The Revelation given To John Through The Angel

The Revelation Given to John by Jesus Through the Angel

Lesson three continued

The Archaeological Study bible tells us the Nicolaitans were a sect within the Church who taught falsely that compromise with pagan society was proper and right.

Yeshua recognizes and praises the church for hating the teachings of compromise, but warns them that if they don’t turn back to him and fall in love all over again that their light will go out altogether.

Then he reminds them of our blessed hope[i]: soon and very soon we will hear the trumpet call, and oh, what a day that will be!

Compromise is the politically correct thing to do, but God is sovereign, so when he asks for our loyalty, wisdom, as well as obligation makes “no compromise” the right action.

When we adjust our personal lives and decisions to accommodate the ways of the world, it is a sign that we are ignoring the King’s authority. He sits on the throne of our hearts, but if we ignore him, what does that make us? He is the lover of our souls. Only a traitor turns from his King to his enemy. For Christians, compromise with the pagan world is treason.

In the light of this, perhaps the church’s eagerness to get rid of all the tares in the wheat[ii]had resulted in unloving, strict dogma.

There is always a message of hope in judgment. Repent: turn from your own way to God’s way where mercy and grace partner with justice. Therefore, repent is the most hopeful word in the English language. Repentance is a gift from God. As long as we repent there is hope for a better way of life in our future – a way out of the mess we make so we can start over with God as our guide and our counselor. The proof and fruit of repentance is a changed life. “Remember therefore from whence you are fallen and repent, and do the first works[iii]; or else I will come unto you quickly and remove your candlestick[iv] out of his place; unless you repent.

To be continued

 

[i] Revelation 2:7

[ii] Matthew 13:25-30

[iii] The things that flow from love

[iv] witness

Running the Race as a Winner Day Twenty-nine

Running the Race as a Winner

Day Twenty-nine

Because Cain refused to turn to God, the seed of the woman, promised in Genesis 3:16 would come from Seth[i], the younger son. Adam had been on this earth 235 years when Seth’s first son Enosh, which means “mortal” was born.  He was the grandson of a man whose name means “of the earth”. Adam lived to see his six times great grandson, Lamech, who dies five years before the flood. His son Lamech’s father, Methuselah, died the year of the flood; and Methuselah’ father Enoch, walked with God three hundred years[ii]but it wasn’t until ninety years after he was taken up to God that it was said of anyone else that he “walked with God.” Whether we take this as literal time and people or as symbolic times and people, the message is the same: walking with God, the great and majestic Creator of the universe, is the key to avoiding sin.

 

As winners in the race we walk with God by faith. We agree with God that sin is degrading and corrupt; and we understand that the result is sickness, sadness and death. We hate it, we abhor it, and we despise it; so we avoid it, shun it, and turn from it. We are interested in the joy of the Lord that gives us strength. We love and seek the light that produces the fruit of the Spirit that is all goodness, righteousness, and truth. We delight in the law of the Lord that produces peace, health, and happiness. We direct our lives – an integration of passion and reason – to the Father of Light, from whence comes every good and perfect gift.

 

Prayer: Lord, I love you. You are my strength; your law restores my soul, your testimonies give me wisdom, your precepts give me joy, and your commandments give me insight. Keep me ever close to you. And blessed be the name of the Lord God from this time and forevermore.

 

[i] Genesis 4:5

[ii] Jude 14:15; Hebrews 11:5-7