Wisdom and courage go hand in hand . . .

Wisdom and courage go hand in hand. Either one is worthless without the other. He that knows to do good and does not do it has sinned (James 4:17), according to Holy Writ. Here the emphasis is on doing good, just for the sake of good. It is selfless, generous, and without a hidden agenda. Such goodness, as with all goodness, is not passive. “Oh, he’s a good person,” you may hear someone say. “Sticks to himself. Would never harm a fly.” And, yet that same “good person” can sit right in the middle of misery all around them and never lift a finger. That being the case, I say, what rubbish! 

Goodness never straddles the fence nor is apathetic towards injustice. Yes, we Christians should be concerned with the refugees, Muslims, and others. Goodness is always willing to go the second mile. So, should we. Goodness is willing to take charge to work for the good of all mankind, as should we. And, as such, goodness is love in action. Therefore, we can safely say that goodness is proactive. Willing always to protect others. Harbor the homeless, care for the destitute. And, yes, to live clean and wholesome lives ((James 1:27). As such, goodness always produces good citizens, too. Further, goodness is a team player, also, knowing full well that three standing together are better than even two … (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Thereby, we know that it is more than just a popular adage to say that there is strength in numbers. It’s the truth! It’s Bible. 

I certainly hope that what I am about to say doesn’t offend some of you that old verbiage of “Once saved, always saved,” is blatantly false. Full of false security. Even dangerous. Scripture is full of cautions against backsliding. Why would God warn someone of an impossibility? Bad, sinful people are slated for destruction, baptized or not. Goodness is measured not in words or ritual, but in acts of kindness, charity, and purity. 

Isaiah said to Ahaz,  

"'If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’” (Isaiah 7:9) 

What more does a man need to warn them that steadfast proactive faith is required in any and all circumstances that life may throw at us? 

True, works cannot save us; but works can keep us save in the arms of Jesus (James 2:18). And, friends, that is precisely what an active faith does. Good solid Christian faith takes the guessing out of who we are and that for which we stand, too. Let us then strive for goodness, so that the world may know that we are children of the Most High.  

After all, Jesus did say,  

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35). 

Goodness reaches no greater heights than to love as Christ loved! 

JimR_/

Behold a vapor ...

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. ― William Shakespeare

Behold, a vapor …

Time passes and along with it each succeeding generation. What is life? It is even as a vapor, James the Apostle declares (James 4:14). This fact is indeed an article of faith.

In the midst this brevity, the truth is life is not fair. However, regarding that, injustice will not prevail. Every valley shall be filled, the high places brought low, and the crooked paths shall be made straight (Isaiah 40:4)

We can, however, rest assured that God will take all of that into consideration when we stand before Him in judgement. Excuses will be laid aside; our bare responsibilities will account for everything. Thus, we are left without an excuse and held responsible for not only our sins of commission but those of omission as well (Romans 2:6). We all will pass and give an account for what we have done in this transience we call life.

Every child of God who as taken the time to read His word and reflect on the meaning thereof knows this to be true (2 Corinthians 2:11). On that day we will not be handed a get out of jail free card. It’s crunch time. Justice demand a verdict. That verdict is already in—for the soul that sins, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20-24). It is in this context that we truly know the meaning of “For to fear God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).”

Yet, despite ample Godly warnings and just the moral laws of commonsense man in general continues to blunder ahead like fools in each succeeding generation. Shall humanity ever come to their senses? Apparently not. Strife and bitterness are codified in the highest court of all, humanly speaking, the ever shifting contemporized social conscience. Truth is flexible, modified with each changing generation. Truly the blind for the most part are leading the blind (Matthew 15:14).

We, therefore, seek a more sure way, and that we have in the promises of God (Hebrews 6:17). What are these promises? For sure they can be found only in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20) because He is not only the beginning and the end  but also the only way to have an intimate and eternal relationship with God (Revelation 21:6).

Therefore, in the words of Scripture, we must not become weary in well doing for in due time we shall reap eternal life (Galatians 6:9). This is the promise of God and one that we can depend on.

JimR_/

A fiat accompli. . .

Theology, all theology is simply the bridging of the times in that theology must always ask, “What meaning does the faith of yesterday, have for today, and today for tomorrow?” Thus, theology has an eternal meaning, or it has no meaning at all. Jesus spoke of The Kingdom of God as present, but yet to come. Nonetheless, the Kingdom is already completely established in God’s eye. Thus, we can say in the timeless language of Scripture: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).”

Not tomorrow, yet in tomorrow, suspended as it were in time and eternity. It is not as if time does not exist in God’s economy, it does. However, time is temporal, chronological, actually incomplete. Yet, on the other hand, we realize that in God all completeness resides (Colossians 2:10). Thus, we see the complexity, yet beauty of our faith which resides in none other than in God, the Lord Jesus Christ, our God who became flesh so that we may be made complete in His likeness (Romans 8:28-29).

This truth is more than just a twisting convoluted theological assortment of words, thoughts, and passages that is somehow morphed into some type of esoteric meaning. This truth is actual truth, for Christ is both the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:5-6), and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Christ gives meaning for the past, gives meaning for the present, as well as for all our tomorrows and is sustained throughout eternity. God has willed it so, and that will is ironclad. We can depend on it, indeed we must. It is in the essence of His very nature.

So, for some brazen theologian to proclaim some new twist on this ageless truth is utterly ridiculous. Call it process theology, trajectory hermeneutics, whatever, if it does not mesh with past, present, and future it is simply “wood, hay and stubble (1 Corinthians 3:11-13).” For it is in and through Christ that meaning has any meaning at all. “For in Him we move and live and have our being ((Acts 17:28).”

However, as C.S. Lewis once observed:

A painter is not a picture, and he does not die if his picture is destroyed. You may say, "He's put a lot of himself into it," but you only mean that all its beauty and interest has come out of his head. His skill is not in the picture in the same way that it is in his head, or even in his hands.… If you do not take the distinction between good and bad very seriously, then it is easy to say that anything you find in this world is a part of God. But, of course, if you think some things really bad, and God really good, then you cannot talk like that. You must believe that God is separate from the world and that some of the things we see in it are contrary to His will. Confronted with a cancer or a slum the Pantheist can say, "If you could only see it from the divine point of view, you would realize that this also is God." The Christian replies, "Don’t talk damned nonsense. “

Complex? I think not. This I say because God is all good and God is all powerful, and so we must conclude that God is on our side and in the ultimate sense of the word for our good (Matthew 12:22-28). To put this in simple terms we are totally and absolutely dependent upon Him, and without Him there is no basis for hope.  Evil may have a role, but not a deciding role, for evil cannot eradicate hope, it can only at the most suppress the free exercise thereof.  Nor can it thwart the favor or power of God. In the end, God has the final word, and we must all live as if the end has already been settled in God’s favor.

This in and of itself is enough for rejoicing because all things are working together for the good for us (Romans 8:28-29). Thus we must reiterate that "in Him we move and live and have our being ((Acts 17:28).”

JimR_/

We'er not alone ...

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us." — Saint Augustine

God places a great deal of worth on the human soul. He gave His Son for each of us as if there was only one of us. His family is a family of equals. We are not just heirs with Christ, we are also joint-heirs (Romans 8:17). Think of that! Even the only begotten son of God will share the riches of the Kingdom's with us. "Ear has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for us (1 Corinthians 2:9)." Heaven is prepared with us in mind. What a wonderful thought. 

However, a thought is not enough. Such thoughts must be based on reality, so we must have a sense of belonging. Our hearts must cry, "Aba Father!"

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15)

"And because [we] are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:6) 

To put it simply, Heaven has been prepared for those that love Him. And, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.” Thus, we are a community, a community of brothers and sisters. Yes, a loving family with each member functioning as with any family (Matthew 12:48-50), as when Jesus from the Cross said to John, concerning His mother,

“Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home (John 19:27)."

From this, we may deduct as a matter of fact that Christ was not speaking biologically, but rather spiritually, as is the case with each of us in spiritual relationship with one another. Thus, we have filial responsibilities, born and borne in love. Such love, therefore, does not end in the heart but is shown in an ongoing community of love. An eternal family, to put it precisely.

Is it not then reasonable that because of Christ, Mary, His biological mother has a very special place in the spiritual sense during this Advent and Christmas? Indeed, she is blessed, and because of this we, too, are blessed. No, God forbid, we must not worship her. That would be blasphemy. Nor do we pray to her as if she is or has been or ever will be Divine. She is a mother just like any mother, but beyond that she is especially blessed. What an honor to bear the very Son of God, God Himself. And, every mother does well to emulate her in as much as it is possible.

And, when Heaven's gates swing open and we have all gathered around as a family with our elder brother, I leave it to your imagination as to who the matriarch will be in that celestial city. That can never be taken from her, nor should it be. She is blessed beyond all mothers, and we, indeed, are blessed because of her blessedness. Again, I say, not to worship, but to admire for the strength of her faith and in her willing obedience to the Father of us all.

JimR_/