The Terror of the Lord

Isaiah 2:19,21 - They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily. To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the crags of the rugged rocks, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily.

Isaiah was a prophet. He told of the judgment to come upon His people. God was frustrated and angry with Israel. They had seen His miracles, known His protection and provision over the years, but now they forgot Him. They were intent on making names for themselves, relishing in the works of their own hands, patting themselves on the back and living for self. Their stuff became their idols. They no longer looked to God as Provider.

As I read the first chapter I saw a similarity between these people and our nation, one that once was aware of the need for God, which people did not consider Him passé. God still pleads with us: "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:19,20)

Amidst the majority of the people (then and now) there is a remnant of believers, however. Unless the Lord of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:9) Everyone knows the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Two cities filled with sin. God told Abraham he would not destroy them if there would be even 10 righteous people...and there weren't.

I know sometimes when I write I sound critical. And people don't like to hear criticism. But sometimes it's through that criticism that something eventually hits home. Jesus spoke some harsh words Himself calling some hypocrites, blind fools, snakes and vipers. Not pleasant words at all, but the truth. When I write what God warns it may sound critical. How can anyone say that God who never changes, is always truthful, has warned us in the past and continues today is being critical. He's warning...........I pass on those warnings.

Our country has a small remnant of righteous people. Although we are headed for disastrous times, I do not believe we will be destroyed for the righteous...who still will have difficult days to go through because of the unrighteous.

As Isaiah goes on, God has him prophesy first the warning that if they put away their evil ways He will do right by them. If they do not His hand will come against those who come against Him. Isaiah 1:25,28: I will turn My hand against you, and thoroughly purge away your dross, and take away all your alloy. The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed. God will still do this today because his Word has not changed...warning first...with His goodness to them if they heed and the results of their determination not to hear His words. Just not many take the time today to know what His Word has to say.

Oh, people. Does anyone see this? We are so imitating those days. As individuals, a nation and the world. Many do not hear the words of the prophets warning of the days to come. Many might say, they were ancient people and what does that have to do with today? Many believe that life just goes on as we have known it for our short time on earth. I look at it this way...Jesus will return; why not today or tomorrow? It has to happen sometime. Shouldn't we be ready? What do you think will happen if He does? Are you ready? Do you care? You should.

The signs of the times show the great and glorious day of the Lord is coming. Scoffers are in abundance. Evil abounds compared to 60 years ago, right? Wickedness in the form of complacency and self-seeking, self-pleasure is everywhere. And there are a lot of blind people...blind because if
they could see they would recognize their sin and who wants that?

There will be a day when the terror of the Lord will come. If I must be afraid of it, so should everyone. There WILL be a day when God will show the world His glory and righteousness. It will be a terror to those not with Him, to those who have ignored Him, who have said they believed in Him yet lived as they desired thinking they had nothing to fear. When this day comes, all those things one worked so hard for, so enjoyed, so proud about, will come to nothing...left behind when the fear of God so overcomes and sends people running and hiding because God's glory is too much to bear.

I share Isaiah's warning. It is not mine. As God spelled it out then, He spells it out in no uncertain terms today. He never changes, His Word is still true. He has shown us as an example....so don't get mad at the messenger(s)! Ignorance is no excuse. Turning a blind eye or deaf ear is no excuse. God has shown us. Will you heed His warnings? Or will you laugh at what seems impossible? Isn't it He who created the heavens, earth and mankind, brought the Great Flood, was provider and protector to those who followed Him, rained judgment on those who did not, who sent His Son to die for all so we would not need to fear? Jesus is still the answer in this world. Just acknowledging Him is not enough. Knowing Him personally is. Trusting in Someone who is unseen, having faith in Him before the things we can see or feel.

Heed His warning or don't. Laugh or not. I voice not just my own opinion but that of others, which ultimately comes from God. It's up to you to make up your own mind.

For with God nothing will be impossible. Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. (Luke 1:37, Jeremiah 32:17)

Give Ear, O My People

Psalm 78:1-4 - Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

Children of God. People of God. His peculiar people. A chosen generation. A holy priesthood. His inheritance. Saint of God. New creature. God's workmanship. Citizen of heaven. Chosen of God.

How is it we had not heard at an early age? Where were the people? Where was the Church? How is it there are so many differing opinions on the idea of salvation and what the Bible proclaims? Why isn't there just one heart, one mind and one God?

And yet, somehow, the message was passed on. Somehow on one day God presented to many His Son Jesus for the very intent of saving yet another soul. The message was spoken, it was heard, it was taken in, it changed one more person, then another and another. Why not more? God knew long ago that the road would be narrow and few would follow it. And that's just the way it is.

Yet He has given so many a chance to receive that Word, the sayings of old, the message that never quits and never changes.  Now we must take that same word and message and perpetuate it. Teach it to not only those around us but the next generation. Teach the parables and the laws. Teach them Jesus. Teach them that in Him is life an no other life is as great at what He has to offer.

Teach them creation, in it's truth. Teach them all God has done for His people, of which some are now included as. Teach that He saved and healed, that He was with them through thick and thin, as long as they were obedient to Him, that He is with us through thick and thin, as long as we are obedient to Him. Like a (good) father to a child...that's what He is. Not all of us have experienced a good and loving father. But He is there to be the replacement, the One who will love unconditionally.

Remind that when stubbornness and rebellion are present in a life or a country or a world, judgment will come. God will not leave His people but our desires can often lead us to leave Him. His love is unconditional; our has conditions, generally focused on self.

Remember all He did for past generations. He longs to do this for us. He parted seas that Israel might cross on dry ground. He longs to part the seas in our lives that we might cross over to a better life...leave the oppressed lives we don't even realize we have for a real life, a fulfilling life. He longs to protect us from our enemies. He longs to provide for us. All He has can be ours if we only submit to Him.

God's anger will be provoked soon enough. He will not let us live as we are much longer if His name is sullied, mocked, ignored, spat upon or blasphemed much more. Hard words? Look around.

As His anger against His people was before, it will happen again. But God...is merciful to those who seek Him. His love is everlasting to those who heed Him. He asks us to seek Him while He can still be sought, before His wrath is so great and the doors close forever to His kingdom...like the doors on the ark...and the people who scoffed perished without. His story has a perfect ending for those willing to submit and serve Him...something the pride of the world has a hard time accepting.

Yes, a perfect ending.

Revelation 17,14 - And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

But the LORD...

Deuteronomy 3:26-27 - "But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the LORD said to me: "Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift your eyes toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan. 

Moses was a godly man; however, when it came time for the people of Israel to cross over the Jordan river to possess the promised land God had promised them, Moses was not allowed to go. He had angered the LORD...because the people angered him.

Forty years and one whole generation of Israel who had been told they would enter into their promised land had come and gone. They had grown weary of their travels, were disobedient to the God who was providing all their needs daily. They were thirsty and complained to Moses about this God. In his anger over their complaint Moses took it to God and bitterly complained about them. God said to speak to a rock and water would be theirs to soothe their grumbling yet again.

Once before these grumblers complained about water and God ordered Moses to strike a rock with his staff. Water poured out. This time, in his anger, Moses again struck this rock. Water did come, but at a price. Moses was disobedient...he needed only to speak to the rock. He had disobeyed God.

Sounds like a menial thing, right? But when God wants you to do something, you do it His way. His was is the right way. I was talking with a friend the other morning about how we sometimes feel we are not quite always right with God. Feel is the word. We can let our feelings get in the way. God doesn't call us to do something big every day. We hear His voice often as we read His Word, think about Him, meditate on His Word. But He doesn't always call us to just get out and do some huge thing every day. It's all the little things we do each day. I knew I heard from God when He told me to leave my church. That was a huge thing! I didn't want to! I didn't understand why until I started questioning Him. Why, why, why?? You will see this happen, and get this and know this...were the answers that came in time. All I could do is obey...and some day I know those things will come about.

But for Moses' indiscretion, however, he was not allowed into the Promised Land. Seems like a crushing blow. Although disheartened, Moses knew he had done wrong...and he went on to plead with the people, See what the LORD has done to me. Pay attention. This is as an example to you. You wandered 40 years in the desert because of your disobedience. Many of your people died. If you want to cross over to the land He has promised you, you must be obedient, that you might live. I wrote about this yesterday. Deuteronomy 4:1 - Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you.  

There is a reason we have a Bible, why God chose to inspire the men who wrote it...that we might know Him, His power, His commandments, His Way to eternal life, His right to determine what must be done to receive this eternal life. For Israel it was direct obedience to God who was with them, yet unseen. For us it is through Jesus Christ, who can be with us always, yet unseen, if we receive Him into our lives and obey what He tells us, which is the very heart of God, the very things He hears His Father tell Him. Jesus is God also and the Holy Spirit, once we have received Christ, will teach us things because He also is God. Oh, I love the mysteries....

When you seek the Lord and receive Him, you will see all He has done for you and what He will do as a result of your obedience. It is imperative to never forget where you have come from...what He has done to make positive changes in your life...to keep His commandments, to know them and never forget them.

Deuteronomy 4:3-4, 9 - Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal Peor; for the LORD your God has destroyed from among you all the men who followed Baal of Peor. But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive today, every one of you. Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren...