What Are We Doing—IF—We Are Not Living for Almighty God?!!!
In the book of 1 Chronicles, chapter 1 to chapter 9, we find lists of people, the genealogy of the people of Israel. We see the heritage of the tribes of Jacob (of Israel), reading all the names from the first man Adam to the time of King David. While it is a daunting task to read the list of names, still we read, seeing the great-grandfathers have sons who become the grandfathers who have sons who become the fathers who have sons who become the “next generation.” In truth, starting with the great-grandfathers does not even begin to “go back” far enough to see the numerous generations of people since the first man—Adam.
So, we may read, and we may wonder:
- Why would the genealogy from the first man Adam be included in the canon of God’s Holy Word?
- Why would God institute that we read the list of names—person after person after person after person after person after . . .?
We read so we can remember that God created the first man—Adam. There was a beginning of mankind—a time when man was not present upon the face of the earth.
Yes, that is correct.
There was a time on the earth, in the universe, within the galaxies, and throughout the heavens, when there was just—ALMIGHTY GOD!
“He is the LORD our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.
Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded
to a thousand generations,
The covenant which He
made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.
He also confirmed it to
Jacob as a stature,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant.”
(1 Chronicles 16: 14-17 NASB)
King David wrote this “Psalm of Thanksgiving” after he brought the Ark of the Covenant into the city of Jerusalem and after he pitched a tent, a place for the ark to rest underneath. David danced and celebrated and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. Then he commanded some of the priests as ministers (the Levites) to praise and to celebrate the LORD God of Israel (see 1 Chronicles 16).
The generations of our lives. God loves to interrupt us while we are busy doing other things, living our lives, working in our days, raising our children, walking among the breaths God gives us to breathe.
Today, as I read in 1 Chronicles the thousands of generations of the people who walked the face of the earth, I find myself pausing, pondering the question—
What Are We Doing—IF—We Are Not Living for Almighty God?!!!
YES, that’s right.
What Are We Doing?
What Commands Our Focus?
If not JESUS!
Are We Living for Almighty God?
In these questions, I was drawn to think of our Savior, of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Redeemer, and LORD.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation:
for by Him all things were created, both
in the heavens and on the earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or
rulers , or authorities—all things have been
created through Him and for Him.
He is before all things, and in Him all
things hold together.”
(The Letter of Paul to the Colossians 1: 15-17 NASB)
God loves to interrupt us, stopping us in our tracks, getting our undivided attention (which should be on HIM all the time), and God loves to meet us right where we are—living. It is Almighty God who longs for us to “live out” the plans He has for us. God longs for us to share Jesus with the world of lost souls who live among us. God created this plan for His children from the beginning. Never do we “age-out” of God’s usefulness for our lives. That is correct. While we still have breath in our lungs, God has plans for us!
God longs for all people to come to know Him.
That is why He sent His Son Jesus Christ to the world.
That is why He allows us to live, to breathe, and to continue to exist.
God has a mighty work for us to do!
In these thoughts, I was drawn to think of the Apostle John after he was arrested for his witnessing of our Savior, of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Redeemer, and LORD. When John was arrested and exiled to the island of Patmos, I imagine John thought his life was finished, that he would die there on that island—alone. That was not the case at all. God was there, with John, even in his exile, and God had something important for John to see.
Please read with me this final passage of Scripture.
May we receive blessing as we read and see—Almighty God!
“Then I turned [the Apostle John did] to see the voice that was
speaking with me. And after turning I saw
seven golden lampstands;
and in the middle of the lampstands, I
saw one like the Son of Man, clothed in a robe
reaching to the feet, and wrapped around
the chest with a golden sash.
His head and His hair were white like
white wool, like snow; and His eyes were
like a flame of fire.
His feet were like burnished bronze
when it has been heated to a glow in a furnace,
and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
In His right hand He held seven stars,
and out of His mouth came a sharp two-
edged sword; and His face was like the sun
shining in its strength.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a
dead man. And He placed His right hand on
me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first
and the last,
and the living One; and I was dead, and
behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have
the keys of death and of Hades.”
(The Revelation 1: 12-18 NASB)
Paul Baloche sings a melody “Behold Him,” one that reminds us today of WHO IS MOST IMPORTANT!
“He who was before there was light/
Walked across the pages of time/
He who made every living thing/
BEHOLD HIM! . . .
JESUS, Son of God, Messiah, the Lamb, the roaring Lion
Oh, be still and behold HIM! . . .
Jesus, Alpha and Omega
Our God, the Risen Savior
Oh, be still and behold HIM! . . .
Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!
Worthy, Worthy, Worthy to receive all praise. . . .
Oh be still and behold Him!
Oh be still and behold Him!”
“Behold Him”
What Are We Doing—IF—We Are Not Living for Almighty God?!!!
What Are We Doing—IF—We Are Not Living as the Children of God?!!!
- May we take Jesus with us as we go.
- May we receive a revelation today.
- May we share Jesus.
- May we walk worthy of HIM as we walk through the days we have been given.
- May we live until the day of our death with the name of Jesus upon our lips.
May we speak JESUS!