March 29, 2024
There Are None So…
Part 5, Frustrated
We have spent the month looking at the theme, “There are none so…”. For example, there are none so blind as those who will not see, or none so deaf as those who will not hear. These self-imposed disabilities were first alluded to by God’s prophet Jeremiah as he warned the nation of Judah of their impending judgment and correction. [1] But like her sister Samaria (the 10 Northern Jewish tribes), Judah knowingly and willingly stiffened her national neck and she refused to see, hear, or respect her glorious God who deserved her thanks, her adoration, her service, and her praise. Consequently, as God warned, she was given over to the harsh nation Chaldea (Babylon) and her king Nebuchadnezzar, for 70 years of captivity. Ironically, what seemed to be the death of this nation, was the only way the nation could be saved from its own wickedness and self-inflicted wounds.
This then segues us into our last thought for the month: There are none so frustrated, as those who will not follow. This installment is addressed to born-again Christians [2], i.e., those who have a personal, eternal, saving relationship with the Creator through repentance [3] and then absolute faith in (and ONLY in) the blood-sacrifice of the God-Man, Jesus the Christ.
The Nation of Israel was and still is God’s chosen nation. This doesn’t mean that God loves Israel and hates everyone else. Rather it means that God sovereignly CHOSE Abraham and his lineage through the promised seed Isaac [4], to be His voice, His example, and His beacon to the other nations and peoples of this world. Sadly, Israel repeatedly rebelled and failed her spiritual mission. God used Babylon in 586 B.C., to chasten His people, and then Rome in 70 A.D. to finally scatter the nation and dissolve its national status. In a national sense, because Israel would not follow God (in love-motivated obedience and obeisance), she became frustrated; she came to political and national ruin. It is only by God’s grace and sovereign plan that this nation of scattered, dry, lifeless, and disjointed “bones” (Ezekiel 37:1-15) has miraculously risen, bone-joined-to-bone. This prophecy was fulfilled in 1948. Israel is again a national entity. [5]
Well, in the same way that Israel became frustrated nationally because they would not follow their gracious Creator, Savior, and King, born-again Christians—the spiritual offspring of God—will become frustrated spiritually when they refuse to follow Christ and inculcate His “mind” (way of thinking, or worldview) and His lifestyle. Men and women who have tasted the glorious salvation given to them freely by God’s grace when they repented, believed, and cried out for salvation, and then have turned from following Christ, to follow and embrace this wicked World’s way of thinking and living, are going to live miserable, unfulfilled, and frustrated spiritual lives. Oh, worldly Christians might appear successful, happy, and on top of the “world” (pun intended), but they have no joy, no peace, no contentment, and no power. They, like the worldlings around them, are building their lives upon the sand, and as Jesus warned, their physical and carnal investments will disappear at the next big blow or flood.
Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Praise God we can’t lose our salvation, but we can lose everything else, including our families! There are none so frustrated, as those who will not follow.
God bless and consider!
[1] Jeremiah cried out to his nation Judah, Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, 21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: 22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence… (Jeremiah 5:20-22).
[2] John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
[3] The word “repent” literally means to turn from going one direction, to the exact opposite direction. In regard to salvation (the spiritual rebirth of our sin-deadened spirits) repentance involves 1) recognizing our sin (agreeing with God that we are sinners and as such separated from Him eternally), 2) having contrition because of their sin, 3) and then gladly and willfully turning from our sinful ways.
[4] Isaac, not Ishmael (the seed of the Egyptian bondmaid Hagar), was the promised seed, the lineage through which God would build his nation Israel, and eventually bring forth the Messiah, the Savior of the World. Paul in Galatians 4:21-31 uses the two sons of Abraham as an allegory of bondage vs. spiritual liberty. Gal. 4:21-31 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it isnow. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
[5] Israel stands again as a physical nation, but not as a spiritual nation. God has not yet put his Spirit within them (see Ezekiel 37:14). This day will come, again through Tribulation and grace, and as Paul prophesied, And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob… Romans 11:26.