Simply Angie
Last week I shared the poem, The Spider and The Fly, as well as some thoughts I’d been mulling over related to temptation and the devil’s web that he lays out for each one of us. It got me thinking further about some other poems and short stories that I hadn’t heard in years, but have had an impact on my life. I’m going to search them out and post them for you in the coming months. It saddens me to see how complacent and worldly the Christian church has become in my lifetime, even so-called ‘conservative’ Christians. The more we allow worldliness and a lowering of our own personal standards of holiness, the less our light for Jesus shines and the darker the world becomes. Sometimes I wonder if we allow ourselves to be fooled by a misunderstanding of God’s mercy and grace to such a degree that we begin to think that God doesn’t expect us to be servants of righteousness. Does God really expect us to be holy? As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. ~ 1 Peter 1:14-16 Clearly, God does! We know we aren’t going to obtain perfection in holiness while living on this earth, but God has reasons for everything He says and does, even if we don’t know or understand them. In this case, I think He gives us enough insight into His reasoning through His Word so that we can understand at least some of His reasons for a call to righteousness. I’d like to mention just two of them.
The unbelieving lost are slaves to sin. We are not supposed to be. As born-again believers, too many of us are still in bondage to sin because of the worldly thinking that has crept into the church. When I was a young child, my father was a drinker. I hated his drinking! He became very angry and lost all self-control. I praise the Lord that when my dad got saved, he knew immediately and without anyone telling him, that the drinking had to stop. He stopped the very same day. That is the power of a Holy God, not of a strong-willed man! God is able to free us from the bonds of sin and make us a testimony of His great Grace if we will cooperate with Him and submit to His authority in our lives. The following poem is another that was written more than 150 years ago. I’ve mostly seen it attributed to that famous author, Anonymous, but I also read a story stating that it was written by a woman named Retta M. Brown, so I’ll give her credit for it. Tom Gray’s Dream This poem stirred my heart as a young person and challenged me to a greater commitment to witness for Christ to help save others from this horrible eternal fate. I’m reminded of God’s command in the book of Jude. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. ~ Jude 1:17-25 I hope my thoughts today will encourage you to consider what impact your life and testimony has on others, and whether or not you’ve made certain you aren’t on the hellbound train. With much love, Talk to you again soon. Can’t wait?
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Sunday, January 14, 2024
The Hellbound Train
