Content In Life :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: June 19, 2022 by RR7

Hardships and fear are two things that can spoil the peace God wants for us. It’s up to each of us to choose how we handle our troubles. Some troubles are worse than others, but when you are the one facing a tough situation, do you choose to honor God? The best place to learn how to handle life’s troubles is to look to Scripture.

Can you find any one of the heroes listed in Hebrews chapter 11 who didn’t face adversity? Each one faced a problem but rose above the situation as they depended upon God. Abel was hated by his brother Cain but honored God with proper sacrifices. Enoch lived in a time before God’s judgment, but in spite of the wickedness in the world, he walked with God and didn’t walk with Satan. Noah chose to follow God’s ways in spite of the wickedness, and his faith was rewarded.

In the Old Testament, we read about King David, who faced lots of adversity. But as we read his story, we can see some of his problems came from making bad choices, such as impregnating Bathsheba and then making sure her husband died in battle. David’s sons, Amnon and Absalom, were bad dudes. Amnon raped his sister, Tamar, and Absalom usurped the Kingdom from David and tried to kill David. Maybe they should have been disciplined more as children, and maybe they should have been schooled in God’s law. No matter what, David found peace in the Lord.

Everyone sins. Anger is a sin. Disrespecting parents is a sin. Putting anything ahead of God is a sin. Read through the 10 Commandments and see which ones you break. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

We all deserve God’s punishment, but His love for us is greater than our sin. Jesus chose to enter His creation in order to give eternal life to anybody who truly believes in His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus, God incarnate, shed His blood as the final atonement for sin. When we repent and accept His sacrifice for salvation, quite often we become a target for Satan’s minions to attack.

I know this was true for my husband, but his way to combat the attack was to draw closer to God. That should be how all of us face adversity. My husband, Ron, had a neurological disease that attacked his muscles. His eyelids wouldn’t stay open, and even a faint light would cause pain in his eyes. I would watch as he held his eyelids up with one hand and typed with the other hand in order to finish a commentary. His purpose was to glorify God no matter what Satan threw in his way. Ron served Christ until he drew his last breath. Ron was content in his faith in Jesus, no matter what he suffered in life.

Let’s take a look at just one of the many men who served Christ even in the face of adversity. The Apostle Paul wasn’t always a good guy. If he had been a cowboy, he would have worn a black hat. He had anger and rage against Christians. Why? Mainly because he served the powers of darkness instead of walking in the light of Jesus. He was a young man with a promising future. He was the son of a Pharisee and studied under a well-respected teacher, Gamaliel. Paul was a brilliant person who knew Jewish Law well. He was also a citizen of Rome. He never denied his Jewish roots, but neither did he deny Christ after meeting Him on the road to Damascus.

“But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question” (Acts 23:6).

We can draw courage from Paul. He was facing trial and imprisonment, and many wanted to kill him, but he never denied Christ. This wasn’t the first time Paul faced adversity. In writing to the congregation in Corinth, Paul listed some of his hardships. People in Corinth were questioning his authority as an Apostle, and he cited his adversity as qualifications for the apostleship.

“Are they ministers of Christ (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep: in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27).

That’s quite a resume. Paul wasn’t bragging but stating facts. Today, so-called ministers of Christ (whether in the pulpit or supposed missionaries) are so afraid of mentioning Christ and teaching Scripture that the Gospel isn’t being shared. We need more men like Paul.

The experiences that Paul had while spreading the Gospel would have discouraged most people. I’m not sure how much I would be able to endure, but Paul is a wonderful example of being content to serve Christ in spite of circumstances. Paul also understood the reason that God allowed such things in his life.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure” (2 Corinthians 12:7).

He understood that his troubles kept him humble. That doesn’t mean he was happy about the problems. “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me” (2 Corinthians 12:8).

There are many speculations as to what the “thorn in the flesh” was. Some believe it was a serious eye problem. Some think he was speaking of his many beatings. Some even think it was a person who followed him and tried to interfere with his ministry. My feeling is that we aren’t told exactly what the thorn was so that whatever plagues our life, we can draw strength from Paul’s plight. In his letter to the Ephesian congregation, Paul spoke of spiritual warfare. Paul was an expert in spiritual fights. When describing the armor of God, the last item listed was prayer. It’s a good thing to ask fellow Christians to pray for our troubles, and Paul did just that.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20).

An ambassador represents his nation and its leader. Paul represented his Lord, and he needed to speak boldly in spite of the dangers. It is very important for all Christians to know that we are encouraged to go to the Lord in prayer for our own “thorn in the flesh,” but we need to also submit to God and represent Him well.

When we see things from God’s perspective, our outlook can change. When we can see the “why” behind the trouble, it can change our attitude and help us to be content.

Many centuries before Paul lived, there was a young man who was the apple of his father’s eye. His name was Joseph, the son of Jacob. He had 1l older brothers who were very jealous of him and resented their father’s love for him. One day their anger overcame their senses, and they sold him into slavery, then told their father he was dead.

How could God possibly bless these guys?

Joseph spent years in Egypt as a slave and suffered many hardships. He did have a gift of interpreting dreams, and one day, Pharaoh had a troubling dream. Joseph was asked to interpret it, which he did. Famine was coming, and Pharaoh needed to make provisions for the coming time of famine. Joseph was put in charge of the plans and promoted to the second highest position in government. Eventually, the famine did come, and Jacob and his family were affected. So, the 11 brothers were sent to Egypt to buy food for survival. They had no idea their younger brother, Joseph, was the one who would either give them food or deny them. It’s a long and interesting story, but Joseph did grant them the food and eventually revealed who he was. They were shocked, to say the least.

We can take a lesson from Joseph’s words to them. “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 50:20).

Whatever your plight, use it to glorify God and let God work his blessings through you. You never know how many people will be blessed by your obedience to God. Be content.

One of the cities where Paul received a whipping and was imprisoned was Philippi. It was there that he and Silas were chained in a dungeon. They didn’t have a pity party but prayed and sang. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25).

Then a large earthquake happened, the doors of the prison were flung open, and the chains were loosened. If the prisoners escaped, the warden would be executed. The witness of Paul and Silas changed hearts, and nobody escaped. The jailer, not knowing that, thought suicide was his only option. “But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying Do thyself no harm: for we are all here” (Acts 16:28).

Because of the singing and praying, the prisoners stayed put and the jailer came to a saving faith in Christ. He asked how to be saved “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31).

The jailer’s faith wouldn’t save his family; they would have to make their own decision to follow Christ, but his changed life would influence them. It seems that God did a great work in Philippi because a congregation was established there. Paul wrote a letter to them in which he thanked them for providing for his needs.

“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:10-11).

That’s the key to joy in the Lord. Pray for your own needs, pray for the needs of others, but be content with whatever God’s answer is to your request.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews admonishes us to be content. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what men shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

The word “conversation” is from the Greek word “tropos” and means your manner of life. Hold tight to the promise that Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. He loves you and gave his life to redeem you. Be content in your life, and glorify Him in all you do.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com

www.prophecyupdate.com

www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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Compromise and the Second Law of Thermodynamics :: By Dave Hubley

Published on: June 19, 2022 by RR7

(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion)

Lately, I have noticed a fair number of articles related to these two seemingly unrelated (but I think they are very related) conditions.

Bear with me here. We are going to what I hope is an edifying conclusion.

In the case of compromise, it is a human-initiated action designed to achieve an agreed-upon result. On the surface, it seems very reasonable, but it will almost always result in a degradation of the original concept or condition.

A definition is provided below in order to clarify its meaning.

Compromise

Merriam-Webster Definition of compromise
1a: settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions
b: something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things
2: a concession to something derogatory or prejudicial, a compromise of principles

The Second Law of Thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics, by contrast, is a naturally occurring condition. I believe that this natural condition is intentionally programmed into His creation by the Lord of creation and for a very specific purpose. Since it applies to every single aspect encountered in life, including (and maybe especially) our human bodies (and thus, our minds and behavior), it should be carefully considered when we formulate our world view.

A good definition, I believe, appears below, provided by (janesclear.com).

It drives many of the problems we face and leads to disarray. It is the one force that governs everybody’s life: Entropy.

Here’s the crucial thing about entropy: it always increases over time. It is the natural tendency of things to lose order. Left to its own devices, life will always become less structured. Sand castles get washed away. Weeds overtake gardens. Ancient ruins crumble. Cars begin to rust. People gradually age. With enough time, even mountains erode and their precise edges become rounded. The inevitable trend is that things become less organized. This is known as the Second Law of Thermodynamics. It is one of the foundational concepts of chemistry, and it is one of the fundamental laws of our universe. The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the entropy of a closed system will never decrease.

It is, perhaps, like the elephant in the room; impossible to ignore.

Let’s take a look at an example of how compromise is used to accelerate entropy in practical terms.

Suppose a state or federal government determines to set aside an area as a park or preserve. Not everyone will support it, and it will require much in the way of debate, discussion and negotiation with those who do. Some of it may be quite contentious.

If eventually an agreement is reached, the foundation of the agreement is confirmed and established by being “legalized” by all the various parties concerned.

After some years, some people who did not really like the end result that they had agreed to initially come along and try to “change” things to reflect what they want. They try to “modify” the original agreement after the fact. This is where the word “compromise” potentially (and most often) becomes a stumbling block and an evil, especially when it is attempted unscrupulously.

If there is a partial giving in to this tactic, the original intent and purpose of the park/preserve becomes weakened. Perhaps it is not really noticeable initially, but it is true nonetheless.

More years may pass, and the process of “compromise” is revived and employed, resulting in further degradation.

At some point, the original purpose of the park or preserve can be, and often is, degraded to the point where it is almost unrecognizable. Compromise has then hastened the process of entropy.

Compromise can also be a factor in the new car/truck/etc. you bought. The manufacturer may cut a few quality corners (compromise) in order to increase profits (greed), and as a result, your vehicle turns into a fruit. A lemon. A money pit. We have all likely had some experience with that.

Entropy never improves or even stays static; it only degrades.

This, when considered in light of the present day, explains a great deal about so many of the things/events we see, which frequently cause us to say, “Why are they doing this!?” or, “What on earth is going on?”

Well, there are the key words: “ON EARTH.” You can rest assured that in heaven, there is no compromise, and there is no entropy. You can, in fact, bet your life on it.

No, continual and repeated compromise is a staple of conduct in the world of humans, and accelerated entropy is the result of it. Look at the horrific mess that has come about because of it. This especially applies when these repeated compromises are to laws, precepts and principles.

I believe that we, in our natural state, have heart trouble.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Even after we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we must contend with that fact. The difference is that we never wanted to contend with it in our natural selves. But now, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit who has changed our hearts to desire His Spirit. We are now enabled to fight back against it.

I believe that is one of the (benefits??) of still having that sin nature to contend with. In hating it, we focus our eyes, spirits and hearts on the future guarantee we have from the Sovereign Lord Himself.

For now, while we are here in this life, we are subject to all the laws that have been determined by God and enacted by Him in this physical world.

This all sounds pretty depressing and hopeless, doesn’t it?

Well, it isn’t, not at all.

When being made aware of conditions under which a compromise was not possible, Jesus’ disciples asked of Him, “Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible'” (Mark 10:26-27; Matthew 19:26).

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

And so, we continue to patiently wait, pray without ceasing, and honor the Lord in the things we think, do and say. We focus on Him and His promises and keep on “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Now to the crux of this article.

There is a single exception to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, and it has everything to do with the Sovereign Lord of creation.

This exception, however, will not take effect unless we have received Jesus Christ as our Savior and believe in Him as the Son of the Living God. That is the way that God has determined it to be, and, therefore, that is the way, the only way, that it is.

This exception will also not be realized in this life, but it will in the next, just as God has intended it to be from before the foundation of this present world. The life promised to all those who receive the sacrifice Christ made for all who receive Him, and Him alone, as their Savior.

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

When the conditions under which we must be saved are enumerated, the word “compromise” has no place. If tried, it becomes an evil. There cannot be any negotiation, debate or discussion. God has determined the requirements, and they are fixed in stone.

Rejoice, brothers and sisters, for we have the Rock of our salvation, and He cannot be moved!

Rejoice, you who are seeking after righteousness, for you can have what you seek and have that same Rock that cannot be moved. Solid, Trustworthy and True. Characteristics you cannot find in this worldly system of compromise and entropy. If you are one of those who earnestly are seeking, please continue to read.

For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore have no hope or peace in your life:

You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior.

It requires that you come before God on His terms.

And, what are His terms according to His Word?

Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.

God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.

No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.

If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.

John 5:24: Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life.

There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.

The answers are in the Word of God. The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Pro Salvator Vigilans

To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com