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.”

Peace Like A River

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3:18

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He never led His disciples on horseback waving a sword and shouting ``death to the infidels”.  Think of it. No other religion in the world says ``Love your enemies”, or ``He that takes the sword will perish by the sword”, or ``Resist not evil’’, ``Pray for them that despitefully use you”.  As Jesus is the Prince of Peace, so He produces peace and joy in the lives of those who truly follow Him and obey His Word. He said, ``Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you”.  Have you experienced  the peace and joy of having  your sins forgiven,  having your name written down in God’s book, and knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior. He gives ``Peace that passes all understanding’’.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 1 Timothy 6:11

Immorality and vice lead to ruin in an individual and in a nation. Paul says that we are to Flee from these things; don’t hesitate, parley, or linger about temptations and vices,  but FLEE like Joseph fled the adulteress leaving his coat in her hands. The distress in our nation, the economic turmoil, the drug scene, the broken homes are the direct result of turning from God, taking God out of the schools, and rejecting the plain teachings of God’s Word. America was founded on Christian principles, and as a result became the greatest nation in the world. Early in our history Alexis de Tocqueville analyzed our phenomenal rise as a nation and said: ``America is great because America is good. If it ever ceases to be good, it will cease to be great.” Let us FLEE covetousness, lying, false dealing, drugs, fornication, (moving in together without being married), and all the abominations that God tells us to avoid.  ``Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14: 34. Above all, let us seek the only true salvation, Christ crucified, the only cure for a troubled soul, a troubled nation, or a troubled world.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

This word disorderly was used to refer to soldiers that were disorderly, not keeping in rank or insubordinate. When a Christian brother is disorderly, or ``out of line,”  a rebuke administered in love is what Paul is  teaching. Comfort and support those that are sorrowing, doubtful and downcast, give encouragement to those that have doubts, fear or distress and finally the capstone, or as we say colloquially, to cap it off, use patience in a spirit of love. This passage is not a call to be meddlesome or superior, but to love and support one another as we look to the eastern sky for the soon coming of our Savior and the events proclaimed in the book of Revelation of John. The countdown has already begun.

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Romans 12:14

It is frustrating when we witness to someone about the Gospel and they will not receive the gift of eternal life and give themselves to Jesus. It is more frustrating when they get angry or scornful. But when they get abusive or hurtful in any way, it is human nature to want to pay them in the same coin. The key word here is HUMAN nature. But this was not the way Jesus taught us to respond. He said ``Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven’’.

In one village where Jesus and the disciples were not well received, James and John (Sons of Thunder) wanted to call down fire from heaven and consume them. Jesus said ``Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Therefore, Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Romans 12:14

Waiting in God's Presence

I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. Psalms 130:5

This was soul waiting; he repeats himself.  This word wait means earnest expectation.  The context makes it clear that the object of David’s sincere longing and watching expectantly, was the Lord Himself; a deeper experience of the presence and acceptance of God, and an assurance of forgiveness of sin and restoration to closeness with God. Here we have a glimpse into the soul of David, and a potent reminder of why David was called a man after God’s own heart; he had a rich devotional  life in God’s  presence. Notice the MANNER  of David’s waiting; in His WORD  I HOPE.  Let us follow David’s example and set aside time for spiritual refreshing and fellowship with God, reading His word, praying, and just sitting quietly in His presence.

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2

In the Gospel dispensation, all are to be witnesses for Christ. God has committed the Gospel to Preacher and layman alike. ``Ye are my witnesses”. The congregation leaves the Sunday worship services and spreads out into the community, daily reaching thousands of persons in the daily pursuits of business, instruction, recreation, etc. that the pastor can never see or reach. We carry the flame of the Gospel and Jesus said ``Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.  Paul tells us the manner of doing this. We are to be constant, ready at all times in bearing witness to Christ, in season and out of season, that is, when it is opportune and easy or when it is discouraging and difficult, in good times and bad, spreading the good  news  of a full, free, eternal salvation bought and paid for by the blood and suffering of our Savior Jesus Christ. If we faithfully fulfill this mission, we will have no need to be ashamed before Him at His return to judge the living and the dead.

Go, Stand, Speak

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. Acts 5:20

The disciples had just been miraculously delivered from prison. It would seem natural to want to lay low for awhile, sort of keep a low profile. But God commands them to continue the work, and the words used can be applied to us. GO. This is a command to all Christians. Jesus said `` GO ye into all the world. This entails inconvenience, but fellow human beings are dropping off into eternity daily, without God and without  hope. The LORD says GO. You say, ``what does this mean to me?  I’m not a missionary. You can pass out Gospel tracts, walk in the Spirit so that others see Jesus in you. You can pray for the lost, let your light shine instead of hiding it under a bushel, feed daily on the Word of God, and  you can attend worship services on the LORD’s day. In other words, be a testimony to the truth of Jesus saving grace.

There are three things commanded here: GO, STAND, and SPEAK,  and may God  bless you and go with you as you let your light shine for Jesus.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:17 

The decaying structures of past civilizations  bear witness to the truth of today’s verse. Pictures of the Parthenon in Greece, their old Olympic  stadium, or the Roman colosseum  and the ruins of the old Roman Forum and all the monuments that are crumbling and decaying with time, impress us that the things of this present moment will perish in like manner. Very little is left of the ``Glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome”.  The World passes away, but also ``the lust thereof”. If all our most fervent desires and plans could come to fruition, how short would be the period of our rejoicing and exultation. In the words of Omar Khayham: ``The Worldly Hope men set their Hearts upon turns ashes—or it prospers; and anon, like snow upon the Desert’s dusty face lighting a little hour or two—is gone.”   Your world, your hopes and dreams as well as mine are rushing to oblivion.  ``It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Heb. 9:27   I counsel you to invite Jesus into your heart before it is everlastingly too late.

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:21

From the point of view of fellowship with God, Jude is saying, keep the flame burning bright, exercise the graces of faith, hope and charity, feed daily on God’s Word, and pray always. In other words, walk in the Spirit. This verse can be viewed as a solemn warning against falling away, or apostatizing, but it must be remembered that GOD KEEPS US. Jesus says of His disciples that we ``shall never perish,” ; that we are in the Father’s hand ``and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” Think of it this way. A father is walking near a steep cliff with his five year old son. He warns him, ``Now if you pull away from me and run off, you will fall over the edge of this cliff.” All the while, the father has a firm hold on his son’s hand. Do you think the father will let go?  So we see that the warning is real and necessary but the child is secured by the father. All those that are truly born again WILL CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, while the  hypocrite and false disciples will be revealed in the day of Judgment. It won’t be long. Get ready.

Brotherly Love

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:21

The previous verse explains this one. If we don’t love our brother whom we have seen, how can we love God whom we have not seen? This love involves feeling and compassion, but it also means to desire and seek our brother’s welfare: it is good willing toward them. In another place the Bible says that love is the fulfilling of the law, so that all the other laws and commands in the Word are comprehended in this command to love one another. Paul says`` let us do good unto all men,” Gal. 6:10. Can you imagine what kind of world this would be if we all obeyed  this command to practice love toward one another? One day we will not have to use our imagination, because that is the way it is in heaven. The day draws nigh. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.