Hold The Line

There is a scene in the movie "Braveheart" where the Scottish clans that William Wallace has managed to piecemeal together to stand against the much larger army of King Edward I (Edward Longshanks) are all lined up, one army facing the other.  As the smaller army faces off against their much larger and much better armored foe, Longshanks' cavalry begins their approach to the frontline of Wallace's army, none of whom are on horses.  Wallace has no cavalry and his entire army is on foot.  As Longshanks' cavalry advances, Wallace and his faithful army stand their ground, unmoved, as Wallace simply shouts to his soldiers, "Hold!"  As Longshanks' cavalry picks up speed in their advance, Wallace again shouts to his army to "Hold!"  The cavalry begins to gallop toward Wallace and those standing with him who make up the small but faithful front, and again Wallace shouts, "Hold!"  As Longshanks' cavalry gallops forward, they lower their long, 10-14 foot lances toward Wallace's steady front line and again, Wallace tells them, "Hold!"  Only when Longshanks' advancing cavalry is so close that it looks like Wallace's front line is about to be decimated by the knights on horseback and their lances, does Wallace lead his men to pick up sharpened spears from the ground that are longer than the cavalry's lances and impale the advancing cavalry line and their horses on them.  Wallace's strategy against his enemy was timed perfectly.

Because Wallace's smaller army held the line and did not fall back, they were able to deal a deathblow to Longshanks' cavalry.  Unfortunately, Wallace suffered defeat in this particular battle and he also found out something devastating:  some of those who were supposed to be on his side turned out to be traitors.  But because one of those traitors saw the devastation of his treachery among his brethren, he vowed to never be on the wrong side again and was later instrumental in leading Scotland to independence from England.

I think one of the most devastating things about the end times, will be when God begins to widen the gap between light and dark which inevitably results in revealing the traitors among those of us who call themselves by Christ's name.  Those whom the Apostle John says "went out from among us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us" but their departure from truth makes it clear that "they are not all of us" (1 John 2:19).  Jesus tells us in the Parable of the tares among wheat that both will be allowed to grow together until the end of the age when "the Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire" (Matt 13:41,42).  Psalm 91 tells us that a thousand will fall on one side of us and ten thousand on another side, but we will only observe their falling away because we have made the Lord God our refuge (91:7-9).  And make no mistake, Jesus is God and anyone who does not acknowledge that fact, does not have the Father (1 John 2:23).  Psalm 91 says, "'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.'"  The Name of the Lord is Jesus Christ (Phil 2:8-10).

The enemy hates exposure.  That is why he works through deceit and he has been working for thousands of years to weave together the pieces of his masterpiece of deception in the end days.  He must have as many people deceived and lukewarm as he can before God exposes him for what he truly is.  Paul teaches us that in the time of the end, the lawless one will be revealed and exposed for the hideous liar he truly is and those who continue to follow him will do so simply because they do not love the truth (2 Thess 2:10).

In the days ahead, as God pulls back that which is restraining the full cavalry charge of the enemy against those who make up the faithful front line of the followers of Christ, we must hold.  Even though it will appear that the odds against us are ridiculously in the favor of the enemy, we must hold.  Even though the reach of Satan's spear is long and even though his army may be on horses and we simply stand on foot, we must hold.  Even though the enemy increase his advance into a gallop, we must hold.  Brothers and sisters, we must hold that line even at the cost of our own lives.  We must hold that line even when we find out the traitors among us.  We must hold that line, hold that line, hold that line, we must stand firm on the word of God, we must stand firm on the promises of Christ, we must stand firm in our faith that He Who is in us is greater than he who is in the world who charges toward us at a gallop with lances and spears.  We must hold that line without compromise and without shrinking back in fear.  We must hold that line for our King, until He returns and raises up the banner of God against the dragon and slays Him with the brightness of His coming and the breath of His mouth (2 Thess 2:8).  What I say to you, I say to all those who are so utterly devoted to Christ that they do not "love their life even when faced with death" (Rev 12:11)-- "Hold in Christ Jesus alone!"

Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. We are pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed... (2 Cor 4:7-9)

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Tim 4:1)

False prophets rose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words (2 Pet 2:1-3)

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith. (Hab 2:3,4)

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God...But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation (2 Pet 3:9-15)

Gospel Of The Dragon

Those who cling to the truth in Christ are fighting a war on all fronts.  The dragon that desires to devour us has turned into a hydra.  So many heads of destruction striking at us, and when we cut off one head, two grow in its place.  Throughout human history, the good guys and the bad guys have been pretty well-delineated.  The difference between good and evil, holy and unholy could be plainly seen.  We've had the luxury of being able to look at the bad guy and say, "This is the bad guy, here he is right here, well-defined."  The church can successfully fight such an enemy.  But what happens when the bad guy looks just like the good guy?  What happens when the enemy so infiltrates the church and so confuses the world population that he has pitted against itself, that there is no discernible delineation between holy and profane?  Between what is Christ and what is Antichrist?  How do we fight an enemy that blends in among us so well, that we cannot perceive him?  When we are so ignorant of Scripture that his lies sound like truth? 

What are we to do when ignorance frolics among us and apathy takes it by the hand and leads it along like a child?  When the spirit of haughtiness smugly sits in the pews and fraternizes with the elders?  When immorality preaches from the pulpit in tandem with pride, and arrogance struts among us unchecked, ever waiting along the sideline to pat us on the back?  When demons are our pastors and devils are our priests and the congregation is devoured because they do not know nor seek the truth?  When we are led astray by the desires of our own heart and seek our own will in Jesus Name?  When we seek God's will as long as it looks like our own?  When the ancient serpent once again employs his subtle tactic of using God's own word to pervert our understanding of Him? 

God said to Eve, "Do not eat from this tree or touch its fruit or you will die." (Gen 3:3)

Satan said to Eve, "Surely you will not die!  You will have His wisdom and His power and you will be just like God!  You will not die, you will live!  And you will live in abundance!"

Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross every day and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it....anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me." (Luke 9:23,24; Matt 10:38)

Satan says, "Surely you won't have to die to follow Jesus!  You will live abundantly and command heaven's armies and perform many miracles if you just have enough faith!  You are meant to wear His crown, not His cross!"

Satan appeals to the desires of our heart to mislead us and if the desire of our heart is Jesus' crown more than His cross, then we follow our own will and not God's.  The way to the crown is through the cross.  Make no mistake.  Satan knows Scripture, and he knows it better than most people in the church.  From the very beginning Satan used God's own words to deceive us because he is a master at weaponizing our ignorance and weaknesses against us.  Satan comes to us enrobed in enough truth so that we cannot perceive the lie shrouded underneath.  Satan tried to deceive Christ Himself with God's word, too many of us seem to forget that (Luke 4:9-11).  When Jesus was tempted in the desert by Satan, Satan used God's own word to try and lure Jesus into doing something outside God's will for Him.  During Jesus' temptation in the desert, each time Satan tried to deceive Him and tempt Him, Jesus spoke Scripture back.  Jesus didn't quote Scripture to manipulate His circumstances in an attempt to carry out His own will.  Jesus quoted Scripture to refute the devil's lies and to correct his misuse of Scripture. 

When Jesus told his Apostles that He had to suffer many things and be rejected for the purpose of following God's will for His life, Peter said to Jesus, "Surely You will not die!  This shall never happen to You!"  And Jesus recognized the serpent's ancient lie being spoken from the lips of His own disciple, which is why Jesus immediately rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." (Matt 16:23).

When Satan deceived Eve, he deceived her based on the truth of her own purpose:  to bear the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26).  Satan approached Eve with the truth of God's own words, but he was using God's word to manipulate her into doing something outside God's will for her and bend her to his own will so he could shape her into his own likeness.  Satan approached Eve with the truth so he could get close enough to her to tell her his lies.  Satan appealed to her through the truth of her purpose:  to be like God in His character; then he deceived her with his lie:  to be God in His power.  We cannot be God, we can only bear His image, and we cannot walk in the power of that image unless we bear the fullness of His character:  the willingness to die to our own will and desires so that we can fulfill the Father's (Luke 22:42).  Jesus was a humble servant willing to die to his own plans and desires to fulfill the Father's will, and Jesus said, "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher and a servant like his master" (Matt 10:24,25).  The serpent hisses, "You will not die, you will live!"  Jesus says, "You must die, so that I can live in you."

It means absolutely zilch to me when someone says, "I believe in God" or "I believe in Jesus" or "I read the Bible."  My answer is always the same, "So does the devil."  The devil believes in God.  The devil believes in Jesus, and he believes that Jesus rose from the dead and saves humanity from our sin.  The devil knows Scripture and is a better theologian than any human on earth.  But the devil doesn't submit to Jesus as Lord.  The devil doesn't obey Christ.  The devil does not die to his own will and his own desires so that the truth of God can live in him, so he wanders in the putrid stench of his obstinacy, pride and selfish ambition, trying to tempt others to do the same.  The devil lusts after Jesus' power, glory, and crown, but rejects His suffering, humility, and cross.  The devil builds you up with his words to make you feel empowered, God strips us with His word to expose our weakness.  The devil promises your best life now, Jesus promises us our best life is yet to come.  The devil speaks abundance to our heart, Jesus calls out the lack in our soul.  We must first submit to God's will for us to die, before we can ever truly walk in His will for us to live.  

For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Tim 2:3,4)

My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live...that they may keep you from the adulteress..who flatters with her words...With her many persuasions she entices him; with her flattering lips she seduces him. Suddenly he follows her as an ox to the slaughter..he does not know that it will cost him his life. Now therefore, my sons, listen to me and pay attention to the words of my mouth. Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths. For many are the victims she has cast down..her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death. (Prov 71-27)

But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling. Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. (Rev 2:20-22)

Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!" (Matt 7:21-23)

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (Matt 7:13-15)

The Song Of My Soul

How can You hear my whispered song among a multitude of shouting?

How can You hear my cries from an ocean of crashing waves?

How can You hear the beat of my heart during a quake that moves islands from their place?

How can You hear my thoughts from so far away?

How can a sigh level a mountain range?

Or a tear squelch a volcano?

How can a lamb fend off a pack of wolves?

Or a strand of hair bind a lion?

How can the flutter of an eyelash withstand the stare of a dragon?

How can a soul like a sparrow stand against torment like a hurricane?

How can I kick away a tidal wave, clap my hands against the lightening, or shout over the thunder?

How can a flicker of hope evaporate a flood of despair?

How can a moment of joy abate an eternity of sorrow?

Because You.

Because You are the King Who sits upon the throne of creation.

No temple can hold You

No image can reflect You

You are known, yet unknown

Both near and far away

Time fits in Your pocket

And the universe sits in Your hand

You are the Ruach Ha'Kodesh-- The Holy Breath that speaks all things into existence

You are El Shaddai-- The Almighty God

You are Adoni Tzva'ot-- The Lord of Heaven's Armies

You are Emmanuel-- The God Who walks among us

You are God Who gives life and takes it

The God Who both creates and destroys

Your fire is sweet to those who bear its nature

Yet utterly consumes those who don't

You are the God Who reigns, yet serves

The God Who both saves and rejects

Who among us could give You advice?

Who among us can scrutinize Your ways?

No words can describe Your beauty

No mind can conceive Your majesty

The train of Your royal robe is without end

No eye can perceive Your greatness

No ear can withstand Your voice

The sound of it binds all things together

When You speak, the earth trembles

Your gaze causes the heavens to gasp

Still, you pour Yourself out to us and are rejected

Yet, all You have promised will stand

Even though we are nothing, like grass that sprouts and withers in a day

You stand with those who love You

You cover those who walk in Your way

You are mighty on behalf of the meek

You fight for those not strong

You hear our prayers

You know our struggles

And when we cry out to You,

You become our song

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass-- he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind has passed over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the Lord extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children's children-- to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, all His angels mighty in strength, who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command. Bless the Lord, all His hosts, you servants who do His will. Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! (Ps 103:13-22)

The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

I want to share the Gospel of Christ with you because I think there are many in the church who have never heard it.  True knowledge of God springs forth from the understanding that He is holy.  Because He is holy, He is therefore perfect in mercy and judgment.  Our relationship with Him is centered upon and around His holiness.  We want to center our relationship with Him upon and around His mercy, but we cannot fully grasp His mercy unless we rightly understand that God is holy.  It is our awareness of His holiness that gives us understanding of our sinfulness, and the conflict between the two opposing states of being lead us to repentance because we begin to have a longing to look like God.  After all, that is the purpose for which we were created, "Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our IMAGE, in our LIKENESS...'" (Gen 1:26). 

Paul explains to the Romans, "..do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" (Rom 2:4).  The whole point of the Gospel, the whole point of salvation, the whole point of Jesus Christ is to deliver human beings from sin and to reconcile them with God in holiness.  God is kind and tolerant and patient with us because He knows we're stupid and we need Him to lead us to repentance.  When we recognize our sinfulness in light of God's holiness, we cry out to Jesus, "I want you to save me from my sin and make me a new person that looks like you!  Here, take my heart because its gross and I need you to fix it, and I'm giving it to you because I truly believe that you can."  This is repentance and faith working together, all wrapped up in surrender.  In His mercy, God helps us understand that He is holy, which brings us to repentance and the desire to turn away from our sin and to follow Christ instead, and we have faith that Christ can and will save us because He is Lord over sin and death and we surrender to that salvation.  Then we live a life of repentance, faith and surrender by the power of the Holy Spirit Who works within us through faith.  

The End.

"For it is God Who works in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." (Phil 2:13)

"Now to Him Who is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." (Eph 3:20)

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'But the righteous man shall live by faith.'" (Rom 1:16,17)

This Little Light Of Mine

God keeps reminding me that we are rivers of living water in spiritual deserts.  We are His heavenly wine poured out on the ground (Numbers 28:6-8; 2 Tim 4:6).  We are lights in a world smothered in darkness and salt in a flavorless abandon of truth (Matt 5:13,14).  We have lost our way if we think we are here to gain followers or to bend others toward our way of thinking.  We are here to reflect an image of a God Who dwells in heaven that is utterly foreign to the world and cannot be comprehended by it.  When we speak and teach the truths of His word, the darkness is confused by it.  Which is why many times the first response we get will be arguments based on human reason.  The age old sway upon our mind by the serpent, "Did God really say....?" (Gen 3:1).

But God's truth is like seed cast upon the ground.  He casts it out and although some of the seed will land on rocks, some will be eaten by birds, and some, although it initially takes root, does so in shallow soil or becomes choked out by worldly pursuits or worldly reason.  But yet, still some, will fall upon fertile soil and accomplish the purpose for which it was cast.  It will take root in an obedient soul with childlike faith and grow into a mighty oak whose roots will drink deeply of living water.  

Jesus said, "Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: 'Streams of living water will flow from within him.' By this He meant the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him would later receive." (John 7:38,39).  Our job as believers in Christ is to pour forth the Living Water of His truth.  We are to pour ourselves out to a world that will reject us.  We are to reach out to people who will see us as their enemy when we shine the light of God's truth into dark crevices and corners that often go overlooked or ignored.  That is the way it must be because that is the way of God, even though we do not understand it or enjoy it.  Proverbs tells us that Wisdom sets a table that very few are willing to eat from.

Our Christianity is not supposed to be comfortable.  Comfortable Christianity did not defeat Rome.  The odds against first century Christianity being successful within and against an entire Roman Empire that tried to slaughter them and among Pharisaical Jews who systematically betrayed and persecuted them, were so stacked against them that the statistics were absurd.  It was the grace of God upon their zealous faith and uncompromising obedience to Christ that defeated the dragon that desired to devour them (Rev 12:11.17). We are not fighting a battle of reason, we are fighting a war for truth.  And war is bloody, sides are pitted against each other, each side vying for ground to claim victory over.  For too long the church has remained in foxholes rather than engaging in hand-to-hand combat on the battlefield.  We do not gain ground in foxholes among the little foxes that spoil the vine, we gain ground when we suit up and confront the enemy for what he is:  a liar that deceives and leads people astray with sin made to look like it is harmless and appealing.  

That is what Satan does, and that is what he has done since the very first person he ever deceived.  He made sin seem harmless, appealing and reasonable.  God told Eve, "Don't eat from this tree or touch its fruit or you will die."  I don't believe Eve added to God's instructions like I've heard several people teach about Genesis 3:3.  I believe Eve is repeating exactly what she was told by God, otherwise she would be speaking an outright lie at Gen 3:3 and the first sin should be attributed to her instead of Adam.  Paul teaches us that Eve was utterly deceived (the Greek verbiage at 1 Tim 2:14 uses an intensifier on the normal word for "deceived" to imply utter and thorough deception) and that she was deceived not because of any intrinsic ignorance or weakness, but because of the serpent's subtlety and cunning (2 Cor 11:3).  Satan told her that something God said would hurt her, would not hurt her.  He made her believe that what she was doing was not just okay, but also desirable and good.

In the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, we are told that in the time near Jesus' return we will hear the "shout" of the Bridegroom, "Behold the Bridegroom! Come out to meet Him!" (Matt 25:6).  Perhaps this shout is to be understood as a battle cry for the saints to meet Christ in truth.  We are to assemble together and meet Him in truth and Christ will draw the final line out on the battlefield for us to choose which side we want be on:  the side of uncompromised truth, or the side of our own reason.   In the Parable of the Virgins, Jesus says that the wise will trim their wicks to prepare themselves to meet the Bridegroom.  The black and burnt end of a wick (symbolizing an excess of sin, ignorance and compromise in the sleeping virgins) is trimmed because the light of a lamp or candle is dulled by the excess of a burnt wick.  Once the wick is trimmed, the light of uncompromised truth which is fueled by the Holy Spirit (symbolized by the oil in the lamps) shines far more brightly to illuminate the darkness.  Paul says that in the end, the return of Christ will be marked by rebellion toward the truth, in accordance with the deceitfulness of Satan who deceives those who refuse to love the truth and instead, delight in what God has taught us is wicked (2 Thess 2:1-12). 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, it is because of our great and abiding love for each other that we must remind each other of God's truth.  Because the final battle in the end before Christ's return is between truth and lie, that is why we cannot give the enemy even an inch of ground.  That is why we cannot even touch the fruit of evil or we will die.  That is why now, more than ever, we need people in the church to rise up, to stand up and to be willing to say, "No more.  No more compromise.  Jesus suffered and died so that we could be reconciled to God and made holy unto the Lord.  Trim your wicks.  Suit up in your holy armor, and walk out onto the battlefield to meet your Lord in truth."  We need the Deborahs, Jaels and Eves to stand up and meet the enemy head-on, without compromise, utterly devoted to our blessed Savior in every way, shape and form. 

There are so many people in the church who are simply looking for someone to stand behind that points them solely to Christ.  Not to religion, not to reason, not to theology, not to comfort nor to compromise, but to Jesus Christ as Lord and King of every area of our lives.  Be that one.  Be that Deborah who is willing to lead out in battle.  Be that Jael who is willing to drive a stake through the enemy's head without even hesitating or batting an eye.  Be that Eve who is willing use personal knowledge of just how subtle and crafty the enemy is, to point him out and expose his lies.  Be a horror to the darkness, not a friend to it.  Be devastating to the enemies lies, not an accomplice.  Be so utterly and completely devoted to Jesus Christ that you only send your roots toward the stream of His Living Water and keep them far away from the darkness that withers them. 

"Blessed is the person who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream.  It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure-- who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a person according to their way, according to what their deeds deserve." (Jer 17:7-10)

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:1-3)

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Pet 2:9)

...renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession... (Titus 2:12-14)

What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.  Therefore come out from among them and be separate," says the Lord. "Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." (2 Cor 6:15-17)

As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance. But just as He Who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written, "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Pet 1:14-16)

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. (2 Thess 2:13-15)

A Searching Heart

There are so many in the world that are looking for something real about God, something authentic, and they come to the church thinking that they will find Him there, but many leave even more frustrated than they were when they arrived.  I looked for God in the church, but I could not find Him.  I found opinions, I found beliefs, I found religion and fellowship, but I never found God there.  I heard stories about Him.  I listened to people's ideas about Him, but the God I so desperately searched for remained elusive to me.  It was confusing to me because of all the places we should be able to find God, you would think that the church should be at the top of the list.  But the way to God is not through the church, it is through Jesus Christ.

I looked for God in the church and I did not find Him there.

I looked for Him in the Catholic Church and I only found reverence for Him, but not Him.

I looked for Him in the Methodist Church but I only found ideas about Him, but not Him.

I looked for Him in the Charismatic Church and I found celebration of Him, but not Him.

I looked for Him in the Baptist Church and I found pride in Him, but not Him.

I found God in my wandering.

I've been searching for You.

.......I was here.

Why did you let me wander?

.......Because it was the path that would lead you to Me.

You were not where I thought You would be.

.......But yet, you still found Me.

Yes.  Yes I did.

I'm glad You let me wander

Because now I understand

Those who seek you with all their heart

Will find you in the desolate place

Where all the noise and busyness fades away

And there are no background voices arguing over what You are like

Only silence

Only You

Only me

You reveal Yourself in that intimate place

You quietly speak Your terms

And let us contemplate them

And then You reach out for us to take Your hand

Or to refuse it

But my soul cannot refuse You

Because You are the source of my very being

You are my food

My water and my bread

You are my river in the desert

My path along the mountains

Where you lead, I will follow

And I will dwell in Your house

Upon Your holy mountain

All the days of my life, and forevermore

Jesus never said the church was the way, He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6).  We make the mistake of trying to find God through people, and God said the only way we can ever find Him is through Jesus Christ.  Jesus never commanded us to give Him to other people because we can't.  I can't give you Jesus. Only Jesus can give you Himself.  It is a divine encounter that can't be produced by, nor come from, any human being.  Salvation is between you and Jesus Christ.  I can only do what My Lord  commanded, which is to disciple people in His ways and teach people what He taught (Matt 28:19,20).  Only Jesus can give you Himself, not me, not your preacher, or priest, or mom or dad, or spouse.

I looked for God in the church but I found Him by searching and reading my Bible, and I grew in understanding of Him through intimate prayer.  If you want to know God, read your Bible.  If you want to understand Him, spend intimate time with Him in prayer.  I cried out to God in existential woe to understand Him and His response to me was, "Read what I've already given you and we'll build from there."  God didn't give us Scripture insomuch to encourage us or empower us, but to strip us.  To strip us naked of our own reason and understanding so He can clothe us with knowledge of Who He truly is and what He is truly like. The true church is simply the supernatural gathering of those indwelled by His Spirit.  The true church is not a hospital for sinners or a building or a denomination, it is the assembling of those who have truly found their way to God through Jesus Christ. 

You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. (Jer 29:13)

I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me find Me. (Prov 8:17)

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deut 4:29)

So I say to you:  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9)

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears. (Ps 18:6)

One thing I have asked of the Lord; this is what I desire:  to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in His temple. (Ps 27:4)

Finding Purpose

This past spring one of my junior-year courses was on church doctrine, and to be honest, I'm glad it's over.  I had really looked forward to it before I started it, but it soon became clear that it was just going to be a quagmire of contending theological perspectives-- one claiming superiority over another-- and that gets tedious to keep chewing after a while.  There were a few things taught in my textbook that I took issue with, and there were several things taught that I didn't necessarily agree with or felt that they could have been presented in a more comprehensive, non-biased manner.  After all, if you're going to write a book on theology, it's best to be humble about it, especially when there are various legitimate perspectives that can be taken into consideration. 

One of the things taught in my textbook that I took issue with was in the chapter about "Theology of the Edenic Era."  It's a chapter that covers what we are taught about God and ourselves in the first couple of chapters of Genesis during humanity's brief time in the Garden of Eden.  My textbook teaches that "God's purpose in creating man is stated in Genesis 1:26."  With that part, I fully agree.  But then the textbook goes on to say that man's purpose is to rule over God's creation.  With that part, I do not agree.  The textbook reiterates, "God's purpose for man from the very beginning was that man was destined to rule over creation."  This is a very human-centric teaching, focused on a desire to have authority and a lust to exercise that authority.  And it's also wrong.

My textbook is correct that the purpose of mankind is stated at Genesis 1:26, but the purpose of humanity is not to rule over God's creation, our purpose is to know God and reflect His image.  Genesis 1:26 begins, "God said, 'Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness'..."  That is our purpose.  Our purpose is to reflect God's image and likeness, and to do that we must know Him by being in fellowship with Him.  Thus, the wholeness of our purpose is to know God and to be in relationship with Him so we can faithfully reflect His image.  In the Genesis account, after God created us for the purpose of fellowship and reflection, He gave us our job.  Which is why Genesis 1:26 continues, "...and let them rule..."  Our job is to have dominion over creation. There is a difference between a person's purpose and their job.  My friend is a teacher-- that is her job.  But her purpose as a human being is to bear the image of God.  She bears the image of God (purpose) while she teaches (job).  When we wrongly teach that the purpose of mankind is to rule and reign, it not only appeals to our fleshly proclivities, but it also puts the focus on us-- our desires, our rights, our ambitions, our understanding of ourselves.  When we rightly teach that the purpose of mankind is to know God so that we may accurately reflect His image, it appeals to our spirit and rightly puts the focus on God-- His desires, His will, His purposes and His understanding.

My textbook not only teaches a gross error about the purpose of humanity to countless seminary students, but to anyone who uses it as an authoritative source for correct doctrine.  I consider it a gross error because it perverts the very foundation of our understanding of ourselves.  Our understanding of ourselves should be based on our understanding of God and what He is like, only then can we accurately reflect His image.  When our understanding of purpose is in error, it affects everything else, including our relationship with God and our relationships with each other.  I already see how such a teaching has caused exponential damage in the church and our understanding of how we are to serve in the church and be in relationship with each other.  By putting the focus on mankind and ruling and reigning, the church has inadvertently made authority an idol.  The focus in the church is the authority of man and who is over whom, rather than God, Who is over all.  More time is spent defending the theology of hierarchy in the church, rather than laying any perceived authority at the feet of Christ and joining hands in humility with other believers.  Jesus' high priestly prayer the night before His death wasn't about the preservation of vertical authority, it was about the preservation of horizontal unity.

Then God said, "Let Us make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it." So God created mankind in His own image; in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Gen 1:26-2)

Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent. (John 17:3)

I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one-- I in them and You in Me-- that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23)

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. (Rom 8:29)

And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles rule over them, and those exercising authority over them are called benefactors. But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is not the one who reclines? But I am among you as the one who serves." (Luke 22:25-27)