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Time is of the Essence  February 4, 2020

Posted by Dr. Robert Owens in Religion, Uncategorized.
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According to the Business Dictionary the title of this essay is a provision often included in construction, supply, transport, and other types of contracts to stress the punctual completion of the job (or repayment of a loan) as a vital element of the performance of the contract. Any failure to complete the work (or to pay the sums) within stated time limits may constitute breach of the contract.

Salvation is not a transaction based on a contract.  It’s a gift.  It isn’t earned.  It’s based upon the grace of God extended to all and accepted through faith.  And while this gift shines from the cross of Christ through the meandering corridors of History, each of us has but a fleeting moment upon the world’s stage.  When it’s done it’s done.  It’s just the opposite of a concert; when the curtain comes down, we face the music.  Or as the Word of God puts it, “Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences.”

The world tells us, “Opportunity only knocks once” meaning if you miss your chance it won’t come again.  Looking at the totality of life that’s true, but looking within the fragile bubble of time that is our here-today-gone-today life we have opportunity after opportunity.  We had last week, and yesterday, today, and God willing tomorrow.  At any moment we can make an altar of our prayers and confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead.  If we’ll do those two things the Word of God promises, “You will be saved.”  If the curtain comes down before we do so we might not like the sequel.

The whole of the Old Testament points to Christ: the fulcrum of History.  And throughout the New Testament God points back to examples and signposts of what was to come.  To the Jews there is no more powerful story than their exodus from Egypt.  Because they refused to believe God they wandered in the wilderness for forty years.  These people who witnessed the miracles of Moses, crossed the Red Sea on dry land, ate the manna from heaven, and drank from the rock which followed them refused to worship God.  Instead they followed the trinket gods of their own imagination.  And God left their bodies in the dust as a testimony to their hardheartedness.

Their rebellion and their lack of faith becomes a warning to us when the author of the letter to the Hebrews tells us, “Today, please listen; don’t turn a deaf ear as in ‘the bitter uprising,’ that time of wilderness testing!  Even though they watched me at work for forty years, your ancestors refused to let me do it my way over and over they tried my patience.  And I was provoked, oh, so provoked I said, ‘They’ll never keep their minds on God; they refuse to walk down my road.’  Exasperated, I vowed, ‘They’ll never get where they’re going, never be able to sit down and rest.’”

Today is all we have.  No one promised us tomorrow.  If we miss our chance, if we refuse to follow God and instead embrace the world we should be prepared for a hand full of ashes.  The Apostle John put it like this, “Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out.”

But John didn’t leave it there.  He finished the passage with a promise, “but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.”

And when it comes to the promises of God we need to realize, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

Sometimes life seems like a long time.  It always feels like we have hours to kill but not a moment to spare.  Our fleeting moment upon this stage is rushing by.  Like flowers in the field we sprout, bloom, and fade away.  For most of us one or two generations at the most and no one will remember we were here.  So grab the chance and remember time is of the essence and listen to these words ringing in our ears, “Today, please listen; don’t turn a deaf ear as in the bitter uprising.”

It’s never too late.  Until it is.

Dr. Owens teaches History, Political Science, Global Studies, and Religion.  He is the Historian of the Future @ http://drrobertowens.com  © 2020 Contact Dr. Owens drrobertowens@hotmail.com   Follow Dr. Robert Owens on Facebook or Twitter @ Drrobertowens or visit Dr. Owens Amazon Page / Edited by Dr. Rosalie Owens

 

 

 

I Got Faith You Got Faith All God’s Children Got Faith December 11, 2018

Posted by Dr. Robert Owens in Religion, Uncategorized.
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Pastor John Osteen the father of Mega Church Joel used to lead his congregation in this confession, “This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do.” while waving his big black Bible in the air.  He started every service this way encouraging the faithful to stand on God’s Word. 

It’s our confession of God’s Word that opens the door to miracles.  For if we don’t believe God’s Word how can we say we believe God?  And if we don’t believe God who and what do we believe? 

Many of us have been told we’re losers.  Many of us have been told we’re worthless, unwanted, unnecessary, and unloved.  Not all of us grew up with Mom and Pop Cleaver protecting, supporting, and affirming us.  Many of us have told ourselves we’re no good, forgotten, and useless.  And sad to say many of us believe what the world says about us.  We often believe ourselves and allow these beliefs to shape and guide our lives. 

May be we should try God?  Let’s believe His Word and let that shape and guide our lives. 

Now think about God’s Word for a moment.  He says that His word is truth, and that His judgments endure forever.  He also says He watches over His Word to perform it.  If He’s lying about all that He’s a liar, and we know God isn’t a liar. The devil is. That’s his very nature.  And since the devil’s original sin was his desire to be recognized as God, when we say or act as if God is a liar we’re giving the devil exactly what he wants, because we’re saying the liar is our God. 

Spiritual things can only be understood by those who are spiritual.  To the natural man they’re foolishness and the fool has said in his heart there is no God.  In this article I’m speaking to believers and hopefully to those without hope who might become believers.  To those who’ve confessed Jesus as Lord and who believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead.   If we’ve done those things His Word says we will be saved.  It doesn’t say might be.  It doesn’t say could be.  It says will be. Which also means you can be. 

He also says we overcame the devil by the blood of the Lamb AND the word of our testimony, that we will be judged by the words that come out of our mouth, and that whatever we ask in the name of Jesus we shall receive that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 

That is some powerful stuff.  Our words are important.  Some people interpret all this in such a way that believe God becomes their servant and that He’s honor bound to give us anything we ask for.  But in His Word He tells us that we need to ask for the right stuff when He says you ask and don’t receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 

We need to get lined up with Him.  We need to allow Him to put the desires in our heart and then use the power of confession in the Name of Jesus to move forward in the ministry He’s called us to, and then we’ll receive the desires of our heart, the ones He put there.  For make no mistake if you’re a believer you’ve been called to minister the Word to a world dying to receive it.  That ministry is your witness.  You don’t have to be a Bible scholar.  God will always give you the words to say if you testify of Him.  Share your witness, your testimony.  Simply tell what the Lord has done for you.  And if you don’t have a testimony seek the Lord until you have one. 

All it takes is faith to walk out on God’s Word and expect Him to accomplish it.  That’s what we do to get saved.  And that’s what we must do to be who He says we are, to have what He says we have, and to do what He’s called us to do. 

And if the believers among us think we don’t have enough faith remember we had enough faith to believe God for salvation.  And I don’t know about you but if I have enough faith to believe God will welcome someone like me into heaven I’ve got more than a mustard seed’s worth so mountain you better start jumping.  Also remember faith itself is a gift from God.  We can always ask for more.  So if you don’t have enough faith to believe God for salvation ask God and He will give it to you. 

I got faith, you got faith, all God’s children got faith, and the only kind of faith for me is faith in Jesus Christ. 

Dr. Owens teaches History, Political Science, and Religion.  He is the Historian of the Future @ http://drrobertowens.com  © 2018 Contact Dr. Owens drrobertowens@hotmail.com   Follow Dr. Robert Owens on Facebook or Twitter @ Drrobertowens or visit Dr. Owens Amazon Page / Edited by Dr. Rosalie Owens 

 

 

 

 

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