PRODIGAL SUN

 

                                                    JULY 2023

 

Let your light so shine before men  that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

 

While being checked out at a grocery store recently a thought provoking statement was made by the cashier. She said, “We all have a date with Jesus.” She is an elderly lady, probably working to supplement her income as so many others are having to do, yet letting her light so shine. She will probably never know that simple statement will be going out to various places in America, and the world, causing them to consider their upcoming date. Also, the immediate and long term consequences of their decision. Life is so fragile and very short at times. Consider the recent sea tragedy where an ocean dive catapulted five souls into their date with Jesus. No planning, no warning, just an irrevocable, unexpected call into eternity. Many this very day will experience the same call in various ways. Hebrews 9:27 makes this explicit for it says, “It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.” When you die your next event is the judgment.” Anything else you may believe, contrary to God’s Word, is a lie which brings eternal condemnation. God’s Word is true, always has been and always will be.

 

In John 14 Jesus told His disciples he was going to prepare a place for them, that he would come again and receive them to Himself. They had been expecting him to restore Israel and now were being told he was leaving to prepare a place for them when they thought they were already in the place. They only had part of the picture, more like a puzzle. We have been given the Word of God to clarify His heart’s desire; the fullness, the wonders, the depth of His plans for all of humanity. We should be wildly/passionately pursuing Him as the type of the Shulamite in Song of Solomon.

 

Years ago I was in a plane watching a distant storm and the lightning flashes. The Holy Spirit showed me that was all we ever see of God – a quick flash of light, a glimpse of His glory, His provision, His love. My heart’s desire that day was to be in the heart of the storm. Despite the pilots efforts to circumnavigate the storm we soon were in it with at least one lightning bolt appearing to hit on a wing. A simple but awesome display of His creative powers. Yet we are promised that one day we shall see Him as we are seen, and know as we are known, in a completeness unfathomable in human understanding.

 

 In John 5 the following words of Jesus are found; “v24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in Him who has sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death unto life. v25 Most assuredly I say unto you, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. v26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.” This is our promise, our ‘date’ which should be manifested by our pursuit of His Presence whether in worship, scriptural meditation, taking a walk, or just letting His light shine through us wherever He directs.

 

TRUE experiential LOVE I question our ability to know here while in these mortal bodies but I KNOW that when the time comes that I can see Him and look into His eyes I will know!

 

The above I’ve sort of categorized into a ‘proper date’ scenario. But there is yet another type I’d like to address. That is of a Blind Date where one has little or no knowledge of who you are going with. To do that we’ll pick up where we let off in the scriptures. 

 

 John 5 v27 “and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. v28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice v29 and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” Everyone will appear in bodily form resurrected from the earth, sea, space, or wherever their mortal remains were deposited, except they will now have an imperishable body, one that will remain eternally in that state. (Must clarify here that good deeds will not get you to heaven, but are an expected ‘fruit’ of those born again.) Jesus Himself told Nicodemus in John 3 that you must be born again, then went on to explain to him that it was a spiritual event occasioned by God sending His Son into the world that those believing in Him might be saved and not perish.

 

Although everyone will receive an eternal body only the ones on the ‘proper date’ will see the eyes of love. Those on the blind date, taking their chances that it would end well, will instead see only the eyes of judgment. Just as His love is perfect, so too His judgment, thus blindly entering into eternity is the epitome of foolishness.

 

The enemy of our souls, Satan, has done a masterful job in blinding the world to the reality of God and the truth of His word. He is a liar and deceiver and has been so from at least the Garden of Eden where his cunning ways were first described in detail. He was not content with who he had been created to be and chose his destructive path. We do not have the ability to direct our own paths safely. It is not in man who walks to direct his own footsteps. Jer 10:23

 

Lucifer’s original position in heaven was worship leader/cherub. Read Ezekiel 28:11-17.

You could say he had it all, but pride caused him to want to be God, no longer serving the true God. We see that same demonic spirit wielding it’s ugly passions across all dimensions of humanity today. We want what we want when we want it, and will do anything to get it. This is the ‘blind date’ we are hoping will turn out well but reality is found in Isaiah 14 as it addresses Satan. V 12 How you are fallen from heaven...V14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High V15 Yet you will be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. The choice is ours to walk according to God’s ways or perish in our own. Please read the entire passages above for greater depth and understanding.

kenhayesfleming9@gmail.com                                                   Kenneth H. Fleming

www.wbcis.com                                                                           502 Market Street

(814) 687-3707                                                                            Fallentimber, Pa. 16639