The Advent Part 26
Another thing about the fulfillment of Scripture we must be aware of is that it is always fulfilled at the appointed time, regardless of the opposition it faces from either men or nefarious spiritual forces. Nothing can stand in the way of the fulfillment of Scripture, because if God spoke it God will likewise bring it to pass.
As Peter spoke to those who were gathered in the upper room he made reference to a scripture passage wherein David, by way of the Holy Spirit foretold of Christ’s betrayal. The question that begs to be asked is how did he know this passage? Peter was by no means a theologian, unlike Paul he was not a learned man in the way of Scripture, he was a fisherman, a simple individual who earned his daily bread by being out on the water and catching fish. Yet here Peter was, quoting an obscure passage as though he were an Old Testament scholar.
Peter knew this passage because the Holy Spirit had brought it to his remembrance. Admittedly one cannot remember what one never knew, so chances are that Peter had at one point read over this particular scripture, or heard it in the Synagogue, yet at the appropriate time, the Holy Spirit brought it to the forefront of his mind and Peter was eloquently able to remind those who stood before him that indeed the betrayal of Jesus was no surprise, because it had been foretold.
It is a beautiful experience when we as believers fall in love with the Word of God, and when we realize that it is our daily spiritual bread, that which sustains our spiritual man, and keeps us active and healthy. If we are diligent in reading the Word, if we are diligent in studying the Word, then when the situation arises that we will have to answer or give account with the Word, it is the Holy Spirit who will bring to remembrance those things that we read that we might be valiant and true defenders of the faith.
If we are honest and forthright with ourselves we will inevitably come to the conclusion that we waste an inordinate amount of time. This entire culture has been fashioned in such a way that actively taking some time to read the Word of God and meditate upon it is becoming more and more difficult. We are a fast paced society who gets our information in snippets, who practices our spirituality haphazardly and infrequently, and then we wonder why we only read of the power of God in other places, and why we feed ourselves with the stories of others rather than see these things for ourselves.
1 Peter 2:1-3, “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisy, envy and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”
Just as a newborn needs milk to grow, we need the pure milk of the word to grow; otherwise we remain in a state of perpetual infancy. Even if some refuse to do so, we have to grow up sooner or later. Eventually we have to put off the childish things, and walk as men and women of God, soldiers of the cross, thoroughly equipped for every good work. We reach this state of maturity only by consuming the Word of God, and obeying it.
Since we’re on the topic, if only tangentially, I wanted to discuss the person of Judas if only for a short while, because there are certain misconceptions as to whether or not Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, and if He did, then why choose him as one of the twelve in the first place?
Every man chooses whom he will serve, and whom he will be led by. No man can serve two masters, and so the heart must either belong to God, or to the enemy of God. There is no middle ground, there is no neutral third option, we either exalt the name of Christ and glorify Him, or we betray Him and crucify for ourselves the Son of God afresh and put Him to an open shame.
Jesus knew everything there was to know about every one of His disciples. There was no hidden secret, there was no mystery, yet it had to be this way so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.
John 7:70-71, “Jesus answered them, ‘did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?’ He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him being one of the twelve.”
John 17:12, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”
Jesus didn’t make a mistake in choosing Judas, He did it so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, and that the plan of God might come to pass.
Thus is the way of the world for now, good and evil, light and darkness, truth and deception all move together until the appointed time when God in His righteous judgment will pluck, and sift, and do away with the chaff that only the wheat might remain.
1 Corinthians 11:19, “For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.”
It is an undisputable truth that the more pronounced the darkness, the more clearly one will see light whenever and wherever it is visible. With the increasing darkness of this present world, the children of God must shine all the more, their lights must burn all the brighter, and the truth that they proclaim must be all the more cemented and tethered in the Word of God. May God help us bring honor to His name, and may we humble ourselves that when He does use us, we would not attempt to take the glory upon us, but rather give all glory to God.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
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