Sinners Are Blind By Default

Sinners are blind by default. That is not a degrogarory remark. It's a sad one. When you are talking to a  person who is not a Christian you are talking to someone who is categorically BLIND. They cannot "see" (perceive or understand) ANYTHING regarding ANY message of the gospel. I can say that because I too, long ago, was blind to the things pertaining to GOD and ETERNAL LIFE. Borrowing those famous lyrics from the song Amazing Grace'

"Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, WAS BLIND but now I see."

How do you explain the sun to someone who can't see? If no one has ever seen the sun, then they don't know what you're talking about. All they know is darkness, and so even their assessment of the darkness, to them, it makes more sense than your confession of the Light. Regarding this conversation (as one with sight) I need to be patient. I need to have empathy. I also need to be prayerful because it means I am actually participating with God in helping and leading the blind to see.  2 Corinthians 4:4 says, "The god of this world (Satan) has blined the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of Christ WHO IS THE IMAGE OF GOD." So when I speak or you speak the gospel to your family, your cousins, your friends, whoever, and YOU don't understand why they don't get what is easily and clearly is understood (seen) by you, it's because they have been blinded by an unforseen enemy (the god of this world!) The enemy is keeping them from SEEING/UNDERSTANDING Jesus/WORD/gospel. REMEMBER John 1:4 testifes Jesus WAS THE WORD MADE FLESH. 

Paul says, 2 Corinthians 4:5.. "For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as LORD, with ourselves as your servants for HIS sake." I hear so often (from the blind), "Don't tell me what to do." But we, as those with sight who were once in those same shoes, aren't trying to usurp authority over you, or tell you how to live your life. We are simply passing along the WORD OF LIFE (Jesus), His teachings as a helpful guide, as a  map if you will, hoping it will bring peace to you the way it did for us. IT'S NEVER ABOUT CONTROL OR POINTING FINGERS (who am I to judge when I was once blind), it's just sharing good news of how to find your way to see the Light and let you see a path before you you never knew existed.

When we speak the WORD of knowledge and direction, we're not speaking law, condemnation, or guilt. Hell or consequences are never brought up unless it's a part of what happens WHEN YOU REJECT JESUS. As I've said before, the bottom line is, it's not the sins that condemn you in the end, I've committed many, some too embarassing to bring out into the open, but I've been excused of them, cleared of them, washed clean of them! How? 

Did I do them? Yep. Does Jesus know about them? Yep. Every detail? Yep. And so have you .. we all have a transgression list, some miles long. So what's the difference between me and an unbeliever? NOT THE SIN, it's unbelief! If you stand in unbelief, you're condemned already says John 3:18, "but whoever does not believe is condemned already because they have not believed in the son of GOD" and followed up by two other verses backing is John 16: 8-9 AND Mark 16:16. I would encourage anyone to open a Bible and look at just those passages. Trusting in Jesus leads to salvation w/o judgment or condemnation. Jesus died ONCE on a cross  for the sins of the world (yours included), but He cannot make you belief it. Your sins are washed away, nailed to the cross, now believe it to be saved. He made a way, He's the door. Go through Him.

Making Jesus the centerpiece, sharing His Word is, a Christians call. It comes easy! It's like this: Say you are on the 22 mile hiking trail on one of the most dangerous trails known to man.. the Kalalau Trail in Hawaii. Another hiker, a complete stranger passes you and turns "off the path" headed in the direction of Crawlers Ledge. You see this hiker making a wrong turn because you've done it before too.  He's headed for an area notoriously narrow, a crumbly section that leaves no room for error. So many die there. Though this guy is a stranger to you, and you don't even know his name, still, don't you feel an urgency or at least a nudge to yell out something to the effect of, "Hey, hey you. You're off the path and headed for Crawlers edge. You're in danger. Don't go that way-you're liable to slip off and die. Can you see the warning signs everywhere? Did you not see them? I would avoid THAT PATH and turn to the safest one. Let me point  it out for you." Would you not offer a betterway? A safee way?? 

Though he's a compete stranger, wouldn't you speak up? That's the Christian to the unbeliever. I've seen the danger. I've been in danger. I was on the wrong path too but someone called to me, "You're on the wrong path, turn around" even pointed me lovingly in the right direction. I listened, took the right path and was saved from possible (spiritual) death.

2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness" (from Genesis 1:3) has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Simply, the very LIGHT at the beginning of creation is comparable to the spiritual awakening GOD performs inside A BELIEVER, replacing inner darkness (blindness) with TRUTH! The same creative Omnipotent power required to speak the physical universe into existence is required to save the human soul and there is only ONE who fits that bill .. Jesus Christ. No one else ever died for you, cared about you, or loves you like the One calling out you're heading the wrong way. Remember, Paul warned that Satan (the god of this world/planet) on which we live has blinded THE MINDS of unbelievers so that they just can't see the truth. As a believer whose eyes have been restored to see truth is now telling you the divine antidote is JESUS who shatters that satanic blindnesses by giving spiritual perception, allowing a person to truly know and recognize God's supreme worth and beauty. HIS SAVING GRACE!

Sharing the gospel is the means by which God gives people the abilty TO SEE HIM. So sight, seeing, breaking through blindness, is a gift and a grace that comes by giving and sharing the gospel of Truth. God wants to use believers to bring light into the world because He channels His goodness through us as instruments in a darkpace. And as long as I have breath I'll keep lifting the veil from the eyes of those I perceive as taking the same path I did.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

 

I've Done Horrible Things- I Can't Be Saved.

Have you ever heard it said, "I've done horrible things. I can't be saved. God could never forgive the _______ I've done."

I've heard it. More than once. Over the years more than a dozen times. Have you ever thought this about yourself or someone you know?  In this blog I hope to assure anyone [by "anyone" I'm including the most vile, depraved, repulsive, degenerate human beings labled by our society] that no sin is greater than God's love. To me, this is one of the most important truths in Scripture because shame can make a person believe they are beyond God's reach when the very opposite is true.

A person can commit something so terrible that they can hardly bear to look at themselves afterward. They may think, “If people knew what I had done, they would never forgive me. How could God possibly forgive me?” Shame says, “What you did is so terrible that you are now beyond redemption.” But the Gospel says something very different: your sin can be enormous without God's mercy being insufficient. The Bible does not minimize terrible sin. God doesn't say, “It wasn't that bad.” Instead, He says that His grace is greater than sin. Paul wrote, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).

Think about that wording: where sin did abound—>where sin became plentiful, overwhelming, seemingly impossible to overcome—> grace did much more abound. MUCH MORE  And Paul himself is a remarkable example. Before becoming an apostle, Paul violently persecuted Christians. He imprisoned them and participated in their persecution. He even called himself the “chief” of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). And what did Christ do with him? He didn't say, “You have gone too far.” He redeemed him and gave him a purpose!

There is also David. David not only committed adultery with Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, impregnant her, then arranged circumstances that resulted in a Uriah's death to hide his sin! He murdered an innocent man after stealing that mans wife. His sin was extraordinarily serious. Yet when David genuinely repented he could still cry out to God: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness”,  (Psalm 51:1) Notice David didn't say, “My sin isn't really that bad.” He knew exactly how terrible it was. He went toward God with his shame rather than running away from God because of it. And that's the distinction I think is so beautiful. Conviction says: “I have done something terribly wrong. I need God.” Shame says: “I have done something terribly wrong. Therefore God could never want me.”  The first can lead you back to God. The second can drive you away from Him.

Sin can still have it's consequences in our lives when we sin with the body. Example, the adulterous affair between David and Bathsheba, resulted in the death of the child from their unlawful union. Several other David's actions weakened his reputation and authority as King which later contributed to rebellions against his crown. While God forgave David AFTER HE REPENTED, the earthly consequences and generational strife within his family remained.

The same consequences of sin can happen to us even AFTER WE REPENT. Forgiveness removes the spiritual guilt, but we still live with the physical wreckage of our past choices.

Examples:

1. adulterous relationships (maybe a husband discovers his wifes betrayal and she's murdered by him).

2. abortions (maybe injury/disease/or even deep guilt manifest later in life to affect reproductive organs or mental stability).

3. pedophilia (maybe 25-30 years later the offense is discovered and your career and reputation is destroyed through public humiliation)

4. homosexuaity (maybe this sin results in aids or a veneral disease that plagues your immune system for the remainder of your life)

5. rapists (maybe found guilty, convicted, you're sent to prison where you now become the victim of the same horrible, painful rape you inflicted)

Realize, God's forgiveness isn't based upon the atrocity. Sin is sin regardless of how we as humans define or measure transgressions. It is based upon God's mercy being greater!

That's why Jesus' invitation is so astonishing. He promises::

“Him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37) IN NO WISE, NOT EVER, AT NO TIME! Regardless of what you've done. Jesus will forgive your sin. He'll wipe it away off your slate forever if you approach Him in prayer, repent, turn from it, and seek His ways. Follow. (Daniel 9:9).

Jesus DIDN'T SAY..

Not “unless your sin is particularly horrible.”

Not “unless you've done it too many times.”

Not “unless you're too ashamed to come.”

He said, “Him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.” --->PERIOD! The depth of your sin is inconsequential.

That doesn't mean there are no consequences for sin, and genuine repentance isn't merely saying “I'm sorry” while deliberately continuing in the same wrongdoing. Forgiveness also doesn't necessarily erase the earthly consequences of what happened as I said. But the size of the sin does not make the blood of Christ too small to cover it. That's my point.

Perhaps the simplest way to say it is: There is no sin so deep that a genuinely repentant person can fall beyond the reach of God's grace. And sometimes the person who feels the most unworthy of forgiveness is precisely the person who most needs to hear Christ saying: “Come to Me.”

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

 

"What I would not do, that I DO." (Romans 7:15-19)

 

-The internal struggle inside a Christian-

(the mind wants to obey but the body has other plans)

Have you ever asked yourself, "how does ongoing confession of sin work in a believers life?" Have you ever wondered, " Jesus died for past sins. What if some temptations are so strong I give in, does that mean I lose favor with God? Is my salvation in jeapordy because I sinned? Today will be two parts in one blog because I feel they need to be understood back to back rather than dividing them into two separate blogs posted on two separate days. This will require a longer reading schedule on your part. If it seems like too much reading, then stop and come back later to finish even if that means tomorrow.

Scripture gives a fairly clear picture of this subject, and there is an important distinction between Christ’s finished work, ongoing confession, and deliberately continuing in sin. Keep those three key points in mind as you read in context how Scripture handles a Christian who commits sin. All answers will be answered with the WORD of God. No opinions are spoken here.

1. Jesus' death does not merely cover your sins up to the day you believed. The New Testament does not present Jesus as paying only for the sins you committed before conversion. Hebrews says: “By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14 And Romans 8:1 says: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” When a person trusts in Christ, his standing before God rests on Christ's righteousness and sacrifice, not on his ability to maintain a sinless record afterward. That's why John can say: “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). Notice the assumption: believers can sin after coming to Christ. And when they do, Christ is their advocate.

2. Then why does Scripture tell believers to confess their sins? 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession isn't informing God of something He didn't know. It's agreeing with God about our sin and turning toward Him rather than hiding from Him. A believer who sins doesn't need to wonder, “Did Jesus' blood stop covering me?” Instead: “Father, I sinned. What I did was wrong. I don't want to hide it or justify it. Please forgive me and change me.”

And Scripture says God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse!

3. What if the temptation was extremely strong and you actually gave in? What then? This is where I think Scripture gives tremendous hope. Peter gives a picture of someone who really did fail under severe pressure. He denied Jesus three times. Jesus already knew Peter would fall. Yet Jesus told him beforehand: “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren"  (Luke 22:32). Peter's failure was terrible. But Jesus did not abandon him. After the resurrection, Jesus specifically went looking for Peter and restored him (John 21:15–19). Paul describes the Christian struggle this way: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Romans 7:19). And then he cries: “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (have you ever felt like Paul did when trying to overcome a particular son or vice?) His answer isn't, “I need to try harder so God will accept me.” It's: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” — Romans 7:25

4. Does repeatedly falling into a sin mean you've lost God's favor? I've been asked this more than once, but not necessarily—and Scripture strongly warns us against thinking that way. There is a difference between: “I hate this sin. I keep struggling with it. Sometimes I fall. I confess it and want freedom.” and “I know this is rebellion against God, but I don't care. I intend to continue in it and have no desire to repent.” The first describes the kind of struggle Scripture itself acknowledges in believers. The second is a serious warning sign because it represents a heart that is refusing God's rule. But even when you fall, the answer isn't to run away from God. It's to run toward Him!  Hebrews 4:15-16 says that Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses and then tells believers: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace.” That's remarkable!!  Because you are weak, you are invited to the throne of grace—not told to stay away until you've cleaned yourself up.

5. God's discipline is different from God's rejection. A believer can sin and experience God's displeasure and discipline without being cast out of God's family. Hebrews 12:6 says: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.” That's actually a statement of God's fatherly love. AND I'VE EXPERIENCED IT. Think of a child who disobeys his father. The father's correction doesn't mean, “You are no longer my child. ”Likewise, God's correction of His children is intended to restore them. David is a powerful example. After his grievous sin with Bathsheba, David didn't say, “I have sinned, therefore God can never receive me again.” He went to God in repentance: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10)

6. But what about “deliberate sin”? THIS WE REALLY NEED TO GRASP. Hebrews 10:26 can sound frightening: “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” This passage isn't teaching that one particularly strong temptation you eventually succumb to means Jesus' sacrifice no longer covers you.

The context is much more serious: it is describing turning away from Christ and repudiating His sacrifice, rather than the ordinary believer who falls into sin and comes back to God in repentance. That's an important distinction. A Christian saying, “Lord, I hate what I did. I fell again. Please forgive me and help me” is not the same thing as someone saying, “I reject Christ and don't want Him.”

7. One of the greatest promises is 1 John 2:1 I think this verse gets right to the heart of our question: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Notice both sides. God doesn't say: “Sin doesn't matter.” He says: “Don't sin.” But He also doesn't say: “If you sin, you're finished.” He says: “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate.” That's the gospel!  The goal of the Christian life isn't: “I must become good enough that God will continue to love me.” It's:

“Because God has loved me and given Himself for me, I want to walk with Him, turn from sin, and become increasingly like Christ.” And one more thing

If you're wondering about  this because there is a particular temptation that you keep falling into, I would not conclude from the fact that you fell that God has withdrawn His love from you. Confess it. Get back up. Come to Christ again. Don't hide. Proverbs 24:16 says: “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.” And Romans 8:38–39 gives perhaps the strongest assurance of all: nothing in creation can separate those who are in Christ from the love of God.

The Christian life isn't a story of never falling. It's a story of belonging to Christ, getting back up, and continuing to walk with Him by grace.

-------------------------------------------------------

PART TWO

Do you keep falling into a particular sin even though you're trying not to but sin's grip keeps winning? What Im describing is very close to the posture Scripture calls us toward: a heart that wants God, takes sin seriously, grieves when it falls, confesses it, and keeps turning back toward Him. Sound familar? Well there's one distinction I wanted to write and expand on that may bring you even more peace. You don't have to achieve perfection in order to be pleasing to God. Do you understand that? Your desire for holiness is good, but your acceptance before God isn't based on how perfectly you perform! It rests on Christ. Listen closely. Paul could say: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after” (Philippians 3:12). Paul wanted holiness desperately, yet he openly acknowledged that he had not already attained perfection And Scripture says, “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

God sees the difference between a heart that loves Him and hates its sin and a heart that has simply decided it doesn't care about Him. In my own weaknesses I have thought many times, “I never want to disappoint GOD” and that thought is important. WHY? If you've ever felt that way too, I'd encourage you to let that desire mature from fear of disappointing God into love for God. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments" ( John 14:15). Obedience is supposed to flow from love. And when you fail, don't let shame convince you that you need to stay away from God until you're worthy to approach Him. That's precisely when you should go to Him. Scriptures tellS us, “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Psalm 51:17).

There is something beautiful here: If you sorrow over sin it can be evidence that your heart is turned toward God. A person who genuinely doesn't care about God generally isn't grieved that he has offended Him. So keep pursuing holiness. Fight temptation. Confess quickly when you fall. Make whatever changes are necessary to avoid returning to the same sin. Ask God for strength. And when you fail, don't make your failure bigger than Christ's grace! You can hold these two truths together:

“I want to be holy because I love God.” and “When I fail, Christ is still my Advocate.” Both are biblical! And perhaps most importantly, remember this: “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). God isn't finished with you!! The fact that you aren't perfect today doesn't mean you're on the wrong path. Sanctification is a walk. Keep walking. I hope these scriptures have helped clarify any doubts you may have had up to now considering your standing with Christ as you fight the good fight of faith Timothy describes in his 1st book Chapter 6 verse 12 -- describing the Christian life as an active, enduring struggle for spiritual truth, perserverance, and eternal life.

Until He Comes,

-Pat- 

Do Our Pets Go To Heaven?

Do Our Pets Go To Heaven? How many times have I been asked that question. Maybe you have too.  The love we have for our pets is a special bond which runs deeper than words can truly capture. They transform from mere pets into heartbeat-bound members of our family. I've answered that question from friends before who have sought my opinion. Today I want to present my case of why I believe our pets will be reunited with us once again. And while scripture does not give a direct "yes" or "no" about our specific animal companions, it does share several passages about animals, creation, and the future which may help you form an opinion of your own.

There are many passages about animals in eternity, I'll cover some of them and feel free to look them up yourself. 

1. Isaiah 11:6–9 and 65:25: These verses describe a future peaceful world—often called the New Earth—where animals like wolves, lambs, leopards, and lions live together in complete harmony without hurting one another. 

2. Revelation 19:11: The apostle John sees a white horse in heaven Jesus is riding when He returns, showing that animals can be part of heavenly visions.

3. Romans 8:20–21: This passage says that all of God's creation was subjected to decay and eagerly looks forward to being set free from death one day. FREE FROM DEATH. Interesting!

4. Ecclesiastes 3:19–21: The writer notes that humans and animals share the same physical breath and physical death, and asks the honest question of whether an animal's spirit goes downward into the earth or upward.

The bottom line is, God cares for animals. The Bible says God notices when a small sparrow falls to the ground (Matthew 10:29)--compassion -- and says God saves both humans and animals (Psalm 36:6). He did on the ark so the species of every kind could live with man. Many theologians point out that heaven is a place of ultimate joy and perfection. While scripture leaves the exact details unclear, we can trust that God is loving, fair, and good.  There is a well-known verse in the King James Version of the Bible that says, “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel” (Proverbs 12:10). It's evident God distinguishes those who love his creation-ALL creation-in this verse eferring to animals from those who don't. Modern translations of Proverbs 12:10 update the language slightly, phrasing it as: "The righteous care for the needs of their animals..." (NIV)"The godly care for their animals..." (NLT)"A righteous man cares about his animal’s health..." (CSB) Loving and caring for animals is important, thus, God loves and cares about animals too.

Other Places Where the Bible Commands Care for Animals as another referrence? The Bible contains several other laws and principles about treating "beasts" and animals humanely:

**Sabbath Rest: In Exodus 23:12, God commands a day of rest specifically so that work animals—like oxen and donkeys—can rest and be refreshed.

**Helping Strays: Exodus 23:4 states that even if an animal belongs to your enemy, if you see it wandering off or struggling under a heavy load, you are required to stop and help it.

**Fair Work Practices: Deuteronomy 25:4 says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," meaning an animal should be allowed to eat while it works. This is why many people believe that loving and caring deeply for a pet aligns directly with God's character.

There is a fascinating law in the Bible that links showing mercy to animals with a promise of a long life. I know of everal dog rescuers here where I live and where I've adopted my dogs from, as well as rescuers in Puerto Rico I'm connected to. These people seem to have extraordinary strength, endurance, patience, and health! Even  Deuteronomy 22:6–7, which is a unique and very specific commandment about wildlife conservation and compassion. The verse states:"If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, whether in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young. You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life."

Why is this commandment so significant?An Explicit Promise of Long Life: There are only a couple of places in the entire Bible where God explicitly promises a "long life" for keeping a specific law (the other famous one being the commandment to honor your father and mother). The fact that God attaches this major blessing to a tiny act of mercy toward a bird highlights how highly He values the humane treatment of his creation. The principle behind the law is a mix of compassion and conservation. By leaving the mother bird alive, you ensure she can go on to live, heal, and raise future generations of birds. It shows a beautiful glimpse into God's heart—that even the smallest wild creature matters to Him, and He promises to bless the lives of people who treat them with respect.

Are there animals in heaven? Are they important to God?

Isaiah 11: 6-9 describes wolves and lions living harmlessly with lambs and calves.

Revelation 19:11 depicts Christ returning from heaven on a white horse

2 Kings 2-11 describes Elijah being taken up with horses of fire

Numbers 22: 21-35 The Lord used and spoke through a donkey.

In closing, it is obvious animals INCLUDING OUR PETS/dogs/cats/horses  etc. are deeply important to God BECAUSE HE CREATED THEM for us with care. He sustains their lives and includes them in His divine plans. Do you realize during creation GOD looked at the animals and explcitly declared them "good" BEFORE humans were ever created? God actively feeds, provides for, and watches over every wild creature and how we treat them (and our pets.) Scriptural imagery of the future kingdom features animals living in perfect peace, proving they have a lasting place in His design. I do not know of any earthly dad not being affected by their chid crying over a deseased pet. Dad's want to fix it! How much more our heavenily Father that has the power to restore pets back to His children. Personally, Iam looking forward to reuniting with the cats and dogs I have had stewardship over while on earth.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

 

The Power Of Your Tongue

 

   verse from Proverbs 18:21:

  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

What a powerful verse! There is so much we can dissect from those 20 words. The book of Proverbs is one of my favorites books because wisdom and understanding flow there by way of life lessons. It's the book that can say so much with so little words. Puzzles I love putting together. At first glance, Proverbs 18:21 can sound almost mystical—as though saying something automatically makes it happen. That isn't what Scripture is teaching. The deeper meaning is about the enormous power our words have to bring about life or destruction through what they communicate, influence, encourage, authorize, and set in motion. The book of James also cautions us in the 3rd chapter verses 1-12 warning that the tongue, though the littlest member of the body is like a "fire set on hell" "a world of iniquity" "defiles the whole body" "sets on hell the course of nature" "an unruly evil" "full  of deadly poison" "we bless with it and curse with it" and finally, " no man can tame it." (KJV) pointing out the heavy responsiblity we have in how and what we speak to each other. Not only is this necessary information for every Christian believer but it also can be valuable for anyone outside of faith. I want to go through this particular verse and reveal what I've gleaned from it. So if you have a few minutes and don't mind a longer blog, I will expound.

 

What does it mean to have the POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH in our tongue? That sounds terrifying in a way from the power alone then add what the book of James adds and you realize how crucial this subject is. Think about what the tongue can actually do. Your tongue cannot physically create a tree, heal a broken bone, or cause someone to die merely because you spoke words. But your words can change the course of a person's life.

Think about these words: “You are worthless. You'll never amount to anything.” A child may hear that repeatedly and eventually believe it. Those words can produce shame, hopelessness, insecurity, and destructive behavior. Now compare: “You made a mistake, but you can get back up. You are not a failure.” Those words can produce courage, hope, repentance, and perseverance. The circumstances may be identical—but the words spoken into the situation can influence what happens next.

 

That's the “power” of the tongue.  But there is an even deeper spiritual dimension. The Bible repeatedly connects words with the heart. Jesus said: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). In other words, your tongue is revealing what is inside you. And this is where Proverbs 18:21 becomes particularly profound. Your words aren't merely sounds. They can reveal several things .. faith or unbelief, wisdom or foolishness, love or hatred, truth or deception, encouragement or condemnation, blessing or cursing, repentance or rebellion. That's not all. Your words can lead you and others toward corresponding actions.

Consider gossip for instance. Someone says:

“Did you hear what she did?”

Another person repeats it.

Another adds something.

Soon a person's reputation is destroyed—even though the original statement may have been false. The tongue produced destruction.

Now consider someone saying ..

“Let's not assume the worst about her. We don't know the whole story.” That tongue stopped destruction. THAT'S LIFE AND DEATH IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE! 

 

Scripture takes this VERY seriously.  James gives us perhaps the clearest explanation. He compares the tongue to a small fire: “Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” (James 3:5).

Think about that. A tiny spark can eventually burn an entire forest. So can a few words can start something enormously destructive. One lie can destroy a marriage. One accusation can destroy someone's reputation. One cruel sentence can remain in someone's memory for fifty years. One false teaching can lead thousands of people away from truth.But the reverse is also true because one word of encouragement can keep someone from giving up. One confession can restore a relationship. One testimony can lead someone toward Christ. One proclamation of God's truth can change someone's eternity. That's the astonishing power of the tongue!  Now look at it from the perspective of God ..

 

There is an even deeper connection. God Himself creates through His WORD. Genesis repeatedly says: “And God said…”And then something happened. “Let there be light.” And there was light. But here's an important distinction: God's words have creative power because He is God. We are not little gods whose words magically create reality. That's a very important boundary. We don't speak something into existence simply because we said it. Instead, our words have power because God created human beings with the ability to communicate, influence, teach, persuade, bless, deceive, encourage, and destroy.

 

Now let's look at the last words of verse 21. “They that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” This part is REALLY important. Proverbs doesn't merely say: “Words have consequences for other people.” It says you will eat the fruit of your own tongue! In simple language: What you continually speak can eventually become part of the life you are living. Suppose someone constantly says: “Nobody can be trusted.” They may eventually become suspicious of everyone. They push people away. Relationships deteriorate. Then they say: “See? Nobody can be trusted.” They created with their words .. therefore they are eating the fruit of their own words! 

Or another example, someone continually speaks hatred, bitterness, resentment and anger. Those words reinforce the condition of their own heart. But someone who continually speaks truth, gratitude, forgiveness, wisdom and encouragement can cultivate a very different kind of life.

The mouth plants seeds.

Life eventually produces fruit. See how it works?

 

Finally, just realize there is something deeper in the verses in book of Proverbs . It isn't merely saying, “Don't say mean things.” It is showing us how extraordinarily consequential our words can be. One thing I especially love about today's blog is knowing:

Your tongue can become a tool in God's hands.

You can speak truth to someone who is discouraged.

You can speak forgiveness when someone expects condemnation.

You can speak Scripture when someone is confused.

You can speak hope when someone feels hopeless.

And sometimes, one sentence spoken at exactly the right moment can stay with a person for the rest of their life. Again, that's the “life” in the power of the tongue. 

Small instrument. Enormous consequences.

I love digging into Proverbs! I want to understand what God is really showing us underneath the words. I hope someone sees this too.

 

Until He comes,

-Pat-

 

 

 

Explaining Matthew 7 One More Time

 

I was asked by a reader to explain in more understandable details what and why many on judgment day will be told by Jesus that He never knew them and they can't enter heaven afterall.

I will do my best.

In my opinion, the scariest words Jesus ever said are, "I never knew you." You can find His words in Matthew 7: 21-23. These might be the most terrifying words that Jesus ever spoke and here's why ..

He wasn't talking to atheists!

He wasn't talking to pagans!

He was talking to peope who CLAIMED HIS NAME, CALLED HIM LORD, and were confident they belonged to Him. 

Now, before anyone says, " no no He was only talking to the Pharisees and people like them."

No, no He was not. Matthew 7 is part of the sermon on the mount. Jesus was speaking to the crowds following Him and to His disciples. He didn't say, "some religious leaders will say to me"... He said, "MANY will say to me." This is a loving warning to many (anyone) who claim to know Jesus without surrendering to Him. Many people say they know Jesus by saying He was God's Son, a prophet, a good man, someone who did appear in biblical times. They "think" that's knowing Him, by having knowledge He was real once.

Let me be clear because this is where people get confused.

KNOWING JESUS IS NOT about working your way into heaven. Scripture is clear--we are SAVED BY GRACE ALONE, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Works OR  knowing of Him does not save us IE: being good, perfect church attendance, moral living, helping others, charity, volunteering, donating money, tithing, being a law abiding citizen, are examples of works that do not earn a right into heaven. Scripture is just as clear about this .. saving faith is never alone. Catch this:

REAL FAITH produces repentance.

REAL FAITH produces obedience.

REAL FAITH produces transformation!

NOT PERFECTION, BUT DIRECTION.

Jesus isn't rejecting those people because they didn't do enough good  things. He's rejecting them because they used His Name without ever truly submitting their lives to Him. They wanted the "power" provided in His Name, not repentance. They wanted the "benefits" promised to followers, not obedience. They wanted salvation and a guarantee of eternal life in heaven, not surrender. And that's why Jesus is warning when He said many will hear, "I never knew you." NOT, "I knew you and you messed up." But instead, He's saying, "you knew Me, you spoke My Name, but you never really walked with me."

This isn't about performance .. we can't "work" our way into heaven no matter what good we do. This is and always has been about RELATIONSHIP. This is about whether your faith is real. Cultural Christiany is comfortable. It talks about Jesus without following Him. It wants forgiveness without transformation. BUT JESUS DOESN'T WANT FANS, HE WANTS FOLLOWERS! His words aren't meant to scare you, they are meant to wake you up because Jesus wants to know you as one of His but He won't be reduced to a label or prayer you once prayed during an altar call. DO YOU KNOW HIM? DO YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM? The last thing you'll want to hear when the book of Life is opened, is silence. You may look up and ask, "but what about me? Where's my name? I told others about you. I went to church nearly every Sunday. I dropped money in the collection plate. I wore a cross around my neck to show others I was a Christian." He will answer, "I never knew you." Knowing "OF" Jesus is not the same thing as KNOWING HIM.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

Four kinds of Christians JESUS SAID Would Not Enter The Kingdom

 

Jesus gave a warning to people who label themselves Christians

The most dangerous word in the churches today is the word SAVED. Millions believe one altar call prayer, the "sinner's prayer,"  has sealed their eternity, but Jesus told us 4 stories that shatter that illusion. Listen closely and take heed if this fits. This was Jesus speaking. Not my opinions. Four kinds of people who thought they were in and found out they weren't.  It's time to search ourselves as 2 Corinthians says, 'Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith." It's time to check our own spiritual standing.

#1 The man who wanted heaven but kept his treasure. A rich young ruler knelt before Jesus asking Him how he could inherit eternal life. He told Jesus he had kept every commandment there was to keep since childhood, He was moral, sincere, desperate. Jesus looked at him with love and called him to sell everything he had and to come, follow Him. The rich man actually walked away grieving. By the man GRIEVING shows us the reason he walked away. Its shows us the actual condition of his heart. Understand,  why is there a scripture that says, "It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God" said Jesus in (Matthew 19:24)? But it wasn't that the man was rich or possessed an abundance. Rich people can get into heaven too. The warning is: The man was sorrowful because keeping his riches meant more to him physically than the spiritual condition of his soul. Jesus said it to reveal the mans true intentions. It's very difficult for wealthy people to rely on God instead of their money. You can't want heaven and still walk away from it if your hands are too full of the world. This is the message.

#2 The workers who had power but no relationship. On judgment Day these will stand before Jesus and say, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy Name? And in Your Name cast out many devils, and in Your Name done many wonderful works?" (Matthew 7: 21-23) PAY ATTENTION! "These" are not atheists. These are miracle-working, sermon-preaching CHRISTIANS and Jesus will answer with the most terrifying sentence in scripture .. "I never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity." Not "you lost your salvation." He'll say, "I NEVER KNEW YOU." Why?? You can do God's work and be a complete stranger to GOD'S heart. Jesus is going to reject people at the final judgment who "claim" to follow Him but do not have a real, personal relationship with Him. The warning is: most assuredly because these CHRISTIANS kept practicing deliberate, habitual sin, lived in rebellion against GOD'S moral law and fake righteousness while their hearts remained far from GOD.

#3 The "branches" (CHRISTIANS) that were connected to the Vine (Jesus)- "I am the Vine you are the branches. IF you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit"(John 15:5) THESE DID NOT BEAR FRUIT, they were "fruitless." Scriptures goes on, "Every branch in Me that doesn't bear fruit, He takes away" (verse 2). Notice, the branch WAS IN THE VINE, connected, looking alive, appearing real, healthy .. the CHRISTIAN IN JESUS singing songs, attending church, praying but producing nothing. Lip-service. You see, the warning is:
 true faith shows up in CHANGED BEHAVIOR. That's the "fruit." And changed behavior manifests a true  life and relationship with the Lord. Connection without transformation cut down and thrown into the fire (John 15:6).

#4 The guest who got in AND got thrown out.  Let's first establish the guest. A guest is someone who receives an invitation. The King (represents Jesus) walked into His own wedding feast and found a man without a "wedding garment." This is important. The man was indeed invited (as we have all been invited to come to Jesus) but the point is, he came on his own terms (represented by his own clothing and not a wedding garment). He tried to enter in and be a part of salvation without the wedding garment of what the King provided. All saints who go through THE DOOR-Jesus in life ("I AM THE WAY") were present and all dressed in pure white linen robes, representing being clothed in the purity and sinless righteousness of Jesus (Revelation 19:8) the warning is: this man had on what is considered filthy rags.. IE: his own human attempt to get to heaven with a facade of self-righteousness, another religion, philosophy or belief system, his own efforts, moral goodness, charitable works, or whatever. The King then orders his servants to "bind the man hand and foot and throw him nto outer darkness." Note: Being in the building, the room, the Church, the wedding hall is not the same as being dressed for the wedding!

If any of this hits close to home, that's not condemnation. That's mercy knocking. Did it wake you up? You can change course. Don't let the altar prayer you prayed 10 years ago remain stagnant. Are you producing fruit? Are you changing from the inside out? It's past time to start growing, maturing, and bearing fruit. Time grows shorter and shorter with each day that passes. You're not getting any younger! For a list of the fruits your life should be producing refer to Galatians 5:22-23 in your Bible If you don't have a Bible, ask Google!

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

A Destructive Religion To Our Own Transgressions

 

-an historical reckoning-

There was an interview on social media (VIA You Tube) where a woman of a certain Abrahamic "religion" (you can guess which one) being born of the lineage of Ishmael was speaking. Only her eyes were visible behind the black veil and traditional attire. She was very adamant expressing that we (non-Muslim Christians) misinterpret their teaching and their culture. She went on to say,"Non Muslims are not pure of heart" and therefore we are "misinterpreting hadiths" (hadiths are recorded history and traditions set forth by their prophet, Muhammad). Neither do we understand the parts of the Quran according to her, where it explains how Muhammad took a 6 YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL for his bride. As I sat patiently listening I realized what was being said was more than just words. She was actually revealing something. She was uncovering her religion as one of pedophiles! "It's your own perverted Christian minds," she continued, "for us to assume that Muhammad's relationship was lascivious and proves you have dark hearts."

Then a video began playing. I watched intently sitting there in utter disbelief as a fiery anger began to burn in my stomach. I was looking at a innocent, baby-faced, 6 year old "Muslim" that could not have been more than three and a half feet tall. She was already dressed in a head-covering shawl and she was "married!" Married to 70 year old, white-headed, scraggly bearded "husband" who was 64 years her senior! She was only as tall as the height of his hip bones! A tiny, defenseless, weeping child with no ability to understand anything IE: the sexual concept of reproduction, supporting or handling an infant, raising a family, being a "wife, "handling household duties, etc. Yet, this is what was expected of her never to be questioned! Think of it ..

A six year old child hasn't even developed their final molars yet! 

A six year old child hasn't even reached reproductive maturity to lactate or have a baby.

A six year old female reproductive organs are small; inactive. EVERYTHING IS SMALL, incapable of "accommodating" an adult male anatomy, physically or mentally. But it will be forced on her because that religion and CULT-ture consider females to be dogs, "property," born solely to pleasure and serve men then cast aside when done.

Then to add insult to injury, a six year old child is entirely incapable of consent. It is completely and catastrophically wrong! This is no more than child rape. Allowed, accepted, and promoted.

Within that same interview a photograph of an 11 year old girl was introduced, in a full hijab, whom they deemed to be A "WOMAN" (who had begun her menses) and was obviously very pregnant AT 11! A menstruating 11 year old GIRL is no more of a woman or mother than an 11 year old boy who can produce sperm is a man or a father. The way I see it, the example set by their false prophet and the teachings perpetrated within their wicked book are exactly what has allowed that CULT-ure to devolve into one that honors and celebrates "un-aliving" women. A CULT-ure that uses rape as a weapon of war, allows  little girls to be bought, sold, violated, ravished, and forcefully bred by and for mature men. There's really no misinterpreting that WHATSOEVER. There is so much more regarding violations in this world altogether that God does not condone, but for now I'm pointing out: honor "unaliving," beheading, copulating with children, education of women not allowed, every woman must stay covered and accompanied by a male chaperone when leaving the house. If she happens to raise her eyes in the direction of a male she can be falsely accused of adultery and stoned. If she is raped, she must prove the violation by 2 male witnesses. If she cannot prove rape (and they never do) she is the one who will lose her life as an adulterer! Women cannot travel long distance (considered more than a day)  w/o a "mahram"- husband or male relative. Women must ask their husbands for permission in nearly everything. Females aren't considered valuable and receive 1/2 the inheritance of males.  MILLIONS of women are actively being beat, abused, restricted, buried up to their neck, stoned, flogged with as many as 100 lashes, and even un-alived under the guise of this so-called peaceful religion.

With all this on my mind, the following day I was reading in Deuteronomy 7: 1-4 20, 16-17 where God instructed Moses and the Israelites regarding the ancient tribes of Canaan: Canaanite, Amorite, Hittite, Perizzite, Hivite, Jebusite to drive them out of the land and utterly destroy them all to prevent Israel from adopting their detestable, religious practices of those nations. It kind of bothered me if I'm being honest. Not Gods righteous judgments per say, who can argue against GOD, but the wording "utterly destroy them" seemed harsh so I wondered what they did that angered God to the point of total destruction. I thought of the interview and photos I saw the previous day. HERE IT IS .. this is what angered God:

Their idolatry: multiple deities primarily Baal and Asherah.

Their child sacrifice: to the god of Moloch.

Their incest and immorality: forbidden by Levitical law.

Their occult practices: witchcraft, sorcery, mediumship.

Their generalized corruption--"the iniquity of the Amorites" had reached its full, uncorrectable measure over centuries.

Then it dawned on me. Has not history repeated itself? here in America? Have we not gone centuries ahead and have returned to the same iniquities:

1) Child sacrifice to the god of Moloch through the deliberate, induced, abortions estimated 200,000 abortions DAILY worldwide? DAILY!! 88% of these women are unmarried engaged in fornication.  Only 0.4% to 1 % can be attributed to rape or incest. The rest are due to mother health issues.

2) The worship of multiple deities such as VISHNU, BUDDHA, SHIVA, LUCIFER, ASHERAH, MOLLECH, DAGON, BAAL, and BAPHOMET to name a few. Statues, pictures, and posters of Baphomet are unashamedly being displayed everywhere.

3) Incest, pedophilia, sex tapes, pornography gender defining,  (LGBT&Q+) all biblically forbidden but accepted as alternative lifestyles

4) Witchcraft and sorcery. Ouija boards, tarot cards, crystal balls, psychics, medium, necromancer's, fortune tellers, divination, channeling .. all include connecting to the underworld.

TODAY'S CORRUPTION has reached its full, uncorrectable measure, soon making way for judgment across America and around the world. Warning signals are being witnessed and experienced everywhere: floods, fires, earthquakes, war, viruses, pandemics, new diseases, animal, bird, and marine death, signs in the heavens, ALL HAPPENING WITHIN THE SAME TIME FRAME. And that's the key. Scoffers shrug their shoulders and say, "there's always been earthquakes, pestilence, famine, drought, wars. Nothing has happened yet. Nothing ever happens." There's something everyone seems to miss. Though those things have happened in the past, no time in the past have ALL of them happening within close proximity of each other. This is important. Why? Jesus said, "When you see ALL these things, know that the end is near, even at the door"(Matthew 24:33). So, what are the "ALL" these things Jesus was  referring to? Seismic events (volcanoes), earthquakes, flash floods, wildfires, weather disturbances: cyclones, tornadoes, tsunamis, derechos, oversized hailstorms, glacial collapses, CME's (coronal mass ejection), red moons, a BLUE moon (May 31, 2026), pestilence, diseases, viruses, outbreak of ticks, avian influenza (affecting chickens), H5N1 Bovine disease, Oropouhe virus, influenza D virus, screw worm, SAT-1 foot & mouth disease of cloven-hoofed animals, look these up: ASF, PEDV, PRRSV, Alpha-gal syndrome, Powassan, Lyme, return of measles, the return of polio, an up tick in whooping cough, diphtheria is aggressively re-emerging, dengue fever and zika virus, walking corpse syndrome-zombies. There has never been a time in human history that "ALL THESE THINGS" were happening in the same timeframe. Are you seeing (or hearing) about ALL THESE THINGS? You can look any of these up. And I haven't even gotten into the killing of Christians, a falling away from churches, rise of false prophets, on and on.

Is anyone out there waking up yet? These signals are signs (sorrows the Bible calls them) in an attempt to wake you and shake you. To purposely get you to ask the question, "What's going on?" These things were written as a warning before the rapture of the Church.  Read of them in any bible. Remember, Jesus said, "When you see ALL these things, know that the end is near, even at the door"(Matthew 24:33).  TODAY'S CORRUPTION has reached its full, uncorrectable measure, soon making way for judgment across America and the world. It will be an inevitable reckoning for a nation's choices.

It's not too late to turn your heart to Jesus to be included in the rapture of the believers and escape GOD'S final wrath upon a sinful, stubborn, closed minded, morally lost world that refused throughout a lifetime to change.

My concern today are the unsaved of any religious belief, doctrine or philosophy, scoffers, atheists, adopted beliefs so far off from what JESUS TAUGHT or what's logically correct. The sands of time have nearly run to the bottom of the hour glass. The bulb on the bottom is almost full. The hands on every clock in every country reads 1 minute to midnight.

Friends, if you are without Jesus and you want forgiveness for all your past and present sins, then:

1. Know God loves you and wants you to find your way back through Jesus. The proof was in His dying on a cross for your sin, taking your place. It HAS NEVER BEEN HIS WILL YOU DIE WITHOUT SALVATION (John 3:10)

2. Acknowledge the need for a savior-Jesus. You cannot save yourself none of us can. You need GOD'S grace and forgiveness that's the only way (Romans 3:23)

3. Direct your plea to Jesus who is KING of kings and LORD of lords. He made a way for you if you confess and believe (Romans5:8)

4. Say a heartfelt prayer and ask for all your sins to be abolished by His grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Then trust and follow Him (Romans 10:9)

JESUS PROMISES ETERNAL LIFE WITH SAFETY, HAPPINESS, BLISS, FREEDOM, INSTANTLY when you acknowledge Him as your Lord just like the thief on the cross beside Him (Luke 23:43)

Then nothing will ever separate you from GOD'S love (Romans 8:38-39) His salvation offer is universally offered to every person, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, past background, depth of sin. There is no sin, no matter how big, ugly, or egregious that's unforgivable or bigger or stronger than GOD'S love, mercy, forgiveness, grace. Come while you still can.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

For Every Woman Wondering Her WORTH

Jesus publicly taught women when women were excluded from religious education at that time. There is a "religion" growing exponitally here in the US, claiming to be a "religion of love." Yet nothing could be further from the truth especially regarding women and little girls as young as four!

Jesus spoke openly with the Samartian woman at Jabob's well ( John 4: 4-42) even when His own discipes were shocked that He was talking with that woman. Jesus allowed women to travel with Him, learn from Him, follow Him, etc. Jesus actually touched the woman everyone thought was unclean (Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5: 25-34, Luke 8:43-48). Ceremonially, religious, unclean. He defended the woman everyone else threw in the dirt in her shame in John 7:53 thru :11. They reasoned amoung themselves, "we should stone this woman. (sounds like that religion of "love").

But Jesus? Jesus lifted her head, lifted her dignity. And then in the most important moment in human history, when Jesus rose from the dead, HE CHOSE WOMEN TO BE THE FIRST TO BE THE WITNESSES OF THE RESURRECTION even though a woman's testimony didn't hold up in a court of law during that time (sounds like that same religion of "love"). Jesus entrusted women with the first proclaimation that He Is Risen.

Jesus didn't treat women as property (though the religion of "love" does).

Jesus didn't treat them as temptations to be covered up (but the religion of "love" does)

Jesus didn't treat them as spiritually inferior  (there we go again, just like the so-called religion of "love").

Jesus treated women as image bearers of God .. worthy of dignity, worthy of discipleship, and essential to the mission of the Kingdom of God. You cannot understand how Jesus treated women without understanding how radical it was in the world He entered in that time.

Jesus dignified women in a time women were cast aside like dogs and treated as 2nd class citizens. Jesus disrupted that culture to show the value and the virtue and the dignity and how important these women were to the Kingdom He was ushering into the world. Christianity IS THE MOST PRO-WOMAN religion in the world. So ladies, I want you to know Jesus loves and respects you. Your worth is not up for debate. Your worth is a solid fact, not an opinion according to Jesus. You don't need to be perfect, (none of us are) to be incredibly valuable. You just have to be you. God only made one of you which declares how special, a one-of-a-kind, you are. You are capable. You are valuable. And JESUS LOVES YOU!

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

It's not what you're doing that condemns you, it's what you're not doing.

 

It's not what you're doing that condemns you, it's what you're not doing. 

It's not your sins that will condemn you. Why? Because over 2,000 years ago Jesus already died and took the legal punishment FOR YOUR SINS! All of them. Before you ever even committed them He had YOU in mind! He had you covered. Surprised? That's not what you usually hear or have heard, is it? That's what JESUS was doing through His death on that cross! Making a way for you BUT YOU MUST BELIEVE. Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."  He made the sacrifice - shed His blood - bore your penalty in His own body - thus securing your complete redemption through His finished work. It is a sacrifice of absolute, unrestricted grace motivated by love. Then, right as Jesus was taking His last breath, He spoke these final words, "It is finished," Proving our reconciliation and restoration with GOD was fully accomplished. 

HE'S BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO SEE IT

Do you realize the weight of what I've said?? The sacrifice for your sins was paid 2,000 years ago. Yes.. Murder, adultery, pedophilia, molestation, abortion, perversion, any sins done with the body number one. You say none of these apply to you so you won't be needing Jesus? Hold up. There are 7 deadly sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and slothfulness. Have you ever been guilty of any of these? Any wrong choices that led to sin separated you from GOD. Sin cannot dwell where GOD is, that's why we need sinless Jesus Christ as our advocate before the Father. Jesus died for THE SINS OF THE WORLD. It is finished. The way was made. Yet many refuse it. Jesus said,"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one come to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). BUT ..

This is where people fail. It is their willful rejection of Jesus Christ as the propitiation (appeasement) and only true Savior. THEY JUST DON'T BELIEVE THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT. The Bible explicitly identifies unbelief as a serious sin and the foundational reason people face condemnation. Without Jesus, an unbeliever has no covering to hide their sin from GOD at the judgement seat, whereas the believer does. The believer is not perfect, just forgiven. The gospel of John 3:18 says,, "Whoever believes in him (Jesus) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." You say, "Condemned already? I'm already condemned?" Yes, BECAUSE we are all born into sin (Psalm 51:5) We are by nature, sinful (Ephesians 2:3). That's just a fact. Hell is not proof God is cruel. The cross is proof that He is not.

You may be asking, So if Jesus died for my sins, and did so 2,000 years ago, then why do I need to be saved as I hear all the time? Answer: Because of what you're NOT DOING ..

Believing.

Belief unlocks the door to salvation. Jesus paved the way beginning with forgiveness of sin (if you will believe). Let me paint a picture for you.

Say you are walking through heavy brush which nearly reaches your chest. Your arms begin flailing in a swimming motion to move back thorns that are hooking into your clothing and skin causing immediate, biting pains. You're struggling through a dense undergrowth creating a strong resistance against your legs, making you have to push forward with great effort. The journey is intense, exhausting, just a highly irritating sensory experience.

 Then after what seemed like hours upon hours you see a clearing as a narrow path off to your right lacing itself through the bramble and extending as far as the eye can see.

People on the narrow path call out to you, "Come out of all that. The path is clear over here." (but you ignore them).

"Don't keep going. The struggle never stops," (but you ignore them).

"Trust me, I took that same path once. That's not the way." (but you ignore them).

"There's a better way than the way you're headed." (but once again you ignore them).

Metaphorically in a spiritual sense, this describes the unbeliever (the skeptic, cynic, agnostic, or atheist) REFUSING to believe or hear anyone calling, urging, asking, pleading to come out from among the thorns and take Jesus at His Word. Unbelief is serious because it's actively, deliberately with clear intent refusing God's truth set before you (Luke13:3). Everyone is given the chance to believe, to change, to be eternally saved. Some believe. Some won't. I didn't say some don't. I said some WON'T. Won't is a key word. Won't is a refusal- a strong CHOICE. A person who says, "I don't believe that" can change their mind with enough evidence. A person who says, "I won't believe it" is obstinate and stubbornly refuse to change their mind EVEN WHEN SHOWN STRONG PROOF.

Remember, It's not what you've done, it's what you haven't done. 

In conclusion. Jesus took your sins upon Himself. He's shown you the clear pathway leading to God. He's cleared the way. You can start on a new, sin free journey today by believing what Jesus did for you, acknowledge you're past and present sins to Him ("with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" Romans 10:10), and desiring to make an effort to change proving your serious and sorry (which is repentance). When your heart is there, accept Him as the one true Lord He is, able to save you through belief. 

 If you have any questions you can ask in the comment section or drop an email listed in my bio.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

The Significance of Hyssop

Not many know that I am an advocate for the therapeutic use of herbs based strictly on several biblical reasons:

GENESIS 1:29 "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat."

GENESIS 9:3 "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things."

PSALM 51:7 "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

PSALM 104:14-15 "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, And herb for the service of man: That he may bring forth food out of the earth."

-IT'S RATHER OBVIOUS HERBS ARE IMPORTANT-

I was searching for a new organic tea and happened upon an offer for HYSSOP tea. I paused for a moment, then in a loud whisper spoke into the air, "Hyssop. hyssop? hyssop! Wasn't that mentioned as mixed with vinegar or something they they gave to Jesus during His crucifixion?" So I looked up the scripture. John 19:29 "Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon a hyssop branch, and put it to his mouth." Then as usual, my spirit was filled with curiosity! I was looking for a new tea to drink and somehow wound up writing an entire  blog. So ask yourself, "what if any, is the significance of hyssop in scripture (Exodus 12:22, Psalm 57:1, Leviticus 14:4-6) BUT ESPECIALLY THE HERB BRANCH USED TO CARRY THE VINEGAR TO JESUS' MOUTH as He was dying on a cross. Does the hyssop branch signify something deeper? Indeed it does!

 There is something very important in hyssop, especially mentioned in John 19:29. The Bible does not explicitly say, “hyssop represents cleansing,” When you put the passages together as I discovered after my research, there is a striking biblical pattern.

 1. The first major appearance of hyssop was at the Passover — Exodus 12:22 God told the Israelites to take hyssop, dip it into the blood of the Passover lamb, and put that blood on the doorposts. Think about what is happening:

Hyssop → blood → doorway → deliverance from death. The hyssop itself had no magical power. The power was in God's provision through the blood of the lamb.

2. At Jesus' death — John 19:29. This is where John 19 becomes extraordinarily interesting. John specifically says: “Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.” Are you curious as to why John would even bother telling us it was hyssop? I mean, He could simply have said, “They put a sponge soaked with vinegar up to Jesus' mouth.” But instead he identifies the plant! And Jesus is dying at Passover time. Jesus has already been identified in John's Gospel as: “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” So IMO you have this remarkable biblical picture:

Exodus:Passover lamb dies → its blood is applied with hyssop → God's people are spared from death. Calvary: Jesus, the Lamb of God, dies → His blood is shed → humanity is offered deliverance from sin and death. That connection is not something I would dismiss as coincidence.

 3. Hyssop also appears in cleansing rituals. Look at Leviticus 14:4–6. Hyssop is used in the ritual for cleansing someone who had been healed from leprosy. The priest uses hyssop along with blood and other elements in a ceremony declaring the person clean. Again, notice the recurring ideas: hyssop --> blood --> cleansing--> restorationThat makes the crucifixion reference even more interesting.

Jesus' blood isn't merely about His physical death. Throughout the New Testament, His blood is associated with cleansing from sin. Hebrews 9:14 says Christ's blood cleanses our conscience. 1 John 1:7 says:“the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” And then there is Psalm 51:7 I think this is actually one of the strongest connections David cries:

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.” Now notice what David is asking for. He isn't asking God to wash dirt off his body. He's asking God to cleanse him from sin. So hyssop becomes associated with the biblical imagery of cleansing. And that brings us back to Jesus. At the cross, the One who is completely innocent is being treated as the sin-bearer.

Hyssop repeatedly occurs in contexts involving purification, blood, cleansing, and ritual application. Then John deliberately mentions hyssop at the death of Jesus, the Lamb of God, during Passover.

The research was laborous but I think you can agree there is a connection between Exodus 12, Psalm 51, Psalm 69, John 19, and Hebrews that makes the whole picture of blood, cleansing, suffering, Passover, and Jesus' final words come together in a surprisingly coherent way. All this over the study of 1 herb, hyssop. I think I'll go purchase that tea now.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-