“I WILL BE!”

Exodus 14:4 “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Lamentations 3:26 “It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”

Even THE SON OF GOD had to PATIENTLY WAIT for HIS FATHER to work in HIS timeframe!

Psalms 37:7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”

Luke 5:16 “But HE would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”

Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am GOD. “I WILL BE” exalted among the nations, “I WILL BE” exalted in the earth!”

When asked one day why he was anxiously pacing, John Knox, a Scottish Reformer who lived in the 1500s answered, “I am in a hurry, but GOD is not.”

But IN GOD’S TIMING, “I WILL BE” exalted and Glorified!!!

“YOU SHOULD REMEMBER!”

2 Peter 3:1-7                                            (ESV)

“1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by WAY OF REMINDER,

2 that “YOU SHOULD REMEMBER” THE PREDICTIONS of the holy prophets and the commandment of the LORD and SAVIOR through YOUR apostles,

3 knowing this first of all, that SCOFFERS will come in the last days with scoffing, FOLLOWING THEIR OWN SINFUL DESIRES.

4 They will say, "Where is the promise of HIS coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."

5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the Word of GOD,

6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.

7 But by the same Word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and DESTRUCTION OF THE UNGODLY.”

As I began my writings in 2011, my short term goal was to increase my abilities to select words that better described what thoughts were going through my mind.   While that ability has improved, there are no words that can better state what the Apostle Peter was trying to get across to anyone who will listen to what he is saying!  

“...I am stirring up your sincere mind by WAY OF REMINDER, that “YOU SHOULD REMEMBER” THE PREDICTIONS of the Holy prophets and the commandment of the LORD and SAVIOR through YOUR apostles,”.  “YOU SHOULD REMEMBER” THE PREDICTIONS of the Holy prophets is the answer to serious, somber questions that’s are being asked by even people of FAITH today!   SINCERE MINDS are NOT people who have no idea what the WORD says will transpire in coming days, it is about Believers who allow their focus to be moved off of the ONE WHO has overcome onto the one HE has defeated!  

People, we WHO Believe in JESUS CHRIST should live confident that these tribulations MUST COME before JESUS returns!  Don’t fret that humanity is becoming more and more ungodly.  “YOU SHOULD REMEMBER” that Scripture states PERILOUS TIMES (2 Timothy 3:1-13) will come, but JESUS has already WON THE BATTLE and we are just waiting for HIS TRUMPET TO BLOW!!!  “YOU SHOULD REMEMBER” that!!!

“THE GOD OF THIS WORLD!”

2 Corinthians 4:1-6                                  (ESV)

“1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of GOD, WE DO NOT LOSE HEART.

2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to TAMPER WITH GOD’S WORD, but by the open statement of the TRUTH we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

4 IN THEIR CASE “THE GOD OF THIS WORLD” HAS BLINDED THE MINDS of the UNBELIEVERS, TO KEEP THEM FROM SEEING THE LIGHT of the gospel of the Glory of CHRIST, WHO is the image of GOD.

5 For WHAT WE PROCLAIM IS NOT OURSELVES, but JESUS CHRIST as LORD, with ourselves as your servants for JESUS’ sake.

6 For GOD, WHO said, "LET LIGHT SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS," has shone in our hearts to give the LIGHT of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of JESUS CHRIST.”

SEEING so much deceit in “this world” through a variety of means should not surprise WE BELIEVERS in the least.  And knowing that unbelievers are being deceived by “THE GOD OF THIS WORLD” should be expected, if not planned for!  According to Genesis 3:1, “...the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD GOD had made....”!  It was disappointing to see that the news media was turning into tools used by the enemy, but when the sports and entertainment industry was swayed into espousing untruths, it became ALMOST frightening!  

We Believers are left to be A SHINING LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS (John 1:5) as we are left in “this world” to be used for HIS GLORY.  If we FULLY understood where we are headed, we would be tempted to leave here immediately without fulfilling our assignment by our CREATOR.  However, if WE DO NOT LOSE HEART we will be used to draw others to HIM, and FOR HIS GLORY!  HIS WORD is rather clear about the end of the story, and we MUST PROCLAIM THE TRUTH and not allow this world to TAMPER WITH GOD’S WORD.  

“THE GOD OF THIS WORLD” will use any means available to DECEIVE people who can be blinded, but we must continue proclaiming TRUTH as it is their only HOPE.  Soon, and VERY SOON, “THE GOD OF THIS WORLD” will be cast into eternal darkness, and EVERYONE that selects his lies over TRUTH will be joining him.  Weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42) will only be the beginning of their punishment.  

The Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal (one translation says I BEG YOU) to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of GOD, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to GOD, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to “this world”, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of GOD, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Let me offer a hearty second to the motion that I BEG YOU to not be blinded by “THE GOD OF THIS WORLD” and his lies!  

“KNOWING TRUTH!”

Genesis 3:1-4                                                            (ESV)

“1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD GOD had made. He said to the woman, "Did GOD actually say, 'You shall not eat of ANY TREE in the garden'?" 

2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,

3 but GOD said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, NEITHER SHALL YOU TOUCH IT, lest you die.'"

4 But the serpent said to the woman, "YOU WILL NOT surely die.”

Intimately “KNOWING TRUTH” can make the difference to between LIFE and DEATH, just ask Adam and Eve!  The great deceiver is very accomplished at twisting what GOD has said to convince us to do what he wants, which is to steal, kill, and destroy our lives.  We seem to think that we “know better than GOD” and our sins aren’t really that bad, but GOD’S HOLINESS is what we have to judge our sinfulness against, nothing less!  

A friend was saying this morning that he hated drugs, that drugs tore everything down that it touched!  That made me think of the fall of mankind.  Adam and Eve saw that what satan offered was PLEASING TO THE EYES (Genesis 3:6), and that it was good for food, they took of its fruit, AND ATE!  

GOD instructed them in Genesis 2:17 “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that YOU EAT of it you shall surely die." HE didn’t say anything about touching it!  Eve either didn’t KNOW exactly what GOD had said, or she chose to willingly disobey what HE had said, but both she and her husband ATE and DIED THAT DAY!  I’m sure some will say that Adam and Eve DID NOT die that day, but lived a long life? 

John 4:24 says “GOD is SPIRIT, and those who worship HIM MUST worship in SPIRIT and truth."  Genesis 1:27 says “So GOD CREATED MAN in HIS OWN IMAGE, in the image of GOD HE created him; male and female HE created them.”  Since GOD IS SPIRIT and we are created in HIS IMAGE, our Spirit is the part of our being that is most important.  The great deceiver introduced himself to man by making man believe that our bodies were the most important.  When Adam and Eve’s Spirit died GOD had to make clothes from animal skins to cover their sin (physical), but their Spirits were dead! The only hope we have is to be BORN AGAIN!

Our sins cannot be covered by ANYTHING but the SACRIFICIAL BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST!  We can make all the fig leaf coverings we can dream up, but ONLY JESUS can atone for mankind’s failures.  The lies of the enemy will appear to be “good enough”, but ONLY JESUS CHRIST will satisfy our debt!  And that, my friend, is “KNOWING TRUTH”!!!

“YOU ARE THE LIGHT!”

Matthew 5:15-16                                                     (ESV)

“14 "YOU ARE THE LIGHT” of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Watching the actions of someone when they are put under pressure is the best way to see exactly what is behind their actions.  A “Coach” of mine in junior high school was a prime example of this.  He lived his life as a testament of helping others become responsible adults, a tremendous investment in the future!  Coach Lewis Thompson graduated to his eternal reward yesterday, and my life, just for one, was made better because of his actions!

Scripture says in Romans 3:10 “None is righteous, NO, NOT ONE”!  But JESUS says in Matthew 5:14 “YOU ARE THE LIGHT” of the world?  How can we be THE LIGHT when there is NOT ONE OF US who are righteous, NO, NOT ONE?  JESUS said “YOU ARE THE LIGHT”, so we must have some illuminating value?  This dames JESUS says in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever FOLLOWS ME will not walk in darkness, but will have the LIGHT of LIFE." 

A mirror ONLY REFLECTS LIGHT, it has no illuminating values of its own.  Coach Thompson wasn’t perfect.  Like all of us, he made his share of mistakes.  He was, however, used at a critical time in my life to shine THE LIGHT OF CHRIST for a young teenage boy who was struggling in life. Coach Thompson, “YOU ARE THE LIGHT” was lived by your actions that I observed in a time when I needed to have direction. 

I don’t have any illuminating values of my own either!  I just pray that I will exemplify “YOU ARE THE LIGHT” for someone who is having trouble in their life!  JESUS IS THE LIGHT!  I am simply a mirror reflecting HIS LIGHT and LOVE to help others SEE the RIGHT WAS to travel!

“INTO THE WILDERNESS!”

Mark 1:9-18                                                                (ESV)

“9 In those days JESUS came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10 And when HE came up out of the water, immediately HE saw the heavens being torn open and the SPIRIT descending on HIM like a dove.

11 And a VOICE came from heaven, "YOU are MY beloved SON; with YOU I AM well pleased." 

12 THE SPIRIT IMMEDIATELY DROVE HIM out INTO THE WILDERNESS.

13 And HE was in the WILDERNESS forty days, being tempted by Satan. And HE was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to HIM.

14 Now after John was arrested, JESUS came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of GOD,

15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of GOD is at hand; REPENT AND BELIEVE in the gospel."

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, HE saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

17 And JESUS said to them, "Follow ME, and I will make you become fishers of men."

18 And immediately they left their nets and followed HIM.”

There is SO MUCH to absorb in the Scriptures above that one could spend days allowing ALMIGHTY GOD to transform our lives with HIS WORD.  We could talk awhile about why the Perfect SON OF GOD needed to be baptized when HE had never sinned?  And why then did JESUS tell the thief crucified next to HIM on Calvary that today he would be with JESUS in Paradise when he surely wasn’t going to be baptized, only Believe in JESUS? 

We could talk about becoming fishers of men, how the fishermen of that day used nets to DRAW fish into captivity, much like JESUS DRAWS us into HIS fold!  NO ONE comes to the FATHER EXCEPT through JESUS, NO ONE (John 14:6)!  We could talk REPENT AND BELIEVE, two things that every Believer MUST do to demonstrate true conversion.  However, what I want to talk about today is how the SON OF GOD was not placed on a throne of authority and majesty, but was driven “INTO THE WILDERNESS” by the SPIRIT OF GOD!  

Why did GOD prefer to send HIS ONE AND ONLY SON alone into the WILDERNESS for forty days?  The quickest answer was to be tempted by satan!  Satan had every opportunity to convince JESUS to succumb to the temptations of “this world”, but JESUS could SEE TRUTH and wasn’t swayed by the lies of the enemy.  Adam and Eve were deceived by satan into believing his lies and evidently he thought fooling JESUS would be similar!  BUT HE WAS WRONG!!  AND HOW!!

JESUS was DRIVEN “INTO THE WILDERNESS”.  It is very interesting that Scripture doesn’t say that JESUS was led INTO THE WILDERNESS, or JESUS just wondered “INTO THE WILDERNESS”, but that HE was DRIVEN “INTO THE WILDERNESS”!  My mind quickly goes to three years later in the Garden of Gethsemane when JESUS prayed “FATHER, if YOU are willing, remove this cup from ME. Nevertheless, not MY WILL, but YOURS, be done." 

HIS entire life was best summed up by saying “Nevertheless, not MY WILL, but YOURS, be done."  At this particular time, JESUS was DRIVEN “INTO THE WILDERNESS”, not because HE wanted to go, but because the SPIRIT OF GOD DROVE HIM!  Do I yield to GOD’s direction for my life?  Or do I have to be placed in a coma before I will LISTEN?  Maybe I am currently being DRIVEN “INTO THE WILDERNESS”?  Would you go???  Would you give up the security and comfort of your earthly home to be where GOD wants to use you?  Even if it meant going “INTO THE WILDERNESS”???

“THE LORD WEIGHS THE HEART!”

Proverbs 21:1-3                                       (ESV)

“1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; HE turns it wherever HE will. 

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but “THE LORD WEIGHS THE HEART”. 

3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”

There are many who are tremendously satisfied with the job the current President of the United States is doing, while there are some who think he is, shall we say, lacking in his abilities.  Most everyone has an opinion of who should be our next President, whether it is to re-elect the current President or replace him with another person.  ALMIGHTY GOD called King David a man after GOD’s Own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), but then David had an adulterous affair with Bathsheba and had her husband killed in battle with Ammonites.  How could a man after GOD’s Own heart do such a thing?  

We are ALL imperfect!  ALL of us!!! Scripture states in Romans 3:10-11 “as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for GOD.”  Although HE turns the kings heart like a stream of water, “THE LORD WEIGHS THE HEART”!  Yes, ALMIGHTY GOD knows the sins and transgressions of every ruler in the world. But HE knows the sins and transgressions of every peasant and every billionaire also!  HE knows ALL!  When our leaders act in a way that is contrary to GOD’s WORD, it is only because HE allows them to do so.  The leaders will have to answer to GOD for their actions, but GOD definitely IS IN CONTROL and we should not ever forget that.  We will answer for our actions as well.

Psalms 25:12 says “Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will HE instruct in the way that he should choose.”  Are we not ALL guilty of trusting in our own abilities and minds?  Do we not depend upon our own strength to get us out of jams we get ourselves into?  King David tried to cover up his sin with Bathsheba, but it turned out to cost him more than he was prepared to pay.  Does my sin cost me more than I realize?  Do I focus on the pleasures of doing things “my way”, while minimizing the consequences of “my way”?  

Thank GOD IN HEAVEN that “THE LORD WEIGHS THE HEART” and HE knows my true desire to please HIM.  My actions don’t reflect my desires sometimes, and I show my fleshy desires at times, but “THE LORD WEIGHS THE HEART” and I pray my heart shows a LOVE for HIM and HIS righteousness!!!

“FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!”

John 11:1-11                                                          (ESV)

“1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

2 It was Mary who anointed the LORD with ointment and wiped HIS feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.

3 So the sisters sent to HIM, saying, "LORD, he whom YOU love is ill."

4 But when JESUS heard it HE said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is “FOR THE GLORY OF GOD”, so that the SON of GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED THROUGH IT."

5 Now JESUS loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

6 So, when HE heard that Lazarus was ill, HE STAYED TWO DAYS LONGER IN THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS.

7 Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."

8 The disciples said to HIM, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone YOU, and are YOU going there again?"

9 JESUS answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."

11 After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him."”

Our HEAVENLY FATHER places, AND USES, ALL THINGS that HE has created “FOR THE GLORY OF GOD”!  There isn’t a day or two that HE isn’t ON HIS THRONE or isn’t concerned with our lives.  Mary and Martha were VERY special to JESUS.  John 11:5 states solely that “Now JESUS loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus”.  But verse six follows that up with saying that “So, when HE heard that Lazarus was ill, HE STAYED TWO DAYS LONGER IN THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS”!!!  Since JESUS loved Lazarus, Mary and Martha, why shouldn’t HE alter HIS schedule for them, especially if they were sick?  HE healed others, why wouldn’t HE heal Lazarus when he needed his health restored?  

We seem to desire to see GOD work how we EXPECT HIM to work, and limit HIS power to what we THINK HE should be doing.  When we see a storm ravage a city or state, a tendency is to blame GOD for the outcome?  But ALMIGHTY GOD created ALL THINGS (Colossians 1:16) and HE has the privilege of using them “FOR THE GLORY OF GOD”!  Isaiah 55:8-9 says “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.”  NEITHER ARE YOUR WAYS MY WAYS!!!

There was something this morning on a social media site that caused me to abruptly pause my scrolling.  It said “GOD will interrupt your entire life to get your attention”!  HE Created us!  Do we have the choice to be used for anything other than “FOR THE GLORY OF GOD”?  When HE “pauses” your life, HE sometimes does it in a seemingly subtle way, without much fanfare.  However, HE occasionally permits happenings to occur “FOR THE GLORY OF GOD”, so HE can be magnified!  HE can cause us to SLOW DOWN and KNOW THAT HE IS GOD through a seventeen day coma, or HE can cause a seagull to chirp on a beach while the waves are gently coming ashore.  HE IS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING!  

Habakkuk 2:14 states “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the GLORY OF THE LORD as the waters cover the sea”.  We need to understand that “FOR THE GLORY OF GOD” may not be what we are expecting it to be?  We also need to understand that we are not GOD, we are HIS Creation, and are here “FOR THE GLORY OF GOD”!!!

“HE KNEW ALL PEOPLE!”

John 2:23-25                                                             (ESV)

“23 Now when HE was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in HIS name when they saw the signs that HE was doing.

24 But JESUS on HIS part did not entrust HIMSELF to them, because “HE KNEW ALL PEOPLE”

25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for HE HIMSELF knew what was in man.”

Noticing a news story about a woman with autism who graduated from college with a law degree recently made me proud.  Our country has become so compartmentalized that we tend to LABEL EVERYONE, whether deserving or not, by some exterior traits or how we think they should be acting.  

NEWS FLASH!  All fat people are not gluttons.  All skinny people are not weight watchers.  All while people aren’t bigots.  All black people aren’t thugs.  All wealthy people aren’t snobs.  All poor people aren’t beggars.  We can’t put people in a box and expect to see CHRIST in them.  The Apostle Paul is a wonderful example of how GOD can transform a life for HIS Glory.  In Acts 9:1 he was breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the LORD, but by verse 20 of the same chapter “..he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "HE is the SON of GOD."  Who would Believe it had they not see it!  

GOD is NOT limited by the thought and inclinations of human minds, no matter how wise or righteous they think they are.  “HE KNEW ALL PEOPLE” means that HE was/is extremely aware of the THOUGHTS and INTENTIONS of the heart (Hebrews 4:12) and we cannot disguise them nor deceive HIM.  

A persecutor can become an advocate for TRUTH.  An autistic child can become an attorney.  A college dropout can become one of the wealthiest men on the planet.  GOD’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) and we cannot figure HIM out!  What we can do is have FAITH IN HIM, for “HE KNEW ALL PEOPLE” and HE HAS A PLAN for us all!  

“PERFECT AND COMPLETE!”

James 1:2-4                                            (ESV)

“2 Count it all joy, MY BROTHERS, when you meet trials of various kinds,

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be “PERFECT AND COMPLETE”, lacking in nothing.”

Looking back over my life there are times when I can now SEE that I was experiencing a tremendous teaching moment during a trial or tribulation.  The tough times in life were simply periods of growing that occasionally were valleys of instruction that usually uncomfortable, maybe even painful!  Observing from where I am currently, I am able to SEE that the greatest difficulties were when I was trying to do things ON MY OWN with no DIVINE leadership.  

Walking in the dark can be painful.  We can stub our toe on unseen obstacles, bump into things that are in plain sight when walking in THE LIGHT, or get into some of the more dangerous times in our lives!  But when we WALK IN THE LIGHT, the pitfalls of life are sometimes able to be avoided.  Not experiencing those “teaching moments” is something we generally try to steer clear of, but whenever we are grimacing from that broken toe is is usually not the time to learn the lesson, it is a time to cry!

One day SOON we who BELIEVE will be “PERFECT AND COMPLETE”, LACKING IN NOTHING!  At least some of us!  Those who aren’t BROTHERS in the DARKNESS of “this world” will be relinquished to their judgement, forever !  Alerting them to their future destiny is an act of love, because they are headed to DEATH, and we have the answer to prevent it, IF THEY WILL LISTEN.  

As far as they can see, everything is fine in their lives, but very soon their EYES will be opened and they will realize the error of their ways.  They won’t be able to run from GOD any longer!  Their dependence on their intellect and what feels right will prove to be fatal.  What was thought to be the foolish notion that a god will judge as ALL will be glaringly TRUTH as they are found lacking, and we are found “PERFECT AND COMPLETE!!!”

“PATIENT IN TRIBULATION!”

Romans 12:9-13                                    (ESV)

“9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.

11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the LORD.

12 REJOICE in HOPE, be “PATIENT IN TRIBULATION”, be CONSTANT IN PRAYER.

13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Why do I seem to always think that my answers are the best solution for my problems?  Not knowing what to do or when to do it can be very confusing.  We THINK the world is going to stop due to our decisions or indecision, but will it?  While it is true that our choices can affect others lives, GOD is in Control and we aren’t powerful enough to overcome HIS Will and Purpose.  

Most of us claim that we have FAITH.  But do we exhibit FAITH when things take longer to be revealed to us than we think they should?  Do I REST IN THE LORD, or do I jump to do something, ANYTHING, to show that I am “working for the Kingdom”?  We have allowed society and “this world” to determine our calendars, to operate on the devils pace while being a soldier of THE MOST HIGH GOD’s army!  IF WE TRUST GOD, WE HAVE TO TRUST HIS TIMING!!!

To be anything less than “PATIENT IN TRIBULATION” is proclaiming that GOD may have our future figured out, but we have to take care of when we want HIS BLESSINGS!?!  Romans 5:3 says “Not only that, BUT WE REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, KNOWING THAT SUFFERING PRODUCES ENDURANCE...”.  The word PRODUCES reminds me of growing a crop.  You can plant the seed hurriedly, water and cultivate the planted seed, but ONLY GOD determines the PRODUCE that will come from your labors (1 Corinthians 3:7)!  

Whether we admit it or not, we all were born with a desire to be god of AT LEAST our own lives.  But being “PATIENT IN TRIBULATION” is a sure fire way to demonstrate our FAITH, our total TRUST IN GOD!  If HE is GOD, then why do I think I can help HIM with HIS TIMING???  I am STILL learning to be “PATIENT IN TRIBULATION!!!” 

“ONLY BELIEVE!”

Luke 8:49-56                                                       

“49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the TEACHER any more."

50 But JESUS on hearing this answered him, "DO NOT FEAR; “ONLY BELIEVE”, AND SHE WILL BE WELL."

51 And when HE came to the house, HE allowed no one to enter with HIM, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child.

52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but HE said, "Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping."

53 And THEY LAUGHED AT HIM, knowing that she was dead.

54 But taking her by the hand HE called, saying, "Child, arise."

55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And HE directed that something should be given her to eat.

56 And her parents were amazed, but HE charged them to tell no one what had happened.”

As I near my 59th year on this earth, I am becoming more and more aware that we are not physically Created to last forever!  It may just be me, but the older I get the more frequent it seems that a younger person doesn’t live even into their teenage years?  Either disease, or accidents, or anything else can cause death to visit earthly bodies with seemingly no respecter of age, nationality, or social status!  If GOD IS IN CONTROL, and HE is, then HE IS IN CONTROL of what we SEE as the bad things as well as the good things! 

While JESUS walked among us, a daughter of a ruler of the synagogue named Jarius was 12 years old, and SHE WAS DYING (Luke 8:41-42)!  Observing a child die is one of the most difficult things I have ever experienced.  I have witnessed my younger sister die (34 years and 3 days old), but only a few years later watched a friend’s daughter die around her 10th birthday.  Not being GOD, we still like to THINK that we know what is best for everyone.  Being upset with GOD for taking someone we love so dearly is not uncommon, but when we realize HE literally holds our lives in HIS HANDS, we can quickly have our SIGHT adjusted.  

The pain of death is something that I don’t have words to describe.  Jarius was a RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, yet he watched as his daughter was dying.  While she was raised from her illness, eventually she had to die!  We ALL do!  One day I will die.  When that time comes, I pray that those who love me understand that ALMIGHTY GOD determined (Psalms 39) a long time ago how long HE would use me for HIS GLORY, and when my days of Glorifying HIM are over, HE will call me HOME!  

ONLY until then, others can LAUGH AT GOD for HIS decision to leave me here, but I WILL PRAISE HIS NAME for HIS mercies!  When sin entered “this world”, our ability to live eternally left “this world”.   We are created IN HIS IMAGE, but we are NOT GOD, no matter how much we think we are!  JESUS, OUR CREATOR, says “DO NOT FEAR; “ONLY BELIEVE”, AND SHE WILL BE WELL."   Likewise, we too can be well, but we MUST “ONLY BELIEVE”!!!

“THERE ARE MANY!”

Titus 1:10-16                                           (ESV)

“10 For “THERE ARE MANY” who are insubordinate (rebellious), empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.

11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."

13 This testimony is true. Therefore REBUKE THEM SHARPLY, that they may be sound in the faith,

14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, NOTHING IS PURE; but both their MINDS and their CONSCIENCES are DEFILED.

16 They profess to know GOD, but they deny HIM by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

It is dangerous to lump ALL people of a sect into a broad category, for everyone can be changed by the Grace of GOD.  As a matter of fact, it is just like GOD to use someone who appears to be too “sinful”, too vile and despicable, to be used for a HOLY purpose.  “THERE ARE MANY” in today’s society of free speech that use their platform for empty talk and deception.  But it has been that way since mankind was created and was DECEIVED by “the enemy”!  

Life has become SO FAST-PACED that we move so quickly to not be over ran by “this world” that we fail to identify “the enemy”, and recognize ALMIGHTY GOD as being the driving forces behind all actions.  In verse 12 of Titus chapter one, it says “ONE OF THE CRETANS, a prophet of their own, said, "CRETANS ARE ALWAYS LIARS, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."  Well since CRETANS ARE ALWAYS LIARS, why should we listen to him as he is a Cretan???  

Acts 17:11 states “Now these Jews (at Berea) were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received THE WORD with all eagerness, EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY to see if these things were so.”  Once again, we get in trouble when we lump all of one group into a category.   We must judge everything that is planted in our minds against Scripture to determine if it is TRUTH!  No matter their denomination, their culture, their social status, nothing can elevate them above what Scripture tells us!  Even when, and ESPECIALLY when, it is exactly what we WANT TO HEAR!!!

“THERE ARE MANY” in today’s world that need to be REBUKED SHARPLY because their message doesn’t line up with Scripture.  We cannot BE DECEIVED by their nice suits and slick talking, by their manipulative words and deeds!  We must be like Berean Believers who SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES DAILY in search of TRUTH.  JESUS said in John 8:31-32 “...."If you abide in MY word, you are truly MY disciples, and you will know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH will set you free."  We won’t be in the majority, BY FAR, and even though “THERE ARE MANY” opposing TRUTH, WE WILL BE SET FREE because we know THE TRUTH!!!