Tag: Apocalypse

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Gap Fillers.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you want to read the Apostle Paul’s most genuine, generous and gentle letter to a church – read Thessalonians. Paul was only able to stay with this new church plant for a few weeks. And, although it was difficult, he had to leave them. His young sidekick, Timothy, kept the Apostle in the loop as to what was happening in this baby church.

Soon after Paul left there was horrible persecution. It was so bad that Paul often wrote about the wonder and glory of end times, of heaven, to help them deal with suffering. God had not abandoned them, God was WITH them in the struggles, even in martyrdom! Paul wanted to return in person, but that never happened. Oddly enough, Paul tells the church that their perseverance, their dedication brought joy to his heart. Like a proud papa, Paul extended his own faith in deep and sincere prayer for them.

Paul used an interesting phrase and a word to describe how desperate he was to see them again. The New Living Translation gives us a glimpse into Paul’s thinking, he wanted to “fill in the gaps” in their faith. The other translations use the direct translation from then Greek word, husteréma, which is lacking, a defect or shortcoming. The root word, hustereó, helps a bit more. This word means to come late, be behind or come short. What was lacking? What did Paul want to catch them up on?

The general consensus is that Paul was able to share the gospel, how one is saved through faith and given grace as a gift, not through works of our own. But, he was not able to instruct the new church about end times. Since people in the church were being put to death, there was a lot of questions about where they would go and how long it would be until Jesus came back. They had heard the part about Jesus returning, but when. They had hoped it was very soon.

Where most people see the apocalypse, or end times, as terrifying, folks who were under extreme persecution saw it as HOPE. Hope for justice for the innocent, hope for a better life than struggling in starvation or constant mocking of their faith. The Thessalonian church was eager for it all to be over and get on with eternal life! The gap fill was a proper understanding on suffering, perseverance, persecution and what life AFTER death looks like!

Do we know what life after death looks like? Does our friends and neighbors understand that life, our physical body and soul continue to exist? There are few choices to be made when our culture removes God – the God – out of the equation. One is reincarnation, coming back again and again – trying to get it right. One lives “good,” and you come back as a “higher” existence as a more advanced creature. A horrible person comes back as a despised creature, like a mosquito or a tick! The other is the idea of annihilation, where nothing and no one exists at all. It’s just over and you’re gone.

Believing God means that there is life after death! However, this life and definitely the afterlife has consequences attached to it. For the church folk Paul was writing to, they did not have answers or proper teaching on life after death, so they were very concerned. Let me just ask? What are the gaps in your faith? What are things you’ve heard about and wonder if they are true? What questions do you have that you’re afraid to ask, because someone might think you’re silly or too simple? Do us all a favor – ASK anyways! One of the biggest regrets I have in the church is for folks to be shamed or silenced into not asking questions. This is not of God, and it is wrong. Ask me if you’d like. I can’t guarantee I’ll have the answer, but I won’t think less of you for asking – in fact, I’ll be proud of ya.

Prayer

Dad,
I sure had A LOT of questions as a new believer. I wasn’t afraid to ask! I think people knew that I was new in my faith, so they didn’t shame me. However I did get a ton of over-simplified answers and Bible references that didn’t make sense and had nothing to do with my question. I would have rather them be honest and tell me they didn’t know the answer. I want people to feel comfortable with asking to fill in the gaps of their understanding of You. I don’t want folks lacking in their faith because it leaves them unsure of their future or relationship with you. Help me, help us be better gap-fillers for others. Amen.

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Deal or no deal.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem! Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Gather all the people— the elders, the children, and even the babies. Call the bridegroom from his quarters and the bride from her private room. Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence, stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar. Let them pray, “Spare your people, Lord! Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery. Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say, ‘Has the God of Israel left them?’” ‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God’s spokesperson, Joel, previously said, “try saying your sorry and changing your ways!” In previous verses, he writes, “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before.” Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬. What a line! Don’t tear your clothes, tear your hearts! You never know, maybe God will listen to a broken, contrite heart instead of an arrogant, angry one?

The book of Joel was written just before the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel had fallen to foreigners. The leaders, priests and people had wandered so far off God’s plan, and so spurned their promises to keep God’s rules that literally- all hell was going to break lose! Enter the plagues and total destruction of the locusts.

However, Joel, gives Israel an out, an escape – try repentance! It’s in the verses that Joel emphasizes not just WHO should join in this national contrition, but also the urgency of which they should do it. First, gather EVERYONE. Call the people; elders to babies. Second, do it immediately. The husband and wife from their intimate honeymoon suite and the priests from their quarters to their post. Third, just pray one prayer in UNITY – spare us! Get with it – NOW! And, quit embarrassing your God and yourselves by your own stubbornness and stupidity! Then…. maybe, just maybe God will forgive and relent from his just judgement and have mercy.

Lesson: when I sin, as an individual, I should recognize it and repent. I should not justify it, excuse it or pretend it will not have consequences. I should be quick to confess and admit my sin and turn from it. However, as a group, a people, a community or a church – it is even more imperative and urgent that we follow Joel’s Spirit inspired advice (warning). Call the group together- everyone of them. Quickly prioritize the gathering. And pray one unified prayer – spare us! In other words, admit, commit and confess TOGETHER.

Chances are really good that God will not only forgive, not only pour out his mercy but also FIX STUFF. Kick out the enemy, establish justice, and send new, fresh supplies of grain (to satisfy our needs), new wine (celebrating a second chance) and oil (fuel for our future) Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬. Our repentance means that God may repair the breech (covenant/contract) and restore the supply lines to our souls! What do we say? Deal or no deal?

Prayer

Dad,
I can absolutely understand trying to hold on to our personal, even national autonomy. But when it has gone so bad for so long because of our self-determined will? It just starts sounding ridiculous. To think that I would ride my will/my way off the cliff, to complete and utter destruction is just insanity. Oh, I could see myself doing it. And, sadly, I see our country doing it right now, every single day. Our little arrogant protests and parades. Our cancel culture, boycotts and incivility is ridiculous. I confess. I repent. I ask that you would help us unite in contrition and release our control back to you. Lord, hear our prayer!

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One of these days, Chicken Little will be right.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It seems that every generation feels that things have gotten so bad, the end MUST be soon. I wonder if Noah thought the same thing – because, in his case, it was true! I don’t see a lot of apocalyptic references throughout the Old Testament, but there are a few. Isaiah, Daniel and Ezekiel have some visions of what the future held, and they were strange and mysterious.

For Peter to write the church and say this, he must have taken Jesus word’s seriously – he was coming back soon. John, the revelator writes, “behold I come quickly” Rev 22:12. But, what is quickly, especially to God, who is outside of time itself? FYI, I absolutely believe Jesus is returning and that God will wrap everything up according to his will and plan.

For us earth-bounders, we only see history and human behavior in cycles. Looking backward from these days, all the way to Peter’s days, we know that some behaviors have been atrociously worse. There have been so many global episodes of bad actors perpetuating on the masses in their respective domains of control. I have a friend who believes that earth is looking more like heaven than ever before! I don’t.

When Peter encourages the Church to be earnest in prayer, I wonder what that could have meant? In prayer for one another? It seems likely. Especially because he drops the famous line that “love covers a multitude of sins.” More sin, needs more prayer and more love, right? Then he backs up the idea of us needing MORE support while watching and waiting for the world to end with this – hospitality!

If you haven’t noticed even the entertainment industry has really ramped up the futuristic, syfi, apocalyptic shows and movies over the past few decades. Even non-believers in God are trying to figure out what the future holds. Of course, many of the future-casters are just trying to force behavioral change surrounding the hot topic of global climate change. In almost every one of their future scenarios, humans are the enemy that needs to be destroyed. Feels like they are just lashing out at God like petulant toddlers.

Peter reminds us that when everything gets bad, we should share goodness, like meals and shelter. If the global pandemic was a test run for an “end of the world” scenario, believers did NOT pass. I don’t think most of us were in a sharing and caring mood – we treated our own family members like the infected on The Walking Dead! There seems to be a particular idea from Peter that when the going gets tough, the tough should get together – not separate, and hunker down in isolation. I have a feeling we’ll get another chance when the next rotation of the “world ending” comes into view. We can do better then, right? One day, the sky will fall and this world will end. Chicken Little will be right.

Prayer

Dad,
I agree, things do look bleak. There is a lot going on in our country and in our world that makes us all nervous about the future. Yet, I know you hold the future! And, I know you are bringing about the most amazing plan of your Kingdom coming and your will being done! In that I find peace, comfort and even an excitement in the finality of waiting. I want to be ready. I want to stay alert and aware of what you are doing. This is not an escape prayer, but it is a “let it be done” prayer – Come quickly Lord Jesus!

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The Apostle Paul goes deep.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul goes super deep, far more than just six feet under! In written, warp-speed, he goes from the most eloquent, beautiful description of love in chapter 13, to the incredibly complex conversation about what happens to us after death!

The Corinth church was asking for some hard proof and details about what physically happens to our bodies after we die. He starts off very practical about the facts Jesus’ physical resurrection from the dead – there were witnesses! He concludes with one of the more favorite apologetic arguments: “And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” ‭‭1 Cor.‬ ‭15‬:‭19‬. Then moves towards answering their other questions – “but how Paul? How does this all work?

This mix of spiritual discussion with physical object lessons is so deep, the Holy Spirit had definitely been guiding his thoughts and answering his own questions while he was experiencing his club-pen time in prison. In later verses, Paul asks the questions for them, “But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” ‭‭1 Cor. 15‬:‭35‬. He writes, “that’s a foolish question!” But is it?

Paul clearly articulates that we are living in two worlds at the same time and seem to be completely ignorant of one of them. We have a very physical world and we also have a very spiritual world. Both are real, but one is but a dim reflection, a blurry representation of the other. The spiritual world is the real, solid and clear one – we live on and in the dim darkness of this planet. C.S. Lewis called this place, “The silent planet,” written in 1938, one of his famous space trilogy of books, Out of the Silent Planet.

In conclusion, Paul then writes about the end of all things. The end, in this context is about Christ destroying death, not in his own physical body a couple millennia ago, but in ours – humans. Paul’s take on the end times – Christ will reign until he humbles all his enemies! We know Christ’s enemy, that would be Satan. We know what the plurality (enemies) mean, and all the fallen angels that chose to rebel against God. The saddest part, is that we know there will be humans that choose to join Satan and the fallen angels in this rebellion. They will know God and God’s plan, yet still choose to rebel, choose to join the lie. Why? Their hope, unlike Satan or the dark angel’s, is that they “might” just get to spend eternity just doing their own thing, especially without God. There is no such hope in the enemy nor his evil horde – for they know it will not work. The enemy’s plan is just to take as many as possible with them to lash out at God. This is the reality of our long war and the tragedy of loss that is at stake in our spiritual and very much physical existence.

Prayer

Dad,
What an epic war, a war to usurp and eclipse all other wars. This life, this existence on our planet is just a tiny fraction of what exists in other physical worlds. Science searches for life somewhere out there in the vast universes and galaxies of outer space. And the only reason they search the heavens is they cannot believe we are alone. They cannot come to terms that we may be the only physical expression of life or humanity. We may or may not be the only ones. Or, we may be the only silent planet, the dark planet of created beings that are fallen, broken and filled with rebellion and sin. This is so wild to think about. Paul seems to go all “sci-fi” for a moment with the Corinthian churches. I love it! I know you are both my entire physical and spiritual reality. I chose you and have decided not to rebel, but to repent! I chose to spend my life here, and in all of eternity, with you.

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The Scoffer’s Antidote.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.” ‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It was predictable. It was inevitable. Scoffers will be mockers. It’s become a ubiquitous, socially praised art-form. Their numbers are low, but their voices are so loud and obnoxiously consistent. Scoffing, mocking and trash-talking truth is somewhat of a new source of side-gigging income. It’s the scourge of social media. Jude writes out their motivation and job description; their purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires! They are just following their natural instincts.

Then Jude quickly shifts to the answer, the antidote that must be constantly and consistently administered. Here’s the list of ingredients that must be combined to make the cure.

  1. Build each other up in your most holy faith. Turn to, lean on one another to counteract the cultural poisons. Reminding each other of our faith, our self-differentiated belief in what God has said.
  2. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. Now is not the time to be weary or succumb to being a faulter, knowing that a noisy mob doesn’t mean their right or even aware of what they do.
  3. Await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. Have patience under pressure. God is faithful to be present even under the most dire circumstances.
  4. Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. This word, wavering, “diakrínō” is “judging back and forth,” or negatively “over-judging.” Don’t return to judging or predicting the outcome of someone else’s weakness, failure,or sin. Throw them mercy, toss them regular life-lines of grace.
  5. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Love them enough to be honest and supportive. Don’t let them go dark or silent, ghosting you without a fight for their soul.
  6. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. Love the sinner, hate the sin. Just as you know how much God loves you and hates your own sin. Don’t give mercy from a high moral position, rather humbly boost others from below. Let our mercy lift and not pity!

These six ingredients are the contents of the antidote to scoffing and mocking that is now a constant thread and threat of every conversation. We need to be united in our attitudes and behaviors against towards those who would cause “division” or apodiorizó, “marking off boundaries” to separate us from each other and from God.

Jude knew we needed one another. And, through the Holy Spirit, he knew that this would only intensify as we get nearer to the end. Don’t let anyone lay down fake or false issues or boundaries that would separate us. Let’s stick together in our holy, humble faith!

Prayer

Dad,
We need you so desperately as times darken and shadows seem to be everywhere. And, we need each other more than ever before. Help us help each other to follow Jude’s prescribed antidote against disunity and tearing each other apart because of scoffer and mockers. Let God arise and His enemies be scattered!

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Future fairness and justice.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“Soon—and it will not be very long— the forests of Lebanon will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭29‬:‭17‬-24 ‭NLT‬‬

Things are not just, not fair, and absolutely not equitable here on earth. It’s not possible in a broken system, a humanly flawed system. It’s flawed because there are so many who just want what they want, when they want it. And everyone else is just a nuisance in the way.

Isaiah sees that just on the other side of this whole human experience, which has tremendous highs and devastating lows, awaits justice, wholeness and a global, godly equality that we all yearn for. The earth itself waits and aches for all things to just be made right again. Isn’t that something we ALL share? The angst and anticipation for everything to make sense? Isaiah gives a shortlist of examples of those who want but are not satisfied, but that completion is coming – “SOON,” he writes. In that day…

Goodness and justice will rise:
▪️ the deaf will hear words, read from a book, and the blind will see through the gloom and darkness.
▪️ The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord.
▪️ The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Evilness and selfishness will subside:
▪️ The scoffer will be gone, the arrogant will disappear, and those who plot evil will be killed.
▪️ Those who convict the innocent by their false testimony will disappear.
▪️ A similar fate awaits those who use trickery to pervert justice and who tell lies to destroy the innocent.

We can all agree on these terms and future hopes! Ah, but for those who have no sense of, nor belief in eternity, they only have annihilation as the end of everything. I get it. They should try to cram it all into what is a very brief existence called life. Go for it. Reform the animalistic, degenerate, darwinian, literal hell out of humans. All you have to do is convince every single person, from every corner of the planet, every culture and conversation to snap to it and transform themselves for the better good!

It’s so easy, and humans without any shred of belief in God have been frustratingly trying to pull it off for eons. The non-believer does have a hope outside of the Creator though. It will be a short-lived hope. There will come an anti-god, a demigod, the Bible calls the anti-Christ who will come with platitudes and promises to bring world peace. He’ll be so convincing that billions with believe. Ah, but in the end, he’s just the master trickster representative, the guy behind the scenes with the the red suit and the pitch fork just enjoying his temporary rise to power.

Isaiah called it thousand of years ago. This will all come to pass and I just plan to be on God’s side of it and not shake my little self-determined fist at Him.

Prayer

Dad,
So be it. Come quickly Lord Jesus. Come and make things right and just forever and for all. Amen.

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Our environment wants justice.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“The earth mourns and dries up, and the land wastes away and withers. Even the greatest people on earth waste away. The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant.” Isaiah‬ ‭24‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Isaiah picks up on this theme of of extreme eco-disasters coming to earth because of the sins of its inhabitants. Earlier, he had said that God would “destroy the earth and make it a vast wasteland. He devastates the surface of the earth and scatters the people.” Human sin and our selfishness has deep and irreversible effects on our souls, our kind, plus the entire animal and plant kingdom of the world.

I’m sure environmentalist would quickly agree that, as humans, we misuse and abuse our own home. Isaiah’s point goes much further than our carbon footprint, plastics addictions, or pulling far too many precious metals out of the earth. Isaiah says the earth suffers because of our sins against God, not the planet!

I for one believe that believers in Christ should be the very best at caring for the planet and ecosystems of our world. We were in fact given that job back in the garden of eden. We have a responsibility as good stewards. But I would also be the first to say, in no way should our care for animals, plants and natural resources take priority over human life. I’m not a fan of saving whales and sea turtles only to end the life of infants in the womb. This is a gross misunderstanding and results of our sin. Isaiah states what much of our world has lost site of, God is the creator, is good and He alone dispenses justice and truth.

When we are in line with God’s laws, the planet, even in our sin, fares much better. The end is coming though. The finality of this planet, in anticipation of a brand new one, is approaching as each moment of time passes us.

It’s coming. Our culture senses it and it shows up most often in our entertainment of movies and shows. If someone were to map the amount and frequency of apocalyptic books, movies and shows, you’d clearly see that everyone believes there is a end coming. Some are some very dark, like “the walking dead,” or the Terminator or Matrix franchises. Others are oddly utopian in nature, thinking of some strange technological advancements that help humans achieve and neurochemical enlightenment of some kind. The movie, Moonfall finally told us some truth. People are ridiculously gullible, untrusting and turn back into base animalistic behaviors when the end finally comes.

All of these fantasy projections either resolve in perpetual misery or happily received annihilation. God’s story is very different. The planet will be destroyed and remade. Human life, our souls and bodies will not end in annihilation. We will find ourselves living in eternity in one of two places – heaven, where God continues to rule as He always has done. Or hell, a place of eternal separation from God and in that, a forever tortured soul in misery of never ending loops of pain, blame of selfish lonely conversations with themselves. I ask myself, “who wants that?” The possible answer, people who would rather live in misery than bow heart and knee, submitting to God’s authority and rule.

Prayer

Dad,
It is so interesting that you were speaking through Isaiah, thousands of years ago about all the events (Christ, the messiah coming and a lot of end times) that would take place in the future. I remember hearing that the prophecy had to make sense to people then and now. What a challenge for those back them. I’m pretty sure their world was more violent than even ours today. I would make sense to the listener back then. I don’t look forward to the world ending, but I do look forward for the finalizing of your plans for the Kingdom of God on earth to be here.

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Bending towards evil.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” Genesis‬ ‭8‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Starting over, but still with broken, evil people who will always bend towards evil. God Completely annihilated the human population at the time of Noah, and yet still sin and evil was not permanently drowned with the massive, twelve month flood over the earth.

There is a lot questions and mystery concerning the flood that God doesn’t seem to be worried about nor interested in addressing. When Noah offers a sacrifice to God (which I believe God showed Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel how to do) from selected animals on the boat, God is pleased. Why? Because Noah understands the association of substitutionary death of an innocent animal to temporarily cover his and his family’s sin. This is an act of humility, obedience and best of all faith. God makes a unique promise, “I will never…” He says. The earth’s ground, in totality, will never be cursed because of US. Then God adds the perpetually sad commentary, “even though everything they THINK or IMAGINE is bent!” And it’s bent from childhood on.

In Chapter nine, God gives Noah and all humans thereafter a permanent sign of this promise (contract) – the rainbow. “Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth.” Genesis‬ ‭9‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬. I love that God makes a permanent, declarative and obvious sign in the skies that show up when it rains or the rays of the sun catch the mists of water just right. These moments make for a beautiful array of splendor and delight wherever and whoever you are. Sadly, the rainbow, which is intended to be a contractual observance of promise, has been abused by so many to represent anything but a promise and nothing to do with God.

Prayer

Dad,
This whole post apocalyptic, global flood story is fascinating. Noah and family, with their miracle boat ride for an entire year. Then the days leading up to the landing an evacuation of water. So amazing. This picture/object lesson of Noah making a sacrifice is epic because it completely takes place well before the law, and well before the Abrahamic Covenant. This super old story is still all about faith and obedience – not perfection. Noah and his family were certainly not perfect and did not have perfect children. Yet, they knew the situation concerning their sin and gratitude for saving them. Bravo 🙌🏼.

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Ambiance of the future city.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the Lord will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end.” Isaiah‬ ‭60:19-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Isaiah gets to describe some environmental aspects of the future city of God. For the past seventy+ years folks have been describing the future of humanity. It’s been quite the phenomenon to project what people think is a possibility.

Writers and screenwriters, with books and movies have been guessing at it for a long time. Many are dystopian and dark. Some are fantastically modern, with A.I., robots and super utopian possibilities. I think of authors like George Orwell, in his book 1984, written in 1949 describes a horrible version of government and “big brother.” It was so bizarre to experience 1984 and be thankful that most of Orwell’s predictions had not come true.

There’s plenty of hope-filled, peaceful projections as well. Most of these are about everyone being blandly similar in a weird idealistic socialism kind of way. And of course, these rosey projections have all solved our selfishness and greed, hate and murderous nature which magically translates into “fixing” the environment.

Isaiah, hearing this straight from God himself takes a completely different approach. He defines the future, for the people of God, as good as God himself! These couple of verses seem to defy our understanding of even light itself. Isaiah just announces, “you’ll no longer need the sun or the moon!” What? Wow. Way to go God. As Jesus himself said, He is the light of the world, and in Him there is no darkness (literally and metaphysically). This future city, this New Jerusalem – heaven itself, will be absolutely lit by God who is everlasting light. And this is just one aspect of the future for believers. Those who love sunshine and light will be so happy 😁- me with 🤚🏼 raised.

This is a major benefit to those who know God and believe in Jesus! God has a beautiful future planned. Where all sin, all suffering, all pain and all mourning will not exist. You may think it’s impossible, but God created everything we’ve ever seen or experienced in this world. And He created us in perfection with none of the dark shadows and downsides to our existence. Sin, our sin, is what changed all that. With sin permanently removed from the equation – perfection in all things will RESET back to the original plan.

Prayer

Dad,
Life, here on earth, with all of its beauty and splendor must pale in comparison to heaven and the new earth. This is the only the reflection. And life, even living within the confines of the curse, is also a unique and amazing experience. One the angels, who were also created, will never experience. Of course it is filled with horrendous acts of hate and depravity, but it is also filled with tremendous acts of love and goodness. I see both just walking my own neighborhood! In this strange, paradox of mystery it is hard to look outside of my circumstances and daily situations to see you at work redeeming and saving us. However, I know your Word is true and I know that you are trustworthy. Both have been proven and experienced over the past forty-five years since you saved me. Living here and thinking about this future utopia of grace in your presence is hard. Yet, taking just a few moments to clear away all that is happening in my world, and reading Isaiah’s optimistic words I can see the future – and it will be spectacular!

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Check the expiration date.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession, for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land. They threw dice to decide which of my people would be their slaves. They traded boys to obtain prostitutes and sold girls for enough wine to get drunk.” Joel‬ ‭3:2-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We have all sorts of foods, mostly spices, that made two or three “house moves” with us. My son in law pointed out that we have a lot of expired foods still stored in our kitchen. One, I had no idea spices even had an expiration date. Two, I though sealed cans and dry goods were, ya know, eternal. Everything here on earth has “best by” date on it.

Joel is the book of “final days,” when justice and judgment are fully realized on the earth. The people that have not only done their own thing and had their own way, but have done so in horrible, ways have an expiration date. Humans that ultimately pursue the darkest, dirtiest deeds to bring them pleasure through power over others, will come to an end.

It is a fact, humanity is not getting better, we just cycle in and out of horrendously selfish behavior. We are getting worse. In ancient times they had whole industries for abusing children for their own pleasures. Today we have local and global gangs and underground businesses that traffic children – human trafficking is more lucrative than drugs. It’s more sophisticated today, but runs as a constant sub-current of our society.

What would happen if all the vices of human pleasure were to suddenly be shut down? These are things we call “freedoms,” and personal rights. My body, my money, my right, my autonomy… my my my. Each one has alluring, even innocent edges. “It’s just gaming,” not gambling. It’s “recreational,” not additive, nor destructive to family, especially children. “It’s occasional,” infrequent, I can’t quit anytime I want. The worst lie we tell ourselves, “I’m not hurting anyone.”

Joel is speaking for God when he writes, “my people.” God is possessive, He is jealous over us. Many think that just goes for Israel, “God’s people.” It goes far beyond that. It extends to us, all of humanity. We were created in perfection, no vices, no sin, shame or regrets.

It was our choices to not trust God, thinking He was holding out on us, keeping us from truly knowing evil. What’s God hiding from us?, we thought. Obviously it’s something really good and God is just being mean and controlling by keeping it from us. Yeah, we STILL believe that lie, don’t we? We all have this little voice inside our head and it’s not just an American thought, “I want everything I’m due… all of it!” Joel affirms, “you can have it, but it will not end well.” Getting “all of it,” experiencing all of it, having, managing and keeping all of it – will never end well. Check the expiration date.

Prayer

Dad,
How can I ever give up this pursuit of evil and just go all in on pursuing good? The pursuit of evil, no matter how tasty it looks, always results in a bitter outcome. Cursed are these cycles we endure as humans. Maybe I ache for justice to finally and forever get that curse off my own back? I see the evils of our kind and have experienced the destruction it has caused in my life and so many others. I yearn for that final day when this world closes out and the new one is born.