Monthly Archives: September 2015

The One True God – (Part 2)

30 Wednesday Sep 2015

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We are living in a time in which the world around us is searching for answers but also searching for the truth. Many want to see clear evidence of a matter so that their thirst for understanding and even a rational conclusion is grasped. There is a popular idiom or phrase that has been used for quite some time. The phrase, ‘Show me the money’ is used to denote one of two things.

It can suggest to the person in question that a payment of some sort is requested, but it can also mean that there is a request to be shown evidence. It is the question of evidence that many are looking for. Whether it be evidence of what their politician promises to do once sworn into public office. Or the evidence that one’s life can be turned from tragedy or misfortune into positivity and blessings. For many, the constant quest to prove the evidence of God’s existence is still at the forefront of their mind.

However, despite what the world looks to for its evidence, God shows us what is the truth and what is a lie. Looking to God who is the one who holds everything in place is where you and I should find the answer to life’s questions. In the book of 1 Kings chapter 18, there is a passage of scripture which will help us to see that God is indeed the one and true God.

In this chapter, Elijah who is a prophet of God was sent to King Ahab to deliver an important message to him. In verses 1-16, Elijah meets a man by the name of Obadiah who is King Ahab’s house manager. Throughout these 16 verses, Elijah and Obadiah have an exchange of words which later results in Elijah meeting with King Ahab. A few of the important verses to focus on are verses 18 and 19 in which King Ahab and Elijah finally meet.

(NKJV) “Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals. Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

It is important to note that in verse 2 of 1 Kings chapter 18 Samaria which is located in Israel experienced a drought. Throughout the Bible, droughts were signs of God’s judgment against a particular nation or group of people. Such judgment was the result of sin within the land. There was idolatry that occurred throughout the land of Israel which Elijah eludes to in verses 18 and 19.

He uses the term ‘Baal’s’ which signifies idol worship. Baal was the main god that the Canaanites worshiped in the Old Testament. However, Elijah says that King Ahab has committed idolatry by worshiping false gods. In the next few verses, Elijah then asks to meet with the children of Israel at Mount Carmel. The children of Israel were guilty of following Baal which was idol worship.

Verses 20-22:

(NKJV) “So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.”

Verses 23-24:

(NKJV) “Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”

So essentially, Elijah wanted to prove that the Lord God was indeed the true God compared to the Baal’s that were the false gods. It is important to note that even in our society today there are many who are serving false gods. Whether it be the god of money, clothing, or even erecting other humans as gods, idolatry has run rampant in our world. However, these things mentioned are considered to be false gods because they are illegitimate or non-functioning.

However, the Lord God is everlasting and living compared to other idols that exist in our world. For centuries, even those of other religions have created statues and images which were then worshiped as if they were living and able to breathe. However, notice what happens in verse 26:

(NKJV) “So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.”

In verse 27, Elijah mocks them by saying that their god must be asleep or he is busy because it seemed the more the individuals cried out to their god the more silence and inactivity there was. In verse 28, it became so much of an issue that the people who worshiped and called out to their god began to cut themselves to the point in which they began to bleed – and yet they did all of that to no avail.

The interesting point about those who committed self-inflicted wounds is that they did so at the allegiance and worship to their god. Many today are worshiping different things and even other people, and yet it is causing self-destruction or self-inflicted wounds. When you and I worship other gods instead of the Lord God, then our lives begin to suffer from being led astray and we destroy ourselves in the process.

In verses 30-35, it was then Elijah’s turn to pray to his God who was the Lord God. In these verses, Elijah re-builds the altar with 12 stones which represented the 12 Tribes Israel and he has the altar and the burnt sacrifice drenched with water twice. In verses 36-37, Elijah prays to God and asks that His presence and truth be known to the people. Essentially, Elijah wanted the reality and the evidence of God to be known based on the altar being burned by fire.

Verses 38-39:

(NKJV) “Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”

At the end of the day, Elijah and those who witnessed it saw the evidence of God and saw the truth for themselves. The fact is that regardless of other gods that may exist, none of them are true, but rather they are false. Anything and anyone can be a god, but there is only one God who is everlasting and who lives.

The world that we live in today has been built to showcase idolatry just as it was in the Old and even the New Testament of the Bible. Idolatry is not a new phenomenon, but rather it has continued throughout human history. However, it is a sin to commit idolatry and in every instance, God shows His righteous judgment.

There will be a day in which the world shall be judged for the allowance of idolatry. However, even after that day comes, God will prove Himself to the world and even after you and I pass away from this Earth we will know that God is indeed the truth and that He lives. The sad part about idol worship is that many serve gods that cannot speak, cannot hear, nor do they have life.

However, worshiping God who lives, speaks, listens, and is the giver of life is a better option than to worship something or even someone who is dead. Even if someone decides to create an idol out of a living person, such an act is still illegitimate because a mere mortal does not have the power to create or to have dominion over everyone and everything.

Only God Himself is the true God who desires to be known and He desires to know us. The only way to know Him is through having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you know God for yourself? Have you accepted this gift of life through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? If not, then you are missing an important part of what it means to experience life. Also, you will not have a chance to experience eternal life. Only through Christ will you taste the majestic and glorious power of God. Accept Christ and know who God is for yourself.

The One True God (Part 1)

30 Wednesday Sep 2015

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There are two terms that can be used to describe the authenticity of a subject matter. ‘Fact’ and ‘Fiction’ are words that create a line of distinction between what is true and what is false. For example, a film or a book that is classified as ‘fiction’ is one that is based on events that are inherently false or imaginative which means that it did not actually occur. On the other hand, information that is based on a fact or facts is undoubtedly true in its origin.

Facts cannot be disputed because at the root of existence lies the very essence of veracity which results in failed attempts to prove a falsehood. Regardless of how much one would try to prove that water is not wet, the fact is that water in its very nature and molecular structure creates the moisture which characterizes water as we know it. One can desire to suggest that something is not false, but the truth is found in its fiction or lack of evidence to support the basis for claimed truth.

For many centuries, humanity has participated in heated debates regarding the existence or even non-existence of God. Atheists have long since held to the belief that we as humans do not have staunch evidence to prove that God exists. Agnostics believe that there is a mystery behind the existence of God which means that it cannot be known. Even those who ascribe to other religions such as Hinduism, Islam, or even New Age beliefs, hold tightly to what it is that they believe to be true about life and God as they see Him to be or not to be.

However, there is one immutable and overarching fact that trumps what belief systems exist and that is that God is the only true God. The Bible gives us clear facts to God’s existence and His presence throughout history. Genesis 1:1 says the following:

(KJV) “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

This one verse of scripture is perhaps one of the best starting points as it relates to understanding God’s existence. This scripture says that in the very beginning God created Heaven and the Earth. The world around us did not just occur out of happenstance. One type of argument that well-known Atheists such as Professor Stephen Hawking use is that the universe was created by ‘spontaneous creation.’ This belief is meant to suggest that what we see was simply created out of an explosion which ties into the theory of the big bang.

However, such belief does not account for creation because with every creation there is a creator. The Bible was written by men who were inspired by the Spirit of God. All of the trees, the oceans, the birds of the sky, and the atmosphere around us was created by God. Even we ourselves were created by God as the book of Genesis chapter 1 and verse 27 points out in the creation of the first human. Adam was created in the image of God as this scripture says.

Even after Adam was created and Eve was later taken from the rib of Adam, she too was created to be in the likeness of God. The story of creation is one that only God is responsible for. The question of whether or not God exists has been the topic of discussion for many centuries. The bigger question to be asked is, ‘If God does not exist then why is it that the same question continues to be asked?’

Why are arguments still a part of today’s discussion? The fact is that the existence of God is all around us, and there is only one true God. Humanity may come up with other ‘gods’ or ways to determine human existence but the very essence of life is built off of one creator who is God. He isn’t only the ‘God of the Old Testament’ as some would say, but He is God of both the Old and the New Testament.

Satan desires to obstruct and cause we as humans to denounce the existence of God because he does not want you and I to experience the presence and awesome power of God. His majesty is all around us and the fact that life, as we see it could not be created by human hands, is more than enough evidence to show that God is indeed the truth. Some of the greatest minds both past and present were deluded into thinking that God did not nor does He exist.

Individuals who were quite brilliant believed that since there is no physical evidence, then God cannot be proven to exist. Rather, the existence of life was explained by asserting philosophical and even scientific arguments. However, the first part of verse 1 in Psalm chapter 14 says:

(KJV) “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”

It is the person who says that God does not exist who is foolish. They are blinded by their own sinfulness which means that they cannot understand who God is or even understand that He exists. Even those who choose to believe in other ‘gods’ or another ‘god’ they too are operating under a deception.

In our social climate, it is unpopular to speak out against other religions and even those who choose to deny God’s existence. We live in a global society in which it is considered ‘intolerant’ to erect a bulwark against someone else’s belief. We are in a ‘live and let live’ system. However, we who are Christians are tasked with the responsibility of speaking God’s truth and telling those in their sin that there is an alternative.

Jesus Christ was sent to Earth to die on the cross for the world’s sin. That means that if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, your destiny is Hell and destruction. However, your destiny can be changed through Jesus Christ. God is indeed the only true God and He does exist, but it is up to you and every person to believe or not. God will not force Himself upon us, but He wants us to voluntarily believe and love Him with our whole heart.

When we do, there is an indescribable joy that comes from knowing the creator of the universe. How great would it be to know that the universe, the world we live in, and our very lives were not created by chance but that each creation that is not man-made was done with a specific purpose? The evidence of God is all around us, but for the truth to be revealed, there must be an acceptance of Jesus Christ in order to have one’s eyes illuminated to God’s truth. There is only one True God and none other like Him.

Defending the Faith

28 Monday Sep 2015

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cross-sword-and-shield-mdWarfare is a concept and a reality that has existed for centuries. Many wars have been fought for justifiable reasons and there have been many wars that were unjustified. However, in every war that has taken place, the element of defending one’s position and territory has been at the forefront of the war itself. The objective of any war is for one side to be victorious over the other, however, the common factor is that both sides are usually defending what they are in pursuit of.

To defend territory or a position is to actively stand against an adversary who threatens to advance which means gaining control or power. In Christendom, a popular scripture that is often quoted comes from Ephesians 6:12 which says:

(KJV) “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

The above scripture is meant to focus on the aspect of warring or fighting a spiritual battle. This part of life is something that we are engaged in daily which is a spiritual battle. However, there is another aspect that we are to focus on as Christians even in the realm of spiritual warfare and that is ‘defending the faith.’ What is defending the faith and what does the Bible tell us about it?

1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 15 references the term ‘defense’ and the concept of defending the faith. The term ‘defense’ is not necessarily used in every translation but the concept remains the same. The context in this part of the chapter was to encourage Christians to defend the faith regardless of the opposition from unbelievers. The Apostle Peter wanted Christians to know that in the event that persecution occurs we are to defend what it is that we believe and our stance in Christ.

Verses 14-16:

(ESV) “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”

Peter says we are to “always be prepared to make a defense” which means we who are in Christ are to stand against the opposition. The fact is that Christians are given a charge to defend the faith which is an active stance against those who oppose. Many have unfortunately taken the position of restraining or containing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In today’s social climate, it has become the norm to relegate one’s belief or stance to oneself rather than imposing on anyone else.

However, the imposition of the Gospel or the faith is not to be squelched but to be shared with the lost. We should defend the faith because in such a defense we are showing forth our allegiance unto God and the things of God. There is a term that also aligns with defending the faith and it is ‘apologetic.’ This is a theological term which means to give a rational defense for the Christian faith. The word ‘apologetic’ can be broken down into the Greek form which is ‘apologia’ which means to give a reason or defense.

When we as Christians are challenged by the culture, we are not to run unashamedly nor are we to capitulate with what the social and even spiritual climate dictates. We are living in a time period in which the false doctrine both in many churches and even in society has become acceptable. Secular humanism, the influence of Islam, agnosticism and various religions have become taken as truth rather than seeing each as an extension of what satan wants to use to pervert and ultimately deceive.

However, those who are truly in Christ must be willing to defend the faith and stand for God’s truth regardless of what the cost may be. However, notice how we are to do so according to verse 15:

“yet do it with gentleness and respect”

Even in speaking the truth to those who are in darkness we must do so with gentleness and respect. Calling something out for what it is can be done respectfully because it means that it is being done in love towards the person. Many have embraced the belief that mentioning Hell and even the aspect of sin should be avoided. Not telling a person who is in danger of destruction is much worse that the backlash and opposition that will be given.

Instead, Christians are called to defend the faith or to give a reason as to why we believe. We are also called to give those who are lost the truth of Jesus Christ. However, we must do so with gentleness and respect which means that our tone should be truthful but also with a caring disposition which emanates from our relationship with Christ. The fact about eternal damnation can be given to the world without it utterly destroying the person in the process.

The goal of reaching those in Christ isn’t to speak with words of vitriol but to simply give those in their sin the lifeline who is Jesus Christ. The truth of God will convict which is the job of the Holy Spirit. Our responsibility is to deliver the message as it is by giving the consequences of what will occur if a person in sin does not receive the intervention of Jesus Christ. We are not to add or remove anything from the the Word of God.

At the end of the day, the defense of the faith is necessary because both salvation and the reality of Hell and eternal separation from God are crucial nuggets of truth for every person. While our society continues to erode in sin, there must be those who are willing to stand firm and defend the truth of God. Not to do so would mean that we as Christians have given up not only our position but our territory to the enemy.

Satan wants to eliminate every opportunity for someone’s eyes to be opened to the truth. We as Christians must give the world a reason as to why it is that we believe in God. Why should holiness and an abstinence from sin be the way that we as Christians live? Why is it that social issues such as homosexuality and abortion should be openly addressed by those who are in Christ instead of remaining in silence? Why is it that God’s Word and an adherence to it is to be applied to one’s life?

For every Christian, the answer lies in verse 15 in which Peter says, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy.” This is not only expected of each Christian, but it is a command. The reason is because everything that we do we do so out of reverence unto Jesus Christ because He is Holy. With honoring His holiness, there is an expectation that we would then defend the truth of God in the midst of opposition and deception. The point is to go after those who are in their sin and give them God’s Word.

Our concern isn’t whether or not someone is offended by God’s truth because believe it or not there will be those who find God’s truth offensive. This is not contradictory with the statement of being gentle and respectful. The reason is because those who are in their sin will naturally reject any truth that God provides. It is only when a person’s heart is open and a choice has been made to surrender that such truth will convict and open their blinded eyes.

The concern of every Christian should be to model the example of Jesus Christ and to give the Gospel to all of humanity. Many have unfortunately remained in silence for a fear of rejection and not wanting to be challenged by those in sin. However, the defense of our faith requires that we challenge the opposition since the opposition is so adamant about challenging those in Christ.

Jesus Christ is the lifeline for every lost soul, but it is a choice that one makes to accept or reject the gift of life. Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not, then you are in sin and you need a savior. Jesus is the one and only one who can save you from your sinful condition. Accept this gift of life and allow your life to be made whole through the redeeming power of the cross.

A Call to Repentance and Turning Away from Your Sin

28 Monday Sep 2015

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When it comes to learning, a common method that is often used is ‘repetition.’ The word ‘repetition’ essentially means to repeat a behavior with the end result being a learned trait or behavior. In the educational field, repetition or rehearsal is often used in order to achieve mastery over a certain skill. The mind that God has given us is designed to work within the realm of repeated behavior to learn.

As we do something over and over again, it becomes 2nd nature to us and, as a result, we no longer think it strange to behave in the manner that we learned. It is the constant exposure to a behavior that causes our mindset to change so that what we continue to do is then learned. It then means that certain boundaries that were once in place before the repetitious learning are no longer defensible to one’s mind. Repetition is a lifelong process for learning that obviously begins at our youth. It is this type of education that creates a mode of daily operation in what one has constantly learned to do.

In our world today, the aspect of sin and sinful behavior has taken on an accelerated form of acceptance and even its own lifestyle. We are living in a global society in which ‘anything goes’ which is meant to suggest that one can live as they see fit. Sin and the participation in sin is apart of our nature. This means that a continued lifestyle of sin leads to further sinful behavior because we learn from what we do constantly.

However, Jesus Christ died on the cross for a reason and that was so that you and I could be saved from the penalty of sin. In addition to this, Christ’s sacrifice demands that all who choose, will heed the call to repentance and turn from sinful behavior.

In the book of John chapter 5, Jesus encounters a man at a place called ‘Bethesda’ which is located in Jerusalem. According to verse 5, there was a man who had been lying near a pool and he had been paralyzed for 38 years. The pool was meant to be a place of healing. It is at this point that Jesus asks the man a question:

Verse 6:

(NLV) “Jesus saw him lying there and knew the man had been sick a long time. Jesus said to him,“Would you like to be healed?”

This verse is important to examine because Jesus was asking the man if he wanted to be healed from his condition. When you think about the condition that sin leaves us in, it is a condition that leads to a life of destruction. Sin is what separates us from having a relationship with God, however, it is because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that we all have a way of escape.

The question that Jesus asks the sick individual suggests that Jesus is offering an alternative to the condition. Of course, it also symbolizes that the sick man has a choice to make.

Verses 7-9:

(NLV) “The sick man said, “Sir, I have no one to put me in the pool when the water is moving. While I am coming, another one gets in first.” Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your bed and walk.” At once the man was healed and picked up his bed and walked. This happened on the Day of Rest.”

Once the man accepts Christ’s offer and he is obedient to the original command to get up, he is immediately healed of his condition. However, there is something else to take note of in verse 14.

(NLV) “Later Jesus found the man who had been healed in the house of God. He said to him, “Listen! You have been healed. Stop sinning or something worse will come to you.””

Not only does Jesus offer a change in the man’s condition but He says “Stop sinning or something worse will come to you.” Other translations of the Bible use the words “Go and sin no more.” Why does Jesus tell this individual not to sin anymore and why does He warn him that if he does that something worse will happen to him? It is clear that the man who had been stricken with paralysis had sinned in his past which caused his condition. It is unclear as to what sin he had committed, but the fact that Jesus tells him not to sin anymore suggests that Jesus knew that his condition was a result of his sin.

In the world that we live in today, many believe that you can seek forgiveness from God and continue to sin as you please. However, just as Jesus made a call for the sick individual to be healed from his condition, Jesus is making the same call to many today. That call is one of repentance. Many are now adhering to the message of ‘God is love’ which is absolutely true. God is a God of love and He wants us to love our neighbor as ourselves.

However, what this teaching or message lacks is the other part which is that God is a God who expects us to be Holy and to abstain from sin. Since God is Holy then we are to be Holy as 1 Peter 1:16 says. Satan desires that we remain in the condition of sin because he understands that we cannot fully please God or have a relationship with Him while we are in our sin. Deception has been infused into our world system and it has even crept into many churches.

God is calling us to repentance which means that He wants us to ask Him to forgive us of our sins. True repentance means that there is an acknowledgment of wrongdoing. However, that is not where repentance ends. The 2nd part to repentance is to actively turn away from your sin and not to return to it. Jesus told the paralyzed individual not to sin again because if he did he would experience worse consequences.

The message of Jesus Christ is both one of redemption but also a call to holiness. The point of being changed from one’s condition isn’t to go back to what was once detestable and sinful, however, it is to commit oneself to the aversion of sin. Even those who do not believe in God believe that the sin that they live in will not and does not equal consequences. However, if you look at the world around us you can see the consequences that exist.

Turning away from your sin is not only beneficial because you will avoid further consequences, but it shows an allegiance and a love for God. At the end of the day, God wants us to choose Him and to love Him with all of our heart. It is the avoidance and remittance of sin that shows God how much we love Him. Truly following Christ involves living in holiness and adhering to God’s Word.

The common argument is that none of us are perfect and that we all sin. This statement is a fact in that none of us are perfect. However, more often than not this is used as an excuse to continue in sin and to take advantage of God’s grace. Another issue is that many would rather not be told that they are in danger of going to Hell because of their sin. Many believe that to be condemnation. However, it would be far worse not to hold each person to God’s standard of holiness by allowing sin to run rampant in the life of a believer or even a non-believer.

Jesus Christ does not offer condemnation, but He offers eternal life. The only way to achieve eternal life is to accept Christ’s sacrifice, repent of your sin and to turn from it. Even those of us who are in Christ must actively pursue holiness because it is what God requires. We as humans will never be perfect in our endeavors, but God does not expect those who are called to live sinfully with the assumption that it is permissible to sin and yet claim allegiance unto God.

The more you love God with all of your being, the less you will desire to sin which means even when you falter it is less likely that you will go back to the same sin. Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? The process for salvation starts at acknowledging that you are a sinner and that you need salvation. Secondly, you must believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord. Then you must turn from your sin and seek God in daily prayer, reading His Word, and connecting with other believers in the faith. Today is the day to heed the call to repentance and to turn from your sin.

Spiritual Exercise – Working Out Your Salvation

25 Friday Sep 2015

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ID-100179879Physical exercise is a part of life that is usually encouraged to all who have the ability of movement. It is physical movement that is responsible for the strengthening of one’s muscles, the burning of calories, in addition to increased blood flow throughout the body. The more that you exercise, the healthier that you will become. There are various types of exercises that are designed to concentrate on specific body parts.

Exercises can contrast between light and heavy with a special emphasis on improving bodily function. One type of exercise that is common is known as ‘weight lifting.’ Lifting weights are designed to enhance muscle expansion and overall physical strength. The greater number of repetitions, the greater one’s endurance will be when lifting weights. It is also true as it relates lifting heavier objects. The heavier the object, the greater one’s resistance becomes meaning more strength.

In one’s walk with Jesus Christ, there is also the element of ‘working out’ or ‘exercise.’ Such exercise is done spiritually in various ways. In the book of Philippians chapter 2 and verse 12, the Apostle Paul gives simplistic encouragement to Christians. Paul says the following:

(ESV) “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,”

In this chapter, the Apostle Paul is writing to the church of Philippi in which he is encouraging Christians not to be proud and to also have a love for each other. In verses 5-11, Paul also mentions that Christ exhibited humility which we as Christians should also seek to model after. However, verse 12 is a direct challenge to every Christian to work out one’s salvation in fear and trembling. What does Paul mean when he makes this statement?

To work out one’s salvation means that there must be an active process of engaging in spiritual activity. The point is to enhance your own life and the life of others through development in Jesus Christ. There are those who believe that one can receive salvation and that is the end of the process. However, the words ‘work out’ is meant to suggest that one is proactive in their own salvation or salvific experience. How do we as Christians work out our salvation? Here are a few considerations:

Reverence God daily – In today’s time there are those within Christianity who have allowed themselves to lose or not fully understand the fear or reverence of the Lord. God is a Holy God who demands that the creation worship Him and He alone. Many have taken the stance of living in religiosity with rituals but not truly seeking to revere the personhood of God. When you have a ‘fear and trembling’ as Paul says in verse 12 it means that you understand the authority of God. It also means that you are not apt to voluntarily sin which means that you abide by the set standard of Holiness and righteousness.

Paul says in verse 13:

(NLT) “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

Here Paul says that God works in us which means that if we reverence Him then we are automatically obedient unto God because God then gives us the desire to do His will. A Christian should never lose reverence for God or the things of God. Otherwise, a desecration of all that is Holy and righteous begins to occur which is displeasing unto God.

Seek God’s truth in His Word – The Apostle Paul gives Christians another nugget of truth concerning God’s Word in Romans 15:4:

(ESV) “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

The Word of God was written through men by the inspiration of God, but it was written for our instruction and our encouragement. When you and I begin to read God’s Word and allow it to guide us, then we will grow spiritually. The Word of God is also the hope and the only hope that we as humans have. Part of the reason why there is so much confusion in our world is because there has been a deviation from the Bible and its truth.

We are living in a time in which many don’t truly know how to rightly divide the Word of truth which has led to many being deceived. However, God’s truth does not change despite how humanity does. We who are in Christ must know God’s Word and look to it for absolute truth and encouragement. It is what will keep us from being led astray into deception. This is why it is important for you and I to constantly meditate on God’s Word and allow His truth to permeate our heart.

Daily prayer – 1 Thessalonians chapter 5:16-18 says the following:

(ESV) “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

The Apostle Paul is once again encouraging Christians through His letter to the church of Thessalonica in which he uses the phrase, ‘pray without ceasing’ which is meant as a directive. We as Christians are to always pray because it keeps the line of communication open to God. God desires that we have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. One way of doing that is through prayer because it invokes reverence and communication unto a Holy God.

When we pray, we are to recognize that our prayer enhances our connection to God and it also keeps us in the will of God. It is prayer that provides safety, change, power, and the ability to access the authority that we have as Christians. It is also important to understand that in our times of prayer, we should seek to listen to God because He will also speak back to us through the Holy Spirit.

Building relationships with those in the body of Christ – The Bible encourages us to build up one another as it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:11. We are to edify each other in the body because when we do, it begins to invoke strength and unity. Walking in this life as a loner only leads to a life that is not vibrant or connected and it lacks accountability.

However, we should be accountable to someone else and we should also keep in mind that the struggle we have with sin is a burden that others can assist us with. We are to bear the burdens of one another according to Galatians 6:2.

The ultimate goal of every Christian should be to seek to be Christ-like which stems from one’s devotion unto God by considering and putting into practice each of these three methods. Active participation in one’s salvation is paramount to growth in God. Salvation does not stop at merely confessing your sins before Jesus Christ, but there is a process of salvation which involves seeking God to purify your heart and mind daily.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord & Savior? If not, today is a great day to receive salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross and rose again so that you could be redeemed. Start the process by accepting this gift of salvation. After you have done so, the journey continues as you become a new person through Christ.

Day and Night – Recognizing the Difference Between the Two

24 Thursday Sep 2015

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DayNightAll of us have been blessed to have the gift of life. While not everyone will pass away at the same exact time period, the one thing we all have in common is that we each have 24 hours a day that God has given to us. In such a time period, there are at least two distinctions that we all use to determine how much time has passed. The first distinction is that of the ‘daytime.’ Daytime or daylight symbolizes light and even movement. To see the light of day is to experience illumination.

While the hour of morning generally begins at 12:00 am, daybreak is usually understood to take place when the sun begins to rise and darkness begins to recede. Thus, the end of the night is declared which means the beginning of the dawn. Then there is also of course the distinction of the ‘night time’ or ‘dusk.’ The night time period represents darkness and for many a time of rest or seclusion from the world. It is usually a time in which you are unable to see because of the darkness that surrounds you.

Spiritually speaking, there is also such a distinction between light and darkness. The Apostle Paul assists us in the illustration by using the phrases ‘children of the light’ and ‘children of the day.’ This reference can be found in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 in verse 5 in which he says the following:

(ESV) “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness”

In chapter 5 of 1 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica. He urges Christians in that church to be watchful for the Lord’s return. Paul does so in the manner of reminding those who are in Christ that they are not in darkness, but that we in Christ are children of the light or children of the day. Why does Paul use both of those phrases concerning Christians?

To be a child of the day or a child of the light, it means that there is a sense of illumination and even a distinction. Paul continues in that verse when he says that we are not of the night or the darkness. This is a declaration to those who are in Christ that there is a separation between those in Christ and those who are in sin. Children of the day are individuals who have allowed Jesus Christ to enlighten their spiritual eyes and their heart.

What are the characteristics of a person who is a child of the day? Here are a few considerations:

Godly Love – This is not meant to refer to love as the world casually uses this phrase, but it is meant to denote a love that only comes from God. The world suggests that love is based on a feeling or that it is conditional. However, love that comes from God is unconditional and it seeks to serve others.

Restraint and abstinence from sinful living – A person who is a child of the day will adhere to a lifestyle that is not one of living in sin. Contrary to much of the false doctrine, one who is truly in Christ will shun evil as Proverbs 14:16 says. We are living in a time in which one can claim Christianity or say that they know God, but yet their lifestyle does not line up with God’s demand for self-restraint and obedience unto His commands.

A person cannot be a child of the light or of the day and allow sin to be within their life. Our world today continues to impress the idea that you can believe in God and be ‘religious’ and yet accept sinful behavior and even the sinful behavior of others.

Allegiance to God instead of to what satan desires – Humanity has now embraced secular humanism and ‘global unity.’ However, we who are children of the day must reject satan’s ploy to unify those of us who are in Christ with the wickedness of the world. Our allegiance must be to God and God alone. Anything less than such a stance is to abide by the lawlessness and sinfulness that is presented to those in the faith.

Such characteristics or dispositions as noted above are just a few of the things that separate a person who is of the day and a person who is of the night. What are the characteristics of a person who is a child of the night or in darkness?

Unrepentant sin – If you look at the world around us, many have taken God’s truth and spiritual and even moral absolutes and made it into a complete lie. It is now acceptable to do ‘what you feel’ is the right thing and to accept a myriad of sins. Those who live in unrepentant sin are doing so because they are unable to accept the things of the Holy Spirit as 1 Corinthians 2:14 says. Their eyes have not been illuminated by Jesus Christ, which means sin is natural which means they are in darkness.

Confusion about what is true and what is a lie – Our world today has become entrenched in the delivery of various mixed messages that many are confused as to what is right and what is wrong. Even many who claim to be Christians have allowed the world to dictate what God has said and what God hasn’t said. It is the person who is a child of the night that cannot understand the truth of God because they adhere to false doctrine.

Rapid decay both spiritually and physically – If you are a child of the night or in darkness then your life will begin to exhibit a decline in many different ways. Outside of Jesus Christ a person’s life cannot be full of peace or safety because there is a staunch opposition to God who gives life in abundance. Various examples can be shown of what a life looks like when it is unattached from Jesus Christ. Many who commit suicide or even those who are caught in addiction are simply mirroring the symptoms of a broken life without Christ.

Just as there is an obvious delineation between day and night, spiritually there is a divide between light and darkness. What the world promotes is a merge between the two, however, if a person is truly in Christ then such a merger cannot take place because the world will not accept the things or the people of God as they are. To a sinner who chooses to reject God, anything that resembles His light cannot and will not be accepted.

The reason for this is because, where there is light the darkness begins to fade. That is how the life of every Christian should operate. Are you a child of the day or a child of the night? If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then you are living in darkness. Jesus came and died so that you could be a child of the day. The world is rapidly changing for the worse, but there is hope in Jesus Christ. Accept His gift of life and allow God to show you His marvelous light.

A Change of Heart – From Darkness into the Light of Christ

24 Thursday Sep 2015

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Surgical procedures have been a part of human and medical history for quite some time. The purpose of performing surgery is to either remove an infected or non-working body part or to replace it with a fully functioning part that enhances one’s life while increasing longevity. Such procedures include the amputation of limbs, removing cancerous cells and tumors, and even knee replacement. There is also such a surgery called a ‘heart transplant.’

The very first heart transplant took place on December 3rd, 1963, in Cape Town South Africa. A man by the name of Lewis Washkansky who was 53 years old received a new heart from a 25-year-old woman by the name of Denise Darvall. At the time, it was a revolutionary surgery which paved the way for future heart transplants worldwide. Such a medical advancement has led to those with chronic heart ailments suddenly finding a 2nd chance at life even if it means living an extra 5-7 years.

The concept of a heart transplant is to exchange a heart that is in poor condition for a heart that is considerably healthier. Spiritually speaking, all of us have an opportunity to experience a change within our heart because of God through Jesus Christ. In the book of Ezekiel Chapter 11, Ezekiel who was one of the many prophets that God used is seen recounting a vision that God had given to him. This vision encompassed Ezekiel seeing the leaders of Israel being judged for their allowance of sin.

In verses 1-12 of this chapter, Ezekiel speaks to Jaazaniah and Pelatiah who are the leaders of Israel. God gives Ezekiel the command to tell them what the Word of God would be towards the leadership and the nation of Israel for their sinfulness and disobedience unto God. In verses 5-12, Ezekiel prophesies the punishment that would occur to the leaders and those who would remain in disobedience.

In verse 13, Pelatiah is then struck dead which leaves Ezekiel wondering what would befall the rest who were in Israel. Here is what God says to Ezekiel in verses 14-16:

(NLV) “Then the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, your brothers, your family, those who were driven out of the land, and all the people of Israel are those of whom the people of Jerusalem have said, ‘They have gone far away from the Lord. This land has been given to us for our own.’ So tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “I sent them far away among the nations. I divided them among the countries. But still I was a holy place for them a little while in the countries where they had gone.”’

Verse 17:

(NLV) “So tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “I will gather you from the nations. I will gather you together out of the countries where you have been divided. And I will give you the land of Israel.””

At that particular time, there was a group of people who were taken into captivity into the land of Babylon. They had left the land of Jerusalem, however, those who were still in Jerusalem were obstinate and believed that the land belonged to them instead. However, God promised to restore those who were exiled, into their rightful place in addition to the fact that God had been their their place of sanctity. Here is what God had also promised in verses 18-21:

(NLV) “When they return to it, they will take away all its hated and sinful things. I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will walk in My Laws and keep them, and obey them. They will be My people, and I will be their God.”

Verse 21:

(NLV) “But as for those whose hearts go after their hated and sinful things, I will bring their actions upon their own heads,” says the Lord God.”

There are a couple of key points that can be extracted from verses 18-21:

  1. God can transform the heart of every human being – All of us are born into sin when we enter into this world. This means that our heart is automatically filled with sinfulness and darkness because of the sin of Adam & Eve. However, the remedy for a transformation of the heart is through Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross and He rose again from the dead so that we would be redeemed. However, if you and I have not accepted this gift of life then our heart is still unchanged.

    Jeremiah 17:9 says, (ESV) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

    Sin is what resides within our heart because of our sinful nature, but we need God through Jesus Christ to renew our heart and to make it pure. Just as a person who has a heart transplant does so to remove a bad or failing heart in exchange for a new one, all of us are in need of a spiritual conversion. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that our heart can be changed, but we must surrender our lives unto Christ.

  2. The person who remains in their sin will suffer the consequences – In verse 21 of Ezekiel chapter 11, God declares to Ezekiel that those whose hearts are seeking after sinful things will eventually meet their demise based on what they have chosen to do. The fact is that a person whose heart is steeped within sinfulness is a person who will ultimately come to destruction both physically and spiritually. Since wickedness is within our heart from the very beginning, then it is the same wickedness that will lead us down a path that is destructive. The evidence can be seen throughout our world. Crime, political corruption, and various types of self-abuse and even abuse towards others are symptoms of the wickedness that reside within the heart of those without Christ.

    The remedy to such darkness is to be enlightened through Jesus Christ. God wants each of us to experience His fullness and to have our eyes illuminated to who He is and to the world around us. However, all of us must come to a point of surrender which means that we must confess our sins unto Jesus Christ. Without a remission of sin and an acceptance of Jesus Christ, then darkness will continue.

Are you in need of a change of heart? Do you suffer from a heart that is cold and callous and in need of the breath of life? Only Jesus Christ can provide the answer to your cold heart. The world offers many ‘solutions’, but the fact is that none of what is offered works. Jesus Christ is the only solution to a world that writhes in pain at the destruction caused by humanity’s sinfulness. Accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and experience the newness of life.

Moving from a Private Relationship with Christ to a Public Declaration

23 Wednesday Sep 2015

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All of us have certain parts of our life that are private and public. For example, it is generally best not to divulge information regarding one’s love life to the public or even to strangers. Usually, if any information is shared, it is within the realm of secrecy with those who are trustworthy. However, there are other elements of life in which it is perfectly acceptable to share publicly. One instance can include one’s general interest such as participating in sports or even being a spectator of sporting events.

Most of us utilize a delineation between what should be shared publicly and what should remain a private matter. However, as it relates to one’s relationship with God through Christ, the question that should be answered is whether or not we who are in Christ should remain private about or faith or not. Should Christians relegate themselves to a private relationship with Jesus Christ? The answer to this question can be found Mark chapter 8. The key verses are verses 34-37.

In this passage, Jesus is speaking to His Disciples in which He predicts His own death on the cross. The Apostle Peter then reprimands Jesus in verse 32. However, in verse 33, Jesus rebukes Peter for his reprimand. Notice what Jesus continues to say in verses 35-38:

(NLT) “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

These 4 verses are not only convicting, but these words spoken by Jesus are meant to challenge every believer not only to follow Christ but to lose their life for the sake of the Gospel and for Jesus. In return, one will gain eternal life and a life that is lived with purpose and abundance according to God’s Will. However, notice what Jesus says in verse 38:

“If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Jesus makes it clear that if anyone is ashamed of the message of Jesus Christ then Jesus Himself will be ashamed when He goes before God in Heaven. Essentially, this means that if we who are in Christ are not in full allegiance to God both privately and publicly, then God will not be pleased with our life. The point of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to spread the good news about Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and the ability that such sacrifice provides for humanity to be redeemed.

Also, notice the words that Christ uses when he says, “these adulterous and sinful days” which is meant to suggest that the people within the culture at that time were sinful and adulterous. If you look at our world today, sin has increased and it has become acceptable to many. God is calling every person who claims to be a Christian to follow Him through Christ.

This means being adamant about one’s relationship with Christ and even one’s stance regarding sin. If you look at the life of Jesus, He openly taught the masses in addition to challenging people to come out of their sin and not to return to it. One other example of a public declaration of faith and allegiance unto God occurred in the book of Acts chapter 4. In this chapter, Peter and John are brought before the Sanhedrin Council.

The Sanhedrin Council were a group of 71 members who were responsible for instituting or approving law within the land of Israel. You can think of them as the equivalent of the U.S. Supreme Court. In Acts chapter 4, Peter and John are arrested for preaching the message of Jesus Christ, and they are later brought before the Council for questioning. In verse 2, there were Sadducees and Priests who found Peter and John relaying the message of Christ and they found it to be appalling.

(NLT) “These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead.”

In verses 5-7, Peter and John were then questioned by the Council in which the leaders asked the following question in verse 7, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” Here is the response that Peter and John give in verses 8-12:

(NLT) “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.

For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

If you look at these verses, it is clear that Peter is defending the faith and publicly proclaiming both the healing power of Jesus Christ in addition to the fact that salvation only comes through the name of Jesus Christ. This is a great example of what it should look like for those who are in Christ to unashamedly share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Peter and John were persecuted for standing up for Jesus Christ and they were brought before powerful individuals.

We are living in a time in which there are some who claim Christianity that believe it is better to be ‘private about their faith.’ If you look at these two scriptures from the book of Acts and Mark, you can see that privacy was not a policy as it related to declaring the message of Christ. It is true that everyone must make their own choice regarding their eternity and who they will serve, but we as Christians are not called to be silent.

The goal of every Christian should be to spread the Gospel to the lost, and to be examples of Christ in how we live. Doing so privately only excludes those who are in need of a savior. The fact is that we are all in need of a savior, however, if we who are in Christ do not share the Gospel with others then we are essentially depriving those in their sin of the very opportunity that we had.

There are Christians in today’s society who are afraid of the consequences of sharing their testimony of their spiritual conversion. It is as if challenging someone to come out of their sin and to accept Christ is no longer a priority. Rather, the priority has centered around being peaceful and agreeable with those in the world. However, the Apostles and even Jesus Christ were not timid about God and the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

We who are in Christ need to have the same tenacity and the same unflinching resolve as it relates to sharing the Gospel. Part of the reason why so much sin is occurring in our world is because there are Christians who know the truth of God but have not openly shared it with others. We who know the truth and who have been transformed must make a decision to let the world know of the salvation that is available. The call is for every person who is in Christ to stand up for God and make a public declaration of what it is you believe.

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are apart of those who are lost. Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and His blood was shed for your sins. The amazing gift of life that God has given to you is available, but you must choose Christ. Those of us who are in Christ must publicly declare and show forth the truth of God in what we do and what we say. Privacy about one’s relationship with Christ should not be the norm, but instead our lives should be the shining city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

There is Only One Way to God – Jesus Christ

22 Tuesday Sep 2015

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ID-10071822The world that you and I live in is diverse in its population. There are various belief systems, cultures, religions, and ethnic groups. With such diversification, there has been an introduction of what resides within our world’s culture. In our modern day, it is nearly impossible to live in a nation that has not seen some sort of diversity in one form or another. While there are nations that are considered to be autocratic or heavily opposed to diverse thinking and living, most nations and the people within them have become exposed to some degree. Much of the reason for that is because of technology and how it has become a global means for communication.

With all of the diversity within our world, many have begun to become more open to the idea of ‘global unity.’ This means that there has been a concerted effort to unify humanity regardless of one’s background or belief system. It has even come to the point in which some have even made the statement that ‘there are many ways to God.’ This belief and false doctrine has been one of the many tools that satan has used to deceive even those who claim to be in Christ. However, God’s Word gives you and I the basis for absolute truth.

In John chapter 14, Jesus is speaking to His Disciples as He admonishes them not to be troubled but to have faith in God. It was at this point in which Jesus was explaining to His Disciples that He was soon to be crucified but that He would later return. The Disciples were in a quandary about where Jesus would be going, but He gives them comforting words throughout this chapter. In verses 1-4 of John chapter 14, Jesus says the following:

(NLT) “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

What Jesus is saying in these verses is that He is leaving in order to prepare a place of residence for those who follow Christ as He told His Disciples. He says to the Disciples that they already know the way and to where Jesus is going. The ‘way’ that Jesus mentions is the path to His crucifixion and ascension into Heaven with God the Father. However, Thomas did not understand this which is evident in His question in verse 5. Jesus says to Thomas in verse 6:

(NLT) “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

The answer to Thomas’s question about the way to the place where Jesus would eventually go (which was to Heaven with God the Father) was and is through Jesus Christ. Jesus makes it clear in verse 6 that He is the only way to get to God. Our world has presented a multitude of lies which come directly from satan himself.

We are living in a time in which you can believe what you desire, and it can be taken as absolute truth. Now, there is a movement in which the embrace of various religions has become more of the norm. If you are a Muslim, Buddhist, atheist, agnostic, or of any other belief outside of Christianity it is now seen as morally and socially acceptable. However, the interesting fact is that slowly but surely, those who are truly in Christ are becoming marginalized.

Jesus says in John chapter 15 in verses 18-19 the following:

(NLT) “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”

What Jesus says here should be the way that we who are in Christ approach the subject of ‘global unity.’ The emphasis of such unity is for satan to get everyone who will, to agree with his agenda as long as it does not include the truth of Jesus Christ. Basically, it is satan’s goal to get the world to embrace every sort of sin and belief outside of God’s Word. We who are in Christ should keep in mind that we are not to be accepted or embraced by this world. We should also understand that we who are in Christ are not to accept or believe in the false doctrine of those who are apart of this world system.

If we are hated or scorned by the world, then we are in such a position because Jesus Christ was hated first. Our world is now pushing forth the lie that there are many ways to God or to salvation. However, Jesus Christ is the only way. Satan has used the media to indoctrinate both today’s youth and even adults into believing that you can and should accept the various ways that exist in this life.

The truth of the matter is that you and I are free to choose what path we shall take and what we will believe. However, with such choices there are either positive or negative consequences. Choosing to abide by the false doctrine of believing that there are many ways to God will lead to destruction. Jesus Christ is the only way to God and the only way to salvation.

Many have now said that America is a pluralistic society which in many respects is absolutely true. As a nation, America has embraced just about any sort of sinful lifestyle and belief system that you can think of. However, with such a pluralism, there is a degradation and moral decay that exists. Many cannot understand how it is that crime continues to increase, and why we see tragedies that occur daily.

It is because America as a nation and even the world around us has embraced moral relativism and even more so our world has embraced sin in its very embodiment. However, the answer to our world’s problems is Jesus Christ. Christ is the way to receive eternal salvation. Hell is a place that is reserved for those who choose not to follow Christ but to accept sinful living. However, the gift of Jesus Christ is everlasting life.

There are many choices that you and I can make in this life. The world continues to offer the perceived way to happiness and to salvation. However, the way of a world that is in darkness is the way that leads to spiritual and moral decadence. What the media has said and continues to suggest is nothing more than false doctrine. The truth of Jesus Christ and God’s Word is what will last and it is the only truth to stand on.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior? If you are not in Christ, then you are on a path that leads to a life of uncertainty and a destiny that leads to destruction. However, Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again so that you would have life and have it abundantly. Confess your sins and believe in your heart that He is Lord. For those of us who are in Christ, we must ensure that we are not deceived and that we know God’s Word and that we have the Holy Spirit to teach us how to navigate through the world’s deceptions. Jesus Christ is the only way to God.

Seeing Through Spiritual Eyes – What Does God See?

18 Friday Sep 2015

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Vision is a gift that God has given to most of us. Eyesight allows you and I to see the world around us. From colors to shapes, to the very people that are within our vicinity – it is the gift of eyesight that provides the opportunity to partake in the beauty that God has created. The human eye is what sends signals to our brain which then results in understanding what it is that we see. Without eyesight or even poor eyesight, our brain could not properly distinguish or process any images that may or may not be perceived.

Spiritually speaking, all of us are in one of two categories:

    • Spiritual blindness – In a previous blog post the topic of spiritual blindness was examined. To be spiritually blind is to be unaware of one’s spiritual condition, unaware of God and His presence, unaware of our enemy who is satan, and unaware of the world around us. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says that the ‘god of this age’ has blinded many from the light of Christ. Without Jesus Christ, we are all spiritually blind.
    • Spiritual enlightenment – When you and I are enlightened, we are then aware of what God desires of us and we begin to see what He sees. One way that spiritual enlightenment occurs is through God’s Word. Psalm 119 and verse 105 says the following:

      (NLT) “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” 

      The Psalmist David makes it clear in this verse and even throughout this chapter that God’s Word and even obedience unto God’s commands provide a path that is clear and in balance. Verse 105 hones in on the aspect of God’s word being the very thing that gives us the ability to see in darkness. When you think about our world what comes to mind? Is it chaos or confusion? Perhaps you may think of a world that is in a mess in all phases. However, the Word of God is a light to a dark path.

In order to see the world, yourself, and even God Himself we can and must look to God’s Word for guidance. Part of the reason why many are seeing life through a shattered lens is because the sinful nature that we were all born into has kept us from seeing life and even God the way that we were meant to. It is God’s Word that shows us God’s design for humanity.

It is the truth of God through Jesus Christ that provides a blueprint for how you and I are to love one another in addition to loving God with all of our being. However, satan has used deception which has caused many to be spiritually unaware. The lies that satan has fed the masses have altered the vision of many which has caused them to operate in sin rather than in God’s righteousness.

However, you and I can experience liberty and spiritual enlightenment through Jesus Christ. Luke chapter 4 verse 18 says the following:

(NLT) “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,” 

In verses 14-28, Jesus visits His hometown of Nazareth and while there he went to the Synagogue on the Sabbath where He read scriptures. The words of Luke 4:18 are taken from the book of Isaiah chapter 61 and verse 1. These words were chronicled by Isaiah and later read by Jesus. We can see that even in the Old Testament, there are parallels and even mentions of Jesus. However, the point to be made is that it is the Spirit of the Lord and Jesus Christ who have come to set us free.

In our spiritual darkness or blindness, we are bound. However, Jesus Christ has come that you and I would be enlightened and that the truth of God would be manifested in our life. Notice the words that Jesus read, “He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,”.  If you look throughout the New Testament, Jesus healed many of physical blindness but Christ’s intervention in the life of others was not only physical. Jesus Christ intervened and illuminated the heart of those who were in darkness.

When you and I are given the illumination that only God can give us through Jesus Christ, we can no longer see life the way that we saw it when we were in darkness. Your heart in addition to your spiritual sight is changed completely. It is when we begin to align ourselves with God’s Word and in the Holy Spirit that we are able to see what God sees. What does God see? Here are a few things:

    • God sees the heart of every person – 1 Samuel 16:7 declares that humanity looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. If we are looking through God’s eyes, then we will be more inclined to look at those around us for who they are rather than their outward appearance. By nature, we as humans are built to judge others by what we see rather than what is in a person’s heart. When we have discernment and we are seeing through God’s eyes spiritually, it is much easier to look at others for what is in their heart instead of focusing on their appearance.
    • God sees our enemy – Lucifer was one of God’s creations, however, it was because of His pride in the beginning of time that caused him to be cast out of Heaven essentially losing who He was and His position with God. Lucifer became who we know today as satan. Thus, God knows our enemy and his tactics. If we are walking in the Spirit, then we too will come to understand our enemy and we will recognize him when he appears. It is because we are in a spiritual battle that you and I are unable to see satan in the flesh. However, when we are seeing through spiritual eyes, we will see satan and we will know how to address our enemy with weapons that are not carnal or fleshly but Spiritual.
    • God sees the human need for salvation – When you and I are seeing through God’s eyes, we are able to then see the need for salvation which is evident in our sinful nature. The heart of God is for all people and God’s desire is that we all know Him through Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:9 says that God wishes that none should perish. When we are looking through the eyes of God we begin to see the depravity in humanity and the necessity for the salvation of the lost.

What do you see? Are you looking through God’s eyes or are you spiritually blind? Many within our world have attempted to discover answers to many of life’s most complex questions. However, we as humans do not have the answers or solutions to the problems within our world. Only through Christ will we see what God sees and arrive at the solutions.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior? If not, then you are operating in spiritual blindness.  Allow God to uncover your eyes from the darkness to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Jesus died and rose again so that you could be saved from your sin. Accept this gift of life so that you will have the vision to see what God sees.