The Way

 The Way

Henry Ward Beecher said.
“Flowers may beckon towards us, but they speak toward heaven and God.” Henry Ward Beecher.
Beecher was right but perhaps in a way he couldn’t have realized. Flowers in deed all nature points us to God.
 I have shown here a Rose as we see it and a Rose as seen under an electron microscope. It is beautiful seen both ways. At the other end of the spectrum is the picture of the Whirlpool  Galaxy taken by the Hubble Space telescope.
All three pictures have one thing in common they are wonderfully and marvellously made. Each atom, each subatomic particle works in perfect harmony with each other to produce what we see and benefit from.
The psalmist states,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 
Psalm 19:1-3.
  The world as we know it is in the perfect place in the universe to sustain life as we know it. To my mind that means there is a creator behind it all.
To say there isn’t is to be blind to the facts or takes more faith than I personally have.
I cannot conceive of a universe that was not God created. I cannot believe that we were simply born to create the next generation and pass into oblivion. To me when I look at the universe even without looking into the Bible I see God’s handiwork.
I do believe the writer of Genesis who said,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
As a Christian I also believe the words of the apostle John who said,
“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 the one who John calls “The Word” is Jesus. Who is God incarnate. God in the flesh. Who came to this world to point man to heaven.
The Writer of Hebrews speaking of Jesus 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 choice however to believe in God or not is up to you the reader. For God in creating mankind gave every individual the freedom to choose to believe in Him or not.
What I would however ask is that you at least read the New Testament first before you make your decision. Don’t rely on what others say about Jesus and God. Read the New Testament as see what those early believers in Jesus believed Jesus to be.
Please think about it.  

You and Heaven

You and Heaven
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.  
When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.  
This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous  and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:47-50.
Will you get to heaven?
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.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
Can you live a life good enough to stand faultless before a Holy God? I personally don’t think so.
C. S. Lewis stated,
“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.
Christians believe God sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins. For doing things that were contrary to what he wants us to do. The apostle Paul states,
“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.
In order to get to heaven Christians believe the individual must accept by faith the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross for their sins.
Each individual must confess their sins directly to God. 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.
We Christians believe you can know hear and now that you are going to be in heaven with God. It is an act of faith. The apostle Paul writes,
“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 writer of Hebrews tells us,
“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.
It is the faith aspect I believe most people who look at Christianity have the problem with. It takes a lot of courage for lack of a better way to say it, to believe in someone or something you cannot see.
I believe God knows this which is why he asks us to have faith in Him.
God also knows that those who truly believe in something. Who truly have faith in something are the true followers. Individuals who will not waver in their beliefs.
Question, Do you believe Jesus is the one and Only Son of God. The Saviour of Mankind?
Another question: Are you sure you will go to heaven?
Please think about it.

An Explanation

An Explanation
Why Christians do what they do
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.
We Christians firmly believe we know beyond a doubt the way to heaven. That is through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus and the eternal life with God He offers is the most important thing in our lives. Something we Christians would give our lives for. Something many over the centuries have given their lives for.
If you are not a Christian wouldn’t you if you had something of prime importance in your life that could mean life or death to others, want to tell others about it?
I think the answer is yes.
That is why we Christians want people to know about Jesus.
A true Christian will not force their faith on you. A true Christian will simply present their faith and let you decide. A true Christian recognizes and respects the fact that God has given all people the freedom of choice. That choice extends to believing in God and the Saving Grace of Jesus or not.
A true Christian simply wants to tell you what they believe.
We Christians believe that God in the form or His one and Only Son Jesus entered this world to point the all people to God. The apostle John’s gospel states,
“In the beginning was the Word,(Jesus is The Word of God) 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....
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. 
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, 12-14
Christians believe what the writer of Hebrews states,
“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.
We Christians believe the words of Jesus recorded by the apostle John. Jesus said,
...“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6b
We believe getting into heaven is an act of God’s grace. It is God reaching down to mankind through Jesus. We believe that we must accept God’s grace by 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
Christians also believe the writer of the book of Hebrews who said,
           “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 apostle Paul tells us,
“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.
To be a Christian is to be obligated to tell the world all that Jesus taught. Jesus saying,
“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.
This is why Christians do what we do. We present what we believe and leave the individual to decide for themselves what they believe.
Thus dear reader the choice is yours.
Please think about it.

The Christian Life

The Christian life.
“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. 
The call of Jesus to the world is,
“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.
All too often living here in North America I hear non-Christians saying Christianity is a bunch of do’s and do not’s. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Christianity is as much a lifestyle as it is a faith. It is living by a set of moral values set down by God in the Bible.
Following the moral rules for Christian living is no different than if you are playing a football game.
In a football match one needs to follow the rules in order to have good honest and fair game for all participating.
So it with Christian living. God lays out a set of moral rules for us to live by so that all can have a good life.
The call of Jesus is to Love God, your neighbour, your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.
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.
Making things even simpler Jesus 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.
This is what Christian living is all about.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
This is what it is to live a Christian life.
Please think about it.

Of Jesus

Of Jesus
Napoleon Bonaparte said of Jesus,
"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.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.” Napoleon Bonaparte.
For centuries men have tried to conquer the world. Napoleon, Alexander the great, the Romans, Hitler . Some come closer than others to doing it. Non succeeded. Even today we have terrorist groups and others who wish to impose their will on others by force. They like the others before them will fail and be but a foot note in history.
One person who has changed the world is Jesus. Today around the world there are close to three billion followers of Jesus in every country in the world.
These people were not reached for Christ by force but by love.
The call of Jesus is that of Love. 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 call so calls his followers is to,
“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,” Matthew 5:43,44.
Jesus tells his followers to,
“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 call of Jesus to all people is,
“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.
This is how Christianity has spread around the world. Through love, of God, ones neighbour and even ones enemy.
Hate will never conquer the world.
Please think about it.

Christianity

Christianity
C. S. Lewis stated,
“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.
Today according to human rights organisations and others Christianity is the most persecuted faith in the world.
Even in the western democracies there are Atheist who attack Christianity vehemently. Yet they claim God does not exist. If God does not exist then what have they to fear.
Christianity correctly practised urges its followers to love God, their neighbour and even their enemy. The apostle Paul defines Christian love as,

“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.

The apostle Paul tells Christians,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
He tells Christians,
 “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.
Are these not good solid principles for good citizens? Yet Atheist and governments who disagree with Christians still persecute them.
Could it be that those who oppose Christianity at the very least on a subconscious level believe what Christians are saying is true? Believe there is a God?
  But lets face it if there is a God, and I believe there  is. Persecuting, imprisoning and killing Christians will not change that fact. It will only inevitably, bring God’s judgement upon themselves. The writer of Ecclesiastes 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
Please think about it.   

Will you?

Will you?
Tony Campolo said,
“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?” Tony Campolo.
Are you certain of your eternal resting place. Life does not end with death. We as humans are more than flesh and blood. We are eternal beings. Eternal beings who will one day be judged by God.
I know there are many out there who say if the good I do out weighs the bad I do I will get to heaven. Christians however do not believe that. We believe no one can live a life good enough to stand before a Holy God.
C. S. Lewis states,
“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 tells us,
“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.
Writing to the Ephesians Paul tells 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.
Christians believe it is by the grace of God we get to heaven. That Christ died for our sins so that we can get to heaven. The apostle Paul stating,
“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.
We Christians believe getting into heaven is relatively strait forward. We must first have faith in Jesus. That He is the Saviour of mankind. The writer of Hebrews who stated,
“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.
We Christians believe we must do as the apostle John tells us,
“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.
We must then accept God’s gift of saving grace. As stated earlier the apostle Paul tells us,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8.
All of this must be done with sincere faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“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.
So the question is. Are you sure where you will spend eternity? If not are you willing to accept Jesus into your life, so that you may inherit eternal life with God?
Please think about it.

God and the Individual

God and the Individual
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 
The Talmud states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?” The Talmud.
I as a Christian do not believe this life is all we have. There is life beyond this one and a God whom we must stand before who will judge us.
We see the results all around us of men and women who do not believe in God. Who do not fear God. Our prisons are full of murderers and other criminals who do not give a second thought as to what God will say to them when the stand before Him
We see terrorist groups around the world who have perverted the teachings of God to justify their own actions. They too have no fear of God.
It’s the same when it comes to some businessmen and politicians. Some have become a law unto themselves. Doing selfishly what is right for themselves, forgetting about the people the employ and the people they serve.
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
As our society becomes more secularized, societies ills it seems are on the increase. There is a need to turn back to God and his moral absolutes. Until that happens however I’m certain that mankind is on a slippery slope that ends in a lake filled with brimstone.
Please think about it.

Are you ready?

Are you ready?
C. S. Lewis said,
“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.
Are you ready to stand before God. Whether you believe in God or not you will one day have to stand before Him.
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.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14
As a Christian I believe we can not live a life good enough to stand before a Holy God. In fact C. S. Lewis notes,
“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 tells us,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”  Romans 3:23.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life.
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.” 1John 1:9-10.
We need to confess our wrongs and short comings directly to God. We need to recognize that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins. The apostle Paul telling us,
“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.”  Romans 10: 9,10.
As a Christian I believe it is by God’s grace we get to heaven not by our works. The apostle Paul tells 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.
We need to truly trust and put our faith in God and His one and Only Son Jesus Christ, because as the writer of Hebrews tells us,
“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 being defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1.
Please think about it.

The Way

The Way
The Apostle John states,
“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.
 Christians believe that by accepting Jesus by faith into our lives we have the right to be called children of God.
The apostle Paul writes,
“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.”  Romans 10: 9,10.
Christians believe Jesus is the way to heaven. Jesus 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 
Christians do not believe we can live a life holy enough to stand before a holy God.
Christians believe that is why God reached down to mankind offering us eternal life if we’d only have faith in Him, the apostle Paul writing.
“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.
Christians believe what the writer of Hebrews said,
“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.
Christians believe the words of the apostle Paul who speaking to the Athenians said,
“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: 30,31.
We believe the words of Ecclesiastes who 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.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
Christians also realize what the apostle John wrote is true when he said,
“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 question is do you believe this?
Please think about it.

A Lunatic or The Son of God

A Lunatic or The Son of God?
“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.
C. S. Lewis makes a good point. The Bible quotes Jesus as making some interesting claims.
John’s gospel 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.
Note Jesus claimed to be one with God the Father something that outraged the Jews around him, to the point where they wanted to stone him.
Jesus speaking to the apostle Thomas 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.
Again this is a strong statement. Jesus implying He was the way to heaven.
Matthew records this conversation between Peter and 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.” 
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” Matthew 16:13-17.
Note Jesus said it was His Heavenly Father that showed Peter who Jesus was. Again claiming to be the Son of God.
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 11:25,26,27. 
For Jesus to make the claim that He is the Christ the Son of God in the day and age he lived in. In the Jewish society in which He lived was potentially dangerous.
Equating one’s self with God was a blasphemous belief punishable by death. Yet Jesus did not back down from saying He was The Son of God.
What I would ask you the reader is, who do you think Jesus is? Take time to read the New Testament for yourself and see what it says about Jesus. Don’t rely on what others say. Read for yourself what Christians believe and then decide for yourself.
Please think about it.

I'm Going to Heaven

I’m going 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.
So my question to you the reader is, Are you going to Heaven like the thief on the cross?
Luke’s Gospel records the incident between the two criminals that were crucified with Jesus and Jesus, while they were dying on the cross. It reads,
“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.
That criminal who it seemed truly believed who Jesus is got to heaven that day. He did without knowing it, what the apostle John said to do,
“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.
He believed Jesus was who he said he was. He had faith in Jesus and accepted God’s saving grace that comes through him. The apostle Paul telling 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.
As a Christian I firmly believe getting to heaven is relatively simple. 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.”  Romans 10: 9,10.
I admit it seems too easy, even strange. After all why would God allow His one and Only Son to die on the cross for sins he didn’t commit?
The apostle Paul noted that, when he wrote,
“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.
It comes down to the fact God’s ways are not our ways.
It comes down to the fact God loves us, and was in a very human way showing how much He loved us. The apostle Paul explaining,
“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.
C. S. Lewis points out,
“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.
This is what Christians believe. Unlike any other faith I know, Christianity is God reaching down to man. Saying I love you believe in my Son Jesus Christ. Confess your sins to him and you will get to heaven.
Please think about it.

The Earth is the Lord's

The Earth is the Lord's

“The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it, 

the world, and all who live in it;

 for he founded it upon the seas 

and established it upon the waters” 

Psalms 24:1,2.

I believe the word of the Psalmist. At the same time I respect the views of the Atheist who does not believe it. Who believe God does not exist and this world is all we have.
My question always to any Atheist I meet is, are you sure in your faith? Because Atheism is as much a faith as Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. In order to be an Atheist you must have faith that God is nowhere to be found even in the one place you cannot go, and live to tell about it, beyond the grave.
C. S. Lewis said
“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.
God exists that is what I and billions more people believe. To say God does not believe is to say the majority of people who have ever lived are delusional. People have always believed there is a God and an after life.
The ancient Britains and many other cultures placed grave goods with the dead goods they thought they might need in the after life. The Egyptians built pyramids. Any culture that can build structures like the pyramids are not idiots. The Egyptians were an educated and cultured people who believed in an after life and god’s.
I believe God has put into the hearts of all men knowledge that He exists. Sadly however many refuse to acknowledge that God exists.
 Again that is their choice. But again I ask the question of anyone who reads this who does not believe in God. Are you sure? Are you sure you and are willing to risk your eternal resting place on your beliefs? I as a Christian am.
Jesus 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.  

On Jesus

On Jesus
John’s gospel 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.
Jesus made it abundantly clear throughout his time on the earth who he was. He never backed down from claiming he was The Son of God.  Something that in his time would be blasphemous.
C. S. Lewis noted,
“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.
Each person who hears about Jesus must make their own mind up as to who he is. They must answer the question Jesus asked to Martha,
“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 11:25,26,27.
Before you the reader make your mind up I would ask that you carefully read the New Testament for yourself. With and open mind.
Read it and ask God this question “If you are real God and Jesus is your one and Only Son, The Saviour of mankind show me.” I believe if you are truly sincere in wanting to find God, God will show himself to you.
Pleases think about it.

Faith and Foolishness

Faith and Foolishness
The apostle Paul writes,
“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.  Romans 10: 9,10.
What the apostle Paul is saying here is a key belief of Christians. Believing in Jesus, having faith in Jesus will get us to heaven.
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 11:25,26,27.
No other faith I know of believes their founder is the Son of God. Yet Christians do. We believe Jesus is God in the flesh. The writer of Hebrews speaking of Jesus 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.” Hebrews 1:3.
I know this can sound foolish even 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.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
As far a Christians are concerned however there is no middle ground with Jesus. Either you believe that Jesus is the Son of God. The Saviour of mankind or you do not. Jesus 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.
Thus the choice dear reader is yours. Who do you think Jesus is?
Please think about it. 

A Universal Question

A Universal Question
John’s gospel records Jesus talking to woman called Martha
“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 11:25,26,27.
This is a question all people when confronted with Jesus must answer. Is Jesus the Jewish Messiah the Son of God, The Saviour of mankind or is he not. No one can answer this question for the individual they must answer it for themself.
Sadly however too many people let others tell them who Jesus is. They listen to people in the media and other places and make up their mind as to who Jesus is on that basis. They have never read the New Testament for themselves.
It is to those people who have never read the New Testament I would challenge to read it for themselves.
Within it Jesus makes numerous statements such as,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.
He said,
“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30. When referring to his relationship with God the father.
The apostle Paul believed Jesus was who he was saying,
“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.”  Romans 10: 9,10.
I as a Christian believe that the most important question a person has to answer in this world is who Jesus is and what their relationship toward him is.
The choice is yours. But before you make that choice I would suggest that you read the New Testament and see what His followers believed about him. Then at least you can make a educated decision about Him.
Please think about it.

In Full View

In Full View
“For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.” Proverbs 5:21.
C. S. Lewis said,
“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 believe it doesn’t matter who you are, or whether you believe in God or not, everything you do is done in front of God. He examines your paths. He knows why you do what you do. 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.
The way I read what the Psalmist is saying is God knows us right down to our genetic code. That is why he has the right to judge us, because in knowing our genetic code he knows why we do what we do.
That being said our genetic code only accounts for part of what we do. In creating man God gave each individual complete freedom do believe and do as they like.
It is in how we exercise this freedom, that God will hold us accountable for. Should we choose to murder, steal, or do anything that is contrary to what God wants, we will, if we are unrepentant be punished by God.
If on the other hand we do as God wishes us to do, we will go to be with Him in heaven.
I also believe God made it as simple as possible for us to go to heaven. He in the form of his one and only Son Jesus entered this world to point us to heaven. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“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.
God understands that man is far from perfect. That every person that is living or has ever lived falls short of his ideals. That man sins. Sin is falling short of God’s ideal for ones life.
The apostle Paul writes,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
The Apostle Paul tells us,
“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.  Romans 10: 9,10.
The key is having faith in God. The apostle 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 is something many people stumble over. The writer of Hebrews tells us.
“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.
It’s easy to believe in someone or something you can see, feel and touch. It is infinitely harder to believe in something or someone you can’t see. That I believe is why people don’t believe in God.
That is also why I believe God asks for faith because God knows someone who has faith in Him is a true believer.
So do you truly believe in God?
Please think about it.

The Heavens

The Heavens
The Psalmist says,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

Psalm 19:1.

Scientist today admit the universe has a beginning. The Bible has said that for centuries. Where some scientist may disagree with Christians is that God created the universe. I believe He did.
The more I read on how the universe came about the more I see the hand of God in it. Our earth is in the perfect place in the universe to sustain life as we know it. All the conditions for life exist on planet earth.
Whether God created it in six twenty-four hour days or in billions of years means little to my faith. He is God and He could have done it either way.
Sadly to my mind at least there are many who look at the universe and say there is no creator. It all just happened by chance. I cannot believe that.
I look at everything from the smallest subatomic particle to the biggest galaxies and see order and purpose.
I see a world created for man. I see mankind created to have fellowship with God.
I see God creating man with a freewill in order that he may honestly choose to worship God, or not.
I personally cannot believe man simply evolved to procreate and die. There has to be more.
I believe deep inside the heart of all men there is something that tells man there is a God and an afterlife. History I believe proves this.
The majority of civilizations that have ever existed have believed in an afterlife. So much so that they have done everything from burying people with grave goods deemed necessary for the afterlife to building the pyramids.
Sadly many today do not believe in God that is their choice. I respect that choice. Still I would ask those people who do not believe in God, Are you sure you are right in your beliefs? Are you willing to risk your eternal destiny on what you believe?
I as a Christian believe in God. I believe that Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh who came to earth to offer eternal life with God to all who would believe in him.
I believe we all must decide on who Jesus is. When speaking to Martha Jesus asked her a Question that all of us must answer.
“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 11:25,26,27.
What is your answer?
Please think about it.

Apart from God

Apart from God
The writer of Ecclesiastes points out,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”Ecclesiastes 1:9.
“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.
If we look at this life strictly from a human perspective this life can seem meaningless. If all we are here to do is give birth to the next generation then life has no meaning. It’s a repeating endless cycle that ends in death.
I do not believe this. There is far more to life than this world in which we live. Atheist are wrong. People are eternal beings.
Peter John Kreeft states,
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning? Atheism cheapens everything it touches, look at the results of communism, the most powerful form of atheism on earth.
And in the end, when the atheist dies and encounters God instead of nothingness he had predicted he’ll recognize that atheism was a cheap answer because it refused the only thing that’s not cheap the God of infinite value” Peter John Kreeft ph.d.
Any atheist I’ve known  have generally made up their mind. They have placed themselves if you will as judge and jury, even God.
They say there is no God. They criticize, even verbally attack anyone who disagrees with them.
I as a Christian worship an all powerful omnipresent God. For an someone to say there is no God, is to say they have been everywhere and know all things. In order for that assumption to be true the person would have also had to have gone beyond the grave. And no atheist I’ve ever met has gone beyond the grave and lived to tell about it.
Someone once said,
“Maybe the atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman.” Author Unknown. 
They don’t want to find God.
The Psalmist writes,

“The heavens declare the glory of God;

 the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

Psalm 19:1-3.

The Psalmist is right. If we look at the earth carefully it is perfectly positioned in the universe for life to exist as we know it. I cannot believe it just happened by chance. The universe was carefully crafted by God in order for us to exist.
Abba Hillel Silver points something else out,
“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.
We cannot live as a society without a common set of values to live by. A common set of rules God has laid on the heart of all men. Irrevocable rights such as freedom to do as we wish. Framed with morals telling us not to kill, not steal, and so forth. Without which society cannot function correctly.
I cannot believe ancient man convened a global conference to agree to these universal rules. They had to have come from God.
The Psalmist puts things very bluntly when he states,
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 14:1.
C. S. Lewis is more diplomatic saying,
“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.
Still as I said God has given man complete freedom to do as he wishes. That freedom includes the right to believe in God or not. The choice is yours.
Please think about it, 

An Amazing Christian Belief

An Amazing Christian Belief
The book of Genesis states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
We Christians however take things one step further the apostle John stating,
“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 Christians believe the God that created the heavens and the earth actually entered his creation in the form of His one and only Son Jesus Christ.
The writer of Hebrews telling us,
“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 1:3.
I as a Christian believe there was several reasons in God entering the world. One was to point man to God and show mankind how far He would go to reconcile His creation to Himself. To provide purification for our sins.
The other was I believe just as necessary. I believe God had to enter the world and acted nothing more than a man in order to be able to justly judge 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.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
In order to judge man justly, God had to experience everything it is to be a man. In entering the world in the form of Jesus. God experienced all there was to be a man. Everything from the mundane things like the sun on his face. The rain. Having friends and enemies. Going to events like weddings.
Through Jesus God experienced both the best in man and the worst in man. He was loved by friends and family and was beaten and crucified by his enemies.
Thus when we stand before God on judgement day we cannot say you don’t understand what it is to be human, because he does.
In coming into the world God made it as easy for man to get to heaven as he could. The apostle Paul said,
“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.  Romans 10: 9,10.
We Christians believe one must have faith in Christ to enter heaven. The writer of Hebrews telling us,
“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.
Our faith in Jesus, in God saves us. Not our works. The apostle Paul writing,
“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.
Please think about it.