Blown Away Like Dust


Wonderous, Magnificent, Holy and Righteous is God Most High!

He, alone, has set Life in its place.

All of Heaven praises His Holy Name continually.

And those being transformed, on earth, praise His Holy Law.

Together, Heaven and earth sing that song of Praise.

As in unison, the mouths of all God’s creatures return thanks.

They are fed, according to the Holy will of the Most High God.

For God has chosen His Righteous One to stand in the Gap.

No sin, nothing unsure, no lack of faith will ever stand alive on the Holy floor of the Throne Room of the Living God.

Yet, He has raised up His own right hand to intercede.

There is a messenger from the Living God, who will never fail to deliver Life.

His Holy name is Jesus, the Christ of God!

All of Heaven bows at this Holy name.

It is only the putrid and ungodly men of this world who refuse to bow.

But God has allowed their rebellion.

Let them remain:

That they may be a test for those of faith.

Let them remain:

That they may have opportunity to learn.

Let them remain:

That the Glory of Christ, the Holy Son of God, may prosper.

Let them remain:

That the harvest of righteous be fruitfully tested.

Let them remain:

That the abundance of bounty from this “Place of Testing” be equal to the Glory that is God Most High.

Let them remain:

Until the “moment of ending”.

Let them remain:

Until the transformation of those who have loved He who is Love.

Then, then, let them be blown away like dust.

Then, then, the Holy Name of the Living God will be praised with a unified and explosive sound of praise.

Then, then, heaven will vibrate and shake with shout of  joyful noise:

“Salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb!

Holy is He who has promised! 

Great is the Living God!

For He alone speaks Life!

May His Holy Will be done forever and ever!

Glory to Christ Jesus;

The One whose Holy name never ceases,

Whose faithfulness has become the Living Water of Life!”

And the “Amen” will never cease to be heard.

Today’s Spartans


“The Spartans”, refers to a group of warriors from the Greek city of Sparta.  Their vicious allegiance to their country has remained as near myth status even to this day.

Around the year 900 BC, Sparta decided to make an entire nation of warriors.  They would inspect each baby, as it was born, and decide if it was strong or weak.  If it was found to be weak, the male child was thrown outside the city to die.

If it was found worthy to live, the child was raised up until the age of 7, then it was taken and placed in a school of training.

In the school the child was taught the art of war, of ethics, and the elegance of poetry.  By this Sparta transformed its nation into a fearsome foe.  Even one of the poets of that day took note that, Sparta had dropped its walls of brick and made a wall of men.

Consider how many places the name of Sparta is used in sports.  Yet I contend that sports is not the only place where the Spartan rearing is used.

I have seen toys resembling cell phones and computers that are made for newborn babies.  Before a child can understand, he is introduced to a life of technological advancement.

Now please allow a leap of logic in the progress of this writing.

When a man is born in Christ, he is introduced to the things of heaven before he can understand.  He learns the songs of Christ, the words of Christ, the stories of God in Christ, and the behavior of the family of Christ.

If Sparta is renowned to this day for having created a society of warriors, how much more indelible is the family of God?

From the time of Christ to now, the people of God have been subjected to a myriad of humiliating attacks.  At its inception, Christianity was a bloody spot on earth.

Perhaps you have heard of how the Christians were treated in the first few decades.  They were captured and killed, thrown into the arena with wild beasts who would devour them.  They were ripped apart while alive.  They were fastened to stakes then set on fire.  Or all their possessions were forcibly taken from them.

As history moved on, there were other means the world used to destroy Christianity.  Even so Christianity has survived for over 2000 years ( and vibrantly at that).

The power of God, in His people, will not be subdued.  Yet the world keeps trying.

Look at how you treat your children.  Look at the things you teach them before they are old enough to understand.  Look at how you pull them away from the Holy Name of God before their ears perceive the meaning of your sounds. 

Take a look at how you have been ransacked.  Take a look at how the things of God have been ripped from you in the night.  Go in search your place!  Where is your prayer?  Where are the holy words of God?  Where is the power of the Holy Spirit in your house?  Where is the wisdom of God in your children?  Where is the wisdom of God in your elders?  Where is the fearsome independence borne by trust in God?  Where is your Holy faith?  It’s gone! 

The wisdom of Sparta, to raise child warriors, has not died.  And you citizens of the world are not even aware.  You think it great pleasure to introduce your children to the things that capture your attention.  And so you fortify your nations, States, provinces and cities, against the Holy name of Christ Jesus. 

All the while God selects your corrupted children, without asking permission.  He causes them to be his own.  When you perceive that they have been corrupted by holy things, you cast them away from you that they may die.

You have become valiant warriors.  You have dressed yourself, from infancy, to war against the things of God.  You are so indoctrinated with the things of this world, that you think it odd that anyone should stand against your unholy ways.

Yet all men will be brought before the judgment of the Holy God.  As Sparta was eventually thrown down, so will be the training of this world. 

Who has understanding to perceive these things?  Who even desires to understand?  This message is sent out among the people who do not care.  Their eyes and ears are drowned in the work of their own hands.  They are immersed in what is wicked and cannot see.  They have made an entire society of a people who war against God.

Yet if a man perceives what is written here, let him humble himself before God, that his understanding may be clearer.  The salvation of Christ is far more powerful than all the illusions of this world.

By His Grace

To Marvel is no Proof at All


What value is the man who only marvels at Christ Jesus?  We are told that every man who ever lived will do that.  Even the most vile of humanity will bow his knee and give glory to Christ Jesus.

What can be said of the man who marvels and obeys?  We are told there are few who will ever do that.  What makes the difference between the few and the many?

We can do nothing without him.  And what we do is an extension of who we have become.  What can be said then of the man who marvels, yet becomes nothing?

If I see a king and marvel at the things he has, I need give him no respect in order to marvel.  But if I adore the king, I think it right and just that he should be adorned in royalty.  Yet how can I adore him if I do not know him?

The wicked man may look on the riches of the king and desire them out of greed or envy.  But the righteous servant will love the king, and rightly desire him to be blessed.

The wicked man will be a difficult citizen of the land.  But the righteous man will be a blessing to the one who rules.  True righteousness then, is not a product of citizenship.  True Christianity is not a membership in a club.

As such things are so here, they will be vastly more so in heaven.  If you do not love the Lord Jesus, it would be good for you to fall in prayer and confess.  Let him dress you in love, as he reveals who he is.

The wicked man will never hear, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant”.  But the one who is taught to love the Holy Lord,  can look forward to such a kiss in his ear.

This transformation is not something a man can conjure up from his own mind.  If that were so, the ingenuity of man would make the few many.  It must be received; it must be revealed from the Lord Himself.

No man has ever truly loved a woman he has never met.  How can a man be married to no one?  But let the man meet the woman who rings true in his soul, and he will love her unto death.  A willing love is provided by true respect.

This provokes the difference between religion and “The Faith”.  This provokes those coveted words from the Holy One on that great day.  This makes the difference between the few and the many.

By His Grace

Heros Succeed


Who can speak fluently of the glorious challenge that lay before for the people of God?  All that is holy is expected, and rightly so, to cover us as if we are dressed in pure light.

Discretion, willing obedience, mercy beyond the ability of man, faithfulness in prayer regardless our current understanding, and a laying down of all that is wicked, these are things placed upon us by the King of kings and Holy Lord.

He is faultless and true in all his Holy way.  And his expectations are not too much.  For he is willing to grant all that is necessary for us to achieve.  It is we who are unwilling and frail.  Yet the expectations remain.

We are ambassadors of the One who dispenses life!  It is then appropriate that our attitude match the expectations.

How many billions have tried and failed?  How very rare that one succeeds. 

The world has its set of heroes; those who have met the expectations of the world and surpass them.  These are also rare indeed.  But the expectations of the world are small compared to those of God.  If only a handful meet the world’s expectations, how many less meet those of God’s?

Let us make every effort to rectify obedience.  Let us make every effort to add to our love for the Holy One of God. 

We have only one day.  We are not promised beyond the sunset.  Thousands will die today, sealing what they have done.  Will it be me?  Will it be you?  Which of us can know?

Make every effort to enter in: to do, to become and to glorify the one who has purchased us by His Holy Blood.  This is the expectation of God.  And it is placed squarely on the shoulders of those who profess the name of Christ Jesus.

May God have mercy and grant glory among all his people.  May the testimony of each one of us be that God is Holy!

By His Grace

Humility Takes Hard Work


Will a man take pride in being a Christian; lording it over others in his own mind?  It would do well for him to remember his humble beginnings.

He himself did not ask for salvation.  By the provoking and unveiling of God, by this alone he has perceived.  Before the Lord touched him he did not even know to ask.   How then can the pride of man accompany the Christian faith?

But isn’t this a perplexing ritual?  It is as if a caustic liquid that cannot be contained.  No sooner do we seal the leak, and judgment of others comes from another place.  Even the maturity of a man does not repair what lacks.

From the day of our birth in Christ, to the day we are received, we will find fault with ourselves if we look.  It is wise then to humbly consider ourselves every moment we are in this place.

Only with holy, God born, introspection, can a man stem this flood of sin.  We not only need the Living God’s Son for the sake of the day of judgement, we desperately need him for every breath.

What is not of God will be stripped away.  What does not belong to God will not inhabit his kingdom.  Sobriety, prayer, humility, and righteous doing is required.  A man should never be able to say to himself, “I have arrived!  I am mature!” (Certainly not while in this place of testing).

Renewing a mind of humility is a detestable work to the flesh.  But it is primary among the things of God. 

It is impossible to command a man to be humble.  The best we can do is remind.  If there is choice in Christ, is it is to go to him and ask.  And we know those who ask in truth, receive.

By His Grace

The Waking of a Christian


“Expose the things that are good.

Entice them with your calling.

The trappings of holy brotherhood;

The glory of God in man.”
_________________________

He wakes with desperation, as if a bugle blew.  He’d slept the sleep of flesh; that necessary portion of man.

But before his eyes are cleared, the chasm of difference appears.  From the realm of dreams to the realm of God, he dresses himself in thoughtful prayer.

The day has dawned like a crack of thunder.  “Now, to the will of my God!”  Let fear assail his fleshly heart.  He intends his soul to soar.

From chaotic dreams to Holy fire, “Purify my heart O’ God!  Your will is first, as You are so.  Teach me and I will do.” 

The response is quick and full of love.  Without effort, the chasm is crossed. 

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2: 8)

By His Grace