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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.
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Two people work together to put a puzzle together. It’s not a small puzzle, built for a child. There are 600,294,385,001 pieces. And they search with furrowed brows to find even one match.
“I found one!” One of the people screams out with great joy. The other’s head levels with inspecting eyes. “Are you sure?” Deft little fingers put the two together. All the edges match perfectly. The colors blend in seamlessly. “YES!”
“What is it?” A pause ensues. Turning the two joined pieces around and around, they inspect the item of joy for any hope of understanding. But in the end there is no possible way to know what it truly is. Oh there’s colors that could be identified in various ways. But in the end, there is simply joy that an answer has been found. And back to their work they go. But now they search with a renewed vigor. For they have been given proof that some of the pieces DO fit.
This is what walking with God in Christ Jesus is like. We hold in our hands only the answers we know we have found. But we leave the Glory of understanding the bigger picture to the Lord who supplied both the puzzle and the two who work together.
By His Grace.
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The story is told of a man; times of old.
Who ran through the streets all alone.
His yell could be heard above all the herd,
As he spoke of judgment to come.
So tired of he, did the people become.
He simply became “just a noise”.
And they went bout their day, without notice of him
Paying deafness, as if his reward.
Till one passerby was struck by the plight,
Of this old man who no one did notice.
So he stopped the old man and spoke with concern,
“Why do you make such a fuss?
You yell and you scream, as if to arouse.
But none of us pay you a thought.
So why do you insist in becoming a stench?
Surely you notice your lot.”
The old man stopped moving, his face became soft.
And his eyes danced as he looked deep within.
Then a frown slowly grew, and his eyes became strong.
And he focused on this one who would ask.
“I don’t scream for you, nor the hoard all about;
These words of Truth and Sure Terror.
I make such a noise, and travel about
For the sake of my own soul, my friend.”
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My ears are searching for their last sound. That special noise held in the hand of He who made them. My eyes are closing slowly, searching for that last item they will perceive. That item held in the hand of He who causes my eyes to see. My lips are waiting to utter a last word. That one word which remains reserved by the One who gives them good words to speak.
He alone knows the hour, minute, and second of this revealing. Yet I search for it to appear. I did not climb this mountain to hide among the reeds. I have climbed The Mountain of the Lord’s making. I have arrived at the top for three purposes; that I might hear His Word, that I may act out His Will, and that I might proclaim the Might of my God. For this reason, He has given me life. For this reason, He shall give me death. For this reason, He has lent me these three.
All men are given an end to their service in this place of testing; regardless profit or demise. In the end, this is all we own. In our death, we find the appearance of that search which announces the end. Announcement is proclaimed upon us all, “Here you shall receive the reward of your service.”
For those who do not love Him, that moment appears as a surprise. Though they perceive death approach, it appears as no consolation. They who have hated the Lord, will find that revealing a very disturbing opponent. Loss is all that remains of what was theirs. That moment closes all doors of possibility. An eternal seal is burned into the rock as it closes behind them. It reads, “This one has missed the mark.”
Who will open that door? Who will return to accomplish what should have been done? None will return to learn to worship the One who made them. Their feet now walk in a place of their choosing. There is no longer pity, mercy, grace, or help offered. They wait to hear their name cursed by the lips of He who desired their blessing. And in this, His anger is justified. They have stolen their own joy. They have robbed God of His intent for them. They have squandered their own hope, and called what is Holy a wicked name. They, alone, are to blame for where they now reside. Has not God provided their salvation in Jesus, His Righteous Son? Did they not see the proof all about them? Everything, in this place of testing, points to Jesus I ponder their fate; if their name will even be mentioned at all. Bundled together, they receive the word as one. Woe to them, for there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!
Those who have loved Him come to desire that moment. A silencing of all their earthly senses becomes a door to an awareness, which does not fade. They enter a door blazing, all through, with these words, “Welcome Home, thou blessed of the Lord.”
Glory awaits His people, and no sense of man can gather it up. Regardless their state here, there are ears, which hear unspeakable things. There are eyes, which see past the edge of the universe; into the very presence of the Most High God. There are lips, which speak a language no man has ever heard. All His Glories, will be revealed! For now, we see as through a glass darkly, but then we shall know in full; even as we are now fully known.
Come over here, you moment of longing. I will have a word with you. Step up and hold out your hands. Take from me; the borrowed three. You have arrived so that I might give them back to you. I will not deny you your right. As surely as I was glad to receive them, I am more than glad to return them to your hands. The Lord has caused these three to become useful to Him. All is well with my soul.
I go to hear.
I go to see.
I go to speak with joy!
With great joy, I will embrace this moment of release.
Give them to another again; His work here remains to in progress.
From dust we are, and to dust we will return.
I depart, to be embraced by He who has embraced these three, and me.
His promise I go to inherit. He has promised to give to His people a three which will never fade. Give Glory to God! Great Glory, Glory to God for what He has done for His people; how He protects them from harm!
By His Grace.
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I know that the wicked are blind to the Lord’s commands. Though they hear them, they cannot do them. Where is the power to overcome the one who now lords over them? They have not known the power of Jesus’ sacrifice. So they give up and return to their sin. Yet the Lord will judge them rightly. Though they deny what is rightfully God’s, He alone is their judge.
But do they not know? Surely the Lord has left His mark in their soul. They know that they are not clean before a Holy God. How do I know this? Because I am from that stock of wicked men. I once walked in the shoes of blind obedience to every pleasure I could lay my hands on. I once spurned wisdom and righteousness as if it were a lie. Self was my god. And, oh how I served him with vigor!
He has entered in and caused me to bow low before Him. Even these words were spoken to me on a night when He came to visit a fool: “Go ahead and kill yourself and come to my Throne. For I have much to say concerning you.” What a GREAT fool I was! To think that the grave could shield me from the One who made me. Now that I begin to understand the Holiness of God I gladly receive His teaching. Though I stumble before His commands, I find my every rebellion exposed. And this exposing is now the breath of life He gives me. The wicked will deny Him His rightful due, only to find His judgment before their very eyes. Life without God is unspeakably futile. But life with His teaching is joyous and rich; for we dance with joy at the mention of His Holy Name. And His rebuke is like cool water to a parched throat. The wicked would not like to abandon their ways. On the other hand, because of His Glory, I will never leave the blessing of His presence! Hear what has been said here. Fear God and live!
We: Live, Die, Face Judgment. Jesus or die twice.
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