Tag Archives: judgment

Self Righteous Trap

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Two scriptures:

 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”   “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.    Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”   “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.

And the other scripture:

“. . . Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”

How can men know truth when it is God Himself who has set the limit of man’s understanding?  His purpose in this is that man might consider his limitations and seek the One who has no limit.  So many I’ve seen speak of how they are working toward eternity trying to do good.  And how many have I confronted with the fact that It’s Jesus who will be glorified, not man?  Yet what is their reply?  “Well, what you say is good.  But I’ll take my chances.  Thanks.” 

What is it with human pride?  How curious that even when presented with hell people won’t let go of their own “righteousness”.  It’s kind of like the trap set for monkeys.  A cage or container is set up with an inticing bait inside.  The slats or hole will allow a monkey to reach the hand in and grab the stick.  But they can’t bring a closed fist back out.  They will scream and dance around when approached for harvest.  But they won’t let go.  Death is the next experience these monkeys deal with.  How it will be on that day when we are presented with God’s plan of salvation, Jesus’ sacrifice.  Billions will stand there and expect to be received because they were such good people.  But billions will be horribly saddened when they are shown their selfish intentions.

Accept Jesus’ sacrifice and stop relying on your own ability to please God. 

By His Grace.

Scarlet is the Color of Extreme Sin.

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I posted a passage from Isaiah this morning regarding the nature of God’s expectations for men.  In the passage, God speaks of our sins.  He says, “Though your sins are as scarlet . . . “.  So why is God referring to extreme sins as a deep shade of red?

We think of good and bad in shades of light.  Horrible is marked by utter darkness; absolutely no light.  And Purity is marked by light; a great brilliance.  So why is God referring to extreme sin as a deep shade of red?

I thought, “Perhaps I don’t even know what scarlet is”.  So I did a google search for the color.  Then I went to image search to find the color depicted.  Ya know what popped up?  Porn.  “Oh!”  “Now I remember the ‘scarlet letter’ given to prostitutes and the sexually immoral.”  “Oh!”  “Now I remember how God often refers to His people as prostitutes; those who sell what is good for what is evil.  Oh.

In God’s eyes we are not shades of black and white.  We are labeled, either as those who chase after the things of the flesh, or those who chase after the things of God.  Which are you?  Which am I? 

By His Grace.

Who Are We?

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“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
   says the LORD.

This statement comes from the first chapter of Isaiah.  God is speaking of how His people have fallen.  And He speaks to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (that would be all people).  What are we that God would say to us, “Come now, let us settle the matter”?  Such a statement is not made to a chair.  We don’t speak like that to anything that cannot respond through free will.  We speak like that to each other, don’t we?  We have a demand that’s not being met by someone who is able to meet the demand but refuses to do so.  Who are we that God should have such expectations? 

We have heard that we are so limited, small, vulnerable, and victimized.  But that statement is not addressed as though we have no choice but to remain as we are.  It speaks of ability not limitation.  What will be the judgment of such a people who refuse to learn of what is holy and good?  If God sees us as able, then His judgment of us will be wrapped around that concept.  “You were able to obey me because I gave you all you needed to learn this obedience”.  Perhaps that is going to be one of the phrases heard by the rebellious.

Consider, people, consider Him!  It will not be long before you stand in His Glorious and Holy presence to receive the just reward of your life.  I tell you a truth: It will be awesome to behold Him.  And it will not go well for the vast majority of mankind.  The rest of that chapter speaks of His expectations and His ability to restore those who desire to rid themselves of rebellion. 

This post is filled, to overflowing, with promise and warning.  I could have just pointed to the scripture and expected you to go read it.  But understanding the times, I know there are very few who read the Bible anymore.  Perhaps you think I speak with too much authority on this matter.  My words are light and carry the weight of a man.  But the words of God are filled with extreme authority.  Regardless what you think, you will die a hideous death of guilt at the hands of the Almighty God if you don’t heed what is posted here. 

Don’t think to yourself that refusing to read the Bible will excuse you from judgment.  “I didn’t know what you said in that book.  So I’m not to be held responsible for what you said there”.  Don’t allow the foolishness of your sinful mind to lure you into death.  You do know what He wants.  And you will be held accountable for all His Holiness on that day.

By His Grace.

Things Held Secret.

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Stories, movies, rumors, whispers, guessing, and foolishness, all surround God’s will.  Man seeks to know Him and there are surprisingly few who learn to know Him.  Yet His ways and will are plain to all men. 

A whole lot of speculation has gathered together in this age.  People making statements about some “secret” they’ve learned.  They write books and make lots of money by peddling their “secret”.  Yet the attributes of God remain open for all who would earnestly seek Him. 

I stepped out to start my day with prayer.  I looked at the bright stars then caught myself.  The fascination with the things created began to capture my attention as I prayed.  But it’s not in those things we see that we find God.  So much for the naturalists approach to Holiness.  I turned my attention to that place in me where I am allowed to cross infinity to meet Him at His Holy Throne. 

Here, we struggle with the blindness God has ordained for man.  And once we begin to see with the eyes of faith we are encompassed by the real secret.  God is not a secret.  And He does not hide Himself from us.  It is we who remain secretive and hidden.  I struggle, as do all who know Him and try to tell His story.  But it’s not a struggle of knowing Him.  It’s a struggle of how to tell His story to a blind people. 

Jesus often said, ““What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?”  Even Jesus, who created all heaven and earth was a bit stumped in telling us about what is real.  He was not stumped because He is limited in His abilities.  He found it difficult to tell man what was true because man is so horribly locked in sinful thoughts and realities. 

We are lost in a sea of speculation and confusion regarding the majesty of God.  And this sea causes us all manner of pain.  So I write and write and write trying to capture the unseen nature of He who loves.  The battle between waking up my brothers and rendering a true picture of God’s nature is a sincere war.  Those who Know Him through Jesus are really put to the great task of telling others.  What you read in this blog represents my utmost desire to communicate with a people locked in sin.  I speak as I can.  But it would be best if the reader would seek and find Him. 

So three things result from this post: 

1. I know God the Father and what has been revealed to man through Jesus, the Christ of God.

2. This knowledge is beautifully beyond our ability to voice to others because of  the sinfulness of man.

3. Knowing God and His Holy will and attributes is an intensely personal task.

I cannot give you what I know.  You must receive it from Him.  Then we can speak together of the beauties we find.

By His Grace.

The Grave Yard.

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http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1224152286014370529KYvnNK

The sun shone on the snow. 

Glistening crystals of ice sparkled brilliant on a water flat lake of cemetery. 

The stones dressed the landscape beyond the trees. 

But the place of attraction lay between the highway and the trees. 

“How pleasant”, I thought.  “The place of rest remains”. 

Then I thought of the bodies of dead rotting in the graves beyond the trees.  “From dust you are and to dust you shall return”.  Though the bodies decay, where are the souls?  Hundreds of bodies means hundreds of souls.  Where are they?  What are they doing? And what will be their lot?

The souls of those people are resting in a certain place which the Lord hasn’t described to man.  They are waiting for eternity to roll out before them.  The vast majority of them wait to hear the judgment of the Father of all life.  He will account of His Glory and eternal attributes.  Then, perhaps this is the way it will go, He will recount their personal history.  “What did you do with My Son?”, may be one of the questions posed to them by the Living and Holy God of eternity.

A few whose bodies lay in this place will sleep till the sound they hear is that of “Well done, good and faithful servant”.  Their entry into eternity will be that of great joy.  Compare the two.  Consider your personal future.  You too will lay beneath pristine snow on a sunny day.  But, more importantly, consider which you desire to hear when eternity opens it’s arms to receive all humanity. 

By His Grace.

Soap.

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Whatever you do, never get the soap dirty!  Never shower or wash your hands.  Don’t you realize that soap is clean?  Why would you want to apply something clean to something dirty? 

Nothing ever gets clean without some sort of soap.  Noone can become clean without being washed by the blood of Jesus.  Oh, you can clean your body and clothes.  But your conscience and attitude will remain full of evil if God does not clean you by the power of Jesus.

Receive His “soap”: The awareness of sin within you, repentance from what you have done and are doing, accept His forgiveness.  Listen to His words in the Bible.  And learn to listen to His voice within you. 

Soap is designed to get dirty. 

By His Grace.