TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS: PARADISE WAS ELEVATED...

When *GOD* CREATED life on Earth, it was a perfect paradise, in which HE would walk freely with us, and share with us, but alas, the enemy, found quickly, our weaknesses, which we easily gave in to, removed us from paradise, and therefore, changed our very existence, and the very meaning of life...

While our time on this planet is corrupted and troubled, it is WISE to remind ourselves always, that in light of our being removed from paradise, THE LORD *GOD* gives the option of a new, perfect, and everlasting paradise which cannot be marred in the least, from which we cannot be removed, and which offers TRUE LIFE ETERNAL...

This time is spent in discovering HIM, coming closer to HIM, getting on THE PATH, and obtaining the knowledge necessary to secure our destination; in which case, we have free will, and can align to either what is to be, or what is now! THE LORD *GOD* desires SINCERE partners, Friends, and Children, and so, we have choices to make along the way, which prove the heart of hearts, and the truth of our desires. You see, many have chosen this time over what is to come; they LOVE the world, and believe they are happy in the here, and now, and so, in their free will, they have made clear their desires, which determines their lot eternally. WHEN someone chooses the world OVER THE LORD, even if they claim to know, and LOVE HIM, when they have chosen all the world offers, and are happy in it, they have shown their allegiance...

Many are totally raised in the ways of the world, with very little instruction in THE LORD, and then, lots of people attend Church frequently, but never listen to the sermons, never get involved in THE TRUTH, and never relent their clinging to the world, and so, they are basically ignorant OF THE LORD, HIS WILL, and WAYS! THESE ARE the lost, as their eyes, ears, and all other senses are deceived by the world; they are misled by what they can obtain here, in the now, and give little thought to the end of their mortal lives, in other words, they are NOT aware that the SOUL IS THE TRUTH of their existence, and that the SOUL is what will share in the GLORY OF *GOD*, or the eternal removal from HIM. And yes, many of these have been raised to believe that CHRIST took care of it, and they are safe in their choices made in this time, which HAS TRUTH in it, but is NOT the whole of TRUTH!!!

ALL instruction in the NEW TESTAMENT IS geared towards us RELENTING of our hold on the world, and DYING to the world, while BECOMING LIKE CHRIST, which IS to relinquish the flesh, the ways of the world, and the attraction to what the world offers! Do we NOT realize yet that the very things we are attracted to in the world ARE our temptations, and that which REMOVE us from THE LORD as we CHOOSE to please our senses, desires, and passions OVER HIM? It IS the same as when CHRIST JESUS was taken into the wilderness and was tempted for 40 days, and 40 nights, as the evil enemy OFFERED HIM ALL in the world; TEMPTING HIM with ALL available in this plane, THAT CHRIST would waver, sway, and give in? Do we NOT understand it is the same thing when we CHOOSE riches, lust, and other fulfillment's OF THE FLESH, just as CHRIST was tempted by, but rejected, and renounced in LOVE of TRUE LIFE???

CHRIST JESUS CHOSE TO FULFILL THE WILL OF *GOD* OVER all the temptations of the world, AND HE URGES us to do the same (1 JOHN 2: 17; MARK 3: 35: 1 CORINTHIANS 7: 31).
Let's look at this, which has many cross references:
1 JOHN 2: 16...
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

The things of the world may be desired and possessed for the uses and purposes which God intended, and they are to be used by his grace, and to his glory; but believers must not seek or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them. 

The world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays. 

The things of the world are classed according to the three ruling inclinations of depraved nature. 
1. The lust of the flesh, of the body: wrong desires of the heart, the appetite of indulging all things that excite and inflame sensual pleasures. 
2. The lust of the eyes: the eyes are delighted with riches and rich possessions; this is the lust of covetousness. 
3. The pride of life: a vain man craves the grandeur and pomp of a vain-glorious life; this includes thirst after honour and applause. 

The things of the world quickly fade and die away; desire itself will ere long fail and cease, but holy affection is not like the lust that passes away. 

The love of God shall never fail. Many vain efforts have been made to evade the force of this passage by limitations, distinctions, or exceptions. Many have tried to show how far we may be carnally-minded, and love the world; but the plain meaning of these verses cannot easily be mistaken. 

Unless this victory over the world is begun in the heart, a man has no root in himself, but will fall away, or at most remain an unfruitful professor. Yet these vanities are so alluring to the corruption in our hearts, that without constant watching and prayer, we cannot escape the world, or obtain victory over the god and prince of it.

Many will use Scripture which points to the fact that *GOD* BLESSES with gifts of the world, and that is true, ESPECIALLY for those who DEVOTE themselves to HIM, but is NOT always the case, albeit was the case for particular few FOR the purpose of them being ENABLED to multiply into a mighty nation, and to be strong enough to survive against all factions challenging them! RARELY did *GOD*, or does *GOD* give of the world to reward, instead it is for the furthering OF HIS GLORY, and the SHARING of what HE has given...

WHEN we choose what is of the world OVER THE LORD, we are acting in OUR will, and NOT HIS, and THIS IS the truth of our heart...

We MUST be HONEST, and REALIZE when we are being deceived into choosing what is of this world OVER THE LORD! CHRIST JESUS COULD have come to Earth in luxury, instead HE came as a common Man, PROVIDED for, but NOT in any way more than basic to HIS needs! The same is true of most Disciples, Apostles, and other BLESSED ones; they lived within meager means, though they COULD have had much more! You SEE, they KNEW that what is of this world is NOTHING in comparison to what IS TO COME, and their FOCUS was ON THE WILL OF *GOD*, thus they gave GLORY TO *GOD* OVER what is of the world, as it should be! They KNEW that paradise had been taken to a HIGHER plane, and that it would require diligent determination to find it, and to reach it, FOR the sake of it's remaining PURE!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2014
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS

*GOD* desires that we LOVE HIM OVER ALL else, with NO chance of wavering, swaying, or being shaken loose; thus FAITH IS more than a thought, or a belief, it IS ACTIVE, and ACTION!!!