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Speaking God’s Truth Instead of Remaining in Silence

18 Monday May 2015

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ID-10029952Throughout human history, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and professing God’s truth has been met with opposition. There are many Biblical accounts of those who were martyred for the sake of spreading the Gospel of Jesus.  Even many were tortured, beaten, and made to be pariahs in their own villages because of their stance for speaking against sin and for salvation.  This is also true in today’s time – many Christians are now reviled for standing up against the sinfulness and disobedience against the precepts of God.

In the Bible, the prophet Jeremiah was given a task to warn the people of Jerusalem and the Kings of Judah in Jeremiah 19.  Throughout that passage, Jeremiah gives a warning against both nations for their idolatry and worship unto Baal who was a foreign god, in addition to their insolence against God’s decrees.  As Jeremiah gives his prophecy, he is then imprisoned by a Priest named Pashur. (Jeremiah 20: 1-2).  In verse 3, after Jeremiah is released he gives a prophecy to Pashur that his name will no longer be “Pashur” but “Terror on Every Side.”  This is because of Pashur’s willingness to defy God’s words and imprisoning Jeremiah for his prophecy.  In verses 4-6, Jeremiah prophesies that the nation of Judah will be given over to the King of Babylon – while Pashur along with his friends and the Kings of Judah will be buried in Babylon as punishment.

The above is Jeremiah’s prophecy which eventually comes true, however, there is a complaint that Jeremiah makes to God:

Jeremiah 20: 7-9 says in the NIV version:

“You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”

Jeremiah has grown weary of the persecution that he is receiving despite doing as God has told him to do. However, notice the words he uses, “his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” What Jeremiah is saying is that even if he wants to withhold his words or prophecies, the urge is too strong to stifle.  He uses the word, “fire” because the heaviness and urgency he feels to prophesy cannot be contained.  A fire is a consuming entity which if not squelched by water, it reaches and burns everything within distance.

That is how we as Christians should treat our walk with Christ.  Living in this Christian life should not be relegated to being separated from those who are in darkness, but it should also involve an active participation in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is often coined as, “The Good News” because the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is indeed good news.  It is good news because, Jesus’ death on the cross broke the power of sin over our lives.  We are no longer condemned eternally because we have Jesus Christ as the advocate or the one who took our place by taking the penalty for us.  The only thing we must do is confess our sins, accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, and live in obedience unto God.

However, we are living in an age where there is a staunch opposition against the things of God.  While human history has given direct evidence of persecution against Christians, it seems that even more so now those in Christ are being challenged. Even in America, we are seeing more instances of Christians that are being marginalized because of the Godlessness that is entrenched in our society. We are also seeing a watering down of God’s truth for the sake of appeasing the majority. Pastors and church leaders have become muzzled while, in exchange, church membership began to be the focus instead of providing the truth of God’s word.

We must understand that God did not call Christians to be silent, but to profess Jesus Christ and Him crucified before a dying world.  Just as Jeremiah could not hide the truth, we should not hide God’s truth.  The Apostle Paul says in Romans 1:16 (NIV) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Paul among others during his time understood the mission but also the critical nature of sharing the Gospel with the lost.

A generation of people are now being taught that you can sin without consequence. It is now the trend that your own truth is what matters, in addition to the “live and let live” mentality.  Now, it is deemed disrespectful if you were to tell someone about their lifestyle in an attempt to change how they live. The Bible makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) the following:

“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”  This means that those who are not living by the Spirit of God are unable to accept the truth that comes from God’s word.  However, that does not mean that God cannot convict someone’s heart.  The job of every Christian is not only to live a life that is acceptable unto God, but to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are lost.

Remaining in silence in the face of opposition, insults, and criticism from non-believers only dampens the message of the cross.  Jesus Christ died and rose again for all sinners, which includes you and I.  Even when persecution comes, we who are in Christ should continue to spread the good news.  The good news is like a panacea or a remedy for a medical condition.

Sin and disobedience unto God can be likened to a disease.  It is a condition which not only separates all who are unrepentant from God, but it causes physical and spiritual damage during life.  The end result of a life that is not surrendered to God through Jesus Christ is one that spends eternity in Hell, separated from the presence of God.  However, the remedy is Jesus Christ.  If Christians who are truly following God, fail to exemplify and speak the truth of God to others, then it is as if we who have been cured are allowing those in their illness to die.

Jeremiah like other prophets could not stand and watch nations that were Godless, burn and suffer because of disobedience without warning the people and the Kings.  Although each prophet’s declaration and warning came true, they understood that those who heard God’s truth would be spared if they chose to repent and turn from their wicked ways.  The number of those who choose to perish might be greater than those who choose life, but the point of sharing the message is to give everyone in the vicinity an opportunity.  The opportunity has been given to you and I.  If you don’t know Jesus, you can be spared from the penalty of sin and disobedience.  Christ is the remedy for a broken life.  Accept His gift of salvation, and you will have a life that will remain in the safety of a loving God.

Knowing Your Identity in Christ

15 Friday May 2015

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ID-10043406In the age of technology, media, and the changing social climate, there are many voices that are speaking to us.  If you were to turn on your television, you would find that the media wields a certain amount of influence over how many act and think.  Reality shows portray images of lascivious and sinful behavior which is now embraced by mainstream culture.  Even local and international news networks have become the breeding ground for promoting lifestyles that were once thought to be off-limits or unconscionable. In many respects, the internet has caused a widespread feeding frenzy, based on the content that is produced to all viewers.  As a result, many suffer from having an “identity crisis”.  

This means that many who are subject to what society has promoted, begin to form their minds and lives around what is being given as truth. However, Romans 12:2 says,

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

The thing about an identity is, it is based on who a person is, because of programming that takes place in the mind.  Your identity is like a fingerprint because it distinguishes who you are. Much of why we see confusion within the younger generations today, is because they don’t know who they are. There are many who are attempting to figure out who they are, because their identity is not in Christ, but rather it is in the lies that satan has fed them. How do you find your identity?

In order to know who you are meant to be, you must consult the creator.  God has given us an opportunity to know Him through Jesus Christ.  He has also given us an identity which is wrapped in who He has created us to be.  Going back to Romans 12:2, the Apostle Paul admonishes Christians not to conform to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  This can only be done by accepting Christ and allowing God to transform your mind.

Since the mind is a powerful tool, it can be shaped in such a way that one begins to act and live out of what is received. The reason why the Apostle Paul said that we should be transformed by the renewing of our mind, is because he understood that our mind must be programmed in the things of God instead of the things of the world.  In doing so, we will find our identity in Christ.

Even before you and I were born, God has given us an identity in Him. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” What is our identity as it relates to God?  As Genesis 1:27 says, God created man in His own image.  You and I were created in the image of God. However, because of sin which entered into the world through Adam & Eve, the image became shattered.  This meant that an identity crisis occurred, because of the separation that sin caused.

Thus, you now have men and women who are attempting to find out who they are. They do it through changing their appearance, their gender, their actions, which are all an attempt to gain their identity. While humanity is still created to be in God’s image, it is sinfulness that distorts that image which means a distorted or confused identity.  What is your identity in Christ, and how do you find it?

1 Peter 2:9 says “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” The true identity if we were ever to discover it in Christ, is that we are a chosen people.  God created each human to be set apart for His use and to be a royal priesthood as the Apostle Peter says in this scripture. Your identity is forever changed when you accept Jesus Christ as your savior.

This means that you are no longer bound by sin, nor is your identity hinged upon what the world says.  You are secured in knowing who you are through Christ Jesus.  Another translation of 1 Peter 2:9 uses the words, “a peculiar people” which means that in Christ, we are different.  God created you to be in His image, which means that you are meant to be separated from what the world has established.

When the media and those who have embraced the various lies, say that you should follow the crowd by accepting what is promoted, know that you are being given a false identity.  The standard that God has given to every human being is one of holiness, and being called out of darkness into His light.  The identity that we can find in Christ is one that leads to knowing who we are, and what our purpose is.  Only in God’s presence and in a relationship with Him can we find out what we were born to do.

In addition to knowing what our identity is in Christ, we must then realize how we can find that identity.  To find it, you must seek after the creator.  God already knows who you are – but through prayer, worship and reading God’s word, you will come to realize the identity that God has given you through Jesus Christ.

Think of it in the sense of a relationship with a human being.  The more you spend time with a person or group of people, you begin to identify with certain characteristics.  It is the same with God – you will begin to show the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23) which are based on godly characteristics that come from spending time with God.  As a result, the fruit that you bear become the identifiable traits that come from who you are in Christ.

The reverse is also true as it relates to embracing the things of this world. Many who seek after worldly and sinful pleasures bear the fruit of wickedness which results from identifying with what satan has proposed.  The key, however, is to recognize that only God can give you your true identity – the world presents a false identity which leads to confusion.

God desires that every human being know Him through Jesus Christ, but He also desires that we know who we are in Him.  If you are attempting to find out who you are, by trying endless ways to fit into this world’s structure then you will find a lack of peace. Jesus Christ was offered as a sacrifice for you and your sins, which means that He holds the key to your identity.  Without Christ, you will always search for who you are meant to be, but you won’t find it in what this world has to offer.  Giving your life and heart to Jesus is the only way to life, because in Christ you can and will know your identity.

Open Hands for Giving and Receiving

15 Friday May 2015

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ID-10037488The human hand is a body part that is designed to touch, feel, and grasp objects within reach.  There are generally two positions that a hand is capable of assuming.  The first is an open hand or open palm.  The second is a closed hand or closed palm.

Starting with the position of a hand that is open, it is a posture which assumes that a person is available to receive when they are in the position to reach or grab an item.  Open hands concerning body language usually profess one’s interest or openness to a person or situation.  As it relates to a closed hand, it symbolizes unavailability or a lack of openness.  One who has their hands full would not resemble openness because their hand is preoccupied with an object.  Body language concerning that a clenched fist or closed hand signifies that one is standoffish or unavailable based on their posture.

Our lives can also symbolize that of an open or a closed hand.  In Luke 6:38 Jesus is teaching His Disciples, and He gives the following statement:

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

As you think about giving, you can think of it as a two-way street.  This means, that when you give, you will at some point receive.  It can be summed up as the “law of reciprocity.”  The Bible mentions the principle of reaping and sowing in Galatians 6:7. To reap what one sows, means to receive based on what one has already given or put forth.  Starting with the element of giving, what does it mean to give?

To give, means that you are releasing what is in your possession.  Going back to the example of the human hand, if a hand contains an object and the hand is opened, then it is free to release said object.  In our lives, we too should release the things that we have within our possession.  Whether it be spreading the joy that we have to those around us, monetary donations, or giving of our time – God desires that we give to others.  Our society in today’s time has become built upon self-gratification.

Satan desires that we give unto ourselves, without employing the essence of giving to others. He knows that if life is consumed with selfishness and vanity, then at some point our self-indulgence will lead to both a physical and spiritual bankruptcy. This also includes giving to God what He is owed in praise and in worship with our very lives.  We as Christians are to have an open hand policy which means, that our lives are open to giving for the sake of Christ.  Giving of yourself is to provide nourishment to others, rather than hoarding what you have for yourself.

Proverbs 11: 24-25 says,

“There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.”

When you give, the Bible says in this scripture that you will increase or gain more. However, if you choose not to give, you will only find yourself wanting more.  This scripture says that the generous man will be prosperous, which means that abundance will be the result of giving freely.  The difference between those who are in Christ who give, and those who are not in Christ who withhold, is that those in Christ find themselves with more.  Those who live according to the flesh and their selfish desires, only live lives that are seeking more which leads to a barren existence.  So, you and I must give of what we have freely to God, and to those around us.

In addition to giving, we must remember that an open hand policy means that we can and will receive.  According to the scriptures given, giving will usually result in receiving. Whenever you give of what you have, you can expect to receive at some point.  Think of it as planting a seed in the ground.  If you plant a seed in profitable soil, at some point you will experience a harvest or growth of the seed that you planted.  This is a result of giving or planting the seed in the soil.

As Jesus said in Luke 6:38, “Give and it will be given unto you”.  It is important that we have open hands to give, but also to receive.  Sometimes, it may be difficult to receive from others because of pride.  It takes humility to accept assistance from those who are willing to offer it to you.  However, the key to also remember is that there are rewards that come with giving. According to Proverbs 22:9 it says, “He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.” This scripture is using the concept of giving to those who do not have.  The key word in that scripture is “blessed”.

The point about receiving is, that there is a blessing that comes when you give.  To receive is a blessing that you and I must be open to.  A hand that is open to giving but closed when it comes to receiving does not invoke prosperity or blessing.  Rather, a person who constantly gives but does not receive cannot be the beneficiary of the law of reciprocity or “reaping what you sow”.

God desires that all of us experience both sides of giving and receiving. We live in a world that caters towards what one can receive, without truly giving to someone else. As Christians, God expects us to abide by His standards which involves releasing what we have for the benefit of others.  He also desires that we be open to receive His blessings which are apart of the process of giving. Walking in selfishness and hoarding what you have, only leads to a life of emptiness.

However, abundance comes when we utilize the principle of giving that God has instituted from the very beginning.  God gave Jesus Christ his only son, as a sacrifice for the world’s sins.  If you don’t know God, you can through Jesus Christ.  It was God’s love for you that gave you an escape from destruction. Release your sins before Jesus Christ, and accept His offering of salvation.  Then and only then will you understand the process of having open hands for giving and receiving.

Finding Safety in the Fortress

13 Wednesday May 2015

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ID-10056328In a time of peril and unrest, there are many who are seeking shelter and safety. Every day, there are countless tragedies which are displayed on the morning or evening news. Millions are seeking refuge in various forms as a way to cope and shield themselves from what occurs daily.  While others are panicked, as they attempt to ascertain why our world is as dangerous as it appears to be. The fact is, we are living in a world that isn’t always conducive for our daily living.  One might read these words and feel as if there isn’t any hope.  However, there is hope, and that hope comes in the form of a loving God who sent His son Jesus to die for the sins of the world.

In Psalm 18:2, the song writer David proclaims God’s greatness regarding the security that God and God alone can give. He says, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  David understood what we must understand and that is, that God is the one and only one who can provide safety in a time of chaos.  The key term that David uses is, “fortress”. What is a fortress?

According to Dictionary.com, a fortress is defined as the following:

1. A large fortified place; a fort or group of forts, often including a town;citadel.

2. Any place of exceptional security; stronghold.

The characteristics of a fortress involve that of extreme security which means that it is difficult or near impossible for outside forces to enter.  A fortress especially for military purposes, is a building or complex that contains external and internal defenses.  If an enemy attempts to gain entry or attack a heavily fortified fortress, then the enemy will find themselves denied of access. David uses the term fortress because he is describing the attribute of God which is that of guaranteed protection.  A fortress is synonymous to a stronghold in which those who are in need of protection can run into it, and are hidden from the outside.

That is what God is and can be for you and I.  In the midst of a chaotic world, when violence in addition to unfortunate tragedies persist, you and I have a fortress in God. In Proverbs 18:10, it says, “The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.”  This is another declaration of how strong and mighty God is to those who trust in Him.  However, in that verse, there is a key word that should not be missed.  The word that the writer uses is “godly”.  King Solomon who wrote the book of Proverbs, uses the word “godly” to denote the fact that only those who are following God in obedience will benefit from safety.

The distinguishing difference between those who are in Christ and those who are living by their sinful nature is that those who are in sin, do not have a covering.  The word “covering” means that there is a level of protection that is either present or it has been lifted.  Those who are in rebellion against God, are living in an uncovered state.  This means, that whatever occurs will usually happen because they were left open to what our enemy satan has designed.

Have you ever noticed how there are so many celebrities that are seemingly suffering from various addictions (i.e. drugs, sexual) in addition to their lives seeming as if they are out of control?  Much of this is because their lives are uncovered from the protection that God provides. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death, death both in the spiritual and physical sense.

In Isaiah 59:2 it says,

“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” It is important to note that the prophet Isaiah, was speaking to those in the nation of Judah in this scripture.  Isaiah was tasked with speaking to the people of Judah about their sin and un-repentance. However, in verse 9, Isaiah says that the sins of those in Judah have caused a separation from God.  However, in the latter part of that verse it says that the sins committed have caused God’s face to be hidden in addition to God no longer listening to the words of those who are in need.

The point to be made is that in order for you and I to benefit from God’s safety, we must live Holy lives that are pleasing unto God.  If you desire to be protected from life’s circumstances, then the best place to be found is in a posture of worship and obedience unto God  As a disclaimer, it is important to note that even if you have committed your life to God, you will face challenges.  It is because we are in a sinful world, that no one is immune to difficulty that may happen.  However, the best thing about living for God, is that you have someone who can stand for you when everything around you may be crashing down.

If you have noticed, the intensity of tragic events is increasing worldwide. Even in America, we are seeing various instances of challenges both financially and otherwise that seemingly no one can explain.  As the prophet Isaiah mentioned to the nation of Judah, there are consequences for sinfulness.  Any nation that decides to balk against God’s decrees will face hardship and eventually destruction.  The reason is because God removes His covering when humanity is in an un-reprentant state.  Many Americans and even those living in other countries are experiencing hardship in part because of the corruption and sinfulness that resides within their land.

However, the good news is that you and I can find safety in the one and true God who is Jehova.  Attempting to find safety in the world will only lead to more insecurity, and dashed hopes.  Your politicians, your bank account, nor can any other material possession offer you the safety that God offers through Jesus Christ.  God is a fortress in a time of despair, and anyone who trusts in Him by accepting Jesus Christ through the confession of their sins, shall be saved.

God offers the safety that all of humanity is seeking.  You can reside within the impenetrable fortress that God Himself is.  Even if you find yourself in hardship, the fact that you will have a loving and capable God on your side is enough to protect you from utter destruction.  God wants to give you what the world cannot.  Only in Christ will you find complete satisfaction and a life that is shielded from the evil schemes that satan presents. You will find that you will be in a strengthened and fortified position, by relying on the only fortress that cannot be broken, and that is the Lord God.

Stand Firm In The Faith

12 Tuesday May 2015

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Over the last few years, there have been various reports of many Americans and even those worldwide who have left the faith.  A recent report from CNN.com gives actual statistics of those who are “Millennials” who are no longer participating in church activities, nor associating with Christianity.  According to the article which was published today, the percentage of those identifying with Christianity has and continues to drop significantly:

“Released Tuesday, the survey of 35,000 American adults shows the Christian percentage of the population dropping precipitously, to 70.6%. In 2007, the last time Pew conducted a similar survey, 78.4% of American adults called themselves Christian.”

“People who profess no faith affiliation — often called “nones,” as in “none of the above” — now form nearly 23% percent of the country’s adult population, according to the Pew study. That puts the unaffiliated nearly on par with evangelicals (25.4%) and ahead of Catholics (about 21%) and mainline Protestants (14.7%).”

What is even more alarming is that there is a growing trend of those both claiming Christianity, and even those who are not affiliated, that have shown support for “same-sex marriage”.  Recent polls conducted nationwide have shown that many churches are now accepting same-sex weddings, leaving those who do not support it in the minority.  It is quite easy for those who are truly following God in obedience to become discouraged.  Truthfully, in these times it seems that the majority are now living in sin and promoting a Godless society for current and future generations.  While those who are following Christ, seem to be outnumbered. However, the Bible gives each Christian clear instructions on how to live, but also encouragement during difficult times.

In 1 Corinthians 16:13, the Apostle Paul gives a word of encouragement to his fellow brothers in Christ. He says, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” Paul’s message to us is also to stand firm in the faith and to be courageous. At the time of Paul’s life, he and other Christians faced perilous situations.  Some were crucified, beheaded, beaten, and utterly expelled from the societies they once lived in. Persecution against Christians has and continues to occur even in our present time. However, the Apostle Paul gives Christians encouragement to stand firm in the faith. What does that mean?

To stand firm is to hold a stance that is unwavering.  It is to be fixed in a position that requires a concerted effort to displace or move one from where they stand.  Even in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Paul writes to fellow Christians, when he says, “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” The Apostle Paul was an individual who not only challenged Christians and non-Christians about sinful behavior, but he was known for encouraging those in Christ.

What we as Christians need to understand is that despite the perilous times and the many who have chosen to reject God, we must stand firm in the faith. To stand firm in the faith, means that we are to hold fast or steady as it concerns the things of God.  In the scripture of 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Paul is giving Christians admonishment not to forget or forsake the things taught to them.  What we are seeing in today’s world, is a rapid abandonment of Godly values.

Those who were perhaps raised in the church, have chosen not to embrace God for themselves.  Instead, many who are in this current generation (Millennials) have essentially dismissed the idea of Christianity or God.  As a result, there has and continues to be a decline in both morality and Godly values.  However, God is still desirous of a generation that will stand up for Him and His words.

Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world, which means that the invitation to receive salvation stands to this day.  While it is quite clear that many have chosen to walk away from God and abandon the precepts that God has put into place, there are still those who God has chosen to be set apart.  The main encouragement we should bear in mind is that we are fighting in a spiritual battle.

In Ephesians 6: 10-18, the Apostle Paul gives an illustration of what fighting in this spiritual battle consists of.  Paul uses the imagery of a Roman solider because, during his time, it was the norm to see soldiers that wore the battle gear as Paul describes.  In that scripture, the Apostle Paul mentions “The Full Armor of God“.  What is the Full Armor of God?  It can be summed up in 6 parts:

1. The belt of truth
2. The breastplate of righteousness
3. The shoes fitted with the gospel of peace
4. The shield of faith
5. The helmet of Salvation
6. The sword of the Spirit (word of God)

While these are metaphorical in their context, each part is used to describe the spiritual application.  The point that Paul is making concerning the Full Armor of God is that we must stand firm in what we believe, and we must do battle in the Spirit.  This means, that we must fight the good fight of faith, in a spiritual sense.  We who are in Christ are called to be separate from the world, and to hold our ground.  Although society continues to evolve, Christians should not change or compromise the truth of God for satan’s lies.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, that Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but His words will not pass away.  The things of this Earth, and the changing patterns of our world are all temporal, but God’s Word will always be true.  Even if various laws are passed to encourage sinful behavior, and many turn away, only the truth of God will remain. Those who indulge and promote sinfulness will at some point pay a heavy price.  However, Jesus Christ died so that we wouldn’t have to pay that price.

Those who are in Christ must take a stand just as those who came before us did.  Jesus Christ bled on the cross for you and I, which means that if we participate in what the world deems to be good, then the cross of Christ becomes meaningless. Even those who are without Christ, you don’t have to perish because of your sin.  You can be redeemed through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

All of humanity has an opportunity to receive salvation and redemption – but it is a conscious decision to forsake the things of the world to embrace Christ.  The world is continuing to decay, and perilous times will increase as we live in the last days. The many tragedies that we see daily, will continue to grow worse because of the rampant sinfulness that has stretched worldwide. However, for those of us who are in Christ, we must stand until the very end. The reward for standing firm, is eternal life, God being pleased with you, and the message of Jesus Christ being spread through you in what you say and how you live.

Born Again – A Spiritual Rebirth

11 Monday May 2015

Posted by in Christian, Christianity, God, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, Life, Spiritual

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When a mother conceives and eventually gives birth, the child that is released from the Mother’s womb experiences life in this world for the first time. However, it isn’t just an ordinary life, but it is a life that is brand new.  Each child that is born comes into the world as a new participant in many of the options that life has made available.  The birth of a child is a joyous moment for many because it represents a new beginning.

However, in addition to a physical birth that you and I have experienced when we were born, there is a birthing experience that takes place in the spiritual sense.  This is called, being “born again.”  What does mean to be born again mean? In John chapter 3, Jesus is speaking to a Pharisee by the name of Nicodemus.  Jesus has a dialog with Nicodemus in which He teaches him the concept of “being born again.” 

John 3: 1-6 says:

“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again.”

In this passage, Nicodemus pondered the very idea of being born again.  It was a concept that he did not understand, but Jesus makes it clear that a human cannot be reborn in the physical sense.  To be born again means to experience a spiritual rebirth. He goes on to use the phrase “being born of the water and the spirit”. Before examining what being born again means, we must first understand a key point which ties into the need for salvation or a spiritual rebirth.

When Adam & Even sinned in the Garden of Eden, their actions produced the element of sin and sinful nature.  After the fall of man in Genesis 1, sin was not only introduced into the world, but every human became a by-product of the original action of sin. Psalm 51:5 says, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” The songwriter David, says in this verse that he is born into sin and he was shaped in iniquity.  Even in Psalm 58:3, David says that the wicked are born “estranged” from the womb, or born from their mother’s womb.  He also says in the verse, that they go astray after birth, speaking lies.  This is because of the sinful nature that resides within us.  We are all born into sin because of the original disobedience of Adam & Eve.

With sin being our original state after birth, there is then a need for salvation or as Jesus said, “being born again”.  The spiritual re-birthing according to Jesus requires that we be born of water and the spirit.  What does He mean? First, water in this context means the “washing by God’s word.” In Ephesians 5: 25-26, the Apostle Paul is giving instructions to husbands concerning their wives.

He says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,”  When Paul says, the phrase, “Washing with the water through the word” he is referring to the cleansing power of God’s word.  God’s word is powerful and has the ability to cleanse us through conviction and even instruction.  The Bible provides each believer and even nonbeliever with an opportunity to receive healing, direction, and a better way of living.  It is through the institution of God’s word into our lives, that we are able to avoid the sin that separates us from God.

Secondly, Jesus says to Nicodemus that we must be born of the Spirit.  Being born of the Spirit involves accepting Christ as Lord and Savior.  This then allows the Holy Spirit to take residence in our lives, which means that upon salvation we are then born of the Spirit.

Titus 3: 3-7 says,

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

The Apostle Paul gives descriptions in this scripture of what behaviors and sinful activity he himself and others he was speaking to, exhibited before receiving Christ.  Basically, if you are not in Christ, then you are subject to your sinful nature.  However, after you receive Christ as your savior, you are then reborn in the Spirit which is through the residence of the Holy Spirit. Essentially, to be reborn there must be a conversion from death which is from your sinful nature to life which is through Christ and the Holy Spirit.

So, Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross gives every person an opportunity to be reborn spiritually.  While you and I are born into this world through the flesh, we can be reborn in the Spirit because as Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Spirit gives birth to the Spirit”. This means, you can be reborn through the Holy Spirit once you accept Christ. The great thing about being reborn is that you are no longer a slave to your sin.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature.  This means, that your sin, and the burden of the guilt that you carry is no more.

All of us have an opportunity to be born again which means that through Christ we can be made new.  As long as we remain in our sinful nature, then we will produce the fruit of which we were born which is corruption.  However, once we have accepted Christ and are living life by the Spirit, then our behaviors and our heart begins to change.  The best way to live and to have a life that is full of abundance is to do so after being born again. It is a life that brings joy, satisfaction, and ultimately you are no longer bound to the sin that you were born into.

God Wants a Relationship With You Instead of Organized Religion

08 Friday May 2015

Posted by in Christianity, Church, God, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, Life, Love

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The term “Christianity” has been dubbed as one of the world’s most dominant religions or religious affiliations.  By societal standards, it is classified as a religion just as Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism.  For centuries, many have seen Christianity through the eyes of religious works and a set of church rules and regulations.  However, religion or religious activity is not something that should be named among Christians.

If we look back at the very beginning of human creation, God had a relationship with Adam & Eve because He was with them in the Garden of Eden. God desires to have a relationship with every human being.  It is the essence of communing with God through prayer, worship, and reading of His Holy word.  There are examples of those in the Bible who had an authentic relationship with God.  One example being that of Moses:

In Exodus 33, Moses is tasked with telling the Israelites of God’s displeasure with them.  While God spoke of His promise which was to give the Israelites the land which had been promised to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, He also showed displeasure with their sin.  In verse 5, God calls the Israelites a “Stiff necked people” meaning that they were living in sin and disobedience. God gives Moses a command to tell the Israelites to go to the land flowing of Milk and Honey (verse 3) but God also warns that if they go, He may not protect them from the enemies on the path to the Promised Land because of their sinfulness. Going further into Exodus 33, we can see that Moses and God have a conversation, and Moses ultimately asks to see God’s physical presence:

The first part of verse 11 says: “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”

In verses 12-17 it says:

“Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

The key part of those verses involved God’s statement “I know you by name”.  This suggests that because Moses and God already had a relationship, that Moses was known by God.  Another examination of this text involves Moses asking the question about being distinguished (different) from everyone else on the face of the Earth.  Essentially, it is God’s presence that creates a difference in the life of every believer.  Having a relationship with God and abiding in His presence creates a separation from the world.

One final point to make about Moses and God’s relationship is that in verses 18-24, Moses asks to see the Glory of God.  However, because God is so powerful He cannot show humanity His face, so instead Moses sees the backside of God.

What can be noted based on the account of Moses and God, is that Moses had an authentic relationship and encounter with God.  That is what many Christians should be experiencing. The world views Christianity as a religion in part, because many have lived their lives as such.  Religion suggests that there is a specific pattern or way of operating. However, relationship involves an actual encounter with someone which means that there is openness in communication and daily living.

Religion only appeases those who are living based on rules or rituals.  While God gives every believer a set of expectations and commands to live by, God does not want us to live by a legalistic approach.  Organized religions live based on legalism which means that there is a strict adherence to law based on behaviors.  In Colossians 2: 20-23, the Apostle Paul actually discourages legalism in the body of Christ:

“Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.” 

The key difference between legalism and relationship is that having a relationship with God, automatically alters your behaviors because your heart becomes more like God’s. If you are operating out of a human based system of living, then your behaviors will be changed without having a change within your heart.  That is something God does through relationship.

The lesson that we can learn from Moses is that we must actively pursue God for His presence.  The way to escape the entrapment of religiosity or religious practices, is to understand that God wants to know you and be known by you.  How does that happen? Through daily prayer and an earnest worship unto God. Talking to God is like talking to another human being.  If you don’t have active communication with your friends or family, then the relationship dies.  Or if you don’t communicate with someone you don’t know, you don’t have access to who they are.

God wants to reveal Himself to every human being.  However, He won’t badger or force you into a relationship with Him.  God desires that we love Him for who He is – not through the motions of religion or rituals.  However, through actual daily encounters with God.  The world has some of their accusations correct in that, Christianity has become a religion.  Unfortunately many churches have bought into that claim.

However, true Christianity isn’t a religion, but it is a collective and individual body of believers who have chosen to seek after the things of God. The purpose for gathering in a corporate setting weekly, is to add strength between fellow believers, and to increase accountability in your walk with the Lord.  If you want to be distinguished from the world as Moses desired, then seek after God.  He gives you an opportunity to have a better life, and a relationship that surpasses anything you can even imagine.

Living Water to Satisfy Your Thirsty Soul

08 Friday May 2015

Posted by in Christianity, Church, God, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, Life, Love

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ID-10054397H20 or most commonly known as water, is an essential source of nourishment and refreshment to quench one’s thirst. Have you ever felt so thirsty, that you were immediately refreshed and rejuvenated after drinking a glass or bottle of water?  Since our body is more than 60% water, it is imperative that we all drink daily to avoid dehydration.  Even as it relates to plant life, water is a necessary source in order to live.  It is the element of nature that represents life and wellness.

However, even spiritually the concept of water can be examined through the term, “Living Water”. In the book of John 4: 1-15, Jesus and a Samaritan woman are having a conversation at a well. He asks her in verse 7 to give Him a drink.  However in verses 9-10, she says that she is a Samaritan and points out that Jesus is a Jew.  At that time period, Samaritans were seen as less than or inferior because of their heritage, being that they were “biracial” (Samaritans were of Jewish and Pagan ancestry). So, because of this, it was uncommon and discouraged for Samaritans to associate with Jews. Of course, to Jesus this did not matter – so they have a dialogue in the following verses of John 4: 10-13:

“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

What Jesus is offering to the Samaritan woman, is much greater than what she was searching for.  The Samaritan woman was thirsty in the physical, but there was an obvious need, spiritually.  Jesus understood that the Samaritan woman was not whole but rather she was spiritually dehydrated.  Thus he uses the term, “Living Water” which meant that Jesus himself provides the nourishment that satisfies eternally.  Jesus says in verse 14 “whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus provides the living water that you and I need, in order to be whole and satisfied. 

Often times in our society, there are so many distractions and temptations that we are bombarded with.  Daily, the media pushes the “latest and greatest” devices that are “must haves”.  As a result, many buy into what is promoted, because they are searching to be satisfied and fulfilled in what the world has to offer.  However, as the scripture says in Luke 6:21, “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.” God desires that we seek Him to be filled, because in and of ourselves, we are empty.

Jesus has made Living Water available to each individual that is thirsty for it. What is the Living Water?  The Living Water is the the presence of God which not only gives us peace, but satisfaction.  Just as there is refreshment when we drink natural water, there is a refreshment that surpasses all understanding when we are in God’s presence.  Once we have tasted of God’s presence and the Holy Spirit, then the temporary things of this world will no longer matter.

Money, sex, drugs, and other trappings which are promoted in our sin filled world, lead to a life of ruin and malnourishment.  Our soul is meant to be satisfied by God, because we were made in His image. We were made and created to worship God.  However, it is the sin that cuts the tie between God and humanity. Satan will never tell you the damage that can be and will be done if you are constantly seeking after the things of this world.  1 John 2:15 admonishes us not to love the things of this world.  The reason is because Galatians 6:8 says that if we sow to our flesh, we will reap corruption or death.  This is both a spiritual and physical death.

Christ provides the life that we are all in need of.  As Jesus said in John 14:6,  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Jesus Christ offers each individual the opportunity to have life and to have it in abundance. Seeking after the riches of this world, and temporary satisfaction will always leave you dry.  A life in Christ, is what will institute a healthy and nourished way of living.  Are you thirsty?  Do you find yourself unfulfilled and wandering from place to place to seek peace?

If so, then you are in need of the Living Water.  The Living Water is what God provides through the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus Christ is the one who bled and died for you so that you would never thirst again.  The reason that the world groans and writhes in discontentment is because those in the world, do not have the Living Water.  They are partaking of a well that runs dry.  The well of life, the spring of life, is the one place that will bring healing and everlasting joy.  That place, can only be found in Jesus Christ.  So, if you find yourself thirsting, take a drink of the Living Water and you will find that you shall never thirst again.

Being Alert to the Signs of the End Times

07 Thursday May 2015

Posted by in Christianity, Church, God, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Religion, Religious

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ID-100297350The world that we live in has and continues to change constantly as each day passes. Day after day, year after year, and decade after decade, brings with it the ever closer coming of Jesus Christ.  Some call it, “The End of the World.”  While others use the phrase, “The End Times”  or “The Last Days” to describe the intensity and the actual events that are associated with the 2nd coming of Christ.  Jesus Christ came during what is known as “the first advent” which is the first coming.  The first advent signified Christ being born, his death, burial, and resurrection.

According to Acts 1: 9-12, Jesus ascends to Heaven after He gives instructions to the 12 Disciples.  However, in the entire chapter of Matthew 24, Jesus tells His Disciples of various signs of the end of time as we know it to be.  The signs given will eventually lead to “the second advent” or the second coming of Jesus Christ.  What are the signs of the times?  How do they correlate to what is happening today?  First, let’s look at key areas to determine just how critical today’s time has become:

1. The Increasing wickedness of humanity – 

2 Timothy 3: 1-7 says the following:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

If you read that entire passage, isn’t it startling at just how true much of that is today? Certainly, we have seen perilous times in the past, but the truth is that what we are seeing from today’s generation is far worse than in years and even centuries past. There are various examples of the moral decay that has taken root in not only America but around the world. Onlookers who watch the tragedies that take place in their own neighborhood, city, and state are attempting to answer the proverbial question, “Why is this happening?” The answer lies in the scripture above, which states that the last days shall bring perilous times.

Even in America, laws have become established which are now enforcing the blatant sin that was once thought to be detestable in the eyes of God.  All around the world violence is increasing, because of how close we are to the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. Of course, the Bible makes it clear in Matthew 24 that no one knows the exact time period, but the intensity of the sinfulness is an indicator that points to just how close we are coming to the end of this age.

2. Natural disasters will grow in severity – 

In the latter part of verse 7 in Matthew 24, it says, “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” On April 25th, 2015 an Earthquake struck Nepal, killing over 7,000 individuals.  The key number is, over 7,000.  This was a tragedy that many scientists conclude that they saw coming – however, the fact that over 7,000 individuals would perish over a few days span says that we are seeing a major sign of the imminence of Jesus Christ’s return. Even as you read this, there has been recent tornado activity, flooding, and severe thunderstorms that have taken place in the state of Oklahoma.  Daily there are examples of natural disasters which intensify each time it occurs. Some would argue that we have always had severe weather, but what is known is that as each year passes, the severity increases. Part of it is also due to the damage that humanity’s sinfulness has done to the Earth.  God called humanity to have dominion or rule over the Earth, but to do so with honor and respect by being a good steward over the Earth’s resources.

3. Technology use and its influence – 

In Daniel chapter 12, there is also a scriptural reference to the end times. Daniel 12 says,

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”

The key verse is verse 4 which says “Many will go here and there to increase knowledge”.  This means that in the last days as it was prophesied unto Daniel, that humanity will increase in knowledge. Over decades, we have seen technological advances that were once thought impossible.  Now, technology has inserted itself into just about every area of our lives.  However, it is this very aspect of life, that will be used to create a global system.  Mass surveillance, encrypting data, and tracking human whereabouts is a part of the plan to create a one-world order.  This is what will spur a one world currency that will be put into place so that the anti-christ will have control. (See these scriptures about the anti-christ – Revelation 13:13, 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4, Daniel 7:5) In the book of Revelation (Revelation 13: 16-17) the number 666 is given. In some way, technology will play a role in receiving the “mark of the beast” during what is known as the Tribulation period. However, the point is that technology, as it is being used today, plays a part in the signs of the end times.

As time continues onward, we will see these signs among others not listed which will intensify.  However, the main thing to be aware of is that it isn’t too late to gain safety in Jesus Christ.  Amidst all of the chaos, the growing control that world governments are seizing over its citizens, we who are in Christ have safety from the perilous times. Knowing that the Holy Spirit is still in the Earth, is an assurance in knowing that we can be protected from the evil times that we live in. Only in Christ, will you have ultimate victory and safety.  Be prepared by having your spiritual life assured, and knowing that there isn’t a safer place to be than in the hands of God.  For, the coming of Jesus Christ is nearing every single day.

Reaching Those In Darkness Through Jesus Christ

07 Thursday May 2015

Posted by in Christianity, Church, God, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Religion, Religious

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ID-100106138If you have ever sailed through a large body of water, you may have noticed that a device called a “lifesaver” is usually needed in the event of an emergency.  Within every commercial ship, lifesavers are available so that anyone who falls overboard, can be rescued from the danger of drowning.  Even lifeguards utilize these devices to assist in bringing a drowning person back to safety.  This device is meant to ensure safety, but to also ensure that the possibility of perishing is nonexistent.

Salvation as a concept can be essentially the same as using a lifesaver.  The truth is, all of us are in need of a savior.  John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  In this scripture, “The thief” refers to satan.  Satan desires to destroy all that is good, which also includes destroying and stealing life from humanity.  However, in this same scripture, Jesus says that He has come so that we might have life and have it to the full.  This means, that Jesus came, died and rose again so that you and I might live a life of abundance.

The message of salvation is one of redemption.  It is the redemptive power of Jesus Christ which gives everyone an opportunity to know God, and to be rescued from our sin.  It is our sinful nature that separates us from having a relationship with God. According to Romans 6:23 it says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Apostle Paul is saying that the penalty of sin is death, but not just a physical death but a spiritual death.  When we as humans are not in Christ, we are dead, spiritually.  However, the latter part of that verse says, the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ.  To be in Christ, is to have life which not only includes physical life but spiritual life.

When it comes to reaching those who are in darkness, it is the duty of every Christian to actively pursue the message of Jesus Christ.  In thinking about the example of a lifesaver, Christ is the lifesaver for humanity.  Sin and worldliness represent the thrashing waves of an ocean.  It also represents the depth of the water which if one does not have a lifesaver, they will likely drown unless they are able to swim.  However, if you are not in Christ and you have not experienced salvation, then you cannot swim in the depths of a decaying world.

All around us, there is a steady display of a world that is perishing in decadence. If you were to turn on your local or national news, you would see murder, threats of terrorism, weather-related tragedies, immoral and ungodly behavior.  Not only are the very things we see absolute signs of the coming of Jesus Christ (Read Matthew 24) but these are behaviors and occurrences which are based in sin. The very things that you and I see, is a result of a wicked and perverse generation.

However, the good news is that Jesus Christ is the remedy.  He is the lifesaver because he addresses our need for a savior. The purpose of the body of Christ is not merely to exist as a collection of believers.  However, it is to pursue those who are in their sin to provide them with the “lifesaver” which is Christ.  In Mark 16:15 it says, “And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Jesus was speaking to the 12 Disciples when he gave them a charge to spread the good news unto all of the world.  That same call to the Disciples is the same call that every Christian has upon salvation, and that is to spread the good news. What is the “good news”?

The good news is that Jesus Christ came and has given humanity an alternative to Hell and destruction.  Even as it relates to daily living, a life in Christ is more productive than a life without Him.  God wishes that no man perish as it says in 2 Peter 3:9.  We who are in Christ, have the awesome responsibility of sharing God’s love with what we say, and how we live.

For those of you who are not in Christ, you can know what true love is by accepting Jesus as your savior.  It is your sin that separates you from truly knowing God.  Before you take your last breath, you can know where your destination will be after this life.  Will it be in the presence of a Holy God where there will be rest and safety?  Or will it be in Hell which is a place of darkness, anguish and separation from a loving God?  No one has to leave this Earth to perish.  The choice is up to each individual.  However, even we who are Christians must demonstrate and spread the message of Jesus.  God loves each person so much, that He gave his son Jesus Christ to take our sin and exonerate us from wrongdoing. The lifesaver is available to all.  Spread the message of God’s saving grace, or if you haven’t already, accept the gift of salvation that is readily available to you.