Binary, 33

~ Binary: Heaven or Hell ~

 

Series Comment  ~  When it comes to spiritual paths it is strictly a binary choice. 

(1)   It is a choice between the True or False.  “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).  [See Post #1 in this series.]

(2)   It is a choice between Do or Done.  Jesus said, “It [the work of salvation] is finished!” (John 19:30).  Your Doing can add nothing to what Christ has Done for you.  [See Post #2 in this series.]

(3)   It is your choice between Religion or Relationship.  Religions are geared toward self-effort whereas Christianity is an intimacy with the only One who can save.  Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).  [See Post #3 and #32 in this series.]

 

Important Note  ~  We are currently in a binary sub-series of quoting short sections from books that draw parallels between physical light (the sun) and spiritual light (the Son) by Robert Lloyd Russell.

 

Quote  ~  The most important binary factor to consider is our final destiny, heaven or hell. In Part Two we saw how heaven will be filled with His light. Christ is the source of all light. Is it possible that hell will be eternal darkness? I don’t know. The traditional view of hell consisting of unending fire may be more symbolic of eternal torture and lament rather than of literal flames—perhaps it is a metaphor of a burning anguished conscience—never to be extinguished—which regrets how life was lived. Perhaps hell is an endless review of what was done wrong—poetic justice for those too proud to trust in the Savior. One thing we do know for sure about heaven is that it is a place of light and possesses the ultimate source of light, Christ Himself. We also know that hell in many ways is in direct contrast to heaven.

 

The Book of Psalms holds an interesting description of the end result of those who live for the present rather than for eternal values. “Hear this, all peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth will speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart will be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp ... Even those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the abundance of their riches ... even wise men die; the stupid and the senseless alike perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inner thought is, that their houses are forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they have called their lands after their own names. But man in his pomp will not endure; he is like the beasts that perish ... Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased, for when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him. Though while he lives he congratulates himself—and though men praise you when you do well for yourself—he shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light. Man in his pomp, yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish” (Psalm 49:1-4, 6, 10-12, 16-20 nasb, emphasis added).

 

Reference  ~  We are now in the process of quoting short sections from the ebook: “GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight” (https://books2read.com/GodsNature).

 

Also from the print book: “GOD LIGHT: Sunlight Sonlight” (https://booksrlr.com/printbooks/god-light-sunlight-sonlight/).  ­­­­­­­­­­

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW 

 

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God Attribute, 35

 ~ God Is Good ~

 

This Series  ~  This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Scripture  ~  “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways” (Psalm 25:8 niv).

 

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You” (Psalm 86:5).

 

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8).

 

Application  ~  “Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord” (Psalm 25:7 niv).  God is good enough to forgive your sins if you call upon Him believing. 

 

Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Why Trust God? 27

 ~ The Grain Offering (Leviticus 2of8) ~  

 

Introduction  ~  “Abundant Life Now” previously provided a list of Biblical of examples of fearing / reverencing God (217 posts).  In this current series we look at Biblical accounts that demonstrate that we can fully trust God.  Initially we posted seven general reasons for trusting God.  We are currently looking at passages from all 66 books of Scripture which demonstrate a reason for trusting our Creator. 

 

Note  ~  In chapters 1—5 of the Book of Leviticus God establishes a detailed set of sacrifices that enabled His people to worship Him.  Following that He gave additional laws and rules for His people to follow.  God’s directions to His people throughout the centuries have always been for the good of His people.  He is in complete control and He cares for us, therefore we can trust Him! 

 

Scripture  ~  The entire chapter 2 of Leviticus is about the Grain Offering. The purpose of was as a voluntary declaration of devotion to God in recognition of both His goodness and His providence.

 

“When anyone offers a grain offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour.  And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it.  He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense.  And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.  The rest of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons'. It is most holy of the offerings to the Lord made by fire.

 

“And if you bring as an offering a grain offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.  But if your offering is a grain offering baked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour, unleavened, mixed with oil.  You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.

 

“If your offering is a grain offering baked in a covered pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.  You shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the Lord.  And when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar.  Then the priest shall take from the grain offering a memorial portion, and burn it on the altar.  It is an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.  And what is left of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.  It is most holy of the offerings to the Lord made by fire.

 

“No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire.  As for the offering of the firstfruits, you shall offer them to the Lord, but they shall not be burned on the altar for a sweet aroma.  And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering.  With all your offerings you shall offer salt.

 

“If you offer a grain offering of your firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits green heads of grain roasted on the fire, grain beaten from full heads.  And you shall put oil on it, and lay frankincense on it.  It is a grain offering.  Then the priest shall burn the memorial portion: part of its beaten grain and part of its oil, with all the frankincense, as an offering made by fire to the Lord” (Leviticus 2).

 

Closing Comment  ~  The importance of blood is a reoccurring theme in the Book of Leviticus.  In Chapter 17 the sanctity of Blood is the subject.  Note for those wishing to look deeper at the blood of Christ consider the eBook entitled: “CHRIST’S BLOOD: 7+ Amazing Benefits” (https://books2read.com/ChristsBlood) by Robert Lloyd Russell. 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Question – Jesus, 152

 ~ Regarding Understanding, 4 ~

 

Introduction  ~  This series is about questions involving Jesus.  Some were asked by individuals involved with Jesus Christ while He walked on earth.  Others are questions that Jesus Christ asked others.  We will look at questions on over 160 topics (some may split into two or more posts).  Even so, it is far from an exhaustive list. 

 

Scripture  ~  “And He said to him, ‘You have rightly judged.’  Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman?  I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.  You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.  You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.  Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.  But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.’  Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven’” (Luke 7:43-48).

 

Other Scripture  ~  “Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’   “So Jesus said, ‘Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man’” (Matthew 15:15-20).

 

“But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, ‘Why do you reason because you have no bread?  Do you not yet perceive nor understand?  Is your heart still hardened?  Having eyes, do you not see?  And having ears, do you not hear?  And do you not remember?  When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?’  They said to Him, ‘Twelve.’  ‘Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?’  And they said, ‘Seven.’  So He said to them, ‘How is it you do not understand?’” (Mark 8:17-21).

 

“[Jesus speaking] ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.  So it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’  Jesus said to them, ‘Have you understood all these things?’  They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord’” (Matthew 13:47-51). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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