Can you see God?

 Can you see God?

The Psalmist writes,

"The fool says in his heart, 

"There is no God." 

                                          Psalm 14:1.

C.S. Lewis makes this observation,

“Supposing there was no intelligence behind the universe, no creative mind. In that case nobody designed my brain for the purpose of thinking. It is merely that when two atoms inside my skull happen, for physical or chemical reasons, to arrange themselves in a certain way, this gives me, as a by-product the sensation I call thought. 

But if so, how can I trust my own thinking to be true? It's like setting a milk jug and hoping that the way it splashes itself will give you a map of London. But if I can't trust my own thinking, of course I can't trust the arguments leading to Atheist or anything else. 

Unless I believe in God, I cannot believe in thought: so I can never use thought to disbelieve in God" C. S. Lewis The case for Christianity.

Dr. Arno Penzias states

"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 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics

So dear reader where do you stand? Do you believe in God?

Please think about it.

Failure to recognize God

  Failure to recognize God

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

The Bible does not debate the existence of God. It was written to believers who accept by faith God exists. Therefore no explanation is necessary.

The writer of Hebrews stating,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1

“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

Abba Hillel Silver said this about God and we humans. He wrote,

"Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority." Abba Hillel Silver.

Without the recognition of God or failure of a society to fear God bad things happen. We only have to look at Nazi Germany under Hitler and his henchmen. These men and those who followed them did not fear God. Which ultimately led to the death of sixty plus million deaths in the worst conflagration in human history.

In 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.

So when you stand before God what will He say to you?

Please think about it.

Love Justice Humility,

 Justice, Love, Humility

The Prophet Micah writes,

“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

Micah’s message here could not be more clear. As believers we are to...

Do Justice.

Love Kindness.

Walk humbly with God.

Question!

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

You, God, and Judgement

  You, God and Judgement

The Psalmist writes,

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16

What this portion of scripture tells me is that God knows you intimately. God knows you right down to the DNA level. He knows exactly why you are the way you are. That is why only He can judge you. That is one of the reasons, I believe, Jesus tells us,

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

We as mere mortals cannot judge another person especially when it comes to where they will spend eternity, simply because we do not know why a person is as the way they are.

That being said, apostle Paul noted the only people we are allowed to judge are those who claim to be Christians, 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.

Please think about it.

Are you willing to Kiss His feet?

 Are you willing to kiss His feet?

Luke’s gospel records this 

“Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. 

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  

Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. 

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  

You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.  

You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." 

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Luke 7:40-48.

We need to be like the woman who washed and kissed Jesus’ feet. 

We need to realize how much God through Jesus truly did for us. So much so that we worship Him and thank with our whole heart. 

Question !

        Is this the kind of Love you show toward Jesus?

Are you willing to kiss the feet of Jesus?

Please think about it.

The heavens and the skies

  The heavens and the skies 

"How many are your works, O LORD! 

In wisdom you made them all;

 the earth is full of your creatures." 

                                                                Psalm 104:24.

George Washington Carver said,

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." George Washington Carver.

Sadly there are many in the world that don’t “tune in”. These are men and women who refuse, no matter how good the evidence choose to ignore what the Psalmist states,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                                  Psalm 19:1.

They don’t even believe the scientists 

Dr. Arno Penzias,

"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 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics 

William Philips,

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it" William Philips Nobel prize winner in Physics states,

Werner Heisenberg states,

“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist,

but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you” Werner Heisenberg. father of Quantum Mechanics, Nobel prize winner in Physics 

Even Stephen Hawking arguably one of the brightest minds of the twentieth century said,

“The universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us" Stephen Hawking.

That being said believing in God is an act of faith. And for many having faith in anything particularly God is a very difficult thing.

Please think about it.

Christian you are

  Christian you are

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.

Question. 

If you claim to be a Christian. 

A true follower of Christ Jesus.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Which Characteristics

  Which characteristics  

The apostle Paul wrote,

“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 5:19-25  

Here the apostle Paul shows how you can tell a true believer in Christ Jesus from one who is only giving lip service. He notes sinful acts 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.”  

Then he points to the fruit of the spirit. 

love, joy, 

peace, 

patience, kindness, 

goodness, faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control.

Which of these characteristics are evident in your life? 

Which of these characteristics are evident in the religious or secular leaders you choose to follow?

As believers in Christ we need to pray and ask God to show us how we can experience more of the fruit of the spirit in our life.

At the same time we need to ask God to show us what Characteristics are being shown in the life of the leaders we follow be they religious leaders or political leaders.

Please think about it.

On that day

  On that day

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:21-23.

Will you hear these words? Will the pastor, evangelist, or teacher you listen to and follow hear these words?

Jesus is saying here there will be many who stand before Him on judgement day who claim to have performed miracles. Who claim to have prophesied. Men and women who at first glance by the average person may have seemed to do many things for God but are not Christians.

Such people can, I believe, mislead people. Leading them away from God. The apostle Paul writing,

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3,4.

This is happening today. That is why all who claim to be Christians. All who claim to be followers of Christ Jesus need to study the scriptures for themselves. Need to pray and seek God guidance. Then as someone has said, “Put legs on their prayers and start working for God and helping those around them to the extent that they are able.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it

Doing Gods Work

  Doing Gods Work

Jesus said,

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” Matthew 25:44-45.

Here’s a warning to Christians and to all who have the ability to help the poor. Jesus makes it clear helping the poor is part of serving God.

It has always been my belief that if you are a true Christian you cannot turn away from the needs of the poor.

Our faith in Christ Jesus compels us to help anyone we can.

        So if you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus are you doing what you can to help the poor?

Please think about it.

As Aliens

 As Aliens 

The apostle Paul writes,

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.  

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.  1 Timothy 2:1-6.

Here the apostle Paul tells us to make requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving for everyone. For kings and those in authority.

Note here Paul dose not say pray and expect the governments agree with us. Remember we live in a largely non-Christian world. The governments of this world are for the most part secular or have as their base other faiths. There are no Christian governments in the world today.

The best I believe Christians can hope for is to live at peace with them. To live quiet lives of godliness and holiness so that we can present our beliefs to others.

The apostle Peter tells 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.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

You are the light of the world

 You are the light of the world

Jesus said,

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16.

Notice here Jesus says “you are the light of the world”. It is the Christian, the true believer in Christ Jesus that is the light of the world. It is the individual believer who is responsible for taking the light of the gospel to the world. Francis of Assisi wrote,

"Lord, make me an instrument of thy 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;

And 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

Are you a true instrument of God?

Please think about it.