It’s not in the power of human beings to produce full justice. That’s in the hands of another and better judge.”
–Ernest Haycox (Whispering Range)

“But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.”
–Hebrews 1:8 (NLT)
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“We have stepped off a cliff and are falling into madness.”
–Ted Dekker

Perhaps you have heard of it; by chance you may have experienced it–high altitude sickness. It may be mild in some, but in others it may be severe. I have observed a few cases over the years. Many years ago I was part of a group of Royal Rangers that took more advanced boys on a trip to Colorado. We went to the Indian Peaks Wilderness to camp. As we were setting up camp two of the boys became dizzy and sick, enough so that we had to take them to the emergency room. The doctor diagnosed high altitude sickness. I have seen people get dizzy and fall over, while others do things that they didn’t know why they were doing. My Mom said she had this feeling of euphoria went driving in the mountains that instead of following the road she just wanted to go straight off into the air (thank goodness she was able to control that).
Why are people doing they crazy things they are doing? Why are they saying the crazy, stupid things they are saying? Surely it is not high altitude sickness. Hmmm, maybe it is a form, for there is a rustling in the heavens. Soon, the Almighty Judge of all creation will appear and take those who have been sealed by the Holy Spirit with Him into heaven. Now if that isn’t “high” I don’t know what is. Perhaps some of these crazies on earth are rejecting the thoughts of the Creator and Heaven.
You may be in a form of desolation–a type of wilderness or you may know someone facing a time of spiritual survival. It may not be high altitude sickness, but a struggle for survival within your soul. I hope you will ponder the following–it may help you survive.
“The enemy of our soul wants to take us to this barren land of desolation. He wants us to see it through his eyes. It is a barren land; empty of life, water, and hope. Why try to survive? It is not within your power. To try to do so would be torture; the body and soul will be torn time and time again. It is better just to give up and die, succumb to the desolation of the wilderness wasteland. It is too wearisome a task to take another step; give up now to the ruthless hand of the devil.
Now is not the time to give in to his schemes! Blessed (to be envied) is the person who realizes the lessons of the wasteland. This person, currently you, is becoming more and more aware of the dangers and perils of the wasteland. You walk warily, looking constantly for something to aid in your survival and to also be aware of the pitfalls and evils that lurk there. Your eyes are constantly searching, looking for those landmarks that help direct your steps.
The desert is ruthless! But never forget–there is a Guide. Someone who has gone on before. Listen! Do not think for a minute that you can avoid the wasteland. If Jesus was forced there, why do you think that you will not taste of it? Your soul, right now, is being tested and tried. If you do not quit, if you are not beguiled by the devil, if you watch your step and listen to your Guide: you will walk out of this wilderness victorious!” (Trails in the Wilderness)
Remember, your Guide knows the way; He has the solutions, and He carries ample supplies of refreshing “water.” This Guide if you allow Him will also allow you to see through the madness of the world and to stay stable in the midst of deceit.

These were his kind of men. Winning or losing, they made no great fuss about it.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Riders of High Rock)

“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”
–1 Peter 1:13 (NLT)
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Instead of racking my poor feeble, pea-brain I thought I would use something that I read this week. It is about the great preacher Charles H. Spurgeon.

“Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, read voraciously through the week, but not until Saturday night did he determine and develop his message for the following morning. Only on Sunday afternoon did he prepare his evening address. But it worked. For 30 years, he kept London’s Metropolitan Tabernacle packed. On Sunday night, March 8, 1874, Spurgeon preached from 1 Corinthians 6:20: ‘God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.’ Had you entered Metropolitan Tabernacle that evening, you would have heard Spurgeon’s carillon voice pealing these words through the lamplit hall:
‘…you young men who come to London amidst its vices, shun everything that is akin to lewdness or leads on to unchasity, for your bodies were bought with your Lord’s lifeblood, and they are not yours to trifle with. Shun the strange woman, her company, her wine, her glances, her house, her songs, her resorts. Your bodies are not yours to injure by self-indulgence of any sort. Keep them pure and chaste for that heavenly Bridegroom who has bought them with his blood.’
And then your soul is bought too. I was obliged to mention the body, because it is mentioned here, and it is so needful it should be kept pure. But keep the soul pure. Christ has not bought these eyes that they should read novels calculated to lead me into vanity and vice, such as are published nowadays. Christ has not bought this brain of mine that I may revel in the perusal of works of blasphemy and filthiness. He has not given me a mind that I may drag it through the mire with the hope of washing it clean again…
Your whole manhood belongs to God if you are a Christian. Every faculty, every natural power, every talent, every possibility of your being, every capacity of your spirit… It is all bought with blood. Therefore keep the whole for Jesus, for it belongs to him.” (On This Day, by Robert J. Morgan)
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Ponder This: Proverbs 20:5, “The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.”
Today, more than ever, discernment is needed. The heart is deceitful and man will try to keep what is in his heart hidden, but eventually what is in his heart will manifest itself. Therefore, it is good and important to look into the depth of peoples’ hearts.
We should hide the Word of God in our hearts and use it as the basis for our discernment. On top of that it is important that each person is his own philosopher. He needs to understand his own heart, his motives, and to seek real understanding of his purpose. Our heart should reflect that of Christ.

A man needs regular chores and a regular time to do them. Otherwise he loses the order of his life.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Man Who Rode Midnight)

“Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.”
–John 12:26 (NLT)
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“Alas, and did my Savior bleed? And did my Sov’reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?”
–Isaac Watts

Would He bleed; would He die; would he, out of devotion give His sacred head? The answer is a resounding, “YES”! There was something on facebook last week that tried to show that Jesus was not a real person; that He was only a myth. They need to get with the studies done on the historical Jesus. There is too much evidence that shows that He did exist. Why is it hard to accept the concept of a Savior?
There is something about this song that has happened over the last few years. In fact, last Sunday I heard it sung the postmodern way. The new version attempts to elevate man. In Watts’ version man is show to be a worm. Today, we like to hear man in a more way, come on, I mean to say that man is a “worm” might hurt his self-esteem. What are we in comparison to God? Isaiah says that we are grasshoppers.
“It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.”
–Isaiah 40:22 (NKJV)

“Was it for crimes that I have done, He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond decree!”

Was He crucified because of a crime you committed, or one that I committed? Was it because of some sin you or I did that caused Him to groan? The asnwer is a resounding “YES”!
Because of that Jesus went to the cross and gave man something that he cannot understand–“grace unknown.” Plus a real, true concept of love. There is so much talk of love, but man only needs to look at Jesus on the cross, the precious gift of the Father to save mankind to see endless love.

“Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died For man the creatures sin.”

Have you noticed the earth seems to be trembling more and more lately? Violent storms seem more and more common where they used to be a rarity. Have you noticed that there are more signs in the skies the past few years? During the first advent of Christ there were storms, signs of His coming and His death. The Bible declares that at the time of His second coming there will also be signs in the heavens and the earth will groan.

“But drops of grief can ne’er repay The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away, ‘Tis all that I can do!”

Martin Luther was grieved that he could not have more remorse. He grieved that he could not repay fully the debt that he owed Christ. Then the Holy Spirit enlightened him–it is grace through faith that we are justified. There is nothing that man can ever do to earn or repay the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross.
Therefore, what is there that we can do for Him? Give ourselves as a living sacrifice. Hand our lives completely over to Him for His service. That does not bring salvation, but it is part of the work that follows salvation, wanting to please the Master.

“At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
If was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!”

This song has personal meaning for me. I wanted desperately the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. One night, at a youth service in Fort Collins, CO I went forward at the invitation of Jim Miller the minister that night. The song they were singing was “At the Cross”.
It is only at the cross, where we can receive our sight. Until that time we are blind to the things of God.