The Real Vets Day

11/11/2009 Human Observations
It’s really Veterans Day today!
Remember Acts 17:11 … okay now read on.
As we salute Vets and military personnel, my thoughts settle within the parameters of two “Kingdom Parables”, as offered in the gospel according to Luke: The Mustard Seed, and The Leaven. Of the seven Kingdom Parables given by our Messiah, these two speak specifically towards the weakness that exists within that which composes The Church. Speaking to faith, the Lord points out that a tiny little mustard seed, doing what it was created to do, grows into a “great tree” that is so enlarged, the “fowls of the air” lodge in its branches. With faith the little guy grows up to be a big guy; right? Well there’s a bit more to it than just that. A mustard seed grows up to be a bush; not a tree. Yet in this instance, the Lord distinguishes this particular plant (speaking of The Church) as growing into a huge monstrosity; an abnormality. In addition, the fowls of the air, who he clarifies as “Satan” (Mark 4:15), make their lodging within the branches of the church. This adds true insight into what manner of folk composes The Church. Brought to mind is the warning: “beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing”; not shepherd’s clothing. Be like the Bereans, therefore, readily receiving their words offered with all readiness of mind, but searching the scriptures daily to see if these things are so. If the words of our brethren check out against biblical scrutiny, then those things will bear witness as offered by the Spirit of God. If they do not, then mark that person who misrepresented the Word of Scripture. There is a warning, by the way, in Revelation about adding to or taking from the word of that prophecy (Rev. 22:18-19).
Also, the Kingdom of God is like “leaven”, or sin, which a woman hid in The Fellowship Offering. This originated with Abraham when he was met by the Messiah and the two angels who later went on to retrieve Lot before God wiped out Sodom and Gomorrah and all but one of the Cities of the Plain; Zoar (Gen. 19). In the parable, a woman “hides” sin in what she offers to God and His emissaries. The Jewish mind best comprehends the depth of this offence, but for the gentile it is simply an attempt to conceal, from the Creator of all intelligence, darkness in what we offer to Him in whom there is no darkness. We can only do this, by the way, because He does not see us when He looks upon us; instead of us, He sees The Messiah, whose is eternally acceptable to God.
So let better information grant us insight into the little group we call “The Church”. Being imperfect, God is glorified in presenting us to Himself as perfect, all thanks to The Messiah, who offered Himself in our place on His cross. From cover to cover, the bible demonstrates God’s ability to thwart every attempt to separate His people from him. He is sovereign. The rest of His creation is just paying rent.
Onward Christian Soldiers!