Friday, March 1, 2019



















The Waterfall

Down in the gorge of mist and cold,
pours out a gushing strong and bold,
that makes the hemlocks surge up tall—
the power of the waterfall.

The water dances as it sings,
and off the trees, it’s echo rings,
to fill the woodland concert hall—
the music of the waterfall.

The flow that washes like a sea,
removes the mud and creek debris,
and smooths the jagged, rocky wall—
the cleansing of the waterfall.

The Lord of Heaven gives the might,
with mercies pouring day and night,
to send my wrongs cascading all—
the beauty of God’s waterfall!


If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John1:9                                                        


THE WATERFALL

To have sin or to not have sin, that is the question.

It’s amazing. There are people who think they have no sin. A man once told me he was perfect in his own way and as he goes through life, imperfect layers are peeling off.

How messed up is that?

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8

The man described above deceived himself. True that he can believe what he wants, but, whether he knows it or not, a consequence will occur because of his choice in this world created by the Creator. People who go through life thinking they're perfect in their own way are destined for a rude awakening. When we rely on our own philosophy, it leads to death. When we acknowledge the Creator’s authority, eternal life is within reach.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
and
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 14:12

The Bible says everyone has sinned. There isn’t anybody who is perfect in his own way. That’s stupid thinking. There is an authority by which all things are measured. God’s Word is that authority. God knows eternal life because Creator God is the Living God.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

Those who rely on God’s Word realize that confessed sin is forgiven. Sins can be forever washed away, ripped up, forgotten and not held against us if we confess our sins. I think that might be a big ‘if’. But let’s say we have chosen to confess our sins to God. So now, what are some synonyms for the word “confess”? Here are some: acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, disclose, divulge, own and reveal. Can we own up to our wrongs?

And, silly of a question that it might be, what is sin? Sin is something God can't look at. The Bible tells us that sin equals death. Being the clear God that Creator God is, the Bible gives definitions of sin. Here is a list of some that I found:

looking lustfully at someone (Matthew 5:28)
taking God's name in vain (Exodus 20:7)
not honoring the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8)
murder, adultery, stealing (Exodus 20:13-15)
homosexuality (Romans 1:20-32)
sexually immoral (1 Corinthians 6:9)
not honoring your mother or father (Exodus 20:12)
malice, deceit, envy, slander (1 Peter 2)
vengeful (Romans 12:19)
foul talk (Ephesians 4:29)
love of money (1 Timothy 6:10)
drunkenness (Galatians 5:21)
not believing (Hebrews 3:19)
worrying (Matthew 6:25-34)
idolatry, witchcraft, jealousy, discord, fits of rage, selfish ambition, factions (Galatians 5:20)
hatred (Proverbs 10:12)
unfaithful, pride, cheating (Proverbs 11)
being rude (1 Corinthians 13:5)
lying (Proverbs 26:28)

For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23

Do you know the saying 'The seven deadly sins'? This saying is not in the Bible. It’s not true because all sin is deadly, not just 7. Sin equals death. All sin equals death.

Now, here is the good news! There is hope for the sinner. A waterfall is hope. It’s the cleansing away of sin that mars our soul. Sin can be washed away!

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, bore our sin on the cross. Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Salvation is found for the repentant heart. Jesus came to save, not condemn. Pray for God’s forgiveness to clean up, purify and cleanse all unrighteousness from your life. Sin doesn’t have to be permanent. Eternal life is just a prayer away.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.
Colossians 1:21-23

God is so awesome that because of the faith in our heart, He can manage to not only cancel out our sin but even present us as holy before Him! Wow! I’m going for that!

Here’s a prayer challenge for you: Visit a waterfall this spring and spend time in prayer there at the waterfall. We do have sin. But we don’t have to let it define us. Jesus told many, “Go, and sin no more.” I think it is true that a habit can change a habit.

May you sense God’s awesome forgiveness by the waterfall that purges away sin to make room for Heaven’s peace.

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