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GOD’S WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS…
In our last column we discussed how the first chapter of Genesis is not only about the earth, but us as well. We discussed how God originally made it perfect, but then it fell into disrepair, just as the human condition went from perfection in Eden to becoming totally messed up. But then God began to re-create the world over a six day period, beginning with letting His Light (JESUS) shine in our lives. At the end of day one, we find this verse in Genesis 1:5:
And the evening and the morning were the first day.
What God is revealing here is that a new day begins in the evening. The Jews have always known that each day begins at sunset. That’s why they begin the celebration of the Sabbath on Friday evening until Saturday evening.
In our society, we celebrate a new day at sunrise or perhaps at midnight. But our ways are not God’s ways, nor are His ways our ways.
So why does God recognize a new day at sunset? I think the answer is very simple. Each day is to remind us of what He has done for us. Just after sunset, there is light but for a moment, then there is a long period of darkness, followed by a long period of light.
The momentary period of light at the beginning of each day (after sundown) reminds us of how God originally created us. In Adam, we walked in the Light for a moment. And then, because of sin, we walked in darkness for an indefinite period of time. For those of us who have seen the Light of JESUS and have chosen to walk in it, our lives will end in the Light. Just as each day ends in the light, so we Christians will never see darkness again, for all eternity. PRAISE BE UNTO HIS NAME FOREVER!!!
So here we see right from the beginning of the Bible that God’s ways are different from our ways. As the LORD declares in the 55th chapter of Isaiah:
8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The Christian life is all about changing from thinking and doing things our way, to learning to think and do things God’s way. The Bible reveals the thoughts and ways of God. The more we meditate on the Words of the Scriptures, the faster we will learn to think, speak and act like God.
The word “success” is only found once in the Bible. That’s because God wants there to be no confusion as to how we can live a successful life in His sight. God’s gives us His formula for success in Joshua 1:8:
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
The Book of the Law refers to the written Word of God, which could be called the Laws of divine success. That’s why the Bible was written, so that you could have a successful life. God tells us not to let the Words from the Bible to depart from our mouth. That means to line up our words with His Words. When we meditate on His thoughts day and night, our thoughts will become His thoughts. When we do what is written in His Word, our actions will become His actions.
When our thoughts, words and actions line up with God’s, we will be successful at everything we do, just as God is. The Psalmist confirmed this truth when he wrote:
Blessed is the man whose…delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (see Psalm 1:1-3)
Here we see God confirming the formula for divine prosperity. Would you like to prosper at everything you put your hand to? Give God’s formula a good honest try and find out for yourself if it works.
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