The Lost Mandate of Heaven, Part 1G [Ideas Series, #7]

Exodus 32:1

"And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him."

When Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, it troubled the people of Israel. The people couldn't see the reason for the delay; as a result, they allowed it to stumble them. Moses was gone for forty days. This probably seemed like a long time to the people, but a short time to Moses. Certainly it was a short time related to the outworking of God's plan for Israel. And, yet...

The people gathered together to Aaron, and had him make them a golden calf. This sinful impulse came first from the people, not Aaron. Even so, Aaron succumbed easily to the pressure. The episode of sin described in this chapter happened because the people demanded it. This is an example of where it is not good to rule by democracy and to give the people what they want. It is very popular and fashionable right now in this juncture of American life to throw other people's hard earned money around to curry favor and buy a vote. If only Ol' Aaron could see things now!

Furthermore, when it comes to ministry, it can be so dangerous to start with what people want or what they feel they need. Instead of being fed the truth and living by it, people expect to be entertained and to have their ears tickled by their pastor. After all, it's not about how high you jump, but how straight you walk.

Also, be mindful that God's delay is not necessarily a denial. His ways are not our ways (Isa. 55:8-9). The people wanted gods to go before them. They knew the Lord led them out of Egypt and they knew the Lord God had revealed Himself at Mount Sinai. Yet, they were willing to trust a god they could make with their own hands to finish what the Lord began with His hand. Isn't that something? We want to finish God's work in us! We're truly an arrogant and reprobate bunch.

Consider Paul's dealing with the Galatians: "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3) It is possible to begin the Christian life trusting Jesus, and then to begin to trust self or one's own spirituality. Following our own gods is no better for us than it was for ancient Israel.

And so, instead of leaving this uncomfortable uncertainty with God, instead of waiting, Israel turned to the flesh. God tells us "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."  (Psalm 27:14)

An End Run Around the Constitution

Obama is motivated not just by kickbacks. His actions are consistent with his rhetoric. He states that the overarching principle directing his personal and political life is his sense of social justice. There is every reason to believe him. His actions and demeanor are consistent with a man who believes that his goal is of such high purpose that it justifies all manner of subterfuge and end-runs around Congress and the Constitution.

One cannot peer into the soul of one's fellow man, but certainly Obama's demeanor, rhetoric, and actions are consistent with an understanding of Obama as a man who is convinced that he has a superior vision for America. Obama seems every bit the moralist. He works for his just society with what appears to be moral conviction. During his years as a community organizer in Chicago, he saw the great inequities in American society -- inequities which, along with bigotry, he attributed to the American capitalist system. The people on the bottom rung, and especially their children, don't have a chance.

For Obama the cure is more government, more regulation, more intervention, and less individual freedom.

For instance:

1. Obama's failed proxy war on the 2nd Amendment viz-a-viz Eric Holder's debacle of a program in "Fast & Furious". The Obama Administration is stonewalling this investigation by declaring executive privilege.

2. Obama's end run around the American people and the legislators they have elected by having the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declare carbon a toxic pollutant, despite the fact that all life on the planet is basically carbon-based. But fascists can never be swayed by facts and Obama has shown that when it comes to imposing his self-righteous agenda he isn’t particularly squeamish about violating the principles of the Constitution or the rights of the people. Rather than just fine industry, the EPA ruling gives that agency the power to impose limits on the amount of carbon and other so-called “greenhouse gases” that can be released into the atmosphere.

3. Obama's violation of the law through the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] and the enactment of its de facto amnesty through his executive order, something the citizens of this country have opposed for decades. The outrageous announcement is that he will be granting backdoor amnesty to nearly 1 million young ILLEGAL aliens. Faced with falling support for re-election, he is making a play to boost his popularity among Latinos by doing yet another end run around Congress and the Constitution. What’s most troubling about the President’s announcement is that there was no debate, no opportunity to examine the policy, and once again he has completely circumvented the checks and balances in our Constitution. Unable to pass the Dream Act for the past two years, he has ordered his DHS to halt deportations and, in the next 60 days, they will begin handing out two-year renewable work permits to ILLEGAL youths. Just a coincidence, we are led to believe that this action that couldn’t pass the Congress LEGALLY will be enacted just in time for a presidential election. The coincidence deepens with the realization that the Department of Justice has blocked states from removing unqualified voters from their rolls, also in time for the election. The only consistent Democratic voters appear to be foreigners, dead people and multiple voters.

4. Obama's signature legislation that he signed back in March 2010. ObamaCare is designed to take away Constitutional freedoms and replace them with Maoist-style restrictions, and big, authoritarian government. This monstrosity of an abomination needs to be repealed. It was drafted behind closed doors; rammed through the reconciliation process; purchased with tax payers money by bribing recalcitrant and wavering congressmen (think Corn Husker Kickback, Louisana Purchase & the like); and sealed with a deadly kiss by a spineless Chief Justice John Roberts.

Beating A Dead Horse

And, why, pray tell, am I belaboring the point? Why am I beating a dead horse?

Because the people of this great Nation have failed to wait for God's best and His will. That's why. Instant gratification is something the American culture has lowered and debased itself to. And, the pandering, cynical politician know it and are using it to their gain. We are as much fault as the politicians doing end runs around the U.S.Constitution.

The Declaration of Independence states it plainly -

"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

Can I ask you something, Reader? Do the politicians in D.C. have our consent for conducting the people's business the way they are? They claim to know better than we do, but do they really? Did we give them that consent to think for us? I believe that our silence was interpreted by these fool that we condoned & consented to their decisions. The best way to show them our discontent is at the ballot box and by staying in contact with our elected officials when issues, policies, etc. that we disagree with come up for votes. We cannot afford to let them off the hook after election. Even the best intentioned elected official can go astray in D.C.

All these might make for a hopeless case against doing something, though. But, no fear, consider what God's Word says -

Proverbs 16:5 says, "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished."

Proverbs 16:12 declares, "It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness."

Proversb 29:3 states, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."
Proverbs 29:12 indicates, "If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked."

Here's a sobering quote from the tyrant of tyrants, Adolf Hitler: "What luck for the rulers that men do not think."

So, What Can I Do?

1. Repent and Pray. See II Chron. 7:14; Jer. 6:16; I Thess. 5:17

2. Vote and Stay connected with your elected officials. Prov. 29:18

3. Get Involved In A Ministry At Church. Acts 20:28; I Cor. 12:12-26; Heb. 10:25.

What people need isn't more Government; they need Jesus Christ. Be a light in a dark and dying world (Matt. 5:16).


I Know I Need Jesus Now!



Sources: Washington Post; Washington Examiner; Washington Free Beacon; Canada Free Press; David Guzik; Quotes.com

The Lost Mandate of Heaven, Part 1E [Ideas Series, #5]

Genesis 3:23-24
"Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."


If God threw Adam out of Eden on account of one sin, how can you expect to get into the Heavenly paradise with ten thousand? If someone out there says, "I haven't got anything to repent of." If you are  like the Pharisees, then I can tell you that this message will not reach your heart.

In I John 1:8, 10, the Bible states -

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us...If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

Alas, some people say, "I believe in the mercy of God; I don't believe God will send anyone to hell. I believe everyone will get to Heaven."

Or, "I believe that they are many paths to Heaven."

Look at those antediluvians. Do you think God swept all those sinners, all those men and women who were too wicked to live on earth - do you believe He swept them all into Heaven, and left the only righteous man to wade through the flood and its aftermath? Do you really hold to this notion, Reader?

And yet many men believe all will go into Heaven. Oh, Friend, don't believe the lie that comes from the mouth of the Devil himself! 

The day will come when you will wake up and know that you have been deceived by Satan. No unrepentant sinner will ever get into Heaven. Unless they forsake their sin they cannot enter there. The law of God is very plain on this point: "Except a man repent." That's the language of Scripture. And when this is so plainly set down, why is it that men fold their arms and say, "God will take me into Heaven anyway."

I can imagine some of you are saying now, Am I to repent today?"  The answer is a resounding Yes! My Friends, there are only two parties in the world. It's not the Republicans and the Democrats. Or, the Conservatives and the Liberals. Or, the 1% and the 99%. Indeed, there  is a great battle going on for your mind here today. And, yes, there are only two sides. Now, there are two parties in this world - those for Christ and those against Him, and to change to Christ's party is only moving from the old party to the new. You know that the old party is bad, and the new one is good, and yet you don't change. You don't have to wait for Election Day. Today's your day to vote, Friend. What's keeping you from casting the right vote?

If a man is not repentant his face is turned away from God, and the moment his face is turned toward God peace and joy follow. There are a great many people hunting after joy, after peace. Dear friends, if you want to find it today. Just turn to God, and you will get it.

Here's a final thought by Charles Spurgeon, "He who looks sinward has his back to God—he who looks Godward has his back to sin."

I can't put more plainer than this: Turn or Burn. What's it going to be? Cast your vote now.

I Choose to Turn This Day!

A Christian Walk Unfeigned

Romans 12:1-2

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

To kick off this post, I'd like to quote a famous prolific writer, preacher & pastor in 19th Century England by the name of John Charles Ryle [1816-1900] -

“Begin reading your Bible this very day. The way to do a thing is to do it, and the way to read the Bible is actually to read it. It is not meaning, or wishing, or resolving, or intending, or thinking about it; that will not advance you one step. You must positively read. There is no royal road in this matter, any more than in the matter of prayer. If you cannot read yourself, you must persuade somebody else to read to you. But one way or another, through eyes or ears, the words of Scripture must actually pass before your mind.”

~ J.C. Ryle

The verses noted from Romans 12 contain a body-mind connection. Consider the commitment and steps necessary in developing a godly lifestyle. Paul was urgently warning believers not to be conformed to the world. If we're leaning toward compromise in our Christian walk, then the greatest danger today is an ungodly testimony. But, it doesn't stop there. Like tracking dog dung we've stepped on and soiling our house; likewise a worldly Christian drags in his worldly ways into the church and contaminates everyone he comes in contact.

Here's how it works: Through ungodly relationships and the impact of media, we're being influenced by people who are not following God's ways. Our society tells us to put self first, take what we want, protect our rights, and promote our own interests above others' interests.

In contrast, Jesus said that our heavenly Father will provide what we truly need (Phil. 4:19), we are to deny self and follow Him (Luke 9:23), and the humble - not the proud - shall receive honor (James 4:10). Conformity to the world's ideals will lead us away from God.

At the same time, Paul urges us to:

1. Present our bodies as a living sacrifice, which is a reasonable thing to do considering what the Lord did for you and me at Calvary. We are also to make our sacrifice holy & acceptable unto the Lord. How is that done? Romans 6:12-13 states, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."

Confer with I Cor. 6:19-20. Of interest is the word present, which denotes the action of bringing and presenting an animal or other sacrifice before an altar (which is an Old Testament picture). It implies that the action was a free and voluntary offering. The act of freely devoting ourselves to God is one of the most loving acts that we will ever perform. And, it happens on a daily basis.

2. Pursue godly transformation of our minds using God's word as compass and ballast. It means to set our thoughts on things above (Col. 3:2) and to focus on what is true, right, pure, and admirable (Phil. 4:8). Adopting a Christian worldview will lead to Christlike actions. It requires making adjustments in how we view life until our thoughts line up with Scripture. We must also protect our minds with Biblical truth and surround ourselves with mature believers who can warn us when we start to stray.

Make no mistake, Friend, you cannot even begin on this Christian walk without first settling your old account of sin (Rom. 6:23; Jn. 3:1-7; Rom. 10-9-10).

Please understand that believers are exhorted to offer a sacrifice that will be acceptable to God; that is, such a one as He had just specified, one that was living and holy. No sacrifice should be made which is not acceptable to God. Don't even try.

The offerings of the pagan; the pilgrimages of the Muslims; the self-inflicted penalties of the Roman Catholics, are all uncommanded by God and Scripture. They are not and cannot be acceptable to Him. Those services that will be acceptable to God are those only which He appoints. People are not to invent services; or to make crosses; or to seek persecutions and trials; or to provoke opposition; or to withdraw themselves from society and live in isolated, austere surroundings. They are to do just what God requires of them, and according to Scripture. Nothing else will be acceptable to God. And this fact, that what we do is acceptable to God, is the highest recompense we can have. It matters little what people think of us, if God approves what we do. To please Him should be our highest aim; the fact that we do please Him is our highest reward.

Ask yourself these questions, Friend:

Am I focusing on what is important to the Lord?
Am I making a conscious effort to adhere to Biblical truth?
Am I demonstrating a pattern of godly transformation?
Am I presenting my body a living sacrifice according to God's word?

If you answered No to any of these questions then why not get right with God on this account, submit to His will (James 4:7-10) and see the outflow of His power through your obedience (Jn. 15:1-10). Let God's Holy Spirit empower you to make the changes necessary to be more like Christ.

But first, you must be born again! Are you willing to take that first step? It's the only way, Reader (Jn. 14:6)! The Plan of Salvation

Hopes and Fears of Afghan Christians

 

II Timothy 3:12

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

 

For Afghanistan's tiny Christian community, a community certainly in the hundreds and probably the thousands, the Abdul Rahman case has brought both fear and hope. Mr. Rahman is starting a new life in Italy after his trial in Afghanistan for converting from Islam collapsed. He faced the death penalty if he had been found guilty.

He said, "In Afghanistan we Christians have nothing to do with politics. We love and respect everyone. We love and respect even our enemies, however they punish us."

The Christian community lives with the threat of official harassment and attack by extremists. There have been gun and grenade attacks against churches in neighbouring Pakistan.

But despite the reported hardline rhetoric of Afghan clerics during the Rahman case, the Christian claims that many Muslim friends regard his conversion as a private matter.

"Most of my friends know that I am a Christian," he said. "I have many friends who are mullahs and maulvis. Some of them say they like me more these days. Before I was a liar, I was cheating people and many other things. I don't do that now."

The reasons for conversion in such a potentially hostile environment are of course varied and personal:                    

The harsh doctrine of the Taleban were factors in the conversion of some Afghans.

There is much disillusionment. People used to look to communism, now they look increasingly to Christianity.

The compassionate actions of Christian-based aid agencies during the civil war and Taliban era in Afghanistan had impressed many Afghans.

A Christian Afghan convert stated, "I am very happy with my life and I see other Christians here very happy too,"

He added, "In the future, what God wants will happen. But Christians are always with God and if we are killed we go to God."

Friend, are you promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you living it? Every corner of the world, every nook and cranny is a missions field. The grocery store. The mall. The neighbors. The bus stop. Every place is the right place to take the Light of the world - Jesus Christ - to the world.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  (Matt. 5:16)

Whom do you choose: God or Mammon?

I Want To Serve God!

Story excerpted from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/4865818.stm

The Sweetest Possession

II Corintians 6:16

"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

What a sweet title: “My people!”

What a cheering revelation: “Their God!”

How much of meaning is couched in those two words, “My people!” Here is speciality. The whole world is God's; the heaven, even the heaven of heavens is the Lord's, and he reigneth among the children of men; but of those whom he hath chosen, whom he hath purchased to himself, he saith what he saith not of others—“My people.”

To wit, Deuteronomy 10:14 states, "Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is."

In this word there is the idea of proprietorship. In a special manner the “Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.” All the nations upon earth are his; the whole world is in his power; yet are his people, his chosen, more especially his possession; for he has done more for them than others; he has bought them with his blood (Heb. 9:22, 28); he has brought them nigh to himself; he has set his great heart upon them; he has loved them with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3; Jn. 3:16), a love which many waters cannot quench, and which the revolutions of time shall never suffice in the least degree to diminish.

Dear friends, can you, by faith, see yourselves in that number? Can you look up to heaven and say, “My Lord and my God: mine by that sweet relationship which entitles me to call thee Father; mine by that hallowed fellowship which I delight to hold with thee when thou art pleased to manifest thyself unto me as thou dost not unto the world?” Canst thou read the Holy Book, and find there the indentures of thy salvation? Canst thou read thy title writ in precious blood? Canst thou, by humble faith, lay hold of Jesus’ garments, and say, “My Christ”? If thou canst, then God saith of thee, and of others like thee, “My people;” for, if God be your God, and Christ your Christ, the Lord has a special, peculiar favour to you; you are the object of his choice, accepted in his beloved Son.

And, if God be for you who then, Reader, can be against you (Rom. 8:31)?

All these things - and more - has the Creator of the universe afforded and lavished on you, IF you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord & Saviour. Otherwise, you are at a lamentable loss, not just for now, but for all of eternity. Don't throw away the sweetest possession of all as if it were trash.

Don't discard the great salvation that the Lord Jesus purchased for you at Calvary! I Want Jesus As My Own!

Now I've giv'n to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing
Of Calvary.

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty,
At Calvary.

Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty,
At Calvary.

from C. H. Spurgeon's Morning Devotion

The Excusers & The Accuser

Luke 14:16-20

"Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come."

No sooner does anyone begin to preach the Gospel than men and women begin “to make excuses.” It is an old, old story. There is not an unsaved person here but has got some excuse. If I were to go to each of you and ask why you do not accept God’s invitation to the Gospel feast - after reading post after post about the majesty of His love and the miracle of His mercy - you would have an excuse ready on the end of your tongue; and if you had not one ready, the devil would be there to help you to make one. And if the excuse could be answered he is ready to make new ones. He has had six thousand years’ experience, and he is very good at it; he can give you as many as you want.

Do you know the origin of excuses? You will find it away back in Eden. Read all about it in Genesis 3.

When Adam had sinned, he tried to excuse himself. “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” Not only did Adam blame the woman, but he also had the chutzpah to try and lay the blame on God. Talk about biting the Hand that feeds you!

And, little ol' Eve tried to lay it on the serpent; and down to the present time, men and women, with one consent, begin to make excuses.

Finally, the old serpent has no one to blame, so he accuses. He accuses the elect (that is, the believers) all day and night (Rev. 12:10).

Here's the thing: On that Great Day, YOU - and no one else - will stand before God and give an account for your life (Rom 14:12). At the Great White Throne, the unsaved will stand before the Righteous Judge (Rev. 20:11-15)  and face the wrath appointed to the unbelievers (John 3:36).

Where will you stand on that Day, Reader? As one of the saved? Or, on the precipice of eternal damnation?

The choice is yours to make today. On that Great Day, there will be no excuses. None.

So, Friend, what's holding you back? After all, you're being invited to a Feast of all feasts! The admission has been paid already. All you have to do is RSVP.

Read what Jesus Christ did for you at Calvary: I Want to Get Right With God Today!

Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised—
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon—
Pardon for you and for me!

Come home! come home!
Ye who are weary, come home!
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing—
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, death-beds are coming—
Coming for you and for me!

Come home! come home!
Ye who are weary, come home!
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

National Day of Prayer

I Thessalonians 5:17
"Pray without ceasing."

We are way beyond moral decline; it seems that we don't even bat an eye at the depraved & degenerate actions of men & women around this Nation, whether on tv, the internet or the newspaper. Our economy has been under turmoil as a result of dangerous liberal ideas that place us at the mercy of the money-lenders (Prov. 22:7). The United States military is hamstrung by politicians & diplomats whose idea of compromise reeks of spinelessness. As a Nation, we can't even support Israel in the Middle East conflict. And then there's the ever-increasing assaults against our religious liberty and the Constitution. Finally, there are the thousands of unborn children who are murdered because of the blood-thirsty, godless feminist movement whose de facto headquarters are found in places such as Planned Parenthood.

In times like these, we need a Saviour. In times like these we need the Holy Bible. We need Jesus Christ to return to public & civic life in America. It begins with us Christians. It begins with prayer. And continues with prayer.

Dear, Christian, please continue to pray and beg God for mercy. Stand in the gap and pray without ceasing. Especially pray for the unborn. Pray for the Lord to open the eyes of the women who are making decisions to kill their babies, that they repent from their decision. Also pray for the men and others who are pushing these women to make a decision that they'll have to live with the rest of their lives.

The video below presents incredible in utero images of the miracle of life. No one but no one can deny that life begins at conception. You literally have to look the other way, intellectually speaking, to consider this child "tissue" or a "fetus". The video was made in 2011 or thereabouts and was shown as part of the Sanctity of Life week.

How can you be more involved? Here's How!

Looking for God In All the Wrong Places

Proverbs 8:17

"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me."

If you're seeking God in the mountain tops or in the gilded skies or in mystical experiences or in a drug-induced state or by star gazing then, my friend, let me tell you: You are going about it the wrong way. You see, in order to find God, you need to look at the one source where His wisdom and will is revealed: the Holy Bible.

Consider the above quoted Scripture. There is a promise made by God to the Reader that will be fulfulled by Him, if you meet the conditions.

The first condition of the promise is that you must love God. Well, do you? If you love God, you must love Jesus.

Look at I John 4:14-16 -

"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

There's no way around it, dear Reader: If you're seeking God, you must come through His Son Jesus Christ who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." (John 14:6).

And Isaiah 34:16 indicates, "Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them."

Matthew 4:4 further says, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

It's pretty clear that the only place for man to feast on God's every word is found in the Bible.

The second condition is that you must seek Him early. Early in the day; early in your youth; early in your problem. The key word is EARLY, as in the first place, above all things else.

Here's another conditional promise made by God in Proverbs 2:4-5, "If thou seekest [knowledge] as silver, and searchest for [knowledge] as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God."

So, seek God early and through His Word [ie, the knowledge of God]. When you do so, seek His word as if you're looking for silver & gold. That means with an intense, untiring desire. Think about it: How do men seek money? To what degrees do men go to get rich? Reader, seek the salvation of your soul as earnestly as the covetous man seeks wealth. Indeed, what profits a man that he should gain the world and yet lose his own soul?

The weight of your decision - to accept or reject Jesus Christ - will truly be felt in eternity. Do you want to wait until after you die to realize what a great treasure you passed up in knowing God through Jesus Christ His Son?

Ponder this parable by Jesus, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."  (Matt. 13:44)

Stop searching! Put everything aside, friend, and believe what Jesus Christ did for you at Calvary. He is a precious treasure to cherish here and hereafter.

Choose life, eternal life. Choose Jesus! I Choose You, Jesus!

Seeking the lost, yes, kindly entreating
Wanderers on the mountains astray,
"Come unto Me," His message repeating
Words of the Master speaking today.

Going afar upon the mountain,
Bringing the wand'rers back again,
Into the fold of my Redeemer,
Jesus the Lamb for sinners slain. 

The Mistrial of Christ

Luke 22:66-71
"And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth."

If ever there was a miscarriage of justice, it was the trial of Jesus Christ. He was arrested under the cover of darkness, whose betrayl was arranged by one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, the money man. In league with the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, who wanted to capture and kill Jesus Christ for what they perceived as a threat to their religion.

Imagine the reaction of these men upon hearing the report of Lazarus' resurrection at the hands of Jesus Christ. The word had spread about Lazarus who had been dead. Wouldn’t you go to see for yourself somebody who had been in the grave dead for 4 days? Think about it. The guy is dead! Well, he was dead and then alive. I’d walk if I had to to see someone like that.

Exhibit #1: John 12:9-11
"Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus."

Thus, the religious leaders desired to kill Christ and the testimony of His power, Lazarus. You see, he was evidence of the true nature of Jesus. Jesus was more than a carpenter’s son from Nazareth. He was the Messiah, the Son of God. The religious leaders weren't going to stand for any of that.

It should be of interest to you, Reader, that there are men, religions and governments that are trying to kill the message of Jesus Christ. Because the threat posed to the Pharisees of yore is the same threat modern people experience when they encounter the truth of the Gospel and see its effects on the believers.

These effects include happiness, joy, peace, love (Gal. 5:22-25). These are evidences of the indwelling of Christ in a believer. Some peoples and governments want to restrict, hide, or even destroy in some cases the Christians.

The peaceful way to control people is through falsehoods, deceits, distortions and outright lies. When these dark methods are exposed by the brilliant light of the Gospel, is it any wonder that the ungodly and governments move to more violent methods.

And back to our story of Lazarus, that is exactly what we witness when Christ meets a dead religion. All hell (pardon the pun) breaks loose. But, why did this have to be so?

Exhibit #2: John 11:46-48
"But some of them went their ways [after seeing the resurrection of Lazarus] to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation."

In common parlance, it was all about the Benjamins; that is, it was about power and money and influence. Sounds like one of those Hollywood conspiracy theories, huh? In this case, the evidence and documentation is recorded for all posterity. The motive is clear.

It's scary to think what hardened hearts can do when confronted with the Truth. Jesus Christ was no mere man. No one else could do -or, can do - what He did! Yet, rather than repent, the Pharisees chose to have Him killed.

Enter Judas.

This petty thief walked and talked with the Messiah, the Living God and yet was not stirred by the words that He spoke nor moved by the miracles He wrought. Why? Because his heart was hardened as well.

And so, Christ was taken to a star chamber, as it were, to be tried, judged and condemned by the religious elite. There was no jury, no evidence or cross examination. Simply, blatant lies and false testimonies that contradicted each other. When it was all over, they took Jesus to shop around for the death sentence they wanted: crucifixion.

BUT, this was part of God's plan. Don't think for one minute that Christ was a victim. No, sir! He willingly laid down his life and took it up again (John 10:17-18).

Make no mistake, Friend, you're just as guilty as those Jewish elders and the mob who demanded that Jesus die on the cross. When Christ said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."  (Luke 23:34), He meant you as well.

Your sins held Jesus on the cross, Reader. But, Jesus has forgiven you, too. Have you asked Him to forgive you? Please Forgive Me Jesus!


On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

A Lullaby for Believers

John 15:1-5
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

These verses are among my favorite verses in the Gospel of John. It references our inability to fight the good fight and live for the Lord in our lowly, sickly flesh. And, yet, it also encourages us to live and walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). Plus, obedience brings blessings (James 1:25).

So, if you're struggling in your Christian walk, all I can say to you is, Welcome to the club, Pilgrim!

The poem below highlights the Christian's daily struggle. And, if you aren't struggling, dear Believer, then it might be you aren't walking straight!


In the Stillness of the Night

In the stillness of the night
As I lay in bed and try to sleep,
I remember how I blew the fight
And all Your commands I didn’t keep.

I tried, O God, I tried
To strengthen my soul against the dark.
I felt so confident that I would abide.
But when temptation came, I had missed Your mark.

But then as I slept that night
You came to me in a dream.
You said to me, “Try as you may, try as you might,
You will fail, despite what it may seem,

It is not your job to see you through,
It is not your job to feel strong.
I just want one thing for you to do:
Give Me what you tried to do all along.”

So that morning as I awoke
And I knew my sleep was worth its while,
For as I remembered the words that You spoke
I gave to You my temptations and my trials.

I finally admited I was too weak
To face the day without making a mistake.
So to You I lay my life so meek
And I asked You that me You would not forsake.

Day by day You guide me on
And my strength I get from You alone.
All my battles have been won
For in Your strength I have been sewn.

by Geoff Lemke


And, II Corinthians 12:10 rejoices in this Biblical fact: "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

When Christ indwells in you (Gal. 2:20), He does all the heavy lifting and you're just doing all the believing.

Finally, Christ said, "...[B]e of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Jesus has indeed overcome the world because He is risen!

Look no further than I John 5:4-5 to settle all your doubt, worries and fears:

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

You see, Reader, faith is the victory:

On every hand the foe we find
Drawn up in dread array.
Let tents of ease be left behind,
And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world!

It's up to you to believe what Jesus said and did. Do you trust Him today? If you don't, why don't you, Reader? You've read and considered other religions and philosophies. Instead, why not try a relationship with the the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ? Come and see what hope, love, peace, truth and mercy is all about!

Read all about here: I Want A Fresh Start!

A Stranger Comes to Town

Romans 12:2
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Unperceptive men exist and interpret reality only by means of sensory experience. The only real and true things for these men are their physical experiences. This certain breed of man excels in existentialism; that is, they suscribe to the idea that there is no “higher” meaning to the universe or to man’s existence, and no rational order to the events of the world. It is all coincidental, happenstance and circumstantial. Human life is not invested with a redemptive or affirming purpose. There is nothing beyond man’s physical existence. Therefore, the modus operandi of these men is a gentle indifference of the world. Live and let live, as it were.

Ironically, these men are unperceptive because they are not introspective. They perceive, but do not comprehend. It is only when they are confronted with something beyond their immediate interpretation or carnal appetites that they are compelled to become introspective about life, its meaning, and all the while contemplating about their impending death. This kind of man only becomes perceptive after he acknowledges his mortality and responsibility for his own life. In Hebrews 9:27, man clearly has a reckoning beyond meaninglessness: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"

After apostasy, the greatest threat to a Christian is apathy, the so-called gentle indifference that takes root as a consequence of living in the world and cooperating with it. Please read all of I Corinthians 3 for further convincing.

To illustrate this threat of indifference, I've included a story I came across somewhere on the web. Please seriously consider where you're at in your walk with Christ as you read.

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche.

My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. Both read the Bible and shared its wisdom with me. But the stranger was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and funny stories.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future!

He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, and Mom submitted to Dad's authority without complaint, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor these convictions.

Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home, not from us, our friends or any visitors. The stranger, however, got away with four-letter words that burned in my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.

My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and smoking pipes distinguished. He talked freely - much too freely - about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. Over time, he only got worse.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked. And never was he asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first.

Still, if you could walk into my parents' home today, you would still find him sitting over in his special corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name?

We just call him TV.

Now, the stranger has a wife. We call her Computer.

"I  know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. "   Revelation 3:15-16

Please be prayerful about your choices as they relate to time spent watching TV or on the computer. They are powerful tools. Without godly purpose, they are the Devil's toys to take us away from God's will through distraction, doubt, and indifference. In godly endeavor, they can reach a lost and dying world. Choose wisely!

Here's a choice you can't afford to ignore: The Plan of Salvation

The Big Rock

Psalm 95:1-3
"O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods."

 

One day a preacher spoke to a group of college kids.

As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz."

Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. Next he produced a large rock and placed it in the jar.

Then he took about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"

Everyone in the class said, "Yes."

Then he said, "Really?"

He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the rocks.

Then he smiled and asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"

By this time the class was onto him.

"Probably not," one of them answered.

"Good!" he replied.

And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the class shouted.

Once again he said, "Good!"

Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Afterwards he looked up at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!"

"No!" the preacher replied, "that's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is this: If you don't put the big rock in first, you'll never get it in at all."

The title of this letter is “The Big Rock”. What is the big rock of life? It’s Jesus Christ. And the jar represents your life that’s filled with the stuff of life: job, family, friends, hobbies, church, traveling, finances, education, relationships, marriage, children and so forth.

If you don’t put in the Big Rock first then you won’t be able to get it in the jar at all. In other words, if you’re too busy with life then you make no room for Jesus. However, if you put Jesus first, then everything else will fall into place.

Dear Reader, what’s holding you back from putting Jesus first? He loves you dearly. The proof of his majestic love is on full display at Calvary (John 3:26; Rom. 5:8).

Put your faith in the Rock of Ages! Here’s how: The Plan of Salvation

Falling Feels Like Flying (For A Little While)

Psalm 55:6

"No one regards what is before his feet; we all gaze at the stars."

— Quintus Ennius

"Don't let the fear of falling keep you from knowing the joy of flight."

— Lane Wallace

The quotes above extol flight by men whose ideas extended from the antiquities to the 20th Century. Anyone who has flown on an airplane can totally relate to the sensation, thrill and fear of flying.

Just thinking about what it takes to make an airplane to fly, is mind boggling. In order to get up off the ground, there is a tug of war between the opposing forces of thrust versus drag, lift versus weight.  Thrust is what proples the plane forward, usually by the engine, which is used to create alot of air. Drag is what happens to the plane when it is propelled forward; the wind runs counter to the plane, creating resistance. As a consequence of thrust & drag, there's another conflict at play: gravity hold on to the airplane while the rush of air over the wings creates areas of pressure over and under the wings. The bottom line is that the lift under wings overcomes the pressure over the wings. To understand the principle of lift in action, imagine going outside on a very windy day and sticking your hand out the window of a moving car; your arm will be lifted up a little. You've just experienced lift (information courtesy of howstuffworks.com)

Why all the talk of flight?

Sin is pretty much like the sensation of flight, appealing to all of the senses. It's addicting. And, for a season it feels good, even when you know that what you're doing is wrong. The heart indulges in sin because that's its natural state (Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10). There's nothing we can do about it because sin comes from our sin nature. To wit, Rom. 7:5 indicates -

"For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death."

Thus, there's no way out of this free fall called sin. Not even works can save you; it's not a parachute by any means. Ephesians 2:8-9 state, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

The moral of this story is falling feels like flying until you go SPLAT! You cannot fight against sin in the flesh. Turn your life over to Jesus Christ and He will set you free from sin. I'll tell you how in a minute.

Reader, think on these things that are honest, true and of good report:

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles", Isa. 40:31

"And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. "  Ps. 55:6

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." I Thess. 4:16-18

In a while, dear Believer, and you shall catch a flight. A one way ticket to glory! It's not too late for you, Unbeliever, to do the same.

All you have to do is ask Jesus Christ, the Son of God, into your life. Here's how: The Plan of Salvation

May the Lord bless you today!