Category Archives: God’s Grace

GOD DESERVES OUR THANKS

Leave a reply

THIS VIDEO IS DESIGNED TO TELL US THAT WE NEED TO THANK GOD AND FOR WHAT MANY THINGS HE GIVES US THAT WE DON’T EARN. TO WATCH CLICK THE ARROW IN THE PICTURE. IF YOU PREFER, YOU CAN READ THE ARTICLE.

           GOD DESERVES OUR THANKS 11-26-23

While it should be easy to say “thank you” to someone who has done you a favor or had some kind words, but there are times when we forget or just don’t take the time. It should be easy to thank God for the tangible things in our lives. After all, they are right in front if us, and we can see them and even feel them. We certainly should thank God for these things, but God’s blessings in our lives extend to spiritual benefits, emotional healing, relational restoration, and more. All these blessings grow out of His love and grace for us. We have so much to thank God for. One of the problems in not thanking God is we don’t recognize them as from God. This is truer than we choose to admit. God has showered us with numerous blessings. As we approach the Thanksgiving season (or maybe as you watch this video, we are in the Thanksgiving weekend) it is the time when there is that nudging of our souls to remind us that God deserves our thanks. We must express thanksgiving to God for His many blessings to us.

                                      Read Psalm 65:1-4

1 Praise awaits[b] you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.
2 You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.
3 When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave[c] our transgressions. 4 Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

      Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion: The psalmist David described a wonderful picture, the idea that praise was waiting to be given unto God in Jerusalem. The sense is that when God came to meet His people, He would be received in an atmosphere of praise. “The word translated ‘waited’ [awaiting] comes from a root meaning to be silent…. This does not mean that there is no praise, but on the contrary that praise is so complete that at first it can find no utterance.”  “Literally, ‘Praise is silence for thee’…. It may sometimes be the height of worship, in other words, to fall silent before God in awe at His presence and in submission to His will.” “Certainly, when the soul is most filled with adoring awe, she is least content with her own expressions, and feels most deeply how inadequate are all mortal songs to proclaim the divine goodness.”

        To You the vow shall be performed: God’s people would gather together in Jerusalem to thank God for answering their prayers and to give sacrifices and praise in fulfillment of vows made. Believers should take seriously their vows before God. In addition to vows and promises made to God, our baptism is itself a vow to God. Our association with God’s people is a vow. These should be regarded with a solemn and serious dependence upon God. “A vow unkept will burn the conscience like a hot iron. Vows of service, of donation, of praise, or whatever they may be, are no trifles; and in the day of grateful praise they should, without fail, be fulfilled to the utmost of our power.” At Mount Zion the Son of David fulfilled the greatest vow, coming to completely do the will of God (Psalm 40:6-8) and giving His life as a sacrifice and atonement for the sins of the world.

        O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come: Praise awaits and vows are performed because God hears and answers prayer. This goodness of God draws not only Israel, but also all flesh. This starts a thought that will be developed later in the psalm. Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them: This shows a proper understanding of the sacrificial system in God’s greater plan. David understood his personal struggle against sin, and how he sometimes failed in that struggle. He also understood that God’s answer for transgressions is an atoning sacrifice that God provides. David was humble enough to say, iniquities prevail against me. “No man was ever rejected by God for his confessed badness, as sundry have been for their supposed.

         Iniquities prevail against me: “Our sins would, but for grace, prevail against us in the court of divine justice, in the court of conscience, and in the battle of David believed in the system of animal sacrifice established by the Law of Moses, but he also looked beyond that system to a perfect sacrifice that God Himself would provide. In this David looked to the Messiah and His perfect, atoning work on the cross fulfilling the promise, You will provide atonement for them.

        Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You: In the connection between God and man, David knew that God was the cause of the connection. The connection begins when God chooses and then causes a man or a woman to come to Him, that he may dwell in Your courts. Some think that the chosen man in David’s mind is the priest. Yet he mentions the part of the house of God where all were welcome, the courts. “He mentioned courts, because the people were permitted to go no further into God’s house.” If there is a priest in view, then prophetically we can apply this in an ultimate sense to Jesus, our Great High Priest. “Blessed, above all blessing and praise, is the man Christ Jesus, elect, precious, chosen of God to be a high priest for ever.”

        We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house: Once established and enjoyed, the connection between God and man brings satisfaction to men. They experienced God’s house as a place of goodness received. The goodness of Your house gives the image of God as a host for His people. “It happily dwells a guest in the house and is supplied with that which satisfies all desires. The guest’s security in the house of his host, his right to protection, help, and food, are, as usual, implied in the imagery.” 

                           Read Psalm 65:5-8

5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, 6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, 7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. 8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;  where morning dawns, where evening

fades you call forth songs of joy.

       By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation: This was an ongoing confidence in the continuation of God’s goodness. God had answered prayer and provided atonement; David expected such awesome deeds in the future also.. You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth: David again lifted his vision from beyond Israel to the ends of the earth, to the far-off seas. He understood that though Israel belonged to God in a special sense, He was and is the God of the whole earth.

       You who still the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples: God’s might is shown in His ability to quiet not only the oceans but also the noise of the peoples of the world. His authority extended far beyond Israel, to the farthest parts of the earth.

i. Stormy and noisy seas put forth enormous energy. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an average hurricane releases energy equivalent to 6×1014 watts of electricity. This is 200 times world-wide electrical generating capacity. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) says that in its lifetime an average hurricane can release as much energy as 10,000 nuclear bombs. Yet God can and does still the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves.

        Knowing this great power of God should build our faith when we see the tumult of the peoples and are concerned for God’s salvation to reach the ends of the earth. We can think of those at the ends of the earth as those who are farthest off, least known, least thought of, most afflicted, and the hardest to reach. “The child of God in seasons of trouble should fly at once to him who the seas: nothing is too hard for him.” “In pagan mythology the ‘sea’ connoted chaotic and life-threatening powers. However, Israel knew that the Lord created everything and established his rule over the ‘roaring’ seas and their waves.”

        Established the mountains by His strength: “Philosophers of the forget-God school are too much engrossed with their laws of upheaval to think of the Upheaved. Their theories of volcanic action and glacier action, etc., are frequently used as bolts and bars to shut the Lord out of his own world. Our poet is of another mind, and sees God’s hand settling Alps and Andes on their bases, and therefore he sings in his praise.”

       You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice: The exercise of God’s authority over the earth does not bring it fear and oppression; it brings rejoicing to the day. Outgoings of the morning and evening: “What is pictured, then, may be either the glory of day and night (cf. Psalm 19:1f.; Job 38:7, 19f.), or the whole expanse of earth from east to west, praising the Creator.”

                                 Read Psalm 65:9-13

You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.  10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.11 You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.13 The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.

        It seems that the psalmist is inspired to write about the abundant harvest and give thanks to God. He summarizes the generosity of God’s care of the land (v. 9), and develops the theme of blessing on the land (vv. 10-13).   In the future one of the things Jesus will do when He comes to reign is to bring the weather under His control. The deserts will be banished and no longer will the flash floods scourge the countryside. Often people spend a lot of their time complaining about the weather which is a waste of time. It is something that man has absolutely no control over and besides God knows what is best for us. In Elijah’s day He used it to bring people to their knees and He has the right to do the same today. We are also told that it rains on the just and unjust alike.

       Verses 9-13 sounds like little more than a lovely nature poem, but it is much more.  That’s the problem with cutting it off from the first part of the Psalm.  If we read it in the context of verses 1-8, we’ll discover that it is not so much about the goodness of nature, as about the goodness of God.  Particularly, the point of Psalm 65 is that our God hears and answers prayer.  In Psalm 65, that is the essence of God’s goodness.  “O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come (verse 2)…. You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas (verse 5)…. ” We enjoy the goodness of God’s creation in green summer and at golden harvest because God hears our prayers.

       This is an important corrective to a purely hedonistic enjoyment of “the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer” and the relentlessly secular focus on the richness of life in our North American celebrations of Thanksgiving Day.  James Luther Mays says it very well.  “This Psalm directs attention first of all to God, away from any preoccupation with secular good fortune.  It insists that thanksgiving is a theological work whose subject is God, not ourselves.  It is an antidote to self-satisfaction and self-congratulation.”

       Robert Davidson looks at the various movements in the entire Psalm and suggests that it was written in a situation like the one described in I Kings 8:33-36. The people’s sin against God had led to a crisis.  Their sin was punished by a drought.  The people needed forgiveness more than anything else.  The people look to God for such pardon, and for rain.  In Psalm 65 the long-awaited rains have come and the people gather in the temple to praise God for his awesome deeds.

       The word “forgave” there is a Hebrew word that means to make atonement by covering sin with blood.  The Hebrews offered bloody sacrifices of atonement, but, as Hebrews 10:4 says, the blood of bulls and goats could never gain the forgiveness of sins.  Those sacrifices were the human side of atonement, the Old Testament way of expressing repentance and faith.  The divine side was to cover those sins with the blood of Christ, says Hebrews 9:11-14.

       As a result of such atonement, God’s sinful and once separated people now have access to God.  “Blessed is those you choose and bring near to live in your courts.  We are filled with the good things of your house.”  By God’s grace, through the atonement God provides, we can now enjoy all the blessings that come with being in the very presence of God.  Forgiveness enables us to enjoy full communion with God.  “It’s all good.”

       By his awesome deeds of righteousness, God our Savior has not only reconciled us to himself but has also reconciled hostile peoples to each other.  So, God is called “the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the seas….”  Those “living far away fear your wonders,” those signs of your power (think of the Ten Plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the conquest of Canaan). And even as reconciliation with God brings happiness to God’s people, the reconciliation of the warring human race brings joy to all humanity; “where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy.”  By God’s awesome deeds among the nations, “it’s all good.”

       “It’s all good” between us and nature.  He cares for the land and waters it.  The rain that has come is his gift, flowing from “the streams of God.”  The forces of nature are not independent.  They are God’s way of bringing life to the world.  “You crown the year with your bounty.” Life is so good, in fact, that creation itself, the desert and the meadows, the hills and the valleys, and everything in them “shout for joy and sing.”  By God’s blessings upon his creation, “it’s all good.”

        All is well.  Joy flows freely.  Faith is easy.  It’s all good. The problem with Psalm 65 is that life is not all good.  As I write this, the world if filled with people whose sin has separated from God.  They don’t know forgiveness.  They don’t enjoy the blessings of God’s presence.  They don’t have a clue who the Christ is.  And the nations are not in harmony.  From the Middle East to the Far East and from Russia to America, the nations are in turmoil.  My own nation is in constant turmoil internally.  And nature has run amok, as the seemingly intractable Western drought was replaced by rain and flooding of almost biblical proportions.  The earth shakes and the winds blow.  As the weather changes dramatically, crops are in jeopardy.  In my own little life, I need both hands to count the dear friends whose lives have been devastated by nature gone rogue.  It’s not all good, not by a long shot.

       So how do we see Psalm 65 in the real world?  Perhaps we can read it eternally. Maybe this is a picture of the goodness that is coming in the new heaven and the new earth. Note the future tense in verses 1 (“to you our vows will be fulfilled”) and 2 (“to you all men will come”).  The opening words of verse 1 may point in this future direction, though they are notoriously hard to interpret.  The NIV translates it, “Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion,” which could be read as a future reference.  That praise is waiting for the fulfillment of the vision painted in the following words.  It lies silent, waiting to be uttered when “it’s all good.”  But another translation says that “praise is fitting, is due” because of what God has done for us.

       These little hints suggest that we could see Psalm 65 as yet another example of the “already but not yet” of God’s kingdom.  We are reconciled to God through Christ, but God’s work is not done because many have not yet heard of Christ.  God has begun the work of reconciling the nations to each other, having broken down the dividing wall of hostility that divided Jew and Gentile.  But God’s work is not done, because the peacemakers are outnumbered by the warriors.  God does bless his creation with bounty, but there is much work to be done in the spheres of agriculture and medicine and conservation before all will experience the goodness of life.  God has done awesome deeds, but we are still waiting for the new heaven and the new earth in which righteousness dwells (II Peter 3:13).

       We can sing this song of praise today, because God does hear prayer.  It’s not all good yet, but “you answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea.”  Whatever else Psalm 65 is, it is a Psalm of hope, because God hears and answers our prayers.  “If this is not true, then the whole biblical tradition collapses like a pack of cards, and most of the Psalms [and our prayers] are an exercise in self-delusion.”   The Psalm assures us that our hope is sure.  “O you who hear prayer, to you all will come.” We can thank God for all He has done and the blessings of today, but we must think about and thank Him for what He will do.

WON’T ALL PEOPLE ULTIMATELY GO TO HEAVEN

Leave a reply

TO WATCH THIS COMPELLING STORY, CLICK THE ARROW IN THE PICTURE. WRITTEN ARTICLE IS AT THE BOTTOM OF PICTURE FOR YOU TO READ- AND FOR THE TOPIC READING THE WHOLE STORY WILL BE RECOMMENDED- EVEN ALSO.

  WON’T ALL PEOPLE ULTIMATELY GO TO HEAVEN 11-12-23

The majority of Americans (83%) believe there is an afterlife. Religions and philosophies may differ on how that afterlife is defined, but most (73%) believe in heaven. Another study shows that 40 %of Americans believe that everyone, regardless of what they believe or do, will be saved and accepted by God. This belief gives a false sense of comfort because it does not line up with what the Bible teaches. Another false belief that many in the world tend to believe is- that people in heaven can look down on and see people on earth. They will say something like “those in heaven are looking down to see the good happening to their friends and relatives.” I will address this in more detail later, but there is nothing in the Scriptures that specifically say or support that. As hard as it might be to face, not all people will end up in heaven and those in heaven apparently are not permitted indiscriminate views of earth. God’s kingdom is reserved for those who obediently follow Him and listen to His Will.

                                  Read Matthew 7:13-14

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

       The important question that we all need to know, and follow is: How can we enter the kingdom of heaven? Many think that they already know the answer and fail to find God’s answer. However, there are so many who simply don’t care about the right answer.                   

        Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Christ taught about the character of those in his kingdom, as seen in his list of Beatitudes. They are the poor in spirit, those who mourn over sin, they are the meek who submit to the Lord’s leadership, they hunger for righteousness, and so on. Ultimately, this leads them to be persecuted (Matt 5:3-10). They practice a higher standard of righteousness than so called spiritual leaders like the Pharisees and scribes (Matt 5:20). While hypocritical leaders are consumed with the outward appearances of religion, true kingdom citizens focus on the inward reality. Their disciplines are done to be honored by God and not by people. They continually confess and rid themselves of sin and seek to help others do the same (Matt 7:1-6).

Here at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Christ gives his conclusion—the application of the sermon. He calls all listening to choose which path they will take, which kingdom they will be a part of. No one is born into God’s kingdom, at least not by natural means. It matters not if one’s parents were Christians, if they were baptized or dedicated as infants, no one enters until they have made a decision to enter.

        Christ’s command to enter does not deny the fact that salvation is by grace alone; it simply affirms the reality that those who choose God have been given grace to be saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.” Even our faith—our ability to choose God—is a gift from him.

        At the end of Christ’s sermon, he challenges his hearers because many would be tempted to simply stand in amazement (cf. Matt 7:28-29). They would say to themselves, “No one ever spoke like this. ‘Love your enemies. Bless and don’t curse them!’” Many have admired Christ’s words throughout history. Because of his words, Christ has been called a great teacher or prophet. However, few who have heard these words have truly felt the weight of them and been pressed to make a decision. Which kingdom will we be a part of? There are two rival gates with two different pathways, leading to two rival kingdoms—one is the kingdom of this world, and one is the kingdom of heaven.

       As Christ calls us to choose one of the pathways, he gives us characteristics of each, so we can make an informed and wise decision. This is very similar to the description of two paths in Psalm 1. The Psalmist describes the pathway of the wicked which leads to destruction and the pathway of the righteous which leads to life. The righteous delight in God’s Word and meditate on it all day long. They become like trees which prosper in the various seasons of life. In the beginning of the worship hymnal of Israel, the Psalmist calls worshipers to choose. True worshipers follow the pathway of the righteous and so do true disciples of Christ.

       There have always been but two systems of religion in the world. One is God’s system of divine accomplishment, and the other is man’s system of human achievement. One is the religion of God’s grace, the other the religion of men’s works. One is the religion of faith, the other the religion of the flesh. One is the religion of the sincere heart and the internal, the other the religion of hypocrisy and the external. Within man’s system are thousands of religious forms and names, but they are all built on the achievements of man and the inspiration of Satan. Christianity, on the other hand, is the religion of divine accomplishment, and it stands alone.1

       There are only two possible consequences for each attitude and action. Any decision we make brings either destruction or life. If we decide as the world does and enter by its gate and follow its ways, we will live a self-centered life, following our appetites, and reap the reward of destruction. The destruction will apply to relationships. It will apply to the rewards associated with seeking His kingdom and His righteousness. It will apply to the fulfillment of life Jesus offers if we will “seek first His kingdom” (Matthew 6:33).The wide gate of the world promises life and happiness but delivers destruction. The way of Christ requires that we lay our lives down, but in that sacrifice, we find a reward of life.

       Sadly, the gate that is wide and the way that is broad is the one most people travel. That way leads to destruction. But because people go by appearances rather than by faith, there are many who enter through it. Conversely, few people find the narrow gate that leads to life.

                            Read Matthew 7:15-20

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

       We grow if we are well tended – in education, in family, in love. We grow when we mind and nourish ourselves with the food and drink that do not ruin the body. Then the fruit is seen, and others can enjoy and benefit from our lives. Additionally, some Christians interpret this passage as referring to not a single false prophet, but any false teachers within the Christian church who preach against the Gospel. The metaphor of ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’ has become a common English expression. Jesus calls on His people, those who are on the narrow way, to watch out for those who would teach things contrary to the truth. This is a call and a responsibility that must be heard and obeyed for the sake of those who would be led astray. He describes God as a generous Father eager to give good things to His children when they ask. He commands His followers to enter the narrow gate and walk the hard road to life.

       Jesus gives another warning: Beware of the false prophets. A prophet is someone who speaks on behalf of God. A false prophet is someone who claims to speak on God’s behalf when in reality he is lying. Jesus tells His disciples to Beware of them. Given what Jesus just said about entering through the narrow gate (v. 13), it is natural to assume that false prophets will encourage many to enter the wide gate leading to destruction. Be on the lookout for them and do not listen to what they have to say. Jesus warns that these false prophets will appear innocent and harmless, they will come to you in sheep’s clothing, but they are not harmless. Their appearance is deceptive, and their effect is deadly. Inwardly they are ravenous wolves. These false prophets are looking to take advantage of you. They will destroy and consume your soul to get what they want. Don’t let them.

       Jesus tells His disciples how to recognize false prophets. Jesus uses a clear parable to teach how they can do this. To recognize false prophets, His disciples will know them by their fruits. Fruits are a metaphor for their works or what they produce. It refers to what comes out of their lives. False prophets can be recognized by their fruit, meaning their actions and choices.

       Christ then further explains the metaphor. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? (The rhetorical answer is “No! Neither grapes nor figs come from thorn bushes or thistles. Grapes come from grape vines and figs come from fig trees.”) Assuming this response, Jesus continues with a straight-forward statement. So, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. The good and bad trees represent good and bad men, prophets and false prophets. Good men and good prophets produce good fruit (good works). Bad men and false prophets produce bad fruit (bad works). Jesus then states the inverse of this truth. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

       Even though false prophets appear like you, talk like you, pretend to be like you, they are not like you. How can you detect them? Pay attention to their work. You will know them by their fruits. If their works are bad, they do not represent God. Before ending, Jesus adds: every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. The remark informs His disciples that God will deal with false prophets. They will not get away with their lies. God will deal with them. He will not allow them to spoil His orchard. He won’t even let them continue to take up space within His gardens. He will cut them down and throw them into the fire of His judgment.

Jesus closes the parable by repeating its primary point (which He began with): So then, you will know them by their fruits.

       This passage is sometimes used to justify judging whether or not a person is a believer in Jesus. “If they don’t have good fruits, then they are not a Christian.” But this is an incorrect interpretation and application of this scripture. This passage’s purpose is to equip disciples with how to recognize and avoid false prophets and false teachers. The fruit test is given only in this context. This passage does not apply to the general population. It applies to judging teachers, preachers and others who claim to represent or speak on behalf of God. Just a few verses earlier Jesus explicitly condemned judging others (Matthew 7:1-5). He is not reversing Himself here by saying, “Judge others.” He is only saying if someone claims to speak for God, then pay attention to what comes out of their lives before following what they say. Test their fruit to see if it is good. If it is rotten, then do not follow them into the fire of God’s judgement. It is also important to remember that God Himself is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). And His judgement fire will apply to the deeds of believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

                                 Read Matthew 7:21-23

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

        Of the three verses in this passage this is the most commonly quoted and often debated. Some have taken Matthew 7:21 to mean that you must do good works to earn salvation. But that’s misapplying Jesus’ words. The Bible, and Jesus in the next verse, are clear that good deeds don’t earn salvation. Jesus isn’t saying that we need to do good works to enter heaven. In fact, when someone believes that they’ve actually put their faith in something other than God. Rather Jesus is saying that to do the will of God means to do more than just action; it means to have genuine faith and trust in him. 

      Jesus says that those who do the will of the Father will enter the kingdom. This means we place our faith Jesus, in return he grants us salvation, and our salvation is shown by our submission to God. The problem in Jesus’ day, and today, was that many false teachers would be good at putting on a show. They looked at the part and they said the right things. We will see this more in the next verse. But the problem was they never placed their faith in Christ. Mere words are not enough; we must be doers of the Word not just hearers. This starts with a sincere faith placed in Christ. 

        Jesus gives a picture of people trying to enter the kingdom. We saw in the previous verse that entrance into the kingdom is based on doing the will of God, however these people are trying to enter in on their own merit. Jesus is revealing in verse 22 that many have fooled themselves into thinking that they are good to go based off what they’ve done for God. “Because people are so enamored with the spectacular rather than the spiritual, many are fooled by plastic fruit. By plastic fruit I mean the imitation of the miraculous. Since miracles are relatively easy to manipulate or fake, they are a poor test of God’s approval.

       Some of these miracle mongers are simply charlatans. Others are self-deluded individuals who replaced obedience to God with wooing and wowing the crowds.” Here and in other places we are told no sin or sinners enter the kingdom of heaven. So, if people in heaven were able to see people on earth indiscriminately and their actions, that would bring their sin into heaven. That seems to be the reason that if people in heaven can see people on earth it can only be when God permits it and directs their vision to sinless events, In Revelations 6:9 we can read that people in heaven are rejoicing  when people on earth are saved, but these people in heaven learn that when angels tell them- not when they see it themselves.

       The point Jesus is making is that the heart matters more than the actions. It’s possible to do the right things for the wrong reasons. Our call as Christians is to put Jesus first, to trust in him, and to listen to what he says. Our works will flow from that, not the other way around. The other application from this is a warning to be on the lookout for false teachers. Just because someone is saying the right things doesn’t mean they are righteous. Jesus is warning his followers to pay attention to the fruit they produce, not just the words they say.

      The words -not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven-sound harsh, but they are words we should not ignore. The reality is these people never bothered to get to know Jesus; they weren’t interested in him. Rather they were only interested in their own gain and satisfaction. Really Jesus is giving them what they want. They spent their lives chasing their own desires; they don’t want life with him, so he gives them life without him. The overarching point that Jesus is making is that it’s not our performance that earns us salvation. It’s relying on the saving work of Jesus. Alone. Period. Everything else flows out from what Jesus has done for us. And while many might say the right things and look the part, it’s our heart that matters. We might be able to fool others and even ourselves, but we cannot fool God. One day our true motivations will be revealed. 

        Matthew 7:21-23 is a warning to not deceive ourselves or to be deceived by others. It’s a calling to place our complete trust in Jesus so that we can produce fruit that will last. So, how does Matthew 7:21-23 apply to our lives today? Let’s go back to the beginning of this verse. Jesus states that the kingdom belongs to those who do the will of his Father. If you want to enter into God’s Kingdom this is what you do. 

What is God’s will? Jesus tells us that in Matthew 22:38-40, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

       Jesus masterfully sums up the entire Bible: love God and love those around you. That’s what it means to do the will of the Father. 

Loving God means that we listen to, and follow, what he says. When Jesus says to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind, he’s talking how loving God with every single aspect of who we are. No part of our life should be left out. Our love for God should not stop with God; it should flow to those around us. You cannot love God while neglecting those around you. We are to take the love that God has shown us and bring it to the world around us. 

       This is the will of the Father. He has saved us from our sin and in response we are to love God and love those around us. We will all struggle and fail at this, and when we do we take God’s grace and forgiveness and continue on striving toward the calling God has placed on our lives. And if we do that not only, will we experience the blessings God has for us in this life, but we will spend eternity with him. 

CAN YOU BE SURE OF YOUR SALVATION?

Leave a reply

Read the article and/or go to the bottom and watch the video

The first question is not: How can I be sure of my salvation? Your first question needs to be: Am I saved? What does it mean to be saved? It means to spend eternity in Heaven with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The other choice is to spend eternity in Hell, being punished constantly. Not really a good choice, is it? So, let’s deal with the real question first- How to become a true believer in Jesus and be a Christian for eternity? To be an eternal Christian one must confess their sin, believe that Jesus died for their sin, give their life to serve Jesus and God, believe that Jesus rose from the dead and lives now with God in Heaven and then to pray to God to receive His Grace as a gift. There is nothing you can do to earn your salvation. It is totally a gift given to you by our Creator- God.

            Having confessing Jesus as your Savior, you now can ask the other question about being sure of your salvation. Here are a few of those question: Am I going to Heaven? Can I know for certain that when I die, I’ll be with the Lord? Is there any way to be sure I’m really a Christian? Can we be assured? Many have been in church all their lives. Some have had a faith experience when they were a small child, but over the years doubts have crept into their hearts and they have begun questioning the reality of their salvation. To amazement, most of those who asked these questions were church going people. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, observed, “My experience in counseling thousands of students and laymen through the years since I met Christ personally ha convinced me that there are literally tens of thousands of good, faithful church-goers who have received Christ in prayer, but who are not sure of their salvation”. Mr. Bright is NOT saying that most or many of these people are not saved. He is saying they are just not sure of their salvation.

        Perhaps during their Christian experience, they’ve allowed some sin to root in their lives and now they doubt if they were ever saved in the first place. Some have gotten away from a close relationship with God. Others experience doubts while going through difficult periods of life. There are times when a person’s doubt may be traced to a false teaching they have heard on radio or on television, or from a “friend”.  Many Christians are saved in childhood or many, many years ago, but can’t remember the date or occasion.  When our bodies are sick, sometimes our souls catch the disease. It is easy to become disillusioned when our dreams are dashed, our families or our finances are in crisis, or our spirits are low. Do you ever feel that way or in a way like that? If you ask them if they are going to heaven, their answer will likely be something like, “I certainly hope so”.

            Tony Evans, who our men are doing his study “No More Excuses”, observes, “A great spiritual malady permeates the church of Jesus Christ today. If I were to give it a name, I would call it ADD: Assurance Deficit Disorder”. When a person has ADD, it is almost impossible to live the Christian life as vigorously as we should. We have a difficult time praying. We seldom witness. If we are not sure of our salvation, why would we want to share it with anyone else?

On this case sermons may make you feel worse, not better. The peace of God, so richly promised in the Bible, doesn’t seem at home in your heart.

            Well, I can tell you as plainly as I can that you can know you are saved, for sure, for certainly; you can have security. You can have absolute confidence in your eternal hope. The Bible tells us can be certain of our relationship with God and our heavenly home. We can be persuaded. Near the end of his life, the apostle Paul used the word persuaded again when he wrote, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I believed and persuaded that He is able to keep what I committed to Him until that Day? (2 Timothy 1:12) We can live beyond the needling torment of doubt. Assurance of salvation is not only possible, it is what God longs for us to posses in our minds and hearts. He does not want His children (all believers) to live in insecurity, uncertainly, or uneasiness about His love for us or His ability to keep us to the end. We can know what we believe, for we can know Whom we have believed.

            The words assure, assuredly, and assurance are basic terms in the New Testament’s vocabulary. Here are some verses that use these words.

      Jesus said to (the thief on the cross), “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise”- Luke 23:43

      “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life”. John 5:24   

       “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” John 6:47

        “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in mu h assurance.”  

         “Continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of.” 2 Timothy 3”14

         “We desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end.” Hebrews 6:11

            “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” Hebrews 10:22

            “By this we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before Him.” 1 John 3:19.

            The Bible uses terms like persuaded, assurance, and knowing, so we can be persuaded, we can have assurance, and we can know for sure. It has been quoted (unknown author), “God wants us to have a “know-so” salvation. Figuratively speaking, He does not want us to be a question mark, all bent over with our head hung low. Rather, He wants us to be an exclamation mark, standing erect with head held high, strengthened by a God-produced confidence in our faith with Him.”        While the entire Bible stresses certainty assurance, there is one section of Scripture that stresses this theme as its central theme- the letter of 1 John. The Gospel of John and 1 John both end with similar statements, giving their respective thesis statements or declarations of purpose.

  1. The Gospel of John was written “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31)
  2. The book of 1 John ends by saying “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)

The Gospel of John was written so we can believe and have life. The letter of 1 John was written that those of us who believe can know we have eternal life. The key word is “know”. As Steven Lawson wrote, “The greatest thing in all the world is to be saved. The second is closely related. It is to be absolutely sure that you are saved.”

            Apparently, there were some in John’s day who read his Gospel and trusted Christ as their Savior, but they still harbored lingering doubts about their eternal destination. That is one of the reasons John wrote his first epistle, 1 John, to show those who believed in Christ that they could know they were saved. As we read through 1 John, we notice a five-fold argument for assurance of salvation. Five times in 1 John we see the phrases “born of God” and “begotten of God”. On each of these occasions, we have a different piece of evidence to reassure us of our hope. Every time Joh uses a phrase about new birth, he gave us another test to prove our salvation. These are five of the birthmarks of the Christian.

                   THE BIRTHMARK OF CONFESSION   (1 John 5:1)

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God”. Before you can have assurance of salvation, you have to believe and be saved. You have to confess Jesus Christ as Lord. That is the key- you must confess Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. In John 3, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “You must be born again”. We are born again when we repent of our sins, trust Jesus Christ to save us, and confess Him as Lord of our lives. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”. This verse does not say “you might be saved” it says emphatically, you will be saved. We are saved by God’s grace through faith; it’s not of our good works but of Christ’s eternal work on the cross. As stated earlier, Jesus said in John 5:24 all who believe in Jesus will assuredly have everlasting life. Additionally, we have the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”.

                            THE BIRTHMARK OF CHANGE   1 John 2:29

The second birthmark is a changed life, as seen in 1 John 2:9, “Everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him”. When Jesus truly saves us, it makes a difference in how we think, act, speak, and conduct ourselves. The Bible states, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17) As we begin learning to practice righteousness, our habits change. Many times, the changes are dramatic, but there are always changes.

We will not be sinlessly perfect while we’re on this planet; but if we’re Christians, we need to behave like Christians. If we say we’re saved but nothing has changed about us, something is wrong.  We are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works, and the Gospel is a transforming agent in our lives.  In John’s epistle he was saying, “Do you want to be sure that you have been born again? Take the brief test- what do you believe? And take the behavior test-has your life changed as the result of your belief?”

                              THE BIRTHMARK OF COMPASSION   1 John 4:7

Those who are truly saved also bear the birthmark of compassion. How can we know you are a Christian and saved? It is by what we believe, by how we live, and by whom we love. Love is the reoccurring theme in 1 John, and the apostle leaves no doubt about how it permeates the lives of true believers in Christ. John wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God of God and knows God…We know that we passed from death to life, because we love the brethren” (1 John4:7) We know we are saved by our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. The early Christians say they love one another and are ready even to die for one another. There is a popular hymn that says the same type of thing- “They know we are Christians by our love.”

      The epistle of John contains some of the richest words ever written. The word love occurs 26 times in this letter, as we read verses like, “He who loves his brother abides in the light…Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!…For this is the message that you heard from the beginning that we should love one another…He who does not love his brother abides in death…By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us…Whoever has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in Him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth…Love one another…Let us love one another, for love is of God…God is love,,.This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us…If we love one another, God abides in us.”

            This is the “brother” test. Do you love your brothers and sisters in the family of God? Those who are truly saved are those who enjoy and bless the household of faith, the family of God.

                                      THE BIRTHMARK OF CONFLICT   1 John 5:4

A fourth sign of being truly being saved is conflict. According to 1 John 5:4, “Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith’. The word “overcome” implies a struggle. We are faced with an adversary whom we must overcome. Our adversary is identified in 1 John 2:14: “I have written to you , young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have to overcome the wicked one.” This is Satan! When you genuinely born of God, you’ll be growing to be an overcomer as you deal with the temptations around you- the world. You make progress in gaining more victories and losing less battles as you grow stronger in Christ and in the power of the abiding Word of God. Romans 8:37 says, “In all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us”. And in 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “Now thanks be to God who always lead us in triumph in Christ”. We can claim those promises as our own in struggle against temptation. We have His help. His commands are promises in reverse, for every command comes with His enabling strength to obey it.

The Birthright of Conduct 1 John 5:18

The final point is we can see evidence for the validity of salvation in our desire to conduct ourselves in a way that pleases God. According to 1 John 3:9: “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin; because he has been born of God”. The point is repeated in 1 John 5:18: “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin, but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” This does not say that anyone who is born of God never sins. James 3:2 , “We all stumble in many things”.

What then did John mean. In using the word sin in these passages above, John was talking about ongoing rebellion against the laws of God. In 1 John 3:4: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness.” John was concerned about ongoing conscious and intentional violations of God’s laws. He was talking about a lifestyle of rebellion. Each day we all sin, omitting things we should do and committing things that we should not do and displaying wrong attitudes. When we sin and become aware or our sin, we come to the throne of grace in confession, asking God to forgive us as we forsake our sins. John made this clear when he wrote “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is exactly what King David did every time to earn him the praise from God of a “man after My own heart”. When we are truly born of God, we have God’s seed in us and we inherit His nature, which is in direct conflict with all sin. With God’s seed in us we will never become comfortable with sinning.

His grace is inexhaustible and His salvation is irreversible. So, make sure you have confessed Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and then trust Him with your eternal future. He will never leave you or forsake you. He will never drop you from His Book of Life and He will never turn His back on your need. Nothing can separate you from His love, and of that you can fully be persuaded (John 10:28-29). His word was given that you might know Jesus Christ as your Savior and that you might know that you have eternal life. You can have this assurance because of your conduct everyday. This includes ongoing obedience to all of God’s laws and Jesus’ commands.

WHAT IS FAITH?

Leave a reply

**Read the article and/or go to bottom and watch the video

Many of us believe we know what Faith is, but let’s learn how faith is acquired and demonstrated in the life of a Christian. It is not tangible, but it is real and life changing. Of course, there are those who believe good works are best. The dictionary defines faith as “complete trust or confidence in someone or something”. One definition of faith from the Bible is “strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.” Both of these definitions, while offering some good thoughts, do not really give us what we as Christians find complete. Remember the man in the Bible who cried out “Help my unbelief”. Many times, we also may want to cry out those words. The question may be- “How do we know we have believed enough?” When eternity is at stake or in a crisis where do we go to believe & also how best to pursue it.

       There is a story of a man trying to fix his TV antenna on a slanted slate roof who needed to turn his antenna in the day when this needed to be done to watch a football game, or something, either later in the day or to get a station that is in a different direction than normal. In a hurry he lost his grip and began to slide down the roof. As he was slipping, he grabbed the edge of the roof. Slipping down the roof, the man caught himself by his fingers. He found himself hanging on three stories up. In desperation he looked down and cried- “Can any one down there help me?” No answer was heard! Finally, in desperation he looked up and yelled- “Is there anyone up there who can help?” Then out of the heavens came a deep resonate voice- “Believe and Let Go”. After a minute of thought the man cried out- “Is there anyone else up there who can help me?” This story illustrates that most people are willing to try most anything – but Faith!

       It is evident that in our world the word faith has fallen on hard times. Faith has become something that seems ignored. Hebrews 11:1 says- “Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Also in Hebrews 3:2 it tells us how faithful Jesus is– “He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.” By faith.  on earth operates by faith every day and in everything we do. Trust and faith aren’t simply Christian affairs. Faith and trust are a part of our lives from the moment we’re born. Everyone leads a faith-based life, and if someone ever ridicules you for a being a “person of faith”, when they point a finger at you there are three fingers points back at them. We all live our lives by faith. So, the question is, What is Faith, and are the objects of our faith trustworthy?

       I have found four slogan-filled philosophies about this that I want to share:

  1. When your faith is stronger than your fears, you can make your dreams happen.
  2. Faith is taking the first step even when you cannot see the whole staircase.
  3. Faith is the bridge between where I am and where I am going.
  4. Faith is the bird that still sings when the night is dark.

       Of course, there are many more of these types of slogans. There is no lack of motivational motto-makers or poetic positive thinkers. There is a much better slogan, and it is not as sentimental, but its more scriptural. I shared the first verse of it previously – Hebrews 11:1. So, here is Hebrews 11:1-3 & 6: “11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” This scripture is from Hebrews 11, known as the Bible’s “Faith Hall of Fame”. The book of Hebrews was written to a group of people facing discouraging times, and chapter 10 calls on these people to persevere and to press on without giving up. The writer says in 10:38- “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” This requires one to persevere and walk by faith. Hebrews wants to remind the readers of the heroes of the Old Testament who also faced great adversity but who trusted God, nevertheless. From their examples we learn what it means to live by faith and to walk by faith. Hebrews 11 is known by its recurring phrase, “By Faith…” This phrase occurs 24 times in Hebrews 11. What, then, is faith?

                               THE DESCRIPTION OF FAITH

Verse 1 of Hebrews 11, which we have already read, is the classic definition of Faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. This is a very accurate definition of faith. It begins by telling us faith is the realization of things hoped for. The word “substance” means “assurance” or “realization’. We can substance the word “confidence”. Faith is the confidence or assurance that what we hope for- the promises and realities of God- are true and available.

       John MacArthur, Christian pastor and writer, explained it like this: “Faith transports God’s promises into the present tense. In other words, real faith implicitly takes God at His word. Faith is a supernatural confidence in- and therefore reliance on- the One who has made the promises. It is not an uncertain hope for something that may come to pass in a vague, indefinite hereafter. It is a trust that brings absolute here-and-now certainty to -things hope for”. In other words, faith says that what God has promised will happen, and it’s certain that it’s almost as if it has already happened. Faith treats things that are hoped for as a reality. The future is made real for men and women of faith. Faith is a concrete conviction. Faith is the solid, unshakeable confidence in God that is built upon the assurance that He is faithful to His promises.

       People can sometimes take one look at us and tell if we’re living with confidence or if we’re falling apart. As Christians we have certain expectations from what our Bibles say. We expect all of God’s things to work together for those who love the Lord. We expect Christ to come against any moment, like a thief in the night. We expect to live forever, for God has promised us everlasting life. We expect the Lord to take care of us, and when we go through life with confidence in these things- that is faith. So, someone with faith lives in the absolute confidence that things are factual, they are accurate, they are reliable, they are unfailingly true.

       The next part of this classic verse says that faith is “the evidence of things not seen”. The question is- what do we NOT see right now? We don’t see God; He is invisible to us. We don’t see don’t Jesus Christ; He is removed from us. We don’t see the angels- as a general rule. We don’t see the spiritual realm or the Golden City of New Jerusalem. We also don’t presently see all the solutions to all our problems, nor everything as everything should be. We do not yet see these things, but we have total assurance these realities and resolutions are just as the chair in which we are sitting or the building in which we live. This is the way the writer of Hebrews defines faith. Faith gives substance to the unseen realities. Faith is a kind of spiritual “sixth sense” that enables the believer to take a firm hold upon the unseen world and bring it into the realm of experience.

          Many people believe faith is vague and unreal, like trying to believe that fairy stories are actually true. Nothing can be more mistaken. Faith is a reality, and it reaches out to facts that are solid; The apostle Peter touched on this when he wrote: “whom   having not seen you love. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9) Faith is more real than your seeing and your hearing and your smelling and your tasting and your touching. Faith is far more real than any of the senses God has given you. “Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose way you may not understand at the time.”-Oswald Chambers.

       Biblical faith is growing confidence in the unseen reality of God and His involvement in our lives, even in times of stress. In fact, were it not for times of trouble, we wouldn’t have as much reason to grow in our faith. In Hebrews 11, every single one of the twenty-seven or so people whose names are written there had one thing in common: By faith they surmounted unbelievable obstacles. God allows us to hear truth, and that truth comes in our mind, and that truth begins to interact with what you already know, and what we think. Faith involves intellect. It involves thinking. The word of God gets into the mind of a person and begins to intermingle with what’s already there. But perception itself cannot be faith. Just knowing something isn’t faith. We have to add the element of persuasion. What we are thinking must penetrate into our emotions. We become emotionally attached to that truth. As we think about the truth it begins to play upon our heart. Then it becomes part of our emotional makeup. Then it requires performance. We must act on our faith. We have to put it into action. It requires our whole being- mind, emotion, and will. Real faith grabs hold of the truth and hangs on. Real faith says, “I believe it. I receive it. I base my actions on it.”

                        THE DEMONSTRATION OF FAITH

      Hebrews 11 (verses 1-3) goes on to say that the object of our faith- Almighty God- is the Creator of the universe, and that our faith begins when we recognize His handiwork in what He has made: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” In other words, faith sees the invisible; and faith realizes the visible world has come from the mind of the invisible God. This is incredible! Our culture is at war over this very topic, and one of the most provocative questions in our public discourse is: “Where did we come from?” We know that faith in God gives us an understanding of the universe. God created the worlds by His word. God, an unseen power, created what we see. The cosmos was made by God.

       Where did all of the substance and the processes come from to begin with? We have no explanation, and all of the atheistic evolutionists can reason all they want to until they get to the beginning of it all. They have no way of knowing. They say evolution is a scientific theory, but it really is unscientific. They have no way of testing their theory, and it cannot be proven. IT takes more “faith” to be an evolutionist than it does to be a Christian and believe it was God who created it all. “The heaven declare the glory of God”- this is the saying of the TBN series Creation in the 21st Century- which week-in-and-week-out proves God created the total universe. By faith we understand the worlds were formed by God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

                               THE DEMANDS OF FAITH

That brings us full circle to the demands of faith, for verse 6 of Hebrews 11 says: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is- and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Faith is essential. The Lord demands it as part of a healthy relationship with Him. We cannot please God without faith. We might say it is part of a Christians’ DNA. It’s important to God that we believe that He is -and that we seriously seek Him.

               The Bible says that if we seek God, He will be found.

 Isaiah 55:6 says. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near”.

Jeremiah 29:13- “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Amos 5:4- “This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live;”

Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all

          these things will be given to you as well.”

 If you tell me, you are not sure you really believe in God, my question is, “Yes, but are you really searching for Him? Are you really seeking after Him? How much do you care? How serious is your quest? What have you read that has helped you understand who God is and what God does? How seriously have you investigated the truth about God in the Bible?” According to Hebrews 11, God will reward those who seek Him, and those who seek Him will be found by Him. Another learning from Hebrews 11 is that God is telling to not get discouraged and don’t give up. There are so many things that this chapter is telling about faith. One of these key thoughts is that faith comforts those who are not delivered from suffering and death on this earth. The Bible, given to us by God, is filled with one story after another to teach us the importance of living and walking by faith.

       So, don’t let anybody tell you. “Oh, faith is just a feeling.” No, faith is something that happens. Faith acts. Faith empowers us. Faith pleases the heart of God. When we face difficulties, we are to trust the Lord and press on as joyfully as we can. When the devil knocks the wind out of you, regain your spiritual breathing and let the Lord lift you up. When you are overwhelmed in the flood, regain your emotional bearings and look up. God responded to the faith of the ancients, and He responds to us. Faith responds to the promise of the Father. And His most foundational promise is this: If we will place our faith in His Son alone for eternal life, He will save us from our sins and give us the gift of eternal life. We will spend eternity with Him in a place that is even now being prepared (or already finished) for those who will put their trust in Jesus Christ. That is the best place to begin the life of faith.

       To summarize: Walking in faith requires: 1. Learning to listen to God, 2. Learning to obey God, 3. Learning to depend on God, and 4. Learning to wait on God. Thus, faith is truly getting and staying as close to God as you can.

(Thanks to David Jeremiah, Charles Stanley and the Holy Spirit)