Perspective and Seeing

Perspective and Seeing 

“Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak to all the cities of Judah . . . all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word.” JEREMIAH 26:2 Each of us has a mission field: we have family members, neighbors, co-workers, and friends with whom we can share not only God’s love but also His truth. We run the risk of offending people, however, when we speak God’s truth. After all, doing so can mean sharing a message that a person needs to hear but may not like. In fact, unregenerate people can be violently opposed to God and will sometimes slander and ridicule those He sends to them. (At times even God’s people react the same way.) Nevertheless, we—like Jeremiah—must communicate with absolute accuracy whatever truth God gives us to share. Though we may be tempted to adjust the message to make it more palatable, doing so might mean distorting the truth and misrepresenting God. As you faithfully speak God’s message, not diminishing a word, rest assured that God works in wondrous detail, tailoring His message precisely for those who need to hear it. Don’t hesitate to accurately communicate that message—for the good of the person who needs to hear it.  - Blackaby Being Still With God 

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord… . Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:8–9 No matter how ungodly the environment you may be in, God will always find you and walk with you. Noah lived in perhaps the most wicked age in history. No one worshiped God. All the people worshiped idols and pursued their own sinful pleasures. Noah's neighbors were evil; every person he associated with in the marketplace, or along the street, or in public gatherings, ridiculed the very thought of being faithful to God. Every temptation imaginable was abundantly available to Noah. How oppressive such an environment would have been to a righteous person! The people of Noah's day were so wicked that God planned the most complete and drastic act of judgment recorded in Scripture. Nevertheless, Noah was not lost to God in the crowd of sinners. God noticed every act of Noah's righteousness. Noah had chosen to live uprightly before God despite what everyone around him was doing, and God had observed him. There may have been times when Noah wondered if it mattered if he lived a righteous life, since no one else was. Yet he continued, and his persistence in righteousness saved his life and the lives of his family members. Are you constantly surrounded by evil? Do you struggle at times to live a righteous life when those you associate with each day have no concern for God? Find assurance in the life of Noah. God watches you, even as He observed Noah. God will seek you out of the crowd every time, and He wants to bless you and your family just as He blessed Noah. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

Ever hear the phrase that goes along the lines of not seeing the forest for the trees?

How often are we somewhere yet have checked out mentally and are somewhere else in our minds?

Being focused is important but being about what you are to be doing is as important.  

As Christians we have a responsibility toward obedience to our Savior. 

Our world will attempt to do to us as it attempted to do to Noah. Do realize that is the way Jesus worded it concerning His return?

We will be in a world of distraction. Much as Noah was. We will be tempted to put off til tomorrow what can be done today.  We will be enticed to join in the world in their brand of joy rather than what is to be found in our relationship with Christ. 

I have been making it a point to reduce my intake of movies or television.  In fact I haven't sat to even watch the news.  I do not follow any sitcoms or television series.  Rarely have I watched a new movie in years actually.  I began replacing those things with things that matter. 

To me getting absorbed into much of what this world calls entertainment or even what it calls politically correct to stand up for,  is akin to taking it upon myself to start remodeling the rooms on the Titanic.  I know full well what is about to come upon the Earth.  I don't even want to be one of the musicians setting up on the deck of the ship.  The end of things is near.

This is in no way meant to be seen as a bad thing.  The promise of Christ returning is in my sight for good reason.  It means going home.  Who, after a long journey, isn't the least bit excited about going home?

Often that journey home is fought with detours.  Such is the life we live in. 

We have a responsibility to be telling people the truth of God and what is coming.  Not merely joining in with them and remaining silent about it.  Had people known in advance what was to befall them, odds are good they would have lost the thrill and excitement of being on the Titanic. 

The billions who gushed into Hell during the Genesis Flood all probably felt that way. 

But the thoughts of the world were evil continually it says in Genesis.  Today isn't much different. Evil is being taught as good. In both schools and churches.  Sin is being called behavioral problems.  Morality is being called subjective.  Each day something else on this Titanic keeps getting remodeled while the iceberg looms ahead. The truth isn't so hidden. 

You who are in Christ are you living as though Christ could be returning at any time?

You who are undecided, do you really see the changes happening before your eyes?  Satan wants nothing more than for you to remain undecided because he owns that fence you are sitting on.  

When disaster strikes from the weather most everyone doesn't care what their rescuers look like.  They just don't want to die.  Disaster is coming.  Not some age of enlightenment or of prosperity.  This world has a limited amount of time left before Jesus returns. 

We who are in Christ should be about the Father's business.  Not helping people rebuild their room when that iceberg is coming fast. We should be mindful of the days in which we live.  Opening the minds of people to God's truth. That God so loved each person whom we meet so much that He sent Jesus to die for them. To give them everlasting life.  He provides forgiveness of their sins. He became the Rescuer of Rescuers.  The punishment that was meant for them He took upon Himself.  Noah likely lived in a modern day world much more advanced than ours. Yet chose not to use it to build the Ark.  God has left too much evidence to support that. Noah preached for just over 100 years to a world that he knew wasn't going to listen.  Why? Why would he do that? Why not let them die?  Why not just build the Ark using their own modern tools and get out?  

Why did Jesus leave His perfect Heaven to be born in a stable?

Why did Jesus live life as one of us?

Why did Jesus make it a point to be obedient to His Father in Heaven?

Why did He willingly allow His own creation to nail Him to a cross?

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

He obeyed even though the world wouldn't accept it. He lived even in a world that was doing its own thing.  He did it all because He loves what His Father loves...you.