So much is made of self esteem in this world.
If you were accepted by the one who made you, you would have no need for self esteem boosters.
Category Archives: Hope
To the Journey
We have a tendency to trivialize everything. But we come to own this tendency with good reason. Absolutely everything we know deteriorates. Even the compassion of Man is in a state of flux; needs come and go, the sick get better or die, poverty evaporates at the end of its work, hatred goes to sleep when it is tired of destroying. So even Man’s compassion (what is considered the best Man can offer) rests from its work.
We strive hard, but at the end of the day everything we know is trivial. Everything we know is in a constant state of repair or deterioration. Isn’t that why we sleep?
Most people, including myself, tend to apply this trivial mindset to the gospel of Christ. We can’t help it, it’s in our nature to perceive things as if they are passing. And without the constant help of the eternal Living God’s Holy Son we would never perceive the gospel as eternal. It would remain in a mode of choice. And isn’t that what we see when we look at those who call themselves Christians; constantly making the choice to do (or not to do) Christ-like things.
We need to be reminded that his promises last forever and never change. That’s why we read the Bible often; to renew our decaying mind. That’s why we pray, with whatever earnest soul we can muster. Isn’t that why we are told to encourage one another?
Connected to this is an understanding that has come again to me this morning. Everything we do is manufactured. It’s in a constant state of repair. But a love for righteousness cannot be in a state of repair. For whatever constantly needs repair is also constantly deteriorating. Love does not deteriorate, and eternal Righteousness does not fall into the realm of choice. Let’s be honest, we either love righteousness or we don’t.
What an amazing place God has created; it is not a place of deterioration, it is a place of potential eternal life. There can be no better testing of a man’s heart than the state of affairs I have spoken of here. On top of that, God knows the difference between a manufactured love of righteousness and one that is ingrained and sincere.
This is the nature of salvation. It is not something that will be. It is something that IS. Christ has come, as the great power of God, to redeem the humble of heart. He has come to teach us eternity. Imagine that! The sum of what we know about eternity is the simple word itself. And without the presence of God, that’s where our knowledge remains.
Every man is encouraged to begin the journey of truth. The journey is called Christianity.
What Was, Still Is.
Why do we do the things we do? Why have we learn to love what we love? What causes a man to gravitate toward one sin or another? Why is ignorance so beloved while wisdom and sobriety wander like orphaned children? It is impossible that any man should answer these things. At best they can only say, “It is the way of Man”.
Centuries ago (Pick a moment in time.) one man made a choice. He agreed with wickedness; to perform and action of death. Once the deed was done, the ripple effect into future days has not ceased. No, it is carried in the soul of those who came from his day. It is carried like a disease to the generations that follow.
As it is so with one man, centuries ago, so it is with all the men who lived in his day. The laws they made, the words they spoke, the perceptions they held so dearly, the deviceiveness they encouraged without end, the judgments they made, the dress codes they approved or disapproved, how they segregated one man from another by language, color of skin, or other cultural differences, what lies were considered innocent, what does were considered necessity, didn’t all these things shape the mind of those to come?
Certain wickedness is adored, while holiness is forgotten. Protections are made for certain wicked people, while the righteous go abandoned. And haven’t we inherited all these things?
Add to this, our own imaginations. Look around and see what we adore. Aren’t we shaping the inheritance of those who will come after us? And how will they know what they believe? How will they be able to divide between what is necessary and what is inherited from the wicked who came before them?
Such is the plight of man to suffer in his own vile filth. Yet the good news of God remains. If we will humble ourselves and call out to him for help, he will give us what we never had. The more diligent the soul, the more God will give. In Christ Jesus, he will save us from our ignorance.
Is it any wonder that so few find “The Way?
Worthless Parents
Sin is born of chaos and ignorance. Chaos is the careless mother who dropped her child on the way. And ignorance is the worthless father who does as he pleases regardless the needs of his children.
Every man is born of these. But Christ offers adoption into a Holy, righteous, faithful, loving, and eternal family. Within this family there is opportunity to learn what is true. Within this family there is forgiveness and grace to accomplish Life.
Are you tired of your sick and worthless old mother? Are you weary of wondering where your father is?
Chaos and ignorance have nothing to offer anyone. They simply produce and abandon. But if you want salvation from worthlessness, cry out to the Living God in the name of Christ Jesus.
The Woman
I watched a woman drive by me. With both hands on the wheel, she watched carefully straight ahead. But the car spoke louder of her character than her attentiveness. It was a rusty beat up old boat from the eighties.
Obviously, she is trying hard to do the best she can with what she has.
But I wondered about her hope. Being a born protector, the woman is concerned about her family, children, parents, friends, sickness, stability. Does she know how intensely greater a protector is the Lord Jesus?
Has she learned to be protected? Does she have joy inside all that dutiful good habit?
Setting a man on one side, and a woman on the other, consider their characteristic behaviors. If a man could lay his hands on the father of lies, he would tear and punch and kick and scream venomous violence, as he tried to take down his foe. How would this woman act in the same environment?
Would she huddle with her children in a darkened corner? Or with excellent fearless violence, would her face explode with fierce anger as she rushed to dismember this one who has harmed her so; this one who threatens her great instinctual desire?
Would she cower in abject terror, or would she do as Peter has told her: Be fearless! Believe! Live your life in Christ with complete peace of heart. Show no fear, trusting that God is greater than you.
With all that he has, I watch Man search for peace.
Entertainment and distractions abound.
Yet Peace eludes him with the agility of eternity; avoiding without boundaries.
Entertainment and distractions abound.
Peace lives and thrives in the brilliance of perfect righteousness; the place where the eye of Man is not fit for perception.
All the while:
Entertainment and distractions abound.
He who abandons the futile path of discovery, can go nowhere else but the path of the Holy Lord God Almighty.
There he will find Peace, pleasantly and joyously waiting to receive him.
Who will be patient enough to abandon the pursuit of entertainment and distractions?
This one is likely to find Peace.
His name, is Jesus the Christ of God.
Words From There 