The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
SUBJECT – AND A CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM
This month's message, takes a look at a situation, that seems to be quite a bit peculiar.
It presents a condition that is at total odds with what we know as reality today.
Beginning at verse 1 of this chapter, we are shown a glimpse in to the future, where conditions will be such that, in the animal kingdom, natural enemies, will eventually become as they were, before the fall, able to coexist together.
All of this will take place because a certain individual will emerge out of the blood line of Jesse, that will usher in what many call a Utopian era. That means there will be no more wars, because enemies will become friends. Not only that, but, if we look at the entire context of what is promised, there will be no more sickness, or disease, no poverty, starvation, suffering, war or death.
Think about it. With all of those things out of the way, every thing will be in harmony with everything else, thus eliminating any reason to cause another, injury.
This of course, not only is addressing the animal kingdom, but, mankind, as well.
What I want to focus on in this message, is the part of the subject scripture that I have underlined and in italics. It says that all of this will be spearheaded, not by some super being that has come along and essentially forced this to happen. Neither will it come about by some great army, or powerful nation, that essentially eliminates the causes of these problems. Neither will it come about, because of science, drugs, or any of the other things man can come up with through science, or intelligence, but rather, a little child shall lead them.
The significance of this is, in order for there to be a leader, there have to be willing followers. Now we know that most wild animals, unless domesticated, do not have the will to follow any human, except to possibly make a meal out of them. Yet, here we have a little child doing just that. Or so it seems.
While the term,
little child, carries with it the image of just that, a human being, that is, I would guess, 6 years old or younger, that is not what we are looking at.
In order for you to understand what is really being presented here, we have to look at the mental condition of a little child, as compared with a full grown adult.
A little child, is one who is totally incapable of doing anything for themselves. Their well being and existence is totally in the hands of others. They have to be fed, dressed, cuddled, and of course taught. All of the molding of their character, comes from what they are taught, as they are growing up into adults.
An adult, depending on certain factors, is one who has matured in mentality, and character, where they are able to take care of themselves, without any help, from anyone. They can think and act, for themselves. They don't need anyone telling them anything, because they know all there is to know, in the realm of being an adult.
The progression from childhood to adulthood, physically will happen regardless of character. However, character, and the ability of a person to be presumed as grown, depends on what the society a person lives in, says. In certain parts of the world, a person is considered grown, in their early teens. Here, the age is usually 18, However, just because a person is 18, physically, does not mean they are mentally mature. By the same token, due to certain illnesses, a person that, at one time was mentally mature, is now regressing back to the mentality of a child.
The subject scripture seems to be indicating, that, someone that is physically, and mentally a child, will be leading, former enemies in the animal kingdom, in the ways of getting along together in peace.
However, that is not what the total meaning or focus of this verse is.
It is a stretch, though not impossible for this to be the case. But, what is more likely the point, is, the condition of everything on the earth, will be determined by someone, that, like a little child, is totally trusting in someone else to lead, and take care of them.
For those of you that don't know it, the condition that the animal kingdom is in, is a direct result of what happened in the Garden of Eden, when Adam, sinned against God. It was through his disobedience, that God's curse, filled the earth, and turned, what was once a Utopia, into what we have today.
Man, after that, was left with the responsibility of essentially, fending for himself. That meant, he had to try to make as good a life for himself, as he possibly could, without any help from God. As a result, he came up with all sorts of ideas, that he adopted through trial and error, to set up his system of what was best for him.
Every system of 'what works for man', came about, through this process. It was, and is a process, totally devoid of God. It is called human nature, carnality or humanism.
Human nature, relies on the knowledge and wisdom of man, which comes from his own educational system, that he himself, determined, as truth. Therefore everything revolves around himself. This makes
him, essentially, a god. All of his trust is centered in what he thinks is right and wrong. As a result, any problems he faces, he feels he can deal with.
In the meantime, God is allowing him to keep on thinking he is in control, letting him bump his head against an invisible brick wall. The longer man keeps thinking he can solve his problems on his own, because of his education, the worse things will get.
Well, when an individual, realizes that he needs to depend on someone, outside of himself, then, he is admitting that he doesn't have the answer to solve his problems. That is something that too many people in our society today, can't accept. Their pride, won't let them.
Just like a baby, or little child is totally dependent on its parents, if man would put his total dependence back in God, then we would see things turn around.
2Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
God tells us, that if we will, for all intents and purposes, get away from trusting in ourselves to solve our problems, and, turn back to Him, then we will see the type of world, we have been striving for.
Sounds simple enough, but, it isn't. Why??
Because this mentality has been engrained in to our DNA, so to speak, since the Garden of Eden, that we can solve our problems, without resorting to the foolishness of a genie in a bottle, or a make believe, all knowing, all powerful Wizard of Oz, who, in the end, is a sniveling little wimp, afraid of his own shadow.
Down through the ages, just about every thing man gets exposed to, is something that helps build his ego. You have Hollywood, science, educational institutions [mostly public], television, entertainers, and even preachers, that feed in to that notion.
Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
In this verse, if you will notice, Jesus, is giving a stark warning, in which we see that same phrase,
'a little child.' And what does He say about it?? He says if we don't become as a little child, we shall not enter in to the
Kingdom of God.
There has been, what I see, as a misinterpretation of the term,
'Kingdom of God.' Many Christians tend to say it means Heaven. The
Kingdom of God, quite literally, means the entire spiritual realm, that God rules over. The
Kingdom of Heaven, on the other hand, is like the capitol of the Spiritual Realm, from which God rules.
What Jesus is actually saying here, is that if man doesn't get off of his 'high horse' and quit trusting in his own knowledge and wisdom, he will never be able to see what the real cause of his problems, really is.
You mention Heaven, hell, and the Devil to most of these people, and they will fall out laughing. They will tell you, 'You need to grow up. You still believe in fairy tales??' Who is it, that usually believes fairy tales?? Little children!!
And, the thing is, these 'fairy tales', are more real than what man considers reality. Because man's reality, is temporal [subject to change]. These 'fairy tales', on the other hand, are eternal, so to speak.
And it is the Devil, that is behind all of the suffering and misery, that man is trying to get rid of. But, how can you get rid of something that
you think is a joke??
Have you ever noticed how, when little children hear 'fairy tales', how they tend to act as if they are real?? Well, what does that tell you about educated mankind??
Is it any wonder that Jesus' disciples were unlearned men?? Is it any wonder that the ones that persecuted Jesus the most were the religious leaders, lawyers, and politicians [the educated elite of that time]??
The apostle Paul, who had been one of them, after he met Christ, on the road to Damascus, became as
a little child, and 'abandoned all of his educational achievements.
Phi 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Phi 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung[manure], that I may win Christ,
If you know anything about Saul of Tarsus [his name before his conversion], he was in the elite group of pharisees, that were the most educated. And he threw it all away, so he could enter in to the Kingdom of God.
As a result, he is the author of two thirds of the New Testament, and the principle figure that many Christians follow, after Christ. He is a perfect example of a little child, becoming a leader. And since people from all walks of life, have come to Christ, through his teachings, former enemies, have now become at peace with each other.
But educated man, can't see it, because he is blind. He just keeps trudging on, battling a force that he feels does not exist, and as a result keeps losing ground. His pride won't let him admit he is a fool. And no one can tell him, that, either. The bible says,
Prv 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools [those that trust in their own wisdom] despise [Godly] wisdom and instruction. As a result, everything continues to go wrong, because God will not help them.
If we will look at the major problems this nation is facing today, and, compare them to what God says will happen to nations that defy Him, we will see an exact parallel to cities and nations in the past. Sodom and Gomorrah, Babylon, Philistia [Palestine, Philistines], Rome, even Israel, all defied God, and they were all reduced to a shadow of themselves, and the US is on a fast track to that exact same fate. All because we trust in ourselves, rather than God.
As 2Chr 7:14 says above, if we want our land healed, then, first we need to repent, and turn from our wicked ways, and this includes most Christians, especially in the black community, which are the biggest offenders in the eyes of God, then turn away from these evil ways, and back to God. Then, and only then, will He move to straighten out the mess we have made in this nation, and our communities.
We can march until we are blue in the face. We can elect all Democrats, or all Republicans, pass all the laws we feel that are needed, and it will result in more destruction and despair. Why?? Because we don't want to admit we don't know what we are doing.
So, what's it going to be America, and black community?? Are you going to continue trusting in your own ways, or become
as a little child, and put all your trust, in God? I close with this.
Prv 14:12, 16:25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. So important it was mentioned twice.
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