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Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net I Love a Mystery. Kent Hovinde relays the story of a farmer using a calf puller (looks like a ladder splint) near a busy highway. A passerby, seeing the farmer struggling, became curious and stopped to help. After the procedure was over, the citizen asked: “How fast was that calf going anyway?” This is, by definition, a mystery. None of the facts were hidden, yet the man’s conclusions were totally wrong. Let’s turn the spiritual switch. A Mystery, in the New Testament, is that which was formerly hidden from common knowledge, but is now revealed by way of the Holy Spirit. “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”– Romans 16:25-26. Why is this important? Because we all have access to the same evidence, (the Holy Scriptures), yet some seem to receive it and run for the goal, while others shake their heads and say - “I just don’t see it. How can you buy that junk?”. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”– 1st Cor. 1:18. But this matter is much more than a Heavenly Coin Toss. There are good guys and bad guys involved. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2nd Cor. 4:3-4. (Note; the little “g” god is satan.) God is not surprised by your unbelief. There are two Revelations of God to man. The first is called “the General Revelation” and is His Creation. Even professing atheists will have a mountain top experience and say in their heart of hearts, that there must be a God. The Second is His Personal Revelation and is the Holy Scriptures. Almost none reject the first, but many reject the second. Are you waiting to be convinced? You can do that, and spend an eternity crying out: “but that’s not fair”. Here’s a Nugget: No one, ever came to Christ intellectually. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – Eph. 2:8-9. There’s a Mystery to it. Are you going to stand on your spiritual soapbox and demand that God prove Himself? Or are you going to Pray for faith? How fast was that calf going anyway?
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