Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Tag: Created by God

Lessons from the Moth – ephemeral to eternal

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On May 6, 2009

In Bible Animals, Christian

The moth in the Bible has been used to describe the ephemeral nature of life. The Hebraic word that describes the moth is literally a derivative from the root that mean ‘to fall away’ like moth eaten garments.

Job 4:19 reads “How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are cursed before the moth?
Isaiah 50:9 reads “Behold the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up”

Closer introspection of these two texts reveal three wonderful hidden truths

  1. the creation of  man,
  2. the aging  and falling away (natural death) of man and
  3. the glorious Truth of Salvation.

The creation of man –
We were created in the imago dei [image of God], formed from the dust of the ground (Gen 1:27; Gen 2:7) and we hold in our clay-molden (jars of clay) bodies, the excellency of the power of God, and the glory of God which is Jesus Christ (2 Corinthian 4:7). Our created bodies dwell in houses of clay and our foundation is the dust (Job 4:19)

The aging and falling away of man –
Isaiah 50:9b states that these jars of clay (our bodies) shall wax old as a garment; that the moth will eat away.  It has been appointed unto man that he should die once and then enter into judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Our days of life are not only numbered, but each day is recorded in God’s calendar and will come to pass. While on this journey on earth, however, let us remember not to count our days but make our days count.

The glorious Truth of Salvation –
Isaiah 50:9a states that the Lord God will help us and questions the reader as to whether there is anyone who shall condemn us.  Jesus (Lord God) is the ONLY way and our helper. In him, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). He did not condemn the woman caught in  the act of adultery or the malefactor on the cross. If we ask him to, He will accept us, just as we are, unclean and unworthy. He can transform our ephemeral (short-lived) lives into eternal living (with him). Ask him to, now, if you have not already done so.

Romans 8:1 (KJV)
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

God’s priceless creation – Nameless

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On February 24, 2009

In Christian

Once while traveling in Fortaleza, Brazil, my friend and brother,  Marcelo Goulart (who also helped with translation to Portuguese) and I had the privilege of talking to the Geovani, the lady who served us in the hotel we stayed. During the course of our conversation, she had a profound question, one that I could not answer then. She said, if we are sons/daughters of God and Jesus is the Son of God, then aren’t we brothers and sisters of Jesus and in that sense, equal to being ‘God’ ourselves? This is also the notion that some other pantheistic religions have in the world today.

God the creator brought every one of His creation to “the man” (Adam) so that he could give them names. (Gen 2:19). Interestingly, God never named even his most priceless of creation, whom God had created in Imago Dei (the image of God), but simply called him Adam meaning “the man”.  This is profound, we are NOT gods, we are men/women. Jesus, said, whoever does the will of my Father (God) is my brother and sister and mother, but He is the only begotten (God in essence), we are the created (reflections of God the maker, not God ourselves).

Unfortunately, we strive hard to change God’s plan and design by working really hard to make a name for ourselves (present company included).  This was the same desire that the people with a unified language had when they aspired to build the tower that reached unto heaven. They said “Lets build a city and a tower that reaches the heaven and let’s make a name for ourselves”. (Genesis 11:4). For those unfamiliar with this story, God intervened and confused their languages so that they all started babbling (and hence the name Babel) and were thus unsuccessful in their efforts. In God’s design, making a name for God is what he seeks, not making a name for ourselves.

We strive to make a name for ourselves but let us understand that when we seek NOT to be known, God will exalt us if it is in his permissive will. Jesus who made himself of no reputation (Phil 2:7) was given a name above all names (Phil 2:9).

Tiger Tiger Burning Bright

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On February 11, 2009

In Christian, Movie Motions, Music Musings, Poetic Prompts

TigerOne of the songs that we jam to, on Guitar Hero World Tour, is the ever famous “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor (1982), the same song that is the backdrop to Sylvester Stallone’s movie – Rocky. Listening to this song, got me thinking as to what was so special about the Eye of the Tiger. Undoubtedly, it is intimidating, captivating and hypnotic to say the least.

The more, I pondered, the more, I felt myself bewildered and my mind wandered. I started to reminisce about a poem, I learned when I was a little child; the poem “The Tiger” by William Blake.

Excerpts of the poem are given below –

Stanza 1
Tiger Tiger Burning Bright
In the forest of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
Stanzas 2,3 (skipped)
Stanza 4
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water’d heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
Stanza 5 (skipped)

Inquisitiveness to explore further, to glean the depth of the meaning, made me realize that while the poem may seem to be talking about one of God’s most beautiful and fearsome creation – The Tiger, it’s really about the creator God, the one who is immortal (whose immortal hand and eye it was), who fashioned and framed the Tiger (could frame thy fearful symmetry?). He is the same God who fashioned the Lion and the Lamb (Note the question posed by the poet – Did He who made the lamb make thee?).

Colossians 1:15-18 records the preeminence of Jesus Christ in all of Creation and verse 16 reads. For by him (Jesus Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.

Everything (the Burning Bright Tiger, you, me …), absolutely everything, was created by God and for God. This is something that should never be forgotten. We are made in God’s image, For GOD. and when God sees us, can it be asked – Did He smile His work to see?

Image Credits – http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricdiggle/3115830416/

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