BE LIKE NOAH

"Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God…Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.’ Noah did everything just as God commanded him." Genesis 6:9b, 11-22

Like Noah, we should strive daily to walk closely with God and attempt to live as blameless and righteously as possible among our fellow man. Like Noah, we should always be prepared to go and do whatever God commands. Unlike Noah, I don’t think any of us have been asked to take on the kind of task God gives him in our scripture above or at least I haven’t been aware of any other arks built since Genesis. But Noah did get told to build the ark that would essentially preserve a remnant of God’s creation from the destructive flood He was about to bring. And the amazing part of this for me is that he did so without a word...he just "did everything just as God commanded him."

Noah’s life and response lead us to some important takeaways as we seek to walk more and more in God’s will and way:

1. Walk closer and closer with God every day. We can never get too close to Him. The more we’re in His presence, the more we’ll embody and be empowered to be what He wants us to be. And the more empowered we are in Him, the more confident we become through Him. There’s no doubt in my mind that we can even get to the point where God might tell us to build a giant ark and fill it with specific people and creatures and we could do it without question…we would be able to do everything and anything that God commands.

Question: How closely are you walking with God? Do you need to draw nearer to His presence in your daily walk?

2. Never underestimate what God might ask you to do at any one given time. I’m sure Noah didn’t wake up on the day of our scripture’s events and say to himself, "I think I’ll build a great ark today" but that’s what ended up happening. We all have such a tendency to have our days planned and scheduled. How would any of us handle God stepping into our day and commanding us to do something as momentous as what He asked Noah to do? I think the key is to be ready for God to do anything at anytime and use us in anyway He sees fit to accomplish His will. Noah was up to the task. We need to be as well.

3. When God commands you to do something, just do it. Our scripture doesn’t say that Noah questioned whether he was the right man for the task God had given him. It doesn’t say that he was afraid he would fail to accomplish what he was told to do. It doesn’t say that he was overwhelmed by the task ahead. And it definitely doesn’t say that he came up with some excuse as to why he couldn’t do it. No…Noah simply "did everything just s God commanded him." We’re to follow suit.

I don’t know about you but I gain more and more respect every time I study his story. After God had dealt with Adam and Cain, I can’t help but think Noah was a nice breath of fresh air for God. Not hard to understand why it was Noah and his family that God decided to bless. I can only hope God feels the same way about my family and I as well. I’m sure you’re hoping likewise.

In Christ,

Mark

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REPEATING THE PAST?

"The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the Lord said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." Genesis 6:5-9

From Adam to Noah, ten generations of man had walked God’s created earth and sin had continued to manifest itself in the hearts of men and women. Our scripture today shares that "the Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." This upset God to the point that He "grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain."

Now consider these main points for just a moment. Great wickedness on the earth. Man consumed with evil thoughts. God’s heart filled with pain. Now think about the world we live in today. If it doesn’t bring you some degree of concern, it should. I can’t help but feel that God’s heart is hurting again in the way things are happening on the earth He created. Too many people are not familiar with the scriptures and God’s almighty power to include judgment if necessary. The first human beings certainly found out about it.

For God wasn’t about to allow rampant wickedness and sinfulness to consume His creation. God speaks out in our scripture saying, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." The pain that God feels in His heart over the way His creation has turned out has led Him to grieve that He ever created them in the first place. So He decides to "wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air." In other words, hit the reset button. Things aren’t looking good for man at this point.

Question: How do you think things are looking for us today? Is it not possible that God could decide to hit the reset button again as He did back in Genesis? If you doubt it, go back through Revelation and the coming return of Jesus and see if it is not something that could come at anytime. Bad things were ahead for early man in Genesis. God was about to rain on their sinful parade in a big way but He decided to not totally wipe out everything. His mercy would come through a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time…a man named Noah, who had "found favor in the eyes of the Lord."

In God, we find power, we find majesty, and we find love but we also find heartfelt pain, grief, and judgment if needed. We should never forget the mistakes of the past or else we could see a repeat of God’s actions in the future.

In Christ,

Mark

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A MERCIFUL GOD

"Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden." Genesis4:13-16

Cain murdered his brother Abel and then tried to conceal what he had done from God. God passed judgment on Cain, taking away his ability to produce crops from the earth (his trade) and making him a "restless wanderer" on the earth. Cain is left to consider his punishment and his actions. In the scripture above, we see him crying out to God, "My punishment is more than I can bear. Today, you are driving me from the land an I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth and whoever finds me will kill me." Now…a common reaction to this plea might be "So what I Cain gets killed. He will get what he has coming to him. He killed Abel and now he will face being killed as well." This opinion might also be supported by highlighting the fact that Cain never tells God he is sorry for what he did. Wouldn’t you expect Cain to fall prostrate before God begging for His mercy? That doesn’t happen. God does not want Cain in His presence but that doesn’t mean He would completely condemn Cain. In fact, God reveals another important part of His character to us…His mercy.

God had every reason to just allow Cain to die and suffer at the hands of whoever would find him while he wandered restlessly but He didn’t. He placed a mark on Cain to assure he would not get killed. So even though Cain murdered…even though Cain was less than remorseful for what he had done…even though God did not have to show one ounce of favor…God did something amazing in sparing Cain’s life. In fact, Cain would go onto marry and have a son Enosh as well as build a city. He went on with his life something that Abel did not have the opportunity to do. We do indeed serve a God of mercy.

In Christ,

Mark

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IS SIN YOUR MASTER?

"Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." Genesis4:8-12

Sin afflicts us all. That’s a fact that we can’t escape. How sin manifests itself in our lives depends on how we let sin master us. We all have the potential to be as good or as bad as we want to be. Spiritually, we can say that we all have the potential to be as holy or evil as we want to be. In Genesis, Chapter 4, verse 7, God warned Cain by telling him that "sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you but master it." As we can see in the scripture above, Cain did not master his sin but was consumed by it. The rage, jealousy and envy he felt for his brother led him to commit what would be creation’s first case of premeditated murder.

Luring Abel out into the field, Cain kills him and thinks he’ll get away with it. The Lord asks Cain about the whereabouts of Abel and Cain tells him he doesn’t know. Then, as if lying is not enough, he gets smart with God saying, "Am I my brother’s keeper?" Obviously, Cain was oblivious to the vision and power of his all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful Almighty Father.

God could have said to Cain, "No…you’re not your brother’s keeper but you ARE your brother’s killer" but it doesn’t need to be said. Both God and Cain know what has happened here and God let’s Cain know He’s onto him by saying, "What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground." We should always remember that there is nothing that can be hidden from God. We should also remember, as we have already seen in earlier parts of the bible’s first book, that God does not tolerate disobedience or knowingly doing wrong. Cain will no longer be able to ply his trade as it will never yield another crop for him. God then makes him a "restless wanderer on the earth."

Question: Do you let anger, jealousy, envy, or any other destructive emotion reign in your heart and mind? Please note where this led Cain and think again if you think it couldn’t happen to anyone. And keep in mind you don’t have to kill someone to damage them in some way.

Question 2: Have you done something you knew was wrong and thought you got away from it? The truth of the matter is that God sees EVERYTHING. Nothing is hidden from His sight. So think again if you think you’ll ever get away with something. No one will escape God’ judgment if they refuse to repent and turn away from their sinfulness.

At the heart of the Abel and Cain account, we find sin…crouching…lurking…inviting…and accepting as Cain invites it into his heart and mind. As sin takes root in him, Cain turns from an angry man to a murderer. If his brother was more favored than him, then all Cain had to do was get rid of him. Problem solved. Unfortunately, sin never takes us toward reconciliation and repair but rather toward resentment and destruction. We can’t master it or control it on our own. We can only overcome it by accepting God’s power and strength within us…every minute of every hour of every day. We can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of Cain.

In Christ,

Mark

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SEEKING GOD'S FAVOR

"Now Abel kept flocks and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you but you must master it." Genesis 4:2b-7

After leaving Eden, Adam and Eve gave birth to creation’s first children, Cain and Abel. We don’t learn too much about their childhood but are told in the scripture that they grow up with separate vocations: "Abel kept flocks while Cain worked the soil." All seems great within this first family until the sons bring an offering before God. Scripture states, "Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock." The bottom line is Abel brought his best before the Lord while Cain did not. Thus Abel gained God’s favor while Cain didn’t.

Question: Do you bring God your best every day? Does He look down on you with favor?

Going back to the scripture and what was the first case of sibling rivalry, Cain is downcast and angry because his brother gained God’s favor over him. This draws God’s attention and He tries to counsel Cain on where he went wrong saying, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you but you must master it." It’s through these words that we know Cain knew that he should have brought God his best but decided not to. His choice to do wrong did not gain God’s acceptance and sin was definitely crouching at Cain’s door as he soon will murder his brother. The sinfulness o Adam and Eve was being passed onto the next generation. The worst was yet to come.

Question: When facing decisions to do right and wrong, do you consider whether God will favor or disfavor you depending on what decision you make? Are you able to sense when "sin is crouching at your door?"

In Abel and Cain, we see the best and worse in human nature. In Abel, we see obedience and respect toward God and how it gains God’s favor. In Cain, we see how sin can enter in and take us to place away from God’s will for us…a place where we will find God’s disfavor. The good news is that we don’t have to repeat the failures of the past. In seeking to live properly in the present, we may want to go back to the very beginning…back to basics…where we’ll find our choices are fundamental...either right or wrong. We only need to turn to God for His guidance to always choose right over wrong. It’s the one true way that we can master sin.

In Christ,

Mark

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DISOBEDIENCE BRINGS CONSEQUENCE

"So the Lord said to the serpent, "Because you have done this cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel." To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be or your husband and he will rule over you." To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it’, Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow, you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; for dust you are and dust you will return"…The Lord God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and live forever. So the Lord banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken." Genesis 3:14-19, 22-23

The disobedience in Eden was discovered. God knows that His commands were disregarded after the serpent tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam ate as well and sinfulness entered God’s perfect creation forever. If you thought God was happy about this, think again. Our scripture from Genesis Chapter 3 shows us an important thing to remember about God: He despises anyone who disregards His commands or leads someone to disregard His commands. This is evident in His words following the failure of His created man and woman, enticed into failure by the serpent.

God curses the serpent, condemning him to crawl on his belly and eat dust forever. Today, modern day snakes do just that and find themselves at the feet of man where they can be crushed by the heel. The serpent tempted man to fail and would thus face death at the hands of man forever.
God’s judgment was not only directed toward the serpent. Eve was next and notice that it wasn’t only Eve who would be plagued but all women to follow. It’s a known fact that women experience great pain when delivering children. It all goes back to Eden.

And Adam wasn’t getting away free either. The ground became cursed because of him and he was forced to eat from it all the days of his life. Thorns and thistles would emerge to scratch and entangle man as he would walk the earth. And Adam would one day return to the very ground God cursed but he would not do so while still in Eden for God banished him from there forever.

So what is our take away from Eden. Here are three main points:

1. Anything good can be ruined by a simple act of disobedience to God’s commands.
2. Anyone can be tempted to disobey God’s commands.
3. Disobedience to God leads to His judgment and consequence.

As we can see, Adam and Eve introduced sin into the world. We’re afflicted even to this day and will be until death. Whether we rid ourselves from sin or not depends on whether we know and trust God’s only Son Jesus who paid the price for the sins of the world by way of His crucifixion on the cross. If you know and trust in Him as Savior, your sins will be no more at death. If you don’t know Him, you’ll never escape damnation. And, of course, if Jesus returns before you die, your fate will be established then and there. The key is to know and trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Don’t delay for better days lay ahead for us after we persevere through living in this sinful world. If we’re obedient to God and trust in Jesus, we can make it.

In Christ,

Mark

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LESSONS FROM EDEN

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." Genesis 3:1-13

We’re familiar with the story. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Sin has still not entered creation. Everything is perfect just as God planned it. But then…in comes temptation and mankind is changed forever. The serpent questions whether God had really commanded them to "not eat from any tree in the garden." Eve replied by telling the serpent that they were to not "eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden" and added that if they even touched the tree they would die. The serpent, described as "more crafty than any of the wild animals", puts the finishing touches on his enticing saying, "You will surely not die…for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." If only Eve could have seen the evil speaking to her BEFORE she took the forbidden fruit and ate it. But that’s not the way it happened. Eve took the fruit and ate. So did Adam. And with those first bites, sin entered in. Eden…God’s perfect garden paradise…that’s where sin started. It didn’t have to be that way but it happened and we had best gain some lessons learned from it if we’re to survive in a world far more evil than Eden ever was. So how can we avoid falling into temptation like Eve? Here are some important lessons we can learn from the scripture in Chapter 3 of Genesis:

1. Follow God’s commands, no matter what. God gave very clear instructions. Eat of every other tree but the tree of the knowledge of tree and evil. It’s not that there wasn’t plenty of fruit to eat. There was. And yet, Adam and Eve allowed an enticing serpent to convince them to violate God’s order. The same holds true today. God has given us commandments to follow. Jesus, His Only Son, did likewise. Yet we decide to violate their commands and surrender to the temptations of the world. We listen to modern day lurking "serpents" who do a good job of convincing us that sin is OK. I can still hear the echoes of the serpents words to Adam and Eve, "Surely you won’t die." It couldn’t have been further away from the truth then and it isn’t today either.

Question: Do you know what God has commanded? Do you know what Jesus has commanded? For you need to know both first before you can hope to discern between what is right and wrong. This leads to point 2.

2. Consult God. If you really want to know whether something is right or wrong…whether something is of His will or not…then just ask God and He’ll let you know. The knowledge of everything good and evil is in God, not some fruit on a tree. In choosing to eat the fruit from the tree, Adam and Eve were essentially choosing to seek discernment on their own apart from God. In other words, if they could see for themselves, there would be no need for God in their lives. The bottom line is that God will always lead you right. When the "serpents" of the world try to lead you to believing you can have the same vision as God, then you need to turn away from them and turn toward God.

Question: When was the last time you consulted God on any matter of your life? Do you just consult Him when you’re in trouble and discount Him all other times? Do you have a tendency to be led astray by others because you place more trust in them than God? God expects us to consult Him and more importantly listen to Him when He advises. And this leads to the third lesson we can learn from Adam and Eve’s failure.

3. Never let anyone speak to you on behalf of God without validating for truth. If only Eve had turned to God after the serpent spoke and said, "God…is this true?" A simple question to the One who would have revealed truth and prevented the fruit from being eaten. But that’s not what happened. The serpent spoke on behalf of God and Eve believed Him, ushering in disobedience and the destructiveness of sin. We need to learn that apart from God, we too will be convinced that a lot of things are proper and pleasing to Him when they aren’t. And don’t become so comfortable that you believe anyone, including pastors or even me in this blog. Turn to God and ask Him for truth and He will never let you down.

Question: Who do you follow and listen to when you seek spiritual guidance? Do you validate what you’re being told through God?

Sin is here and here to stay. We are afflicted by it. We can’t escape it. It’s in our nature, passed down by the originators of everyone’s family tree, Adam and Eve. The good news is that we can navigate our way through life avoiding sin’s enticements if we only place God central to everything we do. Follow His commands, consult Him and validate everything through Him for truth. Eden offers us important lessons. Are we learning from them?

In Christ,

Mark

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GOD ORDAINED RELATIONSHIP

"The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." Genesis 2:18-23

God created man and placed him in the Garden of Eden before setting out to find a suitable companion for him. God determined that it was "not good for a man to be alone" and set out to "make a helper suitable for him". In doing so, God ordained relationship as being critical to the human condition.

Of interest, God first provided companionship for Adam in the form of animals. Our scripture tells us that the beasts of the field, the livestock, and the birds of the air were created and given to Adam for him to name them. In naming them, Adam could relate to them personally and God hoped he might find a partner in one of them. It didn’t come to be. None of the animals were found to be "suitable helpers".

God then went to work to make sure Adam had the right companion and what better way than to have someone he could best relate to…someone who was made much in the way he was. So God placed Adam into a deep sleep to take one of his ribs and create woman…the perfect suitable mate for man. And Adam wasted no time accepting the woman…Eve…the "bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh".

Today, I think we have skewed the true intent of male/female relationships. The world seems to assume that every relationship of this form is somehow sexual in nature to the point that we almost feel uncomfortable being in company with one another. That is truly sad because if we truly went back to the basics of God-ordained relationship, we would see that it all began with man and woman. It’s natural that man and woman partner together. We were meant to associate with one another.

So let’s rejoice and give thanks for what God did from the very beginning…create man and woman to share in the blessing of life together. For this is truly God ordained relationship.

In Christ,

Mark

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THREE SURE THINGS

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Genesis 2:15-17

As the creation story is told in a new way in Genesis Chapter 2, we see in today’s scripture that God has put the man He created from the dust into the Garden of Eden to work and take care of it. In these two short verses, three important truths about God are revealed.

1. God puts us where He wants us to be. As we read in verse 15, "God took the man (Adam) and put him into the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." The bottom line here is that God is in control. He makes us, He provides for us, and He puts us where He wants us to be. We only need to discern what His will is for us wherever He puts us and then respond obediently to what He wants us to do.

2. God has a purpose for each of us. God didn’t just put Adam in the garden and allow him to do what he wanted to do. He gave Adam a purpose for being in the garden…"to work it and take care of it."

Question: Have you sought why God has you in the place He has you in? Have you sought His will in your circumstance? Have you asked God to use you in whatever way He seems fit to ensure He is glorified? One thing is certain, God ALWAYS has a purpose for us. We need only ask Him and He will reveal it.

3. God clearly gives us direction as to what He expects. Once God placed Adam in the garden, He gave Him clear instruction: "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." There’s no gray area here. God tells Adam that he can eat from every other tree in the Garden of Eden EXCEPT for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gave Adam clear guidance. He does the same to you and I. And just as with Adam, God expects us to exercise obedience.

So in sum, know you are where you are at any time because that’s where God wants you to be. Know He has a purpose and plan for you and stands ready to reveal it anytime you ask. And know that God IS providing you with clear guidance. Are you listening for Him and, if so, are you listening to Him?

In Christ,

Mark

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FROM THE DUST

"This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground-the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:4-7

Genesis Chapter 2 rehashes God’s creation story, adding some critical elements not found in the day-by-day play-by-play of Chapter 1. One of the more interesting account additions occurs in verses 4 through 6 as we learn more about the first man God created.

Chapter 1 states that "God created man in His own image" (Genesis 1:27) but there is little detail about how He did it. That comes in verse 7 of Chapter 2 which explains that "the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground".

Question: Have you ever tried to form anything out of dust? You might be able to get a pile formed but outside of that…good luck. Even if you wet dust, you still have difficulty working with mud but at last you can do more with it. So keep this in mind as you picture God forming man from the dust. I don’t know bout you but it only further reinforces how awesome God’s power is to me. This isn’t magic we’re talking about but a God of awesome miracles. And if God can make man out of dust, is there anything He can’t do? Keep that in mind when you are facing what might seem impossible circumstances.

We further learn from these passages that it was God’s breath through the dust-formed man’s nostrils that brought him to life. Without the breath, no man. Today, the same holds true. No man or woman can live without breath. It’s as important to survival as a heartbeat.

Question: How often do we take breathing for granted? Too often, I’m afraid. We do it so much (21,600 times a day on average) that it’s easy to forget the significance of it…unless, of course, you lose the ability to breathe. Think about it next time you inhale and exhale. Think as well about being formed from the dust. Then remember how much of a miracle you truly are…created by God in His own image from the dust of the earth.

In Christ,

Mark

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WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON SUNDAY?

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done." Genesis 2:2-3

I can remember a day when everything was closed on Sunday. It was a day when church seemed to be a priority and families would reserve their Sunday for worship and then relaxation. It was a day to wind down from the week’s labors and recharge oneself for the week ahead. Obviously, things have changed a great deal.

Today, Sunday is just another day. Stores are open for shopping, restaurants are open for dining, movie theaters are open so you can catch the latest flicks…there isn’t much not available on Sunday. Add in the fact that youth sports seem to have found home on Sundays and you now have kids being shuttled around by their parents so they can participate with games being held at all times, including the hours that people used to attend church. Now…church has to compete with everything else that Sunday offers…and the church is having a very tough time winning the battle.

I can’t help but think God looks down on what we have done to His Sabbath and bristles. The seventh day that He made holy is treated far from it by most. Yes, Satan has done a masterful job to distract people from the true purpose of the Sabbath. And we have fallen for it…hook, line, and sinker. While God rested on the seventh day, we can’t be on the go enough. Scripture said the day was made holy because God rested. We desecrate it because we refuse to rest.

Question: What do you do on Sunday? Are you resting in honor of God, your Creator, who made the day holy by resting Himself? It’s time to assess how we’re treating the Sabbath today. Let’s get back to basics…back to the seventh day when God rested after His creation work was complete. It’s His will for us to rest. It’s time to be obedient.

In Christ,

Mark

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CREATOR, BLESSER, PROVIDER

"God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day." Genesis 1:28-31

Day 6. God created man and woman but He did so much more than just create them. The scripture verses above reveal the following:

1. He blessed them. Is there anything more longed for than being blessed by God? We learn that from the very beginning, God placed His blessing on males and females. The good news is that He has never stopped blessing us. Consider each day that you awake and draw breath. The Lord has blessed you with another day of life. His mercies (and blessings) are truly new every morning.

Question: Do you realize that you are truly blessed? You have been so since the dawn of created man and woman.

2. He allowed reproduction. Once God created male and female, he commanded that they "be fruitful and increase in number" so that they might "fill the earth". To accomplish this, He created male and female in a way which allowed them to reproduce other males and females to keep the earth populated. Thus childbirth came to exist just as it does today…and God’s command to "be fruitful and increase" continues to be carried out.

3. He cared for what He created. God didn’t just create male and female and then let them fend for themselves. He knew they would need nourishment to survive and so He gave them "every seed bearing plant on the face of the earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it." And He just didn’t do this for male and female. Scripture tells us He did it for "everything that has the breath of life in it." God is truly the Great Provider.

So God is the Creator, the Blesser, and the Great Provider. He’s all these and so much more. How do you know Him in your life?

In Christ,

Mark

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GOD'S IMAGE AND YOU

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:26-27

God had created the creatures of the sea, the birds of the air, the livestock, the wild animals, and all creatures that move along the ground before He got to the task of creating man. From our scripture, we can see that God gave man rule over all other creatures created.

The more significant part of these two verses is how God created man. We read that he created males and females in His own image. As new babies are born everyday, they are scrutinized for likeness to their parents. Does the baby have the father’s or mother’s eyes? How about the hair? Science digs down deep within the body to reveal DNA and how it plays a role in establishing and sometimes explaining who we become. One thing is certain though…there are still plenty of mysteries contained in procreation as God continuously supplies His created earth with inhabitants. Science will never completely understand creation because it is of God and they will never fully be at the same level of wisdom and knowledge as the One who ordains wisdom and knowledge.

But let me get back to the fact that we are created in God’s image. Is that awesome or what? God took Himself and used it as the mold to make us. And despite how our physical qualities might be different…how our personalities might be different…how our attitudes might be different…we all have an innate potential to reflect the very qualities of God Himself…without actually being God, of course.

Question: Do others see God in you? Can they see His qualities expressed in the way you live? If not, maybe you need to turn more to Him and ask Him to send His spirit into your heart, mind and soul. He longs for you to embody all that He is and wants to take you there. Won’t you let Him today?

In Christ,

Mark

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GOD'S LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT

"And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day." Genesis 1:14-19

As the scriptures clearly reveal, the fourth day of God’s creation was all about light. Lights were placed the expanse of the sky to separate day from night, serving as signs to mark the seasons and days and years as well as to light the earth. We’re told that God made two lights – the greater and the lesser – to govern the day and night. He also made the stars…additional sources of light. The important take away from the fourth day of creation is that light was sent to ensure we would never be in the darkness. Indeed, God is light; in Him, there is no darkness at all." (I John 1:5)

As we consider this concept of light, I think we should remember this awesome truth: light is always present in the world. No matter what time of day it is, the light is shining brightly somewhere. While part of the world is in the dark of night, another portion of the world is in broad daylight. We tend to forget this truth as we get wrapped up around our lives, our world, and our circumstances. God’s light does not go out.

And even in the dark, we have light. The moon and stars provide us night even in the midst of the darkest night. And although clouds may obscure the light of night from time to time, it is still there nonetheless...not as bright as the day (the greater light) because God created it as the "lesser light".

Question: Has your life taken you to a dark place where you have lost sight of the light? If so, pray for God to open your eyes to His marvelous, wonderful light. He will lead you to a place where the Psalmist was when he wrote, "You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." Psalm 18:28

In Christ,

Mark

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GOD SAID...AND IT WAS SO

"And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day." Genesis 1:6-13

Day 2 and 3 of creation. Today’s verses from Genesis capture God's work on these two days. They also highlight an important point about this Almighty, Infinitely Powerful, Creator God we serve: When God says something will be done, it will be done.

Back to our verses. God said let there be sky…and it was so. He said let there be dry ground (or land) amongst the gathered waters...and it was so. He said let there be vegetation, seed bearing plants and trees on the land to produce fruit and seed…and it was so. Truly, when God wills for something to happen, it will be so.

This is an important matter to keep in mind as we journey together on this Christian walk. There isn’t anything that is impossible if it is God’s will for it to happen in our lives. Did you catch the important part of that truth? It has to be God’s will for us…not our will ourselves.

To validate this point so you don’t think that I’m just coming up with this on my own, here’s two verses from 1st John:

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him." 1 John 5:14-15

These verses are profound in their insight for us, particularly in how we should approach God in prayer regarding our circumstances. First, we need to pray and ask God for His will for us. Then we need to turn and pray to God for everything to happen that will ensure His will be done. Scripture tells us that when we ask for anything according to God’s will, he will hear us and will provide us what we ask for (i.e. we will have what we asked of Him). In other words, His will be done.

Question: Have you sought what God’s will in your circumstance? Have you asked for His will to be done in your life rather than your own? Trust and believe that God will carry out His will and make it so. He did it at the start of creation and He will do it right here and now with you and I today. Thanks be to God.

In Christ,

Mark

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IN THE BEGINNING

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light and there was light. God saw that the light was good and He separated the light from the darkness." Genesis 1:1-4

The start of Creation is documented in Genesis, Chapter 1, where we are reminded that "In the beginning, God…" Nothing came before God Himself as He set forth to create "the heavens and the earth". Take a moment to fathom this act of God and you can’t help but be awestruck.

Now the earth wasn’t fully formed at the end of God’s first day of creation. Scripture states that it "was formless and empty" and dark. More would come in the ensuing days but God did add light before He finished His work on Day 1, separating it from the darkness.

As I read about these early stages of creation I can’t help but draw some parallels to the way God replicated this work inside of me, just as He has done and will continue to do inside others who come to know and trust Him. For inside of me was a dark, formless, empty soul that needed to be crafted and shaped into something useful…something God could use to His glory. God entered into the darkness of my soul and brought light…a light that would ever lead me to where He abides…to the place of righteousness, mercy, and love. Thanks be to God for His wonderful light.

Question: Have you welcomed God into your soul and allowed Him to form you from the inside out? Have you received His light that will overcome any darkness you have within? If the answer to either of these two questions is no, then why not ask God to enter in today? He is waiting to give you a new beginning and create you to His glory from the inside out.

In Christ,

Mark

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THREE IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT GOD

"And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End." Revelation 21:5-6

In our passage from Chapter 21 of Revelation, we learn three very important things about the Almighty God, our Eternal God and Father who is seated on the throne.

1. He makes everything new. In the context of this scripture, God is talking about the advent of a new heaven and earth that came into being following His final judgment. And onto the new earth descended the New Jerusalem which was "like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." In the midst of all this was God, coming to earth to dwell in His new kingdom with His people… coming to bring peace and comfort…coming to bring relief from sorrow and pain.

Let's now look a little broader beyond the scriptures as to how God makes other things new…like you and I. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ." When a person chooses to submit their life to God's will, they indeed become new…led and guided by the Spirit into ever increasing righteousness…directed toward being like God's only Son Jesus.

Question: Are you a new creation through Jesus Christ? Are you living in accordance with your will or God's?

One other point to make about God and newness. Lamentations 3:22-24 state, "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." Every day we experience a fresh dose of God's grace and mercy. Think of it this way…God grants you every breath you take. Now consider how many breaths you take in a day (the average person takes 24,000 a day!) and realize that each one is literally a breath of grace from God…a life giving blessing that keeps you able to function and carry out His will. Indeed, great is His faithfulness and His ceaseless mercies.

2. Everything He says is trustworthy and true. Question: Do you know any earthly person who is perfect? I didn't think so. And as much as we would like to think that there are people in our lives who would never lie to us, the truth of the matter is that we are all capable of doing it and too often show we're capable by doing it.

That's why this verse is so awesome. We can ALWAYS trust in what God has to say to us. We NEVER need to question His guidance for we know it's truth. We KNOW we can go into the bible and find reliable truth to help us deal with our life matters.

So if you want the truth and want it perfectly every time, you need only turn to the One who is the Way and the Truth and the Life.

Question: Who do you rely on for truth? Do you regularly refer your matters to God for the only valid guidance? Or do you allow the world to shape the way you handle your life affairs?

3. He is the Alpha and Omega – the Beginning and the End. Creation began, ended, and was recreated by God. He is the Master Builder of all Kingdoms in heaven and on earth. No matter what we're talking about, everything begins and ends with God, including us. He creates us and He decides when this worldly life comes to an end. He also determines whether you end up reborn in heaven with a new resurrected beginning or cast into a final eternal hell.

Question: Where do you stand with the One who started you and can finish you at any moment? Will you move onto a new beginning with the Father or simply see everything end, missing your chance at eternity? It's never too late to find a new beginning and new life in Christ…just as it's never too early to miss salvation and reach the end.

In Christ,

Mark

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A PLACE OF PERFECT JOY, A PLACE OF PERFECT PEACE

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was gone also. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful bride prepared for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, "Look, the home of God is now among His people! He will live with them and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever." Revelation 21:1-4

Have you ever hoped that your circumstances would change for the better? In fact, have you ever yearned for the day when you could experience true joy at all times? I know it seems impossible in our world today but the world we live in can and will be changed in the blink of an eye when Jesus returns.

The first four verses of Revelation, Chapter 21, paint a vivid picture of God’s new kingdom, the New Jerusalem. It was beautiful and ready to be occupied by God and His people.
John mentions three key points about this new kingdom, the New Jerusalem, and allows us to get a glimpse of what’s to come. The three points are:

1. He (God) will live with us and we will be His people. We belong to Him. He formed us with His own almighty hands. He nurtured us and cared for us. And at the end, He will live with us. What an assurance that is!

2. He will remove all of our sorrows and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. In this present day world, there’s no shortage of pain and sorrow and crying or death. In the New Jerusalem, all of that will be no more and we can live with God forever in joy and peace and love.

3. The old world and its evils are gone. Once the New Jerusalem arrives, there will be no return for the old world and its evil nature. This is because the new world is all about complete and perfect righteousness.

The day of Christ’s return can’t get here soon enough. Until that time, we are to carry on in refining our faith and actively carrying out God’s will for our lives. The reward is definitely worth the labor.

In Christ,

Mark

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ARE YOU REALLY SOMEBODY?

"And I saw a great white throne and I saw the One who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done. The sea gave up the dead in it and death and the grave gave up the dead in them. They were all judged according to their deeds. And death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death – the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:11-15

I’m not much of a movie buff but I have watched a few films through the years. Some time ago, a Steve Martin movie titled "The Jerk" followed the journey of a naïve Southern man named Navin Johnson. Living at home until well into adulthood, he finally decides to venture out into the world and lands his first job at a gas station where he is also given a small space to live. One day, the mail comes and Navin excitedly runs to get it. In the mail was a brand new phone book and Navin is filled with absolute excitement because his name is in the white pages. He yells that he "really is somebody" now that his name is in that book.

Today’s scripture also deals with a book that will determine whether we are somebody or not. There is a whole lot more at stake with this book however than the phone book that Navin had.

For the scene in Revelation, Chapter 20, isn’t a gas station but rather heaven. And God is ready to pass His final judgment on the people of His Creation. One by one, they are brought before Him and checked against the Book of Life…"judged according to what they had done…judged according to their deeds." Remember that the bible also says "faith without deeds is dead". (James 2:26). Revelation sees this played out because those who do not have their names in the Book of Life are "thrown into the lake of fire." In other words, lost forever and not a part of God’s new kingdom to come.

Question: Are you really somebody in God’s eyes? Do you personally know Him and His Son Jesus? If so, are you seeking His Will for you…a Will that will drive you to the deeds He wishes for you to do…deeds that will gain you a place in His Book of Life?

As you can read…and the scriptures are absolute truth…your very eternal existence is at stake. When God’s final kingdom is established, it will reign forever along with those He brings along to share it with Him. Will you be there or left behind? Will you be somebody to God? I pray you will be.

In Christ,

Mark

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WORSHIP HIM ALONE

"And the angel said, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he added, "These are the true words that come from God." Then I fell down at his feet to worship him but he said, "No, don’t worship me. For I am a servant of God just like you and other brothers and sisters who testify of their faith in Jesus. Worship God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus." Revelation 19:9-10

In biblical times, you had two primary schools regarding religious worship. Most civilizations practiced polytheism where one would worship many different gods. In fact, there would seem to be a god for everything. Monotheism on the other hand is the exact opposite. In monotheism, all power and authority is in one single God…a God who has everything under Him.

Today, we live in an America that offers lots of things for people to worship. Money, sex, power, celebrities, etc…all can be worshiped and adored and are by many. The problem is that worshipping any of these worldly "idols" will not get one into heaven for all eternity. Only belief in Jesus Christ, the one and only Savior, can lead to salvation.

This is why the angel tells John not to bow down before him but to worship God alone.

He also makes another important proclamation in the form of another beatitude saying, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." The wedding feast is used to represent the intimate relationship between God and his people. Those who know and trust in Him and Jesus will receive an invitation to the wedding feast. And what a celebration that will be. Yet, there’s even more to celebrate because the party will never stop. Once there, those invitees will dwell with the Lamb in heaven for all eternity.

Question: What do you worship? If it’s anything short of Jesus Christ and His Father, then you are missing the mark and in danger of missing something far worse than your mark…like eternal life. Stay blessed, stay faithful to God and shun the things of the world that would entice you, and stay focused on Jesus, our only hope and salvation.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE QUALITIES OF GOD

"And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: ‘Great and marvelous are your actions Lord God Almighty, just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for Your righteous deeds have been revealed.’" Revelation 15:3-4

Our scripture passage is a song attributed to "Moses, a servant of God, and…the Lamb." Sung by "all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number of people representing His name", the song is a great summation of qualities found in the Lord…a summation that we can use to explain Him to others. Let’s look at the key qualities highlighted in this song:

1. Great and marvelous are His actions. His righteous deeds have been revealed. We don’t serve a passive God. We never have to be concerned as to whether He will be there for us. His blessings flow abundantly to us every day and are indeed "new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23) And let’s just walk outside and look at the awesome nature of His creation…the earth…the sky…the stars…the sun…the moon…everything we see was made by His hands. Indeed, great and marvelous are His actions. True appreciation for them takes us to the place of worship and praise.

2. Just and true are His ways. In a world where justice is too often corrupted or not administered at all when it should be, what a comfort it is to know that we serve an Almighty Judge who always makes the right and perfect decision…who is always true in the way He conducts business. In other words, we can trust Him and know that any counsel He provides is the absolute way that we should proceed. There is never a need for a second opinion nor should we question Him. We only need to be obedient and respond in accordance to His will and way for us. Every step we walk in His way brings us a step closer to being just and true in our ways as well.

3. He is to be feared and glorified. He alone is holy. Too often, God finds Himself disrespected by His children…the very ones He created in His own image. He becomes a God of convenience and is only called on when one gets themselves into deep trouble and are desperate for relief. Because we are so consumed by our own selfish desires, the desires of God’s heart for us get pushed aside. We too often treat Him with irreverence and it’s no wonder that He gets angered by the way His children shun Him. I think we better reassess our attitude before the One who has the power to destroy all creation just as easy as He made it. It’s time we give God His due and live in reverent fear of Him. And we can further exhibit reverence through the act of glorification. How well do we glorify God by the way we act… speak… think? Do we glorify Him in our relations to one another, especially when we are partnered in marriage? We can best honor God and show Him that we respect Him by striving to be like Him. He alone is holy but He can help us live in representative holiness by reflecting His character to others in the way we live.

Great, marvelous, righteous, just, true, reverent, holy…just a few of may words we can use to describe our Father in heaven. Do you know Him as being all these things? If not, dig deeper into your bible and you will find all this and more as you seek to learn more and more about Him so that you can strive to be more and more like Him.

In Christ,

Mark

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HOW TO HANDLE PERSECUTION

"Let this encourage God’s people to endure persecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying His commands and trusting in Jesus." And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from all their toils and trials; for their good deeds follow them!" Revelation 14:12-13

In the midst of a world that ever more chooses to degrade and shun Christianity, Christians find it ever more difficult to live. It seems more and more that those who choose Christ and walk the narrow path to righteousness, walk in the midst of less and less fellow walkers. Indeed, Revelation shares that 144,000 were found blameless and worthy enough to be with the Lamb before God’s wrath was exercised. Day after day, more and more believers fall aside and in doing so fall victim to the temptation and draw of the world. They fail to persevere and stay firm in their faith, no matter how much the world entices them…no matter how much of a minority they become…no matter how much persecution comes their way. They wait in eager anticipation for their reward which lies not in the here and now but in the eternal future that comes after death through Jesus Christ.

Our scripture today uses some key words to help us as we seek to persevere through present day persecution until Jesus returns. First, persecuted Christians need encouragement. Persevering through mistreatment can be a lonely endeavor if we’re trying to go it alone. Thank goodness, we’re not going through it alone…for we can either count on another who is also enduring persecution to encourage us or we can simply turn to the Lord, our constant Companion and very present Help in times of trouble.

Secondly, persecuted Christians need to be patient. No one knows when Jesus will return. We just know He is coming back as He promised. The wait that ensues while we watch for Jesus can be painstaking. And we may not see His coming before we pass away and go to be with the Father. Either way, the good news is that those who live a life of obedient service to Jesus and His Father will join them in heaven whether they die before Jesus returns or are taken up into heaven with him at the rapture. The call is for us to be patient.

Last, we’re to stay "firm to the end, obeying His commands and trusting in Jesus." We stay firm by not wavering in our faithfulness and obedience. The hymn, "Trust and Obey", offers the following words to describe our experience after patient perseverance:

"Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.

Or we'll walk by His side in the way.

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey."

Staying firm requires strength and you don’t have near enough strength to stand against Satan and his associates. Only through the strength of Christ living and abiding within you can you persevere and cross the finish line into eternity with the Savior. Remember Paul’s words in Philippians: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

So in sum, one needs encouragement, patience, obedience and faith to persevere through persecution. All these can be found in their purest forms through Jesus the Christ…the One who assures us that, "Blessed are those who die in the Lord…they are blessed indeed because they will rest from all their toils and trials."

Thanks be to God for the promises found in His only Son.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE WAR WITH SATAN

"This great dragon – the ancient serpent called the Devil or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world – was thrown down to earth…And when the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the child… the dragon became angry at the woman and he declared war against the rest of her children – all who keep God’s commandments and confess they belong to Jesus." Revelation 12:9, 11,17

Just in case you weren’t sure whether there was a Satan in the world, our scripture for today affirms that there is. You’ll read that he was once in heaven but was cast out after losing a battle with "Michael and the angels under his command." (Revelation 12:7) Once on earth, he (Satan) set his sights on the woman who had given birth to the boy (Jesus) who was snatched from Satan’s attack and taken up into heaven (representative of Jesus’ resurrection).

So Satan not only failed to get his evil hands on the Messiah but he failed to harm his mother as well. That was the good news. The bad news is that he "declared war against the rest of her (the woman’s) children – all who keep God’s commandments and confess they belong to Jesus. Since Satan couldn’t get Jesus Himself, he decided to go after anyone who would believe and trust in Him…His disciples…like us.

Scripture does not invalidate the fact that a battle is in progress on work between Satan and God’s children. It reinforces the fact, particularly in Ephesians, Chapter 6, verses 13 through 18, where we are instructed to wear the full armor of God daily as we walk onto battlefield earth. Unprotected, we will be attacked and fall…victimized by Satan’s schemes and his desire to destroy anything that is of Christ. As we read in 1st Peter, Satan prowls around like a hungry lion waiting for someone to devour. (1st Peter 5:8)

Question: Have you ever felt Satan attacking you and driving you to where he wants to have his way with you? Did you don your full armor for protection or did you enter into battle unprepared?

One final point as we wrap up today’s study with some good news. For you see that Satan will never have victory over Jesus Christ and when Jesus returns, Satan will be destroyed for good once and for all, wiped off the face of the earth along with all those who didn’t lace their hope and trust in Jesus. It’s comforting to know that one who keeps God’s commandments and confesses Jesus will be taken up with Jesus upon his return.

Question: Where do you stand in your relationship with the Father and His only Son Jesus? Would you join Jesus in heaven for eternity or be cast into hell with Satan and all his followers (i.e. anyone not professing Jesus as Savior)?

Won’t you make the choice right now to make Jesus your personal Savior? For He could return anytime and you must be prepared…or your will lose your ticket to eternal life and a chance to be part of the new kingdom. Come to Christ right now and never turn back.

In Christ,

Mark
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A DAY TO LONG FOR

"Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet and there were loud voices shouting in heaven, "The whole world has now become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He will reign forever and ever. And the twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshipped Him. And they said, "We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who always was, for now You have assumed Your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry with You but now the time of Your wrath has come. It is a time to judge the dead and reward Your servants. You will reward Your prophets and Your holy people, all who fear Your name, from the least to the greatest. And You will destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth." Revelation 11:15-18

As I read and watch the news every day, I get ever increasingly upset at the world we live in. So much lawlessness, conflict, immorality, and death happening every day, most of it completely senseless. In fact, so many people today have just simply lost their senses. They’ve lost their minds but also their souls along the way. It’s enough to have you yearn for a time when justice and righteousness rule supreme.

Well, the good news is that the day is coming so we need not lose hope. God’s word has given us the assurance that our Savior, Jesus Christ, is returning to earth…returning to take His own to be with Him and the Father in a new kingdom. The world as we know it will end and so will evil, sin, and all the by products of both. Now that is a day to long for and we must do so in patient anticipation until that seventh trumpet sounds and the world becomes the kingdom of God and His Son. Their reign will last forever from that day forth.

Question: Have you chosen Jesus as your heart’s desire instead of the world and its enticements? Will you be at peace or in fear when the seventh trumpet sounds? Will you be rewarded or penalized? It’s not too late to make the necessary corrections in your life to get right with God. Strive to live for Him and embody what He represents in your own life. Run the good race with Him alongside you…run all the way to the finish line where He will declare you victorious. The alternative is destruction. As I have said so many other times, the choice is yours to make. Choose wisely...choose Christ.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE PENALTY FOR STUBBORN SINFUL LIVING

"But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to turn from their evil deeds. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood – idols that neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their immorality or their thefts." Revelation 9:20-21

The Revelation of Jesus Christ very vividly describes the consequences that will come to a world disobedient and indifferent to their Creator…the infinitely Almighty God. Chapters 8 and 9 document further judgment on the earth and its people. Seven trumpets are to be sounded by seven angels, each trumpet bringing a different catastrophe. A third of the earth is set afire, a third of the seas become blood, a third of all living things in the sea perish, a third of ships at sea are destroyed, a third of the sea becomes so bitter that many people die drinking it, a third of the sun moon and stars becomes dark, and a third of every day and night become dark as well. An eagle soars through the air warning of pending terror when the last three trumpets are blown.

The first of these final trumpets bring locusts up from the bottomless pit but these are no ordinary locusts. Instead of harming the plants, grass or trees, these locusts are given the ability to sting like scorpions and are ordered to plague all who do not bear God’s seal for five months. The stings of the locusts were tempered so they would not be fatal. Rather, those attacked would be under such affliction that they wish they would be put to death rather than continue to suffer. But this wasn’t as bad as it would get.

For the sixth trumpet is sounded and four angels are released from the Euphrates River to kill one third of all people on earth. They would lead an army of 200 million to carry out the task, many riding horses who spewed fire, smoke, and burning sulfur from their mouths to kill the prescribed one third. All this and there was one final trumpet to be sounded.

Now given everything above, you would think that the entire world would be cowering in fear and willing to do whatever God required of them to spare their lives. But that’s not what happened. Our passage today states that those who "did not die in these plagues still refused to turn from their evil deeds." That’s simply amazing to me but then again, creation has turned from God since the very inception of sinfulness in the Garden of Eden. Since then, Satan has continued to convince countless numbers to follow his desires and the desires of their hearts vice be obedient to the God who created Him. We would call these people stubborn and foolish; Jesus called them stiff-necked. Regardless, they are destined for destruction short of turning from their sins and repenting.

Question: Do you have a deep respect for what the bible says? If so, how will you fare when the trumpets sound? Will you be marked with the seal of God and spared? Or will you be one of those who are afflicted and then eventually perish, missing the opportunity to be part of God’s new creation when he hits the reset button and starts over with His faithful ones? It’s your choice.

In Christ,

Mark

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OBEDIENCE TO JESUS = SURVIVAL

"I know all the things you do and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word…Because you have obeyed My command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world…All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of My God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write my God’s name on them and they will be citizens in the city of My God – the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from My God. And they will have My new name inscribed upon them." Revelation 3:8, 10, 12

"After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white…He said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. That is why they are standing in front of the throne of God, serving Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will live among them and shelter them. They will never again be hungry or thirsty and they will be fully protected from the scorching noonday heat. For the Lamb who stands in front of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the springs of life giving water. And God will wipe away all their tears." Revelation 7:9, 14b-17

At the end of Revelation, Chapter 6, Jesus, the Lamb worthy to remove the seals from the scroll, broke the sixth seal and set off a series of cataclysmic events. You’ll recall that it all started with a great earthquake, then the sun and moon changed color, followed by the stars falling from the sky, the sky rolling up like a scroll, and the mountains and islands disappearing. Fear struck everyone from the most powerful to the free to the slaves. The question was asked, "Who will be able to survive?"

Well, the answer to that question comes from an earlier passage which can sum up what God requires from His creation, the very works of His hands. This all powerful, all wise, all loving God has given every one He created everything He has, to include His only Son Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins. And yet, most of us fail to even give Him a fraction ourselves back in return. Jesus in our passage from Revelation, Chapter 3, emphasizes that obedience is what will move you toward eternal life and a place in God’s temple with Him and our Father in heaven. Jesus promises that He would "protect you (the obedient) from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world." He then affirms that, "All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of My God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write my God’s name on them and they will be citizens in the city of My God – the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from My God. And they will have My new name inscribed upon them."

Question: Are you living in obedience to the Father and His Son Jesus Christ? If judgment were to come down this very minute, would you find yourself marked to be with God and Jesus in the throne room of heaven, serving as "pillars in the Temple."

Christian living is not easy. We are weak and sinful by nature when left to our own devices. That is why Jesus would say you HAVE to become obedient…because apart from Him you DON’T have the strength to stand against Satan. You CAN’T make it on your own. You CAN’T save yourself. That’s why we have a Savior and His name is Jesus. Place Him first in your mind, first in your heart, and first in your soul and He will always be FIRST in your life. It’s the only way you can and will survive when judgment comes. Don’t delay.

In Christ,

Mark

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WHO WILL SURVIVE?

"I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth and the moon became as red as blood. Then the stars of the sky fell to earth like green figs falling from trees shaken by mighty winds. And the sky was rolled up like a scroll and taken away. And all of the mountains and all of the islands disappeared. Then the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy people, the people with great power, an every slave and every free person – all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountain and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face the One who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come and who will be able to survive." Revelation 6:12-17

Today’s passage from Revelation 6 conjures up some rather frightening images but ones we need to definitely consider. For we serve an awesome, powerful God and an equally powerful Son, the One who was worthy to remove the seals of the scrolls. Their power and might can and will be leveraged against this evil world as consequence for its turning from the one and only true God…the Maker of heaven and earth and everything on it. It’s this creation power that does not make the assertions of the scripture seem far-fetched.

For if God made the sun, the moon, stars and sky (as He did), then surely He can change the color of the sun and moon, make all the stars from the sky, and roll up the sky like a scroll. Further…if God placed the mountains and islands on the earth, then He surely can make them disappear.

Question: How would you feel if there were a great earthquake and you looked out to see everything taking place as mentioned in our scripture? Do you think it could happen?

I think the biggest problem with our world is that people in general lack a solid respect for God. They want a cushy God who will give them everything they desire while they completely desecrate Him by the way they act. They expect His protection and love while they choose to defile Him by their sinfulness. They fail to acknowledge that God is a God of judgment just as much as He is a God of love. And its that mindset that is going to have them running for cover like the kings, rulers, generals, the wealthy, the enslaved and the free when God’s wrath comes. They too will be shouting out, "…hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come and who will be able to survive?" Indeed, who will be able to survive? Stay tuned for the answer.

In Christ,

Mark

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