The reality of sin...

What causes a person to sin? It would obviously have to be our sinful natures; by nature we are naturally sinful! We were never taught to sin, which person has ever paid for a schooling program or a course headed; “Learn how to sin with more effectiveness”? That would be preposterous! We are born sinners and therefore need to be saved from it! The skin of sin not so easily shed, a snake sheds its skin but under examination the new skin has exactly the same components as its previous layer. We can try as we will to attend courses full of varying ideas or even pay visits to shrink after shrink and we may even learn to cover up our sin with more proficiency as time moves along. For now, sin with all its cunning trappings is here to stay.

Did you know that God shortened the lifespan of man for that exact reason, sin our downfall! “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:5-8)

Take an alcoholic as our example, with the help of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) he may well and truly give up drinking for the rest of his life. A marvelous achievement! but will that free him from his sin? It may free him from some of the sins associated with drinking, no differently I suppose to a cocaine addict who now no longer behaves like he once did whilst wired out of his mind. Certain sins will become more controlled. Nevertheless, will that stop him from blaspheming if he was prone to do it whilst drinking, or will he stop lying when in a deadlock, what of his thoughts, will he now never have an improper thought about another woman besides his wife? I think not! In fact I know he will continue to struggle in that area of his life; we all will need to deal with sin and its viciousness on a daily basis as it looks to trip us up in one form or another. Sin an enemy of God and His holiness!

The Apostle Paul teaches us that in Christ we have become new creatures and old things have passed away; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2Corinthians 5:17)  

Why is it then that those outside of Christ love to coin the phrase, “and you call yourself a Christian”! We as Christians have been called to walk in a certain manner and yet we fail so often, why? What is it that feeds sin and keeps it alive? Well obviously the father of all sin, the devil plays his part, we certainly tend to overlook the unseen and for that exact reason; the spiritual realm can’t nor ever will be seen with the natural eye! Therefore those who are blind to it will never truly understand, that is a given! However this does not excuse our sin, we have been called to walk in Christ’s footsteps. The Apostle Peter gives us this encouragement; “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1Peter 2:11-12) – Realistically as hard as this may be to accomplish, we have been called by God to fight for this reality in our lives. Forgive me Father God, how I have failed in this area of my life! Nevertheless when I have breath I have hope, there is still daylight left to rectify the areas of my life I have dismally failed in.

What a great gracious God I serve, A God of forgiveness, a God of loving kindness, a Saviour who saw it through unto the end, costing Him his life and all because I and so many others needed rescuing! How easily we forget His struggles to set us free, forgive us Father God! Whether saved or unsaved we have all received an invisible mechanism called the “conscience” that affects the way we openly live. Call it the “rudder of life”. It steers our lives to live in a certain manner. But once those original boundaries have been severely seared, the person who ignores their conscience will end up shipwrecked. What then are these borders; I am persuaded that the boundary to our conscience is the Ten Commandments.

As children we all in one form or another start with a purer conscience but then we live life, and then some! Who can remember the first time they told a lie? It was a trying time, but for some lying has become a way of life; their conscience has been seared in that area of their life. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” (1Timothy 4:1-2)

I know that my conscience has been seared in certain areas of my life and it is my responsibility to wrestle in order to find grace to have the numbness restored. Without it I will remain defeated! But God has conquered all! My trust is in Him to restore what the canker worm has eaten. So fight I must! I can remember being newly saved and being carried by the Lord Jesus, an abundance of grace with very little effect the order of the day; it was a happy go lucky time of my Christian life; very little seemed to get in the way of my commitment to the Lord. But eventually the time of testing arrived, no differently to a toddler having to take their first step. It wasn’t the fall that was the problem; we all stumble and fall along life’s journey, but it was the sweeping of it under the carpet of my conscience that has the decaying effects later on in life, and then before long what once was unacceptable had now become acceptable. Shocking!

I am sure I am not alone with this realisation to the flaws we find in our Christian lives. Nevertheless we must not let these areas get away from us and if they have we must find God’s grace to spool them in. Sin has a natural way of playing itself out. However the Christian has been afforded the opportunity to call upon the great “I AM”, the God who has no beginning nor end as we understand it, the Christian can approach a throne room full of His graces to help them overcome! They alone (Christians) have been afforded this dependable privilege and all because of the wonderful obedience of their Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ!

The reality of it all; when we sin, we place our own lusts (wants) before our remembrance of what it cost the Lord to die for our sins! This is a very painful thought! The Apostle James teaches us this; “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?” (James 4:1) – He then hits home hard with this truth; “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:3-4)

The writer of Hebrews explains it like this and I think once we get a glimpse of the point he wants us to grasp, it will most certainly help us in the days to come with our ongoing struggles. “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18)

Sin will continue to tempt us until our dying day!

With those thoughts now in mind what will we do with them? “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.' As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest.'"” (Hebrews 3:7-11)  

It is the little foxes in our lives that can easily spoil the vine; they damage the fruit to our lives… “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” (Hebrews 3:12-14)

I am sure that we all have areas in our lives that we are not overjoyed about, thank God for our nagging conscience that keeps at us about the same issues in life. Today then must be a day of reckoning as we sincerely look to straighten that which is crooked, may God help us remember what it cost His Son to set us free from the bondage of sin. It is the dog that returns to his own vomit, and we are certainly not dogs, but children of the Most High! If we are indeed His children! All glory and honour belongs to our King, praise the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord, now and forever more, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone   

   

 

  

  

Jesus, Jesus Lord to me...

Jesus, Jesus Lord to me; my Master and my Saviour you shall ever be! And to you alone shall I be, forever thankful. How great my sin and yet you knowingly died on a tree for me! Father my voice cries out to you, the all-knowing, and omnificent eternal God; my mind looks for reason to understand the WHY? In your mercies and yet as it grapples looking for concrete answers in order to settle it, I am left in awe, with my jaw hanging in downright amazement as these words now flash across my mind, “How majestically grand is my God and Father, His mercies are ever new and yet forever true. The depths of your grace unbearably sweet, men speak of “honey in the rock”, but that is trivial in comparison to your sweetness; “to get a touch from the Lord is so real”! Who else could bring a hard callous man to his knees, wiping bitter sweet tears from his face as the joy of the Lord floods his soul! To God the Holy Spirit, thank you for your gentle correction and for always revealing the truth for what it is; “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” (Psalms 86:11) 

As I have been covered by your mercies my Father, be merciful to those that I now pray for; Brett (Bandit), Terry, Paul (who has seen the light), Richard x2, Quinton and Ryan: - Salvation will bring turmoil to one’s life but only for a season, one will and must face opposition, no differently in some form to what the Lord Jesus faced here on earth. I speak from experience; it is the tough trials of life that begin to mold us into who the Lord has called us to be! Failing along the way will be part of our journey, but my God is greater than any opposition along life’s pilgrimage.  In fact, it is when most have given up on the abilities of mankind, when people have kicked them to the curb; this is often when my great God displays His brilliance in and through whomever He chooses to echo His glory.

It is never over until it is over!

While we have breath we have hope!

Look at Samson’s life, a man chosen of God, mighty in strength, and full of faith. And yet he had a weakness, woman his Achilles heel! Although he played the harlot once too often, although he toyed with the gift God had given him and although he ended up blind and the laughing stock of his enemy, Gods enemies! The bible teaches us; “that his hair began to grow”! He killed more of God’s enemies with his death than in his lifetime. Praise God! What of the prodigal son, the one who squanders all his inheritance on riotous living, the bible teaches us this, “that he came to his senses”. God restored him back into his family. What of Jephthah, the son of a harlot, banished from amongst God’s people and yet the same called on him when the cards were down. He was used to conquer the enemy! There are many other references we will find, when we dare to explore the wonderful mercies of my God! “Seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be open unto you.”

I may well be provoking you to jealousy with the continuous use of “my God”; good! For you to use the same phrase you would have to turn to Him in repentance calling for mercy and then you too can cry out, “my God!” David understood this like no other, the giant Goliath was but an aggravating mosquito in his sight, before he came crumbling to his knees. A Sheppard boy used by God to defeat a giant of a man! I am praying for you my friends, but there can be no short cuts, we must come Gods way, in and through the saving graces of Jesus Christ the only One who has the power to save. In order to be justified as a member in God’s army we must call on Him to be saved; so for those who call upon the name of the Lord the bible emphatically teaches that the caller shall be saved and will not die but live forever.

The trial of this life will rage on, but only for a season and then absolute bliss for the rest of eternity! Even so come quickly Lord Jesus…

How I bask in the One who died to save, to Him be glory now and forever more, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone

        

It is well with my soul!

As we move deeper into the seasons with the sun breaching the horizon in the Southern Hemisphere a little later in the day. As we move into autumn, in the still of the night, the birds silently asleep, with my thought bouncing back and forth and with the help of my late brother in Christ, Charles Spurgeon, my thoughts now settling on so many dear friends that are yet to make a real life changing commitment to my Lord and Saviour. The clock is ticking and the last chimes is about to sound, my prayer goes out to them all. Lord Jesus, have mercy on their souls. Open their eyes that they may truly see!

This then the reality of our eternal existence; God hates sin, in fact it is so repulsive to Him that He send his Son, God in the flesh, the One who knew no sin (lived here on earth as a man without every sinning) and yet He paid the ultimate price for your sin and for my sin; He was nailed to a tree, crucified! More than that it was such an offense to God the Father that He was unable to engage with His Son whilst on the cross when the final amalgamation of the sins of the world was place upon Him; it was such a frightful event in the Lords life that he cried out; “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"” (Mark 15:34) – It was not frightful in the sense that the Lord Jesus had been caught off guard as it were, He knew from the outset that was what He had been commissioned to do. He came to do His Fathers bidding, to pay the price for the sins of mankind as they could not in themselves meet Gods perfect requirement. Nevertheless, the separation from His Father was heart wrenching, I wonder how God the Father felt having to turn from His Son until that price, the sins of mankind, the total depravity and disregard for their creator had been met?

It is one thing to have to deal with rejection when we are in good spirits but quite another when we are down cast and at our lowest. This happened to the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ when He was gasping for breath! The prophet Isaiah gives us an inkling to the actual condition of the Lord as He hung upon the cross; As the Lord Jesus hung upon the cross gasping for air, as His weight began to weigh heavy and He began to enervate from the pain that must have almost been unbearable; nails in his hands and feet, having to push up on them to fill his lungs with air, with his bones showing through his broken flesh, some out of joint. I can but imagine all that was in his mind was to achieve his Father’s wish and to accomplish what He originally set out to do, be crucified and paid the ultimate price for sinners! It was at this point or there about, I can barely bring myself to pen these words, but I must drive home the point! He was smitten by God; His Father punished Him for my sin and for your sin!  I do hope the point my friends is tugging at your conscience, because if you reject His sacrifice, there is absolutely no other sacrifice that any man, woman or child can bring outside of this perfect love gift from the Lord Jesus that God the Father will ever consider good enough to escape His judgement, Absolutely nothing else will suffice! Reject it and you will pay the ultimate price throughout eternity, Hell, the lake of fire will be your eternal destiny!

I implore you all to seek out God’s forgiveness with a vehement desire; do not rest until you find it!

If God has suffered so much for the sinner and the sinner then still rejects this free gift of Salvation. Free in the sense that it cannot be earned by our own merits. However not free outside the realm of acknowledging one’s own sin and seeking out God’s face and graces in order to fined forgiveness for it. It is imperative to repent! It is then not a free gift outside of repentance! And yet it is the goodness of God that leads a man to repentance. Why then do some find repentance and other do not? All I am permitted to say is seek it out diligently and you shall surely find it! “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'” (Act 2:21)

For if you do not find it… if God did not spare His own Son because of it, what chance do you think you will have? Zero!

To all my friends I understand that my tone may seem harsh, but I long to see you all in God’s army, those who are neutral are not those enlisted. Please I beseech you to think long and hard on what I have just penned. I haven’t spent time trying to place myself upon a pedestal; on the contrary the Apostle Paul acknowledges himself as the chief of sinners, I would beg to differ as I am certain that place has sadly been reserved for me. And yet I have by the mercies and graces of God found forgiveness, what a great God I serve!

Many have dark sides but there is nothing to dark that cannot be forgiven in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, He has paid the ultimate penalty never to be repeated; previous, present and future sins have all been paid for. Although we are subject to time, God is not bound by a clock; He exists outside of the realm of time! That is why He can even forgive sins in the future. All that is left now for us to do is to find forgiveness for our own sins and then trust in our God and we shall never die! This cannot be done through a priest, or ones mother or father, it is a personal endeavour that we each have to pursue individually.

Yet as for the self-righteous, the richest and the happiest people alive who reject this perfect gift will not escape the judgment which is just over the vista. Although God is love, do not be fooled into believing that He does not have another side to His character and that is righteous judgment, which with it will bring His wrath! Remember Noah and the flood, which was not a fairy tale but as real as the rising of the sun!  

While you have breath you have hope, there is a day coming when the breath of life will leave us all and who can with any assurance say when it will come. We must be ready, therefore harden not your hearts for today is the day of salvation!

Signing off

Tyrone

Meat or Vegetables?

(Daniel 1:12) "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

The irony of this retort from Daniel is that most vegetarians would love this verse but for the wrong reason; it is not a stanza to prove that God is for vegetarians over omnivores, it has very little to do with the type of food eaten, but everything to-do with the perception people have with food. The simple question we need to ask ourselves, has the food we are about to eat been sanctified with thanksgiving and prayer? “The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.” (Romans 14:6)   

Daniel set out to prove to the king’s guard that he would take nothing from the nobility of the time but that his God would be his blessing and he would not be dependent on the delicacies from the king’s palace. He would not even dare to meddle with it! On offer was the very best from the king’s palace against the norm of society, which the masses would have eaten on a daily basis. Although it would not have been unlawful for Daniel to eat the king’s meat, Daniel needed to prove to his guard, the eunuch that watched over him, that his God would bless him against adversity and the results would prove his God to be legitimate.  Daniel unequivocally knew that his God would reward his obedience!

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) - It was all about his God’s and His blessing. There was no other option for Daniel! If only we could begin to apply this type of mind set to our lives. It was all about faith! He knew that his God would come alongside, blessing his endeavour, bringing glory to His God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! All we need learn from this account is to place our God before our own wants! It is not about us but all about Him! We need to find a place of rest in our lives; we must nestle, eventually finding comfort with total dependency upon our God! But the more we embrace this world and its ensnaring systems, the harder that will be!

When I glance around, I am fully aware that we as a nation are a long way off Daniel and his counterpart’s example. Nevertheless with that said we serve such a great God, all it will take from Him is to show us favour, for the wheel will turn and we will become more dependent upon Him. We need to diligently cry out to Him! How I long to be amongst that number! Where do you fit in? But to find favour we must not bow down to the systems of this world, we must stand up when all are bowing and bow when all are standing.

“They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” (Daniel 3:9-11)   

Will we bow to the golden image (the systems of this world), or will we learn to walk by faith, trusting our God? We may well end up in a fiery furnace, but our God shall see us through, come what may! This is a truth I am fully persuaded of! And even if we lose our lives we shall certainly receive our reward, to ever be with the only true God, our God and king. Trophies of God’s grace! To ever be with the Lord Jesus Christ and what a day that shall be! Even so come quickly Lord Jesus, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone  

Idols or Not!

There are but few, near perfect examples we can glean from when we peruse the lives of men throughout the bible, most come with their blemishes. No differently to all men alive today, the sins of some more obvious than that of others, but all wear the same T-Shirt; “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23) 

And yet there were men who lived many years before Christ’s journey here on earth and their names are Noah, Daniel and Job. There is much to learn from their example, so let me now explore! God singles them out concerning their righteousness. Even our great God acknowledges their commitment to Him! “Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 14:14) – The obedience of these three men throughout different times in history shone bright in a dark perverse world and their example and commitment pleased our heavenly Father. So much so that He mentions them by name! It is these kinds of men we must focus on. Forget the “Bill Gates” or the “Warren Buffets” of the world! Let us glean from Daniel’s example; per adventure I too may learn how to behave, in turn, pleasing my heavenly Father.

There seems to be an underlying theme that these men opposed, it isn’t obvious but there is most certainly a hint of why these men pleased God… They abhorred Idols! We will look at this in more detail over the next couple of days.

How many idols do I yet cling to in my life? Let me rather begin with what is an idol? “An object of adoration (somebody or something greatly admired or loved, often to excess) – an object often worshipped as a god (something that is worshipped as a god, e.g. a statue or carved image)… It is a forbidden object of worship other than the One God!” (Encarta Dictionary)

Let me now examine this in our world today, with what is current… I do not see many bowing down to “totem poles” but I do see many worshiping the creature rather than the creator. Those who are invested in saving our planet and yet they never acknowledge the One who created it! Do not be fooled into believing that the good deed of saving the planet at the exclusion of your obedience to God will exclude you from the wrath which is yet to come!

How serious do you think this facet of idols in our lives concerns our heavenly Father? - Here then is our answer; the very first commandment He gave to Moses on that mountain top, wasn’t thou shalt not kill, it was; "You shall have no other gods before me. ”You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:3-6)

I am in pursuit of God’s steadfast love, how about you?

The day has now arrived where we need to stand up and be counted, our time of lurking in the shadows has come and gone. Help us Father God to be bold for you! Look at Daniels commitment in this area to His God; “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food or with the wine that he drank… (Daniel 1:8) - He chose to separate himself from the masses and the trends of his time. If we or I want to find favour in Christ we must follow in Daniel’s footsteps.

Help us Father God find grace in time of need to appropriate a readiness to lay down our lives for you, this I ask in the mighty name of my Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ!

Signing off

Tyrone

Distraction!

As I stumbled sleepily out of bed, trying to get my bearings after somewhat of a better night regarding actual time slept; my first thought, be still and listen…

This is now my consideration; the repeats to one’s life! When, why and how does it happen, and then what normally follows? As I gaze at a clock ticking along numerically, in sequence and without distraction. As I watch the minutes tick by on my computer screen a moth flies by, I am diverted by its flight but the clock’s ticking remains constant. We (humans) are subject to distraction but should we be influenced by diversion?

How often because of life’s distraction do we pay the ultimate price? I remember as a young boy in my early teens squaring up with another boy, a dispute needed settling! As we squared off, back and forth we shuffled with eyes locked on, both waiting for the opportune time to throw the first punch. Although it was a fair fight I remember being out numbered as the onlookers geared him on. This bothered me as I suspiciously believed I now had not only to focus on my opponent but I had to watch my back as well. With my attention now divided the inevitable happened; me on my back, defeated! Whilst sparring I heard a noise from behind that was misplaced, a shuffle of feet, I quickly glance in the direction of the noise, shifting my attention, in my mind’s eye I was now being attacked from the rear! It was a figment of my imagination! That distraction stole my focus and my opponent pounced; a split-second of my concentration diverted is all it took and his fist connected and down I went.

Distraction most certainly has its part to play in all our lives and sadly it is normally to our detriment. The serpent tempted (distracted) Eve with these words; "…Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1) – Her mistake, she engaged in the serpent’s distraction; it would have been better for her to have said nothing. And as a matter of fact it would have been better for all of us if she had remained silent. Men wouldn't toil to survive, women wouldn't bear children in pain and death would still elude the masses. With that said, it is what it is and sin now knocks at the doors of all alive today, it is the reality of life!

As children of God we must hunt obedience but distraction will continue to knock to bring about disobedience. We are taught to be on guard, we must watch, why? “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1Peter 5:8) - Always remembering that “humility” our sister is the one that keeps us focused. Keep her close and God will exalt us in due season! Our God has a massive heart, He is quick to forgive those who humble themselves seeking out His forgiveness and for this I am thankful. Remember when “enduring focus” becomes prominent in our lives God promises us this; “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1Peter 5:10)

What a gracious God we serve! Help all your children Father God, throughout today and from here on in, remain focused and free from distraction, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone

Test!

Test the word of God without any preconceived ideas, just as a child would trust his dad if he was standing on a wall and his dad said, “Jump!” There is no thought in the toddlers mind, will my dad catch me, that is a given! In like manner we must also learn to trust the Word of God, as the uncertainty of so many obstacles in our lives begins to diminish. I believe when we trust the Word of God in its entirety on any given subject, it impressively pleases our heavenly Father! Abraham the father of faith proves this in his willingness to sacrifice his son. Mind boggling, but why is he known as the father of faith? He obeyed the word of God regardless of any foreign thought which looks to oppose God’s instruction. And let’s face it; they lie in every nook and cranny of our minds looking to pounce at the opportune time as they feed off our doubt; what if… How our minds have been thwarted by the systems of this world saddens me.

Our God will always come through for His children! Faith then the key ingredient to our obedience, but I wonder how many Christians have actually understood this. Most would be quick to say, that is an obvious deduction, but when we view our lives and the lives of others around us that would not be the case!

Let me use a simple example to illustrate my point…

The Ten Commandments are often used to measure our obedience towards God, most use it as a yardstick. Obviously, we must hold His laws and statutes close to our hearts. I will now share simple instruction; but how many of us fall short of it?

The Lord Jesus taught us many great truths and here is one of those simple instruction we are called to follow; "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) – Why then do we not apply this instruction to our lives?  Many would debate that they do not live with that impetus in mind, but I am not persuaded! Our lives are so conditioned; planning is such a focal point to our reality, we like to believe that we predestine our own futures. If God had in mind for His children, why then would the Lord Jesus give us this instruction? "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34)  - The instruction is very clear, live for today in faith and do not worry about tomorrow. Who lives like that I would like to know?

And yet if salvation is of grace, which it is, then we are what we are by the grace of God! We have done nothing to deserve salvation, it was all of God. He wrought the miracle in us. It had nothing to do with our own intentions as some may foolishly believe. God may well have given us the resolve to respond to His call, but without that determination placed deep within our hearts we would all be dead in our trespasses and sins! Here is a verse to irrefutably prove that point; “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

However with that truth now established there is most certainly a responsibility placed upon all who believe. See the stanza following the highlighted verse; “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

So then let me get back to the original point, why do we worry about tomorrow with so much planning surrounding our lives? I have gone back and forth in my mind questioning my own actions in relation to this topic and I am left with one conclusion, I lack faith as simple as that! However God in His mercy is altering my perception on; continue to change my heart O God, make it ever new, to apply that which is true!

When we swim against the current we may eventually arrive at our desire destination, but why not work smarter, and come the way of the Word of God, waiting for the outgoing tide and then the “current” (the finished work of Calvary) will do the work for us. There is a way that seems right to a man but it isn’t God’s way and the end thereof is death! We must begin to take the Word of God more seriously if we have neglected any part of it in our lives. Surely the day is at hand, and the time for childish behaviour has run its course. May God have mercy on all his lagging children! We must be assured of this overshadowing truth; “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6) – So then for all of us, who have kicked against the pricks for so long, let us rather shift gears and let us begin to trust our God like never before as we watch His master plan unfold not only around us but in our lives too!

Signing off

Tyrone

Our User Account...

I am up early again this morning and as I logon to my computer with the user account flashing up on my screen, it gets me thinking…

A user account, we all have one! What will become of it when we pass from this life into the next? I know that many various tribes and nations with different tongues across the globe have all thought about this impasse; our own personal user account for life! Both the good and the bad recorded no differently to a computer storing information on its hard drive. With the obvious files evident but what of all the secret files that our lives store, what will become of them? So much of our time is spent with building blocks for this life but very little thought is given, in most cases anyway, for the life to come.

Why is our perception so lopsided?

Let us unpack a few thoughts and then look at some other examples during the course of history and then we will be in a position to examine ourselves. I trust our own reexamination will help us cross some of the uncrossed “t’s” in our lives. And if we sincerely seek God’s grace we may even be fortunate enough to dot some of the “i’s”.

What motivates you? Do you even believe there is life after death? Does our own perception on eternity have any outcome on what will efficaciously happen throughout eternity? And finally where will that leave us in eternity?

The world teaches us to set goals, I am all for this but it is the skewed perception which it instills that I am against… It is all about achieving here on earth with very little thought, if any, for infinity and beyond. It’s as if cartoonist’s toy with the mind of kids, highlighting the truth of eternity and yet so many parents train their kids for this life and not the life to come! – Here is a quote that 9 out of 10 kids would be able to answer correctly, depicting the character; “to infinity and beyond!” (Buzz Lightyear)

I believe most people believe in life after death, even the atheist shows fear on his death bed. Why is it then that so many conjure up what they believe to be the “be all and end all” of what will stand them in good stead for the life to come? Surely that type of reasoning is a bit like a “lotto” gamble with its odds stacked against the punter in the region of seven million to one or higher. Especially if eternity has no end! And yet when I hear what comes out of people’s mouths it is obvious that they are willing to ride their luck. Oh how sin has blinded the reasoning of so many!

Regardless of what you and I believe, if there is a God, which there is, He will determine the outcome of His creation. It is imperative that we seek that out! It is of utmost importance to wrestle with life and all its curve balls until we come to grips with the bigger picture. Forget people’s opinions; what is God’s requirement is all we need to know!

What then is that requirement and how do we know we will be right with our evaluation? “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)

Why would so many, in times past, have lived the way they did? It must get you thinking! Look at the recorded accounts of some; “Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated--(Hebrews 11:35-37) - they were looked upon by others as mad, but in fact it is the onlookers who are mad!”

This life then is our investment for the future in eternity, may God help us understand the importance of this truth! This life is but a blink in perpetuity; let us learn not to invest with such vigour for this life only, but rather to invest with it for the life to come. Let me leave you with this link below and I hope it helps you get a more balanced perception from here on in.

Signing off

Tyrone        

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86dsfBbZfWs   (4min)

To activate push the control button simultaneously with the mouse button over the link

David's example...

Why was it Father God that you felt it upon your heart to declare that David was a man after your own heart? Such a faithful man and yet a man who made mistakes, not many, but nonetheless he still had his blemishes.

I wonder if any other man had as much faith as David, a boy who overpowered the lion and the bear and then later on in life, when he was entering manhood, he defeated or rather annihilated the most feared man in the world, a giant named Goliath. How did he do it? With a slingshot and a stone! That was what he chose to take into battle; he could have used the king’s armour and the best crafted sword of the time, but it was cumbersome and he felt clumsy wielding it.  Here we have it, a small insight into the favour of God.

Note: - the ingenious craftsmanship of man is on display all around us, fashion high on the priority of so many, A Louis Vuitton bag could be priced as high R200 000 and these items are selling; all in the name of Fashion! In like manner David could easily have taken the best of man’s ability to fight the enemy (Goliath), He was offered the best man had to offer in readiness for battle and yet he refused it, why? For this exact reason; it was man’s way of sorting out a dilemma and not the way of his God! Instead without fear he boldly went into battle with that which he was accustomed, a slingshot and five pebbles! In other words, it was his faith in God that clinched the victory! “… 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'” (Act 13:22)

I could spend a lot more time here looking to prove a point, but it isn't needed. Obviously the answer to why David was a man after God’s own heart is an obvious one, even though he fell into a treacherous sin and later on in life he had to bear the brunt of that, like many of us will also have to bear the brunt of own actions, thank God for His merciful character and His willingness to forgive.

However we cannot shy away from the consequences of our actions and we must learn to appropriate this truth into our lives. David was all about pleasing God with His application throughout his lifetime. We can learn so much from his example; “Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.” (1Kings 8:17) – We must continually learn to put our trust in our God regardless of our current predicament, We must seek God’s face with an earnest expectation to walk by faith, we must pray for our God to continually “renew a right spirit” in us. We must begin like never before to be captivated with our hope, our reward will one day to ever be with our God! We must become obsessive with this thought. Our God knows our needs before we even know them ourselves; we must learn to trust Him! It is all about bringing glory to Him! He is so worthy of that accolade! Praise the name of Jesus!

I would earnestly pray Father that you equip all your children with David’s desire and passion to be about your business and not our wants!

Signing off

Tyrone  

   

Seek in order to find...

Does one have to give a little to receive a little? “To be or not to be” is what I am asking! There has been much to do with the word “karma”, does fate happen regardless of our actions or is the saying “what goes around comes around” more apt to us in everyday life. That then is the question I need relief from; or rather it is God’s retort I seek. There is no better person to inquire from than God the Holy Spirit. I am convinced I shall find an answer by searching the scriptures as He leads me into His truth.

 I am told in scripture that I must seek in order to find, so hunting it shall be!  "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

How often have I read a truth from the bible, sincerely believing it and yet as I sit and consider my application to its instruction, I am found wanting… Let me explain; I must have considered this exact verse several times over the past week and in part I have involved my application into its instruction, but I have made a feeble attempt in what I wanted to call my application of faith to its tuition. I have glibly knocked, but not been persistent with my knocking. Remember the Lords parents; Mary was about to come into labour, so whilst in Bethlehem they (Mary and Joseph) sort out accommodation so that she could give birth, but all the inns were full, they eventually found a manger and not an inn. What can I learn from this? Although they sought out a particular place they found another. They knocked on the doors of various inns but they were all full. Nevertheless through their persistence they found alternative accommodation; God gave them a barn instead!

We do not always get what we want and yet we will still receive what is required to get the job done. The difference between our wants and our needs on display by this marvellous example! It wouldn’t be far from them to expect the penthouse, why not, the King of kings was about to be born, being real about this, why Not? But God had a different idea…  

We must knock in order to find, we must seek before we can knock and then we must be thankful for the door that opens even if it is a barn door. Our lives must begin to reflect gratefulness to whatever God chooses to give us on a daily basis. It is about His will and not our wants!

Teach me Lord to apply this principle to my life with thanks giving I pray. I too like the Apostle Paul wish to, with confidence, make this statement; “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2Corinthians 12:10) – And, it is through suffering that I will learn to become obedient; “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8) – Then finally when I come to accept this truth and your instruction which is always for your children’s benefit I will by your grace accept my fate and be content wherever I may find myself; there will be no more clutching at straws. Grasping for hope in what is nothing but hopelessness!

With that in mind, no wonder Paul could with assurance make these bold declarations; “As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack."” (2Corinthians 8:15) – And - “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

This morning I inquired about a particular answer to prayer, I knocked on heaven’s door as I searched out scripture to find an answer to my current predicament. Yesterday I lacked understanding but today my question has been answered, a door has been opened unto me, I must confess it was not the door my flesh was hoping for, but nevertheless I have clarity of mind, my prayer has been solved! I must be content with my predicament, although times are tough my God is looking out for me, and for that I am most grateful. All Hail King Jesus!

A man once said to me, “you know Tyrone a leopard cannot change his spots”, too true I must confess; BUT GOD can most certainly achieve the impossible! A leopards spots are no match for the One who in fact created the leopard with its spots. We must learn to trust our Father with our lives, help us then I pray to find the grace in our lives to put our total trust in your finished work as we rely on our great Saviour, praise the majestic name of Jesus Christ our Lord!

Signing off

Tyrone

The voice of God!

When can we be sure what we hear is God’s voice and not our own twisted imaginations willing something to be true when in fact it isn't!  What then do we know about the way God speaks to His Children?

We will find the answer from the Word of God, the Bible, this we can be certain of!

·         We also know that in times past God spoke through His prophets, the Old Testament is full of accounts where God singled out people to speak on His behalf, in an audible fashion.

·         The writer of Hebrews clearly teaches us this fact; “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"?” (Hebrews 1:1-5)

·         The prophets were used to bring in the law and the commandments of God and describe His character, and His requirements for the cleansing of sin, sacrifice of goats, lambs, bulls, pigeons, the washing of water and the like, depicting a God who is righteous! But the Gospel dispensation is now the realisation of the law with all its requirements. It was there to teach us that we needed a Saviour in order to find forgiveness for our sins and in turn have a relationship with God

·         – Let us break this down for a clearer understanding; we will use Matthew Henry to help us get a richer picture…

(1.) “At sundry times, or by several parts, as the word signifies, which may refer either to the several ages of the Old Testament dispensation - the patriarchal, the Mosaic, and the prophetic; or to the several gradual openings of his mind concerning the Redeemer: to Adam, that the Messiah should come of the seed of the woman, - to Abraham, that he should spring from his loins, - to Jacob, that he should be of the tribe of Judah, - to David, that he should be of his house, - to Micah, that he should be born at Bethlehem, - to Isaiah, that he should be born of a virgin. (2.) In divers manners, according to the different ways in which God thought fit to communicate his mind to his prophets; sometimes by the illapses of his Spirit, sometimes by dreams, sometimes by visions, sometimes by an audible voice, sometimes by legible characters under his own hand, as when he wrote the Ten Commandments on tables of stone. Of some of these different ways God himself gave an account in Num_12:6-8, If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known to him in a vision, and will speak to him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses: with him I will speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches.

II. God's method of communicating his mind and will under the New Testament dispensation, these last days as they are called, that is, either towards the end of the world, or the end of the Jewish state. The times of the gospel are the last times, the gospel revelation is the last we are to expect from God. There was first the natural revelation; then the patriarchal, by dreams, visions, and voices; then the Mosaic, in the law given forth and written down; then the prophetic, in explaining the law, and giving clearer discoveries of Christ: but now we must expect no new revelation, but only more of the Spirit of Christ to help us better to understand what is already revealed. Now the excellency of the gospel revelation above the former consists in two things: -

1. It is the final, the finishing revelation, given forth in the last days of divine revelation, to which nothing is to be added, but the canon of scripture is to be settled and sealed: so that now the minds of men are no longer kept in suspense by the expectation of new discoveries, but they rejoice in a complete revelation of the will of God, both preceptive and providential, so far as is necessary for them to know in order to their direction and comfort. For the gospel includes a discovery of the great events that shall befall the church of God to the end of the world.

2. It is a revelation which God has made by his Son, the most excellent messenger that was ever sent into the world, far superior to all the ancient patriarchs and prophets, by whom God communicated his will to his people in former times. And here we have an excellent account of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Matthew Henry)

Simply put, we no longer need to rely on dreams, visions or the like. We needn't have someone speak into our situation as it was done in the day of the Prophets (BC) all we need now is to examine the scriptures as we have them. In reading the Canon of Scripture we will have the voice of God whisper into our ear; It is God the Holy Spirit who has been commissioned with this responsibility; “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26) – How do I know this to be true? That is an easy answer; this truth is found in the Canon of Scripture, if what you hear or are told cannot be confirmed from Scripture then it is more than likely a twisted vain imagination. Do not gamble with your eternal life, trust God Son the Lord Jesus – the One who died for the sins of the world, there is no other who can save us from our sin, in Christ and Christ alone will we escape judgement! How do I know that to be true, the Canon of Scripture so declares it; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

So then to my dear friends who are pondering the meaning of life, Brett (Bandit), Richard, Terry, Paul, Derek, Jason and there are many others whom I have not mentioned by name, this then I say to you, trust no one’s opinion but the “Canon of Scripture” as we now have it, and if when reading it you do not hear that whisper in your ear, pray to God so that He may have mercy on your soul just as He has had mercy on my soul and ask Him to open your ears so that you may understand the brilliance of His voice! And what a voice He has! Praise the name of Jesus now and forever more, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone  

Righting our wrongs!

I suppose the best way to divide one’s time up would be to do it in the same manner our great God used… we wouldn't be far off the mark with our accuracy if we allocated our time correctly just as God divided years with seasons and season with days and nights, all having its place as He saw best. He presented the universe to the onlookers (angelic beings) and to us who now enjoy His masterpiece, creation an awesomeness to behold! However the formula we now use must carry with it one proviso and that is, we must first and foremost look to our God before we do any planning or make any decision. This is what the Lord Jesus taught us whilst on earth, put Him first in all things and the rest will follow accordingly. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:33-34)

We have been called to apply a different set of rules to our lives, as Christians anyway! Faith must be our anchor with all deliberation that is the bibles teaching. I am so tired of people’s opinions, which we all have, but “let God be true and every man a liar”, must be our motto if we are to receive a blessing from our God! If we had to say to our son, if you pass matric with exemption as your reward I will give you a car. What would be the point if he failed and we still gave him a car? Why is it then any different when we are taught by our heavenly Father by His Word (the Bible) what, when and how we need apply ourselves? Yet we do our own thing or societies article as we incorrectly apply ourselves, why then do we wonder why we are not rewarded. The answer is a simple one but not easy to accept as it falls on leaden ears; "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

I must confess this has been my life for the most part of it, and without looking to excuse myself which I will now nevertheless do, I do not see many great examples I am able to follow. Forget what you have been taught up and until now with regard to conquering this world, it is not how we have been called to apply ourselves, let our God do the rewarding, let us stop trying to hedge our bets! We may well receive rewards as we journey here on earth but what would the point be if we achieve accolades, the blessings of men and then tomorrow it is thrown into the fire! There must be a shift in our reasoning, may God help us grasp this fully and with eyes wide open! As I believe this is one of the wicked ones greatest traps in today’s day and age! Nevertheless our God has overcome, if we will only sit up and listen to His voice; it will be well with our souls!

How do we then find a balance in our communication with our God?

·         Our first point of reference must be prayer, and most certainly not our last!

·         Just as there are four seasons in any given years, we must except that there will be a “a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” but our God will determine what is needed and when it is desirable, we must learn to find rest in this truth! If not we will be most miserable with our daily existence if life is not always filled with blossom scents of spring.

·         Prayer helps us understand what we want from God and then when we spend time in His Word, reading the Bible we learn what He requires from us…

My conclusion then must be that wherever we find ourselves, in want or without any lack we must firstly seek God and His Kingdom through His righteousness and the rest will fall into place correctly according to His good pleasure. There seems to be a skewed perception in many Christian’s mind-sets and that is we are always under God’s discipline. He is a God of blessing, even though there must be times in our lives where we will come under God’s firm hand; He is a Father who loves to bless His children! How do I know that? The Lord Jesus taught us that; “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11)

So then we must be asking in and through prayer and we must be reading to find the correct answers. May God give us ears to hear and eyes to see more acutely than ever before!

Signing off

Tyrone