Pater Familias
The original sins of disobedience, blaming others, and listening to someone besides God took Humanity away from the simple instincts of innocence, making everything overly complicated, because Mankind felt they had to start making things up. It was a long time before Mankind realized as mortals we were very much lost in so many ways and started calling on the name of the Lord for help, direction, and understanding, wisdom. (see Genesis 4:26 — “To Seth, also, a son was born, whom he named Enosh {mortal man, mankind}. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.”) It was a long time in my life before I realized the pathetic situation of my own mortality and its stringent limitations.
However, my hopeless situation all changed when I began to call on the name of the Lord. Soon after that I was introduced to Jesus, and when I began to discern His voice, reading to understand the Bible in His light, I began to take anything anyone had to say with a grain of salt. I would always compare philosophies, religions, social and political rhetoric, opinions, etc. within the intellectual framework of that relationship. I had come to realize that I was very ignorant about very many things… and so was everybody else. That doesn’t mean I disregard King Solomon’s advice in Proverbs 11:14 — “When there is no guidance a nation falls, but there is success in the abundance of counselors.” Another translation says “there is safety in a multitude of counselors.” No man is an island, right?
Now, I want to turn to a related topic: God described as our Father. My recent understanding of God as Father, rather than Judge, is expanding. Yes, just like our parents after they told us how to behave would discipline us when we misbehaved — “grounding US,” for example. The Old Covenant {testament} had one purpose — just like our parents’ attempts — to lay down the law, to lay down His Law to restrict our behaviors to ones that were for our benefit and safety and would guide us through to a fruitful and productive life. The Bible encapsulates this precept in Hebrews 12:9, NIV — “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!”
Today, we continue to see the results of Mankind making decisions on their own, based on whatever they imagine, whatever they can build, and whatever power they can pursue, amassing powers to subjugate the Earth and their fellow Man. That strategy has never worked out very well. People greedily hang on to that kind of thinking though. Notwithstanding, the Bible warns, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” — Isaiah 5:21, NIV
So, I continue to encourage everyone to turn away from imagined independence from God and choose to call on the name of Jesus. Troubles are all around. Yet, He will help us get through all of them, personal, societal, political, every dynamic of life. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19
Long before the actual birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the prophet Isaiah declared, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6, NIV. Why everyone does not choose God over their own ego is where I used to be. False pride is definitely a stumbling block.
Keep in mind that the heavenly Father has plans far and away better than our own little minds can imagine. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” and “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” — John 3:16 and 1john 4:10.
There comes a time in children’s lives that the parents have to let go and hope their adult children make decisions wisely.
Yes, God will judge Mankind as individuals and as a whole. But I see His Judgment as twofold. With Climate Change as an example of Judgment over All of Mankind, He doesn’t maintain His power over “the winds of change.” We have brought it upon ourselves. It is our own doing. This is the whole context of a verse above: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” — John 3:16–21, NIV.
Note that “evil” used here in the original Greek text is “poneros”:
“πονηρός • (ponērós) m (feminine πονηρᾱ́, neuter πονηρόν); first/second declension (Attic, Koine)
(passive meaning) oppressed by toils
(active meaning) toilsome, painful, grievous” (Wikipedia — https://en.wiktionary.org
Your response is necessary. It is vital for each and every individual. This is God’s call:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28–30.
Listen! Is that your phone vibrating?
