| Want to know something about God? Look at these pictures.
In the beginning, scientists posit there was nothing but a few elements, perhaps only hydrogen and helium. If this is true, then photos like these boldly convey a lesson in the contrast between an infinite expanse of nothingness: things with no apparent mind, will or life, unable to reproduce or direct their destinies --- to something that by comparison could be called supernatural: Life. Living breathing complex and spectacularly beautiful forms who think, feel, will, reproduce, strive to stay alive with all their might, and delight and move anyone with a human mind and heart. We are often jaded and apathetic to the complex and brilliant life that we see and live every day, hardly questioning how it came to be or why it exists: Life. But isn't it worth contemplating? What can we conclude from just the one picture below? There is beauty, fear, excitement, adventure, danger, water, light, and predator, and for these to have meaning the opposites or reference points must also exist: things not possessed of beauty, peace, calm, safety, things dry, darkness, and prey. Not only this, but all of these perceptions are meaningless unless there exists one to perceive them and moreover, to have the gift to make complex distinctions, categorizations and react in ways that seem appropriate. It's easy to take a picture for granted, or perhaps to take the whole earth for granted . But some are thoughtful and find the role of a Creator inescapable considering the inexorable poetic drama of life around them and inside of them. Others soak up the beauty and life before them like sponges but refuse to acknowledge or give thanks to the One who made it all. (Psalm 73) Perhaps that's what inspired the Apostle Paul to write: Romans 1:19-21 ...What may be known about God is plain, because God has made it plain. 20 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. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him... Still, there are others who can't seem to thank God enough for life and all the splendor of sunlight, the creatures, and other features of earth as wonderful as they are innumerable; and we haven't yet mentioned the human beings which give rise to perhaps the greatest gift of all - friendship. And God too is looking for friends among the humans. (John 15:15)
If you want to thank God, but you are not sure how, read a few books in the Bible. You don't have to begin believing it's God's Word. But test its claim to be a message from God. If it is, the soul and truth detector that God put inside you was "engineered" to recognize God and Truth - you will know since God specifically intended for every human to receive and understand his message - it should be the most sensible thing you ever read, if you consider it carefully and not in antagonistic haste (1) as many do. It's possible you might conclude that Jesus, Paul, Peter, Abraham, Moses, and the others were lying or were deceived and that the Bible is the World's most successful fabrication. On the other hand, like billions of others before you, you might come to think that the most influential man to ever live, Jesus, was just whom he claimed to be, the SAVIOR of the WORLD. The Journey and some Thoughts
If you are just beginning, I recommend you read the book of 1st John, then John. 1st John is only 3 pages long and sums up the answer to the Question of life, the Universe and Everything, at least from God's point of view as it relates to humans. And no, the answer is not 42! (Dedicated to any Douglas Adams fans out there) I have been to many churches. Many seem to have a strong Christian culture and are strong in tradition, ceremony, and programs. However, Jesus said that ~the~ requirement, the only requirement, was to know and obey his Words. I can't speak about the people I haven't met, but I have had at least a thousand conversations with people about Christianity. If you know me, you know I mean this literally. I have found that out of every 100 people, maybe one knows God's Word well enough to answer very basic questions about what Jesus said. Some churches openly discourage reading God's Word for fear that "lay people" will misunderstand and urge them to rely on priests to distill and explain the important bits to them. However, in the church of Christ, which is one of the names the Apostle Paul used for the church, there is a very strong familiarity with the Words of Christ. The people I know in the church of Christ also teach about Jesus accurately. If you have questions about what Jesus taught, you will likely find biblically accurate answers at your local church of Christ. All People and All Religions are the Same, right? It's a crime in today's world, a scandal of exclusivity, to say that any one belief, practice, or group of people is "better" than any other belief, practice, or people. But Paul noted that the Bereans were more noble hearted than the people in the city of Thessalonica: Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. He also thought that Cretans, in general, were not noble but lazy: Titus 1:12-13 Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith... And Jesus too did not hesitate to call it like he saw it: Matthew 7:11 "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" He also said: Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? And let's not forget how, in Revelation chapters 1-3, Jesus said that while some churches were holding fast, others were dead or dying, even while they had a reputation for being alive. He warned them to repent of lukewarmness otherwise he said he would remove their lamp and reject them. Finally, recall how Jesus said that many religious people, even those who did miracles and prophesied in his name, would seek to enter Heaven but would be turned away: Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' So it may not be politically correct to make distinctions in people or churches, but one can't deny that Jesus and his Apostles did exactly this. And how can one deny one's own experience? Churches are very different and teach very different things. But some can't see this or they deny it to conform with modern "enlightened" ideology. Often these are the same people who advocate that all religions are the same, which is a very popular but very wrong notion. (Look for a link here later detailing the Superlative Dichotomy between all religions and Christ.) But don't take my word for it. Visit a few churches and ask both leaders and members what Jesus and the Apostles said was necessary to be saved; how does one receive forgiveness of sins, and receive God's Spirit? Can the members point you to Bible verses addressing the issue? In my experience asking many leaders, I have received many substantively different answers. If all Churches are not the same, How Can I Assess a Church? Compare what the leaders tell you with this link, which shows how people in the New Testament started a new life in Christ. Info on becoming a Christian Many will tell you part of the story - the "belief" part. But is belief enough? James said: James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder. James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. Many will tell you that if you believe and say the "sinner's prayer" and accept Jesus into your heart, you are saved. This is a widely practiced tradition but see for yourself if this is what Jesus preached: Click here to see what Jesus said on this topic Jesus said he came to save the world, but that many would reject his Words. Here is what Jesus says about those who reject his Words. John 12:47-49 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I Love God..er...I think. But How does God Define Love? Mark 12:28-30 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' But what does it mean to love God? Jesus defined it here: John 14:21 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:23-24 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. From the above, it seems that if one doesn't know and obey Jesus words, that same person can't claim to love God. On the other hand, just because someone doesn't know or love God today, doesn't mean they won't tomorrow, for God has engineered every day of our lives so that we each might reach out and find him: Acts 17:26-27 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. According to the above, if you have read this far, it's no accident nor by chance, but God knew you would visit this page and read His Words. But what will you do with them? Do you have a checklist I can use to Assess a Church? Feel free to print out this link: Info on becoming a Christian and ask the leader of your church what these Scriptures mean. A very good exercise is to read each verse, and then in the right hand column of the page, summarize what it just said. For instance, in John 3:5 Jesus says: John 3:5 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. According to the above, the only people who will enter the kingdom of God are those that are ______________? Or if Jesus says: Mark 16:15 Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. What are the two requirements Jesus gave to be saved? Whoever _____________ and is ____________ will be saved. These are just two examples and in my one on one studies with people, I find they have many beliefs derived from "Christian culutre" that are innacurate. However, question and answer sessions like the above help most anyone to see some of the basic truths taught in Scripture. There are "disputable matters" but there are also clear teachings. This topic might be addressed elsewhere in the form of, "Since there are so many different interpretations of the Bible, it must be one of the most unclear books in history, right?" Are you saying all non-Christians go to Hell? Absolutely not. Romans 2:11-15 For God does not show favoritism. 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) According to the above, if someone has never heard about Jesus or any of the Bible, what will either accuse them or defend them on judgment day? Their consciences. God wants everyone to be his son and daughter: That's why we were made. So if there is someone, somewhere, who never had a chance to hear the gospel, then God will measure whether or not they were seeking God, even though they may not have even heard of Christ, for Christ and God are one. In fact, Jesus was crucified for claiming to be God: John 10:25-33 The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." 31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." Is Jesus God? Click Here to see And if you are worried about those who lived before Christ came and worshipped idols, in general, God overlooked their sins: Acts 17:29-32 We should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone-- an image made by man's design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." 32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." So God is gracious and forgiving, but now that he has sent his Son who died to save the world and who has impacted the world like no other, he expects more from the world, just as Jesus said: John 15:24 If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. Even in Jesus' own day, people saw the miracles, but still didn't believe. Today it is the same: We have the reliable testimonies of many writers from different walks of life, Paul, Peter, James, John, Luke, Matthew, Mark, and others. Luke apparently wasn't a first hand witness, but did a careful investigation and interviewed many to draw up an account of the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. In fact, there are more witnesses and accounts to Jesus' life than to many events we learn about in college history classes. How many people saw Paul Revere's ride or George Washington cross the Delaware? But we accept many historical events on the testimony of one person and perhaps one fragmented copy. But with Jesus, there are many witnesses and hundreds of thousands of copies of these accounts. The New Testament stories of Jesus are the most accounted for events in early history. Compare any historical fact with New Testament fact, based on the evidence. You may not believe the writings of Paul and company, but then why in the world would you believe in other historical events that have less documentation, fewer witnesses, and have had IMMEASURABLY less impact on the earth? Can you come up with more reliable accounts detailing the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC or other ancient events widely accepted as fact? College history requires far more faith than required to believe Christ lived, died, and arose from the dead. Controversial statement? Think about it beyond broad strokes and in analytical detail and it won't seem so far fetched. It's reasonable to be skeptical, but when one uses one standard for all of history and then an absurdly different one for the events of Jesus' life, could it be that one doesn't want to believe in Jesus as Lord because it might mean a change in lifestyle? Or perhaps some fear the derision and loss of respect from non-believing peers, some who are revered, highly esteemed and hold positions of prominence and power, even if just in your life. What is the difference between Worldly Wisdom and Godly Wisdom? Click here to see what God says about the Intelligent, the Scholar, the Philosopher and Worldly Wisdom vs God's Wisdom. Everyone can be saved but to reject Jesus is to reject the life within Him. God has arranged it so that everyone can have eternal life, even if they have never heard the name Jesus. However... The worst case scenario is for those who deliberately and willfully reject Jesus, especially since Jesus paid the price for that very same person's sins and was tortured and crucified for them: John 3:35-36 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." The thing is, IT'S SO EASY TO CROSS OVER FROM DEATH TO LIFE: John 5:21-29 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. So Remember, the Whole World is nothing compared to the value of your Soul. 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? But you must seek God while he may still be found. Psalm 32:6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 Remember him-- before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Unlike in the Hindu and Buddhist religions, God says we will only die once: Hebrews 9:27-28 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. There is an exception to the die once rule. Those who reject God's invitation and follow their own paths might qualify for a second death, the one mentioned in Revelation. But surely if you've read this far, you are not the average disinterested person. Consider what these next two verses mean for you: Acts 4:12 2 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. 1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. And finally, a message that 
Romans 8:26 - 9:1 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-- more than that, who was raised to life-- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sincerely, Russ Boyd - 2006 |
 |
 |
 |