Sharon's Story

 Sharon's Story

In the book of James we read,

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:13,14.

We as human beings are fragile. We don’t know what will happen to us in the next few minutes let alone over the next years.

My closest friend Sharon died in March of this year. She had lived about, 2,124,576,000 seconds on this earth. In the last week or so of her life she knew she was about to pass into eternity. There was nothing medical science could do for her. She had gone through a lot.

In the end she was lucid and although weak was talking with us. When we told her there was no hope. She turned to us and simply said, “I want to be with Jesus”. With that we gathered the family around her along with our pastor. She sang amazing grace with us. We prayed, and life support was removed. 

Shortly after which Sharon passed into eternity.

That day Sharon taught us all what it was like to trust in Jesus. Sharon had no doubt as to where she was going to spend eternity. An eternity without pain. An eternity in the Love of God.

How many of us can truly say we know where we will spend eternity? How many of us are prepared to pass into eternity? 

       Life as James states is a mist. And while we all know we will one day pass into eternity are we prepared to do so? Are we prepared to pass into the presence of God?

Sharon believed the words of the apostle Paul who said,

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.

She believed the words of the apostle Peter when he said,

“....Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...”Acts 2;38a.

She believed the words of Jesus who speaking about 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.” John 3:16,17.

She believed the Bible and what it says about God, Jesus, and Salvation.

Thus my question to you dear reader is do you believe in the saving grace that comes from God through Christ Jesus?

Are you prepared to pass from this life into the presence of God?

If you’re not sure. I would ask that at the very least you read the New Testament and see what Jesus and those who knew him best said about Him and eternity.

Please think about it.

Only if you truly let God work

 Only if you truly let God work

In the book of Galatians we read,

"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

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.  

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:18-25.

You cannot live immoral lives and expect to get to heaven. 

Christians do not believe in “the spiritual scales of Justice” for lack of a better term. A scale where God weighs the good we’ve done against the bad we’ve done.

Christians believe that we cannot live a life good enough to get us to heaven. That it is by the grace of God, through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and his resurrection that we make it to heaven.

The apostle Paul writing,

"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 

Paul also writing,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

I firmly believe that once we have truly accepted the grace of God through Christ Jesus your life will start to change. But only if we truly let God work in your lives.

Please think about it. 

Let us draw near to God

  Let us draw near to God

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22,23.

Here we as believers are called to draw near to God. To my way of thinking that entails, 

going to God in prayer daily.

Studying the Bible daily, not just reading it. Studying it looking at what it means to us. We need to study with an open mind that God will show us what is truth and show us any misconceptions we may have about scripture.

For if we don’t do this we will never grow in our Christian faith.

Please think about it.

Sign of a true Christian

  Sign of a true Christian

Jesus said,

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” John 14:21.

I’ve heard over the years that the Christian life is a lot of “do nots”. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

Yes we follow a moral code set down by Jesus and the Bible. This code however leads us to live a better life. One of love for our fellow man.

Look at it this way. Anyone who plays sports must follow a set of rules. Rules that make the sport fair and enjoyable. No one playing sports looks on the rules as saying “you can’t do this or you can’t do that”. 

Following the moral code Jesus set down for His followers also has another benefit. It tells the world we are Christians.

Jesus said,

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34,35.

That love must also be shown to those around us. 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 neighbour as yourself.'  

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

So if you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower in Christ Jesus do you love not only other believers but those who are not Christians?

Please think about it.

Present the Gospel

 Present the Gospel

The Psalmist writes,

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

before the "gods" I will sing your praise.” 

                                                                       Psalm 138:1.

Our world has many gods. According to the Pew Research Centre, in 2010 about 5.8 billion people 84% of the worlds population were religiously affiliated. While 1.1 billion, or 16% have no affiliation. 

In addition to this I think you can call materialism a god many worship without realizing it. 

A god by my way of thinking is something or someone who is placed above all else. In the context of materialism that means seeking wealth and the status it brings at any cost.

Having said all of this. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS THE CHRISTIANS RESPONSIBILITY TO DENIGRATE OR PUT DOWN IN ANY WAY OTHER FAITHS.

It is the Christians job to praise the LORD God Almighty before the world.

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.

Jesus did not tell His followers to judge the world. Quite the contrary Jesus said,

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Matthew 7:1

As believers in Christ Jesus we are to present the gospel message to anyone who will listen. Then let them decide if we are right of wrong.

Please think about it.

A warning to the people

 A warning to the people

The Psalmist writes,

"Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 

"let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth." Psalm 96:10-13. 

It is important that we who believe in God. We who believe in Christ Jesus tell the world that God will one day judge everyone in this world. 

It is important that we tell the world the words of Jesus. Who 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.

If you consider yourself a true believer in God. A true believer in Christ Jesus, are you doing this?

If you are not a believer in Christ Jesus. Take some time to read the New Testament and see what the followers of Jesus thought of Him and God’s judgement on mankind.

Please think about it.

You have to be truly searching

 You have to be truly searching.

The Psalmist writes,

"Seek the Lord, and His strength: 

seek His face evermore." 

                                                       Psalm 105:4.

Here is a good word of advice for everyone Christian or not. We need to seek the Lord.

Jeremiah the Prophet wrote,

“You will seek me and find me 

when you seek me with all your heart.” 

                                                                  Jeremiah 29:13.

I think the reason people don’t find God is because just are not seeking Him with their whole heart. Either that or their minds are made up that God does not exist and as such they are not looking for Him.

An unknown writer stated,

“Maybe the atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman.” Author Unknown.

You truly have to be searching for God in order to find Him.

Are you searching for God?

Are you truly searching for God with your whole heart?

Please think about it.

You should not

 You should not

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.

This is the one verse every Christian. Every one who calls themselves a true believer in Christ Jesus should put into actions.

Put simply, if you would not like what you are about to do to others in word or in deed, they you should not be doing it to those around you.

Please think about it

Mercy Triumphs

 Mercy Triumphs

In the book of James we read,

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" James 2:12,13.

As Christians. As true believers in Christ Jesus. We must be careful how we act toward others. That is especially true when we judge someone. 

One day even Christians will be judged by God and we must remember this. 

It is very easy to judge others. But quite often we don’t have all the facts. That is why I believe 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.

When we are tempted to judge others, especially when it comes to their eternal resting place we must be very careful not to judge them.

Instead of judging people we should forgive them of any wrong they may have done and do everything in our power to love them.

Question; Do you show mercy to those around you, especially those who have wronged you?

Please think about it.

With actions and in truth

  With actions and in truth

The apostle John writes,

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue

 but with actions and in truth.” 

                                         1John3:18.

Christianity is not just a religion. It is very much a lifestyle. A faith of love in action. As such all those who would consider themselves true believers in Christ Jesus must show Gods love in word and in deed.

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." James 2:14-17.

If you consider yourself a true Christian are you truly loving those around you the way God loves them...Unconditionally?

Please think about it.

God Loves us

  God Loves us.

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.” John 3:16.

God loves us and He showed that in the most human way possible. He sent His Son to the earth He created to show us the way to heaven. He allowed His one and Only Son to go to the cross for our sins. In order that all who believe in Him would go to heaven.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

We will see God face to face

  We will see God face to face

The writer of Hebrews states,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  

         This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1,2.

People ask why do you believe in an unseen God? My answer is because nothing else makes sense. Voltaire wrote,

“To believe in God is impossible 

not to believe in Him is absurd.”

                                                       Voltaire

We may not be able to see God but we can see his handiwork everywhere. The Psalmist stating,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

                                                              Psalm 19:1.

Think of this. Scientist tell us that the earth we live on is in the “Goldilocks zone”. The perfect place in the universe for life as we know it to exist. This to me tells me that God created the universe and all that is in it. That He place everything from the smallest subatomic particle to the greatest galaxy and everything in it, in just the right place for us to exist.

To think the universe simply formed randomly without a creator for me is absurd. I believe in what the apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

In this life we may only see God through “a mirror dimly”. But ultimately whether we believe in God or not, we will one day see God face to face.

Please think about it.