This morning I was doing some woodworking, and I noticed that some sawdust had fallen on a spiderweb. I thought how this must spoil things for the spider to an extent, as the transparent threads of the web were now almost opaque with dust.

And along this same vein, I compared this occurrence to what God can do in a person’s soul - illuminating the darkness and warning from unseen danger. Here are my thoughts:

“The Word of God is as the morning dew upon the spider’s web - God’s truth ruins and spoils the illusions spun by Satan and his angels.”

And in the Bible, it also says:

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” -Psalm 119:105

And so accordingly, when we start our morning in God’s Word, reading the Bible and allowing God’s Spirit to illuminate it to us, we start our morning with dew upon Satan’s lies and enticements to sin, and have the strength and vision to avoid them.

“Where you have a misplace in trust, you will have a misstep in life.” (from Tears from a Lonely God - Chapter Fifteen: Armor of Light.)

As Christians, God will chastise us when we go astray so that we will learn to trust in Him. So if we begin to walk down a path that isn’t good, sooner or later, God will show us the error of our ways, and correct us. God is at His most loving and most merciful when He brings swift and timely correction: in this life rather than in the next.

But to the unbelievers, this isn’t always the case. Those that are walking in their own desires, and don’t even know God or His Son Jesus, their “correction” comes much too late: after death, when they are judged.

If they walk in a hurtful or wrong way in this life, God may punish them, but He also may not. What would they learn? They are as the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, who has rebelled against his father, and lives in the excesses of his own lusts. Yet, though the ungodly appear unchecked and unrestrained, God surely has justice with such sinners: though it is at this time hidden from man’s eyes. For the unbelieving, judgment and justice is served after death:

“For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.” -Psalms 73:3-19

“I poured out My life unto death, even the death of the cross: all so that you would be delivered from the way of life that you now chose to live.” (from Tears from a Lonely God - Chapter Fifteen: Armor of Light.)

I believe that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was much more than just deliverance from hell. I believe it wasn’t just freedom from sin, but also, freedom from sins. That is, freedom from specific sins, and specific vices - whatever they may be in your life.

Jesus’ atonement for our sins wasn’t just fire insurance against hell, it was also the way for man to be reconciled to God, and thereby receive His Holy Spirit, and be empowered to live a holy life.

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” -Ezekiel 36:26-27

Was not mankind in need of a savior because we had fallen into sin? And if Jesus has paid this price with His very own blood, don’t you think we ought to further conduct our lives very soberly, realizing the great sacrifice that was required to pay for our sins? Don’t you think we ought to refrain, as much as we can, from any and all evils in our life, seeing that it has cost God so dearly to give us this marvelous grace in the first place?

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” -Romans 6:1-4

“When you are lying in My arms, words become superfluous. I shall feel your very heart, and you shall feel Mine. When our hearts are beating as one, there is a language spoken that is sweeter than all words.” (from Tears from a Lonely God - Chapter Six: Come into My Arms.)

How could I possibly put into words what this love truly means? As it is implied, I’m unable to communicate the profound love of God in mere words. But rather, I attempt as if an archaeologist: beginning to border-out and dust off the outlines of an exquisite and grand prize.

So too do I hope to give the silhouette of God’s love, that others might be intrigued by its unsearchable and indescribable richness, and so be driven to press onward to unearth such a prize. And yet, it is not to be unearthed, but rather, unheavened. For it is the gift of God in Christ Jesus, from heaven:

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” -John 6:51

And so I pray, as did the Apostle Paul so long ago, that you would find and know God’s love:

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” -Ephesians 3:17-19

“Why is it that you seek only to hear commands, even when your heart is neither prepared nor willing to perform them?” (from Tears from a Lonely God - Chapter One: Seek My Face.)

I believe that doing God’s true work, and fulfilling His divine will requires training. No, not the type of training that is thought of by the world - not in a classroom. The type of training that I’m thinking of is done in real life, and the teacher is God. It is spiritual, though almost all we can think of and see is visible and carnal.

It may be a course in trust, or patience, or love, or mercy, or wisdom; but most of the time, we are unwilling to wait around on God’s timing. Many times we want to rush on ahead, and do things in our own way, on our own time, and for our own glory. So long as it appears as though it is pleasing to God, and so long as we think that it is probably His will, we will be rewarded.

And yet, God has the opposite planned for us. He is seeking to mold and shape each of His children into able ministers to do His work, and to understand His true will. Many times this will require painful lessons, patience, and submission and trust in God’s wisdom.

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. …Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” -James 4:3, 8-10

Today I was watching some squirrels gleefully jumping and playing very high up off the ground in some tree branches. I was struck at how carefree and natural it seemed for them to be up so high, and yet not be afraid of falling.

You sometimes hear of a cat getting “stuck” in a tree, but never a squirrel. (That’s where they belong!)

Anyhow, this whole observation reminded me of a section in my book:

“On the highest mountainside, or in the uppermost branch of a great tree, does the eagle fear falling? Truly, can he fall?” (from Tears from a Lonely God - Chapter Seven: Wings of My Grace.)

Obviously an eagle evokes a much more noble image than a squirrel, but I think the analogy is the same. Certain animals belong in certain places, and when they are out-of-place, they are either uncomfortable, fearful, or even paralyzed. Think of the classic saying, “like a fish out of water.”

So too, I think it is the very same way with God’s spiritual life that He has for each and every single born-again Christian. If we are still clinging to our old nature, that of our flesh, God’s plans and spiritual callings will seem not only elusive to us, but also strange and foreign.

I’m reminded of this passage of Scripture:

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” -John 3:6-8

“I am a beautiful island sanctuary: My waves are reaching out to you. My beloved, won’t you let Me in? I am ever-present and ever-willing to heal, for My mercy endures forever. My waves are incessant.” (from Tears from a Lonely God - 25: Sands of the Soul.)

I thank God that His mercy endures forever! I am so thankful that no matter how many times I seem to mess things up, Jesus is always waiting with outstretched arms to restore me back into fellowship with Him.

Some people will give you a second chance; some say that the third time’s a charm; sevens are lucky; cats have nine lives; but the mercy of God endures forever! So long as we are repentant, we simply can’t wear Him out.

Psalm 118

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.

The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

“Here is the perversity of sin: for you would work and toil your entire life for My cause, yet you will not so much as begin to seek the very one for whom you labor.” (taken from Tears from a Lonely God - Chapter One: Seek My Face.)

I’m convinced that God does not want busybodies, running around trying their very best to do what they believe is in God’s best interest. Rather, I think that God is looking for those that are willing to stop and consider who God is, what pleases Him, and what He actually has planned for a person’s life.

It is much easier, and the work much more heartfelt and sincere, when your boss is someone you care about, and your employer is one whose missions and objectives you intimately understand and follow.

“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” -Jeremiah 9:23-24

“Hell is everlasting hunger. It is an everlasting thirst. It is a forever-longing and a never-getting.”

A fear of hell was one of the primary reasons for me to become a Christian. (You can read about it here.) If you take a look at what it actually says in the Bible, (versus what is just the popular notion of hell), the afterlife can either be a very good place, or a very bad place.

Just as the burning bush that Moses came across in the desert, which burned continually but was not consumed, so too I believe that it will be similar in hell. And just as the those that are saved will come forth with a new body, eternally fit for heaven, so too I believe that those that are lost shall come forward with bodies eternally fit for hell. It’s what the Bible calls the “resurrection of damnation.” (See John 5:29). A body that can be burnt with fire, with smoke continually arising, and eaten alive of worms, and somehow, never be consumed.

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” -Mark:9:43-44

But remember, you don’t have to go to hell! Its not that Jesus Christ is seeking to send you to hell, but rather, He is only seeking to deliver you from hell. Just as it is written in the gospel of John:

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” -John 3:17

Your Salvation: Look Up

“The clearest window is never seen.”

As a Christian, I believe that the central focus of this earthly life should be on Jesus Christ. And yet, in all practicality, nearly every heavenly connection is founded and centered around the Holy Ghost. So, are these two things in conflict with one another?

There is no conflict because Jesus is always the center and object of desire, and yet the Holy Spirit is the means to this communion. I think of the Holy Spirit as a window, and Jesus Christ as the object being viewed through this window.

Truly, I seek as much as I possibly can to be near this window, to keep its view unobstructed, and to always rely on this window. And yet at the same time, within this dependence, it is not really the window that I seek, but the things which the window lets me see.

I think Jesus said something akin to this in John 16:

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” -John 16:13-14