Upside Down Verses Right Side Up

By Steven Allen

This is a book written out of an observation of the great need for God's full truth to be proclaimed as never before. The word of God (the Bible), His truth, is not matching the lifestyles of many proclaiming Christians today as we see the end draw near to that promised land. The Lord God has opened my mind up to so many pertinent issues of today: Not in judgment, but in need of checking our short accounts before the Lord God Almighty. God has a schedule, and though Satan does not know the hour or the day, just as we do not; he knows the seasons and is in full attack mode to deceive and destroy. As this world seems to be spinning out of control with everything it seems running at warp speed. God has never been out of control and never will be. We need like never before to fix our eyes on Him and His word of truth if we are to survive in the chaos of today. Record number of young adults are today leaving the church, and it's easy to see why when you look at all the hypocrisy that they are seeing in reference to God's truth. In how we are living our lives as if this world is our hope. And to all the compromise of today. It's important that we don't take observation as judgment, but that we examine our lives unto the full word of God. Not to just live in a form of legalism and rules, but living in the grace of God and living that grace out, not taking advantage of that grace. It should never be about judgment but encouragement to running the race as to win the prize. This is my motivation! "Complacency in living in half-truth is not truth at all."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781641914888

Book preview

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UPSIDE DOWN

VERSUS

RIGHT SIDE UP

Life in Christ

Steven M. Allen

ISBN 978-1-64191-487-1 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64191-488-8 (digital)

Copyright © 2018 by Steven M. Allen

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Do we know the Truth of God?

Are we keeping short accounts of our lives?

Whose race are we running?

Are we growing in knowledge and relationship of God?

Are our eyes on our finish line, or are we living in our circumstances and stuck in ignorance?

Let’s strive to live right side up in an upside-down world!

Preface

First, I want to make it very clear that I did not write this book—at least, on my own. All I did was respond / take action to God’s prompting me in writing this book. It is always God that must prompt one’s heart in the direction of change or in the direction of a positive action to His will. I am always amazed in whom God often chooses to use in His work all throughout history. When God opens the door and we take that action of walking through that door, God will work out the details. In my case, God had His work cut out for Him, because I don’t write books. I flunked basic English in high school and I can’t even type or really use a computer very well. I build houses, not write books: So why would God choose me? Because to God be the glory, and because usually, one as myself has not become puffed up on knowledge or performance issues. Don’t misunderstand me, that’s not at all to say that teachers, preachers, and others coming from education are not of extreme value in God’s work. I am only saying that sometimes a new and fresh view from a seeking mind, a mind that has been through the trials of life and has sought out the meaning of those trials, and sought out the purposes of God, in this life, and a mind that has found out the fullness of true repentance and is in the fight of running a good race, those are the people that God can also use in His mighty work.

The older I get, the more I seek God’s direction in life; and the more I see major discrepancies between God’s word/truth and the life we strive to live, the more I struggle with all the warning flags waving in my mind over the many compromises that Christians are falling into. This world is completely upside down in its values as to God’s right side up intentions for His children. Problem is, more and more I see a deception of God’s people embracing and conforming to that very system, myself included. Every day that goes by is one day closer to that day Jesus Christ will return and take His people Home. We cannot live under the umbrella of the Christian faith without fully understanding and living/committing to that faith.

(Warning to pay attention.)

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such great salvation? which was first announced by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testifies to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will (Hebrews 2:1–4).

We are living in a time today as no other, as to all the upside-down enticements, distractions, and ease of compromise/confusions of today. It is imperative that we get into the fullness of God’s word/truth and that God’s word/truth gets into us. This was not written as a how-to book or a follow-this-way book. This book, I pray and hope, will point to seeking God out in His word of perfection/truth and the asking in prayer for God’s leading in that wisdom and His strength to walk in that wisdom. Every day that goes by is a day we cannot get back. Every stone thrown into a pond will cause many ripples in effect. Making ripples of positive effect will lead and encourage others in this upside-down world we live in, a world that is not our home. And of course, the opposite is also true if we conform and lead apart from God’s ways, we are at risk of leading others possibly to their peril.

Of course, this writing is going to offend some as it prods against cultural values that many have adopted over the years and that we see in this day destroying our very country. Whenever objective differences are brought to light, conflict will be there and pride of our flesh will stir. I have no intentions of winning some debate, only pointing to God’s truth of life eternal. There is never any winning in living in ignorance, and equally there is no winning in proving something wrong as to only be right. Winning only comes through leading in loving hope as to unity unto eternal truth—unto a one true God, and that truth being His truth. To say nothing is to have not real love and to selfishly let others fall without offering a hand. The liar tells us to mind our own business, don’t make waves. Why would we consider listening to a liar?

I hope all will read this with an open mind and an open heart, examining your hearts and minds in the process, as we are called to do often. Pray as you read this that the enemy/satan will not put a view of judgment in your hearts and minds, but that God will give a view of enlightenment and direction to His glorious future that awaits those who finish the race.

Introduction

I have been looking for a way to express the great passion that God has placed in my heart and mind in writing this book, or as I like to call it, Plea of God’s Saving Grace.

This morning in Riverside, California, having my coffee and watching Pastor Dr. Ed Young on TV (before heading off to church myself), there it was—the perfect word picture I was looking for.

Often as much as I know myself what drives and motivates me to do the things that I feel God is calling me to, it is hard to communicate it in specific words to others so that they can grasp in fullness that passion and importance. If you can get your mind wrapped around the probability that we all need to at least have a checkup now and then and look to this with an open mind and an open heart, what can it hurt? Wise people always weigh their options against the facts in making serious decisions. Eternal life and eternal death to me are about as serious of a decision as I can think of and worth at least a bit of research.

Let me share with you the word pictures that came to me by way of Dr. Ed Young this morning.

Four young men were adrift in the calm waters of a river, relaxed in ignorance of any dangers, talking and daydreaming of life and all its bounty. The sun was warm and all was pleasant, even as the small boat began to pick up speed and bounce a bit. They were in such awe of bringing those dreams and aspirations to reality that their present reality now was flipped upside down to be only a dream. As they neared the waterfall (the size of Niagara Falls), a man threw a rope and hooked their boat to save them. The men in the boat, with their backs to the waterfall, were angry and annoyed as their plans and dreams were being interrupted. They yanked and yanked on the rope until finally breaking it free from their savior’s hands. As they fell to their death, they saw their great mistake, but only to plot their own destiny! (This was not the message exactly as Dr. Ed Young told, but a piece that I elaborated on as it came clear to my mind.)

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not be done (Romans 1:28).

This story hits far too close to home for me in so many ways. To sit back and say nothing, to me, is like watching in silence as many go over that great waterfall to their death and me standing there with a rope but not even making any attempt of rescue. Not everyone that reads this is going to necessarily be in that need of rescue, but what I have found is we always need to be reminded often. I know for sure that I do!

One more word picture that I got from the message that morning that just painted a perfect picture of the dangers we live in today! The dangers that caused me to cry out in this message might seem pointed, but leads to hope and joy that lasts.

Scientists have found that black holes in our universe are stars that have burned out. Our earth, if compared in size to this hole, would be the size of a basketball. These black holes suck everything in like a vacuum that come close to their pull to be lost in darkness. (This is my loose understanding of this through hearsay information.) This illustration of the black hole in the universe gave me a vivid picture of the great black hole this world presents and that God warns us about.

This world without God is that great black hole. Just as our world must maintain its orbit around the sun to keep it from spinning out of control, we must get and keep our lives in orbit around the Son of God that keeps us from being sucked into that great black hole and darkness of the world and satan’s demise. Apart from God, we are but a speck in comparison to the black hole of this world and its pull. We need to keep in firm gravitational pull of Jesus and walk in His word. We need to become disciples of Jesus and grow in our knowledge of God and in turn grow our faith. This is and always has been God’s design for His children.

Give great consideration!

THE POWER OF WORDS!

As I wrote this and was about halfway into it, there was a morning that I was having my coffee and about to do my devotion time with God when my mind was swirling with negative thoughts. Who wants to hear anything you say? And, You are a nobody and have so many failures in life, here is one more failure. I realized that this was satan trying to discourage me into quitting. Even though knowing that I must be doing something right for satan to try and stop me, I still could not totally shake these negative feelings. About a half hour later, after doing my devotion time, a great friend and prayer partner sent me a text. The text read,

Ten steps to becoming a better writer:

Write

Write more

Write even more

Write even more than that

Write when you don’t want to

Write when you do

Write when you have something to say

Write when you don’t

Write every day

Keep writing

Praise God for friends that you can count on to be praying for you, that take the time to use a word to break down the attacks from the enemy. And praise God in His timing knowing just when you need a word of encouragement. God’s timing is always perfect in His directing faithful servants to reach out.

I COULD NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT THE POWER OF WORDS

Words can build us up into powerful tools of God.

Words can break us down into defeat.

Words can give great hope.

Words can give false hope.

Words can lead to greatness.

Words can lead to destruction.

Words, they have so much power, but in the same, the lack of words often have that same power. Words must be used with direction or they are like giving a child a loaded gun. Words used without direction are like setting sail into the fog without a compass. God’s word is our compass. Listen to what God says about words.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. (James 3:3–5.)

Words, apart from truth, have no positive effect ever! I have been on both sides of this street and can testify this to be very true. Do your own study on this sometime, look up words or the tongue in the concordance of a good study Bible and you will see the power of words. We must confront truth to know truth.

These words I have written through the leading of God are written to myself as much as to anyone. I have said that words can also tear down. What I did not realize is how much I needed to be torn down from a lot of lies that over time I have allowed to infiltrate my own life and keep me from the fullness of God. So I also see now that words can tear down to a positive sense or place if we are willing to keep the truth of God’s word our compass. Tearing down has the pain of readying oneself for a triathlon, but in that training and perseverance, leads to victory.

Living a comfortable life only is often the greatest of life’s traps. Also, living a life in fear of failures is a life of missing out on some of God’s greatest blessings and some of our greatest lessons in this journey. Failure in trying is not failure at all! Those who fail are those who live in fear of trying. Some of my greatest lessons in this life have been found in my failures. In short, those who live in fear of failure live in bondage of that very fear. I would much rather go through life trying and failing, learning many great lessons from those failures. The alternative is not ever stepping out in fear of failure, never trying anything as to play it safe. But also in that, you never learn valuable life lessons and your faith does not grow. You end up in avoiding failure, failing, not becoming what God designed us to be. Seek God, then take that step in faith!

How To Read This Book

IMPORTANT:

Do Not Skip This Section

I wrote this not to tear down, but to build up. Like anything over time, pollution has a way of taking something spectacular and muddying to un-usefulness.

I am far from the perfect Christian and have many areas that need growth and many battles to conquer. But in my many years as a Christian and through many mistakes, I have learned much. My mentor, a missionary of many years and student of God’s word, often told me before he went home to be with the Lord, The more I know about God, through His word, the more I realize how much I don’t know. I have found this to be very true in my own life, but in the most awesome way. I can say without one ounce of doubt that God’s word is truth and truth is God’s word. God created all things, everything. God existed before all things. Real truth can only come from the creator of all, the creator of truth. God is truth!

This life is the greatest of all journeys! Listen and dissect the words of Charles Spurgeon, a man that I once could not understand in his early eighteenth-century language, but now I have grown to love because of his honest and sincere passion in presenting God’s truth. Behold, then, before your eyes, Believer, the hill of God. It is a high hill even as the hill of Bashan, on the top thereof is that Jerusalem which is from above, the mother of us all. That rest—To which our laboring souls aspire—With fervent pangs of strong desire.

This mount of which we speak is not Mount Sinai, but the chosen hill whereon are gathered the glorious company of angels, the spirit of the just made perfect, the church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven. And we are the pilgrims, full often joyous with faith but sometimes weary and footsore making the best of our way to the top of this mountain of God, where we shall see His face and rejoice in Him forever more (Charles Spurgeon).

As the years go by in climbing this mountain, and as I reach new elevations in my walk of faith, things are seen from an ever-changing vantage point. The more I realize how much I know, the more I realize how much I don’t know. And from every new vantage point of view, from God’s mountain, how upside down much of our striving is. Many tests and working as to faith and endurance to reach the next vantage point and a clearer view of glory, the only climb in life that has a summit of eternal reward and glory.

All through history, many a man has tried