I’ve been listening to George R. R. Martin’s A CLASH OF KINGS and heard this today:
“A man agrees with god as a raindrop with the storm.”
It was a good reminder about having an appropriate perspective.
Archives For November 30, 1999
U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner confesses (AFP/Getty Images)
In his statement, Rep. Weiner said, “I have made terrible mistakes”, “I have not been honest”, and also described his actions as “dumb,” “destructive” and “deeply, deeply hurtful.”
While you or I may not have done similar actions, we probably could use some of the same words and/or phrases to describe some of our actions.
As his press conference played on the CNN feed in my office, the following words of Jesus came to mind:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:1-5
“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone…”
John 8:3-8
I’m moving on and worrying about my own life…
As I sat out on a patio last night looking up at the night sky, this song came to mind.
I fondly recall singing it in high school choir and it always comes to mind to when I gaze at creation.
[YouTube link]
OK, so it wasn’t today – but it could have been…
…it could be tomorrow, three weeks from tomorrow, or 1,000 years from next Thursday…
The truth is: no man will know. NO MAN.
Think about it, if someone were to figure out when Christ was returning, that would diminish God.
It would effectively mean that He was “figured out” – negating Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
I want an unfathomable God. I need a God who is beyond my comprehension; yet, at the same time, approachable, kind, and all the many awesome characteristics that we know about Him through His Word and the other ways He reveals Himself to us.
SO what are we to do?
I really appreciate how Albert Mohler put it last week:
- “First, Christ specifically admonished his disciples [followers] not to claim such knowledge. [Acts 1:7 and Matthew 24:36]
- Second, the Bible does not contain hidden codes that we are to find and decipher. The Bible has been given to us in order that we might know the truth, and the truth is clearly revealed in its pages.
- Third, Christians are indeed to be looking for Christ to return and seeking to be found faithful when Christ comes. We are not to draw a line in history and set a date, but we are to be about the Father’s business, sharing the Gospel and living faithful Christian lives.”
So how will it happen?
“…in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:52
But, no man will know. NO MAN.
Would it be nice to know when Christ will return? Maybe it would.
But think about it – would we then be conditional worshipers? Would we project our obedience or frame our lives in the shadow of “The Date”?
Or, would we be better worshipers by bring continual glory to God as we worship Him each and every day that he gives us here on earth – living expectant, yet worshipful lives?
I’ll strive for the latter – stumbling all the way…
The belt buckle in the picture was my dad’s. I can remember him wearing it a lot. He lived an expectant and worshipful life. I keep it in our room to think about him. He’s already worshiping Christ perfectly in heaven.
I read this the other day:
Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps. Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure—not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing. — Jeremiah 10:23-24
…a bold prayer, in deed.
You may have seen these billboards or read about this…
Great post about this at Albert Mohler’s blog.
“In Hebrews 9:28, we are taught that Christ will come a second time “to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” That is the faithful Christian response to the New Testament teachings about Christ’s coming. The church is not to be arrogantly setting dates, but instead to be eagerly waiting for him. Of that we can be truly certain.” — Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr
Read the full post: The End is Near? The False Teaching of Harold Camping
What are your thoughts about this?
This verse punched me this morning:
He [Hezekiah] … broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.
2 Kings 18:4 (NIV)
wow, silly Israelites. (be honest, you know you’ve thought that when reading the Bible. We’d never do the stuff “they” do…)
Yet, how easy it is for us to misplace our worship…even when “good” things are involved.
We focus on a song, a place, a person, a building, a sermon, a feeling, a ministry, a cause, etc. and the way they impacted, made, or make us feel…
… instead of focusing on God.
We assign value to and worship our personal or church-created “bronze snakes” rather than our awesome, holy, and forever-worthy God.
Friday and Sunday were HUGE for those who follow Jesus. Those days, the things that Christ did and accomplished are what distinguish the Christian life and worship from other religions. We worship a risen savior!
At the some time, it’s easy to get caught observing them, celebrating them in a macro sense: “For God so loved the world…”
I pray that we also observe and celebrate them just as much in a micro sense: “For God so loved <insert your name here>…”
Christ suffered, died, and rose for the world and for each person personally at the same time.
Don’t miss that.
Continue Reading…
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