luke

Will He Find Fruit?

By: Denny-

I started my day today as I usually do with my morning coffee. I was a little hungry, so I had a piece of hot cornbread leftover from supper last night. It is a rainy gloomy Fall day as I sit looking out the dining room window. The high today will be 48 and raining off and on all day. Most of the trees have shed their leaves, but there are some that are still vibrant yellow including one in our front yard. I went outside and swept the wet leaves away from the front door and off the deck. It is Election Day, and I hung out our flag. The voting place for our precinct is one block away at the golf course clubhouse. I noticed the official “Vote Here” sign with the arrow pointing that direction is planted near the curb on the corner of our yard. There isn’t much traffic yet, but those who work may vote during the noon hour or after work. In talking with people I know, they like many others already voted earlier, as we also did. I’m optimistic that Donald Trump will win the election, but I wonder if Republicans will have the needed majority in the House and Senate to help him fulfill his promised agenda. The fate and direction of America hinges on that happening, and it all lies in the hands of “We the People”. The concern I have is that many people will not recognize or discern the times we are living in.

There are two times mentioned in the Bible where Jesus wept. One is found in John 11:35 at the tomb of Lazarus prior to Him raising him from the dead. The other is found in Luke 19:41. Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it. This took place as He was entering Jerusalem in what Christianity celebrates as Palm Sunday. All four gospels record how Jesus entered the temple and drove out those who basically had turned it into a flea market for buying and selling, something it was never meant to be. Matthew 23 goes into detail recording how Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the religious Pharisees and pulled no punches and showed them no mercy in rebuking them sharply. So why does only Luke record that Jesus wept and why? Matthew gives us a clue to it in chapter 23:37  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” However, Luke 19 verses 42- 44 make it very clear. “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”  What does this event that took place then have to do with the election today in 2024. I say everything. America as a nation has been unwilling to turn to God despite the ones He has sent to prevent its destruction. In fact, many have thumbed their nose at God declaring, “We don’t need you!” Why, because America has failed to recognize and know the time of its visitation. We have been blessed and favored by God as a nation, but that visitation will soon be removed if we don’t repent and turn back to him. Quite frankly, I don’t see that happening if the radical left agenda continues under a Kamala Harris presidency. I think it is entirely possible that God is giving America one last chance to change by electing Donald Trump. I see Donald Trump not as the savior, but as one with the whip in his hand driving out the political corruption in Washington DC. Just examine and compare the differences in their policies and track records and see which ones most closely align with the Word of God, and you may come to the same conclusion. The economic issues of inflation, lost jobs, taxes, higher prices, the crisis of the illegal invasion at the borders, the national debt, wars, crime, gangs and drugs, and many others are important to us, but are they equally important to God. I’m not saying that he doesn’t care about these things, however, I think they are a result of a nation that has lost its way and whose god is not the Lord Jesus Christ. As if that weren’t enough, history and the Bible records that no nation who has killed their babies and children, sold them into slavery, or approved and sanctioned homosexual behaviors, has ever survived. I think God is giving America one last chance to repent based on Luke 13:6-9 “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ “But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”

There have been multiple events in our recent history that tragedy has struck our nation. It was at those times we were unified under a common cause. For a brief moment we prayed, but before long it was back to business as usual. In other words, no true repentance. Instead of being unified we are a nation divided. I have to wonder if America is already at the point now where if Harris wins, we are in danger of being cut down by God. I’m not saying He will wipe out America immediately, but He will just allow us to self- destruct. Repentance, like voting, is a matter of choice. Perhaps if Trump is elected, God will give us an extended four years to repent and bear good fruit. Who knows. God is watching. Will He find Fruit?

Updates Available

By: Denny

If you have a cell phone, iPad, computer, smart TV, or other electronic communications device, you have probably received this notification: “Updates Available”. You may also get alerts that you are running an older version and need to install the latest upgraded version. Sometimes your device is so outdated it can’t be upgraded to a newer version because there isn’t enough memory, or the newer version isn’t compatible with your old device. Technology is ever changing and doesn’t remain stagnant. You need to go with the flow in order to keep up with the latest and newest innovations. It seems they’re always wanting you to upgrade to a new and improved model. When they mandated TV stations to broadcast programs digitally, the good old analog TVs were worthless, except to watch movies on using your also obsolete VHS player. When ResMed cancelled their 3G network and upgraded to 5G, my perfectly good CPAP 10 machine which worked wonderfully could no longer communicate with the app. I couldn’t monitor or print my sleep history. I had to upgrade to a new 5G machine, which in my opinion is not as good as my old one. Even cars these days have become so computerized that the average do-it-yourself weekend mechanic can’t work on them.

Using the basic template I just mentioned concerning updates and applying them to the Bible, helps us to understand God’s word and His Kingdom. For instance, in John 3:3-7 Jesus was telling Nicodemus that one must be born again, otherwise you can’t see or enter the Kingdom of God. In computer terminology, the old version of ritualistic religious ceremonies and sacrifices was no longer acceptable to God, nor could it forgive sins. When Jesus died on the cross his sacrifice of giving his body and shedding his blood, was the instant the new covenant (version) became available and was in effect. It was like switching from analog to digital spiritually. Over and over Jesus tried to explain this through his teachings and use of parables. Many believed, and in a manner of speaking, they downloaded and installed the new version, not on a device, but in their hearts. Others were like the Pharisees who rejected Jesus, being so set in their worthless traditions. God was upgrading to 5G, and they were quite resolute in keeping their 3G thinking it was better, but not knowing it was no longer useful, adequate, or acceptable to God. In Luke 5:37-39 this is exactly what Jesus was saying when telling the parable of the wineskins. “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; For he says, “The old is better.” The whole system of do-it-yourself religious works was obsolete and incompatible with the new version upgrade God was offering, but they liked the old better to their own detriment.

God’s plan of salvation does not and will not change, neither does the operating system of His Kingdom principles. Jesus Christ is the only true way to God. Sadly, many people are coming up with so-called new versions of Jesus these days. Once downloaded and installed into your life, they are like a malicious malware virus that wreaks havoc, because they aren’t based on truth. I mentioned previously how technology is ever changing and does not remain stagnant, and so it is with God. He is ever doing wondrous works in the world and inviting people to partner with him. However, you must be using the newest version and update it daily through prayer and reading His word to know what He’s doing. There is an interesting portion of scripture in Ezekiel 47:1-12. It talks about a river which flows from the temple. It has measured depths symbolic of the Holy Spirit and your personal walk and relationship with God in various stages. The river gives life and healing wherever it flows, but the swamps and marshes will not be healed or give life. Swamps and marshes are places where the river once flowed, but the river changed directions leaving behind water now stagnant and dead. Such is the sad condition of many churches and the people who attend them. Does that statement offend you? Maybe you need to check your heart and verify that you’re running the true gospel version. If not, you need to install it by accepting Christ as your savior and remain current on updates that are available.  

Worse Sinners?

By: Denny

It was a long trip from Galilee for those traveling to the temple in Jerusalem. They had come to offer sacrifices unto God. There are several speculations as to why and what happened that day, but the result was that Pontius Pilot sent soldiers into the temple to kill them as they were offering their sacrifices. One commentary said there were about 3,000 men killed. The Galileans were considered to be a lower class of seditious people by those in Jerusalem. They spoke the same language as the Jews in Jerusalem, but they had a definite accent that was easily recognizable. Such was the case of Peter, being himself a Galilean, when he denied He knew Jesus. Mark 14:70 But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” Herod was the governor over Galilee in the North, while Pontius Pilot was the governor over Judea in the South. They were in opposition to each other and not on friendly terms. Perhaps Pilot killed the Galileans to send the message to Herod that Galileans weren’t welcomed in Jerusalem. At any rate, the news spread and was told to Jesus. Luke 13:1-2 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilot had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

They had said goodbye to their families that morning as they headed off to their jobs working for Leibowitz & Cohen Construction. It was just another ordinary day at work, no different than those before. A few may have walked along together as they headed for the job site discussing and coordinating their particular plans, duties, and actions once they got there. It was a beautiful sunny day and if all went well, they might be able to complete the Siloam Tower today and enjoy the weekend before moving on to the next project on Monday. Nobody knows for sure; maybe it was poorly designed, the footings may not have been deep enough, or perhaps they were using substandard materials. It happened at noon when all the men were sitting eating their lunch in the shade of the tower. There was a cracking sound that got louder. Bricks began to crumble and suddenly without warning the whole tower came crashing down killing all 18 men. Hypothetically, it could have happened that way, but the Bible doesn’t say. It only records that Jesus asked the same rhetorical question that he had asked those same people who came to him with the news about the Galileans being killed. Luke 13:4-5 “Or those 18 on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? There appears to be an almost veiled supposition by those present that the Galileans and the 18 men were worse sinners because of their horrible untimely deaths. In each case Jesus gave the same answer, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Throughout the centuries there have been tragedies that have snuffed out the lives of people just going about their daily activities, and we are no exception. Plane crashes, terrorist attacks, school shootings, bombings and shootings at events, building collapses, accidents, wars, diseases, and every kind of natural disaster you can name where people have died, are headlines we see in the news on a daily basis. Most recently we  witnessed the video of an out-of-control ship crashing into and bringing down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, MD. Six workers who were making repairs to it at the time lost their lives. This was absolutely horrific and tragic. Not only for the six men and their families, but the untold hardships and far-reaching secondary impact on jobs and the overall economy. I find myself wondering if Jesus’ statement, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” would be the same today as it was then. The answer without even asking is yes. Granted, that doesn’t fit the one-sided view of the gentle, loving, and kind Jesus that many picture Him to be. Just as many, if not more, become angry at God for not preventing such things, which usually ends up with them becoming bitter and rejecting Him.  Death rarely ever gives an advance warning. The mysteries of the who, what, when, where, and why’s of life and death are only known to God. How would you tell someone that God cares about, loves them, and wants to be involved in every aspect of their lives, when they are suffering and grieving over the sudden tragic loss of a loved one? You certainly wouldn’t say, “Unless you repent, you will likewise perish”. Yet, Jesus did, because His primary and ultimate concern is for every eternal soul. Does Jesus lack compassion for those who have died and those left to grieve? Not at all, but there was a far greater eternal truth he was revealing. The statement, “you will all likewise perish” is worthy of pause and consideration. Jesus wasn’t telling them that unless they repent, they would die in the same manner. In Luke 5:32 Jesus says, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” The first words Jesus spoke as He began His ministry as recorded in Mark 1:15 were, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, but not because Lazarus died. He knew ahead of time that He was going to raise him back to life. He wept because of the unbelief of those gathered there. John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never (die). (likewise perish) – my emphasis) Do you believe this?”

There are many who would and do categorize sins. You have the little white lie sins, the middle of the road sins, and the really bad worse sins. In the eyes of God there are no worse sins or sinners. You either are one or you aren’t, and in case you don’t know, you are one. The playing field is level for everyone. Jesus is the only one who never sinned, which qualified Him alone to be the Savior of all mankind. What comes to mind when you hear the word repent? Perhaps it’s a scene from a movie depicting a preacher as a wild-eyed half-crazed man dressed in black pointing a long finger and shouting, “Repent sinner, or face the fires of Hell!” Leave it to the Hollywood elite to stereotype, misrepresent, demean, and portray Christians and the Gospel in a bad way. Repentance isn’t something you can force people to do out of fear to escape Hell. Think of repentance as if you are walking in one direction, then do a complete 180 turn and go the opposite direction. True repentance is birthed out of a heart realization that you are a lost soul in need of a savior. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts, opens your understanding, and draws you to Jesus the Savior who is calling you to come to Him. Believing is more than a general acknowledging that Jesus died for the sins of the world. It must become personal and that happens when you confess that you are a sinner, ask for forgiveness, and invite Jesus Christ to save you and be the Lord of your life. Jesus Himself said, “You must be born again”, and that’s what happens. The Holy spirit takes up residence in your heart and helps you to repent. Your old sinful nature was crucified with Christ, and you have a new nature according to His righteousness and now have everlasting life. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” We don’t often hear or use the word perish. It means to die a violent sudden death. The “should not perish” that the above scripture references is immediately followed by, “but have everlasting life”. It’s like a two-sided coin: repent or perish. We all will die someday, but there is coming a time when everyone will stand before God and be asked what we did about Jesus. Those who have repented in this life and accepted His sacrifice as payment for their sins, already possess everlasting life here and now. For us, death is just a door we pass through to enter Heaven. However, those who have not repented and turned to Jesus in this life will not be given that opportunity after death. Heaven’s door will be closed to them. Sin demands payment, and they will pay for their own sins by being sentenced to an everlasting death away from the presence of God, perishing in Hell. That is what Jesus meant when He said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”. Those aren’t my words or opinion, and you can read it for yourself. (John 3:17-20)

Where do you stand with God right now? Have you truly repented, or are you still listed among the condemned and the “likewise perishing”? If your life was taken from you today, can you say with confidence that you have everlasting life and no fear of death? You may think you are a  worse sinner, but there is no sin that the blood of Jesus that He shed on the cross for you cannot cover. Don’t wait, make your choice today, so that whatever happens you can face each day with confidence and peace and say along with King David.

Psalm 31:14-15a But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand.