You

You
Joel Osteen the American evangelist said,
“God didn’t make a mistake when He made you. You need to see yourself as God sees you.” Joel Osteen.
Osteen has a point. In the world we live in today, advertisers and the media try to dictate to us what is the ideal for you as a person. The fashion industry and the fitness industry spend billions trying to get us to buy their product so you can “look right” and “feel right”.
They present to the world a false ideal that is meant to sell their product by, saying we are lacking.
Sadly there are also many calling themselves Christians who are selling the same message wrapped up in a Christian package.
Now there’s nothing wrong with being in good shape, or looking nice. However few people can look like what the advertising media portray. And sadly too many obsess with trying to get “the look” the media say with should have.
Unfortunately it is because people buy into the media hype that can lead people into despair. They buy all the “right products”. Yet fail to get the “right results”. Which leads to a negative self image.
We need to see ourselves as God sees us. The Psalmist writes,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16.
I have said many times that the Psalmist is telling us that God knows us completely right down to our very DNA.
Every person is unique and every person is loved by God. My bible tells me God loves us irrespective of who we are or what we look like. Thus we need to love ourselves.
As Christians and for that matter non-Christians we need to follow God’s example. We need to do this because loving others and loving ones self is a universal truth we all can agree with.
 The apostle Paul setting the standard for Christian love when he said,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs.

 Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                          1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
Do you practice this kind of love not only toward others but toward yourself?
Please think about it.

Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus?
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:13-16.
Over the years I’ve debated with non-Christians who Jesus is. I know there are many in the world who do not believe Jesus is who he says he is. I respect their position.
However I do not feel I need to defend my position as a believer. With Jesus you either believe who He is or you don’t.
I however believe as the early church did. The disciples of Jesus, his friends and the first century church believed him to be the Christ, the Saviour of mankind, the Son of God, the suffering Messiah who takes away the sins of the world.
The writers of the New Testament do not back down from this belief. True believers in Christ even today have these beliefs as the core of their faith.
Henry Ward Beecher said,
“If Christ is not divine, every impulse of the Christian world falls to a lower octave, and light and love and hope decline.”  Henry Ward Beecher.
If what Christians believe is wrong then Christians have lived a good life in following what Jesus said, because at the very least Jesus was a good moral teacher.
If on the other hand Christians are right those who do not believe in Jesus have a lot to fear.
The book of Hebrews states,
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ? 
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ? 
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Hebrews 1:3-6.
Jesus I know is a controversial person. Either you believe He is all the writers of the New Testament says He is or you do not. The Choice is yours.
It is my hope you will take time to read what the New Testament writers have to say about Jesus and make your own decision.
Please think about it

God Reached Down

God Reached Down

God saw a lost and dying world

and

God reached down to mankind.

God realized that people could never be good enough for Him

so

God reached down to mankind.

God so loved mankind,

that

God reached down to mankind.

On that day 

as Christ hung on the cross,

God was reaching down to mankind.

I know 

God reached down to mankind,

because the apostle John tells us,

“God so loved the world that,

 He gave

His one and Only Son.

That

whosoever believes in Him 

Should not perish 

But

Have Eternal Life.”

“God did not 

send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to 

save the world

 through him.” 

John 3:16,17

That is why God reached down to mankind.

The apostle Paul wrote,

“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

God is reaching out to you today.

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

Will you accept Christ’s saving grace 

And 

The eternal peace God is offering you?

Please think about it.

Your Legacy

Your legacy
The writer of Proverbs states,
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 
Proverbs 22:6.
Billy Graham said,
“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” 
What will your legacy be to your children. A hand full of pocket change? Some nice trinkets? Stocks and bonds? A mansion? A mud hut?
When my father and mother died they left me a few thousand in insurance money, some furnishings, pictures and other odds and ends.
They also however left me with my faith although they may not have thought they did.
My parents were lower middle class emigrants to Canada. They like all emigrants had their struggles but they gave me and my siblings a good childhood.
They also left us with the ability to think for ourselves. To question things. As soon as we were old enough to talk we were encouraged to think for ourselves and form our own opinion.
I can remember in my early teens discussing politics and religion with my parents. We’d discuss things we seen on the news, in the paper or on radio.
There were many times I disagreed with them especially on religion. Still my parents respected my beliefs even though at times they’d do their best to change my opinion.
It lead to some lively debates and I believe it moulded me into what I am today.
        Because those discussions with my parents, that were at times very lively. I have come to believe that Jesus is indeed the Son of God the Saviour of mankind.
It is this I have passed on to my own children. I like my parents before me encouraged my children to have an opinion on things. I encouraged them to search out the truths I presented them from the bible. To see for themselves if what I told them was right or wrong.
I never stopped them from looking at things contrary to what I believed. Which they did. The result for me has been a good one. Both my children are Christians and serve the Lord in various ways, both here at home in Canada and around the world.
Joshua Loth Liebman wrote,
“Give your children unconditional love, a love that is not dependent on report cards, clean hands, or popularity.  Give your children a sense of your whole-hearted acceptance, acceptance of their human frailties as well as their abilities and virtues.  Give your children your permission to grow up to make their own lives independent of you.  Give them a sense of truth; make them aware of themselves as citizens of a universe in which there are many obstacles as well as fulfilment’s.  Bestow upon your child the blessings of your faith.  These are the laws of honouring your son and your daughter.  Out of these laws will be built the Declaration of Independence for the coming generation, a spiritual and emotional independence that, in turn, will make the world free, democratic, safe, creative.”
What Liebman said, to me is saying what the writer of Proverbs wrote,
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22:6.
For me my faith, God, and my family, are the most important things in my life. As a Christian I can conceive of no greater blessing, no greater legacy, that I can bestow on my family than that of my faith. It gives them hope both in this world and the world to come.
What legacy will you leave for your family?
Please think about it.

The Need

The Need
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.”Abba Hillel Silver.
I for one believe there is a God. I believe it for many reasons but one is that in order for man to have survived he had to have a common sense of values. If for example one group believe in the sanctity of life and refused to take life and another thought nothing of taking life. There is the potential for man to drive himself to extinction.
I can’t believe primitive man suddenly convened a global conference and etched out a set of common human rights.
I believe God wrote into man’s heart the common values that all people around the globe believe in today.
I also see God’s handy work in the world around me. Everything is build in such away as to make it possible for life to exist as we know it on this earth. I cannot believe this is by chance.
Mathematics is showing there is a link to everything from the greatest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particle.
As the Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1
The Psalmist also states,
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”Psalm 111:10.
It is only when man realizes there is a God to answer to that he will act in a right manner toward their fellow man.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“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 only have to look at Hitler and his henchmen who killed millions in his death camps and a war that cost in excess of 56,000,000 lives.
Terrorist today have no fear of God’s wrath and are killing thousands if not millions.
On a lesser scale in our cities around the world there are those who would murder and steal irrespective of man’s laws and the threat of punishment.
What our society needs is to turn back to God. For it is only by trusting and following His laws that society will be made a better place.
Please think about it.

A Controversial man

A controversial man
The gospel of John records this incident in the life of Jesus. John records,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.” 
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” John 10:24-32.
From the time Jesus walked on this earth he has been a controversial person. When the Jews of his day asked Jesus who he was he told them so. They however did not believe him.
There is no middle ground with Jesus. True Christians believe Jesus is the One and Only Son of God. The Saviour of mankind.
Yet there are many in the world who refuses to believe in Him. They say He is simply a good man, or perhaps a prophet. Some would even deny the existence of Jesus.
Jesus however changed the world. Within about a century of his death his had followers had taken his message of salvation throughout the Roman empire. Even today as I write this thousands of people are hearing about Jesus and accepting Him as their personal Lord and Saviour.
For many today even in the western democracies where access to a bible is easy. Where a person can enter a church without fear. People sadly rely on the words of others as to who Jesus is. They have not actually read the Bible and in particular they have never read the New Testament that talks about Jesus and the Christian life.
What I would challenge you the reader to do is take some time and read at least the New Testament. Find out for yourself what it says.
There is an app called the You Bible. It is a free download and give you access to various versions of the bible so you can read it for yourself.
If you don’t want to go to the app. Bibles are available in book stores throughout the western world. Many churches give out free bibles without obligation to those who wish to study them.
I would also suggest you go and ask to speak to the pastor of a church. I generally recommend Baptist churches world wide. They will answer your questions.
The key here however is explore the teachings of Jesus and the apostles and decide for yourself what is truth.
Please think about it

Christian to non-Christian

Christian to non-Christian
The Psalmist wrote,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16.
I am writing here as a Christian to non-Christians. I firmly believe there are many out there claiming to be Christians but are far from it. And if you are not a Christian knowing who is and who isn’t can be impossible.
Jesus anticipating such a thing even 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.
Above I quoted from Psalm 139. The way I see this is the writer of the psalm I quoted is telling us God knows the individual completely right down to their genetic code.
I believe only God and the person truly knows what makes a person who they are. No one else can possibly know. That is why I would question at the very least the theology of a Christian who is judging non-Christians.
The apostle Paul writing to Christians in Corinth said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Christians do have a message to present to the world Jesus tells Christians,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.   Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
That message Jesus commanded His followers to take to the world can be summed up by what Jesus said when speaking of himself, 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.
It is this message that true Christians realize they must present to the world. Beyond that Jesus made several key statements as to how Christians are to act.
He said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
You can’t have a more complete statement than that when it comes to Christian living. Christians should be doing to other people what they would want them to be doing to themselves.
Jesus did not stop there, when 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 however did not stop there he 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.” Matthew 5:43-45.
True Christians will follow these principles. They will not judge the world but Love the world.
Please think about it.

Love in the World

Love in the World
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver in a sermon December 22nd 1940 said,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate.  Love is always a refuge.  Hate is never a refuge.  Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates.  But love is the enduring sanctuary of life.  Life may rob you of many things.  It often does.  But it can never bereave us of love itself.  That remains.” Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader.
What he said is true. Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in hate,
Anne Frank a young Jewish girl who hid from the Nazis in world war two Netherlands. A young girl who sadly would later die in a death camp as a result of hate, wrote,
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can?  And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!  If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world.  Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible.  Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving!  No one has ever become poor from giving!” Anne Frank
What Anne said was absolutely true. Another Jew, Jesus, when asked said,
 “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 however did not stop there he 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.” Matthew 5:43-45.
He also made the statement,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
The apostle Paul defined love saying,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, 

it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,

 it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                                                  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13

Whether you are a Christian or not you cannot deny what Jesus said is true.
As I look around the world today there is a lot of hate, be that hate on an industrial scale as shown by terrorist groups, or on the streets of many cities with gangs or individuals.
The world needs to be showing more love. Francis of Assisi wrote,
There is a wonderful prayer attributed to Francis of Assisi that states,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 

                                                        Francis of Assisi 

Perhaps all of us should be practising what Francis of Assisi is saying because no matter who you are showing Love to the world around you can do no harm. And just might make you life and that of others infinitely better.
Please think about it. 

On Jesus

On Jesus
Flavius Josephus, born 34 A.D. A Jewish historian, who became a Pharisee at 19, later commander, of the Jewish forces in Galilee.  Was captured by Romans and attached to their headquarters. Wrote,
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first, did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.”
Julian the Apostate, Roman Emperor from 361-363 A.D. was reportedly one of the most “gifted” ancient adversaries to Christianity. In his work against Christianity wrote,
“Jesus…has now been celebrated about three hundred years having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it is a very great work to heal lame and blind people and exorcise demoniacs in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany.”
But at the end of his life was forced to say: “Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
The book of John records,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.” 
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” John 10:24-32
C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity 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
Throughout history Jesus has remained a controversial figure. The debate on who He is continues among non-Christians to this day.
Ultimately however it comes down to the individuals decision. To your decision dear reader. Who do you think Jesus is?
Please think about it.

Meaningless?

Meaningless?

“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” 
“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”    Isaiah 40:6-8.
The other day I was thinking about my mother she died young of cancer in her fifties.
My grandmother, her mother lived until her late nineties. Out living my mother by some twenty almost thirty years.
When I think of them I realize their lives were but a mist in time.
They were ordinary people. They didn’t accomplish great things but they had a good full life with family and friends around them. And that is all most people can expect.
Throughout the years I’ve read about and heard of talented musicians in particular, that have died by their own hand or of drug overdoses. For all their success they found it seems little meaning in life.
I know of people from various strata of society that simply find life meaningless. Sadly I know many who have attempted suicide.
Some can identify with the words of  William Wordsworth who wrote,

“We poets in our youth begin in gladness;      

but therefore came in the end to despondency and madness.’

Even the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote,
“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.
And from a strictly human prospective its easy to think life has no meaning.
As someone who lives with Bipolar disorder (Manic depression)I understand what it is to look around and find everything meaningless. When I’m in deep depression everything seems meaningless.
However I know there is a God who loves me. A God who is there for me in my darkest hour. A God whom I believe has connected me with the right doctors, Psychiatrist and others who have helped me through some of the darkest days of my life.
Without God in my life my life would be meaningless.
However I know that no matter how deep the valley or how high the mountain top, my God is with me. That there is always hope.
Sadly all too many people in this world do not have that hope. They to paraphrase Wordsworth in their youth begin in gladness but their life ends in despondency and madness.
This should not be so because the voice of Jesus echos through the centuries saying,
“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.” Matthew 11:28,29.
I have found these words of Jesus to be true. He does give those who truly believe in Him rest for their souls no matter how dark the valley they may be going through.
Please think about it?
Post Script.
I mentioned I have a mental health issue. I am not alone it is estimated here in Canada and the United States one in five people have mental health issues.
Mental health issues are as real as any physical ailment. If you or someone you know is going through periods of deep depression for long periods at a time, hearing voices, hallucinating, or acting strangely, contact your family doctor and get help.
Sadly most people with a mental health issue will suffer in silence and not get help.
In Canada all provincial health plans cover treatment for mental health problems. If you need help in Canada you can also contact the Canadian Mental Health Association who will help you get help.
Other western countries have similar organizations.
Don’t wait to get help. The sooner you get help the better things will be.  

A Challenge

A challenge

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26.
My Question is do you believe this.
The New Testament makes it clear as to who the early Church thought Jesus was. He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Saviour of minkind.
What I would ask the non-Christian is to get a copy of the New Testament and read it carefully asking God to show his reality to you.
Read it for yourself. Even visit a Church. I alway recommend a Baptist church in most areas of the world. But in Canada I also recommend the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada churches.
Go into the church even if its not on a Sunday and ask to speak to a pastor about his or her faith. Any good and honest pastor will gladly take time to tell you what they believe and why.
Please think about it.

Christ is divine

Christ is divine
Henry Ward Beecher wrote,
“If Christ is not divine, every impulse of the Christian world falls to a lower octave, and light and love and hope decline.”  Henry Ward Beecher.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“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.
Both Lewis and Beecher express what Christians believe about Jesus. He is divine. He is the one and Only Son of God. He is God incarnate. He is the Saviour of Mankind.
I know to non-Christians Jesus may be at best a good man and moral teacher. That however is not the way Christians see Him.
The New Testament quotes Jesus as saying,
“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 writer of Hebrews tells us,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
Note the writer states Jesus is the exact representation of God’s being.
The apostle Paul states,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13.
Early Christians believed and true Christians today believe that Jesus is the Lord and Saviour of mankind. That by believing in Him we will have our sins forgiven and get to heaven. The apostle John stating,
“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.” 1John 1:9-10
The apostle Paul also notes,
“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.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
I as a Christian admit that some of what Christians believe may seem at times hard to believe but I believe that, that is what God wants.
God wants people to follow Him by faith, but not blind faith.
 God and all true believers in Christ would ask people to study the New Testament and indeed the whole Bible for themselves and make their own decision.. For it is in studying the Bible that one will find the truth about God and Jesus.
Please think about it.

Eternal Consequences

Eternal consequences

“Atheism is cheap on people through because it snobbishly says nine out of ten people through history have been wrong about God and have had a lie at the core of their hearts.” Peter John Kreeft ph.d.
Over the years I’ve had Atheist friends, my brother is an atheist and frankly I believe they have the right to their opinion and belief.
However to my mind what they espouse is counter to what the majority of people who live or have ever lived believe in.
History tells us that every culture in the world believes in an after life. The Egyptians built great monuments to usher their leaders into the next world.
Other cultures placed grave goods deemed essential for the next life in the graves of their departed.
I know people can look and say the ancient civilizations were not as intelligent as us. But the builders of the pyramids were not dummies. Nor were the Greek philosophers.
Yet all believed in a life after death.
I know I will not convince the most ardent atheist there is a God. Some people will never believe in God no matter what the proof. The apostle Paul said,
“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.
The apostle Paul spoke the following in Athens. It tells plainly what Christians believe and are certain of. He said,
“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
“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 hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each 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.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”  Acts 17:22-31.
If what Paul has said is not true then Christians have little to fear for if there is no God then no harm can come to the Christian or anyone.
However if what Paul and all Christians believe is true then at the very least the non-believer in Christ has a lot to, at the very least think about, because their decision can have eternal consequences.
What do you believe?
Please think carefully about it.

The Way to Heaven

The Way to heaven
The following is what I believe is the way to heaven. I believe it is simple and open to anyone, and I mean anyone to follow.
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.
The next step comes down to who you believe Jesus is. The writer of Hebrews explaining,
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ? 
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ? 
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Hebrews 1:3-6.
Jesus himself said,
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 next step is difficult for some people. We have to admit we are sinners. Sin is simply falling short of God’s ideal for our lives. All people sin from the Pope, to evangelist, to pastors, to the people sitting in the pew of the church, to the person on the street who has never been in a church.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans states,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,...” Romans 3:23.
There is however hope. The apostle John states,
“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.
We Christians believe you cannot work your way to heaven. Salvation, eternity in heaven with God is an act of faith. The Apostle Paul 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.
Faith in God and Christ’s redeeming sacrifice saves us.
Jesus speaking of Himself gave us all a choice, when 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.
The Choice ultimately comes down to you who are reading this. Do you believe Jesus is the One and Only Son of God, the Saviour of Mankind or not.
If you do believe that He is the Son of God, then Salvation is as simple as a prayer like this,
Dear Heavenly Father,
I believe in You. I believe that Jesus is your one and only Son. That he came to earth to die for my sins.
Please forgive my sins this day and come into my life. That I may spend eternity with you.
In Jesus name I pray amen.
If you have prayed that prayer in all sincerity I would suggest that you now find a copy of the Bible. There is a free down load called the ‘you version’ bible app that allows you to download various version of the bible. It’s a good app.
When it comes to the Bible there are a lot of translations, I personally use the New International version and the New King James versions. They are in modern English and easy to read.
I recommend starting in the New Testament. You don’t have to read a lot each day. A chapter is good.
When you come to a genealogy such as in the first chapter of Matthew you might want to skip it at first, although it shows the link between Jesus and those in the Old Testament.
 Before you read, pray and ask God to show you the truths within the scriptures, ask him to open your understanding to what is written.
Also pray and ask God to direct you to a good church congregation. One that you are comfortable in.
Congregations vary even within denominations and where you may not be comfortable in one you may in another. So look around.
As these blogs are read all over the world I cannot recommend a specific church. I tend to recommend Baptist churches as they in my opinion tend to interpret the scriptures correctly and their method of worship is fairly consistent around the world.
In Canada I also know that the Pentecostal Assemblies of God are a good organization. Please take sometime and consider what I have written above.
Ultimately the decision to accept Christ into your life is between you and God. All I have done here is place before you what I believe.
Please think about it.
 

Is Man

Is Man

The Poet wrote

Is man but an atom in space?

A mist in time?

A moment in eternity?

What is your life?

Your life or mine?

What of the life of a man?

What is the sum total of Life?

Is it a collection of bobbles bangles and beads.

A collection of artifacts past to the next generation?

Is all there is to life,

A gathering of things.

That you never can keep?

Is it a mans... A Woman’s duty,

to procreate,

Train the next generation,

then pass into oblivion?

Or

is life more?

Is life Eternal?

Destined to continue on through endless days?

At a place of our own choosing?

I believe you have a choice.

The Saviour 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.

That’s what I believe.

Please think about it.

I Believe

I Believe
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” C. S. Lewis.
As I write this I’m sitting outside on a warm spring day in my back yard. Around me the trees are sprouting their greenery and flowers. From every point in my yard I can hear birds singing. As I sit here I am reminded of what
Ben Zion Bokser wrote, he said,
“I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.
I have not seen God.  But I have looked at my child’s eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.
I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.
I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.
I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation.” Ben Zion Bokser.
I know some would look around my yard and say it all evolved as a result of the big bang and pure chance. I cannot believe that.
If I were to look at the leaf of a tree through a powerful microscope I see order and purpose. Everything that is occurring in that tree leaf is there for a reason. Everything that is happening in nature has a purpose. That purpose to sustain life as we know it. Science tell us that just minor variations in the way the world is set up. Just minor deviations in the positioning of the planet in space and life as we know it would not exist.
This perfection in the way the world is made up tells me there is a God.
The Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."Psalm 9:1.
I believe that. I believe the Bible when it states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
It matters little to me whether God made the earth in six days or allowed billions of years to pass. He is an almighty God and could have done it either way.
I also believe the words of the Apostle John who wrote,
“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.
I believe God loved man whom he created so much that upon seeing him turn away from His ideal He entered the world in the form of His One and Only Son Jesus to point us to heaven.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
The writer of Hebrews making it clear that belief in God requires an act of faith saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  Hebrews 11:6.
The bottom line however is neither I or any Christian can forced you to believe in Christ or believe in God.
I pray however that you the reader will take time to read the New Testament at the very least for yourself and not rely on me or anyone says about Jesus and God.
Read it for yourself. Pray and ask God to show you His you just how real He truly is.
Please think about it.

A Fundamental Truth

A fundamental truth.
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate.  Love is always a refuge.  Hate is never a refuge.  Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates.  But love is the enduring sanctuary of life.  Life may rob you of many things.  It often does.  But it can never bereave us of love itself.  That remains.’
-Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940, sermon,    quoted in Therefore Choose Life: Selected Sermons, Addresses and Writings of    Abba Hillel Silver, Volume One, edited by Herbert Wiesner (1997)
Hate we see it we see it everywhere. Many look at the acts of terrorist groups around the world and see hate in its extreme.
However hate is prevalent in all nations. We see it in everything from road rage incidents to murders to hate crimes, to various crimes of violence. Even in nonviolent ways where a person simply hates their next door neighbour.
Mankind it seems is good at hating people. Hate is easy. Showing love can be much, much more difficult, especially if someone disrespects you or does something against you. Yet we must love. For if we don’t our society will eventually fall into anarchy.
Jesus set the ideal for all people everywhere. Whether you believe who Jesus was or not you cannot disagree with what He taught.
Jesus when 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 however went one step further 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.
The apostle Paul went on to define what true love is, saying,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
Martin Luther King jr. a leader of the civil rights movement in the United States in the early 1960's said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
He was right. If we love God, our neighbour and even our enemy we can bring change to the world. This is what Jesus and the apostles taught.
Napoleon Bonaparte Emperor of France who tried to conquer Europe said,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.” Napoleon Bonaparte.
Billy Graham said of the apostles of Jesus,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.”Billy Graham.
Love truly is the only way to change the world. All those who have ever hated and tried to conquer the world have failed and are assigned a note in history.
By contrast Jesus and His followers have showed love to the world and their work continues to this day. Christianity continues to grow even if places where it is persecuted.
Question do you show love to those around you?
What do you consider true love to be?
Please think about it.

The Way?

The Way?
Thomas Aquinas said,
“If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way.” Thomas Aquinas.
Jesus said,
“....“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6.
Who do you think Jesus is, a good man, a moral teacher, a fake?
Jesus speaking to Martha said,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26.
There is no in between with Jesus either He is the Christ, the Messiah, the one and only Son of God or he is not.
C. S. Lewis said of Jesus,
“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.
The decision is ultimately up to the individual. You either believe Jesus is who he said he is or not.
But think carefully do not take my words or that of others as to who Jesus is. I would ask you the reader to read the New Testament for yourself, pray and ask God to show you what is real and who Jesus truly is.
Please think about it.

Note from a Christian

Note from a Christian
Jesus told this parable,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. 
                                                                                            Matthew 13:44-46.
What Jesus says here about heaven is what Christians believe. To a true Christian knowing Jesus as their Lord and Saviour is the most important thing in their lives.
We Christians believe it is so important that we are, if necessary, willing to die for what we believe.
We believe all people everywhere need to know about Jesus. That’s why we tell people about Jesus.
If you’re a non-Christian I’m sure you can understand that if you had something you thought of paramount importance to the people around you. So important it means life of death. Wouldn’t you want to tell people?
So it is with Christians we believe Jesus when 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.
The book of Acts records Paul speaking to the Athenians about Jesus this is what Paul said,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“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 hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each 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.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council.  
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”  Acts 17:17-34.
Pauls message is as important today as it was on the day he spoke it. Thus the choice is up to you dear reader.
Who do you think Jesus is?
Please think about it.

About Jesus

About Jesus.
The gospel of Luke records,
“Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”  Luke 2:28-32.
Here we have a quote from Simeon on the day Jesus was brought to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord. He makes it clear who he things Jesus is, the Salvation of all people, a light to the gentiles and someone who will bring glory to Israel.
Near the end of Jesus ministry on earth speaking to Martha Jesus states,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26.
What both Simeon, Martha, and Jesus are saying are the core belief of Christianity. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, The Son of God.
I know many in the world do not believe it but that is what Christians believe. The apostle Paul states,
“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 1:22-25.
I think many who do not believe in God or that Jesus is God’s Son, believe God should work in a specific way. Usually their way.
I’ve talked to many who have said to me why doesn’t God just show Himself to people directly. It would make things easy.
I don’t believe God want’s to make things easy. God wants true followers.
Many people will follow a strong leader simply because they are strong. But when trouble comes many will drop away.
God want’s true believers who will not fall away when the bad times come. That’s why he asks His followers to follow in faith. The writer of Hebrews states,
“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.
The write defining faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1.
A person with true faith in their leader be it God or anyone else will follow through thick and thin to the point of death.
That’s what the disciples of Jesus did all but one of them died because of their faith. It is happening today around the world. Christians are dying because of their faith.
If what Christians believe is a lie, then there are millions throughout history who have died in vain.
However, what Christians believe is not a lie. Jesus is all He said He is, the Saviour of mankind, The One and Only Son of God.
The question is do you believe it.
A quote from the New Testament I like quoting is from Jesus, who speaking of Himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
Please think about it.