Fallen?

There comes a time when even the most devout heart comes under attack by the weapons of fear, insecurity, and even doubt. The moments, however fleeting or enduring, must not overcome your hearts. None are good enough of their own merit, no, not one. The flesh and carnal mind are weak. They reason and prod to surrender, always looking at the temporal.

Coming to the knowledge of our sin we reach out to the Savior, who by His work, reaches down to the lowest depths of despair and raises up those who call upon Him. Once we have accepted His sacrifice and grace we rejoice in His cleansing power. At once we know the joy of salvation, but how long before the enemy attacks? How long before Satan sends his demonic forces to steal the joy which has been given to you?

Have you given in to despair? Have you lost strength? Have you been overwhelmed and feel helpless? Everyone has found themselves in what has seemed a ferocious battle. Friends, be of good cheer. God is sovereign. He has overcome the world! He is in control. You may feel as though you have fallen, but I can assure you by the Word of God, you have hope:

Jude:1:24: Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Once you put your faith into Jesus, the battles that seem lost are but the weakness of the carnal mind and flesh. The Holy Spirit says that He is able to keep you from falling! If you have truly put your faith in Christ, not only is He able to keep you from falling, He will present you faultless. His sacrifice is sufficient, He is your atonement, He is your righteousness!! Not only will He present you faultless before the presence of His glory, He will do it with exceeding joy. He will take joy in presenting you faultless. For all the times we feel as though we have failed, for all our weakness, for all we could not do, He did for us!

Quit thinking about how weak you are. No longer should you consider how difficult the trials and tribulations are or how impossible it all seems. He has already won the victory. He has won your victory. Praise Jesus, for He is truly worthy!

Take up your cross

We have a duty to live each day purposefully. So many people take every day for granted and have taken no thought of doing anything more than surviving the day and hoping to do the same tomorrow. We are not supposed to live this way. Our days are numbered, we have no promise of tomorrow. Are we serving ourselves with the time we have? Are we wasting the precious gift of life?

Luke:9:23: And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

The first thing we must be doing is following Jesus! He set forth the perfect example. We must be pursuing perfection with our lives. This is not a choice, this becomes our new walk, our transformation. Being a new creature in Christ, it becomes our desire!

In this pursuit of our Savior we find that we must deny ourselves. We cannot be selfish within any part of our lives. Our time, our possessions, our very being must be secondary to the command, direction, call, and example of Jesus. Denying ourselves is very difficult and wages war against our very nature. Yet, when we deny ourselves, He becomes dominant in our being, He is made witness for others to see, He is glorified.

Then we must take up our cross. We do not take up our cross once then lay it aside, we are to take it up daily. This statement shows that it will not be easy, but it does show the extent of how closely we are to pursue our Master. The cross is not pleasant to look upon. It appears heavy, shameful, and more burdensome than we can bare. Do not let the appearance fool you. Do not be afraid. We have all sinned. We have all fallen short of God’s glory, yet God loved us. For this purpose we were given a Savior. We too have a responsibility to Christ, no matter how difficult it seems, we must follow Him, and we must live to purposefully glorify Jesus. He loved you enough to take up His cross which is far greater than the cross He has planned for you. Your cross is yours but not alone, and given only that you too could follow Him. He is our strength, He is our sufficiency. He carried His cross, He will also help carry yours. Let Him show you His strength, grasp onto your cross, lift it, take the first step and openly declare that you can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you! Let Jesus be glorified, for He is truly worthy!

Noah (a short story?)

Noah went on about his business. Although he never grew weary of people inquiring about his boat they would not take the time to hear him preach about righteousness. He delighted in proclaiming to people why he had undertaken such a project and what it would be used to accomplish. He knew they laughed and made light of him, and he was aware that “crazy” was one of the nicer terms they used to describe him. He had set time aside to preach to them, but he had also resigned himself to the knowledge that while few would listen, maybe the only way he would reach them is if he took time daily during his work to answer their questions.

Noah often spoke of rain. The people had no concept of what rain was or what it did. How could they just believe in something they had never seen? It was not just belief in rain itself, it was the nearly laughable argument that it would over-take the world in destruction.

Giving no heed to Noah, nor his warnings, the world continued on just as they always had. The lived, they lived vibrantly, eating, drinking, and marrying. They watched Noah labor, and they laughed. Noah continued faithfully building his boat. He continued living faithfully, a witness to all those who scorned him, preparing for rain.

As Noah finished his ark and entered in, a great sound from the sky filled the earth, then a great streak of light raced across the heavens. A drop of water fell to the ground. Silence followed for a moment. What was happening?

Matthew:24:37: But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The story above is eerily similar to where we are today. Can you see and feel the similarities? Consider the following verses:

Matthew:24:38: For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Matthew:24:39: And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

2Peter:3:3: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Peter:3:4: And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

There must be a sense of urgency to reach out today to any and all who will listen. I’m afraid the storm clouds are gathering. Praise God, I’m waiting on the lightning!

Lu:17:24: For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

To Jesus be the glory, for He is truly worthy!