January 20th - Why Death?

Why death?

"And God instructed the human, saying: From every tree of the garden you may eat, yea eat, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you must not eat from it; for on the day you eat from it, to die you shall be dying." (Genesis 2:16-17)

The first human beings lived in a garden paradise on Earth prepared specifically for them. God gave them only one commandment to obey - don't eat the fruit from the tree of the "knowledge of good and evil". 

They did not have a "knowledge" of good and evil so they did not know the difference. God allowed them to obtain that knowledge of good and evil. Through a serpent, Satan tempted Eve and she disobeyed and ate the forbidden fruit. Then she gave some to Adam and he ate. This is how Satan, the "man-killer", influenced the serpent to deceive and kill humanity. 

And thereafter, the once perfect world became filled with imperfect people.

"...the ancient serpent called Adversary and Satan, who is deceiving the whole inhabited earth." (Revelation 12:9)

"He is a man-killer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth." (John 8:44) 

Yet, we are told in the Bible that it was God who created Satan to do what he does, deceive and bring death to humans.

"Yahweh has made every thing for its own outcome, Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Proverbs 16:4)

"I am Yahweh, and there is no other. Former of light and Creator of darkness, Maker of good and creator of evil." (Isaiah 45:7)

"And I Myself created the ruiner to harm." (Isaiah 54:16)

Although God created and planned for evil and death to come into the world, He works ALL THINGS for good, even death. 

"Now we are aware that God is working all together for the good..." (Romans 8:28)

God will eventually save humanity from death and reconcile them to Himself. When that reconciliation is complete, God's love will have been demonstrated, along with His grace and mercy. That is His promise to humanity, and our only hope to be free of the evil that causes so much death and misery.

"And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away, and the sea is no more. And I perceived the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I hear a loud voice out of the throne saying, "Lo! the tabernacle of God is with mankind, and He will be tabernacling with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them...He will be brushing away every tear from their eyes.  And death will be no more, nor mourning, nor clamor, nor misery; they will be no more, for the former things passes away. And He Who is sitting on the throne said, Lo! New am I making all! And He is saying, Write, for these sayings are faithful and true." (Revelation 21:1-5)  

The evil, suffering, and death of this world will have served its purpose. For now, we are just imperfect people living in an imperfect world. Our imperfection ends in death, yet out of death springs a new perfect life in the perfect world to come. I now live in expectation of that eternal life in Christ Jesus!

"For the saving grace of God made its advent to ALL humanity, training us that, disowning irreverence and worldly desires, we should be living sanely and justly and devoutly in the current eon, anticipating that happy expectation, even the advent of the glory of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, Who gives Himself for us, that He should be redeeming us from all lawlessness and be cleansing for Himself a people to be about Him, zealous for ideal acts." (Titus 2:11-15)

"For the wages of Sin is death, yet the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

January 19th - The Humble Beginning and Glorious End of Humanity

"As for the earth, it came to be a chaos and vacant, and darkness was over the surface of the abyss." (Genesis 1:1-2 CLNT)

After the Earth became dark and vacant, God recreated it.

"And the spirit of Elohim was vibrating over the surface of the waters. And Elohim said: Let light come to be! And light came to be." (Genesis 1:2-3)

Then came six days of recreation....

"On the sixth day Elohim finished His work that He had made; and He ceased on the seventh day from all His work that He had made." (Genesis 2:2)

It was on the sixth day of His work that God made humanity.

"Yahweh Elohim formed the human out of soil from the ground, and He blew into his nostrils the breath of life; and the human became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7)

"And Yahweh Elohim said: It is not good for the human to be alone by himself. I shall make for him a helper as his complement...He took one of his angular organs and closed up the flesh over its place. Yahweh Elohim built the angular organ that He had taken from the human into a woman and brought her to the human." (Genesis 7:18-22)

We call the first human Adam and his spouse Eve. All humanity springs from this first couple.

"And Elohim said: Let Us make humanity in Our image and according to Our likeness...So Elohim created humanity in His image; in the image of Elohim He created it: male and female He created them. Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said to them: Be fruitful and increase; fill the earth and subdue it. Hold sway over the fish of the sea and over the flyer of the heavens, over every domestic beast, over all the earth and over every animal that is moving on the earth." (Genesis 2:26-28)

One man and one woman, the first family - BUT they were soon tarnished by sin and evil. Why? 

King Solomon tells us why God allows sin and evil to ruin humanity...

“I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of EVIL Elohim has given to the sons of humanity TO HUMBLE THEM by it.  I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun, and behold, the whole is vanity and a grazing on wind. What is distorted cannot be set in order, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I spoke with my heart, saying, behold, I have grown great and have added in wisdom over all who were over Jerusalem before me; my heart has seen much of wisdom and knowledge. Then I applied my heart to know wisdom, as well as to know about raving and frivolity; I realize that even this, it is a grazing on wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, And he who adds knowledge adds pain." (Ecclesiastes 1:13-18)

That is the bad news - but the good news tells us that after humans have been suitably HUMBLED, they are to be recreated into the image of Christ Jesus - the immortal and sinless Son of God!

"Thus it is written also, The first man, Adam, "became a living soul:" the last Adam a vivifying Spirit. But not first the spiritual, but the soulish, thereupon the spiritual. The first human was out of the earth, soilish; the second Adam is the Lord out of heaven. Such as the soilish one is, such are those also who are soilish, and such as the Celestial One, such are those also who are celestials. And according as we wear the image of the soilish, we should be wearing the image also of the Celestial. Now this I am averring, brethren, that flesh and blood is not able to enjoy an allotment in the kingdom of God, neither is corruption enjoying the allotment of incorruption. Lo! a secret to you am I telling! We all, indeed, shall not be put to repose, yet we all shall be changed, in an instant, in the twinkle of an eye, at the last trump. For He will be trumpeting, and the dead will be roused incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality.  Now, whenever this corruptible should be putting on incorruption and this mortal should be putting on immortality, then shall come to pass the word which is written, Swallowed up was Death by Victory." (1 Corinthians 15:46-54)

God has a plan, and it is good of all humanity.

"Now we are aware that God is working all together for the good of those who are loving God, who are called according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:28-29)

And then what?

"And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away, and the sea is no more. And I perceived the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I hear a loud voice out of the throne saying, "Lo! the tabernacle of God is with humanity, and He will be tabernacling with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them. And He will be brushing away every tear from their eyes. And death will be no more, nor mourning, nor clamor, nor misery; they will be no more, for the former things passed away." And He Who is sitting on the throne said, "Lo! New am I making all!" And He is saying, "Write, for these sayings are faithful and true." (Revelation 21:1-5)

January 18th - In a Beginning - Out of Nothing Came the Big Bang!

"In a beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth. As for the earth, it came to be a chaos and vacant, and darkness was over the surface of the abyss." (Genesis 1:1-2 CLNT)

"Elohim" is a Hebrew plural word meaning mighty ones. There were two of them as I understand the Bible, God the Father, and His Son, the firstborn of all creation. 

"...there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist." (1 Corinthians 8:6)

In the very first "beginning" recorded in the Bible, the mighty ones were already there. The Scripture does not attempt to prove they exist. It simply implies that however far back we go, whatever beginning we want to look into, the mighty ones of creation are already there. 

"In a beginning Elohim created..". (Genesis 1:1)

Science calls this creation event "The Big Bang" or a "Singularity". But they are lost as to what was before the big bang because all known physical laws cease to work at that point. The most recent hypothesis is that there was nothing, everything in our vast Universe came into being out of nothing. It is interesting that the Hebrew word for "created" is "bara" which is generally understood to mean "come into existence out of nothing" which confirms the most recent scientific hypothesis!

But the Bible indicates that something happened to the Earth after its initial creation by the Elohim out of nothing. It states that the earth "came to be a chaos and vacant". 

Isaiah tells us it was not originally created that way...

"For thus says Yahweh, Creator of the heavens; He is the One, Elohim, the Former of the Earth and its Maker, He Himself established it; He did not create it a chaos; He formed it to be indwelt." (Isaiah 45:18)

God the Father and His Son, the Elohim, are in absolute control of the beginning and end of their creation. They will accomplish their plan to make humanity into their image. The Bible unfolds that plan for those patient enough to read the whole thing. When man has been made into that image they will enter and see the final Kingdom of God, a New Heaven and New Earth.

"And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away, and the sea is no more. And I perceived the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I hear a loud voice out of the throne saying, "Lo! the tabernacle of God is with mankind, and He will be tabernacling with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them. And He will be brushing away every tear from their eyes. And death will be no more, nor mourning, nor clamor, nor misery; they will be no more, for the former things passed away." And He Who is sitting on the throne said, "Lo! New am I making all!" And He is saying, "Write, for these sayings are faithful and true." (Revelation 21:1-5)

January 17th - God 101 Final Exam

"For God was pleased to have ALL His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself ALL things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:20)

God 101 - Final Exam: (This is an open book test - and I assume you know what book)

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1.  Jesus came into the world to seek and to save...

(a)  some of the lost
(b)  the lost who repent of their sins and ask Jesus into their hearts
(c)  those who repeat the sinners prayer
(d)  all that are lost

2.  God wills...

(a)  all to be saved
(b)  a few to be saved
(c)  most to be saved
(d)  only Christians and Jews to be saved

3.  Jesus came into the world to

(a)  offer salvation to sinners
(b)  condemn sinners to hell
(c)  attempt to save sinners from hell
(d)  save sinners

4.  Salvation is...

(a)   an offer from God that can be rejected
(b)  earned by mixing the grace of God with the good works of people
(c)  limited to those who hear and believe the gospel
(d)  the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord

5.  God loves...

(a)  some people
(b)  all people
(c)  only Christians and a few Jews and Republicans
(d)  nobody

6.  At death...

(a)  Christians immediately go to heaven
(b)  Unbelievers immediately go to hell
(c)  That's it - People cease to exit
(d)  none of the above

7.  At the resurrection

(a)  we receive a new spiritual body not made from the soil
(b)  the new body is immortal
(c)  the new body is like the one Jesus now has
(d)  all of the above

8.  The English word "hell" in the King James Bible is from ...

(a)  the Hebrew word "sheol"
(b)  the Greek words  "gehenna" and "tartarus"
(c)  the Greek word "hades"
(d)  all of the above

9.  The blood of Christ Jesus has atoned for the sins of ...

(a)  the whole world
(b)  only Jews
(c)  only Christians and children who never reach the age of accountability
(d)  only Jews and Christians

10.  The lake of fire is defined in the Bible as...

(a)  the place where those who do not accept Jesus are tortured forever
(b)  the place God created to torture Satan and his demons forever
(c)  the place rich people go after death
(d)  the second death

TRUE OR FALSE

1.  God is Spirt.    ____

2.  God is Love.   _____
 
2.  God loves everyone.  ____
  
3.  God wills that all be saved.  ____

4.  God has the power to save everybody.  ____

5.  God's will is more powerful than man's will.  ____

6.  Jesus did the will of the Father.  ____

7.  Jesus was sent by God to save the world.  ____

8.  Jesus did not fail in what He came to do.  ____

9.  Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  ____

10. The whole creation will be reconciled to God.  ____

FILL IN ALL THE BLANKS USING ONLY ONE WORD

1.  "He said to Abraham, through your offspring ____ peoples on earth will be blessed."

2.  "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy which shall be to ____ people."

3.  "And ___ humanity will see God's Salvation."

4.  "God our Savior, will have _____ humanity to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth."

5.  "We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of _____ humanity."

6.  "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw _____ humanity unto me."

7.  "The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to _____ humanity."

8.  "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself a ransom for ____"

9. "For as in Adam _____ die, even so in Christ shall ____  be made alive."

10.  "Christ is  ___, and in ___."

11.  "That God may be ___ in ___."

January 16th - Grace and Truth

“...the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17) 

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)

The Law brings death because humanity is unable to obey it - we sin.

“…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23)

Only "in Christ" will anyone be deemed righteous. 

"God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them...God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

God gifts sinners abundant and everlasting life after death - that is the truth. 

"...the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

When our time comes, we will all be changed into immortals with a spiritual body, leaving our sinful flesh and blood bodies in the dust.

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual does not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man..." (1 Corinthians 15:42-49)

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality...The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, 56)

“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the law but of the Spirit; for the law kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)

January 15th - Give to God what Belongs to Him

"...give to God what belongs to God." (Mark 12:17)

What can we give God that "belongs" to Him?

King David of Israel asked this question...and answered it.

"What can I offer the LORD for all He has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the LORD’s name for saving me." (Psalm 116:12)

King David knew his salvation was a gift from God and all he could give praise to God for His gift.  The Apostle Paul says the same thing...

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that openly profess His name."  (Hebrews 13:15)

"Give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable."

(Romans 8:1)

"For by grace are you saved..." (Ephesians 2:11)

Praise God for saving you. You don't have to go to church to give God the praise that belongs to Him.  Live your life like you appreciate His gift of salvation - a life of praise is what "He will find acceptable".

"Now thanks be to God for His indescribable grift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)

“He has told you, O man, what is good...to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)

"...live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” (Titus 2:11-13)

January 14th - The Destiny of Judas

"In a beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

"The world is a theater, the earth a stage which God and nature do with Actors fill" – John Heywood

“Then Jesus replied, 'Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is an adversary!' Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him." (John 6:70-71)
“Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me…Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, it is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish. Then, dipping the piece of bread, He gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So, Jesus told him, what you are about to do, do quickly.” (John 13:21-28)

Jesus chose Judas knowing he would betray him. And, did not warn Judas of the consequences but gave him permission to betray Him. Judas was chosen by God for this purpose.

“The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil….” (Proverbs 16:4)

God is in control of this great drama of life, and we are simply playing our part - sinners. 

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

And when this grand play concludes, we may be surprised when the actors gathered before him receive praise for the role they played, whether good or bad.

“Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.” (Psalm 96:13) 

"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Some of the villains in the Bible are Satan, Adam, and Judas who performed their roles as written, yet all to the eventual glory of God, the author of the drama of life on this planet.  

The Lord Jesus Christ is playing the leading role of the hero, the Savior of the world!

“It was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself..." (Colossians 1:20)

"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…death will be abolished…so that God may be All in ALL" … "We  have seen and do testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world" ... "He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28; 1 John 4:14; Revelation 22:20)

So, it seems to me that the destiny of Judas is to be saved and reconciled to God, even though his part is a villain in the drama of life. The same is true for all sinners!

"For God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all. O, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How inscrutable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! For, who knew the mind of the Lord? or, who became His adviser? or, who gives to Him first, and it will be repaid him? seeing that out of Him and through Him and for Him is all: to Him be the glory for the eons! Amen!" (Romans 11:32-36)