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   From:  David (DavidABrown)    Apr-9 9:10 pm  
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As The Hammer Falls
Bryan Hupperts
Apr 9, 2004

 
SheepTrax is an ezine of humor, insight, and Christian teaching featuring the wit, wisdom and deepthinking of Bryan Hupperts. Bryan is the author of numerous newspaper and magazine articles, as well as the book, "A Raven's Gift." Help Bryan feed his sheep. Buy this book! Click to order: http://www.sheeptrax.com/html/sheepstore.html Please forward this message! 
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April 9, 2004 
As The Hammer Falls 

Hi, SheepTrax! 

Exhausted from a night's work, I sat down on my living room couch and fell asleep. In my mind's eye, I saw a hammer in the far, distant sky. At first, it seemed to be a mere speck but as I watched, I saw it begin to grow in size and began a ramming speed run towards earth. 

All around me I became aware of people speaking in their private thoughts many bitter angry accusations and lamentations. As if a collective fist of rage were joined together shaking towards the sky, I began to hear accusations such as, "God, how could you?" and "Why God, why?" 

My own heart betrayed me even as I worshipped God; deep inside I heard myself accuse also accuse him with, "Why has my life been so hard? Why have I wrestled with illness for so long? Where is the healing you promised? I lay hands on the sick and nothing. Where is your promise, O Lord God? Did you lie? Have you forgotten your promises to me?" 

I was deeply ashamed of the flood of accusations that flowed from the secret place of my heart. And then I realized that my inner thoughts were louder in heaven than my spoken words. 

I looked up and the hammer had grown larger and began to fill the sky. A moaning chorus of human lament and rage spiraled in a choir of accusations against the Most High. 

"My husband left me and it YOUR fault, God. " 

"My business is not prospering. I gave money, 10 percent and more. Where is the blessing you promised?" 

Then it occurred to me that these were Christians making these accusations! 

Voices of unbelievers chimed in agreeing with the accusing saints. "If you're so good, why is there war and disease? Why did my father molest me? Why did my car break down on my way to the interview? I needed that job. Curse you, O God!" 

As the swell of accusations rose to crescendo in fever pitch, I repented of the evil intent of my heart and was forgiven. The shadow of the hammer now covered the earth and filled the sky. It came swiftly, menacingly as I imagined the mythical hammer of the Norse demon god Thor would fall. Destruction seemed certain. 

I began to cry out to people, "The hammer of God is coming. It is going to fall. Judgment is swift and sure!" But my voice was drowned out in dirge of lament and accusation that went up from the earth. 

And the hammer filled the whole sky and grew larger and larger until it seemed we were but a tack under a large sledgehammer about to be mercilessly crushed. And I heard a voice rumbling like thunder say, "Behold, my Judgment!" 

And then the hammer was suddenly very small in the hands of a man in the attire of an ancient soldier. He raised it up to an iron spike and began to nail it into the hand/wrist of a bleeding, groaning man on a Cross. The hammer of God began to fall in judgment on him! 

I awoke shaken with wonder. Colossians 1:20 and 2:14 flashed through my mind. "By Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross... Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." 

The hammer of God's righteous and swift Judgment did fall on our substitute sacrificial lamb, Jesus! May this blessed truth comfort you who have come to saving faith in Christ. 1Thessalonians 5:9, "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ!" 


Bryan Hupperts  2004 
SheepTrax Media  
PO Box 270256 
St. Louis, MO 63127 USA 
deepsheep@sheeptrax.com 
www.SheepTrax.com 
http://www.sheeptrax.injesus.com 


Legal Stuff: Copyright  2004 Bryan Hupperts. Permission to distribute this material via email, or individual copies, is automatically granted on the condition it will be used for non-commercial purposes and will not be sold.



David A. Brown
Basic Christian: Forum
www.BasicChristian.org

 
 
