Each second leads to the next, each minute leads to the next, each hour leads to the next, each day leads to the next, each week leads to the next, each month leads to the next, each year leads to the next, each decade leads to the next, each century leads to the next, each millenium leads to the next. It would seem as though it’s endless but it’s not. He who set it in motion will put it to a stop.
He alone transcends time. To transcend can mean, “to pass beyond the limits of”, “to be greater than, as in intensity or power; surpass,” or “to exist above and independent of (material experience or the universe)”.
Firstly, He passes beyond the limits of time. We know from Scripture that God defined the limits of time. “In the beginning,” we are told, “God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Further on, we read that, “God called the light ‘day’ and the darkness he called ‘night’” (Genesis 1:5). Finally, on the fourth day of creation, God made the stars to “serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years” (Genesis 1:14). Surely, the One who defined the limits of time may pass beyond its limits.
God is greater in intensity and power than time. He is not temporal; He is eternal. That is, God has no beginning and He has no end. “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Psalm 90:2).
Finally, God is above and independent of time. He spoke through the prophet Isaiah saying, “Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:8-10).
Monday, December 10, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 29, 2007
I was reading in the Pioneer Press this morning and found an article that caught my eye. It’s entitled, “Roberts says God told him to resign”. The article basically is reporting that Richard Roberts (son of Oral Roberts) resigned as president of Oral Roberts University because God told him to. Close to the end of the article, the phrase, “the Lord said,” jumped out at me. It made me a bit nervous. How can one know with confidence and assurance what “the Lord said”?
The Roberts’ are well known for their preaching of the “prosperity gospel”. The prosperity gospel when summarized might sound something like this: You have a God-shaped hole in your heart that only He can fill but Jesus died so you can experience peace, joy, love, and lasting happiness (e.g. money). This “gospel” is a false one because one may experience peace, joy, love, and lasting happiness and end up in hell. The Jesus of the Bible on the other hand commands that all men everywhere repent. God’s word is power unto salvation (see Romans 1:16).
His Word tells us how to experience prosperity: “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity” (Proverbs 3:1-2). With some form of “Thus saith the Lord” used in Scripture more than 2,500 times, I think it is the only way we can know with confidence and assurance what “the Lord said”.
The Roberts’ are well known for their preaching of the “prosperity gospel”. The prosperity gospel when summarized might sound something like this: You have a God-shaped hole in your heart that only He can fill but Jesus died so you can experience peace, joy, love, and lasting happiness (e.g. money). This “gospel” is a false one because one may experience peace, joy, love, and lasting happiness and end up in hell. The Jesus of the Bible on the other hand commands that all men everywhere repent. God’s word is power unto salvation (see Romans 1:16).
His Word tells us how to experience prosperity: “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity” (Proverbs 3:1-2). With some form of “Thus saith the Lord” used in Scripture more than 2,500 times, I think it is the only way we can know with confidence and assurance what “the Lord said”.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
So I’m thinking about worship for youth group on Wednesday. One of the songs I picked is “Everlasting God”. The song is based on Isaiah 40:27-31 which says, "Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God?’ Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
The two words that jump out at me are “weary” and “everlasting”. “Weariness” is defined as “temporary loss of strength or energy resulting from hard physical or mental work”. I would go as far to add that one could be emotionally weary. A synonym could be “drained”. “Everlasting” is an adjective meaning “continuing forever or indefinitely”. I think the connotation of the word distinguishes it slightly from the word “eternal”. Eternal, it seems to me, relates to a temporal mindset whereas everlasting has no bounds. The key distinguishing word is indefinitely.
When I think of the word “everlasting”, I think of the “Everlasting Gobstopper”. Its flavor lasts indefinitely (or it’s supposed to). In just the same way, God’s power lasts indefinitely, His strength lasts indefinitely; He lasts indefinitely.
How do we tap into the Everlasting so that He will give us strength when we’re weary and increase our power when we’re weak? It is simply this: Hope in the Lord.
The two words that jump out at me are “weary” and “everlasting”. “Weariness” is defined as “temporary loss of strength or energy resulting from hard physical or mental work”. I would go as far to add that one could be emotionally weary. A synonym could be “drained”. “Everlasting” is an adjective meaning “continuing forever or indefinitely”. I think the connotation of the word distinguishes it slightly from the word “eternal”. Eternal, it seems to me, relates to a temporal mindset whereas everlasting has no bounds. The key distinguishing word is indefinitely.
When I think of the word “everlasting”, I think of the “Everlasting Gobstopper”. Its flavor lasts indefinitely (or it’s supposed to). In just the same way, God’s power lasts indefinitely, His strength lasts indefinitely; He lasts indefinitely.
How do we tap into the Everlasting so that He will give us strength when we’re weary and increase our power when we’re weak? It is simply this: Hope in the Lord.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
I went to the Oasis Prayer Service at church last night. It was in one word – powerful. There’s nothing like the combined power of praise and prayer. Both are about God – not us.
I got a chance to pray with Mike and he also shared with me about Esther. We are told in scripture that the women chosen to go before the king had to go through twelve months of beauty treatments. “And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given to her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace” (Esther 2:13). Then in verse 15, we are told that when Esther’s turn came “…she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested…” She won the favor of everyone – most importantly, the king. It was all because she asked, “What does the king want?”
What do you want, King Jesus? What would please You?
I got a chance to pray with Mike and he also shared with me about Esther. We are told in scripture that the women chosen to go before the king had to go through twelve months of beauty treatments. “And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given to her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace” (Esther 2:13). Then in verse 15, we are told that when Esther’s turn came “…she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested…” She won the favor of everyone – most importantly, the king. It was all because she asked, “What does the king want?”
What do you want, King Jesus? What would please You?
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
In the movie "Black Sheep" there's a scene where actor Chris Farley is helping his brother campaign by putting up posters. He is in a forest area and he puts a poster on every.single.tree. When he puts up the last one, he falls down this huge hill and when he gets to the bottom he exclaims, "What was that all about?!"
I had one of those moments yesterday because of Sunday night. I thought everything was fine while I was talking to my girlfriend on the phone but then she started to feel down. I asked her why and she claimed that she didn't even know why. Then yesterday I just talked to her online and encouraged her and told her how much I love her. After that she was all...bubbly...
My point? I barely understood any of it. And I still don't understand why she was down.
I think there are some things that I will never understand. I'm also sure that Job (who I wrote about recently) had a few, "What was that all about?!" moments in the midst of his tribulation.
On the other hand, the Bible tells us about Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan. "The king asked, 'Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness?'" (2 Samuel 9:3). David wanted to lavish God's kindness on Jonathan's son who we are told was crippled in both feet. David even went as far as to invite him to always eat at his table. "Mephibosheth bowed down and said, 'What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?'" (2 Samuel 9:8). In other words, "What was that all about?!"
Mephibosheth did not deserve this kindness but we are told in verse 1 that David's motivation for showing this kindness was "for Jonathan's sake". We do not deserve God's kindness. We have been crippled by our sin yet King Jesus says, "Come!" He says, "Eat at my table." It is one of those things we may never understand -- and that is good.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him" (1 John 3:1).
I had one of those moments yesterday because of Sunday night. I thought everything was fine while I was talking to my girlfriend on the phone but then she started to feel down. I asked her why and she claimed that she didn't even know why. Then yesterday I just talked to her online and encouraged her and told her how much I love her. After that she was all...bubbly...
My point? I barely understood any of it. And I still don't understand why she was down.
I think there are some things that I will never understand. I'm also sure that Job (who I wrote about recently) had a few, "What was that all about?!" moments in the midst of his tribulation.
On the other hand, the Bible tells us about Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan. "The king asked, 'Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness?'" (2 Samuel 9:3). David wanted to lavish God's kindness on Jonathan's son who we are told was crippled in both feet. David even went as far as to invite him to always eat at his table. "Mephibosheth bowed down and said, 'What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?'" (2 Samuel 9:8). In other words, "What was that all about?!"
Mephibosheth did not deserve this kindness but we are told in verse 1 that David's motivation for showing this kindness was "for Jonathan's sake". We do not deserve God's kindness. We have been crippled by our sin yet King Jesus says, "Come!" He says, "Eat at my table." It is one of those things we may never understand -- and that is good.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him" (1 John 3:1).
Friday, September 7, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
In the book of Job, we are faced with Satan as “…the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night…” (Revelation 12:10). Revelation 12:10 goes on to say that “he has been hurled down”. The next verse is really powerful. It says, “They [the brothers] overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11).
First, Job’s livestock and family were taken away from him. Basically, everything that was precious to Job was ripped away. The goal was to make Job curse God yet Job 1:22 says, “In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”
Satan again comes before God saying, “… ‘A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face” (Job 2:4-5). Then, Satan afflicts Job with physical pain. We are told that Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. This action is a symbol of mourning. In other words, Job was depressed. To make it worse, Job’s wife tells him to curse God and die.
Again, Job maintains his integrity. “He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said” (Job 2:10).
In psychology, depression is defined as, “a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, and feelings of extreme sadness, dejection, and hopelessness.” Surely this is what Job experienced. He said, “Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor? Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness” (Job 30:25-26).
When we are stumbling around in the darkness (like Job), we need God to light the way. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). God’s word illuminates what was once darkness. He makes what was once nothing into something. Just as in the beginning, God spoke and it was, all He needs to do is speak one word. In divine fiat, it must be.
In the conclusion of Job we are told that the latter part of Job’s life was more blessed than the first part. God is faithful. He is saying to each one of us right now, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten – the great locust and the young locust, the other locust and the locust swarm – my great army that I sent among you” (Joel 2:25).
First, Job’s livestock and family were taken away from him. Basically, everything that was precious to Job was ripped away. The goal was to make Job curse God yet Job 1:22 says, “In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”
Satan again comes before God saying, “… ‘A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face” (Job 2:4-5). Then, Satan afflicts Job with physical pain. We are told that Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. This action is a symbol of mourning. In other words, Job was depressed. To make it worse, Job’s wife tells him to curse God and die.
Again, Job maintains his integrity. “He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said” (Job 2:10).
In psychology, depression is defined as, “a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, and feelings of extreme sadness, dejection, and hopelessness.” Surely this is what Job experienced. He said, “Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor? Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness” (Job 30:25-26).
When we are stumbling around in the darkness (like Job), we need God to light the way. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). God’s word illuminates what was once darkness. He makes what was once nothing into something. Just as in the beginning, God spoke and it was, all He needs to do is speak one word. In divine fiat, it must be.
In the conclusion of Job we are told that the latter part of Job’s life was more blessed than the first part. God is faithful. He is saying to each one of us right now, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten – the great locust and the young locust, the other locust and the locust swarm – my great army that I sent among you” (Joel 2:25).
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
God has a unique way of ministering through His Word. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). His Word is "living and active".
His Word was active in my life last night. God told me to read Philippians 3:20-21 which says, "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. "
His power enables him to bring everything under his control. Is God in control? If we heated the head of a pin to the temperature of the core of the sun it would kill everybody within 1,000 miles. Could Jesus swallow that pin? Yes. God is powerful. Is Jesus able to take care of all our needs and problems? Yes.
The sun is like a giant hydrogen bomb. Each second 4 million tons of the sun are converted from mass to energy. We get 1 billionth of that energy on earth. If Earth's orbit were 3 percent further away from the sun, it would be too cold and if it were 3 percent closer, it would be too hot. God made it that way and He was precise. Can I trust God to be Lord? Yes I can.
The number of electrons that pass through the filament of a light bulb in a minute is the same as the number of drops that flow over Niagara Falls in a century. Does God know that number? Yes He does. Does He know my struggles, pain, and heartache? Yes He does.
Every second, the body makes 2 to 10 million red blood cells. If all the red blood cells were lined up side by side, it would go around the earth at the equator 4 times. Is one red blood cell shed by the Savior sufficient for me? Yes. His grace is sufficient.
I know all this yet I still worry. Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own" (Matthew 6:34). Likewise, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).
His Word was active in my life last night. God told me to read Philippians 3:20-21 which says, "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. "
His power enables him to bring everything under his control. Is God in control? If we heated the head of a pin to the temperature of the core of the sun it would kill everybody within 1,000 miles. Could Jesus swallow that pin? Yes. God is powerful. Is Jesus able to take care of all our needs and problems? Yes.
The sun is like a giant hydrogen bomb. Each second 4 million tons of the sun are converted from mass to energy. We get 1 billionth of that energy on earth. If Earth's orbit were 3 percent further away from the sun, it would be too cold and if it were 3 percent closer, it would be too hot. God made it that way and He was precise. Can I trust God to be Lord? Yes I can.
The number of electrons that pass through the filament of a light bulb in a minute is the same as the number of drops that flow over Niagara Falls in a century. Does God know that number? Yes He does. Does He know my struggles, pain, and heartache? Yes He does.
Every second, the body makes 2 to 10 million red blood cells. If all the red blood cells were lined up side by side, it would go around the earth at the equator 4 times. Is one red blood cell shed by the Savior sufficient for me? Yes. His grace is sufficient.
I know all this yet I still worry. Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own" (Matthew 6:34). Likewise, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).
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