This world is in a crisis! Albeit democracies, communism, dictatorships, autocracies, monarchies, or majority rule─ whatever human government, a crisis is looming; threatening, and governments will topple! Never in mankind’s history have so many governments been in so much difficulty. And overriding EVERY governmental crisis throughout history there was a vital and important WORLDWIDE importance that was missing─ an Authority that would bring this world ‘peace and justice.’ And it’s the LORD God!
A Missing Dimension In Government
Literally, thousands upon thousands of books have been written through our violent and bloody history probing mankind’s nature. And, whether the likes of Sir James George Frazer are right in his assessment, that ancient “man, progressing from a belief in magic as a means of controlling his environment” morphed into a “religious belief, which then propagated gods and spirits.” Or only evolution itself is emphasized, throughout the world, there is no clear understanding of just what man is.
If we are mere animals─ and as Joseph Merrick so famously cries in the movie, “I am not an animal! I am a human being!” ─which admittedly has advanced to a level unheard of compared to ants, monkeys, gorillas, or even orangutans (“Right Turn Clyde”); then it goes back to a question I ask in a recent sermon, “If we all end up dying, then what is the purpose of living?”
If we are NOT mere animals but are in fact one of the greatest of creations from a Creator God ─endowed with a mind (it is argued quite extensively that a mind is quite different than a mere brain) with much greater difference between an animal and a human being─ then any understanding of mankind’s nature certainly should include a full understanding of just how we came to be here on this beautiful blue planet, as well as just what we are.
As I spoke of in our booklet, “Does God Exist” you can prove the existence of a Creator God through various scientific laws! (Read our free online booklet Does God Exist?). And, there is proof that our Creator God has not left mankind without an “instruction manual” on how to properly operate this physical body – and it’s the Holy Bible. Explaining to us who we are, what we are, why we are─ and certainly where we are going!
Rulers of the Universe!
The LORD God (the family of God─ which at this present time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) are RULERS! And not only is our Lord Jesus Christ Creator, but He is the Creator of all things, and “all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” – John 1:3. And God the Father is the One who continually governs and oversees the whole of the universe and the fulfillment of Their purpose being worked out here below.
As Supreme Ruler over all the universe, Father God─ and for absolute clarity let’s again go over John 1 – “In the beginning was the Word [the Logos; the Spokesman; the One who would become Jesus Christ our Lord], and the Word was with God [the very One that would become the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as well as Father God to all of us], and the Word was God [meaning, He is the second member of the God family].” ─ has set over the universe certain irrevocable laws – the laws of science are certainly spiritual in nature. And I love thinking that every single tiny atom throughout the known universe has at its core the Spirit of God. While science can seek to understand these laws─ and it's interesting to note: that the James Webb telescope is aiding in studying the recently found massive groups of rogue planets without a star – some are binary planets. European Space Agency scientist Samuel Pearson commented on this, “The main thing that we learn from this is that there is something fundamentally wrong with either our understanding of planet formation, star formation, or both.” So, much of what scientists thought was true concerning the universe and its irrevocable laws, may not be so true at all. And, even though mankind can study and conclude that the universe has certain physical properties – such as energy, heat, light, motion, inertia, and the four types of radiation─ alpha, beta, neutrons, and electromagnetic waves such as gamma rays ─science did not bring these laws into existence. And astrophysicists are powerless to change these laws. The laws of physics are beyond real human understanding, no matter how technically sounding they come up with an answer. Such as the famous Stephen Hawking who self-righteously hawked, “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing.”
The LORD God’s living word reveals divine authority of all creation─ and not only through the continual operation of a gravitational attraction of a sun keeping planets in their orbits (which apparently as the James Webb telescope is discovering – this is not necessarily a set law), but also divine authority over mankind’s laws ─and as RULERS (recall Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, ‘Let Us …’”), who created mankind, who had selected Their own people, who had selected a kingdom on this earth to represent and be an example to all other nations, and who is working out a Master Plan… From the Beginning─ a glorious plan that will eventually bring about a world-ruling government over all mankind.
A Book About One Man and His Family
Much of the Bible is a narrative about one man’s family – that is Abraham. But, the Bible is also about GOVERNMENT. A book about life and death, obedience or disobedience, blessings or curses – cf. Deuteronomy 30:19. When the LORD God originally called Their chosen people out of the captivity of Egypt, They initially established a human leader (Moses) over them and gave him a complete set of laws for the children of Israel to keep and obey. Eventually, leadership became too overwhelming for Moses─ he would come to “select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, and rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. …” – Exodus 18:21. So, this false ideology that there is a one-man hierarchical rule is just that─ false. And the LORD God knew that the original agreement (Covenant) was missing a vital element in that original earthly kingdom─ the kingdom of Israel ─ the Spirit of God.
The LORD God’s law was not imperfect. In fact, “the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” – Romans 7:12. But there was a vital ingredient that would help make mankind be able to keep and obey those laws─ again, the Spirit of God. God’s living word reveals to us what was that missing ingredient – “’ Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!’” – Deuteronomy 5:29.
The Works of the Flesh
The children of Israel─ the kingdom of Israel ─didn’t have the Spirit of God to help them obey. “The carnal mind [absent of God’s Spirit] is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” – Romans 8:7.
The Ten Commandments that the LORD God gave to the children of Israel was a perfect law. Had the LORD God’s commandments, statutes, ordinances, and judgments been kept and obeyed, as the LORD says, “’ If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will …’” – Leviticus 26:3. And the LORD continues with a long list of great blessings that the LORD would do for the children of Israel. Had they obeyed the LORD, the kingdom of Israel would have become “a special treasure” to the LORD God “above all people.” A kingdom “of priests and a holy nation.” – cf. Exodus 19:6.
Unfortunately, the works of the flesh are the complete opposite of the fruits of God’s Spirit. God’s living word reveals to us that there is another “law,” or principle at work in our flesh and in our mind, like the tractor beam of the Death Star it tugs on our flesh and mind─ of adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like─ indicating there are many more he could have named!
The Apostle Paul adds, “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20) Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21) I find then a law [or a principle], that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22) For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man [the law of God that is within him]. 23) But I see another law [or principle] in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24) O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death [the works of the flesh]? 25) I thank God─ through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” – Romans 7:21-25.
Why the Kingdom of Israel Failed
The LORD God’s physical kingdom failed. Not because the kingdom or the laws by which it was to be ruled were inferior, but as spoken earlier─ there was a missing dimension in the kingdom.
So, speaking of the FIRST (the physical) government over the nation of Israel, the Apostle Paul wrote concerning the SECOND (the spiritual) government ─ under the terms and conditions of “a new covenant” ─ a better promise.
“But NOW He [our Lord Jesus Christ] has obtained a more excellent ministry [compared with the Old Covenant with Moses and Aaron], inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises [which is eternal life, compared to only physical and temporal]. 7) For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8) Because finding fault with them, He says: ‘Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel [the kingdom of Israel] and with the house of Judah [the kingdom of Judah] ─ 9) not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they DID NOT continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. … I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’” – Hebrews 8:6-10.
Pay attention to “if that first covenant had been faultless” ─ that physical government in the wilderness was not with the LORD God, did not have the Spirit of God. They lacked the Spirit of God and could not keep or obey the LORD God. The Prophet Jeremiah says concerning the nature of man, “The heart [the human psyche] is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” – Jeremiah 17:9.
Now, while there is a spiritual essence in man ─ “a spirit in man” Job 32:8; Hebrews 12:23; 1 John 4:1 ─ which causes mankind’s mind to have a much higher intellect superior to animals Mankind’s mind is still carnal in the sense that it is physical and created from matter ─ “sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” – Jude 19.
The missing dimension in all governments─ past and present ─is JESUS CHRIST! And since the Lord [Jesus Christ] is the Spirit─ the governments of the world are missing the Holy Spirit! – cf. 2 Corinthians 3:17. The very mind of Jesus Christ! It is only through proper repentance, the laying on of hands, and the receiving of the Spirit of God that the nations of the world will ever have lasting ‘peace and justice.’
There is no wonder why this world’s governments – completely cut off from the LORD God, and displaying for all the world to witness the works of the flesh – are doomed for destruction!
God’s Spirit – both within the governed and those doing the governing would help in keeping and obeying God’s law, adding the LORD God’s spiritual qualities─ godly love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
In truth─ the LORD God does have a representative form of government on this earth today! It is the Church of Jesus Christ! It is a government of the LORD God─ through JESUS CHRIST! He is the head of the Church. And this representative form of government─ led by Jesus Christ is commissioned to do great works on this earth – doing the very work of God.
Our Lord Jesus Christ established it, saying, “ …’on this Rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades [the grave] shall not prevail against it.’” – Matthew 16:18. God the Father has called─ through Jesus Christ ─throughout the generations, millions (John 6:44). And He has personally trained them to be His true servants. And He has never stopped ruling over them (the Church of Jesus Christ) down through history!
Our Lord Jesus Christ has absolutely promised that His Church – the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22, 23) ─ would continue throughout this present evil age. However, He also WARNED His Church, “’ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come quickly and REMOVE YOUR LAMPSTAND FROM ITS PLACE─ unless you repent.’” – Revelation 2:4-5; 1:20). “ … ‘Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison [not just a physical prison, but a psychological prison as well], that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten [years]. … you [also] have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam [those who are greedy for power and prestige], … you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth [with the very living word of God!].’” Then there are some in the Church of Jesus Christ that “’ allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immoralities [the worship of false gods and goddesses] and eat things sacrificed to idols. … Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent …’” Still yet, there are those in His Church that continue to “’ have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. … I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore HOW you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. … If you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.’” Then there are some in His Church that are but “’ lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. … I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.’” – Revelation 2:1-29; 3:1-22.
Our Lord and Savior has promised His true servants, “ … ‘and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” – Matthew 28:20. And our beloved Apostle Paul would go on─ some 25± years later ─to remind not only his Hebrew audience but all of us as well, of our Lord Jesus’ glorious promise –
“ … For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” – Hebrews 13:5.
The Body of Christ’s Commission
Our Lord Jesus entrusted His ‘little flock’ with an important commission─ especially here in the latter part of this present evil age.
It is the same commission given to the original 1st-century A.D. true Christians –
Our Mission:
This great Work undertaken by Jesus Christ is yet to be finished. And, perhaps more than ever should be shouted to Jesus Christ's spiritual ‘lost sheep’! We are small in number, however, our desire to feed the sheep of Jesus Christ is huge and ambitious. We strive to teach the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the ultimate Plan of God.
The glorious Gospel Message is the gospel message preached by Jesus Christ of Nazareth and His Church concerning the history of Jesus Christ and the future coming of the Kingdom of God established by our soon-coming King of kings and Lord of lords. The establishment of God's government on earth. It includes the message of what Jesus Christ has done in the past, is doing right now, and what He shall do. It is the Message of the New Covenant. The primary purpose and commission of God's Church is to feed the physical and spiritual sheep of our Lord Jesus Christ! – John 10:27-29. □
click on photo to enlarge
Harris L. R., Archer, L. Gleason, Jr., and Waltke K. Bruce. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, 1980, #1191a, pages 503-504.
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