Good morning,
Is there any other God?
This Sunday our pastor took us to Mark 3:22-30 and several other passages that told us the story about what Jesus had to deal with when the Biblical scholars of his day marched up to Jesus and declared “He's possessed by Satan, the prince of demons.(Mk.3:22) Jesus dealt with these enemies very effectively without any of them backing away from their accusation. They had made up their mind that Jesus had to be killed. For them, their religious values were all that they needed to support their power and importance in defending their god. They knew the Bible of their day, but they didn’t know the God of that book. They had the twisted version that Satan gave them about God and felt that they were doing the right thing in fighting against this healer and teacher. That battle is still going on to this day in both a religious and a governmental setting. Even though the Bible has become available to almost all of the major people groups in the world, we are becoming more and more targets for government and religious groups who see Christians as people who are causing trouble and need to be stopped from telling others about what the Bible tells us is the only truth that can be trusted. In Isaiah’s day the Lord reminded his people, “This is what the LORD, Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty, says: I am the First and the Last; there is no other God.(Is.44:6) At that time in the Old Testament Satan had done his best to give his people gods who would serve him his way. The lie that they believed was that they could choose whatever god they wanted and that was all that they needed. God remanded them, Who else can tell you what is going to happen in the days ahead? Let them tell you if they can and thus prove their power. Let them do as I have done since ancient times.(v.7) God reminded them of his purpose and plan for them. Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Have I not proclaimed from ages past what my purposes are for you? You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!”(v.8) God really did love them. He longed for them to show the world how wonderful he was. Sadly, most of them refused to believe what He had done and what he promised to do for them if they would live a life based on His truth.
We are still faced with this same challenge today. We are facing nations and individuals that are determined to get rid of what they call The big Satan and the small Satan. Now in America we are considered to be wicked and unkind and unfair if we do what the Bible tells us is God’s way of living and doing things. The Bible tells us that, For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross.(Col1:19,20)
Our Savior is willing to forgive us our sins and to give us eternal life if we are willing to trust his love and his guidelines for living our lives for him. Now that we are a part of his family, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.(v.22) What God is asking from us is, But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.(v.23) We need to keep remembering as we go through these uncertain days, that God is allowing all of the stuff that is going on around us so that we will live our lives for Him as believable witnesses of the reality of the one true God.
Isaiah 44:8You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!”
Roy Wisner
