Indecision

So I had mentioned I was going to talk about my experience with Temptation, and things I've learned. But before I can really share that there are some more foundational topics I wanted to mention.

A lot of of people, like as myself have been caught in a little lie. Just a little one.

This lie is a favorite teaching of the world. It has to do with the middle ground.

You, dear reader may or may not be aware that there is a battle for your soul. Sometimes you may be aware of it, somedays it may not even cross your mind.

This battle, this fight, this controversy is between two sides. These sides have characteristics. 

Unfortunately though, you can't avoid entering this war. Upon existence, every rational, conscious entity chooses a side. And the middle ground is where most people want to be, this middle ground is where you don't have to worry about the war. People so desperately want to believe this area exists. That they can not choose a side.

Let me do some clearing up of what these two "sides" are in the fight you and I are in.

Most widely known as

Good and Evil,
Light and Darkness.

Sin and Righteousness

Giving and Taking

Love and Hate

There are just two sides. So so many people are trying to find this area of compromise, an area where they can comfortably Sin. And unfortunately, "Seek and you shall find" is applicable here.

People will against God to do what they would like, and the will is something God has given as a gift and will never overpower you. He pleads but never compels you to choose. The topic of the power of the will is important and I am going to talk about it later.

But back to the main idea. Jesus very much new this middle ground existed and understood its role in the battle. This deception is probably one of Satan's favorite ploys. Getting you to become lackadaisical or careless in your effort to be like Jesus.

In one of the verses in Revelation, about a simple thing like water temperature, he clearly reveals the inner workings of this trap.

Rev 3:14-16

 "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."

This is definitely the position of the majority, and sadly I have seen how my life was lukewarm.

Many people believe in and desire salvation and heaven but make no efforts in bringing God's sanctifying power into their life.

Truly the fallen angels desire to return to the celestial glories of heaven, and believe it more real than we, but the lukewarm, "in need of nothing" Christians, are in a similar position to Satan and his angels, believing and desire heaven but will inevitably lack a fitness for it. 

"What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right when they are all wrong! the message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception." 3T 252, 253

Matt 7:21-23

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Many, like myself, have been caught in a lie. That they have nothing to do but be believe, mentally realize that we can go to heaven. And thats it, the Christian experience stops there and we wait till we die. But what a deception, how evil our hearts become when we do not do the  will of the Father. Even as a professed Christian in words, we profess Satan by our  un-christlike actions. Jesus hates sin, and sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4) We must be obedient to the commands of Jesus, aligning ourselves everyday anew to the side of light.

Now, will you remain between good and evil, holding onto known sin and things that bring you away from rightousness and purity or will you "choose you this day whom ye will serve"

1 John 3:6-9

"Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

"Indecision will soon become decision in the wrong direction" T4 344

If not now, when?

Satan seeks whom he will devour, if you wait in indecision he WILL catch you, like paralyzed prey.

Or will you choose Jesus, who will give you hinds legs to run from the lion to safety.

Choose to be like Jesus today more than ever before.


May God bless you,

Amen

The unknown

There is just to much in life we don't know.

Where will my help come from?

No matter who you are, or where your from, this question rings a points in your life.

Money can't save you from death. Life doesn't immediately mean comfort. Comfort doesn't ensure happiness.

Many see the obvious difficulties of health, and money, or finding comfort. But the pursuit of happiness is often illusory.

Happiness never seems to last, to most people, its more like a poison.
The object of happiness has, to so many, turned sour after sweet. Quickly fading from fresh air into a thick miasma of disappointment.

Why? Why are so many caught, blissfully self-deceived that this next boyfriend, girlfriend, season of sports, exciting video game or movie, career or otherwise, the list goes on, all through materialism and emotions, hoping in the probability that this next experience will finally deliver them what they have been searching for?

Some things are inherently negative, some are supposedly beneficial, but it all lets us down, always leaving unfulfilled ... The problem I dare say, isn't the object of our affections, it is us......

If you have the right mindset, you will not seek the obvious destruction, when you are a honest Christian seeking to not just avoid evil, but to do right (or be righteous), evil will become more and more obvious as your innocence makes you more sensitive to it.

The sanctified or divinely created pleasures will bring a happiness and satisfaction, but even these will only be for a time.

Why? Because we will take this pleasure, this right action and eventually compromise it's integrity.

How? Evil will suggest ideas to take small steps outside the boundaries spoken by God, then motivation, reasons to justify these small compromises will take there stand against scripture.

These thought or suggestions are fashioned to slip under the radar, to pierce our conscious defense of disobedience to God. These are like "fiery darts". Then slowly but surely we WILL PERVERT or change the once clear instruction from God into a self guided and perfectly justifiable sin.

 Thus we need follow through in our personal duty to uphold the sanctity of the experience we are experiencing.

Unless we strive to sacrifice, to leave indulgence in personal desires behind, these God-given pleasures will also turn to ash.

My favorite author said, in reference to the Satan's strategy.

" He will endeavor to excite the emotions, to arouse the passions, to fasten the affections on that which is not for your good; but it is for you to hold every emotion and passion under control, in calm subjection to reason and conscience." OHC 87.3

You see, impulse is Satan's favorite trap, to get us to take action first before applying principle.

Reminds me of another quote related to impulse in relation to one of the most pondered aspects of humanity, Love.

"True love is not a strong, fiery, impetuous passion. On the contrary, it is calm and deep in its nature." LYL 30.1

So many today have access to knowledge of God but do not take it into account during temptation.
Now to finish off the first quote, after we control ourselves by reason and conscience.

"Then Satan loses his power to control the mind. The work to which Christ calls us is to the work of progressive conquest over spiritual evil in our characters. Natural tendencies are to be overcome.... Appetite and passion must be conquered, and the will must be placed wholly on the side of Christ." OHC 87.3

The next lesson on that page is about my personal struggle with temptation.

Its about the single most important principle to overcoming sin that I have ever encountered.

That will be for my next post.

" Now may the God of peace... make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen"
Heb 13:20-21

Jesus loves me this I know

The phrase, "Jesus loves me this I know", has never meant more to me than today. There is a point in life that I have reached when I asked for Gods help. I cried out to God, over and over, expecting nothing.

God was listening though, to the unutterable cry of my soul. My life very drastically changed in moments. But...

Even when the valley of the shadow of death is of your own doing he is there.

I always thought that the verse

Psalms 23:4;5
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Would mean I am being attacked, or I have been surrounded, God will surely come to my rescue.

But friends, I have a report, it is much more precious a promise than that. Much lovelier a treat.

Even when we, fully knowing where the enemy is, or seeing death ahead, willfully and purposely walk forward, no matter how far into enemy territory we tread, or how deeply we walk into the valley of death (sin). We are followed, we are watch, every step to darkness is recorded by God, he notes our slightest shift away from his presence.

Knowing this fact, one might say he recorded and notes for Judgement, he follows us, to take evidence of our need of destruction.

Friends, brothers and sisters, he follows, he records, he traces us for a better purpose, a nobler goal, a higher reason.

Our redemption!

His thoughts are higher than ours, so much higher!

Isaiah 55:8;9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

He chastens us, when you are submitted to him, he refines you in the fire of affliction.

This fire, at least in my case, is a fire kindled by my own hand. But praise God, he can even use a sinner like me, who starts his own fire, and walks deeply into the valley of death, not in ignorance but it full knowledge.

How gracious God is to us, to me. He surely does not desire sacrifice, but mercy, obedience.

The wise surely have said, fear can force a man to change, but love, or loving mercy of our God, this love can make a man want to change.

Obedience is only true obedience out out of love, not fear.

Today I have known fear, my life lost, my future in ruin.

But the promise, the hope of Jesus Christ, who gladly bears my sin....

For what end? Our creator, sinless, mighty, and worthy of all honor takes my destruction, my sin, my weakness, my defilement... For what end?

To receive me.

What wondrous love is this...

Glory to God, for this day he has shown his endless love, and mercy to me...

And in return?

John 5:14
Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

He just wants me to "sin no more". To obey his Law, to exemplify order in my life according to his statues...

That is my duty, as a forgiven sinner.

May I ever remember this mercy, and I do take hold of this promise "lest a worse thing come upon thee".

God has shown me he will give me up to my destructive habits, to redeem me. And he Loves me just enough to refine me again, and again, and again.

If you read this, pray I "sin no more."

All this is only possible because of the sacrifice of God, in Jesus Christ, by his precious redeeming blood, which makes the Sinful heard by the Sinless.

In that name, I do say.

Amen