The Economics of Reality

        Doubt not in the ability of the spirit of this world to draw nations into a financial abyss

 

        And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie. ( II Thessalonians 2:11 NKJV ) As sand from the figurative hour glass ( as referred to in the title of this website ) steadily flows towards the end of time, so to is there sadly a spiritual erosion in the hearts and minds of souls everywhere towards the belief that because the spirit of this world seems in  control the sovereign existence of God in Christ therefore no longer seems relevent. Consequently, to be spiritually pro-active regarding such concerns is not just to study Gods word, and even share our living faith with others ( as important as both are ), but it is also in realizing that ones spiritual motivation comes from the personal belief and spiritual knowledge that Christ, at Calvary, has already won the battle over such darkness. ( positional truth )

        The influence of the spirits of this world ( and their hosts in seats of power ) seem to be ever more convincingly capable of deceiving the masses ( America ? ) all the while as they operate in an unintreatable, intolerant mindset that ironically many nonbelievers unfairly associate with christians. And though most believers in Christ know by which spirit these ones operate they nonetheless still possess a zeal to not only have their way(s) followed, but the blindness by which they operate suggests they believe their earthly salvation  ( for lack of a better term ) is dependent on their willingness and ability to achieve their goals. The absurdity of it all are when these political types advocate economic policies where the resulting stagnation deprives citizens who need to work as well as those who want to work the opportunity to do so, and thus resist becoming wards of the government that by the way despite a deficit spending habit that will effect generations to come nonetheless seeks for its citizenry to become such wards ! All this is being done we are led to believe in an attempt to mandate fairness which is not much different than attempting to legislate morality.

        In the third epistle of the apostle John verses 2 and 3 say, ” Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things, and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth”. The word translated prosper ” euodousthai ” means to have a good and safe journey throughout ones life. The second verse mentioned here is important in that it emphasizes the important role truth plays in our lifes whether that be doctrinal truth, or truth that guides our every day practical earthly existence. Truth that can cause our soul to prosper ( verse 2 ) has much to do with spiritually and mindfully accessing in Christ the grace by which we stand ( Romans 5:2 ); whereas truth in order to influence this fallen world begins not only with preaching Christ and His desire to save the lost, but  also in communicating practical truth in order to disprove and contradict the evil realms bold multifaceted methods that attempt to make the lies of this world seem true.

        In the aftermath of Korahs rebellion ( as referred to in Numbers 16 of the previous devotional ) the Lord seeks to affirm Moses and Aarons spiritual leadership by arranging for Moses to acquire one rod from each of the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel which included Aaron as the representative of the tribe of Levi. Each rod was then placed in the tabernacle for a night and on the next day only Aarons rod sprouted and put forth buds, blossoms, and ripe almonds. For ultimately what Korahs rebellion revealed were the motives within his, and his followers hearts. On the other hand the budding of Aarons rod while proof of Gods resurrection life to all who were witnesses  to us who believe in Christ though it is a witness of the resurrection life within, that gives us the victory and hope from above , because of  the truth of His words regarding this life we have come to know.

 

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

Personal encouragement: Read more books rather than watching to much television !

All devotionals of The Hour Glass by O.N.Rider can be found at http://bc3f86.wordpress.com/

The Light of Forgiveness

        The spiritual weight of Adams failure contrasts the lightheartedness of genuine forgiveness.

 

        They gathered together against Moses and Aaron and said to them, ” You take too much upon yourselves.” ( Numbers 16:3a NKJV ) Arguably the most serious threat to Moses delegated authority, Korah, a member of the priestly Levite tribe, leads a group of 250 against Moses and his brother Aaron. As well, the fact that such an incident took place confirms the existence of a spiritually provoked rebellion that existed on the earth then, and continues to exist and operate in our world today.

        In the truest sense the fall of man threw mankind into the arms and into the realm of spiritual forces that are at best supernatural, and are in the least barely detectable. Hence, the seriousness of one who does not see the need for Christ being their redeemer only hastens the jeopardy a soul places themself in not only eternally, but presently and circumstantially as well. For whatever choices we make in this life we must be aware that we are at the same time sowing seeds unto one kingdom or another. And even if the fruit from our choices seems right they should still be carefully weighed much like how God weighs the spirit of a man ( Proverbs 16:2 ) that one would not confuse the soulish heaviness of Adamic rejection, with the lightness of Christs absolute all consuming love.

        Its safe to say that living in the desert brought with it obstacles not only of the physical kind, but of the emotionally stressful kind as well. Life in Egypt surely had its practical advantages where as waundering through the desert pushed individuals to the limits of their natural thought process. Yet the entire exercise with regard to the children of Israel being brought from the bondage of Egypt to becoming a free people did not happen because of the natural life;  nor could it. The whole point of calling such a people out was for them to be given the opportunity to go from seeing life from the limited horizontal order of things ( walking in an internalized Adamic life ), to instead embracing the vertical view of Gods unrivaled faithfilled supremacy.

        As time passed the thinking of those who doubted Moses ( the one whom God chose ) began to take form in the actions of Korah, as well as in the 250 who followed him.  Reasoning  that had less to do with the humility and awe that should come with one properly connected to this magnificent human event,  than with the frustration that accompanies individuals who mistakenly venture to see their self life in a “type of light ” that leaves them blindly vulnerable to the obvious magnitude of the situation. That Korah would dare oppose Moses after Moses led what some considered 2 million people out of Pharaohs Egypt is more than just human folly it is spiritual deception of the most tragic kind.

        One of Satans most consistent attacks on christians ( as well as seeking nonbelievers  ) is to obscure and even discredit positional truth. Such thinking can potentially undermine a person into thinking that their sin ( past, present, and future ) can change what God through Christ lovingly thinks of them. And though sins commited can reap for us circumstances we do not want in our lives it can nonetheless never strip from the arms of Christ those who have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior. And just as Korahs thought process weighed so heavily on his soul that he became an enemy of Israel let us not be so deceived by the mind of our flesh that we would reject the practical favor God gives us through Christ; even despite ourselves !

 

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

Personal encouragement: Read more books rather than watching to much television !

All devotionals of The Hour Glass by O.N.Rider can be found at http://bc3f86.wordpress.com/

The Language of The Fall

        Proper biblical and spiritual understanding has more to do with  knowing how to think , rather than knowing how to  behave.

        And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them. ( Nehemiah 8:12 NKJV ) As a faithfilled victorious remnant returns to the land of their forefathers not only were many in this generation unfamiliar with the country of their ancestors, so to were many unfamiliar with the doctrines and teachings of their God and deliverer. As humans we must never underestimate the power of knowledge and information to influence our belief system. ( both good and bad ) In the case of these Jews whos families were caught up in the Babylonian captivity 70 years previous 34,000 returned to the land of their forefathers out of  God  only knows how many who actually chose to remain a part of the pagan Babylonian culture.

        As with the existence of Adam ( it of course being the body of death in Romans 7:24 ) so to then must exist  the mind of Adam , and the resulting language of Adam which includes the perceptions and motives of this fallen frame of reference. For all aound us is in reality the faithless deceptive outlook of life in this world. For however much the Adam nature genuinely claims to know, ( through even the good side of the tree of knowledge )  it also includes a multitude of blind spots especially regarding the ever important eternal issues.  The apostle John writing of Jesus Christ in the first chapter and tenth verse of his gospel says, ” He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him “. In each case the greek word for world in this verse is ‘Kosmos ‘ which primarily means order, arrangement, ornaments, adornment. How astonishing a fact that the creator of this world would not be recognized by those He created to occupy it.  As if in the truest sense from the time of the fall a disinformation as well as misinformation process was started whereby the present and future occupants of the earth became foreigners to the one who had their best interest at heart. Indeed, Satan, using every means available, has gone to great lengths to arrange and order this world in a fashion that it almost seems like there has not been a fall, nor even a need for redemption on the part of the fallen. Nonetheless, the human soul and its ultimate destiny remains the focus of Satans strategy, and that strategy is dependent on blurring the details of what awaits those individuals who do not embrace Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!

        Whereas the spirit of this world ( Kosmos ) goes to great lengths to both obscure the need for salvation, as well as attempt to convince us that we can ” fix ourselves and our world “, the holy spirit seeks for us to instead ” look away to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ” ( Hebrews 12:2 ) In the following verse the writer says, ” lest you become weary and faint in your minds “. Not unlike  the Jews taken captive to Babylon who after so long chose to remain despite the opportunity to leave having become available, we , even as believers in Christ, can exercise our souls ( minds ) in a similar way whereby we accept this alien world , rather than creatively declaring and teaching the victorious finished work of  God in Christ ( not to the exclusion of the full counsel of Gods word ) that the unsaved as well as the saved would learn a spiritual language other than the one found in this hope deprived world.

        In the beginning of Numbers chapter 14 we begin to see the results of the faithless reports brought back to Moses and the children of Israel by ten of the twelve spies sent into the land that God wants for His people. Though as the doubt filled reports spread throughout the congregation not even the encouragement of Caleb and Joshua ( the two spies who trusted in the Lords word concerning  the land ) could keep the people from hearing the all to familiar language of the defeated, as opposed to learning a new heavenly language comprised of faith and victory.

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

Personal encouragement: Read more books rather than watching to much television !

All devotionals of The Hour Glass by O.N.Rider can be found at http://bc3f86.wordpress.com/

Clinging to Our Spiritual and Civil Liberty

        The devil is often in the details when it comes to a centralized governing policy.

 

        Lest  Satan should take advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices ( II Corinthians 2:11 NKJV )  Being the chief proponent of the fall of men, Satan, ( the archangel Lucifer ) having access today to even more sophisticated forms of  ” false light ” has nonetheless the same unchanging goal through which he seeks to confuse, mislead, and control humanity. And because of an increase in amoralistic behavior in this age this nonbelieving world thus offers him and his hosts even greater places to hide and operate ; whereas we as christian believers need to be ever more vigilant and discerning as the methods of the deceiver(s) grows ever more proficient.

        ” Goodness “, and or that which seems generally right, is such a powerfull selling point for anyone trying to further their own agenda. Though even in the gospel of Matthew ( chapter 19 ), Christ, having been referred to as ” Good Master “, declines such a title replying that only God is good. Today, someone trying to convince us of their good intentions apart from” them ” having a notable personal yieldedness ( humility ) to God should cause us to question their motives as well as the things they advocate as being in our best interest, whether that be a preacher promoting spiritual obedience and dependency through lawful scriptural interpretation, or elitest politicians seeking to control the masses through central governing plans. For however imperfect it can potentially be in allowing people with values the right to exercise their free will it is nothing compared to the oppression souls can experience once they have forfeited their God given freedoms both spiritually and physically on behalf of dead religion and or innefficient secular bureaucracies.

        From the perspective of the lawfully controlling pulpit the tendency is to believe that the concrete definition that religious law offers can be the prevention all christians need to live an obedient righteous life. Yet such a mindset only succeeds in causing one to believe that the building up of the church consists more of a dependency on knowing what it lacks rather than what it has victoriously already become in the eyes of God ( positional truth ). Obviously it is healthy to teach the body of Christ the full counsel of Gods word provided that they understand primarily that it is by grace through faith that they can grow in the knowledge of the victorious freedom that Christ attained on their behalf as opposed to attempting to live out religious law through earthly works.

        On the other hand when politicians make overtures towards making our lifes better we must be wary of once again having little or no choice but to hitch our wagons to their all to often overbearing fractured ideas. For any governments desire to intervene in the lifes of their citzenry beyond that which the average citizen would consider acceptable in intervening in their neighbors life for example ( let alone in the lifes of perfect strangers ) is less a cause for good and more of a case of the so-called chosen few ( nonbelievers ? ) claiming to know whats best for the many. And for the Adam life exercising control becomes all to often an irresistable soulish stimulative need that is a result of the emptiness of the fall along with the self gratification that one seeks from it in distracting them from the fallen natures ever present existence.

        In Numbers 13 the Lord tells Moses to send twelve men to spy out the land of Canaan which he purposes to give to the children of Israel. After forty days the men report back to Moses that indeed the land flows with milk and honey though with the exception of Joshua and Caleb all the other men voice their grave doubts as to Israels ability to overcome the people living there. Now if one were to survey the landscape of our worlds political and spiritual situation it would not be hard to react like those ten spies returning from their mission from Canaan. Though as believers in Christ we must mindfully internalize that much like the land of Canaan which the Lord gave to Israel so to has that same God in Christ given us a victorious faith by which we can move mountains. Spiritual and otherwise.

 

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

Personal encouragement: Read more books rather than watching to much television !

All devotionals of the Hour Glass by O.N.Rider can be found at http://bc3f86.wordpress.com/

The Groaning of Creation

        Order associated with creation contrasts the disorder of souls unconvinced of their eternal destiny.

 

        For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. ( Romans 8:19 NKJV ) Though it is safe to say that creation is a result of Gods hand its ultimate fall ( from grace ) surely is not. Consequently, there is an inherent emptiness that afflicts the human condition that even genuine born again believers can at times experience ( vs. 23 ). And so apart from a healthy holy spirit internalization of the blood bought positional favor that Christ avails us no amount of human effort can successfully fill such a spiritual void.

        Surely there is no shortage of people ( nonbelievers ? ) willing to dispel any notion of an Adamic fall as well as the spiritual emptiness that ensued, though one only has to spend time watching or listening to the endless supply and focus of bad news that pours out from the medias collective soul to realize that despite the human ability to portray it otherwise we as Gods creation indeed tend to waunder through desert places. And much like the result of going physically without water for a long period of time so to does the human soul thirst for the spiritual assurance that only its creator can give.

        Romans 8:22 says, ” For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now “. Despite a world that in many ways claims the benefits of modernization there is still an unmistakable, unpredictable disorder to life that effects our humanity in ways that are at times beyond comprehension. For as living thinking souls we in the depth of our being seek to understand why it is that life is all to often flawed and thus afflicted with the what could have been(s) rather than what is. And though nonbelievers as well as some believers often mistakenly seek the answers to such questions from an earthly perspective such answers are often faithless and therefore spiritually infected as a result. Infected in the sense that Christs humanity is redefined as one whos essence is of this limited world rather than the miraculous heavenly one that he indeed came from.

        In Mattew 19 a rich young man approaches the Lord asking what he has to do to inherit eternal life, to which  Christ ultimately replies that he should sell what he has, and give it to the poor, and come and follow Him which upon hearing the young man went away sorrowful for he had great possessions. Christ then turned to his disciples and says, ” it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom “, which astonishes his disciples. Jesus then added,” with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible “. Note that the Lord did not say that the rich could not go to heaven; and using this rich young man as an example let us assume Christs death and miraculous resurrection became known to him at some point it would then possibly be at that point  he realized all that he had, and all that he did mattered little as compared to what God in Christ are capable of. ( such as raising one from the dead ) Thus the groanings of creation (vs 22 ), that await the revelation of the sons of God (vs. 19 ), is having the conversion of ones doctrinal understanding go from what ’we’ think ‘we’ have to do to please God, to what the love of Christ has already victoriously done to please God on our behalf. Such positional thinking should be the foundation of all that the holy spirit ultimately leads us to do once we are saved.

        Beginning in Numbers chapter 11 the children of Israel began to complain more and more to Moses primarily concerning their limited physical diet ( Not to the exclusion of their need for a healthy spiritual diet as well ). In fact so heavy was this burden on Moses that in verse 14 he communicates this to the Lord. Gods answer is to have Moses gather the 70 elders and have the same Spirit that is upon Moses be placed upon them that they could serve the Lord as Moses did. And just as the 70 elders eventually helped Moses bear this burden so to would Gods people be witnessess to an increased presence of the Lords faithful victorious spirit !

 

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

Personal encouragement: Read more books rather than watching to much television !

All devotionals of The Hour Glass by O.N.Rider can be found at http://bc3f86.wordpress.com/

Christianity, Politics and Racism

        Satans deception is in convincing an individual that they can be racist and christian at the same time.

 

        There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christs, then you are Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the promise. ( Galatians 3:28-29 NKJV ) It is to be expected of a nonbelieving world that it would have racial strife and cultural division, though when such problems can be said of believers in Christ as well then the type of Christianity one is thus practicing has sadly more to do with the failed Adamic expectations of this world, rather than the victorious hope of the one to come.

        Obviously there are many problems in life that are essentially unavoidable and at the same time conveniently used by the Lord in His plan for our lives. Some external problems in fact can become so serious that it is best to deal with them lawfully for the good and safety of all. On the other hand an individual can have internal problems within their soul that are unquestionably a result of the fallen man and at times even reinforced by likeminded fallen individuals. In some cases such problems can even be a result of, or reinforced by a so-called christian pulpit that conveys a message that only succeeds in strengthening the problematic ways of such troubled souls.

        In Galatians chapter 5 and verses 19-21 while referring to behavior(s) in life that suggest one will not inherit the kingdom of God the apostle Paul in verse 20 mentions,” idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions ,jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, dissensions, and heresies”. Now let us be clear that once a sinner receives Jesus as their savior his or her sin ,past, present, and future are thus paid for by the blood of Christ and not even the sin they have yet to commit can keep them from a heavenly destiny. Nonetheless, it is also possible to think one belongs to the Lord ( religiously speaking ) yet that not be the case. Matthew 7:21-23 refers to ones who have supposedly prophesied in Christs name, cast out demons in His name, as well as having done wonders in His name yet are referred to as those who “practice lawlessness” and were thus prevented from inheriting the kingdom of God.

        If as a preacher my preaching is often weighed down with a message overly concerned with social ills ( politics ? ) though I may be well intentioned I unfortunately may be misled as to how much this world ( the cosmos ) can change. Thats not to suggest that christians should not voice their convictions, or even become public servants, but one must first realize that in Adam there is simply no eternal light capable of changing things for truly good. In fact, according to Romans 8:7,  ” the carnal mind ( Adam ) is at emnity ( opposed ) to God, and is not subject to the law of God nor can be “. Consequently, if I consider myself a believer in Christ then I will not be so “easily” drawn into Adamic affairs to the extent that I become hateful and even jealous of others more or less fortunate than myself. I will not be easily contentious and as a result prone to outbursts of wrath. And lastly according to the previously mentioned verse in Galatians I will not let selfish ambition “rule” my soul causing dissension and heresies all of which mislead believers and nonbelievers alike. At the end of Johns gospel, Peter, having been told by the Lord about a seemingly dissapointing portion of his future inquires as to Johns future as well, to which  Jesus replies haltingly that Peter should instead be more occupied with following his Lord!

        As we continue our journey through The Old Testament we once again find ourselves in the Book of Numbers the 10th chapter. And as the children of Israel depart Moses finds out that his father-in law ( a Midianite ) has decided to return home rather than take the journey. In verse 32 in an attempt to convince his father-in law otherwise he then tells him that whatever good the Lord shows the children of Israel they will extend the same to him. For in doing so, Moses, a true heir of the promises of God, seeks to assure through the faith of Abraham that all are one in the family of God.

 

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

Personal encouragement: Read more books rather than watching to much television!

All devotionals of The Hour Glass by O.N.Rider can be found at http://bc3f86.wordpress.com/

Avoiding a Life Built on Sand

        In and of itself Christs victory is the foundation and reason for true faith

 

        “ But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. ” ( Matthew 7:26-27 KJV ) Anyone who has ever been to the beach and witnessed sand structures being built on the shore realizes that regardless of how impressive ones work might be once the tide returns the only thing left will be the memory of such an effort. So to can such a comparison be made to the human soul if we do not see the need for the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ to speak for us eternally. For without such a conversion as well a spiritual understanding of Gods word beyond dead religious letter we will find ourself overwhelmed by this life as opposed to finding refuge in the storm.

        That a soul would end up going to hell when the Lord has made a provision to avoid such a tragedy is in itself horrific, yet there is also something terribly sad when as a believer in Christ one never quite understands how to use the word of God as a life giving refuge. For though the full counsel of Gods word contains definition that is to our advantage found therein are also doctrinal, positional, and victorious absolutes that not even the hardiest attack by Satan can touch. And though we never want to neglect the importance of all scripture it is in the interest of ones faith that they develop a ‘ laser ‘ like interest in such scriptural specifics ; ( Ephesians 2:6, John 19:30 as examples ) and the reasons are we as humans can to easily slide into a self/works/ religious mentality which draws on the energy of the flesh, rather than a sensitivity to the mind of Christ, and or the holy spirit. For example, if an auto mechanic focuses more on customer service rather than car repair than that mechanic is missing the point. Thats not to suggest that customer service is not important, but one must realize no matter how good one is with the customer if there is not a certain level of understanding with regard to repairing the automobile then no amount of quality customer relations can make up for a lack of technical understanding. In a similar way if as a believer in Christ I genuinely see the need to be a good christian testimony yet fail to recognize what it is especially from Gods word that spiritually sustains my faith in such an effort then the complexity of the human condition coupled with the sophistication of spiritual warfare will quite possibly turn one from a grace ( unmerited favor ) believer to a works ( merited favor ) one. Consequently, a life built on sand ( as referred to in the opening verse ) is one that originates from the mind.

        Obviously, as a believer we need to firstly be associated with a body of believers ( a church ) as well as a pastor/teacher that ministers from this position of grace through faith, rather than law through works. And as important as even the hard words of the faith ( the cross, sin, hell, evangelism- The Hour Glass hopefully an example of the latter ) can be to any believers life even more importantly are the victorious unchanging absolutes that every believer receives and thus has access to once they have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. Romans 5:1-2 says, ” Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace ( unmerited favor ) in which we stand ( positional truth ) and rejoice in hope of the glory of God “.

        In Numbers 10 the Lord tells Moses to make two silver trumpets to be used for the calling or notifying of the children of Israel according to different requests. Not long after this the congregation as a whole departs from Sinai to set out for the land of promise. And as their journey takes them through wilderness and desert their spiritual growth ( both personally and corporately ) not only depends on the faithfulness of God, but also in their ( spiritual ) ears discerning the specific sound(s) of Gods victorious  trumpet !

 

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

Personal encouragement: Read more books rather than watching to much television !

All devotionals of The Hour Glass by O.N.Rider can be found at http://bc3f86.wordpress.com/

Allowing the Word of God to be Our Counsel

        Biblical counsel should be more than just morally instructive it should be spiritually inspiring.

 

        Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him  ( God ), he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat …….. ( Numbers 7:89  NKJV ) The term council is not usually something we associate with biblical guidance. Instead ( especially today ) council has a llegal connotation to it suggesting ones lawful or llegal rights ; so when we allow the word of God to be our council we are not excluding llegality though more importantly we are including ever important spirituality into the equation. And the fact that we are dealing with things sourced in the spiritual realm suggests once again the importance of knowing the rights we as the created have been given by God our spiritual creator.

        For a moment step back and try to ponder the totality of creation beginning with the earth and all it contains, as well as the creation of humanity and all it contains, both physically as well as soulfully. Needlesss to say there is much to contemplate and though from the natural standpoint it can seem both chaotic and disorganized, from a heavenly view there has been a remarkable even miraculous consistency to creation despite the damage incurred from The Fall. ( As an example the amount of rain that falls on the earth annually is basically the same year after year give or take a small amount leading one to the conclusion that any concerns regarding rainfall on our precious earth has less to do with how much falls as much as where it falls ).

        I Corinthians 13:12 says, ” For now we see through a glass dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am also known. ” Creation, as it stands, is something to be marvelously impressed with. Our personal existence, regardless of even ones sense of insignificance, is something to be in awe of as well if we perceive things beyond the physical, and realize that we indeed are related to the spiritual realm though the specifics and reality of such a relationship is often subject to religious interpretation and even spiritual deception. Consequently, as impressive as creation can appear how much more attentitive should we thus be regarding the spiritual world that cannot be seen, especially considering that certain elements of this realm are more than willing to deceive us right into eternal damnation !

        That God would allow humans to be deceived and go to hell has surely been a subject of debate since such a revelation came to be. And despite I Timothy 2:4 saying , God ” desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth ” it really depends on ones free will and or a personal ” yieldedness ” that allows the victorious good news of the Gospel to penetrate the darkened Adamic soul. And though the Lord is quite capable of bringing about instant ” yieldedness ” such a revelation is generally reached through the full counsel of Gods word with a special emphasis on the positional absolutes of Christs faith producing finished work redemptive victory. For it is because of such a perspective that a human will begin to trust in the Lord realizing that not only does such a mindset give one faith filled experiential hope, it is in reality the only genuine cause for hope.

        Consequently, when we allow the word of God to be our council it is not just Moses going into the tabernacle to receive directions from Gods word ( as in the opening verse ), but that he ( as well as ourselves ) would also realize that it is because of the Lords spiritual authority and therefore llegal right that we are even allowed before the mercy seat as we share and walk in His unique victory.

 

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

Personal encouragement: Read more books rather than watching to much television !

All devotionals of The Hour Glass by O.N.Rider can be found at http://bc3f86.wordpress.com/

Properly Interpreting Gods Countenance

        How we interpret Gods countenance personally depends on how we interpret His heart scripturally.

 

        Speak to Aaron and his sons saying, ” This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them : the Lord bless you and keep you ; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you ; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. ( Numbers 6: 23-26 NKJV ) Seemingly at the end of an intensified instruction process regarding the tabernacle the Lord then speaks to His children through Moses saying that His desire is to bless them ; something that humans are prone to forget in the midst of any exhaustive process ; a process that we can nonetheless trust was essential for these specific immature believers. And the fact that the  Lord once again refers to them as children is a reminder that they were still in this important learning process.

        Though the process these Israelites were subject to does not specifically apply to us today that does not lessen the importance it took on at the time it occured ; for this was a different time in mankinds history. In fact important enough for God to seclude a people in the wildernesss that history ( scripture ) could record what specifically happened during this time. And even if one does not fully understand all that it entailed it nonetheless is possible to understand and was ultimately a part of the all important redemption process from which believers in Christ have benefitted.

        Much like the process the children of Israel were going through so to is the rest of the bible ( as well as our own lives ) a process as well. A process that is used to impact the soul in ways the Lord in His wisdom deems neccessary. Looking back at the children of Israel and their waunderings through the desert one is inclined to focus on the negative aspects of it rather than the awe and wonder that went through the hearts and minds of those who realized that the creator of heaven and earth was taking them and their people by the hand and leading them out of spiritual darkness ( the idolatry and bondage of Egypt ) into a victoriously distinct relationship whether they understood it, embraced it, or believed they deserved it. For not unlike the process of birth, which can be uncomfortable, the end result would nonetheless be miraculous !

        Sadly, even when, as the opening verses state, the Lords desire is to be gracious and give individuals peace the at times difficulty of the process is nonetheless how to many have interpreted our merciful Lords intentions and character. For other than Christianity what other religion offers a redeemer at the beginning and end of a redemption process. Whereby to those other religions I say, ” Without such a victorious hope, what hope have you” ? And even in Christianity do we tend to feed to much off of the at times hopeless spiritual projections of the process, rather than the victorious eternal facts whereby an eternal God came to earth to help us distinguish between that which is earthly and religious, and that which is eternal and thus faith strengthening.

        Though lifes journey for most people is different that process by which the Lord tries to impact us is really not. For despite different peoples ( and thus religions ) interpreting the creator in different ways the fact is that our Lord is a miracle worker. Miraculous in the sense that this world even exists. And with the human species having begun with Adam and Eve there has nonetheless been a continual procession leading even up to you and I. A world that has unfortunately become so commonplace that it can to easily be taken for granted and accepted at face value along with the difficulties and sometimes misery that accompanies what in reality is the full blown fruition of the fall. And most tragically mans religion has taken on such a non victorious faithlessness it discourages the most spiritually needy among us from even opening their eyes to allow the love filled countenance of God in Christ to shine upon them and give them peace.

 

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

Personal encouragement: Read more books rather than watching to much television !

All devotionals of The Hour Glass by O.N.Rider can be found at http://bc3f86.wordpress.com/

A Peace for Our Time

        Peace on earth is sadly impossible to attain without eternal peace in the soul.

 

        And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. ( Ephesians 2:17 NKJV ) There may be nothing more difficult to convince people of and maintain than peace. Whether we are talking about the internal subjective peace that can possess a human soul, or an external physical peace which can contribute to ones sense of safeness and safety. The latter is a result of the former for generally speaking one must experience peace within in order to express it without.

        Memory can play a roll in whether individuals successfully believe and walk in the peace that Christ preached for found in ones memory may be that which has sinfully been done to them, or that which they have sinfully commited on their own, ( either of which have been dealt with through the blood of Christ ) the damage of  which, though it can never remove a christian from Christs hand, it can weaken our faith and therefore steal ones ever precious inward peace. For if the fallen Adam nature is responsible for taking away our peace the holy spirit and the word of God are the means through which we protect it.

        Psalm 119:105 says, ” Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path. ” In this verse it is interesting that it is the word that guides our walk and or the direction in which a believer moves. If for instance the word of God conveyed llegalistically was the message a believer consistently heard and thus internalized then one may not be able to suggest that the word of God used in such a case was as brightly lit a lamp as it could be. A lamp nonetheless, but one limited in its ability to shed light on the path ahead. For if one were to move in the dark with a poorly lit lamp then that movement would probably be cautious and even prone to mistakes. For it is common sense that the brighter ones lamp the better one will be able to navigate their way through dark places.

        In Matthew 25 as the ten virgins waited for the bridegroom ( Christ ) five of the virgins trimmed and maintained their lamps, while the other five slumbered and slept. The first five operated in victorious expectations while the latter five seem unenlightened as to the magnitude of the bridegrooms impact on them and their world. And just as those first five virgins maintained their lamps so to must a balanced teaching of the word of God be like maintenance to our soul though as we receive such ever helpful wisdom and insight we should never consider such things more preeminent than our bridegroom and the victorious position he holds on our behalf. The sleeping and slumbering virgins are quite possibly those who have mistakenly valued those things they can claim as their own ( such as wisdom and insight ) above the heavenly identity that comes from Christ and Christ alone.

        One might suggest that I am merely splitting hairs when it comes to the precise preaching of the word. And to that I would only point to II Thessalonians 2:7 a  which says, ” For the mystery of lawlessness ( iniquity ) is already at work “. That iniquity is a mystery is in itself a sobering thought, but the fact that through the supernatural powers of Satan it is also operating ( working ) is something to be very much on guard against. And taking into consideration that every believer can be deceived among the many healthy items of our scriptural diet we must thus purpose to ingest an ample supply of Christs unique positional finished work victory in order to stave off the possibilty of spiritual infection and divisiveness.

        As we begin our journey through the Book of Numbers take note that the Hebrew title of the book ( the first word in the Hebrew text ) means ” in the wilderness ” which included an astonishing 40 years before the Hebrews finally entered the land of promise. And surely from this perspective it is easy to question those who failed to enter though more importantly let our faith be strengthened in the knowledge that many did because the peace filled victorious promises of God are yea and amen !

 

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

Personal encouragement: Read more books rather than watching to much television !

All devotionals of The Hour Glass by O.N.Rider can be found at http://bc3f86.wordpress.com/