God is NOT a Vending Machine

God is NOT a Vending Machine 

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Ridiculous statement, right? However, this is some’s working theology. To them God is more of a vending machine than a person. What do I mean? No one would really consider putting money into God to get something in return, now would they? Yeah, they would. 

I heard a leader in a church the other day bring up the whole doctrine of “you reap what you sow.” Their premise is that the seed is in itself, just as Genesis states. What you sow you reap. You sow discord, you will reap discord; you sow money, you reap money; your sow anger, you reap anger, and so on—for the seed is within itself. How should we view this man’s (and many others’ doctrine)? What does the Bible say? 

First, and always the best place to start, let’s look at the two scriptures this man used as his premise in their context: Galatians 6:8 and Genesis 1:11-12: 

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:8

 

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:11-12 

We’ll take a look at Galatians first. Yes, it does say: for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. But is this the end of Paul’s thought? No, he goes on to paint this scripture in broad strokes. Paul continues: For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Paul is saying that if you live according to your flesh (the natural impulses if mankind without the Spirit) you will live with the consequences of those life choices. The fruit of that lifestyle is death, corruption, destruction, along with many other descriptive lifestyle outcomes, all which are related to death. Think about a garden where anything you plant only bears bad fruit. That is the picture.  

The flip side is the life yielded to the Holy Spirit. Earlier in Galatians Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit contrasted to the works of the flesh. What we plant does grow and it produces fruit according to its kind: fruit either in the kind of the flesh or in kind of the Spirit—broad strokes. Galatians 5 clearly makes distinction between the two. If we live by the Spirit we will not need to be governed by a law. The Holy Spirit, as we yield to Him, will produce His fruit in us. A life yielded to the Holy Spirit bares the Holy Spirit’s fruit. Howbeit, if, as a Christian, we feed the flesh by living to gratify the flesh as we see the law of the Spirit as opposed to the flesh, we, aware of that law, will live a life of exhaustive restraint of the flesh. This life of carnal Christianity leads to a circular condemnation/grace pattern. Law must restrain the carnal Christian, while the Spirit-led life bring freedom from law. 

The life yielded to the Holy Spirit will produce not only the fruit of the Spirit, but also the works of the Spirit—broad strokes. The life yielded to the flesh will also reproduce after its kind: both fruit and works. Whichever you feed, flesh or spirit (by the Holy Spirit), determines what your life’s garden will grow. So yes, you reap what you sow, but not like a vending machine’s input/output. 

Now let’s look at Genesis 1:11-12. In context, the seed is in itself, is strictly talking about seeds—that is plants—not words, people’s actions or intentions. Plants generating seeds, those seeds falling into the soil, sprouting, and growing reproducing seeds according to their own kind, is the intent of Genesis 1:11-12. Though many would like to, we cannot translate this over into a formula for mankind sowing into their lives and reaping what they sow: anger, discord, etc. as stated above. Proverbs 15:1 states that a gentle answer turns away wrath. This person is not reaping what they sowed. They are receiving the opposite. There are many such scriptures. Some could say that Paul reaped what he sowed when he was put to death for Christ due to his previous murderous ways. Yet all the apostles except John were martyred. In reality, Paul received grace, acceptance, and love not only from the Lord, but also from those whom he used to persecute. 

Consider that we are dealing with God—a Person—who is not an input/output vending machine. He is a Person. He deals with us according to His nature and not according to what we, in our human understanding, think we deserve: 

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:10-12 

This is our God.

So great is His grace!

So willing to pardon and restore. He does not give us what we deserve; He does not make us reap what we sow. Listen to this incredibly glorious truth from Ephesians: 

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him… Ephesians 1:7-9a NASB 

He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention [!].

He lavished His grace on us [!]. 

Words do matter. I am not saying they don’t. That words matter is all over the Bible, but just not the way this leader presented them. Jesus Himself said we will be held accountable for every idle word we speak. Thankfully, we are under His New Covenant of grace and forgiveness. 

God is not a tit for tat, what goes around comes around, reap what you sow god. 

God is not a vending machine! 

God is a Person.  A loving Father… 

and for that 

I am grateful!

A Glimpse into the Millennial Age

A Glimpse into the Millennial Age

Artist unknown

It has come to my attention lately that most Christians’ thinking pole vaults right over the Millennial Age into Heaven. Understanding the millennium has transformed my walk with God. How we live in this life most certainly effects the rewards we receive and our positioning in the next age. The clearest scriptures on the millennium come from Revelation 20: 

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:4-6 

Revelation 20:6 says that we shall reign with Him for a thousand years. Did you catch that? We are going to reign with Jesus Christ throughout His Kingdom on earth! During the millennium there are three categories of people: 

1.    The resurrected saints with new bodies (1 Corinthians 15). These include OT saints.

2.    The unredeemed at the end of this age who did not receive the mark of the beast and continued to live on into the millennium (Isaiah 65:20, Revelation 20:7-9).

3.    Those who received the mark of the beast (whom Jesus kills at His return) and the dead who did not receive Christ during their life. These dead await the second resurrection. They will be cast into the lake of fire with the devil and his angels (Revelation 20:14-15). 

Isaiah 65, especially verse 20, bothered me for years. It reads: “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; For the youth will die at the age of one hundred And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred will be thought accursed.” I could not grasp how people could die in Heaven. Then I understood it isn’t about Heaven, it is about the millennium. During the millennium there are still unsaved natural people living on the earth. These people are reproducing and living life just like we do now with this one huge difference: the devil is bound during these 1000 years and is unable to effect or influence them. They can and do still die. Some do receive Christ and all have the free will to do so. Others become the enemies of God and are rallied by the devil when he is released from his prison at the end of the millennium. These are those who make war against Jesus at the end of the millennium—Magog. (Armageddon is at the end of this age and is Jesus’ war against the antichrist.) Revelation 20 goes on to explain:

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:7-10 

Lately I have updated my favorite scripture. For over 20 years—more like 30—Hebrews 1:8 has been my favorite scripture. Now I have two: Hebrews 1:8 (the testimony of the Father about the Son) and Hebrews 11:10 (the significance of seeing the city—New Jerusalem):

But to the Son [Jesus] He [the Father] says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. Hebrews 1:8 

[Abraham left everything] …for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10 

If we saw the city—New Jerusalem—the city of the great King, where He will literally sit on His Throne and rule and reign during the Millennial Age, I believe we too, like Abraham, would leave everything for His Majesty, King Jesus. If we could see this City more clearly, like Abraham, it would capture our hearts in such a way that we too would leave everything for the City and the King of that City. The Bride of Christ is the City Abraham saw. 

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.

 

19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 

This indeed is the City with foundations that Abraham saw. Having seen it he left everything and was willing to live as a wanderer in this life. We too will be a part of this City during the millennium. Psalm 46: 4 talks of this city. Jerusalem doesn’t have river that runs through her. Verse 4 of this psalm is describing New Jerusalem: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. This river is more fully on display in Revelation 22. So beautiful the description yet we only get a glimpse of her here on earth. 

I have two prayers I pray over and over: Lord, show me Your City and the Lion Who sits upon the Throne. 

I want to see this City and her King. 

Does God Hate?

 Does God Hate?

All of us have heard, “That’s your opinion” or “That’s your reality” or “Let’s agree to disagree.” With some things sure there is room for opinions, perspectives, and disagreements. But if you disagree with God it usually has huge ramifications. 

Does God hate? Yes. Proverbs 6: 16-19 states:

There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers. 

Let’s looks at the end of verse 17: hands that shed innocent blood. God HATES hands that shed innocent blood. What blood is more innocent than the blood of the unborn? (See Romans 9:11 for the innocence of the unborn.) Every year there are estimated, according to WHO, 40-50 million abortions, which is approximately 125,000 abortions per day worldwide. And although the abortion rate is declining in the US, since Roe v Wade, the US alone has aborted over 60 million babies. 

Some people justify their pro-abortion views (and votes) assuming that these little people inside the womb don’t feel pain. Dr Ben Carson, who has operated on the unborn, says they do in fact feel pain and considers abortion murder. (https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/dr.-ben-carson-speaks-of-fetal-pain-describes-abortion-as-barbaric-and-murder) 

When considering who to vote for President of the United States in November, consider whether or not you want the blood of the innocent on your hands. If you vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, you are voting for two people who are not only proponents of abortion rights, but actively ensure the right to abortions and are supporters of PPL. For a thorough rundown of both President Trump’s and Biden’s views on abortion visit: https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54003808 

When it comes to abortion, it is not a matter of opinion, it is a matter of guilt or innocence before God. President Trump is not a perfect man, and neither are you. President Trump has stood up for nearly everything I consider of great value as a devout Christian. However, if you cast your vote for Joe Biden, you share his guilt. You too have innocent blood dripping off your hands. 

Consider before you vote.