What can I do?

  What can I do?

The Psalmist writes,

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:7-10.

There is nowhere to run from God. Which ultimately means that God can and does guide us no matter where we are. If we are willing.

I know in the good times it’s easy to follow God. However it is in the bad times that we see the true believer shine.

When bad times hit we have too choices. 

One call out to God and ask Him why are you in the position you are in and complain about your circumstances saying “why me Lord?”

The other choice is to call of God and ask Him to be with you, guiding, directing and comforting you. Saying “what do you want me to do Lord?” Or, “What do you want me to learn today?”

When you go through hard times in life what do you do?

Please think about it.

What Jesus said,

What Jesus said

In John’s gospel we read,

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6.

This is one of the most important statements Jesus ever made..

If it is false no one hearing those words has anything to fear.

If this is true and I believe it is. Those who don’t believe it have at the very least a lot to think about.

But it is not what I believe that is important. Each individual must decide for themselves if what Jesus is saying is true or false. You dear reader must decide if Jesus is “the way the truth and the life.” That no one comes to the Father except through Him.

Please think about it.

Truth or lies?

  Truth or lies?

Luke’s gospel records this incident when Jesus as an infant was brought to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord.

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,you now dismiss your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:25-32.

When it comes to this incident you can like with all the stories about Jesus, believe it or not.

But think of this. If this story and indeed the whole New Testament is made up then this is the most momentous lie in history. 

You must make your choice. Is the New Testament and all that is said about Jesus the biggest lie in all history or is it the truth. The choice is yours.

Please think about it.

It seems right but...

  It seems right but

In Proverbs we read,

“There is a way that seems right to a man 

but in the end it leads to death.” 

                                                 Proverbs 14:12.

Many today are following the crowd. Following religious and political leaders and philosophies that seem right but is not. 

We as individuals need to assess who we are following. We need to pray and ask God for direction. Because if we are following the wrong person or philosophy it can and will have eternal consequences.

For me the right path is following Jesus. 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.

But you dear reader must decide for yourself if I am right.

Please think about it.

God, you, and the pail blue dot

 God, you, and the Pail blue dot

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

For someone who had never seen a picture taken from space. Job got the description right.

Take a look at the image. Earth is incredibly small in comparison to the universe. If we didn’t know we lived there we could dismiss it as nothing.

Yet God didn’t consider us nothing. God chose to enter this pail blue dot on which we live. This pail blue dot He created. He did so in the form of Christ Jesus. He did so to point mankind to heaven.

The apostle John writes,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:1-4,14.

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.

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.

Do you believe in God?

Do you believe that Jesus is Lord?

Please think about it. 

You are Grass

  You are Grass

"A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" 

"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:6-8.

Lets face it the one thing everyone on the face of the earth can agree on is that we will not get out of this life alive. Ultimately we will all pass into eternity.

Thus the question is where will you spend eternity?

We are eternal beings living in a body that will one day turn to dust. While our soul. That essence that is you will live on through eternity.

The late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. stated in one of his speeches,

“Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.” Martin Luther King jr.

Which again begs the question if Dr. King was right. Where will you spend eternity?

Jesus 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.” John 3:16

Jesus also issued a warning,

“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 17.

The choice given to you by God is to believe in Christ Jesus or not. 

Thus I would say to you before you decide. At least read the New Testament and see for yourself what those who knew Jesus believed Him to be.

Please think about it.

Believe in God or not

 Believe in God or not.

In Ecclesiastes we read,

"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.

Believing in God is a choice. When God created the world and everything in it. God gave man a freewill to believe what he wants to. That includes not believing in God. 

The thing is whether you believe in God or not. God exists and will one day judge justly each individual who has ever lived. Ecclesiastes tells us this.

Jesus confirms this,

"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.

Thus the question becomes do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Where will you spend eternity ?

Where will you spend eternity?

James the half brother states,

“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.  

Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  

As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.  

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:13-17. 

We as they say, are mere mortals. Our life in this world begins at conception and ends a handful of years later. We do not know how long we will live, nor can we predict the future. 

The only thing that is certain is one day we will enter eternity. At that time we will stand before God whether you believe in him or not.

Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,

“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.

Will you?

Ultimately the choice is up to you the individual. You can believe Jesus is all he said he is, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind or you can reject him. 

When God created mankind, He did not make robots that would always do what he wanted them to do without thinking. 

Quite the opposite. God created each individual with a freewill to do as he or she wished. That freewill extends to believing in Him or not. Thus you have the right to say God doesn’t exist. 

That being said, 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.

Please think about it.

The Key

  The Key

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

Here in a nutshell is why Jesus came to earth. He didn’t come to condemn the world but to save the world. 

Jesus came to give each and every individual a Choice. You can either choose to follow Jesus and accept the salvation He offers or you can reject that offer of salvation. 

If Christians are wrong about this choice there is no need to be afraid. If on the other hand Christians are right about this. Then at the very least everyone has at the very least a lot to consider.

Please think about it.  

Judgement and Salvation

Judgement and Salvation

The writer of Proverbs states,

“For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, 

and he examines all his paths.”

                                       Proverbs 5:21

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." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

The apostle Paul speaking in Athens said,

"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts 17:30,31.

Here are three statements I believe you should take to heart. God knows our deeds and God will judge us accordingly.

That being said as a Christian I believe we can have our sins forgiven if we truly believe in Christ Jesus. The apostle John quotes Jesus as saying,

"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 John also writing,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.

The gospel coalition defines sin as,

"Sin is acting or behaving in a way that does not conform with God's character or commands. It is about crossing lines that have been laid down for us by God. Sin is thus an act of rebellion and distrust. It is us saying to God: "You don't get to make the rules! I am capable of deciding right and wrong for myself!" "The gospel coalition.

The apostle Paul makes it clear we all have crossed that line when he writes,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.

But the apostle Paul makes it clear God has provided us with a way for us to enter heaven when he states,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

The apostle Peter stating,

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Acts 2:21.

So my question to you dear reader is do you believe this? 

If I am wrong there is nothing to fear. For anyone believing what I have said will have lived a good life. 

If on the other hand I am right then there is a lot to consider. 

Please think about it.

To gain or to forfeit.

  To gain or to forfeit.

Jesus said,

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36.

Martin Luther King jr. in a prayer said,

“Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.” Martin Luther King jr.

If there is one thing the people of the world need to know is that while this life is finite we are not. When we no longer need this body we are destined to live on throughout eternity. Where we will live however, depends on what we do in this life.

I as a Christian believe there is both a heaven and a hell. That it is here in this world where we make the decision as to where we will spend eternity.

I believe Jesus when He said,

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6.

The bottom line however is you dear reader must decide for yourself if what Jesus is quoted staying here is right or wrong.

Please think about it.

Money God and your faith

 Money God and your faith

Jesus told this parable,

"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

Before I proceed. There is nothing wrong with being rich and having a lot of money. The apostle Paul makes it clear,

“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.

The problem is the emphasis you put on the riches you have and how you use them. In the scenario above the rich man apparently had no compassion on poor Lazarus. His life was wrapped up in his wealth.

He even it seemed had turned away from his faith.

Jesus said,

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also....

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” Matthew 16:19-21,24.

So where is you faith?

Please think about it.

A decision to make

  A decision to make

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labour. 

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." 

"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 judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."Ecclesiastes 12:10-14. 

If you think about it. If all that there is, is this life. If all we are to do is live for a handful of years, then procreate die. Life is meaningless. 

On the other hand if life is eternal and this life is just the start of a journey through eternity. Then we should at least think of where we will spend that eternity. 

Now many would say we can’t determine where we will spend eternity. That is not so if we who believe in Christ Jesus are correct. 

Jesus 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.

Each individual however must decide for themselves if what Jesus is saying is true. Then if they believe they must take the next step. The apostle Paul writing,

"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.

Please think about it.

Will be saved

 Will be saved

The apostle Paul writes,

"for all have sinned 

and fall short of the glory of God," 

                                             Romans 3:23.

The encyclopaedia Britannica states, 

“Sin, moral evil considered from a religious standpoint. Sin is regarded in Judaism and Christianity as a deliberate and purposeful violation of the will of God”.

It is something we all have done at one time or another. 

Sin separates us from God. Thus God sent Christ Jesus to pay the price for our sins and open the door to heaven. The apostle Paul writing,

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

The apostle John writes,

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10.

The apostle Paul stating 

“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.

As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13.

Do you believe this? If so have you confessed your sins to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your life?

Please think about it.

My Reason

  My Reason

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.

This verse sums up why I write these blogs. It sums up why I tell people about Jesus.    Someone along time ago, took time to tell me about the Love and salvation that comes through the Grace of God. Which today it the most important thing in my life.

The apostle Paul reminds us,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23.

That sinning is falling short of Gods ideals. 

The Apostle Paul noting,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

That our good works cannot save us. It is our faith in God and the Salvation God grants to all who would believe in Christ Jesus.

They noted 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.

They also noted that I have a freewill to believe or not believe what is said in the Bible. That they have no right to judge me for what I believe. 

That their obligation to God was to simply tell me of the Love of God that comes through Christ Jesus. Whether I believe it or not is entirely up to me.

Thus I leave what I have written for you the reader to decide for yourself if you believe it or not.

Please think about it.

Do you believe in God?

  Do you believe in God

The Prophet Isaiah writes,

"A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" 

"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. 

Surely the people are grass. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

 but the word of our God stands forever." 

                                                                   Isaiah 40:6-8.

I over my nearly sixty plus years on this earth that some believe God is dead. That the Bible is irrelevant. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

Many years ago I read a poem that read,

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

"How many anvils have you had," said I,

"To wear and bater all these hammers so?"

"Just one," said he, and then, with twinkling eye,

The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."

And so, thought I, the anvil of God's Word,

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.

                                                                    Anonymous.

God has given each and every person on this earth the freedom to choose to believe and do as they wish. That includes believing whether or not God exists.

Thus the question becomes; Do you believe in God?

        Do you believe Jesus is the one and only Son of God, who  died for your sins?

Please think about it.

Perhaps its true

  Perhaps its true

“In the beginning God 

created the heavens and the earth.” 

                                             Genesis 1:1

Here’s an interesting thought. C. S. Lewis noted,

"Atheist express their rage against God although in their vew He does not exist", C. S. Lewis.

Around the world today there are Atheist, people who say that God does not exist yet they rage against Him and those who believe in Him.

There are atheist governments that ban Christianity yet they say God does not exist. It defies logic. How can someone or something that doesn’t exist hurt you.

And when it comes to Christianity the apostle Paul tells Christians,

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,  to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”Titus 3:1,2.

True Christians make model citizens. They pray for the their government officials. They pray that God will guide their country.

Yet still around the world Christians are thrown into prison, into labour, camps even murdered, simply because they express belief in God.

Like I said it defies logic.

perhaps it’s true what Thomas Aquinas said,

“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” Thomas Aquinas.

Please think about it.

God offers a choice

  God offers a Choice

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 sole purpose of Jesus coming to this earth was to show each individual the way to heaven. To give each individual a choice. 

Each person when introduced to Jesus has a choice they can follow Jesus or they can go another way of their choosing.

That being said I think anyone considering these words of Jesus as expressed in John 3:16-18. Needs to take time to study the New Testament while at the same time praying and asking God to reveal Himself to them.

So who do you believe Jesus is?

Please think about it.

Are you Ephesus?

  Are you Ephesus ?

In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:  

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.  

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  

Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.  

But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.  Revelations 2:1-7.

It is said each church represented in the book or Revelations can refer to a church, a church denomination or even a person in the present day.

Here while the Lord comments on their deeds and hard work. That they have not tolerated wicked men. And that they have hated the practices of the Nicolaitans an heretical group. The Lord also notes,

• “Yet I hold this against you: 
• you have forsaken your first love.  
• Remember the height from which you have fallen!
• Repent and do the things you did at first”. 

Some scholars note that this could mean that they have lost their love of God, of Christ. Some have even said they have lost their love of each other. While others say they have lost their love of both.

Either way The Lord makes it clear if they don’t repent they will loose their status before God.

As individuals we need to look at ourselves; Is God truly my first love? Do I truly love those around me. Family, friends, and foe alike?

Do I need to repent?

Do you?

Please think about it.

What kind of love?

  What kind of 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 neighbor as yourself.’  

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

Christian love I believe is defined by the apostle Paul 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 my question to you dear reader is; Is the kind of love you practice the kind of love the apostle Paul defines here?

Is the kind of love you practice the kind of Love God wants you to practice, unconditional love?

Please think about it.