Blog Archives

Consequences of Evil

9/27/2020

  Does evil have consequences?  Take the story of Ahab and Jezebel.  It’s a story that most are familiar with.  At least, most people have a nodding acquaintance that Jezebel was evil.  Some historical references will help to explain the story.
          Ahab is king of Israel.  He became king when his father, Omri, died.  It’s in First Kings 16:28.  Look back to verse 25 and the statement is that Omri was more evil than all that were before him.  Now we get to Ahab.  He’s a Jew who has married a pagan princess (verse 31 of the same chapter).  Verse 30 says the same about Ahab as it did about his father.
          Ahab wants the vineyard that is by the palace.  The story is in I Kings 21.  He offers the owner, Naboth, money or another vineyard in payment.  But, Naboth can’t do that.  He cannot sell that which he inherits from his father.  It must remain with the tribe that he and his fathers before him belong to (Numbers 36:7-9).  Ahab probably knew this but didn’t care.  He wanted what he wanted.
          Enters Jezebel his wife.  He’s lying prostrate on his bed refusing to eat.  Pouting he tells her his sad story.  He can’t have what he wants.  Jezebel jumps right up and says she’ll get it for him.  Off she goes to work out her plan.
          First, she writes letters to higher-ups in the community proclaiming a fast.  She signs Ahab’s name and uses his seal on the letters.  Next, she finds two guys who will do her dirty work for her.  They yell loud and long that Naboth didn’t observe the fast.  Everyone turns out and Naboth and his sons are stoned to death.  The sons are killed so they won’t inherit.  Second Kings 9:26 tells of the sons deaths.
          Ahab gets the vineyard. God sends the prophet Elijah to confront Ahab over this evil he has done.  Elijah paints a colorful picture concerning Ahab and Jezebel and what kind of death is in front of them.  Ahab caves and repents.  God is moved and Ahab is granted a stay.  Three years later he died.  It’s a good story.  First Kings, Chapter 22 tells it.  An arrow shot aimlessly into the air kills him.  He bleeds to death in his chariot.
          Jezebel, what of her?  She’s tossed out her window by two of her own eunuchs. Her blood splatters on horses that trample her.  When they went to bury her, all they could find was her skull, feet and the palms of her hands.  Quite a gruesome death.  It’s recounted in II Kings 9:29-37.
Extra time they had.  What did they do with it?  More evil.  Evil, after all, does have consequences.

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Potter and Clay

9/20/2020

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There is a little story tucked away in Jeremiah about a potter.  God instructs Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house and, there, he would “hear my words”. (Jeremiah 18:2) Jeremiah does as he is asked and goes and watches the potter make a vessel on the wheel.  Sad to say, though, the clay didn’t turn out as the potter wished.  So, he made it over and this time it was the way he wanted it.
          God’s words were pretty direct.  In verse 6 of the same chapter, God poses the question to Israel, “…cannot I do with you as this potter? …Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in mine…” God is the all-powerful ruler of the universe.  In this story He is making that very clear.
          But on a personal level, how does this relate to us?  Pottery making begins with clay.  At first, it is just a lump, and nothing can be done with it.  But, add water and work with it until it is pliable, then it can be made into something.  “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word…” (Ephesians 5:26) The Word of God is the Christians’ living water.  We become usable only when we are immersed in the word—then, we’re pliable.
          Now the clay is ready.  The potter places the clay on the wheel.  It must be exactly in the center, or else, it will tear apart as it is spinning.  Same thing happens to believers.  They must be “centered” in Christ.  “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.” (John 12:26) It’s not up to the believer to determine God’s will for his life it’s up to Christ. “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” (Psalm 127:1)
          Just like the potter, sometimes there are do-overs.  The story in Jeremiah is one of these.  Sometimes, just like the clay, we spin off in a direction that wasn’t meant for us to go.  And just like the potter, God picks us up and puts us back on the wheel.  “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (Psalm 119:9)
          Like Pastor Josh said in his sermon, “My address is Route 5, Ava, but someday it’ll be Route 5, Heaven.” God is the master potter.  He created the heavens and the earth in a week.  And in the future He will create “…a new heaven and a new earth…” (Revelation 21:1) I Pray that all of us will be there—in heaven.

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Faith

9/13/2020

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“Just because I’m the one that gets to talk the loudest doesn’t make me any worse or better than anybody else.” said Pastor Josh in the opening of the sermon.  The passage was taken from Titus 1:1-4.  Paul has identified himself first, as a servant of God; and second, as an apostle of Jesus Christ.  He is both of these “according to the faith of God’s elect.” (Titus 1:1)
          Sometimes reading through verses one skips right through it and doesn’t really digest what is being said.  This is the time that the preacher slows us down to really take it in.  The faith of God’s elect, what is that?  The elect are people who have chosen to believe God.  Faith here and trust are interchangeable.  Believers trust that God is who he says he is and will do what he says.
          The remainder of the verse is “and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness.”  First Timothy 3:16 makes it clear.  The mystery of godliness is that God became flesh, was approved by the Spirit, announced by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed and went to glory.
          It’s not just a simple introduction.  The next verse speaks of hope of eternal life from God who can’t lie and promised eternal life before the world began. This is the mystery kept secret. (See Romans 16:25)  Titus 1:3 has to do with preaching which our pastor was making a point about.  He even recited I Corinthians 1:21 which speaks of the foolishness of preaching.
          We begin as people who believe God.  Because of that God has promised eternal life.  “Let that sink in.  Eternal life, no darkness, no illness, no coffins, no cemeteries, no coyotes.” said Pastor Josh.  The coyotes were because his kids went out to catch lightning bugs.  They came right back in.  The howling of the coyotes had scared them.
          The final verse (4) speaks of the common faith.  Our pastor referred to Romans 12:3. It’s a long verse but, basically, it says that none of us should get a big head because God is the one that gives to every man his measure of faith.  Don’t compare others and put one in more high esteem than another.  All Christians have a job to do.  It’s easy to compare yourself to others.  Don’t do it.  God, in his grace, gave you the measure of faith that you have.
          What’s important to remember is this:  it’s possible to have strong faith, unwavering faith and, unfortunately, wavering faith.  That part depends on each individual.  Faith to be useful has to be a growing faith.  Second Thessalonians 1:3 says, “…because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth”.  Faith grows by reading the Word, heeding the Word (James 1:22-24), and testing the Word (Malachi 3:9-11).  Every believer has been gifted with a measure of faith.  It’s what we do with it that matters.

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The Whole Duty of Man

9/6/2020

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“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14) The very last two verses of that book.  Sounds like it’s coming from someone who has had a number of life experiences.  “All this stuff you’ve ever read.  It boils down to two verses.” stated Pastor Josh.
“Fear God, revere Him.  Why?  The end is what we’re trying to get: to go to heaven.  God created everything.  God is God.  Beside Him, there is no one else.  And God is good.” continued our pastor.  Jesus even said it, “…none is good, save one, that is, God.” (Luke 18:19)
The second part is to keep His commandments.  The answer to that ‘Why?’ question is obvious.  It’s in Psalms 5:4, “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.”  By His very nature God is holy (Isaiah 6:3).  Because of this, a day of judgment is coming.
Right now as the events of our lives unfold, wickedness and evil has rooted itself in our society.  There isn’t a day go by that the news doesn’t have wanton acts of evil reported.  Unfortunately for lookers on, there’s a kind of casualness about reporting it.  In some cases evil is not even thought of as particularly bad.  Mankind has established a pattern of winking at it.  But God is not going to wink at it.
“Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he has given assurance unto all men that he hath raised him from the dead.”(Romans 17:31)  Now there are those that cast a skeptical eye.  The God of the Old Testament is raised into question.  He did unleash His wrath and destroy many for their wickedness.
Number One:  God is God and man is man.  The two are different.  God finds sin detestable, even the thought of it is detestable to Him.   God’s wrath is far greater than man’s.  Number Two:  God loves man.  He created him.  He loved man so much that He sent His Son to the cross to satisfy His judgment against sin.  Romans 5:8 says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Number Three: Man only has until the end of his life on earth to come out from under God’s wrath by repenting for his sins.  John 3:36 says that he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
It’s easy.  Fear God and keep his commandments.  Believe that Jesus, His Son, paid the awful price.  Be a follower of Jesus.  The reward will be amazing: eternal life.

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Linda Johnson

Linda Johnson moved to Douglas County with her husband Tom 12 years ago after retiring from teaching. Following Tom's death in 2016, Linda began facilitating a grief support group called GriefShare through Sweden Church. She serves as the Sunday School teacher for our High School class. Her "Layman's Pen" articles are also published in the local paper, The Douglas County Herald.

Andrea Strong

Andrea is Pastor Joshua Strong's wife. She also serves Sweden Church as Church Secretary, website administrator, and Sunday School teacher to the Intermediate Class.