Today is the first day of the rest of our lives.   We can do nothing about yesterday and most of our plans for tomorrow will never happen.   Not only that but our earthly  life time is less than a second in the light of the fact that our Creator has given each of us an eternal soul.   But unfortunately you and I were born spiritually disconnected or dead in the pride and rebellion of Adam.   That is why Jesus was sent to save us, if we want Him to, and if so,  our understanding what Jesus said in John 3 is so very important.   It is obvious as the body in which we now live that it  is only good for a very short time,  considering eternity.   And why would the Creator want to  give us another body unless we line up with HIS commandments while in this temporary body?  And what does not having a new body look like for an eternal soul, Jude 13.

Speaking to the Pharisee, Nicodemus….Jesus said,  ”I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.” …“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior & Lord] shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one  has been convicted and sentenced], because [b] he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].

So from a Biblical perspective our solar system was created for the purpose of being the placenta for the birth of the Family of God, then to be recycled.   Jesus being the 1st of the new eternal God/Man species.   And the 1st of many to follow,  if they join in HIM.   John 10:7,   “So Jesus said again, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am [a] the Door for the sheep [leading to life]. 8 All who came before Me [as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders] are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not hear them.   Luke 13:23-25, “And someone asked Him, “Lord, will only a few be saved [from the penalties of the last judgment]?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door [force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin]; for many, I tell you, will try to enter [by their own works] and will not be able.   25 Once the head of the house gets up and closes the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door [again and again], saying, ‘Lord, open to us!’ then He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you are from [for you are not of My household].’

Much of our evaluation of ourselves and others seems now,  to be on the basis of works.   In fact the art of self evaluation and our personal elevation of ourselves among friends and others seems a main factor in our conversations.   One guy that I remember in giving his testimony about Jesus used the word “I” about 150 times,  I actually counted.   It was a long testimony basically only about him for personal elevation and pride and not about Jesus much at all.

In Rev. 12:11 we are reminded of what our testimony should be: “And they overcame and conquered him (lucifer) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. “

So the testimony was all about Jesus, and HIM giving his life for us and our willingness to follow and obey HIM as Lord even if it might mean  physical death to us.   Nothing about any good works from us.   He is the only foundation for our salvation.   What we do because we love HIM will  have  nothing at all to do with our being saved.   It is our relationship with HIM alone that saves us.   What we do for HIM as built upon His foundation will come up later for rewards as in 1 Cor. 3:11-15,   In fact in 1 Cor.1:19-31 it shows  very clearly that our only testimony should be Jesus or none at all.   Not our Church, not our minister, not about ourselves.   “ For it is written and forever remains written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise [the philosophy of the philosophers],   And the cleverness of the clever [who do not know Me] I will nullify.”   20 Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom? 21 For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the [a] foolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior& Lord]. 22 For Jews demand signs (attesting miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdom and philosophy, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense], 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 [This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort].  26 Just look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise according to human standards, not many powerful or influential, not many of high and noble birth. 27 But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty]. 28 God has selected [for His purpose] the insignificant (base) things of the world, and the things that are despised and treated with contempt, [even] the things that are nothing, so that He might reduce to nothing the things that are, 29 so that no one may [be able to] boast in the presence of God. 30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin], 31 so then, as it is written [in Scripture], “He who boasts and glories, let him boast and glory in the Lord.”

I use to preach this to Hippies to show them that they were well qualified to become Christians…   That they were exactly what their Creator was looking for to make Christ Jesus as their LORD & Savior.   Really experienced a lot of God’s Grace when so preached.

In really understanding the Word of God about Jesus we must first realize that we are quarantined in a time dimension so we experience a past, present and future.   Whereas our Creator God lives in a timeless dimension with an absolute foreknowledge of all things, past, present and future.   So our Creator God knows exactly who HIS ELECT ARE even in the process of sanctification but we don’t and are going through the process, or not, of becoming HIS ELECT.  As an Architect the plans are already drawn but the building is now in progress.  He knows who HIS Elect are but we don’t.  Our Creator knew before the beginning of any creation what would come of what HE was creating.   He knew what Adam would do and what Jesus would do.  And in order for there to be responsibility and love there also  had to be absolute freewill in our dimension of time so that all would be valid without any manipulation.   So could Jesus have sinned, YES!   as otherwise nothing that HE did would undue what Adam did.   So we see the process, but God already sees the completion.  For God, Isa. 9:6 was done but for us, we are observing the process.  Much to yet happen in Rev. 19-22 which in time, yet to happen but from God’s perspective a done deal.  But can GOD sin, NO!,  a thing HE can not do.  Nor can HE be tempted, nor can HE die.  

In Luke 4:18 & Isa. 61, Jesus noted that God’s Spirit would be UPON HIM.   So as a Prophet of God, sometimes it was Jesus speaking and sometimes it was the Word of God speaking through HIM.  Moses prophesied that HE would be, “like him” Deut. 18:14, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a [a] prophet like me [Moses] from among you, from your countrymen (brothers, brethren). You shall listen to him.“   In Gen.  Moses also wrote about Jesus.  Gen.3:15, “And I will put enmity (open hostility) Between you and the woman, And between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, And you shall [only] bruise His heel.”   

So when Jesus came in HIS fist advent He was a man whom God could speak clearly though or was HE actually the WORD OF GOD in the form of Flesh or both?    I was taught the latter, but now beginning to focus on the former.   More and more I am draw to the fact that except for the curse due to Adam’s rebellion, Jesus was just like Adam in HIS first 30 yrs.  That Jesus was totally limited to the same resources that are now available for us, today.   Only HE always choose to walk in the LIGHT.   Isa.52:13, “Indeed, My Servant (the Messiah) will act wisely and prosper;  He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted.”   Notice here that Jesus  had a free will as also did Adam.  Isa. 53:2, “For He [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender shoot (plant), And like a root out of dry ground; He has no stately form or majestic splendor That we would look at Him, Nor [handsome] appearance that we would [a] be attracted to Him…  He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or esteem Him.”
 
1 Cor. 15:45:  So it is written [in Scripture], “The first man, Adam, became a living soul (an individual);” the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life].   Romans 5:15:  But the free gift [of God] is not like the trespass [because the gift of grace overwhelms the fall of man]. For if many died by one man’s trespass [Adam’s sin], much more [abundantly] did God’s grace and the gift [that comes] by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow to [benefit] the many.    Rom. 5:18: “So then as through one trespass [Adam’s sin] there resulted condemnation for all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.”

If when Jesus was born HE was the Word of GOD, then HE would have known everything as being GOD.  But did Jesus know everything?  Or was HE a prophet, speaking for the Word of God, perfectly?   Jesus, “Son of Man.”     Matt. 24:36, ““But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone.”     Luke 22:41-43,  And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.”     Mark 15:34, “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”    John 4:54:  “If I glorify Myself, My glory is [worth] nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me.”     Heb. 5:8-9, Although He was a Son [who had never been disobedient to the Father], He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect [uniquely equipped and prepared as Savior and retaining His integrity amid opposition], He became the source of eternal salvation [an eternal inheritance] to all those who obey Him,

So, for me, I am persuaded that Jesus, as the 2nd Adam was body, soul and spirit the same as us except HIS birth was a new start and not contaminated by Adam’s sin.  Obviously he grew up having access to and loving the Old Testament Scriptures which contained all of the Messianic Prophesies.  By faith HE came to realize that HE was that “Lamb of God” mentioned in Holy Scripture and began HIS ministry at age 30, receiving the Power of God for what needed to be done for the salvation of mankind.   In HIS death and resurrection that power was given to HIM and now to HIS Church.    And in Rev. 1, 4, & 19 we see the completed work of God in making man (Jesus)  into HIS Image and Likeness, Gen.1:26.  Jesus is now the 1st Born of the New Creation (Species) that is now totally man and totally GOD as in 1 John 5:5-9, “Who is the one who is victorious and overcomes the world? It is the one who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 This is He who came through water (body) and blood (soul) [His baptism and death], Jesus Christ—not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. It is the [Holy] Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. [He is the essence and origin of truth itself.] 7 For there are three witnesses: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three are in agreement [their testimony is perfectly consistent]. 9 If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [that is, if we are willing to take the sworn statements of fallible humans as evidence], the testimony of God is greater [far more authoritative]; for this is the testimony of God, that He has testified regarding His Son.  1 John 4:17, “In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.”     So we have available to us every resource that Jesus had and more with also the Holy Spirit to join in the family of God.  But the requirement is to be willing to change to become like Jesus.   I could write a book on this but I tried to stay within a couple of pages….   But for me, this new understanding has a great impact concerning my motivation & faith to seek to become like HIM.

Yours in HIS great love and wonderful Grace & Mercy,    Ken@Trinity-Aloha.org

Today’s Scripture   (From a ministry in Texas.)
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13, NIV
    
With All Your Heart
God says that He is looking for passionate people, people who are full of praise, people who seek Him with all their heart, not half. He’s talking about people who worship Him in spirit and truth, who are expecting to find Him and His favor. You can’t be indifferent, lethargic, and passive in seeking Him or in reaching your potential. You have to have some fire in you. Don’t let what didn’t work out, the disappointments, or the bad breaks cause you to become half-hearted in your praise, half-hearted in your marriage, or half-hearted at work. That’s why you have to stir up your heart. You’re not going to wake up every morning excited about seeking God and reading His Word or enthusiastic about your dreams. You’re going to have to do as David did and say, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. With my whole heart I will seek You.” If you keep seeking Him like this, you’ll find Him at levels you never dreamed.
    
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I can seek You with my whole heart, knowing that I will surely find You. Thank You that I can live my life passionately, with zeal in my heart to know You and love others. This is the day You have made, and I will rejoice and be glad in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s notes:   Today, we tend to find love and sex used the most in our world of commerce today.  Or should I use the word “LUST?”      I woke up to that world in the 8th grade at about 13 or so and found this a difficult world to survive in.  My first experience with sex at 16 began with great love and ended with a gun in my mouth wanting to end it all.  But then, I thought,  I might end up in a hospital for life with half a brain, so decided not to pull the trigger as it was only a 22 hollow point.  Later I found that to be one of the most efficient ways to end it all.   But by then, thankfully,  on another track in a foster home trying to catch up to pass the 11th grade.   My first marriage was basically only about sex, that ended in 17 years of hell, but with 8 children.  The next marriage was supposed to be a Holy Love, but carried a lot of lust as well and ended after 27 yrs. by my wife dying of cancer.  For my 3rd marriage, I thought I really did my homework and sought to put the LORD fist but now it seems I must have fallen into the same trap again as she ran off last January.  So here I am at near 90 with a great deal of experience on the subject but living in an old body that is getting ready for a final graduation.  Seems I never did learn to enter into HIS REST on the subject and find my Eve of HIS selection, I sure hope that you do.    

So in the Beginning we have a new species, man, who for the very first time was given an eternal soul in the likeness of GOD.  And in that creation God made the same division that HE made of HIMSELF as FATHER, WORD AND HOLY SPIRIT.  In Man HE created a Spirit, with an eternal Soul who lives in a Body.   And HE made it possible for us to learn about LOVE through HIM and in being man and woman.   Sex was top drawer of the finest of HIS achievements in creation.   A loving way to be bonded and to enjoy having children just as GOD is also about creating an eternal family in righteousness for HIS Kingdom of Heaven.  And HE started Adam and Eve off in learning about the creation and how to use their free will in a positive way.   All was bliss until they decided to learn by experience rather than learn by faith.   So they left their Creator and took off on their own.  So with the Holy Creation of Sex, today, man has made it dirty and difficult to even talk about and somehow associated with most of the things we are propositioned to purchase.  Things for our comfort and top drawer for getting attention.   Sex was created to be a safe glue for marriage and to bond a family together.  Very healthy and free.   God meant for marriages to start soon after puberty, but we have moved to the city and exchanged God’s design,   for sexual freedom and STD’s with the slaughter of children that are inconvenient in support of our comfort zone.     Do you really think that our Creator is going to give those who have rejected the truth of HIS prophets, recorded in the Bible, another body in the resurrection to tear apart as we see in our entertainments of today and how we now treat each other.    You want GOD to find you?  

“Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jer. 29:13,    

Our Creator only gets real with us as we get real with HIM.   If, as in Roman 1  we prefer to focus on the physical of this world, it is up to us.   But our Creator is not about to give us a new body and turn us loose on HIS eternal HOME (Heaven) to also mess up like we have this temporary time zone and world.  Your present human body has a built in short 120 yr. warranty (Gen.6:3) if you do the proper maintenance.   Then you will face eternity.  So have you really been prepping,   by following our Creator’s rules, to be counted worthy of new body or not?  Hell is simply an eternal soul without a Body.   You can not dodge the question by saying there is nothing out there when we have so many witnesses to the contrary.   You can not say that GOD does not exist without knowing all there is to know about the universe that does exist.  You know that death will eventually come calling, but are you ready.  Lets look at Romans 1:20-25, “ For ever since  the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense. For even though [d] they knew God [as the Creator], they did not [e] honor Him as God or give thanks [for His wondrous creation]. On the contrary, they became worthless in their thinking [godless, with pointless reasonings, and silly speculations], and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God for [f] an image [worthless idols] in the shape of mortal man and birds and four-footed animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their own hearts to [sexual] impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin],  because [by choice] they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.