Category: The Resurrection

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We’ve Been Given Free Choice

For July 3, 2022
In the beginning, God created Heaven and earth. Before resting, He created man and woman and placed them in the Garden of Eden. God created the human species to be His crowning achievement by making us in His image and entrusting us to have dominion over His earthly creations,

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:26-28 (NIV)

Genesis 1:31 tells us God considers all His creation to be “very good!” Through His Creation, we clearly see His majesty and design in the most intricate detail to invoke our feelings of happiness, purpose, and well-being.

The Psalmist declares the Lord made us lower than the angels, crowned us with glory and honor, and He placed all things under our feet (Psalm 8:5). Truly, God has given us an amazing pedigree that is up to us to accept.

He made you and me in His image for eternal fellowship, bound by His unselfish love and complete acceptance. He wants us to experience His “very best” for us in every way—spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

We should never consider ourselves to be mistakes or afterthoughts. We are His special, unique individuals whom He has created to fulfill His perfect, eternal design for the universe. God created you and me, with all our complexity, to function according to His perfect design.

It saddens me people chose not to see themselves as God’s beloved creation; greater than Mount Everest, the Grand Canyon, Aurora Borealis, and the sun, moon, and stars combined—in His loving eyes.

Satan’s job is to confuse and distort God’s perfect plan by telling us we are flawed and worthless. He has convinced many of us we are “ugly” and/or we “won’t amount to anything.” As a result, many of us believe we will be “nothing but failures” in this life.

But these are lies, for no two of us are exactly alike by design. God created us differently, much as if the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that when assembled create a beautiful portrait of His love, redemption, and glory.

Unlike any other created being, He has given us the ability to choose a life that reflects His dignity and affect positive changes in ourselves and others. God has also given us the freedom to choose where we will spend our eternity; in Heaven with Him or in Hell separated from Him. Jesus describes Hell as a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth; where the worms never die and the fire is not quenched (Matthew 13:42, Mark 9:48).

The “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is the self-inflicted consequence of those who chose to reject Christ when they should have accepted Him in this life. For in death, atheism and agnosticism no longer exist when we stand before our Creator and Maker; instant “believers” in God’s existence, and His perfect, final judgement.

Unfortunately, there are many who have chosen to spend an eternity separated from God. They will regret not accepting the grace and mercy Jesus freely gives us through His vicarious death for our sin and resurrection for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and sin and death were their punishment ,,,and ours. But Jesus Christ, the Son of God, freely chose to give up His perfect, sinless life for our sinful and imperfect ones, so that God could forgive our sins and give us His eternal, abundant life. (cf. John 3:16-17, Romans 3:23, 5:19, Ephesians 2:1-10)

Joshua in the Old Testament also made a choice. The Lord tasked him with the responsibility of providing spiritual, moral and civic leadership to a group of seventy folk who had now swelled into a massive throng of well over two million.

For 110 years, he showed an unwavering commitment to serve the Lord under Moses’ tutelage. He was with Moses at Mount Sinai when the Lord gave Moses the Law. He also helped Moses lead God’s people through the wilderness. The only families the Lord allowed from Egypt into the Promised Land were his family and Caleb’s.

Joshua chose to remain faithful to the Lord, and he and his family received their portion of the Promised Land. So committed was Joshua, that just before he dies, he offers a challenge that still inspires God’s people,

Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.  Joshua 24:14-15 (NIV)

We can choose to be living examples of God’s love and grace in the world instead of weapons for death and destruction. Won’t you choose to be God’s crowning achievements of creation and salvation by living out living out His redemptive plan? We all have a choice—choose to serve the Lord!

What a Wonderful Savior!

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God’s Secret Place For Us

For June 26, 2022
Psalm 91 remains one of the most beloved Psalms; having provided God’s people with a rich fervor and comfort unlike any other Psalm for three thousand years. We cannot underestimate its significance as a rich source of encouragement during moments of trial.

Even the Enemy, Satan, used a paraphrase to tempt our Lord in a futile attempt to dissuade Him from fulfilling His redemptive mission. (cf. Matthew 4:6, Luke 4:10-11.)

This most wonderful passage begins with these comforting words,

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1-2 (NKJV)

This palm provides us with a practical application of God’s Word that relates to our human experience, as this author observes,

[God’s Word] meets the deepest needs of the soul—by solutions of its problems, disclosures of God’s character, presentations of the way of pardon, consolations and promises for life and death.1

The Psalmist uses metaphorical language to create a picture of God’s tender care as our protector and provider, like an eagle for its brood in the mountain nest. It this way it illustrates God’s protection and faithfulness; especially when we face danger as another writer attests,

In its exquisite beauty it reflects deep trust and confidence. Those in communion with God are assured of a holy serenity and security at all times. Jehovah is a sure defense.2

The Psalmist shows God to be the one who shelters and protects His children; shielding us tenaciously from all danger with His two wings: preservation and providence—even in today’s world.

By faith in Christ, we can know God’s love and abiding presence, so that despite our circumstances, we can find the Lord to be faithful to His Word and protective of His beloved children. Over two thousand years of human history, the testimonies of His Saints continue to affirm 2 Timothy 1:12 (NLT),

I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

Psalm 91 is a testament of God’s presence on our spiritual pilgrimage. Although He may seem hidden in moments of our darkest despair, He is faithful to meet our needs as He promises and is always our “present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) Won’t you give the Lord your heart today and know Him personally?

What a Wonderful Savior!

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Finding Encouragement in Today’s Troubled World

For June 12, 2022
The Old Testament patriarch, Job, whose life is featured in the Bible book that bears his name, helps us find encouragement in today’s turbulent world. The NLT Bible depicts Job as a man who was “blameless with complete integrity,” and that he “feared God and stayed away from evil.” (Job 1:1)

The Lord blessed both him and his wife with children and abundant wealth. Yet, according to His infinite foreknowledge and wisdom, God allowed Satan to take away almost everything he had—including his health.

However, never losing his faith in God, Job recognizes the frailty of the human life. In addition, the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, follows up on this narrative when he observes how our life after death is the “great equalizer,”

Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength. Proverbs 11:4, 4 (NLT)

In today’s mixed up world, it often appears that we increasingly embolden the wicked to commit wickedness… with impunity. However, they may seem to get by, but they will never get away,

For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness. Proverbs 5:21-23 (NLT)

Job builds on the idea of justice and retribution under the authority of the Righteous Judge and discloses his unwavering faith in the Lord,

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! Job 19:25-27 (NLT)

Job submitted to God by remaining patient in tribulation (Romans 12:12), as he withstood the faith test. In the end, God blessed him with more than he had before the period of testing began.

Again, Job never lost faith in God, even under the most disheartening of circumstances. Instead, he was absolutely convinced that even under the most severe of trials, the Lord was in complete control of his life and circumstances!

With the vicissitudes associated with our fleeting life, we are mere pilgrims swiftly traveling toward a certain eternal destiny,

How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear. (Job 14:1-2 NLT)

In the end, God is worthy of our faith in all things. His people can find encouragement knowing that He is sovereign in His power and dominion. Thus, He has established limits on all of Satan’s evil schemes and devices while He perfects His will in us,

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)

Job also affirms how our Lord wants to complete His perfect work in us by any means necessary,

If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come. Job 14:14 (NIV)

After a life of patient waiting, a glorious renewal comes to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We who have been to the cross by faith and saw the nail prints in His hand and feet; we believe He died for our sins and rose for our justification. Under the power of the Holy Spirit, we fight the good fight knowing we have the ultimate victory.

Burdened by the weight of our trials, we can lose sight of how God is performing His perfect work in us and for us. The fear of being oppressed and/or destroyed by Satan may interrupt our joy in the Lord momentarily. But we can take comfort knowing that he has neither the power nor the ability to destroy us because we belong to God,

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (NLT)

Further,

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NLT)

Our trials are not our destruction. And by His power, we can exercise patient endurance while waiting for His deliverance, which will happen in a manner whereby He receives the glory—not us.

Be encouraged; we shall live and reign with Christ forever in glory! Then, God will give us rest from all of our labors as we share eternity with Him. Won’t you trust Christ today, and experience His lasting peace, joy, and encouragement that can soothe troubled hearts?

What a Wonderful Savior!

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The Grace of God that Brings Salvation

For June 5, 2022
I am appalled by the heightened lawlessness, hostility, and violence where people should express civility, emotional maturity, and understanding. Although some would argue that humanity is growing into a morally responsible creatures and that life is getting better for humans everywhere. Yet—by nature—the human heart is desperately wicked; filled with hatred, greed, pride, lasciviousness and all forms of evil. And that outside of the transforming power of Christ, we are left to our own morally detestable devices.

But when a person feels the full weight of their guilt and shame associated with living a life of sin and selfishness, along with the emptiness from ignoring and rejecting God and godly things, they can realize that the only person who can deliver us is Jesus Christ the Son of God,

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” Romans 10:9-11 (NIV)

When we come to Christ, by faith, the Holy Spirit enables us to grow into morally astute practitioners of the Christian faith who refrain from exploiting others. With our growing moral consciousness, we produce the living fruit that validates our Christian witness,

A person who has genuinely repented will stop doing evil and begin to live righteously. Along with a change of mind and attitude, true repentance will begin to produce a change in conduct.1

We become new creatures in Christ and literally turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6). In the home, we attend church regularly, read God’s Word, serve the Lord and others, and pray as uniquely gifted members of one homogeneous entity, safe from sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, as we treat each other with dignity and respect and not as objects of personal gratification.

The family is not exempt from sickness, poverty, death, and other life issues that affect us all. We can remain true to God and each other by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ to meet every need.

In the workplace, we are God’s faithful stewards. We are reliable and responsible for company resources, we submit to authority, we follow instructions, and we do not express petty sentiments toward our coworkers. We are also positive, exemplary team players who celebrate the achievements and comfort the distresses of our colleagues.

In addition, we are prompt, work hard, take only allotted breaks, leave when scheduled, and never defraud the company with bogus sicknesses or injuries to get time off or to collect disability payments. Trustworthy with the Lord’s resources, we will receive His eternal commendation.

Using Jesus Christ as our role model, we can improve our social condition by advancing the causes of others and treating people with the esteem and dignity they deserve. Understanding that God created us as equals in His image, we show it is possible to interact with others with sincerity, honor, and respect, regardless of class or gender.

Giving and receiving forgiveness is at a premium as we avoid keeping records of past wrongs as self-appointed judges, since we are equal debtors in the sight of God. Jesus rightly says in John 8:7 (NLT), ”All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”

Our new life influences all areas of our daily human interaction as expressions of Christ’s love through responsible service to others. Exploitation, euthanasia, abortion, violent assaults, and degrading media have no place where Christ’s scepter of righteousness rules our hearts,

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14 (NKJV)

The unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God and we are bought with a price and belong to Him only (1 Corinthians 6:9, 20). The Tree of Life reflecting in us can heal the nations, as God promised in Revelation 22:2.

Our understanding of who we are from God’s perspective enables us to practice a pure religion that is Spirit-driven and undefiled before God and the world. Won’t you trust Christ today as your personal Savior and experience the grace of God for yourself? Your world, and that of others, will change in ways you can’t begin to imagine.

What a Wonderful Savior!

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God Will Sustain Us

For May 29, 2022
While on earth, our Lord submitted Himself to His Father, our Lord God, and resisted the Devil successfully. As we emulate Christ, James 4:7 teaches we too can “resist the Devil, and he will flee from us.”

Because Christ persevered and triumphed, we have the victory with the promise that no weapon formed against us will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). He dispatches His angels to keep us from danger, while His Holy Spirit dwells within to comfort us (John 14:16-18). Here is what the Psalmist observes,

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my ortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.” Psalm 91 (NKJV)

We are not invincible, for even the Lord’s Apostles were persecuted and martyred. Nevertheless, eternal blessing is certain because we belong to the Lord, whether we are living in this world or have gone to the next. He sustains us through our persecution and suffering while protecting us from Satan and the other forces at work against us (Romans 14:8, Revelation 14:13).

The Apostle John was the last remaining disciple. While in exile on the Isle of Patmos, he had time to reflect on the three years he shared with our Lord, the other disciples (now gone), as well as Pentecost and the growth of the New Testament church. Despite the persecution from the tyrannical Roman emperors, John did not renounce his faith. Instead, he persevered, just as the Lord predicted,

Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. John 17:11–12 (NKJV).

There may be times when persecution and adversity cause us to doubt the Lord. As with the three Hebrew boys presented in Daniel 3, we may find ourselves in a “fiery furnace.” But we can be assured God has not abandoned us. He will give us the extraordinary resolve to count it all joy because our unspeakable treasure is not on the earth—it is in Heaven.

We face many hardships in today’s world, and to the casual observer, there is much uncertainty. However bleak our situation might appear, our circumstances do not negate God’s love, grace, and mercy, nor do they reveal His desertion because nothing can separate us from His love. In the final analysis, all the things we experience will work together for our good (Romans 8:28).

The Lord Himself will acknowledge us as He does His faithful Philadelphia Church,

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ Revelation 3:7-13 (NKJV)

Our toils and disappointments serve as constant reminders of the presence of sin in our world, which contrasts His magnificent Kingdom. There, all our toil and suffering will be forgotten instantly the moment we see Jesus Christ in His full majestic splendor (Revelation 21:3-4).

The Bible assures us we can be steadfast and ever vigilant in pursuing our incorruptible inheritance because we are kept by God’s power “through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3–5). Won’t you trust the Lord, our God, to sustain you today?

What a Wonderful Savior!

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