Low

Do you know the *partial* story behind the grand cathedrals of the middle ages? The grandiose gothic architecture. The placement of these enormous houses of worship in the middle of the city. Even with much to be desired in terms of doctrine, the elaborate edifices that drew in weekly crowds of parishioners were architected to serve a particular purpose. To make the church goer see themselves in a proper context: small and less significant against the ornate splendor of God’s house. Stained glass windows cast brilliant flashes of color on marble floors and stone pillars. Everything about the presentation conveyed the clear message that God is BIG and coming into His presence was sure to be an almost terrifying delight for the senses. You walk away, spiritually awed and emotionally feeling like “Heaven came down.”

Now contrast that out of body experience of the Gothic Cathedral to this next thing.

Notice the picture. Have you ever been to a truck stop bathroom? If you haven’t, consider yourself “happy and blest!” funny thing is, if there’s any way to find humor in a truck stop bathroom, is they’re really an emergency only kind of deal. If you can find any other way to safely and securely relieve yourself without having to darken the doorway of one of these rest stops, you’d do it without hesitation. If the cathedral scenarios is an ethereal experience for the sense, the truck stop is a relentless attack on them. Something about the smell, even with the hint of fresh pine in a futile attempt to “clean” up, persists to remind us that you know if you’re even considering a rest stop restroom, you are indeed in a desperate situation.

So what is the purpose behind this contrast?

Here’s The Word:

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Often times we get too used to Scripture. We know it says that our righteousness is like filthy (menstruation) rags but after hearing it time and time again, it simply becomes passé…over used and less impactful. So this Cathedral vs Bathroom scenario is to breathe freshness into the idea of how far “Spiritually” God is from “naturally” us.

This too popped in my mind while contemplating this post. In my day, there was well-known “bathroom wall humor”. Jokes about things and supposed phone numbers to call for illicit pleasures. And in following that thought, the reality of redemption isn’t expressed in a centrally located cathedral whereby we can visit God and be enthralled by His presence. It’s really that Heaven DID come down, to us, in a horrible experience like the worst truck stop bathroom. And right next to “For a good time, call Krystal”, He wrote – “For eternal life, call on ME, and I will answer”

In the Gospel of Luke(1:48), Mary, the mother of Jesus makes a statement that I believe is a reflection on a verse from Psalms 136:23 “It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever”

These posts are never to push us to depression but often times when we are only looking around and not up, it becomes easy to compare ourselves amongst ourselves and totally miss the truth of the matter. Not one of us is worthy of exaltation, but also, not one of us should be made to feel less redeemable than any other. And the fact that the splendor of Heaven came to our truck stop bathroom speaks to an emergency indeed; yet it was our emergency, not His.

In Him,
Cros

Find

I haven’t always included pictures with my blogposts. However, now that I do, finding the pictures have become almost as much of an impact on me than the words that express what I’m writing about. This idea really speaks to today’s post about 'finding'. I knew I wanted a good picture to “illuminate” the thoughts I already had about the topic. So I googled the word “Find”. An absolute deluge of magnifying glasses, binoculars, as well as more than a few pics of Waldo showed up.

Then there was this one: The one that I used - I could do nothing but stare in awe and utter a small whisper…”Thank You Jesus.”

Here’s The Word:

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

This is one of those familiar verses. And rightfully so, it brings us into subjection to the Word of God as we wrestle with the idea that My Christianity is mine and I can keep it to myself. Not true. This verse as well as many, many others contradict that ideology outright. As a child of Christ, quickened by the Spirit, and commissioned by Your Lord – YOU are now on mission in a dark and dying world and you have to be honest about this very real thing: Is the light from your life in Christ leading others to Him?

I don’t know if I would call it difficult. I honestly don’t know what to call it at all. All I do know is that although His love has been poured on us freely, as adopted children into God’s family, this new life comes with expectations. Biblically, our lives are supposed to reflect true joy, in ways that are distinctly different from the world. We’re to have hope that is expected to be inquired about, and a peace that boggles the carnal mind. Scripture assumes us to be generous givers, compassionate empathizers and edifying communicators. Our faces are steadfast, our eyes are to the hills and our ears are attentive to the leading of The Spirit. All of this emanating from a heart of rejoicing…again, I say, Rejoice!

Here’s The Word:

Luke 12:34- 35 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

It’s true, this world really doesn’t have anything more to offer us. We long for our new country and the eternal intimacy where we are one with Our God. However, HE still has business here. There are still things that HE wants from this world... and its more believers. God used two people to make people, which speaks to His wisdom and sovereignty. He also still uses people to make people – He uses believers to shine faith, show love and share Christ. He’s the One Who saves, but He uses us as lights to lead those who seeking -

What is your light & life helping them to find?

In Him,
Cros

Field Trip

Journaling is awesome! I can’t imagine a single soul being disappointed or unable to find at least a few good benefits to simply recording your daily thoughts. You’ll get to see your progression. You’ll have a better anchor of clarity when you think back to what your life was like at certain times. You’ll be able to appreciate and encourage the journey of others with a sincere embrace of how things change. I like to journal in context – My subject matter is always the Gospel, because in some way, I’m always thinking about and trying to orient my life towards it. So when I look back and see the wide variety of topics that I talk about, those 3 things are as real to me as today’s post.

Now, remember back to when you were in grade school. I think the top 3 days were: Having a substitute, Getting a field trip permission slip, and the actual field trip day. That’s how I feel right now as I prepare for a family vacation next week. So today is field trip day AND I’m handing things over to a substitute. How’s that for a 2-fer?

In all my study and in all of my lessons where I was able to walk away feeling like – I “rightly divided the word of truth.”, I’m always in more awe of so many others in the faith and I’m grateful to feel like somehow, we’re joined in the effort to preach Christ to The World. I walk among giants. There are times when I’m more than pleased to hand over entire teachings to those giants, there’s so much theological greatness. Today, your substitute teacher is one of the best expositors of our day: John MacArthur. He’s done a masterful job giving clarity to a book that many Christians either misinterpret, or steer clear of altogether: The Book of Revelation.

Do yourself a favor and make this the first of many more times of going on this field trip. Like many other exciting places to visit, once won’t be enough, and it gets better every time.

Link to John MacArthur's - Jet Tour Through Revelation

This link has an audio version as well as the transcribed text. Enjoy it, and pass it on.

Here’s The Word:

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

If I'd thought to start listing, just from memory, the theological "field trips" I've been on, I guarantee that this post would be too long and recklessly boring. But just like our natural world has so many beautiful and interesting places to see, so it is with the history of people who have loved diving into the depths of God's Word and bring up the treasures they've found.
Explore! Get out there and investigate people like EM Bounds on Prayer, Tozer on the beauty of devotion, Wiersbe on Christian living, J.I. Packer on God's Holiness....the list goes on, and you won't regret having ventured to these exciting destinations!

In Him,
Cros

Prophetic

I feel like I say it all the time, but I really DO wish this could more of a conversation than some sort of pronouncement. I have no problem dialoguing about things; learning and reshaping my understanding. I know how easy it is to assume that someone who’s prone to talking, doesn’t listen as well.
These are usually observations, not just assertions from a distance. I’ve lived a bit, and I'm more than familiar with the influences we face. I know what’s at stake, and I've personally encountered many of the misguided pursuits that plague us, internally and externally. I speak from that.
So here’s my rub of the day – I think that we romanticize religion too much. Hence the picture. Okay, maybe not we, as in you and I, but many of us.
This is why the prosperity gospel is such a prevalent, prominent thing. The prosperity gospel is not my focus today but another “gospel” that seems to be just as attractive.

Here’s The Word:

2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Over the years, I’ve seen some who gravitate towards these “other gospels” because they are more so looking for a uniquely specific experience that elevates them. I’ve started seeing more and more “prophetic word” type memes on the Internet and I’m wondering “Why is that?” So many “Time to dry your tears. God has seen your struggle and is ready to now give you the breakthrough that you’ve been waiting for.”

I may be overly cautious, maybe it’s debatable, but when I read Scripture and I see what’s coming down the pike for all of us, I just don’t want to take things too lightly.

Here’s The Word:

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Who are “they”? well, according to this, “they” USED to endure sound doctrine….they don’t any more. They traded what they used to endure, opting more for teaching that made them feel better. Scratching their itches. To me, they were never ‘the world’, these they would identify themselves as Christian. Christians have to be mindful to know sound doctrine and continue in it.

Galatians 1:6-7 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Perversions of the gospel abound now, and by the looks of things, this will continue and increase. The verse in 2 Corinthians 11 talks about a common theme; The gospel of Jesus that “we” preached. It’s one thing and it’s for everyone.
Are people who aren’t in the prosperity gospel missing out on gospel truth? Are the ones who are, better blessed? Are people who’ve never had a special word from God, not walking in their purpose? Are the ones who get a regular prophetic report, closer “IN” to God than others? Scripture doesn't support that. Our propensity to particularize and seek after personalized gospels needs to be met with caution and care. And at the least, the strongest part of our belief should not be in prosperity or prophecy, but in love.

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Disciples aren’t recognized by their ability to give sacrificially in order to receive financial blessings in the midst of struggle. They also aren’t defined or delineated by their ability to give or receive a prophetic words that make you feel like a special break through is coming.

In Him,
Cros

Compelled

In my earliest memories, I recall “the red house”. To me it was huge. It had a basement and a second floor, and for as many of us who lived there, we were comfortable. The lights weren’t always on, the water wasn’t always on. The furniture was scarred or frayed or had missing pieces. There wasn’t always a lot of food and my “bed” was a few blankets as a pallet behind the living room couch. It was comfortable, and for me, the house was full of love.

The red house has long since been torn down due to an expansion of the hospital where I was born. Actually, a few of my former residences have been demolished. Now that I’m older, it’s interesting just how comfortable I was in those former, run down, torn down places.

Fast forward to today: The life I’m living now is comparatively different from my earlier years. In recent memory, I don’t remember the last time there was no food, or the last time the electricity was cut off. My bed is comfortable and even in all of that, I’d like to believe that I still focus on what’s important – a house full of love.

So in the natural, I’ve good reason to be comfortable but what about life “In the Spirit”? How does comfort translate to my life in Christ? It’s very different from the natural, at least it should be.
Many people get saved and begin seeking after "Christian decorations” to add them to their lives, as if their seeking for a place of comfort. They get rid of promiscuity and settle down with a God-fearing spouse. Comfortable. The profanity in their speech is replaced with a more apparent “selectivity”. A few church friends and a bible study and suddenly, club night doesn’t have the appeal that it once did. Comfortable. And trust me, I'm not knocking the growth we experience at conversion. I'm just saying....then what? Like years later when the newness wears.


Here’s The Word:

Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Prior to verse 14, Paul mentions all of his pre-Christ "decorations" and how impressive they are. He counts them all as refuse, good for nothing but flushing down the toilet.
He then communicates how much better it is to "win" Christ and know of Him to salvation. But he doesn't stop there, he goes on to distinguish his pursuit(and ours) from those who are only looking for comfort "whose God is their belly...who mind earthly things" v19.

If I’m being 100% transparent and honest. Comfort is probably my biggest concern. I think the reasons are because I remember where I came from, and I see it all too often where Christians get comfortable and flip on cruise-control as if they’ve “made it.” They(we, I) show too little interest in pressing in closer to Christ. They (we, I) are perceived as overly judgmental if we encourage and strive for “more” holiness. “More” fervency about the things of God. More passion about or pursuit of HIM.

I count my comforts as blessings but never in a way that blinds me from the realization that this world is still broken, fallen, hurting and in desperate need for people who not only recognize and serve, but who also haven’t become so comfortable that they no longer hunger and thirst after righteousness. Every morning, I look up from my comfortable bed and think of how wonderful it would be to just lie there all day. I then thank God for His Spirit, Who quickens me, Whose voice I hear challenging my comfort saying “And how long do you think it will be before this house is torn down?”

You know, He’s right. He’s right in more ways than one: Eventually, the furniture I have will be scarred and frayed. Pieces will go missing. Eventually it will need to be demolished. This is also true of my physical form, and when you consider that truth, the Holy Spirit’s question becomes more pressing. How much time do you think you have? Is there anything you should be about that’s more important than your comfort? Amen.


In Him,
Cros

Last Words

I’ve said it time and again, I blog and I encourage blogging. Over the past 12 or so years, I’ve found it to be therapeutic. Also, without question I’ve come to embrace this most remarkable truth: In trying to be a blessing and a help, I am most blessed and helped.

I guess anytime you’re dealing with death, everything can seem a little morbid, but that doesn’t have to be. In fact, for the Christian, death and dying, although understandably sad in the temporal for the loved ones we see go, or the loved ones we’ll leave behind – Death is the finish line and a welcomed reason for our highest rejoicing. We’ll stand face to face with the One Who’s love for us sought us, kept us, changed us and then ferried us home. Are you kidding?!?! I could shout now! Also, the idea of an eventual ‘finish’ should be our greatest motivation for how we seek to advance His purposes each day (as if it were our last).

Because of the “morbidity” of it all, death and dying is not something we spend much time thinking about, until we’re forced to. However, when you have an opportunity to hear someone’s last words, it’s different. It’s like the final summation of their earthly existence. After having done all the living they’ve been allowed to, the lessons learned, the illusions exposed and deductions finalized – what is it that they most want to convey?

Here’s some last words from a few of histories notables.

John Calvin expressed this to his co-laborers a few days before he died. “You will have troubles when God shall have called me away… . But take courage and fortify yourselves, for God will make use of this church and will maintain it, and assures you that He will protect it.”

His actual last words are recorded as —”How long, O Lord?”

Lord help my poor soul.” ~ Edgar Allen Poe

"Don’t you dare ask God to help me." ~ Joan Crawford

"I was born in sin. I have lived unhappily. I die in doubt. Cause of causes pity me." Aristotle

“Why do you weep? Did you think I was immortal?” King Louis XIV

"Tranquil and happy, though very weak. My theology is very simple. I can express it in few words and they are enough to die by." (Pause) “Jesus died for me.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

Some of these may be surprising. I was certainly shocked by Joan Crawford and I think "How obstinate", but I remember except for the grace of God, I'd be there too. Then, there are some that really make you wonder, and in wondering, two things happen – You think of yourself and you realize that it’s very likely that your finality will find you awestruck. As well as the finality of it all, you get the feeling that somehow, good or bad… you know what’s coming next.

"Father of Mercies, take me to Thyself." ~ George Washington

"It's very beautiful over there." ~ Thomas Edison

I really am amazed at the last words of people whose lives show a history of “differing” religiosities. In trying to define and serve a god of their own making, it seems that the one True God shows up at the end.

“La tristesse durera toujours.” (“The sadness will last forever.”) ~Vincent van Gogh

“Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” ~Steve Jobs

Here’s The Last Words:

Revelation 22:20-21 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.


In Him,
Cros

Devil's Advocate

We all know what it means to play Devil’s Advocate. Somebody is expressing a point of view and to either repudiate or help substantiate their position, you come against it.
You may not necessarily be trying to derail the position, you just want to make sure that all sides are being considered as a con to their pro, a pro to their con, or just a way to broaden the scope of the current point of view.
We also commonly recognize the position as a vehicle to promote contention, but I like it better when its used for better reasons.

Here’s The Word:

Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Romans 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

These examples may seem sporadic but there's a method to the madness. I used the first example from Job because I think it’s funny, seeing the Devil himself, play devil’s advocate to God’s initial assertion of – ‘(There is) not like him(Job) in the earth?’
It's a textbook presentation: God says, "Job is awesome, isn't he?" - Satan says, well, let me play advocate here, Do you think he's awesome in himself, or that your protection makes him awesome?" (which undermines God's initial statement).
More than any other book in regards to raising questions that showcase "Devils advocate", Romans does the best job of setting up assertions and testing those points with questioning that strengthen the point, even though it asks questions in an opposing way.

Do you think that is Paul trying to play devil’s advocate? I really don’t think those words describe his motivation. These are basically rhetorical questions that are guided to help you see, that if you fully understand the assertion, it’d be ridiculous to not substantiate the idea with the correct answer. I believe with Paul, his question only has one answer and just giving the question deeper thought in reflection of the question, strengthens the point….at least its supposed to.

Because, then there's the other side of "Devil's advocate" that looks to bring contention and weakness.
Too often, as Christians, these questions may extract the correct answer from us verbally, but we prove time and time again that the truth of the matter isn't deep in us. We talk a good game with our theology. But too often, our living shows evidence of playing Devils Advocate.
We continue to make choices that pronounce either our hypocrisy or our ignorance. We read, speak and expect truth, but then in our actions, we caveat our way into a different way of doing life. We become that devils advocate, like the Devil is in Job, where He sought to weaken God's assessment. He didn't understand that there was more to Job than his protection.
As with Job, God's truth needs to be our strength, but for some of us, our strength lies in so many other things…emphasis on the word “lies”.

Let's play this out more practically:

In Romans 8, Paul does a great job, building on God’s track record as to the trustworthiness of the Love of Christ.
Then comes the strengthening in verse 35 -
      “So Paul, you say the love of Christ is strong. Is it stronger than tribulation?
That’s the question we answer with how we live. Does tribulation make you scream at God, or cry out to Him?

      "Okay Paul, is the love of Christ stronger than distress?"
What is our answer? When things just aren’t going our way, what’s the state of our witness?

Is this making sense? When we lose faith, seek compromise or mis-represent the character of Christ, we play devil's advocate and we undermine His truth, as if somehow God has missed something in regards to what we’re going through.

Please here me, this is not condemnation. This is not to push into doubt or weakness of mind. The devil is enough of his own advocate without any help from us.
I pray in all earnest that this be encouragement to let the assertions be as fundamental to you as they obviously are to Paul who’s posing these “lob-pitch” questions.
So what should our answer be? We need to know truth and we need to live in in a way that supports it, not in ways that undermine our belief. Practical, spiritual understanding should be on obvious display in our lives. This is how we walk by the Spirit.

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;


In Him,
Cros

Earnest

If you haven’t had the opportunity to buy a home yet, you probably haven’t been introduced to the idea of “earnest money”.
And even if you have, it’s not the kind of thing that really ever crosses your mind.
How would you define “Earnest money”? According to Investopedia (yes, it’s a real thing), Earnest money is ‘a deposit made to a seller that represents a buyer's good faith to buy a home.’ So basically, it’s a tangible symbol of serious intent. It conveys the value of your promise. I’ve never considered where this word came from and when I first heard it, I chalked it up as realtor/finance talk. However, with spiritual eyes....take a look.

Here’s The Word:

2 Corinthians 5:4 – 5 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13 – 14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Biblically, if I had to define the word “earnest” as derived from the context of its usage in certain passages, I would associate it more with a deep emotional eagerness, rather than the money I relate it to when buying a house. But I see now, that looking at these two ideas together, I see a richer, deeper reality coming to the surface.

In the fullness of time, God sought to “buy back” a piece of property. A piece of property that had been swindled into the hands of a deceiver by our disobedience.

This property has been abandoned and condemned, but God has a plan for it. In order to begin His restoration, He established His intent in securing us with earnest money, which in this case, is: God, The Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is God’s tangible symbol of serious intent. His payment for your eternal security and redemption.

In real estate terms, I see it now as we, (who have heard the word of truth and are trusting the gospel for our salvation) are “God’s property”, secured and sealed by the payment of The Spirit, and He’s scheduled a move in date once the “redemption of the purchased possession” is complete.
This is BIG reason to rejoice: In earthly terms, even after you’ve put up an amount of earnest money, something can still happen to give you an out. Contingencies. However, when you are writing that check for earnest money, they’ll tell you to be as sure as possible in regards to the likelihood of the purchase, but also to write the check for only as much as you’re able to recover from losing if something disagreeable comes up.

God is so sure about His purchase, that His check is Himself, in the Person of The Holy Spirit. That means for Him, there’s no backing out of the deal. YOU HAVE BEEN BOUGHT! He’s 100% invested and committed to our renewal, even in the midst of our groaning. Mortality WILL BE swallowed up by life! Move in day is coming!

In Him,
Cros