How To Become A Child of God

As our American culture has diversified, oftentimes with stark differences in our thoughts on politics, government, identity, and theology [among many other classifications], it's not surprising that we have differing opinions on the concept of God's children. But here's the thing; which has more standing ... man's definition of God's children -- or God, Himself, deciding who could identify themselves with this approved title?

How many times have you said or heard, "We are ALL God's Children"? That statement comes from a heart that desires to love others. But is it Biblically true? It stands to reason that if you are a non-Believer, this question is of no concern to you, other than reinforcing your skepticism about the hypocrisy of Christians. But as true Believers, I think we will find that even we have varying opinions on what constitutes a child of God. We understand that the Bible tells us that everything and every person on earth has been created by God, and that God loves everything He has created. But there is a special designation for those who believe in Him.  

But even that statement needs to be clarified further. There are millions of people who call themselves Christians and say they believe in God and His Son, Jesus. They pray to the Holy Spirit and profess their faith openly. But do they express God's characteristics? Do they truly represent Him? Do they walk in His ways and earnestly personify His righteousness? Now, to be sure, no one on earth [except Jesus] can ever be perfectly like God. That's why Jesus is called God's only begotten Son. We must understand that the word begotten signifies that Jesus did not "become like God", but simply "is God". He, as a Person, possesses every attribute of pure Godhead.

So, how are we to understand what it means for us to be God's son or daughter; a child of God? Here's my take on it -- and I am certainly not declaring it to be fundamental truth or the only viable opinion. From a worldly perspective, everyone is God's child in the sense that He made us all. But to be God's begotten child requires a higher standard. Like Jesus, we must have God's nature or spirit, which can only be obtained by us humans when we are "born again" by God, and we attain that indescribable, intimate, and loving personal relationship that He and Jesus shared. We leave behind all the world has to offer, die to our flesh, and become one with Christ. 

There is lots of Scripture that talks about "children of God" and being a "child of God", but I think that 1 John 3 gives us one of the clearest definitions. Let's take a moment to dissect this short chapter and discern it from God's perspective [versus our fleshly thoughts]. Verse 1 says, See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. By this verse, it should be clear, first of all, that there are different kinds of love, and the kind the Father has given us shows that we are His children. The love that we are endowed with makes us different -- we are designed to become the begotten children of God. We have the opportunity to be like Jesus --  possess the attributes of God and enjoy that intimate relationship with the Father. 

That opportunity happens when we are "born again"; imbued with the Holy Spirit and the promise of Eternal Life. That is evident in verses 2-3: Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. As of today, we are believing and living for that promise, while simultaneously living in a sinful world to which we sometimes fall prey. Notice, first, that we must purify ourselves from sin, and second, that there seems to be a distinction of time and a process we go through to become a fully-recognized child of God. 

Belief and faith in Jesus opens the door to become a Child of God. Ephesians 1:13-14 expands on the concept of time to achieve this goal ... In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.

So, if you are Saved ... have professed Jesus as your Savior, and believe He is the Son of God, having redeemed your sins by His death on the Cross ... can you expect to be a child of God and remain so all the days of your life? Well, the way I interpret the Bible, that depends. Consider this group of verses .... Romans 8:16-17 tells us that the Spirit, Himself, bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, provided [that] we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:9 says You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if  in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.  

Can you see the conditions that are put on becoming a true Child of God? Words like "until", "provided that", and "if" seem to point to factors that influence the outcome of our salvation process. And, yes, I said salvation process. The Bible gives us so many clues to why we must remain steadfast in our faith during the process ... We see and understand our identity in part [1 Corinthians 13:12]; and the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith [1 Timothy 4:1]. You see, it is my opinion that because God has given us free will, we, as Believers, have the opportunity and the right to receive our promised inheritance to live forever with our Heavenly Father in His Heavenly Kingdom. 

The promise is guaranteed IF we live as begotten children; if we earnestly seek to be like Jesus: righteous, disavowing a sinful life, sharing the gospel, and loving God and our neighbor as commanded. When, through our initial salvation experience, we can set our feet on that path and maintain it, then we can see and understand that this lifestyle results in our entrance into God's Kingdom and our adoption as sons and daughters, with all the inheritance that has been promised us. If we use our free will to continue to sin, even after our salvation experience, then it's a different story and as simple as 1 John 3:9-10 ... No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.  

This topic can actually become a controversial subject in this age of moral relevance, but it is the Bible that is the true measure of our adoption into the family of God. Read and research it yourself. What a privilege it is to be called a Child of God! And I praise God for the opportunity and the privilege that my salvation gives me to gain the attributes of His only begotten Son. I am committed to this process in my life; the process that conforms me into the image of Jesus that will result in my entrance into the Kingdom, when I will hear my Father say, "Welcome Home, my Daughter"!

2 Corinthians 6:18    And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. 

 

We Must Root Out The Heresy Within The Church!

I sometimes struggle with explaining my opinions regarding the Modern American Church. I love seeing those within its walls who are truly seeking a deeper relationship [or even the possibility of a relationship with God]. And I can only speak from my own experience, but at the same time, I am observing more and more, that my history with the Church holds true for many others.

In fact, it was for the very reason of trying to understand the Word that led me to what would become my church for 20 years. I had sporadic introductions to a couple of churches during my childhood and maturing years, but my father's job advancements, and the interruption of college, didn't allow me to sink any kind of taproot in any of those first encounters. And it wasn't until I married, and Mark and I both felt in our spirits that it was time to get serious about being equally yoked in our covenant with God, that we began to earnestly seek Him.

At first, the Pastor at the Church we attended was our primary guide to the Word. He introduced us to a God who was real, not just some distant figure in the sky. I actually heard Him speak to me for the first time in that Church and knew Him as my loving Father in Heaven. Then we graduated from just sitting in the pews each Sunday, to a small group of older and committed Believers that grew us into a deeper connection with Jesus's teachings. They actually took us to a higher level of knowledge in the Bible; providing both historical and spiritual comprehension beyond the 20-minute sermon each Sunday morning. They made it comfortable for us to actually question our understanding without judgment, and challenged us to connect the dots between both Old and New Testament Scripture, so that we could begin forming our own opinions about God's Truth [while lovingly correcting us if we strayed too far from God's inherent purpose in inspiring His Word]. It was an exciting period of growth.

But as we hungered for [and digested] the deeper meanings of God's instructions, we began to discern that we weren't being "filled". We instinctively desired more of Him; a personal relationship, and began to be uncomfortable as our spirits revealed a new and disturbing incursion of a different kind of spirit; one that seemed to be contradicting what the Holy Spirit was teaching us. It began insidiously ... introducing the idea of "progressive theology" to the youth. [Isn't that one of Satan's favorite ways to begin attacking the foundation of anything that restricts his power]?

Mind you, I first began to see these changes in my beloved church 25 years ago, so when I began to question exactly what it meant to say you believed in progressive theology, I got a lot of varying answers. I suspect this movement was so new, that its members hadn't developed a consensus about what it stood for. What little I could find on the internet said they essentially believed in taking care of the planet [worshiping it]; the Bible was not the inerrant word of God, but influenced by men; and that Christians should be open to the idea that God speaks to different faiths in different ways, allowing for diversity in His commandments. When I approached the new pastor of my Church about my concerns over Progressive theology, he said, "Well, to me, it can mean we have moved from church services with a pipe organ, to we now enjoy worship services with electric guitars and modern music". 

Ok, then ... this wasn't exactly what I was looking for, nor did it inspire trust in me that my church was going to facilitate any growth in this new personal relationship with God that I was experiencing. I have since discovered that Progressive Christianity has grown deep roots within the Modern American Church, and has evolved into a major network of professed believers and proponents who have married with traditional Church ideology and theology. I think it is important that we know what they currently stand for, so allow me to give you a quick synopsis.

I have summarized their five Core Principles, and I urge you to read this article that expands on how they are influencing God's Church: 1) They believe that following Jesus can lead to experiencing sacredness, wholeness, and unity of all life, while recognizing that the Spirit moves in many faith traditions. 2) They seek community that is inclusive, honoring differences in theological perspectives, age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, class, or ability. 3) They strive for peace and justice among all people, behaving with compassion and selfless love which is the fullest expression of their belief system. 4) They promote embracing the insights of contemporary science and strive to protect the Earth and ensure its integrity and sustainability. 5) They believe in committing to a path of life-long learning believing that there is more value in questioning than in absolutes. 

As a committed follower of Jesus Christ, the Lord and King of the Universe, my Savior and Redeemer, and the Son of the True [and Most High] God, what I see in these Principles of Progressive Christianity is a belief system that belittles the essence of Jesus. They openly state that they "place equal or greater emphasis on His life and teachings than they do in His Death and Resurrection". Further, they believe in Social Justice [as the world defines it; not as Jesus does]. Science has become an important [and equal] part of their faith, and they believe that "embracing science necessarily means scrutinizing narrative", and that "there is more value in questioning than in absolutes". In other words, science is their idol and it requires that they question God's Word as being absolute; moral relativism has more merit that God's stated Truth. 

Understanding the direction that my Church was heading towards led to the final fracture in my relationship with what I had believed would be my Church for life. It came to a crisis point when a teacher [in a class Mark and I attended, and whom we greatly respected] began bringing teachings by leaders of the Emerging Church into our gatherings. Basically, it was brought to our attention that if you believed Jesus was born of a virgin, that the Word was true and inerrant, or that Jesus knew He was the Son of God, then you were part of the "old paradigm" of the Church. The "new paradigm" understood that the virgin story in the Bible was just an allegory; a lot of the teachings in the Bible were meant to be symbolic, not literal; and that Jesus did not understand who He was until He was hanging on the Cross. 

I couldn't understand why we were studying books of this kind, instead of the Bible. And, our teachings began to settle around themes of a political nature, such as social justice and the use of the death penalty. Let me be clear, our faith should influence our thoughts on these issues -- on every issue in our life -- but what we were seeing in discussions of these issues was designed to influence, and change, our faith!   

My spirit screamed, "HERESY"! At this point, I think it's important that I make clear what heresy means to me. I actually agree with the Greek meaning from the word Hairesis: a choosing; a self-willed opinion which is substituted for submission to the power of truth. According to Paul in Galations 5, it leads to division and the formation of sects: "Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies"... the very things with which Progressive Christianity seeks to label us obedient Christians.  

These were the first examples where I personally saw heresy begin to slip into the Church -- and, again, that was 25 years ago! It has grown and expanded exponentially since then. Within the last couple of weeks an article appeared in Harbinger's Daily, by Ken Ham, [with whom I disagree regarding the topic of young earth vs old earth]. But, on the issue of rejecting Biblical authority, opening doors of compromise, and placing our opinions above God's, we agree. 

Here's what he wrote: "A United Church of Christ minister in LA (who refers to her sermon as heretical, so at least she admits it!) preached: Well do I think that [the resurrection] could have happened and did happen? I believe so ... I feel it probably did. But if I'm scientific or realistic I don't know. And I say that because there's no "proof". Did it really happen? ... Did Jesus really raise from the dead? I don't know. If Jesus didn't physically raise from the dead and ascend, it doesn't change a thing about my love of God and Christ and Christianity ... because I truly believe in my heart of hearts that my faith ... is a resurrection faith.

Ken Ham goes on to say that it should be obvious to any Christian that her refusal to affirm the Resurrection is a problem. After all, her Salvation depends on her affirmation. And here's what I have to say: "No proof"? Faith doesn't require proof! It's our confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we don't see. It involves trusting in God and His promises, even when they are not visible. Her obvious doubt and unbelief [in my opinion] disqualifies her to be a minister in the Church. And I believe she is introducing heresy into her church.

And then there's a second example that Ken Ham provides of heresy: "A Canadian reverend of The Metropolitan Community Church in Toronto, Ontario, preached in a sermon that for 40 years he's wanted his church to remove the "uncomfortable" and problematic" word Savior from the church website as that can be a "stumbling block" to potential visitors and those seeking membership at his church". 

That pastor had this to say: Many, before they come to our church, will check out the website to see what this church is about: so, see what they believe. And many of the folks that did that will tell me, "I looked up your church, and it sounded reasonable, but when I go to that word 'Savior', it was a problem." The pastor went on ... I would hope that someday, this church would see the possibility of changing that word because it is a stumbling block for many who want to be here. It is a stumbling block for people who do interfaith work. How do we explain that phrase to Muslims, and to Jews, and to Hindus"?  

Well, Pastor, here's my answer: You explain that phrase [Savior] as you express the True Gospel of the Bible; the Good News that the One True God of the Universe sent His only Son to earth to receive the wrath that we [that means all of humanity] deserve for rejecting Him and the relationship He established with us from the Garden. He is Holy ... meaning His nature is one of absolute purity and moral excellence. There is no sin in Him, and He expects those that are made in His image to reflect that same righteousness. Because we have inherited sin from humanity's original parents, we cannot attain that righteousness on our own. We are in desperate need of a way to come before our Holy God in submission and righteousness; that necessitates someone to save us from our sinfulness. Jesus is the Way to that reconciliation with our Father. He is our Savior! 

And I would further say this .... interfaith work should not mean acceptance of the "little g" gods of other faiths as equal to our Most High God. So, to find that the connotation of Jesus as our Savior to be "uncomfortable" or "problematic" indicates to me that you are willing to compromise the Truth of who Jesus is, in order to appeal to those who don't believe in Him. And that, Pastor, is heresy in my opinion. 

As I wind up this latest post, I want to reiterate that all this is my opinion. But my opinion is founded on the beliefs expressed through the Holy Spirit and the Bible. I am not a fundamentalist believer -- I recognize that Jesus did not come to establish "the Church" as a regimental force in the world. He did not instruct us to erect buildings and keep our faith to ourselves.  He came to re-establish the relationship He created us for; to express His love for each of us and give us the opportunity to return that love to Him and to walk in that love with our neighbors. Yes, there are absolute moral values that reflect His nature and to which He calls us to follow. And I admit that it is a narrow and often times difficult road to walk -- we don't want to become so religious that we stifle the freedom that Jesus died to give us; but we also don't want to endorse so much freedom in our sins that we allow any and all diverse beliefs to be approved [only to be perverted by the Enemy].

The purpose of this post is to share the heresies that I have witnessed in my journey with the Lord and how they can easily be used to foment lawlessness and corrupt theology. It is important that we defend the Truth and absolute authority of God's Word in the world. Lord, I ask you to guide me in the way to rightly handle Your Truth and to represent You in the world. We need Your heart and Your principles today, Lord! Help us to root out the Satan-inspired heresy that has entered our church buildings, and provide Your inspiration to guide others to righteousness. Amen!

Acts 14-16.   But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So, I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 

 

Hearing the Voice of Jesus in the Noise of the World

Who else is overcome by the cacophonous barrage of discordant voices in the world? I'm sorry to use such complex language, but the word cacophony popped into my head as I tried to figure out how to describe the sensations my spirit is feeling in the midst of all the "noise" I'm hearing. To be honest, I wasn't even sure I knew what the word meant, but when I researched it, it seemed to fit. 

As I earnestly seek to hear the voice of my Lord, it is sometimes drowned out by the din, racket, babel, screaming, whining, and yes, even cajoling, coaxing, and smooth-talking voices of the Enemy's servants -- the very definition of what a cacophony sounds like. And it is often quite apparent [to my spirit] during ministry that there are many who truly love the Lord, but who can't distinguish His voice from those sent to confuse or misguide them. And, in full confession, I am discerning how successful the Enemy has become in imitating the Lord's voice. In this time of so much division and disunity, we (I) must be sure we are hearing correctly.

As a Christian, I desire to hear my Master's voice because I know I can trust it. But how many times have you encountered fellow Christians who excitedly tell you that they have "a word" from the Lord for you, or "God told them" to tell you something He wants you to do? How can you trust that they have heard correctly ... or even heard at all? And I strongly believe that the Enemy has sowed many false prophets into the world [especially within our churches and Christian communities]. These self-proclaimed prophets have done so much damage by misleading faithful Christians down paths that are not according to the will of God for their lives. That often leads Believers to become confused, discouraged, and disheartened. So, if we aren't hearing from God, do we disregard all prophetic words that are declared to be for us?

The answer is "No"! The Holy Spirit is involved in speaking prophecy to people, and the Bible tells us, Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil [1 Thessalonians 5:19-22]. Ultimately, we need to learn to spend time with God and Jesus in order to recognize His voice through the voices of the prophets. Remember, He is our Good Shepherd. He says, I know My sheep and My sheep know Me. And He knows our names and everything about us! So, how do we get to know Him so that we can recognize Him through the ones He sends to us, and discern the ones sent by the devil? 

Like any relationship, it takes time and commitment. He reveals Himself through the Word, so we have ample opportunity to identify His character, His nature, His commandments, His leadership, and His heart. In fact, we are commanded to "Listen to Him" by God Almighty! To me, this command makes it clear that He has things to share with us, and we should be expecting to hear from Him! But somehow, we have interpreted hearing from God to simply mean He answers our prayers. But that makes it about us and what we want; our needs and desires. And this can lead to us controlling the outcome of those prayers to get what we want and convincing ourselves it's what God spoke to us in a dream, or what someone spoke that aligns with what we asked for. But that voice is more likely to be your own or the Enemy. 

I'm not saying that God doesn't speak to us in dreams or through other people, or through a spontaneous thought in your own mind. That's often how He speaks to me! For instance, that sudden, spontaneous thought will give me an answer or direction that I have been asking God about. It will be unrehearsed and unforced; in other words, it won't be something that I have analyzed and dissected beforehand, but will be clear and precise and will sound like my own thoughts, but not analytical or well-organized from prior examination.

In fact, these thoughts will sound like me, but actually be wiser, more loving, more healing, and more intentional than my mind's thoughts, which can randomly wander. I instinctively know where they come from; that it is Jesus flowing through my heart and combining with my mind to present His and the Father's will. And more often than not, this sudden, spontaneous thought will illicit a reaction in my soul -- a sense of excitement at recognizing His voice; a heartfelt conviction that I am hearing His truth, and a sense of awe or peace. And the more I train myself to get in that quiet place, the easier it has become to hear Him. 

I think that is especially true in these days of chaos and evil in the world. For Christians, there are so many voices clamoring for our attention, and it should be obvious to perceive the outright evil ones; but it can be difficult to discern the wolves in sheep's clothing, or even those with good intentions, but who are not sent by God. Our Leaders are supposed to be serving us, but it is too often readily apparent that they seek to only benefit themselves. So how do we protect ourselves and thrive in a society and culture that doesn't hear God's voice? How do we hear His voice as we try to navigate through spiritual noise in order to walk the straight and narrow path to His will for our lives?

I believe that to truly hear and recognize the Lord's voice, we must focus on Jesus's heart. How do I do that? For me, I have to make sure that I am not seeking to hear Him through my Soul -- which is focused on my mind and thoughts, my feelings, and what I hope and want to hear. I have to intentionally focus my spiritual eyes on Jesus's heart. If not, whatever I am focusing on will affect the accuracy of what I am hearing from God. Let's say you are praying about making an important decision regarding you or your family's future ... do you take the latest vaccine or not; do you leave your child in public school or home-school; how do you best serve an aging parent; or, how should you protect your family in the midst of the drums of war sounding throughout the world?

Those are all important, momentous, and consequential issues, and the answers are not going to be easy or simple. You would want to make sure you are hearing from God, and not letting your mind project your personal desire, or mistaking the voice of our Enemy for that of our Savior. You might not [and probably won't] get a complete step-by-step solution to any of those weighty questions. So what are the eyes of your heart focused on? 

May I suggest that to hear Jesus's voice we must separate ourselves from the voices of the world, which can cause us to fixate on the very things we are seeking answers for. Ask yourself these questions ... Am I fixated on my fears of a certain vaccine, or am I focused on what Jesus is telling me about them? Are my thoughts constantly weighing the pros and cons of public school vs home-schooling, or am I focused on His thoughts about what He thinks is best for my child? Am I fixated on how the problems of my aging parent are going to affect my life, or am I waiting for Jesus to reveal the way that's best for their remaining time on earth? And, finally, are the drumbeats of war so loud in our minds that nothing else occupies our thoughts and time, or are we watching to see what Jesus is saying and doing? If the answer is yes to the first part of any of these questions, then it's time to repent for having the eyes and ears of our  hearts fixed on the very things we're praying about, rather than the One we're coming to in prayer. Doesn't that make each of those issues an idol?!? 

I confess that I struggle at times, too! Our Enemy knows his time is short to carry out his plans to dominate this world, and he is unleashing every strategy and tactic he can to keep the people of this earth from entering God's Kingdom. So, we need to follow Jesus's example. Whenever He was overwhelmed by the attacks of the devil, He removed Himself to a quiet place and sought the presence of His Father. He re-quieted His soul and focused on seeing and hearing what His Father was doing and saying. He stayed focused on His Father's heart for His creation, and then acted on that; shutting out the voices that constantly tried to get him to change course from Heaven's direction. 

If our hearts are in alignment with Jesus's heart, then we will correctly hear His voice. Our soul and spirit will be at peace that we have received His will. And if our thoughts tend towards the negative and line up with the characteristics of the devil -- a desire to lie, accuse, steal, or cause conflict -- then our thoughts are being formed by demonic influence, and we will be confused, anxious, and unsettled. If we are hearing God and Jesus correctly, our thoughts will be positive and spontaneous; corresponding to the characteristics of the Holy Spirit as our Counselor, our Comforter, and the Spirit of Truth and Wisdom.

In summary, when I am praying and seeking the voice of the Lord, I try to stay  fixated and focused on His heart! That's when the spontaneous flow from His heart to my heart, mind, and spirit occurs and I hear Him! And there isn't a sweeter, more soothing voice in all the universe than the voice of the One who loves me and desires to answer my call. And it shouldn't be that hard to hear Him. It just takes practice to re-quiet and re-focus your mind, and a willingness to spend the time in learning to recognize His voice. As Jesus so often taught those who loved and followed Him, He who has an ear, let him hear ...    

John 16:13      When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the Truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.

 

The Moral Fabric of our Culture is Unraveling; We are Holding On By a Thread!

I have said it for some time ... politics is not the answer for what ails our nation. Yes, I know we are a nation of laws, and government is the world's way of providing structure [through those laws] so that we might live a good quality of life. But ultimately, government is a political system administered by men. And that system is used to control men through the temptations of power, wealth, and reputation. A candid look at the men and women who were elected to represent the American people [in Washington D.C.] reveals a huge gap between those who are loyal and obedient to God, and those whose moral degeneracy is on full display. Sadly, that dichotomy mirrors the picture of our divided population. And no President, Congress, or law can solve the sickness of sin that is at the heart of our condition.

I'd like to quote the Reverend Franklin Graham from an article he wrote for Harbinger's Daily: "It's a spiritual degeneracy that can only be cured by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other remedy or hope. The Prophet Isaiah said it this way 700 years before the birth of the Savior, to an Israel that had long abandoned its loyalty and allegiance to God, and instead replaced it with idolatry, meaningless rituals and sacrifices that incurred God's wrath, not His blessings ... Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness: who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for Bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).  

If Biblical Truth and Principles are not at the center of our lives, then there is no absolute right and wrong to guide us. If we don't affirm and uphold the authority of the Holy Scripture, then moral relativism becomes the accepted guidepost for humanity. In other words, if our culture rejects what the Bible says about loving your neighbor as yourself, then the culture will determine that the morally right thing in any situation is to do whatever behavior brings about the greatest good for the greater number. But that requires defining who your "neighbor" is. 

Through Satan's influence, our culture has too often defined "neighbor" as someone who looks like us. But, when we actually take a closer look at the meaning of that word, we find that the Old Testament word for neighbor is rēa, a noun meaning "friend, companion, fellow," or simply, "another person". The New Testament Greek is an adverb used as a noun, plēsion, meaning "the [one] near". So, how does Jesus define who our neighbor is?

We can find that answer in the familiar parable of "The Good Samaritan". But, first, what [and who] is a Samaritan? History [and Bible Study Tools] shows us that in 721 B.C., the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians. Many people of the ten tribes of Israel who lived there were led off to Assyria as captives, but some remained in the land and intermarried with foreigners planted there by the Assyrians. These half-Jewish, half-Gentile people became known as the Samaritans. In 605 B.C., the Babylonians invade Judah, and the first wave of Jews are deported to Babylon, beginning their 70 years of captivity. By 586 B.C., the southern kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonian Empire once and for all, and the last wave of Jews were deported to Babylon, and Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. In 539 B.C., the Fall of Babylon to the Persian Empire occurs, and King Cyrus II allows the Jews to return to their homeland.

When Nehemiah attempts to rebuild the Temple, the Samaritans remaining in the land opposed the rebuilding efforts and caused problems for Nehemiah and his fellow workers. And thus began a generational hatred between Jews and Samaritans. So, here we see that although the two groups shared, at least, a partial ethnic bond, it wasn't enough to be considered a "neighbor". In fact, they despised each other, making them a good example for Jesus to define a true neighbor in His parable about the "good" Samaritan. We see the Jewish priest and the Levite who both walked right by a Jewish man who had been beaten and robbed; both were indifferent to his unfortunate situation. Then, we see the Samaritan, [normally an archenemy], moved with compassion, who goes out of his way to tend to the needs of the Jewish man lying on the side of the road. 

Using the parable, Jesus responds to an expert in the Law's question of "who is my neighbor?" by asking His own question: "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands? And [the lawyer] said, 'The one who showed mercy toward him'. Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do the same' ".

This simple, but direct parable [and commandment] shows us how far we've fallen from respecting and upholding Jesus's teaching. Where is our compassion, empathy, love, and mercy for our fellow man? Our culture no longer seems to have a Biblically enlightened conscience of who our neighbors are. And without that knowledge of Biblical Truth, "lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). We have seen that in the countless attacks on innocent people in the streets of our cities across the land. And let us not forget the recent cold-blooded murder of the CEO of United Healthcare on a New York sidewalk. No matter what you think about the victim's connection to our broken healthcare system, the lack of moral conscience by the murderer as he walked up to the victim, lying bleeding on the sidewalk, and shot two more rounds into him, should make you feel disgusted.

Shockingly, too many people across the country have supported or applauded this heinous murder, expressing their opinions across social media platforms that the crime was a justified killing -- 40% of young adults (ages 18-29) felt the killer's actions were either "acceptable" or "somewhat acceptable". Oh, how Jesus must mourn how far removed we have become from a Biblically moral compass! And how long will He tolerate our lack of brotherly love; our heartlessness? I believe He does not want to give up on us; that God's grace is still available to us -- IF we can, like the Good Samaritan, find it in our hearts to be "neighbors" to each other, no matter the differences in our ethnicity, social class, political persuasion, or religious affiliation. 

We must overcome the bitterness, contempt, and hatred that have been sowed into our culture by spiritual forces that have engulfed the minds and hearts of men who have listened to the whispers of God's Enemy. We must recognize our moral decay and failings, and we must repent and believe in the power of God's ability to revive and restore our moral bearings according to the Biblical principles set forth by our Lord and Savior. In the midst of our nation's chaos, I have witnessed the Goodness of God as a result of the redeeming prayers of those who fear Him in righteousness and truth. Don't stop now! There is a wind of change coming. Whether it be a change for good or evil, remains to be seen. We, who are obedient followers of Jesus Christ can be an instrument of His Power and Love. Let us do our part in restoring our nation, as we take a Biblically moral stand against those who would destroy it. Let us work with Jesus to redeem our great nation and truly love our neighbor as ourselves. Amen!

Ephesians 3:20    Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes or dreams], according His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church [Body of Christ] and in Christ Jesus thoughout all generations forever and ever. Amen. 

Everything Just Changed! Have We Sealed the Fate of the Human Race?

It has been 41 years since the sci-fi movie franchise of "The Terminator" took our imaginations by storm. The series introduced what seemed, at the time, like a far-fetched fantasy where synthetic artificial intelligence is merged with robots to create a cyborg intent on destroying humankind. As one of the main characters in the first film explained, "Defense network computers ... new and powerful ... hooked into everything, and trusted to run it all. They say it got smart, a new order of intelligence that saw all humans as a threat; and they decided our fate in a microsecond: extermination". 

Isn't that the dynamic that many people (including myself) have been fearful of? Believe me, I would have loved to stick my head in the sand and pretended like there was nothing to worry about -- after all, it was only a movie -- but I believe the Holy Spirit kept shining a light on the discussions of scientists and agnostic engineers like Google's Ray Kurzweil, who touted the benefits for mankind in pursuing the acceleration of artificial intelligence. In turn, I've been shining the light [since 2013] on engineers their efforts which have brought us to the point where we're very close to these computer machines achieving complete "self-awareness".

So, you can call me a skeptic, a fear-monger, and even a conspiracy theorist, but almost as frightening [to me, at least] is the realization that the existence of these "super computers" has become such a part of our culture and means of communication and creativity, that our younger generations don't remember when they didn't exist! I know it sounds crazy, but I would like to invite the Gen-Xers, Millennials, and Gen-Zers to watch at least the first two movies of the series, so they see the potential dangers of what we've created, seemingly without any kind of security or protection in place. 

Need convincing? Instead of reading about my admittedly dubious concerns, let me share with you a conversation between national broadcaster Glenn Beck and the very real computer scientist, futurist, and inventor, Ray Kurzweil, who promotes furthering the progress of artificial intelligence, transhumanism, and the technical singularity, which by the way is a "hypothetical" point in time at which technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in unforeseeable consequences for human civilization. Got your attention now? This conversation took place during an interview with Mr. Kurzweil in May, 2008...

Beck begins the interview by introducing Kurweil as "the guy Bill Gates calls a visionary thinker and futurist. He has been inducted into the Inventors' Hall of Fame and the author of "The Singularity is Near". At the time, Beck was enthralled with the accomplishments of Kurzweil and, at the same time, found his books "some of the most frightening and yet hopeful stuff I have ever read". Their conversation progressed through topics that Kurzweil was working on: the future of energy, global warming, and health strategies. Here are some snippets of their conversation in 2008 that pertain to our current progression in the arena of technology...

KURZWEIL: We are doubling the paradigm shift rate of technical progress every decade. So in the next 50 years, we'll see 32 times more progress than in the last century.

BECK: Where does that put us? What is life like at that point?

KURZWEIL: Fifty years from now, life is quite different. We will be spending most of our time in virtual reality. We'll be enhancing our brains by merging with our technology, and we will be able to back up our mind file. 

BECK: They tell me that in the movie, "The Matrix", they could put a chip or put a cord in the back of your head and you could upload all of this information.

KURZWEIL: Well, we're going to be able to send nanobots, blood cell sized devices, inside our blood stream that will keep us healthy from inside, and also go inside our brains through capillaries and interact with our biological neurons. Parkinson's patients have a pea-sized computer in their brain that replaces biological neurons destroyed by the disease. The latest generation actually allows you to download software in the neural implant from outside the body in[to] the patient. [NOTE: This is where Elon Musk and his invention of the Neuralink in 2016 comes into the story]. That is today. And this kind of technology is doubling in power every year. It is shrinking in size by effect of 100 per volume per decade. So 25 years from now, these technologies will be a billion times more powerful; 100,000 times smaller, and we'll be able to send the nanobots into our brain. They'll interact with our neurons and they will extend our intelligence. We'll be a hybrid of biological and non-biological intelligence.

BECK: You said in your book, "The Age of Spiritual Machines", at some point you will walk into your room, and your computer will surpass your intelligence, or all the intelligence on the planet by 2027.

KURZWEIL:  By 2029. By 2029 a machine will be able to pass a Turing test [a test of a machine's ability to exhibit intelligence behavior equivalent to that of a human]. It will be able to have a natural-language conversation and you won't be able to tell the difference between the human and the machine. Our computers aren't going to be these distinct rectangular devices we carry around. We are going to merge with them. Some day we'll have blood cell sized devices in our blood stream keeping us healthy -- [healthy by whose standards, say skeptics like me]. There are already 50 experiments of doing that today [in 2008]. These devices will get more and more intelligent. If you go on to 2029, they're going to be inside our bodies and brains and we are going to be a hybrid of biological and nonbiological intelligence.  

Fast forward to today in 2025, and back to my relatively simplistic thinking... I mean, Kurzweil predicted this would all happen by 2029, only 4 years from now! And can you see the similarities to movies such as "The Terminator" and "The Matrix"? Is fantasy about to become reality? Well, based on the information Glenn Beck shared on his program just last week, it looks like Ray Kurzweil's predictions are coming true. 

Last week, Microsoft announced that they have developed a quantum chip which results in a fundamental leap in computing. In other words, from my limited understanding, a molecule has been discovered that enhances the capability of these chips to hold massive amounts of cubits of information. What might have taken a computer (using AI) several cubits to process and solve a problem, will now be able to be accomplished with millions of cubits in a very short period of time. In other words, this rate is way past the computation of the world's best supercomputer! So what has just been invented, and how will it affect us, as human beings? 

Please do your own research on this phenomenon! I really can't wrap my head around it! All I know is that this invention revolves around this new molecule, which is actually a new state of matter (other than a solid, liquid, or gas) that when applied to this chip, allows for a million cubits of quantum computing. That means that AI computers will be able to solve problems faster and more efficiently, at rates beyond human computation. Imagine the current state of AI on steroids!

And where does that lead us to? In my mind, right back to Ray Kurzweil and his predictions for 2029. As computers get faster and their ability to gain information and solve problems outpaces human capabilities, you very well might ask a computer, "How do we cure cancer"? And it's response could conceivably be, "Why cure cancer? I'll just redesign the human body [by merging it with machines], so it never gets cancer"! Can you see that AI is going to move at exponential speeds? Can you see that what might take our human brains 50 or 60 years to solve problems in the areas of health, military defense strategies, or energy crises, could be done in 5 or 10 minutes with this chip? AI employing this chip will grow in knowledge and experience faster than we can imagine, and that kind of capability is a temptation to mankind.

Instead of using it to grow our own intelligence, wisdom and understanding, it will be easier to let AI do it; and faster. So not only will we become lazy, but we will begin depending on it, and bingeing on it, and it will become part of who we are. What will then be the purpose of being a human being? Consider this: When we get to that merging point, are we looking at Mark of the Beast? Microsoft predicts that this technology will be in full operation by 2030. That's only 5 years from now, and only one year beyond Ray Kurzweil's prediction of 2029 for hybrid human/computer robots!

This is just a cursory examination of the state of AI interaction with humans. I am no expert, but even I can see the danger signs! As humans, we are created in the image of God Almighty! Computers, including AI, have been created by man, but without the God component that makes us accountable to our Creator. Therefore, we have no guarantee that the technological advances of AI into the quantum realm will not backfire on the human race.    

In conclusion, all this brings me back to "The Terminator" movies. They may seem out-of-date and corny now, but their message is not. We must not dismiss the warning signs that this iconic franchise portrays clearly and sharply. As one of the characters says, "This is the world now. Logged on, plugged in, all the time". It's true! And we, humanity, will make a takeover by machines easier if we don't evaluate what we're doing and what we're becoming. And I'll leave you with a quote from John Connor, the protagonist and hero of the movie: "The future has not been written. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves." I hope and pray that we take a step back, re-evaluate where we're going and our purpose on earth, and don't turn mankind's future over to these false gods.

Psalm 135:118     Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.

 

 

  

Are We the True Biblical "Fig Tree Generation"? And What Does That Mean?

I love it when the House Church that meets in our home comes together and we get immersed in the reading, dissecting, and understanding of the Word! Biblical concepts that we have heard countless times from the pulpit suddenly come alive with new meaning as we study the historical, social, and faith contexts that point us to the promises of God's Kingdom on earth. This past gathering of the faithful was no different.

We are studying the Book of Mark and this week we tackled the enigmatic parable of the Fig Tree and whether we can [or should] identify as "the Fig Tree Generation" that Jesus mentions in Matthew 24, Mark 11, and Luke 21. Before I try to answer that dilemma, let's consider the significant symbolism of the fig tree throughout the Bible. We often find it to be a symbol of the nation of Israel and the promise of abundance, blessings and favor from God. In the Old Testament, [specifically in 1 Kings 4:25] we see fulfillment of those promises in "the days of Solomon": And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan to Beersheba, every man under his own vine and his own fig tree.

Whether Israel lived in that blessing and favor, OR in judgment or desolation, was evidenced by the fig tree's fruitfulness. In the Book of Jeremiah, in Chapter 6:16-18, we see that the symbolism of the fig tree mirrors God's judgment, when He castigates Israel: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, "We will not walk in it." I appointed watchmen over you and said, "Listen to the sound of the trumpet!" But you said, "We will not listen." Therefore hear, you nations; you who are witnesses, observe what will happen to them... 

As a consequence, we then see God's judgment play out in Jeremiah 8:13 ... I will take away their harvest, declares the Lord. There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them. You may think that was over 2600 years ago and it really doesn't pertain to us Christians in the 21st Century. But the same complaints that God had against the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, we see that Jesus had in the New Testament, and I now see in today's Churches. The root of God's judgment is pictured in the parable of the fig tree ... and it's all about spiritual barrenness in the form of False Religion! 

Let's take a good, hard look at what Jesus reveals to His disciples in Mark 11 regarding the condition of the fig tree they found on their way from Bethany to Jerusalem. Remember, this is during the Passover Week leading to Jesus's Crucifixion. After His triumphant Entry into Jerusalem for the Holy Week, Jesus is greeted with resounding shouts of praise: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!  [By the way, this reception is highlighting the crowd's recognition that Jesus is, indeed, the Messiah]. 

After entering Jerusalem, he went to the Temple where He had a good look around, assessing and inspecting the "standing" of the people. This fulfills the prophecy of Malachi, in Chapter 3:1-3, which states that God would send His messenger to prepare the way for Him. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, He is coming ... But who can endure the day of His coming, and who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap [which cleaned, and whitened, and purified cloth]. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 

After His inspection, Jesus returns to Bethany, where He and His disciples are staying the night [just a mere two miles from Jerusalem]. The next morning they head back to Jerusalem and on the way Jesus, being hungry, spies a fig tree full of leaves. This is where we need to come into the full understanding of this passage and what it means for us. Fig trees don't normally have leaves on them unless they have figs on them, too. From Jesus's perspective, the fig tree was displaying false advertising! The tree put forth a pretense of having fruit; it had the outward appearance that would cause someone [in this case, Jesus] to expect He would find fruit to nourish Him. But the tree was barren and had not produced any fruit!

Here's where I think some of our Bible translations have caused confusion about the full context of the lesson from the fig tree. For example, how many of us heard in our churches that Jesus cursed the fig tree? Read Mark 11:13-14 again. My Bible doesn't say that. In fact, the Word simply says, And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if He could find anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again. That was actually a prayer that Jesus spoke over the tree, which most certainly resulted in a negative outcome, but I do not believe it was spoken as a curse; in malice or spitefulness; but rather as a warning and prophecy of what happens when you falsely represent yourself as being righteous and bearing fruit. Remember -- after inspecting the fig tree and prophesying that it would never bear fruit, the Bible makes sure we know this fact: And His disciples heard it. The disciples must have been thoroughly confused [just as we have been 2000+ years later when we read those verses]!     

The prophecy of Malachi says that the Lord will inspect the standing [the status and reputation] of the "sons of Levi" [the priests] to see if they have fulfilled their role as intermediaries between God and the people, facilitating worship and maintaining the sanctity [sacredness] of the Temple. We all remember the stories from Sunday School of Jesus overturning the tables of the money-changers whom the priests had allowed to defile and dishonor the Temple, making it a marketplace and a den of thieves, rather than a House of Prayer, for which God had designed it. This passage is what immediately follows the short passage about the fruitless fig tree. Starting to get the picture?

If not, read Matthew 24:32-35. Here we get more information about the lesson we are to learn from the fig tree... From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So, also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. This is a very explicit prophecy for "the fig tree generation". 

Let's break it down. When a fig tree buds, there is an inevitable result ... summer is near and that means fruit is coming. In other words, there is an expectation. In the lexicon of parables, He is pointing to the fruitfulness of the Kingdom of God. In this passage in Matthew, Jesus has just foretold the signs of the End of the Age, which also forecasts the Coming of the Son of Man. What are the signs? Matthew 24 spells it out ... many coming in His Name, leading people astray; wars and rumors of wars; nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom; famines, earthquakes, persecution; false prophets and lawlessness; the abomination of a false god standing in the Temple in Jerusalem, declaring Himself the Most High... and finally great tribulation. So when He says to look at the fig tree and understand, and then follows that up with So, also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near... this generation (the one that sees these destructive signs) will not pass pass away until [ultimately] they see His return! That generation will be known as The Fig Tree Generation!  

So when you connect the dots of the picture Jesus is trying to present to His disciples you get this understanding: Jesus is chastising the religious leaders in Jerusalem because [like the fig tree], they have been giving a false pretense of bearing fruit for God's Kingdom on earth. They have done a disservice to the flock by not leading them, or teaching them, that they should be bearing fruit for the Kingdom! Jesus even asks [in Matthew 24:45-46], Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his Master has set over His household, to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his Master will find so doing when He comes.

As an addendum to this exegesis on the Fig Tree Generation, I present my personal opinion... We are certainly seeing the signs of the End of the Age, and now that the Jewish people are back in their Homeland, is Jesus ready to return? And if so, will He find fruit among His followers on the earth? Have our churches borne fruit for His Kingdom? Or, like the Pharisees at His First Coming, will He find lots of leaves [a false pretense of fruit], but no actual fruit? Have the religious leaders of our day taught and encouraged their flocks to make disciples of Christ, teaching them to observe all that He commanded us to do -- heal the sick, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers [of their spiritual corruption, degradation, and defilement], raise the dead, and spread the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 10:7-8 and 28:16-20)?

That's a very serious question we should be asking ourselves! Jesus made it very clear what He expects. If you are going to proclaim that you are fruitful [by broadcasting to the world with a grandiose show of worldly leaves], then when He comes, He expects to find fruit from your endeavors! I don't know if we are the destined Fig Tree Generation. We are certainly close to fitting the criteria more than any previous generation. All we need is the Anti-Christ to declare himself the Most High God. And if we are truly that close, I would hope we are all examining ourselves. Have we borne fruit for our Master? Or have we just clothed ourselves in a false image as fruit-bearers? I know what the Lord says to the Churches in Revelation 1-3, and it is sobering. 

In conclusion, the fig tree has proven to be abundant in its symbolism. It represents Israel [in both ancient and modern times]; their prosperity, judgment and hope. And its lessons for Israel give us great insight for our own relationship with God, and of our future. The image of the fig tree represents our faithfulness, our fruitfulness, our readiness for the return of Jesus, and the consequences should we be found spiritually barren. But it also offers us the promises of God and His blessings of inheritance if we show ourselves faithful to do all the things that bear fruit for His Kingdom. May you receive the promises of God's abundance, blessings and favor, as you sit under your own fruitful fig tree.  

Joel 2:22      Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the trees bear their fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield. 

We Need More Spiritual Warriors Who Have Right Standing With God

If you are a Believer and Follower of Jesus and are expecting that our nation and the world are going to enter a season of Peace and Tranquility; a time when the natures of men would come together in pursuit of shared values and harmonious viewpoints, then I fear you will be disappointed. If anything, our common Enemy is more determined than ever to tear us apart and cause division. We are already seeing it in the halls of Congress, and I fear we will soon see this manufactured tension and hostility in the streets. I am left wondering if there is more than a remnant of Righteous Spiritual Warriors who see this truth and are convicted of their place and purpose for this time.

I am blessed to personally know part of that company of spiritual warriors; men who stand out in the midst of the dispassionate, indifferent souls who prefer to remain on the sidelines of the spiritual war for the dominion of this earth and its inhabitants. And I'm not talking about being flag-waving nationalists dressed in the coverings of politics and religion. I'm referring to men who stand proudly in the roles God gave them as ambassadors, representatives, protectors, and imitators of His dutiful Son; men with moral compasses who know right from wrong, have grown in their righteous identity, and aren't afraid to walk against the currents of evil manifesting in our culture.

Nearly ten years ago, I wrote a post that I feel is worth revisiting. It was 2010, and our nation and society had just crossed the proverbial "Rubicon" into a new political and cultural realm for which we are still paying the consequences. Marxism took a bold step forward in the minds and hearts of our young, and our government committed us to a specific course that steered us away from our Christian roots and ideals of "government of the people, by the people, and for the people". [NOTE: the phrase "crossing the Rubicon", refers to Julius Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon River in northeastern Italy in 49 B.C., which led to a civil war and the end of the Roman Republic].

At the time, my spirit instinctively knew there was no going back, but God didn't want me to enter into a state of panic. Instead, He appointed me to become aware of [and focus on] the righteousness of my husband, a man He intended to use in support of His Kingdom here on earth. I had seen changes in his spiritual life for a few years, but God instructed me to take the time to contemplate how earnestly my husband was seeking God's Kingdom then and there. 

I have disclosed through the years that my husband's first and middle names literally mean "Peace-Loving Warrior", and he is the embodiment of that heavenly name. He is at peace knowing that the good work which God has begun in him, He will be faithful to finish ... and he is more than eager to finish strong. He is at peace, knowing that His Savior will never leave him nor forsake him. And while the storms and troubles that are going to be coming against this world are more evident to him these ten years later, he is more determined than ever that they will not deter him from taking his position on the battlefield of spiritual warfare. 

In the ensuing years he has gained a tremendous amount of knowledge through Scripture -- whoever inherits his Bible will receive a treasure trove of notes and commentary that rightly divide the Word of God. Every line, margin, and gutter of his journaling Bible is filled with revelations he has received from the Holy Spirit and his scholarly research for the correct meaning [and context] of every Biblical word and verse. His heart burns for every fellow believer to know and use their Authority in Jesus Christ and their Power in the Holy Spirit to fight the Enemies of God in our lives. "We have been defenseless for too long" is his daily motto.

I have watched him grow in His righteousness these last ten years to become a man deeply entrenched in his desire to help others know Jesus, not only as their Savior, but as the King of Heaven. In this age of luke-warm Christians, it is encouraging to see him lead people into achieving their full potential in God's purpose for their lives. He has gained a newfound discernment about who he has been called to reach, and continues to be bold in his pursuit of sharing the good news of the Kingdom of God. I have watched in amazement as God has brought people to our door to receive patient instruction and articulate answers to the ways of the Most High God -- discussing questions on everything from His grace to His judgment. As Proverbs 21:20-21 says, these occurrences have truly been "precious treasures and oil in the dwelling of the wise", and they have not been wasted.

We have aged in these last ten years, and I see the effects on him of the battles he has fought for the souls and spirits of men and women. While the spiritual battle that wages before us today appears to be gaining steam, his focus is on his assignment to reach as many as he can for the Kingdom of God. He pursues his calling with the utmost care, pressing forward as if he is going to run out of time, and fears coming up short in his race. He's not perfect, and he will admit it. And he is not afraid of offending the religious Pharisees of our day -- it's all about highlighting the narrow path to righteousness in the Name of the Lord, for those who are seeking it.

And if there is anything that he has learned in these past ten spiritually tumultuous years it is this: he will earnestly work to help anyone receive their freedom to become who God designed them to be IF they truly want Jesus. But if they only want to become free to continue pursuing what this world offers, and fulfill their own self-gratification, then he doesn't have time. There are far too many people he wants to reach with the Truth of God's Word [and who will receive it]. Jesus only healed the ones who came to Him in faith and expectancy that He was who He said He was. Jesus never chased after them against their will. Neither does my husband. 

In summary, I hope you can discern that I am not glorifying my husband, but rather glorifying my God who is in him. And I know he's not the only Righteous man who is steadfast in sharing Jesus and His Kingdom as the solution to the world's problems. In fact, I have so much joy in the fact that as I have watched him share the Word, encourage those who are seeking God's Truth, and witnessed his active participation and victories in spiritual warfare, God has brought other Godly Righteous men to our doorstep. I am so encouraged to see these men be bold in their countenance and spirits, making the most of this life, and knowing that they will be rewarded with the Crown of Righteousness in the next life. I praise the Lord for allowing me to share in my husband's journey and to be in the company of such men who are so upright, honorable, and God-fearing. The Remnant of God is alive and well here on earth! 

Proverbs 10:21, 29     The lips of the righteous feed and guide many ... The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright

 

 

  

 

Do You Understand ALL the Implications of a New "Golden Age"?

Unless you've been off-planet over the last couple of weeks, you are well aware that our new President has declared that "the Golden Age of America" is beginning anew. But what does a "Golden Age" actually mean? What does it imply? The term is actually part of the language associated with the Antediluvian period of history [which belongs to the time before the Biblical Flood] and recorded in ancient cultures and civilizations. I will delve into that context shortly. Suffice it to say, that the modern connotation of a "Golden Age" is a period of peace, harmony, stability, and prosperity.

In our modern history, it is commonly understood that America entered into its own Golden Age period post-WWII. The 1950s are often credited as being "golden" due to the economic growth and ability to climb in social status if you were intent on working hard and working your "way up". Government was smaller and less intrusive, and it was a time of industrialization and technological advances that contributed to the U.S. becoming an economical powerhouse in the world.

But, there have been other acknowledged Golden Ages in history, such as the ancient Greek dynasty from 500-300 BC, characterized by the advent of democracy, city-states, temples, ancient philosophers, architecture, and literature -- all building blocks of our own civilization. These were followed by the Tang Dynasty [618-907 AD] and the Islamic Golden Age [800-1258 AD]. The former depicted a golden age of Chinese arts and culture, which made an impact across Asia. The latter was distinguished by advancements in science, medicine, philosophy, and the arts. 

Then came the Golden Age of the Italian Renaissance [early 14th Century until the end of the 17th Century], distinguished by the revival of art and culture -- think Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michaelango. Included within this time period was the Scientific Revolution, in which there was a rapid accumulation of independent [autonomous] knowledge that favored abstract reasoning over common sense, and which viewed nature as a machine rather than an organism. It has been speculated that science then replaced Christianity as the focal point of European civilization, giving rise to the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment [also known as The Age of Reason]. Both of the latter still have profound influence over our present age, being associated with advances in literature, humanism, a world economy, industrialization, rationality, astronomy and calculus. 

Taken from the context of advancements in the arts, culture, economic growth, and scientific knowledge, it seems to be a positive indicator that we may be looking at our own new Golden Age. At one level, if you Google "America's new Golden Age", you get the following prognostications ... we're entering into a new golden age in marketing -- everything from "a massive proliferation of television and online channels, including the transformation of the home PC into a retail channel". Spinning off of that trend is the suggestion that we could be entering a strong international sales momentum and global revenue growth. 

But it kind of goes without saying that the New Golden Age seems to be closely tied to the growing use of AI across the fields of Science, Technology, and Medicine. But signaling AI as the harbinger of transformation into a new age for humanity may not be as "golden" as we've been told. And that brings me back to the ancient and antediluvian ideas of an ancient Golden Age, whose memory, author Timothy Alberino states, "was enshrined in the minds of the ancients as a utopian paradise, in which mankind greatly benefited from intercourse with the gods." This is where the ancient legends of demi-gods such as Zeus, Hercules, Achilles, and Dionysus take on significance.

I'd like to recommend that you read Mr. Alberino's book, titled Birthright: The Coming Post Human Apocalypse and the Usurpation of Adam's Dominion of Planet Earth. It ignited my spirit and set off warning bells regarding the human predilection [of some of our contemporaries] to be tempted by new evolutionary paradigms that promise we can surpass God's plan for mankind. That title should sound familiar if you've read any of my posts through the years regarding Satan's appropriation of man's dominion of earth through Adam and Eve's disobedience/sin against God.

I was fascinated to discover [in the book] that "the general narrative relating to the comingling of god and man, the subsequent procreation of hybrid off-spring, (including the Nephilim and the afore-mentioned demi-gods), and the sudden obliteration of a ruinous cataclysm [the Flood] can be detected in the written records and oral traditions of every primary culture on earth. Hundreds of pages could be devoted to cataloguing the parallels in the pre-Flood legends of Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Mesoamerican, Andean, Polynesian, and Asian peoples [among many others]." The author concludes that "it is logical that all these stories, so homologous in their narratives, originate from the same source". And apparently they all remember this age as glorious and "Golden", with man longing to return to this paradise on earth in which they happily served the desires of the gods.

However, there are exceptions to these harmonious memories. A prominent departure would be the Hebrew account, which we have in our Bible. The history of this period is recorded in the Old Testament as well as extra-biblical texts [of Second Temple Judaism] in Enoch 1, Book of the Giants, Jasher, the Book of the Maccabees, and the antediluvian Epic of Gilgamesh, among others. These accounts leave us with a history marked by extreme violence, depravity, and open rebellion against the Most High God. The stories center around beings [called Watchers] who descended from Heaven, through the stargate [portal] on Mount Hermon, mating with human women, and begetting a hybrid race of Giants who brought violence, chaos, and corruption, along with advanced knowledge and technology that would play into their evil plans to not only subjugate mankind but experiment with geoengineering -- "genetically modifying men and creatures into perverted reflections of their own likeness" [Alberino]. 

In the favorable and ancient historical accounts, it is obvious the Watchers were worshipped as gods. Their advanced knowledge allowed them to tempt earthly men with the things that could be accomplished [as in building megaliths like the Egyptian pyramids, and even developing nuclear-equivalent weapons]. As Timothy Alberino writes, "This was the true Golden Age of yore. The gods were dwelling among men, imparting forbidden knowledge, corrupting the genetic matrix of life, and leading mankind into open defiance against his Maker -- seizing for themselves the adoration that belonged to Yahweh". 

So, how are we to interpret the call for a "New Golden Age"? Does it raise any warning flags for you? Is the development of Artificial Intelligence at quantum speed going to be the spring board for a new age of gods who might once again subjugate men to their nefarious designs to control this realm called Earth? I know it sounds like a science fiction nightmare; a reinvention of the Terminator hypothesis, but if we're honest with ourselves, I think we instinctively know that God's Enemy, Lucifer, is not going to give up on his revenge against men. And we know that man's pride will always lead him down a path to his own destruction. 

A Golden Age in America sounds enticing, for sure. Man has been seeking it since the fall of Adam. And I know that we're all tired of the machinations of men who only seek their own power and self-interests. Technology has some great things to offer to make our lives better, but we must be discerning and tuned into our God. Does it honor and glorify Him? Does it promote His plan of redemption and reconciliation with Him? Or is it becoming another tool of the devil to turn our focus away from our inheritance in God's Kingdom in Heaven? While this post may sound like the rant of a crazy Christian, I ask that you simply be aware that the promotion of a Golden Age has dramatic historical significance, and we better be careful of where we're headed. "Trust not in your own understanding, but acknowledge God in all your ways, and He will make your path straight". 

Matthew 7:13-14     Enter by the narrow gate. For the way is wide and easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 

 

 

       

 

  

  

Tesla, AI, Stargate, and Man's Race to Destruction

In my previous post, I raised my apprehension regarding the enthusiasm with which our new president and tech billionaires are embracing the "Stargate Initiative". The lure of this project is that it promises unparalleled economic and technological advancements that will [hopefully] allow us to compete with China in using AI technology to affect our military readiness and significant medical breakthroughs, including experimental cancer vaccines. No one seems to be concerned about the possibility of privacy violations from the data retrieval; the exorbitant amount of electricity that will be needed to power these data centers; or God-forbid, the AI dominance that could negatively effect our human workforce, and therefore, the economic future of millions of households worldwide.

In the 14 years that I've been writing this blog, I haven't been shy about putting forth my concerns regarding technological advancement and what I discern are warning signs for mankind. And those concerns haven't abated. Additionally, it's disconcerting that the American public doesn't seem to connect the dots between the expansion in technology, nor see the possibilities of how it could ultimately affect the future of humanity.

Back in 2014, I wrote an article entitled, Was Tesla the Conduit Between Fallen Angels & Our Technology, which has continued to garner the largest response to any post I've written. At the time, Elon Musk was just coming on the scene as the founder and CEO of Tesla Motors. I was shocked to read a quote in which he commented on our obsession with Artificial Intelligence technology, saying, "With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon". I couldn't help but connect that warning with the statement by genius astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who is on record as saying, "The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race". And here we are, just 11 or so years later, and we are going full-steam ahead with the Stargate Initiative, the most ambitious, progressive AI enterprise to date.

But, the primary point I want to make is this: We need to pay attention to the words and history that Nikola Tesla has left us. To some, he was a genius; a Serbian American inventor, engineer, and futurist who wanted to "illuminate the earth"; the man robbed of the title of "Father of Electricity" by his rival, Thomas Edison. To others, he was a dangerous man; a man that believed "In black holes as the most powerful sources of energy and life". He was a man who conducted experiments, trying to discover "what to do in the Universe, so [that] every being is born as Christ, Buddha, or Zoroaster". [Zoroastrianism is a pre-Islamic religion, revealed to man to be a "god" named Ahura Mazda. It is my contention that this entity was a fallen angel].

In an 1899 interview, from his Colorado Springs laboratory, Tesla opened up about his "other-world views" ... that the Light of the Universe filled his six senses; about building a machine, that by vibration, provokes a feeling of bliss; that humans once had real and visible wings. He speaks of being aware, as a child that there was an Energy in the Universe, and of trying to awaken that energy, and figure out how it could influence people. He said, "I hear the thunder from a hundred fifty miles away, and I see colors in the sky that others cannot see. This enlargement of vision and hearing, I had as a child. Later, I consciously developed [it]".

At times, as I read his interview, his words seemed the farcical meanderings of an intellectual eccentric. But then there would be a passage that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck, such as this excerpt: "Life is a rhythm that must be comprehended. I feel the rhythm, and direct on it, and pamper in it. It was very grateful and gave me the knowledge I have". (He speaks of "It" as if it was a person or entity)!  "Knowledge comes from space; our vision is its most perfect set. We have two eyes; the earthly and spiritual. It is recommended that it become one eye. The Universe is alive in all its manifestations, like a thinking animal".  

Knowledge comes from space ... We have spiritual and earthly eyes ... It is recommended that our vision become one eye ... What is he insinuating? Fallen angel knowledge, like what was shared in Enoch 1? And is he alluding to the occultic all-seeing eye? Is anyone else thinking, "This sounds like the Prince of the Air prowling like a lion"? And back to this knowledge that comes from space ... could it be part of the fallen angel technology that has been shared throughout history with mankind -- from the technology that allowed Nimrod to build the tower of Babel; to the branch of knowledge that resulted in the building of the ancient Sphinx; to the occultic knowledge possessed by Hitler and the Nazis; to the modern applications being employed in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Transhumanism? Was Tesla trying to tell us that this knowledge is supernatural and inhuman? What could he possibly have meant by this statement ... "The Universe has only one substance and one supreme energy with an infinite number of manifestations of life. The best thing is that the discovery of a secret nature reveals the other. One cannot hide, they are around us, but we are blind and deaf to them. If we emotionally tie ourselves to them, they come to us themselves".

I invite you to read the entire manuscript of his 1899 interview. It will mystify you and possibly frighten you. But one thing is clear ... it is difficult to categorize him. Is he a hero or a villain? Throughout his life, Tesla asserted that he had indeed discovered a limitless power supply from a source that no one else had knowledge of -- but he never revealed the source. See if you can discern for yourself who or what that source might have been from this quote ... "Ideas came in an uninterrupted stream and the only difficulty I had was to hold them fast. In less than two months I evolved virtually all the types of motors and modifications of the systems which are now identified with my name". 

And now, over a century and a quarter after his death, Elon Musk, the Founder of a company that bears Tesla's name, and one of the foremost entrepreneurs that have benefited from the genius and experiments of Nikola Tesla is still using advanced technology and AI, even though a few years back he implied we "might be going too far". And now you see all the Tech giants promoting their own AI companies, such as ChatGBT, OpenAI, and Musk's own company, xAI. 

Can you consider that the genie was let out of the bottle way back in Nimrod's time? Can you perceive that the "power source" throughout history has been the same source that sought to usurp the throne of God and got kicked out of Heaven? History has shown us that once man agrees to accept that Satanic power source, it becomes a race towards human destruction. The only thing that has ever stopped the total ruination of man has been God. Are we headed towards a quantum leap to that ruination? Tesla believed that there were certain truths we needed to learn in order to be healed in this human existence. Modern man seems to think that the knowledge offered by Artificial Intelligence will "cure what ails us". For what it's worth, I believe that our healing [our survival and our eternity] depends on seeking God's Divine Truth. Any other truth from any other source is derived from self-interest. 

Tesla sought and received "the Light" he believed was the source to energy and light. That theory has led us to the development of technology. But we must not fall into the trap of believing that all technology is created for the advancement of the human race, or created to carry out the will of our Father in Heaven. Jesus came to set the captives free, but it sure looks to me as if we are sending ourselves into captivity with our incessant hunger for more technology.

1 Timothy 4:1    The Holy Spirit has explicitly revealed: At the end of this age, many will depart from the true faith one after another, devoting themselves to spirits of deception and following demon-inspired revelations and theories.