Can We Know and Understand God?

Recently I have been reading a bit about this concept... "we cannot comprehend God or come to an understanding of Him", at least a full understanding is not possible.  I have been reading these concepts via blogs, Facebook post, articles etc...  We use scripture like this Isaiah 55:8, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD."  We tend to go to this scripture to describe His power and unsearchable understanding, which is true BUT there are a lot of other scripture that indicate that WE CAN know and understand Him (to what degree... I have no idea).  Lets look at those as well.

The latest quote I have read comes from a very Godly man  who will remain un-named .  He states, "Not being able to fully understand God is frustrating, but it is ridiculous for us to think we have the right to limit God to something we are capable of comprehending."  A good quote.  Obviously we as finite (created) beings will have difficulty conceiving the infinite (uncreated).  
I only use this quote because it spurred in me several thoughts I want to share.  The author  of the above quote is amazing.  He is a Godly man and a leader in the Kingdom.  Therefore I would never criticize or defame the Lords anointed... even if I do not agree with everything he says.

This thought of not being able to know and or understand God (fully) is very prevalent in our Churches and doctrine and is not limited to one mans thoughts.  It is dominate in our generation.  And that is what I would like to address, the thought, not the author.

I merely want to address this concept of knowing God.  Can we know God?  To what degree can we know God?

I am of the conviction that we can know God (to great depths).  Not just know who He is and what we believe about Him but we can actually know (intimately) and understand (some) of His actions.  We can understand God.  I do believe we can know as much about God as we seek (Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9).

The Scripture tell is that He wants to reveal secret things to us (Daniel 2:22, Job 12:22, Deuteronomy 29:29, 1 Corinthians 2:10).  I want to highlight 1 Corinthians 2:10, "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God."  God reveals the depths of Himself through the Spirit.  And we have access to the Spirit.  In verse 12 of 1 Corinthians 2 we see that God wants us to know things freely given by Him through the Spirit.  FYI... a little further in that verse it says that we have the "mind of Christ."  Let that sink in a while : )

What about Jeremiah 9:24, "...but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me..."  God would not direct the prophet to write something that says, "if you boast boast that you KNOW and UNDERSTAND God..." unless He made it so that we CAN know and understand Him.

Not to mention John 14:7, "If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”  As you know Jesus, you know the Father.  Do you know Jesus?

As a human father I want nothing more than for my children to know me and understand my heart.  As a matter of fact I do a lot of things to let them know me.  I tell them what I like, I tell them my feelings, I tell them the things that make me happy and I also tell them the things that make me upset.  At what point do I tell my children all of these things?  When they ask.  When my kids ask me something I let them know (sometimes it is not the right timing or the right stage for them in life to understand, but eventually I will tell them).

Why do we think God is any different... and we are created in HIS image (likeness).

Sometimes I think that we have completely taken the character of God and set it on some weird level that dictates to us that "He is God, and we are not so suck it up and deal with it".  When in fact I think that "God is God and we are not SO lets try to understand His character and nature".  He wants to share it with us!  He invites us to understand Him.  In Isaiah 1:18 He says, "Come now let us reason together..."  The idea is, "Hey lets talk... ask me questions... I will reveal myself to you though my Spirit and my Son."

So in closing... Can we Know God?  YES!!!  To what degree?  I don't know but I would say. "How much do you want to know?" and to what degree are you willing to sacrifice and dive in to be able to understand Him?  Also, when was the last time you asked God a question?  A question about the deepest aspects of His character.  

Hope this Helps,

Ezra

Are Things Going the Way God Wants?

Of course this blog is my opinion.  You may disagree and of course thats fine.  I will at least say, "I could be wrong."  Are you willing to say the same thing about your stance?  : )

This blog is in reflection of the horrific events of Friday December 14 in Connecticut.  

As we reflect on the murder of so many innocent people as Christians (or even religious people) the natural question tend to ask either out-loud or in our hearts is, "God... is this really part of your plan?"

And I want to answer this and say "NO!!"  This is not and has never been part of His plan.  The scripture is very clear that the thoughts and intentions of mans heart is ALWAYS evil.  

Genesis 6:5-6 says, "The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled."

This is a passage that we should look at and think, "Hmmmm, if things are going the way God had planned why was He "deeply troubled" at the way we behave back in Genesis 6:6?"  

God is absolutely not surprised by our actions or evil events that happen in society.  Actions and events have always been a possibility to God.  Our choice is what makes it (events or actions) a reality.  I believe that love and freedom imply risk.  In creating, God took a risk.  He created with love and gave us freedom.  That love and freedom was handed to us as He trusted us to make right choices and we broke that trust.  

Think of when you fell in love with your spouse (or boy/girlfriend).  Love is a risk.  You risk being hurt and rejected.  When you hand your heart over to be loved and give love you are totally open and vulnerable and there is always the horrible chance that they could turn around and reject you and break your heart.  If you have ever suffered from a broken heart you understand this emotion and the depths of how much it hurts.  

The fact is that love is a complete choice.  My choice in love is to reciprocate that love or reject it.  

I believe that it is the same with God.

A question that may come out of this dialog is, "Well then God is totally out of control and is wringing His hands hoping we don't mess-up too much."  If this is your thought please re-examine your view on the nature of God.  God is not in confusion and worried about what we are going to do.  In fact He understands and knows every out come of every one of our decision (factual or abstract) to infinity.  Just because God “knows” all things doesn’t mean He created it to happen.

God knew the tragedy of Friday December 14th would happen.  Just not as an absolute event that He made happen.  Rather He knew it as a possibility that could happen as people are free to make choices.  Just as when He created mankind He knew rebellion and murder was a possibility but in love God trusted and believed the best.  And it didn’t go the way He hoped.  Just like thousands of parents everyday have new born babies.  Those parents have dreams and hopes and visions for those children... but something happens.  Those kids grow up and begin making their own choices.  Sometimes those "free will" choices are bad choices.  And stray from what mom and dad had originally dreamed for their precious little ones.

Hope this helps when you are confused about “why things are happening”.  Know this.  God is good. 

And remember, when your theology leads you to question Gods goodness. Don't question God. Question your theology.

Not a "Choice"... but a "Blessing".

Rhonda and I just finished a 4 day adventure as we attended the 8th Phelan McDermid Foundation Conference.  This was our first PMS conference ever... and it was awesome.

The conference is healed every 2 years and it is for the benefit of our kids with PMS (Phelan McDermid Syndrome).

At the conference we learned that there are only 4 families (out of 500+ PMS cases) that found out in Utero (while pregnant) that we had a baby with a rare genetic disorder.  Rhonda and I were one of those 4 families.  

If you have heard my story before you would know that all along the way we were counseled by a lot of people that we may want to consider "terminating" the pregnancy.  As a matter of fact the stats for people that receive the type of news we did abort... at a 97% rate!  WOW!!!

Of course and obviously we said, "no".

I have thought about this over the years.  How many of us would knowingly walk into this sort of life? 

How many of us would knowingly walk onto a path that is so hard and so stretching and so crazy and say, "YES"?  

We did.

This is not to pat us on the back and say, "We are the parents and Christians of the year,"  It is a mere reflection of how much of a blessing this little girl has been to us.  I also reflect on the countless numbers of "genetic mistakes" that have been aborted and wonder if the parents have any faint clue of what they have missed out on.  Sure its hard, sure its a challenge.  But God hasn't called us and put us on this planet to work hard, go save money and retire comfortably.  We are here to reveal His glory, and I cannot think of a better way for Him to reveal His glory that through a handicapped child.

In John 9:3 we have the story of a blind man where Jesus was asked by His disciples, "Who sinned this man or his parents to make him this way (blind)?"  First note the complete weird and false concept of who God is (see Cause and Effect blog)... Jesus' response is awesome!  He says, "no one sinned!  it is so that the works of God can be displayed..." 

We may say, "Well... Gods works ARE healing and taking away infirmity."  And I would say that that is one of a million of God's works.  What if one of God's works was working in me though the circumstance of my handicapped child?  What if the works of God include Amiah (my daughter) defying all of what has been said of her int he past 3 1/2 years?  It is so much more than we often think.

Sometimes life's greatest blessings come though taking the hard path and the hard way.  It is a rare man who will do this.  One who will knowingly heap upon himself suffering and hardship.  But I know one who did it for us.  And we ought to do the same for Him.

This is what I would say to some that were counseling us to abort.  I would tell them, "You do not understand my worldview.  My worldview and paradigm that I live life though is, at the core, rooted in a being that has sacrificed Himself for us.  That CHOSE to lose His life that I may have it abundantly.  And now, on a smaller scale I get to imitate that being.  I GET TO sacrifice my life and lay down my rights so that I may serve another.  

WOW!!!!  

Thank you Jesus for the opportunity to share in your suffering (even though it is small in comparison) I will do it for you and Amiah.

Now I can see that she was never a choice, she is a blessing.

Hope this helps,

Ezra

Cause and Effect

Almost 4 years ago we were pregnant with our 3rd gift from God.

Early in the pregnancy we found out that Amiah had problems.  She suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Phelan McDermid Syndrome (also known as 22q13).

When I found this out the enemy brought to my mind a lot of lies.  Lies like, "You are reaping the consequences of your past sin and past life as a drug user and abuser".  Lies like, "You are reaping the consequences of your sexual past."  

All lies of course.  

One thing in common with both of these statements are that these are cause and effect issues.  You sinned therefore you will be "cursed" or punished in some way.  Sin = cause and my consequence = effect.

Lie.

God does not and WILLL NEVER deal with us, in cause and effect.  Cause and effect deal with inanimate objects.  We are not inanimate objects.  

In causation we have these truths (I believe)

1.  That which is caused cannot be free.

2.  That which is caused cannot be accountable.

3.  That which is caused cannot be responsible.

A way to look at this is the simple illustration of a spigot.  When the knob is turned (cause) the water (effect) runs all over the place.  The water had no choice.  The water cannot say, "I will not run all over".  The water has no responsibility, no choice and no accountability.

This is the difference.  We have the ability to resist our Creator and say no to Him.  We can stand in defiance and rebellion and walk away from Him.  We are not inanimate.  We are human and we have choice, accountability and are responsible.  

God governs us with truth, love and persuasion. We are able to resist and rebel. 

So in the end.  God DID NOT CAUSE my daughter to be handicapped on account of my sin.  This WAS NOT His plan from all eternity.  He had a plan, the plan now had changed or altered... no big deal for an infinite God who knows everything.  

Now I have a handicapped daughter that I have fallen in love with and will sacrifice my life for.

I hope this helps.

Ezra

The Dread of the Judgement Seat!

Since I have become a follower of Jesus I have heard teaching about the The Judgement Seat of Christ  (JSoC).  You may have as well.  Typically we have heard sermons, teaching and the like in the form of, “You will give account of what you have done!”  There is almost always a tone of, “He will bring before all you have ever done and Jesus will not be very happy with you!  So straighten up!”

At least this is what I have gathered from it. 

Many Christians are unaware that there are actually two judgements.  One being called The Judgement Seat of Christ (JSoC) and the other is The Great White Throne Judgement (GWTJ).  From scripture the JSoC (Romans 14:12 and 2 Corinthians 5:10) indicates that we, as believers will be brought before Jesus and “judged”.  The other scenario of The GWTJ appears to be only for those who have rejected Christ.

So as believers we will stand before Jesus one glorious day and give account.  Now most of us have an understanding of this day to be of fear and dread.  Where Jesus will run a movie of my entire life before all of humanity to see all of my short comings and sins.  Then He will punish me or send me off to the corner or some sort of rebuke will follow.

I want to say that I believe that this is wrong!  

This is only right, I believe if we have warped idea of the character and nature of Jesus.  It is not in His nature to make a public spectacle of you.  It is not in His nature to bring shame and humiliation on you.  So we have re-evaluate the JSoC in my opinion.

First of all lets ask a quick question... what is a judgement seat about?  Judgment means, “the cognitive process of reaching a decision or drawing conclusions”, according to Webster.  In ANY setting where there is a judgement happening there are ALWAYS two outcomes.  One being, “guilty” and the other being, “innocent”.

Now in our situation we have been trained and indoctrinated to fear this time in history because it will be “terrible” and it will be something we need to fear and you better get ready for it!  This is only going on the notion that we are all guilty.  BUT... there is another option.

What if we are innocent?  Have you ever stopped and thought about the notion that maybe, just maybe you will be found innocent?  Most of us would say, “no”.  There is no way I am innocent.  I would ask you, “why do you think you are not innocent?”  Did you receive His sacrifice on the Cross?  Did you believe in faith that He is the Son of God (John 3:16, Romans 10:13) and that He was resurrected from the dead (Romans 10:9-10), and that because you have put your faith in Him (Eph 2:8-9 ) you will inherit eternal life and be found innocent?  This is what is required to be found innocent.

Now I believe what will happen on that day is that the King of Kings will gather all the multitudes of humanity together from generations past and present.  As we stand before Him, He will announce to that sea of humanity His verdict of us and that verdict WILL BE...innocence!  You (your name here) have been found innocent and have done well.  You are my beloved son or daughter please enter into eternal life!  He loves us so much that He wants to broadcast to the universe your innocence and His love for you.

This is the Character of God and that is His nature.

Do you have a view of God that magnifies and multiplies His judgement and wrath?  If so I would ask you to reassess your picture of who He is.  

I believe that God is best known for what He like to do least.  And that is judge.  Sure it is part of who He is... but a very small part.  What if my children knew me best and mostly for the times I had to punish them?  Do I have to punish?  Yes, of course.  It is not the thing I mostly am to them though.  Mostly I am a loving caring father who wants nothing more than to promote and encourage my children.  And God IS the same way (only perfect in what He does).

Hope this helps.

NOTES:

The Judgement Seat of Christ seems to indicate that this is the time where Christ will judge us as believers.  This is not about salvation, salvation was brought to us at the cross and we receive it by faith.  A gift.

Romans 14:12

“For we shall all stand before the JSoC.”

2 Corinthians 5:10

“For we must all appear before the JSoC...”

The Great White Throne Seat Judgement seems to indicate that this is the judgment for people who have rejected Christ and will be judged accordingly.

Revelation 20: 11-15

Dying for a Lie?

There is a saying that goes something like this:  "Nobody would die for a lie."


Would you knowingly go to your death for something that you knew to be a lie?  Many people would go to their death THINKING a lie to be the truth.  Think through history of suicide attacks, kamikaze assignments and evil human sacrifice rituals.  These are people who went to their death believing that if they sacrificed their life they would acquire their "version" of paradise or heaven or even calm the gods and or help the Empire.


In scripture and tradition we understand the 12 Disciples went to their death preaching the Gospel of Jesus and were often met with resistance and hostility. 


Here is a list of tradition as to how each of the 12 Disciples died:


1.  Peter was crucified upside down at his own request because he felt unworthy to be crucified like his Savior.
2.  James son of Zebadee, in Mark 10:39 & Acts 12:1-2, tells us he was beheaded.
3. John actually was the only Apostle that died of natural cause.  There was an attempt on his life to boil him in oil but he survived.  Church tradition tells us this.
4.  Andrew was scourged and tied to an "X" shaped cross where we hung for 2 days.
5.  Phillip was crucified
6.  Bartholomew was beaten, flayed and crucified upside down.
7.  Thomas was lanced through and burned in an oven by pagan priest.
8.  Matthew was axed to death by a halberd
9.  James son of Alphaeus was thrown down from the temple and clubbed to death
10.  Jude was crucified
11.  Simon the Zealot was crucified
12.  Matthias (the disciple that replaced Judas Iscariot) was stoned to death.


As I look at these men have to ask myself, "Why would these guys go to their death proclaiming Jesus was who He said He was?"  In most cases these men in order to save their lives would only have to say, "Jesus is not who He said He was."  Or, "What I am preaching is not accurate and I renounce or recant all I have just said,"  Just these simple statements and their lives would have been spared.  Or is it just not that simple?


These are the men that ate with Jesus, camped with Jesus, talked with Jesus, ministered with Jesus.  These 12 men would have known without a shadow of a doubt if Jesus was a fraud.   If Jesus was a mere man and a clever magician.   They would have know if Jesus was not the miracle worker.  They would have known that Jesus was not who He said He was.


But... they actually went to their death claiming He is the representation of God on Earth, incarnate.  Emanuel, God with us.  


And this my friends is a large part of WHY we must trust the words and claims of Christ.  I am living for the absolute truth of Jesus and what He said He is.  I am living for the truth that Jesus' claims are fact and not that of a "smooth operator" and lier.


When confronted with the assaults of deception remember the Acts of the Apostles and their defense for the claims of Christ, even to their death.


For Christ is risen.  For Christ is truth.  For Christ is the only way.


May the Lamb that was slain receive His just reward!


Hope this helps,
Ezra

YHWH and Jesus at the Cross.

Recently I was watching a TV preacher named Joesph Prince and I heard him refer to the following thoughts and it really really intrigued me.  Enough so that I looked into it and studied it for myself and was amazed!  Please look at this wonderful study of the name etched in the sign that hung above our Saviors head on the Cross at Golgotha.

John 19:17-30   ¹⁹ "Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. ²¹ The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

As we have just read the title was written in 3 languages.  George MacLeod has a wonderful statement about why 3 languages and where the murder happened.  He states, "I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves; on the town garbage heap; at a crossroads so cosmopolitan they had to write His title in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek at the kind of place where cynics talk smut and thieves curse, and soldiers gamble. Because that is where He died, and that is what He died for, and that is what He died about that is where churchmen ought to be and what churchmen ought to be about." (This topic could be a whole separate blog...)


Since I am speaking of the Hebrew name for God, YHVH, I want to show you the Hebrew translation for what would have been written above Jesus' head.

ישו מנצרת, מלך היהודים 

(“Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”)

              

It is interesting to see what the Hebrew letter abbreviated read…

Yeshua Ha’Netzeret V‘mlech Ha’Yehudim

                       H        V      H       Y       

YHVH in Hebrew.  You my also know Hebrew is read from right to left thus Y-H-V-H and not H-V-H-Y.

Seems to me that the Jewish leaders were bit freaked out (John 19:21) when they heard that the title that Pilate was gonna put over His head when abbreviated reads YHVH!  They din't want it to read, "King of the Jews".  They only wanted it to say something to effect that this is what He claimed.  

As you may know the 4 letter abbreviation of God is called theTetragrammaton (YHVH).  You might say, "well Isn't it spelled YHWH with a W not a V?"Yes you are right BUT there is no "W" in the Hebrew alphabet.  So the "V" is the proper character.  


Hebrew Alphabet (as you see no W)

YHWH is where we would get the name for God "Yahweh" (Rob Bell has a great thought on the name as well.  When we inhale it sounds like "Yah" and when we exhale it sounds like "Weh"... interesting huh?  The very thing that gives us life, breath actually pronounces the name of out Creator).  There is a good link in Wiki about the Tetragrammaton here.

Hope this helps,

Ezra