Tag Archives: Abraham

Public Note to Self

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Define purity.

Three men appeared to Abraham.  At that time a marvelous blessing was given to Abram.  And at that time, a horrible declaration was understood (surprisingly quickly).  They were in route to visit Sodom for the sake of Destruction.

As two of the men left to their destination, Abraham detained the One with questions about justice.  And I read these words, “Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening”.

When I read the words I didn’t have a slice of time to wonder.  I knew.  The Majesty of God will never set foot in the place of Destruction.  It is enough that He should hear the reports and send emissaries for the sake of His will. 

If you wonder why Jesus, the very word of God, appeared among us (in our place of destruction), it’s because Jesus was sent as an emissary – for the sake of his Father’s will, and for our salvation.

Do not take these words at face value.  Think as deeply as the Lord’s wisdom will allow.

Consider this, and answer with truth, define purity.

Faith Ponders

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Faith sits and ponders.  It looks at the plight of the wicked.  Listen to their moaning.  Watch the quivering agony.

They struggle against righteousness.  For in their life they have abandoned their place.  They sought after all that was pleasing to them.  But they forsook the demands of holiness.  Faith sits and ponders.

All day long faith holds out its hand to the wicked.  “Come this way.”  Faith says.  “Avoid the end of your ways, for you will not find peace.”  Wickedness has no ears to hear.  And their stone hearts can not conceive the meaning of the words.

Faith sits and ponders the plight of the faithless.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16)

The Greatest Debate of All History

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The Liberal International, a global federation...

The Liberal International, a global federation of liberal political parties and institutions, was founded in 1947. It represents one attempt in a long tradition of liberals trying to establish cross-cultural and transnational connections through global organizations. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How I wish we could be at a debate between Abraham, Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, and the heads of the liberal movements today.  Let them present their liberal agendas and arguments to such men.  I’d love to hear what those men would have to say.

And let’s keep in mind: Those four men are only men.  There is a God who gave them life, and to whom they lived in earnest, to answer to also.

The Man Who Lived When Men Died Quicker

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The Sacrifice of Abraham

The Sacrifice of Abraham (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A man lived, in the years when men died quicker.  It was there, a certain place in eternity, where God took His stand among men.  “I will cause you to be the father of many nations.  I will bless those who bless you.  And I will curse those who curse you.”  And the man submitted.

All things belong to God.  You who hold so tightly to what you think you own, I have a message for you.  You who think you can control your own destiny.  You who think the world is simply a place where profit lay hidden, waiting for your greedy fingers to uncover as a child would look for eggs on Easter.  You are full of pride in the accomplishments of your mind.  And your heart is cold to anyone who would compete with you to gain.  The way you are living is not the intent of God for man.

All things belong to God.  But many take as they please.  No thanks is given for the air they breathe unless it is a thankful heart that they can continue to plunder.  You will deny that your god is greed.  But your actions speak far louder than you know.

All things belong to God.  The man who lived when men died quicker was not like you.  He was a righteous man.  And his son was a righteous son.  What is it to us if we are asked to lay down our desire?  Who are we that we should compare ourselves to such a man?  “Sacrifice your son.”  This was not spoken to such a man as I.  Yet this man who lived when men died quicker was willing.  Greed was not his god.  Even to the dispatching of his lovely son, this man was willing to give all he had.  He reasoned that God was able to raise the dead.  And it was credited to him as righteousness from God’s Holy Throne.

Consider what you think you own.  Consider the way of your fingers to gain what you should not.  Consider how hard your heart has become since you were an innocent child.  For now, you believe that who you have become is who you must be.  I tell you that such thinking is a direct lie.  You need not live like that.  God will provide for you.  But you will be asked to suffer loss for His sake.  I tell you, it is worth everything you think you own to gain what God offers all men.

Consider: All things belong to God.  Get yourself away from greed.  Enter into the presence of the One who owns all things yet is generous beyond our understanding.  Sacrifice what you have.  Though you are not as the man who lived when men died quicker, you still present yourself unwillingly before the eyes of He who sees even into the darkest night.  All your ways are counted.  Yet He offers you what is Good.  Let go of what is not yours.  All things belong to God.

A Vision of Great Value

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Print by Gustave Doré illustrating the parable...

Image via Wikipedia

As I sat before the Lord and spoke of many things, a picture came to me.  I saw a man sitting on a hill, just short of the crest.  Behind Him was Glory that I could not see.  It was too wonderful for my mind to conceive.  And it stretched out above the man from behind.  As this Glory extended beyond the man and over him, it faded into darkness.  And in that darkness was a place of torment.  Suddenly, I realized it was Abraham sitting there with Lazarus laying against him.  Abraham was calmly observing the souls in torment.  All the while the Glory of God was at his back.

Then I understood something I hadn’t even thought to ask before.  Why was Abraham sitting on that hill in the first place?  And why was Lazarus laying against him?  Why wasn’t Abraham enjoying the Glory of God behind him?  What was he doing to sit there and watch the horror unfold before him?

Abraham was remembering who he was.  And Lazarus was busy loving his friend.  Perhaps Abraham had brought Lazarus with him to survey the end result of certain behaviors.  Perhaps, having met and listened to Lazarus’ story of salvation from certain death, Abraham wanted to revisit the end of Lazarus’ story.   The story doesn’t tell us why he was there in the first place.  But what was Abraham learning, or remembering, as he sat there with Lazarus?

Abraham was learning and remembering that no man is righteous on his own merit.  He was learning the equitable nature of God’s wisdom.  He was remembering the Glory of God which was displayed behind him.  And he was watching the Glory of God which was displayed before him.  And in his very presence, Abraham’s body felt the warmth of Lazarus who had been rescued from that place of torment.  The lesson was dramatic to Abraham.  And he was busy with learning about the Holiness of the God who is all wise and pure in His judgments.  In a way, Abraham was experiencing a truth we should all learn with diligence.  We either respect the God of all Life, or regret will follow us for eternity.

We say, “But for the Grace of God, there go I”.  And we don’t know the full truth of that saying yet.  But wasn’t this what Abraham was doing there?  He was learning the truth of that saying first hand.  He had understood the value of that statement as he traveled this place of testing.  And now he was seeing the saying play out before his very eyes.  And along with the truth of horror, lay the truth of redemption and joy.  What a startling contrast!  And what an incredible tool for those who are allowed to taste life.

This story about Lazarus and the rich man is a truth we would do well to consider with great depth.  For there is such a place as Abraham was visiting.  And there is an Abraham who sits on that hill from time to time.  And there is a Lazarus who joins him for the sake of love.  And, sadly, there are rich men who inhabit that place of torment. 

Pride has no place in the soul of a man of God.  We are all of those who receive God’s Grace.  And this story of Abraham is a vibrant lesson we would do well to take to heart.  Not one player in that story was God.  But each was receiving what God had apportioned to him.  Be wise and consider the outcome of your life.  That place is not far from any of us.

Father, I am glad at this vision You sent me.  My heart is filled with a glorious joy that You would have the mercy to let me see this.  I present this vision with words.  May all who read this be allowed to see the same picture with a vibrant clarity.  By the Marvelous Name of Your Son Jesus, I give you thanks.

By His Grace.

At the Advent of God’s Wrath.

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Burning Castle Before a City

Image via Wikipedia

While I drive the truck around, delivering my loads, I’m constantly made aware of the overwhelming push to own more stuff.   Billboards shout in our faces of how we need this….. want that….. should do this and that….  support this cause….. give money to that…..   And on it goes. 

I get near a television and hear the same things.  Videos shout a constant stream of violence, greed, sexual immorality, pride of man, and the screaming void of godliness.  Man has gained the precarious place of being the number one promoter of every evil thing.  And most folks don’t even notice anymore. 

I live in America.  So I speak as one who lives here.  I’m aware that the internet allows others of other countries to view this post.  And though I can’t speak for their experience, I’d wager it’s the same for them. 

Our awareness of God’s Holiness is almost lost now.  Even Christians are being what is termed “dumbed down”.  Grand religion buildings are taking the place of personal truth in worship of God.  And the people swallow it like honey. 

But God is the same God He was when Enoch was taken from the earth.  He is the same God who condemned the wicked in the flood.  He is the same God who tested Abraham.  He is the same God who sent His Holy Son into this world to become the sacrifice for all mankind.  He is Holy.  And the entire world is busy chasing after evil, wickedness, blasphemy, and rebellion against Him.  There will certainly be a very high price to pay for man as he builds his world without consideration of God’s consistent demand to be holy.

I was struck by a passage last week.  It comes from Revelation:

Rev 18:21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said:

“With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again. 22 The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again. 23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world’s great men. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray. 24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth.”

Along with this passage there was a celebration in heaven at the overthrow of babylon the great.  God is not kidding around folks.  What is wicked is fuel for the flames of hell.  And to whatever extent we contain wickedness, we are in danger of destruction.  I present this post to urge every man, woman and child to turn away from the onslaught of wickedness.  Turn to God and begin to realize your plight.  We are all liars and fools without Him.  If you don’t agree with that statement, you’re under the spell of babylon’s wickedness.  If we don’t repent of all this day’s evil, we will not be part of the celebration before God.  We will be the reason for the celebration.

By His Grace.