What Now?

MOTUS A.D. ^ | 3-19-22 | MOTUS

[NOBO2012]

Remember “Doug,” the huge potato a New Zealand couple found in their garden last year? I wrote about him at the time:

Advantage: USA!

…a charming little story out of New Zealand. It seems a couple found this huge potato growing in their garden. Since they didn’t plant it they’ve no idea how it got there. Colin explains that their gardening technique consists of “throw(ing) a bunch of cow manure and straw onto their garden and see what happens.”

Come to think of it that’s pretty much how we got our potato, too.

And we seem to be having the same trouble with our potato as Donna and Colin Craig-Brown had with theirs:

As the couple showed the potato off, it began drying out and losing weight. Mold started growing from its wounds. "He was getting a bit pongy," said Colin, referring to the potato's smell.

So they changed the spelling of their potato’s name to “Dug,” which seems more appropriate, and stuck him in the deep freeze planning to turn him into vodka at some point. Again, something we may wish to consider doing with our own pongy potato at some point. 

But now, a year hence, comes the bad news from the people at the Guinness Book of World Records who were checking “Dug’s” DNA:

Guinness broke the news to Colin and Donna in an email last week. The message reads, in part “sadly, the specimen is not a potato and is in fact the tuber of a type of gourd. For this reason we do have to disqualify the application.”

So it turns out the big potato is nothing but a big fraud.

Donna with her tuber, in happier times

Now the only question remaining: does that make our potato the world record holder? Or is ours also a tuber?

What difference, at this point, does it make?

As they say, it is what it is.

And what it is I fear is quite obvious.

The question is what now?

Posted from: MOTUS A.D.

[Jim W N]

It felt like my discussion with you was in good faith. It didn't feel like that with SaveFerris - at least in the middle-part of the discussion.

Matt 22:7-8 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

FYI, just before this parable, And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them (Matt. 21:45).

In the context of Jesus' parables in Matt. 21:28 through 22:14 (including Matt 22:7-8), Matt 21:45 tells us that Jesus was prophetically speaking of the Jews of that day ("them that were bidden" (Matt. 22:3). Further proof that Jesus was speaking of the Jews of that day is when he was done the Pharisees took counsel to entangle Jesus (Matt. 22:15).

And later, it happened to the Jews exactly as the prophecy said. In 70 AD Jerusalem was completely destroyed by the Romans so that literally one stone was not left upon another. The Lord then turned to the Gentiles to fill his house for the wedding (vs.9-10). This has been going on for the last 2000 years.

[SaveFerris]

FReepmail (typo)

Matthew 5:11-12

[Seven_0]

I’m not sure how you answered my point. I have not found a direct reference to the wedding of Chris, just like the second resurrection. You must look elsewhere in scripture to figure out when and even where.

The Lord then turned to the Gentiles to fill his house for the wedding (vs.9-10). This has been going on for the last 2000 years.

The gentiles and even some Jews from the last 2000 years make up the Church, which is the bride, but who are the guests?

Matt 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

I have a problem with the marriage happening anytime during the tribulation. You should consider a one-year hiatus from Deuteronomy 24:5. Would Christ go off to war right after the wedding? In the parable, the destruction takes place before the wedding

[Jim W N]

The gentiles and even some Jews from the last 2000 years make up the Church, which is the bride, but who are the guests? Matt 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

In most of Jesus' parables, although we are the Bride of Christ, we are also shown as the guests - trillions (too many to count) of us together forever with Jesus. So what's coming is both wedding and a celebration. The "rapture" will bring us together with Jesus forever (the wedding). Then let's party - a what a party. IMO it will go on for seven years.

We and the whole world are invited guests to this, the greatest celebration ever. The only difference between us and the rest of the world is we, by grace, accepted the invitation.

[Seven_0]

In most of Jesus' parables, although we are the Bride of Christ, we are also shown as the guests

Where? We are also the armies on horseback, compare Rev 19:8 and 19:14.

trillions (too many to count)

I have seen estimates that half of all the people born since Adam are alive today. Far from a trillion.

all as many as they found, both bad and good

Notice the description of the guests? Details

[Jim W N]

Seven_0, you ask good questions, and as far as I can tell, you're sincere ("good faith"). I love talking about this stuff (did I mention I plan to write a book one of these days as the Lord opens the door(s)?) so hopefully we can keep this on a positive plane and keep 'er going. In talking about this stuff I find I'm forced to dig down, kick the tires (the truth always survives getting the tires kicked), maybe explore unexamined areas, and I almost always learn stuff I didn't realize before.

A lot of folks are more concerned about proving how "right" they are. Those are usually the ones who are more concerned about defending their "pet doctrines" than in finding the truth from God's Word with the help of the Holy Spirit. I only care about the truth because I know the truth sets us free (and I know my pet doctrines won't set anybody free). This is what I mean by "erasing the blackboard" of your heart and mind, sitting at Jesus' feet, and letting him do the teaching.

In most of Jesus' parables, although we are the Bride of Christ, we are also shown as the guests. Where?

Well, for starters try his parable at Luke 14:12-14; his parable at vs. 16-24; vs 15 (which explains how the two parables connect), and his parable at Matt. 22:2-14. I'll let you do some more research on your own).

We are also the armies on horseback, compare Rev 19:8 and 19:14.

Cool, huh?

all as many as they found, both bad and good

Now you're getting into the parts that are more difficult to understand. As I've said, don't reject plain sound doctrine and truth for the parts that are more hard to understand.

IMO Heaven will be filled with those who have received rewards - some many rewards, some not too many, some possibly none at all, yet they are still saved because "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Hebrews Chapt. 4 tells us a lot about not missing the rewards God has for us, and it has NOTHING to do with our self-effort or self-righteousness, like the Pharisees who Jesus constantly rebuked and condemned.

[Seven_0]

As I've said, don't reject plain sound doctrine and truth for the parts that are more hard to understand.

I have a list of rules for interpreting scripture. What would I do if I came across a contradiction between plain sound doctrine and parts that are hard to understand?

I don’t have a problem with being a guest or the bride at a wedding but it is difficult for me to say that the bride is a guest. Luke presents Christ as a man and Matthew presents Christ as a King (Rev.4:7). Looking at the differences in the narratives allows us to see this. In the Gospel of Luke we are the guests but at the wedding of the King’s son, we are the bride.

[Jim W N]

What would I do if I came across a contradiction between plain sound doctrine and parts that are hard to understand

I'd stick with the plain sound doctrine and wait on the lord about stuff that's difficult to understand.

I think the Lord bends over backwards to show us things that are hard to understand. I think it also helps to know that God sees things differently than you and I. Just roll with it. Hey, he's made you part of the Bride and a VIP guest at the greatest party ever because he loves you and why not?

If his love for us is so great that he did not spare his own Son, why would he not share a great seven-year party with us? Sometimes our religiosity and stodginess can get in the way of God's flow of blessing towards us.

[Seven_0]

I'd stick with the plain sound doctrine and wait on the lord about stuff that's difficult to understand

We don't have to choose one or the other. There is no contradiction.