WHAT IS IN HIS NAME?

Of all the key figures of the all the faiths in the world - why do some Christians and many non-believers take the name of The Lord in vain? When someone gets frustrated or angry and proclaims loudly their dislike - why is it not "Buddha!" or "Muhammad!" or "Confucius!"? Why do I hear the disrespectful Exclamation - "Jesus Christ!" yelled? Because they do not regard Christ Jesus as Holy and thus His Name as Holy - set apart from all others WITH Sacred Care.

I actually get physically nauseated when someone misuses The Lord's name. I have taken the opportunity to witness to people during those moments. I am part of the Body of Christ on this earth. I am a Kid of the Most High God. I am an Ambassador for Christ Jesus. I cannot and will not stand by and get slapped in the spirit or contaminated by someone who defiles and disrespects The Savior. He is their potential Savior also and His Name must be seen as Holy therefore respectful. Whether or not they receive this message is a matter of tact, word choice and prayer as you politely inform them of the grievance they are committing in your company.

Do you consider Christ Jesus - Holy? There are many references throughout Scripture to the Holiness of God and His Name as Holy (1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 8:1; 20:7; 30:4; 102:15; 103:1; 113:1-3; 115:1; 124:8; 145:21; 148:5, 13; Isaiah 24:15; 26:8). So, how are you going to treat His Name? The Hebrews profaned the Name of the LORD many times throughout their history and God called them out on it.

“But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols.” Ezekiel 20:39

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone.” Ezekiel 36:22

As for us, we should take heed and revere His name. Honor His presence in our lives by speaking His name in the awesome respect He deserves.

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." Exodus 20:7

" 'Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:12

“They must be holy to their God and must not profane the name of their God. Because they present the offerings made to the LORD…” Leviticus 21:6

“…anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.” Leviticus 24:16

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” Deuteronomy 5:11

"If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name--the LORD your God-- the LORD will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.” Deuteronomy 28:58-59

As an ambassador for Christ I can no longer take the misuse of my Lord's Name! I am filled with zeal for His name! I am hearing believers profane His name in the workplace and loosely exclaim it at the end of sentences at church functions. If Christians are a new creature in Christ then how can they take the LORD thy God's name in vain?

If you are a Christian walking through life and taking God's name in vain - using His name improperly as an Exclamation in your speech - then your witness for the Kingdom is suffering. It is not a good example of how Christians should speak in the presence of other believers but especially non-believers. Using His Name incorrectly might have been a learned behavior, however this mindset and action needs adjusting quickly. 

Hearing Christians exclaiming - "Jesus Christ!" or any variation or addition thereof is simply unacceptable. Please, just stop it. If you can't do it for the honor of the Word of God and your relationship with Christ then please don't say those kinds of things when you are around me.

There is great power, Holiness and affiliation in the name of Jesus. And our actions and speech must reflect this at all times. It's high time we strive to be a Whole Christian and not just in part. In thoughts, in actions, in words - let us always bring honor and praise to His Name. What Is In His Name? Everything is in His name and He deserves every bit of this discipline of respect and reverence as Holy.

TIME

According to a Google search - In America from 1970, my birth year to this year (2018) the average life expectancy is in the range of 70-75 for men and a little higher for women at around 81-85. The world's oldest person alive today is Violet Brown, a 117-year-old Jamaican woman, according to the Gerontology Research Group. Jeanne Calment, a French woman, died at the age of 122 in 1977. These are the exceptions to the norm. But if you really want to go outside the norm, step back in time with me to the days before The Flood.

In Genesis 5 there is an account of Adam's family line from Adam to Noah. What is so amazing about this time-frame is that people were living very long lives. You think Jeanne Calment lived long, and she did for her time, however try a guy named Methuselah who lived not 100 years, not 200, not 300, not 400, not 500, not 600, not 700, not 800, but 969 years. Imagine living that long, in that time of history, without the benefits we now enjoy. It would take a miracle of God just to keep the skin on the bones and breath in the body.

I call your attention to the exceptions and the time-frame that is distant history in order to emphasize most people's time now-a-days here on this earth is short in comparison. We are born and the next thing you know our childhood has evaporated, our official schooling is complete and we are approaching retirement with or without grandchildren. We did not get the choice to be born. So, the question becomes - did we make a positive difference for those around us while enjoying the journey? A certain wizard once said, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

I heard someone's father once said that if you want job security and you want to make a difference in this world seek careers in one of four areas - (1) birth, (2) healthcare, (3) education/teaching and (4) arrangements for the dead. I agree with this man's list. However, we know that there are more to add to this docket that fit the criteria of job security and making a difference. 

I encourage all of us - find some occupation to be loyal unto and to make a difference at, as well as enjoy, and make your effort wholeheartedly. Your mark on this world will be duly noted and highly esteemed to the point of following your example. Genesis 6:3 attests that we have limited days - "Then the Lord said, 'My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.'” So, I stress the point one last time, let us make the most of our Time.

IMITATORS OF GOD

At the end of Ephesians 4 and through the beginning of Ephesians 5 - Paul instructs the believers in Ephesus on how to live as Children of The Light. Here are some Don'ts that Paul lists -

1. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth
2. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit
3. Do not sow bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander or malice.

Paul also delivers some Do's -

1. Speak only what is helpful for building others up
2. Be kind
3. Be compassionate
4. Be forgiving 

However, there is some strong language that Paul uses in Ephesians 5:3 that stands out from the rest of the Do Not's that I noticed. The verse reads, "But among you there must not be even a hint of....". Let me stop right there. Did you read and feel the forcefulness and toughness in the phrase "even a hint of"? The original Greek word for this phrase is onomazo, meaning anything you have to confess, designate or call categorically a name. The list that comes afterwards is as follows -

1. Sexual immorality
2. Any kind of impurity
3. Any kind of greed
4. Obscenity
5. Foolish talk
6. Coarse joking

So, if you take the strong language out of the equation, out of the reading - you have a normal encouragement to stay away from these things. However, the Holy Spirit prompted Paul to emphasize "there must not be even a hint of" the above characteristics in the believer or Christian community. He says, this ESPECIALLY, should not be an identifier of the Children of The Light because it is "improper for God's Holy people" (v. 3).

The substitution for all the possible negativity is Thanksgiving. Paul says, "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." (v.4) Thanksgiving to God for anything and everything that comes to mind places our focus back where it should be - God.

Thanksgiving is a big part of making sure there is "not even a hint of..." the sinful in our midst. If you keep reading in Ephesians 5, Paul mentions an additional help. If you live as Children of The Light, as he has laid out, and "find out what pleases the Lord" (v.10), then you will have "fruit of the light". You have heard about The Fruit of the Spirit, now read about The Fruit of The Light. Paul says, "Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord." (verses 9-10).

Living this out may be a challenge, but understanding it is not. If you choose to - 

1. live as Children of The Light, as a person and as a Church
2. especially heed to what is said about what among you there must not be even a hint found
3. Keep Thanksgiving and what pleases God out front

- then you will see manifested "the fruit of light", which is goodness, righteousness and truth. And all of us know we need more of each of those in our world today. For us to be better Children of The Light, for us to bear much fruit of The Light - it all boils down to being Imitators Of God (Ephesians 5:1).

THE LIFE WE LIVE IN LIGHT OF OUR SALVATION

Let's pretend that we all are parents of not only blood-born children, but adopted kids as well. The adopted kids are paid for by us to have the right of ownership. The blood-born kids are continually bought through their life by provision until they realize this form of love and reciprocate. 

The kids are going to rebel, disobey and/or sin. Are you going to kick them out of the family and re-instate them after a probationary period? Of course not! Both blood-born and adopted kids are family - once and for all time. You are not going to go back and repay for the adopted or start over with your other children. So it is with God when we rebel, disobey or sin against Him.

In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus said, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Jesus is teaching The Way we should live to His Disciples then and now. This part of Christ's Way of Living -  if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. - does not concern the believer's overall Salvation. Paul reminds us - "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:12) His Redemption restored our relationship with Him and secured our destination with Him also.

The word "sins" in this passage comes from the Greek word paraptoma, meaning trespass or transgression. And the Lord is using this word in a knowing-way. Knowing that we, as believer's in Christ, will still sin. So, He requires us to be the the example now and forgive SO THAT afterwards when we ask Him of forgiveness, we are in the proper spirit to receive His forgiveness. Another excellent story that Jesus tells about this living out forgiveness is The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant found in Matthew 18:23-35. Forgiveness must be given before it can be granted. So, you are going to be forgiven, you just need to make sure you have forgiven all those who have grieved, transgressed and/or trespassed against you first.

Even though Christ has not died for them at this point in the narrative, He considers them part of His Family already. As their Rabbi, Lord and Most Senior Brother - Jesus re-emphasizes what was declared earlier in the Lord's Prayer, "forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Matt. 6:12) 

Notice something? We are still in His Family. He has not kicked us out for not forgiving others. Christ's forgiveness,  which is a blessing unto itself, is simply withheld. Other favors from His Hands might be withheld to move us in the direction of forgiving others SO THAT we will seek forgiveness in the right spirit. The forgiven know how to forgive and come humbly before their God for their forgiveness. Matthew 6:14-15 is about The Life We Live In Light Of Our Salvation.

THE DECISION

The famed physicist Stephen Hawking died today at age 76. For all his supposed intelligence, a Yahoo article pointed out -

In 2011, Hawking appeared on the Discovery Channel TV series “Curiosity,” in which he reflected on the origins of the universe and rejected the likelihood of both a God and an afterlife. (He once dismissed the latter as “a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.”) Only in confronting the finite nature of death, he said, do we appreciate the remarkable beauty of life in the present.

“There is probably no heaven, and no afterlife either,” Hawking said. “We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe, and for that, I am extremely grateful.”

[Source:  https://www.yahoo.com/news/stephen-hawking-dead-famed-scientist-035055007.html]

It is interesting Mr. Hawking gives credence to "the dark" and emotions of being "afraid" tied to "the dark" because you have to know that there is light in order to know that there is dark. Jesus left no doubt about who the Light of the World is, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Darkness is not a fairy-tale. Darkness is the absence of not only physical light, but spiritual light also. And both of these - light and darkness are eternal.

There-in lies the rub for Stephen Hawking - eternity. He saw things, especially death as "finite". That is interesting - a major point of all the major faiths in the world is that there is  hope for an eternity/afterlife that is better than this present existence. In Christianity the hope of God and God on His Throne in Heaven should influence the way we live and treat others. If this is not enough, the destinations of our souls should spur us to action - Lake of Fire for those who reject Christ and New Jerusalem/New Earth for those who accept Christ. This leads me to conclude that there was no weight placed upon faith of any kind in Hawking's up-bringing. This is sad because Science is the Confirmer of a Creator or Designer.

It seems Mr. Hawking was a confused individual when it came to The Creation and transition of death. He says about the existence of Heaven and the Afterlife - "There is probably...". "Probably" is a word of doubt. There is a great truth that would have helped Mr. Hawking out if he had known it earlier - "I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live as if there isn't and to die to find out that there is." - Albert Camus This speaks about mainly how we live our lives now, but does address death, afterlife, God and not only the belief in the them but their reality. As a believer in Christ, I choose to live my life knowing there is a God and expecting to see, speak and dine with Him one day in the near future. The Christian finds hope and assurance in Christ's words of promise in John 14:2-3...My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

The confusion continued for Mr. Hawking and anybody who took his words as truth when he said, “We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe, and for that, I am extremely grateful.” First, he mentions "the grand design". Well, you cannot have a design without a designer. So, when talking about "the grand design of the universe" we have to have The Designer - God. 

Second, Stephen says he is "grateful". Who is he grateful too? He is speaking about "this one life". So who does he credit his existence too - his mom and dad? His mom and dad did not make the human body and all the systems and cycles thereof for him to be born. God tells us in Psalms 139:13-16..."For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

On the eve of this scientific thinker's death, I encourage you - there is one God, made-up mysteriously and supernaturally of three persons - Father God, Jesus Christ (Son of God) and The Holy Spirit. The lie that there is no God holds no water at all and hasn't since the beginning. James 2:19 affirms this by saying, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." There is an afterlife too. Many testimonials confess to this fact, including Peter's revelation that - "He [Christ] was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built." (1 Peter 3:18-20)

Nobody can lie and say, "There is no God." In addition, nobody can lie and say, "Then God must not care, because of all the mess in the world." God is not causing the mess in the world, we are. Plus, we are not looking and seeking Him out for help and answers. We are kicking Him out of our lives and society. Where is this practice of "Start being the change you want to see."? 

There will always be lies about God. However, the standard lies are falling in the face of truth. The decision comes down to an accepting or rejection of not only the existence of God and the afterlife, but the redemption of humanity's relationship through Christ Jesus and His promise of an awesome afterlife with Him. The Price, Christ's life, was too great for there not to be Hell To Pay for rejection of His love gift. Until we accept Christ's gift of Salvation, we are damned to a path of destruction that ends in the Lake of Fire. John 3:18 states, "whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." So, it comes down to - will you continue your life of condemnation or take advantage of a life of freedom. What is your decision about Jesus Christ?