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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Crossing Paths, Endless Paths...


 
 
God revealed to me today that Christians all walk a path.  Each path is unique.  These truths I have shared with you in messages prior.  However, the new revelation is that this path is also unending.  It is an eternal walk and we do not walk alone.  Death is not the end of the path.  After death the true believer transitions from mortal human and sinful existence to immortal life in heaven.

 

The pace increases after our mortal life and our sinful life are ended.  We might view sin as both the heavy burden strapped to our back and as a confusing trail.  In our mortal life we sin, we all sin, every one of us.  Only one human who ever walked the Earth was without sin and that was Earthly human form of Jesus.  Our sins cause both Earthly pain to us, our friends, and our loved ones.  Our sins also sadden God, though he expects them.  Even very good Christians are rife with daily sins whether they admit them or not, they cannot help it it's been our nature since the time of Adam and Eve.  Without repentence and redemption through Christ our sins would result in eternal torment in Hell.  A humans path is endless for believers and non believers too, though they head in opposite directions.

 

Sin slows our progress. Even sinful thoughts slow our progress along the Christian path.  Sin is part of the Devil's plan to impede us or even send us to be lost in the wilderness and never find our path again.  Along our path we will intersect with others.  Believe it or not all people are walking amongst the wilderness.  Some are following the Christian path and some are not.  Although you and I both dear reader might be on the Christian path it is not necessarily the same path.  You will cross paths with other Christians and sometimes with nonbelievers.

 

Some you encounter have just begun their Christian journey.   Newborn Christians are prone to error, they sometimes say and do things that are not in keeping with Christian life but they believe in God and that Jesus died for their sins and they want to improve. Wanting to improve and showing evidence of improvement are important indicators, many upon the Earth claim to be Christians but have not truly accepted the Holy Spirit.  They talk the talk but do not walk the walk.  You can see evidence from their actions and interactions with others.  Sometimes we can invite them to walk with us for a spell so they might grow and learn from our experiences and our witness.  Keeping in mind though that their path is not necessarily your path.  Newborn Christians should be encouraged to read the Bible and learn as much as they can.

 

Some you encounter along the path have been on it longer than you, I call them the wise.  The wise Christians have been down the dead ends and they know where those trails lead.  They have made mistakes and grown and learned from them.  As living, sinful, humans, they are still lugging the pack of sin upon their back.  Even the wise are not unerring and they too bear the burden of daily sin.  If you look closely though you may notice that the wise read their Bible's much more than the newborn Christians.  For the wise know that along the path we are sometimes attacked by the Devil or his minions the fallen angels.  God's elect Angels also are tasked with our protection and occasionally they do battle the demons (fallen angels) of Satan.  However our first and last line of defense from Satan is the word of God.  The wise know that the more they are rooted in the word the more heavily armored and armed they are to combat evil forces. (in Daniel Chapter 9 you can read about an epic battle between the Angel Gabriel and a demon known as "the prince of Persia".  The angel Michael assisted Gabriel in defeating the demon.)
 

Demons are actually fallen angels.
 
 
For a Christian the word of God is the first line of defense.

The final person you may find on your path are unbelievers.  Contact with these people is not a trivial matter.  Many of you may notice that your friends and coworkers are unbelievers.  Perhaps they have never heard the truth of the word or perhaps they have been mislead into following false religions.  You befriend these people at your own peril for they can tempt you from your Christian walk.  The Devil has been known to utilize unbelievers because unlike Christians they are extremely vulnerable soft targets because they have no armor and no sword (the holy spirit and the word of God).  The focus of your interaction with unbelievers should be to witness to them your Christian experience.  If you are a newborn Christian it is highly advisable to enlist the help of one of the wise when interacting with unbelievers if possible.  Ideally invite them to Church with you.  As Christians we are tasked with spreading the Good News of mankind's salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus.

 

In other words if you are spending time with unbelievers do not be tempted to their ways but instead focus your efforts on sharing your witness about how God changed your life.  If they are a close friend you should ask yourself how you would feel if they were in an accident and died without ever hearing your testimony.  We do not have the power to bring people to God because as humans we are creatures of sin and have no good within us.  The only good is God, only He has the power to save souls.  So share your witness and your testimony of how God has worked in your life.

Monday, September 10, 2012

My latest Reading project.


I was discussing the Bible with my in-laws the other day and I mentioned I really needed a companion book to go with my Bible that kind of illuminated many of the events and more importantly ideas presented there.

My mother 'n' law (whom I call Mom) lent me this massive hardbound trove. The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. I don't think the book is meant to be read from beginning to end but that is in fact what I am I doing.

So far I am finding the book fascinating and difficult to put down. I admit its size is daunting, many times the size of my NIV bible, however it's filled with beautiful illustrations and wonderful insights.

The book is laid out very much like the Bible with a chapter dedicated to each book of the Bible. In other words the book starts in Genesis and finishes in Revelations.

I will be the first to admit that I have often read a passage in the Bible and not really grasped its importance or even its underlying meaning all the time. Sometimes I have to read a passage and mull it around for awhile. Sometimes a given passage will mean one thing to me one day and then months or years later have a different meaning to me.

One thing is sure, the Bible, is the most amazing book I have ever read. You could read it a lifetime and still learn something new every time you open it.

This commentary helps bring the Bible to life and illustrates the scope and dimension that few people ever really find when they read the Bible. I started reading two days ago and have made it to Deuteronomy.  Through my Bible and this Commentary I have watched the birth of our world and followed the travails of the Jewish people.  Followed God's miracles as he and mankind struggle to develop a relationship.

It's powerful stuff and highlights just how amazing the Bible really is.  At some point in your Christian faith you will begin to really want to know every aspect of what is written in your Bible.  The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary can help.  I give it two hearty thumbs up.