The Snake

We had just returned home yesterday.  Something caught my eye outside our French doors.  It was a Mexican blue jay in rock planter.    

(I don’t much like Mexican Blue jays because their tendency to be bullies to other birds but they are good for something…  They signal when a snake is near by acting erratically.  They fly up and down and squawk as if to say, “It’s a snake. Get it! Get it!”)

“Could it be a snake?” I thought.  I took a closer look out the window and there, trying to climb our honeysuckle trellis to get to a bird nest, was a big-o-snake.

As soon as this snake saw me coming with my shovel it quickly tried to slither out sight underneath our propane tank.  I swept my shovel under the tank several times.  My bride, on the other side of the tank said,  “There it is! It’s all the way out!” 

I pitched my shove down on its’ thick coiled up skin.  It’s head tried to bite the shovel and it shook it’s tail in the dry leaves in the rock planter.   “What kind of snake am I dealing with?” I thought.

It reminded of verse in the bible that God spoke to the serpent.  “From now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies.” Genesis 3:15

I needed my shovel closer to its head.  I quickly lifted the shovel.  Unfortunately it wasn’t injured enough to slow it down. 

To get away, it began to climb the trellis again with it long strong body... smart snake.

I glanced its body with my shovel and with several rapid stirs and swipes with the shovel it was back on the ground of the planter.  I jammed my shovel down on its neck where it disappeared into the deep of the composted soil.  Soft soil would only hinder my desire to end the large snakes life abruptly.

I jammed my boot down on the shovel repeated.  The exposed body contorted twisting this way and that way.

Finally it’s contortions slowed down where I could draw it’s head up out of the soil and position it on a hard surface where I could separate it’s head from it’s body.

I then took the snake to the still hot burning stump in the front yard and through it in the embers.  To my amazement its body reacted to the hot coals.  It started to move rapidly around before it solidified into a cooked mass.  I took a picture and then returned it to the red embers that soon caught its flesh into flames. (As the smoke reach my un-expecting nostrils it certainly did not smell like chicken.)  It wasn’t long before it was reduced to ashes.

I then thought of Revelation 20… “Then the devil, who betrayed them was thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet.  There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” 

Just as the body of Christ will join Christ in heaven, the body of Satan will join Satan in the tormenting lake of fire…  the head will be separated from the body and the body will be separated from itself.   Scattered like the ashes in the tormenting lake of fire.

“But cowards who turn away from me, and unbelievers, and the corrupt, and murderers, and the immoral, and those who practice witchcraft, and idol worshipers, and all liars – their doom is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.  This the second death.”  Revelation 21:8

There are souls at stake my friends.  Think how heaven celebrates a saved soul in our LORD Jesus Christ.  Prize this in your hearts.  Do what you can in love to reach those who are lost among you, that they may have the opportunity to be saved from such destruction and have LIFE in Christ.

JESUS and the Cross

What does Good Friday mean to someone who doesn’t go to church? What does the cross mean to
someone who has never gone to church?

Just recently a sister in Christ shared a story of a friend of hers who didn’t know who Jesus was and she lives right here in America.  Is this shocking to you?  It is somewhat surprising but I understand - considering the state of the America and some of it's churches.

How many you believe sin can be corrected and a person, a family, a nation can be saved if they know Jesus Christ?

Knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior changes your life.

SIN and US 

Everyone has sinned or done wrong.   Do you know sin cuts us off from God?  Our sin not only causes trouble in our lives but the lives of others.  Sin has long lasting effects, and death but without Jesus Christ it leads to hell.   I know the world and Oprah have said there are many ways to heaven but the world and Oprah are not God.  Sounds offensive?  Yes sometimes the truth can sound offensive but it doesn’t mean it isn’t the truth.  I rather be confronted with the truth then live life heading towards destruction.

Jesus is THE ONLY WAY into heaven and if you have read these posts you know I have seen Jesus.  And since I have seen and know Jesus is alive and well and very real, I am honored to tell you about HIM who saves us from our sin.  

GOD and US

So let’s start with God, the GOD who saves our soul and liberates our heart and mind.     

God doesn’t fit into our typical human definition of a god.  God is both single and plural.  He is Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.  Together they are ONE and they work as ONE.   They are like a band making an idea a reality.   We were once an idea and then He made us a reality with an individual purpose in mind.  Sad it to think that people can wander through life not knowing God and not knowing the purpose they were created for.
         

“Genesis 1:26 says “Then God said, ‘Let us make people in our own image, to be like ourselves.  They will be masters over all life- the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and the livestock and wild animals, and small animals.’”

“He (Jesus Christ) was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” John 1:2-4

“Philip (one of Jesus’ disciples) said to Him (Jesus), ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.’” John 14:8-10

GOD who created everything we can see and not see said there is only ONE WAY to heaven and that is through HIS Son, Jesus Christ.   

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6

There is NOT a five lane highway into heaven.  Jesus Christ is the narrow opening in which we ALL have to enter Heaven.  There is no way over or around or under the immense barrier from here to heaven but through Jesus Christ.

As Peter said, “ And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 

Before I gave my life to God, I would go to church from time to time but I had this “mental fog” that would block me from the reality of Jesus Christ.  And the bible… well it might as well been a bunch of mumbo jumbo on some white pages stuck in between a piece of black leather bound.  So since I couldn’t really read, see or hear what was being shared, I couldn’t appreciate, taste, be encouraged or feed my restless soul.  But that all changed when God’s Holy Spirit came into my soul when I accepted Jesus Christ as my God, Lord and Savior. 

As the bible says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

I could not only read the bible and understand it but I experienced the life changing and life saving reality of Jesus in my life, something I thought wasn’t even possible.

THE CROSS and US

That is when I began to understand in a deeper personal sense -the cross Jesus took for all our sins or wrongs. 

Jesus said, “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.  There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him.  But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.”  John 3:14-18 
    

God so loved you and I that he sent HIS SON to die on the Cross.  Jesus, the Son of God was nailed through his hands and feet to a wooden cross and died like a criminal to die for all of humanity's sins.
  
In the book of Mark, it is written that Jesus said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34. 

You know why the Father turned His back when Jesus was on the cross? Because the Father could not look upon the sin Jesus was taking upon Himself for us.  Jesus, innocent of all sin, was being judged for our sin.

   

Jesus took that cross that we may trust in Him and be saved, that we may taste and see God is merciful and good.  That we may experience God’s perfect will in our life and have a relationship with HIM/GOD. 
     

1 Peter says “He (Jesus) personally carried away our sins in his body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.  You have been healed by his wounds!  Once you were wandering like lost sheep.  But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25

Jesus going to the cross for us was like Jesus creating a bridge over an abyss that separated us from God.   By giving our life to Jesus we not only get to go to heaven but we can have a relationship with God, which liberates our soul from the daily tolls.

When I think of Jesus going to the cross I think of the garbage man picking up the trash.  Jesus going to the cross for us... and we giving our life to Him is like Jesus stuffing all our sins into an enormous garbage truck and Jesus driving our sin to a dump of forgetfulness never to be remembered by God again. 
 

Jesus paid for our sins but we must give our life to Jesus to receive this life saving and changing forgiveness.  

So are you going to believe in Jesus?  Are you going to trust in Jesus? Are going to accept his gift of going to cross for you and I? 
 

If so ask Jesus to come into your life now.  Jesus come.  

Let me pray with you:

Jesus I choose to believe and trust in you as my God.  I choose to surrender my life to you that you may liberate my life by having a daily relationship with you.  Jesus forgive me!  Forgive me for my sins.  I accept your free gift of forgiveness.  Pour out your Spirit upon my life that I may experience your wondrous light and transforming goodness in my life.  Thank you Jesus.  THANK You JESUS!

May God bless you my friend.  May God lead you to a bible believing church with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that will help and encourage you.   That God make you like a sponge to His wondrous marvelous word- The Bible.  And may God continue bless you with is presence and love as you continually seek Him in all of life’s experiences and challenges.

Thank you for letting me share with you.     

Hope

 The Spirit of God has been speaking to us about the importance of  “Knowing God”.   Knowing and growing in God is to have hope, to grow in hope, and to be empowered by hope. A man without hope has forgotten or made himself a stranger to his Creator. 

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,” Psalms 43:5

This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. Jeremiah 17:5

A man without hope has made and let the things of this world convince and persuade him to be his hope.  For what happens when those things fail him?
 

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

“And He (Jesus) told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man was very productive.  And he began to reason to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’  Then he said ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.’
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’
So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.  And he said to His disciples, ‘For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ” Luke 12:16-23

A man without hope does not know “who” Jesus is.
A man without hope does not know the Father who is hope.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”  John 14:6

 

The Affects of Hopelessness
For a king without hope is of tired coals. Even though the breeze livens it, it doesn’t produce flame.  Even though it glows temporary red it quickly forgets.  He is adorned with a royal breastplate but inside he is poisoned by thoughts of cowardest.   Prodded and poked like a cage lion, his rage if any is brief for he sees no point.  Hope to him is like the morning steam ghostly rising off the waters into the skies.  Life has all but become meaningless. Words of wisdom on a page do not help him.  He might as well be blind and as dumb as a stump that produces nothing.  He might as well be a poor blind man who sits in a pitch-black room as the roaches eat his sandwich.   He might as well have no mouth to eat for he can no longer taste what is good.   The spite of hopelessness makes him brash as a careless drunk.  Those who surround him are poisoned and stung by his tongue. They have tried to pour goodness into his life but there is a giant hole in his cistern that is never satisfied. He is deaf to the bells that signal his walls being breached and he has no strength to reach for his sword. He was a beautiful dogwood tree in spring that now has turned to a weedy cedar that steals all the water around him until nothing grows. He is a man without a lasting legacy.  He is a continual patched ceiling with no fixed roof.  He is a man who puts on clean clothes but never takes a bath.  Seeing no hope in the rules and worlds of men, He has given up the pursuit to the catch the elusive word “peace”.  He looks only to himself and says,  “It is hopeless I will act accordingly to the understanding of my hardened heart.”

“But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.” Jeremiah 18:12

Maybe they saw it as hopeless because God wasn’t their source of hope? But I am reminded with God even a stump has hope.

“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot- yes, a new branch bearing fruit from the old root.” Isaiah 11:1

This shoot is Jesus.   Some of us know what it means to be a stump and know when our stomp was awakened to new life in Jesus Christ.   This hope ushers into a life in the Spirit of God and in the Spirit of God brings forth the fruits of the Spirit.
 

“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….” Galatians 5:22-23

Look at those gems that so well characterize hope.

Transformed into Vessels of Hope “with”  and “in” God

“There are three things that will endure- faith, hope, and love- and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

As I have allowed God to speak to me about hope, I saw hope not as just something that helps the Christian endure in this life but how hope is tighten woven together with faith and love in God.   Faith, hope, love… they change and transform us.  They become our spiritual make-up.  Faith hope and love are like bands of light that form our eternal structure. I don’t know how this is completely I just saw a vision of this as I was writing… a figure being transformed - their person was being covered over with tiny bands of light.

The Spirit then reminded me of this verse about Jesus.   “Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.  The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”  John 1:4-5

No wonder why 1 John 4:4 says, “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

No wonder why Jesus said to us believers, “You are the light of the world- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.  Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all.”  Matthew 5:14-15

If we are a Christian, our life should bear witness to the light now living and growing in us.

It is that hope, faith and love that God is pouring into us that comes out.

These things may seem elementary but examine them more closely.  Through your relationship with Jesus Christ, God is building you up in the inside by His Spirit.

Look at these carefully with me.
Faith: Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus/God is the author and finisher of our faith.  He not only created us but also completes us.  He makes what was once worldly – Heaven bound.

Love:  1 John 4:16-17 says “We know how much God loves us, we have put our trust in him.  God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect….”

Trust in just another way to say hope and not just that but look at what it is saying here. What is doing the work and completing the work of our spiritual being?  It’s God’s love in us.  It is God’s love transforming us.  God is pouring in his goodness and “building” us up in faith, love and hope in Him.

Hope:  Psalm 62:5-7 “I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor come from God alone.   He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.”

We have to position ourselves before God- mostly often quieting what is going on inside ourselves so we can hear Him.   I find reading and meditating on His word or a scripture is helpful.  Some position themselves with a song. The fact is it is difficult and impossible to receive anything from God if we ignore Him, don’t let God speak to us or do some in vain religious routine.  Just as David says, “God is our hope. He is our salvation and he “clothes” us in his honor -that is not made in the things or attitudes of this world.

Caught up in Hope or the busyness of this life?
The floods of life come and do they ever leave a mess of mud and muck behind. I was talking to a friend who neglected to clean out his drainage ditch and when the rushing storm waters came down off the hill from his neighbor's house, they quickly overtook the neglected drainage ditch... They flooded his garage and lapped up against the front door of his house. They then went around the side to the backyard where muddy watery muck spilled over into his swimming pool- transforming the clear blue water into a brown mess.  My friend said, "This all could have been avoided if I hadn't neglected to clean out the drainage ditch.”

The busyness of life can cause us to neglect a lot of things in life including our relationship with God.
God promises his foundation is high enough so when the floodwaters come that they won't bring down the house sitting on it but what if we allow and neglect the maintenance around that foundation.  What if we allow life to cover the foundation with its busyness until the foundation is unrecognizable? Can you build on something that you can’t see?

Usually our words and actions will show there has been a lack of “maintenance” in our relationship with God.  We lose sight of what we have been given and in so doing… we never take the time to discover fully and build on the foundation of Jesus Christ, which God the Father has graciously given.

Other times we can be diligent in our devotional time but still feel this sense anxiety, nagging, and since of oppression.   I think being thankful for the little things is a great start.  Thankful for who God is and how he thinks about you.  "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you," saith the Lord, "Thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give you.  Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."  John 14:27
 
Hope in God is like a romance.
In all marriages sometimes we fail to connect.   With God we can do this.  Sometimes we as the bride of Christ fail to see who we are really "married" to? 

Sometimes we don't put much effort into our marriage and we all know what happens when we don't put much into the romance department.

What if your spouse suddenly got tired of you?  What if they stopped trusting in you?  Only wanted you to be around a small-allotted amount of time or were too busy for you.  What if they only wanted you when they needed something?

What if they no longer sought you out for love, physical attention and companionship? What if they decided they knew all there was to learn about you?  And they never asked you what your interests and wants were?  They just took you for granted? 

Now think…  If you say God is your God and you are to love your God but you take Him for granted, is He really a God you love? 

How can anyone be encouraged, captured and caught up in the God of Hope if we don’t spend time with Him?

I know God/ Jesus knows when we take him for granted because he says, 
 

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen from your first love. Turn back to me again and work as you did at first.  If you don’t, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the church.”  Revelation 2:5

Then sometimes we haven't done anything to be distant from God.  We just feel like he is distant from us.  Life seems to be taking it's toll.  We seem to be in the crowded train station of life pushing our way through the crowd that is going the opposite direction but we can't seem to see God so we panic or become uneasy.   That is when we just need to sit down and be quiet.  We need to ask God show to us a refresher of who we really are to Him?  Show me Lord what you really think of me? Remind me.  
   
God tells us to love Him and that is good.   And... I find He isn't hesitant when we just need to hear He loves us and is with us.
 

Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38

"I command you- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged.  For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

"So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God then a whole flock of sparrows." Matthew 10:31

When we allow the mess of life to clutter the foundation on which we are to stand, how will we really see the clear foundation of our hope in Jesus Christ?  How will that affect our mindset and actions?

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,” Hebrews 6:19

Illustrations of Hope
Hope in God is like people caught up in the goodness of Christmas season.  There is a wonder and joy in the air as many good things fill the days between now and December 25th.  Good things such as goodwill and charity towards others that have less, the smells of the seasonal goodies being cooked and shared, the sparkling Christmas lights, the music that fills the air, the family/ friend gatherings, the exchange of gifts (that probably originated in Jewish celebrations where people exchanged gifts to remember what God had done), the Christmas parades, concerts, shows, candle light services, - the wonder and joy of the Savior’s birth seems to sprinkle and season the days leading to the Savior’s birth.  People are caught up in the Christmas season.   In God we are caught up in hope, which brings out goodness in our lives.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” Romans 15:13

Hope is like a rope tow on a snow slope. You grab on to it and it pulls you up the slippery snowy slope of life.  Hope is like a ski lift where you “position” yourself in front of the chair and it comes- you sit and it carries you up the mountain. Hope is like a kite with its arms spread out wide in surrender, catching the wind that takes it higher and higher.
 

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 

 

Hope is to live by.

"... he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope." 1 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV

Hope is not far from us.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.  And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.  God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.  For in him we live and move and have our being.’[ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”  Acts 17:24-28

We are His offspring of hope.

The God of Hope Leaves His mark.
I find God is not even far from those dictated by human understanding, for when one cries out in situations they consider direr, Hope Himself answers…. but because they are dictated by human understanding Hope is often lost on them.  I have found however something…. every time our God of hope answers in both Christians and Non-Christians, God leaves or deposits a marker, a stepping stone, a monument in the human soul to refer back to.  God leaves them in the deserts of peoples lives to the mountains tops of people’s lives.  Why does God, do this?

So man has no excuse that they didn’t have a choice to know Him.  So man has no excuse and says God never extended His hand.   God is not responsible if a person continues to dig a hole.  It’s a person’s choice not to surrender his/her shovel and not to ask for help out of that hole. Some go right back into that hole like water finding the lowest spot.  They have a choice to embrace the God who reveals the life saving and changing hope through Jesus Christ or not.

Hope and Heaven and Hell
This thrusts us into a deeper topic of heaven and hell based on our acceptance or not acceptance of Jesus as Savior of our life.  This statement may not be politically or religiously correct but it wasn’t God who came up with political or religious correctness.  God is not politically or religiously correct He’s just CORRECT.

Hell is the exact opposite of hope. Think about it…. What is birthed, nurtured, and matured in hope? If you don’t know- they are things such as joy, peace, love, goodness, faithfulness, and a sound mind?

Hope is reachable now but these good and wonderful and amazing things will be ripped and stripped away in hell.  These good things will be absent in hell because hell is absent of God who is hope.
 

"That I May Know Him" Philippians 3:10

 Know Him
Paul is saying not that I may know “of” Jesus Christ but know Jesus as who he is as Lord and Savior.

This type of “know” is to know and understanding someone on a very personal level like a spouse or a best friend.

The Amplified bible reads: [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death….”

When people are around someone with good or bad habits, people tend to pick up and be influenced by those same habits do they not?   Paul is saying the same thing, the more I get to “know” Christ more deeply and intimately the more I can let go of who I am (feelings, perceptions, understandings, etc) and become like Christ. This is a good thing!

Paul writes: “ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Paul also writes:  “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

If Paul is allowed to live, Christ will continue to be Paul’s source of strength and encouragement and if Paul dies or is put to death for his faith, he will finally be off this world and with Christ in heaven.

Paul’s relationship with the Lord has helped him know nothing can separate him from God’s love.  This has given him a lighter burden to carry.  He isn’t concerned for himself as much as those he might leave behind.

The words of Jesus come to mind, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest of your souls.  For my yoke fits perfectly and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28

Death… we all will face it.  To those who know Christ it isn’t something to be afraid of but to those who don’t know Christ it should be something to be very afraid and be anxious about.

So without doing a lot of shadow boxing, ask yourself this question, “Are you prepared for death right now?

“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.  You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” James 4:14

You like myself have seen the very young to the very old die.  Death doesn’t care what your age might be- it isn’t bias.

I have learned from sorrow and suffering –that which I could not learn had I not witnessed and experienced sorrow and suffering.  Sometimes "what" we consider "not good" is actually "good" because of what comes from it.
  
In fact Jesus says, "But wisdom is shown to be right by what results from it." Note: Matthew 11:19.

For man learns nothing from the empty foolishness of life.  Think about it.   For a man sees his need for God -in all his weakness and seeing the foolishness of life can never satisfy him.
 
Seeing this need can only be satisfied and answered by God, he seeks God from the depths of his heart and God approaches.

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3

“A good name is better then fine perfume, and the day of death is better then the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning then go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.”  Ecclesiastes 7:2

We see life has no guarantees and without notice we can find ourselves on the doorstep of our eternal destination.   And depending on if we know or don’t know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior will determine our eternal destination.

Most of us have read or heard of this verse, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

So knowing Jesus is the Son of God who He sent to save us…

“I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me.” John 6:57

 “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

….. Have you made a choice to “know” Jesus Christ?

Where is your heart and mind when it comes to your eternal destination?  Have you given it any thought at all?

Have you put your soul in the words of mere men and what they have rationalized in their own minds?  If so, you are in a very dangerous and precarious position… We can’t take the words of man as fact- we must know if they are true.  Most often that comes with the trials and fires of life.  With the trials and fires of life, God's love bleeds more visible as we earnestly seek him.

You can’t put your soul in the hands of man’s theories and ideas.   The words of man mean nothing when it comes to the threshold of eternity.   Would you step out of an airplane onto a cloud of vapor thinking it would support you?  Of course not!  Words are just words until they are proven true.

So while you still have the grace of God put some time and investment into your soul not in things of this world- for you can’t take them with you.

“For we brought nothing into this world and is certain we can carry nothing out.” 1 Timothy 6:7.

Don’t leave your soul’s destination up to chance and take the cop-out/excuse that you don’t know what you really believe.

No one should have to plead with someone to search for truth in God and Jesus Christ for someone else's soul’s sake.  A person should want to do that for themselves but I understand sometimes it takes someone to bring it mind because we are lost and blinded by the busyness and cares of this life -but this life is only temporary my friend and eternity is forever.

So if you don’t know what you really believe.... you are going to do nothing?  Don’t be fooled by thoughts that stop you in your tracks.  Earnestly seek God and he will reveal himself to you. 

God says in the book of Jeremiah 29:13. " If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."  

Most people don't even try and because they don't try they never find him.

What is your soul’s destination worth?

I have found in this short (oops) it's been more then 12 years now journey -God is more real then I even imagined and my revelation of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior has deepened.   I hold to this truth dearly for my soul’s sake and sanity.   For it is clear this place is not my home.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”  1 Corinthians 1:18-19

Remember what we read in Philippians 3:10...... (might want to go back up and read it again.)

* (Here is a little star if you forget your place)

The ways of human security (money, possessions, our degrees, our achievements, human rational/reasoning, other people we know, etc.) are no security at all -when all those human securities are taken away, what then?

Where will their hope be then?  Human security can only take you so fair.  They definitely do not carry into eternity.

When the world crumbles and storms on the seas and in the skies come like increasing birth pains and people are only out to save themselves- where will their hope be then?

When Jesus comes to get his own- how will the unbelieving world explain what has happened to us?  There are approximately 6.9 billion Christians in the world, can you imagine them all disappearing at once?

But those left behind will have this passage to refer to:

“For when the Son of Man returns, you will know it beyond a doubt.  It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the sky.  But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.  When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah’s day.  In those days before the flood, people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all.  And the world be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business- eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building- until the morning Lot left Sodom.  Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.  Yes, it will be business as usual right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns.  On that day a person outside the house must not go into the house to pack.  A person in the field must not return to town. Remember what happened to Lot’s wife!  Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it.  That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken away, and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.”
“Lord, where will this happen?” the disciples asked.
Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate the end is near.” Luke 17: 24-37

Just think where people’s understandings carry them now, where will their understandings take them then?

Who’s Understanding?
God word says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.  Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.   Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8

We as Christians are not to let our own wisdom and understanding master over our sails of our soul.  God himself is to be the wind that encourages our sails.

Just as one might turn their boat or let the boom of the mast catch the wind, we too must let go and turn our attention on to God not our circumstances.  There, our interior sails will straighten out from their sag and find the right mind and heart set in God instead of our own strength and understanding.  The Christian soul no longer runs efficiently on the things of this world but on the things of God.  Mind, heart, Spirit (Note Ezekiel 36:26)

“…. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.  This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.  It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” Hebrews 6:18-19

That place we can only find and come in through by Jesus Christ who is the narrow gate.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” Matthew 7:13

 “Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.  They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.” John 10:9

In God’s good pastures we will find good things to help our soul endure and thrive.

Who’s understanding we use matters greatly.  Who we trust matters greatly. Who we know matters greatly.  Read Matthew 6:19-34

These Last Days Pt. 3

Redundancy of  the Good News.  Cont. Pt 2.

Does that scare you?  It scares me and I am saved.  It scares me for those people who have chosen not to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

That is why God is giving one last call.   He is having his pastors, teachers, evangelist, and servants, give the message of the Good News. 

Are you ready?  Are you prepared?  Did you know what it means to be saved?  Do you just know what the bible says just as Judas knew Christ but in the end was not saved because he was the son of the devil by his actions. 

Then Jesus said, "I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil."

 
Jesus chooses all of us but it is our choice to make in Lord of our life or not.

Why do you think God's messengers are giving the salvation message again and again?  Why do you think they are speaking with a sense of urgency?  Why do you think they are speaking as plainly as they can?   Souls are at stake!  You either will have Jesus in heaven or hell without him and there is no place out of hell once you are in hell and you can’t get to heaven without Jesus. (Note: Luke 6:19-31)

The Lord is Not Slow in Coming.  

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 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 done in it will be laid bare.”2 Peter 3:9-10

Repentance comes when we accept the Good News.  For how could a person be repentant if they don’t accept the Good News?

These Last Days Pt. 4

Sin & The Good News Cont. Pt3

“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.” 1 John 1:8-10

All of us will suffer from the affects of sin.  We will suffer the affects of our own sin and we will suffer the affects of other people’s sin in this life.   No one knows the affects of sin affecting their life better then our Lord Jesus Christ who paid the price for our sins on the cross.  Jesus was without sin yet he suffered the consequences of all our sin.

”For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

Some may have heard of the old Jewish system of sacrificing animals for sins, this was only a mere shadow… a foretelling of the REAL sacrifice- who was Jesus Christ.

 ^“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

 “We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.  And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.  For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty.   

He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.   For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us.  We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us.  God was being entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus.  Can we boost, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds.  It is based on our faith.  So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.”  Romans 3:22- 28

 You and I cannot be forgiven of our sins and go to heaven unless we sincerely tell God we are sorry for our sins and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of our life.  

An Effective Witness Part Two

I love the changing colors of the autumn.   How lawns and concrete sidewalks are temporarily decorated with festive warm colors that are shed from the standing trees above them.  These eye-feasting days are the evidence that another beautiful fall is upon us.   And just as we observe the changing colors that represent "Fall" we must also take note of the messages God is giving His pastors and people to share with His people, for they too are showing us the season in which we are living and heading in to.  Just as the seasons tell us what time of the year we are living so are the messages God gives to equip and ready His people for what is ahead and is to come.

God has always prepared His people for what is to come- since the very beginning.

“Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;’” Genesis 1:14 NKJV

And now…

“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree.  When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near.  Just so, when you see the events I’ve described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.”  Matthew 24:32-33 NLT (READ Matthew 24 when you get a chance.)

Present Messengers Messages

The messages and even in my studies with the Lord, there has been an emphasis on these themes:

1.     Jesus’ coming is near.

2.     Jesus is preparing and securing his people in himself before he comes.

3.     Persecution of bible believing Christians is going to increase.

Under preparing and securing his people are questions like these: “Are you really saved?” and “Do you know what it means to be saved?”

Why would God have his messengers ask such questions?

•  People accepting false teachings.
• People fallen into human understanding.
• People not living the way they should.
• People not educated in how one is saved.
• People are worried and uncertain in their salvation in Jesus Christ.
• God doesn’t want anyone to perish but have eternal life in heaven with him. (Note: 2 Peter 3:9)

If we are offended by such questions we should ask ourselves why?  I think we should be grateful to have such questions asked.  Such questions help us to refocus on what is important in this life and strengthen our faith in God.  God wouldn’t ask us these types of questions if he didn’t care, would he?

Someone might ask, “I go to church, doesn’t that make me a Christian?” I can stand in the produce department at the grocery store does that make me an apple, orange, banana or a grapefruit...? Hopefully not a grapefruit. :)

There were many times when I was persuaded to go to church - I got some “la la la” and then some “blah, blah, blah” but nothing really stuck.   My heart didn’t change and certainly my mindset didn’t change. 
 

 It wasn’t until I gave my life to God did the change take place. That is when I became a Christian.

“And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them.  I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead.” Ezekiel 11:19

I do many good works but does that make me a Christian?

Does a fire fighter, a law enforcement officer, a teacher, a medical physician, an athletic coach, do good works? Does that mean they are all Christians?

Even individuals in false religions do good works but do they believe Jesus Christ as being LORD and Savior?  Is Jesus Christ God of them? Is Jesus Christ – The WAY into heaven?  Are they depending on Jesus Christ to save them?

The word of God says, “ All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.  No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins.” Isaiah 64:6-7 NIV

If one depends on their own so-called “righteous acts” to try save themselves instead of Jesus Christ, their “good deeds” are worthless.  Their “good deeds” are filthy rags to God.  They are done in the wrong motive to only benefit the doer in temporary human praise and deny Christ as Lord and Savior.  This type of person becomes prideful, puffed up, legalistic, ignorant, jealous and foolish in their thinking.   It is the very opposite in how God works in our life.  (Note 1 Corinthians 13 & Galatians 5:16-26)

Our good deeds do not save us.  It is only through Jesus Christ that we can be saved.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

We don’t do good works to be saved but walk in good works because of what Jesus Christ has done in our lives. 

I haven’t killed anyone, done drugs, or stolen anything?  I consider myself a good person.  Does that make me a Christian?

Being a good person, does that give me right of passage into heaven?  A good person… according to whom… me, others, you or God?

“For all have sinned: all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty.  He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.  For God sent Jesus to take the punishment of our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us.   We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us….”  Romans 3:23-25

Without Jesus Christ, whatever you thought would secure you a place in heaven will vanish before your eyes and you will fall into the pit of hell.   Don’t be tricked.

Do you have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior of your life?

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

“There is a path before each person that seems right, but ends in death.” Proverbs 16:25

Jesus said, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.  The highway to hell is broad, and it’s gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way.  But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

“God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. - God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”  Matthew 5:10

Jesus said, “Yes, I am the gate.  Those who come in through me will be saved.  Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.   The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:9-11

Jesus said “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.  For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.  And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life- that I should raise them at the last day.” John 6:37-4

Life is short.  The devil only has a short time as well.  He wants to convince people of many different philosophies of thought concerning heaven but God has made it plain.  You and I can't have eternity in heaven unless we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior.   It wasn't some false prophet or ordinary man that split his blood for all of humanity but it was God's blood.  Jesus all man and all God.  Pure and without sin.  He was the sacrifice for our sins.  God's blood...  only God's blood can cover our sins.

I know sometimes in life to find real answers, we have to find no solution in us and/or humanity.   We have to be in a dark pit of sorts where we relinquish our life to God and God makes a way where there seemed to be no way.

God has made way- where there seemed to be no way and that is through Jesus Christ.

This message is not just important for those who haven’t got to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior but it is important to Christians as well….  It is a reminder that we cannot be an effective witness for Jesus Christ (a Christian) if we have something other then Jesus or added to Jesus as our foundation of our salvation.  Too much sand, too much water and the concrete will crumble.  This applies to everything in our life as well.  We not be consistent in all our ways unless our focus and trust in him.  God is always consistent.   He is always faithful.  Jesus needs to be our salvation in entirety- nothing more and nothing less.

Again Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, is preparing and securing his people in himself before he comes.

Before we know it all the colorful leaves will have fallen to the ground and disappeared.  It will be winter and if we don't take the messages we are given to heart, what will warm our hearts in the cold of winter? Is eternity with Jesus set in your heart?

I am anxious to see my Jesus are you?

I hope this speaks to you  

23 Minutes in Hell