The Covenant for the Generations

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 9:35 am Post subject: The Covenant for the Generations

The Covenant for the Generations

Scripture:

And he brought him forth abroad, and said to him: Look up to heaven and number the stars if you can. And he said to him: So shall your seed be. Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice. And he said to him: I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land, and that you might possess it. But he said: Lord God, whereby may I know that I shall possess it? And the Lord answered, and said: Take me a cow of three years old, and a she goat of three years, and a ram of three years, a turtle also, and a pigeon. And he took all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid the two pieces of each one against the other: but the birds he divided not. And the fowls came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. And when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a great and dark horror seized upon him.

And when the sun was set, there arose a dark mist, and there appeared a smoking furnace, and a lamp of fire passing between those divisions. That day God made a covenant with Abram, saying: To your seed will I give this land, from the river to Egypt even to the great river Euphrates.
( Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 )

Be followers of me, brethren: and observe them who walk so as you have our model. For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping) that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction: whose God is their belly: and whose glory is in their shame: who mind earthly things. But our conversation is in heaven: from whence also we look for the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his glory, according to the operation whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself.

Therefore my dearly beloved brethren and most desired, my joy and my crown: so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. ( Philippians 3:17-4:1 )

And it came to pass, about eight days after these words, that he took Peter and James and John and went up into a mountain to pray. And while he prayed, the shape of his countenance was altered and his raiment became white and glittering. And behold two men were talking with him. And they were Moses and Elias, appearing in majesty. And they spoke of his decease that he should accomplish in Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep. And waking, they saw his glory and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass that, as they were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus: Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles, one for you, and one for Moses; and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. And as he spoke these things, there came a cloud and overshadowed them. And they were afraid when they entered into the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud; saying: This is my beloved son. Hear him. And while the voice was uttered Jesus was found alone. And they held their peace and told no man in those days any of these things which they had seen. ( Luke 9:28-36 )

Reflection:

And so it was that to generations past, God made a covenant. Some in that number would follow in faith while others would wander to the ways of the world. Where hearts are open to Him, He extends blessings; where hearts are turned away from Him, He allows them to walk their own paths for a time, but at some point, all shall be held to account. The vision of horror of which Abram saw were of those who would fall and suffer oppression, but from the oppressed would arise those who placed their faith in their God, the One who would bring them to the promised land.

The path of the generations has been repeated over time; turning from and to their one true God; replacing Him with false Gods and false pursuits. In times of comfort, people lose sight of the source of their blessing; they believe all is possible through their own hands. In times of trouble, when all is out of control, they find the ultimate hope in Him. Blessed are those who seek Him in times of blessings and in times of need for He is their deliverer.

He offers of Himself because of the love He has for the children of His creation, but for love to be a relationship, the children of His creation must offer of themselves to Him. Through the faith of Abram, blessings came to generations. And as with Abram, more blessings shall come through the faithful and as faith is spread from heart to heart.

Through the generations the battle continues for the souls of the children of His creation. He extends His hand to all, but not all will see the blessing which can only come from Him. Some will not only turn away, but will turn against the faithful and seek to persecute them. The faithful will be challenged as evil surrounds them; but their faith in Him will deliver them. Times of turmoil will reveal those who are with Him and those who are against. Times of turmoil will reveal what should be gathered up for heaven and what should be cast to the fire.

In prayer, we open ourselves to Him and allow Him to fill our soul. Through prayer, we may listen for how he guides our hearts. Through prayer, we should ask that He opens our eyes to the truth. Through prayer, we should listen for His voice so that He may guide us to His purpose and so that He may help us understand the path to the blessings of love. No matter our sin, when we open ourselves to Him in prayer, He will respond and guide us gently to the path of His glory.

It was only three who witnessed our Lord and Savior standing with prophets of generations past, but they did not understand what they witnessed. All the children of His creation are called to be prophets, but only One was sent as the Word made flesh, the deliverer of all, the light to the World. The prophets may herald the way, but only One is the path.

And so it was, the voice of forever revealed that the One standing before them was His believed Son and that those who witnessed should hear Him. What was held in the heart then, could not be contained for as what was foretold came to be; those who witnessed were blessed to see. No heart can contain good news, so at the appointed time, the moment was told and the moment was written so that the generations might know. Blessed are we that what was then, is still our salvation.

In prayer, we must seek wisdom to understand the good news of the Word. He sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us in truth; therefore, if any doubt fills our heart as to what we are told by the Word or the path He desires us to walk; if we ask the Holy Spirit, the voice of forever will reveal what we need to know and will guide us to the truth. In prayer, we should ask that our eyes be opened so that we do not allow the ways of the world to blind us to the light.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier