Category Archives: the gospel

No Room for Humanity

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I recently met up with an old friend.  We did a lot of talking about the days gone by.  Soon we turned to the present time, catching up on what each one does.

Over the weeks and months, my love for God came out strong.  I tried to talk with him about the things of his interests.  But those things no longer interest me.

As is sure to happen, a distance begin to develop.  It is an uncomfortable awareness that we are no longer the friends we were.  He is of the world, I am of God.

With hopes that we would not have disagreement, I tried to coax him toward understanding.  I tried to lace everything I said with something to do with eternity.  As if a man might try to tame the lion.

But a lion is what it is.  And history can tell us of many people who were ripped to shreds.  The trainer cannot be the lion.  And the lion cannot change from being a lion.  Sooner or later one of them will have to step up and take the lead.

So it is with our dealings with the unsaved.  Their minds are firmly set on the things of this world.  A love for God is a foreign and obscene idea.

The argument finally came.  His feelings were hurt by some small thing I said.  He commanded that I repair my ways or distance myself.  Ok, fine.

“I will stand where I do.  You go back to what you love.”  This is the sum of what I was forced to tell him.  It is not God in me that closed the door.

But in parting, as it is with the end of all arguments, a remark is always made to punctuate the truth.  This particular relationship has ended on the same note.  He will go his way into the chaos of all the world.  And I will remain attached to my feet; those items of my soul which are firmly secured in the salvation of God.

He is upset because he thinks it’s unfair that God should trivialize the human condition.  He does not want to be holy.  He wants to be accepted just like he is.  In this, my friend is not much different than the majority of Christians (At least those I have met.  At least what I have read from what Christianity today has become).

But his parting volley of words missed me by a mile.  I’m sure he intended to cut me to the heart.  It was his last ditch effort to change my mind.  He said to me,  that he didn’t want anything to do with a religion that has no room for Humanity.

What does he mean by that?  I doubt that he would truly know.  But I know what that means.  That means what God has been saying all along.  There is no room in eternity for sin.

Many people think the frailty of humanity is to receive welcome out of pity.  What a completely uneducated perspective that is.  God’s promise to the frailty of man remains.  Everything that is sin will be utterly destroyed.

In His mercy he will teach us how to become holy.  But so many millions think it is unfair.  They hate the things of God but they love the pity that comes their way.

There is far more to Christianity than the forgiveness of sins!  Christianity is about becoming a godly man.  It is not a certificate of license handed out by God so you can continue in your unholy way.  If you think that’s unfair then you are likely not a Christian, no matter what you’ve gone around calling yourself!

There is so much to say concerning this.  I feel the anger in me rise to the top.  Not because of my friend, but because so many have misused the love of God.  I think it is wise for me to just shut up right now.

By His Grace

Sibling Rivalry

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Millions of people, all over the world, know the nature of Truth.  They know the God who made us all.

You know them.  They walk among you.  And they are not ashamed to testify about what they have come to know.

How do I know this?  Because I am one of them.  I know that the Living God, the Holy Father, would not leave this world without testimony about what is more important than anything in this world.  He gave His Holy Son into the hands of man to die.  And this for the sake of saving us all.  Why would He now abandon man by having no witnesses among us?

They are all at various stages of understanding.  But God works in them to testify, with reliability, according to the Gospel.  By the power of God, their testimony is reliable.  It is the ears of man which muddy up the “Word of God”.  And it is their “past man” which conflicts within them to deliver what they have come to “know” by faith.

Perhaps you have one in your family.  You know that person, so you discount what they say.  You remember the person they were before they came to understand the Gospel.  So you assume they are only spouting what they believe, as if what they now believe were only another opinion (of which there are, apparently, billions).

By rejecting what they say, because you have known them, you reject the One who has transformed their thinking.  Did you know that?

I know it’s hard, but if you would only listen to what they are saying, you too can become a child of the Living God.  I am, after all, speaking of Christianity.

Now if you find it too hard to rid yourself of the image of the man or woman you used to know, as you strive to listen to them, then go find a stranger that speaks the same things.

It’s curious, about people, that they get stuck in a rut when it comes to the Gospel preached by family or acquaintance.  But let us recognize that such difficulties exist.  Fine.  But don’t let that stop you from looking into the things of Christ.

Don’t let the natural mistrust divide you from eternal life.  Don’t let sibling rivalry, (that hideous tendency of man to discount the words of another man, simply because that person is another man just like you) rip eternal life from your fragile fingers.

Right now you have no idea how precious the Gospel is.  You don’t know what is at stake.  You don’t know the glories you are throwing away by not being willing to listen.  You are judging the content by the wrapper.  Strive to get past what you think you know.  Strive to understand what you’ve never comprehended.

And have mercy on that person.  He or she is trying, with all they have, to interpret the things of heaven to human ears.  It might take some time to get the message out clearly.  Encourage them to try again, if what they say to you makes no sense at all.  If you want mercy from God, be willing to give it to your sincere brother.

You’ll have to put on patience, something we humans seem to have extremely little of.   But if you comprehend what they’re trying to tell you, you’ll find every difficulty more valuable than all the riches in the world.

I See Your Fear

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I see you everywhere you go.  I do not judge you, but I see the signs of your fear.  You hide behind your things, so sure that no one notices.  But even a man like me see through your charade.

You have become so adept at hiding from truth, that you wouldn’t understand it if it were explained to you.  Why?

You’ve heard the saying, “He’s bought into the things of this world”.  But that isn’t true, is it?  You haven’t bought into anything.  You’re simply afraid.  Why?

You’ve got your music, your favorite  television shows, your job and aspirations.  You have your friends to hide with.  You have all those trophy trinkets you’ve gathered.  And in spite of all these things you don’t know the truth.  Why?

The truth is not hidden.  It’s just that you refuse to look.  It’s so easy to think of yourself as a good person.  But if you stood before God you would know better.

Do you think you will stand the judgment of God without the help of the Lord Jesus?  My friend, you don’t know the living God.  And you don’t know the Lord Jesus.

God is the very truth you are hiding from.  Yet he is a truth that never ceases.  This is why you are afraid of him.  This is why you love lies more than truth.

But you will meet him very soon.  If you hide in this place, where truth is but a shadow, what will become of you when there is no place left to hide and truth is no longer the shadow?

Yes, I see how you push others around to get what you want.  I see how you manipulate truth with lies.  But my friend, you will not push God.  And He will laugh at your attempts to manipulate His truth.

You love your excuses.  Why?  Isn’t it because they help you hide?  In a great variety of ways you say, “I am this way because. . .”  And you fill in the blank with any number of reasons.  Why?

You don’t have to answer to me.  I couldn’t help you if you did.  And what good would your confession be to a mere man?  Your confession would only become another tool to hide behind.

I will tell you this in the form of a warning, but remember I am not judging you.  You’d better get it right with the Holy Lord Jesus.  He’s not that cute fuzzy little teddy bear you’ve heard about.  He is a blazing fire of righteousness.

No one on earth is beyond his willingness to have compassion.  But he absolutely hates lies.  He will put up with your faults if you are willing to learn.  But this offer is only extended while you are still here.

So that brings up the old question.  How long do you have yet to live?  Perhaps 40 years?  Perhaps 10 seconds?  Regardless the time, when you leave this place you are immediately under judgment.

Don’t listen to the liars my friend.  There is no such thing as a good man.  You will not receive eternal life for the good things you think you’ve done.  It’s either His way or death.

And as a passing note, dear friend, it doesn’t matter whether you agree or not.

By His Grace

Evangelism

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The day I was born, the day I graduated high school, the days I spent drunk as a youth, the day I accepted Christ Jesus, and every other significant day of my life.

On the days I thought important things happened to me, millions of others experienced their own significant occurrences.  Not a single one of them saw the days I saw.  Yet time moved forward for us all.  The calendar chimed in unison.  But the entirety of humanity saw a richly variegated symphony of experiences.

There is one significant occurrence that should happen to all men.  Every man should be able to say he has accepted Christ Jesus as his Lord.  This is the only common thread we can share for eternity.  How that comes to be is also a richly variegated symphony of experiences.

Now I try to preach about Jesus everywhere I go.  But as I think of the differences with which we all encounter each day, I am struck to remember to let the Lord Jesus speak on his own behalf. 

Who could possibly imagine a single canned gospel delivery for every man?  Each delivery must be tailor-made for the ears that hear it.  What man can possibly do that?

If you plan beforehand what you will say as you testify about Christ, the chances of profitable delivery are significantly diminished.  Bottom line, if we don’t let the Holy Spirit do the will of Christ Jesus in us, we restrict the ears of those who might hear.

Though I cannot condemn the use of gospel tracts, or what is called the Roman Road, it is not wise to dictate what God will say.  Those can only be useful examples.

All the same I suppose it is better to testify than to keep your mouth shut.  Yet to give free rein to God’s lordship over our testimony is best. 

I understand how organized testimonies can help those with a weak faith.  But even as the child grows adept at adult things, I think it is quite possible to overcome fear of delivery.

I have no idea who may benefit from this message.  But I know that the Spirit of God does not dress us in timidity or fear.  True belief in the power of God within us ought to be visible in a boldness, and Godly wisdom. 

While it is true that each of us stands before Christ on our own, it is also true that our opportunity to testify to any one man, may be the slightest of opportunity.  And so we are encouraged to make the most of the situation.

Who can say how God will lead them in any one place.  But let us try to lay aside prepared commercials for the Holy Lord’s testimony.

By His Grace

God Cannot Lie

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The salvation of men is in heaven.  Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Holy Father of Life.  The condemnation of man, for all his wickedness, also is in heaven.  For Jesus is the fulfillment of the law.

In John 3:13 I find something very interesting.  Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus.  And Jesus refers to himself as “the Son of man who is in heaven”. (NKJV)  One might ask, “How can he be in heaven when he sitting here talking to Nicodemus”.  Jesus is in heaven, while speaking to Nicodemus, because he has come from heaven; as if the finger of God has landed on Earth. 

Heaven is not a physical place, as most the people of Earth believe.  It is a matter of belonging and becoming.  It is a state of being, to which a man must be transferred by the power of Christ.

I mention this because it brings to bear something that people conveniently forget.  Though there is a difference between flesh and spirit, there is no difference in belonging.

Those who do not belong to Christ stand condemned already because their condemnation sits with the Holy Father.  And to our great joy, those who receive and obey the grace of God in Christ are already in heaven.  For their salvation sits with the Holy Father.

Those who belong to this world will reap the benefit that is due all wickedness.  Those who humble themselves and believe the message of God in Christ will reap the beautiful promises of life.  For God has seen their hearts, received the confession of their mouth, and has promised them on oath.

It is interesting to me how the wicked apropriate the good promises of God.  By some perverted means, they attribute salvation to themselves with no apparent fruit.  They have a hope, but no proof of it in their soul.  They are from the earth, they are within the earth’s beliefs, and their condemnation waits for them.

While this is true for the wicked who do not believe (toward “The Becoming”),  I often find that those who believe in Christ suffer under confusion and doubt.  So I have stated these things here to give encouragement.

A man belongs to the place he obeys.  And the proof of our belonging is within every man.  The wicked do not strive to obey.  They simply believe with no foundation, or proof, within themselves.  They seek to enter where they do not belong.

But the purchased of Christ will find themselves embroiled in an internal war.  They cannot be at peace in this place, for the Spirit of God lives in them to war against the desires of the flesh.  The war within the Christian should be proof to him that he is already in heaven.  God cannot lie.

There is no war in the wicked.  They war among one another for the sake of selfish greed.  They even go so far as to apropriate what is not theirs from the Holy Throne of the Living God.  But the outcome of the wicked and the outcome of the Christian are sealed forever in Christ the King.  It is impossible for God to lie.

By His Grace

Our Horror and Plight

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I was privileged to go on a cruise just recently.  One morning as I sat, pondering the things of God,  the nature of truth became the prominent subject in my mind.

As the Sun began to rise this picture was taken.  And a horrifying reality struck my soul like lightning.  I will try to share it with you here, but the fullness of the revelation belongs to Christ Jesus. 

Truth remains above all the thoughts and doings of man.  Regardless his reaction, truth remains firm forever.

Should he decide to ignore truth, man will be cut to shreds.  Should he embrace truth, he will find himself sliced to complete reduction.  Every lie will be stripped away.  Nothing within man can stand within God’s Truth.  If it is not from God, it will not endure the Judgement of Truth.

Some try to hide from truth. But there is no hiding.  By rebellion, willing ignorance or even fear, men attempt to hide.  Men constantly make excuses for their unwillingness to embrace truth. 

But the excuses of men are like a babbling language before the ears of truth.  They are a noise which is easily ignored.  Men think they make sense in their voicing of excuses.  They walk away confident that they have attained another day of freedom to do as they please.  But they are like those men who carried a wooden cross to toward the advancing lava only to be burned alive.  The agent of their death had no ears to hear there plea.  So it is with the truth of God.

Look about you.  Truth does not refuse the Holy Will of God.  The faithfulness of all heaven and creation obeys the will of the Living God in truth.  The Sun rises faithfully  every morning, and so the moon and stars.  The ocean remains where it is without complaint or excuse.  There are billions of items in creation that testify of faithfulness in truth.

Even now, truth testifies against us, for we are witness to all the faithfulness of creation,   Only the one who desires to be lovely before God embraces the injury and death that truth demands; injury to the desires of pleasure, and death to all his excuses.

If we embrace truth, we will suffer loss, no matter what we can reach to become.  God’s Truth is Holy!  Run, hide, rebell or hate truth, it already knows where we are.  And truth has laid an uncompassionate judgement at our doorstep.  “Obey the living God or die.  Since you have not obeyed you will surely be decimated.”

Only the willing, the strong of heart, the purposeful, and the faithfilled, will arrive with little destruction left to endure.   But make no mistake, Truth will certainly strip wickedness from eternity. 

The purging of heaven and the salvation of humble souls belongs exclusively to the Lord Jesus the Christ of God.  The truth of the Living God’s words have given Jesus eternal authority.  If you want to be saved it is to Christ Jesus you need to appeal.  (Yes, the very one who is hated so vehemently among men.)

The question is poised to every man.  Will you suffer loss here, or will you let the Son rise on you and burn you away like a drop of water on a red hot slab of steel? 

Words are the only strength I have to help you in this horrible plight.  (Horrible because truth demands a verdict, and you have no excuse to protect yourself.  And the plight, because you have no desire to lay down your own lie filled excuses.)   Even so, God has commanded that free will reign among men.  He has left the choice in our hands.

Truth is not hidden.  It is blatantly obvious to everyone.  Will you find the desire to deny excuses their strength?  Are you willing to stop hiding?  Are you sick of being an ambassador of destruction.  All you need to do is humble yourself before the Living God and ask for His mercy in Christ Jesus His Holy and Righteous Son.  God will hear that plea.

Obedience to the Living God brings life.  It is not too hard to humble ourselves and ask.  The horrible shame among men is that so few will ever do it.  Most people go to the grave dressed in lies.  Will that be you?

By His Grace