Grace and Works

We are saved by Grace, which is to say by God’s mercy, through faith in Jesus Christ.  We are not able to be righteous enough to earn our salvation by doing good in our own strength.  When we are saved, the Holy Spirit dwells within us enabling us to do the things that please God.

For the grace of God has appeared,  bringing salvation to all people,  instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age,  looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,  who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14 NASB)

 https://biblehub.com/nasb_/titus/2.htm 

For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.  But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,  whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  This statement is trustworthy; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. (Titus 3:3-8 NASB) 

https://biblehub.com/nasb_/titus/3.htm

All we have to do to receive this wonderful salvation is to believe in God the Son, Jesus Christ.  When we do, we become a new creation, able to live for God and do His will.  Please believe in Jesus and be saved today.

Our Mission

Some things are done for more than one reason.  Our primary reason for writing Lamp in a Corner is to tell people the Gospel (good news) about Jesus Christ.  We want to be used by Holy Spirit to help people find eternal life in Jesus, and to learn how to live in a way that pleases God.

We also provide information that will help others to view current events from a different perspective.  It is our desire that in doing so we might influence public opinion in some small way so that the United States of America will return to a path that is more consistent with the traditional values we have historically embraced.

In discussing secular current events, we endeavor to provide information tactfully, so that people do not reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ because they are offended by our opinions.  We want to inform, not to alienate.  At the same time, however, what we say must be honest and authentic.

As always, our foremost guide to faith and action is the Holy Bible.  We often research other sources to be certain that we provide correct information.

Please take a couple of minutes to read the passages of scripture below. They are examples of what guides us.  All Christians are called to follow these teachings. Please accept our thanks for sharing with us in God’s Word. 

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. 

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 NASB) 

https://biblehub.com/nasb_/matthew/5.htm 

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom:  Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.  They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 

But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. (2Timothy 4:1-5 NLT) 

https://biblehub.com/nlt/2_timothy/4.htm 

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18-20 NASB) 

https://biblehub.com/nasb_/matthew/28.htm

 

Is It As Predicted?

Recent Gallup polls show President Biden’s job approval among likely American voters to be slipping; from 55 percent in June to 43 percent six days ago.  About 53 percent think he is not doing a good job.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/354872/biden-approval-rating-hits-new-low-harris.aspx

It is a mistake to put too much stock in opinion polls.  Public opinion is fickle.  Those of us in the ‘loyal opposition’ (as the British say) who disagree with the President’s policies can, however, be modestly encouraged.  There may be hope for the voting public yet.  Perhaps, our fellow Americans will wise up, and Mr. Biden’s slow drift from the penthouse to the outhouse will continue – until there is a conservative in the Whitehouse.

Frankly, it amazes me that President Biden and Vice President Harris are doing as well in the polls as they are.  It is my opinion that their performance in office has been a catastrophe.

Concerns about the way things are going have prompted some people to wonder if we are in the prelude to the End-Time events prophesied in the Holy Bible.  The short answer is maybe … and maybe not.

It seems like there are as many opinions about when Christ will return as there are students of Bible prophesy.  ‘Imminence’ has always been Christian doctrine.  Clearly, the Apostles were looking for Jesus to return almost immediately. (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2, 1Peter 1:20, 2Peter 3:3, and 1John 2:18)

When this did not happen, scoffers began to chide the early Christians, and mock their beliefs.  They are still doing it today. Peter reminds us that God is from eternity to eternity. He does not regard time in the same way we do. If Jesus tarries, it is to give everyone who will come to Him the chance to do so.  (2Peter 3:8-9)

It has always been my belief that it is a mistake to try to predict the exact time when Jesus will return.  We know that He promised he would come back and take the Church out of the world to be with Him – an event Christians call ‘the Rapture.’ (John 14:1-3) He also commanded us to watch expectantly for His return, and to keep ourselves ready for it. (Matthew 25:1-13)  He said repeatedly, however, that He would come unexpectedly, and we would not know the day or the hour of His return. (Matthew 24:36, Matthew 24:44, Matthew 25:13, Mark 13:32)

Are we living in the time immediately before the Rapture?  Perhaps.  Certain signs are given to us in the Holy Bible that will help us to know what to look for before Jesus comes to take us home.  See if any of them sound familiar to you.

Jesus said:

“See that no one leads you astray.  For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.  And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (emphasis added) (Matthew 24:4-14 ESV)

 https://biblehub.com/esv/matthew/24.htm

 Paul said: 

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,  treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.  (2Timothy 3:1-5 ESV)

 https://biblehub.com/esv/2_timothy/3.htm

 Daniel tells us that: “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

(Daniel 12:4 ESV)

https://biblehub.com/esv/daniel/12.htm

God cannot lie. (Hebrews 6:18) Jesus was God living in a human body. (Colossians 1:15-20)  Jesus said He is coming back for us. I believe it, and that settles it. The Lord will reward those who eagerly watch for His appearing. (2Timothy 4:8)

Are you ready?

 

Territorial

Once upon a time we sort of inherited a Rottweiler.  He was a magnificent animal, with the long body and low center of gravity typical of the breed.  He weighed about 115 pounds and was muscular.  His neck was so big I had trouble finding a collar that fit.

He taught me a lot about dog handling.  You don’t get bossy with a dog like that.  He and I went to obedience school, and I learned to control him using positive reinforcement.  It worked pretty well, except that he developed the idea that he didn’t have to do what he was told unless there was a treat involved.

I have always made it a practice not to expose our dogs to herbicides until at least 24 hours after they are applied.  I use them sparingly in the backyard where the dogs are kept.

One day I decided to spray the weeds that were coming up in the cracks in the backyard sidewalk.  I put the Rottweiler in the house and closed the backdoor.  This was no dumb dog.  Unbeknownst to me, he had found a way to open the door by leaning his weight into it.

As I was spraying the weeds, I got the feeling that there was something following me.  I turned around to find the dog behind me peeing on all the places I had sprayed.  It was so funny.

I can testify that nobody came onto our property uninvited as long as we had that Rottweiler.  There were consequences.

Dogs are not the only ones who are territorial.  People are kind of like that, too.  We mark our borders with signs instead of our scent. We build fences and walls.  We patrol and set up checkpoints.  The message is, “Don’t come in without permission.”  In theory people who enter our country illegally will be subject to firm but fair consequences.  That is the way most nations around the world do business.

Hopefully, people are a little more “evolved” than dogs. We must use good judgement and compassion when dealing with the world’s “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

We must not lose control of our borders, however, as we have now.  The resultant chaos is more inhumane than closing the border and refusing people entry.  My thanks to the Biden Administration, and especially to Vice President Harris, for proving my point.

I am calling on Congress to create reasonable and enforceable immigration policies for the United States, and for the President to sign them into law.  Then, I am calling on the Executive and Judicial branches to enforce immigration law to the letter.

American citizens are being exposed to disease, the risk of terrorism, and economic hardship. The public safety has been compromised. Too many undocumented immigrants have suffered and died.  What will it take to get the federal government to do its job as provided under the U.S. Constitution?

 

 

To God be the Glory

 Like the wind blowing in a ship’s sails, the Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to tell us about who we are in Christ, and why:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he  predestined us for adoption to sonship  through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,  he  made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,  to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

In him we were also chosen,  having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,  in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.  And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,  who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.  (Ephesians 1:3-14 NIV)

https://biblehub.com/niv/ephesians/1.htm

Why it Won't go Away

At some time during our lives, most of us experience limitations.  They may be physical, mental, or emotional.  The problems may involve anything, including the tasks of daily living, upward mobility, social interaction, or aging.  Our quality of life may be adversely affected.  Our limitations may negatively affect the ones we love, or theirs may become a duty for us.

It is difficult to endure and persevere.  It is hard to watch while those dear to us go through it.

 We wonder, “Why me?”  Believers may take it to the Lord in prayer.  Often, God provides relief or complete deliverance.  Sometimes He says, “No.”  What do we do then?

In Paul’s case, he was tormented by an affliction (probably physical), due to Satanic attack.  He asked God for deliverance, but he did not receive it.  Paul had been spiritually blessed by the Lord in such wonderful ways that God allowed the condition to continue to keep him humble.  He comforted himself with the knowledge that his limitations would force him to rely on the power of God, which would cause that power to be revealed in all that Paul did.

…I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.  I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.  And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak…

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!  Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.  And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2Corinthians 12:1-4, 7-10 NASB)

https://biblehub.com/nasb_/2_corinthians/12.htm

We may not know why we are given tests to cope with, or the reason why when God does not remove them. We do know that He helps us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

 

Jesus Can Handle It

When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.  And behold, a violent storm developed on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.  And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!”  He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.  The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”  (Matthew 8:23-27 NASB)*

 Are you beleaguered by the storms of life?  Are you tormented by anxiety, fear, and worry?  Take your cares to the foot of the cross and pray.  God knows your needs before you ask.  He is waiting to hear from you.  Believe in Jesus and be saved.  His Grace will be sufficient to carry you through life’s storms. (2Corinthians 12:9)  Study His Word, and  He will give you peace. (John 14:27)

  

* https://biblehub.com/nasb_/matthew/8.htm