In a hand barrow

 In a hand  barrow

The apostle Paul wrote,

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” 2 Timothy 3:1-4

I firmly believe we are in the time the apostle Paul spoke about and have been for some time. 

In his book "Essentials in Christian Faith" John B. Harrington, published in 1958, there is a quote that could have been written yesterday.

It's from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:

"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.'"

Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 

Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."

What Gallico is speaking about is what the apostle Paul predicted. And the solution to the problem. The only solution is the Love of God.

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.

Sadly many calling themselves Christians today especially where I live in North America are not showing love toward their fellow man.

They have mixed their faith with politics which as someone has said is like mixing water and gasoline. “The water in undrinkable, the gasoline unusable and the whole thing is explosive.”

I firmly believe that Paul Gallico and many in the world today are looking for what true Christianity offers. A life style love. The apostle Paul noting a Christians lifestyle is defined by

"...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 5:22-25.

If you claim to be a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus. Are you living what the apostle says in Galatians?” 

If you are not a Christian looking for answers to the meaning of life. Take time to read the Bible, pray and ask God to direct you the a church that is truly following the word of God.

Please think about it.

Actions have Consequences

 Actions have Consequences 

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 teaching of Jesus has profound implications. 

Think of it this way...

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as God loves you,...

unconditionally.

Please think about it.

Helping the needy

 Helping the needy

In the book of Exodus we read,

“Do not oppress a foreigner; 

you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners.” 

                                                                             Exodus 23:9

In the book of Leviticus we read,

" ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  

Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God."  Leviticus 19: 9,10

The apostle Paul writes,

"Share with the Lord's people who are in need. 

Practice hospitality." 

                               Romans 12:13

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 14-17

The apostle Paul also writes,

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."Romans 12:20.

According to one source I read, 

“...there are over 2,000 verses of Scripture that deal with responding to the needs of the poor.” 

As Christians we have an obligation to help the poor anyway we can even if it’s just giving a few coins to someone who’s homeless and begging on the street.

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.

If you were without food, clothing, shelter, health care, money, would you not want people to help you?

So what are you doing?

Are you doing what you can to help those in need around you?

Please think about it

Have you received?

 Have you received?

In Philippians we read,

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

                                                                                 Philippians 4:20.

Can you say this in all honesty?

Is God your Father?

The apostle Paul writes,

"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” John 1:10-13.

Have you received Jesus into your heart?

Please think about it.

Jesus The Heigh Priest

 Jesus The Heigh Priest

In the book of Hebrews we read, 

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.  Hebrews 4:14,15.

As believers in Christ Jesus we have “a great high priest”. 

A high priest who has been tempted in every way.

When we stand before God on judgement day, we can never say He didn’t understand what it was like to be human and tempted. The reason he came to earth and went through everything a person could go through. 

Jesus was a refugee his family, while he was an infant having to run to Egypt to save his life. 

Jesus was a carpenter and thus knew what it was to do hard work. He attended weddings. Had many friends and followers.

Simply by living on the earth he would know what it was experience the mundane like the smell of dusty road after it rained. He would have felt the sun and rain on his face. 

At the same time he experienced the pain of being whipped and nailed to a cross.

Through all of this he acted as a man. As such unlike an earthly high priest he could sympathize with us in our weakness. 

Additionally while going through his life he lived a life without sin.

This is the one all who claim to be Christians, followers of Christ Jesus, serve, worship and honour.

Do you do this?

Please think about it.

Confession

 Confession

The apostle John writes,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.

We are all sinners. No one is perfect. We all do something each day that are wrong. Things that fall far short of what God wants for our lives. That’s why we need to look to God daily and confess our sins. For it is by Gods grace that we get 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.

Christians believe that we cannot live a life good enough to enter heaven. That is why He sent Jesus to die for our sins. The apostle Paul writing,

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

For us to receive forgiveness we first need to believe in God. The writer of Hebrews stating,

"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.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

What God asks of the believer

  What God asks of the believer

In the book of Micah we read,

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8.

These words couldn’t be more direct. God is asking us to,

Act justly.

To Love mercy.

To walk humbly with God.

If you are a believer in Christ Jesus. Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

How about you?

 How about you?

The Psalmist writes,

"I will extol the LORD at all times; 

his praise will always be on my lips. 

My soul will boast in the LORD; 

let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 

Glorify the LORD with me; 

let us exalt his name together." 

                                        Psalm 34:1-3.

If nothing else the New Testament shows Jesus and his apostles experienced all that it is to be human. They attended weddings. The followed the rules set down in the Torah. They interacted with people of all walks of life.

They were also beaten, thrown in prison all but one dying for their faith. Yet through all of this they praised God. They praised him not only in the good times, but after they’d been beaten and while they were in prison.

They praised God because they knew that even in their darkest hour God was with them. 

How about you, if you profess to be a true Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you praise God in the good times and in the bad?

Please think about it. 

Believe and Confess

 Believe and Confess

The apostle Paul writes,

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:9-13.

This is as simple as it gets. The apostle Paul states that if you “confess with your mouth “Jesus in Lord” and believe in you heart God raised him from the dead you will be saved.

So the question becomes have you done this?

Please think about it.

God gives us a choice

  God gives us a choice

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

The sole purpose of Jesus coming to this earth was to save each individual from their sins and to offer each individual the way to heaven. To give each individual a choice. 

Jesus saying

 ..."I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

A statement you can believe or reject.

What I would say however before you make a decision is to take time to study the New Testament, pray and ask God if it is true.

Please think about it.

You and the golden rule

  You and the golden rule

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.

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we are called to follow this rule. Think of it this way,

To day that means,

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals on others

however good they may be.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others 

rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

Please think about it

Joshua's choice

  Joshua’s choice

In the book of Joshua we read,

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  

      But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24: 14,15.

When we become Christians. True followers of Christ Jesus we are asked to make similar choices to the Israelites. Our Gods in this day and age are different than the Israelites. Our gods are materialism, wealth, sex, and many others. All of which we must be willing to give up when we accept Christ as our saviour.

We must believe in faith that God exists and will help us change our life around.

The writer of Hebrews telling us,

 “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. 

Do you believe this?

Do you serve the LORD?

Please think about it.