Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon
earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and
steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
I found it odd that I have quoted this scripture at least
three times this week and then I read a news article that looters broke in and
robbed the houses of New York storm victims while they were away for
Thanksgiving dinner.
The largest pyramid in Egypt was said to have been totally covered
in white marble and topped with a capstone of gold but over the centuries
thieves carried away all the valuable stone and gold. The skyscraper Trump Tower, named after its
creator will probably be renamed a dozen times before it is finally torn down
at the end of its useful life. The Space
Needle in Seattle Washington is an amazing building, but it is only fifty years
old. Does anyone know or care who
designed it?
I happened to mention ‘The Duke’ the other day, John
Wayne. He was one of the most famous
actors when I was growing up but how often do we see his movies even on TV lately? We have so many media idols these days that
they all just morph together into one big blur, but what effect will their
lives have in the long run?
I have no desire to denigrate their lives or in any manner mock
or belittle what they have accomplished in those lives; but in the long run
what will it really matter? Have you
ever seen the cartoon movie Wall-E which portrayed the little yellow robot who
spent all of his days gathering up all our consumption (trash) long after
humanity had killed off the biosphere on Earth and left? All he had was his programming and some old
movies left on an IPod. The only life
left on Earth was a cockroach who ate the still edible Twinkies. In the movie, people had become useless blobs
of boneless flesh who lived their lives vicariously through robots that did
what they could no longer do.
I doubt humanity will be around long enough to reach that
scientific zenith of putrification before our Lord returns though it might get
close on the conspicuous consumption part.
We’ve become a nation and world of pride filled consumers who rarely
give anything back or give glory to the God who created us. If you do not know our Lord then just
thinking of this world in fifty years can throw you into fits of
depression. Matthew 24:22 says that if
the days aren’t shortened no life will survive on Earth. We have the ‘technology’ to end ourselves
right now.
If you’ve been going through lately and are concerned that
you may never arrive or accomplish what you feel you should in life I want you
to do something. Consider people you
admired from years ago. Choose people
who lived secular lives. Now ask
yourself what their examples have added to your life in the long run. Now do the same thing only this time,
consider those individuals who have spoken into your life for the Lord. I think of the late Apostle Joseph Sims and
his wife Beatrice Sims and of many others who are alive today. Their input into my life continues in every breath
I take and every spiritual decision I make.
The things these people have taught me are poured into those
who seek advice from me and I hope will continue to offer that same wisdom to
others in their lives. My parents lived
long and caring lives and I loved them deeply but the house full of furniture
they left behind from those many decades of life is gone and the few things
which were kept by my sister and I or our children can be destroyed in a brief
instant. Only the life lessons and love
shared is beyond the reach of dust and decay.
Things are fragile and temporal. The Mona Lisa and other great works of art
are beautiful but how long will they last.
One terrorist bomb or terrible storm could destroy them all. Michelangelo’s exquisite works of art on the
Sistine Chapel are lovely but how much longer will the building stand. Even lighting and smoke have degraded much of
their beauty.
No matter how hard we try to make a name for ourselves, none
of it will matter unless that position includes the work of Jesus. Your most famous sports figures, actors, businessmen
and businesswomen, politicians and potentates; none of their lives will matter
outside of the kingdom of God. Are you
aware that the only real reason many of the ancient kings are even known is
that they were written about in the Bible.
At first worldly men and women called many of their names and histories
‘fanciful and imaginative writing by religious people’ until archaeologists
began to dig where the Bible said things happened and discovered the truth.
The only work and words that our God has chosen to preserve
throughout history is His own and those of His chosen people. Our lives matter because God says they do;
not because everyone on the Earth knows who you are. Our legacy will stand the test of time and
beyond only if it is founded on the work and words of Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt
minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such
withdraw thyself.
…supposing that gain is godliness… Have you ever wondered why Christians are
castigated and assaulted on every side even when their lives are harmless and
benign? Even Jews who have honest
businesses are maligned and attacked politically, socially and ethnically. The reason is we are upheld spiritually and
hated spiritually. Your spiritual father
is either the Lord or the Devil. If he
is the Devil then you will hate or dislike Christians and Jews at a level that
doesn’t even require thought on your part.
You will just ‘hate’ them. It’s a
spiritual thing.
Many of us co-habit with these fallen souls. We think we can get them saved or cleaned up
or some equally foolish action on OUR part.
In reality we can only win them to the Lord if the Holy Spirit has
softened them up a bit first and whether He has or not we cannot continue to
draw ourselves into heart to heart and breath to breath relations. As Joseph discovered with his own brothers,
you can’t share or carry out a dream with someone who does not believe in
it. Those you share your dream with must
be willing to FAITH with you.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we
brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Are you content in your godliness? Do you have peace that surpasses all
understanding? Your responsibility is to
ensure that a majority of your life decisions will translate into blessings of
an eternal quality. I have a roof over
my head, clothes on my back and food to eat.
Those three major needs are cared for.
I also have more clothes than I could ever wear out in the next decade,
vehicles to drive and fuel to put in them.
The only lack in my life right now is more daily work in the
ministry. Now is my season to draw
closer to God and my wife and be ready for the next move of my Lord. If I am not known to ten thousand and have
not created some modern juggernaut of architecture what care have I? In a thousand years will anyone remember
Steve Jobs, Donald Trump, Bill Gates or any other wealthy and innovative men
and women. These three together have
more money than many small countries and yet without Jesus their names will
fade to obscurity.
My name is written in the Lambs Book of Life and will never
be erased.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a
snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction
and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while
some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows.
Being rich is not a sin but the desire for wealth can tempt
you to make many foolish choices. Notice
this verse above does not say they MAY fall into temptation, snares and lusts
but that they WILL do so. The love of
wealth is the root of all evil. I have
ministered to those who wished to be acknowledged for their spiritual gifts and
ministry. I too wish to be recognized but
I acknowledge that it is a lower part of my nature that desires this
recognition. Like all base desires I
must take it and keep it under control; always remembering that the glory must
go to God and not man. I pray you will
not err in faith and find yourself so pierced.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow
after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the
good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called,
and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Beloved man of God … beloved woman of God … seek after these
things. Look up these words until you
know them and their uttermost definition.
Live these words…righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and
meekness. They are POWERFUL and LIFE
CHANGING words. Join me as I fight the
good fight of faith and lay hold upon this life eternal.
I love you beloved,
God’s blessings upon you in all things.
Bishop J
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