My Minnesota friend, Darlene Quiring, posted a meme this morning with a list of random foods that asked the question, “How adventurous are you? One point for every food you have tried. To which I responded zero, but I was thinking the question asked if I liked those foods, but even still I had only ever tried 3 of the 39. I am indeed a finicky eater. With my waistline, one wouldn’t think that. But I don’t do very many types of meat. My main problem is, I think too much about what I’m eating. Praise God there were no critters harmed in the making of cheesecake!
Which got me to thinking about the many things that angels haven’t tried. Like Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches. A staple in my life. I’m not sure if they’re even curious about their diet being lack of certain fine cuisine, but I know they’re are curious over one thing, because the scripture tells me they are in 1 Peter 1:12. It is there the word reveals that the angels desire to look into the gospel. God’s heavenly creation, that can travel between earth and Heaven, know God face to face, as well as kill thousands when called upon to do so, are curious about something we humans take for granted and many decline.
Born Again Babies
1 Peter 1:2-12 KJVS
[2] Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
I understand the foreign concept of salvation and words like born again to folks who haven’t been raised in church. But tell me how many “foreign concepts” those same people will accept without question that border if not cross the line of crazy! They’ll believe that there was an explosion one day in the cosmos that created earth as we know it and that somehow intelligent life just came to be, that’s the craziest of all…but of course the world is full of crazy. So if you happen to be reading this and “born again” is a foreign concept to you, let me explain what it means in my life.
As an unsaved person I went to church as a dutiful child should. I grew into an adult without understanding the concept of salvation. I was a rebellious child on the inside. I tried to behave on the outside so that I might please my people. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in God, I just hadn’t ever really understood how salvation came to be because I’d never experienced it myself and had unfortunately witnessed too many professing Christians who failed to back up their belief with actions. Outside of church people did not talk about the Bible. Except some of my family, my dad loved talking bible! Oh how I wish I had appreciated his wisdom when I could have.
Oh glory I also understand the Apostle James who said in Chapter 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” I understand, because when I got saved I had a desire to work!
But back to those angels. I Understand their salvation confusion. Not from the fact that God is real, they know He is, they know Him face to face. They also know how Holy He is. But what I’m sure they have massive confusion on is how God could love us? And love us enough to die for us. We’re a bunch of reckless, ungrateful sinners who fail Him daily and yet He still chooses to send His Son to die in our place. Wait… if you’re unsaved that’s also foreign to you… how could someone die in our place?
Just as most people understand the concept of sin and punishment, there had to be an ultimate payment for this reckless, ungrateful bunch of people. Knowing that nothing could appease a God who is perfect in every way, He allowed His own Son to become the ultimate sacrifice. It may not make sense, but when He reveals Himself and His truth to you through our acceptance of this as truth, suddenly, what seems foreign to the world, makes perfect sense to us.
But not to those angels, who have also seen our inheritance. Yes! As children of God, we’re in for a big reward at the end of this life. Continuing on in 1 Peter 1:
[4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: [8] Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: [9] Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Because we believe and have faith that the word of God that we’ve received is truth, God has an amazing inheritance laid in store for us in Heaven. We’ll have plenty of problems and heartache on this earth, but nothing will take away what God has planned for those that love Him and look forward to His coming.
Another foreign concept for the unsaved, and unfortunately one misunderstood by many who are saved. Misunderstood often times because Christians do not read the scripture for themselves, but rely on the preacher to tell them what they need to know. And a sad indictment against the ministry because they don’t preach it because it’s a heavy subject to study. But I am a believer that God will reveal the truth of end times bit by bit as we need and that He is currently opening up many Christians to understanding parts of Revelation not understood before. No, I’m not saying I’m a scholar on the subject, nothing even close! But I understand more now than I did. My Pastor has opened my eyes to much of it, Joe Lancaster has been teaching and opening up the word from Revelation in his Sunday school class at Victory Baptist Church. And I can read and understand for myself because the Holy Spirit is within me.
Ahhhh, something else that may be foreign to the unsaved. How the Holy Spirit works. Even the prophets of old wondered how that would come to pass. 1 Peter 1:
[10] Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: [11] Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. [12] Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
And now we’re back to the angels. The Prophets knew that God was going to send salvation through the Messiah. They did not know the specifics, they only knew that God said it was so, and how it happened was up to Him. And so following His Son’s sacrifice, God left a piece of Himself within each believer so we’d have the guidance, understanding and assurance that everything in His book, the Bible, would come to pass and we’d be a part of it.
So I have what Peter described as “yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” It is that joy that gives me a desire to share the salvation of Christ, which like peanut butter and jelly, the angels have not experienced. But I’m hoping when I get to my house that God has created for me, that some of the angels will come over for dinner and I’ll get to share some fine cuisine with them. I’m kidding. I’ll have cheesecake too.
Bless you! And if you have questions about your salvation, about the Bible or Jesus. I’m not a scholar, but I’d love to help where I can. Just send me a message though Facebook or through this website. Love ya! I really mean it!