Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Tag: Revelation 3:20

The Lord’s perpetuity, presence and promise

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On April 27, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When the Lord appeared to Isaac at Beersheba, he assured Isaac of:
– his perpetuity (I am the God of Abraham thy father),
– his presence (I am with thee), and
– his promise (I will bless thee and multiply thy seed).

Points to ponder:
Jesus said that before Abraham was he is (John 8:58) and that Abraham saw his day and rejoiced (John 8:56). Jesus also established that he and the Father God are one (John 10:30). Jesus is everlasting chosen from even before the foundations of the world (1 Peter 1:20). Jesus is perpetual.
Jesus said that he is with his followers, always, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). Jesus is with all who open their lives to him (Revelation 3:20), believing in him and have receiving him as their Savior, Master and Lord (Revelation 3:20).
In Jesus Christ, we are blessed in heavenly places with spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3-6).

If you think your life is short, come to Jesus who is perpetual and in whom is eternal life.
If you think that you are all alone, be assured the Jesus has promised to be with you always.
If you think that your life is a curse, in Christ Jesus, you are blessed with spiritual blessings (chosen by God, cleansed by God, adopted as a child of God, credited into the Lamb of God’s book of life) in heavenly places.
The question that remains is: Are you blessed with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, by a perpetual, ever-present, promise keeping God? In other words, are you in Christ, having believed in him as Savior, Lord and Master of your life? The contrary is a dire situation. Are you blessed in Christ Jesus?

Genesis 26:24-25 (KJV)
24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

Ephesians 1:3-6 (KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Proverbial Relationships with Neighbors :: Hasty and Halting

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On May 18, 2011

In Christian, Relationships

Proverbs 25:8-20 gives counsel on relationships with neighbors. This section advices us that we must at times use our feet and tongue hastily, while at other times, we must halt them, lest we weary our neighbor and be hated.

The Bible instructs us that we must not go forth hastily to strife (dispute) but when we have a dispute, we must be hasty with our feet to go and make peace; to amend the relationship and reconcile (Proverbs 25:8). We must also be hasty with our tongue, to debate our cause if we are at fault or speak words of compassion (mercy) and forgiveness, if we have been wronged (Proverbs 25:9). A word spoken at the right time (fitly) is like apples of gold in settings of silver (Proverbs 25:11).

The Bible is balanced in its counsel. We are also advised to halt our feet and tongue, when dealing with neighbors. Have you ever come across someone who is always in someone else’s business. Every time that person is encountered, people often exclaim something to the effect of “Oh no, here he/she comes!” We are to mind our own business. We are not to be bothersome. We are to halt our feet from our neighbor’s house lest we make them weary and hate us (Proverbs 25:17). If we are respectful of the other person’s time, we are more likely to be invited. We must also exercise restraint and halt our tongue from speaking lies and giving false witness against our neighbor. For in doing so, we end up, pounding (mauling) and piercing our neighbor for no real cause, because a man who bears false witness is a maul (to pound) and a sword, and a sharp arrow (to pierce) (Proverbs 25:18).

The word ‘Neighbor’ according to Merriam Webster’s dictionary is defined as one living or located near another. We live on earth and God is in heaven (Ecclesiastes 5:2). We are in this sense God’s neighbors. According to the parable of the good Samaritan, the one who had mercy is the one who is a neighbor (Luke 10:37).

Jesus was hasty with his feet to come and settle the strife (dispute) of sin between God (Himself) and us (mankind). He was hasty with his tongue to speak words of eternal life, love and compassion (mercy). Jesus also halts his feet. He does not barge into anyone’s life, but waits patiently at the door, knocking, and waiting for the person to open their life and let Him in (Revelation 3:20). Jesus halts his tongue, being God, for He cannot lie or bear false witnesses (Numbers 23:19), but instead truthfully mediates for us, even if we sin (1 John 2:1). Jesus Christ is the best neighbor one could ever have.

Jesus said, love thy neighbor as you would love yourself. This would mean, we should learn from the Scriptures how to relate with our neighbors; know when to be hasty and when to halt our feet and tongue.

Points to ponder:
1. Do you have anyone to go make amends with? Be first to go and settle the dispute and reconcile! Be hasty with your feet!
2. Is there someone who deserves a word of forgiveness or compassion or mercy from you? Withhold not your words that is fitting! Be hasty with your tongue!
3. Are you considered by others as being bothersome? Halt your feet and withdraw them from your neighbor’s house, lest you be hated.
4. Do not lie or bear false witness against your neighbor. Halt your tongue!

Proverbs 25:8-11 and 17-18 (KJV)
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

I AM the Door

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On July 10, 2009

In Christian, I AM, The Name

Imagine that you are commissioned to sketch an architectural plan for a structure that will house every kind of living creature. Would you not plan for how you would take the living things in and out of the structure. There is a high degree of possibility that you will not only decide on the number of doors you would need to build, but also decide on where you are going to place them. Yet, when Noah built the ark, he was instructed to build ONE door on the side. ONE Door! (Genesis 6:16)

John 10 records one of Jesus’ ‘I AM’ statements and interestingly, Jesus states ‘I am the door’, not once but twice (John 10:7, John 10:9). In the first instance, Jesus potrays Himself as the PROTECTING door (of the sheep) that besets all perils that surround the flock in the fold. In the second instance, Jesus is very clear and explicit that He is indeed God’s PROVISIONARY door to save anyone who enter by Him. For those who believe in polytheistic (many gods) or pantheistic (all are gods) opinions, promoting that there are different means (doors) to be saved, I have some news for you – note Jesus did not say, I am a door, but he said, I am THE door. There is only one door by which man can be saved. Only those who entered through THE (one) door in the ark were saved from the flood.

As I pondered on this topic, I was reminded of another place where a door is mentioned in the Bible. This is the door to our Life or some may say the door to our heart for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). Outside this door you will find two seekers, wanting to get in. Genesis 4:7 states that sin lieth at this door with a desire to rule over you. Revelation 3:20 states that the savior Jesus Christ is standing at the door and knocking and if anyone hears His voice, let him open his door so that Jesus may come in and reign in you. These two seekers are SIN and the SAVIOR. You can only allow only one in, for what communion does the Light of the world (savior) have with darkness (sin). None!

Point(s) to ponder:

  • While sin wants to rule over you, the savior wants to reign in you.
  • We all must walk through THE Door (Jesus) to be saved, but that begins with us opening our Door (the door of our Life) for Jesus to walk into our lives. He is standing at the door of our life and knocking. The choice is yours, as to whether you want to open it for him or not.
  • Jesus wants all to enter by him (THE Door) but what a pity it would be for those who find themselves standing outside with a SHUT door when the bridegroom (Jesus) comes for his bride (you and me, the ekklesia) as warned in Matthew 25:10. Who will shut THE Door to salvation? It will be none other than the LORD. Note, how the scriptures says that once Noah, his family and the living things entered the ark, the LORD shut him in. (Genesis 7:16).  A time will come when THE Door (of your salvation) will be shut and no one can open. Inside THE Door is the breath of life (Genesis 7:15) and outside it is destruction, doom, death and decay as it was in the waters of the flood. If you have not let Jesus to walk into the door of your life, tarry no longer, I beseech you!

John 10:7,9 (KJV)
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Rev 3:20 (KJV)
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Genesis 4:7 (KJV)
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Genesis 7:15-16 (KJV)
15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 
16And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

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