Hello Everybody
I have followed this thread right from the start; it began with reference to the very last part of Ray’s bible study in Mobile
http://bible-truths.com/audio/9-3-06MobileConf.7.mp3 .
On inspection, the study concluded with Ray making reference to the Sermon on the Mount and addressing the sub-topic of becoming angry to the point of harbouring murderous thoughts. Even though a person might not actually commit murder, nevertheless Jesus classifies that as breaking the commandment spiritually.
Quoting Ray, “
if you want to know how you’re supposed to live, read the sermon on the mount, if you’re going to do the will of God”.
After outlining the “stages of anger leading to murder”, Ray went on to say we “
try to cheat God”. Mentioning that a person might never think to have a gun [and think] that if an enemy approached he would NEVER shoot them….however he does have a Rottweiler….. Ray described that as “
fooling oneself, but not fooling God”.
Ray concluded by saying that the carnal mind will devise ways to pretend that it is keeping the “higher commandments” - but it’s NOT.
I have asked myself, exactly what did Ray intend us to learn from his closing remarks? I feel that it all boils down to a matter of trust….how far do we allow ourselves to have utter confidence that God is in charge of every aspect of our lives? Or better put, to what degree is the spirit of God working in us, causing us be desirous and determined to follow what we read in scripture, regarding our opinions and judgments? It is not “normal” for a carnal mind to trust implicitly in an invisible God…but having a Rottweiler as “insurance” is more real to most folk than placing trust in a protecting Spirit, which we cannot see.
It is a matter of conversion, to acknowledge that God is in control, as His word says – including where we may be killed, or die from disease, or from “natural causes”. One thing is inescapable - we all are going to come to the end of this physical life of ours. Sure, nobody wants that to happen “too soon”, but happen it will.
Eccles 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and an appointed time to every purpose under the heaven:
An
appointed time to be born, and an
appointed time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
No matter how we die, it is not going to come as any great surprise to God, who measures our days.
As I “race” toward 79, I am becoming more and more aware that “time is running out” - as it will for each one of us, as we age.
I view and hear of the escalating traumas that this whole world is experiencing, and a heightened level of apprehension will make many folk determined to keep an arsenal – and not just a Rottweiler - to ward off any enemy who might wish to cut short their lives. I read many prognostications of a coming war on our soil…not way off on the other side of the globe…and whether they are entirely accurate with their timing or not is not important. The fact is, preparations are well under way for that expected conflict and misery, which are being revealed by some whistle-blowers - despite all the war-preparations being conducted in secrecy with other governments.
There is/will be propaganda which will cause folk to become “more than a little anxious” and it will test the faith/confidence of many, including those of us who claim we believe that God is the supreme authority, despite the fact that He is invisible - not like an AK47 assault rifle, or a Rottweiler.
This is what I feel Ray was driving at. When the time comes and our nations are on a war-footing, will we be looking towards physical defences, or will we be faithful toward the One we claim to believe in and trust? Even though we might be killed before we live out an expected life-span, God has the power to resurrect and use His chosen ones in the next phase of His grand plan for humanity? God knows who are included in that group.
When we read of the experiences documented in scripture of how God protected some and yet others were allowed to be killed, can we accept that it is God who “calls the shots”? We are not to be the ones firing them.
Last night I was violently ill (cause undetermined, but suspect food poison?) and I had to accept the fact that I could choke on my own vomit, if last night were to be my final moments. Thoughts of what might be “up ahead on the world scene” were irrelevant; the realty of my predicament completely displaced them. Now that I have recovered, thankfully, I can once again agonise over the brutality I hear on the news and know that “things must run their course”. Satan has his “allocated time span”. And unconverted men will do awful things.
In my role as volunteer towards helping people at the end of their life, where not one of them has a clue about what lies ahead for them (nor would they be interested in asking), I hear tell that some are totally convinced that a “mate “who has died some time ago has “promised to keep a place in paradise for them, so they can enjoy being together again”….this fantasy is what “keeps them going” through all their pain and misery.
What gratitude they will be able to feel, when “all is revealed” and all their present aspirations will be shown to be deceit.
We, on the other hand, have been blessed to have the outline now of what God will do; we don’t rely on fables.
It’s a matter of the strength of Jesus’ faith given to us, to encourage us as we strive to see things from God’s point of view; that is what “keeps us going”, as it did for the apostle Paul.
This thread has taken a few twists and turns from how it began, but has provided an opportunity to discuss and weigh up the scriptural points raised. It is not an easy thing to get to the heart of the Sermon on the Mount and be able to comprehend fully the spiritual level of the law.
When it comes to whether or not I would physically intervene in a threatening confrontation is a decision I hope I never have to make.
Ray said the same kind of thing - quote: “
I suppose you can have ups and downs – I haven’t had any real downs since God has let me have dominion over sin, rather than sin have dominion over me…..I have not gone “down in the doldrums” and spiritually thought “woe is me” - I just haven’t and I hope I never do”.
This was before Ray underwent the last agonising years suffering from cancer. He remained steadfast to the end, setting an example. Yes, he tried certain treatment to extend his life, so that he could and did serve the brethren as long as he could and God would let him.
Ray received many nasty emails and in refuting the errors contained in them, he always said he did not hate the detractors….his job, he felt, was to expose them. It would have been quite easy to have built up some hatred, and to have succumbed to that sin - but the truth, which he shared with us, gave him the ability to see through their antagonism and to know, as Ray wrote finally – see Why Does God Love Us - that God will convert and embrace them all - as part of His family….however long that may take.
That’s the vision I ask for to keep me focused. Colin