One of the distractions of modern life in our culture is the amount of time you can spend looking at and reading “stuff” online. Most of us would be better served reading the scriptures or a decent book. But here I am adding to the online content. (LOL… perhaps I should repent.) The diversity of what you can find in online posts is truly amazing and speaks about the nature of technology and how far we have come since clay tablets and the printing press. I confess, much to my shame, that I spend far too much time reading various kinds of information online. I will also say that in the diversity of information and material there is also a diversity of opinions and diversity in so-called “truth” and “knowledge”.
Proverbs 24:6 says: 6 For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory.
This seems to indicate that guidance is needed for waging war. (And we are in some cultural wars) And a part of getting that guidance is an abundance or multitude of counselors. The result of getting their counsel is victory or safety. But in our time the abundance of information, counsel, available online seems to only breed division, argument, strife and, indeed, war itself. This is true, not only of threads on politics, but also faith, and practically anything else. I see fights over buttermilk in recipes!
This week I was reading a piece posted by someone on the rapture. And, sure enough, controversy developed. It could have been any number of other doctrines, it just happened to be this one. Don’t get me wrong. Interesting arguments and discussions were made on several sides in different ways of interpreting scripture, and fortunately no one died. I am sure no one who holds one dogma or the other was persuaded to change. But, there is some possibility that the unfortunate one stumbling into this left just as confused as they came in. Thank God, that He speaks by the Holy Spirit, to bring revelation and wisdom to those that diligently seek HIm.
[Proverbs 8:17 NASB95] 17 “I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.
The discussion did get me to thinking a bit more. Not about the rapture to be sure; to be or not to be, when – pre – post -mid, how, etc. But about the focus. Specifically focusing on Jesus. The centrality of Jesus to both the depth and simplicity of the Gospel…….
[Colossians 1:13-20 NASB95] 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, [both] in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the [Father’s] good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say,] whether things on earth or things in heaven.
the church, as his body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all.
…..And focusing, as well, on who He is to, and in, and through us as the church, as His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all (Ephesians 1:22-23)
[Ephesians 1:18-23 NASB95] 18 [I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. [These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly [places,] 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
You see, we can argue and focus on times and epochs until the cows come home, or until He comes in the the clouds again… or doesn’t…. or about His coming in whatever way you may be persuaded by your interpretation of scripture and Greek words defined to the uttermost. You may see it all as great deception, or as great truth. But, no matter your eschatology or interpretation, the true issue is still the centrality of, and focus upon, Jesus.
None of this argument, or distracting and divisive focus, (on this or most others) will solve the issues surrounding why the manifestation of Him/Jesus and His Kingdom (and the gospel for that matter) through the Church/Ekklesia is not expressing His fullness in greater measure and love.
I fear the real deception is in the prevailing misunderstanding of, and disinterest in, the eternal purpose of God which is wrapped up in Jesus and has been before the foundations of the world.
[Ephesians 1:7-12 NASB95] 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, [that is,] the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. (add Ephesians 1:3-6 to this in you need for understanding)
We who hope in Him are to be to the praise of His glory.
In a divisive time and culture I pray, and hope we will all join in praying for, not for the unity of ecmenicism that is an inch deep, but for the unity/oneness Jesus Himself desired and prayed for:
[John 17:20-23 NASB95] 20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, [are] in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.