August 2003

HINDS’ FEET IN HIGH PLACES

Part 6

“He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,
and sets me on my high places!”

(2 Sa 22:34)

           In our last episode we saw that the first time “high places” appears in Scripture, it is part of a strong warning from God to His people, “I will chastise you seven times for your sins and... DESTROY YOUR HIGH PLACES!! I will cut down your images and cast your carcasses on the carcasses of your idols, and My soul will abhor you!” (Lev 26:28,30) The second mention is in an incident of divine destruction, “FIRE went out from Heshbon [Heb 2809 “reckoning, imputing, accountability”]! This FLAME from the dwelling place of Sihon [Heb 5511 “tempestuous, wiping away”] devoured Ar [Heb 6144 “fortified city”] of Moab [Heb 4124 “Lot’s incestuous son”] and the LORDS OF THE HIGH PLACES of Arnon [Heb 769 “shouters of triumph”]!” (Nu 21:28) Thank God His Flame of Fire not only destroys the high places in our hearts, but conquers the despotic lords of those self-exalted estates! All “high places” of our self-righteousness must be torn down; and even more importantly, the lords of our carnal minds must be quashed! But can God’s Flame of Fire- the profoundly passionate LOVE OF CHRIST, accomplish this mission? This unparalleled triumph has already been accomplished! It took place at the Cross of Calvary! But it didn’t happen just 2000 years ago, when it was manifested for all to see; rather it occurred “when the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the earth!” (Re 13:8) And that event transpired as God sowed His Word-Seed into the dust of humanity- where it died in order to bear much fruit!! (Jn 12:24) God clearly states His divine agenda for this Word-Seed in 1 Co 15:42-49.

“It is SOWN in CORRUPTION, then RAISED in INCORRUPTION!
It is SOWN in DISHONOR, then RAISED in GLORY! It is SOWN
in WEAKNESS, then RAISED in POWER: it is SOWN a NATURAL
BODY, then RAISED a SPIRITUAL BODY. So there is a natural
body and a spiritual body. As it is written, The first man, Adam, was
made a living soul and the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
But it was the natural, not the spiritual, that was first; and afterward
came the spiritual. The first man is of the earth, and is earthy: while
the second man is the Lord from heaven! As is the earthy, such are
they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also
that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, so
we s-h-a-l-l also bear the image of the heavenly!”

           None of us can deny that we “have borne the image of the earthy man” especially when we are reminded of our fragile mortality with every obituary column! It is that mortality which frames every decision we make! As death dogs our steps, futility and frustration is onerous and wearisome! This irrefutable truth furnishes proof that the second half of this Oracle will likewise come to pass! Indeed, “WE S-H-A-L-L ALSO BEAR THE IMAGE OF THE HEAVENLY!!” It is not for us to say when or how it shall come to pass for each one, but we have God’s Word that it will happen!
            Only a soul blinded by sin would refute that his flesh is “corruptible and mortal”; and only a soul blinded by sin would refute that “THIS CORRUPTION M-U-S-T PUT ON INCORRUPTION; AND THIS MORTALITY M-U-S-T PUT ON IMMORTALITY!”(1 Co 15:53) Deny it if you will, but “When this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality; then, what is written shall come to pass, Death is swallowed up in victory!” (v.54) And what is death? The Amplified Bible expresses it eloquently, “The MIND OF FLESH- which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit- IS DEATH!” And our flesh mind is not only “death”, but God says it is His ENEMY! (v. 7) However, not to fear! For here too Christ’s Good News happily proclaims that “THE LAST ENEMY TO BE DESTROYED IS DEATH!” (1 Co 15:26) Or to interpret this in the spirit, “THE LAST ENEMY TO BE DESTROYED IS THE CARNAL MIND!”
            First, the “high places” created and worshipped by that carnal mind will be torn down, then “The great dragon- that olad serpent (in Adam’s garden), called the devil and satan, who deceived the whole world, and his angels (messengers, thoughts) will be cast out into the earth!” (Re 12:9) However, “Let no man deceive you, by any means, for that day shall not come except there first be a falling away (from true faith- that Gk 646 calls “apostasy”) where God reveals the man of sin, the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself over all that is called or worshipped as God; who sits in the temple of God (“YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD!” 2 Co 6:16), claiming to BE God...!” Scripture goes on to say, “You know what has kept this man of sin (from being revealed at this time) it is so he may be manifested (revealed) in his own appointed time. For the Mystery of lawlessness- that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority- is already at work in the world; but is held back only until He (Christ, the Anointing) Who hinders it is taken out of The Way (Jesus says, I am The Way!” Jn 14:6) Then that lawless one (Antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the Breath of His mouth; bringing him to an end by His appearing at His coming!” (2 Th 2:3-8) And what has resulted from this unrestrained man of sin? Look around and see how it is being fulfilled that, “Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people...! But also, with the emerging of the sons of God, it is fulfilled that, THE LORD SHALL RISE UPON YOU, AND HIS GLORY SHALL BE SEEN UPON YOU!” (Isa 60:2) Praise His Holy Name forever!”

[TO BE CONTINUED]