“To Klez
or Not to Klez”
"Even
as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things
which are not fitting" (Romans
1:28)
Recently, I woke up with
the "Klez" virus. Not me personally - it was in a
message somebody sent. I wanted to check for messages
before leaving the house, but the screen was frozen, the
mouse didn’t work, the computer would not shut off, and
so on. As I was rushing to get ready and go, my wife
Genevieve was working with the Norton Anti-Virus
program, isolating several instances of the "Klez"
virus, which someone has been sending us over the past
few weeks. The Norton Anti-Virus deleted the problem
files and all is well once more. We're not contagious -
we've been healed!
I've been fascinated by
computer viruses for a long time. If you think about
them, they are 100% created by those who want to harm
others, just to have "fun". A person who deliberately
hurts others just for the "heck" of it, by the way, is
someone they used to call "nuts" - bringing deliberate
harm to other people is a demonstration that something
is seriously wrong. ("A danger to themselves or others"
has continued to be the legal definition of insanity).
There are many in this
world that are "psychopathic" in personality. This is a
disorder that can be defined as someone who has a "clear
perception of reality," but they also involve themselves
in "egocentric" and "antisocial" activities. They like
to hurt other people because of an "all about me"
attitude. They are aware of others and their needs, but
just don't care. They "wanna'
have fun" at the expense of someone else.
"It's all about me," as an
attitude, is more than a mental illness. Much worse,
it's a SPIRITUAL illness, one that is extremely
dangerous for that person, for it ends in death - 100%
of the time. As Paul said, "ALL
have sinned and come short of the glory of God"
(Romans 3:23), and in God's sight, all sinners are condemned to
death. We're talking about "spiritual death" here,
which, believe it or not, is far worse than the death of
your physical body.
I conducted a funeral
recently, and from every indication, the deceased was a
"good" man, who worked hard, won a medal for bravery
while in the military, remained with his family, and so
on. But the ultimate question is: Did he "retain
God in
(his)
knowledge'? Did he personally receive the
Lord and trust in Him? And what about you? Have you
personally received the Lord Jesus?
In business, as most of us
have heard, "it's
not WHAT you know; it's WHO you know."
Doors of opportunity are opened to a family member or
friend that would be closed to a "stranger," even if the
"stranger" was more qualified. Have you ever wondered
who you are to God? And - who is He to you? You and I
are not qualified for eternity, because we have sinned,
outwardly and inwardly. Jesus IS Qualified, and He can
do in us what we cannot do for ourselves. In eternity, WHO you
know is everything! It's time to get to know the Lord
Jesus and start living for Him. The Door of heaven is
open or closed, depending on your decision.
A cemetery in
Indiana has an old
tombstone with these words on it: "Pause,
Stranger, when you pass me by; As you are now, so once
was I. As I am now, you will be, So prepare for death
and follow me." Somebody once read those
words and scratched a reply underneath: "To
follow you I'm not content; until I know which way you
went." And that's true. There are two
kinds of death. People focus on and fear the physical,
but what is called "spiritual death" is much more
profound - that death is your problem.
The following words were
shared at the recent funeral: "Billy
Graham told of how Prime Minister Winston Churchill
planned his own funeral. Churchill instructed that
after the benediction, a bugler, positioned high in the
dome of
St. Paul's Cathedral, would
play 'Taps'
- the signal that the day is over. But Churchill also
instructed that another bugler, on the other side of the
dome, play the notes of 'Reveille'
- the signal that a new day has dawned and it's time to
arise. So Churchill was testifying that at the end of
history the last note will not be 'Taps'
but 'Reveille.'
There is hope beyond the grave because Christ has opened
to us the door to heaven and new life by his own death
and resurrection." (From "Baker's
Funeral Handbook").
At this point in time, it
does not matter that Winston Churchill was Prime
Minister of Great Britain, or that he saved his nation
during war, or even that he was a nice guy. It's all
about Jesus. Winston Churchill either knew Him or he
didn't, and we have that same need for the Son of God.
If "Reveille"
is to be Christ's song for you, instead of "Taps,"
then you are becoming a changed person. His love is or
will be IN you, and your motivations will change.
Concern for His purposes and the needs of others will
occur, as the Holy Spirit gradually takes the reins of
your life. Thoughts like "To
Klez or Not to Klez" will reduce in your
mind, for He gradually enables you to love not only
those you like, but also your enemies. The hurt and
fear that led to anger dissipates, as the lord touches
you from within. You will know His peace and His joy.
He's the One you have been waiting for, all this time.
You (and others) can see
whether or not you are in Christ by your attitudes and
actions. There may be some difficulty in perceiving
your need of Him, by the way, because of the human
response called "denial". Moses knew all about this,
asking God for the healing of "secret
sins" (Psalm 90:8). David expressed a
similar understanding in Psalm 19:12, asking to be
cleansed of "hidden
faults." We want others to think we are
nice and we act like we are, even when we aren't,
tragically fooling even ourselves until it's too late.
Before you "Klez" somebody, ruining your OWN life in the
process, pray this prayer:
Lord, we receive You now.
We have all too often "Klezed" others through thoughts
and actions. We confess our need. Heal us of our sin
and our sorrow. Forgive us, send us Your Spirit and
give us peace with God, peace with one another. In
Jesus name. Amen.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
E-mail:
Ron@FridayStudy.org
Tel: (562) 688-5559
PO Box 92131
Long Beach, CA 90809-2131
"While
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"
(Romans 5:8) |
