Things Above Thoughts

TAT 131 The Inch

In Revelation 13:11–18 we read of one who has worldwide control over all humanity. Without their approval no one can buy or sell anything! While they have control of the entire world they are also the enemy of God. How is it possible that such a person could obtain such control over this earth? Possibly because of fear!

Most of us believe that if someone put a gun to our head and said “deny Christ or I will shoot” we would not fear, we would say “pull the trigger.” But the greater problem, a lest fearful problem, is a problem of inches. Back in the early 1900s the government tried to implement a Social Security program which would require everyone to receive a specific, individual, number. It was met with such resistance the government had to first implement it as a voluntary program and stated, in writing, that the numbers would not be used for identification purposes. My Social Security card, obtained in the 60s, has, in writing, in capital letters, the statement “FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND TAX PURPOSES – NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION.” The government has “inched” its way along to its present position with required Social Security and identification. Another example of “inching along” is realized in treaties the government made with some Native American tribes: “as long as the grass grows and the water flows.” Therefore it is true, it is not the gun we need to fear the most but the inch.

In this time of fear let us not establish a flimsy framework of control which can inch along into a worldwide system of control that can be used by a future antichrist.

On the bright side, it might be nearing the time for us to say – “just pull the trigger?”.

TAT 208 Small But Important

On December 4, 2024 / Christian Values, Endurance, Helper, Maturing

TAT 208 Small But Important

After this Jesus, realizing that by this time everything was completed, said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty!” 29 A jar full of sour wine was there, so they put a sponge soaked in sour wine on a branch of hyssop and lifted it to his mouth. 30 When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (Jn. 19:28-30 NET)

There is no activity in God’s plan that is so small that it is insignificant.

TAT 206 Truthing in Love

On August 19, 2024 / Maturing

TAT 206 Truthing in Love

But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. (Eph. 4:15 NET, emphasis added)

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” (Matt. 16:23 NET, emphasis added)

As Christians do we really know how to practice the truth in love?

TAT 150 Perfection

On April 29, 2024 / Maturing

TAT 150 Perfection

Responsibilities:
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. (Phil. 3:12-16 NASB)

Results:
I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. This is perfection.

TAT 149 Love and Anger

On April 29, 2024 / Witnessing

TAT 149 Love and Anger

They are displeasing to God. They are enemies of the whole human race because they try to keep us from telling people who are not Jewish how they can be saved. The result is that those Jews always commit as many sins as possible. So at last they are receiving God’s anger. (1 Thess. 2:15b-16 GWN)

While Paul was speaking of a specific situation, and a specific group of people, the rule below applies to all:

People who repress the Word of God do so that they may continue in their constant sinning, they are enemies of the entire human race, and God is angry with them.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son but,
for all the people in the world who repress the Word of God . . .

TAT 148 Truth

On April 29, 2024 / Spirituality

TAT 148 Truth

The man of sin will come with the power of Satan. He will use every kind of power, including miraculous and wonderful signs. But they will be lies. (2 Thess. 2:9 GWN)

Just because it’s miraculous doesn’t mean it’s from God.
Just because it happened to you doesn’t mean it’s from God.
Just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s from God.
Just because you believe it to be true doesn’t mean it’s true.
Just because it brings physically good and prosperity doesn’t mean it’s from God.

Satan continues to use more and more wonderful signs. When we depend on signs, then a quote from Bill Engvall comes to my mind: “Here’s Your Sign.” The bottom lines for this TAT are:

Which do you trust more, your experiences or the Word of God?
And, do you know the Word of God well enough to honestly examine your experiences in its light?

TAT 147 Nothing or Everything

On April 29, 2024 / Peace

Nothing or Everything

Have you ever sat with a dying Christian and had them ask you to read the Bible to them? You might have asked, “What passage do you want me to read?”. Much to your surprise they may have said, “It really doesn’t matter, just anywhere.” You might have thought to yourself, “Well I don’t want to read anything from Jeremiah, or Revelation, and especially not James!” But the dying Christian insisted that any biblical passage was OK. So you picked a random passage and began to read. The dying Christian seemed to relax, maybe even smile. You then made a mental note to remember that passage so you could study it when you were home. Once you were home, surrounded by your study tools, you analyzed the passage. But, you found nothing special that could produce such peace and joy. What was going on? Why did that passage bring such peace to them? What were you missing? Nothing, you had everything.

When everything, and I do mean everything, is stripped away from a mature Christian, the joy of hearing His words will always remain.

TAT 146 The Joy of Suffering

On April 3, 2024 / Joy, Suffering

TAT 146 The Joy of Suffering

Whenever suffering comes into our lives some of us think about Job. God pointed Job out to Satan because Job was God’s faithful servant. There was no one like him on the earth, blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil (Job 1:8). Because he was the best of the best God allowed Satan to afflict him in order to settle a dispute between God and Satan (Job 1:9–11). So Satan went forth and killed all of Job’s children, took all of his businesses from him, and left him completely destitute (Job 1:13–19). After all this Job did not curse God he fell to the ground and worshiped God. He said “naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:20– 21). Through all of this Job never sinned. Some of us also remember what Job said later: “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not except adversity?” (Job 2:10). But few of us remember what Job said later after the suffering reached its greats height: “Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?” (Job 3:11). Job wished he had never been born! No matter how strong we are, each of us has a breaking point. But even when that breaking point is reached there is a single joy that stands above all others joys.

When the fires of their trials were the greatest three men experienced this joy (Daniel 3:25). After the LORD intervened in Job’s suffering, Job said: “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eyes see Thee;” and Paul said: “that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death;” (Philippians 3:10).

Yes, the single greatest joy that suffering can bring is a greater intimacy with our LORD Jesus Christ. There is Joy ahead of us all, let us not take our eyes off of that Joy.

TAT 145 VICTORY IN THE FACE OF DEFEAT

On April 3, 2024 / Victory

TAT 145 VICTORY IN THE FACE OF DEFEAT

Satan schemes are enormous. They are worldwide and, when successful, will turn the world against those who are dedicated to living their lives for the Lord Jesus Christ.
The world will be coming up with good answers to bad situations, but the answers will only be good, they will not be godly. So how do we stand firm for our Lord, The Lord? The answer is always the same, to continue to live a life of Biblical Faith. So once again let’s make sure we understand BIBLICAL FAITH.
Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. (Heb. 11:1 GWN)
What does that mean?
Answer:
By faith he (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Heb. 11:9-10 NASB)
Abraham expected, and was convinced, that God was going to provide a city, for him; a city which God had built! But he died without seeing that city. Today we are facing a similar situation. Presently, God is not providing heaven on earth. But let us follow the example of Abraham, and just as he is now living in that promised city so shall we.
The things of God we cannot see are real. When we are assured of that fact it is easier to live by Biblical Faith – daily. If we are not living our lives for eternal goals we are not living by God’s faith, Biblical Faith.

TAT 144 The Two Normals

On March 22, 2024 / Spirituality, Values

TAT 144 The Two Normals

For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, (Matt. 24:37-38 NASB)

The above verses tell us that life was going on as normal in “the days of Noah.” But on closer examination we find that there was another normal.

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Heb. 11:7 NASB)

Noah’s normal life was to live by faith—to do what God asked him to do—to build an ark.

Therefore there were two normals existing simultaneously. That existence might have looked something like this:

Society continued on with their dinner parties – Noah continued building the ark.
Society continued on with their marriage and funeral customs – Noah continued
building the ark.
Society continued planning for their retirement – Noah continued building the ark.
Society never missed an opportunity to enjoy the activities of their society – Noah continued building the ark.

Presently, “the days of Noah” are quickly returning, or have returned, to this earth. But it is still possible for me to live a normal life of faith.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1 NASB)

If I live by Biblical Faith then I live with God’s eternal plan in view and His future eternal goals are the goals for my earthly life. If that is not my focus nor my goals then I am not living by Biblical Faith. (See also Heb. 11:10)

TAT 141 Hasten?

On March 18, 2024 / End Times

TAT 141 Hasten?

“What sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God…” (2 Peter 3:11–12)

Hastening the coming of the day of God???!!!! Come on Peter, don’t leave me hanging like that. I have been praying for His return, almost every day, since the mid 1960s. If there is more that I can do to hasten His return then just tell me what to do and I will (try to) do it! But, don’t tell me to hasten it without telling me how to do it!

As usual a further reading answers my question:

But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; (2 Pet. 3:13-15)

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Things Above Thoughts