Luke 16:23-24 "And in Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."
Man will go to great lengths to take away from the truth of something that they don't want to believe. No one wants to think that they are on their way to hell when they die. If you ask someone of their eternal destiny they usually have a quick response of "I hope I am going to Heaven", or "I don't think God would send anyone to hell". They even try to minimize the severity of hell. Like so many other places, it gets pretty warm here in Kansas in the summer time. And sometimes people like to use the phrase "hot as hell", but they really have no idea just how hot hell can be. Nor do they understand the intense agony that those in hell are suffering right now. They have no concept of the reality that, that unbearable heat will continue for eternity. With the coming of Sept. and Oct. we will begin to see some relief - not so in Hell. They will hear the terrifying screams of others in the blackness of hell forever. And, they will have to live with the understanding that they are forever separated from the Loving God Who provided a means to escape such punishment. Yes, Kansas can be very hot and almost unbearable at times, but it doesn't even begin to compare to hell.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
A New Day
James 4:14a "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow..."
As I woke up this morning the thought came to me that this is a brand new day. Yesterday, with all of its prospects, has come and gone. Even though this is a unique day, I have never experienced it before I have the joy in knowing that Eternal, Omniscient God knows all about it.
As I began the day, I went outside to get the paper. The sun was just coming up and the birds were beginning to sing. It was pleasant out with just a light breeze. But, I know, that is about to change. The forecast for today is rain with the possibility of thunderstorms. I don't know when, I don't where, I only know that they are coming. So it is in life. There are time when all seems to be going well and we are experiencing the joys of life - then the rain starts to fall. It seems that our whole world is crashing down upon us. With all of the uncertainties, here is a constant "This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it" Psa 118:24. God made the day and all of the events that will occur and He did it just for me, knowing what I need and that with His help, there is nothing that I can't make it through. At the end of the day, I rest. Because, tomorrow is a new day.
As I woke up this morning the thought came to me that this is a brand new day. Yesterday, with all of its prospects, has come and gone. Even though this is a unique day, I have never experienced it before I have the joy in knowing that Eternal, Omniscient God knows all about it.
As I began the day, I went outside to get the paper. The sun was just coming up and the birds were beginning to sing. It was pleasant out with just a light breeze. But, I know, that is about to change. The forecast for today is rain with the possibility of thunderstorms. I don't know when, I don't where, I only know that they are coming. So it is in life. There are time when all seems to be going well and we are experiencing the joys of life - then the rain starts to fall. It seems that our whole world is crashing down upon us. With all of the uncertainties, here is a constant "This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it" Psa 118:24. God made the day and all of the events that will occur and He did it just for me, knowing what I need and that with His help, there is nothing that I can't make it through. At the end of the day, I rest. Because, tomorrow is a new day.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
No Fool Like An Old Fool
Matt 7:26 "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:"
Okay, before you turn me off, this isn't about those of us who have made our way down the path of time - it simply refers to experience. So, we could say it like this "there is no fool, like an experienced fool". Now, does that sound better? Anyway, we really can't get the message without understanding the meaning of the word "fool". We commonly think of a fool as one without much common sense and there is some truth to that. But, when we think in terms of the Bible and what God calls a fool, well it is somewhat different. The Psalmist says "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God". (Psa 53:1) Just as is in the King James Version of the Bible, I have put "there is" in italic. The translaters did so when certain words were need to give a continuation of thought to a particular passage of scripture. Certainly, a person who denies the existence of Holy God, is very foolish in his thinking. But, when you compare this scripture, with what Jesus said in Matt 7:26 you see that the real fool is the person who hears what God has to say and doesn't do it. Or, going back to Psa 53, we could say that the fool is the one who says "no God! I know what you are saying to me, but I am just not going to do it". Now, before we begin looking down our pious noses at someone like this, think of the many times that we have heard the preaching or teaching of God's Word on a particular subject, such as church attendance, or titheing, or Bible reading, etc, and have not responded to what God said directly to us. God so graciously allows us to hear it again and again, so that we might obey, and yet there is no change in us. How foolish is that? By the way, it gets easier every time we turn a deaf ear to God's wooing of us. So, let's not become an "experienced old fool", but instead allow God to make the corrections in life that will allow us to be blessed.
Okay, before you turn me off, this isn't about those of us who have made our way down the path of time - it simply refers to experience. So, we could say it like this "there is no fool, like an experienced fool". Now, does that sound better? Anyway, we really can't get the message without understanding the meaning of the word "fool". We commonly think of a fool as one without much common sense and there is some truth to that. But, when we think in terms of the Bible and what God calls a fool, well it is somewhat different. The Psalmist says "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God". (Psa 53:1) Just as is in the King James Version of the Bible, I have put "there is" in italic. The translaters did so when certain words were need to give a continuation of thought to a particular passage of scripture. Certainly, a person who denies the existence of Holy God, is very foolish in his thinking. But, when you compare this scripture, with what Jesus said in Matt 7:26 you see that the real fool is the person who hears what God has to say and doesn't do it. Or, going back to Psa 53, we could say that the fool is the one who says "no God! I know what you are saying to me, but I am just not going to do it". Now, before we begin looking down our pious noses at someone like this, think of the many times that we have heard the preaching or teaching of God's Word on a particular subject, such as church attendance, or titheing, or Bible reading, etc, and have not responded to what God said directly to us. God so graciously allows us to hear it again and again, so that we might obey, and yet there is no change in us. How foolish is that? By the way, it gets easier every time we turn a deaf ear to God's wooing of us. So, let's not become an "experienced old fool", but instead allow God to make the corrections in life that will allow us to be blessed.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Showers Of Blessings
I Thess 5:18 "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
I like that old hymn "There Shall Be Showers Of Blessing" because it has so much Bible truth in it. One of the verses of the song states that these showers are sent from the Savior above. James 1:15 tells us that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above...". This tells us the origin of our blessing - from above - and the order of our blessings - good and perfect. In other words, what we have comes from God and it is good, both to us and for us, as well as perfect. Perfect in that it is exactly what we need, though not always what we may want. It is perfect for both the time and task at hand. The prophet Malachi tells us in Chapter 3 that God wants to open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing upon us. What keeps us from getting that blessing? Our own disobedience! We have heard of the Indians, in the days of the old west, performing a rain dance to get the clouds to open up and release the rains. It was something that they were doing that they hoped would make a difference. It is just the opposite in this situation. What we don't do causes God to withhold His bounty toward us. I am sure you have seen those torrential rains that we would describe as "Texas toad stranglers", because they came down so hard and flooded the low lying areas. Well, that is more in line with what God really wants to do for us. He wants to open the windows of Heaven, much like He did in the days of Noah, and pour out His wonderful blessing. Why not give God a chance to rain showers of blessing? And if He doesn't, don't blame Him. Thank Him for the opportunity to make things right so He can.
I like that old hymn "There Shall Be Showers Of Blessing" because it has so much Bible truth in it. One of the verses of the song states that these showers are sent from the Savior above. James 1:15 tells us that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above...". This tells us the origin of our blessing - from above - and the order of our blessings - good and perfect. In other words, what we have comes from God and it is good, both to us and for us, as well as perfect. Perfect in that it is exactly what we need, though not always what we may want. It is perfect for both the time and task at hand. The prophet Malachi tells us in Chapter 3 that God wants to open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing upon us. What keeps us from getting that blessing? Our own disobedience! We have heard of the Indians, in the days of the old west, performing a rain dance to get the clouds to open up and release the rains. It was something that they were doing that they hoped would make a difference. It is just the opposite in this situation. What we don't do causes God to withhold His bounty toward us. I am sure you have seen those torrential rains that we would describe as "Texas toad stranglers", because they came down so hard and flooded the low lying areas. Well, that is more in line with what God really wants to do for us. He wants to open the windows of Heaven, much like He did in the days of Noah, and pour out His wonderful blessing. Why not give God a chance to rain showers of blessing? And if He doesn't, don't blame Him. Thank Him for the opportunity to make things right so He can.
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Cloud Is A Cloud!
I Thess 4:16-17 "For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: ans so shall we ever be with the Lord."
I remember as a little fellow how much fun it was to lay on the ground looking up into the sky at the different cloud formation and try to decide just what they looked like. For instance, there were some strange looking dogs floating around up there or a weird looking dragon ready to pounce upon an unsuspecting cloud that looked just like, well, I don't know, but I am sure it was something he wanted to eat. Later, when I was in high school, I had a science teacher who was overjoyed by gloomy, cloudy, rainy days. He began to teach us about those clouds - what kind they were and what they would do to the weather patters. Of all that he taught us, I remember very little. Come to think of it, I don't remember any of it. One thing I knew then that hasn't changed and that is that clouds are fascinating and in most cases, very beautiful. I still am infatuated with clouds today, but for a much different reason. I often say that I enjoy clear sunshiny days, but I always want there to be at least one cloud in the sky. Why? you ask. Because almost 2,000 years ago there was a group of believers that had gathered outside the city of Jerusalem with Jesus, who had been crucified and risen from the dead 40 days prior to this encounter. Jesus gave them some last instructions and then Acts 1 tells us that He ascended back to His rightful place in Heaven, on a cloud. Not only that, but the Angel of God that was there promised that when Jesus comes back for His Church, He will do so on a cloud. Most of us are convinced that His return could be at any moment. So, I look for a cloud and especially get excited as the sun goes down and the glory of that shining orb lends a halo around the clouds - could it be the Glory of God this time? Yes, a cloud is a cloud, but there is still going to be one very special one.
I remember as a little fellow how much fun it was to lay on the ground looking up into the sky at the different cloud formation and try to decide just what they looked like. For instance, there were some strange looking dogs floating around up there or a weird looking dragon ready to pounce upon an unsuspecting cloud that looked just like, well, I don't know, but I am sure it was something he wanted to eat. Later, when I was in high school, I had a science teacher who was overjoyed by gloomy, cloudy, rainy days. He began to teach us about those clouds - what kind they were and what they would do to the weather patters. Of all that he taught us, I remember very little. Come to think of it, I don't remember any of it. One thing I knew then that hasn't changed and that is that clouds are fascinating and in most cases, very beautiful. I still am infatuated with clouds today, but for a much different reason. I often say that I enjoy clear sunshiny days, but I always want there to be at least one cloud in the sky. Why? you ask. Because almost 2,000 years ago there was a group of believers that had gathered outside the city of Jerusalem with Jesus, who had been crucified and risen from the dead 40 days prior to this encounter. Jesus gave them some last instructions and then Acts 1 tells us that He ascended back to His rightful place in Heaven, on a cloud. Not only that, but the Angel of God that was there promised that when Jesus comes back for His Church, He will do so on a cloud. Most of us are convinced that His return could be at any moment. So, I look for a cloud and especially get excited as the sun goes down and the glory of that shining orb lends a halo around the clouds - could it be the Glory of God this time? Yes, a cloud is a cloud, but there is still going to be one very special one.
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