A Gift of Understanding

I was with a good friend today and we had talked about some old homes we had seen. Even the home I live in is quite old, having been built in 1919. Anyway, I remarked on the lack of closet space. My friend's response was "Well, people did not have a lot of possessions in earlier days. If you had one good pair of boots, you made them last. Generally people did not have households jam packed with clothes, games, toys and whatever else people buy. You pretty much had the essentials of life in those days. That thought made me reflect on something from my childhood days. At Christmas time, my grandparents were always generous toward us. My great regret is that at that time in life I did not absorb the message of Christmas. I dressed up and went caroling with children; we sang the message of Jesus birth, however, I did not receive a true understanding. I really wish I had understood and had expressed to my grandparents the love of Christ.

It seems hard for us to realize it at times, but the Lord wants a relationship with us on a deep and abiding level. Perhaps we have some understanding of that fact and yet draw away toward the world as if pulled by a magnet. Or perhaps there has never been a time of real understanding, but if we reach out for it, the Holy Spirit will open that door. We don't need to fill our lives up with distractions which money can buy at Christmas or any other time.

Jesus talked about giving things up as needed and not hanging onto worry and fear. We could have all the money and possessions in the world, and yet remain totally unstable if not anchored in the knowledge of Christ. Jesus talked about the Kingdom of Heaven, which heart and soul, we can partake of if we will only receive with understanding. And so, we need a relationship with the Lord which draws us close. We should read God's word, drink it in, and spend time in prayer. And whatever we do, whatever life brings our way, in a time of bounty or despair, turn to the Lord.

I give thanks to the Lord for the times I had as a child with my wonderful grandparents. It took years for me to see their love as a measure of God's love which is beyond our earthly comprehension. That understanding is the "gift" I received.

A few words about "The Harbinger" (A prophetic book)

More than a year ago I had a conversation with my mother (who has now passed on) regarding "end times." Obviously we do not know how soon that will be, but we clearly know that every day is one day closer and that the world is changing at a rapid pace. Jesus said we will see the signs as the time draws closer. When my mother and I discussed it, I had speculated, wondering what signs we will see. My mother showed a lot of insight. She said "There will be a very strong call to repentance," and she pointed out that scripture clearly shows that to be true.

The ancient prophets spoke God's word again and again to both leaders and citizens, and it was not a message people always wanted to hear. There was anger, defiance, and rebellion, which is certainly not unlike today. Many people today just cannot bear to hear a message of repentance. The reason I find this so key today is because of that very situation and because I do believe we have seen some people rising up in the role of prophet, speaking God's word of warning.

The book "The Harbinger" written by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn (2012) strikes me as just such an example of a strong call to repentance. The author compares the situation in American to that which Israel faced when the word of the Lord was received (an alarm) but disregarded. As the author explained, for a very long time American has enjoyed a level of protection (God's hand) but as with Israel, because of a back of defiance (an unwillingness to turn from sin and to the Lord) we are beginning to experience a time of shaking and the word "judgement" is not a word that will continue to be taken as lightly as it has in the past. I really believe many people have and are going to respond to the ministering of the Holy Spirit as God brings his word through to our hearts.

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man comes" (Matthew 25:13, King James (2000) Bible).

FORGIVENESS AND MERCY

It is an eternal spiritual law that we have to forgive:  Jesus said that when we come to prayer, whatever it is that we are holding against another—lay it down.  God will heal us. I speak of it as a healing because of the fact that when we are holding anger, it literally creates a state very similar to that of physical sickness. And it can come on suddenly.  One day we are walking close to the Lord, and a situation arises and we become angry—and it may be an understandable reaction to whatever has happened, but we need to take that to the Lord quickly. If we allow it to linger and we literally feed the fire, it will not be long before we are unwell and unstable. We can recognize the feeling we have because it contrasts drastically with our previous state of mind: Whereas before we had a sense of peace, we now feel unstable and distanced from God, and probably confused. It isn't that God has left us, but we have allowed the anger to stand in our way. We may continue to make attempts to come to God in prayer, but as our mental and spiritual state worsens there is the danger that we won't feel we can. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth because we can always turn to the Lord. 

Satan watches for situations like this because he knows how vulnerable we are in a state of unforgiveness. He will try every tactic he knows. This, dear friend, is a full-out spiritual battle.

During a time like this do not forget that Jesus said He has "all authority" in heaven and on earth. We can speak forgiveness, even if it does not feel real to us, but "Lord, here it is, take this from me. Forgive my anger and cleanse me from it." We should come to the Lord and give Him praise and speak words of faith regarding his love for us. 

Anger is a trap we can fall into, but God will protect us. His Holy Spirit is with us and is the One who comforts us and guides us; Holy Spirit—Teacher, Comforter, Counselor. A prayer of the psalmist would include words such as "Lord, please forgive my sins and remember me with mercy," and certainly God does that for all of us if we will ask. Jesus' teaching about forgiveness puts it all into perspective as we gain understanding of the eternal laws of the Kingdom of God.

TRUST, AND REMEMBER GOD'S LOVE FOR US

Walking through the store today I spotted a little boy - tiny little guy - but old enough to understand how a gumball machine works.  I heard his mother calling to him, but he was distracted by the colorful array of candy inside the machine.  He kept cranking the handle over and over although he didn't have any money in the slot.  He probably thought there was a chance if he just kept cranking it he would be rewarded with a gumball.  Well, it could happen..

Likewise I've seen children ask their parents repeatedly for something they want.  They don't give up too easily, apparently believing if they ask enough times they will be rewarded.  And while a child may be deeply disappointed by a negative reaction, that does not change their love and trust for a parent.

In a similar way things in life work out for us favorably at times in ways that seem unusual and even miraculous and we give thanks to God.  Or there are times we go to the Lord again and again with a request believing that God is hearing our prayers.  But what about those situations that are so very hard for us to wait through?  What about those times when things do not look good at all?  And what about those times when not only do things not look good, but the situation is actually getting worse?  How do we cope with that?

I'm not breaking new ground here because scripture tells us clearly what to do, but it's always good to remind ourselves.  When those times of discouragement come, and they almost certainly will, we must remember that we have an assurance the world cannot know unless they too come into a relationship with Christ.  We're not simply waiting and hoping for the best, but we are using our faith, believing with faith, praying with faith, and speaking our faith.  Faith undoubtedly is of monumental importance; I would think that anyone who reads scripture would have to agree.  Jesus made the statement to those he healed, "Your faith has made your well."  And scripture tells us also that the lack of faith of some was a definite problem.

One very important way to show our faith is to give praise to God always.  In good times, and in difficult times, praise God, with all our heart.  That is good for our spirit because we are receiving God's love from the life-giving inflow of God's Holy Spirit.  God's Spirit is always with us and it is important for us to fully reside with God's Spirit.  If we look at the Book of Acts and the words Jesus spoke to the disciples, clearly it is understood that we require the "power" of God's Spirit within our lives.

And so this is how we cope and find strength through all things in life.  God's love is ever present and without end.  He "will not leave us or forsake us."  Regardless of what the situation looks like, we can know that God has it in hand.  Jesus spoke of the faith of a child because for them faith comes so naturally.  We can turn to God and he understands.  There is a beautiful old hymn that comes to mind - "Trust and Obey."  and that's our part, to trust and obey.  God will surely "show us the way."

A VIEW OF THE PRODIGAL SON

"Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me," said the son to the father in the parable of the prodigal son.  The father did not refuse his son, but certainly his heart must have been heavy as he watched his son leave.  But what good to try and hold his son there under these circumstances, with the boy so convinced that the life he had was so much less than what he could have?  How to tell him?  How to make him understand? 

And so the son separated himself from the presence of his father.  There was nothing now to restrain him.  He had freedom and money and youth.  He traveled to that far country just as he had planned.  All the money he had he spent in "wild living."  There is probably no doubt given his youth and the fact that he'd never traveled away on his own that he was taken advantage of by many.  He became immersed in a search for pleasure, but it cost him everything. 

With all the money he had gone and no other way to provide for himself he took work as a swineherd, but clearly he was still desperately poor.  So the story goes, he got to the point of wishing for the food thrown to the swine, and it's at that point that he knew.  Jesus described the experience by saying the young man "came to himself."  He understood at that point the goodness of all he had once had from his father.  He made a decision that he would return to his father and ask for a place as a servant.

At the sight of his son, his father was filled with a sense of love and great compassion.  The painter, Rembrandt, captured the full emotional impact of this reunion between father and son and the representation through the story of God's tremendous love and mercy.  Here is the son, so changed by this experience; it has wearied him and aged him.  He kneels before his father and receives love and understanding to a degree he had not dreamed of.  Such is the love God has for each one of us in this world.  

CALM AND REASSURANCE

I was three years old, as I recall.  I lived with my parents and brother in an apartment in Jackson, Michigan.  We didn’t own a car at that time and I remember that when I had a terrible ear ache my mom called a taxi.  The memory is kind of hazy but I recall feeling miserable and leaning my head against my mom’s arm as the driver took us to the hospital.  At the hospital the doctor wanted to look in my ear because what had happened is that my mom had been cleaning my ear with a Q tip at home and I had suddenly turned and the Q tip had jammed quite far into the ear causing bleeding.  Well, the doctor wanted to look and I was going to have none of it.  I resisted with all the effort I could muster and even with reinforcements of the staff I managed to hold them off for a time.  They finally conquered by rolling me tightly into a sheet.  At that point I resorted to hysterical cries as they grasped and pressed my head to hold it in place.  There were little murmured conversations going on around me and terrifying clicks and other unidentifiable sounds.  I felt the probe going into my ear and I held my eyes shut as tight as possible.   “Julie,” I heard the doctor say.  He said it almost as a melody.  “Ju-lie,  guess what I see?  I see a bunny.”  That was all it took, and my fear went away, because of one man who knew how to talk to a child.  

Even as adults we experience times when we’re fearful because of the unknown or uncertainty of a situation.  We fear a bad outcome perhaps or we’re afraid because we’ve taken on a new responsibility.  We might be facing something we never expected and we’re wondering how to get through it.  It’s always good to have someone we can talk to, but of course the best thing to do is to go to God in prayer.  There are many reassuring words we can hear from people, but they can’t put that calmness within our spirit.  That has to come from the Lord.  There truly is nothing to equal the healing, calming touch that God provides.  And so as a child I needed someone to tell me in a way I could understand that there was nothing to fear, but when I became an adult “I put away childish things” and my understanding became clear because of Christ. 

                                                                                                                                                                   

THE CALL TO UNDERSTANDING

What happens when that day comes that there is absolutely no difference between the way the world thinks and those of the church think?  I've thought about this lately a great deal because I see it happening.  I suppose one could rightly state that it is in its way fulfillment of prophecy; therefore I can reason that a sense of calm should prevail because God has the situation in hand - and I believe with all my heart that He does, but each time I look at this situation I experience a heaviness within me that is hard to shake off. 

There is a time spoken of in the Bible - a time when people will not "endure sound doctrine," but will want to hear continuous pleasantries.  What seems now to have happened is that many people choose to attend churches where they can count on hearing a gospel message laced with all good news and designed to motivationally build on their sense of self-importance.  Consequently, having resisted the Holy Spirit they have come to the point that they cannot bear to hear a true message of repentance for this world.  They don't want to hear about sin and judgment.  That does not fit with the world they are in which they've become so reluctant to let go of. 

I know this is a difficult subject.  It leaves me with a sense of great unhappiness, but at the same time I feel the comfort and love of God's Spirit and therefore there is joy also, because I know the strength of God's love.  He would not have made a way of salvation for us if that were not true.  Let's listen to God's word, study it, drink it in and pray for understanding.  Jesus said that we should pay attention and learn from His words.  He wants us to make a difference in this world - to be the "salt" that gives flavor to a world of people who struggle to find their way.