Have you ever experienced the epiphany of sin's reach? Its that fatal detonation of a massive conviction that your goodness is nothing but a perverted facade of the reality God sees plainly by His eyes of Holy justice. When He can't bare to look upon your "goodness" because He knows that His holiness would consume your counterfeit character in an instant.
Its that moment where your motives to pray are pure enough to ask God to reveal what has remained hidden deep within; the startling impression that all your good intentions are brought into questioned because of the inconsistencies and dis-connectivity of your actions. Its that moment where suddenly words fail you and your expressions of confession become crippled with an interminable fear; a clash between flesh and spirit where evil bubbles and boils over the surface of your life you believed was once forgiven and forgotten.
Its the paradox of comfort and terror in the blink of an eye - the moment where truth and fallacy are the blades that scream against one another on the battlefield of judgement. When all you have are tears for words and that disturbing tremor as you catch the glimpse of standing before the Holy One Whose name is eternally unknown and is infinitely greater than all of creation and beyond. It is that moment where soul-stricken sorrow is your only refuge and the path of deliverance comes to the place where you understand you are nothing and He is your everything - stammering the one word of plea your soul can manifest in an audible tongue... "mercy"
When the words fail you and your soul has finally managed to find the greatest mortal effort of repentance - let your heart speak and your mouth be kept silent before the LORD of Hosts - for He already knows. Be still... and know He is God!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Resisting the Gardener
A certain rose bush is witheringly naked and empty among its bountiful family of flowering foliage. Its leaves smaller and crumpling with a sickening presence of aged paper. Its roses barely present and noticeable as its fading context. On the ground lay its abandoned fruit of beauty turning the ground below into a mulch-like texture. In its own mind it feels as typical as ever; perhaps it has never known a healthy and fruitful state. Tragic that it never cares to look upon its brothers and sisters in full and vigorous bloom - drawing the gaze of the public with awe and praise to their loving gardener. If only it would allow the Him to do his work upon it, permitting him to trim and prune its branches in order that it might flourish in glory as with the rest of the garden.
It is a sad truth the story of this dying rose bush - fading into the shadow because it resists the necessary pain to make it beautiful by its master. Pruning, in the life of a Christian is an altogether necessary practice if the blooming effect of holiness to be made visible to the world. Only when its branches of dead weight and wicked practices are trimmed from him will the anointing power flow for the process of new life and fruit to appear. If the Christian so desires the power of new life to flow as the expression of God's amazing grace, he must be willing to endure the pain of pruning - cutting off and out the evil that drains the crippled life from him. Only by the removal of carnal practices and worldly indoctrination will he feel his new power rise up within him; participating in the glory and honor brought to his gardener.
It is a sad truth the story of this dying rose bush - fading into the shadow because it resists the necessary pain to make it beautiful by its master. Pruning, in the life of a Christian is an altogether necessary practice if the blooming effect of holiness to be made visible to the world. Only when its branches of dead weight and wicked practices are trimmed from him will the anointing power flow for the process of new life and fruit to appear. If the Christian so desires the power of new life to flow as the expression of God's amazing grace, he must be willing to endure the pain of pruning - cutting off and out the evil that drains the crippled life from him. Only by the removal of carnal practices and worldly indoctrination will he feel his new power rise up within him; participating in the glory and honor brought to his gardener.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Opportunities for Victory
When I consider the variety of challenges I may face on any given day, my flesh is often ready to tremble at the sight of their approach. The weakness of my humanity is constantly nagging my spirit; pointing out all the reasons why I should fail with epic proportions. In addition to all this I'm plagued with accusations of all my frailty and failures of the past by the crooked tongue of my adversary-the devil!
Yet... I am victorious because my Savior has already won! What then is there to bring against me? Afterall, "if God is for me then who can be against me?" (Rom 8:31).
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Valleys of Shaddow
There are days when I wonder if I will be able to last through the challenges I face day after day. Then suddenly I am reminded of the reality that I cannot last them... in fact the only reason I have managed to last this long is because of God's abundant mercy and grace at work in my life. Who am I without my Lord? I am nothing without Him; nay I do not exist without His will for me to be anything at all!
Something for us to think about as the craziest time of year is upon us: today is just as much a part of the plans He has for us as yesterday and the day before. Why should I fret because of my trivial limited perspective? God is God afterall and I am not. That is assurance enough for me. May the name of the Lord be praised in the good times as well as the bad. Hallelujah!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Legitimate Witness
The dictionary defines a witness as one who (1) attests to a fact or event; (2)who gives evidence; (3) confirms facts of the past to have taken place; (4) who has personal knowledge of something; (5) public affirmation by word or example. (see Merriam-Webster's)
According to our understanding of this term's etymology, the term "witness" as it is described in the New Testament refers to those who bear evident proof of their knowledge by their modeling of convictions their faith has in-fact transformed in their inner being.
For instance, if a witness were to claim that a certain company's products contain deadly poison in their bottled beverage products. It would appear consistent that this witness would not purchase or drink any product manufactured by this company if their claims were something they have actually witnessed. Otherwise, they would be considered a 'false witness'; destroying their credibility to the public and the courts.
For those who bear the name "Christian", whom are as Christ presents to the world as his witnesses (Acts 1:8), these should understand that in order to 'witness' of whom Christ is to the world, they must believe and model in their knowledge of the person and teachings of Christ.
Why then do we entertain ourselves with trivial and misplaced worldly desires? Why do we pretend to represent our Holy maker while we live unholy lives? Why do we waste the precious life we have on amusements and fleshly pleasure while we neglect our spiritual duties to pray, fast, serve and witness the gospel to every soul as if God has in-fact called them unto salvation? Where is our 'witness' of Christ?
How are we to convince the courts of the world that our witness is true of Christ if we indulge in the sinful appetites of all that is diametrically opposed to everything that we hold to be consistent in the identity of Christ?
When we only pretend to bear witness of the truth, while still holding on to all our idolatries, we are blasphemies to Christ; because we fail to represent him in his true identity to those who must see him as their hope of salvation.
If you claim to be saved, ask yourself, how am I offering evidence of my salvation to the world. I pray this blog is a challenge to wear your Christian Faith publicly without fear and shame.
According to our understanding of this term's etymology, the term "witness" as it is described in the New Testament refers to those who bear evident proof of their knowledge by their modeling of convictions their faith has in-fact transformed in their inner being.
For instance, if a witness were to claim that a certain company's products contain deadly poison in their bottled beverage products. It would appear consistent that this witness would not purchase or drink any product manufactured by this company if their claims were something they have actually witnessed. Otherwise, they would be considered a 'false witness'; destroying their credibility to the public and the courts.
For those who bear the name "Christian", whom are as Christ presents to the world as his witnesses (Acts 1:8), these should understand that in order to 'witness' of whom Christ is to the world, they must believe and model in their knowledge of the person and teachings of Christ.
Why then do we entertain ourselves with trivial and misplaced worldly desires? Why do we pretend to represent our Holy maker while we live unholy lives? Why do we waste the precious life we have on amusements and fleshly pleasure while we neglect our spiritual duties to pray, fast, serve and witness the gospel to every soul as if God has in-fact called them unto salvation? Where is our 'witness' of Christ?
How are we to convince the courts of the world that our witness is true of Christ if we indulge in the sinful appetites of all that is diametrically opposed to everything that we hold to be consistent in the identity of Christ?
When we only pretend to bear witness of the truth, while still holding on to all our idolatries, we are blasphemies to Christ; because we fail to represent him in his true identity to those who must see him as their hope of salvation.
If you claim to be saved, ask yourself, how am I offering evidence of my salvation to the world. I pray this blog is a challenge to wear your Christian Faith publicly without fear and shame.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Imposters?
Have you ever thought about the possibility that those who claim to have faith in Christ...
... those who attend church regularly...
... who lift their hands in worship...
... who carry and read their bibles even in public...
... that when they are called to account for sin and become offended at you...
... they may in-fact be deceived in their knowledge of who Christ is.
... and may be in danger of worshiping a god they've created rather than the Almighty.
Could it be that many who attend services and are very much involved in our churches today may be the goats Jesus talked about in Matthew 25:31-46? These "christians" (lowercase intentional) have a shallow understanding of grace, and they become hostile when the Word of God exposes sin in their lives and so they respond by manifesting the evil that still inhabits the center of their soul.
Where is the new birth which Jesus talks about (John 3:16)? Where is the living sacrifice of transformation as Paul talks about in Romans 12:1-2? or the new man/creation that has left the old way of life? Where is the proof of purchase? What evidence is there in this person's heart, soul, mind and strength that there is genuine love for Christ???
I confess that I've struggled with the flesh just like anyone else, but I've come to learn something incredible this past year... as though I finally stepped into adulthood of my faith in Christ. Until I am willing to crucify the flesh and die to the old man, my salvation is nothing more than standing at the gate of eternal life... window shopping!
Christianity is not merely a 'good idea' or some charitable philosophy. Christianity is embracing faith in its fullness... leaving behind the trivial cares and concerns of the world; finally able to see the full value that anything less than total abandonment of self is to remain lost in the power of sin and separation from the Lord God Almighty.
My friends, I pray you are not an imposter... I pray that you feel the serrated blade of God's truth cut you deep in your soul to know that your games with sin will cost you eternity if you die in it. Let your conviction lead you to repentance and embrace SALVATION, so that you may discover eternal life... and begin living the life God has been so desperate to give you.
... those who attend church regularly...
... who lift their hands in worship...
... who carry and read their bibles even in public...
... that when they are called to account for sin and become offended at you...
... they may in-fact be deceived in their knowledge of who Christ is.
... and may be in danger of worshiping a god they've created rather than the Almighty.
Could it be that many who attend services and are very much involved in our churches today may be the goats Jesus talked about in Matthew 25:31-46? These "christians" (lowercase intentional) have a shallow understanding of grace, and they become hostile when the Word of God exposes sin in their lives and so they respond by manifesting the evil that still inhabits the center of their soul.
Where is the new birth which Jesus talks about (John 3:16)? Where is the living sacrifice of transformation as Paul talks about in Romans 12:1-2? or the new man/creation that has left the old way of life? Where is the proof of purchase? What evidence is there in this person's heart, soul, mind and strength that there is genuine love for Christ???
I confess that I've struggled with the flesh just like anyone else, but I've come to learn something incredible this past year... as though I finally stepped into adulthood of my faith in Christ. Until I am willing to crucify the flesh and die to the old man, my salvation is nothing more than standing at the gate of eternal life... window shopping!
Christianity is not merely a 'good idea' or some charitable philosophy. Christianity is embracing faith in its fullness... leaving behind the trivial cares and concerns of the world; finally able to see the full value that anything less than total abandonment of self is to remain lost in the power of sin and separation from the Lord God Almighty.
My friends, I pray you are not an imposter... I pray that you feel the serrated blade of God's truth cut you deep in your soul to know that your games with sin will cost you eternity if you die in it. Let your conviction lead you to repentance and embrace SALVATION, so that you may discover eternal life... and begin living the life God has been so desperate to give you.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Growing Up
The other day I tuned into a conversation held between two young girls over the matter of which color baby-doll dress was "better" between the two of them. Their disagreement could not be resolved and so they parted ways in tears over the issue.
One may say that in a matter of time, these issues will resolve themselves as the girls grow up into maturity. However, is maturity merely a matter of time? Or is it something greater, perhaps having to do with experience, mentality, emotions, psyche... or even spirit? What determines the process of maturity in the human context?
As a matter of fact, people do not always mature and know how to settle their differences... even within the circle of those who put their faith in the same Lord and Maker of all. Paul addresses the believers of the Corinthian church in 1 Cor. 1:10-17 on the matter of divisions, saying "One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ'" (v12).
Tragically, because of our limitations as a creature marred by sin and cursed since the Fall, we see but with a fixed lens of comprehension even when it comes to the Holy Scriptures; thus dividing the body of Christ by countless denominations and divisions which has consequently affected our ability to unite under the prevailing banner of Truth by the same Lord of all.
I believe, that however difficult it may appear, it is indeed possible to settle our differences and see past our limitations for the sake of serving Christ with pure heart. Perhaps then the ages would not linger in the propagation of the gospel message to reach every tribe and tongue!
One may say that in a matter of time, these issues will resolve themselves as the girls grow up into maturity. However, is maturity merely a matter of time? Or is it something greater, perhaps having to do with experience, mentality, emotions, psyche... or even spirit? What determines the process of maturity in the human context?
As a matter of fact, people do not always mature and know how to settle their differences... even within the circle of those who put their faith in the same Lord and Maker of all. Paul addresses the believers of the Corinthian church in 1 Cor. 1:10-17 on the matter of divisions, saying "One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ'" (v12).
Tragically, because of our limitations as a creature marred by sin and cursed since the Fall, we see but with a fixed lens of comprehension even when it comes to the Holy Scriptures; thus dividing the body of Christ by countless denominations and divisions which has consequently affected our ability to unite under the prevailing banner of Truth by the same Lord of all.
I believe, that however difficult it may appear, it is indeed possible to settle our differences and see past our limitations for the sake of serving Christ with pure heart. Perhaps then the ages would not linger in the propagation of the gospel message to reach every tribe and tongue!
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