God's Retirement Plan

In the previous post, we considered the eternal gold standard. Let's take a look at our western view of retirement savings and God's will in all of this. I will confess that a plump savings will give anyone, including myself, a sense of satisfaction and well-being. I will also confess that a sense of desperation will sieze the same person as he or she watches the balance of an IRA or 401-K crumble and disappear as the economy stumbles or fails. Never have I understood better than now the description that James used as he warned the rich man of the coming moth and rust that corrupt and steal the seemingly sure savings of the rich man's life (James 5:1-5).

We are now in the day of which Jesus spoke as he told of the man who kept building barns to store his wealth:

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:16-21 NIV)

The problem with great savings is the flaw of human nature that says, "I have great wealth, so I will not worry about tomorrow!" or "My faith and well-being lie in the abundance of my bank account!" This pride is insidious enough; the despair that follows the corruption of this bank account will be overwhelming as we find that our faith has NOT been in the provision and wisdom of God, but in our own abilities and resourcefulness.

I have found during these last couple of years that our retirement accounts are merely false hope and misdirected objects of our faith. They may disappear in the blink of an eye. They may be confiscated by a totalitarian regime. We may find that inflation, like the moth, has eaten away the stores that we thought to be safe and secure. Or, we may find that God Himself will one day demand our life, and we will suddenly realize that our faith has been in only the temporal and corruptible, and not in the eternal and incorruptible.

With all of this in mind, let us seek a place where we are dependent on the provision of God every day, as the Israelites, who needed the daily allotment of manna for physical sustenance. With our faith in Him who supplies our every need, we will find ourselves keeping in-step with Him every moment of every day, knowing that our needs will be met directly or indirectly from and through our God, and not through our own efforts or the "largesse" of a nanny government. Are we not much more valuable than the birds of the air? God feeds and clothes them. Will He not much more feed and clothe us, who are made in His image? As Jesus so succinctly said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

"Retirement" is not a biblical concept. Neither are luxury and comfort. Let us "retire" from the worldly view of self-sufficiency, or of dependency on the government's coffers. Let us renew our desire for the Most High God and His Kingdom and His righteousness. As we do, we will find much more than a bulging IRA could ever provide! We will find the bottomless and unending provision of a loving Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

The Eternal Gold Standard

As I listen to the radio and watch TV, I can't help but notice the sharp increase in the promotion of gold as the last sure investment in times of uncertainty. On one hand, buying of gold coins, gold bullion, and gold mutual funds is strongly recommended, even though the price of gold has never been higher. For the person just now getting into gold, the downside is far greater than the upside. On the other hand, jewelry companies and gold-buyers are scrounging the dresser drawers of the desperate and the pockets of the unemployed for every last ounce of old gold rings, earrings and tie tacks. What they pay these desperate people for their tiny bit of gold is obviously low enough to assure them rich profit when they themselves take it to resell to a legitimate gold-buyer. I am being told to buy and sell gold every way I turn. What shall I do?

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold. (Proverbs 3:13-14 NIV)

This was written by the man who, when presented with the opportunity to ask anything of the LORD, asked for wisdom. This exhortation gets to the heart of our dilemma. When called on to buy or sell gold, our best financial counseling lies in the Book of Proverbs. Wisdom and understanding of the heavenly kind are our best investment. They are more profitable than silver and they yield better than gold. King Soloman had so much silver that he had to throw it away, and yet he thought his best investment was in heavenly wisdom!

Wisdom is supreme;
therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,
get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7 NIV)

Soloman again extols heavenly wisdom as the supreme investment and godly understanding as the ageless and incorruptable substance worth more than any earthly material. In our day, heavenly wisdom is in great shortage, and godly understanding is seldom found. We are governed by a ruling class that covets gold and silver and shuns wisdom and understanding. The intellectual dishonesty of our leaders is breathtaking. King Soloman knew that only with the wisdom of God could he lead his people responsibly and successfully.

My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart. (Proverbs 7:1-3 NIV)

Finally, Soloman exhorts us to not only find wisdom and understanding found in God's words, but to actually store up those words within us. We are to write the commands of God and His words of wisdom on our hearts. We are to memorize and recite the eternal words of knowledge and wisdom, and to literally soak our minds and hearts in God's thoughts and desires, not our own. The man, woman, boy or girl who does this carries in his or her mind the very wisdom and understanding of God of the Universe.

In a day when gold is held in highest esteem and the words of the Bible are trodden under foot, we must set our minds and hearts on Heaven, where the words of the LORD are held in highest esteem and the saints walk on streets paved with the gold that we once held as the last sure investment.

Wisdom is supreme, therefore get wisdom!!!

Race Is Not The Issue!

In our ostensibly "post-racial" era, there exists a racial tension I have not seen since the 1960's. How can this be? As one who grew up in the South, and having seen the days of segregation and still retaining the painful memories thereof, I look around and wonder where this racial strife is coming from. As a country, we have made progress that one could only dream of in 1968. Why are we suddenly thrust back 40-50 years into a time when the cities were tinderboxes, simply waiting for the spark that would send them into flame.

I see two conditions that bring us to this moment of strife:

First, we have become a country led by human desires and ambitions, and not a country under God and His purposes. For the last century, there has been an insidious undercurrent slowly eroding the spiritual resolve that was present at the founding of America. Almost fifty years ago we were shocked when we were suddenly forbidden the right to pray in our classrooms; now we are complacent as the perverse lifestyles of Ancient Rome are promoted in the same classrooms. We flippantly ask God to bless America, while filling our homes with putrid refuse dumped abundantly through our televisions and computers into our living rooms and lives. We thus leave our communities exposed to the infiltration of hatred and discord by our selfish and near-sighted lifestyles, experiencing everything but the blessings of God.

Second, by wandering away from the good and the right way of godliness, we have left our country and our families open to the attack of the enemy of our souls. The prince of darkness sows seeds that come from his own stock: hatred, discord, and jealousy. Cries of "racism" abound, simply because of the difference of a person's color. Can we not see that this is not inspired by God, but by His adversary? God is the One who unites; Satan is the divider. Thus, if we are finding our country in the throes of divisiveness and discontent, then we must first examine and determine the distance that we have put between ourselves and God of the Universe.

Hell has declared open season on the hearts and minds of Americans; will we acquiesce, or will we rebel against the forces of evil that would steal our very heritage. Revolution is definitely called for: not in the flesh, but in the spirit. We must turn from the wicked ways of darkness, and turn back to the Kingdom of Light which consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth(Ephesians 5:9).

If we will in fact turn to the God who created us, then, and only then, will we find the unity that man has dreamed of since eternity began. Only in the Kingdom of God will racism, hatred, and discord be vanquished and forever put away. Apostle Paul wrote so eloquently of a people who are clothed, not with worldly fashion, but with the very person of Jesus Christ. As each person looks on another, he does not see race, color, gender or background, but simply a child of God clad in the robe of righteousness bought and paid for at the cross of Christ.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus(Galatians 3:26-28 NIV).

May God Bless America as we find our way back to the cross and to the Savior who died and now lives forevermore.

Change for the Better!

I cannot help but notice these days a restlessness that I have not seen in any of the 6 decades that I have been allowed to live on this earth. People are fearful of what they see happening in the USA; they are aware that the government is taking more and more control of their lives and they really are not comfortable with this “change.” What is more, we see that the dollars that we earned years ago and stashed away for retirement are not worth what they were when we placed them into savings those many years ago. As a result, people are angry at their leaders, at those around them and even at themselves for allowing all of this to happen.

The truth is this: Jesus has not promised us a firm and thriving economy, but He has promised that He would provide for those who would seek first God, His Kingdom, and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). As for peace, Scripture points us again to God. Hebrews 4:9 (NIV) says, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.” This rest is a state of ceasing to strive against God and of learning to rest in Him. Jesus told the masses that if the weary and heavy-laden would come to Him, then He would give them rest (Matthew 11:28).

As I look at the online news services I see anything but rest. I see a world full of people who are trying to make their own way in spite of God, not in concert with Him. I see a human race that fears that God will take away what they have, and that He will not give them what their selfish hearts desire. So, as a result, they are busy making their “living” while not really living--at least not the way that God designed them to. His design is for each of us to spend our waking moments talking with Him, to find out what He has in store for us each day, and then to walk step-by-step in His graces as He leads and prepares the way. It may sound very different to your ears, but I assure you that this is the most restful life that a person could possibly live. Why? Because God designed us to live in His rest, and His rest is only found as we seek Him first in all that we do. This, my friends, is “change” for the better!

Blessings on you as you seek Him this week!

The News Says It All!

I have been consistently amazed at the headlines these last few months. Countries going bankrupt, others attaining nuclear status, unabashed talk of global law and government. Bizarre behavior of the Hollywood and Washington elite, children murdering parents, unbridled disrespect of one human for one another. Scandalous behavior of priests and pastors, complete lack of self-control and moral direction of political leaders, and the dubious triumph of money over morals on Wall Street and Main Street.

Is this the world in which I grew up? What will it take for good to once again conquer evil? When will this slide toward destruction of humanity end? Or will it?

At the breakfast table this morning, my family discussed the following Scripture:
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV)

The answer to my questions above is most likely this: we are witnessing the beginning of the terrible times that Apostle Paul wrote of in his letter to Timothy. Indeed, there have been times in history when society was this out-of-control. At the very least we are in for a very rude awakening. But I believe there is more to it this time. The earth has never seen a time when one-world government was so close to reality. Prophecies in Daniel, Matthew, and Revelation all confirm the words of Paul as he warned of the end of time.

The symptom of human sickness that concerns me most is the last: having a form of godliness but denying its power (verse 5). We are indeed in a time when the gospel has gone to every corner of the earth, and yet it seems that the Church has less influence and power than ever before. How could this be? For one, we have turned away from our first love, Jesus Christ. We have allowed tradition and programs to become our God, while forsaking the power and leading of the Spirit of Christ.

The earth groans inwardly as it waits eagerly for the sons of God to be revealed (Romans 8:18-25). Who will be the first to say, "I desire to walk in the fullness of Christ, and I choose the Kingdom of God over the things of this world." Who will stand and say, "The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man can do unto me!"(Hebrews 13:6). Who will agree with Jesus in His prayer to the Father, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven"?(Matthew 6:10).

Yes, the news says it all! We are on the verge of a new kingdom . . . not that of a one-world government run by selfish tyrants, but that of the coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Look up, friends, for our redemption is drawing nigh!!!

What's in a Name? (2) from Beyond the Veil

Let us remember here our understanding of salvation. Salvation is found in Jesus alone for that is His name. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus has made available to all who will come to Him every blessing listed in the Scriptures. If we have even half the determination of the woman who fought herself through the crowd to touch the hem of His garment, then we will find Him, and He will bless us as well! As joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, we have also been given authority to speak His name in any and every situation; we must do the work that He did for us—taking salvation to every soul who needs it in the name of Jesus (John 14:11-14).

Let us also remember that Jesus, as the High Priest, has gone into the Holy of Holies before us, sprinkling His own blood on the Mercy Seat. Jesus has made open every door for us so that we may access the Father by His own blood. Jesus has gone before us behind the veil; He calls to us and desires for us to come there as well. For there His glory dwells in the Holy of Holies. No, we do not deserve such standing, but only the arrogant will turn down such an offer: “Come boldly unto the throne of grace that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Yes, the world will say that we are boastful and proud to be counted as people of God who come boldly to Him, expecting Him to meet our needs. No, a world of people who would rather meet their own needs and ignore their Creator is indeed most arrogant and proud. Many believe that God would not grant their greatest desires for this or for that, and they proceed to fill their own desires, by hook or by crook. May we determine that only those things that God is willing to provide for us are worth having—all else is vanity, or worse, destructive.
(from Beyond the Veil, to be released soon)

What's in a Name?

Contrary to the Shakespearian context in which this question was born, when it comes to the name of Jesus everything is in a name. On the surface, and as we as 21st century "superficialists" tend to think, a name is only a label, a trinket to be worn, testifying to the faddish era into which we were born. However, to God a name is everything. It actually tells the story of a person's life yet to be lived. The name describes generally the characteristics of the person and in many ways the vocation of the same person.

When it comes to the name of Jesus, there is even much more to a name. In the Hebrew language, "yeshua" means salvation. According to Strong's Lexicon, the facets of the word salvation include the following: freedom, wholeness(forgiveness, righteousness), rescue, deliverance, victory, healing, health, prosperity, provision, protection, aid, and eternal life. The people of Biblical times heard in the name of Yeshua, or Jesus, the answer to every need that they could possibly have. It is no wonder that people with needs for healing, deliverance, provision, and forgiveness would swarm to the walking and talking Provider of salvation. That was His name: Jesus, Yeshua, Salvation.

Two millenia later, the needs of mankind have not changed. We still are in need of healing, of daily needs for food and shelter, of deliverance from the demons that haunt the worldly marketplaces of cable television and the Internet. The good news is that the One who provides salvation from all of these areas of lack has not changed either. He calls to each of us, "Come unto me, all who are weary and weighed-down, I will give you rest!" (Matthew 11:28). To obtain whatever facet of salvation that you need today, whether it is forgiveness, healing, aid, guidance, protection, or eternal life, simply call on the name that is above every name--Jesus! What's in a name? Everything a human being could possibly need--past, present and future. Acts 4:12 says, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."

Is Anything Too Hard for the LORD?

The LORD had just caught Sarah laughing. She denied it, but the LORD said, "No, but you did laugh!" We all know what she was laughing about, don't we? The LORD had promised that she would birth a son . . . a son who would be born to a woman almost 90 years old! We would laugh as well if we did not know the ending to this story.

As we go back to our earthly duties after a most amazing Holy Week, we need to take the power of the Resurrection with us. I am not speaking figuratively here; I am speaking in very literal terms. Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit, has promised us that we may ask anything in His name and He would do it (John 14:13-14). If we would but believe, we will be given what we ask in the name of Jesus (Matthew 21:22). John put it this way in 1 John 5:14-15 NKJV: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

We who believe that God could and would raise Jesus from the dead must remember that if He could do that, then He can certainly answer our prayers that we ask according to His will and in Jesus' name. If He can raise the dead, He can certainly find you and me a job if we need it. He can certainly heal our sicknesses and protect us from evil. He can certainly guide us through dangerous times.

The LORD heard Sarah laugh. His simple yet thunderous response was this: "Is anything to hard for the LORD?"(Genesis 18:14a NKJV). We who believe in the resurrection of Christ must remember each time we ask anything of the LORD that nothing is too hard for Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. Nothing!!!

God Bless You as you seek His will this week!

Why the Resurrection?

As we enter this holy week leading up to Resurrection Sunday, let us remember how important the resurrection of Jesus Christ is to the Christian faith. Most Americans in one form or another celebrate the Christmas season, and yet only the professed Christian remembers and celebrates Christ's resurrection.

Not only does the Resurrection separate the nominal from the true believer, but it also empowers the true believer with hope beyond fleeting hope, life beyond earthly life, and power beyond human power. Those who have indeed believed that Father God raised His Son Jesus from the dead are counted as the righteous, not by anything we have done, but by the grace of God. It is belief in Christ's resurrection that allows us to participate in His resurrection; if we will count ourselves dead with Christ at the cross, then we will find ourselves raised to new life in Christ as well (Romans 6:1-14).

The most exciting news is this: When Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, He led all who believe in Him to a place, a status, where the sin and death that has haunted the earth since the Garden of Eden no longer has any power. Sin has no right to oppress the Christian, and death has no ability to keep the Christian in the grave. We are, in fact, raised to walk in a new life, free from sin's shackles and free from the fear of death! If Christ had not undone Satan's work by rising from the dead, we would have no hope. Instead, thanks be to God, we are filled with hope--powerful hope--because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. May we celebrate our new life every day, not just on Easter.

God Bless you this Holy Week!

A New Era for the Christian American

All masks are now off! The disguise that liberalism has worn for years past has been dropped and we are now witnessing the "fundamental transformation" that was promised during the last presidential election. Regardless of your and my political stance, it is evident that the role of the Christian has not changed; however, it is now more important than ever for us to be who God has called us to be.

The most important thing that we can do right now is this: to make sure that we are in close contact with our God and to make sure that we are hearing clearly and accurately what He is saying to us. If we are indeed hearing from Him, then we will be well-equipped and well-informed for each and every situation in which we may find ourselves. Each believer in Jesus Christ has been indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and we must consult with the Spirit constantly--insuring that we are residing and walking in the will of God.

Our western way-of-life has kept us running in the fast lane, mindful of earthly duties and obligations, and yes, of earthly pleasures as well. It is time to realign our priorities and to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). If we do not seek Him for every need, then we are seeking the blessings and not the Blesser; in the end we will find our needs un-met, because we have relied on ourselves and not on our Creator and Provider. In addition, the government is not our provider and never will be. God, and God alone, is able to meet our every need for health, food, and security. Let us seek Him! Do not worry about tomorrow, but seek God and His Son Jesus today!

God Bless!!!