Tree 2 Tree

 

In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, giving them freedom but also placing before them the tree of knowledge of good and evil, with a command not to eat the fruit from it. Yet, in their disobedience, they chose to eat from the forbidden tree, ushering in sin and separation from God.

But God, in His infinite love and mercy, had a plan for redemption from the beginning. He knew that to reconcile humanity to Himself, a sacrifice was necessary. And so, in His perfect timing, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, to take upon Himself the sins of the world.

It should come as no coincidence that Jesus met his fate on a tree, the cross. Just as Adam and his bride’s sin was tied to a tree, then so too should our salvation. Jesus willingly bore the weight of our sins on the cross, suffering and dying so that we might have forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

Through Jesus’s death and subsequent resurrection, the curse of sin and death was broken. He became the new Adam, undoing the consequences of Adam’s disobedience and offering us the gift of eternal life.

So, my brothers and sisters, let us never forget the depth of God’s love for us, demonstrated in the sacrifice of His Son. Let us turn to Him in repentance and faith, embracing the redemption and new life offered through Jesus Christ.

May we live each day in gratitude for the grace poured out on the cross, and may we strive to walk in obedience and love, knowing that we have been redeemed by the holy blood of the Lamb. Amen.

1 John 2:15-17 Reflection

Dearly beloved,

There is a timeless wisdom to be found in the first letter of John, chapter 2, verses 15-17. In these verses John implores us not to love the world or the things in the world. He lays bare the fleeting nature of worldly desires with a challenge to embrace the eternal will of God. It is essential to recognize the pervasive influence of the world around us. Everywhere we turn, we are bombarded with messages urging us to chase after material wealth, seek validation through earthly measures, and indulge in temporary pleasures. But John warns us that such pursuits are ultimately hollow and devoid of true fulfillment.

He identifies three categories of worldly desires. The desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life. These temptations may manifest differently in each of our lives, but their underlying nature remains the same - drawing us away from God and into the empty promises of the world.

Yet, amidst the warning, John offers us hope. He reminds us that the world and its desires are passing away but whoever does the will of The Lord abides forever. This is a profound reassurance for us as believers. It means that when we align our lives with God’s eternal will, we become partakers in His everlasting kingdom.

So what does it mean to do the will of God? It means living a life characterized by love, compassion, and obedience to His commandments. It means prioritizing our relationship with Jesus above all else, and seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our lives. It means we must find our true identity and purpose in Him alone.

As you reflect on these verses, I want you to ask yourself: Am I allowing the abundance of the world to distract me from God’s will for my life? Am I seeking fulfillment in temporary pleasures? Or, am I pursuing the lasting joy that comes from abiding in Him. Remember that Satan uses entertainment as a cheap replacement for joy.

My dear friends, let us heed John’s admonition and turn our hearts towards the eternal will of God. Let us resist temptation, and strive to live in accordance with His perfect plan for us. I know that the seasons of waiting can seem long, but the reward is sweet beyond imagination - just hold on. As we hold on, I pray that you experience an abundance of blessings and everlasting joy that comes from walking in the light. May The Lord give us strength and wisdom to live beyond the world and embrace His eternal will everyday. Amen.

Sin or Righteousness - Romans 6:16

My beloved,

Romans 6:16 says, “Surely you know that you become the slave of whatever you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” In this verse, the Apostle Paul presents us with a powerful and timeless truth that speaks directly to our modern world. We are faced with countless choices everyday - choices that ultimately shape our lives and determine our destinies. We can either choose to be slaves to sin, following its deceitful promises that lead only to destruction, or we can choose to be slaves of obedience to God, which leads to righteousness and eternal life.

In today’s world more than ever, where temptations abound and moral relativism seeks to blur the lines between right and wrong, it's more important to take heed to Paul’s words. We must be vigilant in guarding our hearts and minds against the subtle traps of sin that seek to ensnare us. We cannot afford to be passive in our spiritual lives, allowing ourselves to be led astray by the flirting pleasures of this world.

Instead, let us be intentional in our pursuit of righteousness, seeking first the kingdom and His holiness in all that we do. Let us present ourselves as living sacrifices, knowing and pleasing to God, refusing to conform to the twisted patterns of this world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds.

By living in obedience to God Almighty, we not only experience the abundant life that Jesus promised, but also become vessels of His grace, and agents of His love in a world that so desperately needs it. Our obedience is not a burden but a privilege - for we are called by name to be children of the most high - a pathway to true freedom and fulfillment. 

So let us choose wisely who we serve. Will we be slaves to the enemy, slaves to sin, shackled by its chains and destined for destruction? Or will we be slaves of obedience to God, walking in the light of His truth and experiencing the fullness of His blessings?

I pray that we all take Paul’s words in Romans to heart and live each day with the knowledge that our choices have very real and eternal consequences. And may we strive to be faithful stewards of the freedom we have been given, using it to give thanks and glory to God, acknowledging His kingdom here on earth. Amen.

Stars, Idols, and Wordly Desires.

How do we give up the materialistic and our worldly desires, yet still live a somewhat “normal” life? Does living a life with our hearts given to Jesus really mean that we can no longer partake in fun activities? Does it mean that we must live our earthly life impoverished, uneducated, homeless, and without any possessions; or, can we still walk with Christ, know Him, pray to/with Him, and still enjoy our time on our earthly home? Is it possible to have wants and desires, act on them, but give the glory to God?

I understand that the world has fallen and I know that the enemy has infiltrated just about every aspect and medium including the Holy Church - Satan mocks our desire to belong to social groups very difficult. Music, television, politics, and even religion, have all become victims to the snake. But at what point do we as Christians draw the line in the sand? Our mighty God, who created all that is seen and unseen, surely wants us to enjoy His works.

A good starting place to understand how the viper has turned our home into a place of evil is at the marvels of the very ground we walk on. I will list a few of The Lord’s finest creations and point out where that damned fallen angel manipulates them for his selfish gain.

Take the word star, it holds biblical significance most notably in the story of the Magi following the northern star in the east to the town of Bethlehem to find the newborn king. By us referring to popular media as stars, the devil is making the birth of the sole man who could defeat him. Using ‘star’ for any reason other than describing an astral cluster of light is one of the worldly things we can give up doing, and by doing so, we shove it right back in Satan's ugly face.

Similarly to ‘star’, is the overuse of referring to people as idols. The Lord said in Exodus 20:4-5, “You must not make any idols. Don’t make any statues or pictures of anything up in the sky or of anything on the earth, or of anything down in the water. Don’t worship or serve idols of any kind because I, The Lord, am your God. I hate my people worshiping other gods. People who sin against me become my enemies, and I will punish them, and I will punish their children, their grandchildren, and even their great-grandchildren.” This one is pretty self explanatory, but we tend to worship a lot of  idols these days, including our cell phones. I recently heard a fantastic saying that what you bow for is what you worship. We certainly lower our heads and bow to our phones, our computers, and our books and magazines. When was the last time you bowed your head to Jesus?

The number of people who have an unhealthy relationship with their devices is staggering. Friendships are completely different now than when I was a child. My friends and I rode our bikes or walked all over town. We would stay out playing until the street lights came on. Not a phone in sight, just genuine human connection and bonding. I’m afraid that children today no longer play outside, or ride a bike, or build a tree-house. Instead of playing games like tag, street hockey, or even just hanging around a playground, they sit alone and play video games; Fantasy sports have a greater participation than real sports do. When they get together in a group, not a single one of them talks, they just sit around scrolling social media and texting.

Speaking about social media, there are couples that will do nothing but spend their time on social media apps rather than with their spouses. Cell phones have made the rates of infidelity sky rocket. It used to be that if you had a craving for a particular meal or a certain household item, that you had to plan it out and go to the store… Now there is instant online shopping and food delivery. The top apps and websites used on smartphones are: 

• Pornography

• Social Media

• Shopping 

• Dating/Hook-ups

Romans 6:16 states, “Surely you know that you become slaves of whatever you give yourself to. Anything or anyone you follow will be your master.” I think it is safe to say that Apple knew exactly what they were doing with their name and logo. It is the perfect tool for the enemy to use to divide the family unit, pit brother vs. brother, and invite sin into everyone’s homes.

Of course technology has its good qualities. Online shopping is a wonderful tool for a lot of people. It helped out in a big way during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being able to order provisions and meals is great for the elderly, sick, and those without transportation to safely shop for the items they need. I would even say that it has helped small, local, businesses sell their products on a global scale. 

Social sites allow people from all over the world to connect in ways we could only dream about a few years ago. In an instant you can see the sites and sounds of other cultures, watch live footage of events in real time, and stream unbiased news from all over. It has turned everyone with access to a device into a witness with the ability to broadcast uncensored and propaganda free, putting those on the front lines in a position to tell the truth like never before. 

Musicians are able to share their demos and records without an industry deal. Artists and authors can share their works and talents to massive audiences. We can research and learn just about anything we want to without paying an expensive tuition or countless hours in a school or library. There are even high marriage rates thanks to online dating. Having the ability to chat with people you otherwise might never meet, and get a chance to know someone before committing to visit in person.  My wife and I actually met using an online dating site.

So as you can see, it is not all doom and gloom. Where Satan uses tools to manipulate and destroy, children of the Most High find ways to bring love into the conversation.

I am a firm believer that God wants us to enjoy the fruits of the vine so long as we give Him His rightful glory and cause no harm towards one another. It is my opinion that I do not think the spirit of God never wants us to have fun, and spend our lives completely void of entertainment. The Lord Jesus would encourage us to tell jokes, to laugh, to play, to hike and to swim. He would want us to go boating, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, roller coaster riding, playing games, playing sports, doing puzzles, and watching movies. Jesus would want us to play and listen to our favorite songs,  go to concerts, and to dance along. He would want us to pursue our passions, to make art, to cook and eat delicious food and drinks. 

He wants us to enjoy being with our friends and family, to find beauty in the opposite sex, and marvel in the bliss of making love with our partner. He wants all of these things for us but to do so under the constructs of the commandments. For example, when you listen to music, do not listen to filth, to songs that glorify worldly things like murder, money, sexual assault, alcohol and drug use (recovery is one thing), and most certainly do not idolize the musician. Enjoy movies and television shows, but do not consume pornography, which poisons the mind with lust for other people other than your spouse, do not idolize the actors, do not watch or create films that include things like those mentioned above. The same goes for visual art, literature , and sexual practices. Keep in mind that God hates the sin, but loves the sinner. 

We find it written throughout the scriptures that God hates sin. Thessalonians 4:7 says, “ God chose us to be holy, He does not want us to live in sin.” The key that unlocks the door to a holy life is found in the art of balance. It is okay if you would like to have a drink of alcohol from time to time. A good glass of wine is an amazing accompaniment to a delicious dinner. It is not okay to get wasted drunk. There is a balance. It is okay to use the internet, but do not become compulsive over it. It is perfectly fine and even encouraged for us to make music, so long as that music praises the holy name of God.