ONE Will : TWO Choices --- Passover Meditations for the Monastic-At-Heart

ONE WILL . TWO CHOICES.

There are two forces at work in the Universe. The most powerful one is The LORD JESUS CHRIST.  The second most powerful one is the satan.

Human beings have been given Free Will by The LORD.

That is, poor as well as rich, bond as well as free, female as well as male, young as well as old, ignorant as well as brilliant... we all have ONE thing given in EQUAL amounts to each of us:  a Free Will.

No-one or no thing can MAKE  us CHOOSE to do wrong or right.

Now, there may be a price to pay for doing the right thing, but if we are willing to pay that price no matter what it is, we will see that NO-ONE or NO THING can change our will to do what is right.

No-one can MAKE us choose to do wrong.

If we die holding onto our right choice, we die... but "they" have not forced us to change.  That is why "they" kill us: we would not change even in the face of death.

A Free Will has been granted each and every individual on planet earth.

Because Man did not give it to us, Man cannot take it away. It was given at creation to Man by the LORD of Creation.

Therefore, HE can take our Free Will away... and HE does. As soon as we close our eyes in death, our Free Will is ended: we must remain in our choice.

That choice was made while we went through our allotted years on earth. Yes, every day --- indeed, every hour --- we lived on planet earth, we choose.

What did we choose ?

With our GOD-given Free Will, we chose to yield allegiance to one of the 2 forces of the Universe.

At any point in time in our entire lives, we agree with either The LORD or else with the satan. 

In short, we either yield to The LORD JESUS CHRIST or we yield to the satan... at any given point in time throughout or lives.

Saved or Unsaved... we agree with either ONE+ or the other... and never both at the same point in time because they are deadly enemies.

This is why sharp words, bad attitudes, and regretful actions are oftentimes seen in persons who are Saved.  They have agreed with their Adamic nature instead of agreeing with the LORD.

Now some persons might think they do NOT agree with the satan, even though they want nothing to do with The LORD. That is, they do not want the LORD JESUS CHRIST to control their lives. They want to be free of "religious" strictures which hamper their Free Will.

So, they live their lives decently and as humanely as THEY see fit... without the LORD JESUS. 

What they do not realize is that they were BORN with a suction cup attaching themselves to the satan. All progeny of Adam were born with this spiritual appendage, unfortunately.

If the satan cannot lure people by evil temptations into his camp, then he lures them by good ! 

Yes, he instructs them through their "human mind" in how to be good and righteous --- humanly-speaking --- and attaches them to the OTHER side of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  

Unfortunately for these good-doers, they are STILL attached to the wrong tree; they have not been attached to the Tree of Life.  Because all men speak well of them, their error is hidden to their own eyes and they are in grave danger.

This danger is, of course, Eternal Damnation. 

Those fellows hanging onto the evil side of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil are actually in better shape because they KNOW they are wretched and evil. And, in their better moments, some may wish they did not "have" to always be evil, but (sigh) they are powerless to change ... they think. 

Human beings have been given their own Free Will.  No-one can take it away here on earth. In addition, NO-ONE can control that Free Will except the individual TO WHOM IT HAS BEEN GIVEN.

Furthermore, our own Free Will is the only freedom we have.

GOD did not give EVERYBODY across the globe in all era's and ages the right to vote, own property, or even marry whom he / she chose.

Indeed, some individuals have been born into the most wretched living conditions and circumstances imaginable.

Some live in slavery, some in horrible fear. Some in bondages that most of us cannot even imagine. Some have even their rights to their own bodies taken from them, and that, at a very young age.

Most common folk have very limited choices for vocation, recreation, housing, etc.

Most can do very little to change the range of choices they have for their station in life and very few can change their station, even in a free society.

Our human freedoms generally are limited to the "tea or coffee ?" variety... choices of very little significance.

That Free Will, though, is granted to us all --- each and every person on earth --- by GOD for one purpose: to choose to whom we will be attached for all Eternity.

If we choose the satan, then we will be attached to him throughout Eternity.

If we choose our flesh, then again we will be attached to the satan throughout Eternity.

If we choose the mind's way, humanly-speaking, using Reason as our guide, then we will be attached to --- Surprise!--- the satan, just like Eve and Adam, as they reasoned out the path for their own happiness in the Garden of Eden.

In short, if we choose what we think is best to enhance Self, then we will be attached for all Eternity to the satan once again.

If, in our Free Will, we choose to attach ourselves to the LORD JESUS CHRIST, then HE+ breaks the natural, Adamic bond we have with the satan and we are promised Eternity in Heaven !

However, the satan will NOT let us go that easily. After all, we were attached at birth to him and served him many a-year. He was, as one could say, very "attached" to us!

When we yield the control of our life to The LORD JESUS CHRIST, that attachment to the satan is severed... unless we turn BACK to our Adamic, natural man's ways... which always leads us back into the satan's camp.

Unfortunately, that "turning back" can happen in little ways as well as big.

At the start, we do not forsake JESUS CHRIST, but we also do not want to forsake some of our life-long habits, our vices, our faults, or other un-Scriptural ways we have developed when under the tutelage of the satan's camp.

 

Two forces --- and only two --- are at work in this Universe. Neither one FORCES us to choose its kingdom. Our choice is totally voluntary.

At any given point in time, we have the Free Will to be used by ONE+ or the other... but never both at the same time.

Our only freedom is to choose TO WHICH we will attach ourselves.

THE LORD will not and the satan can not make us choose; we do it ourselves.

That is why man is totally accountable unto GOD.

We are not accountable for the conditions into which we are born.  We are not accountable for what others do unto us.

We are only --- but, EVER --- accountable for choosing The LORD JESUS or the satan.

It is OUR choice... our only REAL choice here on earth. 

 

Only ONE Chair...

...And only ONE occupant at a time, is the rule.

I am the LORD:

that is My Name:

and My Glory

will I not give to another,

neither My praise to graven images.

Isaiah 42:8

This wonderful piece of Christian "art" will never be found in art galleries of the famous. It will, however, be found in the most important places, i.e... imprinted on the heart, mind, and spirit of those who follow CHRIST.

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There is only one chair in the Throne Room of our hearts. Who will fill it during 2010 ? Who filled it during 2009 ?
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Is it time to make changes? None of us are getting younger. All of us are marching ever onward toward that inevitable appointment with The Almighty. Since the Keys to life and death are TOTALLY in HIS+ Hands, is it time to make REAL changes in the Throne Room of our hearts?

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The question is very simple, black and white: WHO RULES?

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The answer is also very simple, black and white: Self or The LORD JESUS CHRIST?

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Whichever one we serve here on earth in this life will be the determining factor of our eternal... unceasing... continual... without end... always and forever placement the instant we close our eyes in death. Rich or poor, sick or healthy, young or old, lazy or industrious, clever or not... the same rule goes for all.

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Everyone KNOWS we cannot carry one little scrap with our soul and spirit as we fly away: not one dollar bill, not one degree, not one award nor certificate, not one license, not one piece of furniture, and not even one tiny thread of material to cover our nakedness.

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Moreover, not one friend nor acquaintance, not one father or mother or brother or sister or wife or husband or son or daughter, will accompany us at that Time Appointed. Neither minister nor church group, be they ever so faithful, will stand at the judgment with us. Each one of us WILL STAND ALONE to render an account of what we have savored during our allotted years: Self ... or... The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

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We will enter eternity covered only with one thing: The righteous Blood of The LAMB ... or ... our own stains of Self-rule. Yes, eternity DOES WAIT for us all; our entrance is really rather close. It is also quite certain.

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But, through WHICH DOOR shall we enter eternity? The one that leads Heaven-ward ... or ... the entrance into perdition?

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There is only ONE CHAIR

in the Throne Room of our hearts.

Who will rule:

Self ?

... or ...

The LORD JESUS CHRIST ?

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Thankfully, no-one is ordained to go into perdition and no-one is ordained to go to Heaven. We can repent of serving Self and we can live to serve Our LORD... or... we can continue on serving Self, satan, and the things of this world.

.

HE+ will not force us

to follow HIM+.

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And likewise,

we cannot force HIM+

to let us into Heaven.

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Only one life,

'Twill soon be past;

Only what's done for CHRIST

Will last.

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Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 33:11

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The WORD of The LORD;

Thanks be to GOD!

+ + +

In the name of The FATHER

Who created thee;

And His Beloved SON+,

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,

Who saves thee;

And the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

Who sanctifies thee.

+

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The Battle Against SELF-WILL...

~ or~

An ADVENT Message for us

to "Prepare Ye the Way of The LORD"

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It was a sweet card... a Christmas card from an old school chum with the appropriate message about the birth of Our SAVIOR on it. She signed it with "love and prayers" because she fancies herself to be a Christian, having come through a battle with cancer with the help of The LORD.

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So glad she is for the Hand of The LORD touching her life that she has found energy for a new life... by locating a man "who has her interests now" and buying a house together with "her new friend" ... outside the bounds of holy matrimony. Because she is beyond the age of child-bearing, all is well... she thinks.

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Now, she was un-churched growing up and although she is a mother, grand-mother, and great-grandmother, my old school chum DOES know the difference between right and wrong.

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The real problem is she calls herself a Christian.

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Her man friend, whom I do not know, was raised in the Roman Catholic church. At least he knows that confession and repentance are needed before taking of The LORD'S Body and Blood at Communion.

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In another situation, a young man was a musician in a local church. He loved to play on Sundays. They love to have him. His dear mother, a Christian anointed with the HOLY SPIRIT, confided to me that this son is doing well, out of jail, off drugs and alcohol. The only problem is that he is choosing not to live with Mom but rather with his girl friend.

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The minister of his church counseled him about unrepentant sin. But, the young man wouldn't turn from it. So, the church forbade him to play for the worship service [ Bless GOD! ] ... and the minister cried! He urged him, however, to keep on coming to church, but the young man is toying with it.

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The real problem is he calls himself a Christian.

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In yet another situation of a totally different caliber, a Godly, well-seasoned and experienced church leader is pursuing a building scheme to establish his ministry with a name. At one point, this minister LEFT the helm of a huge church in order to reach out to the little poor unreached tribes. Everyone scoffed at him, but Pastor followed The Will of GOD. He now has more than 200 native missionaries under his wing, going to the unreached tribes.

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What happened to this dear Pastor? He became ambitious and full of Self-Will. Problems soon developed as he pursued his will and not GOD'S will. Many words of warning have been lovingly given him. Several Christians have now distanced themselves from him and his ministry. Certain shipwreck is looming on the horizon if this Pastor pursues his self-willed course.

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The real problem is that he calls himself

following CHRIST JESUS.

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In all of these cases, Self-Will is ruling. In all of these cases, the delusion is strong that the pursuit of Self-Will will bring happiness.

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The TRUTH is that Self-Will

will destroy anyone...

...in the Kingdom or out.

The pursuit of GOD'S WILL

is the only way

to avoid certain destruction.

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That is why a daily, private, disciplined time of worship and Scripture reading is so important: it will open one's ears to know His+ Will. That is why seasons of repentance practiced by the ancient church are important for us to re-install today.

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The original intent of the not-so-ancient Advent Season was to establish a season of repentance for the Church awaiting the Incarnation remembrance*. Anything to bring to mind repentance from the human condition is GOOD.

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We all need it.

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O HEAVENLY FATHER, we have erred from Thy Way like lost sheep. We have wandered too far from Thy Fold. We have allowed our hearts to lie to us about "what" makes us happy. Help us to worship THEE+ in Spirit and in Truth in the inner man. Turn us again, O LORD GOD of HOSTS, and we shall be saved.

+ + +

*[ We KNOW this day was arbitrarily chosen for less-than-holy purposes. Even so, we unite with the Western Church in remembering the Incarnation of Our LORD simply so the Church's witness to the Unredeemed ones doesn't become more confused than it already is. ]