Freedom under Obedience

A thought on Why: God has rested on the seventh day after creating man on the sixth day. God was fully convinced with His creation that He has put everything the man can enjoy to his fullest, show authority and dominion on. It's a complete trust on man. Are we really trust worthy? Right from the day one of man's existence, God gave complete freedom on everything. Why then a tree of knowledge of good and evil? To be obedient. Where is freedom then? Freedom is better understood when it's been superseded with obedience. Right from the administration of the house, school, college, office and even the government is accountable to its appropriate authorities. Knowing that, there is somebody above you, who by watching the way you discharge your duties, appreciate you, enjoy your demonstration of authority, encourage you, uplift you in every area you needed. That is a joyous feeling which cannot be expressed. This experience is better understood by a wife when she is backed up by her husband like wise a student by his teacher or professor, an employee by his higher authorities or a Government of a country by UN or World Bank or their Allied Coalitions. Just think of a small child with his parents, playing in the beach sand. He has the whole beach to play but doesn't go beyond their sight and how freely he plays. This is freedom. We are not Gods, we were made in His image sharing some attributes of God. Let's not be boasted, nobody is more than his Creator and a creator cannot make anything above his knowledge. Does that make God too limited? God is so wiser so wiser that we cannot understand even if inane. He is way much more stronger though tender. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever, Amen. (Romans.11:36).

Not to justify, but to make a better understanding of exercising freedom under obedience: A country was given a billion dollars by World Bank for its infrastructure and and the country used all the money it was been loaned. In the course of time, because of its transparency in their work the Bank has written-off the loan making it eligible for another loan. What would be the reaction of those authorities running the Government. The same is with the Lord. The freedom that is been given when exercised under obedience does give results and at the same time you will be given added responsibilities. Isn't there joy on both the sides, the joy of giving and the joy of fulfilling? Our Lord Himself is the Originator of blessings, now who else more does we need to be backed up with?

Psalm 119:97-112 - A Nourished Thought

Psalm 119:97-112 (KJV) - A Nourished Thought.

Mem.

97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Nun

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.

108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments.

109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.

111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

Psalm 119 has its significance in all the other Psalms. And the verses 97-112 are so close to my heart. These verses comes under Mem and Nun which are the Hebrew alphabets.

Mem, represents Water, which we can understand as Flowing Waters and Nun, represents the Seed of Man or the Offspring.

There is a deep meaning that is hidden in this; As like the Flowing Waters from Rains on the Mountain Cliffs into Streams and Streams to Tributaries and Tributaries into Rivers and from Rivers to the Sea and by Evaporation as Clouds and the Clouds by Condensation in the High Cliffs as Rains, as like this cycle, God wants us to digest His Commandments by Listening through Ears because Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God (Commandments of God) (Romans.10:17) and sink them through our Heart and Mind so that they would come out of our Mouth at right time to remind Us what God wants from Us and again the Ears listen and so on the cycle continues. God wants Us, as the Waters from Streams to Rivers take away the Dirt or the Impurities with them (Job.14:19)* into the Sea, so as we also must be Cleansed by His Commandments time and again. Each day we must be drained in the Rain of His Commandments (Deuteronomy.32:2), so that we can reshape ourselves into Smooth Pebbles by the regular Erosion of (Water) the Grace of God into the Image of God. As the Evaporated Water falls as Rain in the High cliffs and return as the Fresh Waters which tastes good so also the Commandments of God are more sweeter than Honey.

* Should not be understood in negative sense.

And Nun, which represents the Offspring, God wants us to remember these Commandments from Generation to Generation (Deuteronomy.6:7) until the End. God wants to be as a Guide to Us through the Light of His Commandments (The Word of God), so that under His guidance we may Walk Upright even in our darkest hour in Faith and in Hope and Sworn to Perform the best. God wants us to remember all His Performances all through the Ages as Testimonies and put our Faith and Hope and walk after His Commandments.

This is the deep spiritual meaning in these verses.

My Agony

Oh! my Soul, Oh! my Soul,
Comfort thyself,
Until the time the Lord watches you.
Lord! O, Lord! why don't you see my Soul.

My Soul, you're deeply afflicted,
Wait for your time, the Lord cares you.
Wounded and Woozy,
No one to anoint with oil and herbs.

My Lord, why did you let this happen,
Where am I have gone wrong with You.
Gracious God, comfort me,
As my Soul is deeply wounded.

Why did you Lord let me in here,
I'm a coward, who cannot handle this.
Please Lord, take away this cup from me,
But, you are my Master, I can hope on.

At times I wonder, where I am?
A created Demon in a world of Angels,
Or a created Angel in a world of Demons.
A world of Your own Knowledge and Wisdom.

Who can measure your Intelligence,
Who can tell You an advice,
You Lord, is all Powerful,
Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent.

You know me in Mothers Womb,
You put me there so carefully,
Created me in Your Image,
With so much love and grace.

You know my strengths and weaknesses,
You know what I'm up to.
You know the purpose I was sent to,
But this is hard to handle for me alone.

Rejected by near and cared by none,
No one to listen my hearing.
Everybody is good at their own advise,
But none know the truth, except You.

Advocate I needed, very much for this time,
None can I ask for, I know what I am.
You are my Advocate, and Justice is Yours,
This is what I wait and hope in the time.

Tears run down my eyes as I think of myself,
As if I was bathed in them.
I know that, You Count on my every Drop,
Which will record it's times of trouble.

The time when I spoke of my defence,
Every ear neglected my words.
Every speck of mud and stone around listened,
And You make them witness in time to come.

Adversary had his play,
Lies were his children.
For they know how to convince,
Allegations are their prime weapons.

Squeezed under his poisonous lies,
Council under his Venomous plan,
A game he played, played till he won,
Not to enjoy the fruit, but dirt and mud are his food.

O Lord, Your grace is sufficient,
To those who rely on You.
You are the Lord above everything,
On Your word is everything created.
You have the Dominion over everything,
Time in which we are all included,
But it(time) started by your Command.
You are far above from anyone' reach.
But Your eyes searched for those who obey You.
And You listen to those who cry for Your help sincerely.
You are not far away from those of Yours.
You cared for them with Love and Compassion.
Lie they Sown, Reap they Unfaithfulness.
But I will be Comforted in His Kingdom in Peace and Harmony.
Adore and Praise, I will give You Lord,
Till the time You designed for me.
Until that time Comfort my Soul, Comfort,
For Your King is not Delayed on you.

Longing for My Lord's Help - Suneel Damerakula.

Meditation on 2Kings.3:4-27

Today God has given me a beautiful insight while I was on my daily meditation. It is from the book of 2Kings.3:7-27. The king of Israel Jehoram, the king of Judah Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom wanted to make war with Moabites who rebelled against king of Israel (v5). The way they travelled to make war was through the wilderness of Edom i.e. making them to attack Moab from south side (v8). After travelling a week, they and their cattle were in much need of water (v9). So they all went to Prophet Elisha with an expectation that God would show them some way in this much needed hour. So, Elisha, under the guidance of the Lord, told to make ditches in the valley of Edom, and by the time of morning sacrifice the water came from the south side and filled all the ditches that were already dug (v15,16,17). However, the army has to return back with an incomplete invasion of the Moabites, because of the Lords' anger against Jehoram for not completely putting away with the idolatry. The key word that has struck me is the word 'ditches'. The word ditches is "gëb", in hebrew, which means, ditch, well, cistern and also an other meaning beam, which is used in the construction. The word 'gëb', here has an universal meaning, 'to support' or 'which can support', because a ditch can support to handle the water and a beam can support a roof in construction. Gods' idea of bringing up a deluge by the next day morning without any wind or rain (v17) which is not at all possible in that part of area unless it rains (v20). Edom is an area of 'red stuff with reddish sandstone', which by the deluge has filled all the ditches, to which this seemed as blood to the Moabites from far off north. While the Moabites, including the young and old, who were all ready to defend themselves, by seeing the blood like water that has filled in the ditches far from north, thought off that the kings have killed one another, casually walked to plunder the dead bodies, but a sudden attack by the armies of Israel and Judah made the Moabites rush back towards their capital city Kir-haraseth (v25). This is an implication of Christ on the Cross. The Moabite King Mesha (v4) who has to pay the taxes to the king of Israel; so is satan, who has plundered our life from us from the day of our father Adam ate the forbidden fruit (v23). To our support came Christ as a beam, who can support our life (construction) from not going to hell which is our destiny. On the beam of Cross poured out all His precious blood as a morning sacrifice gave his life for us and gave back our life from second death. Poor satan as like the Moabites came for the spoil happily seeing the blood coloured water in the ditches, so also satan, seeing the blood drained Jesus on the Cross of Calvary, was dead and kept in tomb was so happy that it was his time to plunder. But as the army of the Israel and Judah made a sudden war against the Moabites so is on the third day Jesus rose from the dead defeating satan once for all, like stopping his resources, temptation (blocking up the springs and wells) taking away the generations, his crop from his hand (filled every good field with full of stones making it not useful for cultivation) and waging war on his kingdom (smote with stones by slingers on their capital walled city) (v25). Thank you Lord Jesus for your unmatched sacrifice for our sake.
Picture: Wilderness of Edom from BAS Library.

Spiritual or Worldly

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Romans.8:5.

God has a very big purpose in revealing this verse to Apostle Paul. The verse doesn't explain about two types of souls (Spiritual and Worldly), but it draws a circumference to his deeds.

Imagine with me that a man standing before a mirror in a room which is lightened by an electricity bulb. Assume that the man as body, image in the mirror as soul, the shadow of the man is his spirit, the room is the world and the light to as spirit of darkness and to the Holy Spirit in continuation of this article.
The image in the mirror (soul) demands the man (body) all its vices and his shadow (spirit) which depends upon the light (spirit of darkness) emitting from the bulb acts as the body acts. The body which is influenced by the soul which is watching the known world in the emission of light (spirit of darkness) can only fulfill its vices and the spirit (shadow) has nothing to do but just follow the way the body acts. This man who is driven by his soul will live a worldly life.

On the other hand, imagine a man (body) standing in a vast open space (world yet to be evangelized) under the sun light (the Holy Spirit). Because, he is not standing before a mirror, he cannot be influenced by his soul (image in the mirror) and because he is not under the (light of darkness) electricity bulb, his spirit (shadow) is not confined to the room (world) but can reach beyond the horizons and above all his spirit (shadow) is influenced by the sun light (the Holy Spirit). As the sun emits its light (the Holy Spirit) and travels from east to west so the shadow (spirit) spreads; the spreading of the shadow is the thirst of the spirit to evangelize Christ to the nations. This is all what Jesus wanted from us. Because there is no mirror/image in the mirror (soul), the body will be influenced by the spirit (shadow) which is again influenced emission of the sun light (the Holy Spirit). This is living after the Spirit.

Those who live after the Spirit do keep this commandment of the Lord.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew.28:19,20

The Trinity - very simply explained

Trinity explained in my theology - We come across a question which is there right from the beginning of the Christian era till today; does Christians worship three or one God?

I have a beautiful answer but explained in my own theology. As most part of the sporting world knows, India is a Cricket loving nation. I don't want to go much into it's basics and its form, but I want to make it clear that there will be two umpires to make decisions between the two sides, when game is on. One is the "Main Umpire" and the other is the "Leg Umpire". Main Umpire stands right before the wickets (180°) seeing the wickets parallel to each other, that is, making him see all the three individual wickets separately and the other Umpire stands at exactly the right angle (90°) seeing the all the three wickets aligning as one single wicket (view of wickets provided in photos).

Coming to the point of my theory, all the three wickets have its names as Off, Middle and Leg Wickets like the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Three of the wickets does play their prominent role on both the bowling end as well as at the batting end or the keeping end; as the batsman or the bowler has to give guard to the umpire before their action of play (a technical word used in the game which is not connected to our subject of discussion). As like the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have their own ways of dealing with time and it's people.

To conclude, though all the three wickets can be viewed by the main umpire individually separated from each other, to the leg umpire they seem to be like one individual wicket, because all the three are aligned in one straight line. To the person who is standing outside the realm of Christianity, they observe God as three individual forms but for a Christian Believer it is One-God who is not separated from each other, either in any of the form.

Most respected theologians have explained the subject of Trinity in their way and this is my way of understanding the Trinity. Hope I explained it in an understandable manner (to the cricket loving nations). Thanks for going through. God bless you.

Metamorphosis or Metamorphose

Often we listen to one answer, that is "there are still some areas where/which I have to change". For how much time are we going to be in the process of changing? When are we going to see the end product of this change? There is a lot of difference between the two words "changing" and "changed", in other words "metamorphosis" and "metamorphose". The first word speaks of "the process of changing" and the other "into a complete change". When God made man, he made us in his own likeness (Genesis.1:26). But that likeness was marred when man sinned. From then on man was trying hard to get back into the image of God. God gave law to apply unto himself to be a better person before the sight of God. God wanted the law to be a guideline for a righteous living, but man enforced law out of his own self-righteousness. He himself made the law a burden unto himself. Thats why when Jesus in Matthew.5:19, speaking about the one who breaks one of these commandments will be called least in the Kingdom of God. But who else can keep all the commandments of the law, except God himself. Jesus, confirming that he has not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it (Matthew.5:17). By His crucifixion and resurrection, God brought grace unto everyone, by which everyone can be saved by faith in Him. This grace has given man an opportunity that the righteousness of the law can be fulfilled in him (Romans.8:4). When God made man, God could have given him a child like nature (speaking figuratively), so Jesus demands his disciples unless they be converted (to change) and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew.18:3). Jesus wants us not to be in the process of changing, "metamorphosis", but to be changed, "metamorphose". Greek dictionary explains this difference (between metaschematizo and metamorpho/marphoo) more effectively; it describes the first word "to change a Japanese garden into an Italian garden" and the other is "to transform a garden into something wholly different, as a ball-field". The disciples of Jesus Christ, may they be wavering in their spirit, by the time of Pentecost, after the descending if the Holy Spirit, they all are become metamorphose. Apostle Paul grieving and pleading, "I travail in birth again until Christ be formed (morphoo) in you (Galatians.4:19). The expression of Paul is to change the church into the original form or the fashion of the artist is, in other words into the likeness of God. We are in the end times, we can't stay like lukewarm water (Revelation.3:16) still in the process of change (metamorphosis), by the time of our Lord's return we should be ready (metamorphose) to meet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Are we a metamorphosis or a metamorphose, let's examin ourselves. God bless you.

About Picture: Wild Goat/Ibex/Conie - Psalm.104:18, Proverbs.30:26.
Hasan Novrozi, an incredibly talented sculptor who trained in Iran creates sculptures from scrap metal, whether it be from used car parts, tools or machinery.