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HOW ARE THE EYES OF YOUR HEART?
Psychologists tell us that we see
things through the "eyes of our heart," that is, we
see things through our temperaments, our life
experiences and through our spiritual
gifts. Therefore, what, or who we are, along with,
what we have experienced all effect how we see
things and others. If we are bitter at someone, or
if they have caused us pain in some way, it usually
will cause us to see them in a distasteful, hateful
way; whereas, someone whom we love and respect is
seen in a favorable light. So then, the "eyes of our
heart" influence how we view things and
others. Whether we have heard a "good" or "bad"
report on someone can affect and influence, the way
we see them and ultimately will affect how we feel
about them. Isn't it amazing that we have so little
patience with those who manifest our own faults? We
clearly see their faults and have no patience with
it or them.
Do you remember that David, in 2
Samuel 12: 1-10, unknowingly condemned himself when
he judged the rich man who stole the poor mans one
little ewe lamb? We have to be careful in judging
what we see or think about what others have in their
lives, for we, like David may be passing judgment
upon our own selves.
Rather than being experts in
criticizing and finding fault with the short comings
of others, let us look in the mirror of God's Word
and ask Him to help us see ourselves as He sees us,
and others as He sees them, seeking to love them as
He loves them, and forgive as He has forgiven us.
Ephesians 1:6 tell us, "we are
accepted in the Beloved," that is, in Christ. In
other words, God looks at us through His Son Jesus
and that affects the way He sees and deals with us.
May God help us not to see and judge others with the
"eyes of our heart" but seek rather to look at them
through the "eyes of God".
“He is the Justifier of all who
believe!”
"To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness:
that he might be just, and the justifier
of him which believeth in Jesus.” [Rom 3:26]
Being justified by faith we have peace with God [Rom
5:1]. Our conscience should no longer accuse use and
judgment now stands on the side of the sinner
instead of against him. Our memory looks back upon
our past sins with deep sorrow and regret but
without any dread of penalty to come; for Christ has
paid our sin debt to the very last jot and tittle,
and no soul for whom Jesus died as a substitute can
ever be cast into hell.
Since God is just, any sinner who has not accepted
the payment by Christ as our substitute – Who stood
in our stead and was punished for my sins – must
face the judgment of God with any mercy. Therefore,
Jesus, having taken the place of the believer, and
having rendered a full and complete payment for sin,
has removed us from the wrath to come, and as a
result the believer can shout, “Who shall lay
anything to the charge of God’s elect?” For God has
justified us (made us just as if we had never
sinned).
Yes, Christ has died for our sins, yea is risen from
the dead; therefore my trust in not in my own
holiness but in the holiness and righteousness of
Christ, for “He is our righteousness.” My faith rest
not upon who are what I am, or shall be, but what
Christ is in me, it is in what He has done, and what
He is now doing on my behalf.
We are ALL “In Christ”.
Did you ever stop to consider the
fact that when we get to heaven all the differences
we thought we had with others won't matter anymore?
For when we stand before the “bema”, or “judgment
seat of Christ,” He’s not going to ask us what
church or denomination we were affiliated with, what
our standards were, etc., etc., but what did we do
for Christ – and how did we use the gifts and
talents that He gave us.
One of these days, and no one knows
when, the “Trump of the Lord” shall sound and the
Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and all those that know Him
as Savior will be raise to meet Him in the air. As
Baptist it’s hard for us to believe – but there will
be other non-Baptist who will also be resurrected
and raptured. There is not, as far as I can see,
going to be any preference based on denominational
distinctives. In other words, one group is not
going to go up any quicker than another, but all
those who have been washed in the precious blood of
the Lamb will join together in our anthem of praise
to our Lord and Savior.
Paul had this to say in Ephesians
4:3-4, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one
Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling:” So no matter what differences we have
here – and we do – when God calls us home – it won't
matter anymore - for we then will ALL be one in
Christ.
“And ye shall be hated of all
nations for My names sakes
” – [Matt. 24:9]
As
we approached September 11th – the
anniversary of the destruction of the Twin Towers –
the question again is raised, “Why do other
countries hate America?” The answer is found in the
verse above. Jesus told His disciples that they
would be hated of all nations for His names sake, or
because we bare His name.
“If the world hates you, ye know that it hate me
before it hated you.” [Jn 15:18] “I have given them
Thy Word; and the world hath hated them, because
they are not of the world…” [Jn 17:14].
America stands for freedom of faith, and though at
times it does not seem that way, we still are know
among other nations as a God fearing people.
America was founded by those who were fleeing
religious persecution, so it shouldn’t surprise us
if other nations, who fear not God, should hate us
and seek to destroy us.
In
Matt. 10:22 Jesus again warned His disciples that
they should expect trouble and persecution in this
world. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my
name’s sake.”
Those, down through the centuries, who have pledge
their allegiance to Christ have suffered
persecution, torture and death.
Let us not forget the words of Jesus, “Behold, I
send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be
ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as
doves.” [Matt. 10:16]
As
we remember 9/11 let us not forget Him who gave
Himself for us to redeem us from our sins and give
us a home in heaven.
“The Lord
tried the righteous” – Ps. 11:5
All
events are under the control of God’s divine
providence. Trails and afflictions are something
that we all experience. Even roses have thorns, and
men may be drowned is the sea of prosperity just as
in the rivers of affliction. Our mountains are not
high enough, neither our valleys low enough to keep
us from temptations and trails, for they lurk on
every road. Yet no shower falls unpermitted and
every drop of rain has its order before it falls to
the earth. The trials which come from God are sent
to prove and strengthen our graces, and to
illustrate the power of God’s divine grace; to test
the genuineness of our virtue and faith. Our Lord
in His infinite wisdom and “superabundant” love sets
a high value upon our faith, and He does not screen
out those trails by which our faith will be
strengthened. We would never possess the precious
faith we now have if the trail of our faith had not
“been like fire”. You are a tree that would never
have rooted as well if the wind had not rocked you
to and fro, and made you take firm hold upon the
precious truths of God’s Word. A balloon never
rises until the cords are cut and affliction doth
this same kind of service for our believing souls.
While the wheat sleeps comfortably in the husk it is
of no use to man. It must be threshed out of its
resting place before its value can be known. It is
the same with us. God tried the righteous, for this
causes us to grow rich in faith.
What's On The Inside?
All of
us have received a gift that was beautifully
wrapped. One that looked great on the outside but
once we had removed the wrapping and opened the
package we found something that wasn’t so
beautiful. Something that we could not use, did not
like, and did not want. Unfortunately we live in a
world that measures the value of a thing or person
by the way it is packaged or wrapped. If someone
lives in an expensive house, drive a nice car,
dresses to the hilt, and presents themselves well,
we conclude that they must be wonderful people.
Therefore, we make conclusion like; if the package
is beautiful, then that which is in the package must
be beautiful also. God does not measurers or judge
in this manner. In God’s eyes it is the “content”
(what’s on the inside) that counts. “For the Lord
seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the
outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the
heart.” [1 Sam. 16:7]
The
problem we run into is this; sooner or later what’s
on the inside in going to come out, no matter how
it’s packaged. There have been people who have
impressed me with their outward appearance, but
destroyed that image as soon as they opened their
mouths.
You’ve
heard it said that beauty is only “skin deep”, but
once you’ve removed the “skin”, or veneer, the real
person comes out. Most of us hide behind a “false
facade.” Peter said that our adorning should not be
outwardly but the “hidden man of the heart.” In
conclusion let me remind you that “Reputation is
what others think you are, whereas character is what
God knows you to be.”
No More Tears
And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be
any more pain: for the former things are passed
away. [Revelation 21:4]
In heaven we shall weep no more
for all outward causes of grief and pain are gone
forever. There will be no broken friendships, no
poverty, famine, peril, persecution or slander,
nothing to distress us, and no though of death or
bereavement to sadden. There will be no “evil heart
of unbelief” to seduce us to depart from the living
God. We will have ceased from mourning because we
have ceased from sinning. We will have the
knowledge and assurance of being eternally secure.
Sin is shut out and we will be shut in. We will
dwell in a city “whose builder and maker is God,”
where there will never be a storm to disturb us and
we shall bask in the sun light of God’s love.
We weep no more because every
desire is fulfilled. Eye and ear, heart and hand,
imagination, hope, desire, all are faculties will be
completely satisfied.
Paul said, “Eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of
man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love Him.” [1 Corinthians 2:9]
We shall drink from the “river of
life” and eat fruit from the “tree of life” and live
in perfect peace and harmony throughout the endless
ages. “Wherefore comfort one another with these
words.”
Lift the Latch
Mark 9:24b - "Lord
I believe; hope thou mine unbelief."
Israel could not
enter Canaan because of their unbelief. There is
many a promised land from which we are excluded for
the same reason. For instance, how many of us enjoy
the "perfect peace" which is the privilege of
the true believer? How many of us have got beyond "hoping"
we are saved and "trusting" we are forgiven?
They which have believed "do enter into rest."
But this Canaan is denied to the only half-believer.
He is like a foolish child lingering on a cold,
wintry, tempestuous night out in the snow and the
wind, while all is warm and tranquil at the fireside
within - the supper spread for him, and a vacant
seat placed at the table ready for him - because he
cannot bring himself fully to believe that if he
lifted the latch he would receive an instant and
joyful welcome.
J. Halsey
God's Word is the
compass that keeps us on course.
The Why of Suffering
During times of
extreme suffering we seek God's face, wanting Him to
remove the suffering from us, while all the while,
we're wondering if He really even cares or hears us.
The Psalmist David
cried out to the Lord in Psalms 31 during a time of
tremendous trouble. He knew that his only hope was
to put his situation into the Lord's hands and rely
on Him for strength and courage. Hear his words in
verse 24, "Be of good courage, and He shall
strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the
Lord."
Wouldn't it be
great if we could remember to let go of the controls
and trust God to work things out? At times the
storms of life come upon us with unnerving
regularity. Often striking without any prior
warning, and they linger on without our consent.
Testing the very limits of our faith and endurance.
Such was the case in Job's life. Paul also was
person that had to endure tremendous trials and
suffering that resulted in him being a person of
great faith and courage. God gave him a thorn in the
flesh, "a messenger of Satan, to buffet him", a
thing which God refused to remove even though Paul
besought Him three times to do so. As a result Paul
learned a tremendous lesson, for we read in 2
Corinthians 12:10, "Therefore, I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in
persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for
when I am weak, then I am strong."
Asset or
Liability - Problem or Opportunity
Whenever problems
come your way have you ever taken the time to notice
that many times they are opportunities in disguise?
Problems are used by God to stretch us, strengthen
us, and mature us. So having said that let me remind
you that along with new and exciting opportunities
will come and a whole new set of problems. Someone
has said that with every asset there is also a
corresponding liability. Or, every plus carries with
it a potential minus. How we handle our
opportunities and liabilities to teach us to trust
Him humbly and completely, relying on His wisdom,
goodness and mercy to see us through.
Consider what Job
went through, yet he was able to say, "The Lord
giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the
name of the Lord." [Job 1:21]
God has a way of
using what we are going through, and what we have
gone through, to prepare us for greater things and
what we will be going through. David had to face a
lion and a bear to prepare him to have faith enough
in God to face Goliath. Paul in his 2nd
letter to the Corinthians, who, at the time, were
being pressed, seemingly, beyond their abilities to
endure; and believing that Paul and his companions
were going to die; were admonished by Paul not to
trust in themselves but in the Living God, which
raiseth the dead.
As you look at
your life and the problems that you face with on a
day to day basis, do you consider them opportunities
from God? Opportunities to train you, teach you, and
prepare you for even greater things. Let us not
loose sight of the fact that our greatest problems
may be our best opportunity to trust God and see Him
work miracles and wonders in our lives and the lives
of others. |
