Tag: bible

Me Do It!

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parables, My ThoughtsLeave a comment
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My heart hurt as I watched my two-year-old granddaughter’s growing frustration as she struggled to fit a plastic shape into its hole. She had gotten the star and heart shapes into their openings but the triangle just wouldn’t fit into the square opening. She had gone from sliding the triangle back and forth across the opening to trying to force it with every bit of small might she had. I yearned to share my knowledge with her but each offer to help was met with a defiant, “No! Me do it!”

“There’s a special hole for each shape…” I started only to be interrupted with, “No! Me do it!”

“You can’t fit a triangle into…”  was cut off with “No! Me do it!”

“Here, let me show you…” was answered with a growl. “No! Me do it!”

So I sat back and let her work. If only she would listen.

Angry tears now filled her eyes as she pushed even harder. Failing that, she began slamming the poor triangle onto the opening. Over and over she tried. Over and over she failed until she couldn’t stand it anymore.

With a scream, she threw the triangle across the room.

I held out my arms. “Come here, baby.” Sobs racked her tiny body as she clung to me. Sitting there on the floor, I rocked her until her breathing slowed, her tears dried, and she was once again at peace.

You would think that the next time she played with that toddler toy set, she was more willing to allow me to help her. But no.  Again she insisted on doing it herself, getting upset in the process, and ending in my lap sobbing out her frustration.

Eventually, one day, she accepted my help. Then, with a triumphant smile, she gently pushed the triangle piece into the triangle opening.

I wonder if we don’t do the same thing to God. He knows how things work. He knows how to solve problems. But we think we can figure it all our on our own. We think if we work hard enough and long enough, we can solve all our problems. We ignore God’s way to create our own way.

When we do this as an individual, it’s called rebellion.

When we do this as a society, it’s called humanism.

This is Google’s summary of humanism based on American Humanist Association’s definition: Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that emphasizes human reason, ethics, and agency to find meaning and fulfillment. It is a secular worldview that affirms individual dignity and social responsibility, using science, art, and compassion to create a more just and compassionate world. Humanism does not include supernatural beliefs or theistic views. 

In other words, humanism, which is rampant through every part of society, is mankind saying to their Father, “Me do it!”

Why do we humans continue to strive to become equal to God regardless of the consequences? Didn’t Adam and Eve teach us anything?

Why do we humans think we know better or can do better than the One who created us? Cain certainly tried, and failed.

Why do we humans repeatedly try to serve a holy God our way like the Israelites did when moving the Ark of the Covenant?  Uzzah paid the price for that.

Why do we humans insist on creating an image of God that pleases us but not Him? The golden calf should have been a clear warning.

Why do we humans keep looking to ourselves to fill our needs? David knew from experience who to trust.

Why do we humans fight so hard to be independent of God? It never worked out well for the Israelites.

Some people have said: “Oh, that just happened in the Old Testament. Today is different.”

Is it?

Adam and Eve

For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. Gen 3:4-7

Cain

In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:3-7

The Golden Calf

And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” Exodus 32:4-10

The Ark of the Covenant

And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side. And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold 5 and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark. Exodus 37:3-4

And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the sons of Kohath are to carry. Numbers 4:15

So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service. And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.  But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder.  Numbers 7:6-9

David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. 2 Samuel 6:1-7

Trust in God

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. Psalm 20:6-8

Get Off the Fence

On By LindaIn Open Your EyesLeave a comment
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Many of us Christians are walking a spiritual fence.

We walk the fence when we are not one hundred percent convinced that God is God. We are torn between believing what the Bible says and what the world says.

And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.  (2 Kings 18:21)

We walk the fence when we are lukewarm in our faith.  We may love God, but we equally love the world. We are not on fire for either side. Love for God keeps us from fully entering the world and love for the world keeps us from fully committing ourselves to God.

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

We walk the fence when we want it all. We want the blessings, protection, and love that God offers, and we also want all the pleasures and self-rule the world offers.

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.  (2 Timothy 3:3-5)

We walk the fence when we are delusional or misinformed. Maybe we think God doesn’t see us or that He won’t hold us accountable for our decisions. Maybe we think a loving God wouldn’t send anyone to hell, or maybe we think hell doesn’t exist at all. Maybe we think God is a cruel tyrant who loves to kill and not worthy of our full devotion.  Maybe we base our beliefs about God on the behavior of those who claim to follow Him. Or maybe we base our faith on ‘once saved always saved’.

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (1 Timothy 4:3)

We may have just gotten on the fence, or we may have been walking it for years. We may even get up and down depending on circumstances.

But walking the fence for any length of time is dangerous.

If we are not committed to one side or the other or if we are lukewarm about our faith, we are in danger of the deception Satan is unleashing on the world today.  We can be easily fooled by the half-truths and shows of power Satan uses. And once he has us fooled, it’s not too hard to lead us to the wide gate where we will have plenty of company making that entrance seem the right way.

 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:9)

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many.” (Matthew 7:13)

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9)

If we are lukewarm, we are also in danger of being rejected by Jesus.

So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)

If we want it all, we are in danger of losing salvation. We say we are Christ-followers, but we pick and choose which of His ways we will follow, rationalizing why we reject the rest. We sing about living holy lives on Sunday, then lie, cheat, and spread hate the rest of the week. We say we love God, but we hate those who are different than us and we support the things He hates.

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. (Titus 1:16)

There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer  or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this. (Deut 18:10-14)

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

If we are delusional or misinformed, we are in danger of judgment.

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. (John 15:22)

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:29)

The Israelites frequently walked the fence. They wanted what God offered, sacrificing to Him and declaring Him LORD, but they also wanted what the other nation’s gods were said to offer and made sacrifices to them. (2 Kings 17:41)

It didn’t end well for them.

And, according to the Bible, it’s not going to end well for the multitude of people who choose the world.

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

It’s time to get off the fence.

It’s time to decide if we want God or the world. And by the world, I mean Satan, who is currently the god of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

It’s time to decide, with eyes fully open, who we will worship and serve: The Most High God who created and loves us or Satan who is out to destroy us.

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

It’s time to get off the fence.

Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, and the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

Open Your Eyes – Lord; An Allegory

On By LindaIn Open Your Eyes2 Comments
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Darlene sighed as she straightened. “There,” she said, “The weeds are gone.”

Brandi looked around. “There’s still so much to do. I wonder why the lady let her yard get so bad. Good thing you decided to help her.”

Darlene brushed the dirt off her jacket. “Well, Mr. Evans asked me to so here I am. I’m going to go ask what he wants me to do next.”

Brandi pointed. “I don’t know Mr. Evans but I’m happy to help out. I’ll trim those bushes. I don’t know if spring is the right season, but it’s easier to trim the branches before the leaves start growing. “

“He didn’t say anything about the bushes but I guess it’s okay. It does need to be done.” Darlene opened the back gate. “Be back soon.”

Brandi put on a pair of gloves and picked up the shears just as a man walked through the back gate. He waved when he saw her and headed in her direction.

“Hi, Seth! You made it!”

Seth nodded, “I couldn’t let my friend do all this by herself, could I?” He looked around. “You’re not kidding. This place is a mess.”

“Darlene said that Mr. Evans said it needed to be cleaned up. I pulled the weeds and am about to trim the bushes.”

“I think the patio needs to be hosed and scrubbed, too. I’ll go do that.”

“Good idea.” Brandi walked to the side fence and began snipping the bush branches while Seth found a broom in the shed and began sweeping.

By the time Darlene returned, the bushes were trimmed, the patio clean, the raised garden bed filled with compost and topsoil, and the leaves raked.

“Wow,” Darlene called to the two friends. “You’ve done so much!”

“Where have you been?” Brandi asked. “I thought you were just going to ask Mr. Evans what to do next.”

“I did ask him. He told me to help the people in the front yard first. They were planting a tree and needed another set of hands. And then to come back here and check for dog poop.”  She walked to the shed. “There’s supposed to be a poop-scooper in here.”

“Ew,” Brandi held her nose. “You can have that job. I’m going to clean the patio furniture.” She called to Seth, “Did you happen to see a bucket and some rags in the shed when you were in there?”

“Yes, the rags are on the shelf and there’s a bucket next to the door.”

The clanging of a dinner bell stopped all three helpers.

“Yay!” Darlene cheered. “Time for lunch!” She headed for the back door.

“I’m starving!” Brandi said as she joined Darlene.

“Me, too.!” Seth echoed as he joined the girls.

The back door opened just as they got there.

Mr. Evans motioned to Darlene. “Come and get it! The barbeque chicken is hot on the stove and there are fresh rolls from the oven.”

Darlene grinned and entered the house. Seth and Brandi tried to follow but Mr. Evans stopped them.

“Sorry, but this is for friends and family only.”

“But we helped out! Didn’t we trim the bushes, pull weeds, clean the patio and rake the leaves?”

Mr. Evans shook his head. “I don’t know you. ” He pointed to the back gate .”You’ll need to leave.” Then he went inside, closing the door firmly behind him.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who des the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And I will declare to them, ‘I never know you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23

When I read Matthew 7:21-23, I’m struck by two things. One is that Jesus told these people who did things in His name that He never knew them. The other is that He attached the word ‘many’ to that. Does that mean many church-going Christians are not going to make it into the kingdom of heaven? That thought is sobering.

Doing things in the name of Jesus is not the same thing as making Him Lord of your life. You can go to church, sign up for mission trips, help out in community outreach programs, and take food to the homebound without submitting yourself to His Lordship. Without this submission, all you have is religion. Religion does not get you into heaven. Only Jesus can do that – and only when you’ve made Him your Lord and Savior.

Lord AND Savior, not Lord OR Savior.

Making Him Lord is not reciting a certain prayer or just calling Him Lord. Making Him Lord means to give yourself to Him heart, soul and body. You put yourself under His Lordship. You don’t live for yourself anymore – you live for Him. You give up what you want to do and do what He tells you to do.

Have you done that? Does Jesus know you?

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5

Open Your Eyes – Love is Love

On By LindaIn Open Your EyesLeave a comment
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Love is love.

This popular claim sounds nice, but how accurate is it?  I might marry my friend because I love him, but I wouldn’t marry a candy bar because I love chocolate. I love my puppy is not the same as I love my job. 

My guess is that the word love is limited to the love between two people. And not just any love, such as the love between a parent and child. Based on when and how it is used, people who use this have defined love as the intimate relationship, usually but not always, between two adults. This includes straight, gay, trans, and other types of people-people relationships. It doesn’t matter who the love partner is because love is love.

Is that Biblical? I did a quick search of the New Testament and found many verses about love. Most of them connected love to God in some way. But none said “love is love” or suggested a person could have an intimate relationship with just anyone.

The true definition of love is connected to God because God is love (1 John 4:16).

Therefore He’s the only one who can define what intimate love is and isn’t. According to His Word, intimate love is to be between a man and a woman who are married (1 Cor 7:2). This life-long relationship (Gen 2:24) is to be honored by everyone (Heb 13:4), and all sex outside of it is to be avoided (1Cor 6:18). Jesus confirmed this when He said that a man is to hold fast to his wife (Mark 10:6-8). Man and woman. Period. Anything outside of this leads to death (Prov 14:12).

Love is love? Not for those who call themselves Christians. Unbelievers can say and do whatever they want, but when we accepted Jesus, we accepted His Lordship over us. That means doing and seeing things His way regardless of what the rest of the world says or does, or even what seems right to us (Proverbs 14:12).

Many Christians are sitting on the fence. They hear what God says, but don’t see how loving anyone could be wrong regardless of who it is.  They seem to be more concerned about offending other people than offending God. Or maybe they agree with God for their own relationships but don’t want to impose that on other Christians or warn nonbelievers because everyone has a right to what they believe. Therefore they accept and support those who love differently or give a different interpretation of God’s Word. They have bought into the love is love idea.

I believe God is shaking the world right now (Haggai 2:6-7; Amos 9:8-10; Hebrews 12:25-27).  It’s time to wake up and open our eyes. It’s time to get off the fence. Will we follow the Creator or the created? We can’t have both God’s approval and man’s approval. We can’t love both God and the world (1 John 2:15-16). Compromise is not a choice. As Christians, we must obey God over man (Acts 5:29). We must walk in His ways. But do we? Will we?

1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 

1 Corinthians 7:2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Mark 10:6-8 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

1 John 2:15-16 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the father but is from the world.

Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Haggai 2:6-7 For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.

Amos 9:8-10  Behold, the eyes of the LORD GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the LORD. For behold, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the earth.  All the sinners of my people will die by the sword – all those who say, “Disaster will never draw near or confront us.”

Hebrews 12:25-27  See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns us from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken – that is, things that have been made – in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

Open Your Eyes – The World

On By LindaIn Open Your EyesLeave a comment
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1 John 2:15  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Someone recently asked me, “If God created the world for us to enjoy, why does the Bible tell us not to love the world?” (1 John 2:15)

In Hebrew (the Old Testament) the word for world is tebel, which means moist and therefore inhabited. In Greek (the New Testament) the word for world is kosmos which means an ordered system (like universe, creation); also refers to the inhabitants of the world and to worldly affairs.

So the ‘world’ includes both the physical planet as well as those who live on it.

That leads to another question. How can God love the world (John 3:16) and yet James tell us that friendship with the world makes us an enemy of God (James 4:4)?

Many people stop when they read Scriptures like these, shake their heads in confusion, and go find something easier to understand, sometimes telling others how illogical or contradictory the Bible is.

However, the key to understanding what is meant by ‘world’ is often found in the surrounding verses. Take the verse in the opening paragraph above about not loving the world or the things of the world. The next verse in the Bible defines what John’s talking about: “For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16)

Paul said in Col 2:20-23  If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations – “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used) – according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Jesus Himself told a parable about the dangers of the world in Mark 4:1-20, especially verses 18-19: And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Based on just these few Scriptures, we can see that the word ‘world’ in these contexts mean the desires of the flesh and of the eyes, pride of life, riches, money, possessions, property, cares, human precepts and teachings, and self-made religion.

In other words – sensuality, materialism, consumerism, humanism, naturalism, and religion.

In short, anything that supersedes God.

God’s first and most important commandment has been clear. He and His kingdom are to be first in our lives. Compromise is not an option. We either live by His words, His standard, His commands, His ways – or we don’t. It’s either-or. It’s a two way street. One way leads to life with Him, the other way leads to death without Him. He’s quite serious about it.

Mark 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:24:  No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money, or mammon. (In Greek, mammon is a Semitic word for money or possessions) (In Strong’s Concordance (number 3126)  Mammon in Aramaic means riches, money, possessions, property.)

Jesus said we are in the world, not of the world (John 17:14-16). That means we are living in the world with everyone else, but we are not bound by the principles of the world. In His prayer to the Father, Jesus said, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:15-18)

He has told us to go into the world to make disciples of all who will listen (Mark 16:15). He will assign us fields to work, whether they are in politics, in churches, in education, in industries, or in groups with causes. Wherever He puts us, remember the focus is on God’s kingdom. We must remain true to God’s way such as loving without conforming to those around us. We are to be His light, sharing God’s truth, not befriending their opinions and beliefs. We are there to share the gospel, not become one of them.

We can enjoy what God created and what He gives us, but always with the knowledge that they are not an end but a means to be used to reach others for Christ and to minister to those in need, whether those needs are emotional, physical, financial, etc.

Let’s pray for the Holy Spirit to show us where we’ve compromised, where we’ve adopted the mindset and behavior of the world. Let’s acknowledge and repent from where we’ve strayed into the world’s ways, and return to His way before it’s too late.

He’s not of the world. Are we?

Open Your Eyes – Truth

On By LindaIn Open Your EyesLeave a comment
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Truth is important. I think we can all agree with that. We need the truth about the world in order to thrive. Believing what is not true may spoil our plans or lead us down a wrong path that may end badly, even to our deaths.

You would think truth would be a unifying force. Something we all have in common. However, it is not. I don’t think it ever has been. What divides us is how we view truth. We all use the word ‘truth’ but we are not all talking about the same thing. That becomes clear as we hear about their truth, our truth, or the truth. What’s the difference? Truth is truth, right?

Nope.

Cambridge Dictionary and other online sites define truth as:

  • that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality (the truth or objective truth)
  • that which is thought to be true by most people (our truth or general truth)
  • that which is based on someone’s personal situation or feelings (my truth or subjective truth)

All three meanings are valid and used every day. There are times when objective truth has to top the others – such as fire is hot. But there are many times when subjective truth can be used to make decisions– such as the pool is too cold to swim in.

Over the decades that I have been alive, I have watched as subjective truth slowly replaced more and more objective truth. For many in our country today, there is no objective truth. Everyone’s truth is as valid as any other truth. The root of many disagreements is when subjective truth is pushed as objective truth.

It’s time for Christians to wake up. It’s time for us to open our eyes to remember who we are and whose we are. It’s time to see what’s going on around us and to compare it to what God says.

  • Jesus said He was the truth. (John 14:6). Not a truth but the truth.
  • In John 17:17, Jesus prayed that the Father would “Sanctify them by the truth; your words are truth.” The Bible contains God’s words, i.e. truth.
  • Jesus told His disciples that His Spirit would lead them into all truth. (John 16:13a). All truth. There is no objective truth outside of God’s truth.

I don’t speak to non-Christians. They must do what they feel they must do. God alone will judge them by His standards for them.

I speak to those who call themselves Christians. We are not free to believe whatever we want. We are to believe and live the truth as God has given it to us. We are to stand up for the truth (2 Cor 13:8) as well as speak the truth to each other (Eph 4:25).

Speaking the truth got the prophets stoned and killed. Standing for the truth got the early disciples ridiculed, ostracized, rejected, persecuted, and even killed. What will it cost us? Are we willing to walk as those of centuries ago did? Or do we prefer to walk the path of least resistance with our eyes closed?

It’s time for us to choose. God or the world?

Let’s pray that God opens our eyes to the truth as revealed in His Word, and that He gives us the strength to walk in it – in a world where to speak it out can cost us everything.

John 8:32  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 16:13a However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth,

John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your words are truth.

Zech 8:16-17 These are the things you must do: speak truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.

2 Cor 13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Eph 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each of one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

1 Cor 13:6 Loves does not delight in wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth

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

God Feels Indignation Every Day – Open Your Eyes Series

On By LindaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Ps 7:11  God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.

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Indignation, according to Strong’s H2194, is defined as froth at the mouth, fury, angry, rage.

That is not an image of God we like to think about. We’d much rather think of God’s love and forgiveness and mercy and grace. But if that’s all we think about, we’re going to miss a side of God that is as important as the warm fuzzies He gives.

A God that is only loving and merciful and forgiving is not a loving God at all. If He allows sin to go unpunished, how is that loving to those who are hurt by it? How is it loving if He never disciplines us and we end up selfish, self-centered, greedy, idolaters – and then he judges us when we die? 

I’ve heard people say that they can’t accept a God who is an angry, judging God.

First, I’d say they don’t get to create God in their image. If God was a vindictive, unfair, cruel God, He would still be God. We would still have to treat Him as such. We might not have the warm feeling for Him that we would want, but that doesn’t change the fact that God is God. No one made Him. He just is.

Second, God is just. He does what is right, period. He doesn’t follow social norms or cultural expectations. He doesn’t take advice from anyone. He does right because He is righteous. It is who He is.

Third, they don’t know and can’t know God’s thoughts. His thinking is way beyond our thinking. He sees things differently than we do because His perspective is so much higher than ours. He can see the end from the beginning. Time had no restraint on Him. We are bound by so many things – He is bound by nothing. He sees all. He knows all. He is in all places at all times, including our hearts. He knows each person’s motivations and future. Our decisions are based on what we see and know. In like manner, God makes decisions based on what He sees and knows.

And fourth, our spirits are created for God. If we reject Him, we will fill that space with other gods of our own making. Money, power, prestige, causes, agendas, family, jobs, hobbies, sports, even ourselves, are all things that have become gods in today’s world. We can talk ourselves into and out of believing anything, but the truth doesn’t change. There is only one God.  And we didn’t create Him.

God is who He is. He does what He does. We can accept all of Him, part of Him, or none of Him. That doesn’t change the fact that He is looking down at us right this minute with both love and fury. Jesus provided the only way to escape being the object of His fury. We may suffer some fallout from the fury directed at the evil around us, but we will not be a target.

How many of us truly believe what God has revealed about Himself through the Bible? How would our attitude and reverence towards God change if we truly accepted all aspects of Him? How would our lives be different if we really believed that God feels indignation at sin every day?

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.  (Eph 1:4)

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.” (Luke 4:8)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways  and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Is 55:8-9)

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jer 17:10)

Open Your Eyes

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parables, My ThoughtsLeave a comment

My granddaughter loves riding lessons, and I love watching her as she directs her horse to walk, trot, turn, and back up. She’s not really in charge, but she doesn’t know that. She interacts with the volunteers who lead the horse and walk by her side, but since she’s the one with the reins in her hands, she believes she’s in control.

One day she had fallen asleep on the way to the stables.  It was a heavy sleep, and she resisted my efforts to wake her up when we got there. I carried her into the stable, hoping the greetings from the people and the neighing of the horses would help wake her. But although a small smile would escape her lips from time to time, she refused to open her eyes.

I set her on the ground and led her around to each horse and then to the donkeys. Not even their loud braying convinced her to open her eyes.

The instructors suggested they put her on the horse anyway and let Frankie do her “horse magic”.  I handed my granddaughter to the experts and went to stand by the fence. I could hear them talking to her, coaxing her, teasing her, and distracting her through questions – all while they helped her mount and walk their warm up laps. Still, those little eyes remained closed. And they remained closed for half of the lesson, totally dependent of what her instructor and the volunteers told her.

A month ago, the Lord told me things were going to get rough and that many were not prepared. They were not listening. He asked me to pray that they would wake up, open their eyes, get into the position He assigned them, and strengthen themselves by praying.

I suspected that the election results were going to cause some problems no matter who won. What I didn’t see coming was a post like the one that popped up on my social media feed a few days ago. My heart is still grieving over it.

It’s been reposted numerous times, but I’m not sure if I’m allowed to post it here. So I’ll just say, the poster accused Christians of questioning the faith of those who “didn’t want to support a man who represents the opposite of everything Jesus taught”. 

First, my heart aches for those who are hurt by the questions of others. Pain is real no matter the cause.

Second, what are some examples of how Trump represents the opposite to everything Jesus taught? Which teachings are being referenced? And which teachings are being ignored? Jesus believed and followed the Old Testament. Is that included in “his teachings?” Vague accusations are a common tactic of the enemy.

And third, why are we not allowed to question what we see? Where is the dialogue? How can we understand when the door is slammed shut as soon as we ask? Do we not get to have our own opinions?

I have watched both political sides now for four years. I have watched full debates, rallies, hearings, and commentaries. I have listened to both liberal and conservative media. And I have prayed a lot.

What I have seen is a clear difference between the sides. Although there is a bias on the right side, there are outright lies and projections on the left towards the right.

The people in charge of the left have their narratives and I can understand why they say and do what they do. But I can’t understand how regular people, especially Christians, can believe what they say. It’s like people are walking around with their eyes closed, totally dependent on what the media is telling them. Things like…

There’s nothing wrong with Biden, except when it became too evident to hide it anymore. 

Listen to the science, except in the case of gender and in unborn children.

My body, my choice, except when it comes to vaccines.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion, except for white men and Christians/conservatives.

The contradictions are clearly there. Why do people not see them? What if it’s because they are riding life with their eyes closed, totally dependent on what they are being told? They may be holding the reins, but being in control is just an illusion. They are limited to where those in charge lead them.

This also goes for those on the right who blindly follow what they are being told.

Regardless of which side we are one, we need to know that this not a political issue and it’s not a social issue.

It’s a spiritual issue.

There is an enemy who is neither blue nor red. Invisible, yet firmly in control of many.

We all need to wake up to what’s really going on in our country. We all need to open our eyes to the evil that is trying to destroy us and the God who is trying to warn us. We all need to find our place in Jesus again. And we all need to pray. We need to be strong to face what’s coming. Because I’m pretty sure the rough times are not over.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Mark 14:37-38

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Revelation 3:3

But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. Ezekiel 33:6

The Last Time

On By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment

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How often have we heard, “I didn’t know that was the last time I would ever see my loved one again. If only I had known, I would have hugged him/her a little longer.”

Heartbreaking.

But does it change our own attitudes towards those we love? Do we get so caught up in day-to-day living that we forget that there is a last time for everything?

The last time we will kiss our spouse goodbye.

The last time we eat dinner with some good friends.

The last time we tuck our children into bed.

I am guilty of this. I assume that if I have greeted my granddaughter each morning this week, I will be greeting her each morning next week, and even for years to come. I live as though I will see the end coming well in advance, such as when she goes off to college or gets a job in another state. But often I give little thought that the hug I gave her this morning might have been the last. Accidents happen. Life circumstances change.  We don’t have near as much control over our lives as we sometimes think we do. If only someone could tell us when the end was coming, like a GPS app identifies the last mile of a journey.

Well, Jesus did do that concerning our last days on earth. He gave us signs to look for and directions on what to do and not do. He also said that it would be like in the days of Noah. Back then, people were eating, drinking, and marrying up until it started raining. Same with Sodom. People were carrying on their lives up until the fire began falling.

I know that people have been saying Jesus was returning soon for thousands of years. Many years ago, when I was a new Christian, I believed, like many new Christians, that Jesus was coming any day. My life revolved around Him. Everything else took second stage. Then decades went by and His return, as much as I still yearned for it, became second stage and the daily concerns of life became more important.

But one day, He is coming back. And although we don’t know the day, we can know the season.  Based on the signs He gave us, are we living in that season today? Many of the things He said would happen have happened over the centuries, and it’s possible they will continue to happen for centuries more. But eventually labor pains will end. Their intensity and frequency are clues as to how close that end is. Disaster upon disaster is happening all across the globe, so many and so often, that they no longer consume our attention like they once did. Just like school or mass shootings, the first ones were top news for days, now most don’t even make the news. Words like “record breaking” and “never seen before” are being used with increasingly frequency. Threats of destroying the world have gone from “what if” like I heard when I was younger to a real possibility today. And in some views, a probability.

What if we really are living in the last of the last days? How would our attitude be different? What changes would we make in our lives?

Do we need to hear the trumpet sound in the sky before we make those changes? Wouldn’t today be a good day to live as if it was our last?

Because one day, it will be.

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:10 

He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You now how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? Luke 12:54-56 

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the day of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buy and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:26-30 

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things (see Matt 24:4-31) have happened. Matthew 24:32-34 

Are We Living In a Social Earthquake? Part 2

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parables, My Thoughts1 Comment
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The damage from this social earthquake is intense. Ruined family relationships, the instability of morals, the destruction of respect for others, and the broken trust in our leaders and media.

The results are a nation of people living in a constant state of high anxiety, struggling with their instincts of fight or flight and clinging desperately to what they think will provide stability and safety, whether or not it really will.

I can’t speak for non-Christians, but what if those who identify as Christians respond to this social earthquake in a different way than in the previous paragraph? What if we actually live what the Bible teaches?

Oh, wait. Those are trigger words today. Let me rephrase it.

What if we actually live the two most important commandments that Jesus gave us? To love God first and foremost, and love each other as He loved us?

If we love God with all of our hearts, we won’t be giving our hearts to the wrong people or ideas. As a bonus, as God loves us back, we won’t be looking to others to fill our need for love. We won’t need others to affirm us, and we won’t be offended if they don’t.

If we love God with all our souls, we will conform ourselves to Him, and not be confused or shaken by changing social dictates.

If we love God with all of our minds, we will be focused on Him. Meditating on His ways and character  will leave us little time to be misled by ideas being pushed and lies being told.

If we love God with all of our strength, our energy will be directed towards what God wants and in doing good. We won’t have enough energy left to bicker and point fingers.

And if we love each other as Jesus loves us, we will be keep busy focusing on the good of others.  Speaking truth, tolerating each other’s quirks, listening to the heart of others instead of what we might see on the outside, meeting their needs, and enjoying various personalities will keep us so busy we won’t have time to think about ourselves. We won’t need to. Jesus said seek the kingdom first and the Father will supply our needs. That means spend your time taking care of others as God leads, and He will take care of you no matter how strong the earthquake.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34)

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Ps 37:3

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19