This is one of the best, most loving and bible based teachings I have heard on this issue, which everyone who has questions about should take the time to listen to. It is short (6-1/2 minutes), to the point and pretty hard to refute or get angry about.
The ultimate evil and the ultimate outrage in the universe!
(John Piper)
What makes sin sin is not first that it hurts people, but that it blasphemes God.
This is the ultimate evil and the ultimate outrage in the universe.
Sin is . . .
the glory of God not honored,
the holiness of God not reverenced,
the greatness of God not admired,
the power of God not praised,
the truth of God not sought,
the wisdom of God not esteemed,
the beauty of God not treasured,
the goodness of God not savored,
the faithfulness of God not trusted,
the commandments of God not obeyed,
the justice of God not respected,
the wrath of God not feared,
the grace of God not cherished,
the presence of God not prized,
the person of God not loved.
The infinite, all-glorious Creator of the universe, by whom and for whom all things exist (Romans 11:36)–who holds every person’s life in being at every moment (Acts 17:25)–is disregarded, disbelieved, disobeyed, and dishonored by everybody in the world. That is the ultimate outrage of the universe.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world!” 1 John 2:15-16
The possession of the whole world and all that it contains, will never make a person happy. Its pleasures are false and deceptive! Its riches, rank, and honors, have no power to satisfy the heart! So long as we have not got them—they glitter, sparkle, and seem desirable. The moment we have them—we find that they are empty bubbles, and cannot make us feel content!
And, worst of all, when we possess this world’s good things to the utmost bound of our desire—we cannot keep them! Death comes in and separates us from all our property forever! Naked we came upon earth, and naked we go forth—and of all our possessions, we can carry nothing with us.
Such is the world, which occupies the whole attention of thousands!
Such is the world, for the sake of which millions are every year destroying their souls!
“This world is fading away, along with everything that people crave!” 1 John 2:17
Although this video was created by a saved Catholic calling lost fellow Catholics out of the Roman Catholic system, it is as important for Protestants to hear. Too many Protestants today have no idea what being a Protestant means, and do not prayerfully study the scriptures for themselves seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit (not imperfect man) to be able to discern deceptions and falsehoods; and are therefore blindly reaching across the abyss to clasp hands with the antichrist papacy in the name of “unity” and the “common good”. Those who came out of the Roman Catholic Church during the reformation, protesting Church traditions and false teachings of men above the word of God, knew full well who and what the papacy was. When the Bible warns: “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” in Revelation 18:4, that warning is not to Catholics alone, but also to apostate Protestantism (the false prophet of Revelation 16:13).
Satan is doing all he can to deceive the whole world, so that all will receive the mark of the beast and be lost, before the soon return of Jesus. He knows his time is short, and he is working aggressively and very effectively in these last days to take into the lake of fire with him as many as he can.
The upcoming release in May of the documentary/propaganda movie “Pope Francis – A Man Of His Word” on the heels of the CNN docu-series in March “POPE: The Most Powerful Man in History” is a prime example of how aggressively Satan is working to get the whole world to “wonder after the beast”. There is coming a catastrophe (war, plague, famine, natural disaster, economic collapse or combination thereof) so great that the world, instead of repenting and turning to God, will look for a man to lead them through it, and it will be antichrist, and he and his agenda of deception is being prepared and promoted now. Never forget, in addition to being the head of a church, the Pope is also the sovereign of the Vatican state, which is the epitome of the merging of church and state, and the epitome of masterful political self-promotion to achieve his Jesuit goal of the destruction of Protestantism, and the return of the Roman Catholic Church to temporal power. The headline of this September 24, 2015 Huffington Post article was much more accurate than they may have realized:
The warning Jesus gave us in Revelation 14:6-12 is for today, and we all need to heed His warning. If you have not repented and given your life over to Jesus, do so now before it is too late. If you are a believer and are not keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, prepare yourself before it is too late and you find your name blotted out of the book of life. “6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” 8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” 9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12 Here is the patience [endurance] of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
The only way we can endure through what is to come is to know Jesus intimately and follow Him exclusively, having written on our hearts Exodus 20:1-17, keeping the commandments of God in totality, and having the faith of Jesus. The mark of the beast revolves around worship and specifically involves breaking one or more of the Ten Commandments as evidence of which side we have chosen to be on. The breaking of God’s law will be legislated, so it will be a definite choice that will have to be made over following the law of the world in direct contradiction to God’s law, or following God’s law (remember Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – so it will be for us). Once the mark is implemented, there is no turning back or changing our minds – the die will have been cast. It is going to be a time of great tribulation and only with ultimate faith in God will we overcome. “He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Conversely, those who do not overcome will have their names blotted out of the book of life, and will not have their names confessed by Jesus before God—a dreadful consequence of not knowing God’s word and law and keeping it.) Revelation 3:5. “He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” Revelation 21:7. Pray, read your Bibles, come out of the world and follow Jesus—your eternity depends on it.
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and to be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 2
Our Creator has arranged the living machinery of our bodies, and He has pledged Himself to keep this machinery in healthful action if we will obey His laws and cooperate with Him. Every law governing the human machinery is to be considered as truly divine as is the Word of God. Every careless abuse of our bodies by disregard of His specified laws is a violation of God’s Law. “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” 1 Corinthians 6:19; 3:17
Connected to disease and untimely death, and running back through time, are the causative factors of wrong-doing. There can be no prevention of disease without first dealing with the cause. Whenever sin exists, it works itself out finally in sickness and death. When those who were sick came to Christ, He saw not only the one who was asking for help, but all who throughout the ages would desire to come to Him for healing. When He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you” (see Matthew 9:2), He was laying down a principle of health, not only for the benefit of the paralytic before Him, but for those who would live after him. There is health in obedience to God’s Law. His Word says: “Do not forget My law, but let your heart keep My commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.” “For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” Proverbs 3:1, 2; 4:22. Health is not only a gift, but an achievement gained and maintained by an intelligent obedience to the laws of life which God has placed within reach of us all.
Trust in Divine Power
When it is happy and at peace, the brain produces and secretes hormones into the sytem that invigorate and strengthen every cell of the body. True joy and peace come from a knowledge of God and trust in Him.
Many ask God for health, expecting Him to keep them from sickness with no particular effort on their part; but God will not work a miracle to keep us from sickness if we have no care for ourselves and are living in violation of the laws of health. When, however, we do all that we can on our part to have health, then we may have confidence that God will cooperate with us in keeping our bodies in health, and we can experience the health-imparting peace that trust brings.
Proper Diet
In the story of Daniel, proper diet and God’s blessing are closely linked. Brought to the court of the king of Babylon, Daniel and his three companions were to be favored with the best food and drink that could be obtained in Babylon—food from the king’s table. Daniel, however, “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Daniel 1:8.
Approaching the steward in whose charge they had been placed, Daniel proposed a simple diet. “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” Verses 12, 13.
The steward consented to a ten-day trial period. “And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.” Verse 15. This condition was not the result of a miracle but of God’s blessing in following the divine plan. In choosing the food that we eat, we need to become educated as to the best foods for our bodies and shun those things that we know to be harmful or injurious.
Temperance
Leaving out of our diet those things which are potentially unhealthful is a good start, but it is not the whole sum of our responsibility. Intemperate eating is often the cause of sickness. In many cases of illness, the very best remedy would be to miss a meal or two so that the overworked organs of digestion might have an opportunity to rest. A fruit diet for a few days has often brought relief, especially to those whose work requires more mental than physical activity. While our dietary habits have a direct bearing on our physical well-being, they also have spiritual implications. The apostle Paul likened the Christian life to the athletic games of his day. He said, “Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” 1 Corinthians 9:25
Rest
After they returned from their first missionary journey, Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Mark 6:31. It is not wise to always be under the strain of work and excitement, even in productive and worthwhile employment. Intemperance in working depletes the body’s vital reserves. Rest does not always mean a complete end of activity. It can come from a change of pace; from active, physical work to quiet enjoyment; from a desk job to vigorous exercise in the fresh air. The body was designed for activity, and excessive sleep or rest can be harmful. As a rule, men over 50 who sleep more than nine hours a night double their chances of death from cardio-vascular causes. One way to relax is to exercise vigorously. Following exercise, though you may be physically tired, you will often be mentally relaxed.
Exercise
Exercise is not only helpful in preparing the body to enjoy a good night’s rest, but it helps freshen the mind, giving it the ability to think more clearly. In a time when life is full of pressures and most employment is more mental than physical, it is especially important that we make time for exercise. Exercise has the added benefit of increasing our body’s endurance, leaving us less subject to fatigue. An important benefit of exercise, especially for older women, is its tendency to improve calcium metabolism in the bones, increasing the bone density and making it less liable to fractures.
Sunlight
All life requires sunlight. Even creatures that live so deep in the ocean that they never see the sunlight depend for food on those that do receive sunlight. Most of the energy on the earth comes from sunlight. The sun provides the energy for plant photosynthesis, which is the transformation of the elements into plant growth. Just as the sun provides the heat and energy for plant growth, it also gives life and health to our bodies. While an excessive amount can be unhealthful to the skin, in moderate amounts it not only helps the body to produce vitamin D, but helps to increase our resistance to infections. Every person, young and old, should have some sunshine on a daily basis. It will not only improve many body functions, including digestion, but it adds vigor to the life.
Pure Air
One of the greatest healers that nature provides is air. “In order to have good blood, we must breathe well. Full, deep inspirations of pure air, which fill the lungs with oxygen, purify the blood. They impart to it a bright color and send it, a life-giving current, to every part of the body. A good respiration soothes the nerves; it stimulates the appetite and renders digestion more perfect; and it induces sound, refreshing sleep.” The Ministry of Healing, 272
Water
Water is one of our greatest blessings. It not only supplies the needs of the system, but it assists nature in resisting disease. The external application of water is one of the most effective and easiest ways to regulate the circulation of the blood. A warm bath opens the pores and thus aids in the elimination of impurities and is an excellent way to soothe the nerves. A cold or cool bath, or shower, is an excellent tonic, increasing the body’s resistance, especially to colds. About 6–8 glasses of water a day are needed to properly meet the body’s needs under normal circumstances. Heavy exercise, or being exposed to warm temperatures, can, of course, increase the need. Common constipation, some backaches, and headaches can all be relieved by drinking enough water at regular times.
If we utilize the remedies that God has provided us in nature, combining them with a trust in divine power, God’s blessing will be evident in an improved physical, mental, and spiritual condition.
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.
Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the third day.
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all[b] the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
In earth’s fallen state is because of man’s fallen state. Earth was created perfect in all ways, but is now under bondage of corruption because of the sin that we are under bondage of. Only through Christ may we all be redeemed.
Romans 8:21-22 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, IS THE LORD OF HOSTS: THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY! ISAIAH 6:3
FOR HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME. ECCLESIASTES 3:11
(“Every Day!” Author unknown, 1872)
“You shall have no other gods before Me!” Exodus 20:3
Though we would hope there is no danger of our bowing down to graven images—to gods that have eyes and see not, ears and hear not—none are exempt from the danger of being idolaters in spirit. There are gods many and lords many, in lands of Bibles and gospel privileges—as truly as in heathen countries!
Wealth, honor, sports and pleasure—are the idols of multitudes.
Gold is as truly worshiped—as Baal once was!
Self is as really the idol of many now—as Diana of the Ephesians was anciently.
Then, too, there are “household gods”—idols in family life. Affection in the various relationships we sustain, which is proper and lovely in a right degree—too often becomes idolatrous.
Christians, as well as others, have need to be warned against idolatry. The exhortation, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols!” was addressed to believers.
Remember, my soul, that whatever may lead your highest affection and supreme devotion away from God your Savior—would be to you an idol!
Help me, O Lord, to watch and pray against the sin of idolatry in all its forms. Show me more of Your glory and Your grace—and ever hold the highest place in my heart!
“The dearest idol I have known,
Whatever that idol be,
Help me to tear it from Your throne,
And worship only Thee!”
I would dearly love for every Catholic I know to watch this video, created by a former Catholic who came to know the false teachings and traditions of the RCC System, and the truth of God’s word. He heard the gospel of truth of salvation through Christ alone by faith alone, and was saved. The same I pray for every Catholic I know and love.
Amazing Fact: Tucked inside the microscopic nucleus of every cell in our bodies is a six-foot long strand of protein molecules, called DNA. The information contained within makes it possible for each parent to contribute one-and-a-half billion bits of genetic information to each of their offspring!
The DNA itself resembles a long, narrow, spiral ladder of pliable material. Before a cell is able to divide, the DNA must be “duplicated” so that each cell will have an original copy of the genetic code. As replication begins, an enzyme unwinds the spiral DNA ladder. Next, a protein molecule holds the two strands apart while another enzyme rapidly “transcribes” genetic code to RNA molecules. The code is then “proofread” and instantly corrected if an error is found. All of this happens in a matter of seconds! Finally, the RNA molecules exit the nucleus to begin communicating the genetic code to new cells.
As the RNA molecule takes critical information from the DNA and communicates it to the body, so Christ took the message of His Father’s love from the “nucleus” of heaven and communicated it to our planet. “For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me” (John 17:8). And now it is Christ’s desire that we do the work of the RNA! “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world” (John 17:18). While we cannot help what genetic heritage we have been given from our parents, we can accept God’s offer to be our Father and choose to be “born again.” Let us bring joy to the Father’s heart today, replicating the peace of heaven, by letting Christ transcribe the genetic code of heaven into our hearts!
“O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:25-26
from Amazing Facts
Image source: By Eukaryote_DNA.svg: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2
