Let Us Consider

By Isaac Barlow

To summarize this book, I can only say that it is intended to cause one to think about what things really matter in life and what things are truly insignificant. We are only earthbound for a moment. Hopefully, our eternity will be in a heavenly place.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098040727

Book preview

In memory of my paternal mothers, Earnestine Ware Roberson and Urlene Ware Jones.

Let Us Consider

Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed (surrounded) about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset (ensnare) us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Thank God, amen.

Acknowledgments

To the Biblical teachings of Deacon Leroy White and Pastor Kary Taylor of Community of Love Non Denominational Church, Houston, Texas; Pastor Rodney L. Atkins of Victory Temple COGiC, Tyler, Texas; Dr. I.V. Hilliard of Life Change Institute, Houston, Texas.

To the many exhortations by Pastor Tony Evans, and to the commentary writers and staff of the Emmaus Correspondence Study School Course offered through Wright Way Ministries, Inc., Garland, Texas.

Living without Christ, What a Tragedy!

Jesus says,

Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abides in the vice, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:4–5)

Listen, saints, we truly need the Lord? The greatest tragedy that can befall us is to end this earthly journey without knowing Jesus Christ. We tend to reject the giver of life in order to rule our lives. We choose to waste the precious years of a life with Christ so that we can indulge in our own fleshly pleasures.

However, a life of service, discipleship, and sacrifice for the Lord’s sake yields an eternity in heavenly places with Christ. We choose, even crave, possession of temporal and all manner of earthly things, seeking satisfaction in our pleasures at all cost. We do not understand self-denial or self-control, holding on to things that don’t matter and refusing those things that do matter.

Our youth is wasted on pleasures of the world. But when our lives begin to wind down and death draws near, we become fearful and frustrated, running in every direction, spending all that we’ve acquired trying to add a few more years to our lives. Our eyes tell the story of fear, desolation, loneliness, and hopelessness. We then ask ourselves, "Why have I been so stubborn, blind, and shortsighted that I could not see the error of my ways?

You see, a life without Jesus is self-destructing. The deceptive power of sin causes us to not fear God’s wrath. This behavior is not new to God. Jeremiah 5:22–28 tells us that God has seen this behavior countless times. We live under the deceiving influence of sin so long that we prefer the darkness. We search out churches and fellowships that preach lies or compromise the truths, churches that compromise the Word of God to please their congregations.

Jeremiah chapter 5 calls such behavior horrible and shocking. It truly is shocking to see a man confronted with life or death, and he chooses death. Why is this? I tell you it is because many of us do not fear God. We think that the wrath to come is a fable or fairy tale concocted by preachers and teachers of God’s Word. The deceiving sin keeps us from acknowledging the truths about God.

In Luke chapter 16, we have the story of Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man. After the rich man asked Abraham to send someone from the dead to warn the people, Abraham replied, If they did not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they would not listen if someone rises from the dead. We must realize that what Abraham told the rich man is absolutely true.

A man did rise from the dead. His name is Jesus. He was not believed by many then, and yet, today, many still refuse to believe. One day, judgement is going to come, and God’s wrath will be unleashed. Eternal suffering awaits those disobedient souls. The voice of the rich man has spoken and warned us that living without Jesus is a very dangerous position. We think that if God would just take this place among our other gods (houses, cars, family, friends, jobs, daily cares of the world, etc.), we would give him his sacrifices, holidays, feasts, tithes, and offerings.

How foolish and arrogant can we be? God wants and deserves our complete heart, soul, mind, and body. We must not let sin dull our senses of truth; whereby, we allow our pleasure to be of more value than God’s pleasure. We often think or say, God has not revealed my purpose in his plan. Not true. The Bible tells us exactly our purpose. We are to love, honor, and obey his commandments. When the discerner of hearts come, don’t be caught having the appearance of righteousness but really not knowing the Lord. To be found without Jesus is a terrible thing. We must believe by faith the entire message of God—the message of wrath, as well as the saving message. A belief that is faith proved by fire, thus producing perseverance; the ability to wait with confidence, knowing God’s Word prevails no matter the circumstances.

Some of us make conscious decisions to live without Christ; believing that when you’re, dead you’re done. Then there are those of us who do not consciously deny Christ but live defeated lives because of unbelief and lack of faith. Our understanding and faith in God is shallow and not grounded enough to allow God’s power to flow through our lives. We must remember God’s promises are only available through faith.

Chapter 1 of James tells us to ask God without doubting or wavering in faith. We are called to be the light of the world. We must present ourselves in a position of faith, holding fast and trusting God for deliverance. The true essence of a Christian is faith. Our faith destroys unbelief and doubt. Likewise, unbelief and doubt can destroy our faith.

Now, the Apostle James also makes mention of filthiness and excess naughtiness, in other words, moral filth. These moral filths are those things that seem right in our eyes but are actually contrary to God’s Word, compromising God’s commandments to fit our lifestyles rather than changing our lifestyles to fit the Word of God.

Chapter 3 of 1 Corinthians tells us that our bodies are temples where his Spirit dwells. Living in contradiction to God’s law not only grieves the Holy Spirit but also causes a separation of fellowship with our master. Being separated is the same as living without Christ. We like to pick and choose what parts of the Word we will follow in order to satisfy our fleshly desires. This kind of behavior distresses and causes the Holy Spirit to suffer. The Spirit of God cannot consistently perform his duty of sanctification because of our hindrance. A hindered Holy Spirit cannot fully manifest Christ in us. Christ forces the Spirit to leave off dealing with resurrection, Christ in us to dealing with conviction of our sin.

Finally, it does not matter whether you consciously or unconsciously choose to absent Jesus Christ from your life, the bottom line is it’s still a tragedy. So I am asking you today, while it is today, join me at the throne of grace and make Jesus Christ the Lord of your Life.

Confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth our confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9–10). You see, the righteousness of God can only be obtained through Jesus Christ!

Thank God. Amen.

The Rain

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void (empty without fruit), but is shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah