Category Archives: Place of Testing

The Nature of Heaven

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As I drove along in the dark last night, I let my thoughts drift to the nature of heaven.  With whatever my imagination could provide, I thought about peace, living creatures, a safe and inviting environment, and a people that will never again know any sin.

I tried to think of heaven millions of years passed the day of judgement.  I thought of a place where what is here is never mentioned.  They do not remember the wicked greed of man.  They do not remember sickness and death.  And for eternity this will be their life.

As I woke up this morning I tried to consider my thoughts about heaven.  I recognize that they are only based on what I can perceive here.  And then I found myself amazed at how little God has revealed about eternity.

His message to man does not contain the indescribable beauties of his heaven.  God and all his creatures have lived in splendor for millions of millions of years.  But exceedingly little information has been given to man.

Partly, the restraint has to do with our language.  And partly the restraint has to do with the frailty of this creation.  But more so, the restraint has to do with God’s will toward Man.

God is not interested in making us happy here.  The entirety of this place is designed to cause us to hate it.  Nothing is stable.  There is no secure place.  Nothing is friendly unless it is manipulated.  And the strength of our bones wears out so that we can no longer manipulate.

The entirety of this place is designed for faith.  We have hope in faith alone.  We are to put our trust in the Living God and His Holy Son Christ Jesus.  Even the very character of our mind is full of unrest and unpredictable behavior. 

God did not desire that we should live at peace here.  It is God’s desire that we desire his peace.  So instead of describing what is his, he tells us that he is firm and true, peace, safety, strength, purity, and that his promises are fully reliable.

The nature of this place is designed to test the heart of every man.  The question hangs in the sky over the head of every man here:

“Do you desire what you have; this place full of chaos and unpredictable things?  Or will you open your heart to honesty; looking about you and confessing the true nature of this place of testing.  And that you yourself are not able to do one right thing.”

If we will turn to God out of despair, for the sake of the things we can see that are wrong, he is willing to embrace us.  But if we want to dig in our feet, and live in this place of lies, full of rebellion, full of unbelief, full of hatred for our fellow man and for God, we will suffer unto death then be cast away as unprofitable.

If you want to know the glories of heaven, listen to the righteous words of God and do them.  Allow yourself to believe in the Holy Son of God, do not harden your heart with restraint.

Read his Holy words that HAVE been sent us.  Believe them and stop second guessing the Holy Word of the Living God.  Listen to your conscience and confess your sins to him.  Ask him to strengthen you in the things that are pure and right.  Then do what you are told to do.

All of these things can be gained in Christ Jesus.  He has promised, and is reliable, overcoming this place of chaos is possible. Heaven can be attained if we listen to him.  Then we will know the nature of the eternal heaven of the Living God.  Then our language will be like his, for the place of our perception will be an eternal place.

So many like me desired to know what is in heaven.  What a perfect example of wasted time.  A better deployment of the minutes is to teach myself godly restraint, and this according to His Holy Word and the prompting of His Holy Spirit.

May God have mercy to grant understanding to those who read these words.  Those who desire will hear.  Those who hate God will stop up their ears.

In Christ Jesus, the Righteous and Holy Son of God, I pray.  Amen.

By His Grace

The Nature of Temptation

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What have I learned about temptation that is worthy of writing?  So much is written on the subject.  I did not dare write about it until I had something more to offer.

I have learned about its true nature.  It is not just an unwise choice, born of rebellion against God.  And it is not a single action. 

It always starts as something small.  It never comes upon us in its full-blown nature.  In this it is rightly called an enticement.

Among men there are things of beauty.  Among men there are things that can rightfully be desired under the right circumstances, and within a proper limit.  But the enticement of temptation will draw you a little farther.

Consider the beauty of woman.  Along with desire for wealth, her beauty rates very high in the failure of man.  What does temptation whisper, as it begins its routine enticements?  Doesn’t it make remark in regard to the things of our perceptions?

We say yes.  She is beautiful.  Then temptation agrees, adding an observation of your desire.  The enticement has begun.

Temptation whispers to you that lust is only natural.  By now you are ready to agree.

But as the foolish man enters in, temptation does not keep quiet.  He adds more shame upon shame.  By now you are not only too weak to resist, you encourage him to speak.  Pathetically, by now you consider temptation as an honorable teacher.

Before a short while is done abominable things have crossed your filthy heart.  Temptation does not end with enticement.  It takes a man or woman to the classroom of filthy thoughts and actions.  And when physical satisfaction has been found, it laughs at you!

Now temptation does what it is renowned to do.  Its strip you of pride, and rubs your face with all that is filthy.  You are a disgrace before God.  You are a disgrace before the Holy Angels.  You are a disgrace before all humanity.  You are a disgrace to yourself!  The only one who is pleased by your stupid choice is temptation.

Worse upon worse, temptation now knows your weakness!

Take note in all these things, I did not call temptation the devil.  The book of James tells us that we are tempted and drawn away by our own desires.  Yes he is called the tempter.  But we, my friends, are the ones pointedly to be blamed.

I have used the example of woman.  But I do not blame her singly.  It is the most pervasive temptation among man.  But it by no means stands alone.  Everything that draws us away from what is good and pure is sin.

To some it is lying.  To another is money.  To one it is gluttony.  To someone else it is self-abasement in any form.  And temptation will testify, “The myriad is large”!

Temptation knows your weakness.  Be honest with yourself, my friend, so do you!

I tell you a truth.  You will not overcome the things that tempt you from within.  Try as you might you will not find the strength.  You are bound like a prisoner to repeat your filthy ways.

The only one who can free us is Jesus the Christ of God.  And I do not say so with the slightest sliver of shame.  I testify to you that overcoming temptation is quite possible.  But you will not overcome if you do not call out to him.

Eternity will be purged.  Did you know that?  Once this place is done, this place of temptation and testing, nothing that is sin will ever find life.  If you needed provocation to consider resisting temptation, let eternal death sink into your mind.

Those who desire righteousness will seek His Holy face.  Those who are content to be filthy will never raise their eyes.  Death will cover them forever.  And no one will say, “Sweet dreams”.

By His Grace

The Hopeful One Endures

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“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36)

If the Lord’s eternal word says that a man shall die for his sins and rebellious soul, that man shall surely die.  Likewise, if a man turns his will to obey the Living God’s commands, that man will find himself living.  And this life is eternal life.  For what cannot be shaken remains forever.

What produces the man who enters into an eternal living here, in this place of testing?  Isn’t it the fear of the Living God?  Isn’t it that the man believes what the Word of God has proclaimed regarding life and death?

But shall the man who finds himself living the eternal life here remain in fear?  Doesn’t it depend on his willingness to be diligent in the things he learns?  Doesn’t a man’s love follow the things he desires?  If he desires the kiss of God, then he will desire to love Him.

The scripture above is fear to those who perceive with a weakened will.  But it is a proclamation of love to those who willingly train themselves to obey what they learn.  For they have come to live inside trust.  They have come to desire a love for God’s Holy Son.

The trust God’s people have comes from a living faith that cannot be shaken.  Even if they are “injured” by a Holy Blast of Condemnation from the Living God, they survive into a holy hope.  For such people perceive that purity is the desire of their God, Christ Jesus.  How can they be shaken then, by the threats of this world, or even their own faults?  For they have come to adhere to the following hope:

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him. 

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12: 5, 6)
Their fear is transformed, over time, to a love for He who rebukes toward the health of their soul.  By this, the wrath of God is endured before the Judgment Day, that they might become like His Holy Son.

What condemnation can be given to he who has willingly obeyed the Lord’s commands to purify himself?  And won’t the Son of God direct his commands toward what the man can accomplish?  Like His Holy Father, the Son does not EVER ask too much.

The Proper Use of Greed and Jealousy

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“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (John 8: 19)

God’s people speak of heavenly things.  And when they speak so, they speak of things the world is not able to understand.

Just before the Lord spoke the words cited above, he said this:  “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Therefore as you follow the living God in Christ, do not be surprised that you are not received or understood.   But as we speak what is true and faultless, let their lack of understanding be a source of joy. 

We strive to interpret for their benefit.  But understanding must come from the Holy Father.  If anyone wants to understand, let him humble himself before the Living God and ask for wisdom.

We are adopted into a foreign land.  But they remain natives of this place of testing.  We speak the language of the land into which we are adopted.  Let us boldly speak according to the will of God.  Allow God’s power to be displayed in our speech.

We were once native of this place also.  In this, to some extent, we are bilingual.  But our allegiance must be first to the One who calls us home.  It is not profitable to rejoin the rebellious that we may draw them out. 

They speak in the vulgarities of rebellion, and to this alone they understand.  But remember we are cautioned that “it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret”. (Ephesians 5: 12)

Display the beauty that you have received.  Let greed and jealousy do its proper work.

By His Grace

Chaotic Building Materials

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He who would save his life will lose it.  Yes, the Lord said that.  But did you know there’s an absolutely logical reason for it?  The saying is not a threat from God.

Nothing man can build, in the way of a life, can last.  The only items he has in his hand to build with, come from chaos. 

He gathers and digs, and scrapes together items that form his life.  Where did he get these things?  He got them from the mass of chaos that is this world.

It can be compared to a man trying to build a house out of rotten and twisted lumber, rusty nails and screws, and a tape measure that was drawn by a child.  He tries to build a straight house on a foundation that is crooked and rough.  To top it all off he builds in a place prone to storms.

Chaos is chaos, it can’t be anything else.  Such a life is bound to explode into futility, and horrible frustration.  The one who desires to save this life, will find himself busy in repair forever.  So yes, he who desires to save his life will certainly lose it.

But the life that God offers is not built on chaos.  God offers a man the things that are built on eternal life.  By their very nature, they are perfectly unshakable.

Here’s the rub my friends.  All we have ever known is a life of constant repair.  We have been duped into believing this is life.  Pathetically, we are secure in this belief. 

When the offer of life from God arrives, it is perceived as another form of chaos.  It threatens to tear down the sweat and blood house we have built.   Since a man is already busy, beyond his ability, repairing what he has, there is an automatic rejection of more demands.

Only those people who recognize the futility of their life, receive God’s gift readily.  But God is insistent.  “I’m trying to give you life.  Let go of what you have and you will live a joyous and full life.”  So a struggle unto death becomes.

The resulting war is no joke at all.  A God born faith is required, as if a man stares down a hungry lion.  But the battle will not relent.  The only closure to this war, is the grave itself.  Sadly, many millions have gone to the grave, embroiled in this battle but never receiving God’s grace. 

Not every man perceives these things.  Most often the battle is rejected without consideration. 

Look at it this way, you will fight a war with something until the day you die.  Why not wisely pick your battle?

The Apostle Peter addressed this: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”  (1 Peter 4: 12)

Give up and live.  Strive to retain what you have and you will die. 

Chaos cannot give birth to life.  Life cannot give birth to chaos.  The two are forever opposing.  Chaos will destroy itself.  Life lives forever.

Christ Jesus offers life.  But who will take it?

By His Grace

The Trauma of Human Tranquility

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I have heard so many say that they just wish all this drama would go away.  What they usually mean is the turmoil between people.  And they’ve even made cutesy names for those who can’t seem to be at peace; names such as “Drama Queen”.

I will thoroughly agree that it would be good if the trivial anxieties were put a side for what is real and true.  But I have to differ with the majority of the populace who look for peace and tranquility in this place.

Think of all the money that is spent trying to find peace and tranquility.  Think of all the productivity that is lost because men try to escape the reality of life.

Their brother did “this”.  Their sister did “such”.  Their enemy pursues them, and they’ll tell you about it.  Men talk behind their back, but don’t they do it too?

The rich go on vacations, and buy expensive toys.  The poor get drunk or turn to drugs, or violence or more. 

So the rich are known as righteous, because they afford all the things the others cannot afford.  See how division grows like mold.

Why then do men strive so hard to find tranquility and peace?  Every day and night the rich and the poor are pestered by a drama they choose to ignore.  If they thought they had trouble in this place, they are destined to encounter more.

The Holy Spirit of the Living God calls out to the minds of men.  “Come gain eternal wisdom, and leave these things behind.  Come worship the living God in Christ.  In there, is peace for your mind.”

But in our worship of the Living God, another drama appears.  Our sins go with us, and we find ourselves full of holy fear.  Isn’t this where men turn back, refusing to come near.

Return then, to the drama of your flesh.  Spend all your time and money trying to cover it up.  You will die in drama, and then face the living God.  You will drink from that bitter cup.

There is peace to be had, but its mixed with fear.  For He’s Holy, and Holy, and Holy!  No sin can be brought near.  How then can peace be upon us, when we hold what we call dear?

You fight a losing battle, all of you make your own peace.  There is only one place to find what you seek.  All men will be salted with fire, whether or not they come for release.

His name is Christ Jesus, the Holy Son of God.

By His Grace