Do We "Get It"?

And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.” [Isaiah 6.9-10] 

Why would the Lord say this to Isaiah? Why would Jesus quote this passage from Isaiah?

To better understand the meaning of Isaiah 6.9-10, we can look to the New Testament references to it.

Jesus quoted Isaiah's passage after publicly telling the Parable of the Sower to people when He privately told His disciples what it meant.

That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13:13-15]

Mark recalled it like this: 

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’” [Mark 4:12]

Luke recorded it like this:

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’ [Luke 8:10]

The apostle Paul is on record of having referred to Isaiah 6.9-10 as well: 

So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, ‘Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these  people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Acts 28:23-27]

Not everyone will "get it" regarding God's Word. Consequently, not everyone will enjoy the forgiveness and healing of God's Word. As we looked at the New Testament references to Isaiah 6.9-10, we should also consider the following from today's One Year Chronological Bible reading:

“The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it. Beautiful girls and strong young men will grow faint in that day, thirsting for the LORD’s word. And those who swear by the shameful idols of Samaria—who take oaths in the name of the god of Dan and make vows in the name of the god of Beersheba—they will all fall down, never to rise again.” [Amos 8.11-14] 

The famine of hearing the words of the LORD is the exact famine upon society today. But Amos provides a clue why this is so: this famine is directly tied to those who swear by the shameful idols of Samaria—who take oaths in the name of the god of Dan and make vows in the name of the god of Beersheba - it is tied to idolatry.

This famine is twice defined for what it actually is in the Psalms:

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8]

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18] 

So, what is the deciding factor for those who "get it" and those who do not? Those who "get it" are those (and only those) who have embraced "God only" for every circumstance in their lives.

In contrast, those who embrace idols (whether in lieu of or in addition to God matters not), make their own conscious choice against God that effectively blinds and deafens them to Him and His Word.

The Parable of the Sower mentioned above actually reveals this if we will simply "get it." There is hard soil, soil with rocks, unattended soil where thorns grow, and finally good "farmed" soil. The difference between the first three soils and the good "farmed" soil is the recognition that "unfarmed soil" is a life of idolatry - it is hardened against the Word, the Word can't take root, or it chokes out the Word.

Those who embrace idols do not "get it" regarding Jesus' exclusive demand:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Jesus, in obvious God-fashion, left no room for retaining anything of our own... not our will, not our ideas, not our inventions, not our efforts... NOT OUR IDOLS! And, just to be sure that we "get it" fully, Jesus went on to demand that we relinquish any retention upon life itself, "take up your cross..."

Jesus' demand to give up your own way is an affront to any and everything of man's doing. For those unwilling to comply, hardness of heart is the result that further manifests in not being forgiven and not being healed. Jesus' demand plugs their ears and shut their eyes of those who resist in even the most minute way.

With modern man's undeniable dependence upon his own inventions of debt, insurance, medicine and technology (to name the broad-scale offenders), it should come as no surprise that man will not "get it" when his inventions are called out as "idols." It should furthermore come as no surprise that God's power does not manifest on his behalf. And, because the Church embraces man's idols just as much as the world, it is no wonder that the Church today is so overwhelmingly powerless compared to Jesus Christ.

Does this offend us? If so, perhaps we don't "get it" and idolatry is afoot. 

...not my words, but God's Word!

Father, help us to "get it" regarding our wholesale idolatry. May our eyes see and our ears hear Your written and Living Word, giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus ...so that we might be obviously forgiven and healed in accordance with the Scriptures. So be it.

Trust In Idols Breaks Trust With Jesus

“Go ahead and offer sacrifices to the idols at Bethel. Keep on disobeying at Gilgal. Offer sacrifices each morning, and bring your tithes every three days. [Amos 4.4]

It just occurred to me that the obligatory sacrifices described in Amos 4.4 sound just like the obligatory payments that God's people make to the industries of debt, insurance, medicine and technology. The payments people commit themselves to make to debt, insurance, medicine and technology are to secure "benefits" God has declared in His Word that He wants His people to trust Him ALONE for.

Consider what Amos went on to say on behalf of God:

“I brought hunger to every city... [Amos 4.6]

“I kept the rain from falling... [Amos 4.7]

“I struck your farms and vineyards with blight and mildew. [Amos 4.9]

“I sent plagues on you... [Amos 4.10]

“I destroyed some of your cities... [Amos 4.11]

If all of these "problems" are translated to present-day circumstances, they represent the very circumstances that man idolatrously turns to (remedies with) debt, insurance, medicine and technology - instead of God.

It is no mistake then, that after each of the accusations above, God said, "But still you would not return to me,” says the LORD."

Chapter 5 then provides the remedy (repentance):

Now this is what the LORD says to the family of Israel: “Come back to me and live! Don’t worship at the pagan altars at Bethel; don’t go to the shrines at Gilgal or Beersheba. For the people of Gilgal will be dragged off into exile, and the people of Bethel will be reduced to nothing.” Come back to the LORD and live! Otherwise, he will roar through Israel like a fire, devouring you completely. Your gods in Bethel won’t be able to quench the flames. [Amos 5.4-6]

There is absolutely no reason for us to have the Old Testament unless there is modern-day application to our lives. That modern-day application is Jesus Christ (John 5.39). 

In God-revealing "return to me" and "come back to me" fashion, Jesus was (and is) no less demanding for our total trust in and obedience to Him ALONE:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Our "own way" is every man-made idol we trust in instead of God (starting with our own "self"). Our "own way" is everything that deserves the curses defined in Amos 4.6-11 above. Our "own way" is what God demands that we "return to Him" from. Our "own way" is what God pleads for us to forsake so that we might come back to Him and live.

Jesus said "take up your cross" because that is just how serious trusting in God ALONE really is. Our eyes and the world's eyes will see trusting God ALONE as certain death! For Jesus' followers to "take up" their cross is to openly declare war on the fear of death - it does not matter whether they live or die, but only that their faith is in God ALONE (see Daniel 3.16-18). 

The power missing in the Church today is missing because the Church has not taken up its cross. The cross is the gateway to resurrection power.

Regardless how much common sense it makes to rely on debt, insurance, medicine and technology today, we must see that they are modern-day idols that, in relying upon them, we have turned away from God. Trust in idols breaks trust with God. Trust in idols breaks trust with Jesus. While "grace" indeed brings undeserved forgiveness for our idolatry, it DOES NOT permit us to continue to live therein! 

God is all about undivided trust in Him ALONE.

But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. [James 1.6]

Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. [James 1.8]

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. [James 4.8]

Father in heaven, may Your people see the truth of Your Word and Your unyielding stance against idolatry (not just "Old Testament," but consistently "New Testament" as well). May your people see Jesus' words in Matthew 16.24 as confirmation of Your unyielding stance against idolatry. Open our eyes that we might see it! So be it.

If God's People TRULY Believed...

Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit. [Jonah 1.7] 

Why didn't they just check the Weather Channel?

In ancient times. people actually believed the weather was controlled by gods. Imagine that! Little did they know about high and low pressure systems, the sun and the moon, and all the weather conditions arising from their interactions.

Also, what were the chances that "casting lots" would implicate Jonah as the culprit responsible for the storm?

The thing is, these people, not even knowing the LORD God, did not believe in chance ...and, it saved their lives. These men, who did not know God, were convinced that the weather was not just a random phenomenon, and, they were right. They furthermore so understood the "spiritual" nature of their existence that they believed "casting lots" could genuinely explain circumstances. And, again, it did - once they threw Jonah overboard, the storm immediately stopped - so quickly that apparently Jonah witnessed it before being swallowed by the whale.

The implications of Jonah's story are serious upon modern "believers in God." So serious are the implications of Jonah's story that many "Christian" people have concluded that his story is so far-fetched that it must have just been an allegorical writing and did not really happen. With modern knowledge and technology, few, if any (Christians included), actually believe that God (let alone any other god) controls the weather with purpose.

So, here we are in the 21st Century A.D. with the Bible in one hand and the TV remote in the other. Sadly, we trust the information from the "world" (television, radio, social media, advertising, etc.) far more than the information from the Bible. The world tells us it will rain tomorrow, so we change our plans. The world tells us we can have what we want before we can afford it, so we buy it. The world tells us we need protection for what we bought that we cannot afford, so we insure it. The world tells us we can take a pill to get better (because we have bills to pay and rightly must keep going to pay them), so we take the medicine. The world tells us "there's an app for that," so we mindlessly let a machine do all our thinking. And all we have to do is just keep the money flowing ...which seems to keep most people so busy working that they don't have time to breathe, let alone know and ponder the deep things of God.

And, we think the people in Jonah's story were gullible!

Jonah's story teaches one important lesson: God controls everything (believe it or not).

If God's people TRULY believed God controls everything, their lives would look entirely different than the world. 

If God's people TRULY believed God controls everything, they would have zero hesitation obeying Jesus' demand to "have faith in God" (Mark 11.21-23). 

If God's people TRULY believed God controls everything, they would believe nothing but the Bible, and boy, would they be ostracized for it! 

If God's people TRULY believed God controls everything, they would do everything in their power to reject the world's solutions so that God's power might be evident in and through their lives ...even if it means dying for it.

If God's people TRULY believed God controls everything, they would give up their own way, take up their cross, and follow Jesus (Matthew 16.24).

That about sums it up for me today...

Father in heaven, our actions speak so loudly that we do not believe You that our words mean nothing...

It Was Then, And It Is Now

But he did what was evil in the LORD’s sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. [2 Kings 13.2] 

It really does not matter who this statement is about because this statement was symbolically declared over many as if it was universal.

The point of the statement is that the example left by Jeroboam was notorious and never-ending.

Anyone I know who has ever actually read the Old Testament will, at some point, invariably note the repeated sin of God's people found therein. Usually, this notation is with an attitude of disgust, and is often followed with some form of the following statement: "I just don't understand how God's people could not see their problem!"

Failure to understand is symptomatic of idolatry... It was then, and it is now.

Jeroboam's example was idolatry. There were many forms and variations of it, but it was still idolatry. The recurring sin of God's people in the Old Testament was idolatry. If we lose sight of this fact, we lose sight of our own condition.

Idolatry's strength is found in its "cloaking" mechanism. Idolatry has a unique and very effective way of blinding man to its presence and practice. 

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot  speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8] 

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18]

The irony of idolatry's strong blinding effect is that those idols are made by the very people who are blinded by them! Idols are the epitome of the cliché, "digging your own grave."

Only the light of God's Word reveals the presence and practice of idolatry. The strength of idolatry is the people's ignorance of God's Word, and therefore, of God. What's more, "leaders" contribute to the problem.

My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children. [Hosea 4.6]

It is simply not enough for a person to read the Bible and shake their head in disgust at the repeated sin of God's people. One must ask the questions, "Who?, What?, Where?, When?, Why?, and How?"! Only when a person explores the answers to these questions will they "see" the truth:

Who? God's people.

What? Idolatry and the blindness that accompanies it.

Where? Anywhere they failed to eradicate it.

When? Any time they took their eyes off God and His Word.

Why? Because of their fallen nature. Adam and Eve could "see" when they ate the forbidden fruit that gave them knowledge of good and evil. The problem with seeing evil is that it blinds one to God (could explain why the first couple only "heard" God after they sinned, and could explain why Paul wrote that faith comes by "hearing" the Word of God). Idolatry's first self-preserving defense is to blind it's patrons to God and His Word. Given enough time however, it damningly deafens them too.

How? Trusting any and everything other than, or in addition to, God.

The modern-day application of the Old Testament history of God's people with idolatry is exactly the same as the New Testament history of God's people with idolatry! Ignorance of God's Word ONLY and ALWAYS results in idolatry. The one, more defined definition of this fact is that New Testament people have the additional revelation of Jesus as the Word of God.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except  through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. [John 1.1-5]

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. [John 1.10-14]

Jesus explained it perfectly. He never spoke the words "idol" or "idolatry" because He didn't have to. His word pictures (parables) of ever-present, ever-practiced idolatry would have been clear to anyone with only a general understanding of the Scriptures available to them in His day.

His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes  cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. [Matthew 13.10-17] 

For this reason, Jesus was very exclusive and crystal clear when He announced the active faith solution to the timeless error of idolatry:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Yes, the example of Jeroboam is still among us today. It is, however, as much more refined in modern times as man himself. Man's idols reflect man's ingenuity because they are the products of man's own making. One has only to follow the money to find his idols. The industries of debt, insurance, medicine and technology all fit the B.O.L.O (Be On Look Out) description perfectly - they are, in fact, the example of Jeroboam on steroids.

Our only chance of "seeing and hearing" this truth is to "see and hear" Jesus, God's Living Word. God's Word, was, in Old Testament times, the solution to man's sin, and God's Word, Jesus Christ, is the solution for man's sin today. "Grace" does not exempt us from following Jesus.

Father, Your Word is full of revelation for all who will "see and hear." May we be found with eyes to see and ears to hear so that we might forsake the idolatrous "example of Jeroboam" and so that Your power might manifest among us when we do. May our eyes and ears be opened as we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. So be it.

Where Are The True Prophets Of God?

Yet the LORD sent prophets to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen. [2 Chronicles 24.19]

With only a little review of the Old Testament writings, it becomes evident that all the true prophets of God mentioned in the Bible pretty much addressed the same problem: idolatry (and the sin born of idolatry). For this reason, prophets were usually less popular than others. Quite often, their address of idolatry dealt with future events only further alienating them from the status quo crowd.

It should come as no surprise that the office of the prophet is little understood today because the problem of idolatry is all but overlooked or worse, ignored. Or, it might just be that the problem of idolatry is not recognized because there are no true prophets of God warning the people!

As much as religious people like to downplay to role of the prophet today, there is convincing evidence of its validity in New Testament times through the writings of the Apostle Paul:

Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. [1 Corinthians 12.28]

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. [Ephesians 4.11]

What does this mean? To be sure, New Testament recognition of the role of "prophet" is confirmation that idolatry remains a valid topic of warning today just as it has throughout the entire history of God's people.

The unpleasant truth however is that people still will not listen...

Even though Jesus pointed this out early in His ministry, people still will not listen:

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]

The true prophet of God in the Old Testament pointed to the Ten Commandments that presented God as the ONLY way with no substitutes or additions (idols).

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.2-3]

The true prophet of God in the New Testament points out that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to God with no substitutes or additions (idols).

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14.6]

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Jesus did not make these demands because idolatry would never again be a problem! He made these demands because He knew full well that, as history continues to repeat itself, idolatry would pace the advancements of humanity requiring continued warning. In Jesus' own prophetic way, He knew idolatry would be worse today than it has ever been... 

Where are the true prophets of God?

Father, restore true prophets to us today - not those who tickle our ears making us feel good about ourselves, but those who will boldly decry idolatry and its blinding effect upon Your people ...before it's too late. So be it.

What Do You Know About Peace?

King Joram demanded, “Do you come in peace, Jehu?” Jehu replied, “How can there be peace as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother, Jezebel, are all around us?” [2 Kings 9.22] 

In a most amazing way, "peace" is a critical indicator that idolatry is absent. In other words, where there is idolatry, there is no peace and where there is peace, there is no idolatry. 

What do YOU know about peace?

It would behoove us to study "peace" just a bit, and the context of 2 Kings 9 gives us a good introduction. First, we should consider what took place before 2 Kings 9.22 above...

Then Jehu got into a chariot and rode to Jezreel to find King Joram, who was lying there wounded. King Ahaziah of Judah was there, too, for he had gone to visit him. The watchman on the tower of Jezreel saw Jehu and his company approaching, so he shouted to Joram, “I see a company of troops coming!” “Send out a rider to ask if they are coming in peace,” King Joram ordered. So a horseman went out to meet Jehu and said, “The king wants to know if you are coming in peace.” Jehu replied, “What do you know about peace? Fall in behind me!” The watchman called out to the king, “The messenger has met them, but he’s not returning.” So the king sent out a second horseman. He rode up to them and said, “The king wants to know if you come in peace.” Again Jehu answered, “What do you know about peace? Fall in behind me!” [2 Kings 9.16-19 bold added]

Even though it seems abrupt to do so, with "What do you know about peace?" in mind, we should fast-forward to the Advent of Jesus to understand just what the angels were actually declaring about Him:

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” [Luke 2.14]

Jehu was pointing to Jesus! Consider what Jehu said above, then compare it to what Jesus said below. 

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. [Matthew 10.34 (also Luke 12.51)]

Jesus came to bring a "sword" against idolatry and witchcraft just as Jehu did! And what is this "sword" that Jesus brought? Himself! The Word of God!

What do we know about the sword of the Word of God?

...and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [Ephesians 6.17]

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. [John 1.14] 

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. [Romans 10.17 NKJV] 

The sword that destroys idolatry brings peace to those who are truly believers:

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. [John 14.27]

Even though Jesus never mentioned the word "idol" or "idolatry," He didn't have to. He instead used parables and word pictures that anyone who actually knew the Word of God (the Old Testament at that point) would immediately recognize as references to idolatry, namely, every reference to "peace" and every reference to "seeing and hearing" most easily recognized in Matthew 13.15:

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’  [Matthew 13.15]

The Old Testament passages that most clearly identify "seeing and hearing" as references to idolatry are in the Psalms:

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot  speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8] 

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18]

Jesus' use of the word "peace" accomplished the same "recognition" as did His use of the words, "see and hear" - they were all symptomatic of undivided faith - faith in God ALONE.

But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.” [Luke 19.41-44]

"God" who "visited you" in the passage above is Jesus, Who, in complete harmony with God's desire for undivided faith, made the following well-known, but most often avoided demand:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Unless one has forsaken every other god (including "self"), the following passage has no meaning (let alone, application): 

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” [John 16.33] 

But, for those, and only those who in undivided have faith forsaken all idols, Jesus left the following commission:

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20.21-23]

The power of God, starting with the power to forgive, comes only in the peace of trusting Christ ALONE.

So now, what do you know about peace?

Father, Your Word is amazing as the words of Jesus reveal His knowledge of the Old Testament (as we call it) with references to "peace" and "seeing and hearing." These words of Jesus reveal the ever-present problem of idolatry as long as man occupies the earth. May we be found intentional in giving up our own way (the way of idolatry), taking up our cross (the way of Jesus), and following Him. So be it.

It Is Time To "See" Jesus

When he went in to his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “I haven’t been anywhere,” he replied. But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants? [2 Kings 5.25-26] 

What time is it?

If, in Elisha's time it was not time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants, then how much more is it not time today to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants?

Today's One Year Chronological Bible Reading reveals it is time to "see." Specifically, it is time to see Jesus in Elisha's story.

Only when we "see" God's Word do we really see the world around us for what it is. This was precisely the case for Elisha. 

In light of the statement above, we can know that we are seeing the Word of God (Jesus) for what it (He) really is when the things of this world mean nothing to us.

It can be argued that Elisha performed even greater miracles than did his predecessor, Elijah. From yesterday's article To "See", we can understand that Elijah's life spoke prophetically of Jesus and the necessity for us to keep our eyes on Him. With this in mind, something Jesus said makes much more sense about the double anointing that Elisha (representing true believers) desired from Elijah (representing Jesus) ...if we truly "see" Jesus for Who He is:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

In contrast, Gehazi represents those who don't "see" Jesus: their worldly desires dominate and they are powerless over disease. 

Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.” When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow. [2 Kings 5.27] 

Leprosy broadly represents the "disease" of not "seeing" Jesus. Jesus addressed this condition in no uncertain terms:

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.15]

Pride, greed and lust are all fruits of idolatry. Idolatry is trusting anything other than, or in addition to, God. "Anything" trusted other than, or in addition to, God includes "self." Such was the case for Gehazi. He was not "seeing" God's Word but allowing his eyes to selfishly see other things: money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants. In contrast, Elisha had entirely rejected Naaman's gifts. 

Think about it... Gehazi's religious "God" conscience would not allow him to request all the gifts Naaman had brought - but as the Scriptures reveal, his idolatry, even the simple idolatry of a little "self" in addition to God, still yielded diseased powerlessness in Gehazi's life.

As much as modern man would like to justify his pursuit of money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants, God's Word simply does not allow it. The New Testament Age of Grace ushered in by Jesus does not allow it. Proof? Jesus said:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

It is time to "see" that the powerless condition of the Church today is not some new dispensation of the Church ("grace" or otherwise), but rather the same old problem of idolatry that it has always been. 

But will we "see" it?

Father, as much as we would like to ask for "eyes to see," it is a fruitless request as long as we refuse to take our eyes off the world. May we take to heart Jesus' demand that we give up our own way (selfishness and idolatry), take up our cross (without a care for our lives), and follow Jesus. So be it.