Positive Response to God and Rebellion

God is big, really big.  God is inviting people out of a world of chaos into an existence far beyond imagination.  God’s plan is for good.  God has people who positively respond to Him and those who don’t.  It seems to be better for everyone to go God’s way.  

In the days of old as the people of Israel left slavery to go with God He had a wonderful guide for them in the form of an angel.  God sent Moses as well, but there was an angelic guide involved.  Look at what God tells the people with regard to the angel.  

“See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Do not rebel against him, for he is my representative, and he will not forgive your rebellion. But if you are careful to obey him, following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you.” Exodus 23:20-22 (NLT)

See the need for a positive response to God?  It is in the positive response that they are protected as he leads them to the place God had prepared.  The negative response… “he will not forgive your rebellion.”  That will make you stop in your sandals.  I think that has something to do with life going miserably wrong, and possibly painful for no other reason than I didn’t want to do what God who has only my good in mind wants me to do.  

I’m thinking that this specifically was what God was doing at the time with the people of Israel.  In this day God is still at work.  He has angels around.  He has human messengers like Moses to provide assistance as well.  And though the direct guidance of an angel with the pillar of cloud and fire by night has not been given to us God’s guidance in various ways is still very much available.  

So I am thinking a positive response to God eliminates so many routine problems.  It eliminates the obvious problem of having the angel against me, but other things too.  There is a place God has for His people that He wants to take them to.  It may not be the literal promised land, but it is a land of promise.  It may be anywhere in the world, but it includes getting to know Him and growing in character like His Son.  There is more to this on the other side of this physical existence, but, for now, this life is the focus.  

A positive response to God deals with the question of “why am I here?”  As a person goes with God the many details to that question get answered.  He doesn’t always feel the need to explain in full His plan to you and me.  We couldn’t handle it if He did.  A negative response to God can really disengage the GPS (God Positioning System).  We can get lost.  We can ruin our lives and others along the way.  A positive response keeps us moving to the land of promise.  

A positive response to God has the support of God and His armies against those who oppose you.  I have been opposed when doing the right thing (been on the other side too which is not so great).  You have probably been opposed as well.  Some of our battles are with people and some with those who are not flesh and blood.  It is a terrific comfort to have the Lord battle on our behalf.  

A new Star Wars movie called, “Rogue One,” comes out in December.  The movie trailers have a line in which the protagonist is in an interview regarding her participating in the great cause in order to free the empire from the evil ones.  She has a line in which she says, “It’s a rebellion.  I rebel.”  I like it.  Typically, people rebel against whatever order they see, whatever authorities that exist, whatever cultural rules are around them.  Rebellion has a place, but not against God.  I see the evil empire as Satan’s domain.  He is the prince of the power of the air.  He is dragging people into darkness.  I choose to be in a rebellion against the devil.  And I say, “It’s a rebellion. I rebel.”  

Being positive in the things of God breaks the power of darkness.  I rebel against the darkness.  Being positive towards God’s leading takes me to the light.  I rebel against the enemies of my soul.  Being positive in the things of God means I say, “Yes,” to Him.  It means I fight the darkness of the culture and world I live in.  It means I fight against my own tendencies to follow my opinions and feelings.  It is a rebellion.  I rebel.  I choose, and I choose to be positive for God.  How about you?

AUTHORITY ISSUES

Why listen?

Who are the people we are to listen to?  Why listen to one over another?  

I might choose to listen to an experienced electrician over someone whose knowledge was acquired by listening to Glen Campbell sing about the Wichita Lineman.  It is good, I think, to have a surgeon who has been trained before cutting on me.  There is a place for authority and knowledge in certain areas.  

I was asked recently, “Why should I listen to you over others?”  Good question.  And if it has to do with surgery I suggest listening to the surgeon.  The question was more directed at the spiritual.  So, indeed, why listen?  

 

For those interested I will offer a response.  The Apostles had to provide an answer to that kind of question from time to time.  It is legit.  Paul answered it.  And John does so as well.  Take a look at the way John does this.  

 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us.  We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy. 1 John 1:1-4 (NLT) 

John shares in this opening to his letter the authority he has.  There is theology and experience.  There is knowledge and emotion.  He explains that his life is better as a result of this revelation and experience with Jesus which is joy to him and he wants others to share in that joy too.  

Did people accept that John had seen Jesus or that Jesus was the Word of life revealed by God the Father?  Some did.  Many unfortunate ones did not.  Could God really send His Son to be born as a human being?  Could the Son be Jesus, and, if so, what would that mean for people?  

It is so generous of God to reveal Himself in various ways to people through the ages, but His greatest revelation was in His Son.  Amazing love for us prompted that.  And Jesus came and died and rose again.  He has been elevated to the highest position above all others.  To know Him is joy as John said.  

I agree with John and I am writing these things so that others may fully share in the joy of fellowship with God the Father and His Son, Jesus.  Knowing Him has been a joy for me from the very beginning when I really realized who He really is and received Him.  For me the swirling chaos of the world began to fall into order.  My heart swelled with a new kind of love.  To seek after Him was of top concern.  The earliest verse I remember intentionally memorizing was Jeremiah 15:16.  

Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16 (NASB) 

Going through and reading the Bible was an adventure like no other.  Learning to study it and discover more from it made it even better.  Eventually I went to college and seminary.  The education added levels of knowledge and training in ministry which I needed and appreciate.  My journey in walking with God and pointing others to Him has gone on now for 44 years.  

Lots of people have more and better education than I have.  Many have better ministry credentials.  Not all those who have better education or ministry credentials know God as I do.  That is something to boast about according to Jeremiah the prophet.  

Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.  Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NASB)

To know Him is a thrill.  I love it.  I love Him.  Everyday.  In all situations.  Knowing Him is a delight.  It has been since the beginning, but has increased exponentially along the way.  He has been a rock, my constant, my guiding star.  He has been the Almighty at times and a friend who listens at other times.  He has corrected me and held me accountable for wrongs I have committed, and He has been gracious and forgiving of sins I have done.  He has loved me when I didn’t really love.  He has poured love into me so that I could have something to share.  His presence is unbeatable.  His wisdom incomparable.  His teaching always remarkable.  I am indebted to Him for allowing me to know Him.  

As He did with Paul He has done with me.  Paul met Jesus after His death, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven.  The risen Christ met with Paul.  Initially on the Damascus Road, but later Jesus trained Paul.  He mentions this in Galatians.  

I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:12 (NLT) 

I am different from Paul in that I had a number of wonderful human teachers.  God-given and gifted teachers who love the Lord.  I, like Paul, have also been taught by the Lord.  Why He chose to do things that way I have no answer for.  He showed up.  

I also identify with John in his opening of 1 John. “We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands.” When the Lord showed up I saw Him, the risen Christ, with my own eyes and touched Him with my own hands.  He spoke.  I listened.  I was scared.  He comforted.  I was questioning.  He answered my questions.  I was overwhelmed by His radiance, His presence, His glory, His magnificence, His kindness, His love, His wisdom.  That experience with Him a few years ago opened up more opportunities with Him.  It is still a mind-blowingly incredible thing to meet with Him, to learn from Him, to have a relationship with Him.  Bible study, prayer, ministry and just living have even more wonderful facets to them.  All of them shining in His light.  

So, why listen?

It glorifies the Lord and goes better for you.  Listen to the leaders God has given you.  Those who know God and teach you His Word.  Watch their lives and see if it is real.  Follow the example of their faith.  Hebrews has a couple of verses that help with this.  

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.  Hebrews 13:7-17 (NLT) 

Why listen to me?  If God has given me to you as a leader, then listening to me is a good idea.  If you have another leader, then listen to them.  Do it and you will honor God and it will be for your benefit. 

HANDLING TRUTH

Handling truth is a daily task for every person.  Determining what is true would seem to be important since it impacts the foods we eat, the medicines we take, the politicians we vote for, the conversations we have with those around us, and everything else. 

 How many classes on “truth” are offered?  There are some elements in math classes in secondary schools as well as logic and philosophy classes in college, but most people just arrive at some system for determining truth that seems to work and move on.  That DIY (Do It Yourself) approach is apparent on many levels from views on candidates running for office to the way the news media presents a story to the acceptability of a tweet, email or Facebook post.  

What is helpful to me in the handling of truth is using a test.   It can get complicated, but this is the quick way to use it. First, check the data as best you can.  Sometimes you have time to really dig in and sometimes you have to keep moving.  So, as best you can determine the evidence available.  Does what is being presented meet the facts? And, if so, it is a good start.  

Second, look for contradictions.  For example, a physical object can’t be in two places at the same time.  To make a statement that says Joe was at 12^th and Washington at noon on Tuesday and at the same time he was at 36^th North and Monroe at the same time is a problem.  Check to see if the statement being looked at is logically consistent.  Again, there are ways of getting technical which may be necessary at times, but as best as you can determine may have to be the way to go about it most of the time.  

Third, check for reality.  This is a practical element.  How can this be lived out in the real world?  Fantasy is great entertainment, and can even illustrate truths but it isn’t part of the real world.  Handling truth includes running statements or considerations through a practical grid. 

A warning for truth handlers.  Preconceived notions and emotional leanings influence everyone’s approach to truth and how it is determined.  This is where the idea of every person having their own truth came into play.  Think about that one.  Imagine the cashier at McDonald’s telling me I owe $12.93, and I hand over $3.00 because that is my truth.  Really?   My feelings about my truth or someone else’s truth don’t enter in to the exchange of cash.  It is what it is.  

Testing one’s own preconceptions and emotional leanings is a great thing to do.  It is almost impossible to get out of our own skin long enough to work through those things, but it is worth it.  Maybe you have heard of the woman who prepared the Thanksgiving ham by cutting off the two ends before sliding it into the oven.  One Thanksgiving her daughter asked her why she was cutting off the ends.  She explained that her mom had always done it that way, and that is why you do it.  Curious, she called her mom and asked why she had cut the ends off.  Her mom said the pan she had was short and she had to cut the ham down to size.  Preconceptions can leave us a little short.  

A fourth test is to compare with Scripture.  The Bible provides a relevant and helpful means of evaluation.  A modern view of a person is narrowed down to chemical composition, electrical impulses, collected memories in the DNA and in the process of growing up.  That person dies and the lights go out.  A body is left with the elements that it had when alive.  But electrical impulses alone cannot keep the body going.  If they could, then we would find people around us celebrating their 300^th birthday.  We don’t because it isn’t just a chemical, mechanical, electrical process.  The Bible tells us we are made up of material and immaterial parts, a body, soul and spirit.  That model of a person seems to fit the data, it is logically consistent and fits with reality.  The book of Proverbs says, Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Proverbs 9:10 (NLT)   The Bible provides information about the Lord and that is greatly helpful in having wisdom and good judgment so this is an important part of the test of truth.  

Scripture has critics and skeptics and non-believers that is true.  But it is for those who have an interest in including the Scriptural test of truth that I direct these thoughts.  As humans we function in many ways that can be feeling oriented to ultra-rational.  Including the Scripture in our evaluations of truth doesn’t mean we do away with our normal way of processing.  We may even operate on a scale from one end to the other but still within the scope of Scripture.  It may be at some point, however, that the Scripture is left out of the equation altogether as we lean on our own understanding.  This illustration shows the scale on either side of the Scripture.  

 

Submitting our personal approach to the Scripture allows a spiritual formation to take place.  It is part of the process of handling the truth.  

The test for truth includes getting the facts, checking for logical consistency, putting it to a practical evaluation and comparing it to Scripture.  Although this may sound rather tedious it may surprise you as being beneficial and even fun.  

Jesus said it well, “ And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (NLT)