Tag Archives: holy

THE Persistent Question

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A persistent question begs entrance to my soul.

Light is the knock of its perfect fingers on my door.

Yet knock it does, and this all day and night.

Answer, O soul of mine!  Answer that your choice might be known.

 

Share with me, the question.

Share an answer according to proof.

Question yourself, as He demands do I.

Let us face eternity, from the wilderness side of the River.

 

Does our faith produce religion or transformation?  Given the question, we all know the right answer.

If all we want is to be acceptable or elevated among men, then let our faith produce a religious man.

But if we have set our mind toward the love of the Father, then let us endure toward transformation.

 

Millions make no choice at all, in regard to either of these.  They ignore the question completely.

They choose, instead, to embrace the things of this world.  To whatever degree their conscience allows.

They make no choice at all.

As if a shadow in the dark, they meld into the variety of ways the world offers each man to live.

But those who have heard of Christian faith make a choice.

 

If Christ Jesus’ death and resurrection mean only religion to a man, that is what he will become.

If He suffered and was Glorified for the sake of transforming all men into His Holy likeness,

Then let the change begin.

If the latter is our choice, then where is the proof?  Are we but misguided religious Christians?

Do we think we will fool the Living God, forever?   He who loves the world, stands at odds with Heaven.

 

This world, and everything in it, will pass away with a fiery blast.  Nothing will remain but what the man has become.

What will we say?  What will we testify; by virtue of what we have become?  Where will we stand?

For, once this world is gone, all that remains will be Holy, Holy, and Holy.

Will we find that we have endured to the death of desire, or succumb to the great lies of this world?

What Manner of Message?

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There is a difference between the experience of a man, in Christ Jesus, and the messages He determines to have us endure.

My soul wakes to view His appearance within me.  Then, there is that personal interpretation of His intent.

Which is more important?  Which finds words in this beautiful place of testimony He has allowed me to “own”.

Who can say?  Who, even of those who write, can say which finds a place to rest before men?

For the Lord is Holy in all He is.  What is given in one manner finds a response with variety.

He accomplishes that which He determined.

 

 

The Way HOME

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Open, wanton, sick and twisted;

Is the box of flesh your soul resides in.

Closed, Holy, Life and straight;

Is the path of life we’re given from Him.

Say you are able to find the way Home,

And your tongue will make you a liar.

The only way Home to a wayward soul,

Is consumed by The Holy Fire.

How can the flesh endure His great thrashing?

What strength does it have to remain?

The soul either emulates all that is passing,

Or submits itself to be tamed.

By His Grace

Every Effort

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Most don’t care one whit about the gospel or Christ Jesus in His Kingdom.

Some care and only do The Father’s Will a little bit.

Others care and strive to do, but find themselves woefully lacking; falling back and rising up and falling back again. 

Very few find legs of strength and stamina to boot. 

Fewest of hearts are dedicated 100% the holy Lord of life.

This is the way it is and it evidently can’t be changed.  The human heart is deceitful above all things.  And many are held captive to it.

But the captivity of the masses does not affect the Lord’s promises.  This is the day of calling and of holy work.  And the day approaches very quickly when the door will be shut and there will be no more holy work for men to do.

Perhaps today the sky will rip, and the Majestic Holy Lord Jesus will appear with his Holy Angels, to gather His elect from the four corners of the earth.  Perhaps before you finish reading, this he will appear.

As quickly as he comes, it will be over.  And the vast uproar of sin on earth will begin.  Those who were close to entering, but could not, will find themselves in utter destraction.  They will know what has happened.  And a sadness like they have never felt before will consume them.  To their knees they will fall with great tears and begging.  But to no avail. 

The night will come, the day will come, and then the night again.  And so for weeks and months and years, their plight only dissipates by virtue of their weak memory.  And the distractions caused by threats of death and injury will consume them.

Gone is the semblance of peace.   Chaos, murder, rape, theft, intrigued, slander, war, and violence of every kind will become the rule of this place.  Death and sickness beyond measure is about to let loose its terror on men.  And those who were nearly there to enter, will know.

Gone is the restraint of righteous men in Christ.  Gone is the voice of godly reason.  Gone is effective prayer.  Gone is the Holy Spirit, which has directed His holy people to do the good works of God.

And those who nearly entered, but did not, will know.  But to what value?  Will their knowing set them apart from those murderous many?  Will it stop their children from being abused?  Will it guard over their possessions?  What a useless and painful memory this “knowing” will be.

24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 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.’“ (Luke 13)

What the Lord has spoken will come to pass.  Will it come to pass on you?  Will it come to pass on me?  Have we made every effort?  It is impossible for God to lie.  Where is the measure of godly fear in our hearts?

Today is the day of mercy.  Today is the day of grace.  When the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, both of these will cease forever.

By His Grace

Perhaps

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“We interrupt this presentation of the NFL for a special message from Billy Graham.”  And for the next hour and 12 minutes, Mr Graham gives us the Gospel.  How might such a thing be received?

A godless man will hate the living God.  A godless man is a tyrant over obedience.  He will not allow his heart and mind and soul to do anything for the Living God.  He is like a violent and jealous husband.  If he suspects that his heart desires what is good, he beats it cruelly, and treats it to all manner of vile behavior.  “Back to pleasure with you!  You will not do what is right!”

So the godless treat themselves.  Pleasure is their king, and they will not obey what is holy. 

They are like the young man whose eyes are full of insolence as he works at his job.  Though his boss says nothing, it is easily seen the boy does not love his work.  Trouble will surely come, for the child hates his place.

But there are some who will die watching football this season.  For them the interruption is not a mere hour and 12 minutes.  Eternity will break on them in less than a heartbeat.  And they will find their pleasure rudely interrupted.  They will finally obey God; their soul will remain in hell.

Not only will this happen to some who watch football.  It will happen in the sleep of some.  It will happen while they do their work.  It will happen to a few women as they go out to shop.  Death will appear without notice, claiming their soul for God.  The shock of death belongs to those who have not prepared their soul.

God is sovereign, he answers to no one.  But look how men treat him; as if they are sovereign and have a right to do as they please.  But God has already determined the end of a man’s life.  Go ahead and make three guesses, who wins, God or man?

You insolent masses to hate the Holy God who gave you life.  Pleasure is your god.  Rebelion is your worship.  As you despise going to work on Monday, for it interrupts your pleasure, so you despise obedience to the Holy Living God.  But you are the ones who will suffer.

During times of trouble you call on God.  Why should he listen to your words, you have not listened to his.  You act like you pray for a touchdown.  Expecting God to bless your desires.  How utterly void of understanding.  How fully insolent and arrogant!

“I am not a religious man.”‘  You say.  I am not a Jew, nor a priest, nor a Christian.  God does not expect of me the things he expects of you.” 

Your heart thinks in foolishness.  God has made every man.  And will surely call every man to account for the same Holy standards.  And you know this!  Look how you blame a label instead of taking responsibility for your own life!

You have already rehearsed your excuses.  But not a single one will do, when you lose your perceived sovereignty.  It will happen faster than you can think.  And eternity will be more sure than what you have now.

But do go and fill yourself with pleasure.  By every means, fill up the judgment against you.  To rebuke a foolish man is to incur wrath.  You do not listen to the Sovereign God, why should you listen to me?

When’s the last time you even looked at a Bible?  Have you ever spent time on your knees in prayer?  Have you used the name of God’s Holy Son in anything other than profanity?  Have you even considered the end of your days?

“Prop me up beside the jukebox when I die.”  This is the stupidity of the folly of man.  You will not be here for your corpse to enjoy.  Yet you think there is something to be gained by the life you lead now.

Since before you were born men have been warning of what is to come.  And even while you slept this morning, preparing for your hated Monday, the Holy Lord allowed me to write this message to you.

What use is it to say more?  I do not expect a single one of you to even find this message, let alone read it and understand.  Perhaps the Sovereign God will have mercy on you and show you this place.  Perhaps he will have mercy on you and strike you with a holy fear.

               Perhaps.

By His Grace

Similarity of Directions

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A sign near Chillicothe Ohio reads, “For outdoor drama stay right“.  Evidently there’s an outdoor theater somewhere near.

When I saw the sign, I had to laugh out loud.  I wonder if the signmaker realized what he was making, and just how true those words are. 

For in Christianity, everything is outside.  It was begun, remains, and will finish, outside the city of man’s intent.  All Christians are called to live outside the social norms of the world.  And the laws the Lord Jesus teaches us are completely outside the attainment of man; they are Holy, Holy, Holy.  Without him we can do nothing.

And if you want drama, become a Christian.  You will be talked about behind your back, without cause or reason.  You will have difficulty with your relatives and “friends”, for they know the person you used to be.  You will be called, in one way or another, an enemy of the state.  And the war that will rage in your soul is intense.

Christianity is completely dependent on he who is perfectly Right.  Staying wrapped up in his righteousness is essential.  And living rightly is our spiritual worship; our rightful way of saying thank you, for the Living Promise of eternal life.

Since I mentioned the theatre here, it’s only fair to give them a plug.  I don’t have any idea about the quality of their plays.  But I sure got a kick out of their sign.  Thanks folks!

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By His Grace