I came across this illustration as I was going through my archives. I never used it because there is an element of guilt that drives it. It is still a convicting image depicting some parent's failure to disciple their children. A father and his daughter went to a field to play. The father laid down and fell asleep while his daughter continued to play. When he awoke he called for his daughter, but she did not come. He went and searched for her only to find that she had fallen over a cliff and died. So many parent’s today allow their children to aimlessly go to their death while they are sleeping.
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My friend asked me for my take on Zechariah 14. It is an interesting passage because it has been interpreted differently by different groups. The following is my work up of 1) a straight exegesis and 2) how the three different interpretations would understand the passage. You'll find numbers 1, 2, and 3 explaining how each different view would take those particular verses.
Zec 14:1 Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. Zec 14:2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. A day is designated as being for the Lord. It is the day that he has appointed for his particular work. What is that work? There is a line of interpretation that believes that verse 1 is talking about a day when the people of God see the vindication of Jerusalem. They say that verse 1 foretells the day of blessing when all their spoils are returned (or divided in their midst) to their rightful owners. I would take this in the stream of interpretation that says that verse 1 is the introduction to the pains brought about in verse 2. Verse one indicates that the Lord allows the people of God to be exposed and vexed. The enemy, which is described in wholistic terms (all the nations), has such success in their advance that they may be described as being so secure that they can divide the spoils right there in the midst of them. Verse 2 expands on how devastating the “day” will be for the people of God. Their possessions are confiscated, the women are ravished, great multitudes will be taken into exile. In sum, things are in a desperate state. The question arises as to when is this “day”? At least three interpretations exist: 1. A future millennial kingdom, 2. The present age where the gospel goes throughout the world, 3. The second coming of Christ. 1. This speaks of a time when the Jews are reinstated as a nation and Jerusalem is actually sacked. 2./3. Jerusalem represents the church, which is brought so low that only a remnant remains. The prophet sees no distinction between a Jewish nation and Christian church. Jerusalem stands as the capital city and chief representation of God’s people. A couple high school bands played in last night's Christmas parade. Marching along with them were the dance teams in their supposedly cute little Santa suits. I couldn't help but think that I had seen similar attire on the cover of a Playboy magazine in my younger, and more un-sanctified days.
My daughter, who is five, even exclaimed, "Those costumes were so short I could almost see their...(voice drifts off into awkward silence)." As I made every attempt to turn my eyes I could not help but think that these girls are being trained to be whores. Its not just the fact that every man is visually raping the girls as they walk down Main Street. These girls are being encouraged to fornicate. Think about it: A plumber dresses like a plumber. A mailman dresses like a mailman. A virgin dresses like a virgin. A promiscuous girl dresses like a Playboy Bunny. Any father who respects the purity of his girls says no to the dance team and watches over the clothes she wears. Tonight was Ashland's annual Christmas parade. This is a pic of the tracts that were distributed. You can read the message here. There were almost 100 of them in all. I made every attempt to hand them to the men first. If ladies were receptive, I certainly didn't hold it back. I made it a priority to make contact with the men though. I commend Calvary Baptist and Aaron and Amanda Wolfe for their work too. Calvary always does a good job of distributing literature. The Wolfe family put together their own float and distributed gospel booklets. What a great job! “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15 These words are perhaps some of the most stunning words that have ever been written. They comprise a simple sentence, but the concepts are monumental. And if you pause to grasp the significance of them, you will have a greater appreciation for the magnitude of Christmas.
If you read these words correctly, it will sound like an alien invasion. Read it again: “Christ Jesus came into the world.” Doesn’t it sound like something extraterrestrial? In a sense, that is what is being communicated. After all, this verse is talking about the birth of the Son of God! This is part of what makes Christmas so astounding. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. But this was no ordinary baby; this was God come in the flesh! As God, Jesus is not originally from this world. His rightful dwelling place is heaven. Yet this passage tells us that He left this resplendent home in order to come to earth! But what would possess him to do that? You wouldn’t leave the Hilton Suite to vacation in the slums of New York, would you? Certainly not! So why would Jesus deprive himself of these blessed conditions and take up residence in this sorrow filled world? The verse says that he came “to save sinners.” He left the joys and safety of his heavenly abode so that he could bring life and salvation to people like us. (continued on back) I recognize that this might catch you off guard, but it has to be said. You are a sinner. The truth is we have offended God, and we are guilty of breaking his law. As such, we deserve to be punished. This is the good news though! Jesus came into the world to take the punishment that is due to us for our sin. The whole reason he was born was so that He might provide a way to escape the penalty of sin. When Jesus came into the world, it was for one purpose. It was so that he could die. At the end of his life he was crucified. And there on that cross Jesus endured the wrath and curse of God as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Perhaps now you are starting to see the magnitude of Christmas: God entered history! He took on human flesh! He died to save those who had offended him! More than that, this salvation can be yours! Christmas can come to be even more monumental because Christ can be your savior. You must understand that you will never be good enough for God. Neither can your offenses be overlooked. The only way to be made right with God is by having your sins forgiven. The promise of God is this: if you confess your wrongdoing and trust Jesus, you will be saved. Jesus came into the world for this very thing. |
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