Since, as Solomon elaborated in God-given wisdom, “There is nothing new under the sun”, why then should we be expected to chase every “new age idea” as some life-giving epiphany?  Conversely, since there are no new ideas, should we be consumed by regurgitation of the eloquent few, those having been gifted by God to reduce complex thought to palatable content?  Is there a choice that allows all to feel free to ponder, build upon and embrace trans-formative ideals while remaining adherent to well-established, foundations of philosophical contemplation?  Absolutely, it has simply been obfuscated, confused and concealed in riddles, ironies and falsehood by an enemy who must avoid clarity as the only hope to success.  The answer, and if it bristles your sensibilities then you may wish to investigate the level of your misunderstood rebellion, the infinite knowledge of creation provided in the inerrant, infallible, Sovereign Word of God, the Bible.

There is no wisdom but that which comes from God.  Certainly, usurpers, copycats and hybrid thinkers have always attempted to claim that they have invented an idea, concept or science, which has not been previously documented in the Word of God.  The enemy has but one option, to convince everyone through misdirection, LIES or egoistic benefit that they have perhaps come up with the next big answer.  However, close investigation and review will always demonstrate that any idea may be traced, documented and directly accounted for in the writings of Holy Spirit inspired scripture.  Why then won’t scholars do the work of disproving this reality?  It is simply that to do so would in fact clearly establish the existence, sovereignty and correctness of the Word of God, thus disrobing their emperor’s house of all self-created and perpetuated cloaks of decadence and falsehood, revealing their sandy foundations.  Why subject ourselves to the untenable position of maintaining our own illusion, when the real foundation of the Rock of Ages is there to support us even in the world of temblors?  Pride alone is the answer, thus it is the root of all sin and humility the beginning to every salvation.

Just as this discussion of wisdom began with Solomon, we will end with another elaboration from those august books he penned at the behest of Spirit.  The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord.  This idea has been confused, misused, avoided and prostituted by so many because it is a concept, which when understood, provides direct connection with the mind of Christ.  The Lord is the holder of all wisdom, He invented it for our edification, therefore He is the repository of every cogent and good idea.  Without the reverent fear associated with humble understanding of one’s created position, we cannot go to God in authentic request for dispensation of discriminative ability.  I must approach the throne room of God with reverent fear by first accepting that I do not make the rules of a universe which I neither created nor sustain.  God has said that the only path to His relationship is through the door of Christ, through belief in what He declares to be “absolute truth”.  We all understand the power of condition, the “if/then” statements of reasoning, yet we refuse to comply with God’s conditions for salvation, peace and acquisition of wisdom.  Try reading proverbs 2 and you will see that the Lord gives us the recipe for discernment, yet we neglect, refuse or deny this ready access because it requires “humility and surrender”, two concepts that are entirely foreign to the fallen rulers of the planet.

Lord, Your Name be Blessed as it should be above every name.  Jesus, the King of Kings.

I would love to sing uplifting, encouraging music about our dedication and sacrifice for each other, forgetting ourselves for the benefit of our love for Christ.  However, to do so I would have to overlook a generally indifferent, self-concerned, non committal, lethargic at best group of believers awaiting harvest.  It is not sufficient for me to point my finger at others performance, comparing and declaring it lackluster when held in comparison to my own.  We all must turn a blind eye to our own shortcomings, just as Romans 1 declares that unbelievers will do when ignoring the truth of God.  Shall we compile and construct a house of cards, erected with the delusions and self-fulfilling deceptions we have orchestrated so that we may exonerate, justify or explain away our own unwillingness to disciple, feed or help the poor, fatherless and ill?  Can we honestly say that we are doing what Christ asked of us, nay commanded us?  I must say that I have and continue to fall way short of even the minimal mark.

What would Jeremiah say to and about our beloved nation?  Would he commend us for our generosity, our vigor for life, our commitment to fostering the next new technology?  What would he say after having attended a service full of joyous believers, dancing from the catharsis provided by the ear splitting rock-like worship music.  Would he applaud our palsied attempts at supporting orphans, widows, the homeless, imprisoned or gravely ill.  Would he see us volunteering at hospice, hospitals, orphanages, widow’s homes or down at the soup kitchen nightly sharing the gospel with those to be fed?  Would he be surprised at the millions of dollars spent upon air conditioned churches, with expensive carpeting, exercise facilities and child care wings rivaling the local elementary schools?  Would he condone and support the sales of DVD, CD’s, Pictures, books and memorabilia in the atrium of our churches or like Christ over turn some tables?  What would he say to our leadership, considering themselves saviors of our society, thinking themselves knights of the modern age?  Or would he declare us in danger of judgment, warning us to repent as a nation and be saved or face the coming wrath of Almighty God?  For that matter what would any of God’s prophets say to us as American’s after viewing our daily behavior and rituals?  If this doesn’t stand the hair up on your neck regarding a resounding fear of the Lord, then you should be very afraid for you are either too arrogant to see or have been turned over to your own decadence long ago.

The Lord’s Word says what it says for entirely understandable reasons, as this world was created by God not any one or group of us.  It is His plan, His world, His created beings and those who have been saved owe a special allegiance to Him for having been provided a method by which to be cleansed of sin and escape deserved and certain judgment.  That is not to say that there is a payment due beyond belief, but it ought to cause a change in people’s hearts, knowing that God cared that much to sacrifice Himself for our redemption.  In fact there all other ideals in this lifetime pale in comparison.  We must wake up or risk the slumber of an unconscious and lost generation of worldly Christians, having forgotten diligence, having forgotten the great commission, having determined that everything else in life is more important then the work God has given us.

The central point of indecision, confusion and argument surrounds the inability, unwillingness or conversely the acceptance of the fact that Jesus is God.  You see if He was just a man, as the secularists would have Him portrayed, then we may dismiss His commands, direction, correction and Prophetic Word as simply the uncannily wise recommendations of a theorist.  Or if He is merely portrayed as the Son of God, as many revisionist religions teach, then He may be included in the segment of “many” saints or prophets sent to demonstrate God’s efforts to convince man of His Sovereignty.  Accepting Him as God requires a complete transformation of our path through this life.  You see, when God came to Earth, as a man, born of a virgin, He committed the ultimate sacrifice for His creation, while showing them how to overcome sin, death and tragedies past mistake.  God revealed Himself for man’s edification, familiarity and hope.  God showed us through example how we are redeemed to relationship with Him and the “only” way to prepare ourselves for an afterlife spent with a Holy, Righteous, Sovereign and Loving, God.  Only in understanding that Jesus said clearly that He is God, brings to light the anger with which He was received by a hypocritical clergy and the righteous wrath with which all men will confront if they do not accept His Truth.  For since He is God, He may not be ignored, making His call to repentance and belief a necessity for eternity, rather than just a recommendation of simply one more man in the midst of man’s historical philosophers.

Further complications associated with misunderstanding God’s Triune nature may be avoided by accepting that not only is Jesus, God but the Holy Spirit is also God.  This complexity baffles humanity allowing argumentalists to insert this misunderstanding as proof of Christian foolishness.  Let us not look to strengthen their quest by accepting their bait and involving ourselves in a mobius argument, fulfilling their desire to obfuscate the issue at true consideration.  For none of us may effectively comprehend God’s complexity for we are just men.  Faith is born in the acceptance of what God says as Truth.  When we accept that old testament prophecy said that God would come, then Jesus came, born of a virgin fulfilling those prophecies, we are then confronted by the absolute truth that we must choose to either obey, follow and believe or deny, disobey and turn away from salvation and relationship.  Jesus is the only way to eternal life with God, because He is God.  Therefore, everything He told us which must be done was explained to us, by God, declaring it unavoidable in man’s quest to find, know and be with God.  This also raises the soul shaking principle that we may not ignore the Holy Spirit’s conviction, correction and guidance in this worldly existence because we are then once again disobeying and dare I boldly postulate, perhaps blaspheming, God Himself?

Search the scripture.  Analyze it as Jesus told us to do.  Don’t just go get a book on the regurgitated perspective of some notable religious scholar.  Read what God said about His nature.  Read the first few paragraphs of the Old Testament and you will see that the Father, God, the Spirit, God and the Word (Jesus), God were present at the founding of the world. Read Jesus’ Revelation and find that at the end we will reside with the Father, Son and Spirit, just as the Bible began it continues past the remaking of this world.  Do not fall for misdirection thrown out there as bait to lure you away from the central question.

Will we accept the Word of God as truth, committing ourselves to repentance, belief and reliance upon Jesus or will we be led astray by whatever convenient distraction the enemies of God utilize to keep us from making the only necessary decision that must be made in the timeline of our mortality?  Jesus is alive awaiting our arrival through acceptance of the path He provided for us to be redeemed to God’s Grace.  That central concept becomes acceptable, understandable and viable only by faith in the truth of His Word.  That is why as the Bible states, in Hebrews 11:6, “without faith it is impossible to please God”.  For since, we are incapable of fully comprehending God’s complexity, we are left with the choice of either accepting His truth as fact through faith or denying it wholly/partially in and endless discussion that shall never be resolved in this life.  Do not take the devil’s bait of deception and endless argument, simply believe that Jesus is God and uncannily all falls right into place.  Peace and God’s Grace to you this day that we have been given.  Keep your eyes elevated to heaven.  For in focus upon Him all truth is revealed and all deception eliminated.  Praise God in His Sovereign, Divine and Infinite nature, in the name of Jesus Christ the King of Everything.

Peace, for us is evidence of the presence of God.  Not a peace, that idyllically calls men to tolerate one another in our obeisances, addiction and oddity of taste.  A peace suggesting that someone out there is praying for you, namely Jesus Himself.  What is the nature of a man who can walk calmly in the raging nightmare?  Is this courage, some possession of understanding built upon tragic experiences overcome in past days?  Why now Lord when there is so much to be said, would You counsel me to peace, quiet and brokered silence?  I am once again being called to dependence upon the works of Almighty God, reliance upon His outcome, His effort, His decision and undertakings.  This quiet tames my heart delivering me from critique, accusation and strangely frees me of concern.

There is so much to say to you, about love, the love I have for you, this magical person that was gifted me by God.  Don’t fret, breathe deeply, find a courage that was planted in your spirit by God Himself.  He will never fail you.  Please make note of the discouraging things shouted at you, wanting your paralysis, but do not heed them, for you know truth.  Set a pace that allows you to quickly be still when the Spirit guides.  Soak in the Glory of each moment knowing that it is provision of a Sovereign Father.  Step lightly, with peace, alacrity and purpose, knowing that God will show up at exactly the right time, with the right amount of wind, purpose, support, provision and love.  Jesus, sits at the right hand of God watching everything that transpires, knowing every thing you’ve done or will ever do, never wavering for a millisecond in His love for you.  You have been forgiven, be at peace, stand in courage and know that the Lord is Your God.

What shall I say to my Lord, who in His infinite wisdom has not yet made the necessary changes in my own attitude, character and behaviors to remake me in His image?  Shall I be upset, frustrated and interrogative or remain patient, knowing fully that this is indication of His sovereignty and timing?  I must admit, after making the same mistakes repeatedly, for what seems to be a significant piece of my lifetime, I am oft too quick to question God.  My faith is the only avenue through which I may please God.  Remaining steadfast in my position, untenable as it may appear, provides the only evidence that I am in fact completely dependent upon God’s trans formative Hand to sanctify my soul.  I know my weakness, without Him, I will never grow and change to resemble Christ.  This fact is the only thought which keeps me on the road to patient understanding.

What then may I do with this set of continual and repeated failures or repetitive behaviors?  All I can do is repent and pray, because try as I might, these issues will not be removed through my own mastery or injection of superior self-help skills.  Father, the things that have happened have marred my memory, producing deep seated scars, wounds and memories that I fear are impossible for me to ever dissolve.  What anger I see in my life today remains from past wounds, for today I am not suffering the constant and necessary pressures that made of me an angry man.  What slander I speak, I learned, through emulation of an acidic culture, determined to minimize the import and perfection of each person to God.  What callous nature I possess, I was taught, as a reflection of helplessness and lack of control forced upon my predecessors.  I am by origin and nature a sinner, holding on to the original transgression, but this is not the sum total of my calamity.  I have also been spotted by the brutal, divisive and pejorative nature of this fallen world.  Praise be to God that He sees me cleansed, for though I feel polluted, He only sees Christ’s Perfect Spirit covering my impurity and unrighteousness.  But I pray, wait and seek sanctification, so that I may be eternally free of my own poisonous past.

Lord God, free me of these remaining worldly characteristics.  Please let me be like Christ, no longer resorting to hurtful, dysfunctional or spiteful actions in order to control those around me.  I do not wish to be harsh, but gentile.  I do not wish to be violent but a peace maker.  I do not wish to sponsor sarcasm and slander, rather dispensing words of encouragement and hope.  Let me fill the sails of those who have been caught in continual doldrums.  Let me express love, the love You showed me, forgetting all their imperfections, gazing instead upon their majesty and importance in Your eyes.  Please let that old man and his fleshly tendencies to finally and completely perish.  Jesus my King, save me from my self and those things I have learned, seen and heard from a fallen world.

Do you believe to the point it forces you to act?  Do not hear my words and reflect upon their eloquence, sensitivity and representative kindness, look to my actions, when determining my character.  What am I doing to spread the Gospel?  What have I done to feed the Lord’s sheep?  To whom have I discipled, convincing, encouraging and supporting their edification by the Word of God, preparing them to prepare others?  What orphans have I comforted, widows have I supported, sickness have I tended to healing?  What sins have I repented, what changes have I undertaken through the Holy Spirit of God, what evidence of the fruits of the Spirit show clearly in my life, especially when I am unaware that others are looking?  How have I reached those who have become apathetic, unconvinced, callous to the hypocritical practices of church leaders intent upon putting butts in seats and paying large mortgages?  How have I deferred the blame placed upon God for the wrongs we as men have committed?  When have I stood for Jesus Christ, to the point where it cost me skin, money, station or reputation?  Would God be glorified by my life given as a Holy sacrifice for His Glory?  If not, why not?

There is only clarity, health and cleansing in the showering of Truth.  Nothing that is poisoned, filthy, deceptive or wicked may remain in the basking light of God’s sizzling Word.  Those that crawl and seek darkness for their festering reality shall never knowingly embrace the Light of Jesus.  We, therefore, must subject ourselves to this scrutiny, this cleansing Fire of Spirit, this life above reproach in order to truly represent God as ambassadors.  You say, “that is impossible”, “no one may live that way”.  I say to you, you are absolutely correct, with a caveat; there has only been one who lived that life, His name is Jesus.  We are called to emulate His majesty, purity, wisdom, care and glory.  Even though in your estimation this is beyond possibility, His Word also defeats that impossibility through Christ, “All things are possible through Christ who strengthens me”.  Now do you see the objective of preachers calling you to victory?  We may stand in the Truth of God and observers, fulfilling the impossible, through indwelling and revision by the Works of HIS Spirit, for that which is impossible to us has already been proven possible through HIS life.  Stand in the Light, Be washed by the Word, Walk in the Spirit, have a character that is already beyond conviction.  Follow Jesus, let Him have the victory through living your life, as He readily gave His own for you.