All things Christ
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The story of the blind men and the elephant is a cool story. But it approaches the Truth of God from man’s perspective. That story is based on man’s understanding of the nature of things apparent. But it does little to clarify the Holy and Living God in Christ Jesus.
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Jesus is the Son of the Living God. It is not appropriate to consider Him as someone who set the universe in motion then stepped aside to see what would happen. That would be to make God a God who embraces chance. And chance is a figment of man’s imagination which pushes the Living God away. Luck is of that pedigree; men desire to become lucky because they ignore the Living God’s call to faith.
The Living God will show Himself to any who humble themselves to serve Him. His revelation comes to man as he accepts the Holy Majesty of God’s control in his life. As we fan this humility into flame by obeying what we hear, read, and observe from Him, He continues to give more of Himself. But as we ignore His Holy ways, we endure a peculiar blindness.
Perhaps you don’t believe what I’ve just said. Humble yourself before the Most High, calling on the name of His Holy Son, and you will begin to see what is true. Remain in doubt and you will remain simply lucky; living your life according to chance.
By His Grace.
600,000 men, including their women and children were led out of Egypt by great wonders and signs from God. Yet none of them will inherit eternal life. God swore by Himself that they would not enter His rest. Though they were witnesses of His majesty among them, they did not combine their witness with faith. What does this mean? Does this apply to us today?
Hebrews says that those people heard the Gospel just as we have. But they did not combine it with faith. Read the account in Exodus. Then read the witness against them in Hebrews. Then consider this:
What have we heard? We have heard that God sent His son into the world to save the world by offering Himself as a sacrifice for any who would receive Him. But what does it mean to receive Him? You have heard that Christians refer to Jesus as Lord. Nevertheless, many refuse to turn away from the things of this world. They retain a perceived “right” to do as they please without considering the Will of God in their daily lives. To do this is to act just as those 600,000 who are never to see Life.
Those 600,000+ saw the plagues God sent upon Egypt. They received the orders from Moses regarding the Passover. They obeyed by a certain fear, born of the sights and sounds they witnessed. They received valuables from the people of Egypt as they left. And in this way, they plundered the slave masters who had beaten them for no reason. They encamped against the sea as Egypt’s army approached. They witnessed the fantastic miracle of a parting sea. And they walked across the sea on dry land. They watched with great surprise as the power of death at the hands of Egypt was crushed by tons of water; not one soldier survived. They were given food and water; food from heaven and water from a rock. Yet they complained constantly saying, “It would have been better for us to have died in Egypt.” For this reason, God swore on oath that they would never enter His rest.
God is willing to reveal Himself to those who separate themselves from this world and worship Him through Jesus. And in this way, we are now counted as those being tested as they were. How many millions have already received that same oath against them? To those who think that calling themselves something makes them that something, God remains concealed. There is a place where we enter in. Those who submit to Jesus’ Lordship know of that place. While those who insist on having their own way, do not know of that place. To them, this article speaks of something they know nothing about. They will discount its value without consideration of what I am saying here.
What does it mean to see the wonders of God and not combine it with faith? Simply put, it means that we recognize the work of God in our lives and put our faith in His guidance, protection, and willingness to sustain us in all things. We turn our troubles over to Him. We obey the call to read His Word the Bible. We learn to pray according to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. And we grow in the knowledge of the Lord as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. These are actions, which display a faith born of the witness of His Glory, which is given to all people. And as we walk under these things, we learn to do the Holy Works of God. We no longer do as we please. Rather, we learn to do as we are taught. And in the end, it is God who will receive the Glory for His works among us. No more of this: “God will receive me for I am a good person.”
Those who are found empty of these things are not inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven. Though you observe many rituals and words, they are void and empty if you do not submit your life to the Lordship of Jesus. How can I say this any clearer? How many men have tried to warn us of these things? Yet, how many still think that to mouth words is sufficient. Have those who believe this ever heard it said that they honor Him with their lips, but their heart is far from Him?
Millions today think that if they do enough good deeds God will welcome them into the Kingdom of Heaven with respect and glory. But do they do the deeds of God? A good deed in the eyes of man has as much a chance of being a good deed of God as a frog has of becoming a gnat. God said, and we would do well to give this great consideration, that every good deed of man is as filthy rags (the rag of a woman’s period). How can He say this of such selfless work on the part of man? Is it selfless indeed? Aren’t you doing these things so that you will receive? Even if you do not expect to receive from men a return for the work you do for them, you do expect to receive from God because you perceive yourself as such a good person. Your good deeds, done from your own mind are selfish acts of rebellion. God alone knows what is Good! And your not turning to Him for guidance and restraint of selfishness will be counted against you.
I do not know how to say this any clearer. I do not want any who hear of the Lord Jesus to receive that oath of curse. How I long to see the number of God’s people grow. However, you will have none of it! Why? Why won’t you listen to these words? Why won’t you reason regarding the Gospel? Why do you insist on being worthy of God’s praise without God’s leadership in your life? Why?
Jesus alone has done the will of God in the body. And He alone will be the source of salvation. Nothing we can do will usher us into the Glory of God the Father. It is Jesus alone, who has that privilege. I caution you to consider this truth with sobriety.
By His Grace.
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We who love Him, thump our Bible with a soft rhythm; a rhythm akin to a faint echo of a hammer striking a nail. We tap our fingers on the Bible for the sake of those who cannot yet listen. With the tender noise of a drop of Holy Blood impacting a harsh ground, thus we thump our Bible. Such a faint thump. Yet witness the reaction. Is the music of salvation really so faint that human ears cannot hear it? Yet, what sound does a drop Jesus’ blood make when it falls on a baked hill top?
Perhaps they’ll listen now……………
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“But I could have told you, Vincent, This world was never meant for one. As beautiful as you.” Don Mclean sung words which he did not understand the full meaning to. Others have sung another song: “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.” Indeed, this world was never meant as a home to those who serve Love. There is a place where God’s people are destined to appear. Yet, until we reach that place we will be utterly misunderstood and cast out of the world’s favor. “They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated the world was not worthy of them.”
“How you suffered for your sanity. How you tried to set them free. They did not listen, they did not know how. Perhaps they’ll listen now.” Then the words render a different note of horror: “. . . perhaps they never will.” What is it to us if they listen or not? We are bound by the Glory of God to testify! And testify I will, regardless the response!
Were these words spoken as a testimony to your faith in Jesus, would you feel the power of that testimony? Could they be spoken of you? Will you permit me to ask you a question without turning toward pride? What is stopping you from becoming a blazing flame of testimony for the One who has redeemed you?
By His Grace.
Darkness abounds. Men grope about, touching unfamiliar objects. Though the Sun rises and light appears to dawn in the land of the living dead, they do not perceive the Light which has shown from eternity to eternity. To their loss, men continue to grope. And in this frantic reaching for that which does not last, they live as if dead. The rot of their greed is a stench which their noses do not smell. With eyes glazed over with the things of this world, they see nothing. They speak of things which have no meaning but destruction; to themselves and those who hear their words. But they do not perceive their plight.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Like a man who fears the one who holds death in his hand, the living dead fear the sound of this knocking. In their dead lives they perceive God’s calling as an omen of tragedy. Yet, what do they have that is not tragedy? How can encountering this Beautiful One be more terrible than the life they are now leading? Still, how very few even ask, “Who is it who knocks on the door of my heart?”
Why do you fear what you do not understand? What is this smell of fear in your house? From who does that odor come? It comes from you. What do you have to lose that you have not already lost? What do you have to gain that you have never tasted? And with what will you redeem even one of your sins?
Rise up and open the door! You are already dead before the Throne of the Most High God. For the sentence is already passed on those who live without the Lord Jesus. And those who say they serve Him, yet walk in darkness will not fare much better. There is a place where those who have proclaimed the name of the Lord, but never walked with Him, will be shown for who they were. And they will be assigned a place with the unbelievers. Rise up! Open the Door!
By His Grace.
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