“Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” These words of Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 5:11-12, stand in stark contrast to the following warning: “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26).

Humanly speaking, we love it when we are well spoken of, and we don’t like it when people hate us, exclude us, revile us and “cast out” our names “as evil” (compare Luke 6:22). But if we shrink back from standing up boldly for the truth, so that we can be accepted by others, then Christ will have no pleasure in us. If we deny Him–through our words or our conduct–for fear that others may ridicule or even persecute us, then Christ will deny us (Matthew 10:33).

Don’t be surprised when you are the victim of malicious lies. Paul was, as he said in Romans 3:8: “… And why not say, ‘Let us do evil that good may come’?–as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.”

As a true Christian, you can expect to be lied about. And you can expect that some may believe those lies. This might include misrepresentations from some of your friends or relatives. It might include business associates or even members of your church. Paul spoke about “evil reports” which were circulated about him, and that he was even accused of being a “deceiver” (2 Corinthians 6:8).

But, without perhaps realizing it, a person who lies about you and who may call you a deceiver has himself become a tool in Satan’s hands–that evil being who is the arch-deceiver and the accuser of the brethren, accusing them day and night (Revelation 12:9-10). It is therefore no surprise when his ministers, perhaps claiming to be servants of Christ, accuse true Christians (2 Corinthians 11:15). They act in this way so that they–or their self-invented “cause”–may appear “righteous” in the eyes of man; but their “end will be according to their works” (same verse).

Sometimes I wonder whether such evil workers of iniquity have “no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:18). I ask myself, don’t they know that they will have to answer to God, in His due time? Do they even care? And then I have to remind myself: Don’t be surprised! It’s prophesied to happen. Christ said: “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you… but all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me” (John 15:20-21).

I have been lied about many times–as I am sure that you have been. And it is never easy to hear vicious rumors about yourself–knowing them to be absolute falsehoods and misrepresentations; KNOWING that these “evil things” have been “invented” by evil minds (compare Romans 1:30). Still, we ARE told NOT to hate such evil workers of iniquities–even though we surely are to HATE with all our being WHAT they are doing–but to “give place” to the wrath of God. We are to “bless those who persecute” us (Romans 12:14), always remembering the truthful saying of God: “‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

I’m not saying that this is easy. I’m sometimes surprised how difficult it may be. Especially when malicious and vicious lies are being spread about us which are totally untrue–and when others believe those lies, even though they should know better. No, it is not easy to bless in such situations, rather than to curse (Romans 12:14), but this is what we are commanded to do. And we are to even rejoice in persecutions, knowing that God blesses us in such situations. Peter tells us: “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified” (1 Peter 4:14).

And so, we know that God will bring to light, in His due time, the true motives of everyone, and we are confident that God will praise the wrongfully accused (compare 1 Corinthians 4:5).

Don’t be surprised when persecution comes. But be certain that you are found in the role of the wrongfully accused–and never in the role of the wrongful accuser. After all, it IS a serious and “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

A few weeks ago in the UK we had council elections where all the candidates were putting themselves forward for political office.   A week later, the Prime Minister announced that he would be leaving office on June 27th.   He was elected almost 10 years ago with high expectations, as usually happens with any change of leader, but now his place will be taken by another who will last only so long.   The same is true for all those councilors elected in the May local elections.   They have a short shelf life in their political office.  

Likewise, football managers rarely last more than a few short years and managers in industry move around.   Wherever you look, the shelf life in these highly paid jobs is but for a moment.   And yet, so many strive for them.   The perceived glamour of celebrity and position allied to wealth is a heady mix for so many who never give their Creator a passing thought.   It’s all for now, and the future will take care of itself.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, much is written that we should take note of.   “… Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.   What profit has a man from his labor In which he toils under the sun?   One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:2-4).  

We have been called to have a full time career in Christianity that will last until our dying breath.  There must be no shelf life for true Christians in this mortal life as we grow and overcome and press towards the Kingdom of God. As Christians called by God, our shelf life is to be eternity, not just a fleeting few years.

Ecclesiastes has this admonition right at the end of the book, in chapter 12:13: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is the whole duty of man.”

Dr. Jack Kevorkian was recently released from prison, where he served eight years for giving a fatal injection to a 52 year old man who had Lou Gehrig’s disease.  What he did was wrong in the eyes of God (see Q&A below), and the judicial system in the USA agrees, hence the jail time.

The interesting aspect of this whole ordeal is that Kevorkian went into the penal system a rebellious and defiant man of 71 years of age and came out as a 79 year old who was still just as brash, gruff and combative as ever.

While his time in the penitentiary did manage to keep him off the streets, it did little to make the man, known as Dr. Death, penitent.  Of course, this is nothing new. Most do not come out of correctional facilities “corrected.” If anything, some going in come out “better” criminals.

What does it take then to rehabilitate a person from his errant ways?

It takes a conviction that what we are doing is wrong, and then a conversion to become a “new” person.  The only way that this can truly be accomplished is by the power of God working in our lives and giving us the recognition of who and what we are, and then, who and what we can become.  The heart is naturally contrary to the way of God (Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:18-20), but with the power of the Holy Spirit, it can be transformed (Psalms 51:10; Ezekiel 11:19).

Some today have been given this insight to see themselves as God sees them.  The question now is, what does He see?  Is it the same attitudes and actions that were present at the beginning of their rehabilitation or is it a “new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24)?

We are admonished by Christ in Matthew 5:14-16, that we–as the light of the world–are to let our light shine. We are not to put our lamp under a basket or stool, as it were, but up on the table, where everyone can see and benefit from it. Light has interesting features. It illuminates, thereby driving out the darkness. It doesn’t make any noise and is therefore not intrusive. It allows us to do things which we could not do, once the sun has set. In order to continue a task, we merely turn on the lamps in the room in which we are working.   

As we have seen, we are supposed to let our light shine. Just exactly what did Christ have in mind when He said that? We have heard of the expression, actions speak louder than words, and–sadly–do as I say, but don’t do as I do. The power of a good example is a force to contend with, and it influences what people think about us. We let our light shine by the way we act. We are to walk in the light. Christ also said that men do their evil deeds under the cover of darkness, and Satan and the demons are associated with darkness. 2 Peter 2:4 tells us: “For… God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment…”  Men, following the lead of Satan and his demons, tend to do their dirty deeds under the cover of darkness.

Walking in the light means walking according to the commands and statutes of God, being in submissive obedience to His laws. We of course could never achieve this goal without the help of God’s Spirit in us, which is guiding us and assisting us to make right and correct choices in our lives. The closer we are to God in utilizing the tools He has described for us–prayer, Bible study, fasting and mediation–the more our light will shine as a powerful witness to this dying world.

Is our light shinning forth as a tribute to ourselves? Not at all! The reason why we must let our light shine is clearly spelled out in Matthew 5:16: “ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The whole purpose is to give glory to God; it is not for the purpose of self aggrandizement. So let us walk in the light, and let us be children of light by our good example–all to the glory of our Great God.

In a recent heart wrenching tragedy covered on the local and national news reports, a two year old child was swept away from his mother’s grasp in a flash flood.  This event took place, not in the backcountry of the Colorado mountains, but in the greater city of Denver, on a downtown bike path, and on what started out as a sunny spring day.

As reports stated, the grandfather called to warn his daughter of the impending dangers of the storm and the possibility of flooding.  The daughter continued on her walk and sought shelter from the storm under a nearby bridge.

A fire department official stated, “The mother put the toddler in his stroller to protect him from hail, but torrential rain pushed the stream over its banks. The flood knocked the woman down and tore the stroller, with the boy inside, from her hands…”

It would be inappropriate to second guess and theorize what the young mother should or shouldn’t have done in those circumstances.  In that instant, she tried to safeguard her child as best she could, but the circumstances around her quickly got beyond her ability to control them.

For the most part, we all have “sunny and clear skies” in our spiritual walk.  Nothing should stop us from growing closer to God on a daily basis through prayer and study.  There are always enough hours in the day to devote some time to God. 

But when our adversary strikes us, it’s never with our foreknowledge and according to our schedule.  His attacks, much like a surging and flooding river, can quickly overcome us and draw us down into his waters.  And when we are caught up in those currents, tragedy usually follows. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

We can AND MUST anticipate Satan’s attacks.  This preparation is accomplished by rooting our knowledge in the voices of God’s prophets and the examples they left for us in God’s Word, the Bible.  If we do, our spiritual house will be much like the example of which Christ told us in Luke 6:48: “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.”

Where does the credit belong and to whom will it be given?

In wars won and wars lost, who is honored and who is blamed? Is it the generals or the soldiers—the leaders or the citizens? In endeavors great and small, there is responsibility and accountability along with either rewards or punishment.

Currently at issue in America’s corporate world is the stunning financial disparity between workers and “bosses”—the CEO’s, presidents and other board members. Often, the complaint is that those most closely associated with the hands-on, day-to-day activities receive the least pay and rarely even the proper credit or a genuine “thank you!”

Carried to other settings and magnified into your own particular circumstances, where do you stand? Do you receive the credit you desire and actually deserve? And more importantly, do you give credit to those who have earned it?

The Way of Christian living sorts these questions out! Here is what Jesus told His disciples:

“…Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many’” (Mark 10:42-45).

Jesus often emphasized this approach, and we find this very direct example in Luke 14:11: “‘For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted’” (Also, compare Luke 18:9-14).

One way in which we can humble ourselves is to make certain that our focus is on Jesus Christ. For if we seek to please Him, to follow His perfect example and to love one another as He instructed, then our lives will reflect the kind of serving humility that exalts and GIVES credit: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3).

Here is the answer to the opening question: The credit belongs to Jesus Christ and it has already been given to Him! Note what is recorded in Philippians 2:9-11:

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

We need to very carefully learn from Jesus Christ the kind of true and selfless humility that pleases God. If we do, then this promise awaits us: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

We will soon be celebrating the Feast of Pentecost and reflect on the tremendous gift that God has bestowed on us–the priceless guarantee and down payment of eternal life–His very own Holy Spirit.

As it is true with everything in life, we are called upon to choose–even as it relates to God’s Spirit of Life. God only gives us His Spirit after we repent of our sins and believe in Christ’s sacrifice; after we choose to be baptized by one of God’s true ministers, and after the ministry lays hands upon us. Before baptism, God expects of us to show Him through the choice of our obedience that we really want to receive His priceless gift (Acts 5:32). After baptism, we must continue to choose to obey, lest we drift away and lose what has been given to us (Hebrews 2:1; 3:12-19).

Life requires of us to make choices–continuously. Every choice that we make either brings us closer to God’s Kingdom–or makes us drift farther away from it. Sometimes, it may seem difficult, if not impossible, to prioritize correctly our many challenges–especially, if a Godly choice would not harmonize with our human desires and values. We can make right and wrong choices: We can choose to seek God and His righteousness first (Matthew 6:33)–or to concentrate more on the physical things of this life (Matthew 6:19). We can choose to serve God–or “mammon” (Matthew 6:24). We can choose to love God the Father and Jesus Christ more than everything and everyone else–including our own lives–or to love our mates, children, families, friends or business associates more than God (Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26).

But even though God allows us to choose, He does not want us to choose poorly. In fact, He commands us to choose wisely–for our own good. He tells us in Deuteronomy 30:19-20: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days…” And God promises blessings to everyone who chooses what pleases Him (Isaiah 56:4-5).

We might think, in a given situation, that choosing against God’s instructions is the right thing to do–but God would never command us to do or not to do something, if there was a better way or even an acceptable alternative. To really believe that God knows best, and to follow His directives–no matter what–is the only sure road to lasting success. There are no shortcuts–and there are no better alternatives to God’s commandments. God instructs us to “keep His statutes and His commandments… that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days” (Deuteronomy 4:40). We also read Moses’ words to ancient Israel: “And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, and to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us” (Deuteronomy 6:24-25).

The gate and way which leads to Life is narrow and difficult, and only few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Many actually think that good is evil, and that evil is good (Isaiah 5:20). They do not choose the fear of God (Proverbs 1:29), but that in which God does not delight (Isaiah 65:12). However, those who find the truth must also obey and practice it (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus Christ, in the human flesh, refused the evil and chose the good (Isaiah 7:15-16). So did David (Psalm 119:30)–and so must we.

To choose the right and to reject the wrong may require temporary sacrifices and suffering. Moses chose “to suffer affliction with the people of God” (Hebrews 11:25), in order to obey God, “esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (same verse).

With God the Father’s and Jesus Christ’s Spirit within us, we have the guarantee that we CAN choose wisely and obey our Maker in everything (compare Philippians 4:13).

And so, we do have the choice! It has always been our choice–and it always will be. Knowing this–let us choose LIFE, so that we and our children may live–FOREVER!

Recently a Sky News report stated that “More details are emerging about Cho Seung-Hui, the student who shot dead 32 people at Virginia Tech university in America.” In a letter found in his dormitory he criticizes what he calls the rich kids on campus and goes on to say, “you caused me to do this.” It also complained about “debauchery” and “deceitful charlatans.”

In an editorial, dated September 10, 2004 (Update #160), I wrote about an attitude which often surfaces, denying personal responsibility by saying, “It’s Not My Fault.” Again, this “no fault” approach reared its very ugly head when a mass murderer blamed his innocent victims for his terrible and insane crimes.

In his letter, the mentally disturbed perpetrator of this dreadful crime complained about “debauchery” and “deceitful charlatans.” It appears very likely that he was influenced by demonic forces, if not possessed. And even though the mass murderer was the child of immigrants from South Korea, he seemed to have been fully integrated into Western society. However, the terrible and inexcusable madness of the crime prompted me to think about the issue of immigration in general.

When students from a different culture move to a new country which has different ideals, beliefs, concepts and way of life, it can be a serious problem. The same applies when immigrants pursue residency in a new country which, again, may have a totally alien way of life to that which they have been accustomed to all of their previous life. Some may integrate and accept the old premise of “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Others may find it hard, if not impossible, to assimilate into their new surroundings and hold on to their old way of life and its values, which are sacrosanct to them–and that is when real problems can emerge.

Debate can rage about allowing immigrants–especially those from Third World countries–into a different “Christian” country, but what example do they find when they enter the UK, USA, Canada and many other western nations? They are confronted with easily accessible pornography, licentious life styles, blasphemy and foul language as the norm, entertainment of the worst kind, loutish and threatening behavior to older and more vulnerable people (and to many others), lying, stealing and cheating – and so much more. Galatians 5:19-21 lists the works of the flesh which are evident, on a daily basis, in our towns and cities up and down the land. Those from cultures that are much more “conservative” have a hard time coming to terms with such “liberality.”

We can be very quick to jump on the accusatory bandwagon, but, without excusing any wrong behavior whatsoever, including the senseless killing of innocent people, we do nothing to assist people’s “righteous indignation” when our “Christian” nations provide a backdrop and environment with inherently wrong values in society “as the norm” in the first place.

As we have said so many times over the years–and it is certainly not over-emphasized by repetition–only the righteous rule of Jesus Christ at His return, together with the banishment of Satan, will provide the right environment for correct behavior – behavior that will ensure that the terrible demonically-inspired events at Virginia Tech University will not be repeated, nor the godless life style of liberal nations. But until that day, unfortunately, we will see more of the same.

It is difficult for us to fully comprehend the loss of one life and the effects it has on the lives of those who are close to it, much less the loss of over 30 people in a wholly senseless act.

The tragedy at Virginia Tech this past week has garnered much of the attention of the American people. Many vigils have been organized, countless press conferences have been given, and the news was saturated with every possible detail.

But where is the mourning for the nearly 3,700 that were unjustifiably killed today… yesterday… the day before, and will be killed tomorrow and each and every day in America? There have been 48,000,000+ innocents in the US alone that have been murdered since the abominable judgment rendered in Roe v. Wade (1973).

Can we grasp the magnitude of these numbers? If all of these children had been allowed to live, their numbers would be larger than the entire population of over 200 countries in the world today. On average, there are considerably more unborn babies killed every day in the US than died in the World Trade Center on 9/11! Yet, there is no war on abortion!

We were devastated when we watched the buildings come down. We shake our heads in disbelief every time there is a school shooting. But the world goes on day to day without mentioning in the news that approximately 126,000 babies are being executed daily in the world. Are we as upset about this as we are about 9/11 and Virginia Tech?

As a country, we condemn others for their human rights violations, and rightly so. But have we looked at the beam in our own eye? Ours is a barbarity that may be unequaled throughout the history of man, and we are supposed to be a civilized nation.

When Christ returns, He will be looking for those that have His mark upon their forehead. It will be upon those that sigh and cry for the abominations committed around them (Ezekiel 9:4). The rest, God has prophesied will be killed without pity and unsparingly (Ezekiel 9:5). The only way to avoid the coming Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord is through repentance… a turning from the wrong way, our ways, and going God’s way.

Rachel is once again weeping for her children… are we? (compare Matthew 2:16-18).

The Holy Scriptures compare God’s Spirit and Spirit beings to the wind (John 3:8). Wind is invisible to the human eye. Yet, one can feel its effect on the human body in the form of a cool breeze, or on the earth in the form of a mighty wind.

In addition, the Bible talks about not quenching the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Here, it is compared to fire, which can be quenched  through various means. So, a person with the Holy Spirit can lose it (Hebrews 10:29; 6:4-6).

God’s Spirit has also been compared to water. We are told that in the future, God’s Spirit will be poured out–like water–upon all flesh (Acts 2:17-18). Isaiah 11:9 states: “For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.”

Interestingly enough, water can be manifested in three forms. One is vapor which we cannot see–yet, it is present in the air and measured as relative humidity. The second form is liquid. The human body is, to about ninety percent, composed of liquid, and over seventy percent of the earth is covered with water. The third form is solid, which we know as ice. Water has also interesting qualities: It is the universal solvent–a requirement for physical survival of mankind and the animal and plant world; it seeks its own level regardless of surroundings, and it cannot be compressed; it also expands at each end of its state–frozen or very hot, just before boiling.

Like water, righteous Spirit beings can also manifest themselves in various ways. A righteous Spirit being can be invisible to the human eye; they can be visible to the human eye–yet, still able to go through physical objects like walls or buildings; and they can be manifested in a form which can be touched and felt, as Christ appeared to His followers after His resurrection. 

What is important for us, as God’s people, is to use and maintain God’s Spirit in the manner pleasing to God. We are told to walk in the Spirit; that is, to be a right and correct example to the world. We are also told to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). Growing in grace is growing in the Spirit. After an orchard has been well watered, it will produce fruit for the owner in abundance. As we grow in the Spirit, we should produce the fruit of the Spirit, as mentioned in Galatians 5:21-22. This is the outward manifestation of the Spirit of God working in our lives.

As we approach Pentecost–the  Festival when the Holy Spirit was made available to the apostles and followers of Christ–let us ensure that we are manifesting the Spirit of God in our lives through the fruit of the Spirit. In doing so, we are witnessing to the world where God’s Spirit is dwelling and working in this present age–that is, in His true servants.

We can then look forward to the future, when God’s Spirit will be made available to all of mankind and when the fruit of the Spirit will be manifested on a worldwide basis–just like a well-watered orchard produces much fruit for the benefit of the owner and the pleasure of those who partake in the eating.