ONE GOD Page 29

Ok, so recently I was doing a Bible Study and came across a scripture that gave me pause.  I’ll share it with you and then let’s stop in our tracks and read it again.  The profound truth of it should shake awake our slumbering view of God….and sharply remind us of His influence and power!  Here it is:

 James 2: 19
“You believe there is one God! 
Even the demons believe that - and shudder.”

 Read that again!!!  Let’s don’t kid ourselves.  The holiness of God transcends boundaries between the seen and the unseen world.   We are called to believe in the unseen God.  This scripture flat out says that demons have this calling as well.  Believe me, they know Him…they may have even gotten a glimpse of His power and radiance…and THIS is, perhaps, why they shudder!

 I’m with you…I prefer not to think about demons.  As a young girl….I would do my very best not to give my mind one inch of room for the credence of this.  But, as we move deeper into the knowledge of the Word of God we must make room for this aberrant truth! 

The battle between good and evil began when Lucifer and his followers were thrown out of heaven.  The prophesy in Revelation 12: 9 gives us an account of this exile.  It says: "The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.  He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."  

Unfortunately the worldly saga deepened when Eve fell prey to Satan, in serpent form, in the Garden of Eden!  Sin was born on planet Earth.  The battle still rages-as we wrestle against that same deceitfulness that darkened our world and is still filling it up and absolutely running over the good that each of us try to cling to! 

What are we to do?  What can we do?  I have one simple answer!  We must stand on Truth!  What does this scripture in James tell us?  That there is one True God!  Believe that!  Again, for effect, scripture says that demons believe in the One God and shudder!  When is the last time you shuddered?  What brought about your physical trembling?   I’m saying that we don’t shudder easily or often and that in this scripture it is significant!

 As the Christian writer and speaker, Beth Moore, states…” Faith does more than nod with demons”.  How profound!  With this said, just standing on truth is not enough.  We must move into action-for if we don’t we will lose the battle that has been raging for too long! 

Here is what scripture says about the battle between good and evil:

 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
 against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Ephesians 6: 12

 I am not trying to have you focus on evil!  I am simply reminding you that evil exists.  I still don’t give credence to demons….for I believe the Word of God and God’s vast power stands guard and has authority over that darkness.  I am calling your attention to the fact that there is one God…and He is holy!  His holiness carries weight!  He is well known in the seen and unseen world and any and all forces must acknowledge this and literally bow to His name. 

Scripture says in Philippians 2:9-11
“Therefore God exalting Him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
To the glory of God the Father.”

 
Let’s remember that God is holy.  Let’s remember that the name, Jesus, is sacred….and when it is spoken silence fills the stratosphere and peace floods over and under the earth, to it's very core,  while everything in existence pauses to bow to the one Lord, God! 

Back to our scripture in James 2: 19:  I want to differentiate myself from simply being one that agrees that there is a God.  I confess that there is one true God.  I encourage you to confess this as well.  Let’s remember that God is on His throne and that He is exalted!   I take great comfort in knowing that evil shudders at the very thought of God’s sovereignty and that at the mention of His name every knee should bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.   Don’t you? 

Song Recommendation:
Your Great Name
BY:  Natalie Grant

My Eyes See You Page 28

“I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear; but now my eyes see you.”
Job 42: 5

 This amazing revelation is in the very last chapter of the Book of Job.  This book details a period of time during which Job sustained  tremendous hardships.  He suffered loss after loss…and unfortunately, continued to grieve because God’s purpose was veiled- to the point that even Job’s wife and closest friends questioned Job’s honesty with God.  How would you like to have your closest friends ask you “Are you being honest with God?”  Ouch!   Interestingly, all of Job’s troubles began even though he was “blameless and upright and feared the Lord” (Job 1: 1). 

After much loss, God began a detailed dialogue with Job about this world and God’s sovereignty and power. With a faithful stamina that is truly astounding, Job finally came to a blessed point where he was able to say to the Lord “I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear; but now my eyes see you.”

 Believe me, this was an amazing revelation for Job.  This was not a casual statement made in a moment of reflection.  This spiritual revelation was earned through the death of family members, physical illness and pain, and the loss of his livelihood which brought financial ruin.  The fact is, Job was being tested by Satan himself.  You can read further about his amazing life and trials in the book of Job.  What I want to ponder now is the spiritual awakening that led Job to say…..

“….Now my eyes see you.”

What would it take for each of us to say that to the creator of the universe!?  This was not a three-dimensional viewing!  Scripture says, in II Timothy 4:8, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen but what us unseen.”  This is a spiritual testimonial of all Christians.  Job’s revelation was probably a drop-to-his-knees spiritual confession!  In Job’s day the Word of God was read aloud because they didn’t have a copy of the Bible,like we now do.  After all the hearing of the word- NOW Job has a sacred visual of God’s character. 

 For us, I have another example….

If, by chance, you saw the block-buster movie Avatar you know how the movie ends.  The very last scene dramatically bursts onto the screen letting us know that the main character, Jake Sully, still lives.  It is image of the large, vivid eyes of his avatar.  Throughout the movie Sully scientifically embeds himself into a creature called an Avatar so that he can step into the world and culture of the people that inhabit the planet Pandora!  His goal is to understand the mysterious bond to their physical world. He has a duplicitous purpose but in the end his heart aligns with righteousness and he changes his “view” and therefore his loyalty. 

If you didn’t see the movie I’ll tell you that as the storyline deepens, Jake Sully submerges himself further into the culture of the Na’vi people.   We learn that, for these natives, the physical and spiritual are linked.   Perhaps as Christians we should recognize this as well.

As we watch, in full color, Sully begins to learn the ways of the indigenous and gains a great appreciation for their culture.  He begins to grasp the intangible; a spiritual truth to which they hold.  They demonstrate this to each other by expressing in words,
and with great honor, the statement “I see you”.

                                           It insinuates a “visual”…but is actually meant spiritually!

 As I watched the film this moved me.  If only we were attuned to each other in a way that we could better understand the intricate and peer into the hidden heart of things.  This movie is not Christian-based and, of course, it is fictional….but it had a great lesson, of which I am trying to drive home….and it is this:

Through time and circumstance, if we are trained and accustomed to looking for it….we can see into the spiritual realm.   With scriptural knowledge and with a steadfast faith we can draw close to God and get to know Him personally….and one day, be able to say, as Job did, 

“I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes see you”.

 Song Recommendation
“I Lift My Hands”
By:  Chris Tomlin