Dimly

  Dimly.

The apostle Paul writes,

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Faith it seems can be strange at times. The writer of Hebrews states,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                      Hebrews 11:1.

Faith can be like looking into the fog. You know an object is there but you can only see it faintly. 

That’s what the apostle Paul was saying. We know that God exists. We also know that He sent His one and Only Son Christ Jesus to die for our sins. Yet at this moment in our life. At this moment in time. We only see God as a dim reflection in a mirror.

Jesus speaking to Thomas said,

"Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:19.

Our faith should not necessarily be based on what we can see, feel, or hear. Our faith should be based on the evidence of God that is all around us.

The perfectly designed universe for example tells us that God exists.

Robert Brault wrote,

"God left so many fingerprints at the scene of Creation that you wonder — does He want to be found, or does He want to be stopped?" Robert Brault.

Do you have faith that God exists?

Please think about it.

I will trust

  I will trust.

The Psalmist writes,

"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. Psalm 52:8.

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus. Do you have an unfailing trust in God?

There are many people who go to church regularly that don’t have trust God. Many go to church because it’s the correct thing to do. Many go to meet and talk to friends. Many go because their parents and grandparents went to church.

These people are hard to distinguish in church because they know when and what to pray. They know the ritual. But they don’t know God. They simply believe intellectually that there is a God. They have no personal relationship with God.

Dear reader do you have a personal relationship with God? 

Are you certain that if you were to die today that you would go to heaven?

Why not take sometime right now to assess your relationship with God. Why not make a sincere commitment to follow God today?

Take time to read the New Testament and see for yourself what the early believers believed about Jesus.

Please think about it.

A Light of revelation

  A light for Revelation

In the gospel of Luke we read,

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."Luke 2:25-32.

Here is the account of when Jesus as a baby was taken by his parents to the temple to be dedicated. 

The account tells of a righteous and devout man named Simeon who had been told that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Upon seeing Jesus he proclaims that Jesus is the Lords Christ. That Jesus’ purpose in life would be to be a light to show God to the gentiles and to glorify Gods people Israel.

If this is not true then Simeon had spoken a lie that has fooled millions of people throughout the centuries and in deed billions of people living today.

If it is true and I believe it to be so. Then you have two choices.

One, the choice Paul gave his Jailor,

“..."Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Acts 16:31.

Or you can reject what is said.

The choice is yours.

Please think about it.

If you believe with your heart

  If you believe with your heart.

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. Romans 10:9,10.

There is no need for explanation of this portion of scripture. It says what it says.

If you confess Jesus is Lord.

If you believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead.

You will be saved.

So the question becomes: Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

A new Hope

  A new Hope

The Apostle Peter writes,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  1Peter 1:3-5.

Peter here makes it clear all who believe in The Lord Jesus Christ have been given a new birth and a living hope. An inheritance that cannot “perish, spoil or fade. Kept in heaven...”

Do you have this hope? OR is all your hope in the things of this world that one day will perish, spoil or fade?

Is your faith in God and the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

I will tell

  I will tell

The Psalmist writes,

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; 

I will tell of all your wonders. 

I will be glad and rejoice in you; 

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." 

                                                             Psalm 9:1,2

In Psalm eight we read 

“O LORD, our Lord, 

how majestic is your name in all the earth!” 

                                                            Psalm 8:9.

I believe in God. I believe that we only have to look at the universe around us. From the most magnificent Galaxy to the smallest subatomic particle all are related. 

Earth the planet we live on is in the perfect place for life as we know it to exist. I can’t believe this is by chance.

Knowing all of this I am amazed that the creator of the universe would come into the world he created to show the people he created the way to heaven. And I thank God for that.

That is why I tell people about God and His one and Only Son Christ Jesus.

Because I want the world to know God loves them. 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

Please think about it.

Jesus God in the Flesh

  Jesus God in the flesh

In the book of Hebrews we read,

"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  Hebrews 1:3.

The apostle John referring to Jesus as “The Word” States,

“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.” John 1:1-4.

In 1 John the apostle writes,

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  

The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.  

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  1John 1:1-3.

Those writing this have been, talked to and even touched Jesus. They were close to Him and believed that He was and is God in the flesh.

The question however is do you believe this?

Before you answer the question however I would challenge you to read the New Testament and see what the writers of it thought about Jesus.

Please think about it.

Faith that leads to the grave

   Faith that leads to the grave

In the book of acts we read,

“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  

He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."” Acts 16:30,31.

It is that simple. Christians believe if you truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ you will be saved. You will go to heaven.

But is belief a simple thing.

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1,2.

In Hebrews 11:6 we read,

"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.

Having faith in someone or some thing you cannot see or touch can be very difficult for many people. That I believe is why God wants us to have faith. Because people who have true faith in something will quite literally follow their beliefs to the grave.

Is this the kind of faith you have in Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

Even in time of Trouble.

  Even in time of trouble.

The apostle Paul writes,

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

Experience is the best way to help people. Here Paul speaks about God being there to comfort us in times of trouble. But he doesn’t stop there. He tell us that as we experience Gods comfort in times of trouble, we can assure others that God will be there to comfort them in times of trouble.

Are you going through times of trouble? Be assured that God is there for you.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"And we know all things work together for good 

to those who love God 

to those who are called according to His purpose." 

                                                                                     Romans 8:28.

God has a purpose for you even in your times of trouble.

Please think about it. 

He knows you. Do you truly believe in Him?

  He knows you. Do you truly believe in Him?

The Psalmist writes,

“For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mothers womb

I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.

My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.” Psalm 139:13-16.

Simply put according to the Psalmist God knows you from the day of conception. They question however becomes, do you know God?

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.

Do you believe in God? 

Do you truly believe in God?

Please think about it.

Not Ashamed

  Not Ashamed.

The apostle Paul writes,

“So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord,...” 2Timothy 1: 8a.

As Christians we should never be ashamed of telling those around us about the Love of Christ that comes through Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul later on in his second letter to Timothy states,

"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.

So if you consider yourself a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus do you tell the world around you about Christ Jesus?

Are you faithfully testifying to the world around you about Jesus without being ashamed in any way?

Please think about it.

You have a purpose

  You have a purpose

The apostle Paul writes,

"For we are God's workmanship, 

created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 

which God prepared in advance for us to do"

                                                                       Ephesians 2:10.

Everyone has a purpose in life. For the Christian it is to do good works in the name of Jesus. To tell people about the love of God that comes through Christ Jesus. To show the people around them the way to heaven.

If you consider yourself a Christian are you doing this?

Please think about it.