Category: Salvation

God Knows and Cares

I am grateful for your detailed attention!

“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Luke 12:6-7

Me: Good afternoon, Father!

Abba: Good afternoon, Jon!

Me: The idea of the surveillance state with enough cameras and data centers to store everything about everyone is of great concern. But having You know every detail is a great comfort, for Your very nature is love and no injustice ever proceeds from you!

Abba: Yes, and I should have proven my forgiveness to you:

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Romans 8

Me: I am always awed at Your forgiveness and such great cost to Yourself!

Yet on the government surveillance front, there is this, which I seem to continually struggle with:


1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Romans 13

History is littered with tyrannical regimes which favored one group over others, even to carrying out genocide. It seems AI powered identification of everyone is risky business. I believe it is against the spirit of the fourth amendment to the Constitution for unreasonable searches. What could be more intrusive than monitoring everywhere you go and every thing you buy and everyone you associate with?

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Revelation 13

This passage in Revelation speaks of a “beast” who is numbered (counted?) as a man with authority to prevent the commerce that is necessary to daily life unless he receives the worship that is due only to You. So, to me, it seems the building of the surveillance state is laying the groundwork for man carrying out the purposes of Satan.

Abba: Verse 14 says, “And he deceives”. That means, as is his usual restraint (from Me) his plans must be accepted by the ones implementing them. This usually happens because they think there is something in it for their own purposes.

Me: We see many signs of injustice already. I am thinking of tax money being used to subsidize abortion providers under the heading of “health care”. The courts used to attack those who provide energy to run transportation and the economy, because the existing laws don’t agree with the plaintiff’s position. On and on it goes.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Birkenau Auschwitz Concentration Camp

How do we properly address these things? I no longer have any confidence in elections to improve things. Surely, not over the long term (if there is a long term).

Abba: These are valid concerns. I would not deny that they are. However, considering these things, read Romans 8 in its entirety and take it to heart.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8

To the end, the hairs on your head will not cease to be numbered by Me.

Me: Thank You Father for that comforting perspective! I love You! Your will be done!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

The Unseen

I am grateful for the unseen, that things eternal are spiritual and out of the perception of human eye, but will not always be so. [2 Corinthians 4:18, 1 Corinthians 13:12]

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

Me: Good morning, Father!

Abba: Good morning, Jon!

Have you considered why you have a sense of gratitude about the obscurity of the unseen? Do not think that it originates within you. I tell you plainly that it is My heart to hide the mysteries of glory from the eye of natural man.

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Genesis 6:5

Nor was that wickedness eliminated by the flood.

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

John 8:44

You only need to look at daily news items to see his activity in the hearts of men.

But I AM your redeemer. Consider John’s description of Jesus:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:1-5

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14

Have you observed a lack of discernment? I AM sure that you have!

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6

The spiritual realm above is safe from the machinations of corrupt man, but open before those who are in Jesus; to those who love Me, who are a new creation.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

John 16:12-15

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.

John 16:33

Me: Thank You, Father! I love You!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

A Short Testimony

I am grateful for Your faithfulness!

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

Lamentation 3:22-24

“Therefore, know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

Deuteronomy 7:9

This weekend I was doing the closing shift in a fair booth at the Southern Iowa Fair. We had the usual steady stream of young folks taking the challenge of answering civics questions. Down the way, the Gideons had their booth. One of the men serving down there stopped by to chat. I told him of the part the Gideons had in my Christian life. It later occurred to me that I had not related that testimony here and that it would be good to do so.

My childhood development along the line of faith in God had been mostly laying out in the yard at night with my dad, staring up into the starry expanse. Because of that, I did not question the existence of the Creator. When I was about fifteen, I attended my first “revival” meeting. I was not a church goer. My mother, brother, and I were there because of an invitation from one of her friends. I was somehow moved by the message of the visiting evangelist and went forward at the invitation to give my life to Jesus. Sometime in the next month the pastor baptized me.

I can’t say that I received any significant follow-up or discipling at that time. My teenage life went on pretty much as before.

In 1972, after graduating from high school, the government was still running the draft for Vietnam service. I clearly misunderstood how the lottery worked. (It would have been the 1974 lottery that applied to me, and my number was above the ones that were eventually called.) Nevertheless, to avoid the perceived potential of a muddy foxhole, I joined the NAVY and reported for bootcamp in San Diego in November of 1972. And that is where Gideons International comes in.

The Gideons were presenting all new inductees with a compact New Testament that included Psalms and Proverbs. I had not previously been in the habit of bible reading, but I found that I had the five minutes before lights-out each night in the barracks to myself. I used it to start reading that Bible.

Bootcamp was really the first time I had ever been away from home for any length of time, and the program was designed to be challenging in ways that I had never been tested. As I stood in formation daily, beneath the hills of Point Loma, I remember being struck by one of the Psalms.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, Which made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

As I already mentioned, I had spent many young hours pondering the endless expanse above. I recognized Him who had made heaven and earth. And as I had come to the end of my own resources, I knew I needed His help! Day after day, I drew much comfort from that passage, standing at attention in formation.

God had placed a man in my bootcamp company (last name, Lambert. Sorry I can’t recall his first name.) who had more spiritual experience than I had. He noticed me reading that Bible which led to some fruitful conversations on the faithfulness of God.

So, if I had not missed any days. Nine weeks of five-minute readings only amount to a little over five hours. I know I used some of those intervals to write home. Nonetheless, God is faithful and He honored that small investment. The course of my life has changed and has not been the same since.

So, thank You Jesus! And thank you Gideons International! And thank you to all who have supported them.

Hot Bees – Removing their own heat from the hive to help maintain temperature for brood rearing.

Exclusive Predestination?

I am grateful for the immeasurable love of God!

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 8

Seems there are endless arguments over Bible passages that contain the word “predestined”. I know some denominations take the idea of predestination to mean, “We are included, but perhaps not you.” The idea can be carried so far as to eliminate evangelistic outreach. Even further, that since predestined by an omnipotent God, that the actions of life are irrelevant; essentially erasing personal accountability. (Don’t hear what I am not saying. Not all Calvinist groups are this extreme.) This idea derives from the perspective that the foreknowledge of God is absolute and therefore immutable.

In the Romans 8 passage above, the idea of predestination is surrounded by divine balance. First, it is addressing the heart. Do you love God? As a result, do you want what He wants? What about evidence? Are you becoming conformed to the likeness of Jesus?

While we are here in this passage, lets talk about the foreknowledge of God (verse 29). The omniscience of God extends to continual observation of every created particle in the universe. God is Spirit (John 4:24, among many others). He sees the immaterial, from gravity to energy and attitudes and our very thoughts.

Further, God is eternal. Eternal existence is also a hard concept. I believe that time is created by God regulate the physical universe. Breathe in. Breathe out. Heart, keep beating for some variable number of seconds. Earth rotate and fall around the sun as prescribed by said gravity. Cesium, decay with a half-life of 30 years. God is regulated only by His nature and His word. What He says, is. He is not regulated by His creation, including time. The word “foreknew” in is used because human language doesn’t have a notion of observation that transcends time. Our own perception is limited to the sphere of our focus in the moment we are in. God is not limited. “Predestined” is also framed in our own limitations in the same way as “foreknew”.

The argument that foreknowledge and predestination only applies to certain ones is inexplicable to me. Our Father knows us all (Psalm 139). I defy you to read that Psalm and remain unmoved if you know God in the slightest!

As we talked about this subject today, my wife reminded me that when God answered Moses, when he asked what he should say to the Israelites about His identity, God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites that “I AM has sent me to you,” I find it amusing that Moses was cheeky enough to ask God for His ID. In so doing, though, we have Him clearly establishing His eternal, self-existent nature.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1

Do you see yourself “holy and without blame before Him in love”? If we are “in Christ”, this is true in your spirit, which is now indwelt by Him who has eternally been holy and without blame. Our Father currently sees that truth in our spirit. More, He sees us being progressively transformed as His Word is allowed to work in us (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18). He sees our ultimate blamelessness. For now, let us offer praise that we are accepted in the Beloved!

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Titus 2

Titus 2:11 tells us that salvation has appeared to all men. Does that mean, as some teach, that all will be saved? That a loving God would never send anyone to hell? I have heard those who declare they couldn’t serve a deity who would allow his children to go to hell for eternity. But God has extended the invitation to all. Acceptance of the invitation is voluntary. Jesus talked about those who decline in the parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14). Note that declining the invitation is not without serious consequence. This fact will not be a mystery to anyone with a wayward child.

6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

Acts 15

Here we see the Jewish religious leaders arguing to apply the same burden on Gentile believers that they applied to a convert to Judaism: keep the law. But God (do you love that phrase as much as I do?), had already made clear His acceptance of those who come to Him in faith. Remember, we started this walk through the Scripture examining the idea of evidence of salvation. There is no stronger attestation than the presence of the Holy Spirit. This passage is one more example that God is “no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34).

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3

God’s will is the salvation of all. He is not going to force any. But He is willing to wait until we come to our senses. The question is, whether we accept His Gift while we are still breathing. The dead have lost the opportunity.

Unclean Lips

I am grateful to be able to talk with You!

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

Proverbs 29:2

As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
“Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
Destruction and misery are in their ways;
and the way of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:10-20, [Ps. 14:3, 53:3]

Me: Good morning, Father!

Abba: Good morning, Jon!

Me: Yesterday, as You know, of course, we listened to many speeches as various ones in authority exclaimed how wonderful our experience has been under their administration. I kept thinking they must be hoping their revisionist history would be accepted as gospel. Indeed, most of the ones in attendance (delegates to the political party state convention) seemed perfectly willing to applaud what was said as though it was as true as if You had uttered it with Your own mouth. With the primary election behind us, some of those talking were new candidates who had no demonstrable history in political office.

Abba: You know the tendency to read into things what one wishes to hear. It is a fundamental reality exploited by shrewd salesmen. You have also learned as an engineer that pointing out likely misrepresentations contained in a sales pitch will get you labeled as a negative naysayer. Predictions coming from long experience will be completely forgotten or ignored if you are proved right and they come to pass, just as you said. You also know the desire to say, “I told you so!” will almost always backfire on the prophet. People don’t wish to have their misjudgments brought to light when the entire cost becomes apparent.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

1 Corinthians 13:12

Isaiah 6 – Unclean Lips

[One partial definition of unclean lips is speaking to elevate self and tear down others.]

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:25-29

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

James 3:5-6

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

Matthew 15: 7-11, 16-20

 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:9

[But God has a plan of salvation:]

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Me: Thank You Father! I love You! I pray you will help me be a voice of truth and circumspect about what to speak, and when!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you! Listen to My Holy Spirit in your heart. I have promised to give you what you need in the hour you need it.

Have it Your Way?

I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end.
I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law.
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.

Psalm 119:112-114

I am grateful that we have the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth!

For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:7-8

I haven’t heard the Burger King® jingle “Have it Your Way”, of late – probably because I avoid the conduits of communication where I might be thus accosted – but I believe it was registered as a trademark in the 1970s, during the decade of my graduation from high school and military service. Nonetheless, it seems to have stuck in my brain… scary as that is.

It came to mind when I was considering the lament of God to Isaiah about the people’s hardness of heart. God told Isaiah to address their attitude, lest it go unchallenged. Jesus quoted from that very passage in Mathew when the disciples asked Him about His teaching style.

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah [6:9–10] is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;

15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;

17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Matthew 13:10-17 (NKJV)

Did you see what attentive hearing with hearts of understanding would bring? Repentance and resultant healing! The “turning” that Isaiah and Jesus spoke of is under our control. Having once granted us autonomy over our own decisions, God does not violate them while we still breathe the air of earth. There are often negative consequences, to be sure. I have endured many of these myself. But such repercussions are really signposts of mercy; glaring evidence we are on a degenerating path, descending to a dreadful terminus. Turn around!

The Apostle Paul had some heartfelt things to say on this subject as well:

1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Colossians 2:1-10 (NKJV)

God is the source of “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. What is left if one rejects the source of wisdom and knowledge?

What is left is human “philosophy and empty deceit”. Often what is left is delivered passionately with words that can persuade those who are not intimate with God and His word. But look where that is going:

6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,

8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9 But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (NKJV)

Because God really does allow you to “have it your way” and as the rulers of this age, not even realizing it, are “coming to nothing”. Do not go with them. Neither lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Set your heart on Him. Let Him direct your paths!

Light versus Darkness

Much has been said by many about good and evil, about light and darkness. Still, we see evil obviously increasing in these last days. So, I hope you will indulge me in personal investigation and meditation on some of the Scriptures. As a place to begin, I am drawn to John 1:5 in the moving opening passage of John’s Gospel account. When I examined the verse in Bible Hub, I found this in the Topical Lexicon section:

 “Light versus Darkness: Johannine Emphasis

John frames the cosmic conflict in his prologue: “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Here katalambanō affirms the ultimate impotence of evil; darkness neither comprehends nor overpowers the incarnate Word. The same tension reappears in John 12:35 where darkness threatens to overtake the undecided. Together the two verses guarantee Christ’s victory while warning of personal loss for those who linger in unbelief”

Let’s look at John 12:35 (in context) now.

Jesus Predicts His Death on the Cross

27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” 29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

John 12, NKJV

Can I relate this to the apparently increasing darkness of the world? Perhaps, as a check on sanity, I should consider whether darkness is really increasing, or if only the perception of darkness is increasing due to widespread sensationalistic reporting of dark deeds?

I recently mentioned the murder of children in Bethlehem by soldiers commanded by Herod the Great after the birth of Christ there. We can go all the way back to the first family and learn in Genesis 4 that Cain murdered his younger brother Abel. In fact, the Scriptures are rife with accounts of war, murder, rape, theft, envy, retribution and other innumerable accounts of evil. Evil is not new. It has existed at least since Lucifer fell from his appointed station. Consider this revelation to the prophet Isaiah:

The Fall of Lucifer

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!

13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’

15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.

16 “Those who see you will gaze at you,
And consider you, saying:
‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
Who shook kingdoms,

17 Who made the world as a wilderness
And destroyed its cities,
Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’

18 “All the kings of the nations,
All of them, sleep in glory,
Everyone in his own house;

19 But you are cast out of your grave
Like an abominable branch,
Like the garment of those who are slain,
Thrust through with a sword,
Who go down to the stones of the pit,
Like a corpse trodden underfoot.

20 You will not be joined with them in burial,
Because you have destroyed your land
And slain your people.
The brood of evildoers shall never be named.

21 Prepare slaughter for his children
Because of the iniquity of their fathers,
Lest they rise up and possess the land,
And fill the face of the world with cities.”

Isaiah 14 NKJV

Concerning Lucifer, now become Satan, Jesus told us, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”  Then He, announced Himself as the cure: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

At least one thing can be said about whether evil is increasing. There are more of us to indulge in it than when the population was limited to Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel.  Man is, as stated in Isaiah 14:21, filling the face of the world with cities, where every kind of evil is concentrated by mere population density. Yet this is not merely a high population problem. Did the whole society not start its slide in the garden before the birth of Cain?

Let’s continue. Shall we?

The days are evil, Eph 5:15

For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. John 3:20

Since the fourth day of creation, natural darkness has fled at the appearance of dawn. Like clockwork. Now, this raises a spiritual question, “Why, since darkness is simply the absence of light and since light seems to effortlessly dispel darkness, are we not seeing a continual decrease in evil?”

Believers received this charge from Jesus:

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 28:16-26

Why are we not more effective at fulfilling this commission?

Some of the answers to this question are evident in the great commission itself. First, the work is based on the authority of Christ, and many do not operate in His authority. It is His authority. We are correct to recognize that we are not qualified. However, we are given the Holy Spirit to indwell us. (Link is to John 14:15-23.)

Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Luke 24:46-49

Some do not fully understand that walking in the power of the Spirit is by faith, like all aspects of life in Christ. It does not matter that we do not “feel” power, nor that we do not see the “end from the beginning”. We only need direction for the next step. Until we take that step, all subsequent steps remain irrelevant. I have acquaintances who have trouble with this concept, thinking that God would be irresistible on this matter – overcoming free will and requiring nothing whatever from us. They reason that God is sovereign and omnipotent and nothing of us matters. Lies of the deceiver! God is not in the business of making marionettes.  We are called to yield voluntarily to His direction, provision, and power for the work.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

A relationship with God is only found by those who chose to look for Him. His part is to enable us to find Him. (1 John 4:19)

A second issue is tied to the word “Go”. I do not mean one must always travel to far reaches, though some are called to exactly this sacrifice. We all have family, friends, and acquaintances who do not know Jesus. I believe the greater issue is that the modern church experience is typically a spectator sport. Those in the pews are often convinced the furtherance of the gospel is the domain of the professional minister up front. After all, he has seminary training! They believe their job is to get others to come sit in the pew as well.

And this highlights a third issue embodied in the commission text. We are to teach all that Jesus commanded. Fulfillment requires dedicated preparation. It requires that these things are internalized and at work in our own lives (He did say, “commanded you”). The unbeliever can smell a hypocrite from a great distance, and it is not a pleasing aroma. Are we salt? Do we know the recipe? Are we light? Do we show the Way?

Finally, on this subject, we are talking about teaching all things He has commanded. The notion that the great commission is somehow fulfilled by getting someone to recite the “sinners’ prayer” is utter nonsense. That may be an arguable starting point, but it is not a fulfillment. God is faithful and those who make a commitment He works to transform to perfection. However, “making disciples” is a process of replication. It takes one to make one.

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

John 21:25

It should be obvious that fulfilling the great commission requires us to establish relationships. This is not without peril, of course. Most of us have received a proverb from parents, “Bad company corrupts good morals.” What parents are not concerned about the associations maintained by their teenage children? This stance might be backed up in some cases by some Bible verses not considered with all relevant context.

Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate,” says the Lord. “Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you,” is a verse from 2 Corinthians 6:17 that calls believers to separate themselves from ungodly influences and sinful practices, emphasizing holiness and purity.

 This exhortation is rooted in Old Testament passages such as Isaiah 52:11 and Ezekiel 20:41, where God commands His people to depart from impurity and maintain spiritual cleanliness.

 The call to separation is not a call to isolation (which is antithetical to fulfilling the great commission) but a directive to live distinctively in the world, honoring God through righteous conduct and avoiding associations that compromise faith.

 Paul uses this verse in the context of warning against being unequally yoked with unbelievers and against participation in idolatry, reinforcing the idea that believers are the temple of the living God and must reflect His holiness.

 The promise of divine reception underscores God’s willingness to welcome those who choose obedience and holiness. We should be able to recognize willingness, however intermittent and halting it may be at first.

 While the concept of “unclean” things historically included ritual impurity, in a broader spiritual sense, it refers to anything that defiles the conscience or leads away from God, including worldly attitudes and practices.

Again, discernment guided by the Holy Spirit is critical. Who is influenced by whom? Are we consistently wearing the full armor of God? Do we understand the armor, its function, its effectiveness, and its maintenance? (See Ephesians 6.)

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

Because few find the narrow way and because broad is the way that leads to destruction, society at large is going to tend toward darkness. As society becomes more secular, all stigma that would restrain is dropped and even condemned as evil.

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter

Isaiah 5:20

One must cast only a cursory glance at the news to see examples of one group calling another evil because they do not agree with their point of view and therefore resist it. Do not be terribly surprised. The original sin was to give up innocence and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Such knowledge belongs to God as Judge and the truth about it in our fallen world is only found by listening to Him. Our usurped knowledge of good and evil is corrupted.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 1:18-32

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

2 Corinthians 4:3-5

Most people are aware of the decay. But rather than make a personal commitment to a Christ-led life, look to a secular government to enforce solutions to our problems (always seen as the fault of others). Some others think the solution is for Christians to achieve a societal state where most are saved and become a godly and moral people. I personally think this “dominion theology” is not likely to make the advertised progress, and counter to the revelations we already have from God about these “last days”.

God’s word warns against being taken captive by philosophy and empty deceit. It encourages believers to be rooted in Christ rather than in human traditions or philosophies. (Colossians 2:8)

Should we despair at the progression of evil? We are called to be salt and light. The deeper the darkness, the more contrast between the gloom and the Light of Life. May we learn to present Him in all His fullness! May we (finally) fulfil our commission!

John 1

I cannot read the first chapter of the Gospel according to John without finding myself riveted, not only to the content, majestic as it is, but I am also taken in by its cadence, grandeur, and mystery. I feel I am peering into the very heart of Almighty God. It surges with the pulse of all He has determined to do among us and for us. He coaxes us back from teetering at the precipice of the dark abyss. He does not stop there. No, His intention is to bring us into the glorious light that powerfully streams from Himself. (1 John 1:5) All His desire is to bring us into the Kingdom of the Son.`

He knows full well we are incapable of making such a transformation on our own. He has given us an invitation, complete with new authority, increasing understanding, and even committed His own Spirit to us, to act as internal guide and revealer of hidden truth. He clearly marks the path. (2 John 1:16)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

John 1:1-18

More?

I am grateful to have my wife’s library shelves moved back where they can be used! It has been thirteen years since we had space to do that. Time flies!

Me: Good morning, Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit: Good morning, Jon!

Me: Last Saturday (22nd), You gave me a diagram that is useful to explain, among other things, the difference between salvation and sanctification. Would you lead me to more supporting scripture verses to go with that diagram?

Holy Spirit: I assume you mean in addition to the ones I gave you at the time?

Me: Yes. I have a sense there is much more.

Holy Spirit: Let’s start with Ephesians chapters five and six. They have much to say about walking: in love, in light, in wisdom, in the Word, in obedience, in the whole armor of God, and in faith by grace. Concerning the endpoints on the diagram, see Colossians 1:13.

This translation from darkness to light is a past event for the spirit of the believer. It is also an ongoing journey of growth and change (sanctification).

Me: Thank You Holy Spirit! I love You!

Holy Spirit: You are welcome! I love you!

Graphic depicting some aspects related to the mind, heart, and spirit.

Members

I am grateful for yesterday’s safe and successful trip!

Colossians 3 (esp. v3 and v5)

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Me: Good morning, Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit: Good morning, Jon!

Me: Would You clarify these passages for me? I note the KJV and NKJV are more word-for word with the Greek, while some other translations make it clear the translators considered it to be more figurative language. Also verse three says we have already died while verse five talks about putting our “members” to death, which is more of a process, I think.

Holy Spirit: Many tend to look at the example list of “earthly things” as a checklist. You should hear their personal observations, “Well, I’m not doing that!” Paul in no way intended the list to be exhaustive, and it is only a small part of his letter. Look at Col 1:9-14.

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:9-14

You see, this entire letter is explaining that the perspective of the world, self-serving almost exclusively (and serving Satan’s destructive purposes) does not belong in a fruitful life that is “hid in Christ”. Rather, a totally new focus is required:

Set your mind on things above, not things on the earth.

Colossians 3:2

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Ephesians 2:1-2

Colossians 3:3 is clearly not speaking of being physically dead (yet), else one would not be capable of walking according to any course, either good or bad.

I Am sent to guide into all Truth (John 16:13). None of this transformation of a mind focused on self – and the dark things of the prince of the power of the air – to a mind renewed by the washing of the water of the word, “putting on the mind of Christ”. None of that change happens without Me being invited to do it. Even so, the “made alive” reference in Ephesians 2:1, is speaking of the perfect spiritual state of the one who is “in Christ”. This is an instantaneous transformation at salvation, while the “put to death your members” of Colossians 3:5 is the progressive transformation of the mental/physical/soulish part of your being by continued and consistent obedience to the Truth.

The Christian life/or walk in the process of bringing the soul into conformance with the fully redeemed spirit, one decision and resultant act at a time. Human effort is going to fail at this, for it equates to trying to pull oneself up by one’s own bootstraps. This is why I Am sent to guide and empower those who decide to yield to My prompting and rely on My power instead of their own (dead) efforts. Those who think they must “get straightened out” first to be “worthy” to come to Me are mistaken. If they come to me, they will get straightened out.

There is a better list than the one in Colossians 3:5. It is one I Am sure to enable:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:22-26

Aren’t those better members?

Me: Thank you, Holy Spirit! I love you!

Holy Spirit: You are welcome! I love you!