Today's Reading: "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (2 Peter 3:3-4)
Many today dare to fault God because they do not believe in His Son, Jesus Christ! Their reasoning is that believers have been awaiting His return for generations. Yet, He has not returned as He promised. 2 Peter 3 goes on to say this about the coming of the Lord:
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation…” (2 Peter 3:8-15)
Sadly, there probably will be more people in hell than in heaven, but you can be assured that each and every person who ends up there will have been given at least one revelation of the God's truth about His Son, Jesus Christ. That the offer of salvation was given!
“For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools…” (Romans 1:20-22)
Now, here is where you and I, as believers and followers of Christ, fit in--we have a God-given responsibility to snatch as many as we can away from the fires of hell:
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
“As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:11-15)
We have to ask ourselves this question, "Am I doing all I can to invite, others into God's family through His Son, Jesus Christ?" "Am I desperate to pull others back from the fire?" Oh, I pray we can all shout, Yes, Lord, Yes!
Oh, beloved, pray that God will raise up believers this day--mighty men and women of valor and courage--prepared workers who are anticipating, even yearning for God's mighty harvest!
Beloved, never be ashamed of Christ, or your faith in His return! He is faithful who has promised (Hebrews 10:23)!
Jesus: The Way, The Truth and The Life!
Today's Reading: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:1-7)
Today, many Christians have come under attack for supposed intolerance, lack of "political correctness", yea, even hatred of people of other faiths, or those of no faith at all--because of our assertion that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. In the above passage, Jesus Christ Himself introduces us all to the total exclusion of any other way to God. (Personally, I think this passage should be read, I AM--the Way, the Truth, the Life.)
The word "way" is translated here as a course of life or mode of action. The LORD’S (Jehovah Yahweh—God the Father) "way" is the correct course to take—Jesus is the Way.
Jesus also assures His disciples that He is the Truth: “Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5) “…but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.” (Daniel 10:21) “This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth…” (Zechariah 8:3)
The word "truth" is translated in the above passages is a certainty, trustworthiness, establishment, faith, right, sure, true.
Jesus goes on to describe Himself as the Life. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:4) “Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." (John 6:32-33) “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26) "Life" is translated both literally and figuratively and includes the element of time. Jesus assures his disciples that if they have beheld Jesus, they have in fact beheld the Father!
Do you feel that you know the Father because of Jesus Christ? Oh, I pray you do!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:1-3) “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him…” (Colossians 1:19) “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…” (Colossians 2:9)
Today, many Christians have come under attack for supposed intolerance, lack of "political correctness", yea, even hatred of people of other faiths, or those of no faith at all--because of our assertion that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. In the above passage, Jesus Christ Himself introduces us all to the total exclusion of any other way to God. (Personally, I think this passage should be read, I AM--the Way, the Truth, the Life.)
The word "way" is translated here as a course of life or mode of action. The LORD’S (Jehovah Yahweh—God the Father) "way" is the correct course to take—Jesus is the Way.
Jesus also assures His disciples that He is the Truth: “Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5) “…but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.” (Daniel 10:21) “This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth…” (Zechariah 8:3)
The word "truth" is translated in the above passages is a certainty, trustworthiness, establishment, faith, right, sure, true.
Jesus goes on to describe Himself as the Life. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:4) “Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." (John 6:32-33) “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26) "Life" is translated both literally and figuratively and includes the element of time. Jesus assures his disciples that if they have beheld Jesus, they have in fact beheld the Father!
Do you feel that you know the Father because of Jesus Christ? Oh, I pray you do!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:1-3) “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him…” (Colossians 1:19) “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…” (Colossians 2:9)
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