Enemy Of Our Souls

  What was the first sin after creation?  If you think it was Adam and Eve eating of the forbidden fruit, you need to look back a little further.  When Adam sinned, there had already been an open rebellion against God by the “anointed cherub” called Lucifer, or Light Bearer.  He was a created angel of the highest order.  Isaiah describes his sinful pride and fall: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14:12-15)”  But before he is cast into eternal Hell, the Bible tells us that he and his cohorts (demons) are determined to be the enemies of our souls.  How so?…

  First, he keeps people from coming to Christ for forgiveness by blinding their minds.  “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2Corinthians 4:4)”

  Secondly, he tells lies, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)”

  Thirdly, he disguises himself as someone who is good. “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2Corinthians 11:14)”

  There are other evil tactics, but you get the point.  So what should we do?  Is there a way to protect ourselves from the evil one?  Yes, but first you must know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, and then, “…be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-12)” and  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1Peter 5:8)”

The Heart Of The Matter

  This is an idiom used often in reference to the most important aspect of an issue, or the problem at hand.   For example: “Thank you for coming.  I’m going to skip all of the preliminaries and go right to the heart of the matter; our company is losing money, and it is being taken by someone inside.”  The heart of the matter here, is that money is being embezzled by an employee.

  As for the person who is taking the money, there is another issue, another heart of the matter, namely, he has stooped to the level of a thief.  In the case of every wrong doer, the heart of the matter is always rooted in his innermost being.  The Bible speaks of this inner self as one’s heart. (Not the blood pumping organ, but the deep recesses of the mind)

  Several references reveal some interesting truths about the “heart” of man:  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)  “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)”  “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Luke 6:45)”   King David of old pleaded with God, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10)” …and He did!

  Hope for the depraved heart of man is found in Jesus Christ, who purchased our pardon with His blood.  Interested?  First, change your mind about sin and God, and then, “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)”

  If you will give attention to the heart of the matter, God promises, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1Corinthians 2:9)”

Depart From Me

  There is a passage in the Gospel of Matthew that strikes terror into the hearts of everyone who has sense enough to fear God.  The scenario described there is the stuff that nightmares are made of.  Consider this: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)”  These verses describe individuals who think their “many works” will satisfy the Holiness and Justice of God and secure them a place in His eternal kingdom when their life on earth is done.  Imagine the disappointment and terror that will sweep over them when they find out they were wrong.

  It is important to know that: because we are sinners by birth and by choice, our good works are of no value to a holy God.  Isaiah put it like this, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)”  Paul, the Apostle, wrote, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,… (Titus 3:5)”

  So if good works won’t satisfy God, what will?  First, you must understand that God’s problem with you is your sin.  The wages of sin is death, but it would have to be the death of something other than a sinner, to pay the debt in full.  The only something that is sufficient is actually a someone, His name is Jesus Christ—He has died your death.  “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God… (1Peter 3:18)”

  There is no other way for you to be eternally saved; it must be done God’s way.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)”

Divided

  As usual in the political theater, there is much talk about unity.  It seems the party that has control of the houses of government is the one who speaks the loudest, but when the nation is divided by polar opposite ideologies, unity seems irreparably evasive.  And without unity, ominous clouds continue to form on the horizon, clouds we should not ignore.

  The Bible warns us of the imminent threat of failure when division becomes the acceptable norm.  “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: (Matthew 12:25).”  Notice that the divine axiom is not limited to kingdoms or republics, but is universal in its scope to include: cities, houses, churches, and families as well.  Division ultimately destroys.

  Is there any hope, any cure for our terminal division?  Our only hope is that we come to an agreement about fundamental truths that affect our political, social, and spiritual foundations.  But whose truth will it be?  We live in an age and culture that embraces the idea that every individual can have his own truth.  This cultural cancer is destroying our institutions of government, education, finance, and perhaps more foundational than all of these, it destroys our churches and families—the building blocks of society.

  It is impossible that we will reverse our direction without realizing that truth’s standard must be found somewhere outside of the purview of man.  A Higher Power—God Himself—will have to determine what is truth, and then, as Jesus said, “… ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)”  He is referring to God’s truth as revealed in His Word.

  Jesus prayed for His disciples, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)” “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2Timothy 3:16)    The Psalmist understood, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)”

The Character Of God

  Four characteristics of God are especially relevant if one desires to establish a relationship with Him.  First, God is Holy—perfect, right and sinless.  God does not just act holy, He is holy, it is His character, and to tolerate sin would violate that character.  We must fellowship with God on His terms: “Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1Peter 1:16)”  This is bad news for us because we “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).”

  Secondly, God is just.  Justice means that God always abides by, and enforces the law without prejudice or bias.  And the laws are His own because He alone is worthy to determine right from wrong.  He does not simply act justly, He is just, it is His character, and again, He cannot violate His character.  This is bad news for us because, “…whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10)”

  Thirdly, God is love, and because of His love, He has recognized our helplessness and devised a plan by which He can forgive our sin without violating His own holiness and justice.  Since the payment for sin is death (Romans 6:23) and the penalty must be paid to afford forgiveness, He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to die in our place.  “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1John 4:10)”  This means that He satisfied God’s Holiness and Justice on our behalf.  “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God… (1Peter 3:18)”

  Lastly, God is merciful and gracious: He withholds that which we do deserve (condemnation and eternal ruin), and offers us that which we do not deserve (forgiveness and eternal life).  But, since God created us with a free will, He does not force Himself on us; He offers His salvation from sin as a gift, to be received by faith.  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)”  “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)”