Month: March 2024

Eventually, a house is only known by its foundation. After all things a house is made subject to, time, winds and whatever manners of weather and weathering, or happenstance like fire, there is no telling a house was ever there unless something of foundation remains. And not only so, but in laying foundation is found a hard connection to matters of its durability. So much of what may occur in consequence is not only dependent upon how securely the house is fit to foundation, but, and no less, how well and fashioned that foundation is first laid to support that house fit to it.

And we know houses are spoken of frequently under our eye, particularly in reference to their foundation, that foundation’s placement and of what sort of matter that foundation is composed. And we are instructed to wise building. Whether we do or not, only God knows. And God also knows all His ways of testing construction…whether such is built upon sand or rock, and of what matter constructed that may withstand weather, fire, or shaking. Till these things come we build as we do, really not knowing. We may think we do know, but only the testing will reveal our work. And whether or not such is fitly resting upon a sure foundation.

Obviously, analogies abound. For if living in the land of types and shadows that is all one really has…references to others things. Things representing other matters, which, even were we to call such other matters the true things from which all analogy is made for, and as their representation, we are yet consigned to always and only dealing in derivatives. House may exist to all in some manner of true concept, but only in the building by which we do, do we then show what it means to us. So, in one sense we are given to do, to make plain what we have in our conceptions. And house is particularly useful to this in all, for house is where we live. Even where we live from.

And all we may call anything in a land of types and shadows, where we make words to show ideas or thoughts of what we hold in consciousness, and even to every other thing we may know in this land, are always representational. And each shows what he holds as to what he believes is the truth of matters like house…or life, peace, love, success, and even all other and perhaps less ethereal matters as a designer may say “I believe (in my inner seeing) a car should look like this!”. “A dress should look like this” Always aiming at something.

Even a thing we may believe as a true thing in concept, but yet is only brought forth as that representation, or even our representation of how that true thing appears to us. And so here we are bound to our limits, and the limits of, our consciousness. In all and every sense. We may even seek to be absurd…to somehow stretch or break such constraining or constricting boundary…yet such will always accord with our own understanding or vision of absurdity. And there display that we are such reaching for that.

We may try to be random…but even so that is always in some directed order and orderliness owed to an origin. In that sense we are impenetrably locked up. Owing all to our own consciousness and whatever we can see in it, and of it, then made plain by us in our representing. Throw in affections/aversions and their peculiarly obscure nature and origins in and to ourselves of moving us toward and/or away from; and one may begin to see how actually bound in all matters one is. Living from a quite locked up…house. (There’s house again)

I stand at the door and knock.

We come to some places that are of not merely less popular consideration, but often opposed. This should neither be strange to us, nor unfamiliar. We have been told.

We may even understand our own once opposition had to be overcome that we also, if we are so led to sharing, be patient with any hearers (as God has been patient with us) that in due time, if such indeed be true as we may speak, only God can bring about any conviction of truth.

The so many testimonies in scripture of God’s absolute Authority and Sovereignty over all and every matter, when once frankly seen, may lead to some conclusion…of even His necessary rebuke of us for once holding illusions and being deluded to both His estate, and those matters with which we have to do. Delusions, as idols, die hard.

Among these are that mindset/view general sensing (in delusion) that what opposes God (particularly the Devil himself) is of any equality to Him.

Now, and admittedly, I am persuaded no believer would embrace this to a frank confession of such, but that there yet remains some filmy or gauzy state of mind wherein that particular entity holds some independent or self sustaining power of himself to both oppose and work mischief. Even though we know and confess the God and Father of the Lord Jesus is the God of all power, ministering all else solely as He wills…there is some irksomeness in acknowledging that such also includes all or any of what power may be attributed to that Devil.

On the one hand we may “like” to consider that God (if He be our God) of all power, but the notion that He also ministers whatever power He cares to to the Devil…well…almost obscene.

And again, though on the one hand we may “like to think” of contests and triumphs (ourselves sensing ourselves as being so much “in one” and that we hope or trust “for the winning”) when we see that against God the Devil has no chance; for in his estate of all dependency and reliance upon “his” opponent…or is merely a pawn against an all powerful King, the seeming contest becomes not merely lopsided…but almost “unfair”. Almost absurd as to engender a “why” of such matters, then?

Is God about absurdity?

And so our mind may easily “want” to revert to some form of equal contest, or at least more equal, where such is held to some question “who will win”?

For to enter that place of frank appraisal, even such place that all is, and is only taking place according solely to God’s will, really…leaves us in all, with no one to blame. Unless we care to blame God Himself.

Which actually, is not so rare an estate, nor foolish as sounding as it may seem to some in their hold of it, for when approaching that God responsible for all and everything (and who in Christ has demonstrated not only His position as that, but willingly demonstrating in mercy that it is no other way) we either draw back, or are ministered boldness to continue.

For here we face another frank truth. And that by His uncovering all the insults to our own sense of rightness and fairness, our own sense of injury and injuries (which we sometimes treasure and embrace for self comforts) and all those matters we have labelled as “bad”…even as we have our origin in him, so have these matters…to us.

“But that is like saying God is the author of evil!” Well yes, actually it is. At least to whatever extent we have not yet surrendered any and all sense of what to our selves we identify as good and evil, right and wrong, good and bad. And there will be, cannot be any progress along this matter till such is done, and that only by God’s grace.

This stripping away of these senses as to what we esteem as “ought to be” ought not to be” or “ought not to have been” that are so very very precious to us (for they establish our “rightness” to ourselves in any matter…even such right as “to be”) are, and must be made subject to the cross.

And even though, yes, even though by the testimony of scripture that that man Adam (and therefore all “in” or of him) have God’s testimony of now knowing “good and evil” it may not be as first seems in such declaration. For to know good and evil do exist…in no way implies the right recognition of each or “which is which” to any benefit.

It hearkens to that most likely reference (if one would take their stand upon believing in one God) answered so:

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

There is the knowing of God’s existence, and there is the knowing “of God”. The knowing of Him…that may only come by His disclosure, and that only such has, or is, of benefit. To His joy, and our salvation. And the devils do not “know Him” (though they surely do know and recognize Him even in Jesus) as that God of joy.

No less we find this applicable in our passing through such surrender of our notions of good and evil, so wrongly skewed:

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The necessity of discerning…not merely that good and evil exist but as to “which is which” comes only through the many trials and disabusings [sic} at God’s hands (in chastenings/scourgings/discipline) upon those matters we once so easily presumed to know. Even embrace as “good”.

We “try” our hand at playing for the good…or trying to avoid the evil (according to our own knowing as novices) and the many rebukes of such are real to any who have walked this way. Not unlike Peter (but rather exactly as Peter) we were once quick to advise the Lord in matters according to our own sense of what was right or good…and what is for the avoiding…only to find what we thought was “being kind” or according some “right esteem…”Far be it from you Lord!” is answered not with “I am glad you think so much of me to not have this happen”…but rather “Get thee behind me Satan”

And I could almost laugh at how our heads spin…in thinking of all those times (and what may remain of necessity to me) of having my own head spun. Satan? Really? My attitude or expression(s) have so often been taken advantage of…by Satan? Oh, but “I am a christian, I have the mind of Christ!” So were the Corinthians no less, nor some of those seven churches, no less, for Christ never denied them being “His” (in truth rebuke came precisely because they were His!)…but how little is this form of engaging with the truth of matters engaged? God knows.

We think ourselves (and surely our congregations or to whatever form we may belong) as “better” than those “poor souls” as Corinth so misguided…or those in Galatia needing strong rebuke against returning to confidence in the law for perfecting…or some of “those” seven churches.

And “kill with death” as the Lord speaks to some of Jezebel’s teachings…well…thanks be to God we “now know” Jesus better than that! Or Ananias and Saphira…who simply told a lie about being “sold out” for Christ…when in truth…not so much.

Ahh, but I am with you in this boat. And thanks be to God for it! For to deny any…then exempts me from our common salvation…even if any “to me” seem blinded…it may only be me who is confusing sight and blindness! God knows. I know blindness and sight exist…yes…but as to their discerning…who knows who needs the greater tutelage? God knows.

God has taken responsibility. Because He is the only responsible One. Yes, He even took there the responsibility of dealing with sin. He alone could. Any inclination that remains in our own discerning of right and wrong, good and evil, that would dissuade form acknowledging His total sovereignty over all His creation in which and for which He alone is responsible is folly. Better to abandon those than find the end of that road is an impotent god, and late. He own’t help you. And God cares not much for having His authority and sovereignty insulted…even with pleas of “but I thought you were too good to do that…or be that” But, even so…to His own He corrects.

See the Devil tries (oh so vainly tries) to and hamstring God (especially through his people) with all manner of thought “God wouldn’t do that” “God couldn’t do that” or God would never do that” and by taking advantage of our own skewed sense of goodness and there by seeking to apply it to the God who is all good (and only able to correct our right sense of good) bring us to that place…where even if unsaid…we really do blame God. Rather than submit to the truth of our own being in delusion(s).

And the naive may think this is rare.

For God knows our thoughts and all hidden intents and motives of hearts…just as he knows Ananias and Saphira.

Oh, but looking “good” before men is so easy, for man is so easily deceived by the creation. And others in and of it.

But the One to whom God looks to see a good man, well, He’d have to show any in order for them to believe it. And it ain’t you or me. Thanks be to God!

At times I have heard this question asked: “Is it better to be loved or feared?”

I believe God says “yes”.

It is salvation to them.

How far Jesus may take any of us in our consciousness is really up to Him, but knowing that He shall take all His own, even has taken already all His own with Him to where He is before we yet made any confession of Him…is true. Confession is result or consequence, not cause.

When He ascended…He took with Him all His own.

But He also promises to “show” as in “I will show you whom you should fear…”

Yes, fear Him.

For when our fear is singularized, so is our attention…and God then shares His joy of producing right attention…and fear is there, and only there and in that, relieved.

” ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved…”

For those who desire to twist that (fear of God) to only meaning “right reverence”…trust that grace will never relieve a heart of right reverence. It is all and only that which sobers it. So, either stop singing the song or be twisted enough in your own twisting to believe grace also then relieves “right reverence”…in “and grace my fears relieved”. Yes, there is a terror that indeed leads to right reverence, as only it does.

Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. One wrote.

If you believe God raised Christ from the dead is not of any man’s willing it to be so nor of any man’s placing such faith there in the heart for it to be so.

What should not be let go of is “all things are of God”…and of God alone is anyone in Christ…but what may be let go of, what power we may learn of, that can strip from us our own sense of good and evil, right and wrong…just and right as well as our own sense of fairness…we may come to know as the real power over all.

One might even say it is a great part of how we learn who is the all powerful. Because He can do away with me…and yet I live. Yet, not I.

And no less in doing in and for a man all the things he could never, nor would ever do for himself, through His Christ…alone.

And, I suppose this to be true, none of us likes to have our sense of right or righteousness insulted. In order it be re-vised.

But may we never mistake with one another what is so easily mistaken of God. That because one has a greater ability to bear (one might even say “tolerate”) certain things must therefore equate to him “liking” them more.

Consider the patience of God as salvation.

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Do you smell…smoke?

O! To be saved from hell and that place from which our own works entitle us, is indeed a too marvelous thing. And any so saved will surely never cease to consider Him Savior.

But the place to be entered, where what could have been cannot enter, remains to be entered.
It is the all of God’s work delivering us into His very presence and fullness through Christ. In Christ. With Christ. Even for Christ. For He is worthy of all His inheritance.

And there, where we must learn that what could have been must in every way be let go in God’s being and doing. There is no “this might have happened” with God, no but what if, likewise…for God is, and has eternally been, and in such being always doing His will and purpose…no matter what we may construct of “but what if” other. He has never sat precariously on the edge of His seat…wondering what may or could happen. We may at times…even for what appear to us as long times, but God…? “What if” is as foreign to Him as “But what if” may be common to us.

And may God help us to not be silly enough to say “I have found a thing God cannot do…be ignorant or unseeing!” For that again only betrays our own ignorance. For just as God does not lie…He is well able (and has told us so) to send a spirit of strong delusion…even as such that is in service to His being the all true God. And so any delight in our calculations, computations, arguments (and God sees such matters have a great shininess to us) must also be turned to all dullness and dung-ness, in our sight. Yet if they seem not, even so, God’s truth is served for His right judgment against the pride they so often engender.

And if one doubts he may ask a man with many stripes if this is so. But the problem is here, that if one does not themselves already know this…they could never recognize even who to ask in such estate, anyway. Yes, God locks us in to Himself for any and all…light. Just as Jesus said “all who are taught of the Father shall come to me” even so, it remains that only those can recognize one another. They are marked to each other in a kinship also secured to them. They see who has laid His hand upon them.

No, this is not some exclusive club based upon some exclusion. It is an inclusive family made of God…yet quite peculiarly exclusive. None may enter but by one way, one door. And that door Himself suffered many stripes, though not for Himself nor His own doing…but for the sake of those called to enter. And none would deny His markings for their sake, received in service to His Father. Yet, and likewise, none would even in such recognition…even in such recognition of their necessity ordained of God His father, dare consider their own markings in any way equal to, or consequent to, the perfect obedience He displayed in their receipt. He alone remains the Christ of God, never necessity of being disabused of delusion…but us? Not so much.

Yet he treasures also these markings upon us…for He knows they have come in same ordaining and from the Ordainer of all…and of His devotion and love of that Father He will not be separated. His hand upon us in many chastenings that no less mark us…is just as precious to that Son as those which were received in His obedience…for it, and they, have been ordained of that very same Hand. The very Hand that delivers to Him, His Christ, all of His inheritance…even marked for Him.

And I do consider myself somewhat of an authority, as even an expert…in pride and presumption and its consequences. Even something of an expert in matters pertaining to shame as consequence to many doings. Yet, I speak. Prompted even. For such claim of authority and expertness holds of itself some measure, or possible occasion of pride to it…of being the the pinnacle of a something…or approaching it. Who would suffer one to go on so? God? (Do you say…”God forbid”?) But I have heard Paul (have you?) lay hold to being the very chiefest of all to himself, and I am not afraid of his company. Are you?

A wonderful part of my testimony, as God is witness to me in its wonder, is that Christ has never beaten me to death. On the contrary “but what if He did not withhold His hand?” must be surrendered to the light of “thanks be to God He does not withhold His hand!”. O, but yes…Christ’s patience with me is something I dare not despise nor enter hope of ending…and God knows to what extent I have tried it. And to the measure I may declare it inexhaustible is no less to the same measure I do not recommend going about to try it…but rather seek its inexhaust-ability, for there we will find more than enough of which His patient hand is more than willing to disabuse in any and all misapprehension(s). Yes, He is (I pray you find) far more patient than what we of ourselves would consider “very patient”…and of which we must be disabused for such delusion(s). By a hand.

And I have so easily thought (in all presumption) that the reaching the end of my patience…was no less the same, and right in experience and justification (to myself) as signal He has reached the end of His. Ha! What God may bear I have so often and presumptuously thought linked to all experience of my own…imputing my own patience to Him, rather than receiving the light of His. But wisely He has chosen (I also declare) to make the consequences of such awkward and erroneous calculations and suppositions hit a place they are not easily forgotten…a place where I live. And live only because…Christ has never beaten me to death. Thanks be to God!

So often gratitude is in response, or directly related by some proportionality to, or against such things we so hoped against happening. We are often grateful to some measure for the thing that appears to us as could happen…but didn’t. The roof could have collapsed, the car accident could have been fatal.

Or as in my recent writing…the black dog could have not been one foot from my bumper while cruising in the dark at 50mph. And God knows there is nothing wrong here…some measuring of gratitude for what did not, but could have happened. Even with experience of some cringe of sorrow at what could have been real (yet in that instant it really was quite real in that cringing). And against such…I began to consider my own “reaction” of gratefulness.

But something must be surrendered. Yes, the salvation from the hell that all my (and every man’s) own works deserve and merit is greatly to be marveled at. And grateful for without contradiction. And we might never stop in such “reaction” were it not again of some necessity of hand laid upon us…even as it was upon me in those after moments.

For where we are headed by this faith is prepared of uncreated making, not that place made “in reaction” to another, and where true gratitude (as true patience) is not at all dependent upon the measures of our own experience which is always to some, and any limit of my own consciousness.
It is not merely beyond comparison, but all that will not suffer comparison.

And so, I learn…how little I know of true gratitude that often comes only as consequence to me for the things I may see measured to me…and must learn…even if today be first start…of Him who is immeasurable.

How patient is He! Deserving of all gratitude…even if He beat me to death.

I can be shown hypocrite and liar, and would be liar if not declaring He has shown this of me.

But of His Christ?

See what He shows of Him!

How long or often a man must consider what could…or “could have” happened pertaining to any circumstance, even in a sort of opposition to seeing what God has done and/or is doing, is not in his control. God knows.

We are both experience laden and experience burdened to whatever extent we are…even in this new life. And much of what we call the knowledge of experience has altogether come through natural reasoning(s) and natural observations. That’s just how it is.

There is a reason we are so often told in scripture to consider… or as Paul even wrote to “son” Timothy:

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Other translations may use “reflect upon”, for our first impulse, of things not yet known in our experience is to question them…perhaps even doubt…which is neither wrong nor evil…for God knows unless a thing is made known or familiar to us, it must remain a mystery till uncovered.

How many times we are told to think upon and meditate upon…even so often by the Christ Himself in the gospels. Notwithstanding this also knowing of Christ…that so much of what he does and is doing is unknown to us…so that He would even tell those brothers…”What I do now you do not understand…”

But such consideration is to lead to understanding as only the Lord may grant.

Our proclivity is to see very much in terms of this or that. Even assigning good and evil or right and wrong to outcomes of which we may not see the Lord “playing the long game” in all the possibility that is alone His…and how…what at any one moment may appear to us…as even either evil or good…may be toward a far deeper, or eternal work.

It is not that we are not to commend toward the good nor, as the Lord allows, rebuke for evil and/or sin. God knows in how many circumstances that is not even the question. For it is not sin for a man to not understand a thing, but stiff neckedness does not go long unaddressed.

When the black dog appeared out of the deep darkness this early morning not a foot or two from my vehicle travelling at 50 mph, but was not hit, immediately thankfulness to God sprang forth. But also with an inward cringe at what to me appeared “could have been” (and to me, plainly) easily quite another outcome.

But it didn’t happen. God had ordained to happen…what did happen…and was in no requirement…even by or through my own experience of what “could have”, constraining Him to any obligation. I only saw two possibilities…and was quite grateful for the outcome of the one…but in God there are infinite, even all possibility, of which I am neither able to consider nor compute.

So even though it provoked gratefulness…there was no less a sort of rebuke…that if lingered too long over what might have been (according to my knowing)…or was a matter that could (in other circumstance) constrain me to less than gratefulness, a cauton was ministered. Even that in “what might be”…could cause a missing of all God is already doing…and has done. And either delay, impede, or otherwsie encourage interruption of what is to always be…because it is as always, right and fitting.

Gratitude to God both in…and for…all things. Without need to consider “what might have been”.

“If you had been here, my brother would not have died”

nevertheless…

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

There is no thing that can be spoken against that provokes gratefulness to God…but may we, by His grace, have a care to not only think of those as “sometimes” things.

I believe an esteemed writer, not esteemed by me for his skill and crafting or fame (though both were considerable), but esteemed as a keen observer in Christ and of the things of the spirit, wrote in a vernacular that may be odious to some…but if granted to see to the heart of it might glean (even from the vernacular) a worthy understanding:

“You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.”

― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men

How God gets a man to believe, and not repeat by rote the following…is in His time alone…even through and past a man’s disposition to sometimes doubt it in experience:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Why was Paul such a staunch and immovable proponent of grace? God knows you may not wonder or much care. And though ultimately any and all gifting(s) of revelation start and end with the Alpha and Omega Himself, and that answer is never anything less than right, there are things any man may discover, as Paul did, that can help see as Paul also did…in regards to those matters of which he was given to speak and write.

If starting with his call one will find much, that place he speaks of in “when it pleased God to reveal His son in me”.

He recounts it, and others also recorded it. How that on the way to Damascus having letters of authority to imprison all or any who were calling upon the name of Jesus, He was spoken to by HIm. Christ revealed Himself as Lord to him.

What had Paul done? Did he make some confession of Christ, come to some place of repentance and implore that particular Lord of that name for salvation? Or was he altogether in the most severe opposition and loathing of that name? And that Saul was never Saul after that.

And he knew it, confessed it, would trumpet and unrelentingly seek after all that was in that name…both to our good, his benefit…but most assuredly and primarily, (unless one doubts) Christ’s glory.

Now, before any unwholesome thoughts take advantage, or seek to, to infer what is being implied is that “one must absolutely hate the Lord and in all work against Him” and then position oneself to that in order to be saved, that is not being said. Nor that every conversion will in all matters mimic his. Yet, he did not deny his experience nor estate of “breathing out threatenings” against all of that name…in and up to that very moment in which Christ appeared to him.

One might then think it plain that unless or until such revelation (and in such power to Saul/Paul) be made in the “seeing” of God’s Christ (no, not with natural eye) the heart is not touched, the new birth has yet to be revealed. But Saul/Paul knew. He knew, even while some disciples doubted in fear of him, this was real and true to and in him, and he would not deny.

But, there is more and far more; for Saul (our Paul) was once of a particular sort a man of such observance (and observance of the law) that now in seeking to know and understand that Christ of God by his new observance in light…those many prior things of which he was once so convinced of merit (and advantage to himself) now only served to obscure the Christ if allowed to rise in his heart. His labors, such as they were, to see and “know Him” in fullness he found were met by what opposed that seeing.

And God had made him diligent…at least (and to our gratitude) far more in another diligence that once persuaded him. He saw pride easily generated in any attitude of what would take advantage of any of man’s doing or doings and that such false elevation in pridealso worked against proper perspective of “looking up to” or looking away to Christ which rightly elevates a man to heavenly vision.

And he came to hate all of such matters whereby such advantage might be taken of pride…calling them all dung. And he held in himself…even by the word of truth in the One who qualifies and qualified him, that such had, if left unattended, a danger of disqualification. And though this may be strange to many if not most, such are not given as threat…but worthy words of keeping as caution…that sobers a soul to and for salvation. Only the believer will understand God is not threatening to any loss, but rightly informing a soul so that “true north” always be the heading.

Christ and Christ alone, God’s mercy shown there and in Him, God’s purpose and election by grace established in all by His sovereignty and vindicated plainly in His calling and choosing…so that no man may boast. Except in the Lord Jesus Christ. But this is not , as it first might be imagined or inferred to some exercise of God for the man’s shaming or denigration (as though lying in wait to pull a trump card against him) but that the end of all salvation, the seeing of the Lord “as He is” be fully accomplished in any believing man for his good, whose end is to glorifying God’s Christ.

Which is God’s good pleasure, for whom all things are created.

Do not be so naive as to think much opposition will not present, neither be so craven as to imagine the blame of that opposition is all and only attributable as elsewhere; whereby others may be blamed in some clever fashion of victim hood.

Paul understood upon what ground such contest took place, and what was battlefield…and what could take by occasion to have a man only “beating at the air”. Religiosity (even our own religiosity), perverseness, obstruction and resistance always lay closer to home than we would at first either care to imagine, much less confess.

Yes God has begun and is cleansing the earth by fire; first set to such kindling even by Him who wished it already were kindled. Like a man in the fiercest rains and winds with only one match, he performed flawlessly.

But He knew His calling and election to it…and would not relent…to God His father’s glory and our good.

We can easily be swayed and made drunk by what we once considered our authority or such that would grant us that before men, even as Saul. But Paul to come to love the Author and Authority of all entails a right heaping of dung…and even right shame and shaming toward what once caused us to seek to elevate ourselves. And that shovel, provided only by the spirit…has in it an also power of working to the uncovering things once hidden to us.

The glory in the Christ of God.

God’s economy is always perfect, the doing of a seeming “one” thing cannot but also accomplish another. While one digs for treasure one cannot help but toss that dirt somewhere.

Were we to consider the implications of “for in the day you eat of it, you shall surely die” and such as being coupled with being dead in sins and trespasses, our confidence in the flesh must surely wither.

If we have any disposition toward some qualifying of this death as “spiritual” in any sense of making it less than actual, but only of a certain category, we are already upside down in not knowing that what is true spiritually is the all and only that is true…and real.

Oh, do not be deceived and confused as to biological motions having any “life” in them in God’s esteem. But it is so; that only what God esteems as true and/or life is all and only what is true or alive. And what is dead or He may call dead or in death…surely is in that reality of death.

What then? The man “feels alive” to himself…and in some form of consciousness or even thinking so that he bristles at the thought of being, or being addressed as dead. Yet, the truth of it remains.

We can see, if we can, that any preservation of anything (such as we might even call a remnant) is in all and every way owing only to the grace of God in its preservation. And for its preservation.

And it would be remiss to hold any notion that “dead” to God means non-existent, or absent from any of His knowing. No, it has the estate and state of dead(ness). But we are not (for the most part) used to thinking in these terms, we have in all the sense the dead are “no longer with us” and cannot, by any of or effort(s) be made to be back with us.

But what is before God…is well…before God. And there is nothing in creation (or beyond if one cares to know) hidden from His sight.

How then is anything done or what we may believe done or having been done (the record and recording of the scriptures, the testimonies of men) possible “among the dead”? It again, is all and only owing to the grace of God. And alone of His sustaining.

God does as He wills, does as He purposes…and (unless one has a rather small god) answers to no one. God has nothing over Him for owing…as author of all and reason for all, nothing can “hold Him” to anything (and surely not you nor I) but, He has, and does only toward the believer, made His word known. No sense of man’s reason, no sense of man’s rightness or fairness…or even such as what man would call mercy…can God be held to. God knows what all these things mean in reality, including “love”…man of himself having no clue. None at all.

But yes, He makes His word known to believer:

Even this:

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

Even in that we understand but have care, lest we foolishly misunderstand to some contrariness “See, there’s something God cannot do! He cannot swear by one greater!” If we have any view of God with a ceiling above…even such as we might say…”But…well…no one lives upstairs of Him” we need light. No, our conceptions are most often shown very small…but any true conception, small as it may be, as must be and can only be given by God…is a start.

Who despises the small beginnings? There is yet joy ahead.

Our definitions tend to have lines around them, as a container might…to separate the thing described by definition, from all others…to “hold” the thing being defined. Dog doesn’t bleed into cat, nor vice versa. And if, even if, we may still see “all” (Who is the all in all?) as definable to our limning…God is faithful.

Go ahead, and do an experiment…it may be lifelong, God knows. If one cares to know the Father, cares to know the Son (and such care has its origins not “of man”)…look, see, seek, ask, knock and one will find there is no “line”, no space for defining one as opposed to the other or different, no placing of one “here” and another “there” as you might look at them to see difference. Or find a place…even if one think they are “tight”, a slimmest piece of paper (or thought and reason) can slip between. For then a man could occupy what no man can…that “space” between the Father and Son. It’s simply…not there.

Don’t try to insert yourself into non being…but hey…it’s your lab. I can make no law. But I can tell you about my experiments.

So I think (if I may be somewhat topical) of a story. It was called the “Sixth Sense”. Do you know it? I hate to give away spoilers, but at this late date…who doesn’t know?

Basically we follow a man and a boy…and such a man who doesn’t know he is dead. Other of the “deads” pop up along the way, but the story essentially revolves around this fellow not knowing he is dead. And we are, for the most part (I’d like to meet someone who says “I knew from the beginning wwhat it was about and what would happen”) so taken in by its set up, that at the end, when the man finally sees and learns that he (as well as we watching) was living in, or watching an illusion or delusion whereby everything was so well crafted as to give one appearance, while at the end…we finally see. It even provokes one to “go back” and look at all the scenes where we may have thought communication was taking place between this dead man and the living…but see…Oh, it was all an assumption according to the ways the scenes were constructed.

What we thought was happening…wasn’t really…at all.

Now, in some ways, except it was all so entertaining and rather engrossing (even in our delusions, watching) in construction as to “keep us” to the end…that one could say…the author is prankster. Or devious. Yet, it was interesting and interesting enough to keep us watching while not even barely aware of the great twist coming. That makes it even so much the more…interesting…and considerable.

Does the author have that “right”? To make or do according to his will…with no rule “above Him” (or that we might even place there) to keep Him to whatever sense of congruence we might like to enforce? Do you have a god too small?

For now I cannot let this consideration go. At least till I am made able.

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound.

O, but man would say…even must say “Why…or who (even) tell another what to do knowing they cannot (are not able) or worse, knowing that the instruction will cause them to do all that is not of the doing, but take the form of provoking greater disobedience and trespass? This is not, nor ever can be to man’s reasoning. “It’s not fair to tell a toddler (or in this case, the dead) to lift a car”. There’s no reasonableness to it, in fact…it shows (as far as man is concerened) all lack of reason, opposed to reason…and making the speaker all of unreasonable to man.

“Why tell what another cannot do…and put it in such a way as it would seem you expect them to?”

But as a brother has said “The telling of a thing to do does not of itself have any provable presumption necessary that their is ability to do” In so many words.

How do the dead learn…they are “really dead?” Not sorta, not kinda like, not in some figurative way, nor some simulacrum of deadness…but…dead? Of all disability?

Paul saw and learned some things (if you find him a faithful seer and learner) that did (I have little doubt) set him so far against or opposed to the streams of natural reasoning…that thanks be to God, God had him record them, and God has preserved them.

And I have no doubt such strenuous opposition to Paul’s sight and understanding was not experienced by him. Oh, he knew very well how he was esteemed.

We may think of Paul in the foolish way we so often do (at least today)…that red carpets would be rolled out to him at every so called “church”…if God were disposed to present him to us again.

Oh, but you haven’t been a very good watcher if you are at all disposed to think so. Re-watch the story. Go back and look. See if you have not been taken in by what you thought was there and happening…but actually was not at all.

(This is too painfully obvious of Jesus, the very Christ, also)

But if you think Paul, the “great” apostle with whom you’d like to “share” your pulpit (and have in your pulpiteering and use of him to elevate yourself) has had anything to do with those excursions…think again. There’s still time to re-watch the story.

When he wrote to one of those few he trusted as entrusted, he said

Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

That “I speak the truth and lie not” is very telling…making appeal to his son in the faith that he is/was indeed an apostle. For no doubt much had gone out (even at that time) to question him, his revelation(s) and his calling. Doubt this? OK.

Many “super” apostles had emerged, men taking advantage for their own advantage of gatherings of sheep, whereby they might feast among them, and upon them.

Jesus does not lie.

Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

Pulipiteers are not unlike profiteers, or pirates…taking what they may in advancing themselves as a “something”.

Using…to establish themselves. Even using callings now as their “titles”. Like a first first name.

Beware. The King is indeed coming.

“Depart from me I never knew you” only has the preserving power of warning to those who believe and know the terror of it is not beyond Christ’s saying.

That would be an unwelcome twist ending.

And therefore, we labor and strive…to really see the story…as it is, and not as we would like. Or presume. God hasn’t lied.

But He knows how well we can lie to ourselves. And He is not “beneath” (or above) even sending strong delusion.

Is He…allowed?

Now, that’s funny.

Allowing God to do…what He says.

How do the dead find out they are?

He speaks.

If this is yet troubling in what needs to be troubled by the notion God does as He pleases, speaks as He will(s) without any consideration of how another might receive or be disposed to it…especially if the presumption is all upon the hearer’s part (is it not?) that God is not such who would speak of matters that a man has all inability to do…yes…that must be troubling to what must be troubled. Taking even offense if need be.

But beyond that, this place where God leads a man to what is all untenable to himself, is where is found even that purpose for such…the revelation of the grace of God in abundance.

But where sin abounded…grace did much more abound.

God’s pleasure in leading a man into all of his own inability serves His great pleasure in the revelation of His son “full of grace and truth”…and where man finds what he cannot do is what leads him into all that only God can do and does. The ministry of grace through Jesus Christ.

And of the 30 odd translations available at hand to me, in every case it is that past tense that does not escape being used.

did much more abound

abounded

multiplied

overflowed

did overabound.

As a dear apostle used to remind me and any who could hear…”sometimes you gotta get really mad before you get glad.”

God has handily handled…sin. By even its provoking to an overwhelming response to its extinguishment through Christ. By the death of His Christ.

He flushes out all unlawful hands.

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Predetermined that He would be delivered…even into hands of all unlawfulness, no less determined.

And they were cut to the heart.

Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law?

Through Paul (as in Christ) God has also given us…

God knows.

Have you ever been in a kangaroo court?

You understand Jesus was brought to one, right?

And it is neither too bold nor remiss to say if Christ is in you now, you are now in one.

All manner of false charges are prepared against you, and being prepared, in vain hope of maneuvering you away from Him. And make no mistake, though the demons may be far more persuaded of the fact of the resurrection than some, even believers, are; yet they have no access to is the truth of it. Truth of matters is off limits to them.

This is reserved to His alone.

This is why demons so frantically and furiously labor and strive under burden only of fact(s), never knowing nor understanding the further significance of them. For even in their knowing of appointment to torment, fixed, assured, and without controversy; they are still provoked to mindless fury burning themselves up.

They besought the Lord to send them into the swine, for their only delight is in inflaming a host, and He did. He allowed for what they asked.

This and these facts would be strange indeed. Is Jesus being merciful to demons? But what do His see?

His see that apart from a stronger hand preserving a host by His choosing, death alone is immediate result. The flesh has no resistance in it or to it to their fury. “Self preservation” is entirely overridden.

This is caution to us who may be inclined to think the demon ridden, the most foul practitioner(s)…(who we may see continuing) are being kept, but only by the hand of God. And whether they are being preserved to wrath and judgment or salvation…we may not know…but we can know apart from the power of God in their keeping for whatever His purpose, they would quickly dispose of themselves.

Even those demons who provoked the man to cut himself with stones knew their restriction, so that in God’s due time the mercy of His Christ would deliver him. And it would be known. And known to be understood in truth…yet not as those who besought him later in all fear…to “leave them alone”.

And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

One may consider how demons are always ready to inflame, abet, assist, and provoke further any sense of self righteousness found present.

No, it is not being said anyone is particularly possessed, anymore than we find Jesus casting a demon out of Peter when his own sense of what ought to to be as opposed to the Lord’s declaration of what is and would be was rebuked by Peter. Jesus knew who and what was taking occasion to speak through him (Peter).

Peter’s sense of “what is right” was offended by the Lord (and who of us does not know that experience?), yet nowhere is Peter described as possessed. Yet we may consider that if left unaddressed (even with, or by strong rebuke) where such self righteousness may lead. This is both caution and preservation for us.

Whether early and immediate (as in Peter’s case) or later when we may feel a sting of rebuke, it is far better to hearken to it than deny.

And I could regale you with instances and attitudes made known to me (yet always clear to the Lord) that in “coming back” to a more sober mind cause a cringing in their exposing and provoking to a repentance and clear confession as sin.

Here we may find comfort in words once obscure. And an experience I am persuaded the apostle writing did not drawn from “thin air”.

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

No, for those who understand and know something or anything of this as opposed to any who might yet find these words obscure…it is not Christ bringing up past sin or sins, or throwing them in our faces to shame. It is in His housecleaning, His touch upon attitudes once obscure to us, His being of that living word that divides soul from spirit and is discerner of the hidden thoughts and intents of the heart.

And if you have not yet had once precious attitudes and motives brought up for the reviewing in His light of clarity displaying what they truly are in that light…about all that can be said is be ready for the Lord’s appearing.

For the Lord’s appearing by His presence is very provocational [sic]. To some it is salvation, to some a further inflaming.

And the Lord was dragged (as appointed) to a kangaroo court.

And in all appearing and right speaking he was present to the high priest. Those around brought false witness, those around brought accusation, those around demanded answer whereby, in their maneuvering and thinking they could, manipulate Him to give something self condemning they could use against Him.

And when finally speaking, and speaking truth, truth had clear effect upon hearer(s), in particular the high priest. Do you think Jesus did not know Leviticus 21:10?

How that by such doing the high priest had not only abandoned any seat of judgment he might have had claim to in abrogating the law and now himself needing offering for sin, but was himself, in his rage effectively removing himself from that seat (as he had to to make room for another, and “better).

One could suppose if one were able to drag Caiaphas into the light (God knows, he may already be there, I do not know) and able to search out the incident the plea of “I could not help myself, His claim too outrageous, too insulting to God, far too enraging in its blasphemy (to me)…that yes…it both merited such severe reaction…and I could not help myself”…might be made.

That happens doesn’t it? An overstepping and into sin when we “feel” so very provoked by a righteousness we, at that time, may assume is the Lord’s working through us to such indignation and outrage…till it is made clear it has been no more than our own self righteousness we feel struggling for breath in the Lord’s presence.

Yes, Jesus could have easily said…”You have no right to judge me, your seat is empty by your doing” but He understood what was being accomplished and how that a corrupt house has in itself all of judgment necessary to its own demise.

And I have flubbed, fluffed, failed and been frustrated in so many attempts at self defense as to be, if God so choose, a prime example of all and how one should not proceed. If it pleases God to do so…who could resist anyway?

Even as I may assume Caiaphas may have had some plea, I am no different, nor have been when in all rebuke by the presence of Lord’s righteousness. I cannot help myself.

I too have known a raging and very angry man.

Even made more so by assumptions of his own righteousness.

For a game to work requires suspension of disbelief. Not unlike a movie, or story, it can only hold attention for as long as one is willing to “let go” of it being a fabrication, a contrivance, a representation of a thing by another that is less than all true and quite manipulated. (See that focus on a tear in the heroine’s eye? Someone really wanted you to know her love was pure and true) And one has to lend a sense of importance to it, as though by whatever means it mattered, or is of some consequence itself. And it must be found interesting enough for the giving of time to it in attention.

Also, and no less, it must have some inner congruence even if all fabricated; an adhering to some form of rule (for which penalties are also supplied when rules are abrogated) so that outcome is (ie. winning/losing) holds some form of legitimacy or a right of being assigned. A real winner and a real loser or losers.

And I do not know (do you?) that all and every game is nothing more at heart than a fight game. And there must be, at least to the game, some sense of fairness overall that lends legitimacy to the adjudging of winner and loser. No one would, unless so craven of heart and manifestly perverse (which actually is not beyond consideration, here) come to watch Mike Tyson take on a 4 year old. Or the Yankees take on a little league team of 10 year olds.

Yet, our love of slaughter is easily provoked by games and gaming, so that even such perverseness bears considering. It may be more satisfying to our own sensibilities for a time when our team “slaughters” an opponent of seeming equal (and how much the more of seeming superior?) stature; but eventually, the lust toward such slaughter cares little for how it is satisfied. Winning is all that matters, and against and over all comers.

Now I know that few, if any, are not merely un-fond but repulsed by notion that God is rigger of all. The house that cannot and will not lose. This in all seems not only unfair, but monstrous. He is simply too big to be “allowed” to set rules if also in the contest and is also able to fully enforce (answerable to no other, especially our own sense of fairness) all He sets down. What “choice” do any have in such…game? There is no “no playing” (or is there?) for all or any finding themselves now “on the board” or on the field of contest.

The question must then become but is God in contest, in competition, opposing anything…so He may “win”? One might have a very small god if thinking so. Yet a game seems so real, so ongoing, overarching, so established (“good” games last over millenia, like wrestling) and no less have that appearance and appeal of being so real. (Check the graphics on a video game, a very far way from Pong in a few short years)

If the “sure thing” (the house) is indeed a sure thing and cannot be played against to any winning (for all creation was made subject to futility/vanity…) tell us again what choice does one have, if part of that creation, in regards to any notion of winning? Things may be making themselves more clear…one might “hope”.

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Or, as another (Weymouth) translation would say:

For the Creation fell into subjection to failure and unreality (not of its own choice, but by the will of Him who so subjected it)

And, no doubt, there are many translations.

Might it not be that in such failure and “unreality” we have sought to draw God into a game that seems so real to us, but of which He clearly has no part, but yet (He) determined we must do so?

Now, you must like this even less. More than repulsion, is some anger stirring? Finding we have drawn God (or some notion of Him) where He does not go nor fit for the justifying of our own game(s)…which He even determined we must do? Now the inescapable seems even more inescapable, confining, restricting in all and to such unpleasantness (never mind suffocating constriction) that at best we might only peep out with final breath…”Help!”.

And it will only be in the final breath in which this is found, if found at all. After that, though it may appear one is “living” (as one once only thought they did) it will not be my natural respiration.

No, it’s easy to see why such is too unpleasant to consider. Unless one has to apart from choice. That such matters have been chosen for him in his forming to be inescapable.

Do you think those Jews hearing on the day of Pentecost were described of hyperbole? You who may “stand on the Bible” as all of true and without contradiction in every deepest sense? Were they “cut to the heart” or only like so, only figuratively so? Do you not know what a cut to the heart does? A man with such has no doubt he is dying. Reverse your thinking so that the physical cut to the heart is not the real, but only represents by image a true estate given in the land of types and shadows…and know what real is. Am I too direct? Too abusing of unreality? Do you still reason from the below thinking you will apprehend the above? Or do you see from above to understand that which is beneath? And that, not because of your own will or desire to place yourself there? It’s simply where real…only is.

And the following only holds sense from there…or there. For it came from “there”. What so many may have some delight in embracing as the unbreakable word of God. And so, so many, have enjoyed taking some stand upon that for their own elevation. Their own game. (Too direct? God knows)

The Creator in speaking the unbreakable spoke this:

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

How do you read? How do you hear?

Beyond even the most facile apprehension that God is both commanding and warning, are you able to see that if that second part is “just” warning how that it must fall on all in-apprehension? What does Adam know of death; has he ever seen it? Know anything of it…at all? Know enough of a thing he has never seen nor experienced to take warning of it? Does that seem…unfair?

Then this will seem even more so.

If indeed, as it is, what we may call that second part is not really warning at all, but not less than the declaration of “a day” that is, and must no less come to Adam, then we may begin to see the futility assigned the creature. Destined (or predestined) to eat and die. Even despite what at first (maybe all such who have ever read once held) as fair warning.

Adam compelled to play a game of which he had no idea of the stakes.

And one can only accuse that God of being or seeming monstrous in this…(and all and any that may believe in Him) if he has not seen the Christ. Yes, He cannot but be opposed till then. And none will win that game.

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

Now…who is going to “help” God?

Don’t suspend your disbelief, see the game for what it is. And see Him for both what He is, and what He is not. Why He is loved, but also why He is so hated.

A ruiner of the game for everyone.

Some are happy. Some are sad.

And only He can save from a great woe.

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

But who doesn’t want to be thought well of?

Depends upon where one is looking for eyes. And whose word one believes.

Jesus Christ, regardless of what one may think of him, was neither reluctant nor timid in regards to addressing the game within the game. He saw it, understood it, easily identified its earmarks, and to his own hurt, was diligent to expose them. He is the author stepping on and into the stage and staging with its props, its characters, its scripted lines and determined actions with the promise of reality to any who would undertake his dread course of escape. And he knew, as none other, that only certain of the characters were made eligible to this by an informing from the very place he too had come. And make no mistake, despite all his conviction, his entrance was as assigned him “born of a woman, born under the law” even to such end that none could recognize him lest they too had heard from that very place from which he had come.

In this place, where all are born of woman in all commonness, he was speaking only to the uncommon to it. Those who later, yet in every way like him, also find themselves “sent into the world” as he spoke to those “As the Father has sent me, so send I you…”

And also make no mistake, he was able to marvel in discovery of who might “get it”. Though much is made of the Centurion’s trust that one word from him was enough to heal a servant apart from the necessity of his physical presence or proximity to the one sick, this is not what was astounding to Jesus of that “great faith”. What was astounding was the Centurion’s grasp of Jesus being “a man under authority” and even so strictly so that his word carried all power in that estate.

While the disciples themselves may have equated him to whatever degree with such as Moses and Elijah (themselves noted for “miracles” done through them) in wanting to build three tabernacles, this Centurion saw as they did not. Not a “miracle popping man” simply able of himself or his own discretion to do a thing…but a man under authority. That Centurion understood the rules of the game far better than those to whom the rules were first given. Even for the game, and that from which the game within it developed.

That one may not like these references to game or gaming, take that up with Paul: 2 Tim 2:5. If one’s religiosity is such that easily taking offense (thinking it such a fine discerning) consider that God himself made the gaming grounds subject to all particular slant that the house must always win: Rom 8:20 and 2 Cor 13:8. There is no winning against the house. And if one doubts they are once surrounded, even immersed in only types and shadows, these simulations of the real, (and even by the real to His purposes) wake up! And find rest elsewhere: Col 3:3. And those appointed to awakening, will. And escape.

Yes, the game is rigged. Only the designer, who does all things for His good pleasure, and whose pleasure cannot nor will not be denied, knows all about the game. Who and or what runs “lawfully”/legitmately and those who are seeking to bend matters to their own game within that game. To such Jesus is quite frank and offensive (for he saw what was in their hearts just awaiting the provocation of truth for revealing).

Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

Well, how do we like that? Such a rude man! Speaking to those who took their stand as a something for having received the rules, yet not keeping them. Or, in another place with such inner claims of superior paternity John the Baptist also speaks:

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Yes Jesus knows all about the game…and further the game within the game we develop for “cheats”.

And no, God cannot be pulled into our games, though he fully set up the board. It is for Him to supply way out as so choosing. If so choosing to such revealing.

“When it pleased God to reveal His son in me…”

Paul saw the cheats and dumped them, calling them dung. Things that might “give him advantage” in such (but only if the game were competing against “others”) but he was delivered from that derivative gaming. No, his sole quest was to know the author, the designer, even while in the midst of all “types and shadows” that appeared so compelling…he stretched forward and beyond.

He was being pulled out…and he knew very well this was not of any of his own doing. But he felt it, even as do we at times, yet he without any illusions that because such was so intensely and personally felt…he would confuse it with his own work or efforts. “For it God at work within you”…he said. And that someone who was at work in him also worked to keep defiling hands off so that even in midsentence he would correct himself (to any with eyes to see)

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

“yet not I” he wrote. He could have erased all the prior “but I laboured more abundantly than they all” to make an appearance of being the more “humble” but he would not deny us the seeing of both his need of, and the continually reality of correction present…even to such a one who could probably, above most, if not all take a stand upon his labors.

But…even “that work” of being so transparent (is Paul too transparent for you?) was not his own…but God’s. But Paul had learned when the true substance of that which we call light (in our types and shadows, that seems so insubstantial) actually spoke of the true (of which it only represented) that was truly of such force and power…that when hitting anything holding its own substance to itself and for itself…knocks it down. As a strong wind does a solid…it is far better to be a screen in such case, or absent all together in transparency when the wind of such true light comes.

And we, who are sometimes called christians, or even fond of thinking or calling ourselves so with whatever fondness we do, eager to display our work(s) or so often marvel at the blindness of others…even those who we may say “did not see the truth though He stood right before them and speaking to them”. How could they be so blind…and (thankfully) so unlike “us”?

One hears a million sermons and sermonizers…and most probably not unlike myself at all.

Forgetting that game is rigged. Forgetting what Paul said in regards to blindness and the why of it to some. And who has assigned it with purpose.

Who has assigned blindness and sight?

In whose hand are all, and always for His good pleasure to do with as He alone pleases?

Do we have “Paul” as some others had Moses? Take some stand on his words as being “from God” and of same spirit of Christ?

What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

One may say I have seen God’s patience, as have I on so numerous occasions. But that means little or nothing for God endures with much longsuffering vessels of wrath, too. My experience means nothing…if all I see is my own seeing.

If there be any presumption of estate developed from our own seeing, our own experience, our own so called standing to ourselves…God will either faithfully and mercifully cut these away, or just let us continue in the “set up” to breaking without remedy. While continually trying to game Him.

So few I have met or known who understood the implications of Paul’s saying this:

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

“We” and “or an angel from heaven”. Would God send an angel to deceive? Or, strong delusion? Could Paul assure himself against turning?

What is only hope? For it cannot be “hope against that” for there can be no hope against God’s choosing. Only hope for it.

The one who “came into the simulation” and dwelt amongst types and shadows and images of the real, never relinquished his seat above and in the bosom of the Father. He dwelt as real in the land of less than real.

I think of him when Paul says “not of the Jews only, but of the gentiles” and Jesus dealings with a woman who wanted healing for her daughter.

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

What card is played when called a dog?

It takes no faith for a man to think himself wonderful, skillful, knowledgeable, accomplished, been around the block, seen some things, learned some things…knows some things.

But what does he have when all this is shown of nothing?

What or who, remains?

This can be resisted…just never successfully.

“which he had afore prepared unto glory,”

So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

So much for even “trying” to run…lawfully. Trying to keep one’s self in bounds…or show one’s self a “better” runner. The ditches really do have a “work” in them.

It’s enough to just not be a bastard.

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.