October 28, 2022

Avoid Pilot Error

Living the Christian life is like being a pilot of a plane; you are constantly adjusting to internal and external forces like a pilot who deals with forces of thrust, friction, drag, lift, and gravity. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you just might crash. Fortunately, Christians have been given the owner’s manual and a guidance system to direct us in all kinds of conditions and turbulence experienced in our lives. The Holy Scriptures have been given to us to guide and provide wisdom in the midst of life’s confusion and perplexities. (Psalm 119:11-12, 2 Timothy 3:16) The Holy Spirit indwells us to lead and comfort us in the midst of life’s complications and difficulties. (John 17, Ephesians 5:18) This does not mean we simply go on “auto pilot” and cruise through life uninvolved or unresponsive. We are to actively submit to the Scripture to understand truth. We are to personally surrender to the Spirit’s leading as we respond to the vexing vicissitudes of life. The result will be a stable flight and a safe landing in the midst of a bumpy life. We shall make it safely home. If a pilot turns off the guidance computer on the plane, the result is going to be problematic and the outcome all too predictable. Many Christians, in the midst of the turbulence and tragedies of life, refuse to submit to the Lord and the results are catastrophic.   Serving Him with you until He comes for us, Fred

October 21, 2022

The Denial of Death

When you read your Bible it is important to notice what is emphasized. I am teaching through the book of First Corinthians and now at the end it is interesting that the longest chapter is all about death and resurrection.

 

Most of us react to death with a sense of fear or trepidation. I know I will not evade death, but I also know I do not need to fear it. The apostle Paul explains to us that the sting of death has been removed.

 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is your victory? O death where is your sting?” 

1 Corinthians 15:54-55

 

The writer of the book of Hebrews proclaims to us in 2:14-15.

  

Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

 

It is very apparent that life is fragile and death inevitable. But we do not need to live in fear of death. Jesus has taken it on and defeated death, triumphed over death, and been raised immortal. And so shall we be raised one day. We shall not experience the second death if we have trusted in Jesus Christ for eternal life.

 

As C.S. Lewis reminds us, “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

 

Serving Him with you

until He comes for us,

Fred

October 14, 2022

The Power of Personal Perception and Perspective

It goes without saying that we are all victims of our own innate propensity for bias. However, bias is not innately wrong. My bias might actually be correct or the true way of understanding reality. It also goes without saying that ideas have consequences. Sometimes the consequences of ideas result in a form of conquest. As Rod Serling reminds us, “The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices... to be found only in the minds of men.”    America in general and the church of Jesus Christ specifically has experienced a seismic shift that has exposed significant inconsistencies in how the church is to be the salt and light, the pillar of truth, in a world gone mad. Friedrich Nietzsche reminds us; “When the world discovers that God is dead there will be universal madness.” Well, Nietzsche is dead, Jesus is alive, and He is coming soon. However, it does appear that our culture has gone mad. And so, until that great day of a new earth where righteousness dwells, we are to live out our days upon this earth with wisdom and prudence mixed with righteous shrewdness.   Where do we find such a combination of information and insight for intelligent living? Discernment for living in a decadent society is to be found in the scriptures, for the scriptures declare the mind of God and reveal to us how He desires us to live. As King David said in Psalm 119:9-11: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word. With all my heart I have sought Thee; Do not let me wander from Thy commandments. Thy word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against Thee."   Although it is true that we are living in unmapped territory, it is also true that the Lord has provided the Bible, His very word as a map that is to guide us as we chart our course in a lost and dying world.   Serving Him with you until He comes for us, Fred

October 7, 2022

The Graveyard of the “Gods”

If you think through the history of mankind, you must conclude that man is incurably religious. (Romans 1:18ff) The graveyard of the “gods” is a large plot. While people are continuous idol makers, the Bible is undeniably clear that there is only one True God who is God! This is not a popular view today as we are entering into unmapped territory. We are entering into an age of sociological uncertainty by virtue of the collapse of public order and the loss of religion and biblical truth. Hear the words of sacred scripture. Isaiah 41:4b- “I the Lord, am the first and with the last. I am He.” Isaiah 41:10b- “Do not look anxiously about you, for I am your God” Isaiah 41:13a- “For I am the Lord God who upholds your right hand” Isaiah 42:8 – “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.” Isaiah 43:10-13 – You are My witnesses, declares the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and there is no savior besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you; so you are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, and I am God. Even from eternity I am He; and there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?” Isaiah 44:6- “That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other,…” Isaiah 46:9- “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,…” Isaiah 48:12- “Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel who I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.”  Deuteronomy 32:39a -“See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me;…” It is apparent that our God is self-designated as “I, I am He, and there is no other God besides Me.” Yahweh is His name - He is the self-existing one. (Ex 3:14) He is “the great I am.” I invite you to read John 8:18-19 and 8:24-25 and listen to how Jesus describes Himself, and why the pharisees desired to kill Jesus! (8:40 & :58) John 8:18-19--I am He who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” And so they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me, nor My Father, if you knew Me you would know My Father also.” John 8:24-25—“I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He you shall die in your sins.” And so they were saying to Him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning?” John 8:40- "But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do." John 8:58- Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” As the psalmist proclaimed in Psalm 29:1-12:     Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to     Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory     due to His name; Worship the Lord in holy array. Our God lives and Our God reigns. Worship Him Alone! Serving Him with you until He comes for us, Fred