Heartache
Could an individual's health experience shed light on the state of Reality?
Part 1 – Transition
A near-fatal gastrointestinal infection during infancy, and a pre- or early-teen Scarlet Fever infection, had weakened my body to such a state, that I developed what I now know as a heart condition.
Because I was so accustomed to being sick, I more or less accepted my condition as something I could not change.
Because I did not understand what was happening to me, I failed to take needed precautions.
Because I had lived most of my life with my “situation,” I disregarded warnings about the vulnerability of my health.
As my situation became more serious, I simply assumed that my condition was intensifying due to the passage of time – and my increasing age.
While I found it possible to look past the obvious changes occurring in my health, there came a point at which I could no longer dismiss what was happening as simply being “the way it is, for someone born weak and sickly – and getting older.”
There came a point at which my heart condition morphed, from: more-and-more-easily-triggered, to: constant.
I had to go to the doctor.
Dr. Michelle Floyd diagnosed me as having: Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Kidney Disease, and a possible Thyroid issue. She referred me to a Cardiologist, Dr. Himadri Dasgupta, and a Nephrologist, Dr. Nzisa Mutinga.
At first, I was confused, because I thought Heart Failure was the same as Cardiac Arrest.
I learned that Heart Failure simply means the heart is failing to function at or above a minimum healthy level.
I also learned that my conditions were almost certainly related. (Because my heart was functioning below the minimum safe level, my kidneys were receiving less blood than they needed, and their function had become impaired.)
A very expensive procedure called, Catherization, revealed that I had no blood-vessel blockages. This meant my condition could be treated with medication.
I’ve been sick for most of my life, with another form of this condition. Had I not assumed that being weak and sick was simply “My Life,” I might have gotten information that could have prevented my heart condition from changing: from acute (showing symptoms during over-exertion) to chronic (showing symptoms continually).
I have no idea how much of the currently available information may have been available as I grew up with my condition. But, however much there was, I did not seek to obtain or use it, because I thought I understood my situation: weak… and sickly.
November 13, 2017 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 2 – Heartbreak
For about 4 decades, my medical condition was relatively stable: I had little (noticeable) difficulty with my heart and breathing, as long as I avoided over-exertion.
My primary concern was my vulnerability to heat: Since the Summer of 1980[ Typo in original printing, in The Saluda Standard-Sentinel], every 2 or 3 summers, I would get over-heated. And, I would be sick: sometimes, for a week, or two; sometimes, for the rest of the summer.
But, the 2nd decade of the 21st Century brought a significant, traumatic change:
My symptoms are somewhat difficult to describe:
I felt as though I were being pulled inside-out – as though my heart, lungs and blood vessels were being turned inside-out, as they were beginning to be ripped out of my body. The experience would leave me weak, and feeling as though I might be only moments from vomiting.
When these symptoms began to appear as the result of less and less exertion, I told myself that my condition (along with aging) was taking its toll on my body. I hoped my decline would eventually plateau. But, the situation continued to worsen.
I checked my blood pressure, once, at the local CVS Pharmacy. It was much higher than it should have been. But, I chose not to see about it.
Why? Why would I…? How could I not see that things were happening to my body, that needed attention?
Of course, part of the problem – as I have mentioned repeatedly – was that I had (seemingly) always been sick. Being sick was not only a part of my life, it was my life. So, I had little motivation to seek to remedy something that, to me, seemed to be the norm – and, therefore, without remedy.
And, of course, having been weak and sickly for practically all my life, had left me with a bit of an inferiority complex: Every time I said I was sick, I felt more “weak and sickly,” and less “normal.” So, I was more likely to conceal my weakness, than to recognize it as actual illness – which might be treatable.
I guess, I developed a sort of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I realize how what I’m describing sounds. But, I have a reason for sharing.
We all have a situation which is analogous to my heart condition: As children of Adam, we all have inherited from our 1st Forefather, a spiritual parallel to my physical condition:
We all begin life, conceived in Sin. (Psalms 51:5) This does not mean we all begin life, conceived in adultery, fornication, or rape. It means we are conceived by parents who have inherited “Sin” through their parents, from Adam. (Genesis 3; 5:3; Romans 5:12) This condition of wanting to live as we please, rather than as God Commands (Job 14:4; 15:14; 25:4; Psalm 58; Ephesians 2:1-3; John 3:6; Isaiah 48:8; Matthew 15:19; Romans 1-3) is the result of having a nature which is damaged, as the result of Adam’s choice to believe Satan’s Lie, rather than God’s Truth.
May 6, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 3 – Totaled
2 people (an angel, and the 1st Human) have wrecked the World – the whole Universe, in fact. Actually, more than this physical Universe is damaged:
Revelation 6:9-11 tells us of a group of people who have died because they refused to turn away from God – and His Messiah.
I believe the fact that they “Cried out with a loud voice,” indicates some degree of distress – some feeling that something is not quite right.
So, what’s the big deal?
Well, this is taking place: in Heaven.
Something is not quite right, in Heaven.
Even Heaven has been affected by sin – Satan’s invention, which consists of the attitude which seeks to replace God.
This should not surprise us, since Sin began in Heaven: It was in Heaven, that an angel actually managed to con himself into believing that he could become God’s equal. (Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-15)
Then, this angel (whom we know by the title: Satan – which means: Adversary, Enemy, Opponent) conned Adam into believing that he could become God’s equal. (Genesis 3)
So, now, Heaven (The Spirit Realm) and the Universe (The Physical Realm) are both damaged, and in need of Replacement. (Revelation 20-22)
So, what has all of this to do with my heart condition?
Simply, this:
When the angel now known primarily as Satan, decided to declare himself independent of God, his nature changed.
When our First Forefather followed Satan into his folly, Adam’s nature changed. When Adam’s nature changed, so did ours. (Genesis 1:26-31; 5:1-3)
So, the decision to reject God – as God – resulted in a damaged nature, which affects all of life.
As my current condition can be traced back to childhood illnesses, so also, can the current condition of Reality be traced back to an equivalent of childhood illness:
Satan convinced himself, and Adam, of a lie – of The Lie!
Before you object, there is a reason I say Satan convinced Adam:
I believe Adam was present, when Satan and Eve had their conversation. (Genesis 3:1-5)
I realize people have generally assumed Adam was elsewhere, because God Does Not Mention him (in Genesis 3), until verse 6. But, I am not aware of anything in Scripture which would indicate that Adam was away – Scripture only indicates Adam’s lack of participation in the conversation.
And, I know Paul says Adam was not deceived, as Eve was. (2 Timothy 2:14)
But, I do not believe Paul’s statement means what some assume it to mean.
May 6, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 4 – Sting
When Satan and Eve discussed The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil – and its Fruit – many people assume Adam was away. I once heard someone suggest that Adam was off somewhere, fishing. Of course, this may have simply been a figure of speech, since, before Adam ate The Forbidden Fruit, there was no death. (Romans 5:12) And, fishing generally results in death – for the fish.
But, I see nothing in Scripture to indicate that Adam was away, and had to return, before Eve could hand him The Fore-Bitten Fruit.
After she tasted, Scripture Does Not Say that she found him, or that he returned. Scripture simply Says that, “She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6 NKJV)
I believe he was there, all along: watching, listening.
Why?
I think he was using her, like a canary in a coal mine: God Had Declared that if they ate The Forbidden Fruit, something terrible would happen to them. (Genesis 2:1-17)
The Serpent, Satan (Revelation 12:9; 20:2) said that nothing terrible would happen, but, instead, something wonderful would occur. (Genesis 3:1-5)
So, whose prediction would come true? God’s, or The Serpent’s?
Only one way to find out.
If Eve does what God Has Forbidden, and something terrible happens to her… well, Adam can always requisition a new wife. But, if nothing bad happens, then, Adam will know that it is safe for him to disobey God, as well.
Does Scripture Say this is what happened?
Not exactly.
But, Scripture does say that Adam was not deceived into disobedience. (2 Timothy 2:14) That suggests to me that Adam went into disobedience, with his eyes wide open. Which further suggests to me: that Adam wanted to rebel – but, also wanted to be safe.
But, if Satan conned Adam, wouldn’t that mean Adam was deceived?
Well, in a sense, he was deceived – just as Satan deceived himself. (Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-15)
But, Eve’s deception was quite different:
She began, by defending God’s Honor. (Genesis 3:1-3)
Satan: “Has God Forbidden all these trees?”
Eve: “God Has only Forbidden one.”
As Eve conversed with Satan, there came a point at which she completely forgot about God, and thought only of The Fruit.
This is what I believe Paul referred to, in 2 Timothy 2:14. Satan employed the trick used by illusionists, lawyers, politicians, and a host of others: Misdirection: He distracted Eve, until she forgot her original focus, and saw only what Satan had chosen as her new focus.
May 12, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 5 – Focus
The angel, who came to be known as Satan, knew (by personal observation) that God Is The Creator of all things, including the angel, himself.
But, the angel had an ambition: He wanted to replace God – as Ruler of Creation. (Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-15)
So, the angel altered his focus – his perception – his interpretation of Reality, in order to forget what he knew about God, and to concentrate only on what he wanted: He pretended it could be possible for a created being to challenge, defeat, overthrow, and replace his Creator.
Adam knew that God Had Created him, and had placed him in the position of Steward (Chief Servant, Manager) of The Physical Realm (the Physical portion of Creation).
Why do I say he managed the entire Physical Realm – rather than only the Earth?
Because, when Adam rebelled, he broke, not only the Earth, but, the entire Universe. So, he must have had some degree of influence over the Universe.
But, Adam had an ambition: He wanted to promote himself: from Steward, to King: He wanted to stop managing The Physical Realm, and become its Ruler.
So, Adam altered his focus, in order to forget what he knew about God, and to concentrate only on what he wanted: Adam wanted to declare his independence from God. But, Adam also wanted to protect himself from God’s threat: that he would die, if he disobeyed. (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7-9, 15-17; 3:6-10) So, he employed a perverted version of the Policy: “Ladies, First.”
When Eve ate The Forbidden Fruit, and offered The Fore-Bitten Fruit to Adam, Adam believed The Fruit was safe to eat; so, he ate. And, in so doing, he declared to God: “You’re not the Boss of me!” (3:6)
But, after he ate The Fruit, Adam seems to have realized that there was another possible interpretation of God’s Warning that eating The Fruit would lead to Adam’s death: When Adam and Eve heard God Coming for what may have been a daily visit, they ran – they hid. They were afraid. Why did they fear? Could it be that they realized that God’s Warning may not have been that eating The Fruit would kill them, but, rather, that if they ate The Fruit, He Would Kill them?
Eve knew that God Had Created her. She knew (from Adam’s testimony, if not from God, Himself) that God had Forbidden The Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. (3:1-3)
Eve seems to have had no ambition – beyond defending God’s Reputation, and the Life which God Had Granted to her, and to Adam. (:2-3)
Satan used misdirection, to alter Eve’s focus, so that she forgot about God (and, thus, His Warning), and concentrated only on the Tree – and, its Forbidden Fruit: Surely, such beauty could never be bitter or harmful. And, even its name promised an increase in knowledge. (:6)
The angel’s Decision altered his Nature, so that he became Spiritually Dark: full of malice, spite and hate.
Adam’s Decision altered his Nature, so that he and Eve produced defective offspring, who would be mortal, and infected with Sin (the desire to replace God with a substitute).
The angel, Adam, and Eve each allowed their Focus to shift: from God, to themselves, and what they wanted. Each new Focus led to a Decision which damaged the person’s Nature. And, each damaged Nature damaged the rest of the person’s Life.
Scarlet Fever altered my heart, so that some of my valves do not completely open, and do not close properly. My under-active heart valves have affected my entire Life:
When I was a boy, my activity became limited. As I have grown and aged, my condition has deteriorated, and my activities have become more and more limited.
One tiny, little thing: can change Everything!
May 12, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 6 – Choice
One tiny, little thing: can change Everything!
What was the “tiny, little thing” that changed all of Creation?
Before The Fall, when God Had Created Humanity to be his Children, He Declared Creation to be “Very Good.” (Genesis 1:31)
He now Describes Humanity quite differently. (Genesis 6:5; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 1-3; 5:12-14; 6:23; 1 John 5:19)
And, He Describes Creation differently. (Romans 8:14-23)
So, what happened? Just what was it that Broke all of Creation?
Choice: 2 people made a Choice.
Who were they? Satan and Adam.
What did they choose? Rebellion.
In 3 conversations[ From: Happy Holidays! Part 1 – Thanksgiving and Miracle, Part 3 – Slaves] which Jesus Had with some of The Leaders of Israel (Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-29), we learn what God Considers to be The Foundation – The Cornerstone – The Point of Origin – of All Truth: the Most important of all of God’s Commandments: what Star Trek would call, God’s Prime Directive to us.
This Truth Consists of a Declaration, and Its Result:
The Declaration Is the Fact that “The Lord is God to us – The Lord, Alone.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Embracing this Fact leads to the Dual Effect that we will love God, and our Neighbor. (Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-29; Deuteronomy 6:4-12; Leviticus 19:1, 2, 9-18; 1 John 4:1-5:4)
Jesus Said that those who embrace this Foundational Truth, build their lives on The Solid Rock (Jesus, Himself), and can withstand any experience.
But, those who reject this Truth, build their lives on Sand (their own limited wisdom and strength), and destroy themselves. (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46-49)
Paul teaches us that the lack of Gratitude to God, is the root of sin (the desire to replace God) – because, lack of Gratitude toward God, is actually a rejection of the Reality and Relevance of God. (Romans 1:18-21)
In The Bible, God Commands us to examine – to evaluate – ourselves. (1 Corinthians 11:28, 31-32; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:4)
He also Tells us how to examine each other. (Matthew 7:12-29; 12:33; Luke 6:39-49; James 2:14-19)
When God Commands that we Love Him, and each other, He Is not Commanding us to have “Warm Fuzzy” feelings: for Him, or for each other. He is Commanding something that is so much more.
June 2, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 7 – Primacy
In ancient times, buildings that were intended to last, were built on a foundation of stones.
The Foundation would begin with one corner. The first stone, The Cornerstone, was designed to facilitate straight lines, and thus, a building with straight sides.
Truth also has a Cornerstone – a Foundation – a Point of Origin.
Those familiar with Star Trek, know that The United Federation of Planets, and its Star Fleet, have a Prime Directive.
Prime Directive means First Commandment – First Law. It is First, in terms of its relative importance: It is the most important of all Laws. The Federation’s Prime Directive forbids interference in the development[ This includes initiating awareness of Sentient Life beyond their Planet: When a world becomes sufficiently advanced, that its people can enter Outer Space, and travel faster than the Speed of Light, they, then, become capable of interacting with those of other Worlds (in other Star Systems). At that point, Federation personnel contact them.] of the culture of another Planet.
In Star Trek, The Prime Directive is so important, that a ship’s Captain swears an oath: to sacrifice his/her life – even, the ship, and the lives of the entire crew – rather than violate this First Commandment.
Those familiar with Star Trek, know how often Captains Kirk, Picard, etc violate the Sacred Prime Directive, and attempt to justify their actions, to avoid Court Martial.
God, The Creator of All, Has Given His Creation His Prime Directive – His First, Greatest, Most Important Law:
As I pointed out in Part 6, God’s First Law Consists of two parts: A Declaration, and Its Result. The Result Reveals whether or not a person Embraces The Declaration.
The Declaration (Deuteronomy 6:4) is generally translated from Hebrew, to English, as:
“ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” (KJV)
“ Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” (NAS)
“ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” (NKJV)
In each of these Translations, the emphasis is on God’s One-ness.
This interpretation of The Declaration has great significance in the Struggle between Church and Synagogue: Belief that Jesus of Nazareth is the Promised Messiah, was once considered a branch of Judaism (the Religious Belief System of the Jewish People).
While there were some who rejected this Belief as Heresy, Jews who believed in Jesus, and Jews who did not believe in Jesus, worshiped side-by-side, in many Synagogues.
June 2, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 8 – Star Wars
In the year 135, Israel lost her third and last attempt to gain Freedom from the Evil Empire of the Romans.
Many blamed Jewish Christians:
The army of Israel had been winning battles, at a rate that they had not seen for hundreds of years – since the days of their defeat of the Syrian Greeks (who had inherited the portion of Alexander’s Empire that contained Judea – The Land of The Jews).
A high-ranking Rabbi had declared the General, Shimon ben Kosiva (Simon, son of Kosiva) to be Shimon bar Kokhba (Simon, son of the Star – a known Messianic reference, based on Numbers 24:17).
This verse recounts the beginning of a Prophecy, which God Forced (Numbers 22:9-12, 18-38; 23:5, 11-12, 16, 19-20, 25-26; 24:1, 10-16) into the mouth of Balaam, a mercenary, non-Jewish prophet, who attempted to sell his God-Given Gift, by cursing the Jews (Hebrews) on behalf of a Pagan King. (Numbers 22-24; Deuteronomy 23:3-6; Joshua 13:22; 24:8-10; Nehemiah 13:1-2; Micah 6:5; 2 Peter 2:15-16; Jude 1:11; Revelation 2:14)
When Shimon failed to follow John’s example (John 1:19-27) and deny being The Messiah, Jewish Christians left the Jewish Army. The Jewish Army began to consistently lose to the Romans.
Rather than considering the possibility that God Had Withdrawn His Blessing due to the Proclamation of Shimon, as Messiah, many blamed the ultimate loss of the War on the Jewish Christians. This Blame led to a final, practically total break between Jews who believed in Jesus, and Jews who did not.
The Declaration (Deuteronomy 6:4) with its interpreted emphasis on The One-ness of God, became, to many Jews, a weapon against the Christian doctrine of The Divine Son-ship of Jesus (which many Jews perceive as Heresy – even, Blasphemy).
Satan used the loss of the War to promote suspicion, hostility – even, hatred: in the hearts and minds of many Jews, toward Christians, and in the hearts and minds of many Christians, toward Jews.
This enmity is usually camouflaged under the cloak of Doctrinal Purity Motivated by Devotion to God.
June 10, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 9 – Duet
Jesus Tells us, that The Second Commandment (Love your neighbor as you love yourself) is like The First (Love The Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength). It is just as Important – just as Binding.
Yet, for many (Jews and Christians) The First Commandment (Matthew 22:37-38; Mark 12:29-30; ) does not stir a Determination to obey The Second (Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31), even though Jesus Said: “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:40 NKJV) “There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31 NKJV)
Jesus Was not alone in Regarding These Two Commandments as The Core of Scripture – The Heart of Religion:
On another occasion, a Lawyer asked Jesus what God Requires of those who seek Eternal Life. (Luke 10:25)
This Lawyer was not an attorney. He was an expert in The Law: He was a Rabbi (Teacher) who specialized in the finest details and nuances of obeying God’s Commandments.
Jesus realized the Lawyer was testing Him.
So, rather than Giving the Lawyer The Answer, Jesus turned the question around, and asked the Lawyer to answer it. (10:26)
The Lawyer’s answer combined The Two Commandments – as though they were only One. (:27)
Jesus Replied, “ ‘You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’ ” (Luke 10:28 NKJV)
The Foundation, The Cornerstone, The Point of Origin: of All Truth – The Most Important of All of God’s Commandments – what Star Trek would call, God’s Prime Directive to us – The Core of Scripture – The Heart of Religion – The Way to Eternal Life: Is like most things, in this World: It can be used for Good, or for Evil:
God Can Use It to Draw us to Himself, and thereby, to each other.
Or, Satan can use It to push us away from each other, and thereby, from God. (1 John 1:6; 2:4, 9, 11, 29; 3:10, 17; 4:12, 20-21; 3 John 1:11)
June 17, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 10 – Possession
So often, when focusing on the One-ness of God, Jews and Christians miss something which I believe God is saying to us – which might be even more significant.
Hebrew and English are very different:
Hebrew is The Preservation of our Access to, and Use of, God’s Gift of The Original Language – God’s Language, The Language of Heaven, The Language by (and with) which God, Satan, Adam and Eve all conversed, in The Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3)
English, like Modern German, is a branch of Old Germanic.
English, like Greek, is very Specific, but very Abstract: For example, the reason “Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder,” is that beauty has no absolute definition: “Beauty” means different things, to different people. “Beauty” is an abstract concept: It is intangible. It varies from person, to person. Two people may look at the exact same physical (or other) quality of a third person (or, of a place or thing), and may disagree on whether or not the object of their judgment is “Beautiful.” And, the surprising thing is that the very thing that causes one person to declare the object: “Beautiful,” may very well be the thing which causes the other person to declare the object: “Ugly.”
Hebrew is less Specific than English, and is quite Concrete. Now, this does not mean that Hebrew cannot communicate such ideas and concepts as “Beauty” and “Love.” But, Hebrew is primarily focused on connection – on relationship.
As Jesus Hung on The Cross, dying for our Sin, He Quoted a Scripture (Psalm 22:1) which Prophetically Foretold His Words. (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)
Matthew quotes Jesus as Speaking the Hebrew Word, “Eli.” Mark uses the Syro-Chaldaic (or, Aramaic) Word, “Eloi.”
Like the different flavors of Spanish which are spoken in Spain, and in Latin America – and like French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian – Hebrew and Aramaic are sister languages, which at times are identical, or nearly so, and at other times are quite different:
The Hebrew word, “Ben,” translates into English, as “Son.” The Aramaic word, “Bar,” translates into English, as “Son.” (See Part 8 – Star Wars, paragraph 4.)
“ Eli” and “Eloi” are generally translated into English as “My God.”
But, there’s a problem.
Hebrew works differently than English.
In English, the adjective, “My,” usually suggests some degree of ownership:
This is my pencil. It belongs to me. I own it. I can use it, chew on it, give it away, throw it away, or do pretty much anything else I want to do with it – so long as I break no laws.
“Eli” does not suggest my ownership of God – but, rather, Declares His Ownership of me.
The Suffix, “i” does not communicate “My,” but rather “to me.”
“God to me” would be a more accurate translation of “Eli” into English. But, the Grammatic Structure of English makes that phrase awkward: “God To Me, God To Me, Why Have You Forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Psalm 22:1) while a more accurate translation, would seem strange to most English-speakers and readers, who were not well acquainted with Hebrew.
So, the translators go with what makes the Reader more Comfortable, rather than what makes the Reader more Informed.
This is an example of that so-often-used cliche, “It loses something in translation.”
This convenient, comfortable translation may seem harmless. But, what if it contributes to a misunderstanding of the Relationship which exists between Creator and creature?
June 2, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 11 – Loss
How many times have we seen on television, or in a movie – or read in a book: the sad story of someone who, after experiencing something traumatic, “loses their faith?”
Some Jewish Holocaust victims said they no longer believed in God, because if He really Existed, and if he really Loved them: How could he allow Hitler to torture and slaughter them?
Some might wish to question the reality of the faith which they claimed to have lost. But, we need not debate the reality of their previous faith, because that is not my point, here.
My point is that they – like so many others – believed they knew how things should have been – believed they knew what was Best – believed they knew what was Right – believed they knew what was Fair – believed they knew what was Love. But, things did not go the way they thought things should go.
How many people have declared their “loss of faith,” after God Failed to heal a sick parent or child; or to prevent a fatal traffic accident; or to prevent an abduction/rape/murder; or to stop: War, Crime, etc – in other words, Evil?
When we translate “Eli” as “My God,” rather than as “God To Me,” I believe we mislead some people into assuming they should employ our usual use of the adjective “My.”
We do not Possess God; He Possesses us: He Owns us, because He Created us. (Exodus 9:29; 19:5; Deuteronomy 10:14; 1 Samuel 2:6-10; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Job 26:7; 41:11; Psalm 24:1-2 ; 50:10-12; 89:11; Daniel 4; Matthew 6:13; 1 Corinthians 10:26)
He does not Submit to us; we must Submit to Him.
Here is how I understand The Foundation, The Cornerstone, The Point of Origin: of All Truth – The Most Important of All of God’s Commandments – What Star Trek would call, God’s Prime Directive to us – The Core of Scripture – The Heart of Religion – The Way to Eternal Life – The Shema:
Part 1 – The Declaration:
“ Embrace this Truth, Israel:
The LORD Is God to us – The LORD, Alone.
And, you shall be fully devoted to The LORD, (Who Alone Is) God to you:
with every aspect of your life: with every feeling, with every thought, with every word, with every deed, and with every relationship.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
Part 2 – The Result:
“ You shall be as devoted to your Neighbor, as you are to yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18)
The LORD Is God to us:
The Lord is not my servant – not my Personal Assistant – not an umbrella, hanging in the closet – not a spare tire, lying in the trunk of my car – not an employed bodyguard.
The Reason for His Existence, is not that He Might do my will.
No! He Is King of all Creation – which, by the way, is His Creation. (Genesis 1-2; John 1:1-18; Matthew 28:18; Romans 11:33-36; Colossians 1:16-20)
The Lord Is God, to us.
Well, Is He?
July 2, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 12 – T v L
Truth vs. Lie.
The Truth: The Godhood of God.
The Lie: Apotheosis (The Possibility of Ascension of the Creature, to godhood – relative equality with The Creator).
The LORD Is God to us:
The Lord is not my servant – not my Personal Assistant – not an umbrella, hanging in the closet – not a spare tire, lying in the trunk of my car – not an employed bodyguard.
No! The Lord Is God. And, He is God, to me – to my life (all of my life).
Well, Is He?
Does He Have the Right to Cause or Allow things to happen in my life, that I personally find unpleasant, and therefore, undesirable? (2 Chronicles 7:13; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
Does He Have the Right to Cause or Allow things to be absent from my life, that I personally find pleasant, and therefore, desirable?
Does He Have the Right to Tell me how to live – and, how not to live?
Does He have the Right to Run Creation, As He Sees Fit?
Does He Have the Right to Determine (and to Decree) what is Right, and what is Wrong? Even, about sex? Even about the acquisition of money and possessions? Even about the Rights and Responsibilities of the Government, and the Rights and Responsibilities of the Governed? Even about the “recreational” use of chemicals, to alter my brain chemistry, and thereby, alter my feelings and perceptions? Even about the Value – the Sacredness – of Human Life?
If my answer to any of these questions (or, to any like them) is: “No,” then, He Is not God – to me: He is something less than God, in my mind, in my assessment.
And, the fact that I consider myself qualified to judge God’s Worthiness to Be God, is evidence that I have, in fact, already replaced God – as God – in my own mind.
Whether I admit it, or not – whether I realize it, or not: I have, in fact, ascended to The Throne of my life, and claimed it as mine.
Now, I may choose another: to follow – in place of following God (through His Revealed, and His Incarnate Word). I may choose to pattern my life after a celebrity: a motion picture star, a reality television star, a pornography star, an athletic star, a musical star, a political star, an historic star…
But, any (and, indeed, all) of these are merely Figureheads.
If I decide to live like my favorite movie star, rather than living like Jesus, then I Have Decided. If I am the decider, then, I am the god of my life.
Stinks, doesn’t it? If I do as I please, rather than doing as God Commands, then, I am in Rebellion against God. And, I am not merely a Rebel, but, also a Traitor:
When our Founders Rebelled against their Government (the British Empire), they did so, not to be free to do as they pleased (which would have been Treason), but, rather, to be free to do what was right (which is, in fact, Patriotism).
It is not only our God-Given Right, but, also our God-Given Responsibility: to be free from the Oppression of the Tyranny of those who would replace God in our lives – so that we may Serve God, as He Commands, and not as Tyrants permit.
Our Founders did not begin a War of Aggression against a Government with which they disagreed.
They reluctantly accepted the Reality of their situation: an unavoidable War of Defense against a Government which offered them two options: Slavery, or Death.
June 18, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 13 – Parallels
The word “Conscience” means “with knowledge.”
God Has placed within us, an awareness of The Fact that Obeying God is Right, and Rebelling against God is Wrong.
We can choose to follow the Guidance of our God-Given Conscience; or, we can choose to elevate some desire above our Conscience:
That desire may be: Peer-acceptance. Or, it may be: wealth, fame, power over others. It may be gratification of: the desire to possess, the desire to fulfill sexual lust, the desire to temporarily escape the accurate perception of Reality (to hide from the Truth) by clouding my mind with booze or drugs.
But, make no mistake about it: my Conscience tells me to obey God. Anything which I elevate above my Conscience, becomes an idol. An idol is a replacement – a substitute, in my life, for The Real God. Idolatry is a reaction to God’s Refusal to Adjust His Perfect Perception of what is Best, what is Right, what is Appropriate, in order to accommodate my flawed, inadequate perception of what is Best, and Right, and Appropriate.
Scarlet Fever damaged my heart, so that my valves malfunction: My malfunctioning heart cannot pump (with each beat) as much blood as my body needs. So, my brain attempts to compensate, by making my heart beat faster. This attempted compensation is not only uncomfortable, but it as also unsafe.
Adam decided to Rebel against God, by breaking the only Law that God Had Given him: “Do not eat The Fruit of The Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil.” Adam’s choice altered Human Nature, so that every descendant of Adam is conceived and born with a defect: We each have within us a desire to dethrone God, and replace Him. God Calls this desire: SIN.
The Lord is God. When He refuses to alter His Truth, to suit our defective, depraved, Fallen desires, motivations and perspectives, our Fallen Nature tempts us to reject God’s Revelation of Truth – which amounts to rejecting God, Himself.
There is a significant difference between the amount of refreshened blood that my damaged heart is supposed to circulate throughout my body (with each beat), and the amount that it is actually able to circulate.
There is an incalculable difference between the way in which God Perceives and Interprets Reality, and the Way in which I perceive and interpret Reality. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
My damaged heart attempts to compensate for the difference it faces, by substituting an improper, unsafe alternative: an increase in its beating-speed.
My damaged Nature attempts to compensate for the difference it faces, by substituting an improper, unsafe alternative: a pretense that God’s Way is not necessarily the only Right Way, and thus, is not necessarily The Best Way.
My Doctors have prescribed Treatment, to compensate for – and, as much as possible, heal – my damaged heart. This Treatment includes: medication; dietary adjustment; activity-adjustment; and checkups.
God, The Great Physician, The Ultimate Physician - Has Prescribed Treatment, to compensate for - and, as much as possible, heal - my damaged Nature. His Treatment Includes: Medication: Faith (Trust, Confidence in Him); dietary adjustment: The Bible; activity-adjustment: Obedience to God’s Revealed Will; and Checkups: Prayer (Listening, as well as Speaking).
Some will say, “Wait a minute: The Old Man – The Fallen Nature – The Sin Nature – cannot be healed.
But, my Nature includes more than my Fallen, Old-Man, Sin Nature. My Nature is actually dual.
In a sense, we each have a “Split Personality.”
July 8, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 14 – Fission
What actually happened, in the Garden of Eden?
Satan made the same false promise to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:4-5) that he had already made to himself (Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-15): “You, too, can be god!”
The sad thing about Satan’s false promise is that it not only could not be fulfilled, but it was a fake:
He promised them that they would become, “…like God, knowing good and evil.” (3:5)
But, in a sense, they already were like God. They already knew Good and Evil:
Good is: Trusting God enough to truly believe that What He Says, is: Good, and True, and Right, and Best. This Trust (Faith) leads to Obeying God.
Evil is: not Trusting God enough to truly believe that What He Says, is: Good, and True, and Right, and Best. This doubt leads to listening to accusations (however veiled) that God’s Way is not Good, and True, and Right, and Best. This Fraternization with the Enemy, leads to wanting to disobey God. This desire to rebel, leads to inventing a fake, substitute-god, to facilitate pretending that Sin (Rebellion Against God) is alright.
Adam and Eve declared themselves to be the gods of their own lives, by choosing whether they would believe God, or the Devil. (Genesis 3; Revelation 12:9; 20:2) When they rebelled, they did not gain Theoretical Knowledge of Good and Evil – understanding of what Good and Evil are – which they already possessed.
Instead, they gained Experiential Knowledge: They Experienced Evil. God Had Experienced this type of Knowledge of Evil, when Satan led a third of God’s angels into Rebellion. God Gave Adam and Eve the Option of Never Experiencing it.
When they Embraced Rebellion against God, they Embraced Evil. When they Embraced Evil, they Experienced Evil. When they Experienced Evil, it Changed them, by becoming a part of them.
When their Nature changed, our Nature changed:
When they gained this Experiential Knowledge, they also lost something. They lost (for themselves, and for us) their Original Ability to do Good, and only Good, and to completely avoid Evil.
Everything we do is tainted with Sin: If I run into the street, to rescue a child from an approaching vehicle: am I doing it, to save the child from harm? Or, am I doing it, to save myself from a lifetime of wondering if I could have succeeded, had I cared enough to try? Am I doing it, to make myself a hero? Am I doing it, to prove myself a Christian?
Motives matter. And, now, our motives, like the rest of our perspective, are tainted, and therefore, questionable.
Even the Believer struggles with Darkness. (Romans 7)
July 8, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 15 – Fusion
Sanctification.
It’s a tricky word.
It has been re-interpreted, in so many ways, by so many people.
Sanctification is the state of being a Saint.
A Saint is one who has been (and is continuing to be) Sanctified.
Greco-Roman Mythology contains many stories about demigods (the hybrid offspring of gods and goddesses, with mortals). These hybrids were said to be intermediate between Humanity and Divinity. They were said to possess supernatural powers, which enabled them to do great and awesome deeds.
Some have attempted to impose this concept on the Bible. (But, we’ll consider that, some other time.)
This concept (of the demigod) is the result of Satan’s counterfeiting and perverting of: The Doctrine of the Incarnation of The Word of God, as Jesus. (Isaiah 9:6-7; 41:1-4; 44:1-8; John 1:1-18; 10:22-42; 8; Ephesians 1; Philippians 2:4-11; Colossians 1:3, 12-20; 2:5-10; 3:3; Revelation 1-3; 21:1-7; 22:6-21)
Some believe Saints to be Super Christians, who have evolved themselves, until they are an Order of Being above the ordinary Christian. Ever heard a professing Christian declare, “I’m no saint!”?
Others believe Sanctification to be a state in which certain supernatural (Spiritual) phenomena occur. They believe that a person is not Sanctified, if these “proofs” are not observable.
Some of these people (in both groups) even believe that a Sanctified person is no longer capable of sin.
God Believes a Saint is one whom He has “Set apart” (Separated from those who reject God’s Godhood in their lives). Check out the Salutations in Paul’s Epistles (Letters).
A Saint is a Believer: Not someone who claims to believe that God is Worthy of our Faith (Trust, Confidence), but one who actually does believe that God is Worthy of our Faith – and therefore, of our Obedience.
A Human Being is the fusion of a physical Body with a non-physical Spirit. (Genesis 2:7)
Because of The Fall, both Body and Spirit are tainted – damaged – by Sin.
Sin is the impulse to attempt to live without The Godhood of God, in one’s life.
The Bible describes a person who has recognized that Sin is wrong, harmful, and futile, and has turned to God (with an attitude of gratitude and submission) as having been Re-born.
But, only the Spiritual part of me was changed.
My Soul is the Fusion of my Body and my Spirit.
My Mind is the intersection of my Body and Spirit – at my Brain.
So, both parts of me give input into how I live my life.
As an Evangelical Christian, I believe, not only that the Words of the Bible are from God (and are, therefore, True), but also, that because the Words of the Bible Are From God, They are Relevant.
The Renewed, Re-born, Spirit part of me: wants to obey and please God.
But, the Unchanged Flesh (Body) part of me, my Brain, is stuck in the rut of the habit of trying to have my own way – of trying to be my own god.
So, I struggle with each choice: Will I obey God? Or, myself? Will I please God? Or, myself? (Romans 7)
This is the Reality of Satan’s fake promise in the Garden.
July 8, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)
Part 16 – Shema
With some word processors, if you save a document, without choosing a title, the document will be saved as “Untitled-1” (or whatever number the “Untitled” documents in that folder have reached).
Some word processors provide the option of using the first few words (probably, the first so-many letters) as a default title.
In ancient times, this was the standard practice:
The original names of the Books of the Old Testament are actually some of the first words in the Text of each Book.
The original name of Genesis translates from Hebrew to English as: “In the Beginning.”
Deuteronomy 6:4 begins (in Hebrew) “Shema Israel…” This translates into English as: “Hear, Israel…”
This Section of Scripture is known as: “The Shema”: The Words that Israel (and everyone else) Must Hear.”
And, of course, “Hear” means more than “be aware of the sounds of these words.” No, “Hear” means: “Heed,” “Pay attention,” “Listen and take note,” “Hear and Obey.”
To many Jews, The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4 and a number of following verses) is their Creed. It is their Declaration of what they believe.
For many, it is the last thing they wish to say – in this life. They attempt to say Deuteronomy 6:4 with their dying breath – as an expression of their devotion to God.
Some may scoff.
But, consider this: How many people – if they knew they were facing death – would want to quote Frank Sinatra’s signature song: “I did it My Way!”? How many do so – at least, with their attitude?
Most people don’t stop to think about what their life – their time on this Earth – really means:
I was here. So what?
What does my having been here mean? Did I do anything that people will remember? Anything that people will celebrate?
Did I do anything that deserves to be remembered – or celebrated?
If most people don’t even think about being remembered by Man, how can we think they care about being remembered by God? (Luke 23:39-43)
Jesus Summarized the Teaching of Scripture when He Said,
“ Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
“ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV – See also: Luke 13:23-24; Psalm 1; Proverbs 14:12; 16:25; Deuteronomy 30; Isaiah 53:6; 59)
Because my heart has been injured, it cannot operate at optimal capacity.
Because it cannot operate as it should, my brain attempts to compensate, by increasing the rate at which my heart beats.
Because Adam foolishly, recklessly listened to Satan – rather than to God – Human Nature is injured.
God has compensated, by Sending Jesus: to Live the Perfect Life (which we owe, but cannot present to God), and to Die the Death we deserve to die (for failing to live for God).
When I die, God will remember that I am his child – and, he will receive me into his Presence.
How about you?
Some teach that because of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection, all will go to be with God.
But, consider this: My doctors have prescribed medication, diet, and other things: to help heal my heart, and to prevent my brain from wearing out my heart, by making it beat too fast. They have also prescribed periodic checkups, to monitor my condition.
If I reject their prescriptions, I’m on my own. And, I will destroy myself.
If someone rejects God’s One and Only Prescription (Jesus) then, that person will be on his own (on Judgment Day). And, that person will have destroyed himself.
Shema!
July 8, 2018 (for Saluda Standard-Sentinel Column: Weekly Meditations from The Saluda County Ministerial Association.)