Every Square Inch of Creation

Readings for today: 2 Chronicles 5-8, Psalms 72

Abraham Kuyper, the famous Dutch theologian and politician, once said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” That quote rings in my mind as I preach in northern Uganda this morning. This is an area recovering from the trauma of a twenty-year reign of terror under the notorious warlord and witch doctor, Joseph Kony. From the 1980’s until the early 2000’s, he kidnapped children, forced them torture and kill and even eat their parents, and turned them into mindless slaves and soldiers. For years, the government tried to capture him and bring him to justice. The United States even sent their special forces after him. He would evade capture over and over again. The local population believes it was due to his connection to demonic spirits. Once his power was broken - a miraculous story in itself - the region began the long process of recovery. The people here are marked by their suffering physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. They have endured unspeakable horrors and yet God, through the Holy Spirit, is bringing healing. He is reclaiming lives that the devil tried to “kill, steal, and destroy.” He is reclaiming territory that the devil tried to curse. He is breaking the power of evil in this part of the world and it is incredible to witness.

Over and over again, through the Bible, God declares His great desire to dwell with His people. He dwelt with them at the beginning of time in the Garden of Eden. He journeyed with them through the wilderness in the Tabernacle. His presence filled the Temple Solomon built. He came in the Person of Jesus Christ to walk among us. He will eventually return in all His glory to dwell forever here on earth with those He made in His image. This is God’s great plan for all of creation. Until that great day comes, God promises to dwell with His people through the Holy Spirit. He indwells the church. The local gathering of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation on the earth. As God comes to be with His people, we are sanctified and made holy. The very ground we occupy is reclaimed for God’s purposes. The power of evil and sin and death is driven out and new life begins to emerge. The sick are healed. The enslaved are set free. The broken are mended. The grieving are comforted. The lost are found. The poor are provided for. These are all signs of God’s presence breaking into the world. It happens in places like Parker, CO and Kitgum, Uganda. It happens in beautiful church buildings and under mango trees. It happens in major metropolitan cities and remote villages. It happens all over the world and the incredible news is we get to part of it!

Take some time and re-read Solomon’s prayer today from 2 Chronicles 6. Let yourself feel his emotions as he marvels at all God has done for him and for Israel. Reflect on all God has done for you and your family and your church family. Think about the blessings He has bestowed on you. The many ways He has provided and protected you. The incredible things He has done for you. Rejoice in how much He loves you. God is for you, friends, not against you! God is with you, friends, not distant from you! God knows your every need, your every desire, your every hope, your every fear, your every success, your every failure, your every joy, your every heartbreak and He is faithful. Faithful and good to love you and draw near to you if you will draw near to Him. This is why God’s Presence filled the Tabernacle in the wilderness. It’s why God’s Presence filled the Temple in Jerusalem. This is why God’s Presence fills the heart of every believer. There is not one square inch in the whole domain of human existence nor one individual person made in God’s own image over which Christ does not declare, “You are mine!” He will never cede any territory to the devil. Never cede a single soul to His great enemy. He will never relent until the powers of sin and death and evil and the devil are destroyed once and for all.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Chronicles 9-12, Psalms 73

God with Us

Readings for today: Genesis 38-40, Psalm 12

One of the things we celebrate every Christmas is the idea of Immanuel, a name that literally means “God with Us.” It’s a powerful idea that continues to captivate each and every generation. We love the idea that the God of the universe would humble Himself to come and stand at our side. We love the idea that God would care for us so much He would walk with us through every season of life. We love the idea that God is so faithful that no matter where we go or what we do, He is always with and for us. He never walks away. He never abandons us. He never forsakes us. This is one of the unique features of the Christian faith.

God didn’t just become “Immanuel” on the day Jesus was born. He has always been Immanuel. He is Immanuel for Tamar as she wrestles over the cultural expectations of her day which would have her wed multiple men of the same family when the one who is her husband dies. He is Immanuel for Judah when he seeks comfort, unknowingly, in the arms of Tamar after the death of his wife. He is Immanuel for Perez and Zerah as they wrestle in the womb for supremacy. He is Immanuel for Joseph when he’s raised up to rule Potiphar’s house and then brought low through a false accusation. God is with us in the good and bad and ugly of life. Hopefully, you are beginning to see this as one of THE major themes in Scripture and it is what gives us hope even in the face of our own challenges and fears.

There are so many people in the world today processing all kinds of pain and suffering and heartache. There are all kinds of people living around us today who have all kinds of doubts and questions and fears. Lots of people who formally might have identified as Christian are deconstructing what they formally believe as they seek some kind of peace and wholeness and beauty and love in their lives. They want to be seen. They want to be known. They want to be free. They want to be affirmed. And the great news of the gospel is that God is with them every step of the way. He does see us. He does know us. He does set us free. He does affirm as His beloved. He also confronts us and convicts us and seeks to conform us to the image of His Son. Not through manipulation or coercion or by force but by loving us and comforting us and drawing us near. No matter where these opening weeks of 2024 find you, trust God is with you. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will never leave your side.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 41-42, Psalm 13

God With Us

Readings for today: Exodus 22-24

It’s both comforting and convicting to know God is with us. It is encouraging and sobering to know God is eternally faithful to walk by our side. He never leaves us nor forsakes us not even for a single moment. If we listen to Him and walk in obedience, He will bless us. If we ignore Him and walk in rebellion, He will discipline us. God is eternally consistent. There is no shadow or turning in Him. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So the words He speaks to Israel are just as appropriate for us today as they were for them back then. The ways He reveals Himself to His people back then are just as true for us today as they were for them.

“Now get yourselves ready. I’m sending my Angel ahead of you to guard you in your travels, to lead you to the place that I’ve prepared. Pay close attention to him. Obey him. Don’t go against him. He won’t put up with your rebellions because he’s acting on my authority. But if you obey him and do everything I tell you, I’ll be an enemy to your enemies, I’ll fight those who fight you. When my Angel goes ahead of you and leads you to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, I’ll clear the country of them. So don’t worship or serve their gods; don’t do anything they do because I’m going to wipe them right off the face of the Earth and smash their sacred phallic pillars to bits.” (Exodus‬ ‭23‬:‭20‬-‭24‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Can you imagine how comforting it must have been to Israel to know God would be “an enemy to their enemies” and would “fight those who fought them?” Especially after watching what God did to Pharaoh and Egypt? They must have felt invincible. Despite the many different tribes occupying the Promised Land and the challenge they would face driving them out, Israel must have felt such confidence knowing God would be on their side.

“I’ll send my Terror on ahead of you and throw those peoples you’re approaching into a panic. All you’ll see of your enemies is the backs of their necks. And I’ll send Despair on ahead of you. It will push the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites out of your way. I won’t get rid of them all at once lest the land grow up in weeds and the wild animals take over. Little by little I’ll get them out of there while you have a chance to get your crops going and make the land your own. I will make your borders stretch from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and from the Wilderness to the Euphrates River. I’m turning everyone living in that land over to you; go ahead and drive them out.” (Exodus‬ ‭23‬:‭27‬-‭31‬ ‭MSG) At the same time, God is faithful to not give Israel a quick or easy victory. “Little by little” God would drive them out. He knows Israel isn’t ready to exercise dominion over the land He’s giving them so He will give them an opportunities to practice along the way. It’s the principles of “to whom much is given, much is expected” and “to the one who is faithful with little, God will entrust them with much” that Jesus talks about in His parable of the talents. God knows our tendency to take things for granted. He knows how easy it is for us to become complacent so He will continue to challenge us and test us to refine our faith. This is what it means to have God with us.

God has always been and always will be “God with us.” He has been Emmanuel from eternity. His great desire is for all of us to be saved and fulfill the mandate He gave us at creation to “be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and exercise dominion over all He has made.” God created us in His image to serve as His vice-regents over all creation. He has never wavered from this commitment and is at work even now in your life and in my life to bring it to pass. Spend some time praying today and ask the Holy Spirit to make you more aware of God’s abiding presence in your life and then ask Him how you might respond in greater faithfulness to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 25-28