Tag Archives: Religion and Spirituality

What or Why

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Jesus with children, early 1900s Bible illustr...

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In understanding life, far too many ask the wrong line of questions.  Instead of asking “What”, we find asking “Why” to be far more fruitful.   When we begin to ask why, we begin to receive answers that “What” can’t supply.  Even so, when many begin to understand the answers they get, they don’t like them.  So they return to asking “what”.  But if you endure, and are willing to receive the truth, “why” will provide them.  In the end, you will find Jesus as the answer.  Asking “what” things are is a matter of definition.  It becomes a simple exercise of language.  People who have no serious interest in understanding life limit their questions to “what”.

And let us remember that “why” is the central question of young children.  And look at how irritating that gets to their parents.  Could it be that the parents haven’t asked “why” enough?

“The Faith”, Fuel to Drive into Eternity.

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Petrol Guage

Image by drocpsu via Flickr

When the Son of man returns, will He find The Faith?  My soul is given pause to consider the meaning of this.  I take note that it is not called faith.  The Lord was speaking of “The Faith”. 

The Faith is not the faith of demons or the wicked men of this world.  To them, faith might mean anything.  Or it might mean an awareness that there is a God.  The Faith, however, is not like that.  The Faith we have in Christ Jesus teaches us to do the will of the Father in Heaven.  It teaches us all things good (The Good of God).  It teaches us to abstain (that is to “not do”) the things of this world; it teaches us to say “no” to sin and “yes” to the Righteousness which comes from God.

Don’t let the world fool you into believing that Jesus will receive everyone because they intended to be a good person.  Only what is God will survive the judgment.  And to whatever extent God’s will lives in you and is accomplished through you, this is the part of you which will survive the coming judgment. 

So I am given pause to consider the things of God within me.   Jesus offers, we receive.  One without the other is no faith at all.

By His Grace.

The Borrowed Three

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Faces

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My ears are searching for their last sound.  That special noise held in the hand of He who made them.  My eyes are closing slowly, searching for that last item they will perceive.  That item held in the hand of He who causes my eyes to see.  My lips are waiting to utter a last word.  That one word which remains reserved by the One who gives them good words to speak.

He alone knows the hour, minute, and second of this revealing.  Yet I search for it to appear.  I did not climb this mountain to hide among the reeds.  I have climbed The Mountain of the Lord’s making.  I have arrived at the top for three purposes; that I might hear His Word, that I may act out His Will, and that I might proclaim the Might of my God.  For this reason, He has given me life.  For this reason, He shall give me death.  For this reason, He has lent me these three.

All men are given an end to their service in this place of testing; regardless profit or demise.  In the end, this is all we own.  In our death, we find the appearance of that search which announces the end.  Announcement is proclaimed upon us all, “Here you shall receive the reward of your service.”

For those who do not love Him, that moment appears as a surprise.  Though they perceive death approach, it appears as no consolation.  They who have hated the Lord, will find that revealing a very disturbing opponent.  Loss is all that remains of what was theirs.  That moment closes all doors of possibility.  An eternal seal is burned into the rock as it closes behind them.  It reads, “This one has missed the mark.” 

Who will open that door?  Who will return to accomplish what should have been done?  None will return to learn to worship the One who made them.  Their feet now walk in a place of their choosing.  There is no longer pity, mercy, grace, or help offered.  They wait to hear their name cursed by the lips of He who desired their blessing.  And in this, His anger is justified.  They have stolen their own joy.  They have robbed God of His intent for them.  They have squandered their own hope, and called what is Holy a wicked name.  They, alone, are to blame for where they now reside.  Has not God provided their salvation in Jesus, His Righteous Son?  Did they not see the proof all about them?  Everything, in this place of testing, points to Jesus  I ponder their fate; if their name will even be mentioned at all.  Bundled together, they receive the word as one.  Woe to them, for there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

Those who have loved Him come to desire that moment.  A silencing of all their earthly senses becomes a door to an awareness, which does not fade.  They enter a door blazing, all through, with these words, “Welcome Home, thou blessed of the Lord.” 

Glory awaits His people, and no sense of man can gather it up.  Regardless their state here, there are ears, which hear unspeakable things.  There are eyes, which see past the edge of the universe; into the very presence of the Most High God.  There are lips, which speak a language no man has ever heard.  All His Glories, will be revealed!  For now, we see as through a glass darkly, but then we shall know in full; even as we are now fully known.

Come over here, you moment of longing.  I will have a word with you.  Step up and hold out your hands.  Take from me; the borrowed three.  You have arrived so that I might give them back to you.  I will not deny you your right.  As surely as I was glad to receive them, I am more than glad to return them to your hands.  The Lord has caused these three to become useful to Him.  All is well with my soul. 

I go to hear.

I go to see.

I go to speak with joy!

With great joy, I will embrace this moment of release.

Give them to another again; His work here remains to in progress.

From dust we are, and to dust we will return.

I depart, to be embraced by He who has embraced these three, and me.

His promise I go to inherit.  He has promised to give to His people a three which will never fade.  Give Glory to God!  Great Glory, Glory to God for what He has done for His people; how He protects them from harm!

By His Grace.

 

The Light’s on. Where’s the War?

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Common household roaches A. German cockroach, ...

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It gives me great peace when the words of Christ Jesus are challenged by others.  It’s not that I go looking to pick a fight.  But the slightest mention of His name or the judgment to come often raises the hatred in God’s enemies.

One thing I note, is that though they will rail against me, they do not pursue me.  This had bothered me just a bit.  Till I remembered that when the Light comes on the vermin of God’s creation scatter.

 

By His Grace.

Bablyon Revisited

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Official presidential portrait of Barack Obama...

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President Obama and his staff will remain in power until the Lord removes him.  What will be accomplished to the nation will be accomplished, and there will be no avoiding what is coming.  It is God, Himself, who is in control of all things.  Even what appears to man as wicked falls under His final authority.  Either justice will be rendered as we live in this tent of flesh, or the Justice of God will be rendered at the final day of sin.  But make no mistake; God is sovereign.

Personally, I believe the current trend of approaching communism will continue until America, as we knew it, is obliterated.  Man’s version of freedom is to accomplish anything BUT the will of God.  We have been allowed to exercise our sins long enough.  And God will not allow it to continue. 

It is God’s mercy that such freedom to sin is taken from the hand of man.  Do not consider it a loss.  Rather, consider it an oportunity to seek the face of the One who made all men.  I speak as one who is coming to know that the punishments inflicted by God to His people are a loving hand which directs us to become His people; those who know the difference between what is right and what is wrong.

What is coming upon America is at God’s direction.  And those who rebel against His will, will suffer.  Prepare yourself for what is coming by humbling yourself before the Most High God.  Accept His direction and submit that you might receive His gift in Jesus, His Holy Son.  Regardless the tendencies of society or politics, this submission is required for all who will live.  How much more important does this submission become under times of God’s rebuke?

By His Grace.

Be Wise

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Gavel

You, who beg the Lord to move against the wicked, consider this:

The Lord has been Holy from before this place of testing began.  He will be Holy for eternity.  He has established this place to test the hearts of man according to His perfect knowledge.  Wisdom has cloaked the Lord forever.  Wisdom will be His crown, for God does not change like shifting sands.  All the wicked will appear before Him.  And His words will never fail.

It is our folly to provoke His hand of judgment.  He has established a place where He will judge.  When He judges, His judgments will be final.  What word will they speak to their defense?  What will the lips of the condemned speak to wrench themselves loose from His Holy Hand?  They will appear before Him locked in the folly of their own ways.  Who are we to speed this horror on them?

Have you considered the billions of condemned?  Have you given thought to the wonder that you should know the Lord?  Has the marvel of your standing before Him utterly weakened your knees?  Does the praise of Glory, which belongs alone to Him, dripped from your lips with understanding?  You are blessed to know the Lord Jesus.  You have been blessed to receive what is withheld from billions.  Have you considered why? 

We are a people of unclean lips.  And we live among a  people of unclean lips.  How will we avoid speaking these words, “Woe is me!”  We believe.  We come to know Him.  What of those who remain in the darkness from which we were plucked?  Encourage the Lord as you will, to speed His hand against His enemies.  But consider the fate you too deserved!  What if His people had spoken the same thing before you came to knowledge?  What if the Lord had moved with the speed requested by His people?  What would be your defense now?  Consider carefully.  For we worship the Living God who has promised an end to this place.  He has set a place in eternity to judge.  And, when that place is reached, there will be no place left to hide. 

If we stand, we stand because of His mercy and patience.  What righteous do we own that has not come directly from the Holy Hand of He who gives understanding to all?  We stand because He determined to render mercy to us.  We are called to love Him because He has spoken life into our souls, thus we stand.  When they fall, it will be His wrath which calls them to His throne.  Have we done all we can?  Have we sought His Holy Will through prayer?  Are we still rebellious before His ways?  Do we dress our words of prayer with our own pitiful knowledge?  Are we guilty of speaking before The Living God with words without knowledge?

The speed of the Lord’s hand is tempered by His Mercy.  His patience clothes His ways; perfect and pure.  Love dictates to the heart of He who lives forever.  Consider carefully how you attempt to provoke the Lord to move against His enemies.  We too are only those redeemed from among them.  Are we more than charred sticks pulled from the fire?  Ask as you will, but understand what you ask.  Be very careful how you approach the Lord with such a request.  For it is not wise to provoke the Lord to perform what He is not willing to accomplish.  It is written, and will not be taken away; The Lord is not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to an understanding of His Glorious, loving, and patient ways.

Cease your incessant dribble.  Clap your hand over your mouth and seek understanding.  Understand the will of the God you serve.  Present yourself to His knowledge and learn His ways, lest we too fall because we live in ignorance.  Rise up and receive.  Receive the responsibility given to those who call on His Holy Name, Jesus.  He has given us the task of serving the Living God.  Though we are but grafted into the tree which is Israel, we are, none-the-less, grafted in.  All His promises are ours to hold.  Believe!  But believe with fear and trembling.  Consider our standing with a sober heart.  He is the Living God of all eternity!

Glory to God!  Bring Glory to your God!  He is the Living God who will bring an end to this place of testing according to His perfect wisdom, knowledge, and Glory.

By His Grace.