Rev 9:13-21 Sixth Trumpet; Fiery Plagues

Rev 9:13-21 NIV

The sixth trumpet sounds and what is this army that God sends that it would have no impact on the hearts of humankind? John sees a powerful image of hundreds of thousands mounted troops to destroy one third of mankind by three plagues of fire that come out of the mouths of the horses. What a fearsome site that would be! My husband, who as a young man was a "tanker" in the U.S.M.C., always surmised that these horses would actually be something like tanks.

Now, most people have a little fear of fire or at least a little respect of it. If we or someone we know has been burned by fire, we usually figure out that fire is not to be played with. We change the way we do things so that we do not get burned. But, not the people in John's vision. The plagues of fire that God sends do not change the hearts or minds of any of those who were not believers before the great army of mounted riders came. Those who are not killed still cannot comprehend that God is Almighty; that He is God, and He alone is to be worshipped. They do not repent. They continue to worship demons and all sorts of false man-made idols. They do not repent of any of that things they have been doing against God or man.

May God have mercy on humankind and soften our hearts so that all might follow in the way He would have us go.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Corinthians 5 Representing Jesus

1 Corinthians 5 NIV
So much for the commonly accepted notion that we are not to judge one another.

Today we find Paul exhorting the Christians in Corinth to expel the immoral from among them. He is not saying that they are to be judging the world; those who do not know Christ. He is saying that we are to confront those whose are sexually immoral; and the greedy and swindlers; the idolaters; slanderers; and drunkards and yet claim to be a brother or sister in Christ. We are to remind them, as Paul has, that this is unacceptable for one who claims to be a Christian. Paul tells us that we are to expel that person from among us.

No, the Christian should definitely not be judging the world's morality; not when our own house is such a mess. Sadly, the morality of the world crept into the church from the very beginning and is still there. It appears totally acceptable to live with various lovers and have children by various fathers none of whom were actually married to the woman. It is acceptable to prefer false idols; whether they are money, substances that make you drunk or high, or any of the multitudes of things we seek for self-pleasure over worshipping and serving the one true God. It's just the way it is. But, that is not the way it is suppose to be - not for the one who claims to follow Jesus. It is the beginning of a new year. It is not too late to resolve to change how we live and represent Jesus.

When I worked at the Juvenile Correction Facility I could tell which gangs which youth belonged to; which gang they "represented," just by observing them a little. It didn't take much. The tattoos, the clothes they wore; even how they tied their shoes were dead give-a-ways  as to who they were "representing." But, even more telling than what they wore were the actions that betrayed who they were loyal to. Who are we loyal to? Can the world tell or do we look and sound and act just like any other non-believer to them? To young readers and the old who insist on misrepresenting Christ; instead of gang signs try making the sign of the cross.

May God help us all to remember that it is Jesus whom we are to "represent."

God's Peace - Pr. J

Malachi 2 - Keeping the Covenant; Semper Fi

  "Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?" (Mal 2:10 NIV)
     Good question, hey?! Malachi is speaking specifically regarding divorce. Why would we break the covenant we have with the one whom we have committed to share our whole lives with here on earth? Malachi reminds us that one of the issues in many divorces is that one partner in that commitment may strive to keep the covenant that has been made with the one true God; while the other serves another or, maybe, many false gods. Sometimes (often) the one who worshipped God will turn away from him. More and more often, the tension, caused by not having God in the relationship, will bring the union to an end. If we truly intend to keep our covenant of marriage then it is a very good thing to base that covenant on the covenant that God has made with us. It is a good thing to have the marriage blessed; but, it is also imperative that we trust God for the blessing. If we do not live in the covenant we have with God, it is going to be pretty rough going trying to keep our covenant with another human being.
     It reminds me of a motto the U.S. Marine Corps has been fond of: "God, Country, Corps." That might sound trite to some. But, it is not. When someone commits to the armed services, it is much like a marriage. It is a 24/7 and 100% commitment. However, in order to keep the commitment to country and Corps, it should be recognized that God must come first in our lives. He will help us keep our commitments. (Of course, this motto was used much a few decades ago. They may have done away with it, by now, to be politically correct.)
     Semper Fi - Always Faithful - is another U.S. Marine Corps motto. May God grant that we should always be faithful to Him above all others as well as to those whom we have committed to share our lives with here on earth.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hosea 4 - Hear the Charge of the LORD....

"Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites,
    because the Lord has a charge to bring
    against you who live in the land:
“There is no faithfulness, no love,
    no acknowledgment of God in the land.
There is only cursing, lying and murder,
    stealing and adultery;
they break all bounds,    and bloodshed follows bloodshed." (Hosea 4:1-2 NIV)

God, through His prophet, reproves the people. When I read this chapter this morning, I couldn't help but be reminded of how so many things are today: no faithfulness to God; no love, except for self; so very little acknowledgment of God in the land; and lots of cursing, lying and murder. 

Our young people don't even know what it means to curse. You can teach them. But, they refuse to learn. "Everybody does it," I am told. "It means nothing. It's just a way of talking." I've heard lies which we justified later with these two letters "JK." They were Just Kidding! And... adultery! No one even seems to have a clue what adultery is because so many participate in adultery that it is common practice and is "just the way it is."

Where has this all left us? In turmoil and chaos, looking for something. Always hungry. Always thirsty. Put aside your false idols that cannot satisfy and turn to the LORD who loves you; then you will be satisfied and will live in His peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 5 - God Have Mercy On Us All

 “Yet in her wickedness she has rebelled against my laws and decrees more than the nations and countries around her. She has rejected my laws and has not followed my decrees.

Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: You have been more unruly than the nations around you and have not followed my decrees or kept my laws. You have not even conformed to the standards of the nations around you." (Ezekiel 5:6-7)

Ezekiel is still laying around on the ground in front of the people as a sign that God is against them. As I read this indictment (prophecy) against God's people, I wonder about us. I wonder about the whole world. Does any country actually exist that is truly "one nation under God?" If we say there is then I think we're not being very honest with ourselves. Is there any country wherein the people do not worship false idols and even encourage it? Is there any country that truly respects, not only the rights of its citizens; but, the rights of the citizens of other countries around the circle of the earth, as well?

Seems to me we have different standards for different people, even for different countries. We rebel against God's laws and make our own and our own definitely show partiality for some and not for others. We expect others to live by our standards and the truth be told; we are not always right. The truth be told, none of us are without sin. May God have mercy upon us all.

And... may His peace be with you. Pr. J.

Jeremiah 14 - False Gods And Droughts

Despite the fact that the LORD tells Jeremiah to quit praying for the welfare of these back-sliding people, Jeremiah continues to pray for them and even attempts to justify them by making excuses for them.

But, the LORD knows the truth and they will suffer what they will suffer and that includes the false prophets who keep promising peace in a place where there is no peace. There is no peace in a land where the people worship false gods. Will the false gods help them? No, they will not. Neither, will ours. We bring the calamity upon ourselves when we turn our backs on God and listen to those who would please our itching ears; when we worship anything other than the one true God.

Yesterday, after spending the day touring local waterfalls and the beach, and a couple of stops at the Aura Jamboree, I brought my grandchildren home to their father. Then, I came home to crash on the couch. Nothing worthwhile on television for sure. I flipped through news channel after news channel wondering in amazement how Martin and Zimmerman was still the top headline of the day since it has been about a week since Zimmerman's acquittal. I flipped through reruns of Criminal Minds and Law and Order and an assortment of other programs; finally flipping to the section of religious programming. About five minutes of bouncing from one false prophet after another telling us how we could get rich in this world was all I could take. Oi! Sometimes, I'm a little slow; but, I finally figured out that it would be best to stop flipping mindlessly through channels and spend some one on one time with God. The latter proved to be much more blessed experience.

And... God's people were, and many still are, listening to the false prophets. Happiness, it seems, is about silver and gold and yes, even green paper with pictures of presidents and from being a spectator of those famous calamities that we call stars that exhibit very poor behavior and lack of faith on that flat screen in our living rooms. Idols come in different shapes and sizes today, but they are still false idols which steer us away from a real relationship with the One who loves us more than all others.

Is your life is empty? Are you living in a drought? Then, hear the prayer of Jeremiah:
"Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain?
    Do the skies themselves send down showers?
No, it is you, Lord our God.
    Therefore our hope is in you,
    for you are the one who does all this." (Jer 14:22 NIV)

Return to the LORD, to the One who loves you. Let your hope rest in Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 10 - Art and Gambling: Sins?

Art is art. We are to ensure that we do not worship it.... There is only one God. We are to fear and love Him above all things.

Hear what the Lord says to you, people of Israel. This is what the Lord says:

“Do not learn the ways of the nations
    or be terrified by signs in the heavens,
    though the nations are terrified by them.
For the practices of the peoples are worthless;
    they cut a tree out of the forest,
    and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
They adorn it with silver and gold;
    they fasten it with hammer and nails
    so it will not totter.
Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
    their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
    because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
    they can do no harm
    nor can they do any good.”

No one is like you, Lord;
    you are great,
    and your name is mighty in power.
Who should not fear you,
    King of the nations?
    This is your due.
Among all the wise leaders of the nations
    and in all their kingdoms,    there is no one like you." (Jer 10:1-7)

 

On my front step is a carved bear holding a welcome sign. Is this a false god or art? I propose that it is merely an art form. I do not worship it. I just happen to like black bears so my son gave it to me as a gift. This piece of art does not, in any way, come before my worship of God or of doing His will. It is not a false god. Idolatry (sin) comes into play when the objects of our affections damage the relationship we have with God and with others whom He has called us to love and serve.

 

Likewise, yesterday, the subject of gambling came up. It was suggested very strongly that any gambling is a sin. The problem with that is that most of us gamble quite often. Whenever we buy insurance we are actually betting against ourselves. We are betting that something bad is going to happen and we're going to need the insurance companies to bail us out. When we invest in stock; we are betting that the stock will go up and we will have enough to retire on when we are no longer are able to work to provide for our needs. I do not see gambling, in itself, as the sin. It becomes a sin when it begins to interfere with our relationship with God and with others. It becomes a sin when the love of money causes us to pursue this means of gain to the detriment of ourselves and our families. It becomes a sin, when every penny we have is invested in the hope of "luck" rather than the hope founded in Jesus the Christ. It becomes a sin, when our families do without necessities (even losing our homes) because we are trusting that "good fortune" will come to us by spending our days and nights in the casino. It becomes a sin when every penny left over goes to our gambling habits and there is none left for the work of the LORD. It becomes a sin when our neighbors are hungry and we have enough to share with them; but, we'd rather spend it gambling.

 

Like eating, or drinking, or many other activities, I am not convinced that gambling is a sin (though I prefer not to indulge in it, myself, as I cannot imagine trusting a slot machine to provide for me as my Father does and why would I invest the gifts He has given me to chance? I believe He would prefer I invest in His Kingdom - His people). It becomes a sin when we trust in luck (idolatry) to win unearned riches that we desire (idolatry). It becomes a sin when it becomes a priority over worshipping God and over loving and caring for our family, neighbors and friends. 

 

Jeremiah warns against idolatry, as do all the prophets. There is only one God. We should so fear, love, and trust Him above all others. There is none like Him.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 2 - Return To The LORD

For those of you who have been reading the Bible daily along with this blog, you probably recognize the message of the LORD through Jeremiah. It appears to be pretty predominant in our readings.

 

Return to the LORD and get rid of your false idols! They are worthless!

The LORD says through Jeremiah:
"Has a nation ever changed its gods?
    (Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their glorious God
    for worthless idols.
Be appalled at this, you heavens,
    and shudder with great horror,”
declares the Lord.
“My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
    the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,    
    broken cisterns that cannot hold water." (Jer 2:11-13 NIV)

The water of life is free to all who would receive it, yet we would rather dig our own muddy pits to quench our thirst. Muddy pits never quench the thirst of anyone. So why would we turn to the work of our own hands, the worthless "unwork" of false idols? Why would we sabotage ourselves in this way?

It is such a sad state that we have become our own worst false gods. In this day of everything is about me and for me.... me... me... me... We have deceived ourselves into thinking that we can take care of our own wants and worship God as we lay around on our couches or whatever it is that gives us momentary pleasure and self-reward and that this is not sin. 

The Word of the LORD according to Jeremiah 2:31-35

"“You of this generation, consider the word of the Lord:

“Have I been a desert to Israel
    or a land of great darkness?
Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam;
    we will come to you no more’?
Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
    a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
    days without number.
How skilled you are at pursuing love!
    Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.
On your clothes is found
    the lifeblood of the innocent poor,
    though you did not catch them breaking in.
Yet in spite of all this
    you say, ‘I am innocent;
    he is not angry with me.’
But I will pass judgment on you    because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’"

Indeed, how many who say they worship the one true and Almighty God would forget their jewelry, yet they forget to give God glory and honor! They forget to worship the One who gave His very life  that we might drink from the waters of life, eat from the tree of life. And, in all this they are arrogant enough to say that it is not a sin.

Return to the LORD and destroy the false images that you worship. They will do nothing for you! They can do nothing! They are worthless! But, the One who can and has, loves you enough to save you by dying for you.

There is just so much more to meditate upon in this second of chapter two of Jeremiah; please don't neglect to read it.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 44 - Our God, Not Idols

"Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;
others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
and will take the name Israel.

“This is what the Lord says—
Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;

apart from me there is no God." (Isa 44:5-6 NIV)

 

Herein, we find the promise of God to call people who were not his people. He will save those who belong to Him. He promises to bless them and their descendents, pouring out His Spirit upon them. 

 

Through the lips of Isaiah, God once again reminds us that He is God. He is the creator of all things. He reminds us again how worthless false idols are. They are fashioned, created, with the minds and hands of mere mortals. How, then can the created create something greator than God who created the world and all that is in it?  It's a puzzle, that man could delude himself so, But, he often does.

 

Worship the Lord Almighty, our Kind and Redeemer and only Him!

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 1 - Get It Together!

Get it together, already!  Isaiah is the most often prophet quoted in the New Testament. He brings a warning. Get it together, already! Quit worshipping false idols, foreign gods. Turn to the LORD. This message from Isaiah is not just for the people of that day. It needs to heard today, as well. And... this word is for those who profess to be children of God!

For those of you who are not actually reading the Bible as you should, here are verses 2-4 out of the 31 verses in chapter 1:

 

"Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!
For the Lord has spoken:
“I reared children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me.
The ox knows its master,
the donkey its owner’s manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand.”

Woe to the sinful nation,
a people whose guilt is great,
a brood of evildoers,
children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the Lord;
they have spurned the Holy One of Israel
and turned their backs on him."

Woe, indeed! God is not addressing pagans through Isaiah. He is addressing His children. He is addressing those who claim to be His, but refuse to follow in the way that He sets before them, those who think only of themselves.

There are times when I really get truly exasperated hearing that this country is a Christian nation, founded on Christian principles. I won't disagree with that. But, I will ask you that if you really believe it, start acting like it! Please, don't tell me that you are a Christian if you believe that you don't have to worship God or that you worship in your own way. Please, don't tell me that you worship him on the golf course. You are lieing to yourself as well as me. On the golf course you are pleasing only yourself. Please, don't tell me that you are a Christian and believe that there are many ways (gods) to heaven. There is only one way. And... that way is through Jesus Christ. He is the way and the truth and the life. (John 14:6)

One of my greatest pet peeves is hearing complaints from Christians in this country (U.S.) that we are persecuted. Want to talk about persecuted...? There are plenty of people in this world who are truly persecuted, even die, for their faith in Jesus Christ. But, here in this country, it is barely more than a whisper in comparison to the persecution others endure for the sake of the name of Jesus the Christ. There are people the world over who are actually following in the footsteps of Jesus, even to their deaths, for their faith in Him. I often hear that atheists and/or the government entities are trying to take away our rights as Christians. Every Advent, I hear complaints about how we can't put up nativity scenes in front of public buildings. But, what is it that "Christians" put up in front of their own homes? Do you see nativity scenes? Or, do you see blow up Santa Claus's, reindeer, and Christmas trees? I have no doubt that Christianity is under attack in this country, but it is not so much because of those who outright deny Christ. It is not because of those who are not Christian. It is and will be because Christians failed to live like children of God, worshipping only Him, doing His will.

Get it together! There is only one God, the Father, the Creator, the Redeemer of all. Heed the warnings given to us through Isaiah. Repent - that is turn around and worship God, the Father who created you, the Son who died to save you, and the Spirit that empowers you to follow in His footsteps.

Get it together and receive the blessings of the LORD - live in peace - the peace that only God can give.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. If you're thinking I'm being mean or angry, read Isaiah... and you will understand better where this is coming from...

Psalm 29 - Temple of Peace

"The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace." (vs 11 NIV)

The LORD blesses His people with peace.  Everyone seems to want peace, but so few know where it comes from.  So many false gods to worship in this world, but those who dwell in the temple of the LORD, give glory to God. The members of the Body of Christ glorify God.  They focus on Him and know that He is the creator of all things.  They know that He is the recreator of all things.  Oh, if only eyes would be open to see and ears opened to hear!  

Turn away from all false idols.  Give to God the glory due His name and you will know, you will dwell, in His temple of peace.

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness." (vs 2)