FROM WHERE DO YOU COME?

Job 1:7 The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."

It was about three months after I turned 16 years old, a small gaggle of pimple faced fellow 16 year olds were enjoying the freedom of rolling about town and being obnoxious. That's what 16 years olds with a driver license and a car did. The word obnoxious does not do justice to the shenanigans of these worshipers of stupidity. I was driving!

The car was stopped at a red light at the corner of the Boulevard and Prince Street. A little old lady with pure white hair, carrying a paper bag of groceries was crossing, from left to right, in front of the car. I Swear I did not know that she was blind, and I certainly did not see the white stick in her left hand. With a sudden satanic grin, and a wicked giggle, I honked the horn! Groceries went everywhere!

Me and my buddies were paralyzed with uncontrolled laughter and none of us noticed the huge tree branch of an arm enter my open window and biggest man that I had ever seen in my life then withdrew me from the vehicle. Through the window! My buddies all bailed out and ran.

As this Goliath of a man carried me about, my neck fully encompassed by a massive hand, he moved me from here to there picking up every can, every package, every item that had fallen from the paper bag, and returning them to the proper place in the sack. A few times my feet were actually in contact with the ground. The man had my whole neck and a good part of my head in his massive right hand, and he turned my head toward the lady, whom I had just learned was his mother. He said quietly to me “Say your are sorry”

Tears began to flow down my cheeks as the words left my mouth, partly because I had a feeling this was not going to end well. The man then turned my face toward him, and he said “tell me that you are sorry”. I was a groveling mess of slobber at this time and shaking like a leaf. Finally, he lessened his grip a bit advising me that his mother had already forgiven me, and that God had forgiven me, but that he was neither her, nor God. He whispered in my ear, “if I ever see you again, I will snap your neck!”. With that he turned me loose.

About 15 to 20 folks had gathered, traffic was backed up, and I walked slowly back to the car, with my head hung low, thankful that I was still in one piece and not bleeding anywhere.

That day I witnessed Satan kick-start a temptation. I had the ability to stop it before it matured. I did not. I then witnessed the wonder and might of God working through the biggest man I had ever seen rebuke me with a powerful arm, and then forgive me for being such a jerk. I remember this day as it were yesterday. I have never forgotten the grace and the mercy shown by a wondrous God through a vessel of a man, in righting a wrong and forgiving a transgression.

Act 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

Fifty Four years later, I would answer HIS call.

Thank-you JESUS !

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

GRAPHIC CREDIT: curbsideclassic.com

FROM WHERE DO YOU COME?

Job 1:7 The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."

It was about three months after I turned 16 years old, a small gaggle of pimple faced fellow 16 year olds were enjoying the freedom of rolling about town and being obnoxious. That's what 16 years olds with a driver license and a car did. The word obnoxious does not do justice to the shenanigans of these worshipers of stupidity. I was driving!

The car was stopped at a red light at the corner of the Boulevard and Prince Street. A little old lady with pure white hair, carrying a paper bag of groceries was crossing, from left to right, in front of the car. I Swear I did not know that she was blind, and I certainly did not see the white stick in her left hand. With a sudden satanic grin, and a wicked giggle, I honked the horn! Groceries went everywhere!

Me and my buddies were paralyzed with uncontrolled laughter and none of us noticed the huge tree branch of an arm enter my open window and biggest man that I had ever seen in my life then withdrew me from the vehicle. Through the window! My buddies all bailed out and ran.

As this Goliath of a man carried me about, my neck fully encompassed by a massive hand, he moved me from here to there picking up every can, every package, every item that had fallen from the paper bag, and returning them to the proper place in the sack. A few times my feet were actually in contact with the ground. The man had my whole neck and a good part of my head in his massive right hand, and he turned my head toward the lady, whom I had just learned was his mother. He said quietly to me “Say your are sorry”

Tears began to flow down my cheeks as the words left my mouth, partly because I had a feeling this was not going to end well. The man then turned my face toward him, and he said “tell me that you are sorry”. I was a groveling mess of slobber at this time and shaking like a leaf. Finally, he lessened his grip a bit advising me that his mother had already forgiven me, and that God had forgiven me, but that he was neither her, nor God. He whispered in my ear, “if I ever see you again, I will snap your neck!”. With that he turned me loose.

About 15 to 20 folks had gathered, traffic was backed up, and I walked slowly back to the car, with my head hung low, thankful that I was still in one piece and not bleeding anywhere.

That day I witnessed Satan kick-start a temptation. I had the ability to stop it before it matured. I did not. I then witnessed the wonder and might of God working through the biggest man I had ever seen rebuke me with a powerful arm, and then forgive me for being such a jerk. I remember this day as it were yesterday. I have never forgotten the grace and the mercy shown by a wondrous God through a vessel of a man, in righting a wrong and forgiving a transgression.

Act 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

Fifty Four years later, I would answer HIS call.

Thank-you JESUS !

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

GRAPHIC CREDIT: curbsideclassic.com

[Graphic Credit: Jesus Daily]

FRIENDS OF THE KING

What is your relationship with Christ? If asked, how would you describe the relationship to another person? Would it be distant, formal, or privileged? How about intimate, trusting, or loving?

Like many of you, I have a deep seated respect and reverence for our Lord. There is a healthy bit of fear too. Fear of falling short of His expectations. Fear of wrath, when I really mess up.

It is difficult for me to consider them to be separate, as they truly are. I see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as Almighty GOD. He is the Creator. We are the created. He is the Potter, we are the clay.

Am I a FRIEND OF THE KING? Are you?

The very thought of being a FRIEND OF THE KING, of GOD, of JESUS, is a very sobering concept for me. It is not something I would ever take lightly, or be cavalier about. I think that if I spent too much time thinking about friendships using the fleshly model, I would be petrified with fear for even considering it.

Joh 15:15 "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Wow. The KING, our Lord calls us His friends. John chapter 15 describes the beauty and depth of His and our Father's love for us. Teaching that to love, is to be Godly, Holy, Righteous.

Joh 15:16-17 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. (17) "This I command you, that you love one another.

As several of you know, I was a late bloomer; in my mid 60's when I answered His call to salvation, then a year later to the ministry. He chose me, ME. If you knew me in my profane life, you would never believe that Jesus would call or consider me His friend. He did. Praise You Yeshuah, Praise You Son of God!

With great humility, honor, love and reverence, I declare to you that Christ Jesus has called me His friend. I am also His servant, His Slave, His worshiper, His creation. He died for me. I will die for Him.

Are you FRIENDS OF THE KING?

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

[Graphic Credit: Jesus Daily]

FRIENDS OF THE KING

What is your relationship with Christ? If asked, how would you describe the relationship to another person? Would it be distant, formal, or privileged? How about intimate, trusting, or loving?

Like many of you, I have a deep seated respect and reverence for our Lord. There is a healthy bit of fear too. Fear of falling short of His expectations. Fear of wrath, when I really mess up.

It is difficult for me to consider them to be separate, as they truly are. I see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as Almighty GOD. He is the Creator. We are the created. He is the Potter, we are the clay.

Am I a FRIEND OF THE KING? Are you?

The very thought of being a FRIEND OF THE KING, of GOD, of JESUS, is a very sobering concept for me. It is not something I would ever take lightly, or be cavalier about. I think that if I spent too much time thinking about friendships using the fleshly model, I would be petrified with fear for even considering it.

Joh 15:15 "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Wow. The KING, our Lord calls us His friends. John chapter 15 describes the beauty and depth of His and our Father's love for us. Teaching that to love, is to be Godly, Holy, Righteous.

Joh 15:16-17 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. (17) "This I command you, that you love one another.

As several of you know, I was a late bloomer; in my mid 60's when I answered His call to salvation, then a year later to the ministry. He chose me, ME. If you knew me in my profane life, you would never believe that Jesus would call or consider me His friend. He did. Praise You Yeshuah, Praise You Son of God!

With great humility, honor, love and reverence, I declare to you that Christ Jesus has called me His friend. I am also His servant, His Slave, His worshiper, His creation. He died for me. I will die for Him.

Are you FRIENDS OF THE KING?

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

NEARER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK

When I was small, summers would be spent at the homestead of my Grandfather and Grandmother. Grandma Elsie May was the family Bible scholar and each evening, just before bedtime, she would read scripture out loud to us. Many of the evening bedtime Bible sessions would be reflective of the days events, usually events involving me, and often, the scripture was from Proverbs! More than once, I feared that by the time morning returned, I would awake and find my seven-year-old body in the fires of hell. Elsie was powerful in sharing Solomon's life lessons.

One evening, following a thunder storm, Grandma Elsie began reading about the end times. “They are nearer than you might think”, she said. Moving from book to book, verse to verse, Elsie painted a mental image that had me spellbound, and scared out of my wits! Woe is me, I thought.

In the days of our Savior Jesus, the end times were near. Mat 24:3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him [Jesus] privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" In the minds of those listening then and reading those words now, we certainly are quickly approaching the end times today. Assuredly, we are much nearer to the end today than where we were two-thousand years ago.

God is eternal. He does not wear a wristwatch. While in this flesh, we are tied to the clock. God is not. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security that two-thousand years after Christ revealed His Revelation to Saint John, that we still have plenty of time. 2Pe 3:8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. This is a deadline you should not miss!

How close are we? Well, let's look around at events that paint a truly frightening picture; (ripped from the news headlines):

TEEN KILLS SISTERS, MOTHER THEN SELF

ENTIRE FAMILY OF THREE SHOT DEAD BY DAD

SON SUES MOM AND DAD FOR ALLOWING HIS BIRTH

MOTHER SAYS TO DAD, I'VE KILLED THE GIRLS

BOY SAYS, I SHOT HIM TO WATCH HIM DIE

And the Bible says: Luk 12:53 "They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

The hatred, the nastiness, the absence of moral responsibility and evil is off the charts. It gets worse by the day. The endless 24-hour news cycle and quality 4G service keeps our brains bathed in this wretched slop. We know how its going to end. Its in THE BOOK. No one knows when. My sense is that its nearer than you think!

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

NEARER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK

When I was small, summers would be spent at the homestead of my Grandfather and Grandmother. Grandma Elsie May was the family Bible scholar and each evening, just before bedtime, she would read scripture out loud to us. Many of the evening bedtime Bible sessions would be reflective of the days events, usually events involving me, and often, the scripture was from Proverbs! More than once, I feared that by the time morning returned, I would awake and find my seven-year-old body in the fires of hell. Elsie was powerful in sharing Solomon's life lessons.

One evening, following a thunder storm, Grandma Elsie began reading about the end times. “They are nearer than you might think”, she said. Moving from book to book, verse to verse, Elsie painted a mental image that had me spellbound, and scared out of my wits! Woe is me, I thought.

In the days of our Savior Jesus, the end times were near. Mat 24:3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him [Jesus] privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" In the minds of those listening then and reading those words now, we certainly are quickly approaching the end times today. Assuredly, we are much nearer to the end today than where we were two-thousand years ago.

God is eternal. He does not wear a wristwatch. While in this flesh, we are tied to the clock. God is not. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security that two-thousand years after Christ revealed His Revelation to Saint John, that we still have plenty of time. 2Pe 3:8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. This is a deadline you should not miss!

How close are we? Well, let's look around at events that paint a truly frightening picture; (ripped from the news headlines):

TEEN KILLS SISTERS, MOTHER THEN SELF

ENTIRE FAMILY OF THREE SHOT DEAD BY DAD

SON SUES MOM AND DAD FOR ALLOWING HIS BIRTH

MOTHER SAYS TO DAD, I'VE KILLED THE GIRLS

BOY SAYS, I SHOT HIM TO WATCH HIM DIE

And the Bible says: Luk 12:53 "They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

The hatred, the nastiness, the absence of moral responsibility and evil is off the charts. It gets worse by the day. The endless 24-hour news cycle and quality 4G service keeps our brains bathed in this wretched slop. We know how its going to end. Its in THE BOOK. No one knows when. My sense is that its nearer than you think!

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

It is the last hour.

"Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

But you, beloved, ought to remember the words in 1Ti 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,  that they were saying to you, "In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts." The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Rev 1:19; 1 Cor 13:12; Heb 2:8; Peter 1:19; Ps 119:105; Jude 17-18; 1 Tim 4:1; 1 John 2:18; Rom 13:12

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

It is the last hour.

"Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

But you, beloved, ought to remember the words in 1Ti 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,  that they were saying to you, "In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts." The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Rev 1:19; 1 Cor 13:12; Heb 2:8; Peter 1:19; Ps 119:105; Jude 17-18; 1 Tim 4:1; 1 John 2:18; Rom 13:12

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth!

Psa 141:3

Psa 130:3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

Psa 106:33 for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke rashly with his lips.

Of all my failures in life, and there have been many, controlling my mouth has been the biggest struggle. I used to carry a card around with me with the message, CAUTION: BE SURE BRAIN IS ENGAGED BEFORE PUTTIN MOUTH IN GEAR! By the time I reached for the card, the hurtful or ill advised words had already escaped. Many dear friends and loved ones have been terribly wounded as a result of my acid tongue.

Mat 15:11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

A dear friend of mine was retiring and I was asked to speak during his ceremony. In my profane manner, sick humor flowed out of my mouth like Niagara Falls. As the words passed my lips, out of the corner of my eye sat a fellow wearing a black shirt with a pure white collar, who appeared to be praying. I was sick to my stomach. The damage already done. There was no putting the toothpaste back in that tube. Me and my mouth.

Pro 12:18-19 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Jas 3:8 ... no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Jas 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

A major event took place when Christ found me. Baptism in the Holy Spirit opened my eyes and soul to the value and worth of meekness and a delay in my lips. The longer the lips remain closed, the less the opportunity to offend.

Almighty God, Holy Spirit, teach me the art of silence, of pause in order that I might represent you well with the quiet strength that comes from your Majestic wisdom, in Christ Jesus, AMEN.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth!

Psa 141:3

Psa 130:3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

Psa 106:33 for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke rashly with his lips.

Of all my failures in life, and there have been many, controlling my mouth has been the biggest struggle. I used to carry a card around with me with the message, CAUTION: BE SURE BRAIN IS ENGAGED BEFORE PUTTIN MOUTH IN GEAR! By the time I reached for the card, the hurtful or ill advised words had already escaped. Many dear friends and loved ones have been terribly wounded as a result of my acid tongue.

Mat 15:11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

A dear friend of mine was retiring and I was asked to speak during his ceremony. In my profane manner, sick humor flowed out of my mouth like Niagara Falls. As the words passed my lips, out of the corner of my eye sat a fellow wearing a black shirt with a pure white collar, who appeared to be praying. I was sick to my stomach. The damage already done. There was no putting the toothpaste back in that tube. Me and my mouth.

Pro 12:18-19 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Jas 3:8 ... no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Jas 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

A major event took place when Christ found me. Baptism in the Holy Spirit opened my eyes and soul to the value and worth of meekness and a delay in my lips. The longer the lips remain closed, the less the opportunity to offend.

Almighty God, Holy Spirit, teach me the art of silence, of pause in order that I might represent you well with the quiet strength that comes from your Majestic wisdom, in Christ Jesus, AMEN.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Remember me, O my God, for good.

(Neh 5:19)

(Jer 2:2) "Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.

(Eze 16:60) "Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.

(Jer 29:10-11) "For thus says the LORD, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

(Isa 55:9) "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

(Job 5:8-9) "But as for me, I would seek God, And I would place my cause before God; Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number.

(Psa 40:5) Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Remember me, O my God, for good.

(Neh 5:19)

(Jer 2:2) "Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.

(Eze 16:60) "Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.

(Jer 29:10-11) "For thus says the LORD, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

(Isa 55:9) "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

(Job 5:8-9) "But as for me, I would seek God, And I would place my cause before God; Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number.

(Psa 40:5) Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

IT IS JUST STUFF!

(Deu 12:9) For you have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you. – (Mic 2:10) "Arise and go, For this is no place of rest Because of the uncleanness that brings on destruction, A painful destruction.

These verses of scripture prophetically warn against placing material STUFF above or instead of Jesus, our Christ. We humans are pack-rats. We place such stock and worth in the material, that which will certainly not travel with us when we leave this earth. Christ Jesus has made it possible for us to store all of our precious treasures [even our souls] in a place not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens. Naked you entered this world, Naked you will leave it.

(Heb 6:19-20) This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

(Joh 14:2-3) "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Paul writes an Epistle of encouragement to look beyond the earthly tomorrow and to the glorious promised life everlasting in the Kingdom of God.

(Php 1:23) But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;-- (Rev 21:4) and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."-- (Job 3:17) "There the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest.

Numerous times I have stood along side and prayed with God's precious children while standing next to piles of their worldly possessions, now destroyed. Be it flood, hurricane, fire or other catastrophic event, lives were spared, STUFF was destroyed. The grief of loss was real. The memories attached to those items was engraved into their souls. Even without the physical keepsake, the memory remained.

(Mat 6:20-21) "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Col 3:2) Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

Set your mind on Christ Jesus!

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

IT IS JUST STUFF!

(Deu 12:9) For you have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you. – (Mic 2:10) "Arise and go, For this is no place of rest Because of the uncleanness that brings on destruction, A painful destruction.

These verses of scripture prophetically warn against placing material STUFF above or instead of Jesus, our Christ. We humans are pack-rats. We place such stock and worth in the material, that which will certainly not travel with us when we leave this earth. Christ Jesus has made it possible for us to store all of our precious treasures [even our souls] in a place not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens. Naked you entered this world, Naked you will leave it.

(Heb 6:19-20) This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

(Joh 14:2-3) "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Paul writes an Epistle of encouragement to look beyond the earthly tomorrow and to the glorious promised life everlasting in the Kingdom of God.

(Php 1:23) But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;-- (Rev 21:4) and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."-- (Job 3:17) "There the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest.

Numerous times I have stood along side and prayed with God's precious children while standing next to piles of their worldly possessions, now destroyed. Be it flood, hurricane, fire or other catastrophic event, lives were spared, STUFF was destroyed. The grief of loss was real. The memories attached to those items was engraved into their souls. Even without the physical keepsake, the memory remained.

(Mat 6:20-21) "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Col 3:2) Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

Set your mind on Christ Jesus!

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?