Treasures of Truth, Milk for the Seeking Christian

By Glen A Catt

"Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" John 8:31-32

 

So, what is truth? Many pursue it, but few seem to find it. Too often, in our minds, the truth is only what we believe… but in our hearts, we know that doesn't necessarily make it the Truth. Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth". Revelations 22:18-19 says, "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this book." From beginning to end, the Creator's message to His creation is His truth. 

 

Treasures of Truth shares the basics of the miraculous truths weaved throughout God's Holy Word. May your life on earth never be the same, and may you dwell in the house of the Lord forever…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Glen A Catt
• Release date: Feb 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201501495

Book preview

IN THE BEGINNING

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and

the earth." Genesis 1:1

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Genesis 1:1, the first verse in the Bible, starts out with, In the beginning That just seems like the best place to begin. I believe one of the first beliefs a person must have, to become a Christian, is to believe there’s a God; not just a God, but the one and only God. Could one perhaps wonder what that God would be like? Certainly, but the foundation of believing is being convinced there is a God of the Universe. The faith involved, to be able to identify and understand Him, will come in time. As one’s commitment grows and they seek to understand more, their faith in the One, awesome, powerful God will flourish.

Although when asked, most of the people in the world believe there is a god or is a God... or is a ‘higher power’, however, only about two-thirds of our own country, a country founded on the premises as One nation under God, confidently, according to Pew Research, believe in God.

So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created Him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27 The fact that God repeats Himself three times means this is serious, factual, and complete. In the Bible, three represents complete.

When we back up a verse, verse 26 says, God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness... ‘Our’ reflects the presence with the Father, and also of both Christ and the Holy Spirit. Obviously, all three have existed forever. As Jesus was instructing John in the Book of Revelations, He identifies Himself in 1:8, "I am the Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (end)," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. The Trinity of God has always existed, is currently active, and will always exist. Can you totally understand this? I don’t, but that’s where faith comes in. Just because we don’t understand something doesn’t make it not true, a failure of so many skeptical people. We turn on a light switch and have faith the room is going to light up; does that mean we understand how electricity works? We’re thankful that we have the exact amount of gravity on Earth so that we don’t float away or be handicapped by the excessive pull to the earth; we don’t understand it, but we exist among it.

An interesting side note, the word Trinity, which means three, is not even listed in the Bible although it is implied several times. Like in Matthew 28:19,

Go Therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The word Trinity wasn’t first used until late in the second century when Theophilus of Antioch penned the word describing God, His Word, and His Wisdom. Jesus is often referred to as The Word (John 1:1, John 1:14, Revelations 19:13), and the Holy Spirit is often referred to as Wisdom (Acts 6:3, Acts 6:9-10, 1 Corinthians 2:11, 1 Corinthians 12:8, Colossians 1:9)

Back to God saying, Let us make man in our image... These are words that show the peculiar importance of the work to be done. In our image ~ after our likeness; a peculiar distinction... meaning we were made special. God don’t make junk! Obviously, we were not made in His intellect, nor His immortality or His respect, demanding the honor and glory that He does. He created us up-right with a moral value embedded within us, however, as Ecclesiastics 7:29 reminds us, "...but they (man) have gone in search of many schemes." Otherwise, we have the moral rights, but when God gave us the freedom to choose... well, we didn’t (and still don’t) make real good choices.

I have often pondered on why God would create us, desire us to live sinless lives, give Him all the honor, and then go and give us a free will, hence sealing our futures as sinful human beings. Wouldn’t it have been better for us to have been created like puppets, only moving in the ways that He desires, to His every whim and glory? But then I’m reminded, what kind of glory would God have been given if we were not able to choose to give Him glory. The reality is, it wouldn’t be glory at all but just brainless humans going through the actions (which quite honestly, we seem to see enough of that anyway, but not for the glory of our God.)

In creating us in His image, we were created in the form of His body, and the erect stature of it, different from all the other creatures, with the immortality of His soul, and offered the intellectual powers, and purity, and holiness and righteousness in which He was created. Likewise, we are the only of His creation who have a soul and spirit, and the potential of obtaining the Holy Spirit to live within us. And of all the other creatures on earth, He has given us dominion, "...so that (we) may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." Genesis 26b

As human, we are the most perfect work of His creative energy, differing from the animals not only in degree, but in an organized body. Only man can rejoice of the Deity at the completion of His purpose. It is the soul of man

that especially bears God’s image. God saved the best for last; He made man last after all the other creatures. (Perhaps that makes a woman even better... ah... I just won’t go there.)

When I am reminded of how God created us, what He created around us, and the future that He offers us... for eternity... forever, I am reminded of Jesus’s parable of the Prodigal Son:

Jesus continued: There was a man who had two sons.The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So, he divided his property between them.Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So, he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So, he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate.Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So, he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So, his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’" Luke 11:15-32 

Like the son who took all his father gave him and then in his foolishness, blew his life away, we are the same. God offers so much if we would just walk with him, living ‘under His roof’ and live in the way of which His purpose is for us. Unmeasurable depths for blessings and peace are offered to us; each and all our needs to be met, if we were to allow Him to rule our lives in the way we were created. And yet, like the son who wanted all that he could get,

and then disperse it in the way he wanted, we have each gone astray and likewise lived a reckless life of sin and shame. However, like this son’s dad, our Father loves us unconditionally, and offers us total forgiveness if we will just ask for it. With that forgiveness, he offers, as the psalmist says in the twenty-third Psalm; to lie us down in green pastures, to lead us by quiet waters, to restore our soul, to guide us on the paths of righteousness, to comfort us, to prepare a banquet for us, to overflow our blessings, to give us goodness and love all the days of our lives, and to bring us to His side and allow us to dwell in His house forever. (I love that word forever!)

But let’s also look at the kid’s brother who stayed home and did what his father told him to do. On the onset of his brother coming home, and being forgiven, this brother became indigent, bitter, and resentful. He had followed his father’s rules, but now his repentant brother was being welcomed back into the house by the unconditional love of his father. It is interesting, as the spiritual state of the younger brother is highlighted because of his repentance, the true spiritual nature of the older brother is brought to light through his jealousy and greed.

We don’t know if the older brother continues in his bitter state, but as the story ends, we suspect he does. So, what is the moral here? How does this compare man and God? Are we not all lost and wandering souls, squandering all that God has given us? Our daily bad decisions only have the tendency to bring us down... down to a moral bankruptcy. But when we consider all the journeys of our life, and return to the Father with a repentant heart, He will always take us back.

Back to the older brother? He felt he deserved what he had. Perhaps he felt the younger brother may receive more of his father’s inheritance, we don’t know. We do know that his heart had hardened, he had become bitter, and it didn’t appear that he was going to become repentant of those actions and feelings. Is he not like the Pharisees who felt that their Jewish ways and traditions ‘owed’ them the right for the gift of eternity?

Each of us, like the younger son, are sinners. Oh, how I have tried day after day to not sin. I have prayed, "God, could you please grant me just one day

where I do not sin against you?" About the time I think I’m doing pretty good that day, I realize I have become fixated on trying to be the prodigal son’s older brother; striving to do good, to get the award that only grace can offer. Hence, I realize that my good feeling is only my pride of thinking I am doing it myself.

In the beginning, God created us in His image... Adam and Eve were that image. They did pretty good until they surrendered to the invitation of Satan (something that we’re stumble with each day). Then sin entered the human race, and it has gone downhill ever since. This is where the story of God’s perfect creation ends, and where the amazing mystery and wisdom of the Bible begins.

The Bible, in whole, is all about Jesus, the need for Jesus, and eternity with Jesus... that is a beginning without end!

Am I good enough?

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power

is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9

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Virtually, every religion (and even a few Christian denominations) teach ‘works-salvation’; basically, one needs to this or that to earn their way to heaven. (Reminder: Christianity is not a religion, though assumed as one, it is a relationship.)

Andy Stanley, in his little book How Good is Good enough? (A little book of 4 inches by 6 inches with less than 100 pages, but one I would really recommend.), tells the following story:

A Sunday school teacher whose assignment was to explain to the six-year-olds in his class what someone had to do in order to go to heaven. In an attempt to discover what the kids already believed about the subject; he asked a few questions. 

If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale, and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into heaven?

NO! the children all answered.

"If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into heaven?"

Again, the answer was, NO!

Well then, he said, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children and loved my wife, would that get me into heaven?

Again, they all shouted, NO!

"Well then, how can I get into heaven?"

A boy in the back row stood up and shouted, YOU GOTTA BE DEAD!

And here lies the challenge. Before you go to heaven, you gotta die first! Dying is something that every human being has in common; we are all going to die. (However, when we die, it is just our body that dies the moment our

spirit leaves our body... that is what death is. We, the real we, our spirit, never dies.)

Another challenge, if you are familiar with the Bible, is that you’ve got to die before you can know a lot about heaven. The Bible doesn’t say a lot about heaven. Of the 31,102 (give or take) verses in the Bible, only a few talk about what we can expect in heaven:

Jesus said, Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be." John 14:1-3 Heaven is a real place! It is where Jesus lived prior to coming to earth, and it is where He returned to after His resurrection.

But just as it is written: ‘Things which the eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the human heart, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.’ 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 We are told that the human eye has not seen or witnessed heaven. Perhaps we wouldn’t believe it if it was described... but more than likely, we wouldn’t be able to comprehend it if we did.

And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. Revelations 21:4 No pain, no crying, nothing to hinder the joys of our peace with God... wow!

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; Matthew 5:12a There will be unimaginable rewards for the saints (that’s you and me). We do not know the extent of those rewards, but scripture heavily hints that the more we walk in the Spirit, the greater rewards we will receive. (However, I suspect that each of us will then take all those rewards and lay them at the feet of Jesus for what He did for us on the cross so that we could just be there with Him.)  

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.’ Revelations 21:3 God does not

only live there (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit), but in heaven, they will dwell among us. They will be right there with us, not on some throne that is too far away to see.

And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of light or a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will reign forever and ever. Revelations 22:5 There will be no light, but yet the brightness of Jesus’ splendor will permeate everywhere.

For now, we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 Our faith is what holds us up and keeps us close to God, but in heaven, our faith will be replaced by what we see. We will come face-to-face with God... can you imagine? But we will have no fear of God’s wrath, because we will know that Jesus paid the price for the forgiveness of our sins and made us right with