Saturday, November 8, 2008
Good news and rocks.
So many things fly through my head…so many topics that seem important, at least to me. I find it very difficult to settle on one and write. Here is the one at the forefront tonight. The church in this century seems so far from the purpose we were created for. What was that purpose? It was to go into every part of the entire world and preach the good news from God to every human being. It wasn’t to make ourselves gatekeepers or develop checklists for the human race to follow, or immerse ourselves in social action, or lobby political parties or protest for or against various causes. Does this offend you and your cause? Good! Jesus said He was a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. The Apostle Paul made it clear that no man who goes to war entangles himself with the affairs of this life. It’s a pretty broad and far reaching statement. It applies to all areas of life. To politics, finances, relationships and yes even religious observances. To offend means to cause to stumble, to be tripped and lose balance. The majority of us, including myself, need to trip and lose our balance. We need to fall down so Jesus can pick us up. The problem with so many of our conversions lies in the fact that we knelt of our own accord and then picked ourselves up and went our own way again. The only difference was a little Jesus speak added to our façade. Then we wonder when we have to go through painful breaking processes. We wonder where God is and why this is happening to us. When all along He is refining us and setting us free from the existence that we mistakenly call life. Given a choice and with much hindsight, I would rather let God break me. I want stumble over the stone. Many reasons come to mind, but one stands out. Jesus finished the statement above by saying that whoever would fall on that stone, they would be broken. But upon whoever that stone fell, it would grind that person to powder. Have you stumbled? Are you offended?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Just the facts ma'am......
You see it all the time, an email or flyer claiming special insight into end time events. Most of these focus on the question of who the Antichrist is. Some even claim knowledge of his identity or give “facts” concerning him in an attempt to identify him with a public figure or candidate for office. These lists really get under my skin due to the fact that they are usually either complete fabrications or have just a little bit of the Bible sprinkled into them in order to give them credibility. So, with a zeal burning in my stomach that people should know God’s full counsel on every matter and that the Bible should not be misquoted, here are a few documented facts, from the Bible itself, concerning the person known to us as the Antichrist.
Let’s first look at what the term means, for it is a term of description and not a title. The name Christ is a title. Christ means the anointed one and is used exclusively of the Jewish Messiah, or the Savior sent from God. The name Jesus is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means Jehovah saves or Jehovah is Salvation. Jehovah being the Hebrew name of the one true God. Mary was told by the angel Gabriel in a vision to name her son Jesus. Gabriel said this was because the child would save His people from the sins. His name and title together mean Jehovah is salvation, the anointed one. The title anti-christ means one who is against, or opposes the anointed one. This is defined for us, by the Apostle John, in the following passages. These are the only four verses in the entire Bible where the term anti-christ is used.
John gives us the term antichrist in 1 John 2:18. He writes: “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know it is the last hour”. Interesting….John tells us that MANY antichrists have appeared. He goes on to say in verse 22 “Who is the liar, but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ. This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. In chapter 4 verse 2 and 3 he tells us: “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of antichrist….”.
The final use of the term antichrist in the Bible comes in 2 John verse 7 where John says: “…..those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and the antichrist.”
Note that John says there are many antichrists and referred to the spirit that prevails in them all. This spirit leads these people to believe that Jesus is not the Christ, that He is not God’s son and that He has not come in the flesh. Those who perpetrate this belief are called antichrists.
Now to the Biblical definition of the one to come, who shares all of these beliefs and this spirit. He is one who will rise to world power and eventually world domination as shown in the passages that I will refer to. To keep it simple I will refer to the passages and hope that you will pick up a copy of the Bible and look up the scripture that I reference.
First let’s look at the clearest and most complete prophecy of the one who is to come. This is found in the book of Revelation, chapter 13 starting in verse 1. It reads “And the dragon (Satan) stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads……And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority…….All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb (Jesus) who has been slain.” This beast is a man whom we commonly call the antichrist. This passage is connected to the book of Daniel, chapter 7 concerning the rule of the world. Revelation 13:11 says: “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth……and he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast….and he causes all….to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark…” This passage shows that their will be another man who will act as a preacher or priest to point everyone to worship the first man as god. This second man will also control the economy of the world and tie it to worshipping the first man. We generally refer to the first man as the beast and the second man as the false prophet. Together they will control the entire world for a seven year period which will take place immediately proceeding Jesus’ return to earth as its rightful ruler. So hint one…..he’s a leader and possibly a man who calls himself spiritual, not religious.
Second, he will be able to bring peace to the Middle East, where everyone else has failed. Daniel 9:24-27 tells us (in relation to the nation of Israel) that “he will make a firm covenant (pact, contract or treaty) with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering”. There are a lot of things that need to be said here to understand what this statement means. But with the need of brevity for those that don’t like to read, I’ll make some statements and ask you to contact me with any questions or concerns you have. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 tells us, concerning the last days “While they are saying, ‘peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly…”. This leader will establish a peace pact that will give Israel control of their Temple Mount again. They will again begin to offer sacrifices, which they haven’t done since around A.D. 70 when their temple was destroyed by the Roman army. But halfway through a seven year period, represented by the term week, he will make them stop and declare himself to be god and set up a throne for himself to rule the world. This throne will be located in the Jewish temple. This is what Daniel refers to as the one who makes desolate. Desolate means unfit for worship and this speaks of the place where the offerings were taking place, i.e. The Temple in Jerusalem.
Finally, he will somehow be connected to the old Roman empire. This is discovered through a study of the book of Daniel chapters 2,7 9, 11 and 12. Daniel 9 refers to the beast as “the Prince that shall come”. It says that his people will destroy the temple and the sanctuary. Daniel was written between 605 and 510 B.C. The destruction he speaks of happened in A.D. 70 and was perpetrated by the Roman army under General Titus.
Another 50 pages couldn’t give all of the indicators and scriptural backing for this subject, so I’ll stop here and leave it up to you to finish the research. Concerning those who presume to tell you or hint at the identity of the beast; they usually are trying to get you to speak up or vote a certain way in order to prevent their “antichrist” from taking power. This is not possible. The beast and his false prophet are destined by God himself to be in power. They are also destined to be taken and immediately thrown into the lake of fire at Christ’s return. This is necessary in order to bring about the things that are going to happen at the end of this age. It all must happen in order to clear away this present “new” world order and make way for the kingdom of our God and His Christ. As a Christian you should have joy that these things are so close. If you’re are not a follower of Christ, these things should cause fear, but should also give you hope since you are here reading this and have a chance to turn to Jesus Christ as your God, Lord and Savior and begin to follow Him.
Maybe this cleared up any misconception you had about the beast or antichrist. Maybe you knew all of this. Maybe you are more confused. I’ll always answer any question you have about what I write, or at least give the best answer I can. In any case wish all of you the best and thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings.
Let’s first look at what the term means, for it is a term of description and not a title. The name Christ is a title. Christ means the anointed one and is used exclusively of the Jewish Messiah, or the Savior sent from God. The name Jesus is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means Jehovah saves or Jehovah is Salvation. Jehovah being the Hebrew name of the one true God. Mary was told by the angel Gabriel in a vision to name her son Jesus. Gabriel said this was because the child would save His people from the sins. His name and title together mean Jehovah is salvation, the anointed one. The title anti-christ means one who is against, or opposes the anointed one. This is defined for us, by the Apostle John, in the following passages. These are the only four verses in the entire Bible where the term anti-christ is used.
John gives us the term antichrist in 1 John 2:18. He writes: “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know it is the last hour”. Interesting….John tells us that MANY antichrists have appeared. He goes on to say in verse 22 “Who is the liar, but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ. This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. In chapter 4 verse 2 and 3 he tells us: “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of antichrist….”.
The final use of the term antichrist in the Bible comes in 2 John verse 7 where John says: “…..those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and the antichrist.”
Note that John says there are many antichrists and referred to the spirit that prevails in them all. This spirit leads these people to believe that Jesus is not the Christ, that He is not God’s son and that He has not come in the flesh. Those who perpetrate this belief are called antichrists.
Now to the Biblical definition of the one to come, who shares all of these beliefs and this spirit. He is one who will rise to world power and eventually world domination as shown in the passages that I will refer to. To keep it simple I will refer to the passages and hope that you will pick up a copy of the Bible and look up the scripture that I reference.
First let’s look at the clearest and most complete prophecy of the one who is to come. This is found in the book of Revelation, chapter 13 starting in verse 1. It reads “And the dragon (Satan) stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads……And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority…….All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb (Jesus) who has been slain.” This beast is a man whom we commonly call the antichrist. This passage is connected to the book of Daniel, chapter 7 concerning the rule of the world. Revelation 13:11 says: “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth……and he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast….and he causes all….to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark…” This passage shows that their will be another man who will act as a preacher or priest to point everyone to worship the first man as god. This second man will also control the economy of the world and tie it to worshipping the first man. We generally refer to the first man as the beast and the second man as the false prophet. Together they will control the entire world for a seven year period which will take place immediately proceeding Jesus’ return to earth as its rightful ruler. So hint one…..he’s a leader and possibly a man who calls himself spiritual, not religious.
Second, he will be able to bring peace to the Middle East, where everyone else has failed. Daniel 9:24-27 tells us (in relation to the nation of Israel) that “he will make a firm covenant (pact, contract or treaty) with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering”. There are a lot of things that need to be said here to understand what this statement means. But with the need of brevity for those that don’t like to read, I’ll make some statements and ask you to contact me with any questions or concerns you have. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 tells us, concerning the last days “While they are saying, ‘peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly…”. This leader will establish a peace pact that will give Israel control of their Temple Mount again. They will again begin to offer sacrifices, which they haven’t done since around A.D. 70 when their temple was destroyed by the Roman army. But halfway through a seven year period, represented by the term week, he will make them stop and declare himself to be god and set up a throne for himself to rule the world. This throne will be located in the Jewish temple. This is what Daniel refers to as the one who makes desolate. Desolate means unfit for worship and this speaks of the place where the offerings were taking place, i.e. The Temple in Jerusalem.
Finally, he will somehow be connected to the old Roman empire. This is discovered through a study of the book of Daniel chapters 2,7 9, 11 and 12. Daniel 9 refers to the beast as “the Prince that shall come”. It says that his people will destroy the temple and the sanctuary. Daniel was written between 605 and 510 B.C. The destruction he speaks of happened in A.D. 70 and was perpetrated by the Roman army under General Titus.
Another 50 pages couldn’t give all of the indicators and scriptural backing for this subject, so I’ll stop here and leave it up to you to finish the research. Concerning those who presume to tell you or hint at the identity of the beast; they usually are trying to get you to speak up or vote a certain way in order to prevent their “antichrist” from taking power. This is not possible. The beast and his false prophet are destined by God himself to be in power. They are also destined to be taken and immediately thrown into the lake of fire at Christ’s return. This is necessary in order to bring about the things that are going to happen at the end of this age. It all must happen in order to clear away this present “new” world order and make way for the kingdom of our God and His Christ. As a Christian you should have joy that these things are so close. If you’re are not a follower of Christ, these things should cause fear, but should also give you hope since you are here reading this and have a chance to turn to Jesus Christ as your God, Lord and Savior and begin to follow Him.
Maybe this cleared up any misconception you had about the beast or antichrist. Maybe you knew all of this. Maybe you are more confused. I’ll always answer any question you have about what I write, or at least give the best answer I can. In any case wish all of you the best and thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Well this is the way I would have........
Well I can talk all day long about what gets under my skin....but when it comes to putting things on paper, I'm not so good. I always say that too many people have too much of an outlet for their thoughts and they always seem to come at issues from a perspective of their social bias or something similar. All opinions should be measured against a standard. In any building trade you have some kind of instrument to show a true measure. You may use a level, a tape measure, a plum line, survey instrument, etc. But if you don't use the correct tool or instrument, then you have a crooked, out of level, poorly built (and usually unstable) structure. Application of this principle is mirrored in life. We need a standard for our lives. Every opinion, thought, action or plan needs a standard of absolute truth to guide it. This truth must be rooted in what is really right and wrong, in the knowledge of how to go about our lives and how to know the one who created us. The standard exists, though it is much maligned. It is criticized as being out of date, a myth, just a lot of stuff written by a bunch of men, etc. These arguments always strike me as funny, seeing as how they are usually made by people who place great importance on ancient manuscripts from other cultures or plays or novels written by long dead authors. They will seek to define their lives by anything they find interesting, except the one thing that makes a definite claim to be God’s book .That book is of course the Bible. I attempt to measure everything I do by this standard. Sometimes I see clearly where I am lacking or not lacking. Sometimes I miss the point, sometimes I ignore what it says (by accident or otherwise), sometimes I flat out refuse its’ correction (always with a consequence that is brought home later). But I still seek to measure my life by it. That is the example set by Moses and Abraham and King David and every other saint whose lives it records. They kept coming back, even when they had messed up terribly. Just remember, life is full of Monday morning, arm-chair quarterbacks and self-proclaimed experts, and, there opinions are only as credible as people make them out to be. Measure them and their opinions against absolute truth. .It's true that God will use the Bible to show you when you're wrong and have sinned. You may be surprised to find that He will also use it to show you when you are on the right track and give you the peace and confidence to make the right decisions. Just a few thoughts...................
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
When liars and lunatics fail.
Feeling myself in a philosophical mood today, I have a question for you and please answer honestly to yourself. There will be no quiz. Was Jesus a good man? Please pause here and formulate your answer. This is by no means an original question and what follows will not be an original line of reasoning. It’s attributed to CS Lewis, yes the Chronicles of Narnia guy. So here we go, let’s discuss your answer. If you said no, then you may as well stop here, for what follows will probably not even strike a chord with you. If you said yes, then please proceed. Another question, was Jesus a good teacher? Again, please prepare your own original answer. Again, if no, then may as well stop here. If yes, here we go again.
So you stepped out and said yes! Then let’s look at a few things that Jesus said and taught. He said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father, except he come through me.” Pretty exclusive statement don’t you think. He said, while referring to God’s people as sheep, “He who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber….I am the door.” Pretty strong language coming from Jesus, but it came from him nonetheless. One last quote now, he said “I and the Father are one.” Now you may say that he was just referring to a close relationship to God as oneness. If that were the case, then why did the Jews immediately pick up stone to stone him to death for blasphemy. So, you said yes to the good man and good teacher question. I ask you, would he lie to you if he were both of these. No, He wouldn’t. So is He a liar? Is He a bad man and teacher?
Maybe there’s another choice here. Maybe He wasn’t these things, but believed He was. That would make Him a lunatic. In today’s diagnosis He would probably be called delusional, or a paranoid schizophrenic. This also takes away that good teacher and good man status. I mean after all, He believed these things so strongly that He went to His death on the cross willingly. He went out of some perverse idea that His own death would save us. Was he a lunatic?
Here’s the gut wrenching decision we all must make, are these lies or the truth. Are they the delusional ravings of a crazy or demon possessed man? A lot of those that heard Him said they were. A lot of people who followed Him around the countryside and listened to everything He said just couldn’t get past these statements. We are told that they went back (to their former beliefs) and never followed Him again. If they are lies or ravings then they can be dismissed, but if they are the truth, then shouldn’t we pay more attention to all of what He said.
By the way, there is a third choice. That choice would be that He is Lord; just liked He claimed He was. By this, I mean that He was God in the flesh, come down to dwell among us, live in flesh like us and die in our place to take the punishment that we each deserved. He did all of this so we could be free to choose whether or not we believed Him.
So here we are at the end of my blog, no altar call, no hymns playing, and no pressure to either believe or not to. I’m just stating the facts as clearly as I can in my own muddled way. Oh, one last fact, He rose again from the grave. He was really dead and God really brought Him back to life. This was proof from God that everything that He said was true.
I hope that, in spite all of the garbage that has been said and taught concerning Jesus, this may clear a few things up in your mind.
So you stepped out and said yes! Then let’s look at a few things that Jesus said and taught. He said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father, except he come through me.” Pretty exclusive statement don’t you think. He said, while referring to God’s people as sheep, “He who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber….I am the door.” Pretty strong language coming from Jesus, but it came from him nonetheless. One last quote now, he said “I and the Father are one.” Now you may say that he was just referring to a close relationship to God as oneness. If that were the case, then why did the Jews immediately pick up stone to stone him to death for blasphemy. So, you said yes to the good man and good teacher question. I ask you, would he lie to you if he were both of these. No, He wouldn’t. So is He a liar? Is He a bad man and teacher?
Maybe there’s another choice here. Maybe He wasn’t these things, but believed He was. That would make Him a lunatic. In today’s diagnosis He would probably be called delusional, or a paranoid schizophrenic. This also takes away that good teacher and good man status. I mean after all, He believed these things so strongly that He went to His death on the cross willingly. He went out of some perverse idea that His own death would save us. Was he a lunatic?
Here’s the gut wrenching decision we all must make, are these lies or the truth. Are they the delusional ravings of a crazy or demon possessed man? A lot of those that heard Him said they were. A lot of people who followed Him around the countryside and listened to everything He said just couldn’t get past these statements. We are told that they went back (to their former beliefs) and never followed Him again. If they are lies or ravings then they can be dismissed, but if they are the truth, then shouldn’t we pay more attention to all of what He said.
By the way, there is a third choice. That choice would be that He is Lord; just liked He claimed He was. By this, I mean that He was God in the flesh, come down to dwell among us, live in flesh like us and die in our place to take the punishment that we each deserved. He did all of this so we could be free to choose whether or not we believed Him.
So here we are at the end of my blog, no altar call, no hymns playing, and no pressure to either believe or not to. I’m just stating the facts as clearly as I can in my own muddled way. Oh, one last fact, He rose again from the grave. He was really dead and God really brought Him back to life. This was proof from God that everything that He said was true.
I hope that, in spite all of the garbage that has been said and taught concerning Jesus, this may clear a few things up in your mind.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Awareness, the silent killer!
Did you ever stop to take notice of the awareness campaigns that consume us on a day to day basis? It starts when we turn on the TV or the radio. That will usually be within the first ½ hour after I get out of bed. You can get news and/or weather anytime of the day or night. You’re bombarded with billboards and commercials on the way to work. When you get there you have memos and reminders and FYI’s to keep you up to date. On top of these things there are the targeted campaigns. These would include global warming, pollution, illnesses, food warnings, terrorist alert system and so forth. By the way, every problem is passed off as being your responsibility, something that you must act now to help counteract. Did you notice that every time there is a new story of some impending catastrophe or extinction or environmental threat it is always the human race’s fault? All of us….period!
Now before you get out your soapbox and start defending your position, let me be clear on mine. We make decisions as human beings that affect everything around us. The Bible says that a man’s heart devises his way…but the Lord directs his steps. It gives a clear picture that these things are consequences of choices that we make. But it also gives the picture that God still has this thing very much under control. The sin nature that we inherited has consequences. But God is forgiving concerning those stupid choices and shows us grace that we do not deserve concerning those consequences.
Now back to my point about awareness…it takes our eyes off of Biblical truth far too often. It focuses us on the problems or false solutions to issues that are blown out of proportion. It causes stress and puts on us a load that we were not designed to carry. The Bible, speaking of the last days, talks of men’s hearts failing them for fear. I used to think that was due to the things that the Bible predicts are coming upon us. I now believe that this is referring to the fear and stress brought on by awareness of all of the things going on around us and what situations these things may cause us to be in.
Have you ever thought about that original stupid choice that got us into this mess to begin with? It had is basis in mistrust (of God) and was based on the promise that awareness would be a much better state of mind for us as human beings. Satan first questioned God’s integrity concerning what He had promised Adam and Eve concerning the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and eating its fruit. Then Satan made a promise of his own to Eve, “You’ll be like God, knowing good from evil.” All she had to do was to make a choice concerning who to believe. Boy, what a deal…paradise, innocence, true love and fellowship, traded for knowledge, for awareness of what was going on. I personally think that Adam and Eve got gypped.
Now I can hear you from here, saying to yourself “but I have to be involved and in control of all of these situations concerning me. I mean after all doesn’t God help those that help themselves. That’s what the Bible says isn’t it?” No it doesn’t. It actually says that God helps the helpless, those that can’t help themselves.
Guess I need to quit rambling and get to my point huh? So here goes. I read in the Bible that God knows my rising up and my lying down, and has numbered the hairs on my head. I’m told not to take a thought as to what I will eat or what I’ll wear. I’m told He has intimately known my days since before the beginning of the world. At that time He knew the day I would be born, the day and very second I will die and all of the details in between. By the way, He has also told us exactly how this world will pass away…yes I said pass away. That means how it will eventually be destroyed and then remade. That is in a literal sense. He has also promised that day and night and summer and winter and springtime and fall will not cease to be as they are until that time comes. He is clear that there is nothing that can be done to hasten or postpone this day ……the time is set in stone.
So what is awareness? The longer I live and the more I read the Bible and think about what it says, I see that it is just one more tool that Satan uses to keep us from trusting God with every detail of our lives. Jesus said that if a man were come to Him then the man must come as a little child. Just like our children trust us to feed them, wipe their hineys and snotty noses and take care of every little detail. As a matter of fact, they aren’t even aware that there are details. They just look at us and cry and know we’ll be there. God is better than the best parent. Think on that a bit. Just wanted you to be aware…….:)
Now before you get out your soapbox and start defending your position, let me be clear on mine. We make decisions as human beings that affect everything around us. The Bible says that a man’s heart devises his way…but the Lord directs his steps. It gives a clear picture that these things are consequences of choices that we make. But it also gives the picture that God still has this thing very much under control. The sin nature that we inherited has consequences. But God is forgiving concerning those stupid choices and shows us grace that we do not deserve concerning those consequences.
Now back to my point about awareness…it takes our eyes off of Biblical truth far too often. It focuses us on the problems or false solutions to issues that are blown out of proportion. It causes stress and puts on us a load that we were not designed to carry. The Bible, speaking of the last days, talks of men’s hearts failing them for fear. I used to think that was due to the things that the Bible predicts are coming upon us. I now believe that this is referring to the fear and stress brought on by awareness of all of the things going on around us and what situations these things may cause us to be in.
Have you ever thought about that original stupid choice that got us into this mess to begin with? It had is basis in mistrust (of God) and was based on the promise that awareness would be a much better state of mind for us as human beings. Satan first questioned God’s integrity concerning what He had promised Adam and Eve concerning the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and eating its fruit. Then Satan made a promise of his own to Eve, “You’ll be like God, knowing good from evil.” All she had to do was to make a choice concerning who to believe. Boy, what a deal…paradise, innocence, true love and fellowship, traded for knowledge, for awareness of what was going on. I personally think that Adam and Eve got gypped.
Now I can hear you from here, saying to yourself “but I have to be involved and in control of all of these situations concerning me. I mean after all doesn’t God help those that help themselves. That’s what the Bible says isn’t it?” No it doesn’t. It actually says that God helps the helpless, those that can’t help themselves.
Guess I need to quit rambling and get to my point huh? So here goes. I read in the Bible that God knows my rising up and my lying down, and has numbered the hairs on my head. I’m told not to take a thought as to what I will eat or what I’ll wear. I’m told He has intimately known my days since before the beginning of the world. At that time He knew the day I would be born, the day and very second I will die and all of the details in between. By the way, He has also told us exactly how this world will pass away…yes I said pass away. That means how it will eventually be destroyed and then remade. That is in a literal sense. He has also promised that day and night and summer and winter and springtime and fall will not cease to be as they are until that time comes. He is clear that there is nothing that can be done to hasten or postpone this day ……the time is set in stone.
So what is awareness? The longer I live and the more I read the Bible and think about what it says, I see that it is just one more tool that Satan uses to keep us from trusting God with every detail of our lives. Jesus said that if a man were come to Him then the man must come as a little child. Just like our children trust us to feed them, wipe their hineys and snotty noses and take care of every little detail. As a matter of fact, they aren’t even aware that there are details. They just look at us and cry and know we’ll be there. God is better than the best parent. Think on that a bit. Just wanted you to be aware…….:)
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