Why we should NOT... be ashamed of "Escape"

We often hear a complaint from others about the Pre-Tribulation Rapture believers wanting to escape the Tribulation, as though we are lazy Christians and have to be purified in at least the first half of it for some reason.

Apparently Christ's work on the cross wasn't enough, and the promise to the church of not being appointed to wrath is of no effect.

Christ does not receive a battered and bruised Bride (Trib purified Church), and He doesn't receive only part of His Body (Partially Raptured Church) when He comes for her. The work done to purify her and finish her is Christ's alone to do, and He will, and has completed it for every single believer He knows as His own.

I would tell you, and show you from scripture, that this pre-trib "escape" they complain about is promised by none other than Christ Himself in (Luke 21:36).

For a lot of people, when you bring up the 21st chapter of Luke's Gospel, they immediately relegate it to the Second Coming of Jesus on earth. They consider this by way of the "Olivet Discourse" first found in (Matthew 24). and also in (Mark 13).

They also often assume (Matthew 24) is only about the Jews at the Second Coming. All three of these scriptures are clear in and of themselves that it is not the sole focus.

In (Matthew 24:3), the disciples ask Jesus a 3 piece question. Many seem to miss the distinction here, and the fact that Matthew, Mark, and Luke cover the perspective differently, while saying the same things.

Matthew 24:3 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

- When will these things happen?

- What will be the sign of Your coming?

- What will be the sign of the end of the age?

The last two are encompassed in one sentence, but are actually two very different things.

"Your coming" and the "End of the Age". There is a reason they are separated by an "AND" and not linked by an "AT".

What you have here is a 3 part question. (2) What's,  and (1) When, that includes both What's. All three Gospels cover the three parts, but it is Luke's 21st chapter that points it out the clearest as both Jew and Gentile, and Christ's coming for His own, as well as His 2nd Coming.

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Luke's Gospel has the distinction of being written towards all men. In fact, in the first chapter, Luke in verses 1-4, dedicates this writing that follows, to Theophilus.

Now most people when presented with what appears to be a name, consider it such and try to find out about Theophilus to not much success.

It is quite likely that it was to all men in general, since, Theophilus means "Lover of God". And the only one who would read it, would be by necessity, a "Lover of God" (and His word). In the time of Luke, they would understand this. It would be akin to a southerner saying "to all y'all".

There is an interesting dynamic going on in the first 4 verses,

In the first 2 verses, Luke explains that "many have undertaken to record an account of the things fulfilled among us (plural), just as they were handed down to us (plural) by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word."

Not only does Luke describe the purpose (an account), and the target audience (Lover of God), but he also shows a proper humility, without having to say it, that he was not an Apostle. He was however a great Disciple, and a great friend to the Apostle Paul, and he would go on to write the book of Acts a couple years later.

In verse 3, is where we find Theophilus mentioned, and in verse 4 we get the why of the purpose... "so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."

The account Luke writes is for the "Lover of God", and is for them to be certain about the things they have been taught.

If Theophilus is a singular person by name, it reduces the writing to a personal letter between Luke and this person. We know Luke much more than this from later writings of the book of Acts as well as the Apostle Paul. This simply does not fit the context. This is to everyone, Jew or Gentile, who are a believer, and therefore a Lover of God.

There is no change here from plural to singular in these first four verses. Luke is addressing everyone who reads this book in a cordial way and salutation.

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So with this in mind, lets take a look at Luke Chapter 21, verses 25-36 which are divided into (3) contextual parts. We take the context from the word itself, and not the assumed context we have been taught through the years. We will also see the logical flow of the events within the context of those very verses as well.

- Signs that precede His Coming and our full bodily redemption (25-28)

- The when of Israel as the time piece to know the season (29-33)

- The caution about our hearts and focus in those days. The escape before the global trial even begins, the quality of the one who escapes, and where they escape to (34-36)

So for reference, and to make it easy on everyone, I will post this section within my blog post. I use the Berean Study Bible (BSB), if anyone wants to know.

Luke 21:25-36 There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because YOUR REDEMPTION is drawing near.” Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

In verses 25-26 we get a list from Jesus of what to watch out for to know when His Coming (for us) is near. Things all taking place at the same time.

- Signs in the sun and moon and stars

- On the earth dismay among the nations

- Also bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves

- Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth
- The powers of the heavens will be shaken.

And at this same time in verse 27, everyone will see Christ (Son of Man) coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Notice that He is in a cloud, and not on Mount Zion or Mount of Olives. This is further reinforced by the fact that in verse 28, Jesus goes backward in tense to state that when these things begin to happen (not have already been fulfilled fully) we are to stand up and look up, as our Redemption draws near. Redemption is full bodily redemption at the Resurrection and Rapture of the Church, and it takes place in, and we are gathered to Him in, the clouds.

This is not Second Coming (Jesus feet on the ground), in judgment and battle mode in wrath.

Redemption is when you have purchased something or someone with a price, paid that price, sealed that item or person with a seal of ownership, and return to collect the purchased item or person. The receipt and seal being His blood and His Spirit.

A note about the title of "Son of Man" used in verse 28 and also later tied to it in verse 36. Son of Man is Christ's Kinsman Redeemer title, so it is fitting here to be used rather than a Judgment title when dealing with wrath and judgment.

We then get a word picture from Christ (verses 29-33) about the general times when this will occur using Israel (the Fig Tree) as the time piece. Indeed all the nations, since it is only found in Luke that Jesus is quoted as saying "Look at the fig tree and all the trees.".

Trees represent the nations. The Fig and Olive tree is Israel, and obviously other trees are the other nations. Here we see both being used, when their leaves sprout, we know that summer is near. Summer is harvest time.

This gives a general timing of when summer/harvest is near prophetically. Israel (the Fig Tree) only became a nation in late 1948 and early 1949. Her leaves sprouting in the decades that have followed.

So here we have both the signs of His Coming (and when), as well as the End of the Age (and when).

What follows in verses 34-36 are nothing short of a profound caution as well as a confirmation of pre-tribulational Redemption (Resurrection and Rapture).

Jesus tells us in verse 34 to watch, not for a date, but our hearts and our focus. The date is unattainable for men, for Jesus states elsewhere that He comes at a time when no one expects, as a thief in the night. We are to watch our hearts and not get bogged down in the world, or we will be caught off guard by it when it does occur. He has given us what to look out for, and what to do when it begins, and in the meantime we patiently endure all we are given in life until He comes for us. We will not be caught off guard.

Verse 35 tells us that that day and trial will come upon all those who dwell upon the earth (globally), and by definition it is the start of it.

Lastly, in verse 36, we are told to keep watch (over our hearts) at all times and of the things He told us to look for, and pray that we have the strength to ESCAPE ALL that is ABOUT to happen (not already has finished happening), namely that of the Tribulation, so that we may stand before the Son of Man.

Standing before the Son of Man refers to the (BEMA) judgment seat of Christ. Not for judgment over sin, as Christ has already dealt with that. It is finished! Tetelestai!

It is necessary for all who stand there to be redeemed and immortal to even be there.

And what of "Pray that we have the Strength to escape"?

- Prayer is the direct line of communication with God in our personal relationship with Him. Without it, how do you know Him, or He you? Prayer is the enactment and expression of Faith. It means you believe He is who He says He is, and that He is listening to you and regards you as one of His. It means you believe in His promise and direction, and His cleansing. Paul reminds us to "Pray Always".

- Who's strength? Certainly not our own. No, not ours, but His strength, His power, His will, His salvation.

- Escape what? The Tribulation of course. You can not escape ALL that is to come if you are already in the middle or at the end of it. All means ALL.

One last scripture to link here to (Luke 21:35-36) is another scripture from Christ Himself to the church of Philadelphia, in the Revelation of John, chapter 3, verses 8-11. Here we see confirmation of what we discover in (Luke 21:35-36).

Revelation 3:8-11 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. For you have only a little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name. Look at those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews but are liars instead. I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I love you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

In verse 8 They have little strength, yet they keep His word and do not deny His name. This is the essence of Faith. His strength is sufficient for them. And verse 10 cinches the deal, look at their reward for Patient Endurance! They are KEPT from (not taken through) the trial that is about to come upon those who dwell upon the whole earth (the Tribulation). In other words, they "escape". In the meantime, they are told to hold fast to that which they have, so as not to lose reward.

They hold fast to Faith. It's the only thing that has ever mattered. And it is the thing that pleases God. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

So... "Escape" is the word Christ used, escape is the promise I believe in. Escape is the only thing that is encouraging (1 Thess 4:18), and No one and No thing will make me ashamed of Him or His Promise (Romans 10:11).

Romans 14:16 Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil.

Grace and Peace to you in Christ Jesus! Maranatha!

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Don't be a grape. 🚫 🍇

🦊 Jack [ The Foxman on the Wall ]

Wickedness Prospering

In addition to the lament in the Psalms about wickedness prospering, the "book-end" scriptures of Daniel and John (Revelation) give us a clue about how it will be at the end of the age.

I wrote about Pride, Hypocrisy, Deception, and Narcissism among other things in a previous post being a marker for the end times, but here I want to use these two scriptures to show a verification of sorts about the times we are in. as well as a message to those who spend more time in worry and grief over loved ones, than they should.

Daniel 12:9-10 “Go on your way, Daniel,” he replied, “for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.” “Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.”

Revelation 22:10-12 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near.” “Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.” “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.”

You see... The proliferation of wickedness, and our disdain for it, and our acknowledgement of it's increase, proves we are now at the end prophetically.

Daniel is all about Israel and it's future and Daniel wanted to know about the things he was given, but were not for his time, as is evidenced by the angel telling him to seal up the book for the end times..

John in Revelation on the other hand is the opening or "revealing" as the word Apocalypse means. And it is opened up by none other than Jesus Himself to John. It covers the earth globally, not just Israel.

And the essential part of each is the increase of wickedness, and lack of concern for  culpability or justice.

Additionally, a message is given here about one's person and walk...

Let the wicked continue to be wicked, and let the righteous continue to practice righteousness...

The unfortunate reality is that the choice for each and every person, is solely theirs to make, and the consequences are theirs also, good or bad. We must account for ourselves, and ourselves alone. God will not ask me about your sins or your deeds, I will be too busy dealing with my own account.

So, if we spend so much time worrying and focused on things we can not change nor have authority over, we lose opportunities with others who need to receive the message.

Have you placed them in God's hands? Do you believe that He can deliver them if they let Him at some point?

Why then do you keep trying to take them back out of His hands?

I learned this lesson as much as anyone. At first it feels strange to say this, as if there is some kind of guilt I am due. It sounds harsh and insensitive. But, it is what you must come to at some point, the realization, that not everyone is going to make it, and the tragedy is that it will be their choice that brought them to ruin.

And now we also know why all tears will be wiped away and the memories will be removed.

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Don't be a grape. 🚫 🍇

🦊 Jack [ The Foxman on the Wall ]

The error of 2 gospels...

The Gospel presented to the Jews (by Peter and others) was the same Messiah as that for the Gentiles (presented by Paul).

The difference being that the Jews needed to see Him as the One they had been waiting for, whereas the Gentiles needed to see Him as the One they never knew they needed.

Here is Authentication versus Acknowledgement, for two different audiences, yet the One and the same  Messiah, and one Gospel because of Him, based on Faith alone.

Truth is singular. Its "versions" are mistruths. - David Mitchell

This secular saying is profound and true in itself, but more importantly, it is reflected in scripture as well, about God the Father, Christ Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Truth is indeed singular, Truth is Jesus Christ, the Only Truth, God in the Flesh, the Living Word witnessed by the Holy Spirit.

His Gospel is characterized as "He" being the Only way to the Father, as He is the Gate, the Door (John 10:9), the Narrow Path of Faith in Him alone (Matthew 7:14), and there is no other way.

There is no other name under heaven by which men are saved (Acts 2:12).

He IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6)

Truth is characterized by Light. Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12)

Everyone loves (John 3:16), and rightly so, but John continues on with the essence of the One Gospel of Christ Jesus and ALL the apostles (the "B" of "Believe" in the ABC's of salvation) in verse 18 beautifully.

"Whoever believes in Him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."

How this resonates so well with Paul's (Romans 8:1-4), and verse 1; "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". And also with Paul's declaration of the Gospel he preached in (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). Here we see but one example of how the gospel was the same message by all Apostles and Christ Jesus.

Getting back to the Light as a metaphor or an analogy, we consider how light operates. There is only one true light and that is God Himself. Everything else is but a reflection or shadow by this light. We either reflect His Light in our lives, or we hide in shadow and darkness away from the Light.

John explains this in (John 3:19-21), and Paul in (Ephesians 5:11-13) goes on to use this analogy in his caution and command to expose the deeds of darkness, how when everything exposed to the light becomes a light (a reflection) itself.

Here we see what John started out with in (John 1:1-13)... The Light that chases out the darkness. The light that saves, the One Gospel message of Christ Jesus, the Messiah, God in the Flesh, and by Faith alone in this person of Jesus, as the One True Son of God, are men saved (John 1:12-13).

"But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God."

Again here we see Jesus, Paul, and John all in harmony on "The Gospel".

It is not blood, nor works, but Faith in Christ that qualifies us. Just as it is reflected by Paul in (Ephesians 2:8-9), the message is the same, the message is true, and the message is One Gospel.

Paul would speak this brilliantly by the Holy Spirit in:

Ephesians 4:4-5

- There is one body
- and one Spirit,
- just as you were called to one hope
when you were called;
- one Lord,
- one faith,
- one baptism;
- one God and Father of all,
who is over all
and through all
and in all.

The specificity of "One Body", "One Faith", "One Lord", "One Hope", and "One Baptism" (which is not water baptism, but that of the Holy Spirit), in this declaration of unity leaves no room for any other.

Simply put, Christ's Gospel is singular, and for all men, and is based on faith (heart belief and verbal declaration).

Just ask the thief on the cross, who had no way to come down off of it and do works, or get water baptized. What was his success?

- Acknowledgement of his sin nature and therefor his need for a savior.
- Belief that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God and sinless
- Confession with his lips of the first two, and called upon Christ to save him.

And he was saved, by Christ, by His very words to the man.

No less than the ABC's of Salvation!

Romans 10:9-10

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

When the Church began:

At this point after having established the above as a foundation, I would like to address the false doctrine of more than one Gospel.

I will be using context, and Paul's own words, to dispel this false doctrine about 2 gospels, as well as false interpretation of the start of the Church with Paul later in Acts (an often claimed point of Rightly Divide types).

Lets start head on with that claim right now. The Church already existed before Paul's conversion by Paul's own words and context.

Galatians 1:13-14

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

✔ Did you catch it?

He persecuted the Church of God before his conversion on the road to Damascus. This necessitates it's existence long before Paul was converted. The church began at Pentecost (Acts 2), and with the original Apostles.

Paul's Gospel (or Why the My?) and the unity of ALL the Apostles:

There are those who claim that Paul's gospel was a different Gospel due to the fact that he was assigned to the Gentiles, and an assumed difference in message to the Jews by the other apostles. They'll tell you that Paul was at odds with the other Apostles, and some even think Paul was a false Apostle.

In fact, some of these same folks will often carry with them the need for "works" to maintain salvation. They twist or ignore the words of the very Apostle who was so vehemently against human justification by any works.

They also claim that there are two gospels because of his use of the phrase "my Gospel", three times in his epistles. You will find them in (Romans 2:14-16), (Romans 16:25), and (2 Timothy 2:8).

He uses it twice in Romans and once in 2 Timothy 2. In both cases, he is not differentiating his Gospel with the Gospel of the other apostles, but specifying the authenticity of the Gospel he preached, to these two audiences, as a comparison against false doctrine and false gospels.

In both cases Paul was in a struggle against false doctrine (of works and tradition) trying to invade these churches and supplant Grace by Faith alone. Whether it was Judaizer's, Pagans, or just evil men of no faith, was of no difference.

In saying "My Gospel", it was equivalent to saying "follow MY instructions, my words, and not that of others who were to the contrary". This had nothing to do with the other apostles at all.

Paul's own words as well as Peter's show that they not only were friendly, but had respect for each other, and that they all were in unity preaching the SAME gospel.

Paul settles the unity of the apostles and the message plainly in several points of scripture.

Consider for example, his abject dismay at the church members who clung to individuals and competed and argued with each other over who they followed in:

1 Corinthians 1:12-13

What I mean is this:

Individuals among you are saying,

“I follow Paul,”
“I follow Apollos,”
“I follow Cephas (Peter),”

or

“I follow Christ.”

Is Christ divided?

Was Paul crucified for you?

Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

He completely divorces himself of an individual message or as a separate apostle.

He claims Christ by saying "Is Christ divided?", meaning NO! Christ, working through Paul, is the same Christ working through the others reflected in (Galatians 2:7-8), and he reminds them neither he or the others are the savior.

It seems then, that Paul was addressing the very same problem back then, of a "Different Gospel".

If this isn't enough then also consider his concise word to ultimately squash any thought of a separate message in (1 Corinthians 15:11).

After declaring the Gospel he preaches in verses 1-4, then addressing the appearance of Christ to all the apostles in order (including Peter), and then to him (Paul) lastly in verses 5-10...

He settles the whole matter of Unity of the Gospel message in one fell swoop, in scripture, for all eternity in verse 11...

Whether, then, it was I or THEY (the other apostles), this is what WE preach, and this is what YOU believed.

Whether it was Paul or the other apostles, it was what THEY ALL preached (in unity), One Gospel, that WE all believe.

The relationship of the Apostles (including Paul):

- Paul was accepted by Peter and John and James

Galatians 2:7-9

On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.

And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas (Peter), and John —those reputed to be pillars— gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

- Paul confronted Peter as a brother in the faith

Galatians 2:11-16

When Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas (Peter) in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners” know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

- And if you think Peter did not consider him (Paul) a real brother and a real apostle, especially later on, you have again, scripture to settle it.

2 Peter 3:15-16

Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation,

just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you

with the wisdom God gave him.

He writes this way in all his letters,

speaking in them about such matters.

Some parts of his letters are hard to understand,

which ignorant and unstable people distort,

as they do the rest of the Scriptures,

to their own destruction.

And here, Peter even gives warning about the very topic we are discussing. How ignorant and unstable people distort Paul's words, as they do the rest of scripture to their own destruction.

Conclusion:

There is only One Gospel, and any who would tell you otherwise are giving you "another Gospel" and we all know where that leads...

I leave you again with Paul's caution to the Corinthians, Philippians, and Galatians...

2 Corinthians 11:3-4

I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,

your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed,

or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received,

or a different gospel than the one you accepted,

...

you put up with it way too easily.

Philippians 3:2

Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!

Galatians 1:8

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

Ouch!

Be discerning... Be diligent!

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Don't be a grape. 🚫 🍇

🦊 Jack [ The Foxman on the Wall ]

Friends, Family, and Perilous Times

I was actually working on a different entry altogether, but have kind of stalled on it. So I will post this entry for now.

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After turning 60 this year, I have been looking back on my earlier life when I was closer to the world and nonbelievers, both as friends and acquaintances, as well as family members.

Christ divides, because sin presides... It was already underway back then.

Luke 12:51-53 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.

If I put aside for a moment, the strained, and mostly nonexistent (blood) family relations from childhood days, in which I learned quickly the necessity of self reliance and the cruelty of the world. I am left with the lesson of how much God can be a Father to the fatherless, and I also saw how rare it is for those in this situation to break out of that cycle.

This leaves me the rest of the world that I contended with, and still do to this day, including friends and co-workers who were not of the faith, and are not at this time.

And this is our mission field as it were. Our spheres of influence in our lives. I will be the first to not only to admit, but to proclaim, that I am no example of the perfect walk with the Lord. I have stumbled, I have fallen, and I have the bruises to prove it.

But... We learn best from our mistakes that don't bring us to ruin. And the wisdom of hindsight is a very beautiful thing in relation to trust in His promise and His track record in our lives.

I was fortunate that with all that was going on in my childhood, I was brought to Him at age 7, and that all along the way He had me in His hand, He was beyond graceful and merciful, He still is... :)

I don't think God ever intends for us to become worldly in order to get the attention of the worldly, but as we all know, when we do, He uses everything for the good.

I had many profound discussions with some who have departed us now, that at least made them stop and think a bit. In the end, everyone makes and are accountable for their own choices, as well as consequences, good or bad, and some of them (more than I care to imagine) are lost forever.

Psalm 37:10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

In the last two decades, as I came closer to God, and I awoke from my slumber, and put away the pursuits of my own desires and will, many have drawn away from me, some outright disowning me, and some became abusively contentious and insulting, as if to bully me into compliance to their opinion.

Former friends and co-workers too, who, in hindsight also, were never really that close anyway and held me at arms length in relationships. They tolerated me as long as they had use or need of me.

One's I thought were particularly close, that in reality weren't, I had to pursue them to keep in touch with them. There came a time when I had to let go, or I wouldn't have been able to come to where I am now.

There is a fallacy in many people's minds that Unconditional Love means that we must accept Unconditional Tolerance of Bad Behavior, and much less Evil. The two do not go hand in hand.

Sometimes we have to love people from a distance, and we must never sacrifice our relationship with Christ for the sake of a relationship with others here on earth.

There is no shame or sin in removing toxic people from your life. God never asks that you remain in it, only to forgive them, pray for them, and to do no evil in response to it.

By far, the worst of all of this is those who "Claim the Name", yet are bereft of love, and compassion, and of patience. No visible signs of humility, and full of "Me", but not much "He". Quick to anger and judgment. They look and act so much like the world, that it is almost impossible to tell them apart from the world, and begs the question about their authenticity.

There is so much Deception about these days. So much Hypocrisy, and an over abundance of Narcissism. In fact, Paul gave Timothy a description of our time by way of a Smorgasbord of 19 points of Narcissism in the last days.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this: In the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!

And it seems then, that I did exactly as God wished for me to do all along, though I dragged my feet for a while, and dealt with false guilt(s) along the way, evaluating myself unfairly against a standard I though the Bible had about tolerance and patience. It was there in His word all along. I had but to look for it and read it.

We are not family by that which we are born into, though we can be that as well.

We are family by whom, the Blood in which we share of Christ.

Grace and Peace to you all in Christ Jesus, God in the Flesh, the only name in and under heaven by which men can be saved.

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Don't be a grape. 🚫 🍇

🦊 Jack [ The Foxman on the Wall ]