They did not forsake God( Hebrews 11 v 24- 27)

There are four brave men ,men of faith mentioned in the book of Daniel they are known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,they were part of the exiles taken from Israel by the Babylonians.They were also part of those chosen to be assimlated into that culture.Daniel was also involved ,the four of them  excelled in this program of assimilation, but they never took on the religion of Babylion.We see how Danilel took a stand in chap one when he would not partake of the food presented to him.He speaks of the God of  heaven  in chap 2 v28  ,and as we read the history of these four men we see how they may to some extent have been assimilated to some extent  in Babylion culture ,but they never forsook God, the threat of death did not weaken their faith. There is a saying ,'when in Rome do as the Romans do',that might be true to some extent,but like those four ,we must remain faithful to God  and His ways,even though it may mean,being  ostracize,being picked on,persecuted ,suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, many dear Chistians  today are experiencing all these things and more,in standing for the Lord Jesus Christ whom they love.

Heaven ( 1 Corinthians 2 v 9 )

There are very powerful telescopes ,yet no telescope can help one to see  heaven,if one could build a rocket that could go endlessly into speed,could one reach heaven?, no.The apostle  Paul  had a vision in which he was caught up into paradise.and the apostle John had a God given revelation of heaven. There are people who profess to have a experience of going to heaven,all I would say about such people, that  heaven is not a tourist destination.It is interesting that the apostle Paul never elaborated on his vision ( 2 Corinthians 12 v 4) So I am very sceptical as regards those heavenly tourist,it appears to me  that it is a way of cashing in from the sale of a book they have written. In Hebrews 11v 16, we read of the saints of old who longed for a better country -a heavenly one,and indeed all Christians should have that aspiration.We are foreigners and strangers on earth but by faith we believe in a place called heaven where God dwells,and  where all God's children will dwell.Yes it is a question of faith  in the eternal,all the unsaved has is what  they  can see or touch,and all that is temporal,and will soon be seen no more.I often wonder what heaven will be like, 1 Corinthians 2 v 9 ,tells us,'No eye has seen,no ear has heard,and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him'. Someone commenting on these words  writes,'These words tell us that the joys and glories of heaven,and the blessings God has in store for us,are so extraodinary that they cannot be conceived or understood by human minds or senses'.As for where heaven is,we will just have to wait and see.

Creation (Genesis 1 v 1/ Colossians 1 v 16)

I have just come in from my garden watching the bumble bees,I found them fascinating the bumble bee does not produce honey,the bee that does produce honey is called a honey bee.The bumble bee collects nectar a surgary liquid that provides them energy whereas pollen is a source of food for developing bee  larvae,They also play a role in pollenating flowers and crops, big time.I am just amazed and filled with awe at God's creation,The poet  Joyce Kilmes wrote ,'Poems are made by fools like me,but only God can make a tree'.Likewise I would add ,'only God can make a bee,and only God can make you and me.'.

                                                  'It all happened by chance,not a chance'

                                                                      R.C.Sproul

Man know thyself( 2 Corinthians 1 v 8 v 10)

 I read these words from a prayer,'Lord save me from myself', yes what honest words they are,spoken by a humble child of God.So many of us do not appreciate our weakness,and as the hymn writer puts it, 'prone to leave the God we love'.It was Socrates who said ,'Man know thyelf',for often we fail to see ourselves as we should,warts an all,Peter foolishly boasted that he would lay down his life for Christ (John 13 v37),and my he blew it big time.We may be saved but the old nature has not  been eradicated(1 John 1 v 8).Samson was a very strong man,but he had his weaknesses,Soloman was a very wise man,but he did evil in the sight of Lord (1 Kings 11 v 6). The apostle Paul was the greatest of the apostles ,but he declared ,that it was through Christ that he could do all things.(Philippians 4 v13)How serious do we take the words spoken by our Saviour ,'apart from me you can do nothing( John 15 v 5) Sennacherib and his great army were threatening Jerusalem ,here is what King  Hezekiah said to the people of God,'Be  strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or  discouraged because the king of  Assyris and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us to help us and to fight our battles''is the Lord our God.'( 2  Chronicles 32v 7-8) 

                                                     '  Stand up! stand up for Jesus!

                                                       Stand in His strength alone;

                                                       The arm of flesh will fail you,

                                                       You dare not trust your own;'

                                                                 Words G.Duffield

                                              

Waiting time. ( Psalm 37 v7)

 Waiting is a big part of the humam experience, I  wonder how many accidents have been caused,by people being impatient,likewise how many problems have been caused by being impatient.It is said patience is a virtue ,but alas not many have that virtue. In the movie Braveheart ,William Wallace is leading the Scottish army against the English,the English army was larger and more powerful than tha Scottish army. As the English army advances William's army grows apprehensive their enemy gets nearer ,and nearer,but they could hear  William Wallace's  voice cry out,'Hold,Hold,Hold the line.The English army is near upon them,when William cries out,'Now',the line kneels down and picks up long spears,which they used to impale the knights and their horses,and of course they won the battle that day.They would have not won if they had not waited,waiting is very important,especially waiting for that God's moment when He  will act. David was in a horrible situation,but he declares ,'I waited patiently for the Lord;He turned to me and heard my cry'.( Psalm 40 v1)In Psalm 27,David again is facing enemies,but David has put his confidence in the Lord,in verse 13 he declares,'I remain confident of this:I will see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living'.Having said that He declares,for his benefit and for ours,'Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord'.  (Ps 27 v14)

Sowing and reaping.( Romans 1 v 24- 28)

 Our Saviour said,' One  sows and another reaps'(John 4 v 37) which is very true,this is a quotation from the book of Hosea,of what God  said to His own specical people.(8 v7)  They had forsaken Him. choosing other god's,and choosing the sinful pleasures of life.They had sown the wind ,now they were going to reap the sinful conequences of their actions.A certain upperclass man in the Victorian era embezzled funds for a particular cause,and he was sent to prison.When there a friend visited him,he was sowing mail bags,his friend spoke to him,saying I see your sowing,he looked at his friend and replied,'I'm not sowing, I'm reaping'.Whatever we sow in life,there will be a reaping.When Jesus said those words to his disciples ,He was reminding them of those of a former generations who had done the hard work,and it would be His disciples who would reap the benefits.Someoe has said, 'Many ministry succeeds, not by its own force and merits,but because of some saintly man who lived and preached and died and left an influence which was greater in his absence than in his presence'.

That's Paul speaking. ( Proverbs 3 v1-2 / Hosea 4 v6)

 A friend of mine challenged somone about something they were doing wrong from scripture,and the person replied,'oh that's Paul speaking'.In other words it is not God speaking ,it is Paul speaking and we don't have to obey that particular thing.It is Paul in 1 Corinthians 14 v37,declares 'If anyone thinks  himself to be a prophet or spiritual,let him acknowledge that the things I write to you are the commandments of the Lord'.In other words the thirteen letters he wrote is the word of God.Likewise all the books we have in the New Covenant scriptures,are the word of God,likewise all the Old Covenant books are the word of God also. If we start tearing out of the scriptures the pieces we don't agree with ,then we are underminding the word of God.I often talk to JWs,and you say to them Christ is God ( John 1v1 )they will say it dosen't mean that,and that's what will say,with every scripture you show them,it dosen't mean that'.Then there are Christian leaders who  ignor and reject God's moral standards as revealed in God's word,and so undermind the scriptures. Our Christian faith is  built upon all the scriptures,we cannot tear out pages in the Bible we don't agree with,where would that leave us?. 2 Timothy 3 v15-16  reads ,'the sacred writings ,which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching,for reproof,for correction,and for training in righteousness'These words tell us something of the utmost importance,that through the scriptures  we are made wise unto salvation, John Stott says ,'the Bible is essentially a handbook of salvation'.and as one commentator says ,'It will help us grow in spiritual maturity,and holiness, and help us to avoid the many pitfalls in life'.