1 John 3:2
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
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This is perhaps my favorite passage of Scripture – a passage that promises great hope and change. A sure hope that in our struggle against sin there is a coming change. Check out the promise this passage makes.
It says right now, this moment, we are children of God – done deal, sealed and sure – we are His. But often I still act like my old self, battling the old nature, struggling, failing and living below what God has for me. If what I am experiencing now is all there is to being a child of God, frankly, it just isn’t that glorious.
I am convinced there is life on other planets and they are using Washington DC as their insane asylum. Like me, do you ever get frustrated with the nonsense spouted by professional politicians? I find it hard to not speak critically about the blatant hypocrisy but the Word regularly convicts me about doing so.
Titus 3 not only convicted me but went on to explain why, though I don’t have to support or laud bad leadership, I shouldn’t speak evil even of evil men.
SOMEONE ASKED ME: In the abortion debate I am pro-choice. When I mention this I have had people accuse me of being pro-abortion. That angers me because I hate abortions. I just think a person should have a choice. How come some people think pro-choice is the same as pro-abortion?
MY ANSWER: I can understand your frustration at being labeled as being in favor of something that you detest. Most people would consider your stance rather neutral. You are not in favor of abortion but neither do you think people should be restricted from having them if that is their choice.
Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. 2 Timothy 3:12 (MSG)
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I run into Christians who are astounded when they encounter struggles, loss and pain in life. It always grieves (and frustrates) me when folks turn away from the Lord at the first “bump in the road”. Where do we get the idea that when we put our faith in Jesus all obstacles and opposition run and hide?
When a Roman accused a second century Christian of serving an impotent God because of all the hardships Christians suffered, Octavius, the believer, gave this response:
Students are often faced with supposed contradictions between the Bible and the “indisputable facts” of science. (Ever notice the “indisputable facts” of science keep changing with new discoveries.) A real problem for Christians is that many have been taught the Bible says the earth is only 6000 years old but carbon dating and other factors indicate it is much older. Is the Bible wrong about how old the earth is?
Contrary to what some Christians adamantly proclaim, nowhere does the Bible declare the earth to be 6000 years old. This age was arrived at by calculations based upon the genealogies given in the Bible which might be a fun exercise but certainly can’t be counted as a scientific investigation for various reasons – mainly because God never intended to give us a Science Text book in Scripture and time is often not counted in Scripture as we count it. So could the earth be 6000 years old? Certainly. Could it be much older? Certainly. There is even good Biblical reason to believe it could be millions of years old even if you interpret the Bible literally as I do.
Even before the time of Christ some rabbi’s believed there was an undetermined gap of time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. This idea is often called “The Gap Theory” and can easily be researched on the web where there are many opponents and proponents of the idea. While I believe the Bible is clear the earth was created in 6 literal days I also see no reason to be locked into a young earth theology because there is good Biblical evidence that provides credibility to the gap theory. In my research however, I have not yet found a critic of the theory who provides equally solid reasons it could not be true. (I have read many who attack it but they always base their reasoning on false logic and/or misunderstandings of the theory.) If you have any good reasons it can’t be true, I would love to look it over. In the meantime, here is a web site that goes quite in-depth into the reasons some believe in the gap theory.
In conclusion, I take no real stand on the issue but tend to lean in favor of the theory – not as a compromise to “science” but because of the Biblical clues. But, in reality, no one knows how old the earth is and one has to believe “by faith” whatever they decide to believe. For example, carbon dating cannot be “proven” accurate. It is all by faith and God wanted it to be that way rather than something that could be scientifically “proven”. He clearly states in Hebrews 11:3 – By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, …
Apparently he wanted it to be a “faith” decision, which is what it is whether you believe in creation, evolution, some combination of both or some theory you dreamed up after having pepperoni pizza before bed.
__________________________ Hebrews 11:3 (TLB)
By faith-by believing God-we know that the world and the stars-in fact, all things-were made at God’s command; and that they were all made from things that can’t be seen.
I’ve observed that in God’s house there are both garbage cans and golden cups – some folks fill their lives with slop and slime while other’s lives pour out blessing and treasure to everyone who knows them. Why the difference – why do some folks come to know the Lord and their lives change very little while others become sweet gifts to humanity? Does God bless some more than others? Does He reveal Himself more to some than others? Are the golden cups just “teacher’s pets” that get special favor from God while others struggle just to make it as His followers?
This passage helped me see what makes the difference.
…”Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (2 Timothy 2:19-21)
“Those who cleanse themselves from the” wickedness mentioned in the previous passage “will be instruments for special purposes.” It is not God who determines if our life is full of slop or treasure. We make that decision. Our salvation is not based upon our efforts and righteous acts but how we are used, the outcome of our life, obviously is based upon whether we “cleanse ourselves” or continue to fill our eyes, hearts and minds with the sludge of this world.
Those who choose to feed at the slop bucket of this world will themselves become slop buckets (articles for common use) but those who cleanse themselves “will be instruments for special purposes”. Both will be used by God but I have to decide how I want God to use me, for special purposes or does he need to keep me hidden in the utility room because of the vileness I fill myself with? The choice is mine. The choice is yours.
__________________________ 2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
We are in a war where radical Muslims claim God is on their side. In America we pray for God to bless our troops and believe God is on our side. Does God choose sides and if so, whose side is He on?
We gain insight into the answer in Joshua 5:13-14. Joshua is preparing to lead Israel in battle against Jericho. Joshua sees “a man” standing with sword drawn and he asks him, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” This “man” turns out to be an angel, or most probably, a pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
God had commanded the Israelites to go in and conquer the land to punish the inhabitants of it for their continued wicked ways. He had promised the Israelites that He would give them victory. If anybody could ever say, “God is on our side”, these would be the people who could make that claim. Yet, the “man” gives a very curious answer, “Neither”.
Neither? He wasn’t for them or for their enemies? He goes on to explain, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” In other words, He was saying, “I am on God’s side. The real question is, ‘Are you on God’s side or on the side of His enemies?’” God is always on His own side, accomplishing His purposes. It is man who must choose which side He will be on, the side of right or the side of wrong?
Is there a “right” side in war? Certainly there is, God’s side. It is God who established what is right and what is wrong. God is always on the side of good. That means He is opposed to those who are proud, perpetrate injustice or do not show mercy (Micah 6:8). He is opposed to those who shed innocent blood and devise wicked plans (Proverbs 6:17). He supports liberty for mankind (Isaiah 61:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Leviticus 25:10). The Bible lists many things He is opposed to and many things He is in favor of. The nation that goes to war to accomplish a godly purpose has chosen to be on God’s side.
We need to recognize too that God has often provoked nations to go to war to accomplish His purpose. Israel invaded the Promised Land to accomplish God’s punishment upon those nations that had repeatedly rejected Him. (They had heard the message. Melchizedek is an example of one prophet God had sent among the gentile nations in that area.) Throughout the book of Judges, and elsewhere, God provoked the nations surrounding Israel to attack them to chastise them for their rebellion. Ultimately Israel and Judah were conquered by the Assyrians and the Babylonians as part of God’s plan to purge Israel of her idolatry. We have solid Biblical reasons to believe God still provokes nations to go to war to accomplish His will.
Is God on the side of the Muslims? Is God on the side of the Jews? Is God on America’s side? God is on His side and actively accomplishing His purpose here on earth. Therefore, it is up to man to choose which side he will fight on. Will we side with God in bringing about the good He plans for mankind or will we fight against God for our own selfish ends?
____________________ Proverbs 21:30-31 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.
What a glorious day when Jesus returns “to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:10)
Imagine what it will be like to stand in that sea of believers, surrounded by saints throughout the ages. What will Jesus look like? How will he appear? I can’t imagine how glorious it will be but we will “marvel” at Him. That implies we will stand with mouth open, eyes wide and speechless before our supremely marvelous Savior.
Can you imagine the excitement as those who were martyred for His name look upon Him in His brilliance? I can’t even begin to fathom the joy for those who have run with patience very cruel and hard lives here on this earth and now receive the reward of their suffering – the King Himself. As I look at those around me I’ll realize what a very easy life I have lived, what precious little I sacrificed for Him but I will rejoice with those who now inherit the prize for their obedience.
It will be the best time in all time for those of us who know him. But for those who have rejected him it will be the worst, the most horrific time. Scales of injustice will be brought into balance. The wicked who oppressed the poor will suddenly become the oppressed ones. The abusers will become the abused. The thief will have all taken from him and the murderer will lose his very life and soul.
Justice will finally be accomplished – a glorious time of liberty for the oppressed but a time of grief and agony for the wicked. I long for that day when evil will be crushed, when justice will rise like the dawn and our King will be glorified in the midst of His people. _____________________ Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, …
When I was in the Navy I remember a young lieutenant asking me this “profound” puzzler. “Can God do anything? Can He make a rock so big he cannot lift it?” As a young believer and a novice in God’s Word, I had no answer for him as he smugly walked away.
This is a rather common question asked by pseudo-intellectuals who think they have stumbled across a great chink in the Christian’s belief about the omnipotence of God. The answer to the question is quite simply, “No, there are many things God cannot do.”
For one thing, he cannot do something that is logically impossible such as make a rock so big He cannot lift it. Neither can he draw a square circle. For that matter, He can not do something that is impossible. Because the moment he accomplished the feat, it would no longer be impossible since He proved it was possible for Him.
But we don’t have to stoop to such nonsense to find things God cannot do. The Bible clearly says it is “impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18) and that “He cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13), meaning violate His own nature or integrity. He can not stop being God. He can not stop being good. He cannot cease to exist – since existence is a component of goodness. I could go on and on listing things God can not do but I think you grasp the concept.
When Christians speak of God’s omnipotence or when Jesus assures us that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) we are not referring to either ludicrous scenarios that parade as profound discoveries of truth nor to things that would violate God’s very nature and character. Omnipotent is understood to be “possessing all power”. Simply put, that means God can do anything that can be done. He has the ability to perform any feat consistent with His character and nature.
This is one reason it is so vital that believers study the Word to know what God says about Himself and the world around us. As believers, we appear foolish when we try to defend God and ascribe to Him attributes that He does not even claim for Himself. “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) And remember, just because you do not know the answer and there seems there could be no answer, it does not mean a reasonable and logic answer is not out there and available to those who continue to diligently search God’s Word.
_________________________ Matthew 22:29
But Jesus said, “Your error is caused by your ignorance of the Scriptures and of God’s power!
If the Pharisees had understood Jesus when he cried “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” they would have certainly recognized it as a quote from the Psalms but would likely have also concluded, “That is proof we were right!”
Jesus had claimed some special relationship with God – sonship. In fact, He had even been blasphemous enough to equate Himself as God Himself, the great I AM. But now, when it was crunch time, God had forsaken Him. They had proven their point. This was just a sinful man, a blasphemer who deserved the horrid death He was enduring right now. Even Jesus admitted that God had forsaken Him. The Pharisees were right.
In actuality, what appeared as a cry of defeat was God’s path to the ultimate victory. Jesus was rejected but it was for our sin, our sin that had now been laid upon Him. Jesus became the greatest sinner of all time so He could become the Savior for all time.
Perhaps you need to cry defeat also, to enter God’s victory. Often it takes us coming to the end of ourselves, to a point of utter despair before we finally cry out to God and allow Him to show Himself strong on our behalf. What may appear to be a cry of defeat could be your first step to God coming to your defense.
Don’t give up. Instead, give it over. Turn your problem over to God. Give Him the reins in your life and see what He does with it. Your cry of defeat will become an entrance to resurrection victory.
________________________ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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