Those Other Angels

There is a conspiracy out there. There is only one. There is an adversary who opposes God and all God represents. The enemy is the author of deception, by which he has taken over the inheritance of God's children. (We battle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12) The Bible tells us to be wary of being misled by the the wicked one, who seeks to ensnare us by wonderful lies and lure us away from the safety of Christ, our only Savior. (And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14) We are warned not to let the gospel be changed so as to eviscerate the heart of the what saves us. (But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.Galatians 1:8) The Bible is quite clear that the scriptures end with the book of Revelations. (For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelations 22:18-19)

What is the main thrust of the lie that Satan tells? The main symptom of demonic deception is the elimination of the Lordship of Jesus Christ, either by denying who Christ is, or by elevating man to the status of godhood. The lie creates the illusion of a level playing field.(For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. I Timothy 2:5,6)

Desire of Nations, Come

Are you tired? Are you dreading the start of the day, where you take your place in the game? I am seriously not meaning to detract from your sincerity, when I say that what you are feeling is a good thing! Are your eyes open to the double face of society? Does the hypocrisy wear you down? Good for you. Do you feel as if you cannot keep up? Congratulations. Does the competition spark a conviction that you are not good enough? Even better. To be able to get ahead by reason of pretensions, pride, and slanderous gossip is the method reserved for those without conscience.

You are being schooled in a better way. Jesus is calling us to be a warrior for the truth of His name. Each time the gospel, the good news, is shared, the Lord has won a battle.

"There is a price to pay! The world turns dim and gray." It is a blessing to be, for His sake, rejected in the here and now. It is a blessing to be hurt and bewildered. It is good to not be fulfilled by things that cannot satisfy. He is instilling in us desires that only He can bring completion to. "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad", for the Lord rewards, those who are His, from His own hand. He personally, holds and comforts the disowned, the disenfranchised, the lost innocents who cry out to Him. It is a compelling of the heart, His to ours. There is no harm that His pure presence cannot heal. It is the ultimate justification of our needs (for Him) and our efforts (for Him) to find our rest and perfect peace in Him.

Wadda Ya Mean, No?

You tell me you have good reasons for not giving your life to Christ? (Please excuse me for a moment while I get a grip on my exasperation.)Whatever objection is raised I have heard it before. I would like to entertain a few of them for you.

Christianity is for the weak. Well, of course! I am glad we could start off in agreement. Only Jesus can take the weak and foolish and win battles with them. Now you didn't think any rational person would surrender, to be saved, if they could very well do it themselves? The message I hear underneath this is that you believe you are the strong one. You believe you can save yourself.

It's a wicked world we live in. You have to be the tough guy so nobody will want to take you down. Honestly, there's a lot you just don't know. The biggest, baddest dude was once a terrified child, even if he does not remember it. God remembers. He knows that it is an issue of trust. He knows that each time you defend yourself with your anger, you place another brick in the wall of your prison, further away from Him, from what it is that you really need. Him.

I'd have to surrender my intellect to believe in fairy tales. That's putting it rather insultingly! The biblical narratives have more historical corroboration and material evidence supporting their validity than any other events of ancient history. Any "evidence" speaking against God and the Bible is only a parroting of opinion, flying in the face of the facts. Is is simply rebellion given voice. If it was really the truth you wanted, you would be doing the research, and reading the Bible. (Jesus said when you know the truth of who He is, it will set you free.)

I'm okay (a good person). By saying this, you are making a lie of God's standards, placing your own morality above His and making it clear you do not care what He thinks at all. What we do, is work for what is convenient for us, for what will get us what we want. God's perfection allows Him to accept suffering, even more than all the rest of us, to bring about the greatest good for us. How many people would you be willing to suffer for? Would you do it for someone who treated you badly?

If you will not willing surrender to the persuasions of gentleness and a shockingly exhilarating freedom, then you have become God's artwork despoiled, vandalized by the lies of pride. Humanity without Him is but an empty husk, a twisted shadow of the image of loving dominion (Jesus) that we were meant to be.