A God who rewards

 

Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

I believe that God is a rewarder rather than a God who condemns us at every corner as we would see preached in many Charismatic and even liberal churches. For the charismatics, we do not pray and be righteous enough. For the liberals, our good works of love and social justice are lacking. But God is different. He rewards rather than condemns, and this is personified in Jesus Christ.

I believe that God is a rewarder of those so active in proclaiming the love of Christ to the GLBT community, the few GLBT churches, and individuals. Their faith journey in seeking God, involves a love for the GLBT community.

The other side of God, is seen in Jesus Christ. We can never fully comprehend God nor does God tells us everything. But God's revelation is like the construction of a big building, layer by layer, for we have Jesus the foundation stone.

In the Old Testament, God is revealed as "The Lord God is One", ie distinctive in power, character, rule, and majesty from the other gods which were demonic beings yearning to be worshiped by humanity. The Law given was primarily a religious laws to set apart Israel from becoming one with other nations.

The mega churches got confused with the specifics of the law eg prohibition of same sex acts forgetting that ancient religions are sexual in nature involving sex and human sacrifices to please the "lord" of the harvest. Their lives revolved around harvesting. No harvest is equivalent to death! hence they sought after the gods who could help them.

Anal sex with the priests to become one with the god is the ultimate because it exchanged the natural nature of the straight man to have sex with another man for the sake of religious faith. They were rewarded by being one with the demon. The priests were being Eunuchs (ie castrated) for religion sake. (Mat 19:12) It was not same sex attraction or being a natural Eunuch as Jesus calls it.

The laws is not so much about right action, but where our heart is. It was not wrong to pray, but who do we pray to? It was not wrong to have a kind of religious spirituality, but where is our compass heading. Away from God's grace, we look inward and create a god within.

God is and was a rewarder to the nation of Israel, and even when Israel went astray and frequent other gods, God sent His prophets to guide them back until the time came when His Son was revealed. Even when they killed His Son, the Messiah, and was dispersed, there is always grace in the return to the promised land of Israel.

The charismatic mega churches often don't actually believe what they preached! They can give grace to the unbeliever of another faith and kept quiet about the idol worship in nations, and grace to the person dying on the death bed confessing their sins.

But to Gay people, the mega churches would kick them out of homes and churches. There is little grace until the streets in the US have a very high number of gay teenagers kicked out by good Christian parents. There they die with no love nor food to eat. They are also cut of from God.

The charismatic mega churches actually don't believe that Gays can change. Outwardly they may preach thus, but inwardly once you are gay, you get booted out. People who are adulterors, and had abortions can still stay! Why? because they know that being gay is intrinsic.

There is grace out in the streets, and God rewards the GLBT people in the streets when we start to seek Him. When we take one step towards Jesus, He takes quite a few steps towards us.

Our steps towards God sometimes require sacrifice. But in reality, we can't give anything for God owns everything.

Abel offered an animal sacrifice, whilsts Cain offered a crop sacrifice. God is not interested as much in our planting of seeds, and letting the rain from heaven to harvest the fields, but a sacrifice that is based on Jesus Christ, the lamb of God sacrificed for us. The animal sacrifice talks about grace, the animal sacrificed on our behalf.

Therefore, out sacrifice becomes personified in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We are to be as one with Jesus sacrifice at the Cross, in seeking God. Hence, we need to place our body, soul, and spirit in the Grace of God through Jesus Christ so that we can be resurrected in whatever our dire circumstances.

How do we practically "seek" God in Christ Jesus redeeming death and resurrection. It is through Communion, to take it not out of religion or tradition, but an understanding that the bread is the broken body for our health and well being, and the blood, His life coming into our life, His righteousness cleansing our unrighteousness.

When Christ is in our midst through Communion, the blessings and grace of God in Abraham comes supernaturally.  Our lack is restored. Our lost redeemed. Our failures and dissapoinments matters no more in the glory of God's redeeming grace and blessings.

Why are we blessed? that we might be a blessing to others? to be God's hand, and feet - touching others in acts of love and social justice. It starts first by being blessed through God's grace. We are blessed, so that we can reflect God's grace to others both in good works and in proclamation of the Gospel message.

Our steps towards God need not be very big! it takes a bread, and a sip of wine... for God will do the rest because of Jesus Christ. For God wants to resurrect us in whatever our current struggles and sufferings that Hope and faith may come in.

Everyday becomes a simple step towards God, in prayer, in communion, in reading the Word for there is no compulsion, no demands, no reprecussions, just a loving arms of Jesus, full of truth, grace and mercy.

 
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