Good or Better Choices?

Luke‬ ‭16:19-31‬ - There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 

But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to  Abraham’s bosom. 

The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." 

But Abraham said, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things [hardships]; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us." 

Then he said, "I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment." 

Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." 

And he said, "No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent." 

But he said to him, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead."

These verses show the difference between heaven and hell. They also prove the lie that ALL people go to heaven when they die. Again, if that were true then it was yet another lie that Jesus died on the cross for no reason at all, that by our "works" or our status, our perceived goodness, we could enter. He died for all mankind, but only those who look to and trust in Him will be forgiven. 

We choose in this lifetime whom we will follow. Have we heard about the commandments, heard the Gospel that Jesus proclaimed, humbled ourselves before Him? Have we made a decision to believe? Do we follow, obey and trust in Jesus Christ or man...or self? The time to choose is now. If someone would die within the next few minutes without Christ, he/she could be in the same predicament as the rich man above. 

Interesting, that last sentence. If they did not listen to God through His Laws that had been given to them for life and to worship God, nor the prophets, there was no way they would be persuaded if they saw one rise from the dead. Sounds like a prediction to occur later, that Jesus would come once again to proclaim His message of life and His resurrection! Still many would not/do not believe. 

What will it take anyone to believe that heaven and hell are real and not to be taken lightly? It's exactly why Jesus calls us...that none would perish. 

Are the good things of life we can put in our hands and handle and delight in today more important than the better things of eternity? It's a choice we make. I leave you with that thought.

Romans 8:2-5 - There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 

Everything

Colossians 1:16 - For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

I read this scripture this morning and it got my mind to thinking. Everything began in God's mind. Everything. This is not a new thought.

This is a very simplistic view of this idea. I'm a simplistic kinda gal! 

I was looking at an Oriental style rug we have. It started with God. He created the persons who made this rug. He created the minds and gave the gift of creativity to these people. He created someone to come up with the pattern and maybe another who chose the colors. He created the individuals who developed the use of certain materials and another to create the implements or machinery to put this rug together. There was no doubt a pattern. Today there is software used to develop a template for commercially made rugs. God created all the minds who developed all components. 

It all starts with God. The immensity of it all. It's a lot to take in, a lot to make sense of. This God has it all under control. And this is just about a rug!

Imagine every little thing in this world. Who can take in the great number of shrubs or trees? Or flowers, birds, animals, not to mention people. Everything. Created and managed by God. 

And then there’s us! He knew us before the beginning of time. He knew who our parents would be, when we’d be born and what our name would be. He knows how we will live our lives. He knows when and how we will leave this earth. 

So, if He has all of creation in His control why shouldn't we believe He has everything in His complete control? Do we believe He maintains all of life on earth? He knows the mind of man. He knows the goodness and evil within hearts. He knows who love Him and those who reject Him. He knows the seasons and times. He has given us His Book to show us who He is, what He expected, what He expects. He has brought nations up and taken nations down. And though all these things I’ve stated many times, I will repeat this too: He never changes nor does He lie. What He has said about past, present and future either has, or will, come to pass.

Just very simple words. A simple kinda gal who believes a very simple truth but one which doesn’t jive with some people. 

Then there's His Son, Jesus! The Word states:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-3)

There will be an end just like a beginning. God created and it was good. Man messed things up, chose not to obey God and later not to hear Him, and evil stepped in. One day He will come to remove evil to make this world good again. And it’s all in His complete control...according to His Word, which is the truth because God cannot lie. His Word, which shows us what we need to know. 

It’s all about the minute details. God sent His Son, who is also God, to this world to save all of our wretched souls! We all are wretched souls until we know Him, until we humbly, spiritually, bow before Jesus and ask Him to open our eyes to His truth, change   us, but most of all save us. 

Save us from what? The evil in this world. While the Bible says the world, as we know it today and tomorrow, will end, it will be a changed world. Evil will be removed. If one has not chosen to follow Christ, he or she will be removed also. There’s all this talk about global warming, oh, climate change. No one has seen climate change like there will be when the evil in the world is sent to the Lake of Fire. 

Jesus is our hope for our future. The hope for tomorrow. The hope for the next hour. He is in complete control of all things and His plans will prevail. In the beginning He was involved in creation. In the end He will bring about destruction on earth and defeat of evil and then an even better plan, a new Earth. We can all be part of this if we call on Him and seriously follow Him. He holds our lives in His hands. He came to remove our sins. He wants to do this. 

In complete control! He created. We were created to know Him and give Him all glory and honor. Will you do this? He is waiting if you have not.

Nehemiah 9:6 - You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.

Famine

Genesis‬ ‭41:57‬ ‭- So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.

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The story of Joseph is one of my favorites. Joseph was one of twelve brothers. He was favored by his father Jacob. Jacob was a God-fearing man. The favoritism caused jealousy among the brothers and they sold him into slavery in Egypt and then lied to their father.

In a nutshell... Many years later Joseph had obtained Pharaoh's favor. He was given the responsibility of the storehouses in Egypt. A famine took place in the land of Joseph's family, Canaan in Israel. The brothers were sent to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph met his family but kept his identity a secret for a time. 

Eventually he let himself be known to them and he told them not to be grieved by what they had done (forgiveness) because: God sent me before you to preserve your life. God sent me before you ... to save your lives by a great deliverance. (Genesis 45:5,7) And later he said to his brothers: But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. ‭‭(Genesis‬ ‭50:20‬)

This story, account, speaks to us today also. There is a spiritual famine in the land. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. ...(Hosea 4:6) Many live in a famine without recognizing it. They live without the knowledge of the God who created them. They live without the knowledge of truth. 

Sometimes, though, God will introduce a time or season or event in one's life where this famine is recognized. The bottom will seem to fall out. God might intervene and draw them to Him. Then, like we see above, all bad turns to good. This is what Jesus Christ does. He makes good out of the wreck we've made of our lives. He delivers us and makes us alive. He saves us.

I also know that not everything we see happen in our saved lives as bad is. It might be God's wake up call for us or He's in the process of working something in or out of our lives for the better. So we really shouldn't be complaining but rejoicing believing in a God who is no doubt up to something good. 

I cannot emphasize this enough...like Joseph saved his family through an act of evil upon him brought on by his own brothers, Jesus saves us from the evil one who only comes to steal, kill and destroy. We are all brothers and sisters with the devil until Jesus delivers us from all that. 

Later Joseph's father prophesies into the lives of all his sons. Here's what he says about Joseph. There is one small phrase that truly packs a wallop: 

The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel)... (Genesis‬ ‭49:23-24‬)

I see the archers as his brothers. And later it is clearly in reference to Christ our Shepherd who delivers us and who is the Rock of our salvation. Hallelujah!

I find it interesting, while no coincidence at all, that it is the grain Joseph's family came to purchase. This is the basic staple of life. We need grain to feed livestock. Grain produces bread, a very wonderful staple in today's diets, although now we seem to even have developed health problems because of it. Is this because we aren't eating the same type of wheat as in the biblical days? The idea of God is not as popular nor important as it once was. Perhaps our treatment of wheat has changed also. Bread should not be bad for us; Jesus is not bad for us. 

I love God's Word, the richness of it, the admonition, promises, convictions and especially the examples. Examples for us to learn from, promises to recall and encourage, conviction to pierce our hearts into obedience and faithfulness to Jesus, our Deliverer. I pray that the famine in the many hearts and souls who do not know in this Jesus would be satisfied (and if a heart does not recognize a famine yet, that it be made known) by Him. He is the manna come down from heaven, the bread of life. He came that anyone who receives Him would have everlasting life. He came to deliver you from death to life. His hand is outstretched even now. Do not die for lack of knowledge. 

John‬ ‭6:49-51‬ ‭- Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.

The Good News Is...

Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭- Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

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To prevent the things of the world from causing chaos in our lives, we must stay focused on the things of God. Without this understanding we will fall into one of two categories. Either we will see the problems we all face with little hope and much despair or we will bury our heads in the sand, turning to things that will distract us from thinking about what we see or are experiencing.

There's another alternative. What I have suggested, what God suggests...that we stay focused on Him. Stay focused on His promises. Stay focused on what we know He has told us will happen but what He will do if we endure with Him to the end. He is the good news we need to hear about. There is only one true gospel message we can put all our hope, faith and trust in. He is what it is all about. It's not about me or politicians or businessmen or rock stars or Hollywood or sports figures or anyone else.

As I have occasionally tuned in to the Republican National Convention, I am often reminded of this. I have to look to God. We might hear things that sound good but how do we know for sure? Remember, this is man's agenda. It is about what man wants. Some of the things might be what Jesus wants, but Jesus plays no role in any of this...unless the candidate is a believer and follows Christ. 

We live in a very messed up world where evil is perceived as good and good evil. Only God knows the real intent of anyone's heart. And no matter who gets elected as our next president, God already today knows this. He will use this person to exact His will, just as He did in the Old Testament. There were kings who did what was right in the eyes of God and those who did evil. The good ones brought blessings to the people. The others did not. God's sole purpose is redeeming souls! If He has to use our country's leaders, He will. God get our attention by allowing difficulties. Through them we might just turn back to Him. 

In the Old Testament His people, Israel, were released from Egyptian captivity by His hand. They recognized it...for awhile...then forgot and went back to their old ways. So God withdrew and allowed enemies to win battles with them. Israel again prayed for God to help them and He did. This happened repeatedly. 

Lord, let this Light of the world be evident in these days. If things do not improve in this world, perhaps people's hope would if they knew the God of all creation...if people would humble themselves, call out to You. Not everyone has to be troubled. You would prefer that none would perish. Let more meditate on the goodness of Your Word and its promises. 

We are at a time when God is needed more than ever in this world filled with hatred and violence. Even in this country with our own 
share of the same. If we want to make America great again we need to humble ourselves before our God and ask for His help. Man alone is nothing. Will we see either of these happen? Not so sure. 

I have seen all the protesting, flag burning and unrest. Most of the time these people don't really know what they want. Here's what God has to say about that: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah‬ ‭17:9-10‬)  People sow what they reap. 

I love that the Lord has promises. They are promises that will not be broken. They are for everyone willing to humbly submit to Him and call Him Lord. He is the only hope. Through Him we are free. It may not seem like it now, but when all is said and done, it will all make extraordinary sense to those who have trusted Him. 

Exodus‬ ‭13:3 - And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place. ...”

Good or Better Choices?

Luke‬ ‭16:19-31‬ - There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 

But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to  Abraham’s bosom. 

The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." 

But Abraham said, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things [hardships]; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us." 

Then he said, "I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment." 

Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." 

And he said, "No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent." 

But he said to him, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead."

These verses show the difference between heaven and hell.They also prove the lie that ALL people go to heaven when they die. Again, if that were true then it was yet another lie that Jesus died on the cross for no reason at all, that by our "works" or our status, we could enter. He died for all mankind, but only those who receive Him will be forgiven. 

We choose in this lifetime whom we will follow. Have we heard about the commandments, heard the gospel that Jesus proclaimed, humbled ourselves before Him? Do we follow, obey and trust in Jesus Christ or man...or self? The time to choose is now. If someone would die within the next few minutes without Christ he/she could be in the same predicament as the rich man above. 

Interesting, the last sentence. If they did not listen to God through His Laws that had been given to them for life and to worship God, nor the prophets, they wouldn't even be persuaded if they saw one rise from the dead. Hmmm, sounds like a prediction to occur later, that Jesus would come once again to proclaim His message of life and His resurrection! Still many would not believe. And so on it goes...

What will it take anyone to believe that heaven and hell are real and not to be taken lightly. So it's exactly why Jesus calls us...that none would perish. 

Are the good things of life we can handle and delight in today more important than the better things of eternity? It's a choice we make. Think about it...

John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever Believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 

Did God Really Say???

Genesis 3:1,5 - Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’? For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Did God really say...? Those were the first words the enemy said. Seeds of doubt planted in an about-to-be-separated-from-God being...Eve. So it all started, this thing about sin and separation.

The enemy, a deceiver and liar. He had the upper hand, although he had no hands! He had been relegated to slithering on the ground. Amazing, seeing as how snakes have that reputation of being slimy and scaly. A snake in the grass, a cold-blooded snake, one who feigns friendship. How can we be so deceived by something many abhor? And what is it that is said about removing the scales from one's eyes? It's all about snakes...one particular snake from 6,000 years ago.

This serpent had cunning words. He only wanted revenge for something he had brought upon himself through pride...extinction from the heavenly places...by God Himself. His anger toward God has festered in him ever since and he takes it out on us. He still has an upper hand in this world. He only wants evil, brings evil, speaks evil through his deception. And we listen...

There is another hand that is greater than his, though. Thankfully. Gratefully. 

Do you know the story of Saul who became the Apostle Paul? It's one of my favorite stories. From unbeliever and persecutor to believer in a heartbeat. He was met by Jesus on the road to Damascus. He saw a great light which blinded him. A great light! He was blind for...get this...three days. On the third day... Here, read it yourself: As he journeyed he [Saul] came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.

Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem..." (‭Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭3,8-9,17-18,20-21‬)

We once were blind and now we see. The scales fall from our eyes when the light of Christ is revealed to us, when truth is revealed and the lies diminish. And we are then called to preach the gospel! And I need to remind myself it can happen to anyone. And I need to remember that I was there once myself. Oh, the grace we must give...

We all believe the lie, his words, until the truth of God's Word becomes known to us. Did God really say??? Yes, He did. He does not lie, never has, never will. He has given us the means to know the truth of His Word and live by it and know if we falter we can be again forgiven by it...by Him, the Word of God made flesh, Who died but rose again and still lives, as do the words He speaks through His Word. Jesus, God's only Son. There at the beginning, Creator of all. Worthy of all honor, praise and glory, forever and ever. Who only wants good for us. Hallelujah!

He has been made known to us, this Word, this God, this Creator...this Jesus. We either believe in Him or we do not. There is no middle of the road. We either believe His Word or we do not. We either read His Word or we do not. We either trust His Word or we do not. We either follow or we do not. Black and white just like good and evil. We do or do not. Which leads to...

Either life or death. If we believe in Jesus, believe His Word, understand what His Word says and obey His commands we have life. His Word is life. It is the water that quenches our thirst. It is the daily bread of life, our fresh manna. Life - life - life. He's all about life.

What good has satan brought? I'm waiting for an answer. Hmmmm. Nothing. Tick, tick, tick, tick. Times up! No good, that's what he is. That's what he's up to. Has God really said??? He's quick to plant seeds of doubt of God's Word as truth. 

Know the Word and those seeds of doubt can be like the seeds planted on rocky soil. They will blow away. I say, satan, blow away! Get lost. Let his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth, never more to yield words of doubt. Did God really say??? Yes, He did. He not only said, He promised. He has told us all about this snake in the grass and his wicked ways. He has shown us how he has deceived and still does today. He has shown us Who is victorious in the end. How many want to follow a loser? How many want to follow One who is victorious? My name is Laurie...or Lauren. My name means crowned with laurels...victorious. I will stand by that as a promise from God. 

We are either for God or against Him. We either live or we die. We either believe the truth or are deceived. We either believe His Word or we reject it. We either receive the Word or reject Him. If we do not believe what the Word of God says we believe him who asked did God really say...

We are called to run to Him, not away. Call on the name of the Lord so the enemy must flee. We are to humble ourselves before a mighty God or be humbled by Him. We either submit on our own or we will be submitted some day. We are either joined with God or separated from Him. 

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other... (‭‬Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭30‬,6‬:‭24)

God of Both Testaments

Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭16-17 - And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 

There are many who question how God could be so judgmental in the Old Testament and in the New Testament loving.

I've heard many times in order to know evil you must see good. A precedent has to be made, a foundation laid. God did that. Life in the beginning was good, peaceful, the way it was meant to be, free from labor, hardship, tears, sorrow.  If Adam and Eve obeyed His command not to touch one particular tree, the life they first lived would be like that. One tree. But once we are told not to do, not to touch, not to taste, not to peek, aren't we tempted all the more to do it?!

God loved His creation but when sin entered into His plan He could have nothing to do with it because of His holiness. This is a concept we must understand...He IS holy....He is good. He always has our best interest in mind, but He also judges. We cannot enter into His presence, nor eternal life, without His help...through Jesus' gift of salvation. His desire is for us to seek His Son and receive that good life back, and as is proclaimed to all who receive His Son, in the end: ..."God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭4‬)  Sounds like what it was like "in the beginning."

There was only one command when God created all things...it was directed to Adam and Eve in the verses above. Wonder where we got our pride? From thinking we could be as smart as God and falling for the lies of an evil serpent, a.k.a., the devil. So God had to switch gears, in time laying down more laws (commandments). He ushered those two, His created beings, out of a perfect world and ushered in His right to judge.

We are shown that if we disobey we will die...unless another requirement from the New Testament is met: 

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 

...that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (John‬ ‭1‬:‭29, John‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬, John‬ ‭3‬:‭15-16, 2Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17)

Old things will pass away. All things are new. New creatures, born again. God laid the good foundation in the Old Testament, it was transgressed. God showed His intolerance for disobedience. Later, after many years and examples of what God would do for those who were obedient and those who were not (blessings and curses), and in the New Testament He brought His Son, Himself, down from the throne and into the world to show Himself to the lost, to restore back to those who believed in Jesus, the good that was lost to evil sin.

Sin and disobedience has only escalated through time and has nearly gotten to the worst it can be, but not quite yet. It will get worse still. A sign that time is approaching quickly for the return of Christ. Each of us is guilty, no doubt daily. But if we confess our sins (to God, not man) He will forgive us. 

God of the Old Testament showed us His idea of a perfect life, the goodness He wishes upon people. He only has thoughts of good for us. When we, as a people, decided to disobey, we were given the judgment. The God of the New Testament made a way that we might be reconciled. Seek that Way. 

Romans 5:20-21 - ...the law (Old Testament) entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace (New Testament) abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

That I Should Bear Witness

John 18:37-40

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?"

Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all."


There is something so very powerful in the question Pilate had: What is truth? This was hard to write this morning. I felt discouragement because there are many who refuse the truth. I felt great sadness over what Jesus had to go through for us and yet because His thoughts and ways are greater than ours, He may not see as we do. He knew what He had to do and He did it willingly, without complaint.

All that  happened to Jesus was what He had come into the world for. For this cause... God sent His only Son from holy heaven to live among sinful man...that I should bear witness...of the truth. Jesus is the truth. When we know the truth (Jesus) we have life and we know what, and Who, the way is.

It so saddens me that there are many who don't know what truth is. Many are willing to believe lies; and worse yet, sometimes know something is a lie and that seems to be okay with them. We see it specifically in the political arena. No matter which side, the other "apparently" is dead wrong. There can only be one right. But even in politics it's not totally right. Jesus showed what was right. So when issues that are against God's commands crop up and are disagreed with, a lie is believed. "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Like I said, this was hard to write this morning. Toes stepped on.

I believed a passel of lies myself, though, before I knew Jesus. Then I found out He spoke truth. Then I found out just what awful things I had believed...things that so went against God's Word.

All throughout the Word are thoughts on doing good, not evil. Evil and good seems to depend on which side you're on. What to one might seem evil is good to someone else. Isaiah pointed out what we see in the world today: Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (‭Isaiah‬ ‭5‬:20) 

Jesus came to bear witness of the truth. Just as people did not know what truth was even when He was standing right before them, people still snub our Lord and Savior. They choose to believe the lie. This may sound so critical, but it is the truth!

What did Jesus say again? "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." If the things in the Bible do not sit well, His voice is not heard. Pilate asked what truth was. He couldn't understand...and it may very well have been God's plan for Pilate to not hear. Or he wasn't interested in getting involved as a politician being in the midst of a religious matter. After all, He did say to the Jews he found no fault with Him. All part of God's plan.

Many did not believe Jesus. It might be hard to conceive that what He said then is still absolute truth. He does not change. His words are the same. His Word will never fail, nor will it fade away...all biblical truths. (Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 13:8, Matthew 24:35).

I know I'm not perfect but I'm open to correction. I'm so thankful I know where truth lies. I know God is always at work perfecting His people but none will be perfect until He returns. It's sad that there still are many who don't even want to "go there."

Repeatedly Jesus had to question when He had been at any fault. Jesus and His Word are truth. If we cannot believe the truth, we do not believe in Him. I feel so critical saying this. But it is the truth. We cannot believe only in part what Jesus says or what the Bible tells us. Jesus died for the truth. He died that we might believe in Him, hear His voice and believe the truth. Many are even departing from this truth. This should cause a lot of people to do some heavy thinking about what they believe.

Jesus did not come to condemn people but that they might have life in Him, believe in Him, trust that what He said was true and just. It's the same today. It's also why there is a more persistent persecution of Christians heading our way.

He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. "But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” (‭John 3:31-33, John 8:45-47)