Cheery Countenance

You Want Me to Do What?

When my youngest son was in the fifth grade, he attended a Christian school. One day he surprised me with this request, “Oh Mom! My teacher has started having the kids do morning devotions. She said we could get our parents to come and do the devotions with us. So, I signed you up for tomorrow. I told my class that you would teach us all about Revelation. We are reading it right now, so I told my class you had studied it in your Bible Study and you know everything!”

Wow! What a task…but what confidence from my child. So, the next morning I would be expected to teach a class of fifth graders “everything” about the book of Revelation – in twenty minutes. And I had less than twenty four hours to prepare. The very idea made me laugh and still makes me laugh today! How does a mother answer such a request? Well, here’s what I did.

First, I explained that the Revelation was the hardest book in the Bible to understand. I also told the class that actually no one knows for sure what everything in Revelation means – great Christian scholars throughout history have studied it and held differing opinions.

Nevertheless, I had studied it for two years through a Precepts Bible study, and I did have some understanding but it would take too long to explain it all. So instead, I was going to give them a demonstration of how a person goes about studying parts of the Bible that are hard to understand. I explained that the place to go for answers when confused about a passage in the Bible was other scriptures. I told them it was okay and even helpful to see what their friends and teachers think, but what really mattered was what God had to say. God’s thoughts are recorded in the scriptures; the Bible is His word, so the best thing to do when trying to figure out what God meant is to read more of His words.

Then I gave the children a little exercise. I told them Revelation was like the huge puzzle my family works every summer while on vacation. But when my family works puzzles, we have a box with a picture on it. We can see what the puzzle is supposed to look like. However, when trying to figure out Revelation we don’t have a picture to look at, making it a very difficult task. Still, some of the puzzle pieces can be figured out.

I told them we would solve a tiny piece of the puzzle in class so they could see how it is done. Then I had my son read Revelation 1:16, “And in His right hand he held seven stars and out of His mouth came a sharp two edged sword.” (NASB) I explained that the person described in this verse is Jesus. We talked a little about whether the sword coming out of His mouth was a real sword or a symbolic one. I explained the terms, “tangible” and “intangible”. By a show of hands, about half of the class thought the sword was tangible and the other half thought it was intangible. Then, after reminding them that the place to look to understand scripture was other scripture, I had my son read Hebrews 4:12, “The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword.”(NASB) I asked them what they now thought the sword coming out of Jesus’ mouth was. One of the kids raised her hand and said she thought it was the word of God. I agreed, saying that I too thought it was God’s word. Then I asked again if the sword described in Revelation 1:16 was a tangible or an intangible sword. They all agreed it was intangible.

Next I had my son read Revelation 2:16, “Repent therefore; or else I am coming quickly and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.”(NASB) and Revelation 19:15, “And from His mouth comes a two-edged sword. So that it may smite the nations…” (NASB) I asked them one more time if this sword was tangible or intangible. They were stumped!

So I explained the terms finite and infinite and the fact that our knowledge is finite - or limited, but God’s is infinite - or without limits. I concluded by saying that even though we have trouble understanding this, God doesn’t. But what we can say for certain is that the two edged sword coming out of Jesus’ mouth is the word of God. Yet, it is somehow also a powerful weapon; so powerful in fact that it can smite the nations!

I don’t know about the kids but the experience was loads of fun for me!

 

 

The Two Edged Sword

God is still God!

“And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The Lord He is God; the Lord He is God!”              

                                                              1^st Kings 18:39 NAS

            The story of God sending fire from heaven in response to Elijah’s prayer illustrates God’s miraculous and amazing power. However, an understanding of the beliefs and customs at the time of the miracle yields an even greater appreciation of God’s power.

            The people at that time in history believed the different gods they worshipped had territories. Elijah was a prophet of Jehovah – the God of the Jews. There were many other gods that the people worshipped as well. Baal was one of these other gods. The miracle of Jehovah sending fire from heaven when Baal was not able to occurred in Baal’s territory. As amazing as this miracle may seem to us, if it had happened in Jehovah’s territory, the people at that time would not have thought it to be so spectacular because Jehovah was supposed to be able to perform miracles in His territory. But, in Baal’s territory, Baal should have more power; he should have been able to send the fire – not Jehovah. Yet, Baal couldn’t send the fire. Why? – because Jehovah is the true God. He can work anywhere. God is still God, even in Baal’s territory!

            This truth is the reason believers can walk bravely ahead even in dangerous situations. Believers can, for instance, serve as missionaries in countries where Christ is not worshipped and Christians are persecuted because God is still God, even there.

            Do we have territories in our lives where Christ is not Lord? Is our workplace a seemingly hostile environment? What about certain relationships in our lives? I take comfort in remembering that God is still God in these places and situations. Yes, God is still God – even in Baal’s territory!

 

             

 

The Two Edged Sword

The “Better Than” Book

Hebrews is the “Better Than” Book. This New Testament book points the way to a better life. In it you will find references to things that are better many, many times. Some examples are:

Christ is:

better than angels – 1:4

worthy of more glory than Moses – 3:3

the builder of the house (the creator) and as such has more honor than the creation - 3:4

a great High Priest (4:4) which is better then men’s high priests – 5:1-2

Men swear by things that are better then themselves, but God swears by Himself. Why? Because He is better than everything else. 6:13-16

It tells of:

a better covenant enacted on better promises – 8:6

a greater more perfect tabernacle – 9:11

a better possession – 10:34

a kingdom which cannot be shaken (a better kingdom) – 12:28

and a better city – 11:10 & 13:14

What could be better than that?

The Two Edged Sword

"Tell it not in Gath"

 “Tell it not in Gath; weep not at all…” (Micah 1:10) 

What in the world does this verse mean?! As I studied the book of Micah, what I learned about this verse struck me as particularly poignant. The prophet Micah predicts an upcoming calamity upon the divided kingdom of Israel. Israel’s enemies lived in Gath. When Micah wrote, “Tell it not in Gath”, he meant, “Don’t let our enemies know of our impending calamity.” And why didn’t Micah want Israel’s enemies to know?  Micah knew they would rejoice in Israel’s troubles. This is sad to me. Micah was called by God to make a prophecy that he wished he did not have to make. Like every Israeli at the time, he especially didn’t want his enemies to know…Tell it not in Gath!

 Have you ever felt like this? Have you ever faced a really tough or even embarrassing set of circumstances which you wish no one else knew about. But at least your family and friends will love you and support you through it. If only you could keep those who might rejoice in your problems from ever knowing!

              Fortunately this is not Micah’s last word on the topic. He later revisits this question, sounding more hopeful. In Micah 7: 8-9 he writes,

“Do not rejoice over me O my enemy. Though I fall, yet I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, and I will see His righteousness.”

             Praise be to God, because of Him we too can tell our enemies, “Do not rejoice over me; though I fall, by God’s help, yet I will rise! God will someday bring me out into the light once again!”

The Two Edged Sword

“For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit…and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

By Many or By Few

“Jonathon said to the attendant, who carried his weapons, ‘Come and let us cross over to the garrison…perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.’” 1st Samuel 14:6

In this passage King Saul’s son, Jonathon, went on a solo military mission – just him and his armor bearer. The passage tells the story of the two of them alone (with only themselves and God) conquering their enemy. God handed a victory to the Israelites that day using just two men whose faith was strong!

My father has always said, “One with the Lord is a majority.” This Bible story proves my father's point. One with the Lord is a majority! In fact, the Lord by Himself is a majority even if none should follow Him. Psalms 97:1 says, "The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice."

Rejoice today in whatever God has for you to do. And if while doing what God has for you today, you find yourself standing alone, remember the truth of Jonathan’s words. Nothing can keep the Lord from doing His work – whether by few or by many....or by one! May God show you His mighty hand today.

* On another note: This is my first glimpse at the upcoming Bethany House book, “Love is a Flame”, that will feature my story, “The Krikit Caper”.

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