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The Day of Atonement involves not only the forgiveness of sin; it pictures the removal of the primary cause of sin-Satan and his demons. Until God removes the original instigator of sin, mankind will simply continue to fall back into disobedience and suffering. Although our human nature has a part to play in our sins, Satan the devil bears great responsibility for influencing mankind to disobey God.
Even though many people doubt the existence of a devil, the Bible reveals Satan as a powerful, invisible being who can sway all mankind. Revelation 12:9 tells us that his influence is so great that he “deceives the whole world.” The devil blinds people to the understanding of God’s truth. The apostle Paul explained this to the Corinthians: If “our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Paul also teaches us that Satan has influenced every human to walk in the ways of disobedience. He notes that those called into God’s church “once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).
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Praise and worship seems to be universal. Have you ever heard of an explorer finding a new tribe or culture that doesn’t worship? Worship is a natural instinct and a basic need for every person. A simple definition of worship is to regard with great devotion or to honor as a divine being. Take a second to think about what you are most devoted to in this life and ask yourself, “Is it worthy of my devotion; do I worship a divine being?”
We don’t all worship the same God, but everyone worships something or someone. Since we all worship, we should question the reason for this desire. The most logical conclusion is that we were created by a higher being for the very purpose of worship. The ongoing quest of man is to find answers to the fundamental questions of human origin, human nature, and human destiny. There is one book that has the answers to all these questions, including our questions about worship. The Bible is the wonderful and mysterious book that God has chosen as a way to communicate with us. God is the focus of our devotion in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In Exodus 20:2-3, God says, “I am the LORD your God .....You shall have no other gods before me.” In Matthew 4:10, Jesus says, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” So, worship is not merely a natural instinct, it’s a command from God. Why was God even involved with judging Sodom & Gomorrah? Why judge the Canaanites or Israel? Why did God use the Assyrians against Samaria and later the Babylonians against Assyria and Israel? What would have happened if God did not intervene with his “strange work” of divine judgment on Mount Zion (Is 28:21)? Let’s consider the opposite: what would the world look like if God did not intervene in upholding justice among the nations? It would be like Genesis 6:5–the consequences of leaving mankind to his own devices. It seems obvious that man needs God’s intervention to prevent the total decay of society. The natural course of sin is destruction. The LORD has to be involved in curbing the natural path of man’s self-destruction if man and creation are to survive. God is involved with the nations for at least the following reasons: 1. Part of God’s purpose is bringing men to repentance. By bringing about consequences to ungodly actions, man is reminded that the evil course brings negative results (Is 30:12-14). The roller coaster history in Judges is another portrayal of this (see Judges 2:10-23). Another illustrious example is found in Daniel when God humbles Nebuchadnezzer (Dan 4:37), resulting in repentance and worship of the LORD. As the LORD says in Ezekiel “Repent!” “Why will you die?” “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked”(18:30-32; 33:11). 2. In order for God to bring men to maturity he has to intervene among the nations (Judges 2:22). This points out that God used the Canaanite nations to test whether the Israelites would keep the way of the Lord. “The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth and his heart was filled with pain” (Ge 6:6). It hurt God to watch man become evil – the opposite of God’s nature. The opposite of what God had intended for man. It would have been unloving for a God of love to watch his creation be devoured by sin. God had to either destroy man all together or work among man’s affairs to redeem him from sin. This highlights God character and urges us to want to know more about Him. It is true that the justice of God eludes human comprehension, as in the case of Abraham concerning the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah. This is because God’s ways are higher than man’s ways (Is 55:9) and therefore it is necessary that God intervene if true justice is to bless the earth. 1. The abuse of power. “Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The result is oppression of others (c.f. Assyria). This was not God’s plan. In his laws we see many commands requiring that we judge rightly and without partiality (Lev 19:11-18), that we help the weak rather than run over them or take advantage of them (Ex 22:23-24). Yahweh’s just nature cannot remain indifferent to those crying out to him because of ill-treatment. “For the Lord is a God of justice, Blessed are all who wait for Him!” (Is 30:18). God is the champion of those who are victimized by power and acts to put down the mighty and exalt those of low degree as affirmed in Mary’s Magnificant (Luke 1:46-55). Why is a champion for the victimized necessary? Because God has determined that those who rule will rule with in righteousness and justice (Is 32:1) 2. Fairness to the righteous –Even if only a few chose to be faithful to God, love requires that some help is given to them in going against the current of the unrighteous. (c.f. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are saved from the furnace for being faithful to God, Dan 3:16-18). If none was given, a pagan nation would conclude there is no God in heaven and that living righteously has no reward. 3. God hates evil and wickedness – Unlike man who tolerates or is indifferent to evil, Yahweh is holy and hates wickedness. In the book of Daniel God punishes Nebuchadnezzar for his arrogance and has him live as an insane person with the beasts of the field (Dan 4:33). God does this “so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets the lowliest of men (Dan 4:17). It seems God has determined to be involved with nations to control man’s incessant arrogance. The tendency to think that by our own strength and genius we have achieved and acquired what we have is not true. God will not have his blessings taken for granted by man’s self-centeredness. It is only right that God is on the throne and regarded so, not man. “The Lord will cause men to hear his majestic voice,” (Is 30:30) Without God’s intervention the powerful ungodly can quickly bring all of man down to destruction. Whereas with God’s involvement, there will be a remnant of mankind that will find peace with God and become God’s house in eternity. |
AuthorDr. Boyles is an ordained minister (Churches of Christ). Dr. Boyles serves as the Bilingual Preaching Minister and as a Missionary in Acuna, Mexico and along the Texas/Mexico border. He preaches, researches, writes, teaches, and lectures on ministry,missions, theological studies, and biblical texts. ArchivesCategories |
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