A Pebble In Your Shoe?

What’s the difference between ignorance and apathy? Don’t know; don’t care. Think about that for a few moments. There are many things about which we know little or nothing. And even if we knew about them, we wouldn’t really care one way or another because we believe other things are far more important to us – the pebble in our shoe. But ignorance and indifference can harm or kill us. (Examples: electricity, gravity, chemicals, etc.)

It’s sad that many people, including children, are being stupefied with all kinds of legitimate and illegitimate drugs instead of with natural remedies that have fewer side effects. This problem will intensify during the upcoming seven years of “The Tribulation.” [1] (See Revelation 9:21; 18:23)

Many people are also mesmerized and lulled into spiritual sleep by the devil and are apathetic toward God and His Word (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19). Many are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people [we’re to] turn away! (2 Timothy 3:2-5).

Maybe the apathetic person you meet has an irritating pebble in his shoe that keeps him distracted so that he rarely, if ever, thinks about God. Perhaps the devil put it there (2 Corinthians 12:7).

A. W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us…Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God….For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous [amazing or intriguing] fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.” – The Knowledge of the Holy

Here are a few basic perspectives on the question of God’s existence. [2] Which one of these beliefs describes you the best?

Atheism, Agnosticism, Theism, and Deism

1) atheism: the belief that God (or gods) do not exist

2) agnosticism: the belief that there is not enough evidence to prove or disprove the existence of God – ‘we just don’t know’

3) theism: the belief that there is a God (or gods) with whom we may relate

4) deism: belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe.

But here is another one that should be added to this list.

5) apatheism. It is the view that whether or not God (or gods) exist is not that important. An ‘apatheist’ doesn’t take a position on the question of God—he or she simply doesn’t care.

It’s important to note that your belief will affect the way you talk or don’t talk to others about God. Are you a “Professing Christian” who is quite content and comfortable in the life you are now living? Perhaps you expect the “professionals” (Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Deacons) to do the work of evangelism rather than your getting involved in it yourself.

The early Jewish Christians knew what Jesus had told them to do – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

But for a long time they hesitated to reach out to non-Jews with the Gospel until God put “a fire under them” in the person of Saul, the persecutor of Christians (Acts 9:1 ff; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13), who later became the Apostle Paul (Acts 13:9), and the steward (household manager) of the “Dispensation of Grace” in which we now live (Ephesians 3:1 ff). [3]

Carnal Christians, who are manifesting “the works of the flesh,” (which are all perversions of good things – Galatians 5:19-21), usually won’t be interested in being obedient to the Lord’s command. In fact, they shouldn’t witness to lost people until they’ve confessed their known sins to God the Father and have claimed His forgiveness (1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13; James 5:16). Failure to confess all our known sins to Him can result in severe discipline (1 Corinthians 11:27-32; Hebrews 10:31; 12:5 ff; James 5:19, 20; 1 John 5:16).

Once we’ve made things right with God and others whom we’ve offended (James 5:16; Romans 12:18), we need to walk by means of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 25), and be “filled with the Spirit” by allowing Him to make up where we are lacking in Christ likeness (Ephesians 5:18). When we’re rightly related to God the Holy Spirit, He will produce “The Fruit of the Spirit” in our lives (Galatians 5:22, 23). Then we become responsible to direct it toward the right objects, for the right reasons, and at the right time. [4]

Sometimes, when we’re dealing with unsaved people, they will show little or no interest in spiritual things. They’re apathetic. I also have encountered people who were hostile to me when I tried to talk to them about God and the Gospel. If they’re offended, I want them to be offended by the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:14) rather than with me because of my ineptness or carelessness.

Perhaps they’ve had a bad experience with “religion” and “religious people.” Rather than trying to “cram the Gospel down their throat,” showing “agape” love and kindness to them might open up a future opportunity to talk to them about God’s amazing grace and the salvation He provides for all mankind (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2). After all, it’s the goodness [kindness] of God [that] leads [people] to repentance [i.e., a change of mind] (Romans 2:4). [5] Do you love people as God does (John 3:16)?

Sometimes I like to leave a clear Gospel tract with people. (It can be like a “pebble in a shoe.”) I often use a tract that I wrote about the death of our late son, Bill, as an “ice breaker.” [6] I’ve found many people who have had similar circumstances with the loss of a loved one or friend.

If you distribute “Gospel tracts,” [7] make sure that they include the facts of the Gospel – that Christ died for our sins…and rose again bodily on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). Don’t use those that leave out Christ’s bodily resurrection as many Gospel tracts do. Make sure that they clearly state that the only condition for their salvation / deliverance from hell to heaven is for them to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ alone, through the Gospel…” so they can/will be saved (Acts 16:31). When a person believes, he repents (i.e., changes his mind about God, himself, and how he must be saved). Our “good works” have no part in our being saved (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5; Isaiah 64:6).

If you have been saved by God’s grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, through the message of the Gospel, but have been involved in “apatheism,” confess this to God and then, with His help, become a F.A.T.F.R.E.E. Christian. (Faithful, Available, Teachable, Flexible, Evangelistic, and Enthusiastic). [8]

We’re here to assist those who are teachable, willing to change, and who want to grow spiritually. If you’d like additional spiritual help, we can be reached here or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com.

We’d appreciate your help by SHARING this information with others. If you’d like to receive future articles as they come out, click on “Follow.”

For further study to show yourself approved to God (2 Timothy 2:15), we invite you to read the following articles:

[1] The Tribulation –

https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/the-order-of-coming-events/

https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2014/02/08/the-order-of-coming-events-part-3/

[2] Basic Perceptions – https://thelogcollege.wordpress.com/2023/01/28/witnessing-in-an-age-of-apathy/

[3] Dispensations Chart – https://www.kelseypeach.com/_files/ugd/08892a_ce5bb78881fa4f50a6c866dd9ab0adfe.pdf

[4] Fruit of the Spirit – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2022/01/07/be-like-jesus/

[5] Repentance –

https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2019/02/28/repentance-the-most-misunderstood-word-in-the-bible/

https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2021/11/25/repentance-what-it-is-isnt/

[6] The Death Of Our Son – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2016/04/12/the-death-of-our-son/

[7] Gospel Tracts – https://www.biblebelievers.com/Torrey3.html

http://bartimaeus.us/pub_dom/monographs.html

[8] F.A.T.F.R.E.E. https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/the-f-a-t-f-r-e-e-test/

The Gospel by which we are saved –

https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2019/04/24/the-bad-news-the-good-news/

“God Is…” Part 1

“GODISNOWHERE”

He wanted everyone who visited his home to know that is was an avowed atheist. In his living room he had sign that read: “God is nowhere.” One day his grandson, who was just learning how to read, said to his grandfather, “I can read that sign.” Since he was having trouble with the big word “nowhere,” he broke it down and said, “It says, ‘God is now here.’” [1]

The grandfather was shocked. He had never read the sentence that way. His whole perception began to change, thanks to his little grandson. No longer could he read “God is nowhere.” He could only read it as his grandson did, “God is now here.” (Please take/make time to read and meditate on Psalm 139. It could dramatically change your way of thinking and living and your eternal destiny.)

The Bible calls one who claims to be an atheist “a fool” (Psalm 14:1). An honest person might say, “I am an agnostic. I’m not sure if God exists or not.” What you believe or claim not to believe about God is critical.

In his book entitled “The Knowledge of the Holy,” A. W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us…Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to [that] question,… we might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man. Were we able to know exactly what our most influential religious leaders think of God today, we might be able with precision to foretell where the Church will stand tomorrow.”

Another author wrote, “Knowing God. There is no pursuit more important. Paul declared it to be his aim in life (Philippians 3:10). Jesus prayed for it to become a reality (John 17:3). Jeremiah stated it was the single thing over which man may boast (Jeremiah 9:23). Knowing God has a beginning point-salvation-and is a never-ending process. Today, make it your aim. Consciously think, ‘Lord, use these quiet moments to enhance my knowledge of You. Take first place in my heart. Reveal Yourself to me.’” – Chuck Swindoll, “Quest For Character,” p. 60

(Note: God has revealed Himself to us in His Word. He is not giving out new revelation/information at this time. We have all we need for life and godliness, within the pages of the Scriptures. (Read 2 Peter 1:3.)

With these thoughts in our minds, let’s try to discover what the Scriptures tell us about God. After all, it says in words what He wanted us to know. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God [i.e. It is “God breathed”], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God [i.e. the believer] may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17 *).

God Is The Creator And Sustainer Of All things.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). “For by Him [i.e. God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist [i.e. are held together]” (Colossians 1:16, 17*). Apparently the spirit beings (cherubs, seraphs, and angels – also called “the sons of God” – Genesis 6:2, 4; Job 1:6; 2:1), whom God the Son had created earlier, shouted for joy when they saw what God had done for them (Job 38:7).

From the mineral garden of Eden on earth, it seems that Lucifer, the highest of the created spirit beings, ruled under God over all the rest of the spirit beings, who resided in the starry heavens, until he rebelled against God (Isaiah 14:12 ff; Ezekiel 28:11 ff). He persuaded one third of the lower two categories of angels to follow him in his rebellion by trying to exalt Himself and take the glory that belonged to God.

When they did this they became the devil and demons (Revelation 12:4; See Ephesians 6:12). The “lake of fire” was prepared for them (Matthew 25:41, 46), but all unbelievers, who are not fit for heaven (John 16:10), will also end up in that awful place forever to suffer with different degrees of torment (Matthew 10:15; 11:22; Revelation 20:11-15).

We hope that you won’t be in that group. By simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, through the message of the Gospel, you can be transferred out of the devil’s family and enter God’s family (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Colossians 1:13; 1 John 3:9, 10).

God The Destroyer And Re-Creator.

At the end of time as we know it, (at least 1,0007 years from now) God will destroy the present heavens and earth and create a completely new heavens and earth in which righteousness will finally settle down and be at home (2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21:1; See Matthew 5:5; Romans 4:13). Apart from “special revelation from God” (the 66 Books in the Bible) we couldn’t know these things. Natural revelation tells us that there is a God who exists and who is all powerful (Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1; See Psalm 14:1). But this information isn’t enough to believe for someone to be saved (James 2:19).

The Good News, that is the power of God unto salvation, is that Christ died for our sins…and rose again bodily on the third day (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). Have you placed for faith and trust in Him alone to save you? If not, why not now? If you are a true believer, have you shared the Gospel with anyone recently? If not, why?

God The Son – The Communicator.

“In the beginning was the Word (i.e. the Communicator for the Godhead), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made [i.e. came into being] through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made [i.e. came into being]…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth…No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (John 1:1-3, 14, 18*).

On the night when He was betrayed, Jesus said to His disciples, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.  Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves” (John 14:7-11*).

The three Persons in the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) share the same essence and attributes (John 10:30). But they have distinctive roles to carry out from the beginning of time to the end of time which were determined in eternity past at the council meeting. This is known as “the decree” (Ephesians 1:11).

The “determinative will” came after the various options were considered by them (Matthew 10:15; 11:22). The “desirous will” that God planned for us to do, while we are here on earth, may or may not be carried out by us (Examples: Romans 12:1, 2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:18). Rewards, crowns, and praise await Christians at the “Bema Seat Judgment” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10) who do God’s work (Ephesians 2:10), God’s way (2 Timothy 2:5), for God’s glory (1 Corinthian 10:31). 

What are your honest thoughts about God? Do you foolishly deny His existence (See Psalm 14:1), or are you a Christian who acts like God doesn’t exist – “a practical atheist”? Are you an agnostic who isn’t sure if God exists or not? From nature we can know that there is a God who is all powerful (Romans1:20). Those who deny this and who aren’t thankful to Him develop reprobate (depraved, unprincipled, or wicked) minds (Romans 1:28).

On the other hand, without having ever seen Him, we can accept and believe the Scriptural fact that we are sinners like everyone else (Romans 3:10, 23; See 1 John 3:4), and that we deserve to be punished (Romans 6:23). While none of us has been as bad as we could be, we are all as bad off as we can be if we aren’t saved and if we end up in the lake of fire forever (Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:41, 46; Revelation 21:8).

But God the Father loved the people of this world (John 3:16). God the Son volunteered to come down to this sin cursed earth (Hebrews 10:7, 9) to glorify God the Father (John 17:4), and to die in our place for our sins. But He rose again from the dead so He could save any and all who would believe on Him as their personal Savior. Christ’s bodily resurrection and His acceptance by the Father back into heaven proves to us that His work on the cross satisfied God the Father’s outraged holiness against our sin (Romans 4:25; 1 John 2:2).

The God who created the heavens and the earth is concerned about you. “[He] desires all men (which includes you and me) to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Have you placed your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone to save you? If not, why not now?  Do you have assurance of your salvation? If you are a true Christian, are you growing spiritually, serving effectively, and sharing the Gospel regularly with others as you are being led by God the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14)?

Help. We’re here to assist those who are teachable and willing to change (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17). We can be reached through our website: www.kelseypeach.com. If this has helped you, please let us know, and then SHARE this with others so they can be helped too.

[1] “Now here.” What does this mean? To be discussed later.

“Bad News & Good News” https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2019/04/24/the-bad-news-the-good-news/

*Scripture taken from the New King James Version. c. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Used by permission. All rights reserved.