--- What Is Possible? ---
Are you doing works greater
than Jesus Christ?*1a & 1b (John 14:12)
Do we  influence  "control" our future?

Written: December 2023

Do you fear all the great turmoil in this world, generated by the near total loss of respect for law and order, and even for basic integrity... Lying has become the norm! (John 8:42-45) It is causing one government after another to falter and fail under the onslaught and burden of that rebelliousness and hate and chaos. Does that cause you concern about your future?

This picture is 50 years old.
Imagine what the artist would think of our day?

Wouldn't it be a foolish person who didn't consider this world's tribulation a threat? But, may be, people who feel protected by God don't feel that fear... It does seem nearly everyone alive is seeking some form of protection, each joined as part of some or other sect or movement of mankind; many chanting "no justice, no peace," in what usually amounts to a terroristic threat! And, no matter how misguided or judgmental they might be, they all feel completely justified in their cause. (Mat 27:25 of 24-26) That self-righteousness is perhaps the most terrifying thing about it! Armed with what they imagine is justification, and sometimes even thinking they have God's blessing, many are prepared to do anything at all to get their way! Some have been so completely fooled as to imagine they are serving God by shooting or blowing up children... Don't worry, all that badness is being stopped. That is to say, it is likely righteous individuals are already being protected... Pray for your deliverance! Remember, all this wickedness (Rom 1:24-32) has been tolerated by God in preparation for our day's judgment period, for "his" day of judgment. (Acts 17:29-31) My love for mankind, my love for you, is manifest and set before your eyes in this letter. It is my best effort to detail what I have learned, as viewed from the perspective of our last days; (Luke 1-4) that is, to set my Bible faith in order as it applies to "our" day in the Bible's revealed stream of time: (Luke 1:3-4) Jesus taught the things we see happening today indicates we are each one, all of mankind is, facing a cataclysmic life altering event. (Mat 24:37-39) The terrors you rightly do recognize in this world are "your" sign Jesus told you to watch for. (Luke 21:25-28) Having noted that sign, and gaining some additional insight from God's Word,  we are all  all people of good sense and good will are trying to figure out how to be blessed by God! (1 Cor 4:1-5; Job 33:24-25 of 13-30) Be careful: There are liars about... (Mat 7:15) Only the Bible, and more specifically the words of Jesus Christ, (Mat 17:5) can be depended on to explain how to please God. (John 6:28-29) Don't be fooled by any person or sect asserting your salvation is tied to them. It doesn't matter what any man or group thinks of you. (1 Cor 4:3 of 3-5) It is dangerous and makes you foolish if you put your faith in any human group; groveling for their approval and directions for your life. (John 5:43-44) Jesus "did warn" you should shun sectarian group approval. (Luke 6:26; Mat 24:23-28) In view of Jesus's teachings, what you and I should each be asking ourselves is this: "What is possible; 'for me?' Do I control 'my' immediate future and what does it hold?" Please consider this loving request: Could I convince you to believe, or at least to seriously consider, the same thing I myself am trying to believe... My best effort is to have faith, to maintain a real day in and day out belief, that what is actually possible for me [or YOU] is exactly what "I believe" is possible [or, what you believe is possible for YOU]. To clarify, then, what you "believe" will happen to you is what "will" happen. For me too, of course! Anything we have an unwavering scriptural faith in; that is our future! And here is what is important about my saying it: That is exactly what Jesus Christ taught... (Mat 8:13; Luke 6:19; Mat 9:27‑30; Mat 9:22; Eph 2:8; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42; Acts 14:9; Luke 8:48 of 42‑48; John 7:37‑39; John 19:34) Please try and seriously consider the reality that "your own personal faith" defines "your future," if, of course, that future aligns with these scriptures. If you are like me, that will be a new thougt; and maybe, hard to believe! You see, I have always been a cause and effect kind of guy. If I couldn't see it, touch it, hear it, smell it or taste it, and understand how it works so as to repeat it at will, I didn't "really believe." Even so, and somewhat in conflict with that thinking, I have believed in God since I have memories. [Don't know where I got my faith in God; it almost seems like it came with me at conception. (Rom 1:18-20) Family influence likely did help!] Anyway... Without understanding or maybe even realizing, I have all my life entertained that internal contradiction between believing what I can "know" to be real must be only what I can perceive through my five senses; and at the same time, attempting to have faith in God and his son and in the Bible's being "God's letter" to me... Aaaah! The ignorance and anguish of youth...?

For you to comprehend, or certainly to seriously consider what is now being set before you, will require some basic faith on your part. To start, you must be one of us who believe there is a God and Creator who both exists and is good. (Heb 11:6) Following that basic foundation of faith, you must believe in the cornerstone of "Christian" faith: That Jesus Christ is the son our God sent to reveal God. (Eph 2:20 of 11-22; Luke 2:34-35 of 25-38; John 1:14-18; John 3:16-21) Then, or maybe in part as a basis for faith, you must believe in the Bible as the word of God; (2 Tim 3:16-17) while giving special attention to the message Christ delivered (Mat 17:5) in the Gospels recording his life and teachings. (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) It would also seem you need some basic understanding of that Bible Theme. Then, with that basic faith in hand, please consider:

Jesus said something about your future that might be the most valuable words you have ever heard:
Matthew 24:37-39 . . .For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 38 For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; 39 and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence [or second coming] of the Son of man will be.

Did you note about the earth full of people who were destroyed in Noah's day, that they took no note, not even one of them took note... [Or, "they had no care" as another translation words it.] If any one of them had taken God's warning seriously, he or she could surely have joined Noah in building the Ark; and preserved themselves alive. They all died because they took no note, though, of what? Was what they overlooked something hard to notice?

They every one died because they failed to take to heart God's warning. It was absolutely not, however, because they "didn't actually know" about it... Noah and his family spent 50 or 60 years warning them and constructing the Ark up on the side of a mountain far from water. The Ark was at least 1 and 1/2 football fields long and a little wider than a football field. It was over 45 feet tall. Their neighbors and no doubt the whole earth heard about "Noah's project," which their world obviously dismissed as foolishness. The Bible makes clear that Noah, as a "preacher of righteousness," did his best to let everyone know they were facing a cataclysmic event; the destruction of the entire earth. (2 Pet 3:6 of 5-7; 2 Pet 2:5 of 5-9) Still, the whole of that old world took no note until the flood came and swept them all away. What about you... Are you taking note? But once again for us alive today, "taking note," of what?

Mankind is once again facing the destruction of the earth by God! And, once again, it is impossible for sensible people to avoid being aware! (Mat 24:37-39) There are, of course, those fools who say our day is no different from the past... (2 Pet 3:3-7) Please! We read above where Jesus said his return would be just like the days of Noah, with, it seems logical to assume, most people once again paying no attention. He said something else that helps understand what YOU "should take note" of! He said:
Luke 21:25-28 “Also, there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and [its] agitation, 26 while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift YOUR heads up, because YOUR deliverance is getting near.”

All righteous people, all those who are seeking God and have found him in the Bible, (2 Chron 16:9) can now see the son of man coming [or that he has come, actually]; but invisibly to those without faith [as if he is "in the clouds"]. He is made visible to those who believe, by their faith in his words; in these words you are now reading! As Jesus also said:
Mark 13:19-23 ESV For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. (20) And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved [or, "no one will be left alive" - from the Contemporary English Version; "nobody would survive" - Good News Bible; "no flesh would have been kept from destruction" - Bible in Basic English] But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. (21) And then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. (22) For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect [the ones being chosen]. (23) But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

Those indicators making up the "sign(s)" Jesus mentioned are not hid in a corner. Are you one God has chosen for the preservation of life? (John 15:16 of 11-16; Mark 13:20) Everyone who is searching for God can clearly see the tribulation Jesus foretold... It was the fool who didn't notice Noah's preaching and construction work some 4500 years ago. It is the fool who today refuses to recognize the sign(s) Jesus told us to watch for. Also comprehend, everyone on the ancient earth was proved wicked by rejecting God's warning; except Noah and his family! Jesus says there in Mark 13, we will be just as foolish (or worse - Heb 10:26-31) if we pay no attention to the latter day sign Christ Jesus gave. One thing Jesus warned is the earth is full of religions worshipping false Gods. (Mark 13:22-23; 1 Kings 18:25-40) Today, we see a church for every little community, each with a different doctrine of teaching and with each condemning everyone who isn't a member. Why do they have different teachings and judge each other? Because they are all following their doctrines framed by men, instead of the Bible teachings by Christ. (Mat 15:9 of 6-9; John 5:44 of 39-44) Danger: The Bible  should  "must" be your only doctrine. If you have a baptism of membership approved by men, you likely don't know Christ... In addition to fake Christians, we have religions that "read" chicken bones thinking they are getting God's message, or dance around poles in the firelight, or worship and follow the words of some human or group. (Acts 17:29-31) Just like Jesus said, the earth is full of "false Christs and false prophets." (Mark 13:21-23) Then, right in among all the Religionists and anti-Religionists [those godless hordes who deny God's existence] of this world; in among all those ignorant or wicked individuals and groups joined in fighting among themselves to destroy each other and our world; (1 John 5:18-21; John 8:24) are those known only to God, known by having their names inscribed in heaven. (Luke 10:20) There in the midst of the chaos brought on themselves by wicked and/or ignorant humans,  "there are many"    "there are a few"  "there are some" individuals who actually are getting the sense of who God is (Mat 13:14-15) and demonstrating it by following God's command to listen to his son. (Mat 17:5) Is there a lot of us? Well, Jesus did say it will be just like the days of Noah... Danger: Actually following Christ is not something you can accomplish by following some sect of men. Some of them may mean well but... You must hear God's command (Mat 17:5) to read your Gospels and follow only Christ. (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) Another indicator Jesus gave is just recognizing the tribulation inself. He mentioned a whole big bunch of problems that would overwhelm the earth. (Mat 24:3-14) Today, we see em all! If his father didn't intervene, he went on to  warn  promise, no flesh would be left alive. (Mat 24:22) Are you different from the people of Noah's day? Do you recognize Jesus warned you to be on the watch to identify the wicked world we now see? (Mat 7:13-15)

Thank God He has intervened. If you will just express faith in the words of Jesus Christ, you can preserve yourself alive. (John 8:51; 2 Kings 5:1-14)

*1a Assuming the above described reasonably basic faith, then, please consider what is "really" [scripturally] possible for YOU? (Heb 5:11-6:3) It is a miracle nearly too wonderful for an imperfect human to comprehend: You can do works greater than Jesus Christ did... "What...?" I'm sure you must now be asking. It's not me saying it, though. Jesus Christ himself did say you could work works greater than he! (John 14:12) What greater works could we possibly work?*1b

If you claim faith in Jesus, you must have begun that journey by hearing and believing God's command to listen to everything Jesus said? (Mat 17:5) Do you also believe the Bible's account of everything Jesus did? (Mat 14:25-31) We must, right? If you truly believe in Jesus, doesn't that include abandoning your faith you can really and fully depend only on what your five senses can reveal to you? Our physical senses are our reliable window onto our physical world, but, the spiritual world is largely invisible to them. (2 Cor 4:16-18) Your faith must be your tool that opens your eyes into that spiritual world. (2 Kings 6:15-17)
[Recurring mental loop that seems consistent with or a part of growing to Christian maturity; start:*] Just being alive as witness to Creation logically demands a Creator. (Rom 1:19-20) The fact that God has existed forever, and will always be, "seems impossible." Him not existing, however, "is impossible." Logic defines there must be a cause for Creation! A "'big bang' series of happy accidents" explanation of our existence is just silly. And yet, the fact that all we see and know came into existence from the power of our Creator (Rev 4:10-11) still "seems impossible." After meditating on it all, however, trusting any explanation apart from the Bible is both "impossible" and nonsensical. So, after you have run through that seemingly inevitable loop [*restart loop]
in your mind the thousands or millions of times it takes to wear in a rut of acceptance and belief, what can we do with the faith we have reasoned out? (Rom 12:1-2)

Well, if you truly do believe in a grand and good Creator, and in his Son, you must believe everything the Bible says about Jesus. Here is where our required "new" thinking comes into play: Do you believe it is possible to walk on water? Well, but, do you really...? Jesus demonstrated it is possible to use God's spirit to do just that. (Mat 14:23-34) Peter also demonstrated it; until his faith wavered. That leads to the point of all this: Do you "believe" in the power of God's Spirit? Do you believe one of the things Jesus came to teach was how to make use of God's Spirit? (John 6:63) That is what he was teaching Peter when he questioned why Peter lost faith. (Mat 14:25-31) What do you think the Holy Spirit's limits are? Do you realize "your faith" is its only limit! (Mat 21:18-22) Tough questions, right? If you are a Christian with hope and faith to survive this tribulation, I believe your use of Holy Spirit will play a big part in your continuing alive. [Please know; I'm not talking about showing off your possession of spirit in front of others. That seems unlikely. People would flock to God only seeking his spirit. (John 6:26-29)] Jesus said our faith would save us. How? By God's spirit, of course! (Acts 10:38) If you believe it, it will happen for you! Jesus said it over and over and over... (Mat 8:13; Luke 6:19; Mat 9:27‑30; Mat 9:22; Eph 2:8; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42; Acts 14:9; Luke 8:48 of 42‑48; John 7:37‑39; John 19:34) Do you have faith for the preserving alive of your soul? (Heb 10:37-39)

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