Scripture: Isaiah 55 v 8 - 11:
"8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
The Lord our God never struggles with indecision, second guessing, doubt, or fake news. He always knows what He is doing.. He is a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever and we can safely trust His Word.
When He tells us to do something, even if it does not make sense at the time, we should promptly and without wavering do what He says. Common sense should have told David the shepherd, still a teenager, not to tackle Goliath, however he was under Godly authority and had "the gift of Faith" operating, where it was impossible to lose against any odds.
Paul discovered it when he said in 2 Corinthians 12 that he glorified in his weaknesses and infirmities because when he was weak the full strength of Jesus was added to him, and he could achieve many greater things than if he was full of his own power.
Acts 1 v 8: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Jesus said these final words just before He ascended into Heaven after His Resurrection. And ten days later the 120 disciples in the Upper Room knew the truth of those words. The Holy Ghost came upon them and filled them with power so that they spoke in tongues, even known languages which were clearly understood by many foreigners who were visiting Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost.
They heard in their own languages people glorifying Almighty God and declaring His marvellous works. No amount of common sense could outweigh the evidence of seeing these disciples changed in an instant from being in fear of their lives to boldly proclaiming that Jesus is alive forevermore. They went on to do miracles and preach the gospel in many places, giving us a written record of it all.
God commanded Abraham to leave his comfort zone and follow Him to a land of milk and honey, a place He had chosen for a people who would be separated unto Himself for His own purposes. Common sense would have said what if you die on the way, or get lost, or show us the map? Abraham had faith to believe God and He took his small family and servants on a great trek. He became the Father of nations in the land of Canaan now known as Israel.
When the Lord was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham pleaded for the lives of whoever may be innocent in those cities. God said if there are ten innocent people I will not destroy those cities. However, not even ten could be found so He wiped them out completely. Hamas and the Palestinians should bear this in mind. It's not Israel committing genocide, its the judgment of God on sin.
Hamas were very shocked at the reaction of the people to the last three hostages released on Saturday. They were emaciated and hardly mobile. They have now fabricated the notion that Israel has violated the treaty and no more hostages will be released. The real reason..... they are all in worse condition than these three men. The power of God versus common sense.
For those many who, using common sense, think that God who loves us will not condemn sinners to eternal fire when the end comes, they should remember Sodom and Gomorrah and reconsider. When Lucifer fell from Heaven and caused all this damage to Earth and human beings, it started with the sin of pride in him because he was the most beautiful Angel.
God will never allow even the smallest suspicion of sin to exist in Heaven again. That is why Jesus is the door into the Kingdom for those who are born again and washed clean from sin by His Blood. There is no other way. No other religion, no salvation by works, no being a really good person, no amount of charitable humanitarianism will ever be enough to get us to Heaven. Only the name of Jesus and our relationship with Him counts with God. That's why Satan turned His name into a curse word to try break its power!
Our names must be written in the Lamb's Book of Life and we must live lives worthy of salvation, against all odds, walking in the light, empowered by the Holy Spirit. There is no common sense to rely on because it is obedience to God's Word that makes the difference of where we spend eternity.
The world is being inundated with black lives matter, LGBTQ+ lives matter, unborn lives don't matter, when all lives matter to our Creator. The rioting, marching, parading and destruction matter to us all. The sin of pride is evident everywhere. Thankfully, there is now a good leader calling the shots in America and turning all these DEI practices upside down. God is holy and permits no sin in His Kingdom.
Isaiah 55 v 6 - 7: "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
Our God is full of mercy and grace. We need to take full advantage of His love and forgiveness while we can. We seldom know when its our turn to hope we make it through the Heavenly gates so live every day in the power of the Holy Spirit.
A beloved brother we knew many years ago lived in a small apartment block south of Johannesburg. Early every Sunday he would loudly pray for each person living there. They all knew each other. He prayed for them by name earnestly and sincerely. One Sunday after the first three he stopped praying. The people shouted don't stop now! He probably didn't but he had passed into Heaven after the third prayer.
The Word of God is very clear. Revelations 21 v 23 - 27: "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we hear You loud and clear. We know You and trust You because Your promises are true. Your judgments are also true for You are laying on my heart to be obedient and keep telling the truth to those not yet saved. For the few that listen and respond I pray they will keep up the good work to bring in the harvest of souls crying out for salvation. In Jesus' name. Amen.