What About The Ark Of The Covenant?

One of the favorite topics of modern “end times prophets” is the elusive Ark of the Covenant.  One example is a March article from charismanews.com by Shawn A. Akers titled “The Ark of the Covenant Found? This Isn’t Raiders of the Lost Ark.”  Here are some representative quotes from the article. “End times expert Michael Snyder says Israeli officials—among others—know exactly where the Ark of the Covenant is located, and there will come a time soon for that location to be revealed. And once that location is finally revealed, Snyder says, "the Israeli people will see an immediate need to construct a new temple for it."”*  After discussing various theories and traditions concerning the Ark’s location, he again quotes Snyder: "But we all agree where it is right now," Snyder says. "It is in a cave under the Temple Mount, and it will stay there until the time comes for it to be revealed. And, that could happen a lot sooner than you think." Once it is finally revealed, it will be just a matter of time before Jewish leaders start conducting sacrifices. In fact, the Temple Institute says that such offerings could actually begin before the building of the Temple itself.”*

There are a multitude of Scriptural problems with the idea of a rebuilt Jewish temple in Jerusalem.  But concerning the idea of the reappearance and reuse of the Ark of the Covenant, the Bible itself destroys such a notion.  Speaking of the days of the restoration of Israel, the prophet Jeremiah says this about the Ark of the Covenant: “It shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land,” declares the Lord, “they will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’  And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, not will they miss it, nor will it be made again” (Jeremiah 3:16).

So who should we believe?  Modern day prophecy pundits or Jeremiah?  I’ll stick with Jeremiah.

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.charismanews.com/world/91857-the-ark-of-the-covenant-found-this-isn-t-raiders-of-the-lost-ark

Confession Is Good For The Soul

“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer” (Psalm 32:3-4).

The heading of this psalm of David doesn’t identify the specific sin in his life that was causing him such intense anguish.  The incident with Bathsheba quickly comes to mind, but we have no way of knowing for sure.  Whatever it was, as long as he remained unrepentant, it tormented him emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  It was only when he acknowledged his sin before God that forgiveness and healing was found (v. 5).  The relief David felt was something he couldn’t keep to himself.  This is something everyone needs to hear!  He encourages everyone to turn to God and enjoy the blessings he enjoyed through confessing his sin (vv. 6-7)

“Confession is good for the soul.”  Most sources attribute this expression to an old Scottish proverb from the 1800’s.  But David learned this truth long before the 19th century.  Acknowledging our sins before God and others is vital to a life of faith.  “Then Jerusalem was going out to him (John, the forerunner of Christ), and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins” (Matthew 3:5-6).  “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).  “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16).

Confession truly is good for the soul.  Remember: “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion” (Proverbs 28:13).

God loves you!

Mike 

Listening To Both Sides

“A great many people say, you must hear both sides; but if a man should write me a most slanderous letter about my wife, I don’t think I would have to read it; I should tear it up and throw it to the winds. Have I to read all the infidel books that are written, to hear both sides? Have I to take up a book that is a slander on my Lord and Master, who has redeemed me with His blood? Ten thousand times no! I will not touch it” (Moody’s Stories, D. L. Moody).

Living in the internet age provides us access to nearly inexhaustible amounts of information AND misinformation.  Clearly it's a blessing and a curse.  We have the incredible ability to research facts and figures and to seek the truth on any topic.  But that access makes us also vulnerable to the lies and deceptions of those who intentionally (or even unintentionally) seek to lead us astray.

Sometimes it’s best to not listen (or read).  In the days of Jeremiah, there were many false prophets who were spreading lies and misinformation.  They were contradicting the true words of God.  Over and over again, God spoke through Jeremiah, telling His people not to listen to the lies and propaganda (Jeremiah 23:16; 27:9,14,16,17; 29:8).  I can imagine the Israelites responding: “But surely we need to hear both sides, don’t we?”  Not according to God!  “Do not listen to them!”  If the Israelites had been living in the internet age, perhaps God would have told them: “Don’t visit their websites.  Don’t follow them on social media.  Don’t listen to their podcasts.”  

Truth has nothing to fear from examination and even critique.  There is a time and place for studying challenges to your faith, but only if you are first firmly grounded in your faith.  Only then can you discern the difference between truth and error.  Feed your faith instead of your doubts.  A steady diet of lies and misinformation can damage your spiritual health.  It can be fatal for your faith.

God loves you!

Mike

Complaining

“A Trappist monk was allowed to say only two words every three years. After the first three years, he said to the Brother Superior, “Bad bed.” Three years later he came back to say, “Bad food.” After three more years of silence the monk said, “No TV.” Another three years passed. This time the monk appeared with robes and sandals in hand and announced, “I quit.” The Brother Superior answered, “It’s no wonder. You’ve done nothing but complain since you got here!””*

It’s so easy to complain, isn’t it?  Sometimes it even happens when things are going well.  Take, for example, the people of God recently released from Egyptian slavery.  They had witnessed the plagues of God which brought a proud Pharoah and his nation to their knees. By the time the Lord was done with him, Pharaoh was demanding that the Hebrews leave.  After leaving Egypt, God delivered them on dry land through the heart of the Red Sea and then used the same sea to drown the Egyptian army who had chased after the freed slaves.  Surely after witnessing the awesome power of God, there could be nothing to complain about, right?

Wrong!  After singing God’s praises in Exodus 15:1-21, the attitude changes just three days later.  The Hebrews get thirsty and what do we read?  “So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink’” (Exodus 15:24).  Not too long afterwards, we read: “The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.  The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (Exodus 16:2-3).

But before I think too harshly of the Hebrews, I need to recall the times I have complained even after the Lord had blessed me.  That should temper my criticism (Philippians 2:14).

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.therocketcompany.com/10-new-preaching-stories/