The Believer's Deadline

For some time now, I have been thinking about the absence of the fear of the Lord amongst Believers.

I think it's a core issue that has caused many to compromise, embrace false doctrine, and fall away from right standing with God.

I believe we have made God into our own image, someone we can understand. Someone who's thoughts are like our thoughts, and who's ways are like our ways. We even think our thoughts are His thoughts, sometimes. Without seeking His Word, we go forward. It seems right to us, so let's do it.

This kind of "faith" actually requires no faith at all.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Somehow, the church got the idea that God was supposed to be approachable, and that seems to be the crux of the problem. He is not approachable, except through Christ. Only through Christ. We must come to Him clothed in the righteousness of Christ, cleansed by the blood. And, Christ is not something we put on and take off when we get to the church door.

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:14)

"And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." (Philippians 3:9)

The God of the Old Testament has not changed, and He never will. He required great things of those Saints of old, yet we expect Him to be satisfied with our measly gifts today. We give Him our "extra" time. We yawn and watch the clock. We decide how much we serve according to what we're already doing, not according to how much there is to be done. We give more time to entertainment, than we do to knowing Him. Sports scores clutter more Facebook statuses than Scripture references. We pollute our minds watching and listening to things that should make us jump up and run out of the room. Why do want to be a part of glorifying that which nailed our Savior to the Cross?

"Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

Friends, I have not written this to condemn anyone. I am not judging your choices, or prejudiced against your lifestyle. I am only concerned for the Body of Christ. The days are getting short, Brothers and Sisters. Christ is coming soon. That is not an inevitability that we just wait to arrive. "Why think about it? Why preach about it? It's going to happen anyway." No. We are missing the point, if that is what we think. Paul described this Christian life as a race to finish (2 Timothy 4:7). What runner ambles around the course, not caring whether or not he reaches the end? The Rapture is a deadline we are supposed to prepare ourselves for, and daily be working towards.

I love you, and I am praying for you. I pray you will allow these words to challenge you to search your heart.

The New Oprah

About 15 years ago, I began to recognize that Oprah Winfrey was Bad News. I would mention this to Christian friends, and they would think I was completely off my rocker. Those same Christian friends have sent me links to videos where Oprah is defaming Christ. "Yeah, I know! Remember back in the '90s when you told me I was being mean? Hello, people!"

Well, I'm about to do it, again.

Glenn Beck is Bad News. No, scratch that. He is BAD. Just plain BAD. I know some of you are going to say I'm being mean, but I am absolutely convinced he is pure trouble. I urge my Christian readers to examine their hearts and test the spirit that animates this man. If you still deem him safe and good, than I just ask you to remember this warning, because one day he is going to say or do something that makes you feel uncomfortable. When that happens, you are going to ask yourself, "Is this OK? I'm not sure about that." When that happens, remember what your friend Caroline said, and put as much distance between him and you as you can.

Don't give him credit for the truth he speaks. That's not how it works. It's the truth he isn't saying that matters most.

Neglect!

I clicked onto this blog today, and realized how much I have neglected it. So much potential here, but I don't nurture it. I don't make time for it. I am disappointed in myself, but life is just not conducive to blogging sometimes.

As I wrote the title of this post, the word "neglect" kind of hurt my eyes. I can't help think about other things in my life that I have been neglecting lately. They aren't all things I can so easily afford to ignore, though. Some of these things are actually very important to the people I love most in this world.  How has this happened? I don't want to be neglectful. I don't want to put off doing things for the people I love. What am I doing instead? What isn't being neglected?

Ah, there's the rub! My real problem is coming into focus. Some things are not being neglected at all. They get hours and hours of my time each day. Are they really deserving of that much time and dedication?

I think it is time to make some lists. I think better on paper, pen in hand. I need reevaluate the things I am giving myself to, and I need to root out those things that have exalted themselves to a place of priority in my life. My days are numbered. I need to get serious about how I spend them. Am I investing them in what will bear fruit, or am I wasting them away? Productivity isn't my only goal, though. My desire is to be purposeful. I want to accomplish what I've been put here to do, and I want to make a difference in the lives of those I love. I want to fulfill my purpose.

So, no more neglect.

Are there important things you have been neglecting lately, or are you achieving your purpose in life?

Heads Up!

So thankful that when God is trying to tell us something, He doesn't just tell us once. He keeps giving us a chance to hear.

Today's example? I woke-up thinking about the Fruit of the Spirit. I thought to myself, "I should write them out on pieces of paper and post them around our room, as a reminder to us as we head into the very challenging week we have ahead us." 

Well, of course, I got distracted. Didn't do it. Actually, completely forgot about it.

Just now, I checked my iGoogle Verse of the Day from BibleGateway.com. Couldn't believe it! Can you believe it? Yes, it was the passage that lists the Fruit of the Spirit. Isn't that cool? Oh, it does give me pause, though. The Lord is clearly giving us a head's up for what's ahead. Oh, boy! 

Well, I'm glad we don't have to go it alone. I'm glad we can count on Him to help us live these things out. I'm glad we don't have to rely on our own supply!

"But also for this very reason,
giving all diligence,
add to your faith virtue,
to virtue knowledge,
to knowledge self-control,
to self-control perseverance,
to perseverance godliness,
to godliness brotherly kindness,
and to brotherly kindness
love.
For if these things are yours and abound,
you will be neither barren nor unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Peter 1:5-8

P.S. I will be back soon to finish the previous post!