A first hand account

  A first hand account

The apostle Peter writes,

"We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  

For he received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."  

We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain." 2 Peter 1:19-18. 

Here is a first hand account about Jesus and a voice heard by the disciples saying “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am will please,”

Anyone reading this has to decide for themselves if it true of false. If false it is a monumental lie that has lasted millennia and deceived billions of people through the centuries. 

If it is true as I believe it is. Then we need to consider following Jesus.

C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity wrote,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. 

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. 

You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. 

You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis.

Please think about it.

Judged by what we know

  Judged by what we know

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.  

(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.) Romans 2:13-15.

I’ve been asked many times what happens to those people who have not heard the gospel message? 

The above message is the apostle Paul’s answer.

First he states that it is those who hear and obey the law who will be declared righteous.

Then in notes when the gentiles who do not have the law do by nature things required by the law it will be they will get to heaven.

God who is just will judge everyone justly. The individual will only be judged by what they know and do. It’s that simple.

So the question becomes are you following the teachings of Christ and obeying what God commands us to do?

Please think about it.

Faithful forever

  Faithful forever

The Psalmist writes,

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—the LORD, who remains faithful forever. Psalm 146:5-6.

Here is a simple statement. If you believe in God. If your help comes from God. God will remain faithful to you forever.

The Apostle Paul writes,

“Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him; 

if we endure, we will also reign with him.

If we disown him, he will also disown us; 

if we are faithless, 

he will remain faithful,

for he cannot disown himself." 

                                              2 Timothy 2:11-13. 

What the apostle Paul is saying here is. If we are faithful to the point of death we will live with him. If we endure for the sake of Christ we will reign with Christ. If we disown Christ he will also disown us. 

Then Paul notes, If we are unfaithful to Christ. He remains faithful, because he cannot disown himself.

Are you faithful to God?

Please think about it.

A Trustworthy saying

  A trustworthy saying

Jesus said,

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34.

The apostle Paul writes,

“Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him; 

if we endure, we will also reign with him.

If we disown him, he will also disown us; 

if we are faithless, 

he will remain faithful,

for he cannot disown himself." 

                                              2 Timothy 2:11-13. 

Where do you stand with God? Are you living for Christ? Are you willing to give up everything for Christ?

Please think about it.

What is your choice?

  What is your 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.

This is a very simple statement. We cannot be lukewarm about what we believe. Either we follow God or we don’t.

So What is your choice?

Please think about it.

Could you give it away?

 Could you give it away?

Matthews gospel records this,

"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 

"Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honour your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.''" 

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:16-22.

I’m speaking here to those rich people who claim to be Christian. 

        Now first let me make one thing clear here. There is nothing wrong with being rich. It’s what priority you put on your riches that count. The apostle Paul tells us,

"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.

Sadly here in Canada and the United States too many people listen to false Preachers and evangelist. All of whom are very wealthy. Who preach a prosperity doctrine. Who have as the apostle Paul said wandered from the faith who preach if give to their ministry and God will bless you with even more than you give. Such teaching is wrong.

The true test of a Christian preacher or evangelist or any Christian is are they willing for the cause of Christ to give up all you have?

I see this happening around the world where people who choose to follow Christ quite often are rejected by their families. Cast out of their villages. Forced to leave their homes. Thrown into prison. Even murdered for believing in Christ.

When I see this I wander if those preachers who preach the prosperity doctrine would be willing to give away all they have? Believing God to supply their daily needs.

Thus my question to you; If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus are you willing to give up everything for the cause of Christ?

Please think about it.

Do you remember

 Do you remember?

The Psalmist states,

"On my bed I remember you; 

I think of you through the watches of the night. 

Because you are my help, 

I sing in the shadow of your wings. 

My soul clings to you; 

your right hand upholds me." 

                                                   Psalm 63:6-8.

If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus, do you do what the psalmist is saying here?

Do you think of God night and day?

Is God your helper?

Do you sing to God?

Does your soul truly cling to God?

Do you remember God in good times and bad?

Please think about it.

Is Jesus the Way?

  Is Jesus the way?

In John’s gospel we read,

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:36

Jesus speaking of himself said,

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

These are pretty definite statements about Jesus. C. S. Lewis wrote,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say.

 A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell.

You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

Thus the choice is up to you dear reader. Is Jesus the Son of God, The Saviour of the world or is he something else.

Please think about it.

A day will come

  A day will come

In the book of Psalms we read,

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10.

One day there will come a time when Christ will return to judge the world. At that time our choice to follow God and accept the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus will be over.

Billy Graham the late American evangelist said,

“The Bible says today is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation... But there will come a time when it will be too late for you”. Billy Graham.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

So the question becomes have you accepted the salvation that comes from God through Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

Show mercy do not judge

 Show mercy do not judge

In the book of Micah we read,

"He has shown you, O mortal, 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

The book of James states,

"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

Jesus tells us,

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Matthew 5:7.

Jesus warns us,

“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.

All of this boils down to what Matthew records Jesus as saying when he says,

"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 truly believe the Bible is the word of God then the question becomes are you acting on these words?

If you are not then you may be responsible for turning people away from God. And possibly to a Christless eternity.

Please think abou

Confess, believe, trust,

  Confess, believe, trust.

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.

The apostle Paul says it all. The way we get to heaven is confessing with out mouth “Jesus is Lord”, and believing with our heart that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. He then adds “anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

So the question becomes, do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Through God's saving grace

  Through God’s saving grace

The Psalmist writes,

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God. 

It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, 

the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

 give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues through all generations. 

                                                                                Psalm 100

Do you believe in God? If you were to die today would you enter heaven?

The apostle John speaking about Jesus tells us,

“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 1:11-13.

The apostle Paul tells us,

"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

It is our belief in God, our belief in the saving grace that comes through Christ Jesus that gets us to heaven. It’s that simple.

So have you accepted the saving grace that comes though Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.