His only Son…

The friend of God, Abraham, went through this test at one time. God had promised him a son and he and his wife had one in their old age, far beyond the years for either of them. When Isaac was in his early teens God tested Abraham by asking for Isaac’s life as a sacrifice. He didn’t hesitate. He knew that God had promised him many things through Isaac and if God was Who He said He was then even in death He would fulfill those promises by bringing Isaac back.

God gave His Son too. He allowed Jesus to go through all of the torture and cruelty of death on the cross just to pay the penalties for all of humanity’s sins. God did this out of His love for us, all of us, but that doesn’t mean that He is okay with our sinful lives. That is what we are supposed to repent or turn away from when we give our hearts to Jesus and ask Him to come in a change us. But today, many people seem to believe that they don’t have to do that. They want to be Christian and still practice their sins and the lifestyle that goes with them.

You have to sacrifice your old life and its sins to be a Christian. That is what repentance means. If you attempt to live both a Christian life and a life in bars or strip clubs, then you are fighting against yourself and making your “new” life meaningless. You can’t live both ways. Jesus said in Matthew 6: 24: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Being born-again means that your Spirit and your heart are made new by the working of the Holy Spirit when you become a Christian. You are to be more like Jesus every day, that is your walk and your purpose when you give your life to Him. Seek Him to be your Lord and Savior because we are living in very dangerous times and we don’t know when He may come for the church. Be ready.

Don’t worry…

What are you missing?

Have you ever felt like you were missing something? As if there was an empty space inside?

My parents got divorced when I was about five years old and there was always a feeling that “something” or someone was missing. In my case, my father was missing for many years of my life. There was always an empty place that I felt inside too but I had a hard time figuring out what that was.

I tried meditation and reading Oriental philosophy since I was interested in martial arts for a while. As I progressed into my teens…I’d rather not tell everything that I got into but it did involve alcohol. I wrecked a couple of cars and thankfully I didn’t kill myself.

Eventually, I found out what was missing and it turned out to be my Savior. He was the missing piece that was needed in my life. Unfortunately, it still took many years until I finally made Him my Savior. I did “accept” Him into my life at the age of 18 but I was only saying the words and going through the motions. It wasn’t real. I thought it was for a while but looking back on it, I was just playing with the idea of being saved.

I was in a very dangerous place at that time. Even though I thought I was saved but if anything had happened to me, I would’ve gone to hell. I had some people praying for me though so I was able to make it to the day when I truly found that I needed Him and I finally gave my life and my heart to Jesus.

If you feel like you are missing something…consider your eternal home. By not making that decision, you are making a decision. I had family praying for me so I had the time to make that decision. I pray that you will seek to know Jesus as your Savior soon.

The fruit of the Spirit

Life…

The author and finisher of our faith and our lives is Jesus Christ. If you haven’t come to know Him as your Savior, I encourage you to seek out a Bible-teaching church and learn more about Him. He died to pay for your sins, all you need to do is accept His grace and the gift of salvation through belief in His atonement for you.

Follow these Scriptures, seek Jesus in the Bible, and give your heart and your life to Him. Follow Him and learn to be more like Him. When the Trumpet sounds you will be taken to be with Him forever. That is the reward that we, as Christians, seek to have. This life and the “stuff” in it is temporary but life with Him is an eternity in His love for us.

The Good Shepherd

The Way

Salvation…

How can you be saved from an eternity of punishment in hell? Believe in Jesus as your Savior and give your heart to Him. Following Him from that day forward. It sounds easy, doesn’t it? If you feel the Spirit touching your heart and convicting you of your sins so that you know you need Jesus, please don’t turn away from His call on your life. Not one of us is guaranteed to see tomorrow, don’t put your salvation off because you may not have a chance again to “get right with God”.

Some people may say that I am trying to scare you into becoming a Christian. Maybe I am but consider that your life is just a moment in time compared to even one million years. Your decision about Jesus and your salvation through your belief in Him is the only decision that will make your first million years in eternity to be with Him in heaven. You don’t want to consider that amount of time in hell because even if you have friends there, you won’t be having fun at all. Hell is a place of punishment meant for Satan and the fallen angels that followed him. Mankind wasn’t meant to go there at all but many people will.

Jesus Christ came to live a sinless life and to be God’s “spotless Lamb” that could take the sins of the world on Himself and make atonement for them all. Whether you believe in Him for your salvation or not is your choice. Some people will feel the Holy Spirit convicting them of their sins but they will put it off until they can “get right” with God…but you can’t. We can’t do anything that will pay for our sins because Jesus was the only One Who could do that. You can’t pray enough or go to church enough or give enough money to atone for your sins only the blood of Jesus and your belief in Him as your Savior can do that.

Read the book of John and the book of Romans in the New Testament. If you have to, read them a second time but don’t put off your salvation because you may be involved in a wreck tonight or tomorrow and it may take your life before you get a chance to give your heart to Jesus. God loves you but He cannot stand our sinful lives. Do you sin after accepting Jesus? Absolutely! But…you are covered by His blood so just ask for His forgiveness and mean it by turning away from the sinful ways that are still hanging around.

All churches have hypocrites in them but the best ones have forgiven hypocrites.