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From the time we are born until the time we die, we are engaged in spiritual warfare with our enemy, the devil. Taunting, teasing, accusing as well as prompting us to make bad choices.
Satan is also referred to as the “accuser of men.” He taunts us and tempts us, then has the audacity of accusing us before the father. He does so not just to unbelievers but to believers in Christ as well. Even Martin Luther was subject to his accusations and for a long time felt guilty about his sinful nature, that is until he found the answer to his dilemma in the Bible where the apostle Paul says, “Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me…. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Indeed, we all have a sinful nature, and like the Bible says, “There is none righteous – no, not one.”
Even our leaders, who should be the paragon of virtue, are susceptible to the evil one’s urging to do wrong. Take, for example, the Biden crime family who colluded with evil governments to rake in millions for dummy corporations, lining their pockets with ill-gotten gain. Consider the Pharmaceutical companies and doctors who are still doing the same, even after killing millions and critically harming others with needless and harmful injections. Evil judges and lawyers who should know better are breaking the law in lieu of money. Teachers, rather than teaching Math, History, and English, are indoctrinating children to disrespect parents and question their very sexual identity.
As for our leaders and the other examples, the Bible says, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” (Their actions speak louder than anything they can say.)
Woe to those who call evil good, for we all must appear at the white throne judgment seat of God one day soon.
Already, we can see God’s judgment across the world, what with wild weather swings, tornadoes, volcano eruptions, flooding not seen since the time of Noah, and massive earthquakes everywhere. In Syria and Turkey, the recent earthquakes were so severe that people were praying in the streets in repentance (to a non-existing god, Allah.)
Next may be nuclear war.
But at present, among Christians, the personal introspection continues, and the problem lies in our trying to be self-righteous. Then when we inevitably fail, we condemn ourselves. It took me a while to accept that as long as I was in the flesh, I would have this problem.
Nowadays, I confess my shortcomings and keep plugging away in this thing called life. For example, when I felt that I had erroneously committed sin by filming a cigarette commercial while I was still “young in Christ,” I confessed, tore up my headshots, and swore to quit the film industry. Nevertheless, a few years later, as I was restarting my chosen career at the urging of my agent, I appeared in three or four beer commercials almost back-to-back. It was then that I learned that we humans can justify our every inconsistency; after all, which is worse, smoking or drinking? Actually, both are bad for the body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, but to survive in this dog-eat-dog world, what was I to do? What would you have done?
But that was the past. Today, I’ve put all of that behind me. But I wouldn’t have been able to overcome my self-incriminations if I didn’t know scripture. What shall we say then? Shall we continue sinning? NO. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” So says the apostle Paul. But “the Lord has laid on Him (Jesus Christ] the iniquity of us all.” And so we are free from condemnation, and if God sets us free, we are free indeed.
Knowing and practicing the admonitions of the Bible is life-giving and powerful. Such is the title of my soon-to-be-released book, Miracles, Peace & Power. God favors those who follow His admonitions, but if your intent is to become wealthy by doing so, your motives and intents are faulty, and God doesn’t appreciate being used.
Through miracles (what we usually call coincidences), He will bring about His plans for you – if you give Him first place in your life. Another benefit is the peace you will experience as you give your every care over to Him. God also gives you the power to proclaim Christ fearlessly in an ever-darkening world.
And so, the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, and self-control.
Having been sick for months, I wasn’t able to hit the streets or my mission station (the Naples Pier). I checked on it yesterday, and it had been destroyed by the recent hurricane. Having the urge to get out and resume, I instead witnessed to a man at the Cracker Barrel restaurant. The man had made a remark about my beard, and we began conversing. He was wearing a Michigan State sweatshirt.
“I can see by the sweatshirt that you are from Michigan.”
“How did you know?”
“It’s written right there on your sweatshirt.”
“So it is.”
“I’m from Lansing myself.”
“Yada, yada, yada.” After inviting him to sit with me, he told me he had just gotten out of the hospital after a severe heart attack, so I asked if he was ready to meet his maker.
“Oh, yes,” he replied, “I’ve been a good man.”
“Do you know what the Bible says about that?”
“No, not really.”
“For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”
YBIC
Jim Towers
Write me at jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com or visit me at www.propheticsignsandwonders.com
The post The Trouble With Being Human :: By Jim Towers appeared first on Rapture Ready.
