I have Secondary Progressive MS and have lived with the disease for twenty seven years. I have been under the care of a physician and neurologist for the past thirteen years. To this day, the only treatment that I have received is medication to relieve pain. Every two weeks, $300 is spent at the Pharmacist. I take high levels of…
Colossians 3:1Colossians 3:1
English: World English Bible - WEB
3
1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
WP-Bible plugin says, “Set your heart on things above.” Right. Those happen to be the people we look at with just a little bit of disdain. “Too heavenly minded for earthly gain.” Isn’t that somewhere in the Bible? At least we use it as though it was.
“Things above” even sounds futuristic. Next thing I know they’ll want us to put on some sci-fi costume and join a Star Wars fan club. Things above seems so far out there and certainly does not relate to my life down here. I already know that I’m going to heaven. Perhaps just knowing that fact is what Paul’s getting at.
And that would be the understanding of a few “christians” that I’ve met (small “c” is not a spelling mistake).
There is a problem with a cheap and easy gospel that says all you need to do to get to heaven is pray the sinners prayer. Everything beyond that is little more than an option for the “heaven-goer”. It’s like accessorising a fashion. Live like the world, have the same ambitions, embrace today’s culture as if it belonged to the Christian in the first place.
There’s something drastic with that picture.
Colossians 3 articulates quite well the true believers in Christ. When surrender to Christ happens and we intentionally make him Lord of our life, we will actually have a slightly-natural desire toward a completely new life. It’s called our new nature. You will actually have a disdain for the old-self. Why? because they are complete opposites.
What’s my Point: Christ is returning with wrath because of those that embrace the old-nature (Colossians 3:6Colossians 3:6
English: World English Bible - WEB
6 for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
WP-Bible plugin). Those are the ones that have not embrace Christ as their Lord.
Okay, try and give me a reason why we should be living like the world. What’s attractive about it?
Acts 19:17Acts 19:17
English: World English Bible - WEB
17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
WP-Bible plugin “A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored.”
What were they afraid of?
In our postmodern world we like everything to be soft and subjective; don’t point out anything as Truth lest you become labelled as arrogant and harsh. If you present fearful things about God you’re using wrong motives to scare people into believing. We’ve chosen to like the picture of Jesus carrying a lamb under one arm and a gentle smile on his face. Thanks Michelangelo.
On a particular day, a majority of the Ephesus population was gripped in solemn fear followed by a deliberate choice to honour and praise to God. What grabbed them? An unmistakable, face to face presentation of the power of God. Their response was a deliberate choice to follow God and reject all things that had any association with the devil. In dramatic fashion they brought it all to the stadium field and set it afire. In today’s currency, 5 Million dollars worth.
I don’t meet a lot of people that are gripped in solemn fear of God. Rather, I see people that have chosen the comfort of a life they’ve created and painted a smiley face on a few of their choice sins. Well, except you of course.
I wonder what would happen if Christians in our towns became real and authentic about their spiritual life? A solemn fear that’s what. I’ve seen it. However, it’s a deliberate choice of all things fake that keeps the power away.
Here’s my point: Don’t embrace a Christian culture that majors on the ministry of happy-face painting. True Kingdom citizenship with Christ is actually at enmity with the culture of this world. No truce has been made in heaven. Get real at any cost. That’s what they did in Acts 19.
One day we will all stand at the Judgement Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10Romans 14:10
English: World English Bible - WEB
10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
WP-Bible plugin)
Anything you need to burn?
Revelation 3:14-22Revelation 3:14-22
English: World English Bible - WEB
14 “To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write:
“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God’s creation, says these things:
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.
21 He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”
WP-Bible plugin
A Texas dirt farmer struck oil and became a millionaire overnight. They wanted to make up for all the poor years and so the wife went into a Beauty Salon and asked for the works. “I’ll start with a Shampoo” said the beautician. “I don’t want a Sham-poo!” shouted the wife. “I want a genuine-poo!”
Well, she was off and doing a rant about something she clearly didn’t know anything about. Sometimes people want reality and then get upset if you try to give it. We want the best for ourselves yet are not sure what it is.
There are those that call you a radical if you give it straight, & liberal compromiser if you give it light. Some like hymns written in the 12th century, others like rhythm & life. Some like the Bible written in Shakespearean days, others like one they can read and understand. What’s important is this, HOW CLOSE IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO JESUS CHRIST? IS IT CLOSER TODAY THAN ONE YEAR AGO? HOW DOES HE WANT YOU TO LIVE? What our city needs is not what they want, they need Jesus Christ & they need the Bible.
Jesus wrote this letter to a group of Christians who thought they knew how to do Church a whole lot better than God.
![[Valid RSS]](valid-rss-rogers.png "Validate my RSS feed")
