There is no god but GOD

'For the Lord is God, and He created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. "I am the Lord, He says and there is no other"  Isaiah 45:18

Up Close and Personal - this defines the relationship between a Christian and his God, a personal, deep and abiding relationship. This relationship is what makes the Christian faith distinctive. God had always intended this relationship for mankind and it did exist once in the Garden of Eden but it all went wrong. It went wrong when Adam and Eve decided that they wanted to be gods themselves. 

That temptation was recorded in Genesis 3:

'The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. On day he asked the woman, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any tree in the garden?" "Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden," the woman replied. "It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, "You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die." Genesis 3:1-3 (NLT)

"You won't die!" the serpent replied to the woman. "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil." Genesis 3:4 (NLT)

From that time, that original sin, that desire to be gods, mankind became estranged from God until Jesus Christ came. Such is the grace of God that despite the sin, He reaches out to reestablish the broken relationship.

'For this is how God loved the world: he gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.' John 3:16,17 (NLT)

Such is the nature of our God, His immense love for mankind, the universe and all of creation; described by this phrase 'there is no god but God'. 

'I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me.' Isaiah 45:5
'That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.' Isaiah 45:6

'Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.' Deuteronomy 4:39
'For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.' Psalm 86:10
'For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God,' Psalm 18:31
'Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none except Me.' Isaiah 45:21b

The Book of Isaiah declares the restoration of a broken relationship, the good news, the Gospel. Charles Swindoll (Ref 1) wrote, "Isaiah contains one of the clearest expressions of the gospel in all the Old Testament. Even from the first chapter, it is clear that the people have turned away from God and failed in their responsibilities as His children (Isaiah 1:2–17). Yet God miraculously holds out hope to this unrepentant people, offering cleansing of sins and the blessing that comes with faith and obedience in Him (Isaiah 1:18–20). Salvation lies only in God—the only question is whether or not we will accept His offer."

 

'For I hold you by your right hand - I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, "Don't be afraid. I am here to help you." Isaiah 41:13 (NLT)

"Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depth of His understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youth will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the lord will find new strength.They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.' Isaiah 40:28:31 (NLT)

'I have called you back from the ends of the earth saying, "You are my servant." For I have chosen you and will not throw you away Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't' be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you with my victorious right hand.' Isaiah 41:9-10 (NLT)

'Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name and you are mine When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fires of oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.' Isaiah 43:1b-2 (NLT)

We've got a great, big, wonderful God and we should learn to walk with Him in a very personal way, 'There is none like You.' 

There is none like You

No one else can touch my heart like You do

I can search for all eternity long

And find there is none like You.

Your mercy flows like a river so wide.

And healing comes from Your hand

Suffering children are safe in Your arms

There is none like you

Lionel
Ref 1: Charles Swindoll. The Bible Teaching Ministry of Charles Swindollhttps://insight.org/resources/bible/the-major-prophets/isaiah

How Great Is Our God

Butterflies Will Soon Be Free

'Great Is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends Your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty.' Psalms 145:3-5

These are uncertain times. When will the Covid pandemic end? Can we return to the normalcy of pre-Covid days? When will we be able to travel? Will the vaccinations confer adequate personal and herd immunity? Can we eradicate the Coronavirus from the face of the earth? 

At such times, Christians turn to God holding on to the promises God has given us. We reflect on the greatness and goodness of God, convincing ourselves that in the end God is greater than the Covid-19 pandemic and he will deliver us from this scourge. 

In a virtual format, the Charis Methodist Church choir sang a lovely hymn, extolling the promises of God, The Hymn Of Promise. Drawing on God's creative powers, this hymn reminds us, even in these uncertain days, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, for at last will come a victory.

In the bulb, there is a flower

In the seed, an apple tree

In cocoons, a hidden promise

Butterflies will soon be free

In the cold and snow of winter

There's a spring that waits to be

Unrevealed until its season

Something God alone can see

There's a song in every silence

Seeking word and melody

There's a dawn in every darkness

Bringing hope to you and me

From the past will come the future

What it holds, a mystery

Unrevealed until its season

Something God alone can see

In our end is our beginning

In our time, infinity

In our doubt, there is believing

In our life, eternity

In our death, a resurrection

At the last, a victory

Unrevealed until its season

Something God alone can see

With the uncertainty of these times in mind, our choir director, Rosalind Goh, made these comments in introducing this hymn,

 

"Against the bleak background of an uncertain future, we, God’s children, can rest securely on His unbreakable promises. God’s promises reflect His limitless power as Creator God, His loving faithfulness as a caring Father and His omnipotent rule as Sovereign God.The assurance that God fulfills His promises in His season, is our blessedness and enduring hope."

Rosalind explained that in a surprisingly gentle and flowing manner, this hymn that celebrates the Greatness of God which is  

• Evident in the activity of creation 
• Unravelled in processes of nature
• Displayed in the turning of the seasons
• Secured in the fulfillment of every promise
• Experienced in the resurrection after death

Those who have eyes will see the greatness of God and enjoy His goodness. Isaiah 40:25-31 declared:

 

"To whom will you compare me? 

Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One. 

Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? 

He brings them out one after another, 

calling each by its name. 

And he counts them to see that none are lost

 or have strayed away. 

O Israel, how can you say 

the LORD does not see your troubles? 

How can you say God refuses to hear your case? 

Have you never heard or understood? 

Don’t you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, 

the Creator of all the earth? 

He never grows faint or weary. 

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; 

he offers strength to the weak. 

Even youths will become exhausted, 

and young men will give up. 

But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. 

They will fly high on wings like eagles. 

They will run and not grow weary. 

They will walk and not faint.

Do we worry about the uncertainties, pain and suffering of the Covid crisis? 

While in prison facing the uncertainty of death the apostle Paul recalled his personal deprivations and hardships, wrote:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38  

God is a God of Promise. How great is our God!

Lionel

Peace That Breaks Down Every Wall.

Great Wave off Kanagawa

'For He himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.' Ephesians 2:14

Most of us can instantly recognise the Japanese woodblock print, Katsushika Hokusai's 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa.' The raging tide and high waves in the forefront confront the viewer. Yet set in the background is the peace and tranquility of Mount Fiji, Japan's revered mountain. One art critic states that this wood-print 'gracefully distills the power of the ocean.' The serenity of a perfectly symmetrical, pristine snow capped Mount Fuji, calms the oceanic forces. 

These are very turbulent times. The Covid-19 pandemic caused severe disruptions to life and stability. The images of community protests and riots in the USA disturb the soul. There is fierce anger against racial discrimination, may be rightly so, but very destructive nonetheless. At such times when we look for peace, our minds conjure up the picture of the tsunami interpose with serene picture of Mount Fuji. Then, we wonder whether the waves will subside, in time, before they reach the shore and destroy everything. 

The Hebrew word Shalom for peace connotes a total and comprehensive well-being. It is peace with fullness, completeness; harmony in every way. A serenity which transcends all people and nations. But unfortunately, it is so elusive.

Perhaps the juxtaposing of a peaceful Mount Fuji against turbulent waves is no more than cynical expression of this impossibility. 

Jesus holds out the hope for peace. His birth ushered in this hope and His second coming will establish peace forever (Isaiah 9:6, 7a):

'For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given

and the government will be on His shoulders.

And He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Might God, 

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end.'  

  

There will be everlasting peace, Isaiah 11:6-9:

'The wolf will live with the lamb,

the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf and the lion and the yearling together; 

and a little child will lead them.

The cow will feed with the bear,

their young will lie down together,

and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

The infant will play near the hole of the cobra

and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. 

They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,

for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord

as the waters cover the sea.'

There will be personal peace, John 14:7

'Peace I leave with you,

my peace I give you.

I do not give as the world gives.

Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.'

 

In turn,we are expected to become peacemakers and a blessing was pronounced 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God' Matthew 5:9. Start small, first with ourselves, then family, friends and colleagues. Expunge every prejudice. Endeavour to live out the prayer of St Francis, 'Make Me A Channel of Your Peace.' 

Lionel