A New Years reminder, c/o Charles Spurgeon

Today's Spurgeon reading is beautiful. It rolls off the silent tongue; it is almost melodic:

"'Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.'
1 Samuel 7:12

The word 'hitherto' seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, 'hitherto the Lord hath helped!' Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honour, in dishonour, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, 'hitherto hath the Lord helped us!' We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves; even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of loving kindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received 'hitherto.'

But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes 'hitherto,' he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesus' likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fulness of eternity, the infinity of bliss."

Daily Devotional

The Elect

I am reading the New Testament, objectively, academically, without emotion or hope to receive one message or another (as best as I can). I am dissecting each line, using the skills that I obtained studying in my bachelors of commerce program, and when it seems too laborious, I remind myself that it is just a chapter at a time; that there is no race. I take a break, because this is not to be taken lightly, or skimmed over. I take my time because this endeavor is not a competition, it has nothing to do with self, or ego. This has to do with spiritual growth, so that I may help others, to which I believe I tasted the first fruits last night, as we read "the promises" in the Big Book meeting, and as I was able to share, inconspicuously using the knowledge that I have received thus far.

And I have come across some gems so far. I have skipped the Gospels, as I am thoroughly comfortable with them, but I never really learned the legality of the faith that we receive through the epistles. So I am currently on Romans, chapter 11, and I had to take a moment out, because what I found is fascinating, in fact, it can rock the Reformed teaching of Unconditional Election, to the core. (Though it is not my intention to use the knowledge that I gain to win over the Christians, but to rather, to show God to others).

The problem with the teaching of the Elect (from a Catholic perspective, and really any other perspective) essentially blots out all free will. It claims that God has predestined us to either be saved or damned, and then it further says that those who are damned are so for the glory of God, and for the glory that is to come to the saved, in heaven, ultimately making even the damned a people who should praise God for their torment.

But in verse 4, Paul quotes from the Book of Kings, and it really says something completely different. It refers to the first Book of Kings where all of Elijah's people chose Baal over Yahweh, and that not only was he the last one left, but that the deserters wanted him dead. Yet Yahweh responds that he had reserved seven thousand men, who will fight the against those who turned their back on him. In verse 7, Paul writes that these elect were not hardened. 

What a fascinating revelation (for it is a revelation, I can only interpret what I can interpret in my humanness at this point in space and time - I know that more will be revealed as I continue on). This suggests that the Elect are actually the ones who are spared from straying, why they are spared, I know not yet, but they have been "left" for God, and they will help Elijah fight his traitors. 

Secret layers in society

I had a revelation several weeks ago about secret societies, and why they are in fact, necessary.

Christ warned us about casting pearls before swine, and this is the exact reason why we must have layers of members where powerful information is kept safe until the appropriate time, should that time ever come.

If I have been given wisdom through God, I cannot simply pass that off to people who might in turn pass it off incorrectly - this is dangerous, because information can be misconstrued, and therefore rejected, or worse: passed down even further, with error.

We see this most evidently in Christianity, through the manipulation of Biblical translations. The mayhem that has ensued is most notably evident in the fraction of over 10,000 "schools" or, let's call a spade a spade - cults - within an originally perfect fellowship of oneness.

In order for the preparation of knowledge to be passed down, the people must be prepared, and today I see that it is not a matter of the receiver not being worthy, but rather, the receiver not being ready. 

“We...speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began”. - 1 Co 2.6-7