“My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Ruben

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

‘And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabaktanei?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” ‘

Matthew 27:46

This is one of the most difficult passages in the bible.  It is loaded with implications, meaning, and emotion.

Jesus has been suffering on the cross for several hours. At this point, He is near death. The torture, humiliation, and physical pain that He has endured since His trial is about to culminate in His death, and the last thing He says is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” ‘

God Dies

Then something impossible happens: God dies. Christians have been taught and ought to believe that Jesus is all God and all man. So, the conundrum we have as Christians is, how can God die?

This is important because Christianity lives and dies on the cross. If God died on the cross, then man has the capacity to kill God and, therefore, establish himself as the ultimate authority of life.

In my mind, I cannot understand how God could die.  If Jesus is God as we have been taught, then the obvious question is, how can He die at the hands of man? The answer is that man can’t kill God. So, we are back to the question of who died on the cross?

Another appropriate question is, when did Jesus become God? Did He become God at conception? Was it at His circumcision as an infant? Was it when He went to Jerusalem with His parents and was left in the temple? Was it when He performed His first miracle? Was it when He was baptized by John the Baptist? Was it when God said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

In the Beginning

Or was it as John states in John 1:1, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ‘

Jesus did not become God because, as John states in John 1:1, Jesus was at the beginning. Jesus has always been God, and He has never been anything else. He was God at the creation of the universe, at His birth, at His crucifixion, and at His resurrection, and He is God today.

God became man for 33 years. He became a human being for 33 years. What does that mean? It has many definitions and implications, but the one I want to focus on is this. He willfully and knowingly set aside His Godhead to become the sacrifice for humanity.

He temporarily set aside His royalty and majesty and power to become our salvation, our payment, for our insurmountable sin. God’s plan has always hinged on this moment, on the moment when the sinless, spotless, righteous lamb would be sacrificed for all humanity.

The problem has always been and will always be that we humans could not ever produce a sinless, spotless lamb to pay for our sins. Because we all sin and fall short of God’s standard, we would perpetually be mired and stuck in our sins.

Payment

Regardless of our condition, God required payment for our restoration with Him. The payment had to be equal to the bill, and the only thing that could make that payment was a perfect sacrifice—a sinless, spotless, innocent lamb.

Since sin in the garden of Eden, God knew we could never make the payment. He knew our hearts, and He knew He was the only one capable of making the payment for our sins. He knew He would have to sacrifice Himself for our sins because He is the only one capable of providing the value necessary to balance the ledger. However, God could not die.

So, he decided He would have a Son who was all God and all Man. This Son would become the necessary payment for our sins. But there was one caveat: the Son would have to willingly make the payment for humanity.

Let’s take a side trip to the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is praying the night before He is betrayed by Judas, and this is what He says to God, His Father, ‘And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.” ‘

Matthew 26:39,42

Anguish and Pain

Now, my question to you is this: What was Jesus praying about? I wonder what that prayer is about.

The natural assumption is that God would spare Him the pain of being crucified. But Jesus, seeing and understanding this moment from the beginning of time, why would He at this point ask to be removed from His purpose? I mean, Jesus knew this was coming, and He knew He had been sent to the earth to fulfill this purpose. He had foreknowledge of what He was about to endure. He had told the apostles as much several times. So, to ask to be relieved of His duties at this point would be inconsistent with His purpose.  

So, what was he praying about? That would cause Him such anguish that He would sweat drops of blood. (Luke 22:24) I don’t think Jesus is praying about being released or spared of His sacrifice.

Later in the story, Jesus says. ‘Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ‘

Matthew 26:53

This occurs immediately after He finishes praying for the release of His upcoming separation. If Jesus wanted to be released from His purpose of being a sacrifice for humanity, He could have ended it right then. He could have asked the Father, and He could have ended it right then. Jesus becomes the willing sinless sacrifice for humanity.

The Duality of Christ

Christians are taught that Jesus is both man and God simultaneously. But what does that mean? It means He has lived with the limits of humanity while being omni everything at the same time. But it also means there was an existing reality of two people. Jesus, the man, lived with all of the same emotions and limitations as a man, while Jesus, the Christ, was the incarnate God with all knowledge and power.

Jesus was conceived and lived inextricably tied to God. In other words, from the time of His conception, Jesus was intermingled with God. They were both God and Jesus, always together. Jesus experienced God in Him with an acuity we can’t comprehend. Jesus never lived a moment when God, the creator, was not with Him. They were two people totally conscious of each other, with Jesus the man being totally aware of God the Father in Him.

Now imagine knowing God the Father with that level of intimacy. Imagine Jesus, the man, looking into the future, knowing He was going to be sacrificed for humanity and knowing that for the only time in His life, He was going to be all alone without the Father in Him. You may ask why God would abandon Him at this moment of crisis, the very moment Jesus would need him most. Because as long as God and Jesus were one, God could not die. If God had not abandoned Jesus, the sacrifice could not happen.

Christ in Gethsemane was not praying about being released from the pain and torture of the crucifixion. He was in agony and fear of the separation that he would have to endure at the cross. Having been with God all His life, Jesus the man was more than just a little concerned about the total separation from God at that moment.

For the only time in His life, He was going to be totally human without the God of creation in Him. The very definition of His life was going to be parted from him. All of humanity hinged on Jesus, the man, being willing to pay for our sins.

Jesus’s concern in the garden of Gethsemane was not His physical predicament. It was His eternal life being separated from God the Father, the Father He had lived with all His life. Jesus understood He was going to be all alone on the cross. That was anguish.

 In 2 Corinthians 5:21, it says,  ‘He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.’

God cannot become sin, but Jesus, the separated son of God, became sin for us. The only way Jesus could become sin was to be separated from God. As long as God and Jesus were one, it was not possible for Jesus to be our sin.

‘ “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. ‘

John 3:16

A Real Man

God sacrificed His human Son for our sins. It was not symbolic or metaphorical. It was a blood-bleeding man who hung on the cross all by Himself and died for our sins. This man was the actual DNA-infused son of God.

It was not the God-man who died on the cross. It was the child of Mary. It was not Christ our risen savior. It was an actual innocent human being who willingly took on all our sins and became the final sufficient lamb for our salvation.

I believe that when Jesus said, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” ‘ Is when Jesus the man understood and realized the depth of desolation of being separated from God His and our Father.

What Jesus was saying to us at that moment is that you don’t want to be abandoned and completely, hopelessly separated from your Father.

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The Spirit of God

Posted on March 29, 2024 by Ruben

What makes you alive? Is it an electrical current that runs through your brain? Is it an unidentified source of power we have yet to discover? I am not asking you what keeps your heart beating. I am asking you what has given you life?

Genesis 2:8 says, ‘Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person. ‘

Genesis 2:8

God breathed.

God breathed into man, and man became a living person. From the very beginning, we were introduced to and literally empowered by the Spirit of God. This is such a fascinating verse: Does God breathe? The answer is no. God does not need oxygen to live because he lives outside of the realm of our existence. The only reason He breathed into man was to give a lifeless lump of mud life. When God breathed into man, he gave humanity a living part of Himself. A transfer of existence occurred with that breath. A physical transformation occurred simultaneously with the power that initiated life.  

At that moment, the heart started beating, the lungs expanded, and blood flowed for the first time. The eyes saw perception. Feelings were released throughout the body’s sensors, and the senses became inflamed with the first experience. Life began, but it was inextricably connected with the source of life, the Spirit of God.  

This power of life given to Adam was enough to give us this life we cherish. The force of life that was given to Adam was enough to extend life throughout history. From Adam and Eve to every succeeding generation since. The Spirit of God that gives life is in you. Life, in all its fascinating expressions, would not exist if not for the Spirit of God. Life cannot exist apart from God because there is no other entity with the power to create life.

It is important that you understand that you are alive because the same spirit that brought Adam to life is the same spirit that lives in you today. Because without it, you would not be here to read this.

The spirit of life that follows through all of us is part of the living God who gave of Himself to give us life. When Adam was breathed into, He had the spirit of God living in him and had full access to God.  This means that Adam had a direct physical, emotional, and spiritual existence in the presence of God. Adam and Eve lived a complete life. Without need, they basked in the love of God. They enjoyed that relationship for an eternity and for a minute. The Bible does not define how long Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden. It could have been an eternity or as short as a couple of weeks.

Spiritually Dead 

When Adam and Eve sinned, they were spiritually separated from God. In essence, they died spiritually. From their spiritual death, mankind was without the Holy Spirit of God. Humanity still had the Spirit of life, but we did not have the Holy Spirit of God. This facet of our existence was severed because of their sin.

Thousands of years later, Jesus was crucified for our sins, and the Holy Spirit of God was still with Him.

‘But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. ‘

Romans 8:11

Restoration 

The Holy Spirit of God is available to you now because of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit of God that was with man at the creation of man is once made available to you through being born again.

‘Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ‘

John 3:3

Adam was created fully intertwined with the Holy Spirit of God. That connection died with the advent of sin. The door to restoration of that connection was made available through the rebirth of that same Spirit.  Jesus refers to that Spirit when He answers Nicodemus.

‘Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ‘ 

John 3:5

Being Born again means the Spirit of God returns to commune with you in daily life. We are called little children because we must grow into the greatness and awesomeness of God our Father.  

‘You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. ‘

1 John 4:4

Overcomer 

Overcomer: God calls you an overcomer because of His spirit, which lives in you. God did not leave us alone to figure it out He deposited His holy Spirit in you to help you become victorious in this life. It is by His Spirit in you that your life will achieve the highest calling of God in you.    

To know God, you must reconnect with God in the same way Adam and Eve connected with God and that is through His Holy Spirit living in you.

For more on our signs click the link.

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A Thanksgiving of Trust

Posted on November 28, 2025 by Ruben
Generated image

Finding gratitude—and God’s presence—in the middle of a difficult diagnosis

This Thanksgiving is unlike any other—yet it is still a year of gratitude for me. I was recently diagnosed with non-small-cell squamous lung cancer, and a diagnosis like that naturally forces a question to the surface:

“What am I thankful for?”

Even in the middle of a serious illness, my heart is full. I am thankful for my wife, my family, my grandchild, and my friends. I am grateful for my business, my church, and the years God has allowed me to enjoy with the people I love. And above all, I am thankful for God.

Redefining Victory

I fully believe and expect that God will be victorious in this season of my life. But I want to define victory:

Victory is the fulfillment of God’s will—in His time and in His way.

That means I will not place myself in His way or try to interfere with His perfect plan. Victory does not always mean healing in the conventional sense.

I do expect and believe I will be healed. I also know this journey may not be without pain. Healing, for me, means that when I come through this season, God will be there. I expect to survive and thrive, but if that is not the outcome, I know I will not walk through any of it alone. God will be with me. He will not abandon me. And His presence—that alone—is healing.

A Reminder From the Past

I am even thankful for the heart attack I had fifteen years ago. That experience strengthened my faith and proved God’s ability to deliver me. It is easier for me to trust God with my healing today because I have seen His faithfulness before.

I was at death’s door, and the recovery was long, but that does not make the miracle any less real. Having survived and thrived through that ordeal makes this new battle feel less intimidating.

The Gift of Peace

I am thankful for peace—real, sustaining peace.

I pray each of you experiences peace in your own times of trouble. The peace that surpasses all understanding is not freedom from difficulty; it is the confidence that your Deliverer is more than able to sustain you and bring victory. Knowing that God is in control, that His perfect will prevails, and that I am submitted to His plan—that is what produces peace.

Submission: The Path to True Freedom

I am grateful for submission. It is one of the most misunderstood words in the Christian walk. Submission is not losing control or losing yourself. It is freedom from bondage.
The closer I get to Jesus, the freer I become.
The more I submit to His Lordship, the better my life becomes.
The closer I come to being a bondservant of Christ, the more valuable my life becomes.

Submission means that the more I yield to Christ, the more the chains that once held me fall away. True freedom is found in the One who is the source of life and power.

Glorifying God in the Trial

I am most thankful for the opportunity to glorify God through this.

He is in this.
He is in control.
He deserves to be glorified, and He will be glorified through this season of my life.

God’s mercy is an astonishing reality. He is under no obligation to help me or deliver me, and yet He will. I have victory because of Jesus, and He deserves all the glory that comes from this journey.

Choosing Thankfulness

This Thanksgiving, I have Stage II squamous cell . I am not thankful for the cancer. I am thankful for a God who is able to carry me through this to victory.

I expect victory.
I am thankful even for the process and outcome of this illness, because whatever the future holds, I know God is in it, and I know God is with me.

I have much to be grateful for. Though I have non-small-cell squamous lung cancer , I still have much to be thankful for. I am grateful for my past, but I am even more excited and hopeful for the future.

Do not mourn for me, for I am not dead.
Pray for me, for my God is good.

A Closing Scripture

“The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end,
For His compassions do not fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.”
— Lamentations 3:22–23, NASB

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Cancer Update: God Is Still Good

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Ruben

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
— Romans 8:28 (NASB 1995)

I have non small sell squamous carcinoma in my left lung. Not the diagnosis I was hoping or praying for. I have a golf-ball-sized tumor sitting in my lung — and the only reason it was found is because of a completely unrelated accident. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, it was discovered because of the injury I got while felling a tree.

Had that tree not knocked me down and injured my shoulder, this cancer might have gone undetected for years. I had no symptoms whatsoever — something I’ve now learned is not uncommon.

The first takeaway is simple:
If you have smoked — or lived around someone who did — you need to get screened for lung cancer. Make it a regular part of your healthcare routine. The sooner it’s detected, the better your chances of survival.

How Long Has This Been Growing?

I asked ChatGPT how long it normally takes for this type of cancer to grow. With all the disclaimers aside, it estimated that a tumor of this size could take anywhere from 7 to 15 years to develop.

That means this was inside my body for at least seven years. During that time, I had bronchitis multiple times — yet not once was I sent for a lung screening. Not once did anyone look deeper.

I asked if there was a connection between bronchitis and lung cancer.
The answer was:

“Yes — there can be a connection, but it’s indirect. Bronchitis itself does not cause lung cancer, but certain conditions that lead to chronic bronchitis can also increase lung cancer risk.”

“To be clear, bronchitis itself doesn’t cause lung cancer. But the same things that cause chronic bronchitis — smoking, secondhand smoke, chemical exposures, and environmental toxins — are the same things that increase lung cancer risk. In other words, my repeated bronchitis wasn’t the cause; it was a warning sign. Looking back, with my history and exposures, those episodes should have prompted someone to look deeper into my lungs.”

Did God Do This? No — But He Used It.

Let me be clear: God did not cause the tree to knock me down. That was my own doing. But after carrying this tumor for years, I do believe God used that moment as the opportunity for discovery.

They took an X-ray of my shoulder when I first went to the doctor. Nothing showed up. Then the orthopedic specialist ordered an MRI — still nothing. It wasn’t until I decided to move forward with shoulder replacement surgery, and they did yet another MRI, that the radiologist finally said, “What is that?”

You can call that luck or coincidence if you want. But I believe God was saying, “Pay attention — something is wrong here.”

Did God create the tumor just so it could be found? Did He let it grow? Did He ignore it?
No. That’s a ridiculous conclusion.

Just like with my heart attack, I bear responsibility. My choices contributed to this — being stationed at a toxic military base, inhaling JP-4 jet fuel, and smoking. If those things hadn’t been part of my life, the odds of this happening would be very different.

What God did do was give me the freedom to make choices — even foolish ones — and now those choices have come due. So don’t blame God for this. I don’t.

The Outlook

So here I am with Stage II squamous cell carcinoma. And honestly? The outlook is positive. I expect to survive and thrive.

My full-body PET scan showed no evidence that the cancer has spread, which is great news. As a precaution, I am having two MRIs done — one for my liver and one for my brain — because cancer can sometimes travel to those areas. There is no reason to believe that has happened, but it’s standard procedure for my cancer type.

I also have to complete a pulmonary function test to make sure my lungs can handle surgery.

What’s Next

Right now, the tentative plan is:

  • Remove part of my lung
  • Begin chemotherapy after surgery

All of this depends on my upcoming test results. I take the tests next week, and once the doctors review everything, I should receive a surgery date. I’m anticipating surgery sometime during the second week of December — but that’s just my guess for now.

Through all of this, my faith remains steady. God is good.
And I truly believe He revealed this at the right time.

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There will aways be Giants

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Ruben

Chapter 1: The Tree, The Shoulder, and the Unexpected Peace

On October 8, 2024, I was cutting down a dead palm tree. Hurricane Milton was approaching, and I didn’t want the wind to send that tree crashing into the house. I thought I had the angle right, thought I had the control — but it didn’t go the way I planned. The tree knocked me down and pinned my foot.

My wife tried to help, but it was too heavy for her to move. Thankfully, I managed to push it off with my other foot and crawl out from under it. The pinned foot was fine — never even hurt. But the way I landed messed up my shoulder.

At first, I ignored the pain. Figured it just needed time. A few weeks went by. The pain didn’t.

My doctor ordered an X-ray. She told me it looked like I had a broken bone and referred me to an orthopedic specialist. He ordered an MRI, and that’s when the real story came into view. Turns out, it wasn’t a fracture at all — it was something much worse.

The Shoulder Breakdown

Here’s what the MRI showed, translated into plain English:

  • I have advanced arthritis in my left shoulder.
  • There’s a massive, long-standing tear in my rotator cuff — the tendons that keep the shoulder stable. They’ve pulled back so far they can’t be reattached.
  • The biceps tendon is severely damaged and out of place.
  • There’s fluid in the joint, muscles have begun wasting away, and even the collarbone joint shows moderate arthritis.

The orthopedic doctor called it an irreparable rotator cuff. In short: the shoulder’s done. He told me I’d need a shoulder replacement.

At the same time, I saw a spine specialist because I was getting back pain out of nowhere. I’ve never had back problems. The diagnosis? Spinal stenosis. Not severe enough to treat yet, but it explained the pain — and it’s likely to get worse over time.

I intentionally delayed the shoulder surgery. The recovery is long — three months or more — and I wanted to hold off until I could plan around it. In the meantime, I went through several rounds of physical therapy. It helped. A lot.

The Unexpected Turn

Fast forward to September 2025. I was finally ready to get serious about the shoulder replacement, so the orthopedic doctor ordered an updated MRI to see where things stood.

We got more than we bargained for.

1. The Lung Mass
The scan picked up something no one was expecting: a 4.2 cm mass in my left lung, specifically in the lingula (a section of the upper lobe). Its shape — irregular and spiky — raised concern. The radiologist recommended a CT scan with IV contrast for a better look. This wasn’t brushed off. The finding was immediately reported to my doctor.

2. The Shoulder, Still Shot
Nothing had changed — the shoulder was still severely damaged, the joint still worn out. A CT scan using a Blueprint protocol was done to prepare for surgery. That’s still on the table.

But now there was something else.

3. The Chest MRI
To follow up on the lung finding, the doctor ordered a chest MRI. The results:

  • The mass in the lung measures 4.2 x 2.0 x 1.8 cm. The appearance suggests it could be cancer.
  • There’s also a suspicious 1.7 cm spot on the liver — could be another type of cancer, like bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma).
  • The rest of the scan looked good: no enlarged lymph nodes, no heart issues, bones look fine, lungs otherwise clear.

The next steps are either a PET-CT scan or a biopsy for the lung, and a special MRI of the liver with contrast dye.

Where I Am Right Now

This isn’t like my heart attack 15 years ago — that story I wrote about a year later. This time, I’m documenting it as it happens.

Right now, I’m not claiming cancer. I’m claiming God’s will over my life.

“But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes.” — Philippians 1:23–24

I’m hoping and praying that the lung mass is benign. Not because I fear death — I don’t. I’m at peace. But because there’s more I want to do for Christ. More I believe He has for me to do.

So that’s where I am: shoulder busted, lung uncertain, liver in question — but peace intact.

This is just Chapter 1.

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The Forgotten Truth of Bondservanthood, Part One

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Ruben

Bondservant. It’s one of those words that rarely crosses our lips and is even less likely to be understood by our minds. Trapped in time and culture, it’s not something most people give much thought to. We’ve determined it has no applicable relevance today—relegated it to the heap of dead expressions.

Yet this word has insisted itself into my mind. In the NASB version of the Bible, it appears ninety-five times. The word matters to me because of what it means.

The Biblical Meaning of Bondservant

Literal Definition: A bondservant is a slave or servant who is legally owned by a master, but the word emphasizes devotion rather than forced servitude. The term comes from the Greek word δοῦλος (doulos), meaning slave.

Old Testament Background: In Exodus 21:5–6, we see the concept of a voluntary bondservant: “But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master… I will not go out as a free person,’ then his master shall bring him to God… and pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently.”

New Testament Usage: Paul and other apostles call themselves bondservants of Christ (Romans 1:1), meaning they belong to Christ completely, serve Him willingly and exclusively, and their life is no longer their own (Galatians 2:20).

A bondservant is someone who willingly and fully devotes themselves to the service of a master—especially God—out of love, not just obligation.

The Astonishing Realization

As I contemplated what it meant to be a bondservant of Christ, I began thinking about ownership. What would it look like for me to belong completely to Him? I thought it meant giving up my freedom, my rights to self-determination, my right to choose. But then I made an astonishing realization.

In Genesis, when God tells Adam: “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:16–17), He’s not giving Adam a choice—He’s giving him a command.

I used to think this meant Adam had a choice between obeying or disobeying God. But this was a command, not an option. You might argue Adam had the right to choose death, but is that rational? Who in their right mind would choose death over life, knowing death was undesirable? That’s not a choice—it was a consequence.

Realistically, Adam never had a choice. Why? Because he belonged to God. He was God’s possession. God literally owned Adam. Adam had no freedom apart from God, no right to self-determination, no right to do his own thing.

The Uncomfortable Truth

If you research the Bible, you won’t find where God implied or otherwise relinquished control or ownership of His creation. In other words, God still owns you. Not only does He still own you, but He has never given you the right to self-determination.

In a word, you are a slave.

Here’s the astonishing part: It doesn’t matter where you fall on the spectrum of beliefs—self-creation, God-created, or anything in between. God owns you. Yes, God gave man dominion over the earth, but He never gave man ownership of anything, including himself.

When you understand this concept, it changes your reality in profound ways.

The Natural Reaction

Your first reaction might be to yell at the top of your voice: “I must be free! I must have the right to self-determine my life!” You scream, “No! I have rights! I can choose my own path!”

But isn’t that what Adam chose? He chose death. He chose his own path.

Accepting Reality

Once you realize that God still holds ownership over His creation—when you accept the reality that He still owns the deed to your existence—everything changes. When you accept that He holds the deed to every ocean and all that’s in them, every mountain range, plain, valley, river, and stream. When you see that He owns every galaxy, star, moon, and asteroid, you must come to the conclusion: He owns me.

The only position we have in this reality is slave. That’s all we have.

But we do have one distinction in our slavery: we can choose to become a bondservant of God rather than merely a slave of God.

You can rejoice in His splendor or be crushed by His omnipotence.

The choice—the only real choice—is how you respond to the truth of His ownership.

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Ownership Independence

Posted on July 5, 2025 by Ruben

The Child of God

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.”
John 1:12–13

What a verse. What a statement—“to become children of God.” Children of the Creator of the universe. That’s not just a powerful thought—it’s a wow moment. When you begin to understand the blessings that come with being a child of God, it’s overwhelming. The implications of that truth are enough to build an entire ministry around. Just exploring the depth of that one idea could become a full-time calling—an eye-opening, life-transforming journey.

But what if you’re not? What if you’re not a child of God? Even from a distance, it’s hard to deny the appeal. Even if you didn’t believe in God, the thought of being His—known, loved, protected—should still stir something inside you. So then the question becomes: why do people choose otherwise?

I’m 68 years old as I write this, and I’ve come to realize—probably later than I should have—that no version of unrighteousness leads to real joy. If you don’t like the word unrighteousness, or don’t know what it means, let me put it plainly: it’s sin. And sin, when it finishes its course—and it always does—leaves you empty at best and utterly destroyed at worst.

So why do people choose it? Why do we lie, steal, destroy, manipulate? Why does it feel so natural to chase after the very things that ruin us?

The Craving for Independence

“And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.”
Revelation 12:7–8

Why does war happen? At its core, it’s because one side wants to impose its will on the other. It’s about control. It’s about independence. Both sides want to rule. Both want the freedom to determine their own destiny.

That same war plays out in each of us. Deep down, we all want our own sovereignty—the ability to live our lives without being told what to do. The original sin wasn’t just rebellion. It was about independence—wanting to live apart from God.

Satan didn’t just want to replace God. He wanted to be God without God. And humanity has been chasing that same illusion ever since. Independence has become one of the most sacred ideas in modern culture. Especially in the West, we glorify freedom—our right to choose, to act, to live however we want, no matter the consequences. As long as it feels right and others agree, we call it liberty.

We want the freedom to define our own truth. To live, work, and play on our terms. Even when that thinking contradicts itself, we cling to it. We want the right to decide our own morality, our own future—and most of all, our own independence.

Ownership

Psalm 24:1–2
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,
The world, and those who live in it.
For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.”

Psalm 50:10–12
“For every animal of the forest is Mine,
The cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird of the mountains,
And everything that moves in the field is Mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
For the world is Mine, and everything it contains.”

1 Corinthians 6:19
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”

Colossians 1:16
“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on the earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—
all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

These are just a few of the many verses that establish one clear truth—God owns everything. There’s no verse in Scripture that says He gave up ownership of anything He created.

You might be thinking, “Okay, so God owns everything. So what?” Here’s the so what—that includes you. You belong to Him. And I don’t mean metaphorically. I mean literally. You are God’s possession. The Bible even uses the word slave—and that should sober us.

As a slave, you don’t get a vote. You don’t get to decide what’s best for you. You don’t get to define your identity, direction, or destiny. The idea of independence doesn’t apply here. God’s ownership includes everyone—no exceptions. From the most powerful to the most unknown, from the believer to the skeptic, from the strong to the weak—we all belong to Him.

His ownership is as complete as His sovereignty. There is nowhere His will cannot reach. And that should bring fear to those who resist Him, and joy to those who’ve been given the right to be called His children.

The pursuit of independence will lead you to the same fate as Satan. He didn’t have the authority to break away from God—and neither do you. We’ve convinced ourselves that we have a choice. But we don’t—not really. Because the so-called “choice” of independence ends in judgment.

And here’s the hard truth: God never gave you the right to choose independence. That was never His intention.

“But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Genesis 2:17

That wasn’t a choice. What part of “you will certainly die” sounds like one? How is choosing between an eternal life with God—fully cared for—and death, even a choice? Death is not a decision. It’s a consequence.

When we stand before God on Judgment Day, it won’t just be about punishment for our sins. It’ll be about God giving people what they demanded—independence. Independence from His goodness. From His presence. From His grace.

And that’s the terrifying part. Man will finally get what he wanted—life apart from God. No laws. No wisdom. No love. No forgiveness. No hope. No mercy. No peace. No salvation. And not even the mercy of death.

They’ll exist forever in the agony of powerless, godless, isolated, independent existence.

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The Parable of the Talents: Understanding Abilities and God’s Investment in You

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Ruben

The Parable of the Talents: Understanding Abilities and God’s Investment in You

Matthew 25:15

“To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.” (NASB)

Review

We’ve already established that Jesus is the man going on a journey in this parable. That conclusion is based on the strong similarities between the figure in the story and the life and mission of Christ.

We also discussed the word “slavery” in a biblical context. God has never surrendered ownership of the earth or of humanity. Our lives and very souls belong to Him, regardless of what we believe. Everything we are—everything we have—is His.

And we explored what it means to be a bondservant—a person who has willingly and completely submitted themselves to serve their Master. Not out of compulsion, but out of choice, love, and commitment.

Reflection Question:
Have you ever truly considered yourself a “bondservant” of God? What would change in your mindset or lifestyle if you did?

What Is a Talent?

A talent in this parable is a unit of financial measurement, not a metaphor for natural gifts or abilities. It represented a significant amount of money—roughly $2,070,000 in today’s terms.

  • The servant given five talents was entrusted with over $10.35 million
  • The servant with two talents received $4.14 million
  • Even the one-talent servant received more than $2 million

Why is this important? Because the size of the investment helps us understand how much God values the abilities He has given us. He doesn’t invest lightly. His trust in you is not symbolic—it’s significant.

Reflection Question:
If God placed over $2 million worth of trust in your hands, how would that impact the way you see your role in His Kingdom?

Why Different Amounts?

When I first read this parable, I struggled with why the talents were distributed unequally. Was the five-talent servant more important than the one-talent servant?

But then I noticed this crucial phrase:

“…each according to his own ability.”

That changes everything. It wasn’t about favoritism or superiority. It was about alignment.

Let me illustrate:

  • Opening a car dealership requires millions in capital.
  • Starting a jewelry store demands inventory, location, and excellent credit.
  • Running an online business may only need a laptop and Wi-Fi.

None of these ventures are more important than the other—they just require different levels of resources. God gives us exactly what’s needed based on our ability to handle it.

Discussion Prompt:
Can you identify an area in your life where you’ve been comparing yourself to others instead of honoring your own capacity?

The Master’s Intentional Investment

This wasn’t a haphazard decision. The Master (Jesus) took time to assess each servant’s true capacity. This required an intimate understanding of each individual—not a surface-level acquaintance.

If God is willing to entrust millions in symbolic value to each of us, that speaks volumes. It shows His deep interest and involvement in our lives. He knows what we’re capable of. He is prepared to invest greatly in those abilities.

Reflection Question:
What do you think God sees in you that He deems worth such a large investment?

Abilities Over Purpose?

Many of us spend our lives chasing purpose—taking personality tests, gift assessments, and spiritual inventories trying to find out, “Why am I here?”

But notice something in the parable:
Jesus never talks about purpose. He talks about ability.

Maybe the problem is we’re starting in the wrong place. Maybe purpose flows from ability, not the other way around. Instead of trying to manufacture abilities to fit some ideal purpose, maybe we should be identifying the God-given abilities already in us—and then allow our purpose to emerge from there.

Reflection Prompt:
What would change if you focused more on refining your abilities than chasing your purpose?

Are Your Abilities Matching Your Business?

Let’s bring this into your real-life business.

Are your abilities aligned with what you’re doing?
It’s a simple question, but it carries a lot of weight:
Have you been chasing a “purpose” that doesn’t match your ability?

Last week, we discussed Craig Groeschel’s podcast episode with Dave Ramsey. They talked about how the skills needed to start a business are different from those needed to manage or grow one. The person who launches a company isn’t always the one who should scale or maintain it.

So ask yourself:

  • Are you the starter?
  • Are you the builder?
  • Are you the manager?

Interactive Question:
Which of these three business roles comes most naturally to you, and which one drains you the most?

For those of us who’ve been in business for years, we often assume we must do all three. We feel responsible—after all, we started it! But starting something doesn’t automatically mean we’re gifted to run or grow it.

Many successful entrepreneurs will tell you: they had to let go of certain roles to let the business grow. Take John Maxwell, for example. He leads a global organization, but he doesn’t write his own books—he uses a ghostwriter. He doesn’t run the daily operations—he has a CEO. Why? Because he knows his strengths—and his limitations.

The same goes for people who make millions but still hire financial advisors. They may be brilliant at creating wealth but know they need help managing and protecting it. They’re not ashamed of that—they’re wise enough to recognize it.

Group Prompt:
Where in your business (or ministry) are you holding on to something you may need to release to someone more gifted in that area?

Growing Into—and Out of—Abilities

Here’s the truth: as you age, your abilities evolve.

You’ll discover gifts you didn’t know you had—and you’ll also realize that some of your strengths from the past may be fading. And that’s okay.

Our job is to pay attention to what’s emerging and what’s diminishing. We do this all the time in the area of finance—most business owners don’t hesitate to delegate accounting to someone more skilled. But in other areas, like marketing, leadership, or operations, we often hold on too long.

The key is this:

Your abilities are dynamic. They change. They grow. They fade. They shift with your season of life.

God has created us so that certain abilities mature at just the right time, while others fade to make room for what’s next.

Reflection Question:
What new abilities are starting to surface in your life right now? Are you resisting them or embracing them?

If we’re wise, we’ll recognize these transitions—not as losses, but as invitations. We’ll begin to employ new, previously unseen abilities that God planted in us long ago, which are just now ready to bloom.

And as those new abilities come forward, they’ll point us toward new purposes—purposes we were created to fulfill all along.

Let’s be intentional this week:

  • Revisit your abilities—not your dreams, your roles, or your job titles.
  • Ask God to reveal the skills He’s invested in you for this season.
  • And trust that when you steward your abilities well, your purpose will take shape right behind them.
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Slavery, Ownership, and the Parable of the Talents

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Ruben
God has all humanity in HIs hand

Slavery is a word that evokes visceral reactions. It’s often grouped with terms like sex trafficker, murderer, and tyrant. It’s offensive—a word that summons images of some of the darkest moments in human history. Slavery is almost always associated with exploitation and dehumanization.

And yet—in the Parable of the Talents—Jesus uses this very word.

Understanding the Word Jesus Used

For clarity’s sake, let’s look at how the New American Standard Bible (NASB)—widely respected for its close adherence to the original Greek—translates a key term in this parable:

δοῦλος (doulos)
Pronunciation: doo’-los
Meaning:
• A slave, bondservant, or servant
• One who gives themselves up to the will of another
• Someone bound in servitude, often without personal rights

This is no mistranslation. Jesus intentionally used doulos—a strong and unmistakable word. To fully understand His teaching, we have to wrestle with that word as He meant it.

The Parable Begins

Jesus opens the parable like this:

“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.”
— Matthew 25:14 (NASB)

The man going on a journey in the parable represents Jesus Himself. So it is Jesus who says: “I own these slaves.”

In American culture, this is hard to hear. We recoil at the word slavery. We’ve been rightly taught that no human being has the right to own another. So, the first time I read this parable, I rationalized the language. I assumed it was cultural, maybe symbolic, and not to be taken literally. I even looked at other translations and substituted the word servant to soften it.

But as I studied the parable more deeply, I realized that doulos doesn’t mean servant as we define it today. To substitute that word—to reinterpret it through a modern lens—empties the story of its power. Jesus wasn’t being casual. He was being clear.

The Creator Owns What He Creates

As a professional furniture maker, I understand what it means to create something from scratch—and to own it completely. When I craft a custom piece, it belongs to me. I can choose to sell it, modify it, or even destroy it. That right comes with ownership. No one else has a say.

In the same way, if you’re employed by someone and create something under that employment, you’ve likely signed away the rights to your work. The employer owns it—because they’ve paid for the labor, the time, and the result.

So, I had to ask myself: Do I belong to anyone? Or am I truly free?

Does God Own Us?

Scripture answers this directly:

Genesis 1:27 (NASB)
“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Psalm 24:1 (NASB)
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who live in it.”

Titus 2:14 (NASB)
“He gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds.”

These are just a few examples, but they show a consistent theme: God owns humanity. What I didn’t find anywhere in Scripture is a moment where God sold, abandoned, or relinquished His ownership of mankind. He delegates stewardship—to Adam, to kings, to leaders—but never ownership.

If you believe that salvation sets you free from ownership, think again. Salvation frees you from sin, but not from the rule of God.

John 3:16 (NASB)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”

1 John 2:2 (NASB)
“He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NASB)
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

God not only owns us because He created us—He has redeemed us through the blood of His Son. This ownership is not limited to Christians. He owns everyone. There is no condition in which a human being exists apart from His authority.

God’s Sovereignty Is Absolute

God’s sovereignty is total. He answers to no one. He explains Himself to no one. His ownership of us is complete and uncontested.

As believers, we must come to terms with this: we are not our own. Not partially. Not conditionally. We are fully His. We are His property, subject to His will, and He does not owe us an explanation. Our acceptance—or denial—of this truth changes nothing.

When Jesus Says “Slave,” He Means It

So, when Jesus uses the word slave in the Parable of the Talents, He isn’t softening the truth. He’s proclaiming it.

He is establishing His sovereignty and ownership over all humanity.

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The Junction of Faith and Action Determines the Richness of Your Life

Posted on March 20, 2025 by Ruben

The Junction of Faith and Action Determines the Richness of Your Life

‘Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.’ Hebrews 11:1

For every area in your life, this junction will bring to life the opportunities God offers you. Without faith in what does not yet exist, you remain bound to your present state, unable to grow beyond it.

In our businesses, what do we need faith for? If we are in a situation where everything is working as planned, why do we need faith?

What in your business requires faith? What plans and goals do you have that require faith?

Where is the junction of faith in action that is evident in your business? What is the one thing that requires God’s intervention in your business?         If you’d say there is nothing that requires God’s intervention, then what is faith for?

If you look at the Bible as a whole, one of the things that becomes evident is that everyone in it desires something beyond their capacity or ability. Hebrews desired their own land for a long time, and they lived on a promise of their homeland. They desired something they had never had before, and they needed faith to bring it to pass. Moses liberated the Israelis based on a promise that had been made to his people hundreds of years before. And it required faith for him to move forward into something that had not existed.

Joshua led an untrained and inexperienced army to conquer the promised land. Another thing that until that time had never existed. Noah built an arc by faith, never having seen rain. The list goes on and on and on of people in the Bible who operated on faith.

If you look around today, you see people all over the place operating on faith. In our backyard, we send people into space. This very act is an exercise, a continual exercise of faith. They are constantly creating new and different ways to accomplish monumental goals. Many of which have never existed before. They may not call it faith, they may call it something else. At the end of the day, they are exercising faith. They have certainty of things they hope for and proof of things not seen. Every day and in every industry, people operate solely based on faith. They are working for things that have never existed before, and they are expecting and believing that thing to come into existence.            

They create things and bring things into existence based on ideologies other than ours. They’re not going to admit or give glory to God for their accomplishments, for they think that they did it all on their own. What they don’t know and don’t realize is that God honors faith.

If we can see this in the world of secular organizations and companies, what should we be doing? They are not creating these things because they are clever or because they are gifted. They are creating these things because they are honoring God in their faith.

Faith cannot be a wish list. For us, it is like the Egyptians when they left Pharaoh. It was life or death. They had no choice but to succeed and to believe that God was going to bring them out of their predicament.

Have you ever lived that way? Knowing you cannot return.  Knowing that if you want to succeed, it is because of God’s intervention. I’m not talking about something negative like a lousy situation, knowing that if God doesn’t intercede, someone will pass away or that the consequences will be severe. That is not what I am referring to. I am referring to taking intentional action to bring you to a place where only God can answer your needs.

What intentional steps do you have to take to make your business grow, knowing that the investment includes risk to you? I’m not talking about trusting God to bring you through. I’m talking about getting yourself in a situation where only God can get you through. Because that’s what faith is; faith is putting yourself in a situation where God’s intervention is necessary. Knowing that he can, and he will, but not always in the way that you would expect.

However, you do not have to exercise faith; you have faith, but you don’t have to exercise it. You can go back to growing your business, thinking that it is because of your power and your will that the business thrives. The truth is that unbeknownst to you, God is using your business for his glory.

You can also be that one who doesn’t want to move forward and wants to stay where he is, where he is safe, where nothing new happens, no great expectations, no great victories, with the familiar and good life of consistency without risk. If you’re a Christian and this is your life, it is OK; you will enter the kingdom of God, but you will miss so much.

Why live and operate in faith? I look at the universe, and almost daily, they are finding things that challenge the intellect. Since God created the universe and all that is in it, how much more does He have for us? That more is not going to fall off a tree like an overripe fruit. He wants you to have faith so you can be trusted with more. So, you can get to know Him and know how He operates.

‘“Do not call to mind the former things, Or consider things of the past. “Behold, I am going to do something new, Now it will spring up; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. “The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise. “The animals of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people.

Isaiah 43:18-21

Those roads in the wilderness and rivers in the deserts will be completed through mankind. Because everything the Lord has done after creation concerning humanity has been through mankind. We must have Faith in a God who does.  His will, will be done. It is not a matter of if or can; it is a matter of when. Those of us who are at the junction of Faith and action will benefit from His doing.

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Witnessing a Miracle

Posted on February 4, 2025 by Ruben

Witnessing a Miracle

I have a friend, Michael Morales, who has been going through a physical crisis for the past six months. Some of you are aware of this because I’ve posted about his condition before, asking you to pray for him. I’ve also requested your financial assistance since he now needs a heart transplant and is at Duke Medical Center waiting for a donor’s heart. [https://gofund.me/abfe23a7]

He’s faced multiple issues during this time. He suffered a brain bleed, a stroke, and problems with the LVAD machine that was supposed to assist his heart. He also had issues with the pump recently installed to support his heart. In fact, yesterday, they performed a heart procedure to help maintain its function until a donor can be found.

There has been a continuous series of challenges since this ordeal began. It’s been one step forward, one step back repeatedly. The difficulties he faces are not minor; each challenge carries significant risks to overcome. The reason he’s in North Carolina now is that the medical professionals at Advent Health were unable to perform the necessary transplant due to complications with his heart.

We have been praying for him, and I sincerely believe God will guide him through this. However, I also believe that God does not work in isolation. So, I find myself asking, what is God teaching me through this ordeal my friend is experiencing? This leads to a larger question: what are we all learning from this?

One of the first lessons I’ve reinforced in my mind is the sovereignty of God. The doctors have done their best to help Michael in this crisis, even with all they don’t know. What has become abundantly clear to me once again is that the doctors don’t have all the answers. Despite their expertise, good intentions, and training, they don’t possess complete knowledge.

With every challenge, God has provided answers. I’ve witnessed God’s hand throughout this process. I’ve seen him at work, sustaining Michael and providing for him in practical, spiritual, and unimaginable ways.

The most important lesson I’ve learned is the necessity of letting God work. This means not taking control. We must submit to his will, trusting and believing that his will is what truly matters. We cannot demand, command, or force God’s hand in any situation. He will operate in his perfect timing for Michael’s benefit and for those around him. Michael’s miracle will ultimately be a blessing for us because we will be witnesses to Almighty God working this out for his good. This will be a blessing for you too, as you have the chance to observe God work with intentionality, purpose, and sovereignty.

What’s most impressive about Michael’s journey and miracle is that you have the opportunity to be part of it. How can you participate? By praying and watching. Watching to see what God does and how he does it.

Resting after another procedure.
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The Speck

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Ruben

Born again, made new, saved, sanctified, restored, and justified.

Born again, made new, saved, sanctified, restored, and justified. All concepts which are precious to Christendom. These words mean so much to those of us who believe in Jesus. Some of these concepts are difficult to grasp. However, these concepts are what set us apart from the rest of the world.

As beautiful and hopeful as these concepts are, they are not without price. Being born again requires accepting the payment made for you. Being made new, a new creation requires giving up your past. Being saved means submission to the one true God. Being sanctified requires retooling your moral absolutes. Justification means accepting the righteousness of Christ.

As great and wonderful as these concepts are, there is an underlying reality – we will never fully attain them. They are forever an ongoing process. This does not mean they are not secured in your life, but rather that they will never be fully realized in this life.

‘For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. ‘

Philippians 1:6

Duality

Understanding that we are a work in progress creates a duality for us. Christians live with a double standard. By that, I mean that as Christians, we are moving toward, or should be moving toward, these beautiful concepts. We live with what we are while working to become all that God created us to be.

This double standard or duality of living does not directly affect the world around us. But it is a constant, sometimes painful process of growth and development. It has a very real and practical effect on our visible lives. As you move closer to the fulfillment of these Christian concepts, your everyday life will change. This change will have an impact on the world around us. It may not be an immediate earth-shattering redefining of your life, but through the process, it is what will eventually become your reality. Your life will eventually become an earth-shattering rebirth of your existence.

At its core, Christianity is change. It transforms the world’s view of individuality and self-realization to submission and dependency on the one true God. Embracing this change and releasing one’s will and desire for control is the key to unlocking all the beautiful things Christianity offers.

Christianity changes you. If it does not, you must ask the question, am I a Christian? The change is not about becoming better. It is about becoming more Christ-like. What does Christ-like mean? It means getting to know Jesus and then emulating him increasingly every day. It does not mean being good or being better. It means we continuously seek to be more submissive to His will. As we grow in our relationship with Him and submit to Him, the better comes, the good happens, and we move closer to who He created us to be. We begin to become the better me.

This process of Christian growth in spiritual maturity never stops. You never get to the goal in this life, but you will in the life that is to come. The completion of our life’s growth process will happen when we are with Jesus.

That is when all the concepts of Christianity will coalesce and finally make us whole. As you mature in Christianity, you come to realize you are so far from God’s righteousness and holiness. The divide between us and God is an unnavigable chasm that can only be crossed by the means God provided.

Christian Maturity

Christian maturity will lead you to realize that you are unrighteous, unworthy, sinful, and hopelessly lost. As you grow in Christ, the untouchable Holiness of God becomes clear. When I look at myself in my holiness, righteousness, and life alongside God, my definitive sinfulness is all I can see.

When I see God in all His righteousness and holiness in comparison to the better me that I have become after forty years of being a Christian, I see how far I am from who God is. When I first became a Christian, I had no idea or concept of how far I was from being in proximity to God. Now that I have gotten to know the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—I realize there is no way to get to God from where I am.

I cannot achieve Holiness, righteousness, or justice on my own; the abyss is too vast. The only way to get to righteousness, holiness and justice is by the intervention of the Trinity for me. If God does not reach out to me, there is no way I can reach him to connect with Him. Now, as a mature Christian, I understand the simplicity and necessity of God’s sacrifice. If God had not reached out to us by sending His son, we would not have the ability, opportunity, or knowledge to be with Him.

If God does not provide the road, or if we reject the path, we cannot get to Him. We are left to our best lives, which will always be a poor semblance of God’s magnificence, Holiness, and righteousness. Our best lives without God will always be a tangled and embittered life filled with the fruit of sin. We will die hopelessly defeated and lost.

In My Minds Eye 

I see God’s glory in my mind’s eye. I will try to articulate this picture and impression.

In this vast expanse without sun or stars is the majestic Glory of God. The Glory of God precedes God. It is an overcoming light of magnificent colors emanating from the presence of God. It is like a wave without an end. It crosses the expanse of my vision from left to right, from the highest high to the lowest depth. It comes toward me.

The Glory of God is not just light or colors. It projects Holiness and righteousness. In my mind’s eye, I do not just understand Holiness; I feel His Holiness, His righteousness. It is not just a concept of perfection. It is not an attribute as much as it is the essence of God himself. His Glory exudes the perfect peace of justice. The Glory of God inhabits all the senses. It is not just visible. The scent of God’s Glory satisfies your senses in a way that you never encountered. It is not just an aroma but a reminder or initiator of warmth, peace, and blissful contentment. You can feel the presence of an all-powerful God and understand the security that comes with the Glory of God. His Glory exudes peace, a peace that is as solid as concrete and without change or uncertainty. His Glory introduces you to the sovereignty of God, and for the first time, you understand the permanence of His omnipotence. There’s a sound that permeates from the Glory of God. It encompasses all my auditory capacity but is not a cacophony of noise; instead, it is a symphony of joy. This symphony engages all the attributes of God, and you feel the fullness of the love of God. The most unexpected sensation is taste. The Bible says, ‘O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! ‘Psalms 34:8 The Glory of God has a taste, and it is the taste of purity. It opens your eyes to see the purity of God’s Holiness—the unblemished perfection of God’s existence. It is unlike anything you have ever tasted because it is flawless, untarnished, and unspoiled; it is without the imprint of impurity.

From The Perspective of a Fly on The Wall 

As I see this picture of the Glory of God, I stand back like a fly on the wall and look at myself in front of His Glory, and I am a colorless speck of imperfection. This tiny, insignificant, imperfect, sinful spec of life is so offensive to the Glory of God. I, this speck, is so out of place in front of the coming Glory of God that I realize it must be removed. As the magnificent Glory of God gets closer to me, the colorless spec becomes more pronounced, more visible, and more offensive. The closer perfection comes, the more the spec becomes prominent, more hideous, and more focused. As the Glory of God proceeds, the imposition of the colorless spec of injustice becomes clear.

The spec of injustice, unholiness, and unrighteousness cannot stand in the presence of the Glory of God. That is where we stand if we stand alone. That is our predicament. We will stand before the Glory of God as a spec of sinfulness, unholy, unrighteous, and powerless. And this is just the Glory of God. There will not be any sin in the presence of God. Holiness and righteousness will overcome and destroy sinfulness and unholiness.

As I see myself as the insignificant but offensive spec in front of the Glory of God, I see no hope. The Glory of God is too magnificent to glorious too much for the spec, which is I, to become a part of God’s existence. What I see from a fly on the wall’s perspective is the utter hopelessness of humanity before a perfect God.Being Born again, made new, saved, sanctified, restored, and justified can only be accomplished by God on our behalf. Even with Christian maturity, it is impossible to achieve what we were created to be. Maturity shows you the divide, not the proximity. Maturity shows you the need for a savior, not the accomplishment of sanctification.

I am the speck of injustice, the offensive in front of the Glory of God. But because of the blood of Jesus cleansing me of all injustice, I am transformed into His righteousness and God’s child.

The one thing Christian maturity teaches you is that without God’s redemptive plan, humanity is lost.

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