Our Inheritance

Our inheritance
The apostle Peter writes,
“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, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  1Peter 1:3-5.
As believers in Christ Jesus we truly believe what Peter is saying here. Through our belief in Christ Jesus we have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
Earthly powers over the centuries have tried to force believers in Christ to recant their faith. They have destroyed church buildings and killed millions of believers all to no avail.
Earthly powers cannot destroy what is in heaven. Thus we can say with the Psalmist,

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, 

whose hope is in the LORD his God,

 the Maker of heaven and earth, 

the sea, and everything in them—

the LORD, who remains faithful forever.  

                                                                Psalm 146:5,6

Question; can you say this?
Please think about it.

The call of Jesus

The Call of Jesus
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.
This is the call of Jesus to all who believe in Him. To go into all the world and tell the world about Him. As Christians we believe what Jesus said about himself when he said,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
The purpose of Jesus coming into this world was to show not just mankind as a whole but individuals the way to heaven.
As C. S. Lewis said,
"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.
We also must remember that Jesus also issued a warning saying,
“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 3:18.
That being said I believe that having faith that Jesus is the way to heaven is one of the hardest things anyone can do.
I also believe that God wanted it that way because men and women of faith are willing to suffer and die for what they believe.
Thus it is up to you the reader to decide what you believe about Jesus. Is he the Son of God, The Saviour of mankind, or is he not?
Please think about it.

Christ's Ambassadors

Christ’s Ambassadors
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.”  2 Corinthians 5:20.
We are Christ’s ambassadors. Which means we represent God on this earth. It is our job as Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus to tell the world about the saving grace that comes from God through Christ Jesus.
The apostle Paul telling Timothy,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.
Sadly many calling themselves Christians her in North America at least, act more like they are God. Judging the world around them. Something that is not theirs to do. Only God has the right to judge individuals or groups.
The apostle Paul states,
“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 way I see it the only time we have the right to judge anyone is to judge those who call themselves believers in Christ Jesus and are not handling the word of God correctly. At which time as Paul states we are to expel them from among us.
Billy Graham the late American evangelist stated,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                               Billy Graham.

Centuries prior to Billy Graham, Francis of Assisi wrote a prayer that everyone who calls themselves a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus needs to take to heart.

Lord, make me an instrument of your 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;

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.

Please if you consider yourself a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus....
Think about it

It's up to you

It’s up to you
In the gospel of John we read Jesus 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.
Christians, believers in Christ Jesus, believe this statement. We believe that it is a choice God places before each individual on this earth.
We believe that each individual must decide for themselves if this is true of false. We believe either way one decides, has eternal consequences.
As C. S. Lewis put it.
"Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important." C. S. Lewis.
Please think about it.

An Eternal bet

An eternal bet

The psalmist writes,

"You are my refuge and my shield; 

I have put my hope in your word."

                                                        Psalm 119:114.

Here is a simple thought. There are many in this world who say there is no God. I respect their beliefs.
That being said I believe there is a God who loves us. The creator of heaven and earth. A God who entered the world He created in the form of His one and only Son Jesus.
If I am wrong I have nothing to fear. 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.
Thus my question to you the reader; Where have you placed your bet?
Please think about it.

I will give thanks

I will give thanks
The Psalmist writes,

“I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness 

and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.” 

                                                                                        Psalm 7:17.

“I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; 

I will tell of all your wonders. 

I will be glad and rejoice in you; 

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” 

                                                                      Psalm 9:1,2.

In the book of Joshua we read,
“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.
I’m with Joshua on this one. I will praise God and serve God with my whole heart. I will tell the world about God, and the saving grace that comes through His One and Only Son Christ Jesus.
When it comes to those around me what they do with respect to God is up to them.
God has given every person on the earth freedom of choice. That includes believing in God. Thus it is up to you the reader to decide who you will follow.
Please think about it.

If we confess

If we confess
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.
This is a key statement of Christianity. It is very simple.
1/ Confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord.
2/ Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.
3/ Everyone who calls on the name of The Lord will be saved.
Thus my question to you the reader is; do you believe this?
Before you answer the question however, I would ask that you take time to read The New Testament. Then decide for yourself based on what is presented there whether or not Jesus is what Christians say he is.
Please think about it.

The Lord Lives

The Lord Lives
The psalmist writes,

"The LORD lives! 

Praise be to my Rock!

 Exalted be God my Saviour!" 

                                                       Psalm 18:46.

As a believer in God. As a believer in Christ Jesus I have no doubt God exists and that He entered this world He created in the form of His one and Only Son Jesus.
I believe the Psalmist when he says,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech;

 night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

                                                                              Psalm 19:1-3.

Science tells me the universe has a beginning. Science tells me that everything from the smallest subatomic particle to the greatest galaxy are interconnected. Science tells me that we are at the perfect position not just in the solar system but in the universe for life to exist as we know it. All of this indicates to me there is a creator of the universe and everything in it.
That being said when it comes to believing in God it takes a leap of faith. A leap God wants us to take. 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

Faith defined as,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see."  

                                                                          Hebrews 11:1

I personally believe God wants us to make that leap of faith because having faith in anything is exceptionally hard for most people. As a result those who have faith especially in things they cannot see are the strongest of believers.
Thus my question to you; Do you have the faith to believe in God?
Please think about it.

Think about it.

Think about it.
The prophet Isaiah writes,
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tiered or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:28.
The Bible does not debate the existence of God. It was written to believers and believers do not debate his existence. Even though they cannot physically see God they have faith He exists.
The psalmist states,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

                                                                                  Psalm 19:1-3.

Science done right I believe will show the existence of God. We know the universe has a beginning. Not only that we know that everything in the universe from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy are linked.
Even Stephen Hawking one of the greatest minds of our time stated,
“The universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us" Stephen Hawking. 
Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics wrote,
“Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural’) plan.” Dr. Arno Penzias.
Another Nobel prize winners in Physics William Philips, wrote,
“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it”William Philips.
God is real, whether you want to believe in Him or not. As C. S. Lewis said,
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." C.S. Lewis.
When it comes to God however it is up to you. In making mankind God did not make robots. He created living beings with a freewill to choose to believe and do what they wish.
God will never force His will upon you.
Jesus however talking about himself gave us a warning stating,
"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.

In Joy sold everything

In Joy sold everything.
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.” Matthew 13:44. 
Here we have in a nutshell what is like for those who finds the love an grace of Jesus Christ. When an individual comes the realization that Jesus is the way the truth and life.
That he is the way to heaven.
Such a person is willing to give up everything. His way of life. His friends and even his family if necessary.
Becoming a believer in Christ Jesus is a big step. Many believers in Jesus around the world today are forced by non-believing family to never contact them again. Some are forced to leave their home village or town. Some even have to leave their country of birth. 
Still others are persecuted, beaten, put in jail, even murdered.
It is said that one Christian dies for their faith somewhere in the world every seven minutes.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world."
Yet it is still growing. Believers in Christ truly believing and rejoicing that they have found the way to heaven. Rejoicing in the fact that they have found the one thing on this earth that has eternal value.
Thus my question to you the reader; do you believe Jesus is truly the way to heaven?
Before you answer the question, I would ask that at least take time to read the New Testament and see what it says about Jesus. Then make your decision.
Please think about it.

Stands forever

Stands forever
                  Isaiah the prophet wrote,

"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.

An anonymous poet writes,

“Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

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

"To wear and batter all these hammers so?"

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

The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."

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

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.”

                                                                           Anonymous.

Over the centuries there have been many men, some, the most powerful on earth, who have said there is no God.
Some countries today even try to wipe out belief in God. They persecute, imprison, and even murder Christians for simply believing in something they say does not exist. Yet despite this believers in Christ, believers in God still continue to believe.
Every one of Christ’ apostles except John suffered a martyrs death. Yet the gospel message continued.
During the early days of Christianity two apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin a Jewish religious court of the day.  Some members of the court wanted to put them to death for what they had said.
A wise man. A Pharisee named Gamaliel standing before the Sanhedrin however said,
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:38,39.
I think the fact that believers in Christ Jesus, Christians are still around today, and are increasing in numbers despite persecution, shows they are from God. And those who would try to wipe Christians out are fighting against God.
As C. S. Lewis said,
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." C.S. Lewis.
Please think about it.

Love Mercy

Love Mercy
In the book of Micah we read,
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8.
From the actions of some Christians I would conclude that they do not act justly, do not love mercy and fail to walk humbly with God. Certainly many non-Christians would agree with me.
Many calling themselves Christians seem to be constantly yelling about the sins of the world when it is not their place to do that.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,

It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love, 

                                  Billy Graham

It is the job of all believers in Christ Jesus to reach out to the world around them with the saving grace of Christ Jesus. We cannot do this if we are not acting justly. If we don’t show mercy. If we are not showing love.
Matthew’s gospel records,
"While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners'?" 
On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:10-13.
Many calling themselves Christians today are acting exactly like those pharisees. As a result they will never reach people for Christ.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”1Timothy 1:15,16.
I think the true believer in Christ Jesus needs to see themselves a “the worst of sinners” saved by the mercy and grace of God.
If they did at the very least it would humble them before God and man and help them better minister the gospel of Christ to those around them?
Please think about it.