Peace or Division?

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

I was thinking about the division in our country or the world, for that matter. There can be division in anything. When two people do not see 

eye to eye there's division. Especially in politics! 

Then I got to thinking about what Jesus said: Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (Luke 12:51-53)

He is our Prince of Peace, however. The division comes when one believes in Him and another does not. When one's life revolves around Him, one's does not. When I want to talk about the things of God and cannot, to me there is division. We want to talk about those things that are important to us. How hard it is when talk of God just don't happen! 

So this takes me a little deeper, on a subject that also brings division, has some in an uproar. The Church is even divided on this. Go figure. There can be no "one accord" even in her. There are many doctrines, but only one Lord. 

Some day the absolute truth will be known by all people. That absolute truth is starts in the very first scripture above. It's a well-known scripture. Many think they believe it. Many really do not...and that brings division. 

If Jesus says He is the way, truth and life, He is. No one or anything else is. Period. That brings division when others decide that God is a loving God and would not send anyone to hell. I believed it too. That is so far from the truth.

God is holy. He cannot be in the presence of unholiness. That is why Jesus said He is the way, truth and life. To get into God's presence, receive His grace and mercy, we must go through Christ. No other way than by His own Son. Not just by mentally agreeing He is, but knowing in heart, soul and mind. It's that simple. A simple, but sometimes hard to digest, truth. Your goodness will not do it, neither your generosity, kindness, or love alone. Our goodness is as filthy rags. But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6) But through Christ...we are made whole (hah, no division). 

So there is division. And in the end there will be division as well. We will either be ushered into the kingdom of heaven or cast into the lake of fire. It may seem like a very unkind  thing for God to do but if you read His Word you will understand that knowing Him and obeying Him brings better results. 

So why did Jesus say He did not come to bring peace but division? Because some would find it hard to believe there is only one way, and that He was it. So clearly seen with all the denominations and beliefs to choose from.  Those who understand and believe this and adhere to His truth will find peace. The division: peace and turmoil; light and dark; good and evil. Our righteousness is as filthy rags, remember, but life in and through Christ changes that. 

Romans 5:1-2 - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Nothing Much Has Changed

John 5:39-47

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you--Moses, in whom you trust.

For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?


So few verses but so many thoughts. Each sentence a gold mine.

I repeatedly say that the Bible is the Word of God. That it is truth and wisdom. That it has been written that we might know Him. That through these words we might have life. That only through the Word, Who is Jesus, power will come to understand these words and bring that life.

Jesus continues to preach to the Pharisees, those religious men. They proclaim they know scripture, yet deny Jesus is the Christ though they have read about Him...in the Old Testament. The New Testament had yet to be written...

He tells them that if they searched scriptures and knew them they would have eternal life because they spoke of Him who was to come, but because they reject Him they reject life. Ouch.

He goes on to allude that they will receive honor from men, their contemporaries, but do not receive Him. This rebuke must have angered them. Who was He to tell them they were wrong? Then He states in other words that He is God...and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? The only God...

The Pharisees knew of Moses, knew his words. They put their faith in Moses, a mere man but would not put their faith in the One of whom Moses preached. He may not have used Jesus' name but through prophetic words. Jesus came and fulfilled his prophecy. However, they rejected His words...the words of life. No other man, whether pastor, priest or rabbi, can do the work of Jesus. Moses put his faith in God. He spoke words for future generations that they might also believe:

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ “And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:15-22)

God would raise up a Prophet...capital P. The LORD said He would put His words in His mouth and He would speak all that He was commanded by Him. Hearing His words would be required. Not hearing would bring death, not life. Jesus told us previously that He only came to do the will of the Father. He spoke and healed. Jesus spoke the truth and it was not received by all.

Not much has changed. Jesus is still rejected as the only Way to life. Many, even like the religious leaders of Jesus' day, still put their trust in men. But one day every knee will bow and tongue confess Jesus is Lord...it will be required.

I may not have always known Jesus. I may have rejected Him, though I knew of Him, but I do today. And when we get our minds wrapped around His words, He wraps His love around our hearts and grants us eternal life. We have the scriptures that speak of Him and His miracles. Will we be like Pharisees and not believe what has been written for our understanding?

Matthew 11:4-6 - Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Take Him at His Word

1Peter 1:8-9 - ... Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Hallelujah! It's all about the Word, His Word. It's about Jesus, the Man and the Word.

Coming upon a local Christian television station the preacher, Dr. John Whitcomb, was talking about Jesus' ministry. He talked about certain people, those who followed Him and sought Him for His miracles of feeding the thousands with a loaf of bread and some fishes...and other miracles. They did not follow Him to hear Him speak but for the signs or what He could give them. They missed the message that He was the Bread of Life. Whitcomb said one fleeting statement (in my words): like many in the Church today, they want all the bells and whistles, the things they can see that tickle their senses, the programs, the music, the flashing lights...not so much the words of our Lord.

I think many churches today do this. People don't go just for a well preached sermon and the truth of God's Word. They come out of obligation, the belief that it will get them to heaven...or for the entertainment. We've become a people of needing to be entertained by things and not so much by just listening or reading. And many churches are providing such to keep the people entertained and returning. They opt for a soft, inoffensive message to keep the pews and coffers full. I encountered a women's event one time. As I entered the church the entire foyer was filled with tables with wares to be sold. Something went through me as if to say, is this what is needed to get women to a church event? Do we have to be lured with shopping first and not for the pure Word?

What about churches who will not bow to this entertainment? The difference is the people in those churches want to hear Jesus speak. They want to hear what they must do to be saved, be reminded of their sin and to be encouraged to continue to abide in the Lord. They want the truth and nothing but the truth.

Many churches preach soft messages, as the Bible says: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (2Timothy 4:3-4)

Sadly, Jesus encountered a falling away just like many of the churches today. It has to do with wanting to hear (and see) what they want...or finding it difficult to understand or not wanting to hear what Jesus says:
Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” (John 6:53-58,60) And the result? From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. (John 6:66)

There you go. Eating that bread and the Bread. The people came to Jesus because He provided them badly needed food. They missed the point of He being that which could give them life...the Bread or as the Samaritan woman at the well was told, the Living Water, which when drunk would remove the thirst forever. Except she got it!

Aren't we told that the Word of God brings life? Aren't we told that Jesus is the Word? Don't I constantly say that it's all about Him? Not about a religion but about a relationship with the Man, Jesus Christ.

This reminded me of what I wrote the other day about people believing or having their faith and trust in things they can see or hold in their hands...their stuff, which when others see is like a boost to their ego. What does the Word say? Remember Thomas, who doubted Jesus' resurrection? John 20:29 - Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And then Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We are called to take Jesus at His word. Simple, childlike faith. Come to Him for He is the Bread of life and the Living Water. It's both a simple concept and mysterious one. How do we do it? Take Him at His word. He is the Word. Take Him into your life. Give yourself to Him and trust and see what He can do.

Jesus, the Word:
Hebrews 4:12 - ...the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

He, the Word, is  all we need to be fulfilled in this life. Go for it. Take Him at His word and take Him. Period.

Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Shame Can Bring Forgiveness

Psalm 83:16 - Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD.

I don't care how repetitive I am in my blog. The message will always be the same in the end...the most important thing there is is having a relationship with Jesus Christ, Son of Almighty God. Jesus, the only way, truth and life. Jesus, who died for our sins...something no one else has done.

In this nation we see people living lifestyles that exclude God. Many just don't think there is a need for Him. Maybe they hate anything He stands for and are offended. Or maybe they have been so badly hurt by a church that anger and bitterness consume them to a point where they will not step into a church again. Maybe they lost someone or something so horrible in their life that they are angry with God because they believe that a good God would not allow something so bad to occur.

I believe, as I have for a long time, that we are seeing the consequences of a nation turning its back on God. Do things look all that great these days? We are in days like the days of Noah: And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:26-27) They heard the warnings Noah was putting out there but they did not want to believe them. Then it was too late.

Timothy later added this about those living in the last days: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...(2Timothy 3:2-4). Ouch.

Some see what they want to see...because they have not God and have bought into the delusion: The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2Thessalonians 2:9-12) Strong words? I guess!

I ask you to open your eyes and allow God to fill you with the wisdom of truth and knowledge. I ask myself time and again, who am I that God would allow me to see these things? I'm no one special...to the world...but to God...wow. It is a privilege to be counted as one who has just a tiny bit of wisdom and discernment.

Oh...but wait. That might be considered arrogant. And you know what? It might be. Some look at believers as arrogant because we say we have received Christ, believe we have a special relationship with Him, have changed spiritually, understand better His truth and, as one of these friends says, hold firm to our beliefs and have the hope Christ gives us, something others who aren't sure of this hope or have no beliefs don't understand because they have not heeded these words of God. Is it their fault? I don't know. If they have heard...even in these blogs (which are far from perfect)...and have laughed or determined the subject matter too absurd for their thinking, or they are offended because sometimes the content seems to offend...because it is the truth of God's Word...then, yes, they have chosen not to believe the truth and have believed the lie.

The truth is not difficult to grasp if one really wants to know it. God wants none to perish and there are many who will whether they live to be a hundred or die in an instant tomorrow. There is a very great need to know Jesus and His saving power. We cannot work for it. We must, though, desire and then seek it. Seek God.

Anyone who does not know God is His enemy of sorts. My prayer is that He would fill the faces of unbelievers with shame. Sometimes that's what we need to do...we need to see for ourselves the dreadful lives we live without Him. We need to see our sin and be ashamed, repent of those sins and seek Him. Then...He is just to forgive. He forgives as far as the east is from the west. The shame is then removed. A change will take place.

My message will not change. If it is offensive the offense is not with me but with He who showed us the truth. It's all about Jesus. Do you choose to follow Him or choose to live with others as in the last days of Noah? He's searching to and fro for those whose hearts are for Him that He might show Himself strong on their behalf. Will you join those He has sought and won over? It is unlike anything you have known. Join the "arrogant" ones who have a belief in something real and a hope like no other.

Isaiah 56:6 - Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.

The Truth Is...

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent-- the LORD detests them both.  Isaiah 5:20, Proverbs 17:15

These statements sure do encompass a lot of what we see in this world and more specifically in too many ways in this country. When did it all start, this politically correct attitude, this lack of immorality, lack of conscience, lack of wisdom...lack of truth? Well, it's been awhile since my last post and I guess I'm making up for it here.

I know God is in control. He's working not only in my life but the lives of others I know, putting us through difficult situations or uncovering our innermost faults that we might seek Him for strength, comfort, peace or most importantly, change within ourselves.

Change in the world starts with each one of us. But it all starts with having a knowledge of truth. And then there's the understanding that there is only one Truth. That Truth is Jesus Christ. And I know I bring this up a lot and my story never changes...just as God never changes. Jesus is the solution to all the world's problems. Yet I know we will always have problems because not all believe Jesus is the answer. There is one truth only. It's not up for interpretation.

Only Jesus offers up the honest truth, despite how hard it may be at times. He never promised it would be easy to follow Him. In fact, it is sometimes difficult. We are told some things must be let go of in order to follow Him. A change needs to take place in our lives. We cannot remain the same persons. He gave each of us a character and nature when He created us. It won't always be completely changed but He'll enhance it. He'll take the yuck out what we made of it and turn it into something more palatable.

The honest truth today is no longer what it used to be. It's been distorted. Truth has been exchanged for a lie as scripture states. What's sad is people take offense to that when it has been laid out plainly for us for thousands of years. God never changes; His Word changeth not; truth cannot be compro-mised...although it has.

Let me point out that in all things we are not to hate any person. It is the sin we are not to tolerate. Sounds judgmental or holier than thou, but it's more of the truth. Man has, for the most part, rebelled against God. He hates sin so we are to hate it too. He wishes that none should perish, but that we would see our sin as He does and allow the change within to take place. And as I so often think, what seems like an impossible task, a change that seems way too big, to God it is nothing. We have to believe the change can be done...not through our own devices (self help books, psychotherapy or believing we can just will ourselves to do a thing) but only through the power of Jesus Christ when He is sought and received.

So what are some of those (hard) truths??  Remember, God wants to make us holy. He's looking for a bride without spot or wrinkle in the last days when He returns. Not all will fit the bill...unless He works a change in us. Apart from the Ten Commandments, of which some are listed here, there are more:
Proverbs 6:16-19 - These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.
Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Leviticus 20:6,12-13 - And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people. If a man lies with his daughter-in-law (or mothers, sisters, sisters-in-law, you get the picture), both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed perversion. Their blood shall be upon them. If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. 

Now people can debate these issues and find excuse. I know there are many who will say these do not apply to them or none of these things are in them. But we all carry something; we've all done something. We cannot debate these truths. We cannot justify. If a person does they are believing the lie, twisting the truth to suit personal ideas of right and wrong. It's no doubt why the world is in the state it's in today. It's all about self. To be honest I believed a lot of these things God would excuse because He loves us. The truth is because He loves us He has to put boundaries in our lives...and some day those boundaries will put us one side or the other of eternal life...in Christ or in hell. A hard truth. This is a message for me as well as the next person.

You can disagree with what I've said. If you do it's not really me you disagree with but God. Another hard truth. These hard truths are why the Bible says it's a narrow road, this following Jesus...His way is difficult and few are able to travel it. I'll tell you, the fear of the Lord is the deciding factor for me. A reverent fear for the power He has in our lives and the power He has in this world.

We are nearing the end. The days we live in are proof. They have been outlined for us in God's Word. His Word (both real in the form of Jesus and as the written Word of God) is truth. Do you know the Truth? Just before Jesus was sentenced to be crucified Pontius Pilate tried to make sense of the whole situation of who Jesus was. He asked Jesus "What is truth?" Truth was standing before him but he received Him not.

Jesus came into the world that His truth would be heard...His testimony. He said to Pilate that everyone who is of the truth hears His voice. That hard word comes from the Truth. There are many who cannot hear His voice over the deceptive lies from another who vies for our attention and our lives. So I ask again. Do you know the Truth?

1John 2:3-5 - Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

There is None Other

Romans 3:10-18 - As it is written:
• There is none righteous, no, not one; 
• There is none who understands; 
• There is none who seeks after God.
• They have all turned aside;
• They have together become unprofitable;
• There is none who does good, no, not one.
• Their throat is an open tomb;
• With their tongues they have practiced deceit;
• The poison of asps is under their lips; 
• Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
• Their feet are swift to shed blood;
• Destruction and misery are in their ways;
• And the way of peace they have not known.
• There is no fear of God before their eyes.

These Words came from God, not me.

I watched a short video today. So often I read or view things, listen to other people speak and relate so well with what they said and wish I had been able to come up with the same words. I may have said similar things in my own way, but another way seemed better.

First of all, might I just add that no matter what I say, the Bible says it better! If posted only scripture, it would be better. Because it is alive and speaks of truth.

But I digress. The video was about a woman dying of cancer with only weeks left to live and she spoke at a function to tell her story. We all have one, you know. We all have some history…abuse, prostitution, alcoholism, abortion, drugs, anger issues, theft, murder…the list can go on for a very long time but you get the point. Her point was this: we are all sinners, we all need salvation. She was dying and God did not spare her. But as she was preparing to die she had a message to share that others would find peace, hope and comfort, as she had. One seed that has died, when planted firmly in the ground, bears many more plants and many more seeds. This was her intention.

We are all born into this world into sin. There's no getting away from it. It's the way of the life in the flesh. It doesn't matter how good a life we try to live, how much we do for others, how much we donate to worthy charities, we are all filled with sin. It's human nature.

There is a way to change our nature. This involves some sort of death within us. At any stage of life we can find out or have heard what how to go about this. Perhaps some don't at first get it; some will reject it; some will take it and go with it. It's what we do when we hear that truly matters. It takes us from our fleshly nature and causes us to have a spiritual nature. Oh, we still do things in the flesh. It will always be something we have to fight.

Like I said, there is a way to change. I can tell you that I'd heard a couple of times how to make this change but the first time I went only through motions because I felt obligated to. I had ignored the whole evening by the time things were over. Many years later thoughts and yearnings were beginning to emerge which I didn't quite understand. And finally the day arrived when I came to real grips with the way to change.

This way is Jesus Christ, the Way, Truth and Life. He is the only Way to our Father in heaven. He is all the Truth we need to know. He brings us Life everlasting. He is the bridge that gaps that immense chasm between man and God that came as a result of Adam and Eve's sin.

They were sinless, like we should all have been, until they made one mistake. And that mistake changed the lives of each person after them. You cannot dispute the fact that you are wracked with sin. We all are. If you say that is not you, you believe a lie. Your eyes, heart and mind are blinded to the truth.

There is only one Truth and that is Jesus Christ. When you know Him you see the lies that have been sowed over the years of your life. Lies of a church, a clergyman, parents, friends, authority figures, news stations…another list goes on.

When you know Jesus, you know the Truth. Your eyes which were blind now see; your heart which was hardened has become flesh and moldable; your mind begins to take on true wisdom and knowledge…all which are amazing when you know Christ.

God sent His only Son to live a sinless life on earth that mankind would see, hear, believe and follow Him. Those that did carried on in His footsteps preaching what He preached. It has continued since then. What makes anyone today who lives for Christ any different than those disciples back then, I ask?  If you believe Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter or Paul, why not someone else preaching the same message? The Word of God has remained a constant in this life. (Although there are those who have distorted such truth.)

The Word of God will never completely be destroyed because it is from Him. Scripture states that the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). There is power in the Word. Christ is called the Word. The Word will never be destroyed…that same Word, Jesus, died and rose again to live forever. How powerful is all that? Here's more to chew on: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

The Word (Jesus) of God knows all about you. He knows your sin…yet He loves you still. He is alive and active and as you read the Bible, the Word, you hear Him speak. And He knows you are a sinner in need of His salvation.

There are many religions in this world. Many also claim all religions somehow worship the same God/god. But it is not true. There is only one God, who created all things and all people. Man has chosen to make their own gods to suit their own purposes. There is only one God who can hear your prayers. No statue or idol or icon or whatever can do that. They are not alive; they have no spirits. It's a lie to think something other than direct communication with God will work. He does not come in the shape or personification of an animal. He also is not reached through the prayer to a dead person like a saint, or even His mother. He and He alone has the time and ability to hear our prayers. No man can stand in the gap between God and other men. Only one Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We do not live in a perfect world. We all struggle with something. We all have faced loss or illness and all will face death. Where we go after death lies in a decision we make while we're still able. We are to seek God while we still have the time. That means now, today, because we don't know what tomorrow or even the next hour will bring.

I have received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I am still learning how to trust, obey and place my faith in Him. It's part of my own personal struggle at times. But through times of doubt and struggle I hold on to my belief in all Christ has done for me, what He has taken me through, gotten me out of, and from which He has protected and freed me, even before I knew Him. Struggles in life will never go away. It's part of this sinful world we live in with an enemy of our soul who is literally hell-bent on bringing us down to his sorry level. Where God wishes that none should perish, satan wishes that all would.

I continue to pray that when the real troubles come I can share what this young woman did. God will not always take us out of our struggles but use them to strengthen us. And sometimes our personal struggles, even to death, are ways God can use the right person(s) to lead others to the saving grace that only Christ can bring. Lord, let me be as strong and courageous as this woman. Let me not ever ask, why me? But instead use me for Your glory to show who You are in this fallen world.

As she said so aptly: Jesus suffered. God did not spare Him. Why would He spare me if my suffering would result in good for you? If my suffering is the means God would use to bring even one person to Himself, it is an honor to suffer. Does that seem strange…but it is the only way that all of this makes any sense at all.

Some may argue that God is unkind to let us suffer. But knowing He has a plan for each and every one of us and that He is the one who will bring those plans to whatever fruition it will be, should take all the worry from us. In Christ we do not have to worry about what to eat or drink, what to wear, even what the next day will bring. We are to just "go against the flow" in Christ. I have an old t-shirt that says this. It referenced Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Not being conformed to this fleshly world, but submitting to spiritual life in Christ, where by His Word we learn the way and the truth to receive the life. 

The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one. "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." ...from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Psalm 14:2-3, Jeremiah 33:3, Deuteronomy 4:29)

A Far Better Place

John 14:2-3 - In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 

“Libya is in a far better place,” Jay Carney, Press Secretary to President Obama said in response to Moammar Qaddafi's death. Perhaps they are. I doubt very highly that Qaddafi is.

By no means does this whittling away of terrorist leaders mean we are out of the woods. There will always be someone to rise up and become a new threat. You can look back at history and see that war and the desire for control has always been apart of our lives. 

You can also look in the Book of Revelation where it tells about one who is yet to come, a conqueror, but not a good one. This man will come to pretend he is there to promote peace when he is there to promote his own agenda because he knows his days are numbered, according to our soon coming King. It is this conqueror's desire to take as many down with him as he possibly can. I would venture to say he would not be unlike the Qadaffis, Bin Ladens, Hitlers or any other tyrant, probably worse.

This appears to be what our enemies want. And they will continue to fight in any way they can to see to it they worm their way into our lives and our country. There’s even talk that some are in our country already...

A far better place. Reminds me of the words often spoken after the death of someone. Not everyone, sadly, goes to that far better place. We are in a day and age where the wars and rumors of war is happening. Despite what many think, our Lord will return soon. The question is, how many are ready to go to that far better place?

We can have the promise of this place that has been prepared for those who have sought and listened to the Truth. That place is only in our dreams if we believe that our works and being good will get us to heaven. We cannot be assured based on this. 

I heard first hand the amazing account of a hospice nurse. She is a born again believer. She explained how so often nurses don't get breaks during their day and it's not unusual to go without restroom or lunch breaks during their entire shift. They are constantly pulled here and there. 

She does, however, if she has the opportunity while in a patient's room, ask if she can pray for them. What she found so amazing was that when she does this, or when a patient or family member has requested she come back to pray for them, she is never missed elsewhere. Although she might have no time to eat she always has time to pray to or encourage a patient. Why? She was about the Father's business. Nothing gets in the way of the possibility of another soul being saved.

She went on to explain how truly sad it is when patients are clergy, whether pastor, priest or nun, and they tell her how afraid they are that they might not have done enough or have not been good enough to get to heaven! I can only assume she was able to allay those fears and as so often can happen, see a deathbed acceptance of Jesus Himself. 

There's only one assurance...that of receiving and knowing Jesus. It's about coming into relationship with Him. It's confessing our sins to Him and letting Him heal us spiritually. It's His job to save us. It's His work. We cannot save ourselves. When we let Him show us all things, let Him do the work of sanctifying, replenishing and bringing us peace in our lives, then we will have this assurance. The more we fight against this, the more we lose the battle.

There is a dizzying array of options when it comes to religion, and the culture around us says that they are all equally valid. It seems absolutely bizarre to people that someone would say, "This one way is the truth and the only truth.” - Amy Orr-Ewing, Director of Programs for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and Training Director at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in the United Kingdom.

Amy Orr-Ewing tells us it appears arrogant to make the statement Jesus made that He was the Way, Truth and Life and that no one goes to the Father but by Him. Another point she makes is the idea of exclusion, meaning that not all religions are correct, that there are some excluded from this possibility. One other point she makes I brought up the other day...that His family and others thought He was basically out of His mind to claim He was the Way. 

Those who know and serve the one true God are blessed with the truth. He is our strength and shield. He will protect us against our enemies. He will take us to that far better place by our knowledge of Him. Seek that wisdom; seek that truth. He IS the Way, the only Way.

 John 14:3-4,6 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Jesus said ... I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 

The Things of Life

1Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Ah, the things of life! 

Yes, God is growing us into a closer relationship, purification and times of testing. He is calling us to be what the scripture above tells us. As He does, He blesses us. 

Our obedience to Him is a priority. Our listening to the still, small voice that tells us: Walk neither to the left nor to the right, but walk along the path I have placed before you. It is the straight path, even though there may be curves and twists. It's straight because of Me. Let me be your guide through the twists and turns of life. Put your sole trust in Me, the right Path, the right Way, the right Truth and Life. I am to be the Lamp unto your feet and the Light unto your Path. If you stay there My protection will be with you. What the world sees as the right way is quite often not My way. Seek Me and seek My ways and you will be blessed.

I have been contemplating the things that have surrounded me in the past week or so. Through it all I have, for the most part, sensed a marvelous peace. I have not, apart from one small incident the other day at a doctor's office, been out of sorts with concern. I have come to peaceful conclusions that whatever something is, it just is and not to get bent out of shape. If God's hand is in it, it will be good. I feel I have consulted the Lord, I have taken time to ask Him questions as I go about my day.

Like I shared yesterday, I called on the name of Jesus in a doctor's office for strength and He gave me what I needed...peace. He knew before I even asked the outcome of the situation and He came through. A minor thing, but imagine if we did that for everything! If we stay focused on Jesus, He makes straight our paths. As long as we stay on His path, He makes the twists and turns as if they did not exist. I felt led to look up straight for a definition according to a Bible Concordance. It does not only mean straight but forward, direct, level, smooth, and upright...true and sincere. Those twists and turns on our path are being directed by the Lord. Remember, He is our Way.

I still feel there is a lull before the proverbial storm. There is a time of waiting for the other shoe to drop. But I believe the Lord is taking me to a place of total trust in Him for what I cannot see happening in the future. I know He's doing this for a lot of people. Recognizing it is imperative. Everything is in His hands and that includes time. His timing is perfect. His judgments are just. His blessings are marvelous.

The time is now, before things get out of hand in this world, to fully, with trust, giving complete charge of our situations to the Lord. I am reminded often that the struggles we see in this world are not physical, but spiritual. To many they may look natural but if they know God's Word, there is a spiritual realm out there to take into consideration. Yes, it does exist.

Oh my...there will come a day when we will be in turmoil and yet the children of God will be miraculously protected. The children of God will be at peace in the midst of people who are shocked at what they see. I don't wish this on anyone, but it will happen. We are either for God or against Him, willing to obey or not, willing to receive Him or reject Him. It's our choice.

When we choose the right thing, the right Way, the right relationship and choose to stand with our feet firmly planted in the light of God's Word, we can have the assurance of God's protection. Amen!

I can't imagine anyone not wanting the assurance of life eternal through Jesus Christ; I can't imagine anyone rejecting His blessings when they are so good. When we reach out for God's salvation we become that chosen generation, clothed in the royalty of our King. He has taken us out of darkness and brought us into His Light. Jesus is that Light. That Light is life.

This is for anyone who chooses to receive. Just know and believe in your heart that Jesus lived and died, was resurrected and is alive today....He was and is and is to come. Confess Him with your mouth and know with your heart that He just IS. Then trust in Him. Obey Him. Learn about Him and the promises for those who choose to be in close relationship with Jesus...the Son of God...to become His children and heirs in the Kingdom. 

We see and have the things of the world and although there is nothing wrong with these things, we also need to understand the ability to let them go. We CAN live without them. We CAN live only with the knowledge of Jesus Christ. He is our Savior, Redeemer. He lifts us up when we are down. We can keep our eyes focused on Him and walk confidently in His marvelous light. Alleluia!

John 8:12 - Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." 

And These Are My People!

I awoke at 2:30. There were words ringing in my ears. They were hard words and they were words I'd felt were rising up within me even last night at prayer at church. But I couldn't put a voice to those words then. It was as if I needed to "sleep" on it awhile.

This is a word that is hard to swallow and it's for believers, non-believers who wish to listen and learn and for the Church in general. This is a bit out of the ordinary for my blogs. Pressing the "publish" key has been difficult...not that many even read this. I spent the day dragging my feet to post...vacuuming, working in the garden and my favorite job, cleaning the litter box. Apart from the frivolity here, there's a seriousness in this message. Remember, I was awakened and needed to write.

Wake up, says the Lord. The days are getting short for the arrival of the King. No, the world will not end, but I will send my Son to bring judgment to those who do not take Me seriously. 

We heard a word last night that spoke of the Church, our church and for each of us. Too many churches are preaching in a worldly style, to bring in the masses. They/we are compromising truth for words people are more comfortable hearing. They are afraid of turning people away with a hard message of what we see happening in the world. Or maybe they don't see it happening. Not all churches view the days at hand in the same way. 

The world sleeps and is in danger of falling away if we do not hear hard words of God spoken in the pulpit. What are those words? To wake up. To listen. To heed.

Those who profess to know My Son cannot sit in arrogance and pride in the pews thinking they are safe in their salvation. There can be no complacency. Even believers will miss My return if they aren't careful and heed My words. Even My leaders, if they fail to open the eyes of My people whom they shepherd and serve. They carry a heavy load. To those I have given much, much will be expected.

The days are drawing nearer and although I love all, My holiness stands between us. And it is those who seek My holiness as it stands and do not shrink away from it who will be the remnant in the last days. Churches fail for lack of knowledge, just like the people referred to in Hosea 4:6. These are all My people. But not all My people, like those in the desert with Moses, will make the journey successfully. I see a generation arising which will not know who I am if I am not shared with this generation, and that includes both the love and the judgmental things of Me. 

There was a generation that did not know Joseph so they knew not all that I was. My righteousness is extended to all but only a few will accept. There is a fear of being looked at as holier than thou, but I tell you that is what I expect. Not in your own strength but through the power of My Holy Spirit. 

You cannot sit by idly awaiting My return. You must be tending your lamps, checking the oil and trimming the wicks in anticipation of My return. Are you ready or are you going to sit back with your comforts, ears tuned to other things? You have not seen the worst of an angry God. You see a world in turmoil and you shake your heads and wonder what's going on. What's up with Mother Nature, you ask. I spit those words out of My mouth. 

Heed My words. I am not just a loving God. I am filled with righteous indignation against even those who call Me their children when they twist the truth. They think they are secure. And these are My people! What about those who do not know Me? Hear My voice. I cannot tolerate a wishy washy belief of an Almighty God. I cannot allow My name to be bandied about like one would talk of the latest sports idol. No! I hold your life in My hands.

These last days may not be in my lifetime, but they're soon. The signs are showing this to us. We are not to lose our joy in the midst of these things, but we are to take seriously the things of God. We cannot put Him on a shelf and take Him down when appropriate for us. He cannot be hidden away in a closet somewhere to be pulled out when we think it's time to put Him on. He's an eternal God, the likes of which we cannot fully comprehend. His name is to be reverenced, not used in vain. 

He is to be the first thought by morning and last at night. What are we willing to give up to do this? This is a word for me as well as many others. Do we arise with adoration on our lips? Do we go to sleep at night with thankfulness and confidence that we have been obedient to Him? And just what is that obedience? What does it look like? We are all going to fail time and again, but what does He call us to do? Do we hear Him when He calls? Do we really know His voice? Do we want to?

If we show up week after week at church waiting to hear Him speak are we hearing Him? Are we just playing church, settling for a nice word but not willing to listen to one that stings? There is a way that seems right but is foolish to those who are perishing. Is the Church perishing? Is that second cup of free coffee tickling your fancy over the sermon? Is the sermon holding our interest? Is the message convicting? Is the message even heaven sent? 

The Word of God is truth. Those who believe these truths, who search for them, are in better standing and have a better chance of receiving the victory in the end. But some can still be misguided if our pulpits are not showing us. Truths can be hard...and they can be promises for those who believe the truth. God does not change. What He says in His Word needs to be taken seriously. But aren't we all falling a bit short? I've mentioned time and again I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Will it be in the world or of the Lord?

I was hard on Israel. Don't think I can't be hard on you too. I am not one who will accept a light hearted opinion of who I am.

The Truth Is....

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:32, John 1:17, John 8:36)

Below is a little story sent to me by a friend. I've seen it before and as I read it I noticed the simplicity in the understanding. Jesus was an uncomplicated Man. What you saw is what you got. He wasn't rich, He had no formal education, yet because He listened and obeyed the words of His Father, what He spoke either grabbed a person and caused them to want to hear more or the words offended and caused people to want to silence Him.

The words kept coming to me this past week: Jesus was an offense. And so is anyone else who wants to proclaim the truth of who He is. The truth that encompasses how we are to receive eternal life and how we are to live our lives. The truth is that He is the only Truth, Way and Life and the only Mediator between God and man. The truth that He loves us if we come to Him as little children to learn about Him. The truth that we are all sinners and that it is not by our good works but by the blood of Jesus that we are saved. The truth is that no man in this world can take His place. 

It's Jesus and no one but Him. We try to complicate the salvation issue by believing we have to work to receive God's grace and mercy. We try to complicate it by believing we we must go through an earthly man because Jesus is too holy or too busy...or something. 

Jesus is holy and He wants to share that holiness by our simply believing that He gave...and now He lives...and He continues to call people to believe in Him...not just knowing who He is but knowing Him personally...as in a relationship with someone in your life who is close to you. Relationship over religion, religion being no more than working to receive Jesus. He did all the work for us. 

We are all sinners in need of a Savior. We all deserve the punishment He received on that cross. BUT He chose to die in our place, to take the sins of the world upon Him. He did the work so we wouldn't have to. It's relationship, one-on-one with Jesus Christ. It has nothing to do with any church. You will not go to hell if you do not belong to a particular denomination. You will only go to hell if you do not confess your sins and choose to have this one-on-one relationship with Jesus Himself. 

This little story is just that, a story. But the simplicity of its meaning is marvelous! It's about the work Jesus does in each person when they reach out to Him. He brings warmth, fills your spirit, refreshes and cleanses and provides the rest for a weary soul. And best of all, He makes life worth living. Who wouldn't want all of that? Who wouldn't want to know that this Jesus can be all things to everyone? 

John 3:16 - I don't understand it. 

A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner; the people were in and out of the cold. The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many papers.

He walked up to a policeman and said, "Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you? You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley and its awful cold in there for tonight. Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay."

The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "You go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When they come out the door you just say 'John 3:16' and they will let you in."

So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said, "John 3:16." The lady said, "Come on in, Son."

She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself: John 3:16... I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm.

Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry?" He said, "Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food."

The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat any more. Then he thought to himself: John 3:16... Boy, I sure don't understand it but it sure makes a hungry boy full.

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16 ... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out. 

The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room, tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night, he thought to himself: John 3:16 ... I don't understand it but it sure makes a tired boy rest.

The next morning the lady came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of food. After he ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up a big old Bible.

She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face. "Do you understand John 3:16?" she asked gently. He replied, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it." She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace, he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought: John 3:16 … don't understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe.

You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand the agony of the Father and every angel in heaven as they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don't understand the intense love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end. I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.

You know, I didn't understand this thing about Jesus either at first. We all are in the same place, wandering lost in the world, until He is pointed out to us and we listen and we receive. Then...poof...the truth is made so absolutely clear. 

John 3:16 - 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.

Another Type of Trinity!

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Oh my gosh. I was pondering what Jesus brings to us when we receive Him. What He gives to us, what He promises. It's all good. It's all sure and just. How could anyone, knowing these things, live without Him?

Oh, but that's just it. Knowing these things. We first must take the step to knowing Him. He doesn't just hand out these promises without our first receiving Him and committing ourselves to Him. You don't get a paycheck without first working for it...well, in most cases that's true! 

So how does this work? Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen! It's another type of trinity! And amazingly these words seem to have been spoken in just the right order.

He's the Way. The first "step" you take is following the Way. He searches you out and you make the decision to follow Him. You get on the path. You begin to follow it; you begin to follow Him. You begin to realize who He is. You see a need for Him. You accept Him and begin to trust Him. You begin to realize His love for you. He loves you so much that chose to die for you.

Once you've decided the Way to go and begin to learn about Him, you start hearing His words and taking them to heart. You see He speaks the truth. He becomes your Truth. You view things differently because He has begun to transform your life, your way of thinking. The truth has an amazing effect on you...you feel oppression being released. The Truth sets you free.

When you are free from oppression, free from your guilty past and you realize He has set you free, you have new life. He is our Life. 2Corinthians 5:17 tells us if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! It is He who brings new life here on earth. We have found our way to the Truth. He brings the best kind of life if we have received Him...eternal life.

Whatever troubles we have in this world, there is a supernatural hope hidden deep...it's true!...it's the hope that after we've endured our life on earth we will be assured of the promise of eternal life with Christ when this life is done.

I've recently heard of a preacher who is coming out with a book that debunks hell. The book is Love Wins by Rob Bell. He claims no one will go there because there isn't one. Everyone will go to heaven. This is nonsense. Hell, Sheol and Hades, are all spoken of in the Bible and none are portrayed as pleasant places. If there is no hell why did Jesus have to come to earth, live among sinful man in His holy state, urge people to come to Him and follow Him, be allowed public mockery, arrest, false accusation and death? He could have stayed in heaven with His Father.

But God...thankfully there was a reason He came to earth. To be our Way, Truth and Life...that we could regain access to the Father that had been removed in the Garden of Eden.

None of us deserves Jesus or eternal life or the salvation that brings those things. But He loved us so much and as a song by Jody Mcbrayer says "'cause You would rather die than live alone without me."

1John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.