Versaday

The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Psalms 24:1

 Many times people behave as though this world and all that is in it was created primarily for our pleasure and enjoyment to frolic, cavort around, and to please ourselves. This is all wrong. The result of this attitude is the suffering, heartaches, and wretchedness that we endure in our own lives and to which our news media give constant witness. THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD. The Bible says of Jesus: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:3. And again, “Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”. If you don’t bow the knee to Him, honor Him and serve Him, you have missed the glorious purpose and the high calling for which you were created and this will result in an eternity of loss, suffering and sorrow. Jesus says: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”. Rev.3:20. Like the song says: “Just a few more weary days and then, I’ll fly away”.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Psalms 24:7

Can you imagine Jesus’ reception in heaven after the crucifixion and resurrection? He had lived in this world for thirty three years, enduring hunger, mockery, and insults and then the anguish and agony of the crucifixion. But now He has risen from the grave and is welcomed back to glory. Even the most lavish reception of Caesar or any Roman conqueror couldn’t give us an inkling of the joy and celebration. And it will happen again! When He returns for His bride, the church (all the born again Christians), the book of Hebrews lifts the veil and shows us His return to heaven with us. He proudly says to the Father: “Behold I and the children which God hath given me.” Heb 2:13. Will you be there? Once again I say, don’t miss it for the world!

The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them? Jeremiah 8:9

Without the word of God, no one has the faintest idea of why we are here or what life is all about. Our statesmen and leaders are perplexed and confused as they try to confront the growing problems of the world. The Psalmist said it correctly years ago: “The entrance of thy word giveth light”. If people reject the Bible one person`s guess is as good as the next as to the meaning of life. It is THE WORD that gives light on our path. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”. The Word points us to Jesus, the Light of the World. The Word is our greatest heritage, and no man is truly educated without a familiarity and knowledge of it.

The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Psalms 93:1

What a majestic picture! The LORD reigneth. Down on planet earth all is turmoil, perplexity, grief and confusion. In heaven the LORD reigns and all is peace, harmony and blessedness. The Bible teaches that one day the bedlam, sorrow and suffering that is life as we know it in this world will come to an end, the sheep will be separated from the goats, and the redeemed will dwell in peace, joy, and submission to the sovereign will of our omnipotent Father in heaven.  Note the last part of this verse: ``the world also is stablished that it cannot be moved’’, that is, for the present. Jesus said that in the last days there were certain signs that would indicate His return to judge and rule the earth. Among other signs, He said  there will be ``great earthquakes in divers places, and famines, and pestilences.” Luke 21:11.  We’ve always had earthquakes, but this refers to a notable increase in, (a)FREQUENCY. And (b) INTENSITY.  Jesus said that it would be like a woman’s birth pangs that increase progressively until the delivery. Jesus said, ``and when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. TODAY is the day of salvation. Are you ready?

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:17

Whatever business or project you undertake, you need the right tools. The verse prior to our versaday tells us that God has given us the inspired scriptures and that they contain everything necessary for us to know in order to gain forgiveness of sin, to have fellowship with God, to avoid eternal punishment, and  to have eternal life through Jesus, His Son. During our brief stay on this planet, God wants us to walk in close fellowship with Him by prayer, reading His Word, and living a holy life, that is, separated from sin. The ONLY way to do these things is to feast richly on His Word. ``His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”. 2 Peter 1:3

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Perfection is the goal we are to strive for, in thought, word, and deed. The only one to fulfill this command was Jesus Christ. If He had not been perfect, He would have been a blemished sacrifice and therefore unacceptable to God, because God requires perfection. But thanks be to God, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law, lived a perfect life, and therefore His sacrifice of Himself for our sins was a full payment and settlement of the debt we owed. Now follows an AMAZING scripture: ``For by ONE offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14 How many offerings? ONE. Perfected how long? FOR EVER.  Now that we have perfection positionally through Jesus, we are to strive for perfection in our daily lives. We must say as Paul, ``I count not myself to have attained, as though I were already perfect, but I follow after….”   In other words, perfection was his goal, and must be ours also.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15

Peace can only rule in your heart when you walk in obedience to God. When you honestly search your heart, every nook and cranny, to see if there is any known, tolerated sin or willfulness, and then repent of  it, surrender it and ask the LORD  to forgive you; then, and only then will the peace of God rule in your heart. What peace there is, knowing that you are walking in close fellowship with God in obedience to His Word!  Does it sound strange? Many are called, but few are chosen.

Once again, don’t confuse obedience to God or any effort on your part as a reason that God should save you and take you to heaven when you die. THAT was purchased by the death of our Savior, and is a free gift that we cannot earn, work for, or merit in any way. Salvation is the GIFT of God through His Son Jesus who paid the penalty for our sins. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. THEN, after we are already saved, and walk in obedience, we have peace like a river.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3

We live in troubled times. Stress, anxiety, and worry, sleep disorders and mental illness lead to record sales of drugs, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills. And how can we have peace, if we do not know the Prince of Peace, or if we claim to know Him, but rush around like everyone else, madly pursuing wealth, fame, and pleasure and are totally absorbed in the things of this world. Jesus said to His busy and harried disciples, ``Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while”: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. Mark 6:31. Go into a quiet, private  place, open the Word of God, read awhile, meditate awhile , pray awhile. Spend time in the presence of our Savior and let the Prince of Peace impart the ``peace that passeth all understanding.”  Actually, this the second step. The first step is to receive the Prince of Peace as your LORD and Savior. May God bless you and give you perfect peace.

Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Job 22:21

Sometimes before we meet someone we think we know what they are like; then we meet them and find that they are not at all like we thought. That is the way it is with those that don`t know the LORD. Some think of Him as unreasonable. He says: ``Come now, let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”  Isaiah 1:18.  Some think that He demands too much of us. ``What doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul?” Micah 6:8.  Some think that He is eager to punish. ``He keeps mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Ex.34:7. Or some think that He will never punish sin. ``He  will by no means clear the guilty.” Ex. 34:7.  What is He really like?  Jesus reveals the Father. Jesus said to Phillip: `` He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” You must come to God through His Son. You come to know God by receiving His Son as your Savior and repenting of your sins. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Job 22:21

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36

Sometimes when a wealthy man dies the question is asked; ``How much did he leave? Five hundred thousand? A million? Twenty million? On one occasion this question was asked when a certain rich man died: How much did he leave? The reply came; ``HE LEFT IT ALL.” How much will you and I leave when we die? We have a few short years in THIS world and we strive, scheme, labor and contrive to get all the wealth and have all the pleasure possible. Then….whoosh. We are gone. But where? And  how much do WE leave? And what is the profit of all our earthly sweat, toil, worry and provision? Now, we must stand before God and give an account. At that time the only thing that matters is what you did with your life,  what you did with Jesus, and what you did for Jesus. What are you profited if you gain wealth, pleasures and fame and lose your soul in the process? Receive Jesus, live for Him, and anticipate hearing in the day of Judgment, ``Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of the LORD.”