Words of interest for today’s sons of men

Did you know now that science has the ability to study genetics it finds that the “gene pool” for many plant and animal species are actually eroding? This means that the concept of Darwinism where biological change increases the amount of diversity of life on the planet is actuality in contrast with the evidences of science. This environment is not gaining genetic information, it is loosing genetic information. We are, in essence de-volving through genetic erosion.

“A little learning is a dangerous thing.” That “proverb” amplified by an another often misquoted one, “ignorance is bliss,” is a good example.” Most people that quote it are not aware of the entire quote. It goes, “Where ignorance is bliss ‘tis folly to be wise.” A little googling on the internet brings up with a little more information about the quote. It is often attributed to William Shakespeare; but, Thomas Gray is the author. He was born on 26 December 1716 at 41 Cornhill, London, England.
The Wise King Solomon once wrote: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” ( Proverbs 4:7) There appears to be a great deal more quotes on ignorance on the web perhaps than on wisdom.
Ignorance is usually associated with such words as “stupid,” dumb or in some manner descriptive of a mentally deficiency. That most likely comes about because the definition is not known. A lack of interest or laziness is more likely be the primary cause of ignorance not a mental problem. There is a very simple cure for ignorance as well as laziness; for the most part a public library has the prescription for both problems. Time required for applying the remedies is a bother but not a serious impedance.
It would seem there are many who forget the root word ignore and its definition. Calling a person ignorant is usually considered an insult; however, there is a quick cure for ignorance. Submit to avid learning and read extensively.
Ignore is the root of both ignorance and ignorant, it simply means; to refuse to take notice of or acknowledge; or, to disregard intentionally. Pick up a book or an informative periodical and begin reading. In a rather short time no one can call such a person ignorant and be correct in the assessment. The only disparaging quality of the condition is to remain in that state when it is so easy eradicated.
The truth is ignorance is a sadly mistaken concept of bliss it may lead to destruction. It has been said, “No one ever became, or can become truly eloquent without being a reader of the Bible, and an admirer of the purity and sublimity of its language.” “I wish there was an instruction book about mankind,” is often asked by someone. There is, it is called the Holy Bible.  It is truth come directly from God.
The Bible contains all the wisdom of the ages in one book. It is in effect a collection of sixty six books with fifty five authors in one volume. The golden thread that weaves its way throughout is God reaching down to lift up mankind to Him. No one can be considered ignorant or uneducated who becomes familiar with that book. And the last state of that man is better than the first.

An erroneous view of the death of Jesus is that it was out of sympathy for mankind that He died for our sins. This view comes from putting the New Testament on a doctrinal island, and out of the historical context of what we know about God. Jesus, as the Christ willingly “took our sin on Himself” (Hebrews 1: 3). This was not an act of sympathy for us, God purposely made him “to be sin for us, who knew no sin.”  This is the unconditional love of God for mankind!

Psalms 2 tells us that Jesus had already been established as the prince of God’s kingdom, and Proverbs tells us that it was before the dawn of time that the Son of God was established as our means of salvation. It is Isaiah who teaches us that God “ …revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; … To a nation that did not call on my name” said “Here am I, here am I. All day long have I held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations” (Isaiah 65:1,2)

The substitutionary atonement which is taught in the New Testament is twofold; (1)“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, (2)that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (I Corinthians 5: 21) Jesus’ death was demanded of God from his son, who in turn willingly accepted the will of his father (Mark 14:35,36 & Luke 22:42)in order to fulfill God’s righteousness and not because we - in any way - deserved or warranted such an act. This is the very essence of why God continued creation instead of stopping it cold and “starting over” again as soon as mankind committed the first sin. It is when we recognize the meaning of this act and accept the circumstances of it’s necessity that we can be freed from sin. Having been freed from sin, we are demanded to “be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind” (Romans 12:2) aided by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit from God. The life that was in Jesus in his earthly ministry becomes a part of all who have been born again of the Spirit; a life that can never fade away and which God will never remove so long as we “continue in the kindness.” (Romans 11:22)

The Christian then is not acceptable to God because of obedience, or because he has promised to be good, to reform, to give up evil thought or bad habits; but, because God reached out to you through the death of the Christ, who was sent into the world that fallen mankind might identify His true nature in His death, burial and resurrection and be redeemed. (See Hebrews 2: 14-15)

The reasoning of some is that Christ came to reveal the fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man from the lovingkindness of God. While the first is certainly true, the second is out of context. He did say, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father;” but,  the New Testament teaches that Jesus came to take “away the sin of the world!” (John 1: 29)  ”For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.(Hebrews 9:26) We are not brothers to each other, but rather brothers in Christ only through acceptance of our need for His sacrifice, and only because He was sent by the Father as a means of providing atonement for our sins. The Christ is the standard below which we are all equally deficient and to which we can all equally strive. This equality makes us brothers in Christ, but we are only equal within that standard. Aside from Christ’s atonement there is no standard, and there is no equality; there is no brotherhood without the “Son, for Him to be the First-born among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29)

The idea that the Christ died for me, and therefore I am completely free from penalty, is also not taught in the New Testament. What is taught? “…he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”  (II Corinthians 5:15)  Christ died for all; ”for the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.”  (II Corinthians 5:14) Nor is it the idea that if I accept the Christ’s death for me I am relieved of my responsibilities (Romans 11:22-31 & Romans 12:1 & Hebrews 6:1-8)

Finally, the New Testament teaching is not that I am the Lord’s unless and until I am determined to have Christ formed in me; (Romans 12: 1-2)  “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.” (Galatians 4:19 ).

Hate is not the opposite of love. Hate is a condition of love. Hate, true hatred, comes only when the thing you love is being harmed. It is then that you will find yourself hating the thing that harms what you love. The opposite of love is apathy; a lack of commitment in any sense.

Think about that as you read this…

And to the angel of the church of Laodicea, write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Head of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold, or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and I am made rich, and I have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy from Me gold having been fired by fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, and your shame and nakedness may not be revealed. And anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. I, as many “as I love, I rebuke and I chasten.” Be zealous, then, and repent. - Revelations 3:14-19

It is ingrained in us by “religious teaching” that we must do exceptional things for God or our spirituality may be in question.  (As one mother of four put it, “At times I serve as many meals at church, it seems, as in my home).”  The opposite extreme are those who must consider it incumbent upon them only to appear at worship service once a week to discharge their duty to God.

The truth is entirely different!  We are called and sent out to be exceptional in the ordinary things of every day life, and holy on the ordinary streets of our own city, among ordinary people we often meet daily; this is not easy because it requires  grace and humility.  That is neither learned quickly nor is it a garment we can put on as we go out, remove and hang in the closet when we close the door behind us as we return home.

We must learn to draw strength from the mountain top worship experiences; but, rejoice to return to the valley where ordinary people do ordinary things ordinarily.  That is where Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead to life, drove the demons out and lived His life in the flesh on earth.

It is easy to forget the “B” attitudes; Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth, Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God, Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  (Matthew 5: 3-12)

“Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)  The Christian life is lived “Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit, says the Lord.” (Zechariah 4: 6)  It is hard by the yard but a cinch by the inch.