DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- YOU CAN COUNT ON IT

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – YOU CAN COUNT ON IT

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever." (Revelation 22:1-5)

As John comes to the end of the revelation that God has given him, he sees the next world that God is going to create. There will be no night, no hunger, no curse, and we shall see the face of God.

As we come to the end of the year 2021, we look forward to the future. We hope it will be better, but there are no guarantees. As Believers in the Lord Jesus, our vision goes far beyond next year to eternity.

What John wrote about the future is not just wishful thinking. Three times in these final chapters, God said that what was revealed to John was true. Listen to this testimony: "These are the faithful sayings of God" (19:9); "Write, for these words are true and faithful" (21:5); and, "These words are faithful and true" (22:6). God said it. We can rely on it.

In fact, we can trust all of God's Word. It is true and faithful. We can base our lives on it. We can base our eternal life on it.

As we begin a new year tomorrow, we look not just to 2022, but to the new world that God is preparing for us. It will be fantastic. And it is not just a wild imagination. It is God's promise to us.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE NEW CITY

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE NEW CITY

"Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. .....But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." (Revelation 21:2, 27)

This world is filled with pain and sorrow, death, and crying. But God is going to make all things new (vs. 5). The former things – as they are now – will have passed away. No more sorrow, pain, crying, or death (vs. 4). This is the prospect for those who are listed in the Lamb's Book of Life, who have received God's gift of salvation.

But perhaps the best of all is that we will experience the presence of the Lord God in a way we cannot experience in this life. God will dwell among us (vs. 3). He tabernacled with the Israelites in the Old Testament. And in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit – the very presence of God – dwells in Believers. But in the New Jerusalem, the presence of God will be magnified far beyond what we can experience here. I am looking forward to that day.

So, what is the requirement to get into that city? God has a book that lists those who have lived in faith toward Him. It has been around for a long time. Even Moses was aware of this book (Exodus 32:32-33). My name listed somewhere in a book that records my birth. It defines my privilege of being a citizen of the United States. The privilege of citizenship in the New Jerusalem will be by one thing only: having my name written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Only those who have been born again – those who have received eternal life through faith in Christ – have their spiritual genealogy registered in the Book of Life. That is the requirement for entering the New Jerusalem. By God's grace, I will be there.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS --

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A WORLD WITHOUT SATAN

"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished..." (Revelation 20:1-3)

I can't imagine a world where there is no Satan, no deceiver, loose in this world to do his nefarious acts. What a wonderful world that would be. Someday, it will be when Satan is consigned to a bottomless pit where he will be chained and will not be able to tempt people any more with his great lie.

It was his great lie – the lie – that brought the world into its fallen state that matched his own fallenness. Adam and Eve listened to Satan's lie that they could be like God, and they succumbed to the temptation to disobey God. This was what caused Satan to fall from heaven – because he wanted to be God. Everyone who descended from Adam is identified by the Apostle Paul as those who "exchanged the truth of God for the lie" – that they could be God (Romans 1:25). From the time of Creation, men and women have made themselves the supreme autonomous being, making their own rules and following their own lusts, following Satan's enticement – being a god unto themselves.

Even though Satan is bound, it seems that there will be people who still live with their human fleshly state in the Millennium. They will not be perfect and will do things out of their fleshly nature. That's why there will be a need for rulers and judges. Verse 4 indicates that there will be thrones with people who sit as judges. Earlier in this revelation, it is said that those who are Redeemed by Christ's blood have been made kings and priests to our God "and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:10). There will still be a need for government and judges to provide order to society because of human nature. But the Devil will not be there to take advantage of human frailty.

I don't necessarily want to be a king or a judge but I do want to be there as a servant to the Most High God.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE INVITATION

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE INVITATION

"Then a voice came from the throne saying, 'Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!' And I heard as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 'Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His wife has made herself ready.' And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the linen is the righteous acts of the saints." Then he said to me, 'Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' And he said to me, 'These are the true sayings of God.' " (Revelation 19:5-9)

It is always a joy to receive a wedding invitation. God has given us an invitation to a great marriage supper for His Son and His bride.

As in most weddings, the Bride has adorned herself and is wearing a bright and clean wedding gown to signify her purity. She has made herself ready by her righteous acts. This does not mean that she is has been chosen by her bridegroom because of her righteous deeds, but by her righteous acts, she has adorned herself in preparation for this momentous occasion.

The marriage supper will be beyond imagination. There will be a gigantic heavenly choir providing the music of praise to the Bridegroom. All of heaven will be rejoicing. What a glorious day of celebration that will be.

I have officiated for a good number of weddings. Most of the time, I have been happy to see the bride walk down the aisle in her beautiful white wedding gown signifying her purity to meet her love at the altar.

But not always. I remember the wedding I performed in which I knew that the bride was pregnant. She came to the wedding in a white wedding dress which in my eyes signified her purity, but I knew she was not a virgin. As I stood before the congregation, I said to myself and to the Lord, "Never again will I perform a wedding under these circumstances." Thus, I got out of the marriage business.

I am reminded of the parable Jesus told of a king who threw a feast in honor of his son's marriage (Matthew 22). He sent out invitations to the wedding. Many declined to come. But, there was one man who came to the wedding who did not have the proper wedding garments on and he was cast out. The only clothing that is appropriate for the Lamb's wedding are garments that God provides – fine linen, clean and bright – clothed with Christ's righteousness. We may try to come with own righteousness, but the only acceptable clothing is the righteousness which is of God by faith (Philippians 3:9).

We read this invitation in Revelation 22:21: "And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' And let him who hears say, 'Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.' " As they would say in the South, "Y'all come!"

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- COME OUT

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – COME OUT

"After I these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, 'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.' And I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.' " (Revelation 18:1-4)

Babylon – that is, this world system – has been a dwelling place of demons, a habitation of foul spirits, and everything unclean. We don't have to look very long or deeply into the whole of society to see that this is true – from Hollywood to Wall Street to our nation's capitol. And not just the United States. All of the nations have drunk of the lemonade. The people around us are a part of that fallen world system.

God has word for the righteous: "Come out of her, my people." This is what the Apostle Paul wrote: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.' Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.' 'I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,' says the LORD Almighty." (II Corinthians 6:14-18).

The distinctions that Paul painted are very clear: righteousness and unrighteousness; light and dark; Christ and Belial. The term Belial basically means worthless or wicked, but had become a name for Satan. The fact is that as believers in Christ, we have become the residence of God. We are His people and there should be a clear distinction between us and the world system.

In our focus verses, God calls His people to come out and not be a part of Satan's world-system, lest we suffer the same judgment and plagues as Satan and his kingdom.

Of course, we live in this world and there has to be a certain amount of connection with that world. Of necessity, we are in that world-system, but we don't have to live according to its philosophies and its rules. We do not have to have communion or fellowship with that fallen, evil, foul world that Satan controls.

We are different. We are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own special people, so that we may proclaim the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light" (I Peter 2:9). What an awesome thing that we get to be a part of God's kingdom.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- CHRISTMAS MEDITATION

CHRISTMAS MEDITATION

2021

BIG THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

The quiz show host offers the eager contestant a large box or a small box. The large box may contain a new kitchen or a motorcycle. Or it may be a zonk. On the other hand, the small box (or envelope) may contain diamonds, keys to a new car, a trip to Hawaii, or $5,000 cash. Or it may be a zonk. Which will the contestant choose? The large box or the small box?

Human nature being what it is, the temptation is to take the big box, because we are programmed to believe that big is better. Tall people demand more respect than short people. Large houses are better than small ones. At Christmas, large packages are more desirous than small ones. When I was a kid (a hundred years ago), I was always drawn to the large packages under the Christmas Tree. I thought it had to be something really good.

But that is not always the case. Sometimes the best things come in small packages. After all, a diamond doesn't take up much space.

Come with me to Bethlehem. The eternal God came to earth in a small package. Who woulda thunk? He did not come as an army general riding a white horse with thousands of soldiers at his command. He came as a baby in a manger with nondescript parents, the father a lowly carpenter.

But this small baby grew up to be the greatest man in the history of the world. The centuries were divided by His birth. His followers have numbered in the billions. This single solitary man has changed more lives, commanded more loyalty, and received more adoration than any other person who ever lived.

So when it comes to Christmas, don't discount that baby in a manger just because He came in a small package. He is the greatest gift that this world could ever receive. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in name (John 1:12)." Now that is a huge Christmas gift! And there is no zonk.

                                            Love, Dad

 

                                      One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn't go to college. He never lived in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.

Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race. I am well within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned--put together--have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one, solitary life.

                                                 Attributed to James Allen Francis                               

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A CHRISTMAS CAROL

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A CHRISTMAS CAROL

"They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: 'Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O king of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy, for all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.'" (Revelation 15:3-4)

This is the song of those who are victorious over the beast, who do not bow their knee to the beast nor take his mark of 666 (vs. 2). Their song is a composite of the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb. Moses sang: "I proclaim the name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He" (Deuteronomy 32:3-4). The song of the Lamb is the song of redemption that the 24 elders sang: " You are worthy to take the scroll, and to hope its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priest to our God; and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:9-10).

Even though we are not a part of this special group of people who have victory over the Antichrist in the Tribulation, we also can sing this song of victory. We can proclaim the name of the Lord and ascribe greatness to our God who has redeemed us by His blood and raised us to be kings and priests. He is worthy of all of our praise. On this day before we celebrate the birth of the Savior, let us sing praises to the God of our salvation.

"O come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods" (Psalm 95:1). "Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods...Give to the LORD, Oh families of the peoples, give to the LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering and come into His courts. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!" (Psalm 96:1-9a).

At Christmas time, we sing carols. May this be our song all year long: "Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord."

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS

"Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelations 14:12)

What is the "patience of the saints?" Strong's Concordance gives this definition: "In the N. T. (it is) the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings." It's literal meaning is "to remain under."

We all encounter situations and circumstances which would divert us from our deliberate purpose and loyalty to faith and piety. It is not always trials and sufferings. Sometimes it is the ease of a good life that causes our faith to swerve or be misdirected.

There are two components of the patient saint: obeying God and having faith in the Lord Jesus. They go together like hand and glove. People who lead a good life without faith in Christ are lacking one component. And people who have put their faith in Christ but do not keep God's commandments are lacking the other component.

The patient saint has both. He has an unswerving deliberate purpose to serve God and keep loyalty to the faith. He keeps himself within God's parameters or commandments, and he abides in faith in Christ. It is an intentional staying faithful to the Lord Jesus and His Word.

When I am tempted to stray, either by the ease of a good life or the challenges of trials, I need to remember that God calls me to patient endurance. As Jesus said, "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22, 24;13; Mark 13:13). That is what will keep me through the rough times of life.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE ANTICHRIST

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE ANTICHRIST

"And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?' ....All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:2-6, 8)

The common theme of this chapter is worship, only it is not worship of God but of the Dragon and his emissaries. While there is true worship happening in heaven, there is another kind of worship happening here on earth.

The essence of Satan's program is that He wants to be God and receive worship. That's why he was cast out of heaven in the first place. As an anointed angel in heaven, he wanted to be God (see Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28) and receive the veneration and adoration that belongs to God. Later, he tried to tempt the Lord Jesus, saying, "If You will worship before me, all will be Yours." But Jesus' answer was, "You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only you shall serve" (Luke 4:6-8).

The Apostle Paul, writing about the coming Day of the Lord, said that the man of sin would come, "who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (II Thessalonians 2:3-4).

The common understanding of the term antichrist is that he is against Christ. And that is true. But there is another facet of the prefix "anti" which means, "in place of." Satan does not just stand in opposition to Christ; He wants to take Christ's position as God and be worshiped.

John wrote in his first letter, "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichirst is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour" (I John 3:18). There are millions – maybe billions – of people – who are even now worshiping Satan. I'm not talking about Satanists, but common, everyday people, who are bowing in worship to him, and doing his bidding. They are following his dictates. Instead of worshiping God in wisdom and in truth, they are worshiping other people, material things, or themselves. They have put other things in place of God.

Satan is a great deceiver, and people swallow his line hook, line, and sinker. So it no wonder that during the Tribulation, people will worship his ambassadors.

The word to us is to be careful what we worship. Anything that takes the primary place in our lives is what we worship. Satan wants us to worship him or anything but God. Our commission on earth is to love God. As Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve." The choice is ours: God or antichrist.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE GREAT DRAGON

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE GREAT DRAGON

"And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Revelation 12:17)

This chapter is a summary of the conflict between the dragon, Satan, and the nation of Israel, the descendants of Abraham and Jacob, and by extension, the spiritual offspring of Christ. Satan hates Israel and born again Christians.

Beginning in verse one, there is a woman who is in the labor of child-birth. I believe this is a picture of the nation of Israel because the woman has a garland of twelve stars on her head. Satan knew that God would send a Messiah because of the prophecy to the serpent in Genesis 3:14 that his head would be bruised. He did not know who that Messiah would be, but he knew that it would be of the seed of Abraham. In verse 4, the dragon is waiting for the birth of a child in order to destroy the Child as soon as it was born.

Satan has been thwarted in his attempts to eliminate the Messiah. After the birth of the Jesus, Satan knew that the Messiah had been born but he didn't know which baby it was, so he incited Herod to massacre a whole village of babies. Later, when Jesus began His ministry, Satan understood that Jesus was the promised Messiah, so he provoked people to try to stone Jesus. Finally, he got Jesus on a cross to die. But Jesus rose again and returned to Heaven. Satan's schemes to destroy the Messiah have been unsuccessful.

In our focus verse, we see that even though Satan was not successful in his attempt to destroy the Messiah, the battle continues. Only now the conflict is with the followers of Jesus -- the ones who keep God's commandments and have the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. You and I who have received Christ as our Savior are His spiritual offspring. We are the focus of Satan's rage. Satan hates anyone who gives witness to the Lord Jesus. He will not give up until the bitter end when Jesus will consign Satan to the pit. Then Jesus will He will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The comforting assurance is that battle is not ours, but God's. He is victorious and the Dragon is defeated. All praise belongs to God for His victory over Satan. We live in that victory.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE WITNESS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE WITNESS

"And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.' These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth." (Revelation 11: 3-4)

Even in the worst of times, God will have His witnesses here on this earth. During the Great Tribulation, God will send these two witnesses from heaven to declare His message and they will be murdered for that witness. Later in John's vision, he saw "another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth – to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people" (Revelation 14:7).

God will not leave this world without a witness. He has sent prophets throughout the millennia. In addition, the Apostle John wrote that "there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood" (I John 5:8). We have the witness of the word of the prophets and the Apostles, the Holy Spirit, and the Lord Jesus who came by water and blood (vs. 6).

We also are His witnesses. He commissioned us as His disciples go into all the world and preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15) in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). In these troubled times, we need the declaration of His love and His grace, but we also need the witness of the judgment to come.

The word translated "witness" is in the Greek language, martus, from which we get the word, "martyr." A martyr is someone who has seen the truth and gives his life as a witness to the truth. Some witnesses die for that truth. But we are all called to give our lives to the declaration of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. Every witness is a martyr.

Love, Dad

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DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS

"Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand." (Revelation 8:3-4)

Do you ever get weary of praying because it seems that your prayers are not heard? I do. It seems my prayers go to the ceiling and bounce back to me.

Why pray when it seems that God does not hear? There are reasons to pray.

The number one reason is that God tells us in His word to pray. "Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17).

Jesus said to "watch and pray" (Matthew 14:38). He said to pray for those who despitefully use you (Luke 6:28). He said to pray for labors to work in the harvest (Luke 10:2). He said that men ought always to pray and not faint or give up (Luke 18:1). And He taught us to pray (Luke 11:2).

Our prayers are not without virtue. They are not just some meaningless babble, or a form of religious exercise we go through. They are not like a prayer wheel in some religions. They do actually ascend to the Throne Room of Heaven to God Himself. The fervent prayer of the righteous man avails much (James 5:16).

So next time you are discouraged in your prayer life, remember that your prayers are as incense, arising before the throne of God. He may not answer our prayers on our time table or the way we want, but He does hear them.

Love, Dad

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DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SAVIOR OF ALL

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – SAVIOR OF ALL

"After these things I looked, and behold a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-10)

It is easy to get parochial and think that Christianity is only in America. We forget that Christ's Church is world-wide. It is composed of believers from all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages.

Today there are people in the jungles of Africa and New Guinea who know the same salvation that we experience – the same joy and peace and communion with God. There are people in Muslim dominated countries who know Christ. There are people in countries controlled by Hindus who have come to faith in the Lord Jesus.

We are not the only people in Christ's Church. If you talk with missionaries who minister to people around the world, they will tell you that the faith of people in other nations is just as real, just as valid, just as vibrant as we here in America experience.

The Gospel is colorblind. It is not just for WASPS. It is not just for Western cultures. It is not just for "advanced" civilizations. It reaches through the barriers that we erect and gathers people from all ethnic, social, educational, and financial societies.

So, lest we get too proud of our American Christianity, let us remember that Jesus died for everyone, regardless of their environment. When we get to heaven, there will not be a section walled off for American Christians. We are one in Christ. He is the Savior of all.

Love, Dad

PS: Today is Mildred's and my 60^th wedding anniversary. This is not a bragging point on my part. It is a testimony to God's grace. If it was not for God's work in our lives, we would have been in the marriage junk yard a long time ago. We owe our lives and our marriage to God. I rejoice in God's faithfulness.

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DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PRAYER OF THE MARTYRS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS –

PRAYER OF THE MARTYRS

"When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?' Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and they brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed." (Revelation 6:9-11)

In the midst of all the mayhem that is going on upon earth – war, famine, death, earthquakes – the great day of God's wrath (vs.17), there is this scene in heaven where those who have been slain for their witness to the Gospel of Jesus are wondering how long until they are vindicated and avenged on earth. They are told to have patience – to rest and wait – until the rest of their companions joined them, until their number was complete.

I am not a martyr in this group, but sometimes I echo their question: "How long, O Lord, how long until You judge and avenge those who have been killed for Your name's sake?" I say with the Psalmist David, "My soul is greatly troubled; But You, O LORD – how long?" (Psalm 6:3). In another place, Asaph cried out to God, "O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?" (Psalm 74:11). And again, "LORD, how long will the wicked triumph?" (Psalm 94:3). Sometimes it seems that this world is getting worse and worse and iniquity abounds. Our souls are distressed by the evil, and we wonder how long God will put up with this nonsense.

God has a plan, and when the time is completed, He will bring His plan to fulfillment. Until then, we need to have patience – to rest in Him and His sovereignty. He is longsuffering and not willing that any should perish, but there will come a time when everything will be brought to completion, and He will reign.

There is a song that says, "O, Lord Jesus, how long, how long, 'til we hear the glad song, Christ returneth, Christ returneth, Hallelujah, Amen." Even so, come quickly.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE THRONE-ROOM

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE THRONE-ROOM IN HEAVEN

"Immediately, I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald." (Revelation 4:2-3)

The rainbow has special significance in Scripture.

Of course, our thoughts go to Noah after the flood when God set a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant and promised that he would never again judge the earth by a great flood (Genesis 9:8-17). Even though we may go through rainy times, the rainbow reminds us of God's promise and His faithfulness. But that is on earth. John's vision was of heaven.

In heaven, John saw a throne and around that throne, a rainbow. It is interesting that the rainbow is "around" the throne and not just over it. I was flying from Oregon to Phoenix, sitting next the window, watching the clouds drift by. But suddenly, my attention was arrested by a rainbow. It was a complete 360 degree circle. I have only seen that once, but the memory lingers in my mind. I imagine that this complete circle of the rainbow can only be seen when one gets above the earth into the heavens.

But the significance is more than that. Ezekiel also had a vision of the throne-room in heaven. In his vision, he saw the likeness of a throne that looked like a sapphire stone and on the throne was the appearance of a man high above it. This is what Ezekiel recorded: "Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, saw was the the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD" (Ezekiel 1:26-28).

The glory of heaven cannot be imagined. Ezekiel and John both struggled to express what they saw. They could only say it was the "appearance" of a rainbow. When we get to heaven and see God's throne, it will be amazingly beautiful.

But that is not the focus of the throne-room. It is the One who sits on the throne that will be the center of attention – the One whom the angels worship, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come," and whom the elders worship, saying: "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created" (Revelation 4:8-11).

What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon His face, the one who saved me by His grace. Oh, I want to see Him!

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE REVELATION

DAD'S RAMBLING'S – THE REVELATION

"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place." (Revelation 1:1)

The Book of Revelation is a mystery to many Christians. There are so many strange images involved in the book – scrolls, seals, trumpets, plagues and disasters. It is easy to get lost in the maze.

When our pastor, Pastor Rich Van Heukelum, taught a series on the Book of Revelation, it became clear that this book is not about revealing of judgments or the antichrist or false prophets. The revelation is about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Throughout the Revelation, there is the contrast of what is happening on earth and what is happening in heaven. Too often, we get so absorbed by the earthly sphere that we miss the heavenly sphere.

What John saw in heaven was the Lord Jesus in His majesty. In Chapter 1, He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. In Chapters 2-3, He is the Lord of the Church. In Chapter 4, He is the Holy Lord God Almighty. In Chapter 5, He is the slain Lamb who lives forever. In Chapter 7, He is the God who is worthy of worship, thanksgiving, power and might. In Chapter 10, He is the Creator. In Chapter 11, He is the Lord God Almighty who is both Judge and Rewarder. In Chapter 15, He is Lord God Almighty, Just and true and King of the saints. In Chapter 16, He is the Righteous Judge. In Chapter 17, He is the overcoming Lamb, the King of kings and Lord of lords. In Chapter 19, there is a great multitude in heaven worshiping and praising Him: "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God....Alleluia, For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!" His name is The Word of God and He comes to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In Chapter 20, He is the Judge. In Chapter 21, He makes all things new, and in the New Jerusalem, He is the Light. In Chapter 22, He is the One who is coming quickly.

So as we look at this Revelation, let us not lose sight of Who the Revelation is about. It is about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be all praise and worship.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- CONTEND FOR THE FAITH

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – CONTEND FOR THE FAITH

"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3)

The common Gospel is the good news that the Lord Jesus' Jesus died for our sins and rose again, and that that by faith in Him we receive salvation to eternal life.

The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has been under attack from the earliest days of Christianity. Satan does not like the Gospel and through the centuries he has tried to dilute it, change it, or in some way minimize it.

In the early church, there was the controversy surrounding the teaching of the Jewish converts that Gentiles had to observe the Mosaic Covenant – especially circumcision – in order to be saved. The Holy Spirit revealed to the Apostles Peter and Paul that salvation was offered to the Gentiles without any strings attached. Paul wrote an entire letter to the churches in Galatia about the issue, showing that they were being turned away from Christ to a different gospel, a perversion of the Gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-7).

Gnosticism was another big controversy. The first letter that John wrote was a rebuttal of this heresy. Gnosticism taught that the material world is evil, including our human bodies, and that Jesus could not have come in the flesh because then His body would have been evil. Gnosticism also taught that there were ladders of knowledge to get to God. So John wrote, ""By this you know the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God" (I John 4:2-3).

These heresies are still around us today. That's why we need to contend earnestly for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. The pure Gospel of grace is the only way to salvation. Let us earnestly contend for it.

Love, Dad

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DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- IMITATORS

DAD'S RAMBLINS – IMITATORS

"Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good, He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God." (III John 11)

What does it mean to imitate what is evil or what is good? The King James Version uses the term, "follow." Strong's Concordance says that the root Greek word is mimos from which we get the word "mimic" or to act like someone or something.

We are called to not follow, imitate, mimic, or act like the world of evil, but to be followers of God, acting as He would act. As Paul wrote to  the Romans, "Be not conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2).

Paul also wrote, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1). He used the same Greek word as Peter did, mimos, to exhort people to follow or act like him as he acted like Jesus. That is a high calling for every believer – to set an example of what is good that other people can follow.

I think that may be what Peter was thinking when he wrote, "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps" (I Peter 2:21). Remember the old story about the father who was leading his son through the deep snow? The father took small steps so it would be easy for his son to follow, and he urged his son to walk in his footsteps.

This is a great challenge to me, to be the sort of person that other people could follow or imitate, that they could walk in my steps and do good and not evil. I want my footsteps to lead other people to Jesus.

Love,  Dad

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DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- REJOICING AND SORROW

Sorry.  I forgot this morning.  

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – REJOICING AND SORROW

"I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father." (II John 4)

It seems that in John's travels, he met some believers who were related to the "elect lady" to whom this letter is addressed, either as children by natural birth, or spiritual children who were taught by this person.

One of the great joys of my life is to see my children serving the Lord in love and in truth. I also rejoice when I see people that I have ministered to continuing in their faith, or when I see children of my friends are following Jesus.

But the word "some" brings sorrow. Could it be that some of her children had wandered away from the faith? There is sorrow when I see children who have been raised in the truth of the Gospel turn their backs on it and walk away. What a tragedy.

It is not that we love those who stray any less. In fact, the sorrow we feel is a result of the love that we have for them. Our heart's cry is that they would return to Jesus and follow Him.

As an older parent, I can now understand the grief and concern that my own parents must have had when they saw me at times drifting away from serving the Lord. But I also now understand the joy they must have had when they saw me earnestly serving Jesus.

So, let us rejoice when we see children of the next generation serving God, and let us pray for those who have wandered from God.

Love, Dad

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DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LOVING GOD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – LOVING GOD

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." (I John 5:2-3)

How do we know that we love God? The proof is in the puddin'. Our love for God is demonstrated by our love for His children and obedience to His commandments. Jesus gave us this commandment in John 13:34: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you; that you also love one another."

Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). It is easy to say, "I love you." But the proof that love is whether I keep His word. Love is proven by actions – what we do.

God showed the pattern for love. John wrote earlier in this letter, "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (I John 4:9-10). God did not just say that He loves us, but He demonstrated it His love by action. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16).

In the same way, our love for God is not just what we say, but how we live in obedience to His will and our desire to please Him.

The first and greatest commandment is this: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). When we think of His great love for us, our love for Him should be a natural response.

His commandments are not burdensome. That is, it is not a drudgery to live God's way. Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). If someone feels that serving God is a heavy weight and an obligation, they do not understand God's love toward us nor our love for Him. Or if I serve God only to escape Hell, then I do not know love. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear (I John 4:18).

It is like marriage. Love is not a duty I have to fulfill. If it is burden to serve my spouse and be faithful to her, then I do not understand love.

In the end, we love Him because He first loved us (I John 4:19). God initiated the love cycle. We only return that love because of His love for us.

Love, Dad

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DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WALKING LIKE JESUS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – WALKING LIKE JESUS

"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." (I John 2:6)

The key question that must be answered is, "How did Jesus walk?" If I want to walk as He walked while He journeyed on this earth, then I need to know how He walked.

There are many things we could mention, but let's consider a few of them.

First, He walked in submission to The Father. He said, "I do only those things which please the Father (John 8:29)." If I want to walk as Jesus walked, I must be intentional in doing the will of the Father.

Another attribute of His walk was humility. He humbled Himself by giving up His heavenly rights to live in this world's sphere and time frame (Philippians 2:5-8). To walk like Jesus demands humility – surrendering my rights.

He walked in truth. There was no hypocrisy nor deceit found in Him. He was the truth. If I walk like Jesus, I will walk honestly and with integrity.

Jesus lived compassion. Often the Gospels record that Jesus had compassion on the sick, on the demon possessed, and on sinners. If I walk like Jesus, I will live compassion.

He lived a righteous life. No sin was found in Him. Walking in holiness is the mark of the Christian walk.

This is only scratching the surface. As you continue to meditate on this verse, you will undoubtedly add to this list. It is only a beginning.

The key to walking like Jesus is abiding in Him. I may not always be successful in walking like Jesus, but my desire is an indication that I am abiding in Him. This type of abiding will bring forth fruit in my life. That's what Jesus said: "He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit" (John 15:5b). If I abide in Him and walk like Him, I will bear His fruit.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE JOY OF FELLOWSHIP

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE JOY OF FELLOWSHIP

"That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full." (I John 1:3-4)

The joy of Christian fellowship is the common faith that John was writing about. John was an eye-witness to the life of the Lord Jesus. He had seen the Lord Jesus, had touched the Lord Jesus, and bore witness to the message of eternal life through Christ.

The Greek word translated "fellowship" is koinonia. It means sharing, communion, communication, or community. It is holding things in common – common ground.

That is what binds the Christian community together – the Gospel of Christ. Our common denominator is not our social/economic status, our education, our race or ethnicity, common personalities, or even family ties. It is our faith that God came to earth, lived among us, died for our sins, and rose again. John was a witness to all of this.

I find it difficult to carry on a conversation for very long with people who do not love Jesus, not because I think I am superior, but because there is very little common ground. After all, I can only talk about the weather and family so much. Then I run out of anything to say. When our fellowship – the common ground between us – is based in our fellowship with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ, then we have a mutual love affair – God, the other person, and myself. There is joy that flows between us. The acronym of J-O-Y is Jesus, Others, and You.

When my relationships with God, others, and myself are in place, there is a joy that springs from our fellowship. We are one in the bonds of love.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- REMIND ME

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – REMIND ME

"Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder, that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior." (II Peter 3:1-2)

I do not have alzheimer's disease, but I have do have a short memory. I cannot blame it on age, since I have had memory problems from my early years. When I was in my 20s, I recognized that my brain did not remember very well, so I went to the library and checked out a book entitled, "Ten Steps To A Better Memory." I forgot where I put the book on the third step and never did complete the course. My memory has not improved any since then, even though I have taken nutritional pills like Garlic that are supposed to improve memory. Maybe they didn't help because I forgot to take the pills.

All of us need to be reminded from time to time of the great truths of the Bible. Peter wrote to remind them about the coming Day of the Lord.

Have you ever sat through a sermon and thought to yourself, "I've heard this one before." One of the purposes of listening to sermons is that they remind us of what God has said. Even if we have heard a sermon several times, it is good to be refreshed in God's truth.

We should never get tired of hearing the Gospel – the good news that Christ died for our sins and that through faith in Him we have eternal life. That is a message that needs to be often rehearsed in our minds. So, tell me the story again of God's great love for me. I need to be reminded.

As the song-writer said, "Roll back the curtain of memory now and then. Show me where you brought me from and where I might have been. Remember I'm human and humans forget, So remind me, remind me, Dear Lord."

Love, Dad