Depravity Without End


All men are the same.  Though life is found in billions of variations, at their base, all men are the same.

I could point to our need to be loved.  But there are men who do that in a seducing manner already.  They use our need to be loved, as a tool to get what they want.  From soap, to sex and to acceptance, there are men who manipulate that necessity.

I could point to our physical frailty.  But there are men who exploit every facet of the human body.  From ailments to physical beauty, men exploit others for the sake of gain. 

I could point to our mutual end; that inevitable place of death.  But even there: inheritances are fought over.  The plot of land is sold at a high price.  The casket is ornate and costly.

But I will speak of our depravity.  How worthless men are for doing what is purely good.  And how completely unable we are to change our situation.

Let us lay aside our former sins, and we would still find ourselves unable to do what is pure and good.  We are hopelessly depraved.  The judgment of God waits to receive us.  Yet who among us has considered the severity of our plight?

Men are careful to look for the singular things they do, which will draw judgment upon them.  With meticulous mind they strive to avoid the obvious.  Murder, adultery, hatred, discord, jealousy, lies, and the like, are the focus of their eyes, as they peruse their situation. 

They look for the obvious, while they miss the subtle.  But any sin, no matter how small, can throw us into condemnation on the day of judgement.

With diligence, men strive to avoid these obvious pitfalls.  But the size of such sins masks the horror beneath.

“I have not murdered.  Therefore I am better than my brother who has.”  “I have remained faithful to my wife (or husband).  Therefore I am a righteous man (or woman).”  “I am patient and compassionate to those of lesser value.  Therefore I am merciful even as God is merciful.”

With endless proclamation, men justify their life.  It is as if they rehearse what they will say to the living God on that day.  And they prepare by comparing!  Oh how men love to compare!

Billions of dollars are earned for the sake of man’s valued comparisons.  One is left to eat from the trash bin, because he was found unable to compete.  He was compared by society, to what is held in high esteem, and thrown to the wolves for his lack.

Another counts himself beautiful and well endowed.  He competes with great skill.  Comparatively speaking his body is beautiful.  And comparatively speaking, his mind works well, to gain what he desires.  He is the one who is honored among men.  For he is compared to the man who eats from the trash bin.  And the beautiful one is exalted to the highest places.

For our pride, we will be judged, by he who is perfectly humble.  For the sake of our greedy desire to gain, we will be judged by he who has given everything he has.  For the sake of our love of division, we will be judged by he who is the same yesterday today and forever.

If you have thought that you can stand before God on the Judgment Day, it would be good for you to rethink your position.  The Holy One has spoken that no man will stand on his own.  God has proclaimed that every man is a liar.  And the smallest infraction against his Holy Law, is deserving of only death.

Men conveniently overlook their own faults.  With desperation, they search themselves for what might be considered good.  Though what good they find is small and rare, they hold to these things with a deadly grasp.  But God sees the entire man.

At whatever place you think highly of yourself, you are severely mistaken.  You have compared yourself to others.  This is the source of your confidence.  But men fail to compare themselves to the Living God or his Holy Son Christ Jesus.

If you are still willing to listen I will tell you a truth of hope.  All need not be lost!  A way has been made for every man to stand strong on the Day of Judgment.

Your complete lack of what is good has been seen by the Holy Lord.  His Holy and Faithful Son’s sacrifice can cover you with confidence on that day.  But do not think you will wait for his covering when you appear before the Most High God.

There is holy work to do within you even now.  To appear with confidence before the Most High God requires a certain garb.  A man must be dressed in righteousness, holiness, a distinct lack of willingness to compare, and a vibrant willingness to forgive the sins of others.

As I pointed out before we are not capable of such attire.  Man, if left by himself, can only become dressed in everything that is wicked.  The very place we live demands it. 

Accept the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.  Put down your own perceived righteous behavior.  Learn from the Lord what he expects from all men.  Humble yourself before the Living God.  Pray, and seek His face.  Present yourself to him as you are.

If you wait until the day of judgement you will be sorely hateful of yourself.  You will not be welcomed with open arms.  You will be cast away without the slightest regret.  On that day, no amount of tears or violent anger will change his mind.

There is a transformation that needs to take place here.  We must learn to submit to his leadership.  We must become worthy. 

Without him we can do nothing.  But with him we can overcome the selfish desires of man.  By the work of God within us, we can become like the Lord Jesus.  But this requires a humble submission from us.

There are millions who think they have a free pass to eternal life.  By speaking of few words, they count Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  But there is no change in their heart, mind or desire.  These, very many people, will be horribly surprised.  For man is condemned before he appears before God!

The only ones worthy of eternal life are those who do the will of the Sovereign God in Christ Jesus. 

If you do not fully understand what I have said here, do not bother to ask me to explain.  The Bible is freely available in almost every place of the world.  And prayer is only a knee bend away. 

If you are looking for a man to tell you what to do, you are looking in vain.  Only Jesus the Christ is able to save your soul.  We can point you to him, but we have no strength to save you. 

And if you look to men to help you are, by comparison, ignoring the command of God. 

You will stand all alone and naked on that day.  The teaching of no man can clothe you sufficiently.  To put it in the way of the Bible, you need to be washed and clothed in the Holy Blood of Jesus.

By His Grace

En Route!


The Holy Judgment of God in en route.  Even now, the days mark their path; destined to end standing before the Most High God.  All men are carried, regardless their knowledge, by the progress of every day.  The flesh does not perceive it.  But the soul knows.

 

Men dress the flesh in pleasure and flash to the eye.  Music is made to glorify what is rotting.  Politics adorn the work of man’s hands.  Men clamor to build; they plot through the night to accomplish come the morning.   All the while, the judgment of God is approaching with deft and timely feet.

 

What needs to be done to wake the sleeping?  I cannot ask what you would have from us that you might consider this.  Loving sleep, men go about their days in oblivious fashion.  They crave what they can have today.  They give no consideration to what God demands of all.

 

So I ask the Lord, “What can I do that will wake the dead who, even now, walk in blindness”.

 

What, indeed, can be done?  Shall the Lord appear again to testify in flesh?  Shall he be crucified again?  Was it not enough that such has been done among us?

 

Is the Gospel hidden?  Is the testimony of God’s people shut up in a vault?  Is the message of all creation silent?  Is not desire among them, though they now use it to pervert themselves?

 

Though they do not perceive, God remains.  Truth remains in Him from everlasting to everlasting.  Both promises of condemnation and salvation remain prominent before Him, and will not relent.  Let them seek.  Let them ask.  Let them consider these things.

 

He has testified to the things of eternity.  He has left Holy blood to mingle with the dust under our feet.  Over the centuries the wind has blown the dust about.  Who’s feet are blameless?  Who has not stepped on the blood of Christ?

 

The Holy Wind of God is spread abroad.  The strength of God among us searches hearts and minds, and does not sleep.  Who will render to God what is God’s?  Who will bow now; lest they are forced to their knees on that Day?

 

The Judgement is coming quickly, steadily, and promised by He who can not lie.  Who will take heed and respond with speed?  Who will willingly enter the Holy Fire that is God, that his sins may find the mercy He offers?  Who will die today unreconciled?

Sickening tendencies


From the perspective of Christ within me I look out on the world in which I live.  The name of our God is rarely heard in praise.  No, they use him to curse.  Among the mass of men Jesus is used in every way but Holy.  They call on him in times of trouble, but when they get their way he becomes forgotten.

They eat to their pleasure without thought of its source or thanks.  They advertise, without ceasing, the glory of man.  The news never carries any message from God’s Word.  He is not news.  His word does not sell well.  So they relegate all that is God to fully unimportant.  The very One who made us and sustains us all has become fully unimportant.  And they think this is acceptable.

If they bow down to worship, it is in a place where such activity is socially acceptable.  Therefore their worship verges on useless.  Among them no one asks, “Why do we bother to do this if we are not sincere.”  All the while, the tender Lord pricks their conscience in this regard.

If man understands anything about God he keeps it to himself for fear of rejection.  What possible reception can they expect when they appear before the Most High God?  They will surely receive what is do them in full!

Let us, who are bought by his blood, refine our will to serve the Holy Lord Jesus Christ.  Let us be the inverse of the world.  May God become everything important.  May our bowing before him be an extension of our life before him.  May our worship and life be a holy fire.  May we speak and act of him without cost to those who hear and see.

There is a sickening in me to witness these things in the world.  I am only man, and so I cannot see as God sees.  If this is unpalatable to me what is it to God?  For I understand the gospel in as far as he has taught.  But the Lord Jesus IS the gospel!  How does the rebellion of this world appear before his holy throne even now?

By His Grace