Month: June 2019

Whether there were 42 generations between the time Abraham took his son, Isaac, to Mount Moriah and the day Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, freely laid down His life for the sins of the whole world there, is a debate I will leave for those theologians far more learned in deciphering biblical genealogy than myself. What I am clear on is this: Before time as we understand it began, God had chosen this plot of the earth as holy ground. He had a plan for Jerusalem and a purpose for this mountain. And, as we know, “God’s will cannot be thwarted”—Job 42:2. Before He stood over the dark void, before Daniel had written a word of what was yet to come—Paul either, God knew—Daniel 9; 2 Thess. 2:1-4.

There is nothing random with God. No—thing. Nothing has, nor ever will, catch Him unawares. No outcome or nanosecond in time happens outside of His purview.

And, just as surely as Jerusalem and this mountain have a place in God’s plan, He too has chosen those He would call to this mountain as part of that plan. This place of reconciliation and restoration, of sacrifice and testing. This exacting rough country where He first led Father Abraham that he might sacrifice his son, Isaac—Genesis 22:1-19. Then after Abraham, Jacob came here and prayed. He sought the Lord for reconciliation with his estranged brother, Esau—Genesis 32:1-21. Then came David. He would be led to this very mountain after receiving a word from Gad, the prophet. An angel had told Gad to instruct David to build an altar on this mountain. To buy a specific plot of ground from the Jebusite Araunah, a gentile, so that he might offer sacrifices and offerings to the Lord there on behalf of himself and his people—2 Samuel 24: 10-25; 1 Chronicles 22:1. And, though it was David who desired to build the Temple for the Lord it would be David’s son, Solomon, whom God would entrust to build His holy Temple on this site—this threshing floor which David had purchased from Araunah, the Jebusite —2 Chronicles 3:1. Solomon’s temple, destroyed by the Roman army led by Titus, was rebuilt by Nehemiah and those Jews who had been delivered from Babylonian captivity—Nehemiah 2:1-20. And, then, God Himself, the Living Temple, would ascend this mountain. His every step a declaration of His love for, and obedience to, the Father. Wrapped in flesh, Jesus, our Messiah, would climb Moriah carrying His Cross towards its peak, Mount Golgatha. Now, in Christ, “it is finished.” The single-greatest demonstration of love and obedience the world will ever know was witnessed on this very mountain. One far surpassing the splendor and majesty of anything built by human hands—Jesus. Far greater than Abraham’s obedience. Jacob’s and David’s too. Gods great love—His Perfect redemptive plan on display for all to see—John 3:16. God’s very character, His attributes, the sheer essence of who God is hung here for all to see. His redemptive sacrifice changing lives for all eternity. Abraham named this place “The LORD Will Provide.” And He did. Even now people say, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided” –Genesis 22:14.

God has chosen Jerusalem as His own. This place, and its people, a template He repeatedly uses to display His great love, His redemptive plan, both for Jerusalem and for the whole world. What God set in motion, “In the beginning” continues to expand and grow and thrive and live and breathe and reproduce, to this very day. His every desire for His creation—His chosen, is being accomplished—still. Soon and very soon, a new Jerusalem will descend from heaven. No longer will there be a need for Solomon to lay one stone nor for any temple made by human hands. Soon and very soon there will be a new heaven and a new earth. “The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” –Revelation 21:22.

What was set into motion long before Father Abraham took one step of obedience on Moriah’s rugged terrain, before Solomon’s laborers had laid one stone, lives and thrives and calls to hearts, still. More, those that our Lord has chosen in Himself to live in obedience to His will, are, much like Solomon and Abraham, Jacob, and David before them, seeking after Gods will for their lives too. Lovingly, obediently, they offer their own living sacrifices before Him. Their very lives. Their hopes, and dreams, wants and wills, each laid lovingly, on the altar. Each soul seeking out their Moriah. That place where they too will do the work God has destined for their hands alone to do; for His Kingdom and glory. What was set into motion long ago pulses across time and space still. Words were spoken, His will. They will not return to Him void. And, it will continue this way until that moment when all they were sent out to do has been accomplished in the One who stood over the void and said, “let there be.” Until that glorious final Sabbath day when our mortal tents are taken down and we find our eternal rest in Him; God has placed a pledge in our hungry belly—a promise, a foretaste. His Spirit in us. The sure promise of what is yet to come for those who love the Lord and follow His commands.

The final battle is near—though when no man knows. God has set in stone the smallest of details that must yet come to pass. Each life chosen in Him as well; destined to receive His glorious, free gift of salvation. Every ministry that will flourish and thrive and grow and feed His sheep—His lambs—under His watchful, providential eye. In the meantime brothers and sisters, as surely as God has a purpose for Moriah, for Jerusalem, as certainly as Solomon was chosen to do the work God had equipped him for—created him to do, so too is your Moriah waiting for you…

That place that calls to you like no other, that floods your heart with a God-given longing to go and give and build and serve and love and spend yourself on. That people group or country, those prisoners, or refugees, the elderly or the infirm. Those widows and orphans and homeless men and women—the veteran and those who are mentally or emotionally challenged, the teen or the addict, those single mothers, and the prostitutes. Every child stolen and sold for sex. The everyday man whose heart and soul are hungry for something they can’t yet put a name to. These are the callings sent out by God. Ministry’s each. They’re His will for your life’s work placed deep within your bowels; awaiting that one moment in time when He would call you to serve and build and do with the tools and materials provided you by another. The One who died for you. You are not your own. Neither was Abraham or Solomon or Jacob or David before you. They were, as you are, part of Gods eternal plan. And, as we know, “God’s will cannot be thwarted”—Job 42:2. Build wisely with what has been given to you. One day, soon and very soon, you will have to give an account for it all…

Beloved, God has blessed you with gifts and talents and ministry’s, use them wisely—as good stewards should. Remembering always: You may well reap what another has planted. “I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”—John 4:38.

Friend, if you are here today and have not asked Jesus into your life, know that He has led you here that you might ask Him in now, this day. He is waiting for you to open your heart and life to Him—asking Him to be Lord of all. Won’t you please ask Him to show you the work He has destined solely for your hands to accomplish, for His Kingdom and glory?

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” –Romans 10:9.