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Gen Z.
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Duncan Kiprono
The best way to neutralize our natural impatience is to cultivate a kind of pleasure in pain - like an athlete, you come to enjoy rigorous practice, pushing past your limits, and resisting the easy way out.
The Book of Records
There is a book in Heaven that the Bible speaks of often. It is sometimes called the Book of Life or the Book of Records. It holds more than just names, it contains the record of every life. Scripture says, “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name” (Malachi 3:16). Nothing we do, nothing we think, nothing we feel slips past God. Even our thoughts are faithfully written there.
That can be a sobering truth. The careless word, the selfish act, the times you were told the truth about what God says, and you reject it, even the thought we wish no one knew, all of it is there. But at the same time, so are our prayers, our acts of love, our obedience, and our repentance. Heaven is keeping an honest account of both sin and faithfulness.
When Israel sinned at Sinai, Moses prayed a bold prayer. God told him, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book” (Exodus 32:33). Moses, grieving for his people, replied that if their names were to be erased, he wanted his erased too. It was the heart of a true intercessor, and more than that, it was a faint echo of the heart of Christ, who offered His own life so our names could remain in the Book of Life.
The lesson here is extremely powerful. God is just. He will never punish the innocent for the guilty. Each one of us is judged by our own record, not by another’s. But He is also merciful. Through Christ, sins can be blotted out so that the name remains. Peter preached in Acts 3:19, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Notice, it is not the name that disappears when we repent, it is the sin.
Friend, that means your life matters more than you think. Your choices, your words, even your thoughts, are written where no one else can tamper with them, before the throne of God. That should not just make us tremble, it should also give us hope. Because the same Jesus who died for you stands today as your Advocate. His blood covers the record of confessed sins, and His righteousness fills the page where yours falls short.
So live each day mindful of that heavenly record. Keep your name written there by clinging to Christ, by daily repentance, and by joyful obedience. And take courage, when the books are opened, those who belong to Jesus will be found written not in their own works, but in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27).
Sons of God and Daughters of Men.
A simple, Bible-only explanation
Summary.
Genesis 6 is not about angels marrying women. It describes the godly “sons of God” intermarrying with the ungodly “daughters of men,” which spread corruption and helped bring on the Flood. Scripture uses “sons of God” for God’s faithful people and “sons of men” for the broader, often unbelieving, human family. The lesson is the danger of unequal yoking. Jesus said the last days will mirror “the days of Noah,” so this warning still matters today (Gen 6:1-9; Matt 24:36-51; 2 Cor 6:14-18).
1) The passage in question.
Read Genesis 6:1-9. People multiplied. The “sons of God” saw the “daughters of men,” married as they pleased, violence and evil filled the earth, and God announced judgment. Noah found grace and “walked with God” (Gen 6:1-9).
2) How the Bible uses these phrases.
Sons of God. Scripture applies this to God’s faithful. Adam is called “the son of God” in the genealogy that runs through Seth’s line to Jesus (Luke 3:38). Believers are called God’s sons and daughters when they separate from idolatry and walk with Him (1 John 3:1; 2 Cor 6:14-18).
Sons or daughters of men. Scripture often uses this for the general human family, frequently in contexts of pride, deception, and violence (Ps 4:2; 57:4; 58:1-11). In Genesis 6 it points to the Cain-side culture that had “left off to be wise, and to do good” (cross reference: Gen 4; Ps 36:1-4).
The big picture. God gave the earth to humanity, not to “strangers” from outside the human family, so the story stays within human lines, not angelic unions (Ps 115:16; Job 15:19). Isaiah tells us to read “line upon line,” using Scripture to explain Scripture, not speculation (Isa 28:9-10).
3) What went wrong in Genesis 6.
The faithful mixed with the unfaithful. Like later in Israel’s history, believers took wives from peoples devoted to other gods. That union spread unbelief and moral ruin.
God warned that marrying idol-worshipers would turn hearts away from Him (Ex 34:14-16; Deut 17:17).
Ezra mourned that the “holy seed” had mixed with the nations and their abominations (Ezra 9:1-2).
Paul commands, “Be not unequally yoked,” because righteousness and lawlessness do not fit together (2 Cor 6:14-18).
Jesus said the end will look like “the days of Noah,” when people treated marriage and pleasure casually until judgment fell (Matt 24:36-51).
4) Who were the “giants” and the “mighty men”?
Genesis 6:4 says there were “giants” in those days “and also after that.” The word often translated “giants” comes from nephilim, linked with the idea of “fallen” ones, oppressive bullies, or tyrants, not angel-human hybrids. These were violent, famous men of old who rose out of a corrupted culture, and similar large-statured clans appear again long after the Flood, which proves they were human lines from Noah’s descendants (Num 13:33; Deut 2:20; 3:11, 13; Josh 12:4; 13:12; 15:8; 17:15; 18:16; 2 Sam 21:16-22; 1 Chr 20:4-6). Lifespans also dropped sharply after the Flood, and human stature likely followed the same trend.
5) The Bible repeats this warning through Israel’s history.
Solomon began as a devoted “son of God,” but “loved many strange women,” and “his wives turned away his heart” to other gods. He built high places for idols, and his spiritual fall influenced the nation (1 Kings 3:5; 9:2-8; 11:1-8).
Ahab married Jezebel, served Baal, and “did more to provoke the LORD” than any before him (1 Kings 16:29-33).
Nehemiah’s day saw children who could no longer speak the language of God’s people because of mixed marriages. Nehemiah pointed back to Solomon as a warning (Neh 13:23-31).
Rehoboam also “did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD” and his mother was an Ammonitess, underlining the influence of foreign worship in the royal house (2 Chr 12:13-16).
6) Seed versus seed.
From the Fall onward, the Bible traces two “seeds”: the woman’s seed and the serpent’s seed (Gen 3:15). Jesus described the good seed and the tares as children of the kingdom and children of the wicked one (Matt 13:38-39). Hosea and the Psalms call the ungodly “strange children.” This is moral and spiritual language, not biology (Hos 5:7; Ps 144:7-11; John 8:44). The unequal yoke fuses these seeds and spreads unbelief.
7) The gospel answer.
Jesus calls Himself both “Son of God” and “Son of Man,” and He is “Lord also of the Sabbath” and the One who forgives sins. In Him, Jew and Gentile are reconciled into “one new man,” a single household of God built on the apostles and prophets, with Christ as cornerstone (Mark 2:10, 28; John 10:36; Matt 3:17; Rom 2:9-11; Eph 2:15-22). He is the safe center that heals the breach created by the unequal yoke.
8) What this means for us.
Build doctrine from Scripture alone, line upon line. Avoid myths about angel-human unions in Genesis 6.
Guard your closest bonds. Marriage and deep partnerships shape faith and future.
Expect the pattern to repeat in the last days. Stay awake, stay clean, and walk with God like Noah.
Remember God receives all who turn to Him. He calls people from every nation out of spiritual Babylon to be His sons and daughters (Rev 18:2-5; 2 Cor 6:17-18).
Key citations:
Gen 6:1-9; Ezra 9:1-2; Matt 24:36-51; Ps 36:1-4; Ps 144:7-11; Matt 13:38-39; Hos 5:7; Gen 3:14-15; 2 Cor 6:14-18; John 8:44; Rev 18:2-5; Isa 28:9-10; Ps 115:16; Job 15:19; Ex 34:14-16; Deut 17:17; Luke 3:22-38; 1 John 3:1; Ps 4:2; 57:4; 58:1-11; 1 Kings 3:5; 9:2-8; 11:1-8; 16:29-33; Neh 13:23-31; Mark 2:10, 28; John 10:36; Matt 3:17; Rom 2:9-11; Eph 2:15-22; Num 13:33; Deut 2:20; 3:11, 13; Josh 12:4; 13:12; 15:8; 17:15; 18:16; 2 Sam 21:16-22; 1 Chr 20:4-6.
Knowledge is like an ocean, vast and infinite. The further you venture, the deeper you realize it goes. Yet, if you only stand at the shore, you may falsely believe you've seen its entirety.
Another Bible study tip to help you rightly divide the Word.
Be careful about which Bible translation you use. There are dozens on the market, but not all of them come from the same source. Some are faithful word-for-word translations, while others are more like paraphrases or commentaries that give you the translator’s opinion instead of God’s exact words. If you’re serious about studying truth, you want the closest rendering possible to the original text.
Remember, the safest path is to let the Bible interpret itself. That means sticking to translations that keep the wording tight and accurate, not watered-down summaries.
Here are my findings:
1. Word-for-word style (best for study):
KJV. Classic, based on the Textus Receptus.
NKJV. Same roots as the KJV, but easier to follow in modern English.
ESV. Reliable and clear, still very literal.
NASB. One of the most exact word-for-word translations.
LSV. Very close to the original wording.
2. Middle ground (thought-for-thought, but still useful):
CSB. Easier to read, fairly accurate.
NRSV. Academic and careful, though less precise at times.
3. Not good for serious study (paraphrases):
The Message (MSG). A loose paraphrase, not really a translation.
The Living Bible (TLB). Same issue, one man’s interpretation.
NIV: Popular, but thought-for-thought, softens key verses.
Queen James Bible. An outright distortion of God’s Word. Avoid it completely.
For solid Bible study, you can’t go wrong with the KJV or NKJV as your base, and it helps to compare with a literal version like the NASB or ESV. That way you’re handling God’s words, not man’s summaries. IMHO.
Lazarus and the Rich Man.
The story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19–31 is one of those Bible passages people argue about. Was this story a real event or just a parable?
First, let’s define what a parable is.
Parables were one of Jesus’ favorite teaching tools. He used everyday situations and familiar images to explain deep spiritual truths. Usually, the details are symbolic, not literal.
Matthew 13:34–35 tells us Jesus often spoke to the crowds in parables. And in Matthew 13:10–11, He says parables reveal truth to those willing to listen, but they hide it from those who aren’t.
Now, let’s consider the context.
In this parable, a rich man lives in luxury while a poor man named Lazarus, covered in sores, begs at his gate. When they die, Lazarus is taken to “Abraham’s bosom” (a place of comfort) and the rich man ends up in torment in Hades. The rich man begs for relief, but Abraham says a great gulf separates them and no one can cross.
He then pleads for Lazarus to warn his five brothers, but Abraham says, “They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.” When the rich man insists a resurrection would convince them, Abraham replies, “If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.”
Why this event is a parable.
The people listening to Jesus would have recognized this as a well-known parable style, full of symbols, not meant to be taken literally. Here’s why:
1. Abraham’s bosom isn’t heaven (Hebrews 11:8–10, 16).
2. Sinners and saints can’t talk or send messages between and across heaven and hell (Isaiah 65:17).
3. The dead are “asleep” in their graves (Job 17:13; John 5:28–29).
4. The rich man is described with eyes and a tongue, yet the body stays in the grave until the resurrection.
5. Rewards and punishments happen at Christ’s second coming, not at death (Revelation 22:12; Matthew 13:40–42).
What this parable means.
The rich man represents the Jewish nation, rich in spiritual truth but ignoring the Gentiles. The Gentiles are symbolized by Lazarus, who longed for God’s Word. The ending hits hard.
“If they don’t hear Moses and the prophets, they won’t believe even if someone rises from the dead.”
And more to consider. Not long after this, Jesus actually raised a man named Lazarus from the dead (John 12:9–11). And most of the Jewish leaders still didn’t believe. Exactly as Jesus said.
Lessons for us today is this.
1. There is a real afterlife and final judgment.
2. Wealth can blind us to the needs of others.
3. The Bible is enough, if we reject it, miracles won’t convince us.
Remember: This parable was a wake-up call to the religious leaders back then, and to us today. God’s truth is here, and the time to believe and obey is now.
FYI: Did you know that Jeremiah 31:31-34 is the first place in the Bible where God speaks about the new covenant? In that promise, His law is written on the heart, not erased, not set aside.
Hebrews 8:8-12 repeats it almost word-for-word. Same covenant. Same law. This time fulfilled through Christ.
Both Jeremiah and Hebrews say the same thing. The Ten Commandments aren’t gone. They’ve just moved from stone tablets to living hearts.
The Bible is AMAZING!
Eat the Book!
When people die, they don’t go straight to heaven or to hell. The Bible says they rest in the grave, waiting for the day Jesus comes back.
Jesus said it Himself in John 5:28-29.
“Don’t be surprised by this. The time is coming when everyone in their graves will hear My voice and come out, those who have done good will rise to life, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”
If people were already in heaven or hell, there’d be no point in a resurrection. But Jesus makes it plain, they’re still in the grave until He calls them out.
Paul said the same thing in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.
“I’ll tell you a mystery. We won’t all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a flash, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised, and we will be changed.”
That means believers who’ve died will be raised and changed when Jesus comes again, not before.
Putting on the Whole Armor of God.
One of my favorite passages in all of Scripture is Ephesians 6:10–18. It’s been close to me since I was a child in Sabbath School back in the Bahamas. I can still picture myself standing there, reciting the passage word for word. I didn’t really understand it then, but the words stayed in my heart. And now, looking at the times we’re living in, I see why God planted that passage in me so early.
The Armor of God isn’t just something to memorize, it’s something to live. Let’s walk through it together, piece by piece.
"Finally, my brethren," Paul writes, "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:10–11).
Those aren’t soft words. They aren’t a suggestion. They’re a command straight from heaven. It’s serious. It’s urgent. And it’s personal. Paul is laying out how to stand and not fall.
The enemy’s attacks are not slowing down, they’re increasing. But God hasn’t left us defenseless. He’s given us His armor, piece by piece, perfectly designed for the battles we face.
Here’s the reality. You can’t just wear some of it. Leave one piece off, and you leave yourself open to attack. This isn’t a spiritual costume at all. This is life-or-death protection for the soul.
The Armor Named in Scripture.
Paul names each part directly in Ephesians 6:14–17:
1. The Belt of Truth..“...stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…” (v. 14).
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness. “…and having on the breastplate of righteousness…” (v. 14).
3. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace. “…and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace…” (v. 15).
4. The Shield of Faith. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (v. 16).
5. The Helmet of Salvation. “And take the helmet of salvation…” (v. 17).
6. The Sword of the Spirit. “…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (v. 17).
Paul wrote this from prison, most likely either chained to a Roman soldier or in direct sight of one. Many scholars believe he was literally looking at the soldier’s armor as he spoke, describing each piece as he saw it.
He uses that soldier’s armor as a picture of spiritual readiness. Truth like a belt holding everything together, righteousness guarding the heart, faith shielding from attack, salvation protecting the mind, and the Word of God as a weapon.
The Armor and Meanings.
1. Belt of Truth.
Roman Soldier’s Belt: Called the cingulum, it held the soldier’s tunic in place, supported his sword, and kept all the armor secure. Without it, everything else would shift and slip.
Spiritual Lesson: Truth keeps everything else in place. It’s not just head knowledge, it’s God’s Word shaping how you live. It’s honesty before God, sincerity before others, refusing to twist Scripture to fit your life, and instead letting your life be shaped by Scripture.
2. Breastplate of Righteousness.
Roman Soldier’s Breastplate: The lorica segmentata was made of overlapping iron or bronze plates to protect the chest and vital organs.
Spiritual Lesson: The heart is the center of love, loyalty, and decision-making, must be protected. You can’t make this breastplate yourself. Isaiah says, “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” This breastplate is Christ’s righteousness, placed over you by faith. It shields from Satan’s accusations and from the pride of self-reliance.
3. Shoes of the Gospel of Peace.
Roman Soldier’s Shoes: The caligae were heavy sandals studded with hobnails for traction. They gave stability on rough terrain and endurance on long marches.
Spiritual Lesson: Shoes matter. Without them, a soldier can’t move quickly or safely. The gospel of peace keeps you steady no matter what ground you’re walking on. Peace with God through Christ keeps you firm when the world shakes. These shoes aren’t for standing still, they’re for moving forward, carrying the good news.
4. Shield of Faith.
Roman Soldier’s Shield: The scutum was a large, curved shield of wood covered with leather, often soaked in water to extinguish flaming arrows. It was big enough to cover the whole body.
Spiritual Lesson: Faith stops the flaming arrows of doubt, fear, temptation, and accusation. This shield isn’t fragile, it’s built for heavy fire. Faith is trusting God’s character when you can’t see the outcome. But it only works if you pick it up daily. Leave it down, and the arrows will strike.
5. Helmet of Salvation.
Roman Soldier’s Helmet: The galea was bronze or iron, lined with leather, protecting the head from fatal blows.
Spiritual Lesson: The helmet protects your mind, your thoughts, your hope, your confidence. Salvation, rightly understood, brings both hope and assurance. Satan will attack the mind with guilt, confusion, and discouragement. The helmet reminds you that you are saved by grace, kept by His power, and secure in His kingdom.
6. Sword of the Spirit.
Roman Soldier’s Sword: The gladius was a short, double-edged sword for close combat. It required skill and precision.
Spiritual Lesson: The sword is the Word of God. It cuts through Satan’s lies and pierces hearts with truth. But a sword does no good if it stays sheathed. You have to know it, meditate on it, and use it with precision, guided by the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 4:12 says the Word is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword.
Praying Always.
Even with the armor on, a soldier who never communicates with the Commander is in danger.
Prayer keeps the armor secure. It renews strength, confesses weakness, and draws courage from God. Prayer isn’t an emergency tool, it’s the constant breath of a soldier in battle.
Always remember that the armor of God is really Christ Himself. Truth is His Word. Righteousness is His life. Peace is His gift. Faith is His victory. Salvation is His promise. The sword is His Spirit’s work.
Putting on the armor is putting on Christ, walking in His strength, standing in His power. It is how we overcome!
Friend, the battle is no longer far away. It’s here. Every day without the armor is a day left open to attack. Don’t wait until the arrows are flying to fasten the belt of truth. Don’t wait until your heart is pierced to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Christ offers His armor now. His truth, His righteousness, His salvation, His strength.
Will you stand in your own power, or will you stand in His? The hour is late. The call is clear. Suit up now, and when the Lord comes, you will be found standing.
Because when the trumpet sounds, there will be no time to put on the armor. If you will stand then, you must put it on now.
Stand firm. Suit up. The Lord is coming soon.
God bless you one and all!
❣️
"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day." - Abraham Lincoln
I love it when people who have been through hell walk out of the flames carrying buckets of water for those still being consumed by the fire. Such are the true apostles!
Blessed Sunday!