John 3:16 – Page 5 – Media 4 Life Ministries

Freedom From Religion

Media 4 Life Ministries is pleased to endorse and support the Freedom From Religion Foundation: http://ffrf.org

I am a believer and disciple of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, also referred to as a Christian. I believe that the Freedom from Religion Foundation and myself have a common goal; to free people from religion. Jesus was against religion and the religious zealots of His days. A true follower of Christ is set free from a bondage to religion. He came to set us free from requirements and ordinances . Religion separates people from God. Religion is man trying to reach God on their own merit.

The Freedom from Religion foundation is a non-profit organization and has the nations largest association of free thinkers consisting of Atheist, Agnostics and skeptics. They have about 17000 members and was founded in 1978. Their motto: “Freedom Depends Upon Free Thinkers.”

I wanna thank the Freedom From Religion Foundation in supporting the message of Jesus Christ and His 2 billion plus followers by declaring freedom from religion on billboards, buses and in various media outlets.

Thank you for bringing His message of freedom from religion to the world.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32.
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36.

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.” Phl 1:18.

Religion is… (media4lifeministries.com)

The 10 Commandments

I was led to write this article after some comments I received about my post “Good without God?” Arguments were made that we can have moral values without God and that many people who are Atheist, agnostics or other can do good things to better society. I don’t disagree with those statements. People can do good deeds or have compassion and love others. Morals, on what are we suppose to gauge moral values? If we gauge moral standards and values on human philosophy and thinking, who determines the moral code for society to live by? One persons moral values may not be another persons moral values. One persons morals may be immoral to another. Who would set the standards for a moral society? Who would get to decide what is moral and what is not?

I believe that God Who gave the 10 commandments to Moses on mount Sinai has given mankind a set of moral values and laws which to live by. These 10 commandments are the foundation on which to build a society. God chose Israel to be a nation, to live by those commandment and to be a witness to other nations that had no moral values and did what was right in their eyes. It’s too much to get into it now, but they did some deplorable things, e.g human sacrifices, killing, raping and worshiping man-made idols. In those days those things were standard for most nations, which we would call barbaric today. These things are still happening somewhere in the world, there are still barbaric practices that go on. Just look at Rwanda and the genocide there. Absolute evil without a moral conciseness. Rwanda is not the only place in our times, let’s look at Serbia and the genocide that happened there not too long ago. Parts of Africa and the Middle East with no regards of other people’s life’s and beliefs. They kill and rape because a people group has a different faith then them. They behead people or burn them to death. Is that moral? Maybe those who brutally murder and rape think that it is within their moral standards. Many of us would not agree that those things are moral, but there are others in the world that see no problem with those things according to their moral code and ethics.

I believe that most people know at least some of the 10 commandments, believers or unbelievers. All around the world people know to one degree or another about the 10 commandments. As I stated in my previous article, the law of God is written on the hearts of man. People intrinsically know right from wrong, but many choose to ignore their heart.

Let’s take a quick look at the 10 commandments. (Short version) The 10 commandment can be found in Exodus 20.

1. “You shall have no other gods before Me.. (people invented many false gods).

2. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image… (idols).

3. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.. (broken everyday).

4. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.. (a day of rest for the people).

5. “Honor your father and your mother.. ( on the decline in today’s society).

6. “You shall not murder.. (no words needed).

7. “You shall not commit adultery.. (get’s broken).

8. “You shall not steal.. (same as above).

9. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor… (gets broken).

10. “You shall not covet.. (people desire many of the things others have).

The first 4 commandments are directed towards God. We should honor Him and reverence Him as our Father and creator. We should not make idols and worship something that does not exist. Some people say that they don’t worship anything. If you don’t worship God, you worship something. Yourself, riches and material things, sports etc. God’s name gets used in vain everyday. Jesus has become a swear word, in the movies and society. The sabbath law for the Christian is a subject for another time.

The last 6 commandments are directed towards human relations and how we should live with one another. I firmly believe that if we would all follow those, we would not have the problems in society as we see them today.

These are the moral standards and code we as humans should live by. All of them however get broken every day and today we have thousands of laws in the books because people disobey the commandments given by God. Now, many will say that they have never murdered anyone or committed adultery or have lied etc. The religious leadership in the days of Jesus told Him that. They believed that they kept the law perfectly. Jesus didn’t think so and He actually put the 10 commandments a notch higher. People thought that they kept the laws, because physically they never murdered anybody or cheated on their wife’s. They may have kept the law outwardly, Jesus however showed them that is was and is a matter of the heart.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment….”

If someone hates another person, they have already committed murder in their heart.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not commit adultery” “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

A person may not had sexual relation with another, but lusting after someone is the same as committing adultery.

These passage can be found in Matthew chapter 5. Jesus clearly shows that God looks at the heart and not the outside. If we gauge our moral laws on human understanding and reasoning instead of God’s, where would we be? We as humans cannot know the heart of our fellow-man, even our own heart is unknowable and wicked. God judges the heart of man and here is what God said about the heart of man:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:1o, 11.

God will judge according to His law and He will look at the heart. There will be a day of judgment for everybody, whether some believe it or not. Everybody will face death one day, no exceptions and stand before God.

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment..” Hebrews 9:27.

Jesus narrowed those 10 commandment down to two: Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. “This is the first and great commandment. “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40. If we were to follow those two, we would fulfill the law to love God and not murder, steal, lie etc.

If we talk about moral values and ethics set by man or God, I rather follow the moral code set by God and not of man and human wisdom and understanding. A society that distance itself from God and His standards will ultimately fail. There is no other foundation that can be laid but God’s. If a society turns from God, wants to remove God from its life is a society doomed, sooner or later.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”Matthew 7:24-27.

Good without God? (media4lifeministries.com)
Human Reasoning or God’s Standard’s? (media4lifeministries.com)
Law Breakers (media4lifeministries.com)
Relationship or Religion? (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)

Religion is…

Religion is the enemy of God.
Religion was rebuked by Jesus.
Religion separates people from God.
Religion is used by the enemy to deceive.
Religion puts people into bondage.
Religion is of works, not of faith.
Religion is self-righteousness.

Religion is hypocrisy.
Religion does not save.
Religion denies grace.
Religion is in vain.
Religion causes pain.
Religion is…you name it.

Say NO to religion and follow Jesus instead!

Can we really know God?

There are many religions in the world and all of them have some kind of a god. Muslims worship Allah for example and Hindus have 330 million different gods. Can anybody really know 330 million gods?

Muslims say that they know Allah and that he is the true god, yet they have no personal relationship with Allah. A Muslim can never be sure if Allah is pleased with them. Muslims have no assurance of Allah’s love for them. They weight out their good and bad deeds and hope that the goods deeds will outweigh their bad deeds. They hope that Allah will be merciful to them. They also have no assurance to make it to heaven i.e paradise. All religions are either based on a works based or man centered relationship with their god(s). That is what religion is, man trying in vain to reach God on their own merit.

How about Christianity? Can a Christian truly know God? When I talk about God, I am referring to the God of the Bible, the Creator of all things. The only true and living God. In all reality, there is only one true God, all others are man-made and do not exist. I know that will offend many religions and religious people, but it is the simple truth. There is only One true and living God and it doesn’t matter how many different gods people worship. Ultimately they will all face the true God, at the day of judgment.

Many people believe that it is impossible to know God. They say that God is incomprehensible, which He is. How can one know Almighty God that spoke the universe into existence, simply by His Word? It is way beyond our finite minds. When God spoke, His word traveled in the speed of light which is about 186.000 miles per second. Awesome, incredible and incomprehensible. God in the OT was know by Abraham as YHWH and to Moses God revealed Himself as the “I AM that I AM” in the burning bush. God revealed Himself and His awesome powers through various ways to the OT Saints. Adam and Eve before the fall, walked with God in the cool of the evening. How can somebody walk with God Who is Spirit? Moses wanted to see God and ask Him to show His Glory. “And Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory.” But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Ex33:18, 20.

God did show Moses some of His Glory, by passing by, covering the eyes of Moses and Moses saw the back or afterglow of God. The result of that was that the face of Moses was glowing when he came down from the mountain. The children of Israel saw the presence of God as a flame of fire at night and a cloud during the day after the Exodus from Egypt. God is so Holy that we as fallen human beings could not stand in His presence and live.

How than can Christians claim to know God personally and have a loving relationship with Him? A Christian knows God because of Jesus Christ. He has revealed God to them. Jesus, the second person of the triune Godhead became flesh and dwelled among us (John 1:14). Jesus is the exact image of God, His character, nature and all attributes. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Col 1:15-17.

In the OT times God appeared to man as the Angel of the LORD. He appeared and spoke to Abraham in Genesis 18. Whenever God appeared to men in human form, it was through the person of Jesus i.e.the pre-incarnate Christ.

He was the Angel of the LORD that spoke to Haggar after leaving Abraham with Ishmael. The Angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in the burning bush (Ex 3:2). The Angel of the LORD appeared before Balaam riding his donkey in Numbers 22. He appeared to Gideon (Jdg 6). Manoah, Elijah and many others throughout the OT.

Whenever God communicated with men in human form, it was the person of Jesus. In the gospel of John in chapter 8 the Pharisees once again attack Jesus accusing Him of having a demon. Jesus is making one of the most profound statements to them: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Jhn 8: 56-58. Jesus took the very name that the Angel of the Lord revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush. “I AM.” The Jews understood perfectly well that He said that He is God. That’s the reason they picked up stones to kill Him. Jesus is the great “I AM” or the becoming One.

Christians can know God the Father because Jesus declared Him and we know God because we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus left heaven to dwell with man, He humbled Himself and became one of us. He willfully came to the earth dwelled among us and gave His life on the cross. He came to die for those that would believe in Him through faith. Believers in Christ Jesus are forgiven of their sins. The scriptures are very clear, only God can forgive sins. “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2:7. They were right, only God can forgive sins and Jesus told the paralytic that his sins were forgiven. They called Jesus a blasphemer. What they failed to see is that Jesus is God. The Apostle John makes it very clear who Jesus is: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:1-3.

Christians believe in the trinity or the triune nature of God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Co-equal, Co-existent, Co-eternal. One God in three distinct Persons but of One Essence. (please see my article on the trinity).

Jesus showed us God. If we know and learn from Jesus we can know God and have a meaningful and personal relationship with Him by abiding in Christ. “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “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. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Mat 11:27-30.

As true biblical Christians we can boldly claim to know God, because we know and believe in Jesus who is like the Father and He has shown us the Father. One of His own disciples was asking Jesus: “Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Philip wanted to see God, not realizing that God was in their midst. Jesus said: “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” John 14: 9,10.

As Christians we can have assurance of forgiveness and eternal life because of our Lord and Savior. We can also come boldly before the throne of God because Jesus opened the way to the Father, He opened the veil to the Holy of Holiest.

The answer to the question in the beginning is a big YES. True believers in Jesus can know God, His Character, attributes, His kindness, His love, mercy and grace towards those who receive the Son. There is only one way to know God and there is only one way to God.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6.

Jesus or Muhammad? (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)
Christianity; the oldest “religion” in the World. (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)
The Muslim Dilemma (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)

The business of Christianity

In my opinion, mainstream Christianity has turned into a multi – billion dollar business. There are Christian bookstores with all kinds of merchandise, clothing, jewelry and of course many books by hundreds of authors who write about the Christian lifestyle and how to live a better life. People are buying all kinds of artwork like pictures for example with scripture verses or biblical sceneries to decorate their homes. They buy jewelry, they wear Christian merchandise and put bumper stickers on their cars. (I have a couple on my car). I have to admit that I also have a pretty extensive library of books myself, commentaries, concordances and of course several Bibles. To be honest, I have not read most of them thoroughly. They sit on my shelf and I might pick up one from time to time and glance through one.

I still prefer to just read the Bible. The best commentary on the Bible, is the Bible itself. There are so many commentaries out there and sometimes it’s hard to know which one is a good one. Commentaries always infuse to one degree or another the authors opinions and viewpoints. I use a study Bible, mine is the John MacArthur Study Bible and the Chuck Smith Word for today study Bible. Sorry, I’m getting of track here. Big business in Christianity, lot’s of money to be made. I see so many Pastors of larger churches that write books, release DVD’s and sell, them for a hefty price. I know that many good books have been written and I have enjoyed some of them of course, but I’m looking at the big picture, I’m sure that most authors are kingdom oriented, but there is number of authors that are looking to make a profit. They use Christianity as a lucrative business. Christianity sells. They visit various churches for a speaking engagement and these guys are getting paid for by the church to speak and promote their book(s).

I realize that it cost money to keep the lights on at church and that requires money. I also believe that people should give to the church that they attend and call their home church. Unfortunately there are some out there that want to make what the Bible calls sordid gain. Just like those who made a profit of the people who came to the temple in the days of our Lord. Jesus got pretty angry about them making profit and scamming the people, He threw them out.

Whatever happened to “freely you have received, freely you give?” The Lord never sold anything or made a profit of anyone, contrary, He paid a heavy price to purchase and redeem us: His blood.

Then of course we have the churches themselves, many are focusing on the appearance of the sanctuary, big sound systems, light shows and bands that perform rather than worshiping the Lord. Loud music, a performance to please the audiences, but do they necessarily please the Lord? Some pastors dress up in modern fashion (ripped jeans, trendy shirts) to look hip, they wanna relate to the new generation and look and act just like them. All of these things are just outward appearances.

What is the purpose of the church? The purpose of the church is for the equipping of the saints for ministry. To teach and study the Bible and to send out those who are called to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ….” Eph 4:11, 12.

That is the purpose of the church. In order to that, do we need to have a stages with light shows and special effects? Do we need to dress a certain “Christian way”? Do we need to look Christian or should be Christian i.e Christ like? The Apostles and the early church didn’t need or use any kind of dramatic demonstrations or clothing. They came to the people as they were in honesty and truth. The preached Christ and Him crucified and risen. They didn’t need anything else, except the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1Cr 2:1-5.

Paul and the others preached the gospel i.e the good news and nothing else. They came humbly and in love to the people who had not heard the gospel. How did the people received faith, by outward appearances or by the word of God? It was by the word of God that many came to faith in Christ. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom 10:17.

In conclusion, we may have many churches that want to be contemporary, relevant and hip today. I’m not condemning that, I think some of it is needed to reach a younger generation to Christ. But I do sometimes question the motives behind some of these above mentioned things. Is the church trying to increase the number of people attending church and drawing them by apparel? I still believe and I always will believe that if the church teaches the word of God, people will come.

The word of God should bring the people to church, not light shows and performing bands. Simply teach the Bible simply. “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23, 24.

No matter what kind of clothing I might wear or how the church conducts their services or how many books I might read, if I don’t worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, all is in vain. It is not the outside, it’s a matter of the heart.

The Christian Dilemma (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)

Seven Churches

In the book of Revelation Jesus had the Apostle John write a letter to each of the seven churches in Asia minor. These seven churches were literal churches that existed at the time when John wrote these letters from the island of Patmos. Asia minor is modern-day Turkey and some of the remnants of these churches can still be seen to this day.

The seven churches were: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Five of the churches were rebuked by Jesus for tolerating sin in their midst. Ephesus was the loveless church, they had left their first love. Smyrna was the persecuted church, they endured and kept their faith during fierce persecutions. Pergarmos was the compromising church. Thyatira, was the corrupted church. Sardis was called the dead church by the Lord. Philadelphia was not rebuked, because they kept His word and faith. Laodicea is known as the lukewarm church. This church I believe got the worse rebuke from the Lord. They were neither hot nor cold. A terrible condition to be in.

There are various viewpoints on the seven churches. Some believe it was the seven churches at the time of John and Jesus was addressing them regarding their short comings and called them to repent.

Another viewpoint is that these churches represent the church age, beginning with Ephesus the first century church, Laodicea the church of toady in the last days of the church age. I believe that both viewpoints have some truth to them. The seven churches as mentioned before were literal churches at the time of John’s writing and these seven churches also represent church history for the last 2 millenniums. Many books have been written about the seven churches, who they were in the past and throughout the church age. I don’t want to go into a big study on the churches, which time they represented and possible denominations etc. There are many good commentaries available.

I would like to look at the churches from a different view. I do believe the above, that the seven churches were literal and that they represent the entire the church age.
I also believe that each of these seven churches represent individual believers throughout history and for the last 2000 years.
The true church is not a building or denominations, the true church, the bride of Christ is every true believer that is an individual stone making up the temple of God.

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1Pe 2:4, 5.

That is what we as believers are, living stones with Jesus as our head cornerstone. Our foundation is Jesus on which we must built on. “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1Cr 3:11.

Jesus is the head cornerstone that was rejected. Bob Marley even cited that verse in one of his songs. “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.” Ps118:22.

With this in mind, Jesus being the cornerstone on which I as a believer built on, which church am I? Paul the Apostle exhorted the believers to examine their faith.

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2Cr 13:5.

I examen myself from time to time and ask the question, which church am I? Have I left my first love which is Jesus? Am I enduring persecutions and mocking because of my faith in Jesus? ( not a bad thing considering many were persecuted before us). Have I compromised with the world, sitting on the fence? Or have I become corrupted and polluted by the things of the world? Maybe I’m as dead as the church of Sardis was? Have I become lukewarm the worse condition to be in? Am I on fire for the Lord or just ride the wave as it comes? What is being lukewarm? No real commitment to the Lord or passion for others. Not being on the alert just as the 5 foolish virgins were and just being a Christian by name only with no fruit to show for. I’m afraid that many of today’s churches have become lukewarm. There are many so-called followers of Christ that have no discernment at all about the signs of the time or know the word, they have become sleepy and are not watching.

I pray to the Lord that I will not be lukewarm or compromise with the world. No physical church or denomination can save anyone. No certain Priest or Pastor can save anyone. I can talk a lot of Christianise, play Churchanity or appear to be highly spiritual. All of those are just outward things and the Lord does not look on the outside as people do, He looks at the heart. God knows our heart. I think it is very wise and important to examine ourselves from time to time, to see if we are truly in the faith or if we have left our first love. There is one thing Jesus said that should concern all of us who are confessing believers in Christ:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Mat 7:21.

The letters to the seven churches can be found in the book of Revelation, chapter 2 and 3.

To be absent from the body…

“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” 2Cr 5:8.

This is one of the verses that many use to explain that as soon as a person dies that they will be with the Lord in an instant. Are they? I was thinking about that the other day and it is only a theory of mine and I am not dogmatic about it. Maybe some of you have a different view and I love your feedback on this. I was just thinking, a person that has died a thousand years ago, has that person been with Jesus for a thousand years by the time I get there? I don’t think so for several reasons.

I believe that once a person dies, they are no longer bound in a time continuum like we are. I was looking at it in this way, if a person goes to sleep at 8pm and awakes at 8am, those 12 hours went by in an instant for the person sleeping. They fell to sleep and woke up. If I would have sat next to the bed awake for 12 hours, time would pass slowly because I was in real-time. I wake up sometimes during the night and to be honest, I could not tell what hour it is. Is it 3am or 5am? I lost all sense of time and how many hours I might have slept before I woke up. What I believe is that we as believers will arrive at the same time to meet the Lord, no matter what century a person may have died.

We will all be there for the marriage supper of the lamb, dressed in white linen. What about the thief on the cross you might ask. Well, Jesus did say to him that today he will be with Him in paradise. The thief died on the cross and time ceased to exist for him. I think he will be there with us at the same time. I’m not sure about the OT Saints, like Abraham, Moses and Elijah for example that died before Christ went to the cross. Most of us know the passage when Jesus took Peter, James and John up on a mountain and they saw Him transformed before them and Him standing there with Moses an Elijah.

Maybe God worked differently with His chosen people in the OT times. I don’t have all the answers, but it is something to think about and as I said, I cannot be dogmatic about any of this. It just makes not a lot sense to me that some have been with the Lord for many centuries, and when I get there, I’m the newcomer, the new kid on the block. Well, however it may be, it will be glorious to be with the Lord and spend eternity with Him. Let me know what you think, or if you have something to add.

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”John 11:25, 26.

Love

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” 1Cr 13: 1-8.

I was meditating on these verses today and thinking about what Paul wrote: Love, the more excellent way. What is a Christian without love? Nothing. We can talk all the “Christianise”, play “Churchianity” and go to church all we want, but if we fail to love our neighbor, we do not have love. Have you ever tried to replace the word love in the above verses with your name? Try it and see how it fits. Replace the word love with Jesus and it just flows.

There are many people in the church and outside who are hurting for various reasons. If we fail to see them and encourage them, we have no love. Sometimes I ask people, “How are you doing?” Many times the response is “I’m fine. Thank you.” Then I ask, “How do you really feel?” The answer is quite different sometimes. In reality, many are suffering or going through trials in their lives. They are either afraid to say something or ashamed about the things that they are facing and going through. They need someone who reaches out to them and the church would be a good place to start.

Unfortunately, some people come to church and just want to blend in and enjoy some of the worship and the message and go home almost unseen. Church is supposed to be a fellowship of believers that comes together, loves each other and encourages one another. All of us have gone through trials in our walk with the Lord at one point or another. Those who have gone through similar trials should encourage and pray with those currently enduring them. You see, it is very easy to put on a mask and play the Christian in church, everything is fine, I am blessed, thank you. It is easy to live in a Christian bubble.

We can either play church or be the Church and do what Jesus asks us to do. Love one another. We need to be honest with one another and, if we see someone who is hurting inside (they are not that easy to overlook), we need to engage with that person rather than just walk by the person. Maybe that person is just looking for one person to stop and talk to them and encourage them.

We have all been there, we have had our ups and downs in our walk with the Lord. I think that the people in need look at other believers as more spiritual. They think the Pastors have everything figured out. On the contrary, Pastors, just as other believers, go through trials in their lives. We are all just finite human beings with hurts and pains, with good times and bad times.

So, the next time you’re at church, look around and see if someone maybe just needs some encouragement. Talk to some people you think you know from church and ask them if there is anything for which you can pray. Iron sharpens iron. We do outreaches to save the lost, we feed the hungry, but I believe we fail to reach out to those in our own church who need our encouragement and spiritual support. Without love, we, the Church, are nothing.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34, 35.

As in the days of Noah

“And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; “but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. “Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” Luke 21:17-30.

Jesus is talking about the judgment that will come upon the whole earth. Biblical evangelical Christians believe that this day is very near. The signs of the time and the many prophecies that have come to pass confirm this. There are many prophecies yet to be fulfilled concerning the end of days, but every day we watch the news and see the stage set for the final act. One of the “super signs” was fulfilled when Israel became a nation in 1948. For almost 2000 years there was no nation of Israel. The Romans under Titus destroyed the temple and the city of Jerusalem in AD 70. Many Jews were brutally slaughtered and others were dispersed all over the known earth.

This was a judgment of God on the nation of Israel because they had forsaken Him. Jesus said this to His disciples when the were admiring the beauty of the temple in Jerusalem. “These things which you see, the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.” Luke 21:6.

This prophecy came true about 40 years later, when the Romans literally destroyed the temple and threw every stone of the temple mount and they are still lying there to this day. Not one stone was left upon another. They were scattered all over the earth and the nation was no more, until 1948. Many believe that this date is very significant because Jesus on the Olivet discourse said among many other prophecies concerning the end times, something about a fig tree. Please read Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13. “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: “When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. “So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near, at the doors! Mark 13:28, 29.

The fig tree as many scholars believe is a symbol for Israel. You may remember that Jesus cursed the fig tree because it bore no fruit and the next day it was withered. Jesus was showing that Israel had failed the Lord and did not bear any fruit as He had desired. Because of it God threw them out of the land. When Israel became a nation again in 1948, the fig tree back in the land, the summer is near and the return of Jesus is very near. Jesus goes on to say: “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” Mark 13:30.

This generation, what generation did Jesus refer to? It could not have referred to the generation of the disciples, because Jesus obviously did not return in their life time. It is also possible that the word generation can be understood as a race or people. This may be a promise that the Jewish race will not perish before history ends. Of course many people mock Christians concerning prophecies and the coming judgment of God. They are mocking and scoffing because it’s been almost 2000 years and Jesus has not returned to judge the world.

The Apostle Peter wrote: “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder, that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” 2Peter 3:1-10.

The judgment will come upon the whole earth, that’s why it should be on every Christians heart to warn the world. I’m not talking about standing on the street corners and preach fire and brimstone messages like for example the Westboro Baptist church does. That kind of approach turns people away from God, rather than drawing them near. Messages like God hates you, or you are going to Hell will accomplish just the opposite. The unbelievers will think that Christians are nuts. We are living in a world that changes by the minute. We are seeing the worldwide economy in decline, geopolitical events and problems are in the news every day and much of the focus is on the Middle East. Israel, a small country about the size of New Jersey is in the news almost every day, they are surrounded by enemies just as foretold in the Bible.

The last days or the end times revolve around Israel and her neighbors. Israel is the center of the world, Jerusalem is the center of Israel and the temple mount is the Epicenter. The Bible says that in the last days the armies of the surrounding nations will come against Israel, the economy of the world will collapse and people are struck with perplexity. We see all of these things come to pass. Iran wants to wipe Israel of the map, the EU, US , UN and Russia want to divide the land which is spoken off in Joel chapter 2. I believe sincerely that we are living in the very last minutes of the last days which began by the way at Pentecost. Now more than ever do we need to talk to our neighbors, friends and family members that do not know the Lord. I know, many will call us crazy, just as the people did when Noah build the Ark. The scoffed and mocked him, laughing while he was building the ark.

It took Noah about 120 years to finish the ark. God gave people plenty of time to repent, Noah preached about the judgment of God to come, but they would not listen and instead it was business as usual. We see the same things today, the handwriting is on the wall, but people can’t read it or understand it. With everything that is happening around them, it business as usual. Noah warned the people, God gave them time, but one day, God closed the ark. The judgment came and it was too late for those who mocked and laughed. Same thing today, we warn people, God is giving them time and they continue to laugh, reject and mock us. One day the door will close and it will be too late. It’s no longer business as usual for them.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” 2Ti 3:1-4.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.

A 2000 + year old desert religion; still relevant for us today? (media4lifeministries.com)
What About the Judgement Day (verticalviewer.wordpress.com)
When will Jesus return? Only the father knows… (pastormikesays.wordpress.com)

Meditate on these words…

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer 29:11.

Meditate on these wonderful words of the Lord. The world lives in fear of the future. People are weight down with heaviness. Don’t let the world beat you down with it’s anxieties and fears. Be blessed not stressed. The world will be struck with complexities, no way out and no hope. The Lord watches out for His children. He will comfort us and cover us with His perfect love and peace. If He is for us, who can be against us? He loves His children and He will never leave us nor forsake us. Rest in His finished work. Find the peace that only the Lord can give you.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phl 4:6,7.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.” Phl 4:8.