“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
“The funny thing about “now” is…it’s always now…
I would like for anyone that reads this, or any teaching like this, to first pray and ask God our Father to give you an ear to hear, and the understanding that only He can grant to anyone. May you read and understand that this message is written in the hope that you will behold the glory of God, which is the hope of all the people that realize the truth, which is the Glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Christ. Amen, and I hope with you that this will be sooner, rather than later. My testimony…
What is interesting to me, is that if you ask a person that is reading a Bible why he or she is reading it, you will most likely get an answer that sounds a lot like a prerecorded message. Most atheist that I know, that were once theist, came to a certain conclusion. Many of them felt themselves living this “prerecorded” message, and for lack of a better defining phrase for this feeling, they felt that:
“IT JUST WASN’T REAL”
An angel asked me this same question, and when I started my “prerecorded response”, the angel made me aware of it. I also became instantly aware of something else. People that navigate towards something like religion, and start reading it’s teachings, all have one thing in common.
They are all “looking for ‘something'”.
I realized the question, “why are you reading that book”, was not a question at all. It was a message from God, that if I did not know what I was looking for, chances were very good that I would not find it.
Long story short, this conclusion that many atheist have realized is in most Christian’s future. You will come to this crossroad, and have to make a choice. Think about that the next time you have a discussion with them. They are correct in their observations of people that are living this same “almost real religious experience”. You may be preaching to the choir. Do not misunderstand, your enlightenment, newness of understanding, answered prayers, and the teachings and prompts from the Holy Spirit are very real. They also are preparing you for something. This is what happened to me when I reached this crossroad.
I realized that what I was looking for was the reality of “all of this religious stuff” I was reading about. But instead of concluding that it was not real, I became quite angry. Furious would be a better word. I was furious at God for “hiding His face from me”. I found myself “up in His face”, demanding He show Himself, and demanding that He explain why Moses or anyone else is any better than me that He could speak to them personally, but not to me.
The result was the same for me as it was for Job. I found myself face to face with Him, and I actually had an aneurysm, and died. The verse that no man can see God and live had a new meaning for me. This was the most terrifying experience I have ever had, or will ever know, and was followed by a peace that I can not even explain.
This “fury” in God’s direction is exactly what God wants, and is waiting on. I did not realize this, but it is exactly what is meant by, “seeking Him with a whole heart”, [mentioned in Joel 2:12] and this verse:
Deuteronomy 4:29
“But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul”
An instant understanding of the entire Scriptures entered my mind. When Jesus talks, it is ultra-audible. He actually “tells you everything in a single sentence”.
“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures”
Luke 24:44-45 (KJV)
It became clear that all of the books, chapters, and verses in the Bible say the same thing, and are the same message. The parables, such as the man that found a “treasure” in a field, and sold “everything” to buy the field…is the same thing simplified. [Matthew 13:44 (KJV)]
“Make finding God a number one priority, and you will find Him”
All the verses convey this same message. Jesus explains that if you do not understand the parable of the sower and the seed, you will not understand any of it, because all scripture is saying the exact same thing. [Mark 4:13 (KJV)]
This is evident in the debates between atheist, and Christians, and between Christians and other Christians. There are stages of growth for any plant that’s seed has rooted itself. But the point of this testimony is this.
What is the maturity of the plant? Better yet, when?
Who said “behold, now is the acceptable day of your salvation?”. The funny thing about now is…it’s always now. Yesterday and tomorrow are as real as any other fantasy, and not accessible in reality. I want you to think about the phrase “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand” What does “at hand” actually mean? It means what it says. It is near enough to your hand that you can grab it…now. Sooner or later you will realize that you are living the same day over and over, and your memories of the past, and plans for the future will keep you trapped in this day. It is always today, and you can decide to make it a brand new day as soon as you realize you can, and are ready to. This should be evident in these next two verses:
“And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 10:7 (KJV)
“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
2nd Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)
To sum this up, The Bible is a simple message.
Jesus rose from the dead, and is a first fruit of all that will as well. [1st Cor.15:20 (KJV) This means something very important. Christ rose from the dead, “and stands at the door and knocks”, wanting someone to hear His voice. Simply, He wants to talk to you, now. Rev.3:20
I join debate groups on popular sites for Christians and atheist alike, to deliver a very simple message.
The entire message of the Gospel is this, that Jesus, the Christ, is alive…now
This next sentence should be tied around your neck.
Jesus rose from the dead. This is either true, or it is not, period.
I’ll say that again; Jesus, the Christ is alive. You can read that sentence all you want to, and that is all you can ever know from reading that sentence, and that sentence is the entire Scripture.
Jesus is alive now, or He is not.
Do not misunderstand, I am not trying to discourage anyone from reading Scripture. On the contrary, reading Scripture is your spiritual food, that causes your resurrected ‘new man’ to grow. I am just watering a garden that belongs to Christ, because I love Him, and He loves me, ..and He loves you. If you read 1st Peter 2:2 (“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby), you will indeed do this. Sooner or later you will have to change your diet, and eat meat. [“I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet… (understand the rest of this verse) ‘now’…are ye able.” 1st Cor 3:21 (KJV)
If the message of the Gospel is indeed true, and God our Father did raise Jesus from the dead, then something else is also true. I want you to click this link to read any of the verses I have posted, in all known translations, all on the same page. Just type one of these verses into the search bar after you read the one that is there when you click on it. It is a great reference site.
http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/3-2.htm
If the Gospel is true, then these verses have a definite meaning. One that should also be tied around your neck:
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Mat 722-23 (KJV)
“Iniquity” is the practice of “playing Church”, or simply doing things…any things…
Iniquity is simply living any life without the real, living Jesus that was resurrected for the chance you are not giving Him, now.
So it doesn’t matter your intent, or how “good” you “try to be”, or anything else you can think of to do in the name of Christianity, if you haven’t actually met the reason you are doing it for. Make this real, or you may end up wasting your time, and the Bible will become bubblegum for your brain.
Related verses:
“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”
this is Luke 24:39 and was spoken after the resurrection. The same statement applies to you….now
So, everything else aside, make it real. The next two verses, (Mat24:36 & Mat 16:28) can be understood, and are true because some people made it real then, and some are doing that now, and I you will soon. This is something you have to get ready for, by meditation on the reality that you are about to meet Jesus face to face. It is not an easy thing.
“No man knows the hour, or day of Jesus’ return” and “There be some standing here now that will not taste of death until they see the Son of Man come in all His glory”
How could they? No man knows when you will decide it is finally, “now” enough to go boldly into the throne room of grace, and introduce yourself. [Hebrews 4:16]
Therefore:
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Get mad, and furiously passionate about meeting Jesus face to face, and you will do so. Think on these things.
-peace