Hello,
This is my first post on this blog. I have to thank Teagan
for allowing me to contribute as I have enjoyed his posts thus far. I believe
there is a good deal of value in simple little reminders that can be consumed
in just a few minutes and provide mental and spiritual stimulation for the rest
of the day. I hope that my modest posts will be up to the high standards you
have all come to expect.
Sincerely,
Sage (aka Chief)
Every knee will bow
In these passages we read about God making a proposition. He
binds the statement with the highest authority possible, staking the truth of
it to His very existence. We can therefore understand with all certainty that
this proposition is true; ‘..every knee will bow..’. Which is to say that every
human being that has ever existed and/or will ever exist in the future will at
some point bow their knee to God and acknowledge him as the all-mighty creator
of the universe. Some will do it in this day of mercy and take with it the gift
of salvation, the rest will presumably not make it official until the white
throne judgment (see Revelations 20) when they come face to face with God in
His fully revealed glory. But every person will bow.
Lots of
times we hear things in church or in passing and don’t really stop to consider
the larger picture. For me this was one of those concepts. I have long know it
to be true but not until recently have I given much thought to what it means.
Every
knee will bow… Some willingly, some not. For some of us it will be the natural
expression of our overflowing gratitude, for others the most sorrowful moment
of regret imaginable.
It was
actually in the car while driving when this thought first came to me. “How
should I think about other people in the light of the fact that every single
one of them will bow their knee to God?” You see, the way I tend to view
enemies is in the sense of a sinner shaking their fist at God. In that light it
is easy to feel disgust, easy to look down at others as inferior. But we have
established that at some point, every person will acknowledge God. No one will
shake their fist at God forever, at some point they will kneel and admit he is
Lord.
That
man on Facebook arguing that abortion is cool and killing babies doesn't
matter, he will bow. The woman spreading rumors about you to try to sabotage
you at work, she will bow too. They can live in defiance for a time, but only
for a time.
The
fact that we all will bow means that ultimately we cannot deny our nature. God
created us for a purpose. We can try to fight against it, and some will until
the death, but eventually we will be put into a position where we have no
choice. They will then acknowledge God and be punished for their foolish
attempt at rebellion.
I have
read stories of missionaries who were falsely accused of crimes and thrown in
jail. They were tormented and tortured by their captors. Yet these men and
women did not lash out in anger at men who held them. I might have looked for
an opportunity to kill them and attempt escape. They took the opportunity to
pray for them and witness to them. I might be filled with anger and ask God to
strike them down. They were filled with sorrow and asked God to forgive the
evil doers. These people had a gift. They were able to see the person through
the sin, to know that someday those people would bow before God just as they
do; and if they could reach them, that they both might stand up afterwards and
rejoice together.
If you
are like me and sometimes have had trouble seeing the good in your fellow man,
think about this a little bit today. Maybe it will be a little easier to love
your enemies when you remember that they will acknowledge God too.
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