Fear and Virginia Tech

©copyright 2007 Bonita M Quesinberry, R.C.  

Proverbs 10:12—Hatred stirreth up strifes . . .

Matthew 5:44-48—But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Proverbs says it all; for the young Virginia Tech man, Cho, who fired his guns indiscriminately, was filled with rage and hate, as evidenced by some of his writings and recordings revealed since the massacre he waged: over what and/or at whom, we do not know for certain and might never know. In his own words, it does seem that his rage was fueled by depression, being an outsider and a loner, the inequity of greed and horror of pedophilia: this latter quite possibly an indication he might once have been a victim.

Matthew’s admonition, however, is what we all need to keep in mind during the days and months of grieving that already have begun. Satan would like nothing better than for us to seek revenge, find someone to blame and hold accountable in a court of law: none of which would serve to good. Therefore, let us NOT fall into Satan’s trap of anger and revenge and non-forgiveness. Cho is the one we need to forgive; that forgiveness is about the person, not the crime he or she commits against others and God. Forgiveness is the crucial key to healing the wounds caused by this atrocity. And, true forgiveness comes only by “perfect love” within each person.

Having buried two children of my own, I fully understand what the families of those killed are going through: the anger at young Cho’s audacity, grief over the loss of a loved one, and even blaming self for some imagined failure to protect them along with a sense of helplessness. The gamut of emotions experienced at this time can be almost overwhelming as the victims’ families move through our world in a haze of shock and disbelief: it is a time to embrace God and Christ; for only They can pull each person involved through this dark nightmare and back into His light of wisdom.

Already, many are questioning the actions of Virginia Tech officials and the local police: an effort in futility; for there is not one thing any of us can do to prevent such tragedies from occurring. There is no law, neither man’s nor God’s, that can enforce morality; for every human is born with a power of choice, over which we have no control except within self.

In light of evidence to date, Cho had carefully and methodically planned not only the death of as many as he could reach but also his own; and, despite the fact he previously had been declared a danger to himself, there was no way anyone could have predicted he would be a danger to others. And, under current laws, there is little anyone can do to prevent possibilities; man’s laws can prevent only additional acts by a known criminal, if utililized to their maximum capability: Cho was not a known criminal.

As much as we want to believe we can protect our loved ones, and do our best to do just that, not one human is infallible; not even man’s laws: only God holds this distinction. What we need to question at this time is whether or not we, the survivors, are living our lives in accordance with God’s Word and His Ways; for, in the end, this is all that will matter and will determine whether or not we see our departed loved ones again.

We also need to remember that we are living in earth’s end days; a period the Bible describes as a time of horrors; God’s last-ditch effort to get wayward people to repent and turn back to Him and His ways: He is pouring out His wrath— not by Cho’s act, rather in the elements and wars— showing us that we cannot prevent Him, no matter how arrogantly man seems to think he can. Jesus, however, assures His sheep that He will cut short this painful age so accurately described in Psalm c.91, paraphrased: “Though a thousand fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand, I shall not fear and the [last] plagues shall not come near me.” 

Isaiah 57:1-2

“The righteous perish and no one takes it to heart; and, merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.”

The comfort in Isaiah’s words is that when we lose those we love from acts of violence in these end days, God is actually sparing them from even worse to come. As He tells us in prophecy about these end days, “The wicked grow worse and worse.” Thus, we cannot expect things to improve or form new laws or other so called preventive measures that will put a stop to many of the terrors we have witnessed since 1991: the likes of Columbine and other pre-college schools, 9/11, the Amish murders, and now Virginia Tech. Add to these the death tolls from various natural elements, such as the Indian Ocean tsunami, as well as wars. Each year, since 1991, has been exponentially worse than the year before.

So many are living in fear, more so today than ever before: fear of events like Virginia Tech or deadly storms or earthquakes or volcanoes or death in combat. We have no need to live in fear; for the Word tells us that, if we have the “perfect love” of God within us, then “perfect love casts out fear.” We should not fear anything that mankind or the elements can do to these flesh bodies; after all, these bodies are not who we are.

We must grieve with those who are grieving, weep with them, and pray for them, asking that God have mercy on us all; including Cho. Time is short and death is no respecter of age, young or old: it makes no difference. Any of us could die in the wink of an eye, so it doesn’t even matter that earth might go on for another 6000 years or end tomorrow. What matters is whether or not we live up to God’s Doctrine, and only His, and have the faith of and in His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: bottomline, there is nothing and no one else by which we are judged.

If you were to die unexpectedly tomorrow, as did those massacred at Virginia Tech, would all of your personal affairs be in order? More importantly, are you living God’s Word instead of “man’s commandments and traditions taught in God’s name?” Suppose, for a moment, that you had heard and even read God’s Truth and, at the time knew it was the truth, perhaps even followed it for awhile, then turned from it in favor of man’s teachings, wherein the majority walk: because it seems the easier, the more comfortable thing to do.

Do you really want to risk discovering you were wrong to refuse full and permanent compliance AFTER it is too late to change? Don’t think this will not happen. According to God’s Word, “the wicked die at the brightness of Christ’s coming and instantly know perfectly why they are left behind dead.” Death of the flesh is final; thus, at the time our bodies die, we are stuck with and judged according to where we stood spiritually in that precise moment: one position guarantees life eternal, while the other warrants everlasting death; the second death to follow, as it were.

Let us not fall into Satan’s trap of fear, anger, revenge and unforgiving spirits. Let us remember the Amish, who reached out in forgiveness for the man who murdered their children. Let us reach out in forgiveness for Cho, for he was a hurting young man; one to whom no one had reached out in love to sooth his wounds. Rather, only authorities had reached out in ways that hurt him more and fueled his indignation and rage.

There is only one proven way to eliminate fear from our lives: “Love God with all your heart and soul and might and mind; and, love your neighbor as you love yourself. Upon these two depend all the Law.” The Bible further clarifies: “We know we love God, and the children of God, because we obey His [Ten] Commandments . . . as given in the beginning.”

It is unequivocally testified here that God’s Word is true and it does eliminate all fear when we obey Him and have faith like that of Jesus. We make the choice to live in fear or to live without fear; which is to say, we choose our master: Lucifer or God. Revelation clearly states that the “fearful” will not enter the gates of heaven; rather, they are counted among the wicked. Therefore, fear, at the deeper level of our spiritual being, definitely is a fear of the second death; which is utter destruction to nevermore exist. Our spirit being knows, without doubt, whether we are or are not in compliance with God. If we experience fear, we are not obedient to God and His Christ.

It is an awesome feeling to experience a total lack of fear of dying by any manner, whether by disease or drunk driver or murderer or horrendous natural elements or even by God’s Almighty Hand. When He slays the flesh body of His children, it is to give us rest and to spare us from the horrors of these end days. It is a different matter altogether for those who die without Christ: their spirit being weeps and wails and grinds their teeth, knowing a second death is the only thing yet to come.

Living without a drop of fear definitely is one of God’s blessings in this temporary here and now. It simply doesn’t matter what happens to this flesh body. What matters is the spirit being who gives the flesh its temporary life; for that is who we truly are. Praise the Lord, we are not these pitiful, defiled bodies!

Let us love and forgive and love even more; for in these fear cannot exist.

~~ end Sabbath Lesson of 04/21/07

Truth Seekers and Speakers 

excerpt ­Bind Up the Testimony, Seal the Law, a spiritual/Biblical interpretation of The Revelation, paraphrased chronologically; ref: redemption. Order from any local or online bookstore. Amazon.com offers lowest pricing. 

  

To My Word Press Friends

First, I would like to thank all of you for reading the Biblical pieces I post for our awesome Father and His Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Second, please accept my apology for not keeping up with your postings.

 Alas, I have spent most of my time in the last month and a half preparing to move, in accordance with the agreement I previously made with the property trustee. I am all packed to the point of simply load and unload; so, now it’s just a waiting game until Mason County Housing approves my application for a unit waiting for me in Shelton; about an hour from where I currently live and an hour closer to my daughter in Portland OR. She’d rather I be closer still.

I am hoping the move will take place before the end of this month (April), inasmuch as my neurosurgeon has scheduled an angiogram for the 25th of May. Hopefully, they will be able to determine why I have been experiencing daily migraines and a lot of vomiting. YUCK! My primary doctor also will be scheduling an MRI of my brain, because it will show her what the angiogram will not show. Doctors are curious creatures, aren’t they? LOL!

 Anyway, I likely will be disassembling my desk and computer system within the next week or so and may not get back up and running for about two weeks. So, please know that all of you are in my prayers and I ask that you keep me in your prayers.

GOD IS GOOD!

Much love, hugs and prayers, BonnieQ

In Remembrance of Christ

In Remembrance of Christ

©copyright 2007 Bonita M Quesinberry, R.C.

At Christ’s last Passover meal, He took bread and blessed it, then divided it among His disciples as He said, “This is my body, which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me. He took the cup [of wine] and gave thanks, then gave it to them, saying, “Drink all of it, for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many so they might repent of [past] sins. As often as you take of the bread and wine, do it in remembrance of me.” (Matthew 26:26-28; I Corinthians 11:23-25; Romans 3:23-25)

Sunday, 08 April 2007, corporate Christendom celebrates Easter: a pagan festival to a sun god, a floating holiday determined by one of the sun’s twice annual solstice seasons. They say hey it is to celebrate Christ’s resurrection after His crucifixion: Jesus charged, “You teach man’s commandments and traditions for God.” It is common knowledge Easter is pagan, so they now call it “Resurrection Sunday;” though it hardly removes the stench of false gods and many blasphemous festivals to each one: no matter what it is called.

There is no Bible verse instructing Christ’s sheep to observe heathen rituals in His or God’s name, to say the least. Contrarily and evidenced by the Bible, Jesus instructed observance of Passover in remembrance of His sacrifice for us: just as Jews observe Passover in remembrance of God freeing them from Egypt’s oppression of 400 years.

Prior to Messiah’s arrival, this Jewish ordinance was observed once annually: a two-day ritual held on 30 March and 01 April, or the appropriate dates that fell on a Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday began the ceremonies of preparing an unblemished lamb and cooking it, then it was eaten on Wednesday: careful to break no bone in the process. Thursday was the final Passover ceremony: a rejoicing of freedom from bondage.

Jesus changed that to “as often as we desire:” Passover would now be remembrance of His sacrifice and rejoicing of freedom from sin’s bondage. Scripturally, it is evident He did not desire an annual ceremony to celebrate His resurrection: and, neither did the Apostles and disciples celebrate it at the time it occurred or during their many years thereafter. When Jesus was removed from the cross, before sundown Thursday, the rich man Joseph requested and claimed Christ’s body, then placed Him in his tomb after wrapping it in clean linen. The two Mary(s), followers of Jesus, were preparing oils for His body on Friday; but before the task was completed, sunset Friday began Sabbath, preventing this pre-burial practice. Sunday, the third day, they found Jesus gone as prophesied: He arose on the third day.

Christ was arrested following the Passover meal on Wednesday; Thursday He was crucified then placed in a tomb that afternoon: in the grave sundown Thursday to sundown Friday— first day. He remained in the grave Friday sundown to Saturday sundown— second day, the 4th Precept Sabbath— then He arose on Sunday, the third day. Burial preparation had been thwarted; as Jesus taught us, He was never dead and, as He instructed, “Let the [spiritually] dead bury the dead.” He was merely sleeping; thus there was not a “dead Christ” for the “spiritually dead to prepare.” Since His followers were not spiritually dead, their efforts to prepare Him for burial were prevented.

Not only was Passover symbolic of the Jews’ survival of and freedom from Egypt’s bondage, but the ordinance also prophesied part of “better to come:” Christ’s crucifixion, not one bone broken, then His continued life noted by His resurrection, followed by the witnessed account of His ascension to heaven. Passover now symbolizes the same thing for His sheep. Review “Christ’s Birth, Death, and Resurrection” for more scriptural details.

Corporate Christendom— the great whore and her harlot daughters, as it were— have included so many pagan rituals, customs and even icons into God’s Word: the very same things Israel did, which kindled God’s anger against them. God and Jesus as well as His Apostles, told us not to do the things Israel had done: IF we want life eternal. Israel is our example from God of what pleases Him and what causes His wrath.

How many ways can it be said, “Do nothing more and nothing less than exactly what God and Christ instructed and sanctified,” before the majority finally have a light-bulb moment? Yet, every time this particular subject is brought up, professing Christians adamantly declare, “It does not matter, because we do it for the Lord and He knows our hearts!” Indeed, God recognizes rebellious hearts; for it DOES matter— “You will die for your lack of obedience”— and as long as people continue to include rituals and traditions and days that God did not write with His own hand and sanctified by His own words, and as Jesus, together with His Apostles, lived and taught, then those same people, “who appear godly but lack God’s power,” are writing their own eternal death sentences.

The year 2007 calendar reflected Passover as Tuesday, 03 April. Did anyone think to observe this vitally important ordinance? Or, was it thought, “That’s for Jews only, not us Christians.” Such thoughts cause one to err greatly; for our Lord and Saviour Jesus established the same Jewish ordinance for His sheep: Jew and Gentile alike. After all, if we follow in Jesus’ footsteps and obey His Father, as He instructed, then we became Jews by adoption. Nevertheless, it is a matter of doing ONLY what God and Christ ordain.

Heed the warnings and change to God’s ways, forsaking “man’s commandments and traditions;” for the day fast approaches when it will be too late for atonement: Christ soon will be in the clouds taking up those who have repented. To those who fail to comply, God says they will “know perfectly why they are left behind dead.”

Those taken up endured persecution for Jesus’ sake, instead of following after Satan’s huge herd of goats: it seems easier to conform to the majority than to stand with a persecuted minority. All taken up to meet Christ in the air are a minority, small flocks of sheep who rejoice in persecutions; for those things reveal God’s seal upon them.

Do you want to rejoice in persecutions, thereby assured of a heavenly destination? Love God and Christ and your fellow mankind with “a perfect love;” have the “faith of Christ” in the face of death, and “obey our Father’s Law.” HEED THE WARNINGS!

~~ end Sabbath Lesson of 04/07/07