The Insignificance of Mankind

The insignificance of mankind
Take a look at the accompanying pictures of Earth taken at various distances from the space probes sent out by N.A.S.A.
From Saturn, Mercury, Mars, the Moon and the voyager space craft at the time 4 billion miles from earth.
It shows  just how insignificant mankind is with respect to the universe.
So can you imagine a group of people saying,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” 
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
                                                                                                            John 1:1-4,14.

We believe that God himself took one small part of his infiniteness and became flesh. To live on that insignificant mote of dust floating in the universe
That he experienced everything there was to be a man, died in a most hideous way for a crime he didn’t commit, rose again from the grave and ascended to heaven.
As outrageous as it seems we Christians believe it.
The question then is why would we created a God that did such a thing if it were not real.
It seems so outrageous and would be counter productive to our cause if it were not true.
C. S. Lewis a non-believer intellectual, who studied Christianity with an open mind and thus became a convert, states of Christianity,
“I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.” 
            C.S. Lewis.
Christians believe that God convicts us of our sins, our short coming. It asks us to confess those sins directly to God and to do our best to live a life worthy of God with his help.
My favourite quote from C.S. Lewis is,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
                                                        C. S. Lewis.
God exists I know he exists because all around me I see an ordered universe and ordered wold.
The Psalmist says,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 
                                                                                                              Psalm 19:1
I cannot believe the Universe and everything in it just evolved by chance.
As a Christian I also believes the words of Job who said,
Take a look at this image,
Job said,
“He spreads out the northern  skies  over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.”
                        Job 26:7
Not bad for an iron age man who’d never gone into space.
Think about it.

God

God

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” 
                                                           John 1:1-4.
If there is one thing the Bible does not contest is whether there is a God or not. The Bible does not leave the existence of God up for debate.
Many today do not believe in God. That is their right in a free society. That is a right that God gave them.
But if God does not exist as the Atheist say then why are they offended by things like the ten commandments being in a court room. Is it not appropriate that the ten basic laws of humanity should be in a court room?
Other Atheist have asked and even gone to court in the United States to have scripture portions that have been on the walls of public schools for decades taken down because they find them offensive.
If there is no God are not the words of the Bible simply a good philosophy? One that cannot hurt?
C. S. Lewis said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
If there is no God then Christianity is of no importance. Therefore why would an Atheist wish to restrict where Christians can display their words of hope.
If there is no God why are over 200,000 Christians being persecuted around the world today? Why is one Christian dying every 14 minutes for their faith?
It seem extreme to me to persecute people who believe in something that doesn’t exist, a faith that states,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 
                                                                          Romans 12:18-21
A faith that also states,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” 
                                                                                                                                Romans 13:1
If nothing else Christianity is ingrained in the very fabric of western culture. It has helped make western society better.
As for me I believe there is a God a God who has given everyone a choice to believe He exists or not.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." 
                                                                                                         John 3:16-18.
Christianity gives you an option to believe or not. Jesus as I quoted above lays belief and unbelief on the line.
If you believe Jesus does not exist and you are right then you have nothing to fear. But if you are wrong you have a lot to fear.
Think about it.

A Child of God or A Person Condemned

A child of God or A person Condemned
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” 
                                                                                                            John 3:16-18
Are you prepared for eternity? Over the time I’ve been writing these blogs I’ve asked basically the same question. When you die will you stand before God as one of his children or as a criminal condemned?
John writes,
“Yet to all who received him(Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
                                                     John 1:12,13.
Jesus said as I have quoted above,
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
                                                                                                            John3:18 
There is no middle ground with Jesus any honest Christian will tell you that. You either believe who Jesus and accept him into your life or you do not. It’s that simple.
C. S. Lewis said,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” 
                                                                                                      C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
If you accept Jesus is who he said he is then you must accept what he taught to be true. Ultimately the decision is yours.
Where do you stand with respect to Jesus?
Where will you spend eternity?
Think about it.

Eternity

Eternity
“It's ironic that in our culture everyone's biggest complaint is about not having enough time; yet nothing terrifies us more than the thought of eternity.”
                                                   Dennis Miller American stand up comedian.
Our generation it seems fears death as have generations before us. Not knowing what is beyond the vale of death can be disturbing to say the least.
The Romans believed after death, souls would give an account of their lives standing before three judges. These judges would decide on where they would go in eternity, to the Fields of Asphodel, the Pit of Tartarus or if they were exceptionally good to the Elysium, the isles of the Blessed a place reserved for heros and gods.
They were ferried there over the river Styx by the demonic boatman Charon. A coin was place in the mouth of the deceased to pay the fare. It was believed the greater the value of the coin the smoother the ride.
Christians have no need to fear death or entering into eternity because we believe what the Bible says,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
                                 John 1:12,13
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 
John 3:16,17
Peter Marshall wrote,
“No tabloid will ever print the startling news that the mummified body of Jesus of Nazareth has been discovered in old Jerusalem. Christians have no carefully embalmed body enclosed in a glass case to worship. Thank God, we have an empty tomb. The glorious fact that the empty tomb proclaims to us is that life for us does not stop when death comes. Death is not a wall, but a door.” 
     Peter Marshall.
Eternity is a door for the Christian the key to which is knowing Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
I remember laying on my hospital bed. Three weeks or so earlier I’d had a successful cancer operation in which a cancerous tumour had been removed from my leg and a lymph node removed from my groin.
Unfortunately three blood clots had formed one ended up in my groin the other two had gone to my lungs.
I was rushed to hospital were I lay in bed for eight days. During that time I knew I run the risk of dying.
I remember going to God in prayer and saying God I want to live and I know you can heal me or at the very least let the medication the doctors are giving me work.
Never the less if you wish to call me home I am ready.”
A few day’s ago at my son’s wedding I met a friend of mine who’d had cancer far worse than I did. He to I found out had said such a prayer.
We also noted that non-Christians we met in hospital didn’t have such a hope. Yet everyone can have it.
Jesus said,
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” 
                                                             Revelations 3:20.
The key to knowing where one will spend eternity is simple.
It come down to who you think Jesus is and what his purpose on this earth was for,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” 
   John 3:16,17.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
                     John 14:6

   Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
Isaiah telling us, 
“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.” 
                                                                                             Isaiah 64:6
  John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 
       1 John 1:9,10.
Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                  Ephesians 2:8,9
Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                              Hebrews 11:1
What do you believe?
Think about it.

Eternity

Eternity

We are on a march to eternity whether we want to be or not. From the moment we are born we begin a march toward the grave and beyond.
One thing all philosophy’s, religions and even atheist agree on is that we will not get out of this world alive.
People fear death.
I don’t think it’s the death part they particularly fear it’s the not knowing what’s on the other side. It’s the finality. The fact they fear they will never see their relatives again.
In today’s society with all our knowledge those who don’t believe in Christ don’t know and fear what is beyond the grave.lit
I don’t think that fear has changed in thousands of years. For millennia societies have had elaborate death rituals. Placing things in graves that they felt their dear departed would need in the next world.
The Egyptian pyramids are the supreme example. Elaborate tombs build to show the grandeur of the person filled with gold, jewels and other item thought necessary for the after life.
Today in our so called enlightened society we still include mementos in the casket of the deceased.
What happens during the funeral and what is placed in the grave with the deceased is however unimportant.
I have known many people who have had a genuine fear of death. Others who couldn’t care less. People who have the philosophy eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.
My brother and atheist truly believes life ends in oblivion. How sad.
On the topic of life after death we are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Two very wise people born centuries apart made these comments,
The Venerable Mother Catherine Elizabeth McAuley (29 September 1778 – 11 November 1841) Irish nun, founder of the Sisters of Mercy in 1831, said,
“Each day is a step we make towards eternity and we shall continue thus to step from day to day until we take the last step, which will bring us into the presence of God.”
Billy Graham the famous American Evangelist said,
“My home is in Heaven. I'm just travelling through this world.”
Christians believe that if you believe that Jesus is the one and only Son of God you will know for certain where you will spend eternity.
The Bible is God’s directions to heaven.
Billy Graham said,
I'm going to Heaven just like the thief on the cross who said in that last moment: 'Lord, remember me.'”
                    Billy Graham.
The book of Luke records,
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 
                                                                                               Luke 23:39-43.
It’s that simple to know where you will spend eternity.
You must as the criminal did confess your sins to God, believe Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins and accept his saving grace.
Here is what I believe you must know to inherit eternal life with God.
It come down to who you think Jesus is and what his purpose on this earth was for,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” 
   John 3:16,17.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
                     John 14:6

   Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
Isaiah telling us,
“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.” 
                                                                                             Isaiah 64:6
  John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 
       1 John 1:9,10.
Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                  Ephesians 2:8,9
Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                              Hebrews 11:1
What do you believe?
Think about it.

A Bulwark

Faith

Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
            The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
It is only when leaders and people in general forget or don’t believe they will one day stand before a God that will judge them that horrible things happen.
History is full of such events, the pogroms of Russia, the Spanish inquisition, the holocaust of world war two, the list goes on and on.
When man loses his fear of God it seems bad things happen. Abba Hillel Silver got it write when he wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society...”
The Bible is the foundation of our western civilization. No atheist group has ever come up with a more comprehensive philosophy for mankind that can rival the Bible.
The Bible is all about relationships and love,
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17
John states,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
                                  John 1:12,13.
Someone who is truly a Christian loves because Jesus commanded us to love saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
Matthew 5:43-45.
James writes,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” 
                   James 2:12,13
Remember all of the Bible was written to primitive man. A savage time when races and nations were trying to crush and enslave one another.
Yet it could have been written today. I read one statistic that said more have been killed due to conflict in the twentieth century than in all the centuries prior and fourteen years into the twenty-first the killing continues.
Mankind has lost his fear of God. And I believe only the love of God can save the human race.
In order to do so however we must as individuals turn to God and ask Him into our lives.
Think about it.

Consider a pail blue dot from Voyager

Consider a pale blue dot from Voyager

“Consider that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, every human being who ever was lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religious, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there- on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam....”
  Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot A Vision of the Human Future in Space, 1997
I know many scientist, scholars, intellectuals and the average man on the street see this world as all we have.
They see the message of Christianity and say it can’t be. They see the vastness of the universe and look at a picture such as the above taken from Voyager four billion miles away from earth and say why would God come to such an insignificant “mote of dust.”
Paul writing to the Corinthians states,
“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.” 
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” 
                                                                                                                    1 Corinthians 1:18-25.
We may not be able to see God but we can see what he has created. Scientist knew there were atoms before they could see them. They knew there were different kinds of gasses before they could determine what they were. Planets around other stars before they could see them.
In the same way we can see God.
Psalm 19:1 states,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 
                                                                                                                                 Psalm 19:1
Take a look at that pale blue dot. It is at the perfect distance from the sun for life to exist. The perfect location in space for mankind to live and if provides everything man needs.
True mankind has messed it up. That’s because I believe man has fallen as the bible states, short of what God want’s him to be.
Even as I write this there is a conference at the United Nations on climate change. People around the world are protesting to try and get governments to cut back on pollution.
John B Harrington in his book "Essentials in Christian Faith" published in 1958, notes something that could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
   Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
Another Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God"                                                                                                                                                  2 Timothy 3:1-4.
To my mind, mankind is sliding to a lake that is filled with brimstone and the only way to stop ones slide is to take the hand of Jesus and accept the salvation only he can offer.
Think about it.                

A Door

A Door

“No tabloid will ever print the startling news that the mummified body of Jesus of Nazareth has been discovered in old Jerusalem. Christians have no carefully embalmed body enclosed in a glass case to worship. Thank God, we have an empty tomb. The glorious fact that the empty tomb proclaims to us is that life for us does not stop when death comes. Death is not a wall, but a door.” 
         Peter Marshall.
For the Christian it’s simple as Peter Marshall stated “Death is not a wall, but a door.” The Key to that door is accepting Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
We do not know how long we have on this earth, but however long or short that life may be God gives us a choice. To accept Christ as your Lord and Saviour or reject him.
Fulton J. Sheen wrote,
“Never forget that there are only two philosophies to rule your life: the one of the cross, which starts with the fast and ends with the feast. The other of Satan, which starts with the feast and ends with the headache.” 
Jesus himself made two statements that may seem blunt but are completely true. He said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” 
                                                                                                           John 3:16-18.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
                John 14:6
The question is are you willing to follow the way?
Think about it.

Foolishness

Foolishness?

I met a man one time who had very little good to say about Christians. He called Christians brainwashed, even deluded. He said the Bible didn’t make sense. When I asked him how much of the Bible he had read he acknowledged not much. He had relied on other people.
The man is however not alone. Many well read intellectuals and scholars say the same thing.
The Apostle Paul wrote of such people.
“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.” 
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” 
1 Corinthians 1:18-25.
Even in the time of Jesus most of the religious leaders of his day refused to call him the Messiah. They expected a conquering ruler that would lead them against their oppressors.
Even to day those of the Jewish faith cannot admit that Jesus is the Messiah.
Kenneth Scott Latourette said,
“The most that one of Jewish faith can do - and some have gladly done it - is to say that Jesus was the greatest in the long succession of Jewish prophets. None can acknowledge that Jesus was the Messiah without becoming a Christian.”
                                                         Kenneth Scott Latourette
Such and admission from any faith leader especially that Jesus was the Son of God the Jewish Messiah calls into doubt what they believe.
Jesus did not come to earth in the way man would have expected. That’s because God does not use man’s logic.
Jesus was born of lowly parentage in order that he could rightly and justly tell all who will stand before him that he understands what it is to be human.
Jesus knows it all. He lived on this earth.
Think about it. He experienced what you and I have experienced. The sun on our face. The rain as it came down. The smell of flowers in bloom. He went to weddings that’s recorded and if he did that he more than likely went to other parties.
He knows what it feels like to be wrongly accused of a crime. To be beaten without mercy and to die in a most hideous way.
That’s why now when a man stands before him in eternity he can say “I understand.”
If God had used man’s logic Jesus would have come as a mighty King. But most kings don’t know what it’s like to live in a small house. To have to budget for food. To do the day to day things the average person does.
A.W. Tozer wrote,
“If man had his way, the plan of redemption would be an endless and bloody conflict. In reality, salvation was bought not by Jesus' fist, but by His nail-pierced hands; not by muscle but by love; not by vengeance but by forgiveness; not by force but by sacrifice. Jesus Christ our Lord surrendered in order that He might win; He destroyed His enemies by dying for them and conquered death by allowing death to conquer Him.” 
Alexander the Great conquered much of the known world. The Romans did likewise. Napoleon, Hitler and many more attempted to conquer the world. All are in their grave the empires they strived to create by force are gone.
Yet today on this earth over two millennia after his death and resurrection Jesus has a following estimated at 2,200,000.
Historians call him the greatest man that ever lived.
Not bad for a carpenter from a small nondescript village in a backwater area of the Roman empire.
When two disciples stood trial for preaching in the name of Jesus a wise man rose in their defence and said,
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
                              Acts 5:38,39.
Over two thousand years later I would say the movement started, what we today call Christianity is of God. For it has not stopped increasing in numbers no matter the persecution.
Today people everywhere are given the same choice as the people were when Jesus walked this earth.
To believe or not to believe in him.
Think about it.

The Cost of a Free Gift

The Cost of a Free gift

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
        Romans 5:8
I have written many times that Christians believe salvation and eternal life are free gifts from God. But that while technically correct is not entirely true.
Free gifts no matter what they are or where they are from have somewhere along the line been paid for by someone.
Salvation for us is free but it was costly for Christ. It cost him his life. The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans stating,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
        Romans 5:8
And just because it is free for us it doesn’t mean that we don’t have to do anything.
Paul goes on to say,
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
                      Romans 12:2
We cannot continue in our sin. In our old way of life. In order to follow Christ we may have to go as far as changing our job. Assessing who we associate with. Asking ourselves would Jesus want me to be doing what I’m doing?
In order to truly know what God would want for our lives I don’t believe we can simply listen to preachers and evangelist.
We need to read the Bible and do what it says. What better way to learn than doing reading the bible ourselves.
Even a non-believer can learn a great deal about Christ by reading at least the new Testament.
My challenge to the non-believer is to read the new testament particularly the books of Mark, John, Luke and Acts.
Mark because it’s concise and to the point.
John because it presents the non-believer with a salvation message to think about.
Luke because prominent modern historians have called Luke an historian of the first rank.
Acts because it gives a brief look at the early church and how they approached people.
Think about it

The Christian and God

The Christian and God

C. S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” 
                                                C.S. Lewis.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
                                       Romans 5:6-11
Christians believe in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That God reached down to man and offers him salvation.
The apostle Paul makes it clear,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                            Ephesians 2:8,9 
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote of Christ,
“Not hero worship, but intimacy with Christ.” 
                                                    Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 
Jesus is unlike any other person we are called to come into a personal relationship with him.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                          Matthew 11:28-30
The apostle John writes,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
                              John 1:12,13.
This is what Christianity is all about becoming children of God. As far as I know no other religion in the world makes this offer.
Think about it.

Not all are Christians

Not all are Christians

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
                                                                                            Mahatma Gandhi
An admission from a Christian of forty-one years. Not everyone who claims to be Christian is a Christian. Mahatma Gandhi got it right.
There are many who go to church all their life and live in Christian circles that are not Christian.
There are very many in the media that are not Christian and claim to be. Some are simply in it for the money, some misguided, others simply not well educated.
Even Jesus said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” 
                                                                                                       Matthew 7:22,23.
To the Christian and non-Christian reading this I would say be cautious of those who claim to be Christian and are not. Many want to lead people down the garden path. Some trying to get peoples money.
I think especially in our wired world it is at times hard to see who the true Christians are in the media.
At the click of a mouse we can watch and listen to hundreds if not thousands of evangelist and pastors from all over the world.
What we can’t see however, at least until they make a major slip or someone discloses who they are is what they are doing in their personal lives.
Are they truly living a moral life. Are they spending the majority of the money they are raising to reach people for Christ? Or, are they lining their own pockets.
Even if you meet some pastors and evangelist it can be hard to tell.
A pastor or evangelist who is very charismatic or flamboyant can steer people wrong. So can one who is not. You cannot know what is in the mind of someone.
I remember back in I think it was the late seventies a man named Jim Jones who talked a large number of people into going with him to South America where they all committed mass suicide.
There are however I believe thankfully, far more legitimate Christians out there. Men and women who truly love God, and are doing what they feel he wants them to do.
You will find them in church congregations around the world. These are the people who welcome you in the name of Christ and show genuine love for you.
Jesus said to his disciples the following, and without a doubt it defines what a Christian is.
1/ Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                 Matthew 22:37-40
2/ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
Matthew 5:43-46
3/ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 
                                                                                                              John 13:34,35
Christianity is first and foremost a faith of love. It is God reaching down to mankind in love.
To quote Jesus again,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17  
For a Christian to no show love even if he or she dose not agree with the person I would doubt if he was a Christian. If they are, they have not studied and put into practice the teachings of Christ.
God through Jesus offers eternal life to everyone who will accept him into their heart and life.
And Christianity is if nothing else is diverse. It ranges everything from the formal service loaded with symbolism that mean a great deal to many followers of Christ.
At the other end of the spectrum is the contemporary in which the services are modern and with contemporary music and in some cases even dance.
Christ’s call for everyone is to come to him and at least listen with an open mind to what he has to say.
Will you?
Think about it.

A Promise A Warning

A promise  A Warning.

Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 
                                                                                               John 3:16-18.
Jesus tells us how to get to heaven and warns us of the consequences of unbelief. He makes it very simple. Believe and you have eternal life. Don’t and you stand condemned.
This is a promise and a warning to everyone who can understand what Jesus is saying.
Paul writing to the Ephesians said,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                          Ephesians 2:8,9.
The simple belief of the Christian is that God offers us eternal life for free. Christians note that you cannot be good enough to get to heaven so all we must do is accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
If we do not the waring is
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
God gives all men everywhere the opportunity to accept or reject Christ. There is no middle ground.
At the same time he offers eternal life he warns that those who fail to do so are condemned because of their unbelief.
Jesus does not try to soft soap the consequences of unbelief. He makes it clear the choice is ours.
If what the Bible says about Jesus and how we get to heaven is wrong. Then the unbeliever has no fears. If however they are correct as I believe they are. The unbeliever has a lot to worry about.
Think about it.

Atheist and God

Atheist and God

“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” 
                                                                             C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
I once got into a debate with an atheist. He in all seriousness said he couldn’t see God therefore God didn’t exist.
To which I said he couldn’t see love therefor by his reasoning Love didn’t exist. He argued that it wasn’t the same, but it is. Just because you can’t see anything doesn’t mean it nonexistent.
This man pointed out to me that the Genesis account of creation was wrong. That the world couldn’t have been made in six days.
It threw him for a loop when I told him it didn’t matter to me if the world was made in six day or six billion years. The only thing I believed was important was that it was made by God and that God truly exists.
In the end however belief in God is a faith thing.
Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                          Hebrews 11:1
The writer of Hebrews going on to point out
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
                                                                                        Hebrews 11:6.
For me I think it is important for the individual to decide for themselves whether God exists or not, and if the teachings of Christ are true.
As C. S. Lewis said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
The Choice is up to you.
Think about it.

An Option

Options

Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” 
                                                                                               John 3:16-18.
Everyone in this life has a decision to make. We can accept the love and salvation God has to offer or we can reject it.
There is no middle ground. God does not play favourites. He says to everyone everywhere I have sent my One and Only Son to the earth to you in Love.
If you believe in Him you have the guarantee of eternal life.
If you reject him you are condemned already because of your unbelief.
It may seem like harsh words but God is being entirely truthful. Jesus makes no secret when he says,
... “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
John 14:6 
We don’t have to work for our salvation. We cannot work our way to heaven by doing good works. We are human and constantly fall short of God’s ideal for our lives. That’s why the apostle Paul writes reminds us,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.”
                                                                           Ephesians 2:8,9.
Are you willing to accept the salvation Jesus offers or not. The choice is always yours.
Think about it.

Weary and Burdened

Weary and burdened

As I write this the comedian Robin Williams has just died. He struggled for many years with mental illness. Sadly it got to him.
I understand what Mr. Williams was going through it is very hard. You see I live with Bipolar affective disorder (manic depression).
Bipolar disorder sends the person between high, highs and low lows with a period of stability in the middle. For me most of my time I do spend down. Although now twenty plus years after I was diagnosed it is relatively under control.
I liken having Bipolar as being in a high powered sports car. You are driving along the road at a high speed the wind is whipping your hair the adrenalin is pumping there’s no feeling like it.
However that all ends as the car suddenly stops and you jump into a pit of mud wallowing up to your neck in mud and despair. Then just when you think you can’t take it any more you’re back in that sports car racing down the road again the cycle repeating.
The other illustration I usually use is imagine you’re in a snow globe. Simultaneously your inside the globe and you’re holding it.
You start shaking the globe you know intellectually you’re doing it, that you’re causing the storm to rage all around you in the globe but you’re powerless to stop it so the anguish continues.
When your high it is better than any drug. You feel invincible. You can do anything. I use to do two, three, five, six jobs all at the same time and not get anything finished.
It’s a case of get out of my way I can do it better and faster. Let me do it.
 As a professional clown I’ve performed when my moods were high and it works out great. Your mind is sharp, going a mile a minute it made me I think a better clown. The comedy just kept coming.
On the other end however is the dark side. Whey you enter that pit of despair that you can’t seem to get out of.
Ecclesiastes states,
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
                      Ecclesiastes 1:14.
That could have been a statement I would make when I am on the down side of my illness.
One in five people will suffer from some form of mental illness in their life time it is the same inside the church as outside.
For me several things have made a difference in my life.
My family doctor and psychiatrist both of whom know their stuff and have helped me get on the right medications.
Then there’s group therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
My wife and family who have supported me through some of the darkest days of my life when suicide was heavy on my mind.
Many families and marriages break up because of the illness.
Also there was my faith. My belief in God and Christ who are a major part of my life and lifestyle.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
                                                  Matthew 11:28-30.
In my darkest hours I have gone to God in prayer and I have been comforted. I have been pulled back from the brink. And I have drawn closer in my relationship with Jesus.
Sadly hundreds of people circum to suicide as the result of a mental illness every year.
Many people do not want to admit they have a mental health problem for fear of being ostracised. They are afraid of the stigma that goes with mental illness.
We would never say to a person with diabetes or a broken leg that it is not real or ostracise them, so why would we do it to someone with mental illness. Yet people think nothing about doing so.
Someone with mental illness needs all the help and love we can give them. We need to be there for them.
Think about it.
Post Script
If you or someone you know is behaving oddly. If they tend to be depressed for long periods of time or are doing things that are out of character for them. Talk to them. Have them visit a doctor
Mental illnesses do go undiagnosed for long periods of time. I know for me looking back I probably had signs showing as early as twenty years prior to my diagnosis. But people simply put it down to me being me.
People who suspect they may have clinical depression, Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or any other mental illness need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
In Canada the Canadian Mental Health Association can help.
Psychiatrists are covered under the various provincial health programs and your family doctor will know where to direct you for help.
Remember Mental illness is real and can lead to suicide and death. Please do not take it lightly. Get help.

Words from Ecclesiastes

Words from Ecclesiastes

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun...
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9,14
Looking at the above verses from Ecclesiastes he seems to sum up the plight of man at least from the prospective of some atheists I’ve spoken to.
They have a simple outlook on life, you’re born, you live your life, you die. All that matters is what is done in this life. Whether you live it to the full or simply exist is it up to you.  After death there is only oblivion.
I can’t buy into that. The writer of Ecclesiastes ends his book by saying,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
We do have a choice in this world as to what we do. We can put our faith in God and in the redeeming grace of His one and Only Son Jesus Christ or we can choose to reject his offer and turn from God.
I as a Christian have nothing to fear from living a life for Christ at it’s best it is an honourable, moral lifestyle that can be lived to the full. At the end of which I enter into an eternity with God.
For someone who does not believe however they are rolling the dice with regards to how they will spend eternity.
Are you willing to roll that dice?
Think about it.

His Importance

His Importance

I believe it was Kenneth Scott Latourette, former President of American Historic Society who wrote about Jesus saying,
“It is evidence of His importance, of the effect that He has had upon history and presumably, of the baffling mystery of His being that no other life ever lived on this planet has evoked so huge a volume of literature among so many people and languages, and that, far from ebbing, the flood continues to mount.”
“As the centuries pass by, the evidence is accumulating that measured by its effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet. The influence appears to be mounting.”
“No other life lived on this planet has so widely and deeply affected mankind.”
Many have tried to dismiss Jesus. Some have said he is nothing more than a myth, but myths don’t effect history appreciably.
All the mythical Roman and Greek god’s were superheros of a kind, and they had little effect on civilization. They certainly don’t effect society in the twenty-first century.
Even the emperors of Rome did not have the same effect on history as this humble carpenter from a back water village in a back water province of the Roman emperor.
More evidence exists today from ancient writings about Jesus than about all the Roman emperors.
Historians and archeologist tell us that little of anything survives from the time of Jesus. Yet much survives about this humble man.
Jesus unlike the caesars of Rome, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and others who conquered the world by force, never drew a sword in anger.
He never lead triumphant armies or conquered any lands.
Instead Jesus a man of peace today leads a following estimated at two point two billion.
A man once approached Jesus and asked,
“”Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                           Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus was a man of peace. This Jesus rather than calling his followers to destroy their enemies said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? “ 
Matthew 5:43-46.
In instilling in his followers the need to show unconditional love to all mankind the teachings of Jesus have reached around the world.
The caesars of Rome, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and others are dead in their grave, for the most part forgotten. Few even knowing what they ever said.
Yet this man who never led a conquering army or ruled a nation today is the head of a following that exceeds two billion people.
A following that is showing love to the world.
His call to all mankind,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                                     Matthew 11:28-30 
Think about it.