Hidden Truth

Hidden Truth

I don't know where to begin with this one. I don't even know in which direction to go, or in which category to put it. I only know that it is a subject that is very important to me at this time.

As with many, if not most of my writings, the one for whom I am searching for an answer is myself. I might have someone else in mind when I begin, or someone else's problem as a direction, but I usually find that my own problems become entangled in them.

This last few days is an excellent case in point. I wrote and researched "Appreciation" from several different angles, only to find at their completion that I had not dealt with the problem I was struggling with. In fact, I didn't even know I was struggling, or that the problem involved me.

Then I got, or was given, a nugget of an idea. It was a small thing to begin with, not much more than just an idea with which to base a story. Actually that is not true, not entirely at least. For most stories it is true, but with this story I was anxious and a little apprehensive.

The story to which I am referring is The Rollercoaster.

The more I wrote about the rollercoaster, the more I realized that I was the one who needed to let go of the steering wheel and take my foot off the brake. That I was the one who's vehicle was trailing behind all the others.

And by demanding control, I was creating a lot of frustration, anxiety and stress for myself.

Me, the one who has a reputation of sorts for boldly going where only fools dared. Me, who in my own opinion was one who breaks down walls of fear. Me, who could clearly see that very problem in others, and was always ready to point it out. Me, who writes, and has written many stories about that very subject.

I had the answers, I had the understanding to a degree, and I had the awareness of the problem -- in other people.

What I did not have is any insight into the fact that I was the one with the problem.

And as evidence that I did (or do) have the problem; the very day I wrote the story, recognized and admitted my problem -- and released the brake and steering wheel (not entirely, of course, it's a process) my stress left, I am much happier and energetic, and I got the first good nights sleep I've had for some time.

Now for the problem that is nagging me at this moment. Now for the big question that has brought this story about.

How could I have sunk so deeply into such an obvious pit of despair and egotism without being aware of it? How could I have missed the signposts indicating that I was going the wrong way? And I, more than most, had a lot more warning sign to pass since I had not only climbed out of this pit before, but had diligently sought to rise far above it.

And to make bad things worse, I not only thought I had risen above it, but believed that I still was above it -- and going higher!

Blind fool that I am, why couldn't I see the Truth?

And that is my question. That is my quest. I want to find out what happens with Truth. Where it dwells, and why it is so allusive; How it can be missed, even ignored, by someone who diligently seeks it.

DO WE HIDE FROM TRUTH, OR IS IT HIDDEN FROM US?

I see people blindly continue down roads that are obviously wrong. Intelligent, educated people whose lives are a terrible mess, and I wonder how they can remain so blind to the fact. I wonder why they can't see how they are hurting themself.

Are they fools? Are they self-destructive? Do they just not care? Or could it be some thousand other reasons that I don't even have a name for?

I have attributed their behavior to ego, or callousness, or poor reckoning. I assumed that, for whatever reason, they were hiding from the truth. And I have covered much of this type of thinking in other sections.

Now I wonder. Now that it's me who is walking in the shoes of the one I am so critical of, I have to pause and re-evaluate. Now having been the accuser, and the accused, I believe I can make a little better analysis of the situation.

I am not one who intentionally hides from a problem; in fact I challenge them. Not from bravado, but out of fear. The longer I wait to deal with a problem, the bigger it becomes in my mind, and the more fearful and stressed I become.

I am not one to hide from truth. I seek it out. I question and challenge it. I even doubt it at times. But I would like to believe that I never deny it once it has been proven to me. I present as evidence of this my response to the Rollercoaster.

So if I am not hiding from Truth, is it possible that Truth is hiding (or is being hidden) from me? And if so, why? And by whom?

Here is where I draw a blank. I have studied the question. I have evidence through other people that the problem exists. I even have much more explicit examples in my own life, bigger and more numerous than I ever wish to divulge, to present as evidence that the problem does in fact exist; and that we can and do become totally blind to it.

And here the question dies an untimely and unwelcome death.

But I can speculate. I can offer some off-the-wall comments that may not be particularly clever, or original, or correct; but nonetheless a place to start.

The first (and really the only) scenario that comes to mind is that hiding the truth is intentional, that it is for our edification, in other words, for our own good. Who is doing the hiding? I would say God, which will be no surprise to anyone who has seen much of this website. You might wish to call it Mother Nature, or the gods, or guiding spirits, or karma. Whatever, in this scenario, it would be a force outside of ourself.

From my own experience it seems to me that I am allowed to blindly charge into a situation that I would avoid with all my might were I to recognize the dangers in it. And at this point I must differentiate between situations I have gotten myself into because of blindness of one sort or another; and those I blinded myself to because of my own selfish desires. There are some which were my own doing (of course they all were, but some truly blindly), and some that seemed to have strong overtones of external manipulation, and still others I just can't say for sure what happened.

Those blind judgments and experiences I think of as the side tracks on the Rollercoaster. Side tracks I would have avoided, or would have at least cut short as soon as I recognized them for what they were.

And had I done so, that is, had I not taken those false routes, I would have missed two thing in particular, and one other very important experience.

I would have missed an opportunity to experience what I try to avoid in myself, which would have meant that I would have missed understanding a bit of what other people are like, and what motivates them.

And I would have missed the opportunity to discover that the problem lies in me as well, and just how deeply embedded it really is. And along with that, I would have missed learning that I can also clear myself of the problem, and discover the method(s) I must use to do so.

And the third thing that is especially important; I would have missed out on learning how poorly I function when I am in control, and how much freer I fell when I have released control, that is, opened my hands.

I had hoped that by the time I finished this piece, I would have come up with other ideas, but I'm afraid that hasn't happened. Maybe later.

And later it is. Only 12 hours later, but after proof-reading the above another scenario comes to mind. This one you may have already thought of, and wondered how I missed it.

I was tired. There are other reasons I'm sure, but I'll settle for this one. It's safer.

Satan. That old Deceiver, the Devil. Isn't that his job? Isn't he the one who lied to Eve and made her believe a lie rather than the truth?

And that is a key to the problem, that is, the lies (or at least misinformation) we use to conceal the truth. Whether it is Satan who tells them to us, or our own mind or ego that says them; it is us, you and me, that listens and believes them.

So we hear one little lie, believe it -- which sets our direction of thought, and we build upon it.
Like the cornerstone of a building. Jesus said that He, as Truth, is the Cornerstone. I understand this to mean if we set Truth as the cornerstone of our thinking that we will build a structure of Truth. Conversely, if our cornerstone is a Lie....?

The above could explain how we can blindly go into a situation, and become more blind to it the farther we go. And this is so whether or not we give credit to the Devil for our dilemma, or take the responsibility ourself. (And who would want to do that?)

The above creates two more questions:

Supposing there is no Satanic influence on our blindness, that is, our cornerstone lie; How do we possibly learn to see Truth when we have engulfed ourself with more and more, bigger and bigger, and more sophisticated Lies? I think of someone with agoraphobia, that is the fear of open or public places. It may begin with that person staying home, but may well end with them huddled in a dark closet.

At this final stage, how is that person to see their blindness? Of course you could say that what they need to do is get out of the house and overcome the problem. A reasonable suggestion, especially so when the problem first began and was small. But if the problem wasn't seen or dealt with when it was small, how then could it be seen and dealt with when it is huge?

Outside influence, of course, may help. But for this study we will assume that there is none, and if there was, our self-deceptive lies have covered up the fact that the problem even exists. In fact, it may have advanced to such a degree that we believe that anyone not huddled in their dark closet is a fool and is blindly running around in the sunshine.

So then, as I see it, a person in the above situation has no way out, nor -- and what is particularly important to this study -- they can not have learned or benefitted from their blinded state.

Our second scenario assumes that Satan exists, and has influenced our blindness. This brings forth two options as I see it at this moment.

The first option supposes that Satan is mighty and powerful, that he is a force in opposition to God. That we are important pawns in his game he must win or destroy.

"The Devil made me do it!" we cry as an excuse for our behavior. Can the devil in fact make any of us do what is against our will? If that is so, and he has us in his clutches -- how then can we ever expect to get free? And if we can't get free, how then can we ever learn from the experience?

The second option is that Satan is a benign influence, rather than a force. This seems to be indicated in the Bible with his encounter with Eve. He did not make Eve eat the apple, nor did he have any influence on Adam at all. No, Satan only suggested that she could get what she wanted if she did what she was told not to do by God.

Satan is also called a Liar from the beginning, and the Bible tends to portray him as such. (However, he used the deaths of many in his efforts to dissuade Job).

If, he in fact, is this subtle creature (which the Bible also describes him as being), that all he does is whisper in our ear and points us in the wrong direction -- then we must accept the responsibility for what we choose to do. We must accept that such a problem lies deep within us, and all the devil did was tempt us to act out on it.

And if we acted according to our own will, then we can also take credit for having changed our direction once we have "seen the light, the error of our ways."

In this second option we then learn something about ourself that we would have never known. In this scenario we could even thank the devil for having taught us something that we can utilize in our relationship to ourself, to others, and to God. I doubt the devil would be happy for that, but then, who cares?

[For myself, I don't give the devil any credit at all. I assume that my own failings have nothing to do with the devil, that I am not important enough for him to even bother with, and that my own problems are brought about by my own failings and weakness. So when I finally see the light, I give thanks to God for having revealed my blindness, and for having lifted it. And I thank Him for the lessons I had learned while stumbling about in that blind state.]

Is it possible that both options are possible? Maybe Satan whispers in our ear, gives us the idea, and starts us on the road to our own destruction. Then, as we journey farther down that road, we become more and more in his clutches -- which means that we turn over more power to him until we actually are in his clutches? That might explain why some people never learn from their dark experiences while others do.

Those are a few of the questions. If you found an answer amongst them, you did better than I, because I missed it.

Tumbleweed

Yes or No

YES or NO

Proving a Point

2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. (Gen 1:2)

The Liliputian Egg; The North and the South; The Rich and the Poor; Republican and Democrat; Catholic and Protestant; Heaven and Hell: Black and White.

Opposites, poles apart that never the twain shall meet. It's two bandwagons running off in opposite directions expecting and demanding everyone jump on their wagon or forever perish in dead wrongness.

We all do it. Well, maybe you don't, but I do.

It's our nature, it's built inside of us to want it our way; to have all the marbles; to demand all the best for ourselves.

Not only is it our nature, but the devil's as well. He wants it all, us all on his side, to join him in the pit, to prove him right (or whatever his purpose is.)

And it's God's nature. And that may be where we got ours from, since He created us in His image.

There is nothing more black and white than God's Word (unless you have a Bible with Jesus' words in red.) It's either yes or no, right or wrong, up or down, heaven or hell with God. He allows no middle ground. We either win the race, or we fail. There's no "Well, I tried" in God's Rule Book.

God even went so far as to say that if we are lukewarm, He will "spit you out of my mouth."

It's human nature to try our best to persuade others to go our way, to give us what we want, to gather everyone on our side in order to prove us right. "40,000 Frenchmen can't be wrong," the saying goes. Yes, they can! 40 million Frenchmen, or any other designation you wish to apply to that number, can be wrong.

In fact, when it's all said and done, and we stand before that Great White Throne, we are going to find Billions of people have been wrong - many of them fighting to the death to prove that what you and I believe, was the one and only way.

We twist and bend, add and omit, distort the meaning of; and if that doesn't work, we flat-out lie in order to get our own way.

As a baby in the crib we began trying out different ways by which to force our will upon others (which attests to mankind being born in sin, which means "disobedience") and we continue adding to our skills as we grow older.

This nature of ours, which is contrary and rebellious to God, is what God demands that we rid our self of - which is why so many of us rebel even harder against Him and His commands.

Do we have to be at odds with one another? With God? Isn't there some sort of compromise we can make? Can't we just give up a little of our self? And take in a little of what someone else has to offer?

What about the "Grey Area?" How about Harmony? What about World Peace instead of War? Why not a One World Government? Why not a One World Religion that promotes love, peace and acceptance of all?

A fantasy, do you think? Or do you believe it's possible and a goal worthy of pursuit?

I believe that everyone would like to have such a harmony. I believe that everyone would vote for just such a thing - as long as it was going to be their Government, or their Religion, or their Brand of Peace.

One World Government. Sounds like a high ideal, doesn't it? Who wouldn't want that? Peace and harmony with no one arguing about this or that. Maybe all languages being the same. All Nations working for a common goal?

Have we ever had such a thing? Or anything near it?

I do believe we have. I can think of a few attempts at such a thing. Has anyone ever heard of Assyria? Or Babylon? Or Media-Persia? Or Greece? Or Rome? Or the British Empire? Or Communist Russia? All these had a One World Government in mind, and fairly well succeeded in accomplishing their goal.

But those were essentially dictatorships, one might say. True, so what about a democracy? Let's take the USA as an example. After all, isn't Peace and Justice For All what democracy is all about?

How is the USA doing in - oh, let's say; Morality. Do you think perhaps morality in this country is on the rise? Holding it's own maybe? Possibly going down a little, do you think?

How about Education? Do you feel better or worse each year as you send your child off to school?

Finances: The dollar getting stronger around the world? National debt holding it's own? Production up? Exporting more than importing?

How about world influence: Americans loved and respected around the world? World leaders look to us for guidance and examples?

Government: We trust our leaders? We can have confidence that they are watching out for the best interest of the people? They are protecting the environment? Are spending wisely? Are improving welfare and retirement? Watching over the morality of the Nation by protecting the rights of the elderly, the unborn, the family and family rights and responsibility? Hospitalization costs going down while becoming more efficient?

Political parties: They work together toward a common goal? They are respectful of one another and always tell us the truth about themselves and opposing candidates and initiatives so voters can make an honest and educated choice at the poles?

So - is Democracy working? In the direction the USA is going, how will it look in a hundred years?

OK, how about a One World Religion? That shouldn't be too difficult, should It? I mean, for the Buddhist and the Humanist we would have to take God out of religion to make it work. Do you think they would mind believing in God a little bit just to make it work? How do you think God would feel about altering His Word and Purposes here and there? Think He would mind?

Or how about some mish-mash of all the religions? Perhaps a watered down version might satisfy everyone, do you think"

Remember Human Nature? "I'm Right, and Your Dead Wrong"?

Well, what if we were to all become, let's say; Muslim? Which sect? If you pick the wrong one, it could be disastrous for you.

How about Judaism 2,000 years ago. There certainly could be no other religion more harmonious than they. They even had God's word that they followed faithfully, allowing no deviation whatever. They surely were working in harmony.

Ever hear of the Pharisees and the Sadducees? Worlds apart in their belief. But they did agree on one thing - that the One who tried to bring on a One World Religion had to die, as well as anyone who agreed with Him.

Then what about Christianity? That should certainly fill the bill, shouldn't it? After all, Christianity is all about "Peace and Love," isn't it? Isn't that all the Bible talks about? Man getting along with Man? Doesn't the Bible prove that Love is what life is all about?

Do you find it "interesting" that everyone uses the Bible, in one form or another, to prove their point? That even those who do not believe in God quote the Bible? That people who demand the Bible is untrue, full of errors, and is the work of the devil - quote the Bible to prove their point?

The Word of God is a Work and a Wonder.

So, why not Christianity as a World Religion? Would it work?

Well, let's take a look at history and see if we have any clues. And I believe we do. For hundreds of years we did have Christianity as a World Religion - after a long battle where Christians were fed to lions and burnt at the stake or beheaded.

Yes, Christianity ruled, in the form of Catholicism - and if anyone disagreed in any way with what they taught, they were burnt at the stake or beheaded.

OK, that was Catholicism; what about Protestantism? Again, which one? Fundamental? Charismatic? Methodist? Baptist? And if you finally break it down to one of these - then you have to chose which sect you will settle on: the First Baptist? Second Baptist? Hundred and twenty fifth Baptist? After all, Protestant means to "Protest," which brings us back to our Human Nature.

But, perhaps if we watered down Christianity a bit. Like, perhaps, take Christ out of Christianity, and had just "-tianity," maybe that would work?

We may get to find out if it will work pretty soon because there are a lot of groups trying to do just that - if they can only get together and agree on anything. There seems to be a bit of conflict in such areas as the gender of God, the purpose of God, if God exists, if we are gods, Angels - and just about everything about the Bible except the phrase "In the beginning," which is rejected by the evolutionists.

But, who knows? Given another billion years of evolution (a-hem) maybe they could get together and harmonize the Bible. I suspect they will have to take any reference to God, Jesus, the Holy Ghost, Heaven and Hell and references to Jews (discrimination) out of the Bible to do it, but who knows?

We've looked at black and whites, and attempts to create wimpy-grey in order to solve the human problems we've created. Is there, perhaps, another way? How about trying "And" instead of "or"? Has that ever been tried? And if so, how did it work out?

I can think of a few examples in certain areas where it has been tried and worked out fairly well.

In foods, for example, we have salt and pepper and sweet & sour pork.

In music we have base and tenor, barbershop harmony and drum & bugle corp.

In the entertainment field we have many such as Mutt & Jeff, Abbott & Costello, Hope & Crosby, Martin & Lewis, Laurel & Hardy, Tom & Jerry, and the Roadrunner.

In nature we have Summer & Winter, North & South poles, Light & dark, fire & ice, and birth & death.

So it appears as if incorporating both ends of the spectrum, instead of isolating them or homogenizing them, seems to work. But how would we mere humans ever go about creating such a thing? And if we did figure out a way to accomplish this feat, do you think God would go along with it? How about the devil?

Let's assume that they would go along with our plan. What would we then have?

Well, for one thing, we would have love, right? And if we add the antithesis (opposite - that's my show-off word for the day) of love, we then would have hate.

We would surely want to add peace to the list, right? And to have peace, we then would have to have - war.

And I think just about everyone would agree that wealth would be a nice thing for us to have, but, it seems, to have wealth, we would also have to have - poverty.

Are you picking up on a pattern here? Does this picture at all seem familiar to you? Isn't what has been pictured here what we already have in this world?

Well, it seems, at least with what I have come up with in this study, that there isn't much hope for our worthy goals. But surely there is a way to bring it all together, isn't there? Can you think of a way to improve Government and Religion?

The Bible tells us of two attempts at such a thing. One is called the "Beast System" of government, which will just about destroy the world. The other is called the Millennium which introduces us to Eternity, where God will put the world back in order and bring about the peace and joy we all seek.

Don't we?

Tumbleweed

Who Owns You

Who Owns You?

Nobody? Really? Nobody at all owns You?

That's surprising. I know there are a lot of people who own me. And there are a lot of others who have in the past, and still many more who would like to.

In times of old, and in some places today, people are owned outright. They are called slaves, or chattel, or bond servants. If you were to ask them who owned them, they would point to someone. They know who owns them.

Everyone knows that in this country (USA) slavery in the South was prevalent; but not so many people are aware that slavery was also common in the North. No, I don't mean the black slaves of the cotton fields, I mean men, women and children who sold themselves into slavery. This was especially true of many of the Irish immigrants who were escaping the potato famine by coming to America. Jobs were very scarce; so in order to eat and survive, they sold themself into servitude.

Ask one of these "servants" who owned them, and they would point to someone.

"Slaves" knew who owned them, who would feed them, where they would sleep, and who they served. Of course there were also abused slaves, and a slave could be sold to a new master.

And even today, in some countries, children and wives can be sold. If you are a child or a wife of a man in such a country, you are "chattel," that is to say, a thing, a possession of that man, with which he can do whatever he likes. I don't suppose those wives and children would outright state that they are "owned," but perhaps they would.

Well, that's fine; that's clear enough for the past and for other countries; but such a thing has no affect on us today, does it? Of course not.

Or does it?

Let's take some extreme examples to begin with. Let's use a convict in prison. He gets up when he is told, he wears what he is told, he does everything that he is told and dares not do otherwise. And this does not just apply to the warden and the guards that he must obey, but to every other convict who happens to be bigger and meaner than himself. Would you call this convict a slave?

How about the Military. Can a soldier say, "I don't feel like wearing this uniform today, I want to wear red?"

Would you call a soldier a slave? And if so, isn't he subjected to every person who wears more stripes on his sleeve than himself?

Ok, those are extremes. But let's suppose you are neither a soldier nor a convict. So none of the above applies to you, right?

Well, how about a hospital. Have you ever been to a hospital? Anyone there tell you what you could and could not do?

How about a student. Once you have chosen your school (if you have been given that choice) and have picked your teachers and courses (if you have been given that choice), is there any other choice you get to make that doesn't carry with it some negative consequence?

And it's not only the teachers that you have to obey, but there are other students who have desires for you as well.

Are you dependent on an income? That is, do you have a boss that you have to obey and please to keep that job?

Are you a child living at home (some children have grandchildren of their own you know) who must do what your parents tell you to do?

"Now wait a minute," you say, "None of that means that someone owns me. I can say yes or no any time I like. I'm not a slave."

And that's right, you can refuse any time you want - if you want to pay the consequences.

The slave in the cotton field has that choice also, and the convict has that choice, and the soldier has that choice - and the consequences for their choice may well be death.

Of course no one is likely to shoot you for saying no to a teacher or boss - but your income may very well take a sudden drop, and your work (or school) record will likely not speak so well to potential employers in the future.

WHO OWNS YOU?

Few people today are owned outright by another. It is not likely that anyone would point to someone when asked that question. Nor is it likely that anyone would state that they owned anyone if they were asked.

No, people don't own people outright anymore. People own chunks of people in these modern times. We now have many owners, and don't even know it. In fact, we deny it and even resent the suggestion that someone might own us at all.

We value and pride ourself on our independence. This nation was founded on independence and individual freedom. But do we really have it?

When you were married, if under normal conditions, you took a vow to "Love and obey." So, if you are married, you have taken an oath to do two things for one person. If you have been married more than once, than you have been divided up that many more times. These people own a chunk of you, and you own a chunk of them. How much of a chunk depends on your (and their) integrity, what type of vow you took, and the culture that has established that vow.

And if you are married without such vows, that is without commitment to one another, than there really isn't any bond to begin with.

You eat, and you likely have a roof over your head (and your family's as well). Someone supplies those things. If it is a job, than that boss owns a chunk of you. If you are independently wealthy, then whatever the source of your income (if it be stocks, oil wells, etc) owns a part of you. If you don't think so, consider what would happen if the stocks collapsed or the wells went dry.

Pets own you. Can you decide to take a trip to Hawaii without your pet? Without making some provision for your pet? And the closer you are to that pet, the more it owns you.

Your lawn owns you, in the same way that your pet does. You don't have a pet or a lawn? Do you have one potted plant that must be watered?

Things own you. If you have just one thing that you must take care of, that you would fear losing, that would cause you distress should you lose it; then that object owns a chunk of you. Perhaps it's your car, a diamond ring, the deed to your property, or a dollar bill stashed away somewhere.

Do you owe any bills? A mortgage? Credit cards? Taxes? Alimony?

If no one else owns you; If you had nothing that owns you. If there was no one in the world who you cared for or about; there is yet one thing here on earth that owns a huge chunk of you; The government(s). You don't think so? Try telling that to the cop who stops you as you walk through his town with your knapsack over your shoulder, or tell it to the judge.

POWER

Many of the above are just a part of being alive. Things and pets and houses and such; These have power over you (that is a chunk of you) to whatever degree you allow it to. They don't seek a chunk of you, you just turn it over to them.

But there are those who do want power over you. And it is very likely that you seek power over others.

There is something about the human psyche that needs to feel empowered, that feels "Less than" if it can't feel "Better than." And the way it attempts to satisfy itself is to gain power (authority) over others. It is not satisfied until it can control others. That others might be just one other, such as a child, a spouse, an employee, etc.; And as a last resort, a pet. Some psyches are so far down the ladder that they have to condemn an entire culture or race to try and keep itself off the bottom rung of that ladder.

BULLY SYNDROME

"If you don't do what I want, I'll_____!" You fill in the blank. Maybe the word(s) that best applies to you is "fire you," or "leave you," or "run away from home." Of course there's always the old favorites used by known bullies, but to use them the bully must be bigger or meaner than you; Just like the convict in prison.

But the other examples given are more akin to non-violent forms of bullying. And for them to be effective, the bully must have some power, that is authority over you.

"If you don't do what I say I'll fire you!" Normally that might be very effective - if you happen to work for that person. Otherwise the most you might get is a bellyache from laughing too hard.

"I'll run away from home!" That might work. But if it's the forty-year-old child you have been trying to get out of the house, you just might get another bellyache.

BLACKMAIL

Actually bully-ism is blackmail. The intent is the same - that is to get something from you (get a chunk of you) by using threats. I think of a bully as being one who wields some authority over you. Someone who you must serve in one capacity or another, against your will.

Blackmailers, on the other hand, try to get their chunk of you by surreptitious means. That is, he tries to gain power over you by using something against you that he really has no right to.

"I'll run away from home," is one such form of blackmail. The child is trying to gain power over you that he does not normally have. Where does the child get such a notion? Probably from you. "If you do this, I will give you that." Or, "I won't spank you if...." (etc.) Now of course you would call that bargaining. Right? And so would the child call it bargaining when he threatens to run away from home.

"If you don't give me your candy bar, I'll tell!" This one we learn in pre-school. The blackmailer doesn't even have to say what it is he is going to tell about you, or even who he is going to tell. You give him the candy bar, and a huge chunk of yourself right along with it.

SOCIETY

Ubange lips, rings that stretch your neck, feet wrapped from birth to keep your feet tiny, tattoos and burn scars when you come of age, bar mitzvah, fraternal initiation, diploma.

A society dictates what you strive for, what you wear, how you behave in order to fit into that society.

"Not me, man, I'm a hippy. Nobody owns me."

Flowers, "Peace and Love," long, simple dress, jeans, van.

We form micro-societies. And to fit in with that society, you must conform to the standards and expectations of that society. In other words, that society owns a chunk of you. Try joining a hippy community wearing a two-piece suit and a derby hat, or joining a law firm wearing feathers in your hair and thongs on your feet.

DEATH

If you didn't die at birth, and I assume you didn't, then Death owns you. Death is just biding his time until he takes possession of that which he already owns.

From the moment you were conceived, the life you have is only on loan to you for a limited period of time.

SATAN

You might not believe in Satan, and perhaps you are right. And if you don't believe in Satan, than you probably don't believe in Jesus either. And possibly you do not believe in God as a judge and creator as well. If that is the case, than your journey through this study has ended here with Death.

But those of you who wish to follow along farther, if for no other reason than for the sake of argument; let's look at Satan.

Satan, Angra, Mainyu, Mara or the Devil. Whatever you call him, or whatever your faith; the chances are you believe in the devil in one form or another.

Satan's roll in the Fall of Man, that is, the Original Sin is also debated. But his negative influence on all of us is pretty well agreed upon.

Some religions believe that Satan has to influence each of us, that is, must bring us down one-by-one. That Man is either inherently good, or inherently neutral, and Satan must work to pull us to his level.

That said, I will from here concentrate on the traditional Christian view of Satan.
Death, as pointed out above, owns us from birth.

And so does Satan. This part has been debated, but like I said, here I am considering the traditional view.

Satan won Mankind in the Garden of Eden. When both Adam and Eve sinned, that sin was passed on to their children. (By the way, the Greek word for sin used in the Bible means "to miss the mark, to not share in the prize." Interesting?) Because of this, we are born with a "fallen nature," in other words, we are lost from the beginning.

(If a child is born to a slave, that child becomes a slave to the master of his or her parents; that is, the child is "born into slavery.")

So if Satan owns us - any ideas for what he intends to do with us?

JESUS

The Bible tells us that Jesus paid for sin. That is, he paid the debt that Adam owed for his sin, and that of our own as well. So the curse placed upon Man was lifted, part of which is death.

Of course you can always refuse to accept the payment and demand that you pay your own debts. I suppose it is everyone's right to do so. That way you don't have to be indebted to anyone, that is except Death of course.

I suppose it could be likened to having a check at your bank, where you owe a great deal of money, that is large enough to cover that debt. All you have to do is sign the check, and the debt is paid.

However, part of the agreement for having your debt paid is that you now owe the one who paid your debt. That is, you either continue to owe Death who is waiting to collect; Or you owe Jesus who wants to give you Life.

In Biblical times (and until fairly recently), if you owed someone money that you could not pay, then you became that person's slave until the debt is worked off. Of course, when you owe Death, then you never can work off the debt.

Of course someone can pay off your debt and set you free. Which is what Jesus did. However, you can continue being a slave to your old master, either out of refusal of the payment, because of ignorance of the fact that the debt has been paid, or because you love your old master and wish to remain with him. (Why someone would want to remain a servant of Death I don't know. But I guess some folks do.)

So let's say you accept the payment for your debt and you are now free. You have two options (that I can see). One is the option described above. The other is to become the servant of the One who set you free of your debt; that is, the One who bought you.

(I suppose you could just remain free, but I can't imagine to where that would lead.)

If you choose to remain with your Master as a servant (or slave), whichever Master that is, your old one or your new, then you have the option of becoming a servant for life. In such a case, the Master would stand you against the doorpost and "bore a hole" in your ear. (It has been interpreted that this means the Master "owns your ear" and you will only listen to him. Much like, I suppose, when Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice" and will flee from another."

(For more on this, see Exodus chapter 21 and John chapter 10.)

So, I return to my original question. Does anybody own you? Or have I just been flapping my lips at the wind?

Tumbleweed

Who Do You Serve?

Who Do You Serve?

30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mat 12:)

The carnal mind can think of nothing but itself. It would do no good to tell it; "come and do the right thing because it will help others, but you will suffer for it."

Now you might very well say that there are plenty of carnal (non Christians) who are out there in the world unselfishly doing great things for others without recompense. And I would have to agree. There is certainly some "flesh" that is much better than other "flesh." Just like there is dirt that is much better than other dirt, which will grow a much better harvest.

What are the rewards for those who serve others so magnanimously? Anything at all? Do they get a good feeling about themselves knowing they are helping others? Do they get praise for their service? How about appreciation? What about a Heavenly reward? Perhaps they believe they will return to earth in a higher life form?

This is not to say that for whatever their reason, those gallant souls who sacrifice themselves for others are not doing a great thing for mankind. I applaud them. My question is: would they continue doing the same if that reward, whatever it may be, was short in coming or withdrawn all together?

Some would.

Self-Sacrifice is looked upon as a Godly thing. And I suppose to some degree it is. However, sacrifice in and of itself, even for "God" is not necessarily Godly.

The Old Testament Jews "Served" God faithfully as long as serving did not conflict with their personal desires. Once a conflict of interest arose, the Jews withdrew their service to God to serve other gods, or themselves, whichever they felt would bring them the most satisfaction.

There are Muslim sects who sacrifice all by blowing themselves up along with anyone they consider as enemies of God, for the sake of earning themselves a place in Heaven where they will be treated Royally.

Buddhist Monks have been known to burn their mortal bodies in protest with the belief that they will return to earth possessing a "personality(?)" that will be closer to achieving perfection.

The Japanese laborers during WW2 ran weaponless at the "enemy" knowing they would be killed having been told that by doing so they would get to Heaven.

In the history of the Church people were buying "indulgences" believing that they could sin all they want and still get to Heaven.

Human history is filled with such sacrifices - all in the name of "God."

But, who are they serving? Would you justify any of them? Their actions? If you were God would you consider any of them as Righteous? Would you accept any of them to live Eternally with?

Would you say that any of them were serving God? Or were they looking out for themselves?

Would any one of them, if they knew ("Believed") that they would go to hell rather than Heaven, do what they did?

And would you say these people had a lot of Faith? If Faith was actually a True Road to Heaven, wouldn't you say these people did indeed prove that they have Faith?

I imagine most people reading this would agree that God is not impressed with any of these "Sacrifices;" that is, unless you now have a bomb strapped to your chest or you are a Buddhist Monk carrying a can of gasoline and a match to the town square.

Who do you serve?

When you attend church, whether once per week, or ten times a week, are you going to be in the presence of God? Are you attending to be with other Christians? Are you wanting to win "points" with the church? Or with God?

Who do you serve?

When a person first attends church it is very likely because he or she is either looking for something to do, or because someone they know goes to that church; or it might be because they have a longing desire to fill a void of some nature in their life.

And that void might very well be a need to find God.

Whatever the reason for someone turning toward God, it will be a selfish one. And, in fact, the Bible makes it quite clear that God expects us to come for no other reason than to satisfy ourself. (Mat 6:37-38; Jer 17:7-9; Gal 5:16-18)

Why else would any of us carnal, selfish humans bother?

And if that were enough, that is to satisfy ourself, than many who have found that self-satisfaction in cults and non-Christian religion will seek no farther.

They now serve who they set out to serve - themselves.

Who do you serve?

Jesus left Heaven and came down here to earth. Why? What did He hope to gain from all He did?

Who did Jesus Serve?

Jesus owned nothing, was an outcast, healed the sick, raised the dead - washed the feet of His Disciples.

Who did Jesus Serve?

Jesus gave up his life and died the worst death imaginable, yet, as a perfect Man He was unable to die.

Why? Who for? Himself?

Who did Jesus Serve?

God, as Jesus, came to earth to Serve man, us. We, that is most of us, accept that as true. So, what are we supposed to do with what we have been offered?

Did Jesus set any example of what we are to do if we are to be His disciple?

Who do you serve?

You are a church member; a very loyal and active and respected church member. In everyone's eyes, including your own, you are doing just what you should be doing.

How about in God's eyes?

Who do you serve?

Service to the Church is good. Jesus set that as an example. Service to God's people is Service to God Himself. (John 13:113-15; Gal 5:2; 1John 4:20-21)

At least it can be - if we are serving in such a way that gives God the Glory, and not ourselves. (1Cor 10:31)

What if you are serving as choir leader, or a youth Pastor - and God told you He wants you to give up that position and be the janitor instead. Could you (joyfully) give up your own glory?

What if, in your growth in the Lord, you discovered that whatever Doctrine was being preached at your church, the one you are firmly and respectably planted in, is not really the Truth as you now believe it - could you leave that church and begin all over again?

Who do you serve?

Originally you came to church to please yourself. And that is exactly where most people remain. If they were required to sacrifice any more than they were willing to, then they would eventually drift away, possibly to a church where they will feel "comfortable."

And there are plenty of churches with plush seats and worldly entertainment wherein those who seek their own comfort may find it.

Who do you serve?

I think you are getting the message. But have you decided for yourself who you serve?

God wrote a Book filled with no nonsense, hard hitting commands and demands. And He also provided a means for us to understand and fulfill those demands (the Holy Spirit).

Many churches (I would rather say "most") have taken a plastic overlay called Doctrine and placed it over the top of the Scriptures and softened down the Message until it serves man, and not God.

What the Bible explains, the churches explain away.

They have created a condition where everyone can do whatever they want, and still firmly believe that they will be going to Heaven.

The Church Jesus is creating is strong and Glorious, befitting the company of God.

But the churches of today are trying to turn the Body of Christ into a wimpy, marshmallow body incapable of holding up the Head of Christ.

Don't we know that if the Head is Christ, so is the Body??

Didn't Jesus say that we would be doing even more than He did? Not less!! (John 14:12-14)

Who does your church serve?

Are you encouraged by your church to read the Bible in order to confirm what they have taught you it says? Or have you been instructed to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as you read and learn what God wants you to learn? (John 14:25-26)

Are you taught that Jesus is your True Shepherd and you should follow Him? Or are you told (or led to believe) that your Pastor and church is your shepherd and you should follow just their leading? (John 10:1-18)

If you feel the Lord is directing you to do more for Him, that is do more than the church says you should do, although what you desire to do is clearly defined in the Bible; does your church support your growth, or does it try to quell your enthusiasm by considering it misdirected?

Paul and the Apostles had that problem from the very beginning. And so did many, many Martyrs throughout history.

In fact, Jesus not only had the church of His day trying to stop him from doing what was His Godly duty; but even His family, who should have certainly known better, didn't believe and tried to stop Him.

It is my belief that all the Apostles would have continued to serve God even if it meant ultimately going to the same destination that all the rest of the world will be facing. They knew who they served - and why!

The purpose of the church is to bring nonbelievers into the Fold - and to teach them to grow into the fulness of God's Purpose and Blessings. Instead, the churches bring people into the church, and hold them down by instructing them to serve the church - not God.

New converts are taught that the moment they come before the alter and say their sinner's prayer, they have received all there is to have and they are on their way to Heaven; that they are just as much a Christian as they will ever be, and just as much a Child of God as Abraham or any of the other Saints.

In your heart you know this is not true; and as you read the Word you can plainly see that vast amounts of Scripture has been skipped over in order to convince you that you are at Heaven's door, instead of the door of the sheepfold.

The church is a business. The church is self-serving rather than God serving as Jesus intended it to be.

Jesus gave His life for His Church, that is, His body. And those who are part of His Body desire to be all that Jesus was (and is). They desire only to do His will and to please Him. His Body is not out to selfishly manipulate Him to serve them. Those who seek to satisfy themselves are not part of the Body of Christ. (Mat 7:21)

The church is a building full of selfish people who have been deluded, or have deluded themselves into believing that by being a part of that church they are better than others who belong to other churches (or no church at all); and who believe they are going to Heaven because of their self-righteousness and imagined favor with God.

God's Church, that is His body of Believers, is made up of dedicated individuals sprinkled amongst all the churches. Those members of Christ's Body very likely are not even aware at present that they are one of the Few, the Chosen. And if we think we are, without seeking God "Diligently," we are only deceiving ourselves. (Mat 13:24-44; Heb 11:6; 12:14-15)

God wants your full attention and dedicated, loving Service. He wants your all.

So, Who do you serve?

[ I must make a disclaimer here. I know there are Churches that work very hard to instruct their congregation to seek the Lord diligently. And there are some very skillful Preachers out there presenting the Word very well. It delights me to hear them preach.

The problem is not always behind the pulpit, but very often the problem is that the pews are filled with tares with just a sprinkling of heathy Spirit-Filled wheat.]

The following is a small sampling of what God has said about serving.

For more, check out "serve" and "overcome" in a concordance, or see the study "Overcomer" on this website.

REFERENCES

25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Rom 1:)

10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Mat 4:10)

24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Mat 6:10)

24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. (John 12:)

9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; (Rom 1:)

4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: (Rom 6:6)

24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Rom 7:)

[ A note on this verse; you will hear it said that Paul is here saying that he still sins with his flesh, while his mind is serving Jesus. This is a fine interpretation for those who wish to continue sinning instead of cease from sin as Paul himself says we are to do (and he did) often in his letters.

What Paul is saying is his flesh continues to serve the Law of sin, that is all the temptations and restrictions that flesh must endure. He is not justifying sin, as the Scriptures above and following this one clearly indicates.]

13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Gal 5:)

12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb 9:)

28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29For our God is a consuming fire. (Heb 12:28)

These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Rev 7:)

3And 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: 4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. (Rev 22:)

30A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. (Ps 22:30)

37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Mat 6:)

7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jer 17:7-9)

2Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5For every man shall bear his own burden. 6Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Gal 6:)

1I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2Tim 4:)

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Rom 1:)

17These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (2Pet 2:)

3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2Pet 3:)

15To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 17But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. (Jude)

16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Gal 5:16-18)

2Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. (Gal 5:2)

20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1John 4:)

13Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. (John 13:13-15)

31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1Cor 19:31)

12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:)

25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:)

1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:)

12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21Not 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. 22Many 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? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And 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. 26And 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: 27And 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. 28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Mat 7:)

24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. 33Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. 36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Mat 13:)

6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb 11:6)

14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Heb 12:)

Tumbleweed

Who Are You?

Who Are You?

6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
8But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter;
and we all are the work of thy hand. (Isaiah 64:)
19for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Gen 3:19)

Describe yourself.

Describe yourself ten years ago. Twenty rears ago. One hundred years ago.

Perhaps you said you weren't here a hundred years ago.

Yes you were, and you were the same then as you are now (Gen 3:19).

Chances are when asked to describe yourself you tell a person what you do, what you've done, if you are married, the kind of work you do, your education, how you view the world, and so on.

You might even add a bit about how well you think you have done in areas such as if you are a good husband, a competent worker, an honest lawyer, or the like.

Perhaps you might even add some physical characteristic like your hair color, or your weight, or your height.

However you describe yourself, it will be through your own eyes, that is, as you see yourself.

How much different do you think a description of you might be if it came from your child, or your ex spouse, or your boss, or your worst enemy?

Which view do you think would be the closest to accurate?

Let us say you were a farmer and you had a bull. The bull you own is a magnificent beast, one you bred and raised from birth. But the bull had one particular problem; he knew he was special and to demonstrate it he liked to gore other animals with his horns.

Because the bull was so grand, you let him get away with his act of pride.

The bull sees himself as superior, a fine specimen of bull-hood.

And, as a matter of fact, you as well see him as a superior creature.

Except for the goring.

One day the bull forgets himself and feels superior to you. And to demonstrate his superiority he gores you.

Do you now see him in the same light as he sees himself? Or do you see him as hamburger?

Who's view do you suppose will win out?

You know people who believe themself to be especially talented, or nice, or intelligent, or attractive - yet your opinion of them is far different than their own. In fact, the chances are the more that person thinks of themself, the less you like them.
Perhaps you have a boss like that; or a relative; or even children.

My view of myself has changed drastically over the years. In fact there are days when I vacillate from feeling like an Einstein, to thinking of myself as a complete dummy.

I don't suppose I am alone on this. I suppose most people go through the same thing. In fact, I feel sorry for those who always feel the same about themself because, like a car stuck in a gear, or a clock without a battery, they are going to be correct but rarely.

A toddler at two years old believes he knows it all and considers himself completely self-sufficient. That is a very dangerous age. But if the child is guided properly though his misgivings, he will likely survive the experience and give up his grievous attitude.

Until puberty.

When puberty starts once again he considers himself a superior stud, and tries for independence. Meanwhile, inside, he knows he is but a lost soul not having the slightest idea who he is or where he is going.

And if he doesn't have an awareness of his lack, he will likely make the same mistake as the bull - and experience much the same consequences.

It's easy to look at others and judge their lack and incompetence. It is much easier to see others for what they truly are than to see ourselves for who we are.

Especially for men.

And that is why God gave men wives.

If you were able to create a robot, and give that robot a personality, and a consciences, and and the ability to make decisions independently of your own. (Perhaps you recall HAL from A Space Odyssey.) And let's say that robot decided to make decisions you disagree with - how long do you think it would be until that robot became parts for another project?

You already know where I'm going with this. But bear with me, I might have something to contribute that you hadn't considered.

Job had everything going for him. He not only possessed all that a man could ever ask for here on earth, but he was a front-runner in Heaven as well. How many people can say they are looked upon as a faithful servant by God?

But Job lost it all; his family, his herds, his servants - everything.

Even Job's health deteriorated to a point his wife said he would be better off dead.

And why did this all this happen to Job?

Alas, it happened because God looked upon him favorably.

In fact, God even called Job "Perfect."

How many people can claim that honor?

How many would like to?

Job's perfection, as it turns out, was also his flaw.

Like the Pharisee who praised himself in the Temple, Job knew his own qualities, and reveled in them.

It was not a matter of whether Job was perfect or not. Even God had already said he was. Being perfect is not a flaw.

But seeing oneself as perfect is a flaw.

If we see ourself as up, we are down. If we see ourself as down, we can be made upright.

It is not possible for us to see things as they really are. And as shown in the above examples, it is even more impossible [I know, how can it be more impossible than impossible] for us to see ourselves realistically.

God has a way of turning things around on us. As soon as we fully understand what "up" is, He turns it upside down and we are wrong once more.

When we look for the Truth for Truth's (Ego's) sake, He points us to a lie.

When He tells us the Truth, He conceals it with a deception. (Isa 28:13; 66:4; Mat 13:4-15)

That doesn't sound fair; but who can argue with God? This world (and us) are His Creation, His toy, and He can do with it as He pleases.

So, in order to understand God, and His purposes; we have to see things from His point of view. If God wants to turn the world upside-down, we have to stand on our head to see it correctly.

God's view is from way up high. Our view is from way down low. We see things through a dark tunnel. God sees all things at once in bright sunlight.

The chances are God is going to see things clearer than we are.

"But that's not fair," we say. "How can God understand what it's like for me if He's way up there and I'm way down here?"

Good point. I don't suppose He could understand - if He hadn't come down here himself.

Jesus turned the world right side up. But man, so used to seeing things upside-down could not relate to Him.

Man says stop; Jesus says go. Man says black; Jesus says white. Man says no, Jesus says yes.

Man says he's precious; Jesus says he's trash.

The Pharisees and the Elders of Israel believed they were the finest of manhood. They believed they were doing all man was capable of, and were standing next to God, and maybe even God Himself incarnate. Righteousness was their entire life and purpose, their full focus, so why would they believe otherwise?

Why, they even sat in the Temple of God!

Others have believed the same about themselves, and had done far less than the Pharisees with which to warrant such a claim. Caesar, Hitler and Jim Jones are a few names that come to mind.

To add to the Pharisee's self-adoration, the people looked up to them, seeing them in the same light in which they saw themselves.

Then Jesus came along. A lowly Nazarene from Galilee. A common carpenter. A nobody of illicit birth.

And this Nobody not only claimed to be the Son of God (without ever fully saying it to them) but proved it with miracles and an understanding of Scripture that none of them had.

And the people followed Him, not them any more.

The people magnified Him, and not them.

Add to this the fact that Jesus refused to obey the traditions, which were the very works that made the Pharisees superior to the rabble that followed Jesus. He even said those very traditions were against the Will of God.

The Pharisees were the Crême de la Crême. The Pharisees and the Priests stood in the place of God.

But Jesus called them Hypocrites. He called them Fools. He said they not only do not stand in the place of God, but that God doesn't even know them, and that they would never see God.

Being put down would be a hard thing for anyone to take; especially for someone who's whole life and purpose is their image. And to be put down and trodden upon by a Nazarene, and in front of one's adoring public would be more than one could handle.

But that wasn't the half of the story. Jesus told the Rabble, the low-lifes, the lepers, the thieves, the prostitutes and later through the Apostles, even the Gentiles that they were better than the Pharisees. He told them that they, not the ones who worked so hard for the position, were the one's God was interested in, and would be taken to Heaven.

What a putdown.

Jesus took the Top, and made it the Bottom. He took the Bottom, and made it the Top.

Jesus took the First, and made it the Last. He took the Last, and made it the First.

Jesus came down to earth to confuse and upset all the understandings that people have held for thousands of years. God, in a moment of time withdrew all He had established, all He had said we were to do, and suddenly expects us to do just the opposite.

Is that right?

Or is it that Jesus came, not to confuse and upset everything; but to set everything upright and explain what God has been trying to get through our thick skulls from the beginning?

Adam and Eve, and all pre-flood mankind shows how far we humans will drift from God's Will if given half a chance.

God understands that we are like the toddler who thinks he knows it all and can take care of himself. It is us who doesn't know our own weaknesses and stubborn streaks.

There may be one in a thousand (though I would guess closer to one in ten thousand) who will give up their self-will and listen to God so they can hear what He has to say. There may be a drop in the bucket of people who sincerely desire to follow God and to serve Him, but just do not know what to do, or how to do it. Traditions and bad examples create stumbling stones and hide the narrow path that leads to understanding.

Jesus came to earth for them. He has brushed aside the traditional rubbish for those who diligently seek His way. He has walked the path ahead of us, as a type of First fruit in order to demonstrate that it can be done, and just how to do it.

And in case we doubt it can be done by Mortal Man (which it cannot) He sent representatives throughout the world. He filled the Apostles with the Holy Spirit intended for all who will also follow. And He instructed them to explain further what we need to know in order to stay on the Narrow path, and also to demonstrate the Way.

Before the Flood God let Man go his own way, hoping that he would seek after Him, which almost no one did. Enoch and Noah are all we know of.

After the Flood we know of one who followed God, Abraham, who God rewarded by giving him a Nation of people (actually many Nations) who will eventually inherit his righteousness.

For a thousand years Abraham's descendants, the Jews, were herded like cattle, no longer left to their own devices as were the rest of the Nations (Gentiles).

Herding does not produce order. When anything is pushed, it resists. And when they are not being pushed, they go their own way; they wander off, or they lay along the wayside.

Jesus turned this around also. Mankind is no longer being pushed, that is, herded. A herd has no leader, or worse, each in the herd wants to be the leader, at least leader of some segment of the herd. Herd principal dictates that whoever wanders off first, whoever runs first; the others follow. Watch a herd of buffalo, or closer to home, watch a flock of birds to see this principal in action.

Better yet, watch a church, or any other gathering of people. In fact, sit in the group and experience the strong pulls you feel to go one way or another, especially when those of a certain faction start trying to influence you.

This is Tradition, and Democracy in action.

Jesus entered the herd, and called out a flock of sheep, that is those who wish to follow Him.

But all who follow along with the flock are not sheep, and those will eventually return to the herd, or wander aimlessly in the wilderness.

The Israelites experienced this. Apparently millions came out of Egypt, following the Call of God. Even Egyptians (wolves for this illustration) followed the herd.

However, in spite of all the instructions the herd received, only a hand full did not either rebel, want to return to Egypt, or refuse to enter God's Pasture.

So they wandered the wilderness, where they eventually died.

Being Called Out did not mean that they would Enter In.

Jesus has given His Call for His own, that is, His sheep. His call is not for one Nation only, but for the whole world.

A few hear the call. These Sacrifice the Lamb (and themselves, which the Lamb takes the place of), cleanse their house (heart) of Leaven (sin), and spread the Blood of the Lamb on their doorpost that wards off the Death Angel (punishment to come on the World, Egypt, for the Sin of rebellion -- Judgment).

These true sheep follow the Shepherd into the wilderness (trial, Valley of the Shadow of Death) where they are purified, refined and prepared to enter into the Promised Land.

A multitude of non sheep, even Egyptians (worldly), follow those who are Called. Many of these, like Korah (the rebellion) are placed by God in high positions as Priests and Servants of God; but like the unfruitful, and the wicked servants in the parables, they did not hear God, but only the sound of their own voice. And the masses didn't listen to the true sheep, but rather they turned their ear to the rebels and the wolves who claimed to have the Word of God and spoke the loudest, and told them what they wanted to hear.

Those who did not truly hear the Call, as did Moses and Joshua, though they were servants of the Lord, died in the wilderness because they did not endure to the end. These sought their own way, and murmured against God and the way He was conducting His campaign.

True sheep can be identified from the rest of the herd. The Bible refers to these indicators as "Fruit." Some of these indicators are obvious, others are not.

Sheep recognize, and instantly respond to the voice of the Shepherd.

Sheep, though they may wander (especially milk-fed lambs), they seek their way back as soon as they recognize their departure from the flock. And if they lose their way, they anxiously seek, and instantly respond to the Shepherd's voice when He calls them.

Sheep, when in danger, do not run and hide, but rather run to the feet of the Shepherd.

Sheep do not try to lead. They are content to follow.

Sheep graze where they are told to stay. They do not seek greener pastures like a cow. Nor do they browse, ever looking for some exotic delicacy, like a goat, to satisfy their lusts and "itching ears."

Sheep produce other sheep. A non productive (fruitless branch) is not a true sheep.
Sheep do not seek the company of others that are not sheep.

Sheep are content to be sheep; they do not follow other creatures that appear to have more than they have. What the Shepherd provides is sufficient, regardless of how much, or how little that may be.

"Many are called, Few are chosen," is the way Jesus expressed it. And how many of those who are chosen, in return chose Jesus? We would assume all. But then; how do we explain Judas? Or Jonah? Or the Rich Young Ruler? Or the Nation of Israel? These were all Chosen and Called as well. Yet all these either resisted the Call, or were allowed to depart (at least, so it seems).

The original question was, "Who are you."

If you have identified yourself as a Christian, which I assume you have if you are reading this piece, then I hope you have reevaluated your stance with the Lord.

Rarely are we who we believe ourself to be; and rarely are we where we believe ourself to be.

But sometimes we are.

My purpose in this study is not to shake your Faith; in fact, far from it. What I desire to do is shake up your confidence in all you believe in order to let everything settle into their proper perspective, rather than, as is our nature, just assume that all is well because you feel comfortable.

Like a doctor's exam, you might say.

Faith is good, if it is based on a Faithful saying. But Faith that has not been challenged is not Faith, but Philosophy and Theory. And Theory that has not been fully researched is not Theory, but Fable.

And Fables are the tools of the devil, disguised as Light, in order to lead the Children of Light astray.

REFERENCES

CHOSEN
16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Mat 20:)

9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17These things I command you, that ye love one another. (John 15:)

8But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. 9Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. (Isa 49:)

1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (John 15:)

69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:)

DELUSIONS
6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 7And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 8But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. 9Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people. 10Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. 11Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste. 12Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore? (Isaiah 64:)

13But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (Isa 28:13)

4I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. (Isa 66:4)

9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (Mat 13:4-15)

Rich Man, Poor Man

Rich man, Poor man

24And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it. (Ezek 17:)

I'm going to paint you a picture.

Imagine a room. In this room there are two chairs; one a very large, expensive recliner; and the other a low footstool with one leg broken and wobbly.

Now place a very finely dressed, distinguished man, full of self confidence and prosperity in the recliner, smiling as he counts his money.

On the footstool picture a downcast, grubby-bearded man wearing shoes with souls that lap like a dog at a water dish, and clothes that smell as if they hadn't been removed for several weeks.

Picture yourself entering this room. Now look in your right hand and you will see a paper with instructions that say: "Before you are two men. Select one of them to take home with you for the evening meal and put him up in your own bed while you sleep on the sofa. Ignore the other man."

Which would you chose?

Which would Jesus chose?

"Sell all you have, give to the poor, and come and follow me." (Luke 18:22).

This is the instructions Jesus gave the rich young man who asked what he had to do to be accepted into Heaven.

The rich must give all they have to the poor, and in the beatitudes Jesus gave instructions to the poor on how to have riches in heaven (Matt 5:1-12).

There was another rich man Jesus told us about, who had a poor man right outside his door:

19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luke 16:

I see a paradox in these passages. Here we have a rich man who faces destruction because of his riches, and a poor man who is offered Paradise because of his being poor.

Here I pose a question: let us say that this rich man was to follow the dictates of Jesus whereby he gave everything to "the poor," which happens to be the beggar of this story.

We now have a reversal of roles; the poor man is the rich man, and the rich man is now the poor.

As a poor man, the former rich man, barring other issues not covered here such as repentance, receiving the Holy Ghost, etc, has now secured for himself a place in Heaven.

But the poor man, who is now rich, has at least for the time being, lost his place in Abraham's Bosom.

Will he sell all he now has in order to secure his place in Heaven? I would assume all that time the beggar lay outside the gate of the mansion that he dreamed of just such a thing happening.

And I suppose others of us who are a bit better off dream of similar things happening to us. (And no matter how much we get, it seems we always need more to make us happy. The carrot before the mule.)

What is the answer to the above question? Me, I don't know. Perhaps there is no answer, other than, possibly; that God knows our heart and judges accordingly.

I just find it an intriguing question.

As a side note, and an interesting "coincidence," I learned just today of a man who was cast down ("body-slammed," he called it) from robust self-sufficiency to dependent and humbling health. He said a surprising thing; "I'm afraid of regaining my health for fear that I will stray from the closeness with the Lord that I have found because of my condition."

I have heard of such people, and now I have met one.

Perhaps the beggar in question would desire poverty again for that very reason; especially in this day and age when we have the overflowing wealth of the Holy Spirit that anyone who has truly received, wouldn't give up for any earthly riches.

21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me (Matt 19: )

44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Matt 13:)

8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matt 13:)

37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; (Matt 13:)

31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. (Matt 13:)

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1)

23And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12: )

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5: )

7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:)

22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (John 20:)

37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:)

1And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Rev 22:)

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1)

18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, (Rom 9: )

12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (1 Pet 4:)

15If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14: )

25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14: )