The Way to Heaven

The Way to heaven
The following is what I believe is the way to heaven. I believe it is simple and open to anyone, and I mean anyone to follow.
Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1.
The next step comes down to who you believe Jesus is. The writer of Hebrews explaining,
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ? 
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ? 
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Hebrews 1:3-6.
Jesus himself said,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
 The next step is difficult for some people. We have to admit we are sinners. Sin is simply falling short of God’s ideal for our lives. All people sin from the Pope, to evangelist, to pastors, to the people sitting in the pew of the church, to the person on the street who has never been in a church.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans states,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,...” Romans 3:23.
There is however hope. The apostle John states,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1 John 1:9,10.
We Christians believe you cannot work your way to heaven. Salvation, eternity in heaven with God is an act of faith. The Apostle Paul stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
Faith in God and Christ’s redeeming sacrifice saves us.
Jesus speaking of Himself gave us all a choice, when he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” 
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16.
The Choice ultimately comes down to you who are reading this. Do you believe Jesus is the One and Only Son of God, the Saviour of Mankind or not.
If you do believe that He is the Son of God, then Salvation is as simple as a prayer like this,
Dear Heavenly Father,
I believe in You. I believe that Jesus is your one and only Son. That he came to earth to die for my sins.
Please forgive my sins this day and come into my life. That I may spend eternity with you.
In Jesus name I pray amen.
If you have prayed that prayer in all sincerity I would suggest that you now find a copy of the Bible. There is a free down load called the ‘you version’ bible app that allows you to download various version of the bible. It’s a good app.
When it comes to the Bible there are a lot of translations, I personally use the New International version and the New King James versions. They are in modern English and easy to read.
I recommend starting in the New Testament. You don’t have to read a lot each day. A chapter is good.
When you come to a genealogy such as in the first chapter of Matthew you might want to skip it at first, although it shows the link between Jesus and those in the Old Testament.
 Before you read, pray and ask God to show you the truths within the scriptures, ask him to open your understanding to what is written.
Also pray and ask God to direct you to a good church congregation. One that you are comfortable in.
Congregations vary even within denominations and where you may not be comfortable in one you may in another. So look around.
As these blogs are read all over the world I cannot recommend a specific church. I tend to recommend Baptist churches as they in my opinion tend to interpret the scriptures correctly and their method of worship is fairly consistent around the world.
In Canada I also know that the Pentecostal Assemblies of God are a good organization. Please take sometime and consider what I have written above.
Ultimately the decision to accept Christ into your life is between you and God. All I have done here is place before you what I believe.
Please think about it.
 

Is Man

Is Man

The Poet wrote

Is man but an atom in space?

A mist in time?

A moment in eternity?

What is your life?

Your life or mine?

What of the life of a man?

What is the sum total of Life?

Is it a collection of bobbles bangles and beads.

A collection of artifacts past to the next generation?

Is all there is to life,

A gathering of things.

That you never can keep?

Is it a mans... A Woman’s duty,

to procreate,

Train the next generation,

then pass into oblivion?

Or

is life more?

Is life Eternal?

Destined to continue on through endless days?

At a place of our own choosing?

I believe you have a choice.

The Saviour said,

“For God so loved the world 

that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish 

but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, 

but whoever does not believe stands condemned already 

because he has not believed in the name 

of God’s one and only Son”.

                                           John 3:16-18.

That’s what I believe.

Please think about it.

I Believe

I Believe
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” C. S. Lewis.
As I write this I’m sitting outside on a warm spring day in my back yard. Around me the trees are sprouting their greenery and flowers. From every point in my yard I can hear birds singing. As I sit here I am reminded of what
Ben Zion Bokser wrote, he said,
“I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.
I have not seen God.  But I have looked at my child’s eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.
I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.
I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.
I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation.” Ben Zion Bokser.
I know some would look around my yard and say it all evolved as a result of the big bang and pure chance. I cannot believe that.
If I were to look at the leaf of a tree through a powerful microscope I see order and purpose. Everything that is occurring in that tree leaf is there for a reason. Everything that is happening in nature has a purpose. That purpose to sustain life as we know it. Science tell us that just minor variations in the way the world is set up. Just minor deviations in the positioning of the planet in space and life as we know it would not exist.
This perfection in the way the world is made up tells me there is a God.
The Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."Psalm 9:1.
I believe that. I believe the Bible when it states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
It matters little to me whether God made the earth in six days or allowed billions of years to pass. He is an almighty God and could have done it either way.
I also believe the words of the Apostle John who wrote,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-4,14.
I believe God loved man whom he created so much that upon seeing him turn away from His ideal He entered the world in the form of His One and Only Son Jesus to point us to heaven.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
The writer of Hebrews making it clear that belief in God requires an act of faith saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  Hebrews 11:6.
The bottom line however is neither I or any Christian can forced you to believe in Christ or believe in God.
I pray however that you the reader will take time to read the New Testament at the very least for yourself and not rely on me or anyone says about Jesus and God.
Read it for yourself. Pray and ask God to show you His you just how real He truly is.
Please think about it.

A Fundamental Truth

A fundamental truth.
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate.  Love is always a refuge.  Hate is never a refuge.  Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates.  But love is the enduring sanctuary of life.  Life may rob you of many things.  It often does.  But it can never bereave us of love itself.  That remains.’
-Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940, sermon,    quoted in Therefore Choose Life: Selected Sermons, Addresses and Writings of    Abba Hillel Silver, Volume One, edited by Herbert Wiesner (1997)
Hate we see it we see it everywhere. Many look at the acts of terrorist groups around the world and see hate in its extreme.
However hate is prevalent in all nations. We see it in everything from road rage incidents to murders to hate crimes, to various crimes of violence. Even in nonviolent ways where a person simply hates their next door neighbour.
Mankind it seems is good at hating people. Hate is easy. Showing love can be much, much more difficult, especially if someone disrespects you or does something against you. Yet we must love. For if we don’t our society will eventually fall into anarchy.
Jesus set the ideal for all people everywhere. Whether you believe who Jesus was or not you cannot disagree with what He taught.
Jesus when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus however went one step further saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45.
The apostle Paul went on to define what true love is, saying,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
Martin Luther King jr. a leader of the civil rights movement in the United States in the early 1960's said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
He was right. If we love God, our neighbour and even our enemy we can bring change to the world. This is what Jesus and the apostles taught.
Napoleon Bonaparte Emperor of France who tried to conquer Europe said,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.” Napoleon Bonaparte.
Billy Graham said of the apostles of Jesus,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.”Billy Graham.
Love truly is the only way to change the world. All those who have ever hated and tried to conquer the world have failed and are assigned a note in history.
By contrast Jesus and His followers have showed love to the world and their work continues to this day. Christianity continues to grow even if places where it is persecuted.
Question do you show love to those around you?
What do you consider true love to be?
Please think about it.

The Way?

The Way?
Thomas Aquinas said,
“If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way.” Thomas Aquinas.
Jesus said,
“....“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6.
Who do you think Jesus is, a good man, a moral teacher, a fake?
Jesus speaking to Martha said,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26.
There is no in between with Jesus either He is the Christ, the Messiah, the one and only Son of God or he is not.
C. S. Lewis said of Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”  C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
The decision is ultimately up to the individual. You either believe Jesus is who he said he is or not.
But think carefully do not take my words or that of others as to who Jesus is. I would ask you the reader to read the New Testament for yourself, pray and ask God to show you what is real and who Jesus truly is.
Please think about it.

Note from a Christian

Note from a Christian
Jesus told this parable,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. 
                                                                                            Matthew 13:44-46.
What Jesus says here about heaven is what Christians believe. To a true Christian knowing Jesus as their Lord and Saviour is the most important thing in their lives.
We Christians believe it is so important that we are, if necessary, willing to die for what we believe.
We believe all people everywhere need to know about Jesus. That’s why we tell people about Jesus.
If you’re a non-Christian I’m sure you can understand that if you had something you thought of paramount importance to the people around you. So important it means life of death. Wouldn’t you want to tell people?
So it is with Christians we believe Jesus when He said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
The book of Acts records Paul speaking to the Athenians about Jesus this is what Paul said,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council.  
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”  Acts 17:17-34.
Pauls message is as important today as it was on the day he spoke it. Thus the choice is up to you dear reader.
Who do you think Jesus is?
Please think about it.

About Jesus

About Jesus.
The gospel of Luke records,
“Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”  Luke 2:28-32.
Here we have a quote from Simeon on the day Jesus was brought to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord. He makes it clear who he things Jesus is, the Salvation of all people, a light to the gentiles and someone who will bring glory to Israel.
Near the end of Jesus ministry on earth speaking to Martha Jesus states,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26.
What both Simeon, Martha, and Jesus are saying are the core belief of Christianity. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, The Son of God.
I know many in the world do not believe it but that is what Christians believe. The apostle Paul states,
“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. 1 Corinthians 1:22-25.
I think many who do not believe in God or that Jesus is God’s Son, believe God should work in a specific way. Usually their way.
I’ve talked to many who have said to me why doesn’t God just show Himself to people directly. It would make things easy.
I don’t believe God want’s to make things easy. God wants true followers.
Many people will follow a strong leader simply because they are strong. But when trouble comes many will drop away.
God want’s true believers who will not fall away when the bad times come. That’s why he asks His followers to follow in faith. The writer of Hebrews states,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”   Hebrews 11:6.
The write defining faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1.
A person with true faith in their leader be it God or anyone else will follow through thick and thin to the point of death.
That’s what the disciples of Jesus did all but one of them died because of their faith. It is happening today around the world. Christians are dying because of their faith.
If what Christians believe is a lie, then there are millions throughout history who have died in vain.
However, what Christians believe is not a lie. Jesus is all He said He is, the Saviour of mankind, The One and Only Son of God.
The question is do you believe it.
A quote from the New Testament I like quoting is from Jesus, who speaking of Himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
Please think about it.

On Love

On Love

Corrie ten Boom said
“Surely there is no more wretched sight that the human body unloved and uncared for.” 
Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place
Miss ten Boom was right and she should know. Corrie spent time in a Nazi concentration camp and seen the worst mankind could inflict on another human being.
Hitler and his henchmen certainly within living memory inflicted more pain and suffering on humanity than any other group, perhaps even in human history.
Rabbi Benjamin Blech said,
“In the aftermath of Nazi Germany we must once and for all understand that culture and crematoria are not mutually exclusive.  Scientific progress does not ensure moral protection, nor can secular humanism produce saints.  People will always find reasons to justify any kind of behaviour.”
-Rabbi Benjamin Blech, congregational rabbi and ancient professor of Talmud, Understanding Judaism.  The Basics of Deed and Creed (1991)
He was right. Even the most cultured nation, the most intellectually advanced nation can do horrible things against its people. Jews have suffered discrimination in all nations throughout history.
It doesn’t stop with the Jews however in the United States segregation of African Americans and restriction on other ethnic groups stands as a blot on their history.
Even in Canada there were laws that restricted some minorities from entering the country. Canada’s record toward it’s indigenous peoples is far from stellar to say the least.
All major western nations from time to time throughout history have embraced slavery and persecuted people be it in their homeland or in their colonies.
Today we point to terrorist and see extreme disregard for the dignity and basic human rights of the individual.
All this proves to me there is a need for the Christian message to go forth to all nations. The need to recognize there is a God who will one day call each person to account.
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
The writer of Ecclesiastes said,
“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.
It is when man does not recognize God or loses his fear of God that the society falls apart.  If man has no fear of judgment then many will do as they please. This is true as much for a terrorist, as for serial killer, a thief or for that matter a corrupt politician or preacher or anyone who thinks they can get away with evil.
Jesus when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                        Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus however did not stop there He said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?’ Matthew 5:43-47.
The apostle Paul set the standard for love when he said,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
The truth of what Jesus and Paul said is universal. You don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate what they say.
Anne Frank a young Jewish girl while in hiding from the Nazis wrote,
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can?  And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!  If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world.  Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible.  Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving!  No one has ever become poor from giving!”                                                                                      Anne Frank
Anne Frank was right. If we as individuals showed love and kindness to those around us the world would be a much better place.
Why not express love to someone you meet today.
Please think about it.

You are Important

You are Important

On February 14, 1990, NASA at a distance of 6 billion kilometres (3,7 billion miles) had the Voyager 1 space probe take a picture of the Solar system. It showed earth as a pail blue dot smaller than the head of a pin.
Carl Sagan said of that dot,
"From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it's different. Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam."
                               Carl Sagan.
Sagan was obviously right. In light of the vastness of the universe earth may not seem all that interesting. Yet it is all we have, that is if you think of it from a purely human prospective.
I believe however we have more. I believe there is life after this one. Life beyond death. I believe there is a God who created the universe and everything in it.
How God created it means little to my faith in God. It means nothing whether God used the “Big Bang” and billions of years or he simply took six days. He is an almighty God and He could have done it either way.
My faith is in God and Jesus Christ, His One and Only Son.
I believe God show He exists in the universe itself the Psalmist states,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1.
Everything from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest object in space is in perfect order. An order so perfect we can use mathematics to discover them and know how they work.
I cannot believe the universe became so mathematically perfect by chance. There has to be a creator behind it all.
At the same time I believe God entered His creation to point our way to Himself the writer of Hebrews speaking of Jesus 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.  
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.” 
Hebrews 1:1-4.
I know it may seem far fetched to non-Christians. Some would ask why would God come to earth in the form of His one and Only Son,
The answer was given by Jesus who when 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.
Put simply to God this seemingly insignificant dot in space is not insignificant to Him. God love you and everyone on this Earth. Thus God gives everyone of us a choice. To follow His ways that lead to heaven or to go our own way that leads to destruction.
I believe there is a question we all have to answer it is a question Jesus asked 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.
What is your answer to the question.
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.”  C. S. Lewis.
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Your Choice

Your choice

There is a very important set of verses in the New Testament. It is Jesus speaking of himself he states,
“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.
If these verses are true and I believe they are. They are of the uttermost importance to anyone reading them. They ask a person to believe Jesus is the Son of God. That it is through Him you get to heaven.
These verses are the key to Christian belief.
C. S. Lewis said of Christianity,
“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.
As a Christian I am told to by Jesus to tell people about Jesus and let them make up their own mind about Him.
So if what Jesus is saying is true then your eternal resting place is determined by who you think Jesus is.
Please think about it very carefully.

Your Actions

Your Actions
Jesus told this parable,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”    Luke 16:19-31.
Question how do you treat others? If you are an employer, do you pay your employees a living wage with good benefits?  Do you treat them with respect and dignity.
Jesus gave us a universal truth when He said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.
I am a firm believer that God will one day bring every man and woman on this earth to account for their actions.
In the above parable Jesus points to the rich man who treated Lazarus badly. Didn’t seem to believe in God. If he did the rich man obviously didn’t believe the words of Ecclesiastes who said,
“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.
The way I see it however whether you believe in God or not He still exists. C. S. Lewis states,
“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God.” 
                                                                                   C.S. Lewis.
And I believe one day all men will have to give an account to God of their actions whether they believe in Him or not. We will have no choice,
I can imagine a scenario like the one described by the Talmud that 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.
What will you say to God?
Please think about it.

How Important?

How Important?
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.”  C. S. Lewis
As I write this an American has been sentenced to hard labour in North Korea. One of the charges was he was trying to “subvert North Korean society with religion”. A similar thing happened to a Canadian pastor who had visited North Korea openly numerous times and was bringing aid to the country.
North Korea say’s there is no God yet they fear that these Christian pastors will subvert their society? Could it be that the government of North Korea believes there just might be a God and fears Him?
Other countries fear Christianity also. Christianity is considered the most persecuted faith in the world today.
In December of 2013 the United Kingdom parliament heard that one Christian is killed every eleven minutes for their faith.
“MP Jim Shannon said the persecution of Christians is “the biggest story in the world that has never been told”
He said that although the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are many countries in which these rights are not given.
Shannon alleged that 200 million Christians will be persecuted for their faith this year, while he said 500 million live in dangerous neighbourhoods.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is on record as declaring that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world." 
According to a report in Reuters news the top ten countries in which Christianity is persecuted in are, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Maldives, Mali, Iran, Yemen and Eritrea.
Still despite all of this Christians every day present their message. A message that simply calls mankind to be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Christianity is a faith based on Love. Love of God for His creation and individual. Christians are called to love God, their neighbour and even their enemy.
Jesus making it clear when he said
“... ‘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 neighbour as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus also reminding His followers,
“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
The apostle Paul telling Christians
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”   Romans 12:18-21.
As I said Christianity is a faith based on Love.
And just as importantly 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
This is why we as Christians continue despite the persecution to take our message to the world.
We truly believe that the decision to accept Jesus as ones Lord and Saviour is the most important thing anyone can do. It is a guarantee of eternal life with God.
Sadly in many parts of the world we Christians do this at our peril.
So to the Christian in the west not facing persecution I would ask to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world. For strength and that eventually the persecution they face will end. Pray also for all groups who are persecuted even though they are not Christian because no one deserves to be persecuted.
To all people irrespective of their faith I would ask you to tell your congressman, president, your member of parliament, your prime minister about not only persecuted Christians but about other persecuted groups.
 Ask them to bring up the persecution of Christians and other groups with officials of countries that oppress and imprison anyone.
Please think about doing it today.