03 Jan It is What It Is (Discovering the true character of God…because He is not a car-wrecking, cancer causing Creator, but a loving, life giving Lord!) part 21

          The Bible tells us in Luke 9:51-56, “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.  And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.  And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?  But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.  For the Son of man is no come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.  And they went to another village.”

          Calling fire down from heaven to consume people that simply would not receive them seems pretty harsh!  However before we  judge the disciples too harshly, please understand they were just emulating what occurred in II Kings 1:10-15.  There the Bible tells us, “And  Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty.  And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.  Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty.  And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.  And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty.  And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.  And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty.  And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.  Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.  And the angel of the Lord said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him.  And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.”

          So you can see the disciples were simply responding like many believers do today…in light of the Old Testament.  However Jesus firmly re-directed them to the spirit of the New Testament when He said, “You know not what manner of spirit you are of.  For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (Luke 9:55-56).  

          These powerful Biblical passages clearly show us the true nature and character of God.  Your God is not a car-wrecking, cancer causing Creator but a loving, life-giving Lord!

Join us this month as we continue this series…