Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Albert Einstein was a fool

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On October 8, 2012

In Christian, Physics and Christ

Major news agencies on October 4th, 2012 reported that an original 1954 stamped envelope and a handwritten letter which shed light on the famed scientist and Nobel prize winner Albert Einstein’s religious belief was to be going to be auctioned on eBay starting October 8th, 2012 and ending ten days later. It was reported that the opening bid on what came to be dubbed as Einstein’s “God Letter” would be $3 million dollars. This letter was written to the Jewish philosopher Eric Gutkind, a year before Einstein died, as a response to Gutkind’s book “Choose Life: The Biblical Call to Revolt.” In this letter, Einstein writes, “The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends, No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this.”

Undoubtedly, Einstein was one of the most brilliant minds of the 20th century and I mean no disrespect to him for his contributions to the discipline of Physics, but if I was to meet him, face to face, I would tell him, that he is a fool, not because I am any more smarter than he was, but because of a strong Biblical conviction. Failing to recognize the sovereignty of God and unable to explain “why evil exists”, Einstein questioned the existence of a personal God and reduced the God of the universe who created him with strengths and weaknesses as a product of human weaknesses. The man who came up with the theory of relativity, postulating that the speed of light in a vacuum is constant regardless of their relative motion or of the motion of the source of the light, failed to recognize that the speed (timing) of the LIGHT of the world, Jesus Christ, in a vacuum (a life without Jesus) is constant regardless of his relative motion (mental state of understanding the Sovereignty and Salvation of God) or of the motion (working) of the source of the LIGHT of the world (God). Jesus is the light of the world and he is the constant – same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and only a fool says in his heart that there is no God (Psalms 14:1) or that God is nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses. To say (or write) such a thing. in and of itself, is a weak expression.

Points to ponder:
God is Sovereign irrespective of the existence of evil. Job suffered evil but in and through his experiences, he realized that God is sovereign and  always in control and recognized that His Redeemer lives. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever and his love for you and me and for that matter to anyone, whether they refuse to change or not, is a constant – the same. Are you a fool denying the existence of God or are you wise, fearing God, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10)?  Let no man deceive himself. If any of you seem to be wise, let him become a fool so that he may be wise, for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (1 Corinthians 3:18); the God, Only Wise (Jude 1:25).

Psalm 14:1 (KJV)
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

1 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV)
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your’s;

The Blood of the Lamb :: Conciliatory

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On October 5, 2012

In Christian, The Blood of the Lamb

The word ‘conciliate’ has its roots in Latin and comes from the word ‘conciliāre’ which means ‘to unite or to assemble or to bring together’. It is synonymous with words such as ‘appeasement’ and ‘propitiate’. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the word ‘concilate’ as ‘to gain (goodwill) by pleasing acts’.

Romans 3:25 affirms that Jesus is the One, God has sent forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. In other words, the Blood of the Lamb of God conciliates or brings us back to God. When Jesus was born, the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, peace and good will toward men.” (Like 2:14) Colossians 1:20 states that Jesus made peace through the blood of his cross. This establishes that what the angels sang, though it gives men (mankind) a reason to celebrate, it was in fact a death sentence, proclaimed on Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God without blemish. The Blood of Jesus appeased (made peace) and gained the good will of God, reuniting mankind, who was separated from God (in the garden of Eden on account of man’s own disobedience and sin) back with God.

Points to ponder:
Have you believed in Jesus, whom God sent to bring (conciliate) you back to God? The Blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God is conciliatory.
Glory to God in the highest, the Blood of the Lamb, which makes peace and gains God’s good will, be on you and me.

Romans 3:22-26 (KJV)
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [conciliation] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Colossians 1:19-23 (KJV)
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

The Blood of the Lamb :: Covering

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On October 4, 2012

In Christian, Reuben, The Blood of the Lamb

Denis Diderot (1713-1784), who is best known for serving as contributor and chief editor of the Encyclopédie was a prominent French Philosopher, art critic and writer, during the 18th century cultural movement (known as Enlightenment or Age of Reason) among the intellectuals in Europe and America. Diderot is quoted to have said “The blood of Jesus can cover a multitude of sins, it seems to me.” Interestingly even though we often hear such a phrase in our churches, the Bible never directly talks about the “Blood of Jesus” as something that covers. However, extrapolating from a few other verses in the Bible, we see that the “Blood of Jesus is a Covering.”

1 Peter 4:8 says, “… Love covers a multitude of sins.”
Proverbs 10:12 affirms “Love covers all sins.”
1 John 1:7 states that if we have fellowship with God, the blood of Jesus his Son, cleanses us from all sins.
John 3:20 informs us that God loved the world so much that he gave us Jesus, his Only begotten son. Jesus is therefore God’s expression and personification of  love and by substituting the word ‘love’ with the Name ‘Jesus’ in the before mentioned verses, we get “… Jesus covers a multitude of sins” and “Jesus covers all sins“. Jesus covers all sins because his blood cleanses all sins. In other words, the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, covers all sins.

James 5:20 reads “.. he who converts a sinner from the error of his ways shall save his soul from death and hide a multitude of sins.”
During the exodus of the Israelites from the land of Egypt, the LORD passed over the houses that had the blood of an unblemished lamb on their doorposts. The blood of the lamb hid the residents and saved them from death. (Exodus 12:13, 23)
Only Jesus can convert a sinner from the error of his ways and save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins, because Salvation is [solely] of the Lord (Jonah 2:9). The Blood of Jesus Christ, the Passover Lamb hides and covers all those who believed in his Name.

Points to ponder:
The Blood of Jesus is a covering. Have you believed in him, for in doing so, your sins shall be hidden from God’s wrath and your soul saved from death. In other words, Are you under the covering of the Blood of the Lamb?

1 Peter 4:8 (KJV)
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity [love] shall cover the multitude of sins.

James 5:20 (KJV)
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1 John 1:7-9 (KJV)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Jonah 2:9 (KJV)
9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.

The Blood of the Lamb :: Clear and Cleansing

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On October 3, 2012

In Christian, Reuben, The Blood of the Lamb

Wouldn’t you think that if you wash something with blood, it would leave the object being washed stained in red? While reading a book from the Magic School bus series, with our beloved 6 year old Reuben, I was surprised to learn that the actual color of the fluid part of blood is not red (as I thought was the case) but instead it is ‘clear’. The presence of red blood cells gives the red color to blood. Now hold that thought, please.

One of the 2000 timeless classics written and edited by Elisha Albright Hoffman (1839-1929), a Presbyterian Pastor, is the famously sung hymn – ‘Are you washed in the Blood?” which originates from the Scriptural reference in Revelation 7:14 which states.”… and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

We wash our clothes with clean (clear) water,  not water that is dirty (or colored), do we? Now only something that is clear can clean.

With sin man became corrupt and impure. Blood had to be shed for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22), but not just anyone’s blood. The blood that was to be shed, which would satisfy God’s justice, was that of a Lamb without blemish – in other words clear (of all sin) (Exodus 12:5). Jesus is the Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God, sinless without blemish (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22) who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) and his blood cleanses us of all sins (1 John 1:7). Yes, all sin. If you are wondering that your lifestyle has been such, where you are beyond the reach of God’s love and grace, and unpardonable for the sins you have committed in the past, Jesus is saying, “Come let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, I will wash them white as snow, though they be like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18). There is absolutely no one, no matter how sinful they have been, that is beyond the reach of the love of God and the cleansing power in his ‘clear’ (pure) blood.

Points to ponder:
The Blood of Jesus is clear and it cleans. Are you washed in the Blood – in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless – Are they white as Snow? Are you Washed in the Blood of the Lamb (of God)? Are you Washed by the Blood of Jesus Christ?

Matthew 26:28 (KJV)
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

1 John 1:7-9 (KJV)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Revelation 7: 14 (KJV)
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Ready State – to Perish or be Saved

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On October 2, 2012

In Christian

I was a sinner, ready to PERISH (Deuteronomy 26:5) before I met Jesus, my Savior, who was and is ready to SAVE (Isaiah 38:20).

Points to ponder:
The Lord is ready to save you. What state are you in?

Deuteronomy 26:5 (KJV)
5 And thou shalt speak and say before the Lord thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:

Isaiah 38:20 (KJV)
20 The Lord was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord.

LIGHT-bearing to the end …

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On October 1, 2012

In Christian, Salvation Story (and since)

September 30, 2012, marks 22 years of my life as a born again believer. It was on this very day, 22 years ago, that my day of sorrows was changed into a day of joy, when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. On this day, a year ago, I pledged to run the race of my life for Jesus Christ, not aimlessly but to run with a goal to win the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24) by “finishing well.” This year as I pondered of what to wish for, on my spiritual birthday, I was led to think of my early days as a believer. Soon after my salvation experience, some of us (including my brother, Ragland Remo Paul) who had experienced the adoption into God’s family (Romans 8:15), were so fired up for Jesus, that unashamedly and boldly we praised and proclaimed the name of Jesus to our friends in the public school (at Sunabeda, Orissa) where we stayed and studied. Being branded as crazy, ridiculed, humiliated, and all other forms of persecutions did not seem to bother us. This believer’s gathering came to called as the “BCPS”, which stood for the “Burning Candles of Public School” and the idea behind the name was that we would be poured out and melt away, holding and showcasing Jesus, the LIGHT of the world to our peers.

Since then, fast forwarding over two decades, as I reflect on my life, I find that many a times, I have forgotten my first Love (Jesus who loved me first – 1 John 4:19) and passion (for and of The Christ), and succumbed to the deception of the devil to forsake Jesus Christ and follow my own sinful ways. So this spiritual birthday, I sought the Lord and repented as I remembered to redo the first works of being a candle that is always on the hill, from where came and comes my Salvation (Psalm 121:1-2). I remember, repent and return to be a candle(stick) that would bear Jesus Christ, the LIGHT of the world (John 8:12), till the very end of my life and apropos, I covet to prayers.

What is your wish today? Please do not leave this question unanswered …

Revelation 2:5 (KJV)
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

God [Jesus] is yet to come [again]

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On September 28, 2012

In Christian, Reuben

When I asked our beloved 6 year old son, Reuben, to make a sentence using the word “yet”, for his school homework, he responded “God (referring to Jesus) is yet to come.” It dawned on me later that from the words of a 6 year old, we were reminded of a certain and sure promise that is yet to be fulfilled.

Jesus promised that “I am going to prepare a place for you and I will come again and receive you, so that you may be where I am also.” (John 14:3) and we can take him at his word, for he is a promise keeping God (Deuteronomy 7:9).

Points to ponder:
God [Jesus] is yet to come [again] and when he comes, he wants to receive you and me. The question that remains is if we will be ready to be received by him. Those who have received him and believed in his name, he gave them the power to be called the children of God (John 1:12) and so when he returns, will you find him to be your father receiving you to take you home? In other words, have you received Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior, for God is yet to come! Jesus can receive only those who have received him now.

John 14:3 (KJV)
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Jesus and Justice

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On September 27, 2012

In Christian

If I was to ask you. “Can you think of one person in this world, who was wronged in life and who deserves Justice?”, who would you think of? Did you think of Jesus?

The judgment that we deserved was poured out on Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son (John 3:16). Jesus was wrongfully accused, mocked, beaten, bruised, and crucified. He was raised by the power of God (1 Corinthians 6:14) and he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9), and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). One day, he will come back again to receive all who believe in Him, so that they can be where he is (John 14:3). And when he comes, he will bring Judgement (aka Justice) and judge the world (John 16:11; Revelation 19:11-21).

Points to ponder:
Jesus – He is coming!
Justice – It is coming!
Are you/I ready to face Jesus, to face Justice?

Revelation 19:11-21 (KJV)
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

John 16:11 (NLT)
11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

Jesus Impersonator :: Lord (Messiah)

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On September 26, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Impersonator

Satan uses the deception of impersonation to deceive many. We must therefore watch out and pray and be on the alert (sober and vigilant) so that we are not deceived (1 Peter 4:7).

For the redemption of mankind from their own sins, God had to manifest himself in the form of a messiah (the “anointed” Christ) and came to the world he created as a human (Philippians 2) and was named Jesus (Matthew 1:21). Jesus, the Only Christ came with a sword (Matthew 10:34) and left peace (John 14:27). When the tip of a sword is placed into the ground, it resembles the shape of a Cross and a sword can divide, just as the Cross divides the righteous (those who have believed in Jesus) and those who have not.
But Satan who has no original idea of his own will bring his own messiah, who is the antichrist. The antichrist will come with a deception of peace and leave behind a sword, destroying many (Daniel 8:25). The antichrist is the antimessiah.

Points to ponder:
We must be aware and beware the adversary (Satan), for Satan will bring the antichrist as the messiah of mankind, who will impersonate Jesus Christ, the Only Lord (Messiah of all mankind). Watch vigilantly and pray always, lest we are caught off-guard. 

Matthew 10:34 (KJV)
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

John 14:27 (KJV)
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Daniel 8:25 (KJV)
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Luke 21:36 (KJV)
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Jesus Impersonator :: Lion

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On September 25, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Impersonator

Satan uses the deception of impersonation to deceive many. We must therefore watch out and pray and be on the alert (sober and vigilant) so that we are not deceived (1 Peter 4:7).

In Genesis 49:9-10, when Israel is blessing his sons, he blesses Judah by calling Judah a lion’s whelp (cub) and affirms that the sceptre (rule/government) shall not depart from Judah and the ruling staff from his descendants (from between his feet), until the coming of the one to whom it belongs (Shiloh) – the one whom all nations will honor. Prophesying the birth of Jesus, God’s prophet, Isaiah announced that the government (sceptre) shall be on the shoulder of Jesus Christ and the increase of his government (rule) and peace shall have no end (Isaiah 9:6-7). Revelation 5:5 affirms that the one that was prophesied as the one who is to come to whom the sceptre (kingdom) belongs is Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah – the True (Lion) King. All those who are under the protection of Jesus, the Lion King, who conquered (devoured) death and prevailed, have life – life eternal.
But Satan wants to be the king over all and impersonates Jesus by walking around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour and bring death in the end (1 Peter 5:8).

Points to ponder:
We must be aware and beware the adversary (Satan), for Satan walks about like a roaring lion seeking to devour and bring death. We must submit to the Kingship and Lordship of Jesus Christ, The True Lion King, who brings life!

Genesis 49:8-10 (KJV)
8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.
9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Revelation 5:5 (KJV)
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Luke 21:36 (KJV)
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

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