ISAIAH 43 - 25
I, even I, am He who blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake;
and will not remember thy sins.
A small fellowship of born again christians friends sat in the packed venue eagerly awaiting the arrival of the bible expositor. A respectful and cordial salutation rippled through the assembly as the figure of a man emerged from a side door leaning heavily on a pair of crutches. This was not adulation but a genuine respect for this fearless son of God who quite happily names and shames the hirling shepherds and calls to account the denominations that abuse and bleed the flock.
"It's a wonder he's still alive" Julia whispered to her companions "he must have many enemies in high places, yet despite a serious illness he is still travelling the globe explaining interpretation of scripture hopefully fishing "those lost in translation" or sadly in the grip of prosperity preachers."
As the hall slowly emptied for refreshments at the appointed interval the group chatted amongst themselves.
"Don't you just love his humour" said Tim referring to the comment "the dude on the dashboard" aware that it was not unusual to find a plastic effigy of Yeshua perched on the dashboard of some cars. He continued "not that I have seen that over here, more likely to be a minion, or a nodding dog. Mind you you see some very strange stuff when commercialism crosses with religion"
Julia burst into giggles. "Just reminds me of a pen my mother brought back from Lourdes. The virgin Mary rose to the top of the pen in a pool of some kind of liquid. My husband thought it was to say the least "crass" no doubt a percentage of the purchase price went to Rome.
Then there was the case of my two year old son who fell in love with a very Catholic effigy of the Sacred Heart. Yeshua complete with long hair and beard pointed to his exposed heart. His red robe was a tad faded. Goodness knows where this came from. It was over two feet tall and hardly something you would expect to find in a domestic household, but my toddler claimed it as I searched for a place to store some pots in a cupboard under the stairs and it was moved to his temporary bedroom. The completion of our new house was behind schedule and during the weeks that followed his baby sister arrived. It wasn't easy squashed in a busy household, great was the relief when we finally started to pack our few possessions on to a transit van. Much to my mothers joy and my husband's annoyance we found our son with his arms around the statue and somehow as small as he was he managed to get his point across, he wanted Jesus to go on the van.
Those were the days of improving and moving up the property ladder and somehow during the next move Jesus disappeared. We could now afford a removal company. Perhaps my husband suggested the removal men "lose the dude" as the van emptied, too busy to notice I was knee deep in boxes. Nevertheless our son continued to absorb primary school teaching and was proud to be chosen as one of the three kings in the christmas nativity play happily wearing a hand stitched robe, which despite puncturing my finger at regular intervals was quite impressive. No pain - no gain. Apparently he sang with gusto in the school choir. Precious days.
Eventually he followed the three kings into astronomy and acquired a doctorate in astro physics also adopting his father's atheistic mindset and there he remains. Daily prayer from this persistent widow to her Father in heaven continues trusting He will remember that little boy and save him from himself.
What did Jesus say in Matthew 18 - 14
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18 - 3
Verily, I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Little children change when they reach self awareness and inevitably get contaminated by the world. We have to change to enter the kingdom of heaven. We have to get rid of our arrogance and pride and the subtle alternatives this world offers.
The bible expositor moved back to the lecturn for the second half of the lecture. "Hey" Julia whispered to Tim "do you think I will still remember those I couldn't reach, the abuse, ridicule and painful memories"
"Don't think so" said Timothy (Revelation 21 - 4)
And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.
"According to the biblical teaching I've received we won't remember, we will have our Father's amnesia. After all the dream you had of His courts was amazing." said Jill.
"Oh that wasn't special to me" replied Julia "I linked with a christian in America, described my dream and she came back to me astonished that her dream was identical. What does it say in Joel 2 - 28
"And it shall come to pass afterward,
That I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and daughters shall prophecy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon
the handmaids in those days
will I pour out my spirit.
I got the impression that I was standing on the edge of the scene as an observer. Perhaps that is because I thought I saw my late husband surrounded by a excited crowd of happy people. He was in uniform. Why did I think the crowd were questioning him on the outcome of a battle? He noticed me and walked to where I stood. He planted a friendly kiss of recognition on my cheek and then the crowd surrounded him again with more questions. I felt abandoned, after all he was my husband. Later unable to forget the dream I considered I was still a work in progress. There is no ownership in that place but I believe we will recognise those we have loved on this earth. So many men and women are going to have to change their mindset especially if they have a controlling personality. There is but one King and His Kingdom is beautiful, beyond description and we are all His children.
C.S. Lewis's book "The Great Divorce" was perhaps God given inspiration. Grey town was full of people who were not prepared to change, preferring their status, possessions, shopping malls with cinemas and food outlets. Drunken orgies and street brawls were commonplace in the constant twilight of Grey town - but as the spirit guide advised the observer "the choice of ways is always before us. *Any man may choose eternal death. Those who chose it will have it."
"Then again" said Jill earnestly "I can remember someone saying if everyone goes to heaven it will be pretty crowded. I had to remind them in Matthew 7 - 14 Yeshua said "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
"I can't forget that dream" said Julia with a sigh "It is stamped on my memory. To think I would see those who inspired so many to cling to the Word of God. John Bunyan, J.R. Miller, David Wilkerson, Tozer. Their message as relevant today, if not more so, for genuine christians swimming against the tide of persecution. The Middle East has become hell on earth for so many. Most appear to look away and don't see it touching their lives. They buy a watered down christianity that assures they are whisked off the earth before they have to suffer, that God has promised them a palace of their own with a reserve sticker firmly in place with their name on it.
It hardly ties in with the victims in the Middle East who standing for their beliefs are now before the throne of God with their head in their hand. Surely Revelation 6 - 9 - The Cry of the Martyrs - is already taking place and will continue. There is only one interpretation of the end times. Matthew 24 -22 and Yeshua said "but for the sake of the elect (His followers) those days will be shortened" with twisted bible teaching many will be misled."
Matthew 24 - 31 - and he will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
How different from some photographs and paintings of a beautiful girl in a ostentatious wedding gown leaping into the arms of Jesus in the clouds. The church of genuine born again christians is "the bride of christ" we all will with our Lord in paradise. All precious and preferred.
(John 16 - 33) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
The meeting ended and as the hall emptied Julia rose stiffly from her seat. The small group started the journey home. It was great to be in the company of like minded christians. Julia could only consider what it would be like when the panic sets in. Stress and anxiety line the faces of those already struggling to keep afloat in an uncaring society that protects the rich and bleeds the poor. Every day newscasts report yet another blitzkrieg. War lords posture, taunt and accuse and many fear World War 3 is just around the corner. The devil is in the detail. Corrupt leaders inflict misery on the masses. But those who know the Lord trust in His word and His kingdom to come. Amen and Amen.
Tim escorted Julia to her front door. He knew it was not easy for the elderly widow living alone but the Lord had faithfully kept His promise and covered her every need.
"Thank Tim" said Julia "I'm fine, you have a long drive ahead of you. Take care, and make sure you stop for food and drinks." I'll send you an email. Keep in touch. "Thanks Julia" replied Tim " if ever you need us you know where we are, you only have to say the word and I'll drive over. You will be safe with us."
Tim would be driving up to the wilds of Scotland. "Shame Beth could'nt come" shouted Tim from the roadside, but someone has to look after the livestock, she'll catch up with Jacob on the Moriel site or You Tube" he said as he climbed into his four wheel drive. "Keep looking up" he shouted as he pulled away from the kerb.
As Julia got ready for bed she remembered some of the sound bites from the meeting.
*"When you jump overboard you are not taking anything with you"
*"Stay in the house (meaning with genuine born again believers) some christians are happy in the world"
She snuggled under the duvet a cup of hot chocolate resting on her bedside table and reached for a shabby little book, the pages yellow with age, a rare and precious jewel. "In Green Pastures" by J.R. Miller DD reading arranged by Mary A. Butler - not to be confused with the latest re.issue published in 2005.
The words read:
**Christ is building His kingdom with earth's broken things. Men want only the strong, successful, the victorious, the unbroken, in building their kingdoms; but God is the God of the unsuccessful, of those who have failed. Heaven is filling with earth's broken lives, and there is no bruised reed that Christ cannot take and restore to glorious blessedness and beauty. He can take the life crushed by pain or sorrow and make it into a harp whose music shall be all praise. He can lift earth's saddest failure up to heaven's glory.
"Thank you Lord" murmured Julia. There's hope for me."
"Don't think so" said Timothy (Revelation 21 - 4)
And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.
"According to the biblical teaching I've received we won't remember, we will have our Father's amnesia. After all the dream you had of His courts was amazing." said Jill.
"Oh that wasn't special to me" replied Julia "I linked with a christian in America, described my dream and she came back to me astonished that her dream was identical. What does it say in Joel 2 - 28
"And it shall come to pass afterward,
That I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and daughters shall prophecy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon
the handmaids in those days
will I pour out my spirit.
I got the impression that I was standing on the edge of the scene as an observer. Perhaps that is because I thought I saw my late husband surrounded by a excited crowd of happy people. He was in uniform. Why did I think the crowd were questioning him on the outcome of a battle? He noticed me and walked to where I stood. He planted a friendly kiss of recognition on my cheek and then the crowd surrounded him again with more questions. I felt abandoned, after all he was my husband. Later unable to forget the dream I considered I was still a work in progress. There is no ownership in that place but I believe we will recognise those we have loved on this earth. So many men and women are going to have to change their mindset especially if they have a controlling personality. There is but one King and His Kingdom is beautiful, beyond description and we are all His children.
C.S. Lewis's book "The Great Divorce" was perhaps God given inspiration. Grey town was full of people who were not prepared to change, preferring their status, possessions, shopping malls with cinemas and food outlets. Drunken orgies and street brawls were commonplace in the constant twilight of Grey town - but as the spirit guide advised the observer "the choice of ways is always before us. *Any man may choose eternal death. Those who chose it will have it."
"Then again" said Jill earnestly "I can remember someone saying if everyone goes to heaven it will be pretty crowded. I had to remind them in Matthew 7 - 14 Yeshua said "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
"I can't forget that dream" said Julia with a sigh "It is stamped on my memory. To think I would see those who inspired so many to cling to the Word of God. John Bunyan, J.R. Miller, David Wilkerson, Tozer. Their message as relevant today, if not more so, for genuine christians swimming against the tide of persecution. The Middle East has become hell on earth for so many. Most appear to look away and don't see it touching their lives. They buy a watered down christianity that assures they are whisked off the earth before they have to suffer, that God has promised them a palace of their own with a reserve sticker firmly in place with their name on it.
It hardly ties in with the victims in the Middle East who standing for their beliefs are now before the throne of God with their head in their hand. Surely Revelation 6 - 9 - The Cry of the Martyrs - is already taking place and will continue. There is only one interpretation of the end times. Matthew 24 -22 and Yeshua said "but for the sake of the elect (His followers) those days will be shortened" with twisted bible teaching many will be misled."
Matthew 24 - 31 - and he will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
How different from some photographs and paintings of a beautiful girl in a ostentatious wedding gown leaping into the arms of Jesus in the clouds. The church of genuine born again christians is "the bride of christ" we all will with our Lord in paradise. All precious and preferred.
(John 16 - 33) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
The meeting ended and as the hall emptied Julia rose stiffly from her seat. The small group started the journey home. It was great to be in the company of like minded christians. Julia could only consider what it would be like when the panic sets in. Stress and anxiety line the faces of those already struggling to keep afloat in an uncaring society that protects the rich and bleeds the poor. Every day newscasts report yet another blitzkrieg. War lords posture, taunt and accuse and many fear World War 3 is just around the corner. The devil is in the detail. Corrupt leaders inflict misery on the masses. But those who know the Lord trust in His word and His kingdom to come. Amen and Amen.
Tim escorted Julia to her front door. He knew it was not easy for the elderly widow living alone but the Lord had faithfully kept His promise and covered her every need.
"Thank Tim" said Julia "I'm fine, you have a long drive ahead of you. Take care, and make sure you stop for food and drinks." I'll send you an email. Keep in touch. "Thanks Julia" replied Tim " if ever you need us you know where we are, you only have to say the word and I'll drive over. You will be safe with us."
Tim would be driving up to the wilds of Scotland. "Shame Beth could'nt come" shouted Tim from the roadside, but someone has to look after the livestock, she'll catch up with Jacob on the Moriel site or You Tube" he said as he climbed into his four wheel drive. "Keep looking up" he shouted as he pulled away from the kerb.
As Julia got ready for bed she remembered some of the sound bites from the meeting.
*"When you jump overboard you are not taking anything with you"
*"Stay in the house (meaning with genuine born again believers) some christians are happy in the world"
She snuggled under the duvet a cup of hot chocolate resting on her bedside table and reached for a shabby little book, the pages yellow with age, a rare and precious jewel. "In Green Pastures" by J.R. Miller DD reading arranged by Mary A. Butler - not to be confused with the latest re.issue published in 2005.
The words read:
**Christ is building His kingdom with earth's broken things. Men want only the strong, successful, the victorious, the unbroken, in building their kingdoms; but God is the God of the unsuccessful, of those who have failed. Heaven is filling with earth's broken lives, and there is no bruised reed that Christ cannot take and restore to glorious blessedness and beauty. He can take the life crushed by pain or sorrow and make it into a harp whose music shall be all praise. He can lift earth's saddest failure up to heaven's glory.
"Thank you Lord" murmured Julia. There's hope for me."
Isaiah 35 - 8
And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean shall no pass over it.
But it shall be for others.
KJV
KJV
* C.S. Lewis - The Great Divorce.
** In Green Pastures - J.R. Miller D.D.
* J. Prasch - Moriel Ministries - You Tube
A blessing and inspiration to us all.
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