Richard Alan Edwards: 2014

Monday, June 23, 2014

What is the saddest thing you can think of?

The saddest, the most tragic moment I can imagine, is when God says at the judgement, "Depart from me, ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels".(Mt. 25:41) These cursed ones are people, human beings with an eternal soul. People that you and I know right now. These are people we work with, see at the store, service our automobiles, etc. Can we regenerate believers who have been saved with a holy calling by God, not be moved with compassion for these human beings. If you have never shed tears for these who are lost you are cold hearted and know little of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or the power of His might. Put away your hypocrisy and your Pharisaical self promotion and righteousness and ask God for repentance. Can we who know the gospel do something? The most simple thing is to give a gospel tract. But, the question remains, do we really believe God's word, are we willing to be obedient to God? Do not say, well, that is not my gift. I have heard Christians say this since 1971. Quite frankly, I am so tired of that thinking!!! If there was a fire in your home and you had eight children would you not warn them all and give your life for all, so that they could escape this death from the fire that is going to destroy your house? Of course you would.

Charley Peace robber and murderer from Sheffield

Leonard Ravenhill in his book Why Revival Tarries recounts the last moments of Charlie Peace's life:

He was taken on the death-walk. Before him went the prison chaplain, routinely and sleepily reading some Bible verses. The criminal touched the preacher and asked what he was reading. “The Consolations of Religion,” was the reply.

Charlie Peace was shocked at the way he professionally read about hell. Could a man be so unmoved under the very shadow of the scaffold as to lead a fellow-human there and yet, dry-eyed, read of a pit that has no bottom into which this fellow must fall? Could this preacher believe the words that there is an eternal fire that never consumes its victims, and yet slide over the phrase with a tremor? Is a man human at all who can say with no tears, “You will be eternally dying and yet never know the relief that death brings”?

All this was too much for Charlie Peace. “Sir”, he addressed the preacher, “if I believed what you and the church of God say that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would walk over it, if need be, on hands and knees and think it worth while living, just to save one soul from an eternal hell like that!”^[5]

Friday, June 13, 2014

Is everything done by God 100% perfect? Would God do something for mankind knowing that it was superfluous? We, human beings try, however imperfect, to do what we can. We always fall short but God never does. His works for us are 100% perfect.

The answer to the first question must be understood from God's view. We live in God's realm, this is His world and he makes no mistakes, no errors. His plans and objectives are perfect, that is without any fault and completely flawless. As to the next question, would God act in a irredeemable or superfluous manner in planning the history of the world? Now, notice that we never say that God can commit sin. He cannot! God hates sin, but in a manner of speaking he has allowed it to be woven into His plan for mankind. I must say I have but little understanding of the ways of God except for what he has revealed in His word. One principle is clear in scripture; God uses the ways of man (in their sin) to accomplish His purposes in history. We are not under the control of Satan and his forces. This is God's world and we are His subjects.

For example, let's think about Christ's atonement for mankind. Why would Jesus Christ die for those whom he knew would never, ever, not ever be saved. For example, if we knew that Pol Pot who became part of the Khmer Rouge and killed 1-3 million people in Southeast Asia was not a Christian, would Jesus Christ have died for him? This same description would apply for all of the acts which he completed on behalf of those who are the saved. For example, His blood atonement, His redemption, His taking on the sins of His people, Sanctification for the immediate, the ongoing, and the future. This same applies to Glorification. Can you believe these things apply to us? It's mind-boggling, it's beyond human comprehension. Can you think of some more things our Lord has done for us, I am sure you can?

In humble reverence think back before God created all things. In eternity past, he chose you before the foundation of the world before all your relatives were born before Adam and Eve were born; God in His wonderful love, lovingly selected you as His child, before you possessed anything, before you believed, even when you were dead in trespasses and sins. Maybe you hated Christianity or Christians or even Him. What manner of love is this? It is a love unknowable, beyond comprehension. You have never known a love like this on planet earth. Yes, your mother and your father love you or maybe some other person or maybe no one loves you but the Father in heaven loves you. This should cause you to humble yourself as a little child and look to your heavenly Father and call on Him for help and allow him to be your sin-bearer. He sent His own son to become a human being for one purpose. Yes, one purpose.

Philippians 2:6-8

Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

6 who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

His primary purpose: The death, His death on the cross. He took our place and substituted himself for us. He died for us shedding His own blood in our place. Now we may even die on a cross as tens of thousands have yet Jesus Christ
He is calling you to himself, to repent, to believe, to follow His Son and to obey Him.

THE LIMITED WELCOME OF JESUS CHRIST

What if today you received an invitation inviting you to have dinner with the most admired person of a Royal family? For instance, King Solomon, Queen Elizabeth, George Washington, or Abraham Lincoln ,or whoever you could name. Would you accept and believe the invitation was authentic and go to the dinner, however unworthy you feel, whatever socio-economic class you are in, whatever race, religion or ethnicity you might be? You have been invited by the Creator God, the most Royal person in the world to have ever lived. Why would you turn down such an invitation. This Creator God is going to make you worthy to sit at His table, he is going to cover your socio- economic embarrassment by giving you one of His own Royal robes. What if the language of this Royal individual was different than yours and you sensed you might have nothing to say to this person? Would you still go if he promised you a part of his kingdom and any desire that you wanted? Now those desires would be stipulated by His rules you understand.

So now, you are at the dinner. Imagine if you were a person who had nothing to say to this person of Royalty and education. Maybe you were at the bottom of the socio-economic level, you had accomplished nothing in life, you had no sense of self worth and absolutely zero to offer this person. You were speechless while sitting at the table of this Royal gentleman. This would be very humbling, extremely embarrassing, would it not? Yet now, something has suddenly changed!!!

This Royal Person is totally interested in your little life. He did not want to talk about all His accomplishments, but wanted to ask you, about you. This person is interested in your life. How different would that be? That would be unexpected and outside your normal experience with other people, right? Then that person of wealth, honor and priveledge and glory said, "ALL THAT I HAVE IS NOW YOURS", you will inherit what I have. You would be shocked at such a statement and ask, what do you mean by that? So, would you accept it, believe it, or would you proclaim: "It cannot be true, you are a liar"!!! I really do not believe you and will not have you reign over me, you shout.

You have heard clearly the offer that was made you.

Now we relate this metaphor to Jesus Christ who came from the highest of royalty and has existed before time began, was the person who created the worlds, the infinite space, the infinite galaxies and the infinite stars. In fact, there was never a time He has not existed. In fact, time has always been and that is one thing he never created. "From everlasting to everlasting thou art God". This person of royalty had hundreds of prophecies written about him by many prophets describing the circumstances, time and city of his birth. There are literally hundreds of prophecies about Him. No one can deny these or disprove them. He was born as a human over 2000 years ago to a woman who was a virgin. He lived a perfect life, never sinning and overthrew all of Satan's attacks. He died for the sins of the whole world. He died for you.

It was said by one author John, that if all the things that Jesus Christ did were all written down, that the whole world could not contain the books that should be written.

Would you, Could you, Should you say after never finding anything against Him, say, "You are some sort of Liar, a Lunatic, or a deceiver of billions of people since mankind began?

Jesus Christ, say it out loud, I dare you to shout it out loud. Call to Him and beg for His pardon. Accept that He died in your place receiving in His own body your suffering for your sins. You have sinned against an infinite Creator and a Perfect God. If you turn away, YOU will never be in His presence but forever be away from His presence because an Infinite God demands an Infinite and perfect sacrifice for your sin. Can you pay that price? No one can. We do not even know nor could we comprehend the infinite demands of God. We must meet His perfection in everything we do. None of us can be as perfect as God. Only His own Son who has never sinned can become your righteousness in God's view. After three days of being dead Jesus Christ rose from the grave. He rose up of His own power and appeared to thousands for a period of 40 days.

He says, "Come to me and I will give you rest." Rest for your souls. He is the Great Physician. God, the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth is inviting you to come and is welcoming you to an eternal supper with Him. Will you come? Will you scoff? Will you doubt? Most of us will not say we hate Him we are just indifferent. Will you throw your hands up in the air and say, "I well never let this person rule over me", I hate Him, I reject Him, I call Him a liar!

Or, will you receive the Royal invitation and the Welcome of Jesus Christ? Come to Him as that person who is at the bottom of the socio-ecnomic class, a person who has nothing to offer, a child with no pride, a brokenhearted person. Tell Him, He is listening. Trust Him and believe what He said about Himself and come to His table as a humbled person. He will not accept you otherwise. Call on His Name and He will save your soul. Repent and believe and lay your life down and He will save you. Read the book of St. John on your knees.

INFINITY

This English word is a derivative of infinitas (Latin) which means "unboundedness", without end, beyond human ability to number or even conceive. It is not a number or a concept, therefore it would have to be defined by someone who could understand it. We have tried in philosophy, mathematics, cosmology and theology to explain it the best we can. All our attempts are futile because we live in time and those who live within a boundary that is earthly cannot comprehend any idea or word or principle outside that boundary.

One of the many reasons men cannot think of God is that they are His enemy. They all have chosen to rebel against Him unless His divine providence interupts that process. He has divine retribution planned for each of us at His judgement. Man always is the center of His own universe and everything revolves around Him. Everything revolves around us. After all, are we not at the top of the food chain? In Western egalitarian civilization our view of God is smaller than small. Secular Humanism built upon Darwinism and Uniformitarianism have become our prevalent religion and we worship and serve the creature more than the Creator. We have taken in these non-logical, silly, spurious heresies which have supplanted the need for a God. How could God create the world in six literal days and rest on the seventh? A limited view and comprehension of the Infinite God is replaced. Get outside of time and find a place of solitude where you can focus on the infinte. Go somewhere without taking anything with you. Get alone. Get away from people, the rush, the TV, the internet and meditate on Time and Eternity and God Himself.