Patterns - Paternal, Maternal, Nurtured, Neutered

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance
finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1: 2-4

Our struggles and thorns are like ripples over a previously peaceful, pristine, and still body of water.

Even a small stone dropped into a still body of water causes various ripples that can go quite far and may seem to never end.

This represents the extensive disturbance even the smallest of stones can cause.

What then of heavier stones?

Our struggles and thorns arise from sin... and this is why talk of sin is so uncomfortable to those avoiding the light, for they have to examine themselves up against the Light: Messiah.

Temptation and sin comes by way of sin committed against us (and we sadly are likely to repeat it).

Also, temptation and sin also comes when sin is committed by ourselves.

When temptation is not overcome or struggled through, its beguilement can try to convince some people that it is sin in the first place because it is so prevalent (think cultural saturation and how Lot's daughters, having likely been born in Sodom, considered sleeping with their father as a means).

Thus a disturbance is forwarded by ourselves to those around us, whether in the home, between one person to another, or reverberating so loudly in mass culture that it is not perceived as detrimental.

A ripple can turn into a storm with tormenting tsunamis... yet even the greatest and oppressive of storms can be silenced into stillness.

That day when evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Yeshua was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 

He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!” 

- Mark 4: 35-41

This is why the following verse speaks volumes when one considers helping another believer in their sin:

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the Word should share all good things with their instructor. 

- Galatians 6: 1-6

Often times those who have received hatred, prejudice, mistrust, and hostility, are apt to return such sins.

Much how love is experienced, witnessed, taught, and thus forwarded . . so also is sin experienced, witnessed, taught, and thus forwarded.

The human pattern, with all its detriment and fault, is forwarded into posterity... but not all of us forward this either intentionally or mistakenly.

Those without conscience or God sadly do.

They are dangerous weapons of war in the hands of dark powers, yet they know it not.

Although logically or in a rational and objective state a victim of sin likely never dreams of forwarding such madness, this is what is sadly sown and reflected (rippled) into the next generation and thus the world's melding cultures.

It is the journey towards righteousness as defined by Messiah that a victim avoids becoming a victimizer... and realizes victory.

This is how perpetual tsunamis, storms, and ripples are stilled when a peaceful calm returns to the waters.

If there was ever a mechanism conceived in our minds that is able to still the waters, it is Messiah.

Love.

Peace.

Forgiveness... and all the rest of virtue and righteousness that is taught by God through His image on earth.

There is much doubt about the promises that God has fulfilled, yet all that the Law and Prophets had to say about and leading up to Messiah's revelation has surely come to pass... whether or not all believers are able to comprehend should not be a point of argument.

What is seen carried over from the old world are the ripples... and it is these ripples which confound believers and doubters alike as to the promises of peace, establishment of His kingdom, and all the rest of it... even the preaching of the Gospel and its fruits in all corners of the world.

In places where grace is purposely overshadowed by poor manners and management (definitive anti-Christ religion and government), the old manners of mankind reflect their patterns.

Those ripples continue to persist despite the evidence of God's grace and truth having established itself.

Remember, He is able and truly does reap where He has not sown.

Consider how Israel was still protected by God although they were exiled into Persia and Babylon in those times before Messiah.

Consider how the Church was established and continued to be built upon living stones despite constant persecution and martyrdom of its saints.

What is found in the present day, in places labeled 'Christian nations' and also those labeled something else, is this regarding sin being present atop religious and political establishments of men:

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 

- 1 Corinthians 10: 10-13

Remember that we are found (revealed to exist) in a celestial and spiritual monarchy with Messiah as King of kings.

The concepts of the old patterns of this world (from political theories to man's low manners) are being stilled from their previous calamitous storms.

The tsunami waves are being settled into obvious and clearer and predictable ripples.

Those ripples, when found still tempering our hearts and minds, are also easy to identify and predict their succession.

And whether your ripples may seem like tidal waves and tsunami storms never ending, consider the manner of grace and faith that is gifted you... and never forget this:

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

- John 16: 33

May you who read this message be at peace now and forevermore when realizing you are in Him... and thus peace is promised you despite the manners of this world and its persistent ripples.