Holiness unto the Lord (Photo credit: Leonard John Matthews)
I have come to refer to the world as a “place of testing”. Once a woman said to me that she didn’t agree with that. I forget what she offered up as an alternative. But what matters is that God also sees this as a “place of testing”. How do I know that? Isaiah 28:16 refers to Jesus as a “tested stone”. Where was this Mighty Lord tested? Why, in this “place of testing”, of course.
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A mighty building is being constructed. Brick by brick the building is constructed: soul by soul, work by work. The corner-stone was laid and by its dimensions the walls jut out and up. This mighty building is the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus. And each brick is the soul and work of a man according to the will of God.
However, many are preparing themselves to be part of walls which are attached to the corner-stone yet not according to its dimensions and form. They construct their lives as they will; not according to the will of God. And they expect that the wall they are a part of will endure the proof of God.
Picture a four walled building. Consider that the architect has in mind a four walled building. Now picture that some construction crews came in and attached a few walls which extend in various ways from the desired plan. Do you think those walls will be allowed to remain when the architect comes to inspect his work? Won’t they be torn down?
Why would you desire to live your life according to your own mind? Why wouldn’t you consult the plan of the One who hired you? If you were not sure of your contract of hire, wouldn’t you go seek out the one who drew up the plan and ask for direction? Yet millions continue stubbornly on a path of their own. Happily they hammer and saw to build what they think will provide a pleasing sight to the God who called them from wickedness. They will be shown for what their work proves them to be. And what they have done will be disconnected from the mighty building of God. All their work will surely be utterly destroyed. All that will remain is powdery ashes which the hurricane of Holiness from God’s throne will blow away eternally far from His Holy City.
Do not be fooled. A man reaps what he sows. God will NEVER be mocked. A man’s work will be tested against the Holy will of God in Jesus, His Christ. Wake and consider who’s you are. Educate yourself by reading the Bible. Listen to the Spirit of God within you. Put away pride and humble yourself before the Most High God. Learn! Learn! Learn! Before you drive one more nail or saw one more board, learn! Remember, there is a “quitting time”. The whistle will blow and the time for building will be over. Surely you don’t want to be found having wasted your time doing what should not be done. On this earth, such shoddy workmanship would cause great shame in the one who doesn’t follow the plan. Shame will be the least of your concerns when you face utter destruction. Come on now, LIVE!
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We want the Lord to work in our lives and through us. So why do we complain that things aren’t going as we think they should? Rest in your faith. Grow in your faith. Allow God to work and do not consider that you know what should happen. Does a ball complain that it isn’t rolling downhill fast enough? Doesn’t gravity control it’s decent? Does a bird complain that it doesn’t have enough feathers to fly higher? Should we complain that our mouth isn’t large enough to consume the meals set before us? Isn’t it foolish to say, “My feet can’t be used like my hands are. And my hands aren’t able to support my body like my feet can.”
God has set His will in motion from ages past. We are not the ones who direct Him. It is the other way around. Who knows better what is true, God or man? So let us set aside all desires for manipulating the Lord God Most High. Let us, instead, practise accepting what is upon us. Let God be God. And let us be His people. It should be enough that He has had mercy on us.
By His Grace.
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However…………………..
These same folks will accept what they think they can handle from the Bible. That’s why they love it. They will adore Jesus, as long as He remains simply a loving God, or a baby in a manger. They are willing to obey God, as long as He doesn’t ask them to become something or someone they don’t want to become. And though they appear godly, there is a test you can perform on these folks that will surely show their true colors.
Speak to them about the reality of the Bible’s message and watch how they react. These folks will be nice to your face. But it might be the last time they will willingly talk to you. Speak to them about the Glorified Christ, who has made all that is and is the final authority regarding the righteous worship of His Father. Watch how their eyes dance as they try to find a way to say “good bye.” And as you watch them go, you’ll see them quickly rid their minds of what you just said. Again, they meld into the socially acceptable activity among men.
It is so very interesting how people are willing to believe the Bible, yet so quick to avoid anyone who talks about the Bible. Most people simply adore leaving the Lord within the pages of the Book. They gladly receive instruction from the written Word, but will balk severely when that Word becomes flesh among their fellow humans. They will listen to a sermon while in a group of people. But when it’s over you’ll find them talking about anything but the sermon’s content.
The Lord is not fooled. And only He will assess their value to Him. It is good to point these things out. Far too many are doing what we are seriously warned against: If we turn away from those who warn us on earth, how will we hope to receive Him who warns us from heaven?
By His Grace.
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I have some time this morning to sit and relax a bit. What, I wonder, should I do with this time? I could watch TV. Perhaps there’s a channel of learning. Yea! History channel…… That would be interesting. Then I reflect on who makes the History Channel. Well, perhaps I could find something better to do with my time.
This outcome of reflection has brought something to the surface in me. I spent years, more like decades, learning about the world around me. And I find something very curious, I’m not interested anymore in the things of this world. A special lack of interest flares up at learning from those who do not openly announce the Son of God in their work. I’m sick of allowing myself to become interested as a program unveils it’s information, only to find them preaching that I came from a monkey.
Perhaps I could watch that show, “How it’s made”. But that becomes rather common place in a very short while. Not that I don’t enjoy looking and learning about innovation. Man’s ability to turn rock into some shiny and useful tool has always captivated me. But what part of me is captivated. That’s the question. And I know the answer. I could watch “Myth Busters”. But everything of man is, in the end, a myth. So what can they tell me that I don’t already know.
I think I’d rather sit in silence a while and consider the Lord and His ways with man and myself. At least in this I accomplish something eternal. Any other contemplation only leads to corruption of the eternal.
I was thinking of how the Tower of Babel went unfinished. God looked down on the work of man and decided that He would rather they remain as they were until Jesus had appeared among us. And I consider that since the Lord appeared in flesh, man has became rather adept at turning his world into a more sensual place. Now that thought would be incomplete if I didn’t allow myself to consider the current explosion of sensuality. By sensuality I mean the fulfilment of every possible lust man owns; from building houses which have become far more than a shelter from the elements to every possible convience.
It was not God’s desire that man should fend for himself like this. If he had obeyed the Lord from the beginning, I’m convinced that the elements of this world would have become far more man friendly. God desires to care for His creation. But it is man’s continual rebellious ways that have resulted in a quite complex war with the world around him.
In the end of this thought comes something worth thinking about. If it was God’s desire to provide for man from the beginning, why would His desire be any different now? Even though I am part of this carnival of the works of man’s hands, I can still make a choice to trust the Lord to provide for me. And why does He provide like this for a people who will certainly die in a couple years? What benefit is there in this providing?
FAITH!
By His Grace.
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“If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.”
Ok. I hear the meaning of this passage loud and clear. Some passages in the Bible are not easily divided in their meaning. But this is certainly not the case here. Or is it?
Men are corrupt by their very nature. We can’t know all things, so we often get involved with things we don’t understand. On top of that, there are millions of men who plot to gain the upper hand every moment of every day. Then we have those who decide to refrain from fighting all together. Somehow we are expected to make sense of these things and learn to live at peace with everyone? Not really.
There are moments of clarity we all receive. There are situations which demand that we take a stand against the desires of another. I’m not talking about judging others here. But we all have faced a situation or thousand, in which, we were expected to simply cow tow and shut up, take it on the chin….. and other weird responses to evil.
I could go into detail about our responses to such things. I could use a million examples to help any reader come to an understanding about how to live at peace with others. But who would read it? And even if they would read forty billion words typed, who could live it? Any situation encountered would surely have a subtle difference from any example I could come up with. So I will use common sense here and simply say that, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1: 5)
Who can navigate the morass of human expectations? And the more people involved, the worse it gets (if that is possible). And what shall we say if the world begins to take on “good deeds” without Christ Jesus at the helm? How do we hope to please all men? We simply can’t. That is why we are given the perfect wisdom of God; so that we can maneuver through this world without getting caught in the stupidity of the world’s perplexing puzzles.
If you want to please everyone, you’re welcome to try. But you’ll quickly become nothing more than a stick in the path. And someone will surely come along and kick you out of the way. We are compelled to stand strong for certain things. The answer to all this ends up where it starts: God.
By His Grace.
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