THE LONGING SOUL SATISFIED

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Psalms 107:4-9
(4) Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;
(5) hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
(6) Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
(7) He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.
(8) Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
(9) For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

There have been times in my life that I felt I was in a desert wilderness, all alone and could not find any "resting place" or peace with God. The desert wastes of the soul are every bit as parching as those of the physical world. What a perfect illustration of a soul that is longing for life, freedom, fulfillment, and love...all the things that make a soul satisfied. Without them, we are like one who has been walking through a hot dessert with no food or water and the heat of the sun beating down on us. We are needy creatures. We are in a place of longing that only grows greater and greater as we continue to walk in this wilderness. For the non-believer there is no satisfaction though he try to find it in more of the world's experiences, in things and in people. Three things the world tries to satisfy that longing with are "The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16). Yet they are never satisfied. Whatever riches or satisfaction they may acquire can be taken from them in a moment and their life is gone. How sad to settle for that momentary gratification, rather than an eternal satisfaction that will never be taken from us.

Yet even Christians don't realize that the trials in life that God allows us to go through - the wilderness times of our lives that seem to cause our souls to hunger and thirst are because we have gotten distracted from, or have not understood the life that the Lord is wanting to give us and is calling us to. We have tried to be content with some life we can make for ourselves here that makes us at least somewhat happy and comfortable. When trouble comes and plunges us into despair and we lose our happy place in this world, we begin longing for things the way they were in better times. But God doesn't want us to have things as they were or the meager life we want to make for ourselves. He is seeking so much more for us, and knows that until we lose what we have, or are in desperate circumstances beyond ourselves, we won't really see what we need to long for - for what He has for us - we won't ask for it or find it.

Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. (Ecclesiastes 7:10)

From The Treasury of David, Charles Spurgeon, on Psalm 107:9:

The Lord sets us longing and then completely satisfies us. That longing leads us into solitude, separation, thirst, faintness, and self-despair, and all these conduct us to prayer, faith, divine guidance, satisfying of the soul's thirst, and rest: the good hand of the Lord is to be seen in the whole process and in the divine result. “And filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

Self-despair is a good thing if it takes our dependence off from ourselves and places it in God. Don't look back longing for the old days. Don't look back to times that were better or for what you once could do or make for yourself. Look forward for the Lord to fill your longing soul with His goodness. This is what He wants for you. The best is yet to come. He has something far better ahead than what you had. If what you had were perfect He would have left you there. He does not find pleasure in disciplining His children, but loves us enough to do it, and to take us from what we would otherwise hold onto, into something much deeper, richer, and far better. We are "His workmanship in Christ Jesus." If we are His, we are not our own. We came to Him for life, and that life must have its way in us. It is for our ultimate goodness, His goodness filling us, that we are going through the wilderness of this life.

If you are in a place of longing for better days, thank God! Don't waste it by longing for something in this world, but turn your heart to prayer and separation unto Him, realizing the longing is so that you will cry out for HIS filling and satisfaction. When that place is found in His satisfaction of the soul, we realize that no circumstance on this earth, good or bad, could ever take its place. One day the whole earth will be filled with His glory. That is hard to realize or grasp right now when we see it filled with terror, hate, lies, and violence. Evil and immorality and anti-God hostility grows and abounds and becomes more blatant and "in your face" all the time. But in the midst of that, God's goodness is contrasted all the more. This causes us to feel as though we were in a dessert, longing for His goodness and righteousness. It separates us from the world and drives our hearts to seek Him more to be filled with that goodness of the Lord, to satisfy our souls and to feed others looking for Him as well. It causes us to see how much more we need to abide in Him daily drawing our very life from Him, depending on His life in us. It causes us to hunger and thirst for righteousness and in that, He promises it will be filled. God's intent for us is always so much higher than our own pursuits and our own goals and desires. If only we would seek His face to know and understand, and trust His hand. Our stay in the wilderness would be much shorter. Faith is what enables us to draw from His well and drink freely and eat our fill at His table. As soon as our hearts turn in faith to His purposes and draw from His Word, we begin to find our longing souls being filled. But if our hearts continue trying to satisfy that longing with this world's provisions, we waste it all.

He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. (Psalms 107:7)

When we call to Him we find He has "a straight way" that leads to His dwelling place. It is the right way, the way of truth, of grace through faith, and of obedience. It is His way that is the straight way, not mixed with our own way, but it is our way given up entirely to His. In the surrender of our will in faith, we find He will lead us in His straight way to the place for our souls to dwell in peace and joy and rest. There we have a "habitation" in His presence that we find secure. We do much to find the right habitation for our bodies to be in rest, but we don't realize the habitation for our souls is really where we find that rest in security when we find it in Him. Of course our bodies need care in order to live. We need shelter, we need rest, we need food and drink, etc. But even as we feel the lack of these it should be a reminder of the lack in our soul and the need there. God knows our needs. If we seek first His kingdom, He says all these things will be taken care of.

Matthew 6:26-34
(26) Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
(27) And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
(28) And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
(29) yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
(30) But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
(31) Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
(32) For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
(33) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
(34) "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Our true longing is the longing of the soul. It is a longing for God Himself and the fellowship He longs to have with us. If we don't recognize it we'll never have it filled. We'll continue longing. May the Lord teach us to turn our longings into springs of living water found in Him. "Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up Lord." Fill us with Yourself, dear Lord, and teach us to satisfy ourselves always in You.

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HOPE, REJOICING, TRIBULATIONS

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Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)

Darby:

"We pass in fact through tribulations; but we rejoice in this, because it exercises the heart, detaches us from the world, subdues the will, the natural working of the heart, purifies it from those things which dim our hope by filling it with present things, in order that we may refer more to God in all things, which, after all, are entirely directed by Him whose faithful grace ministered all this to us. We learn better that the scene in which we move passes away and changes, and is but a place of exercise, and not the proper sphere of life. Thus hope, founded on the work of Christ, becomes more clear, more disentangled from the mixture of that which is of man here below; we discern more clearly that which is unseen and eternal, and the links of the soul are more complete and entire with that which is on before us. Experience, which might have discouraged nature, works hope, because, come what may, we have the key to all, because the love of God who has given us this hope, made clearer by these exercises, is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost who is given to us, who is the God of love dwelling in us."

It's pretty hard when we are in circumstances that grieve us, dishearten us, and test us to the max to rejoice. To read the words "we rejoice in our sufferings" goes against our nature and is not our natural response. In fact we find it impossible when so beaten down and worn out to even think of such a thing as rejoicing. But remember who is saying this, and by Whom He is saying it. Paul, who was persecuted, beaten, maligned by false teachers, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and left for dead more than once is by the Holy Spirit speaking these words, so we must take heed. We must learn the why behind what he says. Paul's counselor was the Holy Spirit, Who guided him through every hardship and grief and loss and trial. And that Counselor taught him the value of everything he suffered in Christ as something to rejoice over, because it was not in vain. It had a purpose, and that purpose, though higher than anything we can here and now understand, was greater than our own thoughts of the way we should see things happen in our lives. The more Paul learned Jesus, the more he rejoiced and the less the suffering hurt him. In fact he learned that in every circumstance, whether debased or abounding, having plenty or suffering loss, to be content (Philippians 4:11-14).

Here we see that our "hope in the glory of God" is what brings us rejoicing. That hope is sure and never fails and we know we have it. We will one day experience that glory. So we not only rejoice in this hope, but we are enabled to also rejoice in our sufferings in Christ, because we know that "suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." What we need to tell ourselves is this very thing when we are suffering any kind of trial. It is a time for us to exercise faith in this very word and many more.

We won't find that rejoicing comes to us automatically, or that we can do so in our flesh. We can only do so as we are abiding in His Word (reading it, believing it, and applying it to our walk). We will only find His Word true and powerful for us as we believe and obey it and put it into practice (Hebrews 4:1,2). We cannot be passive Christians when we find ourselves in great trouble or need. We do become passive when all things are going our way and things are good around us. We find we do not have to exercise much endurance or faith or hope or rejoicing. No effort is involved. Unfortunately this is human nature. Our trials are our training grounds to learn to do this. The purpose for this is our ultimate glorification with Christ. We are being prepared for Heaven, not to just have a happy life here. Contrary to what one popular teacher says, God does not want this to be your best life. If it were so, we are to be pitied more than all men on the earth! The only ones that this is the best life for are those who will never see Heaven because of their unbelief. This is the closest to Heaven they will ever come. For those who love Jesus and trust in Him alone to be their Savior, this is the closest to hell we will ever come.

There is no shortcut to growing in the grace and knowledge of God. There is no skipping over the chastisement and training He brings to our lives in order to enter into all He would have for us in knowing His great love. There is no easy road to travel on the road to godliness and Christ-likeness. There is a promise of treasure beyond our imagination at the end of it, a knowing Him and being filled with Him beyond our ability to comprehend, a love filling us that we never thought possible, and eternal promise of glory and more glory with Him forever! If we complain about the chastisement we are under still, we are not walking in faith and hope in what He has in store for us, and we waste all the opportunity He is giving us to know Him through this.

With this God what have we to fear? All is for our good. Who can conquer us?

Romans 8:28-39
(28) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
(29) For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
(30) And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
(31) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
(32) He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
(33) Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
(34) Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
(35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
(36) As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
(37) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
(38) For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
(39) nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May the Lord fill us with hope, rejoicing, and endurance wherever we find ourselves in our lives right now. May He give us faith to trust in all that God allows knowing it comes through His nail-scarred hands. May we see such a love as His as thee greatest thing to live for forever.

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THE TESTIMONY OF CHRIST

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I have a hard time when I go to a website selling some product and they have a list of testimonies all raving about how wonderful this product is and the miracle it did for them. I know testimonies can be fabricated. They are meaningless to me. I want some real hard evidence that there is something to this product. In Christendom as well, we have many giving testimony to some spiritual experience, or some vision of Heaven or Hell, or some special word from God supposedly that we all are just supposed to believe and not question. What is the evidence that such is true? Just because they claim it is?

He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:31-36)

If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, (John 5:31-37)

We have a sure testimony from Heaven itself, a sure Word that is God's own testimony to mankind. We are so quick to believe the testimony of man without so much as a critical thought to examine it at times, yet we have doubts over the testimony of God Himself. Peter tells us of the sure testimony of Christ, that it cannot be "interpreted" of man as he chooses, but it is of God Himself. We must learn it of Him.

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:16-21)

If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:9-13)

It's by believing His testimony alone that we receive anything from God. We run to this man or that man or woman, receiving their testimony about God or their experiences but we don't value the clear testimony of Jesus Christ Himself through His written Word to us. How shameful. How sad. Men depart from Christianity because of false testimonies about it, and about God. Men misrepresent His testimony of who He is, and distort His character turning many away from Him. How very sad that we don't go directly to His testimony about Himself, and all that He has to say to us of the wonderful gift of salvation, grace to live, and eternal life and joy in store for us. Instead we let men give their own testimony about Him, never checking out what they say for ourselves. Is it any wonder these who raise themselves up above the body of Christ because of supposed heavenly visions or special revelations disregard His Word and stir the church away from it, even calling love for the true testimony of Jesus Christ "bibliolatry?" Yet they receive idol worship of themselves and their word from others. They build for themselves their little "kingdoms" where followers are faithful to them as long as they tickle their ears.

But we do have a testimony in Christ that is important. Those who have received His true testimony into their hearts, and believed on Him, will have their own true testimony. Because His testimony about Himself is true, those who receive Him will find Him true in their lives as He lives in them. Their lives will change. The true testimony they will give and leave behind is that of a life that shows His truth in them, lived through them, and the fruit that is produced because of that. We can say many things in testimony to something, but if there is no proof behind the testimony of words, it is meaningless. It's all fluff and will blow away like the wind some day and won't stand. If what we have is based on that sure Word from Him, we know it's true and can be believed and others can have the same results as they put their trust in Him as well. He won't fail them. His testimony about Himself won't fail them. His testimony about their sin won't fail, nor His testimony of His eternal salvation.

I know when I am in doubt or fear I can go to His Word and find encouragement and faith, because His testimony will not fail me. I know if I need guidance or direction in my life, His testimony will not fail to give it and I can be sure if I obey what He says, no matter what the cost or pain involved, that the reward He tells me I have in Him He will surely give. I can be sure that if I disregard His testimony about sin and its consequences that I will suffer those consequences. His testimony is sure and the testimony of how I treat it will be seen in me, one way or the other.

Our testimony of faith in Him is the most important thing we have in this world. What it says to the world about Christ they will have to answer to one day. How do we live in front of unbelievers? How do we talk in front of them? Is what comes through us in our speech and our lives a true testimony of the life of Christ inside of us, if we have been born again? One thing the persecuted believers ask we pray for is that they might hold fast their testimony of Christ and not deny Him.

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Revelation 12:11)

They had gotten victory over the beast or satan, even though from the world's eyes they were defeated, by being put to death. Yet they were victorious because they held onto their testimony of faith in Christ even to death. When we face the enemy, what will our testimony be to them? They stood because of the testimony of Christ to them and in them and His testimony became theirs. They were enabled by that faithful Word and the power in it to stand. We also in our lives conquer the world, the flesh, and the devil by that same testimony. When doubts and fears arise, we can hold onto that testimony. When all seems to crumble around us, we can hold onto that testimony. It gives us strength to endure no matter what.

How great a God we serve? Is there anything more sure, more convincing, more wonderful than the testimony of our Lord's love to us? Thank You Lord, for such a great Word, that is sure, that is solid, that we can stand on, that we can hope in, that we can give our lives wholeheartedly to and know that one day we'll see the final fulfillment of all it promises.

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DON'T BE TERRIFIED

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Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, (Philippians 1:27-29) (ESV)

And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. (Philippians 1:28) (KJV)

Vincent Word Studies:

Terrified
Only here in the New Testament. Properly of the terror of a startled horse. Thus Diodorus Siculus, speaking of the chariot-horses of Darius at the battle of Issus: “Frightened by reason of the multitude of the dead heaped round them, they shook off their reins” (xvii. 34).

Poor Man's Commentary (Robert Hawker):

"There is not, perhaps, a more alarming thing to the enemies of Christ; and his people, than when they see the firmness with which the Lord’s tried ones are borne up, under the cruel pressure of their persecution. It is, as the Apostle saith to them, an evident token of perdition. They see, they feel, their nothingness, and forebode their misery, when their threats, and menaces, and punishments which they inflict, are lost upon the objects of their bitterness. What a beautiful example of this the Holy Ghost hath recorded of the three children in the Court of Babylon. We will not (said they) serve thy gods. The King’s visage changed with rage, but inward horror was felt at the same time in his soul. Daniel 3:17-18. It is so. It must be so. Such things are for signs, yea evident tokens of perdition to the enemies of our God, and of his Christ. But they afford at the same time to the Lord’s people, sweet manifestations of salvation, and that of God!"

We live in a day of terror. We watch it happening all around us. Nobody seems to do anything to stop it, and in fact those who have the power to stop it seem to only reinforce it and feed it. The enemy of our soul wants to grip us in fear, literally, in such a way that we are paralyzed by it. We see our brothers and sisters in Christ slaughtered all over the world. It seems the world is controlled by demons at times, and our hearts faint, as we wait, wondering what is coming next.

The Lord is not alarmed as though something suddenly came upon Him that He did not foresee. He has told us of all. It's in His Word (Ps. 92:4-15). Though the world believes they are conquering, the Lord is always in control and carries out His Word in His time. He is not unprepared at the tsunami of evil now swarming the world like locusts devouring everything in their path. It's hard for us to watch, yet He did not fail to tell us ahead of time what would come upon the earth and that in this world we would have tribulation and sorrow and persecution, yet He will come again and take us to be with Him forever where no evil will dwell. We should not be surprised by it if we have been reading His Word, studying it to know His plan and His purposes in the earth, and to walk accordingly. Unfortunately, the church has been lulled to sleep or complacency in much of our country and in much of the world, taken up with the cares of this life, with getting ahead, finding fulfillment, searching for a good life for themselves, and giving a bit of it here and there to God as it suits them. The Laodecean church needs to come to Him for the true riches and the true clothing only He gives, and the true salve for their eyesight. He is standing at the door knocking - outside the door - waiting to be let in (Rev. 3:14-22).

Why should we not be terrified? I've asked myself that many times. My reaction to hearing about my brothers and sisters in Christ being persecuted, tortured, oppressed, mistreated, driven away from their homes, etc, is to be afraid and also very, very grieved. Yet when I go to the Word I see there is a plan for us even now, in how we are to walk through this time of darkness in the world. We are made to see many things that we don't see in times of peace. We are made to see the world for what it is. We're made to see sin for just how far it can take a man to the depths of depravity when unchecked and the unspeakable evil it can create in the world. We're made to see our own lack of godliness in our walk. As we turn to the Lord, we are made to see all the more, the provision He has made for us in fullness.

The Lord has been working in my own heart through it all, by revealing to me that to the extent that "my conversation" or my behavior in this world is as it should be, walking in union with my Lord abiding in Him daily, feeding on Him, surrendered to Him, walking out in my life the life of Christ in me, that my fear is much lessened and I find more peace in Him. Faith seems to fill my heart more and more as I draw from His well each day regarding all I need for my day to live in Christ. His presence sustains me and my heart is less given to fear. I am made to see how wholly He is my life. When I walk close to my Savior, I find His peace more in my heart, guiding my path and dictating to my heart His way. No wonder Paul's command to the Philippians was, "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ." When it is not, then sudden terror will grip us and jerk us back to Christ, if we are His and cause us to see that we have neglected Him.

Worthy or becoming, in Strong's:

axiōs
ax-ee'-oce
Adverb from G514; appropriately: - as becometh, after a godly sort, worthily.

Fear has a way of turning us from ourselves to God. It has a way of strengthening our dependency on Him, and purifying our motives, our desires, and our walk in this life as believers. If we have much to lose in this life, our fear will be greater. If what we have in this life as seen as all of God's and we are not holding on to it, fear has less of a hold on us. When this life has less of a hold on us, our hearts are more drawn to please God alone, and not ourselves in our daily walk. We are more apt to pursue godliness by faith in our daily lives. Yet if we are not living this way daily, "dwelling in the secret place of the Most High" (Psalm 91:1), it's a little late when the sudden destruction is upon us to draw all that we need from that well. We need to be doing this daily, now, while the Lord has given us time to do so. We don't know what we'll be called upon to endure tomorrow. Today is the time to be prepared, to "watch and pray" (Mark 13:33).

I always ask myself when I see others going through severe testing, "would I be able to endure that?" My answer is always, "No! I can't!" But I know my Lord, Who lives in me, and I know His power in me, as I've experienced it in many ways through the trials He has brought me through in the past. Those trials I also thought I could not endure. Yet, as the plaque on my wall says, reminding me each day, "If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it." I know He can, and I have such an assurance of that, because of my relationship with Him, that my fear is immediately taken away and His peace fills my heart.

I love that Jesus always said to those He appeared to, "Don't be afraid." Whenever His presence is near us He speaks peace to our hearts. And every true child of God has His indwelling Spirit - His unbroken presence living in their spirits. As we walk daily pursuing and cultivating that relationship with Him, we learn to walk in His presence and abide in Him, just as a branch dwells in the vine, continually drinking its sap and nourishing its life, producing fruit. If we are not, we will wither up. Our spiritual life will be powerless. We cannot separate ourselves from our very life source which is Christ Himself, and then expect to turn on that power just when we need it, as though we were in control of His power as though it were an impersonal force we can manipulate at our disposal. We must walk in obedience to Him through faith in our union with Him, continually, just as Jesus said in John 15:1-14.

We are to walk in faith in His promises, in faith in His finished work, which gives assurance of our salvation, dressed in the armor of God, filled with His Spirit, standing firm against the onslaught of the enemy. He has equipped us with all that we need to live godly in Christ Jesus. As we take up all He has given us and "put on Christ" - not merely giving mental assent to His Word, but walking it out by faith, in union with Him, then and only then can we hope to be able to take Paul's admonishments in Philippians 1:27-29 and do them.

I am afraid of suffering. I don't like it. Nobody does. But the more I see and experience Christ, and His love, the more willing I find myself to share in His sufferings, and the more I find His love is greater than my fear; and in fact, I feel that to share in HIS sufferings is the most honorable worthy thing in this life I could do, and I desire to be counted worthy to do so. My heart is given boldness from His love.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:16-18)

When we realize our union with Christ in His death and resurrection, that His death is our death - to the world, to sin, to the power of the enemy - and that His resurrection is ours - seated with Him in the Heavenlies - then we realize that nothing can hurt us. His love is our rule of life, and it casts out all fear of punishment. It's not that I am now crazy about suffering, or that I won't feel the pain of suffering or the deep sorrow and grief which is the same grief of the Holy Spirit in this world, but I will have His fellowship and power and presence through all. I will have His ability to suffer what I must. I have found in the grief and sufferings in my past, that as I give myself to it in Christ, that I have found a sweetness in the midst of it, that you cannot know outside of it. When I have struggled against His hand in my sufferings and trials rather than to "submit myself under the mighty hand of God" I have suffered needlessly and made my trials worse. If we are not obeying God in the suffering, we only make it worse. If we hold bitterness or unforgiveness in our hearts toward our enemy, reacting in our flesh, we only keep His grace from our hearts. Then we not only suffer from the world and the devil, but we suffer from our own rebellion against Him, and suffer His chastisement. Many wonder why God does not hear them in their complaining and grumbling of their mistreatment and trials.

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-2)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:6-10)

May the Lord give us His peace as we face difficult times in this world, as the world rejects Christ more and more. May He fill our hearts with perfect love casting out all fear, and enable us to stand firm not showing any terror to the enemy. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ and we are more than conquerors in Him. Nothing we suffer in this world compares to the glory we will one day share with Him!

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.

TRUE JUSTICE REIGNS

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The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." (Exodus 34:5-7)

Sometimes, it seems, many get the idea God has, in the New Testament, just decided to "love us as we are" and accept us sin and all as though He's changed His mind about sin and is not so strict as He was in the Old Testament. He loves us while we are yet sinners, it is true (Rom. 5:6-8), but He has made provision for that sin, not to keep us in it but to completely justify us from it and destroy its power in us. When we read in the Old Testament about God, we fear a God of strictness, a God that has no mercy on sin but punishes it immediately, and in our own corrupt minds, it seems way out of proportion to the sin. This is because we do not truly see the holiness of God, nor do we see the truth about sin and the utter depravity and destruction of it. If we saw sin as it really is, God as He really is, and understood justice we would hate sin with all our being, and we would be overwhelmed with the love and mercy of God and His plan to utterly destroy it. We would see ourselves for what we are. We would have a trembling fear of God knowing that there can be no sin in His presence. I recently heard the definitions of grace and mercy put this way...Grace is getting from God what we don't deserve. Mercy is not getting from God what we do deserve. Look at the comments below on the verses I just shared. Sin always has a penalty and can never be overlooked. It has to be dealt with, and that, God's way. God's love and His justice both, together had to be satisfied.

K&D:

But whereas on that occasion the burning zeal of Jehovah which visits sin stood in the foreground, and mercy only followed afterwards, here grace, mercy, and goodness are placed in the front. And accordingly all the words which the language contained to express the idea of grace in its varied manifestations to the sinner, are crowded together here, to reveal the fact that in His inmost being God is love. But in order that grace may not be perverted by sinners into a ground of wantonness, justice is not wanting even here with its solemn threatenings, although it only follows mercy, to show that mercy is mightier than wrath, and that holy love does not punish til sinners despise the riches of the goodness, patience, and long-suffering of God.

Hawker:

Reader! amidst all those precious declarations, that is not the smallest of them, that the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. For when, in the covenant of redemption, by the blood and righteousness of Christ, the Lord Jesus appeared and suffered, as a surety, and sponsor, for his people; the utmost exaction was made and paid to the righteousness of God’s law. So that to every true believer in Jesus, who seeks justification before God, in the finished salvation of the Lord Jesus, this perfection of God’s righteousness, which will by no means clear the guilty without a satisfaction, is as dear to the heart as his mercy. Here that scripture was fulfilled, Psa_85:10.

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. (Psalms 85:10)

"Righteousness admits of no abatement: Peace by the cross satisfies every demand. " ~Hawker on Ps. 85:10

Jesus Himself Who knew no sin, does not clear sin or excuse sin, but became sin for us and took the penalty (2 Cor. 5:21). The curse is broken by He Himself becoming a curse for us (Gal. 3:13). No greater love is there than this!! God never changes His mind toward sin. He cannot. He is holy - perfectly pure with no sign of corruption anywhere in Him. If He would accept even the smallest sin, it would corrupt His holiness and He would not be Who He is. No, He never ever accepts our sin. In order to satisfy love (God IS love), He had to bring justice. True justice demanded a penalty. Sin brought a curse. He could by "no means clear the guilty." There was no other way other than God coming down to earth in the form of man, satisfying fully the demands of the law by living it out perfectly in righteousness, then as sinless man, taking on Himself the penalty of the law which had to be satisfied for true justice to be done. Your guilt is only taken away as by faith in the blood of Christ, you come to Him and trust in His finished work. To reject that perfect demonstration of love to the fullest, is the utmost sin. There is no substitute, and there is no clearing of those guilty of such, other than that they turn in repentance to Him and receive His righteousness for them.

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (Romans 3:19-24)

It is a gift. What love!! This is why it is so futile and actually degrading to the law of God, when men think they can find any righteousness by trying to keep the law themselves, or that there is still justification somehow for them by good works. They settle for their own level of achievement in thinking they are good enough, thereby lowering God's standard, which is not comparing themselves with other men, but with the perfect law of God. If one part of it is broken the whole of it is broken and God cannot allow us in His presence by our standard of goodness. He had to perfect us by His own righteousness, not our own, in order for us to have fellowship with Him and live with Him sharing His glory forever. It is only through the blood of Christ. It is God Who we will stand before, and be judged by His perfect law, not our fellow men. Not according to the world's standards of right and wrong. If we stand in our own "goodness" then we'll find it won't hold up against His standard. If we stand by faith in the work of Jesus Christ, we will have His righteousness to defend us in the court of God.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:32-34)

Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (Romans 3:31)

Then the law is upheld...God's perfect standard is kept through Christ alone. He alone fulfilled the law's righteousness, and also its demand for justice. Now there is one way to be made right before Him, and that is faith in His finished work....He finished the work that the law demanded and all righteousness is through Him alone, God's perfect standard. To believe anything other than that is to cheapen His law and His grace both. But in Christ we see perfect love and mercy and justice fulfilled. Praise His name! His Spirit now can dwell in our hearts and make us a new creation that lives to know Him and please Him. We have a hope in full redemption and glorification to come.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

There is no justice in a world where God's law is disregarded and men impose their own power and laws on others for the purpose of controlling them. We see injustice all around us as evil reigns and gains power in the earth more and more. Good (according to God's standards), is called evil, and evil (living according to Man's standards) is called good. Leaders become dictators and more and more corrupt and full of lies for the purpose of their own greed and control. There is a great sense in our hearts of bitterness at the injustice we see as the righteous are imprisoned, persecuted, and slaughtered, and evil prevails. We watch in helplessness as our brothers and sisters are being killed and the world stands by and does nothing to help them. Those who have the power to do something, to take a stand, and to stop them do nothing. We can grow disheartened. We can grow faint. But as our hearts begin to understand our God of justice, we see that no matter what we suffer in this world as true justice and good are stomped on and the name of God blasphemed, that they have not won. They will not reign. The Lord is in control, and He reigns forever. Justice will come. Now is the time of grace and mercy. He waits. His longsuffering patience waits, but His children are not forgotten. We are more than conquerors through Christ Who loved us. No matter if they kill the body, they cannot take our soul. It belongs to Him and no one can snatch us out of His hands. Justice will reign (2 Peter 3:7-13, Psalm 37).

This age of grace is almost at its end. The time is short for those who persist in joining with the antichrist spirit. God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance. We need as never before to pray that all who are willing would have their eyes open to come now, while there is time, because soon God's judgment will come to this world in a time of terrible tribulation for the entire world. The book of Revelation speaks of it. So many signs tell us the stage is being set even now for that time to come. All is in place and happening just as the Lord told us it would. His Word is coming to pass before our eyes, if we care to understand and study it. God is just, and holds out His justifying grace to whosoever will, yet those who will finally reject it and choose rebellion against Him, He will bring justice against and end all evil finally and completely. Heaven will be a place where evil will never enter, nor will it ever bring anymore sorrow, or pain, or sighing anymore. People say, "If there is a God why does He not end all evil?" He will. completely. Forever. Will you join Him by freely accepting the grace you do not deserve from Him? Or will you be part of the evil that will be judged rightly and destroyed finally? What they don't know is that evil by definition, is all rebellion against God. That is the source of it and the cause of it. The only reason we have a sense of justice is because of the God of justice who put it in us.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:1-8)

True justice reigns, and no power on earth can thwart His plans for such and His plans for those He loves, who have believed in Him. Amen, Come Lord Jesus! May all those who have "ears to hear" receive His grace held out to them freely today and come and drink and eat and find life.

The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (Revelation 22:17)

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.

CHRIST WHO BORE ALL

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CHRIST WHO BORE ALL

And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually. (Exodus 28:29-30)

As I read through the Old Testament, I am continually delighted and amazed at the many ways God reveals Himself, and in that, the perfect love and salvation He planned before the foundation of the world for mankind. Once again, as I have been reading through the book of Exodus, I'm seeing the love of God, just how dearly He loves us and cared for all concerning us. Many are afraid of the Old Testament, as though the God of the Old Testament were somehow more severe, angry, and unapproachable. Yet as I've been reading through it, I've seen the love of God - the God of both the Old Covenant and the New, opened up to me in so many ways that my heart is just full and overflowing. I encourage you to read through the Old Testament if you have not done so, and to pray as you do for the Lord to reveal Himself and His glory to you in it. There are many types and foreshadows. So many get hung up on the foreshadows themselves and try to incorporate them in Christianity, and totally miss what they are pointing to...Christ the substance! All God has done and will do reveals His love for mankind, His perfect plan of redemption, and His judgment which flows also out of that love, against evil and corruption, bringing us to the final purpose of freedom of all evil, and perfection before Him so that we may dwell in His presence and glory forever, sharing with Him in that glory. He never acts outside of Who He is, and He never changes. He paints for us, such a wonderful picture of His unfailing love in all of His Word, which is an endless treasure chest full of treasures for us to pull out of it and learn from.

The Old Testament all speaks of Christ to us, once we know the New Testament fulfills that through the coming of Christ into this world. It will ultimately be fulfilled through His second coming, and the final judgment of all evil in this world. The book of 1, 2, and 3 John speak of God as "love." John tells us God IS love. Yet we fail to see the many ways He reveals that love to us. I saw that love revealed to me this week as I was reading Exodus 28, and the garments of the High Priest. This all typifies Christ, our High Priest forever, and His love for us. I just wanted to share some of my gleanings on His priestly garments with you today, and I pray they will bless you as much as they have me. As I was reading how Jesus Himself, bears the judgment of His own children upon His heart continually in Heaven before the Father, it melted my heart with the warmth of His love for me. It made me also think of other Scriptures such as Romans 8:31-39. And many other Scriptures speak of how complete and perfect that salvation is that He prepared for us. How then, can we ever think it is so fragile that we can lose it? So many ways He tries to tell us of it in His whole Word, yet we miss it so often. Today is such a dark and evil day when it seems the powers of darkness have been given free reign over the world and many are saying, "What is happening Lord? What are we supposed to do?" Yet God tells all to His children as to what His plan is in saving us, in keeping us, in judging the world, and in our own final redemption. We need, more than ever before, to have a clear understanding of the completeness, the solidness, and the earnestness of that salvation and of His love for us that will not ever fail us as we walk through these evil days until He comes. This is what will sustain us to the end. When we see and rely on the love of God and His goodness, we will also trust that love when all seems dark and we are in the fiery furnace of persecution, which is going to come to all who believe, trust in, and adhere to the Jesus Christ of the Bible, here in America, and is even now beginning in many ways.

Darby's notes on Exodus 28:29-30. I would encourage you to read the entire chapter of Exodus 28.

"But to pursue the ephod itself. The high priest represented all the people before God, and presented them to Him, and this in a double way. First, he bore them on his shoulders-carried the whole weight and burden of them on himself. Their names were all graven upon the two onyx stones which united the parts of the ephod; there was no wearing the ephod-that is, exercising the priesthood-without carrying the names of the tribes of Israel on his shoulders. So Christ carries ever His people.

Next, the breastplate was attached inseparably to the ephod, never to be detached. There also he carried the names of his people before the Lord, and could not, as thus dressed in the high priestly robes, be there without them. As it is expressed, he bore them on his heart before Jehovah continually. They shall be upon Aaron's heart when he goeth in before Jehovah. Thus are we borne ever before God by Christ. He presents us, as that which He has on His heart, to God He cannot be before Him without doing so; and whatever claim the desire and wish of Christ's heart has to draw out the favour of God, it operates in drawing out that favour on us. The light and favour of the sanctuary-God as dwelling there-cannot shine out on Him without shining on us, and that as an object presented by Him for it.

This was not, however, all. The Urim and Thummim were there-light and perfection. The high priest bore the judgment of the children of Israel in their present ways and as to their present relationship [5] upon his heart before Jehovah, and this according to the light and perfection of God. This we need, to get blessing. Stood we before God, such as we are, we must draw down judgment, or lose the effect of this light and perfection of God, remaining without. But, Christ bearing our judgment according to these, our presentation to God is according to the perfection of God Himself-our judgment borne; but then our position, guidance, light, and spiritual intelligence are according to this same divine light and perfection. For the high priest inquired and had answers from God according to the Urim and Thummim. This is a blessed privilege [6]."

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Jesus is a High Priest that cannot fail. He is a High Priest that bears us on His heart continually. He continually makes intercession for us before the Father. If you want to go into further study on this, the book of Hebrews brings out this perfect role of our High Priest and the fulfillment of the types of this from the Old Testament. In Hebrews God shows us how futile trying to continue to live under the law system of Judaism is now that Christ has come and fulfilled the law, and that He alone is our "propitiation" and our High Priest, making continual intercession for us before the Father.

...but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:24-25)

What love!! I am overwhelmed by it! How can I ever doubt such a Savior, and how can I ever fear when He is my High Priest? As I meditate on the love of this Savior which is beyond anything I can conjure up in my own mind or heart or try to imagine myself, I am left in such awe and wonder and my heart is filled to overflowing! I want my life to be pleasing to such a Savior. I want it to be a testimony of such glory and love. I want my thoughts, my actions, my words and all that I do to honor such a Savior. I don't want to fail Him. But fail Him I do, sadly. But yet, He never fails me. He is always making intercession for me, bearing my judgment ALWAYS, CONTINUALLY, and saving me to the uttermost. The more that realization hits me, the more my heart is humbled before Him and drawn to Him and to His love. I want for everyone to see it! I wish I could somehow make everyone see it and also know Him. And this is my prayer, that somehow my small efforts to write this love down in words which are so inadequate, will be used by the Holy Spirit to bring that same joy of His salvation to someone else, and draw them to this living Word of life.

May the Lord bless you as you think on these things.

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.

THE TRAIL OF FAITHFULNESS

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The Trail Of Faithfulness

I was thinking today on the lives of many in history and realizing the trail that led to my own salvation. If those who had given their lives to translate the Bible into English had not done so, I would not have a Bible to read that showed me the love and salvation of the Lord. If others had not carried that Bible with them and been obedient to its Words and brought it to others, who finally brought it through to my own generation and to me personally, I would not have found the Word of life that led to my salvation. So many had a part to play in my being able to hear of the salvation of the Lord! Not just one person.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:14-17)

Does our faithfulness to God mean anything? Does our simple acts of obedience mean anything? How do we know what a small act of obedience in sharing His Word will mean not only to one other person but perhaps to generations of persons? Only God does. I'm so thankful for those in my own trail of faithfulness, who only God knows, who finally were responsible for bringing that Word of life to me and enabling me to find His life as my own. My heart almost faints thinking of it, and realizing how weak I am at times, in sharing His Word with others. What part did God want me to play in His trail of faithfulness? If not me, God can use others, but I miss out on being a part of that trail of faithfulness and the life and rewards that are many in being a part of that.

What may seem to us as small conversations, chance encounters, getting together with friends, chatting with co-workers, or meetings of new people, could all be part of God's planting me where He wanted me to be in order to be faithful and obedient to submit to His working through us to touch that person, bring them a needed truth, encourage their hearts to continue on with the Lord, or perhaps to bring fresh truth that they never heard before, to cause them as well to be a part in His trail of life giving fruitfulness passed on yet more and more. That fruitfulness only came from "abiding" in Him. We may think we are doing nothing for the Lord. We may think our little get-togethers and conversations are unimportant. We may wonder at our part in God's working for His kingdom. Yet each day we have a part in being submitted to Him, in putting off the flesh, in putting on Christ, and letting His Word fill our hearts and minds so that we can be a part in that trail. It's Christ Himself Who builds this trail. It's a work of His and not of us, yet our part in it is very important. That part is to submit to His Spirit's working in us, allowing Him to teach us, train us, work in our lives, and feed us, so that we have fruit that is eaten and that nourishes others, so that they also may partake and give likewise. Our part is to put into practice His Word, every day of our lives, enabling our daily walk to touch those around us, however God chooses it to.

If we neglect our spiritual growth, we neglect also our part in this process. If we fail to obey the Lord, we fail not only the Lord but ourselves and others He brings into our lives.

Some are part of a trail of destruction instead. They constantly cater to their own flesh and selfish living. In doing so they bring harm to themselves, those around them, and leave a trail of corruption that is carried on and more corruption is built on that. Corruption in a parent's life tends to bring twice the corruption in their children's lives. Children tend to not only imitate their parent's sins but build on them and double them. The progress of sin and evil and lawlessness in the world has grown worse and worse the more the world emboldens itself against God and His Word. In the church there is a trail of corruption, disregard for God's Word, and self-centered "worship" traced back to those who disregarded His Word and brought man's teachings and even the teachings of demons into the church.

But the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, being seared in their own conscience (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

This has brought such a trail of apostasy that it's hard for many to discern what is true and what is false in the church today. In order to break this trail one needs to go back to the foundation of what is true. Go back to the foundation of what was left in the first place where it all started. Go back to His Word with a pure heart of seeking His truth and His light alone, surrendering self up to His cross, denying your own life in this world and receiving His true life. May God bring a true revival of love for His Word and true submission to Him. Instead today's so-called "revival" consists of a disregarding of His Word, and self-centered "spiritual ecstasies" and mystical experience, leaving the God of the Bible outside the door as they claim "we are rich and in need of nothing."

Many families have a trail of certain sins or bondages. They have been passed down from generation to generation. Alcoholism is one example of that. Adultery is an example of that. When a conscience becomes corrupted and compromises with the truth of what is sin, and excuses it, that sin is many times passed down to the children and they become even worse and more in bondage and deceived by it than their parents. But when one turns to the truth of the Gospel it is the truth that sets one free. When one realizes it is not some "curse" they must be prayed over and delivered from, but it is sin that must be acknowledged before God and repented of, that trail of sin is broken in them. Sin has no power at the cross. It is only the cross that sets us free. It is taking up our cross and following Him and believing that He alone is the truth, the life, and the way, and living according to that faith. The cross leads to resurrection and the power of that resurrection fills our lives as we submit ourselves to Him (Ephesians 1:17-2:6)

Do you want to be a part of a trail of corruption and unfaithfulness to His Word? Or do you want to be a part of that trail of faithfulness whereby many come to His living Word of life and find His life and salvation? You may never lead someone yourself to salvation, but you are a part of a trail, one or the other, and hopefully part of the trail that leads many to His saving grace and life and faithfulness.

Paul understood the dangers of this conflict and the trail that would be left by false teachers, and struggled against that with all the power of God in Him to make sure the Gospel was kept pure (Colossians 1:29).

Jamieson, Faucett, and Brown commentary on Col. 1:29:

He explains in what respect he “labored striving” (Col_1:29). Translate as Greek, “I wish you to know how great a conflict (the same Greek word as in Col_1:29, “agony of a conflict” of fervent, anxious prayer...

And again in Acts, Paul warns them fervently, wanting them all to remain on God's path and not be deterred from it with, as he calls them, "ravening wolves"...

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:26-32)

A true love of God and of His Word is a part of a trail of life that is passed on from generation to generation. Whose trail do we want to be on? And whose trail do we want to pass on to others we love? On God's path, everything we read and pass on, everything we do, everything we say, is important and must be taken before the Lord, examined by His Word, and dealt with accordingly, as we are on a path, whether we know it or not, that leads to life or corruption, one or the other. Our lives are not our own, and our choices all have consequences for us and others. Satan knows well of this trail and seeks to corrupt it every day, and succeeds in many places to change the truth for a lie.

Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus, open our hearts Lord, to the truth of Your Word and light our path, so that others may follow as well.

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.