THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS – January 2

Barely awake - and wondering. That was how my morning began. What if?

What if there is a god who is beyond our wildest imagination - a god that wasn't merely the god of thunder, or god of lightning, or one of the many gods of Greek mythology, the following just being the primary ones the Greeks believed in, worshipped, and prayed to:

Zeus - Greek god of the sky and king of Olympus, whose temper affected the weather; and who (in Greek culture) was ruler over all other gods and goddesses

Poseidon - Greek god of the sea, whose temper controlled the seas, so sailors prayed to him for safe passage

Ares - Greek god of war, and son of Zeus and Hera, a cruel god who was not even liked by his own parents

Aphrodite - Greek goddess of love and beauty; also goddess of fertility

Hera - (wife of Zeus) Greek goddess of women, marriage, and queen of the gods, also goddess of families and birth, who took her vengeance our on other goddesses and on mortals

Demeter - Goddess of harvest and agriculture, controlled seasons and crops

Athena - Greek goddess of war and wisdom, and patron God of Athens

Apollo - Greek god of the sun, music, poetry, art, dance, archery & healing

Artemis - Greek goddess of the hunt and the wild; twin sister of Apollo

Hephaestus - Greek god of fire, metalworking, and sculpture

Hermes - The messenger god, who became messenger of the gods, as well as being the protector of travelers and merchants

Dionysus - Greek god of wine, theatre, and fertility

These are just the primary gods who were worshipped by the Greeks. They built altars to them, sacrificed to them, believed that all of the terrors that befell them were because of them. 

The internet cites that Hindus have twelve primary deities: Vivasvan, Aryaman, Tvashta, Savitr, Bhaga, Dhata, Mitra, Varuna, Amsa, Pushan, Indra, Vishnu (in the form of Varnana). But other Hindu deities are also mentioned: Brahma, Ganesha, Shiva, Lakshmi, Krishna, Shiva, Hanuman, Saraswati, Indra, Rama, Agni, Ardhanarishvara, Durga, Nataraja, Parvati, Trimurti, Bjairava, and Shakti.

Native American tribes have a total of 73 deities listed in Wikipedia. Mind-boggling! 

Throughout time man has created many different images of his own making because deep inside there is a need to worship something greater than ourselves - to have something we can believe in whose will for life here on earth is beyond our control. In ancient Biblical times we can read about the god Baal, and the Asherah poles, which were a representation of the goddess Asherah. Even in our era, there are images of Buddha that are part of worship for those who follow Buddhism, and in India cattle are revered as holy. (The more I dig to try to learn more, the more I realize I do not know about ancient religious cultures.)

Even though this is just a cursory glance into the creation of gods throughout time, it is enough to make me wonder "What if?"

What if there is a  god who is so amazing that he could speak the world into existence? A god so close that he cares about each one of us? A god who loves humanity enough to come die for us so we can be in a relationship with him? Not a religion, but an actual relationship? What if there is a god who actually hears our prayers, loves us in spite of our failures? What if?

The good news is: THERE IS!

And in Exodus 20:3 God - the Almighty God who created the entire universe - tells us in the very first of the 10 commandments: You shall have no other gods before Me! Not other gods that are represented by carvings or statues. Not our children, or sports, or cars, or position in life, or wealth, or beauty.  Nothing is to come before God - but when we put him first, he is generous and gracious, and honors our heart's desires unless they will dishonor him or become a stumbling block to us. 

There is only ONE God - the One who created the entire universe - and you! And me! And he alone deserves our praise and adoration!

LENT 2014 - DAY 7

John 1 is full to the brim with basic training information.  John tells us in the first verses of his Gospel account that John the Baptist came as a witness to bear witness about the light.  The true light was going to be revealed to the people.  He was in the world already - born just 6 months after John the Baptist - and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him.

This affirmation by the disciple John is by one who knew, adored and was dearly loved by Yeshua ha Mashiach (Jesus the Messiah).  It is stated simply and clearly.  There is no mistaking the meaning.

John goes on to say that Jesus came to His own people (the Jews) and His own people did not receive Him - - and then comes the best Good News:  But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God!  The Word became flesh and dwelled among us; i.e., God became a man.  God made Himself known to man by taking on the form of man.  It is the most foundational truth of Christianity.  It is the Truth that John reiterates in his book...a story worth repeating as we will see.

The Holy Spirit told John that there would be One who came to be baptized who was the Son of God - and He was the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.   There are major religions who say that is blasphemy.  They turn everything topsy-turvy, calling black white and white black.  They say Jesus was a good man and a prophet - but fail to give Him the honor He Himself claimed, and not just He, but his forerunner John the Baptist.  In John 1:34 John the Baptist declares, "I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."  [And for the record, He cannot be a 'good' man and a liar.  He claimed to be God, and because He was who He claimed to be, He could not and did not lie.]

What was severed with Adam was a right relationship with God.  God came to earth in the form of man to restore that relationship.  God made it abundantly clear in establishing the sacrificial system for forgiveness in the Old Testament that sin demands a blood sacrifice.  Jesus came to be the sacrifice that sin demanded.  God sent His one and only Son to be the Lamb of God.  Fully God.  Fully human.  God Incarnate.  God-in-the-flesh.  God the creator who would die for the created because of His great love.

I also bear witness....  I know because of what He has done in my life and so conspicuously in the lives of so many others.

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  The offer is there.  All we have to do is reach out and accept it.  To all who receive Him, who believe in His Name, He gives the right to become children of God!

Lord, thank You.  I am humbled again by the realization that You would come to save us!