I'm Wrong - You're Right

We live in a curious age. I am a "black and white" sort of guy. It seems to me that there use to be a lot of "white" and a lot of "black" and a little bit of gray or grey in the middle. Today, as I look around, I wonder if, in the minds of many, there is any "white" and "black" or if everything now is grey.

Francis Schaeffer wrote this about 35 years ago. I think he addressed it to intellectuals but since then this kind of thinking has become commonplace.

“------ we should note this curious mark of our own age: the only absolute allowed is the absolute insistence that there is no absolute."


Now, when there is a difference, either:

I am wrong and you are right,
or
You are wrong and I am right,
or
We are both wrong,
but
We cannot both be right. (unless reason has died)

The Commercialized Mindset

John Piper, in his little book, "Jesus - The Only Way to God" spells one of the most dangerous corruptions of basic Christian beliefs which we are experiencing in American society. His introduction includes the idea of a "Commercialized Mindset". If people are not "buying" what we are presenting to them, we get the feeling that there must be something wrong with our "product" (message). Eventually, we "redefine" the truth so that it becomes more palatable. Example: If maintaining that Jesus is the only way to heaven becomes offensive, the "commercial mindset" will modify the message to something like, "Jesus is in some way or another the way to heaven even if you've never heard of Him." Or else just not make an issue about it anymore and quit talking about it.

There IS such a thing as "the offence of the cross." (Gal. 5:11 NIV) If the truth is offensive to some - then let it be. Who are we trying to please, anyway?

Blood Diamonds and Blood Gold

In the last few years a new expression has been added to our language - BLOOD DIAMONDS. A film and a TV Documentary by that name was produced in 2006.

"In relation to diamond trading, blood diamond (also called a converted diamond, conflict diamond, hot diamond, or a war diamond) refers to a diamond mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, invading army's war efforts, or a warlord's activity, usually in Africa." (wikopedia)

Now, there is also something called BLOOD GOLD. The gold we enjoy in our jewelry was produced at great cost which is reflected in the price - today $1209 per ounce.

BLOOD GOLD is made available for our enjoyment and security not by intensive labor but by blood, sweat, tears and death. The blood, sweat tears and death of our Lord Jesus Christ which purchased our redemption. He said, "I go to prepare a place for you --." And the streets of that city are paved with gold. BLOOD GOLD

The Image of God or an Idol

I heard a dialog between two ministers over the subject of pain and suffering and whether or not God causes some of it. One maintained that God sometimes causes suffering as punishment, discipline, chastisement, etc. The other said words to this effect, "That is not my image of God" and maintained that all pain and suffering is caused by Satan and his demons.

Now, the point I want to make is this: Due to our ignorance of God's revelation, we may "re-invent" God in our own image. In our minds, He thinks like I think, He likes what I like, He wants what I want, He does things the way I want things done, His idea of justice, holiness, purity, etc is exactly the same as mine.

This Is Idolatry. It is making God in the image of man. Not a bit different from making God in the image of a beast.

John Newton - His song, his text, his testimony, his epitaph.

He was a sailor on a slave ship and became the wretched slave of a slave woman.

John Newton wrote "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me."

His favorite text was written on the wall of his study: "Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee."

His testimony on his death bed, "My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Saviour!"

His Epitaph:: John Newton, Clerk, Once an Infidel and Libertine, A Servant of Slaves in Africa, was by the Mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Preserved, Restored, Pardoned, And Appointed to Preach the Faith he had so long laboured to destroy.

Expose or Cover - What will it be?

"What we try to cover, God will uncover;
What we uncover, God will cover." Adrian Rogers

1Cor. 4:5 ".....He (the Lord) will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts."

1Jn. 1:9 "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." vs. 7 - "...the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, purifies us from all sin."

Rom. 4:7 "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered, Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."

Nothing is more pathetic---

Nothing is more pathetic than having a small character in a big assignment. Many of us don't want to give attention to our character, we just want the big assignment from God.
Henry T. Blackaby--Experiencing God (Lifeway Press)