The Father shakes His children

The Father shakes His children

This phrase, “Yet once more,” means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. – Hebrews 12:27

Hebrews 12:25-29

 25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”

 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken – that is, things that have been made – in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

The Richter scale, developed in 1935 by Charles F. Richter, ranges from 1 to 10. It indicates the intensity of an earthquake. The vast majority of earthquakes have magnitudes between 1 and 5 and are quite minor. Earthquakes with magnitudes 5.0–5.9 are moderate, 6.0–6.9 are strong with moderate damage in populated areas, 7.0–7.9 are major with serious damage over large areas, loss of life, and 8.0 and higher are considered great, with severe destruction and loss of life over large areas. The most powerful earthquake ever recorded with a magnitude of 8.4 on the Richter scale occurred on May 22, 1960 in Valdivia, Chile.

Earthquakes have been around since the beginning of history. They seem to be getting more frequent and violent in our days.

What is now called the Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence, began on July 5, 2019. Ridgecrest, California was struck with a 6.4 magnitude earthquake. The next day July 6, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake occurred with over 1000 aftershocks. Ridgecrest is basically in the middle of nowhere, also known as the Mojave Desert, 123 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The amount of destruction was small due to the low population density. Some buildings collapsed. There were several water line and gas line breaks, that resulted in power outages and fires.

In California, shaking from earthquakes is a way of life. In the Scriptures, when the Father is literally present on earth, there is often shaking. The earth and even the mountains often tremble.

Exodus 19:18 Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.

Psalms 68:8 The earth quaked; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

The Father wants to draw us close to Him and transform us from the inside out. One of the methods He uses is “shaking.” He has a way of shaking what we hold on to until we finally let go. It is much better to be drawn by the desire for the joys of a close relationship with the Father, than driven. The Father is persistent and will continue to shake. It is better to release sooner than later. He has a way of shaking His children until we let go.

Shaking as a way of changing things. Older things are shaken loose and replaced by newer ones. Things that are secure and immovable withstand the trembling going on about them. Shaking is a part of the refining process.

REFLECT & PRAY

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose!” (Jim Elliot)

Father I have certainly felt your grip upon me, it is firm but gentle. I know that You seek only my best. You are at work to conform me into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

INSIGHT

Better times are coming. After the fall of Adam and Eve, the Earth became a fallen world. One day everything will change. The author of Hebrews, quotes Haggai 2:6. It prophesies concerning that time in the future and when the Lord will return and fill His house with bright shine of the glory of His presence. At Mount Sinai, the Father shook the earth. In the future He will shake the earth and the heavens. A time of judgment and vindication is coming. The kingdom of God of which the prophets spoke, will one day become a reality on planet Earth. And the Lord Jesus Christ rule and reign peacefully for a thousand years (Revelation 20).

Haggai 2:6-9

 6 For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.

 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.

 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts.

 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place, I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.

As we draw ever closer to the time of the Second Coming, the shaking will increase. What the Father has predicted, He will surely bring to pass. Everything in the world, everything made belongs to the Father. He is in control.

The Father will continue to shake until all that can be shaken and removed is. What remains will be unshakable. As the Father actively shakes the world and those who are His children, we can be confident and secure. His ultimate goal is complete transformation.  

Envision for a moment, Michelangelo carefully, determinedly chipping away the large, solid piece of marble until all that is left is the magnificent statue of David. He removed what was necessary to reveal what only his genius could see locked away within the marble.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Others may be frightened by the upheavals, but it is our privilege to walk confidently in the light with our Father, buoyed up and invigorated by His grace and strength.

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