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Tag: Christ

He has put eternity in their hearts
It is no longer a question of God: God IS – and we all know it. Our question and quest for knowledge and power over our own lives and circumstances only asks: will I bow down to the eternal God?

We have knowledge, near complete and inexhaustible. We have Bibles we refuse to read and evidence to which we turn our backs.

God created. God judges. God punishes. God redeems. God forgives. God loves.

And God has sent a Savior and Redeemer to the world in the Person of Christ Jesus.

The decision is in the heart and response of each created being – each man; each woman.
- Will you bow down to God the Father, Eternal Creator of all the world and all mankind?
- Will you receive the love and sacrifice of God the Son in Christ Jesus; who IS and who was and who will return to judge your soul?
- Will you open your heart of stone to God the Holy Spirit, turning from your sin and following the love of Christ’s example?
God has put eternity in your heart. The world knows eternity and God, yet cannot accept the limits of each breath and heartbeat to sustain our soul, our mind, our failing flesh and crumbling bones.

Loved ones

gasp for breath,

wait for the strength

of another heartbeat,

search faulty thoughts for

what was once recalled,

walk tenderly on bones

once thought sturdy

and measure days

till the grave

by mem’ries

and dreams of our past.

LORD GOD,

will I finally remember

eternity of my soul,

saved for your love

by your love,

saved from just punishment

for my many sins,

by your own Sacrifice

of Christ Jesus –

will I remember

the eternity you have placed

in my heart

before the end of the days

you have created

for this failing flesh?

God test us, that we may see that the end of our earthly days will be no different than animals, that in the end our ashes return to ashes and our dust to dust.

Yet only man has a soul made in the Image of God!

And only Christ Jesus lived as a sinless man in the Image of the sinless God of eternity.

By the sacrifice of Jesus only – by the blood of Christ only – by the love and grace of God only do we yet have the choice for repentance from our sins and life eternal for our soul – life eternal without blame in the Presence of the love of God our heavenly Father; Christ Jesus who loved us even to the death and IS eternal for us in the resurrection; of the Holy Spirit who would even now break through the hardness of our heart toward the loving Father and bring our prodigal soul home forever.

You may ask in these passing days of passing seasons, ‘Where have I heard that He has put eternity in my heart?’ How do I know that my soul lives life once and will sleep until the judgment?

It is written in God’s Holy Bible. Have you read it?

Do you read (in these passing seasons of your flesh) God’s intention and purpose for your remaining measured days?

Ecclesiastes 3

NKJV

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die…

9 What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.

14 I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.
15 That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past…

17 I said in my heart,

“God shall judge the righteous and the wicked,
For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

18 I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.” 19 For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity.

20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. 21 Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?

Christ Jesus said:

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

John 12:46

Do you yet live in the darkness of your sin? Or does your soul embrace the light of life in Christ Jesus?

To everything there is a season

A time to every purpose under heaven.

A time for repentance

Or a time of judgment,

A time of sin

Or a time of grace,

A time of darkness eternal

Or a time of light.

I pray for your heart and soul to embrace the love and grace of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Amen.
September 29, 2014
Define God

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke… Hebrews 1:1 excerpt

So you ‘go to church’ to hear a man say what God has said. Or you read a book by a man (supposedly of God) who will tell you what God has said. Or you will agree with nearly anyone who will mention God in conversation, even if they say Allah is god or Jehovah is god or Buddha is god or best of all, god is in everything.

What do you believe about God? Can you define it? Can you define God?

Genesis 1:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… And the Spirit of God… And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light… And God made… And it was so.

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

Who IS this God who was in the beginning, who created; this Spirit who said and made and it was? Who is this God who said, “Let us…” let the reader understand, ‘us, plural; “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness?” What Spirit can say, “Let us make man in our image?” How can the likeness of God live in the flesh of a man? How can the image of God exist in the image of a woman?

One of many supposed preachers of the Gospel, a wolf clothed as a sheep who would claim that nearly all paths could lead to God, has written a book asking the reader to consider his understanding of the all-inclusive forgiving nature of god to include unrepentant sinners. (That is not how he states is, but that is what he preaches.) A promotional review of a supposedly traditional protestant denomination states of his book (and definition of God): “Good news for people who want nothing to do with religion; better news for those of us who are deeply committed to the faith, but see that religion is way off track.”

Really? A book with only a passing, eventual reference of Jesus Christ, Son of God, proclaims an all-inclusive grace for unrepentant sinners apart from the purification brought forth by a permanent change and repentance to our sinful nature.

Religion, which the world maligns, is much more than a feel-good routine. Religion is a dedication of purpose to a constant worship of God in our very life, created in His Image. For the purpose of definition: Religion – The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

We had best be clear that the distinctive of Christianity is Christ. How can a book, preacher or christian claimant speak of God without pointed reference to Christ Jesus?

Perhaps the one who references ‘god’ does not have any more commitment to faith in all of God’s word than one who claims many gods or even the one god of the deceitful heart.

Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” – John 10:30 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

If any preacher, author or friend would claim a religion other than what Christ Jesus teaches in the Gospel – yes, forsaking our sinful flesh for a new life in Christ is Good News – let us remind the one who would re-define God what Holy Scripture has instructed. Perhaps they will tell us, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” – Matthew 7:1 (a favorite of many of the unrepentant) Let us remind them of the rest and the context of Jesus’ teaching.

Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

‘God’ or ‘god’ is many things to many people. The Bible contains more than four thousand references to ‘God.’ Perhaps it is time for some of us to review just a few of these and renew what it is we believe in our faith in God. Are we not called by scripture to ‘in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you… – 1 Peter 3:15

Our Lord cautions us: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” – Matthew 22:14 We cannot define God with only slight mention of Christ Jesus, and that not as a true Lord of our life. We cannot define God without support of faith in the Gospel or without belief in the truth of all of scripture. We cannot have god serve our flesh, while we will not worship Christ our Lord, who was sacrificed for our sins.

You may certainly ponder our Creator in the light of John’s introduction to the Gospel. You know well John’s description of Jesus love for the world; that is, sinners like you and me [John 3:16].

It is not enough to just smile and pitch love without repentance and change. Jesus also cautions: … but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

How dare we claim Christ without mention of His Lordship over our will! May Thy will be done.

The writer of Hebrews finishes his description of God in the context we must consider and believe to have true faith in the One God who IS and was and will be.

God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?

Or again,

“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?

6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

No, our “religion” is certainly not about angels or spirits, worshiping earth or the heavens, conjecture in aliens or chance, teaching from prophets or authors. Our religion and faith is in the One hope of all mankind for the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection of our spirit into the very presence of God our Father, the love of Christ Jesus the Son, who became Holy sacrifice for our sins, and eternal life in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit; our God Who IS and was and will be forever. Amen.

September 22, 2014
Good News, Bad News

I had dropped off my car for a routine procedure and would pick it up later. Then came the call from the mechanic: “I have good news and bad news.” The ‘good news’ was that I did not need the procedure I thought. So what was the bad news?

Isn’t that the question always lurking in our thoughts?

Jesus had sent the Disciples into Jerusalem with the money and plans to prepare a room for the Passover, purchase the needed supplies, etc. But the bad news was that thirty pieces of silver were spent to betray their Lord and Master.

He was crucified on the Cross (on a day we call ‘Good Friday’). It seemed like ‘bad news’ to the Disciples. They went away. It seemed like the final ‘bad news’ for Christianity. But then, the Good News:

Luke 24:

8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.

Yes, it was the ultimate Good News, the Gospel: Jesus IS risen!

His command to the Apostles after His resurrection and before He is taken up into Heaven once more is quite clear:

Matthew 28:

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

To be clear: “make disciples” … teaching them (these new disciples of Christ Jesus) to observe all that I have commanded you.”

The relationship of Jesus and the Disciples is more than just Jesus as their ‘Teacher.’ Jesus IS the Word of God. Jesus teaches each of us in every word and command of His. Indeed, numerous times, the Disciples refer to Jesus as, “Master.”

It would serve us well to remember Who we serve and to bow down to Jesus as our personal Master when we so flippantly refer to Him as ‘Lord.’

Jesus Christ is not only our Master and Teacher, He IS our God, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

So what has Jesus commanded us (as true disciples and servants of our Lord) to teach to others? (It’s all ‘good news,’ right?)

Yes, the Gospel is good news for all who will accept it; however not all will accept the true Lordship of Christ Jesus.

To begin, returning to Luke 24, listen to another charge of Jesus:

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

“Forgiveness of sins,” good news for all of us sinners, indeed. Yet do you detect that one other call to be “proclaimed in his name…” is not so readily embraced even by those who would like to claim Christ?

Repentance… should be proclaimed. You can’t just keep on sinning, proclaiming remission of your sins without repentance.

Some christians and prospective Christians have had ears to hear His grace of forgiveness of sins, while NOT having ears to hear of their particular sin – a sin or sins of which some christians and prospective disciples will NOT repent.

Is there a sin of which you have not repented which holds you back from receiving the Holy Spirit and the embracing love of Christ?

IF we have received Jesus as our Lord and Master, know that He has commanded us to bear the same fruit of God’s love.

John 15:“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Quite a command from our Lord to us: Love one another, as Jesus has loved us. And the risen Christ tells the Apostles to go to all nations and teach repentance and forgiveness of sins in His Name.

20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Yes, Christians will be persecuted and ridiculed; yet disciples of our loving Lord Jesus must love each other — even as Jesus has loved the Apostles. By this, the world will know that we are His disciples.

John 5: 14b “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 6: 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

John 7: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as[f] the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 8: 11b And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Once again, our Lord shows mercy and forgiveness; but calls for repentance: “go, and from now on sin no more.”

John 8: 31b “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Do you abide in Jesus’ word? Do you cling to the Vine?

John 11:9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

Is this not a call to repentance, as some of the Jews would not accept the Light of world?

Do you stumble? Is the Light in you?

John 11: 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

John 12: 44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

John 13: 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Is Jesus your Lord, beloved brother, beloved sister, fellow servant? Is Jesus your Lord?

Blessed are you if you do His commandments. Go into all the world and teach repentance and forgiveness of sins, teaching these new disciples all which He has commanded.

September 18, 2014