Consider a pail blue dot from Voyager

Consider a pale blue dot from Voyager

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

A Door

A Door

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

Foolishness

Foolishness?

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

The Cost of a Free Gift

The Cost of a Free gift

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

The Christian and God

The Christian and God

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

Not all are Christians

Not all are Christians

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

A Promise A Warning

A promise  A Warning.

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

Atheist and God

Atheist and God

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

An Option

Options

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

Weary and Burdened

Weary and burdened

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

Words from Ecclesiastes

Words from Ecclesiastes

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

His Importance

His Importance

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