The Sum of My Writings.
Posted: Tuesday, June 09, 2009
by straight talk
Now I have been driven to write of the End Times as described in God's Word. The prophesy and words God's and not mine. The warnings God's, not mine. The events as ordained by God to be thousands of years ago, God's, not mine. No, what I write to are the signs that He, the Lord God provides for those who claim a belief in Him. I truly believe this passage is the heart and soul of what I have been trying to express.
"13- The Lord Says: These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. 14- Therefore once more will I astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise shall perish, the intelligence of the intelligent vanish."
Paul also writes in his second letter to the Corinthians Chapter 2 NAB verse 15 and 16 " For we are the aroma of Christ for God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 to the latter an odor of death that leads to death, to the former an odor of life that leads to life." And in Chapter 4 of this same letter NAB verse 8 " We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 Persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed."
Now I also turn to Paul's letter to the Hebrews to reinforce my perception and understanding. I will extract certain verses from Chapter 3 NAB which I feel speak directly to what I am trying to establish for you to study. Verse 7- 15, the desert rebellion in the Exodus, specifically "Because of this I was provoked with that generation and said, "They have always been of erring heart, and they do not know my ways." 11- As I swore in my wrath[ wrath from the God of Love?] "They shall not enter into my ways."
I now turn to the same book and bible Chapter 4 verse 6 [ a very distinct notice to the professor]
6- "Therefore, since it remains that some [notice some] will enter into it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience." So yes God is Love wanting none to perish but by choice decision some will turn from His Word and follow the doctrines of man. Verse 11- No creature is concealed from Him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must render an account."
Now the man of today claims to be living in a New Age, an age of enlightenment and wonders. An age when man can even bring forth and duplicate life and reach to the stars and who has no more need of God. While true man practices the rituals of faith that faith no longer is true, committed, believing. The great majority follow the doctrines of men and yes what this world has to offer. Yes, Chapter 3 verse 19 NAB sums it up, And we see that they could not enter for lack of FAITH.
Now the temptations of this world are many, from the subtle to the extreme. Once tasted, as in the garden, the human desire and craving for more and more is hard to resist. Like great sex it only last for a short period of time, yet we hunger to get it back as often and as frequently as we can. Like drugs that "solve" our problems for the moment, allow an escape from reality, we long for that brief moment, which becomes harder and harder to achieve. Like wealth and power, which flees us all at the end because we are alone with God and the accuser when we die. No, the room might be full but we are all alone and the world, gone. Yes even Paul recognized how difficult it was. Even he was given a thorn to carry, to keep him humble and aware of God's grace. He did what he did not want to do. Yet and that yet significant he fought against it, he ran the good race and in the end he placed his faith in God.
So the world and all it promises is indoctrinated into our children and our ways are laced with the desire for more and more of this world. All consuming mind, body and spirit we covet as much as we can obtain. We make excuses and claim it is good and God wants us to prosper yet do we recognize the ways He is talking about or just the worlds perspective? We teach our loved ones this is a dog eat dog world, to do better and to be better, success, material possessions, wealth, position, power are signs of good. We disdain those who are poor, underachievers, average as mere worthless workers and assets to be used accordingly for our personal gain. Lazy, irresponsible, slackers the world needs to profit but does not want.
Yes and even while a multitudes attend church or religious services each week, performing the rituals and follow the laws and decrees and doctrines of their respective church or religion doing what man says they should to win God's favor. Yes many sitting at the table in high places and proclaiming their holiness and works so all can see. Yet all God asks is faith, a faith hinged on His Word. Yes we are sinners all, but those who believe recognize and repent knowing the Word and about grace.
So just what does God require? What God desires in spelled out in His Word, that is the works of mercy, compassion, love, and the fasting as set forth in Isaiah 58. He also sets before believers the sin we should recognize, the works we should see and yes he talks about wealth and the wealthy many, many times. Yes, but sadly for many their hearts do not hunger for God but for what pleases themselves. The route for us all in my opinion is a return to the early church in all it did and followed. That church took from their surplus and provided for all in need. Notice all who were part of that congregation and the many others helped their brethren to pay the rent, put food in their stomachs and clothes on their backs. The slackers, well they did not earn that right and were expelled until they repented. Is that what you truly see in your church, here in America or is that help to far off shores? Is not our own house, our own neighbors in need as well? Here in America we must get approval for mercy, approval for compassion, approval for love and most times rejected to serve the things of this world.
Now certainly that does not mean we should ignore those off shore in need. Certainly not but the specific point is start with our own house first. Do you not see poverty, crime, exploitation, greed on America? No, it is my belief truly a time when we all should come to God in fear, repentance, honor and praise. What do many pray for? More of what the earth provides. Miracles to remove our crosses our trials seeing not Gods divine hand in all that we undergo.
Yes, sadly, I too am a sinner who had it all and now no more. Broken in every way with only faith or what is left of it to hold onto. Now two TV preachers were giving a teaching from the word. Speaking about in general the woes that befall man. They listed a verse and then said it comes upon men for reasons, which they basically summed up as sin. While true they left out the most significant aspect of grace. What is that, suffering with Christ, a rejection of the world, a separation from the world and to do that one must be totally wretched from its grasp, torn, separated. So in truth and like me not seeing the grace and mercy of God I squandered what He provided chasing after the things of this world. I sinned and suffered my fate yet I was also exploited and abused and cast out by those who set me up, indoctrinated me, called me friend and spoke of good and help when in their hearts they knew there was none. Yes and I trusted. As the fool that I was, trusting in man. Yes and now that I have lost all I earned and took in this world, my home, my material possessions, and God knows I have nothing else financially, I have come to recognize that those things are nothing of real value. Do I want them, miss then, yearn for them, well the answer is that we need a home, clothing, food, etc but what kind and how elaborate? The greedy fight over it and hunger for profit. Exploiting those who are broken and crushed for their financial gain while bragging about their success and wealth. The politicians use the situation for their own good, promising while delivering little and yes even while they pass fault and risk onto those they have crushed. Labeled by them as irresponsible, deed beat, low life, they who have no mirrors in their home and ice in their hearts and certainly their faith, well by mouth not deed. Like vampires they see not themselves in the mirror and they suck every drop of blood they can get from their victims. Yes and like the vampire their fate awaits.
So when there is nothing one has removed the barriers from their vision. I have now come to see the love in my children's heart, the birth of grandchildren to share for eternity, a wife who stands by me in all trial and adversity as we take care of our elderly parents. What greater need have I of anything but trust and faith in Him who created me and us? What need do I have of anything of this earth. Cast me out into the night and my hope will still reside in Him who is true, not man. No it is the trial that we find home, reality, truth. It is in trial that we recognize and purge our wickedness and come through the fire. It is in the separation of what this world offers from that which is of the spirit that we recognize the greatness and love of God.
So now more then ever it is time to cast aside the world and leave it for those of this world to fight over and fight they will. Their recovery and prosperity will certainly come on earths plain but that will be short lived because it is appointed all to die and then the judgment.
Now is the time to prepare, to help your fellow man no matter of what race, religion, nation, be they poor, or rich. Now is the time for mercy, compassion, love. Seek it not in those of this world but seek it in those who make up the church of the latter days. Believers who not only profess but walk in faith, helping each other. By this they shall know you as God sees and knows [verse 11 above].
If you liked reading this, found it challenging, even that you didn't agree but wanted to seek more, then turn to realconsiderations.blogspot.com.
Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2009 Copyright 2009 Robert Melaccio Sr.
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