Look Beyond the World You See

Category: Blog

Stories of our fellow eternal travelers.

  • I am the One

    I am the One

    Image by Tamal Mukherjee from Pixabay

    A Blind Man’s Story

    He was blind.  There was no doubt about it.  His parents even testified that he was their son and was blind.

    Life was different back then.  There were no social programs to help those with disabilities.  If you were blind, then there was a good chance you were going to beg for your livelihood.

    That’s how it was for him.  He sat and begged others for help.

    Sitting in His Blindness

    We don’t know his name, but it doesn’t matter.  He was born blind and knew no other life.  And this is how he was found, blind and oblivious to the life waiting for him, just like the rest of us.

    Jesus Christ found him, sitting in his blindness as he went about his life.  The difference between him and us is that he knew he was blind.  And in typical, Jesus’ fashion, He had compassion and healed this man who had been born blind.

    After Jesus left, no one believed he had been blind.  His neighbors and those who had seen him begging debated whether he had been the blind beggar or just looked like him.

    He kept telling them, “I am the one.” John 9:9

    Two Groups

    Jesus healed the blind man on the Sabbath and this is the reason why.  He was separating those who believe or will believe in Him from those who resolutely refuse to believe in Him.

    Because of this man’s healing, the leaders debated among themselves.

    Some said, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” John 9:16 They were saying that Jesus Christ could not be from God because He was breaking the law by healing on the Sabbath which was a day of rest.  A pitiful excuse to deny the miracle before you.

    Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” John 9:16 They saw the miracle of healing and believed.

    Now which of the two groups were truly blind?

    The Truth About That Life

    The blind man who was healed spent the afternoon being grilled by the rulers.  The rulers refused to believe the man had been blind, repeatedly asking him how he had been healed.

    His answer?  “I was blind but now I see!” John 9:25 NIV

    After lecturing the rulers then being kicked out by them, Jesus found the man, revealing His true nature to the man He had healed.

    The man worshipped Him, revealing his faith in the One who had healed him.  He realized that he had been blind physically and spiritually, but had now found the One who had opened both sets of eyes.

    Jesus said to him, “For judgment I came into the world, that those who do not see may see; and that those who see may become blind.” John 9:39 What Jesus is saying is that those who realize they have been blind about eternal life will be able to see it, but those who trust in themselves will become blind to the truth about that life.

    You Will Find Rest

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

    If Jesus Christ were standing before you today, He would tell you, I am the One who gives you life that lasts through eternity.  He wants you to know that, “God our Savior, desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4 partial

    And finally, Jesus Christ says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

    The question before you today is, do you see?

    Resources

    A Man Born Blind Receives Sight

    ​1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

    3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

    6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

    8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”

    9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.”
    He said, “I am he.”

    10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”

    11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”

    12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?”
    He said, “I do not know.”

    The Pharisees Excommunicate the Healed Man

    13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

    16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”

    Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

    17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?”

    He said, “He is a prophet.”

    18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”

    20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

    24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”

    25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

    26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”

    27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

    28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”

    30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

    34 They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.

    True Vision and True Blindness

    35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”

    36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”

    37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”

    38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

    39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

    40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”

    41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains. John 9:1-41

  • Calling…Heaven to Earth

    Calling…Heaven to Earth

    Image by Victoria from Pixabay

    Can You Hear Me?

    Why doesn’t God come down to earth to speak directly to you?

    Indirectly, He has already done that.  In the days of the Creation, God spoke with mankind, face to face.  But it didn’t take long for people to stop believing in Him and go their own ways.

    The book of Genesis sums up how quickly mankind turned away from the God who created them, even though they knew Him as their Creator and even though they spoke with Him directly.  Would it really be any different for you or me?

    The First Sin

    We are a sinful people at heart and it is because of our sin that the path to heaven was broken.  We broke that path to heaven.  When I say “we,” I understand that the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, committed the first sin that officially broke our path to heaven, but honestly, would it be different for you or me?  Would we have behaved any differently?

    We have all sinned, so it is not any one person who is at fault, but it did create a problem.

    What Man Broke

    God came back to earth to speak with us, but this time was different.  This time God needed to fix what man broke, so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to do what no one else could do.

    When Jesus Christ came to earth 2000 years ago, it accomplished 3 things.

    First, God learned what His creation endured in temptation.  The Bible says that Jesus Christ was tempted in all things, like us, but was without sin.  “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

    Jesus Christ knows what you are going through.  He knows your struggles with temptation and sin.  He knows you have an enemy who wants to make you fall.  He knows you have an enemy who is actively trying to separate you from Him and your life in heaven.

    That is why you will not be judged by your sin, but by what you do with Jesus Christ.

    Come Back to Jesus

    Second, in His time on earth, God demonstrated repeatedly that He loves His creation and wants them to be healed and whole.  Throughout Jesus’ life, He continually heals everyone.  There are too many examples of Jesus Christ healing in the Bible to share here, but one stands out in my mind.

    Jesus Christ healed 10 men who were lepers.  These men were doomed to live life away from others.  Their illness also carried an emotional stigma with it because they had to warn others of their condition.  But when Jesus healed them, only one of the men returned to thank Him and give Him the credit due Him for the healing He had accomplished.

    I think Jesus did this work and left this example to challenge you and I.  Are we the ones that come back to Jesus to thank Him for the work He has done and is doing in our lives?  Or are we of the 9 who either take Him for granted or simply avoid and ignore Him?

    Preoccupied with our Physical Life

    And when it came to hungry people, he fed the multitudes.  There are two direct stories of Jesus Christ feeding very large groups of people.  One group is listed as 5000 while the other is 4000.  But he didn’t want us so preoccupied with our physical lives that we ignore our spiritual lives.

    This is obvious when Jesus Christ said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

    Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

    Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:26-29

    That They May Have Life

    Like the multitudes, we may be content with being fed for a day and miss the opportunity of a lifetime.  The goal of Jesus’ time here on earth was not to just heal a person or feed a person for a day.  It was to give them a hope and a future.

    In speaking about His creation, Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

    An Enduring Path

    Three, God created an enduring path to heaven for all His creation, from Jesus Christ, forward.

    The problem was complex because people didn’t and don’t understand the rules.  We think we understand the rules because we may have mastered an understanding of work and life here on earth.  But those things cannot touch the deep things of heaven and life in the spirit.  We can never truly understand in the flesh what life is like in the spirit until we live in the spirit.  And we can’t do that until this life is over and we take our final breath.

    But God understood the ramification of the choice of our sin and its impact on our life in the spirit.  And that is why it cost the death of the most innocent Man to ever live.  Jesus Christ gave His life willingly to make it as easy as possible for us to spend the rest of eternity in heaven where God wants us.

    When This Life is Over

    So, why doesn’t God come down to earth to speak directly to you?

    He’s been there and done that.  It didn’t work and ultimately created a problem that resulted in the death of His Son.  That is quite a cost when your Son is innocent.

    But in His life, Jesus Christ left an example of who He is and what we could expect from Him.  Through the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we find a God who has done His best to prove that He is a God of love and wants us with Him when this life is over.

    What You Do with Jesus Christ

    God is love and His love covers a multitude of sins.  It is because God loves you that He will not judge you by your sins, but by what you do with Jesus Christ.  The cost for your sin has been paid by Jesus Christ on the cross.  Now it is up to you to either believe in Jesus Christ or not believe.

    God, the Creator, is calling to you.  He wants you.  He loves you.  He has made a home in heaven for you that is beyond all compare.  This life has its challenges, but not heaven.  In heaven He has stored up treasures of blessings and rest that you could never imagine.

    Do the work of God and believe in Him whom He sent.  You will never regret it.

  • Final Promotions

    Final Promotions

    Image by Frantisek Krejci from Pixabay

    A Believer’s Story

    A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself.  As the ruler over his country, he put people in charge of his business until he returned, giving each of them a mina, or money to do business with while he was gone.

    For reference, a mina in bible times was worth about 3-4 months wages for an average person.1

    Upon returning, the nobleman called those he put in charge of his business to get an account of their work while he was gone.

    The Nobleman Promoted Him

    The first person came to him and reported that the mina left with him had grown to 10 minas.  The nobleman was pleased with his work and promoted him over 10 cities.

    The second person approached him and said that his mina had grown to 5 minas, so the nobleman promoted him over 5 cities.

    The third person came near and surrendered the mina which the nobleman had given him, explaining that he was afraid of the nobleman and apparently afraid that he would lose what was given to him to work with while the nobleman was gone.

    The nobleman replied, asking why he didn’t put the money in the bank so that he would have received interest on the money when he returned?

    Jesus Christ and His Kingdom

    Unlike the first two who applied themselves while their master was gone, this third person hid what was given to him and went about his own business as if he had never been asked to do anything.  The result is that his master was upset with him for neglecting the command given to him to trade and do business in his absence.

    In Jesus’ time, people thought God was returning immediately, so Jesus illustrated through a parable that the time was not yet ready and that God’s people should continue growing His kingdom in His absence.  This parable refers to Jesus Christ and His kingdom.

    After rising from the dead but before His departure, Jesus told His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

    I Woke Up Feeling Empty

    Long have I pondered this third person as he relates to myself.  I have imagined the first two as preachers and pastors of our day who have multiplied believers in a mighty way.  People like Billy Graham, Charles Spurgeon, Dwight Moody and so many others.  But this third person I am sad to say is most like me.

    I have always been shy and carried insecurity like a blanket everywhere I went, so there is no way I could draw people to Jesus Christ like many of my brothers and sisters.  And like this third person, I have gone about my business, doing my own thing, and thinking that one day maybe I could participate in growing God’s kingdom.  That is, until I woke up feeling empty because I was doing nothing.

    Sure, I was reading my bible and praying every day, growing in my heart and faith, but I had no outlet.  And this is the mistake, I believe our third friend made.

    James’ letter says, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26 This means our faith in Jesus Christ will naturally produce fruit reflecting that faith.

    The Fruit of Your Faith

    Not too long ago, Jesus Christ opened my eyes to the reality that so many people are dying without Him.  Like a brick between the eyes, it hit me hard that people everywhere are going to their grave and missing the goal of heaven.  Friends, let me tell you, eternity is a long time.  It just won’t do that people miss Jesus Christ and all He offers.

    It takes all the people of God to minister to a dead world and witness of the life to come.  We don’t need to be mighty preachers but we do need to let our faith in Jesus Christ shine around us.

    I am not going to tell you how to be a light in a dark world.  That is between you and Jesus Christ.  Ultimately, each of us will stand before Him alone to answer for what we have done in this life.

    My encouragement to you today is to let your light shine, no matter how little it is, so that the fruit of your faith may be evident on the day you stand before Him.

    Resources

    1.  https://www.answers.com/Q/How_much_is_a_Mina_worth_in_the_Bible

    The Parable of the Minas

    “Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.  Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.  So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’  But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’

    “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’

    And he said to him, Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’  And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’  Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’

    “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.

    For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’  And he said to him, Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.  Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

    “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’  (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’)  ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.  But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’” Luke 19:11-27

  • Heaven is Lawless

    Heaven is Lawless

    Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

    A Tale of Two Brothers

    Cain was a sod-buster, a tiller of the ground, or more simply put, he was a farmer.

    Imagine being the first child ever born, in all of history.  Cain was the third human being to live.  His father, Adam, was the first person and his mother, Eve, the second.

    Farming was and is important.  Without growing their own food, it was going to be more difficult to eat.  So, it was only natural that Cain became a farmer.

    Back then, there were no books on farming and no Farmer’s Almanac to help understand the weather.  It was all trial and error.  Using his wits as well as watching the wild herbs grow, Cain was able to grow crops to feed him, his brother, Abel, and his mother and father.

    Abel raised sheep.  Through his insight and wisdom, he kept and grew his flock of sheep.

    Anger Kindled

    One day, both brothers brought an offering to the Lord.  Each one wanted to please the Lord.  Cain brought some of the produce he had grown while Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock.

    God respected Abel’s offering but not Cain’s.  We don’t know why.

    Maybe Cain didn’t give his best effort and needed to try a little harder.  Or maybe it was just a bad season.  But instead of trying again, he got angry.  And unfortunately for Cain, when his anger kindled it got the best of him.

    It was in the field that Cain killed his brother, Abel.  Perhaps that field was the very crop Cain had been growing and brought to the Lord as an offering.  If so, then it is no wonder why the ground was cursed for Cain from that day forward.

    God did not reject Cain.  Cain still spoke with God and God set a sign to protect Cain.  But God knew that Cain’s future was going to be difficult because of his actions.

    The First Family

    Do you think your family has problems?  Well, welcome to the first family.

    Adam, the first man, followed his wife into sin and messed things up for mankind so badly, it would take an act of God to fix. 

    Eve believed the lies of the serpent and broke the one law that had been given to them; do not eat from this one tree.  She compounded her sin by convincing her husband to break that same, singular law.

    Cain was the first murderer to ever live and became a fugitive and vagabond.  He would take a wife and his direct descendant, fifth removed from him, would be recorded as the second murderer.

    Abel raised sheep and the Lord was pleased with his effort and offering.  It was his blood that broke the ground for his brother, Cain, who had been a farmer.

    I believe this first family was reconciled in heaven.  The first family knew God, face to face and surely would have known that forgiveness goes a long way in restoring relationships.

    Today we know forgiveness comes through Jesus Christ and through Him all things are possible.

    Why Should Laws Exist?

    Although Cain was the first murderer, sadly, he was not to be the last.  6000 years later we can see what has become of mankind.  For those who think we are evolving, how do you reconcile the violence mankind increasingly displays?

    What we are seeing today is the battle between good and evil that goes back to the beginning with the first family.  What Cain started all those long years ago, has become so prevalent in society that we no longer question where it came from or why.

    Nor do we question the need for laws.  It is evident that good people dwell in a world with crime, therefore laws are needed to maintain order.  In heaven, it is not that way.

    Laws do not Exist in Heaven

    The apostle, Paul, said, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 If we are taught these things on earth, then it stands to reason we will live by this in heaven.

    In heaven, there are no laws because there is no need for them.  Each person will have the fruit of the Spirit in their hearts and in their conscience.  Therefore, in the absence of crime and evil, why should laws exist?  And if laws do not exist in heaven, doesn’t that make Heaven lawless?

    Resources

    Genesis 4:1-15

    Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the LORD.” Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.  Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

    So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

    Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

    Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”

    He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

    And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”

    And Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.”

    And the LORD said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. Genesis 4:1-15

    1Timothy 1:9-10 (partial)

    “Knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.” 1 Timothy 1:9-10 (partial)

  • Darkness and Shadow of Death

    Darkness and Shadow of Death

    Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

    Zacharias’ Story

    Zacharias was a righteous man who was blameless in the sight of God.  He was married to Elizabeth but the two were never able to have children.  They prayed, just like any other couple who believes in God, bringing their petition to the One they knew could answer that prayer.

    The years passed until they were too old to have children, yet they still prayed.

    He Couldn’t Believe

    Zacharias was a priest and it was during his priestly service that he was chosen to enter the temple to burn incense while everyone else was outside praying.  During his time alone in the temple he saw the angel, Gabriel.

    Gabriel told Zacharias the prayer he and his wife held so dear had been heard.  The two were going to have a son, even though they were both old.  And although Zacharias was a God-believing man, he couldn’t believe the words he was hearing.

    Moments of Intimacy

    Because Zacharias doubted what Gabriel was telling him, his ability to speak was taken away from him.  Not permanently, but until Gabriel’s words would be fulfilled.  And those words were fulfilled in their proper time.

    Zacharias went home after his priestly service and was intimate with his wife.  I’m sure those moments of intimacy were filled with great joy knowing that God had given them a promise and He would not relent.

    In time, Elizabeth became pregnant and had a son as promised.  Their story together is a beautiful one.  Zacharias and Elizabeth’s son was John the Baptist and he was easily one of the greatest men to ever live.

    His Name is John

    Zacharias was mute for close to a year if not longer.  The Bible doesn’t say how fast Elizabeth got pregnant and since pregnancies typically last 9 months, let’s just assume that by the time Zacharias finished his service and went home, then Elizabeth getting pregnant, a year had passed.  That is a long time to be unable to speak.

    When the time came to name his son, according to tradition, his friends and family wanted to see him named after his father Zacharias.  Still mute and unable to speak, a tablet had to be given him to know what Zacharias wanted to call his son.

    Taking the tablet, Zacharias wrote, “His name is John.”  Instantly, Zacharias was able to speak and being filled with the Holy Spirit, his first words were of praise and prophecy.  These are also his last recorded words.

    To Guide our Feet

    Zacharias said, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began,

    That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

    The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

    To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear,

    In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

    And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

    To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins,

    Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

    To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:67-79

    Darkness and the Shadow of Death

    I have read this passage many times over the last 40 years, yet today, the words “darkness and shadow of death” struck me.  We are living in darkness and the shadow of death right now.

    Is the darkness too difficult to see?  If so, I believe that is because we have lived in this darkness for so long it is like being in a dark room when our eyes have adjusted to the darkness.  Without realizing it we have assumed the darkness is light, but it isn’t.

    The world has changed dramatically in the last 63 years that I have seen.  If you are younger than me then you would have to choose to believe me when I say that although the world had its problems 60 years ago, society was more unified.  Back then everyone knew that a man was a man and a woman was a woman.  What has transpired to challenge that scientific belief among others?

    To Give Light

    I will attempt to give a brief definition of what darkness is.

    Darkness is rebellion expressed through hard hearts.  The rebellion is against God by people, whether knowingly or unknowingly who want to live life apart from God.

    As we live separately from God, the light that once shone brightly in Mankind’s hearts in the days of the Creation, has since become dim and dark with time.  It is in the darkness, where we live apart from God, that our hearts become hard.  Only by turning to Jesus Christ can the light in our hearts can be rekindled and shine brightly once more.  Zacharias testified of this light when he said, “the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.”

    Darkness and Light

    Have you heard that what is in our hearts is what comes out of our mouths?  This is an inescapable truth.  Here are some examples of darkness and light that we allow out of our hearts:

    Darkness

    Cursing, Bitterness, Lies, Cheating, Hate, Murder, Lust

    Light

    Forgiveness, Kindness, Honesty, Gentleness, Mercy, Compassion, Understanding

    The list goes on.  How well do you know the difference between darkness and light as it pertains to the heart of Man?

    The Light of Jesus Christ

    The shadow of death refers to the presence of sin in the lives of Mankind which separates us from the eternal life that God has prepared for us.  Our path to heaven and an eternity with God was restored by Jesus Christ and what He did on the Cross.  We must simply believe in Jesus Christ and what He has done.

    The apostle, Paul said, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

    It is time for you to believe in Jesus Christ. Receive the light of Jesus Christ today so that you may escape the death that is waiting in the shadows for each person who rejects His holy message!

  • When Miracles Happen

    When Miracles Happen

    Image by Erik Nilsson from Pixabay

    A Story of the 9

    There were 10 men each with the same illness.  10 men so afflicted they had to live separately from their family, friends, and fellow man.  These men lived in isolation and could not come near other people without warning them because they were so contagious.

    The men had leprosy.  Anyone infected with leprosy knew it was chronic and could not be cured.

    Leprosy also had a serious stigma attached to it, which made their affliction worse due to the emotional impact it carried.

    They Needed a Miracle

    These 10 men gathered together not only because they shared the same burden but because they could get together to talk, comfort each other and share life.  But it wasn’t much of a life.  There was no intimacy with their wife or sitting down to dinner with their family.  These men were not able to read to their children or tuck them in bed at night.  And their families, if these men had them, didn’t have the comfort, protection and financial support of their husbands and fathers.

    They needed a miracle to be able to resume their lives.  Perhaps hope for a miracle was the only thing that brought them together on this day.

    Their Hope

    A Man was coming through their village and this Man’s reputation preceded Him.  It was well-known that He healed everyone who asked.  The 10 had also heard this same Man had fed thousands in the wilderness and while they didn’t need food, they did need a miracle.  It was clear this Man was a Man of miracles.

    As the Man entered their village, they stood at a distance and raised their voices asking for His mercy of healing.  When He gave them directions for their healing, they left Him, following His instructions.

    Along the way, each of the 10 men were healed of their leprosy.  Their hope of a miracle came true.  And it was a miracle.  Their condition was truly incurable, yet here they stood, healed and whole once more, able to resume their lives.

    But What of the 9?

    One of the 10 returned to the Man, bowing down, worshipping, and giving glory to God with a loud voice.  He knew where his miracle had come from.  The weight of this one man’s illness had finally been lifted and he could not contain the gratitude he felt for the One who had accomplished it. 

    But what of the 9?

    The 9 went about their way.  Presumably, they went back to their families and the lives they had before their illness, but we will never know.

    When the one returned, giving glory to God, the Man said, “Arise, go your way.  Your faith has made you well.”  By this, we know that this one man continued in his healing because Jesus Christ confessed, he was healed.

    Miracle of Healing

    But what of the 9?  We will never know.  We cannot know if the 9 continued in their healing or returned to their families once and for all, because they counted their miracle as nothing and walked away.

    These 9 men who had lived so long in isolation could not find it in themselves to walk the distance back to the Man they had asked for a miracle.  Their miracle of healing was not random, they had asked for it, supposedly with a heart of faith.  But where was their faith now?

    Not from This World

    And what about you?  Have you seen a miracle?  A miracle is divine in nature and comes from only One Man, the living God of the universe.

    If you have had a miracle, did you thank the only living God for it?

    If you haven’t had a miracle, would you believe it if you saw it?

    A miracle goes against every law in this natural world because it is not from this world.  Miracles are from the world we don’t see and therefore are governed by the rules of that world.  We may not understand those rules because we don’t yet live in the world we don’t see, but we can believe.

    By This Faith

    It is this belief, that we call faith.  And it is by this faith that we believe in Jesus Christ who gave His life willingly on a cross.  And it is by believing that Jesus Christ died on a cross for our sins that has restored the life God intended for us.

    Won’t you believe today?  Pick up a bible and start reading the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  These tell of the life of Jesus Christ.  When you are done reading the gospels, then continue reading to the end of the book.  You won’t be disappointed.

    Resources

    Ten Lepers Cleansed

    Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

    So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

    And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

    So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19

  • 3

    3

    Image by Ana Krach from Pixabay

    Stranger on the Shore

    Peter denied Jesus Christ 3 times.  Jesus even told Peter he was going to do it.

    At the Last Supper, as Jesus was speaking of His suffering He was about to accomplish, Peter’s pride got the best of him.  Peter said he would never stumble, even if everyone else did.

    Jesus said to Peter that very night he was going to deny Him 3 times before a rooster crowed.

    Jesus Needed

    Now how many times had Peter been with Jesus that His predictions came true?  How many miracles had Peter seen Jesus do in their time together?  Peter had even testified that Jesus was the Christ.  He knew Jesus was the Son of God.  There was no doubt in his mind or heart about the deity of Jesus.

    But on this night, for some reason, Peter couldn’t hear what Jesus was telling him.  Peter was so blind to what Jesus was saying that he even swore he would die before denying Jesus!  It was not the last time he would swear an oath that night.

    It was going to be a long night.  They went to the garden so Jesus could pray.  He wanted His disciples near while He prayed by Himself.  It was not like other times when Jesus sent His disciples away while He prayed.  On this night, Jesus needed the men who had been with Him the last several years to be near, particularly, Peter, James, and John.

    Peter Followed

    Peter was one of 3 men who were nearest Jesus while He prayed this night.  Can we say that Peter was one of 3 men who knew Him best on this earth?  It wasn’t the first time these 3 men were with Jesus apart from the rest of the disciples.

    Peter couldn’t stay awake and pray while Jesus was praying not far from him.  The other men fell asleep too, but then, Peter is the one who said he would die before denying Jesus.

    It was a great multitude that came to arrest Jesus.  They had swords and clubs, as if Jesus had been anything other than gentle, merciful, humble, kind, willing to heal anyone.  Sure, He stood up to the Pharisees and Sadducees, but He was never violent and He never sinned.

    To Peter’s credit, he did pull out his sword to fight back, but that’s not what Jesus wanted.  Jesus Christ came to save men’s lives and not destroy them.  So, Jesus healed the man who Peter struck.

    While the other disciples fled, Peter followed the crowd as they took Jesus to the High Priest.

    Language of the World

    This was Peter’s time to fulfill the oath he swore to Jesus that he would never deny Him.

    When a servant girl said to Peter that he was with Jesus, Peter denied it.  Here was this big, strong, fisherman telling a servant girl that she was wrong.  Wow.  Then Peter followed up his denial before everyone by saying he didn’t know what she was talking about.

    This was not a flippant conversation.  Peter was making a statement and taking a stand.  He officially denied ever knowing Jesus Christ.  Everything Peter had been through with Jesus; he was now denying.  All the miracles, everything he had learned about Jesus and himself, and all the intimate moments of fellowship with the living God, Peter was now saying he had never been a part of.

    Another girl saw Peter and said he had been with Jesus.  Again, Peter denied it openly.

    Finally, a group of people approached Peter and said he was one of Jesus’ disciples, because his speech gave him away.

    So, Peter swore that he did not know Jesus.  Here was his oath, in the face of what Jesus warned him about earlier that evening as they had dinner together.  He also started cursing, that is, he used the language of the world so many find comfortable in their daily lives.

    The Pain of Regret

    When the rooster crowed, Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken to him regarding his boastful oath.  I’m sure he found a very quiet and solitary place to shed his tears.  I don’t think Peter’s own death was as painful as denying his Lord and Savior 3 times.

    How many times have each of us found ourselves carrying the pain of regret that Peter now felt?

    They didn’t have anything to lose

    After Jesus’ death, when there was nothing left but the grief of his own weakness, Peter went fishing with many of the other disciples.  They were his friends and I’m sure they did their best to console him.

    That night they didn’t catch anything.  It wasn’t until morning, when a stranger on the shore yelled to them and told them to throw their net on the other side of the boat that they finally caught fish.

    How many times had they thrown their net on that side of the boat?  If you have ever gone fishing, you cast your line in multiple places, but here they are, listening to what they think is a total stranger.  Patiently, they pulled the net up and cast it on the other side of the boat.  Maybe they felt they didn’t have anything to lose.

    Moments with Jesus

    On this particular morning, Jesus Christ was a stranger to the disciples on the boat.  He called to them and told them the way in which they should go.  They listened to Him and were rewarded with a very large catch of fish.  Plus, they got to see their Lord in action and learn something new about Him; that maybe He doesn’t always look like they expect.

    When they made a big catch, it was John who realized that the stranger on the shore was Jesus.

    Peter threw himself into the sea and swam to Jesus.  We can only speculate what was said between them.  Those moments with Jesus were as private as the tears he had shed so many days before.

    After Peter’s Denial

    What we do hear is Jesus asking Peter repeatedly if he loves Him.  Each time Peter says that he loves Jesus.  Peter said that Jesus knows all things; that He knows Peter’s heart and knows how much he loves Him.

    Peter had denied Jesus 3 times.  Now, Jesus was asking Peter 3 times if he loved Him.  Each time Peter confessed his love for Jesus, Jesus gave Peter a task.  After Peter’s denial when Jesus was arrested, Jesus was now restoring Peter and putting him in charge of His church.

    The Third Day

    I want to remind you that Jesus Christ rose on the third day.  He came to this earth to speak with mankind and teach them His ways so that every single person who will believe in Him, may have eternal life. Jesus Christ did this for you. 

    3

    Father, Son, and Holy Spirt; these 3 are one in Heaven.

    The Spirit, the water, and the blood; these 3 agree as One on earth. 1 John 5:6-13

    Resources

    Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

    (Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–20)
    13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
    14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
    15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
    16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
    17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
    20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. Matthew 16:13-20

    Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

    (Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–34; John 13:36–38)
    31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
    I will strike the Shepherd,
    And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
    32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
    33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
    34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
    35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”
    And so said all the disciples. Matthew 26:31-35

    Jesus Restores Peter

    15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
    He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
    He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
    16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
    He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
    He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
    17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
    And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
    Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” John 21:15-19

    The Certainty of God’s Witness

    6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
    9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 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, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:6-13

  • The Tides of Heaven

    The Tides of Heaven

    Image by Quang Nguyen vinh from Pixabay

    An Observation

    Ocean tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon.  While we see the sun and moon, we don’t directly see their effect on the ocean.  We take it on faith that their gravitational pull creates the tidal waves we see by starting in the middle of the ocean and making their way to the shore morning and night.

    It is the same with heaven.  We don’t see the pull of heaven on our lives but it is there.

    Tides

    “Tides are very long waves that move across the oceans. They are caused by the gravitational forces exerted on the earth by the moon, and to a lesser extent, the sun. When the highest point in the wave, or the crest, reaches a coast, the coast experiences a high tide. When the lowest point, or the trough, reaches a coast, the coast experiences a low tide.”1

    What are the tides of heaven?  The idea is simple.  Just as we see don’t see gravity, we do see its effects on the oceans.  We don’t see heaven, but we can see its effects on people’s lives.  All it takes is paying attention and just a little faith and we will be able to see the tidal effect of heaven on those lives.

    Evidences of Heaven

    Heaven affects countless lives every day, but we either aren’t involved in those lives or are not paying attention.  Life is busy and too often, if someone in our sphere of life is touched by heaven, we are inclined to believe it is a coincidence.  And the reality is, who is teaching us to see heaven’s signs?  If you saw a miracle or the effect heaven had on a person, would you believe that is from heaven?

    We right things off, finding earthly excuses because we don’t understand what we just witnessed.

    My mother taught me to see evidences of heaven and the unseen world.  At first, there were simple things, like dreams that came true, or the morning she was delayed and late to work.  That morning, she missed being in an accident because of the delay.

    Coincidence

    I learned to see that there is no such thing as a coincidence.  A coincidence is an effect of the unseen world.  As an adult, I realize there are many things I never understood as a younger man and wrote off as coincidence.  Now I see those “coincidences” speaking to me.

    It is the words of a song, spoken at the exact moment I needed to hear it.  The same goes for words from a friend or person spoken that changed my decision and made a huge difference in my life.  There are words of encouragement and direction we receive at the perfect moment we either need them or are ready to listen to them.

    Miracles are another tide of heaven.  You may or may not believe in miracles, but they happen.  And with miracles, we do see their effect on the people who experience them. If you think that miracles are a coincidence, then how many coincidences does it take before it is a miracle?

    If you don’t believe in miracles, then let me tell you that no amount of disbelief in miracles will stop them.  Disbelief is a personal problem.  Generally speaking, we are not taught to believe in things we can’t see or touch.  And yet, you can’t see or touch gravity but still believe in it.

    See Its Effects

    Then there are the end-of-life experiences.  It is very common for those where death is imminent to see either loved ones who have passed away, angels, or other visions.  I am no expert on these, but I have seen them happen in my own life.

    Before my aunt passed away, she saw her father, my grandfather, who had been gone for almost 30 years.

    A friend related a story about her father passing then coming to her uncle before he passed.

    In surgery, my mother died briefly and saw golden, warm, and vibrant colors as well as people, before coming back to her own body.

    We don’t see gravity, but we do see its effect on ocean tides.

    In just the same way, we don’t see heaven, but we do see its effects on the people in our lives.

    Seek Jesus Christ

    Jesus Christ came from heaven to speak to His creation and tell them the path to heaven was broken.  We don’t just get into heaven when we die.  We need to believe in Him and His sacrifice on the cross to get to heaven.

    2,000 years ago, Jesus said to the people of His time, “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” John 14:11 It is past time to believe in Jesus Christ and surrender your heart to the knowledge of Him.

    If you resolutely refuse to believe in Jesus Christ, instead seeking after worldly truths, then I need to tell you that is a dead end.  Like the deep magic in C.S. Lewis “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” there is deep truth in the universe that we do not know about, but still exists.  Do not seek after earthly truth, trying to find heavenly truths. 

    Seek Jesus Christ.  Ask Him if He is real and if heaven is real.  He will reveal heavenly truths to you if you give Him a chance.

    May the tides of heaven lead you to Jesus Christ and eternal life in heaven with Him.

    Resources

    1. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/tidefrequency.html#:~:text=Tides%20are%20very%20long%20waves,coast%20experiences%20a%20high%20tide.

  • I Once Was Lost

    I Once Was Lost

    Image by Bishnu Sarangi from Pixabay

    A Personal Story

    The man’s fig tree was barren.  It had never produced fruit and he was done with it.  The time had come to cut the tree down.  Why was this fig tree even using up the ground?

    The keeper of the vineyard understood his boss’ concern over the unfruitful fig tree, but the tree had been planted for a reason.  After all, it was a fig tree and when a fig tree bears fruit, it is refreshing and delightful.

    So, the vineyard keeper asked his boss for some time to cultivate and fertilize the tree in the hope that in time it would bear fruit.  For truly, if the tree started bearing fruit, then all was not lost.  But if after all their effort the tree was never going to bear fruit, then let it be cut down.

    His boss agreed and he went to work.

    The Path of Darkness

    That fig tree was me in 1982.

    I was 22 years old and could not be more barren if I tried.  Living off and on with a married woman, we were doing drugs and I was drinking seven days a week.  As if things could not get worse, I got her pregnant.  Because of our drug abuse, she began bleeding and I agreed to terminating her pregnancy.

    I didn’t even try to save our baby.

    In my sin, I could not have been further from Jesus Christ.  I was lost, separated from God while I walked the path of darkness and the shadow of death.

    This Gentle Soul

    But God sent a keeper of the vineyard to nurture me in the hopes that I would become the fruitful tree He had desired when He planted me in my mother’s womb.  His name was Efrain.

    Efrain was from Puerto Rico.  Ironically, his name in English is Jeff.

    Efrain and I worked together and while he never forced his faith on me, he was there to share his faith when I needed it most.

    It was a long process shared over a cutting table where up to four of us could stand and cut onions, jalapenos, tomatoes and more for the Mexican food we were serving.

    In time this gentle soul became dear to me and I asked him for help in buying my first bible.  He agreed and I made my first trip to a bible store, which was a big step for me.

    I Could Feel the New Life

    At the time I bought my Bible, I lived alone and was working early shifts which meant I was off by mid-afternoon.  Each night I crawled into bed, picking up my bible from the nightstand and read the Gospels which Efrain had encouraged me to read.  And each night as I read those Gospels, I began realizing how far apart from God I was and just how much I needed Jesus Christ.

    I’m sure I didn’t even make it through the book of Matthew, before I felt the need to tell God that I loved Him.  But, no matter how strong that desire was, I could not speak those feelings out loud, even though I was alone in my own apartment.  It was not until the seventh night, when I summoned all of my courage to say out loud, “I love you, Jesus.”

    When I spoke those words, it was as if all the walls I had built in my 22 years came crashing down.  I was born again and I could feel the new life in me.

    After Efrain helped me buy a bible, he moved away to go to school so that he could work in ministry.  I lost track of him and it took me several years to find him and share what he meant to me.  I have since lost track of him again, but hope to see him in heaven on that day God calls me to walk through the veil from this world to the next.

    The Hardest Part

    The next world is the one we don’t see yet, but it is there, ready to be revealed in its time.

    If, like me, you are walking the path that does not lead to Jesus Christ, then let me encourage you.  God loves you and wants you to live with Him when this life is over.  He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to make a way into heaven for you.  The proof is in the Bible.  Here are a couple of verses to think about.

    1. “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21

    Jesus Christ will gladly overlook our wrongs if we turn to Him.  It is called Grace and it is His grace to forgive us those wrongs, no matter what they are.

    • “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4

    God wants everyone to live with Him in heaven.

    “Hell was never meant for man.  It was created for the devil and his angels.”  Billy Graham in one of his sermons.

    • For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.  For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:11-13

    The hardest part is calling out to Jesus Christ.  It is getting past the walls in our heart that prevent us from turning to Jesus Christ.

    Don’t Look Back

    Like my friend from so long ago, I encourage you to pick up the Bible and start reading the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  In them, you will find Jesus Christ, His life, and His path.

    God took me from the path of darkness and the shadow of death that I walked and put me on the path of true life.  I can only hope that you will trust me when I say that God’s path is filled with far more beautiful things than we can ever imagine.  Beautiful people, beautiful words, beautiful things and in the midst of them all is Jesus Christ moving in our lives and revealing His true self to us.  I for one, could not ask for anything more.

    Leave the path of darkness and don’t look back.  Turn to the path of life and light today.  You will not regret it.

    A Note to Those Who Believe

    If you believe in Jesus Christ already, then I want to take a moment to remind you that one day, the lost will be separated from Jesus Christ and heaven forever.  In fact, the lost are dying as we speak.  This is not acceptable!

    The lost need our patience right now!  They also need our love, mercy, forgiveness, understanding and more.  They need every chance to turn to Jesus Christ to escape the sentence of Death!

    An Incomparable Fruit

    Hence, the parable of the fig tree.  The lost man is barren in soul and spirit.  Little if any fruit is born toward their fellow man resulting in no treasure in heaven and being separated from the hope, we hold so dear, forever.

    That means that people are going to hurt your feelings.  They are going to cost you in time and money.  The lost are going to anger you and frustrate you.

    But God’s will is that you love others when they hurt you.  Even Jesus Christ called Judas Iscariot, friend, knowing that Judas would betray him.  It is painful to love others when they hurt us, but loving through that pain creates an incomparable fruit that is precious to God!

    Listen to the Heart

    And He wants you to forgive others, even when it costs you.  God can restore the time and money you lose through others.  But what if He doesn’t immediately restore what you have lost?  Then He has treasure in heaven waiting for you.  What we cling to in this life is trash anyway, compared to what Jesus Christ has waiting for us!

    Listen to the heart of the lost and gently share your faith in Jesus Christ if the opportunity arises.  Look to Jesus Christ for the words and timing.  Like Efrain so long ago, you may be someone’s introduction to Jesus Christ.

    Resource

    The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

    “He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.  Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’  But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.  And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9

  • A Serpent of Slaves

    A Serpent of Slaves

    Image by Silke from Pixabay

    John’s Story

    It was March 21st, 1748, a day he would never forget.  The storm ravaged the ship, ripping the sails and splintering the wood on one side of the ship.  John was too exhausted to man the pumps which removed the water threatening to sink the ship, so he was tied to the helm and did his best to hold the ship to its course.

    In Those Moments

    Through the next 11 hours, John compared the devastation of his life to that of the ship.  He couldn’t speak without profanity, his heart was hard as he sold men and women for profit, he drank like the proverbial sailor that he was and his lust for women were all in stark contrast to the hopes his mother had for him.

    When he was a boy, John’s mother had prayed for him and taught him scripture, some of which he recalled during his time at the helm.  The book of Proverbs came to mind as he thought about the words which paralleled his life in his present circumstance, “When your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you…” Proverbs 1:27.  Although John had rejected his mother’s faith and was critical of anyone else’s faith, he wanted to live and could not help but see the connection between the Word and his life.  It was in those moments that his faith was born.

    Faith and Change Were Slow

    At first, John could not believe he was worth saving.  The words from Proverbs were clear that God would laugh at him.  How could he live so far apart from God and still believe that God would save him?  Eventually John read the bible verse, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13

    Faith and change were slow for John.  He continued slave-trading but eventually changed his work, and sought to build up other’s faith.  He also married Mary, the daughter of the family that took him in when his mother died and his father was gone at sea.  It is said that at the end of his life John wrote their love “equaled all that the writers of romance have imagined.”1

    His Mother’s Prayers

    At age 39, John Newton began his life in ministry preaching what he once tried to destroy.  His mother’s prayers all those years before were finally being answered.

    John spent 43 years of his life preaching the Gospel.  During that time, he wrote 280 hymns, including “Amazing Grace”, was involved in abolishing the slave trade and ministered to people whether they were the poor, working class or wealthy.

    His Word as a Light

    Although John felt he was beyond saving, it is abundantly clear he was not.  Perhaps you feel you are beyond saving, that you have sinned so much there is no way God could possibly love you enough to save you.  That would be no truer today that it was on March 21st, 1748.

    In his life, John Newton certainly would have read the following verses.  I share these with you as proof that God cares about you and wants you with Him in heaven when this life is over.  The world can be a dark place.  God, “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth,” 1 Timothy 2:4, has left His word as a light for us to follow:

    “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.” Matthew 11:28-30

    For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

    “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Luke 5:32

    I Remember Two Things

    We are on an epic journey through life.  When the time comes, there are only two ways this life will end.  Either we will go to heaven, or the other place.  Please take the time today, right now, to consider that Jesus Christ came to save each one of us.  It is not so difficult to believe that God came in the form of a Man who died on a cross 2000 years ago to pay the price for sin.  Jesus Christ came to repair our path to heaven that Adam damaged.

    I leave you with the words of John Newton, a former slave trader and vile man who was near the end of his life:

    “My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things:  That I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a Great Savior.”  John Newton

    I too must confess that I am a great sinner and Jesus Christ is my Great Savior who delivered me from death to life.

    Resources

    Story taken from:  https://www.bethelripon.com/life-stories/2020/4/18/john-newton-the-great-blasphemer-behind-amazing-grace

    1.  https://www.bethelripon.com/life-stories/2020/4/18/john-newton-the-great-blasphemer-behind-amazing-grace, paragraph 9.

    Additional Resources

    1. Library of Congress, The Creation of “Amazing Grace”
      1. https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200149085/#foot1
    2. “Amazing Grace” by Steve Turner