By His Grace
Of all the things that man can perceive, there is but one truth. The Holy Christ of God has given himself for the salvation of every man, woman and child who ever lived.
As we believe this we are set free of every wicked thing. We are set free of fear; the greatest enemy of man. Who can fear anything if he knows he has eternal life?
Because of fear, men turn to all manner of wicked and abhorrent behavior. They invent their own religions. But every religion of man is full from top to bottom with fear.
By fear, men subject one another for the sake of wicked gain. But it is impossible to subject the one who believes.
“Christ has died for my sins. Nothing you can do to me can take that away. Though my body shake with anxiety for the coming pain, my soul is that perfect rest. For when you are finished applying what torture you may envision, I will go and be with he who has died for my sins. How should I fear? What can man do to me? When in comparison, Christ has given me eternal life.”
A Christian believes this and is saved. Anything less than this is not the fullness of Christ within us. Anything less than this is worthless religion.
By His Grace
Standing on the balcony, I stood in silence. Listening to the natural noises, as opposed to the noises of man.
From the trees flew a Blue Jay. His intent was the railing of the balcony; his perch to search for food on the ground below.
I didn’t move as I watched his intent. His target was 15 feet from my body. But having stood still, he didn’t perceive me.
He came within inches of setting his feet on his intent. But just as he neared landing, he perceived a man standing there.
With a tiny squeak, he turned as though he had bounced off the railing, and bolted back to the trees. Safety is his primary concern, eating is his second.
“Look at him with understanding.” So my soul whispers to my heart. See how quick he is to turn from his desire at the slightest provocation against his safety.
Does man do these things? Doesn’t man head into his desire without consideration for safety? Look how we run headlong into destruction without the slightest perception of danger.
Where we go matters. What we choose to do matters. Who we desire to become matters. Freely God gives wisdom. Who, among men, is willing to take his warnings and freedom?
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (Luke 13)
Have Christians coddled one another to the point of eternal death? Have many gone to the grave destined to suffer eternal loss? And has the reason been, that no one confronted them in regard to the seriousness of rebellion?
let every man do what he knows the Gospel demands. If our brother displays a weakness that is inherent from his former life, then let us encourage him towards strength. Let us fill his mind with the promises of God for those who are faithful. Let us continually remind him of those who have gone before us through great sufferings. Let us strive to point out how trivial our sufferings of this day are, compared to that which is to come. By all means let us encourage such a one.
But let us make a distinction between weakness and rebellion! Is Christ in us not wise enough to make the distinction?
Coddle weakness in the hopes of overcoming. But confront rebellion for what it is! Even our unwillingness to distinguish between the two, is rebellion in itself. For God has promised us the gift of wisdom, given freely and without judgement.
We do well to point out rebellion as an abomination before the Living God. We do well to encourage such ones with Holy Terror. Let us bring a simlatude of the Judgement Day before their eyes. Let us help them perceive their destiny as eternal death.
We will most assuredly regret our fear of confrontation. Gather together the boldness of Christ that lays dormant within you. Strike out with confidence, and Christ will bless your way.
Jude said these things best. 22 “Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
But I must also add this. Do these things with the utmost of godly care. If the beam in your eye remains, you will not weild the wisdom of God with reliability. But if you are submissive to the will of God in Christ. If you have endured the purification offered by the Holy Spirit. If your own life begins to depict the righteousness of Christ. You have an obligation to apply these things.
The putrid reply of Cain is unacceptable. Yes we are our brothers keeper! Yes we will be held accountable the death of many. If you are not willing, then prepare yourself for the rebuke of God.
Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus.
By His Grace
The Gospel of Christ Jesus cannot be sweet, unless it has been allowed to be violent. The pride of man must be shattered. Humiliation of our wickedness must be endured. Our wickedness must be exposed. And Truth must be exalted.
The Righteousness of God is firm and will cut through the things of men with eternal violence. Those who can say, with great asuredness, that the Gospel is sweet, have stood up before the Most High God that He may cut them to shreds.
Those who live forever in the Kingdom of the Most High God’s Christ must be purified. The wickedness and pride of man is pleasurable to him. But God demands purity righteousness and holiness. Nothing wicked will never enter God’s presence.
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11: 12)
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:
“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore,
“they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” (Revelation 7)
We are all forced to answer a question. Has the Gospel of Christ Jesus become sweet to us? And another, as God’s righteousness become peace to us?
By His Grace
What kind of burning desire emboldens the Christian? It would not be right to say, they think of themselves as righteous folks; as if they look down their nose on those who do not believe. Rather, they burn with a desire to share.
But what words might be used to describe this consuming desire? If we speak of the enticement of eternal life, we would miss the mark. To speak of the clean conscience born by the forgiveness of Christ, is fully insufficient. And to say that they love God, is to make a mockery of the love of God. For a love toward God, as seen in the Christian, is easily shown as less than full.
So perplexity attends the building of this article. Because the consuming fire within my heart is more than all these things put together. The fire is Christ Jesus himself.
In this place of testing, man will lack any ability to describe the Majesty that is Christ. The best any Christian can do, is to allow the Lord to display himself (By this I mean we simply agree with the Lord). And in this we recognize what was told the Apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you”.
By command of Eternity, the Gospel has been handed to men. Even so, in this it finds restraint.
But now perceive what God has done. When he enclosed his Majesty in restraint, he intensified desire near to the point of explosion.
It is as if one closes the door on the oven. When it is open, the intensity of heat is lessened. But close the door and you can melt metal. All this he has done in the frailty of a human life.
Today, this is as close as I can come to describing the desire of a Christian to preach the word to all men. If you would know more fully about these things, dedicate yourself to things of Christ.
By His Grace
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