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Elia Se Aanskouingslesse Vir God Se Eindtyd Mense

Elia Se Aanskouingslesse Vir God Se Eindtyd Mense

Die verhaal van Elia se konfrontasie met Baälaanbidding is nogal diepgaande. Dit het baie belangrike lesse vir ons vandag. In 2020 het ek ‘n blog geskryf, Strafvervanging: Moderne Baälaanbidding, waarin ek dokumenteer hoe alle takke van die moderne Christendom in wese besmet is met die leuen van die menslike wet wat mense laat glo dat God die bron van pyn, lyding en die dood is as straf vir sonde en dat Hy ‘n wese is wat bevrediging benodig deur menslike offers.

In daardie blog hersien ek die eienskappe van die Mesopotamiese god Baäl:

  • Die seun van El – die vadergod (soos in El-ohim, El-Shaddai)
  • Die god van weer, donderweer en reën – die een wat die oes gebring het
  • Genoem die “magtige van die aarde”
  • Teen die groot slang Leviatan geveg het
  • Hy het teen Mot, die god van die dood, geveg, en in daardie geveg het Baäl gesterf en weer opgestaan om lewe in die land te bring

Sien jy hoe noukeurig die Baälkultus die waarheid vervals? Aanbid ons nie Jesus nie, wat die Seun van God is, wat die God is wat alle dinge gemaak het, deur wie alle dinge bymekaar gehou word, en daarom die God van weer, reën en lewe, waardeur die oes gebring word? Glo ons nie dat Jesus die kind is wat Jesaja “Almagtige God” noem nie? Glo ons nie Jesus veg teen Satan, die groot slang, en in sy stryd teen Satan, het Jesus gesterf en opgestaan om vir ons die ewige lewe te bring nie?

Wat het Baälaanbidding dan verkeerd gemaak? Baäl het bevrediging vereis, dat offerandes aan hom gebring word om vir sonde te betaal en sy seën te verdien.

Baäl het Zeus vir die Grieke geword, Jupiter vir die Romeine, Thor vir die Noorweërs en Jesus Christus vir Christene wat ‘n straffende, woedende god aanbid wat deur die bloed van ‘n menseoffer gepaai moet word om te keer dat hy ons doodmaak.

God het geweet dat die kwessies waarmee Elia te doen gehad het, die sentrale kwessies was in die kosmiese konflik wat in die hemel begin het – en dat hulle deur die geskiedenis sou aanhou toeneem, tot by die finale einde van sonde en sondaars. En so het God sy profeet Maleagi laat skryf:

Kyk, Ek sal vir jou die profeet Elia stuur voordat daardie groot en verskriklike dag van die HERE kom. Hy sal die harte van die vaders tot hulle kinders draai en die harte van die kinders tot hulle vaders (Maleagi 4:5, 6 NIV 84).

Maleagi het nie voorspel dat die persoon met die naam Elia, wat nou in die hemel is, gestuur sou word nie. Hy het gepraat van ‘n volk wat sou opstaan voordat Christus terugkeer om te doen wat Elia gedoen het – Baälaanbidding vals noem en mense terugroep om God in waarheid te aanbid. Dit vereis dat ons die leuen verwerp wat die oortuiging ondersteun dat God die bron van die dood is en bevrediging vereis. Daardie leuen is dat God se wet opgelê is soos menslike wet. En dit vereis ook dat ons terugkeer na die aanbidding van God as Skepper wie se wette ontwerpwette is.

As ons die Roomse leuen aanvaar, dat God se wet funksioneer soos die Keiser se opgelegde reëls, dan leer ons dat God se geregtigheid is dat Hy sy krag gebruik om straf, insluitend die dood, aan die goddelose toe te dien, en dat God se geregtigheid ‘n betaling van sondelose menslike bloed benodig en selfs vereis word om ons nie dood te maak nie. Dit is Baälaanbidding!

Wanneer ons terugkeer na die aanbidding van God as Skepper, besef ons dat God nie krag hoef te gebruik om dood te veroorsaak nie, en dat, soos die Bybel leer, Satan die mag van die dood uitoefen (Hebreërs 2:14), die dood kom uit sonde (Romeine 6:23, Jakobus 1:15, Galasiërs 6:8). Maar God vernietig, deur Christus, die dood en verwyder sondigheid van almal wat Hom vertrou (Hebreërs 2:14; 1 Korinthiërs 15:26; 2 Timoteus 1:10). Ons besef dat God krag gebruik om sonde en dood te vernietig en om almal wat Hom vertrou, te red, en dat enige persoon wat aan die einde sterf, nie sterf wanneer God krag gebruik om skade aan te rig nie, maar wanneer Hy ophou om krag te gebruik om die vernietiging wat sonde meebring, te voorkom (Romeine 1:18, 24, 26, 28).

 

‘N AANSKOUINGSLES VIR DIE LAASTE DAE

Die werklike historiese gebeure van die lewe van Elia dien ook as kragtige aanskouingslesse vir die verlossingsplan. Soos die Bybel vir ons sê, is die verhale van die Ou Testament as voorbeelde vir ons opgeteken (1 Korinthiërs 10:6).

Hierdie geskiedkundige gebeure toon ook dat God nie die oorlog met fisiese mag en krag kan wen nie. Nadat die vuur op Karmel neergeval het, het die hele volk geskreeu, “Die HERE, Hy is God” (1 Konings 18:39). Maar hulle het nie getrou gebly nie. Hulle het teruggegaan na heiden aanbidding. Dit is bewyse wat bevestig, tesame met ander historiese gebeure wat in die Skrif opgeteken is, dat God nie hierdie oorlog kan wen deur mag en krag te gebruik nie. Dink ook aan die Vloed, Sodom, die plae van Egipte, die berinne en Elisa, en meer – nie een van die gebeure waarin God mag gebruik het, het daartoe gelei dat mense lojaal en getrou aan Hom geword het nie. Dit is waarom Sagaria vir ons sê, “Nie deur krag of mag nie, maar deur die Gees, spreek die HERE die Almagtige” (Sagaria 4:6 NIV 84).

Wat God wil hê, is ons liefde, vertroue, lojaliteit, toewyding, vriendskap en getrouheid aan Hom – en niks daarvan kan verkry word deur afdwinging van wette en strafoplegging nie. Dit word slegs verkry deur die lewende wet van liefde en waarheid wat in die hart en verstand van die gelowige geïnternaliseer word. Dit is waarom God vir ons sê dat die ware verbond van verlossing is wanneer Hy sy wet op ons harte en gedagtes skryf (Hebreërs 8:10). Die ware plan van God word slegs in ons bereik wanneer ons teruggewen word om op Hom te vertrou deur die bewyse van die waarheid van God se karakter van liefde en wedergebore word met nuwe harte en nuwe motiewe.

En dus dien die geskiedkundige gebeurtenis by Karmel as ‘n kragtige aanskouingsles in God se plan om hierdie reiniging van ons harte en verstand te bewerkstellig.

Die twee altare, een vir Baäl en een vir Jahweh, simboliseer twee tipes harte en gedagtes:

“Nou wil ek julle baie ernstig vra, broers en susters: As julle dink aan alles wat God in sy groot barmhartigheid vir julle gedoen het, gee dan julleself aan Hom as ’n lewende en heilige offer. Dit is dié soort offer waarvan Hy hou, en wat julle diens aan God werklik sinvol maak. Moenie julle leefstyl aanpas by die gedragspatrone van hierdie wêreld nie, maar laat God julle omvorm deurdat Hy julle denkpatrone vernuwe. Dan sal julle goed kan onderskei wat Hý wil hê dat julle moet doen, naamlik dit wat werklik goed en aanvaarbaar en volmaak is” (Romeine 12:1, 2 NLV’11, beklemtoning myne).

Ons moet onsself voorstel as lewende offers wat heilig is en God behaag. En die twee altare verteenwoordig die twee sienings van God, die ware God en die valse god, en wat gevolglik gebring word, verteenwoordig die twee soorte mense wat hulle aanbid.

Die water wat Elia oor sy altaar gegooi het, simboliseer die was van ons harte en gedagtes met die Woord en die Heilige Gees:

“…soos Christus ook die gemeente liefgehad en Homself daarvoor oorgegee het om dit te heilig, nadat Hy dit gereinig het met die waterbad deur die woord, sodat Hy die gemeente voor Hom kon stel, verheerlik, sonder vlek of rimpel of iets dergeliks; maar dat dit heilig en sonder gebrek sou wees (Ef 5:25-27 AFR’33, beklemtoning myne).

Die altaar van Baäl is nie met water gereinig nie, net soos die harte van diegene wat die diktatorgod aanbid, nie hulle harte en verstand, deur middel van die Heilige Gees, van vrees en selfsug gereinig het nie. Hoekom? Omdat hulle die Heilige Gees verwerp; in plaas daarvan kies hulle die gees van vrees en selfsug. Die Heilige Gees reinig deur waarheid en liefde, en wanneer die waarheid verwerp word, weier mense die reiniging van hulle harte en gedagtes.

Dan val vuur en verteer die offer en die altaar – dit is nie simbolies van straf nie, nie van woede nie, nie van toorn nie, maar van die krag van God om die harte en gedagtes van sy mense te reinig. Toe die Heilige Gees tydens Pinkster geval het, het hulle twee strome vuur gesien, die strome van waarheid en liefde.

Die fisiese vuur wat deur Elia afgeroep word, is die tipe; die Heilige Gees is die antitipe wat op Pinkster neergedaal het en weer op die Elia-mense sal neerdaal tydens die Laat Reëns, wat ek glo ons binnekort gaan ervaar.

Maar die vuur van die Laat Reëns val slegs op die altaar, die harte en gedagtes, van diegene wat deur die water, die Woord, gewas is, om gereinig te word van die leuens oor God en Hom in gees en waarheid te aanbid. Elia en die altaar met fisiese vuur is die aanskouingsles; die harte en gedagtes van mense wat deur die Heilige Gees gereinig word, is die werklikheid.

Op die altaar van Baäl het geen vuur geval nie, want hulle aanbidding was vals, in ooreenstemming met die aanskouingsles dat harte en gedagtes wat leuens, verdraaiings, vrees, selfsug eerder as waarheid, liefde en vertroue internaliseer, nie gereinig word nie en nie deur die inwonende Gees bemagtig sal word nie. Hulle het nie die krag van liefde om die vrees, skuldgevoelens, skaamte en selfsug weg te brand en hulle te reinig nie, maak nie saak hoe desperaat die mense beweer dat hulle vir reiniging is nie. Net soos die profete van Baäl desperaat hulleself gesny het, sal diegene wat die waarheid verwerp desperaat allerhande aksies neem om hulleself te probeer red, maar hulle optrede, omdat dit in stryd is met God se ontwerpwette, is sonder liefde en vertroue in die hart; hulle sny uiteindelik hulleself, beseer hulleself, doen hulleself skade aan net soos die profete van Baäl gedoen het – nie noodwendig letterlik nie, maar hulle sny hulleself af van God, sny hulle siele, verwond hulle harte en gedagtes, met hulle verwerping van die waarheid en hulle voorkeur vir leuens en bose metodes.

Net ‘n paar verse voordat Maleagi geprofeteer het oor die koms van Elia voor die wederkoms, het hy geskryf:

Maar vir julle wat my Naam eerbiedig, sal die son van geregtigheid opkom met genesing in sy vlerke (verse 4:2 NIV 84, beklemtoning myne).

Die Son van Geregtigheid kom vandag op, met genesing in die strale van lig, liefde en waarheid wat uit Hom stroom. Almal wat Hom in waarheid eerbiedig, as Skepper, as Ontwerper, as Beskermer, Geneesheer en Verlosser, sal Hom aanbid in liefde en waarheid, in die waarheid dat sy wette ontwerpwette is, die wette waarop die lewe gebou is om op te werk. Hulle sal die valse Baälweergawe van ‘n god verwerp wat die bron is van pyn en dood wat ter wille van “geregtigheid” toegedien word. En in hulle bewondering en eerbied vir ons Skepper God, sal hulle gevul word met toenemende lig, waarheid en lewe, wat hulle genees, transformeer, reinig sodat hulle binnekort die uitstorting van die Laat Reëns sal ontvang en sal skyn soos die son wat die heerlikheid van God uitstraal.

Wees in verwondering teenoor God en gee Hom heerlikheid deur Hom as Skepper te aanbid, want die uur in die menslike geskiedenis het aangebreek vir mense om ‘n regte oordeel oor Hom te vel! (Openbaring 14:7 The Remedy parafrase).

 

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Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 14

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

Anonymous

 

Testimony 42

I am just writing to say that I have been so blessed by the teachings of Come And Reason Minitries recently. I watched last week’s bible study lesson on Youtube and am thankful that the error in the printed lesson guide you use was pointed out and this week’s study was of equal benefit, if not more so. My understanding of God’s nature has been very confused of late and I am so grateful for clarity in this matter. I have never really fully understood previously how a good God can cause bad things to happen and now I realise that He doesn’t, it’s a natural consequence of sin. May the almighty Father and His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, continue to bless your ministry.

Laura P., United Kingdom

 

Testimony 54

I had a lot of pressure, as a pastor’s kid, to conform and be “good.” I was good at being “good.” I thought my life was going along well until it all started falling apart and I could not figure out why! In my search for “why is this happening to me, God?” I came across your book, “Could it be this Simple,” and God started revealing to me the many distortions I held about His character, His principles, and how He has designed His universe to operate. I remember thinking, “Wow, I have had this all backwards.” I was happy and angry all at the same time. Happy to have the light of truth break through the darkness, revealing a wonderful, beautiful way of understanding God and His plan for His children, and angry, because I felt deceived and cheated by the church, my family, and myself!

My heart thrills when I listen to your bible study lessons. Literally I have gone from death to life. It is a journey I look forward to every day, as God reveals areas this distortion affects. Praise GOD! I will ever be grateful to God for this ministry and your cooperation with the Spirit!

Karen S., Portal, AZ, USA

 

Testimony 28

I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA

 

Testimony 13

I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

Testimony 25

I just want to say thank you so much for your conversations via YouTube. I regularly tune in to your lectures, “Let’s Talk” sessions, and many others. Through these I’ve found greater depth and meaning to God’s word. Thanks for all that you do and please continue. I’m currently working in the middle of Silicon Valley at Stanford University. I feel like God really has me in the right place right now and I’m sensing that your teachings might be part of it.

B. F., Silicon Valley, CA, USA

 

Testimony 58

I have been watching your videos in The Power of Love seminar and I must say these have liberated me and have improved my relationship with the Lord. I am no longer terrified of him as I was before following your teachings.

Thando N., South Africa

 

Testimony 52

Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

I just wanted to say, thank you, sooooo much for revealing the real Remedy for our infected life. I have a new hope and now see the world in a different perspective!

Wheinny P., University Place, WA, USA

 

Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

Testimony 60

Just watched watched lesson 10 in the 1st quarter 2021 bible study classs on Isaiah. I want to thank you for your intellectual spirituality; it’s not an oxymoron! From the point of view of a teacher I also enjoy seeing how much personal pleasure you clearly take in not just tasting, but feasting on God’s word – it reminds me of Jeremiah not being able to hold it in! It makes me smile that your cup is so full and overflowing that you make it to Tuesday’s lesson (on a good day). It just goes to show the richness of God’s Word.

God bless the Come and Reason Team from our church here in Great Britain.

Andrew H., Great Britain

 

Testimony 5

We listen to your bible studies lessons in our class in Montana. You actually were the main reason I decided to get a laptop, so I can go to your site and listen, read, learn, and print the class notes. I am so grateful to learn the correct view of God and his character. Now, to just have others have an interest in knowing, so I can share it with them. Good thoughts your way.

R. N., MT, USA

 

Testimony 6

I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

H. S., Australia