Ears to Hear, Eyes to See

Matthew 13:14-15 - For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.

...lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.

Strong words. God’s words. Truth-filled words. Maybe even words that are hard to see (read)! And the preaching of that is hard to hear, if heard. (Good news...at the end.)

Why? Because we all believe at times that we know better. We believe our morals are good enough for God. We believe in self. These too are hard words. But then why would God have had someone pen His own words:  ...lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.  Lest = for fear that. 

God has given us eyes that we might see Him through His creation. He has given us ears to hear the truth of His Word...and eyes to read it. He has given us ears and eyes to see the times we are living in and how they have been shown to us in His Book...if we take those eyes and read His words...and take those ears to a church that preaches the truth of His Word, not words to puff us up or coerce us into believing we will prosper if we plant seeds of faith into a false ministry. (This does not mean we don't tithe, according to His Word.) We need ears and eyes to know truth from lies.

The parable of the sower and the seed is what these verses allude to. The seed of God’s Word when it is heard (or read) is planted in the soil of our hearts. But we might have different soils, as the parable explains. (Luke 8:5-15)

He has given us eyes to see and ears to hear, as He says, that He might heal us. Not physical healing but spiritual healing. If one cannot see or hear properly spiritually, that healing will not happen. Eternal death comes from that. 

All hard words! But Jesus didn’t speak all words of comfort, peace and joy. His words were hard too. And often rejected. He was rejected by His own home town because who was He but the carpenter’s son. 

The enemy of our souls wants nothing more than to turn our ears and eyes away from God and life to himself and death. There is an evil spiritual realm all around us. Look at how good a job he’s doing in the world today with politics, war, and might I say, abortion and lifestyles of which He does not approve. I’m not being hateful here, just presenting God’s truth. He is also against greed, lies, lust, gluttony, pride...and more. There’s something in just that short list that can suit any one of us.  It does for me.

But here’s the good news! We can be healed! If we open our eyes to hear and our ears to listen. Don’t cast away the hard words but consider them in your heart. God wants each of us healed and the only way that can happen is through Jesus Christ. He is the Word, the hard Word, that saves us from this world’s corruption. 

The Bible is filled with examples of individuals and nations who were sinners set free. We read of their misdoings and how God forgave them when they admitted their sin before Him. Oh, people, it’s not that difficult to do. It truly is like removing chains. His words might be hard but His love is truly magnificent to those who repent and receive Him. 

Proverbs 20:12 - The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.

Without Me

O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. (Jeremiah 10:23, Proverbs 16:1,9)

There is a purpose in all our lives. We either choose our own purpose or we choose God’s. There are only two options. Sadly, many choose their own. God plays no part in many lives. Going to church and sitting in a pew every week doesn’t make one a Christian. Being a certain denomination doesn’t make one a Christian either. I know these words will grate on some nerves but it is the truth, even a truth I had to learn...and continue to learn. 

Scriptures, whether Old or New Testament, either point to God or Jesus. Since Jesus is the Word of God (NT) and was in the beginning at creation (OT), it points to Jesus as also God. 

The Bible wasn’t written just for history. There was another very good reason, that being the Gospel message and the history involved in the purpose of that message. Christ was hidden in the rites, regulations, laws and actual things in the Old Testament so that when He became man in the New Testament (becoming THE New Testament) we would recognize Him. I hope that makes sense! All He was in the Old Testament was revealed through the New Testament. 

Anyway, I heard a song the other day. It’s difficult to find online and the songwriter not very well known. But he minces no words when he writes. He’s a humble Christian country songwriter who shares what he has seen in the Church, North America (he’s Canadian) and the world. How the Church has come down to the level of the world instead of maintaining its rise above it. How new preaching, new ways of doing church and worship are shaping the Church today, watering down the hard Gospel message of Jesus Christ. 

Sadly, the world is buying in to it: the love of Christ only being preached instead of His hard words of truth...the gentle, loving words He spoke highlighted and those verses of His rebukes, ignored. The verse from Romans 3:23...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...has not much clout anymore. Nor does Galatians 3:22...But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. These include you and me! None of us are good, unless we know Jesus Christ and have received Him as our Lord and Savior.

Belief and faith in Christ are not like of those listed in Hebrews 11 (read it, please!). Today very little of hell is preached. Funerals are choked with because someone was deemed a good person they must be in heaven...or there’s another angel up there now. I am so saddened to hear this. Where are the words he/she gave her life to the Lord and followed steadfastly and endured to the end, trusting in Him all along the way. Scriptures are plucked out that make us warm and fuzzy but so often no Gospel message preached, allowing others end up where this really good, kind person might really have gone. 

I’m being blunt. I sound unkind. I’m angry at many of these Churches and denominations of today. Many souls are being lost. I’m sad and angry with preachers who claim we can have all our blessings now, today! Those preachers who claim God is telling them to ask for funds for their private jets and obscene mansions, speaking absolute nonsense. These people will be responsible for even many more lost souls. There will be a special, extremely hot place for them someday if they don’t repent, like we should all do, of not wanting or seeking after truth, and desiring to live as Christ wants us. Not just loving someone but willing to speak truth in love, and taking the criticism of others, with a desire not for someone to go to hell but that they would receive the real truth and real life. 

Bottom line, this singer has some hard words to share. They will not be sung in churches unless he is invited to perform but they tell one story after another of how the Church is failing. I’m very glad that I am in a church where truth is preached, no outside books or authors are used for Bible study, and hard words are shared, where children are welcomed in the sanctuary, worship is real, love and fellowship warm...and we don’t need entertainment or movie nights, egg hunts, baptism parties or special programs to lure people in. You either like us or you don’t. But I can tell you this, you will hear the truth of God's (hard, sometimes) Word.

So, here are the words to a song I wish I could share via YouTube! The writer is Trevor Baker. From Canada. 

That’s Your Life:

I know this life we live down here is simpler than we make it.

But most of us just take this special gift of God and break it.

We chase the wind and look for sin in cold and forbidden places.

But our hearts are left so empty and it shows upon our faces.

Then heaven reaches down and says “I know just where you’re hurtin’.

Come and follow Me, I’ll fill that void for certain.”

The sweetest picture that I’ve seen is of a child who’s praying. 

You don’t have to understand those jumbled words they’re saying.

Something tells you God is not so big He wouldn’t listen.

That a voice that’s almost audible says “this is what you’re missing.”

Bigger men than you have found life’s answer on their knees.

But you don’t have to wait to go there, till you really feel the squeeze.

There’s something saying, that’s your life.

Hmmmm mmmmm mmmm mmmm.

Now, I don’t need to put the brakes on all that you’ve been doing.

But have you ever stopped to think of what it is that you're pursuing?

Cars and trucks and houses are for living not for showing.

Money’s not some god that’s for stashing or for blowing. 

Even when you win the game or climb the highest mountain,

Still you’re coming up so short of all the things that you’ve been counting.

Remember that one Christmas when your heart was feeling tender?

Or that moment late one night you nearly said, “God I will surrender?”

The time your heart was broken and you threw your hands up high?

When your friend was slowly dying and you just kept asking why?

In all of those occurrences you came so very close

To opening yourself up to what really matters most.

There’s something saying, that’s your life. 

Mmmmm mmmmm mmmm

What I’m singing isn’t complicated laws of rocket science 

But it requires some action on your part, some overdue compliance.

You know you’re going somewhere, not just pushing up some daisies.

And all this God stuff isn’t just for grandmas and for crazies.

You have thrown the baby out with all that dirty water.

You’ve been at odds with God; HE SO LONGS TO BE YOUR FATHER.

There’s something saying, that’s your life.... that’s your life.... that’s your life.

John 15:5-6 - I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the FIRE, and they are burned.

The Flesh Profits Nothing

John 6:59-71

These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"

When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.


Jesus has just talked about the eating of His flesh and drinking of His blood for eternal life. A difficult subject for many. Jesus spoke of a spiritual eating and drinking...a receiving only of Him as the way to eternal life.

His teachings sometimes seemed way out there, against the things people had learned and strived to maintain. He went against the flow. He came to turn the world upside down. And don't we know that today evil is considered good and good evil. And there are people today who find the words of Christ unpalatable and inconceivable. "Does this offend you?" We see for some it does.

When the Spirit of God works in the life of an individual the world view of things changes. Eyes are opened to the truth. Jesus is the truth and all He has said is truth. It cannot be disputed! He never changes, nor does His Word. If we receive Him and His Word we receive the truth and eternal life. If we scoff at His words, do not heed them, consider them of no account, we reject Him and we reject a chance at eternal life.

We might call ourselves Christians because we know who Jesus is and believe He was and has done all He said, but we go about our lives without regarding Him daily. To those people Jesus will say, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" (Matthew 7:21-23)  This is sobering.

Jesus asked His own disciples if His words offended them. He knew not all would continue to follow because His words would become too hard to understand. And if we don't understand something sometimes, can't we just shrug our shoulders and walk away from it all? Many walked away...and many will walk away.

The Spirit of God opens eyes. Why all eyes are not opened is a matter of our own desires, our own
wills. We choose whether or not to take God seriously. And like the example shown of some of Jesus' followers, we will walk away because it's just too hard, His words are too hard to hear...or
understand. God calls all but not all will respond. It's called free will which God has given us. As has been brought up several times in church, there is only one way which is right. There are five references to this in Proverbs. Jesus is the way, truth and life. No one comes to the Father but through Him. That's why God sent Him and why Jesus spoke, to draw all men to Him.

His center twelve disciples knew. Twelve out of how many? They understood. There will be a few in the grand scheme of life also. They stayed and believed. They knew He spoke the truth and believed He held eternal life in His hands. He chose them...and He also knew that in order for all the events that needed to take place as prophesied in the Old Testament, one disciple had to betray Him. Yet, it was Judas' decision. The lure of money was greater than his love for Jesus. And it caused him much grief when he realized what he'd done.

The flesh profits nothing. What we deem so important in our lives is not what will give us eternal life. Only Jesus does. If our attention is on Him, He will show us what is truth that we may have life.

What grief there will be someday when those who have not taken the Lord seriously realize the outcome of their decision. Jesus still calls today. A decision can be reversed before it's too late. Lord, open eyes, minds and spirits that they might answer Your call today.

Proverbs 16:25 - There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Let Those Who Have Ears Hear

Revelation 13:9 - If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

This is a time of testing. Who will be able to stand?

These were the words I heard in my spirit one night. I'm sure it had something to do with my beginning the book, Radical, by David Platt. Radical is about radical Christianity which will go against what most people want to believe or even want to hear about. Ooooh, I'm thinking if people don't like hearing what they believe radical Christians now are saying, just wait.

The next words I heard came from Psalm 24:4 as an answer to the question which tells us He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. How clean are my hands? How pure is my heart? Do I lift up my soul to idols? Have a sworn deceitfully? Will I be able to stand? These are questions I must contemplate.

More came to me as I remained silent. We need to remove our cloaks. Huh? We need to remove all doubt, pride, fear, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness. We must be devoid of self. 

More thoughts came: This is a hard word. Who can hear it? Who will hear it? Let those who have ears, hear. 

I will mention time and again that Jesus spoke hard words. We must be able to get to the bottom of ourselves and remove our self from between us and Jesus. Are we are willing to  quiet ourselves before the Lord and let our ears hear?

We need to get past the noise and busyness of each day to listen to what He has to say. I read that "he that has ears" was a phrase used to instill in us a deep sense of importance to the words that were written before or after it. The word given was meant to be held in serious introspection. This phrase was used many times in regard to the Church in the book of Revelation to let us know we have a problem and we need to seriously consider changing who we are. God knew then what we would be like today!

Will the truth of God's Word be bandied about as some meaningless dribble of days long ago? Will anyone hear? I've mentioned before a remnant of people. I've mentioned the narrow road and the only Way, Jesus. I would not want to be ignorant of God's ways. I've mentioned the only way we can understand the mysteries of God are to be in right relationship with Him, to allow the power of the Holy Spirit come into our lives and show us things we may not see without Him. 

The Church has been partially at fault for the watering down of the Gospel message as Christ was speaking it. It's too offensive for some so they have spoken about half of Jesus...the love aspect...while not emphasizing the judgmental aspect He also is. These words that came to me may have been for me or they may have been for our particular church. We have a group of people who are very intent on raising up the dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14). We all need to get to a different place. We need to be "re-formed." We all, including the Church in general, need to be intent on getting the truth of God's word into the hearts of people.

But as the first words I heard said, this is a time of testing. Will we be able to rise up ourselves and stand? Will we contend for the faith? Will we bring new life to our church? Are our hands clean and hearts pure? These are the things we need to be seeking. We need to humble ourselves before God and ask that He give us proper direction.

Playing church is no longer an option. Seeking bodies over souls is not an option. And we must not just win the souls, we must disciple them. We cannot allow a person to only say a prayer, smile and congratulate them and let them just sit back with a cozy feeling of "all's well." I fear I've been in that place of "security" and it's more than just that. We need to question where we really stand with Christ.

We are commissioned as believers to do God's will and His will is all based on obedience to what He calls us to do. And...we are to be ready in season and out...at all times...to forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead, [and] press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). We are to proclaim the hope of our calling, which is our eternal destiny. 

But we are not proclaiming it as just for ourselves. It is for all people. This is the whole point of the Gospel, to reach all mankind. If others can see our confidence in so great a salvation perhaps others will want to attain the same. How do we know we are doing this?

Although many may not understand the implications of what is happening in Egypt right now, and to be sure, I'm only understanding a small part of it, I know it is continuing to usher in the last days. Somehow, some way, it is connected to Israel. Why does the world hate Israel? Is it because this little nation, despite all that happens to them, always seems to plod along even when things look the dimmest? I'm sure there a very deep-seated, underlying reason so many countries, with some in the US becoming part of this, turning their backs on this nation. Is this underlying "threat" closely related to Jesus? He's a Jew and He's closely linked to Christianity, is He not? 

Oh, I don't want to get into detail but I can say that this Muslim Brotherhood that is rising up in Egypt no doubt hates Israel...and Christians...and definitely wants to exterminate all who do not bow to Allah. And now we have a president who wants this brotherhood to participate in the political process there, who apparently supports them. The implications: Islam is growing and we are in peril. God and Christianity is trying to be eliminated...it's offensive...but we must not offend Islam. Makes no sense. But you know what? Jesus will return some day in the midst of the worst-case scenario and He will return with a voice of triumph and every knee will bow and tongue confess...

This is a time of testing. Who will be able to stand? I think those whose eyes are focused on the Lord, who understand the times we're living in, who hope and wait anxiously for His return, who realize peace will be restored after the difficult times and all evil will be blotted out, will stand in the face of testing. It won't be easy. But it's part of God's plan, these last days, which I believe we have begun to see...which can also be viewed as a hard truth and one that might be scoffed at.

All this to say, these are times of testing. Will we fall in step with the world view and hang on to embracing diversity or will we stand up to our faith in Christ alone, despite people looking at us like we're out of our mind? Those intent on focusing on the Lord are to reach out now and speak things that will not be generally liked. I don't know if any of this makes any sense...

Jesus and only He will stand the test of time. Why? Because He speaks the truth. I want to be counted as one who will also be standing in the time of testing. There will be some cost to this. My cloak of "whatever" needs to be removed now. I don't think we have a clue what lies ahead in this world, but we can be motivated by knowing to what end we can be assured of if we have clean hands and a pure heart and an obedient heart toward the Lord.

Colossians 2:2 - My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ...

Which Side of the Fence Are You On?

Ephesians 4:4-6 - There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

I noticed in Ephesians 4 the use of the words unity and one. They were underlined. I'm going to emphasize "one." My mind is reeling...again. This is hard to write. 

We've been given an "assignment" for our Sunday school class: to define truth. Part of this assignment was NOT to go to a dictionary. Well, I did anyway. I'm a bit rebellious! I did not use the definitions for my assignment, however. I checked three online dictionaries where truth is defined as:

Dictonary.com - conformity with fact or reality; honesty, truthfulness, integrity; agreement with a standard or original. 

Webster - sincerity in action, character, and utterance; the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality; fidelity to an original or to a standard

Free Dictionary.com - Conformity to fact or actuality; a statement proven to be or accepted as true; sincerity; integrity; fidelity to an original or standard

Well, they all seem to be in agreement. Maybe one dictionary used the meaning from another!? The Free Dictionary, however, had this further statement: That which is considered to be the supreme reality and to have the ultimate meaning and value of existence. Supreme reality? Ultimate meaning and value? What struck me in each of the meanings was the agreement with a standard or original. Original? Original what or what's original? To me original, thinking as I do, is God. He is the Supreme, Ultimate Originator. What He says is Truth. His Word is Truth. His Word is also known as Jesus. So....you know where I'm going, I'll betcha. Just hang in here.

Truth can either be a very simple or very complex idea. It depends on which side of the fence you are on. Just look at mainstream media.... Who's telling the truth? Depends on which side of the fence you are on!

As a Christian, truth should be the simple concept. Truth is Jesus Christ. Period and amen! [A side note: I just HAD to look up the meaning of the word "amen." The Hebrew meaning from the Old Testament is verily, truly, amen, so be it. The Greek definition from the New Testament is the same. And what really caused my heart to race was that I noticed it comes from the root word for truth which I studied yesterday for our Sunday school assignment! Are you getting this?] 

God does not complicate things. He is not the author of confusion. Listen to this: 1Corinthians 1:27 - God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. 1Corinthians 14:33 - For God is not the author of confusion. He makes it easy enough for anyone to understand. The Word of God (which/Who is also known as Jesus) says that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one gets to the Father except by Him (John 14:6). A hard statement? Depends on which side of the fence you're on! 

The scriptures above correlate to the Truth. There can only be one truth. The Truth of Jesus Christ. When we know this Truth, when we know Jesus, a oneness comes about. There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father (of all). There is a common ground. One day we will all come into agreement with this one Truth: a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord (Isaiah 45:23-24 and Philippians 2:9-11). Part of Isaiah's word about this tells those who are incensed with having to do this will be put to shame. This is not me saying this. This is the Truth of Jesus Christ.

Where there is oneness and unity, there is peace. Could that be just a part of the reason why this world constantly is in conflict over everything? We are all born filled with sin...without God, apart from Him...and we struggle with pride and the longing for control/power, even over our misguided thoughts. Could there be conflict because of the idea (the lie) that there are many roads to heaven and that many gods can get us there? There is only one God, the Father. Ahhhh, so there's the catch. Having to believe that there IS only one God, having to believe that God is the only one who knows what's best for us, that we are not able, on our own, to do that. That's hard for some to do....depends on which side of the fence we're on. That's why it's a narrow road. That's why there are disagreements and conflicts. Oh, we are a stubborn lot, us humans, wanting to believe what we want to believe (and sitting on our side of the fence) and forsaking the truth for a lie (Romans 1:25). 

This world was created by one God, that Supreme Reality, that Ultimate Meaning. This is the God of Truth. This Truth came to earth to share Himself with all mankind that we might know the truth and the truth will set us free (John 8:32), to free us from our enemy who only wants to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). He does not look out for our best interests...this also is the truth.

True believers know the truth and because God is not prevalent in all lives, the truth becomes a lie to them. How Satan likes to penetrate lives and minds. A hard word? It's the truth! God is on one side of the fence, the devil on the other! 

There is only one Hope. That Hope is in Jesus Christ. He's that narrow road we must take. We become peculiar people (1Peter 2:9) when we look to Jesus and stand firm in our beliefs of Who He is (not was). That's the one faith we also have. One belief, oneness in Christ, one God, one Creator. 

The truth, by some, wants to be covered up (mainstream media). Just like there are some who want God out of the picture of the United States. Folks, we're in for some serious trouble if more people don't start to realize what truth is, Who Truth is. Decide which side of the fence you want to be on. Remember, the truth will set you free. 

All I can say is I find comfort in the part of the scripture above that tells us that there is one Father, one God, who is above all. Like we sometimes want to do...defend ourselves...defend our beliefs...defend our actions (whether we've done good or bad), Christians want to defend themselves and their beliefs. We'd like others to see the truth/Truth. We will be mocked...but not God (Galatians 6:7)...and some day whether it be next week or hundreds of years from now, God will prove Himself to those who have believed the lie, who opted for the other side of the fence.

Oh, this is a very hard word. But I am confident that as long as I stand by what God says, I am in a safe place on my side of the fence. I have that hope, that faith, that belief in one God, that Truth. So be it...or Amen.

...yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints... (1Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 1:18)

Hard Words?

Isaiah 25:7 - And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.

I truly do long for this day. A day when the earth will see God for who He really is. That will be a day when every knee will bow and tongue confess Him as Lord. I do not like the idea, however, that for many that veil will be forced off, their knees forced down, and their tongues forced to confess. I don't like the idea because God has made Himself so evident that it's hard not to notice to the world...in His creation.

Isaiah was painting a pretty hard picture, similar to that which John painted in the book of Revelation. The last days won't be pretty. Today days for true Christians aren't pretty either. We see the writing on the wall where others ignore it. We see the signs in the unrest in the nations. We see the signs of the growing immorality in our own country...apart from the world. And we can guess what's in store. We know it won't get better.

Television, movies, skewed education, crime, addictions, abandonment of God, ease at which people lie, steal, consider themselves better than the next, lack of respect, shoving, pushing, me, me, me. Can it get any worse? Yes...period. And who do we cling to when the uneasiness of the days ahead begin? Jesus first...then like-minded people. 

And as we see these things play out we who truly know Christ can know that the Lord's return is near. For those faithful followers He will: ... swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken (Isaiah 25:8).

Yes, the LORD has spoken. Many times. It will be both a sad and joyous day for followers of Christ. We know some will remain stubborn to His call till the very end. That will be the sadness. Those who will not listen, who choose to ignore the "voice of one crying in the wilderness (of life) prepare ye the way of the Lord." (Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4, John 1:23)

He is coming whether one chooses to believe it or not. Some words are harder than others to hear. There are still a lot of hard words I need to hear. And I pray they would be spoken. Maybe this is a word for me today. I really would much rather have written something light and encouraging. But.....

Our churches have gotten soft. Yes, Jesus loves, He saves, He forgives, but He also judges. What makes us think we can live whatever way we desire...drink to excess, spend like there's no tomorrow, use God's name in vain just because, and do all the things that once were considered morally wrong because times have changed and we need to just "get over it."

God has not changed. He does not change. He will never change. (Malachi 3:6, Revelation 1:8). It is we who have changed. I once believed that because the majority of the world thought a certain way, lived a certain way that God would not judge those people's lifestyles. How wrong I was.

There is a narrow road that God wants us to travel and He has told us few will travel that road. I look at family, friends, acquaintances and if I think hard enough on the subject I wonder how many will find that narrow road? How many will ignore His call? How many will think they are saved just because they have always gone to church, think they are basically good people, freely donate to worthy causes, have this "belief" in some god/God or think they "know" Jesus? No matter what I say they might still think I'M the weird one, the one who has it all wrong, the one whose words are filled with judgment.

But they are NOT my words!! It only takes a little time picking up the Word of God and finding this out. In among the judgment there is love and comfort. In fact, love came first. Love and encouragement are those things that come when you first seek God. They aren't just given to you, although it may seem life is good without having to be part of God's family.

The enemy never lets us see his wickedness. It comes silently and through enticing means. I ask you, who would follow evil if it looked evil? And yet he has told us the biggest lie of all...that Jesus is a crutch, that following Him is a waste of time, that we can live our own lives unencumbered and still be happy. Oh, sure, happy in this world, but what about after death? What happiness will we have then? There is a narrow road, folks. Satan would have us believe his wide road filled with "whatever you want" is best, offers more in life (but really less in death), than the "boring" morality of a life in Christ.

So, it's your choice to make. I can only say so much. The Word tells it like it is. The Word is Jesus. Jesus is the narrow Way, the narrow Truth, the narrow Life. What more can I say? It's a hard word but it must be said...again and again and again.

It's not about going to church every week, confessing sins and walking out the door living whatever way one desires after that. It's not about praising God one day a week and using His name irreverently the next...or even once outside the church doors. It's not about your denomination because to God there is no separation other than good and evil. You are either in Christ on the narrow road or without Him and living life on the wide road. Those who trust in the Lord have hope for their future. Those who really do know Him are secure. How can it be any simpler than that and yet it's a difficult concept for some, this "knowing" Jesus.

Isaiah said it, other prophets of old said it...as a warning to Israel and to us. God will destroy those who have lifted themselves up over Him. He will destroy the cities that have not chosen Him. There is a huge pit in the middle of the wide road that will swallow them up and I visualize people clawing to get out someday. And it may be too late.

We enshroud ourselves with our own walls of understanding...what we believe, we believe. We hang stubbornly on to the things we learned as children, our parents, our churches or just decided we want to believe. We listen to man not the Man. Like Ronald Reagan said one day, "tear down that wall." Let life come in. Let truth enter in. Oh, how I feel like one of the old time prophets pleading...and silently being scorned. 

So be it. There truly is a day coming when those on the narrow path will be grateful for staying the course. 

Isaiah 25:9 - And it will be said in that day: "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."

He Who Has an Ear, Let Him Hear...

Revelation 2:7 - "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."

In my last blog I mentioned words that are hard to hear...especially God's words about certain things. I have spent nearly a week pondering what thoughts were racing through my head. I thought of seven churches that God spoke to the Apostle John about. Each church describes those we have today. Some of the churches overlap in their type of unfaithfulness toward God. The words to six of these churches were difficult ones. 

There was one church that lost their first love. It was a backslidden church. Today it is a hard-working church, persevering in doing good deeds in the name of the Lord. They do not tolerate wicked men, false prophets or those who have committed distainful practices, yet they left their first love, Jesus. They have forgotten where they came from, perhaps have become a bit proud in their "religious" accomplishments. They no longer give God the credit.

The persecuted church is one which we might see in the mission field. They are financially poor but rich in the Lord. However, they have become somewhat weak and fearful because of their suffering.

The third church I believe is becoming a prominent one today...the church of compromise. They are true to the name of Jesus and the faith; however, they are allowing world view to enter in: idolatry, sexual immorality, a worldly type of doctrine. I see a watered down version of the Gospel in this church in order to bring in and hold on to people in their congregation.

Then there's another version of a worldly church. It is a church of love, faith and service to God. They persevere in their work, even more than before, but they have allowed a Jezebel spirit to enter into their church. They believe a false doctrine. Jezebel worshiped the false god, Baal, who was the god of prosperity and harvests as well as fertility and sex. They have in some ways turned from truth to lies. This church would teach a prosperity gospel, one that says we should not let anything get in the way of what we want. This is a false doctrine.

The dead church has stopped "doing" for God. The spirit is gone. There are no longer any redeeming qualities. They have worked for their own fame and fortune and have not given God the credit for what He has done all along.

The lukewarm church has no strengths at all to speak of. Societal attitudes have infiltrated the church. The worldly influence has caused them to become blinded because of their wealth...and they have become spiritually poor and blind, with materialism at the forefront.

The only church with redeeming qualities was the church of brotherly love. This church keeps God's word and never denies Him. They do not compromise the truth. All trials are endured. Because of their love for God they are strong.

The Church is beginning to take on the characteristics of most of these churches, although there will continue to be a remnant, which I choose to believe I am part of, that will not receive these ideas. That remnant will stand up against what is called the emerging church, which is mainly a liberal view of God, one that says that all religions lead to the same god/God, relaxing God's standards, changing His Words to suit the lifestyles of congregants or being seeker friendly for the sake of larger numbers. Some say there is no heaven and hell, that tolerance and political correctness is what should be the practice in this world. They are allowing the ideas of the world enter into a holy place only to try to destroy what God has built up. Thankfully, we have a God who is stronger than any of these things and although He may allow it to happen, it will be to show Himself as victor in the end.

We were told these days would come. They are here. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables, 2Timothy 3:3-4 tells us. We've also been told there will be scoffers in these last days. God is watching and He will judge.

Sometimes the truth is a hard word. It may be one reason why people are turning from God or not wanting to go there...because God has told us something we don't want to hear and to some it seems offensive. It goes against their thinking that if God is a loving God, how could He tell us difficult things or allow us to go through trials. God set up certain commandments a very long time ago and had they not been broken we would not be faced with these problems in our society. 

Even in Acts 17 we are shown the criticism that Paul went through when he said, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." (vs 3). Some believed him, some chose to stir things up (the Jews). Paul and his followers were there, according to these opposers, to "turn the world upside down." Why? Because it went against their thinking. These were hard words others did not want to hear. Paul was saying there was another king...Jesus (vs. 7). There are many today who want to believe what they want to believe. 

John MacArthur, a seventh generation preacher, states: "We can't change the message; that message isn't ours--it belongs to God." The Bible states in Deuteronomy 4:2 that we should not add to or take away from the word that God has commanded us. And some of those commands will be hard to hear. Jesus was was not politically correct. He only spoke the truth, the words that God, His Father, had Him speak. This includes hard subjects such as abortion, homosexuality, idol worship, lying, stealing, cheating, adultery. All hard words for some and even identified in 1Timothy 1:10: immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching.

I want a church that follows only God's direction. Will some good churches allow bits and pieces of the world enter in? Is that why we are told to seek God ourselves, so that we might know Him in our own hearts... Isn't this whole relationship with God a personal journey after all? It starts within each of us. Then we are called to gather with like-minded individuals. I'll tell you, there is quite a struggle going on within my spirit. Only God can provide the guidance here. If He has taken me to a place of discomfort, He will continue to move me until I absolutely recognize what truth is...and demand, if necessary, that wrongs be made right.

2Timothy 1:13 - Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Selective Hearing

Luke 18:22 - So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him [rich young ruler], "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

We all know what selective hearing is. We've all done it. If we don't agree with someone on a certain point we shut our minds off, especially when we might know that it's the truth, and sometimes truth is hard to hear.

Oswald Chambers tells us in his August 17 My Utmost for His Highest devotion "Jesus Christ says a great deal that we listen to, but do not hear; when we do hear, His words are amazingly hard." The world has painted a picture that tells us having things is good. Having more things is satisfying. The more you have the happier you are. Now having things is okay, but when we are taking in more than we really need, we are seeking some "thing" to satisfy. Things don't do that and never will. We just don't always realize that letting go of something can be freeing. 

Jesus would say give those things up and follow Him because He has the water that will cause one to never thirst again. He is the living Bread. He has everything we could ever want if we choose Him over those things that rust and perish.

Jesus encountered people who listened but would not hear. People today do that same. He spoke the truth all the time. He had no choice, He was Truth. He is God and God does not lie. There were those who gladly gave up all they had to follow Jesus. Perhaps some had little to begin with and what Jesus offered was far greater than their expectations. Some definitely followed because Jesus healed them in some way and that secured their devotion to Him.

But what about those who had all the things they thought they needed in their lives, like this rich young ruler in the scripture above? It was hard to let go of his wealth. He sought the way to eternal life, but was reluctant to give up the things he loved. It tells us that after Jesus made the comment above, this man became sorrowful and discouraged. Is this why so many people don't want to put their entire lives in His hands? Are the words just too hard to bear that we might have to change our lifestyles? That we will have to set ourselves apart from others, including family and friends? We will have to look, act, think differently? Well, "having to" is not quite right; it comes with the territory and isn't that difficult to bear!

I should add here that God doesn't always take away all we have. He isn't asking us to give up our jobs, sell all our possessions or give everything to the poor and become destitute. He's trying to show us how to be thankful for just what we need and no more. 

If someone has nowhere else to look for comfort or healing and they earnestly reach out to God, they will find Him. It is then they choose to hear Jesus speak. So often it's in a weak moment we are willing to hear. Other things, other people have failed so what's left? Hmmm, maybe this Jesus thing will work, we might think. Maybe I've been too harsh in my thinking. Maybe I should listen, or try it and find out. Could it be in our weakest moments when we really do need an answer we have finally turned off our selective hearing and are finally open to listening and hearing?

Again, I bring up the country and world situation. I'm convinced that, like Glenn Beck says, we need to get God back into our lives. Our country has always been known for its wealth. How's that working today? Are those things we hold so dear going to keep us from recession? What happens if it does? I'm certain that if things continue as they are, we will get to a place where more people will be looking to God for their provision. Ears will hear. Without God we will falter; I'm convinced of that. 

I know believing that Jesus is the only answer is one of those very hard words that will be ignored. Jesus has told us I am the Way, the Truth and the Life... In Christ there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). In Christ I am no longer condemned (Romans 8:1). In Christ I am redeemed (Romans 3:24). In Christ I am no longer separated from the love of God (Romans 8:39). In Christ I have eternal life (Romans 6:23). There are many other examples of who we can be in Christ. The words of Christ go against the thinking of this world. That's why His words are hard to hear.

I have recently begun to think about things I could give up if I had to. Yes, it would probably feel like they were being pulled out of my life but once gone I'd move on just fine. I think God does this for me so when it happens, it's not a surprise! I praise Him for that! Nothing we can physically hold on to lasts forever. Ask those who have had a house burn down or lost a loved one. It hurts but they move on. In the case of giving up all for Jesus, however, the more you lose the more you gain. Philippians 1:21 says For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Trusting in Christ is life and when you die to yourself and the things you think you must have, you live...in Christ.

Do I want to live my life with all the things the world can offer and miss out on the One who has everything of importance to give? No. Do I want what rust and moth can destroy and lose out on an eternal life that is secure in the Lord? No. I pray I will heed the hard words that Jesus speaks in His Word as well as what He whispers in my ear.

The Word of God is filled with hard words. They are there for us to learn from. We must be willing to first pick up that Book and read it. Then we must be willing to hear what the words are that are spoken. From the Old Testament through the New we are shown how we are to live and what is important in this world...no, Who is important. Do we want to miss that because it's a hard word? 

Hebrews 2:1-3 - Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him...