Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

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
Something simple for you dear Christian to think about. Do you praise the Lord enough? By that I mean yourself. Rather than just simply listening to praise music do you lift your voice in praise to God?
We all as often as we can need to take time to simply be alone with God and praise Him, in word, in song, with instruments or without.
Do you?
Please think about it.

A Pointy Stick

A pointy stick
Every now and then I like to post something that pokes Christians with a very sharp pointy stick and make them think. This post is one such post. I would ask that you the reader, read it carefully consider what you would do and why.
Images of a Woman
That morning, Margaret Elizabeth got up extra early, readying herself for the day.  She would get only one chance to make an impression.  To that end, she applied her makeup with extra care.  Chose the black ankle length wraparound skirt, white turtle neck top and black jacket, her children had given her as a gift, while in hospital.  She limited her jewelry to a simple pair of diamond studied earrings, that had been her grandmother’s and small bracelet given to her by her daughter-in-law.
Leaving that office, to walk to the pulpit was the hardest step, she ever had to make.  Her heart pounded and by the time, she stood behind the pulpit she was visibly shaking.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Margaret Elizabeth Williamson and for the last little while there has been rumors circulating about me that are not entirely true. Thus to set the record strait, and because I have been asked to sit on the church board,  I have ask the pastor to speak to you and give my testimony. Then allow you to ask questions.
I do this because I very much desire to be open and honest with this assembly.
I was if you will born with a hidden birth defect in which the sex in my brain did not match the sex of my body.
I have felt like a woman trapped in a man’s body for my entire life. 
I have lived with this condition for over fifty-three years. I was married for over thirty years of those years to a wonderful and accepting woman, who did her best to understand me and help me through some difficult times. As have my children who are with me here today.
Sadly my wife died several years prior to my coming to this assembly. 
Thus I felt it was time to free myself of this conflict inside me.
Believe me, I did not choose this course of action lightly.  I did so after much personal anguish and a great deal of prayer.
So just before Christmas, I underwent Sexual Reassignment Surgery.” I know that many of you, maybe uncomfortable with that. Thus like I said it is the reason I am speaking here today.
For a little over two years prior to my complete transition, I have lived my life as a woman: I was doing so when I came to this church and I think I did it well enough that no one knew.  If they did, no one commented.
I have no apologies to give for what I did, or who I am, because I do not believe I did anything wrong.
I accepted Jesus as my Saviour over thirty-five years ago, and asked Him to remove from me what at times, has been a difficult burden.  A burden that at one point took me to the brink of suicide.    As it seems God has chosen not to remove this burden, I have accepted that I am what I am. A child of God who knit me together in my mothers womb.
To quote the Psalmist,
“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.
I am today the same person I was prior to my surgery. The only difference is I am at peace with myself. The burden I carried for so long has gone. I believe God has used the surgeon to fix the defect I was born with.
Now I have no intentions of preaching a sermon here today. However I will answer any questions you might have.
After which, I will ask for a vote and abide by your decision.”
There were many questions answered, the then pastor came to the front.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time to take a vote.”  He said.  “If you wish Margaret Elizabeth to become a part of our church board, please rise to your feet.”
Question.
How would you vote?
Why would you vote that way?
What biblical teachings you are basing your vote on?
Would such a person even be welcome as a member of your congregation?
Please think about it.

Faith and Deeds

Faith and Deeds
The writer wrote,

January 14th

Outside the air is a warm, seventeen centigrade, unseasonable for this time of year in this part of the world.
A soft, soaking rain is falling from the sky.  Cars made a swishing sound as they travel along the almost empty street.
All around there is the noise of the city, slowing, rising to a crescendo, then equally slowly dying to a momentary silence.
Before me, lays a picture of downtown edge.  At the corner, stands a service station.  Its bright lights illuminate the white wall of the restaurant across the street from it.  The smell of gasoline mingling with the smell of grilling meat permeates the still air.
My watch reads 2:00 am.
Near the corner an old woman, her torn dress visible below the dirty, shabby, gray winter coat, stumbles along, holding the wall for balance.
Finally, losing her fight to remain upright, she leans her back against the wall and slowly slumps down to the ground, coming to rest over a hot air vent.  Alone, she sits motionless as the rain falls.

Who will tell her of God’s love?

Who will love her?

Who?

The Apostle James writes,

“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.
Dear Christian are your deeds showing your faith?
Are you doing all you can to help those in need around you?
Please think about it.

Live Differently

Live differently
Billy Graham said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.”
                                                                                                    Billy Graham.
Dear Christian are you living differently?
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                           Francis of Assisi
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 
          Hebrews 12:14.
The apostle Peter writes,
“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.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’ 
                                                                                       1 Peter 2:9-12.
Are you doing this or are you following the ways of the world.
It has been said that if you look at the so called “Christian culture” here in North America you will see a Christian version of everything secular.
I have watched what passes for Christian television. On it they are selling everything from survival rations, to cosmetics, to vitamins, to various oils and potions, all with Christian names.
They mix their politics and their faith sadly letting the politics dominate.
Simply put they have copied the world. This should not be.
If people are to find the way to heaven we need to be living a life that is holy and wholly different from the world.
When people see you life what will they see. A Christian imitation of the world or a holy life that points people to Christ?
Remember the words of the writer of Hebrews who said,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 
          Hebrews 12:14.
And the words of Francis of Assisi who said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                                        Francis of Assisi.
Please think about it.

Do not conform

Do not conform

“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.  
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 
             Romans 12:1,2.
Here’s something to think about if you are considering protesting against non-Christians irrespective of who they are.
The world protests against laws, groups and people they disagree with. Such is the way of the world. Christians are told not to conform to the pattern of this world.
No Christian in the early church ever protested.
We are told by the apostle Paul,
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 
The writer of Hebrew states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 
       Hebrews 12:14.
You cannot be holy and be protesting against things. You cannot be holy and mix your faith with the politics of the day.
Take a look at the first century church they didn’t protest. They lived under the emperor Nero who persecuted them yet they turned the world upside down.
Billy Graham said,
“The men who followed Him (Jesus), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.
Billy Graham.
Is your heart right side up?
Do you show Love for God, your neighbour, and your enemy?
Or are you too busy mixing your faith with politics or protesting against something.
Please think about it.

A Christian Obligation

A Christian Obligation

“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.
Dear Christian
Do you fear the Lord?
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.
Because Jesus 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 7:21-23.
There will be those who think themselves Christians or call themselves Christians who will not get into heaven.
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.
There are many people in the church today claiming to be Christians or think they are Christians but are not. They are not following the key precepts of God. They are not doing to others what they would want others to do to them.
We need to remember the key precepts of God. Loving God, your neighbour and even your enemy.
The Book of Deuteronomy states,
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”
                                                                                                  Deuteronomy 6:5-8
 Jesus echoed the words of Deuteronomy when he was 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
Jesus then went one step further saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”
    Matthew 5:43-47.
 Francis of Assisi wrote something that all Christians should consider. He wrote,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 

                                                                                                  Francis of Assisi
This is the only way we can win souls for Christ.
Please think about it.

Presenting the Gospel

Presenting the Gospel

Luke the writer of the book of acts tells us about the apostle Paul’s actions and the sermon he spoke while in Athens.
In doing so God through Luke and Paul is showing Christians how to act around none believers.
Luke records.
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.   Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
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.” 
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 17:17-34.
The message the apostle Paul delivered that day to the Athenians is the same message God wants the people of the world to here today.
Christians especially here in North America need to look carefully at Paul's words and his actions.
First of all Paul was reasoning with people around him publicly. He was speaking to people in a non-confrontational way. I believe it can be inferred that he listened to the arguments against his belief as much as he presented his beliefs.
He must have been doing things the right way because Luke records,
“A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
   Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?” 
Notice it was the Philosophers not Jews or Christians that invited Paul to speak at the Areopagus a place where ideas were exchanged. The ancient equivalent of a Ted Talk, a chat room or public form such as today’s media today.
When he spoke there he never once told the Athenians they were sinners. He never once attacked their beliefs or there practices.
Paul simply presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Salvation only Jesus can give.
This dear Christian is how we should be presenting the gospel.
Please think about it.

Your Sermon

Your Sermon

Francis of Assisi said
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                 Francis of Assisi.
What is your sermon to those around you? Are you preaching the gospel of Christ at all times?
 What gospel do people see in you? Do they see someone who is forcing their faith on others? Do they see someone who is quick to judge? Do they see a bigot or a hypocrite or worse?
Take a few minutes to look at your life and see how others see you. Ask God to show you how others see you.
All too often Christian especially those who grow up in the church with Christian parents and grand parents. They fail to see themselves the way those outside the church see them.
There are many well meaning Christians out there jumping up and down in public and in the media saying this is the way God wants things. Saying some of the laws that the government are passing are an abomination to God.
What they are saying may well be true. There are laws our governments pass that are against God’s law. Then again so were many laws of the Roman empire.
Yet the apostle Paul could say,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”  
                                                                                         Romans 13:1,2.
Jesus, Paul and the other apostles took the high road. They did not rebel and protest against Rome.
Paul while in Athens did not protest the temple prostitutes. Instead he did things in a positive way. He talked about the saving grace of Jesus in the market square and anywhere else people would listen. It led to him being asked by  Epicurean and Stoic  philosophers to speak a the Areopagus. A place where exchange of ideas took place. Not only that some people were saved and while others scoffed at what he said, while others and this is important, wanted to hear more. We as Christians should always strive to present Christ in such a way that people want to hear more about Him.
Sadly today many high profile preachers and other Christians in the media would never have got that chance were they in Athens at the time.
They wouldn’t have been invited because the message they purvey in public is so negative and against many things the people of Athens and people today are not against.
When Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples, he did not tell us to protest and judge others. Listen to the words of Paul,
“Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” 
                                                                                              Romans 13:2
That judgement will come from God but it will also come from the people around them. If you are judging others and calling them names you will be judged likewise.
Paul makes it clear
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                                                1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 
             Hebrews 12:14.
Remember the words of Francis of Assisi who said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                                         Francis of Assisi
        What sermon is your deeds preaching?
Please Christian think about it.

On Being Christian

On Being Christian
Do non-Christians see Jesus reflected in your life?
Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
                                                                                             Mahatma Gandhi.
In a previous blog I said the actions of a Christian can and do have eternal consequences.
In the above quote from Mahatma Gandhi we see what he thought about those who claimed to be Christians that were around him.
The same thing is happening today. Non-Christians look at the actions of those calling themselves Christians and cannot see the love of Jesus.
I am always horrified when I see people calling themselves Christians protesting. Be it against abortionist, Gay rights, the rights of Muslims or other groups. This should not be so.
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.
Here is the key  
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son...” 
“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through               him.”
We as Christians are continuing the work of Christ. We are called to go into all the world and “rescue the perishing” as my first pastor was fond of saying.
We cannot do that by protesting.
The apostle Paul says clearly,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                                              1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Here in North America especially in the United States I find that Christians all to often mix politics and their faith. They mix their constitutional rights with their faith. They demand their rights! They seemingly forget that in a secular democracy such as we have in the United States and other western countries all people have equal rights whether we agree with them or not.
The apostle Peter wrote,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 
                                                                                      1 Peter 2:11,12
Notice here Peter says we are “aliens and strangers”. As Christians we are citizens of heaven only passing through this world.
Peter’s call is to 
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 
Protesting against anything or anyone is not living a good life. Especially in the eyes of those that are being protested against.
We cannot win a single soul to Christ by protesting against them.
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.
In other words by protesting against someone you disagree with, if you are trying to restrict the rights and freedoms given to any group, you are giving them the right to protest against you and restrict your rights.
Christians need to stop looking at the constitution and the bill of rights. As good as they are they are mans words.
We as Christians need to start studying and taking to heart the words of Jesus and the apostles. Who called us to LOVE God, LOVE our neighbour and LOVE our enemy.
A wise man during world war two in Nazi Germany wrote,
When they came for the Communists,

 I did not stand up, 

because I was not a Communist. 

When they came for the Jews, 

I did not stand up,

 because I was not Jewish.

 When they came for the Catholics, 

I did not stand up, 

because I was not a Catholic. 

When they came for me, 

there was no one left to stand up.

                                                                                    Martin Niemoller.
     We as Christians are called to reach out to even our worst enemy. We must in a free secular democracy accept the fact that all are equal even those whom we disagree with.
     Further more we must use the freedoms our democracy gives us to show LOVE and present to our friends, neighbours and enemies the Salvation that only Christ can bring.
Please think about it.

A Proponent of Love

A proponent of Love

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” 
                                                                                                           Proverbs 3:3,4
Here is a message I want all Christians to hear.
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. “ Proverbs 3:3.
And the reason we should do this
“...you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:4.
What are the characteristics of Love? The apostle Paul tells us that saying,

“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.
You cannot have true Christian love if you are not showing the characteristics of Love Paul is talking about.
Paul knew a lot about showing love especially in difficult circumstances. He was stoned and left for dead by men that hated him. He was thrown in prison, he shipwrecked and had faced many troubles in his life as a Christian.
He was persecuted under the emperor Nero a man who killed Christians in most hideous ways. Yet Paul could write,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone....
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”   
                                                                         Romans 12:18,20,21.
He also wrote,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  
“Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”  
                                                                                         Romans 13:1,2.
The apostle Peter backs up Paul saying.
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 
                                                                          1 Peter 2:11,12.
The writer of Hebrews said,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 
         Hebrews 12:14.
Jesus and the apostles in all situations showed love to all people. They did not protest against anything. They were known for their love.
Dear Christian
Are you known for your unconditional love? Is the church you attend showing unconditional love?  Are all people welcomed equally by you and the church you attend? Would a man who lives on the street who enters smelling badly be welcome at your Sunday Service? How about a gay man or woman?
Again I ask you, do you show love?
Please think about it.

Of God and Heaven

Of God and Heaven
Jesus said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” 
                                                                                                                             Matthew 13:44-46.
As a Christian this is how I see heaven. It is a treasure, the finest of pearls. It is to be desired above all things on this earth. There is nothing to compare.
Man has known throughout history that there is a heaven and a hell. I believe its because it’s part of man’s make up. The writer of Ecclesiastes writes,
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”  
                                                                                     Ecclesiastes 3:11.
Man being finite has a hard time understanding eternity yet he knows its there whether he wants to admit it or not he will one day end up.
Those who admit there is a heaven have throughout history strived to get there.
Throughout history through the Jewish scriptures, Moses and the prophets God has pointed man to himself.
On top of all of this he has sent his one and only Son Jesus. Jesus said of 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.
In Jesus God reached down to man. He said to each person on this earth here I am simply believe in me and you will get to heaven.
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.
In order to get to heaven we must simply believe by faith God exists and Jesus is God’s Son.
According to Hebrews
“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.
Some people I have talked to have noted to me that it’s hard to have faith in anything at times and doubly so if you can’t see it or touch it.
Perhaps that’s why God asks us to have faith in Him. Because God knows that those who truly have faith in Him without actually being able to see and touch him are true believers.
Please think about it.

Pilate's Dilemma

Pilate’s dilemma
The Gospel of John records,
“The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 
  When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.  
“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” 
From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
                                                                                                                 John 19:7-12.
In the above quote from the gospel of John we see the Roman governor Pilate has a dilemma.
The Jewish religious leaders of the day bring Jesus before him saying Jesus claims to be the Son of God. Therfore under Jewish law he must die.
As the Jews under Roman rule did not have the power of putting someone to death they called on Pilate to do so.
Judging by what John says Pilate seems to believe Jesus might be the son of God. John records,
“When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.”  
“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”
Although we know Pilate did try to release Jesus he eventually bowed to the political pressure. Perhaps fearing a riot and definitely not wanting to have his loyalty to Cesar questioned  he gave into the enemies of Jesus and had him put to death.
Jesus knew full well that claiming to be the Son of God was claiming to be equal to God an act punishable by death. Yet Jesus never wavered from his claim.
Earlier in Johns Gospel John records,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.” 
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 
                                                                                                          John 10:24-32 
In John 11 Jesus when speaking to Martha says,
“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.
C. S. Lewis put it this way,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” 
                                                                                 C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Jesus was no lunatic. Jesus was fully aware as to who He was and why He came to earth. He came to earth to die for the sins of each and every man. To quote Lewis again,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
                                     C.S. Lewis.
Jesus gives each person a choice. 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.
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.