The stubborn teen, who has all the toys and friends anyone could want. The successful college grad, who knows how to meld into any social event. The proud man of middle age, who can prove his successfulness by the things he has acquired. The dutiful housewife who is adored by so many in her community. The angry old man or woman, who causes children to avoid that certain portion of sidewalk.
All these, and such an endless variety more, think they have it all, because they have what they want, and know how to get more. To them, righteousness is what they are in the process of becoming.
The worker, bent over from working hard for a living. The champion beer drinker, who works hard at some company where he has become important. The young woman who knows how to get what she wants. The rebellious young man, who hates everything and everyone.
All these, and such an endless variety more, think they have it all, because they have what they want and know how to get more. To them, righteousness is what they are in the process of becoming.
But not before God! Before the Holy Throne of God is only One Righteous individual. There will never be more. His name is Holy. His name is Jesus, the Christ.
You think you’re a righteous person? Then you don’t know anything about what righteousness is. Study the nature of the Christ, as found in the New Testament. Compare His Holy devotion to truth to yours. You’ll soon find out what righteousness really is.
Category Archives: the gospel
Rampant Poverty
It is true that in this world there are the poor. It is also true that the world makes much commotion about this. They fire one another up to eradicate poverty. But no headway is ever accomplished. As soon as they release one into productivity, five more take his place.
Unfortunately what is true in the world is also true in the church. There is a poverty that cannot be solved with the resources of this world. And it does not dress itself in visible rags.
Those who are rich in the forgiveness of Christ often seal up their wealth as if it can be stolen. And I find myself unable to speak of the power of God absent from display in my brothers.
While the world walks about destitute and ragged, many Christians live happy peaceful lives. While the resources of the world are gobbled up by greed, the resources of Christ are often hidden from the masses by fear.
Does this make sense to anyone?
The world carries on great campaigns to solve a problem that will never go away. But doesn’t the “Modern” church find itself doing the same thing?
It has become a virtually impossible task to tell the difference between the “good people” of this world and the “Modern” Christian Church. No wonder the poverty of soul is so widely spread.
A simple question, addressed to every Christian: “Are those who know you even aware that you are a Christian?”
I guess there is one place of solace. Both horrific forms of poverty will find their conclusion at the Holy throne of God.
1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3)
By His Grace
ONE
It is happening all over the world. In broad view of every man, God is saving souls.
From the meager child who believes that the Bible is true, to the great man of God who displays the works of God by his faith. The testimony of God blazes clearly.
Who will open his heart to humility that he may understand? Who will take a long hard look at his own heart and ways and mind? Who is willing to risk all he has for all there is to gain?
There is but one God, the living God. There is but one Holy Son, Jesus the Christ. And there is but one power of truth given to men, the Holy Spirit.
The world will call these things opinion, for they have so many variations of religion. But the power of eternal life is proven in Christ Jesus, the Holy Son of God. If you humble yourself in prayer and earnestly seek the face of God, you will know that these words are true.
By His Grace
“It’s Not Fair!”
What a horrible and wicked plight is man. Caught up in the pride of his own things, he is destined to be destroyed.
You complain against this saying: “It is not fair I am valuable! Why should I be destroyed? The words you just spoke are not possibly true! God is love he will not destroy me. If I am to blame because I cannot do what is perfect it must be understood I am only a man.”
What you say is true, you are only a man. But you use this as an excuse. When it should be the very engine that causes you to fall to your knees in humility.
But look at how pathetic your plight is. Look how far away from truth your response stands. Your response is full of pride, not humility.
It is easy to be proud, isn’t it? It is easy to blame anything but yourself. When you say, “I am only a man”, aren’t you blaming someone else for your fault? And who might that someone else be, but the very One who gave you life.
Do you know about the Gospel of Christ Jesus? Do you know that he has prepared a place where you do not need to be a pathetic creature?
I won’t take up this space with explanation of the Gospel. You can find the entirety of it in the New Testament of the Bible. And if you are not willing to read that, what good is it for you to read my explanations of it?
By His Grace
Prove Yourself
We all assess by what we perceive. What people do and say means a great deal. Such things tell everyone who they belong to.
I assess the world by the people who belong to its constructs. Are you a good representative of the world’s expectations? Do you believe all the hype about what “righteousness” and mercy are? Do you perform the appropriate hypocrisy demanded by the life you choose to lead?
There are only two camps in all creation and heaven. One is of satan. The other belongs to Jesus, the Christ of God. If you belong to the world, then do the things of satan. Show your allegiance diligently.
Why should I not expect this from you? You readily expect holiness, pure righteousness, uncompromising mercy, and godly love from Christians. Why do you think expectations are only one-sided?
Teach me what the world believes. Show your true colors. But you don’t. You hide behind all kinds of shifting beliefs. Who can nail down what the world believes? Who can point at satan’s kingdom and say, “That’s what he believes forever”?
But what the Lord Jesus is, remains plainly seen. You chide us because we don’t perform according to your expectations. What is that to us? You don’t even know what’s expected from you.
I challenge the entire world to prove what’s true among all men. Remove the Holy Law of God, and prove what’s true to me. You won’t be able to do it. You’ll find yourself full of doubt before you begin to speak.
Why don’t you stop pointing your wagging finger at Christians, and consider your own beliefs? You’ll find hopelessness, but isn’t that why you currently despise those who seek after the Holiness of God? Your ways are hopeless.
The only thing you can rely on is chaos. And you’ve been taught to thrive within that construct.
The Gospel remains among you. Seek it out. Take a long and hard look into it. Expose your very soul to its teachings. There you’ll find the truth you are currently missing.
True Pleasure
If sadness does not accompany us on our waking. If what is first in our desire, is to be full of joy and laugh. If we find we can look back at our past with great pride. If there is no fear within us for the things we love to do. I submit to every man (Christian or not) , that such a life may not have the Living God within it at all.
(By using the phrase “may not have”, I mean the odds are 99:1. For those of you who know nothing about gambling or other games of chance, such odds are not even worth playing. What sane person loves to play a game he knows he can never win?)
What is pleasurable in the flesh, stands at odds with the desire of the Living God. There is a joy in the Holy Spirit. But it is not like the joy of man. Man is full of joy at what he has. The Christian is full of joy in The Promise.
There is a history in every Christian that is worthy of peaceful contemplation. But the world would not recognize it as peaceful. The world would perceive such a life as a desperate insanity. For the Christian finds that not one single thought of his own was worthy of thinking. The Christian’s only moments of sanity, are those places where he obeyed. (And this in direct conflict with the desires of his body)
The Christian may carry a great pride, but it is not for the things he is, nor the things he does or has done. The Christian’s pride is exclusively in the Lord who has purchased him. Thus the vibrant testimony, which the world hates, thrives within the man of God. The man of God will find it impossible to keep his mouth shut.
There is a trembling in fear the man of God owns. But it is not a fear that restrains. It is rather a fear that provokes. It is the very engine of godliness.
The man of God will find that he loves to do the things the world hates. He will also find that he is full of hatred for the things the world loves. The people of the world are like a high maintenance woman; they must be entertained 24/7. But the man of God is full of joy to do the simple things.
To those who stand outside Christianity, I testify that Christianity is not just another religion. Christianity is always a becoming. And to those who consider themselves Christians, yet find entertainment their highest priority, I suggest strongly that you reexamine your faith.
While the man of God lives on this earth, he is never at rest. And the closer we get to the Living God in Christ Jesus, the more dynamic the separation appears. The closer we get to Him, the less we are in turmoil. But the journey is easily compared to a bloody and protracted war. What man can endure such a life on his own?
You can have your life of joy, and peace, and pride. I would much rather live the life of humiliation before the Living God. I would rather own no righteousness, than to be full of self praise.
For when I find my own ways abhorrent, then I know I agree with eternal ways of the Holy and Loving God. And this, my friends, is peace eternal. This, my friends, is Christianity.
My brothers and sisters in Christ: Check the boxes. Where has your faith agreed with these things? Do you find yourself afraid to testify? Are you fully absorbed in the things the world loves?
How could you possibly be at peace in godly testimony? Such a fear testifies that you agree with the world; “Jesus is an embarrassment to you”.
You may think this is a very harsh statement. But remember that Jesus was not ashamed of his Heavenly Father. Even to the extreme humiliation of beating and death, he knew he was at war with the things of this world.
Every hero in the Christian faith has lived his life in a desperate war. If you find yourself living a life of peaceful joy, as you pursue and mingle with those things of the world, how could you possibly be a disciple of Christ?
Any man can call himself anything he pleases. But there is a line of demarcation. God himself has drawn the line, in the bloody body of His Holy Son. And there are far more who straddle that line than those who cross it.
I wrote this to describe the radical difference between Christianity and any other way of life. But as I came to completion, I began to realize that Christianity has been so watered down that it is almost unrecognizable.
If you consider my last few words to be an attack, you are reading with the glasses of pride, proudly poised on your upturned nose. The man of God takes instruction where he finds it. He may not yet be humble, but he knows that is the desired place to live.
I am finished writing this post. I realize it is not only an instruction, it is also a declaration of war. So be it.
By His Grace
Words From There 