Today’s Spartans


“The Spartans”, refers to a group of warriors from the Greek city of Sparta.  Their vicious allegiance to their country has remained as near myth status even to this day.

Around the year 900 BC, Sparta decided to make an entire nation of warriors.  They would inspect each baby, as it was born, and decide if it was strong or weak.  If it was found to be weak, the male child was thrown outside the city to die.

If it was found worthy to live, the child was raised up until the age of 7, then it was taken and placed in a school of training.

In the school the child was taught the art of war, of ethics, and the elegance of poetry.  By this Sparta transformed its nation into a fearsome foe.  Even one of the poets of that day took note that, Sparta had dropped its walls of brick and made a wall of men.

Consider how many places the name of Sparta is used in sports.  Yet I contend that sports is not the only place where the Spartan rearing is used.

I have seen toys resembling cell phones and computers that are made for newborn babies.  Before a child can understand, he is introduced to a life of technological advancement.

Now please allow a leap of logic in the progress of this writing.

When a man is born in Christ, he is introduced to the things of heaven before he can understand.  He learns the songs of Christ, the words of Christ, the stories of God in Christ, and the behavior of the family of Christ.

If Sparta is renowned to this day for having created a society of warriors, how much more indelible is the family of God?

From the time of Christ to now, the people of God have been subjected to a myriad of humiliating attacks.  At its inception, Christianity was a bloody spot on earth.

Perhaps you have heard of how the Christians were treated in the first few decades.  They were captured and killed, thrown into the arena with wild beasts who would devour them.  They were ripped apart while alive.  They were fastened to stakes then set on fire.  Or all their possessions were forcibly taken from them.

As history moved on, there were other means the world used to destroy Christianity.  Even so Christianity has survived for over 2000 years ( and vibrantly at that).

The power of God, in His people, will not be subdued.  Yet the world keeps trying.

Look at how you treat your children.  Look at the things you teach them before they are old enough to understand.  Look at how you pull them away from the Holy Name of God before their ears perceive the meaning of your sounds. 

Take a look at how you have been ransacked.  Take a look at how the things of God have been ripped from you in the night.  Go in search your place!  Where is your prayer?  Where are the holy words of God?  Where is the power of the Holy Spirit in your house?  Where is the wisdom of God in your children?  Where is the wisdom of God in your elders?  Where is the fearsome independence borne by trust in God?  Where is your Holy faith?  It’s gone! 

The wisdom of Sparta, to raise child warriors, has not died.  And you citizens of the world are not even aware.  You think it great pleasure to introduce your children to the things that capture your attention.  And so you fortify your nations, States, provinces and cities, against the Holy name of Christ Jesus. 

All the while God selects your corrupted children, without asking permission.  He causes them to be his own.  When you perceive that they have been corrupted by holy things, you cast them away from you that they may die.

You have become valiant warriors.  You have dressed yourself, from infancy, to war against the things of God.  You are so indoctrinated with the things of this world, that you think it odd that anyone should stand against your unholy ways.

Yet all men will be brought before the judgment of the Holy God.  As Sparta was eventually thrown down, so will be the training of this world. 

Who has understanding to perceive these things?  Who even desires to understand?  This message is sent out among the people who do not care.  Their eyes and ears are drowned in the work of their own hands.  They are immersed in what is wicked and cannot see.  They have made an entire society of a people who war against God.

Yet if a man perceives what is written here, let him humble himself before God, that his understanding may be clearer.  The salvation of Christ is far more powerful than all the illusions of this world.

By His Grace

I Don’t Understand Why


Why do your people love good works, yet turn away from the man who gives You open praise.  I don’t understand why the public proclamation of the Holy One’s name is such an abomination to the ears of Your people.

I don’t understand why it is apparently an impropriety  for a man to give praise to God in public.  Even if it is spoken in the hearing of those who say they believe, it is not received with mutual joy.  I don’t understand, Sovereign God.

But Who am I to voice my lack of knowledge?  You have spoken of this profusely.  Why do the people who call themselves “of God”, refuse the joyful words you send?  As they have killed your prophets, and stoned those you have sent to them, so they ignore the praise you deserve.

Is this too harsh a conclusion for me to own?  I do not intend to judge, I intend to understand.  Therefore let my assessment be heard in the Holy Court of my God

Is it because religion has taken the place of faith?  Is this why they respond to the joy of Your Holy Spirit as if the man is insane?  “Are you such a fool as to not realize it is inappropriate to speak of God here?  Such lips are exclusively used in church.  Speak here with your “outside” voice.”

I find it impossible to understand.  And so I present my consternation to You, Great Sovereign God of eternity.

By His Grace

This Very Day


You will hate him as you hate him now.  Or you will love him as he causes you to understand.  You will see His Holy ways and hate his final judgment.  Or you will be wise, and take to yourself that which is offered this very day.

As you spit on what is righteous today, so you will spit at his Glorious Face as he stands to judge you for your evil ways.  Gnash your teeth and plot, but you will be destroyed in your way.

Those who humble themselves and ask, will receive the grace and mercy of God; even the sacrifice of Christ Jesus the Holy One.  They will learn his ways and come to love him even now.

They will receive mercy on that great and horrible day; those who let His Holy Wisdom cover them.  But those who remain in death, even as they live, will die the death of condemnation.

There are no clearer ways to place before you the door of salvation.  Despise as you will, the Lord will stand and judge with horrifying swiftness.  You will not stand before him to debate your case.  You will stand to receive his judgment!

Even today, he takes charge of that which is his.  His holy eyes cause a difference between righteousness and wickedness.  He leads away those who are his.  But those who despise him remain in death.

Let wisdom fill your eyes!  Perceive His glory as it is displayed in all creation.  Look, and wisdom will give you understanding.

God does not demand too much.  He grants to those who seek; that they may find.

For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”  And they will stand empty of gifts to the Holy One of God.

Those who hate his holy way now, will surely hate his holy way before his glorious face.  Be warned, be wise and live, lest you despise yourself when you stand before him!

My sinful nature


I would hate to be my sinful nature.  Nothing he desires is right, so he is always wrong.  And if by chance he comes close to something decent, he cannot be praised.  For He desires to spend it on his pleasure.

The only reason patience covers him is to wait slyly for an opportunity.  So even while he appears somewhat godly, an animal lurks behind his skin.

He is always in turmoil.  Not knowing his left hand from his right, he does not know what to do next.  Yet pride will not let him admit his weakness.  And if given a choice between one or another, he will always choose the wrong.

The only time he is right, by any sense at all, is when he is heard fretting over his imminent death.  But even in this he has no understanding.  He must die so that the one he carries will live.

If he is tired and hears his soul speak of taking time for prayer, he begins a multitude of complaint and reasoning.  It is not that he hates God.  He simply loves himself.  God is no more a consideration to him than the rings on his fingers.

Yes, I would hate to be my sinful nature.  But isn’t that what I was before the Lord Jesus released me from his shackles?  Yes!  The only value I had before the Lord Jesus released me was to be fuel for the fire of hell.

Praise be to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  For we who are learning to love the Lord are free from the law of sin and death.  Grace has come but the sinful nature hasn’t even noticed.

By His Grace