IMPOSSIBILITY OF HIS COMING

                                       IMPOSSIBILITY OF HIS COMING

    Thinking about the surety of the Word of God I wanted to make a simple statement anyone could understand, an idea most could grasp readily. I didn’t want to get all ‘preachy’ and lose those who seem to think anything not stated in scientific terms is just nonsense, even though science has been proven wrong myriad times over the course of history (Romans 1:22).

Does the Bible predict the coming of Jesus Christ and his life?

    1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 is agreed to be a mathematical impossibility, the point at which something is considered to be impossible. Also stated as 1 in 10 to the 50^th power. 1 in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 [Keep in mind many in Christian circles believe there are over 200 prophecies of the Messiah] is the probability of any one person fulfilling even a mere 16 of these prophecies or 1 in 10 to the 45th power.  The chance that any one person could have fulfilled all 200 prophecies in just one lifetime of 33 years is an astounding, mind bending impossibility…or a miracle.

    Therefore the predictions of the Bible concerning the birth, life, death and ministry of Christ are an absolute impossibility. Or…they were a God ordained miracle showing the entrance of the Son of God into the World to redeem you and me. God sealed the argument with a staggering impossibility making a miracle the only logical conclusion. Science has proven that Jesus Christ could only have been the miraculous result of a Divine and loving God.

    The problem is not mathematics or science. The problem is the heart of man. Psalm 53:1-3 “The fool hath said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. (v.2) God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. (v.3) every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” The evidence (and this is only the surface) is overwhelming and yet many still turn their backs on God and choose (it is a choice) to deny what in right in front of them. The Bible is the Word of God. Its declarations are sure and eternal:

    1. Man is a sinner, we all sin. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”      We are currently sinners guilty before God.

    2. The wages (or payment) of sin is the death of the sinner. Romans 6:23a “For the wages of sin is         death (physical and spiritual)….

    3. The payment for your sin debt has already been paid by another. Romans 5:8 “But God                        commendeth (or proved) His love for us in that while we were sinner Christ died for us.” He did not        wait for us to become good (while we were yet sinners) because He knew we never could.

    4. The payment Christ made on our behalf is free to us as a gift. Romans 6:23b “…but the gift of God     is eternal life through (or by means of) Jesus Christ our Lord.” He grants salvation through His Blood     to us as a gift.  It is a gift that we must receive. Romans 10:9-10, 13 “That if thou shalt confess with        thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,           thou shalt be saved. (v.10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth         confession is made unto salvation. (v.13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be     saved.”

    Have you received Christ as your Savior. You can. If you understand that before God right now you are lost and condemned to hell as a sinner. And if you are willing to repent (turn away from) of your sin and ask God to come into your heart to save you right now He will. Pray a prayer like this one:

“God I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sin. And, right now, I ask Jesus to come into my heart to take control of my life and forgive me of my sin.  I believe Jesus’ sacrifice was enough and that God accepted it and raised him from the dead.  Thank you for saving my soul, amen.”

    If you did pray today and ask God to save you please send me a message. I would like to help you get started in your new life as a believer. I currently attend South Side Baptist Church in Harrisville on route 16 just past the police station and invite you to join us. For more information please message me.

Which Door Would you choose

 Which Door?

I didn’t really mean to eavesdrop but sometimes you just happen to be in that perfect spot. Even at that, I would normally have made an effort not to listen even if I could hear. But this was different. I heard one man address another in a cordial manner as ‘preacher’ which, as you can imagine, caught my attention. I never could hear the “preacher’s” words. He was just out of earshot. So, some of what I was hearing I was interpreting based on a one sided conversation. The ‘preacher’ said something, after “hello”, about heaven. I am certain of that because the response that came caused me to want to jump up and interject. The other man simply said that when he stood before God he would take whatever comes.

I have heard people say this sort of thing before and it always strikes me the same way. They seem to have a casual nonplussed understanding of what that final day will be like. I had all I could do to retain my seating. I wanted desperately to jump up and join this man at his table for a lengthy conversation. However, not being invited to do so left me wondering how I might explain to my wife how I managed to get kicked out of McDonald’s. So, I reluctantly left this gentleman to his ‘preacher’ friend.

I wonder how many people allow themselves such a casual concept of the final judgment. If we understood what God has done to save humanity we would race to Him and flee the terrors hell. 

As I thought about his response to the ‘preacher’ I was struck with an image. Imagine sitting in a place like McDonalds. You see several gruff looking young men gather outside the exit door. And for no less than one hour you watch as people try to leave. But everyone who exits that door is beaten violently and left for dead on the sidewalk. Your meal is over. Your coffee is finished. You need to leave. No police have arrived to assist. Will you just get up and say to yourself, “Well, I will take whatever comes” and walk out that door?

Now imagine that just as you stand and begin your approach to that exit door someone reaches out and takes your arm. As they do they say to you, “Wait! Don’t go out there. There is another exit door over there just across the room. It is a safe exit.” Do you really suppose that you would simply say to your would-be-savior that you didn’t want to use the other door, and that you would just take whatever comes, knowing that you would be violently beaten without mercy? The answer is clear. Nobody would choose to suffer if the choice truly was their own.

So, why then, do so many make such foolish statements as our gentleman at McDonald’s? Because they don’t believe there is any real danger. They choose to ignore the warnings. Jude 1:13 “... to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” Mark 9:43-44 “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (v.44) where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Luke 16:23-24 “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (v.24) And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”

God really made it so easy. Yet, so many miss it. He will open the door of Heaven to anyone who will come, provided they come His way. He does not allow us to make our own path. All He wants for us to do is to understand that we really are sinful (Romans 3:23*), that there really is a payment or penalty for that sin (Romans 6:23*) and to understand that His Son Jesus Christ paid that penalty for us already (Romans 5:8; I Peter 2:24*). If we can honestly understand and acknowledge this then He says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13*).

How do we call upon Him for salvation? Romans 10:9-10 gives us the best example, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (v.10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Simply put, it would be a prayer something like this:

"God I know I am a sinner and without Jesus I am lost forever. I am sorry for all of my sin and today as best I know how I am turning away from sin and asking Jesus Christ to be my Lord. I believe Jesus died in my place to pay the price I owed. Right now I ask Jesus to come into my heart and save me. I believe Jesus was raised from the dead as evidence that my sin was forgiven. Thank you for saving me, Amen."

You see there really are only two doors exiting this life. One leads to eternal suffering the other to eternal joy. You can walk through the door of destruction but it will be your choice. You won’t be able to blame God because Jesus, all the while, is calling out to you from the other door having done everything necessary to ensure your safety.

Every time you hear this kind of message or read it, you make a choice. If you walk away without accepting Christ into your heart, without being born again, you have chosen the door of destruction…at least for that moment. If God has given you this one opportunity it is one more than He owes you.

What is your choice today, which door?

*Bible Passages cited:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth (or proved) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Romans 10:9-10 (gives us the best example), “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (v.10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

It's a Fractured World

                                    It's a Fractured World

Troubles come and troubles go. Really? It seems to me more like, troubles come and keep coming. I love it when people tell me I am not alone. It sure feels like it. And how comforting do they think it is just to know that everyone else is suffering too? To me, we sometimes have a skewed view of the world we live in. We look at New York City, Los Angeles, Detroit, et. al. and think how much hatred resides in those towns. We see the murder rate in various areas of the world and are often taken back by the overwhelming numbers. Divorce is at or above 50% even in Christian homes. People are born with diseases and physical abnormalities that leave them all but helpless if not for the care of others. And poverty? People walking the streets without homes, many void of contact with their own families as a result. It is a fractured world.

But you say, “I live in Pennsboro, WV and we do not have those issues here.” Here they are not on the nightly news. Here they are not paraded before us every evening in the hope of making profit from the headlines. But they are here. They hide behind closed doors.  Most often they are not out in the open. Walk down any street in any town and you will find despair shrouded by a false smile. Houses with wheelchair ramps are common. You will see children in the care of single parents. You will see, even in the houses of worship, poverty so overwhelming it crushes the impoverished worshipper as he stands beside those who have plenty. Hatred lives here too, but it is more carefully covered up by silence, fence lines and exclusive social activities. Even in our town, we must admit it is a fractured world.

When we look at the difficulties, we face every day, we simply must put them in perspective or completely fall apart. “I am not alone,” actually can be a comfort, even if ever so slight. Take the difficulty most recent in your own life for an example. Regardless of what it was (or is) something very much like it was experienced by someone else today, and yesterday, ad infinitum. As Solomon said, Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. (v.10) Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new...?” 

I am not saying that it is comforting to know that trouble and sorrow come to all of us. But sometimes a better perspective can relieve at least some of the distress we feel. Suffering is, and always has been, universal; Job 14:1-2 “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. (v.2) He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” In the very first family on earth, there was trouble. Two parents (the only two) had the crushing reality that one of their own sons was a murderer. How can a parent deal with that level of trauma? How do we get up in the morning and face the next day knowing that one of our own sons murdered his brother? Trauma, literally, comes to all of us because…it is a fractured world.

When we consider the issues we face today, perspective can help. Prayer, the reading of God’s Word, the indwelling Holy Spirit, yes; but also, perspective. Where am in I in the Lord today? Am I walking close to God this morning? Being a child of God does not eliminate trials and troubles (look at king David). But it can help us to keep trouble from destroying us. Knowing that the troubles I see are evidence that God loves me, even in my trials, can bring comfort. And they are proof that Jesus had to die in my place, because I can certainly never earn salvation, as evidenced by my own broken life. My troubles and trials prove I could never be worthy of His great love, yet He loves me.

God came to redeem a fallen world, a world destroyed by sin. It is that world we see every day, and that we experience in our own homes as well. He would not have died to redeem us if we could have done something to redeem ourselves. Every pain, every heartache, every injustice we see is evidence of the great and overwhelming love of God (John 3:16), because he came to save even those who caused the pain, the heartache and the injustices we see every day. God loves, and died to redeem, those who are fallen…US, you and me. When we see the fractured lives of others, remember they see our fractured lives as well. Look at the trouble in our lives and remember, “God commendeth (or proved) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8. While we were sinning, while we were actively rebelling against Him, He died to redeem us. The troubles we see in life should be a constant reminder of this amazing love.

This is a fractured world. It will always be full of trouble. But when Jesus saved us, He also made a great promise to those who would receive the salvation he offers: John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (V.2) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (v.3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

When you see troubles in your life and all the fractured lives around you, try to also see the redeeming love of God reaching out to each one of them. It is a fractured world that Jesus came to save.

Shards or Gold

                                                                      Shards or Gold

Imagine you are sifting through the treasures of this life, much like a miner in the early days of the great west gold rush. You carefully remove layer after layer of sand, rock and other debris in search of that one great nugget. Most often as you sift through the river silt you find shards of glass or pottery. Hour after hour, day after day you bend into the river hoping for great wealth as you pan the river bed. The evidence is over whelming, gold is unlikely. The river is filled with shards of pottery more than nuggets of gold.

But you are only on one side of the river. A friend passes by and tells you the other side of the river has wealth you don’t have to work for. You don’t have to continue in your back breaking effort in hope of wealth. There, he says, are streets of endless length made completely of gold, solid pure gold. He says the gates leading into the city are actually made of pearls. Huge pearls. Each gate is actually a single pearl. As he talks with you he asks what it is you are doing. You respond, “I am looking for true wealth, wealth beyond compare. I am hoping to find wealth sufficient to carry me over the course of my life.” In stark amazement he looks at you with bewilderment and asks, “Have you not looked across this river? Look. That wealth is available right now, you don’t have to work so hard to attain it. The owner has already offered citizenship to all who wish to come.”

As he is speaking a memory of your childhood comes suddenly into your thoughts. Is the city just across the river the same city you learned about in church? Rev 21:18-22 “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. (v.19) And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; (v.20) The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. (v.21) And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. (v.22) And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.”

Today are you sifting through the muck and the mire of the river of this life for wealth that cannot last? Are you only finding shards of broken dreams, dashed hopes, and pleasures that only last a moment? Look! Right across the river is a grand and glorious city which God promised to those who come to him by faith. Will you come? John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

STOP SPOON FEEDING THE CHURCH

 WE MUST STOP SPOON FEEDING THE CHURCH

    I have visited several churches. Many have a very nice social atmosphere. There is coffee in the vestibule with a selection of cakes or other snacks to help set the tone of a pleasant welcoming congregation. I suppose there really is nothing wrong with this in and of itself. Except that it helps to mask an underlying problem which has plagued our churches since my youth. The Apostle Paul pointed it out in Hebrews 5:12 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of mild, and not of strong meat." We have become a church of infants.

    There seems to be an innate fear within the leadership of the churches. A fear that says, "If we teach the Word of God with intensity, as we would in a college or seminary setting, the congregation would get up and walk out. They would be overwhelmed and leave our congregation." And so, in an attempt to cater to the immature and ensure the pews are filled we opt for socializing the Word of God, keeping it on an elementary level so as not to lose members. The result? We have many large congregations starving for spiritual nutrition. Most are remaining infants, "For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe" (Heb. 5:13).

    The Apostle Peter anticipated this problem as well. In II Peter chapter one he lays out a lengthy description of the believer's current position as well as his need to apply these truths and develop his character. In verses 3-4b we read, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (v.4b) whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises...." He says, look at what we have. God has already given us everything we need as believers. And in our modern churches we stop here. We sing wonderful songs exalting this idea but we stop there. What does this mean? How does it occur? How does it become mine? What does it mean to me in my life? It makes for beautiful lyrics. But they become vain repetitions until we study the Word of God and discover the origin and purpose of these gifts.

    And then in verses 4b-9 Peter makes a point of saying that by these gifts and their application in our individual lives we become the saints of God we were meant to be. We become temperate, virtuous, knowledgeable, kind, and loving… but only as we learn what the Word of God teaches. When we fail to study as we ought, when the preachers and teachers fail to feed the flock, Peter says in verse nine that we become blind and even forgetful of how our salvation was ever obtained. We simply must teach the Word and stop entertaining in fear of losing members.

    In II Peter the Apostle goes on to say something I find fascinating. It seems to go against the prevailing wisdom of our day. In verse twelve he says, "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them..." He says he is going to continue to teach what they already know over and over again. Do you think he was afraid of losing members? The remainder of verse 12 says that it is this which will establish them in the truth, or provide them with a firm foundation. But now look at verse 13, "Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance." As long as I am alive, as long as I have flesh and in fact (v.15) until the day I die I will continue teaching these same principles so that you will have them when I am gone. I will teach them over again with my last breath in order to shore up your faith.

    Why does the church feel a need today to provide flashy preaching, to find ways to entertain the congregation? Why are the preachers not preaching and teaching with an eye toward establishing the believer in the "faith once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3)? Is the gospel of Jesus Christ no longer valid? Is the Word of God no longer a comfort (I Thes 4:18) to the soul? Does the preaching of the cross need enhancing to become attractive to this new generation? NO! We are moving away from the Gospel of Christ with every new idea we introduce. Our ideas and efforts are taking time away from the actual teaching of the Word. If we were to take time, time that is needed, to actually dig deep into the Bible and teach it as it was intended to be taught, we would not have time for all the nonsense we see in the churches today.

    We need fire in the pulpit, fire produced by the preaching of the Word empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. The church in America has become anemic. With all of our activities and social emphasis we simply do not have time for anything more than a gentle spoon feeding.

Christian, open the Book and study it. Church, Pastors and teachers, stop spoon feeding the Church.

How can you tell

                                                                      How you can tell

Am I a biker? Well, I ride a motorcycle. I put a helmet on my head (because I don’t trust me). I get on it. I start it. And I can drive it down most roads with little to no difficulty. However, I don’t get into the curves too fast or ride it on dirt tracks or mountain passes. Why? Because even though I am able to ride a motorcycle when the road is smooth and straight, I am not necessarily an accomplished rider. I don’t take long trips on a bike. I do not spend much time caring for the machine other than putting gas and oil in it. I did wash it once this year. I ride a motorcycle but I am not a biker. There is a big difference between a biker and a rider.

Christianity has similar distinctives. There are a good many people today who would claim to be Christian. They attend church when they have time as long as it is not too inconvenient. They are often seen putting some small amount of money in the offering plate as it passes. In fact, many who claim to be Christian even try to do things in public that look religious. Is church attendance worship? Does giving a small amount “appease” God? Is doing good things the same as being holy?

I was at the post office this morning. A middle-aged woman driving a pickup truck pulled into the lot. After she entered the office she began to tell a story to the post master. In that story she made no attempt to refrain from the use of common vulgarities. What she did and said clearly caused me to wonder if she had ever been saved. I felt sorry for her as I wondered about her eternal state. As I passed by her truck I saw a large Bible on the dash in clear view. Was it her Bible? Did she actually claim to be born again? Later in the day I was on the computer and was directed to the page of a friend whom I am fairly certain would claim to be saved. As I read the entries posted by my friend I was actually shocked and at times appalled by what was there. Were these people Christians? Think this through carefully, were they Christians?

Believers today (those who claim to be saved) have no real sense of holiness. There is no revulsion toward sin, no actual hatred of sin. Christians today essentially sin and say, “oops” and go on with life. God calls us to a holy, sin free, life. Jesus told the woman taken in adultery (John 8:11) to “go and sin no more.” 1Peter 1:15 says, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.”  And we are warned by the Apostle Paul that if we do sin God will punish us for it if we are truly saved, Hebrews 12:5b-6, “…My son despise not the chastening of the Lord nor faint when though art rebuked of Him. (v.6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” These two passages are most enlightening. If we are not living holy lives we are living in open rebellion against God. And the evidence that we are God’s children is the chastisement (punishment) that God brings into our lives every day because of our sin. Here then is the dilemma. If we are sinning without God punishing us, are we saved? If we can live in un-holiness without guilt are we truly the children of God? It is almost like we want to be bikers without being dedicated to biking. We are trying to be Christians without allowing God into our daily lives, without allowing His Holy Spirit to reign supreme in our hearts.

We do not perform all the things that Christians are known to do in order to be saved. BUT, if we are saved and God’s Holy Spirit is living in our heart, if we have truly been born again we will naturally be living differently, II Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.” 

When people see you, what do they see? Do they see someone who is living a holy life in compliance with the command of God? Are there noticeable differences between your life today and the life you lived before coming to Christ? What words come out of your mouth during a conversation? Or, what do your text messages and facebook postings reveal about the heart you said was changed by the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ?

Jesus left us here in this world to be ambassadors for Christ, to represent Him here. Everything we do reflects on the name of our Lord positively or negatively. We are His ambassadors. With everything we say, everything we post on these computers and every text we send we are telling a lost world something about our God.

What did you, by your actions or words, tell the world about Jesus today?

THE END IS COMING…AGAIN???

                                            THE END IS COMING…AGAIN???

You’ve heard it many times no doubt. So many people for so many years have claimed the end of the world is coming. I remember full-page advertisements in the newspapers of many major cities back in the late 70’s declaring the end of the world. Some claiming Jesus already returned and was seen in one location or another. We’re still here. And the Bible even predicted exactly that. Peter said,

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (v.4) and saying, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation’” (II Peter 3:3-4)

To be sure that you would not believe Jesus’ return was near, Satan blinded your eyes with numerous false claims. One right after the other, until you were sick of hearing about it.

I am not saying Jesus will return by Monday morning. But he could. Look at the currency. With bitcoins and things of that nature on the market today, how far away is a universal currency? And, almost every person in the world can witness his second coming simultaneously. If not physically then by television and the internet. Christians are openly persecuted in many countries today. How long before they are silenced here and in Europe also? It is already beginning here. The cry for world unity is stronger than ever. And in essence that is not a bad idea, in and of itself. But a one-world government is essential to prophecy as well. And that government in the last days, will be severely anti-Christian and anti-Judaism. Immorality and anarchy will rule the day. Jesus said in Luke 17:26-30:

“And as it was in the days of Noe (Noah), so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. (v.27) They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. (v.28) Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; (v.29) but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (v.30) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

                 The depravity of the hearts of men in the days of Noah and Lot is praised in today’s society. In the time of Noah and Lot, the sinful activity of man was seen on the streets because it could not be hidden. How sick is the world today? It is horrifying to think what goes on with the use of computers and the internet today. Women and children being bought and sold like cattle and many of the governments of this world standing by doing nothing or even participating. Could the days of Lot and Noah be worse than what we already see today? I doubt it.

                There is, in my opinion, this one last opportunity to be redeemed, to come to Christ for salvation, before it is too late. Some, because they have heard about the rapture, have said they will wait until they see the Church (God’s people) removed and then they will believe and be saved. Please understand…that is not possible. (Message me if you don’t know what the rapture is, or have questions.)

When the rapture occurs and believers are removed from this world, ALL who remain here, will believe the narrative of the government at that time;

II Thessalonians 2:11-12; “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (v.12) that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” You will not believe, no matter how miraculous the event of our departure might be.

This may very well be your LAST opportunity for salvation. God loves you and is “…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9b). But the choice is yours. God warns repeatedly, He cries out to be saved. But He leaves the choice to you.

The end is on the horizon, there is no doubt. Will you come to Christ today for salvation?

The Kinder Side

  From the Kinder Side

Christians do not hate homosexuals or anyone practicing any other lifestyle variant from the Biblical heterosexual standard. All forms of sin are simply, sin. One is not necessarily worse than another before God. Although, for humanity, certain types of sin can be far more damaging to society than others. And so, there may be louder outcries against child pornography, homosexuality, and murder than one may see against lying, cheating or stealing.

True Christians love all people regardless of the sin they are currently controlled by. But that does not mean we condone their sin or accept it in society as normal. God does not hate any of us. However, His requirement for all of us, Jeffrey Dahmer, Adolph Hitler and your next-door neighbor is the same; repent. Jesus’ plea goes out equally to all (Luke 13:3), “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. ” Notice he does not say join hands and love each other regardless of sin. Instead, Jesus says to repent.

Repentance is the sticking point for all who are living in sin today regardless of which sin it is. We do not want to be told we are living wrong. We hate the idea of having to change something which, at the moment, we think we are enjoying. We all want heaven, but most are not willing to give up their particular sin. However, that is what Jesus said we must do. Repent means to turn away from one thing or direction and go the other way. Admit the one is wrong and choose that which is right.

A Biblically sound Christian will not hate, even what most of society would call, the vilest person. We will hate the sin they are engaged in and will do all we can to encourage change. However, while hating their sin, we will love them as Christ loves them. Christians understand their plight because we are all sinners as well. God has forgiven our sin and has given us to ability to be freed from the control of sin. Sin is no longer a welcome companion in our lives, and we still fight against it (Romans 7:7-25) every day. We have chosen to fight against sin rather than embracing it (repentance).

Jesus’ also stated in Mark 1:15 not only to repent, which is turning from one thing, but here he includes “believe the gospel” which is turning to another. Repent of sin and believe the gospel. That seems so very simple. But the gospel is contrary to basic human nature. In our nature there is a fundamental understanding that if we attain something it is because we have earned it by one means or another. In other words, nothing is free. Homosexuals, murderers, drunkards, abortionists and liars can be brought into God’s family and granted eternity in heaven….free. It is not a lifelong effort of achievements on our part, it is repentance and belief, turning from one to the other. God loves you and wants to save you.

Would like to be saved today? You can be. For more information please read: How to be born again: https://christxalted.blogspot.com/2016/01/how-to-be-born-again.html

Are You Looking in the Right Place?

 Are You Looking in the Right Place?

Why did Cat Stevens write "Morning has Broken?" Or, did he write it?

"Morning Has Broken" is a popular and well-known Christian hymn first published in 1931. It has always been one I had a personal affinity for. It was made popular by Cat Stevens in 1972. I can remember my high school English teacher asking our class what Stevens may have been alluding to with some of the lyrics that ‘he wrote’ in that song. Not all English teachers are also history buffs. Stevens wrote many songs and in most you can hear his personal search for some kind of spiritual fulfillment. In 1977 he became a Muslim.

I find it to be very tragic when anyone finds Islam to be attractive or fulfilling. I keep a copy of the Qur'an on my computer (not recommended) and although I have not read it in its entirety I can say I find any attraction to it to be most perplexing. Why did Stevens go to that religious system?

I don’t know anything at all about Cat Stevens personal history. I don’t know where he grew up or under what circumstances. I do not know if he was raised in some form of Christianity or in Atheism. My source of truth is the Word of God and I believe every word contained within its pages. If Cat Stevens went to Islam, which is the antithesis of Christianity, it can only be because he was seeking truth outside of Christianity. In other words, there was some reason he did not want to follow after the God of the Bible.

How can I make such a brash statement? I can because that is precisely what the Word of God says. Prov. 8:17 "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Jer. 29:13 "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Psalm 119:2 "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart." I could most certainly list myriad other passages teaching the same truth. If we diligently search for a true knowledge of God He will ensure that we find Him. The fact that Stevens and so many others, especially celebrities of our day, have turned to such anti-Christian religions is evidence that they began with a prejudice against Jesus Christ. When one goes into a cave looking for coal and chips away diligently hour after hour he may well find coal. Sadly, his focus on coal might very well be the cause of his overlooking the diamonds all around him.

What have you been searching for? Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Look for him now, today while you still have breath, and you will find Jesus Christ to be the source of all comfort, Isa 55:6-7 “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (v.7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.“ Jesus said in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Sometimes we are just looking in the wrong place.