His Star...

"I see Him but not here and now.  I perceive Him, but far in the distant future.  A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel."

                                                                                                                                   Numbers 24:17


The first Christmas was filled with a myriad of miracles.  The blessed event began with God's plan for the redemption of humanity and culminated in the birth of a baby that was both one hundred percent man and one hundred percent God.  Prophecies were fulfilled and supernatural occurrences abounded in an effort to reveal to the world the Messiah that ushered in the presence of God into the midst of His people.

There were mysteries that perplexed even the wisest of men as they followed the star that shone in the East.  They travelled to the Jewish capital (Jerusalem) where they were intercepted by a wicked king named Herod.  They told king Herod that they saw a new star, meaning that nothing like it had ever been seen before.  It was Herod that then pointed them to Bethlehem where the star reappeared and led them to Mary and Joseph.

Speculation still surrounds the star of Bethlehem today, or, as Matthew calls it, "His Star" (Matthew 2:2).  The theories range from naturalistic explanations such as : a nova, a supernova, a comet, and a planetary convergence to supernatural events, such as the shekinah glory of God.  While the answer is still unclear, it is noteworthy that in Matthew's account of this story, the text implies that the star was only for the wise men to see and follow.

It is curious to me as to how the Maji interpreted the meaning of this star.  These men were most likely from Persia (and possibly other nations) and were known as astrologers, which was an accepted branch of science in their cultures.  Most likely, their religion was Zoroastrianism, which is still practiced in Iran today.

The biblical exposure they would have had would have come from the writings of Daniel, where he wrote, "Seventy weeks [or 490 years] are decreed upon your people and your holy city [Jerusalem], to finish and put an end to transgression, to seal up and make full the measure of sin, to purge away and make expiation and reconciliation for sin, to bring in everlasting righteousness (permanent moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) to seal up vision and prophecy and prophet, and to anoint a Holy of Holies.  Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem until [the coming of] the Anointed One, a Prince, shall be seven weeks [49 years] and sixty-two weeks [434 years]; it shall be built again with square and moat, but in troublous times" (Daniel 9:24-25).

Yet, these Maji were still able to correctly interpret these writings of Daniel and perhaps the prophecy written in the book Numbers that says, "I perceive Him but not here and now.  I perceive Him, but far in the distant future.  A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel" (Numbers 24:17).  They perceived the coming Messiah, but their revelation partial and progressive.

Another example of partial revelation can be found in the life of the apostle, Paul.  As he journeyed on the road to Damascus, he encountered a bright Light and that Light was the Lord (Acts 22:6-11).  While the people with Paul could all see the Light, it was only he that could understand the Voice within the Light.

When we speak of the shekinah glory of God, it denotes the visible, tangible presence of God.  It is a real, physical manifestation of God being near.  It is the actual dwelling place of God that transforms everything and everyone around it.

The Maji knew that Jesus' star revealed the Messiah, even before they were able to see Him with their eyes.  It is most likely that these wise men were kings in their own right, based on the following three Old Testament prophecies:

Isaiah 60:3 "And nations shall come to Your Light, and kings to the brightness of Your rising."

Psalm 72:10 "The kings of Tarshish and of the coasts shall bring offerings; the kings of Sheba and 

                      Seba shall bring gifts."

Psalm 68:29 "[Out of respect] for Your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring gifts to You."

Therefore, we have kings of the earth worshipping the ultimate King of heaven and earth.  Jesus extended the invitation to them, just as He does to you and I.  Jesus also provided the star to lead and guide them, just as He leads and guides you and I.  When you consider the question as to why the God of the universe singled out these men and extended His grace and salvation to them (as He does to you and I), perhaps his is the greatest mystery of all.

Yet, Jesus' mission on this earth was very intentional.  God sent Jesus to earth "because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, even when we were dead by our own shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and mad partakers of Christ's salvation.) And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).  He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7).

God is constantly wooing men to Himself.  As we see the world reject Him more and more, we can know with certainty that this breaks the heart of our Lord and Creator.  He literally sacrificed everything for us to have an eternal relationship with Him and day to day He is with His people. The more the world disengages from Him, the more He will make Himself known through our lives.

This is the time to chase after God with abandon.  It is the time to be led and guided into the dreams God has placed within us and to pursue the godly passions we have been given.  It is time to fulfill the destinies that require divine intervention.  It is time for each one of us to throw off every encumbrance, take risks, and follow His star.

His star still shines brightly in the world for those who will come to it.  Just as He extended Himself to the Maji, He also extends Himself to us.  He wants a personal, committed, and intimate relationship with each one of us.  Just as His star led to a progressive revealing of who Jesus is, so our lives should continually grow in the knowledge and revelation of our Lord and Savior.  It was the purpose of His life and the purpose of His star.

"O, Star of wonder, star of night, star of royal beauty bright; Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light."

                                                                             Excerpt from We Three Kings of Orient Are

An Unholy Triad

                                   "It is always darkest just before the Day dawneth."
                                              Thomas Fuller, English Theologian



The family structure is designed by God to be a powerful entity.  If the members of the family are in line with biblical principles and understand and fulfill their God-given roles, it will be a force used for tremendous good in the earth.  If, on the other hand, the members reject God and pursue selfish interests, a family can also be used to bring untold destruction and calamity to the world.  Especially if it is a family who has been given a position of authority and the role of governance.

Such was the family of Herod the Great.  This family was brilliant and gifted in a myriad of ways, and yet all these talents were used to perpetuate evil and wreak unprecedented havoc in the lives of many.  The three family members that are the most notorious are: Herod the Great, Herodias, and Herod Antipas.  It was this evil trio that would continually serve as a battering ram in the life of Jesus and do everything within their power to end His ministry and His life.

Herod the Great was known as a genius and a schemer.  He took advantage of the Roman political unrest to claw his way to the top of the political ladder.  It was during a civil war that he gained favor of Octavian, who later became known as the Roman Emperor named Augustus Caesar.

Herod was a descendant of the Edomites, whose ancestors converted to Judaism.  He was born around 74 B.C. to an Idumean man named Antipater and a woman named Cyprus.  His mother was the daughter of an Arab sheik.

Herod the Great became a Jewish king who governed over Judaea.  Once he became king, he launched an ambitious building program in Jerusalem and in the port city of Caesarea.  He built theaters, ampitheaters, a port, temples, markets, housing, palaces, a wall around Jerusalem and aqueducts. He was a genius in commerce and trading and greatly strengthened Israel's position in the Arab world.

However, he was a tyrant.  He kept order in Israel by using the secret police and using an iron fist.  He kept order in his palace by murdering family members who did not appease his whims.  He killed his father-in-law, two of his sons, and several of his ten wives.  He was a ruthless, brutal murderer who was also known for killing many rabbis.

His ambition was all-consuming.  He was a jealous egomaniac who lived to build monuments to himself.  Over two thousand years later, there are still existing structures in Israel that Herod the Great built.  The most revered of these existing structures is the temple wall mount that still stands from the magnificently restored Jerusalem temple that Herod constructed during his reign.

Jesus was conceived during the rule of Herod and was a young child when he died.  The three wise men met Herod as they journeyed on their way to worship the newborn babe.  It was then that Herod tried to trick the wise men into revealing Jesus' location in Bethlehem when they returned home.  God warned the wise men in a dream to avoid the wicked king, so they chose an alternative route home.

When Herod learned that he was outwitted by the Magi, he was livid.  This is how Matthew describes the event: "Then Herod, when he realized he had been misled by the wise men, was furiously enraged, and he sent and put to death all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that territory who were two years old and under, reckoning according to the date which he had investigated diligently and had learned exactly from the wise men.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 'A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they were no more" (Matthew 2:16-18).

After a thirty-seven yea reign, this would prove to be one of Herod's last significant acts.  This was his coup d'état, so to speak.  Not too long after Herod murdered all these innocent baby boys, he, himself, died in a gruesome and horrific manner.

However, his evil kingdom lived on.  It was divided among his three sons (that had not been slain by their father).  Herod Antipas was one of those three heirs.


Herod Antipas was definitely a villain like his father.  To make matters worse, he also had a villainous wife named Herodias.  Their vows were made on the shakiest of grounds because Antipas had decided to steal his own brother's wife.  Yet, bigamy was just the beginning for this diabolic duo.

The apostle Mark describes Herodias as  conniving and the instigator that plotted the beheading of John the Baptist. She actually convinced her daughter Salome to sleep with her husband (Herod Antipas) to make it happen (Mark 6:22-25).  Not only did she want John the Baptist's head, but she also wanted it served up on a platter.  Possibly this vendetta was because John the Baptist had confronted her regarding her sexual sin.

Later, during Jesus' ministry, some Pharisees came to warn Jesus that Herod Antipas was trying to kill Him.  This is how Jesus responded, "Go and tell that fox [sly and crafty, skulking and cowardly], 'Behold, I drive out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish (complete) my course'" (Luke 13:32).

Herod Antipas, along with his soldiers, treated Jesus "with contempt and scoffed at and ridiculed Him; then, dressing Him up in bright and gorgeous apparel, he sent Him back to Pilate" (Luke 23:11).  Ultimately, Herod Antipas would forever be known as the one who stood in judgment of Jesus and was instrumental in His crucifixion.

Before Jesus was ever born, God knew how diabolical this family would be and how Satan would use each one of them for his purposes.  And yet, God was sovereign over every bit of it.  Every prophecy would be fulfilled because God said, "I am watching over My Word to perform it" (Jeremiah 1:12).

No matter how devious, untrustworthy, and bloodthirsty Jesus' opponents were, they would never fully have the upper hand.  They would only have as much rope as God would give them- not a centimeter more.  While this was the darkness that preceded the ultimate Dawn, goodness triumphed over evil.  No demonic attempt could ever diminish the glory and power of God that would occur in the Resurrection.

The legacy of Herod the Great and his descendants will forever be one of atrocity and infamy, especially their unholy triad.  However, for us as believers who cling to the Holy Trinity as our Light and Salvation, we can find hope in knowing that our family legacies will be blessed.  Even if we currently have family members who are not in line with biblical principles and are not fulfilling their God-given roles, take heart, because the Son is faithful to rise in their lives.


                "Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good."
                                                                                                                       Romans 12:21

The Light of the World

"Nations will come to Your light, and kings to the brightness of Your rising."
                                                                                                           Isaiah 60:3




As we enter this Advent season, it seems that the contrasts around us grow more and more stark.  The good in the world appears to be more assertive and bold, while the evil continues to intensify in word and deed.  This scenario is eerily reminiscent of the day and time that surrounded the first coming of Jesus, our King.

As the world we live in grows darker, the issues that surround us grow increasingly complex.  The problems are not simple, and neither are their solutions.  Even as leaders of nations collaborate together, there are still problems and complexities beyond their grasp to solve.  It is by God's design that this is our current  world's reality.

In the Old Testament, in the book of Malachi, the last prophecies of God are uttered, followed by a four hundred year silence.  These years were devoid of any messages from God until Zachariah (father of John the Baptist) broke the silence by prophesying the birth of Jesus into a similarly dark world.  He said, "Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit us to shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace" (Luke 1:78-79).

When times were incredibly daunting and dark, God chose to send the Light of the world to bring illumination.  Later, in Jesus' ministry, He reiterated this point.  He said, "I am the Light of the world.  He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life" (John 8:12).

In the Bible, Light is a description for God and His glory and darkness is a metaphor for spiritual blindness.  We are taught that it is even possible to have seen the Light and still live our lives as blind men.  The book of Romans tells us that even though "they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor or glorify Him as God or give Him thanks.  But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened" (Romans 1:21).

Whether or not we walk in darkness depends upon what we love.  If we love the Light, we will see ourselves as we truly are- sinners in need of a Savior.  While the truth may at times be difficult to swallow, it is worth the reward of knowing Jesus.  His love more than compensates for every hard truth we know of ourselves.

Unfortunately, if we are more attached to the world or our own selfish ways, we will either miss the Light or see it and turn from it.  The apostle, John, tells us, "The Light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).

With darkened minds and darkened hearts, we will quickly be deceived.  This is when evil gets interpreted as good and good is interpreted as evil.  We are told that even "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light" ( 2 Corinthians 11:14).  Mostly, we find this exhibited by those people that either knowingly or unknowingly follow Satan.  It is Satan's servants that "also masquerade as ministers of righteousness" (2 Corinthians 11:15).

We see examples of this all around us.  The most recent example occurred in the Colorado shooting that happened at Planned Parenthood.  The deceived and deranged shooter is said to have stated that he was responding to the fact that Planned Parenthood was selling fetal body parts.  Once the full truth about him is considered, it is likely that he is simply deranged and psychotic and abortion had little or nothing to do with his reprehensible actions.  In truth, and in the very same vile spirit as the one that drives abortion, this shooter stole innocent lives and inflicted brutality and carnage on innocent victims.  

With all the blindness around us, it is no wonder that our world has been thrown into chaos and confusion.  This is daily compounded by the fact that the goodness and glory of God is profaned publicly, while evil deeds are esteemed and praised.  The good news is that spiritual blindness can never subdue the glory of God in Christ because darkness will never overcome the Light (John 1:5).

As followers of Christ, God delivers us "out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins" (Colossians 1:13-14).  It is God's love and Light and hope that sets us free.  When this love and hope penetrates our hearts, all darkness is chased away.

When Jesus walked this earth, He shared the exact same Light of God.  On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus radiates the refulgent glory of God from within.  We are told that "His appearance underwent a change in their presence; and His face shone clear and bright like the sun, and His clothing became as white as Light" (Matthew 17:2).

With Christ in us, we, too, carry His Light.  Jesus tells us that we "are the light of the world" and that we are to let our "light so shine before men that they may see [our] moral excellence and [our] praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify [our] Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14,16).

It is Jesus' Light that illumines our paths.  When we obey His commands and live by His principles, we cannot walk in darkness.  The book of Ephesians tells us that "the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life" (Ephesians 5:9).  We are then admonished to "try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him]" (Ephesians 5:10).

If we pursue the Light of Christ and pursue lives that are pleasing to Him, we will shine brighter and brighter in this perverse generation.  This is what will bring salvation to those who do not know Jesus and will illuminate paths that are darkened.  It is in this way that the Light of the world shines brightly in us and through us to a world that desperately needs to know Him.

If God chose the timing of a dark world for His first Advent, it makes sense that that could occur again for His second Advent.  Our role right now is similar to that of John the Baptist- we are to point others to the Living Christ.  Jesus is the only solution for our world today and the only true Light of the world!


"The Lord is my Light and my Salvation- whom shall I fear or dread?  The Lord is the Refuge and stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?"
                                                                                (Psalm 27:1)

I Give Thee Thanks

                            When I ponder the magnificence of who You are,
                             It gives me pause and stirs within a deep reflection.
                            Your goodness exceeds the depth of my comprehension,
                            And surpasses all knowledge regarding Your perfection.


                            Beautiful both in who You are and in what You do,
                            Exalted above all things Your hands have created;
                            Enthroned and elevated o'er the heavens and the earth,
                            Encircled by a myriad of angels - captivated.


                            When I ponder the things on the Cross You accomplished,
                            Motivated solely by Your all-consuming love;
                            You removed sin, guilt, God's wrath, and alienation,
                            While You extended grace, becoming my Beloved.


                            You also freed me from curses and captivity,
                            Defeating every foe and abominable power.
                            You died in my place, lifted me up, gave me favor,
                            So that in Your Name wicked oppressors would cower.


                            When I ponder how important You are to me,
                            And all You have sacrificed that I might live with You,
                            There are no amount of words, or songs, or praise
                            That could adequately convey my gratitude.


                            Your presence in my life and fellowshipping with You,
                            Is more meaningful than anything this world has to offer,
                            Worshipping You in reverence and awe brings a light to my soul
                            And a faith that could literally walk on the water.


                            When I ponder the incalculable number of blessings
                            You have graciously and generously poured out to me,
                            I am eternally grateful and beholden to You,
                            Filled with appreciation that wells up immeasurably.


                           You have blessed me with every spiritual blessing,
                           And continue to bless my life in numberless ways;
                           From the very moment I awaken each morning,
                           Til the second I close my eyes at night- offering praise.


                            When I ponder all of this and remember how great Thou art,
                             I realize that there is none other to be found in Your ranks.
                             You are the One who is worthy and holy and honorable;
                             Deserving of adoration- Oh God, I give Thee thanks!



                 "Greater love has no one than this, than He lay down His life for His friends."
                                                                 John 15:13

Oaks of Righteousness

"They may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
                                                                                                                                       (Isaiah 61:3)



The timing in which this scripture was penned was during Israel's "Year of Jubilee".  This message was given through the prophet, Isaiah, to a broken and hurting people that were left waiting and longing for God's promises to be fulfilled.  God's merciful heart was revealed and His intent was certain- His children would rebuild, repair, and restore the devastation in their land with God's assistance, as well as the abundance of His provision.

Later, Jesus applied this same passage to Himself in the fourth chapter of Luke.  His meaning was also clear- for those of us who are in Christ, we, too, are living in a spiritual "Year of Jubilee".  This means that Jesus has set us free from bondage, our spiritual debt has been paid-in-full, and we are living in the "acceptable year of the Lord".  We are sons and daughters of the King, anointed with the Holy Spirit, and clothed in garments of righteousness.

God was very intentional when He declared to them that they would be called "oaks of righteousness".  The unfortunate part of this was that they did not feel very strong or distinguished.  It was even possible that they questioned if they were even in right standing with God because of the ravages of war they had experienced.  In spite of this, God delivered His merciful message to a people that desperately needed to hear it. He assured them that help was on the way!

In the book of Genesis, we find another story that references oak trees.  This is the story of Abraham and Sarah, who are found nestled among the "oaks of Mamre".  For many years they had waited and longed for the fulfillment of God's promise that they would bear a child.  The more time that lapsed, the harder it was to hold onto God's promise.  At this critical point in their faith journey, at the "oaks of Mamre", God appeared and told them His promise was about to be fulfilled.

Later, in Abraham's story, when God asked him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, God provides he ram as a substitute.  The Hebrew word ayil can be translated both as "oaks" and as "ram".  In Abraham's story, the ram is evidence of God's provision and mercy.

The word ayil refers to both strength and power.  It can also mean a "pillar", which refers to a strong leader.  The interesting aspect of this meaning is that it is God who brings the strength and power.  In the example of the oak tree, it is something that occurs over a very long period of time.

The more adverse the conditions surrounding an oak tree, the stronger it gets.  It can range in size from the height of a shrub to towering above a hundred feet tall.  Regardless of its' height, it has a root structure that mirrors that which we see.  In other words, if the oak tree is fifty feet tall, its' roots will extend fifty feet into the soil.  This is because it has to go deep to find the water and nutrients it needs to survive.

It typically takes at least twenty years for an oak tree to bear fruit (in the form of an acorn).  In the Torah, God established laws to protect fruit trees and to help them grow.  No one was allowed to eat of them for the first five years and the Israelites were never allowed to cut them down, even in times of war (Deuteronomy 20:19-20).  God, Himself, protects these trees as if they were defenseless people.

Symbolizing life, trees are one of God's magnificent creations that parallel humanity.  They are tall and majestic and strong and their branches reach upward toward heaven.  They have character and provide shelter for many animals and birds.  They are rooted and grounded and cared for by the Master Gardner.

Part of our calling is for us to be "oaks of righteousness".  There will be seasons when God is establishing our root system (which no one else can see).  In these times, we remember how God hid Elijah and Moses and John the Baptist during their times of preparation. This is the tie to really learn who our source of nourishment and sustenance is and how to abide in Him.

There will also be seasons when we are bearing fruit that is not yet ready to be consumed.  It is in this season that we old fast to the promises and exhortations of our God.  As tender fledglings, we focus on Jesus and allow Him to develop our character.  We endure the winds of affliction in order to become more and more transformed into the image of Christ.

When we finally become mature and bear the fruit we were created to bear, we remember that it is solely for His glory and the extension of His Kingdom.  We are the planting of the Lord and the display of His splendor.  Oaks of righteousness are the living representation of the testimony of God's mercy and provision and exist to point others to do the same.

Oaks of righteousness become places of refuge for those who need to be comforted.  They give out what they have first received from Christ.  The Spirit of the Lord rests upon those who give life and truth and love to help others grow into their inheritance in God.  These are those that God calls His "Oaks of Righteousness".


"It is God's work, it is a tree that God has planted.  It could not grow like that if anybody else had planted it.  This man is a man of God's making, his joy is a joy of God's giving."
                                                                                      Charles H. Spurgeon       

The Reveal

"And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment; so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for Him unto salvation."
                                                                                     (Hebrews 9:27-28)



We are currently living in between two epic events: the first and second Advent of Christ.  While many believers in the Old Testament did not understand that the coming of Christ would occur in two separate events, we are blessed to know that we have one Messiah who fulfills two separate roles.  The purpose of the first Advent was to become the sacrifice for all sins: past, present, and future and to destroy the works of Satan.  The purpose of the second Advent is to award salvation to those who eagerly await it.

The first Advent of Christ is now an historical fact.  When Jesus lived on this earth for thirty-three years, He fulfilled many of the prophecies found in Scripture, but not all of them.  Born as a helpless infant, He entered our world in meekness and humility.  Jesus was rejected by His own (the Jewish people) and He completed His mission as the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53).  He became the Savior of sinners and yet the government remained in the hands of men.

At the Cross, Jesus defeated sin, which became our doctrine of atonement.  This is the very heartbeat of Christianity and it literally means "reconciliation [to God]".  Through the atonement that Jesus provided for us, we are: regenerated, redeemed, reconciled, justified, forgiven, and adopted by God.

Additionally, we are told that the first coming of Christ defeated the works of Satan.  The apostle, John, writes, "[But] he who commits sin [who practices evil doing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning.  The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]" (1 John 3:8).

The second Advent of Christ will be completely different from the first- the Lamb becomes the Lion of Judah.  Our focus shifts from the Cross of Calvary to the Crown of Christ.  Jesus will appear the second time, completely apart from sin, in power and authority.  He will appear in the clouds, with the armies of heaven, to rule and reign forever.

All of the prophecies concerning Christ that have not previously been fulfilled will be fulfilled at His Second Coming.  Our Conquering King will come with the government in His hands and on is shoulder.  This time, He will be received by the Jewish people who will claim Him as their own Messiah.  Instead of coming as the Savior of sinners, Jesus will come as the Judge of sinners.  Jude tells us that Jesus will "execute judgment upon all and will convict all the impious (unholy ones) of all their ungodly deeds" (Jude, v.15).

The second Advent of Christ is referred to as the Glorious Appearing (Titus 2:13).  And, glorious it will be! Jesus will take an upside down world and He will turn it right side up.  It is at this time that everything will be redeemed.  Isaiah tells us that, "[The Lord God says], 'And the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing to Zion; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing will flee away'" (Isaiah 51:11).

It is at this time that Satan will be dethroned.  Since the Cross, he has been under the authority of Christ but God allowed him to still be the "god of this age".  He has yet to be chained and thrown into the lake of fire, but his time for that is soon to come!

At Jesus' Second Coming, all curses will be reversed.  In addition to that, all nations will be freed from the bondage of sin and corruption.  When Jesus rules, all of creation will be transformed.

When this world is reborn, Jesus will be the King and we will be a kingdom of priests that reign with Him.  We will have rulership to carry out His commands.  Peace will have its' perfect order throughout the world.  The condition that Christ gives to us is that we endure and not deny Him (2 Timothy 2:12).

In an increasingly hostile environment, this will require intentionality and the power of the Holy Spirit.  As the hostility increases so will the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit because He will never leave us in a position where we are not equipped to do His will and walk in victory.  As we transition into epic times, we have before us the most exciting moments of history ever to be experienced!

We are not to focus on the evil that is advancing, but, rather on what God is doing in the midst of it.  Remember, we all have a date with deity in our future.  Those who have been redeemed by the Lamb will rule and reign with the Lion of Judah.  When this happens, we will no longer have an advocate or defender for us because the evidence is all in.  Heaven does not exist for "good" people or religious people.  Heaven only exists for forgiven people that have a relationship with the One who "died for [all] our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3).

The first Advent of Jesus occurred in an obscure, remote setting.  But, His Second Advent will be Jesus' big Reveal!  He will come with the clouds and "every eye will see Him" (Revelation 1:7). Some will be thrilled and others will lament and mourn at the sight of Him.  The time to be excited is now!  Are you awaiting the ultimate Reveal?


"Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there.  Its' rider was named Faithful and True, for He judges fairly and wages a righteous war.  His eyes were like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns.  A name was written on Him that no one understood except Himself.  He wore a robe dipped in blood, and is title  was the Word of God.  The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed Him on white horses.  From His mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations.  He will rule them with an iron rod.  He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.  On His robe at His thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords."
                                    (Revelation 10:11-16)


   

In The Garden

"And when He came to the place, He said to them, 'Pray that you may not [at all] enter into temptation.'  And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw and knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.'  And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in spirit" (Luke 22:40-43).

The two most important decisions pertaining to all mankind occurred in a garden: the garden of Eden and the garden of Gethsemane.  Both of these gardens illustrate the importance of one decision made.  The decision to sin (made in the garden of Eden) was ill-advised, while the decision to bear that sin (made in the garden of Gethsemane) would forever bring redemption to a broken world.

The consequences of both these decisions continue to manifest in the world around us.  The garden of Eden was the place where: Adam sinned, Adam hid, and the sword of God was drawn.  It was God's mercy that refused to let Adam and Eve live in an unending place of sin and separation from God.

In the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus submitted His will to His Father, we see how love conquers over the depth of man's depravity.  It is here that: Jesus conquers, Jesus boldly presents His body as a sacrifice, and the sword of God is sheathed.  Once again, it is God's love and mercy that bring he eternal provision of a life spent with God.

While it is true that our feet may never tread in the place where the garden of Eden existed or traverse through the olive trees in the garden of Gethsemane, it is also quite likely that our spiritual journeys will include a stop at both of these gardens. Symbolically, our garden of Eden comes when we are presented with the truth of the Gospel and the person of Christ.  We make a decision whether we will choose to follow Jesus, commune with Him, and obey Him.  This is the first step of our journey

Once we have accepted Christ and have walked with Him for awhile, we will quite likely encounter our individual garden of Gethsemane.  The characteristics of this garden will include: feeling overwhelmed, feeling like your life makes no sense, feeling like your problems are too great to bear, and feeling like you cannot go on another day.

While it was God's cup of wrath from which Jesus recoiled, each one of us have places in our hearts and lives that we believe are too big for us to handle.  And, without Christ, they probably are.  This is where a clash of wills can begin.  However, God sees the greater good.  He sees the positive consequences that will occur when we submit to His will and not our own.

When Jesus entered the garden of Gethsemane, eight of his disciples stood at a distance while three disciples (Peter, James, and John) stayed to pray with him.  Even the three closest to Jesus couldn't stay awake to help Him pray... Jesus' anguish began to overwhelm Him, proving that God truly became incarnate. John Calvin writes, "Those who imagine that the Son of God was exempt from human passions do not truly and sincerely acknowledge Him to be a man."  Despite Jesus' profound grief and undisputed humanity, He still did not sin (1 Peter 2:22).

Jesus did not question God's wisdom when He asked for God's cup of wrath to be removed from Him.  Instead, He submitted to God's will while honestly admitting the dread He felt for what was going to happen.  John Calvin also addresses the fact that Jesus trembles in Gethsemane "because He has before His eyes the dreadful tribunal of God, and the Judge himself armed with inconceivable vengeance; and because our sins, the load of which is laid upon Him, presses Him down with their enormous weight."

Today, our gardens of Gethsemane may look very different than Jesus' did.  nd yet, when we face the deep sorrows of: dying loved ones, illnesses, broken marriages, children on dark paths, lost jobs, etc., we are still faced with an anguish that is consuming.  In addition to our own Gethsemanes, we may also be invited in to pray in another persons garden of Gethsemane.

More than likely, this garden is a lonely one.  However, we are never alone.  Hebrews tells us, "This High Priest of ours [Jesus] understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it" (Hebrews 4:15-16). 

The ultimate triumph that occurred at Calvary was first accomplished among the twisted olive trees in Gethsemane.  The word Gethsemane literally means "olive press".  Just as the olives are completely pressed to make oil, so was Jesus "crushed for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5).

Jesus' submission accomplished great things!  When we surrender to God, we relinquish all our rights to Him. At times we will be pressed and even feel crushed.  As we continue to lay down our will, our dreams, our rights, and our goals, we begin to see that Jesus is a wise and beneficent Lord who desperately longs to bless us!

       "The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender."

                            William Booth, founder of Salvation Army