Alienated from God, but Reconciled

Col 1:21,22
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

It is only through the blood of Christ, the blood that was shed on the cross that we can stand before a holy God and be presented unblameable. We are all born in sin and the works of the flesh are seen in our lives at an early age. The tendency is to put self first. Many times the good work we do is done to compensate for the selfish things that we do. Balance out the bad by doing good. The works of the flesh alienate us from God, and we believe that if we do things that are kind and helpful that we can in some way get God’s approval. Works not done by faith or love for God, or anything done without the Holy Spirit is a “work of the flesh.”  The teaching that humanity is basically good, and only needs to be trained and put in the right environment to do what is right is inaccurate. We do see moments during natural disasters of people coming together to help each other. This is a natural desire of survival and a God given desire to reach out to humanity, but such actions do not negate the fact that man is basically self-centered and seeks to please and satisfy himself, disregarding God's desire. Wicked works cause a separation between God and us. Yet now, we are part of the body of Christ and no longer do the works of the flesh. We align ourselves with the works of the Spirit, and manifest the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. This is the natural desire for the person who is sanctified and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live unblamable in this present world.

Holy Spirit Departed

 1Sam. 16:14
But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.
“My Spirit shall not always strive with man..” (Gen. 6:3). These are the words spoken by God when the earth became corrupted and filled with evil and wickedness. On that day, He sent a flood and the people that dwelled on earth were destroyed, save Noah and his family. Sin is a wedge that separates us from God. Rebellion and unbelief breaks the heart of God. I don’t know if crossing the line of no return is possible, but it appears that Saul came to a point in his life that He turned his back on God and an evil spirit was sent to torment his soul. His conscience had been seared, incentive to the moving of God. It is dangerous to reject the Holy Spirit when he moves on your heart. Only God knows when someone has reached a point of unforgiveness. Scripture does indicate that there is such a state. I do thank God, that we live in the dispensation of grace and mercy. God is not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance. I like to believe that as long as we have breath and a sound mind that there is hope for anyone who wants God regardless of the life they have lived. Even to the very end, like the dying thief on the cross, the words of hope can still be heard. “Today you shall be with me in paradise.”

Turn Back To God

 Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

There are times in our lives that we sense that God is near. Things in our lives happen, and God reveals Himself to us wanting us to draw near. But in this passage, Isaiah was speaking to a people that turned their heart away from God and living self absorbed lives. They only cared about themselves and only that which gave them satisfaction. They refused to walk in the way of the Lord and follow God. God in His mercy, makes the plea to turn around and return to the right path. He who made heaven and earth and formed man wants his creation to return back to Him and take the way of righteousness. He is near and is calling out to everyone who will listen to turn from their wicked ways, humble themselves, pray, and seek the face of God, He will forgive their sins and wicked ways.

The Eyes of the Lord

1 Pet. 3:12 “ For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

God is not a respecter of person, but He does have favorites. He give to every person the ability to choose right and wrong, He does not predestinate a person’s choice. His eyes show favor to them that are of a contrite heart, a heart that desire to seek God first in the everyday things of life. The righteous, are those who seek to live in harmony with God, love His commandments and choose to follow them. He listens to the the prayers of those who seek first the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness. We don’t always understand His answers and providence, but we can arrest assure that He cares for those who love and serve Him. Those who choose to live a life of wickedness and make choices that are selfish and self-serving, God will strive against them to turn from their wicked ways and repent. Such who resist Him, will face His judgment. For those who desire to live for God, His eyes will rest on them to do them good. 

The Seals Opened

Revelation 6: 1-6, 12-17

As the seals are open, the vision of the different horses that John saw all represented events to come. The actual events are all speculation. Some teach that these events have already occurred, other think that these are events still to be fulfilled. In conclusion, no doubt the wicked will suffer for rejecting Christ, and the righteous will be with Christ forever.

White Horse- Behold a white horse

• The first beast called- The lion- courage’s in battle-Victor
• The horse- animal of war and battle
• Victorious Trajan went forth toward the east
• The birth of the church going forth to all nations
• The Tribulation- Anti-Christ- victory through peace-diplomacy
• Christ on a white horse- He comes for the victor in all situations

Red Horse – horse that was red

• The second beast called- OX- Endurance and patience
• Decebalus, king of Dacia wars against Trajan- lots of blood
• The war against the church- persecution
• The Tribulation- War between each other- shedding of blood
• Judgment of those who reject the reign of Christ

Black Horse – and lo, a black horse

• The third beast called- The man- compassion for the suffering
• The famine in Egypt- land of plenty after the war
• A famine of Spiritual food- Church goes underground
• The Tribulation- famine- the poor suffer, the rich prosper
• Famine of spiritual food- become reprobates- mockers

Ashen Horse – and behold a pale horse

• The forth beast called- The eagle- intelligence- bird of prey
• The desolation left a weaken nation, brought death
• The church goes into the dark ages- the dead church
• The Tribulation- death come to a fourth of the earth
• Death and Hell is the final destination of those who reject

Altar of the Slain –souls of them that were slain

• The invisible world- no connection to the previous metaphor

• The martyrs, those left on earth, the angels on heaven

Black Sun & Red Moon – sun became black, moon as blood

• The destruction of Jerusalem
• Calamity to come when Christ returns
• The wrath of the lamb- Redeemer becomes judge