Get Real

This week, Michael writes: Are you living in reality, or are you just holding on to your possessions? Are you playing with "Monopoly (fake) money" or are you investing in eternity?  Evangelical Christian Evangelist Jim Elliot, who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca - an attempt to evangelize the Huaorani people of Ecuador, said “He is not a fool who loses what he cannot keep to keep that which he cannot lose.” What endures?  Jesus said, "He who loses his life for my sake shall find it” – Matthew 10:39. For that which is seen is temporal, but that which is unseen is eternal – 2 Corinthians 4:18. According to Ephesians 5:6, "let no man deceive you with empty words." Galatians 6:7 says, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Are we able, in our own power, to access God's throne of grace? There is a fine line between empty words and confession of our Lord Jesus Christ which gives us access to God's holy of hollies only through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:17-18 “You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.”

Many men and women major in "theology" - the study of God. However, beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the cunning craftiness of this world and not after Christ. Knowledge to know and knowledge to grow in heart, mind and soul. We here to live by the “believing” faith of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation. Jesus said, the gospel is the good news --that the kingdom of God is at hand. There is a battle raging between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the prince of the power of the air (Satan). Jesus said, "Upon this rock (the truth that Jesus Christ is the Messiah; the Son of the Living God), I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" – Matthew 16:18. The devil is the father of all lies – John 8:44. However, Jesus  is the Truth of the Word of God in manifestation. If you know the truth, the truth will set you free – John 8:32. Our authority in “Truth” is the same promise that God gave Joshua: "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” – Joshua 1:9. According to Romans 8:37, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

God has called us as his emissaries (agents, ambassadors, envoy and messengers) to represent His kingdom in a “foreign” land. This world is not my home, we're representatives of our heavenly homeland, for we are citizens of heaven. Now then, we are ambassadors of Christ, walking in this secular world according to the authority we have been given by our Lord to represent our homeland in a crooked and perverse godless realm among whom we shine as lights in this world in darkness of truth. Therefore, we are called not only to “deliver the message” but also to “be the message”:  We pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God – 2 Corinthians 5:20. We have not been called to overcome the world. We have been called to overcome evil with good – Romans 12:21.  We have not been called to condemn the world, but to deliver the message of reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:18. This is the message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone through Christ alone. For he who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him” - 2 Corinthians 5:21.  According to Romans 8, "who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?  Shall tribulation or nakedness or famine or peril or sword?  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us...  for I am persuaded that neither life, not death, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor dominions nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" – Romans 8:33-39

Our challenge is this: “Get Real”. Reality is not in the things of this world. It is not in the physical battles of this s present life. Reality is only in the Lord. The things of this world will soon be passed, only that which is done in Christ will last.  Therefore, be thankful unto Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, and his Truth endures to all generations – Psalm 100:5.

May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ, Michael