To God What is God's
(Mk12:13-17)
God is the beginning of all things.
He is the beginning of life and glory (Pro4:24; Jer2:13; Jn1:4, Jn1:14), and
All things return to Him (Ecc1:5, 5:15).
Science searches the beginning of life and studies it,
While religion and philosophy examine the beginning of all things.
Nevertheless, their efforts are in vain for they can never find it.
Faith is knowing who the beginning is, and
The life of this faith is returning to Him what is His and finally returning to Him.
After Adam sinned,
His flesh which came from dust returned to dust (Ge3:19)
His spirit that comes from God could no longer return to Him (Ge2:7).
Thus, all his descendants became wanderers (Ge4:12).
When God called Abram to make him the beginning of blessing,
God instructed him to leave his father's house and go to the land He showed him (Ge12:1), for
God promised it as a new place for him to begin as the father of faith (Ge15:7).
As such, his descendants, Israel, lived in a foreign country, Egypt
As slaves for 430 years (Ge15:15-16), after which
They finally entered the Promised Land, Canaan,
As the blood of lamb was their turning point (Ex12:14).
For God wanted them to remember this for generations (Ex12:14)
He commanded them to:
1. Sprinkle the blood of lamb and give sacrifices in the sanctuary (Ex13:11-16); and
2. Give a tenth of their earnings and offerings to the house of God (Lev25:38; Lev27:30; Mal3:7-10).
It was to remind them
Where they came from and where they were to return (He11:13-16).
However, as their faith became corrupted
The prophets cried out for them to return to God (Mal1:8-10, Mal1:14, Mal3:6-12).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would return His life and His glory to the Father, for
He is the incarnate Word in whom was life and glory (Jn1:4, Jn1:14, Jn17:10).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1. Returned His blood to the Father and committed His spirit to the Father
As the cross was His turning point (Lk23:46; Php2:8-11);
2. Condemned the thief who sinned in heaven (Is14:12-15); and
3. With His blood redeemed sinners and made a way for them to return to the Father (Jn14:6; He10:19).
The Father raised Him and
Jesus finally returned to the Father.
The Holy Spirit whom He sent
Comes to those who received His blood and
Lets them know that their soul must return to the Father.
The true Christian knows that
His flesh of dust will return to dust one day and
His soul must return to the Father of spirits
Through the turning point of his cross.
Therefore, to commit his soul to the Father on the last day (Ac7:59),
He returns to the Father his possessions while on earth
Through tithes and offerings, as well as his breath (Mt23:23; Mk10:29).
O Lord,
The sun returns to the place where it rises,
The wind returns to the place where it blows (Ecc1:5), and
Everyone comes naked from their mother's womb and so they depart (Ecc5:15).
Yet we fools are managing our possessions in vain.
Thank You for letting us know
Where we must return and how we must return.
Let us return to You through our turning point!
Amen.
