Facts Leading to Faith in God

Faith – 2 a (1): belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2): belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1): firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust – Merriam-Webster Online

I think it is interesting that the definition of faith above indicates that there is no proof, yet we ignore facts that are true and cannot be explained. And those facts lead to our faith.

In my study this morning I was pointed to evidence for faith in God. Cosmological, evidential, and moral. Each makes a case for having faith in God, and the question is asked by James MacDonald, to choose whether or not you believe them or not. Again with another choice. It is up to us to choose.

“³All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” – John 1:3 (ESV)

The cosmological evidence is that all things in this world are based on an effect with a cause. God created all things, even the universe, which may be too big for us to fathom. But read the verse above once again and think it through. Isn’t it proof.

“¹The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

— Psalm 19:1 (ESV)

The evidential evidence is that all things made for our existence are perfect. Our place in the solar system is perfect for us to live. Our distance from the sun. How fast we go around the sun. The moon we have. The atmosphere. All things point to proof that we were not an accident. Isn’t that proof.

“¹⁴For when Gentile, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵They show that the wok of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them” – Romans 2:14-15 (ESV)

And then there is the moral evidence. We know right from wrong and we do not have to be taught it. It is in our DNA. Other creatures created by God do not have that in their DNA as it was us that were created in God’s image, no other. God is the moral right and as we are created in His image, we have the moral right as well. Isn’t that proof.

Well there you have it. Three examples of facts that point to proof for having faith in God. When you look up the significance of the number three, you will find that it points to balance and completeness. It has long been my favorite number and as such I choose to believe the proof leading to my faith in God.

What evidence to you have to have faith in God? Did you even know that there was evidence? What if you look to all of the evidence, will you choose to believe the proof?

Choose God

Did you know that we choose God? I started a new study this morning on choices and the first choice that is pointed out is the choice to choose God.

It seems like a pretty simple thing and why wouldn’t we choose God. But there is a little more to it than first thought. James MacDonald writes, “He is less like the options on a new car and more like the person you decide to marry.” Now that is an interesting point when it comes to choosing God.

How often are we in the business of choosing God in a time of crisis. The wall of the house has a crack and we choose to pray that the damage is only on the surface as opposed to deeper in the foundation. Or, we are at the doctor and get some less than favorable news and choose to pray that God will take the challenge away. I know that I am in the prayer closet when things are not going great.

But, what about when things are just pressing along. Are we choosing God for those decisions that are not based on crisis? Did you choose to pray for God to provide you with your spouse for a lifetime? As you look to what church to attend, are we choosing to pray for God’s direction? Are you in a place where things are going well and are you choosing God’s direction on what is next?

I have a prayer list that I work through daily and on that list is everything from worship of God, to thanksgiving for His provision, to what is next for me and us as a family. When I look a the list, I see that I am choosing God for the purpose of His leadership. I have chosen to have Him be the guide for me. But, this morning I was convicted to whether or not I choose Him for my dependence. Am I choosing God as the author of my life or to get me through the decision I have made in my life. What a difference.

“¹³You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” – Jeremiah 29:13-14

I chose God, and yet, as seen in the above verses, am I reliant on Him to take me were He would have me go and be or, am I expecting Him to get me where I want to go and be. I have to choose more definitively. I have to be all in with God at the top of my priority list. I have to choose to serve God in all that I am and do.

“¹⁴Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:14 (ESV)

Who do you choose? Are you choosing God when you are in crisis or you “need” Him? What if you were to choose God knowing that He chose you and you devote yourself to Him?

Do We Really Want to Reign

What a great question, and one that I can identify with. It seems as though what I see from “leaders” in this world is not really something that I would want to do or be. I will say that I am leader in my house and in my role in my work. Yet, what I see in “leaders” in the world is not what I expect. And, frankly, when I am in the New Heaven and New Earth, I am told that I will be able to rest, being a leader does not seem like rest.

“²⁸Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

Yes, Jesus says the above, and if you only look a the one verse, you will get the sense that rest is indeed what we will have. But we would be looking at things from a very narrow perspective.

Think of it this way. What is it that you like to do more than anything else and you seem to get lost in yourself and that thing to the tune that time seems to pass quickly. You may be completely worn out at the end of the time, but you look forward to that thing again and again and again. This is the idea that if you love what you do, it is not work. You find joy in the actions and want to do them more and more.

Well, this is what it will be like in the New Heaven and New Earth. I will be focused on the joy of God that whatever role I am tasked to take on will be glorious and I will find much joy in it. It will be light work from the perspective of on my soul. It may have difficulty in the task, but it will bring joy that I am working for the LORD. See below the next two verses from Jesus.

“²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:29-30 (ESV)

Jesus tells us that when we are in with Him, all things will be lighter since He has taken the heavy load upon Himself.

Reigning in the New Heaven and New Earth will not be a burden. We will be doing so from a position of the “family business” as Randy Alcorn indicates in my study. And since we are in the family of God, we are rulers with Him and each other.

But what about the challenges that come with ruling? A truly valid question. Well, there will not be any. Why you say. As we are all there to do the will of God, only need someone to direct us of where and what. Remember, there is no sin in the New Heaven. There won’t be any animosity. There won’t be any push back. There won’t be any insubordination. There will only be getting the work done in worship to the LORD so we can get back to worship of the LORD.

But, I don’t want people to be telling me what to do. I hear you, and that will not be the case. We will be receiving direction not orders. We will know of what needs to be done, and there will be someone there to direct us as to where it is to be done. And we will be directing others of where.

The New Heaven and New Earth will be filled with rulers (us) and filled with subjects (us). “We’ll be governed by Christlike rulers, and all of us will be under the grand and gracious government of Christ Himself” – Randy Alcorn

What view do you have of ruling? Are you of the school of slave driving authoritarians? What if you embraced ruling in the New Heaven and New Earth as doing that thing that brings you joy, bringing glory to God?

So, We Will Reign with Christ?

In short, YES.

“²⁸And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” – Genesis 1:28 (ESV)

Here we go. We, as man, were always supposed to reign and rule on the earth. God created man in His own image to have dominion over all on the earth. But, Adam and Eve failed, falling into sin thanks to the evil one and his deception. Adam and Eve were to be the king and queen of earth and they did not make it.

Then, God sent Jesus to demonstrate to the world, how it was supposed to play out. Jesus reigned on the earth in the way that God intended. He loved and cared and protected and healed in this world showing His dominion. And then He died giving us the path back to righteousness. Jesus reigned in this world, and died to show us the way back to where we would again reign.

How is it that we do not see that we will reign over the New Earth? Well, I don’t know the answer to that, other than I am blinded by the sin in my life and know that it is one of the tactics of the evil one. What I can say is that when we turn to the Word of God, we will find the truth throughout. Whether introduced, mentioned, discussed, and repeated, there are many places where we will find what our role is and will be in the New Earth.

“³Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!” – 1 Corinthians 6:3 (ESV)

Here in Paul’s letter, he makes it clear that we will be reigning and ruling in the New Earth over all. We will be returned to out place of dominion that we lost with the fall. Jesus provided us the way back to our rightful created place in God’s Kingdom. We will indeed reign with Him forever.

“⁵And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” – Revelation 22:5 (ESV)

What do you think about reigning? Are you of the thought that you will simply be a subject in the Kingdom? What if you review God’s Word and know that not only will you be a member of the Kingdom of God, but you will be returned to the place of dominion that you were intended for?

God’s Eternal Kingdom

This morning I was reminded that the eternal kingdom of God will be just that, a kingdom. He will be seated on the throne as King of Kings. There will be us as the subjects in the kingdom. There will be the territory of rule. There will be a culture of worship. I forget that it will be a physical place, and not just some sort of spiritual realm.

Without getting too deep into the rest of this final week of study of Heaven, there is more. We will be elevated to priests and will reign also.

“¹⁰and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth.”

— Revelation 510 (ESV)

So, God’s Eternal Kingdom is going to be a kingdom like what we as man can imagine, but it will be much more as we will be reigning there also with Him.

This is completely contrary to the thinking of this world. And why not. God’s Kingdom is not of this world.

“³⁶Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.’” – John 18:36 (ESV)

As God’s Eternal Kingdom will not be of this world, then it makes sense to me that it will function not as this world does. Oh, it will have the features of this world and this earth, but it will be different. Not like anything we have seen before. Imagine a place where all reign together. But again, I don’t want to get ahead of the study.

So, God’s Eternal Kingdom will be the best of all kingdoms. There will be the King (God) on the throne, there will be palaces and walls and gates. There will be land territories and subjects (us) working those lands. And there will be priests (us) reigning with God over all the land. Remember back to the beginning and know that we will return to there, as God intended.

“²⁶Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” – Genesis 1:26 (ESV)

What is your view of the Kingdom of God? Are you of the view that it will have feature vastly different from what we know kingdoms to be here in this world? What if you looked at God’s Kingdom as having similar features, only better and in complete harmony?

Worshiping God

This morning I was hit hard by the questions in my MasterWork study that surround worshiping God. Where I am in full agreement with and look forward to what worshiping God will look like when I arrive in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem, I have been challenged with how I am worshiping Him now in this world.

The book of Revelation clearly points to what life will be like when we arrive and spend eternity in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. It will be majestic and there will be singing and rejoicing and feasts and fellowship and all sorts of engagement as we worship the LORD and He dwells with us.

Where I was hit hard this morning was not in learning something new in the study or text from Revelation. I was struck by the simple question of how can I do that even now.

This was a gut punch to me. Not that I do not worship the LORD and spend time with Him, but what about the rest of the time in this world. Am I rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all things. I am not so sure that I am.

I admit to getting caught up in the ways of the world and focusing on those things that are impacting me now, or at least that is what I am telling myself. I have my attention on work, finances, preparing for retirement, stability, and a whole litany of things that are of this world. Where they are things of concern in this world, I have to remember that the LORD will provide for all of them and that I should not worry about tomorrow as tomorrow will take care of itself.

“³⁴Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

“³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

My focus should not be on tomorrow, but on today and the filling of it with worship of the LORD. I am to be seeking His face each day all day. I am to be rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all thing. I have to bring my expectation of worship in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem into this world and my all time here.

“¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

So, yes, we will be in constant worship of the LORD when we are in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. In all that we do we will worship and celebrate the LORD and His life giving and sustaining grace and glory. I have to bring that into today and not just reserve it for later. I am to do as Paul indicates in 1 Thessalonians, rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all things. My relationship with the LORD is now and not just reserved for the eternal kingdom.

What is your view of worshiping God? Are you reserving the continual worship for the eternal kingdom? What if you were to follow the direction of Paul and even now rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all things?

God Will Serve Us

Yes, you read that right. God will serve us. When we arrive in the New Heaven and New Earth and New Jerusalem we will see God’s face, He will dwell among us, He will be personal with each of us, and He will serve us.

“³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, ⁴rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. ⁵Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” – John 13:3-5 (ESV)

“²In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” – John 14:2-3 (ESV)

“11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” – Revelation 19:11 (ESV)

Jesus served His disciples in the upper room by washing their feet. He has prepared a place for us. He personally comes to make war against the evil one for us. All of these things He could have others do on His behalf, yet He demonstrates for us the service that we should all ascribe to.

It does not stop with what God has done for us, it leads into what He will do for us in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. He will make meals for us, wipe away our tears, and remove disgrace. Again, all things that He could command others to do, but NO, He continues to demonstrate service and desires to do so.

“⁶On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food,…

⁸and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,”

— Isaiah 25:6&8 (ESV)

I am overwhelmed by this realization that God will serve me when I arrive in the New Heaven. He will not just be at the top of the hill for me to see. He will not just dwell among me as I worship. He will not just meet with me personally. He will serve me. He will be my host at the greatest bed and breakfast there will ever be. If He will do this for me, the least of them, I can do the same and serve all.

What is your view of God’s actions when you see Him? Did you expect that He will sit on the throne while you worship Him? What about now, knowing that He will serve you himself and not just sit around waiting on you to serve Him?

How Will He Dwell With Each of Us

This morning as I worked through my MasterWork study, there were more questions than answers. In fact there were multiple paragraphs in the study that were just that completely, questions only. This is of course not unusual when it comes to learning that which God has for us. Questions should be a part of learning as it drives to find answers. So, how will God dwell with each of us at the same time when there will be millions of us?

Omnipresent: present in all places at all times – Merriam-Webster Online

Well, let me start with the omnipresence of God. As you can see in the definition from Merriam-Webster Online, it means being everywhere always. God is the only one who is. Yes, there may be groups that are said to be (security teams, CCTV cameras, etc.) but only God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are able to truly be everywhere always. This is a characteristic that is singular to God.

But, what about Jesus when He was here on earth, how was He everywhere always. Well, in the physical sense, He was not. It is true that the physical body of Jesus was able only to be in one place at any one time. But spiritually He was everywhere always and that is demonstrated by His knowing of the death of Lazarus without being told.

“¹¹After saying these things, he said to them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.’ ¹²The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.’ ¹³Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. ¹⁴Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus has died, ¹⁵and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’” – John 11:11-15 (ESV)

In this account, prior to these verses, we see that Jesus was days away from Lazarus, and yet He knew that His friend had died. But, I know what you are thinking, knowing and being there are two different things, and you would be right.

In the New Heaven and New Earth and New Jerusalem, Jesus will have the form of man and yet will be able to be with each of us physically. His deity trumps Him physical form and He is able to be in more than one place at a time. On this present earth, His manhood trumped his deity for our sake. Jesus was bound by His human form. When we see Him again, He will not be bound at all.

Again we come to all the question, how will He do it? And that is best answered with scripture and through the understanding that He is bigger, better, and way more than we can imagine.

“²⁰Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” – Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)

As much as we know about God, there is (x) times more that we do not. And that is where all those questions come. The questions should be there. We should be asking. We should investigate for our own. We should look to find the truth and that is done through the daily, weekly, and continual study of the Word of God as it is the TRUTH.

We will see the face of God. He will dwell among us. We will experience Him personally at whenever we need Him. He will be with us all, everywhere, always.

What are your thoughts on how He will dwell with each of us? Are you asking questions to get the answers? What if you were to start with the omnipresence of God and move forward from there?

God Will Dwell Among Us

“³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.’” – Revelation 21:3 (ESV)

Read that verse carefully and see that God’s dwelling place is with His people. Our ultimate home is in the New Earth, the New Jerusalem, which is the dwelling place of God. God lives there now and we will live there as well. The New Earth and the New Jerusalem will come down and be established here and God will come with.

So, what about the New Jerusalem. What does it look like? Reading through God’s Word tells us. Revelation 21 & 22 give a detailed account for us to have as a reference. But I also believe that just the description does not do it justice. I think of it as the most beautiful place I have ever seen and amp it up from there to a degree that I cannot even fathom. But, as beautiful as it will be, the fact that God will be there with us is the greatest thing of all.

Unlike rulers of countries and areas here in this world, where they live in a palace that is only visible to the people and yet no one can enter without a specific purpose or being summoned, God’s Home and dwelling place is where we all will be together with Him. God prepared His house for us to live with Him. He has prepared a city for us to inhabit, and as noted in Revelation 21 & 22, it is not just an ordinary city.

“¹⁶But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” – Hebrews 11:16 (ESV)

“¹Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ²In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” – John 14:1-3 (ESV)

God prepared the city for us, a “heavenly” city for us to enter. He has already built it and has prepared our room there. Let that sink in, He has prepared a room for each of us. And, as seen in verse 3 above, Jesus will come again and take us there to be with Him. Not just be there, but be with Him.

So, we will see the face of God in the New Heaven and the New Earth, and He will spend eternity with us in the New Jerusalem, where He is now, preparing for us to arrive. How much better could it be than that. We will be with the greatest gift to man that there ever was and He will be with us for eternity in the beautiful place that He prepared for you and me specifically. And not only do we get to live there, but He will come and personally take us there to be with Him. I don’t know about you, but I am getting a bit caught up in it all right now, and it only continues to build my anticipation for eternity with Him.

What is your view God dwelling with us? Do you see Him as the ruler on top of the hill that lives in the palace that you don’t get to visit? What if you were to shift to knowing that the beauty of the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem were prepared by God for you and that He would be there with you for eternity?

Seeing God

Yes, we will see God, and not just Him, but will see His face.

“³No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. ⁴They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” – Revelation 22:3-4 (ESV)

But is seeing God really that big a deal? YES it is. Let’s look back. Remember that the high priest was the only one who could go into the holy of holies to meet with God, and he did so out of an abundance of caution as he may die in the presence of God. Moses asked to see God’s Glory and was denied for he would have died in doing so.

“⁶And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. ⁷And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.” – 2 Samuel 6:6-7 (ESV)

“’²⁰But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.’” – Exodus 33:20 (ESV)

But, if one would die if they were to see the face and glory of God, how is it possible for us to do so. Well, that comes from the life giving salvation we receive through Jesus Christ and His redeeming blood that was spilled on our behalf. Thanks to Jesus, we are washed clean and out sins are forgiven and when we arrive in the New Heaven and New Earth, we will be without sin and be able to see Him and live.

And just what will we see when we see the face of God? Well, we will see the God who made us for Himself. And as we know that all God created was “good” and we were “very good”, I believe that we will see ourselves through God’s eyes as we were created. I will see myself as the “very good” creation I was meant to be. All my doubts, of myself and my existence, will be laid to rest. I will be in the company of God who created me to have a relationship with me.

What do you believe you will see when you see God? Will you even see Him at all? What if you understood that we will see God thanks to the redeeming blood of Jesus and that you will indeed see God as the glory and goodness that He created in us?