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4 entries from June 2018

My log splitter has come to an end

As we are back in the house in the forest I have a lot of work to catch up with. I have a lot of logs that I need to split and dry for firewood for the coming winter. I am actually a bit late as the wood needs to dry at least six months before I can use it to heat the house. I think I have enough wood already to last into the new year, but I need more to come through the winter.

As I made myself ready to start splitting the logs to make firewood, my log splitter did not work. I heard a strange sound. There was a slow movement. Then it was complete dead. I bought this log splitter about twelve years ago and it has served me well. It has been a wise investment. But now it has come to an end. No log splitting today. I must get me a new log splitting device.

We are living in a perishable world. Nothing in this world lasts. All come to an end. Some devices may last longer than others, but in the end they will all perish. The only thing that will last is the eternal salvation in Jesus Christ. 


The appointed time is in our hands

The unveiling of Jesus Christ received by the apostle John at island Patmos is very encouraging, even though some of the visions are not easy to understand. But a joyous blessing rest upon the one who reads the message of the Book of Revelation and upon those who hear and embrace the words of this prophecy, for the appointed time is in our hands (see Rev 1:1-3).

Most of my Bibles are saying that the appointed time is at hand, but from the Passion Translation I have come to know that this phrase may be translated differently. The Greek word "eggus"  is taken from a primary verb "agcho", which means "to squeeze" (in your hand) or "to hold the reigns" or "throttle" in your hands. Therefore this translation says that the appointed time is in your hands.

This open up a very interesting way of understanding the book of Revelation. There is a sense in which the full understanding of the unveiling of Christ in this book is ready to be revealed when the reader is ready to receive it. The time for this unveiling of Christ is now, not the past nor the distant future.

This is in accordance to the revelation the apostle Peter brings (1 Peter 1:5). He is saying that the mighty power of God will constantly guard us to bring us into our full salvation or deliverance. Through the new birth we have become partakers of this salvation which constantly comes through the unveiling of Christ. It is ready to be revealed and waits for our discovery. From the coming of the Spirit on the day of pentecost we have been living in the last days which are days of continual revelation and unveiling of Jesus Christ our Saviour. By faith we "grab" the promises of God, we eat the prophetic word of God, and come to understand that in Christ everything spoken of by the prophets are available for us now. The appointed time is in our hands. The kingdom of God is bursting forth, and passionate people are laying hold of its power.

 


Imitate

Imitate that which is good

Imitate the beautiful acts of love

Imitate generous people

Imitate those who are consistently living their lives in the way of truth

Imitate those who are living in obedience to whatever God commands

Imitate those who have come into an intimate experience of God's love

Imitate those who demonstrate love in action

Imitate those who live pure lives

Imitate those who are consumed by godliness

Imitate the humble servant

Imitate those who are compassionate to foreigners

Imitate those who are consumed with what brings pleasure to God

Imitate those who are gentle and respectful

Imitate those who demonstrate affectionate love, sympathy, and kindness

Imitate those with a peaceful spirit

 


Unfolding faith

Faith is a gift of God. It is like a seed planted in our heart. The smallest seed of faith can move mountains. The Bible says that we live by faith. We are saved by faith. We overcome obstacles in life by faith. 

When we water the seed of faith, our faith will grow stronger and increase. The apostle Peter is saying that we should devote ourselves to develop our faith or to supplement it. As a seed faith is full of potensial for dynamic growth and development. Peter speaks of an unfolding of faith (2 Pet 1:7-11)

Out of the seed of faith planted in our heart by God will emerge goodness, and out of goodness will emerge understanding of God, and out understanding and knowing God will emerge inner strength and self-control, and out of this inner strength will emerge patient endurance, and out of patient endurance will emerge godliness, and out of godliness will emerge mercy towards our brothers and sisters, and out of mercy will emerge unending love.

All these virtues are inherent in the seed of faith that God is planting in our heart. They have been planted deep within us by the Spirit of God. Actually we possess them in abundant supply by the grace of God. This unfolding of faith will keep us from being inactive or fruitless in our pursuit of knowing Jesus Christ more intimately. If these virtues are absent in our lives we will be blind, constantly closing our eyes to the mystery of faith, forgetting our innocence - for our sins have been washed away.

Therefore it is very important that we are eager to confirm and validate that God has invited us to salvation and claimed us his very own. When we do these things, we will never stumble. As a result God will give us a triumphant entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is also possible to see this as a spiritual mathematical equation. Faith pluss goodness equals understanding and knowledge of God. Goodness pluss understanding equals inner strength and self-control. Understanding pluss self-control equals patience. Inner strength pluss patience equals godliness. Patience pluss godliness equals mercy. Godliness pluss mercy equals unending love. These qualities are meant to be limitless as our faith keeps unfolding.