The Swatter is Coming.


Common house fly (Musca domestica).

Image via Wikipedia

The fly buzzes my head.  And he gives no thought that he is irritating me to violence.  He does not notice as my hand reaches for the fly swatter.  And he takes no notice of how I have dressed myself in patience for his destruction.  I will wait for him to lite in a place of my convenience.  Then I will unleash his end.  What was tethered in patience will become a lightning end.

So it is with the wicked against the Lord.  They give no thought of how irritating they are becoming to the Lord.  They do not notice how their lives are headed toward a place the Lord has established, the place of their destruction.  They speak and rail against Him while they take no notice of how He is dressed in an eternal patience.  They are the ones who count the minutes.  The Lord only counts for the sake of those who number, for eternity has no number of days.  He waits for them to lay down in the dirt; their days spent in rebellion and hatred for His Righteousness.  And then, He unleashes His perfect and Righteous Judgment upon the wicked.

By His Grace.

I’m Not the King.


Delivery Truck

I presented a witness to you.

And you thought you mocked me.

I stood before you and spoke.

And you shot your hatred at my head.

I did not flinch, nor did my soul respond.

While the dust of your words passed me by.

I knew, without doubt, that those words you cast out,

Were not meant for one such as I.

The dust of your words left no trace upon me.

Every speck has landed somewhere else.

It is the Lord you’ve insulted.

I am only His messenger to your face.

And how foolish to dash the messenger,

Then turn and boast that you have killed the King.

 

By His Grace.

Hidden Messages All Afoot.


February 25, 2010 - Walking Feet

Image by nerdcoregirl via Flickr

I see the people moving with no noise of their condition.  Concealed beneath the flesh they wear is the condition of their soul.

I wish that they would speak what their heart is holding tight.  At least then I would know just what my lips might say.

“God bless you”.  “Prepare to meet the God you think doesn’t exist”.  That sin you harbor with delicate wanting is wanting to destroy you”.  “Yes!  Jesus is Lord of Lords!  And you are my brother or sister!”  “You didn’t mean to do what you did.  Why are you holding on to your guilt so hard?”

What are you feeling, you people of flesh?

Refinement? Not Likely.


Cross on Week Down to the southeast of Chagfor...

Image via Wikipedia

Today’s world has:

toasters, ovens without firewood, central air, cars, cellphones, TV, computers, high rise office buildings, asphalt roads, fashionable clothing, industry out the wazoo, and “refined” politics (if that’s not an oxymoron).

The day of Jesus’ visit to His creation had none of these things.  So some have said that the world is a better place.  Some have even gone so far as to say we no longer have need of a God who has become useless and ancient.  And in this foolishness they have dismissed the need for a savior.  For, after all, look at how wonderful man has become.  Fine.

But just mention the Christian faith in any circle today other than a church and you’ll get the same response Jesus and the Apostles got.  Try it, just for kicks and see.  Nothing has changed in the basic nature of man.

I posted a remark recently about how I live among a people who would gladly re-crucify the Lord of Glory.  And if any of these God haters ever read my posts they would balk at that statement.  But I speak the truth in this regard!  You think because you have all these human refinements that you are different people than those who lived in that day?  Ok.  Tell me then.  How do you treat the Lord’s people when they open their lips in public and praise the Most High God for what He has done in Jesus?  And if we are strong enough in His Love to continue to escalate the speech, we would endure beatings and imprisonment.  Death seems to be off the table for now.  Society has moved beyond that implement of hatred for God’s people, for now.

You are the same people!  You hate what is good and cling to what is evil.  As the Lord has said, “Woe to you”.  You attack public displays of prayer with a vengeance.  Some have even pointed out how “un-Christian” that is.  They say we should pray in secret and not parade our faith like that.

Well, I will speak with open heart about the Lord.  I will act according to the knowledge He has allowed me to own.  I will point out your faults before Him.  And I will not stop because you consider me a fool.  You might say that Christianity should not be offensive or a disruption to society.  You stir up rebellion and violence simply by trying to sweep the Living God under your filthy rug of human interest.  You, yourselves, are violence to the Most High God!  For you gladly live in the world He has created without giving Him the worship due His Glorious name.  You are to blame for the death and sickness you now blame God for foisting on man.  And, unless you too repent of all your evil, humble yourselves before the Lord of Life, and accept His singular method of entering life, you too shall die like those who caused the crucifixion of Jesus.

 

By His Grace.

Loss by non-participation


Trash bin

Image via Wikipedia

As I read a string of comments by those who hate both faith and religion, I’m struck by something.   They hate what they don’t own so much that their attacks drown out any possible value in Christianity.  They attack anything they can’t hold in their hand.  Thus, they throw away everything good.  They not only lose out on eternal promises, they even lose out on the temporal benefits.

While many pick and choose what they will from Jesus, those people throw it all away.  How horrible it will be for those who hate the Lord.  When they finally see Him face to face, they will realize the damage they’ve done.  They will have ruined their hope for any peace for eternity.  And they will realize that they were instrumental in destroying the hope of others.

By His Grace.

Through or Into the Flames We Go.


fire

Image by matthewvenn via Flickr

Making a choice regarding religion is not like buying a new car.  Though there are a myriad of religions and a gaggle of new cars to choose from, there is only one God.  So how can we decide what’s right?  There are a few items for thought regarding religions.  And we will prove ourselves wise if we consider them.

1. God is the creator.  So what is made is not the creator Himself.  We can expect then that any religion which holds creation as greater than God is false.

2. Man is sinful and wicked to the core.  Look at how many times you’ve lied in the last 24 hours.  Either you lied because you wanted something and thought it would be the best way around, or you lied because you weren’t completely up to speed with reality.  But you lied.  Consider how many times you looked at your speedometer and found you were going to fast for the speed zone.  Isn’t this breaking the law?  And don’t all people know that breaking the law is to be imperfect?  Bottom line, you’re not potentially perfect.  You’re full to over flowing with sin.  God does not lie.  So any religion which brings man to the place of potential perfection is false.

3. If God is true and every man a liar.  And if He says that all men will die eternally because of their wickedness.  And if Christianity provides a sacrifice for our sins in Jesus (which it does).  Then the choices get very limited very quickly.

 

You’re not going to find a religion, regardless what they say, which offers the hope of the Lord Jesus.  Cults abound.  False hope is as plentiful as corn dogs at the state fair.  But there is One who is true.  And He has marked out the way in the Bible.  Spurn the Lord Jesus and you will reap a whirlwind of horror.  Embrace Him and you will find the power to hope and live.  We have been given one life.  It’s this one you’re using right now to read this.  There is no other chance to get it right.  The Bible holds the Gospel (good news).  Don’t listen to all the trash in this world.  Go straight to the source.

When you read the Bible you’ll become afraid.  I promise that.  And you’ll be tempted to put it down in a hurry.  But that fear is a recognition that the Holy Fire of God is present in those words.  You have to walk through that fire to find the Lord Jesus.  Live or die.  It’s your choice.

By His Grace.