We need to forget our hate.
We need to forget our deep-seated bitterness.
These things are just a few of the things we need to forget ...but forgetting is often not easy.
Actually, it can be very difficult.
As we read the Book of Revelation, of end times, the very last Chapter reminds me of this. I admit that I do not understand much of what I read here ...but, it gives me comfort enough with what I do know.
I see that there is no sea ...by reading the second to last Chapter. And there is a new heaven and a new earth ...provided by God, not the careful stewardship of climate change advocates. And yes, until that time, surely I want to breath clean air and drink clean water ...but, I have no worry, as I read the final Chapter.
The water of life ...a pure river, clear as crystal, proceeds our of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street, on either side of the river, is the tree of life with twelve manner of fruits ...and yielding fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
This here is not a dream ...it is reality. Though we can accept reality as true, it is often not without need of understanding. And at times we have to accept the fact that some things we do not understand.
This sort of confused me ...as I pictured heaven as a place we entered, already healed.
Yet, we are not invited to heaven because of our proven health record ...we admit we are unhealthy and realize our need for Him.
" ...for the healing of the nations." Consuming leaves?? Some of us might even put an adult panda to shame. From one report I read, they consume 20 to 80 pounds daily. How many pounds do you think it would take to offset our current daily diet of bitter herbs??
We are who we are ...but, more importantly we need to grow to experience more who He is.
Accepting Him for who He is ...allows us to accept the gift of eternity with Him. Yet, we also will be with each other. The one who called us an infidel and tried to kill us ...or may have succeeded in killing us or our family, may not inspire us in sharing a glorious welcoming speech. The apostles may have had much hesitation with Saul, whom we mostly refer to as the apostle Paul. As hard as it is for us to believe that some people could possibly repent, we need to accept it if they have a conversion like Saul did.
And the one who felt we deserved death, may not easily feel we are ready to share this glorious life ...such as the life we are granted eternally.
I don't know how it actually goes ...but, my dream gave me a picture of how improved things would be if we could just approach each day with a bit of amnesia in this life ...as in forgetting the bad when it is appropriate, and being a little more forgiving and compassionate.
Perhaps if we tried to forget about voicing our grievances about past events ...and tried to start anew. Hate and bitterness would not be able to root themselves.
Of course, we can't entirely forget ...if so, we may blindly go back down that same destructive path again. You may ask, how do we avoid that?
The Word of God, the Bible, tells us what to fear in the future, and what not to. Jesus was born a baby ...such an innocent feel-good picture for us in Christmas plays and holiday displays, surrounding our annual gift-giving, singing, and appearances with friends and relatives. That's the good part of life ...but, there is the other part too, filled with condemnation, conflict, and crime.
Jesus entered this life readily sharing the good ...but the condemnation, conflict, and crime wanted a part of Him ...actually, all of Him, eliminated. Then His followers could be dealt with at a later time.
Jesus did not create this mess, and He didn't have to clear it up. It was His choice. He didn't have an obligation or responsibility ...and He didn't have to do anything to prove He could man up ...but, He did.
Look to the Word of God, the Bible ...and it will tell you what we are to do, as we wait for Jesus to return.
The Gospel According to Matthew, Chapter 10, gives us the words of Jesus: "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake of the dust of your feet. Verily, I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But, beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and you shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But, when they deliver you up, take no thought of how or what you shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak. For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you."
I have a bit of concern about careless interpretation of this. The apostles were constantly with Jesus, and they had a real experience, inclusive of the sense of how Jesus wanted them to visualize what He said. I am quite confident that Jesus didn't want the apostles to be arrogant and apathetic towards those they were to reach out to. Jesus did not want them to fear, and He wanted to instill confidence within them.
The confidence I see today, is often something quite different. I am not an authority, as the apostle Paul was, to write churches letters with the intent to both encourage and tell them where they were going wrong. No, this is not authority speaking through me, it is how I emotionally feel. I don't agree with Westboro Baptist Church members who go to cemetery to show their disdain for the military while parents are grieving the death of their loved ones. To me, that is an extreme case of cruel thoughtlessness ...and certainly not the place to promote your agenda. But, there are many others cases where someone speaks as if they have spiritual authority ...when their ideas are a bit foreign to me (a mild way to say they don't seem to be in the right spirit, or Spirit).
How do we become more in tuned with, or attuned to something ...especially the Spirit of God?? Reading the Bible is a good start, and studying the Bible with others. Yes, I agree there can still be major differences ...but, at least there is a basis for discussion.
I see that there is no sea ...by reading the second to last Chapter. And there is a new heaven and a new earth ...provided by God, not the careful stewardship of climate change advocates. And yes, until that time, surely I want to breath clean air and drink clean water ...but, I have no worry, as I read the final Chapter.
The water of life ...a pure river, clear as crystal, proceeds our of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street, on either side of the river, is the tree of life with twelve manner of fruits ...and yielding fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
This here is not a dream ...it is reality. Though we can accept reality as true, it is often not without need of understanding. And at times we have to accept the fact that some things we do not understand.
This sort of confused me ...as I pictured heaven as a place we entered, already healed.
Yet, we are not invited to heaven because of our proven health record ...we admit we are unhealthy and realize our need for Him.
" ...for the healing of the nations." Consuming leaves?? Some of us might even put an adult panda to shame. From one report I read, they consume 20 to 80 pounds daily. How many pounds do you think it would take to offset our current daily diet of bitter herbs??
We are who we are ...but, more importantly we need to grow to experience more who He is.
Accepting Him for who He is ...allows us to accept the gift of eternity with Him. Yet, we also will be with each other. The one who called us an infidel and tried to kill us ...or may have succeeded in killing us or our family, may not inspire us in sharing a glorious welcoming speech. The apostles may have had much hesitation with Saul, whom we mostly refer to as the apostle Paul. As hard as it is for us to believe that some people could possibly repent, we need to accept it if they have a conversion like Saul did.
And the one who felt we deserved death, may not easily feel we are ready to share this glorious life ...such as the life we are granted eternally.
I don't know how it actually goes ...but, my dream gave me a picture of how improved things would be if we could just approach each day with a bit of amnesia in this life ...as in forgetting the bad when it is appropriate, and being a little more forgiving and compassionate.
Perhaps if we tried to forget about voicing our grievances about past events ...and tried to start anew. Hate and bitterness would not be able to root themselves.
Of course, we can't entirely forget ...if so, we may blindly go back down that same destructive path again. You may ask, how do we avoid that?
The Word of God, the Bible, tells us what to fear in the future, and what not to. Jesus was born a baby ...such an innocent feel-good picture for us in Christmas plays and holiday displays, surrounding our annual gift-giving, singing, and appearances with friends and relatives. That's the good part of life ...but, there is the other part too, filled with condemnation, conflict, and crime.
Jesus entered this life readily sharing the good ...but the condemnation, conflict, and crime wanted a part of Him ...actually, all of Him, eliminated. Then His followers could be dealt with at a later time.
Jesus did not create this mess, and He didn't have to clear it up. It was His choice. He didn't have an obligation or responsibility ...and He didn't have to do anything to prove He could man up ...but, He did.
Look to the Word of God, the Bible ...and it will tell you what we are to do, as we wait for Jesus to return.
The Gospel According to Matthew, Chapter 10, gives us the words of Jesus: "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake of the dust of your feet. Verily, I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But, beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and you shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But, when they deliver you up, take no thought of how or what you shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak. For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you."
I have a bit of concern about careless interpretation of this. The apostles were constantly with Jesus, and they had a real experience, inclusive of the sense of how Jesus wanted them to visualize what He said. I am quite confident that Jesus didn't want the apostles to be arrogant and apathetic towards those they were to reach out to. Jesus did not want them to fear, and He wanted to instill confidence within them.
The confidence I see today, is often something quite different. I am not an authority, as the apostle Paul was, to write churches letters with the intent to both encourage and tell them where they were going wrong. No, this is not authority speaking through me, it is how I emotionally feel. I don't agree with Westboro Baptist Church members who go to cemetery to show their disdain for the military while parents are grieving the death of their loved ones. To me, that is an extreme case of cruel thoughtlessness ...and certainly not the place to promote your agenda. But, there are many others cases where someone speaks as if they have spiritual authority ...when their ideas are a bit foreign to me (a mild way to say they don't seem to be in the right spirit, or Spirit).
How do we become more in tuned with, or attuned to something ...especially the Spirit of God?? Reading the Bible is a good start, and studying the Bible with others. Yes, I agree there can still be major differences ...but, at least there is a basis for discussion.
No comments:
Post a Comment