Tag Archives: greed

“That’s Mine!”

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What man of us has come from eternity?  Has he been before and said to himself, “I will now become a man.”  No.  We are created from what we do not understand.  We appear, and cannot explain how we came to be.  Nor can a man say, “I will return to what I knew when I die.”

This is true an indisputable.  Though a man may say he is of another life he cannot explain how he came to be in the first place.  No man has come from eternity.

I speak this way understanding that there is One who has appeared among us from eternity.  He has known heaven for he was there in the beginning, and has returned victoriously rich in all the things of God.  And when he spoke to us he spoke of things he knew.  But no other man is capable of such a thing. 

But now listen to how we speak.  We say “This is mine.”  “This is my boat.”  Or the poor man may say, “This is my coat.”  What a man means when he says such things makes all the difference.

Does he mean the thing is identified with his name?  Does he mean it is not in the hands of another man?  Then he is just and righteous in what he says.

But if a man says something is his and intends that people should respect his belongings (as if he has created his things on his own), then he is wickedly mistaken.  At best, we are only caretakers of all that is in our hands.  Only He who is from eternity owns all.

As a man perceives, so he does.  If a man perceives his belongings as truly belonging to him, he will pursue all he has with great greed.  He will call it his own, without regard to God or others.  He will erect a fortress around it.  And he will murder anyone who lays a hand on what is his.  His waking hours will be alert without ceasing.  His sleep will be fitful regardless what alarms he may set.  And he will wear anxiousness as if clothing, all the days of his life.

But the man who perceives the truth will save himself from untold anguish.  All belongs to God.  Nothing belongs to man, for he is made from nothing.  And to nothing, he and all he owns returns.

What he has had has been a test of his heart.  That is something.  For when he leaves this place his soul will appear before God to be assessed.  Judgment will be made, and the man will receive what is rightfully his. Even while he lives assessment is made without his knowledge or ascent.  Do men really think they will give counsel to the Most High God?

The wise among men consider these things.  And if they arrive at the truth they no longer lock their doors.  All their days are filled with peace.  For they know all belongs to God. 

The sleep of the wise is peaceful and full of tranquility.  When they eat they eat with joy; they are not concerned with their next meal, for they know that God will provide.  When they reached for what is in their trust they are not concerned of its demise.

All belongs to God.  He, in his great wisdom, has created us and will sustain us.  Think about it.  If a man will take care of what he thinks is his, how much more will God perfectly protect that which his perfect nature has made?

The wise give him his honorable do and live in peace.  Those who perceive this place of testing otherwise have no peace at all.

The Race

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The human race races.  Listen to the cheers of the crowd.  “Be first, conquer, achieve,  amass, gather and enjoy!”

To what do they compare victory?  Do they look at what they did not have when they were born?  Do they look at what they now have and consider it victory?

This is not the measure of victory that God perceives.

God is first.  He has set his Son as first.  His son has conquered.  His son has achieved all that can be achieved.  He has amassed all righteousness; for that is what he loves.  Even now he gathers men from among the seed of men.  And he is eternally anointed with the oil of joy from the living God.

How does the race of men compare?  They will have what is not theirs to keep.  They will have what is not theirs.  But he keeps because he desires his Father’s Holy will.

Will you continue in the race of men?  Or will you relinquish your rights to gain what cannot be lost?

There is a race that requires no strength.  It does not hope for the things of this world.  The world will hold what is of the Spirit in great contempt.  But all things of flesh rot and fade away.

All the while men clamor to gain, heaven moves forward in true joy.  Beyond the grasp of man, beyond the vision of eyes, beyond the hearing of ears, the righteous worship God.  And it will not be taken away from them, for by the strength of Jesus the Christ they have overcome.

Who will cease the frenzied race?  Who will grasp with their soul what can never be taken away?  He is willing to give.  Who is willing to receive?

The War of Necessities

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I am nothing and I am no one.  I have seen clearly the wickedness that is within me.  But for the hope of Christ Jesus I remain worthless, anonymous and wicked forever.

I have seen the way of men.  By means of simple necessity, they are forced into slavery.  They must eat.  They must provide shelter.  And they must belong.  So they become victims of the greed of others.

On top of that, as if a poisonous frosting on a cake, men have devised ways to take advantage of the necessity of others.  They have conceived in their heart, “I will rise above at the expense of my brother”.

So they give profitable work, and social belonging, to those of lesser ability.  In the interest of profit for all, so they say, they quickly demand too much.  A man is placed where he does not belong by the engine of greed and vanity.

Fear races across this world that we may perform the things for which we have no resource.  Hundreds of thousands become taskmasters, while millions become slaves.  And the slaves say, “If I do not perform a task as is required, or do as they say, I will lose my place”.

With smiles, rewards and contrived encouragement, (“I care for you!”) the taskmasters provoke to produce.  And production is made, at the expense of your freedom.

So it has been from the beginning.  So it is now.  Fear breeds defensiveness.  Every man builds a fortress.  And regardless the face they wear, every man is enemy to another.  The friend against a friend.  A father against his son.  A son against his father.  A mother against her daughter.  A daughter against her mother.  Siblings tear at one another. And all are in the process of dying a needless death.

The battle is encouraged by necessity.  As long as there is want there will be war.  There is war between the nations.  There is war between the countries.  There is war within the cities, towns and villages of this world.  There is war within groups of men.  And there is war within the families.

All of this to ask a simple question.  Is there remedy?  The answer is yes.

The world will continue in this futile, ceaseless and horrific war.  But each man can cease a war like life.

You do not have to fend for yourself.  You do not have to wake every morning preparing for battle.  You do not need to endure sleepless and fitful sleep.  You do not have to put on hatred as if clothing.  And you wear selfishness for no reason.

The answer is not a method.  A method would require too much of you to perform.  You would have to study a method.  You would have to learn by practicing a method.    None of which the the world gives you time or resources to do.

The answer is the kingdom of God in Jesus, the Holy One of God.  You may ask, “Is it really that simple?”   The answer again is yes. 

He is not religion, organized or individual.  He is the Son of the Living God.  He is willing and able to release you from this war of necessities.  He is willing and able to release you from your own guilt and greed.

The world has told you that God is in heaven.  The world has told you that God cannot and does not help man in his basic necessities.  Or that if he does, it is in the small measure.  Yet you cry out when you have need.

I testify to you as one who has been released from the war.  I do not speak to you as one who does not know.  He provides everything I need.  And he never fails. 

He is called Emmanuel.  Perhaps you have heard the name.  The name means “God with us”.  The world has lied so that you will not understand.  For if you understand their grip is torn away.  So they continue to entice you with lies and promise of worthless reward.

Those who are in the kingdom of God find themselves progressively released from the war of necessities.  Though the burdens of this world are placed upon them they find they have strength where before they did not.

He provides for those who are hungry for provision.  He provides for those who have come to understand they have no strength. 

Are you hungry?  Do you recognize your weakness?  Are you courageous enough to call out in faith?  Has the world reduced your pride so that you can look up for help?

His promise is to provide.  It is impossible for God to lie.  He will keep his promise.  And those to search for him in truth will find him true.

But do not think he will provide for you what the world calls necessity.   He will appear to provide what you need.  He will not appear to provide what you want.  Greed and vanity have no place in the kingdom of God.  He has give you life.  He will also provide everything you need.

Those who ask for the trinkets of this world will be turned away.  The world may give you such things.  But it will also demand an accounting.

Have you truly had enough of this war?  Are you ready to receive the things that God is willing to give?  Then simply humble yourself and ask.  Place yourself at his mercy.  When the time is right he will give you strength.

By continuance in faith you will receive the freedom he promises. 

All day long men and women are entering into the kingdom of freedom in Christ.  They are finding the freedom to live.  All the while you suffer needlessly.

It has been so since the days of John the Baptist.  And it will continue until the Lord returns.  But cowards and the faithless will never enter the kingdom of God; they will never taste the freedom of Christ.

Has the world reduced your pride?  Have you reached a place of hopelessness so that all is this is left is for you to call out to God?  Are you strong enough, courageous enough, of faith enough. to call out to the Holy One of Israel?  If so, you will find him pleasantly willing.

So be it!

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Countless horde, await your day.  Sleep your restless sleep.  Your time has come to an end in the midst of your desire.  Warned, you continued on, mindless of what was coming.

Now what is your complaint?  Will you complain that your dreams have been stolen?  Will you desire vengeance for the plans which never found root?   Will you complain regarding your current home; the darkness of your grave consumes you.

Those who remain in the Land of the Dead morn your passing.  But they will soon join you, it is inevitable.  These, who still strive against the Gospel of Christ, make their plans just as did you.  They live as animals waiting for the slaughter.

“More grass,
more water,
more steps to take.
More air to breathe,
more sleep to take.”

To whom do you address your complaint?  Do you despise the world because it did not give you your desire?  Do you blame death because it has brought you to his house?  Did you not know it was his intent?  So now your dark heart, in your dark home, rails against the Land of the Dead?

Perhaps your greed provokes jealousy.  For God lives in his brilliantly lit Palace of Righteousness.  All the while His Holy Law has placed you where you are.  Stripped of your gain he has said, “Enough!”  And now your hands are forced to cease their work.

Your place of residence tells something about who you are.  You did not desire the will of God.  You desired the will of your own wickedness.  You have not loved righteousness and hated wickedness.  You have desired all that is evil and hated what is Good.

In your end, even now you hate the one who made you.  So be it!  What is yours belongs to you.  What is His belongs to Him.  Yours is death, destruction and End.  What is His is Life and Praise and Eternity.

Now your complaint is mixed with tears that have no water, desiring to fall from eyes which cannot see.  For you know those you knew in the Land of the Dead.  You know they too will soon join you.

Your silent complaint will fall on deaf ears as you mingle together as one group.  You would not listen nor would you teach.  Now you have been assigned your rightful place.

So be it!  Await your destruction with forced patience.  You will work the work you are now forced to endure.  The command has arrived, “Lay still and await the Holy Fire which will consume you.  You will receive the wages due to your greed and praise of self.”

Cut short!  Cut short is he who hates the Lord.  Stopped in the midst of stride.  Errant desires obliterated.  A multitude of shining days reduced to the deepest of darkness.  You are but Fuel to flames; ashes of ethyl substance, yet to become.

Be wise and listen, you who now thrive with self-purpose in the Land of the Dead.  Hear the unspoken testimony of those whose lips are sealed.  Take note of their plight for it will soon be yours. 

God is

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It is odd to me, this ruse of enticements.  That we should be placed so firmly among all that is a lie.  Let a man ponder this.

All the while, God is.

Then we are given what is true, from He who is above all these things.  Now we are condemned if we do not choose.  Let a man ponder this.

All the while, God is.

Who should know it in this place of enticements?  How should we even know to look?  We should be satisfied with greed and death.  We are, however, anything but satisfied.  Let a man ponder this.

All the while, God is.

It is odd to a man that he should consider greater things than what he has.  He has only weeping and anger, frustration and loss.  He has only toil and trouble all his days.  How is it then that he should consider something more?  Let a man ponder this.

All the while, God is.

Man says to himself, “Why am I here?  Why are my days so filled with anxiety?  I no sooner release myself from the jaws of a lion, and the snake bites my heel.  It is senseless to live.  The only pleasure I can find is what I can take.”  So he gives himself with abandon to take all he can.  Let a man ponder this.

All the while, God is.

Let a man ponder that he desires.  Let him wonder of the source.  Why not die and be done with this place?  This world and we are hopeless and void of help.  Indeed, let him consider this quandary.

All the while, God is.

God has spoken us a place to live.  There were two trees in the garden.  Take note that the tree of life was not a consideration of temptation.  It was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that caused the downfall.  And to this tree the woman was drawn.  Let a man ponder this.

All the while, God is.

The Urging

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God urges us from heaven.  He delivered His Holy words to us through His chosen messengers.  Then He delivered His chosen “WORD” wrapped in flesh.  These words urge us to accept the terms of peace from Him.

Men in hell desire to urge their loved ones to accept those terms from God.  Men in heaven desire the same of all men.  And we who serve Him among you here urge you to consider God’s terms for peace with Him.

Forget world peace.  There never will be any among the godless men who rule this world.  Greed inhabits even the fingers of the poor.  Where is the possibility of peace in a world filled with greedy souls?

But there is a peace offered between heaven and any man who will accept the terms.  What are the terms?  God has written them down for every man to read.  And every term has to do with His Holy Son Jesus.

Read them for yourself in the Bible.  Perhaps you can’t read.  Then use the friend who is reading this to you now.

You are being urged to avoid a certain and eternal punishment.  It’s real.  And so are the terms of peace.

I know how unpopular this message is today.  And so do you.  That should set off alarms within you.  Do you really think God allowed us to murder His Son only to let us have our own filthy way forever?  The price to pay for rebellion against God comes closer with every passing second.  Haven’t we wasted enough of them already?

By His Grace.