fencepostdigest

Many times you and I have heard it said, “History repeats itself,” have we not? Over and over again, nations of the world have accomplished their foolish goals of conquering, at least temporarily, other nations. Their goals of conquest are placed into effect, but ultimately, they fail to establish their goals of ‘world conquest.’ At this very moment, socialism seems to be getting an upper hand in America, but we shall soon see the utter stupidity of their seemingly successful actions.

Do these verses from Isaiah 10:13-14 sound familiar? “For he said: I have done this by my own strength and wisdom, for I am clever. I abolished the borders of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty warrior, I subjugated the inhabitants. My hand has reached out, as if into a nest, to seize the wealth of the nations. Like one gathering abandoned eggs, I gathered the whole earth. No wing fluttered; no beak opened or chirped.” 

Stop for just a moment and look around our Nation. What is taking place at this moment in time?

1. Our borders are under attack
2. ‘Cancel Culture’ tactics are in full swing
3. Our system of laws are being assailed
4. Tax rates are soaring out of control
5. National debt is rising
6. Poverty and joblessness is increasing
7. Law and order are diminishing
8. The Word of God is being ignored

Historically, all of these things have taken place around the world over and over again. The last major event in world history, on a world-class scale was Nazism during the 1940’s. Before that, the Bolshevik Revolution shook Russia. In modern history, the United States has been the only Nation in the world where seemingly sensible law and order in society seemed to be working, but why? The answer lies in the Constitution of the United States because of the Judeo-Christian foundation that undergirds it. God has been upheld as the cause of everything accomplished in this great nation until recently. The foundation seems to be crumbling.

Now read further in the account found in Isaiah 10:15-20, “Does an ax exalt itself above the one who chops with it? Does a saw magnify itself above the one who saws with it? It would be like a staff waving the one who lifts it! It would be like a rod lifting a man who isn’t wood! Therefore the Lord Godwill inflict an emaciating disease on the well-fed of Assyria, and He will kindle a burning fire under its glory. Israel’s Light will become a fire, and its Holy One, a flame. In one day it will burn up Assyria’s thorns and thistles. He will completely destroy the glory of its forests and orchard as a sickness consumes a person. The remaining trees of its forest will be so few in number that a child could count them.On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer depend on the one who struck them, but they will faithfully depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.”

Everything; everything around us seems to be coming apart. From the moment that the present Administration entered the White House and the Democrats gained almost full control of the American government, our culture has begun to crumble. And we are witnessing the absolute carnage of civility where what was up is now down, in is out, male is female, off is now on, and the list continues. Social standards are no longer existent and our world is going bonkers. However what we, who are Believers and Followers of Jesus Christ, do know is that God is in control. There is a reason, He has a purpose in all that is taking place. Soon there will be a reversal to the insanity we are observing.

“On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer depend on the one who struck them, but they will faithfully depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.” No, the U.S.A. is NOT Israel. We are America and our Nation is nowhere to be seen in the Word of God. But, the point is that what we are watching right now is a very similar thing that happened to the People of God as they were gathered and taken from their land to Babylon, but they were released after a time. And throughout history there have been similar occurrences around the world. God has allowed seemingly horrible, very terrible events to occur; the Holocaust brought on by Germany. And those who are causing our havoc in America right now tell us that the Holocaust did not happen. Sadly, many believe this lie.

God is in control now just as he was while German Nazis were in their craziness. He will soon end this madness and His Holy Spirit will move across this place with astonishing results. There will be an incredible move of God and a Spiritual Awakening will take place with such power very many will come to salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Jesus Christ. His justice and righteousness will once again reign because His judgment upon evil will prevail. 

Why? Jesus is Lord!!

I have suggested that those who laugh and scorn me actually laugh and scorn the God of the Bible. I fear for their eternity because those who have scorned God have oftentimes lived shortened life spans. I do not fear for myself for “I know Whom I have believed, for He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that Day.”

Do not get me wrong, I do not compare myself to Elijah, Elisha or the Apostle Paul, but my calling is secure in the same God, the same Father, the Same Son, the same Holy Spirit. I return to the same Scripture and encourage everyone to read 2 Kings 1-3 wherein we see the transfer of Elijah’s mantle to Elisha and the ensuing accounts of some horrible events that changed lives.

The physical battles where so many warriors were killed and the efforts against Judah and to dispose of Israel sound familiar? In our Nation enormous political pressures to dispose of modern Israel continues. But there is more going on in America that may not be understood, but the efforts are obvious. We call it ‘Cancel Culture,’ but the horror of the sin is appalling. We Christians in America must take notice.

“When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took 700 swordsmen with him to try to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not do it. So he took his firstborn son, who was to become king in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. Great wrath was on the Israelites, and they withdrew from him and returned to their land.” 2 Kings 3:26-27 HCSB.

Does human sacrifice sound familiar? In America human sacrifice takes place every day, and it is permitted by our Law-makers in Washington. The immoral behavior of many in our Nation is ignored and encouraged by the same idolatrous, empty and dark souls. These are laughing at the people who call themselves

‘Christian’ for they have joined the forces of evil having themselves become evil. For they have emptied themselves to the Christ although they continue to carry His Name.

“Great wrath was on the Israelites, and they withdrew from him and returned to their land.” v. 27. Israel became afraid of what the pagan gods could or might do as a result of the human sacrifice they witness and went back to Jerusalem. They believed in the pagan gods as much as they believed in Yahweh…they had yielded their obedience to God in favor of fear for pagan worship. The same has taken place in America for we witness the idolatry of Godless ‘Christians’ on a daily basis. Indeed, they are Godless for their god is not Jesus Christ.

We, who are Believers and Followers of Jesus Christ, must stand in the face of immorality and human sacrifice (abortion.) We must somehow find the courage to stand in the face of all the horror that we are witnessing…we must be vociferous and say, “No more.” Enough is enough.

Jesus is Lord.

You may not think of this often, but do you realize just how important your perceptions of people or events are often times the causes that affect how effective your life really is?

Artists view things far differently than people who are politicians. Teachers view students differently than the students themselves. A line drawn may be perceived as a threat or as a goal.  

A Seminary professor placed a $20 bill on his desk and it remained there for several days. The reason he said one day, “I placed this bill here to see how honest you men really are, and the fact that it remained here for so long has given me a very positive perception of each one of you.” Given a different location and the bill may have disappeared momentarily. Perception.

Mark recorded these words, “The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) The Pharisees and the scribes *asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’ Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.  For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’;  but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’  you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother;  thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand:  there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.” Mark 7:1-15 NASB. 

These 15 short verses are about the perceptions of Jesus so many have toward Him and just how valid those perceptions are will not be known until there is a response to Him. And there is always a personal response that everyone will demonstrate. That demonstration will determine eternity for everyone.’

Jesus is Lord.

The Bible uses the word ‘transformation’ in reference to the Believer in Romans 12:1-2 as someone who has experienced a radical spiritual change, “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” HCSB.

The word is defined as, “to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure” and is used to describe Christ’s transfiguration. We must not separate justification (immediate transformation from death to life) from sanctification (spiritual transformation into Christ-likeness). These are separate ideas expressed in the New Testament, but are connected by the event of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

All of this takes us to Romans 7:9-25, “ Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life 10 and I died. The commandment that was meant for life resulted in death for me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. 13 Therefore, did what is good cause my death? Absolutely not! On the contrary, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am made out of flesh, sold into sin’s power. 15 For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. 19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me. 21 So I discover this principle: When I want to do what is good, evil is with me. 22 For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God’s law. 23 But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this dying body? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.”

Returning 55+ years to 1963 I was a 14-year old 8th grader. My questions were simple and produced by Paul. I had no ideas what theology might have been nor any inkling about what my pastor was addressing as he was preaching through Romans. However, I recall his sermon found in Romans 7:14-25 gave birth to many questions. These questions were not answered until I entered seminary beginning in 1973 and not before many hours looking through scores of commentaries. However, I found no answers in those books. My answers to the following questions came only from the Word of God.

1. How was Paul “being unspiritual and sold into slavery to sin?” as a redeemed individual?
2. How was this redeemed Christian, Paul, doing that which he hated?
3. How was this redeemed Paul controlled by sin and not by the Holy Spirit?
4. How is it possible for sin to live in the Christian?
5. How is “evil present with me?” In a Believer…
6. How can God the Holy Spirit be powerless in the presence of the law of sin?
7. How can a Believer be ‘wretched’ when the Risen Christ is Savior and Lord?
8. Could Paul be two different individuals at the same time?

Paul answers, “Can any of these questions and more be true?” with 2 words, “Absolutely not!” in verse 13. I find it strange that many sermons I hear today are not in agreement with the Word of God, and that is very, very troubling. 

Concerning the idea of serving two masters, Jesus spoke clearly, “you will love one and hate the other.” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:19-21, “What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons! 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons.” Our Lord and this Apostle make it certain that a Follower of the Christ is to be obedient to God alone for the body of the Believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we cannot serve two masters at the same time, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons.”

Jesus is Lord.

I do not spend much time attempting to prove the existence of God because of the fact of faith in Him to stand alone, His existence. The foundation upon which my personal existence rests upon faith in Him; faith that comes from Him. And my understanding of faith rests upon my personal understanding of Scripture, the Word of God that comes from Him as well. Everything rests upon the existence of God for this is the foundation of, well, everything. And proof of Him returns to His presence, His existence and that returns to faith; and faith returns to Him.

The following is nothing that I have initiated or thought of for these things existed even before Thomas Aquinas put them into writing.

Long ago, Thomas Aquinas presented five reasons for us to embrace the existence of God.  Here are his arguments for God consisted of:

1. Motion

There is motion and nothing can move without the presence of an external agent causing the motion.There must be what is known as the “unmoved mover.”

2. Cause

If we accept the idea that every effect has a cause; everything therefore has a beginning or begins because of an outside force. There must be a First Cause effecting movement.

3. Perfection

Ultimately, the universe, cosmos, contains a strategic existence of advanced beings such as humans that directs us to a place of perfection or the final perfection, the beginning of perfection. This beginning must be God.

4. Design

There exists an observable order or perfect design or object. The existence of that object cannot exist alone. Our logic designates an external Designer for the complexity of life and the order of the universe to exist. We always come back to a place of beginning.

5.  Necessity

Everything that exists has some sort of relationship with everything else. Within this complex network of relationships, there exists a dependence upon another object for existence. Some argue for existence that becomes an infinite regression that is ultimately impossible because there must be what is referred to as a “necessary being.”

These five arguments for God’s existence have endured to become the standard argument for the apologetics of monotheism.

Faith in God, to embrace Him as God sustains the credibility of the argument for the existence of the Creator. For eons, for many centuries secular philosophers and great thinkers beyond them have challenged the existence of God utilizing the efforts of science at all levels. However, none have been able to dislodge the presence of the Almighty for even their understanding of the absence of God is sustained by their own faith in human ability. However, the question yet remains, “From where does man find his beginning?” Does not the answer come from this statement, “In the beginning God…?”

Do not ask me for the proof, for I have none except faith as expressed in Hebrews 11:1-3 “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For our ancestors won God’s approval by it. By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.”

Jesus is Lord.

Those who are born from above are in the realm of the supernatural and those who are in darkness are in the realm of the demonic. One side is under the rule of God and the other is under the authority of Satan. Those who are of the spirit are of God and will live eternally, but those who are not His are condemned already; the Die is cast and there is no turning back. John chapter 3. Yet, there is more and we most likely are presently in that place.

America is now in an era of human history that is completely submerged in darkness from which it most likely will not emerge. I suppose we can say that we have entered ‘the dark side.’ We who are spiritual, in the Spirit, know well enough that John wrote concerning Jesus entering human history and not being well–received and not understood by most people. Recalling His 12th birthday which would have been his Bar Mitzvah, His ‘coming of age’ we are able to understand the leaders in the Temple in Jerusalem were sort of ‘spell-bound’ by Jesus’ wisdom. His parents discovered HIm talking to the hierarchy of Jewish life where He had entered darkness that was unable to comprehend what was taking place and who He was.

There is much confusion all around you and me, we who are born-again; the Followers of Jesus Christ. The confusion of which I speak sort of describes those who are lost, those who are without Jesus Christ in their lives, those who are the darkness seen in Scripture. These are evil and live in perpetual sin; they are in the world of the demonic. They are related to the demons that were occupying the man Jesus rescued from many demons, “The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this?—even the winds and the sea obey Him!” When He had come to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met Him as they came out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, “What do You have to do with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” Now a long way off from them, a large herd of pigs was feeding. “If You drive us out,” the demons begged Him, “send us into the herd of pigs.” “Go!” Then the men who tended them fled. They went into the city and reported everything—especially what had happened to those who were demon-possessed. At that, the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.” Matthew 8:27-34 NET2.

This takes us to another place of reality all together. Most people around us function in more than one environment every day and readily do so in order to survive in the darkness they occupy. They live by many rules, many codes of ethics as they move from one place to another whereas those of us who are ‘in Christ’ function by one set of rules; the Word of God. This is the REASON we are both misunderstood and hated as we live under the dominance of Creator God, Yahweh, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Our values of absolutes are not accepted as true because those in darkness cannot live with one set of values determining who they are and what they are doing at any given time.

Everyone knows, at least in America, that we are no longer “One Nation Under God” because the Word of God no longer is valid in the Halls of Congress because there are many sets of values that determine what is to take place. For instance, the values of Democrats are different from the values of the Republicans; neither has a set of absolute values determining what to do. The Supreme Court should have but one set of values and guiding principles, but this is not so. And the White House follows yet other values depending upon who is in the Oval Office. 

You and I who are Followers of Jesus Christ, the Christ of the Bible and NOT the christ of a particular denomination, are under the dominion of His infallible, inerrant and inspired Word. His absolute values are our guide in everything we say and do for our actions, determined by Him are about Him alone.

Look at what Peter has written, “Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with the same resolve—because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin— in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will. For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. So they are surprised that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood of wild living—and they slander you. They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so that although they might be judged by men in the fleshly realm, they might live by God in the spiritual realm.” 1 Peter 4:1-6 HCSB. Simply stated, Believers are looked down upon and despised because of our living faith in Jesus Christ.

One of the best examples of  there being many sets of rules of play in the world of darkness is sports and there are many venues where sporting events are carried on. There is football, baseball, basketball, track and field, soccer, rugby and the list goes on. That which is most important is the athletes themselves and they are protected at all costs by the promoters. Whatever the athlete chooses to do is okay for these people are the reason sporting events take place and the purpose of what they do is to please their audiences and each is protected and shielded by those who promote what they are doing. And that world is a very dark, dark place even though the lights that shine upon them are very bright. 

America today has been submerged into a darkness that is difficult to describe, but easy to discern, to know, to identify because this darkness has no absolute values guiding what is taking place. “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 HCSB. 

However, you and I walking in the world guided by and dominated by the Holy Spirit is described differently, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26.

Indeed, there are two distinct environments surrounding us; one of darkness and another of light. One is of God and the other is of Satan. Being of God, some are what might be called the Supernaturals, but those of Satan are among the demonic, the Demons. Of which are you?

Jesus is Lord.

“If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A slave 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. But they will do all these things to you on account of My name, because they don’t know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. The one who hates Me also hates My Father. If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.” John 15:18-24 HCSB.

Someone once told me, “I do not hate.” This was in response to this person’s powerful statement of bitter resentment of what I had to say concerning the homosexual movement in America and specifically her church. But her problem is simple, in spite of her 4-word statement, the defense she takes for the homosexual community demonstrates not only a lack of understanding of God’s Word, but a denial of Jesus Christ. To deny Him is to hate Him and to hate Him is to hate anyone who has chosen to believe in Him as Lord and Savior. This is the difficulty that we Christians, Believers and Followers of Jesus Christ find it so difficult in the communities where we live. We who know Him and live according to His standards will and have suffered the consequences of hatred from people living around us. For just as Jesus said, “But they will do all these things to you on account of My name, because they don’t know the One who sent Me.” verse 21.

You and I who claim to know Jesus Christ will be…WILL BE..hated profusely by those who do not know Him. If you are speaking the truth about what you believe, your friends will be limited to those who think and believe just as you do. And, yes, you will be seen as being ‘narrow minded’ because your world-view is biblical. Their world-view is dark and sinister because they are of this world and you are not. They will say that you are “Holier than thou,” but do not be discouraged BECAUSE you are holy and righteous, and they are not. “Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16. (I encourage you to read at least the 1st chapter of 1st Peter.) In other words, separate yourself from the thinking and actions of those around you who may claim to be ‘Christian’ but are not. For you will know who they are by what they do.  Their talk will match their walk, and their walk will match their talk…always.

This, my dear ones, is the reason you are not liked, but are rather hated by those around you. For Jesus is Lord.

“We MUST understand this, we MUST.” But, I am not certain that I do. However, “The Bible tells me so.” 

Looking at the countless numbers of people, mostly those at the grocery store…when I do leave the house…at least some of them do not know Jesus Christ and are not concerned about Him. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it!” Matthew 7:13-14 NET2. The key word in His statement is “few.” Only a few will find the narrow gate leading to life…only a few. 

I live in the Dallas, Fort Worth Metroplex where more than 2 million people reside. Tor those who live in rural states such as Arkansas, for example, this says a great deal because in the Natural State there are not 2 million people there. My house is located about ½ mile to the east of State Highway 287 and about the same distance south of Interstate 20. At rush hour these two, four-lane roads are crammed with thousands of vehicles representing hundreds of thousands of souls on their way to Hell…according to the words of Jesus, “only a few will find” their way through the narrow gate. The Bible tells us these are unrepentant sinners whose names are NOT in the Book of Life.

Continuing on we see this thought from the Lord, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven—only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many powerful deeds in your name?’  Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’” Many surrounding us will say to Him, “My Lord,” but Jesus will say to many of these, “I never knew you, Go away from me…” This is a very harsh bit of rejection from the Christ to those who may have just come from a church building having been in conversations about “the love of Christ for those who claim to know Him as Savior and Lord.”  They may have even heard the preacher say, “God loves the sinner, but hates the sin of the sinner.”

But, WHO is the preacher talking about? AND, who is it that will not be able to enter through the narrow gate. WHO is it that has obviously falsely called Jesus Christ, “Lord?” Here is another statement from Him, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation had been laid on rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed—it was utterly destroyed.” Matthew 7:24-27.

Jesus is speaking of obedience to His instructions…this is NOT about ‘doing good.’ Good people do not go to Heaven. Oh, and bad people do not go to Hell. Saved people go to Heaven and lost people go to Hell. Only those who are obedient to the Word of God will enter through the narrow gate and few will find that gate. The broad way is broad for a reason…many will go that way.

Sinners go to Hell and the born-again Followers of Christ will go to Heaven. How do we know this? The Bible tells us so…”For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” John 3:16-18. Who, then, does He love? He loves those who believe in Him and these will have eternal life. Everyone else is condemned…already.

Those who choose to believe in the Son of God as Savior are no longer sinners, but these are Saints, Believers, Beloved, Followers of the Christ, Children of God, Righteous, Ambassadors of God, but NEVER in the New Testament are the born-again called ‘sinners.’

I will remain faithful to the Word of God until the day I cease to breathe…and WHICH sinner does God love? He loves the lost sinner who chooses to follow Him by grace through faith…

Jesus is Lord.

For the last decade, at least, my thoughts have been pointing toward the obvious activities around us…all of us; Christians and those who are not. For many, the idea that the local church has been swarmed by people masquerading as ‘Christian,’ but are not. For about 5 years now, maybe 10 or more, non-chirstians have become more vociferous in most everything. The immorality among them has been uncovered by their presence everywhere. They call black white, dark as being light, up is now down, male is now female; all of this and more is being called, not simply ‘okay,’ but is being painted as being ‘Christian.’ Worse yet. Mainline churches have accepted these sinful and lost creatures as being ‘Christian.’ These have not simply been accepted, the local churches have included them and have become as they are.

“Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us. 20 Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21 I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life. 26 These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.” 1 John 2:18-27.

The most difficult statement in this passage is found in verse 19 in which the Apostle speaks of the ‘anti-christs’ among us. Truly, there are many; all around us. They are in our Bible classes, they sing in our praise and worship teams, they will pray, they will pass the plates, some may even stand in the pulpits. These are the chiefs of deceivers, to say the least. They are liars at the least. These ‘beasts’ have invited people to join causes that seem innocent enough, but darkness surrounds what they incite. The Social Gospel is the foundation of much of their activities…wolves in the clothing of sheep may be the best way to describe them. They do not belong to us, they are NOT a part of the Body of Christ…let them go.

These claim to be ‘Christian’ and they sound good, and their polite behavior is not what reveals who or what they are. Their actions are attempts to destroy what has been and to rewrite what has been written. Immorality is a trait that defines who they are as well, the kind of immorality that is appalling in every kind of way.Playing on the sympathies of everyone who may be different from them is a devious characteristic defining who they are. Gaining the approval of your children and young adults is a tactic used in the attempt to change our cultural values and our Christian heritage. I think you get the idea. These things identify these as denying the Christ even though they say otherwise.

Believers are anointed by the Holy One, the Holy Spirit. We are filled with His Spirit, gifted by His grace and empowered by His Presence. Every Christ Follower knows this truth. This anointing enables us to know the Truth that sets us free. The Christ remains in you and secures your eternity with Him because we belong to Him. He purchased us at Calvary.

We must remember to continue to fulfill the Great Commission, to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world in which we live. We MUST NOT BE SILENT!! “So the 11 disciples went to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had designated. When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” Matthew 28:16-20. 

Jesus is Lord.

There are times that frustration sets in, but in a moment I realize ‘this is really NOT about me.’ This is really about people refusing the truth concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The real issue is the narrative people wish to believe, the narrative that is far different from what Jesus teaches in His Word. We must not forget this, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NET2. In order to be His disciple a person MUST follow His teachings. Anyone who follows another teaching that is denial of what He teaches is already condemned. “The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” John 3:18. One must follow the Christ without question, “The man replied, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Luke 18:21-23. The point being is simple, in order to go to Heaven people must follow Jesus, no matter the cost. It is not about becoming poor or giving away everything, the narrative is about following Jesus. Chirstians do not do good in order to follow Jesus, they do good works BECAUSE they follow Jesus. “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” Ephesians 2:8-10.

Everyone who disagrees with the Word of God will not have their names written in the Book of Life and if names are missing from the Book of Life? “Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15.

Many have become angry with me because I have said something like this, “You will go to Hell if you do not believe in the Son of God for salvation.” Others have asked, “How can you tell someone they are going to Hell?” My response is something like this, “The Bible says so.”

“Now the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. So he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue because I am in anguish in this fire.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.” Luke 16:22-25.

The Word of God is a simple book to read and to understand, but hearts of lost people are cold, hard and distant from the truth found therein. These people are in darkness and cannot understand the Light. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.” John 1:1-5.

Sadly there are those who stand to teach the Word of God, but refuse to proclaim the ‘whole counsel of God,’ “Because people are weary of being told they are lost and going to Hell, and I want to give them relief from condemnation.” The truth of the matter is simple one cannot drink unless they first come to the Master and if they do not first come to Him they remain in darkness. “ Jesus replied, “Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” What more can I say?

Jesus is Lord.