The Devotional - A Look at the Book #912

by Jesse Abel

 

Thoughts from Papa “J”

 

Righteousness is what I long for; this is a hymn that many in contemporary churches sing on Sundays. It is a nice sounding song and very easy to sing; however I believe it misses the intended mark. Christ is our Righteousness, we need not long for Him or His Holiness. If one puts on Christ they are at that moment Righteous. However; Holiness is a command; Be ye holy for I am holy. Romans 13:14; 1 Peter 1:16 KJV and Proverbs 11:1-11

 

Good Morning

 

When I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February 1958 I was eighteen years old and I am sure that my outlook was very much the same as many even today. “This is a temporary event in my life, one that will go away in four years”. That was true temporarily; four years later I was out and looking for employment. This was a difficult time in that in one year I had thirteen jobs and twelve of them in the last two months of that year of 1963. So I did the only thing I knew and went back into the Navy.

 

What was to be a temporary time in my sojourn through life became a career and I am reminded of Proverbs 16:9; I believe that in our world today there is little thought of this simple truth in the hearts of people. Far too many people hold the doctrines that promote the “I did it my way” sojourn through life; and why not? A young person today has liberal eyes. They are unlearned in family traditions, but they are prepared and already understand through the crumbling philosophies of the world around them that the only hope or option is to do one’s own thing and do it well.

 

Barriers to the gospel of Jesus Christ are many; but I believe these can be categorized into two major categories: Religion and Evolution. There is a third category; one that I and all of my brothers and sisters in the world (millions of us) who are identifies as “strangers” or “pilgrims”. I define this third category simply as “Creational Truth” or which is preferred or more orthodox “Faith in God” So my intention is to focus on what it means to be one of those people who are walking toward that heavenly country, a future country where our Creator lives. Hebrews 11:13-16.

 

The apostle Peter writing to his Jewish kinsmen, those scattered throughout the known world of his time calls these displaced men and women strangers in the countries they have settled in. Cities and countries in Turkey and Asia Minor and the point I seek to make is this: While I viewed my early life as temporary event, it became a permanent event for the next thirty years of life. Yet, these thirty years were not permanent either since it is nearly thirty years since I stepped ashore, or away from the Navy. Should I live past 2017 marking thirty years from my Navy retirement!

It is my intention to take a look at both epistles of Peter over the next few weeks. We will focus on those of us who outside the mainstream of life. Outside and sometimes looking in on our loved ones, or our nation who are caught up in the world of “religion” or the world of “evolution”, It has become increasingly difficult to talk with these two groups of people and why is that; one might ask? People today do not want to know “Truth” they have become dull of hearing.

 

The apostle Paul in his first epistle to Timothy states that there will be an event in history that God identifies as an extreme hardening of the heart of all peoples; “a great apostasy” or turning away from Creational Truth. I believe these times are on us, almost full force, we will see our children, grandchildren, relatives, neighbors and countrymen departing from “the faith in God. 1 Timothy 4:1-5.