The pit


I saw something this morning that I will not have words to describe.  What I saw is what I am.  What I saw is the sinful nature.  What I saw is what all men are without the Lord’s mercy.

My first coherent thought, upon waking, was of how wicked and ugly I have been.  How solidly hard my heart has been.  I am not saying it is so now, for if it was I would not have seen what I saw.  I saw the man I was. 

I saw how hatred consumed me.  I saw how I trusted the wisdom of men and found myself utterly wicked.   In my youth I looked to man that I may grow and become a man.  But they could teach me nothing more than what I already had as a fool of a boy.

They said, “The beauty of this world is worthy of praise and desire.  And the best beauty of this world is woman.”  They told me to gain what is best and beautiful.  The best however could only be gained in my weak, futile, wicked and twisted mind.  But that to them was sufficient wisdom.

All the while they praised this form of wisdom, they despised me for holding it.  And this was the beginning of true wisdom for me.  As in all other things, men will say they love you only to show they hate you thoroughly.  So with their mouth and their media they show you beautiful things only to despise you inwardly.  My friend, they don’t even want your money.  They only hate and despise anything that is not them.

There is no beauty in this wicked place of testing.  Those who put their hope in this place, and the things that belong to it, will find themselves empty.  They will think they have.  They will think they own what is good.  But when the understanding of God comes near they will see themselves are.

This is what I saw when I woke this morning.  I was caused to look inward on my body and see a dark cave; seeping with every wicked thing.  Hopelessly uncleanable.  No sooner is the nature of man cleaned but it seeps more putrid wickedness.

The man who thinks he can save himself is unspeakably fooled by a lie.  With what will you reach to approach the Most High God?  What righteousness will you present that is acceptable to the Holy One?  How can what is unclean present anything clean?  What complete folly resides in the heart of man!  And folly above folly, man thinks he is clean!

It is impossible for me to paint a more clear picture.  I am blessed to have seen it, despite the tears.  It is the mercy of God to have shown me now.  It is his tender compassion to teach what is true.

God alone is good.  He has sent His Holy One for our redemption.  Yet he was not sent simply for the sake of man.  He was sent that God may glorify him.  And those his blood redeems are a gift to his eternal and Holy kingdom.

Jesus appear before us to testify of his Father.  He came among the wicked to testify of righteousness.  He alone is what is good for us, for, without him, there is no good within us. 

The man who would balk at this is full of wicked hatred.  He does not perceive the stench of his way.  And unless a man appeals to God in the name of Christ Jesus, he will find no welcome in the kingdom of heaven.

Utterly and eternally the wickedness of man will be sealed on the day of judgement.  Those who trust in the wisdom of man will find themselves horribly crushed.

Perhaps you think I am judging you.  With my confession of my own wickedness, how could that possibly be?  I testify of Jesus.  I testify to the righteousness of God the Father.  And I testify, in truth, to the wickedness of man.

Those who think this message is a judgment against them, are full of vile things.  If there is wisdom within you to be had, consider how you hate this message.  Let that be a sign to you of what is to come.  If you cannot stand the message of a man, with these words, how will you endure them when they come from the lips of the Holy One?

I place these words here on WordPress.  I have thought them through and have been is careful as I can.  If I were to speak with you face to face I may well have missed many things.  But here it is written that all men may I understand.

How I desire that this message reach millions.  But I am not fooled by the fact of obscurity.  There are thousands of others who write all manner of things all day long.  And though this post is priceless, it will sit in the garbage heap of words.

Words gather together in this world as if a garbage dump.  They write about fashion, social grace, the beauties (so-called) of this world.  Yet a few testify of what is true.

These truth writers deposit gems in the dung heap of this world’s wisdom; priceless treasures to be found by those who will be willing to sort through the trash.  I place this gem among them.  May God have mercy to direct your fingers as you tear through the stinking garbage to find something beautiful.

Please come eat and taste that the Lord is good.  Only then will you understand how sour and putrid are the things you eat now.  Your tongue is accustomed to waste.  You read what is rotten and the kid sweet. All the while the taste of truth your sour and unpalatable.  You die even as you live.  But God is willing to give you life.

Waiting to receive your angel wings when you die is part of the folly of this world’s greatest lie.  The Lord Jesus has come and sacrificed so that we may have the kingdom of heaven here.  We need not wait. 

He will purify the putrid place of your soul.  He will teach you to love what is good.  He will teach you to abhor the flesh and the wisdom of man.  He will teach you  to detest yourself.  (So much for the teachings of self-esteem) He will teach you to become and overcome.  He will stand with you, within you, and before you, as you are forcibly presented to the Most High God.

I am not permitted to say more.  For even when Jesus was among us, he spoke to the people in parables.  So I have done here. 

Dear friend, if you understood the things of God, while you live in wickedness, you would die.  You cannot fulfill the demands of the Holy Lord of life by yourself.  The sinful nature is at war with God.  And if you will be saved you must be released from your own chains.

Therefore the things of Heaven are spoken in parables to those who do not believe.  Man is not given words that are true and pure.  We are allowed only to speak to men from a man.  And you will find that as you believe, it is revealed to you.  The fullness of wisdom is reserved for the place of fullness.

By His grace I have spoken.  By His grace alone, you will hear.  May the will of God be done forever!  Only God alone is true. Amen.

The War of Necessities


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!


image

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. 

On your own


What is the difference between the tears a believer in Christ and the godless?  What is the difference when a believer in Christ is afraid or the godless know fear?  What difference is there when the child of a believer dies or the child of a godless man dies?

If you would cry or be afraid or lose your loved ones, why would you try to do so on your own? 

You will cry.  You will be afraid.  You will lose your children to death.  You yourself will inhabit a life of hopelessness.  So what is the difference whether you inhabit that life alone or with the living God’s help?

Do you know what keeps you from him?  Do you know why you reject the gospel?  It’s not because God is invisible.  And it’s not because this world is so wicked.  You simply reject the gospel because you are simply proud.

You have to face life alone.  You exercise faith every moment of every day.  Why not put your faith in Jesus?  Why not allow humility to take the place of pride?

My heart aches for you.  I know what is coming upon the world.  You will cry.  You will be horribly afraid.  You will lose your children and your loved ones.  Some will starve to death.  Others will die from hideous disease.  Earthquakes and Wars will kill and maim at random. 

Why would you face this?  Most men and women will curse God to his face.  Why would you be one of them?  Humble yourself.  Why is this too much to ask?

By His Grace

The Slough of Dispond


Slough

Image by born1945 via Flickr

The Lord has given me many words to the unsaved and the proud.  Yet there are many who will take heed from those words.  I write this post for them.

As we encounter the Truth of God regarding our sins, we often fall into a state of disrepair and despair (I take note of the similarity of those two words).   It will be expected that receiving Jesus’ gift of Life is going to become a heavy burden at first.  More weight will be pressed upon the one who receives His guidance.  For all we have done will surface for us to examine.  This is expected and will surely surprise the one who thought “The Way” would be an easy saunter, all the way to the Holy Throne of God.  “The Way” is both the hardest way for a man or woman to live and the easiest.  John Bunyan wrote of this in his book “Pilgrim’s Progress”.

This miry Slough is such a place as cannot be mended; it is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction for sin doth continually run, and therefore is it called the Slough of Despond: for still as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there ariseth in his soul many fears, and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place; and this is the reason of the badness of this ground.”

I do not want anyone to fall into hopelessness because of the burdens that will press upon them.  Keep your hope in Jesus and believe.  This place of horror will not last forever.  Yet it is a necessary part of accepting Jesus.

By His Grace.

Prepare! Prepare! Prepare!


Death, being our flesh’s last doorway, is a curious problem. Billions have entered it’s threshold and never had the slightest inkling it was near. Yet once through, we will all find the astonishing scream of TRUTH.

One scream will be that of perfect people pleading for a “second chance”. Their pleas will not receive their desire. What was done is absolute, complete, foreboding, and eternal. They now reap the reward which they proved they desired by the life they led and who they worshiped. Their time of testing is finished and they will be granted their desire to be rid of God’s presence.

The other scream heard will be that of extreme joy and amazing release. Those who put their trust in Christ Jesus will reap His bountiful reward. We speak little of the great rewards, and I think we often suffer for this loss of words. Yet, even Jesus, made rewards of less interest than the warnings of hell. One thing we do know, His reward is in His hand. And we know that He will deliver a bounty unto those who love Him which will over flow our greatest hope.

Prepare!  Prepare!  Prepare, for the doorway of death approaches for us all!  You are young, prepare.  You are busy, prepare.  You are old, prepare!  Do not say to yourself, “I’m tired of hearing all this noise about hell and such”.  The moment you become bored with eternity and the promises of Good and Bad, you sell yourself out to the Bad.  As a fellow runner has said, “The storm is approaching “, with lightning speed.

By His Grace.