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.