Oh, I can't stand it ... although I am no different from the next guy. (The proverbial “Shell Game” - three shell like covers and a dried pea.) The challenge comes, “Go ahead and guess which shell the pea is under!” And you have seen the game - whizzzzz, shuffle, snap-crack, back n' forth the shells fly until the gamester decides that he has created enough movement that even the most careful observer has fallen for the diversion and lost sight of the positioning of the pea. (In fact one time a fellow played this game with my car keys, I wanted so to blister him) Hey lovers of Jesus - “Take Away the Stone!”
Why is it, that in the midst of a self centered, self medicating, self inflicting, self destructing, self gratifying ... “me, myself, and I” focused generation ... do Those who carry the Precious Word of Life continue to play this game of diversion? In this world that has glorified Sin and its fleeting pleasures, so many stand ravaged from choosing The Lie that claims there is satisfaction apart from or while rebellion against God. These torn and dying ones who believed this lie desperately need to see obvious and open truth that emulates faith, that leads them to eternal life in Jesus Christ. Hey lovers of Jesus - “Bear it away, Take Away the Stone!”
(Careful the pressure is rising) ... (Warning the next portion may offend those who love playing guessing games with the fragile souls of lost and dying men, women and children) For sure ... that within you there are secret putrefying sores that stink from your daily dance with death ... but while you continue to cover this stink with false piety and cellophane holiness (or just downright ignorant hypocrisy) the provision of a visible example of grace rots within the center of your being. And those wanting to sense the Gift of Grace, continue to be discomfited but the smell of this rotting trash leaking from you soul. Even You desire to be clean and refreshed, but you have treated truth (that disturbs your fake sense of security) like trash, and you have become a compacter while trying to hide the growing pile of discarded love rotting within your weakening frame. It is just a matter of time and you will not only be an embarrassment to others but you will be an abomination to yourself as you burst at the seams from the pressure of this oozing prideful infectious puss. HEY ARE YOU DISGUSTED YET. “Take away the Stone” ... but by this time he stinketh ... “and God's people said???”
Some of us have succumbed to believe that Jesus lifts, elevates and carries away the stone ... nope!!!
Obedience to his Word provided for the necessary space for Believing and then Seeing. Sure there were objections blurted from the perspective of those who thought it was obviously hopeless because death had already done its work. These objections will greet you at the door of your tomb-like existence. There has to be somebody and there is somebody lifting and carrying away the stone ... It starts with His Spirit's ministry of active convincing, it spreads to those who begin to move as His Voice is heard and it is carried on to others as His Voice reverberates through their lives. If you are not rapped in the dark dank room of Pride (Ga'own) it is because someone lifted the stone and let the light pour into your ravaged soul.
I have no idea where you are today in the midst of this holocaust within our generation ... whether you are brokenhearted by the presence of the tomb, weeping outside the tomb in the tomb, standing around the tomb, within the tomb or waiting for someone to unravel the grave clothes so you can be at liberty to truly live ... listen to the Master's voice, Take away the stone - bear it up and carry it away.
I Peter 2:6-8 - "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: where unto also they were appointed."
Romans 9:32,33 - "Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
Listen up - hear His voice - obey - He won't let you down.
I John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
HLFA,
Jeff
PS. Love Jesus Openly!
I John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
HLFA,
Jeff
PS. Love Jesus Openly!