If

  If

The apostle Paul writes,

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Someone once told me that today in this life we can only imagine what heaven is like. The Bible provides all we need to know with respect to getting to heaven. While at the same time giving us glimpses explaining in human terms what heaven is like. 

I think anyone who believes in God wants to go to heaven. Thus I firmly believe that anyone who wants to go to heaven. Should be at the very least reading the words of Jesus and what the disciples believe in the New Testament. After all it can’t hurt. 

If what is said in the New Testament is wrong all those who follow its teachings will at the very least have lived a good life. 

If on the other hand, and I believe this, what is written in the New testament is right. Then we will pass from this world into an eternity of happiness. 

Please think about it.

Micah's admonition

Micah's admonition

The Prophet Micah wrote,

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.

If you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus are you doing what the prophet Micah is saying here?

Please think about it.

How will God judge you?

  How will God judge you?

The apostle Paul writes,

“For God does not show favouritism. 

All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.  

For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.”  Romans 2:11,13.

Paul makes things clear here we are not just to be hearers of the law but we are to obey the law.

After all just hearing the law means nothing. There are many people in this world who know the law yet disobey it.

There are many around the world who have not read the Bible and it’s teachings of right and wrong yet know instinctively what is right and wrong. 

The apostle Paul noting,

“Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.  

This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.” Romans 2:14-16 .

Paul indicates here that the law is written on the hearts of non-believers. That even people who have not read the Bible know what is right and wrong and as such will be judged accordingly.

Likewise anyone who has read the Bible and understands what it says will be judged by it’s standards.

When you stand before God how will He judge you?

Please think about it.

a Prostitutes faith

 A Prostitute's faith

In the book of Hebrews we read,

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. 

       By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient." Hebrews 11:30,31

There, are only four woman other than Mary, the mother of Christ mentioned in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew.  The woman are, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Uriah’s wife. Neither are Jewish by birth, and one is a prostitute.

We hear constantly about the great leaders, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Peter, Paul, John and the others.  But there are other “little people” who are just as important.

Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho who seen the Israelites coming and feared God.

She believed what she had heard.  She believed and acted on her beliefs.

She clearly seen the power of God, and at the risk of her own life to hid the spies sent to Jericho by Joshua.

As a result, she was a recipient of the blessing given to Abram by God in 

Genesis 12:3 when it states:

“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you;  and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3

If we consider what happened to Rahab after the fall of Jericho, she was truly a recipient of God’s blessing.  Her great grandson would be king David.  Twenty-eight generations from David was the Messiah.  The Saviour of the world.

From her lineage came the greatest blessing God could bestow on mankind.

Rahab is an example to us all.  She shows that God will and does use anyone He pleases irrespective of gender or profession.  All they have to do is believe and act on their faith.

No one remembers the leaders of Jericho, but the lowly prostitute Rahab is remembered in the very opening words of the New Testament.  Her faith is remembered in the book of Hebrews amid the mention of great men of God.

She is remembered with great men such as Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephathah, David, Samuel and the prophets.  All who acted on their faith.

The lesson to be learned here is that:

1, God is the God of all people

2, no one is exempt from the salvation He offers

3, He will use anyone, including you.

All God wants from us is faith.  Hebrews 11:6 states:

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Please think about it.

We will never

 We will never

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.

There is in particular, in the United States, a rise of “Christian nationalism”. People claiming to be Christians who believe the lie that the United states is a Christian country.

Not only that they are becoming more militant backing politicians they believe will do what they want. Someone has said they are hijacking Christianity.

The apostle Peter makes it clear 

"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.

Note Peter tells us to live good lives among unbelievers. Further more he makes it clear we are aliens in this world. We have no country to call our own.

The late evangelist Billy Graham put it this way,

“My home is in Heaven. 

I'm just travelling through this world.”

                                                       Billy Graham.

To be a Christian is to do the work Christ commanded us to do when he 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.

We will never accomplish this task if we get involved in secular politics or fail to live at peace with those around us.

Please think about it.

A Prayer for unbelievers

  A prayer for the unbeliever

In the Gospel of John we read,

"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.

I firmly believe what the apostle John has written here. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. That He is what John refers to as “the Word”. 

I firmly believe that Jesus is God incarnate. The one who takes away the sins of all who would believe in Him. 

My question is do you?

My prayer is,

Dear Heavenly Father I pray for all those who do not believe in you and your Son Jesus Christ. That you will instil in them the desire to read the Bible. That you will show them through the reading of your word and those who believe in you. That You exist and Love them.

That by accepting Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour they will have a home in Heaven.

In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

My Prayer

  My Prayer

The Psalmist writes,

"May the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth, 

bless you from Zion." 

                                               Psalm 134:3

This is my prayer today for all who truly believe in Christ Jesus. 

Dear Lord God

I pray that you will be with all those who truly believe in you around the world this day. Bless them and care for them.

In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

What about you?

  What about you?

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

“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.

I believe there is a God. Furthermore I believe what the writer of Ecclesiastes is saying here about Him. If I am wrong and God doesn’t exist. I will have lived a good life. A happy life.

If on the other hand I am right then many people in this world have a lot to fear. 

What about you dear reader. What do you believe about God?

Please think about it.

A spotlight upon us

  A spotlight upon us.

The apostle Paul telling us,

"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 Christians perhaps more than any other group in human history have fierce spotlight on us. Upon what we say and do can potentially hang the eternal resting place of those we come in contact with.

We cannot do anything lightly. We have an ethical and spiritual duty to preform every day of our lives.

The call from Jesus is to,

"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..."Matthew 28:19,20a

We cannot do this if we judge them. Jesus made it clear 

“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.

We cannot afford to judge even our worst enemy. Jesus said,

“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,”  Matthew 5:43,44

The apostle Peter telling us,

"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

Thus the question becomes;

When people see you, your words and deeds are they truly seeing Jesus the way He wants to be seen?

Please think about it.

You and your treasure

 You and your treasure

Jesus said,

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  Matthew 6:19,20

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.

Now there is nothing wrong with being rich and enjoying your wealth. The problem comes if your wealth and pleasure draws you away from God. 

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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

Many years ago my pastors wife was fond of saying, 

“We have only one life. It will soon be past only what’s done for Christ will last.”

So where is your treasure.

Please think about it.

The day is here

  The day is here

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.

That day is here. Today where I live in North America there are many calling themselves Christians who are not worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

These are men and women. Evangelist, pastors, deacons, even those sitting in the pews who are not worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

There are hundreds of reasons this is happening ranging I suppose from those who misuse Gods word for financial gain. To those who are following a particular pastor or evangelist rather than God.

It is easy to stray away from God. At times it can be difficult to remain faithful and worship in spirit and in truth.

The bottom line here however, I believe is at the very least we are closer to Christ’ return to this earth and Gods judgement on this earth than were believers in the time of the apostles.

We have no time to waste on debating things that are unimportant to our belief in Christ. We have no time to for lack of a better phrase, “do our own thing”.

We in 2022 need to be studying the word of God, praying and asking for Gods understanding of His word. We need to do all we can to draw closer to God in our everyday life.

And we at least in some way reach out with the Gospel message to those around us.

Please think about it.

A Christian duty

A Christian duty

The apostle Paul writes,

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:13-15.

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

It is the duty of all Christians. All who believe in Christ Jesus, to take His message of the Love of God and the Salvation God offers through Christ Jesus to the world. Be that the world at large, their family, friends, or neighbours.

And we cannot do this by judging those around us.

In order to do this effectively however it must be stressed that when we present the word of God to those around us, we must do it in love.

When Jesus was accused of sitting with "tax collectors and sinners" (Matthew 9:10-13) he didn't judge them. If had they probably wouldn't have listened to him. 

Likewise when Paul spoke in Athens to the Epicurean Stoic philosophers and others in the Areopagus (Acts 17) he didn't judge them. He instead presented the Gospel message and let them determine if what he said was right or wrong.

This is the example we must follow.

Jesus said,

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."  Luke 6:37.

This is especially true when we are talking about where a person will spend eternity. Only God can judge where someone will spend eternity.

Interestingly the only time a believer in Christ Jesus can judge anyone is when they are judging those who claim to be Christians. The apostle Paul writing,

"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.

This I believe is a safeguard to assure that those who claim to be Christians are preaching the true gospel message.

 So are you telling people in your world about the Love of God in Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.