Issue 867 – Long Long Ago – October 19, 2022
A long, long time ago, I was a private in the Canadian Armed Forces. This poor-quality Polaroid image is of me polishing my boots.
It is funny how time changes perspective. We all thought we were ten feet tall and bulletproof in those days. Looking back, I think, “I was just a kid.” I was all of eighteen, and next month the clock rolls over to 65 for me.
I thought I knew all the answers then. Now I understand that I didn’t even know the right questions.
Someone asked me recently if I wanted to be young again. I replied, “Absolutely not!” I look back and recognize I have had a pretty blessed life. It has come with its share of trials, and I probably made more than my share of stupid mistakes. I would do some things differently, but I would likely make different mistakes.
I didn’t come to faith until I was in my thirties, and then only after a series of crises in life. If I have a regret, it is that I didn’t heed the call of the Lord earlier in life.
Still, I understand that God’s timing is perfect. Somewhere in His plan, there is a reason that I believed when I did. That is good enough for me.
Some are blessed to come to true faith at an age so early they can’t remember not even being believers. Others are snatched from the flames of hell on their death bed. Every soul saved is an act of sovereign grace and mercy. Not a single one of us deserves to be reconciled to God.
Every person is a sinner by nature and by choice. We are rebels born in rebellion. If left to our own devices, we reject God every time. Justice would be served if every person (other than Jesus, who was sinless) spent eternity separated in hell from God.
God knew that and still chose to create us. He hinted at His plan for our redemption in the Garden of Eden.
The Lord said to the serpent,
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Genesis 2:15
That is admittedly a very vague prophecy about the coming of Jesus, but it would be built upon over and over.
One scholar catalogued 407 prophetic references about Jesus in the Old Testament. I think that is probably a very high count, but there isn’t any doubt that d be there are hundreds of them. Some are obvious, and others less so. Still, when we look at how Christ fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, we cannot help but be amazed.
When I think of prophecies, I remember what might have been the best Bible study of all time.
On the day of His resurrection, Jesus encounters two men walking to nearby Emmaus. They are downcast and believe Christ to be gone for good.
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27
Jesus exegeted the words of the prophets and pointed to how they pointed toward himself. What a study that would have been.
A great way to grow in our knowledge of Christ and confidence in our faith is to spend time in the Old Testament and follow the prophetic words to Christ.
Indeed, some of those events took place long, long ago, but they point us to the one who loves us to die for us despite our rebellion.
Praise His name.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2022 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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