07/04/2018
Every country has a beginning. Some were established so long ago that the exact dates have been lost, and they just seem to have always been, but the United States is young enough that it still remembers its birthday... July 4th, 1776. So happy Birthday USA! Religion is no different than countries, or peoples, in that regard, and the Christian faith is the same. We argue about the exact date of Christ’s birth, because the precise day has been lost to conjecture, and antiquity. Is it December?... September?... the discussion continues. What is important though is our own beginning and personal history with Jesus Christ.
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
2 Peter 3:8 ESV
The Bible is interesting in the way it records time, or should I say, neglects to record it. For the most part the exact dates don’t appear to be important, but the events are. Today is celebrated in the United States as the day it became a country, but in fact the argument is made that it really didn’t happen on this day. You see, when we select a day for something then suddenly the day and its celebration overshadows the event itself. So like the day the concept of freedom became a reality to the United States, the dates in the Bible take a back seat to the events themselves... and in the Bible we see no recording of exact day, month, year, or moment.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
Matthew 24:35-37 ESV
The Bible records events, but not for posterity, but so that we can conform to the commandments, and better live our lives. In this way... Job suffers yet today, Noah still demonstrates judgement for us, Abraham teaches just as poignantly regarding covenant, and Jesus redeems us every bit as perfectly today as He did on the very day He rose from the grave. The lessons aren’t in the history... they are alive in us today... they are timeless.
Time is for men, and we count it to establish ourselves, and to bring to us a semblance of longevity and glory, but to God time means little. So when we read the great bible accounts there are no dates; they exist timeless for us, and their lessons and promises live on with us, and in us, throughout the generations... today and for forever... listen to them:
Job:
“And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. And Job died, an old man, and full of days.”
Job 42:15-17 ESV
Abraham:
“And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”
Genesis 17:7 ESV
Noah:
“I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”
Genesis 9:11-13 ESV
Jesus Christ:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."”
Matthew 28:19-20 ESV
So, Happy Birthday to the United States, but just as it was with our forefathers so might it be with us... that we put our faith in the eternal, and not in this day. That our sins be followed by contrition, and our years be blessed to the Glory of God. Happy 4th of July!
Prayer:
Thank you Father for the blessings and fruit of your eternal Word, and your Son Jesus Christ who is with us now and always... even to the end of the age. Help us Holy Father to see ourselves as we are within your plan, and will. Help us to not assign grandeur to ourselves, nor raise our countries up as gods before us. Bring forth the good things in us as a people, and let your Word guide us in our governance. Show us mercy Father as we celebrate the seasons; the planting, the cultivating, the harvest, and the rest of winter. Keep us Gracious Father in our days, and show us the eternity you set before us if we will only obey you. As we live out our lives, and adhere to the eternal promises you have made, and the covenants with you that know no end, show us the frailty of this place, and focus our eyes on those things that are forever in you. Come Lord Jesus, even quickly come, that our days will lose their potency, and time melt away. Yet until that instant, give us joy and celebration in these our days. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God of eternal promise, blessing, and covenant.
Rich Forbes