False righteousness and true righteousness. Personal Reflection. Edited and expanded

Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon

Jesus, talking about the righteousness of the Pharisees: 

"For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.

 

How can we exceed the Pharisees´ righteousness? Jesus here I believe is using irony.   

The only righteousness the Pharisees had was self-righteousness. Is that what Jesus meant? That we should try to surpass their performing to the minute detail their more than three hundred commands and ordinances.  Of course not.

What could we do to exceed their own righteousness? Nothing. It would be futile and useless to even try.

Our first parents Adam and Eve tried to hide themselves and their shame by covering their nakedness with fig tree leaves that had to be replaced over and over like the works of the Pharisees. What was the remedy provided by the Father/Creator? A hide from an animal sacrifice, a type of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for the remission of sin would be enough to cover the sin of disobedience, desire for self-sufficiency, forbidden wisdom and the subsequent shame they felt.

"Their webs will not become clothing, Nor will they cover themselves with their works; Their works are works of iniquity, And an act of violence is in their hands." Isaiah 59:6

 

For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Isaiah 64:6.

 

The works that the Pharisees covered their nakedness with are like the figs leaves of the tree of Israel that produced useless leaves and no fruit worthy of repentance and no faith in Jesus Christ.

 

See Matthew 21:19: Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He(the Lord Jesus) came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, "No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you." And at once the fig tree withered.

At this point, let me interject something about flowers. The Bible talks about seeds, trees, roots, branches, leaves and flowers. But what about flowers? They are beautiful, colorful, fragrant and some are even edible. They fill our life and our house with pleasure.  To join our gratitude and humility to their awe-inspiring qualities we have to recognize the creative hand of our Creator/God that created everything that was good to add a measure of pleasure to the beautiful earth that he created as our temporary home. 

  

To me, flowers represent the fading beauty of the artistic creations of man in all its forms such as painting, music, poetry reflecting the talents given to us by God. Such artistic abilities can be perverted and turn into nightmarish representation of the tormented psyches of man without God or in rebellion against God´s sovereignty. 

One example comes to mind, Alexander Scriabin, a famous and talented Russian pianist and composer (1872-1915) was influenced with mysticism, theosophy and was a delusional, megalomaniac who met a tragic end by suicide, drowning in a river.  Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22357678

 

The creation is in constant flux. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8. 

And so it is: the flower must die in order to leave room for the fruit to appear, grow and provide food. Holding on the fleeting beauty of the ephemeral flowers, the beauty of creation for one´s own selfish pleasure without recognizing and honoring the source in the God of love is like keeping a song bird in a cage or retaining flowing water in a stagnant pool. We cannot selfishly and endlessly hold on to passing life and beauty. For a poem I wrote a few years ago, about God´s garden, flowers and fruits, click on the link: https://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2017/08/what-lies-beyond-door.html

In I Corinthians 13 Paul declares: But now faith, hope, loves, abide these three; but the ^[f]greatest of these is love.

So let us cultivate and hold on to faith, hope, remembering that love is the ultimate fruit that God grows in us for his purpose and that as I John 4:19 states: “We love because He (Jesus) first loved us”.

The leaves could not cover Adam and Eve, the works the Pharisees perform could not cover them and following their teachings without faith resulted in the putting aside of Israel until the end of the time of the Gentiles in which we are living now. 

What Jesus wanted from the Jews is faith in the living Savior that walked among them, not the dead works that did not please him. What He wants from us when we are seeking salvation is the same thing: faith in His saving power and abandoning any hope of saving ourselves by our good deeds.

John  6:28-29 states:

Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” ²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent; and further in verse 40:  For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

How could it be clearer than that?

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Here is an excerpt from the last chapter of an allegory I wrote a few years ago: To read the whole story click Here: http://thelightseed.blogspot.com.br/2011/02/joshua-tree-desert-parable.html

The Tree of Life

Theophilus woke up, with tears of joy flowing from his eyes. He was watching an unforgettable scene.
There, in front of him, stood up a Joshua tree, majestic and radiant that bore an uncanny resemblance with the man from his dream whose blood had saved his life. He fell down, prostrate on his face against the hot desert sand. He knew without the shadow of a doubt that he was in the presence of the Master of the Joshua Trees. He didn’t dare move from his position such was the power emanating from the glorious appearance. An indescribable ripple of fear coursed through his being.

"Rise, Theophilus and look at me." The commanding tone of voice was enough to make him obey. He was reluctant at first to lift his gaze directly into the eyes of the Master. Lifting his head up slowly, he saw the pierced feet, then, the pierced wrists. He gathered enough courage to focus on the chest where a scarlet wound in the shape of the tip of a lance or the eye of a needle remained from a cruel wound.
  
"Don’t be afraid, look at me. I am Yeshua, the Master of the Joshua Trees. What is your quest? Why do you want to meet me?"
 
While the Master was asking these questions, his eyes whispered softly words Theophilus never heard before, words of love that penetrated deep in his heart.

"Master, I am looking for the desert exit door. Your trees told me that you possess the keys and that a word from you can set the captives free, can give sight to the blind, make a poor man rich, and heal the afflicted. You can also give knowledge to the ignorant who think they are wise, and you can clothe with your pardon and righteousness the nakedness which I try to cover with my religion and good deeds."
 
'It’s true. But you have too big a notion of yourself to be able to go through this door. First, you must answer a few questions."

"Yes, master, as you wish."
 
"What is your name? Who are you?"
 
"Well, before, they called me Theophilus, but I will accept whatever name you wish to call me. "
 
"Where do you come from?"
 
"From the land of deadly illusions and appearances, a world filled with violence and deception."
  
"Well said! Are you rich, or do you intend to be?"

"Well, before now, I had credit cards, bank accounts, a good and profitable business, cars, a beautiful house, but all that didn’t help me very much. To tell you the truth, I will accept whatever you want to give me."

After these answers, Theophilus was feeling his body shrink little by little. What a strange sensation!

The Master continued:
"What about your reputation?"
 
"Alas, people looked at the appearances. But I can see that you know me and I desire to become what you want me to be."
 
"What do you hope to gain from me?"
 
"Freedom from the chains that keep me tied up and hinders my walk, understanding truth and knowing which way to go."
 
"Good, I can do that for you. But what will do once you are free if I give you the key to the door?"
 
"Master, I want to belong to you and serve you, for you are the one who saved and healed me."

Each of Theophilus’ responses was followed by a change in his size until at last, the Master's stature appeared gigantic in comparison without overwhelming him. Then, the Master bent forward and catching him tenderly in the palm of his right hand, he lifted Theophilus up to his chest and hugged him close against the wound shaped like the tip of a lance or the eye of a big needle.

On his way up, Theophilus was helplessly watching on the screen of his memory the video from his first meeting with the touchstone at the crossroad of his destiny, the first step of stairway which led to the royal capital of the heavenly kingdom, illumined by the eternal light of the Master.  He possessed a law of gravity defying lightness, with no desire to resist the attraction propelling him towards a universe of unconditional freedom. Being transported on this celestial stairway, this bridge between two worlds without any effort on his part, he was about to enter a territory invisible to the human eye and yet so real.

Instantly, going through the open door at a breathtaking speed, Theophilus found himself standing on the desert floor that he had just left.
 
"Welcome to the kingdom, announced the Master in a warm tone of voice. Open your eyes and look at yourself."

His eyes opened by the voice of his Master, Theophilus looked at his legs, his trunk, his arms and discovered that he had turned into a Joshua tree with soft scars in the place of the usual armor of thorns. Yeshua spoke to him solemnly: 
 
"From now on your name will be Joshua Theophilus O’Call because I called you to my service and you responded with good will."

Tears of joy mixed with gratitude flowing from his eyes, Theophilus answered:
 
"Master, where do you want me to serve you?"
 
"Right here in the desert to guide those who have lost their way or those who have wandered from the way of truth and need help in finding me."
 
"Yes, Master. But I have a question. How do your trees find food and drink? There is nothing but sand in the desert."

Yeshua touched his eyes and now he could very clearly watch a fantastic scene through the desert floor as if it was made of transparent crystal. From the feet of the Master, roots full of a sap that resembled light amber honey extended all the way under the feet of the Joshua trees and fed them constantly night and day.
 
"Please, Master, what do you want me to call you?"
 
"Call me Lord Jesus, for I am both Savior and King."

"Lord, I can see the trees, the roots, the leaves and the cactus flowers, but where are the fruits?"

"Every time one of my servants extended to you love, kindness, goodness, patience, they shared their fruits with you. When 

you enjoyed their light, their protective and refreshing shade, their peace, their wise words of counsel, comfort or encouragement, those are the fruits that grow from the source of life that I give each one of them."

Read more: http://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2011/07/joshua-tree-desert-parable_15.html#ixzz3fLWh5vlf

Very Cautiously Optimistic

Reposted from servehiminthewaiting.com

By STLloyd November 9, 2016 America blessings faith Politics

I’ve not been doing much writing for the past few months.  My voice is not what people needed.  I have probably posted more, but I have spend a lot less time doing it.  When I pray consistently and fervently about something, often God will eventually give me a release in my Spirit when that lets me know that my petition has been duly registered, and an answer has been dispatched.  Notice I did not say, He lets me know the answer, just that an answer is determined and will be forthcoming in His time.  I am not boasting when I say that I have spent a very significant amount of time petitioning the Lord on behalf of America for the past eight years.

I have Christian acquaintances and friends who, that I know of, do not feel that burden to pray for this nation, and instead they still cling to a belief in some invincibility they persist in attributing to this nation  Those same people will never know the magnitude of the “bullet” we just dodged.

My hope is that Donald Trump will do all he can to fulfill the promises he has made.  A businessman who is as successful as he is, doesn’t get there by failing to follow through.  He obviously has been “teachable” in listening to his advisers, and reigning in his loose cannon tendencies.  These are all good signs.

But make no mistake.  It was prayer, and God’s grace and mercy, which He prefers to extend whenever we exhibit the willingness to appeal to Him, that painted the map red last night.

I stayed up until they called it for Trump. After three a.m.  I wasn’t about to go to bed, only to wake up and see some craziness during the wee hours had snatched away the victory, and I certainly wanted to say thank you to the Lord for His mercy. I posted a video late last night before the announcement of Trumps win, that asserted the videos by Steve Piecznik were all just Psy-0ps, an attempt to mislead the vigilant and encourage them to let down their guard.  Don’t worry, it was a coup, but we’ve handled it now, so put your guns away.

Frankly, I have no idea whether it was true nor what the truth is behind so much of the filthy revelations via Wikileaks regarding Hillary.  I can tell you one thing, though.  I listened to Tim Kaine in his speech before Hillary’s concession speech.  And he is clearly as delusional as ever, as are those who sat in the audience and cried because Hillary did not win. Kaine praised Hillary’s devotion to “families and children”!  And Hillary kept right on lying when it was her turn to speak talking about how important it is that people be able to practice their religion.  All except for Christians, of course!.  Kaine used an example out of the New Testament about the vineyard owner who hired people at the last minute and paid them the same as the workers who had worked the full day. He compared Hillary to that Vineyard owner.  Who, by the way, is a “type” or metaphor for God Himself, in the way that He is generous and more than fair with us.  The irony is utterly lost on Kaine, Hillary, and all of those in the audience shouting their love to her and vowing to “keep fighting”..

Make no mistake.  This is merely a reprieve.  There is still a lot of praying to be done.  People who go to Washington end up part of the establishment eventually.  I do not expect there to be a lot of reversal of what Obama has done.  It is not the death of globalism as Ann Coulter claims.  We know this, because we look at these developments through the lens of Bible Prophecy.  The pendulum swings, and the arc may seem to go slowly, but only because it is so wide.  The wide swings may ultimately delay the inevitable just a little while, but the extremes, as we have seen these past four years, are getting lethal.  The sheer number of bizarre things that took place in these past eight years are unequivocally indicators of our having gone somewhere we as a world, we have never been previously.

But I am grateful for what feels like a moment to catch my breath, aren’t you?  I cannot imagine what the candidates feel that moment the results are verified.  Despite what any of us thinks of Hillary or Trump, the demands of the appearance schedule, the pressures and the attacks, even if things that are true, wrong, and criminally wrong, this  being exposed  all of that has to add up to exhaustion! I believe both sides were supernaturally sustained.  God allowed it.  Whether friends and associates of Hillary, or she herself were performing Spirit Cooking Rituals, incantations, calling up hoards of demons, participating in pedophilia,  God  allowed the curtain to be lifted and this glimpse into the “sausage-making procedure” of 21st Century politics in the battle of the Elites vs the rest of us, and I think it proves that Americans are not nearly as impervious nor as apathetic about the creep of immorality and debauchery and lawlessness, as television, Hollywood, Washington, and the devil himself, would like us to believe we are. Knowing or even wondering if Hillary was into pedophelia, and things demonic, apparently was deemed creepy enough by enough people, to sway them to go vote for Trump.  It’s a good sign that there is a discernable pulse of conscience left but lets not get carried away.  We all posses a dangerous (deadly) sin nature. Anyone who thinks to themselves, “I would never do anything as sick as that!”, better be careful.  If you believe that, you are exactly the person who has not yet grasped the concept of total depravity.  In us, that is in this flesh, dwells NO Good Thing!

Now, calling a spade a spade, as per the example of our illustrious new POTUS-elect, White America has been vilified.  Especially non college-educated whites, and especially white males.  I really hope that some of the rats will crawl back into their holes and just stay there for a while.  We have established a new standard, and even the rats seem to be behaving a little better today.   I don’t think many blacks are the haters some whites have made them out to be, and neither are whites the haters some blacks have made them out to be.  I think there is a hesitancy though, a guardedness, until we can figure out which way the wind blows when we meet someone who is different from ourselves. This black/white divide,  was a paradigm purposely resuscitated by the Obama administration and globalists.
Isn’t it also interesting how Glenn Beck was so prominent in the tea party days, and then after the Tea Party was co-opted, he became such a moderate and then a total anti-Trumper?

I believe God turned some lights back on in America last night.  A lot of people didn’t even know how badly they have been stumbling around in the dark.
God is the one who sets people up. As to Beck, God used a Mormon, not because he was a Mormon, but I feel that Glenn Beck really did a service to this nation in reminding us of our history, and filling in the huge gaps for those who never were taught history in the more recent generations.

God sets up rulers, and He takes them down. We did get the leader the nation, on the whole, wanted in Obama these last nearly eight years.  We are still on the same trajectory to prophetic fulfillment in relation to Israel and other nations of the Middle East.  Israel is still God’s time clock.  And Obama still has many weeks in which to lay the final groundwork for the next developments over there.  America will not instantaneously recover the influence and power she once had.  What we have possibly done, though, is slowed down the deconstruction of America, preserved a chance of retaining some religious liberty, reaffirmed the Constitution, and firmly established that there are enough people who are not on board with enough of the current administrations policies that they were simply not going to sit home and stay silent.

The map was red, ya’ll!  Not purple, not blue, Red with little patches of blue.  Even now, I don’t believe the report that Hillary won the popular vote.  But to quote herself, what difference, at this point, does it make?

I am pleased that there were no riots, no cities on fire.  I know that there were people who have dual citizenship, who viewed this election important enough to register and absentee-vote.  There probably were a significant number who voted illegally, voted multiple times, and there were probably areas where machines were rigged.  But none of that is an obstacle to God.

I also figured that even among Virginia’s criminals with their newly-restored voting privileges, and America’s Hispanics and Latinos whom the left assumed were  “in the bag” for Hillary, there were plenty of people who saw this as their best chance to “stick it to the man” or assert their autonomy by voting Donald Trump.

You know how God has judged man through the ages by the degree of the dispensation of revelation about Himself of their age?  He gave Adam and Eve perfection, and one singular temptation.  They sinned.  He gave the law, we broke it.  Right now, we are under grace, but we have surely progressed beyond Sodom and Gomorrah, and the time of Noah, yet because it is the age of grace, His cup of wrath has not yet run over.  Even during the reign of Christ, scripture tells us Christ will rule with a rod of iron, where the slightest move into or toward sin, will be nipped in the bud instantaneously without hesitation.

I sort of get the feeling this is what God is doing in America.  Proving us to ourselves for the faithless people we are.  9/11 seemed like a wake up call, but it wasn’t.  And few people will ever know the bullet we may just have dodged here in America.  So, we slowed the hemorrhage, but it is far from over.

Watchmen cannot afford to let down the guard now.  This is for you guys, and was sent by fellow blogger Jean-Louis who has frequently contributed here.

A personal perspective on blog writing and discouragement in the process
Written by Jean-Louis, circa August 2010

This is what I am supposed to do even though the reward will come later at the time of God´s own choosing.

Things, people change, circumstances and landscape will certainly change as the seasons of the year , but the gifts that God gave us remain.

It needs to be practiced, improved and even refined through difficult discipline and constant reach for excellence even though I can´t see the face, hear the voice of my readers and count on positive feedback through comments and critiques except from a few faithful and grateful friends who support me through prayer and kind words.

Another more comforting thought came to mind. That my Lord Jesus, the master teacher could be pleased with my writing. After all, most of it is a commentary of a sort, not a critique, but a way of understanding explaining, elaborating first to myself with the Holy Spirit as guide and instructor the thoughts of God that come as the form of insights with the meditating upon His Word and then sharing with my readers.

This is my part in obeying God and thinking about the most pure, true, holy, excellent of good repute things that Paul talked about in Philippians.

Think of it: God allowing me to write commentaries, notes about His Word that I cherish as my most important treasure in my life and in this world and not being displeased.

It is like a little child that wants to know and understand the secrets of life and comes to His Father to ask questions. Then, as part of the conversation, He listens to what the Father has to say and as a way of letting his Father he understand, he tells him in his own words what he heard His Father say. How patient and gracious our Father is! How full of mercy and understanding He is with us!

It is like us saying Amen! A feedback of agreement and acquiescence amplified that we acknowledge and receive the revelation of who He is in and through His eternal Word, like finding that the puzzle is taking shape all along life´s learning as the Holy Spirit reveals His wisdom, His will and His ways to us.

It gives a sense of security, of being understood and heard without the preconceived notions, the prejudices that are so prevalent in human beings without all the limitations and rules imposed by well-intentioned people to judge and control others.

When we understand that our Lord Jesus is our very best friend, even if we feel abandoned or neglected by the ones we love and at times feel the weight of loneliness, His presence in us is a reminder of His comforting words to His disciples: I will never leave you alone. Peace and joy are ours, we are complete in Him, we lack nothing, we are rich even though we own nothing that we are not going to lose or leave behind one day. Our life is hidden in Him in the heavenlies.

Then, we are not anxious about whether people love us, appreciate us or approve of us. What matters is what our Father thinks of us, whether we obey Him, whether we seek to please Him and do what He commands , whether we preach His word, serve our fellow-man, wait for His return while busy at doing His work as He commanded and being grateful and praising Him, rejoicing in the knowledge that He  “will make known to us the path of life; and that In His presence is fullness of joy; In His right hand there are pleasures forever”,  Psalm 16:11(NASB).

.May God be blessed and glorified in America again!

Pandora´s box. A personal reflection on current events

Written and published by Jean-Louis. 

This morning a friend of mine posted this on  FB:
“He opened Pandora's Box through his bumbling "negotiations" and guess who is going to suffer the consequences...”
Kerry Acknowledges Iran ‘May’ Use Weapons Obtained Through Agreement to Kill Americans, Israelis

Secretary of State John Kerry conceded on Tuesday...

m.cnsnews.com
                                             ---------------------------------------------------

Here is my reply to her comment:

"Last week I woke up one morning with this thought in my mind:" Do not open a door that you cannot close".

Interesting, your image of Pandora´s box!

It could certainly apply to any of us on the spiritual level, but when it happens with  enough people in the nation, this is the result when at every level of society, men and women have tempered with the eternal laws of a just God and  reaped what they have sown for more than half a century".

Some grievous offenses:

·         In 1963, the Supreme Court ordered official prayer and Bible reading out of public school.

·         In 1969 In New York City, a door was opened during the riot at the StoneWall Inn, a homosexual bar, now the White House is lit with the rainbow flag.

·         In 1973, the Roe versus Wade door was opened, now we are eating the fruit of that tree, with the horrific display of the disgusting, repulsive display of the doctor discussing nonchalantly abortion procedures and filthy lucre during lunch without any sign of understanding of the gravity of the crimes committed against  God and the babies.

·         Later, the removal  of the 10 Commandments door was opened - some people might say it was shut - now a statue of Satan is erected in a public place.

At the same time, doors are opening in heaven from which the judgment of God has been and is coming. In Revelation 9:2 a door to the pit is opened and demonic creatures come out. Only the Lord Jesus can open doors that no one can shut and shut doors that no one can open.  I will entrust him with your authority, And he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open. Isaiah 22:21b-22.

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this”. Revelation 3:7

In the Old Testament, the LORD told us not to make alliances which are not his.

"Woe to the obstinate children," declares the LORD, "to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin" Isaiah 30:1
But is it not what the US and its allied European partners just did with the nuclear 'Treaty" they signed with Iran?
Connecting the Dots
In reference to the homosexual riots at the STONE WALL INN I find it interesting that Solomon had this to say about it in Ecclesiates 10:8: 
"He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall". What a coincidence!
The LORD throughout history has given us limits for our protection and well being. In spite of these warnings and God´s patience and mercy, in less than a century almost all the boundaries stones have been removed.

Talking about “STONE WALLS”

Commentary  Ecclesiastes 10:8 from Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
"He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it,.... This and the three following clauses are proverbial expressions, teaching men to be wise and cautious, lest by their conduct they bring mischief upon themselves; as it often is, the one that digs a pit for another, falls into it himself, as the wise man's father before him had observed, Psalm 7:15; as kings that lay snares for their people, and subjects that plot against their sovereign; or courtiers that form schemes for the rain of those that are in their way; or any man that devises mischief against another, frequently so it is, that the same befalls them; as Haman, who prepared a gallows for Mordecai, was hanged on it himself;

and whoso breaketh an hedge a serpent shall bite him; which often lies hid in fences, in old walls, and rotten hedges (s), Amos 5:19; so he that breaks down the hedges and fences of kingdoms and commonwealths, and breaks through the fundamental laws of a civil constitution, and especially that transgresses the laws of God, moral or civil, may expect to smart for it."
Jarchi interprets this hedge of the sayings of their wise men, which those that transgress shall suffer death by the hand of heaven: but it would be much better to apply it to the doctrines contained in the word of God, which are a hedge and fence to the church of God, and whoever transgress them will suffer for it; see 2 John 1:8; The Targum, by the "serpent", understands an ungodly king, who bites like a serpent, into whose hands such transgressors shall be delivered: and some have thought of the old serpent the devil, as Alshech, who deceived Adam and Eve."
(s) Nicander apud Bochart. Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 1. c. 4. Colossians 26.
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Several thousands years of experience are not enough to remove the evil and the foolishness from the heart of man.

What´s to be done?

In the meantime, while waiting for the Lord to come and take us home with Him,  we can warn people from the soon coming tribulation judgments that are going to engulf the earth  and proclaim that the only solution to our problem is the salvation of the Lord Jesus, the door to the kingdom and the One who has the key and opens the door to let us in.

When time was right, Noah entered the ark and the Lord God shut the door.

Something to ponder.