planning for the future

  Planning for the future

“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 humans are indeed are fragile creatures. We live a handful of years before passing into eternity. James here is reminding us of that. 

Now there is nothing wrong with making plans for the future. Especially if that future includes where we will spend eternity.

The writer of Ecclesiastes states,

"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 my question would be. In planning for your future, have you planned where you will spend eternity?

Please think about it.

Your faith spurring you on

  Your faith spurring you on

The apostle John writes,

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1John 3:17,18.

Loving and helping someone in need shows 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.

In the book of James we read,

"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."  James 2:17,18. 

James makes it clear that faith without deeds is dead.

So the question I would ask is, If you consider yourself a true Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Is you faith spurring you on to good works?

Please think about it.

The Word made flesh

 The Word made flesh

In the gospel of John we read,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ” John 1:1-4,14

The apostle John knew Jesus personally. He saw the miracles Jesus performed. He witnessed Jesus’ life unfold day by day. Things that made him certain that Jesus was the Messiah mentioned in the Old Testement.

He makes it clear that Jesus was God incarnate. Saying,

“In the beginning was the word and the word was God,... through him all things were made; and without him nothing was made that has been made.” simply put Jesus was there at the creation of the world making all that is in the world.

John then makes it clear that “the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” also stating “We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the father full of grace and truth”.

John and the apostles all believed Jesus was God incarnate. Who came to earth offering salvation to all who would believe in him.

John stating in chapter three of his gospel,

"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  

John also warned,

"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 3:18.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Believing in your heart

   Believing in your heart

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.

I have always said believing in someone or something without physically seeing them is very hard. Yet that is what God expects. 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.

The reward for those who believe in God and the salvation that comes from God through Christ Jesus is salvation.

Do you believe in your heart that “Jesus is Lord” and that God raised him from the dead?

Please think about it.

What will God say on that day?

  What will God say on that day?

Isaiah the prophet writes,

“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” 

“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:6-8.

We are all if you think about it, grass. We are destined to live a handful of years on this earth after which we pass into eternity. Before we pass into eternity however we need to give our hearts to God.

The writer of Ecclesiastes writing,

"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.

Are you ready to meet God? 

What will God say to you on that day?

Please think about it.

Because of his righteousness

 Because his righteousness

The Psalmist writes,

"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High." Psalm 7:17.

Here is a very simple statement. Why do we give praise to God? Answer, because of his righteousness. 

In psalm 100 we read,

“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 100:4,5.

So do you give thank and praise to God? Do you believe the Lords love endures forever?

Please think about it.

Accepting Gods Salvation

 Accepting Gods Salvation

The apostle Paul writes,

“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

Perhaps its because we are in an information age and we see more things happening because of it. We see our society degenerating. People are becoming lovers of self. Society is heading toward the abyss.

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 who writes,

"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 Christ Jesus.

Jesus said,

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.

Society is degenerating and as I said the only way to overcome what is happening is to accept the salvation that comes from God. Through Christ Jesus.

Please think about it.

If we find

  If we find

The Psalmist writes,

“Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8,9.

Have you ever found yourself asking what is life all about. Have you ever tried to fill your hearts desire with “things” material things, cars, fine jewels, high end houses, designer clothing. Only to still be empty inside?

C. S. Lewis wrote,

"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world."  C.S. Lewis.

I believe there is a “God sized hole” in everyone. One God has put there to point us to Him. One nothing in this world can fill.

Do you believe this? If so are you willing to accept God into your life?

Please think about it.

Where can I go?

 Where can I go?

The Psalmist writes,

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:7-10

The Psalmist makes it clear there is nowhere we can go to hide from God’s spirit. 

C. S. Lewis writes,

“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God.” 

                                                                                              C. S. Lewis.

God is always there for the believer and non-believer. All we have to do is turn to him.

The Psalmist writing,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                              Psalm 19:1.

If we look carefully we can see God in the perfectly designed world around us. Again all we have to do is look.

Do you see God in the world around you?

Please think about it. 

Gambling on Christ.

  Gambling on Christ

Jesus said,

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13,14.

I’ve heard it said by many outside the church that there are many ways to heaven. Jesus did not say that. He said enter through the narrow gate that leads to life.

Jesus also 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.

If this claim is true, and I believe it to be so. Then all who hear about Jesus and the saving grace that comes from God through him, need to consider carefully what they believe.

Blaise Pascal wrote,

"Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists." Blaise Pascal.

Ultimately the choice is yours. You either believe or you don’t. 

Please think about it.

Ready?

  Ready?

Jesus told this parable,

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.  

It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.  

It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.  

But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.  

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:35-40.

Jesus here uses the metaphor about the thief breaking into a house. Saying if the owner knew when he was to break in he would have been ready.

When applied to the return of Jesus it means we don’t know when he will return. As such we need to be ready for his return.

So my question to you dear reader is, If you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus, are you ready for his return?

Please think about it.

Loving God and your neighbour

  Love God and your neighbour

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 neighbor as yourself.’  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

                                                                                                   Matthew 22:36-40.

So Just what is true love?

As I have noted in previous blogs the Christian definition of love was written by the apostle Paul when writing to the Corinthians. Paul wrote,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: 

faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                     1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

So if you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus are you showing this kind of love to those around you?

Please think about it.