Boasting in God’s Steadfast Love

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 52

Psalm 52:1

Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?
    The steadfast love of God endures all the day.

(ESV)

One commodity that is never lacking during an election year is boasting.  Candidates needing votes must portray themselves as the best person for the job and boast about their superior ideas.  However, there is one thing Christians can boast about that no candidate can top, boasting in the steadfast love of God.

The context of Psalm 52 is Saul finding out that David had come to the house of Ahimelech.  David represented a threat to Saul based upon the words of Samuel when he disobeyed God (1 Samuel 15:26-28).  Saul was also jealous of the praise lavished upon David and his military conquests as superior to his own (1 Samuel 18:6-9).  So deep was the jealousy of Saul that he now wanted to murder David to eliminate him as a threat to his reign as King of Israel (1 Samuel 19:1-9).  David has gone into hiding and visits Ahimelech the priest but now with the discovery of David’s location, the threat to David and his men has become a clear and present danger.  However, instead of cowering in fear, David finds strength in, 

1)      The enduring quality of God’s love (Psalm 52:1) – In John 3:16 reminds us that God loved the world, even in its fallen state so much that he sent His son.  We know the rest of the story for the reason for God sending His Son was to die in our place for our sins.  So enduring is this sacrificial love that by simply believing in Jesus as savior, one can inherit eternal life. 

2)      The breaking down of those not placing their trust in God (Psalm 52:5-7) – David would become King of Israel and have access to an army consisting of chariots and horses.  However, David would write about not placing his trust in the might of an army in another psalm and instead boast of his trust in the name of the Lord (Psalm 20).  Trust in anything other than God is trust in something created that exists in a post-Genesis 3 world and will disappoint us as it will break down.  David knew this as he observed the fall of King Saul due to disobedience and lack of trust in God and vowed not to place his trust in the might of an army (Psalm 20:7).

3)      Placing his trust in God (Psalm 52:8-9) – It is easy to say we trust in God, but then there is the waiting period where things may appear to get worse.  As David wrote Psalm 52, he may have experienced doubts as he hid from Saul.  His thoughts may have reflected the day when Samuel anointed him as king (1 Samuel 16:1-13).  At this time in David’s life, he is God’s chosen king for Israel but is living in the gap of the waiting period between receiving the anointing as king and the appointment as king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-7) and eventually a united nation of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-16).  Those choosing to believe in Jesus as savior have complete salvation and the assurance of eternity with God but still live in a fallen world full of trouble.  The hope of Christians is that while they live in a fallen world waiting for eternity with God, they know Christ who conquered death, has the power to protect them in a dangerous world (John 16:33; Romans 8:11).  Believers in Christ also know their present state is temporary for Jesus will return to establish his kingdom on earth (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). 

Trust in God begins with one deciding to make Jesus their savior and accepting His gift of salvation.  We all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and are under a death sentence (Romans 6:23).  However, God has provided a way out of our death sentence by sending his sinless son Jesus to die in our place (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8).  I invite you to pray with me know and accept this gift from God,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

During this election year in the United States, there will be no shortage of boasting by candidates running for election.  However, there is always a shortage of leaders that boast in their relationship with God through Christ and thank God for the abilities or talents He has given them.  What the world needs is more Godly leaders boasting in their God while using their God-given talents to glorify God and not themselves.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Plots and Preparation

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 14:1-9

Mark 14:1,8

It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him,…. ⁸ She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial

The term snake oil salesman refers to charlatans who would come into a town selling some miracle elixir that would be the cure-all for anything and every sickness or illness one might have.  Fortunately, medical science has replaced the snake oil salesman and conducts tests and observations in search of facts so trained physicians and healthcare professionals can address the real problem and find solutions.  Unfortunately, the political system has not experienced such a transformation and still has its share of snake oil salesmen that propose cure-all programs to lure voters, only for the voters to be disappointed when the candidate takes office and fails to deliver on his or her promises.  President Trump has delivered on many of his promises resulting in a thriving economy and a reduction in illegal border crossings based upon facts and not political rhetoric.  (1) (2) My prayer during this election year is that voters would seek facts and not fall prey to the slick marketing of political snake oil salesmen. 

We can equate the chief priests and scribes in Mark 14:1 to snake oil salesmen who face having their religious schemes exposed by the truth of scripture pointing to Jesus as Messiah.  Instead of surrendering to Messiah and finding spiritual new birth and eternal life as Jesus told Nicodemus, they want to remain the center of religious authority and must get Jesus out of the way.  However, the many miracles performed by Jesus during His ministry have made Him popular and they fear alienating themselves from the very people they seek to have religious authority over (Mark 14:2).  These plots to silence the message of the Gospel are still present in our world with individuals still facing persecution from friends, government, and other religions threatened by the Gospel. 

However, Christians must remain focused on the mission of spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) and not obsess on any persecution they encounter.  Instead of obsessing on the persecution, Christians must be like Simon the Leper and the woman with the alabaster flask.

1)      Simon the Leper – The only mention of Simon the Leper in the Bible is in Matthew 26:6 and Mark 14:3.  Since both these passages of Scripture refer to the same account in the ministry of Jesus, we do not know what interaction Simon had with Jesus prior to inviting Him over to his house.  However, the fact that this leper is in his house with others, including Jesus indicates he may have been one of the lepers healed by Jesus.  In fact, he possibly could be one of the 10 lepers healed by Jesus that took the time to go back and thank Jesus (Luke 17:11-19).  It is possible that Simon was so thankful for his healing that when he found out Jesus was in Jerusalem, he invited Jesus to his home to offer more praise and thanks to God for his healing.  Individuals and even churches that began with a focus on spreading the Gospel may lose focus when facing a challenge or struggle.  Simon the Leper is an example of one that turned to God in his time of need and continued to give thanks to God for what he received from Him.     

2)      The woman with the alabaster flask – This passage does not mention the woman by name so there is no way to search scripture to determine what her connection was to Jesus.  However, there are two women Jesus had an encounter with who may have wanted to offer praise and worship to God because both women experienced forgiveness of sin.  These women are the woman at the well (John 4:1-45), and the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11).  Both women had great sin and reason to rejoice and a desire to worship God by pouring expensive oil over Jesus’ head in preparation for his burial.  Christians have great reason to rejoice in their salvation but sadly can take it for granted and either use God’s grace as a reason to sin (Romans 6:1-4) or become arrogant and moralistic in our position as Children of God (1 John 3:1).  Instead, we as Christians must have the attitude of the woman with the alabaster flask and remember we are sinners deserving of death (Romans 3:23, 6:23) who have been saved by God’s grace so we can now worship God in spirit and truth and sin no more (Ephesians 2:8; John 4:24, 8:11). 

While we live in a world of snake oil salesmen that seek to deceive people for their own gain, we have a savior and the truth of the scripture to help us detect deception for true liberty is knowledge of the truth (John 8:32).  It is, therefore, crucial for everyone to immerse themselves in the truth of God’s Word through regular study and meditation on its truth so when deception comes, we can quickly reject it.  It is also important to live a thankful life like Simon the leper and offer worship to God like the woman with the alabaster flask.  However, to spend eternity with God, one must be born again by accepting Jesus as his or her savior.  If you have not done so, I invite you to accept Jesus as your savior now by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

I encourage those that just prayed to begin immersing themselves in truth by studying the Bible and finding a church teaching from the Bible to inoculate yourself against deception and lies.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

1. Puzder, Andy. Andy Puzder: Trump economy is booming – Good news for America, bad news for Democrats. www.foxnews.com. [Online] Fox News, January 12, 2020. [Cited: February 25, 2020.] https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/andy-puzder-trump-economy-is-booming-good-news-for-america-bad-news-for-democratic-candidates.

2. U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Southwest Border Migration FY 2020. cdp.gov. [Online] U.S. Department of Homeland Security, January 2020. [Cited: February 25, 2020.] https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/sw-border-migration.

God, a Fortress of Strength That is Always with Us

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 46

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present^[b] help in trouble.

(ESV)

There is a continuing debate in the United States over the second amendment granting citizens of the United States the right to arm themselves.  Each time there is a tragic mass shooting, the debate heats up with those on the left that believe the elimination of private ownership of guns will somehow magically eliminate any mass shooting.  Those supporting the second amendment will point out that if more individuals armed themselves, the incidences of these mass shootings would decrease as shooters would be deterred by knowing people would shoot back once they began their rampage of shooting.  The recent Texas church shooting, while tragic, is an example of how a shooter is an armed presence at the scene.  While I support the second amendment in the United States believing it provides for self-defense as we live in a post-Genesis 3 world, there are other troubles in the world a Gun does not solve.  This week I was admitted to the hospital with a rapid heart rate and now face a surgical procedure in about six weeks to correct the situation.  A gun does not solve this situation, but I have peace because I know God is a fortress of strength in this situation.  A personal relationship with God provides,

1)      A safe place of strength in trouble (Psalm 46:1-3) – The psalmist speaks of the earth giving way, the mountains being moved into the sea and the waters roaring and foaming with the mountains trembling at the floodwaters from the rivers.  This sounds like a science fiction disaster movie plot but is a visual illustration of one experiencing a torrent of trouble in their lives.  While sitting in the ER and seeing the rapidity with which my heart was beating, it felt like the earth and mountains were moving and the floodwaters were rushing in.  However, I knew that my God was with me and that friends, family, and pastors I contacted by text or social media were praying for me, providing a refuge of strength and encouragement that I felt during my struggle. 

2)      Access to the presence of God (Psalm 46:4-7) – Believers living during the old covenant before the birth of Christ had to go to the physical temple in Jerusalem to be in the habitation of the most high (Psalm 46:4).  The good news for believers that struggle today is that the presence of God is within their hearts, making it possible to pray for refuge wherever they are in their struggle (John 17:26).  All a believer must do today is reach out to God in prayer and the Lord will save them just as he did with Peter when he began to sink in the sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:28-33). 

3)      Be still in chaos knowing God is God (Psalm 46:8-11) – In the morning hours during the winter months in Phoenix, I drive east to work at the sunrise.  While the traffic in a big city like Phoenix is dreadful during morning and evening rush hours, during these winter months I have the privilege of enjoying beautiful sunrises that provide a Godly backdrop to enjoy.  However, these beautiful works of creation pale in comparison to the work of grace performed by God on Calvary (Ephesians 2:8; John 3:16; Romans 5:8).  The hope of future glory also gives hope and peace in times of chaos in our lives (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  Creation demonstrating the majesty of God, God’s grace forgiving sin, and the hope of eternity with God makes it possible for believers to stand still like a rock or a tree deeply rooted and immovable during the storms of chaos in life.   

The most important thing I knew when sitting in the ER, uncertain what might happen, was the assurance I knew the Lord and would spend eternity with Him.  However, the fact that I am writing this post means God has more for me to do before taking me home.  Part of that work is extending an invitation to anyone reading this that does not have a personal relationship with God by asking God to forgive their sins and make Jesus the Lord of their life.  If you are reading this and have not accepted Jesus as your savior, I invite you to pray with me now. 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

We live in a chaotic post-Genesis 3 world and need a safe refuge of strength to go to when struggles come.  While a firearm or gun provides protection from attacks, there are other struggles that can threaten our lives.  Therefore, we need both physical weapons that protect and keep us safe from physical harm as well as a relationship with God providing salvation and the hope of future glory to maintain peace in Chaos.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

The Time is Near, but the Hour is Unknown

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 13:28-37

Mark 13:32-33

“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Be on guard, keep awake.^[a] For you do not know when the time will come.

(ESV)

I have a confession to make, I am a fan of Dr. Who.  My favorite two actors who played Dr. Who are Tom Baker and David Tennant because they brought a genuineness to the character as they got the job done despite mistakes made along the way, like the path life often takes.  For those unfamiliar with the series, it is about a character, Dr. Who that is a time lord and able to travel through time fixing events that have gone wrong.  While it would be interesting to be a time lord and able to go back and fix things in our lives or know the future, we live in the present.  For Christians, this means we must seek God’s forgiveness for our past sins and have faith and trust in God regarding the future.  Mark 13:32-33 is a reminder that while we do not know the future or the hour in which Jesus will return because we live in the present, in the present we are to be diligent going about spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). 

The text of Mark 13:28-37 is Jesus concluding his teaching that answers the disciples’ question regarding the signs that point to the end of the age (Mark 13:4).  Jesus begins his conclusion by once again using the illustration of the fig tree.  However, in His earlier use of the fig tree as an illustration, the fig tree was not fruitful for it was not the season for growing figs (Mark 11:12-14; 20-26).  In the illustration of Mark 13:32-33, the fig tree is preparing to give fruit as it is putting out its leaves, indicating summer is near.  The lesson from this illustration is while we cannot know with certainty what the future holds, we can read the signs and prepare. 

Mark 13:30 is a verse with many interpretations regarding the generation Jesus is referring to.  The general signs described in Mark 13:3-13 are not only present in our present society and culture, but have been present in almost every generation preceding modern culture.  This, however, does not indicate that each of these generations was the one that would not die prior to the return of Christ, but only an indication that the return of Christ is coming (Mark 13:29).  This is because the specific sign of the abomination of desolation (Mark 13:14-23) or the appearance of the Antichrist desecrating the Temple has not happened since there is presently no temple to desecrate. 

The signs Jesus describes in Mark 13:3-13 that have fulfillment in many generations throughout history are not to be interpreted as a countdown to the return of Christ but instead the creation of a sense of urgency regarding the need to spread the Gospel prior to the return of Christ (Mark 13:33-37).  It is not until the specific sign of the abomination of desolation (Mark 13:14-23) that a sort of countdown can begin as the generation witnessing this will also witness the coming of the Son of Man (Mark 13:24-27).  However, the specific date and hour of the Lord’s return will remain a mystery right up until the glorious return of Christ. 

While it would be fun and comforting to know the exact hour of the Lord’s return, God is wise in not letting His children know for he knows we would,

1)      Live irresponsibly – If we knew the very date and hour of the return of Jesus Christ, His return would be a deadline and not something giving hope and a sense of urgency.  Let’s imagine for a moment that we knew the return of Jesus would happen in six months.  There are some who would go out and buy a mansion, luxury, or sports car, and take trips all over the world believing the Lord would return before having to pay for them. 

2)      Procrastinate in ministry – Jesus called the church to spread the Gospel, make disciples, and be witnesses throughout the earth (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  If the church had a deadline for the return of the Lord by knowing a specific date and time for the Lord’s return, they might procrastinate in evangelizing the lost.  Thankfully, God is wise in not letting the church know the specific date and time and instead provides signs that provide a sense of urgency in reaching out to the lost. 

3)      Cram for the final in our study of God’s Word – Most of us who have attended college has to admit to spending an all-nighter cramming for a final exam.  We knew the final was coming several months before but were lax in our study and now with the deadline approaching, must cram for the exam.  Sadly, after cramming for an exam, most students do not retain as well as they would have through a diligent study done without the pressure of having to cram for an exam.  God wants his people to be diligent in ministry and not asleep and in His wisdom keeps the specific date of His return a mystery.  This means we do not know when the Lord will return and must live in a continuous state of readiness for the return of the Lord (Mark 13:35-36). 

God’s people are not like Dr. Who and cannot travel in time to know the future and instead must live day-to-day in a constant state of readiness for the Lord’s return.  This process of readiness begins with one accepting Jesus as savior so we can have forgiveness of our sins that separate us from God, making it possible to have a personal relationship with God.  Romans 10:9-10 tells us that all one must do is confess Jesus as Lord and believe He died and resurrected from the dead to be saved.  I invite you to begin the preparation process for the return of Jesus by praying with me now. 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

If you just prayed, you know have complete forgiveness of your sins that separated you from a personal relationship with God.  I encourage you to join with other believers in Christ through a local church or bible study as we await the second coming of Jesus Christ.  May God bless everyone reading this post.   

The Fruits of the Spirit, Nourished by the Vine

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Galatians 5:22-23; John 15:1-17

John 15:1-1-2

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

(ESV)

We live in a post-Genesis 3 world and why we see so much evil and tragedy in the world.  When many in the world hear the Gospel, their objection is often why they would want to follow a God that allows such evil in the world.  Genesis 3 records the account of the fall of humanity and humanity’s separation from God that resulted in a curse coming upon the world.  Therefore, the cause and source of evil and tragedy in the world are not God but a result of humanity’s fall.  While God could have eliminated the curse by destroying the world including humanity in the garden, he instead promised a savior to lift the curse (Genesis 3:15).  We have the benefit of hindsight and know that the promised savior is Jesus Christ who came, died on the cross, and resurrected from the dead to remove the curse of sin from all who accept Him as their savior.  However, the curse on the world remains and will not go away until the return of Christ (Revelation 21:1-4). 

In the interim between the first coming of Christ to remove the curse of sin and the second coming to bring a new heaven and earth with God dwelling on earth with humanity, the church has a calling to spread the Gospel and make disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  During this interim period, God’s people live as ambassadors in a foreign land (2 Corinthians 5:20).  An ambassador’s purpose when serving in a foreign land is to promote the benefits of the culture of their native land to those in the foreign land in which they serve.  To accomplish this, the Bible encourages Christians to demonstrate the Fruits of the Spirit in how they live (Galatians 5:22-23). 

However, the lure of the flesh can cause believers to go back to living according to the way they once lived as natural-born citizens of the world.  Romans 12:2 reminds Christians of the need to lose conformity to the world in which they once lived and to instead experience transformation in their thinking to thinking and meditating on the things of God.  Christians experience this transformation as they connect regularly with the vine, Jesus Christ, and allow the vinedresser to prune the unfruitful branches of conformity with the world so the branches connected to the vine are more fruitful.  Connection with the vine involves becoming a disciple through, evangelization, equipping, encouragement, and empowerment. 

1)      Evangelization – This is the beginning of the process of discipleship.  Jesus told Nicodemus that unless one is born again, they will not see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3).  Nicodemus mistakenly interpreted this to mean one experiencing physical birth once again (John 3:4) but Jesus is referring to spiritual birth (John 3:5).  Since all have sinned, all reading this need to experience this spiritual birth by confessing Jesus as their Lord through belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 10:9-10).  Those experiencing this new birth gain citizenship in the Kingdom of God.  However, we still live in the world in which we were once citizens and retain characteristics of our citizenship in the secular world, something the Apostle Paul alluded to in His life (Romans 7:15).  After evangelization, it crucial for Christians to experience ongoing equipping to serve effectively as ambassadors for Christ. 

2)   Equipping – This is the ongoing process of discipleship as one evangelized experiences transformation from conformity to the world and conformity to God’s way of thinking.  This is the process of transformation alluded to in Romans 12:2.  This is the process of connecting to the vine of Jesus who is the Word of God that became flesh and came to be with us (John 1:14).  However, this equipping process can be painful as it not only requires a connection to the vine to produce the fruits of the Spirit but the pruning by the vinedresser of unfruitful branches that rob the fruitful branches of nourishment (John 15:2).  Equipping Christians occurs through the practice of the spiritual disciplines of study and meditation on the Word of God and regular prayer or communication with God.  It is also vital for Christians to have a regular association with other believers through attendance at church or a Bible study teaching the Bible. 

3)      Encouragement – Jesus told his followers that in this world we would have trouble but that he overcame the world (John 16:33).  This statement from Jesus was actually prophetic for at the time he said this, he had not overcome death by resurrecting from the dead for Jesus first had to experience the tribulation of the cross and death to overcome death.  However, our hindsight once again lets us know that Jesus did overcome death on the cross with the encouragement that the same power of the Holy Spirit that resurrected Christ from the dead lives in us giving life to our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11). 

4)         Empowerment – This is an often-overlooked aspect of serving Christ, but one Jesus stressed in Acts 1:4.  God’s people find themselves in a battle, a battle requiring different weapons (Ephesians 6:10-20).  Ephesians 6:18-20 concludes Paul’s teaching on the armor of God with the need to pray for all the saints and form Paul to the Ephesians for boldness in declaring the Gospel while imprisoned as an ambassador in chains.  Peter is an example of how one afraid to admit to being a follower of Jesus when it could have meant joining Jesus on the cross (Matthew 26:69-75), to one boldly declaring the Gospel to an audience people that had possibly called for Jesus’ crucifixion 50 days before (Acts 2:14-41).  Disciples for Christ need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to skillfully use the weapons of the armor of God and be effective in spiritual warfare (Acts 1:8). 

A disciple of Christ is one that has accepted Jesus as his or her savior and followed through on their acceptance of Jesus by dedication to study and obey the Bible, finding regular encouragement through association with other believers in church, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit to declare the Gospel in how they live and what they say.  If you are reading this and have not taken the first step in discipleship by accepting Jesus as your savior, I invite you to do so now by praying with me, 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

For those that just prayed, I encourage you to follow through in discipleship by equipping yourself through studying of the Bible, finding encouragement through regular association with other Christians at a local church, and asking God for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for boldness to live for Christ in a post-Genesis 3 world.  Following through in discipleship makes a Christian a fruitful believer, something a post-Genesis 3 world needs more of.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Out with the Old and in with the New

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text: Mark 13:14-27

Mark 13:26-27

 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

(ESV)

I enjoy watching home improvement shows, not that I am a great handyman you would hire to make improvements to your home, but out of admiration for those with the talent to make home improvements.  One observation that I have made in watching these shows is the need for demolition or the removal of the old and before the building of the new.  Romans 12:2 tells believers in Christ of a needed mind improvement to rid their minds of the old carnal way of thinking and to replace it with new godly thinking based upon biblical truth.  Mark 13:14-27 describes global renovation with the rise of the Antichrist through deception but ends with his demolition at the return of Christ and the establishment of a new renovated godly kingdom. 

Mark 13:14-27 is a continuation of Jesus' teaching regarding the signs of the end of the age.  In Mark 13:1-13, where Jesus answered their question with signs of trouble God’s people will experience as the end of the age.  In Mark 13:14-27, Jesus teaches of a coming abomination of desolation that will usher in a period of great tribulation upon the world (Mark 13:14).  This coming event is so significant that the Jesus asks us to contemplate its meaning.  Matthew 24:15-16 parallels the statement by Jesus in Mark 13:14 with an additional reference to the prophet Daniel regarding what is meant by the abomination of desolation.  According to the prophet Daniel, this abomination of desolation is,

1)      A person that will make a strong covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) – The context of Jesus’ teaching in Mark 13 is the disciples' observation of the beauty of the Temple with Jesus foretelling of the Temple’s destruction at the hands of the Romans (Mark 13:1-2).  Jesus’ mention of an abomination of desolation is a reference to Daniel’s prophecy of a future leader who would desecrate the Temple by doing away with the regular burnt offerings and sacrifices done in fulfillment of Jewish law (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11).  While Jesus' pending death on the cross would do away with the need for these sacrifices (Hebrews 7:27), the individual referred to by Jesus and Daniel is Antichrist who denies Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22).  This individual is not eliminating the sacrifices to point people to Jesus for salvation but instead bringing desolation to the Temple by setting himself up as Messiah.  His covenant is a deceptive covenant that Jesus cautioned his followers about in Mark 13:21-23. 

2)      A person who will profane the Temple by taking away the regular burnt offerings (Daniel 11:31) – The burnt offerings and sacrifices were a regular occurrence at the Temple and most likely occurring as Jesus walked through the Temple grounds with His disciples.  In fact, since this event occurred around Passover there were most likely more sacrifices offered then at other times during the year.  While the need for these sacrifices was coming to an end with the sacrifice of the Son of God for the sins of the world (Hebrews 7:27), they were still how God’s people at this time expressed their honor of God as their God.  Jesus is warning his people that only His death could fulfill the law of God and that anyone else claiming to be Christ and ending these sacrifices is a false Christ and someone to guard against and flee from (Mark 13:14-23).    

3)      The desolation of the Temple will last 1290 days (Daniel 12:11) – False christs and false teaching are nothing new for the Apostles warned the early church about such teaching (Galatians 2:4; 2 Peter 2:1-2).  However, the abomination of desolation is a false teacher also referred to as the Antichrist who will deceive many.  Daniel 9:27 says the Antichrist will make a strong covenant for one week and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice.  The reference by Daniel to a week is not a reference to a period of seven days as we define it but a period of seven years.  For the first half of the seven-year period, the Antichrist will establish himself as a global leader having all the answers and deceiving many into believing he is christ. However, midway through this seven-year period, the Antichrist will desecrate the Temple, revealing he is a false christ, but a false christ with great worldly power and authority.  Thankfully, God cuts his reign short with the return of Jesus with great power and glory (Mark 13:20, 26).

While it is interesting to focus on the abomination of desolation in Mark 13:14-27, the main purpose of the passage is to not allow ourselves to be deceived and to have hope that even when the world situation seems hopeless as it will during the 1290 days of desolation, Jesus will return in great power and glory.  However, to participate in the glorious reign of Christ, one must accept Jesus’ invitation to join Him for he will not force Himself on anyone.  Perhaps you are reading this and feel the need for forgiveness or the need to have a closer, more personal relationship with God.  If that is you, I invite you to pray with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Law enforcement that detects counterfeit currency does not receive training that focuses on recognizing counterfeit currency but extensive training to recognize genuine currency.  The same holds true for students of the Bible for the more knowledgeable one becomes of biblical truth, the more readily they will recognize false teaching.  It is therefore crucial that God’s people devote time to the study of scripture so they can quickly run from false teaching.  Everyone reading this, especially those that just prayed, is urged to devote time daily to study and meditation on the Bible and find a church or bible study teaching the Bible so they can recognize and run from deception.  These are deceptive times but those that know the truth will be set free (John 8:32).  May God bless everyone reading this post and may we all grow stronger in our knowledge of biblical truth. 

Ambassadors of Preservation and Illumination

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Matthew 5:13-16

2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

(ESV)

One of the most spiritually moving things one can experience, is a candlelight service.  These services generally occur during Christmas and serve as a visual illustration of how the small light of a single candle can illuminate a dark room and how sharing that light multiplies to fully illuminate the room.  However, if the light lacks a lasting quality due to the candle being short, the room will return to darkness before the light spreads to everyone in the room.  For God’s people to serve as ambassadors of preservation and illumination requires balancing the preservation of biblical truth under the illumination and empowerment of the Holy Spirit (John 4:24). 

The text of Matthew 5:13-16 occurs in the context of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  This occurs near the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, providing a foundation for the other teachings and miracles that would occur.  Jesus uses the symbols of salt and life to illustrate the importance of preserving scriptural truth and letting the light of godliness shine for all to see.  Jesus would later encounter the women at the well and teach that true worship of God occurs in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Jesus teaching to the woman at the well builds upon the foundation of salt and light provided in the Sermon on the Mount with salt symbolizing the importance of preserving biblical truth and light reminding us to declare biblical truth in love and grace through the illumination and empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 16:14; Romans 1:1-5).  God’s people are more effective in fulfilling the “Great Commission” when they become familiar and proficient in using the tools of salt and light.

1)      Salt (Matthew 5:13) – During the time of Christ, people did not have the luxury of refrigeration to preserve food and depended on the use of salt as a preservative.  This differs from our view of salt today as something only used to add flavor to food.  Those listening to Jesus on the shores of the Sea of Galilee would have equated Jesus' symbolic use of salt as a call to preserve the biblical truth as it is tasty to the soul.  God’s Word is the guardrail that keeps our way pure quenching the thirst for God in our souls (Psalm 42:1; 119:9).  As ambassadors for Christ, God’s people must be diligent students of the Bible allowing biblical truth to fill the void in their souls and not attempting to fill the void with the things of the world (Romans 12:2). 

2)      Light (Matthew 5:14-16) – We live in an extremely dark world that is in dire need of the illumination of the light of the Gospel.  God’s people that are students of the Bible must not fear to let the light of the Gospel within them shine, bringing illumination to a dark world.  Fortunately, this does not require one having great theological knowledge for even the light of a small candle can illuminate a dark room.  The woman at the well took the nugget of the light of truth she received from her encounter with Jesus and lit up her community by sharing it with others (John 4:25-26; 28-30).  The woman at the well was not someone with great theological knowledge but someone that experienced the light of God’s grace and shared it with others. 

If you are reading this and have had an encounter with Jesus in your life and accepted Jesus as your savior, I encourage you to let that light shine by sharing it with others, telling them what Jesus has done for you.  For those that have not had an encounter with Jesus and accepted Him as savior, I want to share some of the light of the Gospel in my life.  Raised in a godly home where I went to church each Sunday, my life had the appearance of one having their act together and having favor with God.  While the atmosphere of a godly home is a good thing, it can also lead to one believing their good works and lack of involvement in the grievous sins of the world give them favor with God.  However, the biblical truth is that salvation is a work of God’s grace through Christ and not our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).  The Bible also teaches that everyone has sinned and that all sin comes with a death penalty (Romans 3:23; 6:23).  However, our situation is not hopeless for Jesus took our death penalty on the cross so that we might be saved (Romans 5:8).  Realizing the salt of this truth illuminated by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I prayed to accept Christ in my home and made that public through baptism and teaching in this blog.  Perhaps you are reading this and have the fortune of an upbringing in a godly home but have never formally accepted Jesus as your savior and now feel the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus as your savior.  If that is you, I invite you to pray with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

I now invite everyone, including those that just prayed to, like the woman at the well, share the candle of the light of the Gospel in their lives with others.  I also invite you to take in the preservative and tasty salt of God’s truth through regular study of the Bible both through individual study and study under the leadership of one possessing theological knowledge in a church or bible study that teaches the Bible.  This will not only preserve the light of the Gospel in your life but increase its brightness.  I encourage everyone to become ambassadors of preservation and illumination bringing salt and light to a lost world.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Signs Pointing to God’s Glorious Return

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 13:1-13

Mark 13:12-13

 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. ¹³ And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Signs are all around us.  We see them on the road as we drive providing direction on where we are and where to go and keeping us safe by telling us when to stop, when to yield, and how fast to go.  The weather provides signs that tell us of a coming storm or a sunny day.  Our bodies even provide signs of potential health issues, directing us to seek professional help from a doctor.  In Mark 13:1-13, the disciples ask Jesus for signs pointing to the end of the age.  Jesus provides seven signs that can be troubling for those that do not know Jesus as their savior but that let believers in Christ know that the day of Jesus’ glorious return is approaching where the evil in the world is defeated (Revelation 19:11-21).  Until then, God’s people are to spread the good news of the Gospel so others can become disciples and join us in eternity with Christ for God does not want anyone to perish (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Peter 3:9). 

We live in a divided world dominated by hatred, including hatred aimed at believers in Christ.  While the signs provided by Jesus in Mark 13:1-13 are troublesome, Jesus did say we would experience trouble in the world but also reminds us that He overcame the world with his death, burial, and resurrection (John 16:33).  These signs should not create anxiety and fear but instead interpreted to provide encouragement as the signs point to the imminent return of Jesus.  These signs indicate trouble but also encouragement by pointing to the soon return of Jesus. 

1)      False teaching leading people astray (Mark 13:5-6) – False teaching is nothing new with the Apostle Paul warning his protégé Timothy (1 Timothy 4:1-5).  Peter also warned the early church about false heresies that even deny Christ (2 Peter 2:1-3).  The extremes in the church today are moralism which goes against the gospel of grace by giving the impression one must earn their salvation through moral living or the liberal interpretation of grace that does not preach about sin giving the impression all are saved regardless of sin in their lives.  It is important to remain grounded in the Word of God and the Gospel to avoid falling into the trap of false teaching. 

2)      Wars and rumors of wars (Mark 13:7) – Wars have been present in the world throughout history.  Presently the United States is engaged in conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan with rumors of potential conflict in Iran.  Instantaneous communication through social media and the Internet means that the world instantly knows of any new war or rumor of war.  This is a two-edged sword for not only are wars escalating, but the world instantly knows of any new war or rumor of war.  However, this is a sign of the pending return of Christ that can bring comfort to Christians but also a reminder to pray for those serving in the military that protects us. 

3)      Natural disasters (Mark 13:8) – My family and I went through the Pompeii exhibit in Phoenix a couple of years ago.  The exhibit included some of the victims of the volcanic eruption that are frozen in time because they had no warning of their impending doom.  Each year in the United States, people living on the east coast and Gulf coasts must prepare for possible evacuation during hurricane season.  Fortunately, meteorologists can fairly accurately track hurricanes, providing ample warning unlike the total surprise of the victims in Pompeii.  Fortunately, instantaneous communication via the Internet and 24-hour news mean warnings go out to potential victims.  However, this is also a two-edged sword for it creates the perception these disasters are dramatically increasing in frequency and intensity.  Natural disasters are a reminder of the fallen and cursed world in which we live and reminds us that when Jesus returns, the curse on the earth will cease and natural disasters will end. 

4)      Legal persecution for faith in Jesus (Mark 13:9) – Legal persecution for one’s belief in Christ is not something new for even Jesus did not escape legal persecution and went on trial twice prior to his crucifixion (Matthew 26:57-68; 27:11-26).  Even in countries like the United States where there is constitutional protection of religious expression, legal persecution exists limiting the expression of religious values and beliefs that can even cost someone their livelihood.  (1)  While these legal persecutions can be personally and financially devastating, they are an example of one placing their treasures in something of eternal value and not giving in to legal pressures to renounce or back off in expressing a belief in God. 

5)      The global spread of the Gospel (Mark 13:10) – While the technology that has made communication instantaneous means the rapid spread of news of wars, rumors of wars, and natural disasters, it also presents an opportunity to spread the good news of the Gospel.  The objective of this blog is to provide a tool for building a Godly worldview in a world dominated by ungodliness.  I often provide an opportunity for readers to make a decision to accept and follow Jesus and encourage readers to share these posts with their friends who do not know Jesus as their savior so they have an opportunity to accept Him. 

6)      Persecution by family and friends (Mark 13:12) – The toughest and most emotionally devastating persecution is that coming from close friends and family.  While social media, email, and the internet allow instantaneous connection with friends and family across the world, it also presents an opportunity for persecution from these same friends and family.  However, persecution coming as a result of sharing the good news of the Gospel with a friend or family member is not actually a rejection of us personally but rejection of Christ who died for them to make a pathway towards eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).  When persecuted for a belief in Christ it is important to remember the qtip, quit taking it personally, and pray for them for as long as they are alive, they have an opportunity to accept Christ. 

7)      Hatred of Christians (Mark 13:13) – The eternal fate of Satan is the pit of hell (Revelation 20:7-10).  Aware of this there is animosity between Satan and the people of God.  This is not surprising and was foretold in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15).  As Christians, we need not fear hatred by the world for we know that in the end, we inherit eternal life with Christ.  Instead of reciprocating the world’s hatred of Christians with more hatred, Christians should love those in the world by praying for them to accept Jesus as their savior and join us in eternity. 

Perhaps you are reading this and have not accepted Jesus as your savior by asking Him to forgive your sins.  If I am speaking to you, I invite you to pray with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

If you just prayed, know that your sins are totally forgiven, and you now have a bright future of eternity with God your creator.  You can now look at the signs Jesus mentioned with joy and expectation for they mean Jesus will return to straighten out what is wrong in the world, a glorious world you will now be a part of.  I encourage everyone to grow stronger in their relationship with God through prayer, study and meditation on the Bible, and association with other believers in Christ at a local church teaching the Bible.  May God bless everyone reading this and may you view the signs of the end times with joy as they point to the return of Christ. 

1. Fox News. Oregon bakery owners pay more than $135G in damages over refusal to make cake for gay wedding. www.foxnews.com. [Online] Fox News, December 29, 2015. [Cited: September 10, 2016.] http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/12/29/oregon-bakery-owners-pay-more-than-135g-in-damages-over-refusal-to-make-cake-for-gay-wedding.html.