Judges 21:1-25; John 3:31-4:3; Psalms 104:31-35; Proverbs 22:22-23
NT: “The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, and yet no one accepts his testimony. The one who has accepted his testimony has affirmed that God is true. For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:31-36 CSB)
Unlike any other prophet, priest, or patriarch; Jesus came from above and did not originate from the earth. People who originate from earth only have an earthly perspective: they have never seen the glories of heaven and only know what has been revealed to them through God’s word. Jesus, the Son of God, has seen and experienced the glories of heaven. In fact, according to John 1, He is the very Word of God that gives earthly people revelation. Not only did Jesus come from above, He was sent from above by God the Father to testify of God and make known to us the mysteries of God. Because of God’s love for the Son, He hasn’t held anything back. Jesus knows all, understands all, is endowed with all, and is empowered by all. With that all-encompassing-ness, Jesus came to testify and extend the fullness of God to us. When it comes to believing Jesus’ testimony, there is no neutral ground: we either believe it or reject it. For those who fully believe the testimony of Jesus and fully receive all that He has to offer us, they will have the eternal live of God – not just in the next life, but now in this life. For those who do not believe Jesus’ testimony and therefore reject His testimony, they will remain in their sin and condemnation, and will be subject to the wrath of God.
Psalms: “May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works. He looks at the earth, and it trembles; he touches the mountains, and they pour out smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him; I will rejoice in the Lord. May sinners vanish from the earth and wicked people be no more. My soul, bless the Lord! Hallelujah!” (Psalms 104:31-35 CSB)
Psalm 104 is a beautiful ode to God the Creator and Sustainer of all life. It describes the works of God in poetic detail and explains how we can see God’s handiwork throughout the natural world. As Roman 1:20 states, creation itself testifies of the greatness and vastness of God. The psalmist ends his song with this summarizing declaration: May the glory of the Lord endure forever, may God rejoice forever in the glory of His handiwork, and may I enjoy His glory as I meditate and sing of His greatness. For those who refuse to acknowledge the revelation of God and the testimony of all creation, they will eventually be no more.
Jamie Hicks 