Where do you live? Do you know? It’s not just the location or an address on Google, but what influences are putting pressure on you and your family. Or do you attempt to influence the culture around you?
I live in a society that celebrates and encourages a way of life where…
· the pursuit of happiness and personal pleasure are always the top priorities,
· the possession of material goods and property are not just a need, but used as a determination of one’s personal worth,
· the focus is on gaining social position through powerful relationships instead of simple common friendships,
· the fulfillment of one’s personal desires triumph over helping the less fortunate.
I choose to live here so I may learn to be counter-cultural in my own life’s journey. My personal values must be clearly different from those values that this society promotes.
It has been my personal observations that the church community too often mirrors the society’s values within. When relevance to a culture is valued, that culture has an insidious way of enticing the most sincere believer into its web of deceit and clouds the mind. What one sees now and possesses now glitters so briefly. It is fleeting like the wind.
In this society, a time of hardships is coming; not all at once but over a series of events and changes. During this time, the way of life that I mentioned above will be seriously challenged. Happiness will be where you can find it. True happiness will be within. Material items will be much more expensive and an unexpected liability rather than an asset. Power relationships will be strained while real ones will be strengthened. Personal desires may need to be set aside for the broader common good. We will see some who will continue to enjoy all this life has to offer while many start to suffer.
R.E.M., an American rock bank wrote a song that says it best, “It’s the end of the world as we know it.” The world will laugh at the person who hopes patiently for eternity’s glory and Christ’s return. It is sad to see many who seem to crave acceptance by the culture instead of God’s loving heart. I wonder how the new few months will unfold. I wonder if I will be ready for the change over the next few years. Change is coming and it is now all good. Tighten your belt and hang on to Jesus and His promises.
Geysir Joe
Monday, November 10, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Treasures in Heaven
"treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20) is usually anything that is done in this life that has eternal value. Only things done with eternal value will be rewarded.
There is nothing wrong with wealth and riches and money in and of itself. The warnings of the Bible are against the deceitfulness of wealth and the greed and the hoarding of one's riches. The holder of wealth can eventually come to believe that he no longer needs God. Again, the warning is only against the greed and hoarding of wealth. This is why Jesus said that it was easier for a camel (a big animal) to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven. It is the greed and the disdain for God that keeps such a rich man from going to heaven.
People of this world must have everything they want and right now. We were also like this before meeting Christ. When they have it, they will quickly spend it or use it on themselves until it is all gone; then they still want more.
Christians should understand the purpose and necessity of waiting and looking to eternity - where their treasures should be in heaven. It is very difficult for a believer to hold wealth and not be enticed by its allure of self-sufficiency. Some can and others can't. Unfortunately, too many "Christians" are either too worldly or never was and they call for everything they want and want it right now. Too often there is little difference between a Christian in the world and a person of the world.
Geysir Joe - 11.04.2008
There is nothing wrong with wealth and riches and money in and of itself. The warnings of the Bible are against the deceitfulness of wealth and the greed and the hoarding of one's riches. The holder of wealth can eventually come to believe that he no longer needs God. Again, the warning is only against the greed and hoarding of wealth. This is why Jesus said that it was easier for a camel (a big animal) to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven. It is the greed and the disdain for God that keeps such a rich man from going to heaven.
People of this world must have everything they want and right now. We were also like this before meeting Christ. When they have it, they will quickly spend it or use it on themselves until it is all gone; then they still want more.
Christians should understand the purpose and necessity of waiting and looking to eternity - where their treasures should be in heaven. It is very difficult for a believer to hold wealth and not be enticed by its allure of self-sufficiency. Some can and others can't. Unfortunately, too many "Christians" are either too worldly or never was and they call for everything they want and want it right now. Too often there is little difference between a Christian in the world and a person of the world.
Geysir Joe - 11.04.2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Blindness
Blindness is a fearsome think to consider for a man who can see. It would be a life-changing event. It is the journey from light into darkness – at best various shades of graying – that stops one in their journey. Man shutters at its finality and completeness.
Yet more people are inflicted with spiritual blindness than physical. It has a more devastating effect on not only this life, but the next. With physical blindness, man can hope for the coming heavenly kingdom where there are no more tears and no more sightlessness among other things. Only the Holy Spirit can lift that veil from their eyes.
But can believers, who once saw the light of God’s truth, be blinded again? As a believer, is it possible to be blinded by involvement with the world and its subsequent enticements? Can a believer use world principles in business, marketing, or branding to promote the church and not begin to slowly accept the allure of its cleverness and power? The world offers answers to specific questions being asked. Sometimes the Bible’s answer is much more general. This is done so that the Christian matures in their faith and begins to exercise solid judgment on daily matters. Christians that are experts in understanding the world system to promote biblical ideals will enthusiastically promote the world system use. As such, should one ask if it is right to be yoked with the worldly methods that promise solutions and attempt to accomplish heavenly purposes? Will the world not draw the believer slowly into it web of blindness and deception? God can prevent this from happening, but only if the believer grows dependent on God instead of the world system of beliefs. However, the Holy Spirit is quiet and meek and will not force, even the believer, to do things that he does not want to do. That man will be allowed to follow his own desires.
In Matthew 6:23 one reads, “If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” The believer must decide whether he will serve God or the world methodology of business and marketing and promotions. It is either God or the other, but it cannot be both. Man is not allowed to compromise, but many still attempt to do so. The church is compromising with the world. There is darkness in this world and it is deep. Those involved with it do not see their own sin and don’t know what makes them stumble. Here on the island, it is the deceitfulness of the wealth. Man can accomplish nearly anything if enough money is thrown at it.
O Lord, help us to not be so blinded and to open the eyes of men and especially those within the church.
Geysir Joe
Yet more people are inflicted with spiritual blindness than physical. It has a more devastating effect on not only this life, but the next. With physical blindness, man can hope for the coming heavenly kingdom where there are no more tears and no more sightlessness among other things. Only the Holy Spirit can lift that veil from their eyes.
But can believers, who once saw the light of God’s truth, be blinded again? As a believer, is it possible to be blinded by involvement with the world and its subsequent enticements? Can a believer use world principles in business, marketing, or branding to promote the church and not begin to slowly accept the allure of its cleverness and power? The world offers answers to specific questions being asked. Sometimes the Bible’s answer is much more general. This is done so that the Christian matures in their faith and begins to exercise solid judgment on daily matters. Christians that are experts in understanding the world system to promote biblical ideals will enthusiastically promote the world system use. As such, should one ask if it is right to be yoked with the worldly methods that promise solutions and attempt to accomplish heavenly purposes? Will the world not draw the believer slowly into it web of blindness and deception? God can prevent this from happening, but only if the believer grows dependent on God instead of the world system of beliefs. However, the Holy Spirit is quiet and meek and will not force, even the believer, to do things that he does not want to do. That man will be allowed to follow his own desires.
In Matthew 6:23 one reads, “If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” The believer must decide whether he will serve God or the world methodology of business and marketing and promotions. It is either God or the other, but it cannot be both. Man is not allowed to compromise, but many still attempt to do so. The church is compromising with the world. There is darkness in this world and it is deep. Those involved with it do not see their own sin and don’t know what makes them stumble. Here on the island, it is the deceitfulness of the wealth. Man can accomplish nearly anything if enough money is thrown at it.
O Lord, help us to not be so blinded and to open the eyes of men and especially those within the church.
Geysir Joe
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