Who is he who speaks
and it
comes to pass, when
the Lord
has not commanded it?
Is it not from the
mouth of the
Most High that woe
and well–being
proceed? Why should a
living man
complain, a man for
the
punishment of his
sins?
Lamentations 3:37–39
Throughout
history of the Church can be found men, and women, who either act as though
they speak for God, and attempt to pass off onto the ignorant words that sound
so good, so religious, so holy, even going so far as to speak prophetically,
that is, to speak of future things outside of what the Scriptures state. When
their prophecies fail to come, to pass, the make excuses or reasons as to why
they did not occur. Why? God has not commanded their prophecies, and not their
good philosophical analogies that entrap the unwary. It is so often forgotten,
in a person’s rush to prominence, to be seen as godly, that their viewpoints
are correct that they have forgotten that our presence on this earth is to
simply be a worker for God and that our life is to become the highest it can be
for God, and not for ourselves. Our viewpoints ought to come from Scripture
rightly translated and applied to teach the children of God what God actually
reveals. Not to gain converts, not to enlarge our congregations, rather to
simply maintain our purpose for our lives on this earth until we meet with our
Lord in heaven. What are we to maintain? We are to exhibit our Savior Jesus
Christ to the world, in our everyday business, to our friends, family, and our
children, that we are to be fully a captive of Jesus Christ. Our cause is for
Jesus Christ, and Him alone, not our viewpoints that are not Scriptural, rather
to live according to His commands. Our interests are to be heavenly, not
earthly, and no other interests should hold us captive. We are the victors due
to the victory in Jesus Christ, therefore we live for His Highest; therefore,
we live as the conquerors we are in Jesus Christ. When do not obey the words of
God then we should not complain of the punishment that comes to us by our sin.
God is in control! This is, and we are, His creation, His workmanship;
therefore, we do not complain against God, against those hard times, as God has
ordained all things, not that He orders sin, rather by His Providence He allows
sin, allows second causes both the good and the bad for His purpose and His
purpose alone. God is Good, not just an attribute, for He is GOOD! All things
therefore are from His goodness and for His glory, and we are as one of His
children, a glory for God. Do we fully understand the workings of God? NO! We
are not God! We are not infinite; therefore, we cannot know what God has not
revealed to us. No matter! God is GOOD! Our life is to be a sweet savor to the
world and all our afflictions will end with us living eternally with Him, His
Son, and the Holy Spirit eternally. Wherever we go we are wonderfully
refreshment to the world, and especially to our brothers and sisters in Jesus
Christ.
The
Judaizers with their insistence upon circumcision by Gentiles was to promote
what was a badge to the Jews: LOOK! I am circumcised and I am a special person
to God, a special nation to God and if you desire to be the same you must
follow this law, this thing. OH! The Judaizers thought that they had some
advantage over the Gentiles: “What advantage then has the Jew, or what is
the profit of circumcision” (Romans 3:1)? Yes, the Jews had an advantage: “Much
in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God”
(Romans 3:2). The Jews had the word of God committed to them so that they
could be a special people for Him to have Himself revealed to the world, and
yet, they held fast to legalism forgetting what was written in the oracles of
God: the Messiah was to come and now had come fulfilling what they held: the
oracles of God. We have the written oracles of God. Those oracles are in almost
every home, motel room, and is the most selling book in the world: so why do we
hold fast to those things of indifference making them to be the hallmarks of
our faith? BELIEVE UPON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND BE SAVED! What more do you
want? What more is needed? Nothing! If you have converted to our Savior Jesus
Christ then be the savor for Him in all you do and say. What if some who claim
to be a believer and those whose claim to be godly only to be seen as
blasphemy; does this nullify the word of God? No! “For what if some did not
believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect”
(Romans 3:3)? Yes, some who are baptized, those workers in missionary work,
or some pastoral office are not believers. There have ulterior motives, usually
money, or sex, or power, rather than to be simply yoked to Jesus Christ for His
glory. These men and women who will not repent of their sin(s) do not
obliterate the truth of God: “Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but
every man a liar. As it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words,
and may overcome when You are judged” (Romans 3:4).
To be that
light, the salt of the earth, a conqueror sending forth a sweet savor of truth
you must be willing to examine all things and hold fast to that which is true.
We must rid ourselves of those viewpoints we have held and allowed to become
embedded into our thinking and place them under the microscope of Scripture.
This will take effort, time, and it may come as baby–steps at first; but, and
this is important; if you are disposed to be all that God wants you to be, and ambassador
for him, then completely sell over yourselves to Him and allow the Holy Spirit
to guide you as you study His word.
This is
blessing; not some outward show of piety.
Therefore thus says the LORD:
‘If you
return, then I will
bring you back; you shall stand before Me;
if you take
out the precious
from the vile. You shall be as My mouth.
Let them
return to you, but you
Must not return to them.
Jeremiah 15:19
You are a conqueror through Christ
Richard L. Crumb
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