"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 'Where have you laid him?' he asked. 'Come and see, Lord,' the replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, 'See how he loved him!'" -John 11: 33-36
There are moments in time when we hurt. Sometimes it may be nothing more than just loneliness but most of the time we have a legitimate reason to be hurting. It could be because you lost your job or you can't find a job. It could be because of a relationship that is no longer. Or it could be because of the death of someone that you really cared about. In chapter 11 of the Gospel of John, Lazarus, Jesus' good friend, dies. When Jesus finally arrives in Judea, Lazarus has already been dead four days. The scripture from above details as Jesus goes to the grave of Lazarus. He is being lead by Martha and Mary, Lazarus' sister. As they roll away the stone blocking the entrance of Lazarus' grave, Jesus sees everyone there begin to cry and the bible says that "He was deeply moved and troubled." And then perhaps one of the most unthinkable things in all of the bible happens: Jesus cries! Jesus, who is God in human form, weeps at the grave of Lazarus. Now to be fair, theologians have argued to no end as to why Jesus cried. For those who don't know the whole story, SPOILER ALERT! After He weeps, Jesus raises Lazarus back to life, calling him out of the grave after being dead for four days. People have asked the question, "why did Jesus cry if He was going to bring Lazarus back to life AND He knew he was going to do it?" Its a fair question but I think the most probable answer is that Jesus had compassion on Mary, Martha, and the other Jews at the grave. He felt their pain; he felt their anguish toward the death of Lazarus. Yes, Jesus knew that in a matter of moments, he would be calling Lazarus out of the grave but I think that this scene shows that God hurts when we hurt. Death was never supposed to be a part of life. God did not create human beings with the purpose of one day dying but instead we were created to live forever with Him. Jesus crying really touches my heart. To know that I serve a God who feels my pain and knows what I'm going through is really comforting to me. I know that no matter what I go through in my life, God is with me and he cares for me. And just like Lazarus dying was such a terrible thing, Jesus used it to show His power. Maybe you're going through a tough time and you think that there is no way anything good can come from it. Romans 8:28 reminds believers that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him." Remember, there would be no rainbows if there were no rain. God can take the worst situation and turn it into something you never thought possible. Nothing could be a better example of this than Jesus dying on the cross. The worst thing that has ever happened in the world; God in human form is murdered. But what did God do with that? He turned it into the gift of salvation for those who put their faith in Jesus. No matter what you are going through, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Put your faith in Jesus and trust Him to get you through it.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Void Only God Can Fill
"This is what the Lord says: 'What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.'" - Jeremiah 2:5
I know in my life, there have been plenty of times when I have felt alone; I feel that no one can understand what I'm going through and no one can help. I think it's human nature to sometimes feel defeated and empty. Sometimes we get to a certain point in our lives and we wonder if we're doing what we are destined to do. Some people try to mask this empty feeling with alcohol, drugs, or their money but somehow the void is always there. It never goes away. All the alcohol, drugs, and money in the world are not going to fill the void; they're only going to make it bigger. I have found that the only thing, more specifically the only person, who can fill that void is Jesus Christ. I have found that when I put my faith in Him, he never leaves me and he never forsakes me. Of course there are times when I still feel lonely or helpless but that's when I get the most use out of my faith in Jesus. I know that no matter what I do or how I feel, He will never leave me. I sometimes think about people who don't have a faith to call on and how they rely on the desires of this world to fill that void in their life. I truly believe that the void that you feel was placed by God on purpose. Not that He wants you to feel lonely or depressed but He wants you to know that He is the only one that can fill that void in your life. What that void really is is a longing to know God; a longing to have a relationship with Him. He loves you. You were created in His image to enjoy the life that He has blessed you with but also to be in close connection with Him. I know some people will read this and think that I'm now some sort of "Jesus Freak" and that is okay with me because I am. And if everyone would truly ask Jesus to come into their life and make a change, they could experience all the things that I have described.
If you are going through something in your life and it feels like nothing else in this world is making you better, maybe it's time to try Jesus. As I said before, the feeling of emptiness is God's way of letting you know that this life on Earth is not the only thing you were made for. You were made to be in heaven where He is. The great Christian author C.S. Lewis once said, "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." Lewis nailed it. This life on earth is just a temporary stop on our way to heaven.
If you're tired of being disappointed by the things this world has to offer, ask Jesus for help. It will be the best decision you'll ever make. I guarantee it.
I know in my life, there have been plenty of times when I have felt alone; I feel that no one can understand what I'm going through and no one can help. I think it's human nature to sometimes feel defeated and empty. Sometimes we get to a certain point in our lives and we wonder if we're doing what we are destined to do. Some people try to mask this empty feeling with alcohol, drugs, or their money but somehow the void is always there. It never goes away. All the alcohol, drugs, and money in the world are not going to fill the void; they're only going to make it bigger. I have found that the only thing, more specifically the only person, who can fill that void is Jesus Christ. I have found that when I put my faith in Him, he never leaves me and he never forsakes me. Of course there are times when I still feel lonely or helpless but that's when I get the most use out of my faith in Jesus. I know that no matter what I do or how I feel, He will never leave me. I sometimes think about people who don't have a faith to call on and how they rely on the desires of this world to fill that void in their life. I truly believe that the void that you feel was placed by God on purpose. Not that He wants you to feel lonely or depressed but He wants you to know that He is the only one that can fill that void in your life. What that void really is is a longing to know God; a longing to have a relationship with Him. He loves you. You were created in His image to enjoy the life that He has blessed you with but also to be in close connection with Him. I know some people will read this and think that I'm now some sort of "Jesus Freak" and that is okay with me because I am. And if everyone would truly ask Jesus to come into their life and make a change, they could experience all the things that I have described.
If you are going through something in your life and it feels like nothing else in this world is making you better, maybe it's time to try Jesus. As I said before, the feeling of emptiness is God's way of letting you know that this life on Earth is not the only thing you were made for. You were made to be in heaven where He is. The great Christian author C.S. Lewis once said, "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." Lewis nailed it. This life on earth is just a temporary stop on our way to heaven.
If you're tired of being disappointed by the things this world has to offer, ask Jesus for help. It will be the best decision you'll ever make. I guarantee it.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Who Do YOU Say That I Am?
"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.'" -Matthew 16: 13-17
Jesus is nearing the time of his arrest and death. As these much prophesied events get closer, Jesus is starting to reveal himself and his purpose for coming to earth. Though there are numerous Old Testament scriptures predicting that the Messiah would suffer and die, the disciples did not know that Jesus was going to die. They though that when they got to Jerusalem, Jesus was going to overthrow the Romans, reclaim the land, and set up his kingdom. In earlier verses, the disciples are even arguing over who is the greatest of the 12 and who was going to get to sit next to Jesus' throne.
As Jesus is revealing his purpose for coming to earth, he asks his disciples "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" Many people at that time, similar to today, did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. People rejected him as the Savior of the world even though the event of his birth alone fulfilled enough Old Testament prophecies to make it statistically impossible for it to be anyone else. So Jesus wanted to hear from his disciples who they thought he was. The disciples begin to mention names that other people had said Jesus was: some thought he was John the Baptist who had come back from the dead, some thought he was one of the Old Testament prophets Elijah or Jeremiah. But then Jesus clarifies himself to the disciples saying, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter, perhaps the most bold of the disciples, says, "You are the Christ, the Son of God." Essentially, Peter was confessing that Jesus was who he said he was: the Messiah, the Savior of the World, the Son of God incarnate.
At some point in ALL of our lives, we will have to answer Jesus' question, "Who do YOU say that I am?" Most people will reject Jesus, arguing that either he was just a great moral teacher or he was not God in human form. However, the Bible gives a tremendous promise and hope for those who will confess that Jesus is the Savior of the world: the promise and hope of everlasting life. Many people will say that Jesus is not the right way to heaven or my personal favorite, "all roads lead to God." I heard a pastor say that "All roads do lead to God, but from there it splits into two paths." If you really learn about the beliefs of other religions, you will quickly realize that they can't all be right.
It is important to remember that Christianity is not a religion. It is a personal relationship with Jesus. In Matthew 7:23, Jesus says that he will tell people on judgment day "Depart from me evil doer. I never knew you." Jesus is saying that your works or your style of worship does not matter. He wants to KNOW you. He wants you to learn about Him (read the Bible), talk to Him (prayer), and live like Him (love others).
So the question becomes, who do you say that Jesus is? Is he a good moral teacher? Is he a liar? Did he never even live? Or is he the Savior of the world? Jesus is my Lord and my Savior. And because of that, I have a hope that there is a life beyond this world. My life was not some random accident or the result of evolving from monkeys. My life was a gift given to me by the creator of the universe. And His Son died for me on the cross so that when I stand before God to be judged, Jesus' perfect life will be seen instead of my imperfect one. Do you have this hope? Do you want this hope? Then accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It is the best decision you will ever make.
Jesus is nearing the time of his arrest and death. As these much prophesied events get closer, Jesus is starting to reveal himself and his purpose for coming to earth. Though there are numerous Old Testament scriptures predicting that the Messiah would suffer and die, the disciples did not know that Jesus was going to die. They though that when they got to Jerusalem, Jesus was going to overthrow the Romans, reclaim the land, and set up his kingdom. In earlier verses, the disciples are even arguing over who is the greatest of the 12 and who was going to get to sit next to Jesus' throne.
As Jesus is revealing his purpose for coming to earth, he asks his disciples "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" Many people at that time, similar to today, did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. People rejected him as the Savior of the world even though the event of his birth alone fulfilled enough Old Testament prophecies to make it statistically impossible for it to be anyone else. So Jesus wanted to hear from his disciples who they thought he was. The disciples begin to mention names that other people had said Jesus was: some thought he was John the Baptist who had come back from the dead, some thought he was one of the Old Testament prophets Elijah or Jeremiah. But then Jesus clarifies himself to the disciples saying, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter, perhaps the most bold of the disciples, says, "You are the Christ, the Son of God." Essentially, Peter was confessing that Jesus was who he said he was: the Messiah, the Savior of the World, the Son of God incarnate.
At some point in ALL of our lives, we will have to answer Jesus' question, "Who do YOU say that I am?" Most people will reject Jesus, arguing that either he was just a great moral teacher or he was not God in human form. However, the Bible gives a tremendous promise and hope for those who will confess that Jesus is the Savior of the world: the promise and hope of everlasting life. Many people will say that Jesus is not the right way to heaven or my personal favorite, "all roads lead to God." I heard a pastor say that "All roads do lead to God, but from there it splits into two paths." If you really learn about the beliefs of other religions, you will quickly realize that they can't all be right.
It is important to remember that Christianity is not a religion. It is a personal relationship with Jesus. In Matthew 7:23, Jesus says that he will tell people on judgment day "Depart from me evil doer. I never knew you." Jesus is saying that your works or your style of worship does not matter. He wants to KNOW you. He wants you to learn about Him (read the Bible), talk to Him (prayer), and live like Him (love others).
So the question becomes, who do you say that Jesus is? Is he a good moral teacher? Is he a liar? Did he never even live? Or is he the Savior of the world? Jesus is my Lord and my Savior. And because of that, I have a hope that there is a life beyond this world. My life was not some random accident or the result of evolving from monkeys. My life was a gift given to me by the creator of the universe. And His Son died for me on the cross so that when I stand before God to be judged, Jesus' perfect life will be seen instead of my imperfect one. Do you have this hope? Do you want this hope? Then accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It is the best decision you will ever make.
Friday, March 11, 2011
End of the World?
"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven." - Luke 21: 10-11
"Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near." - Luke 21: 31
The end of the world has sparked interest and controversy for most of human history. Countless number of people have tried to come up with predictions as to when the end of the world would come. All predictions have failed except one: those that are found in the Bible. The passage above is Jesus answering a question posed by his disciples, who wanted to know what the signs of the end would be. It should be known that Jesus' disciples thought that the end of the world would happen in their lifetime, that is why they were asking. Jesus mentions that nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. This is an obvious indication that wars are going to be almost the norm when the end of time is near. Jesus also says there will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places. Now people will say that there have always been earthquakes and famines but there is one fact that they cannot deny: for the last five years, not only has the frequency of earthquakes increased every decade but the number "deadly" earthquakes have increased. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says that the signs of the end would be like birth pains. When a woman is about to give birth, her pain and contractions become more intense and more frequent until the ultimate birth. Jesus is saying that the signs of the end would be the same: more frequent and more intense.
Now, this is not meant to scare or put fear into anyone. This is simply to educate. For believers of Jesus Christ, though all these things are tragic, don't see these events as random. We see them as signs from God that Jesus is coming again. Later in his answer, Jesus says, "Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near." It may seem like the world is out of control, but Christians know that God is in complete control. These earthquakes and unrest in the Middle East are signs that Jesus told us to watch out for.
Again, this is not meant to scare anyone but rather to be an explanation for why the world seems to be in chaos. Jesus said it would be. But it is important to remember that this is all part of God's perfect plan for the world. Every day, hour, and minute that goes by, we are that much closer to seeing our Savior face to face.
"Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near." - Luke 21: 31
The end of the world has sparked interest and controversy for most of human history. Countless number of people have tried to come up with predictions as to when the end of the world would come. All predictions have failed except one: those that are found in the Bible. The passage above is Jesus answering a question posed by his disciples, who wanted to know what the signs of the end would be. It should be known that Jesus' disciples thought that the end of the world would happen in their lifetime, that is why they were asking. Jesus mentions that nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. This is an obvious indication that wars are going to be almost the norm when the end of time is near. Jesus also says there will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places. Now people will say that there have always been earthquakes and famines but there is one fact that they cannot deny: for the last five years, not only has the frequency of earthquakes increased every decade but the number "deadly" earthquakes have increased. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says that the signs of the end would be like birth pains. When a woman is about to give birth, her pain and contractions become more intense and more frequent until the ultimate birth. Jesus is saying that the signs of the end would be the same: more frequent and more intense.
Now, this is not meant to scare or put fear into anyone. This is simply to educate. For believers of Jesus Christ, though all these things are tragic, don't see these events as random. We see them as signs from God that Jesus is coming again. Later in his answer, Jesus says, "Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near." It may seem like the world is out of control, but Christians know that God is in complete control. These earthquakes and unrest in the Middle East are signs that Jesus told us to watch out for.
Again, this is not meant to scare anyone but rather to be an explanation for why the world seems to be in chaos. Jesus said it would be. But it is important to remember that this is all part of God's perfect plan for the world. Every day, hour, and minute that goes by, we are that much closer to seeing our Savior face to face.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Becoming Like A Child
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." - Mark 10: 14-15
In this passage, Jesus has just answered to tough question asked by some Pharisees, who were attempting to catch him in a contradiction (they couldn't). After this, men starting bringing the children to Jesus for a blessing but his disciples are trying to stop the children from getting to Jesus. Jesus' response is the above passage. It is made perfectly clear that God loves children and He does not want anything or anyone to stop a child from coming to Him. Jesus says something very interesting in verse 15 though. He says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." What is Jesus saying here? He is saying that in order for anyone to enter the kingdom of heaven, they have to become like a child. This doesn't mean become immature and throw tantrums. Rather, God wants us to become like children in the fact that he wants us to stop being so prideful and become as innocent as child. When a child is young, they rely very heavily on their parents. God want's us to become as dependent on Him as a child is to his/her parents. When we fall, God wants to pick us up. When we don't have the strength to carry on, God wants us to lean on Him. When we cry, God wants to wipe our tears.
Part of being a Christian is learning to forget the wants and desires of your own life and submit to the plan that God has for your life. It's not easy and everyone struggles. But God would rather you have the right intent and stumble than to not even try.
God loves you for who you are. It doesn't matter what you have done, no mistake is too big for God to forgive. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, one of the criminals who was crucified alongside him said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." At almost the very last moment of his life, the criminal realized who Jesus was and accepted him as the Savior of the world. If Jesus can forgive a man who was crucified right next to him, he can forgive you. All you have to do is ask.
In this passage, Jesus has just answered to tough question asked by some Pharisees, who were attempting to catch him in a contradiction (they couldn't). After this, men starting bringing the children to Jesus for a blessing but his disciples are trying to stop the children from getting to Jesus. Jesus' response is the above passage. It is made perfectly clear that God loves children and He does not want anything or anyone to stop a child from coming to Him. Jesus says something very interesting in verse 15 though. He says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." What is Jesus saying here? He is saying that in order for anyone to enter the kingdom of heaven, they have to become like a child. This doesn't mean become immature and throw tantrums. Rather, God wants us to become like children in the fact that he wants us to stop being so prideful and become as innocent as child. When a child is young, they rely very heavily on their parents. God want's us to become as dependent on Him as a child is to his/her parents. When we fall, God wants to pick us up. When we don't have the strength to carry on, God wants us to lean on Him. When we cry, God wants to wipe our tears.
Part of being a Christian is learning to forget the wants and desires of your own life and submit to the plan that God has for your life. It's not easy and everyone struggles. But God would rather you have the right intent and stumble than to not even try.
God loves you for who you are. It doesn't matter what you have done, no mistake is too big for God to forgive. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, one of the criminals who was crucified alongside him said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." At almost the very last moment of his life, the criminal realized who Jesus was and accepted him as the Savior of the world. If Jesus can forgive a man who was crucified right next to him, he can forgive you. All you have to do is ask.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Trusting God When The Storms of Life Hit
"The Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'" - Matthew 14: 29-30
In this section of Matthew chapter 14, Jesus has just performed one of his most famous miracles: the feeding of the 5,000. After this miracle, Jesus orders his disciples to get into a boat and go to the other side while he dismisses the 5,000. After dismissing the 5,000, Jesus goes up to the mountainside to pray. At around 3 in the morning, Jesus looks down and see his disciples in their boat but are struggling with a violent storm. Jesus then proceeds to come down from the mountain and walk on the water to the disciples' boat. When the disciples first see Him, they think He is a ghost. When the disciples realize that it is Jesus, Peter asks Jesus for permission to walk on the water with Him. Peter is doing just fine until the wind blows and Peter begins to sink and immediately calls out for Jesus to save him.
This story is one that we can easily apply to our lives, minus the fact that we can walk on water. The first thing is the storm. When Jesus put the disciples into the boat, they were probably not expecting to be hit with such a violent storm. Storms can hit a persons life at any time. If you're not currently going through a storm, you will soon. They are inevitable. They can cause us to panic and act in ways that we normally wouldn't act. The second thing is that God is always willing to help. He may not always help when we want Him to but his timing is always perfect. Though the disciples were struggling with the storm for hours, Jesus did not intervene until later. God is never late, and for that matter, He is never early. He is always on time and He has a reason for His timing. The ironic thing is that when Jesus does come to help, the disciples did not recognize Him. They thought He was a ghost. Sometimes when we are going through a tough time and we ask God for help, he assists us in ways that we aren't always looking for. The final point has to do with Peter. When Peter steps out onto the water, he is actually walking on the water. But when the wind blows, Peter starts to panic and his situation gets much worse until he cries out for Jesus to save him. When we go through a storm, things may seem to be going okay but once we take our focus off of God, our situation gets worse. God knows and understands that there are going to be plenty of hardships in your life and He wants to help you get through them. But He is not going to force Himself into your life. You have to be willing to submit your life to Him and cry out for help.
God doesn't cause the storms of life but he allows them to happen. Sometimes we don't understand why God allows us to go through a tough time until after it is over and sometimes we never understand. The important thing to remember is that God is always in control of everything. Even in these times when the world seems to be in chaos, God is in control. If you want His help, all you have to do is ask for it.
In this section of Matthew chapter 14, Jesus has just performed one of his most famous miracles: the feeding of the 5,000. After this miracle, Jesus orders his disciples to get into a boat and go to the other side while he dismisses the 5,000. After dismissing the 5,000, Jesus goes up to the mountainside to pray. At around 3 in the morning, Jesus looks down and see his disciples in their boat but are struggling with a violent storm. Jesus then proceeds to come down from the mountain and walk on the water to the disciples' boat. When the disciples first see Him, they think He is a ghost. When the disciples realize that it is Jesus, Peter asks Jesus for permission to walk on the water with Him. Peter is doing just fine until the wind blows and Peter begins to sink and immediately calls out for Jesus to save him.
This story is one that we can easily apply to our lives, minus the fact that we can walk on water. The first thing is the storm. When Jesus put the disciples into the boat, they were probably not expecting to be hit with such a violent storm. Storms can hit a persons life at any time. If you're not currently going through a storm, you will soon. They are inevitable. They can cause us to panic and act in ways that we normally wouldn't act. The second thing is that God is always willing to help. He may not always help when we want Him to but his timing is always perfect. Though the disciples were struggling with the storm for hours, Jesus did not intervene until later. God is never late, and for that matter, He is never early. He is always on time and He has a reason for His timing. The ironic thing is that when Jesus does come to help, the disciples did not recognize Him. They thought He was a ghost. Sometimes when we are going through a tough time and we ask God for help, he assists us in ways that we aren't always looking for. The final point has to do with Peter. When Peter steps out onto the water, he is actually walking on the water. But when the wind blows, Peter starts to panic and his situation gets much worse until he cries out for Jesus to save him. When we go through a storm, things may seem to be going okay but once we take our focus off of God, our situation gets worse. God knows and understands that there are going to be plenty of hardships in your life and He wants to help you get through them. But He is not going to force Himself into your life. You have to be willing to submit your life to Him and cry out for help.
God doesn't cause the storms of life but he allows them to happen. Sometimes we don't understand why God allows us to go through a tough time until after it is over and sometimes we never understand. The important thing to remember is that God is always in control of everything. Even in these times when the world seems to be in chaos, God is in control. If you want His help, all you have to do is ask for it.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Why The Bible Can Be Trusted
Here are some facts as to why the Bible can be trusted to be the word of God:
1) The "Divine Design"
The Bible consists of 66 books (originally scrolls), which was written by over 40 authors (all of different occupations and education levels) over a timespan of 1500 years. Most of the writers, especially ones of the Old Testament, did not know each other. The Bible was written in three different languages (Old Testament: Hebrew & Aramaic, New Testament: Greek) and on three different continents (Africa, Europe, and Asia).
These facts on their own may not be very impressive but when you take into consideration that all the writers were consistent with the message in their writings, it becomes almost unthinkable that it flows together perfectly. So unthinkable that maybe there was divine intervention ...
2) The Bible is Historically Accurate
Minor characters in the Bible such as Herod the Great, Pontius Pilate, and King Agrippa are all confirmed by Roman records and archeology. Even non-believing scholars agree that other people, such as King David and King Solomon, and cities, such as Ephesus and Thessalonica, are real.
3) The Bible has fulfilled Prophecies
Forgetting Jesus' deity and whether you believe it or not for one second, let me list three prophecies:
i) 2 Samuel 7: 12-16 - In these verses, God is promising King David that the messiah will come from his bloodline.
ii) Micah 5:2 - This verse predicts that the messiah will be born in the town of Bethlehem.
iii) Daniel 9: 24-27 - This verse predicts that the messiah will have had to have lived and died before the Jewish temple is destroyed.
*Remember, Daniel was the last of these prophecies that was written....900 years before the birth of Jesus!*
Jesus came from the bloodline of King David (Matthew chapter 1), was born in the town of Bethlehem, and was crucified around 32AD. The Jewish temple was destroyed in 70AD. The odds that someone would fulfill one of these prophecies is very small so the odds that someone would fulfill three of them is even smaller.
Fulfilling prophecies did not stop with Jesus. Prophecies are still being fulfilled today, including the uprisings in the Middle East and the path toward a one-world government.
4) The writers of the books suffered great persecution
Think about this: if you wrote a book that you KNEW was false, would you die in order to prove its truthfulness? If the writers of the Bible had any indication that what they were writing was false, would they have died for its cause? Here are some of the writers and the ways they were persecuted:
Matthew: Killed by sword in Ethiopia
Mark: killed by being dragged through the streets of Alexandria
Luke: hung from and olive tree
John: banished to island of Patmos after a plan to boil him in oil did not work
Peter: crucified upside down (did not feel worthy to die a death like Jesus)
Paul: beheaded in Rome
The first five of these authors were actual disciples of Jesus and were killed because of their faith in Jesus. If their writings were false and they truly did not believe what they were writing, why would they die for its cause?
1) The "Divine Design"
The Bible consists of 66 books (originally scrolls), which was written by over 40 authors (all of different occupations and education levels) over a timespan of 1500 years. Most of the writers, especially ones of the Old Testament, did not know each other. The Bible was written in three different languages (Old Testament: Hebrew & Aramaic, New Testament: Greek) and on three different continents (Africa, Europe, and Asia).
These facts on their own may not be very impressive but when you take into consideration that all the writers were consistent with the message in their writings, it becomes almost unthinkable that it flows together perfectly. So unthinkable that maybe there was divine intervention ...
2) The Bible is Historically Accurate
Minor characters in the Bible such as Herod the Great, Pontius Pilate, and King Agrippa are all confirmed by Roman records and archeology. Even non-believing scholars agree that other people, such as King David and King Solomon, and cities, such as Ephesus and Thessalonica, are real.
3) The Bible has fulfilled Prophecies
Forgetting Jesus' deity and whether you believe it or not for one second, let me list three prophecies:
i) 2 Samuel 7: 12-16 - In these verses, God is promising King David that the messiah will come from his bloodline.
ii) Micah 5:2 - This verse predicts that the messiah will be born in the town of Bethlehem.
iii) Daniel 9: 24-27 - This verse predicts that the messiah will have had to have lived and died before the Jewish temple is destroyed.
*Remember, Daniel was the last of these prophecies that was written....900 years before the birth of Jesus!*
Jesus came from the bloodline of King David (Matthew chapter 1), was born in the town of Bethlehem, and was crucified around 32AD. The Jewish temple was destroyed in 70AD. The odds that someone would fulfill one of these prophecies is very small so the odds that someone would fulfill three of them is even smaller.
Fulfilling prophecies did not stop with Jesus. Prophecies are still being fulfilled today, including the uprisings in the Middle East and the path toward a one-world government.
4) The writers of the books suffered great persecution
Think about this: if you wrote a book that you KNEW was false, would you die in order to prove its truthfulness? If the writers of the Bible had any indication that what they were writing was false, would they have died for its cause? Here are some of the writers and the ways they were persecuted:
Matthew: Killed by sword in Ethiopia
Mark: killed by being dragged through the streets of Alexandria
Luke: hung from and olive tree
John: banished to island of Patmos after a plan to boil him in oil did not work
Peter: crucified upside down (did not feel worthy to die a death like Jesus)
Paul: beheaded in Rome
The first five of these authors were actual disciples of Jesus and were killed because of their faith in Jesus. If their writings were false and they truly did not believe what they were writing, why would they die for its cause?
Thursday, February 10, 2011
It's So Easy To Become a Christian
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." -Ephesians 2: 8-9
The famous preacher Billy Graham once said, "It is so easy to receive Christ that millions stumble over its sheer simplicity." He could not have been more right. Many people see Christianity as an exclusive group of people and in order to be apart of it, you have to meet certain qualifications. It is quite the contrary. Christianity is an inclusive group of people. Anyone can become a Christian. There is only one qualification: you have to be a sinner. And because that is the only qualification, everyone qualifies. Now as easy as this sounds, many people struggle with the fact that they are sinners. Most of us would like to think that we are good people and that in the end, God will see all the good we have done and let us into heaven. However, admittance into heaven requires that a person be perfect. Have you ever made one mistake in your life? You told a little lie or you stole something small or you looked at another person lustfully. All of those are sins in God's eyes. In James 2: 10 it says, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." When we break one of God's laws, it is as if we have broke all of His laws. And because a person needs to be perfect to get into heaven, when we commit one sin, no matter how tiny it is, we are condemned for all of eternity. This is where the above scripture comes in. God loves us so much that he has provided a way for sinners to get into heaven. His name is Jesus Christ. In short, what happens is when a person puts his or her faith in Jesus Christ as their personal savior, when that person goes to meet the Lord, instead of being condemned for all the sins that person has committed, God sees that person as if he/she lived Jesus' perfect life. Imagine a courtroom where God is the judge. You're standing before Him about to be sentenced to death for all the wrongs that you've done. But just as the punishment is about to be handed to you, the defense attorney, Jesus, intervenes on your behalf and says, "Your Honor, I have already taken the punishment for this man/woman." That is why Jesus had to come to earth. God needed a perfect sacrifice to bear the sins of every man and woman that has ever lived. And because he lived a perfect life without sin, if you put your faith in him as your savior, you will know FOR CERTAIN that you will go to heaven.
It's not difficult to become a Christian. It's not hard to understand. Yet the simplicity of it will trip up so many people. I hope that as you are reading this, the reality of what Christ did for us is weighing on your heart. It's not just coincidence, its Jesus wanting you to invite him into your life. Revelation 3: 20 says, "I stand and the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. He wants you to open it and let him in so he may dwell with you forever. Let him in and experience all the love he has to give.
The famous preacher Billy Graham once said, "It is so easy to receive Christ that millions stumble over its sheer simplicity." He could not have been more right. Many people see Christianity as an exclusive group of people and in order to be apart of it, you have to meet certain qualifications. It is quite the contrary. Christianity is an inclusive group of people. Anyone can become a Christian. There is only one qualification: you have to be a sinner. And because that is the only qualification, everyone qualifies. Now as easy as this sounds, many people struggle with the fact that they are sinners. Most of us would like to think that we are good people and that in the end, God will see all the good we have done and let us into heaven. However, admittance into heaven requires that a person be perfect. Have you ever made one mistake in your life? You told a little lie or you stole something small or you looked at another person lustfully. All of those are sins in God's eyes. In James 2: 10 it says, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." When we break one of God's laws, it is as if we have broke all of His laws. And because a person needs to be perfect to get into heaven, when we commit one sin, no matter how tiny it is, we are condemned for all of eternity. This is where the above scripture comes in. God loves us so much that he has provided a way for sinners to get into heaven. His name is Jesus Christ. In short, what happens is when a person puts his or her faith in Jesus Christ as their personal savior, when that person goes to meet the Lord, instead of being condemned for all the sins that person has committed, God sees that person as if he/she lived Jesus' perfect life. Imagine a courtroom where God is the judge. You're standing before Him about to be sentenced to death for all the wrongs that you've done. But just as the punishment is about to be handed to you, the defense attorney, Jesus, intervenes on your behalf and says, "Your Honor, I have already taken the punishment for this man/woman." That is why Jesus had to come to earth. God needed a perfect sacrifice to bear the sins of every man and woman that has ever lived. And because he lived a perfect life without sin, if you put your faith in him as your savior, you will know FOR CERTAIN that you will go to heaven.
It's not difficult to become a Christian. It's not hard to understand. Yet the simplicity of it will trip up so many people. I hope that as you are reading this, the reality of what Christ did for us is weighing on your heart. It's not just coincidence, its Jesus wanting you to invite him into your life. Revelation 3: 20 says, "I stand and the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. He wants you to open it and let him in so he may dwell with you forever. Let him in and experience all the love he has to give.
Friday, February 4, 2011
God's Will For Your Life
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12: 2
There are times when we wonder what we are doing with our lives. Are we living up to our full potential? Are we doing what we feel we've been destined to do? We ALL have these moments. Being a Christian means that a person stops living for the plans THEY have set for their lives and starts living for the plans that GOD has for their lives. God has a plan for each and every person. You are where you are because God wants you there. You might not have the best job, the most lavish lifestyle, or even the best family but you are in your position because God wants you there for a reason. Take the apostle Paul for example. He was a well-known Christian persecutor not long after the crucifixion of Christ. One day, on his way to Damascus, Jesus spoke directly to Paul and commanded him to stop persecuting his people. From that day on, Paul went throughout the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus to the gentiles. Now, God doesn't always speak to us that bluntly but if you put your trust in Him, you can be sure He'll lead you where you're supposed to be.
As my Nana once told me, "You have plans for your life but God looks at your plans and laughs." While God may not exactly laugh at the plans I have for my life, she has a point. Our plans and God's plans don't always line up. I may want to follow a certain path but God wants me to go a different direction. As a Christian, I've stopped living for my will and have started living for God's will. After all, He is the one who created the earth and everything in it. I think He knows what He's doing :).
Now, as Christians, we pray that God will show us or inspire us to know what His plans are for our life but it's not always easy to know. But I trust Him so much that I know He will lead me where He wants me to be. And don't think for a second that because Christians put their faith in God and the fact that He will guide our lives, that we just sit on our butts and wait for miraculous signs. We still have to be proactive in our lives and set out to accomplish goals. The difference is that we are aware that at any moment God can tell us to go a different direction.
There are times when we wonder what we are doing with our lives. Are we living up to our full potential? Are we doing what we feel we've been destined to do? We ALL have these moments. Being a Christian means that a person stops living for the plans THEY have set for their lives and starts living for the plans that GOD has for their lives. God has a plan for each and every person. You are where you are because God wants you there. You might not have the best job, the most lavish lifestyle, or even the best family but you are in your position because God wants you there for a reason. Take the apostle Paul for example. He was a well-known Christian persecutor not long after the crucifixion of Christ. One day, on his way to Damascus, Jesus spoke directly to Paul and commanded him to stop persecuting his people. From that day on, Paul went throughout the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus to the gentiles. Now, God doesn't always speak to us that bluntly but if you put your trust in Him, you can be sure He'll lead you where you're supposed to be.
As my Nana once told me, "You have plans for your life but God looks at your plans and laughs." While God may not exactly laugh at the plans I have for my life, she has a point. Our plans and God's plans don't always line up. I may want to follow a certain path but God wants me to go a different direction. As a Christian, I've stopped living for my will and have started living for God's will. After all, He is the one who created the earth and everything in it. I think He knows what He's doing :).
Now, as Christians, we pray that God will show us or inspire us to know what His plans are for our life but it's not always easy to know. But I trust Him so much that I know He will lead me where He wants me to be. And don't think for a second that because Christians put their faith in God and the fact that He will guide our lives, that we just sit on our butts and wait for miraculous signs. We still have to be proactive in our lives and set out to accomplish goals. The difference is that we are aware that at any moment God can tell us to go a different direction.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Finding Strength in God
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
The daily difficulties that we go through are enough to bring any one of us to our knees. There are times when we all feel that this world is just too much, that life is more than we can bear. It is at times like these that we need something to lean on. Sure, we all have people that we trust with our lives but people will let you down. Think of the most important people in your life. At one point or another, they have let you down. Maybe not purposely but it is just human nature that we let each other down. This is where Jesus comes in. Jesus is the only one who will never let you down. He will always be there for you, whether you're at the highest of highs or the lowest of lows. In this scripture, Paul, Christianity's first missionary, has been given what he calls, "a thorn in the flesh," something that Paul never defines. Paul asks God three times to take it away and the scripture above is God's response. God wants us to know a couple of things. First, God does not cause suffering. Suffering is a result of living in a fallen world that is consumed with sin. Secondly, God does allow people to suffer. God allows trials and tribulations in a person's life because for some people, the only time they turn to Him is when everything else is letting them down. God wants to know you personally. The God of the bible is not a distant being who wants nothing to do with His creation. He wants a personal relationship with every single person. That is the Christian faith. Having a close relationship with the creator of the universe. Once you have that relationship with Him, He will provide you strength when you feel like you have none. When you're weak, you will be strong because of Him.
The daily difficulties that we go through are enough to bring any one of us to our knees. There are times when we all feel that this world is just too much, that life is more than we can bear. It is at times like these that we need something to lean on. Sure, we all have people that we trust with our lives but people will let you down. Think of the most important people in your life. At one point or another, they have let you down. Maybe not purposely but it is just human nature that we let each other down. This is where Jesus comes in. Jesus is the only one who will never let you down. He will always be there for you, whether you're at the highest of highs or the lowest of lows. In this scripture, Paul, Christianity's first missionary, has been given what he calls, "a thorn in the flesh," something that Paul never defines. Paul asks God three times to take it away and the scripture above is God's response. God wants us to know a couple of things. First, God does not cause suffering. Suffering is a result of living in a fallen world that is consumed with sin. Secondly, God does allow people to suffer. God allows trials and tribulations in a person's life because for some people, the only time they turn to Him is when everything else is letting them down. God wants to know you personally. The God of the bible is not a distant being who wants nothing to do with His creation. He wants a personal relationship with every single person. That is the Christian faith. Having a close relationship with the creator of the universe. Once you have that relationship with Him, He will provide you strength when you feel like you have none. When you're weak, you will be strong because of Him.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
God's Love
"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5: 7-8
For many groups or organizations in life, a few can ruin the reputation of the many. Christianity is no different. Sure there are Christians who are always condemning non-believers or giving people ultimatums that if they don't receive Jesus then they are going to hell. These people give Christianity a bad name. When Jesus came to this earth, he was sent by God to be a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. God sent Jesus because He loves all of us, whether we choose to believe in Jesus or not. During his ministry, Jesus continually talked about love. When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12: 30) Jesus then says the second greatest commandment is to "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12: 31) Love, love, love. That's what the Christian faith should be about. God loves us unconditionally and we should love others the same.
What the verses above are speaking of is God's love for us. We as the human race are sinners (whether or not a person believes that is a different topic). And since we are sinners, we need a savior: Jesus Christ. God loves us so much, that even though we don't deserve to be saved, He wants to save us. That is the amazing love that God has for us. And while we can never demonstrate that love to each other (for the simple reason that we're not God) we can do our best to show others this type of love. Showing and demonstrating this love is what being a Christian is all about.
For many groups or organizations in life, a few can ruin the reputation of the many. Christianity is no different. Sure there are Christians who are always condemning non-believers or giving people ultimatums that if they don't receive Jesus then they are going to hell. These people give Christianity a bad name. When Jesus came to this earth, he was sent by God to be a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. God sent Jesus because He loves all of us, whether we choose to believe in Jesus or not. During his ministry, Jesus continually talked about love. When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12: 30) Jesus then says the second greatest commandment is to "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12: 31) Love, love, love. That's what the Christian faith should be about. God loves us unconditionally and we should love others the same.
What the verses above are speaking of is God's love for us. We as the human race are sinners (whether or not a person believes that is a different topic). And since we are sinners, we need a savior: Jesus Christ. God loves us so much, that even though we don't deserve to be saved, He wants to save us. That is the amazing love that God has for us. And while we can never demonstrate that love to each other (for the simple reason that we're not God) we can do our best to show others this type of love. Showing and demonstrating this love is what being a Christian is all about.
Purpose
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3: 16-17
I have been going to church for as long as I can remember but it wasn't until recently that I began to truly study the inspired word of God: the Bible. Though I still consider myself a baby in the faith, I'm learning more everyday. I am hoping that this blog will assist me in my learning and be an outlet for expressing my ideas on scripture and sharing the experiences of being a Christian.
I have been going to church for as long as I can remember but it wasn't until recently that I began to truly study the inspired word of God: the Bible. Though I still consider myself a baby in the faith, I'm learning more everyday. I am hoping that this blog will assist me in my learning and be an outlet for expressing my ideas on scripture and sharing the experiences of being a Christian.
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