They profess that they know God.
Titus
{1:14} Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
{1:15} Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
{1:16} They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate
They profess that they know God.
How many people do you know profess to know God? A lot? A few? Do you profess to know God?
People do profess it, some loud, some not so loud.
Do you know people that profess to know God but seem very ungodly?
The Bible tells us there are people like that. Think about it, really think.
Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men that turn from the truth- what is the truth? Jesus our Savior is the truth. Anything that turns us from Jesus, from the message that Jesus taught, from Salvation by grace through Jesus Christ, from the love that is God is not of God and they are the commandments of men, they are listening to fables. People like to listen to those that will tell them pleasing things, they like to hear things that make them feel good, that make them feel as if they know God even if they don't. Many people follow other people rather than God. People need to seek God and God alone, not things other people are seeking. Just because you hear something that sounds about right, don't be fooled, check it, go to the word of God, go to the Bible seek answers for yourself. We're all accountable for ourselves, for what we choose to believe in. No one else is accountable for you and what you believe. You can say all you want that you were *raised* a certain way and that's why you believe as you do but in the end you have to be able to say you studied for yourself, that you sought the truth for yourself. You won't be able to blame anyone else for what you believe. You have eyes to see, you have the discernment you need by studying the word of God, by praying for guidance, by seeking God you must be able to understand that there are going to be many who profess to know God, but they don't.
Unto the pure all things are pure, but until them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Mind and conscience defiled.
We hear of the atrocities of people and the inhumane things they do to others and this is why... their minds and conscience are defiled. They profess God and in works they deny him. No, we're not saved by works, but we can know people by their works. In works if someone denies Christ, they are not of Christ.
Matthew
{7:15} Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
{7:16} Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
{7:17} Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
{7:18} A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
{7:19} Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
{7:20} Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
{7:21} Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. {7:22} Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
{7:23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
{7:24} Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock
{7:25} And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
{7:26} And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: {7:27} And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
{7:28} And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine
{7:29} For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes.
Please Lord help us all to not be wolves in sheep's clothing even unwittingly thinking we know you. We need to know you Lord, please to that end bring us. We need to be wise in you, only in you not of ourselves. Please Lord help us to be pure in you, not defiled, not following those who claim to know you but don't know you at all. In the name of your son our savior Jesus Christ, by His grace and mercy, by love.
Amen.
11/28/09
Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
He's coming but we don't know when. It's proper to give warning when you go visiting isn't it? In some cases to ask permission to visit. Having Ol' Aunt Agna show up on your doorstep without nary a phone call or even a post card, well that's not a very pleasant surprise is it? Imagine standing there in your bathrobe, hair all sticking out this way and that, the remainder of last night's wrinkle cream caked in a few wrinkle crevices, with coffee on your breath and a few dribbles of it on that bath robe and there she is, Ol' Aunt Agna smiling away with every white hair on her perfectly coiffed head in place, a delicate patting of powder on her face, red rosy cheeks and sparkling blue eyes. She's happy to be there, happy to surprise you and now expects you to be happy to see her when all you can think about is...OH NO! Why didn't she call first! I would have prepared, I would have been ready! I would have had the numbers to a few decent motels close at hand. Too late. You could shut the door in her face, you could tell her she's got the wrong address while using a fake accent, you could apologize and tell her to come back later that the kiddos are all sick and very contagious. But she's not old and senile, or rather she's not senile just old and she'd know that if you tried to do anything but invite her inside her little surprise would have been a very bad one and who wants to hurt sweet Ol' Agna's feelings? The old woman never hurt a flea. The thing is, you really do love Ol' Aunt Agna and would love to have her visit, you just wanted to be prepared for her, ready for her arrival. You wanted your untidy house tided, your unruly mop of hair tamed, you wanted the children in their best clothes, not flopped about in their raggedy but very comfortable jammies. Had you known she was coming you would have been happy to see her there on your doorstep.
How many people have that sort of relationship with Christ? You want Him to visit, you want Him to return to redeem you from earth and take you home with Him to heaven to live a life of eternity in love with Him. Yet perhaps you want to know when He's coming so you can be ready, rather than be ready at all times for Him. How many people consider it a waste of time to be watching when you don't know when to expect Him? Being in a constant state of readiness and watching is perhaps considered tedious? If so, if that's the way of it don't you realize that you won't be happy in heaven? You aren't prepared. Your heart isn't caught up with the Lord's love.
Think of it this way--
Your lover is called away overseas unexpectedly and tells you they don't have a clue when they'll return it could be tomorrow or next year, possible two or three years, it's a top secret mission. You watch your lover go and now begins the waiting. Every day could be the day of your lover's return. This is someone you've truly fallen deeply in love with and it's unthinkable that the love would disappear. You're prepared to wait for eternity for your lover to return. Every day you wake up and wonder, is this the day? Will my lover return today? On the chance that your lover just might come back you make sure you're ready. No, you don't go all out everyday with party streamers or dusting off the special occasion balloons, but you are prepared in your heart for the return of one so dear to you. You are ready, truly ready at any time of the day for your lover to come back, ready to welcome them with open arms. There isn't a moment that you'd ever think - 'I hope they don't come back just yet, I'm not ready.' You don't even care if you're in your old night clothes or in the middle of a meal. You don't care if you're in the middle of a work project that means the security of keeping your job, you'd still embrace your lover with all the joy and happiness you possess.
There's a big difference in how we watch and wait for Christ to return, isn't there? We can be ready at all times, eager for Him no matter the situation we are in- or we can have reservations about things. If we have reservations we have to ask ourselves if our love for Christ is first and foremost. Our love. We can't put things like our readiness in front of that love, if we do then we have our eyes on ourselves and you know something- we will NEVER be ready in and of ourselves it's only through that love of Christ we are made ready. He won't see the wrinkle cream or the tangled hair, He won't be looking for clothes from the best designers. He's not interested in the dust-free house. Christ wants to be welcomed with open, loving arms ready to embrace Him without a thought at all to self.
Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Keeping our garments, guarding our garments, and what garments are we talking about here?
Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
The white raiment is Christ's righteousness not ours. We need to guard the gift of Christ's righteousness given to us to cloth us. If we aren't covered in Christ's righteousness then we will be naked and all our shame, all our sins, all our unrighteousness will be visible.
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
No wonder we are to guard, to keep our garments they are garments fashioned by Christ Himself to prepare us for the great day of the wedding between Christ and His bride- His church- His people.
We need to look forward to Christ's return, to be eager for Him to come at any moment in time and in our watching we need to forever keep upon us Christ's righteousness- not our own filthy rags. We will be blessed in Him by His mercy and grace now and forever let us be found ready.
Amen.
11/28/10