Saturday, March 9, 2013

A Crooked Furrow

How can you do what is right all of the time?

When I moved out to the Ozarks in Arkansas my grandpa still had a patch of about 10 acres where he would grow corn and potatoes to sell.   Not far from the patch he had a small pen in the corner where he kept his mules to plow that patch of land.  The jack was named "Samson" and the ginny was named "Delilah".  Even though my uncle had bought a tractor for working most of the farm, my grandpa still liked to plow his little patch with his mules as he had done since he was young.  He kept this up until Sampson and Delilah were too old for the work.  Only then did he finally relent and allow my uncle to plow that patch for him using the tractor.

Perhaps you have seen someone plow a field using a plow and mules, at least on TV or in the movies.  You have probably at least seen a plowed field of some sort in a book at school.  Have you ever noticed how the field is plowed in a pattern and how straight the furrows (trenches created by the plow) are?  When a field is plowed it is very important to keep the furrows straight to obtain the maximum harvest that the field can yield.  The trouble when plowing with mules is that they can have a mind of their own and easily get distracted causing them to turn to the left or to the right.  Even with a well trained pair of mules like Sampson and Delilah you have to keep looking ahead to be sure that your furrow is straight and be diligent to make adjustments.  Otherwise you can end up with a crooked furrow.

Of course, sometimes a new mule will decide that it wants to go where it wants to go despite the best efforts of the farmer to guide it.  If the farmers pulls hard on the reigns to straighten the new mule out then it will stiffen its neck.  When this happens the farmer has to stop plowing and either entice the mule to turn the right way or beat the mule on the wrong side of the head to get it to turn the right way.  The mule must learn to follow leading of the farmer or the farmer will end up with crooked furrows.  If a mule cannot learn to follow the leading of the farmer then the mule has lost its value to the farmer because the farmer cannot afford to have any crooked furrows.  A mule that would only make a crooked furrow ended up as glue.  An ox that would only make a crooked furrow ended up on the barbeque.

It is not that much different with us.  The Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) wants us to keep our furrows straight so that He can obtain the maximum harvest that the field of our lives can yield.

How can we avoid plowing a crooked furrow?

We will not plow a crooked furrow if we never turn to the right or left.

We must not turn to the left or the right of doing what the Father of Truth has commanded (Deuteronomy 5:32).  We must read what is written in the Book of Truth (The Bible) daily to avoid turning to the left or the right of doing what the Father of Truth has commanded (Deuteronomy 17:19-20).  We must speak what the Father of Truth said in the Book of Truth in every circumstance to avoid turning to the left or the right of doing what the Father of Truth has commanded (Joshua 1:7).  We keep from turning to the left or right right of doing what the Father of Truth has commanded so that we will remain separate from those who do not love the Father of Truth and so we do not imitate them (Joshua 23:6-7).

How do we keep from being distracted into turning to the right or left of doing what the Father of Truth has commanded?

We will speak what the Father of Truth said in the Book of Truth in every circumstance if we are meditating [literally in Hebrew "muttering to ourselves"] what is written in the Book of Truth day and night (Joshua 1:8).  We will remain separate from those who do not know the Father of Truth when we meditate on the Law of the the Father of Truth that is written in the Book of Truth so that our field will produce the crop that the Father of Truth desires (Psalm 1:1-3).  We find comfort and peace in our sleep when we meditate upon the Father of Truth (Psalm 63:5-7).  We remember how great and powerful is the Father of Truth when we meditate upon what the Father of Truth has done (Psalm 77:11-13).  We attend to the ways of the Father of Truth and remember the Word of Truth when we meditate upon the commandments of the Father of Truth (Psalm 119:14-16).  We can stand up against those in authority that seek to turn us to the left or right from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded when we meditate upon the commandments of the Father of Truth (Psalm 119:22-24).  We are full of hope when we meditate upon the commandments of the Father of Truth (Psalm 119:47-49).  We find shelter from those that deal perversely with us when we meditate upon the commandments of the Father of Truth (Psalm 119:77-79).  We never give up hope for a better tomorrow when we meditate upon the Word of Truth (Psalm 119:147-149).  Circumstances can never cause us to quit seeking after the Father of Truth when we meditate upon what the Father of Truth has already done for us (Psalm 143:3-6).  We can save both ourselves and those that will listen to us when we meditate upon everything that the Father of Truth has given us (Timothy 4:14-16).

What distracts us to turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded?

People turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded when the religious professionals that they relied on to keep them from turning aside are not immediately available (Deuteronomy 9:10-12).  People turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded when they follow lies (Psalm 40:4).  People turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded when they are entertained by those that have turned aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded (Psalm 101:3-4).  People turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded when they do not want religious professionals to tell them that they need to do what the Father of Truth has commanded (Isaiah 30:9-11).  People turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded when they refuse to let go of the lies that they have clung to for comfort, even to save their life (Isaiah 44:20).  People turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded when they follow religious professionals that pervert the message that the Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) brought (Galatians 1:6-8).  People turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded when they listen to the empty words of religious professionals that do not understand what the Father of Truth has commanded (1 Timothy 1:5-7). 

People stiffen their neck like a mule or ox that will only plow a crooked furrow because they will not accept correction. Those that stiffen their neck are rebellious against the Father of Truth even when the religious professionals try to help them (Deuteronomy 31:27).  Those that stiffen their neck will not listen to religious professionals that tell them to do what the Father of Truth has commanded but only listen to religious professionals that tell them to be like those who do not love the Father of Truth (2 Chronicles 36:12-14).  Those that stiffen their neck are full of pride (Psalm 75:5).  Those that stiffen their neck refuse to hear or heed the religious professionals who tell them do what the Father of Truth has commanded (Jeremiah 17:23).  Those that stiffen their neck have not submitted to the Man of Truth nor obeyed the Law that the Father of Truth gave Moses so that they can plow a straight furrow (Acts 7:51-53).

People turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded and stiffen their neck because their flesh will not let them do what the Father of Truth has commanded (Romans 7:5).  There is no desire to do what is good in their flesh but only to do what is wrong (Romans 7:18-19).  That nasty flesh has surrounded their hearts to produce only that which is evil (Galatians 5:19-21).  As long as their heats are surrounded by nasty flesh they can only plow a crooked furrow.

What happens when we turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded?

Rulers take brides and pervert justice when they turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded (1 Samuel 8:2-4). People deal unfaithfully with everyone and shoot straight with no one when they turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded (Psalm 78:56-57).  When people turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded they are following the Father of Lies (HaShatan aka Satan aka The Devil) (1 Timothy 5:15).

Those that insist on turning aside shall be lead away with the other Children of Lies (Psalm 125:5).  Like a stiff necked mule those that will only plow a crooked furrow they shall be destroyed (Proverbs 29:1).  Since they despise the commandments of the Father of Truth and refuse to do them then like a worthless vessel they shall be ground into powder (Isaiah 30:12-14).

Perhaps if you look at your life so far you will see that you have been far from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded.  Perhaps you realize that you have been being entertained by those that have turned aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded. Perhaps you realize that the religious leaders that you have chosen to listen to do not tell you that you need to be doing what the Father of Truth has commanded.  Perhaps there are lies that you have refused to let go because it would be uncomfortable to do so.  Perhaps you can see that you have been plowing a crooked furrow.

You may have even became stiff necked.  You may have refused to listen to anyone that has tried to get you to do what the Father of Truth has commanded.  You may have insisted on going your own way no matter how disastrous things have turned out.  You may be able to see that you are need to change but you are too proud to admit it to anyone.  Perhaps you can see that you have been plowing a crooked furrow.

Is there any hope for you if you have plowed a crooked furrow?

Yes there is, for your life is not over yet.  You are no different than anyone else.

The Prophet of Truth knew that people would turn aside from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded and bring His judgment upon them as soon as the religious professionals who kept them in line were not around (Deuteronomy 31:29).  The Father of Truth knows that everyone has turned aside doing what the Father of Truth has commanded (Psalm 14:2-4).  The Book of Truth says that that everyone has turned aside doing what the Father of Truth has commanded (Romans 3:10-12).

The Father of Truth will accept you if you leave off plowing a crooked furrow and start plowing a straight furrow from now on (1 Samuel 12:20-22).  David plowed a straight furrow with only one crooked place in forty years time (1 Kings 15:4-5).  Jehoshaphat plowed a straight furrow for twenty five years despite not being able to prevent others from doing wickedly (1 Kings 22:42-43).  Josiah plowed a straight furrow without a single defect from when he was eight years old until the day he died (2 Kings 22:1-2).

You can have that nasty flesh that has surrounded your heart to make you stiff necked removed when you come into the House of Truth (Deuteronomy 10:16).  The Father of Truth will perform the surgery (Deuteronomy 30:6).  Those that have this surgery will not be destroyed no matter how crooked the furrow they plowed before the surgery (Jeremiah 4:4).  Those that have this surgery have been made into what the Father of Truth always desired (Romans 2:28-29). 

You will start plowing a straight furrow when you  come into the House of Truth to follow the Man of Truth wholeheartedly without ever looking back (Luke 9:61-62).  When you are working the field with the Man of Truth then you will find the burden of obedience to be light because the Man of Truth is strong enough to carry the weight (Matthew 11:29-30).  It is religious professionals that weigh people down with rules and traditions that are not from the Father of Truth (Matthew 23:4).  The Children of Truth (those who obey The Father of Truth because they love Him) have put to death the the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:24).  The Children of Truth do not find the commandments of the Father of Truth to be too heavy to bear because they have confidence in the Man of Truth that leads to action (1 John 5:2-4).

The Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) will guide you to make every adjustment necessary to plow a straight furrow when you come into the House of Truth (John 16:13).  The Spirit of Truth leads the Children of Truth so that they do not turn to the right or left from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded (Romans 8:13-15).  The Children of Truth do not turn to the turn to left or right from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded when the Spirit of Truth leads them because they are under the Law that the Father of Truth gave Moses (Galatians 5:18).  The Spirit of Truth produces in them the things that come from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded (Galatians 5:22-23).  The Children of Truth do not turn to the turn to left or right from doing what the Father of Truth has commanded because the Spirit of Truth writes the commandments of the Father of Truth in their hearts and minds (Hebrews 10:16).  The Spirit of Truth writes in the hearts and minds of the Children of Truth the very same commandments that the Father of Truth wrote in the Law that the Father of Truth gave Moses (Jeremiah 31:33).

You plow a straight furrow when you come into the House of Truth and stay there.  Come into the House of Truth by submitting to the Man of Truth because you believe that the Father of Truth raised him from the dead so that you will no longer plow a crooked furrow (Romans 10:9).

Come into the House of Truth.


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Saturday, October 13, 2012

The Child of Truth

Can people become part of a different family?

Did you ever feel like you were born into the wrong family? Have you ever wished you could start over and be born into a different family?

Most people have at some point in their lives.  Most little girls like to pretend that they were born into a royal family and are princesses.  Most little boys like to pretend that they were born to be a king.

Kids do not pretended to part of a family in Africa that is starving to death because their father was a boy who ran off when trouble came instead of being a man that would lay his life down to take care of his wife and children.   Kids do not pretend to be part of a family with an alcoholic father that gambles the grocery money away forcing everyone to go without food.  Kids do not pretend to be part of a family where there is no father and the mother is a prostitute who is addicted to drugs.

Some adults research their genealogy in hopes of finding that they descended from someone famous and good to make the family that they were born into somehow seem better.  The father of my mother spent years researching his genealogy and he found that he was descendant of Leif Ericson and Eric the Red through his mother.  The truth is knowing that we descended from kings did not make us one dime richer or one bit more influential.  The truth is being descended from a king does not make you a king.  We were still the same family.

Ever notice that when people tell you about their ancestors they always mention someone that is well known for some sort of noble effort?  If someone had Native American ancestry and they are descendants of a great chief like Geronimo or a princess like Pocahontas they will tell you about that.  Have you ever noticed that no one ever tells you that they descended from "Yellow Dog" who ran away from the battle when the village was attacked or "Sleeps with Many" the tribal prostitute?

The truth is that people long to belong to a good family that they can be proud of.  A family that is strong.  A family where no one is sick.  A family that has more money than it needs.  A family that rules.  A family where all its members do what is right and good.  A family where the father is strong and the mother is comforting.

Most people realize that the family that they were born into never quite lives up to those standards despite their best efforts. In the South we have a saying, "you can pick your friends but not your relatives".

Or can you?  Can you start over and be born into a different family?

The truth is we were all born as slaves into the family of the Father of Lies (HaShatan aka Satan aka The Devil).  Like most slaves, we did nothing to become slaves. We were born as slaves because our parents were slaves.  However, we do not have to remain slaves in the family of the Father of Lies because the Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) has provided a way for us to start over and be born into His family.  Anyone that is born into the family of the Father of Truth and remains there is a Child of Truth.

How can you start over and be born into a different family?  

You must be born a second time into the family of the Father of Truth as a Child of Truth (John 3:7).  When you become a Child of Truth (someone who obeys the Father of Truth because they love Him) then you start over again. Everything before that moment will pass away because you are a brand new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)  Your disobedience will be wiped away by what the Man of Truth did for you and you will become as righteous as the Father of Truth (2 Corinthians 5:21).

How does being born a second time work?  Pretty much the same way as when you were born the first time.  The first time your father begot you by planting a seed in your mother and then you were born of your mother.  The Father of Truth will beget you a second time (1 Peter 1:3). The word of truth that is written in the Book of Truth (aka the Bible) is the seed that is planted the second time (1 Peter 1:23).  The second time you are born of the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) (John 3:6).

There is however one major difference. Unlike the family of the Father of Lies that you were born the first time where you had no choice, you have to choose to be born a second time into the family of the Father of Truth.   The Father of Truth does not want anyone remain a slave the family of the Father of Lies (2 Peter 3:9).  The Father of Truth is drawing you to the Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) so you can be born a second time into the family of the Father of Truth (John 6:44).  You can be absolutely assured that you will not be rejected if you come to the Man of Truth so you can be born a second time into the family of the Father of Truth (John 6:37).

The Child of Truth lives in the House of Truth (John 8:31).  The Child of Truth is obedient to the Father of Truth in all things because the Man of Truth is the absolute ruler in their lives (Matthew 7:21).  The Child of Truth does not just say that he is the absolute ruler of every aspect of their lives but seeks to obey the Man of Truth in all things (Luke 6:46).  The Child of Truth follows him for the rest of their life (Matthew 10:22).  The Child of Truth must remain in the House of Truth (John 15:4-7).

The Child of Truth is part of the family of the Father of Truth.  The Child of Truth does not act like they are ashamed to be in the family of the Father of Truth (Matthew 10:32-33).  The Child of Truth is a brother or sister to the Man of Truth because they are obedient to His Father (Matthew 12:50).   The Man of Truth is not ashamed to call the Children of Truth his brothers and sisters because they all are in the family of the Father of Truth (Hebrews 2:11).  The Child of Truth has confidence in what is written in the Book of Truth that causes them to obey the Father of Truth in every aspect of their lives (Hebrews 10:37-38).  The Child of Truth does not despise the spankings given by the Father of Truth to help them become more like the Father of Truth (Hebrews 12:5-11).

Will you start over and be born into a different family?

You will be born again into His Family if you will come into the House of Truth.  You come into the House of Truth when you will call the Man of Truth the absolute ruler of every aspect of your life because you believe that the Father of Truth raised him from the dead  (Romans 10:9).

Come into the House of Truth.

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