If someone will inherit the things of God in Christ, why wouldn’t he or she be extremely passionate about the coming promise? Even if that person’s faith is extremely small, you would think there is an unquenchable joy and yearning for the things of God’s promise.
But if that person truly believes what God has said about his people, how could they possibly resist sharing the joy?
Maybe they don’t understand what God has said. Maybe they don’t know what God has said. Both of those can be rectified by reading the New Testament.
But why would anyone who believes these things choose to live like the world lives?! How could such a joy be pushed down to silence? How could such a person have so much fun in the ridiculous and useless trivia of this world? You would think their longing for the place God promises is so intense that none of the things here give them any joy it all.
I’m trying to help everyone see. And I just don’t understand why they don’t. I don’t want to infer yucky thoughts toward people. But I’ll admit I’m running out of excuses.
Tag Archives: the Christ
Common vs Holy
Among the people of this world, Christianity is considered a choice. “So many choices. So many variations of Truth. And if you ask the follower of any religion whether his religion is true, what answer do you expect to get? I will just pick something because it suits my personality.”
One will be a violent man, because he sees violence everywhere. One will worship satan, because he has heard that there is power in evil. One says he believes there is a God, but does nothing to find out what that God desires (That is the man’s religion). Why should I continue to write about the other myriad of variations? You know what they are.
And hasn’t God commanded that this is the way it will be. The blind will remain blind. The deaf will never hear the Holy nature of God’s Son. All the generations of men have been this way. So it will continue to the end.
But what are Christians commanded to do? Do not be like the world. Do not offer up appreciation for the foul things the world thinks are beautiful. Did not say, along with them, “Man is innocent”. We are to be a separate people to the Holy Living God.
As you look about you, is that what you see? Who, among God’s people in Christ, will stand up and say no to sin and yes to the Righteous and Holy ways of Jesus? Who, by their very life, will prove that there is a distinction between Christianity and every other variation of so-called truth? Is the power of God given through Jesus? Or is it just a series of words put in the right position at the right time? If you believe that the others were justified in their selection of what they call truth, it would be good to examine whether you are a Christian.
The Ultimate Object Lesson
Are you ready to get your brain full this morning?
I keep saying that we should “think eternity”. And I promise that the more you do, the more you will be ready on the spur of the moment to speak about Christ your Lord. More and more, you will replace the fear of evangelism with an excited desire.
Here’s the ticket for the ride of your life:
Absolutely everything in creation speaks to us of the Son of God. From a pencil and eraser to the depths of the sea. Every conversation people have. Every single thought that goes through our minds. Everything we love and everything we hate. Everything we use and everything we are willing to destroy.
If you make it a habit to think about it, the association between the common and the Holy will come to you in a split-second. The real plus here is that it takes almost no discipline at all. I guarantee you the Lord is willing to help us understand.
Evidence of Belonging
How should we spend our days? Doesn’t it depend on whose you intend to be.
Let’s make a choice with finality. Either Christianity is a mere religion, or it is the power of God to transform. Either the words of God are benign “good sayings”, or they are filled with Holy Fire. The life we lead proves the choice we’ve made.
Heaven rages with eternal love toward Man. Blazing with holy duty, all of Heaven is busy in the preparing of the sons of God. Construction of the age to come includes the preparation of those who will inhabit it.
Those who join in this holy frenzy will enter beyond this place with little change in their character. Having a allowed God to create within them, they are fast becoming a welcome addition to the throne of Christ Jesus.
Such people have no room for trivia. Such people do not hide in the shadows. Though they are compelled to use the things of this world, they do not rise every morning to satiate the desires of the flesh. Like sunflowers, they seek the will of the Living God to grow within them; always tracing the Son across every day’s sky.
On rising they call out to His Holy name in Jesus. Without thought, the eyes of their soul look to him in every decision they make. They will be welcome, for the work of God within them provides what is required.
Give thought to this. Eternity is now. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for He who is Righteous, for they shall be filled!
The Sad Songs, Sans-Joy
THE SAD SONGS:
Listen to the pace and the melody of a sad song. As far as I can tell, I am not educated in music, all the notes are arranged in minor scale. I suppose there’s a technical name for that, but it escapes my mind. For it escapes my desire to learn.
It is a melody slow and deliberate. It is a melody that defies dance. It is more a melody of atrophic limbs. It is not a melody that gives our legs that leap you see in those who are presently joyful. It is far more a malady to our body than a melody.
But the soul. The soul stands still. The eyes of the soul are not shut, while its ears listen attentively.. It looks around with longing. It looks around for eternal hope. The soul sings along with sighs and groanings, imperceptible to the ears and eyes of man. And if it could be heard, Man would not understand the sounds.
The response to sad music is in full light of God’s eyes. No man can see that response. No one dances lightly down the street to a dirge. They plod along with careful steps. Introspection, for a time, is their king. Balancing their lifeless frame atop helpless hips.
From point A to point B, that is their only need. Sadly and deliberately, we live in point A. Point B is too far removed from our perception even in the best of days. How much farther when trouble attends our every waking moment?
The sad song is not the solution. It is a manifestation of the symptoms. Christ is the solution, my friends. He is the One who watches for the broken hearted. The joyful often elude his sight, even while they receive his sustaining.
Are you broken hearted? Then listen to a sad song and let your souls eyes look up. From the hills comes to Redemption. Upon the Great Hills is the glistening White Hope.
By His Grace.
Home?
The Lord, The Sovereign Lord, the Source of life, ever-present Righteousness, Glorious mercy and justice. He has all things, doesn’t he? He lacks nothing, how true. That’s what Sovereign means.
But let me speak to the rich man. Let me speak to the perverted drunk. Let me speak to the beautiful woman. Let me speak to the greasy whore. Let me speak to all those who have a place among Man, whether glorified or horrified; those with clean hands and those whose hands are covered with blood.
God has all things for he is all things. Yet what he does not have, he has poured out his life to gain. He does not have your love. He does not take first place in all your days, though he is first in all eternity. All creation honors His Holy Name, except here. His name is Jesus the Christ, look into it.
“You ask too much of us! You sit in your religious Chapel, carved of pure Ivory, and judge us. You have forgotten the demands of life that are far more then we can bear. We cannot put God first we must defend our home!”
Your home? Your home is a soleless pair of old shoes. Your home is a worn-out pair of jeans filled with holes, and leaving your buttocks bare. Your home is an umbrella missing it’s purposed fabric. Your home is a cave filled with Wolverines and poisonous snakes. The floor of your home cannot be cleaned! Why can’t you smell the stench of your household enemy’s feces, which lay in the crags you can’t reach? Precious place, isn’t it, this place you call your home. The place where you fear even in what you call solace. You light a lamp, but still darkness pervades.
8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6)
He is your potential friend. He is your potential Guardian. Already he provides what you call your home.
Who causes the lava to harden? Who plants the seed of a tree in its craggy niches? Who brings the beautiful erosion to cause a paradise? Who gave you this place? Who dressed you with skin? Yet you would fear and keep him far from you?
Trust him and do the things that belong to him. Then you will have a home that is not filled with stench and death. Your home provides you no pact with death.
Words From There 