We are responsible

 We are responsible

Jesus 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

Charles H. Spurgeon said,

"We are not responsible to God for the soul that are saved, but we are responsible for the Gospel that is preached, and for the way in which we preach it" Charles H. Spurgeon.

As true believers in Christ we are responsible to present the gospel of Christ Jesus in word and in deed. 

Francis of Assisi noted,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and 

when necessary use words.”

                                              Francis of Assisi.

Whether you like it or not. If you claim to be a Christian, people are not just listening to your words but looking at your life. 

You are Christ’s representative on this earth and it is through the lense of your words and deeds that people will see Christ.

To quote Francis of Assisi again,

"The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                              Francis of Assisi.

Thus the question becomes, If you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus, what are your words and deeds telling people about God?

Please think about it.

Where does your strength come from?

 Where does your help come from?

“Look to the Lord and his strength; 

seek his face always.”

                                                  1 Chronicles 16:11

Throughout our lives we all face battles both physical, emotional, and spiritual but through it all we need to look to the Lord.

It’s easy in times of trouble to say “why me” and to complain about the trouble we are in. Leaving God out of the situation. This should not be so.

We need to make God such an integral part of our lives that when we suddenly find ourselves in trouble it is to Him that we turn.

We need to be able to say as the Psalmist writes,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth." 

                                                       Psalm 121:1,2.

Where does your help come from?

Please think about it.

A holy and godly life

 A holy and godly life

Jesus speaking about His return said,

“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:44.

The apostle Peter explains,

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.    That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” 2 Peter 3:14.

The warning to all believers is to live “holy and godly lives”.

As mere mortals we can never live perfect lives. God knows this. That’s why He sent Jesus to die for our sins.

At the same time however if you have accepted Jesus into your heart you should with Gods help do all you can to live a life pleasing to God. So that when Christ returns you will be with Him.

Are you doing your best to live a holy and godly life?

Please think about it.

No one no thing

No one can nothing can

The apostle Paul writes,

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."— Romans 8:38–39.

The apostle Paul is right. Nothing can separate a true believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ever since the inception of Christianity there have been religious and political leaders as well as people claiming to be intellectuals that have predicted the end of Christianity. 

Likewise Christians have been arrested, tortured, and murdered for simply believing in Christ Jesus. Yet true believers in Christ Jesus still believe in Him.

In the book of acts we read, a Pharisee named Gamaliel a teacher of the Law an honoured man, standing before the Sanhedrin as they were presiding over the trial of Christ's apostles said,

"Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  

But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." Acts 5:38,39.

I think that the fact Christianity is still adding followers to this day, proves that it is of God. 

What do you think?

Please think about it.

Necessary or Unnecessary

 Necessary or Unnecessary 

Jesus said,

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7,8.

Here I believe Jesus is talking about spiritual things. He is saying that anyone who is truly seeking answers about God, God will provide them with answers. If they knock (pray earnestly) the door of knowledge will open to Gods throne room.

        Sadly many do not get answers to their prayers because they ask amiss. They ask for material things money etc.

In the book of James we read,

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:3.

As believers in Christ Jesus we should always look to what is motivating our prayers. While there are times when we need to ask God for our material needs. We should always question our motives. Looking to see if what we are asking for lines up with what we truly need.

When you ask God for things do you ask Him for necessary or unnecessary things?

Please think about it.

Every knee will bow

 Every knee will bow

The Psalmist wrote,

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well." Psalm 139:14.

If for nothing else we as believers in Christ Jesus need to praise God because we are “fearfully and wonderfully” made.

Martin Luther King jr. once said,

“We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.

We are in nature but we live above nature.... help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.” Martin Luther King jr.

We are created to live on through eternity. And I know this. In the book of Philippians we read,

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11.

On that day when every knee will bow to Jesus, where will you be?

Please think about it.

The Corner Stone of Christian belief

 The Corner stone of Christian belief

The apostle Paul writes,

"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.  

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.  

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man." 1Corinthians 15:17-21.

The apostle Paul here notes the importance of Christ being raised from the dead. No other faith that I know of claims their founder raised from the dead. 

Christ raising from the dead after dying for our sins is the corner stone of the Christian faith. Without Christ rising from the dead our faith is meaningless. The hope we have in Christ for forgiveness of our sins is false hope.

The fact however as Paul noted is “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (died).”

When Paul preached about the resurrection from the dead in Athens the reaction I believe is typical of how it is received by people in general.

The book of acts states,

"When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."  

At that, Paul left the Council.  

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others". Acts 17:32-34.

Thus the question becomes do you believe Christ died for our sins and rose again. Going on to ascend to heaven to be with God the Father?

Please think about it.

Do the work of an evangelist

 Do the work of an evangelist

The apostle Paul writes,

“Keep your head in all situations, 

endure hardship

 do the work of an evangelist.”

                                                        2 Timothy 4:5.

I was until my retirement a professional clown. One day I commented that an evangelist was someone who wears a red nose and tells people about Jesus. My point being anyone can do the job of an evangelist.

When I taught Sunday school. I use to tell ten year olds that they could be evangelist. I noted they may not know a lot of scripture but they could invite people to Sunday school or church, where others could tell those people about Jesus.

As believers in Christ Jesus we have an obligation to God to tell others of the saving grace that comes through Christ Jesus.

It may not always be easy. In some parts of the world when a person becomes a Christian their family rejects them. Some even have to move away from the villages or towns where they were born. Some are even put in prison or suffer physical abuse.

For those of us who live in the western democracies telling people about Jesus may be easier, but may also mean being rejected by family and friends.

Still we are called to do the work of an evangelist in word and in deed.

The apostle Paul tells us,

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship" Romans 12:1.

Do you do the work of an evangelist?

         Is your life a living sacrifice to God?

Please think about it.

More Blessed

 More blessed.

In the book of acts we read,

    “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35.

A young girl by the name of Anne Frank who was in hiding from the Nazi’s in the Netherlands during world war two wrote,

"Give of yourself, give as much as you can?  And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!  If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world.  Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible.  Give, give again and again, don't lose courage, keep it up and go on giving!  No one has ever become poor from giving!" Anne Frank.

What Anne is saying here is so true. In giving of our time, even our money to helping others may not get us huge monetary rewards. But the emotional rewards we get are incredible.

Anne is right the world would be a better place if everyone would just say a kind word of encouragement the world would be a better place.

Giving is an important part of the Christian life. In the book of James we read,

"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. 

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? James 2:15-20.

The bottom line for a believer in Christ Jesus is that our faith should spur us to do good deeds to help others. To give to the extent that we can, of ourselves and our resources to help others.

Please think about it.

Committing your life to God

Committing your life to God.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2.

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we are not to conform to the ways of this world. 

Instead our live should become a “living sacrifice”. Our commitment to God should be a complete commitment God. . Our lives should reflect the love of God in word and in deed. 

Christianity is not just a religion. It is a way of life. When you let Christ into your life. Your life begins to change. It may be a slow change at first. But the more we study the scriptures the more our life will change for the better.

The more we study the scriptures the more we can discern the will of God.

Question, have you presented your body as a living sacrifice to God?

Have you committed your whole life to God?

Please think about it.

God will Prevail

 God will prevail

The Psalmist writes,

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10.

We live in a 24/7 world. A world that seems to travel at a terrific pace. As we look around we see a world in turmoil. A world where evil seems to prevail. Wars, terrorism, corrupt politicians, dictators, and much more seem to abound. It’s easy to get discouraged. 

Still we have a hope. The writer of Ecclesiastes telling us,

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

God will ultimately prevail. The apostle Paul noting,

"It is written: " ‘As surely as I live,' says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' " Romans 14:11.

Please think about it.

Gentleness and Respect

 Gentleness and respect

The apostle Peter tells us,

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 1 Peter 3:15,16.

This is what Christians must do. We must be prepared to tell people why we believe in Christ Jesus, why we believe in God.

Not only that we must do so with gentleness and respect. We must never force our beliefs on anyone. We must respect the person even if we disagree with them. 

Presenting our hope in Christ Jesus in a gentle way with respect will most of the time win the respect of those we are talking to. Making it easier to present our hope in Christ Jesus.

When you talk to others about your faith, do you present it in a gentle way, respecting the person you are talking to?

Please think about it.

A call to be holy

A call to be holy

The apostle Peter writes,

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1Peter 1:13-16.

The apostle Peter here calls Christians, true believers in Christ to be holy.

In chapter two of first Peter, Peter notes,

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.1Peter 2:9.

As a royal priesthood we are obligated to live a holy life. A life that attracts people to Christ without us even saying a word.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

                                                                                         Francis of Assisi.

We should not have to tell the people around us that we are true believers in Christ Jesus. The holy life we live should say that for us. Without us saying a word.

Please think about it.

I will Praise You

 I will Praise You

The Psalmist writes,

"I will praise you forever for what you have done;

 in your name I will hope, 

for your name is good. 

I will praise you in the presence of your saints." 

                                                                               Psalm 52:9.

As Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus we quite often forget to praise God in our daily lives. By that I mean outside of a church service.

Quite often we get wrapped up in asking God to do things for us. That could include praying for everything from a healing, to putting food on our table, to wisdom and much more. All of which are good things to ask for.

Still I believe we should spend some time just praising God. 

The Psalmist says he will praise God for what He has done. That he will hope in God and that he will praise Gods in the presence of the saints.

All of this should be done on a daily basis.

Do you praise God each day?

Please think about it.

As the Deer

 As the deer

The Psalmist writes,

“As the deer pants for streams of water, 

so my soul pants for you, O God.”

                                                               Psalm 42:1

There is an old saying “you have to be looking for God to find God”. It’s true if you have the unwavering belief God dose not exist you will not find Him. You have to have faith that God exists.

The book of Hebrews tells us,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  

This is what the ancients were commended for. 

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible....

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 11:1-3,6.

God however does not expect blind faith. He simply asks us to look around at his handiwork.

The Psalmist telling us,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1.

More and more we also see science pointing to a fine tuned universe. A universe so perfectly tuned for life as we know it to exist.

Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics states,

"Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural') plan." Dr. Arno Penzias.

The bottom line however is not what scientist my say or what Christians may say. The bottom line is do you believe in God?

Please think about it.

Without the fear of God

 Without the fear of God

The Psalmist writes,

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise." Psalm 111: 10.

Abba Hillel Silver wrote,

"Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority." Abba Hillel Silver.

We only have to look at Nazi Germany during the 1930's and through world war two, to see what happens when men loose there fear of God. When men create their own morality.    Estimates range from 70 to 80 million or 3% of the worlds population at the time died.      Included in that were 17 million killed in the Holocaust. Men women and children murdered because of their ethnicity, religion, political beliefs, disability or sexual orientation.

As we look around the world today we see the same thing happening with millions of people persecuted and imprisoned for their religious beliefs and lifestyle. By people who do not fear God.

Justice however is not far away for those persecuted. 

The writer of Ecclesiastes states,

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 

  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."Ecclesiastes 12:13,14. 

Those who persecute and murder others will one day pay for their crimes. If not in this world. Most certainly in the next.

In the mean time it is the job of Christians to go into the world and tell the world about Jesus Christ and the love, comfort and salvation, He offers to all who would believe in Him.

To point the world to the morality that can only come from belief in God.

Please think about it.

Is there a God?

Is there a God?

The Psalmist writes,

"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.

Voltaire wrote,

“I cannot imagine how the clockwork of the universe can exist without a clockmaker.” Voltaire.

We live in a perfect universe, at least when it comes to our existence. We are in what scientist call the goldilocks zone. The perfect place not just in the solar system but it in the universe in general. Scientist tell us that if the earth was just slightly closer to the sun or just slightly further away life as we know it would not exist. 

Even Stephen Hawking one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century admitted,

"It would be very difficult to explain why the universe should have begun in just this way, except as the act of a God who intended to create beings like us," Stephen Hawking.

Nobel prize winner John O’Keefe wrote,

"We are, by astronomical standards, a pampered, cosseted, cherished group of creatures... If the Universe had not been made with the most exacting precision we could never have come into existence. It is my view that these circumstances indicate the universe was created for man to live in." John O’Keefe.

That being dear reader. You must decide for yourself whether or not God exists.

Please think about it.

Follow my Logic

 Follow my Logic

The Psalmist bluntly states,

"The fool says in his heart, 

"There is no God." 

                                Psalm 14:1.

The way I see it if there is no God then by following the teachings of God in the Bible I have lost nothing. All I have done is lived a good life.

But to say there is no God is to my mind ridiculous. 

Think of it this way in order to truly know there is no God, the person would have to know all things and been everywhere. And since knowing all things and being everywhere are attributes of God. The person saying there is no God would in fact be god.

Further more to unequivocally know there is no God one would have to have gone beyond the grave the one place no one living has gone yet. The very place where we would expect to see God.

Voltaire wrote

“To believe in God is impossible, not to believe in Him is absurd.” Voltaire.

Blaise Pascal wrote,

“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.

Jesus speaking of Himself said,

“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.

Please think about it.

Your Peace

 Your Peace

In the book of Colossians we read,

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15.

If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Does the peace of Christ rule in your heart.

We live in a turbulent world. A world where the pressures of our daily life can if we are not careful rob us of our peace.

That’s why we need to set aside time each day to just be still and pray. Especially when we feel the troubles of the day causing us grief of whatever kind, we need to take time to pray and ask God to help us. To give us peace amid the storm we may be in.

Jesus tells us,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

God may not take our burdens away, but He will come along side us and help us carry that burden, and give us peace, if we would only go to Him in Prayer.

Please think about it.

A word from the apostle Paul

 A word from the apostle Paul

The apostle Paul writes,

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22,23.

This is how the world will know that we are true believers in Christ Jesus. We will exhibit these things in our lives.

love,

joy,

 peace,

 patience,

 kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness, 

gentleness 

self-control. 

When people see your life, your words and deeds do they see the things listed above?

Please think about it.

Live in Peace

 Live in Peace

The apostle Paul writes,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone." 

                                                                Romans 12:18.

What exactly does it mean to live at peace with everyone?

For me it means to live in peace with everyone means to respect the beliefs and lifestyle of others even if we disagree with them.

It means doing our best to show unconditional love to those around us. To present our faith in a non-threatening way, and not force our faith on anyone.

It all comes down to the words of Jesus who 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.

Please think about it.

Are you showing Love?

 Are you showing Love?

Jesus when asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40.

If what Jesus is saying here is true, and I have no doubt it is, are you loving those around you? Are you showing God’s love to those around you.

The apostle Paul wrote the definition of Christian love when he wrote,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                                  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

So I ask you, is this the kind of love you show to those around you, family, friend and foe alike?

Please think about it.

Do you

 Do you

The apostle John writes,

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18.

If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Is this the kind of love you show to those around you? Do you love not just with words, but with deeds?

Do you do what you can to help others?

Please think about it.

Just 2.5 Percent

Just 2.5 Percent

The Psalmist writes,

“Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD.” 

                                  Psalm 150.

If you consider yourself a true Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Do you take time out each day to praise The Lord?

I believe as Christians we have a duty to pray to God and Praise God each day. Here’s something to think about,

God gives you 1440 minutes in a day

Sleep on average takes up 448 minutes,

Work and travelling to and from work can take up approximately 600 minutes,

Leaving you with  360 minutes for yourself.

Are you willing to tithe some of those minutes?

36 of them, to be with God.

Are you willing to spend just 2.5% of all the minutes in a day God gives you

To pray and praise God?

Please think about it.

You and Eternity

 You and Eternity

In the book of James we read,

"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:13,14.

I remember reading an article entitled “where will you spend eternity?”. I don’t remember the details but the title says it all. 

In James we read “you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Well we do vanish from this world. But we don’t just vanish into oblivion. We simply pass from this world into the presence of God.

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 will you be happy when you pass into the presence of God?

You can know here and now if you will be happy. Jesus speaking of himself said,

“For God so loved the world that He gave is only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

The apostle Paul writes,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9,10.

So do you believe in The Lord Jesus Christ?

Are you certain of an eternity in Heaven?

Please think about it.

They seen with their own eyes

 They seen with their own eyes

The apostle John wrote,

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  

The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.  

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  

We write this to make our joy complete. " 1John 1:1-4.

Here the apostle John who knew Jesus personally states why he is writing his letter. 

John sat for three years under the teaching of Jesus. He ate with Jesus. If there was any doubt as to who Jesus was and is, John and the other apostles would have known it. Yet they all believed Jesus was who he claimed to be.

In Marks Gospel we read,

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ.'" Mark 8:27-29.

Notice the apostle Peter says Jesus is the Christ.

In John’s gospel we read this conversation between Martha and Jesus,

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes Lord" she told Him, "I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world," John 11:25,26,27.  

These people all knew Jesus and believed Him to be “the Christ the Son of God who was come into the world”.

Jesus speaking of himself said,

"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.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18.

The apostle all believed what Jesus said. So the question becomes do you believe this? OR has the writers of the New Testament created the greatest lie in all of human history?

Please think about it.

For evermore

For evermore

The Psalmist writes,

"Seek the Lord, and His strength: 

seek His face evermore." 

                                                Psalm 105:4.

Being a Christian not simply saying “I believe in God and that Jesus paid the price for my sins”.

Being a Christian is going before God continually to seek His wisdom and guidance. 

The late American evangelist Billy Graham,

“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'” Billy Graham

In our lives we will have many ups and downs. 

The key however whether we are in one of the valleys of life or having a mountain top experience is to seek God continually.

We do this by studying the scriptures, praying, and praising God.

Do you seek The Lord continually in good times and in bad?

Please think about it.

Justice, Kindness, Humility,

 Justice, Kindness, Humility

In the book of Micah we read,

“He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and walk humbly with your God?” 

                                                 Micah 6:8.

This is what God requires of those who believe in Him. 

To be just in all our dealings with our fellow man.

To love Kindness. To show kindness to everyone we come in contact with.

To walk in humility before God and man.

If you consider yourself a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus, are these the qualities people see in you?

Please think about it.

Are they right?

 Are they right?

The apostle Paul writes,

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.

Christians, true believers in Christ Jesus believe odd things. At least they seem odd to non-Christians.

The belief that Jesus is the Son of God. That He died on a Roman cross for sinful men and women.

The apostle Paul writing,

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8.

I know this is hard to believe. But through the death of Jesus on the cross, God demonstrated His love for mankind in the greatest way possible. 

In the death of Jesus God was saying I love you so much I sent my son to die for your sins.

Jesus speaking of Himself said,

"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.

This love extends to all who hear the message of Christ Jesus and believe it.

Do you believe Jesus died for your sins?

Take some time to read the New Testament and see for yourself what those who knew Jesus thought about Him. Then decide for yourself if they are right or wrong.

Please think about it.

On Nothing

 On nothing

In the book of Job we read,

"He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; 

He suspends the earth over nothing." 

                                         Job 26:7.

        Thousands of years before the above photo was taken by Apollo 8 on 24 December 1968 as it orbited the moon. Job described what they saw. The earth suspended on nothing.

The Psalmist writes,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; t

he skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                               Psalm 19:1.

I believe that God created the heavens and the earth. Whether he did it in six twenty-four hour days or used the big bang and let it develop over millennia is unimportant. After all God is almighty and could have done it whatever way He wished.

What is important to me is that if we look into not just the heavens, but everything from the largest Galaxy to the smallest subatomic particle. We see that they all work together to make the not just the world we live in but the universe we live in, perfect for life as we know it.

I cannot believe this is by chance. There has to be a Creator behind the creation we live in.

I firmly believe that science done correctly will one day prove beyond a doubt that there is irrefutable evidence of God.

Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, writes,

"Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural') plan." Dr Arno Penzias.

William Philips writes,

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it"William Philips Nobel prize winning Physicist.

That being said. The question becomes do you believe in God?

Please think about it.