Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Not Enough Evidence


Recently I came across an apparently famous quote made by Bertrand Russell.  When asked what he would say when facing God on judgment day, Bertrand Russell famously replied that he would say "Not enough evidence, God! Not enough evidence!" 
 (From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_nonbelief)

I'm sure others are thinking the same thing, too.

Well, it was early in the morning and I had some time to think.  I thought about the wind, as described in John 3:8.  I thought later about Psalm 19, that the heavens declare the glory of God.  And Romans chapter 1:20 says His invisible attribute are clearly seen, too.  But I know to Betrand Russell and others like him with hardened hearts, these mean nothing.

Then I thought about Jesus Christ.  He is the exact representation of Father God as it says in Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:3.  The question then should be, "What do you think of Jesus Christ?"

So we will start with that for now.

Now here's a thought.  With the Holy Spirit inside me, I should also be (OK, be becoming) the exact image of Father God, and, of course, so should every other believer.

So again, we'll start with the question, "What do you think of Jesus Christ."

But then as we are more and more conformed to the image of Jesus, we will demonstrate godliness in our lives, which will be the greatest evidence of all.  Then the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea, as it says in Habakkuk 2:14.

In fact, the whole earth is full of His glory already, as it says in Isaiah 6:3.

Evidence?  The evidence is inside us.  He's the Holy Spirit bubbling up as a river of life out of you and me, believer.

One more thing, just remember, there is no such thing as hopelessness, when the Lord God is involved.


Larry Carroll



Tell Him You Love Him - Again


Do you know that joke - where a wife says to her husband, "Honey, do you love me?"  And the husband answers, "I told you I love you when we got married, and if I change my mind I'll let you know."

Well, initially it's funny, but in the long run it's really very sad.  Could that really happen?  I'm sure it has, alas.

Don't do that to the Lord God, to the Lord Jesus Christ.

What?

Don't say in essence, "Well, I let Him in when I got saved, so I can check that off as complete/done (I got my ticket to heaven so I know where I'm going.)", and then go about living your life as best you can.

He's still knocking at the door of your heart, as we see in these two verses.  He wants to know if you still love Him.

(1) Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (NKJV)

Isn't that written to unbelievers?

Yes and no.  It's written to everyone, but here Jesus is speaking to seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

(2) Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) 5:2
I sleep, but my heart is awake;
It is the voice of my beloved!
He knocks, saying,
“Open for me, my sister, my love,
My dove, my perfect one;
For my head is covered with dew,
My locks with the drops of the night." (NKJV),

See how the beloved (Jesus) views YOU - my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one.  His heart is longing for you.

In His presence is fullness of joy.  Reach out to Him.  Let Him in.

Blessings,
Larry Carroll


Father's Instructions


Instructions from Father God are full of godly wisdom - obviously.

So how might we describe "godly wisdom"?  Let's start with James 3:17:
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

OK, so if what we hear is not pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, and without hypocrisy, then it does not contain godly wisdom, and it is worthless.

OH, but this wisdom we are rejecting might be pretty good (or fairly good, or kinda good).

Yes, I understand, nevertheless, not godly.  This is analogous to the story of the brownie mix made up with just an ever so slight amount of doggy poop mixed in.  You wouldn't even notice the poop mixed in since it is such a tiny amount.  But knowing it is there will keep most everyone away from it.

OK, the above is written primarily to the listener.  How about the speaker?

Speaker, guard your heart, for out of the heart the mouth speaks.

Read Matthew 15:1-19, which ends as follows:
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man(person) ... (NKJV)

Proverbs 4:23,24
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you. (NKJV)


How?  Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

Larry Carroll