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.

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.

I am convinced

I am convinced 

The apostle Paul wrote,

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:38,39

Today around the world hundreds of thousands of Christians are being persecuted for their faith. Yet they still believe.

What oppressors of Christianity do not understand is you cannot separate a true believer from their faith in God no matter what they do.

For centuries almost from the day Jesus ascended to heaven people have persecuted, imprisoned, physically and mentally abused and even murdered Christians. Yet people of all walks of life are still drawn to Christ. Still follow Him no matter what hardships are place in their way.

They know what the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote is true when he wrote,

"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.

Ultimately those who believe in Christ will go to heaven those who do not, those who persecute Christians will not. 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.

Please think about it.  

Do you truly?

  Do you truly?

The apostle Peter wrote,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you” 1Peter 1:3-4.

Do you have the new birth Peter is talking about? When I’m asking that, I mean do you truly believe and follow Jesus Christ? I don’t mean have you simply said the sinners prayer.

The sinners prayer is not in the bible. It’s origins are from outside the bible. While the prayer in itself is fine. Sadly many churches here in North America sometimes tend to use it almost as a magic coverall prayer to get people saved. That results many times in false hope. 

The late evangelist Leonard Ravenhill said.

“The sinners prayer has sent more people to hell than all the bars in America.” Leonard Ravenhill.

Many people who say the sinners prayer have the attitude that they say the prayer and it give them an automatic ticket into heaven.

To get into heaven we must have true, unadulterated faith in God in all circumstances. Our faith should spur us on to do good works.

James the half brother of Jesus wrote,

"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. 

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 2:14-20.

So I ask the question do you truly believe in God and the salvation He offers through His One and Only Son Jesus Christ?

Please think about it.

The Eleven O clock Prayer

 The Eleven o clock prayer

     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 is one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith. Treating others the way you want to be treated. That being said I leave this story with you to think about. Its called the eleven o clock prayer.

“It's eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation, waits. 

Will the new law be legal? 

Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. 

On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.

On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.

One man among them screams angrily . "HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!"

Approached by the media he says it again, "homosexuals are going to Hell." 

From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?"

Wasn't it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?

Wasn't it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?

Wasn’t it Christ 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" 

Wasn't it Christ who said go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation?

Is this man showing love?

Is this man judging another? 

Would this man appreciate being told he’s going to Hell?

Is he going to Hell? 

Can this man be effective in reaching the whole world for Christ, of which a percentage are homosexual?

Is this man even a Christian?

A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, "Can we truly know what is in someone else's head?

Do we really know why a person is like they are?"

For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day?

Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, "Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision, the wise decision, on this law. Let me do to others as I would have others do to me.”

Please think about it.

Social Christians

 Social Christians

The book of revelations speaks of the Church at Sardis. It states, 

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: 

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  

Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.  

Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.  

He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.  

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3:1-6. 

Here is a church that appears to be alive but is in fact dead. 

It is possible for a church to seem to be doing all the right things yet not be doing what God wants them to do.

There are many churches that hold great orchestrated praise and worship services. That follow a systematic study of the Bible. That have prayer meetings. Help the poor and much more.

    These churches on the outside look fine but all they are doing is following an empty scripted program. They are ministering to their congregation but not doing what God wants them to do.

That’s true for people to. An individual can seem like they have got it all together. They attend church both on Sunday and during the week. They go to prayer meetings even go to other Christian events. The trouble is they are simply doing it because they feel this is what a person should do. They are not doing what God wants them to do. They are as one person put it “social Christians”. 

I think these were the kind of Christians Jesus talked about when he said,

“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23

Please think about it.

A Choice

A choice

Jesus told this Parable,
“Someone in the crowd said to him (Jesus), "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 
Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"  
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 12:13-21.
When you leave the city where I live along a certain major road you pass through the centre of a huge cemetery. Almost as many people are buried in it as are in the city. Most of the time no one thinks anything about it. Still it is a reminder that you don’t get out of this world alive.
Rich and poor are buried in that place. A place where all are equal their wealth or lack there of in this world, left behind to be divided up between relatives friends and even strangers.
Back when I was a new Christian in the early seventies my pastors wife use to say,

“We have but one life, that will soon be past. 

Only what is done for Christ will last.”

Truer words were never spoken. You may have all the riches in the world. Be part of the so called 1% but ultimately all you have will mean nothing unless you have given your life to Christ Jesus.
You have but two choices in this life. You can either believe in God, and the Saving Grace that comes through Christ Jesus or you do not.
From my perspective as a Christian the decision you make about God, and Christ Jesus will determine your eternal resting place.
If I am wrong there is nothing to fear. If I am right those who don’t believe in God and the Saving Grace that Comes through Christ have a lot to worry about.
Thus it is up to you.
Please think about it.

Where do you stand?

Where do you stand?
The writer of Ecclesiastes writes,

“Whoever loves money never has enough;

 whoever loves wealth 

is never satisfied with their income 

this too is meaningless.” 

                                             Ecclesiastes 5:10.

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

Now there is nothing wrong with having a lot of money. The problem arises when you put the wrong emphasis on money. When you love it. As the writer of Ecclesiastes states,

“Whoever loves money never has enough”

The apostle Paul telling us,

“Some people, eager for money have wandered from their faith

and pierced themselves with many griefs”

Money can buy you nice things in this world. Enough money can buy you anything material thing your heart desires. Money however cannot buy you true peace of mind or a place in heaven.
Jesus told this parable,
"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.
Matthew’s gospel records Jesus saying something we should all consider. Jesus said,

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, 

yet forfeit his soul?” 

                            Matthew 8:36.

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
So where do you stand?
Are you certain of where you will spend eternity?
Please think about it.

Your Choice

Your Choice
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
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”Matthew 7:1,2
The following is a story about a judge about to make a ruling. All I would ask of the reader is to think carefully about it. It is called,
The Eleven O Clock Parable

"It's eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation, waits. 
Will the new law be legal? 
Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. 
On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.
On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.
One man among them screams angrily . "HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!"
Approached by the media he says it again, "homosexuals are going to Hell." 
From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?"
Wasn't it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?
Wasn’t it Christ 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.” 
Would this man want people demonstrating against his beliefs and lifestyle?
Is this man showing love?
Jesus said, 
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”Matthew 7:1,2
Is this man want to be judged by the same rules he is judging others?
Is this man even a Christian?
A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, "Can we truly know what is in someone else's head?
Do we really know why a person is like they are?" 
I think not.
For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day.
Turning away from my window I put on my robes and head toward the courtroom. As I do I pray, “Lord give me wisdom to make the right decision this day.”
What decision would you make?
Would you follow the law or your beliefs?
Please think about it.

Hell in a Handbarrow

Hell in a Handbarrow
Some time ago I came across a book by John B. Harrington called Essentials in Christian Faith published in 1958. After reading it I realized it could have been written yesterday, it’s message was,... is, that relevant.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico published in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
  “A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
  Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that,  
  "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 
  Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. 
Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage.”
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
Another Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" 2 Timothy 3:1-4
This is happening today.
As I look around the world today it is easy to look a the various terrorist groups who claim to be acting in the name of their faith when they are not. They are simply evil men who attach religious names to themselves to try an justify what they are doing.
The same is true for many politicians and others here in the west. While they espouse “Christian values” their words and deeds show they do not.
Christianity is not immune to false teachers. In fact it is to Christians that the apostle Paul is writing to.
There are many men and women calling themselves Christian pastors, evangelist, who are not. This is true also for many who sit in the pews.
Jesus warned of us about such people saying,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”Matthew 7:21-23.
As believers in Christ Jesus it is incumbent on us to show the world there is rest for their weary soul. That there is something beyond this world and the materialism there in. As Gallico puts it, “Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position...”
Jesus said,
“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.
This is the message we as believers in Christ Jesus must reach out to the world with. For if we don’t we just may condemn someone to a Christless eternity.
Please think about it.

A Religious Effigy

A religious Effigy
Jesus speaking to his followers said,
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven Matthew 5:13-16.
Some time ago I came across a book entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, could have been written yesterday. It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.'"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with fire and brimstone.
The world cannot go on the way it is.
Never in the history of human kind as there been a greater need for the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus. Sadly however at least where I live here in North America the Church it seems has become a religious effigy of what it should be. The salt has lost its saltiness, the light is under the bowl and people are potentially going to hell because of it.
Sadly many in society to day think little about God and the salvation offered by Christ Jesus. Many in our society see what the apostle Paul saw when he wrote to Timothy.
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" 2 Timothy 3:1-4.
Those outside the church see a church looking inward. A Church that passes judgement on them without getting to know them.
Thus my question to you. If you consider yourself a Christian, a true believer in Christ Jesus. Have you become a religious effigy of what a Christian should be. Or are you presenting the Gospel of Christ, the hope of mankind, with love and understanding to others.
Please think about it.

Who's going to Hell?

Who’s going to Hell?
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.
Jesus also said,
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2
Christians have no right to judge where anyone will spend eternity. That is God’s decision and we must as believers in Christ Jesus must always remember that.
The Eleven O Clock Parable
It’s eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation, waits. 
Will the new law be legal? 
Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. 
On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.
On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.
One man among them screams angrily . “HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!”
Approached by the media he says it again, “homosexuals are going to Hell.” 
From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?”
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?
Wasn’t it Christ who said go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation?
Is this man showing love?
Is this man judging another? 
Can this man be effective in reaching the whole world of which a percentage are homosexual?
Is this man even a Christian?
A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, “Can we truly know what is in someone else’s head?
Do we really know why a person is like they are?”
For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day, and how can I reach them for my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, “Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law.”
Question one, What is the right answer?
We as Christians, especially here in the west live in a secular democracy. A multicultural state similar in many ways to that of the Roman empire that the first century church lived in. With a government that does it’s best to accommodate all people regardless of their faith, lifestyle or sexual orientation.
We are called to reach out to everyone with the love of God irrespective of who they are. We are told not to judge anyone.
I firmly believe two things when it came to the early church.
1/ God used the multicultural nature of Rome and the relative freedoms it gave its people to spread the gospel message and to show us how to spread that message.
2/ I believe the apostles and those within the early church kept their hearts and minds focussed on spreading the Gospel message and thus were not sidetracked by politics or trying to decide where anyone will spend eternity, or anything else.
It is a lesson we in the twenty-first century church need to heed.
As long as we keep our hearts and minds focussed on presenting the message of Christ to the world around us we will win souls for Christ.
If however we are distracted in anyway we run the risk of failing in our mission something that has eternal consequences.
Please think about it.

What are we?

What are we?

“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

The poet writes,

What are people?

What are they?

Are they but shadows in the mall?

Are they?

Are they shadows in time,

Shadows wandering...

 collecting the latest trinkets, bobbles and beads.

What is life?

What?

Is life but a wisp of smoke carried in the air?

A wisp in the eternal aether 

Are people wisps?

What of man’s, or woman’s! accomplishments?

What of them?

Is the sum total of all ones life simply 

a pile of shinny tin, brass, and wood?

Is that life?

Is life simply a cacophony of sounds

 travelling through endless time?

Is it?

Or 

Is life.

Yours and mine...

 more?

Is it a divine opera?

An opera played out on a high mesa 

A stage suspended between heaven and hell.

Are we as Shakespear said simply actors?

Life,

 I believe, 

Is an opera played out before God.

Lived in a world suspended between heaven and hell.

And we,

We are actors in a high stakes play.

Actors who write their own script.

Actors awaiting the final curtain call 

That sends us to eternity.

Are you ready for the final curtain call?

Are you?

What is the sum total of your life?

What?

What will “they” say about you as you pass on?

What will God say?

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.  
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.
Please think about it.

Not Everyone Will

Not Everyone will
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
It has been said by many both inside and outside the church that if you want to find any kind of wrong doing all you have to do is look at the church.
I would agree. The church as an institution is an old and carries a lot of baggage. There has been many things done by the church that is wrong, everything from the crusades, to murder, to theft to child abuse.
Many calling themselves Christians have acted like hypocrites, bigots and worse.
While these people may say they are Christians, followers of Christ Jesus. They are not.
In the above scripture I quoted Jesus tells us “not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven.” many who call themselves Christians will find themselves cast into hell. It’s that plane and simple.
The Apostle Paul said,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
This happened in the time of the Apostles it is still happening today.
That is one of the many reasons the New Testament was written. It was inspired by God to show believers in Christ Jesus what God expects of them. To tell believers in Christ what is right and wrong before God.
And the only way we can know what God expects of a believer in Christ Jesus is to study the bible as a whole and the New Testament in particular.
We also need to make sure we are studying the word of God in the context of how it was written. We should never “cherry pick”. Listening to only what we want to hear.
St. Augustine wrote,

“If you believe what you like in the gospels, 

and reject what you don’t like, 

it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” 

                                                     St Augustine.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are you truly studying the whole of the Bible or just the parts you like?
Please think about it.

You and God

You and God
The Psalmist wrote,

“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.

Here is a scripture that says it all for me when it comes to the individual and God. The Psalmist makes it clear God knows all about us. That He knit us together in our mothers womb.
Put in modern terms God knows our genetic make up. He knows why we are the way we are. We can never stand before God and say you didn’t know what it was like to be me, because He does.
The Scriptures also tells us,
“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. 
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 1:1-3,14.
Here the apostle John makes it clear that Jesus is God that he made the world and everything in it. That God in the form of Jesus Christ came into the world that he made.
That being said, no one can stand before God and say you did not know what it was like to be human. We cannot say it because Jesus walked this earth. He knew what it was like to be human. He felt the everyday things humans feel, the sun on his face, the rain, the smell of dust. He knew what it was like to have loving friends and family. He knew what it was to have enemies that wanted to put him to death.
He knew what it was like to be accused of a crime he didn’t do and of being wrongfully convicted of that crime. He felt the pain of a Roman whip. The agony of a cross.
Jesus knew what it was to be human. Thus when we stand before him we will be without excuse.
We will be without excuse because he knows why we are like we are and what it is like to be human. Thus He can judge us fairly.
As a believer in Christ Jesus I believe that we can know here in this world whether we will enter Heaven or not. The apostle John states,

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, 

he gave the right to become children of God—  

children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision 

or a husband’s will, 

but born of God.” 

                            John 1:12,13.

The apostle Paul makes it clear we cannot work our way to heaven it is a gift of God. Paul writing
“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.
Thus the question becomes are you willing to accept the saving grace of God that comes through Jesus. Are you willing to believe Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of mankind by faith or are you not.
The choice in yours.
Please think about it.

The Biblical Choice

The Biblical Choice
The Book of Genesis states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
The Gospel of John states
“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
The book of Joshua states,
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24: 14,15.
Jesus is recorded as saying this about himself,
“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 writer of
“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 writing t the Ephesians said,
“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 writer of Hebrews telling us,

“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

The Bible does not debate the existence of God. After all it was written to believers.
The Bible however gives all who read it a choice. They may believe in God and go to heaven, or not believe in God and pay the consequences of their unbelief. It is not ambiguous.
It presents the truth about God and leaves it to the individual to decide for themselves.
So my question to you the reader is, Do you believe in God and that Jesus Christ is the One and Only Son of God the Saviour of mankind or not?
Before you answer however I would ask that you read at the very least the New Testament asking God to show his reality to you.
Please think about it.

Your Wager

Your Wager
The writer of Ecclesiastes notes,
“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 labor. 
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.” Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
Atheist claim there is no God. If so what the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote above is true. Everything is meaningless a chasing after the wind.
That being said I am not an atheist and believe they are wrong, God does exist.
Peter John Kreeft Wrote of Atheism,
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning? Atheism cheapens everything it touches,....”Peter John Kreeft ph.d 
The way I see it Atheist make themselves into god. They make a blanket statement saying God does not exist. However in order to truly know God does not exist one must have been everywhere and know everything. An attribute of God.
Lets be practical here. No person living today knows everything. And no one living today has gone beyond the grave and come back to tell about it. Thus it is impossible for an Atheist to say beyond a reasonable doubt that God does not exist.
The consequences are eternal for both those who believe in God and those who don’t. If someone believes in God and it is ultimately found He does not exist. The Believer in God has nothing to fear in the light of eternity.
If on the other hand one does not believe God exist and he does exist, the non-believer has a great deal to worry about.
I like what 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
As for me personally I have placed my wager and gone all in that God exists. I believe the writer of Ecclesiastes who finally come to the conclusion,
“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 .
Please think about it.

Your Choice

Your Choice
The Psalmist rather bluntly says,
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 14:1.
I personally think it’s foolishness to not believe God exists. In saying God dose not exist the person is essentially saying they are omnipresent. That they have been everywhere. Because if the person hasn’t been everywhere then God just might be where they have not been. And it is my understanding that people living today have not been beyond the grave. They have not gone to the after life. Which is where we all will one day encounter God face to face.
As a Christian I truly believe God will one day judge each and every person for what they have done in this life.
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.
The writer of Hebrews says,
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12,13.
The question I ask those who don’t believe in God is, are you willing to risk your eternal resting place on what you believe?
If I as a Christian am wrong then all I have done is lived a full, moral and rewarding life. If someone who denies God is wrong they run the risk of ultimately going to Hell.
Are you willing to risk that?
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.  
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.
Christians do not believe you can work your way to heaven. To quote the apostle Paul again,
“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.
Simply saying I believe God exists is not enough one must put their faith in God,
The Writer of Hebrews states,
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.
God gives everyone complete freedom to believe what they wish. That freedom even extends to believing He exists or not.
The Choice is always up to the individual. Thus the choice dear reader is yours. Do you believe there is a God and are you willing to put your faith in Him?
Please think about it. 

What is life?

The Poet wrote,

What is life?

What?

Is life but a wisp of smoke carried in the air?

A wisp in the eternal aether 

Are people wisps?

What of man’s, or woman’s! accomplishments?

What of them?

Is the sum total of all ones life simply, 

A pile of shinny tin, brass, and wood?

Is that life?

Is life simply a cacophony of sounds travelling through endless time?

Is it?

Or! 

Is life.

Yours and mine 

more!

Is it,

A divine opera?

An opera played out on a high mesa 

A stage suspended between,

Heaven and Hell.

Are we as Shakespear said,

Simply actors?

Life,

I believe. 

Is an opera played out before God.

Live!

On a high mesa,

Between Heaven and Hell.

And we,

We, Are, partakers in a play.

Individuals, who write our own script.

Awaiting the final curtain call

Sending us to eternity

Are you ready for the final curtain call?

What is the sum total of your life?

What?

What will “they” say about you as you pass on?

What will God say?

Where will you spend eternity?”

The Psalmist wrote,

“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; 

let me know how fleeting is my life. 

You have made my days a mere handbreadth; 

the span of my years is as nothing before you. 

Each man’s life is but a breath. 

Psalms 39:4,5

Jesus 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 Apostle Paul wrote,

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this not from yourselves, 

it is the gift of God— 

Ephesians 2:8

The writer of Hebrews wrote, 

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see...

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 11:1,6.

Where,

Where will you spend eternity? 

Are you sure you know where you will be?

Please think about it.

Where

Where

         The following is a poem from a book I wrote called images. The sole purpose  of writing the book was to make people think I put this here for both the Christian and none-Christian to think about.

Where

Where are the people?

Where?

Are they but shadows in the mall?

Shadows wandering, looking for the latest trinkets, bobbles or beads.

Are they?

Are they but shadows in time,

What is life?

Yours or mine?

What?

Is life but a wisp of smoke carried in the air?

A wisp in the eternal aether 

Are people wisps of smoke?

What of man’s or woman’s! accomplishments?

What of them?

Is the sum total of all ones life simply a pile of shinny tin, brass, and wood?

Is that life?

Is life simply a cacophony of molecules and atoms,

Sound and energy travelling through endless time?

Is it?

Or 

Is a life.

Yours and mine,... more?

Is it a divine opera?

An opera played out on a high mesa 

A stage suspended between heaven and hell.

Are we as Shakespear said, simply actors?

Are we but actors in a play?

Actors awaiting the final curtain call,

Sending us to eternity?

Are you ready for the final curtain call?

Are you?

What is the sum total of your life?

What?

What will “they” say about you when you pass on?

What will God say?

The Psalmist wrote

“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; 

let me know how fleeting is my life. 

You have made my days a mere handbreadth; 

the span of my years is as nothing before you. 

Each man’s life is but a breath. 

                                                 Psalms 39:4,5

Jesus said,

‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. 

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, 

I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.’ 

                                                               Revelations 3:20

The Apostle Paul wrote,

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this not from yourselves, 

it is the gift of God— 

Ephesians 2:8

The writer of Hebrews wrote, 

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see...

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 11:1,6

Jesus 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

Life is more than a wisp of smoke in the eternal aether. 

Shadows wandering, looking for the latest trinkets, bobbles and beads.

Shadows in time.

Life is a divine opera.

An opera played out on a high mesa.

A stage suspended between heaven and hell.

An opera with a twist.

A play who’s final ending is determined by you and me.

A play deciding where we will spend eternity.

Where will you spend eternity?

Will you accept Jesus Christ into your heart and life today?

Will you pray.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I recognize that Jesus is your one and only Son.
That he came to earth to die for my sins.
I confess I am a sinner and that I fall short of what you want for my life.
Please forgive me of my sins and come into my life.
That I may spend eternity with you

                                      In Jesus name I pray
                                                   Amen.