It is a Fallen World
The very first moment Adam, meaning mankind, disobeyed the Lord God's command to not eat of the fruit from the tree of Knowledge of good and evil, this world became contaminated. The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Keep in mind, the fall of mankind was the fall of the world. That one act of disobedience was the cause of animals turning against one another; fish from another species attacking other species of fish. In essence, gradually this world began to slide into total chaos. People began attacking people for no other reason but jealousy and envy. Animals attacked one another for food and to take dominion over another. Birds became prey for other birds. Paradise was no more.
The first recorded murder of another human being was between brothers. One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. From one man's disobedience came chaos. Please realize that death was non-existent before sin entered this world. Now, death is a transition between eternal life and eternal damnation. Ambassador Paul put it this way: For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee He has given us His Holy Spirit.
So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. Notice that ambassador Paul is speaking from a Kingdom perspective, while having a Kingdom mindset. He lived by His faith in the King. Death as we know it doesn't strike any fear with a citizen of the Kingdom of the Lord God. Our priority in the midst of this fallen world is to please the King. Ambassador Paul agrees with me in this statement: Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please Him.
By the way, there is the other side of eternal life and that is eternal damnation. The King made it quite clear what is the distinction of those who refuse to accept His invitation. In this fallen world we are to be led by the Holy Spirit (Governor) to feed and clothe the poor. He is the one who governs the Kingdom citizen's life. The King never said to give your finances to ministers in the form of tithes, but to the poor. He made this statement to the rich young ruler: Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Remember, we live in a fallen world. In the Kingdom your faith in Him is your greatest asset, not how much you pay in tithes. Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
In this fallen world, religious leaders aren't immune to the temptations of sin. They cheat, lie, commit immoral sexual acts, steal and even commit murder. How can this be? They aren't filled with or being guided by the Holy Spirit. Don't follow them, but stay in the Lord God's Constitution.
In the United States mega church leaders have millions of dollars in income and property but give a small percentage away to the poor and thing they are being generous. "All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
Keep in mind the words of King Jesus: Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
Remember, Your greatest asset is your faith in God's Constitution.
Genesis 3:6-7; 4:8 2 Corinthians 5:1-6, 8-9 Mark 10:21; 12:41-44 Matthew 25:32-46
Mark 13:31 All NLT
~~W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
Keep in mind, the fall of mankind was the fall of the world. That one act of disobedience was the cause of animals turning against one another; fish from another species attacking other species of fish. In essence, gradually this world began to slide into total chaos. People began attacking people for no other reason but jealousy and envy. Animals attacked one another for food and to take dominion over another. Birds became prey for other birds. Paradise was no more.
The first recorded murder of another human being was between brothers. One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. From one man's disobedience came chaos. Please realize that death was non-existent before sin entered this world. Now, death is a transition between eternal life and eternal damnation. Ambassador Paul put it this way: For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee He has given us His Holy Spirit.
So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. Notice that ambassador Paul is speaking from a Kingdom perspective, while having a Kingdom mindset. He lived by His faith in the King. Death as we know it doesn't strike any fear with a citizen of the Kingdom of the Lord God. Our priority in the midst of this fallen world is to please the King. Ambassador Paul agrees with me in this statement: Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please Him.
By the way, there is the other side of eternal life and that is eternal damnation. The King made it quite clear what is the distinction of those who refuse to accept His invitation. In this fallen world we are to be led by the Holy Spirit (Governor) to feed and clothe the poor. He is the one who governs the Kingdom citizen's life. The King never said to give your finances to ministers in the form of tithes, but to the poor. He made this statement to the rich young ruler: Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Remember, we live in a fallen world. In the Kingdom your faith in Him is your greatest asset, not how much you pay in tithes. Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
In this fallen world, religious leaders aren't immune to the temptations of sin. They cheat, lie, commit immoral sexual acts, steal and even commit murder. How can this be? They aren't filled with or being guided by the Holy Spirit. Don't follow them, but stay in the Lord God's Constitution.
In the United States mega church leaders have millions of dollars in income and property but give a small percentage away to the poor and thing they are being generous. "All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
Keep in mind the words of King Jesus: Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
Remember, Your greatest asset is your faith in God's Constitution.
Genesis 3:6-7; 4:8 2 Corinthians 5:1-6, 8-9 Mark 10:21; 12:41-44 Matthew 25:32-46
Mark 13:31 All NLT
~~W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
