Between the Thieves by John Haramia
Even in the midst of all this turmoil and separation, even with all these storm clouds on the horizon, God was still able to smile. (Not that He had a mouth), because he wasn't dwelling on those disembarking the Eternal Express; but chose instead to dwell on those who would be boarding the Glory Train. By looking beyond the cross to this joy, God was able to maintain His joy. "With every curse, a blessing," He thought; the problem always since the curses came first, overshadowing the blessings. God was sad for the rebellion that had begun. He would do all that He could to show the rebels the errors of their ways. Already, He knew that the plague would spread and infect one-third of His servants, but God would not force anyone to love Him, even if that was what they needed. Each must freely choose. He could only show them the way. He could only die for them. He could not live for them. That was a freedom he had given them. He would not ask for that gift back. He brought out the book, His story: history as we know it. He would be thrifty as God always was with His time. In the declaration of His love for the rebels, He would plant the seeds for a new crop of replacements. He smiled. Here was the rainbow that had caused it, the new passengers. The irony was great. The falling angels would strengthen the new crop. By resisting, "the weeds," - Matthew 13:26-30 the young ones would gain strength. "It will be wonderful to have the young ones around," He thought, "their innocence will brighten all of Heaven." God arranged for the environment. He needed to raise pure faith and maximum freedom without total separation. He would create a universe in which everything would speak of Him, His light and our Lord's organization, His constancy. His creation would be one of the strongest arguments favoring the Lord's existence, but, still, there would be more. He would send His faithful servants to speak for Him. He, Himself, would appear and the Lord would use the book that would reveal enough of the truth to inspire, but not too much so as to trample faith. "But will the young ones read it," He thought? "Time is such a distracting environment, of course, they will!" He pondered this inanity. I will believe in them and they will respond. After the Passion it will be possible for me not only to believe but to be living in them also. Some will respond to passive love. Others will need a more active love. Some will respond to instruction. Others will need the more active correction of the rod. Now God had a rod. Lucifer had chosen to be that lifeless tool, blinded by his own pride into thinking that it was he who was in control. The chisel would believe that it was he who was doing the sculpting. Lucifer would instigate the troubles that would send the young ones scrambling into Papa's arms. "Ah, yes, the children, it will be wonderful to have them around." The Lord God began to meditate on the details of His plan. He worked it out down to the number of hairs on each individual's head. "What a joy it was to create!" He thought. Lucifer now appeared in the fellowship to spread his rebellion. It was time for the Lord to execute His plan. He announced to all of Heaven, "I have decided to create a man. His name will be Adam. It will be nice to have an innocent one around. I am going to create a universe for him to live in."
He brought out the book, His story: history as we know it. He would be thrifty as God always was with His time. In the declaration of His love for the rebels, He would plant the seeds for a new crop of replacements. He smiled. Here was the rainbow that had caused it, the new passengers. The irony was great. The falling angels would strengthen the new crop. By resisting,
"It will be wonderful to have the young ones around," He thought, "their innocence will brighten all of Heaven." God arranged for the environment. He needed to raise pure faith and maximum freedom without total separation. He would create a universe in which everything would speak of Him, His light and our Lord's organization, His constancy. His creation would be one of the strongest arguments favoring the Lord's existence, but, still, there would be more. He would send His faithful servants to speak for Him. He, Himself, would appear and the Lord would use the book that would reveal enough of the truth to inspire, but not too much so as to trample faith.
"But will the young ones read it," He thought?
"Time is such a distracting environment, of course, they will!" He pondered this inanity. I will believe in them and they will respond. After the Passion it will be possible for me not only to believe but to be living in them also. Some will respond to passive love. Others will need a more active love. Some will respond to instruction. Others will need the more active correction of the rod.
Now God had a rod. Lucifer had chosen to be that lifeless tool, blinded by his own pride into thinking that it was he who was in control. The chisel would believe that it was he who was doing the sculpting. Lucifer would instigate the troubles that would send the young ones scrambling into Papa's arms.
"Ah, yes, the children, it will be wonderful to have them around." The Lord God began to meditate on the details of His plan. He worked it out down to the number of hairs on each individual's head.
"What a joy it was to create!" He thought. Lucifer now appeared in the fellowship to spread his rebellion. It was time for the Lord to execute His plan. He announced to all of Heaven, "I have decided to create a man. His name will be Adam. It will be nice to have an innocent one around. I am going to create a universe for him to live in."
Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass - 2Kings 19:25
I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. - Proverbs 8:23
ETERNITY
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. - Job 38:7
I saw Eternity the other night like a great ring of pure and endless Light. - Henry Vaughn
From everlasting to everlasting You are God. - Psalm 90:2
All life must be viewed with Eternity in mind. - Anonymous
Eternity is not much time, and time is not a little bit of eternity. Eternity is not a straight line that goes off endlessly in two opposite directions, and time is not a segment on that line. Eternity is a continuum, a circle; time is a gap, a break in that circle. Time became created when eternity opened up like a chain link at the bottom (There is a missing link, but it has nothing to do with men and monkeys). The reason for this opening is that it became time to sweep out eternity. Everything from eternity past is being swept out of the gap, but the Creator has provided a way into the eternity of the future, a bridge across the gap, a crossing or a cross. Those who do not come to the cross will not be in the eternity of the future. In fact they will no longer exist because the gap will become closed, and all that they have believed in will vanish. God is fair. They didn't expect anymore as demonstrated by their own life's actions, and they will get no more. There will be "time no more," no more gap. He has allowed this gap in eternity in order to tidy up His home. He is sweeping out the faith and bringing in a few fresh flowers. He plans to bring a bride home.
Everything from eternity past is being swept out of the gap, but the Creator has provided a way into the eternity of the future, a bridge across the gap, a crossing or a cross. Those who do not come to the cross will not be in the eternity of the future. In fact they will no longer exist because the gap will become closed, and all that they have believed in will vanish. God is fair. They didn't expect anymore as demonstrated by their own life's actions, and they will get no more. There will be "time no more," no more gap. He has allowed this gap in eternity in order to tidy up His home. He is sweeping out the faith and bringing in a few fresh flowers. He plans to bring a bride home.
These disciplines built in me a concern to try to look at things in the round. - George F. Will
The (created world) is but a parenthesis in Eternity. - Sir Thomas Brown
THE HOUSECLEANING
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell - 2Peter 2:4
I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.- Luke 10:18
At first his disciples did not understand all this. - John 12:16
the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, - Colossians 1:26
God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, - Genesis 22:8
I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne - Revelation 5:6
The rebellion surfaced in Heaven itself. There were rumors that the throne of God was now empty. It was then that the secret rebellion became an open one. Immediately Lucifer became cast from the third Heaven, where the throne of God was, past the second heaven (what we call the stars) down into the first heaven, the atmosphere of the earth, where he became incarcerated. He instantly declared himself to be the prince of the power of the air, hoping that none of his followers would dwell on his demotion (which had occurred as quickly as a lightning bolt). In his recollection of this short encounter one thing continued to haunt him, the impression that the throne was empty. "It should have been mine for the taking," he thought. "Surely, Michael and the others should have wilted when I pointed out that their God had deserted them. Instead they had seemed to take heart at the vague impression of a dead animal on the throne, and a dead lamb at that! Sheer delusion!" He continued to ramble on following the tangents of his own sick mind; his thoughts foaming like wind-driven seas, frothing like rabid dogs, wandering like lost stars. He never got around to wondering where God really was, because he didn't like to spend too much time thinking about it. He liked to think about the throne and how it would feel to sit on it. He agonized again. "It should have been mine for the taking." He tried to plant this seed in his troops, those who had fallen with him. "I tell you it's ours for the taking. He's gone. Maybe He's dead. When they realize it, Michael and the others will tremble before us. Don't forget what I told you. They just don't want it badly enough. You have to want it. Do you want it?" A loud war cry resounded from the troops, but in the strange silence that followed one rebel spoke up and asked, "What about the Son? What if he takes up the leadership?" The Devil screamed, "Kill the Son and the inheritance is ours. I have figured out His plan. I know His story. Everyone's story became written in the palm of his hand, and He held the stars in the palm of His hand. I have studied the stars, and I know when and where the Son will appear. It's really very simple. We'll just murder every male child born in that area at that time. Then the inheritance will be mine --- I mean ours. The throne will be ours for the taking --- but I am wondering? It all happened so quickly. Did any of you see a dead animal on the throne? No? Really, I didn't think so. It's just a rumor that the enemy is spreading. Really, it just goes to show you how far gone they are. Absurdity! Pure lunacy!" He went on. Meanwhile, back in the third heaven the faithful angels were a bit puzzled. One of them seemed to be slowly losing faith. He just kept repeating, "Where is God? Where is God?" - Job 35:10 Another angel tried to calm him by saying, "Well, we all desire to look into these things and to understand them more fully." He became interrupted, "Where is He? Where is this God of yours?" "Well, He said he'd be away for a while." "Yeah, but that was a long time ago. Where is He now?" "Don't worry! You know the story. The kingdom of heaven is as a man who 'went away on a journey.' - Matthew 21:33 Be patient. Wait. When He returns, He'll set things straight. He'll explain then, and it will become crystal clear as to what He has done and why he had to do it. That's the way it has always been. He's never easy to understand in the beginning. Besides, don't you see it? It's so awesome every once and awhile it looks like a lamb, as if it had become slain, on the throne." "See that, what are you talking about? It's not awesome it's awful! It's, bloody, spooky if you ask me. Bloody religion that's what it is. You're nuts! I'm getting out of here right now. In fact, I'm going looking for God. Maybe He's lost and He needs my help. That's right! That's what I'm gonna do. They might know something down there at Lucifer's camp. I'm going there." The second angel tried one last time. "Wait. Don't go I tell you, Don't go! They don't know anything down there. They're the cause of this whole problem. Anyway his name isn't Lucifer anymore. It's become changed; it's Satan now! Can't you remember anything?"
In his recollection of this short encounter one thing continued to haunt him, the impression that the throne was empty. "It should have been mine for the taking," he thought. "Surely, Michael and the others should have wilted when I pointed out that their God had deserted them. Instead they had seemed to take heart at the vague impression of a dead animal on the throne, and a dead lamb at that! Sheer delusion!" He continued to ramble on following the tangents of his own sick mind; his thoughts foaming like wind-driven seas, frothing like rabid dogs, wandering like lost stars. He never got around to wondering where God really was, because he didn't like to spend too much time thinking about it. He liked to think about the throne and how it would feel to sit on it. He agonized again. "It should have been mine for the taking." He tried to plant this seed in his troops, those who had fallen with him.
"I tell you it's ours for the taking. He's gone. Maybe He's dead. When they realize it, Michael and the others will tremble before us. Don't forget what I told you. They just don't want it badly enough. You have to want it. Do you want it?" A loud war cry resounded from the troops, but in the strange silence that followed one rebel spoke up and asked, "What about the Son? What if he takes up the leadership?"
The Devil screamed, "Kill the Son and the inheritance is ours. I have figured out His plan. I know His story. Everyone's story became written in the palm of his hand, and He held the stars in the palm of His hand. I have studied the stars, and I know when and where the Son will appear. It's really very simple. We'll just murder every male child born in that area at that time. Then the inheritance will be mine --- I mean ours. The throne will be ours for the taking --- but I am wondering? It all happened so quickly. Did any of you see a dead animal on the throne? No? Really, I didn't think so. It's just a rumor that the enemy is spreading. Really, it just goes to show you how far gone they are. Absurdity! Pure lunacy!" He went on.
Meanwhile, back in the third heaven the faithful angels were a bit puzzled. One of them seemed to be slowly losing faith. He just kept repeating,
He became interrupted, "Where is He? Where is this God of yours?"
"Well, He said he'd be away for a while."
"Yeah, but that was a long time ago. Where is He now?"
"Don't worry! You know the story. The kingdom of heaven is as a man who
"See that, what are you talking about? It's not awesome it's awful! It's, bloody, spooky if you ask me. Bloody religion that's what it is. You're nuts! I'm getting out of here right now. In fact, I'm going looking for God. Maybe He's lost and He needs my help. That's right! That's what I'm gonna do. They might know something down there at Lucifer's camp. I'm going there."
The second angel tried one last time. "Wait. Don't go I tell you, Don't go! They don't know anything down there. They're the cause of this whole problem. Anyway his name isn't Lucifer anymore. It's become changed; it's Satan now! Can't you remember anything?"
This do in remembrance of me! - Luke 22:19
Everyone is looking for you! - Mark 1:37
This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: 'Seek me and live; - Amos 5:4
Seek the Lord and live, - Amos 5:6
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, - John 5:39
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. - Matthew 6:33
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
God is Great therefore He will be sought. God is Good, therefore He will be found. - Anonymous
The will of the Lord be done! - Acts 21:14
where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. - Hebrews 9:15
Death is swallowed up in victory! - 1 Corinthians 15:54
Now the scene switches through time, itself. It is the eighteenth year of Caesar Tiberius, and the setting is the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. A small group of men becomes seated around a campfire. One of them is addressing the others: "For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. - Matthew 13:17 Even angels long to look into these things. - 1Peter 1:12"
He continued explaining those things that became written in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms. The others became absorbed in rapt attentiveness. Much later, when the campfire had become reduced to red coals he remarked, "Shortly, I must ascend again into Heaven. My forty days with you will be completed." Thomas spoke up, "Lord, don't leave us again, please!" "Thomas, you must not be distressed, and you must not be daunted. You have heard me say that I am going away and I am coming back to you. If you really loved me you would be glad, because I go to my Father. I am not going to leave you alone in this world. I am coming to you. In a very little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I am alive, you will be alive too. When that day comes you will realize that I am in my Father, that you are in me, and that I am in you. Do you not yet understand? If I do not go away the Comforter will not come."
Thomas spoke up, "Lord, don't leave us again, please!"
"Thomas, you must not be distressed, and you must not be daunted. You have heard me say that I am going away and I am coming back to you. If you really loved me you would be glad, because I go to my Father. I am not going to leave you alone in this world. I am coming to you. In a very little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I am alive, you will be alive too. When that day comes you will realize that I am in my Father, that you are in me, and that I am in you. Do you not yet understand? If I do not go away the Comforter will not come."