... until a time of reformation Hebrews 9:10 Christ's coming triggered a reformation, inaugurating a new order. The letter to the Hebrews is a transitional, and therefore, reformational book. Using both comparison and contrast, it shows the superiority of the new over the old, calling the believing Hebrews into complete transition. With a foot in both camps, they were caught … [Read more...]
The Ring of Power
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:3 JRR Tolkien's classic, The Lord of the Rings, captures the essence of the kingdom quest. Frodo Baggins, a humble Hobbit, is entrusted with the carrying of the one ring to the land of Mordor where he casts it into the Crack of Doom, destroying the Dark Lord and his reign forever. He thereby rescues Middle … [Read more...]
The Spirit of Glory
... for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:14 In unprecedented measures and in unusual ways God is about to pour out his glory on the earth. But before he does, let us consider what the `glory' is. The Hebrew word for `glory', kabod, carries the meaning of `heaviness' or `weight'. And throughout Scripture it usually signifies the revelation of God's … [Read more...]
The Dwelling of God
And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us … John 1:14 God’s purpose has always been to dwell with men. From the beginning of time to its culmination, from Eden to the New Jerusalem, this has been his singular desire. In the Garden, it was God’s habit to come down and commune with the first human community, most probably at the close of each … [Read more...]
The Fool on the Hill
In 1967 the Beatles released a Lennon-McCartney song called The Fool on the Hill. I'm showing my vintage here, but it struck me as a genuinely prophetic statement then, and still does. The lyrics go: Day after day, alone on a hill, the man with a foolish grin is perfectly still But nobody wants to know him, they can see that he's just a fool as he never gives an … [Read more...]
