Truth Flew In


Standing on the balcony, I stood in silence.  Listening to the natural noises, as opposed to the noises of man.

From the trees flew a Blue Jay.  His intent was the railing of the balcony; his perch to search for food on the ground below.

I didn’t move as I watched his intent.  His target was 15 feet from my body.  But having stood still, he didn’t perceive me.

He came within inches of setting his feet on his intent.  But just as he neared landing, he perceived a man standing there.

With a tiny squeak, he turned as though he had bounced off the railing, and bolted back to the trees.  Safety is his primary concern, eating is his second.

“Look at him with understanding.”  So my soul whispers to my heart.  See how quick he is to turn from his desire at the slightest provocation against his safety.

Does man do these things?  Doesn’t man head into his desire without consideration for safety?  Look how we run headlong into destruction without the slightest perception of danger.

Where we go matters.  What we choose to do matters.  Who we desire to become matters.  Freely God gives wisdom.  Who, among men, is willing to take his warnings and freedom?

22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”  (Luke 13)

To Have, or Not to Have


It is far better to agree with the Holy Lord, than to be able to raise the dead.  It is far better to die of starvation, if that is His will for you, than to be able to make a banquet appear from nowhere.

It is far better to live in isolation and abandoned by every man, then to distort the Gospel and make it say things for the sake of their itchy ears.  It is better to be crucified for the Holy Name of Jesus the Christ of God, than to be loved by every man, woman and child who ever lived.

The Living God will support the one who agrees with his Holy Son.  But the one who desires appreciation from man, will find himself starkly alone.  It is immeasurably better to agree with the Living God, than to have the smallest of desire granted.

“If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”  Miracles do not provide the willing soul that God desires.  Instead, God is looking for those who will love him regardless what comes.  Isn’t that why he loves his Holy Son so dearly?

By His Grace

Holy Violence


The Gospel of Christ Jesus cannot be sweet, unless it has been allowed to be violent.  The pride of man must be shattered.  Humiliation of our wickedness must be endured.  Our wickedness must be exposed.  And Truth must be exalted.

The Righteousness of God is firm and will cut through the things of men with eternal violence.  Those who can say, with great asuredness, that the Gospel is sweet, have stood up before the Most High God that He may cut them to shreds.

Those who live forever in the Kingdom of the Most High God’s Christ must be purified.  The wickedness and pride of man is pleasurable to him.  But God demands purity righteousness and holiness.  Nothing wicked will never enter God’s presence.

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11: 12)

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” (Revelation 7)

We are all forced to answer a question.  Has the Gospel of Christ Jesus become sweet to us?  And another, as God’s righteousness become peace to us?

By His Grace

Christianity Demands a Choosing


In everything our God told us, it is our joy to suffer for him.  As he was cast out, so will his disciples be, simply because he spoke what is true.  As we speak what is true, they will treat us like they treated him.

Everything he taught (and by the Holy Spirit of God within us, he still teaches) contains the element of extreme choice.  The teachings of Jesus do not offer mediocrity as an option.  The best examples of this can be found in Matthew chapter 25, and Revelation 3.

Matthew 25 tells us what became of the wicked and lazy servant.  Revelation 3 tells us what became of the Church of Laodicea. 

The world describes joy as happiness, peace, and pleasant prosperity; “Let’s all just get along”.  Christ Jesus describes his disciple’s joy as having the honor to suffer in His Holy name. 

Our joy is hidden in his promise.  The Christian’s joy is not revealed to him as the world defines joy.  For now we die.  But his promise is the eternal joy of eternal life.

As we openly associate ourselves with him, the world will come and try to take away our toys.  They will try, with everything they have, to destroy our right to speak; to mock a life of holiness.  That’s how they treated him.  He has promised, that is how they will treat his disciples.  For that is how they have treated every godly man.  I promise you in Christ, nothing has changed.

Christianity is divided about their response to this.  Some say, “That’s for the prophets only”.  Others say, “This applies to every Christian.  Everyone has to make up their own mind about this. 

10 “We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. 13 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come”.  (Hebrews 13 New Living Translation)

It is like humanity to choose the easy path.  It is like Christ to choose the path that leads directly to crucifixion.  But let every man make his own choice.  Only let us be sure that every Christian understands these things.  Teach them well, that they may make an intelligent and willful choice.

By His Grace

The Holy Friend or Foe: Time


In the beginning of Creation, God created all that is.  The hands which formed all things belong to the Heavenly Lord of all, Jesus The Christ.

One moment following another, the Lord of All moved to accomplish the Holy, Holy, Holy, Will of the Father of all Life.  Faithfulness and Duty, beyond words to describe, obeyed and accomplished.  Time was invented and produced.  The intention of Eternity has sustained each second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year, decade, and century.  Yet make no mistake, He who has created time will remove it.

This created time has dictated the ways of all men.  With this time, has come choice; the very essence of God’s will to display the heart’s intent of every man.  “Will each heart desire to worship the One who has obeyed and made it?  Or will each heart desire to remain in rebellion?

What do you do with your moments of life?  When sin beckons, do you yield?  When forgiveness and instruction are offered, do you receive?

Time is God’s gift to man.  But it is far too often used to remain in blindness to His Holy, Holy, Holy Will.

They spoke the ultimate wickedness.  They said, “God is dead”!  And oh how welcome were those words to many.  “Finally!   Time belongs to us!  We free all men from obligation to serve out their moments according to the Holy Law of God.  Our mouths have spoken.”  What is the state of affairs for those who spoke such abject folly?  Their precious time has run out.

They will rise up from the dead in great terror.  They will be ushered into the presence of the One they have spurned with such violent words.  The smell of fear will come up from their souls with visible vapor.  The stench of their hatred for Righteousness and Holy intent will cover them as a mist.  And they will perceive their utter destruction.

What are you doing with your moments of time?

Do you seek the face of the Living God?  Or do you continue in your unholy way?  You need make no choice at all.  You are free to reek from the stench of fear on that Holy Day.  But you are invited to encounter the Holy war against the wickedness that lives within you, with binding strength.

You can remain bound to rebellion and unholy blindness.  But you are also invited to be released from your ungodliness.  You are invited to become holy.  Seek out the Gospel of Christ Jesus!  Or die, having lived a useless and unprofitable life.

God can release the humble from their bindings.  He can open their eyes and ears to understanding.  Your very next moment does not have to lead you to eternal regret.

What will you choose?  Choice belongs to the lazy.   Choice belongs to the diligent.  See how you choose, regardless your response to these things.

The Majestic Mystery


From Eternity, he was Faultless.

Restrained in body, just the Same.

And since death had no claim upon him,

He bid it, “Have free reign”.

“IT IS FINISHED!”
——————–
Eternal Majesty, robed in flesh.

The Majesty of God, walked among us.

And as he hung up on the cross,

Majesty was willingly clothed with oblivion.

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.”
———————————–
The Christ of God is risen from the dead!

He is seated forever at the right hand of the Most High God!

Let all the world hear the proclamation!

To those who know:

Do not seal it up!

The Christ is God forever!

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

By His Grace