What if?

What if?
The Apostle Paul said,
"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts 17:30,31.
What if the Apostle Paul is right?
In another statement the Apostle Paul writes,
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."1Timothy 1:15,16.
What if this statement is correct and Jesus did indeed come into the world to save sinners?
The apostle Paul notes,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8.
What if this statement is correct?
The Apostle John wrote,
"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.
What if this is correct?
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.
What if this is correct?
As for me I believe what I quoted above. It however comes down to an act of faith. You either believe what is recorded in the New Testament about Jesus or you don’t. The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Is He Central?

Is He Central?
In the book of Deuteronomy we read,
"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.
Jesus said,
"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.'” Matthew 22:36-38.
My question to anyone reading this who claims to be a believer in Christ Jesus is, Is God central in your life? Does God take priority in your life?
When I was a young Christian back in the 1970's I attended a small church. Our pastor at the time encouraged people when they went on holiday to bring back a church bulletin from whatever church they attended while they were away.
It was remarkable to see how many bulletins came back. It, while not an accurate indication, it showed those who put a priority in going to church wherever they were.
There are many people here in North America where I live who attend church while at home but not while away from home.
There are many who go to church because it’s the way they were brought up, or because it is a social event. A place where they meet friends and family. The sermon, God and Christ just happen to be there.
Thus my question to you if you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus, is God and Christ central in your life?
Please think about it.

Closes doors

Closes doors
Jesus said,
"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.
Let me state here that there are certain circumstances when we must judge people. Particularly when it comes to our personal safety or the safety of others. The apostle Paul even says,
"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.
Paul here makes it clear we can judge someone inside the church but this only extends to judging whether or not they who claim to be brothers and sisters in Christ are teaching the truth about Jesus. We have no right to judge anyone with respect to where they will spend eternity.
If we choose to judge those outside the church we will get backlash and doors will close, preventing us from presenting the Love of Christ to them.
We have no way of knowing why the person is the way they are. Only God knows that.
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,”  

                         Billy Graham.

If we look in the book of acts at the apostle Paul presenting the gospel message in Athens at no time does Paul call those present sinners. He mentioned that God will one day judge the world, but he doesn’t call his audience sinners. That wasn’t his job. His job was to present the gospel of Christ to them.
Which is what we are to do.
Thus my question, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus are to judging people or are you in love presenting the gospel of Christ to them?
Please think about it.

Not all

Not all
Jesus said,
“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 7:22,23.
The other day I found a couple of interesting quotes. One from Lenny Bruce said,

“Every day people are straying away from the church

 and going back to God. Really.” 

                                      Lenny Bruce, "Religions Inc."

The other is from an unknown author it states,

I believe in God; I just don't trust anyone who works for him.”

                                                                               Author Unknown

I have met many people who truly believe in God but are turned off by the people who supposedly serve Him. It’s sad but there are many claiming to be Christians who are not. Jesus said,
“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 7:22,23.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
The apostle Peter states,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”2 Peter 2:1-3.
Sadly there are many in the world today claiming to be Christians who are not. They have twisted the scriptures to say what they want it to say. They have wandered far from the principles of God. What is worse in many such people have in many cases become the face of the church.
Sadly true Christians for a myriad of reasons have not stood up to them. They have not followed the teaching of the apostle Paul who tells true believers in Christ Jesus,
"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.
Paul also tells us what the characteristics of a true believer in Christ Jesus will exhibit when he states,
“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.”  Galatians 5:22,23.
I think I can honestly say that if these attributes are not being shown by anyone claiming to be Christian, they may be Christian in word only. Christ may not be active in their life at all.
Please think about it.  

At peace with God

At Peace with God
The Apostle Peter writes,
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. 
   That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”  2 Peter 3:14.
Are you living a holy and godly life?
Are you at peace with God?
I ask this because the fact of the matter is no one knows when they will be called to stand before God.
A few years ago now my wife’s younger sister died of cancer. She had been the wild one of the family. She frankly had made quite a lot of family members and other people upset at her.
However a few years before she knew she had cancer she accepted Christ as her Saviour. It made a big change in her life. A change people could see without her telling them. She was literally a new person.
A week before her death my wife and I went to visit her. I had never seen a person so at peace ever. She told me she had nothing to fear. That she had confessed her sins to God and was at peace with God. A week later she passed into his presence.
Never had I been so sure of where a person was spending eternity as I was that day.
Thus my question to you the reader.
If you were die today and stand before God. Would you be at peace with God?
Please think about it.

At Peace with Others

At Peace with others
The apostle Paul writes,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
Question, do you? If you claim to be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, are you doing your best to live at peace with everyone?
If you are not. You should be. It’s not only the apostle Paul that tells us to live at peace with everyone. In the book of Hebrews we read,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Notice the writer of Hebrews tells us to not only make every effort to live in peace with all men, but to do our best to be holy.
If you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus you should be exhibiting the fruits of the spirit. The apostle Paul telling us,
“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.” Gal 5:22,23.
Are these truly the fruits you exhibit in your life to those around you?
Please think about it.

You Live in Deeds

You live in deeds
Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 
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 5:13-16.
Notice here Jesus says, “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”.
As Christians, believers in Christ Jesus, we are called to love in word and deed. For it is only by showing love, in deed as well as in our words, not only toward our friends and neighbours but even to our enemy and our persecutors, that we can be effective witnesses for Christ Jesus.
The world is watching anyone who claims to be a Christian. And, the world quite often does not hear our words. They do however see our deeds.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today"

                                    Francis of Assisi

Thus my question to you is, What sermon is your deeds preaching?
Please think about it.

The Kind of Love God Expects

The kind of Love God expects
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
“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 13:1-8a,13.
This to me is true love. The kind of love God expects all believers to exhibit in their lives to all with whom they come in contact .
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
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”  Matthew 5:43-47.
Thus my question to you especially if you claim to be a Christian, is this the kind of Love you exhibit each and every day?
Will God say you have shown true love to all you have had contact with?
Please think about it.

The Greatest Adventure

The greatest adventure
Jesus said,
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9,10.
Raphael Simon wrote,
“To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; to seek him, the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.” Raphael Simon.
I firmly believe that if you are truly serious about finding God He will reveal himself to you. The key is you need to be truly searching for God. You need to have faith that God exists, The writer of the book of Hebrews states,

“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

Thus my questions,
Do you have faith that God exists? If so are you truly seeking God?
Please think about it.

Narrow is the Road

Narrow is the road
John’s gospel records Jesus as saying,
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6.
I’ve heard many non-Christians say there are many ways to heaven. The question I would ask is, are there?
What if as Christians believe there is only one way to heaven, that being through Jesus?
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.
It to my way of thinking is logical that God would make a single road to heaven. A road that I believe is through Jesus Christ.
The way I see it is if I and other Christians like me are wrong then we have nothing to fear by following the teachings of Jesus, because in doing so we will have lived a good life.
C. S. Lewis said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
I believe it is of infinite importance.
What do you think?
Please think about it.

Over and Above

Over and above
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

The Bible is written to believers. It therefor does not debate the existence of God. Believers know that God exists. Believers also recognize that there is a need for God within our society.
Abba Hillel Silver at the height of world war two 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.
History has shown us that when people turn from the basic principles God has laid down for mankind society suffers. We only have to look at world war two to see this. Hitler and his henchmen had no fear of God. They turned away from God and lived by their own rules. The result was world war two, the worst conflict in human history with upwards of 60,000,000 men, women, and children killed senselessly.
The same thing is happening today. There are many terrorist groups around the world that are murdering people. Some even having the audacity to say they are doing it in the name of God.
That being said it is not only terrorist groups doing the killing. On the streets of our cities there are men and women murdering others daily.
The murdering aside. There are many more things happening that are against God’s laws.
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.
This is happening today and our society knows it. And society is looking for solutions to it’s problems. I firmly believe that turning back to the God of the Bible. Turning back to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles is the solution to much of mankind’s problems.
Please think about it.

Look Deep

Look Deep
Albert Einstein one of the greatest scientist ever to live made an interesting statement. He said,

“Look deep into nature, 

and then you will understand everything better.”

                                                                 Albert Einstein

The psalmist writing several millenniums  before Einstein’s birth wrote,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

                                                                              Psalm 19:1-3.

I have always been of the opinion that science done correctly will show there is a creator behind it all. And science seems to be heading in that direction.
Scientist are looking into nature. They are seeing that everything from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particles have all come together to allow life as we know it here on earth to exist.
To me that speaks of a creator.
Einstein noted,

“Human beings vegetables  or cosmic dust. 

We all dance to a mysterious tune, 

intoned in the distance by an invisible player.”

                                                              Albert Einstein.

I don’t know whether or not Einstein believed in God. I do know that his statement about we all being cosmic dust, dancing to a tune played an invisible player is true.
The Bible tells me,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

                                                                                            Genesis 1:1.

In other words God created the very cosmic dust that makes up the Earth the Universe and Everything in it.
God is that “invisible player” Einstein spoke of.
Mankind is God’s creation. That being said God in making mankind did not make robots. He made individuals with a freewill to do as they wish.
That includes the right to believe in God or not to believe in Him. I and billions of people like me believe God exists.
I believe in God not out of blind faith. I believe in God because of what I see around me. I have looked at what the Bible says and what science says and find no contradiction. Both point to a creator.
The choice however is up to you. Each individual must decide what they believe and ultimately live with the consequence of their decision.
Please think about it.