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Need2Know
 Posted:
Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:43 am |
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Thursday, July 05, 2007
False Promises
These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
— Jude 1:16–18
A common characteristic of false teachers is the offer of false promises. You see them promising, for example, that God will prosper those who give $10 with a hundredfold blessing—multiplying that amount and returning it to them. This is a false message, however. We should never give to get.
If I were to give an amount of money to God's work, thinking it would multiply a certain number of times and would ultimately return to me, that would be a wrong motive. God will not honor it. It is also a false promise.
All believers should give, on a regular basis, of the resources and income that God has given to them. On the other hand, we don't give to get something. The Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver (see 2 Corinthians 9:7). We give because we have received. We give because we recognize that all that we have comes from God. We give because we want to share in the eternal reward of what God is doing by investing in the work of His kingdom. We give because God has commanded us to do so.
Jude wrote his epistle to refute those who were teaching that the grace of God gives people a license to sin. And Paul wrote in Romans 3:8, "And why not say, 'Let us do evil that good may come'?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just."
In other words, there are those who say, "Go ahead and do wicked things, and God will bless you, because you are covered by grace." Paul was saying that this is a perversion of the teaching of the grace of God.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:18 am |
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Friday, July 06, 2007
Looking Up?
And await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love.
— Jude 1:21
There is a lot of disagreement in the church as a whole over what we call "eschatology," or prophetic events. Most often, it seems, the differences lie in the order of events. Some don't believe Christ could return at any time. Some believe that we will go through the Tribulation.
The bottom line is this: you need to believe that Jesus could come back at any time. This is an emphasis of the New Testament, and it can have a purifying effect on your life. As 1 John 3:3 says, "And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure."
A literal translation of this verse would be, "Whoever has this hope continually set on Him is constantly purifying himself." If I live my life in a sense of expectation that Christ could come back at any time, then it will purify me.
Children who are prone to get into trouble will be on their best behavior if they know their parents might walk into the room at any moment. Likewise, if we know that Christ could come back at any time, it should affect the way we live.
In contrast to disobedient children who dread the arrival of their parents, we should look forward with great excitement to the return of our Lord. Like John, we should be able to say, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20). If you cannot say this, it would be an indication that something is not right spiritually.
I enjoy life and the opportunities God sets before me. But if tonight were the night for Christ's return, I would say, "Bring it on!" Wouldn't you? That is the way to live.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:32 am |
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What Is a Christian?
I heard the story of a man who was down on his luck and desperate to find work. As doors kept closing to him, he got the idea of going to the city zoo to seek a job feeding the animals.
The manager at the zoo had no such openings, but seeing how big this guy was, he thought of something else.
"Say, our gorilla died the other day, and he was one of our most popular attractions. If we got you a special gorilla suit, would you put it on and imitate him for a few days until our new gorilla arrives? The pay is great."
When you need a job, you need a job. The man was so desperate for work, he agreed.
After a few hours, he really got into the part—beating his chest and shaking the bars. Huge crowds gathered to watch. Maybe this won't be so bad after all, he told himself. Besides the good money, he could take naps in the sunshine and had all the bananas he could eat.
But that afternoon, as he was swinging on a trapeze as part of his gorilla act, he lost his grip. His momentum carried him over a tall chain-link fence into the middle of the lion's den. The huge lion, seeing this intruder in his domain, gave a ferocious roar. The crowds were mesmerized.
Still trying to hide his identity, the gorilla-suited man backed slowly away, hoping to climb the fence and return to his own cage. The lion, however, had a hungry look and began stalking him step by step.
Finally, in desperation, the gorilla hollered, "Help!"
The lion immediately spoke in an annoyed whisper. "Shut up, stupid! You'll get us both fired!"
You see . . . things aren't always as they appear!
There are many people today who claim to be Christians—who may even think they are Christians—but are not.
Polling data consistently shows that a majority of people in this country believe in God, identify themselves as Christians, and believe the Bible is God's Word. But how much of Christianity do they really understand? In one survey, for example, of those who said they read the Bible regularly, half couldn't name even one of the four gospels in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and fewer than half knew who spoke the Sermon on the Mount (Jesus).
On close examination, it's clear that many people don't have a clear grasp of what it means to be a believer in Christ. Do you? Are you a believer? Are you sure?
What exactly is a Christian, anyway? Are you born that way? If not, how do you become one? What are the requirements?
In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul wrote: "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test" (NLT).
Check up on yourselves, Paul was saying. Are you actually believers? Do you pass the test? Or are you just pretending to be (or hoping to be) a Christian, when actually you aren't at all?
When you ask someone if he or she is Christian, one of the most common responses you get is, "Of course I'm a Christian. I go to church, don't I?" That's like saying I'm a golfer because I own a set of golf clubs. Or I'm a surfer because I own a pair of board shorts. But to be a golfer, you need to golf; to be a surfer, you must surf; and to be a Christian means you need a real relationship with Christ—knowing Him, trusting Him and obeying Him.
Reading this, you might be thinking, "But what difference does it make how we define a Christian anyway? Why make Christ such a big part of it? Don't all roads basically lead to God?"
Not according to Jesus!
Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3 NKJV). Only Jesus Christ—and no other—died on the cross for your sins. Only He promises you the hope of heaven. And no other religion teaches that! Jesus essentially said that the only way you can be certain your sins are forgiven and know you will spend eternity in heaven is by putting your complete trust in Him.
And there will be tangible results to show you have done that. Jesus once said, "Therefore by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:20 NKJV). Just as apples identify an apple tree, there are results or evidence in someone's life that marks that person as a believer in Christ.
Now, don't misunderstand me; I am not suggesting that any particular amount of "good works" makes you a Christian. Far from it. In fact, all the good works on earth will not save you. The Bible tells Christians that God "saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5 NLT).
This, in fact, is one of the main things that sets Christianity apart from all other religions in the world. All other religious systems essentially say, "Do!" Do this particular thing and you'll have "good karma," or you'll get to heaven or paradise or nirvana or whatever. In contrast, Jesus Christ says, "Done!" That's what it meant on the cross when He cried out, "It is finished!"
The transaction is complete.
The price for our sins has been paid, and the way has been opened up—through Christ alone—for an eternal relationship with God.
But please understand this: If we've discovered that the price has been paid, if we truly believe, and if we receive Christ's payment for our sins—it must mean radical changes taking place in our lives!
Are those changes taking place in your life? If you were arrested for being a Christian today, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
The Bible says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV). Honestly, do those words describe your life?
If you did your own survey of people on the street and asked them what someone must do to become a Christian, you would probably get answers like this: "Go to church, pray, read the Bible, and keep the Ten Commandments. Believe in God, miracles, heaven, and hell. And, oh yeah, probably be baptized. And start living a good life."
Right now, I'm going to make a statement that may shock you: You can do all those things I just mentioned and not necessarily be a Christian! Don't get me wrong; if you're a true Christian, you should do all those things.
But the outward change is often without the inward . . . while the inward change is never without the outward.
"Examine yourselves," Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:5. When you honestly examine yourself—inside and out—what do you find?
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:39 am |
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Monday, July 09, 2007
When Christians Stumble
For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
— Romans 4:3
Contrary to what some might believe, the Bible doesn't teach that if you are a Christian, you will never stumble. It doesn't teach that if you are a true believer, you will not periodically make a mistake or fall short. But it does teach that if you are a true believer and have had a lapse or a stumble, you will always get up and move forward. That is the way to truly determine whether someone is a real believer.
Although Abraham was a friend of God, which Scripture specifically mentions three times, it is also clear that he had his lapses of faith. Yet the Bible says that "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3). Does this mean that Abraham was declared righteous because of the good things he did? Did God justify Abraham because he lived such a holy, pure, and flawless life? Hardly. Any honest look at the life of Abraham would clearly show that he was a flawed man.
Having said that, it is also important to point out that although Abraham deviated occasionally from the straight and narrow, he always came back.
If someone says he or she is a Christian but falls away and never returns to the faith, then he or she was not a believer. As 1 John 2:19 says, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us."
True believers will be miserable in their sin and will eventually beat a quick path back to the cross of Calvary.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:05 am |
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Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Remember to Forget
Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
— Micah 7:19
Have you ever done anything that you are ashamed of? Have you ever done things you wished you had not done? If you have repented of those sins and have turned your back on them, the Bible clearly teaches that you are forgiven.
There is something in us that wants to keep dredging up our sins. Maybe we feel that by doing so, we are somehow making amends for the wrong that we have done. Maybe by punishing ourselves, we think we are somehow appeasing God. But this is wrong and thoroughly unscriptural.
Acts 13:38–39 says, " ’Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the law of Moses could never do.' "
Speaking of our sins, God said, "And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins" (Hebrews 8:12). And Micah 7:18–19 says,
Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
Have you ever lost anything in a lake or in the ocean? It is pretty much a lost cause. Once it goes down, it goes way down. God has taken your sin and has thrown it into the deepest part of the ocean. Simply put, it is gone. Therefore, we should not choose to remember what God has chosen to forget.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:07 am |
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Wednesday, July 11, 2007
No Approval Necessary
Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
— Ephesians 1:5–6
I remember thinking as a young Christian that the reason God was blessing me was because of my disciplined and regular Bible study. I would get up before school every morning and study the Bible for about an hour, and then I would pray for an hour or more (I know I prayed for an hour or more because I kept checking my watch). I thought when I got to school that God would use me that day because I had done so much for Him.
Then one morning, my alarm didn't go off. I woke up very late. I didn't have time to pray or read my Bible. That day, God allowed me the privilege of leading someone to Christ.
Some people think, just as I did as a young believer, that they must do certain things to earn the approval of God. They think they have to somehow appease Him. But God's righteous demands were satisfied at the cross of Calvary. We don't have to do things like read the Bible, pray, or go to church to find God's approval. We should do these things because we want to and because we are pleased with the opportunity to do them. God blesses us, and it is out of that blessing that we should want to do these things. We should want to serve Him, not to earn His approval, but because we already have it.
The Bible tells us that God has "made us accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6). This means that when we put our faith in Christ, God has put His righteousness into our account. He loves us when we do well. But He also loves us when we don't.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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Posted:
Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:22 am |
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Thursday, July 12, 2007
Worry
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." —Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
The verse above is one of the most familiar scriptures in the Bible. We frequently see the words "Seek first the kingdom of God" on Christian plaques, pictures, screen savers, coffee mugs, and even quilts. We can literally surround ourselves with this passage, and it is well if we do because seeking the Lord first will prevent our hearts from being overtaken by idolatry. As a matter of fact, Jesus was addressing a specific form of idolatry as He spoke these well-known words. The idol's identity is revealed when we back up a few verses:
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?" (Matthew 6:25 NKJV)
When Jesus taught to seek first the kingdom of God, He was offering the perfect prescription for removing the idol of worry from our lives. An old proverb says, "Worry gives big shadows to small things." This is an apt description of how the idol of worry can overshadow our confidence in God. It is impossible to simultaneously trust the Lord and worry. At any given moment, we will be bowed down to one or the other—never both. This means that we cannot experience intimate fellowship with God when we're submitted and surrendered to our worries.
The admonition is obvious: We must steadfastly guard our hearts and never allow the worries of this world to become idols that we worship. We can only accomplish this by proactively seeking the Lord above all else and by desiring His righteousness to be displayed in and through our lives.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:52 am |
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Friday, July 13, 2007
Eyes on Him
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
— Hebrews 12:1–2
Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom once said, "Look within and be depressed. Look without and be distressed. Look at Jesus and be at rest." Looking without, she had reason to be distressed. She lived in a concentration camp. She saw her sister and father die. She saw others die. Looking within, she felt depressed as she saw the darkness of her own heart. But seeing the example of her godly sister Betsy, who saw the bright side of everything and was always trusting God, she concluded, "Look at Jesus and be at rest."
The Bible says that Abraham "did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform" (Romans 4:20–21). The word "waver" used in this verse could also be translated "stagger." It would imply that this unwavering walk of Abraham took place with his eyes fixed on the promise of God.
Hebrews 12:1–2 urges us to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."
As we walk with God, people will let us down. People will disappoint us. Circumstances will be hard. The enemy will hassle us. This is when we need to remember why we started to walk with God in the first place. It was because of Jesus. So keep your eyes fixed on Him. That will keep you moving forward, because the only way we will make it as Christians is by keeping our eyes on Jesus Christ.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:23 am |
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It's What's Inside That Counts
When it comes to identifying whether a person is really a Christian, there's an "outward-inward" dynamic that we sometimes fail to realize.
Let's take a closer look at some of the aspects of this.
1. A person may pray and still not really be a Christian.
If we're to believe the statistics from opinion surveys, nine out of ten people in our nation pray. Three out of four believe God is a heavenly Father who can be reached by prayers. In addition, recent scientific studies have verified that prayer improves the health of those who are sick.
But that doesn't necessarily mean you're truly a believer if you pray. Most of us pray when we're in trouble. What's the first thing on the lips of most people when they're confronted by a crisis? You've heard it: "Oh my God!" That's a prayer, whether they admit it or not.
It was true of me too, before I was a Christian. Whenever I found myself in a tight spot, I called out to God.
But when the storm passes and the crisis blows over . . . what then?
People also pray to appease their guilt-ridden conscience. It may be more accurate to say they "offer prayers," instead of truly praying. Jesus pointed out a self-righteous religious man who was in the temple who "stood and prayed thus with himself" (Luke 18:11 NKJV). Likewise, God spoke in judgment of people who "draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me" (Isaiah 29:13 NKJV).
Going back to Luke 18, Jesus went on to mention another man who knew his true condition spiritually, who could only utter the words, "God, be merciful to me a sinner." Jesus concluded it was this man, not the other, who had his prayer heard.
If you haven't admitted to God that you're a sinner who desperately needs His forgiveness through Jesus Christ, then all the "prayers" in the world will not really help you. As the psalmist wrote, "If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, my Lord would not have listened" (Psalm 66:18 NLT).
2. A person may make some visible changes for good in his life, and yet still not be a Christian.
The book of Acts tells a fascinating story about a sorcerer named Simon. When Philip the evangelist came to his city and preached the gospel, "the people believed Philip's message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized" (Acts 8:12 NLT). Simon got caught up in the excitement: "Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the great miracles and signs Philip performed" (Acts 8:13 NLT).
Only later did Simon's true heart and motives become clear, when this sorcerer offered money to the apostles in an attempt to "buy" spiritual power to do miracles. The apostle Peter told him:
"May your money perish with you for thinking God's gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right before God. Turn from your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitterness and held captive by sin." (Acts 8:20–23 NLT)
It's no different today. People will "get converted" to get what they want. A non-Christian guy asks an attractive and virtuous Christian girl out on a date. She turns him down, saying, "Sorry, I only date Christians." Soon the nonbeliever is saying, "Praise God! I'm really into this Christian thing." Probably not! And it's only a matter of time before the mask falls off and his true motives are revealed. Or a politician runs for office and suddenly has a "faith message" because he wants to capture that evangelical vote.
In another example from the Bible, we read about King Herod's great respect for John the Baptist. Herod found himself strangely drawn to John's message, and even made changes in his life as a direct result of John's influence. Yet because of the pressure of others (primarily his wicked wife, Herodias), he later had John beheaded—and his heart grew hard as stone (see Matthew 14:1–12). Though some changes took place in his life, the most important change of all—complete commitment to Jesus Christ—never took place.
3. You can live a good life, be religious, and even keep the Ten Commandments to the best of your ability—and still not necessarily be a Christian.
In the New Testament, the Gospels tell us about a rich young ruler who approached the Lord. One of the accounts tells us that, in his eagerness, he came running to Jesus (see Matthew 19:16–20). Breathless, he said, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
Jesus tested him by saying, "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
The rich young man answered, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?"
Look how far this earnest young man had gone: He'd not only heard the commands of God, he kept them. To the best of his ability, he kept all of them. Not only that, but he'd done this since childhood.
But he didn't go far enough! He stopped short of Jesus. When Jesus asked him to sell his possessions and come and follow Him, the young man turned his back on the Lord and sadly walked away. There's no record that he ever came back to Jesus.
It just goes to show that contact with holy things, when they don't convert and change the heart, can actually harden the heart. If someone sees the light of Jesus Christ and hears Christ's words, then turns away from Him, he or she is plunged deeper into darkness.
Knowledge brings responsibility! And even now, my friend, you can no longer claim ignorance after reading this article!
There are a number of examples in the pages of the Bible of people who came close to God—close to Jesus—but stopped short. They were so near, and yet so far. There was Judas, who perhaps more than any other man in Scripture was absolutely without excuse. He was the "hypocrite extraordinaire," fooling everyone but Jesus.
Think about it. Judas heard Jesus give the Sermon on the Mount, as well as so many other teachings, witnessed the miraculous feeding of the multitudes, and was an eyewitness when Lazarus was raised from the dead. Even in the end, he came close enough to Jesus to actually kiss Him . . . as he was betraying Him to death.
Here's the bottom line: the outward without the inward is only an empty shell. You can hear the gospel and even believe in its truth, but still not necessarily be a Christian. You can pray and believe in miracles, and even believe that Jesus is coming back, but still not necessarily be a Christian. You can live an exemplary life, be religious, and keep the commandments of God from earliest memory, and still not be a Christian. You can be in church with other believers, hear the same messages they hear, receive communion, and even be baptized—and still not be a Christian.
Sometimes, so-called "Christian" activity has not been preceded by actual conversion.
While it's true, as the apostle James tells us, that faith without works is dead, it can be said as well that works without faith are also dead.
So . . . are you a Christian?
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:58 am |
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Monday, July 16, 2007
Conditions for Peace
Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 4:7
One of the first things I remember about the day I put my faith in Christ was the sense of peace filling my heart. It was as though someone had lifted a heavy burden from me. It wasn't until later, when I read the Bible, that I learned about God's promise of peace to every believer. He has given it to us as a gift.
However, this peace does not come from what we are, but from what God has done. The cause of this peace is our being justified by faith. The effect of it is the peace that we experience. We cannot have this wonderful effect without the beginning cause. If we are fighting with God, if we are resisting His plan and purpose for our lives, then we will not experience this peace.
I think many people would like to have the wonderful results of the Christian life without having to pay the price. In other words, they would like to know they are forgiven. They would like to know they will go to heaven when they die, but they still want to live as they please. They don't want to put their complete faith and trust in Jesus.
We cannot have the wonderful privileges of peace without first meeting God's requirements. Colossians 1:20 says that through Jesus Christ, "God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross." The only way we will experience the peace of God that passes all human understanding is through the blood of the cross, the blood Jesus shed.
You cannot have the peace of God until you first have peace with God.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:32 am |
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Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Unlimited Access
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.
— Ephesians 2:14
As a child, I always wanted to go to Disneyland on my birthday. I still remember making a vow in the backseat of the car that one day, when I became an adult and made my own money and had my own car, I would go to Disneyland every single day. And if I couldn't do that, then at least I would go twice a week.
Some years ago, someone gave me an annual pass to Disneyland. I could go any time I wanted. But do you know how many times I actually went? Let's just say that it wasn't every day. It wasn't even twice a week. There was always some reason for not going.
We can be that way with our access to the presence of God. We can go into His presence 24/7, anytime we want. Yet how often do we actually do that?
This was a radical concept for the people of Jesus' day, specifically the Jews. The Gentiles had no hope whatsoever of going into the temple. Any attempt to do so was punishable by death. The Jews couldn't go much further. A veil separated the rest of the temple from the Holy of Holies, where only the high priest could enter once a year to meet with God.
Now through Jesus Christ, we have access into the Holy of Holies. For the Jews, the veil has been ripped in two. For the Gentiles, the wall has been knocked down. We can all go into God's presence because of the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed.
But we need to take advantage of it—not just talking about it, not just bragging about it, but going into His presence.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:21 pm |
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Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Embracing Hardship
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance.
— Romans 5:3
The apostle Paul did not merely endure his hardships. He gloried in them. The meaning of the word "tribulation" that Paul used in Romans 5:3 comes from a term that describes a threshing instrument in which a farmer would separate the grain from the husks. It is the idea of being under pressure, such as squeezing olives in a press to extract the oil, squeezing grapes for their juice, or pounding garlic to release its aroma. Through the pounding process, something comes out that was not known before. In the same way, our lives can be pounded out on the threshing floor of tribulation.
Paul made a choice about his hardships. He said he gloried in tribulation because it produced something he needed. We have a choice as well. We can become bitter. Or we can become better.
Like it or not, tribulation will come into our lives. Scripture is clear on that. Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). The apostles encouraged the believers in Acts 14 to continue in the faith, saying that through much tribulation they must enter the kingdom of God (see Acts 14:22). And Philippians 1:29 says, "For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake."
When hard times come, you can either get mad at God, or you can try to learn what He wants to teach you. It is a choice. Hardships will come, but how you react to them is entirely up to you.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:35 am |
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Thursday, July 19, 2007
Finding Fortitude
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
— Romans 5:3–4
When you want to get in shape, it is actually through the process of tearing your muscles down that you build them up. The first day of your workout is not so hard. But the next day, you're in pain. Everything hurts. The next time, you feel weak, but you work out anyway. A couple of days later, you are still weak and sore, but you're a little stronger. You increase the weights a little bit. Then you do a little more. Pretty soon, you notice that you are getting stronger. It is through the breaking-down process that the building up comes.
In the same way, we need to build up our spiritual muscles. God allows us to go through difficulties. He increases the weights on us. Pretty soon, we are benching a whole lot more than we ever thought possible. We are learning more than we ever thought we would learn. We are doing more than we ever thought we would do. Iron is entering our souls, and we are developing that heroic endurance, perseverance, and strength that only comes through difficulty.
The Bible tells us, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:2–4). In the original language, the word used here for "patience" means, "perseverance," "endurance," "steadfastness," or simply "staying power."
If you are going through a time of testing and trial, realize that God has a purpose in it. Who knows that He is not preparing you and training you today for what He will do in your life tomorrow?
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:07 am |
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Friday, July 20, 2007
Prepared for Choice Work
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
— Ephesians 2:10
A traveler was visiting a logging area in the Pacific Northwest and was interested to see how logs were chosen that eventually would be used for furniture. As the logs came down the stream, the logger would suddenly reach out and hook one, pull it up, and then set it down. He would sometimes wait for a few minutes before grabbing another. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to his choices.
After a while, the visitor said to him, "I don't understand what you are doing."
"These logs may all look alike to you," said the logger, "but I can recognize that a few of them are quite different. The ones that I let pass came from trees that grew in a valley. They were always protected from the storms. The grain is rather coarse. The logs that I pulled aside are from high up on the mountain, where they were beaten by strong winds from the time they were quite small. They toughen the trees and give them a fine grain. We save these logs for choice work. They are too good to be used for ordinary lumber."
It was through the trying and testing that the logs were prepared for choice work. The same could be said of us as Christians.
If you were to ask Moses how he became who he was, he would remind you of his trials with Pharaoh and his times of testing in the wilderness. If you were to ask Peter, he would probably point back to his denial and how he learned many important lessons.
Maybe you are going through something similar in your life today. Maybe God is preparing you for a choice work.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:35 am |
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THE ESSENTIALS OF BELIEF:
Do you believe in God?
Despite the vocal outbursts of some atheists, most people in our great country believe in God, or at least in a supreme being.
Studies among Americans have shown:
86 percent believe in God or a supreme being
75 percent believe in life after death
86 percent believe in heaven
77 percent believe in hell
69 percent believe in a God described as the "all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect Creator of the universe who rules the world today."
Almost nine out of 10 people (87 percent) say the universe was originally created by God.
Only 9 percent of Americans profess no religion at all.
More then 80 percent—including 71 percent of college graduates—believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God.
34 percent believe the Bible is the actual word of God to be taken literally, word for word.
And most Americans still to this day say they are Christians, with numbers ranging from 77 percent to 86 percent.
Yet we can't escape wondering, "Is this true?" when we look at our society's rates of crime, divorce, and babies born out of wedlock, plus other social ills.
The Bible asks this question: "Check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren't at all?" (2 Corinthians 13:5 LB)
What steps must be taken to know that someone is truly a Christian?
That's a question people have been asking from the beginning. In the Bible, a jailer in the city of Philippi put it clearly when he cried out, "What must I do to be saved?"
To be "saved" is a term in the Bible that describes having our sins forgiven, plus the assurance that we will go to heaven when we die.
It's an apt term, describing perfectly the plight of a person without hope in this troubled world we're living in. Not unlike a drowning person going down for the last time and in desperation calling out to the lifeguard for help.
Seeing how desperate our situation is, we call out to God for help.
Paul's response to the jailer was significant: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31 NKJV).
Fine, you think. But what does "believing" actually mean?
Let me tell you what it does not mean.
To believe is not mere intellectual assent. To believe is not to simply acknowledge that a man named Jesus Christ lived, died, and even rose again.
To believe, as the word is used in the Bible, is "to put your trust in, to cling to, to rely upon."
Do you trust in, cling to, and rely on Jesus Christ?
Jesus said, "Whoever believes in me shall not perish, but have everlasting life" (see John 3:16).
The word believe also implies letting go of something. If I'm clinging to one thing, I'm letting go of another. If I'm clinging to and trusting in God, I'm letting go of my sinful ways.
The Bible calls this process "repentance." And indeed, one needs to repent to be a Christian as well.
The Bible tells us we are to "repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" (Acts 3:19 NIV).
Have you repented of your sins?
Let's look at essential elements of the Good News that we must believe and receive to be certain that we are indeed Christians and will go to heaven.
1. Realize that you are a sinner.
This is a hard pill for some to swallow, but it's an essential fact. Romans 3:23 tells us, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (NKJV). Sin has infiltrated the human race, and not one of us has escaped its effects.
The Bible tells us that this sentence of death goes all the way back to Adam, the first man, who with his wife, Eve, ate forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Sin entered the human race through Adam, and the human race has been trying without success to live above it, restrain it, civilize it, or get rid of it ever since. The history of the human race from that day in the Garden to today has been man's futile effort to gain back the position lost by Adam's fall.
We might protest and say, "Why should I be held responsible for what some guy named Adam did thousands of years ago?"
Look at it this way: Adam acted as the head of the human race, even as the president of the United States is the head of the American government. When the president acts, it's really the American people acting through him. When the president makes a decision—whether we like it and agree with it or not—that decision stands as the decision of the entire people. In the same way, Adam acted on our behalf.
But don't be too quick to jump down Adam's throat.
If we'd been in his position, we would have done the same thing. In fact, every day of our lives, we face the same test that was set before Adam. We're confronted with hundreds and even thousands of decisions to do the right or wrong thing. And let's be honest here: So often we choose the wrong.
God says, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV).
The Bible says that prior to coming to faith, we are dead in our trespasses and sins. In the original Greek of the New Testament, the word used for "sin" implies "missing the mark." The word "sin" is believed to have been used in Old English archery, representing the act of missing or falling short of any goal, standard, or purpose.
According to God's standards, no human being in his or her own strength has ever "hit the mark"—not Billy Graham, not Mother Teresa, not Rick Warren, and certainly not Greg Laurie. Some of us may be farther off the bull's eye than others, but not one of us has hit it. We miss that perfect mark not only in what we do, but also by what we fail to do.
Why do we miss it? Because God's "mark" means absolute, total, complete, flawless perfection! Jesus said it: "Be perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48 NLT).
2. Repent of your sins.
I already mentioned this, but let's define it further.
Repentance—that's certainly a word we don't hear often today. But it's the first recorded word to have fallen from the lips of Jesus after He began His ministry: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2 NKJV).
The Bible tells us "He [God] has commanded all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30 NKJV). Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:5 NIV).
Obviously, repent is a pivotal word. But what does it mean?
It means to "change" or to "turn." It's like driving down the highway, pulling a U-turn and heading in the other direction. More than simply being sorry, it is a word of action. Many people feel remorse for their sin, but never truly repent. Remorse is being sorry; repentance is being sorry enough to stop.
Paul wrote: "God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death" (2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT).
In the story Jesus told of the prodigal son, the young man knew he was wrong—probably knew it from the beginning. But nothing changed until he acted on that knowledge, crawled out of the pigpen, and started down the road toward his father and home. He had a "change of mind" that resulted in a "change of direction."
3. Believe in and receive Jesus Christ into your life.
While repenting is turning away from something, faith is turning to something.
In salvation, you are turning from sin to Jesus Christ. From darkness to light. From the power of Satan to the power of God.
And it's a choice only you can make.
The Bible says, "But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12 NKJV). And: "For God so loved the world that whoever believes in Him should not perish" (John 3:16 NKJV).
This kind of faith means that you realize Jesus Christ is the very Son of God. He's the One who loves you so much that He died on a cross for you 2,000 years ago to pay the penalty for your sin, then rose from the dead three days later.
You need to believe that and ask Him into your life.
4. Do it now!
Good intentions aren't enough. Agreeing with what I've said in this article isn't enough. You must admit you are a sinner, repent of that sin, and put your faith in Christ.
The prodigal son could have repeated his refrain "I am no longer worthy" over and over again. He could have said it the rest of his life and remained in the far country, separated from his father and home. But he did more than repeat those words. He acted on them. He got up and started walking.
You must do the same.
When? The Bible says, "Now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV).
As with the prodigal, that first step might be a difficult one to make. But how glad he was when he felt his father's arms around him, and heard the words, "Welcome home."
That's what God wants you to hear as well.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:45 am |
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Monday, July 23, 2007
The Day's Curriculum
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
— Matthew 14:22
Although He knew that a storm was coming, Jesus said to His disciples, "Go to the other side" (see Matthew 14:22–24). Jesus sent them out on the Sea of Galilee because He knew there was a lesson for them to learn. He knew they would make it safely to the other side, so He allowed His disciples to go through the storm. You might say the storm was a part of the day's curriculum for the disciples.
Life is like that too. We don't always know when a storm is coming. We don't know when a tragedy will strike. We don't know when a crisis is going to hit. We don't know when a hardship may come up in our lives. But God does, and He knows when we are ready to face these things.
Now here is the question: How will we face life's storms? It has been said that into every life some rain must fall. To put it biblically, the rain falls on the just and the unjust (see Mark 6:45). Hard times happen to everyone, but as Christians, we have this promise: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" - Romans 8:28 -. Whatever we are going through, in His wonderful providence, God will turn it around for our good.
Courageous people are a lot like tea bags. We don't know their strength until they are in hot water. It takes courage to face your trials. It takes courage to say, "I've made a commitment to follow Jesus. I'm not going to give up. I'm going over to the other side."
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:46 am |
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Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Just Before Dawn
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
— Matthew 14:25
In Matthew 14, we read about the disciples being tossed by the wind and waves in their boat on the Sea of Galilee. Then Jesus came, walking on the water, at the fourth watch of the night. The fourth watch was the last part of the night, just before dawn. This means the disciples had been at sea for at least nine hours in this fierce storm. So we see that Jesus came to them at the last conceivable moment.
This reminds us that God's delays are not necessarily His denials. Jesus knew what He was doing all along. Why did He wait so long before He intervened? Probably because it took a long time for them to exhaust their resources and completely trust in Him.
Lifeguards will tell you that often the hardest person to save is the one who is panicking. But when an individual is exhausted, when he or she has no energy left, the lifeguard can pull that person back in to safety. In the same way, sometimes God will allow us to get to the end of our rope, to the end of our resources, so we will finally cling to Him.
The disciples were exhausted and afraid. "[Jesus] said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.' Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going" (John 6:20–21). For many of us, that is what Jesus is waiting for. He is waiting for us to say, "Come on board." He will come on board if you will invite Him. He will take control of your storm-tossed boat, even in the darkest night, just before dawn.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:01 pm |
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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Ready and Waiting
"And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' "
— Matthew 25:6
Some people may believe they are going to heaven and may even be looking forward to the return of Jesus, yet still not necessarily be Christians. As they look at the world today and realize that Bible prophecies are being fulfilled, they might even believe that Christ is returning soon. But that doesn't necessarily mean they are Christians.
In the parable of the ten bridesmaids, Jesus told the story of bridesmaids who were attending a wedding (see Matthew 25:1–13). Five were wise, and five were foolish. The five wise bridesmaids had oil in their lamps, while the five foolish ones did not. And when the cry went out that the bridegroom was coming, the five bridesmaids who were wise were ready to meet him. But the foolish bridesmaids were unprepared.
Jesus told this story to illustrate the fact that you can appear to be a Christian. You can sit in church next to other Christians. You can carry a Bible like everyone else. You can even believe that Christ is returning soon. But that doesn't necessarily mean that you know Him.
If you truly have a relationship with Christ, then the truth that He could come back at any time should dramatically impact the way you live. The Bible says, "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:3). In other words, if you really are a Christian and you believe Christ is coming back again, you will want to want to be a more godly person. You will want to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. You will want to avoid the things that would be wrong or sinful or spiritually detrimental, and you will be growing more like Him. Are you ready and waiting?
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:20 am |
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Thursday Jul 26, 2007
Foxhole Christians
Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray.
—Psalm 5:2
Before I became a Christian, I thought I already was one. Whenever I was in trouble, I cried out to Jesus. I thought I must surely be a Christian because I was praying. But I did not understand what being a Christian really was.
When the chips are down, most people do pray. It has been said, "There are no atheists in foxholes." If your life is on the line, you will pray. I think back on my own life and recognize that whenever trouble hit, I would call on God. I would pray, "God, if you get me out of this crisis, I promise I will serve You. I will do whatever You ask me to do." He would get me out of that one and I would say, "Thanks, God. See you next crisis." So in a sense, you could say that I prayed. But my prayer life consisted of moments of crisis when I called out to God out of fear.
In the Book of Jonah, we find the story of a great storm that arose on the sea. We read that all the sailors on the ship with Jonah began to call on their gods. That is what people will do. They will call upon their god when they are in trouble. But that doesn't mean God is necessarily living in their lives. It's possible to pray and not even know the God you are praying to.
If you are a Christian, you should certainly pray. But praying does not necessarily mean you are a Christian. You need to have a personal relationship with God. You need to believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:23 am |
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Friday Jul 27, 2007:
Let Go and Take Hold
"For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.' "
—Isaiah 41:13
A man who fell over the side of a cliff was hanging on to a branch that was starting to give way. Recognizing it was only a matter of time before he would fall to his death, he shouted, "Is anybody up there? Somebody help me!"
Suddenly Jesus appeared, leaned over the edge, and said, "Young man, reach out and take my hand, and I will save you. But first, you must let go of that branch you are holding on to."
The man didn't want to let go of the branch.
Jesus told him, "You must take hold of My hand and let go of the branch, or I cannot pull you up."
The man paused for a minute and said, "Is anybody else up there?"
A lot of us don't want to let go. We still want to hold on to a part of our old lives. But there has to be a moment in each of our lives in which we have recognized we are sinners and have asked for God's forgiveness. Then Jesus Christ comes in. But we have to let go. Then some changes must take place.
The Bible says there is a spiritual blindness in all those who have not yet turned their lives over to Jesus Christ. So we must have our spiritual eyes opened. We must turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God - see Acts 26:18 -. As we yield to God and His will for our lives, then we will receive the forgiveness of sins. Then we will see the incredible benefits of making those changes.
But we have to let go of our branch and take hold of His hand.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:02 pm |
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Moved from NH thread:
Let's discount the concept of faith as the only reason for belief in God and look at it from a more logical, rational and scientific prospective:
Is there rational evidence for the existence of God?
There are essentially three possibilities as to the origin of the universe and the implications about God:
- That the universe emerged from nothing.
Little needs to be said about this notion. Nothing produces nothing. This premise is neither logical nor reasonable.
- That the universe is eternal. There are three strong scientific reasons why the universe is not eternal:
(a) the big bang theory, (b) the abundance of hydrogen, and (c) the irreversible decay of the universe.
The discovery by Edwin Hubble that the universe appears to be uniformly expanding in all directions leads to the conclusion that the universe had a beginning. The Big Bang theory is not merely a proposition that matter expanded from an infinitely small position. It is the proposition that the universe had an absolute beginning—that before this event neither space nor time themselves existed at all.
Hydrogen is continually being converted into helium through the process of nuclear fusion. This process is irreversible, so the abundance of hydrogen in the cosmos belies the notion of an eternal universe.
The second law of thermodynamics says that while the total amount of energy remains constant (the first law), the availability of usable energy in the universe is constantly declining (the second law). Apart from the intervention of a supernatural agent (God), the stars would have burned out and the universe would have run down like a clock with no one to wind it back up.
The logical conclusion is that it cannot be true that an infinite amount of time has passed because the universe would have reached a cold and lifeless state of absolute equilibrium.
- That the universe was created by an eternal being.
By process of elimination, the existence of an omnipotent God is the most reasonable conclusion for origin.
The skeptic sometimes asks, "Well, then, who created God?" The answer is that no one created God, as he is eternal. A rule of logic states that every effect must have an antecedent cause. But God is not an effect; rather he is a cause. The logic here is simple but compelling. Since something exists, and since something cannot arise from nothing—and further that the universe itself is not eternal—something outside of the universe must be eternal. An infinite creator God must be that something. Time and space had a beginning, but God exists outside of time and space.
Common sense reaches the same conclusion. One can prove with 100% certainty—without calling on faith or the Bible—that God exists. There is evidence of intelligent design all around us.
There are numerous other scientific evidences for the existence of God. Even non-Christian Stephen Hawking, considered the best-known scientist since Albert Einstein, acknowledges "...the universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us. If any one of about 40 physical qualities had more than slightly different values, life as we know it could not exist: Either atoms would not be stable, or they wouldn't combine into molecules, or the stars wouldn't form the heavier elements, or the universe would collapse before life could develop, and so on...." (Austin American-Statesman, October 19, 1997. The laws of physics could only have come from an omnipotent and rational God.
Another convincing argument for God's existence is the irreducible complexity of biological systems. The advancement in scientific knowledge in this area is a major reason given by famous philosopher Anthony Flew for abandoning his atheism.
There are other arguments for the existence of God. One of these is called the "moral argument." Let's consider this logic: (1)If God did not exist, there would be no objective moral standards. (2)Objective moral standards do exist. (3)Therefore God exists.
Dostoevsky is credited with saying that "Without God, everything is permitted." So without God, doing something immoral would be an illusion—even nonsense, or something merely unfashionable. Atheists cannot escape the problem that without God, whoever has the most political power determines what is moral. This line of reasoning not only points to the existence of God, it begins to explain who God is, that is, what attributes God has. We can begin to see that God is not some evil monster, but rather is a loving and rational God, consistent with the God of the Bible.
The evidence for God is so compelling, that one must override his senses to deny Him. A thinking person who denies God must do so on the basis of preferring to believe there is no God in order to try to escape His judgment, thus irrationally seeking autonomy. The challenge to the skeptic: At some point you must be willing to rationally consider the evidence and honestly seek with an open mind details about the God who made you. N2K
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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Posted:
Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:43 am |
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Tactics of the Enemy
Talk about having it made in the shade! When God created Adam and Eve, He placed them in a veritable paradise. It was beautiful, to say the least, and they enjoyed direct communication with God Himself!
Adam's job description was to tend and keep the garden, discovering and marveling in all God had done and walking in fellowship with Him.
The first couple was told they could eat of any tree in the garden—except the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. And yet there was Eve, hanging out by that very tree.
Why is it that we are always attracted to that which can harm us? You tell a child to not touch a certain thing or go to a certain place and that's exactly where he will be when given a chance. It's human nature!
Satan was saying, "Eve, you can be a goddess! Adam, you can be a god—just take a bite and see."
That was the bite felt around the world. Satan certainly knows how to package his wares.
But God told Adam and Eve, and us, not to sin for good reason.
In our warped minds, we think that God is keeping something good from us. Scripture, however, tells us: "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11 NKJV).
God gave them a warning, and they ignored it.
The book of Genesis records how our first parents ignored the warning, how they were fatally injured, and how they had no one to blame but themselves (see Genesis 3:1–13).
Of course, Satan, the devil, was there too, waiting for an opportunity to lead Eve astray. Here are three ploys he used to bring her to ruin. Ploys, I might add, that he is still using today.
1. He questioned God's word.
Satan didn't deny God had spoken. He simply questioned whether God had really said what Eve thought He had said. He wanted her to think that perhaps she had misunderstood God's command. He wanted to "interpret" God's words for Eve. It's the same in our world today. Satan still twists the truth to try to alienate people from God.
2. He questioned God's love.
Satan wanted to make Eve think that God was holding something back from her. In reality, God Himself had placed this lone restriction in Adam and Eve's life to keep them from sin and its painful consequences! In the same way, the barriers God places in our lives are there because He loves us.
3. He substituted his own lie.
Satan led Eve to believe that if she ate of the tree, she would become like God. At that point, Eve had a choice: She could take God at His word, or believe Satan's lie.
Satan knows that our minds are "command central." This is where we reason, fantasize, and imagine. Through our imaginations, we can reach into the future. And in our memories, we can reach into the past. The devil will try to get a foothold in your thinking. He will attempt to make you second-guess what God has said in His Word, or try to get you to dwell on the "what ifs" in life.
Our counterattack is found in 2 Corinthians 10:4–5: "I use God's mighty weapons, not those made by men, to knock down the devil's strongholds. These weapons can break down every proud argument against God and every wall that can be built to keep men from finding him" (LB).
Having eaten now of the "forbidden fruit," something unusual happened to Adam and Eve: The Bible says, "The eyes of both of them were opened" (Genesis 3:7 NKJV). That is, their eyes were opened to the earth, but closed to heaven.
So what happened next? "And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day" (Genesis 3:8 NKJV).
When God didn't find Adam waiting in their usual meeting place, He called out to him, "Adam, where are you?"
I believe there was hurt in that voice, but love as well, as a Father called out to His wayward son.
And there was Adam, the crown of God's creation, cowering behind a bush in fear. He then asked Adam and Eve a series of questions in that terrible moment.
Who told you that you were naked?
Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?
What is this you have done?
Obviously, God already knew the answers to those questions, but He wanted to be sure they understood their actions. He was looking for an admission of wrongdoing, an admission of sin. He desired nothing short of a full-blown confession.
Instead of acknowledging his sin, however, Adam offered the mother of all excuses—in fact, it was the first recorded excuse in all of human history. "The woman whom you gave to be with me . . . " (Genesis 3:12 NKJV). Adam was, in essence, saying, "This is Your doing. It's the woman You gave me!"
That's what sin does. It blinds you to reality. We dare to blame God for the stupid decisions we sometimes make in life.
But God wanted fellowship restored with Adam. That would ultimately be accomplished through the death of God's own son, Jesus Christ, when He died on the cross.
God desires to walk with you in the cool of the day, just as He had enjoyed the company and fellowship of the first human beings. He wants to draw near to you, comfort you, instruct you, guide you, and lead you into a life of abundance and joy. He wants to be an intimate part of your life.
Could He be calling out to you right now, just as He called out to Adam?
Where are you?
How did you get to this place?
Do you want to change?
If so, you need to come to Jesus and ask Him to help you do just that. He's just a prayer away.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8847
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:44 am |
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Monday, July 30, 2007
A Call to Courage
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
— John 16:33
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