Biblical Reincarnation

The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"

Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

- Matthew 17:10-13

Is this passage telling us that Elijah and John the Baptist were the same person? Or is it in some way metaphorical?

Blessings and Curses

I find it interesting that Joshua 8 seems to treat the terms "the Law" and "the blessings and the curses" as the same thing. I suppose, in the end, the Law is simply a list of natural consequences - some action have good consequences (blessings) and others bad consequences (curses).

Jesus' grief

Matthew 14 gives us an example of how Jesus deals with his grief. Having heard of the death of his cousin, John the Baptist, he seeks to withdraw to a solitary place. I believe, however, that he was seeking opportunity to pray for John, rather than to go away feeling sorry for himself.

We see almost immediately, however, that even in his grief he is selfless. Where you or I may have taken offence at the intrusion of crowds of people into our grief, the bible tells us that "he had compassion on them". He then goes on to provide for their needs, rather than focussing on his own needs.

I thought heaven was forever

Never again will there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not live out his years;
he who dies at a hundred
will be thought a mere youth;
he who fails to reach a hundred
will be considered accursed.

- Isaiah 65:20

Taken literally, this verse seems to suggest that, whilst life in heaven will last for longer, nevertheless men will still "live out [their] years" - i.e. they will die eventually.

How do we reconcile this with the concept that "The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years" (Rev 20:6)

Don't get me wrong. I believe in the bible, that it is the infallible word of God. All I seek is to further my understanding, by bring what are to my mind inconsistencies into the light, and see what I learn by it.

The power of Words

For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

- Matthew 12:37

"Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me." As a child, I was taught to ignore what other people said about me, by reducing the importance placed upon their words.

God offers a different perspective, however, telling us that our words have the power to acquit or condemn us. Indeed James 3 describes the tongue as "a restless evil, full of deadly poison".

Useless Labour

Unless the Lord builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.

In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat-
for he grants sleep to those he loves.

- Psalm 127:1-2

I often find myself thinking, "It may be a little harder doing things my way, but the independence is worth it - I'll get there in the end."

God has a different perspective however. Without God, according to this Psalm, our labour is not only frustrating, but it is completely useless. I do not achieve anything when I go out on my own - I will not get there by myself.

Fortunately, God also has an answer. He freely offers to work with us in our labours, to stand watch with us and for us. He has made this promise through Jesus, by sending Him to establish the relationship and the closeness that we could not have otherwise.