Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Tag: Be ye not conformed to this world

The ventriloquist God

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On June 30, 2010

In Christian

As one of America’s premiere ventriloquists, David Pendleton will make you believe that anything can talk! As a 20-year veteran  entertainer and born again Christian believer, David uses his humor and stellar techniques to keep the audience engaged and laughing from start to finish, mixing in the truths of God’s plan for their lives. He has created a series of puppets for his characters that he uses in his shows and brings them to life by projecting his voice through them. Until the puppets start to talk, they are simply lifeless, but when, what is in the mind of David’s is projected through these puppets, it seems as if the lifeless puppets are alive.  See David can only use puppets that are lifeless for his show. If he was to use an organism that had a mind of its own and one that could verbally express it’s feelings, emotions and thoughts, then David cannot really use that organism to tell his story.

Similarly, we are created in the image of God. We are dead (lifeless) spiritually and until the voice of God which in the beginning said “Let there be light (that dispels the darkness)” is heard and received by those dead in sin, we remain lifeless. Jesus Christ is THE Light that dispels the darkness of sin and until He is received by you and me, we remain in spiritual darkness. When we hear God speak and when we respond, we can be used by Him to tell His story of grace, mercy, and love to the world that is in audience. Just like without David, the puppets can do nothing. Without Jesus, we can do nothing (John 15:5). We are merely God’s mouthpiece. It is not our wisdom or words that brings life, but it is the voice of God that is communicated through our lives that bring life to the lifeless and in order for God to work through us, we must be lifeless and have not a mind of our own. Instead, we are not to be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed (more and more) into God’s likeness by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2).

Point(s) to ponder:
Does the world around you hear the voice of God projected in and through you?

John 15:15 (KJV)
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Every Christian’s Motto

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On March 15, 2010

In Christian

Apostle Paul is often quoted to have said many things, some of which are very well known, like “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me:” (Galatians 2:20) and “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21) and more. There is however one saying of Paul that is powerful yet not very common. Packed in a single verse is volumes of how every Christian ought to live. This I believe should be every Christian’s motto as they live in this temporary world. This is recorded in 1 Corinthians 11:1 and reads “Be ye followers (imitators) of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

Now think about the intensity of such a statement. Apostle Paul to the saints in Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus writes that we ought to be imitators of Christ (Ephesians 5:1) but here to the Church of God in Corinth makes a bold statement that they ought to be a follower (imitator) of Paul as he follows (imitates) Christ.

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. When the world around us witnesses our life, do they recognize who we are following? If this is the case, list out the reasons why and if not, list out the reasons as to why not and pray and act toward conforming into Christ’s image.
  2. Can you/I make such a claim as Apostle Paul did about being imitators of Christ?
  3. Is the motto of our life – Follow me as I follow Christ one that we can boldly state?

1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV)
1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

For a related article, see God’s mirror

Law of Banking on Jesus

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On August 28, 2009

In Christian, Physics and Christ

BankingOfRoads In order for vehicles with high speed to negotiate the curve on the road, without running off of it, the angle of the incline for the road must be first determined. It is equationally represented as tan θ = v2/rg where ‘v’ is the velocity (speed), ‘r’ is the radius (how far) of the curve and ‘g’ is the force of gravity. This expression represents the speed at which the vehicle does not skid along the banked road for the given angle of inclination (θ). This is commonly known as the ‘Banking of Roads’ principle.

An application of this physical law in our Spiritual life could be used to derive what I call the Law of Banking on Jesus. The Law of Banking on Jesus states that “For a person life to be not derailed from his path toward God, he must be banked (inclined) on Jesus which is a factor of his velocity (speed) toward conforming into the likeness of Jesus, the distance (radius) from Jesus and the force of the world.”

In other words, the angle (θ) of our dependence (inclination) on Jesus tangentially is dependent on

  1. the haste (‘v’) we make not delaying in keeping his commandments,
  2. the closer (‘r’) we draw near to him and
  3. the weaker the force (‘g’) of loving this world is in our lives.

I pray that we all bank on Jesus. Anything else, our lives will be off course, skidding away.

1 Kings 8:58 (KJV)
58 That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.

Psalm 119:60 (KJV)
60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

James 4:8 (KJV)
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

1 John 2:15 (KJV)
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Me against the world as was Antipas …

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On April 7, 2009

In Christian

Antipas is one of the few martyrs mentioned in the Bible by name. Not only is he mentioned in the Bible, he was spoken of by God. Rev 2:13 records the martyrdom of Antipas, who did not deny the Faith and was faithful to the point of death.

His martyrdom cannot be refuted and the most accepted version of his death as recorded in 92 A.D. by Simeon Metaphrastes is that he was roasted alive in a copper bull-shaped altar. Antipas refused to deny Jesus Christ and worship the Roman Emperor, just as the Hebrew boys, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (more commonly known by their Babylonian names – Shadrach, Meshach and  Abednego) did.

Antipas, whose name means “against all”, was advised that “the whole world is against you!” before he was sentenced to be martyred. His response was “Then I am against the whole world”.

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. Can God tell of us that we are faithful and that we will not deny Him? (like he did of Antipas)
  2. Are we against the world, set apart, or are we one with the world? What are we going to be known for?
Rev 2:13
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

James 4:4
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Romans 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

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