Death is the enemy of creation. It has no regard for the beauty or the goodness of life. Death sweeps through the gardens of life, destroying the lilies and the roses, the weeds and thistles. Flowers hide their beauty beneath green leaves, blushing unseen. But the sting of death, caring nothing for their beauty and fragrance, withers them instantly with…
(John 3:15-16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18). All judgment for our personal sin was poured out upon Christ and judged (John 5:27). At the First Advent (Christ coming as a man, as Messiah), Christ was judged for our sin, at the Second Advent (Second Coming) Christ is Judge! Everyone who has rejected the Cross of Christ at…
The power of the Holy Spirit, by and through the cross, breaks the chains of sin and death. Every noble ideal is empty apart from Christ. When the still small voice of God becomes a thundering judgment, then intellectuals will realize their own stupidity and arrogance, but it will be too late. The edge of knowledge is a two-edged sword….
If the universe “came from nothing,” then why couldn’t it have come from God? Which theory requires more faith? Which is more probable? Even if we ask, “Who made God?” or “Where did God come from?” are we making God a contingent entity? If God is contingent, he is not God. If God isn’t God, who is? There is no…
We are not a God-shaped species as some would have us believe. We are a soul-image species (as in God created man in His own image). I believe our soul-image becomes a higher image when we are born again. It is at this new birth, spiritual, that God reinstates our spiritual heritage and honor as heirs of God in Christ….
Every human begins life in bondage. By faith in Christ, we rise in courage into the liberty of Bible doctrine, where we find peace, joy, love, and true, lasting inner happiness. Interesting how we attempt to live each day’s comfort with the counterfeits of illusion. The corpse, thought dead, continues its advance in corruption. The day declines. The shadows of…
Relativism: “Truth for you, not for me.” Truth is not relative, it is an absolute. The plan of satan is whitewashing God’s Word. Merchandising the gospel is whitewashing grace. Activism by believers is the attempt to reform the government and our leaders while ignoring the clear declarations of God’s Word. Jesus Christ controls history – let him control you. Stay…
In certain parts of California, it can be a disaster of catastrophic proportion to the citrus crop if the temperature drops below 32°F. Therefore, the industry, in an effort to help reduce loss of crops, place thousands upon thousands of little pots in the citrus groves, which they light at night during freezing temperatures. These little pots are called “smudge…
I am a terrible, sinful son made perfect forever by the Author and Finisher of my salvation, who suffered horribly on the cross just for me (Hebrews 2:10, 5:9). By one offering, God has perfected those who trust Christ and all believers will be presented by Christ to the Father without spot or blemish (Hebrews 10:14; Ephesians 5:27). Keeping the…
I suppose we could say that matter is most real to our senses. But, having said that, matter only substitutes for the unseen spiritual reality we cannot see while in the flesh. Therefore our deepest longings that go unfulfilled are for the resurrection of, or restoration of, our original senses (Hebrews 11:1). It is the frivolous that causes us to…
When sick or injured, our instinctive fear is dying. In poverty circumstances, it is natural to fear hunger and even exposure. Our flesh is weak and selfish. But the crown of life demands sacrifice of self, suffering while in the world and, through it all, keeping the faith no matter what. Human life is unique. Human death is unique to…
Living our lives in a time-centered existence has its tensions. We are nostalgic for yesteryear, which lives on only in memory, in the midst of a disappearing present – time is elusive. Time is God’s creation. What we do in time matters. Our decisions have eternal consequences. Time gives us opportunity to know and believe and be obedient by trusting…
There once was a raindrop Believe it or not Afraid to fall from the sky. He looked down and said, “This is too high, I might get hurt, I might even die. What can I do, where can I go? How can I get to the earth below” “You could slide down on me,” said the rainbow. “I touch the…
We enter this world with heart and soul We’re here for a while, then called to go. Death is passing through the door That leads us on to evermore Where loved ones patiently wait For our arrival at Heaven’s Gate. Then, we’ll walk together by sacred streams In beauty transcended beyond our dreams Where light and life are one in…
If God should beckon with outstretched hand I will be transferred to the promised land He may call my name in sleep some night And I shall wake in heaven’s light — C. S. Craig May 2021
God is the mature believer’s super hero on the stage of human history. Threads of spiritual heritage from the wisdom of ages are sewn together to form the mosaic of God’s love throughout the ages. God’s love for us was poured out for us in eternity past, with the result that our love for God is poured out toward God…
We live today in a divided world, and this is by design. God works even through our weaknesses, and for His purposes, which will eventually bring blessings to believers and glory to God through Christ. Christ must be first and foremost in our thinking. Horizontal: Gain the world for yourself, serve yourself, and lose yourself and eternity with the Lord….
A loving God does not reject the unbeliever, the unbeliever rejects the love of God demonstrated on the cross when Christ died as a substitute for all humanity. The sin nature remains active as long as we live (1 John 1:8), so God added 1 John 1:9. Throughout our lives we will continue to use our volition to commit personal…
We’ve all learned very well to listen to the world. It comes natural to us. But as believers, we must learn to listen to our bodies (health reasons), and we need to listen to the Holy Spirit. The world reveals human viewpoint. It also reveals divine viewpoint, which are the doctrines of the bible. Our flesh is never-satisfied lust –…
Truth in America isn’t what it used to be. Deconstruction of truth undermines the Bible and the Creator. Divine viewpoint is a God’s-eye view, a revelation from God that literally demonstrates truth as absolute (Romans 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17). Intellectual indifference is the enemy of morality and virtue. Even before humanity was created, the sacrificial lamb was provided (1 Peter…
When one’s ego is inflated, one is without integrity. Kill… your… ego (and kill your TV while you’re at it). If this old house could speak, its stones would cry out from the walls, and the rafters would answer them from the woodwork. Flaming arrows, shining spears, and chariots of fire… “And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and…
The laws of nature are established by nature’s God. Believers are citizens of heaven, the kingdom of God, therefore the believer’s first loyalty is to the King of kings and Lord of lords – Jesus Christ. The transformation in the believer’s life is from physical to spiritual, from the world to the kingdom, from I (self) to God-first and others-first….