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Die vreemdheid van God

Die vreemdheid van God

Ek het onlangs die volgende in ‘n Bybelstudiegids gelees:

Ons hoef nie diep in die boek Psalms te delf om te ontdek dat die Psalms in ‘n onvolmaakte wêreld uitgedruk word, een van sonde, boosheid, lyding en dood nie. Die stabiele skepping wat deur die Soewereine Here en Sy regverdige wette bestuur word, word voortdurend deur die bose bedreig. Namate sonde die wêreld al hoe meer verontreinig, het die aarde toenemend “‘n vreemde land” vir God se volk geword. Hierdie werklikheid skep ‘n probleem vir die psalmis: Hoe leef ‘n mens ‘n lewe van geloof in ‘n vreemde land? (klem myne).[1]

Deur watter wetslens verstaan jy “regverdige wette”? Dink jy aan wette soos dié wat sondige mense opmaak, reëls wat deur eksterne strawwe opgelê en toegepas word? Of dink jy aan die wette wat net die Skepper kan vasstel – die wette waarop die werklikheid gebou is – soos swaartekrag, fisika, gesondheidswette en die morele wette, en waardeur alle dinge bymekaar gehou word?

Herken jy die vreemdheid wat sonde, met sy vrees- en oorlewingsdryfvere, oor die wêreld gebring het? Of sien jy sonde, Satan se metodes, Satan se struktuur – die handelswyse van hierdie sondige wêreld met sy mag oor ander en die gebruik van dwang om sy maniere af te dwing – as normaal en dink jy dit is God se werkswyse van waarheid, liefde en vryheid wat vreemd is?

Toe die apostel Paulus die evangelie bekendgestel het, het die onbekeerde mense gedink dat hy iets heel vreemds doen:

“Wat probeer hierdie babbelaar sê?” Ander het opgemerk: “Dit lyk asof hy vreemde gode voorstaan.” Hulle het dit gesê omdat Paulus die goeie nuus oor Jesus en die opstanding verkondig het. Toe het hulle hom geneem en hom na ‘n vergadering van die Areopagus gebring, waar hulle vir hom gesê het: Mag ons weet wat hierdie nuwe leer is wat jy voorhou? Jy bring ‘n paar vreemde idees na ons ore, en ons wil weet wat dit beteken” (Handelinge 17:18-20 NIV 84, beklemtoning myne).

Waarom is die waarheid wat Paulus in Athene voorgehou het, deur die mense daar as vreemd beskou? Omdat hulle valse gode met wêreldse metodes aanvaar het en Paulus die waarheid oor die Skepper aangebied het!

Wat van vandag? As ons die waarheid oor God as Skepper voorstel, dat Sy wette ontwerpwette is, die protokolle waarop die werklikheid gebou is om te bestaan en op te werk, dat God se wette nie die tipe wette is wat sondige mense opmaak nie, nie reëls wat wetlike toesig en eksterne toepassing vereis nie, kla mense dat ons siening vreemd is, dat dit nie vir hulle sin maak nie? Hoekom is dit vir so baie mense vreemd? Omdat die werkswyse van die koninkryke van hierdie wêreld, die “oppergesag van die reg”, van mag en gesag oor ander om oortreding te dwing en te forseer, om oortredings te straf, as reg aanvaar is; omdat die mens se wet die waarheid oor God se wet en regering in die Christendom vervang het en die manier waarop ons God se karakter verstaan, verdorwe het. Dus, wanneer ons die waarheid aanbied dat God die Skepper is en dat Sy wette ontwerpwette is, nie opgelegde reëls nie, en dat die dood uit sonde kom, uit die oortreding van God se ontwerpwette, en nie van God af kom as ‘n marteling op die wetteloses nie (Romeine 6:23; Jakobus 1:15; Galasiërs 6:8), is die waarheid nie bekend nie; dit lyk vreemd. En wat doen mense dikwels met vreemde of onbekende idees? Hulle voel bedreig, bied weerstand of veg daarteen.

Dit is wat die Bybel hardnekkigheid noem, ‘n onwilligheid om die verstand oop te maak om nuwe bewyse, die opkomende lig, akkurater idees, die uitbreidende en ontvouende waarheid te oorweeg. Om hardnekkig te wees beteken om harte te hê wat bestand is teen die waarheid, vasgevang is in dogma, ortodoksie en tradisie, en nie bereid is om te leer nie; dit is ontkenning en vyandigheid teenoor nuwe bewyse. Dit is die teenoorgestelde van Bybelse gehoorsaamheid – wat nie oor reëlhouding gaan nie; die Griekse woord wat as “gehoorsaamheid” vertaal word, beteken letterlik ‘n nederige gewilligheid om te luister en te leer, om gretig met die waarheid onderrig te word met ‘n gewillige begeerte om die ontvouende waarheid te volg deur dit op ‘n mens se lewe toe te pas.

Maar wanneer ‘n mens die opgelegde wetsleuen aanvaar, word gehoorsaamheid reëlhandhawing en geregtigheid word verkeerd voorgestel as ‘n hardnekkige weerstand teen die bevordering van die waarheid – die blindes wat vasklou aan die tradisies van vorige geslagte.

Binne die Sewendedag Adventiste-tradisie het hierdie weerstand teen die waarheid gemanifesteer as ‘n oproep om “by die ou landmerke te staan”, wat die ontvouende hemelse lig uitsluit. Oorweeg hierdie historiese aanhaling van een van die stigters van die Adventiste Kerk na die berugte 1888 Algemene Konferensie in Minneapolis, waar die amptelike leierskap die ontvouende waarheid oor God se ontwerpwet verwerp het en Romanisme gekies het – die leuen dat God se wet opgelê word, dieselfde tipe wet waardeur heidense Rome beheer word:

In Minneapolis het God kosbare juwele van waarheid aan Sy mense in nuwe raamwerke gegee. Hierdie lig uit die hemel is deur sommige verwerp met al die hardkoppigheid wat die Jode openbaar het deur Christus te verwerp, en daar was baie gepraat oor om te bly by die ou landmerke. Maar daar was bewyse dat hulle nie geweet het wat die ou landmerke was nie. Daar was bewyse en daar was redenasies uit die woord wat dit tot die gewete aanbeveel het; maar die verstande van mense was weerstandig, verseël teen die toegang van lig, omdat hulle besluit het dat dit ‘n gevaarlike fout was om die “ou landmerke” te verwyder terwyl dit nie ‘n baken van die ou landmerke geskuif het nie, maar dat hulle idees oor wat die ou landmerke uitmaak verdraai was (E. G. White, Counsels to Writers, bl. 30, beklemtoning myne).

Die werklikheid is dat ons in ‘n wêreld leef wat vyandelike gebied is. Jesus het gesê Sy koninkryk is nie van hierdie wêreld nie (Joh 18:36). Al die koninkryke van hierdie wêreld is Satan s’n, want hulle werk almal volgens opgemaakte reëls met geregtelike toesig en opgelegde strawwe – die wette wat skepsele maak.

Jesus het gesê Sy koninkryk funksioneer nie soos hierdie aardse regerings nie. God se regering is nie van hierdie wêreld nie, want God se regering werk volgens vaste wette, wette waarop die werklikheid staan:

Dit is wat die HERE sê: “As Ek my verbond nie met dag en nag en die vaste wette van hemel en aarde gesluit het nie, dan sal Ek die nageslag van Jakob en my kneg Dawid verwerp en nie een van sy seuns kies om oor die nageslag van Abraham, Isak en Jakob te heers nie” (Jeremia 33:25, 26 NIV84, beklemtoning myne).

En God se vaste wette is ‘n uitdrukking van Sy karakter van liefde; Jesus het dus geleer:

“Jesus sê vir hom: Jy moet die Here jou God liefhê met jou hele hart en met jou hele siel en met jou hele verstand. Dit is die eerste en groot gebod. En die tweede is daarmee gelyk: Jy moet jou naaste liefhê soos jouself. Aan hierdie twee gebooie hang die hele wet en die profete.” (Matthéüs 22:37-40 AFR’23).

As die bron van lewe, het God die werklikheid gebou om te werk op nimmerveranderende wette waarop ons wese gevestig is. Die oortreding van hierdie wette van lewe en gesondheid veroorsaak direkte skade aan die een wat dit oortree en sal tot die dood lei – tensy dit genees word deur ons Skepper en Verlosser, Jesus Christus. Dus, in God se koninkryk, hoef Hy nooit Sy krag te gebruik om die dood te veroorsaak nie; trouens, die Bybel leer dat dit Satan is wat die mag van die dood het en dat Christus gekom het om hom en sy mag van die dood te vernietig (Hebreërs 2:14). In God se regering vergewe Hy vryelik, terwyl die geregtigheid van die wêreld straf vereis:

“Laat die goddelose sy weg verlaat en die onregverdige sy gedagtes; en laat hy hom tot die HERE bekeer, en Hy sal hom genadig wees; en aan onse God, want Hy sal menigvuldig vergewe. Want my gedagtes is nie julle gedagtes nie, en julle weë is nie my weë nie, spreek die HERE. Want soos die hemel hoër is as die aarde, so is my weë hoër as julle weë en my gedagtes as julle gedagtes.” (Jesaja 55:7-9 AFR’23, beklemtoning myne).

God vergewe vryelik, maar dit is ‘n vreemde lering vir diegene wat glo dat God se wet soos menslike wet funksioneer, want dit is sekerlik net reg dat sonde gestraf moet word, dat iemand moet betaal, dat daar geen geregtigheid is sonder dat ‘n straf opgelê word nie. Om vryelik te vergewe maak net nie sin vir diegene wat glo dat God se regering soos menslike regerings funksioneer nie.

Maar wanneer ons terugkeer na die aanbidding van God as Skepper en verstaan dat Sy wette ontwerpwette is, dan besef ons dat God se vergifnis nie die skade van sonde omkeer nie; om die skade van sonde om te keer, vereis goddelike ingryping in die hart en verstand van die sondaar om hulle in geregtigheid te herskep, en dit vereis dat hulle God vertrou en hulle hart vir Hom oopmaak om die nuwe hart en regte gees te ontvang wat vir hulle bewerk is deur ons plaasvervangende Verlosser Jesus Christus (2 Korinthiërs 5:21).

God vergewe almal vryelik, maar slegs diegene wat God vertrou en Sy inwonende Gees ontvang, word wedergebore, genees, vernuwe, herskep en ontvang die denke van Christus; die lewende wet van God is in hulle hart en verstand geskryf; hulle word vriende van God; vrees, selfsug en wantroue word uit hul wese verwyder; en hulle word versoen, herstel tot eenheid (versoening) met God. Almal wat die waarheid verwerp, wat aan die leuens vasklou en God wantrou, sal sterf aan hulle sondesiekte, maar God is steeds vergewensgesind teenoor hulle, want dit is wie Hy is. Net soos ‘n dokter wat sy pasiënt vergewe wat gelieg het en nie die medisyne geneem het nie, maar ten spyte van die dokter se vergifnis, sterf die pasiënt steeds.

Maar God se vrye kwytskelding is vreemd en maak nie sin vir diegene wat glo dat God se wet funksioneer soos menslike wet en opgemaakte reëls nie, omdat ons wette eksterne toepassing vereis.

Ek nooi jou uit om die waarheid omtrent God se koninkryk, Sy ontwerpwette, te erken en soos die getroues van God deur die hele menslike geskiedenis te wees wat verstaan het dat hierdie aarde, met sy opgelegde wette en regerings, ‘n vreemde plek is. Sluit aan by die gelowiges van God wat …

… erken dat hulle vreemdelinge en bywoners op aarde was. Mense wat sulke dinge sê, wys dat hulle op soek is na ‘n land van hul eie. As hulle gedink het aan die land wat hulle verlaat het, sou hulle die geleentheid gehad het om terug te keer. Hulle het eerder na ‘n beter land verlang – ‘n hemelse land. Daarom is God nie skaam om hulle God genoem te word nie, want Hy het ‘n stad vir hulle voorberei (Hebreërs 11:13-16 NIV84 beklemtoning myne).

Ja, ons verlang na ‘n beter land as die koninkryke van hierdie wêreld, ‘n hemelse een wat deur ons God van liefde regeer word, wie se wette Sy ontwerpprotokolle van liefde is!

 

[1] Sewendedag Adventiste Volwasse Bybelstudiegids, 1ste Q 2024, Psalms, bl. 36.

 

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Testimony 47

I can’t even begin to thank you and your ministry enough for introducing me to the Truth about a loving and merciful God! I have my daughter and her in-laws to thank for sharing with me “The God-Shaped Brain” as well as your website. I listen to the Bible study class lessons on my daily walk. May God continue to bless your thirst-quenching ministry!

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I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 71

When I was 9 years old, I remember setting at our devotional table with a hunger and thirst for God that wanted more, deeper, BETTER. I can remember literally crying and pounding on the table, “I know these teachers didn’t mean to give us error. They taught what THEY had been TAUGHT, but didn’t ANYBODY READ THE BOOK?!?!?” It mattered to me then. It mattered to me as a teenager. It matters now as I teach bible classes. It didn’t have to be so hard as I watched so many give up and lay God’s great plan and gift of salvation aside as being “impossible.” Then, a friend sent me a link to Come And Reason’s website. I grew excited. YES! FINALLY! Then another friend told me to stay away, saying her son had just broken up with a girl because she was involved with Come And Reason and that “Tim Jennings preaches a false gospel.” But, AFTER many years of developing an authentic and, dare I say FUN relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit I see this message has been around a LONG time, since the apostle Paul, Ellen White, Graham Maxwell, Ray Foucher, and yourself (though I admit, you’ve made me back up, rewind and replay the clips, and get out my well-worn Bible on a few things.) I’m so thankful I have found LIGHT during these DARK days. I am not alone.

Vicki DiNitto

Testimony 40

I was brought up in a different faith and have been petrified my whole life of God. I believed that I would burn in hell for eternity. When I was 12 I started pursuing the things of this world, but for the next 45 years the Spirit was always calling me, as I knew there was a God through nature. I could see the vast sea of stars in the universe and knew there was something bigger out there. Five years ago, through a Revelation seminar, I was blessed to learn about God’s character and government.

Then I found Come and Reason Ministries and have come under some extreme pressure when I speak about the ministry. One time a member sent me an internet article titled “Whats wrong with Tim Jennings?” I asked her what she thought of it and she said “I don’t know, I didn’t read it.”

I have always wanted to find out for myself the truth about God, so I stayed with the Design Law construct and have been liberated to understand the big picture. Once we consider Design Law, all other Bible stories and prophecies seem to fit perfectly. It is truly beautiful to see people grasping how God operates this Universe of Love and the liberation it has provided in their lives. It blows my mind to see how consistent Design law is with what our founders believed. I hear statements like “This makes so much sense.”

Tom W., Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA

 

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The Healing the Mind DVD set tarted me on a journey that has changed my relationship with our loving God more significantly than any other study, and brought me to your book and Bible study podcasts, which I now listen to daily, thanks to the availability of archived content on your site and on iTunes.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 27

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 20

I just wanted to personally thank you for your teachings and insight into scripture. I came across your website via my cousin who suggested I look into “Healing the Mind” information. My youngest daughter has been struggling over the last couple of years and it all came to a head this spring. When I started listening to the “Healing the Mind” lectures my own life began to be transformed. I began sharing with all my daughters the concepts you laid out so clearly. I ordered your book and soaked it up. I just want to say “Thank You!” My walk with the Lord has been refreshed and renewed. Your obedience to the Lord is a blessing to so many.

R. K., Anderson, SC, USA

 

Testimony 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

Bless you for all you do.

Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

Testimony 44

We were given a gift of the DVD set, “God and Your Brain,” and we just finished watching it. The truths in this are so powerful and truly an answer to a prayer. We’re seeing hope where once we thought God wasn’t answering our prayers to be free of certain mindsets. He answered with these DVDs and we are hungry for more. Thank you!

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Testimony 26

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 64

I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

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Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous