Opus 2025-031: That Still Small Hand

If you’ve been around Christians much, you have somewhere heard the term “the still small voice.”  That refers to the way in which sometimes God speaks to us quietly in our in our hearts.  It is the voice of the Holy Spirit.  It is another one of those phrases that are found in the Bible.

(1Ki 19:12 KJV)  And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

I’m wondering if we don’t miss a lot of what God does in our world because He often moves with a “still small hand”.  We tend to think of miracles as glorious and extravagant intervention into our world.  We think of things like the parting of the Red Sea.  In reality, I think there are probably numerous daily miracles going on that are done quietly, and with what we might call divine sleight-of-hand.

We had a small miracle shared at church on Sunday.  The speaker was at an intersection turning onto a main highway from a side road.  There was a signal, and he was the second car in line.  The light turned green and the car in front of him started out into the intersection and suddenly slammed on his brakes and came to a halt just quick enough to be missed by a crazy guy in a big pickup running the red light.  The telling was very dramatic.  It seems that the car in front of him had inches to spare before he was destroyed by this behemoth.  It didn’t take much to wake the guy up to impending death.  It sounded like the kind of miracle that takes place all around us every day; less dramatic, but just as life-changing.

I wonder how often this is the way God works.  In fact, I’m pretty much convinced after thinking about it that this is usually the way God works with His still small hand.

My attitude of thankfulness includes all of those little incidents that I don’t even notice and encompasses the work of guardian angels.  You do believe in guardian angels, don’t you?  It’s a good thing that their pride is not on the line when it comes to serving us.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-347: Do the Math

I went to the meeting, even though I didn’t qualify. It was billed as a pastors conference, and as you went in there was a sign saying ,“Welcome, pastors, and leaders”.  I joked with people that I was the “and”.  It was actually open to anybody who wanted to come, so I was not trespassing or being offensive.

They were two speakers.  The first one was a guru on eschatology.  The second was a lawyer who is very involved in the political process.  The lawyer was one of two that I know that I believe are actually going to make it to heaven.  What he had to say was solid.  Believers need to be involed in the political process, their current government and in their society.  The guru, not so much.

When the guru got up to speak, I realized that I had heard him at this event last year and my general feeling was fuzzy neutrality.  When he started to speak, he turned me off a bit because he started off with a startling “gotcha statement”.  He said that 30% of Christians don’t believe that Jesus is God.  At best that is an oxymoron.  At worst it is deceitful.  If you don’t see the problem immediately then follow me here.

If Jesus is not God, then He was just a man.  And CS Lewis points out that is not an acceptable option because He was either God or a lunatic.  If Jesus was just a man, and let’s say He was a good man, then everything He said, was just the opinion of another human being.  All of the teachings that you find in the gospels is just another self-help book or a best seller, waiting to make it on the charts.  It’s just the opinion of another man.

In addition to that if Jesus is not God then He was no longer the perfect lamb.  That means that His death on the cross, assuming it actually happened, was just a tragic moment in history.  A man was killed who did not deserve it.  If He was not the perfect lamb then his blood being shed did nothing to bring forgiveness of sin.  If He was not God, then we have no hope in Him and the term “Christian” becomes nothing more impressive than being called a vegetarian.

So basically, if you do not believe that Jesus is God, you are not a Christian.  Now I would like to think that what the man meant was that 30% of those who called themselves Christians, or consider themselves Christians, don’t believe that Jesus is God.  That would be a statement that makes sense.  Of course, it wouldn’t be as startling and wouldn’t get peoples attention so it wouldn’t work very well.  Such is the dilemma of a public speaker.

From there he went on to speak about Israel and his love with the Jewish people.  I had heard it before, so it was nothing new.  He was very involved with the Jewish people and talked as if he was a member of the synagogue.  Having heard him before I knew where he was going, and a bit about where he was coming from.  He’s one of those who is big on Israel in the end times, and how God is going to reestablish Israel and how we have to pray for Jerusalem and so forth.

Being someone who has read the book of Isaiah and a lot of the prophecies that he talks about and historical books of Israel, I have my doubts that it will work out as smoothly as he proclaims.  Two passages of scripture comes to mind.  The first has to do with the remnant of 7,000.

1 Kings 19:18 (KJV) Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Then you have this prediction that you find in the book of Isaiah,

Isaiah 1:9 (KJV) Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

It doesn’t sound like God is concerned with preserving the masses of people who considers themselves Jews, or even those who are actually in the lineage of Abraham.  Do the math.

Let me look at the passage from I Kings since it’s more specific in its numbers.  The statement is that after all of the butchery and damage bringing Israel to account there will still be 7,000 who are faithful.  We are used to hearing that number I guess and say “Go team”.  Most of us attend churches that are relatively small and 7,000 sounds like a big number.  I think in terms of gestalt.  What is the big picture and what do these numbers mean?

When Moses lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, there are numbers given about how many people were involved.  I am too lazy right now to go back and add them up, but let’s go with the number of one million.  I think that’s reasonable.  When they finally entered the promised land and conquered it, I would suggest that the numbers went up.  We are now 3000 years later.  Surely, that 1 million has grown.  But let’s go with that number as if it were the same.  Do the math.  If there were 1 million Jews, children of Israel, alive at that time and 7,000 are still loyal to God, that means that 993,000 have been sent on their way to hell.  Those are not exactly what I would call encouraging numbers if I were Jewish.  When the end times come and it says that all Israel will be saved in the book of Romans you have to say to yourself that means that the only ones still alive are the faithful ones and everyone else has been killed one way or another.  Not good odds.

Will God bring Israel back?  The prophecies seem to indicate that.  Will it be a great homecoming involving multiplied millions of people with Jewish blood?  Not only is that not consistent with a rational, holy God, but it doesn’t make any sense.

Stay tuned and you will eventually find out.

homo unius libri

Opus 2021-218: Hope or Less

I have two sources of hope.  One is a guarantee, an assurance.  The other is a possibility held out to us.  I tend to need to be reminded of both.

One could be summarized in Proverbs 3:5-6

(Pro 3:5-6 KJV)  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

It is stated many ways and in many places in the Bible.  In the days of the Founders the word used was “Providence.”  My wife likes to say, “It’s a God thing.”  Either way, I have confidence in the future.  That confidence is not necessarily in the future of the United States of America.  The US is not mentioned in the Bible.  Americans are not the chosen people.  We have been blessed because we have had a significant number of people who believed the teachings of Jesus and an even larger number that accepted the basic standards of God.  

Israel and Judah both went through destruction and deportation.  Through that there remained a faithful remnant.  Take this statement to Elijah when he was in despair at the condition of the Israel, the northern kingdom,

(1Ki 19:18 KJV)  Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Those who remain faithful will be part of that “seven thousand”.  It requires a vision of eternity instead of a fixation with today’s comforts.

The other hope is found in MAGA.  I was reminded of this as I cruised through my morning routine of internet sites.  I came across some items about Trump and I was reminded that the one thing that unites people behind him is his belief that America is redeemable.  He is not talking in terms of Biblical salvation.  He is saying that if we will get off our duffs and get to work, the old principles that have lifted people out of tyranny and oppression for centuries will still work.  He believes that the people of America can pull it off.  Although I get discouraged at times, I still feel there are large numbers of people in this country who believe in the values and principles that are found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  

Because of my first hope I can face the future with confidence.  Because of the second, I can look for places where I can be the difference.  Keep in mind that the straw that broke the camel’s back has an antithesis in the bean that fell off the load.

Stay off the radar and I will see you on the other side, although I am not sure that both are possible.  So stay off the radar until it is worth getting picked off.

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-42: Finding a church, part 4 of 4

Are you happy with the church you attend?  You have two choices, really.

The first choice is to stay and try to make a difference.  Remember when Elijah was complaining to the Lord.  It looked like all had turned away.  He was ready to give up and throw in the mantle.  God told him,

  (1 Kings 19:18 KJV)  Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

It may be that your job is to keep your mantle on and be salt in your church.  I would say you need to be active salt.  You need to be vocal without being screechy.  You need to be strong without being arrogant.  You need to be prayed up and Spirit filled.  It is a legitimate choice.

The second choice is to go.  Lets assume that the church you attend has drifted into heresy and refuses to reform.  Suppose the pastor is rejecting the Bible.  Go.  But when you go, don’t look for a church to meet your needs.  That is the role of the Holy Spirit.  Look for a place where you can use your spiritual gifts to make a difference.  Find a place to serve.  Find a place that needs you.  Remember that we are called to be servants, not to be served.  Of course if you can master this attitude, you might not need to leave.

In either case the real focus should be on reviving yourself.  I think Groucho Marx make a quip one time about how he would never want to be part of a club that would accept him.  Another way I have heard it approached is that if you find the perfect church, don’t go there because then it won’t be perfect any more.

How do we revive the Church?  By allowing the Holy Spirit to revive us.  Then, go or stay we have the attitude and spiritual quality that makes us an asset, not a liability.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-135, Tangent Times Two

I was again listening to Alistair Begg.  He quoted a verse and the quote sounded strange to me.  He referred to the spring that cannot produce both fresh water and salt water. 

Tangent Warning!  Tangent Warning! 

At this point my mind wandered off as it has a habit of doing.  Something did not sound right in his reference.  I didn’t remember it as being salt water, but bitter water.  I left myself a note on my recorder so I could check it out later and got back to listening.

Tangent Warning!  Tangent Warning! 

Yes, again.  This reminds me again of the value of allowing your mind to wander as you listen and read.  We are taught that we need to focus and pay attention.  Okay, I accept that but the Holy Spirit is constantly trying to get through to us and make us think.  When you are in a situation where your mental or spiritual radar perks up, don’t ignore it.  It may be the Holy Spirit.

Why does He speak to me when I am in the middle of a sermon?  Maybe because that is the time when I am most focused on listening.  Maybe the middle of my golf swing is not the time I am most receptive.  I grew up hearing about the “still small voice.”  It was a reference to the way in which God speaks quietly to our hearts.  I did a search and could only find this phrase in one place, in one translation.

Elijah was hiding in a cave and feeling sorry for himself.  God had a lesson to teach him.

(1 Kings 19:11-12 KJV)  And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:  And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Notice that God caused all kinds of mighty wonders to take place.  It is clear that God was causing them and Elijah seemed to understand that.  But notice the last part, the “still small voice.”  To this Elijah responded and heard.

(1 Kings 19:13 KJV)  And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

As I write I am in Pennsylvania and a thunder storm is passing over.  God can speak that way.  I have had experiences where I have almost been killed in traffic.  God can speak that way.  But to be honest, the times that God speaks most clearly and in a way that I remember are in those quiet times when I can allow my mind to follow His “still small voice.”

Next post I will get back to my original tangent.

homo unius libri