December 30, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“On the day the Lord gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil and from the harsh labor forced on you, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon. How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!” (Isaiah 14.3-4, 12)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

It would serve us well to call to mind the instruction of the apostle Paul to the congregation of Christ believers in Ephesus. Ephesus was a center of economics, politics and religion. Of the seven churches of Asia Minor, Ephesus was the “home church.” The beloved disciple of Jesus, John the brother of James, was the bishop of the Seven Churches and was based in Ephesus. This created an ecclesiastical conflict because the strength of the Church whose head was Christ the Lord stood in opposition to the other religions who occupied Ephesus as well. Paul wrote, “Put on the whole armor of God for our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Rather it is against the rulers, [no] against the authorities, [no] against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6.12) Why do I say this teaching should be considered at this point in reflecting upon God’s word to Israel through Isaiah as recorded in chapter 14? Simple put, we are given definition of the true scope of the conflict which involves Israel. It is easy to say that the nations of the world are vying for that strategic piece of land called Israel. To possess and rule Israel is to, at least in the thought of those kingdoms at play in the days of Isaiah, control the whole world. If only it was that easy. Israel is ground zero for the greatest battle of all time. It is the battle of good versus evil. The forces which oppose Israel are, in truth, opposing the One True God. The nations which stand against Israel are, in truth, representatives of the arch enemy of God and thus humanity, Lucifer (his heaven-oriented name) or Satan (as he is best known on earth). In the verses which become the heart of God’s declaration of restoration of the nation of Israel, the true enemy is identified as the defeated enemy. We know of that defeat in all its completeness in the closing chapters of The Revelation to John by the Resurrected Lamb of God who is Jesus the Christ.

Following the pattern of thinking and presentation, the Enemy, as is the Messiah, is shown in three stages: past, present and future. We are alerted to who he was, who he is (in Isaiah’s day) and in the future. Within the future context of this revelatory prophecy, there is the near future (which concludes with the restoration of Israel out of its exile) and the distant future (when the enemy of God and humanity is finally put in place: Hell.) Let the reader consider at this point the many exiles and conflicts which have stood against Israel throughout history to this very day! Are we seeing the final conflict being played out in 2024-2025? Is there yet another conflict and exile yet to come? Is the Church bearing witness to the fulfillment of God’s promise to His nation Israel? If so, then the gospel message is even more clear as to the conclusion of God’s will that the whole world is given the opportunity to choose salvation. It is not that Israel is set apart and that all who wish to survive must be or become Jewish. No, rather the message is that God has promised to bring the defeat of the Enemy of God and humankind in the context and the complex of Israel there in the Middle East. Even now, the crossroads of nations around the world has been connected at Israel. North, east, south and west, the call of God is omni-directional. As we see the course of history being played out as the Word of God has reported and anticipated, there should be little doubt as to the veracity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its purposeful message. We must be very careful not to be swept into the worldly definition of the combatants. Nor should we become theologically confused about the victors. I would dare say that we, as the Church, may have fallen victim to the latter because we do not fully grasp the former. God no more desires us to be Jewish than He does for us to be Christian. Such “denominationalism” or “sectarianism” is a distraction to the real identity of who we are intended to be in the eyes of God.

If we, once again, look back into the creation story, there is no mention of Jew or Gentile, slave or free. There is, however, mention of “male and female” and the “image of God” within the setting of the whole of God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Yes, there are many “creation” stories which exist among the many cultures which exist and have existed. The core of those stories identifies a people loyal to and infinitely connected with “a higher power or authority.” What then is our “true” and authentic identity? Is it not to be called “children of God”? Galatians 3, which I mentioned at the first of this paragraph only by illustration speaks clearly to the “new creation” which happens because of the belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, Yahweh Elohim. In his writing to the congregation of Christ followers in Galatia, Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3.28) Jesus full well defined the nature and character of that singular identity as those who are known for their righteousness. Far beyond the confines of the Law, the character of “love” as is known by “the Father’s love,” that is- God, is the supreme practice and identifier as to who shall be known for all time as filled with the spirit of peace, joy, love, mercy, kindness, gentleness, self-control and faith. It is not a competition between religions, philosophies, ideologies or political affiliations. There is a competition, however. It is the battle between good (those who do the will of God) and evil (those who oppose the will of God). It might prove better to describe it as a battle of righteousness (doing the will of God for the glory of God and the good of all humankind) and unrighteousness (opposing the will of God to deny God the glory and focusing on what is best for self without true concern for the welfare of others as a primary purpose.) We can banter about “true Israel” and “true Church.” Ultimately, and as we see in the conclusion of the Book of Revelation, Israel and/or the Church as the bride of Christ becomes known by Christ alone. In Him do we have life and have it abundantly. All those who claim Jesus to be the Christ and accept Him as Lord and Savior will be known by His name as their true identity. In Him we will be made one. In Him we will enjoy the oneness with God which was always meant to be our true self. To see it in any other way and from any other viewpoint is to distort that identity of who we were, are and will be. We know that identity exists as well. Let’s do our part to limit those who seek it and the dark side of life which it promotes. It will be defeated and put in its place so that its conflict will no longer have sway or impact on who we are in Christ Jesus, God’s only begotten son.

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.