Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God
The Bible opens with these words. And the apostle John reiterates them in his gospel:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
“Rapture” or “Second Coming” (Part 2)
After writing the first contemplation on this subject, I decided to take another look at the Scriptures about “end times” and saw again, as I did in my childhood, plenty of Scriptural evidence for many of the “end times” teaching.
Putting on Immortality
Last January I wrote:
Today is what in this world we would call my 74th birthday, but since, in my true and permanent identity, I am immortal (with no beginning and no ending), and therefore never “born,” I don’t wish to acknowledge it as my “birthday,” but rather as the day I “put on” what Paul refers to as “sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3) or “mortality.”
Take No Care
A couple nights ago I was having difficulty sleeping. I found that my mind was occupied with thoughts about some things that were quite serious, such as family relationships, and other things quite trivial (what to cook; what to buy at the grocery; what to wear, etc.). I attempted to get quiet inside and listen, but wasn’t very successful. I was finally able to doze off for a few minutes and, upon awakening, was able to hear.
The New Creature
Because I was an English major in college, immersing myself in British history and literature, I’ve become something of an “Anglophile.” Living in England for two years (a fantasy of mine that came true) only enhanced my fascination with all things British. I’ve recently been re-watching “Downton Abbey,” “binge watching” really. The story began to occupy my thoughts and even my dream life. I awakened during the pre-dawn hours this morning feeling very anxious and unsettled. So I came into the living room and began to quieten myself inside to listen to the Holy Spirit—not exactly an easy skill to master but, arguably, the most valuable one; for inside is where God dwells (see “Where Is God?”) and therefore where we find answers, solutions and direction.
Married to Christ the King
Last night I was watching a television drama series on the life of Queen Elizabeth II entitled “The Crown.” Her father, King George, knowing that his death is eminent, tells Elizabeth’s husband Philip that he will have to give up his career as a naval officer to support and love Elizabeth when she becomes Queen. Then he sends them away on the commonwealth tour in his stead. The King dies while they are away, and Elizabeth finds herself Queen much sooner than she desired or expected.
There is a very moving scene when her plane lands in London and Philip steps forward to escort his wife Elizabeth off the plane as he has always done, but is now told that he must give way to the Crown. So he walks behind her, thereby paying homage to her as his Queen. Later we see her sister, mother, and even grandmother, also bowing to her as their Queen.
We “democratic,” “all men are created equal,” irreverent Americans really have no understanding of this. This is not to say anything for or against either a democracy or a monarchy. Indeed, we know that God didn’t want Israel to have an earthly king, but He did want to Himself be their King and has used throughout Scripture the metaphor of both king and husband to describe the relationship that He has with us—man, created in His own image and likeness.
Obedience Is Better than Sacrifice
[May 6, 2015] I have been in hell, that place of torment, fear, depression and despair. I knew all the promises of God concerning the peace that passes all our understanding. But there was no peace. I became obsessed with my physical body and death. I could think of little else. Nothing could distract me from these fears—cooking, cleaning, exercise, listening to tapes, reading books, watching TV, traveling—nothing at all. I almost wished I would die, but I was afraid of dying. I was afraid of everything. I almost wished I would get Alzheimer’s so I could get some relief. My pills I got for what my doctor called an “anxiety disorder” would sometimes seem to work (if I was tired enough to go to sleep), but at other times it was like eating candy.
Death to Humanity
It was in the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus, who, though tempted in all ways as we are, knew no sin (no sense of separation from God, His Father) agreed to become sin (take upon Himself that sense of separation—My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?
) in order to experience death for every man that we could become the righteousness of God
Personality
I don’t know if this is revelation or imagination, but I want to write it down to contemplate.
When I took upon myself a body and came into this world, I also took upon myself a persona, or personality, which is not my true identity. God descended in the form of Jesus, “made of a woman” and also came into this world, taking upon Himself a persona and experiencing all the emotions of that persona, just as we do—so that He could take it to the death of the cross, thus destroying all persona (the devil) to free us from the bondage that we came into by fearing the death of that persona, since, in our true identity (which is the Christ) we can never die and therefore needn’t fear death.
Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
No Condemnation
I went to bed at 9:00 last night and awakened this New Year’s morning at 1:30, hearing the still small voice inside speaking words of life. I understood that I can never justifiably judge, condemn or criticize another because we are all on the same spiritual journey from the darkness of personality into the light of our true identity which is the Christ,