Monthly Archives: June 2014

Willing Darkness

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I sad song for a happy throng

The world is no refuge.  Because the blazing glory of God is not evident, men put their trust in the darkness of this place.  But this darkness is no refuge.

They say,  “We will face Him when we leave, when we are compelled to appear.”  And so they embrace the darkness which is embracing them even now.  A mutual love is exchanged from dark to dark. But this dark world is no refuge.

The Lord God Almighty shields his blazing glory from those who live on earth.  He has built this place of testing to test the hearts of men.  “Who will love Me; who will desire my ways?   Though they thrive in darkness, who will understand? 

They drink from what is wicked and their tongue does not alarm.  They stumble in the darkness but they do not ask for light.  All their days are toil against an enemy they cannot see.  So they make up fables and lies to cover their ignorance.”  But the glory of God is not quenched.

He is from forever and will never cease to be.  Man is of 60 short years perhaps 100.  Thus the darkness consumes them and they think their life is royal.  They allow for truth that is no truth at all.

Then they leave this place of testing and are compelled to appear before the Most High God.  No preparation is made.  No time is found to honor he who lives forever.  No words of praise will come from their lips.  They will be silent and afraid in their shame.

They say they trust in Jesus to save them on that day.  But they do not honor the Holy One while they live in this place of testing.  They give no honor to the One of God’s choosing.   How will they be received with honor?  They have lived as if his enemy.  How then shall they be received?

God is honored by the Holy, glorious throng.  It is man who detests to give praise to the God who has made them.  But honor will surely flow, despite their rebellious souls.

You wait in this place of darkness and cover the eyes of your soul.  “I will praise him when he calls for me.  Until then I will do whatever my heart desires.  I will adhere to the laws of this land.  I will be blameless among my brothers.  We will work together and create a peaceful place.  And the Lord will count us good men when He calls us to appear.”

But you do not perceive that such testimony condemns you.  You do not know nor ask.  The Lord sees from his glorious throne.  He sees that you postpone your honor to him.  He sees that you desire the love of men more than the love of God.  What will he say when you are called to appear?  What testimony will you bear before him that you have loved him?

Pontification

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Pontificating is the art of telling other people what to do as if God has told you personally.  Unless someone is speaking to the Pope himself, it is generally used as a derogatory label.  And it is often used in conjunction with “self righteous”.

Ok!

Perhaps Christians should get past the fear of this label.  Perhaps they ought to pontificate more often.  Why should we leave the glory of God within us to a man who wears a white robe and rides around in a bulletproof limousine?

I am not Afraid of such a label.  I can’t help but take seriously the Lord’s charge to spread the gospel and to teach.  Refer to such men as you will, such derogatory labels only incite them to more activity for the Lord.

Good Works Thief

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There are those who steal the good works of others.  They simply put their name in the place of the originator.  They look for reward from those who are able to give.  And they are determined to excel at any cost.  By this they prove they are weak and useless.

There are of course victims to this crime.  The hard work they have done is wasted on those who do not work. 

There is a word for both the perpetrator and the victim.

To the perpetrator it is said, “Those who do not work will not eat.”  You may eat well enough now, but there is a coming banquet from which you are not worthy to partake.  Either get busy and provide your own wealth, or humble yourself and accept your proper lowly position.

To the victim it is said, “Do good to those who hate you and spitefuly use you.  Bless them that they may receive.  If they are weak then bolster them with your strength.  Bless and do not curse.  Add to the Lord’s great bounty so many good works that their theft is unnoticed.”

May the name of the Lord God Almighty prosper in his Holy Son.  And may all the Lord’s people reach out to receive the strength of Eternity.

Missing the Marriage

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I drove last night, thinking about the things that happened in my life.  Working over time lines and seeing stability or disrepair.  I saw far more of the latter then I did the former.

So I looked for the things that are good, that I might bring peace to my mind.  I found very few of them, but they did show the sovereign God working in my life.  So I took what peace I could, from what is true, and moved forward with an amazing thought.

My daughter was married in Oregon during my first year as a truck driver.  All I knew was to steer the truck; a complete and utter rookie.

I knew virtually nothing about logistics; how long will it take to get from point A to point B, when to take breaks, and when to drive like a madman.  So I relied very heavily on the dispatcher.

I let her know months ahead of time that my daughter would be married on a certain day.  The company was very friendly and assured me that I could be there.  Regardless that we drive the entire United  States, no matter where I was, I was sure she would direct me to Oregon in time.

As it worked out, that did not come to pass.  I found myself in Tennessee one week before the wedding.  Still, a week is a long time, so I did not panic.  I got the load to New Mexico.  There was no hope.  There was no fear.  I knew I was headed home.

Then I got a load to the east!  I don’t remember where.  All I remember is that I did not take the load.  Instead I made my own load and headed into panic and rage.

I remember sending many messages, of rather crude intent, when I realized I could not make the wedding.  I needed to vent my rage.  To their credit, they got the message quickly.  They eventually got me to Oregon, two days after the wedding. 

The understanding of a few was that I did not want to attend.  Some uninformed minds decided I had stayed away on purpose.  My daughter, graciously, did not utter such things.  It was a strained time of visit.  And after three days, I went back out on the road.

In the reflection of this experience last night, I remembered how I felt.  I remembered the rage.  I remembered the lies that some embraced in regard to my integrity.  Then I perceived what is truer than I.

Aghast as I was at the loss of my daughter’s wedding, I thought of a wedding that is far more precious.  The living God will give his one and only Son to a bride.  And there is nothing that can keep the sovereign God from attending.

She is my only daughter.  He is His only Son.  By the grace of God she will have married only once.  Is not grace that God will marry his Son once.  Divorce is an option among men for the sake of the hardness of their heart.  It is not so with the righteous God and his Holy Son.  The vow he makes will be literally eternal.

There were many who attended my daughter’s wedding.  And they graciously related the experience to me as they could.  With pictures and words and a piece of cake, I swallowed hard to let my imagination be there.

Two questions come to mind in regard to this astounding revelation.  Who are those who are of the Bride of Christ?  They will marry him once for eternity.  And to be married to the Husband of joy and peace is unspeakable.  It is impossible that the threat of being a widow should ever enter their heart!

And the other thought is akin to the first.  Who are those who will not be married to the sovereign God’s Son?  What rage they will feel!  For they were kept from that place by themselves.  They have decided that the pleasures of this world are far greater than to be married to the Holy Son of God. 

There will be no place of reminiscence.  They will never share in the glory that belongs to those who become the Bride of Christ.  There will be no pictures.  There will be no relating the experience.  And there will be no piece of cake for them to swallow hard. To whom should their anger be directed?  But how can any anger be righteous?

With these things in mind what is the comparison we might draw, between the suffering of this place and the joy of being Christ’s bride?

Have we given all we have to gain what will never be taken away?  Do we truly count the sufferings of this place incomparable to that which is promised.  Or do we willingly make compromise and excuses that we will surely come to regret?

May God’s will be done!  May He bless understanding to all his people.  May the sleeping eye come awake.  For many who now believe they will be of the Bride of Christ have fooled themselves to great loss.

When?

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When does the grace of God appear to a man in the form of forgiveness for his sins?

The very moment that man decides in his heart to humble himself before the Most High God, confess his sins and ask for mercy.

The question is not whether God delays.  The question is does the man believe.

God asks, “Do you want to be well”.  Be ready to take up your mat and go home.

Pleasing God

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Let no brother or sister in Christ believe that it is impossible to please God.  In the sum of our salvation, there is no sacrifice we can make to save our souls, for all belongs to God.  Yes, this is true.  And Jesus, the Word of God, has made the sacrifice for all men; fulfilling the entire Law of God.  Yes, this is true.

 

But God pleases God.  Isn’t that the gist of the Gospel?  And where God is, there is pleasure to God.  Isn’t that true?  And when God moves, there is pleasure in the Holy Throne Room.  Isn’t that true?  So when we learn to do the things of God willingly, doesn’t that bring pleasure to God?  So how can one intelligently say, “It is impossible to please God?”

 

I understand the confusion.  Salvational pleasure cannot be brought about by any man; fulfilling the Holy Law of God is impossible for anyone who has sinned even once.  Salvation belongs to the One who is unblemished.  But the living in the Holy Spirit gives great pleasure to the One who bought us by His Holy Blood.

 

Let us not take the words of others without giving them lengthy consideration.  They may have understood before they spoke.  And what they spoke may be faultless.  But has our perception come in line with understanding?

 

A man may think that to say it is possible to please God leads to pompous and errant thoughts of self.  Thus many deny the possibility.  But do they do God a favor by beating any possible joy from their soul?  Aren’t they trying to please God by denying that pleasing God is possible?

 

Why isn’t it better to live in the freedom of fellowship with Jesus?  Why isn’t it better to receive that Holy smile of pleasure?  Again, let us be careful what we include and disclude.