Final Gathering

Much of Old Testament life revolved around feasts. The Hebrew people observed not only Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, but other sacred gatherings as well. There was the Firstfruits or Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. All but one—the Day of Atonement—were celebrations. Each has a New Testament application. For example, Jesus is our Passover Lamb.

The culmination of all the celebrations was the Feast of Tabernacles. When the people converged on Jerusalem from all parts of Israel, they lived in makeshift booths for eight days.

In some ways, this amazing event can be compared to our Thanksgiving Day celebrations. It was a feast after the final fall harvest. But Biblical scholars also link this Feast to the Second Coming of Christ—the event that will signal the final gathering of God’s people.

When Jesus spoke about the final gathering, He spoke about those who were called to live with Him eternally. He said, many . . . will try to enter and will not be able to. (Lk. 13:24b NIV) Nevertheless, People will come from easy and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. (v. 29)

Originally published August 30, 1985.
Picture: Como Park Conservatory, St. Paul, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

To Have the Kingdom

If something is at hand, it is nearby. We should be able to reach out and grasp it with our fingers. Jesus' directions to His disciples were, And as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt. 10:7 NKJV)

If the kingdom of heaven is truly at hand, it has to be more than eternal life in paradise. It must exist not only in the future, but also in the present. The people of Palestine were probably more interested in a physical kingdom apart from the Roman Empire than in an elusive concept they could not understand. Perhaps some even thought He was talking about a physical kingdom, but such a possibility was hardly something at hand.

So what is this elusive but nearby kingdom? As we move deeper into the story, we learn Jesus is the King of heaven. We learn our ability to walk with Him determines our ability to walk in the present-day, nearby, spiritual kingdom of heaven. He said, Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before him, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. (v. 32)

Most of us have trouble reaching out to receive the kingdom of heaven, even when we do walk with Jesus. The concept is alien to our mindsets—we are too focused on the physical realities to think about spiritual realities.

But there are great promises for those who move in God's kingdom of heaven. Jesus said, Freely you have received, freely give. (v. 8b) He always has more for His children and He always rules with His kingdom laws of love and grace.

Originally published July 26, 1991.

He Gave Up His Plan

When people love God, they want to do something for Him. David had the power to do big things, and he wanted to build a temple for God’s glory. See now, he said, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains. (II Sam. 7:2b NKJV) As a reigning king who had won many battles, he had collected much spoil that would provide precious metals to be used in the structure. It was an exciting project. (II Chron. 22)

God understood and valued David’s intentions. But God had a different plan. While David desired to build an earthly house for God, God desired to build a spiritual house through David. God said, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body . . . He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (II Sam. 7:12b,13)

David might have been disappointed. (In fact, much later, Solomon referred to his father's disappointment.) However, instead of focusing on his loss, David focused on God's promise to him for the future generations. In response to a the prophet’s Word, he gave up his heartfelt and worthy desire—his precious plan—and submitted to God. He said in his heart, As for God, His way is perfect. . . . (II Sam. 22:31a)

Originally published October 2, 1987.
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Abounding in Mercy

A young woman said, I love the word “abounding.” She smiled when the made the statement, feeling a bit foolish over her emphasis on a single word. She was referring to its use in a psalm she had read that morning: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. (Ps. 103:8 NKJV) By was of explanation she went on to say, “It sounds so,” and she paused while extending her arms, “inclusive. It sounds so round . . . like it’s expanding.”

According to the psalm, God desires to be inclusive and His kingdom is always expanding. The psalm says that God doesn’t remain angry forever. He continually expands His love as He reaches out to accept all who come to Him with repentant hearts. In addition, as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (v. 11,12)

Furthermore, God’s mercy never ends. It expands into eternity. (v. 17) All who belong to Him benefit from His never-ending, inclusive, expanding, and abounding mercy—in this life and in heaven where He reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lord.(v. 19)

Originally published February 7, 1992.

Good and Evil Tests

Some people test God because they sincerely want answers. But some people test God because they want to prove Him wrong. That was true throughout both the Old and New Testaments. When the Pharisees asked Jesus if they should pay taxes, Jesus understood they had an evil purpose. He said, Why do you test me. . . ? (Mk. 12, 15,17 NKJV) He knew they weren’t interested in the answer. They just wanted to trick Him.

Next, the Sadducees tested Jesus with evil in their hearts. (v. 18-27)

Then one of the scribes came. . . . (v. 28) And this man was different. Although he tested Jesus by asking a hard question, he did so with a pure motive. Jesus answered him, and the two had a discussion. Jesus recognized the scribe’s motives—and appreciated the scribe’s wise replies. Jesus said to the scribe, You are not far from the kingdom of God. (v. 34)

The scribe desired truth. Jesus’ response to him demonstrated His pleasure in a person who tests rightly—who asks questions because he seeks God.

Originally published May 5, 1989.

No Partiality

Leaving prejudice behind is never easy; it’s part of our human nature to desire superiority over others. Rich are prejudiced against poor and poor against rich, educated are prejudiced against uneducated and uneducated against educated, men are prejudiced against women and women against men, ethnic groups are prejudiced against different ethnic groups, etc.

The Apostle Peter was prejudiced, too, and he couldn’t change his mind on his own. He needed a revelation from God to do the work for him. When on the roof of Simon the Tanner in Joppa, he experienced a trance. He saw a sheet come down from heaven not once but three times. Each time the sheet was filled with creatures that he, a Jew who observed dietary laws, could not eat. Then he heard a voice say, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. (Acts 10:13b NKJV)

Almost immediately—while he pondered the meaning of the trance—men sent by a Gentile named Cornelius who was a Roman centurion came to the door asking for him. They told their story and said God had revealed he should preach to them.

But the Gentiles were not Jews. They were of a different ethnic group and a different religion. In that moment God gave Peter opportunity to receive and obey the revelation he received as well as the revelation the Gentiles received. And he rose to the occasion. In truth, he replied, I perceive that God shows no partiality. (v. 34)

Peter recognized that the kingdom of God through Jesus belongs to all people.

Originally published April 14, 1989.
Picture: Tulips, West Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

The Holy Spirit Descended

When Jesus left His home in heaven, he came disguised as a seemingly ordinary person with no unusual characteristics. Hidden with His family in Nazareth, he lived and absorbed the human experience with its many joys and sorrows. Paul says of this period that Jesus made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant. . . . (Phil 2:7a NKJV)

But during Jesus’ baptism, John the Baptist saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him [Jesus]. (Mt. 3:16b) The Son of God was hidden no longer. Armed with the Spirit of God, He battled Satan in the Wilderness and then began His ministry. He preached the message of the Kingdom of God and performed miracles—and many believed He was the Son of God.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus sent His disciples out to share the good news of the kingdom on two occasions. But after the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost, Peter, the rest of the disciples, and the other Christians were different. The Spirit of the Son of God had been poured out and was no longer hidden. Like Jesus, the disciples preached the Kingdom of God, they performed miracles—and the church grew exponentially as people began to believe in Jesus as the Son of God. (Acts 2)

Originally June 5, 1992.
Picture: Tulips, Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Satan's Offer

Jesus came to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. Satan knew as much when he tempted Jesus. He met Jesus in the Wilderness, gave Him a grand tour by supernaturally showing Him all the kingdoms of the world.” Then Satan said, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” (Mt. 4:8b,9 NKJV)

Jesus didn’t argue with Satan’s offer or logic. He knew Satan wanted to be worshiped; he knew Satan was god of this world and that the world was Satan’s to offer. It might have seemed that taking the offer would have been an easy way out.

But Jesus knew the offer didn’t fit His Heavenly Father’s purpose.

Even more important, the kingdoms of the world—regardless of their glory—were not what Jesus had in mind at the time. He had come to establish a different kind of kingdom. When He began His ministry, He had an unique message. We read, From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (v. 17)

Satan offers the world in a negative, selfish package; Jesus offers heavenly virtues here an in our afterlife. Like Jesus during His earthly ministry, we live in the world. And like Jesus, we can receive heavenly virtues and we can look forward. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Originally published March 9, 1990.

The Prescribed Sacrifice

Moses followed direction he received from God on Mount Sinai when he sprinkled blood over the Israelite nation to ratify a covenant—to seal God’s solemn agreement with His people. (Ex. 24:8)

It’s not likely that each person actually received blood upon his person, but by faith each person identified with God’s prescribed blood sacrifice and became a member of God’s kingdom.

God made several covenants with His people in the Old Testament. Each revealed more of His nature until finally, in the New Testament Jesus ratified the final or New covenant. Jesus became the final offering for Sin when He shed His blood on a cross.

Since that time, all who receive Jesus—all who identify with His sacrifice through faith—become members of His church, God’s Kingdom on earth.

Old Testament prophets foretold that Jesus would offer the perfect His sacrifice. Isaiah said, I will . . . give You as a covenant to the people . . . That you may say to the prisoners. ‘Go forth,’ to those in darkness. (Is. 49:8b,9a NKJV)

Originally published March 29, 1991.

Inner Growth

In one of Jesus' parables He says, “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Mt. 13:33 NIV)

Jesus had no doubt seen His mother work with yeast many times. Along with flour, olive oil, and water or milk, she would have added yeast to bread dough, working it in with the other ingredients. Then the dough was stretched thin, left to rise, and baked in outdoor ovens.

Yeast are tiny living plants that grow and multiply when the right environment is provided for them. Then they cause dough to expand or rise when they grow and multiply. That creates the rising process.

God’s Kingdom is also alive. When it’s worked into a person’s life, spiritual truth is revealed and inner growth occurs naturally. Paul wrote about this in his letter to the Colossians when he expressed his desire for them to experience inner growth, that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col. 2:2b,3 NIV)

Originally published June 17, 1983.
Picture: Loaf of Bread, 2008. Photo by Solveig.