To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Category: Christian Page 25 of 169

Far above rubies

SangeethaIt is my beloved wife, Sangeetha’s birthday and as I was searching the Scripture on what it had to say about wives, when I came across Proverbs 31:10. Proverbs 31:10 reads Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” The question of “who” can find a virtuous (noble) woman is not answered in this verse, but a “value” of a virtuous woman is mentioned.

The phrase “her price is far above rubies” made me research on what could be the worth of rubies and to my surprise I found out that rubies are extremely valuable and can command the highest prices of any colored gemstone, according to the Gemological Institute of America, Inc. reports. In the Poetical Works of Thomas Moore, Mr. Moore rhythmically pens the following words, As if that jewel, large and rare, The ruby, for which Kublai-Khan
Offer’d a city’s wealth, was blushing eluding to the writings of Marco Polo, the Italian merchant of the account of the Mongolian ruler, Kublai Khan, offering to the the king of Zeilan the value of a city for a very fine ruby that the king had. The king answered to Kublai Khan that he would not give it for the treasures of the world. If man, can put such worth, to a gemstone, how much more God puts worth in a woman of virtue, far more than rubies.

This too me a personal reminder that the best birthday gift that I can give Sangeetha, my beloved virtuous wife, is that I treat and view her, as God does her – far above rubies.

Points to ponder:
And all those who are of the elect, who have believed in the Lord Jesus – we the wife of the bridegroom Jesus – we have been bought by the blood of Jesus (the color of high quality ruby is often referred to as blood red) and our price is far above rubies for that is how God sees us.

Proverbs 31:10 (KJV)
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The LORD’s visitation

Genesis 21 starts out by saying that the Lord visited Sarah as he said he would and did unto Sarah as he had spoken. This establishes the fact that you can take the Lord at his word. He shows up (visits) as he promises and does what he says he would do.

Jesus showed up at the appointed time (Galatians 4:4) as God had promised (prophesied) in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15) and did the will of God the Father (John 6:38). However the people did not know the time of the Lord’s visitation which grieved the heart of Jesus, so much so, that he wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44). Jesus has also promised to return again and visit mankind just as he had done in the past (John 14:3).

Points to ponder:
God shows up as he promises and does what he says he will do. He said that he will come back to take those who believe in him to where he is (John 14:1-3) and you can take him at his word. The LORD’s visitation is a surety. The question is whether we will be ready or not to know of his vistation? Failure to recognize his visitation grieves the very heart of God. Would you have Jesus cry again? Watch and be on guard for the Lord’s visitation, for he has promised it.

Genesis 21:1 (KJV)
1 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

Luke 19:41-44 (KJV)
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Integrity of heart and Innocency of hands

Genesis 20 records the account of Abimelech, king of Gerar, Abraham, Sarah and the Lord.

After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham moved South and came to dwell in Gerar, which was ruled by king Abimelech. With the misconception that there was no fear of the Lord in that place, Abraham for fear of his own life, resorts to lying again about his relationship with Sarah, calling her his sister instead of calling her his wife. Although Sarah was technically his half-sister from his father Terah, but from a different mother, the half-truth was no better than a lie, for God himself refers to Sarah as Abraham’s wife and not his sister.

Abimelech believes Abraham’s lie and takes Sarah in to be his wife. But the Lord appears to Abimelech in a dream and warns him that if he does not return Abraham’s wife, then he is as good as dead. The Lord had stopped the wombs of the women in the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. The lineage of Abimelech could not continue anymore if he did not listen to the warning of the Lord and that meant he was as good as dead.

Abimelech reasons with the Lord and states his case that it was with integrity of his heart and innocency of his hands that he took Sarah, and that his nation was indeed a righteous nation (implying that they trusted in the Lord and that the fear of the Lord was with them). The Bible also records that because of the integrity of Abimelech’s heart, the Lord had prevented Abimelech from sinning against the Lord by preventing him from touching Sarah.

Abimelech returns Sarah after questioning Abraham of how he could do such a thing and gives him many sheep and oxen, servants and silver (a thousand pieces), besides offering his land for Abraham to choose and dwell. Abraham prays for the house of Abimelech and they are healed of their barrenness.

Points to ponder:
God looks at the matters of the heart. The Psalmist declares, that God’s word has he hidden in his heart so that he may not sin against God (Psalm 119:11). When the heart is of integrity, the hands are innocent. Our actions follow our attitude and if our attitude is of allegiance to the Lord God, then he himself prevents us from sinning against him, by the presence of his Holy Spirit. Failure to have a heart after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), one that is perfect before him (2 Chronicles 16:9) can lead to sinful hands and barren lives. Is your heart one of integrity?

Genesis 20:1-18 (KJV)
And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.
But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.
12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
18 For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife. 

The consequences of the carnal …

Genesis 19:30-38 records the account of how Lot’s daughters who got Lot drunk and lay with him, in order to preserve the seed of their father. Although at that time, there was not a legal precedent that condemned Lot’s daughters for their act, the consequences of this carnal act was that each of the daughters birthed a son. The first daughter gave birth to Moab who became the father of the Moabites and the second daughter give birth to Benammi, who became the father of the Ammonites – both nations who became enemies of the children of Abraham (the Jewish nation) for many years to come.

The existence of whether a law exists or not does not preclude the fact that carnal (fleshly) acts will have consequences.

Points to ponder:
Remember, there are consequences to the things we do in our carnal state of mind. Are you walking by the Spirit of God or by your carnal nature?

Genesis 19:30-38 (KJV)  
30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:|
32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
37 And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

God remembered …

The Bible records that Abraham got up early in the morning, after the night in which the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by brimstone from heaven, and went to the place where he had stood before the Lord who had visited him, the day before. From there he looked and saw smoke, as if rising from a furnace, over the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and from all the land in the plain. But what is interesting to note is that the Bible records that when God destroyed the cities of the plain, God remembered Abraham (his intercession and plea for keeping the righteous safe from perishing with the wicked) and saved Lot (Genesis 19:29).

Points to ponder:
For whose salvation are you and I interceding and pleading for? God is seeking for us to stand in the gap for our land so that he would not destroy it for its wickedness (Ezekiel 22:30). If God’s judgment was to fall now on mankind, can it be said, God remembered you/me and saved so and so, for we interceded for them? Think about this …

Genesis 19:27-29 (KJV)
27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord:
28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.
29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

Ezekiel 22:30 (KJV)
30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Lesson from Lot’s wife – the Pillar of Salt

For those who are familiar with the Bible, the story of Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt, when she disobeyed and looked back at the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, is not unknown (Genesis 19:26).

Since the Bible is not explicit on the details of this transformation, there are quite a few questions left unanswered. What is this pillar of salt? Was Lot’s wife’s body tissue calcified from within or was she covered with the residue of the brimstone poured out of heaven? Was she punished because of the allegiance of her heart to the wickedness of the city she lived in or was it because of her disobedience in looking back? Why did the angels not ask Lot about his wife, but asked his sons, daughters and even his sons-in-law? (Genesis 19:12). Did they already know that this unnamed wife of Lot would look back even after she had the knowledge of her salvation, and is that why they warned the family to not look back? There are so many questions that the natural mind warrants answers for and it would be mere speculation and futile of man to even attempt to answer these. However, the answers to the spiritual mind are more evident than the natural ones.

From this account, we can learn a few hidden truths that is well substantiated by the Bible.

  1. The consequences of disobeying God willfully after the foreknowledge of salvation is death (Hebrews 10:26) as the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
  2. To look back is to consider the ways of the past – our lives before we come to know of the saving grace of Jesus Christ – a life that is sinful and contrary to the will and ways of God. But anyone who is in Christ Jesus is a new creature; the old has gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). The new can have nothing to do with the old for the new shall burst out the old as new wine bursts out the old wineskin if put in it (Matthew 9:17). Instead of looking back at our wicked pasts and be drawn to it, we must look on forward unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
  3. A pillar is usually erected to hold something on top of it or as a monument of remembrance. Lot’s wife was one who had lost her saltiness (Luke 14:34) only to find out that she would serve as a monumental reminder to the truth that friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4).

Points to ponder:
Where are you looking at and more importantly who are you looking at? To look behind and be drawn to a wicked lifestyle after having seen the Salvation of the Lord bears the consequences of death – Look not behind at the world but unto Jesus. Are you a friend of the world (James 4:4) or are you a Friend of God (James 2:23)?

Genesis 19:23-26 (KJV)
23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;
25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Hebrews 10:26-27 (KJV)
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Romans 6:22-23 (KJV)
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

James 4:4 (KJV)
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

James 2:23 (KJV)
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

When God says “I cannot do anything till …”

When one thinks of God they are not usually expected to think of God saying “I cannot do anything till …” and yet here, as Lot is commanded to escape from the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord God tarries his punishment until Lot is in a safe place, where he won’t come under the indignation and judgment of God. God is willing to wait until Lot and his family are safe.

Points to ponder:
God does not want anyone to perish, especially the righteous who have put their faith and trust in Jesus, accepting him as their Lord and Savior and King. God cannot do anything till the righteous are safe, for he is a Just God and won’t punish the righteous with the wicked.

The Bible teaches us that while the return of the Lord as Judge and King may seem like it is not near, let us be careful to not take the longsuffering (patient) nature of God as one of slackness (2 Peter 3:9). He tarries to bring punishment so that the wheat is not burnt up with the weeds and God is not willing that any should perish (just as he did not want Lot and his family to perish), but he wills that all come to repentance.

Genesis 19:22 (KJV)
22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Asking for the Zoar in our life

When the two angelic visitors commanded Lot to not stay in the plain, but to escape to the mountains, before they brought down God’s judgment on the wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah, we see Lot asking the angels if he could instead got to the city that is near by, a city that is a little one (small and insignificant) – a city name Zoar – his reason was , and it was agreed so. Zoar was spared on account of Lot, but what is of importance to note, is that many a times like Lot, instead of running to escape to the mountains, we focus on our own abilities and ask for the insignificant and small things that we feel are accessible.

Points to ponder:
When God commands us to go to the mountain tops (the zenith of our life for him), let us not ask for the small and insignificant (Zoar) in our life.

Genesis 19:18-21 (KJV)
18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

Escape to The mountain

Maryann Mott, writes in the January 4th, 2005 issue of National Geographic News that the animals (God’s creature) sought higher ground just before the Tsunami hit the shores of India and Srilanka and relatively few animals were found to be dead – in other words, more animals that escaped to the mountains escaped death.

Of the four things that the angelic visitors in the house of Lot, told Lot and his family who were with him, when they had led them by their hand, outside the wicked city of Sodom, the fourth was “escape to the mountain”

Did you notice that this command was first and foremost specific. It was not “escape to any mountain”, it was to “escape to the mountain”. Although, we are not exactly told as to which mountain, it was that, Lot and his family were commanded to go, we know that, they were not to stay in the plain but go to higher ground. The Psalmist makes it clear the we ought to look up to the hills (mountains) from where our help comes from (Psalm 121:1) and no evil shall befall those who make the Lord, even the Most High, their shelter (habitation/dwelling place) (Psalm 91:9-10).

What is this mountain that we ought to escape to? Interestingly, the Bible speaks of several mountains where you would find Jesus, during his life on earth as man.
1. Mount of Temptation – from which Jesus demonstrated that “It is written,” how the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, needs to be used in spiritual warfare (Matthew 4:1-11; Ephesians 6:10-18)
2. Mount of Beatitudes – from which he taught about what it meant to be “Blessed” (Matthew 5:1-12)
3. Mount of Transfiguration – where you see Jesus glorified in great splendor, bright shining as the sun and in white raiment of undefiled righteousness (Matthew 17:1-3).
4. Mount of Olives – from which he gave the Olivet’s discourse, speaking of signs and warning of the end times (Matthew 24)
5. Mount Calvary (Golgotha) – where you will see Jesus on a Cross (in our stead), bolding declaring that the work of God’s salvation and redemption of mankind back to himself was now complete, and his work of fulfilling the will and work of God was now finished (Matthew 27:33). Interestingly, it is speculated (along with some archaeological evidence) that the place on mount Moriah, where Abraham offered Isaac his son, is about where Calvary/Golgotha is, where God offered Jesus, his only begotten Son, as a sacrifice for mankind.
6. Mount in Galilee – where you find Jesus after his resurrection from the dead, meeting with his disciples (Matthew 28:7,16) and where he is worshipped by his true disciples. It is here that Jesus gave the charge of the great commission to all of his disciples and the promise of being with them forever.
7. Mount Zion – where you will see Jesus, the Lamb of God, standing with his saints, who had sacrificed their lives for him, marked with the name of God the Father (Revelation 14:1).

Points to ponder: 
We need to run to the mountain to
– learn about how we ought to be spiritual gladiators (prizefighters), fighting with the weapons of God against temptations, the good fight of faith laying hold on eternal life,
– learn about the beatitudes and what it means to be truly blessed, by, and in the Lord.
– see Jesus transfigured before our eyes as the undefiled, unblemished, sinless, High Priest with robes of righteousness and the bright Sun giving Light to this dark world.
– hear his discourse of the warnings in the end times to come.
– see him be the perfect Sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, shedding his blood for our sakes, without which there is no remission of sin or hope for mankind.
– be given and to take charge in the great commission as his disciples.
– stand alongside Jesus the Lamb of God, marked as ones belonging to God the Father, as his saints, laying down our very lives as living sacrifices.

We ought to run to the mountain to escape. Which mountain are you on? The important thing is not to stay in the plain, but to escape to the mountain. Have you met with Jesus on The mountain, without whom, there is no escape. Escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

Genesis 19:17 (KJV)
17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

Stay not in the plain

Of the four things that the angelic visitors in the house of Lot, told Lot and his family who were with him, when they had led them by their hand, outside the wicked city of Sodom, the third was “neither stay thou in all the plain”

It is quite obvious that the angelic visitors did not want Lot or his family to be in the area where the Lord’s judgment was going to fall – on the cities of the plain, of which Sodom and Gomorrah were part of (Genesis 13:10; Genesis 14:1-3; Genesis 19:28). In other words, God did not want Lot to be associated with anything wicked, especially in a zone (plain) of danger.

Points to ponder:
Unlike the hills, the plains are susceptible to relatively more disasters – natural disasters, such as twisters etc., since there are no obstructions to protect against these natural calamities. In like manner, when we live in the plains – a plateaued lifestyle without fervor and service to the Lord God – the onslaughts of the twister (deceiver and liar who twists the truth – John 8:44, ) is brought on us. We must not stay in the plain but run to the hills, from where our help comes from (Psalm 121:1). Are you in the plains? Stay not in the plains, says the Lord.

Genesis 19:17 (KJV)
17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

 

Page 25 of 169

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén