Dale Cresap's blog

How many people have you met who say that they received salvation at a certain age and it wasn’t until later that they made me Lord of their lives? Perhaps you have said the same thing yourself. This reflects a lack of understanding. I am Lord of all I create, and this includes you, even prior to your salvation experience. Refer to the illustration I give in my word of the potter and the clay. The potter is able to do as he pleases with the clay. If you recall from the story there was a pot that was marred, and the potter refashioned it into something beautiful. This illustrates the work of redemption I do in your life. 

Do you think that I came to improve your life? That is, do you think I came to give you better versions of the car, dwelling, and clothes you already have? These are the things that the gentiles seek after, and I know that you have need of them, but my direction to you is to seek first the Kingdom of God. I came to give you new life. Do you understand that this is better than your old life with better stuff? How many believers would be content with that? Yet my word teaches you to seek those things above, where I sit at the right hand of God. This is available to all my children, and this world has nothing to offer to compare to it. 

Have you heard it said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions? What statement could be more cynical? You live in a culture that values success and performance. Good intentions are not enough. Yet don’t you find it easier to judge others by their performance and yourself by your intentions? But other people judge you by your performance. But it is my judgment of you that really matters. Which of these approaches is described in my word? Can you see that performance judgment is similar to righteousness by works and intention judgment is similar to grace? I give you more credit for your intentions than other people do. 

Do you reject books if you don’t agree with the author on every point? Do you do the same thing with people? This narrow and exclusive view will lead you to reject the truth for the things they say that are true are not diminished by the things that are not. You are to judge all things and hold fast that which is good. This can be accomplished at a fine level of detail and every precept should stand or fall on its own merit. What about you? If your current understanding of the truth were complete you wouldn’t need to read and study. Be gracious enough to know that others also know in part. 

You live in a real world you see every day, and you know there is a transcendent world of my Kingdom which is just as real although it is unseen. Modern electronics have given you another alternative which is the virtual world in which you can communicate with people who are not present with you. Do you understand that it is safer to talk to a person in your car than to talk on your cell phone when you drive? If you are in the same vehicle there is a sense of embodied presence that is missing in the virtual world. There is greater safety for you with a sense of your current situation and surroundings and this applies to more than just driving. 

Have you ever redeemed a coupon? Whatever you got with the coupon then belonged to you. The concept of redemption is a general one but this idea of obtaining ownership is an essential part of it. The redemption concept applies in the world of commerce, but also in spiritual matters for you know that my word presents me as the redeemer. What do you conclude about your status once you respond to my plan of redemption? You are bought with a price and you are not your own. Do you view this as a loss of liberty and find it to be discouraging? What could be better than to belong to me? This is the basis for true liberty. 

Do you think that your prayers would be more effective if you spoke some special combination of words, and you don’t know what those words are? This is commonly taught. My word does tell you to pray in my name, but this is an open invitation and not a particular text. How do you interact with your friends? Aren’t you able to speak in an unstructured manner, using words appropriate to the occasion? Don’t you find these to be more spontaneous and full of life? A certain sequence of words assumed to have special spiritual power is called an incantation, and this is not a practice of your faith. The special words you need to speak to me are your own. 

Are you familiar with the concepts of inheritance involving wills and testaments? These go into effect upon the death of someone with an estate, to divide the property between the designated heirs. This is a legal matter and there are precedents and strict rules for the dividing of estates and conducting probate or contesting wills. These are necessary because the prospect of wealth is so appealing. Perhaps you have seen such a dispute bring out the worst in people. Do you recall my story about the prodigal son? He asked for his share of the inheritance while his father was still living. What sort of a son would make such a request? But perhaps a better question is what sort of Father would honor it? 

My word opens the door for you to present your requests to me in prayer. More than this it promises that you shall have what you ask for. Have you prayed and waited and prayed and waited without seeing an answer? From this do you assume that I have departed from you? This is incorrect. For I have also promised to be with you always. I am still with you even while you wait for your prayer to be answered. I know what you need at every moment and provide it whether you realize it or not. I hear your prayers and answer them when the time is right, but I do not abandon you while you wait.

Do you divide the world between the saved and the lost? This is an important distinction to make, and ultimately the one that matters, but it is my distinction to make, not yours. Do not say, even in your heart, who shall ascend into heaven, and who shall descend into hell. How then shall you relate to other people? Everyone you meet is created in my image, believer and unbeliever alike. You share essential humanity even with those who do not share your faith and belief and doctrine. Do you want them to come to a saving knowledge of the truth? So do I. This is most likely to happen if you can receive them as fellow creatures made in my image.