Anticipating what's next

Eli belongs to the priestly line of Israel, the Levites. They were chosen by God as special servants and were not allotted with a possession on the Promise because the Lord himself is their inheritance. But Eli received a warning from the Lord because his sons, who are priests, are seriously sinning against Him. They demand the fat on a meat offering which must be burned outside the camp. So God pronounced judgment against Eli and his household for Eli knew their defilement but still he didn’t do any hard action to stop them expect for talking with them that was often ignored. The Lord asked Eli, “why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings?” they considered Holy things as nothing just as we do. Is praying in tongues or singing to God in our secret place worthless. Does daily bible reading or weekly gathering waste of time? Is obeying the prompts of our faith hard to follow? Have we shared God’s move on our life? These sacrifices are Holy but most of the time the basic is taken for granted. 

Is basic important? Jesus used an illustration on Matthew 7:24-27 “anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock” Suppose someone started to construct a house but was not able to finish it is miserable because he does not count the cost. But there are rewards for those people with proven loyalty as in the parable of three servants. “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’”

Jacob experienced this truth when during his 7 years of tending Laban’s flock, it grew plentiful. But along the way, experiencing fire is inevitable. 1 Corinthians 3:12 proves, “anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials –gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 but on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.” 
 Genuine foundation was evident on the lives of 3 friends who refused to bow down on Nebuchadnezzar’s gods, as a result, the whole Babylon honored the Lord when the king said, “therefore, I make this decree: if any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!” (Daniel 3:29) NLT

Indeed, our God is worthy so following His standards causes us anticipate quakes because Hebrew 12:26 told us, “when God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now He makes another promise: ‘once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” NLT

If such things are coming and we are not prepared yet, how can we cope up? A reminder was given to us in Hebrew 3:8 “today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness.” NLT The scripture is pertaining to Israel’s stubbornness in the wilderness. Israel demanded Aaron, the priest, to make them a god because Moses took a long time when he went up to Mount Sinai in the Lord’s presence. They made a gold calf which enraged God’s anger. But in spite of His anger, He remembered his mercy just as the David said, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) NIV 

We are fragile by nature and easily broken so if anyone is overcame by sin 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” NIV But genuine repentance is a change of action. Matthew 3:8 says “prove by the way you live that have repented of your sin and turn to God.” Obeying the law provokes sin so we need the Holy Spirit to walk in God’s ways. Through the blood of Christ, the wall separating us to God was broken. And through the resurrection of Jesus, we are new person just as Ephesians 2:10 claims, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do good things he planned for us long ago.” The grace of God allows us to let our faith work. So trust the Lord because, “…human effort accomplishes nothing.” (John 6:63)

We are not through yet. As long as we are here in this earthly body, we are always exposed to pain and death. But through the help of the Holy Spirit Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Paul said about “…Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead”. (Philippians 3:13) NIV There’s a great mystery behind forgetting the past which allows us to move ahead and pursuit even more. Joseph, for instance, was sold by his own brothers. He has worked at foreigner’s place, was accused of adultery, been put in prison, interpreted the king’s dream, and promoted to govern. Experiencing ups and downs of life, his actions conclude the statement of Paul –forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Joseph didn’t bore grudge against his family in spite of their betrayal. And yet he welcomed them to his prosperity. Christ forgave us so we can forgive others.