Walking on Water

Worthy is the Lamb

Posted on September 19, 2021 by wamplerp

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. – Revelation 5:11‭-‬14

Thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand – that’s a whole lot of angels. The ‘heavenly host” was encircling the throne where the mysterious “man” and scroll also reside.

This celestial crowd of angels was articulating the message of the Messiah – the Lamb of God “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

The heavenly host is then joined by an earthly host, “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them”. Pretty much all of creation is Chiming in here to say “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

It is unclear whether the earthly host is implicitly saying that the “man” on the throne and the Lamb are different and distinct or they are one in the same. Either way God’s presence is there and those present respond by saying “amen” and falling down to worship.

The last part of this passage strikes me as the nugget of wisdom here. We rarely experience God’s presence in a tangible way while we toil about in this land of oblivion. There are times when I feel drenched by the presence of God like an ice bucket challenge, but there are also times when I feel thirsty and parched yearning for God’s presence like deer pant for water.

This passage is a reminder that when we do find ourselves in God’s presence our response should be a bold “amen” and a pause to praise and worship the Lamb who was slain and takes away the sins of the world.

Prayer: God help us to pause when we find ourselves in your presence so that we can give you praise and worship.

Posted in Angels, atonement, Christianity, eternal life, Following God, God's Love for Us, Heaven, Jesus, Revelation, The Earthly Realm, The Nature of God, The Spiritual Realm | Tagged Christianity, Daily devotional, water | 1 Comment

Scroll Opener

Posted on September 18, 2021 by wamplerp

Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet by Ford Madox Brown

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” – Revelation 5:1‭-‬5

Today’s passage continues the raucous rapids that are Revelations. We find the mysterious “Man” on the throne. In his hand is “a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.” The detail that the scroll had writing on both sides caught my attention. Mainly because my impression of scrolls at this time in history is that writing on both sides would have been difficult and uncommon, but I could be totally wrong about this.

It seems to me that this two-sided scroll represents the many mysteries of the Kingdom of God including all of the big ones like salvation, redemption, and the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. The scroll is a window between the undiscovered country that is the spiritual “side” of the world and the physical “side” world that dominates our perception and understanding. We see the spiritual side only very fleetingly and imperfectly. Perhaps that is the reason that Revelations is so full of metaphor and mystery.

A mighty angel speaks up and asks an important question “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”. I certainly feel unworthy and inadequate attempting to understand a passage like this one. It is reassuring that the angel admits that “no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.” This to me means that much of what follows will be an attempt to describe the indescribable. We should not feel too badly when we feel confused or confounded by it. It is a bit like watching a film in a language not your own with no subtitles. We can get the gist and general story, but we are bound to miss a lot.

The author is weeping and weeping at this lack of a seer for the scroll. His soul realizes there are mysteries and important truths within the scroll, but he cannot open it on his own. He needs someone to help. Fortunately help has come ““Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Jesus is the answer. He is the great “scroll opener” for our lives and the means by which we can hope to understand the profound mysteries of the spiritual realm. We can try and try to rip open the spiritual scroll of our lives, but the only way we can be stripped down to the soul is with the help of the One who allowed Himself to be sacrificed for our souls, Jesus.

As I write this a song just came up on Spotify, “Who am I” by Casting Crowns. It really captures how I am feeling at the moment:

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am,
But because of what You’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who You are.

I am a flower quickly fading:
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I’m calling.
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling.
And You’ve told me who I am.
I am Yours, I am Yours.

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?

Not because of who I am,
But because of what You’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who You are.

I am a flower quickly fading:
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I’m calling.
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling.
And told me who I am.
I am Yours, I am Yours, I am Yours.

Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
‘Cause I am Yours, I am Yours.

Prayer: God thank You for revealing the secrets of the spiritual world so that our souls can find You.

Posted in Angels, Christianity, eternal life, Following God, Forgiveness, God's Love for Us, Heaven, Jesus, Redemption, Revelation, The Earthly Realm, The Nature of God, The Spiritual Realm | Tagged Daily devotional, water, Christianity | 1 Comment

Describing the Indescribable

Posted on September 17, 2021 by wamplerp

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. – Revelation 1:12‭-‬16

This passage begins our journey into the sometimes confusing imagery and symbolic meaning in Revelations. The first murky metaphor is the seven golden lampstands. Certainly the number seven seems to have special meaning in both the old and new testaments. This numerology is still alive and well in the idea of “lucky 7” and Vegas slots. Standing among these seven lampstands is someone important, “someone like a son of man”. This sounds like a reference to Jesus, although other details make me wonder if this is some sort of composite description.

The details provided about what this “man” was wearing are interesting. He is dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and He has a gold sash around His chest. It is almost as if the author is going out of his way to describe this person in His presence as not so different than any other king a person we might encounter here on earth.

The description then takes on a more mystical and metaphysical tone. The hair on his head is described as being white like wool, “as white as snow” and his eyes were like blazing fire. I do not remember any descriptions of Jesus including white hair or blazing eyes, but I could be wrong. It is almost as if this description is a composite of Moses, Jesus, and perhaps other angelic beings. I do not know.

His feet were like glowing bronze and his voice was like “rushing waters”. This reminds me of the language used in Ezekiel to describe heavenly beings that spoke to Ezekiel through wheels and rushing waters. Ezekiel 1:15-28 contains this description “high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.” These descriptions are so similar that it seems to me that they were either describing the same thing or the author of revelations was referencing the earlier description in Ezekiel.

The reference to a voice like “rushing waters” deserves a second look as it is such powerful imagery about the voice of God. In a post back in December of 2018 I wondered whether imagery like this was an attempt to describe the indescribable, “to do something that is perhaps not really possible – describe God in human terms.” Maybe something similar is happening here. The author is seeing something that it is really not possible to see with our earthly eyes and trying his best to describe something that does not fit into our physical paradigm.

This spiritual being also “held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” This sounds like the way angelic beings are often described in most of the new testament – a combination of awe inspiring brilliance and scary judgement. This is consistent with my earlier pondering that this description is some sort of composite describing several spiritual beings at the same time. Maybe our sense of individuality does not apply to the spiritual realm in the same sense that we inhabit our bodies as individual spirits. This passage is deep water to be sure.

I am not sure if there is a take home message here but it seems that there is a spiritual realm that we can gain glimpses of while we are here on earth, but our ability to see and understand that realm may be limited by our earthly understanding and senses. Perhaps this provides some grace in our attempts to understand a book like revelations. It may be attempting to describe the indescribable.

Prayer: God these water passages in revelations are confusing and complex. Please grant us the understanding and grace to make sense of them.

Posted in Christianity, eternal life, Jesus, Prophecy, Revelation, The Earthly Realm, The Nature of God, The Spiritual Realm | Tagged Daily devotional, water, Christianity | 11 Comments

Revelation, Unveiling, or Apocalypse?

Posted on September 12, 2021 by wamplerp

https://www.foundationarts.com/images/thumbs/0054138_healing-the-blind-man-by-yongsung-kim-yk1010334.jpeg

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. John,To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” – Revelation 1:1‭-‬8

“I am the Alpha and the Omega”. So begins the book of Revelation and the final “reach” of my float through the bible exploring water passages. The author, John, was apparently a Jewish christian exiled on the island of patmos. It looks like this was an island in the Aegean Sea that was very remote and isolated. The Roman empire was still the dominant force in the region when this letter was written and many of the events described probably had connections to the specific Roman rule and rulers but there are layers of meaning and timeless qualities that argue for a certain amount of time-bending.

The word translated as “revelation” was apokalypsis in the original Greek, meaning “unveiling” or “revelation”. In English we derive the word apocalypse from this Greek word. In modern usage, and in my experience, the words “unveiling” and “apocalypse” do not have very similar meanings. Unveiling sounds decidedly more positive than an apocalypse. I associate apocalypse with the end of the world as a result of anything from asteroids to zombies and everything in between.

As I have pondered this duality in meaning it occurs to me that it may have been used for a deeper reason. Whether one views an event or series of events as an apocalypse or an unveiling is somewhat dependent on your spiritual vantage point and perspective. If you are invested in the physical world here on earth then events that bring your earthly life to an end would seem apocalyptic, but if your real home was in the spiritual realm which is largely hidden here on earth then the “end” would actually be the beginning. The “real world” would be unveiled or revealed to you. Jesus was the window between these worlds when he walked the earth and He is also a window here in this letter.

The author uses imagery and language reminiscent of the gospels when he says “Look, he is coming with the clouds”. Back in Matthew 24:26‭-‬31 this very same language was used to describe the return of Jesus in the midst of apocalyptic times. The Gospel of Mark 13:24-27 also uses very similar language in describing Jesus returning at the end of all things. Clouds represent a confluence of sorts between the spiritual and the secular realms which was personified in Jesus coming to earth. He described Himself as the Alpha and the Omega and it is clear that He is at the beginning and the end of all stories.

This passage was a gentle float into the book of Revelation. I am thankful for this somewhat tame transition into what I anticipate will be a raucous romp through rapids and whitewater. I feel a bit like the rafter who congratulates himself after running a class II rapid only to look downstream and see an approaching class IV rapid. No turning back when floating a river, one simply has to choose a line and push on through.

Jesus’ arrival on earth was the beginning of something new and the ending of something we have known. Whether we view His return as an unveiling or an apocalypse, a sunrise or a sunset, is really up to us.

Prayer: God help me to navigate this book of unveiling, revelation, and apocalypse with humility, wisdom, and grace.

Posted in Christianity, Death and Dying, Following God, Free Will, God's Love for Us, Gospel, Heaven, Jesus, reconciliation, Revelation, The Earthly Realm, The Spiritual Realm | Tagged Daily devotional, water, Christianity | Leave a comment

Eddying Out before Revelations

Posted on September 11, 2021 by wamplerp

Well it is hard to believe it but I have come to the final book in the bible, Revelations. Before I take on this final set of rapids on my journey through the bible I thought it would be good to Eddy out and prepare myself for the turbulence ahead. I have scouted ahead in revelations and not only are there numerous water-related passages, but many are tricky and confusing. It reminds me little bit if the passages and prophecies in Ezekiel.

By my count there are about 30 references to water in revelations, one of the most “water-filled” books so far. Perhaps this is because it is full of imagery and prophecy. Both of these modes of communication tend to have more water-related passages. I have read Revelations before and I remember being perpetually confused so hopefully God will help me plumb the depths.

If I am even somewhat consistent I should reach the end of my journey before the end of 2021. This has taken me longer than I anticipated when I began this journey back in June of 2014. 725 posts, and just over seven years later, I find myself at this final rapids. A lot has happened in those 7 years. I have travelled to places far and near, gained a son-in-law, reached full professor status, and perhaps most importantly I have learned a ton about God, myself, and the bible. The bible is truly a braided stream, and not all parts of the bible are like a water park.

As I return to parts of the river I have floated before it is often a different river – not because the bible changed, but because I have changed. God has, and continues to, sculpt my soul. I am continually amazed by the interconnections in the bible, just like a great river system with many tributaries and branches. A watershed of wisdom that all leads to the One River that is both the Headwaters and Mouth, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

I confess I am a little apprehensive about the last leg of this journey. Perhaps because part of me does not want to reach the end of the river. I have not decided yet what I will do once the water references in Revelations, and this particular walk across the water, is complete. Maybe I will portage back upstream and see how the same passages look now that I have seen the entire river. I am content to take my lead from God and let him determine my next adventure.

Prayer: God give me wisdom, patience, and grace to choose a line through the watery rapids I will encounter in Revelations.

Posted in Christianity, Eddying Out | Tagged Daily devotional, water, Christianity | 1 Comment

Wild Waves and Rainless Clouds

Posted on September 5, 2021 by wamplerp

In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them. Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. – Jude 1:8‭-‬13

Well by my reckoning this is the last water reference up to the book of revelations. I have scouted ahead in Revelations and it has many passages to explore and puzzle over. The book of Jude was apparently written by either an apostle or a brother of Jesus named Judas (not Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus). Apparently the recipients of the letter where being deceived by leaders among them who were teaching that because they were saved they could go ahead and sin and not have any consequences. Clearly this was missing the point of the Messiah and his purpose in coming to save us.

In trying to wrap my brain around this seemingly ludicrous leader behavior the image comes into my head of a boat full of people, the boat sinks, and the people are flailing about in the water drowning. Jesus arrives in a boat to rescue them. He walks across the water to rescue each of them and leads them carefully into his boat. Many accept this rescue and await Jesus as he rescues others that are drowning. But there are some people in the boat who seem to be suggesting that jumping back in the water is a good idea because after all Jesus will just save them again right? When recast in this way it seems ludicrous that anyone would actively reject the grace that Jesus freely offers, but that is essentially the error that the author is trying combat.

There are people who “on the strength of their dreams….pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.” Back in a letter from John he also brought up this idea abusing celestial beings. I am not sure what is meant by “on the strength of their own dreams”. Maybe these people were taking the dreams created by their own subconscious as being the voice of God without considering that other voices can attempt to sway our consciences.

The behavior of these wayward teachers is compared to numerous historical figures who failed to lead those they were called to lead toward a closer relationship with God. The passage gets to the meat of the matter towards end with a number of amazing word pictures to describe the lost leaders.

They are “shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars”. These are some really rich and deep images full of many layers of meaning. Let’s take each one separately then see what they all have in common.

“Shepherds who feed only themselves.” That is certainly pretty much the opposite of the example provided by Jesus as he fed and healed his way across Israel. His focus was always on others and he met people where they were at physically and spiritually. He was the ultimate lifeguard and He trained his followers to do the same. This group of selfish sheperds have clearly missed this important role.

“Clouds without rain” is an interesting one and certainly more water-related. Clouds are beautiful and fundamentally they are composed of water, or rain that is awaiting delivery. So a cloud with no rain is actually something that is not really possible. It is the condensed moisture that gives rise to the cloud in the first place. Just like it was the condensed Son of God, Jesus that gave rise to all of the followers being addressed in this letter. These conscienceless clouds are drifting about being blown by the wind rather than led by the Spirit. I am going to float on by the colorful, but not water-related reference, to “autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead”.

The next image is one of the most interesting and watery for sure “wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame”. The idea of “wild waves” is so emotive and meaningful, especially to these people familiar with squalls and storms. Wild waves have great power and can do great harm when their energy is unleashed on boats or beaches. These wayward leaders apparently also have great power and they are unleashing it on their followers causing erosion of their faith and sickness in their souls. They seem like big Waves but really they are only foam, scary on the outside but empty on the inside.

These “wandering stars” are misusing their stardom and influence over their young and impressionable followers. All of these powerful images of wayward leaders have at their root a lack of humility and a servant’s heart to be the hands and feet of Jesus. This passage is a great reminder to walk humbly and keep a sharp spiritual lookout for what God is up to as we make our journey home.

Prayer: God help us to walk and lead with humility and grace, never losing sight of the example You provided in Jesus.

Posted in Christian Leadership, Christianity, Discernment, Discipleship, Following God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jude, Obedience, The Spiritual Realm | Tagged Christianity, Daily devotional, water | Leave a comment

Spiritually Alive

Posted on September 4, 2021 by wamplerp

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. – 1 John 5:5‭-‬12

I finished off 2 peter and I am on to 1 John. This letter is thought to have been written by the author of the Gospel of John. Based on the language of this passage I would tend to agree. Blood and Water were important themes in the book of John and they are being echoed here.

I have been reading a really interesting book recently by Bill Bryson simply called The Body – a guide for occupants. He treats the body almost like a back country wilderness adventure, taking the reader into every nook and cranny of the human body and describing its wonderful workings. He makes the point that blood does much more than carry oxygen to our cells. It transports hormones and other vital chemicals, carries off waste, tracks down pathogens and kills pathogens, helps regulate our body temperature, and even helps us share emotions through blushing and becoming “flush” with anger.

Blood and water are vital to the functioning of our physical bodies. We can survive only minutes without our heart moving blood throughout our bodies and only a few days without water to quench our thirst. I think the point the author is trying to make is that the presence and participation of God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus in our spiritual lives is equally vital for the proper functioning of our souls.

We all have an intuitive idea of what it means to be physically alive, but what does it mean to spiritually alive? That is one of the questions the author is trying to answer for the recipients of this letter. It sounds like they have lost sight of the reasons for their faith as the number of people who actually met Jesus grows fewer. They see earthly things and people going about their lives oblivious to the spiritual world that Jesus was the window between. They may not have articulated it this way but they are really asking the question that is at the beginning of this passage “Who is it that overcomes the world?”

The answer is given in the last part of the passage “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life”. So to be spiritually alive we need God and His Son Jesus. Our spiritual health is determined by the degree to which we quench our thirst with living water, allow the blood of Christ to wash away our sins, and the Holy Spirit to fill or souls.

Prayer: God help us to tend to our spiritual health as diligently as we do our physical bodies.

Posted in 1 John, Christianity, Discernment, Discipleship, eternal life, Faith, Following God, God's Love for Us, Heaven, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Redemption, Sin, The Earthly Realm, The Spiritual Realm | Tagged Christianity, Daily devotional, water | 1 Comment

Of Water by Water

Posted on August 30, 2021 by wamplerp

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. – 2 Peter 3:3‭-‬7

Today’s passage seems to be addressing the understandable doubts of believers who are anxious for Jesus to return within their lifetime. It is easy to get so caught up in anticipating heavenly things that we are no earthly good. Similarly, it is easy to get so caught up in earthly things that we are no heavenly good. The trick is balance between these two eschatological extremes.

The author is reassuring the recipients of this letter that there will always be doubters. Those who say “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” They seem to be channeling the author of Ecclesiastes, everything in life is meaningless – turn turn turn.

These followers are apparently deliberately forgetting something they intuitively know – “they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.” They a forgetting that God’s Word, the Logos or reason that underlies everything, is at the beginning and end of all that we see and know. Formed out of water and by water. This confirms my experience as I have undertaken this blog that God is like water. God is everywhere and always in motion. It is only us “cave dwellers” that are fixed in space and time. We are like a stagnant pond in relation to the rushing waters that typify God.

God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the headwaters and the mouth of a great river that no one can cross. He is both the source and the destination that all of our souls seek. The same God who brought judgement in the time of Noah, delivered grace through Jesus.

The same God will preside over a day of judgement, “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” No matter how it appears at the moment, in the end God wins. All waters that allow themselves to flow to the sea will find their home there.

Prayer: God You are the beginning and the end. We have only to accept your grace and we will be able to join You at the end of all things.

Posted in 2 Peter, Christianity, Death and Dying, Discernment, Discipleship, eternal life, Following God, Free Will, God's Love for Us, Obedience, reconciliation, Redemption, The Earthly Realm, The Nature of God, The Spiritual Realm, Trusting God | Tagged Christianity, Daily devotional, water | 1 Comment

Entanglement

Posted on August 29, 2021 by wamplerp

They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” – 2 Peter 2:13‭-‬22

Well this is an uplifting passage here in 2 Peter. Sort of like trying to make headway on flat water with a headwind in a raft. Lots of rowing for little return. This passage starts with harm for harm and ends with a sow wallowing in mud. Phew time to suit up and dive in so here goes.

So I recently re-watched the Godfather movie trilogy. The movies are well made and compelling to watch, but the story is really depressing on many levels. The beginning of this passage reminded me of Vito and Michael Corleone, played by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. So much killing, retribution, and brokenness. They think they have everything – wealth, power, and prestige when in fact they were only a vanishing mist. The Corleones were an “accursed brood” to be sure.

It is ironic that the fictional Corleone family in the movies considered themselves devout Catholics. I have nothing against Catholics, but for some reason it often seems to either create or tolerate the sort of spiritual and moral dissonance depicted in the Godfather movies. C.S. Lewis, when asked about the Roman Catholic church, described it as “a harmless tissue of human traditions which may be fatal for some souls”. This seems an accurate description for the Corleones for sure. Their taking of the Eucharist did not seem to impact their taking of lives. Of course we are all flawed followers, the missing piece was repentance and turning around and moving toward God. That is what we are all called to do regardless of the size of our sins.

So I had to look up “Balaam son of Bezer”. Apparently the reference comes from Numbers 22. Balaam is struggling to obey God and finally God gets his attention by speaking to him through his donkey. The donkey says several things in God’s name but they can be summed up in Numbers 22:32 “I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me”. So Balaam (Boer) was being reckless, not watching where he was going. Peter is warning the recipients of this letter and us to avoid being reckless. What is the opposite of being reckless? Perhaps it is being Intentional?

The passage goes on to describe reckless people like Balaam as “springs without water and mists driven by a storm.” A spring without water is disconnected from its water source. Mists driven by a storm are without direction or purpose. They move in a haphazard unpredictable fashion – they lack intention. So how do we live intentional lives? the passage says “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” This is true, but difficult to identify in practice. Sometimes we are not aware that we are a slave. We go about our lives behind bars that we can’t even see.

That was the case with the Corleones in the Godfather. They were experts at keeping out of jail for their actions. What they eventually learned in the end it that they were already in a jail of their own making and the only way out was to allow God to remake their lives, but of course that would not have made a good Hollywood story. The last movie does end with a kind of repentance by Michael Corleone, but his past actions have come at a cost and he ends up broken and alone. God is always ready to accept us back home no matter how badly we have messed up.

In the book Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis the Dawn Treader is stuck in a land part of the ocean without light and where all our dreams, good and bad, come true. They realize that “dreams coming true” is not always a good thing and they fear they are lost forever apart from the world of light. Alsan, the Christ figure, shows up and leads them out of the darkness in the form of an albatross that only Lucy can see. The deeper lesson was that to defeat the darkness “out there” you must defeat the darkness within. We have but to allow God to strip us down to our soul. We must be willing to shed out cargo of poor decisions and destructive behavior before God can lead us home.

Prayer: God help us to be intentional rather than reckless with our lives and the decisions that shape them.

Posted in 2 Peter, atonement, Ceremonial Cleansing, Christianity, Death and Dying, Discernment, Faith, Following God, Forgiveness, Free Will, God's Love for Us, Obedience, reconciliation, Redemption, Sin, wealth | Tagged Christianity, Daily devotional, water | Leave a comment

Zuzus Petals

Posted on August 27, 2021 by wamplerp

Zuzu and George Bailey from
It’s a wonderful life

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. – 2 Peter 2:4‭-‬11

On to the second letter of Peter. Peter again brings up Noah’s flood as a way to convince the readers of this letter that they should pay attention to being righteous. There is apparently a battle going on in these followers about whether to follow the “corrupt desires of the flesh” or their conscience toward God. The author is trying to convince the readers that God “knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.” In the end God wins.

I assume this explanation of spiritual sifting is meant to reassure the followers that their efforts to faithfully follow God are worth it, even when outward appearances may suggest some are escaping the consequences of their choices. Peter describes these people as “despising authority”. I assume this means that they believe they are the most important authority in their own lives rather than God.

It sounds like there are people who not only think they are the ultimate authority in their own lives, but they are apparently not afraid to “heap abuse on celestial beings”. I am not sure what this even means. Talking smack to angels and saints? Berating and blaspheming the heavenly host? This would take a level of hubris that is difficult to imagine.

The only example that comes immediately to my mind is one planted there by Hollywood and the mind of director Frank Capra. The movie “It’s a wonderful life” features a troublesome angel, a “celestial being”, named Clarence. Clarence is depicted chatting with other celestial beings in a Hollywood version of heaven about a troubled George Bailey, who becomes Clarence’s “assignment” to earn his wings.

Clarence decides the only way to “save” George is to jump into an icy river so that George is forced outside himself, and into the river, to save Clarence. Clarence, with further consultation with his celestial cohort, decides to show George how his life has touched the lives of many others. He lets him see what the world would have looked like without his life and all the ways his life affected others. This results in considerable confusion and conflict between George and Clarence. George definitely heaps abuse on Clarence as he grabs a clue and eventually helps Clarence “earn his wings”.

George did not realize that his self doubt and willingness to take his own life was in fact a form of boldness and arrogance. George prayed and thought the answer would come in the form of a magical miracle. He thought his immediate troubles, which did look pretty grim, were bigger than God. In the end his problem was solved not by God providing a bag of money to trip over. The actual resolution was much more organic and relational, just like the way Jesus healed and fed people. A multitude of caring people showed up to help George and Clarence gained his wings “thata boy Clarence”.

So what is the take home here? Perhaps it is that when we ask for God’s help we should do it with humility and an expectation that the help may come through others who are listening intently to God’s voice and responding.

Prayer: God help us to pray with humility and grace, expecting an unexpected answer.