Saturday Night Musings

There is much talk from our wannabe presidents about the American dream. They are going to give us affordable health insurance, tax credits are promised, better jobs will be available, and a college education will be there for anybody who wants it. What they haven’t mentioned is how much this luxury will cost you and me. 

What about a new life that never gets old? A life that is always fresh as the morning sun and one that never tarnishes in routine. This kind of life brings a new start leaving old things in the past and comes with promises that cannot fail. It is a life that yields a peace which can face any obstacle or trial. Are you interested?  

This life is alive. It is living at life’s best. One that is exciting, victorious, and full of grace.  Living with real blessings that have been only fantasies of our imaginations in the past. Got your attention? 

This life is called a way. There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end are the ways of death. This life will always provide a way of an escape, it will be an upward way, and it will be a narrow way. A way which will always have light for your journey, and a way which will always lead you home. Want to know more? 

This new and living way is a person—the person of Jesus Christ. It was Jesus who entered into the holy place with his own blood and satisfied the demands of God once and for all. No longer do we have a priest standing on our behalf ministering daily the  blood of animals over and over again. Because of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and the deposit of his blood, we now have direct access to God because of this new and living way that has been set apart for us. 

Having the new and living way, we can now draw near to him with a true heart. Not an old heart that was evil, sensual, and sinful, but with a new heart. We can come with boldness knowing our sins have been covered once and for all crying Abba Father. When this new and living way has made us free, we are free indeed. We are a new creature, old things are passed, behold all things are new and remain new. Once found in Him, we no longer draw back, but we are always drawing nearer. The closer to him enables us to have a clear conscience.  

Singleness of heart is the way for this new and living way. A double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways. We are those who make an unconditional commitment to follow him no matter what. Our desire is only to please him. To do less leaves us with a seared conscience and un-assured for our journey.  

Because of him we persuade men to accept this new and living way. We call upon all men to believe on Jesus who died for the sin of the world. We invite all men to accept Jesus’ resurrection as the only hope of living again. We encourage all men who have done so, to live righteously and be ready for his coming. 

It seems to me that the royalties of this life is nothing compared to this new and living way. 

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The prophet Ezekiel preached a funeral service for the King of Tyre before the time of his exiting this world.  He preached about a time when he would never create chaos ever again.  There has never been a creative act of God as the one created with such  prominence, and fell into an oblivion, as the King of Tyre. I will bring you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold you. All they that know you among the people shall be astonished at you:…and never shall you be any more.   

Who is this superhuman, the finished model, the sum of wisdom and beauty? I believe there is no question as to his identity.  He is the antitype of that Devil, that dragon, that evil one, that Satan himself. The Bible says he was in Eden, the garden of God. While there were others in the Garden of Eden, none could equal the description written of him in the Book of Ezekiel other than Satan himself.  

An attraction that draws attention. Even perfection can be dismantled by this master of persuasion. Eve, in her own state of perfection, was caught unaware of the wisdom and beauty of Satan. How could the appearance of such a one not be of God? How could his logic not be of the Word of God? And how could his concern not be in our best interest? The King of Trye tries to be God, he mimics God, he performs acts like God, but he is not God. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  He is a liar and the father of lies. He will lead you down that slippery slope as a two-fold child of Hell which will bring you to a sudden stop, and like him, will be narrowly be looked upon. 

A subtleness that brings slavery. Satan is very subtle.  There is no question about that. He can transfer himself into an angel of light and deceive even the utter most. He single handedly brought down the human race into the debauchery and the bondage of sin by his ability to distort the Word of God.  “Did God really say that?” He is ungodly and the father of all that are ungodly. He has no fear of God and his children have no fear of God. They defy the Creator and deify the creature. This King of Tyre’s greatest attribute is the one who can convince you that you are wise in your own eyes and that you have time to prepare yourself to meet God.

 The pride that guarantees poverty. This King of Tyre walked in the holy mountain of God.  He was adorned with the finest tapestry, he was blameless from day one of his creation, and was productive in all of his activity. God lifted him head and shoulders over all of His angels.  He was the anointed one. That is…until the sin of pride was found in him. He was like Haman who wanted all to fall down to him, even God himself. “Pride goes before the fall”. He was hurled to the ground, he slithers in the dust and the dung of this world. There is no place he has not been, nothing he won’t do, and will say anything to convince you that you are right in your own eyes.  His has come only to steal, kill, and to destroy. He is the author of terror, he takes no prisoners, and he will blind you of any great danger or fear. The King of Tyre is walking to and fro seeking whom he may devour.  

It seems to me there must be a celebration of a new birth in the lives of men before the god of this age blind and bind men to an everlasting lake of fire. Repent now! 

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   Ever feel like getting away? Most wished they could a time or two in their life time. 

When you have just messed up, or been embarrassed, and it seems that nothing you ever do is right or gets the approval of others, don’t quit. When you feel like folding your tent and riding off into the sunset believing it to be the easiest way out, hang in there. When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on.  

If you really think throwing in the towel is everyone’s answer about you, read a little from Hebrews 11 about some who stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword and out their weakness they were made strong. Think about those who had their dead raised back to life again, others accepted torturing rather than being delivered so that they might stand approved at the resurrection.  Read about those who endured cruel mockings, brutal scourgings, and suffered the bonds and imprisonments. Some were stoned, others were sawn asunder, they were tempted, and some were even murdered by the sword. Compare yourself to those who wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted and in torments. They wondered in deserts, on mountains, and in caves as their only places of abode. They too, like us, believed in the promises of God, but did not see them come to pass. Somehow, at this point you won’t see yourself all alone. 

Having these witnesses all around us, pick yourself up and get back into the race and run with patience. Consider Jesus who encountered all of the above, even the sufferings of the cross, despising its shame, and with a death blow crushing the head of Satan. He was in a world that would not be kind to him. He faced a cross that could not kill him, and overcame a grave that could not keep him. Consider him…lest be weary and faint in your minds.  

Consider him when he took a towel and performed the work of a slave washing the feet of others. Consider him when be became poor so that others could become rich. Consider him when his own familiar friend lifted up his heel against him. Consider him when he was led as a lamb to the slaughter opening not his mouth. Consider him when they beat a crown of thorns over his brow, when they plucked out his beard, and when they ripped open his back 39 times with glass, stones, and knotted leather straps. Consider him when all men forsook him and fled. Consider him when he cried from the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Consider him when they ridiculed him, laughed at him and mocked him. Consider him as the spotless, sinless Son of God as he became our sin on the cross.   

Consider him when he said: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls.” Consider him when he prayed for you. Consider him he said: “…you believe in God, believe also in me”.  Consider him who now sits at the right hand of God interceding for you. 

 It seems to me, when you consider him, you will be more than a conqueror, you will always live in triumph, and will never feel like getting away until He takes you away. 

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And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.  

The shepherds saw him as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger and went abroad telling every one. The wise men saw him and  fell down and worshipped him. When Simeon saw him he no longer wanted to live in the world. The thief on the cross saw him and repented of his sin. Thomas saw him and said, My Lord and My God. But when John saw him…again, in his glorified state, he fell at his feet as a dead man! 

John, the beloved disciple, followed Jesus, saw his miracles, heard his sermons and was the one who leaned on his breast. John beheld him with his eyes and embraced him with his arms. But this time when him, he saw all of him at one time from the beginning to the end, from the Alpha to the Omega, from the first to the last, the one who is, was, and which is to come, the Almighty God. When John saw him, he dropped to his feet being lifeless, overcome and over whelmed as he looked on the face of omnipotence.  

John saw the voice that spoke with him. The living, eternal spoken Word of God personified in  a never ending glorified form. He is standing (resurrected body) in the middle of the churches. He stands head and shoulders above them high and lifted up.  His garments gives way to his position as the King of Kings (Judge) and the Lord of Lords (Priest) having all authority. He saw him from a humbled position, rightfully looking up to him. 

John saw him as Daniel saw him as the Ancient of Days.  He saw his head and hairs as if they were wool, giving way to the attributes of his divinity and holiness, both being fused into one having respect and reverence. His eyes were as a flame of fire as if they were looking right at you, probing, and penetrating even to the depths of the soul. He gave John the feeling he had been there long before John was in the womb and that there was nothing he didn’t know about him. It gave way to the idea: “ I could have died”! 

John saw his feet as if they were fine brass, having  been purified in the fires of humanity. Yet, he stands in victory as waged against the forces of hell, Satan and death. While John was beholding this God-man, he heard the voice of this God-man that turned his nerves on ends from the crown of his head to the souls of his feet. John knew this voice was the one who walked on waters and quieted the storms at the mere sound of his command. He speaks like the rushing of many waters that laces the shores of humanity all over this world.  

John saw him as the controller of churches with a message for the world. It is one message: his sufferings, his death, his bodily resurrection, and his visible appearance. It is a message that gives hope to the lost and grace to the believer. He captures an audience by his appearance like the full strength at noon day.  

Immediately, like when Jesus caught Peter’s hand from drowning, he lays his hand on John telling him, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. And when John saw him, he gave us the greatest book of the Bible: The Book of the Revelation. Read his story and live. Look to him and see. Love him and tell others about him.  

It seems to me when you see him; you will see all things in perspective and fear not!  

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