True Treasure

 True Treasure

Jesus said,

“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.

Unfortunately people today are seeing true treasure in all the wrong places. They are quite literally seeking in fields and elsewhere hoping to find material wealth.

They are not looking for true wealth. Which is in heaven. 

Jesus said,

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 16:19-21.

What kind of wealth are you seeking?

Please think about it.

Planning for the future

 Planning for the future

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:13,14.

We humans are indeed are fragile creatures. We live a handful of years before passing into eternity. James here is reminding us of that. 

Now there is nothing wrong with making plans for the future. Especially if that future includes where we will spend eternity.

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.

So my question would be. In planning for your future, have you planned where you will spend eternity?

Please think about it.

We have no right

 We have no right

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.

God knows us intimately. This quote from psalms in modern terminology is essentially saying God knows the very DNA that makes up of our being. He knows why we are the way we are. This is why God and God alone is the only one who can judge another person.

Jesus made it clear to all who believes,

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1,2.

While we must judge the actions and words of some people in order to be careful as to who we trust at times for our own safety. We have no right to judge where someone will spend eternity. That is Gods job. NOT ours.

Please think about it.

The Ultimate Choice

 The ultimate Choice.

In Luke's gospel we read,

“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.

Here we have laid out for us the choice all who hear about Jesus need to make. Here on the day Jesus was crucified were two other men, both sinners. Both in need of Salvation.

We too are sinners. While we may not have been guilty of the same sins the criminals on the cross had done. We are still sinners. The apostle Paul noting,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.

The two criminals chose two different paths. One insulted Jesus asking him to save himself and them. This man had no idea that if he’d followed the path of the second criminal he would have been saved.

The second man saying,

"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.'" 

To which Jesus said,  "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." 

That second criminal did what we must do. We must have faith that Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of all who believe in Him.

The apostle John Writing,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."1John 1:9. 

Have you confessed your sins to God today.

Please think about it.

The great equalizer

 The great equalizer 

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“People are destined to die once, 

and after that to face judgment.”

                                                    Hebrews 9:27

Someone has said death is the great equalizer. Which is true. One day the richest man alive and the poorest man alive will die and stand before God.

The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us about that day. 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." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

How will God judge you? Will you enter Heaven?

The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23.

Sin separates us from God. Which means if there is sin in our life we will not get to heaven. That being said. 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.

The apostle Paul states,

“...(We) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:24.

And in John’s gospel we read,

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:36.

As Christians we believe you cannot work your way to Heaven. It is by believing in the saving grace of God that comes through Christ Jesus. Believing that He died for your sins.

In the book of Ephesians we read,

"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.

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 is yours. 

Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, The Saviour of all who believe in Him or not?

Please think about it.

If we are wrong

 If we are wrong

In the book of Lamentations we read,

"The LORD is my portion" says my soul, 

"therefore I will hope in Him" 

                                             Lamentations 3:24

According to the Oxford dictionary one definition of portion is a persons destiny. 

So is God your destiny? As you go through life do you see your ultimate destiny as being with God?

Are you sure you will be with God in eternity?

As Christians we believe what 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.

We believe what the writer of the book of Hebrews states,

"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

We believe in what the apostle Paul said as recorded in the book of Acts,

“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  

He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...” Acts 16 30,31a.

As believers in Christ Jesus we believe the words of Jesus who 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.

If we who believe in Christ Jesus are wrong there is no need to be worried. If on the other hand we are right. There is a lot to at the very least think about.

Please think about it.

Your eternal resting place

Your eternal resting place

In the book of Galatians we read,

"Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Galatians 3:6.

Do you believe in God?

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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

Blaise Pascal 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.

So I ask the question again, Do you believe in God?

Are you willing to risk your eternal resting place on what you believe?

Please think about it.

Where will you spend eternity

Where will you spend eternity

In the book of James we read,

"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:13,14.

We don’t know what will happen to us tomorrow or for that matter in the next moments of our life. Whether we will live or die. But we can know were we will spend eternity.

In the book of Romans the Apostle Paul writes,

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.

The apostle John writes,

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12,13.

Do you truly believe in The Lord Jesus Christ?

Do you know where you will spend eternity?

Please think about it. 

A question asked

 A question asked.

In the book of James we read,

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14.

Is there a meaning to life? 

Is this life we are living all there is?

Is the sole duty of men and women to have children then die?

Paul Gauguin asked,

“Where Do we Come From? What Are We? Where Are we Going?”

The writer of Ecclesiastes states,

"I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." Ecclesiastes 1:14

The writer of Ecclesiastes however comes to the conclusion,

"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.

Martin Luther King jr. prayed to God saying,

“Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.” Martin Luther King jr.

Whether we want to admit it or not. Life does go on into eternity and what we do here in this life determines where we will stay in eternity.

The book of Acts record this incident in the apostle Paul’s life,

“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  

He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:30,31.

Question. Do you know where you will spend eternity?

                 Do you believe in God?

                          Do you believe in the Salvation that comes through the Lord Jesus?

Please think about it.

You and Eternity

 You and Eternity

In the book of James we read,

"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:13,14.

I remember reading an article entitled “where will you spend eternity?”. I don’t remember the details but the title says it all. 

In James we read “you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Well we do vanish from this world. But we don’t just vanish into oblivion. We simply pass from this world into the presence of God.

Tony Campolo wrote,

“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.

So will you be happy when you pass into the presence of God?

You can know here and now if you will be happy. Jesus speaking of himself said,

“For God so loved the world that He gave is only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

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.

So do you believe in The Lord Jesus Christ?

Are you certain of an eternity in Heaven?

Please think about it.

Sharon's Story

 Sharon's Story

In the book of James we read,

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:13,14.

We as human beings are fragile. We don’t know what will happen to us in the next few minutes let alone over the next years.

My closest friend Sharon died in March of this year. She had lived about, 2,124,576,000 seconds on this earth. In the last week or so of her life she knew she was about to pass into eternity. There was nothing medical science could do for her. She had gone through a lot.

In the end she was lucid and although weak was talking with us. When we told her there was no hope. She turned to us and simply said, “I want to be with Jesus”. With that we gathered the family around her along with our pastor. She sang amazing grace with us. We prayed, and life support was removed. 

Shortly after which Sharon passed into eternity.

That day Sharon taught us all what it was like to trust in Jesus. Sharon had no doubt as to where she was going to spend eternity. An eternity without pain. An eternity in the Love of God.

How many of us can truly say we know where we will spend eternity? How many of us are prepared to pass into eternity? 

       Life as James states is a mist. And while we all know we will one day pass into eternity are we prepared to do so? Are we prepared to pass into the presence of God?

Sharon believed the words of the apostle Paul who said,

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.

She believed the words of the apostle Peter when he said,

“....Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...”Acts 2;38a.

She believed the words of Jesus who speaking about 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.” John 3:16,17.

She believed the Bible and what it says about God, Jesus, and Salvation.

Thus my question to you dear reader is do you believe in the saving grace that comes from God through Christ Jesus?

Are you prepared to pass from this life into the presence of God?

If you’re not sure. I would ask that at the very least you read the New Testament and see what Jesus and those who knew him best said about Him and eternity.

Please think about it.

No God No Purpose

 No God No Purpose

In Ecclesiastes we read,

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labour. 

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.

Put simply a life without God is empty. 

The way I see it, God gives you purpose in life. If there is no God there is no purpose in living. I don’t believe that all we are on this earth for is to simply procreate and then pass on.

I believe life is eternal and that this life prepares us for where we will live in the next life.

Please think about it.

You are a mist

 You are a mist

James the half brother states,

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  

Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  

As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.  

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:13-17. 

We as they say, are mere mortals. Our life in this world begins at conception and ends a handful of years later. We do not know how long we will live, nor can we predict the future. 

The only thing that is certain is one day we will enter eternity. At that time we will stand before God whether you believe in him or not.

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?

Ultimately the choice is up to you the individual. You can believe Jesus is all he said he is, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind or you can reject him. 

When God created mankind, He did not make robots that would always do what he wanted them to do without thinking. 

Quite the opposite. God created each individual with a freewill to do as he or she wished. That freewill extends to believing in Him or not. Thus you have the right to say God doesn’t exist. 

That being said, Blaise Pascal 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.

Please think about it.

The Christian hope

 The Christians Hope,

The apostle Peter writes,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you" 1Peter 1:3-4.

The apostle Peter here tells us of the hope all Christians have. 

A living hope “that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven”

Do you have this kind of hope? 

You can. 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.

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.

Are Christians right or wrong?

  Are Christians right or wrong?

The prophet Isaiah states,

"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 writer of Ecclesiastes writes,

“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.

Ultimately we will all die. The question is where will we spend eternity?

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.” John 3:16-17.

This is what I believe. This is the corner stone of Christian belief. If we as believers in Christ Jesus are wrong then those who do not believe as we do have nothing to fear. 

On the other hand if we are right then there is at the very least a great deal of things to consider because Jesus speaking of himself also states,

“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 3:18

Please think about it.

When Least Expected

 When Least expected

The apostle Paul wrote,

“Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1,2.

One thing I think Christians and environmentalist agree on is one day this world we live in will die if something is not done. The environment is falling apart as a result in the not too distant future if nothing is done now, mankind may go extinct.

Where believers in Christ Jesus disagree is that there is hope for mankind in the person of Jesus Christ. This world will die. But this world, this life we live is not all there is. There is life after death.

The spark within us that makes us a sentient beings, that thing we call the soul lives on throughout eternity. The question however becomes; where will you spend eternity?

Jesus offers all who would believe in Him hope. In the gospel of John we read Jesus speaking of Himself saying,

"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.

C.S. Lewis speaking about Jesus states,

"He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less." C.S. Lewis.

This means He died for you dear reader.

For those who have heard about Jesus and believe in Jesus an eternity in heaven awaits. The key to getting into heaven being, if your truly believe in The Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him into your life.

The late American evangelist Billy Graham once said,

“The Bible says today is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation... But there will come a time when it will be too late for you.” Billy Graham.

We don’t know when Jesus will return. We know that the apostle Paul tells us He will come as a thief in the night. At a time when we are least expecting Him.

Thus the question becomes is will you be ready for Him?

Please think about it.

Where

  Where

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.

As I look at not only Christians but the world around us. I see many people, government leaders and religious leaders who are in for a rude awakening when they meet God. 

Sadly many religious leaders (Christian or otherwise) government leaders, and the average person do not treat people the way they wish to be treated. And while those people may get away with mistreating others in this life. One day they will have to answer to God.

The writer of Ecclesiastes make it clear 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." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

Thus my question to you; On the day you stand before God, what will he say to you? Where will you spend eternity?

Please think about it. 

The ultimate statistic

  The ultimate statistic 

The apostle Paul wrote,

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  

This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."  1Timothy 2:1-4

According to the Kennedy institute for Ethics, 65 million people die each year in the world.  That is 

178,000 each day, 

7425 each hour, 

120 each minute.

  Bottom line we do not get out of this life alive. The question however becomes where will you spend eternity?

It is the duty of all who believe in Christ Jesus to pray for those around them. Everyone from political leaders down to the person on the street. 

It is the job of a true believer in Christ to present the message of Christ to the world around them.

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.

These words of Jesus in a nutshell show how to get to heaven. Thus what it comes down to is whether or not someone believes them.

Do you?

Please think about it.

If

  If

The apostle Paul writes,

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Someone once told me that today in this life we can only imagine what heaven is like. The Bible provides all we need to know with respect to getting to heaven. While at the same time giving us glimpses explaining in human terms what heaven is like. 

I think anyone who believes in God wants to go to heaven. Thus I firmly believe that anyone who wants to go to heaven. Should be at the very least reading the words of Jesus and what the disciples believe in the New Testament. After all it can’t hurt. 

If what is said in the New Testament is wrong all those who follow its teachings will at the very least have lived a good life. 

If on the other hand, and I believe this, what is written in the New testament is right. Then we will pass from this world into an eternity of happiness. 

Please think about it.

Eternal beings

 Eternal beings

Jesus speaking about God the Father said,

“He is not the God of the dead,

 but of the living, 

for to Him all are alive." 

                                   Luke 20:38

Whether we like to admit it or not we are eternal beings. Life does not end with death. This is made clear by the above statement made by Jesus. The last phrase says it all. “...For to Him (God) all are alive.” 

If this statement is true, and I believe it is. The question becomes, where will you spend eternity.

The apostle Peter makes it clear,

"By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." 2 Peter 3:7.

God will one day judge all of mankind. So will you be good enough to go to heaven?

We can know here and now if we will get to heaven.

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

To the Ephesians he 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.

What all this means is anyone can get to heaven if they truly believe in Christ Jesus. This salvation is a gift from God. A gift we can either accept or reject.

Thus the choice is yours.

Do you believe in Christ Jesus and that He died for you sins?

Please think about it.