He made the Universe

 He made the universe 

The writer of Hebrews writes,

"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.”  Hebrews 1:1,2.

Here is one of a number of statements in the New Testament that claims Jesus made the universe. The New Testament writers do not argue about this. They firmly believed that Jesus made the universe. The apostle John stating,

“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.” John 1:1-4.

How long it took God to create the universe be it six twenty-four hour days or billions of years is irrelevant. God being almighty could have made the universe either way.

What believers and non-believers are asked to accept is that Jesus is God and that he made the universe. It’s a black and white issue. You either believe that Jesus created the universe and thus is God or you don’t. The Choice is yours.

So what do you believe?

Please think about it.

Is everything Meaningless?

 Is everything meaningless?

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

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

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.

If there is no God then the above statement is true. “everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind;...”

Some atheist say when we die we will live on in the memories of others. A statement that is not completely true. Perhaps if we have made a great discovery we may be remembered in some history book. But most of us will be forgotten within a generation or so.

Ask yourself, where was your great, great, great grandmother or father born? What was the colour of their eyes? What was their favourite piece of music? Where is their grave? What was their greatest achievement? Few people can answer these questions.

So my question to anyone who does not believe in God is where is the purpose in life if we are forgotten within a few generations? If all our achievements are only remembered in some dusty history book?

The way I see it without God life is meaningless. God’s existence makes life worthwhile. God gives us something to look forward to when this life is over.

The writer of Ecclesiastes comes to this 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.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

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.

This statement of Jesus if right, and I believe it is. It is God’s offer to each individual of eternal life with Him. While at the same time giving a warning to all who would not believe.

It is a statement that all who hear about Jesus must consider carefully.

Please think about it.

What do they say about you?

 What do they say about you?

The apostle Paul writes,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

If you consider yourself a Christian do you exhibit these traits?

Mahatma Gandhi looking at those around him who claimed to be Christian said,

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, 

but you Christians - 

you are not like him.”

                           Mahatma Gandhi 

I’ve heard people in the LGBTQ2 community and other communities say similar things about those who claim to be Christian.

Francis of Assisi wrote

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today"  

                                                                         Francis of Assisi.

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we need to ask ourselves what are my words and deeds telling others about Christ?

Please think about it.

Stands forever

 Stands forever

Isaiah the prophet writes,

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

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

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

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

When I read this portion of scripture I thought of a poem I memorized in my youth it reads,

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

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

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

"To wear and bater all these hammers so?"

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

The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."

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

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.”

                                                                              Anonymous 

The bible the word of God and its truths have been around for millennium. In that time it has had many sceptics and unbelievers. Many in a position of power have tried to stop its spread. All to no avail.

The word of God will be heard and nothing man can do will ever stop Gods word from being heard in every corner of the world.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

What have you Done?

  What have you done

The apostle Paul writes,

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,  his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.  

If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  

If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

Many years ago my first pastors wife was fond of saying, 

“we have only one life. 

It will soon be past, 

only what is done for Christ will last”

Here in the above scripture the apostle Paul is giving us a warning. He’s telling us that Jesus Christ is the foundation of our lives and that we should not build on it using earthly materials however precious they are.

Gold, silver costly stones in heaven will like wood, hay and straw be consumed by the fire leaving only what we have done for Christ.

So my question to you dear reader is; what have you done for Christ?

Please think about it.

How Committed?

  How committed?

Jesus said,

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  

But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  

For I have come to turn " ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' 

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:32-39.

Living here in North America we often forget we have incredible freedoms to worship and follow whoever we wish.

North American Christians for the most part are not generally thrown out of their home or disowned by their family for following Jesus. Sadly this is not true for many Christians around the world.

For many Christians around the world turning to Christ means being rejected by family and friends. It means having their house destroyed. It means having to move away from their home town or village. It means being subject to violence while the authorities look the other way. It can also mean going to jail or even being put to death.

All of this must be taken into consideration by many would be converts in many parts of the world.

So my question to those in North America is how much do you love God? How much would you be willing to give up to follow Christ? 

It’s easy in the good times to follow Christ. It’s a whole other story when times are bad. Thus I would ask this question to believers in not only North America but in all the western democracies where they have freedom to worship as they wish; how committed are you to Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

Post Script.

Interestingly as I was writing this a prayer alert came to my phone asking for pray for members of a house church in an Asian country. They had been attacked while worshipping. Some having to be taken to hospital because of their injuries. Authorities are looking into the matter. 

Please take some time to pray for the persecuted church around the world.

Pray also that their persecutors will come to know Christ.

Do you believe?

  Do you believe?

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

“Better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for all are destined to be mourned; the living should lay this to heart." Ecclesiastes 7:2

A few verses later the writer states,

“The thoughts of the wise are in the house of mourning, but the thoughts of fools are in the house of pleasure.” Ecclesiastes 7:4.

From a human stand point these two verses of scripture seem to the opposite of what we should be doing. Yet the author is correct in what he is saying.

We spend a handful of years on this earth. Our lives are but a mist in eternity. Where as we will live eternally beyond the grave.

Being in the house of mourning should at the very least make us consider where we will spend eternity.

So where will you spend eternity?

The apostle Paul 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.

Entrance into heaven is free. It is a gift of God given to all people who believe in Jesus Christ. 

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.

Jesus also 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.

Ultimately however getting to heaven is an act of faith the writer of Hebrews defining faith as,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see." 

                                                                    Hebrews 11:1.

The author of Hebrews going on to say,

"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.

Thus my question to you dear reader; Do you believe what I’ve said? 

Please think about it.

Do people know you know God?

 Do people know that you know God?

The apostle John writes,

We love because he first loved us.  

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1John 4:19-21.

Do you love as God loves, unconditionally? 

The apostle Paul gave us the definition of Godly love when he wrote,

"Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, 

always hopes, 

always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love."  

                                                            1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

This is how Christians, followers of Christ Jesus are called to love, family, friend, and foe alike. It is the way people around us know that we know God.

So is this the way you love?

Please think about it.

Put your armour on

  Put your Armour on

The apostle Paul wrote,

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  

Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  

Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:10-18.

Seven questions

Is your spiritual armour on? 

Do you know Gods truth? 

Do you know what the righteousness of God is? 

Do you know what true faith in God is? 

Do you know what the Salvation of God is? 

Do you know the word of God? 

Do you pray not just for yourself but for other brother and sisters in Christ?

Sadly many calling themselves Christians do not know the answers to these questions then they wonder why their efforts for Christ fails.

Paul here in Ephesians 6:10-18 compares Christians to a Roman soldier. The Roman soldier was the best soldier of his day. They, I’m told, had the best weapons and tactics. 

The Roman soldier didn’t however just put on his kit and go into battle. Quite the contrary he probably practised and drilled far more hour than he ever spent in battle. He learned about his weapons and how to use them effectively.

Which is what we as Christians should be doing. We need to study the scriptures both by ourselves and with others. We need to sit under a teacher that truly knows the world of God. We need to learn all about what it is to be a believer in Christ Jesus. Above all this we need to pray.

Then armed with that knowledge we need to put on the armour of God and go forth in the name of The Lord and win souls for Christ.

Please think about it.

Blessed

Blessed

The Psalmist writes,

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; 

love and faithfulness go before you. 

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, 

who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.” 

                                                                                       Psalm 89:14,15.

Do you walk in the light of Gods presence? 

Have you learned to acclaim God? 

When people see your words and deeds do they see God reflected in those words and deeds?

Please think about it.

Facing Battles

 Facing Battles

         In the book of 1Chronicles we read,

“Look to the Lord and his strength; 

seek his face always.”

                                                  1 Chronicles 16:11

Throughout our lives we all face battles both physical and spiritual but through it all we need to look to the Lord.

It’s easy in times of trouble to say “why me” and to complain about the trouble we are in. Leaving God out of the situation. This should not be so.

We need to make God such an integral part of our lives that when we suddenly find ourselves in trouble it is to Him that we turn.

We need to be able to say as the Psalmist writes,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth." 

                                                       Psalm 121:1,2.

So where does your help come from?

Verses to live by

 Verses to live by

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

  The Apostle Paul wrote,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."Romans 12:18

Jesus when asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'  

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

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.'  

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,..." Matthew 5:43,44

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.

This is what Christians are suppose to do. To do less is to bring Christ into disrepute. 

As believers in Christ these few Scripture at the very least should be active in our lives at all times.

Please think about it.