Three ways

Three ways
Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman said,
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  
  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24.
To my way of thinking there are three ways of viewing God.

1. You can simply say God does not exist.
2. You can give intellectual consent and say God exists, but have no real faith in Him.
3. You can have complete faith in God.   The Bible makes it clear that it is the latter, faith in God that gets us to heaven. The writer of Hebrews telling us,

“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 Apostle Paul 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
Sadly many people today either say they don’t believe in God or simply give intellectual consent to his existence. They say God exists but have no real faith in Him. Their true faith is elsewhere.
Matthew’s gospel tells this story of a young man who came to Jesus,
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Matthew 19:16-22.
This man believed in the existence of God. He gave intellectual consent to the existence of God. He even followed the Laws given by God through Moses.
His failing however was he had more faith in his wealth and possessions than in God.
As Jesus told the Samaritan woman,

“God is spirit, 

and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

                                                                                           John 4:24.

In order to be a true believer in Christ Jesus. A true believer in God we must put our complete faith in Him.
The Psalmist states,

“I wait for the LORD, 

my soul waits,

 and in his word I put my hope.” 

                                   Psalm 130:5.

Do you put your hope in God?
The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart

 and lean not on your own understanding;” 

                                                        Proverbs 3:5.

Do you have this kind of trust in God?
Please think about it.

Hidden Souls

Hidden Souls
                                        The Fourth Man
It’s five thirty-nine, dawn has not yet broken on this cold winter’s morning.  All around the suburban landscape lies covered, within a blanket of new fallen snow.
On the roads, the morning commute is slowly beginning.  As of yet, however, there are few cars.  All around, there is a peace.  Almost, like the calm before the storm.
Two cars, pull off the street and into the empty church parking lot.  Their tires making the snow squeak, as they move over it.  Coming to a halt, the occupants, three middle-aged men climb out, greet each other, and enter the church.
Before the altar, in the silence of the sanctuary, each man kneels.
Within this holy place, the presence of God is so very real.  His Holy power can be felt as it fills the temple.
I who have attended this church for over thirty years have never felt God’s presence so strongly.
From my vantage point in the balcony I watch as all three are raptured leaving me....   Alone.
If you claim to be Christian do you think that something like what is described in the above story can’t happen? Then think again.
Jesus said,
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  
For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.  
Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:36-42.
As Christians we must remain true to God. True to Christ.
There are many within our churches that have gone to church all their lives yet lack faith in God. They believe in God intellectually and they will tell you they believe but they have never truly turned their life over to God. To them church is where their family and friends are. It is essentially a social club.
Such people know what the bible says. They know how to act in church they know what to say. They know all the Hymns and songs sung at church. Sadly however they have never made true commitment to God.
These are what I have heard someone say are the hidden lost souls within church congregations.
They are perhaps the hardest people to reach. Yet they like anyone outside the walls of our church congregations need to make a commitment to God, a commitment to Jesus that goes beyond intellectual acknowledgement.
As Christians we need to be praying for such people. We need to be praying that God will show us who these people are and how we can reach them for Christ.
One other thing I would ask anyone who believes themselves to Christian and reading this is are you truly committed to Christ? Is your faith rooted in God?
Please think about it.