Category Archives: Place of Testing

Hat trips

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I wish it were reasonably moral to put a camera on the front of my cap.  I would love to show you what I see.

I have mentioned my hat before, a dark blue ball cap with two words, “Think Eternity” and a small cross in silver embroidery. 

You wouldn’t think it would get that much attention.  But tell someone not to think about pink elephants.  Guess what they think about now.

I see a pretty woman behind the counter at a truck stop.  No doubt she gets a lot of looks from the truckers.  But make up hairstyles and nice clothing are a flimsy sham for a weak soul.

She sees my hat and turns as quick as she can to look out the window.

I can’t tell you how many people have found something more important to look at than my hat, and with breakneck speed.  Do they really think no one sees?

The men who desire her desire only what will be a corpse soon enough; the soul is in a bit of disrepair.  Let us hope she saw enough of the hat to think about eternity.

Righteous World?

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I read the news and I see promising headlines.  Certain things are discontinued because the world has considered them obscene.

I used to be fooled into thinking the world had second guessed its war against God.  But age has taught me something valuable.

The world makes not one small step toward God.  It simply hauls back the things that are not acceptable among those with money.

They make no moves to become righteous.  Everything they do is simply a re-posturing in their greedy desires.

Those who see these things and feel a twinge of hope, are willingly deceived.  The righteousness of God continues uninterrupted.  And of the wickedness of the world continues uninterrupted.

Do not be fooled.  The righteousness of God is holy; the very thing the world hates with all its strength.  Holy provides no profit for the things of men.

Arrant Chads of Wicked Men.

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“He rebukes them in his anger
    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 ‘I have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.’” (Psalm 2)

They hate the Lord and perceive Him as a wicked task master because their ways are wicked and arrant.  They are blown about by every wind of desire that enters their wicked mind.  They do not know His Holy commands.  They do not know His salvation in Jesus.  Therefore they cannot obey.

God dresses the humble in righteous desire.  But His opposition is forward at the proud.  He steadfastly denies hope to all who lift their chin in rebellion.

Let them humble their hearts.  Let them consider their sins. Let then admit that they have not known the Path of God in this “Place of Testing”.   Let them come to know that the Lord is Good, by fear of God.  Let the terror of punishment fill their hearts to over flowing.

Then the Lord will show kindness.  Then, and only then, will they perceive rightly the beauty that is God the Father.  And if they continue in that manner, perhaps the Father will draw them to His Holy Son.  By continuance in the humble posture of heart the wicked learn that loving God is proper.  And their continuance provokes the Mercy of the Most High God.

“I have said, ‘You are gods.'”

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Sculpture - head of Jesus Christ

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Who are we?  Why did the Glorious God of all create us?  We are a jewel in His Majestic Glory.  We are the work of His hand.  Yet the wicked abound.  Even the wicked are created to become sons of the Most High God.  They spurn His rule over them.  They are men of His creation.  But they desire their own desires.  He would have us all desire to serve Him.  And in His service there is no shame nor burden.   With His Word, he proclaims “I have said you are gods.  Yet you will die like mere men.” 

He has set us to live that we might learn from Him.  We are led by the Mighty Hand of God’s desire and Glory.  We are placed in a tent of flesh that we might learn humility and obedience.  Yet men by millions hate His guidance.  They build for themselves every pleasure they imagine.  And the Lord has allowed that they should have their day.   I have heard a man say “Read the books of those who hate the Most High God and His people.  It’s only fair that you read the books of my longing, if you expect me to read and understand the Book of yours.”  And what was the reply of the Lord within me to this man?  “I do not seek to be fair.  I seek the truth of God in Christ Jesus.” 

We are set apart to glorify the Lord of our Calling!  We do not strive under the same dementia as do those who throw away the very One who gave them minds to consider the world around them.  They are lost in a place of testing and can give no answer for their lives.

The Lord will have His day and He will not be put off.   Every man will answer to His Majestic Righteousness.  He has been patient with those who are now His enemies.  He has given every opportunity for them to consider His ways and to humble themselves under His Beautiful Will.  Refuse, you hated of the Lord’s Glory.  For you turn from His pleasure to seek your own.  Refuse and die.  Or choose to accept His gift in Jesus, His Christ, and live.  He offers, with open hand, a peace between you and His Glory. 

May the Lord of Life forever be glorified for the work of His powerful hand in the works of His people.  May His people know who they are and become pleasing to the Lord.  Rise up and dress yourselves with the Glory of God!  You are His sheep.  He has set you to wander in this Place of Testing, that you might learn of His ways.  Jesus has gone before us that we might perceive both the punishment of the wicked, and the reward of the Most High God for those who desire His ways.

By His Grace.

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Choices.

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Fox from above

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I saw the fox this morning.  The one the neighbors would desire to just go away.  He’s got an appetite for cats.

He sat against the tree line.  Still and listening with those great ears, he patiently waited to find some prey.  He turned his head my direction as I had made the slight sound of a shuffled sock on the deck.  Then he turned silently and walked like air back into the woods.

Later I watched a cat walk along that same stretch of woods.  It looked ahead, left, right, behind.  And eventually walked like air into the woods.  “Bad choice”, I whispered.

Was it really a bad choice?  Did the cat realize what had sat just a few feet away an hour ago?  And, given the situation, did the cat really have a choice?

We do what we do according to what we know.  And once we make a choice it’s done.  Did we really have a choice?  We consider everything we know to do.  Yet, how often do we find our choices were wrong.  Did we give every option its proper due?  Surely we heard the whisper of God’s directing.  Did we recognize the Lord’s word?

 

By His Grace.

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Psalm 50. What Right Do You Have?

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Flag of Israel with the Mediterranean sea in t...

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1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
3 Our God comes
and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
and around him a tempest rages.
4 He summons the heavens above,
and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 “Gather to me this consecrated people,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness,
for he is a God of justice.

7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.
8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your stall
or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?

14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

16But to the wicked person, God says:

“What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate my instruction
and cast my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you join with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.
20 You sit and testify against your brother
and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,
you thought I was exactly like you.
But I now arraign you
and set my accusations before you.

22 “Consider this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”

Related articles
  • Psalm 50 (thechristthreshold.wordpress.com)