A Godly Fire Alarm - Proverbs 6:27

Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? - Proverbs 6:27

    The proverb is specific: if we play with fire, we will get burned. The adage doesn’t allude, insinuate, or imply. It boldly asks the outcome of making wrong choices and warns us well in advance.  “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” - Galatians 6:7.
    There is no deeply spiritual riddle that one must solve before the truth makes itself apparent. Even the unbelievers are wary enough to understand that one cannot play with fire and reap a Godly award.
    Think of our children. Think of the dreams we have for them. Think of their dreams. Are those dreams consistent with God’s will for us and for them?  Also, consider the repercussions of allowing our children to make the decisions, the choices, the determinations which will affect their lives for good or bad.
    Will we say, “I must let them make their own choices and let them learn from their mistakes?” Will we let them ‘learn’ from shooting poison into their veins whether or not drug abuse is a good choice? Will we let them speed in their vehicles and hope that a ticket or two will teach them a valuable lesson? Will we let them choose to drop out of school and hope they somehow purchase the winning lottery number? Will we willingly encourage or support marriage with a criminal? If we say ‘No’ to any of these, then why on earth would we allow them to make bad choices when it comes to friends and associates? “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” - Proverbs 13:20.
    We see the effects of ill decisions on our streets and in our neighborhoods every day. Our jails and prisons and graveyards are full of mistakes and poor choices. Why in God’s holy name would we ever simply turn our attention away from the choices our children haphazardly make? And while they may learn from their mistakes their lives may become inexorably changed for the worse . . . forever!
    The Word of God is clear about the character of those who sit by and allow the worst to come to their own. “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” - 1 Timothy 5:8. We have a responsibility to watch out for and protect the ones we love. Make no mistake: if we deliberately show indifference to our loved ones when they make heinous errors that lead to loss of life or soul, it is on us as well as them. Let’s face it, we wouldn’t watch our loved ones jump into a tumultuous river. Why would we watch them jump into hell?
    Throughout our lives we are called to make choices. We choose our vocations, our jobs, our mates, where we live, where we shop, where we worship. And while some decisions are made for us, by and large, we make most of our life decisions ourselves. It is usually with careful deliberation and consideration that we make such choices. All but the minimally thoughtful among us understand the importance of making ‘good choices’. “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” - Proverbs 27:12.
    These considerations apply in many situations. They may apply to our siblings, our parents, our friends, and our family in general. The one about to make a rash decision may be a coworker or a colleague. Does this mean we should go about injecting our opinions wherever we see someone contemplating a choice? Perhaps we should heed the words of ‘The Prince of Preachers’, Charles Spurgeon - “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”
    As can be seen, the importance of cautioning those around us, especially our loved ones, how much more should we heed this advice ourselves? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” - Proverbs 3:5-6. Let us always make the voice of God our fire alarm.

Deliberate Sin Needs Deliberate Confession - Job 19:29

“ . . . be afraid of the sword,  for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.” - Job 19:29

    It has been said that failure to respond to wrongdoing emboldens the perpetrator. A lack of swift reprisal gives the perpetrator every reason to believe he may act without fear of punishment or retribution. The recent events in cities like Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington seem to establish that presumption is true. On a more personal level, it applies to each of us in the way we conduct our daily lives. A lie here, an act of greed there; none of it matters . . . as long as we don’t get caught. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place,  keeping watch on the evil and the good.” - Proverbs 15:3.
    For the unbeliever, it is all so easy. Because they refuse to acknowledge God’s existence they simply go about their lives dodging the brimstone rather than raindrops. And many live their entire lives this way, never fearing the day of reckoning, completely oblivious to their harmful thoughts, words, and deeds. All this despite God’s own warning to us - “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” - Jeremiah 17:10.
    To behave this way indicates one of two things: either we don’t believe in God or we don’t think He will punish us for our deliberate sins. Either way, we are showing the greatest disdain and contempt for Him. Essentially, we are willing to crucify Christ again and again and again. There is simply no other way to see it. If by some delusion we think that ‘our God’ would never bring His wrath down upon us, think again! Have we not His ever truthful word? “I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I lay my vengeance upon them.” - Ezekiel 25:17.
    Where will we be on that fateful day when God calls us to account? Note that we won’t be called to account for our children or our neighbors - we’ll be called to account for ourselves! “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” - Romans 14:12. Will we have a defense ready for the sinful things we know we have said and done?  Do we think God will weight out the good things we have done against the evil? God doesn’t grade ‘on a curve’. “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” - Ecclesiastes 12:14. There is nothing about our lives that will not be revealed.
    Can we imagine being called out for all the things we have ever said and done wrong? There will be sins in our lives that we had hoped we would never hear about, let alone been made to think about again; sins that we hoped would never be brought to light! The shame and humiliation will be nearly as crushing as our condemnation. Are we at all sure that we can stand the trial we face? “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” - 1 Corinthians 10:12.
    We should take this opportunity while we have it to repent of any sins we are actively living in. These sins will not go away nor will they be hidden before our omniscient God. “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.” - Numbers 32:23. We must confess our sins before God if we are to have the hope through faith in the mercy of our God Who will forgive us our trespasses. God’s grace is ours because of His compassion for us. He is not willing for us to be condemned for all eternity if we but come to Him for forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9.
    Our confession must be as deliberate as our sins are if we are to be forgiven and welcomed into eternal salvation.

What We Now Must Become - 1 John 2:15-16

   
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. - 1 John 2:15-16

    With all the ridiculous ‘challenges’ we have seen appear on social media lately, perhaps a Godly challenge is due. Here is the challenge: let us take a good long hard look at the world around us today. From the music (and I use the term loosely) to the movies to the magazines, radio stations, cable programming (especially among the subscription giants, HBO, Showtime, etc.), fashions, trends, news, and technology; even the ads and commercials are now laden with homosexuals and LGBTQ adherents. There is actually no perversion under the sky that is not available for viewing through our technologically savvy 4K high definition world. Is there, in any sense of the word, anything that is ‘Godly’? Sadly, the answer is ‘No!’ “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” - 2 Corinthians 4:4.
    Professing Christians are often guilty of the very sins they should not have any part of. They spend an hour in the presence of God on Sunday, then are right back to the business and entertainment of the world. Most times it is hard to tell the difference between a Christian and an unbeliever at all. In fact, we are told to avoid the type of people we ourselves have become!  “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”  - 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
    We have repeatedly been warned about the ways of the world yet we stumble through our lives consistently sinning like the unbelievers around us. We follow their leads like the blind being led by the blind. We employ their language, their smugness, their anger, their ungodliness until we are virtually indistinguishable among them. All this we have become rather than developing into the Christians we should be.
    We were called to be the light in the world. Not only are we to be the light of the world but we have also been told ‘why’ we are to be that light. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16. Once again, we are called to be the light in the world so that unbelievers will see that our Christian words and deeds give glory to God in heaven. We cannot accomplish that Godly mission if we behave like the world. The world should recognize us for who we truly are in Christ Jesus and see that we are not like them. “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” - John 15:18-19.
    Our duration here as Christians should not be a day in the park. Tribulations should be our lot, not worldly enjoyment. Our duty here is clear. “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
    We must not be worldly by any definition. As Christians, we must conduct ourselves in a sober and Godly manner rather than as citizens of this fallen world. We must remember that we are ‘in the world but not of it’ and recall the words of the Apostle Paul - “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12:1-2. No matter what we were in the world before we became believers, the light of the world is what we now must become.

The Perseverance Of Job - Job 2:10

 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. - Job 2:10

    With the Corona virus still slithering among us and the anarchy that seems unabated in our streets there are many who defy God and apparently enjoy mocking Him to our Christian faces. “Where’s your God now?’ They laughingly ask. It’s a big joke to them on the surface but deep beneath all the scornful derision of their blackened hearts, there is a pertinent question that needs answering. Where, in fact, is God when everything seems as bad as it can get? The real question is, what should our response be in the face of tribulation? “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” - James 1:12.
    We would all of course prefer to have all blessings that God provides for us and none of the troubles. That simply isn’t the reality in a fallen world. Ever since the downfall of man, there has been a downside to life on earth. Think of birth: When a Godly woman conceives in her body, she rejoices at the thought of her child’s birth. She celebrates the life living within her. Yet when birth comes, it brings with it the pains that God assured Eve that she would have. “To the woman he said, ‘I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.’” - Genesis 3:16. First pain, then glory. Isn’t this what God has said all along? “Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?” - Lamentations 3:38.
    Even King Solomon knew of the dichotomy of good and bad as a staple of life on earth.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: . . . a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance . . . .” - Ecclesiastes 1:1,4. The key to contentedness in any and every trial is to adopt the attitude of Job during times of affliction.
    Solomon went on to declare - “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.” - Ecclesiastes 7:14. God has indeed made both the days of prosperity and the days of adversity. And He delivers them at His own bidding so as not to reveal His plans for us. Think about it: were God to reveal all His plans to each of us, why would we need Him afterward? We would already know our futures. And I dare say that many of us would not relish what lies in store for us.
    No, what happens in our lives happens for reasons known only to God. As for our response to adversity? “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” - Romans 3:3-5. We are given Godly commands to carry out in times of tribulation and pain, no matter what the circumstances may be. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” - Romans 12:12. God is certainly not finished with us, regardless of our current circumstances - “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” - Philippians 1:6.
    If we cannot adapt to both the joys and sorrows as they are meted out in God’s sovereign plans how are we to ever persevere to the end and to the crown that awaits us? “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” - Revelation 2:10. No matter what the world throws at us, if we remain faithful we will indeed receive the crown of life promised to us by Christ Jesus! Let us always remember the final days of Job. “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. . . . And Job died, an old man, and full of days.” - Job 42:10,17. Job’s faith in God provided him with greater days and a long life. Let our faith provide for us as well.
   

Lost & Found: A More Tempered Christian Walk - Nehemiah 5:9

Lost & Found: A More Tempered Christian Walk - Nehemiah 5:9: So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations ou...

A More Tempered Christian Walk - Nehemiah 5:9

So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? - Nehemiah 5:9

    I have a person who is very close to me, albeit not as close as we should be. The impediment is how this person sees Christianity. He is gruff and bristles at the mention of our faith. As far as he is concerned, Christians are self-righteous hypocrites and moralistic busybodies. Sadly, I often agree with his assessment when I hear and see how some Christians speak and behave. I can understand his consternation. We are warned by the Apostle Peter that we should expect the condemnation and scoffing of unbelievers. “. . . knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.” - 2 Peter 3:3.So as a God-fearing Christian I have to ask myself, “are the criticisms warranted?” Despite the prophecies, ‘what are Christians doing that elicits this response from unbelievers?’ “For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” - Romans 2:24.
    The spirit of anger within Christians often exposes us to criticism not only of ourselves but of our very faith. And it is hard to square what we preach with what we say sometimes. I am often guilty of this foible. Christians see a world gone mad with unbelief and an emphasis on the sinful. It angers us when the false gospel routinely paints a deceitful picture of God bestowing His grace upon sinners regardless of their spiritual condition. Perhaps we should be more concerned with our own spiritual condition. Our prayers should reflect repentance for our own missteps. “O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.” - Psalm 69:5-6.
     Too often we Christians are guilty of the works of the flesh. Are we guilty of the very things we accuse unbelievers of? “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” - Romans 2:1. Enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and envy are all examples of the things we Christians should avoid at all costs.  Rather than showing intolerance and anger toward an unbelieving world we are commanded to exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23. Were these characteristics what the world sees in us, their scoffing would dry up because there would be nothing to charge us with. Their accusations would return to them empty!
    To exhibit any of the other gifts depends upon the first, love. Without love, we cannot show any of the other gifts to our neighbors. Without love, we cannot walk in the truly Christian walk. Love is essential to spiritual growth and following Christ. It is the most important virtue. “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” - 1 Corinthians 13:13.
    However, the words must not be misconstrued: righteous anger is not forbidden; it is encouraged. We should be angry with the things God is angry with but we should also conduct our words and actions as children of God. “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, . . .” - 2 Timothy 23-25.
    God will see to the world in His own time and way. Meanwhile, we should make the world see our Christianity not as a judgmental and hateful cult but as the one true faith in the one true and triune God of the Bible, the God whose justice and wrath are tempered by His mercy and love.