Walking on Marble

“You cannot measure your eternal value by the worth or collection of your earthly vessels” –Kenneth Kuykendall

At the height of Charles Spurgeon’s ministry, he was persuaded by a wealthy business man to tour an expensive, palatial home.  Walking through the corridors of the palace, the owner showed Spurgeon his Italian marble floors.  He tried to convince the prince of preachers that it was the best money could buy.  In his typical convicting style, Spurgeon replied, “These are the things that make it hard to die.”

Spurgeon’s remark was a rebuke against the desire for worldly possessions.  When a man spends his life pursuing the things of this world, he will often do so at the expense of missing the next world, therefore making it hard to die.

You cannot measure your eternal value by the worth or collection of your earthly vessels.  The Lord declared, “For a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).  All that we possess in this life will one day fade away. The only thing that will last eternally is your relationship with God. Therefore, we are instructed to “set our affection on things above, not on things below.”

Your feet may never touch Italian marble floors, but if you live and die in faith they will one day walk on the heavenly street of gold.

The Holy Spirit Tinkers

“God is the only one who can separate the true from the false, the only one who can purify the motives of the heart” –Richard Foster

When it comes to mechanical knowledge of vehicles, I have very little.  I understand the basic concept of filling up the gas tank; and if need be, I could perhaps change the oil, as long as I have the owner’s manual nearby.  I should have more understanding than what I do seeing that my dad is a “shade-tree mechanic.”  The term “shade-tree mechanic” simply means what it sounds like –parking a car under a tree, and working on it.  Before the computerization of vehicles, people used to actually work on their own cars and trucks more often than they do now.

There have been many times something would go wrong in my vehicle and dad would come over and start looking things over.  He would lift up the hood, jiggle some wires or belts, fiddle around, and within a few minutes have the problem figured out.  He knew where and how to tinker.

The Holy Spirit works the same way.  When we are having trouble getting our engine started, when we fail to move forward, He begins tinkering under our hood.  He knows what parts are stalled-out or broken.   Within moments He has pin-pointed the problem and starts working to get the issue resolved.  He alone can reveal the “mechanical glitches” of our spirituality.  Allow Him to tinker, so you can get back on the road.

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It's More Not Less

The recipe for understanding the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:1- My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2- So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

First- one must be in the family V-1 "MY SON"

Second- one must be willing to receive God's Word V-1 "IF THOU WILL RECEIVE"

Third- one must be willing to keep what they received with them V-1 "HIDE MY COMMANDMENTS WITH THEE"

Fourth- one must be willing to apply their heart to understanding "APPLY THINE HEART TO UNDERSTANDING"

Just like any other relationship one must apply themselves. My goal should be as the song of old states.

More about Jesus would I know,

More of His grace to others show;

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love Who died for me.

More about Jesus let me learn,

More of His holy will discern;

Spirit of God, my teacher be,

Showing the things of Christ to me.

More about Jesus; in His Word,

Holding communion with my Lord;

Hearing His voice in every line,

Making each faithful saying mine.

More about Jesus; on His throne,

Riches in glory all His own;

More of His kingdom’s sure increase;

More of His coming, Prince of Peace.

More, more about Jesus,

More, more about Jesus;

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love Who died for me.

It's more not less!

THEN 

Proverbs 2:5

Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

Shinning Light

Proverbs 4:18- But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Here we read of a path. But not just any path it's the path of the just and it's a path that shines.

The Path, not a path but "the path."

PATH: A way beaten or trodden by the feet of man or beast, or made hard by wheels; that part of a highway on which animals or carriages ordinarily pass; applied to the ground only, and never to a paved street in a city.

The "just" man is one that is made righteous through the righteousness of Christ imputed to him; and who is created anew in Christ.

Here we read of trodden highway a well worn way.

Isaiah 35:8- And an highway shall be there, and a way,
and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Those that have been made righteous by the Blood of Christ are now walking on this path. Others are watching and what they see are those who's walk is different and it's so much different it appears to shine. When something shines it is seen by others. But it goes further for we are told that it shines more and more as time goes by. What does that mean? Could it mean that the more we know about Jesus the more we are noticed? The more one know about Jesus the happier one becomes.

Psalms 1:1-Blessed (happy) is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, (they are happy because they are walking on a different path)

nor standeth in the way of sinners, (They are happy because they are not standing around listening to those who are in this worlds market place.)

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (They are happy because they realize when you sit you stop moving forward.)
If you aren't walking your progress stops, for we were told that a path was well trodden. In order for a path to be well beaten it has to be walked on.

Noticed what the very first thing that stopped, the walk; "walketh not." When the walk stops, its impossible to well trodden. When the walk stops neither does it shine.
 So the question I must ask myself is my walk putting out a glow that
shines and lights up Jesus? What do those around me see or better yet do others see Christ in me?

Treasure by Accident

Proverbs 2:5- Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

"FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD."

Find- Literally, to come to; to meet; hence, to discover by the eye; to gain first sight or knowledge of something lost; to recover either by searching for it or by accident.

As I read that definition and compared it with verse 5 my minds eye at first disagreed with the last part; "to recover either by searching for it or by accident." Does anyone find the knowledge of God by accident? I said no way! But then I began to think, is it possible to find a hidden treasure by accident? Then I began to think back, did I not find the greatest treasure of my life by accident? Yes I did. On one Sunday morning in April I entered into a Church building and set down. There was some singing I'm sure although I can't remember, I'm sure someone prayed, but I can't remember that either. A man got up to preach and I can't remember his name, what he looked like or what he preached. Sounds like a wasted day doesn't it? Oh no it was far from that for you see on that day without any planning I found the greatest treasure of my life. For it was on that day the Holy Spirit dealt with my heart and I accepted The Lord Jesus as my Personal Savior. Without searching or even knowing that a great treasure was even in my presence. I left that Church that day changed for eternity. I didn't go looking for a treasure, nor did I go to recover a treasure of have any knowledge of a treasure being there. Could that day be classified as a treasure found by accident? Not on God's part but on my part? Thank you Ken for spending your time for talking me into going to Church; for you knew what a great treasure awaited me there. Never think you are wasting your time inviting others to Church. For they may find the greatest treasure of their life there. 

A Wise Son Gathers in Summer

Proverbs 10:5- He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame

In order for something to be harvested there has to fist be something planted.

I get the picture of a field that is ready for harvest. I read of two sons one wise the other lazy. One willing the other unwilling; one shows up the other doesn't. I think the picture here is much deep, I'm sure our Lord is not teaching a lesson on being good farmers; or is He?

The teaching here goes much deeper. Could the field here be a local Church? Could the wise son be the one who shows up for what is offered? Could the field be quiet time with The Lord on a daily basic? Could it be that the wise son shows up and allows The Lord to speak to him or her?

I can easily see how the picture broadens as I step out of the box and look at what's being taught. How can I harvest what The Lord has for me if I fail to be where I'm suppose to be; Church. How can I learn what The Lord has to teach me from His Word if I fail to open it? How can I hear what The Lord has to tell me if I refuse to let Him speak to me? In order to harvest one must go to the field; one must put forth the effort

Something else I noticed, it’s not recorded how much was harvested, just that the wise son was there at the time of gathering. Which tells me that there was something there for him to pick up? This tells me that he now has more than he did

Something else I noticed no one made him go to the field he went on his on accord.

Ecclesiastes 3:2- A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted

Did I miss the time, did I miss the harvest. Was I wise this day? Did I gather what The Lord had for me? Am I better off for it? Or did I sleep, did I race through the day, did I think I was in charge

A wise son gathereth in summer!

Generation...............

 Webster tells us that generation is;

A single succession in natural descent, as the children of the same parents; hence, an age.

Proverbs 30:11- There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother

There is a Generation that curses their father and will not say a kind word to or about their mother

I had just graduated from High School and a bunch of us went to Panama City Florida. I will never forget the phone conversation I heard. One of the young men that were with us called home I guess to let his mother and Dad know he was there and maybe give them the Motel and room number. The first word out of his mouth were curse words running his Dad down then he began to curse at his mother using the most awful words; yes he used that word too. Although none of the rest of us would even consider talking to our parents that way, I'm not sure that the generation of this day wouldn't. Why would I make such a statement? Because parents use curse words frequently around their children and the T.V programs have numerous curse words peppered all the way throughout. The movies go to a higher level using every known curse word and action that depraved minds could imagined. Why? Because that is what most people want to see. In the last 40 years I have only been to the theatre 3 or 4 times. I went once to see a G rated movie about Pete Maravich; "The Pistol." when I sat down and my eyes got adjusted to the darkness I noticed that there were only a small; and I do mean small few that were there to watch this movie.  Could it be that the last generation as a whole lost sight of what's right? And has produced a generation that not only curse their Mother and Father but think them also pure and lift themselves up? I would like to think not but the words that come from Dad's and Mothers an their children were words that my parents would have never been tolerated

I just believe the Bible way

Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother:that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.