The ultimate statistic

  The ultimate statistic 

The apostle Paul wrote,

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  

This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."  1Timothy 2:1-4

According to the Kennedy institute for Ethics, 65 million people die each year in the world.  That is 

178,000 each day, 

7425 each hour, 

120 each minute.

  Bottom line we do not get out of this life alive. The question however becomes where will you spend eternity?

It is the duty of all who believe in Christ Jesus to pray for those around them. Everyone from political leaders down to the person on the street. 

It is the job of a true believer in Christ to present the message of Christ to the world around them.

Jesus speaking of himself 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.

These words of Jesus in a nutshell show how to get to heaven. Thus what it comes down to is whether or not someone believes them.

Do you?

Please think about it.

What they believed

  What they believed

The apostle Peter said,

“The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  

God exalted him to His own right hand as Prince and Saviour that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” Acts 5:30-32.

This is what the apostles believed. Keep in mind here Peter and the other apostles were before the Sanhedrin who had the power to imprison or execute them. Yet despite this the Peter made it clear that they believed Jesus was exalted by God “...to His own right hand as Prince and Saviour that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.”

 Peter was making Jesus equivalent to God. 

If that were not true why would Peter and the other disciples risk their lives?

The answer to my mind is that what Peter said is true. 

The question however become; Do you believe this is true?

Please think about it.

Pour yourself out for the hungry

  Pour yourself out for the hungry

The Prophet Isaiah states,

"If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday."Isaiah 58:10.

If you truly believe in God. If you are a true follower of Christ Jesus this I firmly believe is what we must do. We must help the poor. We must do our best to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

Jesus told this story that should at the very least be a warning to those who are wealthy. Jesus said,

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  

At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.  

In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  

So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 

"But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 

"He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house,  

for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 

"Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 

" ‘No, father Abraham,' he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 

"He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:19-31

Please think about it.

Something to live by

Something to live by

The apostle Paul wrote,

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:9-18.

These are not my words but the words of the apostle Paul. They are words everyone who is a true believer in Christ Jesus should live by, in word and in deed.

Are you?

Please think about it.

What can you do?

  What can you do?

In the book of James we read,

"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.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.”Francis of Assisi.

Our faith in Christ Jesus. Our faith in God, should spur us on to help those who are in need.

So the question becomes; What have you done to help those less fortunate? What can you do to help those less fortunate than you?

Please think about it.

Declaring His Glory

  Declaring His Glory

The Psalmist writes,

"Sing to the LORD a new song; 

sing to the LORD, all the earth. 

Sing to the LORD, 

praise his name; 

proclaim his salvation day after day. 

Declare his glory among the nations, 

his marvellous deeds among all peoples." 

                                                            Psalm 96:1-3.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus are you singing praises to God? Are you declaring Gods name to those around you? 

Do the people around you know you are a Christian without you saying a word?

Francis of Assisi wrote two things I like to quote because is tells what the Christian life should be like. He wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

                                                        Francis of Assisi

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                             Francis of Assisi

Please think about it.

Everyone who calls

  Everyone who calls

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

Here the apostle Paul makes it clear “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

But in order for this to happen believers must go out and tell the world about Jesus. There world may be the world at large or simply family, friends and neighbours.

In order to do this effectively 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.

 Please think about it.

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.