Time and Eternity

We measure time in this world by when something begins, and when something ends. In heaven, time as we know it, will cease to be. Rev. 10:6. If we try to imagine Life without time we are brought very quickly to confess with David; “such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it”. Ps. 139:6. What we do know and rejoice in about heaven, is that the Lord Jesus Himself will be the beginning and the end of all things. Rev. 1:8, 22:13. He will make all things new. Rev. 21:5. In heaven, there will be no sun to measure the day, no moon to measure the month, and no clocks to measure the hour, no calendars, no birthdays. The Lord Jesus Himself will be the only point of reference we will need and the only one we will want. We will measure all things subject to Him.                                                                             ~GE

Faith is not Blind

The definition of “blind faith” is to believe in something without reason, evidence, or argument.  God given saving faith is not blind.

  1. 1. Though the gospel cannot be believed by reason, once revealed by God, it is the most reasonable thing we ever heard.  Nothing else makes sense. It is profoundly reasonable. It is the only message of salvation that explains how God can be just and justify sinners at the same time. It explains, by the sacrifice of Christ, how mercy and truth are met together, how righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

  1. 2. The evidence of God-given faith is clear to the hearts of those who possess it. Those who have been taught of God cannot be untaught by any man. They cannot not believe. They are irresistibly persuaded. God-given faith is the only evidence the believer needs.  For Christ in them is their hope of glory.

  1. 3. The argument for God-given faith could not be more persuasive. It has 66 books of God breathed precious promises and faithful revelations to argue its case against all doubt and dissension. The Bible is a sure word of prophecy as a light that shineth in a dark place.

God-given faith is not blind. Once I was blind, but now I see.  ~GE

Why did Jesus Christ Die?

Contrary to popular opinion, Jesus Christ did not die on the cross to make an offer of salvation, to be accepted or rejected by men. He died to make Himself an offering to His Father for the sins of His people. Heb.9:14. He died to satisfy God’s holy justice and put away the sins of His people by the sacrifice of Himself. Heb.9:26 His Father saw the “travail of His soul and was satisfied” Is.53:11 His resurrection from the dead is proof that He accomplished exactly what He came to do.                                                     ~GE

Most people are far too preoccupied with their life in this world to give any serious attention to the eternal matters of their soul. If they ever have a concern for spiritual things, usually it goes no farther than the benefits it promises for their life here and now. We hear it from the religious hucksters who advertise their god as one that will make your life better. What we need is a God who is able to give us everlasting life. One who is able to save our immortal soul. One who is able to put away our sin and reconcile us to a Holy God. Only One can do that. His name is Jesus. He is The Christ, the Son of the living God. He said of Himself; “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me”. Jn 14:6.                                                                                 ~GE

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

Jn. 5:39.

Men go to the Bible, looking for lots of different things. Some are looking for laws to keep and precepts to perform, that they might earn favor with God by their works. Others are looking to increase their knowledge of doctrine, theology, and historical events, that they might have something to boast in with men. Some look for prophecy of end times that they might be able to interpret current events and better control their future. Some even look to prove from the Bible that the earth is flat, (for what reason I don’t know).  Amazingly, what men look for is exactly what they find. Let us look for Christ. He is in the volume of the book. The Bible, from start to finish, is God’s revelation of the glorious person and accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. These are they which testify of me. We will find what we’re looking for. Search the scriptures looking for Christ, for in Him is life eternal.                ~GE

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Rom. 6:11.

The Lord did not tell us to control sin. He told us to reckon ourselves to be indeed Dead to it. Reckon it to be so, because it is so. We were crucified with Christ. We were baptized into His death. The body of sin has been destroyed. The only way to keep sin from reigning in our mortal bodies, the only way to not fulfill the lust of the flesh, is to look through the eyes of God given faith to the Lord Jesus. He accomplished the putting of it away. If we try to control it with the law, we will find the law to be the strength of sin. If we look at ourselves, all we see is sin. The Lord told Thomas, blessed are they who have not seen, yet believe. Oh Lord, bless us with the ability to believe that which the eye of flesh cannot see.                                                                                      ~GE

Eyewitness or Hearsay

Hearsay testimony is never admissible in a court of law. Yet, men think it will be sufficient before the highest court of all, when the Judge of all the earth pronounces their eternal destiny. Most of what men know and believe concerning the historical events and the doctrines of the Bible is Hearsay. They learned it all from another man. Yes, God will use the audible voice of a man yet let us never be content with placing the hopes of our salvation on what can be learned from a man. God must speak to the heart, so that we can confess with the blind man; “One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see.” Hearsay will leave us fulfilling that dreadful testimony of Isaiah; “Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not”. Let us say to those men who preach God’s word; “Sir, we would see Jesus”. And let us ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of our understanding, that we might be Eyewitnesses.         ~GE

“Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” Jn 7:24.

Judging righteous judgment is not making judgments about who is saved or who is not saved. It is making judgment concerning Who does the saving. That judgment cannot be made by outward appearances. Scripture alone is our evidence. What sayeth the scriptures? For these are they that testify of the only One who can save, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be as the Bereans who, “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.” If what we hear is not true to God’s word, let us judge righteously… that it is another jesus.                                                                                       ~GE

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor 3:18.

The way God sees anything, is the way it is. The only way we can see ourselves as God sees us, is to look to Christ. To see Christ is a miracle of grace accomplished by the Holy Spirit in the heart. This is our boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. I John 4:17. Oh, to be changed into the same image, from glory to glory. That is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col. 1:27.                                                                                 ~GE

The gospel is not illogical. Neither can it be understood by logic. The gospel transcends all human wisdom. God has made foolish the wisdom of this world. He has made Christ to be our Wisdom, that no flesh should glory in His presence. The Lord Jesus Himself is the Logos (logic) of God.                                                 ~GE

Men don’t really need to be told what to do. That is already written by God on every man’s heart. What we need is the power to do it. That is only found when the heart is turned by God to Christ.    ~GE

Dogs are Beggars

Dogs are beggars by nature. They are not embarrassed to beg. You can’t offend a dog for begging. The only thing that stops a dog from begging is the threat of punishment. Knowing that there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, God’s dogs are never ashamed of, nor deterred from begging. They happily wait for the next crumb that falls from the Master’s table. Glory to their Master. He doesn’t wait for them to beg long. The truth is, He is more willing to feed them than they are to beg. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Jn. 6:37. The Spirit and the Bride say, COME. Rev. 22:17.                     ~GE

“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Mal. 3:6

It has been said, the only thing constant is change. Everything around us is in a constant state of change. More unsettling is that everything about us is ever changing. Like Ruben, Jacob’s first born, do we not find ourselves, “unstable as water”? Always drawn to the path of least resistance, to which we lament with Rebekah, ‘why am I thus’? When it comes to our ever-changing circumstances, are we not tempted with Jacob to think “all these things are against me”? Oh, what hope, what peace, what comfort it is to have a God who never changes. Truly, He is the Rock of Ages cleft for me; let me hide myself in Thee. Our God reigns over the armies of heaven and all the inhabitants of the earth. When the changes of life cause uncertainty in our hearts, let us flee to our God who changes not; and we shall never be consumed.    ~GE

Fear Not

How many times the Lord speaks these words of comfort to His children. Only those who are afraid need to hear the words, “Fear Not”. For those who have no fear of God, the words “Fear Not” are idle words. But for sinners, who find themselves before a Holy God, “Fear Not”, when spoken by God to the heart in love, are words of great comfort. Perfect love casteth out fear. I Jn 4:18. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation (to appease wrath by satisfying justice) for our sins. I Jn. 4:10. When through faith in Christ, we hear the words “Fear Not”, our guilty fears are turned into a holy, loving, reverential fear. That fear is the beginning of wisdom.  ~GE