God is love. This is true even when he afflicts, for whom he loveth he chasteneth. We must not therefore infer that he does not love us, because he afflicts. The gardener prunes the grape which he values, not the thistle which he hates. The fruit tree that is highly prized is trimmed that it may bear more fruit, the forest tree that is designed for the flames is left to grow in unpruned luxuriance. Yet in answer to these assurances of God to us, we often say in our murmuring, "In what hast thou loved us. Where is the proof?" It is a mournful proof of human depravity that the love of God is often least acknowledged, where it is most manifested.

-- Moore, Rev. T. V.; The Prophets of the Restoration: or Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi: A New Translation with Notes; Robert Carter and Brothers; New York; 1856; p.338.

"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the Lord of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall."

-- Malachi 4:1-2, NASB

Let our religion be the religion of the mind, the religion of the heart, the religion of the life, - not a theory of doctrine, however ingenious, or even correct, - not a feeling casually, though it may be strongly, excited, - not an external and ritual service, however simple or however imposing, - not an assumed garb, however splendid, and gracefully worn; but a constituent -- the governing-element of our intellectual and moral nature: not speculation - not enthusiasm - not superstition - not formalism - not hypocrisy: not exclusively doctrinal, or experimental, or liturgical, or professional, or practical; but all these in due proportion and degree, - the natural effect of the truth understood, and believed, and loved, " faith purifying the heart, working by love, and overcoming the world.”

-- John Brown, D. D., An Exposition of The Epistle of Paul The Apostle to The Galatians, Banner of Truth, 2001, pp. 362-63.

SUPERHEROES

"An’ I’ll know my song well before I start singin’ –Dylan"'


They’re all around us – if movies and comics count, and they ought to, as our imaginations are filled with them and their exploits, and we dwell upon them, turning their deeds over and over in our minds.

What attracts us to them are the extraordinary powers they possess and wield, as well the unnaturally gifted and powerful villains they must face.

And we like that they are human, partaking of our condition, and often dealing with the very same issues we ourselves deal with.

Technology, superhuman strength, genius-level intelligence – these some of the weapons in their arsenals.

They strike a chord in the intuitive faculty of our hearts, for we know (those who do know) we are indeed surrounded by malign predators of genuinely supernatural power and wisdom, and we rejoice in the battle of titans, even if in fantasy. It does our hearts great good.

Yet, even as we rejoice in these wondrous tales, we overlook – or at least minimize – actual authentic heroes and heroines who are truly possessed of gifts and powers beyond the natural, but their exercise of them is very low-key, perhaps occult being a better word – used in the neutral sense of hidden from view (from its Latin root, occulere), as in occult blood in the stool, or occult carcinoma – for their mighty acts are generally not seen in the realm of the eye, nor are their implacable enemies visible either.

With a micro-manic tendency (as opposed to megalomanic) these who are called Lightbearers – after their Captain and Champion – often greatly underestimate and consequently undervalue the nature of their divinely altered beings. Once they were ragamuffin demon-spawn (even the greatest among them, princesses and kings alike), fit only for Gehenna, dump of rotten souls, but they were redeemed from this fate by a ransom of infinite price, and adopted into the royal line of the Son of God, made partakers of His Spirit, whence their abilities spring.

So many among them understand not that their simple words carry prophetic power greater than those born merely of woman [Luke 7:28], and that the power of death and life is in their tongues [Proverbs 18:21]. By their occult (unseen) activity they may tear down demonic strongholds, as they call upon the Master Warrior in whose life are their lives hid. The words they speak to their fellow humans, those yet demon-spawn walking captive to the evil one, may bring the entrance of eternal glory into their darkened breasts as the Saviour of the world is held up before them in His majesty, love and power. Those who have ears to hear, will hear.

Those angels who have keener discernment than movie producers observe the human scene. “Ahh! There goes one of ours!” they exclaim, “See how she has her eyes on Jesus, even though she cannot see Him in the flesh? See how she calls to Him in her distress, and receives the ‘glorious power which strengthens her unto all patience, and longsuffering with joyfulness, giving thanks unto the Father’? Now she carries herself like a queen, though she be harassed and afflicted!” “And look at that one! See, he is about to die from loss of blood and crushing wounds, but the name of the King of Heaven is on his lips, and the sound of it wafts into the ears of those standing by – even his killers – and the merciful One is granting some of them life and faith by it, and they are being made new even as they watch the blood of the brother they have broken seep into the ground. See, now their hearts are anguished, and they cry out to Jesus for mercy for what they have just done. Truly it is as dear Tertullian said, ‘The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.’ How exciting it is to watch these children of the King do their precious exploits against the prince of villains! How wonderful it will be to fellowship with them when they are all present in the Kingdom and everlasting glory!”

More like Hobbits, these, than the modern warriors of Hollywood, with their muscles and steel and weapons of death. But braver than the strongmen of earth they are, as toe-to-toe they stand with the dark angel, overcoming him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they love not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11) More soldiers of the cross, than soldiers of glory (the women too!), for the King has taught them what manner of Spirit they are of.

These are exciting to watch and contemplate also! And such we are.