9/16/2025
"As long as it is day, we must do the works
of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no
man can work."
John 9:4
I've been sitting here for well over an hour staring at the computer screen, looking at my notes, bursting in tears, rubbing my head. I took a break and went downstairs to Daniel's dungeon, and I actually made him laugh over some silly antics with the little Grinch I gave him a couple of years ago. I'm seriously thinking of writing Grinch tales, under another name, as that one is already taken. I imagine if I publish the stories I'll have to design an entirely new character for the stories, but then it wouldn't be the same. Daniel's been having some down days, but as he was cackling over some lunacy, he said "Laughter really is good medicine." That's one for Solomon!
Last night I returned the call of a friend, who obviously was having a hard day, but I made her and her aunt laugh too. Kinda sad that I can't seem to make myself laugh. Not at the moment, no. Usually I laugh all the time. I never get bored, as I can break the monotony of work remembering silly things. I don't know, maybe it's recent events still heavily on my mind, seeing photos, thoughts being revived as I write. Who knows. One thing is certain, this melancholy will pass.
The world seems to be turning upside down, but not in an altogether bad way. I remember when the disciples came alive in Christ once the early church got kick started by the arrival of Holy Spirit. Jesus' final words spoken to the disciples as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20 were:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
But then, He told them to wait for the gift of Holy Spirit:
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Jesus instructed His disciples to go, but He knew they would need power in order to work effectively. He knew they were facing more than mere flesh and blood persecution, rather they were up against a spiritual battle, so He prepared them for it by giving them Holy Spirit, our Comforter. When Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection, He breathed on them to receive His Spirit, but later He gave them instructions to wait. Imagine how they felt cooped up in that room waiting, anticipating, not knowing what was coming next?! On the Day of Pentecost the wait was over, and from that moment on, the church was birthed, and lives were changed. The book of Acts takes us on the journey of salvation, promised first to the Jews then to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16). Jesus met Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee, en-route to Damascus to persecute the Jews of the Way, as believers in Christ were known. Jesus hand-selected Saul, later renamed Paul by Jesus, to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. As the Gospel story progresses, the disciples and many followers, including Paul the Apostle, were martyred for the faith. Only John the apostle survived, after enduring several attempts to kill him, but in the end he was exiled to Patmos, where he received The Revelation of Christ, describing the imminent return of Jesus to rule and reign as King.
So why am I saying all this again, other than to testify of Jesus, because I dearly love to talk about my Best Friend, Savior, Lord, the Love of my life. Jesus also shared other words with the disciples and the crowds who flocked to hear His words, be healed, delivered, to be fed, and many accepted Him and His message of the Kingdom of God. In Matthew, chapters 5 - 7 Jesus sat on a hill and taught a large crowd that came to be known as The Sermon on the Mount. He taught and spoke in parables, as I have mentioned before. In chapter 7, Jesus spoke of the "narrow way," the road that leads to eternal life (verses 13-14), and He said that many false prophets would come in the end times. The way to identify true followers from those who walk in darkness is that those who walk in the light, as He is in the light, always bear fruit. The sad thing is that many will be deceived regardless. In verses 21 -23 Jesus goes on to say:
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I ever knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"
A couple of days I shared the parable of the sower and the seed, and how easily it is to fall by the wayside when there is no depth in our relationship with Christ. In fact, there is no relationship, because He is not Lord of our lives. I spoke of examining my life to see if there is anything that stands between me and the Lord. I want to bear much fruit for His kingdom and for His glory. The church teaches once saved always saved, but they fail to explain what being "saved" involves completely, and that discipleship and commitment, turning from the sinful life is required. These verses are not the only warnings in scripture about salvation not being "cheap grace," or what some have termed a "get out of hell free card." A life hidden in Christ brings surrender, absolute surrender to Him. Giving Him all of us, just as He did when He gave His life for ours. As the end times progress, more persecution will come, and, as sad as it sounds, more martyrs on American soil. Just what happened recently tells all. But such martyrdom is being seen all over the globe. It's when it hits home that people sit up and take notice.
Romans 6:1-2 begins with these words: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" Later, the writer of Hebrews puts it this way: "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries." (Hebrews 10:26-27) These words are so frightful, and should put the fear of God's wrath in us. Proverbs says in chapter 9, verse 10: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." The fear Solomon is speaking about is an awe and reverence of our Holy God of Israel. It is not His intention for us to be afraid to approach Him. When He created the world He wanted relationship with us. But to continue to disrespect His free gift of grace by faith in His Son, brings His wrath.
This is something we must think about, consider long and hard, and decide whom we will serve. We can choose where we spend eternity.
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