July 7, 2011
It happened three weeks ago—June 15, 2011. My husband and I were driving down the freeway on the way to look at a job, when obscure thoughts started to form in my mind. I said to my husband, "What is any different about tomorrow or next month than yesterday or three months ago?" (Told you they were obscure!) 😊
Why should "the storm" end tomorrow or months down the road as opposed to yesterday or last year? Why? As we talked then and over the next days the random and obscure thoughts began to become into clearer focus. There was a something missing! Something else had to happen before the "the storm" and lawsuit would be over. What was it? I had no idea, but I felt as if God was clearly letting me know that there was a specific reason why "the storm" was not yet over, and that we were to continue to wait upon Him. There was another piece of the puzzle that was not yet in place. What was or is the piece? I don't know and it didn't matter because God was in control.
The day after those thoughts began to form I was reading Proverbs 3 (June 16, 2011). In the margins of my Bible beside Proverbs 3:5 I have written Deuteronomy 29:29 (12/8/08). Deuteronomy 29:29 says, "There are some things the LORD our God has kept secret, but there are some things he has let us know...." We strongly felt that God was peeling away the layers and unveiling a truth. There is no difference between tomorrow and yesterday; or next month and three months ago. There is another piece of the puzzle, an event or whatever, that needs to take place before this is over.
That made perfect sense. We believe in and trust the "I will's" of God. This is His battle and battle plan. We just need to remain faithful.
So that all happened three weeks ago. We felt like God was revealing a new truth to us. We aren't just in limbo. An event, action, or something, some sort of piece of the puzzle, still has to happen. And then, as I am reading in Proverbs 21, a verse that is totally contrary to what I would naturally think, just keeps sticking out to me and I try to figure out what on earth it means.
The Ransom
What we now believe to be the piece that is still missing. Oh how we hope and pray that the ransom to be paid is one of amends and atonement, an acceptance of God's ransom. If/when that happens our earthly ransom will be close behind.
When you hear the term "ransom" used in a biblical sense you usually immediately equate it back to when Christ paid the ransom for us. He took our sin and paid the price. He released, rescued, delivered, freed, and redeemed our souls. All those descriptions from Webster's Dictionary I wrote about the other day. He paid the ransom for us. A gift we did not deserve. The mercy of God—not getting what we deserve. The grace of God—getting what we do not deserve.
So, God paid the ransom for all of us. Proverbs 22:2 - (we are all alike) in that the LORD made (us) all. What makes us different is the choices we make. Are we going to serve ourselves? Or, are we going to serve God? It's one or the other. It can't be both. We cannot have other gods in addition to the LORD. (Exodus 20:23) IF you choose to have other gods in addition to or instead of THE LORD, then pride enters because you insist on being in control. And where pride is, other sins are close behind, and evil actions and wickedness exist.
The wicked never seem to be content with living their own quiet life. They want what others have. They are aggressors and do whatever they want, to get whatever they want. The wicked refuse to accept the ransom Christ paid for them. The upright (righteous) accept the ransom Christ paid. When the wicked plan evil for the upright (Psalm 140) they become the ransom that has to be paid to free the upright from the earthly bondage they chose to put the upright in. The heavenly ransom to free us from sin and spiritual bondage has already been given. It's our choice to receive it. IF the heavenly ransom is refused, THEN you become the earthly ransom that is needed to atone for the sins and bondage you have attempted (in your assumed position of "god") to put upon the upright. God's truth will happen.
Proverbs 21:18 - "Wicked people will suffer instead of good people, and those who cannot be trusted will suffer instead of those who do right."
For the upright, they have already accepted the ransom Christ paid for their eternal souls. When trouble and false accusations happen, they wait on the LORD. For the wicked, they have either refused to accept God's grace (ransom) or they have turned their backs on it. They've become their own god.
God provided an eternal ransom, and it is available to everyone. IF—you accept His salvation, THEN—you are freed, redeemed, and ransomed eternally. You are no longer in spiritual bondage because Christ paid the price once and for all time. IF—you refuse to accept God's ransom for your sins, THEN—you have declared yourself god (small "g"), pride is in control, and there is nothing to prevent your actions from becoming evil/wicked.
The wicked have no control over the uprights eternal salvation given to them by God's ransom— Christ. Satan, (knowing he has no power over the righteous who have surrendered their lives to Christ and have received Christ's ransom) will try everything in the power he does have to try and destroy the righteous. Case in point—Job. Satan was allowed by God to test him. One of the tools Satan will use is the people who have refused to surrender to God as LORD of their lives, the very thing that got Satan kicked out of heaven. Pride, and the worship of a false god—SELF. They are like-minded with Satan, and their actions are evil/wicked. Lies. Anger. Revenge. Control. False Accusations, etc.
IF—the wicked try to put the upright in bondage on earth (remember, they have no control over the spiritual), THEN—they will literally become the ransom that is required to be paid to free the upright from the bondage they, in their assumed position of god (small "g"), have tried to assert over the upright.
A price will need to be paid. Christ paid the price for our eternal salvation. The wicked will pay the price for our earthly freedom.
Proverbs 21:18 - "Wicked people will suffer instead of good people, and those who cannot be trusted will suffer instead of those who do right." (NCV)
Proverbs 21:18 - "The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright." (NIV)
The world calls it Karma. What goes around comes around.
God's Word calls it accountability. A ransom that must be paid.
Next Entry: Proverbs 23
It happened three weeks ago—June 15, 2011. My husband and I were driving down the freeway on the way to look at a job, when obscure thoughts started to form in my mind. I said to my husband, "What is any different about tomorrow or next month than yesterday or three months ago?" (Told you they were obscure!) 😊
Why should "the storm" end tomorrow or months down the road as opposed to yesterday or last year? Why? As we talked then and over the next days the random and obscure thoughts began to become into clearer focus. There was a something missing! Something else had to happen before the "the storm" and lawsuit would be over. What was it? I had no idea, but I felt as if God was clearly letting me know that there was a specific reason why "the storm" was not yet over, and that we were to continue to wait upon Him. There was another piece of the puzzle that was not yet in place. What was or is the piece? I don't know and it didn't matter because God was in control.
The day after those thoughts began to form I was reading Proverbs 3 (June 16, 2011). In the margins of my Bible beside Proverbs 3:5 I have written Deuteronomy 29:29 (12/8/08). Deuteronomy 29:29 says, "There are some things the LORD our God has kept secret, but there are some things he has let us know...." We strongly felt that God was peeling away the layers and unveiling a truth. There is no difference between tomorrow and yesterday; or next month and three months ago. There is another piece of the puzzle, an event or whatever, that needs to take place before this is over.
That made perfect sense. We believe in and trust the "I will's" of God. This is His battle and battle plan. We just need to remain faithful.
So that all happened three weeks ago. We felt like God was revealing a new truth to us. We aren't just in limbo. An event, action, or something, some sort of piece of the puzzle, still has to happen. And then, as I am reading in Proverbs 21, a verse that is totally contrary to what I would naturally think, just keeps sticking out to me and I try to figure out what on earth it means.
Proverbs 21:18 - "The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright."How can the wicked be a ransom for the righteous instead of it being the righteous ransomed from the wicked?
The Ransom
What we now believe to be the piece that is still missing. Oh how we hope and pray that the ransom to be paid is one of amends and atonement, an acceptance of God's ransom. If/when that happens our earthly ransom will be close behind.
When you hear the term "ransom" used in a biblical sense you usually immediately equate it back to when Christ paid the ransom for us. He took our sin and paid the price. He released, rescued, delivered, freed, and redeemed our souls. All those descriptions from Webster's Dictionary I wrote about the other day. He paid the ransom for us. A gift we did not deserve. The mercy of God—not getting what we deserve. The grace of God—getting what we do not deserve.
So, God paid the ransom for all of us. Proverbs 22:2 - (we are all alike) in that the LORD made (us) all. What makes us different is the choices we make. Are we going to serve ourselves? Or, are we going to serve God? It's one or the other. It can't be both. We cannot have other gods in addition to the LORD. (Exodus 20:23) IF you choose to have other gods in addition to or instead of THE LORD, then pride enters because you insist on being in control. And where pride is, other sins are close behind, and evil actions and wickedness exist.
The wicked never seem to be content with living their own quiet life. They want what others have. They are aggressors and do whatever they want, to get whatever they want. The wicked refuse to accept the ransom Christ paid for them. The upright (righteous) accept the ransom Christ paid. When the wicked plan evil for the upright (Psalm 140) they become the ransom that has to be paid to free the upright from the earthly bondage they chose to put the upright in. The heavenly ransom to free us from sin and spiritual bondage has already been given. It's our choice to receive it. IF the heavenly ransom is refused, THEN you become the earthly ransom that is needed to atone for the sins and bondage you have attempted (in your assumed position of "god") to put upon the upright. God's truth will happen.
Proverbs 21:18 - "Wicked people will suffer instead of good people, and those who cannot be trusted will suffer instead of those who do right."
For the upright, they have already accepted the ransom Christ paid for their eternal souls. When trouble and false accusations happen, they wait on the LORD. For the wicked, they have either refused to accept God's grace (ransom) or they have turned their backs on it. They've become their own god.
God provided an eternal ransom, and it is available to everyone. IF—you accept His salvation, THEN—you are freed, redeemed, and ransomed eternally. You are no longer in spiritual bondage because Christ paid the price once and for all time. IF—you refuse to accept God's ransom for your sins, THEN—you have declared yourself god (small "g"), pride is in control, and there is nothing to prevent your actions from becoming evil/wicked.
The wicked have no control over the uprights eternal salvation given to them by God's ransom— Christ. Satan, (knowing he has no power over the righteous who have surrendered their lives to Christ and have received Christ's ransom) will try everything in the power he does have to try and destroy the righteous. Case in point—Job. Satan was allowed by God to test him. One of the tools Satan will use is the people who have refused to surrender to God as LORD of their lives, the very thing that got Satan kicked out of heaven. Pride, and the worship of a false god—SELF. They are like-minded with Satan, and their actions are evil/wicked. Lies. Anger. Revenge. Control. False Accusations, etc.
IF—the wicked try to put the upright in bondage on earth (remember, they have no control over the spiritual), THEN—they will literally become the ransom that is required to be paid to free the upright from the bondage they, in their assumed position of god (small "g"), have tried to assert over the upright.
A price will need to be paid. Christ paid the price for our eternal salvation. The wicked will pay the price for our earthly freedom.
Proverbs 21:18 - "Wicked people will suffer instead of good people, and those who cannot be trusted will suffer instead of those who do right." (NCV)
Proverbs 21:18 - "The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright." (NIV)
The world calls it Karma. What goes around comes around.
God's Word calls it accountability. A ransom that must be paid.
Next Entry: Proverbs 23
No comments:
Post a Comment