August 24 1990 has been chiseled, etched, engraved into my mind, body and soul as the day that God brought me from darkness to light and from death to life. Many interesting hints had been shown me before that fateful day. I even remember responding to a colleague "something is happening to me." I was not looking for God, but God was looking for and finally called me out of the dreggs of my past into new life. And no one was more surprised by my deliverance than me. One Translation says, "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son of His love. In whom we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." Another says he has delivered us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness....The word meaning exactly that. God reaches down out of heaven and draws us to Himself....to his Son...That is the mercy of Almighty God. Mercy is receiving what we don't deserve.
I wanted to tell everyone where I worked of what had occurred, but I forgot one thing. I was the one that was changed, not them. For many I was shunned like the plague. One person was said to have said to another, "he better stay away from me." People are opposed to the good news. For them it's not good news. It conflicts with their lives. It reveals the deep, hidden and ugly aspects of the human condition. They don't believe because they can't believe. If God is not working in a persons heart to accept His truth. For people by their very nature are at odds with God. Sin is all they know and all they want to know. They don't want to have to change. They are slaves to sin. And they desire to remain that way. Thinking they are indeed free.
There are those who say you must keep certain aspects of the ceremonial law of God. Certain foods are taboo. Certain Old Testament days must be observed. To these groups it is not an option. It is essential to whether one has salvation or not. But Jesus condemned the Jews for staying strict rather to the commands of men. Jesus disciples were criticized for not washing their hands in a certain way. Jesus told the the Jews not washing your hands does not defile a person. And that the other traditions of men including washing of cups, pitchers, and copper vessels does not defile a man. Jesus went on to explain, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” But not to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man. Regarding the day of worship, (see Col. 2:17-17; Rom. 14:5-6) I have observed the day in certain groups takes precedence over who we are to worship. The Day (a saturday sabbath) not the person of Christ Jesus is elevated to a savior when Jesus is Himself the Lord of the sabbath. We are to worship the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. Not a day that is representative of the rest we have in Christ. Hebrews 4 of the New Testament is the definitive passage for this doctrine.
I also remember early in my faith a fellow at church saying, "people hate Jesus." Which is absolutely correct. They hate the Jesus of scripture. People don't like to be told they are living an ungodly lifestyle. Jesus said to the man he just healed "Go and sin no more. Or else something worse will happen to you..." And to the woman caught in adultery He said, "Go and Sin no more." Scripture reveals people are dead in their trespasses and sins, blinded by the god of this age. Sin isn't even given a second thought. For there is a way that seems right to a person but its end is death. And unless God regenerates a persons heart, (the inward part of a person, their soul/spirit) they remain at enmity (hatred) of God. (Romans 8:6-8) It is God who pursues those he choses. And opens a cold dead heart to believe by grace through faith and not of ourselves. It is a gift of God. Grace being that which no one deserves.
Many years ago there was one I remember, a colleague, who at the time was a TV host as well as a talk show host, on Orlando radio, who in fact paved the way for those who had been kept from certain on air positions in TV news. I would produce various work that this individual needed to complete. One day this person took the time to communicate to me that they had believed and put their trust and faith in Jesus. Under their breath and not too loud they proclaimed to be a Christian. I believe they felt comfortable to reveal such a thing in the solitude of a sound proof studio. It was a total surprise to me and I admired the fact that this person took the time to confide in me about their belief. It did not appear this person wanted it published, so to speak.
In the work environment we were surrounded by, it could have been a negative attribute that may have hindered this persons position. This person knew what I believed, for I was not shy about it, and felt comfortable enough to trust me to keep what appeared to be a secret. I felt honored by the honesty in which they confided in me such a personal fact.
The majority of the human race is indifferent, and more, including hostile toward God and His people. Sin infiltrates every essence of our being. King David understood this when in Psalm 51:5 he proclaimed "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, (wickedness), And in sin my mother conceived me. (this cannot design any sinfulness then infused into David by his Maker, seeing God cannot be the author of sin; but of original sin and corruption, {aquired through the disobedience of God's first created man and woman} derived to him by natural generation: and the sense is, that as soon as ever the mass of human nature was shaped and quickened, or as soon as soul and body were united together, sin was in him, and he was in sin, or became a sinful creature; (John Gill)
Jeremiah's question in his book chapter 13 verse 23 asks "Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots?" (NO they can not...they were born that way and in this way they shall remain) And Jeremiah continues with the words, "can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil." (Eph. 2:1-5)
I have come to the conclusion, examining my own life, and observing the reports that flash before us everyday, that the condition of humankind is more prevalent and much more damaging (damning) than a majority of the human race perceives, discerns or comprehends. It seems many believe they're OK and God (if they believe there is a God) would realize having them in His kingdom would be a beneficial plus to God because they are such wonderful people. Based upon what they do, rather than what they are. Born again by grace through faith by the one mediator between God and mankind, Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 64:6 explains: But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; ( imperfect, not fit to appear before God, and by which they cannot be justified in his sight;) We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, (wickedness) like the wind, have taken us away. Away from that by which anyone can be washed, sanctified and justified. Jesus Christ, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World. The One who washes us clean by His blood shed on the cross and presents us acceptable in the sight of almighty God. He is the fulfillment of all those animal sacrifices which were offered to God in observance to His command as a sweet smelling aroma in worshipful obedience. For without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Heb. 9:22)
Sin is a ferocious beast within the heart of mankind just waiting for the opportunity to break its chains and devour, devastate, and shatter ones connection to and with God. Evil and wickedness, of which the god of this age conjoles, seduces and entices all fallen mankind. It being the axiom refuted by the fallen race of mankind and declared by the world to be archaic, obsolete, old fashioned, and antiquated. When it comes to physical pursuits that God deems lustful, immoral, unholy, and violate God's commands. The Alfred E Newman idiom (What me worry) that turns a blind eye to the reality of what is truth.
Yet even when One is born again, born from above, regenerated into new life in Christ and brought into God's favor and aspire to walk worthy of the call we have received though Jesus Christ. The flesh still continues to buffet, attack, batter us with temptations and desires we no longer want to entertain. In other words the flesh wars against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. As The apostle Paul proclaimed. Plus the world tempts as it bombards us with approval of abhorrent lifestyles or actions that are offensive to a holy and righteous God. Actions that ruin and condemn the soul of sinful man. And the devil is in the details, in the cheering section egging you on, whispering that it's just a little sin and God won't mine. But we know better.
For as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Son of God and Son of man proclaimed, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." For man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. For as the Psalmist expressed in homage to God, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You." And James responded, "Do not listen to the word and so decieve yourself. Do what it says." For God's Word is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says:
“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
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