devotion for august 11 the caboose

 The caboose.  As we approach a railroad crossing with lights flashing and cross bars down, we may be tempted to look both ways and zig zag through the intersection.  Perhaps other cars ahead of us did it.  Maybe we can too. But if we see the train is close, we had best reconsider crossing the tracks.  In life most people zig zag around getting right with God.  They are too busy. Or too comfortable living in sin.  They feel the Holy Spirit drawing them to be saved but say in their heart, “No. Not now.” John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.  For the majority who put off salvation I am afraid death eventually arrives, and it is too late to repent and be saved. Please don’t put off salvation when Jesus is calling you.  Back to the tracks.  As we wait for the train to pass, we anxiously look down the track to see if we can see the caboose.  Many trains these days don’t have a caboose because the conductor can’t see the whole train because it is so long or has such high cars. Some things change over the years. As we wait if we are the first car and look straight ahead, we may become somewhat dizzy.  It is best to sit back and not focus on that which disorientates us. When we see the caboose or last car, we can hardly wait for the train to pass and the cross bars to go up. Life rushes past us.  The world is full of Bible prophesy being fulfilled. Changes in weather and temperature. Wars. Earthquakes. Rebellion against government and God. The spirit of Antichrist becoming more and more prominent as Jesus allows the world to welcome for a false messiah.  2 Thessalonians 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. Jesus is slowly opening the faucet of damnation more and more. Someday Jesus will step out of the way and let deception and lies flood the world. Most of the world will welcome the “man of peace.”  One world government. One monetary system.  One Godless religion.  Then when Antichrist commits the Abomination of Desolation many people will realize they have been deceived and run for their lives.  What a terrible time is coming.  Christian, look for the caboose.  The catching up of God’s children into Heaven is drawing near.  Don’t get focused on the passing train.  Patiently maintain your service to the Lord until the trumpet sounds and the roll is called up yonder. I believe the caboose is close.  Be faithful till you graduate.   
   

 Change of clothes.  Our church sheltered about 20 people after a hurricane. We were pleased to serve our Lord and our community.  Matthew 25:34-40 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. There is great joy in serving Jesus.  One of our temporary residents repented of his sins and asked Jesus to save him. He joined our church.  I explained to him that I would baptize him the next Sunday.  Apparently, I didn’t make myself clear.  When I picked him up the next Sunday, he did not have a change of clothes to put on after I baptized him.  I reminded him he needed a dry set of clothes to wear after the baptism. He got out of the car and went into his house. When he returned he had changed clothes but he still didn’t have a change of clothes.  I asked him about a change of clothes, and it dawned on him I intended to dunk him under water.  “Oh no.  I am afraid of water. I don’t want you to put my head below the water.”  Well……  I explained that he did not have to be baptized however he would not be a voting member of the church until he was baptized.  Then it dawned on me. He thought I told him to go change clothes as if to say what you are wearing is not good enough.  How bad I felt.  He had dressed perfectly well to come to church.  I hope he understands I was not criticizing his clothes.  In reality, I don’t care about the clothes someone wears.  Please come to church dressed decently but don’t worry about being “dressed up enough.”  Many people use lack of nice clothes as an excuse to not come to church.  That dog don’t hunt. I can assure you most lepers who came to Jesus were dressed in rags.  All Jesus cared about was having compassion on people and saving those who repented of their sins. Please make everyone feel welcome in God’s house.  Jesus welcomes them. So should we.   

I see you. My father’s job as an insurance adjuster occasionally took him out of town. Sometimes mother would go with him. At one café where they stopped to eat they ordered and then went to the restrooms. This restroom had a wall separating the men’s side from the women’s; however, the wall did not go all the way to the ceiling. There was an opening of perhaps a foot at the top. You could hear the person on the other side of the wall. My mother decided to play a trick on my father. She stepped up on the toilet, put her head close to the opening and sang, “I see you. I see you.” She thought dad would get a real kick out of that. She returned to the table to see dad sitting there. He was waiting his turn to go into the men’s room. That story may tell you a lot about me. I see you. Video cameras observing us have become very popular. Each day more cameras are installed in and around buildings, parking lots, street corners, car interiors and exteriors. Even camera doorbells where we can see on our watch who is at our door. We observe Bible prophesy fulfilled. Daniel 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. I see you. A person on suicide watch in a cell is monitored every second of the day. That is an uncomfortable feeling. No privacy. And in the free world more and more cameras are hidden in motel rooms and bed and breakfast rooms. Is anywhere safe? Of course we should realize the eyes of the Lord see everywhere. Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. It must break His heart to see the ungodliness that goes on down here. There comes a time when God says, “Enough is enough.” Remember the flood? Remember Sodom and Gomorrah? God’s recorder is recording all things and someday will be played back for all to see. Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. On my word processor I can highlight a sentence and hit “delete” and it disappears. Praise God in real life I can repent, confess my sin and ask Jesus to forgive me, and He deletes it. Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; I try to resist sin, but sometimes I fail. Several times a day I list my sin and ask the Lord to forgive me. I want the slate to be clean when I check out. The blood of Jesus washes away our sins. Are you washed in the blood?

 Two witnesses.  In the future God will send two witnesses to a Christian less world to preach the Gospel. The world will be Christian less because the Christians will all depart to Heaven at the same time. Dead Christians in the grave will burst out of the grave. Living Christians will be caught up with them and all of them will take a trip to Heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.Only lost people will remain on the earth. Jesus loves them and invites them to repent and be saved. Jesus will send two unkillable witnesses who will preach repentance 3 ½ years. People will try to kill them. Fire will come from their mouths to kill their opponents. Revelation 11:5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. When their assignment is complete God will allow them to be killed. Their bodies will lie in the street in Jerusalem for 3 ½ days. People will rejoice and exchange gifts celebrating their death. Revelation 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. How did these two prophets torment the people?  They told them they were sinners, and that Jesus loves them and they need to repent and receive Him or face terrible consequences.  Many people today hate those who love them in Jesus and try to show them the way to the truth. After 3 ½ days God will breathe life back into them. They will stand up and in the sight of the entire world watching through modern day technology they will ascend up into Heaven. Revelation 11:12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.Born again Christians love you. We don’t mean to torment you. We are sheep who have found green pasture and springs of clear living water. We want you to come with us to Heaven. Will you repent and receive Jesus? John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 

 Unexpected temptation.  In 1980 I managed a Cable TV system. My boss gave me permission to record and play a Bible study on the community access channel.  My wife and I produced a 30-minute program with one of us singing a special and then me teaching the Bible. As I put the program together and got ready to play it over the cable system for the first time, I was expecting Satan to attack me. The temptation I was expecting was something like, “Look at you!  You are on TV. Big preacher now. You are really something. God is so proud of you.” I was prepared to meet that temptation head on and confess that I am a nobody and by God’s grace He saved me. He called me. He equipped me. He has enabled me to begin this new ministry. I am a nobody and I was determined to remain humble and resist pride. But Satan snuck up behind me and hit me with an unexpected temptation.  It was: “Look at you.  Who do you think you are? Wasting people’s time. That is if anyone is watching.  Shame on you.  People have plenty of good preachers to watch.  Do you think you are worth watching?”  Wow. I didn’t expect that. That temptation really floored me. All I could say was, “No I don’t consider myself a great preacher. No, I am not trying to become popular. I am being obedient to the Heavenly vision the Lord has put on my heart. Whether anyone or no one is watching is not my concern. Jesus told me to take advantage of this opportunity and I have been faithful.” Satan has been around longer than you or I. He knows the tricks of his trade. He hits us at our weakest points. You and I cannot stand in our own power against him. However, Jesus lives in the heart of the believer and His power is much greater than Satan’s power. 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.The power that created Heaven and earth, animal and man lives within the born-again Christian.  We in ourselves are helpless and nothing.  However, with Jesus in our heart He can do anything. Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.Christian, please read your Bible daily. Pray. Yield your will to His will.  Seek His face. Live a holy life. Be faithful to your Bible teaching church. Don’t be concerned about vanity or fame. Don’t seek riches.  Seek God’s will. Let Him flow through you. Live the Christian adventure to it’s fullest.  Enjoy the ride. Bumps and all.   

 The five-dollar bill.  Years ago, my grandson walked to the store. On his way back he realized he had dropped a five-dollar bill.  Slowly searching the shoulder and grass he made his way back towards the store.  A car passed him.  Slowly the person in the car edged along looking for whatever my grandson was looking for. Then she stopped the car. Got out. Picked up the money, held it up looking at my grandson with a big smile on her face, got back in his car and sped away. My grandson was deeply hurt.  Selfishness.  We are born that way. When the newborn is uncomfortable, he tells the world he wants attention.  Many a baby has been killed by someone with a short temper.  We continue in life being selfish.  Take care of number one.  What’s in it for me?  Little do we realize our lives are being recorded. Someday the recording will be played back. Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.Every last one of us have things we are ashamed of.  What a horrible day that will be when all of our sins are brought to light.  Fortunately for us in Jesus we can have our sins forgiven. Isaiah 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. We cannot erase that record of our sins, but the blood of Jesus can. Acts 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;The ledger has been wiped clean for those who repent and ask Jesus to save them. Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; What a joy to be born again.  Then we change. The love of Jesus grows within us and we become like Him. This is a lifelong process, and we stumble and fall but we become less and less selfish. Jesus was so unselfish that He let our sins kill Him. The just for the unjust. 1 Peter 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:The Spirit of God brought Jesus back to life. That same Spirit in our hearts changes us from selfishness to Christlikeness. Don’t be discouraged.  Hang in there. None of us have arrived yet.  But in time we shall behold Him.  Do others see Jesus in you yet? 

 Cloud of witnesses.  Can people in Heaven see us?  Why would they want to?  How disappointed they would be. I cringe to think my parents see my every move.  My inconsistences. Moments of giving in to temptation. Of course, Jesus sees all. He is more important than my parents seeing.  That is why I must repent many times over and over because I am so vile. Thank God for His grace and faithfulness. I certainly don’t deserve to be saved. And preserved. Jude 1:1  Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: The author of Hebrews makes some of us think the saints in Heaven can see us. Inspired by Jesus we read: Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,Can this cloud of witnesses see us? The previous chapter (Hebrews 11) gives us a list of faithful people who served the Lord. As we roll into chapter 12 it seems that possibly these witnesses in the clouds can see us. If so, how disappointed they must be. However, there are times when we make a spiritual “touch down” and how thrilled they must be as they cheer us on.  “Well,” someone says, “Heaven wouldn’t be Heaven if we see the evil on the earth.”  If they can see us, I believe they have a special understanding of the reality of our world. They see the evil invisible forces constantly tempting us which are invisible to us. And these forces don’t fight fair. Ephesians 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Scripture teaches us that Moses and Elijah knew what was happening on the earth. They were sent to minister to Jesus.Luke 9:30  And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31  Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.These two Godly men visited Jesus on the mountain. They knew He was going into Jerusalem to be executed. Another instance of people in Heaven knowing what is happening on earth is: Revelation 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?These Christians killed during the coming tribulation will know that those who killed them have not been punished yet.  The one thing we can definitely conclude is that the Lord sees us and keeps records of what we do. That should motivate us to live holy and dedicated to the Lord.   
 
 

 Mt Pisgah. A hymn we enjoy singing is “Sweet Hour of Prayer.”  One verse says, “… Till, from Mouth Pisgah’s lofty height, I view my home and take my flight.” What does that verse mean?  It is written about Moses. At 80 years of age this murderer was called by God to deliver the children of God from their bondage in Egypt. He obeyed God for many years but in a moment of weakness he went against the Word of God and sinned. His sin cost him his ticket into the Promised Land. The Israelites needed water. God said: Exodus 17:6 thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. What a blessing. Water out of a rock in the desert.  Years later they needed water again. God said: Numbers 20:7-8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock…Because Moses was angry with the people he struck the rock. No water. He struck the rock a second time. In His mercy God gave them water. However, Moses was forbidden from going into the Promised Land. Those rocks represented Christ. Jesus would be struck once. From Him comes springs of living water. He will never be struck again. Numbers 20:12  And the LORDspake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. Next the Lord told Moses Deuteronomy 3:27  Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. Moses pleaded with the Lord to change his mind. Finally, the Lord answered Moses.  Deuteronomy 3:26  But the LORDwas wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORDsaid unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. The answer is “NO!”  Don’t ask me again. Later God killed Moses and Michael the archangel buried him. However, centuries later Moses left Heaven to minister to Jesus on a mountain in the Promised Land. Luke 9:30-31 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31  Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.Moses lost his reward of leading the Israelites across the Jordon River into the Promised Land. But he did not lose his salvation. And later after his death he did stand in the Promised Land. And he shall stand there again when Jesus is King of Kings. Will you be there? 

 Unanswered Prayer.  Ezekiel 8:18  Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. Christians have power in their prayers. James 5:16 …The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.Adopted into the family of God we have a special place in the heart of God.  All people are invited into the family.  Most will ignore the invitation.  Those in the family have no bragging rights. Mercy saves us. Mercy keeps us.  Lamentations 3:22  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.You may hear your neighbor’s child’s request, but his request does not carry the weight of your own child. God hears all prayers. Sees all actions. Knows all thoughts. But the first prayer God is obligated to answer is: Luke 18:13 …God be merciful to me a sinner. The Lord told Ezekiel the people will cry unto Him, but He will not hear them because of their rebellion. When caught many transgressors are sorry and promise to be obedient to the law. But most are sorry they got caught. Not sorry they are sorry.  We are all sorry folk. When we realize how sorry we really are and we regret our sinfulness, there is hope for us. God sees your heart. Magic prayers don’t have power.  Words without heart felt repentance do not matter. Another reason God may not hear your prayer is dependent on how husbands treat their wife. 1 Peter 3:7   Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. If the husband-priest of his family is not treating his wife as he should, his prayers may become hindered. Jesus loved the church so much He died for her. So should the husband love his wife. Ephesians 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;Would you die to protect your wife? Another reason our prayers are unanswered is when we pray outside His will. 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: Contrary to popular preaching Jesus is not our magic genie in a bottle waiting to grant our every wish.  If you pray outside His will, He will not answer you. Our prayer should be: Matthew 26:42 thy will be done.
 

 Restart. On my windows computer I have several options when I am finished for a while. They are “Sleep”, “Shut down” and “Restart.”  Logic would tell me if I want to shut it down and let it completely reset I should select “Shut down.” But the reality is to completely close all programs I need to select “Restart.”  But if I restart it, I will have to shut it down again.  Then if I restart it, I will have to shut it down again. It seems that selecting “Shut down” would shut the device down and close all programs. But it doesn’t work that way. Logic.  Sometimes being logical can get us in trouble. Logic tells me in order to get God’s attention I must do something worthy of His attention. Fund a new water well in Africa. Donate to an orphanage. Give money to the church. Work as a volunteer helping others.  My kind and selfless actions will draw the praise of those working with me. Surely God will be pleased too. But no, God is not impressed with our good deeds. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.If logical action does not get us into Heaven, does illogical action get us there? Yes. What? What is illogical that gets us into Heaven? It is illogical that God would send His sinless Son to die for us and rise again to save us. How does that work? What kind of work do we have to do to earn his grace?  We must realize we cannot save ourselves. Salvation is a gift. Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The wages I have earned by being a sinner is death. That death sends me to hell, a place of endless torment and anguish. Mark 9:44   Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. A fantasy to some. A reality to billions upon billions.  Once there, there is no escape. Except to leave the flames to kneel before Jesus and hear the words, Matthew 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:It is not logical Jesus would pay my debt. It is not logical that I don’t have to work to be saved. I simply fall before Him and plead for mercy.  We cannot do that unless God’s Spirit is breaking our heart and we are truly sorry we are truly sorry. Is He speaking to your heart? Don’t look to logic. Look to the one who died on the cross in faith and accept His gift of salvation.