Monday, October 10, 2022

 

Monday, October 10, 2022


Psalms 92; 93

Zechariah 4:8-5:11

1 Peter 1:1-9


The Lord is king, and has put on robes of glory.


Apprehending the message of the gospel truly is, as Saint Peter says (quoting Jesus), an act of God’s grace by the new birth. If we had not received baptism by the Holy Spirit, none of this Bible stuff would make any sense whatsoever. But “blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”, because having been given a new vantage point by which to view life, the universe, and everything, the old way of thinking is laughably incomplete.


David Hume, quoting Epicurus, claimed that God’s existence was unlikely because bad things happen. (Both men go into more detail, but that is the general argument.) This line of thinking is now understood to be so silly it is the subject of memes on social media. Our modern-day inheritors of Epicurus’ folly are just as silly when they open their mouths: Sam Harris thinks he is wise enough to be able to define for himself what is “good” and what is “evil”, and despite evidence to the contrary, thinks himself powerful enough to enforce these standards on the material universe.


Compare the Christian philosophy. North American-based pastor Douglas Wilson describes the gospel as “kill the dragon, get the girl”. We Christians are not fanciful thinkers; the unbeliever has more blind faith in their worldview than we have in ours. Evil is here, but it is not here to stay. Christ has come, slain the dragon, rescued us from our tower of imprisonment, and now we are on the plains of the final battle. Zechariah is given some pretty wild visions, but when we compare them with Saint John’s vision on the island of Patmos (as recorded in the book of Revelation), we understand that God is telling Zechariah how this battle will be fought and won.


Saint Peter has promising words for us, the soldiers on the side of the forces of good. We suffer various trials, but this is not a reason for Epicurus to deny God’s goodness, but rather a chance for us to show our Captain, the Lord Jesus, we are soldiers worthy of His army. We know that this battle will be won, evil will be destroyed once and for all, and when we have completed our “tour of duty” in this life, we will be welcomed into a victory parade grander than anything imaginable. God has marked out the plot of land for us to retire in and promised us a generous veteran’s pension. Our life is fairy tale, more fantastical than any human author could invent, and we will live happily forever and ever after with our Brother and Friend, the beautiful Lord Jesus. What a brilliant reason to “rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy!”



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