I think one of my biggest frustrations with Christians today is that they don't try to understand what God desires in His relationship with us. And I emphasize the word try. In these days of instant gratification, it seems to me that many believers don't really want to put in the work to get to know their Creator. They want a twenty-minute formulated sermon that makes them feel they are in touch with God so they can go about their busy lives and not have to think or put much effort into what is the most important relationship in their lives.
Sadly, the advent of technology and social media have given us the means to shortcut this relationship. Apps like Hallow, YouVersion, and Our Daily Bread offer readers anywhere from a minute or two, to a half hour of devotions, snippets of Scripture, or Biblical topics -- all in "high-design, user-friendly layouts", as one app describes. I'm not passing judgment on the credibility or veracity of these apps. In fact, I suppose I'm happy that these apps are available, in contrast to the violent, sexual, and blatantly anti-Christ apps that are too easily accessible to vulnerable members of our society.
The point of my post today is to address the community of my fellow Christians who find just a few moments in the Word satisfactory; those who have not taken the time to read the ultimate source book from which we can know and understand our God ... the Bible. Isn't He worth more? It is so important to developing this relationship and gaining the knowledge of how to live a joyous, purposeful, fulfilled, consequential, and impactful life in association with the Creator of the entire Universe. It's that important for us -- and for the world -- and it's worthy of our time and study.
Furthermore, while there are many good podcasts and online videos from people who share their insights, theology, and Biblical worldviews [I enjoy them, too], they are no substitute for our own pursuit of knowledge and relationship with God. When we put in the time and effort to seek [for ourselves] who God is, and who we are in Him, we open our minds, souls, and spirits to the guidance and teaching of the Holy Spirit, whose instruction comes straight from Heaven.
And when I say it's not that hard to understand what God desires in our mutual relationship, I mean that the underlying principles are easy to understand -- if you are willing to receive them. Once accepted, there are responsibilities that come with committing to this relationship, and it will require our agreement [and action] to abide by God's structure for the reconciliation He desires and we desperately need. And then we must decide to seek more of Him. Two vital Biblical principals run through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation: 1) God's plan and promises to mankind of a Kingdom in which we can reside with Him for eternity; and 2) in response to His promises, we have a responsibility to live a holy and sanctified life that glorifies Him [i.e., we are set apart to live a life free from sin].
That involves making a personal commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ [as our Savior from sin]; and by His Grace we become a member of God's family, which we receive by faith. Unfortunately, many stop there. Their Salvation is as far as they go in understanding their relationship with God. They never advance to seeking the Kingdom of God, which is our ultimate destination. Yes, our salvation offers us spiritual regeneration and restoration, but there's so much more to understanding the fullness of what our relationship is meant to be with God.
Let me give you this abbreviated synopsis of God's design for our ultimate restoration to Him ... Remember, first of all, He created mankind for fellowship with Him; think of Adam and Eve "walking in the coolness of the day" with Him. That's the intimacy that freedom from sin affords us. Next, mankind was created to reflect His moral qualities and characteristics. Finally, mankind was to be a steward and in His image], a king over the rest of God's creation. But when Sin entered the Garden and our ancestors accepted the temptation to sin, then the hope of those Godly principles and an eternal presence with our Creator was negated. Physical and Spiritual Death became a by-product of their disobedience.
But God didn't abandon His original plan. He just developed a "new strategy". He ordained that a part of Himself would enter the realm of mankind [as His Son] and pay the price for our sins, thereby removing physical death as an impediment to entering into a restored relationship with God, the Father, and fulfilling His promise of an eternal home with Him in Heaven.
Here's the part that I think most Christians miss ... Adam was created with the responsibility to be a Prophet, Priest, and King. He walked with God and was taught by Him, with the intention of then teaching his family all that God revealed [as a Prophet]. At the inception of his placement in the Garden, Adam had no sin, so he was qualified to stand before God, as a holy man [a Priest]. As a King, he had command over all that God created -- until he sinned. Once sin entered the Garden, there was alienation between our Holy God and sinful man. Adam [and mankind] lost those "offices" ordained by the Creator.
God then moved on with His plan until He could send Christ to fulfill the roles of Prophet/Priest/King. He designated Abraham as the father of God's anointed nation of Israel (and ultimately the father of all who would have faith in Israel's Messiah). He then sent Prophets through the years to speak for [and on behalf of] God to the nation of Israel, and future believers. He then appointed the tribe of Levi to fill the priestly role, conducting sacrifices in the Tabernacle and to serve as mediators on behalf of the people to God. Lastly, Judah became the kingly tribe, from which David became the first ordained King, until this "office" was fulfilled by Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe and Heaven.
This is basically the revelation of God's desire in the entirety of the Old Testament. But there is SO MUCH MORE to be revealed of God and His character and plan -- if we are willing to devote our hearts to experiencing His Word and encountering Him personally! We will discover that there was not one Prophet, Priest, or King upon whom the Spirit of God would rest and remain, or who could reconcile mankind to God. There was prophecy God made at the beginning that "the seed of the woman" would crush the head of Satan, who continued to reign throughout the Old Testament. The last words of the Prophet Malachi in the Old Testament left the longings of God for reconciliation with man, and the promise of His Kingdom unfulfilled.
At the end of the Old Testament man is still awaiting that promised and perfect king who would usher in God's Kingdom on earth. The New Testament opens with a declaration by John the Baptist for all to "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near". Yes, Jesus came to restore God's chosen nation, Israel, to His bosom, but they misunderstood the restoration and kingdom He was bringing. For centuries, they believed that YHWH would send them a Messiah [Anointed One] to restore Israel to a powerful political position with a King that would defeat Rome. But Jesus came to bring them a spiritual restoration and spiritual kingdom; a form of reconciliation they didn't want. They didn't recognize that He was offering them a way to receive eternal forgiveness of their sins [Salvation] and a way to enter the Kingdom in Heaven.
We then see God pivot again, setting Israel [temporarily] aside to offer His revelation of eternal deliverance from sin [through faith in Jesus] to all the world; this time through the Body of Christ who would spread the Good News of God's plan throughout the world. But the Good News includes the truth that one day, Israel will be restored once again to receive God's favor, and Jesus will, at that time, become their King and will rule over them.
Today, the New Testament reveals that God's Kingdom exists now in the sense that Christ, our King, is present in the hearts of His followers and preparing the faithful who will spiritually inherit the fulfillment of the Kingdom that is still to come at His Second Coming. He is the Present and Future King! Until He comes on the Earth once again, we see the physical and spiritual battle between the righteous and the wicked. But when that day comes, the Day of the Lord, we will see the power and judgment of Christ, and the ushering in of the 1,000 year reign of Christ on the earth.
It is my belief that at the end of that reign, in which people will still be born into sin, we will see Satan's final attempt to defeat God's plan for mankind, and he and his wicked followers will be banished once and for all to the depths of hell. You may have a different opinion as to the final timeline of events, but that is exactly why we should all commit ourselves to read and develop our own Biblical worldview. Your understanding could well determine not only your rewards in Heaven, but the fate of another human being that God longs to welcome into His heavenly kingdom.
Don't world events tell us that it's time to understand what God wants us to know about Him and His divine plan for all mankind? Do you understand His Holiness? Do you know the power of Jesus's Blood to cleanse you of your sins? Do you understand that you have a responsibility and a purpose to represent [and help bring in] the Kingdom of God? If not, then I humbly ask you to find the answers in the Bible ... Read the Word of God every day; Obey what God commands within its pages; Seek Christ [and your relationship with Him] within the Word; and finally, look and anticipate His coming. That will be a glorious day -- and perhaps sooner than any of us expect -- when we will reap the benefits and rewards of seeking His presence. I pray that the Lord blesses you with the power and joy that comes with His revelation in the Word!
2 Corinthians 6:16-18. "I will dwell among them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. So come out from among unbelievers and be separate" says the Lord, "And do not touch what is unclean; And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor], and I will be a Father you, and you will be My sons and daughters," says the Lord Almighty.
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