Treasures in Heaven

Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Banks were closed in Cyprus after the government announced that it was going to confiscate 10% of every savings account to pay for the EU bailout of the country's failing financial system. ATM's were emptied within minutes of the announcement. A run on the bank is expected when the doors open for business. The question on the minds of many is, "Can this happen in Spain, in Portugal, in the U. S. of A.?  The financial experts seem to agree that, yes, it could happen in another country but not likely in exactly the same manner. They say that nothing is safe from the government if it wants to take it. In the USA they say it would more than likely be the seizure of a percentage of a stockholder's portfolio since that is where the bulk of saving are found.

 The point I'm trying to make is that nothing is really secure this side of heaven. They say that when we die, we can't take anything with us. True, but we can send something ahead. The vermin and thieves, whether they be four legged, two legged or bureaucratic will not be able to touch it. Jesus said that even a cup of water given in His name will be rewarded.  "In His name" has something to do with our motives.  I question whether my motives have always been for the glory of God and not for the glory of me.  I really want to send something ahead.

After a hiatus of over two years I'd like to begin sharing again. Hopefully, a thought each day.

I am privileged to have a few Italian-American friends. In the past several months we have gathered together a number of times for great fellowship and tasty Italian style cooking. At some point the accordion comes out and we sing. There are always gospel songs and sometimes a few traditional songs in Italian.

The grandson of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, William E. Booth-Clibborn wrote the gospel song, "Down From His Glory". It was set to the music of "O Solo Mio". The last few times that the "Italian bunch" has gotten together we have tried our best to sing with gusto, "Down From His Glory". It has touched my heart because it reflects so accurately what I believe and how Jesus stooped into my darkness to pick me up and save my soul over 50 years ago while I served in the US Army. Here are the lyrics:

Down from His glory, Ever living story, My God and Savior came, And Jesus was His name. Born in a manger, To His own a stranger, A man of sorrows, tears and agony.

Refrain:  O how I love Him! (O solo mio) How I adore Him!  My breath, my sunshine, my all in all. The great Creator became my Savior, And all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him. 

What condescension, Bringing us redemption; That in the dead of night, Not one faint hope in sight, God, gracious, tender, Laid aside His splendor, Stooping to woo, to win, to save my soul. 

Refrain: O how I love Him...........

Without reluctance, Flesh and blood His substance, He took the form of man, Revealed the hidden plan, O glorious mystery Sacrifice of Calv’ry, And now I know Thou art the great “I Am.”

Refrain:  O how I love Him.............

Traditions: Useful or Useless?

"Experience supplies painful proof that traditions once called into being are first called useful, then they become necessary. At last they are too often made idols, and all must bow down to them or be punished." J.C.Ryle

With the new year let's take a long, hard look and then courageously rid ourselves of those which are useless and a hindrance to an intimate relationship with God.

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Before the advent of aircraft and spy satellites it was a great strategic advantage for an army to have command over the high ground of the battlefield. From these heights the general could discern the movements of the enemy forces and position his own troops to the greatest advantage. Without this perspective a commanding general was nearly blind to what the enemy was doing.

As we enter a new year it is my hope that all of us will be found standing on higher ground spiritually. It is only from this "vantage point" that we will be able to "see" what is happening in our world and act or react in an appropriate manner. The spiritual "high ground" is our knowledge of and committment to abide in the doctrine of Christ and His Word. I quote a great Christian admired by millions.

"Every spiritual problem is at bottom theological. Its solution will depend upon the teaching of Holy Scriptures plus a correct understanding of that teaching. That correct understanding constitutes a spiritual philosophy, that is, a viewpoint, a high vantage ground from which the whole landscape may be seen at once, each detail appearing in its proper relation to everything else. Once such vantage ground is gained, we are in a position to evaluate any teaching or interpretaton that is offered us in the name of truth." A.W. Tozer

We have been warned that perilous times will come. We need that "high ground" perspective.

The Wonder of Christmas

The wonder of Christmas is often depicted by the sparkeling eyes and broad, expectant smile of a child getting ready to take off the beautiful paper and ribbons from the gifts left under the Christmas tree by Santa Claus.

The true wonder is that the Creator of the universe divested Himself of His glory (not His diety) and came into the world, born in a humble stable, by a virgin, Mary.

He came as the GIFT of God. "For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

Jesus GAVE His life as an atoning sacrifice for your sins and mine, and now offers the GIFT of forgiveness and reconciliation with God, the penalty for our transgressions having been fully paid for by His death on the cross.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

How Can You Tell if It's True Love?

Months ago in a piece titled, "The Hormonal Choice" I wrote about the "love cocktail" of hormones which generate the feelings we so often associate with love. (Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at http://2knowthetruth.blogspot.com ). True love cannot be reduced to feelings alone. True love is a lot deeper than feelings and remains when feelings are absent. For example: During a crisis we become absorbed with the circumstances around us which, in turn, control our feelings. The death of a child often ruins a marriage because the feelings of grief overwhelm the feelings of love for the spouse.

True love exists even when there are no "feelings" of love present and actually it is during these times that the evidences of true love are on full display. What then are the evidences of true love?

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." The New Testament 1 Corintians 13:4-8

If you think deeply about the above quote, you will notice that true love, rather than being a "feeling" is demonstrated by choices we make and actions we take. We can say that LOVE IS A CHOICE to act in a certain way whether or not loving feelings are present. It's easy to say, "I love you". A bit harder to prove it by what we choose to do and say.

Seven of the Most Dangerous Lies Your Spiritual Mentor May be Telling You

I just read an article about lies doctors tell their patients. The patient is trusting that he will be told the absolute truth about an illness, it's cause, it's treatment, and the probable course and chance of recovery. For various reasons doctors may not speak the truth about one or more of these. For example: He may not actually know for sure what is happening and makes a "diagnosis" which, in reality, is just a guess; he may not want to give false hope or depressing news; he may not be aware of a new treatment or doesn't believe in a certain treatment. etc.

Most of us, at some time in our lives, have had a "spiritual" question and have sought an answer from a spiritual leader. Here are seven of the most dangerous lies being told. Lies which could have eternal consequences.

The Lie: Don't be so hard on yourself, you're putting yourself on a guilt trip.
The Truth: There is such a thing as false guilt, but there is also real guilt that needs to be dealt with now, in this life, before it's too late.

The Lie: Religeon is just man's attempt to find answers to the unanswerable and to find some kind of meaning in life. It is man made. Someday soon we will no longer need it. Don't take it so seriously.
The Truth: There is an "Intelligence" reflected in all of creation and especially the highest creation, man. It is reasonable to assume that this Intelligence, God, would communicate with man, and He has in many ways. His inspired scripture, The Holy Bible, is His only guidebook to a relationship with Him and a for a meaningful life.

The Lie: It doesn't really matter what you believe. Just try to live a good life.
The Truth: It really does matter what you believe. You can't turn your back on the true God, make Him to be something He isn't, ignore His communications and not suffer the consequences.

The Lie: You're OK. I'm OK, we're all OK.
The Truth: We're not OK. We have all sinned against an infinitely Holy God.

The Lie: There are many roads to the top of the mountain. All of them are ok.
The Truth: Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me."

The Lie: The Bible is full of untruths and contradictions.
The Truth: There are some things difficult to understand, but no errors or contradictions.

The Lie: Jesus did not suffer the wrath of God on the cross to atone for your sins. We don't really know how God takes away our guilt.
The Truth: Jesus died on the Cross for your sins and mine in order to satisfy the infinite justice of God. If there was another way for man to be saved from his sins, Jesus would not have died the humiliating and terrible death by crucifiction.

Don't believe the lies and more important, don't tell them to others who may be seeking answers. The worst thing you could do to a person with a serious illness would be to tell them that they are ok and deny them the very thing that would cure them.