Truth in Advertising

"So when you look at me

you better look hard and look twice

Is that me baby

or just a brilliant disguise"

The above quote, may look like it comes from the Book Of Mormon, lol, but it is actually lyrics to a Bruce Springsteen song, titled: Brilliant Disguise". I grew up in the home state of Bruce, New Jersey. I also grew up listening to his music, and love the stories he relates in his songs. If it wasn't for his politics, I would probably still be a huge fan.

So why am I bringing up lyrics from a secular song? Well, that's a good question. The idea actually came to me based on a Sunday School discussion, in which our teacher brought up the lyrics, so I am taking the ball and running with it!

As Christians, we live day to day, battling personal and spiritual struggles. Like any animal in creation, when we aren't well, we try to disguise what is going on. Whether it is medical, physical or spiritual, we tend to try and disguise our hurt, and mask our weakness.

What about our everyday lives though? What about our testimony, our walk with God? Is it us, or a "brilliant disguise"?

A discussion was brought up about "labels". Not sticky notes, or address labels, but labels we place on ourselves, and labels we place on others.

I think the most significant labels we place, are on ourselves. We may think of ourselves as too short, too tall, too fat, too skinny. We may look at a different angle, and say we are too poor, or unloved or lonely. I remember a group of kids from high school, who labeled themselves as the "undesirables".

When it comes down to judging, we are always so critical of ourselves. Such harshness on our lives leads to health issues, chemical dependency, or any other way to cope with.

In our class, we did a semi-round table of how we labeled ourselves, and how we found out from others that that was not the perception they had of us. It is a trick the devil likes to play with us, by putting thoughts in our heads.

In this discussion, we discussed two of the three labels. The labels we place on ourselves, and the labels of how people see us.

Now don't think this is a non-Christian dilemma, it is ever bodies dilemma.

For this entry, I would like to focus on the Christian life, and the third label, how God sees us.

When it comes to being a Christian, our lives are put under a microscope, scrutinized by secular society and even attacked.

Now, after my long monologue, lets get to some scripture:

Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus is speaking a parable of the fruit tree, as it relates to identifying true and false Christians.

This scripture should be a mirror of our entire lifestyle as it relates to being a Christian.

One of the biggest objections for a non-Christian going to church is, the hypocrites!

It may sound like a bad slam against the Christian community, but it is a wake up call as well as biblical.

Lets look at the above passage again.

There are two trees. The both look alike on the outside, but both produce different fruit.

The good tree produces good fruit, and the bad tree produces bad fruit.

This is a picture of Christians.

There is also a warning that good trees, obviously can't produce bad fruit, and bad trees can't produce good fruit.

In fact, Jesus says that the bad trees will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

We can look at the warning:

Mat 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Mat 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Mat 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Mat 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

The enemy, the devil, has come into the church and planted non-Christians among the Christians. (tares among the wheat)

Jesus says they will grow together until the harvest, in which at that time, they will be separated. The wheat to the barn and the tares:

Mat 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

God knows our hearts, but you know what? Our testimony, and the fruit we produce as Christians reflects on our relationship with God, and how people label us.

As Christians we need to make sure that our "Sunday best", spills over into a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Saturday best, as well!

When we come to church and give our best, our lifestyle should match.

After awhile, people connect the dots.

One of my personal struggles is the world, and relating to it, as a Christian, living a Christian lifestyle, 24/7.

Everyday we walk the line with the just and unjust. We intermingle with all walks of life.

We are told:

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

With our society, we tend to want to fit the socially acceptable label instead of the Godly discipleship label.

My personal experience has been, and maybe you can relate, is that when I am not feeding on the Word, my light dims.

We live in such a dark world, that my faith sometimes feels like a solar powered flashlight. I can charge the light, but after awhile it will grow dimmer and dimmer until it shuts off completely.

A guy, in the dark, with no flashlight, is no different from everyone around him.

However, if we walk (1Jn 1:7) "....in the light, as he is in the light,...", we can have more confidence walking in the dark.

It is our duty to obey God, and feed on the Word, and be the light and salt of the earth. This is the label of how God wants us to be, a label of how God should see us, and a label of how we should want to be and of how people should see us.

It is not how we want to be labeled or how we want to be labeled, that should matter. When it comes down to it, the only label that should matter, is that relating to God.

Our Christian lifestyle should be transparent, glorifying God through our testimony.

In short, we should be a living example of, "truth in advertising".

-Jon

Home Is Where The Heart Is.

Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the
first commandment.

Not to long ago, I was battling with bronchitis and walking pneumonia. While I was in the doctors office, they had taken my blood pressure. Now my blood pressure goes up and down, like a roller coaster, throughout the day. It just so happens that at the time of my doctors visit, it was high. So much so, the doctor was talking about blood pressure medicine and a stress test. She had told me that she would give me a free pass on all of that this time, due to my illness. She did, however, tell me to keep an eye on my blood pressure, and consider coming back to have it checked again.



The heart is such a vital organ, to keep us healthy and alive. It continually beats throughout the day, pushing blood through our entire body to keep us functioning. The heart just beats and beats without us even thinking about it. In fact the only time I really thought about it is when attention was brought to my blood pressure, and how I now had to purposely pay attention to it.



Throughout scripture, our Great Physician, Almighty God, also tells us to watch for warning signs, and tells us where our hearts should be. Who better to know our heart, than the One who created us.



Well, some may say, "my heart is just fine", or "I know in my heart...". God, on the other hand, tells us about our own hearts.

Psa 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the
heart.

Pro 14:10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not
intermeddle with his joy.

Pro 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth
the hearts.

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked: who can know it?

If we ponder on the thought of God's absolute knowledge, our very own hearts condemn us!

How can we have a better understanding of our own hearts? Well, an easy sure fire way, is by our lips. Scripture teaches that our lips have a direct correlation to our heart condition.

Psa 12:2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

In this passage, the Psalmist refers to a double hearted person. One who has a heart to speak nice things, and one to create trouble.

Isa 32:6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to
practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul
of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

Here Isaiah talks of how people will be known by what they speak. When the speach is evil, we see the "heart will work iniquity", or lawlessness.

Mat 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?
for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Here, in Matthew, we see the condition of our hearts by how we speak.



Sometimes it so much easier to see the conditions of other peoples hearts, just by talking to them, then it is to see the condition of our own hearts. We must be diligent in paying attention to our hearts, through our speech. I will be the first to say, that this is an on going battle for me.

I took me awhile to realize how blaspheming our speech can be. Sometimes we will say things like, "Oh my (goodness, gosh, word)", instead of using the name of God. The tense is still the same though. We make the conscience effort to replace the name of God with another word, but it is still a verbal attack on God. The same goes for, "Holy (cow, macaroni, moly)". This tense, we attack the Holy Spirit. Our speech is not only offensive to God, it is offensive to our neighbor and ultimately destroys our witness. Do I need to mention the Holy name of Jesus, and how many times we blatantly use His name with out giving it its due reverence?



Lets look at an encounter with Jesus.

Mar 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running,
and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may
inherit eternal life?
Mar 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Mar 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. Mar 10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing
thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and
thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mar 10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had
great possessions.
Mar 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Wow, what an opportunity to witness. Imagine someone running up to you asking about eternal life. (On a side note, notice how Jesus didn't use the man center Gospel message, "Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life".) This man wanted eternal life, and said he kept the entire law, but God knew his heart, and knew he offended in one part. It was this mans money that will keep him from Heaven. His heart belonged to the love of money, and could never belong to God.

Like Jesus said:

Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the
one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

God want our heart. He did, after all, save us from Eternal damnation, through the blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary!

Lets go to Matthew and take a peek at this scripture:

Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth
me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Mat 15:17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at
the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Scripture goes on and on about our sinful, wicked thoughts, speech and heart. This is a condition we are unfortunately born with.

It is great and powerful thing to know that God, knows our hearts, and as the Great Physician He is, He works on repairing our heart. He works on our heart through the Holy Spirit. Our conscience is a God given pace maker to remind us of what is right and wrong, and where our hearts should and shouldn't be.

In Acts 2, Peter was preaching, and the scripture says:

Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and
said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we
do?

The people were "pricked" in the heart. That is nothing but an awesome God thing right there. Scripture continues:

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The people were pricked in their heart, and Peter told them to repent. Repent is a small word that means so much. Repentance means, admitting your wrong, confessing your sins, turning away from your sins, and continue in a new direction until you reach your destination. Our destination goal, is Heaven.

Through repentance, God will give us a clean, new heart, with new desires. Our eyes need to be focused on God. Our heart needs to be given over to Him. We need to lay our burdens down before Almighty God, so the Great Physician can heal us.

When someone has a heart attack, and the damage is repaired, and medication is given, there are changes as well. A change in lifestyle, diet, activity, etc. The very same goes when we give our life, and our heart over to God. God will give us new wants and desires.

When God gives us a new heart, He purges out the bad stuff and gives us blessings for keeping our heart right.

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

The word "pure", literally means clean or pure. Something we can not have or do, if it wasn't for the Grace of God!

2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity,
peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Here, Paul tells Timothy to FLEE, meaning runaway or shun, youthful lusts. Those youthful lust belong to the old body. Paul gives us guidance in the rest of the verse.

Our heart has a constant drum beat. We need to look deep within ourselves to see if we need to march to the beat of a different drummer. We need to get right with God about our troubled hearts, and hand it over to Him.

If we live with a pure heart, focused on God, our home will truly, someday, be where our heart is. With God, in Heaven!

-Jon

Rick Warren Twisting Scripture

Here is a two part audio, from The Way Of The Master Radio program, hosted by Todd Friel. This is audio is from Rick Warren doing an interview, with commentary done by Todd. Like Fox News says, "we report, you decide". Lets go better than Fox News, "Test all things and hold fast to that which is good"
1 Thessalonians 5:21

part 1:
approx. 9 minutes




part 2:
approx. 5 minutes





-Jon

Good News! Everyone Goes To Heaven!

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat
on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before
God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is
the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Here, we are looking at a passage from the book of Revelation, from the Greek
word, "apokalupsis", meaning unveiling or disclosure. This book is said to be
written in A.D. 96, by the Apostle John. While there is a lot of discussion and arguments over particular scriptures, right now I'd like to focus on the passage above, as it relates to the title of this blog.

This chapter is broken down in to several parts.

• 1. the binding of Satan (vs 1-3).
• 2. the reign of the saints with Christ (vs. 4-6).
• 3. the loosing of Satan, the conflict of the church Gog (a Hebrew symbolic name for some future antichrist) and Magog (an antichristian nation), (vs. 7-10).
• 4. the day of judgement (20:11-15)
  

As the text I shared at the top reveals, we will be looking at the fourth part, the day of judgement.

We have all heard the adage, "I got good news, and I got bad news", well lets start on a lighter note, the good news. Despite what is preached out of the pulpit about going to Heaven and Hell, the good news is, everyone, on the day of judgement, will go to Heaven. As the Apostle John reveals, in his vision given by God:

"Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God;"

The word small, comes from the Greek word mikros, meaning small. This just doesn't refer to the size of ones stature, but it is a comparative in size, quantity and dignity.

The word great, comes from the Greek word megas, meaning large, loud, strong, high, and mighty.

So it seems, in this verse, the Apostle John isn't limiting the dead to a body count, but also a economic, social, age and spiritual contrast. To be honest, the population comparison are limitless. Even the best worldly attorney, the best worldly judge will be in front of Gods great court.

In all his Majesty & Righteousness, God sits on the throne ready to cast his judgement on the dead.

The Apostle John continues with his vision from God:

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Here, the Apostle John's vision describes a book that is opened. This is referred to as the book of life, and later on in Revelation 21:27, as the Lamb's book of life.

Now the term, "book of life", is a Jewish phrase that refers to a record of names. The term "life" here, refers to "eternal life." In Philippians 4:3, the Apostle Paul refers to Christians, when he mentions, " whose names are in the book of life. So there you have it, the book of life, relates to saved, born again Christians, who God has recorded in this book. It is by this book, God will judge Christians by their works. It is a good and Godly thing to stay busy in His works, to get rewarded in Heaven, and for God to say, "well done good and faithful servant." On another note, if God writes your name in the book of life, nobody can remove it. That there is a little nugget of eternal security for you.

Now, in verse 13, John talks about the sea giving up the dead, and death and hell delivering up the dead. The sea giving up the dead, refers to those that have drowned and have died in the water. Then you have death, referring to the grave and hell referring to the separated spirits. The sea and grave have the bodies, and hell has their spirits. These too will appear before the throne of God for judgement. Unfortunately, they will be judged by their works as well. God standard for goodness is so high an unattainable, that it calls for perfect sinless life. That my friend has been accomplished by one man, Christ Jesus.

The last to verses of chapter 20 covers everyone not found in the book of life. As we can see, everyone not found in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire.

So the good news.... Everyone goes to Heaven.

The bad news... Not everyone will stay.

Is your name in the book of life?

Will you stay or go?

I know my eternal security is sealed by the blood of Christ. It is because of Gods grace, that I will not be judged by the law, because I am not under the law. It is by faith I am saved. It is Christ Jesus who paid the fine for me in the eternal court room of our mighty God. Praise Jesus!

-Jon

Deadlines Are A Nightmare!

Pro 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck,

shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

There is a song out, by a country group Rascal Flatts, called "Mayberry". You guessed it, named after the fictional North Carolina town made famous by Sheriff Andy Taylor, Opie and Aunt Bee.

More importantly, the first two verses of the song go like this:

Sometimes it feels like this world is spinning faster

Than it did in the old days

So naturally we have more natural disasters

From the strain of a fast pace

Sunday was the day of rest

Now its one more day for progress

And we can't slow down

Cause more is best

It's all an endless process

It is sad, but true. Our lives have gotten so hectic, chasing after this and that and meeting deadline after deadline.

I have been a truck driver going on 12 years now, and the trucking industry is nothing but deadlines. Everyone needs it yesterday because they put off getting until the last minute.

Now, I am no super trucker, hence to say, I have not met all of my deadlines. As with many occupations, things come up here or there and you just can't make it.

Now why am I talking about all this in relationship to the text above? One word:

DEADLINES!

Now the big wig, corporate figure heads run multi-billion dollar businesses on deadlines.

Did you ever think that God also runs on a deadline?

Lets read this verse again:

Pro 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck,

shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

It sounds to me like God does have a deadline for every one of us!

The text says, "He, that being often" (more than once) "reproved" (or corrected) "hardeneth his neck.."

God says, in His scripture, there will come a day, after He has tried to correct us for the last time, we "shall suddenly be destroyed, and without remedy" (or, without deliverance).

Lets look at the first part of the text. How does God reprove us? Several ways.

One is through, Spiritual Conviction.

1. Through the Holy Spirit we can be Spiritually Convicted.

2. Through Sickness we can be Spiritually Convicted.
Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

3. Through Sorrows we can be Spiritually Convicted.

4. Through Sweetness we can be Spiritually Convicted.

Psa 52:1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

5. Through Servants we can be Spiritually Convicted.

A Second way God can Reprove us is through, Stubborn Rebellion.

"hardeneth his neck"

1. Procrastination Hardeneth His Neck. (I'll do it later.)
Pro 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Look also at Exodus 8, when the plague of frogs came upon the Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked Moses to remove the frogs, and Moses said when and Pharaoh said in Exodus 8:10 "To morrow".

2. Pride Hardeneth His Neck. (I'm not gonna make a fool of myself)

The Devil will sit down with you in the church pew and tell you not to go up front and give your lif over to Christ. He will tell you that you will be embarrassed. Pride will escort you to Hell in chains.

3. Pleasures Of This World will Hardeneth His Neck. (I'd rather love the things I have than the love God)

Don't get wrapped up in the pleasures of this world. God warns us.

2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

The Devil will whisper in your ear, oh you don't want to become a Christian and give up what you have.

There will come a time when you will cross the deadline, and scripture says he shall "suddenly be destroyed".

God is a God of Judgement and Righteousness. Scripture warns us again:

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

God will send "strong delusion" so people "should believe a lie"!!

God spoke to these people over and over again, but they will be damned because they "had pleasure in righteousness.

Man will reject God for the last time, and God will give them up!

This is why we have so many cults, etc. These are people who knew the Truth, but believed not the Truth, often reproved, who has hardeneth is neck and God has sent them strong delusions that they may believe a lie!

People think, oh I can just call on Jesus in due time. I'm sorry to tell you friend, scripture says:

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:

and I will raise him up at the last day.

No man can come to Jesus, except the Father draw him. How is this done? By the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit draws us to Christ, it is the Holy Spirit that convicts.

The Bible teaches that the time will come when you will so insult God for the last time, by saying no to the Holy Spirit for so many times, that God will give up working in your heart.

Three times in the beginning of Romans, God speaks of giving them up, giving them up and giving them over.

That sudden destruction is a heart beat away.

Don't get the idea the eternity is way off in the future, because with sudden destruction, there is no remedy.

God has spoken to you and me over and over. God has spoken to us even today.

God also says if you continue to harden your neck, you will be destroyed. There are no second chances, there is no remedy.

Why would God reprove you and me?

It is because He loves us.

What if you think that your already crossed the deadline?

If you can still call on the name of the Lord, you haven't crossed the deadline!

Praise God!

Anyone who wants to be saved, can.

If you have no desire to be saved you have already crossed the deadline!

We are all one heart beat away from Heaven, or one heartbeat away from Hell.

Where will you spend eternity?

Scripture says:

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

After we die, we will be judged.

How will you do in front of the throne of God as he reveals every sin on the "big screen tv" for all to see?

It is not to late, to repent and trust in the Lord Jesus as your Savior. It is because of our sin, our iniquities, that He died on the cross, defeated death, and offers us the free gift of eternal life!

-Jon