This Place of Testing.


How amazing is the Lord Most High.  We consider our world as though it has always been.  For we only know of this place.  But I ponder that this place has a place of origin.  It began somewhere.  This causes me to ponder why.  God didn’t need to make us, or did He?

Eternity was rolling on.  Then at one point, God said, “Let us make man in our image”.  Why?  I’ve come to call this world a “Place of Testing” for this reason.  I’m not a smart man.  And I can’t remember everything I read or write.  But I rely on a general body of knowledge for the following.  Perhaps a scholar can add the pointed scriptures to support what I’m about to write.  I’ve written about this before.  But it just blows me away to consider the Greatness of God in this topic.

There was perfection from eternity.  God had created what was Good.   Since there’s no lie in God, no lie was in creation, until. . .  There was an Angel who thought he knew better than God what was good.  Rather than have to explain to an innocent creation what a lie was, he created a world of choice.  A people were given the choice to follow what is Good or chose to disobey. 

God is just.  Along with creating this place of testing, He also chose One to redeem those who would certainly fall to disobedience.  The only thing which marks us as able to be redeemed is that we are blind to the Glory of God.  But God is also going to put an end to the liar and all his ways.   And this is what we speak today.  Repent and seek the Redeemer.

There is a whole lot more to this story.  But with this as the basis, I find a great responsibility to seek Him.  He began this place.  He will end it.  Those who spend their life serving Him by the power of Jesus’ sacrifice will receive a certain reward for their loyalty.  Those who follow after the lie which started all this will receive a certain reward also.

I’m sure I’ll write more about this later.  But my meager mind runs out of words quickly. 

By His Grace.

Praise Him!


All you of flesh, praise the Most High God!  It is He who has made you.  It is He who has made this place of testing!  It is His hand which has given you breath.  Praise Him with all He has given you.  Turn to Him and give Him the fruit of His doing.  It is God who will be praised forever.  Why wait to begin?  Why would you hold what you cannot keep? 

Turn to Jesus, the Christ of God.  Praise Him, for God has lifted Him to a Glorious place.  It is He who speaks on your behalf.  It is He, even Jesus the Christ, who speaks in your favor.  Turn to Him who can rescue you from the bonds of this wicked place.  Praise Him and give Him your service, for He is worthy.

By His Grace.

Serve God


If you want peace, serve God.

If you want prosperity, serve God.

If you want your family back, serve God.

If you want righteousness, serve God.

If you want hope, serve God.

If you want eternity, serve God.

If you want power, serve God

All other paths but Jesus lead to death.

 

By His Grace.

Have They Won?


Why do you walk so softly?  And why is your joy not shown?  Have they won?  Did they stifle your mouth?  You fear their ridicule and keep your joy to yourself.  Have you asked why? 

They protect their sin with a great energy.  Look at how they stand against the One who made them.  When they keep your mouth shut they perceive a great victory.  Yet we know of a day when victory will belong to the one stifled. 

Hold your chin up.  Straighten your back.  Speak of your joy with boldness and accept what comes.  How can we think He endured such things so that we can shuffle around like beaten folk?  Consider that Day.  Let yourself stand before Him and give account of your beatings.   How have we suffered for His Holy Name?  And what does He ask of us?  Perhaps He asks too much.  All the more shame to us. 

By His Grace.

Good, Righteous, Godly.


Many people would tell you they are living a good or righteous life.  How many would testify that they are living a godly life?  

There are many who are doing good deeds.  How many are doing godly deeds?

Many are turning from evil to follow after a good and productive life.  How many are turning from evil to follow after God?

There is One Way, Jesus is that way.  It is in the leading of Jesus that the truly godly life is found.

Do not turn to good deeds without the leading of Jesus.

Do not turn to your own brand of righteousness, rather accept the Lordship of Jesus in everything you do.

There is no life in man or the work of his hands.  Life remains in our God Jesus.

By His Grace.

Bamboo in a Storm.


I look at a tree sway in the wind.  It is winter, so there are no leaves on the trees.  The tree is 100 ft high and swaying about 15 ft back and forth.  I consider the power placed on the roots as this tree sways back and forth.  What tremendous pressure is placed on the roots.  No man has to climb such a tree very far before he realizes the danger posed to him from the weight added to this pressure on the roots.

I remember that the Church, and even the individual people of God, are considered as branches in a tree.  How the world and sin place pressure on the people of God.   They buffet God’s people as the wind buffets this tree I see.  How the pressure on the roots, Jesus, grows as sin around us increases.  And I am given pause to consider how mighty must Jesus’ promises and strength be for the sake of His Church.

“Lord, what kind of tree must You have created here.  That we should be able to climb to the top of Your promises and remain in safety.  No sins or plots by men can come against You and Your people that would tear at the roots You have created.  What kind of tree might You be?”

He replies, “I am a mighty oak.  All who are of me can ride the storms with perfect safety.”   But does the Church, the people of the Sovereign God, realize who they are?   Do we see them living as though they are grown from the roots of a Mighty Oak?  No, sadly, we see our brothers and sisters living as though they are simply tiny branches of an over grown bamboo tree.  They live as though they are transplanted into a spindly tree and grown in a storm.  The fear of breaking is about them like a mist. 

Take heart, O’ people of God!  You are of the One who cannot lie!  He has promised to bring you home.  So why do you doubt?  Praise Him and accept His Holy will in your life!  Rest as did our Lord in the boat!  Sleep with comfort in the midst of death and carnage.  You belong to the Holy One of Israel, the Mighty Oak of Heaven!  Raise up with the strength of those who BELIEVE!

By His Grace.