Ed Christian's World

The Incense and The Glory…

ANAN HA KETORET was the Cloud of Incense. In ancient times, the glory of God would appear in the Holy of Holies inside the Temple of Jerusalem. The High Priest of Israel was allowed to enter in the Holy of Holies once a year. He had to do it with incense.

The glory of God was too much to behold, so he had to cloud it up with incense. The Anan Ha Ketoret, the Cloud of Incense, was part of the Old Covenant.

The New Covenant has no Cloud of Incense, just the glory. Yet we as New Covenant believers, tend to make our own cloud of incense because we’re afraid of the glory.

We cloud up the word with a cloud of compromise. We blur the lines of what God said. The problem with the cloud is that as long as you live in it, you’ll never see the glory of God or know the glorious life He has for you.

You want to live a life that’s glorious? Then stop clouding up the issue. Be done with compromise. Take God at His word. You’ll live a glorious life… with no clouds in sight.

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. 2 Samuel 22:31

What is it that’s “clouding” your love, your devotion, your victory in God. Seek to clear up the doubt, break up the cloud, and move forward.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Garden Tomb – The Resurrection…

It was a quiet afternoon. Grandfather and I were sitting down by the river. It was Good Friday and the trees were just starting to bud out. The Garden, he said, let’s talk about the Garden again. We will start where I left off last week. Then the lesson began.

Did you ever stop to realize how strange, unique, significant, contradictory, and radical it is? What’s a Garden? A place where life begins. What’s a Tomb? A place where life ends.

So what’s a Garden Tomb? It’s a place where life ends— and begins. Jesus wasn’t just put into a tomb, but into a Garden Tomb. Why? Because after the end of His life would come new life — the Resurrection.

As everything began in a Garden, so now everything begins anew in a Garden Tomb. In the Garden Tomb is a cosmic mystery. The only way we can get to the Garden is by first going to the tomb – only by dying to the old can we live.

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— Romans 6:4-6

So don’t be afraid to let the old die, to crucify the flesh, or to count your old life as gone. It’s nothing to be afraid of. It will only lead to blessing in the end, and it’s the only thing that does.

Do it as soon as you can, for the way of the Cross always leads to the Garden Tomb, and the Garden Tomb always leads to life.

He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee.
Luke 24:6

What blessing, breakthrough, victory do you think God wants to bring in your life? What has to end, die, or be crucified for that to happen? Come to the Garden Tomb. Let go of anything that is old. Let God begin a new thing in your life.

For all life in God now comes out of that tomb. So don’t be afraid of entering Jesus’s tomb, and letting the old die. For it’s not just a tomb – it’s a garden tomb, and those who enter it will find true life.

I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Friends, eat, eat and drink; drink your fill of love. Song of Solomon 5:1

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed