IT"S THE BLOOD!

I am amazed at how, over time, we lose sight of very profound truths. Truths that are an integral part of our faith, that somehow slip away into the shadows, only to be re-discovered.

Of late, it seems, I am going through a 'renaissance' period. I have been reading books written by Watchman Nee, specifically the "Normal Christian Life" and one by Arthur Katz, "Ben Israel, Odyssey of a Modern Jew.

Both of these guys from two entirely different cultures and perspectives, but their stories have touched deep within my soul and brought to light some precious truths of God.

I have not completed Watchman Nee's book yet, but out of the shute, he speaks of the power of the Blood of Jesus! He helped me to understand that Jesus took His Blood and sprinkled it upon the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies. Much like the high priest did each year, on the Day of Atonement. Jesus, as the True High Priest, took His Blood( that of the True Pure Lamb of God) into the Holy of Holies, once and for all, to wash away the sins of the world.

Once man believes and receives Jesus Christ as the Sacrifice for his sin, he becomes a child of the Most High God and now has access to Him. However, it can feel intimidating to approach Him in prayer and we can question how He could even look at us or hear us.

Watchman Nee, who was imprisoned the last 20 years of his life because he refused to deny Christ, explains that we can enter into the Holy of Holies with boldness, as the Word instructs us, because we go through the Blood everytime. The Blood is covering us each time we bring our petitions before the Lord. The Righteousness of Jesus Christ is all the Father sees.

It does not depend on how good we have been. We do not need worry when we have failed Him. The Blood covers us as we surrender to Him. All the time, everytime. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

I praise Him for the Blood of Jesus that washes my sin away, that allows me to stand before Him in prayer, without fear, and know that He hears my petition: not because I deserve it, but because Jesus has covered me.

WHAT IS YOUR 'REALITY'?

Today, as I have spent several hours with the Lord ministering to me, I have come to realize a great gap in what I perceive my 'reality' to be and how the Lord sees it.
I recognize, and admit, that as long as I dwell in this house of clay, I am subject to faults and even sin, because of the choices I make based on my perception of 'reality'. Does it sound complicated? It really is quite simple.

We perceive our 'reality' based on how it relates (relative morality) to our core beliefs, standards set individually or by society or by the paradigms by which we govern our lives. In other words, we basically write our own 'reality'. The atheist or unbeliever and even the Church buy into the following: there are no absolutes; if it feels good, do it; if it doesn't hurt anyone, do it; there is no God, do it; there is a God but He is love, do it; everyone is doing it; there are no consequences....etc.

The Truth is there are absolutes that govern our life here on earth, beginning with: there is a God. We want to hide from this absolute, so that we do not have to experience guilt and can continue to satisfy our own lusts, of which there are many. It's just easier to go with the flow, than to follow the Truth, which was placed in all of our hearts at conception

The Truth died and was resurrected two thousand years ago, so that we might have life and that more abundantly. Not for us to squander it upon ourselves, but to let the Truth live through us.

We need to consider the way we interpret our 'reality'. God has placed Eternity in the heart of every man/woman. Whether we accept this or not is irrelevant. What His Word says is relevant and what His Word says is the guideline for being 'real'; how we must define our own 'reality'.

"You draw near to me with your mouth, and honor me with your lips, but your heart is far from me." (Matthew 15:8)

WHAT IS YOUR REALITY?