"Christ or Judgment" - Two

 "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," (Hebrews 10:26 KJV)

  ""There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."" (John 3:18-21 NLT)

 If you don't know this by now, it really shouldn't come to a surprise to you, if it hasn't happened to you yet, because we only keep hold of those sins that we like! That doesn't justify holding on to them, because sooner or later Jesus will cause you to turn from them and will give you the ability to turn the other way, making you hate whatever it was that you were holding onto. 

 If you haven't experienced it yet, I pray that you will, because it is very necessary that we do our very best to obey everything the Lord tells us to do; especially when it is something that is hindering our walk with the Lord! If you haven't had a chance to read that little booklet, "My Heart, Christ's Home," it is well worth you to give it a try. There are several different issues that are brought up, most of which are the things we do that grieve the Lord, without even giving it a second thought. 

 I really liked the part about going out to be entertained, without inviting Jesus to come with us; as he returned home, He is still sitting by the fireplace, asking, "Why didn't you ask me to come with you!" We should have no problem remembering what that looks like, because I'm pretty sure we are all guilty of it, in one way or another. 

 Having said all of that, we have many different ways to willfully sin, even though we know the truth! It is just a matter of preference and ability, like our brother Jay would say, 'It's like putting something you should not eat in the refrigerator,' as if you won't eat it, but still save it, just in case! Or that one about going into a place you should not go, but saying, 'only if there is a parking spot, right in front of the building,' and then you drive around the block several times, until a space becomes available...

 "Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the LORD'S blessing and have a right relationship with God their Savior." (PSALM 24:3-5 NLT; A psalm of David) 

"Christ or Judgment"

 "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," (Hebrews 10:26 KJV)

  "How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep you servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free from guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (PSALM 19:12-14 NLT)

 Today's post is one that takes us into some serious controversy, much of which is something that has a lot of judgment; most of which is the kind of stuff you might think are sequences from Soap Operas, such as General Hospital or Days of Our Lives. I have been involved in several arguments with people that have determined someone to have never been saved, just because they deliberately committed a sinful act, like having an affair or doing something which should never be done, especially from a man or woman of God. 

 Not to name names, but I know several very influential and well-known Pastors, some that were the heads of very large congregations, who fell from grace, as it were, by cheating on their wives; some even left their wives, even stepping down from their ministry in the process. The sad thing is, there were those that judged them as being lost for what they did, saying things like, "I don't think they were ever a Christian, but just pretended to be saved!" 

 Here is the point when we must think about something which God has made perfectly clear: We all our sinners, and some are more sinful that others! Sometimes the ones with the kindest hearts will be guilty of doing the cruelest and most unloving things, if they try to cover over their sins. If you don't think it is true, then you should remember King David, who had one of his faithful warriors killed, just to cover up the sin of sleeping with his wife, Bathsheba. 

 Did what he do make him destined to hell? Absolutely not! David begged for mercy for what he did; and God poured out grace in the process! Oh, there was several consequences which were in his life, due to the sin he committed, but those were all things that stayed here on this earth. David will be seen by us, when we meet all of the saints in heaven!      

 With all of that, there is nothing we can do that cannot be forgiven; with the exception of not asking God for His forgiveness...     

""Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you the unfailing love I promised to David. See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious."" (Isaiah 55:3-5 NLT)

"What Makes Me Happy!"

 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25 KJV)

  "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT)

 If there was one thing I could say about the importance of going to church, it is the charge I get from being together with by brothers and sisters! It like charging up your battery, from one service to another, we have fellowship and remind ourselves as we come together that we are all one glorious body, even though we all have different lives and circumstances, we still all have one thing in common: We Love Jesus! 

 Actually, I think it is one of the most important things we can do, to make every effort to fellowship with one another. Besides charging up our spiritual battery, we also have some way to keep holding each other accountable. If we don't keep fellowship together, and stay to ourselves, we begin to feel alone and start thinking we don't really matter. That is a terrible thing to feel, because each of us do matter!  

 The thing I really like the most, (which might sound weird,) is to notice who hasn't been to church for a while and to pray for them to show up. The is one of my happiest moments, when I see them walk into church, thinking in my heart, that maybe that little prayer made a difference. 

 I know it really sounds weird, but we all need to have people that continually pray for us, even if we don't know who or why they do, we all need to be prayed for by someone! Praying for others is not meant to point out their discrepancies or problems; but to admonish the good and ask God to bless them. We all have things that are wrong in our lives, in one form or fashion, but we, just like every family, must focus upon the good in each other and not try to sniff out the bad in one other.

 Anywho, that is my take on what real fellowship looks like, because more than anything, love does not look at what is wrong in anyone, but cherishes the good in people, always reminding ourselves that we are all not perfect, but we soon will be! 

 If that was not the case, I would have given up a long time ago! But I keep looking forward to the day, that glorious day, when I see my wife totally healed and us speaking together in a perfect place with everyone else that we have loved and cared for! That time will happen, which is what makes me happier and happier, as the day grows near...

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sister, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." (Philippians 4:4-8 NLT) 

"Love and Good Works" - To

 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" (Hebrews 10:24 KJV)

  "Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important." (Galatians 6:1-3 NLT)

 If you must know, sometimes I get really carried away with certain words, especially those that call us to action. There are certain times when we really don't know what we must do. It is times like that when we really need to stop and pray, asking God to show us how to be humble enough to love, even though we might not like doing it! 

 There are so many different things that set people off and telling them that they are wrong, only makes for more disagreement. Like Jesus said, ""And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye."" (Matthew 7:3-5 NLT)

 Therein is the point I was trying to make yesterday, that the, "provoke," which might appear to be a negative thing, is actually a good thing when it involves us, as we are those responsible to consider how we must act and what we most do, even when we might not want to do it! 

 The NLT has that used in a different term, saying, "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works". Which is all well and good, as long as you are doing the love and good works first, which allows us to show the way, and not just talk about it! 

 Anywho, I am probably the least likely person that can always do what I feel the Lord wants me to do; anytime I plan to be loving and caring, praying to God that He will make me so; the next thing I know, I'm dealing with someone that pushes my buttons, and sets me off! Go figure! 

 You ask God to help you to love, and then He give you a situation where you don't like loving the way that you should; but that is how you learn to love, regardless of how you might feel; you deny yourself and love them anyways... 

"What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well" - but then you don't give that person and food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." (James 2:14-17 NLT)

"Love and Good Works"

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works:" (Hebrews 10:24 KJV)

  "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)

 Sometimes it just doesn't matter how hard we try; we are always going to need to count on the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit within us that will allow us to surrender our selfishness and put others first, even if it means we don't get complemented or admonished for doing so! We serve the Lord more than anything else, which actually means, we don't expect to get rewarded for serving others, because then that will be our reward, which is completely temporary and easily forgotten. 

 "Only what you do for the Lord will last!" Something that is sometimes easily forgotten while we serve and try hard to love and serve others. If we don't receive any thanks or acknowledgment for what we have done, we might feel as though we are not appreciated; but it not for sake of getting rewarded here, on this earth; the rewards we are looking for are stored up in Heaven! 

 It is very interesting to see this word, "provoke," used to show the passion, because it isn't a verb or an adjective; it is a noun, a masculine noun, at that! The actual definition is one of hostility, such as would be contention or dispute (in anger). If you could make that appear in a form that might show action, the word, "to," and the word, "unto," would make it easier to understand. 

 Putting others first is also something that must be put into practice; it is something we must learn how to do, even though it is a gift of the Holy Spirit, it doesn't really work without learning how to use it! Challenging, yes; but not impossible if you allow the Spirit to guide and direct you, without trying to do it on your own. 

 That is something I know I need to work on, because without His help, I will protect myself more and think about myself first, before I consider the needs of others first. Just saying...

""Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets."" (Matthew 7:12 NLT) 

"Holding the Course!" - Too

 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering: (for he is faithful that promised;)" (Hebrews 10:23 KJV)

  "One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake." So they got into the boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, "Where is your faith?" The disciples were terrified and amazed. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!"" (Luke 8:22-25 NLT)

 This is something that I have shared more than once, maybe three times; but it never gets old, because it is always something we go through, time and time again. Most of us know that little thing about the poster or picture, "Footprints in the Sand"; I have one on my wall above my coffee bar, so it is always there to remind me that Jesus always keeps His promise: "He will get us to the other side!" 

 It is the storms in this life that strengthen us and cause us to know how important it is to trust the Lord, no matter how hard or difficult the storm might appear, He is always faithful to get us through whatever is going on, no matter what circumstance we are in, His promise is still the same: We will make it to the other side! 

 If you are not familiar with the, "Footprints in the Sand," it is basically the tale of a believer who died and is with the Lord, looking back at his life, seeing the trail of footprints along the shore. As he studies the prints, both Jesus and his footprints are seen walking together; yet, in the stormy time of his life, he sees only one set of footprints. So he questions Jesus, asking Him, why there was only one set of footprints when my life was at its worse? Jesus replied, "Those were the times when I was carrying you!" 

 I know that we sometimes get into problems and issues that we make our own, some of which we just never think we can get out of; but no matter what it might be that caused our calamity or disaster, we can always trust in the Lord to get us through the storm; even if it was our own mess that caused it! It might be debatable, but the messes we make sometimes can't be fixed; but the Lord can make beauty from ashes! 

 This particular storm, which caused the disciples to fear death, was not really to test their faith, but was an act of the devil to try and stop Jesus from getting to the other side. Although the devil can try, he cannot change the course the Lord has established; Jesus was sleeping, because He knew they were going to the other side. The disciples knew nothing else, but that they were in danger of dying!  

 There is really no difference from our storms and that which the disciples feared over; we really have nothing we can do, except let Jesus do whatever it is He wants to do. We just need to trust in Him, and have a little faith...

"Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NLT) 

"Holding the Course!"

 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" (Hebrews 10:23 KJV)

  ""Because you have obeyed my command to preserve, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown."" (Revelation 3:10-11 NLT) 

 There are some things that just seem too obvious to ignore, most of which are the things we see going on in this world, that appear to be spinning out of control. As far as I am concerned, it looks good and is well with my soul, no matter how crazy it might appear: God is still on the Throne! 

 This little portion of Scripture from Revelation is Jesus addressing the Church of Philadelphia, which is probably the only church Jesus didn't have too harsh of things to say, except that that had little strength, yet they obeyed and did not deny Him. That might sound like they are lacking something, such as the ability to be strong; but in God's economy, being strong is not always a good thing...

"If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it, because I don't want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life and hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:6-10 NLT)  

"Most Certain Confidence" - Again

 "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22 KJV) 

  "Understand this, my brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls." (James 1:19-21 NLT)

 You might have heard it said, "God has given us two ears and one mouth for a reason; we need to listen twice as much as we speak!"  Hopefully that doesn't offend anyone, because I know for a fact that needs to be put to use more in my own life. "Sometimes it's just best to not say anything, if we can't say anything good!" (That's what my mom always said.) 

 I feel as though this topic is hard for some to understand; and the worse thing is, those who do get the point, don't really want to talk about it, let alone, consider it might be an issue they want to deal with. We all have our own Pet Peeves, the things that are just little annoyances that people do; things that really don't matter much, except when you bring it up. 

 There is more to this than just saying that we love one another, because true love for one another requires caring and wanting to help when you know someone needs comfort or prayer. If I had a dollar for every encounter I had when I felt the need to pray for or comfort someone but didn't; well, you get the point. I would be feeling a whole lot richer if I had taken the time to do what I felt I should have done. 

 There is a very big example of what James says next, that might add a little to what I just said...

"But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." (James 1:22-25 NLT)  

"Most Certain Confidence" - To

 "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22 KJV)

  "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude                     "Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude                           "Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude" (PSALM 32:1-7 NLT)

 As I pondering all the different things that are being shown, in the passage above from Hebrews, it made me think about how important it is that we make every effort to love and forgive one another, even if it might not be our fault; just the thought of neglecting to make the effort, to reconcile your issue, is technically a sin on your part. I know that might not seem right in the eyes of some, but Jesus made this perfectly clear, saying, ""So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God."" (Matthew 5:23-24 NLT) 

 I know it might not seem like much to worry about, to some; but as we saw yesterday, every part of the body is just that: Part of the Body of Christ! We must love one another, no matter what! We all have all kinds of things wrong with us, in one way or another; there are none of us that are perfect, none of us can avoid being offended or even have the power to forgive others as we should. That kind of power can only come from us being submitted to the Holy Spirit and by forgetting about our own needs, putting the need to serve others first! 

 Not that I am any better than anyone else, because I have some of the worst ways to offend and cause people grief. I try to blame it on the pressure and the circumstances of my life; when instead, I should be rejoicing that I am forgiven and have things much more wonderful to look forwards to! 

 This might not seem perfectly correct in the eyes of some, but sometimes we might think someone has something against us, but they don't even know it, nor is it even true. Just us thinking it is so, is more than enough reason to bring it up with them; even by just apologizing for thinking they were. You can't even imagine what kind of things we sometimes think, when we feel like we know what is going on in the hearts and minds of others, when we can't even control everything going on in our own...

"The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathways for your life. I will advise you and watch oner you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control." Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!" (PSALM 32:8-11 NLT)   

"Most Certain Confidence"

 "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22 KJV)

  "Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if we don't feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us." (1 John 3:18-24 NLT)

 There were so many more things I wanted to say, as the night was filled with 'Swirling Eddies' as I felt the Lord was opening my mind to so many different there were, in one way or another, reconciled and made new. Although Jesus said from the cross, "It is finished!", it did not mean that everything was completely done; there were still many things to do, and there still are several more to come! 

 I have heard it told that the Apostle John, towards the end of his life, would be carried out on a chair to present a message to the congregation. Those who brought him out would sit him down to face the audience, and then John would speak, saying, "Love one another!" after that, they would pick him back up and take him away. 

 In the passage above, John mentions two different characters, yet they are not different people he is addressing. We are all God's children, and we must all be friends with one another...

"If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it only had one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it." (1 Corinthians 12:17-27 NLT)

"The Great Reset"

 "And having a high priest over the house of God;" (Hebrews 10:21 KJV)

  "For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death." (Ephesians 2:14-16 NLT) 

 Thinking about this through several different ways, pretty much all through the night, I couldn't help but think about why this great divide had so many different angles and yet there was really only one cure that brought everything back together. As previously shown, more times than needed, there was a divide that was first established during the creation, which separated, in some form or fashion, earth from Heaven; this may not be the first separation, but it seems to have been the first to involve God's distance from that of His creation for mankind. 

 And yes, there was fellowship with man and God before the fall, that is very obvious; yet there was also fellowship God after the fall, the only difference was that mankind had to die in the process! Even that little issue of death was taken care of on the cross; besides the veil being torn, which represented the gap between man and God, it also brought brand-new life, a life that was meant to last forever and ever.

 There are only certain things that really matter in this crazy world we are living in, most of which the world cannot truly understand. Being here is only temporary, and you only get this little time to make it work, believing in God and wanting to know Him is important, yes! But having a relationship with Him means more than anything this world could ever offer...

"The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth." (PSALM 146:17-18 NLT) 

"A New and Living Way" - Too

 "By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;" (Hebrews 10:20 KJV)

  ""I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate mana in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I and the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh." Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked. So Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever."" (John 6:47-58 NLT)

 Anywho; if you thought yesterday's post was a little confusing, that was just the start. It might be hard to explain the sequence of the events, but there is a real important reason that the veil was torn just before He gave up His spirit on the cross; besides the fact that it was the whole reason He came, to reconcile God to mankind. It was His flesh that was torn which made that curtain to tear; it was His blood that was spilt, that washed away our sins. 

 It really is hard to understand this whole concept of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, if that is, you don't believe that it truly worked! I cannot count the number of times I have been given the question, in one form or another, "How can the death of one man on a cross save the whole world from death?" 

 When you get that sort of a question, there is really only one explanation that is clear enough to say, yet still hard for many to completely understand: "It was God who made it happen for that very purpose!" Without explaining every little step, that is pretty much the how everything really happened. God made a way, a powerful way, to pay the penalties for the sins of the entire world; and because it was His sacrifice that made it happen, it is His choice as to if it really worked! 

 We are the ones that need to believe it is so; and by believing it completely we are eating His flesh and drinking His blood, because those two things made it happen! Sometimes it takes a little time to chew on that, before you can actually accept it...

"Many of his disciples said, "This is very hard to understand. How can anyone except it?" Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, "Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me." (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn't believe, and he knew who would betray him.)" (John 6:60-64 NLT)   

"A New and Living Way"

 "By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;" (Hebrews 10:20 KJV) 

  "By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last." (Luke 23:44-46 NLT)

 First off, there is a very interesting connection given between the veil and the flesh of Jesus. Without getting too carried away, it is Luke's investigative reasoning to show the timeline and the sequence of the veil being torn, and then the death of Jesus. Many have been able to prove that Jesus' death was brought on by a ruptured heart; they come to this conclusion because of the blood mixed with water, that came out of His side when the Roman soldier stuck the spear in Him, to make sure He was dead.  

 If you know anything about Luke, you should know that he was a doctor; so, he might have known some things about the human body, and also what that veil represented, which was that of separation from God! And not just that, but both Matthew and Mark have it recorded that veil was torn after Jesus died, not before He took His last breath. 

 Basically, what I am trying to say, is the ruptured heart of Jesus, which was literally torn, was the trigger that ripped the veil from top to bottom. When the veil was torn, it represented the separation between God and mankind was removed; the deed had been done, His heart was no longer giving Him life, and His deed was done; with His dying breath He released His Spirit!  

 Some say Paul, some say Luke; some even say Mark. But there was a time in Paul's incarceration when all three of them were together. I can only imagine the conversations they had together...

"Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. "They will be my people," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."" (Malachi 3:16-18 NLT)   

"We Can Be Close to God"

 "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus," (Hebrews 10:19 KJV)

  "He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us." (Ephesians 2:17-18 NLT) 

 Before I get into this, I must warn you that I am not really feeling all that well, so if this seems a little of, I can blame it on the meds and the lack of sleep. That said, there are times when I seriously feel that I am in God's presence; not physically, but definitely spiritually. This usually happens when I am praying with the Holy Spirit's guidance, usually because I really don't know what it is that I need to pray for. 

 If that doesn't make any sense to you, it really doesn't have to; it just happens, sometimes without even trying! There is this thing about praying intensely, when you just know that you're in His presence, even though you really don't know what it is that you want to say. He is just so gracious enough to answer and give you the peace you need; He can do so because He knows your heart and every thought that you are thinking. 

 One of my most intense prayers was the night of August 12th, 2003, which was the night I was told by the hospital staff that I needed to go home and get some rest. When I got home, I had no plan whatsoever to go to bed, but I went into my office, throw myself down on the floor, and cried out to God. It was one of the most intense prayers that I have ever prayed; so much so, my body was quivering, and I was weeping like a little baby. 

 After an hour or so, I suddenly felt a calm peace that came over me; almost as if the whole thing was handled and there was really nothing else to do, but to get to bed. It was probably about almost 2am and I was planning to go back to the hospital early that morning. When my head hit the pillow, I was out; but then waking up at 4am and feeling refreshed; that must have been a God thing! 

 You might not have any idea what I am trying to say, if you haven't experienced it yourself; but when you whole life gets turned upside-down in one night, your perspective on what life really means has a whole new meaning! For over three months I was at that hospital every morning, afternoon, and night; reading Scriptures to my wife and praying for her. 

 It was hard to do, but I did go to a Men's Retreat in October, but everything they taught on, although it was good, it made me feel I needed get back to my wife. This is not something you plan on happening, and you surely can't prepare for something that you don't believe will happen. 

 I am saying this because it really matters that you put God first in your life! He is the One that holds everything together, Everything! You must make every effort to make Him the center of your life; and when you feel as though you're failing to do so, pray harder for Him to help...    

"But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba Father." Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir." (Galatians 4:4-7 NLT)

"A Call to Persevere"

   "And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

  "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

  "Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to us. For we know the one who said, "I will take revenge. I will pay them back." He also said, "The LORD will judge his own people." It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 "Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

  "So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. "For in just a little while the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away." But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved." (Hebrews 10:19-39 NLT)

  "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." (Isaiah 55:1-3 KJV)

 Sorry for the long message, it was pretty much all I could do, just to type it all out. Hopefully it was not filled with all kinds of mistakes; it really has been a very brutal weekend, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better...

"How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light we shall see light." (Psalms 36:7-9 KJV)