Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: STARS (07/28/22)
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TITLE: Shine Like The Stars | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
08/02/22 -
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Many believe that in the very ancient world, God used the
constellations as one of the means to portray or to remind the ancient peoples of His plan of salvation.
The concept of correlating activity on Earth with activity taking place in the Stella universe is promoted in the Book of Jashar.
The Book of Jashar is referred to in both Old Testament and New Testament Scripture (1), but the Book of Jashar itself, is considered to be a non-canonical writing.
It is interesting to note that some Biblical scholars take the position that Abram (later re-named Abraham) was not only told to count (1, 2, 3, 4…) the stars, but to take an accounting of the message written in the stars (2).
In any event, human interest in the significance of what takes place in the Stella universe goes far back into human history, and remains to be so today.
“The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is d-e-c-l-a-r-i-n-g the work of His hands (Psalms 19: 1 NASB).”
The Magi of the First Advent made use of a star to identify the timing and the birthplace of Jesus.
As in the case of many things that God gave for the benefit of Man, Satan has managed to pervert the divine usage for such thing, and then used his perversions to promote evil.
Satan has made use of Fallen Man’s fascination with the Stella universe to encourage the development of false religion (3), idolatry (4), and spiritual adultery (5).
There are many “Christians” who would not let a day go by without reading their horoscope, but “don’t have the time” to read their Bible. Many others are controlled by superstitions. The concept of good or bad luck is an affront to the sovereignty of God.
Divination (fortune telling) is at the very least spiritual adultery (6), and at the very worse idolatry (7) when it results in one turning away from God and or His Word, and then seeking alternative means of guidance.
Seeking a fortune teller (8) was among the acts of disobedience committed by Saul, that led to his own defeat and suicide, and to the death of his three sons (9).
“And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the STARS, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them … (Deut.4:19 NASB).”
Looking up into a starry sky, one can see that some stars shine more brightly than others.
During the daytime, one can injure his or her natural eyes by looking directly into the light of the sun; the nearest star to planet Earth.
During the nighttime, one could strain his or her eyes trying to see the more dimly lit stars on display.
In 1Cor 15: 41, 42, Paul uses the diverse intensity of light emanating from the individual stars as a visual aid to demonstrate the different levels of glory (light) that will accompany the heavenly uniforms of glory (10) to be received by the advancing disciples of the Church Age.
The lesson that Paul was teaching, was that just as all the stars have a place in the Stella universe, all born again believers will have a place in Heaven (11), but will not all shine to the same degree.
Here on Earth, Church Age disciples shine in the unseen spiritual realm to the degree that they glorify God.
In heaven, the uniform of glory (12) that an advancing disciple will receive, will shine with visible light to the degree that each one glorified God during his or her appointed time, here on Earth.
The phrase, “shame of your nakedness,” (13) refers to born again believers who remain saved (14), but do not receive the uniform of glory that are reserved for advancing disciples.
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(1) Joshua 10: 13/2Sam. 1: 18/2Tim. 3: 8 (2) Gen. 15:5 (3) Ps. 96: 5 (4) Deut. 4:19 (5) Rev. 3: 5 (6) Rev. 2: 4 (7) Deut. 4: 19 (8) 1Sam. 28: 7(9) 1Sam 31: 6/1Chron. 10:13 (10) Rev. 3:5 (11) John 14: 3 (12) Rev. 3: 5 (13) Rev. 3: 18 (14) 1Cor. 3: 15
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