This challenging question was mentioned in our hub group the other night. How we answer is very important. Am I interested in Jesus for who He is? Or, am I interested in Jesus just because of what He can do for me?
Am I building a relationship with Jesus so I can become more like Him? And, the more I become like Him the deeper the relationship with Him grows. The more I love Him and the more I want to spend time with Him ....Or, am I just wanting the mansion in heaven He's promised. The perfect pain free utopian paradise of heaven where there'll be no more death, no more sorrow, no more tears, just peaceful, fulfulling, beautiful, unimaginable, blissful eternal existence...
It's a question that needs an answer. If I'm just looking for the benefits of Jesus and not a relationship, then my motives are purely selfish. It's these selfish motives, I believe, that would enable me to rest in my "fire insurance" faith. : I prayed a prayer, I got baptized, halellujah one day I'm going to heaven ... bring on the beer, lets party!
If this is the case, then I don't have the Son (Jesus). All I have is selfish motives. I admit, this was the way I thought about it for many years. I thought I was safe. It wasn't until a few years ago that the personal relationship started making sense, and became real to me.
The Bible says in 1 John 5:12 " He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
If I want to go to heaven, I must have a saving faith. A saving faith is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We don't get to heaven because we're good people. We don't get there because we said a prayer and don't want to go to hell. We get there because we know Jesus and He knows us, and that only comes through a personal relationship with Him. Relationship only comes through spending time with someone. It doesn't just happen because we say a prayer and get baptized.
However, this can be the starting point. We are saved by the grace of God if our prayer is genuine, not because of anything we can do on our own. But, if we can go on living the same way as always, with no evident change in our lives for the better and continually have no time for God, then it's not genuine repentance. It's selfish motivation. The Bible says, you will know them by their fruits.
Jesus said in Matthew 7: 21-23, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he 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 perform many miracles?' 23)Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
I heard John Piper speak on this awhile back. I'll be paraphrasing but he said something to the effect of, you don't get saved by saying a prayer, then telling Jesus thank-you very much for my salvation, I'll see you in heaven some day, but I don't want to spend any time with you now. That's not saving faith...
" Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those that keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; and do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me, harms himself; all who hate me love death.".... Proverbs 8 : 32-36
If we're keeping His ways, watching at His door, waiting in His doorway. If we're listening and obeying on a daily basis, then we're building relationship, and that relationship will change our hearts to be more like His. Then He will be able to live through us to bring about His purpose for us and those He brings into our lives.
The fact is Jesus is in heaven. That's where His throne is. That's where He sits at God the Father's right hand interceding for us. There's no need of the sun there, because Jesus's glory fills heaven with light... It's a glorious place for those who love the LORD.
" However, as it is written : No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."..... 1 Corinthians 2 : 9
I can imagine some pretty amazing things. The Bible says heaven will be beyond anything we can imagine. But, it's for those who love Him. Not for those who just want what He can do for them.
".... for those who love Him"
I would have to answer the question by saying no... It wouldn't be heaven without Jesus.
How will you answer the question?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The Bible
The Bible :
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth ..... is one acronym I've heard used for it. By far the most valuable piece of literature known to man. The very Word of God given to us in printed form. Full of wisdom and truth and everyday life principles. Yet, I've never heard of one being stolen. It seems you can leave them laying around anywhere and they're safe.
I've never heard of a Bible publishing firm being broken into and thieves making off with thousands of Bibles. Or, I've never heard of any church having to bar their doors and windows to protect their Bibles. I don't expect I ever will either.
That's because our human nature being bent naturally sinful, doesn't want what's in the Bible. Human nature says, I can make my own way. I can make my own decisions. I don't need anybody telling me what I can or can't do. I don't need God. Well ... until something terrible happens in my life anyway. Then I can blame Him for it!
God has a different perspective in Proverbs chapter 2. The whole chapter is great but I'll just write a few verses here. If you're interested you can read the rest yourself. You do remember where your Bible is don't you? It's the book that's covered in dust, you can easily miss it :) Sadly ... I've found mine in that state too many times too...
"For the LORD gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones." Proverbs 2: 6-8
"For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it." Proverbs 2: 21-22.
These are just a couple of verses out of thousands. There's so much more that could be written about this subject, but it would be of such length, no one would read it anyway.
The Bible says that man's wisdom is but foolishness unto the LORD in 1 Corinthians 3:19. So why do we trust in our own wisdom so much?
We've been given a book that holds all the answers to life itself. Let's get it out, dust it off, read it and give it its rightful place in our lives.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth ..... is one acronym I've heard used for it. By far the most valuable piece of literature known to man. The very Word of God given to us in printed form. Full of wisdom and truth and everyday life principles. Yet, I've never heard of one being stolen. It seems you can leave them laying around anywhere and they're safe.
I've never heard of a Bible publishing firm being broken into and thieves making off with thousands of Bibles. Or, I've never heard of any church having to bar their doors and windows to protect their Bibles. I don't expect I ever will either.
That's because our human nature being bent naturally sinful, doesn't want what's in the Bible. Human nature says, I can make my own way. I can make my own decisions. I don't need anybody telling me what I can or can't do. I don't need God. Well ... until something terrible happens in my life anyway. Then I can blame Him for it!
God has a different perspective in Proverbs chapter 2. The whole chapter is great but I'll just write a few verses here. If you're interested you can read the rest yourself. You do remember where your Bible is don't you? It's the book that's covered in dust, you can easily miss it :) Sadly ... I've found mine in that state too many times too...
"For the LORD gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones." Proverbs 2: 6-8
"For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it." Proverbs 2: 21-22.
These are just a couple of verses out of thousands. There's so much more that could be written about this subject, but it would be of such length, no one would read it anyway.
The Bible says that man's wisdom is but foolishness unto the LORD in 1 Corinthians 3:19. So why do we trust in our own wisdom so much?
We've been given a book that holds all the answers to life itself. Let's get it out, dust it off, read it and give it its rightful place in our lives.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The choice between two gaps
Are you one who can't take the leap of faith to believe in Jesus Christ because there doesn't seem to be compelling, proven evidence that He was who He said He was?
If so, then have you also considered the fact that there is no compelling, proven evidence to disprove the claims of Jesus either?
You stand between two gaps. The one forward that takes faith to leap to Christ and all that He promises, or the one behind you that rejects Him, and all the claims He's made.
Let's face it. Either Jesus is who he said He was, God in the flesh, or He was a raving mad lunatic and one of the biggest liars and deceivers that ever lived. He has to be one or the other. It's as simple as that.
I heard a quote taken from Sheldon Vanauken's book (A Severe Mercy) in a message my brother in law Earl recently delivered at his home church in Vancouver that puts this in perspective, and I thought was definitely worth repeating.
"There's a gap between the probable and the proved, how am I to cross it? If I was to stake my life on the risen Christ, then I wanted proof. I wanted certainty. I wanted to see Him eat a bit of fish. I wanted letters of fire across the sky.
I got none of these, and I continued to hang about on the edge of the gap. It was a question of whether I was to accept Him or reject... my God!... there was a gap behind me as well!
Perhaps the leap to acceptance was a horrifing gamble, but what of the leap to rejection? There might be no certainty that Christ was God, but, by God there was no certainty He was not! This was not to be borne. I could not reject Jesus. There was only one thing to do once I had seen the gap behind me. I turned away from it, and flung myself toward Jesus"... Sheldon Vanauken.
Sheldon Vanauken and his wife Davy came to faith in Christ while studying at Oxford University in England, and not to mention, under the intellectual scrutiny and persuasion of none other than their friend C.S Lewis. From what I can gather, these were not imbeciles who blindly swallowed what someone told them about Jesus. They took reason to its end, and then leapt the rest of the way in faith toward Christ.
Sheldon Vanauken simply realized that the price of rejecting Christ was just too high to ignore. Jesus Christ offers an eternal future with all the goodness of God forever. Goodness that we can also begin to enjoy now in this life.
Rejection of that offer brings eternal separation from all the goodness of God in everlasting torment. I'm with Sheldon Vanauken on this one. How about you?
"Whoever believes in the Son(Jesus) has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." ... John 5:36
It's very important to remember as well, that a genuine accepting faith in Jesus Christ will change your life. You cannot carry on as before, resting in your "fire insurance": living the same sinful life and thinking you're safe because you've prayed a prayer or have been baptized.
Satan also believes that Jesus is the Savior, the Son of God that takes away the sins of the world. He knows all of that and believes it too. Yet his future is eternal damnation in hell.
If your "belief" or "faith in Jesus" has not brought real "heart" change into your life, then it's not a saving
faith...I'm not talking about a lot of religious do's and dont's. Legalistic religious jargon about dress, drink, length of a man's hair or whatever else we can dream up. I'm talking about real heart changing faith. A heart that operates with God's perspective. When we have that, our lives will change accordingly.
If we have accepted Christ then we are no longer our own. We were bought with a price(Jesus's life). He calls the shots now. Not us. That's saving faith...change from the inside out, that doesn't happen overnight. It's a life long process and journey with Christ.
" Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were brought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
1 Corinthians 6: 19-20
If so, then have you also considered the fact that there is no compelling, proven evidence to disprove the claims of Jesus either?
You stand between two gaps. The one forward that takes faith to leap to Christ and all that He promises, or the one behind you that rejects Him, and all the claims He's made.
Let's face it. Either Jesus is who he said He was, God in the flesh, or He was a raving mad lunatic and one of the biggest liars and deceivers that ever lived. He has to be one or the other. It's as simple as that.
I heard a quote taken from Sheldon Vanauken's book (A Severe Mercy) in a message my brother in law Earl recently delivered at his home church in Vancouver that puts this in perspective, and I thought was definitely worth repeating.
"There's a gap between the probable and the proved, how am I to cross it? If I was to stake my life on the risen Christ, then I wanted proof. I wanted certainty. I wanted to see Him eat a bit of fish. I wanted letters of fire across the sky.
I got none of these, and I continued to hang about on the edge of the gap. It was a question of whether I was to accept Him or reject... my God!... there was a gap behind me as well!
Perhaps the leap to acceptance was a horrifing gamble, but what of the leap to rejection? There might be no certainty that Christ was God, but, by God there was no certainty He was not! This was not to be borne. I could not reject Jesus. There was only one thing to do once I had seen the gap behind me. I turned away from it, and flung myself toward Jesus"... Sheldon Vanauken.
Sheldon Vanauken and his wife Davy came to faith in Christ while studying at Oxford University in England, and not to mention, under the intellectual scrutiny and persuasion of none other than their friend C.S Lewis. From what I can gather, these were not imbeciles who blindly swallowed what someone told them about Jesus. They took reason to its end, and then leapt the rest of the way in faith toward Christ.
Sheldon Vanauken simply realized that the price of rejecting Christ was just too high to ignore. Jesus Christ offers an eternal future with all the goodness of God forever. Goodness that we can also begin to enjoy now in this life.
Rejection of that offer brings eternal separation from all the goodness of God in everlasting torment. I'm with Sheldon Vanauken on this one. How about you?
"Whoever believes in the Son(Jesus) has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." ... John 5:36
It's very important to remember as well, that a genuine accepting faith in Jesus Christ will change your life. You cannot carry on as before, resting in your "fire insurance": living the same sinful life and thinking you're safe because you've prayed a prayer or have been baptized.
Satan also believes that Jesus is the Savior, the Son of God that takes away the sins of the world. He knows all of that and believes it too. Yet his future is eternal damnation in hell.
If your "belief" or "faith in Jesus" has not brought real "heart" change into your life, then it's not a saving
faith...I'm not talking about a lot of religious do's and dont's. Legalistic religious jargon about dress, drink, length of a man's hair or whatever else we can dream up. I'm talking about real heart changing faith. A heart that operates with God's perspective. When we have that, our lives will change accordingly.
If we have accepted Christ then we are no longer our own. We were bought with a price(Jesus's life). He calls the shots now. Not us. That's saving faith...change from the inside out, that doesn't happen overnight. It's a life long process and journey with Christ.
" Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were brought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
1 Corinthians 6: 19-20
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Community
Last evening during our Monday night hub group, I couldn't help but be encouraged by the young people who were there. Young people who come out not because they have to, but because they want to be there and understand the importance of what community offers. Christian community especially.
Last night a young lady shared some of her experiences she had while spending a month in Thailand recently. And while doing so just beamed the love of Jesus. Another young lady is back from spending several months in Ghana. Another young lady is heading for northern Quebec to spend the next 6 weeks in a native Cree community. One of our group is in Calgary this summer, impacting for Christ on the streets there. Another at a family camp near Gibson's B.C.
Another couple who recently married spent a month at a kids camp in Brazil this past winter. Another young man who went tree planting this summer and started a bible study among co-workers. Another young lady from our larger church community just left for her second month long term in Haiti with YWAM. Another young man will soon be home from spending the last 8 months in Germany, Ethiopia and Turkey setting them on fire for the LORD with YWAM. (Youth with a Mission). Another young lady just left to serve in an orphanage in Cambodia for several weeks.
Story after story of young people allowing Christ to work through them. (I'm sure I've missed many) Literally being the hands and feet of Jesus. Loving others with servant hearts. Hearing stories like these cannot help but encourage, but can only do so if we're there to hear them.
I can't help but wonder the direction my own life would or could have taken if I'd been part of such a group when I was their age. It didn't exist for me.
It's true that the ember that falls away from the fire cools down pretty fast when on it's own. If you're fortunate enough to be around some campfires this summer, as I intend to be, try it and see what happens to the "lone ember." I've seen it in my own life, and countless other lives as well. Community offers support and encouragement to press on through the tough stuff.
When Christian community is broken, we become cold embers on our own and we miss out on so much. Although it's never too late, the fact is I wasted 20 years plus of my life, where very little if anything of eternal value was done. Selfish ambition being the main driving force.
The Bible says in Matthew 6:19-20 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
King Solomon, the wisest and richest man that ever was, and ever will be according to the Bible. He would make Bill Gates and Warren Buffet look like paupers. He tried it all. He found it all vanity under the sun... useless. Matthew 16:26 asks us, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"
The only thing that will matter, is what we do for God's kingdom. That's all we'll be left with one day, and most of that, if not all of it, will be done through the relationships we build while we're here, and that is done through community. Everything else we'll leave behind.
If we unplugged our radios, computers and tv's we'd find that while they might look nice, they're not of much use beyond that. But, plug them in and they can bring a world of difference into our lives.
We're the same. Plugged in, we can make a difference. Unplugged ... not so much.
Community..... it's where life happens! .....Plug in!
Last night a young lady shared some of her experiences she had while spending a month in Thailand recently. And while doing so just beamed the love of Jesus. Another young lady is back from spending several months in Ghana. Another young lady is heading for northern Quebec to spend the next 6 weeks in a native Cree community. One of our group is in Calgary this summer, impacting for Christ on the streets there. Another at a family camp near Gibson's B.C.
Another couple who recently married spent a month at a kids camp in Brazil this past winter. Another young man who went tree planting this summer and started a bible study among co-workers. Another young lady from our larger church community just left for her second month long term in Haiti with YWAM. Another young man will soon be home from spending the last 8 months in Germany, Ethiopia and Turkey setting them on fire for the LORD with YWAM. (Youth with a Mission). Another young lady just left to serve in an orphanage in Cambodia for several weeks.
Story after story of young people allowing Christ to work through them. (I'm sure I've missed many) Literally being the hands and feet of Jesus. Loving others with servant hearts. Hearing stories like these cannot help but encourage, but can only do so if we're there to hear them.
I can't help but wonder the direction my own life would or could have taken if I'd been part of such a group when I was their age. It didn't exist for me.
It's true that the ember that falls away from the fire cools down pretty fast when on it's own. If you're fortunate enough to be around some campfires this summer, as I intend to be, try it and see what happens to the "lone ember." I've seen it in my own life, and countless other lives as well. Community offers support and encouragement to press on through the tough stuff.
When Christian community is broken, we become cold embers on our own and we miss out on so much. Although it's never too late, the fact is I wasted 20 years plus of my life, where very little if anything of eternal value was done. Selfish ambition being the main driving force.
The Bible says in Matthew 6:19-20 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
King Solomon, the wisest and richest man that ever was, and ever will be according to the Bible. He would make Bill Gates and Warren Buffet look like paupers. He tried it all. He found it all vanity under the sun... useless. Matthew 16:26 asks us, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"
The only thing that will matter, is what we do for God's kingdom. That's all we'll be left with one day, and most of that, if not all of it, will be done through the relationships we build while we're here, and that is done through community. Everything else we'll leave behind.
If we unplugged our radios, computers and tv's we'd find that while they might look nice, they're not of much use beyond that. But, plug them in and they can bring a world of difference into our lives.
We're the same. Plugged in, we can make a difference. Unplugged ... not so much.
Community..... it's where life happens! .....Plug in!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
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