There's a Shaken Going On

Everything that can be shaken will be shaken.  This is a term that has been connected to Hebrews 12:27-29.  It demonstrates that we live in a world that will indeed go through times of shaking, destruction and trouble.  It would be foolish to think that the world we live in will be free from struggle.  However, because we get a pretty strong diet of utopia from media and advertisement, we are tempted to think we can have everything our heart desires and live a Utopian lifestyle.

The truth is that you can live a relative peaceful life free from worry and fear if you have a faith and belief system grounded in Jesus.  Why do you say that brother preacher, you may ask?  Well, after you live a few decades, especially more than 5, you get a chance to see that the teachings of Jesus are true.  The scripture I think that speaks to this more clearly is the following:

Luke 6:47-49

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴⁷ Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.^[a] 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.^[b] And the ruin of that house was great.”

Here we can see that there are events that are going on right before our very eyes that show the damage that can occur when a storm beats vehemently against the house.  Some structures came crashing to the ground and other stood.

We also find that as we look back and connect the dots many of our testimonies have been shaken.  Some of us have had serious illnesses, great family tragedies, lost jobs and other personal issues, that if we had not been grounded on the rock we would have been utterly destroyed.

That's why the teachings of Jesus are so important and relevant to the times in which we live.  We see that Wall Street and the world global financial structures shook vehemently and came to the brink of total collapse.  We see peoples hidden hatreds come to the forefront because the person whom they selected as President of the United States didn't win.  Moreover, many of these people are professed Christians and they speak of things like forming revolutionary armies and militia's and none of this is promoted in the bible.  Remember, Jesus told Peter, put up thy sword for he who lives by the sword dies by the sword.  So there is a serious shaking going on.  But that begs the question.  What are we going to do about it and how are we going to act?

I contend based on my personal experiences and the bible scriptures which I hold as truth, that our faith will carry us through the worst of times.  Furthermore, I contend that we come out bigger and better if we can hang in there and let Jesus do a work on us in the midst of our storms.  Storms for us are not sent to destroy us as Christians. Storms are sent to warn us, build up our faith and to get us ready for what is to come.  We will need strength to encourage others and ourselves for what is yet to come to shake this world.  And building up of our faith is essential to this.

I don't want to send scare messages to anyone, your own heart will advise you as to what time we are in, what is occurring and what you need to do to get it right.  However, I think it is wise for us to consider the season, adjust accordingly, build up our most holy faith and prepare for the reward that is promised to all those who can endure to the end.  If you have not accepted Jesus as your Personal Lord and Savior  now is that time.  If you need guidance, I will be happy to show you the way or your local Christian Church will have scores of people ready and able to assist you with this most important decision.  It is a decision related to this life and for eternity.

I want to be caught standing when the storm is over.  How about you?   

I Need to Be Me

These days its almost painful to watch TV because most every program is trying to lure the viewer in to being someone that they were not created to be.  Usually, they appeal to the desire to be beautiful, rich or famous and it makes it seem so easy.  In addition to the program itself we are bombarded with commercials that say if you use this product you will look like this model or this person.

Day in and day out an enormous amount of time is being spent letting these images and messages permeate our minds and sooner or later we begin to question ourselves.  Who come I am not beautiful, rich or famous?  This is a terrible temptation given to us by satan.  

You recall satan used these same methods with Jesus when he took him up to a high place after a 40 day fast when he was obviously very weak.  The first temptation was to turn stones into bread to relieve himself from his hunger.(Matthew 4:1-11).

That temptation is much like the commercials that say try this product and you can relieve yourself of low self esteem because you will look better or perform better sexually, thus experiencing your youth all over again.

The next temptation was for Jesus to jump from the high place thereby the angels would catch him and protect him.  Again, we are tempted to do real stupid stuff because this person can relieve me from a bad marriage or if I make a bad financial decision Mom or Dad will bail me out because they have the wherewithal to do it.  Worst yet, let make more babies or live irresponsibly because the government will be there to catch me with welfare programs and other safety nets.

The last temptation was the most dubious in that satan says worship me and I will make you ruler of all of the kingdoms of the world.  This is the one that really catches a lot of us off guard.  We are told to worship our bosses and their demands to do unethical activities so that the corporation prospers and we will rise the corporate ladder.  Or if we sell something that we know is not suited to the buyer, its okay because we will become a sales manager and rule all the other salespeople.  We find this in the church as well when we do things contrary to the teachings of the bible in order to rise up the ladder of leadership.

I have said all of this to say, that is not who you are!!  You were created in the image and likeness of God so you don't have to aspire to be more beautiful.  Sure, we should endeavor to always look our best but sometimes we go to the extreme to adorn ourselves and we are barely able to pay our bills or take care of our families.  But when we drive up to church in that brand new BMW, everyone will think we got it going on and we do that because we assumed that someone else we saw with a BMW had it going on.  Never realizing for one minute what they had to do to get that BMW.

When we accept who we are and operate within Christian principals of self improvement, we release stress. We recognize that we are getting better but we don't have to work within the confines of some worldly standard to prove our self worth to anybody because we know that we are God's creation and he don't make no mistakes.  Besides, its all vanity anyway. (See the book of Ecclesiastes in the bible).

Being me does not mean if you are in poverty, stay in that predicament.  Absolutely not, that is contrary to Christian principles.  It does not mean we have to drive a raggedy car to show how spiritual we are or live in a shack so we can say God is with us.  No, No, No.  However, it means that over time and with hard work and patience, you can have all of these things without having to sell your soul to the devil.  Jesus himself said to "Seek Ye First the Kingdom of Heaven and its Righteousness and all these things will be added unto you". Matthew 6:33. That's the answer, that's the framework in which we should be operating from.

Satan says it can happen quick and easy.  God's way may be slower and a bit more painful but in the process your soul is in right standing with God and you have developed character.

So the next time you are tempted to spend money on something or follow after someone, check yourself out.  Can you still be who you are without compromising your values?  Are you hurting yourself financially for vainglory of being accepted by someone who could care less.  Someone who will compliment you in your face and talk about you when you turn your back.

A short story then I will end this blog.  Not long ago I downsized my home drastically from 2500 square ft. to around 1500 sq. ft.  Moved from a very prosperous neighborhood to an okay nice and safe area.  I did this because God showed me the folly of wasting thousands of dollars heating and cooling rooms that I never even went into.  All the children are grown and on their own, I don't make it a habit to entertain folks on a regular basis so why spend money to heat and cool wastefully when people in other countries have nothing at all to warm and cool their bodies.  I was convicted and I made my move.  Since that time every month I thank God because I see how wasteful I had been enriching some utility company that cared nothing about me.  Also, it is really nice to not have to shout way across the house hoping that my wife would hear me.  Also, the upkeep is so much easier now and I have more time to do the things I like to do and it is a much simpler way of life.  At my age I like things simple.  Lol

Do you know that some people in the community criticized the move.  They thought that I had collapsed economically when in fact I had improved economically.  It's a good thing that God gave me the revelation that pleasing people and living up to their standards will drive you into the poor house.  Did I fall into the temptation to look like a big shot.  NOPE.  Why??

Because I Got To Be Me. How about you??

Be blessed and not Stressed.
Min. Andre' Stephens (Servant)