Cloud Gazing

We saw dinosaurs, mountains, faces and many fanciful designs my grandchildren and I. Where were they found? In the fleeting clouds. What a wonderful time we had as we played together. 

Afterwards, I began a trip to the clouds of Scripture courtesy of my concordance. The first mention of clouds in the Gospels is on a mountain according to Matthew 17:1-5. This followed Jesus’ words about the cross in the region of Caesarea Philippi. Rather appropriate as I think about it, first the cross then the glory. Matthew’s gospel says, ‘…a voice from the cloud said, “this is my beloved Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him.” Did Peter, James and John’s minds recall their nation’s history when God spoke to Israel out of the cloud at Mount Sinai?

Later the disciples were in for a shock as the Lord spoke about other clouds. This was in the context of future events affecting Israel and the Gentile nations. (Matthew 24). ‘Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.’ (Matthew 24:29, 30) What a great incentive to be a cloud watcher!

Jesus was accused of blasphemy in the trial leading to His crucifixion. Why" Because, the High Priest of the Jewish religion understood Jesus linked Himself to Daniel 7:13. ‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.’ This was a claim to be both God and Messiah.

If Jesus' body had remained in the tomb, the judgement of the High Priest and Sanhedrin would have been correct. The message of the angels is our victory chant at Easter time, “He is not here; He has risen!” 

Forty days later, what an emotional moment it must have been on the Mount of Olives.  Jesus was about to return to Heaven. How would they have felt as Jesus was taken up in a cloud (Acts 1:9)?  I’m sure they never lost the significance of the angel’s words when he said “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11). This is the promise also found in Revelation 1:7.

Fortunately, the Lord gave instructions that motivate His followers to make people aware of His mission and message. The heart must be occupied by Christ Jesus and the clouds, but the mind needs to be focused on service. This is our calling, the former is our hope and longing. Each disciple has their own God given or birth derived gift to exercise and refine for the Lord’s honour. The purpose of having our gifts and abilities is to express in meaningful ways the wonder of God’s transforming and enabling grace. This purpose remains for the Church until it is caught up to meet the Lord in the clouds, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. This is called 'the Rapture'. 

Then, we will see Him face to face. What a thrill, a joy awaits and what a motivation to be faithful.  

©Ray Hawkins

Who is the 'Serpent in Genesis 3?

Critics of the Bible enjoy ridiculing the book of Genesis. Zeroing in on the explanation of why there is suffering, sickness and social unrest, they try and dismiss the Bible’s message, history and prophesy. The ‘Serpent’ of Genesis three is a case in point. The image invoked is either of a talking dinosaur or slimy snake. The word used is ‘nahash’ and means shinning, upright creature. Why early translators called this as yet unrevealed creature ‘the serpent’ must have been determined by the curse imposed. That is, crawling on its stomach, therefore a snake.

Language has many ways of using words. From the literal to allegorical, from fact to fiction, parable to synonyms and so many other ways. This is compounded when translating from one language into another, especially ancient texts. In understanding the Bible, the same difficulties arise. Whilst I understand the Bible from an historical and literal framework it doesn’t mean I’m unaware of the poetical, symbolic or other descriptive terms. ‘A figure of speech is never used, except for the purpose of calling attention to, emphasising and intensifying, the reality of the literal sense, and the truth of the historical facts.’ (Bullinger in ‘The Common Bible’)

Therefore, in grasping the full meaning of the ‘Serpent, the tree and Eve’ we need to read it with the whole of Scriptures open. Like any good mystery story, the true identity of the evil genius is often not known until much later. In fact, you meet him many times within the Bible’s pages under different names. It is in the final book, Revelation, the Serpent is unmasked, he is the dragon, the old serpent, the devil and Satan, (Revelation 12). Another term is Leviathan (Isaiah 27:1) I have a blogspot about him and the Worm (9/16/2018). The apostle Paul refers to him and his angels as having the power to make themselves appear as ‘angels of light, (2 Corinthians 11:14).

 Genesis 3 paves the foundation for appreciating the mystery of evil and the spiritual force using mankind to oppose the Creator. He is called ‘the God of this world’ I John 5:19. His ambition is to usurp that which the Lord reserved for Himself, i.e. Mount Zion (Psalm 48.) and destroy the nation of the Messiah. The Serpent has endeavoured to do this through various nations such as Ancient Egypt, Babylon Nazi Germany and the current Arab countries of the Middle East. All have or will fail. You gain an insight into his unseen presence in the account of Ezekiel 28.

The Serpent in any of his disguises is unmasked as a deceiver, hater, destroyer, murderer, one who twists the Word of God. The Bible tells us that his hold over us has been broken at the cross. Colossians 2:11-15 says Jesus paid the price and cancelled the charges against us. We cannot be blackmailed over sins confessed, removed and buried. Revelation 20 outlines the ultimate destruction of the serpent and his kingdoms.

Take Genesis seriously, literal and relevant and you will find your faith is stronger, your understanding of the cross and salvation exciting, your love of Jesus deeper, your gratitude to The Father growing and the commitment to being the temple of the Holy Spirit more willing.

©Ray Hawkins 

Creation

‘Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? 

Isaiah 40:26a.

The Hubble spacecraft set off in 1990 courtesy of a lift by a space shuttle. One of its missions was to determine the Hubble Constant, that is, the rate by which the universe is expanding!  Listen to what the Scriptures have to say on this: ‘He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.’ (Isaiah 40:22).` God’s word had been telling all who read it that the heavens were being stretched out.

 When you consider creation you face two options about its beginning. One is the faith view of evolutionists. They hold to a chance beginning. We, and all that there happens to be, has taken untold billions of years. The other faith option is spelt out in the Scriptures: ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’

 Evolutionists make their claim on their view of science. This flows from their naturalistic interpretation of evidence viewed in the ‘now!’ Creationists make their claim, also using the same evidence for their interpretation of science but in the light of divine revelation. In either case you come up against an insurmountable barrier. Where did ‘Chance’ come from or ‘who made God’? Therefore in both cases the element of faith, based upon knowledge, introduces the religious factor to those in either camp.

The word for ‘create’ illustrates its uniqueness and special association with Jehovah – Elohim. From out of nothing God created the heavens and the earth. He spoke and it was done! When you look into the heavens, or into a flower or droplet of water you get a glimpse of the Lord’s beauty and power. There have always been people who deny the existence of God, any type of god. Others have corrupted the Creator’s being and character into hideous caricatures and worshipped aspects of creation rather than God Himself. Romans 1:20: ‘Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.’ 

When you read the first chapter of Genesis the word ‘Bara’ is used. This means create out of nothing, a unique beginning specified. Between Genesis 1:1 and 2:3 there are forty-six times listed to the direct act or will of God as creator. When we check out references to the creation we come across Psalm 33:6: ‘By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.’ In Jeremiah 51:15: ‘He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.’ In the New Testament all of this is summed up in the person of the Word made flesh, Jesus. John 1:1-3: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him was all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.’

We are not the end product of a heavenly experiment dragging us from the swamp to the ape and into an ‘Adam.’ The first man was God’s special creation. We will consider him in a later meditation. The very integrity of God’s creative act, the authority of His word, the foundation for our faith and the understanding of Jesus according to the Gospels hinges upon the special and separate creative acts of God, especially for Adam.

In other sections of the Bible God’s other creative work is highlighted. This includes the creation of the nation of Israel (Isaiah 43:1), a future new heaven and earth (Isaiah 65:17) and when we cry out to Him for a new heart and a new beginning (Psalm 51:10).

Therefore I am faced with a choice about authority over my faith’s foundation and understanding of God and creation. I choose to take my stand upon the Word of God for I know in whom I have believed!

The Mystery of Mysteries.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Deuteronomy 6:4.

Chance has no capacity for introducing itself. The gods of the religions of the world, past or present are untouchable, distant or indifferent. On the other hand the Lord God of the Bible reveals Himself and what He has done, and how He went about doing it. This is the exciting discovery you make from the opening verse of Genesis. 'In the beginning God ...' Throughout the Judeo-Christian Bible God has revealed Himself in and through His Names. In our English translation of the names for God we have been robbed of their meaning and the significance of when and why used. This is a shame. 

‘God’ in Genesis 1:1 is Elohim. This is the plural form of El, God. Straight away we are introduced to another mystery embracing God. For whenever the term is used it is with a verb in the singular. So? So we are confronted with an understanding of the Eternal God which stretches our heart and mind without fully comprehending its significance! Genesis 1:26: ‘Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…”’ (Emphasis added). In Isaiah 6 a similar thing takes place. “Then I (Isaiah) heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”’ Other verses could be searched out. However the most defining one is from Jesus in Matthew 28:19: ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ (Emphasis added.)

Deuteronomy 6:4 is termed by the Jewish people, ‘the Shema.’ It comes from the word, ‘hear!’ In this declaration are two names for God. There is ‘Elohim’ referring to His work in creation and there is ‘Jehovah (also translated Yahweh). We will consider Jehovah’s name later. It is His personal name. We could quite correctly translate the verse, “The Jehovah, our Elohim, the Jehovah is one.’ The mystery of the Godhead will never be explained. Christians do not worship three gods but one. Part of the reason for the coming of our Lord and Saviour to earth was so that we might focus on Him and His work. When we do that and receive Jesus Christ by faith in His work on the cross and his resurrection we are indwelt by the Godhead, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. 1 John 2: 23b .3:24. This is why the apostle Paul defines Christians as being the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit.’

 When we try to understand what God looks like we are often befuddled by artistic impressions from caricatures to master painters. I think this is one reason why Jesus never allowed any likeness of Himself to be created. In John 4:24 Jesus tells us that God is Spirit. John 10:30: ‘I and the Father are one.’ This is not referring to purpose but to essence. Again the description of Genesis 1:1 comes to the fore. The apostle Philip couldn’t get his mind around the saying of Jesus in John 14:6: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except though me.’ Philip said, show us the Father. Jesus reply? You see me and you have an understanding of the Father.' This cannot be a physical likeness. Rather it pushed Philip and so too us, to understand God in the character and actions of the One with the title, ‘Emmanuel,’ God with us.

  

Therefore as I understand, honour and obey Jesus Christ according the Scriptures I have insights into the mystery of mysteries, God.

In the Beginning

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1.

These ten English words begin a journey of knowledge, faith and revelation beyond the capacity of the human mind to exhaust. In the realm of science, they are as unalterable and confronting as another list of ten. Of course, that list is the Ten Commandments which deal with faith and morality.

Who wrote such confronting words? He must have been told about the event, not being present at the beginning. I’d suggest it was Adam who kept the record from his conversations with God. As we will discover Adam was no grunting, evolving ape. He was created fully endowed with physical, mental and spiritual capabilities beyond our comprehension.  To get some idea of this man you need to see him through the lens, as it were, of the 2^nd Adam as Jesus is called. Ultimately it would be Moses who compiled the account with other sources to give to us the first five books of Scripture.

This verse in one breath sweeps away any notion that the universe is eternal or imbued with God’s nature. Later on this is re-enforced by the announcement of Isaiah 65:17: ‘See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.’ Why was this necessary? We will consider the reason later.

The word for ‘beginning’is also translated as ‘first, chief and first-fruit.’ Would I be off beam to say God is here establishing a principle He would require from His people? They were expected to bring of the first-fruits of their crop and herds as a gift to Him. In the opening verse of the Bible the Lord God prepared a magnificent first fruit gift of His creative act for Adam and future generations. The heavens not only declare the Lord’s glory, they express His generosity.

By stating the universe and everything it in had a beginning points to the Lord as being before it. Within the pages of Scripture we come across one of His titles, Alpha and Omega. Revelation 1:8: ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’ says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’ In the Greek alphabet Alpha is the beginning and Omega is the end. Again we are confronted by a principle. The Lord claims the right by His very being as well as by His creation of Humankind to be their, our, Alpha. Only then can we be assured He will be our Omega when our life comes to its full stop. We need to heed Isaiah 45:21-22: ‘There is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Saviour; there is none like me. Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.’

If you or I take the accounts of Genesis as beautiful fiction, fantasy or fable we will succumb to a mishmash of theories. These will weaken our foundation for faith and cause malnutrition of the spirit. Genesis is fact, plain and simple it may be, but fact it remains. You will never need to apologise for your faith because God’s word is eternally true and not subject to ever recurring changes when so called scientific findings are promoted.

In the beginning, God! 

Therefore, I resolve to make it my business to build my life on the God as reveled in the Bible.

By What Authority!

The confusion caused by so many choices is evident from the supermarket to the religious scene. In matters of faith religions clamour for your attention and allegiance. How can you know the genuine from the fraudulent? Not by the wrapper. Seek out the author, creator and the guarantor of the matter.

Christians believe the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, are their authority and framework for their faith. Such convictions arise out of an understanding of its history, its integrity and survival of every attempt to destroy, discredit and deny its authenticity.  Disciples of Christ Jesus call Him Lord and Saviour because of the cross and resurrection! He accepted the inspiration of the Old Testament by such a statement as Matthew 5:18: ‘truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, nor the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.’ Christians say yes to that also!

When some followers of Jesus couldn’t handle some of Jesus’ teaching they dropped out. Jesus asked the twelve what was their intention. Peter’s reply underscore’s his conviction of the Lord’s authority and the power of His words. ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.’ (John 6:68-69).

Why is the Bible so important?

Many reasons can be forthcoming ranging from historical accounts of former nations and events to prophetic insights, especially concerning Christ Jesus. There are warnings and blessings associated with matters of faith, morality and worship we ignore at our discomfort. Below are some quotes made within its pages proclaiming its authority and thereby claiming the right for Humankind’s allegiance! There is no other book stressing the basis on which we can have confidence in the source and accuracy regarding its authority.

‘I (the Lord God) foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass… You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you. They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. Isaiah 48:3, 6-7. 

Do you want to understand the future? Do you want to be prepared for the unpleasant, the unwanted, the unexpected and safeguard your faith, family and future? Read God’s word, especially the prophets and the Revelation.

Why is the Bible so relevant to daily living?

‘The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.’ Psalm 19:7-11.

Why is the Bible so powerful?

‘You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God…the word of the Lord endures forever.’ 1 Peter 1:23-25

Therefore, in the light of what I’ve read I resolve to feed my heart and mind more diligently with the nourishment of God’s word. It is powerful because it reveals the Eternal God. It is powerful because it is Truth. It is powerful because it takes a person out of moral and spiritual death and gives him/her life and that life is linked to and from Jesus.

The  Majestic Mystery of Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

Isaiah records some wonderful and precious teaching and insights surrounding the Messiah. We have been given a brief and simple study of the Messiah as the Suffering Servant. To me, this passage has captivated me with its majestic concept of the Suffering Servant. It has also made me aware of a mystery of grace which will never be plumbed or exhausted in the telling.

By placing the description of the affliction suffered by the person in Isaiah 53 with Roman torture (Matthew 27.) we have an insight to the suffering endured. What astounds me is the statement that He opened not His mouth. Why did the soldiers inflict such brutality before crucifying Him? I think this arose from various factors. They would have been feeling embarrassed by retreating and falling before Him in Gethsemane. There could possibly a sense of Jesus being innocent of the charges and to cover this they smashed Him the more. Being soldiers they had their orders which they must carry out.

They did their work thoroughly and professionally. I tend to think Satan was there exciting them and stirring their blood lust. Another reason could be that He had to pay the full price of sin covering all time and the worst of sinners. Isaiah 53:14 says His visage was marred more than any man. On the cross, when the sin of the world was on Him, Jesus became the vilest of the vile. This was too much for the Father. He turned His eyes away and cast darkness over the scene. What this means is that no one is beyond the power of forgiveness obtained by the substitutionary death of Christ. Remember Paul’s words. He was the worst of sinners, but not beyond the reach of grace.

When Jesus became the fulfilment of Isaiah 53 He incorporated ever so much more than paying the redemption price of your salvation. To limit the sacrifice of the suffering Servant to our personal redemption is to rob Him of His glory and power. 

1.      As Creator he redeemed creation from its bondage. Romans 8:20

2.     As the Son of God, He stood in the death sentence imposed on Israel, also called the Son.

3.     As the husband of Israel Jesus paid the penalty for her spiritual adultery.

4.     As the land owner of Israel, the country, His death cleansed it from iniquity.

5.     As the Servant He redeemed those He served, the nation of Israel.

6.     As the 2^nd Adam He ransomed the 1^st Adam and his progeny.

7.     As Eternal Life, He clothed Himself in mortality to destroy Death.

8.     As the Commander of Israel’s Army He paid for their insubordination.

All of this is verified by His resurrection from the tomb.  We endorse it by faith and allegiance. One day it will be proclaimed by sight when He, the risen Lord, returns in glory to rule. This underscores why He hasn't cast off the Nation ofIsrael. Yes, it s sidelined for the present, but in the day of His choosing, they will be re-instated.  

There can be no mystery to the reason we declare Jesus to be King of kings, Lord of lords, with a Name above very name in heaven, on earth or under the earth. What a privilege will be ours when we see Him and worship Him to the honour and glory of the Father! That's the culmination of  the magnificent mystery of the Messiah in Isaiah 53.