Jesus - God or human?

Before I start on with my explanation of the topic, I would like to share a certain scientific fact.

It is amazing to know how nature holds answers to questions about God. One need not look anywhere for answers but to the very creation of the Creator. There are things we see and yet neglect it not understanding that it has a concise account in it. I would like to tell you of one such fact.

We all see ants everywhere we go. If you have not, then place a small chunk of sugar in the corner of your house. You will see ants around it a couple of days later. And when this happens, you would see ants lining up to take pieces of the sugar back to its hole. Ever wondered, why and how these ants walk in a line neatly one after the other? I hardly could stand still in line back in my school. I started to wonder why and how they do it. That's when I read an article which said that there is a leader among the ants, a commander, who goes out in search for food and when he finds it, he comes back to his colony and lead others to the food. How do they walk in a line? The commander leaves a scent called pheromone behind him to find his way back. And when the other ants follow him, they too leave the scent behind them for others to follow so that the initial scent do not fade away (scents of different types of ants have different lasting period). This is what makes them walk in line.

Experiment this. Try placing a pile of sugar at a spot and guide an ant towards it. You know where the sugar is, you know where the ant is supposed to go and you are to guide the ant towards it. Would you be successful in this attempt? Unless the ants get squashed under you. The ant would go anywhere except where you want it to go. It goes here and there, over and under your hand, anywhere but to the pile of sugar. The ant would follow only a leader ant or another ant of the same kind.

In the same way, God was among his people but they did not listen to his voice. He gave His commandments to His people so they would follow the right path and yet they failed to obey Him. We read this in Jeremiah 7:21-24

21 “‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. 24 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

His own people would not listen to the Almighty God, the father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Just like the ants, since people would not obey God or listen to Him, God sent His one and only son, among men to guide and lead His people. God will not abandon us even if we do so –

13 if we are faithless,

he remains faithful,

for he cannot disown himself.

2 Timothy 2:13

It was for this very reason why God chose to take the form of a man, to be the lowest of all so that through His humbleness, we could learn to humble ourselves before God, to be Holy so that we might be holy, to love and be loved. Jesus died for us on the cross so that through his death we might live and not face death a second time. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends – John 15:13.

Let us leave a scent of the Word of God behind for others to follow to Christ - the hope of glory. A scent through our living, setting our living as an example, loving everyone and caring for others.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’

John 3:16.

Can Christian Command Angels?

There are certain concepts around the study of angels that are understood either to some extent or not at all; one of the concept being the authority to command angels. There are people who believe that they have the authority to command or give orders to angels in heaven to do their bidding. This is a wrong understanding of the notion of angels.

The answer to the question, ‘can christian command angels?’ is a plain and a simple ‘No’. Foremost, the Bible does not record any man ruling over or ‘commanding’ any angel. Secondly, angels are heavenly beings under the command of one and only King, God Almighty who is the LORD of hosts (we see various biblical verses stating God to be the LORD of hosts). Then how and when do angels assist people? How does it work? It is only when one prays to God or asks for His help that he sends His angels to guard, protect, help, or for whatever reason it is. It is not by anybody’s might, power or ability but it is by His Spirit. Of these, however, we can see many instances in the bible:

-          Angels are ministering spirits and yet are powerful in their nature - Hebrews 1.14. It is in our human nature that we need to entertain them - Hebrews 13.2

-          Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s image. They prayed to God and God, in His mercy, sent his angel and rescued them - Daniel 3.17-18

-          The same is for Daniel when he was put in the lion’s den. God sent His angels and delivered him - Daniel 6.22

-          One cannot say that we can command angels in the name of Jesus. This, too, cannot be done. Jesus himself “was made lower than the heavenly beings” - Hebrews 2.7, Psalm 8.5. (This was written about what was to happen; the time of Jesus in the world).

-          Peter, when Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, struck down the servant’s ear. At this, Jesus told Peter, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” - Matthew 26.53

Even Jesus, the very son of God, when He was a human, did not command the angels but looked to His Father in heaven. Angels are not for man to command but man to entertain them and angels to minister to man.

image credit - https://hipwallpaper.com/archangel-wallpapers/

Experience or Trend?

I heard of a story when i was a child that made me to think what i believe is from my experience or a trend carried down from my forefathers.

There lived a devotee in a certain village with his wife and a son who, on a daily basis, without fail, carries out his religious rituals. They even had a small black cat as a pet. The devotee would prepare a small table, about knee height, which would hold 3 items - a coconut, an egg and a chicken's head. Keeping these ready, he would pray to his god.

On a particular day, when he finished praying, he opened his eyes only to find the chicken's head vanish into thin air. He could not understand what happend to it. Initially he simply ignored it. But then this happened continuously for about 4 days and he decided to fins out what happens to it. He then installed a CCTV in his room.

Next day again he continues with his usual routine. He prays, finishes, opens eyes and finds the chicken's head gone. He goes through the recording captured by the CCTV and to his surprise he finds his black cat sneaking in while he prayed and snatches the head and makes for it. The following day, when time came for him to.pray, he readys his things and when done, he would go in search of his cat and on finding it, he would tie him to a nearest tree and peacefully continues his ritual.

Seeing this, his son grows up and a time comes by when the devotee breathed his last and the rights of rituals fell on his son. At the time of praying came, his son would recollect what his father used to do. So he started off by setting his table holding a coconut, an egg and a chicken's head. But he was missing one more thing which his father used to do - a black cat tied to a tree. When the son could not find a black cat, he went to the market, purchased a black cat, tied to the tree, and then began his prayer. Why? Because his father used to do so.

Many of us are just like this son; not know why. Let me ask you this - why are you a Christian? Is it because your father was one? Or because you are forced to be a Christian? What is that 'x' factor in you that defines you a Christian? Don't other religion show more spirituality and loyalty towards their gods more than we do to ours? Don't the hindus read their Geeta or muslims read their Quran a lot more times and with devotion than us? Many a times we, ourselves, do not know why we worship or why we go to church. We just simply do for the sake of doing and because our fathers used to do so.

Let me tell you this - Christianity should not be a trend, but an experience. It should not be a 'right' handed over down to children, but a truth to be self known. We worship almighty God not for namesake but out of experience and love towards God because of His unfailing, unconditional, indescribable love, mercy and compassion towards us. Thats is a sign of a true Christian. And mind this that God looks at the heart.

Again i ask you - why are you a Christian?

At the dawn of day

At the dawn of day,
I dream to go away,
Hoping I could fly,
Grieving not to cry.

Still tears streaming down,
Loneliness gripping in,
Staring at the walls in the dark,
Wondering why dreams don't last.

Riches I do not wish for,
Nor fame no more,
Just one to love,
And to be loved.

When will you come along,
And hold my hand all life long,
Whether through the storm of ignorance,
Or in the depths of solitude,

For as long as - whichever is longer - 

FOREVER OR ETERNITY

Who am I

Today I witnessed a non-christian telling how to lead a Godly life. I cannot pen down the conversation because it made me realize certain aspects of my Christian life.

Here, I began to wonder - Who am I? Where am I? Am I a child of the living God? Whether I am in the light or in darkness not realizing whether my actions are right or wrong? We all say that we are child of God and are in the light. But how can one be sure of this? Does your speaking in tongues or worshipping God in churches reveal how close you are or make you any closer to God? Don't even the pagans and the hypocrites do that?

I do not know about you'll. But one thing I know. I have wasted precious moments of my life running behind worldly dreams and passions. I think its about time that I did something about my Christian life and about my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I am taking this step of commitment and faith (this is not just mere talk) with a hope of forgiveness of sins and to have a steadfast relationship with Jesus Christ - a relationship long lost. (For all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God).

I want to ask you this - would you stand up to your faith? Would you join me in retaining our relationship with Jesus Christ?  If yes, then the first step is to pray for yourself asking God to forgive you and asking for the next course of action in this one-time life God has freely given all. Let us do this together for ourselves and for God.

Who am I?

I am no longer a slave to sin - Amen