Surprise Ending

             “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

            Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is one, but there’s hope for those who worry over the existence of false Christians and hypocrites.

            “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

            “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

Lighten Up, Have Fun

I remember back in ancient times some Christians decorated their cars with stickers that said,”God is my Co-Pilot.” It was a catchy, if somewhat corny, celebration of God's omnipresence. It is comforting to know that wherever we go, God is with us---especially if we're doing the driving.

But, what if we said, “God, take the wheel;” closed our eyes and really let go? The Bible doesn't recommend this exercise in trust while driving a car. However, it certainly challenges Christians to try it with worship. The challenge goes like this: “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?”

Being filled with the Spirit on the Lord's day (or any other day) is the greatest thrill ride I've been on. The first time non-believers saw Christians under the influence of the Holy Ghost, they thought the believers were drunk. There's not a drink that compares and I can tell you with my hand up that I've never regretted anything I've done in the Spirit.

People who think God is no fun simply don't know God. You have only to look at some of the people He created to know God has a sense of humor. Some witty fellow once said,”I'd like to meet the person who invented sex and see what he's working on now.” Let me introduce you: reader—God; God---reader. One of His later works is the Holy Ghost baptism.

Here's good news, God isn't done yet. He's getting ready to open the eastern sky; step out to meet us face to face and institute His kingdom on Earth. About what happens a thousand years later all He will say is that eye hasn't seen; ear hasn't heard the things He has in store for those who love Him. While you're waiting, receive the Holy Ghost as His pledge of good things now and forever.

Ouchies and Bandaids

I see a lot of wounds and, by far, the majority are self-inflicted. Without a doubt we are our own worst enemy and the cause of most of our own troubles. Whipping up a case of disaster is easier than cereal for breakfast and takes about as long to make.

Most trouble begins innocently enough. You say, "Hold my drink and watch this." The next thing you know---you're in trouble. In the same vein, "But officer, you don't understand," seldom leads to a positive solution. Humans are natural born troublemakers.

Unfortunately, we've been conditioned to see everyone and everything except ourselves as the source our trouble. As children, our mothers warned us that our friends were trouble. The way friends were always jumping into lakes or off cliffs, who can blame parents for being concerned. A little later, the public school system taught us that poor teachers and overcrowded classrooms are the cause of illiteracy. We came up with no-fault divorce because was inconceivable that either partner did anything wrong. It worked so well we adopted no-fault collision insurance for our cars. Thank God I don't vote. I'd hate to share the responsibility for electing the idiots who run this country.

I hear people say, "You can't fix stupid." I've said it myself--more than once. I've since discovered stupid doesn't even know he needs fixing and he's apt to get testy if you mention it to him. None of us likes others pointing out our faults. But, here's the thing. We all need it. "Don't judge me," is a plea for self-delusion.

Life is a choice. So is the manner in which we live it. Choose to live with your eyes open. In doing so you will see your shortcomings and your failures. You will also see there is grace, forgiveness and hope for the future.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

That good, acceptable and perfect will of God is to love Him with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. In doing this we are shielded from the worst of the trouble we invite our way.

Sailing Through Life

Good Intentions and Rocky Places

“And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter... And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.”

Paul was going to Rome as a prisoner. His fate was in the hands of a centurion named Julius, an unnamed ship's captain and, at times, the whim of the majority. There are times when important life decisions are out of our hands. At least, it seems that way. The truth is, no child of God's life is ever beyond His control or out of His hands. It's easy to say that—it's much harder to live it. That's because even when man's best laid plans are shipwreck, all can be going according to God's plan.

When life is rolling along at modern breakneck speed, it's hard to let go of the steering wheel. Thankfully, in most instances, God does not want us to do so. God is interested in every detail of our life, but He doesn't want to micromanage all our actions. He wants His children to make their own decisions based on His word and His principles.

Yet, there are times when we must admit we're in over our head and allow God to take over. As Paul found, there are other times when circumstances snatch the wheel from our hands and we have no choice except to trust in God to keep us between the ditches. During these times it's easy to become discouraged or to believe God has forsaken us. Paul got on board the ship knowing disaster was lurking just over the horizon. It didn't require a lot of faith on Paul's part---he had no choice. Faith stepped on board when Paul trusted God and remained convinced His word was true. He would make it to Rome and he would appear before Caesar as God promised.

The storm could destroy the ship, but it could not destroy God's promise to His servant. The storm could alter the ship's course, but it could not alter God's plan for Paul. The key to a positive outcome was to stay on board with God. Paul got wet, but he made it to Rome. Storms will blow you into situations you don't want to face. Don't be discouraged, Jesus is both the author and the finisher of our faith. He will see you through the storms of life.

Look Up

      "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

      Israel's forty year long march through the wilderness was marked by a series of highs and lows. Life hasn't changed much. We still live our days riding emotional and physical crests and troughs of life's sea. At one particularly low point, Israel began to grumble about the direction God was taking them. Some thought God had intentionally led them into this barren place to kill them all. The people grumbled about the leadership of Moses and his willingness to blindly follow wherever God took them. They grumbled about the lack of water. They even grumbled about the manna God sent them everyday.

      

     In response to these venomous attacks, God sent poisonous serpents into the camp. As people began to die from the serpents' bite, Israel's attitude changed. Suddenly, Moses wasn't such a bad leader after all. Israel was more than willing to overlook any faults Moses might have if only he would pray for them. It seems they now wanted the God who led them into the wilderness to die to save them from the serpents.

     Moses, being the meek sort, refused to give in to the temptation to tell Israel to lie in the bed they made for themselves. He prayed for their deliverance. God, being the loving and forgiving sort, heard Moses' prayer and sent a remedy. God did not make the serpents vanish. He did not take away their venom. The deadly plague of serpents continued, but God sent salvation. He instructed Moses to make a serpent of brass and put it atop a pole. The pole was placed strategically within the camp and anyone who was bitten by a serpent had only to look on the serpent of brass to be spared. Israel was free to consult physicians or grandma's home remedies. They were free to consult Baal, Chemosh, Dagon or any other god the liked. They would die, but they were free to pursue salvation any means they wished.

     Now, there is no physical healing power in a brass sculpture. In Israel's case, there didn't need to be one. A physical healing was the immediate concern, but it was not the real need. Israel needed a spiritual healing. The brazen serpent was a spiritual cure that solved a physical problem. Looking on the serpent was curative only because God said it was. Those who believed God's promise were saved--everyone else died.

      Those who mocked Jesus knew that a man dying on a cross has no inherent power to save. Such a person is really quite helpless. The power of Jesus to save rests in the promise of God that whosoever believes in Him has eternal life. Believing God enough to look to Jesus as our salvation; produces salvation. He is the only cure for the sin that is slowly killing us.

     Mankind is free to try psychiatry, philosophy, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism or any other "ism." Modern society offers a wide spectrum of broad avenues to salvation. Christianity offers Jesus Christ and Him crucified, as the only means to God and the only name given under heaven whereby we must be saved.

BYOS

      “ Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

      The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

      Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.”

      The woman at the well in Sychar was intrigued by the idea of living water that gave way to eternal life. Eternal life without labor is the stuff dreams are made of. It's not surprising Christianity has an allure. Man was designed to live in harmony with God in a perfect world which is just what Christ offers. Like this woman, people of every kind are quick to latch on to the promises of the gospel. That is until Christ gets down to, “Go, call thy husband” and the issue of sin rears its ugly head.

     The woman had five former husbands and was not married to the man with which she was living. What would Jesus do? He would not ignore sin. He called her on it. He didn't reject her or demean her, but He did let her know sin does not enter the kingdom of God.

      Christianity doesn't sit well with the world because it refuses to ignore sin. Nevertheless, to inherit to the promises of Christianity, one must face the issue of personal sin; not a theory about sin; not the sins and hypocrisies of others, but one's own sin. Our own sin is the only sin relevant to personal salvation. Sin is personal. It is the barrier between God and each living soul. When we encounter God, we will be confronted by our sin. This is what Jesus was saying to the woman.

      Bring your sin to Christ and let Him deal with it. This is the beginning of Christianity. Repentance is the one and only door to the kingdom of God. People glibly announce how Jesus let another woman caught in sin go free from religious men who condemned her as if her sin did not matter. However, they ignore the message Jesus left her with, “Go, and sin no more.” Whosoever comes to Christ must first confront their sin, then leave it behind. It's easier to say than to do. I've found it to be a continuous process.

      “ The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” Amazing! Not come see this judgmental Jew, but "is not this the Christ?" Its almost as if she expected the Christ should reveal of sin.

Spirit Born

      “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?”

      “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

      When Nicodemus asked Jesus how a man could enter his mother's womb and be born again, he was not being facetious or purposely obtuse. It was simply that Nicodemus' approach to righteousness and godliness was based on what he could do in the flesh. He accepted the Law and the Prophets as inspired by the Spirit, but lived in the flesh. Nicodemus was a good man trying to live by the rules. His religion was an exercise in will power---not God's power. His entire outlook was one of fleshly performance of spiritual principles. He could follow the many rules associated with the Sabbath and observe the dietary restrictions of the Law, but when Jesus began to talk about being born again, Nicodemus was confused.

Being born again was impossible. How could he keep such a requirement? The new birth is where many of the Jews of Jesus' day and multitudes of all types of people since have stumbled at Christianity.

      The new birth defines Christianity. It divides the sheep from the goats; the broad way from the narrow way; and the Christian from everyone else. It does no good to complain that Christianity is divisive. Division is the logical and and natural consequence of the new birth. One is either born again or one is not---there is nothing in between. That is not the doctrine of hate; it is simply a statement of truth. That some find this truth offensive is irrelevant. It remains the truth no matter how we feel about it.

      I find it interesting that this truth is lost on the proponents of abortion. Like Nicodemus, in the flesh, they understand the difference between born and unborn. However, when it comes to the spiritual birth they just can't see the truth of, “that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.”

      People who lay the blame for their proclivity to perversion on “being born that way” are absolutely correct. The flesh with its corruption is the natural state of man. Christianity offers the opportunity to be reborn as a creature dominated, not by the flesh, but by the spirit of God. Christianity is not something to be achieved through effort. It can only be obtained by birth. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”