“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” – Hebrews 1:3
Reality One. God is always at work all around us.
There was 400 years of silence, the time between the Old Testament and New Testament, during which, so far as anyone knows, God did not speak—no Scripture was written. The 400 years of silence began with the warning that closed the Old Testament: “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse" (Malachi 4:5-6) and ended with the coming of John the Baptist, the Messiah’s forerunner.
But that did not mean that God was not at work. Before Mary's encounter with Gabriel, Mary's cousin, Elizabeth, became pregnant with John the Baptist. "He [John]will go before him [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” - Luke 1:17 The star in the East had been set in the sky. The hearts of the wise men were being stirred to know. You know that story.
Then and now, the problem is not that God is absent but that we do not have the spiritual understanding – awareness to see that He is at work. That is why Paul wrote about it to the Church in Ephesus.
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” – Ephesians 1:16-21
Israel, as a nation, had been under the rule of foreign powers for centuries, the latest at the time of the Advent was the Roman empire and foreign occupation continues for centuries after. But God was still at work. Even many of the enemies and occupiers of Israel had a reverence for the spiritual significance of Jerusalem.
So What does that mean for us?
Even when we are faced with great adversity in this mortal life, it does not mean that God is not at work. Our challenge is in our maintaining a spiritual perspective. When this same Paul was on the road to Damascus, as Saul, to persecute Christians, he encountered Jesus on the way and was struck blind. In my mind that was a physical representation of his spiritual blindness which was restored when he met with Ananias.
“And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So, they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank…. So, Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized.” – Acts 9:4-9,17-18
Perhaps, like Paul, we need the scales that have blinded us from seeing God at work removed from our eyes as well.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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