The Right Hand of God

Psalm 110:l: "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." This Psalm is quoted five times in the New Testament. It is a key text in relation to our Lord's mission here on this earth. It is also one of the stumbling blocks to those who would see more than one person in the Godhead.

The fact that the LORD, the creator, said unto the Lord who came from David obviously determines that this had to be prophetic anticipation. David's Lord, the Lord that was the descendant of David, did not live when this Psalm was spoken. The LORD , capital L, capital O, capital R, capital D, in this verse is Jehovah. My Lord ,  in this case refers to the Messiah who descended from David. He did not exist yet except in the mind and plan of God. God could speak to the envisaged, Messiah through His prophetic word. God could lay down things in the Old Testament even when they did not yet exist. Romans 4:17: ". .. God who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were."

The LORD could lay down in his word the prophetic plan that would apply to the Messiah. "The LORD said unto my Lord." Revelation 22:16: "I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." Jesus said he is the root and the offspring of David. Jesus was both the root and the offspring, he was both the LORD , capital L, capital O, capital R, capital D, who created Adam from whom David descended, and he was Daivd'sLord, the man who was born at Bethlehem, that descended from David.

When Jesus was on this earth, he was always God; God manifest in the flesh. From conception, birth, and throughout his childhood, adulthood, all the way to his crucifixion, Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. When he was here on this earth, he did not come out and say I am God Almighty. He came close. The works that he did testified to the fact that he was God. He did those works without prayer, many times. He would simply say "I will, be thou clean. Go wash in the pool of Siloam, come seeing" (John 9:7). At Lazarous' grave he prayed, but he said "I don't need to pray, I pray for their sakes." Then he said, "Lazarous come forth" (John 11:43). To the wind and waves he said, "Peace be still" (Mark 4:39). The works that he accomplished attested to his identity as God, but the words concerning his Deity never came from his mouth. Jesus probably came the closest to admitting who he really was when he said, "Philip, have I been so long time with you and yet thou hast not known me. He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father" (John 14:9). But he did not say I am God almighty. This did not mean he was not God.

Now if he was God in any sense, there is only one sense in which he could have been God. He had to be THE GOD, because there is only one God, and he is indivisible. When John 1:1 says the word was God, God himself, and when Thomas said, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28) there was only one sense in which he could be God. He had to be indwelt in total by the omnipresent and omnipotent God. The Bible very clearly says that he was. Colossians 1:19; 2:9: "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Everything was in him. John said God gave not the spirit by measure unto him (John 3:34). Jesus said the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works (John 14:10). So, there is only one sense in which Jesus could be God. The Trinitarian sense that says he was indwelt by the eternal son of God fails because there was no eternal son of God. There was no second person. There was no inferior being in eternity. There was no subordinate individual in Heaven that could come down and indwell Christ. There is only one God.

The only way Jesus could be God was for the one God to be in him. In Psalm 110 the Creator speaks of the incarnation. "The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand, until. . .." The word until  seems to indicate a time when Jesus will not have to sit at the right hand. Right hand, no matter how we phrase it, seems to be a second position. "...sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." There is indicated in this right hand position a sense of imminent promotion. I do not believe that up in heaven there is one person of the Godhead with another person of the Godhead sitting at his right hand actually.

The Bible says there is one God and one mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus was a man and as a man he performed mediatoral tasks. The term right hand is a priesthood term. As a priest Jesus acted in a go-between role. A role in which he could take us to the throne. Because of his sinlessness, his mercy, and his grace, he could make intercession for us. It is not as though Jesus were in heaven praying and actually interceeding with another divine being who was God. Jesus was in the role of being a mediator, an intercessor, a priest. He assumed those roles when he became a man. Praise the Lord. Our Lord became a man.

When we tell the story of God becoming a man, it is really only half of the story. The story is not over yet. We are about to see some of it being fulfilled. But we are living in that period of time when Jesus is a mediator, an intercessor, a high priest. He is in this position of right hand. But the scripture says, ". . . sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool." What is this indicating? It is indicating that there will be a promotion. You will be at my right hand, until  I make thine enemies thy footstool. Where can Jesus go from the right hand position? How can he get any higher than the right hand position? The only answer is to elevated to the very throne itself. At the right hand Jesus is in a position as a crowned princeuntil  his enemies are made his footstool.

Hebrews 2:5-7: "For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels. . .." Actually, he was made the lowest of the low. He was born in a stable. His parents were Galileans. His mother was perhaps, a young Hebrew girl, possibly only sixteen years old. His father was a carpenter. When he became a man, he became one of us, he became our brother. Jesus tasted all the things that we taste, except sin. He became very low, actually even lower than that because he ended his life nailed to a tree. Like the most despised, accursed criminals.

"Thou crownest him with glory and honour and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now, we see not yet all things put under him" (Hebrews 2:8). Remember the Lord said, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. "But, now we see not yet all things put under him." It is not done yet. Jesus is still in the mediatorial role.

Hebrews 2:9-14: "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Verse 10: For it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Verse 11: For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. Verse 12: Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. Verse 13: And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, behold I and the children which God hath given me Verse 14: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Look at that, ". . . that through death, he might destroy him. . .." "And deliver them. . .." Those are two great things. That our Lord sits at the right hand until  they are done. Our Lord occupies a position of intercession, until  they are done, until  "he" is destroyed, and until  "they" are delivered.

Verse 15". . . deliver them who through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Verse 16: "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels: but he took on him the seed of Abraham." Verse 17: "Wherefore, in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren. . .." Jesus absolutely lived like a human being. There was not a time when he was not God, but he did not strut his stuff, if I could say it that way.

Paul wrote to the Phillipians and said that he made himself of no reputation (Philippians 2:7-9). He did not come out and say, I am God Almighty. Although that is what he really was. He was also Jesus Christ born at Bethlehem. He was also the man. He was made in all ways like unto his brethren. He got thirsty, he got hungry, he needed to wash like we do. Perhaps he got lonely, he got a little frightened, he prayed, cried and was in agony. The Bible says "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly" (Luke 22:44). It says he was praying "more earnestly." It is not as though he was not in earnest in the first place, but he experienced degrees of those things as a human being. And he died, rose again, and was glorified.

It is not over yet. "Until, I make thine enemies they footstool." There is a time coming when our Lord will no longer be at the right hand. The Bible says ". . .until  I make thine enemies they footstool." I would like to repeat that I do not believe there is in heaven a deity with Jesus at His right hand. I do not believe there is a positional relationship that two persons are occupying, two side by side positions. I do believe that our Lord in his mission is in an intercessory position, a priesthood position, he is in a mediatoral position. He is acting the go-between because he is putting enemies under his feet.

"Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed" (I Corinthians 15:51). Verse 52: "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible." At the last trump we will get a body likened unto his glorious body. There is more. One might say, I will get to heaven and be with the Lord, and rightly so. But our Lord will still be putting enemies under his feet. Which enemies? We are part of that first ressurection but that is not the whole ressurection. Christ was the first fruits, he rose from the grave two thousand years ago. Those that are Christs' will rise when he returns. There is a little subsequent rapture found in Revelation 6:9 of those who give their lives during the tribulation period. ". . . of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they

held. . ." In other words, death is still conquering. Revelation 7:9: "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." There is another group of tribulation martyrs, they also must be raptured.

There is still another group of tribulation martyrs who must be raptured. "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints" (Revelation 15: 2, 3).

These are all things the Lord has yet to do in his role as mediator, in his role as intercessor, in his role as the man Christ Jesus. Revelation 19:11-19 speaks of the Battle of Armegeddon. Our Lord is involved in this. This is an enemy that has to be destroyed, the Anti-Christ. He has to drive sinners from the face of the earth, and so he is still involved in these activities of putting enemies under his feet. Verse 11: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war." Verse 12 "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written that no man knew, but he himself." Verse 13 "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called the Word of God." Verse 14 "And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean." Verse 15 "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." This is our Lord. This is our Messiah. He is still in his messianic role. He is still conquering enemies. Another conquest of Jesus is found in Revelation19:20: The beast and false prophet are taken and they are cast alive, into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone. The devil, the old serpent, is bound one thousand years (Revelation 20: 2). In verse three the old serpent is cast into the bottomless pit and shut up and a seal set upon him that he should deceive the nations no more until the thousand years be fulfilled. After that he must be loosed a little season. Even after the thousand years of peace there is still the opportunity for the devil to be loosed and to deceive the people that only lived for the Lord because it was the law that they had to live for the Lord. That has yet to take place.

Revelation 20:7, 8: "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea." There is another little skirmish there, after the thousand years of peace. "And fire comes out from God out of heaven and devours them. Then the devil, verse ten, is cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet are, and he is tormented day and night forever" (Verse 9).

In Revelation 20:11-14 there is a Great White Throne ". . . and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened, which is the book fo life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This was the second death."

Some people will not escape out of the tribulation period if there had not been a mediator who shed his blood for them. Enemies must be conquered; battles won; intercessions made; mediation done. They may shed their own blood, but his blood also is evocatious. That they might be able to be raptured out of that tribulation period.

1 Timothy 6:15: "Which in his times. . ." Psalm 110, "Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Here is a little hint at a time significance. ". . . Which in his times he shall shew who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen."There is only one blessed and only Potentate. There is only one King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There is only one who has immortality. There is only one that dwells in the light that no man can approach unto. There is only one that fits that description, not two.

The Bible says Jesus shall show who is that blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, but he shall do it "in his times." This is the fulfillment of what Jesus said in John 16:25-27 when he says, Now I speak unto you in proverbs but in that day I will no longer say to you, I will pray the father for you. I will no longer be in that intermediate role. I will no longer be in that role of mediation. I will no longer be in that place where we are putting enemies under our feet; when we are fighting the devil; when we are fighting sin; when we are fighting sickness; when we are wiping up the earth and getting rid of all the sinners, and calling men from the graves and judging them. They will no longer have to play that part! And in that day, I will show plainly whose the Father. It says, "In his times he shall show who is his blessed and only Potentate and King of Kings, and Lord of Lords." That is when he will not be at the right hand any more. He will be on his throne, and we will be on his throne with him. He will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

1 Corinthians 15:24-28 is not a problem for Oneness Pentecostals. It certainly would be a problem to one believing Jesus was an eternal second person. I do not believe Jesus is an eternal second person. I believe he is a first person, that made himself of no reputation. He was the first person that came and found himself fashioned as a man (Philippians 2:6-9). He was a first person that allowed himself to be made a little lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:7). He was a first person who became so human that he experienced everything that humans experience (Hebrews 2:18). But he is not always going to be this lowly person. He will not always be in this role of mediation. He will not always going to be in this intercessory role. He is going to complete this work. The Bible says one of these days it is going to all be done, and Jesus is going to show us who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He will show us plainly of the Father. I believe it is at that time that he is going to say, I am the Lord God Almighty. I came in flesh to redeem the world.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13, "Now we see through a glass darkly but then, face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." An enemy will be put under his feet when the rapture takes place, because the death that holds all of his precious saints will be conquered. That part of death will be put under his feet. In Revelation 6:9 another part of death goes under his feet. Revelation 7:9 is another, and in Revelation 15:2 and 3, another bit under his feet. At the Battle of Armageddon, he puts another enemy under his feet. He puts the devil in the bottomless pit, then looses him for awhile to deceive more sinners until the fire of God comes out and destroys him. That is another enemy that is put under his feet.

In the Great White Throne judgment, all those in the graves hear his voice and come forth to be judged according to their works. Those who are righteous, and those who are filthy and unjust, those enemies are put under his feet. The Bible says "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted. . . "(1 Corinthians 15:26, 27). God is not included in what is to be under Jesus' feet.

"And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all"(1 Corinthians 15:28) It was not necessary to put Jesus Christ under the Father's feet. That is not what this means. Jesus Christ was always subject to the Father. "Lo, I come. In the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will, O God" (Psalm 40:7,8 cf Hebrews 10:7). He was always subject to the will of the Father, who was in him. He said, "Not my will, but thine be done"(Luke 22:42). "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46). He was always in subjection. It was not necessary to put Jesus under anybody's feet. What is, "put under feet" and whose feet is it put under? It is put under the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ, because Psalm 110 says, ". . . Sit thou at my right hand, until  I make thine enemies thy footstool." These are all negative things that are put under his feet. One might ask, "Was the son a negative thing?" The "sonship" was a negative thing. The sonship   by which he played this inferior role. The sonship by which he had to go about the earth and never take any glory for himself, and make himself of no reputation. The sonship  by which he saved mankind, by which he worked through the tribulation period and then on out into the thousand years of peace and then out into the White Throne Judgement as he conquered enemy's death. That sonship office or position will finally be done away with.

Will he not be Jesus Christ then? Yes, he will be Jesus Christ. He made himself a man. He became a man. He took upon himself our nature. He will always be a man, but he will not always be the son. He will be God, all and in all! I am glad we know who Jesus is right now. We are not in the dark about that. He is the Almighty God. But the day is going to come when he will say, "I no longer have to say I will pray the Father for you. . . I will show you plainly of the Father. I am the Father. I was the son, I am the Father. I am Jesus Christ, the Lord God Almighty, the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end."

Night will not be found in the 21st chapter of Revelation. Why? Darkness has been put under his feet. There is no need of the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, nor the candlelight. Why? He has put all that under his feet. The Bible says there will be no sorrow there; there will be no pain; no suffering or death, because he has put all that under his feet. He will take a handkerchief and dry the tears from our eyes. As he has put all these enemies under his feet. Then he will be God all in all.

Our Lord is going to take us with him to glory! He said, "In my Father's house are many mansions" (John 14:2). He had to speak that way because he was in a sonship role. When he conquers all these enemies, he says, "to him that overcometh will I grant to sit down with me in my throne, even as I also overcame" (Revelation 3:21). Notice we are not to sit down with him on the right hand side of the throne. The right hand position was necessary as was the sonship role only until all things have been put under the feet of Jesus. Jesus is on the throne and he is going to share it with us.

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Do Babies and Children Go to Heaven? What about Unborn Babies?

This is a question that many parents, especially the grieving ones who have lost a baby or child wonder,"Will I see my child in Heaven one day?". The short answer is yes. This also goes to babies who died while still in the mothers womb. Below I will list the scriptures that prove that all babies go to Heaven;

Matthew 19:13-15

The Little Children and Jesus

 "Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

 Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there."

1 John 2:12,13

Writing for the children

 "I am writing to you, dear children,because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers,because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one."

2 Samuel 12:21-23

Babies who pass can't come back to us, but we will go to them

 "His attendants asked him, 'Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!' He answered, 'While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

Jeremiah 1:5

Unborn babies are pure

"Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came out of the womb I sanctified you, [and] I ordained you as a prophet unto the nations."

These verses tell us without a doubt that all babies and children go to Heaven! If you are grieving the loss of a child, whether it was through a miscarriage or any other means, I cannot even begin to imagine the pain you're going through... But hopefully now you can have that peace of mind knowing that your child is in a world much better than this one, and that they are being given a happiness and joy that no one in this world could have provided them! And best of all, remember that one day you will get to see your precious child again!

God bless,

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Teaching Children about God - The Importance of Ministering to your Children

With so many families having to deal with work, taking care of children, extra-curricular activities, etc., it seems nearly impossible to find time to teach our children about God. So due to our crazy week, it's okay to just leave that part to the Sunday school or Sabbath school teachers right? Nope!

Every Christian has a duty to share the truth that they have come to realize through Christ to others, and that duty starts right at home with your own children and spouse. In a world that is so darkened as ours, filled with no regard for God, filled with children who learn to hate God and even their own parents, it's crucial that we instill the truth of God and the love of Christ into the hearts of our children so that they can be armed and equipped to face the world and to remain steadfast in their faith, regardless of the opposition that they are bound to be faced with in their future.

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."-Ephesians 6:11

Some may ask, "How do I evangelize to a child?" or, "My child is so young, he/she probably won't understand". Don't be fooled brothers and sisters, no child is too young to understand the gospel of Christ. Simple things such as putting on a children's bible movie about the death and resurrection and explaining why He had to die is one good way to accomplish this. Even though a child may be young, this is something they will remember! 

There are various other ways to minister to your child; Read them daily devotionals, pray with them and encourage them to say their own prayers as well, put on worship songs and sing with your child. These are all great ways to start ministering to your children, but the most important thing to do before even attempting to teach your children about Jesus, is to make sure YOU are right with God first. "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? -Luke 6:39

The WORST way to attempt to instill God into a child's life is by living a hypocritical lifestyle.  Let's face it -- no one likes a hypocrite, that includes your children! This will push your child further away from the truth and likely build resentment. If you want to teach your child the importance of not lying, don't lie! If you want to teach them about giving, give! If you want to teach them about the importance of attending church to fellowship, go to church! The BEST way to evangelize to your own children is to be a walking and talking testimony of what it means to truly follow Christ! 

"Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock." -1 Peter 5:3

"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." -1 Corinthians 11:1

The most important thing you need to do is to be an imitator of Christ in your daily living. If you struggle with this, pray to God  for help and He will give you power through the Holy Spirit to be a godly example to your children! The following are more bible verses about teaching your children about the Lord;

"And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."                       -Deuteronomy 6:7

"For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” -Genesis 18:19

"Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should teach them to their children, That the generation to come might know, [even] the children [yet] to be born, [That] they may arise and tell [them] to their children, That they should put their confidence in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments, And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart, And whose spirit was not faithful to God." -Psalm 78:3-8 

"Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." 
-Proverbs 22:6

"The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness." -Isaiah 38:19

"One generation shall praise Thy works to another, And shall declare Thy mighty acts." 
-Psalm 145:4

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The Absurdity of Obedience

There are three texts found in the book of Proverbs which are very similar: Proverbs 14:12; 16:25; 21:2. A message repeated three times must be worthy of our attention. Proverbs 14:12: There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. That puts a sense of ultimacy on our decisions. There is a way that seemeth right to a man, makes sense, is rational, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 16:25: There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death and Proverbs 21:2 is similar: Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

These three texts confront us with the fallibility of our own judgement. When a man says, "Well, I think this," automatically a danger signal should flash in our minds. God said "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8,9). As the heavens are higher than the earth ...the heavens are incalculably higher than the earth...God said, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. It is a continuing mystery why we as human creatures have the audacity to continue to tell God that we think we know the right way.

It started in the Garden of Eden when God gave specific instructions that made no sense to Adam and Eve. God said they could eat of all the trees of the Garden but one (Genesis 2:16,17). They were forbidden to eat of only one tree. Why? What would be wrong with eating of that tree? We can eat of every other tree. Why not that one tree? It makes no sense. My thoughts are higher than your thoughts and my ways than your ways.

Cain must have thought, "Lord, I'm bringing you the very best of my produce -- my vegetables, fruits. I have labored over them and put my very best effort into them. I have selected from among the very cream of my crop, and I bring it to you as an offering" (Genesis 4). God says, My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes but the Lord pondereth the hearts. God has given some very unusual requirements in his Word, and he has never explained himself; he put the commands in the Word and says, this do and thou shalt live.

The rich young ruler came to Jesus and said, "Good Master, what good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Matthew 19:16-23) And the Lord said, "Keep all the commandments. You know the commandments, Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, though shalt not steal...this do and thou shalt live." Jesus asked, "Why callest thou me good for there is none good but one and that is God?" Jesus said this, not because he was not good but because he wanted the man to know that no man has ever walked the face of the earth that could do enough good and be good enough to please a perfect God. It cannot be done. Jesus said that because throughout his Word he taught that without the shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22); that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and there is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10).

The rich young ruler thought in his heart that he qualified already, and he came to the Lord to get a pat on the back. He came to the Lord to hear the Lord say, "You are all right as you are." He believed that already anyway. So he said, "Good Master, what good thing must I do that I might inherit eternal life?" Jesus said, "Why callest thou me good? for there is none good but one and that is God." In other words Jesus was telling him that he was not good enough to inherit eternal life in his present condition. Then the Lord gave an absurd commandment. He said, Go and sell what you have and give it to the poor. "Rich young ruler, go sell everything you have, give it to the poor, come take up your cross and follow me." Then he said,"If you will do this you will live."

"How absurd," thought the young man."Ridiculous. We have commandments engraven in stone that tell us what we should do. There is nothing in those about selling everything that you have. I think I am all right the way I am. I think I have done the law of Moses. I think everything is all right. Absurd! Go sell what thou hast. Give it to the poor." The absurdity does not end there.

In 2 Kings 5:1-15, we find the story of Naaman, an important military leader of Syria who was a leper. A little servant girl in Naaman's household told her master,"If you want to be healed of your leprosy, you go down to my land. It's not a very great land. We're oppressed, and we're rather humble and meager among the nations of the earth; and I am sure that we don't qualify as being really part of the elite. But you go down there, and there is a prophet of God there; and if you will inquire of him, I believe you can be healed of your leprosy" (2 Kings 5:3). Elisha, the prophet of God told him to go dip seven times in the river Jordan. Naaman reaction was not one of obedience: "What in the world! I come from Syria and we have beautiful rivers up there. The Abana and Pharpar. They are beautiful rivers. Why dip in the muddy river Jordan seven times? Absurd! Stupid! Come, we will pack up and go back to Syria. The whole trip has been a waste."

Then one of Naaman's servants along with him said,"Master if he'd bid you do some great thing why you would have done it. If he had told you to go conquer some army or do some magnificent gesture, make some grand gift, you brought along camels burdens of raiment and clothing. If he had bid you give him that why you would have done that. Why can't you do what he said?" (2 Kings 5:13)

Dip seven times. Why not one time? That ought to have been sufficient. Why not just sprinkle a little of the water of the river Jordan on his head? Why seven times? God does not explain himself. "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." The absurdity of obedience.When the man came up from the seventh dipping, his skin was like a baby's skin.

I don't know why it is, but God's way is the best way. We can figure all sorts of reasons why it is absurd. We can figure all sorts of reasons why it is ridiculous. We can figure all sorts of reasons why it does not appeal to our feeble intellect. It seems dumb and stupid and redundant, but it works.

I think the most absurd act that God ever required was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In fact, the New Testament sets that forth as an absurdity. It was such an absurdity that almost the entire Hebrew nation stumbled at it (Romans 9:33). Paul said they stumbled at this rock of offence (1 Corinthians 1:22-25). He said the cross is to the Greeks foolishness but he said to us who are called it is the wisdom of God and the power of God. He cried with strong crying and tears regarding the absurdity of the cross and was heard from his reverence. He was heard. He could have been delivered. He was heard. Jesus could have got through that prayer. He could have been delivered. "I will not disobey. I will not pull back from the revolting and disgusting absurdity of this cross, but I will obey." He prayed,"Not my will but thine be done" (Matthew 26:39-42). He did obey. The Psalmist said about him, "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart." (Psalm 40:6-8, cf. Hebrews 10:5-7). Psalm 40:6-8 is from the Hebrew scriptures. This is clearly a prophecy. It was later fulfilled in the New Testament. In verse twelve it says, "For innumerable evils have compassed me about. Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of mine head. My heart faileth me."

Iniquities are sins—I wondered about that. Was the Psalmist talking about Christ as he obviously was in verse eight? I delight to do thy will O my God, and then did he switch back and begin to think of himself for he said, Innumerable evils have compassed me about? Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up. Was he talking about himself there? I wondered what is meant by the mention of iniquities here. Whose iniquities were they? Were they iniquities of Jesus?

Jesus did have iniquities upon him, but they were not his own; they were the iniquities of the world. That was the hard part about Calvary; that was the absurd part. The absurdity was not that he wanted to escape from the nails being driven through his hands; it was not that he wanted to avoid the crown of thorns placed upon his head; it was not that he was unwilling to yield his back to the smiters so that they would smite him until perhaps bone was exposed; it was not the thought of drinking gall and vinegar; it was not that he hated the thought of hanging on the cross in anguish for six hours; it was not that he dreaded the people laughing at him, spitting on him, and yelling insults. The absurdity of Calvary was that the only one who ever lived perfect on this earth; the only one that had never committed a sin; the only one that said, "The prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me," had to become sinful. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). The most absurd thing that God has ever required of any creature was to require the sinless man of Calvary to become sin, to take on iniquity, to take on sinfulness.

In comparison to what Jesus did for us, it is so easy to repent of ours sins; it is so easy to get baptized in Jesus' name; it is so easy to be filled with the Holy Ghost; it is so easy to be a Christian; it is so easy to keep God's laws of marital fidelity; it is so easy to deny ourselves the pleasures of the world which God's Word has taken away from us. The most difficult thing in the world to ever do was for the Lord Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, to become sin for us.

Why do I have to do this? Why do I have to do that? Why is that necessary? Why does God's way not appeal to my intellect more? Why can't God's plan make sense to me? Because our intellects are not great enough. "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8,9). Everything that God requires makes so much sense if you look at it from his point of view. Go wash the mud from your blind eyes in the pool of Siloam and you will see (John 9:7). That makes a whole lot of sense. "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38). Paul said, "Were you baptized in the name of Paul or was Paul crucified for you?" (1 Corinthians 1:13). Why must we be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ? Because he was the one who was crucified for us. The Bible says we are "buried with him in baptism" (Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12). We can argue all day long, but the Bible says, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). How simple.

Consider Mary when the angel came to her and said,"You are going to have a son" (Luke 1:30-38). She did not understand how she could become a mother as a virgin, but her attitude was so great. She said, Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. There was no protest.

Jesus came washing the feet of the disciples in John 13:5-9. When he got to Peter, Jesus met the opposition of the usual human intellect. Peter said, "Not so, Lord. Not me. You are not going to wash my feet. You will never wash my feet; it makes no sense to me. Why should you wash my feet? That is not rational." The Lord Jesus said, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." Thank God, Peter then let his mind slip into cadence with the mind of God and said Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. The absurdity of obedience. It does not make sense to us; it does not appeal to our intellect.

Acts 8:26-40 tells of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. We are not given all the details but it says that Philip joined himself to the chariot. The Ethiopian eunuch was reading in Isaiah 53. Philip joined himself to the man and he said, "Do you understand what you read? And the man said how can I understand except some man show me?" Philip started at that scripture and preached unto him Jesus. It does not tell us what all he said. Just that he preached Jesus. But as they came to a body of water, the eunuch said, "Here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized?" He was ready. What a spirit. They went down both into the water. I do not know what it was like for that Eunuch to complete his journey with dripping wet clothes and with whatever servants might have been along after watching the humiliation of Philip and the Eunuch going down into the water and getting baptized, but it did not seem to make any difference to the Eunuch. The Bible says he went his way rejoicing!

The Philippian jailor of Acts 16:25-35 was about to commit suicide. The jail was broken down. An earthquake took place. The jailor thought the prisoners had escaped. Paul said, "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here." The jailor asked Paul, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul told him to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord. . . . They explained unto him the way of the Lord more completely or perfectly. Paul might have said, "I am going to tell you all things now that you need to do, and among those things that you need to do is to be baptized. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway." The Bible says he arose that same hour of the night. I don't know what inconveniences were involved, but there certainly were some. But he arose that same hour of the night and was baptized, he and all his house.

Abraham obeyed. The Jews said, "We are children of Abraham." In other words, "We have the pedigree. We have the genealogy." Jesus said to them, "If you were children of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham" (John 8:39). "You would obey even though it might mean an absurdity, even though it might mean something that may not make the greatest sense to you."

We make excuses and rationalizations. "I am not going to repent for this reason, or I am not going to be baptized for that reason, or God does not care about me." One man came to our church services for several years. He would say, "A few gallons of water does not make any difference to God. If a few gallons of water will cause me to go to hell, I guess I'll just go to hell. God does not care if I am sprinkled or immersed." I could not convince him otherwise. I loved him. We tried to tell him the truth. The last time I saw him he was in a rest home, and he had completely lost his mind. I stopped at the nurses' desk and asked for him.

She gave me directions and added, "He won't know you. He sits in the hallway and watches the trains go by."

"What trains?" I asked.

"Imaginary trains. He does not know anybody. He won't know you."

I went to the place where he was. He reached out his hands; and he said, "Pray for me, pray for me." I did. I tried, in the final circumstances of his life, to do what I could.

I thought of all the Sunday nights that I would go back and say to him, "Don't you want to come to the altar? Don't you want to give your heart to God? Don't you want to get baptized in Jesus' name?"

He would say, "Ah, God doesn't care about a few gallons of water. If a few gallons of water makes some difference, I'll just go to hell." I hope he did not go to hell.

My ways are not your ways, neither are my thoughts your thoughts. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways. God's way is the best way. The sacrifice of Calvary may seem to be such an absurdity. How in the world could God get any good from blood flowing down that old rugged cross? How in the world could that make any sense as far as the law of Moses was concerned. We attempt to force our way through to God on our terms. We can say,"God will accept what I am going to do. It may be contrary to his word, and it may be that his word has forbidden it; but I've got it added up in my mind so that it is right, and I am going to do it. "But the end thereof," the Bible says, "are the ways of death." The absurdity of obedience is a truth we cannot escape.

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