The Grass Withers

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:24-25 KJV)

We don't get to live forever here on earth. In the end all things must die. But, thanks be to God even as the grass withers and dies it will usually come back and live in the spring. Our hope rests in the spring that God has promised us. It rests in the good news that although we are sinners and deserve nothing but death we will live.  Christ died that we might be made righteous by his work on the cross. We cannot be made righteous no matter how good; how godly we attempt to be. We will all fall short. But, Jesus did not. He was tempted and overcame every temptation including the temptation to not go to the cross for us.  

As the grass withers and springs back to life so shall who believe in the saving grace of God through Jesus the Christ. Our flesh will die; but, we will live. Because he lives so shall we!

God's Peace  - Pr. J.

The Word Shall Stand Forever

The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

                                                                                    (Isa 40:6-8 KJV)

Like all things material, our flesh will wither and fade away. But, the word of God will never fade away. No matter what or who might work to extinguish the word it will never happen. No one, nothing can destroy the word of God.

Take comfort in the fact that although there have been societies that have previously tried to stamp out the word of God it has not happened. For years the Soviet Union tried to eliminate Christian but it did not happen. Thousands of clergy were rounded up and sent to prison or executed. Christians were  ordered not to teach their own children about Jesus. Yet, Christianity persevered. The word of God continue to be heard and taught and passed down to the following generations. 

Persecution of Christians continues this day in many countries. But, take comfort in the fact that the word belongs to God and he will never let it fade away. The word will always be there for you and for your children and your children's children. Teach them so that they too might know the comfort of the eternal promises that the word brings.  

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Quantum Theory: Two Kingdoms?

The Word Does Not Evolve
It Stands Forever

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.   (Heb 11:1-3 KJV) 

I have always been very intrigued by the various quantum theories. I find the possibility of two worlds existing in the same space quite riveting. However, most of what the mainstream population understands as scientific fact is merely speculation; a theory. It is only by faith in science or the scientist that we can believe many of the theories. These theories are constantly evolving. One cannot know for certain when theory becomes fact.  But, the Word of God does not change. It does not evolve as some would think. It is also by faith that we believe the Word. What word then shall we trust our lives with? The words that evolves or the One that stands forever?

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isa 40:8) 

The word of our God does not evolve as mankinds' way of thinking and living might evolve. It does not evolve as science evolves. I am not saying that science is a bad thing. Knowledge is a gift from God and the knowledge that comes through science has helped us to grow in many ways. In fact, the reason that quantum theories intrigues me so much is because my faith leads me to believe that two worlds do indeed exist in the same space. There is this world which I can see with my eyes; that I can touch. But, there is also the Kingdom of heaven that has broken into this world at the death of our Lord Jesus. I cannot see it; although, I can get a glimpse of it in the loving acts of people around me. I know, by faith alone, that the Kingdom of God has come near. I live in the world; yet, I am a citizen of another. I am an heir and  a citizen of the Kingdom of God. By faith, this is my reality. 

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-21 KJV) 

Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21 NASB)

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” (Luke 17:20-21 NRSV) 

Martin Luther taught and wrote in the Small Catechism regarding the second petition of the Lord's Prayer:

Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. 

How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

I know that many atheists insist that we believe in a God far above the clouds; however, they are wrong. We believe in a God that is present here among us even today. His Kingdom has come and it will come in its fullness when Christ comes again in full glory.

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matt 24:30-31 KJV)

The Word tells us that the elect will be collected from one end of heaven to the other. It does not say from one end of earth to the other. Those who are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of God) will be collected. Are you a citizen of that Kingdom?

There are two kingdoms (two worlds?). Those who believe that Jesus died so that we might live in our Father's house, reconciled to Him are citizens of that kingdom. We live in this world; but, we are not of this world. By faith alone we have inherited a kingdom of peace in Christ Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J

God Looks At The Heart

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" 1 Samuel 16:7

When the Lord sent Samuel to anoint the next king over Israel, Samuel saw the stature of Eliab and thought for sure this one must be the one. But, the Lord let him know that He had not chosen the next king of Israel by his outward appearance. In the end, it was Jesse's youngest son, just a shepherd in the field, who was called to be anointed to be the next king.

In the spring when the dandelions begin to bloom, my husband is always in a hurry to get rid of them. I see the yellow blossoms as doing no harm. They are a sign of spring and I enjoy their presence in my yard. We each have a different perspective on what we see or hear. We see things differently. My husband sees weeds. I see flowers; a gift from God that are, in fact, consumable.

God see things a whole lot differently than we do. So what does God see when He looks into our hearts? Our neighbors may see our hearts as dark as the night. But, what does God see? Does he see a child in pain who has not yet learned how to deal with life around him? Does he see a heart that is aching for only the peace that He can give? 

No one; but, God, can know what is truly in the heart of another person. Whether good or evil; whether a weed or a flower, only God can know for sure.

Who knows? The next weed that you try to destroy just might be a treasured flower; a beloved and chosen child of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J