Category Archives: the gospel

The House of Lies

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There are millions of lies we are taught to believe in this world.  All of them have their basis in deserving. 

We deserve freedom.    We deserve to be wealthy.  We deserve healthy children.  We deserve to retire and enjoy our old age.  We deserve to be accepted by God when we die, after all he make us.  And among the most damaging is this:  We deserve to die peacefully, in our own bed and in our old age.

So when death comes unexpectedly the people are outraged.  Why are they upset?  Bereavement is expected.  But pointing blame on someone else, particularly at God, finds its roots at a lack of understanding and believing in lies.

Instead of wasting precious time and energy trying to stave off death, men would do far better to prepare.  Accidents happen.  Hearts stop beating.  Illness takes anyone it pleases.  And the murderous nature of man does not ask permission.

You would think men would give this serious consideration.  You would think they would turn to God in their youth and in their health.  But this is rarely the case.

More often people use their youth and their health to prepare for great wealth and longevity of life.  If they think of death it is because it happens to someone else.  Isn’t this ironic?

God takes souls when it pleases him.  I have never heard of a case where he appeared to someone and asked permission.  When our turn comes it is often swift and utterly devastating.

I’m not highlighting anything new here.  Contrary to popular belief, death has been around for a long long time.  It is really good at what it does.  And it never says, “I’m sorry”.

Those who died unreconciled to God, remain that way for eternity.  Now you may think that’s rather pompous of me, to exclude so many worldly ideals.  What does it matter what you think?

God has sent His Son.  That very message has been around for a long long time.  You’ve likely heard of it.  And you’ve likely covered your ears. 

Do you really think your ignorance of the will of God in Christ will nullify your condemnation for eternity?  “I didn’t know!”  Yes you did.  You simply chose not to acknowledge.  Pleasure seemed to be far more fun.

Palpable Forgiveness

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Beyond this place is joy for those who learn to trust the Lord.  And since we know that God cannot lie, we learn to believe that there is a certain joy in receiving his forgiveness now.  Those who believe this have proven that God is true.  Yes there is proof!  And any man can know it.

It is God’s glory to give, for he is life.  Therefore it is our glory to receive.  And we do not receive without a substantial reward.  For in the soul of he who receives is proof that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.  It is not the reward that comes from the things of this world.

To the soul who is yet blind, such words carry no weight.  But to those who have received, a joyful amen comes quickly.

This world will offer you a billion alternatives to the pain you now suffer.  They offer you pleasure of every possible sort to alleviate your troubled soul. 

I am over 60 years old now and have searched this world for the things that help.  from the sensual to the religious, and all things in between, I have looked.  I have found nothing that compares to the palpable forgiveness of God in Christ Jesus.

They offer what will deaden a man’s senses.  They offer distractions.  But such things are not effective in alleviating our guilt before the Holy One; a guilt that troubles us every day and every night of our life.

The guilt of the soul causes hatred of every sort.  It stifles love.  Its restrains joy to temporary distractions.  You know sooner grasp a joyful moment, and it is taken away.  You want to love, but the guilt of your soul proves you are unlovely.  So you end up striking out in various ways, or trying in vain to cover your shame.

Yoga teaches tranquility of mind.  But nothing in the body can bring tranquility to the soul.  Religions of this world teach sacrifice.  But God has chosen his own sacrifice, therefore he does not accept the sacrifice of men for their salvation.  No sacrifice a man can make brings tranquility to the soul.  For God has chosen his door of giving.

The riches of this world can be gathered, yes.  And for a time they alleviate the stress upon our minds.  Yet the soul is restless and full of guilt and shame.  And the one who puts his trust in the things he can gather or do, is not at peace deep within himself.   He only finds himself looking for another way.

But the tranquility that comes from the forgiveness of Christ is complete.  One moment a man’s guilt is upon him.  He can feel it as if it is a thick blanket.  The next moment he is free and full of joy.  An unexplainable transformation has taken place.  Unspeakable piece has arrived.

Where foreboding was, now joyful expectation comes.  Tears flow.  But they are not the tears of a man.  They are the tears of a son of God.

I know we have sinned.  I know we feel guilty to the very center of our soul; a guilt that our hands cannot reach.  I know that in our great weakness we look for anything to alleviate this pain. That is the first part of the gospel of Christ.  But if that is all there is, then there is no hope.

But the one who puts his faith in the Holy son of God, and continues throughout his life to look to him for help, will find himself full of an unearthly joy.  It is not the joy of child feels at Christmas time.  It is an unshakable peace.  The man’s Maker has come and healed him.

Men laugh at this message.  But even those who laugh, desire it to be true.  It is true my friend.  The joy you desire lay just beyond the door of pride. 

At the threshold of humility a man finds what he needs.  If a man will put away the knowledge of his own mind, and understand these things by faith, he will find he has hope.  This hope will not disappoint him, if he continues to live in it. And in time, all the remedies of this world pale to oblivion.

I do not speak of this as one who has only heard.  I speak of this as one who continually proves that the Lord’s gospel is powerful, effective, true and eternal.  And I speak of this as one who’s conscience is clean.  It is not that I am sinless.  It is that the forgiveness of Christ is stronger than my guilt.  And I testify that his forgiveness affects my soul.

If you will listen to these words and seek His face with all you have, You too will be able to prove the glory of God in Christ Jesus. 

The few

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When men reach the end of their days; when their time in this place to testing is done, they will find that everything the Lord’s people have said to them is true.  They will leave this place only to enter the most hideous of circumstances.

I do not say this to laugh at them.  I say this as another means to wake a few. 

I know that most men will receive what is hideous, because the Lord Himself has testified so.  He himself has said that the way to destruction is broad and many go in there by.  And he has said the way to eternal life is narrow and few there are who find it.

Will you listen?  Will you let your ears hear these words?  For the sake of your own life will you give a moment of consideration?  Or you will you continue in the broad way to respond as most will?

All things in this world are either a warning of curse or a test for those who will live.  Which camp do you desire to enter eternity belonging to?

Certainly you want to live.  Even the most wicked among us desires life.  Have you asked yourself, “Why then don’t I take it?”  Or have you walked through time oblivious to all these things?

The Lord’s people stand still and testify day and night.  Who will hear and cease scoffing?  Who will eat at the Lord’s people’s table?  Who will remain?  Who will feast with us and find strength to live?

If there are few who understand and enter in, who are they?  If the majority of men do not consider these things and die in hideous shame, who are they?

You are urged to ask.  You are urged to separate yourself from those who die.  We are dead in our sins, even as we live with the majority.  It is by the prevail of holy struggle that we live eternally.

I did not write this to those who will die.  I wrote this to those who will hear, understand, grasp and do.  Is that you?

Will you humble yourself and receive?  Or will you retain your pride and die in hideous shame?  The door of salvation stands wide open to those who will enter in.  But it remains concealed and eternally locked to those who refuse.

Describing vs How

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The bush limbs grow.  What man can say how?  There is a stick in the dirt.  That one only rots away.  But the one from which it was broken off grows longer and taller and thicker.  Buds appear, then the bloom.  Finally it is a joy to behold.  All in due time life appears.

Men may describe the phenomenon.  But no man knows how it is done.  And, despite the claim of science, it cannot be replicated by men.

God is life and generously gives to all, both in heaven and on earth.  No one lives who can search the deepest of God’s thoughts or intent; neither in heaven nor on earth.  Even the Holy Son of God admits some things are things that are in the hands of His Father alone.

What folly then does man possess that causes him to believe he knows?  Judge for yourself.  Which is better: to assume we do not need God’s salvation, or to humbly accept that he is all and singularly able to save?

Shall a man and say, “I have sinned therefore I am unworthy to go to God in prayer.”  Or should he rather except that God is the only source of repair?

The man of humble understanding will let God be God.  The man who is ruled by pride will choose salvation or destruction for himself.

Regardless a man’s choosing God remains God.  The man of pride does not steal from God’s glory.  But he robs God of the right to give.

I write these words.  They are true and life.  Those who accept such things will say, “Amen”.  Those who do not we’ll seal their own fate.

Salvation is like the bush.  Men may be able to describe holiness as it appears.  But not a single one can say how.

Panic Polly

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Who was Polly that they should associate her name with such a horrible condition?  She certainly must have been one nervous individual.  I doubt you would have had trouble pointing her out in a crowd.

Are you one of those who worry about everything all the time?  Can you name one miracle that you have brought about by worrying?  Likely not.

More than likely, the only thing your worry has established is some sort of illness; fibromyalgia, ulcers, nerve bumps, hair loss, constant anger, some kind of drug addiction, and the like.

You learned to ride a bicycle; sometime after you had learned to walk, of course.  You learn to read, or you wouldn’t have a clue what I’m saying.  Overtime you built a fair vocabulary.  You learned some social graces (Even if the only place they are acceptable is some sleazy bar.)

If you learned all that, then you can learn to stop worrying.  Especially if you begin to believe the gospel of Jesus, the Holy Son of God.

The gospel is important to everyone, for it is the key to eternal life.  But not just so we can float on a cloud in play a harp.  The gospel is important for the sake of righteous living, in eternity and now.

By the gospel my conscience is clean.  Not that I am without sin.  But his forgiveness is real enough to make a drastic difference in those who believe; they experience a peace they can’t define, they’re not easily rattled by danger, and they usually sleep pretty good.

By the gospel I am taught.  Not only do I learn what God expects, but the Holy Spirit reminds me moment by moment.  By this I have an opportunity to do what is right all day long.

By the gospel I am told that God will take care of me.  So as I find myself able to believe, I find worry and anxiety dissipate rather quickly.  It is impossible for God to lie.  And he sealed his promise with his Son’s Holy Blood.  I’m thinking I’m standing on pretty firm ground when I believe he’ll take care of me.

And most importantly, by the gospel I know I will have confidence before the Holy One when I leave this place.  Now some folks might not put that together.  So for the sake of the few I will explain.

If you wear anxiety like a warm coat in the winter now, what do you think you will do when you stand before his blazing glory without the confidence of faith?   How will you believe your sins are forgiven?  How will you be sure your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

Believe in the gospel and you will find yourself living at peace.  Choose to remain in disbelief, and you choose to live with in the negative consequences of anxiety.  And by that you are threatened to bare those consequences for eternity.

I do hope this has been helpful to at least one if not a few.

P.S.
The word “efficacy” is often used in medicine.  By that word doctors, define the power of a medicine or procedure to do what it’s supposed to do.  I tell you that the efficacy of Christ Jesus and His gospel are perfectly powerful.

The pit

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I saw something this morning that I will not have words to describe.  What I saw is what I am.  What I saw is the sinful nature.  What I saw is what all men are without the Lord’s mercy.

My first coherent thought, upon waking, was of how wicked and ugly I have been.  How solidly hard my heart has been.  I am not saying it is so now, for if it was I would not have seen what I saw.  I saw the man I was. 

I saw how hatred consumed me.  I saw how I trusted the wisdom of men and found myself utterly wicked.   In my youth I looked to man that I may grow and become a man.  But they could teach me nothing more than what I already had as a fool of a boy.

They said, “The beauty of this world is worthy of praise and desire.  And the best beauty of this world is woman.”  They told me to gain what is best and beautiful.  The best however could only be gained in my weak, futile, wicked and twisted mind.  But that to them was sufficient wisdom.

All the while they praised this form of wisdom, they despised me for holding it.  And this was the beginning of true wisdom for me.  As in all other things, men will say they love you only to show they hate you thoroughly.  So with their mouth and their media they show you beautiful things only to despise you inwardly.  My friend, they don’t even want your money.  They only hate and despise anything that is not them.

There is no beauty in this wicked place of testing.  Those who put their hope in this place, and the things that belong to it, will find themselves empty.  They will think they have.  They will think they own what is good.  But when the understanding of God comes near they will see themselves are.

This is what I saw when I woke this morning.  I was caused to look inward on my body and see a dark cave; seeping with every wicked thing.  Hopelessly uncleanable.  No sooner is the nature of man cleaned but it seeps more putrid wickedness.

The man who thinks he can save himself is unspeakably fooled by a lie.  With what will you reach to approach the Most High God?  What righteousness will you present that is acceptable to the Holy One?  How can what is unclean present anything clean?  What complete folly resides in the heart of man!  And folly above folly, man thinks he is clean!

It is impossible for me to paint a more clear picture.  I am blessed to have seen it, despite the tears.  It is the mercy of God to have shown me now.  It is his tender compassion to teach what is true.

God alone is good.  He has sent His Holy One for our redemption.  Yet he was not sent simply for the sake of man.  He was sent that God may glorify him.  And those his blood redeems are a gift to his eternal and Holy kingdom.

Jesus appear before us to testify of his Father.  He came among the wicked to testify of righteousness.  He alone is what is good for us, for, without him, there is no good within us. 

The man who would balk at this is full of wicked hatred.  He does not perceive the stench of his way.  And unless a man appeals to God in the name of Christ Jesus, he will find no welcome in the kingdom of heaven.

Utterly and eternally the wickedness of man will be sealed on the day of judgement.  Those who trust in the wisdom of man will find themselves horribly crushed.

Perhaps you think I am judging you.  With my confession of my own wickedness, how could that possibly be?  I testify of Jesus.  I testify to the righteousness of God the Father.  And I testify, in truth, to the wickedness of man.

Those who think this message is a judgment against them, are full of vile things.  If there is wisdom within you to be had, consider how you hate this message.  Let that be a sign to you of what is to come.  If you cannot stand the message of a man, with these words, how will you endure them when they come from the lips of the Holy One?

I place these words here on WordPress.  I have thought them through and have been is careful as I can.  If I were to speak with you face to face I may well have missed many things.  But here it is written that all men may I understand.

How I desire that this message reach millions.  But I am not fooled by the fact of obscurity.  There are thousands of others who write all manner of things all day long.  And though this post is priceless, it will sit in the garbage heap of words.

Words gather together in this world as if a garbage dump.  They write about fashion, social grace, the beauties (so-called) of this world.  Yet a few testify of what is true.

These truth writers deposit gems in the dung heap of this world’s wisdom; priceless treasures to be found by those who will be willing to sort through the trash.  I place this gem among them.  May God have mercy to direct your fingers as you tear through the stinking garbage to find something beautiful.

Please come eat and taste that the Lord is good.  Only then will you understand how sour and putrid are the things you eat now.  Your tongue is accustomed to waste.  You read what is rotten and the kid sweet. All the while the taste of truth your sour and unpalatable.  You die even as you live.  But God is willing to give you life.

Waiting to receive your angel wings when you die is part of the folly of this world’s greatest lie.  The Lord Jesus has come and sacrificed so that we may have the kingdom of heaven here.  We need not wait. 

He will purify the putrid place of your soul.  He will teach you to love what is good.  He will teach you to abhor the flesh and the wisdom of man.  He will teach you  to detest yourself.  (So much for the teachings of self-esteem) He will teach you to become and overcome.  He will stand with you, within you, and before you, as you are forcibly presented to the Most High God.

I am not permitted to say more.  For even when Jesus was among us, he spoke to the people in parables.  So I have done here. 

Dear friend, if you understood the things of God, while you live in wickedness, you would die.  You cannot fulfill the demands of the Holy Lord of life by yourself.  The sinful nature is at war with God.  And if you will be saved you must be released from your own chains.

Therefore the things of Heaven are spoken in parables to those who do not believe.  Man is not given words that are true and pure.  We are allowed only to speak to men from a man.  And you will find that as you believe, it is revealed to you.  The fullness of wisdom is reserved for the place of fullness.

By His grace I have spoken.  By His grace alone, you will hear.  May the will of God be done forever!  Only God alone is true. Amen.