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Today is Good Friday. I’m thinking about the death of Jesus Christ. I’m also thinking about the death of Charla Pereau. They both have had a great impact on my life. Jesus was God in the flesh. Charla was made in God’s image and was conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29). Because of the death of Jesus my sins are forgiven, my guilt is washed away and I am redeemed. Because of the life of Charla, I found my place in the Kingdom of God; I also found my wife and have a precious family.
Before I met Charla, I met Foundation For His Ministry (FFHM). Charla started FFHM over 60 years ago. The ministry began as a home for needy children in Vicente Guererro, Baja, Mexico. I first visited in 1987 as a recent graduate of Bible college with a degree in Missions. I was disappointed and disillusioned with how the mission program of my denomination worked. Too many hoops to jump through before a person would get to be on the mission field. I had kind of given up on ever being a missionary. FFHM renewed my dream of serving God in another country. At this children’s home I saw a lot of normal, everyday type of ordinary people who just wanted to make a difference in the lives of poor Mexicans, especially Mexican children who had been abandoned, abused, neglected and were suffering the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual effects that come from not being wanted. The staff was made up of Americans, Canadians and Mexicans who simply wanted to be the hands and feet of Jesus and bring healing to hurting people.
I had come for a week to volunteer and left with a hope and a lifetime ambition to one day be a permanent part of this incredible organization. Unfortunately I had to wait 18 years for my dream to become a reality. In the meantime I went to Vicente Guererro almost every year to help out for a week at a time, as thousands of volunteers have done since the founding of the Mission. I met Charla and talked to her a little bit over those years. Looking at her and chatting with her, I would never have guessed that she was the visionary who, full of faith, determination and grit, was making such a big difference in the Kingdom of God in Mexico. On the surface she just seemed another volunteer who cared. I knew better, because I had read her book, Charla’s Children where she described her vision from God and how she began to think God’s thoughts after Him with regards to loving the poorest of the poor in Mexico.
Fast forward to 2005 and I was finally at a place in my life where I could live full time doing the work of God in Mexico. But instead of Baja, Mexico, I went to Oaxaca, Mexico, where FFHM was putting the finishing touches on a new home for needy children. Oaxaca is one of the poorest states in Mexico and the need was great and still is great, to bring help and healing to suffering children. And not only to rescue children, but also to reach the lost in remote mountain areas and restore the broken lives of those in prison and rehabilitation centers.
I jumped in with both feet in March of 2005 and have been here ever since. These have been the happiest years of my life. I feel like a puzzle piece that never quite fit just right for most of my life and then the Lord put me here and it has been a perfect fit. Not only have I loved working in various aspects of ministry here, but I also met my wife here and we have two super daughters. I couldn’t be happier, and it’s mostly because of Charla.
Charla, and her husband Chuck, would come to Oaxaca every couple of years which was a joy for us all. She would tell stories to the kids and share with the staff how the Lord had spoken to her, used her, directed her, and sometimes rescued her through the years of her life. I never failed to laugh and cry when she spoke and was always inspired to trust God more, give more freely and love more deeply. Charla said one time that her daily prayer in the morning was “God, lay some soul upon my heart, and love that soul through me.” I wonder if some days I was that soul. I also remember her saying one time that God doesn’t want our ability so much as he wants our availability. That encouraged me as I don’t have all that much ability to give the Lord, but I have plenty of availability.
When different partners of this ministry would die over the years, Charla liked to say that they “graduated to heaven”. Charla “graduated to heaven” February 28. I imagine there was a heap of treasure waiting for her. She laid up a lifetime of loving others well and no doubt filled up many celestial coffers with her acts of compassion, her works of kindness and her obedience to the Lord in meeting the felt needs and more importantly, the spiritual needs of thousands of people. In Matthew 6:20 Jesus tells his followers to store up treasures in heaven. In Luke 12:21 Jesus encourages people to be “rich toward God” and in verse 33 to “Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail”.
Charla was a great example to us all of storing up treasures in heaven by being rich toward God. Thank you God for Charla!
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“As Chuck and I face our few remaining days, we sense God would still have us focus on what matters the most – His commission to reach the lost with the message of Christ and His charge to believers in Matthew 25: feed the hungry, provide drink for the thirsty, give shelter to the homeless, clothe the naked, care for those who are sick, and visit the prisoners. This is the foundation on which we built His Ministry.”
Charla Pereau – Charla: An Ordinary Woman with Faith in an Extraordinary God
In August my wife and daughters went to visit my dad in Colorado. He is advanced in age and wasn’t feeling well. He has a gravel front yard and weeds were growing profusely throughout. He doesn’t like gardening and I do, so I decided, with the help of my wife, to pull all the weeds. It wasn’t fun. It was hot and the weeds had deep roots. Not exactly what I had in mind for our summer vacation.
We were listening to Christian music and a song came on that one of my daughters had recently turned me onto. It was “The Prodigal” by Josiah Queen. One part of the song says, “I don’t need the money. I don’t want the fame. I don’t want what I can’t take with me in the grave. I don’t want to lose my soul, chasing after things that don’t lead me straight to you.”
I heard those words, and I looked at the weed in my grimy hand, and I said to that weed, “I’m taking you with me!”
I shouted to my wife, “I’m taking this one with me.” I gestured toward a nearby pile and told her, “I’m taking all these with me!” She looked at me like I was crazy and continued on, but I was a changed man.
That one phrase from the song, “I don’t want what I can’t take with me” stuck with me that day and has been on my mind ever since.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “You can’t take it with you” when it comes to death and dying, but Josiah Queen radically reminded me that there are some things we can take with us, at least according to Jesus.
In the sermon on the mount, in Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
What are those treasures that we can store up in heaven; that we can take with us? I think it is anything we do for others that comes from a heart of love that wants to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The context of these verses is one of practicing righteousness and rewards in heaven (6:1) Giving to the needy, praying and fasting. Jesus told his disciples that some people do these things from a heart of vain glory. They give to the needy, pray and fast to be seen and admired by humans. Jesus encourages his followers to be motivated by love for our Heavenly Father, knowing that when we do righteousness, we will be rewarded by Him, sometimes while we are alive on planet earth, and sometimes as a treasure in heaven.
Ever since that day, pulling weeds at Dad’s place, I do almost everything in light of the question, “Can I take it with me?” Material possessions have lost their luster for me. I can’t take them with me. They aren’t eternal. They are temporal and after awhile they rust or break and end up in the dump. But when I help, give, forgive, share, go the extra mile, bend over backward, love my enemies, pray for those who mistreat me, for the sake of Jesus and the glory of God, I know that I am taking that with me, in one way or another. It is in some sense eternal; in some way not only is the person I’m helping blessed, but I am blessed, now and forever.
Join me this new year on focusing on things we can do, ways we can help others, being generous with our time, talents and treasures, knowing that yes, we can take it with us.
The roots of anger are many. Frustration and a feeling of powerlessness. Threats to self-esteem or identity. Unmet needs. Stress and feeling overwhelmed. Past trauma and unresolved issues. Sometimes it is a result of biological factors or is a learned behavior from childhood. Whatever its cause, it does harm to physical health and important relationships. For that, we lament.
Lament for the Angry
O Lord, hear my cry,
for the world is ablaze with anger.
From the streets filled with shouts of rage,
to homes where bitterness takes root,
anger spreads like a wildfire,
consuming hearts and minds.
Why, O Lord, is fury our companion?
Why do tempers flare and words wound?
Injustice and pain ignite the soul,
filling us with wrath and resentment.
We lash out, hurt others,
and in turn, hurt ourselves.
Merciful Father, we are trapped in this cycle,
our spirits darkened by unforgiveness.
We seek peace but are driven by conflict,
we yearn for love but are caught in hate.
Our anger isolates us,
estranges us from Your grace.
Jesus, You walked among us,
bringing peace to the troubled,
healing the wounds of the broken-hearted.
In Your presence, storms were calmed,
demons were cast out,
and forgiveness flowed like a river.
Teach us, O Gentle Shepherd,
to find solace in Your embrace.
Turn our hearts from anger to compassion,
from rage to understanding.
Help us to forgive those who wrong us,
as You forgave from the cross.
Fill us with Your Spirit,
that we may bear the fruits of peace.
Grant us patience in adversity,
kindness in response to cruelty,
and love that overcomes all hatred.
May Your light dispel the shadows within,
guiding us to walk in Your ways.
Transform our anger into a force for good,
a drive to pursue justice with mercy,
to seek reconciliation over revenge.
O Lord, we surrender our anger to You,
knowing You alone can heal our hearts.
May Your peace, which surpasses all understanding,
guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
It’s no news that Ukraine and Russia are at war, and Israel and Hamas are at war. It may be news to some that in Ukraine over 9.6 thousand civilians and over 61,000 soldiers have died since the start of the war (OHCHR). 300,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or seriously wounded. Over 28,000 people have died in the Israel – Hamas war. Besides death, countless people have been maimed for life and thousands of refugees have fled their homes, many of which have been destroyed. So much pain and loss in these two wars alone. Throughout history war has raged and ravaged lives, broken up families causing misery and suffering. Below is a lament for war and a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer.
O Lord, God of our salvation, as we cry out before you today about the injustice, pain and sorrow in our world. We think of those impacted by war and terror. We know that each person and every child is precious to you, yet we see fear, suffering seemingly without end. You Lord are the great provider, you see the needs of those impacted by war and you love them and weep with them. Comfort them Lord as they struggle and nourish their souls with renewed hope each morning. Guide those who seek refuge to places where they can find help and rest, and move the hearts of nations to welcome them. Help your people Lord to find community and sustaining joy in places of refuge or exile. Lord you promise a time where there will be no more war, no fear, or pain, or sorrow, or suffering. Build your kingdom here, come Lord Jesus.
We pray for peace in our world: that all people may live free from violence, in safety and security, and with hope for the future. We pray for all people who are working to build peace in their communities: that they may inspire others by their example and be strengthened to carry on, even in the hardest times. We pray for families impacted by war; for those living in fear, for those indelibly touched by tragedy, for those who mourn; We pray for boys and girls whose childhood has been stolen in the cause of war, bring restoration, healing, family, love. We pray for those fleeing war and persecution, those seeking refuge and those seeking a fresh start in a land not their own.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9
Open Doors recently published its annual report on Christian persecution around the world. According to this report, more than 365 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. One in seven Christians are persecuted worldwide. 4,998 Christians were murdered. 14,766 churches and Christian properties were attacked. For those who suffer because of their Christian faith, we lament.
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Oh, Lord of mercy, we raise our voices in lament, For persecuted Christians, their trials unbent. In lands where faith invites the wrath of hate, They endure the darkness, bearing a heavy weight.
Amidst the shadows of persecution’s grim decree, They stand as beacons of light, steadfast and free. Their voices silenced, their freedoms stripped away, Yet, in the face of adversity, they kneel and pray.
In the depths of suffering, they find their strength, Their faith unwavering, no matter the length. Through trials and tribulations, they cling to You, Oh, God of refuge, their hope renewed.
As tears fall like rain in the night’s embrace, Their cries ascend to Your throne, seeking grace. Grant them courage, Oh Lord, in their darkest hour, A shield of faith, a fortress of Your power.
For they are blessed, though persecuted they stand, Their inheritance secure in Your promised land. In the midst of anguish, let Your love shine bright, A beacon of hope in persecution’s blight.
Romans 8:35, 37-39 (NIV): “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Open Doors lists the 50 countries in the world where persecution of Christians is most prevalent. Mexico was 37th worst in the world. I have lived in Mexico for almost 19 years and have heard many stories of Christians being persecuted. A few years ago I met a young man who father was killed for preaching the gospel. The rest of the family had to flee their little village and their house and property was taken from them. According to the report the persecution primarily happens in remote, mountainous communities where people are reluctant to change their ancestral ways and hostile to missionaries who try to evangelize and to those who convert, and also in areas controlled by drug cartels.
Foundation For His Ministry supports missionaries who try to share the Gospel in these areas. One of those missionaries is Mabel. She ministers in the Sierra Norte region of Oaxaca. She recently told me about a plan to build a church in the small town of Tepanzacoalco. At first the community leaders were ok with it, but later told the small congregation that they could not construct a building and forbid Mabel to ever come back. She also told me about some believers in a little pueblo called Yagila, who had built a church, and that it had been burnt down by people opposed to Christianity.
Below is a prayer from Open Doors for persecuted Christians in Mexico.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible courage of our family in Mexico who speak out against violence and promote peace. Protect them, we pray, and continue to embolden them in their ministries. May their words and lives touch the hearts of criminal leaders, so they turn from violence and hatred to follow You. Strengthen the faith of those living in indigenous communities; encourage them with your love and show them how You are powerfully at work in their neighborhoods. May our sisters and brothers in Mexico not be despondent as opposition increases, but may they be empowered to grow in their faith and witness. Bring peace, justice and wise governance to all areas of Mexico. Amen.
Mexico highway 190 passes in front of FFHM’s home for needy children in Oaxaca, Mexico. For the last six months or so, hundreds of migrants from Central America and South America have walked down that highway making their way to the United States. Many are motivated to make the long trek by fear of dying in their homeland, oppression, economic downturns or simply a hope of a better life. I see mostly men, but also a lot of women and children, almost everyday, walking, walking, walking north, down Mexico highway 190. Here is a lament for them.
Oh, Sovereign God, we lift our voices in lament, For those who flee, in anguish, their homelands rent. In lands of strife, where war’s cruel embrace, Forces hearts to abandon, seeking a safer space.
In shadows of oppression, where fear takes its toll, Families shattered, dreams crushed, a heavy toll. They embark on a journey, through the unknown, Desperate souls, seeking a place to call their own.
Through perilous seas and treacherous lands they roam, Hoping for refuge, a glimpse of a welcoming home. Children, wide-eyed, their innocence scarred, By the harshness of a world deeply marred.
Oh, God of mercy, hear our solemn cry, For those who suffer, beneath the unforgiving sky. May your compassion guide them through the night, A beacon of hope, a source of eternal light.
Grant strength to the weary, solace to the pained, A haven of peace, where love is regained. In the midst of chaos, let justice prevail, And may the winds of freedom fill each sail.
May nations unite with hearts compassionate, To ease the burdens of those in a dire state. In this lament, we seek your divine grace, For a world where all can find a dwelling place.
Oh, Comforter Divine, embrace those in despair, Bring healing to wounds, and answer every prayer. In the symphony of sorrow, let hope resound, Until every refugee’s feet find solid ground.
“I was a stranger, and you took me in.” Matthew 25:35
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Lord God, help us to remember those who tonight will go to sleep unfed and unwelcome,
strangers in foreign lands, people who have fled for their lives and are far from their homes.
We lift up to you those who are escaping persecution and conflict, having fled death, torture or ruthless exploitation.
So many carry wounds, mental and physical. So many have suffered greatly.
Lord Jesus, give us more of your compassion for their plight, soften our hearts to their situation,
and help us follow your lead in seeking justice and mercy on their behalf.
We pray for an end to the wars, poverty and human rights abuses that drive desperate people to become refugees in the first place.
We give thanks for people working in troubled countries and ask for more of
your blessing so we can bring life, dignity and hope to those that remain.
We thank you that you are Lord of all the earth and all its people are loved by you.
We pray these things in the name of your Son who loves us and gave his life for us. For all of us.
Oh Lord, my soul cries out for the injustice that scars our world, A mournful song echoing the cries of those whose stories often go untold. In the corners of society where oppression takes its hold, We lift our voices in anguish, longing for a justice manifold.
Lord, in the face of systemic wrongs and blatant disregard, We grieve for those whose lives are marred. The oppressed, the marginalized, their voices suppressed, In the labyrinth of injustice, may Your light manifest.
As tears fall like rain for those denied their rights, For the ones overlooked, trapped in societal fights. In the courtrooms of indifference, where fairness is denied, Grant us the courage to stand, to speak, to abide.
In this lament, we confront the harsh reality, Of a world where prejudice distorts morality. Racial divides, economic disparities stark, In the lament’s cadence, we embark.
Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
May our actions reflect Your call to defend, The rights of the oppressed until injustice meets its end. In this lament, may we find the strength to pursue, A world transformed by Your justice, bright and true.
Suzy loves chocolate chip cookies. They make her happy. She asks her mom for one. 
Her mom tells her she may have one after dinner. Suzy sneaks some before dinner and eats them. They make her happy, but she has done an evil thing. Romans 1:29-32 says she should die.
Adolf Hitler hated Jews. It made him happy to have them killed. He had millions of them put to death. He was an evil man.
All people desire to be happy. No one wakes up in the morning and says, “I hope I have a terrible bad day and end up sad and miserable.” No, people hope to have a good day where everything goes as planned, and perhaps some great unexpected things happen and they end the day with a big smile on their face.
There is some part of the brain that is constantly making decisions about what will make me the happiest or what will cause me the least amount of pain or discomfort, be it emotionally, physically, mentally or spiritually. Everything I plan, every decision I make is ultimately based on what I perceive will make me happiest.
God made us and knows what will make us ultimately happy. That is why he gave us the Bible, to tell us what kind of choices we should make to be happy and avoid pain. This life on earth is short compared to eternity. Ultimate happiness is going to heaven and living in God’s immediate presence. Ultimate pain is hell. Got it? Heaven good. Hell bad. Heaven joy. Hell pain.
So it is in our best interest to make decisions that will make us happy both in this life and in the life to come. Reading the Bible and listening to people who know the Bible will go a long way toward this end. It will help us make decisions that lead to long term happiness and goodness, rather than short term happiness and long term evil and pain.
C.S. Lewis quote
The divisions of the gatekeepers. The lot for the East Gate fell to Shemaliah.
The lot for the East Gate fell to Obed-Edom. The lot for the South Gate fell to Shuppim.
1 Chronicles 26
This is what I read the other morning in my personal devotion time. After reading the Bible I try and meditate on what I have just read and try to find a spiritual application for my life. I must admit that while studying Chronicles I have often not found a spiritual application to help me through my day. This morning was no exception. CHRONICLES – So many lists, so many names, so little time.
I am the gardener at Foundation For His Ministry’s Home For Needy Children in Oaxaca Mexico. Mowing a large field full of weeds was on my To Do list. Mowing a large field with push mower gives me a lot of time to think. I began thinking of the Christian Doctrine class I started teaching to high school students in the city of Oaxaca. We are studying the inspiration of scripture. The Bible is inspired by God and every word is truth. We hear and read many words everyday. Probably thousands of words. The only words that we can be sure are true and directly from God are the words we find in Holy Scripture. It is a great practice to begin each day with the Word of God, and let that Word influence our day. This is what I wanted to say to my class.
But what about the parts of the Bible like Leviticus and Numbers and Chronicles, where we find lots of lists and numbers and geneologies? What about lists of gatekeepers? How can that possibly have any bearing on my life?
I asked God that same question and I believe he gave me an answer. I thought about the city of Jerusalem and its gates and the gatekeepers were in charge of. Anyone who wanted to harm the inhabitants of Jerusalem or do the city mischief would have to pass through those gates. So the gatekeepers had an important job keeping bad people out. I thought of the women’s prison across the street from the mission where I go every week to teach English. There are four gates or check points that I must pass through to get to my class. The first two are operated by the state police who are armed with large machine guns. They want to see my identification and want to know why I am going there. I gladly show and tell rather than face the business end of their big guns. When I finally get to the prison, I knock on the large metal door, and a guard opens a little peephole door to see who is there, and he also wants to see I.D. and know my purpose. When he lets me in I must hand over my I.D. and sign in. Then my bag is searched and I am given a pat down. I proceed to my final check point where another guard writes down my name and purpose for being there, and I am finally allowed in with the inmates. All of these checks make it safe for the inmates, the guards and for the visitors like me. The gatekeepers for Jerusalem and for the prison have a very important job.
So what about the spiritual application? Well, God seemed to be saying to me that there are areas of my spiritual life that need gatekeepers. My mind. My heart. My lips. The gatekeepers? The Bible. The Holy Spirit. Other Christians.
The Bible talks a lot about our minds and the way we think and what we think about. The Bible, in Paul’s letter to the Romans says we need to have our minds transformed; renewed. How is this accomplished? Philippians tells us to think on things that are true, honest, pure, noble and good. In a sense that is a family of gatekeepers, similar to a family of gatekeepers that were assigned as gatekeepers for one of the gates in Jerusalem. We need to seek and depend on the Holy Spirit to think on the good things and not allow bad, worldly, enemy things to enter. The enemies that want to infiltrate our minds, hearts and lips are the World, the Flesh and the Devil. When I think of other Christians who are the gatekeepers of my mind, I think of writers like C.S. Lewis and R.C. Sproul, who speak to my intellect and help me think right thoughts.
We not only need gatekeepers for our mind, but also our hearts. By “heart”, the Bible normally means our desires and what motivates those desires. Everyone is motivated by the desire to be happy. How one seeks happiness is important to consider. Our enemies, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, give us a hundred ideas per day on how we can be happy. We need the gatekeeper of the Holy Spirit and the Bible to reveal to us the true path to happiness: The real things like forgiveness of our sins as we forgive others. A righteousness that is revealed from heaven through Christ that brings true joy as we live in right relationship with God. The Puritans address heart issues, and they have becomeone of the gatekeepers of my heart through some of their prayers as recorded in the book The Valley of Vision.
The last part of our being that needs gatekeepers is our lips. Jesus said that out of the abundance of our heart the mouth speaks. There is a direct connection to what is in our minds, to what is in our hearts to what comes out of our lips. If we start the day filling our minds with scripture, that affects our desires and motivation for the day, which guards what comes out our mouths. Paul said in Ephesians 4:29 that we should not let any wholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only those words that are helpful in building up fellow Christians according to their needs. Proverbs 10:19 says that he who controls his lips is wise, and 13:3 tells us that he who guards his mouth keeps his life, he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
We must also lean heavily on the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives to control our lips and gaurd our mouths. Two Christian writers that have helped me to accomplish this are Dietrich Bonhoffer and Henri Nouwen.
So there it is. Who would have thought that an obscure passage from 1 Chronicles could have such an impact on our spiritual lives. I don’t have Shelemiah, Obed-Edom or Shuppim as the gatekeepers of my mind, heart and lips, but I do have the Bible, the Holy Spirit and other Christians to protect me from my enemies, and that makes me happy!
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This morning I was thinking about the history of mankind, from Adam and Eve, to the new heavens and earth, and new Jerusalem. From Genesis to Revelation. I was thinking about the high points and low points; the great positives and negatives. The first great positive was the creation of Adam and Eve. The first great negative was the fall of Adam and Eve, and thus, all mankind.
In my mind there was a timeline, with blips to indicate the highs and lows. In the middle of this time line was a the highest positive blip, signifying the death and resurrection of Jesus. The greatest negative down blip was the fall. The next biggest negative blip was something I read in 1Samuel 7. The Israelites come to Samuel and tell him they want a king, like all the other nations. Samuel, who was the spiritual leader at that time felt rejected and went before God. God tells him not to worry, that the people have not rejected Samuel, but have rejected God.
That is huge! Almost as huge as Adam and Eve ‘s falling to the temptation of the serpent, with similarities. Adam and Eve rejected God’s command because they wanted to rule themselves. The Israelites rejected God because they wanted a human king to rule them, rather than the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Both great sins came down to pride, arrogance and greed. Both entities felt that God had given them the short end of the stick; that God didn’t really love them and want them to be happy. They believed that they could be happier doing things their way.
God has always wanted and chosen a people to be his own. A people who would love him, follow him and do his will. A people that he could bless, reveal himself to, and make happy and prosperous. A people who would respond to his generosity by being generous themselves, both to God and their fellow man. Thus, the second up blip on the historical timeline is God’s call of Abraham. God did not call Abraham only for Abraham’s sake, but so that Abraham would be the father of a nation who God could call his own. Through this man and this nation, God would bless all the people on earth.
This group of people would be initially called Hebrews. The Hebrews were enslaved by the Egyptians. God delivered these people from slavery in a miraculous way. This is the third high point in the history of mankind and pointed to the ultimate high point in history when God would set people free from slavery to sin through Jesus death and resurrection.
The next high point after being set free from bondage in Egypt followed closely on the heels of this miraculous event. This was the giving of the law on mount Sinai. God was saying to his chosen people, “I love you and want you to be happy, so I am giving you these laws, precepts and commands. If you continue to follow me by obeying these mandates, I will prosper you and you will be truly happy and will experience shalom. Slalom was a word the Jewish people used then to greet one another. It meant peace, prosperity, and joy.
Next followed a low point where the people showed they didn’t really believe that God loved them and wanted them to be happy. When it came time to possess the land flowing with milk and honey, they balked. Ten bad spies gave the report of giants in the land that made the Hebrews look like grasshoppers in comparison. Two good spies said the enemy was indeed large, but our God, who delivered us from the Egyptians is the real giant that will go before us and conquer the enemy. The Jews didn’t trust God and thus had to wander in the wilderness for forty years until the unbelieving generation died out and a believing generation rose up.
The believers went in and took the promised land. A definite high point.
The next century was filled with high blips and low dips as God’s chosen people alternatively worshiped and obeyed God, and then fell away and were disobedient. This cycle continued through the period of the Judges and then the kings. Finally, an awful low point occurred when first the ten tribes of Israel were conquered and taken into captivity by the Assyrians, and then Judah was humiliated by the Babylonians and taken into exile.
The prophets had warned the people of Israel and Judah that if they didn’t change their hearts and their ways that God would punish them and send them into exile. They didn’t and he did. The prophets also told of a time of restoration that would come. They told of a new covenant that would be written on hearts of flesh rather than tablets of stone. Daniel foretold of a Son of Man who would come into the world and inaugurate a new era; a new way to relate to God; a new way to experience peace and happiness.
The Son of Man was Jesus. He used the title Son of Man to refer to himself more than any other title. The incarnation of the Son of God, the Son of Man, was the high point on the time line of mankind. God with us, the beginning of the end. The end of the God’s presence in the holy temple in Jerusalem, along with the sacrificial system involving the blood of bulls and goats and lambs. The Lamb of God was the ultimate sacrifice that made a way for all mankind to receive forgiveness of sins, liberation from the bondage of Sin, and to enjoy God forever.
The ultimate high point will be the day when God creates the New Heaven and New Earth and the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven. God’s radiance will be our light, and his presence will be our joy. We will enjoy Him, evermore free from tears, pain, loss, suffering and grief. All will be glory and peace, and that is the point in mankind that I am looking forward to. Come quickly!
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To Enjoy God 