TEACHINGS FROM GOD | 06 | Open Your Eyes
Do you recognize the times?
Welcome to the last Tuesday in August and another segment of Teachings from God, a section where I share lessons the Lord teaches me during my Bible Study. It is my prayer that as you read this, His Spirit illuminates the eyes of your understanding so that you know Christ more and more. If this is your first time on Bud and Blossom, feel free to check for older posts here.
I recently concluded a study of the Gospel according to Luke that commenced months ago. One of my memorable experiences in this study was my reading of chapter 19 which gives details on Zacchaeus' encounter with the Messiah's and his repentance, the Parable of the Minas, the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ, and the cleansing of the Temple.
Before the Triumphal Entry occurred, Jesus Christ had asked His disciples to loosen and retrieve a colt that was tied up in a village opposite them. He had also given specific answers to interrogations they would face while carrying out this task. When they eventually brought the animal to Him, the disciples set their garments on it and the road, put Jesus on this colt and began to cry praises unto God for the miracles they had witnessed. [Luke 19:28-38]
This singing was opposed by the Pharisees who were displeased with the exaltation of Jesus Christ. Matthew’s account of these events expose how angry the chief priests and scribes were towards the praises and chants of Hosanna.
Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, You have perfected praise’?” Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.
Matthew 21: 14-17, NKJV
As I studied this chapter, I was deeply struck by the words God spoke as He rode into Jerusalem, and its implication:
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Luke 19:41-44, NKJV
This declaration foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, which later occurred in AD 70 under the rule of Roman emperor Nero. From this passage, it is clear that Jesus Christ had some level of pity for the present and future condition of the Jews, as well as their blindness to who He was. Despite the many miracles wrought, His fervent teaching of the Law, and other things that pointed to His Messianic nature, they rejected Him as their King. The emphasis in this writing is on the statement “…because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Time of Visitation
The idea of a visit is to go and meet a specific person or place, for an official or unofficial purpose. Growing up, I was taught that a subtle difference existed between a visitor and guest, whereby the latter was invited or expected by a host, and the former unannounced.
In biblical context, the time of visitation is an appointed time where the Lord decides to adjudge mercy or judgment to people based on their works and deeds over time. Examples of people who were visited by God in Scripture include:
God’s Visit to Abraham and Sarah
Scripture Reference: Genesis 18:1-17
In Genesis 12, God called Abraham out of his father’s house and made a great covenant with him that lasts till today. Although he didn’t have intricate details of God’s plans for his life, he obeyed this call. Genesis 15-16 illustrate God’s oath to Abraham, and the birth of Ishmael, who was not the promised heir.
The Godhead visited Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18, and was greatly received as seen in the couple’s hospitality. Here, the Lord confirmed His promise regarding the birth of Isaac, which later happened as prophesied during this visit.
Sodom and Gomorrah
Scripture Reference: Genesis 18:18-33, 19:1-29
As the three men departed from Abraham in Genesis 18, God revealed His intention to visit the city of Sodom and Gomorrah. This was spurred by the city’s continuous idolatry and wickedness. Genesis 19 gives a vivid account of their lust-driven actions and sexual immorality towards the angels sent to destroy the city, and how some felt Lot joked about the city’s destruction.
Deliverance for Israel From Pharaoh: Moses’ Call
Scripture Reference: Exodus 3
Moses was in the wilderness attending to sheep at Mount Horeb when he noticed a burning bush that did not burn up. Being curious, he approached it and discovered God. This shows the wisdom of God, in using a queer phenomenon to gain his attention as well as Moses’ sensitivity to this strange act.
The Visit of the Messiah
Scripture Reference: Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 1:26-38, John 1:1-15, Philippians 2:5-11
After the fall of man, God set in place, a redemption plan which became fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Appearing in the form of man, God came to restore all creation from the effect of sin and death. Yet, not everyone recognized Him as the King whom was prophesied about in the Old Testament1.
Saul’s Conversion
Scripture Reference: Acts 9
Paul, also known as Saul of Tarsus, never knew his visitation was near till Jesus Christ appeared to him on his way to persecute Christians in Damascus. This encounter led to Paul’s conversion, and a deep conviction that birthed his life-long pursuit of the Gospel’s spread even till his time of death.
These instances proclaim the sovereignty of God. He chooses the time and manner of His visits. Sometimes, He comes in moments of great expectations. Other times, He shows up when people least expect. Whatever way He chooses, we must examine ourselves to know if we will be able to recognize our time of visitation.
The Problem: Jews and Us
The Jewish people had a preconception of what their Messiah would be. They had expected a warrior king who was going to liberate them from the Roman rule, secure a political victory and conquer their enemies. They assumed who and how the promise of a Messiah was to be fulfilled.
This mindset blinded them from recognizing the true identity of Jesus Christ. Though many Jews benefitted of His miracles and healings, not all received Him as the King. During the course of His ministry, some doubted and disbelieved that Christ was the answer to their hope. Others saw Jesus as an answer to their material needs but resisted a total repentance to God. [John 5, Matthew 11:21-24]
Similarly, many humans possess this problem today. At each season, God decides how He would visit people, for His glory. Since His ways are not ours, we sometimes become disillusioned when things don’t manifest as we thought. Yet, this fact remains — the Light knows the needs of every man and always give an opportunity to be reconciled with Him. Howbeit our ignorance, He is continually working and doing things with the purpose of reconciliation at its core.
How then can we recognize when He comes to do something in our lives?
Recognition of God’s presence is a consciousness that does not emerge in one instance, but is born from a continuous, constant connection to the Source. Just as Lot and Abraham perceived that it was the Lord who came to them2, so also must believers be able to identify moments of God’s visitation. The following are elements that can help us become more aware of spiritual things:
Openness to God’s Word: Everything begins with the Word of God. Our attitude to His Word exudes our reverence for Him. Are you open to reading and learning from Scriptures? Do you see and agree that it is the final authority on topics, no matter the passage of many generations? Will you subject yourself to its governance? Do you agree that it is infallible and inerrant?
Renewal of One’s Mind: The human mind is an intense battlefield and the devil seeks to keep people bound with mental strongholds. An active surrender and continuous feeding of the Scriptures lead to a paradigm shift in our thought process and perspective, such that we begin to see things the way God sees them. [Romans 12:1-2]
Discernment: This is the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure. It is an essential need of every Christian and we must ask for it from our Father if we desire to be in tune with Him consistently.
Prayer and Fellowship: Constant communication in relationships builds a level of intimacy and closeness, such that people can tell what their friends, family or partners are likely to think or say in certain situations. Likewise, we must be in a never-ending rapport with Jesus Christ through prayer and fellowship so that our relationship with Him can be strengthened.
Reliance on the Holy Spirit: Only God can remove the veils of ignorance, unbelief and doubt that distort our sight and disallow us from accepting His move in our lives. The New Testament references the Jews’ blindness to the truth of the Gospel even until this day, and how they need to depend on God for their deliverance.
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:14-17
Liberty means freedom, and this depicts one of the many ministries of the Holy Spirit; one of deliverance and setting people free from darkness and bondage. He is not only our Comforter, but the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead — the same Spirit that quickens the believer’s body and soul, the same Spirit that makes one spiritually awake and alert.
The Final Visitation
This subject of divine visitation will not be complete if we do not address His final visit at the end of the age.
But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Matthew 24: 36-44, NKJV
We are currently living in the latter part of the last days and believers must be sober lest we miss Christ at His Second Coming. We must share the Light of His Gospel to perishing souls so that men can be prepared before He arrives.
Jesus Christ is undisputedly coming back. Will you be caught unawares at His return?
Prayer
Dear Holy God, I thank You for Your presence. I praise You for Your Word. Holy Lord, open my eyes and heart to see You when You come. Help me not to be blinded by preconceived notions nor logic of my mind. Help me not to be blinded to Your visitation in my life. Help me to see You when You come. Help Me to recognize Your move in my life, so that I can submit and receive what You have for me. Amen.
Examples of verses that prophesied about the First Coming Of Christ include but are not limited to the following: Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5
We must reflect deeply on this question — how were Abraham and Lot able to sense that the men who visited them were not ordinary mortals? Yes, they may have not known the real intent of this visitation yet both men discerned it was the Lord’s presence and did well to be hospitable to Him. See Genesis 18:1-5, 19:1-5