He Rended The Heavens And Came Down

This morning I am reading out of a couple of places, that at first blush don't seem connected, but there seems to be some parallels. The first set of verses is from

Isaiah 64:1-5 NIV

[1] "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! [2] As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! [3] For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. [4] Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?"

- And -

Jeremiah 5:30-31 NIV:
[30] “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: [31] The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?"

- And finally -

John 3:16-17 NIV:
[16] "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

I was meditating on the first two verses - seemingly unrelated but they both have to do with the number 643 in my bible - for the first verse that is the chapter and verse and for the second verse it is the page number. I asked the Lord where I should read this morning and I thought I heard 643 - this is one of the ways the Lord directs me. Anyway, as I was meditating it was apparent to me that both verses have to do with a falling away from God, a leaving of God's ways and embracing something other than Him, in spite of God's awesome works on Israel's behalf.

Both verses end with a question of God - what will You do in the end? How then can we be saved? It would seem from reading the old testament that God's answer is continued judgment and punishment of Israel, and although they reap the consequences of their infidelity, God's ultimate answer to these questions and to the nation of Israel was seen in the person of Jesus Christ! It was never God's desire to smite His people, rather to save them, love them and bless them. God did rend the heavens and come down, in the form of a man, and did mighty things. His enemies were defeated and despoiled. He has established an everlasting Kingdom that is both present here and now and in the age to come. Our choice in all this is whether or not we will live in agreement with God, and under His Kingdom, or reject Him and operate in our own power, listening to empty words of empty men.

Make no mistake, God will not allow His name to be maligned and rejected. However, He is also present to save, redeem and forgive. He chooses to extend mercy, postponing His judgements that all might be saved (2 Peter 3:9). His judgments will be perfect, and He will have a day where He judges all, according to Jesus - Matt 25:31-46.

Let us pray that the Lord would call all, show His Glory to all and win all to Him, for that is His desire. Let us examine our lives, and throw off false teaching or false gods, and pursue Him, the only God who has loved us, given Himself for us, and made a way for us all to be in relationship with Him. “He himself bore our sins” in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." 1 Peter 2:24-25.

Amen!