Tag Archives: Gospel of Luke

The Way

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Iceland - The End.

Iceland - The End. (Photo credit: alicethewhale)

I perceive a powerful meaning today.  I see that “The Way” of Christ Jesus among men is impossible to walk by the will of man alone.  For my brothers and sisters this is understood.  But for those who do not know these things I relay this truth.

For a man to be consumed with purity before the Most High God, and to love his fellow man willingly and quickly, without reservation, is far too much to ask.  On the one hand, a man will become consumed with self as he strives with all his might to obey what is pure and true.  On the same hand, he will be asked to render complete forgiveness to others and that without judging; a sacrifice of self for the sake of others.  What an odd and perplexing difficulty.  Only the “God man” can accomplish this (that man who has surrendered to the will of God and has accepted God’s “terms of peace”).  Only those who have received power from God can make this happen.  A simply religious man will not gain “The Way”.  The Spirit alone gives the strength, wisdom, understanding, and forgiveness from Christ, to accomplish “The Way”.

The world is quite keen to point out these things to Christians.  “You judge me”, they will say to us.  And they count it unfair, even illegal for us to do so.  By this accusation they prove that they know they are condemned.  But they do not understand the difficulty presented to God’s people.  They only respond by virtue of the knife which is thrust through their soul by remarks made against wickedness.

Now I am not advocating that “The Way” is too hard.  Though no man can walk this way by his own power, God has granted the understanding and means to accomplish this.  The primary accusation against God was that He asked too much of His creation.  I am convinced that the primary accusation is the very reason for the entire universe, up to , and including, the death of His Holy Son on a Cross.  And we should never join in that bitter song of accusation against our God.  Instead, we testify that it is entirely possible to walk according to the law of God.  And this appears within us because He has made it possible by the Holy Spirit He has freely given us.

I am pointing this out for the sake of my weaker brothers and sisters.  This article admits that “The Way” is difficult to attain and remain.  This is a testimony from man’s perspective.  It is not God’s perspective.  His expectations upon us are quite clear.  “Attain release from sin by My Son’s sacrifice.  And hold no ill will against those who hate My ways and you”, God could be said to say.

There is a truce to strike between God and man, terms of peace to comprehend.  There is a building to build which cannot be built by our own will.  And anyone who sets out to accuse “The Way” of being too difficult remains in a blind state.  They remain in the state of utter destruction.  It is given to those who have struck a truce between themselves and The Holy God, through Jesus, to live their lives in a manner pleasing to Him.  Those who do not receive the terms of peace remain in death.

You who accuse us of unfairness and illegal activity know nothing of “The Way”.  You simply fend us off from your selfishness by making accusations unfounded.  And your way is not hidden from the Wisdom of God within us.  Instead of accusing you should accept the terms of peace the Most High God has prepared for all men.  Then you would be able to prove what is true.   And you would no longer be at odds against the Lord of Life, or His people.  If you hold us against the Holy Law of God and find fault in us, what will be said of you?  In this you judge us, even while you accuse us of judging you.  God has plainly said that when we judge our brothers we are judging The God who made them.   You walk your way according to your own desire, accusing, finding fault, and carrying on as if there was no judgment.  Surely you will be proclaimed as an accuser.  What, then, will be your plight?  Join us and live.  Come to see the perplexing difficulty, which is “The Way”, for yourself.  Taste and know that the Lord is good.

28 “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t sit down first and compute the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish the tower, all who see it will begin to make fun of him. 30 They will say, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish!’ 31 Or what king, going out to confront another king in battle, will not sit down first and determine whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot succeed, he will send a representative while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions.”  (Luke 14)

Slaves to Freedom?

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Old Leg irons

Image via Wikipedia

All men want freedom to do as they please.  And look how we balk and complain when we are forced, by any means, to do something we don’t want to do.  Listen to how many grumble as they are required to end their weekend and serve others on Monday morning.   Listen to them as 5 pm comes nearer.  Listen how they cheer as the moment comes near for them to be released back to their “freedom”.

Billions have lived their entire life chained to the will of others.  We called them slaves and prisoners; the masses of men, women, and children who lived under the horrible hand of someone else’s ideals.  It was the life they knew from birth to death.  Did they complain also?  Of course they did!  But they were not able to gain even one second of freedom more than the one allowed who ruled over their very breath.

It is not acceptable before God to grumble at restrictions placed on you.  It is honorable, however, before God to accept these restrictions with a certain joy; knowing that we are but a short number of years in this place of testing.  I know I speak the truth in this.  Yet I also know I will find myself grumbling today because I am forced to wait for someone else as they push their way in front of me.  How pitiful is man that he should know to do good yet not be able to find the ability to do it.

Christians are those who are learning to submit to the absolute rule of the One who made them.  We serve Jesus because He shows us that He knows what is best.  We love, because He first Loved us and gave His life for us.  He has said, “Whoever would be first will be last”.  And He has said, “”If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  24  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.  25  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self ?” (Luke 9).

Men crave freedom.  Jesus tells us clearly that freedom in Christ Jesus is not the freedom of man.  We are set free, not of submission as a slave, but set free to serve as a slave to righteousness.  So let us consider how to spur ourselves and others into a life of service to the Most High God through the Spirit.  Jesus plainly said to us that He would ask the Father and the Spirit would be sent to His people to guide us into all righteousness.  Are you a willing participant in the things of God through Jesus?  Or are you still looking to be set free, as men count freedom?

Ah! The Horror of Who I am.

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KJV Bible

I have seen, with a meager eye, that it is the Lord who gives life.  He quickens the mind.  It is the Lord who allows the heart to beat one more beat.  He alone allows things to flourish.  And it will never be that anything shall exist without His permission and support.

What I see in a moment quickly fades behind my pride and wickedness.  But what I saw remains a memory, fit to teach.  Be humble before the Lord, we are commanded.  Yet our pride rises up from the depths of sin.  We wrongly think to ourselves, “I will rise up to worship the Lord Most High”.  Yet, what strength do you have that was not given to you by the One you desire to rise up and worship?  How foolish and futile are the thoughts man has of what is pure and eternal? 

It is given to man that he should call out to the One who gives life.  It is not given to man to create anything.  It is given to us, simply to obey the One who makes all things.  And to show how futile the ways of man are, even as I type these words I hear my wicked heart balk at such things.  “No!  I am sufficient to myself!  I can survive without humility before the Lord of Hosts!  ‘I am, therefore I am’, says pride. 

What a hopeless condition is the plight of man.  Locked forever in a battle of leadership against the Lord God who made us, this is my lot.  Unless hope comes from The Lord Himself, we have no hope.  Unless the God of eternity relents and extends mercy we are lost.  For He is eternal and we are but a flash of putrid folly. 

All who consider their plight with wisdom will see what has been spoken here.  They will encounter that hideous sin within them.  And they will be caused to abhor their condition.  What shall we do?  We are left with one reaction.  And this is the design of God for man.  We will fall on our face and beg for sight.  “Have mercy, O Lord God of All, for we perish in our own vomit!  We are full and over flowing with hatred, pride, envy, and slander.  And woe to us!  For there is no remedy within us.”  And to add horror to horror, we realize that this is the plight of every man from birth!

Do not allow yourself to think that you are “mostly good”.  There is no sin in the Most High God!  And He will not allow anything impure to live forever.  If you find one misstep within you, that is sin.  And you are held accountable for it.  Nothing impure will ever stand before the Most High God.  Therefore, if there is found in you even one item of impurity, you will not stand.   Only what is God will enter eternity.  Do not allow yourself to be fooled by your pride.  “All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God”.  Wether you believe this or not makes no difference.  It is a truth that will survive your destruction.   Be wise and consider the Holiness of God before you are forced to encounter Him come that day of judgment.  For it is surely coming.  And nothing but what is God will survive.

There are those who will read this and say, “I hate this message!  I hate all you self-righteous Christians!  I hate everything you say!  And if I could, I would wipe you off the face of this earth!”  So be it.  What was spoken here is truth.  And if you do not accept it, it remains truth.  All men are liars, but God alone is true.

Woe to the pride of man.  Woe to all who allow it to be their god.  Woe to all who spurn the sacrifice of Jesus.  And woe to everyone who loves sin more than the Holiness of God!   Woe to us all, but for the sacrifice of the Son of God!  Consider your ways and search yourself.  Then, if you still think you are blameless, allow the Father of Life to examine you.  Read the Bible.  Pray for understanding.  And He will show you your folly.  Nothing unholy will ever enter the presence of God!  If you reject the Son, you reject the Father.  And, in the end, it is you who will be rejected.

You think that those who grovel at the feet of the Most High God are the foolish ones in this world?  You will be rudely exposed come that day.  Nothing is hidden from the sight of the Lord.  And there is a Day when He will speak with pure clarity regarding the nature of man.  All men will hear the voice of God.  All men will perceive His Holiness.  And all men will be exposed for what they have done in regard to this message.

Be wise and consider your plight.  For that same plight rests on every man, woman and child.  Humble yourselves before the Lord of Hosts and beg for understanding.  Then, when you have received a portion of understanding, beg for more.  God is deadly serious regarding the nature of man.  And when He says that few will find the eternal hope, He is not joking or making speculation.  Strive with all you have to become one of those few.  “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.  Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’  But He will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’”  (Luke 13: 24, 25)

I beg you as one who is among you.  Seek the Lord while you remain in this place of blindness.  The day will dawn and there will be no place to hide.  Seek Him that you might become light now.  For there is no shadow of turning within the Lord God Almighty!  And there will never be.  Believe and be saved.  Reject this message and perish! 

We are of those who are stricken with sin!  God has designed a place and a One which can save us.  But how very few come to an understanding of what is True.  I beg you, don’t allow these words to fall to the ground at your feet.  Take heed!  The time is passing right before your eyes!  And we will all give account of ourselves before the Majesty that is God.

Father, bless this word to those You choose.  All things are Yours.  You are Holy!  And there is absolutely NO shadow of turning from purity within You.  I deposit these words among the throng of my fellow men.  By Your Holy Grace, may Your will be done forever.  And may all who hate you remain in their hatred.  May all who seek You find the Hope You have provided.

God, the Father, has ordained an end to this place of testing.  And He has ordained a day for every man to seek His Face.  This is your day.  Do not say to yourself, “perhaps there is another”.  All who call upon the name of Jesus will be saved.  But this “calling” must be sincere; born of a heart aware of its plight.  He will judge the living and the dead.  And many will weep and wail at the judgment placed against them.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.  May the Father’s will forever be done!  Amen