Heavenly Throne and Earthly Footstool

In this modern era, we depreciate God in every way. We see Him as the little man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. We tell Him what to do, berate Him as a child, and show our disdain and anger toward Him.

We forget that He created the entire cosmos. Mankind discovers more and more galaxies with each new powerful telescope and probe, which we send out into space.

We continually discover plant and animal species which we never knew existed. We see the magnitude of His glory in nature; and yet, this does not increase our respect and honor for our Creator (Romans 1:20).

Today, God deigns to dwell on earth in the hearts of Believers (2 Chronicles 6:18). We cannot possibly hide from God. He sees our thoughts, words and deeds. He desires our pure and holy worship (Jeremiah 23:24).

People refer to a building where the church meets as the "House of God", but this is far from the way God sees it (Acts 7:38). Heaven is His throne and He uses the earth as His footstool (Isaiah 66:1). The most elegant cathedral cannot contain Him.

He is our King and the ultimate Ruler of the Universe (1 Timothy 1:17). He stretches out between the vast expanse of time and space and interacts with His creation throughout the ages.

His Lordship and holy Presence should cause us to fall on our face before Him in humility, gratitude and praise; rather than to shout false accusations at Him, demean His character and blame Him for the misfortune which Satan causes on the earth.

God is totally engaged in each individual life and works by His Spirit to bring His truth and revelation to people in each generation since Adam and Eve. There is no reason for us not to love and honor Him with every breath we take.

Prayer:

Father God, what house could we possibly build for You (Jeremiah 7:4)? There is no way to contain Your essence in a building made with human hands (Acts 7:49). The heavens cannot even contain You, because You defy space and matter (1 Kings 8:27). You hold the entire universe in one hand.

Yet, Your eyes are on each one of us, judging our works and considering our needs, providing for Your children through Your magnanimous love and care (Psalm 11:4; 1 Peter 5:7). We give thanks to You that there is no good thing, which we need that You are not willing to provide for us (Philippians 4:19).

Thought for the Day:

God fills both the heavens and the earth and is not limited by time, space or matter; yet, He also revives the heart of the humble and penitent, and energizes our spirit with His Spirit as a down payment for all He has prepared for us both now and in eternity. - Jeremiah 23:24; Isaiah 57:15

A Building Made without Human Hands

David wanted to build God a proper house on this earth in which He could visit His people. David's heart continually focused on God, and he realized that he lived in a palace and God still dwelt in a tent from Israel's days in the wilderness (Acts 13:22).

As a man of war, David was disqualified from building this holy place (1 Chronicles 28:2-3). Yet, God allowed David to gather the materials and for his son Solomon to build this grand palace for the Lord.

When they completed the temple, God's glory filled the Holiest Place and He spoke to His chosen people (2 Chronicles 5-7). His main request was that Israel repent of all sin and to live holy before Him.

Characteristically, Israel sinned before the Lord, and God did as He warned them that He would do. He anointed a warring country to destroy the temple and to take the people captive.

Yet, God allowed a faithful remnant of His people to eventually return to the chosen land. 

They were able to rebuild Jerusalem and a smaller temple. This actually grieved those who experienced the former glory, which they lost because of their sin (Ezra 3:12).

God's plan all along was to build a house for Himself using living stones, acceptable to Him through our relationship with Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-12). We are His temple, and His Spirit dwells in our midst (1 Corinthians 3:16).

The building where the church meets is not holy nor is it God's house. It is simply a place for Believers to actively worship God who dwells within us. God's Spirit builds Believers together into a holy dwelling place for Him (Ephesians 2:22; Hebrew 3:6).

Heaven is God's throne and the earth is His footstool. There is no temple grand enough for us to build for Him, which is more awesome than the myriad of galaxies, which He created (Isaiah 66:1; Genesis 1:1).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that our behavior is a reflection on You (Psalm 23:3, 1 Timothy 3:14-15). You are holy and You call us to be holy as well (1 Peter 1:16). You want us to have clean hands before we lift them up in worship to You (Psalm 24:1-6, 134:2).

Search the hidden recesses of our inner being and see if there is any wicked way in us, and lead us in Your everlasting way (Psalm 139:23-24). Heal us from the deep wounds inflicted on us by other people (Proverbs 18:8). Fill us instead by Your deep, spiritual riches (Proverbs 24:4).

Thought for the Day:

God never wanted to dwell in buildings made with human hands; but in the hearts of His People. - Acts 17:24

Faith and Courage

The Bible is full of the exploits of sinners just like us. God is not ashamed of those who exhibit their faith in Him, in spite of the moment of their weakness (Hebrews 11:16). 

Many of them had a calling from God and fulfilled that mission with faith in God's faithfulness. As people of faith, we can include our self in that great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1).

These people of courage stood strong and were on their guard (1 Corinthians 16:13). They resisted the devil by keeping a firm footing on their confidence in God. 

They walked by faith and not by sight, needing no physical proof for their beliefs (2 Corinthians 5:7). We can stand strong too, knowing that fellow Believers around the world are experiencing similar or even worse trials (1 Peter 5:9).

We learn how to live a life of faith from these ancient, Biblical Saints. If we do not have faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). He wants us to come to Him believing that He exists and that He rewards everyone who earnestly seeks Him. 

Faith believes God's Word, and is sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see in the natural realm (Hebrews 11:1). Faith believes that God formed the universe by His command, creating the galaxies simply by His spoken word (Genesis 1:3). 

We look forward by faith to the Kingdom of God, because we are only aliens and strangers on this earth (1 Peter 2:11-12). Until we go to glory, we fight the good fight with courage, finish the race and trust in the goodness of God (2 Timothy 4:7). 

Prayer:

Father God, we thank You for Your forgiveness, provided by Your sacrifice of Your own son (Romans 8:23). We have no words to express our amazement or our gratitude to You for this free gift (Ephesians 2:8). 

Our faith in You will extinguish all of Satan's flaming arrows, which he aims at us (Ephesians 6:16). By faith we eagerly look forward to Your Spirit birthing Your perfection in us (Galatians 5:5). 

Thought of the Day:

The righteous will live by faith. - Galatians 3:11

Secular Sources Prove Biblical Truth

 

After thousands of years of research and study, historians, archaeologist, philosophers and scientists are proving that the claims of the Bible, authored by God, are accurate and true. We see obvious confirmations in astronomical, anthropological, archaeological, biological, chemical and geological facts. The Bible is filled with truth, which scientists took thousands of years to discover and are now proving.

Of course, the biggest proof, which Columbus helped to confirm, is that the earth is round and that it is supported by nothing but gravity from the sun (Job 26:7; Isaiah 40:22; Psalm 103:12). Astronomers are proving what the Bible also states: that the stars are innumerable (Jeremiah 33:22; Genesis 22:17), differ in their brilliancy and life span (1 Corinthians 15:41), follow a predictable course, and cluster in constellations and galaxies (Jeremiah 31:35; Job 9:9).

For years, anthropologists debated whether the human race originated from one source. Today, DNA and genetics authenticate what the Bible claimed all along, that we came from one man and one woman (Genesis 3:20; 1 Corinthians 15:54; Acts 17:26). The various races came when God scattered the inhabitants of the known world across the whole earth (Genesis 11:1-9).

Evolution claims that all of life came from a single cell. However, the Bible claims that God created everything “after it’s own kind.” Biology confirmed that blood circulation, complex protein sequences in DNA – which are unique with each individual, fossil records and the lack of proof of evolutionary links in any discovery to date, all substantiate that God created each species as uniquely special (Leviticus 17:11).

The study of geology, with today’s scientific methods, corroborate that fossil records validate the Biblical claim that a catastrophic flood annihilated life and petrified life forms at that time. This confirms scripture found in Ecclesiastes 1:7, Isaiah 55:10, Psalm 8:8 and Genesis 7:11. God gives us accurate predictions of future events, so that we do not fear the future.

Even with all of this proof, human pride resists believing in the Biblical accounts, because they would have to submit to Almighty God. They prefer trusting in human reasoning, even though there are missing links in every human theory (Romans 1:21; 2 Peter 3:5). They believe they are in control of their own destiny, and use limited knowledge to purport their theories as facts. They receive worldwide acclaim for what is nothing more than ignorance of God’s Truth.

False prophets and prognosticators help to dilute God’s truth, because people dismiss the accuracy of Bible prophecy due to suppositions by sources such as the Mayans and Nostradamus. Yet, just in the book of Daniel we see the perfect prediction of the course of Middle Eastern society for five entire centuries (Daniel 7:6, 8:5-8, 11:2-4). God’s Word is Truth and we can stake our life on it.

Prayer:

Father God, You love us so much, and understand our human penchant to need to see proof so well, that You gave us the Bible full of facts and figures to convince even the most uneducated person that Your Word is Truth. Yet, people continue to allow Satan’s lies to distract them from believing in You for their salvation (2 Timothy 4:4). In the end, even the most hardened skeptic will bow their knee to King Jesus, even those who condemn themselves to hell by their unbelief (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10; John 3:18)

Thought for the Day:

Biblical truth has been verified continuously over the years by every historic, archaeological, philosophical and scientific discovery made by mankind. – Isaiah 41:21-23, 48:3-5

For more information on the proof of the veracity of God’s Word see: https://answersingenesis.org/

Why Believe in God?

 

The premise of the idea of God comes from the fact that the galaxies and everything in them need an origin. Scientists say that a particle of gas exploded. The Bible calls that gas the breath of God, “God said” (Genesis1:3). Even the human body, soul and spirit are miraculous, and demand a Creator who developed the precision and magnificence of who we are.

There are two forces at work in our world: light and darkness, good and evil, God and the devil. God created Satan as a holy archangel, but pride and rebellion rose in his heart. Rather than being grateful to God for the multitude of blessings he enjoyed, he promoted a mutiny and took an army of angels with Him when God cast them out of heaven. God sent them to the earth and gave Satan authority over this world (Isaiah 14:12; 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31).

Then, God created mankind and fashioned Paradise for him (Genesis 2:8). Adam and Eve were protected from Satan and his demons and God provided everything they would ever need for a wondrous life. Satan was delighted to finally have someone to influence and possibly to rule over and to add to his kingdom. He worked his deceptive magic on Adam and Eve and he has been propagating his lying subterfuge ever since.

We all go through negative experiences in life and we often “try God” during these times. We find fulfillment for our soul – our thoughts, choices and emotions. This emotional high lasts for a while and we start to heal. We experience the fellowship of authentic Believers and the love of God in them.

Once we heal emotionally, however, we believe we no longer need the emotional support of the church anymore. Our thoughts go back to the familiar life pattern from our former existence. Satan readily supplies us with doubts about the reality of God, and he helps us to find sufficiency in our self. We try God’s way, but decide we no longer need God.

However, our soul soon gets discouraged with life again. It knows that it cannot carry the complete weight of life on its own any longer. We come full circle back to God. We would like for God to be the answer to life for us, but Satan’s lies continue to cloud our judgment.

Authentic, Born Again Believers do not ask what God can do for us, but we ask what we can do for God. We willingly submit, as a bondservant (Galatians 1:10), to do only His will for our life until the day we leave this world and go to live with Him for eternity. We no longer use God to meet our needs, but we realize whom we are privileged to serve. We enjoy living in the center of His will – the happiest place on earth.

Prayer:

Father God, teach us not to use You for our Aladdin’s Genie to grant our wishes, but as our Lord and King. You deserve our utmost respect, not our disparaging remarks and ridicule. You told us through the prophets that sin would rule the world at the same time the Roman Empire revives, Israel becomes a nation once more and the World Council of Churches convinces the world that ecumenical unity is the only true religion. We see all this happening in the world today. We look forward to Your soon return.

Thought for the Day:

The only way to truly experience the fullness of God is to totally surrender to Him.