August | 2023 | Dave Soucie

Two men. One on a street corner in full view of all. The other around the corner, mostly out of sight, trying not to call attention to himself. One is cocky. The other embarrassed.

There’s a part of me that feels confident, a bit too proud, bordering on smug. I know I’ve tried to be the person God wants me to be. I look around and see others whose lives are an absolute mess, and I’m grateful that I seem to have it more together.

That attitude brings with it several risks. I might be tempted to feel superior, looking down my nose at those I feel are less. I can gloss over my own failings, brushing them aside, feeling they are minor compared with the gaping sin of others. It’s likely to leave me feeling I have arrived, with little need to fine-tune my soul, that I will be a blessing to Heaven instead of a grateful sinner.

Then there’s the other side of me that stands in an alley off the main street, trying to hide in a doorway, keeping quiet, wishing to be invisible.

This is the side of me that knows myself best. My weaknesses. My failures. My history of disappointing a Lord who has done so much for me.

You may have already figured out that this is based on the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector from Jesus, found in Luke 18:9-14. Jesus honors the humility of the tax collector who confesses he has disappointed God and begs for mercy. Jesus calls out the Pharisee for his self-righteous attitude.

This isn’t the only time scripture talks about our need to be honest about the health of our soul.

Romans 3:10 [NIV] As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one”

Matthew 7:3-5 [NIV] Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Romans 3:23 [NIV] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), perhaps better titled The Parable of the Waiting Father, I am both of the sons in the story. I have at times wandered off away from my Heavenly Father. At other times I’ve been prideful that others have wandered much further. I know I need to follow the example of the Prodigal and humble myself before my Lord.

It’s best that I remind myself that I remain a work in progress, and will until the day I pass.

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Dave Soucie lives, serves and writes in Indianapolis.

I’ve started a series on the book of Revelation. It probably won’t be what you would expect.

You’ll never see me make specific and fanciful predictions about the end of the world. Instead, this series will review four major themes in Revelation. I’ll be upfront about things we cannot know, and focus on what is knowable.

Our theme verse about the timing of the end of the world is a quote from Jesus. “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” [Matt. 24:36]

Today we’ll see how God concludes human history, and invites us to be victors.

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Satan is a loser. Whether in the past, present or future, Satan loses the battle over the hearts and minds in the heavenly realms. He loses in his attempt to stop Jesus. He loses his efforts to manipulate all humanity. Although he wins over many in the 20 centuries since Jesus walked the Earth, those he cannot control are gaining ground. He is losing all those here and elsewhere who love God with all their heart, soul, strength and mind.

And in the end God wins…when he concludes human history. Since before the beginning of time God intended to gather to himself “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.” [1 Peter 2:9] Here’s how the war will end. From Rev. 20.

Rev. 20:7-10 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth–Gog and Magog–to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Is it just me, or does “for ever and ever” sound like a long, long time?

In World War 2 there was a sense of teamwork felt by millions. Some carried a rifle and dug foxholes. Some drove supply trucks to the front lines. Some packed parachutes. Some were Rosie the Riveters. Some planted Victory Gardens. All shared in the victory. Same team, different roles, all victors.

There is a very intriguing text at the very end of the Bible’s book of Romans. “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” [Rom. 16:20] Bash his face! “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”

Now let’s think about this. God [master of the Heavens] crushes [completely destroys] Satan [loser and jerk] under your feet. Your feet. You are a part of how God intends to complete his triumph. You. And me. And all those who love God and serve him.

He could have very easily handled all this all by himself. But like any caring parent, he as our Heavenly Father wants us his children to participate, to be a part of the victory. He wants us to know what it’s like to succeed, to be a part of something bigger than human history.

Same team, different roles, all victors.

The outcome of this conflict is not in doubt. God will win whether we are a part of it or not. But given that we’ve seen the future, and know that he will triumph, we must decide whether we want to be known as a hero of the faith, making our father proud, or a victim of a loser.

God wins and so can we.

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We’re going to take another short break. When we return to our look at Revelation, we’ll conclude by seeing the glory in what God has accomplished.

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Dave Soucie lives, serves and writes in Indianapolis.

Dave Soucie

Dave Soucie

The Sky Is Not The Limit

Month: August 2023

I Am Both Of These Men

What’s Up With The Book Of Revelation? Part 12