“Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him? Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow.” (Psalms 144:3-4 NKJV)

Looking at the timeline simulates in my mind of the small fraction our lives have on this earth really is, however what we do can leave a worldly impact for generations to come. For instance, Benjamin Franklins inventions helped further the use of electricity. Though there has been inventions before which used electrical currents or friction in certain ways, nothing has been more notable than his inventions and it’s only been 267 years since he rigged up his kite, key and sailed it into a storm. Compared to over 6000 years, 267 is a mere glimpse, but has had a world wide impact that won’t be forgotten.

Though inventions have made life more simplified and pleasing, it also brings many new distractions. Though we can see from history in Noah’s days, man kind became distracted by sexual lust for each other.

“If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be up on them.” (Leviticus 20:13 NKJV)

This isn’t a new idea that President Obama allowed to become legal in the US. Though the site of it is very disturbing at the fact we have a government who supports an abomination and/or murdering of babies, it’s simply a repeat of history which will have negative impacts on our future.

Although we have these sins which are repeating themselves, we are facing new distractions that history has never been exposed to, the technology age. This increase of information has been shown to Daniel long ago.

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase…And he said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:4,9-10 NKJV)

The key phrase here is “…many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.

How much more can knowledge increase? So much has been exposed to us that it almost seems in the past 300 years the world has been on a high technology race. None of us who live today know what it’s like to live in a world without electricity, unless your amish, had a storm that knocked our your power or are in one of the unreached tribes in the amazon or such. Which if you’re reading this that’s obviously not the case.

I was born in the early eighties and remember playing outside a lot, however, I also remember going over to my Grandpas house playing on his commodore 64, Ataris and the time mom brought home the original Nintendo system. If I wasn’t outside I was more than likely playing a game or making a mixtape with my cassette FM/AM radio recording the latest songs. Then technology continued to increase. I was now making mixtapes from CD’s, or trying to jog with a CD walkman in my pocket. I was the type of kid who would go dumpster diving for pop cans and pop bottles just to get the 10 cent refund. I even saved enough one summer to buy a $220 Schwinn mountain bike, and then of course $150 playstation.

Needless to say, I could continue on with all the advancements and upgrades I did from building my own computer and getting a wii then trading it in for an XBOX One. But for the sake of it, what good is it to me verses what God has to offer? Those are all fun and temporary. But if I substitute my time in fellowship with God for these earthly treasures, I’ve become a lover of the world. I can only imagine that these distractions mixed in with the sexual desires will eventually have a devastating toll to which our world has never seen as which is mentioned in Matthew 24:21.

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

I don’t believe we’ve seen the worse. We have presidents that may do the unthinkable, and it seems that with every new president we get people start questioning if he’s the anti-christ. However just a handful of lines before verse 21 we read in verse 14 that “…this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. I was searching on google last night and read that there’s about 80 – 100 unreached tribes in the world. I then proceeded to use google earth and zoomed in over the Amazons. In the green forest you can see these brown patches, which I can only assume are actual village tribes.

These are people that haven’t even used a cell phone. I’m curious to how they respond when they see an airplane in the sky. There’s photos, thanks our increased knowledge of gadgets, that have captured these unreached tribes pulling back the strings on their bow n arrows just incase these giant bird like mechanism we call airplanes or helicopters get to close.

I’m not against increased knowledge, I enjoy my gadgets, but I can live without it if I had to. The question is, are we to distracted by them? Are these new things in this world becoming a hinderance to our reality in life? I’ve realized time and time again how much temporary enjoyment I get from checking a social media post and oh those game apps. I’m hate them so much I get drawn into them from time to time. I like strategy games, however I don’t understand how someone can play a game app where all you do is tap to make rows disappear. Can this actually hinder ones concentration time or cognitive thinking? There are several articles that tell you one thing and then another, but the big problem here is the addiction it creates and the time that it waste. I can’t deny that this is a beginning to a bigger problem in the future by escaping the realities of life through this increased knowledge we have surrounded our selves with. With there to be an end, there has to be something that’s going to set it up and fuel it. And it’s even more disastrous with a nation such as the US with many distracted Christians. With this next verse is where my concern comes from

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-it is not the Father but is of this world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17 NKJV)

Are you concerned the Christians of today being distracted? I see it every where, even if it’s not by the increase of knowledge, clothing fashions, technology, social sites, games, it’s by division within politics, denominations and religion. There’s a lot more that can be added to the list, but you get the gist.

The only way to get back on track is with our focus on Jesus Christ. It doesn’t matter what denomination or non-denomination you’re a member of, you alone have to be focused on your relationship with Christ. You may hear that it’s important to have a personal relationship with Christ, but it doesn’t mean that no one should know about it. The nations of the world need hear the gospel of Jesus. It’s by Jesus testifying that the world came to know Him. It’s by the testimonies of Paul, the disciples and the ministry of John the baptist that many were healed and saved. It’s by recognizing and allowing the Holy Spirit to communicate with us of what God’s will is for us.

You may be like me, often I don’t feel like I’m doing enough. There is much needed to be done, and much is out of my reach. Even by thoughts alone we can be distracted from God’s will. So I continue to rest all that I have, worries and put aside time to spend in prayer, listening, reading scripture and allowing my life to be of worship to God. Things are nice, but it’s not everlasting and not worth our soul to substitute our walk with Christ.

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or to the left; remove your foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:25-27 NKJV)

With this being said, it’s a matter of the heart issue. What do you really love? There are no but’s and excuses allowed in heaven. What you desire and spend your time determines what you really care about.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV)

It is my prayer that you join me in wanting to live and lead a better life. What we do makes a difference around us, and it does matter for the long term outcome of the world we live in. It is my hearts desire for God to look down on me with favor and be one of the many that “…shall be purified, made white and refined…” (Daniel 12:10a NKJV)

Rev G

Have you ever relied on the advice of someone you know for a hard decision you had to make? Just to realize their not smarter than a 5th grader? I know I have. Don’t get me wrong, I believe God will send people into our lives for certain reasons, however the bible makes it clear that Gods ways are “…higher than your ways” and His thoughts “…higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9 NKJV). Even though we may gain insight and advice from someone we know we can trust, we still shall take our thoughts and decisions to God, because they don’t understand God’s ways or thoughts.

This thought came to me while reading Matthew 7 which hits on some major topics regarding prayer, doing whats right, identifying a true/false prophet by their fruits, being a true disciple and building on a solid foundation. So the mindset that came into play is how often man relies on mans own thoughts and opinions. And this stuck out to me so much because in verse 13-14, and I’m sure you heard it, says “You can enter God’s kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” (NLT).

So then it came to my mind that there’s a lot of people we cannot trust. There’s many people, even if they think their intentions are good, or that we may perceive them to be good may actually lead us down the wrong road. However, many people keep seeking out man’s advice more than God’s.

In today’s time we can easily see what Paul meant when he was telling Timothy that there will be a time when people will not listen to “sound doctrine” but will instead seek out teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:4 NKJV).

That verse alone tells us that there will be leaders who do not hold onto a firm foundation of what scripture says but in order to remain a leader they are willing to twist the scripture in order to gain the respect of their congregation. If you watch Netflix, you may have come across the movie “Come Sunday,” which is about a Tulsa, OK Bishop named Carlton Pearson, who believes God told him that no one has to be saved, because they are already saved and that there is no hell anyways. This alone, is a huge contradiction to what the Old and New testament has to say. If there is no hell, then what exactly did Jesus save us from?

The worst part about this, is that there are many who believe this none-sense. Carlton was even interviewed on the Today show acting as if he’s the victim.

Point being said with this, is that whether your a spiritual leader in some sense or a regular church goer, there’s an important foundation that you need to establish for yourself to where you’re not solely relying on someone else’s word. Even with what I say I challenge you to read the scriptures for yourself.

Going back to Matthew 7:24-27 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on a solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse, because it is built on rock. But anyone who hears my teachings and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash.” (NLT).

When Bishop Pearson started claiming that he was told by God that everyone is already saved and that there is no hell, church building, the house for his congregation fell. He lost everything. He lost his church, friends and even his house. He lost it all. However, he’s played it off as if he’s a victim. And those who believe him don’t know any better, because they also have a sandy foundation.

I don’t know exactly what goes through a person’s mind to think that they are right and that everything that’s mentioned and inspired by God in the Bible is wrong, other than the devil has been at work. I imagine the ego a person can get when they have many followers and money. But beware of people who believe they have a bigger voice than God.

Verses 15-20 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don’t pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced” (NLT).

I’ve learned the hard way a few times not to easily trust others, sad but true. During college my sophomore year I was trying to join a discipleship group lead by a third year student. I looked up to this guy and looked forward to learning a lot from him and getting to know some of the other guys. However, one way or another I discovered he intentionally told me that his group was full, but the truth was he didn’t want me to join. The next year he went on his internship and fell into serious temptation that severed his reputation and ended his role as a student.

I started to feel like a saint after seeing his short comings. I pondered, what would make a man that seemed so content in his relationship with God, to give it all up for pleasure. There’s a crack in his foundation. He disliked fellow brothers and desired things that we’re against God’s will. However I was convinced he was on the right track until his sin was shown in the light. Point being here, it’s best to have your eyes set more on God than any man here on earth, no matter how much you may trust them… they are human and have short comings in their actions and thoughts.

If you’re more focused on the church than you are Jesus and the Holy Spirit you’re missing the point.

I’ve been talking to non Christians lately whom I work with and it’s all the same. “I want to believe but I’ve had bad experiences with the church.” I’ve written a post earlier called Ecclesia which is an assembly called out, what the church was when it began. One guy said “I shouldn’t have to go to church I can talk to God right where I am.” I responded no and yes. God is omnipresent, you’re correct, but in order for iron to sharpen iron we need community with the same beliefs. But that community “the church” doesn’t have the reputation it should. I always say not all the churches are the same. I won’t just tell someone you should go to church. I tell them you need to understand who the Holy Spirit, and a church that is moving with the Holy Spirit is where you want to be. But I’m only one man and can’t direct everyone to the appropriate church nor do I know what God has planned for every man. I give all the men/woman this challenge. Take your focus off of the church, for as being a Christian we become the body of Christ. So put your focus on Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Ask God for wisdom and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance. I challenged them to read scripture and learn how Jesus, the disciples and Paul taught and lived through good times and challenges. Watch how the Holy Spirit intervenes. Ask God to make His presence known to you.

Usually they’re expecting me to preach to them or just invite them to church. But that’s just putting all the responsibility on the pastor. We have to give them a reason to attend church. So many go just because it’s what they know. Those who don’t know Christ need to hear what experiences and changes has happened in your life. So much more is needed than a simple invitation. And the other down fall I’m often told is that they see to many hypocrites living as if they never been saved.

If your saved then there’s a change you experience. If your trusting and obedient to God you should be able to recall your blessings. If you’re reading scripture and praying, as the prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective as the NIV says then you can speak from experience of the experiences you’ve had with God.

To know the good your ought to do and don’t do it is a sin. I take what I learn from scripture and apply it. It goes hand in hand. The gospels and Paul’s letters are testimonies to us. Jesus came to testify. They didn’t say hey go to that person over there and hear what they have to say. They shared their own testimony and shared Jesus with them. Christians are to be an assembly called out, not to stay hunkered down keeping the blessings to themselves. It was meant to be shared from the very beginning.

Rev G