SIN IS IDOLATRY.  The original sin took place when Lucifer (“light bringer”) looked upon the incredible universe God had created and wanted to possess it.  To do so he would have to replace its Creator.  God had created the earth and had turned it over to Lucifer to care for it.  But Lucifer was not satisfied.  He wanted to own and control the entirety of creation.  Lucifer’s desire combined with “how to” plans resulted in lust for it.  When his lust was entertained, pride was born, thereby bringing sin into existence for the first time (James 1:15).

As stated in the Holy Scriptures concerning Satan, “sin was found in him.”  As would be the case with future human earth dwellers, sin was not part of his creation package.  And like his human counterparts, Lucifer was afforded the freedom of choice.  And like those who would follow his lead, he chose sin–rebellion against the rule of God.  Lucifer, having recruited one-third of God’s angels, attacked the throne of God where they tried to remove Him.  They failed and were cast back down to the earth’s atmosphere where he (now called Satan) is known as “the prince of the powers (fallen angels) of the air” that is directly above earth’s surface.  Incidentally, Biblically, everything above earth’s surface is called “heaven.”  It is from there that they influence man’s thoughts, words and deeds through mental persuasion.  Understand this: SATAN AND HIS FALLEN ANGELS CANNOT FORCE ANYONE TO DO, SAY OR THINK ANYTHING.  They can only entice and tempt mankind.  The final choice as to man’s words, thoughts and deeds are totally under man’s control.  And he usually chooses to follow Satan, which is so much easier and more self-satisfying than what the strict, top-down rule of the Biblical God offers.  Plus, Satan offers options, which God does not.

Unable to take the universe away from God, Satan set about to gain rulership over the earth, which God had given to Adam and Eve.  It was theirs to keep or give up.  In order to keep control of the earth they had to obey God, and in the process, defeat Satan.  Satan had no problem convincing them that they could give the earth to him and still live forever in the paradise God had given to them.  His promise was that they could reject God’s command and “You will not surely die.”  Sound familiar?  This is the mantra proclaimed by Satan’s false prophets every sun god day (Sunday).  I made up a little ditty which should be the theme song for “the church.”  “Sin and grin, my friend, for in the end, you still win.  Pie in the sky, sin till you die, for in the sweet by and by, you’ll still get to fly.  Only believe and you shall receive.”  Idolatrous man silently says, “Amen.”

Satan won control of the earth by defeating Adam.  The only exceptions to his control are God’s Very Elect who use God’s Holy Spirit power to keep Satan at bay.  These people believe Christ’s Words: “Behold, I give you power over all the power of the enemy” (the devil)–Lk. 10:19.  Read John 14;12/ Mat. 21:18-21/ Mk. 9:23).  The key to making all of God’s promises come to pass is found in one tiny word: IF.  “If” is the first principle one must recognize when approaching one of God’s “fine print” messages.  This website specializes in God’s “fine print.”  “IF” plays the major role in receiving what God has promised, whether the promise is positive or negative.  Needless to say, His “IF” is not popular with the church crowd, which explains why they reject God’s “fine print.”  As he assured Adam and Eve, Satan assures all “fine print” rejectors that they need only find the tree that appeals to their lust and partake of it.  Why not?  After all, the fix is in; all is well; it’s all good; don’t sweat the small (sin) stuff, etc.  As a Catholic fellow told me, “My lady takes care of it (sin).”  Protestants have their own lady; her name is GRACE.  Those in each group keep their “lady” on speed dial.  They simply hit the repeat button and say, “It’s me again.  Do your thing.  I’ll get back to you soon.”  Like Satan says: THE FIX IS IN.  And then he laughs.

Concerning Jacob’s “ladder” (staircase), God was showing Jacob how high he must climb in order to become one with Him (God).  God will not descend the staircase.  He will not come down to man’s level.  Jesus has already done that and left His Holy Spirit to empower man to ascent up to where He and the Father are spiritually.  Using the power of the Holy Spirit, man must ascend up to Their level in terms of righteousness and holiness.  Paul makes this clear in Romans 5:21 and 6:22 where the Lord, speaking through him, tells us that the END RESULT OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS IS ETERNAL LIFE.  This was God’s message to Jacob, whose name He changed to “Israel,” who became the father of the 12 tribes of Israel–God’s chosen people.  God is no respecter of persons.  We are no better than Jacob.  We must ascend to the God level of righteousness and holiness in order to join Him at the top of the stairs–the Kingdom of God.  Once having arrived we must remain in a state of purity until the end of our lives in order to be saved upon Christ’s return: “He who endures to the end shall be (future tense) saved (at that time)”–Mat. 10:22.

When I began my climb I had been in a miracle-working, healing, deliverance ministry for a number of years.  I though I was at the top of Jacob’s ladder.  I was sure that there was no higher level.  God and I were buds of the first degree.  I was living the “headline” life.  Then reality hit me in the form of God’s “fine print.”  At that point I came face-to-face with the everyday reality of what I had known for many years.  My popularity was too sweet for me to obey God, knowing that I would lose my exalted status.  That all ended when I came to the knowledge of God’s “fine print” and was commanded by Him to preach it and live it.  Needless to say, my ministry died a sudden death.

God’s “fine print” warns that if we strictly obey Him, the world, especially the church world, will hate us.  Our families will be our spiritual enemies.  We will be excluded from all so-called Christian association.  The counterfeit church will reject us as if we were working for Satan, which she believes we are.  For example, one preacher told me that I had “fallen from grace,” and needed to visit his church in order to “get saved.”  My sin?  I believed what God wrote in His Holy Bible.  My climb up Jacob’s stairway continues.  Meanwhile, Catholicism/Protestantism remains at ground level.  The irony is that the church’s parishioners believe that they are standing with God on the top step.  L.J.