You might be depressed, nihilistic, even suicidal.
In world ruled by corporations, big government, and profits, your name is a number. You cannot truly be the unique and individual you.
You might only be able to resist as a member of some small, rag-tag group… doomed to failure. Is your only hope of success growing your group to a size that has the resources to topple the establishment?
But then you would be a faceless number in that developed group. You’d be a cog in that machine… again.
When you logically, realistically, and rationally ponder this world and its inevitable future, then death... even suicide seems like a dignified end. To believe otherwise is idealistic foolishness.
Yes, death is the dignified, sensible end. It’s completely reasonable given our crazy world.
Can death possibly be the solution? Yes, a death to dignity.
2 Corinthians 4:8-11 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
You’re not dead yet.
But you’re dying.
As youngsters, we did start with such potential.
Psalm 127:3-4
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
What happened to us?
Bastard children.
Did we have proper leadership? Fathers? Hebrews 12:8-9
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
How did we, as children, fall? Heroes. Galatians 4:2-3
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world
We began our existence in the world by wanting to fit in. We wanted to find our place.
Without proper leadership, we looked to the world.
Perhaps you wanted to brave like Hulk Hogan, or agile like Spider-Man, or inquisitive like Dora the Explorer, or rebellious like Princess Leia.
Pop culture features so many masks that you can appropriate to build you.
Role models.
As we grew up, we became sophisticated and discarded any notions of our Jedi-mindset or other Vulcan Star Crap. We became progressive activists, or conservative patriots, or evangelist Baptists. Labels.
Perhaps we are futurists waiting for Elon Musk’s latest space venture. Then we can have our same problems on Mars.
We came from the ground. Psalm 139:15
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Genesis 18:27
And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes
And we naturally return to the ground. Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Job 34:15
All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
But we have potential for upwards – beyond dust. Genesis 2:7
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Ecclesiastes 3:20-21
All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
1 Corinthians 15:47
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
What returns us to dust? Fire. Go look at a burned up body. Or a burned house. Or a burned car.
If the fire is hot enough, then only simple remains are left – black soot, ashes.
God’s Word is fire. Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
2 Thessalonians 1:8
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ...
God’s Word in a man of God’s mouth has the same authority. Jeremiah 5:14
Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
Revelation 11:5
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Fire tests and consumes. 2 Chronicles 7:1
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
Amos 1:10
But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.
Exodus 9:8-11
And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.
And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.
And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
That which is of God survives the fire. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Acts 2:3-4
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Daniel 3:27
And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
Exodus 3:2-3
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
Deuteronomy 4:20
But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, evenout of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.
What have you done with the Word? James 3:5-6
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Potential. Breath: John 20:22
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost
But for most of us: Job 17:1
My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
God’s Word that is fire judges us. The Law mandates death for us. Leviticus 24:16-17
And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.
And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death;
We might be cremated (fire) after death, or we might decay in the grave (with worms and other ugly creatures). Mark 9:43-44
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Revelation 20:15
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Fire or decaying with worms will reduce us to simplicities… back to dust and ashes.
One simple label for those inheriting eternal torment, rather than eternal life. Revelation 14:10-11
…and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Yes, you are not dead yet. But you are dying.
Why? Corruption.
You became sensible and dignified. We all did.
We had to get jobs, or become entrepreneurial and sell.
We had to conform to the world to fit in.
We had to do sensible things like get life insurance and a retirement fund. Common sense.
When we were children, we weren’t dignified and corporate. Luke 18:16-17
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
We, as children, for the most part, didn’t have to be concerned about our unemployment or our paying the rent or mortgage. Similarly, Jesus had his Father’s bankroll.
Matthew 17:25-27
…of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
Matthew 6:25-26
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
As children, we were more humble, teachable, and open-minded – and we could express who we were – no corporate conformity, no dignity required. As adults, we are dying.
Look at our dying this way.
Right now, technology leaders have digitized the earth: Google Maps, Google Streetview, Google Earth, Driving directions.
And now, they want to digitize you.
And they can. Would it really be that difficult?
Perhaps you are a cashier at the supermarket. The machine knows your shifts, and tracks your commute via your car insurance app or chipped bus pass.
Your fellowship consists of saying to customers algorithmic niceties: “How are you? I’m fine.” “Would you like bags?” “How will you be paying?” “Do you have a points card?” “Would you like your receipt?” “Thank you.”
Cashier::Cashier (string name, string pointscard, char paymentmethod) {
this->name = name;
setPointscard (pointscard); // After ‘Hello’ and Call setter to check for valid pointscard
if (paymentmethod == 'creditcard' || paymentmethod == 'debitcard') {
this-> paymentmethod = paymentmethod;
} else {
cout << "Invalid paymentmethod! Set to 'u' (unknown)." << endl;
this-> paymentmethod = 'u';
}
}
The algorithm for you is to dress in whatever fashion that the machine promotes.
Your morals are easy to digitize, as you are inside that Overton Window (acceptable right-wing versus left-wing behaviour).
Ironically, the open-minded, teachable nature of children that we need – is also a weakness.
Ephesians 5:6
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
As adults, we succumb to the vulnerable side of children, as we believe in fables like Santa Claus and evolution.
(You would never believe that your bicycle could randomly assemble itself over millions or billions of years, but you believe that the human body, which is drastically more complex, could do so.)
We believe whatever the machine promotes. Ephesians 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Perhaps you are an office or factory worker.
Digitizing you is easy. You work Monday to Friday, and drink/party on the weekend.
You have your acceptable office jokes (non-offensive), and do the same monthly procedures.
“Oh, it’s month end – going to busy.”
Perhaps you are right-wing. Point out the hypocrisies of the other side, while ignoring your own hypocrisies – championing freedom of speech while censoring freedom of expression. "That little girl over there is playing 'dress up' like a grown up and she's dancing. But we'll label that dance as a 'twerk' or a 'booty' dance – so we can censor it. But feel free to look at posed, little boys in speedos."
Perhaps you are progressive. Scream “racist, misogynist, bigot.”
You’re just 1001010100010110111000011010 – binary programmable code to the machine.
You are so predictable. Simple and uncomplicated like dust and ashes.
The human race thanks Satan. Job 17:13-16
If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.
Why would we thank Satan? Because the path to the Lord is difficult and not popular. Death is the easy way. Galatians 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
The quick road is for most. Psalm 55:14-15
We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
Ashes to Ashes:
Isaiah 66:24
And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Jeremiah 4:4
…lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
We thank Satan for Amazon. Amazon’s algorithms suggest our consumer expressions of ourselves, by showing what we want, based on our purchase history. Amazon categorizes us, simplifies us, labels us.
We thank Satan for Youtube. Youtube’s algorithms suggest what videos we might enjoy, by showing what we we want, based on our viewing history. Youtube categorizes us, simplifies us, labels us.
We are simple like dust and ashes. We are easily digitized.
We thank Satan for Microsoft. Microsoft software allows us to provide standardized email responses, based on vendor/customer categories.
I didn’t even have to type the above. I copied and pasted what our tech giants repeatedly do.
Why do parents enjoy children?
Kids say the darndest things. Their reactions are unforeseeable. They look up at all that is new and react in unexpected ways. Psalm 8:2
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
As children, we cannot be digitized.
We could express who we are (for better or worse), and be unpredictable.
We could naturally express ourselves (and be ourselves) with a smile, rather than the plastic smile of our commitment to customer service.
Satan fears that nature, as Amazon, Youtube and the rest of the machine cannot digitize us.
As we became adults, did we grow up-wards? Was our sensibility of unlimited complexity of God above or of the wisdom of the world downwards? 1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
But the reality is that we all thank Satan. Psalm 53:1-3
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
We are all corrupt. As we age, we all want that comfortable existence.
A predictable income, a predictable retirement fund… money.
While money is important and is a blessing in a practical way…
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
…we rely on our fat bank accounts. We have made it our strength. Psalm 49:6
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Job 27:15-19
Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.
Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.
The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.
Transition from wisdom and understanding to love of money: corruption. Ezekiel 28:4-6
With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;
The reality is that the corruptible you, who wants security and will play the corporate game, is easy to digitize. Technologists envision the day of resurrected you as an image, a hologram, or an android.
Would it be that difficult? Are you more complex than ashes and dust?
Algorithms for a conservative who loves those well-known Bible verses on t-shirts wouldn’t be that difficult to predict and program.
Hymns start at 10:30am on Sunday, communion at 11:15am, social time at 12:30pm… every week, every year. 1 Corinthians 3:2
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
The Beast can resurrect you in digital. Revelation 13:14-15
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Is your portrait in flesh in nuanced brushstrokes?
No, you’re far too boring. You are: 00101010010011111010010001111100101.
Add the standard Instagram filter.
Sin, by definition, is falling short in the race, missing the mark. Philippians 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
And sin ends in death. 1 John 5:17
All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
James 1:15
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Righteousness, however, is life. Proverbs 10:16
The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
Proverbs 12:28
In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
What is life? Life is growth. Mark 4:20
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Matthew 19:29
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
You are not dead yet. But you are dying.
Why are we dying? Comfort.
As the machine wants to know more and more about you, it categorizes you with those labels.
You watched a muscle car video on Youtube. The machine suggests more videos with muscle cars.
You bought a makeup kit on Amazon. Here are some suggestions from other purchasers of that item.
Facebook has a new event that you might like based on your like history.
As you gravitate towards those labels that the machine can digitize, you enjoy the comfort of that ‘old shoe.’ And your comfortable self is a replica of a million others like you… all progressively becoming more and more similar through consumeristic expressions and mass media.
But, you’re exactly what your new employer wants – for that steady income – as you know the Google/Adobe/Microsoft/Apple programs like the back of your hand… just like a million others.
You like the predictability of a steady income, your favorite restaurant and your weekly television/youtube viewing routine.
Yay – another Hollywood sequel!
God wants you to move forward in your life to new things…
Colossians 1:10-11
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
…but thank Satan for giving you the comfort you enjoy.
It’s time to be sensible, not take chances, go along with the crowd, and not rock the boat. Tradition!
We got too comfortable in our ‘normal’ lives. Matthew 22:2-5
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise
Actually, you might be dead already. You’re just not buried yet. 1 Timothy 5:6
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
How do we reject the sin of falling short and press towards the mark – press toward righteousness?
We need Grace from God. Grace is visual appeal. 1 Samuel 1:18
And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight.
Judges 6:17
And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
But for fellowship with God, we have two-way communication. Exodus 24:13
And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
Numbers 12:8
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches;
Therefore, to have that righteousness (through Grace) that leads to life – not the falling short that is sin and death – we have to look upwards as God looks downwards on us.
Like Paul, Jonah, and Nebuchadnezzar, we look upwards. Acts 26:13
At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
Jonah 2:3-4
For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
Daniel 4:34
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation
Yet, before we look upwards, look downwards.
Look far downwards – below the deepest oceans.
What do we have there? Soil, rock, the fire of magma, and darkness.
And the ashes of the dead. We have the simplicity of existence that we crave. Everyone is the same: charred in the darkness. Psalm 88:3-6
For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
Deuteronomy 32:22
For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
Proverbs 7:27
Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
To King Solomon, cut off from Grace from above by time he wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes, the comfort of the dead was better than being alive. Ecclesiastes 4:1-2
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
With a warning of the dead, Adam and Eve were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:16-17
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:4-6
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. But they did eat of that tree. What happened when they ate?
They knew of good and evil.
What did they do immediately after knowing of good and evil?
They put on clothing. Genesis 3:7
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
They knew of the binary condition (two outcomes) of good and evil.
And with that knowledge, a disturbing result emerged. Dignity.
Previously, they did not know of shame/guilt or dignity/morality/respectability. Genesis 2:25
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
By knowing that good and evil existed, Adam and Eve certainly did not want to be evil. They wanted to be good.
We say that evil is elsewhere, not in ourselves.
After learning of good and evil, Adam didn’t blame himself, but accused Eve. Eve did not blame herself, but accused the serpent.
Genesis 3:11-13
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
As we know of good and evil, most of us certainly do not want to be in the evil crowd.
We know of the lack of our imperfect bodies, and the lack of resources of losing in life. Philippians 3:21
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Philippians 4:12
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
We put on our own ‘good’ works, the metaphorical clothing of not being in the bad crowd – but helping the community.
We put on literal clothing to not look silly and expose who we really are.
We dress nicely for church to show that we’re not with the slovenly crowd.
We dress in the colors of our country to show that we are good patriots, and not those rebels.
We dress in black to show that we want to fight the corporate power.
We dress for the party’s dress code, but not too wildly, as we don’t want to be that silly person that people might gossip about and accuse.
Like Adam and Eve, we want that dignity of being of the ‘good’ people, because we do know that evil exists. (And even those who may call themselves ‘evil’ note inappropriate behaviour of others.) Genesis 3:21
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
See those hippies over there with their hippy outfits? We’re not one of them. They’re so embarrassing.
God’s people are in our church. Not the other church with their crazy backwards dress codes.
Why is the ‘modesty’ doctrine for clothing so prevalent in the church and life?
Clothing is something that everyone displays and is so easy to criticize. Religious people (and everyone) can point fingers and indulge their accusatory nature so easily.
If you see random people, are you going to make a 60 minute sermon out of criticizing people for being short, or tall, or bald, or being of a different race? No.
From the fashion police to religious people, everyone can enjoy their accusatory nature by making their doctrines of what is appropriate and inappropriate to wear. (Clothing, especially for women, has many more possibilities and permutations than being tall or short.) And of course, they’re helping people with their criticism.
Satan continues to gather information on the human race and accuse. He doesn’t need your help. Job 1:6-11
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
The children of Adam and Eve manifested the result of knowledge of good and evil.
The Lord respected Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s offering.
Genesis 4:4-5
And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.
Cain knew of good and evil. It was embarrassing to be called out for evil. No dignity there.
Genesis 4:5
And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
God’s question highlighted that Cain knew of good and evil. Genesis 4:6-7
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.
Our knowledge of good and evil means that we know that evil is out there.
We are going to be good, and put a stop to evil. Unfortunately, this accusatory nature of ours has produced division, conflict, and murder. Genesis 4:8
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Cain’s knowledge of good and evil inevitably created a murderer and a martyr.
What happened? Genesis 4:2-4
And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.
Abel’s offering was of the lamb-nature. A cute lamb that animal activists would defend. A defenseless, innocent life laid down.
A propitiatory sacrifice.
Abel’s sacrifice previewed the sacrificial death of Christ on the crucifix.
Christ’s death was not dignified. Innocent, but convicted – and then beaten, bloody, naked, and condemned as a criminal, for all to see. Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isaiah 53:3
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
We would consider Cain’s offering far more respectable. Dignified and sensible. Hard agricultural work – our own ‘good’ works.
But the victorious Lion only is worthy to prevail when it is the Lamb slain. Revelation 5:5-6
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
When Adam and Eve learned of good and evil, they fell under the power of Satan.
As children of Adam and Eve (with the same knowledge of good and evil), we are also under the rule of Satan. Psalm 107:2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
John 12:31
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince (ruler) of this world be cast out.
Why?
After this knowledge, we want to do good – and we will inevitably identify evil and point the finger at evil.
As accusers, we stand with the Devil. Acts 25:4-5
But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
Luke 23:2
And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
Fortunately, with the fullness of the wicked, in these last days, we can more easily examine this accusatory nature. Revelation 18:23
…for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
Galatians 5:19-20
…Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies…
The New Testament was originally written in Greek. The Greek term for the above ‘sorceries’ or ‘witchcraft’ is: pharmakeia.
Pharmakeia refers not only to Satanic practises, but also the involved magic potions – that is: drugs.
Satanic cults, past and present, regularly use cocaine, mescaline, heroin, etc.
Linked to Satanic practices are blood sacrifices or scapegoats.
The Greek term ‘pharmakos’ translates to the below ‘sorceries’ or ‘sorcerers.’
And pharmakos also refers to a scapegoat sacrifice. Revelation 9:21
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
In short, these evil days of the present will feature blood sacrifices as a scapegoat for our sins – involving drug use.
Yes, we have abortion widely available, as well as underground cultists killing whom they can.
Yes, these days, we have rampant drug use (legal and illegal; prescription and non-prescription).
And drugs create altered-states of consciousness that allows the mind to be deceived. Revelation 18:23
…for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
Revelation 22:15
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
But what is this scapegoat? The Law of Moses had the high priest put the sin of the Israelites upon the goat to be sacrificed in the wilderness. Leviticus 16:7-10, 21-22
And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
…And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
Why does the Devil accuse? Because he needs a scapegoat for his sins.
The scapegoat in Leviticus 16 was a preview of Christ as sacrifice. Romans 3:24-25
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
But Satan and his minions are without the only begotten Son as a blood sacrifice for their sins.
Satan’s obsession of accusing and sacrifice of the innocent-nature (babies, children – not as corrupted by the world) is one of seeking to put his sins on an innocent scapegoat of Christ-like nature. Revelation 12:9-10
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Knowledge of good and evil was a death-blow for Adam, Eve and their descendants.
Yes, by knowing and learning of evil, we can be tempted to do evil. Romans 7:7
Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
But knowing of good and evil was far worse. We know that evil is out there, and we want to be good and stand in opposition to it (even to the point where we murder like Cain).
Like Lucifer, we want to be super-spiritual – like the most high. Isaiah 14:14
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
As we pridefully see ourselves as good and dignified, and see those evil people over there, we are dead spiritually like Adam and Eve. Romans 5:12,14
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin…
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses…
Habakkuk 2:4-5
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people
We recognize our in-groups and out-groups.
We know that the people in our church are the dignified, good people. The heretics are not in church with us. Luke 18:10-14
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Or, those of us fighting for progressive values and equality are on the right-side of history. Not like those capitalist fat-cats.
With other labels: We nationalists are stopping those evil globalists from harming our children with their transgender values.
We end up thanking Satan for letting us stay in our in-groups and reinforcing our labels.
Youtube suggests more videos of our tribe.
Amazon lets us be more and more the patriot survivalist that we are with similar products.
Facebook lets me friend more artsy locals for the sit-in protest! Yay!
As we become reinforced in our labels, we are dying.
How? It started when we were children.
It started with heroes.
As we tried to find out who we were, we grabbed a bit of the heroic nature of Batman, or the confident stride of Beyonce (like millions of others).
We looked to professional athletes’ endurance or our favorite musical band’s swagger.
As we grew up, we appropriated parts of careers we sought in life: the ground-breaking scientist, the knowledgeable teacher or the innovative entrepreneur.
And, as we became ‘sophisticated,’ we adopted labels of who we are, the left-leaning vegan, the conservative Pentecostal, or the freedom-loving, loyalist flag-waver.
All of the above examples, from childhood to adulthood, relied on knowledge of good and evil.
That is, the leftist vegan fights the evil of right-wing meat eaters, the conservative Pentecostal fights the evil of atheists, and the loyalist fights nihilistic globalists.
Athletes fight the other teams and the idea of lazy fatties. Comic book heroes have villains, Beyonce has her critics, and our favorite band is better than the scourge of techno-music.
Scientists fight cancer and the tobacco lobbyists, teachers fight ignorance and the unsophisticated, and the entrepreneurial fight those of the bureaucratic mindset.
In short, our identities that we have created over time have to have enemies.
We jockey for position within our labels of our in-group of ‘good’ people. We don’t move outside of what is acceptable as a Jungian psychologist in our academic arena, or an anarchist biker in the motorcycle crowd.
Not only are we more and more boring as life goes on, but we love that boredom as we settle into our identities. We thank Youtube for more videos reinforcing myself to me. And our identities rely on having those opponents.
Can a conservative talk radio listener exist without those pesky tax-and-spend liberals?
Can a ‘fight the power’ communist exist without the ‘power’ to fight against?
How can any of us fit into a permanent, sustainable, and peaceful world? Hosea 2:18
And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.
Isaiah 2:4
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Isaiah 11:6-8
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
The solution (from Isaiah 11) is the root of Jesse. Isaiah 11:10
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
While Jesus comes from the line of Jesse… Isaiah 11:1-2
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
…we can first look to the son of Jesse, King David.
King David had it in his heart to build a house for God. But God chose David’s son, Solomon, to build as David had been a man of war. 1 Chronicles 28:2-3,6
Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
…And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts
The man of war, King David, did hate the enemies with perfect hatred.
But King David first looked to his heart and his thoughts – for wickedness.
King David wanted to be tried, that is, to be tested by God. Psalm 139:19-24
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Even though King Saul wanted to kill David, David twice refused opportunities to kill King Saul – as Saul was anointed by God as king (before David was king). 1 Samuel 19:1
And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
1 Samuel 24:6-7
And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul.
1 Samuel 26:11-12
The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away…
When King Saul died, David mourned. 2 Samuel 1:11-12
Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul…
In short, David’s identity was not defined by opposition to enemies.
He didn’t look at King Saul, and express that “I’m not like him and his values.”
David’s love (even with perfect hatred) included love for his enemies, previewing Christ’s words. Matthew 5:44-45
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 ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven
David prioritized his relationship with God. His relationship to fellow men, while secondary, fell into place, after a proper relationship with God. Acts 13:22
…I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
1 John 2:5
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Psalm 89:20-24
I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.
But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
Accordingly, David was not competing for position within his in-group.
David did not care about whether people of his crowd approved of his behaviour.
David did not care about dignity.
He would be his true, expressive and silly self, by dancing with all of his might before the Lord.
Michal’s criticism of David would have been valid if David were gender-bending by dancing for handmaids wearing very little.
But, David danced to instantiate a right relationship with the Lord.
David would be vile and base – not dignified – and if people saw and thought he was crass and unrefined, that was okay.
But David’s cementing of his relationship with God in a proper undignified way would garner him honour among all his subjects. 2 Samuel 6:14-16,20-23
And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
…And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
1 Samuel 18:6-7
And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
We are to look upwards for Grace and life (which is growth) like Paul, Jonah and Nebuchadnezzar – while God looks down on us for Grace. Mark 10:15
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
When we were children, we could look far down and see the simplistic soil, rock, magma, and darkness in the depths of the earth.
But, as children, we could also open-mindedly look upwards.
We could see the wonder of plants, buildings, animals, cars – a more complex world.
We could look up and see streetlights, birds, planes, clouds.
We could look up and see the northern lights, stars, the sun and moon, the cosmos.
What’s up there?
Is something on fire off the shoulder of Orion? Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
We should try different things.
We should interact with people outside of our social circle.
We should taste new recipes.
We should try new jobs and hobbies.
We should be in new socially-uncomfortable situations.
This is affliction for growth.
Right? Wrong. You would be a Runner, rather than a Blade Runner.
This ‘scatter gun’ way of doing every new thing (and finding your own ‘good’ works) is the wide way.
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
John 1:23
He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
The blade that we run has the ups and downs of life, as we live on the edge. But it is straight overall. Proverbs 4:25-27
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
2 Corinthians 6:4-6
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned
Psalm 109:23
I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
And as we reach the perfection, the completion of who we are – the tip of the blade concludes in a narrow way. Luke 3:5
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
As we draw closer and closer to God, our options limit in the sense that we become who we really are – the narrowness of the tip of the blade.
In the tabernacle of Moses, as one moves towards God from the Outer Court to the Holy Place and then to the Holy of Holies, the dimensions narrow.
Exodus 27:18
The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of bronze.
Exodus 26:15-18
And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
Exodus 26:31-33
And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
As we choose affliction, we do not have the comfort of our same, old routines.
By choosing life (rather than death) we grow to be human – a mature, nuanced complexity that is something the Devil cannot digitize.
The comforter of our life is not the same day to day schedule and regular paycheque; it’s the comforter that is the Holy Spirit who lives in us, encourages us, and guides us. John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Acts 9:31
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in
the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
In conclusion, we choose affliction and are guided by the Holy Spirit to that which is uncomfortable… and we grow as humans – to be more and more complex and nuanced – whom God wants.
And we triumph over the Devil, as we reach the completion of who we are.
Game, set and match. Victory. We have won. The Devil lost and we triumphantly greet the return of the King of kings – Christ.
No. We lost.
Why do we dress in an acceptable manner?
Why do we behave according to corporate norms?
Why do we conform? Beyond the comfort, why do we love the labels of who we are?
Our similarity is a defense. Our shields, our defenses, are up.
We all know that the kid who is a bit different will be bullied at school.
Even freedom of speech advocates censor their own speech, as they know that if they are too different – their popularity will evaporate.
If we dress differently, or express ourselves in odd ways, we draw the ire of everyone.
By truly being individuals, with those idiosyncrasies, we will be pointed at, scorned, despised.
Being individual, Joseph dressed his own way. Genesis 37:3
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
And, of course, he was hated.
Genesis 37:4
And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
Joseph, being truly an individual, was loved by Jacob and exalted by God.
Joseph dreamed two dreams where his brothers would one day serve him. Genesis 37:9
And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
As a proper human, a unique person, and thus exalted by the Lord, he was despised by his peers – and they betrayed him. Genesis 37:28
…and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
The brothers viewed the non-conforming Joseph as a scapegoat, and his unique coat was evidence of his supposed death. Genesis 37:31-33
And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.
And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
Similar to Joseph, any of us who discover our true selves, as we move towards Christ, will be hated for being different. If we express our true selves, we are a target… for death. Proverbs 29:27
…and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
Anyone is who is truly human will fail.
Anyone is who expresses his own proper self will be targeted by those who conform.
The business owner who treats people like people – rather than lowly-paid cogs who are hooked up to email and enterprise software – will go bankrupt after encountering franchise competition.
In the world of the flesh, (the material world by our own efforts), face to face human fellowship will always fall to the efficiency of the machine.
The individuals who reach upwards, and dream a dream upwards, will always be put out of business by practicality and sensibility.
Grow up and be that respectable adult. Dignity. Common sense.
Did you lose your dream? The dream of you.
Reality that is the flesh killed the dream. Galatians 4:29
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Where does this leave us?
Dead.
We all know that the big box stores will win.
The networks, the corporations, the buddies of the big government… we know that they will all prevail.
The practical needs of the flesh: food, shelter, warmth, money to pay the rent – will always result in our hardened hearts. We end up sensible, practical, respectable, with common sense, reasonable and dignified.
We aren’t able to look above in curiosity born again as children and see heaven come to earth and provide for us.
John 3:7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Mark 6:51-52
And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
But those with the lamb-nature of Christ, who are open-minded, loving, enduring, and forgiving, will always fall to those of the dignified nature – efficient, pragmatic – those with steady incomes and predictable schedules. Matthew 23:34-35
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Ironically, as we become more and more steady in our habits and predictable – and secure in the practical world of the flesh (food/housing/money) – for very reasonable causes – we are the ones dying. Revelation 3:17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked
1 John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
The best defense against the slings and arrows of this world is to not be a target – avoid criticism, accusation. Don’t look different and silly – look the same as everyone else. Respectable, dignified. Succeed at that so you can be proud. Others can be the victims of the accuser.
Cultivate agreement amongst peers and be middle of the road. Cultivate their acceptance.
Cultivate being normal. Explain that you’re a valid as per society. You’re normal and proud of it. Enjoy your ‘common sense’ by agreeing with your normal buddies. Now you can accuse others (and call it helping others).
But you’re wishy-washy, boring.
Make the party dull. Ride the progressive collapse of society by staying inside the Overton Window. Respectable. Sensible. Common sense.
The lamb-like nature sacrifices self – to be the life of the party. “I don’t care if I look silly.” “I’ll be me and more of me.”
And then that goof-ball at the office party ends up missing out on the promotion. “Did you see Hendrickson last night? Embarrassing.”
Those of the fleshly nature look for growth (not growth by looking above for Grace) in the work of our hands.
As we perform the works of The Law or any rules, we gravitate towards sameness and being boring replicas of each other.
Romans 7:5
For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
And, in more recent times, the works of our hands have created our new world (of practicality).
How much of work in modern history has been to create a technology-laden world that will house the Devil’s Mark of the Beast system?
We looked for our growth (newness) in the latest cool car, or the latest television, or the most-recently mass produced fashions.
And then we wanted the latest, beautiful Apple product.
Where are you Steve Jobs?
You gave us the artsy, colorful iPods and iPhones. Art.
Oh, but then everyone had exactly the same art. Never mind.
And then all smartphones became virtually the same as the artsy iPhone. Boring.
Efficiency will triumph in the world of the flesh.
Our colorful Apple graphic design product begat the iPhone, which begat an host of Smartphones, which begat products like Elon Musk’s Neuralink.
Your practical employer won’t care that you have a fast typing speed.
Efficiency demands hiring those new employees who can directly link to the machine with their mind.
If you have a job, you will be more efficient than ever, as you won’t have to stare at that colored screen anymore. You will directly link to the machine via products from companies like Neuralink, Kernel, Neurable, Paradromics, MindMaze, or Openwater.
As your reality is more and more defined by the machine, your leisure time also will be dominated by the machine.
Do you like video games? Good news, gamers! As your brain will plug directly into the machine, no more need for inefficient game consoles. And, of course, you’ll have to get the implant to compete.
Gamers and everyone will be able to more quickly reach pleasure on social media, virtual reality, a new online world in your head.
If you’re not a gamer – why not? The real world is just the same over and over again: Starbucks, Walmart, cookie-cutter housing… for efficiency. In the virtual world, the gaming world, we have unique creations that aren’t bound by cost or physical limitations: unique mansions, pixelated dragons, giant Swedish meatballs...
The machine will get to know you and give you more pleasure by tapping your hot buttons.
Like Amazon, Facebook and Ebay, you will get recommendations according to your labels – a tailored experience geared towards getting you pleasure at lightning fast speeds.
But you won’t be happy, as you won’t be you.
In the pixelated world, you won’t be able to grow beyond the graphics capacity and algorithmic avenues.
You won’t be able to enjoy the complexity of life and discover you.
If you weren’t endlessly linked to the machine, you would have had a wander, and, by chance, discovered your love of the nearby lake, and become that advanced boatman with a unique style of sailing and paddling.
It wasn’t the fastest way of going, but it created a unique ride and fishing experience for your fellow boaters.
Sure, it was difficult at first, but it was worth it. The struggles and the pain was worth it.
God wanted you to become that expert on a specific variety of spicy foods. But you never learned about and tried all those unsavoury foods to get to that variety that you like. The machine fed you the pleasure that you wanted. And efficiently.
You were supposed to create a unique woodwind instrument out of the backyard tree after years of trying. It would have been a one of a kind sound – and an amazing performance with all of your unique idiosyncrasies. (But the machine doesn’t like that, as it doesn’t have that algorithm. And, after your mortal death, the machine wouldn’t have been able to digitize that unique you.)
In contrast, as part of the machine, you are a good person. Those who are opposed to the new morality and efficiency brought about by the machine simply aren’t progressive. They defy the reality of where the human race is going. Plug in and check Facebook’s verified news on who is causing problems.
That pride, that darkness that allows a false self, is all part of the knowledge of good and evil, delivered even faster by the machine. We pridefully know we are good and we can identify the evil (the scapegoat).
Psalm 36:2
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
Daniel 12:4
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
And true fellowship eludes you. At a prideful party, you had a plastic smile and said the usual niceties, and talked about the weather. But in the machine, you can send these standardized messages out even quicker. The machine allows lightning fast transfer of animated emoticons/emojis that everyone can understand and label efficiently ;)
Electricity:
Luke 10:18
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
But, we all know that McDonald’s triumphs.
The restaurant that is concerned about the art of cuisine will eventually fall to the efficiently run franchise that uses cheap ingredients and mass manipulating marketing.
The salesman who is willing to conform to the crowd, to morals of the day, is going to outperform the salesman who opposes the new morality.
The free speech pundit who actually speaks his mind better find a new job.
The winners in this world are the ones who discarded notions of ‘young people having trouble starting out’ and bought up all the real estate early – driving up prices.
The losers in this world cared about ‘young people having trouble starting out’ and didn’t climb the property ladder of rising real estate prices by buying when houses were cheap.
The Lamb-like nature will always fall prey to that which is built to conquer.
Christian life is about failure and losing.
Our uniqueness (rejecting that plastic falsehood) will always make us target for those who conform to the worldly crowd.
Our faithful commitment will make us an easy kill for the destroyer.
Proverbs 28:24
Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
We wait on God. Psalm 37:34
Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Psalm 40:1-2
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Accordingly, after loss and suffering for a time, a downtrodden Joseph had Grace from the Lord. Genesis 39:3-4
And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Genesis 42:6
And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
Like David, Joseph loved his enemies – his brothers who had sold him as a slave. Genesis 45:15-16
Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
Similarly, David, who was lowly in the estimation of his peers, was exalted by God.
God looked at him with Grace. 1 Samuel 16:9-12
Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
David, who was truly himself, did not care about dignity – being the dignified person who would love to get ahead by people-pleasing.
Those of Christ are to cultivate the Lamb-like nature – pure and humble – one who is willing to lay down all, including his life for a fellow man… to give up his life to help… one who wants to be a servant – to get his hands dirty with lowly jobs that no one else is willing to do.
1 Peter 5:5
Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
In the original Greek, the ‘be clothed with humility’ refers to an apron worn by slaves.
Note how this clothing of humility is in contrast to the dignity of wearing an apron by Adam and Eve back in Genesis 3.
We are to humble ourselves.
The Holy Spirit, likened to a dove, landed and remained on Christ. John 1:32
And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
As a dove, the Holy Spirit was not looking for the nature of a lion, a bull, or a fox, but that of a lamb, willing to be the sacrifice in embarrassing crucifixion.
The nature of the lamb is not looking to make a name for himself, personal ambition, or personal glory.
The Holy Spirit seeks only to glorify Christ. Amos 7:14-15
Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
Jeremiah 1:6-7
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Hebrews 11:24-25
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
The Holy Spirit might rest upon for you a time, but he will not stay, if you do not cultivate the nature of the lamb. 1 Samuel 16:14
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
Jesus came to serve man (minister means serve). Matthew 20:27-28
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Jesus would do the dirty job of washing feet (foot cleaning being a task in Biblical times, before modern shoes). John 13:8-9
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
With this nature, Christ spoke as he pleased, with true freedom of speech… and was condemned by human courts. Matthew 26:64-66
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
Like Joseph and David, Christ’s end was reversed by God’s Grace.
Christ, guilty and sentenced by a human court to death, had his sentence reversed.
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
1 Peter 1:21
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Hebrews 10:33
Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
The proper Christian is a loser.
The proper Christian looks up at the heavens and says that there has to be a better world.
The proper Christian will once again be burned by his drug-addled friend (lending money rightly or wrongly to someone who says he needs money for food).
The proper Christian looks up and has that child-like curiosity for the intricacy of the plant world, for the complexity of the clouds, the stars, and the wonderments above.
The proper Christian will remember ideals and had time for considering beyond the practical.
The proper Christian will have child-like desires for art and creativity and be spat upon by the world.
The world will say: Be logical, practical, and hit those sale targets. Be sensible. Don’t be silly. You’ve got a responsibility. Work on your Microsoft Office skills. Now you can be dignified by fitting into a sensible world where poor people don’t generate profits.
Our world is a paradox.
We all know that those who open doors to all strangers will eventually be robbed.
We all know that those who tell the deepest secrets of their personalities will be scorned by mockers.
We all know that those who are 100% generous to all will have an empty bank account and no help from others.
But, in those brief moments, when someone does something special that is backed by power (and so much of power in this world is money), the amazing can emerge.
When someone doesn’t have to work overtime or a second job to pay the rent, and can selflessly map the mathematics of reality, or become an expert botanist, or create the most beautiful cathedral/temple – the results can last centuries (and beyond).
1 Chronicles 29:7-9
And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of bronze eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.
And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
Mark 10:29-30
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Luke 12:22-27
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
When someone truly cultivates the lamb-like nature, and is not worried about being dignified and fitting into this world – and is truly backed by power – in that moment, majesty can happen.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
1 Corinthians 2:4
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power
Yet, while we can sentimentally think of children and the child-like nature, reality is that we were rebels from the start.
Our parents never had to teach us how to be naughty. Genesis 8:21
…for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth;
Ephesians 2:3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
To reach majesty, we have to receive the rod of correction. 1 Corinthians 4:20-21
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
Not too long ago, people were thankful for corporal punishment – correction from their fathers. Proverbs 13:24
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 23:13-14
Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
However… Ephesians 6:4
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
And discipline from Father God: Hebrews 12:5-11
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
In a real and practical way, we have to bear the undignified ass-whipping in this life from the Father.
Trousers down, asses up… thank you, Sir – may I have another?
Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Tribulation is defined as pressure to make narrow.
We endure the difficulties to be cobbled towards who we are – the thin blade of our run.
Our true selves, not that dignified, false self, emerges in that desperate pain of drowning in a river. Romans 12:12
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Romans 5:3-4
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope
When we are in tribulation, we cry upwards for God. John 16:33
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Deuteronomy 4:30-31
When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.
2 Corinthians 1:4-7
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
Our comfort is not in loving money, or being a dignified community member, but in the Holy Spirit, guiding us through this crazy world.
John 16:7-9
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Jeremiah 3:1
...but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.
In a real and practical way, how can we envision our idealistic, child-like pursuit of the complex, the mysteries of the universe – as we look above to the cosmos?
These days, every pastor knows. The preacher’s best friend is our example: pornography.
You google that hottie wearing sexy outfits, or maybe she’s not wearing much. Do you fantasize about how she’ll fit into your world – how you’ll explore all of her and her pain of emotions?
But she’s out of reach. You tap the computer screen, or touch the magazine. She’s too far. Not attainable.
As we grow up and become corrupt with our sensibility of paying the mortgage and making sure to improve our efficiency and customer satisfaction… we lose that ideal, that dream, that song of us – for whom we reached upwards. Do you remember you?
Your love – she’s too far. You need a lot of money for her to be interested. “What was I thinking? I need to be sensible. Practical. Realistic. I should date the fat girl.”
1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
Indeed, the beguiling world of the machine.
In the world of fast-paced video games and world-wide social internet connectivity, not only do you escape the gray, dull world of bland fast food, uninspired pop music from corporations, and repetitive, recession proof car colors, but you have the efficiency of online banking and lightning fast Ebay purchases.
And, in the machine you can express your desires beyond the extra large girl – the 4/10 chubster that is in your league.
Yet, like all in the machine, after expressing your desires in the pixelated world of pornography, you can only go so high.
Can your love grow with unlimited potential? No. Your expressions for the bride are limited and regulated by algorithmic avenues and bandwidth.
Our world is evil.
Galatians 1:4
…Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world…
Ephesians 5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Our world is evil, as we all know that to survive and thrive, or perhaps just survive, we need to look out for ourselves and our own.
We genuinely need sensible things like a bank account and practical material items like a bed and a home.
If we were to make sure to put others ahead of us all of the time, we would starve on the street. Romans 15:1-2
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
And those who embezzle, steal, or murder, can thrive – if they can get away with it. They can have a large family, a nice home, cars, and vacations – while those with any morals look naive and childish.
Those who thrive in this world wear the nice clothes, receive glory from the crowd, and are dignified, especially as their evil deeds are covered by the darkness of their false selves (pride), and via the accusatory nature of humans – which renders others are evil.
Psalm 94:2-7
Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
We realize that the greedy prosper while the generous suffer. And corrupt, lying politicians outmaneuver the ones with morals. As the strong warlords live in riches – we realize that our world needs law.
And we do have law. The Law of Moses gave us a framework of laws of the courts, laws governing finances, laws to guide police officers, etc.
1 Timothy 1:8-10
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
With The Law, we can keep these evil politicians in check, jail burglars, and fight corruption.
But, as we’ve seen by experience, The Law never brought heaven to earth.
We still are using The Law of Moses, and various derivatives (various lists of rules and customs) and the world isn’t getting any better. While our use of Law slows down the criminals, the world is still being corrupted.
You might want to give it to Holden. I did.
You might want to use Jewish customs, rituals, and rules – including the Law of Moses.
You might want to use customs, rituals, and rules from Catholic, Baptist, Anglican, Orthodox, Mormon, Pentecostal, Evangelical, etc… traditions. Or even traditions from Hindus or Buddists.
You might say that using these rules slowed down the rot of a corruptible society.
You might say that communities and families were historically held together by these customs.
And you would be completely correct.
We all want to give it to Holden, as he’s good.
Holden holds back the corruption of those dignified, proud waves.
Job 38:11
Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
The old wine tastes good. Why change?
Luke 5:36-39
And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
But following rules, including the Law of Moses, could never get us to heaven.
No perfection (alternative translations of perfection: fulfillment, completion, maturity). Hebrews 7:19
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
No justification (meaning: just as if we’ve never sinned). Acts 13:39
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
The Law makes us aware of our sinful status and need for Christ. Galatians 3:24-25
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
When I was arrested as a Blade Runner, the arresting officer of the law (the policeman, who spoke to me first) did not accompany me to the heavenly. Only the Holy Spirit accompanied and piloted upwards. John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me
Giving it to Holden used to be good enough. God was willing to accept, to gloss over, when we were in times of ignorance, lack of knowledge. Acts 14:16
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent
But, nowadays, we have so much worldwide knowledge, including all 66 books of the Bible. Luke 12:48
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Yes, Holden is good. He slowed down corruption for centuries.
But, with our fallen world, the result of corruption, God says that “He’s not good enough.”
The magic is needed for the new wine.
And, in these end times – with the fullness of the wicked, and Christ not settling for anything less than a bride with unlimited potential upwards… Holden and his holding back corruption simply isn’t good enough anymore.
What happens to those who refuse their calling (a calling which could be right now)?
What happens to those who ignore the impressions of the Holy Spirit and do the good works of The Law (or any law) by their own efforts?
These people, who refuse Christ’s sacrifice, therefore can only do good works by their own hands – they will fail.
These people will be directly plugged into the machine via technology from companies like Neuralink, Kernel, MindMaze, and others.
We all need to be sensible – but we need to be sensible beyond life in this world. We need to realize that, while, today we might be strong, wealthy and powerful – no matter how rich and strong we are, we will one day have to face death alone, withering away as that lonely goat in the desert.
The only way we can survive (and thrive) is by help to grow beyond our own strength and abilities. Holden thinks holding back the decay is good enough, and refuses Christ’s Grace for unlimited potential upwards.
After rebuffing the impressions of and guidance from the Holy Spirit, Holden continues in his daily, weekly and monthly habits, rituals, and traditions.
Holden settles for the boring blandness of the dust and ashes of ‘good enough.’
Pointing the accusatory finger at others’ proud waves at the prideful party, Holden putters along in life and does not make his own waves. He makes sure not to rock the boat as he goes along with the flow of our accusatory society.
The nature of Holden is holding back the waves… blaming others and complaining about the sins of others. The mirror is not focused on himself.
Holden is comfortable in his own tribe, not being too different, to maintain respectability and dignity.
Holden is immersed in the traditions, the rules and the rituals of his church or synagogue or peer group or growing rag-tag team of resistors.
But Holden is uncomfortable learning the new, as his tribe might criticize him. Creating truly new art (especially the art of yourself – human growth) eludes him (as he avoids the embarrassing failures that will eventually lead to success).
Holden cannot admit that he and his tribe have been wrong. He might look silly, ridiculous. Not dignified.
Not born again, he has no child-like nature to look up, wonder and ask questions – questions which would destroy the foundations of his tribe. Holden can only go upwards with a false self of pride in the darkness. Holden speaks of the common sense of his tribe.
Holden can never grow the way God wants him to, as Holden will not ask those skeptical questions of beliefs and want real answers.
The preacher might glare at him. Obadiah 1:3-4
The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Holden is shackled to his group, and becomes more and more a faceless member, not an individual.
Tethered to the world, Holden will never change the world, as he is limited and confined by self-censorship.
Holden is good – at holding back the degeneracy with law, until finally logic and sensibility creates a level of rot that can be called: a bad one, the worst yet. Matthew 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Daniel 12:1
…and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time
Holden has his list of Bible verses ready, in order. Holden’s prayer verses are good, as he goes down the written list. Those rituals, customs, and rules are tried and true. They’ve worked for years and years. Merely questioning the script annoys Holden.
But, in the face of adversity, a changing environment, and unexpected situations, Holden is outflanked by the fool. 1 Corinthians 1:27
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise;
Holden goes with the flow – which efficiently and logically leads to a permanent link to the machine.
Holden could never reach upwards to bring heaven to earth. Not good enough.
He eventually does the sensible thing and is linked directly to the machine.
Now, the inhuman Holden can never go back to join Christ’s upwards journey to the party.
Dignified, he can buy and sell efficiently as a respectable, community member.
As part of the machine – he can breathe okay, as long as nobody unplugs him.
Beyond The Law, fortunately, we have a New Testament (Covenant), which is better.
Hebrews 8:6
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Why don’t proper Christians adhere to Mosaic Law?
Hebrews 10:8-9
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Because, through our walk on water in life, we have a broken heart for a broken Law.
The brokenLaw is written on our broken hearts. Those reborn in Christ don’t need an outside Law holding them to account. Hebrews 8:10
I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people
The new, born-again Christian is not guilty of those old sins, as he is a new, different man. Hebrews 10:16-17
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
The result of The Law in us is proper fellowship. Galatians 5:13-14
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
But those who cultivate and grow their lamb-like nature will fall prey to the wolves: the grifters, the deceivers, and the strongmen.
We need Grace for intervention.
Habakkuk 3:19
The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
Jeremiah 10:6
Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.
Acts 2:43
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
The gospel of Christ is only fully preached with signs and wonders. Romans 15:19
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
The Apostle Paul left being a dignified Pharisee and became unpopular as a preacher of something different and odd.
And he joined those early Christians whom he persecuted.
But by being willing to give up dignity, and being that silly fool – God granted power. 2 Corinthians 12:11-12
I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
We must first learn the foolishness of God in our path to wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:21-25
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Picture this: a world with only the silly, foolish people, those who do not hold back their true nature, the ones who don’t need to be dignified, the ones who want to expose their true humanity and create the art of us.
What would this world look like?
Fellowship would be interesting as our odd, bizarre personalities would grow – without fear of condemnation of not being that respectable, dignified, sensible, prideful person.
Weird people could exist and flourish as no accusers would exist to be a busybody in others’ business.
In a real and practical way, we would survive and prosper as we are in a covenant relationship with each other – what’s yours is mine.
New houses wouldn’t look exactly the same as each other for efficiency. We would take the long way home back to our odd home and meet new and interesting people who aren’t afraid to reveal their true selves.
Can you picture it? Or is this just child-like, naive optimism?
Not sensible. Foolishness.
You need to be dignified, like us, and talk about sensible things like ‘new income streams,’ and 'long-term growth potential'. Let’s talk about an investment property to fund your retirement. We’ll charge a target level of rent that the market will bear. You need to buy strategically to maximize growth over your investment horizon. Sensible. Common sense.
(And then the young people living in your rental slum become mentally unstable, after working for minimum wage in a dead-end job, as The Laws of the land break down.
They end up stabbing you to death, but the police are too busy with all the other crime including tracking ‘mean’ social media posts. Oopsie.)
Our world is a paradox. Our existence in this world will always lead to our own destruction – in a logical and sensible way – the way to which dignified people adhere. Those of the lamb-like nature will fall to the accusers, and the accusers will tear each other apart in the most efficient and profitable way possible.
But to be royal purple – to bring the blue of the heavenly to the red of mankind’s nature – would never be something that we could put on a bar graph.
In the days of the Old Covenant (works by our own hands), Elijah was a hairy man – (likely his own hair, rather than a garment of hair).
2 Kings 1:8
And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
With a double portion of Elijah’s anointing, Elisha was bald. 2 Kings 2:9
And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
2 Kings 2:23
And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
The second Elijah had clothing of hair – camel’s hair – not his own hair. Matthew 3:4
And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins;
Matthew 17:12-13
But I say unto you, That Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
The camel is an unclean animal (according to Mosaic Law), but it could store up that water (of the Word). Deuteronomy 14:7
Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you.
John wore the clothing of another’s righteousness – not of The Law.
John the Baptist heralded righteousness available to all – Gentiles (unclean) included.
Galatians 3:27-28
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:10-12
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Where there is neither Greek (Gentile) nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Map out the possibilities of this world. When you logically and reasonably examine us, our nature and our world, all roads lead to destruction.
1 Corinthians 15:19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Are you a nihilist? Are you suicidal? Congratulations. Like King Solomon, you have seen through the ‘can do’ and ‘let’s go’ positivity crap that we are endlessly fed. The possibilities of the world and our nature will only lead to painful deaths. Let’s not kid ourselves. And the machine’s efficiency brings us faster to that conclusion.
Can we overcome the machine-like efficiency of our logical, sensible, dignified world?
How can we overcome when all possibilities lead to annihilation? Logically, there is only one possibility. Do the impossible. Mark 10:25-27
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
To go through the eye of a needle, the path we walk or run will have to be very thin – as thin as a thread or, perhaps, the edge of a blade.
Certainly, a camel cannot go through the eye of a needle. But the hair of a camel can.
The returned Elijah is to restore all things. Matthew 17:11
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things.
But Elijah’s nature is of an ordinary man. James 5:17
Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are…
1 Kings 19:4
It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
Isaiah 49:4
Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
Accordingly, just like normal Christians, Elijah’s clothing of hair is a sackcloth (a coarse and uncomfortable garment of contrition, repentance and humility – usually made of goat hair). Jonah 3:5
So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
Jeremiah 6:26
O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes
Revelation 11:3
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
As the human race has knowledge of good and evil, we invariably seek to identify evil and find that scapegoat. Certainly the evil is not us in our in-group – as we cultivate our dignified nature.
Even those who admit they are evil or even embrace that they are evil – even those people will point the finger of accusation towards inappropriate behaviour of others.
Any Christian revival or restoration demands that our only accusatory nature is for ourselves.
The goat must be our clothing – prickling at us.
We examine ourselves.
Haggai 1:5
Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
Ezekiel 18:28
Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
We refrain from being a busybody in others’ matters. 1 Peter 4:15
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
We do not gossip maliciously, but speak to build up (edify) the church. Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. It’s embarrassing, certainly not dignified, to confess our faults to each other. But this is proper fellowship for the preparation of Christ’s bride.
We are not hiding our true selves in the darkness of pride.
Our defenses are truly down. We are ‘baring our souls’ to one another. We are figuratively naked. James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
Mark 1:5
…and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
Yet, it’s far more dignified to give help to people… to give advice, suggestions, and recommendations for others’ lives.
Be that hero for other people with your knowledge of good and evil.
You’ve got a nice home and career, you’ve reached financial security and you’re giving back with some constructive criticism for the less fortunate.
Your proud look will get congratulations from others at the party with the darkness of pride, that false self, that plastic smile. Thank Lucifer as you are that heroic savior, just like him. Point the finger, as the accuser, to eradicate evil your own way – an evil which certainly isn’t in yourself.
Proverbs 26:12
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Psalm 119:78
Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
But getting that camel through the eye of needle isn’t that easy. Fathers, if they have the resources, want to give the best of everything to their children. But Dads do know that if they do, they will spoil their children.
Similarly, God wants to give his people wealth, resources – the best of everything.
But with such prosperity, we forget about the Lord.
Getting the camel through the eye of the needle has to be hair by hair, strand by strand.
While being right next to red and blue, the royal purple of wealth isn’t that easy.
Exodus 38:18
And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen
Why?
Because, under the perfect Law of Moses, we are not to mix linen and wool. Leviticus 19:19
…neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.
Ezekiel 44:17
And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them…
And wool is associated with the Lord. Daniel 7:9
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
Revelation 1:14
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Wool comes from the lamb (sheep), the sacrifice.
However, God accepted Abel’s offering, the lamb, but not Cain’s offering. Genesis 4:2-5
And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.
In contrast to the wool from the lamb, Cain’s farming offering would be likened to linen, which comes from the flax plant. The linen is our proper good works. Revelation 19:8
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of saints.
Before repentance, our ‘good’ works were filthy. Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteous acts are as filthy rags;
As dignified accusers who point fingers at others, our ‘good’ works of cursing others clothes us.
Psalm 109:17-19
As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
The thin blade that we run is that narrow edge which we thread.
What is our enemy? Dignity.
We have to strip naked of our old ‘good’ works for repentance.
Once naked, we can start the needlework for our garments of righteous acts.
We can’t take a shortcut. John 10:1
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Matthew 22:12-13
…Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
We can’t put the whole camel through at once. Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
As God sees us as his bride, and wants that nudity of repentance, King David saw that naked woman. David wanted her. 2 Samuel 11:2
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
But, she was another man’s property. 2 Samuel 11:3
And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
And, David made sure Uriah died. 2 Samuel 11:15
And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
Being purple isn’t easy.
Most kings fell. 1 Kings 16:25-26
But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.
For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
2 Chronicles 26:16,21
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
…And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.
2 Chronicles 28:1-2
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:
For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
2 Chronicles 33:21-23
Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
And when Nathan the Prophet confronted King David regarding stealing Bathsheba, King David could have said that he was the king and he could do this.
But the royal King David, who could have had Nathan killed and done what he pleased, instead humbled himself before God. 2 Samuel 12:5-7
And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.
King David’s repentance resulted in Psalm 51. Psalm 51:1-4
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Normally, those who have been exalted with power and wealth, simply will not humble themselves when they have sinned.
The camel usually cannot go through the eye of a needle.
But with a clean heart from the Lord, and the Spirit still leading David, the camel could. Psalm 51:10-11,17
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
…The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
David had time to repent.
And that is our advantage.
When we grow up to adults, we stop growing physically – except for: hair, fingernails and toenails.
Turn back time:
Deuteronomy 21:11-13
And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;
Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;
And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.
Numbers 8:7 Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
People change in time: Daniel 4:30-31,33
The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
…The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
The edge of us acting in the physical world is the edge of our bodies – hair and finger/toenails.
Head for thought and speech, feet to move and hands for action.
Hopefully we develop wisdom over time. Proverbs 20:29
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
Proverbs 16:31
The gray head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
And the edge of clothing, in Jewish practises, is the tzitzit. Deuteronomy 22:11-12
Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.
Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself.
Some say that Line 12 is an exception to the generalization of Line 11.
Regardless, as per tradition, Israelites mix wool and linen on this edge of clothing: the tzitzit.
But, for most, we mix wool and linen, in our actions in the physical world, as we try to become the exalted purple (mixing red and blue).
We fail, as with the strength of our wealth and abilities, we rely on ourselves, rather than God – falling like most kings in the Bible.
Our failure is evident as we sweat while working in wool.
Wool and flax (linen):
Hosea 2:5,9
For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.
…Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness.
And, reality is that we die. Leviticus 13:52
He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.
Why was King David special, so amazing? Because he was truly able to become purple.
How? He was truly able to die.
So many of us only contemplate this life, and do not contemplate death. We decay in the grave a lot longer than we live. So, to not contemplate death is rather short-sighted.
When you die in the hospital, or in a car accident, or as you sleep, you do so alone. Even if you drown with many people in a boating accident, your death is just for you.
And, when you make a decision to truly repent, you have to die to self – that is, give up your life, your security.
You might have to leave that church (or be kicked out of) that you’ve been going to.
You might be led by the Lord to a new job or a new home.
Since you’ve chosen affliction – God only knows what awaits you.
Even if you repent with a number of people, you don’t know what path God has for you. You have to face the death of your old life alone.
David’s son, King Solomon (who was cut off from God), contemplated death in a nihilistic sense. Ecclesiastes 3:19
…as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 9:5
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
King David, who was rich, similar to Solomon, could have been like most rich people and enjoyed his life in a selfish/hedonistic way.
But, King David, led by the Holy Spirt, contemplated death properly.
He was realistic and dealt with the certainty of death as something between him and God. Philippians 2:12
…but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Alone, he looked into the abyss, and knew that God was the only comfort after his inevitable death. Psalm 55:4-6
My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
Psalm 6:4-5
Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
David had proper fear of the Lord. Luke 12:5
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Psalm 25:14-15
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
David hated God’s enemies with perfect hatred. But David first looked in the mirror for wickedness. Psalm 139:21-24
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
With the sackcloth of goat-hairs pricking him and point inward, King David – who could have enjoyed a wealthy life as most kings – pointed the accusatory nature at himself. The wages of sin were death for himself, and he confronted that head-on.
King David became his own scapegoat. A goat in the wilderness, alone, slowly dying.
Leviticus 16:22
And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
Right now, we might have strong bodies, wealth and resources, and a friends and family network.
But King David, in a realistic and practical way, confronted what we all have to confront – our certain death.
Our death ultimately is alone. King David confessed that his sin was solely against God. Psalm 51:4
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight
In the Messianic Psalms, King David said events of Christ’s life (not David’s own life at that time).
That is, David confronted death as Christ did. Psalm 22:18-21
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
Psalm 69:11-15
I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
In our proper affliction, we are alone. Psalm 25:16
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
Psalm 27:10
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
Worms cover us in death: Job 21:25-26
And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
Embracing death, we become the worm. (Our instantiations of this in our life will likely not be dignified.) Job 25:6
How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
In a Messianic Psalm, David became the worm. Psalm 22:6-8
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. This worm in Hebrew is ‘tola,’ (often called the scarlet worm) and is actually a particular insect native to Israel.
When the female of this ugly species (coccus ilicis or kermes) gives birth (only once in its life), it attaches itself to a tree and then creates a waxy scale which hardens to a crimson shell.
Then the insect gives birth to offspring, protected below the body. And the offspring feed off the body of the mother insect. (And the mother dies.)
As this insect dies, it gives the red dye which stains the tree and the offspring and the insect’s outer side turns white.
Isaiah (which means Salvation of the Lord) summarizes this. Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
It’s so difficult to be purple.
When we have enough to eat, and we have a decent home, and perhaps we are even very wealthy, we never cry upwards to God for his blue.
Even if we are afflicted for a time, so often we forget God afterwards.
King David was so amazing in that, despite his wealth and abundance, he still humbled himself before the Lord as the worm.
A special type of worm produces the expensive garment made of silk.
For the rest of us, are we the whore or the proper bride? Ezekiel 16:10-15
I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.
I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was offine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.
The end-time whore: Revelation 18:12
The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of bronze, and iron, and marble…
Proverbs 31 comes with a warning from the mother. Proverbs 31:1-3
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
But that rare bride: Proverbs 31:10-22
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
The silkworm (which produces silk – clothing of royalty) feeds only upon the white mulberry tree.
The sycamore tree is a ‘fig mulberry’ tree.
Luke 19:2-9
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
With faith: Luke 17:6
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine (mulberry) tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
When we cultivate our lamb-like nature, our defenses are down. We are vulnerable to attack.
We need God’s strength to soften up the enemy, carpet bomb the foe, before we seize the death-blow.
Like the rich man, Zacchaeus, the tops of the mulberry trees featured for the ‘David versus Goliath’ victory.
(The camel can go through the eye of needle): 1 Chronicles 14:14-16
Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.
The only way that we can run on the edge of our abilities (drawing down Grace because of our afflictions) through the eye of the needle is hair by hair (our physical manifestations in time).
For this, we need guidance and power ahead of us that is the sword of the Spirit.
As we contemplate death, and are alone, and have God as our only hope, we correctly have a relationship with God.
With a proper relationship with God, and not relying on being dignified with the world, we can love our fellow man. 1 John 4:21
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
With our love of our brethren, we have defeated death. 1 John 3:14
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1 John 3:11-12
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
We defeat death when we reject the murderous nature of Cain, and do the opposite. We lay down our lives for our fellow man.
Without dignity, we become the worm. We are willing to give all for our fellow man (as directed by our Lord). And, yes, we are willing to be screwed over and look like an idiot by helping that dirty, evil, bastard… and friend. 1 John 3:15-17
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Matthew 18:21-22
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Under the Old Covenant (Testament), Israelites ate manna – the bread from the Lord. Exodus 16:15
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
By breaking the Old Covenant, The Law of Moses, worms ate the manna.
By keeping the Old Covenant, The Law of Moses, the worms were gone. Exodus 16:19-24
And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.
Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.
And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.
Under the New Covenant (Testament) we beat the deathly worms in the grave (that we all will inevitably face) by feeding on the bread of Christ’s flesh during communion. Christ took that undignified death and became that worm in the Messianic Psalm 22. John 6:31-32,47-49,53-56
Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
…Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
I am that bread of life.
Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
…Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Adam and Eve fell by knowing good and evil, and becoming dignified – and immediately put on clothing.
Christ reversed our fall by dying on the cross, confronting our death for us.
Undignified, he was beaten to inhuman ugliness and put on display naked on the cross.
Isaiah 52:14
As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men
Mark 15:24
And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
King David did not foolishly ignore death by thinking that his wealth and strength in his own abilities would last forever.
King David was realistic and knew that his life would be over one day.
He carefully contemplated death, as we all should during communion – eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:27-29
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
David’s embrace of death let him truly give up all to God, and this contemplation alone with the Lord allowed God to trust David with wealth (mammon) and blessings. Luke 16:8-11
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
After Godly sorrow, the Lord can trust you to zealously launch vengeance. 2 Corinthians 7:11
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
2 Corinthians 10:6
And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
His dance in his linen ephod might have been undignified to some, but it was the beginning of his proper good works – the linen of proper good works.
When Abraham’s servant searched for a wife for Isaac, he wanted the sign of the right bride to be a woman willing to draw water not only for one man riding the camels, but also for all of the camels. And those camels can drink gallons and gallons of water – a lot of work! Genesis 24:14
And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac;
As we store up the water of the word, the camel can go through the eye of the needle… hair by hair.
The work of our own hands, Cain’s offering, can be accepted like Abel’s offering of the lamb’s sacrifice.
We can mix the wool and the linen on the edge. We can wear royal silk and be trusted by God with wealth.
Although cut off under The Law, (like the whore of Babylon) – the red humanity of the bride – whose rareness raises her price (red rubies) – can, through the work of her own hands, be purple.
Proverbs 31:10-31
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Melting away to simplicity, the wicked will wonder at the impossible world becoming possible – as the camel goes through the eye of the needle.
Psalm 112:9-10
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Luke 13:28-29
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
Without violating our guidance via the Holy Spirit, as Christians of the lamb-like nature, we are to submit to governmental authority.
Did you know that it glorifies God if we submit to governmental authority (including this authority’s punishments to us), even if the authority is unjust? 1 Peter 2:18
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
If you steal and are caught, submitting to a good or evil authority for the punishment for stealing seems reasonable.
But, if you submit to punishment from an evil authority, when you did not steal (or for some silliness like a mean social media post) – this truly glorifies God. 1 Peter 2:19-20
For this is thankworthy, if a man because of conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your sins, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
Why?
Because not defending yourself from these wrong accusations is your physical instantiation that you rely on Grace, and not The Law of Moses – or any law.
If some crazy person on the street were to accuse you of stealing their ‘pet monster elephant’ – would you even bother defending yourself? No, if possible, you would simply ignore this ridiculousness. Matthew 27:12-14
And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
We draw closer to the Christ-like nature, lamb-like nature, when we offer no defense for even wrong accusations towards us (if the impressions of the Holy Spirit guide you thusly for that particular situation).
That renders accusations meaningless – and demonstrates that we only have Christ as judge of us.
You demonstrate that no Law of Moses, or any law, is judging us. We are under Grace. John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Mark 13:11
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Luke 21:13-15
And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
With a new heart, a brokenheart, you know that you know that you know that you are beyond rules as a means towards being righteous.
Any accusations that put you under any law are ludicrous, and you, like King David, see a world where you are embracing mortal death, and are beyond any consequence of any punishment from this world – as you are in a right relationship with the Lord, and he will guide your path in life.
This is to be truly human (beyond the animal kingdom, beyond algorithmic robotic behaviour).
To truly be human is to be part of an unlimited world that grows upwards in knowledge, wisdom, love and fellowship, without bounds set by any rules, traditions, or customs. And you know that this world is possible in a sustainable, joyous, harmonious way – a world which has new logic and sensibility that will not rationally lead to its own destruction. Isaiah 65:17
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Is this child-like naivety? Is it foolishness? 1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
