Thursday, October 1, 2015

Jesus, the rejected stone became the capstone (Prophecy 101)


In a news brief dated October 1, 2015 the Al Jazeera reports as top stories:

* Kremlin: Syria air strikes target "a list" of groups
* Reports: Iranian troops in Syria for joint offensive
* Hadi loyalists claim capture of key Yemen strait
* Afghan forces fight to push back Taliban from Kundus
* Palestine 'no longer bound' by agreements with Israel
* Iran nearly doubles its death toll from Hajj stampede
* Fresh 'revenge' blast rocks southern Chinese town
* Floods hit the US Eastern Seaboard
* Palestinians celebrate hoisting of flag at UN

Many arose to prophesy about the end times nearing. Some predict the U.S. will be hit with major disasters due to her abandoning Israel via striking the Iran nuclear deal. Another says finally the stage is set for the lawless man to appear, causing the rapture of the saints and the arrival of the Savior to become imminent etc. and so forth. Listening to them make already confused people more confused.

The reason for the confusion and loss of the peace of mind lies in the lack of clarity on the will of God. God is God. He is the God of plan and purpose. And He is in control. Nothing happens without it being consistent with the will of God. And God's will purpose and plan are all clear, as crystal clear as the light of the day.

How then can one know/understand the will purpose and plan of God? There are many Scriptures that reveal God's will, but of all, stands out the word of our Lord Jesus when he spoke to the religious leaders of his day before his suffering, where Jesus quoted from Psalm 118, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes." 22, 23

In our days there arise builders trying to build their kingdom according to their own will. They include folks like Jihadists, Zionists, political leaders like Putin, Iranian leaders, leaders in Israel, politicians of the U.S. like Obama, Hillary Clinton or nowadays Donald Trump. All of them are playing their own cards to promote their own agenda according to their own will and purpose. It was the same with the people of Jesus' day.

When Jesus the Savior and God over all came to the land of Israel, the builders of the world such as the religious leaders of Jesus' day or the governors of the Gentiles (Romans) rejected Jesus, yet God rejected their rejection and in turn made the rejected stone the cornerstone.

Knowing that Jesus is the plan that will stand, (meaning all other plans that are inconsistent with Jesus will be set aside, coming to nothing), what should one do?

We find the answer to the question in what Jesus added: "Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed." Matthew 21:44

Everyone is a builder, building this or that, some as a politician some as the so called leader of a church organization or some declaring atheist.

But all builders ought to attend to what Peter says: "As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to  him-- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1Pe 2:4,5

You might be tempted to say, "Oh, I do not want to have anything to do with Jesus. I eat my own bread, mind my own business, live my own life." But remember: you cannot avoid Jesus for He is THE Stone. He is THE Builder. So there are only three possibilities: You either are built into Him (THe Plan of God), fall on this stone, or the stone falling on you. If you fall on this stone you will be broken to pieces. If the stone falls on you you will be crushed. So we better repent and turn to Him, so we be built into Him, the Living Stone. Otherwise, you will end up learning all of your pursuits especially 'yourself' earning nothing but eternal destruction.

And this is true both on a collective level (like the deal on Syria or Palestine vs. Israel deal) as well as a personal level.

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