Tag Archives: Christianity

All things Christ

Sealed Forever

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Jacob Matham’s engraving after Sebastian Vranc...

Jacob Matham’s engraving after Sebastian Vrancx’s The Rich Man at the Table and Lazarus at the Door (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A wicked man was beating a Christian.  Afer he had vented considerable injury to the Christian, so that the Christian was near death, the wicked man suffered a fatal heart attack.  He had allowed his wrath to overtake his heart’s ability to sustain his hatred.   In just a few moments the Christian also died.  Silence was all that remained of them in this place of testing.

The next noise the Christian heard was, “Welcome home My good and faithful servant.  Come share in My Father’s Kingdom.”  But when the wicked man woke he realized that the object of his hatred was now in the company of God.  Full of the same hatred he had at death, he challenged God.  With spit leaking from his lips he screamed, “That one belongs to me!  Give him back!  I am by no means done beating him!  You have no right to what is mine!”

Guess what happened next.

Do Not Let Me Resort to Fear

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In life here there are lies.  There is death, hunger, despair, hatred, false religion, false gods, hopelessness, twisted men who present themselves as if they are “good”.  And the list I could make of what is here would go on for many pages.  Who would read what they can touch with their own fingers?

Yet in this life there is a place of understanding that strips off all that filthy list.  There is a place where a man can know truth and live it.  I know that place!  I know that many will see me type those words and balk, “No man knows truth.”  I tell you I know Him!  And, more importantly, He knows me.

You want freedom from all that detestable list?  Do you want FREEDOM to LIVE?  Pry it from my heart.  Help me testify to what He is.  Ask me.  Press me.  Help me put into words what only the soul can understand with any clarity.

We have lips, graphics, gestures, and body language to communicate.  That’s the limit of our ability.  So how can I hope to tell you what is spoken in a place where these things are NOT the limit?  Take it from me.  Ask until you understand.

God has given the Gospel to men so that men can speak to one another.  It is a humble heart who will lower themselves enough to ask another man.  It is the proud who will restrain their questions before men.  The proud will think that no man can know the truth.  The humble will avail themselves to any possible source of life.  They will seek with all their might.  And if the testimony I give you falters, the meek will understand that I am like them.

We struggle to share what cannot be perceived.  But that inability to perceive it through our senses does not mean it is a lie.  Salvation in Jesus is absolutely real and transforming.  Consider this:  We are in the place of testing.  We are the ones who, for now, can’t see what eternity has seen all along.  We are the ones blind to His presence.  He is not blind to us.

Ask and I will tell you what He has told me.  And I am not the only one.  There are thousands of me.  Ask them.  Press them.  You know who they are.  Make them tell you.  And do not let them resort to fear.

The Game of LIFE

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Board for the game Quantum

Board for the game Quantum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was said, “The game is afoot.”  And we knew the action was about to pick up.  Just what did that mean though?  It meant that someone was to pursue.  Someone was to avoid.  And, usually, someone had been victimized.  Quite possibly someone was either going to die or someone had died.  Regardless the story line, a crime had been committed and justice was employed to rectify the situation as well as it can be rectified.

I find this same concept in the Gospel of Christ Jesus.  We all know what it means to play a game.  And in some games we are the direct players, hide and seek is one which comes to mind.  There are also board games and video games, in which we are simply the ones who manipulate the outcome according to our choices.

This “place of testing” is just that sort (in my understanding).  We are the pieces which are moved from one place to another according to the skill of the Most High God.  He will win.  And He will reward the players according to their submission.  He is not unjust at all.  But in this concept I find myself more willing than ever to submit.

What is pleasing to God is pleasing to all, in the end.  And it is a privilege to encounter this game with a light heart; a heart willing to die for the sake of the pleasure of my God.  I know this is a slightly childish look at suffering for the sake of Jesus’ name.  But it is also a powerful word of inspiration to those who can stomach the reality of their position, plight, and hope.

Filthy Rags to Glorious Riches

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U.S. Marine sits in a foxhole and points a mac...

U.S. Marine sits in a foxhole and points a machine gun towards Beirut, Lebanon, in the distance (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jeffrey Frankel is attributed to the following saying:  “They say there are no atheists in foxholes.”  Now I don’t care one whit what atheists think of me posting that saying.  It has been determined that “A fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'”  And who would consult a fool for wisdom?  Only another fool would do that.  I have been a fool.  But in respect to the reality of there being a God, I am no longer such.  And this preamble brings me to the meat of the post.

If God is called on in times when troubles escape our ability to cope, then why isn’t that same power effective in the smallest detail of our lives?  Why do people leave God when things go well enough?  He has told us that every good work we do on our own is as filthy rags.  Then why don’t we believe Him in that statement?

Seek God for absolutely every directive.  Look to Him for every thought, duty, emotion, sickness, and healthy moment.  This is the will of God for man.  It is this very point where millions have missed the blessing of the transforming power of God.

Pride of Man-vs-Joy of Salvation

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Sculpture - head of Jesus Christ

Sculpture – head of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I step out on the back porch, again, to consider the difference between pride and joy.  Pride is of the flesh.  But joy in understanding the Lord’s ways is acceptable.  While the world walks in darkness there is no time or room for the pride of man; that is to say an internal boasting that I know more than others.  Even in our time of reflection before the Most High God it is wise to consider the difference between the pride of man and the joy that we receive from His Grace.  All of us who come to know the Lord were, at one time, full to over flowing with sin, disgrace, shame, and wickedness of every kind.  It is by Grace we are saved.

I am stunned at the consistency of the war within us.  And I am reminded that, in this place of testing, this war against sin will not cease.  My heart is encouraged to pick up the battle afresh.  To render to God what is God’s while I kill the flesh by the power of Christ Jesus in me.  Never, in this place, will a man be rid of the things that plague his walk with God.  They are at the very door of our house.  As it was said to Cain, it is now said to each of us: “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must  master it.” (Genesis 4:7)

So I say with all the saints (those being sanctified, transformed, by the power of God in Jesus), “I will rise in the early morning before it is light.  I will find a solitude among the trappings of this world of chaos.  And I will seek the Lord that I might rid myself of the things that have and will destroy me.  I will raise up to kiss the face of He who has kissed me.  And I will learn from Him to do the perfect will of eternity.  Sin will not have me!  For I am being made a son in the house of my Father.  And all this is to the Glory of Jesus, my Lord, Master, King, and Desire!”

Amen.

Lack of Will = Lack of Productivity.

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Productivity

Productivity (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Lord has given as He pleases to men.  To some He has determined to restrain the mind.  To those He extends a wonderfully beautiful grace.  Yet to most men He has given a full mind, capable of understanding and free to choose what is good or evil.

It is the way of men, in all generations, to do what is partial.  To work, think, will, and choose, with half a heart or less.  We see it appear in the work place.  And productivity suffers as a result.  We see it make itself known in the family.  And parents, as well as children, suffer under an oppression of half heartedness.  And we see this choice to live half-hearted lives make itself known in even the Church of Jesus, the Lord of pure life.   And the testimony of the Most High God suffers under the oppression of this rebellion among men.

I urge all of us, including myself, to consider what you are capable of producing for the sake of God’s grace extended to us.  If your mind works well enough to rebel against what is good, then it also has the potential to obey.  What is it that causes this lack of productivity in the world and in full sight of Heaven?  Is it not laziness?  We prefer to remain ignorant of what is good.  We make that choice with our very desire to be less than what we know is good.  “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17)

Strengthen your will.  Move toward what is good and God will bless you for it.  Every step you take toward His perfection will receive what is appropriate.  God is wise, merciful, yet is judge of all men.  Be wise then and turn away from the slothful spirit that grips all men.  Be diligent.  Become aware of what is right and good, and then do what you know must be done.  There is no other word, given to men, concerning this.  It is up to each of us to work hard to present the Lord with the fruit He deserves on the day He judges His people.  All good things belong to God.  And those who render their lives to the doing of the will of God will not fail to receive what is promised.

Is there something you do not fully understand?  Have you come to a place where what is good is obscured, and confusing?  Then we should pray in these places.  Does anyone rightfully believe that God will restrain understanding while holding us under judgment?  It is not His will that any should die, but that all should come to an understanding of His Holy Will.  He will give you what you need to endure such tests.  But we are not talking of those moments as much as the simpleton ideals of sloth.  If we present ourselves toward what is right, so that we might do it, we will prove far more able to encounter those moments of doubt.

If you stand as one who does not believe, then reach out toward God and believe.  It is for this very reason that you were given life.  If you are of those who believe, yet find yourself less than you ought to be, surrender to what is right.  We are only given this one life to allow our hearts to be tested.  And after this we will give account to Him regarding His testimony in Christ Jesus.  And let us not mistake this:  Right now is eternity.  The future belongs to God.  What has been done belongs to God.  Only this very moment belongs to you to make choices toward what is right and good.   And it is at this very moment that you can choose to do what is in your hand to do.

Do not be fooled by liars.  He who does what is right is righteous.  And He who chases after the things of God receives the blessing of God.  All else will be destroyed.  This is a truth:  Only God and what is His will enter eternity.  All else will cease to be.  Let us all be willing to produce for the sake of His Holy Name.  If you lack willingness then ask Him for a willing heart.  Those who earnestly seek Him find Him.  Those who chase righteousness with half a heart will end their days with nothing.  And those who remain willingly in rebellion will receive the reward which is held in waiting for the destruction of “the accuser”.   What more can be said about this?

By His Grace.