Tag: End

Undeserving

I don’t deserve your love, but I’m thankful for it.
I don’t deserve your grace, but I’m grateful for it.
I don’t deserve your mercy, but I’m humbled by it.
I don’t deserve your protection, but I’m kept by it.
I don’t deserve your peace, but it keeps me still.
I don’t deserve your rod, but it keeps me in line.
I don’t deserve your word, but it saved me.
I don’t deserve your favor, but I’m blessed by it.

Without Love…

Romans 13:8-10

Have you ever took a moment to consider, why the state of this present world continues to decline as the days go by? Men have seemingly lost touch with any sense of morality, thus causing them to do all sorts of wicked things in the earth. Children have no respect for parents, or any authority. Governments care more for power and control, rather than meeting the needs of the people. Even the weather seems to be behaving in unusual ways.

The Bible mentions, in the last days, these things, and more would begin to take place. But, if men would only acknowledge, and obey the apostle Paul’s inspired instructions in the book of Romans, most, if not all the world would avoid the current, and inevitable times of chaos and destruction. Paul wrote, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Make sense? I certainly think so.

A Piece Of Peace

Psalm 66

How do we find peace, in a world overrun with chaos and confusion? Where do we go, to escape the trials of life, if only for a moment. One thing I’ve learned, and truly belive is, pressure bursts pipes. When air or water fills a pipe, with no way for it to be released, eventually that pipe will break, and all the air and water trapped inside will burst out in multiple directions. This would indeed be a dangerous situation to deal with, but more importantly, many people have experienced this same “explosion” taking place in their own lives.

Living today, as in times passed, we endure seasons of suffering. Whether our suffering is related to physical, mental, or even monetary issues, all men will face situations that will push them to the brink of breakdown. So, how do we find a piece of peace, when it seems so far away? Some result to habits (drinking, smoking, gambling, fishing, etc.) in order to find peace, but the peace that surpasses all human understanding only comes from God.

Rather than look for natural ways to find peace in your life, try following king David’s example in our text. Although the “man after God’s own heart” was far from perfect, he knew the only way to experience real peace was to shift his focus from his problems and past mistakes, and invest most of his time giving glory, honor, and praise to the name of his Lord. This may seem unconventional to those who are babes in biblical learning, but consider all king David experienced, and take note of how he maintained a righteous lifestyle with God, despite his shortcomings. Rather than make his problems bigger than God, He placed God above all his life’s experiences.

Oftentimes, we find ourselves worrying and complaining about our struggles, and this causes us to stress and wallow in misery. But, if we change our perspective, as David did, and make God bigger than our worries, He’ll give us peace to endure, and overcome those things that seemed to weigh us down. Be encouraged, and don’t allow your past, present, or potential future to cause you to fear. Instead, seek God, make His name glorious, then allow Him to pour out His peace into your heart, as you grow from your struggle, and move on to the next chapter on your journey.

Nothing To Lose

2 Kings 7

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “Nothing To Lose” starring, the Four Lepers! I’m your host, “HolyEll”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

(During the days of the great prophet Elijah, a season came when severe famine entered the land. The situation for the children of Israel had become so lamentable, until they forced themselves to eat unclean animals, and some attempted to eat their own children. Moses predicted this would happen, if the people ever fell into sin. Unfortunately, they did.)

(Four leprous men lingered near the gate of a Syrian camp.)

Leper 1: Why are we still sitting here, waiting to die? Our condition will only lead to our death, so let’s get up from here, and do something.

Leper 2: What would you advise us to do?

Leper 3: Yeah, what are we supposed to do? No one can stand to be near us, let alone set their eyes upon us.

Leper 4: Sigh… God help us.

Leper 1: Listen guys, if we go into the city, there’s famine, and we’ll die from starvation. If we sit here, we’ll die from this miserable disease anyway, so let’s take a chance and go into the camp.

Leper 2: Wait a minute. If we go in there, the Syrians will turn us away.

Leper 3: Right! They’ll certainly send us back into the streets .

Leper 4: Sigh… God help us.

Leper 1: Alright, listen. We’re going in there, and if they spare us, we’ll live, but if they kill us, we’ll die.

Leper 2: Umm…. that’s kinda obvious (speaking sarcastically)

Leper 3: (Looking confused and uncertain)

Leper 4: Sigh… God help us.

Leper 1: It is better to die with hope, than with none at all. Let’s go fellas.

(“And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.” vs. 5)

Leper 4: Oh my God! There’s no one here!

Leper 3: Where did all the men go?

Leper 2: (Mouth wide open in amazement)

(“For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.” vs. 6-7)

Leper 1: Hey, since there’s no one around, let’s see what’s in these tents!

(“And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.” vs. 8)

With nothing to lose, the frail, yet hopeful lepers joined together, removed themselves from their place of misery, and went forward in faith, to find what they hoped for. Surprisingly, they received more than what either of them could have imagined. God is well aware of our struggles and wants to see us blessed, but we will never receive of His glory, until we get up from our place of misery, realize we have nothing to lose, and go forward in faith.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “Nothing To Lose”. Thanks for tuning in, and have a fantabulous journey!

Nigh Unto Thee

Deuteronomy 30:6-14

As the children of God continue to live through the days of end-time prophecy, it’s disheartening to witness how many are falling away from the faith. While it’s no surprise, the world is in such a chaotic state, those who professed to be children of God, seem to have gravitated more towards the things of the world, rather than obeying the commandments of Scripture, during these perilous times. I could understand if the word of God was taken away from believers, as it is in other countries, but those with the liberty to study the bible, and have access to it, seem to ignore it for other things.

Many are striving diligently to pursue personal goals, and obtain things they’ve longed for, but when God is pushed aside, all goals and plans become futile. The freedom to read and obey God’s word is a privilege that countless individuals take for granted. Many people place their hope in therapists, counselors, and life coaches, rather than first seeking God’s word on all matters. In the word of God, is everything we need to live and maintain a holy lifestyle, during these difficult times. The world will only grow worse, and men will become more heartless, so it’s wise to keep God’s word in our hearts, so that we may walk consistently in the Spirit, and avoid the dangers of sin.

Learn to appreciate the goodness of God, and His unadulterated word, because without it, all hope of an eternal security would be lost.

Judgment Is Coming!

2 Peter 2:1-9

God’s divine order of creation was altered, after man entertained sin, thus initiating inevitable judgment upon the earth. God hates sin, because it’s very intent is to perform the opposite of what He designed man to do. Man was created in God’s image, to do those things that please Him, yet sin caused men to desire not God’s will, but their own.

As the one who created and sustains all things, God has every right to execute judgment as He desires. Contrary to those who believe God will save all people, because He is so loving, and kind, and compassionate, God will pour out His wrath on all unrepentant sinners.

In time past, God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, delivered them into chains of darkness, and left them to await their final judgment. In the days of Noah, mankind had become so wicked, to the point God was extremely sorrowful for what the people had done to themselves. In the same way a parent expresses sorrow for a child who rebels, God was sorry that the people chose sin, rather than a relationship with Himself. God said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from off the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenth me that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:7). God the Father would have showed mercy on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, had He found ten righteous men there. Unfortunately, none except Lot was found righteous in the sight of the Lord.

Today, churches and religious institutions are littered with false teachers, prophets, and other evil agents, who secretly have brought in damnable heresies among the Saints. Unfortunately, many are being deceived by false doctrines, and are falling away from the faith, but judgment is coming to all who deny the truth of the Gospel, and turn men away from following Christ.

“Beware! God spared not the angels that sinned, and you will meet the same fate, if you don’t repent!” – Ell