Like a chestnut tree

And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to hand Midian over to them, otherwise Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has saved me.’ Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is afraid and worried, is to return and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand from the people returned, but ten thousand remained. Then the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there. So it shall be that he of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” (vv. 2-4)

There are seasons of suffering in our lives when we feel there is no way to overcome our struggles. The enemy seems to be waiting for us every morning. We open our eyes already knowing that the day ahead will be difficult. We do everything we can to overcome our problems, yet we fail again and again. By the end of the day, we long for night to come. And we often go to bed feeling exhausted and defeated.

This chapter reminds us that nothing is impossible for God. Our victory does not come from our own abilities, resources, or wealth, but from God alone. Yet God often allows us to experience repeated defeats so that we may understand the greatness of His power.

In human warfare, victory is usually determined by the size of an army and the strength of its weapons. That is why powerful nations and individuals strive to accumulate more wealth—to buy more soldiers and more advanced weapons.

In this account, however, God does the exact opposite. He sends the vast majority of the army home and chooses only 300 men to defeat the Midianites. In doing so, He ensures that Israel cannot boast that the victory was achieved by human strength or effort.

Yet our hearts are naturally inclined to glorify ourselves. We quickly forget what God has done for us. Instead of giving Him the glory, we admire human achievements. We want to praise others, and deep down, we also desire to be praised.

Perhaps this is one reason why many people are drawn to Greek and Roman mythology. Their gods resemble sinful human beings, sharing the same flaws, passions, and ambitions. People often prefer gods who reflect themselves rather than the holy God revealed in the Bible. It is a sobering reality, but Scripture tells us that only the remnant will be saved.

Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel may be like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved; for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.” (Romans 9:27-28)

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did the Lord not bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” And the Lord looked at him and said, “Go in this strength of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” But he said to Him, “O Lord, how am I to save Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” (vv. 13-15)

Raising one person above others and humbling another both depend on God. When we are praised, we often think it is because of our hard work and abilities. But in reality, there is nothing in us that deserves praise apart from God. Throughout the Bible, those who hold a lowly position in society are often the ones God chooses for His work. Those who understand true humility will listen to God and do what pleases Him without boasting.

Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve. Likewise, our Lord is referred to as the second Adam. King David was the youngest son of Jesse. In the same way, Gideon’s clan was the weakest in Manasseh, and he himself was the youngest in his family.

Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the uneven ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley. (Isaiah 40:4)

Our Lord had the humblest of beginnings in this world. He was born and laid in a manger, yet He was honored by the three wise men. His parents were poor, and God did not make them wealthy. Our Lord knew what it meant to experience hunger and understood our struggles. That is why He was tempted by the devil. Can physical hunger and suffering prevent us from believing in God? Our Lord proved that they cannot. Rather, it is the Holy Spirit within us who enables us to remain faithful.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” (Matthew 4:1-4)

Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good be from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:46)

God knows that we need food for our physical bodies to survive. Yet our bodies will eventually die and return to dust. There is a deeper meaning behind humanity’s need for bread. God gave manna to the Israelites, but He was not concerned with satisfying their taste buds. When the Israelites complained, they were punished, as we read in Numbers 11.

We all claim that we believe in God, yet we are inclined to praise ourselves and other people. When food becomes scarce, our sinful nature is exposed, and we act like beasts by turning against one another. Faith is strengthened and proven genuine under harsh circumstances. It is not I who believe in God by my own strength, but the Holy Spirit who enables me to believe.

The theological term union with Christ refers to our being united with God through the Holy Spirit. Christ made this possible through His death on the cross. Therefore, our righteousness does not rest on our own will or effort but on the knowledge of God that comes through His Word and the Holy Spirit.

Gideon was chosen to deliver the Israelites, yet he later led them into idolatry. The praise of people can blind even God’s servants. It is better to remain in a humble position than to become a great figure in the church.

The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. (John 17:22-23)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The kings came and fought;
Then the kings of Canaan fought
At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo;
They took no plunder in silver.
The stars fought from heaven,
From their paths they fought against Sisera. (vv. 19-20)

Most songs in the Bible, if not all of them, are related to the last day and the Kingdom. The Wisdom Books of the Bible—Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs—speak about our beginning, our present struggles, and our future. But most importantly, they speak about God and His plan—the Kingdom.

The war between the Israelites and the Canaanites in this chapter is not restricted to a particular time and place. It also points to the final war.

And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. (Revelation 16:16)

Armageddon, or Har-Magedon, means “Mount Megiddo.” Here, the Israelites defeated the Canaanites. Their general, Sisera, fled but was killed by Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. It is understood that Heber was at peace with the Canaanite king. Jael made Sisera feel safe and protected, then killed him while he was asleep. She gave him milk instead of water. Had she tried to kill him while he was awake, she would likely have been unsuccessful. Deborah praised her wisdom in the song.

Most blessed of women is Jael,
The wife of Heber the Kenite;
Most blessed is she of women in the tent.
He asked for water, she gave him milk;
In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.
She reached out her hand for the tent peg,
And her right hand for the workmen’s hammer.
Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head;
And she shattered and pierced his temple.
Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay;
Between her feet he bowed, he fell;
Where he bowed, there he fell dead. (vv. 24-27)

One thing worth paying attention to is that the Kenites were not one of the 13 tribes of Israel. This tells us that the Church does not consist of the biological descendants of the Israelites. The nation of Israel was established to teach us about the future. Biological descendants of Israel do not receive special treatment from God.

It appears that some church leaders and/or theologians think they are some kind of superhumans or born prophets. But they are misleading people. Only the chosen people, regardless of their backgrounds, are called true Israelites. They know God through the Holy Spirit. They understand what God tells us in the Bible. They have immovable faith, not because of their own efforts, but because faith is a gift from God.

In the last war, God will defeat the devil and his followers.

These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful. (Revelation 17:14)

The last day will be a sad and fearful day for many, but it will be a new beginning for the saints. It is like the labor pains of a woman giving birth. Once the baby is born, the pain is gone. Therefore, the saints look forward to the new beginning—the Kingdom.

For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again. And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘He is over here,’ do not believe him. For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. (Matthew 24:21-28)

Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” She said, “I will certainly go with you; however, the fame shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh. (vv. 8-9)

I’ve listened to numerous sermons since my youth, and I have heard many Christians speak about the women in the Bible and their roles. God certainly created men and women to help us understand the relationship between Christ and the Church. However, we are all equally children of God.

We may have different temperaments and characteristics shaped by our backgrounds, such as our gender, ethnicity, culture, education, and life experiences. However, our identity before God is not defined by our backgrounds. We are all His children and share the same standing in Christ.

But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, since you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:29-32)

Gender roles still exist, although they are gradually fading in many societies. For much of history, women’s roles were more limited, and it was often considered disgraceful or shameful for a man to be killed by a woman. These attitudes reflected the cultural values of the time rather than a person’s worth before God.

Then he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So the young man pierced him through, and he died. (Judges 9:54)

Physical strength, rather than wisdom, was often praised and admired because it was directly linked to a person’s ability to work, provide, and produce. In many societies, women had limited opportunities to support themselves independently and therefore often had to rely on men for their livelihood.

And the servant in charge of the reapers replied, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab. And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while.” (Ruth 2:6-7)

However, the ideal relationship is one of equal dignity, mutual respect, and partnership. In many ways, women have often been in a unique position to support and strengthen other Christians because of their historically lower social and political status. Although generally weaker in physical strength, that weakness has often fostered humility, modesty, and empathy. It can also cultivate wisdom, as weakness encourages people to rely more on God than on themselves.

Jesus Christ showed great care and compassion for women. He knew their struggles, understood their weaknesses, and treated them with dignity and grace. It is no surprise that Christ appeared to a woman first after His resurrection.

For they did not yet understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary was standing outside the tomb, weeping; so as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they put Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and yet she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Thinking that He was the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you put Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus *said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). (John 20:9-16)

In Judges 4, we see wisdom arising from weakness. Although Jael was physically weaker than Barak, God gave her the wisdom and courage to accomplish what Barak could not. Barak is commended because he recognised that Israel’s victory came through God’s wisdom and power, not through human strength.

In conclusion, it is God’s wisdom that brings victory, not gender, physical strength, wealth, or the size of an army.

Then Deborah said to Barak, “Arise! For this is the day on which the Lord has handed Sisera over to you; behold, the Lord has gone out before you.” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot. But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left. (vv. 14-16)

Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them (that is, all the Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan; only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it previously). These nations are: the five governors of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. They were left to test Israel by them, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses. The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. (vv. 1-6)

It is easy to interpret God’s wrath as merely the consequence of our sins. God placed the Israelites under the Law, knowing that they did not have the heart, knowledge, or will to keep it. Salvation does not come through bloodline but through the Holy Spirit that God gives to His people.

Many believe that the calamities that befell the Israelites came because they failed to drive out the people of Canaan. However, salvation is for every ethnicity, which is why Scripture speaks of “everyone” who believes. My skin color, ancestry, and background do not determine my salvation. We see this illustrated in Ruth, a Moabite woman.

Therefore, the persecution of the Palestinians in the present age does not make sense from this perspective. It is a narrative that politicians and people in power use to influence and control others. Sadly, many American churches embrace the idea that all Israelites are God’s chosen people and therefore will be saved.

Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. (Genesis 15:13)

We understand freedom only by experiencing slavery. The conditional covenant, tied to the Law, teaches us about slavery, and slavery leads to death. We cannot be set free unless someone pays the price to redeem us. We all go through a period of slavery in our lives so that we may understand the freedom God has brought us. Our socioeconomic circumstances on earth may be difficult, but they do not change our status before God.

So, how should we interpret the Book of Judges? A total of thirteen judges appear in the Bible, including Samuel, symbolizing the thirteen tribes of Israel. The primary role of these judges is to teach the people about God and deliver the Israelites from slavery. Yet as soon as a judge dies, the people return to idolatry and fall back into slavery.

Eventually, Israel becomes a kingdom with Saul as its first king. Human kings are full of sin and weakness, but the true King, Jesus Christ, is perfect and reigns forever. We no longer need a human king because we have the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, people continually seek a human leader to teach them about God and guide them. They follow false shepherds blindly without questioning their wisdom or understanding of God. In doing so, people become slaves again and never seem to learn from their mistakes.

In the Holy Spirit, we have faith, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Although we still struggle in this world, we have everlasting freedom in God.

Under the fig tree—the fruitless tree, since what we eat is actually its flower—there is no fruit. Likewise, under the conditional covenant, where life and death are determined by my actions and thoughts, there is only slavery. Who can revive the old covenant that God Himself has cursed?

And seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves alone; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered. (Matthew 21:19)

Now the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you, and as for you, you shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed Me; what is this thing that you have done? Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out from you; but they will become like thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.’” Now when the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people raised their voices and wept. (vv. 1-4)

This chapter describes the decline of the Israelites after they entered the Promised Land. God wanted to punish the Canaanites for their evil deeds and commanded the Israelites to drive them out. However, the Israelites failed to drive them out and instead served other gods. As a result, God used the Canaanites to oppress the Israelites because they did not follow Him wholeheartedly. After Joshua died, God appointed judges one after another to lead the Israelites.

Then the Lord raised up judges who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they committed infidelity with other gods and bowed down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do the same as their fathers. And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who tormented and oppressed them. (vv. 16-18)

God did not choose the Israelites because they were righteous. Instead, He chose one man, Abraham, and made his descendants into a nation to teach us about the Kingdom. Even before entering the Promised Land, some of them—if not most—were already following foreign gods.

“Now then, do away with the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” (Joshua 24:23)

It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you are going in to take possession of their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out from before you, and in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 9:5)

Strictly speaking, it was not the Canaanites who caused the Israelites to worship idols. Their hearts remained blind and corrupt even after forty years in the wilderness. They witnessed countless miracles and saw everything God had done for them, yet they still turned to idols.

“Now then, do away with the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” (Joshua 24:23)

Through all this, God teaches us about the curse of the conditional covenant. Under the conditional covenant, there is no grace. Grace cannot exist within the framework of a covenant that depends on human obedience. From beginning to end, the Bible presents one consistent message: grace is truly grace only under the unconditional covenant. Jesus Christ had to accomplish what was necessary to make this possible. However, we should not interpret His work as meeting the conditions of the conditional covenant, because He is fundamentally different from Adam.

Many false theologians and ministers have tried to mix grace with works. Yet we can do nothing apart from God’s grace. The salvation we receive through Jesus Christ is not taken away because of our failures or our works. Even as believers, we continue to face temptation and are enticed by sin every day.

Many people become Christians when they hear the good news. However, church leaders often burden them with countless rules, as though their salvation could be lost because of their works. The good news is truly good because it is received freely. Eternal life is God’s gift, not a reward earned or maintained by human effort. No additional works are required to secure the salvation that God has given.

The Son of God became human not to fulfill the conditions of the conditional covenant, but to free us from it. To accomplish this, He became the one and only perfect sacrifice, reconciling God with His people. His mission was not a condition imposed on Him in the same way that Adam was placed under a conditional covenant. Although His obedience brought about our salvation, we should not describe His work as fulfilling the conditions of the conditional covenant. Rather, His sacrifice established the unconditional covenant through which God’s grace is freely given to His people.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:47-49)

Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the Lord, saying, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?” The Lord said, “Judah shall go up; behold, I have handed the land over to him.” (vv. 1-2)

The Book of Judges begins with the capture of Jerusalem after the death of Joshua. Beginning with Moses, the leaders of Israel served as shadows of the true Leader, Jesus Christ. Moses could not lead the Israelites into the land of Canaan, but Joshua did. The name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua. Yet Joshua did not capture Jerusalem; instead, the tribe of Judah did, according to God’s command.

Out of the thirteen tribes of Israel, God chose Judah to capture Jerusalem. It was not because Judah had done anything better than the other sons of Jacob to earn God’s favour. We know that Judah’s lineage continued through his sexual union with his daughter-in-law, Tamar. Without any good deeds to his credit, God appointed Judah to receive this honour. Our Lord Jesus Christ was born from the tribe of Judah in fulfilment of God’s prophecy.

He also rejected the tent of Joseph,
And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
But chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which He loved.
And He built His sanctuary like the heights,
Like the earth which He has established forever.
He also chose His servant David
And took him from the sheepfolds;
From the care of the ewes with nursing lambs He brought him
To shepherd Jacob His people,
And Israel His inheritance.
So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,
And guided them with his skillful hands. (Psalm 78:67-72)

Many people think that Jerusalem is merely the geographical city we can see with our physical eyes. However, the true Jerusalem is Mount Zion, the holy place from which God will rule in the coming Kingdom. That city is not presently on earth. Therefore, it is futile to visit Jerusalem in Israel expecting to receive spiritual benefits simply by being there.

The latter part of the chapter describes how the Israelites failed to drive out all the Canaanites, as God had commanded. Under the conditional covenant, it may appear that Israel’s downfall in the Old Testament resulted from their disobedience, and in that covenantal context, this is true. However, through the death of Christ, God removed the dividing wall between the Israelites and the Gentiles. The distinction between Jew and Gentile was abolished in Christ, as God established the New Covenant.

When the Lord your God brings you into the land where you are entering to take possession of it, and He drives away many nations from before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, and when the Lord your God turns them over to you and you defeat them, you shall utterly destroy them. You shall not make a covenant with them nor be gracious to them. Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them: you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, and they will serve other gods; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you. But this is what you shall do to them: you shall tear down their altars, smash their memorial stones, cut their Asherim to pieces, and burn their carved images in the fire. For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His personal possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:1-6)

The Israelites’ failure to drive out the Canaanites in this chapter foreshadows Israel’s future under the conditional covenant. These events took place because God intended to teach us about life under that covenant. However, we are no longer under the conditional covenant but under the unconditional covenant. God does not require us to keep the covenant in order to gain or maintain our salvation.

With this in mind, we should reexamine the practices and political positions that many churches adopt regarding the situation in Israel. Many Christian leaders do not seem to distinguish clearly between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament exists for the New Testament. Only the unconditional covenant remains.

Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24: 9-14)

The passage tells us what will happen in the end times: tribulation and hatred toward true Christians. False prophets and false teachings about God will become rampant, leading to lawlessness. People will care only about themselves and become unwilling to help others.

Many so-called Christians believe that they can make the world Christian. They follow Christian leaders who have fame and wealth. These leaders receive the spotlight and the praise of many. They influence people in politics. The United States, among all nations with a strong Christian heritage, has often been praised for guarding the faith and evangelising unbelievers. However, much of its Christianity is based on doctrines that originated in England and are false. Christianity has shifted its focus from truth to people. Many join a church for a sense of community rather than for the truth. A nation once regarded as a great Christian country is now declining rapidly while holding firmly to the false doctrines it has long preached. Christianity has shifted from Sola Gratia to a merit-based understanding of salvation. I see the root of this corruption in the doctrine of the Active Obedience of Christ.

People do not care about the truth. They want to gain something beneficial from joining a church community. Many attend Bible studies with little or no understanding, although it is not their fault that they cannot understand the Word of God. If God does not open their eyes, they cannot see. God has appointed only certain people to receive the Holy Spirit; therefore, others remain spiritually blind. The problem arises when false Christians become leaders within their church communities, spreading and even teaching false doctrines. As a result, true Christians endure tribulation and mockery. These false Christians do not necessarily live immoral lives. Some may even appear more generous and kind-hearted than others.

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these. For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, worthless in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their foolishness will be obvious to all, just as was that also of Jannes and Jambres. (2 Timothy 3: 1-9)

God calls us to be lovers of the truth rather than followers of other people. The end may not come for another thousand years. Therefore, maintain a positive attitude in every circumstance. Do not curse anyone. Remain neutral toward the events unfolding around you. Keep your mind focused on the hope we have, knowing that God will fulfill all His promises.

For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! (Matthew 5:18)

Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life, without cost. (Revelation 21:6)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (vv. 10-17)

It is easy to read the Bible and think of it as a series of commandments that we must keep. In fact, many Christians force themselves to do certain things because they believe God will be pleased with them.

In the past, I tried to keep the words written in the Bible, only to realise that I did not have the will or the ability to keep them. We taste the goodness of God, yet our flesh is weak. We eagerly seek God’s wisdom and strive to live a moral life before Him. Yet we also devise evil schemes that may hurt others. We act selfishly and deal treacherously with those around us.

And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (vv. 40-41)

Paul’s admonitions help us refocus on how we should live as Christians. At the same time, as we strive to obey them, we realise that we do not truly love God or others. The essence of the Law is love. We love the Law as it is good. However, we also hate the Law. Paul also realised this paradox.

For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold into bondage to sin. For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate. However, if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, that the Law is good. But now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. (Romans 7:14-20)

Can we ever be separated from our evil nature? The answer is yes. We have been bought by God and no longer belong to those who will perish eternally. We were nothing, and we are still nothing, because there is not a single law that we are able to keep.

It is the Spirit who educates and trains us. We will be perfected in every way. For that reason, we eagerly await the Kingdom.

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:21-25)

So husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are parts of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. (vv. 28-33)

The meaning and importance of marriage are quickly fading away. After the fall of humankind, every man and woman needed a lifelong partner to survive in a harsh environment. Marriage became important for survival. More children often meant greater wealth, as each child could help the family endure and prosper.

Since the Industrial Revolution, people no longer need a partner in order to survive. A person can live independently without relying on a spouse. As a result, marriage has shifted from “how we survive together” to “how I feel about this marriage.”

People still marry for various reasons. However, many no longer seem to have the desire to keep marriage holy and healthy. They quickly turn to other ways of satisfying themselves, such as adultery, divorce, or other forms of unfaithfulness.

There are certainly bad marriages in which verbal and physical abuse are rampant. Some marriages resemble invisible prisons, where one spouse seeks to control the other. Some believe their partner exists merely to make sacrifices for them. Others view their spouse as someone who enhances their image. Power struggles often arise. Conflicts, betrayal, lies, and hatred can take root. This is the reality of marriage between two fallen human beings.

Ephesians 5 tells us the true purpose and meaning of marriage. God is the husband, and the church is His bride. God shares everything with the church and loves her as His own. The church receives God’s love and, in return, loves, understands, and reveres Him. Naturally, the church desires and strives to do what pleases God.

God and the church share the same Spirit. This marriage is not centered on self or on personal feelings toward one’s partner. Rather, it is a union founded on love, faithfulness, and a shared life in God.

So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father; and subject yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ. (vv. 15-21)