Pearly Whites

God did not smile on me with his pearly whites because I was a saintly person. I didn't merit heaven. He didn't even accept me. I didn't believe on Jesus. No smiley welcome from him. No, I was saved because I encountered a demon, a deceiving spirit. I met the devil first. First there was evil, and then on my part desperation. Because I discovered that evil was real. Is real. Satan may be defeated, destined for hell, but he is still around. He hasn't given up. He isn't even quieted. I see him in the world all the time, working his work, doing what he does. Like wars, he doesn't stop, not really.

Do not expect God to show you himself. No revelation for you. Glory will not be more on display than it is today. God spoke to me, audibly in my brain. I watched my arm grow out. I watched it move, extend. I was baptized in the Holy Ghost and spoke in another tongue. Healed, slain in the spirit, cast out demon, etc., etc. Happened to me, but hasn't happened to you? So you do not believe me when I tell you that it happened to me, like I was going to lie to you about this? I am not lying, but I understand that you will not believe me. I met Satan first. You will probably need to meet him first, too, for repentance is important. It is a quality you need to have; an experience you need to KNOW.

You meet Satan first. You find that you have been following him. You're on his team. Cursing, blaming, judging, stealing, killing, destroying--you've been the lord of your own life making your way through life. You find that evil is real and that YOU are worthy of condemnation, rejection, and death. How are YOU going to pay God back for his perfect life he has given you in his grace, thief? You can't pay him with the remains of your corrupted life, which really is his life, anyway. Yes, Jesus died for you. He was beaten, whipped till his back was hamburger. He was crowned with thorns, crucified, rejected of men, torn and speared. Died for you. But he doesn't accept you until you surrender your lordship to him, cast control of yourself out and humbly, all-out submit yourself to him.

You have got to know evil is there, that it is real. That you have participated in it, that you are condemned. You have got to know regret and repentance, surrender, humility, and submission. You are saved, but Satan doesn't go away. He is still talking to you--doubt, innuendo, temptation. You found God is real because evil is real, now believe evil is real because God is real. Open your eyes. Look at Satan's work. People are distracted. Meaningless priorities. Satan is attacking through politics and policies, lies, accusations, condemnation, falsehoods--but what God is interested in is people's salvations, in the Milta being built up, in his truth: compassion, loving kindness among men, cooperation. Comprehension of the reality of evil will drive you to bend your knees to Jesus, who gave his life for you--suffering as your sacrifice, dying your death, rising as your resurrection, if you will reject evil. First you meet Satan, then you repent. Then you find God's pearly whites.