Remembering
“…the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Ecclesiastes 9:5b
An outlook for the future is grossly inadequate that lacks a remembrance of the past. Psalm 78 shows us how Israel went completely astray from God when they no longer remembered the great things He had done for them.
God established memorials for Israel, but they erred exceedingly by not paying attention to what they represented. Our nation has memorials as to the convictions and faith of our forefathers who credit the favors of God for the establishment of this nation.
Memorial Day was established to remember, with honor, those members of our armed forces who gave their lives to fight for and defend the freedom of our nation.
As time passes, individually their names and persons are remembered no more. Though we may not know them, we must not forget what they did for us.
Someone wrote, “All gave some, some gave all.” They gave of their lives that we might have the lives we have. Let us live our lives responsibly, in honor of the price they paid that we might have this privilege.
People who just live their lives selfishly, irresponsibly, and sinfully indulgent, should stop and consider how contradictory their attitude towards life is, when compared to those who unselfishly sacrificed their lives, that others might have the opportunity to live free and wholesome lives. It is an insult to the sacrifices made by those who died defending our freedoms, to then misuse those freedoms in living selfish, sinful, wicked lives, that are an evil in and to that free society.
May God help us to remember what it took to get what we got, lest we forget what it takes to keep what we have.
SHARING
Let God Decide
“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” Deuteronomy 22:5
Although this verse hasn’t changed since I first read it as a kid, the attitudes of many people have.
God’s Word states very plainly that He is the author of the distinction of the sexes in their appearance.
This Divine perfect principle is not about the salvation of our souls, but about the clothes we wear. Being set forth in God’s law makes it holy, just, good, spiritual (Romans 7:12,14), as well as profitable for our doctrine – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
You don’t have to look for arguments against this Divine principle; all you have to do is mention this verse and the arguments will come to you. Even from those who once embraced this truth.
Some invoke confusion and ignorance as their argument with something like: “Well, how do we know what is man’s clothing verses what is a woman’s garment?” That would have been a poor argument for any to raise against this Divine principle when God first gave this principle to man, the same as it is a poor argument today. Look at the figures on the doors of public restrooms. They identify men’s verses women’s by their distinctive dress appearance. (It might be embarrassing to be confused and ignorant about this when the need arises.)
When I was young, the dress code of the public schools required skirts and dresses for girls (no pants, shorts) as well as trousers for boys. How did they figure that out? Look back at pictures of the public before the ungodly sexual revolution hit our society and you will see they had it figured out then.
The clincher is to listen to what God says about the violation of His principle: “…all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” He never said it is an abomination to the law, or to the nation of Israel, or to the Old Testament, or to a certain dispensation, but, “an abomination to God.” Granted, there are many things that are unique to Israel’s Old Testament order. A discerning reader can see these. But this principle of God is a valid principle as long as God is around. The violation of this principle is an affront to the authority and person of God, not some passing dispensation. How does your Bible read?
SHARINGWhere Did Christ Go When He Died?
What saith the scriptures? Many argue that when Jesus died, He went to hell and suffered until His resurrection. But the great gulf fixed prevents passage out of hell, Luke 16:26. Consider: Since Christ made full atonement for sin by His shed blood and God accepted it, why would He then have to go to hell? If He had to go to hell, it would mean His shed blood did not fully pay for sin.
“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9:12) This does not sound like he went to hell.
The Bible tells us where he didn’t go: “Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell” (Acts 2:27) God would not permit Christ’s soul to go to hell after He had made an acceptable offering for sin. The only ones who go to hell are those who have not been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Christ’s own soul was not under condemnation, causing His death. Jesus had no sin, no condemnation of His own. But God laid the sins of others upon Him, for which He died. It was His death, the shedding of His innocent blood, that wrought the atonement, the just for the unjust. God’s wrath against sinners was fully appeased by Christ’s offering of Himself as our sin substitute. This is what happened on Calvary, the shedding of His blood that purchased us, made the atonement once and for all. There is no other payment or suffering that happened beyond Calvary that atones for sin.
Though our sins were laid upon the person of Christ, His soul retained its Divine righteousness, whereby we have an offering acceptable unto God for our justification – Isaiah 53:10-12, Galatians 2:16.
The Bible tells us where He did go: “…into the holy place”, “…into heaven itself” (Hebrews 9:12,24). He said beforehand where He was going when He would die: “And now I come to thee” (the Father) John 17:13; “I go to the Father” John 16:16. He told the thief as they were hanging on the cross: “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” When He died, He cried, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” Luke 23:43,46.
Christ could not have accomplished anything by going to hell. But by His shed blood, He entered into heaven itself, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Through Christ’s body which was broken for us, and through His blood which was shed for the remission of our sins, “He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2 His death willed us the promises, while His resurrection assures us of the victory.
“For by one offering (Calvary) he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” Hebrews 10:14. He never made another offering in hell.
SHARINGNations In Commotion
Ezekiel 38 & 39 are chapters of interest as they describe movements of various nations. God and Magog, Gomer and Togarmah, include Russia and regional nations. Persia is Iran, Libya, and Ethiopia, nations of Africa.
As we observe the power struggles described by Jesus in Matthew 24, of nation rising up against nation and kingdom against kingdom, these do not add up to be greater allies and friends for Israel, but rather more hostility towards them. This lends itself to the future when all nations will be gathered against Jerusalem to battle (Zechariah 14:2) under the direction of the anti christ (Revelation 19:19-21).
Revelation 3:17 “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Have you noticed that nations respond to issues and crises, not so much on the rights of sovereign nations or sympathies for those being wronged, but on economics? Nations have structured their dependence upon each other in trade and commerce to the extent that this dependency dictates who they resist and to whom they yield.
There were needful reasons why God divided the world at the tower of Babel (Genesis 11). Man’s way of reuniting that which God divided is bringing the world together in an economic bondage that will be used by the anti christ to control nations: either yield to his policies, or face economic disaster.
What is down the road for the U.S. economically? Our government has to borrow over 40 cents of every dollar that it spends. How long can this go on? The U.S. dollar is steadily losing its strength to remain the accepted world currency. What happens when the dollar collapses? The 9/11 attacks and the economic recession that followed, revealed how fragile our economic state is. We are not alone; other nations are likewise going down the path to economic collapse, which results in dependency.
Who will the nations turn to? The new world order, with its one world economic system, premiered by the anti christ. “…and all the world wondered after the beast” Revelation 13:3. “…and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:4.
The Bible makes it possible for man to see and understand what is going on and what is coming. STICK CLOSE TO THE BIBLE!
SHARINGThe Challenge To Master
“But speaking the truth in love…” Ephesians 4:15
“…reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering…” 2 Timothy 4:2
No one would let a dentist fill their cavities, if they knew he was going to cause them as much pain as possible in the process. Doctors and dentists gain a reputation for their kindness and consideration, or, on the other hand, for their roughness and insensitivity.
We are not going to let others doctor us spiritually, if they sting us every time they get the opportunity. It is all important that we establish trust in our fellowship by establishing the right feelings in our hearts toward our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We all, as fellow members of the body of Christ, need the ministry that each can afford one another by God’s grace: “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” 1 Corinthians 12:25 It is spite that withdraws and refuses to care for others. We owe it to the body of Christ, and we fulfill this sacred obligation, by establishing confidence in one another, as being kindly affectioned one to another in brotherly love, and in honor preferring one another: “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:2-3
Christ taught His disciples that the blessedness and happy returns of Christian fellowship come back to us as we strive to wash one another’s feet, rather than become critical of one another for having dirt on our feet. (John 13:14-17)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 This is the level that God makes possible: “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16.
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32
SHARING
