On occasion, I’ll sit and ask myself if I really understand what Jesus has provided for me and what He intends for my life. I often get the sense that there is so much more in store for me and the family of God than we can ever imagine. The joy I get from meditating on the lavish unselfishness of His provision is indescribable.
Unfortunately, per John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” Yet graciously, Jesus came “that we might have life and have it to the full.” This wonderful verse gives us greater insight into God’s generous desire for our existence. He came not only that we’d have life, but to have it wholly.
This reminds me that his commands aren’t given to steal our joy, kill our happiness, or destroy our peace. That’s the thief’s work, so we shouldn’t assign it to our Lord and Savior. Jesus has brought great fulfillment to our lives as only He can, and develops us into the family He desires.
Now of course, according to Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death” and sometimes, our unwise and sinful choices can open doors for our adversary to wreak havoc in our lives. However, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The Bible tells us that, in Jesus, was life, “and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4). Further, Jesus tells us “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. …” (John 11:25-26).
Therefore, Jesus is the one to whom we offer our gratitude, thanksgiving, and praise for all the great things He has done and continues to do for us.
We have truly been blessed with bountiful life and should not forget all of the Lord’s benefits written in Psalm 103:3-5: “Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.”
How comforting to know that “He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” We can rest in knowing that “… as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him… .” (Psalm 103:10-11)
Now as far as our enemy is concerned, he has been handled as well. Jesus told the disciples in Luke 10:18-19 that He “saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning” and that Jesus had given them “authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy” and that nothing would harm them. Dedicated followers of Jesus are his disciples today.
Even when we experience the trials of living in a sinful world, 2 Peter 2:9 assures us that “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials.” Also, we know from James 1:2-3, that we can face trials with joy as we know that “the testing of our faith produces perseverance.” Not to mention, the Bible’s Old Testament tells us: “for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” (Proverbs 24:16) Nevertheless, it’s okay to ask for help getting back up.
So with all glory being given to Jesus, 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 comes to mind: “So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” Now if that isn’t abundant life, I don’t know what is!
There’s no doubt we need the Lord’s instructions and His Holy Spirit’s power working through us to be successful in loving our enemies. Yet we may need help in identifying our enemies and determining our level of communication with them. Are they believers we define as difficult or carnal, or are they unbelievers who don’t know God at all?
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I’m reminded of the unbelievers we’re told not to be yoked together with as shown in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them, and walk among them and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
However, we’re instructed in Galatians 6:10: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Though we may gather doing good to an enemy does not necessarily mean being yoked together, or in a binding relationship with them, loving our enemies is our response to those who offend us and our way of life or faith–a part of living the Christian lifestyle.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 continues with: “Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. And, I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Then Chapter 7, follows with: “…let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Nevertheless, we have the Lord’s direction in John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Also, we’re told in Luke 6:27-28: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
So, though we should not forget that we are justified by faith in Jesus, apart from the works of the law, at the same time, we must understand we still have some responsibility and effort to maintain Christlike behavior in our lives. 1 Peter 1:15 reminds us that: “… just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”
One part of this being holy entails loving our enemies, those who oppose us and possibly even want to harm us or see us fail. This could be someone we don’t know personally or someone we know very well. It may be someone who knows nothing of Jesus and the Bible, or someone who knows much about the Bible but interprets it differently than they should. Or, one who sees no real value in its contents.
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In any event, we must show respect for them as fellow humans who Christ died for and pray for them. This is loving them. It does not mean we are to walk closely with them as the Bible warns us in 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Further, in dealing with even those who profess to be Christians, but practice hypocrisy, Jesus tells us we are to “guard against the yeast of the Pharisees (Luke 12:1)… .” This included self-righteousness, doing to be seen, not practicing what they preached, neglecting justice, mercy and faithfulness, greed, and self-indulgence.
Another important verse to note is Galatians 6:1, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Each time we encounter an enemy, we should pray to our heavenly Father specifically about how to communicate with them if at all. It may be that we are to remain quiet. Relying on the Holy Spirit and what He shows us in His word about loving an enemy, and obeying Him, may result in our enemy experiencing the Holy Spirit’s fruit of God’s love in us. If he or she does not recognize it as love, they will surely recognize it as being different from the world.
First, I’d like to preface the following paragraphs with the fact that I love Jesus from the whitest white to the darkest black skin color. However, that doesn’t stop me from seriously wondering what he actually looked like.
There’s nothing wrong with pondering the appearance of someone with whom we are so close. I’m certainly willing to wait with patience to see Him face to face, but having some frame of reference as to my Savior’s appearance is for sure a strong desire. I wonder about those practical characteristics like his height, build, skin and hair color, eye shape, hair texture, etc.
Isaiah 53:2/NIV of the Bible describes Jesus as having “no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” So this suggests to me that He wasn’t what you would describe as attractive or good-looking, though no doubt He was the sweetest person who ever lived. His personality must have been very humble and compassionate, especially since verse 3 goes on to tell us “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”
John of Revelation 1:9-18 describes an event when he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day and he heard behind him a loud voice that told him to write on a scroll what he saw and to send it to the seven churches. He described seeing “someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.” He told John “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Isn’t that an amazing event to imagine? The risen Jesus went on to tell him to write what John had seen and what would take place later.
Josephus, a highly educated man, born into a wealthy family, the son of a Jewish priest, who grew up in Jerusalem, was appointed a military governor of Galilee, and later became a Roman citizen and was referred to as Flavius Josephus. In one of his works, The Antiquities of the Jews (Book 18, Chapter 3), he wrote of Jesus: ““About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Christ. And when, upon the accusation of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease. He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him. And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.”
One description of Jesus, according to the “Slavonic Josephus,” a translation of Josephus’ History of the Jewish War; The Messiah Jesus and John the Baptist According to Flavius Josephus; Robert Eisler, Ph.D.:“Both his nature and his form were human: for he was a man of simple appearance, mature age, short growth, three cubits tall [about 4 and a half feet, based on the Jewish cubit], with scanty hair, but having a line in the middle of the head after the fashion of the Naziraeans, eyebrows meeting above the nose so that the spectators could take fright, with a long face, a long nose, and with an undeveloped beard, dark skin, and hunchbacked. …”
Another description of Jesus is from The Letter of Lentulus, which was said to be written by a Roman, contemporary of Jesus, and gives a physical and personal description of Jesus: “Lentulus, the Governor of the Jerusalemites to the Roman Senate and People, greetings. There has appeared in our times, and there still lives, a man of great power (virtue), called Jesus Christ.
The people call him prophet of truth; his disciples, son of God. He raises the dead, and heals infirmities. He is a man of medium size (statura procerus, mediocris et spectabilis); he has a venerable aspect, and his beholders can both fear and love him. His hair is of the colour of the ripe hazel-nut, straight down to the ears, but below the ears wavy and curled, with a bluish and bright reflection, flowing over his shoulders. It is parted in two on the top of the head, after the pattern of the Nazarenes.
His brow is smooth and very cheerful with a face without wrinkle or spot, embellished by a slightly reddish complexion. His nose and mouth are faultless. His beard is abundant, of the colour of his hair, not long, but divided at the chin. His aspect is simple and mature, his eyes are blue-gray and bright. He is terrible in his reprimands, sweet and amiable in his admonitions, cheerful without loss of gravity. He was never known to laugh, but often to weep. His stature is straight, his hands and arms beautiful to behold. His conversation is grave, infrequent, and modest. He is the most beautiful among the children of men.”
Now only God knows the level of accuracy of these descriptions, however, they are an interesting read. Nevertheless, I can’t help but think of the angel in Acts 1:11 who spoke to his disciples as Jesus was taken up on a cloud into heaven after his death and resurrection: “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
So we can expect from the Bible’s signs of the end times, that we will see Him soon and will no longer have to wonder what he looks like. Of course, many believe that it does not matter what He looks like, but one like me can’t help but wonder what the author and finisher of my faith looks like. It is indeed a valid question.
Two other events remind me that Jesus can change his appearance.
Matthew 17:1-3:“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.”
Luke 24:13-51:“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
…. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
It may be interesting to read the writings or interpretations of others’ information on Jesus’ appearance, however, we should never forget that the Bible tells us we all descended from one man, Adam, created by God Almighty. So, there are no worries about how we are connected. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, birthed by a woman, was born of the Holy Ghost–that same Spirit by which we as Christians were spiritually reborn to become a part of the family of God.
To see other thought-provoking, differing ideas on what Jesus may look like, I’ve added a few videos for your viewing.
I’m remembering how my mother used an old expression that defined her displeasure in a situation: “I was fit to be tied.” This phrase meant that she was so furious she needed to be restrained.
How often are we fit to be tied? What causes us to go throughout the day seething in thought about someone’s inconsiderate behavior toward us, or even worse causes us to blow up in full cussing out mode?
Anger is an emotion we all feel from time to time. Sometimes it’s valid. Other times, not so much. Yet our heavenly Father knows all about the frustrations of life that bring about this emotion. He knows that anger will surface, but teaches us how to handle it.
Anger can have a detrimental effect on our lives if we aren’t careful to bring that emotion under subjection to the Holy Spirit. If we don’t act accordingly, it can cause us to linger in unforgiveness, resentment, and bitterness; not to mention go to jail, or even end up dead.
Anger is not a sin, but can cause us to sin. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 4:26-27/NIV, ““In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Sometimes, life will call for the display of righteous anger when injustices are committed. Jesus displayed righteous anger when he turned over the tables of the money changers and sellers he found in the temple. His Father’s house was designed to be a house of prayer. His actions weren’t done to harm them but to correct them.
“When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (John 2:13-17)
Righteous anger involves standing up for what is right. We see many examples of this in the Bible.
Nehemiah, the initial cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I, and later Governor of Judah, in Nehemiah 5 of the Bible, was very angry following the outcry of the poor of his people. After returning to Judah, the home of his ancestors, by permission of the king, to rebuild the city, he was an example of one whose actions proved helpful.
Nehemiah addressed the nobles and officials regarding the problems of the indigent and succeeded in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, as well as instituting some religious and economic reforms.
Righteous anger will often be followed by some kind of needful action. However, our behavior or response to an offense will determine its effect in any situation. The Bible tells us in James 1:19-20 that “…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
Of course, excessive anger is not helpful, but destructive. It can cause major problems in relationships and make us very unattractive. The Bible warns us about angry associations: “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.” (Proverbs 22:24-25)
Thankfully, the feeling of anger can be channeled toward something helpful. For example, if one is angry that poor people aren’t considered or helped, one might develop a new method, small or large, to help them. Or simply volunteer one’s own time in their community, at an organization that provides help to the poor.
One might be angry about the trash often seen in one’s neighborhood. One could alone or organize neighbors together, collect trash when seen in front of you or nearby. This can serve as an example to other neighbors to dispose of trash if they see it.
One might be angry about how a classmate is consistently gossiping about other students, causing trouble. That anger can be used to foster a few casual conversations during breaks or lunch before sharing one’s thoughts on how one keeps their own mind free of other people’s behavior.
Sometimes, just seeing someone’s good behavior can spark motivating thoughts in another’s mind and conscience on how to behave.
As God’s ambassadors or representatives, we must submit our emotions to God for His grace to rule. We see that according to Romans 12:16-18, we are to “live in harmony with one another” and that we aren’t to repay anyone for evil but to “be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.”
We are to leave any repayment for wrongdoing to the Lord as He is the only one who has the right to avenge. This is the way of His kingdom whether we like it or not.
Often, it takes more advanced help to temper our tempers. We may need counseling to help us unpack those hidden things that cause us to feel rage to the point of harming others. Not to mention time in God’s Bible and prayer regularly makes for less frustration and outbursts.
Though anger may surface, God graciously gives us creative ways of being and doing that help us steer clear of displaying those behaviors that anger may produce, but we must read our Bibles and pray consistently, even if in short, small segments.
Sometimes, I think patience is the one fruit of God’s Spirit that I’ve struggled to walk in most. Nevertheless, at times I’ve feared to ask for more of it, as lessons of patience often involve more waiting. Yet, as God’s family, we must have it, as the blessings of life will never perfectly unfold per our own time schedules. So to stay in God’s peace, we must cultivate patience.
As we’ve submitted our lives to the Lord, we come under His divine schedule and must honor His way of bringing events to pass. Hence, we learn to wait and practice contentment while we do so, which makes life less stressful. Impatience indeed brings on unneeded anxiety.
When we find ourselves unable to make something occur, when or as we’d like, we may be tempted to create various ways to do so. This can make matters worse, so we must resist the urge to control events that require waiting, which creates extra angst.
There are many examples in the Bible of godly people who needed to exercise great patience. However, here are a few who experienced it’s necessity and reward:
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Abraham and Sarah
This memorable couple, mentioned in Genesis 17-21, waited many years for God’s promise of a child to be fulfilled. Despite their very old age, they eventually had their son, Isaac. Yet the waiting was not without some doubt, namely when Sarah took it upon herself to attempt to help God out by offering her slave to her husband, Abraham, to produce a child which he was obliged to do. This was not without some frustrating events that occurred later.
Joseph
Joseph, in Genesis 37-50, faced being betrayed by his brothers, the lies of a frustrated woman, and imprisonment in Egypt. Yet Joseph remained patient and faithful, later being promoted with great authority and reconciliation with his brothers.
Moses
In the book of Exodus, Moses, leading the Israelites out of Egypt, dealt with the people’s complaints and disobedience for 40 years before they reached the Promised Land. Nevertheless, Moses, who initially thought he was definitely not the man for the job, completed his assignment.
Job
Job, in the book of Job, is a man who the Bible described as blameless and upright; who feared God and shunned evil. He had to exhibit much patience when he lost everything he had–health, wealth, and family–but still praised God and would not turn away from Him. He continued to trust Him and saw the latter part of his life greater than the former, encompassing the restoration of all he had lost and more.
The Bible teaches us that patience is produced through the trials and testing of our faith, per James 1:2-4, so we know this to be a way this fruit is cultivated in our lives.
(Photo: Impatience Meter Levels by Jane Keeper)
Sometimes, we can get offended by someone to the point of anger, but we’re told in Proverbs 15:18 that “a hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” So this is where we have to ask God for His grace to exercise His patience when we are tempted by frustrating interactions with others.
God has given us a helpful way to get through our challenges of waiting as we grow in patience. That way is prayer: simply asking and believing Him. If He didn’t want us to do so, He wouldn’t have said so.
In Mark 11:24, Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” We already know that according to Matthew 6:10, we are to be praying that God’s “will be done”, and that via Ephesians 5:17, we are not to be foolish, but “understand what the will of the Lord is.” Therefore, we read the Bible to know His will.
In addition, Philippians 4:6-7 tells us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Furthermore, James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
It is truly a blessing, to be assured in Galatians 6:9, that we will reap a harvest at the proper time, if we don’t get weary in doing good and give up. Talking to God when we’re waiting on anything brings comfort.
It’s not easy to wait, especially when it is something that appears to be needful immediately. Nevertheless, we are graced to seek God for the patience necessary to wait with the fruit of peace and joy that He’s also provided us.
When we’re watching something or someone, we’re intently looking, paying close attention to our object of focus. Jesus tells us in Luke 12:37, “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.” Interestingly, He goes on to tell us, “Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table, and will come and wait on them.”
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A part of being ready is “watching”; the Greek word, grēgoreō or grēgorountas, which indicates staying awake; being alert, and in constant readiness; while the word luchnos is the Greek word for lamps, as in portable lamps. While watching we are waiting and make ourselves “ready” by keeping our “lamps” burning. Lamps of that day were kept burning with oil.
Oil in the Bible represents the Holy Spirit. We are to be the containers that hold the oil the Father provides. So, we should remember to stay alert and keep our lamps in good working condition. When our bridegroom comes, He will then recognize that oil within us.
A notable passage regarding lamps and oil in Matthew 25:1-13 is the parable of the ten virgins, five wise and five foolish. Upon going to meet their bridegroom, the wise virgins took their lamps as well as oil in jars for the lamps. The foolish virgins only took their lamps. They fell asleep waiting for the bridegroom as he took a long time to come. However, at midnight a voice cried out the bridegroom had arrived and to come out to meet him.
Ten Virgins by George Cocco
All the virgins awoke and trimmed their lamps while the foolish virgins asked the wise ones for some of their oil as their lamps were going out. But the wise ones declined telling them there might not be enough to do so and to go and buy some oil from those who sold it. While the foolish virgins went to buy oil, the bridegroom came and the virgins who were ready went into the wedding banquet with Him, and the door was shut.
Later, the foolish virgins came crying out for the bridegroom, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us,” but He answered, “Truly, I tell you, I don’t know you.” The parable ends with the warning to “keep watch because you do not know the day or the hour.”
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Jesus tells us in Luke 12:35-36, that like servants waiting for their master to return, we need to be dressed and ready so that when he comes, we can “immediately open the door for him.” But how are we to be dressed? Naturally, when we get dressed, we assess where we are going, what we’ll be doing, and what type of attire the event will require. Then, we assemble those items and clothe ourselves appropriately.
When we are dressed for the Lord’s service, we ascertain what is required for that service and clothe ourselves as such. The Bible tells us what kind of clothes the Lord desires when it says in Colossians 3:14 to put on love. Colossians 3:12 tells us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We’re also told in 1 Timothy 2:10, that as women, we are to be adorned with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
Most likely, we all know what it’s like to have someone visit unexpectedly. If we had no idea they were coming, there’s a good chance we may not be dressed, and if we aren’t especially neat, our living room may not be pleasantly comfortable to receive guests. So with the future event of the Lord’s return, we are blessed to be ready at all times as Jesus will come at an hour when we don’t expect him (Luke 12:40).
People seek happiness or “the good life” in many things. However, according to God’s wisdom, only a few things are required to achieve it.
If we truly desire a full life of peace, success, favor, and good health, here within three bible passages, is God’s prescription:
1.Proverbs 3:1-2/NIV My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
2.Proverbs 3:3-4/NIV Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
3.Proverbs 3:7-8/NIV Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
To practice God’s wisdom in obtaining happiness in life, we must first know:
1. God’s commands;
2. God’s definitions of love and faithfulness;
3. what it means to fear the Lord; and
4. how to identify evil, and avoid it.
We learn God’s commands by availing ourselves of His resources (i.e., the Bible; the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers; and other Holy Spirit-led, wise counselors).
Godly love and faithfulness entail traits such as compassion, kindness, humility, steadfastness, honor, empathy, sacrifice, forgiveness, and patience.
Fearing the Lord denotes reverencing and holding Him in high regard; appreciating and acknowledging Him; placing Him first in our lives; and showing Him the utmost respect He deserves.
Discerning good and evil is accomplished by the study of God’s Bible and the indwelling of His Spirit within us. Right and wrong are clearly established in His word, as well as the laws of our society that can be traced back to the Bible. In addition, hopefully, wise training in good and evil is also provided by one’s parents or guardians.
The length of time and maturity in applying these things will prove different for every believer. However, we are blessed beyond measure to have God’s grace and wisdom during our growth.
I love how the Bible takes us through the lives of kings and others, showing us those who followed the ways of the Lord, those who didn’t, and the life consequences of both. In reading 2 Chronicles, I’ve pondered the life of King Uzziah. He was only 16 years of age when the people of Judah made him king in place of his father Amaziah. He had a fruitful life of adventure with the Lord’s assistance, but somehow, later, veered off of his God-given course of life, and got shipwrecked.
The Bible describes King Uzziah as initially doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Amaziah had done. He sought the Lord following Zechariah’s teachings in the fear of God and as long as he did, God made him successful.
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God helped King Uzziah fight victoriously against his enemies, and the Bible says he became famous and very powerful. He built and fortified towers in Jerusalem and the wilderness. He had a lot of livestock and people working his fields and vineyards.
King Uzziah also had a well-trained army of 307,500 men for which he provided various weaponry for the entire army, and 2,600 family leaders over them. The Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles 26:14, that King Uzziah provided “shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and sling stones for the entire army.” In addition, he created devices for use on the towers and corner defenses so that the soldiers could fight, shooting arrows and hurling stones appropriately.
With all of this, the Bible tells us, King Uzziah’s “fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.”
Unfortunately, with Uzziah’s great power and success, came pride, which led to his downfall. We are shown that Uzziah was unfaithful to God and entered the temple to burn incense on the altar of incense. ( A big no-no!) Azariah the priest along with eighty other priests followed King Uzziah in the temple and confronted him about it, telling him he was wrong to do so.
Only priests, descendants of Aaron, who had been consecrated to burn incense were approved to offer incense. He was told to leave the sanctuary as he had been unfaithful and would not be honored by God.
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Consequently, King Uzziah got angry, and while holding a censer ready to burn the incense, the Bible says he was raging at the priests. Can you imagine? In the temple, in the presence of God, this going on? Raging isn’t a polite word and denotes violent uncontrollable anger via Merriam-Webster, and stormy, furious, and turbulent behavior in Hebrew.
Then, the chief priest and all the others looked at King Uzziah as leprosy broke out on his forehead. Hence, the priests hurried him out, and he “was eager to leave because the Lord had afflicted him.” (2 Chronicles 26:20)
Image: 2013 – V. Gilbert and Arlisle F. Beers/Lynn Maynard
Sadly, King Uzziah had leprosy for the rest of his life, was banned from the temple, and had to live in a separate house, with his son, Jotham, having charge of the palace and governing the people. King Uzziah served as king of Judah in Jerusalem for fifty-two years, after which He was buried near his ancestors in a cemetery belonging to kings, as he was spoken of as having leprosy. His son Jotham became the next king.
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Tragically, someone may start life well and later end up losing everything of importance because of their own poor decisions. King Uzziah followed in the footsteps of his dad, King Amaziah, beginning well, but ending poorly. As well, King Amaziah followed in the footsteps of his father, King Joash, who also started his reign righteously, but ended woefully. Dismally, King Ahaziah, King Joash’s dad, did evil in God’s sight, following his father King Jehoram, who also lived wickedly and died of a painful intestinal disease.
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Unfortunately, oftentimes great power and authority can make us full of arrogance and self-conceit. The Bible warns us of the danger of pride: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2) “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”(Proverbs 16:5) “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
David Diga Hernandez, Evangelist
Perhaps the best action for any of us in the family of God would be to pray daily that the Holy Spirit would help us to maintain a consistent spirit of humility in all of life; recognizing, denouncing, and shunning any prideful temptations the enemy would send to destroy us, and our witness for the Lord. I mention denouncing because sometimes exposing or speaking against what we know to be a temptation, as well as praying, can be a strong source of defense against pride. Not to mention, just staying in our lane.
Aren’t you glad God created animals? I am. They are, and have been, more of a blessing than we may realize. In the Bible, we see animals created in the book of Genesis 1:20-25. Just before creating man to rule over them, God spoke the creatures of the sea into existence first, followed by the birds, and then various kinds of livestock and creatures that moved on the ground. It’s interesting God said, “Let the land produce living creatures….,” so I imagine an astonishing event of animals forming from the ground all over the earth before the eyes of the Lord. Magnificence!
Throughout the ages, animals have been a great help to us as we’ve used them for clothing, food, work, protection, and companionship. God cares about them and has assigned man to rule over them. In Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
However, mankind didn’t initially start out eating steak and lamb chops on the earth! Before the first couple sinned, their diet was not the meat of animals. As stated in Genesis 1:29-30: “Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.”
Nevertheless, eventually, animals were used for clothing, food, and sacrifices to God. After the first man and woman sinned, they created their own plant attire to cover up before God provided His. Today, many drawings, pictures, and films depict the garments God created for them as animal skin. This could very well be the case.
Genesis 3:21 says, “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” It does not specifically say animal skin. So we may conclude it could have been either animal skin or some other kind of material or substance of God’s choosing. However, it does make great sense that perhaps the Lord performed the first sacrifice for sin by killing an animal (shedding blood) and making animal skins of clothing for the first couple.
In Genesis 4:3-4, we see Adam and Eve’s sons, Cain and Abel offering sacrifices to the Lord: “In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.” Afterward, we see the practice of animal sacrifice throughout the Old Testament.
Furthermore, in Genesis 8:20-21, God allows the departure of Noah, his family, and all the animals from the ark Noah had built, at the Lord’s instructions, to remain safe from the great flood that would kill every living being outside of it. Noah then proceeds to offer sacrifices to God: “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.”
Later, in Genesis 9:3, after Noah’s sacrifices to God, with God’s blessing on Noah and his sons, He included: “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” Now God was allowing more to man’s diet than plants.
In any event, the Bible states God’s animals belong to Him. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it …” (Psalm 24:1) Hence, God considers the well-being of animals and expects us to take care of them. “The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” (Proverbs 12:10)
In Jonah 4:11, we see God’s thoughts on the care of animals in one city that had some serious problems. “And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” He didn’t have to mention animals and would not have done so if He didn’t value them.
In conclusion, I’m wondering: Do you have a pet? If so, how has that pet added value to your life? In my eyes, these adorable, majestic, funny, brave, sometimes fearful, and wild creatures are beautiful to behold. Currently, I don’t have one, but I appreciate God’s brilliant fashioning of them.
Can you imagine waking up for the first time and finding you are the only human being on the planet? It’s quite interesting to read the Bible and find out that we all descended from one man who experienced such an event. Perhaps the more we think about this, the more of a respectful mindset toward one another we’ll possess. The fact that we all look very different in our various colors, shapes, and sizes, as well as come from all kinds of places, doesn’t negate the reality that we all originated from one person.
At the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth in Genesis 2:7, we find that “the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” In verse 15, ” The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Then in verse 18, the Lord says, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Illustration by Caleb Salisbury
Afterward, the Lord caused the man to fall into a deep sleep and while he slept, took one of the man’s ribs and made a woman from that rib. The man, Adam, named the woman Eve, who became pregnant with her first two sons, Cain, and later Abel. At this point, we see the start of one huge family of mankind, originating from one man God created, who grew into all of us on earth today.
Illustration: Teach and Grow
We are told in Acts 17:26-27, that “from one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”
So why do so many of us still struggle with the various color distinctions of the human race God created on His earth? These differences are constantly highlighted and labeled in various ways. Yet, the Lord tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:16, that we should regard no one according to the flesh; and in 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord doesn’t see as man does; the man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
For those of us who are Christ’s followers, this reality of life speaks even louder following Jesus’ death and resurrection, “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:27-29) In light of this amazing truth, our thoughts on a person’s skin color or birthplace should not present a problem for one’s existence in any way. Clearly, the Bible shows us in many ways that one’s spiritual alignment, character, motives, and behavior are of the most importance.
Consequently, we’ve still got some work to do to embrace and live the truth that we are all one human race of people (whether we like it or not) and should see ourselves as such. If we are Christ’s disciples or ambassadors, we are one family, our aim being to love God and one another past our skin color or birthplace; and treat one another as we desire to be treated.
We’ll no doubt get a lot further along well on the earth, the closer we get to this goal. Not to mention reality extends into eternity as shown in Revelation 7:9, ““After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.”
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