The Masochist Effect

Why do we continue to do things that hurt us? Are we born masochists? What got me thinking of this blog post was I love popcorn. I can eat a whole large bag of popcorn in one setting.  I had bought a new brand of kettle popcorn, it was a big bag.  I started to eat it and found that I really did not like the flavor, but I kept on eating it anyway, even when I could feel that I was full. I was thinking, "it's popcorn, I don't want to waste any." Afterwards, it left a funny taste in my mouth and an upset stomach.  I went to sleep but woke up in the middle of the night thinking to myself, "Why did I continue to eat that popcorn even though it did not taste good?"  Immediately, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, (not literally), "This is what sin is."  Satan loves to tempt us with our fleshly desires and they look and taste good.  All of Satan's weapons appeal to the three main problems that plague mankind-lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  You have only to turn on your TV set, cruise the magazine aisles/internet, go to a bar/restaurant, go through the rich neighborhoods, and any entertainment venue and you see the bought lies and temptations of the enemy on display.  The lie of the devil is summed up like this, "Satisfy your flesh and you will be happy."

 No where is the message more stated than in the clubs and bars around the world.  The neon/flashing lights, the dark atmosphere, the alcoholic drinks are so vividly displayed in various colors with adornments; everything looks 'cool' and 'free', and 'fun'.  "Drink, be merry, have a good time, there are no worries, live for today, do what feels good." But what's behind the bright lights and colorful cocktails is hidden, they don't display all the heart ache, pain, and suffering that comes with gratifying the flesh. "The wages of sin is death."  This truth is ignored and the lie is believed by so many as proven by the millions of addicts to drugs/alcohol, pornography, gambling, sex, food, lies, and money. If being rich and famous makes you happy, why are so many rich people killing themselves?  If taking God out of the schools, courts, and homes makes people happy, why is there a young girl or boy sexually/physically/emotionally/verbally abused every minute around the world? If following the worlds' recommendation for relationships (no need to marry, living together before marriage is good, monogamy is outdated-promiscuity is the way to go) works so well, Why is the divorce rate over 60%? Sexually transmitted diseases are an all time high? Millions of single men and women depressed and suicidal over breakups and feeling lonely or think they need can't survive without another person?

Drugs and alcohol are one of Satan's best tools for stealing souls.  "Take this, it will make you happy and feel good and take away all your problems." It seems like daily we get some new report about the epidemic of opiate abuse related deaths.  Why are young people who are born in the United States, Canada, countries that are supposedly rich and have every comfort known to man, taking substances that are killing themselves? What are they trying to escape from?

Why is America the land of the brave, the free, and the obese? There is a restaurant on nearly every block. There are reality shows on who can eat the most food. There are reality shows on food, cooking, cooking contests.  When you go to a restaurant your servings are four times a normal serving of food, and we eat the whole plate to include appetizers and desserts. Gluttony is now called, a "thyroid" problem.  Over eating is now called an, "impulse control" problem.
What ever the issue is-eating, drugs/alcohol/sexual immorality,  it all points to the same problem-sin. Living a sinful lifestyle is being enslaved to the darkness. A slave has no choice, they must obey their master and Satan is hard slave master.  He makes you eat the poison and when you throw it up he makes you eat the the vomit too.

As a counselor,I hear too often the desperate cries of the lost, they want to get off the roller coaster from hell, but they don't want to do it God's way. They want to stop doing the drugs, they even say they don't even like the drugs anymore but they can't stop; they don't like the way they make them feel, but they can't stop. They don't like the empty existence of just sleeping around with multiple partners, lonely, unloved, their bodies just used up like trash to be thrown away, but they can't stop; They want to stop gambling their life's savings, they don't like that they are homeless, they don't like that they are afraid, depressed, anxious, jealous, rejected, but they won't make the decisions they need to address their sinful lifestyles.  They don't understand what it means to be an enemy of God.  They basically want to learn how to be 'happy' living a life of sin.  They want the blessings of God but don't want to obey Him.

Unmarried couples living together, the girl is angry at her boyfriend for having sex with another girl. Why? They are not married, virtues like 'faithfulness, loyalty" don't come from the world.  The virtues of the world are survival of the fittest, there is no right or wrong, humans are just molecules, there is no such thing as monogamy. What they don't understand is that all humans are born with free will, the knowledge of good and evil.  Every human has a choice to accept or reject God. Every human is born with the capacity for good and evil. In relationships because we are born with knowledge of good, we expect our partners to be faithful, but this contradicts the worldly view.  What these people don't understand is they are wanting 1 Corinthian's 13 kind of love, but this kind of love is only for believers.  You are NOT going to get 'long suffering' 'unselfishness' 'bearing all things' in the world.  The world is selfish, self serving, self seeking.  It's perfectly normal to be unfaithful in ungodly relationships.  But they continue to engage in sinful relationships expecting different results, but end up with the same useless, unloving, hurtful engagements, they want to stop, but can't. Atheists believe you can have rules without God, but that does not any sense what so ever.  Either there are true right and wrongs or there aren't.

I will finish with the truth's of why we can't stop sinning without believing in God and His Son Jesus Christ:

• "For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, THAT THE LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD, AND MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL." Jesus's own words. John 3-17-19.
• Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, NOR CAN IT BE. Romans 8:7
• For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.  For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do...But I see another law in my members, warring against the law my mind, and bringing me into captivity  to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?  I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:14-25.

There is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to poured out on all the wicked and ungodly. The eyes of the unrepentant wicked need to be opened and the ears unplugged so they can see and hear the truth.  The Good News  is Salvation is a free gift from God, you can't work for it or buy because the price has already been paid with the Blood of Jesus Christ and  Believing in Jesus gets us into the Kingdom of God and saves us from the righteous wrath of God. But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessing from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW.
1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real, He lived and died and rose from the grave.
2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus.
3. Confess that Jesus is your Lord and God
4. Find a local Bible preaching church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ.
This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived.

Bible verses related to this post: Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:7; John 3-17-19; Romans 7:14-25
references: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fentanyl-bc-deaths-november-tally-622-so-far-2016-1.3901731

Throwing Stones

 Today the world of religion is completely divided. And there is no more divided religion than Christianity. Now true Christianity is not a religion, it's a relationship with the One and Only True God. I use the term religion just as comparison label for this post. What is astounding to me is today, when preachers and teachers go out into the streets and highways and the college campuses, that people who call themselves "Christians", say that they are wrong for telling people about hell and what sins send a person to hell. This phenomena is not new.  People in the dark have been 'throwing stones' at God's people since the beginning. Throwing stones is accusing someone of doing something wrong.  David, who was chosen to be king by God over Saul, was fleeing his son Absalom in 2 Samuel Chapter 16 when a man from the family of Saul named Bahurim, came out cursing and throwing stones at David and all his people, incorrectly accusing David of stealing the kingdom from Saul and that Davids's problems were because of this.  Bahurim's belief that David stole the kingdom was wrong, David did not steal the kingdom from Saul, God took it away from Saul due to Saul's disobedience.

 Another example of people throwing stones because of false beliefs is found in Acts Chapter 7.  Young Stephen who was filled with faith and power from the Holy Spirit, was boldly preaching before the high priests at the Synagogue of the Freedmen. Stephen spoke the truth and said starting at verse 51, "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just one, of who you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it." When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. (They were furious-just like those today who get enraged at the preaching of repentance from sins). But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" Then they cried out with a loud voice with one accord, and they cast him out of the city and STONED HIM. 

What brings to life the truth of the Bible is what I see happening today. Jesus and all the apostles warned of a coming apostasy.  Paul said that there would come a time that they-the lost- will not endure sound doctrine, "For a time will come (that's now) when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2 Timothy 4:3-4. We have this truth before our very eyes!!! Practicing homosexuals in the pulpits, practicing adulterous and sexually immoral teachers, preachers, leaders in the church, and the church members. What 'sound doctrine' are they not enduring?

• "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie." Revelation 21:14-15.

• "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. IT IS AN ABOMINATION." Leviticus 18:22. 

• "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which is due, and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness, they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful, who, knowing the righteous judgement of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." Romans 1-26:32. 

They will not tolerate the truth as evidence here in this picture, "cursing" these guys, "Homo sex is awesome".

I ask myself all the time, when I see on TV, like it did last night, on the news, a gay 'pastor' and his 'husband' talking about how 'God', wants them to help people; are they not reading the whole bible? What part of 'abomination' do they not understand? and the same goes for heterosexuals who have sex outside of marriage or commits any other sin. The bible is crystal clear that those who practice these things WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD!! The bible warns to not just be readers of the Word, but be DOERS of the word or else you DECEIVE yourself. Many show that they are doing this very thing. They go to church services every Sunday and Wednesday, but they live a wicked and immoral lifestyle. But they still believe they are going to heaven because they 'go to church'. Many who do not even go to church believe they are going to heaven, because 'everyone goes to heaven' no matter how they live. Many people do not think about the afterlife. They live like they are going to live forever in the state they are in. Many people are worried about the temporary pleasures of this life, but not what's going to happen to them when they die. Which is kind of crazy given it is an absolute guarantee that you will die some day. 



But today, those who tell these parts of the bible are derided by other's who say they are 'Christians'. "You are being judgmental, you can't tell people what to do, they are in control of their own lives" "God is a God of love, He doesn't send people to hell." Jesus gave His disciples the 'Great Commission". We are to GO into all the world, teaching them to observe all things He had commanded. Jesus taught about the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. Jesus talked about heaven and a very real and horrible place called hell.  Christians today are to talk about the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness, and we are to do so in and out of season. The truth is most definitely 'out of season' right now, but that does not change the duty of all those call themselves Christians.

Those who reject the truth have been throwing stones since God revealed His righteous laws. They throw literal stones and 'stones' of false beliefs.  They were going to stone Jesus when they heard something they didn't like in John 8:58-59.  Jesus said to them (the unbelieving Jews),"Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." Jesus is God in the flesh. They didn't like this, not only did they not like what He said, they wanted to kill Jesus for saying it. The Truth.  He came to die for our sins, He took our rightful place on the cruel cross of Calvary, to SAVE US FROM OUR SINS!  How can people know what they are being saved from if they don't know what sins are in the first place? and How can people know what is the purpose of getting 'saved' without talking about what they are being saved from?

To those who feel called to take the gospel to where it is needed most, the streets, the colleges, the highways and byways, and the communities, stand firm in the faith.  Let them who are perishing throw stones. If you are getting stones thrown at you, you are in good company, because all the true prophets of God had stones thrown at them, they were hated, and lied upon, they were ridiculed and persecuted.  And they were part of the minority.  Jesus said that FEW find the true gate and narrow road.  So don't be discouraged when you are alone, but understand that we are never alone, because our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is with us all ways, where ever we go. He will never leave us or forsake us.  They tried to keep our Savior locked down with a large stone, but no stone could hold our Savior, that stone was rolled away, He has risen and now we have a High Priest Who fights our battles and gives us power to remain true to His calling.

Tomorrow is not promised to any one.

There is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to poured out on all the wicked and ungodly. The eyes of the unrepentant wicked need to be opened and the ears unplugged so they can see and hear the truth.  The Good News  is Salvation is a free gift from God, you can't work for it or buy because the price has already been paid with the Blood of Jesus Christ. and  Believing in Jesus saves us from the righteous wrath of God. But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessing from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW.
1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real, He lived and died and rose from the grave.
2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus.
3. Confess that Jesus is your Lord and God
4. Find a local Bible preaching church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ.
This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived.

Bible verses related to this post: 2 Samuel 16:5-8; Acts Chapter 7; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Revelation 21:14-15; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-32; James 1:22; John 8:58-59; Matthew 7:14;
references: none