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5/29 Reading Portions: Deuteronomy 2; Psalms 83-84; Isaiah 30; Jude
Psalm 84:7
They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.
EVOLUTION
The godless, unbelieving world hijacks languages and perverts words and ideas all the time. “Evolution” is one such word in the English language. When we hear the word today, most of us almost immediately think of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and his wicked, unscientific, unbiblical, and idiotic ideas on the origin of life. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines evolution like this: “The act of unfolding or unrolling.” This is an appropriate term for our growth in transforming grace; as the psalmist put it, we “go from strength to strength.” The original Hebrew conveys this thought: each one of YHVH God’s “Blessed Ones” (Psa 84:4, 5) grows in the valor of a victorious army with each step taken, so that the ‘blessed’ will be seen of God, appearing before God in Zion. Indeed, you and I are the blessed who dwell in the house of Jesus (Psa 85:5a), our King and God (Psa 84:3), singing His praises (Psa 84:5b). Most certainly, Christ Jesus, our Lord, is our strength (Psa 84:6), as we put on the power of His might, spiritually speaking (Eph 6:10). We go from strength to strength because, with each step of our walk of faith, we grow from strength to strength. We know more of Christ because we learn more of Christ. Our behavior conforms more and more to Christ’s behavior as we pass through valleys of tears and dig wells for those of faith who will follow Christ’s path behind us (Psa 84:6). Salvation in Christ Jesus, yes, is transformational at the outset; however, the spiritual life in Christ continues to transform, continues to conform to Christ’s image, and continues to evolve from strength to strength and from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18). For our path is one filled with steadfast, patient hope, for that Day when we will appear before Christ, our God, in Zion. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
We walk by faith, and not by sight,
With strength, each step brought near’r
Our prize, in Zion’s glor’ous height:
The courts of Christ most dear.