IN EVERY STORY OF THE HOLY BIBLE THERE IS A LESSON FOR US TODAY “But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.” Mk.13:23 These words of Jesus encompass all of Scripture, for He has always been the Mediator between man and GOD the Father. He is the Father’s Thoughts Made Audible, as it is written, “In the beginning was the Word [an old Jewish term for the Creator Who spoke all into existence].” Jn.1:1. The single most important theme of the Holy Bible is its truth concerning the history of sin on the Earth and all the epic events surrounding its influence over life: from the fall of Adam, and the great flood of Noah’s day to the future ‘loud cry’ of Revelation 18 and “the lake of fire” cleansing of the Earth. The opening generations of men had far superior abilities to us in our generation. This is seen when GOD brought all the creatures before Adam and he gave names to them all—and forever remembered those names. Nothing needed to be written down, for all men had photographic memories. They could recall every memory throughout their lives. So, prior to the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses written over 3,400 years ago) the legends of Creation and the Flood were passed down by word-of-mouth generation-by-generation. But when the LORD established the family lineage of Jesus Christ through “the Friend of God,” Abraham (Ja.2:23), this began the epic journey of a single family among mankind whose influence would span the world, even unto this day. The LORD chose for its history to be recorded to remind all men of GOD’S Grace in a sinful world. And it is the story of this family that today’s Christian has been grafted into its blessings, while those in the family of Abraham who deny Jesus Christ as “the Son of God” are left without, “Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD.” Jer.29:19. For 1,875 years the LORD patiently worked with the family of Israel to recognize and embrace “his only begotten Son” when He would come to stand among them. The LORD, Jesus Christ was specific as to who are the “well favoured” ones vs. those who “shall be cast out into outer darkness:” “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” “But he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Matt.8:12; 12:50; Jn.3:18. These words of Christ disqualify any notion that the unbelieving nation-state of Israel have any preeminence over the Bible obedient church of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul reaffirmed the Saviour’s Words, “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Rom.9:6-8. But the churches today will never hear GOD’S Word how “if ye be Christs, then are ye Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal.3:29. Instead they lead the church to ignore the threat of the great sins ruling in the church, and divert all attention on the nation of Israel. This is a ploy of the Enemy of souls to keep men distracted from GOD’S call to repent from all sin until it is too late for them to repent. Jesus clears the confusion in this and all areas of salvation: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brothers eye. Lu.6:41,42. As the news media diverts our lives away from fortifying our own characters in the sight of a Holy GOD, so today’s prophecy gurus lead the congregations to believe “lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.” Jer.16:19. But the sheer illiteracy of Christ’s simple words that rules today did not have to be this way. It was during the life of Moses that the LORD established the sanctuary service whose every verse pointed to the Incarnation, the sacrifice, and the forgiveness of every sin of every man who would, by faith partake in confessing their sins before GOD and receive the forgiveness of their sin. The sanctuary was so specific in its directions that it led to many questions as to why this? and why that? This, in and of itself was intended to draw from the priests and people the communion of prayer with GOD, that heaven’s answers be given to bless their understanding that they might learn how it all points to Jesus Christ. And the LORD sent prophets to show them “the way, the truth, and the life.” Jn.14:6. Social laws were also established to uphold justice among the children of Israel and to stay the tide of sin in the camp that would prevent GOD’S legal right to continue His blessings. A great stumbling block today is seen in this prosperity doctrine that has made many ministers to become multi-millionaires and live a lavish lifestyle. But they neglect what the Bible teaches concerning GOD’S ability to bless. His blessing always correspond with obedience. For GOD to do otherwise would make Him complicit in the eternal death of His children. A lesson of Scripture often seen is that when the children of Israel were led of selfish ungodly leaders to abandon the virtuous laws, statutes and precepts contained in the Scriptures, GOD’S protecting hand was withdrawn from them and Satan immediately brought his heathen armies to attack and subdue the family of Abraham. Their safety against Satan could only be maintained through obedience. And this principle applies not only to GOD’S blessings but most importantly our salvation through Jesus Christ. It is no different today as it was then, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Heb.13:8. The wrath of GOD is the removal of His Presence. And when He leaves His protection is likewise withdrawn, as it is written: “woe also to them when I depart from them!” Hos.9:12. But, in spite of the “stiffnecked people” of Israel, GOD would not allow Satan to carryout his lust to commit genocide against “his peculiar people.” Deut.26:16. This far and no further has always been the dictates of “the LORD” concerning the boundaries of Satan’s jurisdiction. This founding principle in the great controversy between Christ and Satan was written by Moses to educate all men of the severity of the threat of sin. In the book of Job we read: “And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.” Job 1:12. In this one verse is seen the importance of coming under the banner of Christ’s jurisdiction, allowing Him to mold our minds and hearts into the similitude of Christ. To pray “in the name of Jesus” means to acknowledge the perfection of character He lived by: the grandeur of His holiness that alone could stand between us and a Holy Father where no sin may dwell. So, when we read the devil’s complaint of GOD’S protecting hand over His servant Job, we may appreciate just Who it is protecting our lives on a daily basis, as it is written when Satan complained: “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” Job 1:10. From the fall into sin to the flood, to Abraham, to Joseph, to Samson, to Samuel, to the prophets, all the way to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the morals to all of these great stories may be traced down through history to our day. And the LORD desires us to see the Bible’s corresponding lessons of both the righteousness of GOD’S judgments and the abuses of men in the events that are unfolding today. And as the sanctuary service drew the people to pray to understand, so the saints today are led to pray to see what the future holds as conveyed in the prophecies assigned to our generation. Many a soul’s salvation hangs in the balance due to man’s illiteracy of Scripture’s great stories and their application to our day, as Solomon and Paul said, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done : and there is no new thing under the sun.” “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” Eccl.1:9; I Cor.10:11. Let us pray…
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:51:23 +0000
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