There are many ways to communicate and God has chosen to communicate on a grand scale. Instead of speaking from the sky above, He has “spoken” via apocalyptic events.
To remove the technical term, apocalyptic means “an unveiling” like drawing curtains apart to see.
When God speaks, He makes this fact known by displays of miracles, signs and wonders.
There are two great events in human history where God has “spoken”.
The Exodus of Israel out of Egypt and the Christ event: Jesus’ death and resurrection.
God continued to speak through His prophets and apostles to explain what these great events meant.
We recount these words in the book of Hebrews: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son” (Heb 1:1–2).
Before Jesus was crucified, He said to the Governor of Palestine, Pontius Pilate: “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37), to which the Governor replied, “what is truth”?
Postmodern ideology preaches that all truth is relative – take your pick on what you want to believe.
Even if someone says the moon is made of cheese, who am I to deny him, his belief?
You can go down that track, but as far as traditional Christian teaching is concerned, this thinking, is contrary to the truth.
God has spoken and spoken supremely through Jesus.
The resurrection of Jesus guarantees Jesus came from God and He approved of all Jesus said and did.
It confirms Jesus did die for sins and it confirms there is a judgement day ahead (Acts 17:31).
People know and have heard and have the choice before them of everlasting life or death.
Too many people like to cherry pick the truth, as recorded in Scripture, to allow them to construct their own form of truth – truth to me, truth is what fits for me – which is merely another form of postmodern relativism.
They are forever approving of “God is love” as the Scriptures teach, but dismissing of “God is judge”.
Jesus came to testify to the truth and that testimony is not received by the cherry picker.
It is received by the person with a good heart who is willing to listen to the whole counsel of God, not just to what one wants to construct out of thin air.
In these last days, says the writer of Hebrews, God has spoken to us, through His Son.
For the person prepared to cut through all the modern rationalism of our postmodern society, they will find security, comfort and joy in knowing what God has truly said by accepting the truth as it is revealed in the whole teaching of Jesus.
David McAllan
Echuca Community Church
21°C