With Malice Toward None

“With charity toward all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nations wounds.” During the American Civil War, these were the words of President Abraham Lincoln in his March 4, 1865 Second Inaugural Address, about a month before Lee’s surrender at Appomattox and 41 days before his assassination. Charitable love must be the foundation of civilization and law, or we will descend into tyranny and despotism. “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:35-40 KJV).

Riddle of Life

Riddle me this. How can a disciple not experience physical death, yet every disciple, including the departed, put on immortality? Simple. Rapture and resurrection. Disciples who are physically alive, when the LORD returns will be raptured, that is, immediately caught up and transformed into someone with an immortal, undying body. Already departed disciples will be resurrected with also an immortal, undying body. “51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1Corinthians 15:51-55 KJV).

Winning in the Courts of Heaven (Part 2)

Change your attitude. Of course, we would labor feverishly, if our house was burning down. But, if our neighbor’s house was on fire, we hope we would be willing to do whatever is necessary to save them. Prayer for others is intercession, which is distinguished by love. “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 19:19 KJV). We’ve prayed so many times for ourselves unsuccessfully, how can we do any better for someone else? Naturally, there would be greater potential for answer, if there were more signatures on the petition, but the Courts of Heaven are looking for a judicial people, who can clear away satanic objections for the Judge of All the Earth to grant their requests. “And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And He said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake” (Genesis 18:32).

If It Works for You

How do people rationalize their belief that God created the universe in six literal days only thousands of years ago? “God is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4 KJV). Two years ago [2022], I posted these articles: A Young Earth Creationist’s Speculative Use of Einstein’s Gravitational Theory of General Relativity (GR) and  Starlight and Time: An Amazon Book Review. I attempted to reconcile a literal interpretation of Genesis with the more prevalent evolutionary understanding. I quoted a creationist scientist, who used terms like ‘six days as measured by which clock,’ ‘gravitational time distortion,’ and ‘GR [General Relativity].’ But, I would only emphasize, Whatever works for you to make your confidence in God to stand, whether you agree with my position or not. “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (14:10). God bless you! 

Names of God: God Who Keeps Me From Falling Asleep Behind the Steering Wheel on the Freeway

“Unto Him that is able to keep you from falling” (Jude 1:24 KJV). Far from trivializing God, we personalize God with an infinite number of names to express His relationship to us. It may mean little to another, but arriving safely home without harming anyone meant a lot to me. Faith looks for ways to exalt God. David called his God Jehovah Rohi or “The LORD is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1). Gideon identified God as Jehovah Shalom for the angel of the LORD had just granted him peace and promised success in delivering Israel. So “Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom [Jehovah is peace]” (Judges 6:24 KJV). What is your name for God? Or, perhaps as an elderly person, God Who Keeps Me From Losing My Balance And Falling.

How Any Nation Can Win Their War

During the American Civil War (1861-1865) fought over the issue of slavery, President Abraham Lincoln declared a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer for April 30, 1863. “Nations like individuals are subject to punishments and chastisements in this world… We have forgotten God… too proud to pray to the God that made us.” On July 4, 1863, the Confederate forces surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the Siege and Battle of Vicksburg and giving control of the Mississippi River and the West to the Union. Likewise, the Confederate invasion of the North was halted at the Battle of Gettysburg, where General Robert E. Lee was forced to withdraw on July 4, 1863. Understandably, military historians view this as the turning point of the war. “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2Chronicles 7:14 KJV).

Our Heavenly Citizenship

2024 is a year that can divide a nation, churches, and families, when Americans elect a President of the United States (POTUS), unless we remember our Heavenly Citizenship. True followers of Jesus Christ rally around the name of the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, realizing man’s political distinctions may inadequately characterize the truth. “But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20 NET). As fervently as we may feel and vote for issues and candidates, let us be charitable with those on the other side of the aisle. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2Corinthians 4:18 NIV). LORD, all the results of the upcoming election are in Your hands. May those results only confirm our gaze upon the eternal. Amen.

Behavior: How to Become a Better You

Malcolm Gladwell told us it would take 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at anything, while Josh Kaufman countered that it takes only 20 hours to learn anything fast. But, how can I just develop a taste for broccoli and become a healthier me? “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). According to God’s Heavenly Word, He is able to change my heart and longings to agree with His purpose for me. First things first. Does God want me to develop a taste for broccoli? “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude” (1Timothy 4:4 NASB). Gladwell says I’ll be an expert at eating broccoli after 10,000 hours. Kaufman says I’ll get the hang of eating broccoli after 20 hours. And, my Father assures me I’ll like broccoli, if I eat it with gratitude. LORD, thank you for the broccoli! 

Adversarial System of Justice

In the western world, an adversarial system of justice is in place, where the legal framework places two advocates against one another before an impartial judge or jury, seeking a judgment or redress. Christians may see themselves as immune to taking someone to court, but they may become the defendant from an adversarial state or an aggrieved party. Jesus gave advice about this system of justice. “Agree with thine adversary [Greek, antidikos, opponent in a lawsuit] quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison” (Matthew 5:25 KJV). Man’s courts imperfectly mirror God’s courts. Consequently, we need to know how to transact business before the Courts of Heaven. Why? Because the Judge of All the Earth hears cases brought before Him against us by our Supernatural Adversary — and, the Ancient of Days invites it. “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth [turns away from] evil” (Job 1:8). We need to familiarize ourselves with God’s courts, for He dispenses justice.

Winning in the Courts of Heaven (Part 1)

Many worthy cases submitted to the courts of man will not render justice. Then, why are not all prayers answered in the highest of the Courts of Heaven, when their legal groundwork appears to be consistent with the revealed promises of the Word of God? For example, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6 KJV). Before consigning unanswered prayer requests to “It’s not the will of God,” shouldn’t we investigate? If the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9) really conducts court, sitting upon a throne, and making judgments, must petitioners and intercessors make a case for their requests? Yes, or He would simply grant all requests without the Courts of Heaven. God allows the “accuser [Greek, katēgoros, complainant at law] of our brothers and sisters” (Revelation 12:10 NET) to place prosecutory objections against us to which God has bound Himself to answer, as an impartial judge (Genesis 18:25). Our Paraklete or defense attorney advocates for us (1John 2:1), not against our will, and more specifically, requiring our cooperation to overcome those objections.