The City of Man or The City of God?

Photo by Alejandro Luengo on Unsplash

“Ambassadors from the city of God go out day by day into the city of man, warning and imploring the residents to flee the city.”

During 2022, the ravages of drugs tore through America, from the opioid to the fentanyl crisis. Inflation persisted, increasing the cost of goods and services and put immense pressure on households and businesses. Death also reigned upon us causing historically high death rates along with multitudes suddenly dying. In city after city, the lawless became more lawless; the evil, more evil.

Revelation is a book in the Bible that reveals future judgements to come upon mankind. It says, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.” (Rev. 18:2)

Babylon is the city we have all lived in during 2022.

This ancient city is famous for at least three historical points. First, it was the location of the infamous tower of babel. The place where the nations joined together to build a tower to reach the heavens and become like God, until He destroyed their tower and brought confusion to their language. Second, the most notorious leader was King Nebuchadnezzar, whom built Babylon into an expansive empire, conquering nation after nation. Third, Nebuchadnezzar led Babylon to lay siege to Jerusalem, destroying it and capturing its people.

Eventually, Babylon’s pride and glory in itself, brought about its own downfall. Babylon, which once was a servant of God, became His enemy. And 70 years after it conquered Jerusalem, Babylon fell to its enemies and was destroyed on the crucible of its own ego.

The historical city of Babylon eventually grew to become a spiritual picture of the godless cities of mankind. The city of Babylon is the city of man.

These are places where man joins together with others of like mindedness, to pursue the evil desires of his heart. The worldly success they enjoy becomes the envy of other cities. The city grows in all things evil and lawless, glorifying itself and feeling as if they are god-like.

The people of this world, live in the city of Babylon. They are places built on the foundation of man’s own wisdom and knowledge. The evidence of man as architect is clear. Confusion and chaos abound. Crime, immorality and division existing in neighborhood after neighborhood, while corruption lives in the halls of power.

But as we move into 2023, there is something important to note. There is another city, one that was built strategically in opposition to the city of man. It is the city of God, and was established by the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

This city serves the desires of the Lord God, the Creator of heaven and earth. The citizens have turned from their sin, placed their faith in Christ and walk in holiness and love for one another. The city is marked by truth, service, peace, joy, kindness and much more. The Lord indwells each of them through His Spirit and is always with them. Ambassadors from this city go out day by day into the city of man, warning and imploring their residents to flee the city. They plead with them to find refuge in the city of God, as each of them once did. Sometimes their message is received, other times it is rejected and they are cast out of the city.

In 2023, the city of God will continue expanding, seeking to rescue those from the city of man. One day Babylon will fall. The judgement of God will prevail and the city of man will be no more. Yet, the city of God will remain forever, as its Lord and King will. If you are part of the city of man, living for yourself and your own desires, leave at once! Come to the city with a sure foundation, whose builder is God Almighty. Come through His Son and the doors of grace and mercy will be opened to you.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, open the eyes of people to see what city they live in. Bring them to flee the city of man and run to the city of God. Let them leave behind their selfish ways and yield to the just and holy ways of their Creator. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

What Kind of a Child Was This?

                                               Image by Jeff Jacobs from Pixabay 

“Jesus was not just a human little baby, He was deity! He was the Creator God, Almighty God, the eternal God in human form!”

In today’s world and throughout human history there have been miraculous births, where children have survived incredible medical odds to come into this world. There also have been famous children born, who have garnered attention from the masses because of their influential parents. There have been many extraordinary births, but none rise to the remarkableness of the birth of Jesus.

There are numerous parts of Jesus’ birth that causes one to ponder, just as Mary and Joseph did. An angel told Joseph, before he had married her, “. . . for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20) Jesus was conceived through God’s Spirit, while Mary was a virgin, having never lain with man. Nothing like this has ever happened with any other child. The angel also said, “. . . for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21) What child has ever been appointed to such a mission before he was born? And what kind of a person would have the ability to forgive sins? Furthermore, the Scripture says about the Christ-child, “‘. . . they shall call his name Immanuel’ which means, God with us.” (Matt. 1:23) What child has ever been described as “God with us?”

An angel also spoke to Mary saying about her future son, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33) Instead of being called the son of Joseph, her coming child would be called Son of the Most High. Mary understood this to be the Son of God. And this baby would grow up to sit on a throne, and of it there will be no end. Mary was a common woman. How could she be carrying royalty? And everyone dies. What kind of a child would live and reign on a royal throne forever?

Then a strange group of wise men that traveled from far away, came to Jesus when He was nearly two years old. The story reads, “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.” (Matt. 2:11) Wealthy, educated, and spiritual men falling on their knees to worship a two-year old. What kind of a child was this?

Show me another child that has been born like this? In all human history, there is none. And after pondering these things, it leaves one to consider, where was this child from and was He beyond a normal human being?

Jesus spoke of this in His public ministry. Before He was born of Mary, He existed in another place – heaven. Every other child came into existence at conception, but only Jesus existed before He was born!

Who was this child? He was born a King, Lord and Savior. He was worshipped. He looked human, yet He made incredible claims about the supreme God. His opponents said of Him, “but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” (John 5:18) Jesus was not just a human little baby, He was deity! He was the Creator God, Almighty God, the eternal God in human form!

Christmas is the story about when a holy God entered our world and became one of us, that He would save us from our immoral and destructive ways. Come to Him as the wise men did. Bow before the Lord Jesus. Escape the judgement of God and find refuge and peace in His only Son.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, we confess that Jesus is Lord! He is God in human form. Bring us to bow before your holy Son. We put away trusting in ourselves and in our goodness. This day, we trust in Christ alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Mary, She Was One of Us

Image by Adolphe Jourdan

“Mary called herself a servant of the Lord God. She did not exalt herself, because she was chosen among a whole world full of women. Instead, she lowered herself to a servant, doing what a servant does – carrying out her Master’s plans.”

When you think of the Christmas story, who is one of the characters that first comes to mind (besides Jesus, of course)? For many it is Mary, and for good reason, she gave birth to the Lord Jesus. The eternal and divine Son of God.

The fascinating thing about Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and other characters in the Christmas story like Zechariah and Elizabeth; they were common people. None were famous, rich or powerful in the land of Israel. They were unknown, ordinary folks. Mary recognized that ordinariness in herself. Read some of her God-inspired prayer of praise, after the announcement of her mission to carry the Creator’s only Son. “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1:47-49)

Note the words she used like “humble estate”, “servant” and “blessed.” And if you read the entire prayer, there are many other words like this, that speak of her simple ordinariness and incredible humility. Mary had such spiritual maturity at a young age, combined with wisdom and graciousness. To think this prayer came from a youth is amazing. Many religious scholars believe she was a teenager.

A comment I heard one preacher say of Mary is that, “She was one of us.” Another part of her prayer amplifies this when she declares, “God my Savior.” Like her fellow Jewish neighbors, she was created by God. And like them, she also was a broken vessel that had fallen short of God’s standards and was in need of a Savior. Not just a divine being to rescue her from life’s situations, but the one and only true God that she and her ancestors worshiped, whom could forgive their sins. In that sense, she considered the Lord God her Savior. Are you imperfect? Have you fallen short of God’s holy standards? Like Mary, as the Lord God became her Savior, He can become yours too.

Mary called herself a “servant” of the Lord God. She did not exalt herself, because she was chosen among a whole world full of women. Instead, she lowered herself to a servant, doing what a servant does – carrying out her Master’s plans. Her prayer reveals how she sought to elevate the Lord God and lower herself, which is a common theme among all God’s chosen ones.

Mary states how future generations will call her “blessed”, meaning one who has received great fortune from God. The fortune of being chosen to bear the Christ-child. How blessed she was! And so are we. When one has been given salvation through Jesus Christ and born again, is he or she not blessed as well? For those who have received this gift, they are fortunate to have experienced the forgiveness of their sins, the hope of heaven, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and so much more! Mary is not the dispenser of any divine blessings and neither are we. Instead, all of us are humble receivers of God’s precious and timely gifts.

No matter who you are, you can receive the grace the Lord God wants to bestow upon you. You and I are unworthy vessels, as Mary was. Yet, God’s grace through Jesus, makes us worthy. If only we will recognize our fallenness and call out to Him for our salvation, trusting in Him alone, then grace upon grace will be ours.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, we praise you for your divine wisdom in choosing Mary, to carry your only Son. What an example she is to us. As you were her Savior, may you be ours as well. Humble us as she was, then bring us to turn from our sin and to you, that we may experience your abundant grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Christmas: The Hope of The World

                                              Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

"Christmas shows us that evil in the human heart is the greatest threat to the future of the world. God so believed this truth, He sent His only Son to be born of a virgin, then to die on a cross and rise again."

On the eve of history’s first Christmas, it was a dark time for the Jewish people. Their land was occupied by the Roman Empire. The Lord God had not spoken to them for hundreds of years. Heaven’s voice was silent. Their religious texts spoke of prophecies about a King that would rise up from among them. They anticipated this King, that He would be their deliverer from Roman rule. How would darkness be turned to light? How would despair be turned to hope?

In approximately 4 B.C. a divine earthquake caused a split right down the middle of human history – the birth of Jesus Christ. It was like the rising of the sun dispelling the darkness. It was a new era for mankind.

The Jewish prophet Isaiah, 700 years earlier, foretold about the coming of a Messiah who would become the hope, not just of the Jewish people, but of all nations. Isaiah wrote, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Jesus was the fulfillment of this prediction. The birth of the Christ-child was a divine light borne into darkness. As He grew up and settled into His heaven-sent role, the public responded and a divine unstoppable movement took shape. However, His followers soon became disillusioned at His messaging. He was not becoming the national Savior they envisioned. Soon, the dreams they had of Jesus turning back the Roman Empire started to fade away.

Instead, Jesus told the crowds, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) He also said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Lk. 9:23) This meant if they wanted to follow Him, they must give up pursuing their agenda and take up God’s. This was much different than expected.

Jesus' focus was the hearts and souls of mankind. He purposed to deliver them from the bondage of sin and lead them to spiritual freedom. He was born to govern the lives of precious souls, not a nation.

The lesson of Christmas teaches, that the change our world needs is ultimately spiritual. Like the Jewish people, we can look around and see our world filled with oppression and injustice and wonder how it all can change. Like them, our hope can be for a type of national savior to be raised up. This is how we naturally think. In times of national crisis, we instinctively begin with what we can do with our own intellect and resources. And history is replete with the rise and fall of political, military, religious and other types of national figures to help save their nation.

Law, policies, programs, regulations, committees, organizations, investigations. All these have their place. At best, they can curb, reduce or control lawlessness and corruption, but they cannot eliminate it. Why? Because the heart of the problem is the human heart. Jeremiah once wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Then he penned God’s own words, “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind . . .” (Jer. 17:10)

Christmas shows us that evil in the human heart is the greatest threat to the future of the world. God so believed this truth, He sent His only Son to be born of a virgin, then to die on a cross and rise again. Through this, Christ conquered evil. And to all who come to Him in repentance and faith, He will provide forgiveness of sin and a transformed heart and life.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, open our eyes to see beyond the physical to the spiritual. Bring men and women to humble themselves before you and be changed by your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

The Darkest Day of Christmas

Photo by D A V I D S O N L U N A on Unsplash

“God showed ruthless Herod mercy through the wise men. He was given a chance by His Creator to go with them and genuinely worship baby Jesus, but he refused.”

In our modern celebration of Christmas, it is a joyous time of the year. But when we look at the origins of the holiday, we find a dark and tragic side. And when we go deeper, we discover how a little baby posed such a grave threat to one man’s power.

One day the whole city of Jerusalem became stirred, when a large entourage of wise men arrived. Nearly two years earlier they observed an unusual light in the sky. They were a group of men who studied the stars. Through their study, God revealed the star was a sign that a king had been born.

Therefore, the wise men were strongly compelled to follow it. They began travelling from their far eastern country and went many miles. They were led to the city of Jerusalem. When they arrived, they began asking, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2) Their presence and what they were asking troubled the city. Soon King Herod, who governed Jerusalem, was made aware of their arrival and met with them. The wise men asked Herod the same thing.

Decades earlier, the Roman Senate conferred on Herod the title, “King of the Jews.” Herod had a reputation as an evil ruler, for he had executed some of his own family members in his obsession to retain power. So, when the wise men came looking for this baby king who had been born, all Israel knew Herod would go after this political rival, even if He was just a baby.

Herod assembled the religious leaders, and based upon various prophecies it was determined the Baby-King was born in the city of Bethlehem. The wise men travelled there to worship Him. Later, after being tricked by the wise men, Herod ordered all baby boys in the Bethlehem region, two years and younger, to be seized from their families and executed. Pure evil! There was no “joy to the world.” It was a dark time, and an ominous sign of things to come. Jesus’ life would be continually marked by conflicts with those in power. His life would eventually come to a temporary end, when He was crucified by Jewish and Roman leaders. Temporary, because three days later He rose from the dead and foiled their plans.

The person and message of Jesus will pose a conflict with many who are in power. Why? Because it is a battle about authority. It is an inner spiritual conflict of the heart over the Lordship of Jesus. Herod had no intention of bowing before Christ, as the wise men did. Instead, he foolishly sought to destroy Him and a whole city of baby boys.

So many like Herod, are drunk on their own pride. They blind themselves with their hard heart toward the divine hope they so desperately need. As a result, they continue bringing havoc and chaos on themselves and those around them. All the while, they do not understand other people are not their enemy, but it is God. They are opposing the ways of God to their own demise. And just as it drove Herod to absolute madness, it will do the same to anyone else. Herod was rich, famous and powerful, yet He was miserable.

Even so, God showed ruthless Herod, mercy through the wise men. He was given a chance by His Creator to go with them and genuinely worship baby Jesus, but he refused. Today, you are given the same chance. Through Christ, there is good news. If you turn from your pride and submit before Heaven’s King you can have peace. The war within will end. Refreshment from heaven will be poured out upon you.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, I pray you will humble the mightiest and proudest. Send an earthquake upon their lives to reveal they are mere men and women. Then show them mercy. Provide them an opportunity to come and worship the King of Kings and receive His eternal peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”