Two Choices: Choose Wisely

For the grace of God that bringeth

salvation hath appeared to all men,

teaching us that, denying ungodliness

and worldly lusts,we should live

soberly, righteously, and godly, 

in this present world; looking

for that blessed hope, and the

glorious appearing of the great 

God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 

who gave Himself for us, that He

might redeem us from all iniquity,

and purify unto Himself a peculiar

people, zealous of good works.

These things speak, and exhort, and 

rebuke with all authority. Let no man

despise thee.

Titus 2:11-15

     Jehovah Witnesses deny that Jesus is God and is only a god and claim that they believe this because of the Greek. Well, that is far from the truth for the Greek is plain and clear: Greek grammar must be known and followed and the words: θεου̃  καί σωτη̃ρος (God and Savior) does not have the definite article ό (the), it isn't the God and the Savior, for this would make "and" to be a separator making two beings, so without the "the" "and" joins the two nouns to be one and the same, God is the Savior and the Savior is God. Therefore following the words of Paul, I will rebuke such false teaching, heresy, and so should you.

     Paul, Scripture is clear as to how an Authentic Christian should live. John the apostle admonishes us to despise things transitory: "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever" (1John 2:17). We studied 1Timothy so to remind us in regards to the transitory things that we are not to hold onto Paul writes: "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1Timothy 6: 17-19). Important to remember and to think carefully upon what Paul under inspiration wrote, for when the rich are admonished to treasure a good foundation for themselves in the future so that they may lay hold of true life, there is no doubt that there is a false life.  

      Here lies a problem: when the poor see the rich, they groan, grumble, envy their praise, yearn to be made equal, lament their inequality, is this not what you see in this present age? Yes, advertising, teaching, promoting, to be rich, to be important, to make all things equal (Communism advocates this), to be empowered, a word used especially for women (this is not denigrate women only to point out that this word is used to make equal all people, when in fact it is used to make women want to be like men, leave home, children (preschool, kindergarten, nannies, programs for children) to be raised by others and only to have them when the "empowered" person wants to be with them as though they are to be thought of as "good." In some sense this is the thinking of the rich: when the rich are praised, most of them say, "They are the only ones--they are the only ones who live." The poor flatter the rich, want to be rich, to be like them, because they live, they have big homes, fancy cars, go on expensive vacations, and by this the rich are puffed up. Paul admonishes that the rich, as well as all people, are not to set their minds on the things of this world, those transitory things, rather to set their minds on heaven, on the return of their Savior Jesus Christ. 

     Let the rich share, let all share according their means: "If a man say, I love 'God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, that he who loveth God love his brother" (1John 4:20-21). The poor often dream of being rich, to have what others have, he/she dreams of treasure and rejoices, and becomes proud and while dreaming does not recognize his tattered self and believes he is rich. When this man awakens he finds that his dream is false and he is truly sorrowful. Dreams are only dreams, put a dream in both hands and you have nothing, only dreams. Why? Because he has done nothing good with his hands. Because of life we seek to be rich, or better, to seek to have enough for the day, but we do not seek riches to have life. While we seek to enjoy this life we cannot forget what a price must eternal life be acquire, if the life that will perish becomes so precious, why seek to hold onto this life and not seek to do all for the kingdom of God, for the eternal life promised to all of God's children: which is more important to place our energies? 

     If, therefore, my brothers and sisters, you may desire to be rich, love true riches. If you seek the height of true honor, seek the honor of the heavenly kingdom. If you seek glory, then seek to be known as one enrolled in the higher court, where angels of God reside, heaven. Remember, everything in this world will pass away, and at the Last Judgment, there will be no chance of this transitory world to remain, you are going somewhere and you are hurrying to be somewhere, why then love this world? Love the heavenly, reject he earthly, seek the eternal, neglect the temporal, and by this you will make you salvation sure, that is you will know that you are a child of God, and you can hold fast to the everlasting Kingdom with Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with His Father the Second Person of the Godhead, God who in unity with the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, Who is God forever. 

     

And he said, "Naked came I out 

     of my mother's womb, and 

naked shall I return thither:

    the LORD gave, and the LORD

hath taken away; blessed be 

    the name of the LORD.

                Job 1:21

Seek the treasure of God first

Richard L. Crumb