Bible Doctrine

 “For we KNOW that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved (if and when our bodies return to the dust), we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”  (2 Corinthians 5:1).

( The one word that stuck out in my mind from that verse was the word “know.”  Paul did not say “we believe,” or “we think,” or “we hope.”  He said, “we KNOW” that we have a God-made eternal body awaiting us when we are resurrected even if that resurrection does not occur until long after this physical body has totally dissolved into a handful of atoms.  He continues, “For in this (present physical body) we groan (experiencing the pains of aging), earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven, if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked (of immortality)” (verses 2 and 3).

That IS the fate of the unredeemed, you know.  When they are resurrected they will quickly discover that they are still mere human beings – subject to the second death.  That is why, if cast into the fires of hell, they cannot suffer eternally.  They will be burned up, reduced to ash, as if they had never ever existed.  But, since God requires a judgment of “life for life,” a serial killer will be resurrected not just once and consumed in the flames, but revived again and again in order to pay with his life for each life he has taken.  Only upon paying the utmost in satisfaction of divine judgment will he then die never to be resurrected again.   A Hitler’s hell will be of much longer duration than that of a mere Christ rejecter for those who are responsible for the deaths of millions will have to die a million times themselves.

Paul continues in this 5th chapter of 2 Corinthians, saying, “For we that are in this (physical) tabernacle do groan, being burdened (with pain, physical disabilities, sickness, etc.), not for that we would be unclothed (not that we therefore have a death wish wanting an end to our physical life with its pains and sufferings), but clothed upon (with immortality), that mortality might be swallowed up of life” (verse 4).

But it is the next verse that really gripped my mind: “Now He that has wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also has given unto us the earnest of the Spirit” (verse 5, 2 Corinthians 5).  That word “earnest” is from the Greek word for “down payment.”  This is why Paul could say we KNOW we have an immortal body awaiting us upon being resurrected.  God has already given us the down payment of His Spirit from which that immortal body will be composed.  Why is someone confident another is going to give them the $5,000 they are asking for their car?  Because that other person already gave them a $1000 down payment!  How do I KNOW God is going to resurrect me and clothe me with an immortal spirit body that will endure the ages of the ages?  Because He has already given me the down payment of His powerful Holy Spirit, a Spirit that enables me to put off the old former self and now live a righteous godly life, able to say no to whatever once addicted me or caused me to sin.

These are the thoughts that gripped my mind and thinking throughout the day today.  I had to pause and take a break and turn in my New Testament to 2 Corinthians and read again the glorious future that awaits all true followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.  “O death, where is your sting?  O grave, where is your victory?”  The sting of death is removed in Jesus Christ and the grave, the sea, or the cremation urn cannot hold your remains forever as there WILL come the hour when our Lord will say to us what He said to Lazarus many years ago.  As with Lazarus, we will hear the shout, “Come forth!” and we will come out of death into life eternal.  Praise be to God.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Jesus told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”  If Jesus Christ can’t keep us from sin then His grace is NOT sufficient for us.  (See 2 Corinthians 12:9).  Some say their flesh is too weak to continue long without giving in to some sin, but Jesus says His strength is made perfect in our weakness.  Those truly having God’s powerful Holy Spirit resting upon us have the very same spiritual power Jesus had during His thirty-three years in the flesh.

“God has said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk in them'” (2 Corinthians 6:16).  With God dwelling in us and walking in us, we can’t keep from sinning?!  Get real!

We are urged to perfect holiness in the fear of God (See 2 Corinthians 7:1).  That means to make holiness complete, total.  We are not exhorted to do the impossible.  Confessing the same old sins day after day is ridiculous.

“Our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).  Is God’s grace toward us insufficient to overcome all sin?

“Now thanks be unto God, who causes us ALWAYS to triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14).  Whenever we sin we have turned away from Christ and gone the way of the flesh – something we did not have to do as we are assured that “there has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able to bear, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it (without ever giving in to that temptation and sinning)” (I Corinthians 10:1).

“What He has promised He is able also to perform” (Romans 4:21), and God has promised to deliver us from every temptation to sin.  Peter confidently assured us “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations…” (See 2 Peter 2:9).  Victory does not depend on our strength but in God’s power!

“Let EVERYONE who names the name of Christ DEPART FROM INIQUITY (i.e., SIN).” (2 Timothy 2:19).  God’s sustaining and strengthening grace is stronger than any human lust.

Peter writes that God’s “divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).  But that is a false statement if He cannot keep us from sin.  Peter further states that it is “them that walk after the flesh” who “cannot cease from sin” (See 2 Peter 2:10, 14).  And he says such are spiritual adulterers.  And, since they cannot cease from sin, they don’t think you can either.

Paul’s letters are not the only epistles carnal men twist to their own spiritual destruction.  They do the same with John when they take I John 1:8 out of its context and use that verse to excuse their sin and knock down all the foregoing verses of scripture.  That verse says, “If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  But look at the context.  “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness (hence, sin), we lie, and do not (speak or know) the truth” (verse 6, I John chapter 1).  If we say that we have no sin, WHILE WALKING IN DARKNESS, we deceive ourselves.  If a believer claims God does not see his, or her, sins or count such sins against them, they deceive themselves.  But I John 1:8 does NOT say a believer cannot stop sinning.  How absurd!  Two verses later John writes, “My little children, these things write I unto you THAT YOU SIN NOT” (I John 2:1).  And in the following chapter he says, “Every man that has this hope in him purifies himself EVEN AS HE (CHRIST) IS PURE” (I John 3:3).  And how pure is Christ?  He did not sin!  And it is John who remembered that Christ said, “Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin, and the servant of sin abides not in the house (household of God, family of God) forever…If the Son therefore shall make you free (from sin), you shall be free indeed” (John 8:34-36).

Again John writes, “He (Jesus) was manifested to take away our sins” – not merely to pay the penalty or suffer the punishment for our sins, but “to take away our sins” (See I John 3:5).  And in the next verse John said “Whosoever abides in Him SINS NOT!” (verse 6).

Why can’t those who profess to serve and represent Jesus Christ rightly divide the Word of God?  Why must they diligently search through the scriptures looking for a verse here or a verse there that they can lift out of its context in order to support their sinful, ungodly ways and warped theology????  Someday they will answer to Jesus Christ for their ungodliness and errors.

“Awake to righteousness, and sin NOT (STOP SINNING!), for some have not the knowledge of God (willfully forgetting that Jesus Christ said over and over “Go, and sin NO MORE”).  I speak this to your shame.” (I Corinthians 15:34).

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

There are those who say, “Well, if there is anyone on earth at any time, anywhere, who is diligently seeking after a relationship with God, then God will get the truth to them in one way or another, otherwise they die and go to hell.”  That sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?  But man’s reasoning is basically flawed.  God warns, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor my ways your ways.”  Both the Old Testament and the New Testament contain these words: “THERE IS NONE THAT SEEKS AFTER GOD” (See Romans 3:11 and Psalm 14:1-3).

Your Bible says that God “is not willing that ANY should perish (eternally), but that ALL should come to repentance” (See 2 Peter 3:9).  It also says that for those in opposition to the truth that God must grant repentance, “so that they may know the truth” (See 2 Timothy 2:25).  The work of salvation must begin on God’s side, not ours.  We, ourselves, are described as being “dead in sin.”  We cannot escape from the grasp of Satan’s delusions on our own.  God must work on our behalf else we will be forever lost and will suffer the second death in the fires of hell .

“Behold, He is coming with clouds, AND EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, even they who pierced Him (yes, the long dead Roman soldiers who ignorantly assisted in the slaying of Jesus Christ).  And ALL the tribes of the earth (all peoples of all nations) will mourn (in true abject repentance realizing their horrible errors), because of Him (because THEN He will grant them repentance, also, after they have been carefully instructed in the truth, which may well take many years)” (See Revelation 1:7).  This verse is not saying these folks will see Him immediately upon His return for “the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years (of Christ’s earthly reign) were finished.  This is the first resurrection” (See Revelation 20:5).  But when resurrected at the close of Christ’s thousand year reign then every eye shall eventually see Him, every one born human will eventually get the same chance at salvation as those who saw Jesus face-to-face when He walked the dusty roads of Galilee and Judea long ago.  No one will have a better shot at salvation than the next guy.  NO ONE will ever have the opportunity to shake their fist in God’s face and say, “I never had a chance.  You are not fair.”

“And this is the testimony that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has (a relationship with) the Son has life.  He who does not have (a relationship with) the Son of God does not have life” (I John 5:11-12).

Jesus meant it when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me” (See John 14:6).  No Babylonian, no Assyrian, no Inca or Aztec Indian – NO ONE can be spiritually saved and granted eternal life except by and through a valid, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Paul refers to believers as those “who first trusted in Christ” (See Ephesians 1:12).  We are on the ground floor of this thing called salvation.  James says we are “a kind of firstfruits” (See James 1:18).  The great harvest of mankind is future.  This is the teaching of Revelation Chapter 14.  The reaping of the earth, the saving of mankind as a whole is yet future.  “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude (of billions and billions) which no man could number (not even a genius mathematician like Einstein), of ALL nations (Iraq, Iran, China, Bangladesh, etc.) tribes (Apache, Seminole, Cree), peoples and tongues (those speaking even now dead languages) standing before the throne and before the Lamb (their Savior), CLOTHED WITH WHITE ROBES (washed pure in the blood of the Lamb), with palm branches (of victory) in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne (victorious over Satan and his deceptions), and to the Lamb” (See Revelation 7:9-10).  Former Muslims, Hindus and atheists will be saying, “God really knows how to save, doesn’t He?  He knew what He was doing all along, didn’t He?”

Hell is for Christ rejecters ONLY!  Not for satanically blinded people who have not had their minds opened to the truth.  It is “to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).  To the Jews who saw Him face-to-face and heard His teaching, Jesus said “if YOU do not believe that I am He (the Messiah, the Savior of the world), YOU will die in your sins” (See John 8:24).  To the learned Pharisees, who knew the scriptures by heart, He said, “If you were (spiritually) blind (deceived by Satan), YOU WOULD HAVE NO SIN, but now you say, ‘We see.’  Therefore your sin remains” (John 9:41).

The Muslim is without sin for rejecting Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  From early childhood they have been mistaught, deceived, hoodwinked, defrauded, duped.  They are spiritually blind and without sin in that regard.  If taught it is wrong to steal and they steal something.  They stand guilty of that sin.  For rejecting Christ as their Lord and Savior, they are innocent.  Upon being resurrected in the world to come, if they remain obstinate and refuse to believe, they will be doomed and cast into hell where they will be consumed and reduced to ash.  (See Malachi 4:3).

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

It will come down for all of us, you know, at one time or another.  The house lights will dim and then go out.  The audience will be all those loved ones that survive us – for a time.  For the final curtain will come down for them, too, sooner or later.  Shakespeare had it right when he said, “All the world’s a  stage, and all the men and women merely players.  And one man in his time plays many parts…..”  I now play my grandest and final role.  The stage manager is my Lord, our Lord, the Lord of glory.  There will be no further curtain calls.  When the curtain falls this time it will not be raised again until I myself am raised by a resurrection from the dead.  So many roles I have played, most of them tragedies!  But now is my finest hour.  And I find I do not need the spotlight any longer.  I am content to stand in the wings.

As believers, we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.  (See I Corinthians 4:9).  Angels are even called “watchers” in the Book of Daniel, the prophet.  We are being observed from outer space, you might say.  How they must be intrigued, often mystified, at the roles we assume.  “How could he?” they might ask one another when we plunge into horrible rebellion and gross sin.  And how they must sing for joy and applaud wildly when they observe a great sinner abandon his sin and bow before the Lord in adoration and obedience.

Scripture plainly and clearly declares that we mortals will not enjoy immortality until we are resurrected from the dead.  (See I Corinthians 15:53).  We do NOT become immortal the moment we die.  The moment we die we become DEAD!  Surprise, surprise, surprise.  The apostle Paul wrote, “If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat, and drink, for tomorrow we die.'” (See I Corinthians 15:32).  The apostle Paul knew nothing of any intermediate state between death and the resurrection.  The resurrection is for the purpose of bringing us back from the dead.  He goes on to say, “And as we have borne the image of the earthy (or, earthly body), we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (verse 49, I Corinthians coupled with I John 3:2).  And WHEN will we bear the image of our Lord and inherit immortality?  “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMP (the seventh and last trumpet blast spoken of in Revelation 10:7), for the trumpet shall sound, AND THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED incorruptible, (not come down from heaven and be rejoined to bodies long corrupted and disintegrated), and we shall be changed (from physical to spirit beings), for this corruptible (body) must put on incorruption (at the resurrection, NOT at the moment of death), and this mortal (body) must put on immortality (at that moment and not before).  So when this corruptible (body) shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal (body) shall have put on immortality, THEN (and not before) shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.'” (verses 52-54, I Corinthians 15).  

If we went to heaven the moment we died, then death would be swallowed up in victory the moment we died!!  Paul declared plainly that if there is no resurrection of the dead then we are without hope of ever living again.  Our continued enjoyment of life depends upon our being resurrected from the dead!  (Read the entirety of the 15th chapter of I Corinthians).  “The living know that they shall die, BUT THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANYTHING!!!!!  (See Ecclesiastes 9:5).  Billy Graham knows NOTHING at this moment.  He is dead, awaiting a resurrection, his only hope of living again.  “His (man’s) breath goes forth (he exhales his last breath), he returns to his earth (remember God told Adam and Eve, ‘Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return’), in that very day (of a man’s taking his last breath), HIS THOUGHTS PERISH” (See Psalm 146:4 with Genesis 3:19).  Billy Graham isn’t thinking how wonderful it is to be in heaven right now.  He isn’t thinking at all.  His brain is filled with formaldehyde!!

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

LAY YOUR WEIGHT ASIDE, BELIEVER!

“Let us lay aside every weight (every hindrance to holiness), and the sin which does so easily beset us” (See Hebrews 12:1). Every sin can be laid aside by living, God-gifted faith. Living faith is not passive but dynamically active, empowering a person to overcome sin. Though accomplished by faith, there is a struggle as Satan will try to shake your faith (See 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2). Am I to believe the best testimony to be had from living faith imparted by Almighty God and infused with the power of God’s mighty Holy Spirit is that we definitely will sin and grieve our heavenly Father every day we live in thought, word and/or deed?? That’s the very best God has provided for His sons and daughters in Christ Jesus? Righteousness which is by true living faith is not a shoddy, make-believe righteousness continually interspersed with flagrant disobedience, one moment sinning and the next repenting? “By faith Abraham OBEYED!” (See Hebrews 11:8). And when we read concerning John the Baptist’s parents, “they were both righteous before God, walking in ALL the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” – they , like Abraham, achieved this walk by living faith. (See Luke 1:5-6).

“Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calls you (to this walk and lifestyle), who also will do it” (I Thessalonians 5:22-24). Yes, brethren, God WILL do it. He will empower you to resist any and all temptations to sin. How could Paul be so sure of this? Because God had done it for Paul many years before. A distorted interpretation of Romans 7 has led multitudes to believe that Paul never gained the victory over sin and temptation. Those who hold that perverted belief fail to consider the 19th verse of Romans 6, where Paul says “I speak after the manner of men (defeated men at that), because of the infirmity of YOUR flesh (yes, THEIR flesh, not Paul’s weakness), for as YOU have yielded your members servants to uncleanness, and to iniquity unto iniquity (one sin after another), even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” It is these spiritually defeated Romans Paul speaks of in Romans 7. He uses the personal pronoun “I” again and again in that chapter as he is speaking like they speak. He is addressing their problem from their viewpoint. Paul describes his own experience in I Thessalonians 2, verse 10: “You are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.”

Brethren, “There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not suffer (allow) you to be tempted above that (which) you are able (to bear), but will with the temptation (at that exact same moment in time) also make a way to escape (a God-made, hence perfect avenue of escape) that you may be able to bear it” (I Corinthians 10:13). God help you to believe and understand.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

A PREACHER WHO KEEPS ON SINNING! 

There is a preacher, or Bible teacher, who can be found supposedly expounding the scriptures daily on at least a couple of local television stations. The other morning he said, “I haven’t been out of bed fifteen minutes before I commit my first sin!” The implication, of course, is that he then sins numerous times throughout the day. He thinks sin is unavoidable for the believer – something that cannot be helped.

How does he miss the clear, easy-to-understand language of the 12th verse of Romans 8: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, NOT to the flesh, to live after the flesh…” In other words, WE DON’T HAVE TO SIN! “No, in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him that loved us” (verse 37). How can one call himself “MORE THAN A CONQUEROR” if he, or she, continues to sin every single day in thought, word or deed????

How can he not understand the clear import of the words spoken by Christ, the easy-to-understand language of our Lord, as recorded in John Chapter 8: “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily (truthfully, truthfully) I (the one who CANNOT lie when making a promise) say unto you, “WHOSOEVER (believer or unbeliever) commits sin (continues to sin, practices sin, sins every day in thought, word or deed) IS THE SERVANT OF SIN (as sin enslaves – as many scriptures teach). And the servant (of sin) abides not in the house (the household , or family of God) forever, but the Son abides ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free (from sin), you shall be free indeed (truly free, totally free, free indeed)” (See John 8:34-36).

But doesn’t the apostle John clearly state: “If we (believers) say that we (believers) have no sin (that we are not sinning), we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (See I John 1:8). But, remember, it is this same John who wrote the words we have just read in the Gospel of John, chapter 8! Is John contradicting himself? Of course not! John’s statement in I John 1:8 must be considered in the context in which he made the statement. First, notice in verse 4 of that chapter John writes: “And these things write we unto you, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL.” How can a believer’s joy be FULL if he, or she, is continuing to sin every day in thought, word or deed? Are YOU filled with joy when you sin? Or is your joy instantly diminished if not utterly taken away? Then notice verse 6: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness (hence, sin, as when we walk in the light as He is in the light the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin), we lie (a sin), and do not (walk in) the truth.” Now, in this context, consider verse 8: “If (when walking in darkness, sinning) we say that we have no sin (the Gnostic claim that God doesn’t see, or take note of, a believer’s sin), we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Then follows – IN THIS CONTEXT – verses 9 and 10: “If we confess our sins (and abandon them – see Proverbs 28:13), He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned (insisting God doesn’t see the believer’s sins) we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us..” Now, forget your chapter break and read the very next verse, verse 1 of chapter 2: “My little children, these things write I unto you, THAT YOU SIN NOT (THAT YOU STOP SINNING). And IF (yes, IF – not when, but IF) any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

Believers who sin and insist God doesn’t see the believer’s sin, that “it’s all under the blood, brother,” make God a liar as He states quite clearly over and over again that He does see the believer’s sin and counts it against him. Read Revelation 2 and 3 slowly and carefully. Jesus Christ with eyes as a flame of fire (Rev. 1:14), says to each of these churches: “I know your works…” or “I SEE YOUR SINS!” He also says, “I have somewhat against you.” Over and over again He commands them to “REPENT!” He WARNS “I will give unto every one of you (no exceptions) according to your works!” Those who think our Lord doesn’t see a believer’s sin so as to count it against him need to read two other chapters of the Bible quite slowly and carefully – I Corinthians 10 and 11.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

SATAN’S DIABOLICALLY CLEVER ARGUMENT! 

Are we to believe that the one prayer God cannot, or WILL NOT, answer is the prayer: “Lord, keep me from ALL sin today?” Is that the one thing God does not desire to do, the one thing God never intended to do through the victory of Calvary??? Remember, Jesus Christ cautioned us “Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:34). We are not to be concerned as to whether we can keep from all sin for the rest of our lives, or even for the coming year, or even for next week, or tomorrow. We are to concern ourselves only with TODAY. Is God powerful enough to keep us from all sin for this one lone day we now call the present??? That’s ALL we are to be concerned about in this regard. Tomorrow is not promised us. Our lives are but like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Satan would have us dwell on keeping from all sin for the rest of our lives. We then see this as a pipe dream, a ludicrous thought. God would have us concern ourselves with keeping clear of all sin for the next few hours only as much of each day is spent in unconscious sleep!!! We then need only ask the question, “Is God powerful enough to keep me from all sin for a few hours only???!!!”

Jesus says, “Take no anxious thought about tomorrow, whether you can keep yourself submitted to me, your Lord, for another day.” You might not have a tomorrow. Satan whispers, “I would like to see you keep free from sin for a whole week, or an entire month, or for the rest of this year!” We grow discouraged and fearful when we listen to Satan’s clever arguments, but when we listen to Jesus we say, “Well, I’m sure Jesus Christ can keep me free from sin until bedtime!” And when the sun rises each morning, you will find it easier and easier to believe your Lord can and will keep you free from all sin for another day.

That preacher, or Bible teacher, who says he commits his first sin of the day within 15 minutes of getting out of bed is deceived and will deceive you if you listen to him. A word to the wise, brethren….

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Just when we think we have a grip on the number and different species of life on this planet our undersea exploration and deepest cave explorers discover more and more life forms we never suspected existed. But don’t stop there, consider the microbial life forms that live on the human face. Demodex mites can only be viewed with an electron microscope. Enlarged a thousand times, we see that they have eight short and stubby legs near their heads. Their bodies are elongated, nearly worm-like. Their movement can be viewed through an electron microscope. They are on our nose and eyelids, well, just everywhere even on the most beautiful and freshly scrubbed faces.

To say this planet is teeming with life, well, that’s an understatement really. Various forms of living creatures live under the earth, in the soil, all throughout the sea and in the seabeds. It matters not whether the water is salt water or fresh. They can be found atop the highest mountains and in the lowest valleys. Yes they even occupy the desert wastelands. They are found in the arctic regions as well. They are everywhere on this planet.

But why would God create such tiny creatures as the Demodex mite? For thousands of years no one would even know such living things existed. Can you imagine the astonishment of the first scientist who peered into a microscope and saw these creatures? He must have stood back, shaken his head, rubbed his eyes and peered again into the lens of his scientific instrument. He might have entertained the same thought as that of Samuel F.B. Morse when he invented the telegraph, “What has God wrought?”

“Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:18). And God cautions us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). God says, “I don’t think like you humans think. Never forget that.”

God wants us to know that He is pro-life. He wants us to know that He is a Creator. That’s His thing. He’s like the artist who keeps painting and painting, producing canvas after canvas, not stopping at a hundred or two hundred but painting until the day he dies and cannot paint anymore. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart (or mind) of man, the things which God has prepared for those that love Him” (I Corinthians 2:9).

Folks, you don’t want to miss out on being a part of God’s spirit Family and eternal kingdom. The queen of Sheba, hearing of the fame of King Solomon, came to Jerusalem to commune with him, and she said to him, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words until I came and my eyes had seen it, and, behold, the half was not told me…” (See I Kings 10:1-10). Well, believe this with all your heart, a millionth has not been told us of what God’s eternal heavenly kingdom holds. God didn’t just begin His creative work with earth and man. God has existed throughout all eternity past and has always been a Creator. He was creating a billion years ago, a trillion years ago, and trillions and trillions and trillions of years ago. No, folks, no human eye has ever seen, nor human ear heard what God has prepared for the obedient followers of His dear Son, our Lord. Don’t miss out on it. If you have the ability to think rationally, don’t miss out on it.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

I would venture to say that there are probably only a few score Christian ministers who comprehend what tremendous revelation Jesus Christ affords the faithful in the inspired writings of the prophet Jeremiah. The Jewish rabbis have no correct understanding of this prophet’s writings as they are Christ-rejecters and lack the Holy Spirit’s guidance when they read Jeremiah. Most Christian ministers believe, since Jeremiah’s writings are in the Old Testament, that such utterances were made solely to ancient Israel and not to “New Testament believers. So they don’t read these prophets seeking understanding and enlightenment from God.

Jeremian’s writings begin saying, “The words of Jeremiah…to whom the word of the Lord came….” God then says through Jeremiah, “I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (See Jeremiah 1:1-2 and Jeremiah 3:15). Most preachers are like the infants who push away the feeding spoon. They push away the feeding spoon of Jeremiah – and they go hungry. So do the flocks they are supposed to shepherd, guide and feed.

My life course is not at an end. Though my tabernacle of flesh is slowly deteriorating, still I live on and on and on. In May of 2016, following my cancer diagnosis, some might have thought, “He’ll be dead within a year.” Soon it will be eight years since that diagnosis was made. DON’T LIMIT GOD. It is one of the greatest mistakes you will ever make.

“An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land. The prophets (preachers, ministers) prophesy falsely (many of their teachings and messages are contrary to scripture revelation and truth), and the priests (preachers and pastors during this New Covenant age) rule by their own power (NOT anointed by God, never called by Him to instruct others in divine truth), and my people love to have it so…” (Jeremiah 5:30-31). You will hear a lot of laughter and applause in the meetings of believers, even those believers who embrace error and walk contrary to God’s Word. “They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return (to God’s Word and the truth)” (Jeremiah 8:5). Trying to dissuade someone from the error they embrace is often a lost cause. That’s why a Lutheran lives and dies a Lutheran, a Methodist lives and dies a Methodist, etc. Some few may come out of some error and embrace some truth, yet still will embrace much error.

“Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit” (Jeremiah 9:6). We have been born and reared in Babylon and don’t even know it. Some few begin their march to Zion and the truth. I have joined their company and ahead I see the holy city of God. I long so desperately to enter its gates and to bring others with me.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley