Christ — the True VIne

Is This All?

(John MacDuff, “THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS” 1856)

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ — set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above — not on earthly things!” — Colossians 3:1-2

The history of six thousand years has given indisputable evidence of the insufficiency of all earthly objects to yield true and satisfying enjoyment. Man has needs — which no earthly riches can supply; he has soul diseases — which no human skill can cure; he has fears — which no mortal courage can quell; he has debts — which no finite resources can discharge; and he has miseries — which no earth-born sagacity can console.
In earthly things, to whatever extent they may be possessed, there is a lack of adaptation to yield real happiness. It is recorded of Caesar that he exclaimed when in possession of universal empire, “Is this all?” His expectations of happiness were not answered by the attainment of worldly things.

Reader, have you not often felt something similar to this? You may have set your heart upon some distant object; and oh! what sacrifices you made for its attainment! What self-denial did you undergo! At length, perhaps, the desire of your heart was granted you. But was it what you expected? Were you not, on the contrary, led to exclaim, in the language of the disappointed emperor, “Is this all?“

It is an absolute certainty, that the things of earth cannot satisfy the cravings of our immortal nature. Wealth, fame, learning, pleasure, domestic happiness — none of these things can do it. “Whoever drinks of these waters shall thirst again,” as the Savior declared to the Samaritan woman; “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst — but it shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life!”
But the things of earth, besides being unsatisfying in their nature — are, at best, transitory in their duration.

What are RICHES? Uncertain is the epithet which the pen of inspiration employs in describing them. “Will you set your eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven!” (Proverbs 23:5)
What is PLEASURE? Something that is only for a season.
What is WISDOM? More precious than rubies, if it is the wisdom which comes from above; but if it the wisdom of this world — it also is vanity, and will soon pass away.
What is FAME? Often a bubble, no sooner blown — than it bursts!
Yes, the earth itself is only temporary!

A Roman general, on one occasion, when elated by the splendors of a triumphal entrance into the imperial city, which had been awarded to him in honor of the victories he had won, exclaimed, “Ah, that it would continue!” But, alas! it did not continue. All the glittering pomp soon vanished! It floated away like a fleeting dream. And so with all earthly bliss — it will not, and cannot, continue. Had earthly things a character of abiding permanence belonging to them, men might with some semblance of reason, make them the fit objects of their desires and pursuits. Such a character, however, they do not possess. “The world with its lust is passing away!” “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” But, O blessed heavenly world! This fullness of joy; this unclouded vision of God and the Lamb; this sweet fellowship with saints and angels; this day without a night; this sky without a cloud; this sea without a ruffle; these ravishing melodies; this seraphic transport and exulting joy — they will continue — and that forever! “We have a priceless inheritance — pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay!” (1 Peter 1:4)

“O what folly, O what madness! That my thoughts should go astray, After toys and empty pleasures — Pleasures only of a day! This vain world, with all its trifles, Soon, alas! will be no more; There’s no object worth admiring, But the God whom I adore!”

A Brief Study on Sin (All Texts Straight from the Bible)

It is absolutely very obvious that we live in a sinful world. All the manifestations of sins are everywhere. There is no righteous, no not one. Every human being has been tainted by sin. In sin did our mothers conceive us. Surely, absolute justice will be given to us by God. There is no hope for us; only the Perfect Person—the God-man—the Lord Jesus Christ—He who paid the penalty of sin on the Cross of Calvary, can save us from the penalty of sin and the power of it.

We are so corrupted by sin, and we have sinned against the perfectly Holy, Just, and Righteous God. Even if an individual would weep tears as the volume of all the oceans, that will not be enough. Nothing can wash away our sins, only the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“If I should wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye, yet You would plunge me into the pit,  and my own clothes would abhor me.” – Job 9:30-31

 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” – Ephesians 1:7

Even people in  remote tribes, who are so far from civilizations knows this. They know that there exists the most Sovereign God, even though they did not have the complete knowledge of the YaHWeH of the Bible. They also know that there has to be an innocent sacrifice to cover their sins.

Repentance from sin and Trust in Christ is the only means of salvation for wretched sinners like us.

Sin is deadly! May God have mercy on us and deliver us from all evil.

Note: The first half of the video (0:00-11:22) deals on describing the nature, magnitude, effects, and cure of sin. The second part deals with sin in relation to Christians.  From 18:20 up to the last part, the video deals with the wicked.

Theological Differences

A Guide to Godly Disputation:

^“23But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, ²⁵ with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:22-26 NAS)

A Christian and Pride

Idols Difficult to Spot

It is an important thing to be reminded that even Christians have the tendency of making an idol. It could be something that looks good, and is in reality good, but if it makes a Christian look for this and have his/her joy on this rather than the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, this thing has then become an idol.

Be careful Christian what is it you are living for and what are the things you are doing.

So Much Time Thrown Away on These Elegant Trifles!

(J. A. James, “Christian Zeal“)
“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Eph. 5:16
There are three things which, if lost, can never be recovered–time, the soul, and an opportunity.
In order to be useful, it is necessary to cultivate habits of order, punctuality, and the right employment of time.
There is no doing good without the proper use of time.
Two things cannot be done at once. Benevolent service requires time. And how much time is wasted, which the miseries and needs of society require! “Redeem the time!” is a warning that should ever be sounding in our ears!
We need time for the improvement of our own souls–and we need it for the good of others. We can do much with a proper use of time–and nothing without it. There is scarcely anything to which the injunction of our Lord more strictly applies than to time–“Gather up the fragments that nothing be lost.” Order redeems time, so does punctuality–therefore order and punctuality are ways of supplying the time necessary for the exercise of deeds of mercy.
Redeem time from useless reading, and other selfish entertainments–and also from that excessive addiction to the worldly accomplishments of music, arts, and fancy craft-works, which are so characteristic of the present day. That some portion of time may be given to these things is admitted. I am not for parting with the exquisite polish which skill in these matters imparts to female elegance. I love to see the decorations of female mind and manners. Of this I may have to speak again in a future chapter, and therefore shall merely now enquire–when the cries of misery are entering into her ears, and the groans of creation are arising all around her; when countless millions abroad are living and
dying without the light of the gospel and the hope of salvation; when at our own doors will be found so many passing in ignorance and wickedness to their eternal destinies–is it humane for a Christian woman to spend so much precious time each day over her knitting, crotchet, or embroidery work? As she sits plying those needles, and bringing out, it may be, the tasteful design, hour after hour–does she never hear the cry of human woe, “Come over and help us!” Does it never occur to her, how many souls have gone into eternity unprepared to meet their God, since she took her chair and commenced her daily entertainment? Or, even leaving out of view the employment of her time for deeds of mercy to others; is it not an afflicting sight to behold so much time thrown away on these elegant trifles, which might be employed in cultivating one’s own mind and heart, by reading useful Christian literature?
You cannot, systematically, do good either to yourself or others, without redeeming time for the purpose!

Christians Under Persecution