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DESCRIPTION: Jack discusses the ideas that “God loves everybody” and how they stack up with the actual words in scripture. Much is made of the “gold and silver” passages, as well as passages about worthiness, usefulness, and so forth.
SHOW NOTES
Introduction to Reality-Based Thinking: https://youtu.be/v3qkk2jA1Jw This is Jack’s video podcast, which only has three episodes, which together comprise a thorough introduction to the concept of Reality-Based Thinking.
The Extraordinary Visit of Benjamin True: The State of the Union as No One Else Would Tell It. This is Jack’s novel that introduces the basics of Reality-Based Thinking as it explores what an angel might say (from his heavenly perspective) about the American government and the political thinking of the American citizen.
TEXTS USED IN THIS EPISODE
John 3:16 for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Psalm 11:5 The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.
Proverbs 6:12 A worthless person, a wicked man,
goes about with crooked speech,
13 winks with his eyes, signals[c] with his feet,
points with his finger,
14 with perverted heart devises evil,
continually sowing discord;
15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.
Proverbs 6: 16 There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Matthew 13:24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds[c] among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants[d] of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
Hebrews 6: 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Proverbs 16: A worthless man plots evil,
and his speech[d] is like a scorching fire.
28 A dishonest man spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.
Jeremiah 2:5 Thus says the Lord: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
Matthew 25:24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Silver and Gold
Proverbs 17:3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and the Lord tests hearts.
Proverbs 27:21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.
Malachi 3: 13 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.[a] 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
1 Corinthians 310 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled[b] master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
2 Timothy 2: 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,[d] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
Testament of Solomon 108b
And having heard of the wisdom given to me, they did homage to me in the Temple, bringing gold and silver and precious stones, many and divers, and bronze, and iron, and lead, and cedar logs.
2 Esdras 7: [45] I answered and said, “O sovereign Lord, I said then and {Syr: Lat [And I answered, “I said then, O Lord, and]} I say now: Blessed are those who are alive and keep your commandments![46] But what of those for whom I prayed? For who among the living is there that has not sinned, or who is there among mortals that has not transgressed your covenant?[47] And now I see that the world to come will bring delight to few, but torments to many.[48] For an evil heart has grown up in us, which has alienated us from God, {Cn: Lat Syr Ethiop [from these]} and has brought us into corruption and the ways of death, and has shown us the paths of perdition and removed us far from life–and that not merely for a few but for almost all who have been created.”[49] He answered me and said, “Listen to me, Ezra, {Syr Arab 1 Georg: Lat Ethiop lack [Ezra]} and I will instruct you, and will admonish you once more.[50] For this reason the Most High has made not one world but two.[51] Inasmuch as you have said that the righteous are not many but few, while the ungodly abound, hear the explanation for this.[52] “If you have just a few precious stones, will you add to them lead and clay?” {Arab 1: Meaning of Lat Syr Ethiop uncertain}[53] I said, “Lord, how could that be?”[54] And he said to me, “Not only that, but ask the earth and she will tell you; defer to her, and she will declare it to you. [55] Say to her, “You produce gold and silver and bronze, and also iron and lead and clay;[56] but silver is more abundant than gold, and bronze than silver, and iron than bronze, and lead than iron, and clay than lead.'[57] Judge therefore which things are precious and desirable, those that are abundant or those that are rare?”[58] I said, “O sovereign Lord, what is plentiful is of less worth, for what is more rare is more precious.”[59] He answered me and said, “Consider within yourself {Syr Ethiop Arab 1: Meaning of Lat uncertain} what you have thought, for the person who has what is hard to get rejoices more than the person who has what is plentiful.[60] So also will be the judgment {Syr Arab 1: Lat [creation]} that I have promised; for I will rejoice over the few who shall be saved, because it is they who have made my glory to prevail now, and through them my name has now been honored.[61] I will not grieve over the great number of those who perish; for it is they who are now like a mist, and are similar to a flame and smoke–they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are extinguished.”
……
A – 2 Esdras 8
1. He answered me and said, “The Most High made this world for the sake of many, but the world to come for the sake of only a few. 2. But I tell you a parable, Ezra. Just as, when you ask the earth, it will tell you that it provides a large amount of clay from which earthenware is made, but only a little dust from which gold comes, so is the course of the present world. 3. Many have been created, but only a few shall be saved.”
2 Esdras 7
[75] I answered and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, show this also to your servant: whether after death, as soon as everyone of us yields up the soul, we shall be kept in rest until those times come when you will renew the creation, or whether we shall be tormented at once?”[76] He answered me and said, “I will show you that also, but do not include yourself with those who have shown scorn, or number yourself among those who are tormented.[77] For you have a treasure of works stored up with the Most High, but it will not be shown to you until the last times.
2 Esdras 16
68. The burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled over you; they shall drag some of you away and force you to eat what was sacrificed to idols. 69. And those who consent to eat shall be held in derision and contempt, and shall be trampled under foot. 70. For in many places {Meaning of Lat uncertain} and in neighboring cities there shall be a great uprising against those who fear the Lord. 71. They shall {Other ancient authorities read [For people, because of their misfortunes, shall]} be like maniacs, sparing no one, but plundering and destroying those who continue to fear the Lord. {Other ancient authorities read [fear God]} 72. For they shall destroy and plunder their goods, and drive them out of house and home. 73. Then the tested quality of my elect shall be manifest, like gold that is tested by fire.
Ecclesiasticus 29
10. Lose your silver for the sake of a brother or a friend,
and do not let it rust under a stone and be lost.
11. Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High,
and it will profit you more than gold.
Psalm 116:15
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
· Matthew 10:11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave.
· Matthew 10:37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
· Matthew 10:38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Luke 20: 34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.
Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Philippians 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel
Colossians 1:10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
1 Thessalonians 2:12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.
Revelation 3:4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.