Calling and Election Sure

Reprobation: Who Talks Like That Anymore?

Ken

”God is love’ is as deep as the discussion can go for many of the Professed Church. Was it always this way? Listen to Charles G. Finney, a well known American evangelist (1851) address the concept of reprobation, God rejecting some, but not all of humanity:

“Do you ask how I know that the reason why God does not make you willing is, that he sees that it would be unwise in him to do so? I answer, that it is an irresistible inference, from these two facts, that he is infinitely benevolent, and that he does not actually make you willing. I do not believe that God would neglect anything that he saw to be wise and benevolent, in the great matter of man’s salvation. Who can believe that he could give his only-begotten and well-beloved Son to die for sinners, and then neglect any wise and benevolent means for their salvation? No, sinner, if you are a reprobate, it is because God foresaw that you would do just as you are doing; that you would be so wicked as to defeat all the efforts that he could wisely, make for your salvation. What a variety of means he has used with you. At one time he has thrown you into the furnace of affliction; and when this has not softened you, he has turned round and loaded you with favours. He has sent you his word, he has striven by his Spirit, he has allured you by the cross; he has tried to melt you by the groanings of Calvary; and tried to drive you back from the way to death, by rolling in your ears the thunders of damnation. At one time clouds and darkness have been round about you; the heavens have thundered over your head; divine vengeance has hung out, all around your horizon, the portentous clouds of coming wrath. At another time mercy has smiled upon you from above like the noon-day sun, breaking through an ocean of storms. He urges every motive; he lays heaven, earth and hell, under perpetual contributions for considerations to move your stony heart. But you deafen your ears, and close your eyes, and harden your heart, and say, ‘Cause the holy one of Israel to cease from before us [Isaiah 30:11].’ And what is the inference from all this? How must all this end? ‘Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord has rejected them [Jeremiah 6:30].'”

LORD, it is a fearful thing to fall into Your hands, if we should depart this earth with an impenitent heart. But, with penitent hearts, we pray You will continue the good work You began in us to the end. We ask that our entreaties for those around us would be full of the understanding that time is short, and You are calling for immediate surrender. Cause Your Spirit to awaken those around us. May You receive the harvest for which You are worthy! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.

AI is the Future

Ken

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the future, and everyone is trying to play catchup in figuring how not to be left behind in product development, incorporating AI into every conceivable aspect of human interaction, and displacing many white collar jobs thought to be immune to machine learning and automation. The title of a YouTube interview with renowned American artificial intelligence researcher, Eliezer Yudkowsy, is “We’re All Gonna Die” (1:49:22). Cheery thought! Like predictions of catastrophe with nuclear weapons proliferation, comet collision, and global warming, Yudkowsky presents his sobering warning that AI will ultimately doom humanity. Jesus prophesied of upcoming days, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:22 KJV). Humanists without God in their heart or mindset, like Yudkowsky, are without hope, while the elect of God have been thrown a lifeline! LORD, may the elect make their “calling and election sure” (2Peter 1:10) by practicing godliness, rather than claiming exemption from judgment based upon a claim of salvation, while calling You “Lord, Lord, and do not the things which [You] say” (Luke 6:46). Hope and peace upon all those, who walk in faith with You. Return quickly, in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

Why Doesn’t Everyone Finish?

Ken

Why doesn’t everyone finish their Pilgrim’s Progress journey to the Celestial City? “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14 KJV). A common saying in the world, ‘If it were easy, everyone would do it,’ makes a lot of practical sense. How does anyone know they are His chosen few? Peter answers that question. “2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity [Greek, agapē, love]. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2Peter 1:2-10 KJV). Maranatha!