Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Month: April 2013

Is it okay to cheat on our taxes (or tithes)?

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On April 15, 2013

In Christian

April 15, which is colloquially referred to as “Tax Day” in the United States of America, is the official deadline by which each legal resident and citizen must file their tax records with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agency of the U.S. government. Some would need to pay the government the taxes they owe, while others would receive a return for taxes, that they have overpaid, to the government, over the course of the year. Either way, it is by April 15 annually that the tax records must be filed.

The apostle Mark records in chapter 12 verses 13 to 17, an interesting incident that occurred during the time of Jesus. Certain Pharisees and Herodians (both Jewish sects) sought to trap Jesus, in his words, and starting out with flatteries, question him, asking “Is is lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” They added, “Shall we give, or shall we not give?” In today’s context, this could be interpreted as “Should we pay taxes to the ruling government or not?” or in other words it could also be interpreted as “Is is okay to cheat on our taxes by not giving what we owe or should we give and not cheat?”

Jesus, knew of their hypocrisy, that if he answered affirmatively, they would brand him to be a traitor to his (Jewish) people, as they did of tax collectors (whom they branded as publicans at par or even lesser in status than sinners) and if he answered negatively, then they would brand him to be a rebel who goes against the Roman government. Jesus questioned, why do you attempt to tempt me  and asked his questioners to bring him a penny (a Roman coin) and they brought it to him. He asked “Whose is the image and the superscription?” on the coin to which they replied, “Caesar.” Jesus wisely replied, if the coin belongs to Caesar, then render it to Caesar and whatever belongs to God, that render to God.

In other words, Jesus was saying that “If you owe the government what belongs to the government, then pay your dues.” To falsify tax deductions with the goal of maximizing returns is cheating on taxes. But did you notice, Jesus did not limit his response to solely answering the question about taxes. He took it one step further and spoke about what was due to God (such as our tithes, our time, our talents, etc.), render to God. While some may think of Jesus’ response as a way to separate State (Taxes) and Church (Tithes, etc.), closer scrutiny actually reveals that Jesus was not divisive, but instead accommodative, for he brings matters of the State and matters of the Church together, under the same context. Just as it is wrong to cheat on our taxes, it is equally, if not more seriously wrong, to cheat on our tithes, time and talents. While it is possible for one who cheats on their taxes to get away with it and not face an audit, one can be sure that one can never get away from God the auditor, and will face an audit during which time, he/she must be able to answer the question – Should we give or should we not give?

Points to ponder:
Let us as children of God not cheat on our taxes, AND not cheat on our tithes, time or talents. Let us render our tax to whom it is due and let us render our tithes to God, to whom it is due. To give is an expression of loving and if you love God, you will give just as God who loved the world so much that he GAVE his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Before Jesus gave his life for all of mankind, including you and me, I thank God that he did not ask of his Father, “Should I give or should I not give?”

Mark 12:13-17 (KJV)
13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.
17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

Generations of the heavens and of the earth

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On April 9, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 2:4 states “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.” While many would read this merely as a restatement of God’s creation as mentioned in Genesis 1:1, close scrutiny of this verse reveals certain hidden truths that are intriguing for sure, but more importantly should not be overlooked.

In the article, “Heaven” or “Heavens” or “Heaven and Heavens”, we first learned about the singularity and the plurality of heaven and the singularity of the earth. Here let us look at another phrase from this same verse. The phrase is “generations of the heavens and of the earth“, implying that these creations of God, are not inanimate as one would expect them to be.

The primary definition of the word “generation” in the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is “a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor.” Generations of the heavens – what could that mean? Before we get to that, let’s first look at the generations of the earth – what is that? The body of living beings (including you and me) constituting a single step in the line of descent from the first Adam make up the generations (children) of the earth for God fashioned man out of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, making man a living soul (Genesis 2:7). In fact, God then commands man to be fruitful and to multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it. (Genesis 1:28).

Now coming back to the question, what does the generations of the heavens mean? The Bible makes it clear that no man has ascended into heaven unless he has come down from heaven (John 3:13) and it continues to clarify that no man can receive anything, unless it is given to him from heaven (John 3:27). Jesus is the last Adam, the Lord from heaven who has come down from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:45) and he ascended into it after finishing his work of redeeming all mankind unto God (John 19:30) by willingly sacrificing himself (John 10:18) and giving his life as a ransom (1 Timothy 2:6) to bring many sons unto glory (Hebrews 2:10). Because of Jesus, the Son of God who was born the Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15; Galatians 3:16,19,29), man who was an enemy of God (James 4:4) has now the provision to be called the child of God (of the heavens and of the earth) and can get included in the genealogy of God when man believes and receives Jesus Christ for to them that believe and receive him (John 1:12), is granted the Spirit of Adoption, by which we can call God, Abba Father (Romans 8:15).

Points to ponder:
Everyone who is born in the line of the first Adam is of the generation of the earth. Everyone who is born again in the line of the last Adam (Jesus Christ) is of the generation of the heavens. We are born on earth and when we believe in Jesus; the One man, who is from heaven, who came to earth and ascended to heaven ; the last Adam, we are born again in heaven. We are of the generations of the earth, but are we of the generations of the heavens?

Genesis 2:4 (KJV)
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,

John 3:13 (KJV)
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:45-52 (KJV)
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
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, and we shall be changed.

“Heaven” or “heavens” or “Heaven and heavens”

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On April 8, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 2:4 states “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.” While many would read this merely as a restatement of God’s creation as mentioned in Genesis 1:1, close scrutiny of this verse reveals certain hidden truths that are intriguing for sure, but more importantly should not be overlooked.

Note how the earth is noted as singular while heavens is noted in the plural. The place where we dwell is this ‘singular’ earth, and it is God’s footstool (Isaiah 66:1) until it is melted/laid bare as passed away (2 Peter 3:10) and a new earth is made (Revelation 21:1), but for now, it is on this one earth, that God’s kingdom is to come as Jesus expresses in the prayer he taught the disciples when he said, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Genesis 1:1 records that God created the heaven and the earth and here the word heaven is in the singular form. However in Genesis 2:1 and 2:4 the word heaven is used in the plural forms as “heavens” implying that that there is more than one heaven. While this may seem as a discrepancy, since the word of God is infallible, we need to search only the Scripture (not Science or some other texts and scrolls) further to understand the singularity and plurality of heaven. The heaven in singular (which is mentioned in Genesis 1:1 and the prayer Jesus taught the disciples) is where the throne of God is, for the prophet Isaiah in the first verse of chapter 66 records that God says, “THE heaven is my throne and THE earth is my footstool.” Prophet Nehemiah ties this heaven where God’s throne is to the other heavens he created, for in chapter 9 verse 6, he records that God has made the heaven, the heaven of heavens implying that the heaven where God’s throne (implying kingship) is above all of his creations – the heavens (and the earth). God is King and his fullness in Jesus must be understood as Jesus – The KING of KINGS and the LORD of LORDS (Revelation 19:16).

Now one may be inclined to ask, what are these other heavens that God has created. Going back to the infallible Scripture, we see apostle Paul write in his letter to the church in Corinth, in chapters 12 verses 2 to 4 that he saw in a vision a man caught up to a third heaven and to paradise. From this we can infer that the other heavens are places of God’s creation where those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are or will go to be. Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross next to his own, when he recognized Jesus as Lord and King, that most assuredly “You shall be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) Furthermore, apostle Paul writes “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Points to ponder:
We must not get caught up with the number (how many) and location (where) of the heavens for that which is not revealed are the secret things that belong to the Lord (Deuteronomy 29:29). Instead we must be transformed and renewed so that we are caught up to the heavens when Jesus returns in his glory to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. One thing we be certain of now is this – God created the heaven (where his throne is) for he is King, the heaven of heavens (3rd heaven, paradise) and the earth. Paradise means a place of rest and where the Lord is there is rest (liberty from the chains that bind us which makes us unrestful) and only in Jesus Christ can one find true rest, for Jesus said, “Come unto me, all of you that are weary and heavy laden and I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” (Matthew 11:28).

God is in the heavens (Psalm 115:3) and on earth we must pray and seek his kingdom first (Matthew 6:33) so that we when are caught up to be with him (in the heavens), we shall be worthy to enter into his rest (Hebrews 4:1). Harden not your hearts and come to come to Jesus! As he promised, he will give you rest, when you believe.

Genesis 2:1,4 (KJV)
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,

Nehemiah 9:6 (KJV)
6 Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

Psalm 115:2-3 (KJV)
2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

To rest or not to rest?

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On April 4, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

To rest or not to rest? – that is the question.

Genesis 2:2-3 records that on the seventh day, God rested. While we have heard several sermons about God resting on the seventh day, from which an extrapolation of the need and importance to rest, is exposited, it is important to note that the verses read that God “ended” his work and he rested. He “blessed” the seventh day and “sanctified” it (declared it holy), because it was the day when he rested.

The first thing to note is that we must complete the work that we have been tasked with i.e., just as God ended the work of making new things before he rested, we must end our work as well. The good news is that God who began the good work in us will bring it to  completion (Philippians 1:6) as we are ambassadors of his, making things new by presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ, for whoever is in Christ is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Also when we rest, we must bless the Lord for having given us rest. Jesus said, the sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath (Mark 2:27) i.e., in other words, rest, that is important, is necessary so that man can take his mind and body off the things of this world, a chasing after the wind, and focus on God and the things above, blessing God and keeping the sabbath (rest) holy, just as God did. Well, the fourth commandment in the ten commandments is to “Remember the sabbath (rest) day, to keep it holy. ” (Exodus 20:8)

Points to ponder:
To rest or not to rest? –  that is the question. We must rest only when we end our work (and God will help being our work for him to completion) and when we rest we must bless God and keep our rest holy.

Genesis 2:2-3 (KJV)
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Mark 2:27 (KJV)
27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

Exodus 20:8 (KJV)
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

The creation of angels – When or Why?

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On April 3, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When were angels created? In the creation account, we often hear of God creating the Day and the Night, the Heaven and the Earth, the Land and the Seas, the two great lights (Sun and Moon) and the stars, Fishes, Birds, Animals and man, but seldom do we hear of God creating the angelic beings. When did God create angels, for they certainly did not exist from everlasting to everlasting (as did God – Psalm 90:2) but were made as was man, just a little higher than man (Psalm 8:5)?

Genesis 2:1 records that God finished the creation of the heavens and the earth AND the (heavenly) host (armies) before he rested. While the word ‘host’ meaning ‘army’ could be interpreted as speaking about the heavenly bodies (stars and celestial bodies in the sky) as some believe, we are told in the Genesis creation account explicitly about the creation of the two great light and the stars. This make me more inclined to believe that the reference to ‘host’ here is to angelic beings and not angelic bodies. My reasoning stems from what the apostle Luke refers to the armies of angels that praised and gave glory to God, at the birth of Jesus. He refers to them as a multitude of heavenly host (Luke 2:13). This is further substantiated by what the prophet Nehemiah writes in chapter 9 verse 6. Nehemiah 9:6 states the Lord is God alone for he made the heaven, the heaven of heavens and all their host and the host of heaven worships him.

I started this article by asking “When” were angels created? Actually, “when” the angels were created is of far lesser significance than “why” they were created. Angels (who were made a little higher than man) were made to worship God and they worship him in heaven.

Points to ponder:
If even the angelic beings who were made higher than man were created to worship him and they worshipped him, so must we worship our creator God for his is worthy of our worship. Do I worship God who made the angels and me? Do you worship God who made the angels and you? Don’t let the angels alone be the ones who worship God!

Genesis 2:1 (KJV)
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had

Nehemiah 9:6 (KJV)
6 Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

Who is a Fool? Are you one?

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On April 2, 2013

In April Fools Day, Christian

April 1st is deemed “April Fools” day in many countries and on this day people (friends usually) play practical jokes and hoaxes on each other. But who is a fool?

While the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines a ‘fool’ as one lacking judgment or prudence, the Bible has quite a clear cut definition of who is a fool.

The fool says in his heart, there is no God and is corrupted (Psalm 14:1; Psalm 53:1), but let us not be too hasty to brand all atheists and anti-theists as fools, for someone who believes in God can be a fool as well. Inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit of God, the apostle Paul, writes to the church members in Galatia and called them fools when they added to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of total grace and grace alone. All one needs to do is to believe (and the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed on them), for no one can work and earn their salvation. It is not by works but by grace alone through faith, is the one, who believes in Jesus Christ and the one true God who sent him to be the redeemer of mankind, saved. But the Galatians had been bewitched into thinking that “grace + works” (in the keeping the works of the law) saved. (Galatians 3:1-11) and Paul calls them “foolish” Galatians.

Points to ponder:
A fool is not only the one who denies the existence of God, but one who thinks that “Jesus + something” is what is needed to be saved. All we need is Jesus – nothing or no one else, for if we add to the redemptive work of Christ, we are  fools and fools who lack judgment or prudence shall be judged by the Judge over all – God and this is no practical joke or hoax. Don’t be a fool!

Psalm 14:1-2 (KJV)
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

Galatians 3:1-11 (KJV)
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Jesus is alive, so what?

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On April 1, 2013

In Christian, Easter

We celebrated Easter last Sunday, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death, whereby he victoriously defeated the devil who had the power of death, delivering those who through fear of death were subject to bondage all their lifetime (Hebrews 2:14-15). Easter is therefore a declaration that “Jesus is alive.”

Jesus is alive, so what? is a question that many seek to answer. The answer is given in the Bible and it is recorded in the book to the Romans in chapter 8 verse 11. Romans 8:11 reads “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Points to ponder:
Jesus is alive, so what? you ask and here is my response.
I am alive, because he is alive.
Let the Spirit of God in us live his purpose, in our lives, and through our lives, so that when God gives his testimony of us, he does not have to say what he declared of the church of Sardis, that they had a reputation for being alive, but are dead (Revelation 3:1; NLT).
Are you dead or alive? Jesus is alive, so must we be!

Romans 8:11 (KJV)
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Hebrews 2:14-15 (KJV)
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;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

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