How to escape

Some think that the GOD of the Old Testament changed and is different than the GOD of the New Testament. BUT GOD does not change. James 1:¹⁷ tells us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the FATHER of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Over and over we see that the GOD of the Old Testament is the same as the GOD of the New Testament.  A prime example of this is found in 2 Chronicles 33:^12-13 check it out.

Job 33:²⁴ “GOD is gracious…to deliver man from going down to the pit (HE says) I have found a RANSOM.”

Due to details given in the book of Job many believe the man Job was a contemporary of Abraham. Therefore, the book of Job precedes Genesis by over 500 years.  How could GOD have found a RANSOM at that time to keep men from the pit (hell)?  Is not JESUS the only way?

JESUS declared, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the FATHER but by ME” (John 14:6).

What ransom did GOD find?

Hebrews 9:22 “and almost all things by the law are purged (cleansed) by blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness of sin).

Hebrews 10:4 “For it is not possible that the blood of bull and of goats should take away sins.”

John 1:29 “the next day John (the Baptist) saw JESUS coming to him and said, ‘Behold the LAMB of GOD who takes away the sin of the world.”

Revelation 13:8 “…the book of life of the LAMB slain from the foundation of the world.”

GOD who knows all things past, present, and future, knew before Creation that people would sin, and a Savior would be needed for the LORD GOD to have an eternal people of HIS own.  JESUS’ sacrifice was pre-determined, agreed on, and accepted by the GODHEAD before the Creation of the world. JESUS taking on the form of man, living, dying for our sins and being raised again for our justification was not a provision added to GOD’s original plan and purpose, but the very plan A itself. GOD’s plan was not Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, but JESUS in the garden (John 18:1-3).

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, that GOD who cannot lie, promised before the world began but in due time manifested HIS Word through preaching (the plan was in place and promised but not explained until JESUS).

JESUS was the RANSOM GOD found in Job 33:24.

I love the clarity of the explanation of how a person obtained that RANSOM in the Old Testament given in Job.

Job 33:¹⁴ “Why do you strive against GOD for HE gives not an account of any of HIS matters.  ¹⁶ GOD opens the ears of men (HE speaks to them), and seals (describes) their instructions… ¹⁷ So HE may withdraw man from his purpose (own way) and to hide pride from man.  Job 36:⁹ GOD shows man his transgressions, where they have exceeded (gone beyond the boundaries GOD has set for them). ¹⁰ GOD opens their ear through discipline and commands that they turn from iniquity ¹¹ if they obey (choice) and serve HIM (good will happen) ¹² but if they do not obey, they will perish, and they shall die without knowledge.”

Warning, GOD shows men the truth and their transgressions (sins) but if they refuse to accept the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:¹⁰) or suppress the truth (saying it is not true or doesn’t apply to me Romans 1:^18ff) they lose the knowledge of what GOD has shown them (Luke 8:18).

Job 33:²⁷ “GOD looks upon men and if any say, ‘I have sinned (agree with GOD that they are wrong) and perverted that which was right and it profited me not’ ²⁸ GOD will deliver his soul from going to the pit (lowest hell) and his life shall see the light. ²⁹ all these things GOD often times works with man. ³⁰ to bring him back from the pit (lowest hell) and to be enlightened with the light of the living.”

Therefore, in the Old Testament faith in and obedience to GOD’s word spoken in their hearts was the way they found forgiveness.  “Even as Abraham believed GOD and it was accounted unto him as righteousness” (Galatians 3:6).

As Job 34:⁴ says, “let us choose judgement (GOD’s words).” Accept the RANSOM.

John 3:¹⁶ “for GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life”.

Hugs

Sharon

GOD’s glory

Just sitting and talking to the LORD this morning, I got so excited for by GOD’s infusing a simple truth into my thoughts and coupling it with another verse (Proverbs 21:1) the light went on in vivid color for me as HE explained something I had accepted because it was in the Word of GOD but had not understood at all. 

The truth GOD whispered into my ear this morning: ”And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD had spoken it”(Isaiah 40:5).

The concept I had not understood was: “The LORD has made all things for HIMSELF: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil” (Proverbs 16:4).

We know from Exodus 33:18-19, 34:6-7 that GOD’s glory is HIS divine nature.

When GOD designed man, HE chose to make him in HIS own image (Genesis 1:27) and that included the ability to choose.  GOD did not make puppets, but people HE desired to one day make HIS children, yet HE gave them the choice whether they wanted to be with HIM or not.

”A man’s heart devises (designs/ contrives/plans/chooses) his way: but the LORD directs his steps” Proverbs 16:9.

How can that be? GOD sets parameters, (Acts 17:26 last clause, 27) GOD presets the times and places, with the desire that men would reach out to HIM and find HIM.  But the LORD of heaven and earth and everything within allows man to choose how to act within the boundaries HE sets.

The oldest book of the Bible, Job, gives us an example.  GOD allowed the fallen angel Satan to act within precise boundaries (Job 1:12, 2:6) but Satan decided what to do in the boundaries GOD allowed (Job 1:13-19, 2:7-10).  The thing that Satan didn’t know, but our all-knowing GOD did, is how Job would act in any given situation.

Our GOD is all knowing.  HE knows the past, present, and future which entail even the words we will say before we say them (Psalm 139:4-Before a word is on my tongue, YOU know it completely).

GOD’s attribute of knowing all things enables HIM to allow man to choose how to act since GOD sets the stage of time and place according to HIS purposes.  This way man is fully responsible for his actions since he chooses them, yet GOD is still in control and working everything together to fulfill HIS plans and purposes (Ephesians 1:11).

Before I tell you how GOD opened my eyes, let me remind you that GOD so loved the world that HE sent HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believes in HIM will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Three times in Ezekiel (18:23, 32, 33:11) GOD cries out to the wicked to turn to HIM and live because HE does not delight in the death of the wicked.

How would allowing those who GOD knew would choose evil instead of HIM bring glory to GOD?  It reveals GOD’s awesome character.  Things like GOD’s love, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, and righteousness (doing what is right) even in HIS eventual destruction of all evil.

Just one last example.  JESUS knew from the beginning that Judas was a thief, but HE had him carry the money bag for the group.  Why? Doing so gave Judas an opportunity to choose to do right.  JESUS knew Judas would betray HIM, yet it is written that JESUS loved him to the end (John 13:1). JESUS loved Judas until his continual wrong choices placed Judas in a catch 22 where he could not turn back.  That is what happens after the Rapture according to 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11.

The greatest thing is to know GOD.  Job said, before all his trouble, he had heard of GOD with HIS ears but after all his troubles he got to see GOD as HE is.  That is the best.  And when we see GOD’s glory when HE ends all evil and promises it will not rise a 2^nd time that will be glory indeed!

“What do ye imagine against the LORD? HE will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time” (Nahum 1:9).

Hugs

Sharon

Anger

I simply love it when GOD gives me an answer quite out of the blue but using the WORD of GOD accurately, I know it is GOD and not me, or the tempter doing the talking.

Since I began walking with the LORD I though I was a relatively calm person. Things didn’t generally shake me since the WORD taught me to run to the throne for mercy and help and to talk everything over with the LORD (Proverbs 3:5-7, Hebrews 4:16).  Developing that habit has led to great peace. 

Until contending for an extended period of time with a different set of circumstances, an onslaught of crisis, limited privacy, dealing with having to relearn to comprehend sounds as words and deal with constant background noise I never heard before I have found anger rising up in me over and over again.  And I fight it until I find my way back to the throne of Grace and call out to GOD.

It has not been comfortable but I have found that GOD is using this time to show me several things about me I didn’t know were there.  Things that HE is changing (2 Corinthians 3:18).  HE also has given me an answer for those who justify their holding on to anger because “GOD gets angry.”

As anger rises in me, a still small voice whispers, “put away anger and forsake wrath… do not give the devil a foothold in your life,” (Ephesians 4:26-27, 31). 

Dealing with my own anger I find I am more compassionate with those I know who struggle much with anger.

But more than that.  GOD reminded me that yes HE does get angry but,

“The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked” (Nahum 1:3).

Yes GOD is provoked to righteous anger against sin because sin destroys. HE disciplines HIS children to produce righteous actions in them (Hebrews 12:11).

Yet, “GOD devises means, that HIS banished be not expelled from HIM” (2 Samuel 14:14).

“For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave his only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of GOD” (James 1:20 ESV).

Therefore, we must put away our anger and forsake getting even and let GOD do that which needs to be done for “it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the LORD (Romans 12:19).

Hugs

Sharon