I believe in God

  I believe in God

In the book of Genesis we read,

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1.

Albert Einstein one of the greatest scientist ever to live made an interesting statement. He said,

“Look deep into nature, 

and then you will understand everything better.”

                                                                 Albert Einstein

The psalmist writing several millenniums  before Einstein’s birth wrote,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

                                                                              Psalm 19:1-3.

I have always been of the opinion that science done correctly will show there is a creator behind it all. And science seems to be heading in that direction.

Scientist are looking into nature. They are seeing that everything from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particles have all come together to allow life as we know it here on earth to exist.

To me that speaks of a creator.

Einstein noted,

“Human beings vegetables  or cosmic dust. 

We all dance to a mysterious tune, 

intoned in the distance by an invisible player.”

                                                              Albert Einstein.

I don’t know whether or not Einstein believed in God. I do know that his statement about we all being cosmic dust, dancing to a tune played an invisible player is true. 

The Bible tells me,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.

In other words God created the very cosmic dust that makes up the Earth the Universe and Everything in it. 

God is that “invisible player” Einstein spoke of.

Mankind is God’s creation. That being said God in making mankind did not make robots. He made individuals with a freewill to do as they wish.

That includes the right to believe in God or not to believe in Him. I and billions of people like me believe God exists.

I believe in God not out of blind faith. I believe in God because of what I see around me. I have looked at what the Bible says and what science says and find no contradiction. Both point to a creator.

The choice however is up to you. Each individual must decide what they believe and ultimately live with the consequence of their decision.

Please think about it.   

Not cleverly invented stories

  Not cleverly invented stories

The apostle Peter wrote,

“We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  

For he received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."  

We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain." 2 Peter 1:19-18.

Here we have the apostle Peter one of Christ’s closest followers. He had followed Jesus for the entirety of his ministry. He had seen the miracles, and the healings. He knew Jesus intimately.  That’s why he could say he did not follow “cleverly invented stories”. As could all of Christs apostles.

Peter wrote these words within the lifetime of people who knew Jesus. So him propagating such a lie would raise alarm bells.

In fact if any of the apostles said things that were not true it would push people away from Christ. The exact opposite to what they wanted to do. 

Further more it would be the biggest lie of all time as over two billion people today believe Jesus is the Son of God, God in the flesh. The saviour of all who would believe in Him.

Do you believe in God and the Salvation that comes from Jesus?

Please think about it. 

Dead or Alive?

  Dead or Alive?

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  

At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  

In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  

So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  

for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 

“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:19-31.

It is imperative that those of us use the wealth we have to help the poor and there are many individuals around the world who do just that. Donating large amounts of their wealth to charities that help the poor and less fortunate.

This story is a warning to those who horde their wealth. Who have no regard for the poor and less fortunate. 

Yes we are saved through faith in Christ Jesus. That being said, in the book of James we read,

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  

If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17.

So my question to you dear reader is, Is your faith dead or alive?

Please think about it.

Are you ready to give an account?

 Are you ready to give an account?

The apostle Paul writes,

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.

There is nothing wrong with being rich. It’s the emphasis what you put on your wealth that causes problems.

Jesus told this story,

“Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 

"Then he said, ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 

"But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:15-21.

We do not know when we will be called to stand before God. That’s why we must prepare ourselves to meet him.

As I said there is nothing wrong with being materially wealthy. It’s what we do with the wealth we have. In this case the rich man had an abundance and said to himself he was going to “take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.” apparently without thinking about his relationship with God.

We need to do our best to put God first in our lives. To live a life that is pleasing to God because we never know when we will be called by God to give an account for what we have done in this life.

Are you ready to give an account of your words and deeds to God?

        Please think about it.

Please think about it.

Who's your neighbour

 Who’s your neighbour?

In the gospel of Luke we read,

“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 

He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  

A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  

So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  

He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  

The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:25-37

The above scripture is referred to as the parable of the good Samaritan. Simply put it the story of a Samaritan who were despised by the Jews of his time looking after a man who had been beaten and left on the road side, while two of his countryman passed him by.

The purpose of the parable is not to pass judgement on the two men who failed to help him. But rather to show who truly is our neighbour.

At the same time it shows what it is to give men women and children basic human rights. In this case giving basic health care to an injured man.

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbor… Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land." Deuteronomy 15:7, 11.

So how do you teat your neighbour?

       Please think about it.

Please think about it.

Notes from Jesus, Paul, and Psalms

 Notes from Jesus, Paul and Psalms 

Jesus said,

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37.

The Psalmist writes,

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

         I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16.

God knows our DNA. He knows why we are the way and why we do things we do. That is why we have no right to judge those around us except for our personal safety.

The apostle Paul tells us we can judge some people those people being those who claim to be Christians. Paul writes,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

This is to make certain the truth from the scriptures are being taught correctly. 

The apostle Paul stating,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15.

Please think about it.

Gods light

 God’s light

The Psalmist writes,

"Your word is a lamp to my feet 

and a light for my path." 

                                                  Psalm 119:105 

If you consider yourself a true Christian. It is important that Gods word illuminates your way. The scriptures exist to give us a moral compass to live by as well as pointing us to salvation and our eternal home in heaven. Thus it is incumbent on us to not just read the scriptures but study them as well. So that we know what they say.

The apostle Paul writes,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15

Thus my question to you is. Are you studying the scriptures? And, Is Gods word a lamp to your feet and a light to your path?

Please think about it.

Where is your trust?

  Where is your trust.

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6.

I think one of the hardest things we can do is have faith in someone or something. And it is twice as hard to believe in something we can not see or touch. I think that’s why the writer of Hebrews tells us “without faith it is impossible to please God”.

The prise if you will for following God by faith is that God will reward those who earnestly seek Him.

So where is your trust? Where is you faith?

Please think about it.

Will you be happy or sorry?

  Will you be happy or sorry?

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

“Better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for all are destined to be mourned; the living should lay this to heart." Ecclesiastes 7:2.

Millions, if not billions of people in this world get up in the morning. Do what they have to do during the day without giving death a second thought.

Even when we go to the funeral of a friend or family member, we don’t think much about dying. Yet it is something we will go though.

The American evangelist Tony Campolo wrote,

“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”Tony Campolo.

So are you certain that you will go to heaven?

In the Gospel of John we read,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

So do you believe in Jesus?

Please think about it. 

Acting justly, Loving Mercy, Walking Humbly

  Acting justly Loving mercy, walking humbly,

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. 

And what does the LORD require of you? 

To act justly

 and to love mercy 

and to walk humbly with your God."

                                                     Micah 6:8.

If you believe in God. If you believe in Christ Jesus this in a nut shell is what God requires of you. In fact whether you believe in God or not acting justly, loving mercy is an honourable way to live.

So if you consider yourself as a true believer in God. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Are you acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with your God?

Please think about it

What Jesus called us to do

 What Jesus called us to do.

Jesus said,

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn and you will not be condemned forgive, and you will be forgiven;” Luke 6: 37.

The Apostle Paul writes,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

As Christians. As followers of Christ Jesus it is not our job to judge anyone other than those who are calling themselves Christians.

The American evangelist Billy Graham once said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                             Billy Graham.

So my question to you is, do you judge people? Sadly to many people calling themselves Christians openly judge those they disagree with. 

Judging and criticizing those you disagree with will only push people away from Christ. As ordinary human beings we don’t know why a person is the way they are or why they said what they said.

Our duty as Christians is to do what Jesus called us to do when he said,

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20.

Are you doing this? 

Please think about it.

Walk in wisdom

 Walk in Wisdom

The apostle Paul writes,

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:5,6

Paul here is warning us to use wisdom toward unbelievers. To be gracious toward them. Sadly many calling themselves Christians don’t do this. They try to force there faith on someone.

One commentary I read said,

“The metaphor suggest speaking in an interesting stimulating and wise way” 

Paul here assumed the church is involved with the local community and interacts with many non-Christians.

We must always respect the views of those we present the gospel to. Even if we don’t agree with them. It all comes down to what Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.

Treat others with the respect you expect to be treated with.

If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Are you treating others the ways you like to be treated?

Please think about it.