Who are you buying your Gold from?
This morning we all as a family were going to take our Tucker to
Pullman, Washington to start college.
Something happened during the night.
I was exhausted, which I am finding ramps up my anxiety level. When that happens I am weak and vulnerable to
spiritual, emotional, physical and mental gaps.
I feel like everything is so hard to accomplish and I have very little,
if any energy. It’s just little spike of
energy, then boom, like walking in quick sand.
I quite frankly don’t like that emotional state. That’s not the normal for our (my) abundant
life that Jesus said he has for his kids.
With that said, it does happen and by the grace of God and my proverbs
31 wife Camille. It’s out in the open
and not in the closet of life. Camille,
my helper, my best friend, my wonderful spouse who is so loving and kind has my
back. Camille has a way with words that
are soothing and reassuring. Think of it
as a “word hug.” Yep, I just made up a
new word for the Webster’s scribes.
Camille’s words just wraps them around my heart, mind and soul. I just feel better. I just feel better.
Isn’t that what Jesus does for us.
He makes us “just feel better.”
He makes all things new. He turns
our sorrows into joy. He trades beauty
for the ashes in our day/life. The mistakes,
regrets, poor decisions that were dead.
In the Lord’s eyes, he exchanged for beauty. That spirit of heaviness that makes it hard
for you to move. Jesus said, “Here is a
garment, a piece of clothing from my heavenly closet. I call it a garment of praise and
worship. That’s the clothing you wear
when you get anxious or things seem just rough, ok? I will let you have it forever. How does that sound? Good.
I just want you to feel better.” (Isa. 61:2-4)
No, I haven’t forgot how I started this letter. The trip to Pullman. Squirrel. J When the alarm went off at 6am, I got up and hit the
snooze button. You knew that was coming,
because, “Hey” you do that all the time. J Hopped back in bed and thought, “I am
exhausted, my throat is sore, ears with some fluid and my sinuses are
whacked. I need rest for my body, mind
and soul.” I leaned over and said to Camille, “Tuesday, can we go Tuesday to
Pullman and not today? I am
exhausted.” Camille responded, “Sure, no
problem. That’s big and thanks for
listening to God. It’s all good.” See what I mean, she just makes me (everyone)
feel better. So when Tucker came into
the room I said, “Tuesday.” He said,
“Okay.” Thank you Lord for your grace
and mercy.
Now I am spending time with Jesus.
It’s intentional and I want to spend time with the one who gave his
everything to me. Paul says in Romans
12:1-2, “I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice. Holy and
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Be not conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Shouldn’t it be reasonable to spend
time with Jesus? Yes, it should so
that’s what I am doing. It’s been about
30 minutes and my whole attitude has done a 360. Jesus just makes you feel better.
At Simple Church last night Pastor Anne opened up Revelation 3:14-23
and taught us the bread of life. How
rich with gold nuggets to place in our pockets as we go through our daily
walk. This is what I’ll be chewing and
digesting on for strength this morning.
Yummy, yummy for my tummy. (kjv modified version J)
I’m going to start in the middle of these verses, because that seems to
be the hot spot right now. John wrote
the words of the Lord and he says, “So I advise you to buy gold from me – gold
that has been purified by fire” (Revelation 3:18)
Dear Lord this is my written prayer to you that you will reveal to me
what you want me to see. My eyes get
clouded with the world’s cataract and I need your ointment for healing. So I may see with perfect vision. In Jesus name Amen.
Let’s break this passage down to see what the Lord has for me.
(us) The phrase I advise you stands
out. Why? Well, John is saying to the church at
Laodicea. I am advising you. This is heavenly advice, hear, and if I were
you, I would take this free advice and do what God is saying. Everyday people give us advice. Everyday.
Some advice good and some bad.
The media gives us advice and that’s pretty much bad. Sounds good, and tastes good, but it’s
lukewarm. In this day and age, we need
solid advice that is true and not fake.
Advice that is geared, driven for the right motives. So, if John is advising you and I that means
there is a choice. See, when someone
advises you at the end of the conversation we have to choose. We have to choose box A or B. Sign on the X or leave the pen at the table
and walk away. Question? What’s the choice in this advisory
situation? Gold, where are you going to
buy your gold from? Gold here represents
several things in life for you and me. For
me I hear the Lord saying life. The gold
here is my life and who will I choose to buy my gold from. Who will I pick to worship the rest of my
life? My life has value in God’s eyes
and he sees me as precious gold. The
best precious metal in the world. Hey,
heaven’s streets are of pure gold. If
God is and does have gold in heaven, that must be pretty good, right? You bet it’s awesome. John, the writer says that the gold has been
purified by fire. This gold has been
tested, validated for its authenticity and gets a Godly gold seal of
approval. Question? Why did John say that the gold has been
purified by fire? I believe that
because, remember we have a choice. Any
type of advisory situation there is a choice.
A contrast to the right hand, which would be the left hand. What hand will you pick scenario. I believe that traders in the rich trading,
commerce of Laodicea. Some of Laodicea had honest businessmen and dishonest
businessmen. Some shop owners who sold their goods deceived the customer and
gave them counterfeits. Falsified
certificates of authenticity and passed them as originals. John says, “I advise you buy God’s gold, and
not fool’s gold.” Question? Who would the fool’s gold represent? That would be the fool’s gold of the enemy,
Satan. The enemy comes to steal, kill
and destroy. But Jesus, but Jesus comes
to bring life and abundant life. (John 10:10)
The devil tempted Jesus 3x’s with fool’s gold and empty promises. Jesus came back with the word of God and body
slammed the enemy. When the enemy comes
we need to body slam him with the word of God like Jesus did.
In closing, here’s the question to ask ourselves. Who are you buying your gold from? Who are you going to sell your life to? Your life is gold and has cash value. How are you going to spend it? You only have one chance. You have heard both sides of the case. You have been advised to buy gold from
heaven’s storehouse or the world’s storehouse.
The world’s storehouse is a fraud.
It’s fake and the buyer is out to steal, kill and destroy your
life. Destroy your gold dreams and
desires. But Jesus, but Jesus gold is
from his dad’s unlimited heavenly
treasure chest of gold. It’s liquid gold
that brings eternal life. God’s love is
pure and tried by the fire. It’s the
real deal. The life pen is in your
hand. Where will you sign? As John said, “I advise you to buy gold from
me, gold that has been purified by fire.”
X__________________________________ X________________________
Heavenly Gold- (right hand) Fool’s
Gold- (left hand)
Thank you dear Lord for offering your gold. I choose to buy from you. I worship you and bow down before you in
awe. I love you with all my heart, mind,
body, soul and strength. In Jesus name. Amen.
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