False righteousness and true righteousness. Personal Reflection. Edited and expanded

Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon

Jesus, talking about the righteousness of the Pharisees: 

"For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.

How can we exceed the Pharisees´ righteousness? Jesus here I believe is using irony. 

 

The only righteousness the Pharisees had was self-righteousness. Is that what Jesus meant? That we should try to surpass their performing to the minute detail their more than three hundred commands and ordinances. I think not.

What could we do to exceed their own righteousness? Nothing. It would be futile and useless to even try.

Our first parents Adam and Eve tried to hide themselves and their shame by covering their nakedness with fig tree leave that had to be replaced over and over like the works of the Pharisees. What was the remedy provided by the Father/Creator? A hide from an animal sacrifice, a type of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for the remission of sin would be enough to cover the sin of disobedience, desire for self-sufficiency, forbidden wisdom and the subsequent shame they felt.

Their webs will not become clothing, Nor will they cover themselves with their works; Their works are works of iniquity, And an act of violence is in their hands. Isaiah 59:6

  
For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Isaiah 64:6.

The works that the Pharisees covered their nakedness with are like the figs leaves of the tree of Israel that produced useless leaves and no fruit worthy of repentance and no faith in Jesus-Christ. 

See Matthew 21:19: Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He(the Lord Jesus) came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, "No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you." And at once the fig tree withered.

At this point let me interject something about flowers. The Bible talks about leaves and flowers. But what about flowers? They are beautiful, colorful, fragrant and some are even edible. They fill our life and our house with pleasure.  To join our gratitude and humility to their awe-inspiring qualities we have to recognize the creative hand of our Creator/God that created everything that was good to add a measure of pleasure to the beautiful earth that he created as our temporary home. 

  

To me, flowers represent the fading beauty of the artistic creations of man in all its forms such as painting, music, poetry reflecting the talents given to us by God. Such artistic abilities could be perverted and turn into nightmarish representation of the tormented psyches of man without God or in rebellion against God´s sovereignty. 

One example comes to mind, Alexander Scriabin, a famous and talented Russian pianist and composer (1872-1915) was influenced with mysticism, theosophy and became a delusional megalomaniac who met a tragic end by suicide, drowning in a river.  Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22357678
 

The creation is in constant flux. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8. 

And so it is: the flower must die in order to leave room for the fruit to appear grow and provide food. Holding on the fleeting beauty of the ephemeral flowers, the beauty of creation for one´s own selfish pleasure without recognizing and honoring the source in the God of love is like keeping a song bird in a cage or retaining flowing water in a stagnant pool. We cannot selfishly and endlessly hold on to passing life and beauty.

In I Corinthians 13 Paul declares: But now faith, hope, loves, abide these three; but the ^[f]greatest of these is love.

So let us cultivate and hold on to faith, hope, remembering that love is the ultimate fruit that God grows in us for his purpose and that as I John 4:19 states: “We love because He (Jesus) first loved us”.

The leaves could not cover Adam and Eve, the works the Pharisees perform could not cover them and following their teachings without faith resulted in the putting aside of Israel until the end of the time of the Gentiles in which we are living now. 

What Jesus wanted from the Jews is faith in the living Savior that walked among them, not the dead works that did not please him. What He wants from us when we are seeking salvation is the same thing: faith in His saving power and abandoning any hope of saving ourselves by our good deeds.

John  6:28-29:

Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” ²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent; and further in verse 40:  For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

How could it be clearer than that?

               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is an excerpt from the last chapter of an allegory I wrote a few years ago: To read the whole story click Here: http://thelightseed.blogspot.com.br/2011/02/joshua-tree-desert-parable.html

The Tree of Life

Theophilus woke up, with tears of joy flowing from his eyes. He was watching an unforgettable scene.
There in front of him, stood up a Joshua tree, majestic and radiant that bore an uncanny resemblance with the man from his dream whose blood had saved his life. He fell down, prostrate on his face against the hot desert sand. He knew without the shadow of a doubt that he was in the presence of the Master of the Joshua Trees. He didn’t dare move from his position such was the power emanating from the glorious appearance. An indescribable ripple of fear coursed through his being.

"Rise, Theophilus and look at me." The commanding tone of voice was enough to make him obey. He was reluctant at first to lift his gaze directly into the eyes of the Master. Lifting his head up slowly, he saw the pierced feet, then, the pierced wrists. He gathered enough courage to focus on the chest where a scarlet wound in the shape of the tip of a lance or the eye of a needle remained from a cruel wound.
  
"Don’t be afraid, look at me. I am Yeshua, the Master of the Joshua Trees. What is your quest? Why do you want to meet me?"
 
While the Master was asking these questions, his eyes whispered softly words Theophilus never heard before, words of love that penetrated deep in his heart.

"Master, I am looking for the desert exit door. Your trees told me that you possess the keys and that a word from you can set the captives free, can give sight to the blind, make a poor man rich, and heal the afflicted. You can also give knowledge to the ignorant who think they are wise, and you can clothe with your pardon and righteousness the nakedness which I try to cover with my religion and good deeds."
 
'It’s true. But you have too big a notion of yourself to be able to go through this door. First, you must answer a few questions."

"Yes, master, as you wish."
 
"What is your name? Who are you?"
 
"Well, before, they called me Theophilus, but I will accept whatever name you wish to call me. "
 
"Where do you come from?"
 
"From the land of deadly illusions and appearances, a world filled with violence and deception."
  
"Well said! Are you rich, or do you intend to be?"

"Well, before now, I had credit cards, bank accounts, a good and profitable business, cars, a beautiful house, but all that didn’t help me very much. To tell you the truth, I will accept whatever you want to give me."

After these answers, Theophilus was feeling his body shrink little by little. What a strange sensation!

The Master continued:
"What about your reputation?"
 
"Alas, people looked at the appearances. But I can see that you know me and I desire to become what you want me to be."
 
"What do you hope to gain from me?"
 
"Freedom from the chains that keep me tied up and hinders my walk, understanding truth and knowing which way to go."
 
"Good, I can do that for you. But what will do once you are free if I give you the key to the door?"
 
"Master, I want to belong to you and serve you, for you are the one who saved and healed me."

Each of Theophilus’ responses was followed by a change in his size until at last, the Master's stature appeared gigantic in comparison without overwhelming him. Then, the Master bent forward and catching him tenderly in the palm of his right hand, he lifted Theophilus up to his chest and hugged him close against the wound shaped like the tip of a lance or the eye of a big needle.

On his way up, Theophilus was helplessly watching on the screen of his memory the video from his first meeting with the touchstone at the crossroad of his destiny, the first step of a stairway which led to the royal capital of the heavenly kingdom, illumined by the eternal light of the Master.  He possessed a law of gravity defying lightness, with no desire to resist the attraction propelling him towards a universe of unconditional freedom. Being transported on this celestial stairway, this bridge between two worlds without any effort on his part, he was about to enter a territory invisible to the human eye and yet so real.

Instantly, going through the open door at a breathtaking speed, Theophilus found himself standing on the desert floor that he had just left.
 
"Welcome to the kingdom, announced the Master in a warm tone of voice. Open your eyes and look at yourself."

His eyes opened by the voice of his Master, Theophilus looked at his legs, his trunk, his arms and discovered that he had turned into a Joshua tree with soft scars in the place of the usual armor of thorns. Yeshua spoke to him solemnly: 
 
"From now on your name will be Joshua Theophilus O’Call because I called you to my service and you responded with good will."

Tears of joy mixed with gratitude flowing from his eyes, Theophilus answered:
 
"Master, where do you want me to serve you?"
 
"Right here in the desert to guide those who have lost their way or those who have wandered from the way of truth and need help in finding me."
 
"Yes, Master. But I have a question. How do your trees find food and drink? There is nothing but sand in the desert."

Yeshua touched his eyes and now he could very clearly watch a fantastic scene through the desert floor as if it was made of transparent crystal. From the feet of the Master, roots full of a sap that resembled light amber honey extended all the way under the feet of the Joshua trees and fed them constantly night and day.
 
"Please, Master, what do you want me to call you?"
 
"Call me Lord Jesus, for I am both Savior and King."

"Lord, I can see the trees, the roots, the leaves and the cactus flowers, but where are the fruits?"

"Every time one of my servants extended to you love, kindness, goodness, patience, they shared their fruits with you. When you enjoyed their light, their protective and refreshing shade, their peace, their wise words of counsel, comfort or encouragement, those are the fruits that grow from the source of life that I give each one of them."

Read more: http://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2011/07/joshua-tree-desert-parable_15.html#ixzz3fLWh5vlf

The Battle Of Man - by Hal Lindsey

 Republished from  Omega Letter Community

The Battle Of Man - by Hal Lindsey

In 1972, I released a book called, Satan is Alive and Well on Planet Earth. That was a year after William Peter Blatty’s novel called The Exorcist, and a year before the film version of that book. Satan is Alive and Well sold more than 8 million copies. The Exorcist film, adjusted for inflation, is the 9th highest grossing movie of all time.

In those years, interest in Satan was at a peak — partly because of a smalltime hoodlum, turned cult leader, turned mass killer named Charles Manson. With Manson, the world caught a real glimpse of the face of evil. People realized that his ability to turn young people into monsters was something more than crime as usual.

Since then, interest in Satan has ebbed and flowed many times. Now, it’s building again. Fictional versions of him regular appear in films, television shows, music, and video games. For a society that can’t get enough of anti-heroes, the devil is the ultimate bad boy.

But he’s also the ultimate loser. Think of his position. He’s locked in a battle with the omnipotent Creator of all things. What strategy can he possibly employ in such a battle? How can he who is merely mighty have any hope against the Almighty? God’s power knows no limits. Revelation 19:6 says, “For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!”

Limited power cannot defeat infinite power. But the devil is not stupid. He has a strategy. He has chosen to do what any military commander would — find a point of vulnerability and exploit it. You might think it impossible to find vulnerability in the all-powerful Lord of the universe. But you would be wrong.

Love and Vulnerability

Every romance novel, every teenager-in-love pop song, every he-done-me-wrong country ballad, every romantic film, every good old-fashioned love story… carries an underlying point. Love makes you vulnerable. Love, in all its forms, opens us up to the possibility of pain.

The dearest friend can be a source of anguish. You feel the hurt as you read the words of King David. “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalms 41:9)

The greater and more intense the love, the more painful the betrayal. No one can break a parent’s heart quite like that parent’s son or daughter. At the same time, there’s no other pain quite like what a child feels when betrayed by parents.

Romantic love almost guarantees sorrow and grief somewhere down the line. Maybe there will be a breakup, and that will hurt. But even if the couple stays together, and they marry for life, “Till death do us part” hangs over them. Husband and wife rarely die together. In almost all cases — one will go, one will stay, and there will be heartbreak.

Although love makes us vulnerable to pain, it’s worth it. The most miserable people of all are those whose past pain makes them fearful of love. They build walls around their hearts. They put up guard towers to keep watch. They’re wrong to do that. But we can all understand it.

Satan looked at God, searching for a point of vulnerability, and there it was. Love. God is love. God loves human beings in greater, deeper ways than we can even imagine.

But what really made God’s love a point of vulnerability was that He also gave humans the ability to love. By definition, that includes the power of choice. Automatons cannot love because real love requires a choice. Humans can love… or not.

That’s why Satan chose mankind as the battlefield in his war with God. Knowing that God is completely pure and utterly holy, he thought he had won the Battle of Man when he persuaded Adam and Eve to sin.

Their action unleashed the virus of sin into the world, infecting all of humanity from that time until now. Ephesians 5:5 says, “No immoral or impure person… has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” With Satan’s victory in the Garden of Eden, every human being would be impure.

How vulnerable did God’s love make Him? Picture Jesus hanging on a cross, receiving in Himself God’s justice for our sin. Consider the pain — physical and spiritual. It’s hard to imagine a more vulnerable figure. What held Him there? Soldiers? Nails? Those things couldn’t hold Him to the cross in a billion years! Love held Him there. Love for you, and love for me. Love made Him that vulnerable.

Maybe your heart is broken. Maybe your love for a child, parent, friend, or spouse, made you vulnerable to a deeper hurt than you know how to express. I have a suggestion for you. Don’t go through it alone. In Philippians 3:10, the Apostle Paul put his deepest heart cry into words. “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.”

“The fellowship of His sufferings” is not an easy place. But you will find Him there in richer, deeper more beautiful ways than you ever thought possible.
C. S. Lewis asked, “Why love, if losing hurts so much?” The Christian can answer by citing no less of an authority than Jesus Himself. We are to love God and to love each other. Love is the greatest commandment, (Matthew 22:36-40), our highest purpose, and the mark of a Christian. (John 13:35)
God also chose love. He chose to love us and be vulnerable to the pain of our rejection. And in that love, He never wavered. Satan saw it as a point of attack. But God used the love and resulting pain to defeat Satan, and redeem mankind. 

 That is our example.

Hallindsey.com

Evil Pressure vs. Heavenly Restraint by Terry James

I’ve written elsewhere that I once heard an evangelist back in the mid-’70s preach during a city crusade that he believed the unthinkable would happen in America. It would take place just before the Rapture of the Church.

The evangelist believed that, just as the debauched society and, by then, totally anti-God governmental agencies would be about to grab Christians around their throats, the Rapture would occur.

A significant puzzlement to me is that so many who are truly born again (John 3:3) don’t seem to concern themselves with the tremendous evil that is building. They don’t seem to even notice that in the freest nation on the planet, the powers and principalities of Ephesians 6:12 are grasping to clutch and strangle believers.

Those who faithfully read articles such as those on Rapture Ready and other such forums exhibit concern for the evil pressures that are building. But God’s people in general–and I’m talking about those who are born again (and only God knows those who are in His family)– show little concern, it seems to me, while the anti-God forces do their nefarious work.

This is attributable in large part to neglect in the pulpits of America. Pastors and Bible teachers would rather not touch prophetic topics–particularly not prophecy yet future. We’ve noted before that they find those biblical areas too frightening to their flocks, too difficult to understand, or just of no importance for these modern times. Besides, such troubling messages might drive down attendance, thus dry up offerings.

And the evil pressures build…
Again, all we have to do is to look at the political scene in the nation. One party has all but publicly committed to abandoning anything to do with the God of the Bible. As a matter of fact, that party is seeking to totally debauch our society and culture. This is obvious, yet the pulpits for the most part remain silent on the fact that this very condition for the end of the Church Age was prophesied. God’s Word, through the Apostle Paul, forewarned and instructed those responsible for overseeing God’s people in the last days:

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:1-4)
Evil pressure builds within the church itself. Just a cursory glance at what’s going on in some areas of a growing number of religious bodies that claim to be Christian lays bare the truth of Satan’s assault.

One such organization claiming Christianity as its belief system shows the lateness of this Laodicean hour:

The Vision Church of Atlanta, Georgia, a progressive congregation, has added a psychic medium who claims to commune with the dead to their staff.

Lakara Foster, who holds a doctorate of ministry from the Interdenominational Theological Center, is now a licensed minister at the Vision Church of Atlanta, Rolling Out reported. She is also the creator and star of the YouTube series “The Gift,” which she argues God told her to do. It follows her life as a medium, minister, and spiritual teacher.

“God told me to do the show. Honestly, I was reluctant at first because I felt very vulnerable and thought I would get a lot of pushback and negative feedback being a minister and a medium. I thought people wouldn’t understand but I knew I still had to do it. I knew I had been called to do it. When I asked God, ‘Why this gift? Why not singing?’ God said, ‘I promised my people eternal life. How will my people know that I’ve kept promise if you don’t demonstrate your gift?’” she told Rolling Out. (“Vision Church of Atlanta adds psychic medium to ministerial staff,” By Leonardo Blair, Christian Post reporter , Friday, May 24, 2019)

That the church medium is surprised she has received little to no pushback is itself surprising. The changes taking place within various denominations are becoming a ho-hum part of the quickly evolving reality. It would be a good bet, if a gambler, to wager that most Christians in the pews today would see little to nothing wrong with what this “psychic” said.

Pastors in the pews of Bible-believing churches are silent for the most part, for example. They just don’t want to get involved in these extrabiblical machinations–only they’re not extrabiblical. Read 2 Timothy 4:1-4 above once again. It is the minister’s God-ordained commission to fight against such heresy, especially as the last days of the Church Age manifest.

After considering the evil pressures and actions assaulting this generation, it is true that there is opposite and equal reaction. This comes from God, Himself, it is obvious and provable through watching things going on, particularly within the American political war being waged. To my way of thinking, the fact that this president remains alive–that is, not assassinated because of the hatred cast his way–much less that he continues to work hard for the American people–is nothing short of miraculous. Every evil influence has been brought to bear in trying to destroy Mr. Trump and his family. The mainstream media, the entire entertainment industry, the increasingly reprobate opposition party, America’s top intelligence agency heads, nearly half of the American populace, and even members of his own party who hate him spend 24/7 feverishly trying to remove him from office in whatsoever way possible.

The spiritual war going on is made obvious, too, by the fact that Christian leaders like Franklin Graham, Robert Jeffress, and many others have called for prayer for the president and for the nation. This call is as desperately needed as at any time in human history.

God, alone, is holding back the evil that is assaulting. This is undeniable to the Christian who believes in God’s Word and applies himself or herself to study of the Word.

Why more Christians are comporting themselves as if in a stupor is extremely troubling. Don’t be one of those who refuse to look up from your life’s routine in order to see that Christ’s promised redemption is drawing near (Luke 21: 28). Take part in the Lord’s heavenly restraint through prayer and study, in order to discern the signs that Christ is about to return.
–Terry

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Classics: Streams in the Desert - February 24 entry - Personal reflection.

Published by Jean-Louis Mondon

	The entry from "Streams in the Desert" below and the following poem reminds me of a time of struggle in my life some time ago which was exacerbated by a horrible cold winter weather. Since I was working outside a house washing up the deck with a pressure washer in freezing temperature it was hard for me to muster positive and uplifting thoughts about my life. But God.... It is always when the situation is dire and we feel like giving up and crawl under the blankets of temporary comfort, whatever they happen to be, that God in his mercy and grace shows up (although he is always Jehovah Shamah, the God who is there). Through the Holy Spirit eyes, we see things unseen to us and we hear the Lord talking to us through nature, things that  we were oblivious to because we focused our attention on ourselves and on the raging waves and not on our compassionate Lord and his power to take us through the rough places in life. As I started crying out for help, the Lord opened my eyes which focused on a beautiful naked bush which I had not noticed all morning long. The peculiar thing about this bush is that only one single beautiful tiny red flower had survived the wintry elements and was offering hope and a lesson in perseverance against all odds by the brightness of its color . The Lord was showing me that even though under the frigid rigor of winter, the earth appears to be stripped and dead and shares its gloom with us humans, the blood of Jesus shed for our sin is a reason for great rejoicing and patience. This was just a season that the Lord in his wisdom uses to strengthen our faith and dependence on him in everything.  This small red blossom was a reminder from my  Lord Jesus´suffering and death on the cruel cross and that because of his willingness to be obedient  unto death,  a new abundant,  wonderful and eternal  life would be given as a free gift to those who repent and believe in him through the power of his resurrection. This thought was enough to lift me up and to be greatly encouraged to endure  winter and life´s passing  trials and rejoicing while  keeping my eyes and mind on Christ´s soon return  and the blessings of a life without suffering, trials, tears and death spent in forever praising and glorifying our Blessed Father, Lord Jesus and our dear comforter, the Holy Spirit who always stands ready to encourage and stay alongside us to help us bear whatever comes to us. May you you receive Holy Spirit comfort and encouragement today. The Lord knows what you are going through and he cares about you. Help is already on the way as he hears and answers the fervent prayer of his righteous children. Jean-Louis.          ___________________________________________________________________ "John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true" (John 10:41). You may be very discontented with yourself. You are no genius, have no brilliant gifts, and are inconspicuous for any special faculty. Mediocrity is the law of your existence. Your days are remarkable for Nothing but sameness and insipidity. Yet you may live a great life.  John's main business was to bear witness to the Light, and this may be yours and mine. John was content to be only a voice, if men would think of Christ. Be willing to be only a voice, heard but not seen; a mirror whose surface is lost to view, because it reflects the dazzling glory of the sun; a breeze that springs up just before daylight, and says, "The dawn! the dawn!" and then dies away. Do the commonest and smallest things as beneath His eye. If you must live with uncongenial people, set to their conquest by love. If you have made a great mistake in your life, do not let it becloud all of it; but, locking the secret in your breast, compel it to yield strength and sweetness. We are doing more good than we know, sowing seeds, starting streamlets, giving men true thoughts of Christ, to which they will refer one day as the first things that started them thinking of Him; and, of my part, I shall be satisfied if no great mausoleum is raised over my grave, but that simple souls shall gather there when I am gone, and say: "He was a good man; he wrought no miracles, but he spake words about Christ, which led me to know Him for myself." --George Mathison Reposted from www.backtothebible.org "THY HIDDEN ONES" (Psa. 83:3) "Thick green leaves from the soft brown earth, Happy springtime hath called them forth; First faint promise of summer bloom Breathes from the fragrant, sweet perfume, Under the leaves. "Lift them! what marvelous beauty lies Hidden beneath, from our thoughtless eyes! Mayflowers, rosy or purest white, Lift their cups to the sudden light, Under the leaves. "Are there no lives whose holy deeds-- Seen by no eye save His who reads Motive and action--in silence grow Into rare beauty, and bud and blow Under the leaves? "Fair white flowers of faith and trust, Springing from spirits bruised and crushed; Blossoms of love, rose-tinted and bright, Touched and painted with Heaven's own light Under the leaves. "Full fresh clusters of duty borne, Fairest of all in that shadow grown; Wondrous the fragrance that sweet and rare Comes from the flower-cups hidden there Under the leaves. "Though unseen by our vision dim, Bud and blossom are known to Him; Wait we content for His heavenly ray-- Wait till our Master Himself one day Lifteth the leaves." "God calls many of His most valued workers from the unknown multitude" (Luke 14:23).

The public domain version of this classic devotional is the unabridged edition of Streams in the Desert. This first edition was published in 1925 and the wording is preserved as originally written. Connotations of words may have changed over the years and are not meant to be offensive.