June 16, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.” (Zechariah 1.8)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

We often get judgment and justice confused. Generally, I believe, this happens because we consider revenge and equality to be the same. By equality in this sense, I refer to the lex talonis. In Leviticus 24, verse 19, we are introduced to “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” This is what I mean when I parallel “justice” with “equality.” A judgment against a wrongdoer is a matter of fact. It is what kind of “justice” will be meted out. It is not fair, it seems, that the wrongdoer is punished “an eye for an eye, etc,” (because this would later be extended to a hand, a foot, a limb and further- a life.) What must also occur, as it would seem, is compensation to the offended or the survivors of the offended and grieved. How is it that one can truly measure the equality of compensation? Of course, no court can but they certainly try. In this I am suggesting that we reflect on the “equal” nature of the man on the red horse.

The other day, I spoke about the duality of Jesus as Lord and Savior who is bound in righteousness to honor His Father in Heaven pursuing a life of peace, reconciliation, love and mercy. Some might mistake this for a “soft” life. It is anything but soft. Those who are “soft” and become tolerant and excusing of behaviors and mindsets so that they become acceptable norms and “just a part of life,” create a viciousness of community where intolerance is the dominant mindset and judgmentalism is the inexcusable behavior. Yes, I said it. For the sake of being tolerant, inclusive (read accepting without accountability) and thus call it “loving,” we are breeding a very isolating, alienating, confusing and dangerous culture and climate. We are familiar with the term “tough love.” Many are not practiced in this art of engaging and encouraging life. For them “tough love” is abrupt, overwhelming and judgmental without mercy. It seeks transformation but it requires capitulation. This is not “tough love.”

As I considered the man on the red horse being the archetypal Christ whose purpose was to discern the presence and depth of peace in the land, I also suggested with the presence of another red horse in the gathering to be the “other side of the coin.” I didn’t use that term but I do here now because what was presented was the warrior of God who would mete out justice over the wicked and give them their just desserts. This is, of course, the Messiah that the Jews of the Old Testament and into the New Testament throughout the days of Jesus looked for and longed for. That Messiah will come. He will come with a vengeance as only God has the right to do. The wicked have been put on call by the Prince of Peace in the “first coming” of Christ so that the call to repentance, reconciliation and restoration could be clearly and plainly heard not from men who speak for God but from God who could speak as a man. There always has to be fair warning, a shot across the bow if you will. Jesus of Nazareth was that fair warning. He spoke of judgment, justice, peace, equality, mercy and accountability as the evidence of God’s abundant and pure love and righteousness. He dispensed His Holy Spirit on all who would believe so that they might continue to build that culture and climate of righteousness which is supposed to be the nature and character of the Church.

For me, I see this red horse rider as the Messiah yet to come as God’s single and unadulterated voice from Heaven. There would be no earthly and worldly opportunities to confuse the word only to refuse the word. And this is what happened in the days of John the Baptizer and Jesus the Christ. We might call them the “twins of righteousness.” One, John the Baptizer, represented the pure, unadulterated and prophetic voice preparing the way of the Lord who was coming and indeed was already in the world. He would be the last prophet of the Covenant of the Law. He would call for repentance and renewal as was heard in the days of Solomon when the Temple had been first constructed. In that day it was said “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, pray, seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven; listening I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7.14) Be alert, mighty ones of God, that this healing which God declares through Solomon to the nation of Israel and all those who would follow its decree was the confirmation of the blessing of His Holy Sanctuary, the Temple of God, as a beacon of faith and truth into all the world.

As for Jesus of Nazareth, He was the voice of the new Temple not built with human hands eternal in the heavens. Remember how He told the Temple leadership, “Tear down this temple and I will see it rebuilt in three days.” Jesus was not speaking of His efforts but that of His Father in Heaven. It was God who would reward the faith of His only begotten Son with the blessing and confirmation of resurrection. He would fulfill the Old Testament prophecy with a new covenant made in Jesus’ blood. Jesus was bloodied and stained as the paschal lamb who was slain for our sins. In our belief in Him, our sins are forgiven and we are made as white as snow. In Him we find the perfect peace which surpasses all understanding. It is a peace which the world cannot create nor assume to give to anyone. It comes with the blood of man and not the blood of the Lamb. This is the way of Satan the deceiver who says today as he offered to Eve and Adam in the Garden: “Surely God had no intention of you ever dying.” As the Deceiver and Father of Lies, he stands in opposition to “the Way, the Truth and the Life” by which all believers may gain the favor of God and the access to His dwelling place forever. And we know this is the truth because of the evidence of the Empty Cross, the Empty Tomb and the fulfillment of His promise to be blessed with the power from on high: the Holy Spirit.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit brought us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit so that others may be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind that we would know that we are Your people and that You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.