09/02/2020
Faith in God, and Jesus Christ will never end, because like Themselves, faith is eternal, and man, who worships Them, has been drawn in all times and ages to his embedded faith in God... from before he knew how to write, he has praised God, and will be praising Him for all eternity. The Holy Word of God transcends time, and generations; it was not given, and written, for one moment, nor a single people, but for all mankind, and every generation; it exists for all believers... those who were, and are, and will be to come.
“But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.”
Psalm 102:12 ESV
The boundary stones of our faith are like those of old that were established by God, and later moved by the kings, but in those days, like today, the faithful priests remembered their rightful places, and in time they were returned. In this time they are being moved once more, but they will once again be returned... again, and again, and again...
“Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.”
Proverbs 22:28 ESV
All those who truly believe in God, and Jesus, have now become a royal priesthood, and we are tasked with guarding the boundaries of our faith. Some who stand, as if faithful, have abdicated this responsibility, and as a result they have fallen away, their bodies might remain, but they are like pillars of salt... standing as a reminder to the children of God of their turning against the will, and Word, of God; lost! So as royal priests it is ours to remember the places where the boundary stones are to be returned, and replace them in due time for all to see, and honor.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV
Kings, tyrants, and the many minions of Satan have worked day and night to undermine God’s Word, and wipe the worship of God and Jesus Christ from the earth, but despite their intensity of effort, and the intricacy of their plans, none has succeeded. People of faith have been mocked, enslaved, and even put to death, but the taunts meant to deride them have strengthened the hold of their roots, and while enslaved they have tilled the wheat of their faith along with the tares of their oppressors. The blood, sweat, and tears, of Jesus, and the martyrs, have served to sustain the Lord’s harvest throughout the ages, and does so now in draught, and storm alike. Yes, God is eternal, and our faith in Him as defined in His Word, Is for all mankind, all time, and for every generation.
“And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!””
Revelation 4:8 ESV
So we stand at the site where the boundary stones of our faith once stood, and the question comes in a whisper “ Do you know this place?”, and by leaning on our faith we answer “Yes!”, a second question will come with a shout... “Will you Be the one who resets my stones?”
Today many of the stones have been scattered. The whisper has come, and the first question has been asked; hopefully you have answered “Yes”, but how will you answer the second more telling question as it rings with conviction in your ears? Will you respond as Samuel did, answering “Here I am!” without hesitation until at last you say “Speak, for your servant hears.”?
“Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!”
And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.””
1 Samuel 3:4, 10 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Holy Word that establishes the boundaries of my faith as I pursue you in worship, praise, and love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Thank you Lord for your Holy Spirit who brings to my remembrance the exact placement of your boundary stones, and keeps my focus on your Word as I set them once more. Give me courage to face the angry mobs as I speak the name of Jesus, give me wisdom as I stand before my accusers with the sweetness of His name on my breath, and steady me in my belief, faith, and resolve, as the crosses are prepared and the martyrdom of your children is at hand. Let the blood of the innocent give our roots of faith a new depth, and a firm hold against all that might come. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, who was, and is, and is to come. Great are you who leads us to our boundaries, and tells us to mark that place. Merciful, and full of grace are you to return to that place time and time again as we remember, and reset the mark removed by a sinful world. Hear our prayers Father, taste our tears, and smell the scent of Christ’s blood, as we come before you in contrition, and pray for not only our forgiveness, but for your mercy and grace to be applied to those who are lost, or standing like pillars of salt after turning their faces from your Word.
Come quickly Lord Jesus, and claim us from the midst of this fallen world. Father, witness our reestablishment of your Word, and the boundaries it marks for us. Welcome us home Holy Father, and witness the joy in our songs of worship forevermore.
“Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord: that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem his praise, when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.”
Psalm 102:18-22 ESV
Rich Forbes