Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Why :: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani (My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?)

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On March 28, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ fourth saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to apostle Matthew in chapter 27 verse 46. It reads, Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

To an omnipotent God this question may be rhetorical but this question warrants an answer, for even the angels desires to know the mystery of Salvation found in Jesus Christ, which is revealed unto man by the revelation and power of the Holy Ghost (1 Peter 1:12).

Question: Why was Jesus forsaken?
Answer: You
Answer: Me

Points to ponder:
God (the Father) forsook God (the Son) so that he did not have to forsake us. Jesus cried from the Cross, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” and today he is crying, “My child, my child, why have you forsaken me?” If you (and I) are forsaking God with our selfish and sinful lifestyle, let us forsake our own life (as Jesus willingly did) to gain it from the One who is Life personified.

Matthew 27:46 (KJV)
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

1 Peter 1:12 (KJV)
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Behold :: Woman, Behold thy Son! … Behold thy Mother!

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On March 27, 2013

In Christian, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ third saying from the Cross was addressed to Mary his mother and to the disciple whom he loved and it is recorded in the gospel according to the apostle John in chapter 19 verses 26 and 27. In this saying, Jesus tells Mary and the disciple standing beside the Cross,  to look (behold) at each other, and from that hour, the disciple takes her to be part of his own home (family).

Jesus addresses his mother as ‘Woman’. The very first time the word ‘Woman’ is used in the Bible, it is used in the context of establishing a family, when Adam (the first man) calls Eve (his wife) ‘woman’ as he recite the first love poem of her being the bone of his bones and the flesh of his flesh (Genesis 2:23). From the Cross again, Jesus is using the same word ‘Woman’, to address his mother, here in the context of establishing a family for her.

Also, did you notice that Jesus tells his mother and his disciple to look at each other. Just as it was in the garden of Eden, God is interested in establishing familial relationships from the Cross.

Points to ponder:
The world is attempting to redefine what constitutes a family, many a times, violating the plan that God has planned since the first family between a man and a woman, in the garden of Eden. God wants us to look (behold) at the family and accept the widows, orphans, and others who have no one for them, as our own family. After all the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross beckons us to look at (behold) God as he takes us, the Church which is the bride (woman) of Jesus Christ, to be adopted into his family. Church, Behold the Family! Behold!

John 19:26-27 (KJV)
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Today, You (with) Me :: Today shalt thou be with me in paradise

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On March 26, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ second saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to apostle Luke in chapter 23 verse 43. It reads “Verily, I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” This was said to a penitent sinner who was condemned by man to die alongside Jesus on his cross, when the malefactor recognized Jesus as Lord and King and asked to be remembered (Luke 23:42).

While on one hand, these words are words of assurance that grant access to the very throne of God, for anyone who repents and recognizes the Lordship and Kingship of Jesus, these words also have much truth hidden in it which close scrutiny reveals with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus was born, he was to be called “Emmanuel” which being interpreted is God with us (men/women) (Matthew 1:23). Now in his second saying from the Cross, Jesus was living up to his name, ironically by his death, whereby he made it possible for man to be with God.

In Jesus’ birth, it is God with man.
In Jesus’ death, it is man with God (in paradise).

Points to ponder:
Jesus said, “Verily, I say unto you. Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise.” to a repentant sinner. Now, can he say that of you? In other words, have you believed in him, repented and accepted him to your Lord and King? “Today, You (with) Me” says God. What is your response?

Luke 23:39-43 (KJV)
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

They know not :: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do

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On March 25, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ first saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to the apostle Luke in chapters 23 verse 34. It reads “Father, forgive them;  for they know not what they do.” referring to the parties that were responsible for his crucifixion at that present time, and all who preceded and succeeded them.

Jesus’ reasoning to God, his Father was that the people did not know. What is it that the people did not know? They did not know, that knowing God and Jesus, whom God had sent was eternal life (John 17:3). In other words, they did not know what eternal life is. They did not know that in killing Jesus, the One who is life personified, they were players in God’s grand plan of being gifted eternal life, for without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin and the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:22; Romans 6:23; John 3:16).

They did not know that the verdict of their guilty act of murdering Jesus was not death, but life; life eternal.

Points to ponder:
Do you know God the Father and Jesus whom he has sent, for only in knowing God the Father, and his Only begotten son, through the revelation of God’s Holy Spirit, are you assured of eternal life. If we know, and our verdict is life instead of the death which we deserve, are we living as if we have been gifted eternal life, or are we living our lives without Christ Jesus being the Lord and Master of our lives. In other words. would Jesus have to request to God the Father, today, for him to forgive us and give God the reason – They know not? Think about that.

Luke 23:33-34 (KJV)
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

John 17:3 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

All the world’s a herbivore, until …

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On March 22, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When God created man, after he had blessed him and commanded him to be fruitful and multiply, God gave every seed bearing herb and seed bearing tree as provisions of sustenance to man. It is important to recognize that seed bearing herbs and trees have the ability to reproduce and so they would not go extinct upon consumption.  To every living thing that was in the earth or the air, God gave every green herb as food. In other words, there were no carnivores. Everyone and everything were herbivorous according to God’s plan. Everyone and everything (including man and animal) was at peace before the fall of man, which led to sin and increased wickedness that provoked God to send the flood. It is only after the flood, does God give man every living thing that moves, as food, to man (Genesis 9:3-4).  Why would God add meat as food for man? Since the flood killed all living things including plants, except Noah and his family, one plausible explanation is that after the flood, the amount of trees and herbs was scarce and God wanted to make sure that his most prized possessions (i.e., man) had the means to continue and sustain life.

Points to ponder:
God is a provider. His plan is to provide with peace and to provide peace. Man’s sinful life brings a flood of issues including death. Only in Jesus Christ is found the peace that passeth all understanding and when we are in Christ, the floods of sin and death can’t drown us. God is THE provider for our life to continue. He has been since creation … Are you in Jesus Christ?

Genesis 1:29-31 (KJV)
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 9:3-4 (KJV)
3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all thin
4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Blessings and Fruitfulness

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On March 21, 2013

In Genesis, Through the Bible

After God created man in his own image, the first thing that God does is, he blesses them and after God blessed them, the first command God gave them was to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).

Points to ponder:
How are you and I doing in the first command of God? Are we fruitful?  If we are, what kind of fruit are we bearing – good or evil fruit? Jesus said, “A tree that does not bear good fruit is fit only to be cut and burned.” (Matthew 7:19-20). The (good) fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance and against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22). Is this fruit evident in our lives? With the blessings of God comes his command to be fruitful. How are we faring in this command?

Genesis 1:28 (KJV)
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

After God’s kind

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On March 20, 2013

In Genesis, Ittai, Reuben and Ittai, Through the Bible

Ittai A. PaulOur second born much loved Son, Ittai A. Paul, turned one today (March 20, 2013) and as we ponder on God’s goodness and faithfulness to us, my beloved wife Sangeetha and I, are ever so grateful to God for having loaned us two precious boys to cherish while we pilgrim on earth.

The Bible records that on the fifth and sixth day, God created the animals that live in the water, the birds that fly in the air, living creatures that live on the earth, every creeping thing, every cattle, and every beast of the earth, each after their own kind (Genesis 1:21, Genesis 1:25). Then on the sixth day, the Triune God in one decided to make man in his image, after the likeness of God the Father, his Holy Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God. (Genesis 1:26). So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

In other words, while every other creature that has life was created after their own kind, only us (man) is not made after our own kind, but created after God’s kind. When man took his first breath,  he became a living soul (Genesis 2:7) to live according to the Spirit of God (and not according to the flesh) for God is Spirit (John 4:24). The world glorifies celebrities with physical beauty and charming bodies, and seldom are most celebrities who do not know Jesus Christ celebrated for their soul (living soul).

Points to ponder:
Are you living by the flesh or by God’s Spirit? What are you and I celebrated for?

Our precious second son Ittai, our firstborn Reuben, You and I are all fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God (Psalm 139:4). We are made after God’s own kind and are wonderful – and that gives us every reason to praise God.

Genesis 1:20-27 (KJV)
20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Psalm 139:14 (KJV)
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Abundant (Living) Water

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On March 19, 2013

In Genesis, Through the Bible

The Bible records in the first chapter of the first book that on the fifth day God created the animals that live in the water and the birds that fly in the air (Genesis 1:20). God’s creation statement was “Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life” and when this came to be, God saw that and it was good.

In today’s generation, many are thirsty, seeking answers and solutions to quench their thirst. The only one who can satisfy the seekers is Jesus Christ, who said, “I have come to give life abundantly.” He is the source of living water and anyone who drinks from him shall never thirst again (John 7:37-39).

Points to ponder:
Are you thirsty or are you satisfied? If you are thirsty, then simply believe and come to Jesus, for he is the source of living water that brings life – eternal and abundant.

Genesis 1:20-21 (KJV)
20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Don’t become a blackhole

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On March 18, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The book of Genesis affirms that God made the stars along with the two great lights that he created and set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth. (Genesis 1:16-17). Stars in the sky emit light. The Sun (one of God’s creation) in our Solar System is a star that emits light. In order for a star to be able to emit light, it must first have light within itself, that it can emit. A celestial phenomenon that is related to stars is referred to as the blackhole. This is also referred to as the death of a star. In this phenomenon, the gravitational forces within the star prevents anything from escaping, including light.

The Bible also teaches us that those who serve the Lord God in turning many to righteousness found in Jesus Christ alone, will be like stars for ever and ever and the wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament (Daniel 12:3). So who are the wise? Proverbs 11:30 states that one who winneth souls is wise. So followers of Jesus Christ who believe in him, that are faithful in his great commission of proclaiming the message of reconciliation with God, are like stars that God has recreated (as a new creature) in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are expected to give the LIGHT of the World i.e., Jesus Christ, to the world. In order for us to be a star emitting Jesus, we must first have him within. We must have first believed and received him. Secondly, we must not let the gravitational forces of self and sin make us so self-centered that we prevent anything from escaping us, including Jesus, for in doing so, we become a blackhole.

Points to ponder:
Do you have the Light of the World (Jesus Christ) in your life? In order to have him shine in your life, all you need to do is just believe that he is the Light of God that was sent to shine on darkness.
If you have believed in him, then are you a star shining forth the Light of Christ from your life so that people living in darkness (without Christ and a relationship with God) can see The Light that dispels all darknesses?
Or, are you a blackhole, consumed by self and sin, self-centered, ineffective and dead, even though you are alive (Revelation 3:1)?

Genesis 1:16-18 (KJV)
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

Daniel 12:3 (KJV)
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Proverbs 11:30 (KJV)
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Revelation 3:1 (KJV)
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

(My Christian) Oath of Allegiance

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On March 14, 2013

In Christian

Oath Of AllegianceA little over 15 years has past since we first came to the United States of America, and today (March 14, 2013)  my wife and I were granted citizenship. As part of the naturalization process, we had to take the oath of allegiance.
The oath of allegiance as it stands goes as:
“I hereby declare, on oath,
that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;
that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law;
that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law;
that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and
that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion;
so help me God.”

Over 22 years ago, on September 30, 1990, I got another citizenship status granted, and this was my citizenship in heaven, when I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. I wish I had taken then, a oath like the one I had to take for the United States. But as they say, it is better to be late than never, and so in addition to the US oath of allegiance, I take my Christian oath of allegiance as well today.
“I hereby declare, on oath,
that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), to the beggarly state of my former self and of the world (Galatians 4:9), or to the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), to whom or which I have heretofore been under bondage to;
that I will support and defend the Bible (the Constitution of all constitutions) and the laws written within, against all enemies of the cross of Christ (Philippians 3:18), whether they be external or from self (domestic) (1 Peter 3:15);
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same (so that when the Son of God returns, he will count me worthy of having kept the faith) (Jude 1:3);
that I will bear spiritual arms wearing the spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) and be a spiritual warrior (Nehemiah 4:17), when required of me;
that I will serve only Jesus Christ, my Master (Matthew 6:24) and perform noncombatant (peaceful) services and proclaim his gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15);
that I will perform work of heavenly importance under God’s will and direction (Luke 22:42) and the direction of his saints (fellow civilians Christians) (Hebrews 10:25); and
that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion (but with a renewal of my mind) (Romans 12:2);
so help me God.”

Points to ponder:
Is this your oath of allegiance to the one true King, Jesus Christ as well? If not, why not?

Philippians 3:20-21 (NLT)
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 
21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Acts 17:7 (NLT)
7 …, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”

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