"Change of Mind"

"Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving, sing praise upon the harp unto our God:" (Psalms 147:7)

    For the ones that know how this works, if you are one of His children, then you might not have a choice; you are either going to throw yourself down, or get thrown down by Him: it's just the way it works, and for that we most sing praise with gladness in our hearts! The question becomes that of the wicked: Who are they? I have a pretty good idea, but then again, it depends upon when you ask and where they are at; and most importantly, who it is that might be asking. Oddly enough, God changed Jacob's name to Israel; but there were times after He changed his name, when He referred to him as Jacob. Does that sound a little familiar to anyone else? Well it wasn't Abraham, if you were thinking of his name being changed from Abram; because his was a covenant transition that was entirely God's covenant to him. I was talking about Simon, who has his name changed to Peter by Jesus, when they first meet. Did Jesus call him Simon again after changing his name? Yes he did; especially the times when He asked him, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" I couldn't help but think of those cartoon character angels, the ones that were once people or other animals, who died and are shown with harps and wings in heaven. Of the three main usages of the word, wicked basically means what it says, someone that is guilty of a crime, of someone hostile to God. I remember an illustration that I was given once about grace, that it was a lot like being under an umbrella; as long as your standing under the umbrella, you are protected by grace; when you get outside of that umbrella, thankfully, mercy shows up, one way or another...

"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:8-10)