Count the Cost!

In innocence, I asked the Lord a question. We tend to think we should understand, but in the knowing of good and evil, there is no balancing on the razor's edge. This comprehension is the key which moves us on through an open door.....to hell or heaven. The minutest sample of the power of destruction, even for it's own sake, corrupts everything it touches. They all become "without form and void," stripped of all meaning and conscience.......with One exception.

Only One has overcome the dictates of force, fear, and merciless, mindless, and compassionless destruction. He has disarmed hatred. He robbed death of all decisive power. It is His will, alone, which does, and will, prevail, again, with one exception.....

He has left our own will intact,  sovereign in choice of destiny, in context of relationship with Him. He defines the one criteria which gives access to His reward and approval. It's an all or nothing choice. Only the very righteousness of God passes muster.

My question for Him was, "If each sinner seeks to impose his own will over yours, then why not provide each rebel with his own world, with limits beyond which he cannot spread his illness?" God has already done that. The world is called Earth. He even threw in a shot at perfection. Now that we have joined in the questioning, He has added the chance to learn some of what He knows and understands. The mess starts with the knowing of evil, but with all of the full scope of it's pain and consequences.

In conquering our darkness, in banishing the just results of our rejection of our very life, He has reaffirmed Himself as our standard, our goal, our reason, and our highest calling! He has imposed His healing on our insanity! It was always our destiny to understand, but from the perspective of His joy! That joy is far greater than we could contain in a state of innocence. He has blazed the trail, opened wide the gate, to heaven, where He dwells, by gifting us an understanding of Himself.

New eyes opened understand the cost of love, HIS love, and know that only HIS has any worth! Rabid and fanatical devotion grow out of the perception of His beauty! This zeal is but a reflection of His own!

No matter how pristine the environment in which the sinner is placed, he will soon convert it to the hell which dwells inside himself. He can achieve no satisfaction, can find no shred of joy or love, but must endure the final, eternal disappointment and anger of the One who cannot be shut out, because of the cost of the refused, freely offered without price, salvation. Sin has destroyed any trace of the godly within the wicked man, for he refused to be satisfied with the abundance of the person of God. The time has past when he could have surrendered the only thing of value he could have offered, himself, to receive as King the only One of any value. The sinner is left with nothing. He IS nothing.

The Satifaction of the Finish!

All glory is the Lord's! It is my great joy to lift up my brother, and do all that I can do, in Jesus' Name! The exact measure of my burdens of sorrow, which He so generously allows me as a vent for my grief, will feel like nothing, as a brief flash, when compared to the multiplied peace, satisfaction, and glory of their resulting harvest (which He brings forth). My naked eyes are open to the morning light, increasing toward the full light of day, the healing of my wounds, a reconciliation to His love! We shine with the radiance of His brilliant image! Our disguises fall away like dust. Benevolence is our sure inheritance, the Rock of His character on which we stand! He brings us to where we glory in Him! Glory! So much glory! Surrounds us and is about to be revealed to the world! With HIM, I will be satisfied!

The High Cost of Tyranny

We have been rabidly and violently pursued with your agenda and expectations. A people of peace forcefully confronted with the despotism of greed are left no place in this world. Yet the will of the Lord has used this to wake us up.

We have been given:

A shockingly and achingly clear vision of right and wrong, as defined in HIS character.

A firm resolve, to pay the cost, regardless of price, of HIS freedom.

Strength to voluntarily take up the the face, the very identity, of the martyr for HIS name, of the only One who can cleanse and heal this evil.

The very angels of heaven are drawn to the purity of this fire of devotion, to minister of their comfort and support.

Only those who pay the price, to give up all hopes of the flesh, can render the just verdict. It is those burning with the passion, of compassion and mercy, who will push forward in the conflict, to lead the people of hope and courage, for this people recognize the Face of their Beloved, which is of self sacrifice.

The battle lines are drawn. You will find no solace of peace and security in an acquiescence of cowardice. Where do you stand? On whom will you be able to depend? Your very soul Hangs in the balance..