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World So Cold…

We are living in increasingly dark times, it seems. America is struggling to hold on to freedoms and liberties that have been the pillar of what makes this country so great. What started out as a country based on laws and moral principles has turned into an anything goes society with a “rules for thee, but not for me” mentality. Truth is subjective, laws are immaterial, morals are based in humanism. These are cold and dark times, indeed, and can bring people to their brink with worry and stress and fear.

But….

For the Christian, there is no fear. Concern? Absolutely! But not fear, because fear cannot coexist with FAITH. They are incompatible. Christians know and place their faith in certain truths, that when realized, eliminate fears that may crop up. Let’s go over a few of them.

Nothing New

(Ecc 1:9) That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

What is happening now in our time has already happened in past times. Sure, there may be differences in technology or circumstances, but basically the evil that exists today is the same evil that has existed in the past and can be overcome.

God Is In Control

(Heb 2:14) Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

Jesus gave Himself to be crucified on the cross, was buried, and resurrected. He has conquered death and is sitting at the right hand of God today.

(Mat 28:18) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

It is Jesus who has all authority, granted to Him by God Almighty. Why then should we fear?

(Heb 13:6) So we may boldly say: “THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?”

Peace In Christ

(Rom 5:1-11)  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  (2)  through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  (3)  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  (4)  and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  (5)  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  (6)  For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  (7)  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  (8)  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (9)  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  (10)  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  (11)  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

This world is certain to bring us much tribulation. But if we are in Christ, we have the surety of knowing that He is with us every step of the way. Loving us, guiding us, helping us, forgiving us. When all is said and done and we are found to have been faithful until the end, we are promised a home with Him in heaven. Therefore, I ask again: What is there to fear?

Are you in Christ? Are you unsure? Do you need someone to assist you in studying the Bible? Please make it known by emailing info@toreachthelost.com, or reaching out on our Facebook page.

God bless you.

Think About It…

In the Gospel accounts (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43), we read about Jesus who is on His way to Jerusalem and He’s passing through Jericho. Jesus has a multitude of people travelling with Him. As they pass through, there are two blind beggars that hear this commotion of the multitude and they inquire of it. They are told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, so they begin to cry out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us!!”. Of course, they are beggars, the most lowly of citizens, so they are warned to keep quiet. They refuse and continue to keep shouting all the more, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us!!” Jesus hears their cries and stands still. He asks them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They request that their eye sight be granted them. Jesus gives them their sight telling them that their faith has made them well. They then joined the multitude in following Jesus.

How does this apply to us today? We all have something that is plaguing us: SIN (Romans 3:23). Jesus has the power to remove that sin from us (Mark 16:16). What is it that’s keeping us from Jesus and what are we doing about it? For the two beggars it was the multitude of people that were between them and Jesus. What is it for us? It could be one thing, it could be a number of things. We need to identify whatever it is and we need to decide what we will do about it. The beggars shouted all the more! What will we do to overcome and access Jesus Christ? Think about it…

The Nature of Man

2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”

There is a strong belief today among many people that mankind is just another animal, no different than a dog or a monkey. Yet scripture teaches us otherwise. In the verse above, Paul confirms that there is something unique about our makeup that distinguishes us from the rest of the animal kingdom. He speaks of the inward man and the outward man. What does he mean? Let’s go back to the account given in Genesis chapter 1 regarding the creation of man.

Genesis 1:26,27 “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness: let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him: male and female He created them.”

So we see the creation of man having something additional than that of the animals that were created. Man was created in the image of God. Not meaning that we physically look like God, but that we have His “likeness”. We have an eternal spirit. This is what Paul called the “inward” man. Paul refers to the spirit of man in 1 Corinthians 2:11, “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?…”

Unlike the animal kingdom, we have two aspects of life: physical and spiritual. The former is temporary, while the latter is eternal. Our spirit will remain living even after our physical body has perished. We are God’s special creation. We are created in His likeness. While we must tend to our physical life, we must also have concern for our spiritual life.

The Hebrew writer wrote “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?” (Heb. 12:9) As children, we receive discipline and correction from our earthly fathers that help us to grow and mature and be successful in our earthly life. But what about our spiritual life? Do we make ourselves subject to the discipline of God so that we may grow and mature spiritually?

Death occurs when the spirit is removed from the body. Our physical body will return from where it came (Genesis 3:19). Ecclesiastes 12:7, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Physical death is the first death. But, it is not the end as some would have you believe.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Man is able to kill the physical body but cannot kill the soul. As stated earlier, the soul returns to God who gave it. God will determine the fate of the soul, and he will determine that fate based upon how we lived our lives while existing on the earth. Therefore, we must tend to our spiritual life while we exist physically upon this earth, knowing that physical death is not the end.

Matthew 16:24-27, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.'”

A judgment day is coming. Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed for man to die once, but after this the judgment.” We will be judged according to how we lived our lives before our physical death. Did we live according to God’s will? Or, did we neglect God and do whatever our physical bodies willed us to do? This will determine whether we have an eternal existence in the presence of God, or whether we will live on in everlasting torment having been separated from God forever. So the answer to the all important question that is asked by most people, “What is my purpose for living?” is answered for us by our Creator.

Ecclesiastes 12: 13,14, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

He Shall Direct Thy Paths

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;  (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

It isn’t always easy to trust in someone who isn’t ourselves. It’s even worse when said trusting may result in pain, suffering, or even death. This proverb teaches us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and put aside our own understanding. As is usually the case, we have some examples in scripture to look to regarding this truth.

Job lost everything. His own wife and even his friends instructed him to just curse God and die. End your own misery! Wisely, Job did not heed their instruction. Instead, he trusted in the Lord to see him through. Job 13:15  Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. Oh, he certainly questioned God, but he never cursed Him. Job surely knew that God could slay him, but be that as it may, he would still trust Him.

John 21:18-19  Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”  (19)  This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” Jesus is making known to Peter that he would one day suffer and die because of his faith. Yet even knowing this, Peter continued in the doctrine of Christ, trusting God to fulfill all of His promises.

We trust him unto death knowing His great and precious promises. 2Pe 1:4  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Can you count the promises of God? Is there anything of more value to us than what God has promised us?

When you think you’ve got it all figured out and your understanding is complete, remember Job. Job 38:1-4;Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:  (2) “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?  (3) Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.  (4) “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Job had questioned God regarding his dealings with him and his afflictions. God is very direct with him and puts him in his rightful place as a mere man who is not even close to fathoming the knowledge and wisdom of God. Aren’t we sometimes like Job? Don’t we often think too highly of ourselves? Let’s also remember these scriptures:

Prov. 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Jer. 10:23 O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

Jesus implores us to always acknowledge Him. Matt. 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  (30) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” We must acknowledge Christ and his doctrine and abide in it if we are to succeed in our endeavor to have heaven as our eternal home.

By putting our faith and our trust in Jesus Christ, God will direct our paths. How? Through His divine word. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. God’s word is truth, it is all sufficient.  Hold on to it and do not compromise! It is truly the most valuable possession one could have in this life.

John 12:48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. So tell me again, why wouldn’t I let God’s word direct my path? His word is what will judge us in the end!

Let us be diligent in contending earnestly for the faith. Trusting in the Lord and never wavering.

Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

1 Cor. 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  (5) that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Who is it that leads you? Do you walk according to your own understanding? Do you follow some other doctrine thought up by man? Or, do you walk according to the pattern that God has laid out in His word? The choice is all yours to make. Choose wisely.