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When you have lived out your appointed time on this earth, what is the first question Christ might ask about your life? Would it be how many obstacles you have overcome, which we know is important, or how many good things you have done for Him and His cause, which is also important? With all the challenges, trials, and setbacks in our lives, when we have exhausted all our options, struggled with seen and unseen enemies, dealt with trials and temptations in which we have won some and lost some, if we are alive, and Christ has not returned, its not over yet. There is one thing that…  ( Click for more )

When we are sick, ill, or just do not feel well, we all look for causes - or at least we should. We are often our own worst enemy in these things; the way we eat, the way we think, the way we do things, etc. But, we all desire to “get well”. We want to feel energetic, vibrant, alert and in top shape to meet life each and every day. If we feel bad enough, we look for healing. If we are believing Christians, we certainly will take it to Christ, lay it before Him and ask for our healing. As there is a sin “not unto death” 1 John 5:16-17), there are many…  ( Click for more )

There are many things in our lives that are both good and bad. For instance, food is good in and of itself. However, if we partake of too much food, or not enough, it can then become bad. This principle spans an almost endless number of things. A good thing, done the wrong way, used for wrong purpose, or used too much or too little of, can end in being a curse. Many things that a good and perfect and loving God created and made for our good, can be put to a wrong use, or applied incorrectly. The same detriment is encountered if something God created and meant to be used in a certain…  ( Click for more )

There is much said today - and rightly so - about God the Father and Jesus the Christ the Son. But often it seems that he third member of the Godhead is missing. Could it be that there is a lack of spiritual energy and power because we have inadvertently “grieved the Holy Spirit” by neglecting or ignoring Him? We do so at our spiritual peril (Ephesians 4:30). Could it be that we are among those to whom Paul addressed saying that he could not communicate to them spiritual things because they were yet carnal (1 Corinthians 3:1)? There are many references in 1 Corinthians…  ( Click for more )

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, did someone advise you prior to your decision that you should count the cost of becoming a Christian? Perhaps it was not needful in your case. You understood what it could mean, and were willing to surrender to Him, and do what He says you must do. But it seems that often the unconverted mind comprehends more about what it means to become a Christian, and calling Christ Lord, than some professing Christians. The unbeliever sees the cost. And is not willing to pay it. Some Christians, however, who have professed faith and submission to Christ…  ( Click for more )

There is a connecting thread recorded in God’s Word regarding “temple”, “tent”, and “tabernacle”. All are related, and intimately connect to God’s people from the ancient times of Israel’s sojourn, and forward to today. The difference in words refer to the same thing, but the usage depends on the times and conditions in which they are referred to. As God so often does, He uses the physical to teach us about the spiritual. This is commonly known as type and anti-type - the method of using the seen to picture the unseen is one…  ( Click for more )

A few years ago an award winning movie came out entitled ”Unforgiven”. Have you ever felt that you have not been forgiven by someone? Most of us have experienced either a spoken unforgiving or an unspoken unforgiveness by someone at some time in our lives. It is a most painful cross to bear - knowing we are not guilty as charged by someone. Equally painful is someone’s refusal to forgive us when we are truly sorry for an offense, and then not being forgiven when we ask to be forgiven. Have you ever felt somehow that you have not been forgiven by God? Do you know…  ( Click for more )

Grace enables our Godly fear, which empowers obedience (Deuteronomy 10:12-17). Law alone hardens the heart unless and until it is softened by Christ, Who lifts the veil from a hard heart. Emphasis and dependence upon Law alone to make us obedient will fail.. Approached in this way, it will only "veil" our hearts, and harden us to the Spirit of Christ. From Paul we can see that there seemed to be both approaches in the church at Corinth when he wrote his second letter to them. Hence the cause for his terminology and tone in 2 Corinthians 3:5-18. There were orthodox…  ( Click for more )

Continuing from last time with 1 Corinthians 13:8, Paul makes one of the most profound, all encompassing, even shocking declarations in the Bible: “Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].” (v. 8) Beginning in this verse, he is systematically leading to an inescapable conclusion.…  ( Click for more )

There is perhaps no other four letter word that is so revered, so misapplied, misused, and maligned by misuse, than the word “love”. It is used to sell products, to describe relationships of all kinds, and to describe any and every human (or non-human) emotion that can be imagined. When it is spoken or written, or read, the definition is almost totally subjective. The meaning is whatever the person, the media, the church, or the world want it to mean. It is another one of many things that is used, misused, and abused - sometimes almost beyond belief. Sometimes those…  ( Click for more )

Recently we discussed in this column the wonderful truth about the Law of Christ - the glorious reality that He sums up everything regarding God’s Law. And not only so, but the time will come when all things will brought up into Him again. It was once so before there was a world, before anything was or is. (Colossians 1:16-20) There is another attribute of Christ, one that we may also participate in. Indeed we must do so. We may also receive the mind of Christ. One may ask, are they not the same - the Law of Christ and the Mind of Christ? Strictly speaking, no. One is the…  ( Click for more )

What do you dream of? What have you dreamed of? When we take time to think about it, all want their dreams to come true. Young or old, rich or poor, its universal. We all are born with an innate, mostly unexpressed longing for______fill in the blank. There is a Devine purpose for it all, as we shall see. And then we long for, or attempt to make, the dream come true. Sometimes they do. Often they do not - even after a lifetime of struggle. Sometimes partly, or almost. But not the perfect dream we started with. Even if the dream "came true", maybe, just maybe, it would…  ( Click for more )

In part one of this short series we discussed our disposition after we die. Our first destination after death is succinctly stated in the book of Acclimatizes ? The body decomposes and returns to its dust. But the spirit part of us goes to what is termed heaven. There is by this process, a separation of body and spirit. But for those who have been begotten by the Holy Spirit which is received when a person repents and surrenders to God, the body remains in decomposition, but their spirit is saved in heaven and perfected for eternity (Job 32:8; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Hebrews 12:23).…  ( Click for more )

So many in the world today are convinced that when they die, they die all over, and will dwell in an eternal unconsciousness, in the dust of the earth. To coin a phrase, “when your dead your dead…”. My hope and prayer today as I write these words is that you are not of the same persuasion. Because, absolutely nothing could be farther from the truth. When properly understood, one never really “dies”. In the natural desire that God created within every human being, everyone would like to know for sure about the hereafter. Many, if not most, who will…  ( Click for more )

The last few weeks we have discussed as an overview the Christian’s journey. The journey from conviction by the Holy Spirit, to being convinced in the mind by the same Spirit, and the receiving into the human spirit the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This constitutes a new beginning, a new creation, as a child has his/her beginning in the womb of the mother. The process of growth and development in the womb is typical of our growth as we live a life of surrender and maturing to finally be completely born into the family of God, by instant change (if still alive), or at the resurrection,…  ( Click for more )

The Eternal God has built into His physical realm a type of everything He is doing in the spiritual realm. A pattern, if you will. We are all familiar with patterns. We deal with or work with some kind of pattern almost every day. A seamstress is very familiar with patterns. Some perform their work from a pattern. Others are gifted with being able to create a pattern for others to use. Architects must have a pattern - a blueprint in order to successfully construct or repair physical structures. We can learn much about the spiritual realm by meditating upon God's patterns that He has…  ( Click for more )

"When the world seems cold, and your friends seem few, There is someone who cares for you; He will come down from the sky, and brush the tears from your eyes; Your His child...and He cares for you" These words, taken from a gospel melody of many years ago are as true today as they were then. Some seem to feel that being referred to as a "child" is humiliating, even demeaning. They resent being called a child of God, feeling being childish is implied. They feel that being weak is implied. Perhaps this is an indication of how far society has drifted away from…  ( Click for more )

In one of the parables that Jesus spoke is one that seems puzzling at first. It can seem even more puzzling when we attempt to apply the meaning to our lives and relationships within the body of Christ. Notice: “He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weed among the wheat and went away. When the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. So the slave of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good…  ( Click for more )

Throughout the Apostle Paul’s thirty plus years of taking the gospel to Israel and the Gentiles, he followed a clearly defined sequence in presenting the gospel. This order can also be applied to the whole life of a Christian. It is important to take notice of the sequence in Paul statement of his ministry. “You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house, testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.” - Acts 20:21 …  ( Click for more )

For some, it seems very difficult to enjoy life and living. There can be an almost endless number of reasons - health, making ends meet, difficulties over relationships, abuse or criticisms from others, persecutions. The list could go on and on. Some despair over disappointments in life. Expectations are not met. Plans fail. Depressions begin. Life seems sometimes just not worth the living. But the Bible has much to say about being joyful. Many of the direct references to being joyful are found in the Psalms. There is a side to David that we often overlook. That is his proclivity…  ( Click for more )

Everyone looks forward to a reunion. Whether it is a reunion of family, a class reunion, a reunion of former military personnel, or of fellow employees who worked together many years ago, it is a unique and unsurpassed high point in life. There is another reunion coming. One which will be grand beyond any that we can have individually. This reunion is one that has been planned by God from eternity; one that you and I can be a part of if we endure. The need and purpose for this reunion is laid out in the Bible, and is one of the most astounding examples of God’s providence…  ( Click for more )

How would you feel if everyone you grew up with, have met since, and that know you now, considered you to be the most important person in the world to them - better than a favorite rock star, movie star, political candidate? What if the person who greets you at a business establishment, a sales person, or a stranger you meet on the street, was so genuinely interested in you, and considerate of you, that they put you ahead of themselves? It would be a different world. That kind of world is not here yet, of course - but there a little part of the world where this is - or should be…  ( Click for more )

According to the book of Ecclesiastes, there is time for everything under the sun. The older I get, the more the word time seems to mean. Solomon said, in summary, all that should be said, all that is important to life and living. He left nothing out that needed to be said. He was not attempting to orchestrate by omission, but to emphasize by being concise. For the subject he is addressing, there is no “not said”. What he said was the conclusion of the issue altogether (“all has been said” - “let us hear the conclusion of the matter"). There was…  ( Click for more )

Last week we discussed an unseen war - a war extending perhaps to the unseen and unknown reaches of what we call the Universe itself. Another physical war (although of spiritual origin) within every cell or every organ of our bodies. This includes the physical brain of every human. However, every human brain contains what the Bible refers to as a “spirit” (Job 32:8). As incomprehensible as it seems, the vastness of the human brain exceeds in complexity the Universe of the heavens above us. Even as astronomers continue to discover new wonders of the Universe, so also…  ( Click for more )