Seeds For Thinking

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Seeds For Thinking
by Leland Hubbell

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Scripture: For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. (Hebrews 9:24, NKJV)

Welcome to Fluffy Cloud Heaven! Mess up a little bit in your earthly life, and when you get to heaven you will get:

A rusty old halo, skinny white cloud
Second hand wings full of patches
A rusty old halo, skinny white cloud
Robe that's so wooly it scratches.

This is the heaven often depicted in art, story, film and song. People become angels when they die, complete with wings. They wear a long, white robe, sport a halo, and float around on clouds. Entrance is via Pearly Gates, guarded by St. Peter. He will check his big book of naughty and nice records, and as noted in the song, “A Rusty Old Halo,” reward you accordingly. The rich and stingy have to travel “Coach” class.
However, if;

While you're on earth you should shine like a star
Brighten up the corner wherever you are
Doing each day the best you can do

then you receive “First Class” accommodations. Non-smoking section.
If you really mess up Big Time, then you are sent to the nether regions, “smoking,” of course, with flames and pitchforks. Well, not really a pitchfork, but an ancient weapon called a trident. Think Roman gladiators. Greek gods. Get the point?
When the first Soviet cosmonauts orbited the earth, the Soviets took the opportunity to score a point for atheism by declaring that there was neither God nor heaven to be seen. Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man to orbit the earth, apparently never said such words; the phrase originated from Nikita Khrushchev's speech at the plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, where the anti-religious propaganda was discussed. Actually, they affirmed that a “Fluffy Cloud Heaven” doesn’t exist. God’s Eternal Kingdom lies beyond time and eternity, not over the rainbow nor in the clouds.
Author C. S. Lewis states in “Mere Christianity,” “All the scriptural imagery (harps, crowns, gold, etc.) is, of course, a merely symbolical attempt to express the inexpressible. . . . People who take these symbols literally might as well think that when Christ told us to be like doves, He meant that we were to lay eggs.”
(See Matthew 10:16)
What is the true heaven like? According to the scriptures, it will be filled with the glory of God. It will be inhabited by God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, angels, and the Just. There will be peace, joy, rest, and righteousness.
Nothing perishable will exist there. There will be no sorrow, no pain, no weeping or wicked people. People will neither marry, nor give in marriage. Night and death will not exist.
Heaven - God’s Heaven - is a place of everlasting bliss. “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

Seeds for Thinking (©) 1996 - 2010 by Leland Hubbell

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Support Systems
* Scripture: Paul wrote, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:11, NKJV

We do many things without thinking about them. Breathing, for instance. Most of the time I give no thought to breathing at all, but I can control it to a certain extent, like when the doctor says, "Take a deep breath and hold it." Automatic breathing is probably a good thing, considering how often I forget things any more.
Likewise, we seldom give thought to the many people who provide services for us, because we do not personally see them at work. People who operate and maintain the electrical power system, for example, or gas, water, and the "tele' services. We notice when the system goes down, but even then little thought is given to the many people behind the service technicians who come to our neighborhood.
Few people are able to totally sustain their lives without input from others along the way. Our clothing, our food, the tools we use and the companionship we enjoy require us to look beyond ourselves to discover the many relationships that seldom enter our thoughts.
Consider, then, the armor worn by a soldier such as Paul describes in his letter to the Ephesians. Find a picture of a completely equipped soldier if you can, or a knight from the middle ages. You will see that the "whole armor" that Paul recommends is quite complex, made up of many pieces, all held together by laces, belting and straps. It is highly unlikely that the soldier could put on a full suit of armor by himself, let alone possess the skills needed to build it.
There would be several levels of metal workers, from the miner of ore, to the smelter and refiner, and the fabricator of parts. The sword maker was and still is a specialist in the trade. Leather working passes through several stages, as well.
Was the fully armored soldier thinking of all of these people as he moved forward into battle? Probably no more than we think of all the people who have contributed to the spiritual armor with which we should equip ourselves: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the Word of God.
Have we alone equipped ourselves? Are we standing alone? By no means! Praise God, we stand shoulder to shoulder with countless numbers of "Christian Soldiers," following the saints who have preceded us and sacrificed for us. We owe what we have and hold dear to parents, teachers, pastors and preachers, refiners and fabricators of the spiritual armor with which we go forth.
Paul adds, "Praying always with all prayer a supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints -" (Ephesians 6:18, NKJV)
June 4, 2006

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Scripture: Paul wrote, “ . . . put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24, NIV

Some of my chickens are looking rather shabby. Their feathers are worn, torn, and frayed. There are spots where they are missing entirely, and I am seeing feathers lying around on the ground - especially the tail feathers. Am I concerned? Not at all! They are going through an annual phase called “molting.”
The molt is a renewing process; the word comes to us through Old English from the Latin word “mutare” - to change - to shed hair, feathers, shell, horns, or an outer layer periodically. If you keep a dog or cat as a pet, you are familiar with the shedding process. The old coat of hair or fur falls out, especially in the summer, and you have the really shaggy dog (or cat) for a time.
Many animals, such as deer, shed and renew their antlers each year. That is quite a remarkable process, when you think about it. Antlers that are so firmly attached most of the year turn on the “disconnect” switch, so to speak, lose the old, and grow back a new set of antlers in the period of a few months.
Snakes shed their entire outer skin; crayfish (arthropods) their exoskeleton shell.
Probably the most visible example that we humanoids experience is best seen by examining the grins of children at the age that they are in the 1st and 2nd grade. Teeth! A rite of passage, as the baby teeth fall out, and the larger adult teeth grow in.
The most remarkable “mutation” is not physical, but spiritual. Jesus declared that we must be “born again.” (John 3:3)
Just as my chickens are showing the signs of daily living in their shabby feathers, so we humans show the corruption that comes through our human nature. We need to shed the old nature, and put on the new.
Paul expressed it this way: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24, NIV)

Time to “molt?” Put off the old, and put on the new!

Take time to look up “New Birth” in a Bible reference.

See also:

1. 2 Cor 4:16; 5:17;
2. Gal 6:15;
3. Eph 2:10;
4. Romans 2:29; 6:4-6; 8:7-8; 8:16,17.
5. A new heart, (Eze 36:26
6. A new spirit, (Eze 11:19.

Evidenced by:

* Faith in Christ (1 Jn 5:1)
* Righteousness, (1 Jn 2:29)
* Brotherly love (1 Jn 4:7)

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Scripture: Paul wrote, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Romans 14:19, NIV.
Woe to pedestrians who traverse uneven pavement! The Romans, who contributed the word for foot travel, tried their best to build perfect roads.
Alas! Neither then or now do roads stay perfectly flat, and a block that projects above its neighbors is destined to catch the toe of those of us who walk upright on two pedes - er, feet. It becomes a stumbling block.
The writers of the Bible were well aware of the stumbling block, and often used the expression as an example of obstacles in our walk with God/Jesus. Paul speaks of stumbling in his letter to the Romans, 14:13. He is speaking to Christians, there! A Christian as a stumbling block? Oh! Yes, read Romans 14, and learn what Paul was finding in the churches. He is writing specifically about eating practices, what was acceptable and what was not. Read between the lines a little. Consider 14:10. Judging others is a tricky business; the Lord will be the ultimate judge of us all.
Yet judge we do. Special practices; sacred do’s and don’ts. Thy way and my way make for an uneven pavement for another trying to follow us.
The topic of church attendance came up at our Bible study. It seems that not everyone who is asked to come to church with us is willing to do so. Why not? What can we do or say that will bring in the lost, the lonely, and the seekers. Let’s face it - every institution of worship should be filled! We should not have to drag people to church. They should be so desirous of filling their souls with God that our world would be bubbling with righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Ro. 14:17b).
Is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit what people see and think when they see us; our/the ‘church’? If not, then are we a stumbling block? Sure sounds that way, to read about stumbling blocks in the Bible.
Check out Isaiah 8:11-17. Here, God is a stumbling block! God?
We are “Resurrection People” if we believe the message of Easter. Jesus, the Christ/Messiah, became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, each and every one in the whole world. He died on the cross, was buried, and rose again. Resurrection!
Do you believe that? Many believe in Jesus, but not in the Resurrection. It has become their stumbling block.
We’ve heard the call: Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. (Mk. 1:3)

Be on the lookout for stumbling blocks. Neither create them, nor allow them to remain as a trap that others might stumble.
March 3, 2002

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Scripture: Jesus said, “, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets hang on these two commands.” Mt. 23:37-39, NIV
Jesus often clashed with the “Rulers” of the synagogues and the temple - the leaders of the religious establishment. They claimed - with good reason - that Jesus was not following the laws and traditions, which they, of course, enforced. Jesus stated that he was fulfilling the laws. So who was right?
Well, we immediately come to Jesus’ defense. We are called after Him, Christians, of course. But let’s take a look at the evidence.
Take a look at the book of Exodus. Beginning with the Ten Commandments in Chapter 20, scan the headings. Respect for other people is built into the laws they were to follow. Some laws may seem reprehensible by our standards today (regarding servants, for example) but they deal with realities of the times. A balance was to be maintained between the parties in a dispute, so that both justice and mercy was achieved. Our government and courts still struggle with the ever-changing complexities of interpersonal relationships.
In the NIV, Ch. 22 covers Protection of Property; and Social Responsibility; Ch. 23 is entitled Laws of Justice and Mercy.
When the ‘Rich Young Ruler’(Mt. 19:16-22) came to inquire of Jesus about eternal life, he claimed that he had followed all the laws and commandments. Followed the “letter of the law,” yes. Followed the intent, no! Of all the things Jesus mentions in vs. 18 and 19, “Love your neighbor as yourself” fills all the loopholes you might try to wriggle through. For example, people were “setting aside” money for religious purposes, calling it “Corbin” or Holy Money. Nothing wrong with that. When their parents were in need, though, they claimed they couldn’t help them because they had no money. Couldn’t they take from the “Corbin” funds? “No!” they said. “That is God’s money!” Jesus pointed out that God intended that parents be honored. All things belong to God; it is His, and ALL people come under His jurisdiction.
Jesus repeats this concern for mercy, justice, and love for all people, even our enemies, throughout His ministry. This is not surprising, since mercy, justice, and love are characteristic of God’s will throughout the Bible.
In our attempts to show our dedication to God, we wrap ourselves in the “cloaks of righteousness” - the trappings and traditions that say to others, “I’m REALLY religious - See !?!
God says, and Jesus affirms, “Wrap yourselves in mercy, justice, and love.”
December 16, 2001

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Scripture: Adam said,
“I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10, NKJV

Perhaps you have heard the maxim, as I have:
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
In theory, the thought is supposed to help us shrug off taunts and name calling. In theory! In fact, words can wound deeper than a sharp blade, can bruise greater than a cudgel.
The injury from a rear-ender car collision often produces “whip lash,” a stressing of the neck, which may leave no visible external evidence, but may cause severe internal damage.
We have only to follow news reports to witness the result of “word lash,” which can also create severe internal damage, psychological damage that sometimes comes out in violent confrontations, perhaps resulting in the death of several people.
More often, though, people ‘hide’ themselves by building a shield - a psychological shield - and hide within it. Henry David Thoreau observed in "Walden", 1854 “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” He also noted: “Public opinion is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion. What a man thinks of himself, that is which determines, or rather indicates, his fate.“
It is not just cruel, hateful words that can bring us to destruction, however. Sometimes seemingly innocent words of advice, craftily proffered, can bring down the gullible, or even the diligent soul who seeks to walk in the paths of righteousness. Adam and Eve knew well God’s words concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden. “You shall not eat (of it) for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) Words can not be much plainer than that!
Yet note the words of the cunning serpent: “You will not surely die. . . . You will be like God.” Sweet talk, craftily proffered. And they ate.
In Genesis 3:11 God asks Adam, “Who told you that you were naked?” But this is more than an issue about a lack of clothing. This was something new, an awareness of a vulnerability, a sense of the loss of innocence. Previously, Adam and Eve had nothing to hide from God; they had nothing to be ashamed of. Now, the knowledge of their disobedience envelops them. God knows! His words concerning the tree in the midst of the garden rang in their conscience, weighing heavily and guiltily on their minds. Adam thinks of himself as not only guilty, but as naked before God.
Guilty! They have sinned against the Word of God. Too late. Excuses will not build a shield to hide behind. The serpent (Satan), the woman, and Adam all sinned, and all were punished. Yes, it was God’s Word, and not Satan’s words, that prevailed.
Yet, “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam, all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, NKJV)