Where did you go, my tiresome burdensome friend? Have you gone to pester some other hapless heart?
Did you not notice me packing in the night? I could not find you as I put my things where they belong.
I do not long for your accompaniment. Nor do I desire your council. But I had more room on my shelves than expected. By accounting, I found you missing.
What a pleasant surprise
Is this foretold sunrise.
The place where you have died,
My old friend, “Fear of Demise”.
By His Grace
The word “have” is very curious. With that word we pronounce ownership. “I have a car.” “I have a coat.” “I have an apple.”
Perhaps there is a moment when those three things can be true. But just like with everything in this world, “have” is destined to face a certain demise. Three of its letters are taken away and one is given. In the stroke of a moment, “have” becomes “had”. (pun intended)
This being the case, it is right to ask the following question. Does “have” own and eternal definition? Is there a place where what we have cannot ever leave us?
And forgive me for meddling in the affairs of men. But why do we place such prominence on the things we cannot keep? Why do we love the word “have” and despise the word “had”, when the second reigns supreme over the first.
I’ll leave it to the reader to think it through.
By His Grace
A man is given a job. What is expected of him is taught. In many cases the expectations are written down thoroughly. The man is tested to be sure he has grasped what is essential. Still the question remains, has he understood.
The man who understands is rare. Yet the one who understands will learn to do what is expected of him. Most people do their job to their best. But there is always some lack of full understanding. By this mistakes are made and the employer suffers loss.
Only the seriously diligent will truly understand what is expected of them. In truth, at best, most of us can only say we have perceived the expectations. Understanding is an entirely different animal.
The more complicated the expectations, the less the possibility that the man will understand. Yet, as he is taught, his perception becomes more clear. At some point, if he applies himself, he becomes a reliable representative, and perhaps one who can teach.
If this is true among the things of men, how much more so the things of God?
Shall we stand and proclaim that we understand the Gospel? Is not very likely that understanding has come. If it is true that few believe the Gospel, how much more rare are those who understand?
If a man is able to do what the Gospel demands, then he may be able to say he has understood. But more likely, truth will say he has only perceived very well. Even in the best of us failures come and go.
The Lord has told us what is expected of us. Do we find ourselves willing to listen? “It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.”
Sadly the majority of people grasp the beginnings of the Gospel, but fail to understand the fullness of it. Like rudimentary students they live their lives lacking understanding. All the while simplicity rules their life, and they find themselves falling horribly short.
Like the worker who simply shows up to perform some menial task, the manual of expectations is rarely read. Such a man may be coerced or forced to do what is expected of him. But he does not have the will to succeed.
What employer will give promotions to those who are not diligent? The productivity of the company will surely lack for the sake of laziness and rebellion. How is the Kingdom of God any less?
The wise go back to the Bible everyday. They kneel in prayer often. They watch carefully to the things that come to them, striving to gain understanding. In such men, loyalty is supreme.
Men will pay us according to our willingness to serve. Should God treat us any differently? The answer, in words, is obvious. Does our performance give those words life?
The key to understanding lays in our loyalty. Perception obeys like a servant. Striving to understand obeys like a son. The difference between them is the quality of love within the heart.
As a man loves the one who gives him the opportunity, the service is more beautiful, and understanding is bound to come. Equally, as a man loves only himself his service to the one who gives him opportunity will lack. The one who truly loves the Lord will find himself very prosperous for the Living God.
Again, the proof of our love will be shown by the things we do. And the things we do present themselves clearly before us, that we may determine how we love the Lord.
“If you love me, obey my commandments.”
By His Grace
I could not sleep because of the news. I did not want to sleep because of the urgency. A tumult in my house has robbed me of peace. An occasional plundering of my goods has reached my ears. So I pondered with these questions:
Is the hope of God among men, locked away in some distant future place? Is it God’s will that we be tossed about my temptation? Is there no repair for the wayward heart of man? Truly, must we wait for heaven to do the will of the Living God in Christ Jesus?
These questions come to me as one. How is it possible that my love for God can lack at all?
And then the singular question branches quickly into a myriad of uncountable answers.
As bountiful are the temptations of this wicked place, each one wickedly stands to give an answer. But one suspect stands much closer than the temptations of every day and night.
By force of truth, I have called him to give account.
“You are my servant. To you all things of mine are given. You are set, by proclamation of the Most High God, to be in control of the things that are mine. There is lack in my house! How can this be so? Give account of yourself, I demand it!”
The truth of reply is given: “My lord I cannot give answer for the moment.”
What can I say to this? He has been commanded to appear in truth. And with truth he has answered me.
“Sit here before me. You have allowed lack, as I gave you free reign to do the work you are commanded to accomplish. Now sit here before me, so I can inspect your ways. I will know your diligence.”
Who is this servant who has been given so much? Who is this servant who is under such heavy rebuke? What kind of servant can be given the responsibility for the health of my entire house?
With barely audible whisper I will tell you. It is my will.
By His Grace
The prophet of God is valuable. Who then are they who disagree?
There is profit in the words of the prophet of God. Who then are they who disbelieve?
It is intriguing that men prefer to ignore the messengers of God, when profit and loss are household concepts. By this we can say that men are, by their very nature, lousy accountants.
For this they run the business of their life as if to fail. Yet in business, they will kill to succeed. Why does this tiny wisdom escape them?
It is impossible to correctly speak of the poverty of man. Just as it is impossible to speak of the riches of God.
When we see Him face to face, we will understand. Until then, profit comes by faith. All the while poverty abides in flesh.
Do not be fooled, a man is what he believes. Profit or loss, which do you choose?
By His Grace
“It’s too hard to stay here.” So says the one who thinks divorce is an option. They think the pain of abuse is too much. They think the lure of lust is worth travail.
My friend, you have no idea what waits for you in the night. You know nothing about the pain you will feel when you look at your children’s faces. You have no idea how painful it will be to remember your former spouse. You have no idea what you are throwing away.
The joy of one year will fade with explosive quickness. You will never be a part of the next family you try to join. You will always belong where you were!
But you will not listen to my words. Though they are the words of one who knows, you will not hear them. You have already made up your mind in some fantasy you embraced.
And if you are foolish enough you will continue to embrace this fantasy, regardless the regret your heart gives you, you will be faced with a severe choice. Your heart is cold and callous now. Foolishness will turn it to stone.
You will not love with open heart. You will love by ritual and habit. You are cutting yourself deeply and the scar will never leave.
You married for the wrong reasons. You think your ignorance gives you license. What you are purchasing is a license to death.
You should stay and learn. You should clear the rubble and work to build a strong foundation. Once you have made the step, you cannot go back. And you will soon desire to go back.
The warning has been made, what would you do?
By His Grace
We: Live, Die, Face Judgment. Jesus or die twice.
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