The Secret

I should say that it is no secret at all, in fact, just a diversion.

In September 2007 I started a job doing Internet Marketing and during my training time I noticed an interesting pattern. My boss and the training materials were coming from a perspective of "Positive Energy" philosophy. What I notice was that in an indirect manner was this idea of "Put it out there so the Universe knows about it."

By the end of training we had to watch this movie titled "The Secret." It broke my heart just watching it because so many people have bought into this great Lie. The basic concept is this: The Universe is your genie and delivers what it is that you want, you just have to believe. It is a genie with unlimited wishes to be had and you become the creator of your own destiny as if the Universe is here to worship you, something that will exist even when you are dead and gone.

Now there are many things wrong with this idea but it thrives on you being fulfilled financially.

Now it does sound good, I can't deny it, but it is not truth.

When I was back home at my Grandmother's funeral all of this came to mind. As I looked at my family I realized that they were grieved so much because they have no hope and their pain from the death of my Grandmother had nowhere to go except deep into their souls.

Unlike my mom and me, they have to bear their burdens alone, apart from a Comforter.
Now with this Secret I realized that there is no comfort for the lose of a loved one. There is no amount of positive energy that one can put out there to change the destiny of another.

But God in His word has stated in Job 14:5 that "Mans days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass."

Now dealing with my grandmother's death, this brought me comfort to know that God had intended for my grandmother to die when she died and how she died. It wasn't because the Universe didn't deliver. It wasn't because I didn't believe enough, put it out there enough, or that I was positive enough. It was because God is sovereign and He is the mover and shaker, plus it wasn't contingent upon my "energy."

So what I have learned from this is that there are a multitude of lies being told to break you apart from the Living God, to get you to pursue yourself and what you think you deserve opposed to realizing that you are a desperate individual in need of desperate Grace. What it is doing is setting you up for failure, if you believe this.

Truth is something greater than what we want. Truth is objective not subjective. Truth will exist even when you won't. The sun will shine tomorrow just like it did today, yesterday and all of the time before. The wind will blow in the same manner. You don't change that, that Truth will remain. The same with God, He will be here tomorrow whether you or I will be or not. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Men will murder tomorrow just like they did today, and men will help a starving child. Evil will still take place and certain people will still do good. But that doesn't change the simple fact that God controls all. Tomorrow your world could be rocked and you don't even know it.

Point: I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago for a check up. I go in as an individual who is normal and I come out an Anemic. What is that? It is something that I don't have control over. Now I have to watch what I eat and eat more of what I don't like, veggies. That stinks!

But my point is this, we don't have an ounce of control over our lives like we think we do. And it doesn't matter how much positive energy you have, you will be let down by this life apart from a Hope in God, namely Jesus Christ, because he is the only one who can conquer this life, and He already has. He is the one who fulfills, but it's not like you think.

See my next post for that explaination!!!

Let Us Reflect

**This is from what I shared with my unbelieving family at Christmas, 2007**

As we come to the time where family comes together to celebrate what is the American tradition, by the giving of gifts around a well lit tree, and the company of loved ones, I wanted to share with you the beautiful meaning of what it is that we are celebrating.

We as human beings find value in a lot of things: i.e., TVs, cars, toys, jobs, and in each other. These we hold as life giving elements, because without them, we are considered not to be “living.” It is true that these things enhance our joy in life, and some things make our lives a little or a lot easier. And they are not bad. But they are not at all what will give us life.

So what I want to share is the greatest life giving gift anyone could receive. A gift that cannot be purchased, nor even conceived on our own. It is a gift that will never parish, it will never wither, it will never die, never get boring, in fact only more interesting. It is a gift that only gets sweeter with time, more desired as the days go by, and more enjoyable than any gift that you have or will ever receive. And in this is the real meaning of Christmas.

In the Gospel of Matthew and of Luke, we read of the greatest gift given to mankind for all of eternity. So let me read to you two accounts of this Gift.

Luke 2:6-11

6While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

7And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Matthew 1:18-21

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

19And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

20But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

22Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

23"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."

Jesus' coming into this world was a gift. But how can we say that He was a gift? John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." When you give someone something it is considered a gift, or else it is a loan. But God gave His only Son as a gift to the world. And He was a free gift for you and me, it only cost God something, not us. Christ was born for one purpose and that was to die. And in his death, was the manifestation of this eternal gift. Scriptures tell us that in His death we have life, and have it more abundantly. This gift is not eternal life, but Christ Himself, the creator and sustainer of this universe.

Think of this, what would be a greater gift from the one you love, would it be monetary items, or would it be the gift of that person? The common story of a child who hungers for love from his father, but the father chooses to work and provide the son with much in monetary sense but what the son wants and needs is the father's love. The father's greatest gift to his son would be his love for him through the relationship, not the items given. The items only supplement, not take the place of.

Now what if you have treated that person with complete hatred and animosity, should that person give you the gift of themselves? How could I expect my mother to continue to give me anything if I continue to treat her like she is not even worth the dirt under my feet?

But that is what God did, He gave us himself. The one who has power over life and death. Even though we have treated God with contempt, have despised Him, we have chosen other things and other people above Him, or just not pay Him any attention, He still gave. Why? Because He loves. And His love is unconditional, but like any justice system, He still has to be just. So He sent Jesus to pay the penalty on our behalf. There has been a major crime committed, and someone has to pay the price,

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Romans 5:8-9.

God's gift to us is extended at all times, the only thing is we just have to reach out and grab it.

For the scripture tells us that "He who waits on the Lord shall not be disappointed." We have a great hope that has been given to us, and His name is Jesus Christ, the greatest gift from anyone to anyone.

So while you are sharing gifts with each other, which is only symbolic of what the men did when they bowed and worshiped the Savior, and watching the gifts be handed out and the light of the eyes opening up because you got something that you want, let us not forget the gift that God gave in Jesus Christ. In fact, every time you open a gift ever think of the amazing Gift that gives life, namely Jesus Christ. For the rest will not last, and it eventually will wither and lose its flare, but Christ remains.

23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

So enjoy this time we have together, but let it push you toward what is really the meaning of Christmas.