Within every human being alive,
there is something missing. It’s the haunting silence that hears your darkest
fears. It’s the lonely emptiness that knows your coldest nights. When darkness
falls upon the face of your heart, it’s the shadows that feed your agonising
cries. Humanity is in need of something beyond us. There is something missing.
It is something so fundamental that life itself is empty, meaningless and
incomplete without it. It is something that is missing from your heart.
This is the biggest problem
within our academic studies. Without this life changing piece of you, you are
nothing. Science cannot even prove that we are real. Yes, the ground beneath
your might just be a fragment of some dream. It is such a fundamental part of today
that without it, there is no proof that your family, your friends, your dreams,
your belongings or anything else really exists. For centuries, philosophers and
scientists alike have mused upon this puzzle. Nothing we know or believe really
matters. We cannot even prove that we are here today. Unless you find this
piece of yourself, you will never know if today is just an uncertain dream.
However, we have hope!
God is the answer! He is the
missing piece. Allow me to explain….
From the pen of Paul, we read the
following; Heb 4:11 -16 “Let us
labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same
example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper
than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his
sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we
have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into
the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have
not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore
come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace
to help in time of need.”
This understanding power of God
is at the heart of the hope that we have. You see, if God understands every
detail of our lives, it would mean that He holds the answer to our
incompleteness, our insecurities and our empty voids. If He really lived our
lives, to show us the meaning, value and direction that we can find in Him,
than today must find its climax within the answers that He brings. Come with me
as we return to the garden of Eden to find the missing pieces in the mystery of
life.
If both Adam and Eve was naked
before sinning, how come they only noticed it after sinning? Weren’t their
bodies real to them? Or was there something bigger and more amazing than
themselves? Could it be that life itself was of secondary importance? Is it
possible that there was something endlessly bigger and more astounding than
mere being? You be the judge.
There is however, one thing that
we know about today, everything that exists is better than just perfect. Take a
simple flower as an example. To be a reproductive function of a plant does not
require colour, texture, fines, tenderness or grace. However, it has all of
that, and much more. Its passionate aroma, delightful aesthetic wonder and
sensual designs bears witness to something bigger than its reproductive
functions. It’s beyond perfection. It’s divine…
…almost like the colour in your
child’s eyes. Or maybe it lives within the touch of your lover’s fingers as
they dance across your skin. Perhaps the echoes of your first born’s laughter
is an echo of the joy, the colour and depth that this unspeakable wonder of
reality was meant to bring into your life. Maybe all of this grandeur, tenderness,
wisdom, grace and awe were meant to touch your heart. What if it was designed
to fill your day with a sense of value? Could it be that everything that was
made was fashioned in a way that would fit into your life? Is it possible that
the way in which we look at things could reveal the effort, commitment, power
and love that God put into your life today? Can you find the handy work of your
Creator within your world today? What difference would it make to your life if
the awe inspiring greatness of God could once again become a part of your life?
Try to imagine a world in which
everything you saw did just that? Wouldn’t it become your Eden ?
Is heaven possible? Or rather, is the understanding of the heart of God not
conducive to create the ultimate sense of value, meaning and purpose? What if
you were created to be a living child of God today? Will the presence of God
within your life bring you serenity, completion, hope and direction? Is it
possible to find your being within His awe?
Adam and Eve lived in a world
that was brought to life by the awe inspiring greatness of our Father.
Everything they saw revealed the life changing grace, creativity, colour and
zeal that went into your new day. Every moment of their lives were filled with
the very essence of a living dream. This dream was fashioned be the heart of
God. It is the dream called reality. From the ground beneath their feet, to the
blazing starlight glory told them just how much effort God would go through, to
make them smile. Every moment of their lives were filled with inspiration,
marvel and beauty beyond the limitations of any human tongue. They had true
life.
But satan tricked man to look at
themselves. Man was distracted from God. And within that moment that our first
parents took their eyes from the greatness of our God, they become nothing.
Adam, the crowning piece of creation, was reduced to the mere value of the
ground beneath His feet. Of himself, he was nothing but living dust. And as the
lonely human couple stood shaking in the presence of God, they discovered that
there was something missing. They knew that they were naked. They were
incomplete, ashamed, broken, insecure and dying. Yes, man changed. It was not
God who changed. We were the ones that could no longer stand in the presence of
the diving Creator.
Psalms 104:1-2 reads; “Bless
the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with
honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who
stretchest out the heavens like a curtain.” What if that honour and majesty
of God, was designed to be your robes? I believe that it is possible to find
the reason for which we were created. You see, as the bible puts it, by
beholding, we will become changed. The key lies within your thoughts. When we
begin to think upon the greatness, the wisdom, power, strength and greatness of
our Lord, our lives will be enriched by His living presence. He is with you
right now. We are just too busy to see Him. Yet when we search for Him with all
our hearts and minds, He will help us find Him. Reach out to Him today, learn
to truly live.
There is however, a second and
equally powerful reason why your every thought is of life changing value. Yes,
we have seen that keeping Christ at the centre of your every thought helps you
appreciate what He does for you. We have seen that it completes you and helps
you understand how much you mean to Him. Indeed, it brings mankind a sense of
direction, stability and comfort. As we have found in the previous note,
realising who He is, and focusing on Him is life changing. But it keeps getting
better…
Have you ever felt small, weak
and incapable of reaching the high standards that God requires? That is great!
Christ Himself said, Mar 2:17 “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They
that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came
not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” However, we know
from the book of Romans that; Rom 3:10 -11
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that
understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” “For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Rom 3:23 You see, the fundamental problem is that we are
sinful. Everything around us, everything we think and want is tainted with sin,
selfishness and evil. Even Paul had this problem. Rom 7:13 -25 “Was then that which is good made death unto
me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that
which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For
we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that
which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that
do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is
good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I
know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is
present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good
that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do
that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I
find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I
delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my
members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to
the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall
deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law
of sin.”
But what if God never gave us the
law to be good enough? What if we missed something so fundamental, that it
would change our entire way of understanding the law? What if God gave us the
keys to obedience, from the very beginning, but we never noticed? What if you
were never meant to find righteousness through the law but rather through
trusting in God? You see, that trust is the foundation upon which all true obedience
has to rest. That trust comes directly from realising who God is. True
obedience is a result of finding a beauty, a hope and value within the presence
of God. Obedience is a result of the personality of God. Anything else is self
righteousness!
Allow me to explain
You see, the key lies in the
motive. It always has. This is why the law of God has an introduction. It
introduction was written to remind us who it is that gave us these principles
and statues. Exo 20:1-2 “And God spake all these words, saying, I am the
LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land
of Egypt Egypt
Our biggest problem is not
disobedience. Our biggest problem is forgetting who our God is. While we are
focusing on Him, the beauty, hope, direction and awe that comes in the wake of
a walk with Him, will awake in us a thirst to find that beauty in our own
lives. His care and involvement in out lives, will create in us a realisation
of how much we mean to Him. This value will compel us to obey. It will help us
realise the true nature of obedience. It is written, Exo 20:20 “And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for
God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye
sin not.” We are sinning because the glory, greatness, power, wisdom,
understanding and benevolence of God is not before us. What we need is the
presence of God within our thoughts. It is written, Php 4:7-8 “And the peace
of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be
any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” There is
only one Being that is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report,
virtues and worthy of praise. His name is Jesus. In Him lives all hope. He is
the great I Am. He is the One who was, who is and who is to come. Hence we
read, 2Co 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory
of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by
the Spirit of the Lord.”
From the beginning, God has tried
to give us the answer. It is written in Deut 6:4-13 “Hear, O Israel
You need to be with God. God
said; Gen 2:18 “It is not good that the man should be alone…” Yes, He
did make you a helper to meet that need. But you and your helper were created
in His image. Your helper was created as a tool through which you could be
drawn closer to Him. Your spouse was formed so that you could experience a
shadow of the love that you could find within the presence of your God today.
It is written Deut 4:29 “But if
from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek
him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Seek Him with all your heart
and soul and see if He cannot change your life forever.
However, this principle far
exceeds the importance that any human being can ever grasp. Prophetic writing
tries to put this in context. The amount of end time prophecies that is
preceded by the glorification of God within their prophetic spans is striking.
It would appear that the second coming, and all unfulfilled prophecies will be preceded
by and accompanied with an unprecedented revelation of the greatness of God.
One such example is found in Psalms 22:25-31 “My praise shall be of thee in
the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. The meek
shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your
heart shall live for ever. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn
unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations. All
they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the
dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. A seed shall
serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come,
and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he
hath done this.” It would appear though the praises of God will touch the
hearts of all mankind. This piece of scripture foretells a work in which the
ends of the earth will be drawn to God. It ends with the revelation of the
righteousness of God. In other words, it proves that He is right. Satan is
defeated by the revelation of the glory of God. But is this the only prophecy
that points towards this event?
The apostle Peter would have us
believe that our purpose as Christians is bound together by the worship and
praise of God. This is what we read, 1Pe 2:9 “But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye
should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into
his marvellous light:” However, we have been searching for eternal life. We
have been trying to be good enough. Driven by a combination of a fear of death,
and a desire to find something better, we have preached salvation and eternal
life. However, Christ Himself said, Joh 5:37-40 “And the Father himself,
which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice
at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for
whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye
think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will
not come to me, that ye might have life.” “These words spake Jesus, and
lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy
Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all
flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And
this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have
finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou
me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world
was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the
world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have
received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have
believed that thou didst send me.” John 17:1-8 Nothing in the scripture has
any value, unless you search for Christ in it. Christ commanded that we should
search the scriptures for Him. He Himself said that through His glorification,
He would impart eternal life unto everyone that believes in Him. He is the only
light, the only truth and the only way. As it is writer, Rev 22:13 “I am
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” “Being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” Phil 1:6
From the beginning it has been
prophesied, Num 14:21 “But as
truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.”
Yes, while the cross has to be the central point of this glorification of God,
this single event in History still has to grow until this gospel reaches every
ear, for it is written Mat 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the
end come.”
In Ezekiel 9 we read the
following. Eze 9:1-11 “He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying,
Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his
destroying weapon in his hand. And, behold, six men came from the way of the
higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in
his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's
inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar. And
the glory of the God of Israel Israel Jerusalem Israel Judah
Yes, God is about to end the suffering,
hurt, agony, pain and misery on this planet. This is the good news. However,
the only ones that can find this freedom are the ones looking to Christ for
leadership, hope and stability. He should be the only true leader of “Jerusalem ”
or His people. A Christian was supposed to be one who followed Christ, one who
searched the scriptures for Christ, as the Gospel witnesses of Christ. But
instead there of, we follow our leaders, we read books, listen to sermons, and
follow our own thoughts. When last did you hear yourself say, yes but I think?
Its not about what you think. If you believe that Christ knows what is best,
but you replace what He says with what you think, you are degrading your
understanding of God. You are damaging your identity as a child of God. If the
glory of God was really designed to be your garments, if His power was really
designed to be your safety, what do you do to yourself when you disobey Him?
What are the effects upon your relationship with Him, if you put your opinion
in the place of His? Even if the issue
at hand seems small and insignificant, doesn’t the mere disrespect to God leave
you empty, cold, naked and vulnerable? Could it be that this is the ultimate
warning living within the identity of the antichrist? Anyone that trusts in any
man, himself included, cannot find the peace that comes from a complete trust
within the being of God. He is our only hope and salvation.
However, something is about to
happen that will reveal the unspeakable glory of God. No one alive will be left
without excuse. Everyone will understand that living without Him is death, and
that there can be no peace, stability or hope without Him. Truth will be
vindicated. In the words of Ezekiel 36:20-23 “And when they entered unto the
heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them,
These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land. But I had
pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel
God promised, Jer 29:11-14 “For
I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace,
and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and
ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek
me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be
found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will
gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven
you”
To those of you that understand
these words, this revelation of the glory of God is the sealing, it is the
power of Revelation 18, it is the loud cry, and it is the last Elijah’s
message. You cannot live through the coming time of trouble without the
physical presence of God within your life. Seek Him today, with all your heart
and soul. Plead with the Spirit that His greatness might be revealed in your
life. Fill your thoughts with Him, and keep Him with you, bind Him as a sign
upon your forehead, upon your hand and upon your heart. Talk and think about
Him when you walk by the way, when you eat, when you work, when you go to bed…
Deu 6:1-13 “Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments,
which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the
land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to
keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy
son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be
prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well
with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers
hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel
