Do you believe?

  Do you believe?

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

“Better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for all are destined to be mourned; the living should lay this to heart." Ecclesiastes 7:2

A few verses later the writer states,

“The thoughts of the wise are in the house of mourning, but the thoughts of fools are in the house of pleasure.” Ecclesiastes 7:4.

From a human stand point these two verses of scripture seem to the opposite of what we should be doing. Yet the author is correct in what he is saying.

We spend a handful of years on this earth. Our lives are but a mist in eternity. Where as we will live eternally beyond the grave.

Being in the house of mourning should at the very least make us consider where we will spend eternity.

So where will you spend eternity?

The apostle Paul said,

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

Entrance into heaven is free. It is a gift of God given to all people who believe in Jesus Christ. 

Jesus said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."  John 3:16,17.

Jesus also 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.

Ultimately however getting to heaven is an act of faith the writer of Hebrews defining faith as,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see." 

                                                                    Hebrews 11:1.

The author of Hebrews going on to say,

"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.

Thus my question to you dear reader; Do you believe what I’ve said? 

Please think about it.

Do you believe?

Do you believe?
The Apostle John writing about Jesus said,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13.
The Apostle Paul writing to believers in Christ Jesus said,
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26-28.
It is the core of Christian belief that through belief in Christ Jesus you become children of God. That you receive eternal life.
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.
The apostle Paul writes,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” 1Timothy 1:15,16.
What the apostle Paul is saying here through belief in Christ Jesus we receive eternal life.
Thus the question becomes. Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate who died for your sins, That you may have eternal life in heaven with God?
Please think about it.

Do you Believe?

Do you believe?

“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.

Martin Luther King jr. wrote,
“We need not join the mad rush to purchase an earthly fallout shelter. God is our eternal fallout shelter.” Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love, 1963.
Martin Luther King wrote above words at the height of the cold war. At a time when a thermonuclear war was feared. When people thought our civilization might be wiped off the face of the earth and millions if not billions would die.
The fact is millions of people world wide die every day due to natural causes alone, not to mention disease, starvation, war and other things.
The ultimate statistic is the fact that each person born will one day die. The question is however where will you spend eternity.
I am a Christian and I firmly believe the individual is an eternal being. We live forever. Life does not end in death.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist 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.
Will you?
You have a choice in this world where you will spend eternity. I as a Christian believe the words of 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.
We Christians do not believe we can live a life good enough to get to heaven that is why God in the form of Jesus entered our world to offer us salvation. 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 writing to the Romans said,
“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.” Romans 5:6-8.
Christians believe it is by the grace of God through our faith in Jesus Christ that we get to heaven. 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.
Here’s something to think about. Blaise Pascal a Christian philosopher wrote,
“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal
Thus the choice is yours. Do you believe in God? Are you willing to accept the grace that comes from God through Christ Jesus?
Take some time to read the New Testament and see what Christians believe.
Please think about it.

Do you believe?

Do you believe?
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 14:1.
It is my belief as a Christian there is a God and he will one day judge the world. I believe the Psalmist quoted above.
Just because someone says there is no God does not make it true. In order to know for certain there is no God, that person would have had to check everywhere. It is impossible for a mortal man to be everywhere and check everywhere. Mortal man cannot see for example what is beyond deaths door.
Knowing what is beyond death takes an act of faith. You either believe God exists beyond that door or you do not. Upon what you believe I firmly believe determines your final resting place.
The Poet wrote,

“Life is it a divine opera played out before God.

An opera played out on a high mesa, 

On a stage suspended between heaven and hell.”

The writer of Proverbs said,

“For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, 

and he examines all his paths.” 

Proverbs 5:21.

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 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.
Getting to heaven is a matter of faith. 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.
Jesus made a clear statement when he said,
“...“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6.
Even when faced with violence against him personally Jesus did not deny who He was. John’s gospel recording,
“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.
Christian belief is simple. It is stated in The Apostles Creed.  The apostles creed while not written by one of Christ’s original apostles gives what Christians believe in a nut shell. It states,
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.
Thus my questions are: Do you believe in God? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe Jesus is the Saviour of your soul?
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.

Please think about it.