The Blessing of Blessing

Attack! In the dark of the night, Abram’s 318 men attack in all directions, pursuing Kedorlaomer’s army as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. Abram is victorious, rescuing his nephew Lot and his possessions, and all the other captives. (See Genesis 14:15-24.)

In the valley of Shaveh (the king’s valley), Abram meets the king of Sodom.  (This is also where Melchizedek meets Abram, and blesses him by God Most High. Abram returns the blessing by giving Melchizedek a tenth of everything.)

So the king of Sodom is approaching Abram. “Give me the people,” he says to Abram, “and you keep all the goods for yourself.”

Sounds like a deal Abram for sure won’t resist.  But what’s this? What is Abram saying to that king of Sodom? Listen: “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High,” Abram says, "and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, O, King, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich,’" (Genesis 14:22-24).

Before the king of Sodom, Abram acknowledges his God, Creator of heaven and earth, as the true Victor, and his King of righteousness and peace.

Fast-forwarding now to the New Testament/New Covenant era, we see Jesus (Yeshua). A babe in a manger, born of a virgin on that first "Christmas day"--so widely known as to what most people of the world considers that day, reflecting on the time when God (Elohim) became one of us (see Luke 2:1-7; John 1:1-5, 14; Matthew 1:18-25.) Yet he was born to die (see 1 Corinthians 15:5-8). And rising again from the dead, he is our Victor over death and hell, and “priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (See Hebrews 7.)

During his time on earth, Jesus (Yeshua) related a story of a certain rich man (see Luke 12:16-21.).  That man was so rich in material goods that he didn’t know what to do with it all, other than building bigger barns to store it.

Jesus (Yeshua) told his disciples, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions,” (Luke 12:15). He continued, “This is what the pagans do. They run after all such earthly things.  But you, child of God, run after God’s Kingdom first, and His righteousness [for the sake of the peoples of the world], and He will provide all your earthly needs.” (See Luke 12:22-31; Matthew 6:25-33.)

Journeying on through history to the late 1800s, we meet Henry M. Stanley, the man who uttered the popular quote, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume.” He is a most unlikely candidate for missionary service.

Henry Stanley, illegitimately born in Britain, has fled the cruelty of a workhouse master and gone to America, settling in New Orleans. There, a wealthy merchant adopts him.

But, Stanley, a troublesome teenager, is sent away to work on a plantation. During the American Civil War, he serves in both the Confederate and Union armies. Later, he joins the Navy only to desert. He becomes a freelance journalist. This career takes him to Asia and then to Africa, where he finds David Livingstone, through whom he also finds Jesus (Yeshua), the Christ (Messiah).

Livingstone becomes Stanley’s hero. With a determined passion, he pleads for missionary volunteers through his writings.

At the hearing of Livingstone’s death, Stanley writes, “May I be selected to succeed him in opening up Africa to the shining light of Christianity!

And God continues His search today for other "Henry Stanleys", who will likewise consider their gifts and abilities as from God to be used for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom to all peoples of the world.

Consider the book How I Found Livingstone.

Coming next month In God We Trust

Realizing Eternity

Disenchanted with the Perishing Vision of Mortality 

“Two worlds crossed my path,” so states my testimony. Reflecting on it further, having come to realize the more important immortal reality, I charted the illustration that appears below; I call it “Eternity,” depicting our journey through this time: the temporal and the permanent. Jesus (Yeshua) defines the two ways in His teaching as “the broad and the narrow.[1]” As well, consider John Bunyan in his writing (some 300 years ago) The Pilgrim’s Progress; he defines the two ways as Passion and Patience[i]. And as believers in the Messiah (the Christ) our purpose is so defined, as we trek along the narrow way, as light-bearers and salt-spreaders sharing God’s eternal truth[2].

Eternity is a never-ending journey, through life and death. Depending on the route—the narrow way or the broad way (the way of patience or passion)—a person chooses to travel through this temporal time will determine his/her experience: joy or devastation[ii]

Only one road to begin with[3]—the man and the woman enjoying fellowship with their Creator, the Almighty Three-in-One God, not as robots, but with the freedom to choose[4].

We are all creatures of eternity, more than this mortal time, as God so formed us in our mother’s womb. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…”, Jeremiah 1:5 ESV[iii]  As well, “…Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them,” Psalm 139:16 ESV.

But then as we read in the Bible, God’s holy life-giving Word, at Genesis chapter three[iv] the man and the woman are tempted by the devil (the evil one—that “fallen angel,”[5]) to choose his way—the “I did it my way” choice of pride, self-will, lustful pleasures, and passions.[6] Disobedience to God (sin) then becomes the addiction of their lives and all humanity throughout the world, going the way of the unholy trinity—me, myself, and I.

Realizing the immortal, how disenchanting is the perishing vision of mortality, and how so meaningless. Ah, but I, too, was once caught up in its meaninglessness.  Going along with the crowd so to speak, enjoying life as if trekking this mortality was the forever road, only until “death do us part.” Then what?

 

Familiar with the Bible stories of Jesus all my life (for which I’m grateful), perhaps I’d considered then that church-going was just another one of those joyful Sunday gatherings people would do. Other such doings included my TV viewing, enjoying an occasional movie, sports, dining out, and vacations with the family. Even perhaps some would consider as essential, saving financially to enjoy life through those so-called “golden years” of retirement. But, realizing the immortal, the truer golden years come when this mortal time is finished—“It will happen in a moment”.[7]

Except for having gone through wars, nine eleven, stolen elections, pandemics, fires, earthquakes, famines, and such, then the times were so much pleasanter. Happenings happened throughout history (since Genesis chapter three) but people got over it, or even enjoyed their life going through it all, believing better days are ahead. But not so as the Bible declares, worse days are yet to come, and even now—in this lateness of time—are here so it seems.

Matthew 24:38-39 (NLT), “In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. ³⁹ People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away...”[8]

“Signs of the times,” so to speak. And in this lateness of time, my having come to realize the greater reality I’m tired of it all, as I trek through this mortal time hearing the news of the disruption and criminal activity of mortal humanity’s seemingly breaking the law moreso than ever before. And seeing the filth even of mortal humanity’s seeming unconcern as to where they throw their trash—viewing it all scattered along the highways.

 

Hence, I’m tired of seeing the living of life simply for the mortal timeline as if it was the forever time. Seemingly, when all the troubles get settled down (but only for a time), all humanity goes back to that “normal” way of living (like the way it’s been since Genesis chapter three) as if nothing tragic had happened. (Hmm, another sense perhaps, as some may see it, that the broad road—the way of passion—is the way to go.) But I pray when the troubling times of 2020/21 clear up it will not be a return to that “normal” way of living as it once was, but a re-awakening revival to our truer purpose for our being as God ordained it to be.

 

Now there are enjoyable times even amidst the difficulties, nevertheless. But, imagining, what would living be like these days if there was no Genesis chapter three? Hmm. Would life be as it is, continuing the way it has been yet without wars and rumors of wars, storms, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, diseases, and such? Would there be high school days with students trying to figure out what they want to be when they grow up—should they go to college and train for some profitable profession perhaps, to continue at it the rest of their days, or should they just continue in the working world to find their niche in life that way?

 

“Que, sera, sera,” so goes that popular song of yesteryear, “whatever will be will be, the future’s not ours to see…” Perhaps the future is not for us to see (only one day at a time). But following Jesus (Yeshua) along the narrow way we are as His lights[9] sharing the greater reality with the lost dark world until Jesus' return. The broad road will then be no more; the evil one banished[10].

 

 

At some point, along the way of any person’s journey, as happened with me, he/she will come to a crossroad where they will have to decide for his/herself as to which way is truly the better way to go, determining their everlasting destiny.

 

For myself, I have realized the better way of living is for the immortal, trusting in Jesus, my Savior and Lord. And sensing these tiring days, as mentioned above, I’m ready to see the brilliance of the new day of Christ’s return and the entrance of the Father’s eternal immortal Kingdom, where tiredness will be no more.

 

 

Two roads (realities) there are along one’s path. Choosing the one less traveled by makes all the difference for all time and eternity, so realizing the greater reality. Nothing else should matter in traveling through these tumultuous times, except investing our time, talent, and treasure for the Kingdom of God[v] (truly the greater investment than playing the stock market or the lottery)[11] while watching for the Lord’s return.[12] But until then, it is my one prayer and expectant hope, “Come, Lord Jesus.” So was the apostle John’s in closing the book of Revelation[13]. Jesus (Yeshua) Himself shared three times, “I am coming soon”[14]. Until then, yet nearer than ever before[15], may my (and my fellow Christ-followers) primary responsibility and ever-present mindset be to speak the name of Jesus at every opportunity afforded us by the Holy Spirit, so wishing everyone a blessed day.

Journeying through this dark evil world, Eternity in view, realizing the greater reality as if seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, how can we go on living now as if those MANufractured artifices—those “towers of Babel” (costly high-rises: offices and apartments, TV,  the Hollywood craves, careers, desired possessions, passions, wealth, etc.) of this mortal time was all that mattered (see Matthew 6:19-21[vi])?

Considering Colossians 3:1-3[vii], the words of a familiar hymn may come to mind: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus  Look full in His wonderful face  And the things of earth will grow strangely dim  In the light of His glory and grace”

 

Hence, all that's happening in the world today, particularly my mortal native homeland, I see the world as a whole different world than I had known it in my pleasurable youth years and before all the current happenings had happened. My driving about, the freeways and surface streets, about my errands, etc., viewing the structures of humanity’s doings, my mind considers, “it’s a perishing world, all being stored up for fire.”[16]

Construction, destruction, re-construction has been happening throughout history according to the advancement of technology. Shopping centers, malls, stores, businesses, etc, so looking forward to the “grand opening,” but who knows when/if that grand closing will come. Structures and highways wear out as time passes and in need of repair, updated, or torn down to keep up with the current time. (Yet, “Jesus Christ is the same [and most essential] yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas…” Hebrews 13:8-9, NLT [brackets mine]) Ah, nothing else indeed matters except the works of God—consider 2 Peter 3:9-13[viii].

Thank you, God, for getting me to realize the more important reality. I’m so looking forward to meeting Jesus in the air. What will that be like? Until then, realizing the absolute for the relative, may I never again get so wrapped up in the things of this temporal time. “The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death,” Proverbs 12:28, NLT.

Serving until the Lord's return in the cause so stated in Matthew 6:33[ix], we serve in His care. “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?... Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:26, 33 NLT

What is (Real) Life?

(Real) Life Is (faithful) Followers of Elohim—God, the Almighty three-in-one Creator, who brought everything into being by His spoken command. Real L I F E, is proper living through repentance and faith, in the Lord Jesus (Adonai Yeshua), the Christ (Messiah); living to the praise and glory of God, trusting for His provision as we journey through this temporal time, as light-bearers and salt-spreaders sharing the Good News, that the (other) world, too, may realize the real L I F E = Living In Fellowship with Elohim. (Real) life is more than the often frivolous fascinations of this mortal time.

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[1] See Matthew 7:13-14

[2] See Matthew 5:13-16

[3] See Genesis 1-2

[4] See Genesis 2:15-17

[5] See Isaiah 14:12-15

[6] See Genesis 11:1-9; cf. 2 Timothy 3:1-9

[7] See 1 Corinthians 15:52-57

[8] Cf. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

[9] See Matthew 5:13-16

[10] See Revelation 20:7-10

[11] See Luke 12:20-22 12:18-21

[12] See Matthew 24:36-51; Mark 13:31-37

[13] See Revelation 22:20

[14] See Revelation 22:7, 12, 20

[15] “nearer than ever before” = no prediction, just a weird sense. Praise God that there’s more to life than this mortal time; if mortality was all there was to life there would be no real meaning to living.

[16] See 2 Peter 3

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[i] From The Pilgrim’s Progress, “…that the highway up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either side with a wall and that wall was called Salvation. (Isaiah 26:1) Up this way, therefore, did burden Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back…” Consider viewing Revelation Media’s animated film of The Pilgrim's Progress.

 

[ii] The Life Application Study Bible (LASB), notes on Genesis 2:7, [brackets mine], “…[Our earthly] body is a lifeless shell until God brings it alive with the ‘breath of life.’ When God removes his ‘life-giving’ breath our bodies once again return to dust. Our life and worth, therefore, come from God’s Spirit. Many boast of their achievements and abilities as though they were the originator of their own strengths. Others feel worthless because their abilities do not stand out. In reality, our worth comes not from our achievements but from the God of the universe, who chooses to give us the mysterious and miraculous gift of life…”

[iii] Note on Jeremiah 1:5, “God knew you, as he knew Jeremiah, long before you were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you. When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable and that he has a purpose in mind for you,” LASB.”

[iv] Note on Genesis 3:1, “Disguised as a shrewd serpent Satan came to tempt Eve. At one time, Satan had been a glorious angel. But in pride, he rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. As a created being, Satan has definite limitations. Although he trying to tempt everyone away from God, he will not be the final victor. In 3:14,15, God promises that Satan will be crushed by one of the woman’s offspring, the Messiah,” LASB.

[v] Note on Matthew 25:24-30, “…We must not make excuses to avoid doing what God calls us to do. If God is our Master, we must obey willingly. Our time, abilities, and money aren’t ours in the first place—we are caretakers, not owners. When we ignore, squander, or abuse what we are given, we are rebellious and deserve to be punished,” LASB.

[vi] Note on Matthew 6:21, “Jesus made it clear that having wrong treasures leads to our hearts being in the wrong place. What we treasure the most controls us, whether we admit it or not. If possessions or money become too important to us, we must reestablish control or get rid of the items. Jesus calls for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen eternal values over temporary, earthly treasures,” LASB.

[vii]  Colossians 3:1-3 NLT, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ² Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. ³ For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”

[viii] Note on 2 Peter 3:13, “God’s purpose for people is not destruction but re-creation (see Isaiah 66:22; Revelation 21-22). God will purify the heavens and earth with fire; then he will create them anew. We can joyously look forward to the restoration of God’s good world” LASB.

[ix] Note on Matthew 6:33 [brackets mine], “To ‘seek the Kingdom of God above all else’ means to put God first in [lives], to fill [our] thoughts with his desires, to take his character for [our] pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. What is really important…? People, objects, goals, and other desires all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly become most important to [us] if [we] don’t actively choose to give God first place in every area of [our lives],” LASB

Consider the Steps to Peace with God; see how to cross over to the narrow road.