Saturday, October 28, 2023
Friday, October 27, 2023
Most Blessed of All / The greatest curse:: Revelation 22:14
Most Blessed of All / The greatest curse:: Revelation 22:14
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may
have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the
city.15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers
and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. New versions (NASB, NIV,
ESV) have a different rendering. It goes, “Blessed are they who wash their
robes…” If you consider this with some understanding, the two renderings
resolve into the same thing, because John also writes: “And this is His
commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and
love one another, as He gave us commandment. Believing in the Son washes us
clean and makes us into a new creation: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation. Old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” When you
believe in the Lord Jesus, HE makes you clean, and you become different. As
someone once put it, “you’re clean inside;” God heals the awful disease of sin
and brings you into His forever family, just as Jesus did the leper in the
Gospel of Luke: And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a
man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored
Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus
responded: And he put forth his hand, and
touched him, saying, I will: be clean. And immediately the leprosy departed
from him. This is how it is. You may be the most disgusting person on the
planet—but HE can make you clean. HE can heal you. HE can “wash your robes.” HE
can make you into a new man or woman, and if you ask Him, He WILL.
There’s a counterpoint to this
wonderful promise, however, and it’s found in the next verse: “outside [of
the holy city] are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and
idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. Great mercy for you when you
turn to the Lord and follow Him—Terrible judgment when you reject Him and
pretend you are “just fine” in your sins and wickedness. Note the last phrase:
“Whoever loves and practices a lie.” Lying is the way of the world, whether
you’re purchasing a used car, voting for a politician, dating a potential
partner, whatever. God hates it. He Himself cannot lie (!!!) However,
God LOVES honesty. Honesty is one of the truest hallmarks of a genuine
conversion, and of you becoming a new man or woman in Jesus Christ. If you want
to enter the Golden City, the New Jerusalem, heaven, the place where all tears
will be wiped away, turn to the Lord and make every effort to avoid the things
listed above, but especially lying. Lying pollutes your whole life. Be truthful
in every way.
Thursday, October 26, 2023
War! Matthew 24:6 etc.
WAR!
Matthew 24:6- You will hear of
wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things
must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Fear not, little flock, for it is
the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Whatever you think about developments in the Middle East, you should know that what you see today is part of God’s plan. He is the true author of history, and He is the One who controls events, not America, not Russia, not Iran, nor any “leader.” It is no secret that God uses wicked men and women to do His bidding, and although Satan thinks he’s in control, he is a puppet. The very rage with which the evil one attacks all that is good is what God will use to bring His will to pass. As we approach the time of the end, Jesus said, “Men’s hearts will fail them for fear,” since they realize the world is out of control. You don’t need to be afraid if you’re a child of God, because you know that whatever happens here is not the end. God is in control of all the events. He has a plan, and that plan will happen. “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. You are like a little boat in the middle of the ocean. The waves may throw you around, may even pour over the sides, but God made the ocean. He has given you your life, and “all the days ordained for you were written, before they ever occurred.” The ONE THING to which you must hold on is the fact that God will lead you wherever you are, and if you are a Christian, you will “dwell in the House of the LORD forever.” He will not leave you, and even if He allows terrible trials, your future is bright. Your life is in His hands, and when you arrive at the gates of heaven, He will wipe away every tear and usher you into His heavenly kingdom. As I remember someone saying many years ago, “It’s cloudy today, but the future is bright, and I have a great inheritance.”