Sure Foundation

1Corinthians 3:10-11 - According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

I was talking to a friend the other day and as usual the things of the Lord entered into our conversation. It can't be helped because we so share in the love of Christ. We love to discuss spiritual things. They are most important and satisfying, energizing.

Somehow we got to talking about how things are playing out in the world and how we so see the last days as represented in the Bible taking shape. We see how people are lovers of self, deceit and anger and hatred rising and other things. While we do not know today who the players are in the end time events, we can discuss those who look like they fit the bill, but may not be.

To add to what we discussed, I see how God is being mocked or rejected, how there is an attempt to sweep Him under a rug or ousted out of public view. I'm so glad in my little world, He still exists on a daily basis and for many others He does also. I'm thankful we still have the freedom to talk about Him in public yet I know there will be a day when that may cease. If it's in my lifetime, that will be soon!

We might even have to go into hiding to have church, just like some other countries where worshiping God is allowed.

It is written in the Bible about a day where a one world religion and one world government will take place. Not in those exact words. This will be forced on us. Many today, even those who say they are Christians, who believe that there are many ways to God. This is a lie of the devil. And those who believe the lie, well...woe to them some day.

Jesus said He was the way, truth and life and none go to the Father except through Him. But then you need to believe the Bible to believe that...

As we talked, my friend and I, I confessed that I have a difficult time understanding parts of biblical prophecy. It's where my mind can't wrap itself around it all. Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation in particular. I seem to have difficulty putting them together, like my mind goes blank, as it did in school during algebra, science or geography! I understand it  just enough to recognize the signs and maybe that's enough. God will reveal it in due time. I just know it won't be pretty. It won't be life as we are accustomed to, which is quickly eroding.

I am also thankful that despite any dark days where we are no longer allowed to worship God in public, no one can take our Lord from within our hearts. He can remain our hope for the days ahead. In fact, He will most likely be all the more present in our lives when more of our freedoms are removed. I am sad that others will have no hope in those days. Fear will rise up.

Doom and gloom?? No, reality. For my friends in Christ and I it is an exciting time. We have a sure Foundation.

So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls. (Luke 21:7-19)

As I read this I saw something I swear I never read before! Verse 13: But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Yes it will. People are going to, and probably already are, wondering what is going on in this world. How can anything get worse? Or, we've recovered before, we can recover again...but will it? It's not just about what we see happening in our own country with all the corruption taking place. It's also about Israel...and Russia...and Iran...and Islam. All these things are part of the last days scenario. The pieces of the end time puzzle are getting ready to be out into place to finish the picture.

Praise God He wins in the end. Praise God as He came to save multitudes on earth, He will return with those people to live in peace on earth for a thousand years more. Woe to those who have rejected Him. Praise God there is still time to receive Christ now. He can be our sure Foundation.

When I came to Christ, April 18, 1999, 15 years ago, I thought because it was "so late" for me I needed all the training I could get and I studied. I think if the days are short, the Lord can hasten our understanding. He will put that new heart and new desire in anyone in an instant today. He is being patient that as many as will receive Him will before the end times. But His patience will give out also in His perfect timing. I would not want to be hard hearted to Him.

Isaiah 28:16 - Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.

True Wisdom is the Fear of the Lord

Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

There's only one place for true wisdom and knowledge. Our God is Creator; He wrote the Bible which in its entirety offers us true wisdom and knowledge. He asks us to seek, take in and treasure His Word for both of these.

The Proverbs are chock full of statements regarding wisdom and understanding. I scanned them wanting to post a few but a few became too many. I began in the first chapter but knew it would be impossible to pick just a handful. That just goes to show that there is a purpose for all God has to tell us.

I think this proverb, and I'm sure others, sum up the intent of wisdom and knowledge:

My son, if you receive my words, 

And treasure my commands within you, 

So that you incline your ear to wisdom, 

And apply your heart to understanding; 

Yes, if you cry out for discernment, 

And lift up your voice for understanding, 

If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 

Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, 

And find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5)

In fact, all of Proverbs 2 sums up God's desires and intents for our understanding. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; (Proverbs 2:6)

This wisdom acts as a shield; it guards and preserves those who heed it. When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, (Proverbs 2:10) then we are preserved and kept from evil in any form.

This doesn't mean we won't be faced with trouble or death but we will have a hope that God will be there in and through it. With God's wisdom and knowledge we can know we are forever preserved. This Word, these proverbs, tell us we need God (Jesus). If we seek Jesus...and He is the Word,  having all the answers...we have that hope of eternal life, even when evil overtakes and destroys physically.
[But] do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28) In other words, without the Lord we can be destroyed and cast into hell.

This whole life of ours should be based on God, what He has done for us, gives us, offers us. He created us that we might see and seek Him. Some will see and know Him early in life, others later; some, sadly, on their death bed...and even there some can refuse His offer of eternal life. Not everyone goes to heaven despite the very popular notion.

We must seek wisdom and knowledge for eternal life in God/Christ Jesus. Not just head knowledge either, but heart, living out the words of wisdom, not that we'll always do right. ...let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. (Proverbs 3:1-2) Long life, eternal life, peace through Christ.

With true wisdom we set the foundation of our lives. With God's wisdom only that foundation is sure. Lord, open the eyes of understanding! 

I think this proverb is what got me started: In the end...The blessing of the LORD makes one rich...and He adds no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22) Only God's blessings upon us make us rich. And they are not always what we desire. Spiritual blessings are attainable with His wisdom and knowledge. It's all about Him, always and forever.

Maybe I'll share more on these proverbs. They are quite valuable.

Proverbs 3:13-14 - Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. 

Roots, Foundations and Olive Groves

Romans 11:17 - ...and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree...

Yesterday a new friend and I went to an olive grove in the Phoenix area. We took a little tour and listened as the young woman told us about the trees, types of olives and how these olives were gathered between October and December and then processed.

My thoughts took me back to Israel where we saw the olive trees that were thousands of years old in the Garden of Gethsemane. These could have been the very same trees that Jesus saw when He was there. Gethsemane, I come to find out, means oil press. Throughout the day my mind kept going back to olive trees and the pressing of olives. If you recall, Christ went to Gethsemane to pray for what He knew was about to happen to Him. He prayed to His Father that "if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done"(Luke 22:42). He was being pressed, so much so that blood drops came from His brow. And of course, it was the Father's will that prevailed and Jesus died for our sins. 

This is a reminder of who I am in Christ. Although I've written about olive trees and those who are in Christ, I can't help but put my thoughts down again.

In an act of totally unselfish sacrifice, without murmur, without regret, Jesus was willing to die for our sins. He took that cup of suffering. He did it without trying to defend Himself, like we always do when we are wrongfully accused. He just did it...because He would rather have died than to live without us, as a song goes. He died for the sins of all mankind. His life was pressed.

So what does this have to do with olive trees? We would not be able to partake in this unfathomable love Jesus has for us if we didn't believe in Him. Okay, so what does that mean? When one is a follower of Christ he is called a Christian. Yet Jesus was a Jew...

So...the olive trees. There are two types: the natural olive tree, which would be Israel and the Jews and the wild olive tree, which is anyone else. We are grafted into the natural tree through our relationship with Jesus Christ. The natural olive tree's roots are well established, because the root is God. Through Christ we become part of that very strong root system...that firm Foundation that is Christ and become a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree.

As it is told in Romans 11, the Jews were likened to a natural olive tree. However, they were in so much rebellion against God that He needed to prune it of the unproductive shoots. He then needed to bring in another people so He grafted in a wild olive shoot. That wild olive shoot became Christianity, those who would believe in Christ as Savior when the Jews would not accept Him as their Messiah. These people were to carry on His work by leading others to this Man called Jesus. These men and women were nourished by the root that was Jesus. They made this tree productive once again. When we are in right relationship with Him, through Christ, we are nurtured. If we do not share in this relationship with Christ, we wither and die.

We also become grafted, as it were, into the Jewish heritage; our roots are in Judaism. If we are people who look at Israel and the Jews in a negative light, we cannot call ourselves Christians. If it were not for a Jewish King of kings and Lord of lords named Jesus, we would not be able to partake of the wondrous gift He has offered to us. 

We are all considered wild olive trees when we come into this relationship with Christ. It is and always has been God's plan that we all be part of this natural olive tree, with well-established roots...the roots of our Christianity...being one in Christ that we might not be separated any longer from God. We need to be completely aware, however, that it is not about us or our religion; it's not about what good works we can do or how good we can be to please God; it's not about which church we belong to because all churches and denominations are manmade. It's all about Him and and what He has done for us...and what He offers us freely. It's all about who we are in Him.

Once in Christ our lives are not our own. We shouldn't grow the same way once we've been grafted in and with a root who is Christ. Our lives will show this difference. Just as olives go through processing, so must we. We are separated from our pits...the stony heart...and we are crushed and squeezed until so our hearts become purer and we become the person God chose for us to be from the beginning of time. The pure oil might be thought of as the Holy Spirit and when we are in Christ it is His Spirit that fills us and causes us to change. 

We must give up the person we were. We were that wild olive branch, growing as we desired. We are now grafted, if we know Jesus personally, and we are to allow a new nature to emanate from us. We should have more faith, more trust in the Lord, and know where our hope now is. We will, as is told in Hebrews, know rest...which is the presence of God in our lives despite our circumstances. When we know Christ we are part of the natural heritage and grafted into the natural olive tree, where we are in the presence of God, in our rest, and know the hope of our eternal calling.

Although we may share the privilege now of being part of this natural tree, we should not consider ourselves better. We are, after all, only grafted in. If we do not produce fruit, we can be cut off just like the Jews were. God has made provision to bring them back...of this I am sure because His Word tells us as much. Until then, we must remain rooted and grounded in His Word and maintain our own trust in Him.

Romans 11:18 - ...remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.