| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church “We must endeavor to persevere”. That is what the Chief said the President of the United States told him in The Outlaw Josey Wales. The Bible talks a lot about Perseverance. In Revelation 2:17, It says: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it.” This reminds me of a Charlie Brown Halloween.. Remember everyone got candy and good stuff except him? He got a rock. And this is God Almighty, giving not OUT OF, but “according to” his riches. This seems somehow dis-proportionate, at best. After a life of sacrifice (by our standards), and saying “no” to the world, and forgiving instead of getting even, and doing without what the flesh craves, I finally get to heaven, and God says “good job Dan, here’s your rock”. (Kinda reminds me of my Dad when he would tell me to do something, and I would ask: “what will you give me?”, and he would say: “I’ll feed you tonight”. Let’s turn the Spiritual Switch. If I were a Hebrew, a few thousand years ago, and I was arrested for —whatever— and put on trial, after the “jury” heard all the evidence they would (as a sign of innocence or guilt), place a stone on the ground. A Dark stone for Guilty, and a White Stone for Innocent. The God of the Universe, the Ultimate Righteous Judge, will Himself give Me a White stone with my name on it. Reflect on this for a minute. I don’t even have it yet and it is already my most precious possession. I will show it off for-ever. I will sleep with it in my hands. What a Great God. Do you have yours on order? God bless. |
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