CERTAIN MEN CREPT IN UNAWARES

   Years ago I visited the church I had attended growing up.  I was not interested in what the preacher was saying because it was obvious he really had no personal experience with God to make me want to listen to his canned sermon.  But God works in mysterious ways and at the end of the service when the congregation was singing the ‘invitational hymn’ a young boy, maybe in his late teens, came down the isle in tears.  It was obvious that God was dealing with his heart and the boy was doing what he thought was right.  The preacher made him a church member.  He offered him  the ‘right hand of christian fellowship’ and asked the congregation to come and welcome the young man on their way out.  He didn’t have a clue.  The preacher, I mean.  Here was a young person that was either under great convictioin about his life or had made the choice to give up his sinful life and receive the Spirit of God into his heart.  This church leader was oblivioius to what  was happening.  He was ordained by the denomination and making a living at his job, but he was unable and unqualified to meet the boy’s need.  He did, though, have a nice house and a nice car.

  This church was just small potatoes compared to some ‘mega churches’ of today.  We can see on tv some of these large churches and their preachers.  Many of these preachers don’t have a clue as to the ministry of God in the earth.  But they make a bunch of money.  A lot of money.  It may be hidden in church administration or church business but some of these guys are very rich.  Look at Richaard Roberts of ORU.  He didn’t do a very good job of hiding his taste of the rich life, neither do a number of others, but it’s just something that’s not talked about.  The expensive suits, perfect hair and constant smile without joy, can be deceiving but in the end show the pride of life.  They, in their pride, cannot meet the real needs of others.

   As I remember the scriptures in 1 Pet. 2:22, 23, we, as christians, have an example to follow.  “…because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps..”.   The example Jesus set was not one of luxury and self indulgence.  Just how the ministry was financed I don’t know.  Needless to say, His Father took care of their needs just as He does ours (whether we give appreciation for this or not).  What ever the case, He and His disciples didn’t have a whole lot, as shown when He had Peter catch a fish and take money out of its mouth to pay their taxes  (see Mat. 17:27).  Jesus and His disciples did have a house in Capernaum from where the ministry took place (Mat. 9:10, 13:1, Mk. 2:1).  Mostly He and those with Him walked to where ever they were going.  The didn’t go by the Lexus chariot company’s latest model.  They got their feet dirty on dusty roads, got thirsty and at the height of His popularity Jesus road on a donkey.  God, as promised, met their need, not their greed.

  The point here is that our Example did not give us an example of a rich life style.  He practiced and taught a life of giving, not getting.  It seems today many preach about how to get worldly blessings from God.  Or, their saying God is to serve us, when we are, of course, to be serving Him.  As a matter of fact this is what Jude severly criticized in vs :4 where he said, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”  And in vs :11,  “… for they have gone the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward…”.  Jude goes on with strong condemnations of these type of church leaders.  As does Peter and also John.  The ‘prosperity message’ preached by so many, has taken the point of God’s desire for His people and pointed it to prospering themselves instead of the life of giving and sacrifice that was our exemple.

  Remember this, that Jesus is coming back for a “…glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).  These others are “…spots…and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you…” (2 Pet. 2:13).  The scriptures speak much more about these ungodly men (and women, now).  Be aware that friendship with the world is not compatible with a Christ centered life.  “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world, they increase in riches.”(Ps. 73:12)

THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD

 

 

 

                                                                    

 

 

 

Sometimes I get a laugh out of those who proclaim to know the age of the universe.  Other times it’s not so funny.  For several years scientists and astronomers have had their ‘big bang’ theory of the ‘beginning’ and now, according to them, it is 13 billion years later. This is based on observation and math and physics and also “this is the way it had to happen” sort of thinking.  It’s the “evolution of the universe as we declare it.

 Now 13 billion years is a significant number.  It seems like a really long time.  I think this number is no more than a guess.  According to what they can deduce from their cogitations they imagine 13 billion years.  There is no proof, only their theories.  They had no one there then to give them something to base their calculation on.

 I enjoy seeing pictures of outer space.  The beauty and vastness is astounding.  It’s hard to believe that all we can see and all we can’t see ( “black matter” they call it ) could come from some very small speck that went BANG.  That’s when I laugh.

 The non-laughing part is the fact that what’s presented to us, and our children, is given not as theory but as fact.  There is absolutely no mention of a Creator who “In the beginning… created the heaven and the earth.”  The word create is tossed around pretty casually these days as if mankind has that sort of power and abilities. But the scriptures show us that the “worlds” and all that are in them were made by the word of God.  He is the creator, we are the created.  Seems many have this backwards.

 I believe in eternal life.  My life won’t end in the death of this body I live in. And, I’m not going to live on a cloud and play a harp for eternity.  For what purpose do we think God created all that we see through our telescopes?  God says that “…Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that love him.” ( 1 Cor 2:9 & Isa 64:4 )  In another place God tells us that he will “…plant the heavens…”.  I’m not sure of all of what that means but I’m pretty sure it has to do with planting the heavens with His creation, man, ( those not burning in a lake of fire ) and we have no idea of what all He has planned.

God’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and the heavens are without end.  I’m looking forward to this part of God’s plan.  But, I may miss some friends who think mankind in his knowledge has all things worked out.  But, “there is a way which seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” ( Prov 14:12 )  Those who teach us and our children that they can figure out the universe and the creation of all things without the concept of a loving Creator are giving us the “ways of death”. That I can’t laugh at.