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Darkness or Light

On October 30, 2015 / Darkness & Light, Eternal, Satan, Sin

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #36
Darkness or Light

to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God (Act 26:18)

I love Paul’s call. He was sent to the Gentiles to free them from the darkness of Satan’s rulership so that they may turn to God. But how was he to do that? He was to “open their eyes.” Today we have a rampant problem with this and it is an ancient one:

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; (Isaiah 5:20)

Peter had this problem: after the Lord told him about His coming suffering, death, and resurrection, Peter rebuked Him because he held the “light” of a worldly view of suffering and death. So the Lord said to him:

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” (Matthew 16:23)

Where is your mind today? Is it on the “light” of human interest or on the “darkness” of God’s interest?

Let us set our minds on things above and live in God’s wonderful true Light.

Fear & Goals

On October 29, 2015 / Christian Basics, Christian Values, Eternal, Goals, Kingdom, Victory

Things Above Thought
TAT #31
Fear

We fear we’re losing our country to atheist. We fear God is no longer blessing our country. We fear the person we want as president will not be elected. We fear the terrorists. We fear our low-quality food. We fear for our jobs. We fear for our financial stability. We fear for our health. We fear for our next meal. We fear for our pets. We fear for this earth. Yes we live in an age of uncertainty but these fears have been around since Adam and Eve left the garden and began their toil on this earth. We fear not because of the uncertainty of the times we fear because our focus and goals are improper:

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

Run

On October 29, 2015 / Christian Basics, Christian Values, Eternal, Goals, Victory

Things Above Thought
TAT #30
Run to the Goal

Another day, another week, little by little time marches on toward eternity. Today it is our choice whether to march in time – either toward a timely death or toward an eternal inheritance.

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! God has given us a new birth because of his great mercy. We have been born into a new life that has a confidence which is alive because Jesus Christ has come back to life. We have been born into a new life which has an inheritance that can’t be destroyed or corrupted and can’t fade away. That inheritance is kept in heaven for you, since you are guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 GWN)

I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14 GWN)

Eternal Goals

On October 29, 2015 / Christian Basics, Eternal, Goals, Kingdom, Victory

Things Above Thought
TAT # 28
Eternal Goals

This is just a simple reminder:

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:20–21)

And by the way this is not a requests or a suggestion, He wants the eternal best for us (Hebrews 12: 10) therefore this is a command.

Heavenly Placement

On October 29, 2015 / Christian Basics, Christian Values, Eternal, God's Will, Reigning

Things Above Thought
TAT # 27
Heavenly Placement

While our salvation was secured by Christ and His intercessory death, God has made available different heavenly positions and benefits for us:

And He said to her, “What do you wish?” she said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.” . . . to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” (Matthew 20:20–23)

Notice that Christ did not say those positions do not exist but that His Father would fill those positions “for whom it has been prepared.” In so doing Christ acknowledged that special places do exist and they will be filled by certain people. That leaves us with the questions:

Do we exercise Biblical Faith for His eternal will or for our present benefit (Hebrews 11:1)?

Heavenly Value

On October 29, 2015 / Christian Basics, Christian Values, Eternal, Victory

Things Above Thought
TAT #26
Heaven’s Value System

“So how’s your TRUE BANK ACCOUNT looking?” That was the last line of last week’s TAT. No one responded to the TAT – that silence was a first. So to follow that disturbing (?) TAT let me quote our coming heavenly, judgement:

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I (Paul) laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man (you) be careful how he (you) builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man (you) builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:1–15)

Yes, our salvation is secure but there is more – there are many ETERNAL REWARDS and they will be secured in this life! Remember Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, their lives were dedicated to God and their eyes were on Him not the fiery furnace. Because of that focus, when they faced the furnace they made great permanent deposits in their TRUE BANK ACCOUNT. Just as did the “others” of Hebrews 11:35b–38.

. . . and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

Living to glorify God is not always profitable in this life but it is always profitable!

Value

On October 28, 2015 / Christian Basics, Christian Values, Eternal, Victory

Things Above Thought
TAT #25
Treasure

Many of you have heard me say; “If your faith does not have a heavenly/spiritual perspective and eternal goals it is not the faith of the Bible.” The purpose of these TATs is to help us solidify a heavenly perspective and eternal goals. The next few TATs will be educational and hopefully a little challenging.

Heaven has a value system! Today, some “Christians” value money, power, and position, but their perspective of these are corrupted because of our old, sinful, nature. But it is possible to have a heavenly perspective on “money,” power, and position. Heaven has a value system, a power structure, and different positions available to us. Consider these:

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21)

Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. (Luke 12:33)

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19–21; This is not a suggestion!)

Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? (Luke 16:11)

So how’s your ETERNAL BANK ACCOUNT looking?

Suffering

On October 28, 2015 / Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Eternal, Suffering, Victory

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #21
Suffering & Value

We all sin every once in a while but we have a loving Father:

And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.” (Hebrews 12:5–6 NET)

But He does so (disciplines us) for our benefit, that we may share His holiness. (Hebrews 12:10b)

His discipline reveals His love for us and His holiness is only valuable to us when heaven is our value.

Heavenly Witness

On October 27, 2015 / Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Heavenly Witness, Kingdom, Trials, Victory

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #20
Witness

No body knows the troubles you’ve seen!

You have tried to be faithful to God and you have seen much hurt and pain from all the confrontations and battles. Some of the pain remains with you today. But understanding yesterday’s battles from God’s perspective lessens today’s pain.

The Good of the battle:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

The Glory of the battle:

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan– a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church (that’s you) the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 3:9–10 NET clarification and emphasis added)

In heaven – your pain is known and God is glorified by your faithfulness – in heaven!

Goals

On October 27, 2015 / Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Kingdom, Victory

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #19
GOALS

What goals do you have for your life? Love, family, home, good job, money, retirement?
Check out these goals straight from the lips of our Lord:

Thus says the LORD of hosts, “If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.” (Zechariah 3:7)

The above goals might add a little clarity to Matthew 6:20–21:

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

If we are not living for eternity we are not Living.

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