Leaving Differently

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.  Matthew 2:12

All across the world, airline terminals are buzzing with the returning footsteps of Christmastime visitors planning to go home. Most everyone is using the second half of a round-trip ticket.

The wise men planned a round-trip, and they changed their route home. The Bible does not tell us which way they went, but it does tell us why they changed their plan. “Being divinely warned,” the Bible says, they were led by the Holy Spirit to take a route that would protect them from being captured by Herod.

I don't want to read more into the verse that what it states but the thought that when people meet Jesus Christ, they leave different. You can't have a face-to-face encounter with Him and remain the same.

• Saul meets Jesus on the Damascus Road and had a radical transformation. Acts 9

• Zacchaeus had an encounter with Jesus and had a total change. Luke 19:1-9

• But not all encounters ended with a positive outcome. A rich young ruler refused to meet the requirement for discipleship and left very sad.

  Luke 18:18-24

As you leave Christmas 2022, I trust you had an encounter with Jesus Christ and you are determined to face 2023 in a new direction.

Are You Lost?

 

The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost. Luke 19:10

People often joke about how men refuse to admit they are lost. Men just say they are "directionally challenged." And just as men refuse to admit they are lost on the physical level, many refuse to admit they are lost on a spiritual level. They will say they are a good person or they attend church or they have been baptized. They claim they live by the "golden rule."

But the Bible clearly states that "ALL have sinned"(emphasis added) We all were born as sinners. Even as you look at a newborn baby, it's hard to admit they are sinners in need of a Savior. We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we ARE sinners. We inherited sin from our first parents Adam and Eve. Romans 5:12 Verse 19a " For just as through disobedience of one man [Adam] the many were made sinners...."

All have sinned is the bad news but God provides good news. Romans 5:12b "...through the obedience of the one man [Jesus Christ] many will be made righteous." Probably is the most famous verse in the Bible is John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." Believing in Jesus is more than acknowledging Him to be the Son of God. Even demons 'believe' that Jesus is the Son of God but that doesn't save them. James 2:19

Believing in Jesus Christ means that you must first confess you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Secondly, you ask for forgiveness for the acts of sins you have committed and totally trust Christ to save you. There is no other way to heaven. Eternal life is made possible only through Christ. Jesus prayed, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." He is not a way, He is the way, as in the one and only. There is no need for anyone to be lost, for Jesus has died for all.

God Does Not Send Anyone To Hell

[I have posted 463 posts over the years trying to help and encourage Christ-followers (and seekers) in their Christian Journey. But THIS post is my most crucial post. Please read with on open heart and mind.]

Many times when you speak to someone about spiritual things; you may hear, "I don't believe that God would send someone to hell for _____________. Often, they are referring to some act or deed they are committing and want to assure themselves they will not be held accountable for the actions.

Now, please listen carefully. I don't want you to misunderstand and brand me a heretic! God does not send ANYONE to hell. The acts, deeds or "sins" we commit will not send us to hell. As a young Christ-follower, I heard countless sermons that if I did this or that, wore that, went there, felt this way, etc. I was sinning and would go to hell for it. But though "acts" of sin are wrong and ARE sinful, but they in of themselves, will not cause God to send you to hell!
ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN:

1. God never intended to send anyone to hell. Hell was not created for mankind but for the devil and his angels. Mt. 25:41 God does not desire anyone to go to hell or be lost "...not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (Emphasis added)
2. ALL mankind were born in sin Romans 3:23 ALL sin must be punished "The one who sins is the one who will die..." Ezekiel 18:20

But God in His mercy and love, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for ALL mankind. John 3:16 clearly teaches that Jesus came to deliver us from the penalty of sin, death, and hell.

THE ONLY REASON THAT ANYONE GOES TO HELL IS REFUSING TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST'S AS THEIR SAVIOR.

ALL "acts" of sin are just evidence/indications that the person has not trusted/accepted Christ's death on the Cross for the forgiveness of sin. Lying, stealing, murder, immorality will not send you to hell but refusing Christ will!
This is the ONLY SIN that people will go to hell for.

So, God does not send anyone to hell. We send ourselves by rejecting Christ. The Word of God is crystal clear that Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY to heaven. "Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me." John 14:6 ERV God does have a Plan B or any other option. Jesus is the way.

I want to be clear; I do NOT condone any 'acts' of sin!!! We should not allow/commit sin in our lives. But the greatest of sin is refusing Christ.

Let me hear your thoughts

The Dash

My wife and I live just a two-hour drive to historic Charleston, South Carolina. We both love history and since Charleston had an abundance of historic churches, it is just natural that we would tour them.

Many of these churches date back to the 1700's. We find visiting the cemeteries very interesting. 

Grave markers range from 1700's to present day. Most grave markers have one thing in common; between the date of birth and date of death, is The Dash (-). That symbol signifes a person's whole like. So brief! 

James 4:14 says our lives are like a mist. Job 7:6 tells us our lives are faster that a Weaver's shuttle. Since life is so short and eternity is so long, our wisest action would be to prepare.

Preparation is as easy as ABC.

A = Admit that you are a sinner in need of redemption. Romans 3:23

B = Believe that the death and resurrection Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation. John 14:6

C = Confess your sins. Confessing means that you agree with God you are a sinner in need of a Savior.

Touching First Base

The 1924 baseball World Series between the Washington Senators and the New York Yankees remains legendary.  It persists in the memories of a few fans  as one of the most exciting baseball championships in the history of the game. It is the seventh game of the series.  The Senators and the Yankees are tied, three games a piece.  It is the bottom of the ninth inning.  The first two batters strike out. The third batter has two strikes when he hits the third pitch well into the outfield. It looks like a home run but, the ball hits a pole and bounces backward into fair territory.  Rather than a home run, he has to settle for a triple. 

As the runner runs for third base, the third base coach signals the runner to steal home. The short stop throws the ball to home plate. It is going to be close but the throw to home is high and the catcher has to leap to catch it. In doing so, the runner slides under the catcher and touches home plate! The crowd goes wild. Until the home base umpire calls the runner OUT!  The crowd erupts in an out roar!   Fearing a riot, the umpire convenes a conference of all of the field umpires and himself.  Finally, they reach a decision.  The home plate umpire goes to the mike to announce the determination.  “The runner at home is called out because he failed to touch first base.

Imagine that!  The entire season and the World Series are lost due to a technicality.  The runner in his excitement fails to touch first.  The runner in his excitement fails to touch first.  Countless hours of practice, travel, and games was canceled by a small yet very significant omission.  However, that is also the case with the life of faith. 

Jesus tells Nicodemus that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven (home plate) unless he is born again (First base).  It does not matter that Nicodemus is one of the teachers of the law.  His knowledge of the law was not synonymous with a relationship with God.  Even though Nicodemus, as a member of the Sanhedrin, was a keeper of the history, literature, and religion of Israel, he had missed first base because he failed to seek a vibrant and growing relationship with Almighty God.  In the Church, we can think because you had taught Sunday School for years, had perfect church attendance for 20 years, served on the Church Board, been baptized, joined the church or any other outward ritual you are assured of heaven (Home base.) 

If you have never said the sinner’s prayer and followed the dictates of Romans 10:9-10, then you have missed first base.  It is important that we surrender our hearts completely to the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of the saddest words in the Bible is found in Matthew 7:22-24 . People will stand before God and claim the all the good things they have done for God guarantees entrance into heaven but God will say He never knew them.  

Jesus said "You MUST be born again..." 

God's Autopilot

An autopilot is a system used to control the trajectory of an aircraft, marine craft or spacecraft without constant manual control by a human operator being required. Autopilots do not replace human operators, but instead they assist them in controlling the vehicle. This allows them to focus on broader aspects of operations such as monitoring the trajectory, weather and systems. --- Wikipedia

The autopilot is a great invention that constantly makes changes to the aircraft's course, speed, altitude, etc. I have read that the autopilot is off course the majority of the time  but it makes adjustments in the plane's course to take it to its  desired destination.

When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, they change the direction/course of their lives. Before coming to Christ, we were all headed in the wrong direction. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way... Isaiah 53: 6,  Romans 3:23 Sin is walking away from God. Repentance literally means turning around and walking toward God. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 says, " for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." Notice that they TURNED TO God, FROM Idols. 

As Christ-followers, we have changed the course of our lives but occasionally we deviate from our course. Sometimes we are not even aware that we are 'off course.' That is one of the responsibilities of the Holy Spirit. He brings our lives back on course. "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth... John 16:13  This does not mean we lose our free will. Being led by the Spirit does not mean we become non-human, robots. It means as we submit to His leadership, He will give us direction and wisdom in making choices. 

Life is a constant battle of staying on course. Matthew 26:4  Galatians 5:17 If you walk with God; you will reach your destination.