Tag Archives: Christianity

The Invisible Bridge

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I have found something interesting, something I have known, but not fully understood.  The elders talk about it.  The Deacons point toward it.  The world denies it with frothing lips.  It remains, however, before every child of God to encounter.

The majority of our walk before Christ Jesus is spent in discovery.  We cannot use excuse, before the Holy One, for our disobedience.  Yet there are reasons why we falter as we do.  Discovering these reasons comes hand in hand with growth toward maturity.

We learn not to blame anyone for our fault.  Yet we recognize that the whole of humanity has caused every sin.  And in this way, the Lord Jesus teaches us to sacrifice blame for personal responsibility.

But what shall a man do when he understands this as fully as his mind is able?  What shall we do when a man finds himself repeating offenses yet finds no one but himself to blame?

Here a man comes face to face with the fullness of the gospel.  No longer perceiving as a child.  Now he perceives as a man.  The fullness of blame rests on the one who has sinned, rests heavily.

From here one can receive the forgiveness of Christ with renewed interest.  From here the glory of God takes a prominence in all his thoughts.  The man no longer tosses about the subject of blame or innocence.  Condemnation becomes exceedingly personal.  Here the glory of God rages even brighter to consume his enemies.  Here the glory of God’s mercy blazes even brighter within the flame.

I have come to discover: the Glory of Christ Jesus is stronger than our sins.  Not only in his teaching, but more so in our learning.

If you continue in the way you will discover this also.  It is the crossing of an invisible bridge.  And I speak of it so that when you yourself encounter this, there will be memory within you.

It is a difficult place to encounter.  For here a man is starkly naked before the Holy One.  But having reached the other side of the bridge I can testify, “Even in this he is able to save”.

It may well be you do not understand what I’m saying.  But the time for every man will appear.  I will try it with one example to express this in understandable terms.

As a man goes to a school of learning, he learns enough to do his trade.  But he has yet to enter the workforce and apply it.  Often the world will scoff at the little bookworm who seems to know all. 

But one day he goes to work and understands why they laughed.  He presupposed his importance.  And difficulties have proved his knowledge insufficient.

Now he grapples with humility.  Now he is faced to join them in their derision of the novice.  Yet even while he makes fun of pretense, he is forced to remember that he once also walked in that way.

What comes from this place I do not know.  It is not as though these things happen among men.  But this has come to me before the Holy One in all its brilliance.  Stark and true, it shines a light within my soul to illuminate every possible miscarriage of righteousness.

May understanding come in due time.  I enter into this place in full view of those who have gone before me.  And I speak of this with the humility that knows others have understood this long before I arrived.  And I have to confess the question, “Do I yet understand as I should?

By His Grace

THE Persistent Question

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A persistent question begs entrance to my soul.

Light is the knock of its perfect fingers on my door.

Yet knock it does, and this all day and night.

Answer, O soul of mine!  Answer that your choice might be known.

 

Share with me, the question.

Share an answer according to proof.

Question yourself, as He demands do I.

Let us face eternity, from the wilderness side of the River.

 

Does our faith produce religion or transformation?  Given the question, we all know the right answer.

If all we want is to be acceptable or elevated among men, then let our faith produce a religious man.

But if we have set our mind toward the love of the Father, then let us endure toward transformation.

 

Millions make no choice at all, in regard to either of these.  They ignore the question completely.

They choose, instead, to embrace the things of this world.  To whatever degree their conscience allows.

They make no choice at all.

As if a shadow in the dark, they meld into the variety of ways the world offers each man to live.

But those who have heard of Christian faith make a choice.

 

If Christ Jesus’ death and resurrection mean only religion to a man, that is what he will become.

If He suffered and was Glorified for the sake of transforming all men into His Holy likeness,

Then let the change begin.

If the latter is our choice, then where is the proof?  Are we but misguided religious Christians?

Do we think we will fool the Living God, forever?   He who loves the world, stands at odds with Heaven.

 

This world, and everything in it, will pass away with a fiery blast.  Nothing will remain but what the man has become.

What will we say?  What will we testify; by virtue of what we have become?  Where will we stand?

For, once this world is gone, all that remains will be Holy, Holy, and Holy.

Will we find that we have endured to the death of desire, or succumb to the great lies of this world?

Similarity of Directions

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A sign near Chillicothe Ohio reads, “For outdoor drama stay right“.  Evidently there’s an outdoor theater somewhere near.

When I saw the sign, I had to laugh out loud.  I wonder if the signmaker realized what he was making, and just how true those words are. 

For in Christianity, everything is outside.  It was begun, remains, and will finish, outside the city of man’s intent.  All Christians are called to live outside the social norms of the world.  And the laws the Lord Jesus teaches us are completely outside the attainment of man; they are Holy, Holy, Holy.  Without him we can do nothing.

And if you want drama, become a Christian.  You will be talked about behind your back, without cause or reason.  You will have difficulty with your relatives and “friends”, for they know the person you used to be.  You will be called, in one way or another, an enemy of the state.  And the war that will rage in your soul is intense.

Christianity is completely dependent on he who is perfectly Right.  Staying wrapped up in his righteousness is essential.  And living rightly is our spiritual worship; our rightful way of saying thank you, for the Living Promise of eternal life.

Since I mentioned the theatre here, it’s only fair to give them a plug.  I don’t have any idea about the quality of their plays.  But I sure got a kick out of their sign.  Thanks folks!

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By His Grace

Provocation

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From the beginning of this blog until now, I have always spoken of things much higher then are easily attained.  Many would look at me and say, “He is surely a hypocrite.  No one can attain to these things he writes.”

I have written that Christians have a command to judge rightly.  So I cannot fault my brothers for such an assessment.  It is right that we should test every spirit, and not be willing to embrace every man who comes along and says he is in the name of Christ.

But I will say two things in this regard.  I do not search to defend myself, there is one who knows.  But I desire to enhance our Christian walk for the glory of the one who knows.  I perceive that the family of God has squandered many things for far too long.

1.  I ask you not to judge me as a man.  That would be of no benefit for anyone.  For you will surely find fault.  I am still in flesh and I am among you even as you are.  Rather I ask you to judge what is here by its content. 

Does it prod and provoke faithfulness to the Holy One of God?  Does it compromise and equivocate to the things of this world?  Or does it point at man and say he is shameful, while standing in the shadow of the Holy One?

2.  Yes I have been a hypocrite against the things I have written.  There are times when such things have been too high for me to reach.

But should this place represent the things that are easily grasped?  Would that not be to be as others who write only of the sweet things?

I have been cut to the heart many times by the things the Lord has provoked me to write.  And thus this place is tested, even by the one who has written it.
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I have been severely challenged by the Holy One in all these things and more.  I, like you, am in the process of becoming.  I have in my mind to overcome.  I do not think it proper to honor him with anything less.  And in the same way, I present these things to my brothers.

If there are five of us left, should we be less than his desire?  And if there are 10 million of us left should this be true?

The earth is not shaken by mediocrity.  It is less by the sin that covers its surface.  If God’s people will aspire to what is best, what can be accomplished?

And so I pray and live and write toward the things that are best.  I refuse to back down!  I purpose to strive for the very best.  He is honorable in all things!  And it is right to bring him what is best.

Let the judgment of man be pointed toward me, I am not hindered.  I will aspire to rise, by His Holy Grace!

The Holy One holds in his hand such magnificent gifts.  Not only is his promise true for the place we are promised to inhabit,  but he has spoken his desire that we should have the fullness of His glory, to man, even now.

It is written “To perfection there is a limit.”  Yet which one of us can say he has attained?  I refuse to believe that the perfection God grants, in his holy wisdom to men, cannot be reached.  He does not ask too much of us, and he provides all that is necessary to attain!  And I have every intention of seeing how high, on his holy mountain, a man is allowed to climb.

May God have glory through all his people and this through Christ Jesus His holy and Righteous Son!  Let us say “enough” to mediocrity!  Why should we not rise to the things of Stephan, Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Gideon, the Apostle John and the like?

Thrice Holy is the Soverign Lord who bought us!  How should we linger and languish as only religious men?

Freedom

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In Christ we are blameless.  Who can lay a charge against us?  Though man may have right to lay a charge, for the sake of the things of man, it is to God they must inevitably go for their justice.

Though God’s people are often worthy of condemnation, it is Christ Himself who justifies. 

Where then is what man calls freedom?  He only desires to do his own will.  And where is the so-called justice of man?  God alone judges with purity, Holy righteousness, and eternal knowledge. 

But let all men come and taste the freedom of Christ Jesus!  Only then does a man begin to understand the fullness of the word.  Abandon your selfish desire and live free.

Freedom is not designed to enjoy the things that rot.  The concept of freedom is eternal at its base.  True freedom is found solely in Christ Jesus; the Son of God and the Son of Man.

This freedom in Christ remains!  From the accusations of men, to even horrific beheading by ungodly religion, those in Christ are utterly free!  At whatever point they think us bound, they are wrong.

Nothing but God will last forever.  So the freedom of those in Christ is not bound.   Not even by the law of man.  Men die, or change their law according to their desire.  But as a man lives in Christ he is truly free!

BELIEVE!

More or less

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The easy way out will always leave us “less”

When it comes to salvation there is nothing more true.

To only believe that Jesus was raised from the dead,

Misses companionship with the blessed.

There are those who go to scout the way.

There are those who stay at home.

There are those who profit from the way;

Leaving the fight to others alone.

What is basic is basic.

Yes it is enough.

But why would you keep your own blood,

When you could bathe yourself in his.?