ARE YOU A CASTAWAY ?
"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Cor 9:27).
Watching the evening news can be an emotional roller coaster ride. The top news story could be that flood victims finally have a house, followed by a report of the number of soldiers who have died fighting for our freedom, then rounded out with a court's decision to sentence a man accused of murdering a child to only five years in prison. Viewers hardly have a moment to ponder the evil and injustice that's going on in the world before they are quickly ushered in with more bad news. Sadly, as a result, we have in part-- become a desensitized society of tolerance and indifference.
As Christians, we cannot let this same attitude invade our thoughts toward sin. When we encounter sin, we should not tolerate it; it ought to provoke our spirit and call us to action in an effort to eradicate it. We should never become so desensitized to "everyday sins" that we allow them to slowly creep back into our lives without our even realizing it.
Like the soldiers who never sleeps, we must be vigilant in our called out walk with God, we are to always be aware of the adversary the devil, "who walks about like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour." "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet 5:8).
We find how true that is when we are back in the world after finishing 8 days with God's loyal for truth-- called out ones! During those 8 days we learned not only of our rewards, but also our place of responsibility in the coming millennial Kingdom of God, that will either be won or lost according to our faithfulness in this life. In other words, the way we live our lives here and now will have eternal unchangeable consequences in our future reign with Christ.
We were recently told at the Feast Of Tabernacles, the over-comers will rule with Christ in the millennium! Those who are faithful, loyal, and obedient. Those who recognize their God given choices, will allow Christ' word
to live His life out through them, will inherit levels of responsibility in the Kingdom. Consequently, when examining ourselves there is an urgent need in God's called for a renewed recognition of our own accountability and a refreshed understanding of the reason for our salvation. Thinking of the importance of our accountability, let's look at how Paul, the great apostle, viewed entering and inheriting this future millennial kingdom.!
First, we need to recognize Paul wrote 14 books of the Bible! Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9: 24 - 27, that he was fearful of not winning the prize, the prize of the reward of inheritance in the Kingdom of God, and somehow becoming a "castaway." Read what he wrote: "Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: "lest" that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." The word "lest" in verse 27 - is Strong's # 3381 -- mepos. It means "God forbid that I should." The word "castaway" is Strong's # 96- adokimos, meaning 1). "someone who is unapproved;" 2). "rejected" - and "worthless." It also can mean -- "Someone who is tested and not able to withstand, but is rejected. "Castaway" - also carries the meaning of opposite of inheriting because he or she is "Not fit", "prepared", or "ready!"
When reading a word study in the Greek New Testament, "Castaway -- means disapproval after having failed to meet the requirements. If like a Greek runner who broke training, they would be forbidden to race. The bottom line is castaway simply means "disqualified."'
Titus 1 and verse 16, further demonstrates Paul's concern about being a castaway, when he talks about our works, portraying the truth about our life. "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." What is it that the apostle Paul was so intent about keeping, while at the same time, acknowledging that it could be lost? Yet never doubting his being set apart for a reason. Paul preached in Rome. "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God" (Rom 8:38-39).
Paul was consciously concerned about the reward prize of the promised inheritance as he stated in Col 3:24 "Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the Inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ." Paul knew that it was possible to be saved and yet still not participate actively in the coming kingdom of God, that is to be justified and, yet not have a part or a role in the millennium. He did not want to be a "castaway." Remember what he said in I Corinthians 9:27, "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." This made him apprehensive, I'm sure he remembered Moses, who was not permitted to enter the "promised land" because of disobedience at the end of his life. Lets look at those verses in Deuteronomy. "I pray you, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, let it suffice you speak no more unto Me of this matter" (Deut 3: 25 - 26).
Paul was worried that his own life's work could be burned in the end and he could suffer "loss." That is why he wrote, "If any man's work abide which he has built upon it, he shall receive a reward. [but] if any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet as by fire" (1 Cor 3:15). "Saved, yet as by fire" - means "barely saved;" or "saved with difficulty" But a person does not suffer the loss of his or her salvation but the loss of a reward,
The stress in verse 15 of 1 Cor. 3 is not on a person's relationship to Christ, but on service to Christ. That is why we read the word "Loss" in this scripture, meaning "To forfeit one's inheritance" or forfeit something that could have been in one's possession.
Paul is talking about the called who suffer loss. They became "castaways," not worthy of inheriting a responsible position or job in the Kingdom of God. Paul is warning us that ruling and reigning in the Kingdom of God is not a "given - it's not automatic; and we all won't win the prize. It's very possible to defile our garments like those in Sardis, who failed the test and become a castaway."
In a book called "Life in the Spirit" is a comment on 1 Corinthians 3:15 that says: "This is a great mystery...but the teaching seems to be clear. It does not mean that a man can fall from grace: but it does mean that a man who is saved can know the terror of the Lord."
Paul exhorts us as he speaks about himself,
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3: 13 - 14). Just as Paul, himself, agonized and strained every muscle of his being as he sought to win the prize of the high calling, so he is exhorting every one of us to "lay aside every weight and run the race." He wants us to win! "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb 12:1). Said in another way, some times the air in a room may look fresh and clean however when the bright sunlight penetrates the room dust and other impurities are clearly seen. In a similar way when we study God's word we begin to see impurities in us. With God's help and the power of the word we can clean up those impurities and be more like our Creator.
Paul continues to tell us he doesn't want us to be "overtaken" by the world, or our human nature that is being influenced daily by Satan the devil, but he wants us to be a "over-comer.'' Notice two separate letters of Paul's where we read of Paul's endurance. First, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you art also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses" (1 Tim 6:12). Second, "Three times was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches" (2 Cor 11: 25-28).
By example Paul wants our "works" to withstand the test of fire, so that we are welcomed into the Kingdom of God and win the prize of God's holiness. The end of the race for us will either be "victory" or defeat." We will either overcome or be overtaken. The "goal" of the race is that we might, become "partakers of God's holiness" and be conformed into His image and win the prize.
Hebrews 12: 10 address the reason why Satan is on such a rampage to destroy the message of overcoming and our inheriting God's Kingdom. "For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness." Satan cannot let us win! He must keep us failing the test, so we will become a castaway, losing the prize of being in God's Kingdom. For us --the prize of holiness could be lost ! What Paul is telling us in Hebrews is that the Christian life is somewhat like a "contest - or a race." Every one of us, whether we like it or not have been called and are enrolled in the race. Therefore, if we want to win, we must lay aside every weight or burden and run the race with all our might. Our calling experience by God simply enters us into the race. But then, like Paul we must press on toward the goal of "the prize of the high calling" and share in the millennial reign with Christ.
As in all races, prizes will be given out at the very end. Paul draws on a scene familiar to the Corinthians. It was as familiar as modern football to most Americans. "Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain" (1 Cor 9:24). And again in Heb 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
The Kingdom of God is set before us as an object to be sought and a prize to be won. Justification is a gift that is bestowed upon us without a price, and earns us a place in the Kingdom of God, where as experiential sanctification is part of a "prize" gained through performance. All of us can run the race, but only the over-comers will win the prize. Castaways will not!!
Our life here and now just happens to be the "testing ground" or the proving ground to see how we do in our race. Think of it this way- it's like a score board or card. Every choice we make and every action we take is being registered and weighed for approval in the next life. There are books in heaven that records everything we do here on earth. They will be opened and read at the judgment seat of Christ. As was said, being called simply enters us into the race. Like Paul, we must each press on toward the goal of the prize of the high calling in order to finish the race. Finish our called God given responsibility here on earth. We need to take advantage of God's offer! God has given each of us different talents, abilities and gifts to advance the Kingdom of God, God's good news here on earth.
Each of us who are called is accountable to perform the goal set before us, just as the goal was set before the Apostle Paul and our founding fathers. What was his and their goal? It was to warn people of danger ahead! Paul said it this way, "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Col 1:28).
Secret intelligence networks exist today to warn of impending dangers of attacks. Radar systems warn of approaching missiles. Deep-water buoys warn of approaching tsunamis and Doppler radar warns us to hide from approaching tornadoes. Why do we invest so many resources like money, technology, and people in warning systems? Because of the inborn felt desire to protect and save human life, the most valuable part of God's creation. There is one warning system that no government or agency can implement; it can only be carried out by those who know the Eternal and His word. The warning is this: God intends to judge the world in which we live; His holy righteousness requires it.
On the 8th Last Great Day of God's feast, we went over some judgement verses. We learned - all who have not repented of their sins will find themselves caught up in God's judgment and assigned to an eternity separated from Him.
God desire for sinners and the world's nations, to humble themselves, forsake their sins, and apply His words to their lives and live. At various times when men and nations have turned away from God to serve false god's He has removed His blessings from them, by causing drought and famine which ends up with bad results.
Through out the Bible we read God takes no delight in the suffering and death of the un-repented! Notice what God has required of His called out ones. "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chron 7: 14).
Could that healing be speaking of America?
This is not a time to give lip service to our calling. Now is the time to summon the courage to allow the power of God's Holy Spirit to take inventory of our lives and reveal those things we need to know to truly turn from our sinful ways and seek God's throne in prayer for ourselves and our country.
Apostle John reminds us "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).
At the Feast of Tabernacles we were given some advanced insight into God's future government. Today's Americas government is corrupt and is being identified as a castaway. But, when it was started by the grace of God it was given God's laws and responsibility to mimic God's future Kingdom -- His government. But instead -- America has become a house and a people divided. A house divided cannot stand with out a miracle.
I ask -- is it to late for America? The one scripture that still rings true and inspires hope in us is 2 Chron 7: 14, "If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." "If my people" has become a rallying cry synonymous with "we the people" from the preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America. Both of these phrases came with a hefty price. The question of is it to late for America can only be addressed after answering Are they or we, willing to pay the price ? Are "WE THE PEOPLE" any more that God is speaking of?
There are four foundational fundamental works upon which America was built: 1).The Bible; 2).The Declaration of Independence; 3). The Constitution; 4). The Bill of Rights. It is by these, America is known as a Christian Nation because it was founded as such a Nation, with known Judeo - Christian understanding of scripture. James Madison, the fourth President of the United States and chief architect of the Constitution wrote: "The religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience
of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate. This right is in its nature an unalienable right. It is unalienable, because the opinion of men, depending only on the evidence contemplated by their own minds cannot follow the dictates of other men. It is unalienable also, because what is here a right toward men, is a duty toward the creator. It is the duty of every man to render to the creator such homage and such only as he believes to be acceptable to him. This duty is precedent, both in order of time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of civil society. Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the universe..."
We know who the governor of this universe is !! When taking a close look at Paul's epistle to the Romans there is revealed a truth many Americans do not want to acknowledge. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness" (Rom 1:18). This point is crystallized in Romans 1: 21, "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Paul speaking of history is saying, men had sunk so deep in ignorance and sin that their minds had become dark and senseless and they no longer perceived or understood the truth. Those who don't want to see loses the capacity to see !
Paul is describing the conceit of those whose wisdom is connected with any willful departure from divine truth. Men were turning away in their supposed wisdom from the true knowledge of God and heathenism was the inevitable result.
Christian values and virtues are disappearing, but there is one virtue that should remain as long as a single Christian survives that virtue is hope. Regardless of how bleak the circumstances, hope can continue. Hope cannot be taken from God's called out ones. It can only be surrendered! And as long as God exists, there is reason for the called to have hope so not to be a castaway.
James Russell
Did you know....Americans throw away almost 100 billion plastic bags every year, and only 1 percent to 3 percent are ever recycled.
WHAT IS SO BAD ABOUT PLASTIC BAGS?
Plastic bags are not biodegradable. They clog waterways, spoil the landscape, and end up in landfills where they may take 1,000 years or more to break down into ever smaller particles that continue to pollute the soil and water.
Plastic bags also pose a serious danger to birds and marine mammals that often mistake them for food. Thousands die each year after swallowing or choking on discarded plastic bags.
Finally producing plastic requires millions of gallons of petroleum that could be used for transportation or heating.
CONSIDER A PERSONAL BAN ON PLASTIC BAGS.
Some businesses have stopped offering their customers plastic bags, and many communities are either considering a ban on plastic bags or have already implemented one.
Meanwhile, here are a couple of things you can do to help: 1). Switch to cloth shopping bags, replacing paper and plastic bags. Reusable bags are convenient and come in a variety of sizes, styles and materials. 2). Recycle your plastic bag. Many grocery stores now collect plastic for recycling. If yours doesn't, check with your community recycling program to learn how to recycle plastic bags in your area.
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