Contrast by Gary Rose

 

Beautiful picture. I have seen many similar pictures over the years, but none quite like this. This one differs from the norm in intensity; specifically, in its contrast. As I thought about it, this aspect of the picture made me think of the lives of people. Some people are bright and cheerful, while others are dark and dismal. And these contrasts are reflected in their behavior as well. Generally speaking, those who are bright often do good things, but those who have a predominant darkness to their character often do very bad things.

This human contrast caused me to recall a passage from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians…

Galatians 5 ( World English Bible )

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.

¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,

²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,

²¹ envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

²³ gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

²⁴ Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

The things of the Spirit are good attitudes and actions, but those characteristic of the flesh are evil. Life is full of choice and those decisions and subsequent actions will ultimately determine both our life in this world and our abode of either heaven or hell in the next.

Take a few minutes and look at the qualities and characteristics of each group and choose. Which people would you like to live with eternally; Spiritually minded or those set on the flesh. Your choices will lead one way or another, for to choose the things of the Spirit will lead to choosing Jesus and eternal life, but the other choice results in destruction. Quite a contrast isn’t it?

Hardness of Heart by Gary Rose

 

 

^{Well, here is something new- an exasperated lion. I have more than a few doubts about this image being one that has been photo-shopped, but I will imagine for a moment that it is real. Since I know that the lion’s mate does most of the hunting, perhaps she brought home only a small bit of game. Or, perhaps he was napping and the cubs ate everything she caught. Maybe the waterhole had dried up ( again? ). Whatever caused this expression, it is familiar. We experience moments like this periodically and they usually are not the best moments of our day. Sometimes our exasperation can go further and we become agitated to the point of anger. Our actions and attitudes may or may not be a justifiable response to the situation, but this picture makes me wonder- did Jesus have moments like this?}

^{The Bible says...}

^{Mark 3 ( World English Bible )}

¹ He entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had his hand withered.

² They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him.

³ He said to the man who had his hand withered, “Stand up.”

⁴ He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” But they were silent.

⁵ When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other.

⁶ The Pharisees went out, and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

Rules and regulations; that is all the religious leaders of Jesus’ day knew. This sort of thinking was all about obedience and although I would like to think their hearts were right with God, it is plain from verses 5 and 6 above that they were NOT.

Yet, the Pharisees were supposed to not only know the letter of the Law, but its intent as well. Jesus knew their hearts and performed this miracle in spite of their spiritual condition. When Jesus’ actions conflicted with their state of mind and attitudes, they did what all evil men do- they conspired to destroy the opposition.

Today, I spent some time reflecting upon something I should have been doing and have not. I realized that I was wrong and have made steps to change. You see, I really don’t want Jesus ( the lion of the tribe of Judah ) looking at my life and being exasperated ( or even worse-angry ).

How about you? Anything wrong in your life? If your reflections reveal the need to change, don’t put it off- just do it! I don’t know about you, but I am glad that the God I worship is a forgiving one! Continue in your attempts to follow God more closely and you will be blessed for both your attitude and actions. Believe this, because its TRUE!

Superman by Gary Rose

 

^{I grew up in the 50’s and those days seem so very simplistic compared to today’s environment. And the TV, it was actually in black and white and we only had THREE CHANNELS ( when reception was unusually good ). I liked many different westerns, but more than them all, I loved Superman. I couldn’t wait until that show came on and would do everything I could to watch it. Superman was the embodiment of everything about America in those days; goodness, justice and the American way. He fought evil and always won and his motives were always selfless and pure. What a TV show!}

^{Today, I saw the picture at the top and thought about Jesus being a SUPERMAN. No, not in the sense of being from another planet, but rather, being in perfect harmony with his heavenly father. Jesus was perfect in all aspects of his humanity and beyond that- He was ( is ) God in human form. In addition to all that he had genuine power. Power of the mind, of the will and power in this world and beyond. It would take several very large books to describe it all, so I will use only one passage from the Bible. Consider this passage from the book of Revelation…}

^{The Bible says...}

^{Revelation 19 ( World English Bible )}

¹¹ I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war.

¹² His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself.

¹³ He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of God.”

¹⁴ The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen.

¹⁵ Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.

¹⁶ He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Jesus, now there is a real superman. He goes beyond just waging war on evil; he alone is the “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Ultimately, he utterly defeats ALL OPPOSITION to God’s will. Not just the physical aspect of evil, but he overcomes all the spiritual aspects as well- every single thing that refuses to obey God is defeated, period.

With all of the above, Jesus loves us all. Reread John 3:16 and think about it- perfection, utter perfection.

Jesus is the only genuinely Super, Superman that has ever lived. Obey him and live, disobey and eventually suffer eternal punishment. With that in mind, do whatever you have to do to be right with God and do it NOW. You will be glad you did; eternally!

Beyond the mountain by Gary Rose

 

The colors and the contrast of that multicolored cloud against that black background of distant stars seems to just take my breath away. After a few seconds, I noticed several lightning bolts and thought of the Israelites in the wilderness and the following passage from the book of Exodus...

Exodus 19 ( World English Bible )

¹ In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.

² When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain.

³ Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:

⁴ ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself.

⁵ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine;

⁶ and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

⁷ Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Yahweh commanded him.

⁸ All the people answered together, and said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to Yahweh.

⁹ Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.

¹⁰ Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,

¹¹ and be ready against the third day; for on the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.

¹² You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death.

¹³ No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain.”

¹⁴ Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

¹⁵ He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Don’t have sexual relations with a woman.”

¹⁶ It happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.

¹⁷ Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.

¹⁸ Mount Sinai, all it, smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

¹⁹ When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.

²⁰ Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

²¹ Yahweh said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to gaze, and many of them perish. (emphasis added GDR )

Hebrews 12 ( WEB ) note: The following is written to Christians...

¹⁸ For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,

¹⁹ the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them,

²⁰ for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned;”

²¹ and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

²² But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,

²³ to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

²⁴ to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. (emphasis added GDR )

Revelation 21 ( WEB ) note: the following is a prophecy of future events...

⁹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the wife, the Lamb’s bride.”

¹⁰ He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

¹¹ having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

¹² having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

¹³ On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

¹⁵ He who spoke with me had for a measure, a golden reed, to measure the city, its gates, and its walls.

¹⁶ The city lies foursquare, and its length is as great as its breadth. He measured the city with the reed, Twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

¹⁷ Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

¹⁸ The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass.

¹⁹ The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;

²⁰ the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth, amethyst.

²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

²² I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple.

²³ The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. (emphasis added GDR )

²⁴ The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

²⁵ Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there),

²⁶ and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter.

²⁷ There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (emphasis added GDR )

The Israelites were greatly afraid in the Exodus experience at the mountain, and with good reason. In contrast, imagine the joy of seeing the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven and realizing that soon you would be living with God for eternity. May you live your life in such a way that your name is written in the book of life and that when the time comes, the one and only God actually welcomes you into heaven!