Judas – Praying Pint

34.r. “In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress”

Matthew 27:3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

Job 20:5 that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?

Job 20:15-29 He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly. He will suck the poison of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him. He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds. He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment. For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build. “Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him. There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure. In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him. To fill his belly to the full, God will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body. He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through. It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him. Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed. The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him. The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God’s wrath. This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.”

The hypocrisy of the chief priests was transparent. “Tempters never make good comforters. Those who are the devil’s instruments, to command, entice, or allure men to sin, will afford them no relief when they have come to be troubled for what they have done.” (Poole)

Thus perished Judas Iscariot the traitor, a miserable example of the fatal influence of covetousness, and a standing monument of the divine vengeance, proper to deter future generations from acting contrary to conscience, through the love of the world. (Benson)

A guilty conscience and deep remorse result from actions taken and then having a glimpse of reality, a searing red hot iron of truth pressed hard onto the flesh of that person’s heart, mind, and soul. Judas, being seared with the knowledge and understanding of what Hell must be like, found no escape from it. There was no will to live with that torment and trying to escape it by killing himself seemed the only option. The peace he longed for deep in his soul by being released from the torment led him to this act. What Judas didn’t realize was he was headed from this earthly torment into eternal torment in Hell. There is no escape from this destiny without repentance and trust in Jesus Christ. Though a person may be remorseful, sorry, and filled with regret it will never bring about forgiveness, redemption, or salvation of their soul. Our conscience may be seared with the truth of our sin actions to cause us to be remorseful, sorry, and regretful but these ought to lead us to repentance and Jesus Christ.

Judas never repented, never sought repentance, never sought forgiveness, and tried to relieve the pain of the truth of his sin by giving back the 30 pieces of silver. In essence, he was trying to buy his pardon by self-reliance and atonement for what he had done. How many times do we go through life thinking we can do more good things to make up for bad things we have done, thought, or said? It is as if we keep a ledger book of our good and bad and try to make a good balance out just a little bit better. Do we think this makes us more right with God? Do we believe we are more worthy of forgiveness by doing good acts to offset the bad?

There is nothing a person can do in and of themselves that will give them the peace of forgiveness. It is only trusting in Jesus Christ alone. Confessing it, repenting of it, and relying on His great love, mercy, and grace. We cannot cover any sin by being good enough. “It is by the grace of God we are saved, not by works lest any man should boast” We cannot do acts of kindness that make us worthy of God’s love, grace, and mercy. It is only by His love that we are redeemed through His Son. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son”

Being remorseful, regretful, and sorry for some act we have done or thought ought to lead us to repentance and trust in Jesus alone, for He alone is the one who can forgive.

33.c. “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards”

Mat 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Matthew 13:53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Matthew 11:6   And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Isaiah 53:3    He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Mark 6:3    Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Luke 7:23     And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

John 6:42    They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

1 Corinthians 1:23-28  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;  God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

A miracle conception, humble birth, the Son of God, with brothers and sisters of a carpenters family, in a small village of little recognition, Nazareth and spoken of by prophets is where Jesus seems to have the same type of rejection as was from the Jewish leaders. Their unbelief limited the mighty works that He had done in other villages. They were offended that He was teaching them as one with authority, wisdom, and understanding. They could only see Him as Jesus the son of Joseph and Mary. Who was He to come back home and proclaim things of God?

Rejection of Jesus results in a continuation of life without Him. Many think life is fine this way and they close their ears and eyes to things of God. Like these people from His hometown who rejected Him personally are those who now continually reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They say it is a made-up story, a fairytale. They seem to have made up their minds and become firmer and firmer in their rejection of the Son of God. They find no value and purpose in Jesus in their lives.

To those who believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, He is more than just the Son of God. He is their redeemer, friend, power, strength, joy, peace, courage, and rest. He gives them life, a life more abundant and purposeful. He has given them hope of eternal life. He gives them strength to face all trials and troubles because He said He would never leave them or forsake them. He gives them peace that passes all understanding. He gives them light in a dark and lost world. He guides their paths through this life. He has promised that He will be with them forever and ever. Though He cannot be seen, He is more real than what we can see and touch. He is able to redeem the vilest and lost person and give that person new life. How can anyone reject Jesus Christ and the gospel of redemption, salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life? We do well to remember to honor and glorify the Son of God, Jesus, in all we say, think and do.

18.g. “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.”

John 13:2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

James 1:13-17 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

Mark 4:19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.

Some people are like the ground on a hard-packed pathway. This is hard ground because people walked on it all the time and hardened it. When people are hard to the word of God, they allow no room for the seed of the word in their lives – it never enters. “There are some that hear the word, but never meditate upon it, never lay it to their hearts, never cover it with second thoughts.” (Poole) Some people are like the ground that is rocky but covered with a thin layer of dirt. They receive the seed of the word with a flash of enthusiasm that quickly burns out. Some people are like the seed that falls among the thorns. They receive the word but allow the interests and cares of this world to choke it out.

We ought to be able to rightly see and understand the world we live in, its lures, lies, fears, temptations, and false hopes. But how is this to occur? When we are in God’s Word. When we hunger and thirst for His Word. When we have surrendered our life in this world to victoriously living to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ. This does not happen by walking hand in hand with what this world has to offer or giving head nods toward Christian values, the bible, attending church, or listening to Christian music. Head nods are not the same as a heart surrendered. There is a big difference. Head nods do not let the word of God into their heart. These people play at being a Christian but there has never been a heart change that only comes through repenting, confessing, and surrender all hope of eternal life into the hands of Jesus Christ. No thought of being good enough enters their thoughts. They understand they were lost and without hope and then the Light of the Gospel flooded their heart and mind. They realized there is only one way to eternal life and that is through hope and faith in Jesus Christ. God’s Word allows them to see this world and what it has to offer. This allows them to reject temptations that come at them in all kinds of forms. Greed, lust, passion, hate, anger, fear, worry, pride, self-worth, and self-reliance are some of the many forms this world will tempt. Hunger and thirst for His Word with a desire to live so that all you think, say, and do honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

17.o. Sitting at the feet of Jesus

John 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Luke 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’* feet and heard His word.

John 11:32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Mary has sat at the feet of Jesus and learned. She sat at His feet in mournful surrender. And she sat at His feet and honored Him with oil. How can we learn if we do not spend time listening with a desire to hear Him speak? How can we surrender our broken heart at His feet if we don’t believe in His comfort in a time of grief? How can we honor Him if we do not know and see His holiness and worthiness?

Outside of the betrayal of Jesus, Judas is only mentioned in the New Testament here for doing/saying something that would indicate his heart was not right. We do not know if the disciples knew that Judas was a thief. This may have been hidden from them or not. John indicates he knew he was helping himself to the money given to them and their ministry with Jesus. Was it greed that overcame Judas’s heart? Is this how satan took a foothold? We need to be mindful that sin is the fishing pond of satan. Once hooked no amount of thrashing about will calm these troubled waters unless there is complete surrender to and belief in Jesus Christ.

15.z. “For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness”

John 6:65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

Matthew 12:41   The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.  The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.  “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.  Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.  Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

2 Timothy 4:10    For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me

Hebrews 10:38   but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

2 Peter 2:20-22    For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.  For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.  What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

The Son of God was in their presence. He spoke wisdom greater than the wisdom of Solomon and preached greater than the preaching of Jonah. There were in His presence and many rejected Him. In 2 Peter he says; “it would be better for those who did not know the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back.” Jesus said, “the last state of that person is worse than the first.” When a person who knows the message of the Gospel and is aware of eternal life through it, and then chooses to reject it, then falls away or is drawn away by worldly passions and pleasures, what is it that so easily pulls them away from Jesus Christ? How does a person who has tasted what the blessings of forgiveness are and then comes to reject the forgiver? There are many things that come to mind. Pleasures and things of this world devour the light of Jesus Christ. They choose to become blind and deaf to things of God but open their ears and eyes to things of this world. They choose to believe a lie rather than the truth of the Gospel.

The day of salvation is now. If you hear His voice speaking to your heart and soul, do not reject Him. Let Him in. Hunger and thirst for Him. A time is coming when the offer of salvation in the presence of the Holy Spirit will cease. Rejecting it now means you reject eternal life and choose to go to eternal damnation and torment, hell. You may not ever get another chance. There are many who say they will choose to believe but sometime later in their lives. We are not guaranteed a single day in the future. Think about all of the people who die each day from a host of various accidents. I am sure they would have said, “if I had only known today was my last day I would have come to Jesus Christ.” The “day of salvation is now”, do not reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ a single moment longer.

not mine but your will be done

John 18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Psalms 75:8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.

Matthew 20:22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”

Matthew 26:39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Matthew 26:42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

I am continually thinking about “for the joy set before Him endured the cross“. Many thoughts come to mind. His love for the Father. His love for us. His obedience. His want to do the will of God. His human struggle. Can you imagine what this must have been like, to know you could call down 10,000 angels and never have to experience this suffering. But rather than choose this your eyes are focused on serving God and doing His will above self. Numerous scripture tells us to seek His will for our life and to live in unity, allowing ourselves to be wronged so that the grace of God may be seen in and through our reflection of His Son. At a time we celebrate the birth of Jesus with joy and thankfulness it is good to remember His faithfulness, steadfast love, and sacrifice to redeem us from our sin.

Placed into their heart

John 13:2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

Ephesians 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Ezra 7:27 Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem,

Nehemiah 2:12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 8:16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus

Revelation 17:17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

Romans 1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Note the examples above. Satan temps and places intents in the heart of man. Yet it also says that man lured away and enticed by his own desires. Man acts on these temptations, desires, enticements and gives way to them in their life. What is our hope against such things happening. The word of God. His word will bring light to the darkness associated with sin. It will give knowledge and wisdom to understand things of this world that are contrary to God and as well things of God that are good for the heart, mind, and soul. Our own sinful nature and it’s desires can not be left on their own for our nature is contrary to God and His ways. Our help comes from God and through His word of hope, guidance, love, mercy, courage, promises, light, redemption, refuge, peace…. Staying in God’s word is the beginning of the battle for our soul.

The Betrayer

“ and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”

John 6:70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

John 13:18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’

John 17:12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

Matthew 10:1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

1 John 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Betraying Christ is nothing any of us want to do. It would be the farthest thing from our mind. It is not something we give much thought. Yet I still wonder about us betraying service to Him. Do we honor Him with our life Do we commit to this with all our heart, mind and soul? Are our days filled with this thought of serving Him? Do we follow and obey Him? Are we seeking to hear Him speak into our lives through His word each day? Are our heart and mind open to hear His leading? Are we betraying Him by not giving Him our all everyday? Obviously there is room for us to grow in our service to Him. We need a heart deep desired commitment infused into our mind and soul. Losing sight of the thing of this world and keeping focus on Him and the world to come.

Pay Attention

“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

” let us not pay attention to any of his words.”

Psalms 56:5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.

Job 16:20 My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,

Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words

Luke 11:54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.

Jeremiah 18:18 Then they said, “Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words.”

Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.

Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.

Psalms 126:5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

It is obvious there are those who seek God and those who do not. For those who do not, they have closed their ears, eyes, heart, soul and mind. they have closed all of these to His creation, His word, and what He has placed within our heart about Him. Their heart and mind have hardened to the point of not only rejecting God’s call but to reject, mock, and cause issue with those who walk by faith in the one true God. In Romans it says that they have chosen to reject God because He has made it clear to them through creation and by placing initial knowledge of Himself in their heart and mind. Romans continues to say that because they have rejected Him, He has given them over to this debase and eternally harmful mindset. For those who have chosen to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey there is another course/path for their lives. God is ever present in their heart, mind, and soul. They know there is more to life than what is experienced this side of eternity. They hold on to that which is promised – not seen. They come to God with their heart cry and know He is their strength, rock, refuge, joy, peace, and place of rest. They live this side of eternity with hope and expectation of eternity promised with God. Keep strong, stand firm, seek God, and CHOOSE to keep your heart, mind and soul focused in this life on Him. Do not allow your heart and mind to be pulled away by things of this world and culture. Do not get so busy that you lose sight of God and eternity. Do not neglect His word. Keep your life in check with His word.