Unfinished Business


Life is full of unfinished business.  Get used to it.  That won’t change.

A man and woman have an argument.  The argument never gets resolved, because the causes don’t go away.  Neither does the memory.  But what happens is worthy of mention.

Purposeful forgetfulness sets in.  By sheer will, we make a choice to forget the argument.  Then we focus hard on obliterating the causes.  By applying a sincere lack of selflessness we divorce hatred, violence, envy, greed, and every other wicked obsession.

By forgiveness alive, we mend what cannot be mended.  Not only that, we look forward to the promised moment when all that is self is absorbed into eternal joy.  As we live in that promise, we become.  As we live in that promise, as a people destined to receive, we become those who have already received enough strength to over come all that destroys.

 

The Division


I doubt that it is possible for man to understand the things I am about to say.  For he will perceive through his own understanding.  And the understanding of man is filtered through greedy desire.

I do not mention greedy desire as a slur, but simply as a fact of his own nature.  For every man is born of severe limit.  Ignorance, death and sickness belong to him.  Wherever he perceives an individual who is overcoming these things, he desires with greed to have (or with his pride, to reject).

You want the love of God’s people.  You reject them because they do not love you as you love yourself.  In the weakness of your being, you think it abhorrent that anyone should love God’s ways more than they love you.

But you do not understand the differences in love.  We love you as a matter of mutual weakness.  For the things that plague you also plague us.  Ignorance, sickness and death cover all men.  So that the love we have for you is born of compassion.

But the love we have for the Living God’s Holy Son, is not filled with compassion!  He is endlessly wise, full of life, power beyond the wildest imagination of man, and eternal.  Our love for Him is full of awe, reverence, worship, thanks and praise.  How is it possible for us to give you this same love?

We serve you with the compassion that is born from our love for God.  But your pride gets in the way.  You don’t want to be thought of as weak.  You don’t want pity, unless it comes dressed as excuse.

There is so much more to say regarding this.  But let this stand as it is.  Those who will ponder these things may well find understanding.  For in their pondering, they may turn to God to understand.

Do not think we chide you because we hate you.  We hate the weakness that was ours.  As long as that weakness still dresses you, you receive the hatred of those who love God.  Yet even in our hatred for the things that cover you, you receive our compassion.  Even as our own weakness has received the compassion of God.

Yet with compassion, we deliver you the message of God.  Boldly, we deliver you the messages of warning.  Boldly, we speak to tear down the things you currently love.  We make fun of what you think is sincere.  For there is no life in the ways of man.

We know you will not accept our word as long as you are dressed in pride.  For you consider us rebellious.  We were once of you.  And now you can’t understand why we have turned against you.  But the compassion of God within us, drives us forward to speak, regardless your response.

You are urged to come and be with us.  Not a single man who loves the Living God in Christ Jesus, desires this division to remain.  What holds you back is not our hatred for the things that now cover you; as if we are snobish and proud.  What hold you back is your own weakness in pride.

Only the Living God will reveal these things, and this through his most excellent wisdom.  The weakness of flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of God.  Only those things born of the Holy Spirit of God may enter the kingdom of heaven.  You cannot join us without the humility of Christ covering you.  You cannot truly love us unless your sins are forgiven.

May the Living God, the Holy Father of Christ Jesus, His Holy and Righteous Son, have mercy to wisely open the eyes of all who read this.

By His Grace

Depravity Without End


All men are the same.  Though life is found in billions of variations, at their base, all men are the same.

I could point to our need to be loved.  But there are men who do that in a seducing manner already.  They use our need to be loved, as a tool to get what they want.  From soap, to sex and to acceptance, there are men who manipulate that necessity.

I could point to our physical frailty.  But there are men who exploit every facet of the human body.  From ailments to physical beauty, men exploit others for the sake of gain. 

I could point to our mutual end; that inevitable place of death.  But even there: inheritances are fought over.  The plot of land is sold at a high price.  The casket is ornate and costly.

But I will speak of our depravity.  How worthless men are for doing what is purely good.  And how completely unable we are to change our situation.

Let us lay aside our former sins, and we would still find ourselves unable to do what is pure and good.  We are hopelessly depraved.  The judgment of God waits to receive us.  Yet who among us has considered the severity of our plight?

Men are careful to look for the singular things they do, which will draw judgment upon them.  With meticulous mind they strive to avoid the obvious.  Murder, adultery, hatred, discord, jealousy, lies, and the like, are the focus of their eyes, as they peruse their situation. 

They look for the obvious, while they miss the subtle.  But any sin, no matter how small, can throw us into condemnation on the day of judgement.

With diligence, men strive to avoid these obvious pitfalls.  But the size of such sins masks the horror beneath.

“I have not murdered.  Therefore I am better than my brother who has.”  “I have remained faithful to my wife (or husband).  Therefore I am a righteous man (or woman).”  “I am patient and compassionate to those of lesser value.  Therefore I am merciful even as God is merciful.”

With endless proclamation, men justify their life.  It is as if they rehearse what they will say to the living God on that day.  And they prepare by comparing!  Oh how men love to compare!

Billions of dollars are earned for the sake of man’s valued comparisons.  One is left to eat from the trash bin, because he was found unable to compete.  He was compared by society, to what is held in high esteem, and thrown to the wolves for his lack.

Another counts himself beautiful and well endowed.  He competes with great skill.  Comparatively speaking his body is beautiful.  And comparatively speaking, his mind works well, to gain what he desires.  He is the one who is honored among men.  For he is compared to the man who eats from the trash bin.  And the beautiful one is exalted to the highest places.

For our pride, we will be judged, by he who is perfectly humble.  For the sake of our greedy desire to gain, we will be judged by he who has given everything he has.  For the sake of our love of division, we will be judged by he who is the same yesterday today and forever.

If you have thought that you can stand before God on the Judgment Day, it would be good for you to rethink your position.  The Holy One has spoken that no man will stand on his own.  God has proclaimed that every man is a liar.  And the smallest infraction against his Holy Law, is deserving of only death.

Men conveniently overlook their own faults.  With desperation, they search themselves for what might be considered good.  Though what good they find is small and rare, they hold to these things with a deadly grasp.  But God sees the entire man.

At whatever place you think highly of yourself, you are severely mistaken.  You have compared yourself to others.  This is the source of your confidence.  But men fail to compare themselves to the Living God or his Holy Son Christ Jesus.

If you are still willing to listen I will tell you a truth of hope.  All need not be lost!  A way has been made for every man to stand strong on the Day of Judgment.

Your complete lack of what is good has been seen by the Holy Lord.  His Holy and Faithful Son’s sacrifice can cover you with confidence on that day.  But do not think you will wait for his covering when you appear before the Most High God.

There is holy work to do within you even now.  To appear with confidence before the Most High God requires a certain garb.  A man must be dressed in righteousness, holiness, a distinct lack of willingness to compare, and a vibrant willingness to forgive the sins of others.

As I pointed out before we are not capable of such attire.  Man, if left by himself, can only become dressed in everything that is wicked.  The very place we live demands it. 

Accept the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.  Put down your own perceived righteous behavior.  Learn from the Lord what he expects from all men.  Humble yourself before the Living God.  Pray, and seek His face.  Present yourself to him as you are.

If you wait until the day of judgement you will be sorely hateful of yourself.  You will not be welcomed with open arms.  You will be cast away without the slightest regret.  On that day, no amount of tears or violent anger will change his mind.

There is a transformation that needs to take place here.  We must learn to submit to his leadership.  We must become worthy. 

Without him we can do nothing.  But with him we can overcome the selfish desires of man.  By the work of God within us, we can become like the Lord Jesus.  But this requires a humble submission from us.

There are millions who think they have a free pass to eternal life.  By speaking of few words, they count Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  But there is no change in their heart, mind or desire.  These, very many people, will be horribly surprised.  For man is condemned before he appears before God!

The only ones worthy of eternal life are those who do the will of the Sovereign God in Christ Jesus. 

If you do not fully understand what I have said here, do not bother to ask me to explain.  The Bible is freely available in almost every place of the world.  And prayer is only a knee bend away. 

If you are looking for a man to tell you what to do, you are looking in vain.  Only Jesus the Christ is able to save your soul.  We can point you to him, but we have no strength to save you. 

And if you look to men to help you are, by comparison, ignoring the command of God. 

You will stand all alone and naked on that day.  The teaching of no man can clothe you sufficiently.  To put it in the way of the Bible, you need to be washed and clothed in the Holy Blood of Jesus.

By His Grace

Love = Obedience


Felice da Nicosia

Felice da Nicosia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Do you love me more than these?”

More than sex.  More than Envy.  More than money.  More than fame, profit, ownership,  pride, humility, lawfulness, religion, …

“If you love me you will obey my commands.”  want to stop sinning?  Learn to love the Lord.

His Word is true God cannot lie if we love him we will obey his commands.

The Prostitution of Greed


gains

gains (Photo credit: 401K)

For the sake of gain, you men of the world, you entice with woman.  Everywhere I look the unholy appears before me.

Is this all you have?  Is this the sum of your enticements?  Does greed cover you so completely that you would even sell your daughters for the sake of gain?

You call it innocent to offer the pictures of your female children along side advertisements meant to fill your pockets.  And the least offensive among your greedy advertisements is repulsive in itself.  You do not tell the truth to gain what can be kept, or that which is due you by just scales.  Instead you proclaim that if we look and desire what you offer, your daughters will dress the walls of our hearts with desire.

Foolishness abounds in this age of pictures.  Prostitution of family has become the accepted way to sell the things you know very well we don’t need.  But you want for yourself.  You call it competition.  And you think that you need to capture, from among men, those your wicked brother has already captured.  So you sell what should not be sold.

So be it.  Fill up, then, what is lacking in your sins.  Debase the mothers of your grandchildren.  Sell them as a token of greed.  Amass to yourself the very things you can not keep.   All the while teaching that greed is best and dedication to what is holy is non-profit.  You decide by yourselves what will be your challenge when you stand before Him naked and void of answer.