Defense of the Faith

 

 "always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in... 1 Peter 3:15

From the time of Jesus, Christianity has been under attack. From the Roman Empire to today's Freedom from religion. The great Christian scholar, C.S. Lewis believed that faith in Christ could stand up to great scrutiny.  Many Christ-followers never share their faith because they feel inadequate. They don't have any theological training or don't know many verses from memory.

But trusting Christ isn't religious escapism or wishful thinking. Our faith is grounded in the facts of history and evidence of the creation bearing witness to its Creator.  People may challenge you on the miracles of the Bible or seeming contradictions but there is one fact they cannot dispute: a changed life. People cannot argue with a changed life.

Jim Cymbala, Pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, said, "People pay attention when they see that God actually changes persons and sets them free. When a new Christian stands up and tells how God has revolutionized his or her life, no one dozes off. When someone is healed or released from life-controlling bondage, everyone takes notice."

A transformed life is a fact that cannot be disputed. 

Need More Time?

 

“And there was no day before it or after it...” Joshua 10:14

We have all said it, “I wish I had more time in a day!” Of course it's impossible to add more time to our allotted 24 hrs. but someone actually did add a whole day to his calendar. The Bible records of a battle where Joshua, Israel's leader, had a miraculous victory over his enemies. Joshua pursued the defeated army as they fled but time was running out to completely destroy his enemy.

Joshua then prayed for a miracle. He asked God to stop the sun and moon so he could finish his enemies and God answered his prayer. Joshua 10:13 Don't ask me to explain how God did it but He did. The earth stopped spinning on its axis with a catastrophic effect. All I can say Jehovah reigns outside of the constraints of time, so for Him to stop time is no problem.

Timelessness exists nowhere on the Earth. Timelessness exists nowhere in space. Stars and planets move through space as a constant indicator that time is passing. The only place that timelessness exists is within the heart of God; and because Joshua boldly prayed, God inserted timelessness into the Earth.

In 1964, The Rolling Stones, recorded Time is On Our Side, which became an instant hit. It makes a great love song BUT time is NOT on our side. Job 14:5 says, “A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”

Since we cannot add one minute to our time on earth what should we do? Colossians 4:5 says “...making the most of the time.” Benjamin Franklin said, “Lost time is never found again.”

God Knows You

 It seems mothers can sense trouble from a mile away. Once after a rough day at school, I tried to hide my frustration hoping no one would notice. My mother asked, "What's the matter?" Then she added "Before you tell me it's nothing, remember I'm your mother. I gave you birth and I know you better than you know yourself."  

As believers in Jesus we need to remind ourselves, God knows us intimately. Psalm 139:1-4 says, "You have searched me Lord and you know me. You know when I sit down and when I rise; you perceive my  thoughts from afar," As a young believer, the concept that God is all-knowing brought a sense of dread in my life.  I could not hide my thoughts, my actions or my words from Him and He was just waiting for me to step out of line. Of course, that's not true. 

Jesus was sent from heaven to become human, so that He could experience everything we experience. No one can say to God, "You don't know what I'm going through. You don't know what I feel." Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus faced every temptation, every emotion, and every struggle you face.

So, be encouraged. God is with you right where you are Psalms 139  and He is ready to help and guide you. 

3 

Thoughts and prayers

 

Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12:5

You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.” If you hear those words, you might wonder if the person really means it. But you never had to wonder when Edna Davis said them. Everyone in the small, one stoplight town knew of “Ms. Edna’s” yellow legal pad—page after page, lined with name after name. Early each morning the aging woman prayed out loud to God. Not everyone on her list received the answer to prayer they wanted, but several testified at her funeral that something God-sized had happened in their lives, and they credited it to the earnest prayers of Ms. Edna.

God demonstrated the power of prayer in Peter’s prison experience. After the apostle was seized by Herod’s men, thrown into prison, and then “guarded by four squads of four soldiers each” (Acts 12:4), his prospects looked bleak. But “the church was earnestly praying to God for him” (v. 5). They had Peter in their thoughts and prayers. What God did is simply miraculous! An angel appeared to Peter in prison, released him from his chains, and led him to safety beyond the prison gates (vv. 7–10).

It’s possible some may use “thoughts and prayers” without really meaning it. But our Father knows our thoughts, listens to our prayers, and acts on our behalf according to His perfect will. To be prayed for and to pray for others is no small thing when we serve the great and powerful God.

Sipping Saints

 

Some Christians think it is perfectly fine to drink alcohol, while others believe it is sinful to partake. Which view is correct?

Alcohol consumption is a tough topic because it is associated with both joyful and tragic situations. People go to weddings and special events and see those in attendance lifting glasses of champagne in celebration. Try finding a Super Bowl party where alcohol isn’t part of the festivities.

On the other hand, everyone reading this most likely knows someone who has been hurt in some way because of alcohol. You may live with an alcoholic or know someone who does. You may know a family whose relative has died in an accident caused by the consumption of alcohol.

What does the Bible have to say about the topic of alcohol use? Alcohol is not evil in itself. It is one of God’s good gifts that can be—and often is—abused (Psa. 104:14–15) For Christians, the use of alcohol generally falls between those who totally abstain and those who drink in moderation. There are verses to support both views, allow me to share why I abstain from alcohol use. I do not condemn or judge those who do drink in moderation. But allow me to share why I do not use alcohol:

1. Christians are called to be good stewards of the resources God has given us. I personally cannot support companies that sell alcohol as it destroys people's lives and families. I know that me refusing to purchase alcohol will not affect those companies' profits, but I must give an account of my stewardship.

2. The Bible calls for us to live in such a way as to leave a good testimony to an unbelieving world. Someone who knows I profess to know Christ, may see me purchasing alcohol and think I may drink to access. I may only one or two beers a week, but they don't see that. Romans 14:21

Believers who feel it is safer not to drink any alcohol have the freedom to abstain. Those who choose to drink alcoholic beverages must always do so responsibly doing no harm to others or themselves. We should always seek to bring honor to the Lord in all our activities. 1 Corinthians 10:31

What's In Your Jar

 “...so that he [Jesus Christ] might hold first place in everything. “Colossians 1:18

A philosophy professor once stood up before his class with a large empty mayonnaise jar. He filled the jar to the top with large rocks and asked his students if the jar was full. The students said that yes, the jar was indeed full.

He then added small pebbles to the jar, and gave the jar a bit of a shake so the pebbles could disperse themselves among the larger rocks. Then he asked again, “Is the jar full now?” Fewer students agreed that the jar was still full.

The professor then poured sand into the jar to fill up any remaining empty space. Less students agreed that the jar was completely full.

The professor went on to explain that the jar represents everything that is in one's life.

The rocks are equivalent to the most important things you have going on, such as spending time on your relationship with God, spending time with your family and maintaining your health. This means that if the pebbles and the sand were lost, the jar would still be full, and your life would still have meaning.

The pebbles represent the things in your life that matter, but that you could live without. Your job, house, hobbies, and friendships, but they are not critical for you to have a meaningful life. These things often come and go, and are not permanent or essential to your overall well-being.

Finally, the sand represents the remaining filler things in your life, and material possessions. This could be small things such as watching television, browsing through your favorite social media site, or running errands. These things don't mean much to your life as a whole and are likely only done to waste time. 

So, what's the big lesson with the rock, pebbles, and sand in a jar story?

The metaphor here is that if you start with putting sand into the jar, you will not have room for rocks or pebbles. This holds true with the things you let into your life. If you spend all of your time on the small and insignificant things, you will run out of room for the things that are actually important.

In order to have a more effective and efficient life, pay attention to the “rocks,” because they are critical to your long-ter

No Expiration Date

 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35

When you buy food at the grocery store, particularly dairy products, do you check the expiration date? Occasionally I forget and discover several days or a week later that the milk remaining in the carton has expired and taken a turn for the worse. Or the formerly white cottage cheese has turned green, but not from envy.

These days virtually all consumable products – packaged lunch meat, canned goods, cereals, even over-the-counter drugs, have expiration dates. “Best when used by,” “sell by,” “best enjoyed thru,” or simply, “Exp. Date. Things get old. They spoil or get stale. They lose their usefulness.

We buy devices and they're out of date almost before we know how to use them. Planned obsolescence is standard in the technology industry. That's why I love the Bible. It's never out of date. People may think it is no longer relevant but I find just the opposite. Matthew 24:35

• Are you looking for wisdom on how to build a healthy marriage? You’ll find no greater advice than in the Scriptures. Ephesians 5:25-33

• What about handling finances? Proverbs 22:7

• Wondering how to raise kids? Proverbs 22:6

• Wanting to know how to succeed in the workplace? Colossians 3:23

How is it that almost everything around us has time restrictions and limitations, but the Bible doesn't? I believe the reason is simple: Eternal truth has no expiration date.

Unlike passing fads and slang vocabulary, the truths about life transcend time, culture and trends. Just as gravity is a physical constant, truth about human nature – especially truth found in the Scriptures – is equally constant and unchanging.