Back in the Bush 2 era, the government gave us some of our own money back! The economy was slow and George W. Bush wanted to kick-start it by pumping some money into people's pockets. The intent wasn't to get people to pay off bills, but to encourage spending. Terri and I received $300 each as did most taxpayers.
Upon actually receiving the extra cash, Terri said "What are we going to do with it?" I was in the process of paying off a 30-year mortgage (took seven years) and I was putting every penny toward that. I replied to Terri "We're going to put it on the mortgage as we always do!". Then, I hesitated. It's my money and hers to do with as we pleased, but the reason for getting money was to help the economy. I told Terri "Instead we're going to help the economy. We're going to grow our money!"
Terri was operating her own antique shop, "The Blue Heron" in Bowling Green. I was still working at GM, but have bought and sold for profit since I was a child. We went to several auctions a week and at auctions lies opportunities. I know nothing of antiques, but I do know what people will pay for "things". Also, I'm blessed with moderation in spending and a make every dollar count. I never waste anything because, as a child, any trinket had great value to me. My parents found toys unnecessary as do I. (He was frugal too!)
I decided to track our money separately. Both were to do what we could to grow that money. The starting point for both was the $300. Within a year Terri's had grown to $2000. I then told her to keep tack of her own. She didn't do that, but it did grow some. That is $1700 profit in one-year using her head instead of her back! That's 567% APR... Not 5.67%, but 567! I don't know any bank that will pay that!
I made my tracking system easy. I merely kept it in a second account and watch the account grow. Sometimes we need to reward ourselves and others, so I decided to buy my "boy toys" from my account. I bought cars, boats, motorcycles, etc. all from what originally was $300! God blessed me! However, periodically I shared some of the blessings. I loaned money to those in need without interest, gave help to kids and grand kids and made gifts to the church out of that account. If I had merely hoarded the money for me, I'm sure the blessings would quit flowing.
Thinking on how I had been blessed so much made me feel guilty. I remembered in high school while working at a garage, I stole from my employer. It wasn't much, but I figured it was around $100. Since that's like $500 now with inflation, I couldn't rest until I made that right! After all these years I found the 86 year old man, apologized to him for stealing, and paid him what was his. I'm recounting this, not for credit or out of pride, but because I was blessed more than he was, but he forgave me and I paid my debt. That's called restitution and Christians are called to do that. It's The Golden Rule!
When making restitution, it's part of seeking forgiveness. It shows sincerity in being sorrowful. I could merely have told the victim "I'm sorry for stealing from you... see ya!", but making restitution makes sorrow since! Not only does the victim appreciate it more, but when a person pays back what they can get by with not, it's a sacrifice! I prospered. The old man had not! How could I enjoy what was really his, when I had been blessed so? The answer is obvious. We're blessed when we do what's right!
In fifteen years I estimate that I turned $300 into around $40,000. That's 882% APR. That's a blessing! It was not of me, but of God. He blessed me! That hopefully will continue to grow as I'm blessed, I pray, but it's not for me that I want it. I desire that my wife be taken care of in my demise and that my children and grandchildren be helped if a need is there. Rather than "giving" to the able, which would forfeit their own blessings, my family, I'm sure, will be able to be blessed on their own with faith in God.
I read my letters home from college yesterday. Mom had saved several. I had ten dollars and bragged to Dad that ten-dollars was all I needed, when he offered to help me out. I talked of sending him $40 that I owed him, but I had $47. I felt guilty for not sending it all to him. Things were tight! However, with poverty I was happy. I had pride in "not borrowing anything", and I had forgotten that Dad had loaned me a small amount. Around $200 if I remember correctly.
I took that $200 and turned it into an education, and paid back the $200. I never, regardless of how small, failed to repay a loan! I won't divulge my value now. I'm not wealthy and have lost much in the market crash and by other means. However, I am blessed! The APR on that $200 Dad loaned me is astronomical! I am what I am today for two major reasons: 1) My parents helped me with $200 and nurturing my child, and 2) because God blessed me and continues to do so!
God blesses me, not because I deserve it, but because he's gracious! Like Paul, "I am the chiefest of sinners" and deserve not. However, I was never jealous of what others had! I have always been happy for the success of others. I have never held animosity toward the rich because I realize that without the wealthy, the avenue God used to bless me would have been closed! "Trickle down" economics works, because everyone benefits from the circulation of money.
I just gave the example on my original $300. I made money and helped a tremendous number of other people because God blessed me with their affluence! Without those who had wealth to spend, I could not have made a profit at all. Now, society expects "income equality" and "sharing of the wealth". Rather than allow the gendarmes to extract money from the king's subjects, we each should depend on God to bless us! How can we allow God to bless us when we have an "I deserve" and "That aint fair" attitude?
Jimmy Carter did say one thing that I agree with "Who said life is fair?". It's not! Jesus could have waved his arm and this life would have been fair. He didn't choose to do that because "leveling the playing field" isn't as important as "putting trees on mountain tops". Jesus didn't come to make us prosper, but that we should become a living sacrifice! We can bear our own crosses on the mountain top and we shall be blessed. If the government bears our cross for us, blessings will cease!
With the blessings I have, I can never expect to deserve them. If God took each of my sins and charged me penance, let's say $1 a sin, I would still be in the red. I can never repay God for my wrong to him. He expects us to make restitution to those we've wronged... to all... but him anyway. I paid back my debt to the old man, but I can never repay my debt to Jesus, yet he still blesses me!
There is the greatest blessing yet to come! Someday I will get the ultimate reward. Adam lost my life for me before I was ever born. I had no choice in the matter. However, at my death I shall become alive and live forever! And people fail to count their blessings....
Friday, February 13, 2015
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Why Obama is Against Israel
I won't go into detail, but with current events, it's obvious that Barack Hussein Obama is no friend of Israel. Tantamount among his dislikes is Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu. They don't get along and there are many reasons why. Herein, will be examined a few reasons for dissension between those who should be allies.
First off, Israel is our closest ally in the middle east. Their very existence is owed our presence. Every president since the foundation of Israel in 1948 has had strong ties with whatever prime minister of Israel who was in power at the time, regardless of their political party.
Israel is a nation, more so, an island nation, in a sea of discontent. It's no bigger than one of our smallest states, Delaware, but has tropical beaches to snow capped mountains. It has high points and the lowest "sea" in the world. But what Israel, formerly considered to be Palestine, has the most of, is religious significance for Jew, Christian and Moslem's. Over the centuries it has been ruled by sea tribes, the Jews, world empires, slaves who became generals, and Islamic caliphates, as well as Great Britain in modern times.
An Islamic Caliphate is an empire ruled by Sharia Law. Some of the early caliphates were the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid, etc. The latest one being the Ottoman Caliphate also called the Ottoman Empire. It lasted from around 1500 to 1924. The current nation of Turkey, a western ally, was formed from the last of the Ottoman Empire. During WWI the Ottomon Empire had allied itself with Germany and of Kaisar Wilhelm, the last caliphate was broken up by the Treat y of Versaille.
Under Queen Victoria Great Britain's Empire, it was said "never have the sun set on it" for it had colonized all over the world. There was a race for empire building among those countries in power prior to 1900 and Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and many other countries ruled "third world" countries as colonies. Usually, a governor from the the mother countries ruled each of the local enclaves. For instance, South Africa had pockets ruled by both Holland and England.
This race for territory and resources was called "colonialism". After WWI Great Britain controlled not only India, but much of what had been the Islamic Ottoman Empire (i.e,, the Middle East). Most of the countries in the region now in existence were created under the influence of Great Britain. Prime Minister Churchill was an early stalwart of Israel Statehood. However, the first step in getting there was the formation of Palestine in the territory now claimed by Israel.
Let's stop for a moment and examine who the Palestinians are! The word "Palestine" is transliterated from the Hebrew word, Philistia, Most people would remember that war has always existed between the Philistines and Jews. However, not much is known about the Philistines other that they were "sea peoples" maybe from around Crete before they found a home on the same land God had already promised to the seed of Abraham.
If one examines the territory given to Israel by God it extended from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River and became David's empire. It included Syria, Jordan and much of Iraq. This land all still belongs to Israel as a divine gift from God. It belongs not at all to the "sea peoples" who were mere squatters until the rightful owners took possession.
Use of the word "Palestine" throughout history has not referred to nations, but areas on the map; settlements. However, when Palestine was formed a diverse people, even those descended from intermarried Jews, became "Palestinians". We know from scripture that Galatia (northern Israel) were a lower class mixed race of people. They were considered unclean by most of the Jewish people in apostolic times. Hence, Palestine, as a nation, has been in existence only from 1924 to 1948 (when Israel was carved out of part of what had been Palestine).
The people who inhabited Palestine were no more Philistines than any other person in the area. Palestine (or Philistia) in modern times is a man-made phenomena which has brought grief and war to those who live there ever since.
Many of the newly formed middle eastern countries became under the political control and administration of Great Britain, as many African countries had been for years.
WWII had a drastic effect on the middle east although those countries were not allied with either the allies nor axis powers, but were mostly under the influence of Great Britain. However, because of The Third Reich's so-called Jewish problem, many Arab (Islamic) leaders were sympathetic to the cause. Hitler met with them many times and even Egypt became a great battleground for control by both sides.
After WWII Israel was restored a nation in 1948! After the war there was antipathy and even war between the British and Jewish groups. As a people nobody wanted the Jews. Anti-semitism was not only a German institution,, but world wide, even in England! The British who had control of Palestine after the WWI under "Mandatory Palestine" agreed to pull out and the United Nations carved out a portion of Mandatory Palestine for the Jewish homeland. Hence, Jews came home and had their independence for the time in thousands of years, fulfilling Bible prophecy, but still has yet to receive all their divine inheritance.
Over time Great Britain lost most of the colonies it had all over the world, including the Middle East. New countries developed with new leaders. Most of the middle eastern countries became monarchies. Dictators kept Islam under control and many of them were westernized. As a result Moslems hate colonizers, the west and Jews!
There were groups all over the world who were "anti-colonials". Their movement is called anti-imperialism.
If one examines President Obama's life, he is the son and a grandson of ant-colonialists. I won't go into the many books and articles about Obama's lineage, but according to Dinesh D’Souza’s 2010 book The Roots of Obama’s Rage, Barack Obama, Sr. was a Kenyan economist who was strongly anti-imperialistic. (Former colony Kenya claims "Junior" as their native son).
Baraka Hussein Obama, when he "converted" from Islam to Anglicism changed his name to Barack. (Wikipedia). His actions show that his heart lies close to his early upbringing from both a religious and geo-political perspective. His actions show that he is biased toward Islam and against Judaism, and Christianity it seems, and toward revolution away from monarchical and capitalistic systems both here and in the third world.
I've built up to this point: All the evidence points toward Obama having an agenda against Judaism, against capitalism, and because of it's support for Israel, against evangelical Christianity. His policies and feigned confusion of world events is intentional in my belief, and is the use of his power to subvert capitalism and its religious institutions. Likewise, I believe that because of his anti-imperialism heritage, he is a communist at heart, his policies are socialism, and democracy in truth is chilling to his heart.
No doubt, that not only does Obama, as he expresses, wants a two country solution in Palestine, but his ultimate goal is restoration of the former Palestine to its Islamic peoples. His goal, then, is the destruction of Israel, and his policies all point that way!
Why do I care? The War of Armegeddon is the outcome of ungodly confused policies, and I believe that Marxist Communism is the apocalyptic government which fights right there. Obama won't be their leader. He comes too soon! However, he sets the stage for the world leader who is to come and endeavor to place himself on the throne of God.
I'm sure that Obama does not know his purpose. He is probably totally unaware that his objectives match the objectives of evil. He's a mere tool in the war being raged by principalities. Satan picked a young man to place in a powerful position to implement his plan. Obama is the devil's anti-David. He is making it happen and his methods are not righteous! However, he seems to be a man after Satan''s own heart!
First off, Israel is our closest ally in the middle east. Their very existence is owed our presence. Every president since the foundation of Israel in 1948 has had strong ties with whatever prime minister of Israel who was in power at the time, regardless of their political party.
Israel is a nation, more so, an island nation, in a sea of discontent. It's no bigger than one of our smallest states, Delaware, but has tropical beaches to snow capped mountains. It has high points and the lowest "sea" in the world. But what Israel, formerly considered to be Palestine, has the most of, is religious significance for Jew, Christian and Moslem's. Over the centuries it has been ruled by sea tribes, the Jews, world empires, slaves who became generals, and Islamic caliphates, as well as Great Britain in modern times.
An Islamic Caliphate is an empire ruled by Sharia Law. Some of the early caliphates were the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid, etc. The latest one being the Ottoman Caliphate also called the Ottoman Empire. It lasted from around 1500 to 1924. The current nation of Turkey, a western ally, was formed from the last of the Ottoman Empire. During WWI the Ottomon Empire had allied itself with Germany and of Kaisar Wilhelm, the last caliphate was broken up by the Treat y of Versaille.
Under Queen Victoria Great Britain's Empire, it was said "never have the sun set on it" for it had colonized all over the world. There was a race for empire building among those countries in power prior to 1900 and Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and many other countries ruled "third world" countries as colonies. Usually, a governor from the the mother countries ruled each of the local enclaves. For instance, South Africa had pockets ruled by both Holland and England.
This race for territory and resources was called "colonialism". After WWI Great Britain controlled not only India, but much of what had been the Islamic Ottoman Empire (i.e,, the Middle East). Most of the countries in the region now in existence were created under the influence of Great Britain. Prime Minister Churchill was an early stalwart of Israel Statehood. However, the first step in getting there was the formation of Palestine in the territory now claimed by Israel.
Let's stop for a moment and examine who the Palestinians are! The word "Palestine" is transliterated from the Hebrew word, Philistia, Most people would remember that war has always existed between the Philistines and Jews. However, not much is known about the Philistines other that they were "sea peoples" maybe from around Crete before they found a home on the same land God had already promised to the seed of Abraham.
If one examines the territory given to Israel by God it extended from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River and became David's empire. It included Syria, Jordan and much of Iraq. This land all still belongs to Israel as a divine gift from God. It belongs not at all to the "sea peoples" who were mere squatters until the rightful owners took possession.
Use of the word "Palestine" throughout history has not referred to nations, but areas on the map; settlements. However, when Palestine was formed a diverse people, even those descended from intermarried Jews, became "Palestinians". We know from scripture that Galatia (northern Israel) were a lower class mixed race of people. They were considered unclean by most of the Jewish people in apostolic times. Hence, Palestine, as a nation, has been in existence only from 1924 to 1948 (when Israel was carved out of part of what had been Palestine).
The people who inhabited Palestine were no more Philistines than any other person in the area. Palestine (or Philistia) in modern times is a man-made phenomena which has brought grief and war to those who live there ever since.
Many of the newly formed middle eastern countries became under the political control and administration of Great Britain, as many African countries had been for years.
WWII had a drastic effect on the middle east although those countries were not allied with either the allies nor axis powers, but were mostly under the influence of Great Britain. However, because of The Third Reich's so-called Jewish problem, many Arab (Islamic) leaders were sympathetic to the cause. Hitler met with them many times and even Egypt became a great battleground for control by both sides.
After WWII Israel was restored a nation in 1948! After the war there was antipathy and even war between the British and Jewish groups. As a people nobody wanted the Jews. Anti-semitism was not only a German institution,, but world wide, even in England! The British who had control of Palestine after the WWI under "Mandatory Palestine" agreed to pull out and the United Nations carved out a portion of Mandatory Palestine for the Jewish homeland. Hence, Jews came home and had their independence for the time in thousands of years, fulfilling Bible prophecy, but still has yet to receive all their divine inheritance.
Over time Great Britain lost most of the colonies it had all over the world, including the Middle East. New countries developed with new leaders. Most of the middle eastern countries became monarchies. Dictators kept Islam under control and many of them were westernized. As a result Moslems hate colonizers, the west and Jews!
There were groups all over the world who were "anti-colonials". Their movement is called anti-imperialism.
"Anti-imperialism includes opposition to wars of conquest, especially wars meant to conquer and colonise countries whose territories do not border the imperial power, and wars meant to subjugate peoples of different cultures; the term also comprises political opposition to the territorial expansion of a country beyond its established borders." ( Imperialism: The Story and Significance of a Political Word, 1840–1960 (2010), by Richard Koebner and Helmut Schmidt.)Note that these people are against wars where gain is a motive, and against the subjugation of indigenous peoples. Anti-imperialism looks much like the humanitarian or "social justice" movement, and just as those radicals fight hard now, they did then! The strong desire to create a "level-playing field" for all peoples coincides well with Marxism, which during this time, was a powerful world factor and still is. Marxists believe that imperialism is the last stage of capitalism from which socialism gains its power. Hence, there are strong ties between anti-colonialism and communism with the leaders of the anti-imperialists usually being revolutionary communists. (Che Guevera was a notable communist anti-imperialism leader in the 1960s and has become a hero to social activists and progressives).
If one examines President Obama's life, he is the son and a grandson of ant-colonialists. I won't go into the many books and articles about Obama's lineage, but according to Dinesh D’Souza’s 2010 book The Roots of Obama’s Rage, Barack Obama, Sr. was a Kenyan economist who was strongly anti-imperialistic. (Former colony Kenya claims "Junior" as their native son).
Baraka Hussein Obama, when he "converted" from Islam to Anglicism changed his name to Barack. (Wikipedia). His actions show that his heart lies close to his early upbringing from both a religious and geo-political perspective. His actions show that he is biased toward Islam and against Judaism, and Christianity it seems, and toward revolution away from monarchical and capitalistic systems both here and in the third world.
I've built up to this point: All the evidence points toward Obama having an agenda against Judaism, against capitalism, and because of it's support for Israel, against evangelical Christianity. His policies and feigned confusion of world events is intentional in my belief, and is the use of his power to subvert capitalism and its religious institutions. Likewise, I believe that because of his anti-imperialism heritage, he is a communist at heart, his policies are socialism, and democracy in truth is chilling to his heart.
No doubt, that not only does Obama, as he expresses, wants a two country solution in Palestine, but his ultimate goal is restoration of the former Palestine to its Islamic peoples. His goal, then, is the destruction of Israel, and his policies all point that way!
Why do I care? The War of Armegeddon is the outcome of ungodly confused policies, and I believe that Marxist Communism is the apocalyptic government which fights right there. Obama won't be their leader. He comes too soon! However, he sets the stage for the world leader who is to come and endeavor to place himself on the throne of God.
I'm sure that Obama does not know his purpose. He is probably totally unaware that his objectives match the objectives of evil. He's a mere tool in the war being raged by principalities. Satan picked a young man to place in a powerful position to implement his plan. Obama is the devil's anti-David. He is making it happen and his methods are not righteous! However, he seems to be a man after Satan''s own heart!
Test Your Salvation: How to tell if you are!
How do you know for sure if you're saved? Check for two things: Do you have a heartbeat and are you still on the realm called earth? If your heart is beating and you're still here, you're NOT saved. If you have a spirit residing in a new body and you're in paradise, then you're saved! Let me explain.
It struck me tonight that I'm not yet saved! Don't pray for me yet, nor worry about my spiritual condition because I am "safed". Let's move on. When we accept Jesus it is commonly said that we have become "saved". However, that's not the case. Because we have faith we have the "hope of salvation"! To comprehend where this is leading, ask yourself, "What am I saved from?" We're saved from the second death:
Being "saved" must be understood as a believer that you have" the hope of avoiding hell". We'll look at that further in a moment.
Scripture does refer to salvation in the past tense. However, it is predicated on faith.
"Grace" is at fault for people improperly using the term "I'm saved". The reformed belief in sola gratia (by grace alone), is the culprit. That stems from the Calvinistic viewpoint that salvation is for the "elect" and "is irresistible" and that there is nothing that you can do to assist God since you're "totally depraved"! However, scripture is clear that we must DO things: "repent and be saved". "Repentance" implies that one has sorrow.
John Wesley calls our ability to feel sorrow, even twhile still a lost sinner, not as "receptive" on our part, but as "prevenient or preventing grace". That's God's mercy on his creation and although his salvation is a gift, God is merciful to the extent that he beacons us to accept his grace. He stands at the door and knocks! We must do something! We must answer the knock. That's a "work" we must do.
St. Augustine was an early proponent of the concept of the "grace of God". That's essential doctrine. Salvation is all about grace. We don't deserve heaven because we are indeed born in sin, but because God is a merciful God, he developed a plan from the beginning for all mankind! The Law was NEVER the way to salvation! It has always been by faith in Jesus; the patriarchs in what he was to do, and ours in what he did do!
It was Calvin and his contemporaries who developed the erronius doctrine of sola gratia. That's why there is nothing we can do to prevent salvation or to receive it, according to their understanding. That's why "faith", in their doctrine, is the mere belief one instant in time which you can't resist. That's why "faith" does not have to be steadfast nor enduring. That's why the doctrine of eternal security fails to lead to enduring faith. That's why people are called "saved" when they are born-again, when the "day of salvation" has not yet arrived.
If we're not saved when we first believed, then what are we? It's that word "born-again"!
To validate this contention study the following verse:
One preacher always asked in jest: "Larry, have you been saved again?", ridiculing "conditional security". One can never be "saved again" because no one who has yet to die have not themselves been saved!
An analogy, although simplistic, is that if we're drowning, but see the boat, we feel "safe" for salvation is in sight, but we're not actually "saved" until we're in the boat and delivered to shore!
In all honesty, it would appear that the day you first believe is the "day of salvation":
So when we are born-again, we have faith. With faith therein lies hope. We're not yet "saved", but have "the hope of salvation":
There is no penalty if I'm wrong in my doctrine, but if those who fail to see the dangers inherent in eternal security are wrong, it could be damning.
It struck me tonight that I'm not yet saved! Don't pray for me yet, nor worry about my spiritual condition because I am "safed". Let's move on. When we accept Jesus it is commonly said that we have become "saved". However, that's not the case. Because we have faith we have the "hope of salvation"! To comprehend where this is leading, ask yourself, "What am I saved from?" We're saved from the second death:
Revelation 20:14 (ESV) "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire."When we become a disciple of Christ our faith is what "saves" us from spiritually dying in "the lake of fire'. Our faith "saves" us from going to hell. Rather than dying spiritually forever, which IS death, but is more accurately "eternally living in torment", our reward shall be to live forever, both spiritually and physically. We become immortal:
John 3:15 (ESV) "that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."Hence, rather than being "saved" we MAY HAVE eternal life. Believing is not "maybe we're Christians", but that "there is a possibility than one may someday have unbelief". There is some time difference in between when we first believe and when we are rewarded for it. Rather than saying that I'm "saved" it's more true to say that "I have the hope of a final reward"!
Being "saved" must be understood as a believer that you have" the hope of avoiding hell". We'll look at that further in a moment.
Scripture does refer to salvation in the past tense. However, it is predicated on faith.
Ephesians 2:8 (ESV) "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God..."In effect because of a person's faith they are saved, but is faith an instant in time or a lifetime of trusting in Jesus?
1 Colossians 1:22 (ESV) "... he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation"Faith is for the rest of your life! You must have continuity in trusting Jesus from here on out, after you first believe. It's not something that you bounce in and out of, but it is stable and steadfast. Sure, we'll still slip and sin, but with that, if we're steadfast, we'll repent as well! Therefore the key idea in what is erroneously called "are you saved" is that faith must have longevity and be continuous. You have been "saved by faith" cannot mean that you are saved at the first belief, but at death, to which our faith must extend.
"Grace" is at fault for people improperly using the term "I'm saved". The reformed belief in sola gratia (by grace alone), is the culprit. That stems from the Calvinistic viewpoint that salvation is for the "elect" and "is irresistible" and that there is nothing that you can do to assist God since you're "totally depraved"! However, scripture is clear that we must DO things: "repent and be saved". "Repentance" implies that one has sorrow.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV) "For godly grief (sorrow in KJV) produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret..."Being sorrowful and repenting are the two things we must have and DO to become saved. It's not sorrow and repentance that is felt for the moment and repented of what's past, but a sorrow everlasting of what you were and that repentance is not only for what you have done, but will continue as you live your life. The Holy Ghost imposes guilt on us when we sin, we feel sorrow, and that sorrow leads us to repent time and time again. Romans 3:25 tells us that "for the remission of sins that are past" occurred when we showed faith. He died for ALL our sins, but we're still called to repent of sins as we do them. That's having "steadfast and continuous faith" in Jesus.
John Wesley calls our ability to feel sorrow, even twhile still a lost sinner, not as "receptive" on our part, but as "prevenient or preventing grace". That's God's mercy on his creation and although his salvation is a gift, God is merciful to the extent that he beacons us to accept his grace. He stands at the door and knocks! We must do something! We must answer the knock. That's a "work" we must do.
St. Augustine was an early proponent of the concept of the "grace of God". That's essential doctrine. Salvation is all about grace. We don't deserve heaven because we are indeed born in sin, but because God is a merciful God, he developed a plan from the beginning for all mankind! The Law was NEVER the way to salvation! It has always been by faith in Jesus; the patriarchs in what he was to do, and ours in what he did do!
It was Calvin and his contemporaries who developed the erronius doctrine of sola gratia. That's why there is nothing we can do to prevent salvation or to receive it, according to their understanding. That's why "faith", in their doctrine, is the mere belief one instant in time which you can't resist. That's why "faith" does not have to be steadfast nor enduring. That's why the doctrine of eternal security fails to lead to enduring faith. That's why people are called "saved" when they are born-again, when the "day of salvation" has not yet arrived.
If we're not saved when we first believed, then what are we? It's that word "born-again"!
John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.... (and went on to explain rebirth) 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."Being "born-again" is what a Christian becomes with belief. Belief is the first step taken in faith, followed by trust. Belief and trust, along with love, must be enduring. When speaking of "born again" the eunuch's "salvation" is defined as that in the end (at death) he "should not perish" (go to hell), but live eternally. The promise of "salvation" is clearly after the termination of life. Our faith makes us "safe" because we are assured that if we have faith we will be "saved". Hence, I sense that we've been "safed" is much truer than saying that we are already "saved"! (That's my contention as one born-again, based on scripture, not the doctrines which precede me).
To validate this contention study the following verse:
Romans 13:11 (ESV) "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed."When "we first believed" is not when "salvation" is. At the time Paul wrote that those "born-again" were further along the road toward salvation than they were at first. Salvation is a single point in time, not a lifestyle because we are "saved" from the second death after the first death, and we're saved only at that one time.
One preacher always asked in jest: "Larry, have you been saved again?", ridiculing "conditional security". One can never be "saved again" because no one who has yet to die have not themselves been saved!
An analogy, although simplistic, is that if we're drowning, but see the boat, we feel "safe" for salvation is in sight, but we're not actually "saved" until we're in the boat and delivered to shore!
In all honesty, it would appear that the day you first believe is the "day of salvation":
2 Corinthians 6:1 (ESV) "Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,In context this is true. Most of us know that two choices await is, and for atheists, three. We will either go to hell or be rewarded with eternal life in heaven. (Atheists merely decay, or so they think!) We will be "saved" after the first death from the second, but we don't wait until the time of death to seek God's gift. Today is the day we first believe! In effect Paul was merely saying "Why wait until you're on your deathbed? Today is the day you commence the race in faith, by trusting in the Lord now!
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” (from Isaiah 49:8)
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
So when we are born-again, we have faith. With faith therein lies hope. We're not yet "saved", but have "the hope of salvation":
Thessalonians 5:8 (ESV) But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love [when we're born-again], and for a helmet the hope of salvation.When is the "day of salvation" or properly, "the day that we're saved from wrath"?
Revelation 12:10 (ESV) And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come,We're saved after we die. When our souls are taken safely away to be with Jesus, awaiting the day when the body is raised from where it lies and is resurrected. That's the day we're saved! Until then I'm "born-again", I'm a "disciple of Christ" and I'm "safed". God, as he did with Job, puts a hedge around me. He provides Comfort with his infilling of the Holy Spirit to keep me "safe" as long as I trust and obey him. Hence, I'm "safed" in that I live in a protective shell called reverently the Holy Ghost. With his help I can win this race, with hurdles set out by the devil and sand traps by his demons. It's a race of endurance:
Matthew 24:10 (ESV) "And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved."It's clear for those of us who were not a victim of wrong doctrines in our early stages of belief, that we adjust our pride and say "Lord, I've been wrong! I need to love you and others (in obedience to your commandments), and endure for my lifetime. I repent of my sins and call on your to keep me from sinning because I can grow cold and drift away."
There is no penalty if I'm wrong in my doctrine, but if those who fail to see the dangers inherent in eternal security are wrong, it could be damning.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Cracking the Door
The door is solid and the glass opaque dims the view. The stranger outside can scarce be seen. He, or so it seems, agilely sways to and fro as in a hurry to be discovered. He taps gently on the door when the musical summons fails to gain him entry. You see him there. He can't be ignored!
"Oh, yes!" you think, "it must be some gift or possibly flowers from the one I miss!" You ask "Who's there?' and hear the faint reply. "Just a delivery ma'am, just a delivery!
Smiling, yet cautious, but still in anticipation, you crack the door. You speak again "What have you got for me?" The friendly response is "A gift for your ma'am, it seems!.
Now wildly excited you remove the chain and suddenly crooked fingers wedge the gap between the door and the jamb. Then with a forceful shove with his bulky shoulder, the intruder is now in charge! You start to scream, but to no avail. His ruddy hands enfolds those sweet lips and now you're his
As you scream a muffled scream and panic in terror, you realize that what was most pleasant to perceive was indeed a deadly poison. Your vulnerability fed the beastly desires of a serial rapist, if not a killer. Before you think of danger, it's too late! Now you've submitted. Maybe he won't expect much and you can live on with only a few scars. Or, as you consider things more fully, "Perhaps he will kill me or make me serve him!" Either outcome is extreme payment for only "cracking the door"!
This is a fictitious account, if not realistic. Women make this mistake often and may not live to regret it! The example account was a victimized woman, but in the hands of evil, we may all may be victimized. The victim can be you and often is you! It's not the evil men which I fear for us, but the demon who knocks and knocks and knocks. He moves from door to door awaiting an answer, and the inhabitants until now safe, crack the door! Just a little it's cracked, but that small crack makes the most stolid person vulnerable to forces, not immaculate, but powerful still.
Demons are patient! We don't believe in them as a society, but they laugh at our naivete. We are mocked when we disbelieve, but they laugh heinously as we smoothly move on our way. I can hear their banshee laugh right now, waiting for me to crack my door; just a little, but that all they need for their stalwart fingers to make my life theirs. How do I know they exist? I believe Jesus. He held the door tight, and even when offered the world as his, he knew it wise not even to consider "cracking that door"! Jesus believed in demons and they believed in him!
We say we believe in Jesus, but fail to believe what he knew. How is it that we "crack that door" and danger is imminent? We pay attention to the knock. We listen to the smooth voice of the deliveryman, or so he claims to be! We believe when he promises pleasure in his delivery. He tempts us with promises of wealth or power. We smile in anticipation, then we cautiously "crack the door". "He's a pleasant looking delivery man!" we think in rationalizing our fear. "I shall trust him, but cautiously so! I see the package held in those handsome hands. It's wrapped beautifully!" I think. As he gives you the hand-written note which says "For you with love for your pleasure.", the door is now unchained and cracked.
It's not beauty which you had seen, but a facade of demon deception! Evil takes on any form to deceive who it might. You cracked the door for something perceived as beautiful, but that lamb was a wolf in disguise, so to speak. However, he does hold a pretty gift, so you decide to ignore the ugliness of the bearer and enjoy the fruits of what he holds. The box he holds a beautiful basket. It will be good to eat, pleasant to behold and shall make you even wiser! Just one time, I'll take that package.
As I reach out for what I want, the demon vanishes into the dark. He's satisfied! He's done his job quite well once again. The Master will be pleased for he's sure you're his. This gift that you have taken is one that never quits. A habit it becomes to eat of the forbidden fruit and the fruit is supplied by one of those gift clubs. You enjoy what you have for now, knowing more is on its way, but future gifts are different; for their pleasure you become a slave. You no longer wait for more to come your way. You venture out on your own to satisfy that crave.
Demons are smart creatures. They often work only once. Because once you're enslaved, his job is done by you. Whereas, before he tempted, now you live for him. As you do his job, you sing his naughty hymn! The creature you now serve, you will be his forever because you cracked that door a little, and a little made the you a tare. When once you were safe inside protected by God's armor, now your exposed to Satan and his evil delivery charmers. Never crack that door, even a little, or you'll regret, that you opened that door and exposed yourself to what the serpent offers yet!
Albeit, I should have said it before, but my warning is so important; there comes a knock that should be answered, but it's a knock of one who defeats all harm. The person knocks a loving knock, and he too bears a gift. His gift is not of pleasure, but of joy and happiness. As you look at the door, his truth is transparent. He offers you a gift, but it's because he's as a parent. He's your Father. He needs no tricks to deceive, for his Way is the Truth. He wants one thing for you, and that's for you to love him too!
When you open the door for him, the demons shy away. He puts a hedge around your door and keeps the boogers away. He's dressed in white linen to signify he's pure. He radiates a light which shines through your now translucent door. He smiles because he loves you, and wants you for your love. Unlike the devil before him, he'll ascend with you above.
Before a prince was at the door and pretended to be a king. Now the King is at your door and becomes for real a servant. He didn't come to Lord over, but to serve you because you're weak. He's got his throne in heaven. He doesn't need one here. He's called "King of the Jews" because that was what was written. His killers thought they killed him and denigrated his name, He's not "King of the Jews", but all who call his name!
If you have to crack the door, maybe you should not! If you can't open the door wide perhaps it's best you not. Open the door wide when that knock comes undisguised and full of truth. You'll know who it is if you read that book of truth. However, when he knocks, it must be answered, for he may only knock once. Once is all it takes, but your chance is when he knocks. If the knock is rejected too often, it may be that he's lost hope in you, fearing that rather than open wide for him, you crack that door a little bit, and hear those lies of demons, and submit submit submit until you have fully succumbed.
Take the narrow gate on your way out the door, for the wide path is to destruction of which I warned before!
"Oh, yes!" you think, "it must be some gift or possibly flowers from the one I miss!" You ask "Who's there?' and hear the faint reply. "Just a delivery ma'am, just a delivery!
Smiling, yet cautious, but still in anticipation, you crack the door. You speak again "What have you got for me?" The friendly response is "A gift for your ma'am, it seems!.
Now wildly excited you remove the chain and suddenly crooked fingers wedge the gap between the door and the jamb. Then with a forceful shove with his bulky shoulder, the intruder is now in charge! You start to scream, but to no avail. His ruddy hands enfolds those sweet lips and now you're his
As you scream a muffled scream and panic in terror, you realize that what was most pleasant to perceive was indeed a deadly poison. Your vulnerability fed the beastly desires of a serial rapist, if not a killer. Before you think of danger, it's too late! Now you've submitted. Maybe he won't expect much and you can live on with only a few scars. Or, as you consider things more fully, "Perhaps he will kill me or make me serve him!" Either outcome is extreme payment for only "cracking the door"!
This is a fictitious account, if not realistic. Women make this mistake often and may not live to regret it! The example account was a victimized woman, but in the hands of evil, we may all may be victimized. The victim can be you and often is you! It's not the evil men which I fear for us, but the demon who knocks and knocks and knocks. He moves from door to door awaiting an answer, and the inhabitants until now safe, crack the door! Just a little it's cracked, but that small crack makes the most stolid person vulnerable to forces, not immaculate, but powerful still.
Demons are patient! We don't believe in them as a society, but they laugh at our naivete. We are mocked when we disbelieve, but they laugh heinously as we smoothly move on our way. I can hear their banshee laugh right now, waiting for me to crack my door; just a little, but that all they need for their stalwart fingers to make my life theirs. How do I know they exist? I believe Jesus. He held the door tight, and even when offered the world as his, he knew it wise not even to consider "cracking that door"! Jesus believed in demons and they believed in him!
We say we believe in Jesus, but fail to believe what he knew. How is it that we "crack that door" and danger is imminent? We pay attention to the knock. We listen to the smooth voice of the deliveryman, or so he claims to be! We believe when he promises pleasure in his delivery. He tempts us with promises of wealth or power. We smile in anticipation, then we cautiously "crack the door". "He's a pleasant looking delivery man!" we think in rationalizing our fear. "I shall trust him, but cautiously so! I see the package held in those handsome hands. It's wrapped beautifully!" I think. As he gives you the hand-written note which says "For you with love for your pleasure.", the door is now unchained and cracked.
It's not beauty which you had seen, but a facade of demon deception! Evil takes on any form to deceive who it might. You cracked the door for something perceived as beautiful, but that lamb was a wolf in disguise, so to speak. However, he does hold a pretty gift, so you decide to ignore the ugliness of the bearer and enjoy the fruits of what he holds. The box he holds a beautiful basket. It will be good to eat, pleasant to behold and shall make you even wiser! Just one time, I'll take that package.
As I reach out for what I want, the demon vanishes into the dark. He's satisfied! He's done his job quite well once again. The Master will be pleased for he's sure you're his. This gift that you have taken is one that never quits. A habit it becomes to eat of the forbidden fruit and the fruit is supplied by one of those gift clubs. You enjoy what you have for now, knowing more is on its way, but future gifts are different; for their pleasure you become a slave. You no longer wait for more to come your way. You venture out on your own to satisfy that crave.
Demons are smart creatures. They often work only once. Because once you're enslaved, his job is done by you. Whereas, before he tempted, now you live for him. As you do his job, you sing his naughty hymn! The creature you now serve, you will be his forever because you cracked that door a little, and a little made the you a tare. When once you were safe inside protected by God's armor, now your exposed to Satan and his evil delivery charmers. Never crack that door, even a little, or you'll regret, that you opened that door and exposed yourself to what the serpent offers yet!
Albeit, I should have said it before, but my warning is so important; there comes a knock that should be answered, but it's a knock of one who defeats all harm. The person knocks a loving knock, and he too bears a gift. His gift is not of pleasure, but of joy and happiness. As you look at the door, his truth is transparent. He offers you a gift, but it's because he's as a parent. He's your Father. He needs no tricks to deceive, for his Way is the Truth. He wants one thing for you, and that's for you to love him too!
When you open the door for him, the demons shy away. He puts a hedge around your door and keeps the boogers away. He's dressed in white linen to signify he's pure. He radiates a light which shines through your now translucent door. He smiles because he loves you, and wants you for your love. Unlike the devil before him, he'll ascend with you above.
Before a prince was at the door and pretended to be a king. Now the King is at your door and becomes for real a servant. He didn't come to Lord over, but to serve you because you're weak. He's got his throne in heaven. He doesn't need one here. He's called "King of the Jews" because that was what was written. His killers thought they killed him and denigrated his name, He's not "King of the Jews", but all who call his name!
If you have to crack the door, maybe you should not! If you can't open the door wide perhaps it's best you not. Open the door wide when that knock comes undisguised and full of truth. You'll know who it is if you read that book of truth. However, when he knocks, it must be answered, for he may only knock once. Once is all it takes, but your chance is when he knocks. If the knock is rejected too often, it may be that he's lost hope in you, fearing that rather than open wide for him, you crack that door a little bit, and hear those lies of demons, and submit submit submit until you have fully succumbed.
Take the narrow gate on your way out the door, for the wide path is to destruction of which I warned before!
Voyage to Paradise
When life ebbs its flow and glow turns to gloom.
Then perhaps in darkness our soul repines.
We extend our arm with aimless motion.
Our gesture which beacons the ship to shore.
Await we must for the anchor to weigh.
Patiently we wait for the Captain's signal;
that all cargo is loaded with ample for all.
Sailing to places known only from lore!
Oh, this wondrous trip is about to be.
All papers are in order with proof of me.
Names must be written in the Book of Life.
Change is a must from what was before!
The Captain motions for me to make haste.
The ship must sail and catch the March winds.
But the certificate to travel cannot be found.
Oh, what can I do, can there be more?
The captain is patient and a man of honor.
He wants to be fair and allow any to enter.
But some he suspects are there without merit.
Evil people who must sail the ship "Whore"!
There remains one answer for any to pass.
Do I deserve a voyage to Paradise?
Working hard and long is not payment enough.
For this trip is free for all who open the door!
The One who knocks must be answered.
The knock answered must be from the One.
The One is the Way and the Way is One.
No turning back from where you were before!
The ticket you have must be stamped and sealed;
having both the stamp of faith and the seal of love.
The impression on the seal is the face of Jesus.
A voyage for free since my deserves are poor!
This ship named "Meek" is for servants you see!
A ship bound for Glory where beauty abounds.
My Captain sails with me and Him I'll serve!
My Captain is Jesus and he's the One I adore!
Then perhaps in darkness our soul repines.
We extend our arm with aimless motion.
Our gesture which beacons the ship to shore.
Await we must for the anchor to weigh.
Patiently we wait for the Captain's signal;
that all cargo is loaded with ample for all.
Sailing to places known only from lore!
Oh, this wondrous trip is about to be.
All papers are in order with proof of me.
Names must be written in the Book of Life.
Change is a must from what was before!
The Captain motions for me to make haste.
The ship must sail and catch the March winds.
But the certificate to travel cannot be found.
Oh, what can I do, can there be more?
The captain is patient and a man of honor.
He wants to be fair and allow any to enter.
But some he suspects are there without merit.
Evil people who must sail the ship "Whore"!
There remains one answer for any to pass.
Do I deserve a voyage to Paradise?
Working hard and long is not payment enough.
For this trip is free for all who open the door!
The One who knocks must be answered.
The knock answered must be from the One.
The One is the Way and the Way is One.
No turning back from where you were before!
The ticket you have must be stamped and sealed;
having both the stamp of faith and the seal of love.
The impression on the seal is the face of Jesus.
A voyage for free since my deserves are poor!
This ship named "Meek" is for servants you see!
A ship bound for Glory where beauty abounds.
My Captain sails with me and Him I'll serve!
My Captain is Jesus and he's the One I adore!
Monday, February 9, 2015
What's In It for Me?
In everything in which people participate they approach with the question, "What's in it for me?" "Come visit with us!" "What's in it for me?" People are not that outwardly crass. They say "What are we going to do?" That's just a more cultured way of asking the same question!
At "The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" the thought was "What's in it for me?' Eve didn't ask that question, but that's what she was thinking! The serpent perceived her question and answered it.
The serpent told Eve about the new ability she was about to have, but he never informed her of the consequences of reason. He deceived her outright, and even before she ate, she began the rationalizing:
The serpent never even suggested that the tree tasted good nor was pleasing to look at. Because it was to make her "wise" she asked, in her new wisdom, "What else is in it for me?" Before she ate of the tree she was already in rebellion. She saw that old tree and thought "There's much there for me!"
We're no different than Eve. Before we even sin, we are tempted. Temptation is Satan's way of silently deceiving you into asking "What's in it for me?" The reason people sin is because they desire. There is something in it for them! With the tree Eve thought she was getting tasty fruit, pleasant colors and wisdom. We don't know that the tree provided any of the three! The fruit may have been bitter, it could have been full of seeds and ugly inside and the knowledge was surely false. I don't believe that Eve got what she was thinking when she thought "What's in it for me?"
With sin we don't get what we think that we're getting! We may have pleasure in what we get because that's Satan's M.O. However, pleasure is different than happiness, although being happy is pleasant! True happiness is enjoying the fruits of God without guilt or remorse. Pleasure can be the same, but most often what comes with fleshly pleasure are consequences and guilt!
When Eve thought "What's in it for me?" Satan gave a partial truth as he often does, but the bread of truth was buttered with slime. He failed to mention consequences and guilt. When Eve ate of the tree it was "What's in it for me?" attitude that aroused her. She never thought what will this do to me? When we sin, most often we neglect that question as well for two reasons: 1) We're focused on our own satisfaction, and 2) our reason is faulty. We fail to think of obvious outcomes and seldom use our reason for good. When tempted to steal the thief will think "Much is in it for me!" Most have only fleeting thoughts of "What can this do to me?"
If another person engages in illicit sex, the answer to he question is "Five minutes of pleasure is in it for me!". Think no further! Don't think on fairness, guilt, STDs, and God's will. All Satan wants you to think is "What's in it for me?" All sin has the same rationalizations. For the thief, it may be "It's a rich bank for the wealthy". For the fornicator the rationalization may be "It's just a meaningless mechanical action!" Thoughts like that are not wisdom and are not of God. You've just been duped by the serpent.He says that because the he duped your ancestors before you. If it worked well one time, why not do it all the time! People never learn!
At "The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" the thought was "What's in it for me?' Eve didn't ask that question, but that's what she was thinking! The serpent perceived her question and answered it.
Genesis 3:5 "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."What was in it for Eve? She shall have reason! Reason is the ability to take in information, process it against standards and then act on it. Innocence was what Eve had before, now she has reason. That's what was in it for her! Of course knowing "good" from "evil" doesn't mean that "good" will be chosen, because with reason, comes "rationalizing". People build a case in their own mind, a fiction normally, which they claim "justifies" disobedience. People use "justify" casually for "rationalize" all the time. It's faulty reasoning!
The serpent told Eve about the new ability she was about to have, but he never informed her of the consequences of reason. He deceived her outright, and even before she ate, she began the rationalizing:
Genesis 3:6 "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."You see, Eve was in sin before she even ate of the tree! In her mind she was already enjoying the tree's fruit. Her innocence was lost when she usurped her role and communicated with the serpent. It was Adam's job to take on the role of priest, but Eve assumed that position. She was as guilty as Saul was when he assumed the power of Samuel, and did priestly duties which he was not charged by God to do! Saul lost his anointing and his authority. Eve lost her innocence and her immortality!
The serpent never even suggested that the tree tasted good nor was pleasing to look at. Because it was to make her "wise" she asked, in her new wisdom, "What else is in it for me?" Before she ate of the tree she was already in rebellion. She saw that old tree and thought "There's much there for me!"
We're no different than Eve. Before we even sin, we are tempted. Temptation is Satan's way of silently deceiving you into asking "What's in it for me?" The reason people sin is because they desire. There is something in it for them! With the tree Eve thought she was getting tasty fruit, pleasant colors and wisdom. We don't know that the tree provided any of the three! The fruit may have been bitter, it could have been full of seeds and ugly inside and the knowledge was surely false. I don't believe that Eve got what she was thinking when she thought "What's in it for me?"
With sin we don't get what we think that we're getting! We may have pleasure in what we get because that's Satan's M.O. However, pleasure is different than happiness, although being happy is pleasant! True happiness is enjoying the fruits of God without guilt or remorse. Pleasure can be the same, but most often what comes with fleshly pleasure are consequences and guilt!
When Eve thought "What's in it for me?" Satan gave a partial truth as he often does, but the bread of truth was buttered with slime. He failed to mention consequences and guilt. When Eve ate of the tree it was "What's in it for me?" attitude that aroused her. She never thought what will this do to me? When we sin, most often we neglect that question as well for two reasons: 1) We're focused on our own satisfaction, and 2) our reason is faulty. We fail to think of obvious outcomes and seldom use our reason for good. When tempted to steal the thief will think "Much is in it for me!" Most have only fleeting thoughts of "What can this do to me?"
If another person engages in illicit sex, the answer to he question is "Five minutes of pleasure is in it for me!". Think no further! Don't think on fairness, guilt, STDs, and God's will. All Satan wants you to think is "What's in it for me?" All sin has the same rationalizations. For the thief, it may be "It's a rich bank for the wealthy". For the fornicator the rationalization may be "It's just a meaningless mechanical action!" Thoughts like that are not wisdom and are not of God. You've just been duped by the serpent.He says that because the he duped your ancestors before you. If it worked well one time, why not do it all the time! People never learn!
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Sunday Without God
I missed church today and since I was sick, I must admit that I had a "Sunday Without God" for the most part. That's because most all of my thoughts were on me and about me. This Sunday was all about me and how bad I felt. On the seventh day, I took a day off from God. On the day dedicated to him, I took that day.
For me God took the day off because I did! He didn't hear me because I didn't pray nor sing. He didn't speak to me because I did not query. I did my will, not his! He did not see me because my knees weren't bent in respect. He didn't even smell the filth in my garbage bin of a heart because I made no effort to please him! Compounded by all those things, God had no mercy on me because I asked for none. I was complacent in my mere existence, and God does not force us to revere him. Since I didn't honor God, he merely loved me quietly because it was his day off!
I spent one Sunday without God. Many people spend Sunday after Sunday and day after day without allowing God to work in their lives. Although, I sit here thinking about God, for the most part I was self-absorbed. Most people are always self-absorbed. God gets many days off with them. It makes his job easier since he doesn't have to mess with their disobedience, but that part of the job, he hates. God sheds tears for us.
Genesis 2:2 "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made."On the seventh say, God rested from his work. That's why we honor the "Sabbath", that day meaning "a time of rest". As Christians, we take our day of rest on the Lord's Day, being Sunday. Today I rested from work and worship. The latter is not what was intended! What if God took Sunday's off? Let's see what he would do! First he would turn the volume down so that he couldn't here are whining about how tough sin is and how strong the devil seems to be. He would close his eyes to all that distracted him. Our own apathy and lack of joy in church he would not see. He would not look on those at the golf course or other secular houses of worship. Then, he would hold his nose at the "filthy rags" which we call works. He would not feel for us because his emotions would lie dormant, and if we prayed, he would not answer because his tongue rests too! Truly, what if God did "rested on the seventh day"?
For me God took the day off because I did! He didn't hear me because I didn't pray nor sing. He didn't speak to me because I did not query. I did my will, not his! He did not see me because my knees weren't bent in respect. He didn't even smell the filth in my garbage bin of a heart because I made no effort to please him! Compounded by all those things, God had no mercy on me because I asked for none. I was complacent in my mere existence, and God does not force us to revere him. Since I didn't honor God, he merely loved me quietly because it was his day off!
I spent one Sunday without God. Many people spend Sunday after Sunday and day after day without allowing God to work in their lives. Although, I sit here thinking about God, for the most part I was self-absorbed. Most people are always self-absorbed. God gets many days off with them. It makes his job easier since he doesn't have to mess with their disobedience, but that part of the job, he hates. God sheds tears for us.
John 11:35 "Jesus wept."So short, but so meaningful! Why did Jesus cry? It was because he loved Lazarus. What's more he loves us all just as he did Lazarus! Jesus didn't take that day off... he was right there! Love never takes a holiday. Love for us is always there. When it seems that you are alone, Jesus weeps! When we do wrong, Jesus weeps. When we love him, Jesus weeps. When we don't love him, Jesus weeps. Jesus never takes the day off. Jesus never takes Sunday off for that much needed rest from rebellious children. There is never a "Sunday Without God"! Even when we're not, he's there!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)