Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 05. Call It “Rock-It” Science???

I never could skip rocks like a lot of kids could, but I remember the effort and more than that I remember the effects of the action.  No matter how or what you threw into the water, the ripples were evident and on-going!  And I have learned, mostly the hard way, that no matter how good we “want” things to turn out, our choice of stones will reveal themselves in time, be it for the good or worse.  Paul said it best!

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary

in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

if we faint not.”   Galatians 6:7-9

Don’t miss Paul’s warning!  “Be not deceived”!  Oh, what a liar the enemy is; Satan is an expert liar, and his only desire is to “steal…to kill….and to destroy”; and he is most expert at it, and we poor gullible humans are so very susceptible to his deceit.  Jesus had so much to say about this reality, and we so foolishly forget, or just plain fail to heed HIS warnings.  And I want to share truth with you, that I pray will help you to heed that truth which the enemy wants you to ignore!

“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.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not.”  John 8:44-45

Jesus also warned us of his true character:

“I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd

giveth his life for the sheep.”  John 10:9-11

 We must consider truth—for Jesus IS truth—and yet we live amidst a world that is giving it’s all to convince us that truth is no longer true!

“Woe unto them that call evil good,

and good evil;

that put darkness

for light,

and light

for darkness;

that put bitter

for sweet,

and sweet

for bitter!

21 Woe unto them that are wise

in their own eyes,

and prudent

in their own sight!”  Isaiah 5:20-21

Even as Joshua made his conviction clear to a nation unsure of where they wanted to go!  A nation who came to live by a very similar standard as our nation does today!  Where do you stand?

“And if it seem evil unto you

to serve the LORD,

choose you this day

whom ye will serve;

whether the gods which your fathers served

that were on the other side of the flood,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land ye dwell:

but as for me and my house,

we will serve the LORD.”  Joshua 24:15

“In those days there was no king in Israel,

but every man did that which was right

in his own eyes.”  Joshua 17:6

“In those days there was no king in Israel:

every man did that which was right

in his own eyes.”  Joshua 21:25

Israel came to this state because they had chosen to stand with Joshua before his death in his clear declaration to serve God; but it seems that they didn’t share that faith and truth with the next generation, and they floundered right into the devil’s hands.  It seems to me that we are in the very same straights—and I think, for the very same reasons.  We have compromised on God’s truth and accepted the lies of the enemy and we have passed this air of compromise onto our children and grandchildren.  What God said was wrong 50 years ago is now accepted as common place, and we watch our children and grandchildren live in sin with no compunction, and very little attempted correction on our part.

I don’t mean to be harsh, but why do our children and grandchildren think it is ok to live in immorality, to drink, to swear, to lie, cheat and stand for the lies of the enemy?  I think perhaps because we have remained silent when we should have been declaring the truth of The Word of God AS truth.  And if we truly accept God’s truth AS truth, why are we not calling the next generation to identify with the truth, accept it, adhere to it as those who claim the name of Jesus Christ AS Lord?  I think one of two things; either we don’t really believe it ourselves, or we say we believe it, yet don’t care to hold our children to the truth of God’s Word!

There was a time when churches called their people to holy living, and we held our ground when the world encroached; there was a time when schools didn’t play ball on Wednesday nights, because the church kids were just that—at church—and they didn’t play ball on Sundays—yet those are sensibilities gone by!  It makes me sad.  I remember a certain school where they wanted some church kids to play on their ball team, and they intended to practice on Wednesday nights, and the father said if they wanted his kids to play, they would not practice on church nights.  He prevailed—why aren’t parents willing to take a stand today?  I can’t answer that question!  Can you?

I don’t mean to carry this on and on, but I would like to close with a couple of simple scriptures for our consideration:

“There is a way that seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 16:25

Saying so…doesn’t make it so!  Doing so can! Are we being a doer or deceived “hearers only”?

“But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man beholding

his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed

 in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious,

 and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion is vain.

27 Pure religion

and undefiled

before God and the Father

is this,

To visit the fatherless

and widows

in their affliction,

and to keep himself unspotted

 from the world.”  James 1:22-27

Really loving Jesus will reveal itself in our actions, like the ripples in a pond, obeying God and living out our faith like those very ripples—visiting those in need, meeting the needs of the afflicted, and keeping ourselves “unspotted from the world”.  Our choices will show up in our actions; and that my friends will be noticed by others—good, bad, or indifferent.  As I’ve often said—YOU/I are a witness, albeit a good one or a bad one—we are witnesses in all we do!  Someone is watching whether you know it or not!  Jesus makes it clear that it’s not just ‘words’!

“Even so every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit;

but a corrupt tree

bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree

cannot bring forth evil fruit,

neither can a corrupt tree

bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.

21 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.

22 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?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:17-23

Maybe you’re like me, and you’ve thrown some rocks that made harmful ripples, and by God’s grace and forgiveness you have been restored to usefulness in HIS kingdom.  Just take stock of yourself, your heart, your life-choices, and your influence on others; if need be, seek God’s forgiveness, receive it and be cleansed and restored to HIS service.  Or if you’ve never come to Jesus in repentance and faith, please call on HIM today; HE is waiting for you.

“If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

He’s waiting for YOU!

Amen and Amen!!!