“Forty-three, forty four, forty-five, oh no! Two are missing! We need to go on a zoo animal hunt. Our turtle and our lion are missing.” Amelia was climbing all over the bed where her mom was trying to change Ezra. I was doing the daily zoo animal headcount as the kids prepared to head home. In an attempt to draw her attention, I asked, “Amelia, come help Lolly find our missing zoo animals.” She didn’t take the bait. Instead
she followed her mom into the bathroom for Ezra to try using the potty. He’s starting to connect being wet with using the bathroom and usually announces potty just after he’s gone so we’re teaming up to start the potty training process. Unfortunately he also thinks using the potty means he’s getting undressed for a bath. We’re working on that. “I found the turtle and the lion,” Valentina replied as they all exited the guest room. “They were in the bathtub.”
I started a couple of Christmases ago with a dozen or so zoo animals for the grandkids, the ones we see when we visit the zoo each month. I’ve since added mates and at least one baby animal to make zoo families. Our breeding program is pretty simple. Lolly orders new animals and they appear in the basket ready for play. We’re up to forty-seven at present, with most of the species in our zoo represented. They’re very durable, except for the two zebras missing tails, and they often end up in the bathtub or water play table or sandbox. They’ve yet to visit the beach but I’m sure that adventure is coming.
On occasion we’ve had a rogue animal for more than a week but thankfully they usually turn up in between sofa cushions or in kitchen cabinets or in the pantry. We’ve gotten lots of sorting and counting practice, learned about what each animal eats as we pretend to feed them, and who gets along with whom and who doesn’t. We haven’t introduced the word predator yet. We concentrate on how God designed each animal to defend itself with camouflage and the like. And of course, we read about how God will restore His intended order in nature.
“In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.
The cow will graze near the bear.
The cub and the calf will lie down together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.”
Isaiah 11:6-9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.11.6-9.NLT
I’ve seen some incredible National Geographic documentaries, once on the big screen in three dimensions, exposing hidden ocean life, or life in the wilds of Africa or Antarctica. Breathtaking photography and videography captured sights my eyes may never see otherwise. The world is an amazing place filled with wonder and every single part, from animals in the wild, planets farflung in space, and especially human beings right down to the cellular level, all discoveries are meant to point us to our Creator God, Maker of heaven and earth. He reveals Himself in nature and the natural world and by His Word. We are given exactly enough to produce and sustain faith, by the power of His Holy Spirit.
“The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.”
Psalms 19:1-2, 4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.19.1-4.NLT
“The Lord our God has secrets known to no one.
We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.”
Deuteronomy 29:29 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/deu.29.29.NLT
“Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power.
He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.
He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light.”
Daniel 2:20-22 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/dan.2.20-22.NLT
From cover to cover, the Bible reveals God the Son, Jesus, as Savior and Redeemer and as Lord. He is God come to earth, to dwell among His creatures, to give His life as a ransom for as many as will receive Him by faith. A survey of both Testaments foreshadows His coming, records His birth, sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension, chronicles the building of His Church, and predicts His return to set up God’s eternal kingdom, including a new heaven and a new earth. It’s all there.
“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me.
Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.
He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.15.3-4.NLT
From my study, I share this commentary from the Gospel Coalition’s annual Read The Bible Plan from II Corinthians chapter nine.
“So much of basic Christian ethics is tied in one way or another to the Gospel. When husbands need instruction on how to treat their wives, Paul does not introduce special marriage therapy or appeal to a mystical experience. Rather, he grounds conduct in the Gospel: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25).
If you are looking for maturity, beware of any “deeper life” approach that sidesteps the Gospel, for Paul writes, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Col. 2:6–7).
Of course, there is “deeper life” in the sense that Christians are exhorted to press on toward greater conformity to Christ Jesus and not to be satisfied with their present level of obedience (e.g., Phil. 3). But none of this is an appeal to something that leaves the Gospel behind or that adds something to the Gospel.
We must avoid the view that, while the Gospel provides a sort of escape ticket from judgment and hell, all the real life-transforming power comes from something else—an esoteric doctrine, a mystical experience, a therapeutic technique, a discipleship course. That is too narrow a view of the Gospel. Worse, it ends up relativizing and marginalizing the Gospel, stripping it of its power while it directs the attention of people away from the Gospel and toward something less helpful.”
Read the Bible: Exodus 21, Luke 24, Job 39, 2 Corinthians 9
In a nutshell, it’s all there!
“For the word of God is alive and powerful.
It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.
It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.
Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.
There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Hebrews 4:12-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.4.12-14.NLT
As I turn in tonight, the turtle and the lion are accounted for and the zoo basket is put away but there are countless rogue souls living and working in close proximity to me and to my family. I’m certain the same is true for you. If you know Jesus as Savior and you honor Him as Lord, then you also take His commission seriously. There is no time to lose. Jesus said we know neither the day or hour of His return and His coming will be like a thief in the night. He does not say this to frighten us. He is instilling a sense of urgency that is appropriate in every generation. He is also warning us against complacency. It is far too easy to grow comfortable here but this is not our eternal home. When Jesus comes, God’s angels will divide the nations.
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.
All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
For I was hungry, and you fed me.
I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.
I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
I was naked, and you gave me clothing.
I was sick, and you cared for me.
I was in prison, and you visited me.’
Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?
Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
Or a stranger and show you hospitality?
Or naked and give you clothing?
When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.
For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me.
I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink.
I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home.
I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing.
I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:31-46 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.25.31-46.NLT
“After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?
You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am.
And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.
I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master.
Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.
Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”
John 13:12-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.13.12-17.NLT
“And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved.
But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.”
Mark 16:15-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mrk.16.15-16.NLT
The choice is theirs but the responsibility is ours. As God commanded Ezekiel, so Jesus commands us.
“When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people.
Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die.
They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs.
If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives.
But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity.
They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.’
Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel.
Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me.
If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself.
As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people.
I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live.
Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel!
Why should you die?
Son of man, give your people this message:
The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins.
When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered.
I will destroy them for their sins.
And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right.
For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil.
If they do this, then they will surely live and not die.
None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live.
Your people are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right,’ but it is they who are not doing what’s right.
For again I say, when righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and turn to evil, they will die.
But if wicked people turn from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live.
O people of Israel, you are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right.’
But I judge each of you according to your deeds.”
Ezekiel 33:3-9, 11-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/ezk.33.5-20.NLT
“Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’”
Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.”
Romans 14:10-12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.14.12.NLT
“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval.
Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.2.15.NLT
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.
At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
Galatians 6:9 NLT
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