[ Taste And See ]
Smiles & Victory at Every Turn!The Most Important Message
2007-04-23
When I stop to think about all the things going on and all the issues it can be somewhat overwhelming. I'm reminded of a scripture, "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." (Mat 24:37) There's so much that could be said about Noah and the days precluding the great flood that destroyed the inhabitants of the known world. Here in Matthew, Jesus teaching, states that they were doing what people do, eating, drinking, marrying, getting divorced, same ole, same ole. No real evident concern for God, the preacher of God, or the pending judgmental message of God. So, I ask, what is the most important message? Is it something about abortion? Or is it something about politics? Is it something about the economy? No, even though these subjects consume some to the very life, these are not of the most important nature.
To illustrate, is abortion important to the man in a burning building? Are politics important to the person on a sinking ship? Does the economy matter to a man walking alone through the desert? Do any of these things matter when impending death is near?
So, I ask another question. What was the most important message to those in Noah's day? Was it abortion or politics or economy? The most important message to those people was the message that Noah preached every day until he went into the ark. That message was that of righteous living and getting into the ark. The Bible says that Noah was a preacher of righteousness. II Pet 2(5) He preached to an ungodly world. He lived a fanatic's life, building an ark "to save him from the coming flood." The people jested with him, "why build a boat?" It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. And the most important message to those people was "YOU NEED THE ARK." You need this odd and strange salvation. You need to turn from your wicked ways and get on board this ark. Hindsight says, "yes, they should have got on the ark." But worldly foresight says, "God's really not mad, He's really not going to judge in that day, or if that day. I have time. It's really not that serious." and on and on. They didn't heed the message and when the rain and floods came, the door was closed.
As it was in the days of Noah so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. As those people were, mocking, joking, ignoring the pending judgment, so shall it be when Jesus returns. "Jesus returning?" God haters, lovers of their own selves, high minded, haughty. And what is the most important message to those of this world. It's the same message Noah preached thousands of years ago, and it's the same message Jesus preached, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Repent, turn from your wicked ways for the sentence against man's evil works is at hand. Accept the ark that God has provided, mock it not, because in the day of the flood the door will be shut and there will be no second chances.
Rev 3:7-8 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (8) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
God opens the door, and God shuts the door.
Gen 7:16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.
And the LORD shut him in. He shut the door. And the door that God shuts, no man opens.
Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Jesus is man's door into God's righteousness. Jesus is God's ark for mankind today. And God has those who preach the message of Noah, "Get in the ark while it's not raining."
I want to make an invitation to you to get into this Ark called Jesus. He is God's Son, He died on a cross to pay for your sins and most of all He rose again from the grave. He is the Ark of today.
If you were in a desert dieing of thirst would you care to argue with someone over economy or would you be greatful for someone ariving with water and a way out? If you were in a burning building would you want to have a disscussion about abortion or would you rather see a fireman with a ladder to safety? If you on a sinking ship, would you rather talk politics or ensure yourself a spot on one of the life rafts? I say unto you, "Get on board the ship of Jesus while there's still time."
Go and sell all that thou hast
2007-04-21
Jesus told the rich young ruler to go and sell all that he had, give to the poor and follow Him. Some may think that that was a bit harsh. Why be so hard on the man? He was doing good, following the commandments, wanting the right things like going to Heaven, so why did the Lord tell him to do these things?
I was reading this passage in Mark 10 and one day and a small portion of it stood out. It said, "Then Jesus beholding him loved him" and I wondered, "why is that there? Obviously Jesus loves him, He loves everyone." I asked why and God helped me understand. First, this man came to Jesus to find the way to eternal life. He came to the right place. He understood, deep down, that he needed something from God to get to Heaven other than the commandments. So, here is this man eager to hear about going to Heaven. Second, Jesus realized He had to tell this man something that he needed to hear and that it was not going to be received well. Jesus knew that He had to tell him to do something that he was likely not going to do. Jesus wanted this man to go to Heaven and the Bible voiced this love of Christ right here in the text. "Then Jesus beholding loved him." Jesus, looking at him, loved him, realized how this was going to affect his soul and then told him what God wanted him to hear.
The point: God knew He had a hard thing to tell this man but, in love, He still told him. Jesus didn't tell this to him to run him off. He did not tell him this because he hated rich people. Jesus loved him. Even though Jesus knew that this might cause him to go away sad, He still had to tell him. Even though it was a hard saying, even though it was something that was do or die, he still loved him. He didn't want him to perish but it was what he needed. It was what he needed to have eternal life.
There's an illustration that clearly states the love of God calling out to "live by faith." This is what Jesus was telling this man: "Live by faith in Me." Don't trust in riches, or great possessions but trust in the Living God.
THE CLIFF HANGER
A man named Jack was walking along a steep cliff one day when he accidentally got too close to the edge and fell. On the way down he grabbed a branch, which temporarily stopped his fall. He looked down and, to his horror, saw that the canyon fell straight down for more than a thousand feet. He couldn't hang onto the branch forever, and there was no way for him to climb up the steep wall of the cliff. So Jack began yelling for help, hoping that someone passing by would hear him and lower a rope or something. HELP! HELP! Is anyone up there?
"HELP!" He yelled for a long time, but no one heard him. He was about to give up when he heard a voice.
"Jack, Jack. Can you hear me?"
"Yes, yes! I can hear you. I'm down here!"
"I can see you, Jack. Are you all right?"
"Yes, but who are you, and where are you?
"I am the Lord, Jack. I'm everywhere."
"The Lord? You mean, GOD?"
"That's Me."
"God, please help me! I promise if, you'll get me down from here, I'll stop sinning. I'll be a really good person. I'll serve You for the rest of my life."
Easy on the promises, Jack. Let's get you off from there; then we can talk." "Now, here's what I want you to do. Listen carefully."
"I'll do anything, Lord. Just tell me what to do."
"Okay. Let go of the branch."
"What?"
"I said, let go of the branch." Just trust Me. Let go."
There was a long silence. Finally Jack yelled, "HELP! HELP! IS ANYONE
ELSE UP THERE?"
Have you ever felt like Jack? We say that we want to know the will of God, but when we find out what it is, we can't handle it. Sounds too scary--too difficult. We decide to look elsewhere. When He says, "Let go of the things that stand between you and Me, and trust Me with your life," it sounds pretty scary. But when we let go, we find freedom and safety in His hands."
I'm Happy For The Good
2007-04-05
I am so happy to hear of people's victories in the Lord. Someone shared a tremendous victory with me recently and it has strengthened me! If you have a wonderful story of success in God please share it with me.
As Always! God Bless!
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