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That does cover my question, thanks. Furthermore, a special thanks for showing me the verse to “come out of her” in a different light. I thought it of it as more of a plea, but now I see how stupid that would be.

Porter, I think I can say that in many ways I began "leaving my first love and falling away" not long after I began my
"christian life".  That didn't mean I lost enthusiasm or interest.  If anything, those grew the further I went.  But both the means and the ends of my "walk" was carnal.  That process was maybe "subtle" and not recognized until I "looked back".  Like you said, by the time I had made a more distinct "decision" to walk away, I certainly did not see myself as one of the good guys.  Far from it.  I saw myself (and was) a miserable failure at "christian living".

Though I was becoming increasingly aware of the twisted contradictions inherent in christian doctrine, and of hypocrisies large and small in "the church" the primary motivation in my own mind for walking away was my own failings.  It made sense to me that, if I was to avoid hypocrisy, it would be better if I no longer made any claim to or effort towards "righteousness".  I sucked at it. 

What really was absolutely NOT subtle was the looking back when I came to believe and seeing the Hand of Sovereign God in absolutely all of it.  I think what preceded that revelation--decades of it--was the "building of the house on sand" and the revelation and it's effects was the actual fall, or at least the major completion of the fall.  I had absolutely no idea that the "coming out of her" was a commandment I'd "obeyed" without even knowing it was a commandment.  We are HIS workmanship.  He is the potter, we are the clay.

Did I cover your question? 

The comment section is like Acts 17. 

God draws whom he will when he will.  For the vast majority this goes over their head, for the few that are drawn it is a hook in their mouth as it was many years ago now with Ray’s paper on tithing for me of all things.  You never know what God will use.   I’m on a few different discussion forums and I use a provocative links to chapter #1 on the lake of fire series.  After all these years I’ve had about five or six people thank me or ask questions out of the tens of thousands who have seen it but that is o.k.

God’s will be done in each life in his timing.  It’s all good!

The vitriol from the comment section of that video is heartbreaking. Thanks for posting the video's and keep it up!

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Luk 12:47-48  And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.


Here again is the many vs the few.  As painful as this life might be it is much better to be 'beaten with few stripes' than many. 


1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:


God has us right where he wants us and whether or not we are to be beaten with many stripes or few stripes God has it all under control.  When I came to learn some of these truths I was always worried about screwing up God's plan for my life through disobedience.  We know that 'nothing can separate us from the love of God' but we also know that our sins are a hinderance and can cause God to hide his face from us.

My own personal revelation was that I wasn't powerful enough to mess up God's plan for my life or my salvation.  The beast within had the hubris to believe it could derail God's plan for me but in reality it could not.  God has us right where he wants us and he will accomplish his good will in us in his timing and not ours.

God, indeed, has us right where he wants us.  We are EXACTLY where we are supposed to be.

Psalm 139:16
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Luk 12:47-48  And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.


Here again is the many vs the few.  As painful as this life might be it is much better to be 'beaten with few stripes' than many. 


1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:


God has us right where he wants us and whether or not we are to be beaten with many stripes or few stripes God has it all under control.  When I came to learn some of these truths I was always worried about screwing up God's plan for my life through disobedience.  We know that 'nothing can separate us from the love of God' but we also know that our sins are a hinderance and can cause God to hide his face from us.

My own personal revelation was that I wasn't powerful enough to mess up God's plan for my life or my salvation.  The beast within had the hubris to believe it could derail God's plan for me but in reality it could not.  God has us right where he wants us and he will accomplish his good will in us in his timing and not ours. 

About 4 years ago I posted this 30 second Bible Truths ad on YouTube and it just passed one million views: https://youtu.be/BQ6bYJjWnvo

The ad can be skipped after 5 seconds, however 40% watch all of it. But 99.9% ignore the ad and move on.

For those that contribute to our YouTube advertising I wanted you to see how your money is spent.

I thank God for bringing me in.  I thank Him for bringing me out.

There's a new song if I've ever heard one, Dave. Remember when you asked if something was holy? Yes, it's holy because it's true, it's also honest, and lovely, it's just, it's pure, and it's of a good report with an A+ signed by Jesus. I think of that all the time.

I have a question: Do you or anyone else know if falling from grace and leaving your first love can be more subtle, where it might be a bit more difficult to identify? It's difficult to imagine a fall that great would go unnoticed by the believer. In all fairness, I didn't know until I looked back and all the memories of it came flooding in. In my case, it was relatively easy to see after thinking about if for a few minutes, but has it been harder to pinpoint for anyone else? There's no right or wrong answers, I'm just very curious.

Yes you are still in that house as long as you call Jesus Lord. But if you don't do what Jesus says, then the salt will lose its flavor and be thrown out with the rest of the flavorless salt.

I'm not sure the idea is to rejoice as you're suffering, but to know that after you have suffered for a little while, you will rejoice. What is “suffering” if not judgment?

Joh 16:20  "I assure you: You will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.

The tables will be turned when it's time for the earth to be judged.

Mat 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

Mat 22:12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

The Kingdom of God is made up of the many called and the few chosen. Everyone who calls Jesus Lord is in that Kingdom, but the Kingdom or REIGN of God is not in everyone that calls Jesus Lord.

I think it says a lot that you are at least aware of some of your flaws. That is in part how judgment works. It's meant to make you sorrowful to lead you to repentance. It's meant to break the spirit within you.