September 24, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“I will strengthen Judah and save the tribes of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I AM the Lord their God and I will answer them. ‘I will strengthen them in the Lord and in His name they will live securely,’ declares the Lord.” (Zechariah 10.6, 12)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

The best answer for who “they” are is the same today as it was in the days of Zechariah. It will be the same in the future beyond the end of the Age which Jesus promised to His disciples. “They” are those upon whom God’s favor will rest. It is not a prejudiced designation. Because of God’s mercy and grace, all those who will believe on Him and surrender themselves into “His will be done” will be restored, saved and made whole. If there is any message in Zechariah which we must focus upon it is that none of what was promised would happen unless God was true to His Word. The consideration is not about God’s integrity but our own. Will we decide to be steadfast to the truth which can set us free? Will we learn from the past the fastidious consistency which is God’s will for His people? Those who are “they” are intended to include us as well. The thrust of the Messianic Kingdom is an inclusive envelopment of “all who will believe.” Of course, this inclusion also means there is an exclusion. It is not an exclusion which humanity can determine authoritatively which will exist for all time. The dividing line between exclusion and inclusion is drawn by God alone. It is not up to “us” to set the line of demarcation. Rather, it is our decision as to which side of the line we will stand. It has always been this way and it always will until the day it won’t. On that day, choices will cease because there will be no one left to choose. That day has not come but we are rapidly drawing near to it. Sadly, the nearness of that day is in humanity’s hand more than we may know.

A popular negro spiritual from the early 1900s made popular by Louis Armstrong may capture some of this sentiment. You know the song best probably because it is the sports theme song of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. It is part of the celebration of touchdown scores and the integration of fans into a fevered frenzy of success…on the football field. That was not the intent of the spiritual as it arose in the spiritual life expressions of faith and hope. The title of the hymn is “When the Saints Go Marchin’ In.” The hope of it is captured “I want to be one of that number when the saints go marching in.” It speaks to that time when time shall be no more and the eternal morning breaks bright and fair. When the “called” of earth shall gather over on the other shore, when the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there. Wait, those are the words of another hymn sharing the same sentiment. You won’t hear that song sung of football games, soccer games or any other athletic event. It is equally inclusive and decisively exclusive. What becomes telling is how easily we have adopted songs to suit our purpose and define some “ultimate” meaning. Saints fans are not all fans of saints. The terminology we in the Church understand as “saints” are those who believe that Jesus is the Christ. So great is their belief that they life decisions are based on His teachings, His example and His calling. It had and has nothing to do with the game of football. What exists on the other side of “saints” is not an opposing NFL team but sinners, unrepentant sinners. We are all sinners. We all have fallen short of God’s intended purpose and glory meant for the whole of our lives. Paul claimed to be the chief of all sinners because of his vehemence against the Christians, especially those in Damascus. He was met on the road to destruction by the Resurrected Jesus of Nazareth who was, is and will always be the Christ. From that moment, Paul was determined to be “one of that number when the saints go marching into the New Heaven, the New Earth, the New Jerusalem.” And while he spoke of faith in terms of athletic events (run the good race, fight the good fight) and of battlefield experiences (put on the whole armor of God), his full focus was on living a spiritual life which proclaimed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God who was the singular Lord and Savior of all humankind. His life was dedicated to help others see better in order to make the best choice of their lives in the midst of all the world’s choices.

God’s choice has already been made. In fact, God’s choice was so engrained in the fabric of creation for restoration and reconciliation that His own Son was committed to the task of salvation. God has never been against us, any of us. His purpose and intent to share His Word was to define for us the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake and for our welfare in this world and in the next. In Zechariah, chapter 10, we see an “after” effect of God’s decision to redeem His people and those who aligned with them to see God first and only. What is unique is that while they are fitted and equipped for war against an enemy who has fitted itself for war against them, they will never have to fight. They must be ready to fight. They must believe the victory is theirs. They must be on the ready if called into fray. They must demonstrate their decision to pursue God’s will over their own. They must look, act, feel and sound the part of “when the saints go marchin’ in” “when the roll is called up yonder.” And where will they/we be marching in? Into the land which God has prepared for them/us. It will be God who did it, does it and will do it. There can be no other option for success. Sadly, there will be losers. They will be the ones who have chosen to be “one of that number when the roll is called up yonder.” They will not be there. It won’t be about Jewishness, and Christianity. It will be about their antagonistic relationship with God. They will be anti-Christ and forever against Him. He will be the door of the sheep of God’s hand and stand forever blocking the way into Paradise as surely as the Angel stood in the gateway of Eden to prevent Adam and Eve from ever returning into the garden.

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.