August 13, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“‘When I called, they did not listen; so, when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 7.13)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

So, are you one of those who read passages of scripture like Zechariah 7.13 and comment “God isn’t a fair and just God.”? Are you one of those who believe that God isn’t God because bad things happen to good people while good things happen to bad people? Are you one of those who believe that God is supposed to be kind, friendly, cajoling, charitable, tolerant and inclusive 100 percent of the time? Aren’t these examples of how people make God in their own image? Yesterday’s reflection was a reminder of the exclusivity of faith. By that I mean that one must have faith in God in order to gain what is truly ours in the scope of eternity. Nothing of the world will last forever. We experience on a daily basis the “come and go” of the things of this world. We have serious debates with ourselves and others as to what is of the world and what is of eternity. The world, even the earth, will not last forever. Unfair? Is it unfair because it doesn’t meet our standard of understanding life? Is it unfair because it is a reality which we cannot change and over which we have no control? Ultimately, it seems, and I say “it seems” so I am speaking from my perspective on this, that what we desire is to be in control of our environment as an expression of having control over ourselves. The problem exists, and it exist in our “here and now,” that we have chosen to have no control over ourselves. What we want is to control the environment to validate the lie that we are in control of ourselves. Sadly, we are failing on both counts.

Zechariah 7.13 expresses the reality of living in the world on earth. For those who have not read my reflections previously, let me do a quick review of those two words just mentioned: world and earth. The “world” is not a place on which we reside in the cosmos. That place is a planet that we call “Earth.” The Earth is a specific object which rotates around the Sun under the influence and itself influences other such objects found in a Solar System. The Solar System, the system of such objects who has a relationship with the Sun, a great yellow star. Our Solar System is a part of the Milky Way galaxy, and a very small part it is, found on the edges of one of two spirals which comprise this galaxy. I could go on with the interrelationships in our galaxy as it passes through space influenced and influencing other such “existences” within the known universe. The universe is a vast expanse of space which astronomists have been attempting to not only measure but see beyond. Why would they want to do that?

It is because they live in a “world” of inquiry with a desire to know and control their environment through a variety of expressions of culture and climates. The “world” is not a place but an expression of those cultures and climates and there are many of them. We can call them philosophies, theologies, economies, concepts, ideologies, politics, personal ideas, genderisms and so forth. It may be easier to simply say that the “world” is people. Like snowflakes, not politically speaking, no two people are exactly alike. So, whether we are speaking individually or corporately, people can live “in their own world” or “in many worlds” based on the connections and relationships with themselves and one another. And there are many “worlds” on planet Earth. When Jesus commissioned His disciples before His ascension into Heaven, He told them to “Go into all the nations and make disciples there.” He did so first by declaring “All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to Me (by God).” As the ruling authority of all places, He sought to engage the ministry of transformation moving the mindset from a physical reality to a spiritual reality. This is why He was not interested in “going to war” with Rome, Israel or any other nation or kingdom on Earth. He wasn’t in a battle for land and resources. He already had authority over them and could collect them at any time. And in the end on “that Day,” He will. But the purpose of Jesus Christ was to meet and transform people into that singular reality which makes the most sense and the greatest difference. What is that reality? That reality is for us to be the “one people of God.” At the risk of some who will hear this next claim and start raising flags of opposition it is true that Jesus Christ believed that there should be only two worlds. Ah, you thought I was going to say “one world.” That globalist ideology is a dangerous one because it does not take into consideration the entirety of the universe. Why not? Because that “globalist,” one world and one planet cannot see beyond the universe any more than the astronomists who seek to measure the universe and believe it has a boundary, a limit.

What does this have to do with the “fairness” of God? Is it fair for God to “not listen” to people who “do not listen” to Him? I fear we are in a predicament in our own “world” because the sense of entitlement proposes that everyone has a voice of authority and should be listened to. They should not only be listened to but obeyed because they have declared for themselves “all authority in Heaven and on earth” has been taken by me and there are only two worlds which exist: my world and everything else. How strange that such a thought process creates the collision of worlds believing the same thing with the hope of peace. Such thinking can only result in chaos. Chaos is what we have. Chaos has existed longer than we have. What makes sense, mighty ones of God, is that we change our “world” view and look beyond ourselves to see that there are truly only two worlds that exist regardless of time and place. There is the Kingdom of God and then there is somewhere else. Call it Hell if you wish. Jesus’ focus was bringing to light the Kingdom of God on earth as it was in Heaven. He was not speaking so much about a place but an abiding truth of how to live in peace and harmony regardless of the place of residence. In order to help us understand that there had to be an accountability. That accountability is knowing God is God and we are not. God holds the knowledge and experience of all life but not to be exclusive with it. God’s desire is to share life and to share the abundance of life which comes from living in the Kingdom of God regardless of the place where people are. But if people refuse to listen to reason and promise, seizing upon being served more than serving others and commit themselves to living in disconnected and competing world orders, then they have created that “other” place. God will allow it but He will not support it. He hears it but He will not listen with the intent to submit to the authority of others. Just like good parents do not submit to the will of their children but press forward for what is good in the days to come. So, there has to be an accountability, an ultimate authority and a final decision. This is what God reveals to Zechariah has happened. This means it can happen again after the time when God extends grace and mercy and brings His people back to a place where the Kingdom of God on earth can be manifested in such a way that all worlds will come together and find peace.

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 in order that others 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 so we would know we are Your people and 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.