Life instead of Death

With all the carnage last weekend and all over the news, about the tragic shootings in the quiet and friendly province of Nova Scotia, it has been difficult to think of anything else. It is inconceivable that in our peacekeeping country, so many innocent people were brutally killed at the hand of a criminally evil, most likely, demonized man, and all while people are already suffering from having to stay home and socially isolate. Family and friends cannot even console themselves or have a proper memorial service.

As I’ve been thinking about this heartbreaking situation, and these many grieving people left behind in Nova Scotia and beyond, and also the investigators and RCMP having to do this gruesome job, I have been praying for help and comfort for them. I believe prayer is the only answer, and God can and will stand beside and help those in trouble or in pain when we ask.

Psa 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Some may say, “Well, isn’t it a little too late now? Where was God when all this happened, and why wouldn’t He stop this crazed shooter sooner?” We may question God when we don’t understand why He would allow such carnage. And yet, the question also arises: If God had warned of this impending disaster, was anyone listening and preparing for it and warning others? Did people regularly pray over their entire neighbourhood, town and territory? This is something, as Bible-believers, that we all need to be doing. I know this doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen, but there is great power and safety when you’re under a faith-filled prayer cover, at least I have found that to be true! The same can be asked of the COVID-19 pandemic. Was anyone listening and paying attention to the way the world had slidden so far off track from the God who created us and all things for HIS purposes and pleasure? God speaks to us all the time, I believe. But perhaps more likely, we aren’t or haven’t been listening or paying attention.

Today I believe God showed me something extremely important about all that is going on. All I have seen on my notifications from the media has to do with death. How many people have died from COVID-19, and how many people they actually predict will die from it (how depressing is that?), and how many bodies have been discovered in Nova Scotia. Now, I am not in any way trying to brush off the seriousness of what is happening and what has happened, but it’s important also to re-focus on a beneficial truth. And this is what God showed me, and it has to do with life.

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

For believers in Jesus as the Son of God, there is victory over death! When Jesus died and rose again, He conquered death for us! No one else could do that. This means that, according to verse 57 and 58, we have absolutely nothing to dread. In fact, there’s no need to allow all this negative news to get us down. Pray for those who are grieving, and help wherever we can.  This is all part of abounding in the work of the Lord!  Do not be shaken by the world’s negative stream of news these days.  Instead, live that victorious life we have been called into. When we give our lives to Jesus, we discover not just a new life, but a life-changing life. We are free! We are forgiven! We feel loved unconditionally perhaps for the first time ever! We experience a cleansing truth, and we welcome each precious revelation from the trusted Word of God! And there’s much much more. We choose life and life eternal rather than a life that leads to death and eternal separation from God. We choose relationship with God, and are done with dead religious practices.

If you are reading this, and you do not yet believe in Jesus Christ, or if you haven’t accepted His free gift of salvation for you, I’d like to offer you an opportunity. Please go this link, and follow the simple steps that will change your life in a wonderful way, and guarantee your place in God’s heaven.

The Quietness

The following is a poem I wrote earlier this week. I believe it is for our encouragement and admonition for this difficult time we are living in.

The Quietness

The airwaves

Silenced

From proudful tongues

And blasts of coldness

To God’s chosen one

In this loud silence

Self thoughts can’t plan

A future uncertain

And unknown to man

Always and ever

Only in God’s hand

All the while He’s

Been talking

But no one listening

Impossible to hear

When stress ensues

And pride and fear chase after you

Creating a noisy mind

And crowded minds weary

Devoid of wisdom and what is kind

Peace be still

And know that I am God

Quietness

Is confidence

As you take My hand

I will lead you

To a better land

But first you must stand

On what is true

Listen soak up My word

And let your mind renew

Let go control

Of all you want to keep

For the old is gone

And the new has come

Yet all is not yet revealed

Humble yourself

And learn of Me

I know what’s best

And will give accordingly

And when things scream

For your attention

Do not take heed

Turn the other way

And run to your freedom

From all unnecessary greed

Notice how the

birds of the air

Remain unchanged

Praising me and trusting

As I continue to provide

their daily need

And so it is with you

One day at a time

Trust and rest

There is no need to strive

Forgive those who’ve struck you

Not knowing what they did

They carry a load unseen to you

And they too must forgive

Be unafraid to venture

Where no one dare to tread

Be a blessing to others

Go boldly, unafraid

And think of them instead

Quietness will give way

To a spring of promise and renewal

Let this time unfold without hassle or worry

Time will be a friend

As you learn to bide your time

And not be in such a hurry

All will be restored

As you listen

Embrace the sounds

Of Quietness

There is no need to strive

Or frazzle your thoughts

With unbridled worry

Overcoming the World – Part 3

This is the final part of a three part blog taken from a book I wrote called Victory Over Backsliding.   As I shared previously, backsliding is when you turn away from God (and start living life your own way), even though you were once committed to Him.  In my book, I share my own first-hand experience with it, what I learned from it, and how I came back to the God of my childhood.

In light of our current world situation with the Covid-19 virus shutting everything down, this is an important time to examine our hearts.  We need to discover the status of our own heart in relation to who and what we love regarding the world in which we live.  The next part may not be easy because it is a challenge to honestly assess our own lives.  

Chapter 3 – Overcoming the World (see book info below)

Beginning of Part 3

What we Love

              Are we like Lot?  Are we so enticed by the world and so much at home here that we compromise our spiritual life and adopt the same attitudes, actions and aspirations as everyone else?  Do we want to feel that we belong and fit in with everyone else, so compromise our morals?  Yet, we are called to choose -– if we love the world system, we will not love the Father, as the following important Scriptures indicate:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.   I  John 2:15-17

(Note:  For the best interpretation of the above scriptures I have ever read, I recommend the book, Love not the World by Watchman Nee.

  

The greatest safeguard against falling into the slippery clutches of the world is to set our affection on the things of God.  The importance of the heart is emphasized, because this is where our affections lie, this is where our temptations are the greatest.  Remember that we cannot serve two masters; we cannot, for example, serve God and money (see Matthew 6:24).  Let's face it, we live in a material world and we are bombarded with advertisements of every sort, all of which are aesthetically designed to appeal to the eye and our pride.  The world does not know and therefore does not tell us the kind of price we will ultimately pay for accruing so many things.  It may be financial ruin, breaking up a marriage, associated crimes that include stealing and lying, or worst of all, losing our own soul. 

             For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?     Mark 8:36 

            There is an even stronger Scripture, warning us not to become entangled with the world system:

 

            Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.   James 4:4

            In Paul's letter to Timothy he tells him that one of his fellow workers Demas, has forsaken him, "having loved this present world" (2 Timothy 4:10).  Demas chose to use the world for his own gain, and therefore thwarted Paul's ministry because his heart and mind was not set on the things of God but on the things of the world.  We are to use the world for the purpose of bringing glory to God, and not become dominated by its system.   How do we do this?  One of the ways is to keep our mind focused on Scripture:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

We also need to see ourselves in a different light.  Here is what Scripture says about us:

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.  2  Corinthians 5:20 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  1 Peter 2:9 

Clearly, like Jesus, we are not of this world and we need to reach out to this fallen world without becoming part of it.  And as we do, our eyes will be adjusted.  For instead of lusting after the things of the world, we will instead, love the people for whom Christ died, and be able to fulfill our true calling.

That concludes Chapter 3.  Chapter 4 will take you further into the heart of the study of backsliding, and is likely the heart of the entire study.  I encourage you to pick up a copy of the ebook online.  Click on this link.

McBurney-Gunhouse, Linda  Overcoming the World; Victory Over Backsliding; Winnipeg Beach; Creative Focus Publishing; 2007, pgs. 30-32.