Do you face trials or worry?

Sometimes we complain about difficulty or trials but it seems that sometimes that is where we learn the most.

Personally, I have been learning a lesson about abiding in Christ when the circumstances in life are not the best. It has occurred to me of late that trials and difficulty can actually be a good thing.

For starters, Satan doesn't attack if you are not causing him problems or you are not a threat to him. I would be more worried if Satan were leaving me alone and not attacking.

Second, if we face trials to me it means God knows we can handle the trial since Scripture says He will never allow more than we can bear. God cares enough about us to use the divine sandpaper to knock off some rough edges and make us into what He wants us to be. Sometimes I think my character must have been really bad or the Lord must care a lot about me because I have spent a whole lot of my Christian walk with the power sander being applied.

Being forced to rely on the Lord via the tough times is how He molds our character at times. Often more than likely it is because we refuse to surrender to His will until He puts us into a position where we have no place else left to turn. It is often the problems in life that teach us to rely on God and walk in the Spirit. If we place our reliance where it should be and we walk in the Spirit a trial will result in our Spiritual Growth, increased faith and dependence on God.

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4

Sad really that many today turn to man’s theories and wisdom by running to a psychologist instead of turning to the Lord and His word.

One morning this past spring, as I was driving to work I noticed it was the time of year where the blue bonnets are starting to bloom. That reminded me of some verses:

Matthew 6:25-30 "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"

It is very reassuring to me to know that not a single bird will fall from the sky without God having known about it from before the foundation of the world.

What I am learning is that we need to spend our time abiding in or resting in Jesus and letting God deliver in His time and in His means or as Paul put it: "worry about nothing and pray about everything"

Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

I don't know about you...but sometimes I forget that God is aware of and dealing with my trials, attacks from the enemy, and all the other issues of life.

It is nice to be reminded of that, especially when God uses something as simple and humble as His beautiful creation of the blue bonnets to remind me.

Does everyone go to Heaven?

A friend pointed out an article to me this evening that explores this question, “Does everyone go to Heaven”.

I think the author Coach Dave Daubenmire does a very good job at spelling out the truth in his article of explaining what exactly is wrong with most of “the church” in this day and age.

Coach Dave’s message is one that is very true sad to say in this day and age. The truth must be shared whether the seeker sensitive crowd likes it or wants to hear it or not. When Coach Dave writes:

“"No, most “Christians” today think that they are going to go to Heaven because they are “a good person,” or they “go to church,” or they “try to do what is right,” or my favorite, “I was born a Christian.” How can any Christian study the Bible and come to that conclusion?"

I have heard all of the above and more from "Christians" when doing street evangelism. Sad really, their 'seeker sensitive' / feel good gospel churches give them a false sense of security. I would take Coach Dave’s statement one step further and ask how do some think a superficial conversion and getting wet in a baptismal is going to get them into Heaven if they live every day of their life like hell on earth?

Ask yourself, have some of these seeker sensitive churches that refuse to use the word ‘sin’ ever really explained the true Gospel to anyone? How exactly are you telling someone they are a sinner in need of a Savior if you refuse to ever use the word sin?

I really feel sorry for some of the pastors of these churches. Talk about “blind guides” and “white washed tombs” that Jesus made reference to in addressing the power hungry religious leaders of the days when He was here on earth. My local mega church seeker sensitive guy is really into you giving him donations and making a name for him self. I hope he enjoys the rewards in the here and now because they will be the only rewards he will ever receive.

Reading the letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation the description of the church of the Laodiceans found in Revelation 3:14-22 sure describes the Rick Warren influenced mega churches of today to a tee. There is a problem however, this is the church that Jesus warns them He is going to “…vomit you out of My mouth.”

The pastors of today for the most part would be well advised to realize they are going to be held to a higher standard. If anyone should know better, they should. For leading many away to pad their own pockets in their quest after self promotion and trying to “make a name” for themselves the price to pay in the long run will be very serious. Jesus said, “"And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.” (Mark 9:42)

If no one has ever told you before then I will. You are a sinner and you need Jesus’ atoning blood that was shed on the cross to cover your sins or you will never see Heaven when you die. Should that offend you, take it up with the Lord because that is the message in His word as recorded in the Bible. We are saved by Graced by accepting Jesus and making Him the Lord of our life and there is no argument on this point because we will all make mistakes. But the fact that we are saved by Grace does not give us a license to sin by any means.

If you know “about Jesus” then I cannot encourage you strongly enough to consider developing a personal relationship with Him today. I would advise you to do away with your false sense of security you might get from religion or being “born a Christian.” The question is not what the religion is of the family you were born into physically. The question is have you been born again Spiritually. There is a huge difference. Knowing ‘about Jesus’ is useless because even the devil knows about Jesus and will spend eternity in hell.

“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19)

link to Does everyone go to Heaven? By Coach Dave Daubenmire

Don’t wait till later!

This past Monday night as I was checking the news headlines and I was sad to hear of the death of Steve Irwin (aka the Crocodile Hunter).

It is ironic in a way to me that Steve made his living dealing with dangerous animals but was killed by a Sting Ray. In doing some research I have found that there have been very few deaths due to Sting Ray’s since they are not know to be aggressive. Several articles I read stated that there has been something like 17 documented cases where a Sting Ray sting has resulted in someone’s death.

As I was reading the other evening about Steve’s untimely and unfortunate death I was reminded of a couple of verses.

Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.”

Psalm 103:15-16 “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.”

When we are formed in our mother’s womb, God already knows the number of our days. We will not receive one day more or one day less. This life is shorter than any of us care to admit and passes like a whiff of smoke rising from a fire.

How many times have we all heard someone that basically agrees with the Gospel of Jesus but they put off making a decision to repent and make Jesus the Lord of their lives? How many have died with making a decision about Jesus still on their “to do” list?

This is tragic and should never ever happen. I would urge you to learn from Steve’s untimely death that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow or even the next breath. Some might have been more worried about Steve’s safety on the day he was playing with Crocodiles. I doubt it occurred to his wife that his going for a swim with Sting Rays would result in Steve never returning home as he was kissing her goodbye that morning. If you can feel the Holy Spirit tugging on your heart then today is the day to surrender to the call right now.

If you are one of those who decided to wait ask yourself why?

Are you too wrapped up in your career? If you found out you had a disease that is fatal if not treated properly wouldn’t the career take a back seat to going to the doctor for treatment?

The fact is if you have never surrendered your life to Jesus then you do have a disease called sin. We are born with it but there is a cure. The cure is to accept Jesus as your Savior and begin to abide in and seek after Him daily.

Do you have sin in your life? Maybe you are a drunk or you have stolen or you have lied or you are involved in adultery or cheat on your taxes. Whatever it might be doesn’t matter really because in God’s eyes sin is sin but the Bible says that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us in Romans 5:8. You don’t have to clean up your act first to be saved. You simply need to make Jesus the Lord of your life and then ask Him to come into your heart and give you the strength to confess your sins and turn away from them.

Your eternal destiny is far too important to risk. I wonder if some really think deep down that trying to conquer the world is really more important than their eternal destiny. In Luke chapter 16 we read of the rich man. He was rich in this world but in eternity he ended up in hell.

If you say you are a Christian but cannot say for certain where you would go if you were to die right now then please examine your own walk. Are you living a lifestyle of sin? You need to examine whether you really know Jesus or you know about Jesus due to having “religion.”

What about the young person that wants to “do their own thing” now and accept Jesus later? Isn’t this basically admitting that you need Jesus now? Don’t wait, you are not promised tomorrow. I can think of several people that I attended high school with that didn’t live long enough to see our graduation day.

Don’t be like the rich man in Luke 16 that Jesus spoke about. He had it good in this life but the eternal consequences were not worth it in the long run. Why would anyone gamble with something so eternally important?

Eternity would sure be a long time to wish you had done things differently in the here and now:

Luke 16:25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.”

Seek this link to consider the Gospel and Salvation