The Collapse of Readiness

I sometimes wonder if removing the televisions out of my house would be a wise decision, because of the muck that is being televised.  I believe that old time evangelists from the past had the right message after televisions made their debut when I was a youngster.  They preached with fervency that televisions were instruments of the devil, which I now, wholeheartedly agree with.  Their prediction has become a reality in this day in which we live.

Trying to find a halfway descent show to watch is certainly a challenge.  Immorality and the decay of decency are on the increase and have found their way into most everyone’s place of abode via television and personal computers.  Little by little the negative influences of viewing ungodly programs are becoming more acceptable in today’s homes than ever before in the history of television. 

(Solomon 2:15), “The little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.”  

When moral decency was recognized as a good thing and scrutinized to protect young, innocent minds, advertisements like “Cross Your Heart Bras” used a manikin to demonstrate the features of the bra.  Young eyes were not filled with lewd vulgarity.  But these precautions are gradually being eliminated; a thing of the past when modesty was considered respectable.  

Beautiful, well endowed women are the focal point of advertisements in the present, because “sex” sells.  This is only one, small aspect of corruption that is taking over programming, because producers know that filth is what most people want to see.  How far has society fallen?  Ads and shows on TV reveal the depth of degradation.

When I watch heartbreaking news on television, it exposes exactly what our nation and other nations throughout the world are becoming; countries accepting the statuesque of sin.  It is an ongoing, calculated erosion of principled living; turning it into unprincipled slavery. 

Satan is on the rampage to deceive and devour as many people as possible in the time that remains before the end of the world takes place.  I call this erosion, “The Collapse of Readiness.”

When I was a boy, very seldom did I hear disheartening words like kidnapped, molested, and murdered.  Drive by shootings and “wilding” (where a group of non-empathetic thugs attack and brutally beat innocent victims) were not commonplace, because the consequences of such actions was dealt with severely at home by dads or one of dad’s neighbors or police officers on the beat or the judicial system. 

Disrespect and disobedience were not tolerated.  Children were expected to tow the line and do what was right in the eyes of the law, at school, and at home.  Most children feared the “woodshed experience.”

The long and short of today’s societal problems is that kids and adults are out of control, because accountability has fallen by the wayside.  They lack the trepidation that I was raised with and have little fear of retribution for their actions.  No-one seems to know the solution for such degenerate tendencies, yet, the Bible gives straightforward guidelines pertaining to disobedient children if only they were applied.

In my day the hands of public school teachers, police officers, and parents were not tied as they are today.  They must abide by strict guidelines of restraint that have ultimately allowed misguided and hell-bent adolescents to do what they please with little self-control or respect for authority, which has been prophesied in the New Testament would happen.

(2 Timothy 3:1-5), “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  vs.2 “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” vs.3 “unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,” vs.4 “traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” vs.5 “having a form of godliness but denying its power.  And from such people turn away!”

I believe that we are in the last days spoken of in the Bible.  Look around you.  It is a distasteful, eye opening truth of what’s happening in every neighborhood, because hoodlums do not fear the consequences for their blatant disregard for law and order, while discounting the rights of others.

Fear is not in the vocabulary of perpetrators that commit wicked crimes against children, because they are protected from the general population of other prisoners, while incarcerated in prison. 

Being separated from freedom is not a deterrent anymore, because prisoner’s rights groups go above and beyond what is reasonable to make sure that privileges are adhered to.  Prisoner’s unions also look out for the rights of inmates, even those of the worst kind.  You would think that the forfeiture of rights should take precedence the moment unlawful behavior is carried out.

Inmates have all the comforts of home and more in some cases; carpeted weight rooms to workout in, basketball courts, and televisions to watch at their leisure, while eating three square meals a day.  But God will have the final say on Judgment Day if these men and women do not accept Jesus as Lord and ask God to forgive them of their sins.

The collapse of goodness, decency, and fare play is at an all-time high.  Integrity is quickly becoming less and less fashionable in this generation of thrill seekers.  But we do not have to throw up our hands in defeat or give into feelings of helplessness or live in fear. 

God cares about the welfare of His children and is touched by the feelings of their infirmities.  A Believer’s inner strength and the wherewithal to deal with today’s rising crime rate come from the Father above.  He hears us when we pray and speaks peace to troubled souls when answers seem to evade our questions. 

Though we live in the midst of chaos where young bullies and hardhearted adults commit heinous crimes against people of all ages, we must not lose sight of where our protection lays—the Holy Spirit.  We need not yield to the collapse of readiness like those around us are doing, but we have the ability within us to remain true to Jesus and keep our eyes ever looking for His second return in the clouds.

I was raised that this phenomena of Jesus’ return will happen when the inhabitants of earth least expect it.  He will break the eastern sky and with a trumpet sound and shout from the archangel, the Lord will come back for those that are waiting and looking for Him.

A collapse of readiness is overshadowing humanity worldwide.  People would rather go to a baseball game or watch weekend football than attend church.  The collapse of moral values and sensitivity to God’s Spirit is all around us, from actors and producers in Hollywood to individual homes where loved ones and friends are seeking pleasure rather than a closer walk with God.

The saying, “If it feels good do it.” is quickly surpassing scriptures that warn against doing such things.  It is becoming more and more the norm to seek gratification than abiding in truth for those lacking readiness to meet Jesus.  This choice of lifestyle does not change what is or what will be.  Though people change, God’s Word is unchanging—truth is truth and sin is sin.

(Romans 6:23),  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(Galatians 6:7-8), “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”  vs.8 “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

Sadly, the expectancy of Jesus’ return is growing colder and colder in many people.  It behooves us all to take note of where our priorities are.  Indifference coupled with complacency is becoming the rule everywhere rather than maintaining a readied spirit to meet the Lord. 

The collapse of readiness is worse than ever, which should open the eyes of every Christian; causing them to pursue truth like never before; to be counted worthy to be called sons and daughters of Almighty God.

(Matthew 24:12-13), “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”  vs.13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

Though corruption is all around us, we can remain steadfast in our faith and not submit to things that would take our eyes off Jesus or the reward in heaven that He has promised to those that are faithful to the end. 

Though others may stray from truth, we through Christ can live in hope—the hope of God’s salvation—that one day we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21).

This hope is real to those that do not collapse under the load of temptation, while maintaining readiness for the Lord’s return.

This writing is an admonition to all Believers to resist the devil and keep minds centered upon Jesus.  The Holy Spirit gives the power to overcome all things.  In Him we stand without fear.

(1 John 4:18-19), “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”  vs.19 “We love Him because He first loved us.”

(James 4:7-8), “Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  vs.8  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Messengers of God

Throughout the Bible we read about messengers of God that communicated His plan to mankind in diverse incidences and venues.  The frequency of their appearances were many, such as, angels that spoke to shepherds in the field regarding the birth of Jesus Christ, and the angel that told Mary and Martha that the Lord had risen from the dead on the third day after being crucified on a cross.

Numerous manifestations of God, by means of messengers, have been recorded in the Bible.  On occasion He spoke to humans in out-of-the-ordinary ways such as a disembodied hand appearing and writing on the palace wall in the presence of several of people at a banquet hosted by Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians.  This story is found in the Book of Daniel (Old Testament), Chapter 5. 

The message read, “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin,” which was interpreted by the visionary Daniel as meaning the end of the Babylonian kingdom was near in time.  That night, Belshazzar was killed and the Persians sacked the city.   

There is an intriguing story in Numbers (Old Testament), Chapter 22, Verses 21-39 where a donkey spoke to a man named Balaam.  This animal saved Balaam from certain death.  Whenever there was a purpose and message that God wanted to reveal to someone, He used whatever means He felt necessary to communicate the message. 

God also used dreams to tell of future happenings and prophets that were filled with His Spirit to make upcoming events known.  Angels were sent to warn Lot that Sodom and Gomorrah were going to be destroyed with fire from heaven, because of the people’s willful disregard for the statutes of God.  Their sin was a stench in His nostrils. 

Messengers and messages come in many different forms.  The greatest messenger ever given to mankind was Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.  All in all, God loves us with a never ending love and desires that we commit ourselves to Him and remain obedient unto death, which bonds God’s promises in the Bible with an inner hope that we will spend eternity in heaven. 

This expectation is a result of the faithfulness of God to forgive sin, coupled with the wherewithal in lost sinners to say yes to Jesus when He knocks at their heart’s door.  What could be greater than becoming a child of God (those that have accepted Jesus as Lord)? 

(John 14:1-6), “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”  vs.2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.”  vs.3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”  vs.4 “And where I go you know, and the way you know.”  vs.5 “Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’ ” vs.6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ”

Talk about messengers of God; have you ever stopped to consider the Angel of Death and the part he plays in the plan of God for our lives?  In every picture that I’ve seen, the Angel of Death is characterized having an evil-looking face, wearing a long, black-hooded robe, and carrying a crescent-shaped blade called a sickle:  a tool used for cutting down tall grasses and weeds.

I wonder if this angel is the same angel that casts sinners into the lake of fire after they have been rejected by God at the Judgment Seat in heaven, because of their sinful lifestyle, while on earth.

I do not believe that the Angel of Death is evil as portrayed in the movies or magazines.  He is God’s messenger and it is his responsibility to bring the reality of dying into alignment with scriptures.  It is our destiny that we shall all die unless taken by way of the rapture, which is the second coming of Jesus when He comes back to earth and receives all Christians unto Himself.

(Hebrews 9:27-28), “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” vs.28 “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.  To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

Every person born of water (embryonic fluid) will die one time and then give an account to God for the things they did on earth.  Those that have been born of the Spirit (born again), having experienced the new birth through Jesus Christ, will not have to suffer everlasting punishment in hell.

Separation by death is always hard when we lose loved ones.  In that the Angel of Death is the messenger of God, I believe when our time comes that we must part this housing of flesh, God's messenger will lovingly, and with a smile, take our hand and lead us through the valley of the shadow of death into the presence of Almighty God.

(Psalm 116:15), “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

Is it strange that I would say the Angel of Death will have a smile on his face?  I think not.  He is smiling, because God is smiling.  All of heaven will rejoice as they did when one sinner repented of their sins, because a saint has crossed over into the place prepared for them.

Jesus will wipe away all tears, whereas, pain and suffering will be no more.  Perfect peace; perfect rest will be ours forevermore.  We need not fear what tomorrow may bring when we are secure in Christ today.

Though the ones left behind are deeply saddened when a loved one is taken, I am convinced that when born-again Believers pass from this life, they are rejoicing with the messenger of God as he leads them into the presence of their Savior.  That day is joy unspeakable and full of glory as they partake of their reward in heaven; all because they believed in the name of Jesus and accepted Him as Lord.

Those that die in their transgressions will hear the words of God, “I tell you I do not know you, where you are from.  Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:27).  That horrific day will be filled with regrets and screams for mercy as the angel sadly and without a smile takes them to their punishment for rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord.

(Luke 13:28), “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.”

(Matthew 13:41-43), “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,” vs.42 “and will cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”  vs.43 “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Jesus is our only means to inherit heaven and escape hell, because He is presently the Savior of lost souls.  But one day He will be Judge of those that turn their back on so great a salvation that God provided for all mankind—His Son.  Jesus died on a cross and paid the price for our sins.  We need only accept Him to be saved.

(John 3:16), “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  vs.17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  vs.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Please listen to the words from this messenger of God by way of this writing, while there is yet time to repent of your sins if you need to do so.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Don't Borrow Trouble

There is a saying that I have tried to live by in my older, wiser years of life that I did not exercise in my youth and young adulthood, because I thought I knew all there was to know about life and making decisions.  No-one could tell me otherwise.  I was hardheaded and quite independent; learning-by-doing rather than listening to what others told me to do.  Their attempts to steer me away from problematic situations were in vain.  The saying I was referring to is “Don’t borrow trouble.”

When I was nineteen years old my dad tried to tell me something that would have been beneficial to me, but I took it in a negative way as if he were trying to tell me what to do.  I said something off the wall to him regarding his advice and I remember him saying, “Son, if I broke an axle by hitting a chuckhole down the street, wouldn’t you want me to tell you about it so you don't break your axle?"

Dad should have popped me, because of the attitude of my response.  I exclaimed, “No, just let me hit the chuckhole and learn by my own mistakes!”  I was rude, impudent, and thought I had all the answers.  As I grew older I learned to appreciate his input.  It is amazing how smart Dad became in just four, short years.  Age twenty-three was a turning point in my life.  I began asking Dad his opinion on things and listened to sound advice and wise council.

One sensible safeguard he tried to get across to me was “Don’t borrow trouble.”  I have learned through the years that this phrase can pertain to a plethora of things ranging from worrying about something that may or may not happen; to becoming financially involved with someone that is devious in nature.

It is an eye opening experience to be on the receiving end of being blindsided by someone.  For this reason, and more, a person must exercise caution by using wisdom in every area of life.  “Never trouble trouble until trouble troubles you” is another saying that goes hand in hand with “Don’t borrow trouble,” which is the ability to use good judgment when making decisions.

The quotes in the preceding paragraph imply that there are always enough problems that need our immediate attention without looking for more.  It is much wiser and less stressful to “Let sleeping dogs lie” as it were.  I believe this proverb parallels the above thought. 

If something isn’t causing obvious problems in the present, then get on with more pressing issues that are hanging over one’s head.  Sometimes it is hard to let a matter that is at rest stay at rest, and to not create a disturbance by bringing the matter up again, which brings me to another saying “A stitch in time saves nine.”  My dad often used this quote to make an impression in the minds of his four children that follow-through was most important.

Dad tried to get across to each of us that when a person procrastinates or postpones something that needs to be looked after or repaired, it seldom pays off in the end if due diligence is not exercised.  He taught, by example, that when ends are kept tucked in, this positive action helps to prevent surprises and actually costs less money to fix things in the now rather than waiting to do so sometime in the future.  It takes implementing this type of behavior to realize the dividends, and it helps prevent being taken unaware.

Let us not forget the Boy Scout motto “Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”  It is not wise to stick one’s head in the sand, figuratively speaking, and hope that things will go away or work themselves out.  Responsibility and awareness are both imperative attributes that help maintain accountability.  But sometimes this concept is hard to grasp and maintain when individuals blindly or worse yet, willfully allow themselves to become caught up in questionable activities or involved with people that can lead in the opposite direction of righteousness, down the wide road to destruction.

We must take the blinders from our eyes and not become involved with sin at any level.  It is spiritual suicide to think that we are strong enough in ourselves to resist what or who is tempting us, and that we are able to maintain spiritual healthiness on our own merits. 

Even though something is pleasing to the eyes or any of our other senses, we must realize that yielding to temptation will most likely lead to sin.  Being tempted is not sin of itself, it is when a person partakes of, dwells on, or lusts after things they shouldn’t that it becomes sin or generates a sin nature.

I knew when I gave my heart to God, through Jesus Christ His Son that I was turning over a new leaf in life and that old things needed to pass away and all things would become new in Christ the Lord.  I knew that God had a plan for me and that He also had someone with whom I would share my life with.  I believed God had a companion for me somewhere. 

I was quite vigilant and attended places where single, godly women would be, such as Christian, singles groups and other church affiliated activities.  I was putting myself out there in all the right places, because I knew God would come through for me someday.

One evening while pumping gas at a local gas station, a very attractive woman drove in that certainly caught my eye.  “Is this the one?” I asked myself.  I watched as she got out of her car and, WOW!  Not only was she beautiful, but she was wearing a tight, red dress that revealed every curve of her gorgeous body; and she was smiling at me.

I finished filling my gas tank and casually walked over to her and struck up a conversation.  She was very responsive and all was going well.  I thought, “Dear Jesus, my prayers are answered.”  Small talk led to my question, “What are you doing tonight?”  It was her response that caught me off guard; causing my mouth to become dry to the point that it was hard to swallow, because of the intense sickness I was feeling.

Please do not judge me for my actions or my response to her answer, but for me, being a new Christian and all, I had decided when I asked Jesus into my heart that I would leave the old lifestyle behind me, because there was no peace whatsoever in the things I once did, only momentary satisfaction; nothing lasting.

I don’t want to hurt your feelings if you are an exotic dancer or someone looking for the same Savior that I met years ago, but I was and still am determined to live for Christ no matter what temptation Satan tempts me with.  She said that she was on her way to work and that she was a dancer at a local nightclub.  I was well acquainted with this particular establishment, which employed topless dancers.

I was at a crossroad.  Do I or don’t I ask her out.  There was only one choice in the matter as to what I needed to do.  My heart was pounding out of my chest; all conversation immediately ceased.  Bidding her goodnight, I turned and walked back to my car.  She stood there dumbfounded with her mouth open as I drove off.

I praised the Lord for the ability He gave me to say no.  I found inner strength to resist temptation and was thankful that I didn’t throw caution to the wind.  I continued to trust God to send me my soul mate, which He did a short time later.  God blessed me beyond measure, because I didn’t borrow trouble that night. 

I could not ask for anyone more perfectly suited for me than the lifelong sweetheart that I married; a godly woman that loves me unconditionally.  What more could I want than this?  God gave me the desire of my heart.

(Matthew 6:33), “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

(Romans 12:2), “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

It pays to listen to what God is telling us when compromising situations come our way and then look for the escape route that He provides; it will always be there.  God’s blessings rest on those that seek Him first and shows themselves faithful to Him, while maintaining accountability.

(1 Corinthians 10:13), “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd