John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

What I like about this verse is that there are no conditions placed on the command. Jesus said sanctify them, he did not say “Sanctify them if they….” So much of the Old Testament is conditioned upon action. “If you will…. I will.” In this man failed God, not God failing men.

Even in the New Testament salvation only comes to those who believe by faith. While salvation is offered to all, only those who believe by faith receive it. A small condition in comparison to the reward, but a condition none the less.

Once that choice has been made, once we ask Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our lives, a new covenant appears. I like to see it like this; “You are mine and this is yours.” All God’s promises in Christ are yes and amen. While our understanding of what those promises are might be imperfect, His Word is truth. He will not deny you His promises just because you have not yet reached perfection. There are no conditions, not for the promises.

There will be a group of individuals that will at this time declare, “But you must…” There always were and forever will be people who put conditions upon themselves.

Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Does it matter that a religious rule be an old one or one conveniently created today if the truth of the gospel is not followed? We live a life of faith not law. Does man compel you or does the Holy Spirit convict you?

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

A friend died yesterday. I would like to make this devotional about just one aspect of this man. No one thing can identify the sum of a man’s life, certainly not this man. He was not family, so I cannot touch on that, but he was my brother in Christ and that had great value. I can speak to that.

I need more men like Phil in my life. He challenged me and I challenged him right back. Men who do not like to be challenged need men in their lives that do challenge them. It keeps us honest and fervent in our beliefs.

Phil loved prophesy and wanted to see some of those thing come about before he left this world. His most fervent hope he did not get to see. It was his hope to see the temple of Ezekiel built. He was right, that temple with all its magnificent details has not been built. He did not much care for my opinion that it will never be built. We sat and talked at length over our differences about that one issue. I have few to friends left to do this with. This I will miss.

Phil now knows fully well while I am left wondering in part. I rest assured of Phil’s place, while he is lost to me, he is not lost, he is home. I envision a knowing smile on his face as he gets to have all his questions answered in perfection. So I will leave you with the great truth he left me with in our debate of the Ezekiel temple. In this one thing I agree with Phil.

“If they don’t build it, it will be a waste of some really beautiful scripture.”