Tag Archive: Deuteronomy 6


Ho! Ho! Ho! or Faith, Hope, and Love

Filed under: The Good News, Truth — Leave a comment
December 23, 2017

The Christmas season is an excellent time of year to examine our hearts. Too often, even for the born again believer, there is a drifting and stagnation that occurs within our souls. Maybe joy to the world has been replaced with an attempt to find “joy” from the world. For others, the trials of this sinful planet have shaken the earth beneath their feet, causing a loss of God’s true peace.

The path on this side of eternity is neither smooth nor comfortable. For many, it is filled with more valleys than peeks and over time those valleys may eclipse the light of Christ. The weary soul may be tempted to turn inward instead of upward for its consolation. Complacency and self-preservation may set in in an effort to keep from traversing more of this world’s rugged paths.

Sadly, while attempting to keep from engaging in difficulties, we are actually robbing our Lord from the very work He seeks to do. (1 Peter 1:6-9) It’s the flesh that longs for this present darkness. It longs for worldly pleasure and comfort and often, if not filled daily with God’s Word, we heed the beckoning cries of the old man instead of the clarion call of our precious Savior. And over time the ways of God can be ever so slowly replaced with the things of this temporal sphere.

“Ho! Ho! Ho!” isn’t simply a cute call from a mystical figure clothed in scarlet. It’s really more of a reminder that the world is beckoning, pressing in, ever desirous to “bless” mankind with the temporal trinkets that can only offer, at best, distraction and momentary satisfaction.

Instead of “Ho! Ho! Ho!”, let us consider true faith, hope, and love.

FAITH– The Lord often reminds the born again believer to be sanctified by His Word, to daily take up our cross, denying ourselves, and following Jesus. (John 17:17, Matthew 16:24) He teaches us to carefully examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) and to diligently keep in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25). Only then can the mettle of our faith be tested and trusted. The house on the rock stands firm! True faith becomes substantive as we reject the often not so subtle attempts of the world to entice our focus away from Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. The Lord reminds us in Hebrews 12, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:1-2.

HOPE– Wherever faith resides is where hope is derived. Biblical hope is not wishing upon a star, hoping that we can somehow manipulate the Creator of the universe to give us what we want. True hope is rooted and ground in the absolute assurance of God’s faithfulness and the reliability and sufficiency of His Word. As the hymn goes, “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” God’s Word is true from the beginning and forever settled in Heaven. The world’s promises and treasures have nothing on this. We will be constantly distracted, disappointed, and disgusted if we seek to place our hope in mankind and this world’s ungodly economy of life. And it seems that most recognize it, yet many are simply unwilling to acknowledge the truth.

True hope is a continual theme throughout God’s Word.

“[The Lord] delights not in the strength of the horse: He takes not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD takes pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy” Psalm 147:10-11.

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” Romans 15:13.

“For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” Galatians 5:5

Not only does God fill us with steadfast hope (assurance), He, Himself, is our hope. “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability [permanence] of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which enters into that within the veil; where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus…” Hebrews 6:17-20. Jesus doesn’t merely provide eternal hope. He is our eternal hope!

LOVE– It’s easy to let our love grow cold. Even the Ephesians were indicted by Jesus for this and it’s no small matter. It really is the heart of everything. The world constantly barrages us, all with one simple goal, to draw our hearts away from Jesus and His Word. The enemy is smart. He knows he doesn’t have to turn away all our love in one fail swoop. A little pull here and a slight tug there will do. He knows that’s all it takes. Over time even a small compromise has the potential to compound and left unchecked, we’ll eventually find ourselves 180 degrees from eternity. That’s why the Ephesians were commanded to repent and return quickly to their first love. (Revelation 2:1-5). True love is the key! That’s why Jesus said the entire law and prophets hang on two laws- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as you already love yourself. (Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:30)

Contrary to the world, the Christian’s love is neither self-induced nor self-centered. It flows from the God who first loved us; the God who is love! While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! Amazing love, how can it be that You, my King, would die for me!

All that the world offers, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life might be alluring, especially during a season filled to overflowing with nostalgia and commercialism, yet it cannot begin to hold a flame to the brilliance and splendor of our King!

Whether our hearts have grown cold through trials, persecutions, or the pleasures of this world, let us repent from heeding this world’s beckoning to preserve the flesh and all its ornaments. Instead, let us make way for the real King. May we fill our hearts and minds with the true faith, steadfast hope, and everlasting love of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Only then will we be able to joyfully join in the angel chorus, praising God and giving Him all the glory. While we’re on this sullied soil, we can know assuredly that true and eternal peace only comes though Jesus Christ, the true light of the world!

Merry CHRISTmas!

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and [the shepherds] were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord… And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” Luke 2:9-14.

“Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see Him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” 1 Peter 1:6-9.

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Are You Good Enough?

Filed under: Emergent, The Good News, Truth — Leave a comment
April 25, 2015

Bible Light Bulb ImageThere are many questions and even more supposed answers about eternity. Lots of people have said there are many ways to get to Heaven.  After all, don’t all spiritual roads lead to the same place? Does it really matter what religion we follow?  If we’re simply sincere, devoted, and passionate about whatever we believe, won’t it all work out in the end?  Can’t my good works outweigh the bad things I’ve done in the past?  How can we really know for sure?

What’s the Answer?

Maybe you’re wondering some of the same things.     If not, you should be. After all, eternity is a lot longer than the few short years we’ll spend on this planet.  Asking good questions is important, but finding the right answers is even more crucial! If you’re lost and stop to ask someone for directions, it really does matter whether the directions he/she gives you are right or wrong. So in hopes of preventing anyone from getting even more lost, let’s examine several of today’s most popular myths.

We’ll examine seven basic misunderstandings/ myths in pursuit of discovering the true answer to how we can know for sure we are going to Heaven.

MYTH 1: The majority must be right. Just because people have answers doesn’t mean those answers are true, even if a majority agrees. A survey of 35,000 American adults shows that 70 percent believe there are many paths to God, but just because a majority believes the same thing doesn’t necessarily make it true.  Consider Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Just because many were in agreement with Hitler doesn’t make what he believed and did correct. Following the majority isn’t the answer!

MYTH 2- Sincerity is what matters.  Just because someone is sincere in a belief doesn’t make it right.

  • Does it matterif a sincere pharmacist puts the wrong pills in a bottle?
  • Does it matterif a surgeon sincerely believed he removed a kidney when in fact he removed the liver?
  • Does it matterif a woman ate a poisonous mushroom, even though she sincerely thought it would be good for her?

It is possible to be very sincere, but be sincerely wrong. The critical question is not whether someone is sincere, rather what is the truth?  Sincerity is not the answer.

MYTH 3: Pretty good is good enough. One of the greatest lies ever believed is that human beings can be good enough to get to Heaven!  I’ve heard this so many times and at one point even believed it myself.  I’ve even had professing atheists tell me if there is a ‘God’, then when they die they’ll be okay because they’ve been pretty good. Here’s the thing, being pretty good isn’t the real issue. God’s standard isn’t pretty good, it’s perfection. After all, God isn’t simply pretty good. He’s perfect.

Being pretty good isn’t the answer.

MYTH 4: Religion is good enough.  At some level, all religions say we must do good works in order to be right. Biblical Christianity is totally unique.  In religion, man has to reach up to God by his good works. In Christianity, God reached down with the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. He was crucified for the sins of the world. If religion, rituals, and traditions worked, Jesus would’ve never had to come and die.  Religion is not the answer!

MYTH 5: My future good deeds will make up for my past bad deeds. Here’s the problem. Let’s say you get a speeding ticket for driving 55 in a15 mph school zone, then stand before the judge and tell him you’ll never speed again. Will that make up for the crime you’ve already committed?  No. What if you tell the judge you’ve driven through that area many times before, always following the law? Will that make up for your crime?  No. We don’t get extra credit for following the law. The law requires that we follow it completely. That’s the whole point. Following the law tomorrow will never make up for the fact that we broke it today.  Simply said, the price has to be paid!  Future good deeds are not the answer.

Myth 6: I’m a good person.  We all tend to compare ourselves with one another; forgetting people are not the standard.  We did not make this universe, and we did not make the moral laws any more than the physical laws of this universe. God is the Creator, and He is the standard, not us. All one has to do is look at God’s law, which can be boiled down to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)  to see if we really are good people, if we measure up to the holiness of God.  Here are a few of God’s moral laws:

  • “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”  Telling the truth is the backbone of any society and the Bible. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie…” God is truth.  Have you ever told a lie; even a “little” one?
  • “You shall not steal.” Have you ever taken something that is not yours?
  • “You shall not commit adultery.”  Jesus took this commandment to a deeper level when He said, “If you have even looked upon someone with lust, it means you have already committed adultery in your heart with that person.” Matthew 5:27-28. Have you ever looked at someone with lust?

Now things get a little more interesting.  James 2:10 says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

So if we’ve even broken one of God’s commandments, we’ve broken them all.

 I ask you again, “Have you broken any of the Ten Commandments?” If you’re honest, you’ll have to say yes. Since we’ve all broken God’s law, it’s clear no one is really a good person.

Here’s the truth:  The reason sincerity, religion, and good works just don’t cut it is because they all originate from men and according to God, we’ve all willfully sinned. That is to say, we’ve all come short of God’s standard of perfection. Period!  We’re not the solution, frankly we’re the problem.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

God knows we’ve sinned.  We know we need His forgiveness. “For I will declare my iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” Psalm 38:18  

The shedding of an animal’s blood reminded the Israelites that death was a result of man’s choice to rebel against his Creator. It was also a clue of God’s faithfulness to one day send One who would pay the ultimate price by dying for all of humanity, One who would not only die, but take the spiritual and eternal punishment we deserve so our penalty against God would be fully paid. A male lamb without spot was used in the Old Testament for a yearly sacrifice to God. This was a clue that One would come, not as a spotless lamb, but as a sinless man and God to die for the sins of the world.

“The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29  

Jesus is the Lamb of God that the Old Testament pointed to, the One that would be the final, complete, and eternal sacrifice to God the Father by dying on the cross for our sins. God the Father literally poured out the anger and wrath we deserve upon His Son!

“He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Are you ready to repent (turn) and put your    belief in Jesus and His finished work on the cross for you?

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for your sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…” 1 Corinthians 15:3-6  

Myth 7: Christianity is just too narrow-minded.  With so many religions around the world, this might seem reasonable. Jesus claimed to be the only way to Heaven, yet many believe this is too narrow-minded. But is this bad? When I walk through the front door, does it ever bother me that there’s only one door? When I enter a gas station or a store, do I ever stop to complain when there’s only one door?  No. One door doesn’t mean anything other than there’s only one way in.  One way, in reality, makes it simple. There’s one way, making it very easy to identify both the true and the false doors.  Yes, one way to Heaven is narrow, but narrow doesn’t mean it’s bad. The God of the Bible says He’s one God (Deut. 6:4), so why not only have one way? God doesn’t want us to follow a lie. All may enter, but we must enter His way, not our own. Being too narrow just isn’t an excuse. Believing there are many ways to Heaven isn’t the answer.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

 THE TRUE and ETERNAL ANSWER

The answer of eternity is found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!  You have two choices. Sadly, most choose the wide road to exit planet Earth. The other way is the narrow road which is covered with the blood of Jesus Christ.

WHICH ONE WILL YOU CHOOSE?

“If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whosoever believes on [Jesus] shall not be ashamed.”  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Romans 10:9-13  

“For [God] says, “I have heard you in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I helped you: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  2 Corinthians 6:2  

There is only one way to get to Heaven. The true path is through Jesus Christ and Him alone. You must make this decision before you die. There’s no second chance after death.

Repent and believe on Him for the forgiveness of your sins before it’s too late.

(Originally produced and distributed by Once Lost Ministries)

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