IT IS FINISHED!

 

“IT IS FINISHED!” The greatest victory cry that still resounds throughout Creation.

“it is finished!” The warfare between The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan for the eternal destiny of each individual.

“it is finished!” The icy grip of Death and Its despair has been broken.

 Those three words were uttered by Jesus from the cross of Calvary. What appeared as an execution by authorities with undiluted malice towards Jesus, had far deeper implications. Jesus had come with a mission to fulfil. It was not a single issue to be fought over, but many facets with eternal consequences.

 We major on what those words mean for us, such as forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope. However, my mind cannot grasp the breadth of Christ’s victory and its implications. Have you ever sat down [you need to, for it will take time] and considered what “it is finished!”  embraces?

 The promises inherent within the Jewish Temple sacrificial system have been fulfilled. Jesus is the Passover Lamb. He has paid Sin’s price. He has stripped Death of its haunting power and binding fear. As 'the Lamb of God’ He crushed the Serpent called Satan. Where did this take place? In the darkness which enveloped the world that 3pm of the crucifixion day.

 Daniel predicted that on the 69^th week of a 70 week of years from a specific date in the time of Nehemiah the Messiah would be cut off. That is, suffer death. This has been calculated to be the time when Jesus was crucified. “it is finished!” What Daniel 9:24-26 detailed has been completed.

 Isaiah 53 predicted there would be One called to be The Suffering Servant who would take Judgement upon Himself as a substitute for Israel. The Gospels and New Testament confirm this promised person as Jesus. “it is finished!” is His testimony from Calvary.

 In writing to the Christians at Colossae, the apostle Paul highlighted what Jesus secured for we Gentiles. In the letter to the Colossians in 2:10-15 is a ‘breathtaking’ explanation of “it is finished!” Christ has made us alive to God, we who had been dead to Him before. The charges listed against us had been paid for and wiped off our record. It was as though above the crucified Jesus was the charges listed, nailed and Christ’s blood declaring, ‘paid in full!’

 What the cry “it is finished!” also points to is ‘Now This Will Happen!’  What is involved in ‘This?’ We can be pardoned. We have a new destiny. We have a new song of faith, hope and love. We have a new relationship with Jesus and a new mission from Him. There is also the prophecies concerning the land and people of Israel, the return of Jesus to judge and reign and the rapture of the church. They are some of what are ahead for the inhabitants of earth and the Lord calls you to believe Him and be ready.

Copyright Ray H. October 2020.

The Warrior Wife

  

I love discovering the meaning behind words. There are certain cultural shades of meaning which can be overlooked or misunderstood by translators from a different culture and mindset.

 Not understanding Hebrew (and most other languages) I like to listen to those emmeshed in or from a particular culture. Happened a very short time ago. Discussion got around to Biblical matters and Genesis in particular, which is a strong interest of mine.

“Did you know” my guest said, “the word for Eve has a military implication?”

“No! In what way?” I had in mind pictures of the super hero ‘Miss America.’   

“Nothing like that, and yet maybe there are shadows of it.”

 The word translated as ‘help-meet’ (Genesis 2:18) is the Hebrew word ‘ezer kenedgo’ (EZER = Helper. KENEDGO = Suitable) - and has a military meaning. The following verses from the Bible all translate ‘EZER’ as help.

I am poor and needy: make haste unto me O God: you are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying. Psalm 70:5

 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield, Psalm 115:11.

 I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from where my help come. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth, Psalm 121:1-2.

 There are numerous other passages endorsing the imagery of ‘Helper’ being a military concept. I do like Psalm 121 in this light. I’m a pilgrim in this life and sometimes feel alone. However, the Lord I serve isn’t confined to the hills or valley’s but is responsive to my need, my call. This re-enforced by the title He bears, ‘The Lord of Hosts’ and ‘The Captain of the Lord’s Army.’

 When applied to Eve’s role with Adam the word ‘EZER’ expresses equality of rank, service and responsibility. One aspect of her role is to protect Adam’s back and also assist his advance. Should he fall, she stands guard. Should he advance, she is with him. should they be assailed, they stand together. Should either of them receive honour or recognition, both are included.

 Within the Christian scene this great analogy for a husband and wife can only be distorted by disobeying the Commanding Officer, The Lord Jesus Christ. If that happens, He has promised a ‘court-marshal.’

 ©Ray Hawkins September 23 2020.

Racism.

 Racism is colour coded. At this moment the Black Lives Matter [BLM] see it as a white privilege colour. At the same time those with a different skin colour can and often do view others’ colour with suspicion.

Two main factors feed into and feed upon Race Discrimination. One is the theory of Evolution. This relegates races from inferior to superior and is affected by [could I add, infected by] a judgement stemming from a person’s country and culture. This theory by the arch racist, Charles Darwin, has been responsible for unnumbered deaths.

The other contributing factor is found in the human heart. Within it is a twisted, self-seeking and unpleasant principle called Sin. Though all are infected, it will and does use the Racism issue for its own gain or revenge. That is so easily seen in the BLM inspired violence and burnings rather than pursuing justice.

There isn’t one Nation, nor one person immune from this poisonous attitude. How then can it be subdued and controlled? One, the theory of Evolution must be overturned. This is only possible by the teaching of the Judeo-Christian Bible. It declares in the beginning God created … Adam and Eve. From this couple came Humanity. We are one blood. What is happening when Racism runs riot, is actually ‘Family Abuse.’ That means the Creator of the human family will one day call the perpetrators to account. That will not be a good day or  result in a good outcome.

The other need is for an inner experience which can change and dominate the inner twisted sin nature. That requires the One with the authority and skill to perform such a life changing task. The Person appointed to do it, is Jesus Christ. His requirement is that you, individually, place your life in His care. This requires an act of trust.

Jesus, as Lord and Saviour, cleanses and forgives the person and implants a new life’s principle. It is the Grace and knowledge of God. It, is nurtured by reading the Bible and worship. There are many wonderful facets to this new inner principle, one being Love. It is an inner power to love God, love yourself and love others. This is the best and the only long-lasting answer to Racism.

For more details on Creation and the beginning of Humanity and how our different skin colour came to be, Google ‘Answers in Genesis’ [Ken Ham] and/or ‘Creation Research’ [John Mackay].

©Ray Hawkins September 2020

Come and See

They said to him “Rabbi, where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” John 1:39

 The four Gospels are required to give us an understanding of the formation of a disciple. We appreciate this as we follow the lives of the first men to check out Jesus and then throw their lives into His service. Similar principles apply today.What caused Andrew and the other disciple to get to investigate Jesus more closely? The words of John the Baptist aroused their interest by the statement ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’’ The term ‘Lamb of God’ so permeated their upbringing and National psych it drove them to know more about this Jesus. Can you reflect upon some incident, or person, that motivated you to give a more detailed consideration of the Man from Galilee?

 Why did they ask Jesus about his lodgings? Presumably, they had the intent Lamb of God,ion of dropping by one day. Jesus took their inquiry and turned it into an invitation, “Come and see.” He didn’t bombard them with irrefutable proofs about Himself and His ministry. Rather, Jesus gave them ‘breathing space’ to simply get to know Him even though Jesus knew them. This also applies to His dealings with us.

 I wonder what they saw! What did they hear? What did they ask? Whatever took place they wanted more, and they needed to share what they had found. Andrew’s conviction about Jesus is revealed in his comment to Peter, “We have found the Messiah.” That is intriguing. Building on John the Baptist’s words, whatever Andrew asked, or answers Jesus gave, a conviction was born. Over the next three years Andrew and the others would have that statement of faith severely tested. This will be true for you and any others who come to the same conclusion on the evidence presented.

 From a prophetic statement of John a monumental movement began because Jesus simply said “Come and see.” A look down the time tunnel of history sees similar incidents occurring when individuals have an encounter with the Messiah. Such names as Augustine, Francis of Assis1, Martin Luther, John Wesley, C.T. Studd and a myriad of others spring to mind. You will, undoubtedly, have your own list.

As you read the account of the first disciples in John chapter one there is a going intensity in understanding this Jesus. Simon has a major make-over with his name. He will be called Cephas which means a piece of stone. It would be some time before the unstable components of his character were forged into the significance his new name. That is something similar to our experiences. When we meet the Master and yield to Him we are given a new name. However, it will take the daily pressures of life interacting with our faith in Christ for our new name to ring true.

On what was probably the third day Jesus begins to move back to Galilee. Why did Philip respond to Jesus invitation “Follow me?” How did he come to the conviction that Jesus was the fulfilment of what Moses and the Law pointed to?  In sharing it with Nathaniel this conviction aroused what today would be a politically incorrect comment “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

 Once again the personal encounter with Jesus and Nathanael illustrated the grace of the Lord. In combining the six individual encounters with Jesus there is a movement of conviction summed up by man under the fig tree. “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Easy words! Words Jesus accepted but He knew they would be tested later. For us, when we come and see this Jesus and place our trust in Him, our words will be tested. We can go further than the original six statements whilst agreeing with them. For we believe Jesus is the crucified and risen Saviour of the World, the promised Messiah, Son of God, Lord of Glory. We have bowed by faith before Him and in the words of Thomas called Him “My Lord and My God!” (John 20:28).

 All that began for us, as it did for the disciples because Jesus through His servants says similar words to us, as to the original six “Come and see!”

 

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Wise Words --- Ecclesiastes 12:6-14.

The book of Ecclesiastes is a collection of wise words. Strange then that it opens with ‘Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.’ Stranger still is the fact that as it nears its conclusion the words are repeated. It seems to me that this is actually the end result of ignoring, rejecting or ridiculing God’s wise words. All ages should read this collection of sacred and secular wisdom and know its profit to heart and mind, relationship and motivation.

 The preacher, as he is called, concluded his insights to life and his testimony with incisive words for all, and especially for writers.  ‘The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. He likened that which was included within the collection to ‘goads and nails’ Ecclesiastes 12:10-11. Apparently in the days of the Preacher you needed to insert any nails where you wanted them as you built the wall. This was due to the fact that such structures were either too hard or fragile to have nails hammered in.

Be that as it may, when applied to our writing the principle is correct. The penetrating force of our words is woven into the story, not something simply attached later. Whether we write fiction or non-fiction our writings needs to have in them some goads and nails. These are for the Lord to use as He uses our stories to construct His dwelling within a reader’s life. As the reader journeys with us through the story, let us hope and pray something written goads them. A goad is a stick with a sharp point and is used to stick into the rump of the oxen. Such a reaction may well produce a kick-back or quicken the conscience. It can cause an about turn in behaviour (C/- Acts 9:5) an awakening to a greater understanding of our Lord and His call upon their lives. How many of us have read a book and felt the conscience react to something? Great! Your Lord has purpose in mind to goad you out of something or into something. If you feel somewhat reluctant, that’s okay. Think about all God’s reluctant servants whose names and deeds are honoured in Scripture and Church history.

The ‘nails’ are word pictures or illustrations upon which the reader can hang his heart or mind and know it will not give way. It could be something the Holy Spirit puts on it which is a constant irritation until resolved. You know, verses calling on you to worship when you’d rather be surfing, or learn to pray instead of playing with phone games.  Then, when acted upon it becomes a blessing! In the gallery of the mind there will be many ‘nails’ on which pictures, ornaments and other items will be placed. In our writing we should offer the best to be placed in another’s gallery. Some things we may have previously delighted in and had framed have become an embarrassment. The trouble is, they cannot be taken down. What the life changing Lord does with them is graffiti them. The Holy Spirit writes across them with the poured out life of Jesus ‘forgiven. Cleansed. Cancelled.’

 Being bookish type people we know the quote, ‘Of making many books there is no end and much study wearies the body.’ Ecclesiastes 12: 12. Your shelves probably echo “Amen!” However if my understanding is correct this statement is actually a warning. For in the preceding verses he is highlighting the words, proverbs and sayings of the one Shepherd. By my understanding that is a significant term for our Lord. The writer of Ecclesiastes concluded his own insights with a call for the recognition of priorities. There will always be new books and reprints on the market to capture our time, hearts and minds. Just make sure you do not neglect the most important, the most stimulating and the most spiritually enriching book for all time. That is, the book written by the Shepherd through the life experiences of His ‘pens’, the prophets, priests, apostles and faithful servants.

As the preacher is giving instruction to his son there is always ‘and further’ attached. ‘Be admonished’ arouses in the mind a sense of being prodded or disciplined into action. However, the Hebrew word holds within it such concepts as, teach, warn and shine. What the boy’s father is wanting to see is the words of the wise, the masters of the assembly and the one shepherd ‘shine’ into his heart and mind. That holds true for you and me today. What we allow to shine into our heart will teach us, warn us, guide us – or it will corrupt us, lead us astray and produce ignorance. The same applies to what you write. Will the light it shines open the heart and mind reveal the wonder of God’s grace, creation, providence, character?

 His concluding words remain true.

'Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.'

 This isn’t a grovelling attitude of terror but a recognition of God's holiness and power. For Christians, this fear is also a reverence flavoured by gratitude and amazement. By His mercy Jesus is able to deal with those secret things of the heart. What the Lord requires is when His light reveals these dark areas to confess them and hand them over to be dealt with and a new freedom to be experienced.

 

Ray Hawkins.