Tag Archives: greed

Always On Display

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Everyday I see you.  Yes you are noticed.  Even in the night, with the doors locked and the windows shaded over, you are being watched. 

Every breath and heartbeat is counted, up to its leveling sum; that day when they add up to ceasing.  That day you cannot predict, as you now do your public behavior.

Most of the time you are like a woman dressed in finery, posing for a painting, with a delicate and entrancing smile.  Those who see you gasp with joy at the beauty you represent.  But I have seen you when you think no one is watching.

Then, you are like a ravenous lion; unrestrainable drewl escaping, wild eyed, and hungry to violence for what you desire. 

Then, your entrancing beauty is obscured by your greed.  Your beautiful habits, disheveled by illicit craving.

Yes you have been noticed, as is your compelling want.  Yes you have been seen, but not as you expect.  You rehearsed vigorously but it did you no good.  For every man owns moments of vulnerable appearance.

You disturbed the air with movements unlawful.  You spoke with voiceless words of filthy attitude.  You reached with wide eyed greed to grasp what was not yours.  You gave no thought to prying eyes.

Nothing we do or are is hidden from the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  For in Him we live and move and have our being.

By His Grace

News Flash!

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You’ve heard what the world calls news.  Have you heard what God calls news?

1 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (2 Timothy )

3 “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” (2 Peter 3)

By His Grace

Depravity Without End

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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

For sale. OBO

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The sign at a car lot says, “Stay alive don’t drink and drive!”

I see it as I pass by.  But I wonder, do they really care?  There is a slight chance of sincerity.  But there is a greater chance of a marketing ploy being played.

Many liars are selling the world for any price.  What they desire is power, money and fame.  So they will lie about the integrity of those who have integrity.  They will dishonor those who are honorable.  They will say there is no truth, it is all relevant.  While they disallow the true and only God his rightful place.

Everything is for sale.  Everything has a price.  Nothing is revered or kept sacred.

So it is with all the world.  But it should not be that way with the people of Jesus the Christ. 

Are there for sale signs on the gifts that God has given you?  Is your fidelity, righteousness, loyalty, patience, kindness, love and honor available to the highest bidder?

It would be good to go to the store house of your heart and inspect each gift of God.  If you find papers of assessment leading to sale, rip them off and burn them.  Remember how the inheritance of one was sold for a small bowl of soup.

The Wayward Daughter

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O world!  You are void of righteousness.  You desire what you should not.  And you take, with abandon, those things which do not belong to you.

Impatience and greed are your gods.  You serve them with excellent zeal, for they agree with the endless gluttony of your desire.

You consider the Holy One as of no account.  ‘I will do as I please, for I do not see his judgment against me.”  So you say with what you do.

You are blind, and willingly so.  You fill the righteous with sadness as they perceive your willfull plight.  You live as if it brings you delight to see them cry for your sake.

You are like the daughter who has despises her righteous mother.  You are like the daughter who willingly murders her father’s joy.

You are like the daughter of righteous parents, who gives her body to the will of men.  She comes home and laughs in her parent’s face, while they mourn the marks of abuse that lay up on her.  She comes home to despise the love of her parents; to make a mockery of their sorrow.

What will you say on that day you are called to give account?  Will you find your best friend, ignorance, able to assist you against an onslaught of truth?  You are not willing to hear truth now.  How would you stand on that day?

See how the warning is stark and unwavering.  See how the judgment reaches even where you lay. 

God is not cruel; not as you call righteousness.  He has provided a way of escape for every man who heeds these things.  He has provided the sacrifice of his Holy Son, Christ Jesus.  And willingly poured out His Holy Spirit on those with contrite heart.

Do not continue in your way to remain in death.  For as you have come to live, so you will surely die.

Two cats

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Two cats lay dead on the road this morning.  They were squished by something far larger than themselves.

They came to that place to argue, fight and kill.  So which one is the victor?  I suppose one may say, “The one to die last.”

They could not conceive there was something greater than their greed.  So they held their worthless ground until judgement was passed.

Is this is what you want?  Are you determined to be the last one to die?  Why do you approach your brother with a callous heart?  Will you stand your worthless ground until all is done?

Do you really think you will escape the greater judgement?  For now you think your judgment is righteous.  But there is one who is waiting to lay low.

If the cats could have understood, they would have made fast friends of one another.  They would have watched each other’s back.  They would have died in peace together under a tree.

Check your foolish wisdom at the door.  The only right you have is to obey the commands of the living God in Christ Jesus His Holy Son.

Think about it.  That light approaching is the largest semi you have ever seen!