A Devotional Look at the Book #505

A Devotional Look at the Book #505

by Jesse Abel

A Devotional Look at the Book #505

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Dumbing down, or smartening up; now these are phrases we can learn from, in fact; learning takes effort. To be dumb or to be wise also takes time to mature. In the thirty-five plus years that I have studied the Bible, versions have gone from college level reading to the fifth grade reading level. Now just what direction are we going? Don’t say: “I dunno!”

A DAY IN THE PAST, THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE

Without the detail; submarines are complicated machines, but it only takes one qualified person to save a crew and bring the ship to the safety of the surface in times of watertight integrity and other emergencies. However; this does not mean that any one qualified individual can fully operate the submarine; no, it takes a qualified crew. Lets take a look at the word “qualified”, it is a word of past tense authority meaning that some completed action has taken place that puts that person in that position. Now let’s look at John 1:29; “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold!” The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” The word underlined, “takes” or “taketh” is a past tense verb with the authority of completed action. How is this; since Jesus is just beginning His earthly ministry and in roughly three years He will die as the Lamb of God? God’s Plan of redemption is completed in eternity; not in time. God answers this thought in Isaiah 46:9-10. Now Jesus is seated in Heaven at the Father’s right hand; He is back in eternity and His work; completed in eternity is fulfilled in time. The Holy Spirit, who is just as qualified as the Son and the Father, now guides the church in time into all truth. He speaks with the same completed authority of the Godhead who qualifies the church to move the gospel of Jesus Christ forward in time to the lost and dying world around us. Notice Matthew 5:13-16 you are the salt and light (qualified). Yet, I feel that in these days we have allowed preachers and teachers to dumb us down with unflavored salt and thus providing bushel baskets for heads of their congregations rather than helmets. Ephesians 6:17; but in context Ephesians 6:10-20.

2 Peter

2 Peter 2:4-6 – It seems to me that these passages and the epistle of Jude do not get much attention. Even the hell fire and brimstone preachers of the past avoided these verses. If these passages are referenced at all we tend to categorize false teaching by placing it in these three areas; cults, liberalism and legalism. Yet critical it is; if what we are teaching and preaching is not producing a walk of righteousness in Christ; in those sitting under our authority.

Here again we see words and phrases that point to completed action; God did not spare the angels who sinned, these beings are chained and in outer darkness in eternity. Time for them does not exist so there is no hope of change and so it is with everyone in time who is teaching falsely, and eternity will be the proof of this, not time.

God has provided proof of eternal action by revealing to us New Testament saints events like the flood when only eight righteous souls were delivered. God also provides evidence of what happens to nations who are filled with all kinds of immorality and debauchery. Question: Did the flood or the fire and brimstone from heaven come upon the earth because people were being taught to live godly lives or because they were being taught (dumbing down) to live wickedly? Awe; go ahead and answer the question, since you and I may only have a minute or less before the return of the LORD. Even so; Come LORD Jesus. Revelation 22:20-21, but of course; one would need to believe in the Revelation of Jesus Christ; would they not?