Preservation and Restoration 12/10/15

 "For we will surely die and are like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from him." 2 Samuel 14:14

King David committed the most grievous of sins against Uriah the Hittite by committing adultery with his wife and then murdering him.  Despite forgiving and preserving his life, God informed him that trouble and strife would never leave his household.  This involved the rape of one of his daughters by his son and the murder of that son by another.  Absalom, the murdering son, fled the country and stayed away for three years.  The bible reveals that David was both hurt and angry about what had happened but in his heart of hearts longed for the return of his boy.  The law and popular opinion prevented him from making this happen until a conspiracy was hatched between his right hand man and a hired woman to demonstrate how he should forgive and restore his son (2 Samuel 14:1-13).

Beloved, we are all guilty of sin.  At some point, in some place, in some way, we have all committed acts that are outside the will and way of God.  Though forgiveness is available and provided in the all important spiritual realm, we are likely to have suffered for those transgressions in the physical one.  When we are guilty, suffering and hurting, we have a tendency to retreat within ourselves and wrestle with our sins alone.  When we have been victimized by others, there can be the tendency to place the perpetrators into emotional and physical exile even though a part of us wants to let it go.

In either case, the words and actions of God are clear.  Whether we are guilty or victims, God performs and commands preservation and restoration. Though the Hebrews were forced to wander for forty years due to their willful and obstinate behavior in the wilderness, His plan was that they would see the promised land and they did.  Though their unfaithfulness in the promised land was punished by exile, His plan was that they would be restored to Jerusalem and they were.  Though you may suffer the earthly consequences for your sinful words, thoughts or deeds or that of others, you are God's own and He has prepared a place for you.

David received the message and, despite his son's unquestionable guilt, preserved his life, restored him to his home and ultimately to himself.  God, despite David's unquestionable guilt, preserved and restored him.  Should not you and I do likewise in view of the preservation and restoration God has made available to us?

Increasing in faith,

Lee

God Punishes, God Preserves-6/14/2011

"Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark — you and your sons and your wife, and your sons' wives with you." Gen 6:17-18

Today, men and women are given in marriage. Today there is a lot of evil present and things are being done that are scarcely imaginable. These things grieve God. People are corrupt and filled with violence. Despite this, however, there are some good people who follow God.

Though all of these statements are true in 2011, you will find the same conditions discussed in Genesis 6:1-2, 5-6, 8-9 and 12-13. Then, it was these very stated situations that caused God to bring about the greatest calamity in history. To be sure, we have earthquakes, droughts, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes and even floods but nothing compares to what He brought about then.

Despite this, God ensured that mankind would survive by preserving the righteous Noah and his family. It should also be said that He gave all of mankind time to repent and seek safety in the vehicle prepared for salvation.

As we (on the St. Louis Area Family Gospel Cruise) look away from our own ark of safety in the midst of the sea, we can view what Noah and his family saw: water as far as the eye could see in all directions. In that the same conditions of Noah's time persist today, if they were deserving of destruction, what of us? Is the story of Noah a warning to the church? Is it a warning to us in our own personal lives?

God certainly punishes. According to Gen 8:1-5, God also relented in His punishment even as He does with us.

Beloved, the promise that He made then still holds true today. He will never destroy the earth with water again. He has always ensured that there will be a remnant of His people to continue to live and glorify His name. 1 Peter 3:20-21 says that, "the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." As there was a vehicle to save man in Noah's time, there is one that remains to save us to this day. Let us heed the warning while there is yet still time. God preserve us.

Loving Like Jesus,

Lee