Tag Archives: Cowards

The Promises

by

0


I wanted to post this this morning.  But I wasn’t sure how it would be received.  As the day passed however, it’s urgency hasn’t left my mind.

Most people, if they love to listen to the words of the Bible, enjoy the pleasantries that God has in store for us.  But when we speak of the warnings God has delivered to us, we often find a deaf ear.

Revelation 21 speaks of the beautiful promise of eternal life in the Glorious City of God.  It’s a passage one might find in a modern devotional.  But I don’t remember ever reading the words that follow that passage in any devotional.

These are the words that follow the beautiful promise of joy:

6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Backed Against the Wall

by

0


It is said that if you back a coward into a corner with threats of death, he may well leap out against you with an excellent strength.   I believe there is a place where this has truth.   But I believe there is also a place with this might be true with a “man” of peace.  You can back him against his beliefs only so far.  Until you can back up no farther.

There is a place where the average man will not succumb to any pressure anymore.  Do you know the place in yourself  that I’m talking about?  Have you been pushed back to what you refuse to doubt?

We stand in this world and testify of Christ.  And if we are bold we will step away from the foundations of our belief into the realm of pure faith.  While we are extended like that, there is a possibility that we could be pushed back to the things we refuse to doubt.  And I’ll admit, sometimes we have extended ourselves way too far.  Being pushed back is simply a natural restraint.

But what is the extent of a Christian’s firm beliefs?  How far will they extend from himself that he may walk to the edge and push farther in pure faith?  How much of God’s promise are we willing to believe without doubt and without wavering?

How far could we be reaching out now?  What is not being done that could be?  What are we denying The Lord?

Our reaching out is stymied by doubt.  Is it possible to consider that a favorable response to his glorious grace?

Lots of questions.  Every man holds a different answer.

Stealthy Christians

by

0


Take note of the animals that use cover and camouflage to move about and hunt.

Notice how vulnerable they are if they are exposed. 

The worm is helpless without the earth to cover him.

The lion hunts in vain when there is no concealment.

The snake is crafty, using both.

The sparrow hawk hovers above the line of sight.  If he will eat, he must keep his place.

Concealment is necessary for animals.

But what Christian has the right to conceal the light of God; to hide within the acceptable social framework?

The Lord Jesus was exposed and died, for the sake of the salvation you hope for.  How is it you live out your faith with stealth?

Those who trust in him, will live though they die.  Can you say you have come to believe this?

Billions pass them by,  not the slightest awareness they have just passed a Christian.

They will not ask.  Is this the concealment you hope for; the willing ignorance of men?

By His Grace

Meet “The Christians”

by

0


When will the Church of Christ realize it has been cut away from the rock of man?   We are told to make ourselves separate from the world.  But very few realize this has already been accomplished to some degree.

When the Gospel is believed, it separates the man from all the rest of the world.  Never again can he join in all the abominations with a clear conscience.  Never again will the joys of sin sparkle in his eyes as before.

If you believe in Christ Jesus, you have already been culled from the mass of men.  Your belief in Christ Jesus has separated you forever.  The transformation has already begun.  And you know in your heart you are hated for it.

So why does the Church capitulate with those who have no part with her?  It is because of fear.  They fear being cast out.  They fear being ostracized.  They fear being different because they know the world is violently evil toward the Holiness of God.

How do they know this?  Because the violence toward God was in them also.  And by their silence, the violence remains!  As a man is, so he does.

Let everyone of us remember!  Among those cast out from the Great City, are the cowards and the faithless.  To fear and to lack faith, is to resist belief.  How can a man say he believes in the Son of God if it does not make a drastic difference in his strength and resolve?

If you will not stand apart now, you will not stand apart then.  Silence and inclusion will not save you.  It is only a detriment to your place in eternity.  For every man will be judged according to his own deeds.  Do not believe the great satanic lie, “UNITED WE STAND“.

And let us put this “politically correct” stance of the Holy Church in proper perspective.  When you appear before the Most High God, you will be standing among those who willingly gave their very life for the Gospel you now hold to yourself.   What great shame will cover you then?  What great fear will shake your soul?  Do you think it might be more than what you may receive here?  Very possibly.

Wake up “Modern Church”!  You’re about to meet your ancestors!

By His Grace

Do You Have the Courage to Live?

by

0


Symbol: alpha omega

Image via Wikipedia

In any confrontation there are men who will endure what comes toward them.  We call them courageous men.  We admire these men.  The wise soldier will admire that same trait in his enemy.  I don’t mean that he agrees with all that his enemy believes.  But the courageous soldier will give proper respect to the potential of that enemy who has no fear.  To lack respect for such a man is to commit yourself to death.  Because that enemy will kill you.

We do not encounter God without ultimate respect.  He never lies.  He is always ready to receive as well as punish.  He is absolute love, mercy, forgiveness, and hope.  But respect of the Holy One also tells us that He does not allow ANY sin to come before Him.  This is the nature of the Gospel.  We do have a High Priest in Jesus who is able to bring us before the Father with clean clothes, heart, soul, and mind.  But being able has a restriction.  The will of man will not be circumvented.  If you wish to live in sin, in sin you will be allowed to live.  If you wish to be free of sin, then free from sin the Lord is able to cause you to be.

I wrote this post to bring up a subject that is rarely heard.  We all know a list of sins that God will not receive in His people.  But there is a sin that rarely gets mentioned anymore.  Revelation tells us something wonderfully, and fearfully beautiful.  Along with all the things we know aren’t righteous, God states one more.

6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”  (Rev. 21)

Cowards will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven!  I won’t bother to go much farther with this.  I simply wanted to make that point.  However, I will mention that man’s perception of God (that is to say how man without the Spirit of God perceives God) sees Him with fear.  This is much like a wall of fire that stands between God and man.  We are forced to believe in the power of Christ Jesus’ sacrifice in order to walk into that fire and find the embrace of the Most High God.  A coward will get close to the flames and turn around.  It takes a courageous heart to believe in what God has said regarding His Son.

By His Grace.