They
used to say “There are no atheists in fox holes.” I don’t think that’s true
anymore; the arrogance and pride of man is shockingly ignorant.
We’re
in the second night of tent meeting at Victory Baptist Church, in Grantsville,
WV and while the church in the holler is feeling the Spirit of God move in a
mighty way, the world around us goes on, oblivious to the truth of God, that He’s
coming back. And you’d better be ready!
Psalm 14
1The fool
hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done
abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon
the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek
God.
The context of this scripture
does not speak of men in general, but rather a specific group (Sennacherib’s
invasion of Judea) to which David is writing and directing this Psalm. Well, I
too could write and direct a Psalm toward specific groups of people that I feel
fall into the category of fools. But I won’t. They will not listen and my words
would offend and do little for the cause of Christ. So I’ll direct my thoughts
to those who perhaps will listen, the children of God.
While we would never say there is
no God, we will skirt on the issue of foolishness by pretending His return is
far, far in the future. So I pose these questions for you and I today.
If Jesus phoned you personally
and said, “I’ll be leaving Heaven in 15 minutes to call my children home,” who
would be your first call? I have to ask myself that question too. And why haven’t
I been more persistent about their salvation?
Would there be any materialistic
thing that you’d look at and say, “This is worth staying for?” Mmmm…. Not when
I got a mansion there waiting! However, you’d think that some of the things for
which I put great value on were worth staying for, because I sure waste enough
time on them.
My third and final question is
this… “How soon after reading this will we forget the questions?”
I can tell by the look in their eyes when they’ve tuned me out and they’re wishing me off the planet. Even family. It’s not that they don’t love me, it’s not that they’ll not tolerate me. It’s that I make them very uncomfortable. Which is never my goal, but almost always the outcome. And such is the life as someone who loves to share Jesus and wants everyone regardless of heritage to become a part of my family. To share my Father. The Lord Jesus Christ.
And to ask most of
them, they’d say they already do. But deed… “the proof ain’t in the puddin’,”
as the saying goes.
It’s been the case
as far back as Genesis. Someone always trying to get in by somebody else’s
coattails, or by works, or just assuming God would never let them go to Hell. And
so those of us who know the truth, continue to tell the truth and those who don’t
want to know, shut us out. But that doesn’t change the book. –
In the book of
Nehemiah, which happens to be where I’m reading, I was dreading chapter seven.
It’s a chapter of name after name after name. And as I read I prayed, “God,
please let me get something out of this besides a glaze over my eyes.” And as I
traveled through the names, hoping someone’s would pop off the page and capture
my attention, it didn’t. It wasn’t the name God wanted to capture my attention
with. It was registration process.
In verses 64-65 my
heart broke.
These sought their register
among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore
were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. And the Tirshatha said unto
them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a
priest with Urim and Thummim.
Urim and Thummim
were priestly devices found on their breastplate and used to determine God’s
will. In my small mind, I imagine it to be as a priest flipping a coin. Don’t
believe everything I tell you, I might lead you astray. But that’s still how I
see it.
But for today,
there’s no more coin flipping. And there’s only one Priest that matters and
that’s the Lord Jesus Christ. Friends and family can tune me out, shut me down and
tell me to go away, but when it comes to their final days, the question will
remain “Are you a part of the family of God?”
Matthew 7:21-23 King
James Version (KJV)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven.Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and
in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.
There were 642 persons (verse 62) who
professed to be children of Israel. But the word said they were polluted. What
an indictment. And it’s the same indictment that’s going to be against those
who profess to be children of God but have never made Him Lord and Savior. Oh…
they believe in Jesus. But then again, so does Satan. They believe in God.
Satan knows Him personally. That won’t keep him out of Hell. Some of them go to
church, most do not. But to tell you the truth, Satan’s in church every Sunday
morning, Sunday night and Wednesday. He never misses a revival. He’s usually
sitting beside of me trying to get my attention off task. The question still
remains, “Is your name written down in the Lamb’s book of Life?”
And there shall in no
wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh
abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Those who are not written down, having
accepted what Jesus Christ did for them on the cross as payment for their sins,
are still covered with the pollution of this world. They won’t enter into
Heaven with that pollution on them. They’ve got to be clean, and the only way
they can be is to be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. And why would they
be?
If your child died for someone so that
they could be free, and that person denied what they did and never acknowledge
with gratitude the cost that was paid for them, why would you want to spend eternity
with them?
God not allowing folks in Heaven sounds harsh until you view it from there.
What a privilege to be a child of the
King! A member of the Family of God. You can’t change the book. Not the Bible
or the Lamb’s book of Life. Both were written in indelible ink.
I’ve watched them with their metal detectors; searching the
sand in hopes of unearthing treasure. It’s how I read the word of God. Sifting
a verse, just a few words, in hopes if discovering something that will sparkle
in my soul.
A treasure to be desired…
Matthew 6:21 says For where your treasure is, there will heart
be also.
Proverbs 4:23 says Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out
of it are the issues of life.
I have plenty of issues… believe me!
I search the scriptures for wisdom and I’m not always wise
with what I find. Sometimes I’m like a beach comber, except when I find gold, I
cast it aside and pick up a seashell. Enamored more by its beauty than the
value of the gold. I warned you I had issues. I know it doesn’t have any value,
but it’s pretty.
Matthew 6:20 says of treasure that we should lay
up for yourselves treasure in heaven… I need to desire eternal rewards
by focusing on the spiritual not the carnal. It’s not easy for me, this world
is like a giant candy store and my carnal state is alive and well. I love all
things shiny and tasty. I could say it’s how God created me, but I don’t think
so. He created me with a desire to serve and a heart of compassion. But I
choose to let the bling of this world blind me.
A verse that caught my attention this morning and pierced my
heart was Proverbs 21:16
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in
the congregation of the dead.
It’s those who are not seeking at all. They’re just
wandering around on the beach. Oblivious to eternity. They stay in dead
churches because the Pastor’s preach pretty sermons without substance. Not
gold. Just seashells.
Don’t get me wrong. God’s creation is to be marveled. But we’re to worship the Creator in spirit and truth. Those seashells are going by the wayside when this earth is destroyed by fire. But not the things that we’re laying up in Heaven. Today we should be combing the beach for souls that need saving. We should be encouraging ourselves with His word and looking for an opportunity to share what we’ve found.
I know I’m anointed, but deed… some days I don’t think I
even uncap the bottle of oil God gives me.
He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite
shall not come before him.
Job 13:16
It’s not that I don’t
feel like a hypocrite on a relatively regular basis. But for years I have felt
like this was my message for the world. Not in judgement, but rather in tender
compassion and pleading to the soul playing church on earth, and missing Heaven
in eternity.
There’s a vast
difference between being in church and being in Christ. But for too long the
religious crowd has preached (and I use the term liberally) that all the world
is fine, so long as they’re in the building.
Iglesia ni Cristo
When I visited the Philippines several years ago there was a huge church that was the size of a small West Virginia city. It had pointed steeples and ornate architecture that gave it a castle appearance, but not in a good way. It just looked cold and evil. It was the Iglesia ni Cristo (meaning Church of Christ) but not as the American Church of Christ. They believe that they are the one and only true church called out of Isaiah 43:5. It’s a very formalized methodical religion. All who are not a part of their church are Hell bound. according to them. That doesn’t sound any crazier to me than those who preach what many churches are preaching today, which is just show up occasionally, continue living in sin throughout the week, and you’re fine. It causes me to wonder if even the Pastors are saved who preach a message that is anti-relational with Christ.
I can’t help but think
that my message today will be viewed as judgmental. But I promise it’s not. My heart
breaks for church leadership as well who don’t have a deep enough relationship with
Christ to understand its importance and their purpose. They’ve been deceived by
this world too.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
This is my friend Chuck McDonald’s life verse. Because when he got saved, he became a new creation. And anyone who knew him, seen the evidence in his life. That’s the key, and it’s the missing piece of many people in our own churches. Evidence. They walk out the door on Sunday morning and walk back into the world looking no different. There’s no evidence that church made a difference.
It’s not that the
message doesn’t go out of many churches, because it does. There are many, many
good preachers. So what makes the difference? Church leadership.
It’s not just the Pastor’s job. What made the difference in my friend Chuck McDonald’s life, and in my life is that there were people who stepped up and took me under their arm as a disciple of Christ. I keep saying it, but I’m not living it any better if I’m honest.
My formative years as a
new Christian were spent in fellowship almost every day with people from our
church. We had breakfast together at a local restaurant, we spoke on the phone,
we were in constant church services of some sort, somewhere. It was amazing! If
our church wasn’t holding a revival I was looking for someone else’s.
Does it have to be that
extreme? I don’t know. It worked for me. And it worked in the days of the
Bible.
Acts 2
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Steadfast, in doctrine,
in fellowship, breaking bread and praying! Glory to God if only we had that
kind of time.
Well, in this modern day of technology, do we not? We can be across the globe, and still be in constant fellowship, and yet we don’t.
I joyously speak with
my friend Dewey Moede from New Mexico most every day. He is who God sent into
my life to follow up where others left off. You too are that person who is in
need of a Dewey, or perhaps you are the Dewey.
My point being is this;
we should be living our lives, wherever we are for Christ. So that people know
we’re there for them and that a relationship with Him and them is an important part
of our everyday.
I’m not about what denomination
is over the door, I’m about what your relationship is with my Lord. Are you
truly a brother or sister in Christ?
For
many years if you’d have ask me if I was saved I’d have said yes.
Largely because of shame and because I couldn’t admit that I didn’t even
understand that concept. Most people who knew me assumed I was saved for no
other reason than because I went to church. That was it. That was all it took. Not because there was any evidence of it in my
personal walk with Christ. Which I didn’t have.
So yesterday, as I was blessed to sit
in church and hear a convicting message of the gospel; and by convicting I
don’t mean I felt like a dirt dog, because I’ve been in those sermons too. But
by convicted I knew there were areas in my life that needed more
commitment. And one of those areas was
my Monday morning video “Not Another Manic Monday.” I had lost sight of what I
wanted to accomplish. I wanted to draw people closer in their walk with Christ.
So today’s topic is one that I believe
every child of God has an occasional if not consistent struggle with. The
assurance that you’re saved, and three possible reasons that I think will help
in winning that battle.
People Don’t Read Beyond the
Norm
So what’s the norm? Unfortunately, I
think people rarely, if ever read the word. I think that because that’s who I
was in my previous church life.
Hebrews 10:22 ~ Let us draw near with a
true heart in full assurance of
faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies
washed with pure water.
A preacher friend of mine (and I’ve
used this illustration so many times) said that the Word of God was like a
spiritual “warsh” cloth. I know it’s wash cloth, but that’s how he said, and I
love that memory.
It’s a phrase that has stuck in my
head because I know it to be true. And it’s one of the primary reasons people
lose their assurance of salvation. Because they don’t understand the importance
of reading the word of God.
Prior to salvation, my idea of reading
the word of God was, #1~ it was the preacher’s job. # 2 ~ it was there if I
felt troubled. But the problem with the second notion, is at that time I wasn’t
saved. So it was like reading the owner’s manual of a product I didn’t have. It
made no sense what so ever.
But once I became saved, and the
Spirit of God came into my heart that changed and I was blessed with an
immediate desire to soak in the word of God in every form. Spoken, written and
recorded. I know I’m not the norm and many people may not have the time that I spend
in His word. But the writer of Hebrew spoke a great truth when he said
… having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
That evil conscience (that
causes us to doubt our salvation) is covered by the blood. But without the
reading of the word to remind us of that, we lose the feeling of being clean.
There is one thing I can tell you with
bold assurance because I’ve lived it and I’ve failed at it; without the reading
of the word of God, you will forever battle the assurance of salvation.
When the writer of Hebrews wrote
10:22, and when my preacher friend was inspired to say “warsh cloth” it was
because both of those men had a relationship with the Lord beyond the norm.
People Don’t Live Beyond the
Norm
1 Thessalonians
1:5
~ For our gospel came not
unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in
much assurance; as ye know
what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
God has blessed me with some amazing
Spirit filled saints in my life. People who live out the faith. They’re not
perfect, but they’re living in the perfection of Christ.
By Spirit filled I don’t mean that
they have more of God in them than the average saved person. When we get saved
we all get all of God.
Ephesians 3:19 says And to know the love of
Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
When I think of the fullness of God I
think of it like shaking a soda pop. When you do the carbonated bubbles explode
to the surface. Well that’s what it’s like when you’re filled with the Spirit.
It’s not that you have any more of God that anyone else. But rather the Spirit
in you begins to bubble up with excitement because of the work God is doing in
your life. And when it bubbles up and out, it’s evident to not only you, but
the people around you.
At those times, nobody can tell you
you’re not saved. Because you’re living it. And while we can’t live on the
mountain all the time, if we’re serving God enough, those experiences will
leave very little room for doubt in your eternal state. Not for you. Or for the
people around you.
I was successful in my early walk with
Christ because the people around me bubbled with excitement. And I wanted it
too.
People Don’t Attend Church
Beyond the Norm
Colossians 2:2
~ That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love,
and unto all riches of the full assurance of
understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father,
and of Christ;
Growing up I thought that faith was a
Sunday morning thing. Sunday night and Wednesday Night Bible Study was for the
blue hairs and old men. And most churches are still like that today, if they
even have a Sunday night or Wednesday night service.
Right after I got saved our church
began a Wednesday Night Study called “Journey to the Heavenlies.” It was a
study on the book of Revelation. A pretty heavy topic for a new believer. And
while I certainly didn’t understand all of it, I understood enough, because of an
excellent teacher. I was fascinated about the prospect of Heaven and no longer
feared the end times.
That understanding helped inspire me
to read and live beyond the norm. And it gave me the desire to come back again
and again to learn more. I was so thankful for the truth of God’s word being
taught to me that I wanted to live and do more for my Lord.
When Paul wrote to the Colossians he hadn’t
been with them for a while. But they were holding on to each other and it
multiplied their assurance.
That’s what attending a church does
and why it’s crucial to your assurance.
When I got saved I was attending every
revival around me. I couldn’t get enough church, be it mine or someone else’s.
I just wanted to be with God’s people. I still do.
I know that in being with God’s
people, I’ll not only be encouraged, I’ll be accountable. We need people in our
lives that will keep us from slipping in our faith which causes doubt.
Last night the preacher told the story
of some old time saints in a remote village. They didn’t have a closet to get
into for prayer, but realizing the importance of spending time alone with God
they would carve out a path in the woods. Each would have their own.
But if someone’s path started having
grass grow on it, it would be evidence that they weren’t spending time alone
with God. And one of their friends, in a nice tone would say, “Friend, your
path has grass on it.”
They were letting them know that they
were concerned that their friend wasn’t spending enough time with God.
So that’s my question for you. Friend, does your path have grass on it? I
hope not. And I don’t stand in judgement. Because my path any day could start
growing grass because I’m just flesh and blood.
That’s why I go to church, read the
word and live beyond the norm. Because I’m not normal.
Three
points for me to ponder from the word of God as spoken by Mary the mother of
our Lord Jesus.
This
thought began early this morning but has lingered throughout the day as I
worked between one project or another all day, and couldn’t seem to get back to
what was fresh on my mind at 6 a.m.
I
love the character of Mary because I love her humility. Nobody was any more
surprised than she was that she was chosen for such a God glorifying moment.
She was carrying the Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe in her womb.
Forget that the world was trying to strip her of her good reputation, they
could not strip her of the fact that God chosen her. Nor can they strip us. We
who have decided to follow Jesus and step into His plans for us like a toddler
steps into the big shoes of their Dad. They don’t fit… yet. But we’ll grow into
to them by and by!
Mary knew that the
Rescuer Had Come!
She
may not have understood all the plan as she gave birth in that stable, but she
understood that however it was that God decided to work it out, it would work.
It’s a good thing she didn’t know how. What a burden for a mom to carry to know
that her child would be crucified for the sins of the world. Hers included. But
the Rescuer had come, His name was Jesus and He had come to save the world!
Mary knew the Rejoicing
had Cause!
The
angels in Heaven rejoiced, the shepherds and wise men rejoiced. And Mary
rejoiced. Angels had announced His birth. They filled the skies with noise, and
the hearts of those who witnessed it with wonder. Is not that the feeling we
have on the day of our own personal salvation when we discover what the Lord
has done. It was with me. I knew there was a reason to rejoice in my life.
Salvation had come and I and my world was changed.
Life
for me wasn’t perfect, nor was it for Mary. She no doubt had moments where
terror filled her heart as she was hunted down for her Son. Or maybe she was a
far better woman of faith than me and she trusted God through it all. But
whether or not she had faith 100% of the time didn’t change the heartaches that
would come in her future. But it didn’t change the promise either. Glory to
God!
Mary knew the Response
had a Calling!
Mary
knew when she had stepped into that role that God had given her that her life had
new purpose. She wasn’t just Joseph’s bride, she was the carrier of the gospel.
She would soon be a part of the ministry of her Son and with it all the
miracles and the messes it created.
That’s
the same calling we have upon us when we accept the Lord as our Savior. We too
are called to carry the gospel and to be a part of the blesses and messes that
come with service.
What’s
your response? Are you standing in Daddy’s shoes waiting for your orders or are
you still barefoot? Step in faith my friend! It’s an exciting adventure!
The hardest part of being a child of God, parent, grandparent, niece, cousin, aunt, and friend is when your heart breaks as you share the gospel and they won’t listen. They’re not rude. They’re not unkind. They’re just indifferent.
I debated for a few seconds on whether or not to write this blog today. My heart is tender and I’m weepy. But that’s okay. I need to share while the pain is fresh.
I’m not a super saint. I’m a messed up child of God that was saved by grace alone, that’s my greatest fear on why people won’t listen to me. They look at me and think “Why does she think she has it (life) figured out?” And I don’t, but I have eternal life figured out and that’s my message.
Ezekiel was not only a spokesman, he was a watchman. He watched as the world around him spiraled into destruction because of a nation that rejected God. I see the same thing, only now God is not viewing us as a nation, He’s viewing us individually, and every single one of us is going to stand accountable for what we’ve done in this life. Alone, before God.
I envision my family and friends standing before God and having Him say, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” I feel Ezekiel’s frustration. But I feel God’s pain of rejection and I feel my broken heart that those people will miss out on Heaven and suffer Hell. Yes. There’s a Hell. Why won’t they hear?
I can’t make them listen. I can only blow the horn again and again and say Jesus is Coming Soon whether or not you believe. He will step out on that cloud and call His people home because the Bible says He will and not one word of that book has failed yet.
Christmas can be a sad time because loved ones aren’t with us, but at least if we know Jesus Christ as Savior we know that we will spend eternity rejoicing with our loved ones. But what about the ones that aren’t there? I don’t believe we’ll remember them. But you can believe (because the word says it’s true), that they’ll remember us.
After the heart attack and surgery, I’ve struggled with playing games with faith. I wasn’t guaranteed another Christmas, and I almost missed it. I don’t want to miss the opportunity to tell everyone I can about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
I can’t make them listen. But I can keep blowing my horn and telling the world Jesus is coming soon! Be ready!!!!
Do you know you’re ready? If not, follow the link for the plan of salvation at the top of the page! And then tell me and everyone else in the world you can about Jesus!
So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley and an half homer of barley:
Have you ever wondered why God puts up with you? I certainly do. Most every day I’m asking myself that question. I have a feeling that nobody asked that question any more than Gomer, the wife of the prophet Hosea.
The story of Hosea’s prostitute wife was not that of the ordinary man of God. God had instructed him to marry a prostitute. That is what I would all an extreme sermon illustration! Once they were married, Gomer’s infidelity and abandonment meant that Hosea had to buy her back out of prostitution, in a very public way and then tell the children of Israel how his wife’s infidelity was no different than theirs was to the Lord; which would bring great judgment upon themselves.
Praise God for grace… but Gomer’s life story still rings my bell. I long for a relationship of deeper proportion with the Lord, but I stay so busy and scattered about with various things that the Lord more often than not, gets scooted over to make a seat for some vain desire. Thinking I’ll get back to Him later. What? Even writing that makes my stomach roll over to think that I would treat the Creator of all the earth in such a manner.
It’s why I can identify with Gomer. Hosea married her and made an honorable woman out of her, but she refused to stay away from the world from which she came out of. She had children, and she even abandoned them to go back.
Infidelity has a much broader meaning when it comes to our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
He’s not asking us to turn our backs on family, forget about hobbies or favorite pass times, He merely wants included. And yet, even I, who the world around me knows me as the Jesus Chick, will not bring Him into a conversation for fear of it being an unwanted conversation sometimes. Or I’ll get distracted by some worldly television show or social media and my day has dwindled away and I’m left wondering why I feel like a dirt dog at the end of the day.
It’s the equivalency of not showering! The Word of God is a spiritual wash cloth as one of my favorite preachers use to say.
My relationship with Christ cannot possibly get to a deeper place, if I’m not willing to wade out into the water where He is.
It reminds me of those times that He and the disciples would get away from the rest of the world for some ministry training and rest and it would be in a quiet place, or in the midst of the sea. It wasn’t in a crowded room, dusty street, or in front of a blaring television with idiotic commercials every 3 minutes.
So today in an attempt to understand why God tolerates me I looked into the eyes of Hosea through the eyes of Gomer. I realized it was for no other reason than He loves me. Thank God, I am redeemed. Bought back with the blood of Jesus Christ after I went astray.
Why I did it, I don’t know. I knew it would end badly; but the show’s title intrigued me. “The Good Place.” This is not a recommendation! The premise of the show is, that a woman dies and is in error sent to the good place. Which happens not to be heaven. Because, in the words of actor Ted Danson who plays “Michael” the architect of the good place, “Buddhists had it a little right, Muslim’s had it a little right, as well as Christians and all other religions, but all were wrong.” There was not one way. It was by the weighing of good and bad deeds in life that were determinate of your destination. The bad place was however called eternal damnation. Interesting I thought, since most of Hollywood doesn’t believe in Hell at all.
But anyway… back to my blog and my scripture for the day which proved that “The Good Place” had somethings right, and everything wrong.
I know… that’s confusing right? Well one thing that is not confusing is the word of God. It’s ironclad clear on eternity.
Ezekiel, an Old Testament Prophet is called up into Heaven either in body or in spirit, it’s unclear. But God allows him to see some things that we are not privy to. One thing is the throne room of God. But He’s also privy to a conversation between God, 6 men and a Writer clothed in white linen, believed to be Jesus. It does not say His name, but it does speak of an authority that only One would have. The Pen of the Writer Who determines who goes to Heaven.
Ezekiel 9:2-6
2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand;and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;
4 And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
Old Testament History is a bit gory for my taste. I have a weak stomach and a tender heart. But although I find it a hard pill to swallow, I’ve studied enough bible to understand why it had to be so. And contrary to Ted Danson’s theory, Christianity wasn’t wrong. Even in the Old Testament we find the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was and is and always will be.
The Writer
The Prophet wears the writer’s inkhorn. The Lamb’s book, the great things of the law and the gospel which God has written to us, for it is the Spirit of Christ in the writers of the scripture. Christ is the Lamb and the only One with the power to write the names of those in the Lamb’s book.
So when I read in Ezekiel 9:4 that the Lord said to him go and spare those who sigh and cry for all the abominations, sins that were done before Christ died on the cross; I know Who it is that would have that power. The One who will come in the future as prophesied and who died for sins past and future. Christ is exonerating those who had shown mercy and kept true to the law of the day. Those who had compassion for God’s people and His ways. He is the writer as well as …
The Righter
The problem with Hollywood, is they want to justify sin to which there is no justification.
That’s why I felt it particularly odd that they used the words “eternal damnation” for the bad place on the show. The world doesn’t believe there will be a judgement day of any kind.
So the show had it a little right in the fact that there is a good place and a bad place. Even the main character of the show was upset because she wanted an “in between” place to which there was not one. Nor is their one in the Bible. It’s Heaven or Hell. Nothing in between.
A little right is still all wrong. Without Christ in the equation and an understanding of the price He paid for us as the reason behind His authority, the world is destined for Hell. But those of us who know and believe that Christ died, and paid the price for those sins of the past, present and future, know that He has made right all our wrongs by His blood. And therefore He alone can write our names in the Lambs book of Life. Glory!
The Wrong
When I read that God told the six to go through the city and kill, not sparing even children, my heart sinks.
I don’t profess to have complete understanding of why God did it as He did. But I do understand that children left to be brought up in wickedness would fall to a far greater damnation than those who were saved from Hell by an early demise.
I also understand that those who are wicked and anti-Christian do far more damage than we are aware of. Even a show like “The Good Place” which is meant for entertainment has an undertone of Satan that serves to convince the unsaved there are other ways to Heaven.
But there is a Final Authority. His Name is Jesus, and every Hollyweird soul and child on the planet will meet Him face to face and answer as to whether or not they accepted His payment for their sin as the final authority of their eternity.
I pray you know Jesus. And if you do not, or have questions, please comment or find me on Facebook!
In the book of Nahum we once again find Israel having been carried captives into Assyria. A common storyline in the lives of God’s people. Sin, become captive, repent, obtain freedom, repeat. But before we cast any stones we, generally speaking, don’t have to look long into our own lives to find that we too are repeat offenders of captivity. The world has a way of laying hold on us and doesn’t relinquish us to freedom easily. Our enemies are fierce, but our Father is the fiercest of all!
When a verse like Nahum 1:7-8 comes into my reading time, I take note, and need to delve further into the God of all comfort. He comforts me like the favorite blanket that I wrap up in on a cool fall morning.
Nahum 1:7-8
The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
Heaven helps those who do
Jesus told the young ruler in Luke 18:19 Why callest thou me good? None is good, save one, that is, God.
A very quick and honest search of our own hearts and we realize that we are not good. Sin abounds inside the heart of every man and is only covered by the blood of Jesus when we ask Christ to save us. But it is forever a constant battle creating trouble in our lives. Either our sin or the sin of someone else. So what a joy and privilege and highlight worthy verse we find in the book of Nahum; because even though we’re not good, God is! And He’s a stronghold for those that know Him. A stronghold is a place of security and safety. For King David being sought by Saul, it was cave. For me this morning it’s a blanket on the couch that I’m wrapped up in studying God word. I love this time of the day when the busyness and stress of the day hasn’t quite kicked in and my heart is still tender and receptive to God’s guidance
It’s good seed sown in a dirty ground that grows beautiful things.
Come what may for the rest of the day (an our lives) we have to trust that God is good and He takes care of His own.
Heaven Help those who don’t!
Nahum described it as an “overrunning flood” for the enemies of God. And although most people who have not claimed Christ as their Savior, don’t view themselves as the enemies of God, they are. They are because they’ve allowed the world to rule their hearts and the world is the enemy of God.
James 4:4 says as much when James wrote: Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
That “should” strike fear in the heart of anyone who hasn’t been saved, but it doesn’t. They are blinded by this world into believing that there is another way out besides salvation. And the heartaches and troubles they face every day, that overwhelms their souls and very much feels like an overrunning flood could be traded for the strong hand of God that would remove it and replace it with His peace for the asking. But many will not.
And sadly many who know God and He knows them, live in defeat because they don’t take the time to get in His word where peace is found.
I’m ever so grateful that in all my errors and blunders in life, God’s grace is sufficient to pull me through the tough days and allow me to celebrate the good days with gladness! I pray you’re experiencing that peace today and that you’ll share it with someone along the pathway.
If you’d like to know more about sceduling the Jesus Chick to speak or sing, contact me at 304-377-6036 or find me on social media under “the Jesus Chick.”
