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June 5, 2005 Perhaps it is not common knowledge that the Christian God is the same God of Islam. All of Islam can claim to be offspring of Abraham; the man of faith. Abraham had sex with his wife’s handmaid, Hagar and that union produced a child, Ishmael. Ishmael is the progenitor of the entire race of modern Muslims. Hagar was driven from Abraham’s camp because Ishmael was not the child through whom God had promised Abraham his legacy. It would be through Sarah’s naturally born son, Isaac, which the line of the Messiah would later emerge from. God did permit Ishmael to live and have an incredible legacy. God told Hagar that there would always be enmity between the legacies of Isaac and Ishmael. This enmity has existed throughout all the ages since. It is no secret that there will never be peace between Muslim and Jew. There is barely peace between Muslim and Muslim. It is true though that the one true God of Heaven is the God of the Christian. The Christian is the one who has displayed the faith of Abraham. Others would claim this faith, but Jesus would see through the lie and tell people that God could raise rocks with more faith than those in front of him. Paul the Apostle wrote that there were two ways a man could go. He could go the way of Hagar; identified with the way of law and bondage; or he could go the way of Sarah; the way of faith. The way of faith is, like Abraham, accounted for righteousness. It is a liberty from the laws of men that would keep men in spiritual bondage. The religions that evolved from men bear no resemblance to the faith Jesus taught. Jesus said his words were directly from the Father. He spoke nothing contrary to the intent of his Father’s will. Jesus was rejected by men. Fortunately, he was acceptable as the substitute for men or no man could claim any part of the grace of God. Just as Isaac and Ishmael could not share the same camp; neither can faith nor works claim equal worth in a relationship with God. The scriptures are quite plain that “by grace you are saved, through faith”, and that not of yourself, but that faith is a gift of God, not of works, so no one can boast of his own actions. Good works were to be the testimony of those who claimed the faith of Abraham. This is the problem with men. They desire instant gratification and they will seek every way to find it. Paul writes that he could be content no matter what his station in life. There are very few men today who can admit that. Men have discovered, or created ways to do things for God he has never requested. If men would sit, and read with understanding, they might come to realize the creator of the universe only desires their life. He does not profit nor gain any glory from the deaths of the unfaithful. It is not surprising that Christians are blamed for all the evils in the world. If only those Christians would shut up and leave us alone……….. Yet, even when we do that; even when we separate ourselves from the world’s dark corners, the lovers of the finite; discontent with the peacefulness enjoyed by people of faith, find unenlightening things to say. A Christian who witnesses his faith is condemned. A Christian who folds his tent and keeps his faith quietly to himself is called ignorant and fearful. There is no escape from the scorn of ignorant men. So our Lord calls us the “salt” of the earth and the “light” of the world. We who call Jesus “Lord” know all about that. Those with other lords will continue to struggle. Just as all men are related by blood and common ancestry; so we are related spiritually through the giver of all life. We should be brothers, all of the same Heavenly Father. Sadly, too many have walked away from the “Light of the World”. ------------ Email Skip: skiptoomaloo@hotmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ 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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