ALL SHOW, BUT NO GO.

Image courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com    

Many years ago my wife and I was at one of the national

parks near here.  We probably were there to do some 

hiking.  However there was a bicycle event of some sort

going on there also.  They were "mountain bikes" [Like in 

the image below.] with a number of different obstacle courses 

and contests being conducted, so we stopped to watch one.

What was of special interest to myself was that most of the

contestants, in the one we were watching ,were teen age boys,

except for one young man possibly thirty years old.  This

guy had one of the better bikes and wore all the "correct"

bicycling clothing.  He was dressed to kill, just like the

fellow in the upper image.  Not being too smart I assumed

he must be a real pro in that kind of thing.  So, I was anxious

to see him preform.

When his turn came, well, he did manage to finish just 

barely, the beginners course.

He had lots of SHOW but no GO.

Image courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com     

I am noticing that same problem in the "spiritual world" of 

today.  Or if you prefer the "religious" world.  There is lots 

of good talk, but very little "walk" that matches their talk.

God told us that in these end times things would be that

way.  He said it this way;

 "They will act religious, but

 they will reject the power that could make 

them godly.  Stay away from people like 

that!"

(2 Timothy 3:5 NLT)

Jesus Christ said it this way;

"Beware of false prophets who come disguised
as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
You can identify them by their fruit, that is,
by the way they act.  Can you pick grapes from
thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?" ...
"Yes, just as you can identify a tree by it fruit,
so you can identify people by their actions."
(Matthew 7:15,16 and 20 NLT)

What am I suggesting?
Quit looking at "religious" people to see how it is
done.  Get ahold of a "Holy Bible" and read it for
yourself.  After all, it is God himself that you and
I will answer to, not these pseudo spiritual people.

THE WAY THEY WALK

Image courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com   

You have noticed it to.  The way he/she/it walks tells

you what it is.  For example, in the distance you see an

animal but you do not know if it is a dog or something

else.  When it starts to walk, trot or run, you know that

it is a fox.   Because that is the way a fox walks or runs.

You see a very small animal where you cannot get a good

look at it.  When it moves, if it hops, it's a rabbit. etc.

In this day and age it often is difficult to tell whether a

person walking down the side walk is a male or female.

But if you will observe for a little bit you usually can

tell if it's a male or female because there is just something

different about the way they walk.

I am finding a lot of confusion about people today.

In days past the way some people walked, i.e. lived,

and talked did not match up.  Or we would say that 

their walk did not match their talk.   They talked a 

real good story.  But their life showed and entirely 

different story.

I am not a real social person.  I have a few good solid

friends and am content with that.  But lately I have 

been involved in the so called social media, i.e., Facebook

in particular.  Wow!  What an eye opener.  It seems that

there are a lot of people out there that can talk a real good

talk.  They will say something, or share a post that could

have came right out of the Holy Bible it's self.

Then the next six posts from the same person could have

come right out of the pit of Hell it's self.

Jesus Christ said,

"For whatever is in your heart determines

what you say"  

(Matthew 12:34 NLT)  

 Now which talk or walk am I to believe?

Something seems hypocritical in this.

I suppose the answer is found the Holy Bible.

Be patient with me.  I will include a long portion

of Scripture to make my point.  See if you do not think

these are the days we are living in.  The last sentence

is really the one I am after so I will capitalize it.

"You should know this, Timothy, that in the last

days there will be very difficult times.  For people

will love only themselves and their money.  They

will consider nothing sacred.  They will be unloving

and unforgiving; they will slander others and have

no self-control.  They will be cruel and hate what

is good.  They will betray their friends, be reckless,

be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather 

than God.  THEY WILL ACT RELIGIOUS, BUT

THEY WILL REJECT THE POWER THAT 

COULD MAKE THEM GODLY."

(2 Timothy 3:1 - 5 NLT)   

With God's help I want to seek the power from

Him to live a "godly" life and walk the walk that 

would match  a godly talk.

THE POWER OF UNBELIEF

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I have noticed a strange thing in life.  It first came to my

attention reading about the life of Jesus Christ.  Notice

how the more the proof, the greater the resistance of the

unbeliever.

You first see Christ turn water into wine.  Then you see

the sick healed by the hundreds just by his word or the

touch of his hands.  All of this of course is met with

resistance from the Religious leaders of his day.

It continues.  He walks on water.  He stills the storm

telling the weather what to do.  And it comes to a final

head when he raises to life a man who had been dead

and buried for four days.

That is when the Religious leaders decide that it is 

necessary to kill Jesus.

It is no different today.

It seems that the more the archaeologist dig up 

to prove the historical accuracy of the Bible,

and the more that "true" science proves the 

statements of the Bible.  The louder the unbelievers

yell trying to drown out the truth.

Truly the fool has said,

"There is no God".

JUST TALK

Many years ago I had one of those old Dodge Power

Wagons.  The thing was a good old solid truck.  It 

was like nothing could stop it.  But, it sure could 

drink the gas.  So, I bought a newer small pickup.  

It has served me very well also.

Being the old thing it was, I just gave the old Dodge 

to a man who lived back on one of the dirt roads 

in our area.

He was happy and proud of it.  And I was glad

someone could use it.  In fact, for a while he 

used it to drive back to the fishing holes and

ponds in the area for fishing.  Then he parked

it.  That was O.K.  It was his.

For years he kept telling me what he was going

to do with it.  BUT, it just sat there.

I think it was last year he came to my house 

to tell me what as great "hot rod" he was going

to make out of it.  "O.K.  Fine, it's yours."

Believe it or not, he got it running again

driving it up and down the road for about

a week.  Also someone took a spray can

and painted some of it with primer.  I guess

that was what made it a "hot rod".

But, I see it has gone back to just setting.

Talk.  It is (was) all just talk.

So much like many people today.  They

talk about all the great things they are 

going to do.  But years pass, and nothing

happens.  It's just talk.

That is the way it is in the "Spiritual"

world too.  Some start off with a "bang".

Then - that's it.

Jesus tells us about some that way.  They

hear the word of God:

"And these in like manner are the ones

sown upon rocky ground, who when

they hear the word, immediately receive

it with joy; and they have no root in

themselves, but endure for a while; then,

persecution arises on account of the 

word, immediately they fall away."

(Mark 4:16 RSV)

Makes me wonder.  Is my religious or

spiritual talk, just talk.  Is there any 

depth to my confession?