Gone Too Soon…

2 Chronicles 35:20-27

Throughout history, many people, including men, women, and children, have died before their time. Some even say, there’s an appointed time for all men to eventually pass on from this life to the next, but I’m certain, many have left this earth prematurely. All men were created wonderfully by the hand of God, and tasked with a special purpose to fulfill in the earth. Unfortunately, not all people were successful in fully completing their ordained assignments.

In my brief 40 years of existence, I’ve witnessed the lives of many be cut short, whether by murder, suicide, or some type of accidental tragedy. In the same way we witness a tree die before fully developing and producing fruit, is similar to seeing a person’s life end, before they even begin to show their true potential.

From a young age, king Josiah ruled in Jerusalem well. God gave this young king wisdom and spiritual insight, in order to restore the temple of the Lord, and His people, to prominence once again. The texts reads, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the left, nor to the right” (2 Chronicles 34:2). King Josiah did well in cleansing Judah and Jerusalem from all idolatry. During his reign, Josiah and the children of Israel departed not from following God.

While this great reign could have endured many more years, it was cut short when king Josiah went against a man, following the Lord’s assignment. The King of Israel assumed incorrectly, a heathen ruler could be doing a work for the Lord. Unfortunately, his false assumption cost him his life. Just because someone is in the company of heathen, doesn’t exclude them from being used of God. The Lord can use anyone He desires, to fulfill His plan. Rather than listen to Necho’s message, Josiah disguised himself, and went against the man’s words. The king died at a fairly young age, then was buried in one of the sepulchers of his fathers.

No man knows the day or time of his death, but while we have life, let’s use wisdom to navigate through it. We may not have all the solutions or answers to the many questions of life, but we serve the God who does. Appreciate every second you’re blessed to have, and do all you can to avoid making foolish mistakes. God loves everyone, but He can get more use from our lives, when we place all our trust in His will, and not our own.

God vs. gods

Deuteronomy 13:1-4

Since the beginning of time, this world has been littered with countless idols that men have worshipped, and joined allegiance to. What’s interesting to note is, at the root of every idol or god, is the hand of satan. The devil’s primary motive is to block, or turn as many people away from God as possible, before this present world ends. Sadly, our adversary has proven very effective at leading men and woman on the path that veers away from the direction of righteousness. Fortunately, the Bible is filled with passages, warning believers to avoid false teachings, doctrines, and prophets. There were many in the past, who spoke things that actually came to pass, and were accompanied by supernatural signs and wonders, but those were only tricks and ruses by the enemy, whose sole purpose was to draw men away from God. Today, the church must be vigilant and remain alert, because there are many who claim the name of the Lord, but secretly have deceptive and evil intentions. The God who created the Heaven and earth, has left more than enough information in His word, that will keep His people prepared to stand against all false and wicked idolatry. But, we must read and meditate on God’s word, in order to grow in the knowledge and grace of all He created us to be.

Parental Guidance

Ezra 10:1-12

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Eph 6:1-3). This passage of Scripture was engrained in my mind at an early age. By the age of ten, I could recite these verses from memory with ease. In my younger days, I often wondered why my parents focused so much time training my siblings and I on committing this passage, and others relating to obedience, to memory. My father and mother understood the importance of obedience to God, and the dangers of disobedience, and were wise enough to help their children develop an understanding of godly principles, through their biblical rearing.

When we obeyed our parents, I can safely assume it brought peace and a sense of joy and comfort to their hearts, as they witnessed their efforts have a positive effect in our lives. Unfortunately, raising seven children in the 80’s was far from a cakewalk. I can also imagine my mom and dad wanting to pull their hair out, during times when we were too much to deal with. Being our parents, and leaders of the home, we were expected to follow and respect their orders and commands, but there were many times when we did the opposite of what we were told, in order to satisfy our selfish wills. We were raised to live different from the world, and not mingle with behaviors and activities that were contrary to God’s Word. This same message was given to the children of Israel in our text, by Ezra the priest. God had already warned His people to keep themselves pure and undefiled from the ways and customs of the pagan people who dwelled in the land they would soon enter, but while some took heed to God’s word, others had different agendas.

Throughout the time of the judges, Israelite men had married heathen women, and then adopted their religious practices. God knew the dangers of mixing the holy with the profane, and told Ezra to warn the people to remain holy. As always, the people rebelled, and willingly mingled with the heathen nation. In the same way my parents probably showed frustration at the disobedience of myself and my siblings, Ezra the priest heard what the people had done, then tore his clothes and plucked out his hair and beard. If that wasn’t enough to show his frustration and disappointment, Ezra sat astonished all day, until the evening sacrifice. At the evening sacrifice, the priest fell on his knees, spread out his hands unto the Lord, and prayed.

Ezra’s sincere prayer gives a great perspective on sin, because he recognized how serious it is, how it affects others, and how God would spare an undeserving nation, if they would only repent. Eventually, the congregation of those who turned away from the Lord, confessed their sins, and were forgiven.

Live Holy

Leviticus 18:24-30

During the days of Moses, God built a reputation for Himself for consistently dealing harshly with those who defiled themselves with the customs and practices of pagan people. Many today even view God as punisher of evil, and accuse Him of being too hard on men. Why was God so severe in His judgments with those He commanded to refrain from idol worship? First of all, God operates from a standard totally opposite from the world. The God of Heaven and earth promotes peace and prosperity, but executes judgment on sin and wicked lifestyles. It’s sad to see how the present world has conformed to worldly standards, which contradict all that holiness exudes.

In our text, the children of Israel had moved from one idol-infested land to another, but were moments away from entering the land God had promised to them. God knew what the people would face in the land of Canaan, so He admonished Israel to do His judgments, keep His ordinances and statutes, and stay away from the abominations and practices the Canaanites took part in. A few of the wicked things Israel was to avoid included having sexual relations with close relatives, committing adultry, offering children as sacrifices, indulging in homosexual relations, and having sex with animals. I’m not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but I’m almost certain, those practices are still being entertained today.

God wanted His people to remain pure and holy, so that His name could be glorified, as they represented His kingdom in the earth, so it was necessary for Israel to keep the statutes of the Lord close to their hearts, to avoid being tempted to follow after the abominable acts of the pagan nation.

While the church today may not be a direct descendant of the ancient Israelites, nor under the Mosaic covenant, we must continue to live holy, and walk after righteousness, not idolatry. In these last days, many who once professed holiness, have turned away to worship idols. Whether they were drawn away by their lust for money, fame, entitlement, or acceptance, many have made the unfortunate choice to walk in darkness, rather than light. I advise all who claim the name of Christ to keep yourselves covered under His blood, and refrain from defiling yourselves with the customs and abominations of this present world. We are all valuable to God, and have an important role to play in His divine plan, so re-commit yourselves to keeping His judgments, statutes, and ordinances. Keep God first, and don’t allow the world’s culture to hinder you from doing your best for the Lord.

From Faith To Fear

1 Kings 19

The great and honorable prophet Elijah had proven to be a reliable and effective conduit, by which God could work His glory and power through. Confronting a king of any stature, is never a wise action to take, but God was with Elijah, more notably when he opposed the king’s wicked beliefs, and obeyed as God commanded.

While doing the works of the Lord are indeed righteous, not everyone will hold your actions in a positive light. After hearing how Elijah had slain 450 prophets of Baal (who were in full support of the king and queen’s unrighteous rule), the cruel and brutal Jezebel sent a messenger to God’s prophet, warning him of his certain death. After performing many great wonders in the name of the Lord, one would assume that Elijah would simply laugh at the threat of a deceived and unrighteous woman, but the great and mighty prophet of the most high God, ran for his life! I have full understanding that a threat on your life should never be taken lightly (especially these days), but Elijah was not too far removed from making it rain, and slaying 450 men, by himself! What was it about Jezebel, that caused the once bold prophet to cower in fear? While king Ahab was known to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, Jezebel was responsible for spearheading many of those situations. She promoted and funded Baal worship, eliminated many of God’s representatives in Israel, then set her mind to rid the world of the prophet Elijah.

While it’s true, the mind and body require rest and nourishment, especially after a great spiritual experience, I’m certain God would have protected Elijah, had he stood his ground against the evil queen, but due to his overwhelming fear of Jezebel, the prophet Elijah ran from Jezreel, and eventually settled at Mount Horeb. While there, he talked with God…

Make It Rain

1 Kings 18

Many days had passed from the time God sent the prophet Elijah to confront the evil king Ahab, until He was ready to reveal His omnipotence to the nation that had turned against Him. During these times, a severe famine overtook Samaria, but the king and those he ruled were still unconvinced of the sovereignty of the true and living God. After an eventful three years of miraculous signs and provision, God spoke to the prophet Elijah, and instructed him to return to the king with another important message. The Lord said to Elijah, “Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.” Could you imagine not having rain for three years? Without rainfall on the earth, there would be catastrophic damage all over the world. But, God allows things to happen so others can witness for themselves, all power belongs to Him, and He alone is deserving of worship, honor, and glory. Unfortunately, men are too consumed in their own beliefs, that they totally disregard the obvious workings of the living God, in favor of their futile idolatry.

As you read further into chapter 18, you’ll discover the very unique and elaborate plan God commanded Elijah to follow, which revealed the falsehoods and foolishness of Baal worship, and brought to light the mighty power of the God of Heaven and earth. 450 prophets who worshiped Baal were left without an answer from their “god of rain and plenty”, yet they witnessed the power of the true God with their own eyes.

Nothing compares to the power of the almighty God. Men and women are drawn away daily into deception, and allow falsehoods to overtake their sensibility, but every idol worshipped by men, has no power to do anything, except distract them from the truth. Have you pledged your allegiance to serve weak and powerless idols, or are you aligned with the God who created all things?

Powerless Groves

1 Kings 16:29-18:4

For 22 years, Ahab, the son of Omri, reigned over Israel. Many kings had ruled God’s chosen people before this time; some feared God, but many did not. Of all those who reigned over Israel up to this point, none provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger more than king Ahab. Ahab did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who sat on the throne before him. This is really saying something, because the wicked kings who came before Ahab were known for committing corruptible and heinous acts in the sight of the Lord. How would you feel knowing someone who was deemed by the Bible, the most wicked king ever? Not only was Ahab building a reputation for harboring pure evil, but he joined himself to the most wicked woman of his time as well. Jezebel came from the city of Tyre, and was known to be a committed worshiper of Baal also. From their union, came forth only evil and wickedness. To make matters worse, king Ahab thought it necessary to build an altar for Baal, in the house already established for Baal worship. While God allowed the evil king to sit on the throne, He was preparing a man to bring Ahab’s darkness to light. According to His perfect timing, God sent the prophet Elijah to warn king Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” (17:1b). Telling the king there would be no rain or dew until he says so, was like a literal slap in the face of their god. Baal worshippers believed he was the god of rain and harvest, so when the prophet Elijah graced the king’s presence with such a warning, this no doubt brought shock and worry to the heart of the evil man. Elijah was brave in confronting the king, and delivering the message of the Lord, but this was only the beginning of the story…

One God

Ephesians 4:6-9

Contrary to popular belief, there’s only “One God, and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (the body of Christ) (vs. 6). “In the beginning God…”, and there was none else except the “Word”, who was with God in the beginning. So, where did all these other “gods” come from? 1 Corinthians 8:5 reads, “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many)”, but this was in reference to how the heathen would use not only images, but the sun, moon, planets, stars, oceans, rivers, trees, and all other things in creation to serve as gods.

God stated plainly, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”, yet men willing ignored that commandment, and placed senseless idols and graven images in place of the almighty God. There’s not a thing any idol or image can do to create life, sustain it, or enhance it in any way, so why do men neglect acknowledging the God of creation, and choose to worship something that was made by the Creator? This makes absolutely no sense, yet there are those who are hell-bent on keeping their faith, hope, and trust in a tree.

Modern-day gods have taken the form of things more subtle, including careers, people, and the mighty dollar. My, oh my, how so many have submitted themselves to the love of money, so much so, until they’ll do nearly anything to obtain it. While some are drawn away by their greed for cash, others get lost in their careers, while forgetting the importance of balancing self and family also. When we place anything above God, we become slaves to what those things represent. A job can’t restore your strength, but God can. Money can’t buy love, but God can give it freely. A tree can’t hug you, and transfer the positive energy you need to make it through another day, but God can place people in your life who can do that, and much more.

If there are things in your life you dedicate an excessive amount of time in, that takes away opportunities for you to get close to God, reconsider whether or not those things are even necessary for your life. If your job is keeping you from living holy, get another one. If the company you keep causes you to drift away from God’s ordinances, find new company. If your TV, cell phone, tablet, playstation controller, or other device gets more of your attention than God does, put it aside, and give God what He’s worth. Let nothing become a god in your life, and guard yourself from the subtlety of the world’s influence, that causes you to devote precious time into futile things.

“The enemy uses our dirt to shame and manipulate us. God uses it to harden our foundation and strengthen our faith in Him.” – Ell

Prophets For Profit

Micha 3:5-8

God cares for all men, even those living in willful sin, because everyone has the opportunity to surrender their hearts to Him. While some can be easily convinced, God is the obvious choice, others may require a bit more time for their hardened hearts to soften, so the Word of God can penetrate deep into their souls, to invoke change. For this particular reason, those who have been tasked with speaking the oracles of God to men, must be sure their lives are pure and holy before the Father, so they can always hear clear, and unadulterated prophecy.

Men and women who preach, teach, and proclaim God’s Word to others, are responsible for every word that proceeds from their lips, and what they feed into the hearts and minds of the people, they’ll be held accountable for. In our text, and even today, prophets who were blessed by God (at their initial calling) eventually gave in to idolatry at some point, and began causing innocent souls to fall short of God’s glory. Misleading people from godly platforms is a terrible thing to do, because the consequences that follow could be devastating.

The false prophets in our text, literally caused the people to err, or wander away from holiness, forcing God to step in, and execute strict discipline. God caused a darkness to come over them, so they would not be able to divine, the very sun went down upon their prophecy, causing their days to be darkened, the seers were ashamed, the diviners confounded, and God withheld speaking all messages through any of them. That’s like a bird, being made to fly, but then suddenly restrained, and forced to walk the earth.

Prophets were given authority from God, to do what most men were afraid of; be bold, as they were ordained “to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1:10b). “Prophets weren’t ordained to hype up crowds, and collect big offerings, but to pull down and destroy kingdoms of darkness, and expose the hearts of men to the love of God.” (Ell Banks).

If you’re anxious to lead, or direct people to God, be warned, you better do it according to God’s holy standard, or you’ll be reprimanded as God sees fit.

Walk in love,

Ell

Futile Faith

Habakkuk 2:18-20

When you experience days of sadness, grief, or sorrow, do you go outside, and express your thoughts to your car? In times of distress, will seeking the counsel of your fine clothing, help to make your days better? When you need peace in the midst of a storm, how much money can you spend to find resolution? When you’re sick in your body, can you look into your television, and find healing? Of all the things men idolize today, none can offer the love, joy, healing, peace, strength, and wisdom God freely gives to those who serve Him.

Idols do nothing except distract men from the truth of God’s Word, and keep them bound to satan’s evil philosophies. Our text plainly describes idols as, dumb, clarifying that they have no breath at all, nor can they hear, or be trusted to assist men in any way. It’s rather unfortunate, how the glory that belongs to God, is given to things made by the hands of men, but such is the way this world has become.

The body of Christ needs to be mindful, not to get caught up in giving too much time to things unhealthy for their souls. Despite what the world promotes as popular, or attractive, God is the only one deserving of the glory, honor, and praise. When we are hurting in our hearts, God can give us a peace that surpasses all human understanding. When we get weak, and are about to throw in the towel, God’s perfect strength lifts us up, and prepares us to fight another round.

Push away all idols in your life, that only distract you from focusing your attention on the awesome creator of the universe, and let God be the only one you run to for all your needs.

Walk in love,

Ell