the subtext of scripture and adding a powerful dimension that inflamed their hearts: himself. Scripture wasn't just words, but Words that expressed themselves in reality. Quite literally, the Word became Flesh:
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:9-14 ESV)
As an aside, if the inspired word plays itself out in reality, this statement blows my mind, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." This is an incredible open invitation to every human being, but only to those who desire it, but more on that another time. I think the important point in this is that God will not just sonic boom the sky, set the heavens on fire in order to impress you to win your attention, rather, illumination requires faith in action. This begins by submitting oneself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and receiving the free gift of salvation. Once a believer, there are several queues we must take from the encounter retold above as a means to drive more depth into our understanding of scripture and our relationship with God:
They were in Fellowship: They were walking together, discussing the things that had happened. I can only imagine what they were talking about. They no doubt had heard of the resurrection, as indicated in the story, and could possibly be discussing what that meant. Was the body stolen, or was it true that he had resurrected? They were discussing these things amongst themselves, and this is something that we need to be doing if we want to come to deeper layers of understanding and application. It is also a promise of Jesus: "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20 ESV).
They were open to a stranger: How often do we scorn someone for 'butting' into the conversation. No doubt their eyes would remain closed if they had responded with, 'Hey Buddy! This is an A/B conversation, so C your way out of it!' The fact that they engaged the stranger without scorning him for not being aware of the incredible events that just took place speaks to the kind of people we need to be: gracious and humble. We have possibly missed out on many wonderful experiences and insight by closing ourselves off and clothing ourselves with the mantel of apathy. We need to keep our hearts open to the stranger, to both individual and ideas.
They pleaded with him to stay: After Jesus went through the scriptures with them and they realized that he was revealing truth to them, they asked him to stay. This is something that we accomplish through prayer and worship. We must continually seek the face of the God, inviting God to be with us and to walk with us. He will not impose himself on a soul. To do so would be violence against your will, and that is something God will not commit. Our will is necessary for God to act in a meaningful way in our lives. Our willingness to be in communion with God is necessary to have a relationship. It was after the communion act, the breaking of bread, that their eyes were opened and they could see him. They were astonished.
God will not impose himself on a heart. He will not rip open your harden eyes. A soul must be moved, agitated, like breaking up hard soil in order to make it soft; able to receive holy seed planted in the garden of your heart. I want to make myself clear: I do not want the reader to assume these bullet points are necessary for salvation. I am speaking about characteristics that cultivate a positive relationship with God that begins by first accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Our salvation is an act of faith, and it is faith in action that will grow the seed in your heart in ways you cannot imagine.
Unfolding God Though Space and Time
The reason I chose to use the word 'harmonic' to describe scripture is that in points of space and time the Word fulfills itself in reality; this means that its truth actually exists in two points of space/time simultaneously. We like to call this prophecy. This is why I said earlier in this post that many people don't understand what the Old Testament is saying; they are not looking for Jesus in them and since they are not looking for him, their blinded eyes only see the violence and the seemingly petty decrees of a vindictive God. They reject it out right as if they are morally superior to God, as they surely wouldn't inflict that kind of suffering on anyone, ever! I can safely say that I understand this position because if the spirit had not put the Book of Hosea in my heart while listening to a secular song I'm sure I would not have understood what was going on at the outset if I had just opened the Bible to that particular book at random and read it. Nor would I understand it if I didn't first understand myself in context of The Cross. So, what does that mean?
First, what struck me was that God commanded the prophet to marry a prostitute. A prostitute in scripture spiritually speaks to the idolatry of our hearts. Given the context of the OT, God made a covenant, a promise, to Abraham. The promise was the reason why God got his people out of Egypt and why God married himself to the people of Israel. This is where we get the idea that the people of God are his Bride. If you have never heard any of this before I invite you to research it for yourselves. It is an exciting study. But generally speaking the Bible says that we tend to go our own way; worshipping everything from ourselves to nature, science, the occult, politics, money, on and on it goes so I'm sure you get the point. We fornicate spiritually, in that we take into ourselves the shadows cast by nature and it results in increased orders of sorrow. We break continually the first 4 commandments, which put sucincently, means we do not love God. Instead we are exploited by other things that we feel will benefit us in specific ways. It is the interchanging dynamic of the physio-psycho exchange that is similar to the act of prostitution. It is important to highlight that Gomer was a Gentile. So the book of Hosea begins by the prophet marrying a gentile prostitute; if you're unfamiliar with this stuff, that's like super bad. It is important to note here that in the New Testament, the Church (composed mainly of Gentiles) is referred to as the Bride of Christ.
After the marriage, there comes the children, each of who's names condemn Israel. First, putting an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel, except for Judah, through who God will save, and interestingly not by military means. And though salvation will come through the house of Judah, they will no longer be called his people and he will no longer be their God. What is very interesting is despite these judgements, the number of Israel's children will be like the sand of the sea, and those who were NOT his people will be called Children of the Living God. Now, even if one does not believe the bible is the inspired Word of God, I would like to flesh out several things at this point:
1.We know that Jesus came first for the Jews, as he came through the Jews, and then the gentile:
"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:14-18 ESV)
And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. (Mark 7:24-30 ESV) **Blogger's Note: This passage used to offend me when I was a new believer. It is important to understand this in context with what was prophesied, that the gentiles would be grafted in, by faith in him would be called the Children of the Living God.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16 ESV) **Blogger's Note: Greek is generally used to denote gentile.
2.He knew he would be rejected by them, and as a result Jesus cursed Israel before the crucifixion because they did not bear any fruit:
On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. (Mark 11:12-14 ESV)
Then a little later on...
As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. (Mark 11:20-22 ESV) **Blogger's note: Most scholars feel the Fig Tree represent the nation of Israel, and I tend to agree.
3. He was of the House of Judah:
For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. (Hebrews 7:14 ESV)
4. Salvation came through him:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV)
5. His kingdom would not be established by military means:
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36 ESV)
6. The children of Israel would still be like the Sand of the Sea:
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10 ESV)
We know for a fact that the temple of Jerusalem was destroyed shortly after Jesus was crucified; regardless if one thinks of him as savior or not, fiction or fantasy. History shows this to be true. God has fulfilled his word. There are no more 'tribes' of Israel. God has fulfilled his word. We know that Jesus said that he would not cast any out, but to all those who called upon his name he gave the right to be called Children of God. God has fulfilled this word as well, and certainly we would be hard pressed to number all the Christians who have lived and died up to this point. This speaks to the alliteration of 'the number of his children will be like the sand of the sea', in other words, uncountable. There are other aspects of the Book of Hosea has that indicate a tremendous truth in what we now call the age of grace; where anyone can come to God freely and openly and become a Child of God, a bride of Christ.
So What's the point?
It is my hope that what seems on the surface to be brutish and bizarre in the OT, understood within the context of the Gospel and what Jesus did, begins to come into clearer focus. What we could not see before becomes evident in light of a relationship to God through Jesus. It is almost my multi-purposed hope that highlighting the fact that what was written has become real will give the believer a great joy. This should flame our hearts because his promises are true - not just in a social justice sense, but in a spiritual sense as well. We will live because he lives. There is a place for us in death, because he said he is going to prepare a place for us. If it wasn't true, he wouldn't have told us.
I also hope that this gives the skeptics reason enough to pause and consider again the bible as the inspired Word of God. Even though we cannot see his resurrected body for ourselves, and even though we cannot poke our finger into his side to believe, we have the Word and the sure word of prophecy that can be reconciled in very specific ways to major events that have transpired in history. Despite what one believes, Jesus did open up Judaism to the Gentiles, the Jews rejected him and shortly after lost their land, temple and tribe identity as described in Hosea - the only tribe to survive and by proxy many others, was Judah, the house of Jesus; it's hard to say that Hosea was written after the fact. The spirit of God, a down payment on the promise, is the force that opens our heart to the mystery of scripture. It is the spirit of God that whispers to our hearts, that speaks even through secular means to help us understand the scriptures which all speak about Jesus. This too is another promise of God that is true:
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:26 ESV)
Most importantly, it is my hope that you come to understand that God loves us more than we can ever imagine. That we are incredibly precious to him, as he sees something so grand and amazing in us that he sent his son to die on a cross so he could gain us. It is difficult for us to believe because we feel the exact opposite about ourselves so much of the time. But despite the lack of appreciation we have for others, and even ourselves, he has known since the foundation of the world what it would cost to have us with him. We have the sure word of prophecy and our testimony. I urge you to consider all these things and to open your heart to Jesus' invitation of Eternal Life. He will not take away your personality; he will enhance it. He will not speak to you through a screaming preacher, but through your favorite songs. God in no way will be violent with you, nor make you sprint when you need to walk, or tear you apart for the mistakes you will make along the way. Believe him when he says that in no way will he cast you out, as in Hosea, he married a prostitute, who didn't love him, but chased after other things. Rather, we love him because he first loved us. If you come to him, hand your life over to him, he will form it in his image subtly and carefully. His words are true. It is my hope that this exercise helps demonstrate that reality.
There are questions I still have. How could it be that His Word has become real? How is it that God says, and it becomes? I do not know, but it is true, and we should all respond to him as there is another truth that's equal in its horror as grand as his grace and mercy. There is a hell, an eternal separation from all that is good and we each have sinned and are headed there, unless we are born again by his spirit. Sadly, many will choose not to accept his gift. Even in the face of evidence and even though they might feel in their hearts they want to come. To come to Christ is the beginning of a Love story that was written before creation. We have our creativity, our love, light, every good thing that is, or ever will be, in God. Do not push away his hand. Do not set him aside. Do not tell him to butt out of your life, because he will, not only in this life, but in the life to come. He loves you and it breaks his heart that despite all that he has created and done, to the point of dying for us, that you will not. It seems for all His little words, many will die never knowing the love of God. Do not be one of those. Come to him, while you still can. Come to him, and live a life full of meaning, community and revelation. Come, into the heart of God. Come, lay your head on his breast and accept his divine kiss, for you are his splendid butterfly.
Peace and Blessings to you, always...
You are a splendid butterfly
It is your wings that make you beautiful
And I could make you fly away
But I could never make you stay
You said you were in love with me
Both of us know that that's impossible
And I could make you rue the day
But I could never make you stay
Not for all the tea in China
Not if I could sing like a bird
Not for all North Carolina
Not for all my little words
Not if I could write for you
The sweetest song you ever heard
It doesn't matter what I do
Not for all my little words
Now that you've made me want to die
You tell me that you're unboyfriendable
And I could make you pay and pay
But I could never make you stay
Not for all the tea in China
Not if I could sing like a bird
Not for all North Carolina
Not for all my little words
Not if I could write for you
The sweetest song you ever heard
It doesn't matter what I do
Not for all my little words
It doesn't matter what I do
Not for all my little words...
Interesting. God as muse? God as functional art? God as political action? Perhaps Religion, re-linking, is an apt descriptor as every example is of what man creates to provoke our souls to consider the divine - however - it is usually channeled in the opposite direction in that we marvel at the work and possibilities of what man can accomplish with the divine as muse. Our creative principle is innate and evidence that our anima is fueled by the breath of God blown into our mouths by way of his divine kiss.
And while we rearrange the material play-ground God has given us, extending our minds into reality, none of the forms listed (while admirable and speaking to our divine inheritance) provoke my heart to pour myself out. The greatest symphony, while stunning, cannot heal my dearest relationships. The grand cathedrals cannot give me hope in the darkest night. For all the myriad re-arrangements of nature man can produce, God has accomplished beyond measure in the temple he made without hands. And even though not visibly present, its effect transcends space and time to touch my heart, kissing me again with lips dripping with grace and mercy.
"Don't be afraid, you're not alone. There's no God, but there's lot of people out there, I'm sure of it. Sweet Dreams!"
Foundational World Views
The evidence for intelligent life in the universe is dwindling. To some people this is a most depressing idea because it means there is a vast amount of space and it's virtually wasted solely on us. The idea that we're alone in the universe is an assault on the modern psyche because for a generation we have been told stories about alien life and the possibility of first contact and how that would re-write history and even religion. There is even a mathematical equation that shows there are literally thousands of civilizations out there! Proof of alien life, or first contact, would be akin to the revolutionary shift in foundational worldviews which were at stake in the debate about the helio and geocentric models. It speaks to the position of Man in the Universe and ultimately our purpose, if any. The essence of the debate can be reduced down to this: Are Human Beings special and unique and was creation made for them alone?
The Heliocentric model was not created
by Christians or Jews. Rather started with Greeks, and was approriated by
the Church in Rome as a Holy doctrine.
There was a time when people felt the geocentric view indicated that Human Beings were the center of the universe and the heavens revolved around us, while the heliocentric view would indicate that the Sun is the center thereby reducing our importance on a cosmic scale: positioning as it turns out is important, but being 'center' is not. The existence of alien life, while a very modern concern, has similar implications for many.
For most secular people the idea that the universe was made specifically for us is rather absurd, as it seems like an awful waste of space. At one point I definitely agreed as I practically grew up on Star Trek and science fiction. The idea that we're not alone is a completely natural position for me. I really like the idea that the universe is dotted with uncountable civilizations, that we'll share information and be part of a larger community. However much I enjoy fantasy and wish it were reality, there is growing evidence that galactic fellowship as represented in science fiction is probably not true as there are specific conditions necessary for life to arise, and not only for life to arise, but specific positioning and parameters necessary in order to observe the universe. In fact, the more we learn, the more our existence becomes even more radical. So, we might actually be 'alone' in the Universe. For people without God, this is incredibly depressing since this means we experience pain, suffering, murder, depression, strife (you know the drill) and it's all pretty much meaningless; or there is a perverted sense of cosmic justice that's totally unclear.
Why These Worldview Matter
And though we are increasingly becoming aware of the vastness of space and the outrageous odds that we even exist, we are still drawn into petty issues like freaking out over losing 5 seconds on our commute; which the distance of doesn't even register on a universal level, let alone an earthly one. Our situation in modernity is rather pathetic and mundane, so it goes that if everything we see was created just for us than it's most certainly a waste.
We've lost our moral bearing,
our fears and alienation are exploited,
as well as our labor.
And it's right to feel that way.
We can only operate through the slavery of debt
We will age and die; and there is no escape.
Given our situation it is reasonable to want something greater than ourselves to frame our experience in a meaningful context.
In fact, it was the reason why I never really entertained the idea that we might be alone in the Universe, until I watched a lecture by Dr. Hugh Ross. I have to admit I was impressed with his knowledge and presentation. Now, there are many people who attack him as a hack and a fraud. I just want to point out that's a natural disposition of many scientists. That is how the 'englightened' engage in debate. It's all rather nasty, so if you research him try to look past the rhetoric as even the great names such as 'Einstein', 'Tesla' and many others had such detractors. No one has all knowledge and so we are piecing this thing together, climbing on the achievements of the generations from ages past. What is important is consensus. The article confirmed the data he presented, and by secularists who froth at the mouth when 'God' is mentioned; so they certainly do not advocate Dr. Ross.
What impressed me while watching his online lecture is that not only does he possess scientific integrity, but he also shared a perspective that I had never considered: If the universe was made just for us then its vastness is not a waste of space, but rather it speaks to the incredibly high value that human beings have. I realized then that the idea of our value has always been at the heart of the debate, from antiquity to modernity. Our value as sentient beings is what's at stake. The world has always had problems, but the lack of human value has led us to a dangerous precipice, of which only an act of God can pull us back. It is my prayer that this message infects the dangerous meme that secularists have embedded in the modern framework*; that we go from a culture of death, despair, and alienation, to a culture of value, respect, hope and purpose.
*The notion that there is nothing in death permeates our media in subtle ways. Watch 1:39 seconds in. This is the narrative that's being sent, and if you watch the story arch from this moment on, he acts accordingly: disassociated, which is the mental state that plagues a great deal of people:
*The second scene is about 10 minutes long. Watch starting 3:50 seconds in. You will see the theme repeat itself again.
Paradigm Shifting
I appreciate Ken Wilber's work in regards to the integral nature of our experience. We obviously differ theologically, but that doesn't mean mutual ground can't be found: We must understand our context within a dynamic, holistic context. No one should understand this better than the Christian.
It has been my experience that the degree to which you feel you are living a meaningful life is directly related to the level of value you perceive you have physically, psychologically and spiritually. This is why our labor, relationships, and cosmological context are all incredibly important to our over-all well being. It is these spheres that are perpetually under assault, in every age, but today they are under siege. What's particularly grotesque about the modern experience is that our labor and relationships can only be understood within a commercial context and our spiritual context within the material: pantheism, or universal expression. Our families, our first encounter with the social life, have been decimated and as a result we see the social (civil society) disintegrating. Our labor is dictated by the extent to which loans can be secured, not what we can produce. As individuals, we are plunging ever closer into the shadow of death and all you can see is a future darkness. If everything we see came from nothing, back to nothing you go. Or you might believe the inverse, you are an expression of an impersonal universe that cannot care and never really be known except through your personal experiences. You feel that you should be doing good, but the only problem with that is despite your efforts you don't really do too much good - no better or worse than the next person, right? Never before have all quadrants of human existence been mortally wounded at once so don't fret, it's not exactly your fault. We simply have faulty foundations. This predicament is exactly what Jesus was speaking to when he was addressing the crowd:
"Therefore, whosoeuer heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I wil liken him vnto a wise man, which built his house vpon a rocke: And the raine descended, and the floods came, and the windes blew, and beat vpon that house: and it fell not, for it was founded vpon a rocke. And euery one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall bee likened vnto a foolish man, which built his house vpon the sand: And the raine descended, and the floods came, and the windes blew, and beat vpon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."Matthew 7:24-27, ESV
Read it again but substitute the following words:
The House=Life
The Rock=The Living God
The Rains=Alienation/Depression
The Flood=Debts/Financial Trouble
The Winds=Death/Illness
The Sand=Philosophy of Man/Atheism
Now, I'm going to type it again using the direct symbolic meaning:
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his Life on The Living God. And the alienation fell, and the debts came, and illness and death blew and beat on that Life, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on The Living God.And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his life on the philosophy of man.And the alienation fell, and the debts came, and illness and death blew and beat against that Life, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
Isn't that exactly how you feel. So lost when these things start to befall you, especially all three at the same time! God knows what our experience is and what human experience would be in the future. His Word is the Living Word that transcends space and time to speak to us even still. It is sad not too much has change since the dawn of civilization, but God's Word speaks to that too:
"The thing that hath beene, it is that which shall be: and that which is done, is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing vnder the sunn." Ecclesiastes 1:9, ESV
While there might be nothing new under the sun, I do not take our situation lightly. It's true that the human experience has been wrought with pains and sufferings, but there is no doubt that we are experiencing them more acutely today. It's almost as if the magnitude of our technological and industrial grandeur matches the suffering we experience under its misuse. Now, at this point I can probably guess what you're thinking (besides thinking that I'm a crazy person and wondering why you've even read THIS far, ha!).
The idea of God is so broad, who can define it? There are so many competing ideas who's to say which one is correct? These are difficult question to answer directly, but what I can say in response is that to find the answer you must ask yourself different questions. What does your foundation worldview do for you? Do you feel free? Does it validate all spheres that pertain to our happiness, or does it validate one at the expense of another? You might have work or feel financially secure, but have broken relationships. Or you doing great and are dumbstruck by a sudden death or illness.
You can really pick any permutation, but we are always deficient in one sphere or another. The moments that are good are when all these quadrants are in balance: When mind/body/spirit enter synergy.
This post cannot encompass all four quadrants in depth, but brings to question to the cosmological foundational worldview we have been given. It is my hope that the reader will at least consider a God who is actively interested in their life, as he is the author of life and the Master Architect of the Heavens and Earth. And not only come to realize God in your life, but come to Love him, as he Loves you beyond measure. The secular scientist can appreciate the mechanics of the heavens and the earth, but the Lover of God can praise it! Trust me, there is a difference.
Breaking Down the Book of Job
The link I provided about the video I saw with Dr. Ross is to a pay video. I encourage you to watch it as it was the one I watched that really provoked me to post this. There are plenty of video's online as well. I thought this one in particular was really wonderful. Enjoy!
