Fancy stumbling over a fantasy!

Today, a thought on...

Fantasies:-
A hope in anything other than a Promise of God is a fantasy (not real!). When a person covets and lusts after any of these fantasies in their heart what they are actully doing is committing idolatry.

Coveting is the strong desire you have for the fantasy to 'come true' or 'be real' (only God's Words are True). This is idolatry and lust - lust changes the direction you are facing.

Merriam Webster's dictionary says to covet means:
1 : to wish for enviously
2 : to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably.


The Apostle Paul instructs, directs and commands us to...

"Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."
Colossians 3:5

NOTE: when Paul says, PUT TO DEATH, he is referring to the daily crucifixion that Jesus mandates for "ALL" His disciples in Luke 9:23, "Then He said to them *all*, “If *anyone* desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross *daily*, and follow Me."

And informs us...

"For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God."
Ephesians 5:5

Then we DO covet something in our hearts what we do is turn AWAY from God and set up that thing as an idol and worship that instead. This causes us to STUMBLE in The WAY, that is, it TERMINATES our journey with God along His Narrow Way - we are no longer walking WITH Him. The end of that journey, the one that veers OFF the Narrow Way is death.

This behaviour is called in the Bible, "iniquity". God says in Ezekiel 14:3,

"Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?"

And in Ezekiel 20:3,

“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’

And in Ezekiel 20:31,

"For when you offer your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you."

To me this inquiring is prayer and God is saying He will not hear their prayers! This sentiment is put explicitly by David in Psalm 66:18 where he says,

"If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear."

I Hope you can see then that you can't walk and talk with God along Life's NARROW WAY when you are coveting and serving your own [vain] fantasies in your heart, whatever they may be.

"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry."
1 Corinthains 10:14

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."
1 John 5:21

[I didn't even mention the sin of ENVY! or how we are POWERLESS apart from Christ!]

To change or not to change? .............. Exactly! Huh?!

The idea that one of the duties of a Christian is to "make" other Christians is one I believe to be false. In order to be "made" a Christian, or in other words to be converted, a soul must have a definite, real and redeeming encounter with the Life-Giving spirit that is Jesus Christ - PERSONALLY.

The idea that getting another person to agree with your doctrines and creeds is actually a spiritual conversion is very wrong, deceitful and damning!

It is my opinion that the New Testament was not written for unbelievers to learn about Salvation but for Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and to instruct, teach, warn, rebuke, admonish, encourage and build them up. This sentiment is expressed in 2 Timothy 3:16+17, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Notice that verse 17 says that the object of giving the Scripture was to equip THE MAN OF GOD for every GOOD WORK. That is, for those who have ALREADY been converted and have come to know God personally [His kids] to mature and live obediently and honourably and faithfully.

13Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
17And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

1 Peter 1:13-19


No, I don't believe a person can benefit at all from Bible study or Theology apart from being born-again, that is by being spiritually converted by Jesus Christ personally. The Holy Spirit makes converts by His own will through the Word of the Truth of the Gospel.

So if it is not a Christians duty to make other Christians (or, disciples) what IS their duty? Surely it is to obey the sound words of their Lord and to take up their Crosses daily and follow Him - as wise builders labouring diligently to obtain an everlasting life - with patience and confidence. Is it not to decrease and allow Jesus to increase in them. To do unto others as you would have them do unto you. To bear the fruit of Repentance, the fruit of a Holy life - to be good students of the Teacher of Love? I suppose then in a word or two, it is a Christians duty to Repent daily.

In retrospect my own conversion seems absolutely undeserved and very mysterious. It was the birth of a NEW Life and the start of a new Way - a Pilgrimage. It was also the start of a new Relationship and Friendship with God Himself! I don't count myself to be particularly mature in the Faith or that I have "arrived" already at my spiritual goal of Salvation - what I am is glad - glad that I can share my experiences of life in this world with Jesus, no-one else likes me the way He does or wants to know me the way He does - this is gonna take some gettin used to!