Tag Archives: Christian

Judging, Peace, and Holiness

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Three Empty Boxes #1

Three Empty Boxes #1 (Photo credit: z287marc)

I’m going to take a stab at defining and explaining three important aspects of Christianity.  If I hit the mark, then well and good.  If I miss the mark then I ask for clarification by my brothers and sisters.  I even invite comment from those who are not yet believers in what is called “The Way” (If you don’t understand what “The Way” is, then it’s you I’m talking about).  These three topics are very hot in the world today.  They are misunderstood and abused far too often to leave alone.

This post is created to see if I contain what is true.  I make them public so that I might expose what I believe personally.  These are the things of Christ as I have come to understand them.  And this understanding has become central to my every thought, attitude, and deed.  So what you will read is the sum of who I am in Christ Jesus.  (A bit verbose huh?)

I do not mention that to boast.  I mention that to ask for help to clarify what I believe and do.  Who among us would be willing to divulge our heart in these matters?  I ask for mercy from you as you examine what has become my very soul’s desire.  These are central doctrines (teachings) in the Christian faith.  And it is good, for all God’s people, to hold His ways so tightly that they can be delivered through our own words.  Far too often I see Christians simply quote scripture to deliver their understanding of God’s ways.  Though I too could do that, I have determined to render them in a far more vulnerable manner.  We will see what the response from my Christian family will be.  I know what the response from the world will be.  And I laugh within myself to remember that we will also see what I am made of as I encounter the responses…..

In this, this post becomes a game of sorts, a game of pride against humility.  A potentially deadly game, but a game none the less.  Approach it light heartedly, as if in a class room filled with willing students (of which, I am also a student).  It is my desire that all my family in Christ try their hand at these things.  With love this exercise can be exceedingly fruitful.  “Ya otta try it yersef.”

I know this post is a lot of words.  So what?  So is “War and Peace”.  And there are a couple people in history that have read the entire book.

Judge:

Do not judge by appearance but render a right judgment.  Do not guess about what you see in others.  Assess by what you witness.  In the first statement we are commanded to judge.  All that is necessary is the knowledge of the Lord which He is willing to extend to all His people freely.  Have you cleaned your own house by His gracious knowledge?  Then you are able to rightly understand what is proper before the Most High God.  And if your house is clean then you are allowed to figure out the needs of others (that is to say, “judge rightly”).  We all lack in various ways.  But as we enter into The Lord’s commands (That is, as we learn to live His commands consistently.) we are compelled, by what we have learned to obey, to assess that same obedience as we witness it in others.  We learn to live by His standard.  And as we live by those standards of Holiness, we are compelled to voice what is true.

Do not listen to those who say you have no right to judge.  You are compelled to make right judgments as you learn to live according to the Lord’s ways.  Let one idiot say to another idiot, “I did that and I can tell you clearly, ‘That’s gonna leave a mark!’  So don’t do that!  I used to do that till I couldn’t stand the pain anymore.  Now I don’t do that.  Look.  See the scars?”  Only a proud fool is going to hate you for giving the warning.  Only folly will respond, “You don’t know anything!  And you have no right to judge me like that.  I’m going to do what I want. And you have no right to speak to me like that!”  Ok.  Go ahead and do it.  You’ll be joining me to tell others about it in your very own words, just like I told you.  This is appropriate judging.  And that is the expected response today.  The indignant one will soon enough chime in with you to say something about the “marks”.

Consider others equally important to yourself.  You have cleaned your own house so that you will be presentable to the Lord of Life through Jesus’ sacrifice.  Help others clean their own house by gently pointing out what they are not able to see alone.  You too once had blind spots which required a brother or sister to come along side and point them out.  They did approach you to give you counsel.  And in humility to the truth spoken to you, you accepted their counsel and made the appropriate changes to your behavior.  Perhaps that counsel was delivered to you harshly.  But, in retrospect, wasn’t the harsher counsel delivered after various attempts to reach you through kindness, love, gentleness, and peace?

What people hate about this process is the final warnings that come from continual rebellion against God’s teachings, which were first delivered more kindly.  But these people fail to recognize the softer teachings which came before the harshness of warnings about the Holy Judgment of God.  All men know they are impure.  It is pride alone which restrains the Lord’s words from entering.  And if we are to help them we are compelled to find a way around the pride of man.  Isn’t this the reason for a display of physical authority against the rebellion of our children?  (I’m talking about what used to be called “spanking”.  But I thought it an inappropriate word……… It just aint PC anymore.)

This process is much like my little dog.  She is busy sniffing about and wandering around at her own pace and pleasure.  But when the time is near to leave, I call her.  Sometimes she will not hear repeated and escalating calls to return to me.  So she requires that word of rebuke.  Then she hears me clearly and returns.  I do not begin with that word to her.  I give her time to come because she is willing to obey.  But she will return to me regardless, whatever it takes.  There is reward in my hand when she obeys.  Though for now she endures a rebuke.   Maybe I ought to just skip all the “TADA” and move to yelling at her.  Nah.  I love the lil creature.  Isn’t that why we subdue frustration long enough to talk softly to others?

People balk at righteous teaching because of pride.  But come the day of judgment they will appreciate that you had the boldness to warn them, provided they had responded with humility and obedience.  There will be respect for those who have cleaned their own house so that they can render right judgments of their brother’s actions, having delivered the appropriate level of teaching at the proper time.

We are  commanded to love our brother as we love ourselves.  Have you rendered this process within yourself until obedience became second nature?  Then there is no shame to do the same for others out of a pure love and concern for their safety.  Do not listen to those who hate what is good and rebuke you for applying what is true from a true heart.  Love them toward obedience for their own good, even as you have endured the same for the sake of God’s Holy Son’s Name.  Such people will remind you of the mote in your own eye.  You know, the one you have removed so you can see clearly to help your brother.  While they remind you of your sins they are pushing you away without remembering the second part of that message.  In this they blame you for judging them, all the while they are judging you.  Curious isn’t it?

Peace:

This talk about judging others leads me to the next important conversation.  I have heard many today speaking about peace among men.  What they refer to is not the peace of God.  They are intent on making man into his own peace without God’s command toward holiness (in case you didn’t read the title, it’s the next conversation).  They would circumvent the Lord’s command to obey His laws for the sake of peace, tranquility, neighborly kindness, and a social fearlessness (a society in which no one locks their doors anymore).  They would remove the coming Judgment of God so that men are not afraid of them.  And by this they enter into a great folly.

This teaching does not love God’s ways.  This teaching respects man as more important than the Holy God of Life.  And it will find no favor from the Lord.  It has been refered to as “man pleasing”.  Such a vile teaching, if followed to its fullness, will surely end in the Lord saying to them, “Away from Me.  I never knew you.”  These men and women will find themselves loved by man but vulnerable to accusation by the Living God.

The peace that God is intent on distributing among men is not a peace built between men.  God’s peace is a peace between God and man.  “Peace on earth, goodwill among men”, does not mean peace between man alone.  Peace between men is only a treaty built to retain social prosperity.  The peace of God brings war between His people and those who are not.  We obey what is true from His Holy hand.  They only obey what is expedient between men.  They will surely hate those who are obeying the higher commands because the obedience of God’s people is an “in your face” condemnation of their own actions.

God calls His people to obedience beyond what is socially marginal.  His people will obey Him even when society demands otherwise.  For me this is never more apparent than on the freeway.  Drive your car at the posted speed limit and watch what happens.  While you are obeying the law of man you will be hated for it.  You stand in their way as they break their own laws.  But you obey from a deeper conviction which comes from the Lord.  This will become obvious to the one who begins to enter into obedience.  Though we will remain enigma to all who do not humble themselves toward God.  (I’m sorry for the use of the word enigma.  It is not used much anymore.  It means that something that is an unsolvable mystery.  And, from their perspective, obedience to a higher law than that of man is a mystery.  It is not expedient to their greedy ways.  Their grubby little greedy hands are too busy to stop and fold in prayer.  “Gotta have” is the motto of today.)

The summation of this talk regarding peace is that there is no peace among men.  It is only a social contract of sinful men to live together for the sake of greed; making sure that everyone gets their fair share of the pie.  The peace of God is immeasurably more.  His peace removes greed, thus we live as free men.  We become free from the temporary restraints of the world’s social contract.  In God’s peace we rise above their expectations.  Rest assured, they will hate us for it.

Holiness:

Now the final aspect of Christianity presents itself.  This is an “all but forgotten” aspect today.  Someone talks about it and we either say, “Oh yea.”  Or we give that frantic nod, hoping the speaker will over look our ignorance.  If we remember it as a group of people, it is often simply applied to God.  There is little talk among God’s people as it applies to each of us.  But what we say to each other has no effect against the truth God continues to deliver to us.  Holiness among His people is a command.  And it will not be taken out-of-the-way, EVER.   The mass (no pun intended) of what is called the Church has turned to living out their “religion” by attending a gathering once a week.  But this is not the holiness God commands us to attain.

The holiness God commands upon us is a separation from sin and a uniting to what is pure, true, and eternally powerful.  I hate to burst your bubble while I attend your party of self-importance, but I will inform you of something:  you are a slave.  You are either a slave to sin, or a slave to righteousness. We are either entering into service to what is Holy, or we remain as slaves to what is wicked.  We all serve as slaves!  You are not a free individual; free to chase after anything you desire.  There are only two powers present, in all heaven and earth which we obey.  (simple math for a very simple understanding.  One, or the other ONE = enslavement.  Cool huh?  Not even a question from a math teacher: “What is one plus one?”  [don’t try to answer that] It is simply a statement that you are either one or the other.)  We either naturally obey the one who accuses even God Himself, or we obey the Holy Lord of Life by the Spirit He gives His people.  Regardless what you do in your life you are a slave who is being ordered around by a higher authority.  Those who think they are free men are a slave to wickedness.  Those who humble themselves before the Most High God will recognize that they have become slaves to God’s Righteousness.  Hey!  Get over your pride!  You’re nothing more than a slave.  Does this offend you?  Then examine yourself to see why.

Frustration consumes me as I listen to my brothers complain that they just can’t get past a certain sin or two.  I listen with compassion but leave in frustration.  I will say this here but would never say this as my brother vents his heart to me:  “If the conquering of sins is not available to God’s people in Christ Jesus, then the Lord is a liar, and asks far too much from us.  But if the Lord never lies (and this is absolutely the case) then it is the man of Christ who is lying to himself and others.”  How else can it be said?  On the other hand, since I said it here I can only hope my brother understands what I meant.  We are a pompous people.  Without God’s Spirit within us we cannot hope to please Him.  But oh how we continue to try.  And how we continue to fail!

Holiness is commanded by God to all His people!  Please forgive me for saying these things but they are essential.  We are not saved so that we can carry around a warm fuzzy all our days.  We are saved to war against the sinful natural tendencies which the slaves of wickedness embrace.  We are saved by Jesus’ work so that we can serve the purity of God’s will forever.

I will sum this up in this manner:  There seems to be a great lie going about.  It has something to do with what people refer to as “up there”.  They consider that God will do some kind of magic when they die.  They think they will be transformed into something beautiful after they are through doing as they please here.  Um, I have to say this, “That’s really stupid.”  It shows a complete lack of understanding about what the Gospel reveals.  The initial transformation happens here!  I know we won’t attain to perfection here.  But why would you let that stop you from gaining everything you know you are able to attain here?  This lie is like saying “I want to go to Portland Oregon tomorrow.  But I’ll wait to leave until I get there.”  How stupid is that?  Isn’t that what the lie says?  (Please don’t joke about what if obvious.  I know there are a lot of people who actually live in Portland Oregon.  Ok.  So for those people, consider that you want to go to New York City, though I can’t imagine why.  I’ve been there.  It isn’t better than Portland Oregon.)

I could go on about the importance of holiness.  But for what purpose?  I think the point was made.  And if the point wasn’t made, wasn’t that the reason why I opened this entire conversation by inviting comment and correction?

I will end this conversation about the three essential points of Christianity with my favorite signature.  Three words present themselves to cover over my folly.  They are, themselves, essential to all teaching about what belongs to God.  May God grant understanding as He sees fit to grant.

“By His Grace.”

The Way

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Iceland - The End.

Iceland - The End. (Photo credit: alicethewhale)

I perceive a powerful meaning today.  I see that “The Way” of Christ Jesus among men is impossible to walk by the will of man alone.  For my brothers and sisters this is understood.  But for those who do not know these things I relay this truth.

For a man to be consumed with purity before the Most High God, and to love his fellow man willingly and quickly, without reservation, is far too much to ask.  On the one hand, a man will become consumed with self as he strives with all his might to obey what is pure and true.  On the same hand, he will be asked to render complete forgiveness to others and that without judging; a sacrifice of self for the sake of others.  What an odd and perplexing difficulty.  Only the “God man” can accomplish this (that man who has surrendered to the will of God and has accepted God’s “terms of peace”).  Only those who have received power from God can make this happen.  A simply religious man will not gain “The Way”.  The Spirit alone gives the strength, wisdom, understanding, and forgiveness from Christ, to accomplish “The Way”.

The world is quite keen to point out these things to Christians.  “You judge me”, they will say to us.  And they count it unfair, even illegal for us to do so.  By this accusation they prove that they know they are condemned.  But they do not understand the difficulty presented to God’s people.  They only respond by virtue of the knife which is thrust through their soul by remarks made against wickedness.

Now I am not advocating that “The Way” is too hard.  Though no man can walk this way by his own power, God has granted the understanding and means to accomplish this.  The primary accusation against God was that He asked too much of His creation.  I am convinced that the primary accusation is the very reason for the entire universe, up to , and including, the death of His Holy Son on a Cross.  And we should never join in that bitter song of accusation against our God.  Instead, we testify that it is entirely possible to walk according to the law of God.  And this appears within us because He has made it possible by the Holy Spirit He has freely given us.

I am pointing this out for the sake of my weaker brothers and sisters.  This article admits that “The Way” is difficult to attain and remain.  This is a testimony from man’s perspective.  It is not God’s perspective.  His expectations upon us are quite clear.  “Attain release from sin by My Son’s sacrifice.  And hold no ill will against those who hate My ways and you”, God could be said to say.

There is a truce to strike between God and man, terms of peace to comprehend.  There is a building to build which cannot be built by our own will.  And anyone who sets out to accuse “The Way” of being too difficult remains in a blind state.  They remain in the state of utter destruction.  It is given to those who have struck a truce between themselves and The Holy God, through Jesus, to live their lives in a manner pleasing to Him.  Those who do not receive the terms of peace remain in death.

You who accuse us of unfairness and illegal activity know nothing of “The Way”.  You simply fend us off from your selfishness by making accusations unfounded.  And your way is not hidden from the Wisdom of God within us.  Instead of accusing you should accept the terms of peace the Most High God has prepared for all men.  Then you would be able to prove what is true.   And you would no longer be at odds against the Lord of Life, or His people.  If you hold us against the Holy Law of God and find fault in us, what will be said of you?  In this you judge us, even while you accuse us of judging you.  God has plainly said that when we judge our brothers we are judging The God who made them.   You walk your way according to your own desire, accusing, finding fault, and carrying on as if there was no judgment.  Surely you will be proclaimed as an accuser.  What, then, will be your plight?  Join us and live.  Come to see the perplexing difficulty, which is “The Way”, for yourself.  Taste and know that the Lord is good.

28 “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t sit down first and compute the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish the tower, all who see it will begin to make fun of him. 30 They will say, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish!’ 31 Or what king, going out to confront another king in battle, will not sit down first and determine whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot succeed, he will send a representative while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions.”  (Luke 14)

Giving Due Where Due is Due

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Perception

Perception (Photo credit: Genna G)

I have often had rather harsh words with atheists.  But I will admit something crucial.  Those who are active atheists are not stupid people.  And though they stand in their life as enemies of the Cross of Christ, they are not my personal enemy.  That is to say, if I met them on the street and we had the kinds of discussions we have here, I can assure you there would be absolutely no physical signs of hatred.  We are enemies of concept, at the least, and of pride, to say the most.

I write this because I know that these men consider what presents itself to their senses.  And they are just as adept at perception of possible lies as I am in the Lord.  The only difference, as the chasm it is, is that they rely on what is seen alone while Christians are able to rely on both the perceived and the invisible.

These men (ok….. and women) are not stupid.  And once they have perceived something worth looking into they will pounce on it like a hungry tiger.  The same vigor they use to fight for the sake of what is perceived is the same strength they will use once they taste a possible truth in the message of Christianity.  And if one of them comes to know the Lord, watch out!  All heaven on earth is about to break loose.

Al, the Christian

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I met a man.  Praise to God!  I met a man of God!  He is not as you would expect.  There is nothing about him that would draw us to him. (doesn’t that sound familiar?)  I mean nothing.  He is not politically, socially, physically, or approachable beauty.  He is not like those the nations clamor after.  Cameras would not do him justice, for they cannot capture the Spirit of God within him.

He is not intelligent as the world counts intelligence.  He is humble, yet he is very sure of himself.  He holds on to absolutely nothing that would appear valuable to those who desire all “new” things.  He is simply a man of God.  And you wanna know something astounding?  He didn’t know it!

I love that man because God is powerfully in him.  He is a brother in every aspect but blood.  I am extremely pleased to have met him and danced that dance of conversation which men of God have together.  He does, thinks, and holds tight to the things we are commanded to accomplish and know in Jesus.

Now, ya wanna know why he doesn’t know he’s a Christian?  You will be astounded at this as was I.  He simply wanted to hear the voice of God.  He has read that scripture, a long time ago, which says that “My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”  He said to me that he was not a professing Christian.  But everything he said was absolutely correct.  When I asked him why he thought he was not a Christian, I was amazed at the answer.

In truth he spoke.  And in utter humility before God, he professed that he was not of Jesus’ sheep because he did not hear the voice of God.  I beg to differ, my friend!  You have heard him very clearly for a very long time!  You just didn’t recognize that the voice of God causes a man to do the will of God!  But it is a small thing he asks, such a very small thing.  I remember when I had asked the same thing from the Lord.  And He granted my request.  So, at the end of our meeting, I prayed for him that the Lord would have mercy to allow Al to hear His voice.  Though we cannot force God to do anything, He is more than willing to grant what has been promised.

We parted.  And, for a season, this will be a sad departure.  I will see him again, for he is my brother in Christ.  But I will miss his blazing Christianity!   I went on my way to earn a living so I can support the life God has given me.  And Al went on his way to gain more highway.   Al has no house, car, job, or loved ones to go home to.  Al is quite homeless, and has been so for a great many years.   Al had a very important appointment to keep.   There was a bridge he had to claim before someone else claimed it.  GAD!  I love that man!

Father, please be with my brother with a love that marks his heart with GREAT joy.  In Jesus name I ask this.  And I am absolutely sure You will honor this prayer, for the glory of Your Holy Love Filled NAME!  Praise to God!  All, All, All, praise to God who grows beautiful flowers in a rot infested land.  Amen!

Trophies and Icons of Prayer

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1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of the virgins were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them. 4 But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 ‘No,’ they replied. ‘There won’t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then the door was shut. 11 Later, the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’ 12 But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I do not know you!’ 13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour.  (Matt. 25)

It is too my shame that I have not understood the meaning of the lamp and the oil.  In years past I have understood a message of urgency and a teaching of truth about how we ought to prepare ourselves for His coming.  But I confess that I did not understand exactly what the lamp or the oil was.  Oh, I knew about the fire of the Holy Spirit.  But because of those who promote speaking in tongues, I was confused as to what that power accomplished.

The Lord showed me clearly this morning what this means.  And I present this here for those who are like I have been; not understand the full meaning of the picture He has painted here.  The lamp is us.  The fire within the lamp is the Holy Spirit.  And the oil is the effect wrought by an habitual appearing before the Lord in prayer.

Many walk their entire lives by simple belief that God will do all things for us on the day when we appear before Him.  I have spoken often about the necessity to “do” something in response to the Gospel.  While I am also at fault, in my days former, for not making prayer a vital part of my daily life.  It has been shown and proven to me that any day without formal personal prayer is a day spent without the filling of oil.  I consider that error and am in awe at my ignorance.  It makes me more grateful to God for His mercy and grace.

Now, may God quicken my mind when I meet a Christian who declares that prayer is not that important in their life.  They might declare that they depend on God to rescue them from troubles.  They might consider spiritual duty as if it were a distasteful task.  Bible reading might well have passed into that which is given to children, yet has no place in the real world of adults.  May He bless me to remember the vital message of the parable.  May He quicken my mind to remember what He has just taught me so that I will do it and not forget!

We all eat to sustain our body.  We know when we are hungry.  I ask myself, “How did you not perceive that you were empty before the Lord of Majesty?”  How is it that I walked as a man who tried to walk across a newly plowed field in the dark, and did not perceive that I stumbled so horribly because I did not obey His Holy call to prayer?

I have lived decades as a fool.  But every encounter with His Holy Truth leaves me even more aware of just how deep that folly is.  And how deep now is the desire to help my brothers and sisters come to the same conclusion.  How I desire to share what is true.  I consider the troubles the Church is embroiled in today.  And see clearly that it is because of this very item that we have faltered so horribly.  We have forgotten the Lord in our wealth.  We have all fattened ourselves on the ways of the world and turned our faces away from the ways of God which matter so very much.

Men attend a service to be counted as those who worship God.  Yet their own lamps are dry and sparkless.  They are even listening to the word of God being spoken by men who are supposed to be FILLED to over flowing with the fire of God.  Yet the message is like a flame which has been submerged in the ocean.  Empty words come out.  The wick sways with the currents of water.  But there is no FIRE upon it and no oil remains to renew it.   Good words of God float to men’s ears without power.  How can it be a surprise when we find those who call themselves Christians living a life void of distinguishing from those of the world?

Oh dear!  Please, let us renew our strength to endure that place of prayer.  The flesh will hate our knees as we bow to Jesus.  But without that bowing we are nothing.  This is what the solid men of God found out and warned us to do.  We revere them for what was accomplished by God through them.  But they are like trophies on our wall, icons of “good” which we happily show all our guests.  All the while, we should become living trophies of God’s work today.  Take down the trophies of others; those icons you hold so dear.  Revere them by becoming like them!  What else needs be said here?

A War of Reason Against Righteousness

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Atheist symbol

Atheist symbol (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A man came to me to fight a war of reason.  He came to do war with the Gospel of peace in Christ Jesus.  He presented an argument which, at the surface, appears to be a valid questioning.  He asked, “How is it that your God will consign millions of people to hell simply because they worship Him under different names and ways of worship?”  In his question he assumes that those people worship the Living God.  And he assumes that his answer has a perfect right to be asked.  There is a difference between ignorant worship of what is false, and worship filled with understanding by the Holy Spirit of God in Christ Jesus.  And he assumes that their earnest ignorance is equal with innocence.  And he assumes that his lips have a right to be heard, and his ears deserve to hear the answer.

While we talked I found the only answer I could give him was that he was being arrogant, full of pride and pomp.  He did not approach me to understand but to tear down and destroy.   But now with reflection, prayer, and a searching out of the matter, I have come to understand the answer with clarity.

We read Abraham’s words: “Will not the judge of the whole earth do what is right?”  When God judges a man fit for the kingdom of heaven He does so by His eternal wisdom and understanding. With humility, we leave such judgments of ignorant men to the wisdom and understanding of God.  Who are we to know the answer to a question that should never be asked without humility?  Regardless the answer God might give for any one man of ignorance, we can be sure that there is an innocent ignorance.  And there is also a proud ignorance; that which a man holds dearer than the wisdom of God (arrogance).  Which do you determine will find favor with the Lord of Life?

It is folly which judges the Most High God in His Holy ways.  It is rebellion, hatred, envy, greed, lust, and an unholy madness to call the Lord of Life to judgment by our own limited understanding.  Who are we to know what is right?  God saw fit to present His Son with Greatness.  Man is part of that Glorification for God’s Son, in that God allowed us to kill Jesus.  And should we then judge His decision?

The one who asks such things, for the sake of self-justification, is not looking for what is good or right.  That one is looking to find fault in the God of eternity, and to do harm to God’s people.
Had he been looking for righteousness the question would not have been spoken.  There would have been humility and a willingness to understand what has been given to man to know.  There would have appeared a desire to know the basic things of Jesus.  He would have earnestly desired to know if worshiping Jesus produced that “something better” that the worshipers of false gods could not find.

Had there been a sincere concern for the state of those who do not know the Lord Jesus, he would have been asking for help to come to know the God we serve, so that he too could help them avoid certain death.  Instead, he used the hapless unbelievers to make an accusation toward Jesus.  His folly was perceived, and is now made plain.

He had not grasped the basic concept of The Holy God.  That man did not consider that God has always been active in the affairs of man.  He assumed that invisible is equal to ineffective.  How then would he grasp what follows?  All men are without excuse and steeped in wickedness.  If they did not know this there would be no religions on the face of the earth.  But there is a great variety of religions.  So we see that men know they are full of fault and we see them attempt to right their plight.  The one who accuses is a religion and a god in his own mind.  And he will be shown for what he has allowed himself to become and continue becoming.

All men come from various backgrounds and traditions.  And they are quite able to see the “fruit” of what they are being taught.  And every one of them, if they were honest, could point to a meager harvest from their labors.  It is they who allow themselves to be fooled into a sleep of false religion.  For every man perceives his own short comings.  Even in society and among the things of this world, every man can see the destruction he brings by virtue of what is within him.  There is, bottom line, an awareness is present, that we have not attained a clear conscience.  We perceive that a clean conscience will produce a radically different man.  Yet they continue in their way without considering the end result of false religion.  All their life they cry out to things that do not produce what they are looking for.  But for fear of rejection and comfort they continue in their way.  This is a testing of the heart for all men.  And, rest assured, God is watching to see who will admit their folly and lift their hands in despair.  This is true of every false way, and it is true even of Christians.  It is not just the false religions which will end in utter destruction.  We are told, and it is plain to see, that many who consider themselves Christians walk through their lives as enemies of the Cross of Christ.

You who judge the validity of Jesus’ claims are in a false religion of your own making.  It belongs to you and it is false.  You accuse without knowledge.  You lift up your voice to condemn the God who made you.  And you will certainly answer for your self-made plight of folly.  There is an emptiness of humility in the accuser’s words.  There is a lack of wisdom in his way.  Instead of asking, “What must I do to be saved?”  He accuses Righteousness because he himself is full to over flowing with wicked thoughts and desires.   No accuser will not stand on the day when The Righteous One calls men to account for their lives and words.  For you turn away from every possible help today.  You scoff at God.  You deny His right to judge.  And He will judge all men regardless of their recognition of His Holy Court

I will add this final point.  Today has been given to man to prove his heart to the Living God.  Men have been saying that the coming judgment will divide those who have done “mostly right” from those who have done little or no righteous things.  How absolutely false this is.  None of man’s righteous acts, those things done without the leading of the Spirit of God, will enter into the pleasure of the Most High God.  The pride of man will be crushed.  And only faith in Jesus, born in humility, will be rendered a favorable decision.

If you want to secure a knowledge of safety, do so now by accepting the message of the Gospel of God in Jesus.  He will come to you and show you how to please His Father.  There is no other way to prepare for the coming judgment of all men.  God has spoken it on an oath He took by His own Glory.