GOD HAS SPOKEN AND GOD SPEAKS


GOD HAS SPOKENand continues to speak to man. The writer of the book of Hebrews declares, "God who at sundry times and in divers [diverse, varied] manners [ways] spake in times past unto the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son..." To start with in the garden of Eden, God spoke audibly and directly to Adam and Eve. But sin entering the picture brought their fall and alienation from God. The close relationship was broken, and God communicated with them and their descendants from afar. During the Patriarchal age it was indirectly through the heads of families and tribes. Sometimes it was by visions and dreams; sometimes otherwise. The law was given through Moses for the whole nation of Israel. God began a special relationship with these people so that He eventually could speak to all of us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This was a time of preparation and revelation as his scheme of redemption was being unfolded to man. During this time, "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [Spirit]" (II Peter 1:21). Now with the coming of Christ and the giving of the New Testament, we have God’s completed and final revelation to man. No other such revelation is promised, expected, or needed. God has spoken (past tense), but He continues to speak to us through that spoken Word. Let us listen.
 
Aside from inspired revelation, God also continues to speak to us in other ways. Just look at His creation. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork" (Psalms 19:1). Awesome omnipotent power harnessed by nothing less than supreme intelligence (and defined by man in terms of consistent, scientific laws) emphatically speaks to us of an Almighty, Omniscient Being (Romans 1:19,20). In this way God speaks loud and clear if man would but listen. He is there.
 
God spoke to ancient Israel many times in judgment. Just read the prophets. The Israelites were God’s chosen people for the purpose of bringing the Savior into the world (Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 4:4). When they got out of line, God let them know about it. At times other nations oppressed them. Along with the sword, they faced pestilence. There came the devouring locusts. They experienced earthquake and radical disturbances in the weather pattern. God has no nation as his chosen people today, just the church (I Peter 2:9; Romans 9:8), but nevertheless we are made to wonder about the things that are happening to this country. Generically He is telling us something.
 
The great truth of Proverbs 14:34 hits us between the eyes. "Righteousnes exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." Righteousness exalts the nation that exalts righteousness. It’s that simple. Proverbs 11:19 reads, "As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death." (Yes, "the wages of sin is death," Romans 6:23). And Psalms 9:17 reads, "The wicked shall be turned into hell [Sheol], and all the nations that forget God." The seeds of judgment and destruction are built into the very structure of sin itself. Sooner or later the day of reckoning will come. If a nation’s leaders and its people do not recognize the enormity of sin, and exalt righteousness, we are in bad trouble. The unbridled practice of wickedness is self-destructive. Eternal judgment also awaits.
 
God has spoken, and God speaks. He speaks His truth and the reality of Himself. This is done by revelation as evidenced in His Word, by His creation, and even in warnings and judgment at times. He is trying to get our attention, to tell us something. We are accountable beings. May we listen
<RETURN>
to Index Page
 
TheSwordANDStaff