Real Think Inc.

Today, December 21, is the last day for the world, according to the Mayan’s calendar.

Tomorrow, some time not known by anyone other than God is the last day for the un-repaired world.  It will be the day of reckoning for all who have relied on their own opinions concerning right and wrong; who have refused to heed that which is right in God’s eyes.

Is it not true that each of us do that which is right – even the wrong we justify – in our own eyes?

Adam is everyman’s encounter with God.  In Genesis 2:9-17, He is saying to humanity:  “And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground–trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”

“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

The tree of life is there for us.  Life in a fullness we cannot conceive; everlasting life; a forever life which shall never know sorrow and shall always be as a cup overflowing. We cannot create it; not with government or without, can we make a better world than the Lord did long ago.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil brought forth evil which, having mixed itself with good, spoiled the whole.  We need salvation from the result of trying it without following God’s recipe; from “. . . every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes.” (Deuteronomy 12:8)

Independent thinking is most subtle, is it not? “Hire a teenager while he knows everything,” is written on Danny’s restaurant window in Kenosha.  Do we think we know better than God? We have been deceived in our thinking.

Whether we know it or not, “We live and move and have our being in Him. ” (Acts 17:28)

Before we came to know so, the earth was a globe, not a flat structure.

Before we came to know, infection was spread by bacteria.

Before we came to know, it’s a common human characteristic that we say sometimes, “If I had only known.” And this we still do after centuries of knowledge gathering and clarifying.

We were not created capable enough mentally to go it alone, to do “that which” (temporarily) seemed right in our own eyes.

“Has God said,” is the sound of Satan. (Genesis 3:1)

God “saves to the uttermost” because when we look to Him alone we grant to Him that we will be His workmanship.

Jesus, Savior, is the Tree of Life. The cross has been since and is the emblem of new and eternal life.   But, He is the “way” of life as well.  (John 14:6)

We should not be afraid of guilt.  God’s word says every person has strayed from the LORD.  Every one of us, are like sheep that have gone astray.  We are all the focus of the Great Shepherd, who alone can redeem us from our wandering.

Oh Lord, “Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it to Thy courts above.”

Buddy

An awful thing, and one leading a person into the life-paths of destruction is that point in a person’s life when they “will not” heed wisdom.

Heeding wisdom is learning in one of those teachable moments when the truth has found us out.   Many grasp at a stubborn pride of defiance rather than turning in repentance.

Be wise, take heed of the word of our LORD:  “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Matthew 7:13).

God created us knowing that some of us, when we realized our folly, would turn to Him. There is joy a person experiences when He turns, and repents during a teachable moment.

The joy of a new Christian is God’s amazing love reciprocating between God and man.

“Come unto me,” Jesus said representing the Father’s will for us all. (Matthew 11:28)

“The LORD is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

During a teachable moment, in a split second sometimes, is an opportunity to repent, to reconsider in that light which has broken in on us.

“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic, for where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ” (James 3:14-16)

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:18)

Teachable moments are wonderful. They can be, as it was with the prodigal son who realized he was groveling in a mess of his own making and returned to a welcome home by his father.  (Luke 15:11-32)

Every day God will see to it that we have teachable moments. If we seek Him, we will position ourselves to hear this wisdom from above. God is faithful.  He will come to a seeking heart.

Today, we face as a nation, a teachable moment. Like Columbine, it will become more a faded thought.   We live in an America where today it is being made difficult to give sound, Christian, Biblical counsel to young people. Education has become a closed door to this vital influence once there in abundance.

We cannot remove the life of Christ from history. Why would we want to?  Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

What could be wrong with our telling of the wondrous, forgiving, and merciful God whose hand upon us saves us from ruined lives and destroying the lives of others?

We would be foolish to believe God put it into the mind to murder a teacher, mother and children in a school. We would be wise to see that somehow in the life of any of us, evil would have it that we betray our marriage partner, lie to our employer or to anyone.  Evil can hurt, victimize, and do so with brazen cowardliness.

Yes, we will have tribulation because some people simply “will not” be captured by God during their teachable moments; and because we must live through this world impacted by the consequences of choices of others.

Tell everyone you meet of God’s wonderful message to a messed up world. Telling will only offend some; but will be heard gladly by those who want to find the life that wins. (1 Corinthians 18)

Buddy

We may distinguish between the latter days and the end times by understanding the latter days have been ongoing since Jesus was rejected by Jewish leadership. The church Jesus promised to build came into being.

In the end times a great falling away it is taught will happen.  With affection for Christ diminishing, professing to be a Christian will become dangerous.

“Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing. ” (Martin Luther: A Mighty Fortress is Our God)

Coming, and here upon us in its beginning, is a “great falling away.”( 2 Thessalonians 2) 

We face a scary future. Rugged personal independence in the land of the free has been voted in need of much more supervision, along with need for government controlled education.

Our American culture is being taught that man is basically good, but that successful men must be held accountable, watched, forced to “give back.” How, for instance, has it happened that a university president has a salary of over million dollars a year while, at the same time, delinquent student loans near the trillion dollar level?

How also has it happened that among almost all personal debt, that owning the government has become a tort, that is, a non-forgivable debt?

The answer is that government has so arranged these facts: God had warned Israel that they would not like what human government would bring about. Inequity knows no greater place than in government; yet, inequity of other than itself is the banner for change and has been in every modern government which has failed.

Government has been vastly expanded; Hell has on earth known no greater opportunity: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

“Power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely. . . ” (Lord Acton, 1887)

Within the population of wealthy businessmen, the middle class, the poor, every ethnic group, every race or gender are those who are honorable and caring.  Also, there are those who would steal a widow’s small portion.

Upon which government do we cling? Have I cast in my lot with the One who has the real government upon His shoulders?  (Isaiah 9:6).

I will trust Him who took my back some time ago, to keep me––“The Lord is my Shepherd.”

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  (Joshua 24:15)  We must abide in Him.

We hear so much in hymn and Psalm about the “Rock of our salvation.” Leaning, and clinging to Christ is not weakness; it is determination.

Do we place the confidence needed for days to come, on Him and Him alone?  How?

We have been taught in scripture that Jesus broke the mold so – to –speak.  He invited me into His Father’s presence – the holiest of holies.  Me, right now; as I am, not perfected me?  Yes. He did not teach, as religion does, that I must clean myself up. He taught that I can’t clean myself well enough.

He said by opening my heart to Him, I become His workmanship. Now, He is my Savior, Potter, I am His clay, and I am invited to come boldly into His presence.

What about my sin?  Friend, he guaranteed that if you will “abide in Him,” He will make sin to be very distasteful.” The Holy Spirit came. He convicts “Of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8), and to “As many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the children of God.” (John 1:12)

Is it me, one of those who of whom it is written, in this great falling away of the church in the end time. (Matthew 26:22)  

“In times like these, you need a Savior In times like these you need an anchor Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock” (Ruth Caye Jones)

“Have you (continuously) been to Jesus, to the cleansing power?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed in the blood?

In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Do you rest each moment in the crucified?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?”

Elisha A. Hoffman (words and music)

Amazing love that invites me to come into His presence, does not judge, but rather cleanses with His blood. He gave me life, my family and wife.  He dries my tears, gives me hope as I press on.

I’ll soon be home, but first please Lord, make me a vessel of Thy word.  You Lord–– Amazing LOVE!

Buddy