“THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM!”

Exodus 13:21-22                         (ESV)

“21 And “THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM” by day in a PILLAR OF CLOUD to lead them along the way, and by night in a PILLAR OF FIRE to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.

22 The PILLAR OF CLOUD by day and the PILLAR OF FIRE by night DID NOT DEPART from before the people.”

Imagine, if you will, traveling with the Children of Israel on their exodus from being enslaved by the Egyptians and headed to the Promised Land?  To know that ALMIGHTY GOD, the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, the ONE WHO spoke EVERYTHING into existence, was running interference for you and fighting all your battles for you had to give Moses and Aaron a great deal of confidence as they were leading the Israelites?  Being protected by the PILLAR OF CLOUD during the blistering hot days and the PILLAR OF FIRE in the cold nights had to be reassuring to the Children of GOD.  However, remembering that ALMIGHTY GOD was there wasn’t something that came easily for the Israelites.

The same GOD WHO Promised to go before them has Promised to NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US (Hebrews 13:5-6), even if we are headed directly into precarious situations!  While we may not have the PILLAR OF FIRE and the PILLAR OF CLOUD going before us, we have HIS PROMISE that HE will always be with us in whatever we do.  Remember Numbers 23:19 which says “GOD is not man, that HE should lie, or a son of man, that HE should change HIS mind. Has HE said, and will HE not do it? Or has HE spoken, and will HE not fulfill it?”  

Like the Children of Israel, we have to remind ourselves what GOD has Promised and HAVE FAITH in HIS WORD, that HE will do what HE said HE is going to do, because “....Has HE said, and will HE not do it? Or has HE spoken, and will HE not fulfill it?”  When “THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM”, HE was right where HE Promised HE would be, even n their unbelief!  All of the whining and bickering about their conditions still didn’t change the Promise that GOD had made.  We can KNOW that ALMIGHTY GOD, the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, the ONE WHO spoke EVERYTHING into existence, will NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US because HIS WORD promises that!  “THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM” because HE Promised HE would, not because they were worthy of HIS Blessings!  “THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM” because HE IS GOD, and HE does what HE says HE will do.........PERIOD!!!!

“MOTHERS DAY!”

My mother passed to her eternal reward on February 27, 2008.   She had lived in “this world” for 77 1/2 years.   She was not only prepared to leave here, but she was ready!  

The more I age, the more I SEE CHRIST in the life of my “momma”.  She gave up any aspirations she had of being a wealthy and prosperous woman when she battled for, and eventually won custody of her three children in 1964.  My father abruptly moved to Canada and never paid any child support and never had any dealings with me or my sisters.  Only in recent years have it been revealed to me that GOD removed the influence of my father from my life to prevent me from being exposed to some horrible trials, the depths of which I may never know!  

My mom worked for most of her life as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.   When she died she didn’t leave her children a lot of earthly possessions to squabble over.  One thing that she did MAKE SURE that we were exposed was the teachings of the WORD OF GOD.   While she was working most Sunday mornings, we were carried to church by our grandparents, or walked to church by ourselves.  We had GOD’S WORD constantly taught to us by others, many of who I can’t even remember.  But my “momma” is the one who made certain we were grounded in the WORD.  

MOTHERS DAY is still special because my wife is the best, but my “momma” gave me life then taught me to LOVE!  February 5, 2008 our family doctor told me that I was released to return to work following an extended illness.   In the next breath he told my “momma” that she had Stage 4 Breast Cancer.   22 days later she exited this world and entered her eternal reward.   I’ll not be selfish and wish her back just so I could hug on her one more time.  She has finished her race.   Soon I will finish mine.  Until then, I will continue reflecting the LOVE I partially learned from her!!!

“YOU DO NOT KNOW ME!”

Isaiah 45:5-6                                           (ESV)

“5 I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides ME there is no GOD; I equip you, though “YOU DO NOT KNOW ME”, 

6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides ME; I am the LORD, and there is no other.”

Scrolling through social media sites you are able to see EVERYTHING, from the Spiritually enlightened, to the radical absurd!  There was recently a post from a person saying something to the effect of “OUR reproductive rights are being erased”.  This caused me to ponder, the rights guaranteed in The Declaration of Independence  are not rights that can be added to, nor “erased”, for they come from ALMIGHTY GOD!  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” were words that much prayer went into.  Since ALMIGHTY GOD gave us these rights, only HE “erase” those rights.  Only HE can add to them.

Now, regardless of what others may think of me, I understand that I AM NOT GOD!  Humanity must understand that we are not GOD and stop acting as though we are.  Today’s Scriptures is very plain, “I am the LORD, and there is NO OTHER!”  People, we are not GOD, even though we are Created in HIS image, or likeness.  Sometimes I act like I am in control, but we all know how things work out when I am in charge!  

I’m afraid that the reason we seem to believe that we are Almighty is because “YOU DO NOT KNOW ME”!   Of course, you meaning humans, and ME being GOD.  When our EYES are OPENED and we SEE that we are such a minuscule part of HIS CREATION, it changes the prism we are able to then look through.  Our Creator “endows” rights to us, and we are indebted to HIM for our those rights!  We MUST be more aware of who we are, but more importantly, WHO HE IS!

Regrettably, “YOU DO NOT KNOW ME” is becoming more and more widespread these days, and acknowledging HIM more taboo.  We desperately need to return to FEARING GOD, not just in words spoken, but our deeds must REFLECT that!  “YOU DO NOT KNOW ME” will not be the worst thing to hear on that day, but “Depart from ME, I NEVER KNEW YOU”!!!

“GOD’S CHOSEN ONES!”

Colossians 3:12-14                                           (ESV)

“12 Put on then, as “GODS’ CHOSEN ONES”, HOLY and BELOVED, COMPASSIONATE HEARTS, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, MEEKNESS, and PATIENCE,

13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the LORD has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

14 And above all these put on LOVE, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Being human does NOT make us equal with GOD!  That seems to be a rather obvious statement, but there are a host of people (many in the church of whom I used to be one!) who act as though they know what is best and GOD will make sure to fit HIS Plan into their actions!  C.S. Lewis has many thought provoking quotes.  One of those is: “There are two kinds of people: those who say to GOD, “Thy will be done”, and those to whom GOD says “All right, then, have it your way!”  

There are times when GOD doesn’t leave it up to us, or our choices!  In Acts 9, Saul was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the LORD”.  He wasn’t the least bit interested in slowing down and listening to GOD, only persecuting and berating members of THE WAY (Acts 9:2).  There isn’t recorded a “sinners prayer” being recited to mark the conversion of Saul, but he was RADICALLY changed......for HIS Glory!  In Acts 9:15-16 JESUS says “But the LORD said to him (Ananias), "Go, for he (Saul) is a CHOSEN instrument of MINE to carry MY name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how much HE MUST SUFFER for the sake of MY NAME." 

When GOD’s Plan for my life revealed a Brain Hemorrhage in 2007, I never had the opportunity to pray for ALMIGHTY GOD to be Glorified with my illness and recovery.  When I was brought out of the 17 day coma I was not in the best shape, putting it mildly.  Recently I was thanking all of the nurses connected with me on social media for being a part of the journey I have experienced when one of the nurses said, “It tore my heart to see you like that.  I never expected the miraculous recovery that you made.  Made me proud just to be apart of the big picture.  The credit goes to GOD!”

Now certainly I didn’t plan the events that transpired over the next few years following the Brain Hemorrhage, but GOD knew that HE would gain Glory!  My recovery from the Brain Hemorrhage, nor the heart surgery 10 years later, have not made me holier, but they have afforded me the opportunity to profess HIS Mercy and Grace to anyone who will listen about how marvelous it is to have a relationship with THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES!  

This same CREATOR instructs us as to be a number of things in the verses above, and to let these things be BOUND in LOVE!  LOVE is key, but the FIRST thing HE requires of “GOD’S CHOSEN ONES” is to be HOLY, or set apart!!!  We can do everything else listed in verse 12, but we must begin with being HOLY!  How often do I FAIL miserably at being HOLY before GOD?  Even while laying in the coma for 17 days, I was not being HOLY.  I am an unholy man TRUSTING in the sacrificial offering of JESUS for my salvation!  

NO, I AM NOT GOD, only JESUS is, and nobody else!  Religion won’t save you.  Money won’t save you.  Doing good deeds won’t save you. Giving to the poor won’t save you.  These are ALL things that we should do because we are a part of the family of GOD.  Since we are “GOD’S CHOSEN ONES” we need to do everything that reflects HIS presence in our lives, but begin with living HOLY!!!

“WHEN DID WE SEE?”

Matthew 25:41-46                                             (ESV)

“41 "Then HE will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42 For I was hungry and you gave ME no food, I was thirsty and you gave ME no drink,

43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome ME, naked and you did not clothe ME, sick and in prison and you did not visit ME.'

44 Then they also will answer, saying, 'LORD, “WHEN DID WE SEE” YOU hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to YOU?'

45 Then HE will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to ME.'

46 And these will go away into ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, but the righteous into eternal life."

A huge portion of society, probably the vast majority, are TOO BUSY to RECOGNIZE JESUS, even when HE is right in our midst!  Regrettably, we Believers don’t exhibit the traits of “waiting patiently on GOD” as an example to a lost world how implicitly HE provides our needs!  In the passage of Scripture above, JESUS is speaking to HIS disciples, not to people who supposedly did not know who HE was.  Now HE is telling them about those who will say to HIM at the Judgement, “LORD, “WHEN DID WE SEE” YOU hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to YOU?'  Then HE will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to ME.'

While JESUS was speaking to HIS disciples in this text, HE used the descriptive word in verse 44 of “THEY” and “THEM” when HE was identifying who HE was speaking about.  We Believers should RECOGNIZE JESUS whenever HE calls our name or shows up in our midst.  Sometimes, however, we get caught up in the hustle bustle of “this world” and can’t HEAR JESUS softly speaking HIS directions to us.  We might even not have the desire to hear HIM “telling us what to do”!  

Our NATURAL BEINGS (1 Corinthians 2:14) CANNOT understand the things of the Spirit!  We Believers have the “mind of CHRIST” (1 Corinthians 2:15-16) so we should reflect HIS LORDSHIP over our lives.  When we stray into ANYTHING that is outside of HIS LORDSHIP and having the mind of CHRIST, we are walking our OWN PATH which usually leads to trouble!  RECOGNIZING that is where TRULY following CHRIST becomes manifest in our lives.  

Considering how my life is operated, do I do as the Spirit leads me?  Or do I act on feelings and emotions most of the time?  “WHEN DID WE SEE” YOU should never be a concern to a Believer, for we should reflect JESUS in EVERYTHING we do.  As hurriedly as “this world” attempts to keep me moving, I should always be making certain that “WHEN DID WE SEE” is never because I am trying to move at it’s pace!  When I am BEING STILL, only then can I SEE what GOD has for me to accomplish!!!

“GOD IS NOT MAN!”

Numbers 23:19-20                                        (ESV)

“19 “GOD IS NOT MAN”, that HE should lie, or a son of man, that HE should change HIS mind. Has HE said, and will HE not do it? Or has HE spoken, and will HE not fulfill it? 

20 Behold, I received a command to bless: HE has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.”

How many nights has my family watched WALTER CRONKITE on the evening news when he relayed what was happening in our world?  Occasionally he would make a correction to something he had reported, having new evidence that would change the scenario.  Today, seeing the so-called “Main Stream Media” correct themselves is almost tabu, apparently because admitting they are human is unacceptable in today’s culture?

However, PRAISE HIS NAME, “GOD IS NOT MAN” so HIS WORD is dependable, and immutable!  We are instilled with DOUBT from our ancestral characteristics, all the way back to Adam and Eve.  They didn’t TRUST GOD to be GOD and our “nature” does the same thing.  It is seen as being “holy” to say that our GOD is everything we want HIM to be, but what does our “gut” really tell us?

Having shared this before, a little over two years ago when the doctor came into my room and advised that I needed to have coronary bypass surgery, a sense of FEAR began an assault on my mind.  But almost immediately, certainly within seconds, my mind recalled Genesis 50:20 where Joseph says to his brothers who sold him into slavery years before, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but GOD meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”  GOD brought me through the bypass surgery with very little discomfort.  HE even allowed me to share HIS LOVE to some of my caregivers, as well as rekindle some very old relationships!  

To say with our lips that “GOD IS NOT MAN” is one thing, but to SHOW that “GOD IS NOT MAN” with our actions is quite another!  Don’t misunderstand me, I did not do this on my own, for I was exhausted and malnourished when the pronouncement was made to me.  ALMIGHTY GOD overcame the fear bug that attempted to control me and exhibited HIS GRACE for HIS GLORY!  “GOD IS NOT MAN”, and HE continues to prove it to, and through, me daily!!!

“GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU!”

Philippians 2:12-13 

“12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

13 for it is “GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU”, both to will and to work for HIS GOOD PLEASURE.”

Have you ever been frustrated by a feeling of defeat when sin keeps on revealing itself in your life?  Knowing that GOD HIMSELF “abides” (1 John 4:16) in us, we should rest assured that “GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU”, both to will and to work for HIS GOOD PLEASURE” is doing what HE SEES fit through us.  HE spoke CREATION into existence, and raised JESUS from the dead, and HE doesn’t NEED us to do anything!

On the contrary, we are privileged to be used Glorify HIS Kingdom, but we have to understand that we may be caused to SUFFER in doing so.  Acts 9:15-16 JESUS tells Ananias “..."Go, for he is a CHOSEN INSTRUMENT of mine to carry MY name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how much he must SUFFER FOR THE SAKE OF MY NAME."  Notice the Saul/Paul wasn’t promised a BMW, nor a huge earthly estate, nor the finest “this world” has to offer!  Instead Paul was PROMISED TO SUFFER FOR MY NAMES’ SAKE!  

In John 16:33 IT IS WRITTEN “I (JESUS) have said these things to you, that in ME you may have peace. In THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION. But take heart; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."  JESUS didn’t say HE had overcome the world so we WOULDN’T have tribulations!  No, HE promised to be with us is spite of our troubles.  

ALL of the disciples were martyred for the cause of CHRIST.  And we expect to escape trials and tribulations because “we are chosen”?  Wasn’t Paul CHOSEN?  Yes, but he was CHOSEN to SUFFER FOR MY NAMES’ SAKE!  When GOD took on flesh and came to earth, HE didn’t come in grandeur and royalty.  HE suffered through poverty and rejection HIS entire life, all for me!  Maybe we need to adjust our expectations and come to grips with the fact that when “GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU”, it might be through suffering and tribulations???