The Bible is often misunderstood by the majority of people who read it, let alone those who only hear about what someone else has read.
In the Old Testament, when the Israelites were rescued from the Egyptians, they were to be a light to the world and demonstrate how a nation can truly have the blessings of God. In order for this to occur, certain practices were required to ensure that justice was upheld. The world in which we live is unforgiving. Wild animals do not knock on one’s door and say, “Please forgive us, we have only dropped in to have you for a meal.”
This world in which we live is really wild. Not sure? Go out into a dark park with some trees during a stormy night. You will get the message.
The trouble is too many people have been conditioned to living in cities and spend most of their lives thinking milk comes from the supermarket where the fruit and vegetables grow. Beef patties are grown at McDonalds.
See if you can go up to a cow and milk it without getting kicked in the face. You could try your luck picking off organic trees ripe fruit that has not got grubs in it. Better still, spend three months watching vegetables grow without bothering about the weeds and not getting hungry. But to get the real taste of life, chase down a steer and see how you go slicing a pattie from its hide for your hamburger. You will probably want to forgive the steer after he has gored you.
The world that Jesus spoke about is not this temporary one in which we now live. Jesus spoke of the eternal kingdom—the realm of the spirit that is eternal. This is the world we feel but cannot see. Like when you feel offended, because somebody said something and you want to retaliate (and there are many such precious people too). Yet you could not see what it was that was said, you only heard it—or maybe, you did see it when you read what had been written. Nevertheless, the unseen realm exists. One that does not gore you or pluck your eyes out while you are living in this world.
The realm that is eternal is the realm of the spirit. Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life. By this Jesus meant we need to follow Him if we are to experience eternal life—beginning now! But only those who recognize the futility of this world, who are able to forgive and accept a better hope, get to enter the fullness of life that transcends this temporary existence, which planet Earth has to offer.
The eye for an eye meme belongs to those who reign in this temporal world. Islam seeks to reign in this world. The god of this world seeks to reign in this world. God gave Israel the opportunity to reign in this world—even with His blessing; but the people sought other gods. Therefore, God forsook the Israelites, did away with the eye for an eye meme, and left only the meme of forgiveness and empowerment.
The Bible is a progressive revelation of how God has worked out His plan to redeem what the god of this world kidnapped. When you understand this, then you are able to comprehend that there are two dispensations.
The first dispensation being before the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The second dispensation began at Pentecost 31 AD. This dispensation is also the age that we are living in now.
The first dispensation had to do with God working with people on the Earth to establish a nation that would be a testimony to His greatness and superior ways, instead of bowing before statues and believing in myths.
Humanism is the myth that indoctrinated people—especially those instructed by teachers working for the postmodern education system of today—are attracted to more than any other. Humanism is the belief that man is the ultimate in being. Humanism is not meant to be a joke. Even if only deceived individuals, who reject the truth about life and death, believe there is power in futile humanism—even lying through their teeth to defend it as meaningful. Humanists are known to get very vicious and aggressive when they are shown up for what they are—yet they call this malicious behavior, being progressive.
The second dispensation has to do with passing through to the new age of the Spirit. This is about recognizing that as a human being we have no hope of overcoming death. Lord Jesus Christ is the only person on record to have shown the way. Consequently, we read that on His way to the cross, Jesus called people to follow Him:
- But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” (Matthew 8:22)
- As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)
- And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” (Matthew 9:27)
- [But] he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38)
- Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)
- Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)
When Jesus was on the cross, just before He was about to pass through to the other side and then rise from the dead, instead of cursing those who crucified Him, He forgave them. Meanwhile, those who had hanged Jesus from the cross were only concerned about material matters. Such was the blindness of their minds that we read:
- And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Luke 23:34)
The Bible is a progressive revelation to humans of how God has been bringing about salvation for those who hate evil; yet are humble enough to recognize their own need for forgiveness.
We all need forgiveness for having tarnished our integrity by lowering ourselves to lie like the Devil, even if we were telling true lies, or white lies, or lies that we want to be true, rather than the truth.
If you can grasp this, then you will begin to understand that only those who truly want to pass through to the other side are willing to forgive. These are the ones who will follow Jesus’ example and put their trust in the power of the Creator of the Universe. “For vengeance is mine,” says the Lord, “I will repay each according to his deeds.” But blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
