Good Morning! What difference does belief make? Try reading the opening to the book of Ezekiel in the Bible, and then any fiction book. You can find fiction books that open similarly, even the visions of Muhammad start out in a similar vein. However, when we come to believe in Jesus, we also believe His Word, the Bible. Now when Ezekiel opens with "It was July and I was 30 years old, I lived with my kin by the river near Babylon, when suddenly the heavens opened and I saw a vision of God." You realize that Ezekiel had just come of age in Jewish society, he was going about his normal business and suddenly every thing changed for him. What is interesting is that Ezekiel is not special, just a 30 year old exile living in a foreign land with his kin folk. What happens to him is very special; he has been selected to be a prophet to his people. Many fictional works have copied this opening in some shape or form, but the character will be the special one, a hidden prince or king. Ezekiel was never special in that way; he was no hidden king, only a poor exile, a captive living because the conquering king allowed him to live. We don't believe fiction books, and while the stories may delight and entertain us, they do not hold the same meaning and feeling that the opening to Ezekiel does in the Bible. "I saw a vision of God..." Wow! How great and terrifying would that be? Reading on we see that Ezekiel fell on his face. Yes, I can understand that reaction completely. What does God say though? Did He lay out Ezekiel's sins and tell him to stay on the ground? No, God says, "Stand up, I want to speak with you." I am not quoting word for word here, only what I remember from my reading. However, the point is that God doesn't speak with him while he is groveling on the ground. We should understand that God doesn't teach us and impart wisdom to us while we are groveling in the dust; He will comfort us while we are doing that and certainly our sins will cause us to do that from time to time, but God wants to speak with us as friends and as students ready to learn what the Almighty Creator has to say. Who are we that we should deserve to speak with God while standing up? Would you want to speak with those you love while they are groveling on the ground? No, we want to see their faces and teach them gently, and that attitude comes from God. When God wants to teach us His wisdom and knowledge, He wants us standing in His love.
The love of Jesus goes with you this day,
Bucky
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