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May 28, 2006 I have been reading with interest the latest responses to the ideals of atheism by Mr. Patrick Hurley. Although we do not correspond I know from his writings that he and I share like Spirit in the “One Faith” spoken of by Paul the Apostle. I know my reputation here among the unfaithful. I prefer not to ally myself to anyone else. I am my own voice and the Spirit has blessed me continually in my efforts to be faithful to the Gospel of the Lord. It is good to see other voices unafraid of examining the truth against the claims of atheism. I fully believe Mr. Hurley when he tells us of his checkered past in contrast to the blessed life he now holds in Christ. I do not need to read the myriad responses to his heart-given words against atheism/agnosticism. I have certainly caused the same reactions with my few offerings from scripture. I have been very busy lately in my personal ministry. I have decided to cut back on my writings for a while and only submit (appropriately) on Sundays. I may have other opportunities to write and I will take those as they happen, but for now here are some thoughts from Psalm 40. “1I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” (Psalm 40:1-3) This is what has happened to the few who hold Jesus as Lord. We have been taken out of that darkness surrounded by sin and temptation and we have been delivered onto a “rock”. We have been “established” where before we were like chaff in the wind. We have been given a song we never sang before that moment of belief. There are those who have seen this in us and have responded in likeness to the testimony of the Lord. “4Blessed is that man that makes the LORD his trust, and respects not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” (Psalm 40:4) Atheism is a lie. Proud men and men who believe themselves the ultimate achievement of the natural world deceive themselves and each other. The Christian can have no respect for the proud man who places himself above God. Christianity has determined “humility” the proper approach toward men. Though the Christian has the spiritual advantage, this was not something gained by “self”. This was something given and accepted by the man of faith. Salvation is nothing to be boastful or proud about. Salvation is something to be thankful for having been given. “5Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” (Psalm 40:5) Natural men are always demanding “proof”. They have been given proof. The creation is proof. The flood of Noah’s day is proof. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt is proof. The taking of the lands promised to Abraham by the tiny nation of Israel is proof. Jonah is proof. The resurrection is proof. The spread of the Gospel from a few scared believers is proof and there is too much more proof to have placed it into a single tome. A Christian can preach 100 years and not be able to cover all the proof God has placed at the hands of men. “6Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:6-8) The true Christian speaks of a “simple” prayer of faith. The prayer is no more than a request to God to send his son into the life based on a faith that has been delivered to the heart of the petitioner. Yet, as simple as that prayer might seem it contains probably the hardest words ever conceived for a heart blackened in sin. Those words require repentance. Those words require a heart opened to God. Those words require a surrender of the old nature filled with its many lusts and the acceptance of the new nature God bestows by his Spirit. It is a complete change of posture, attitude and direction. It is accepting the keys to the home prepared for the believer in the heavens. None of that requires any special sacrifice on the part of the repentant. The sacrifice was provided by God himself. The gift of life is just that; a gift. “9I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knows. 10I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation.” (Psalm 40:9-10) The true Christian is faced with this work. The “congregation” needs the “preaching of righteousness”. It is not for the Christian to withhold this preaching from the hearts that need to hear the message. Jesus said it was the sick that needed the healing. This is the world. The world is sick with sin and the “loving-kindness” of God must not be withheld from the souls of the lost. The Christian should never be ashamed or “refrain” from preaching Christ! “11Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart fails me.” (Psalm 40:11-12) There is no harm in the Christian asking for continual preservation from God. This is a promise, but we are reminded never to take these promises from God for granted because “God chastises whom he loves” too. There may be those personal sins and “iniquities” that rise up in the life. Even Paul the Apostle admitted there were things he knew not to do that he did anyway. The Christian is not immune to failure; but therein is the grace of God because he has given us the Advocate. We have become blameless in Christ. “13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. 14Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. 15Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.” (Psalm 40: 13-15) I could easily tell by the multiplied “anti-Hurley” articles that Mr. Hurley’s columns had a bold effect on the idealism of the atheists that write at Useless-Knowledge. What many atheists fail to understand is that one voice speaking truth can smother a thousand voices speaking lies. This probably only applies to God’s word. Normally, lies spoken often enough are eventually believed, but there is no lie against God that can stand against the witnessed resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Those who create the stories against the truth are again shown to be “confounded” and “desolate”. God will let them talk and will allow them their influence. God will them present himself to men and see hearts change for the better. It is the changed heart that understands the spiritual darkness it has been delivered from. The Psalmist penned a prayer from his heart that is echoed through centuries of history to my own. “…make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded…” “16Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. 17But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.” (Psalm 40:16-17) It is the Christian who does not belong in the world. The world gives nothing to the one faithful in Christ except ridicule and distain. If we “rejoice” Paul wrote that we should always “rejoice in the Lord”. “…yet the LORD thinks upon me…” is one of the most beautiful phrases in all of scripture. The LORD thinks upon me. Remember Christian; the LORD thinks upon you! ------------ Email Skip: skiptoomaloo@hotmail.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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