This is a huge question and one that there appears to be much confusion about. Unfortunately, religion has done very little to clarify the matter. In many cases, religion has only added to the confusion that already exists. Some would have us to believe that living in faith means that you know exactly what God is going to do. For instance, there are many who teach that if a person is sick, all he has to do is believe that he is going to be made well. Essentially, that man's faith forces the hand of God - if he only believes strongly enough, things will happen just as he thought they would.
But I ask you, is that really how faith works? As with all other matters, we'll want to see what God's Word has to say about our question. It will help us first to define what faith is. Thankfully, the Bible provides us with a very straight-forward definition of faith: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). Fair enough, but what does that mean? The context of this verse has to do with the promises of God; namely His promise of salvation and the truths of His Word. So essentially the author of Hebrews is telling us that a man of faith believes the Word of God. Having been fully persuaded of God's truth, he then orders his life accordingly.
So how does it work? Again, it will aid us to consider the examples provided in the Bible. One awesome example is provided in Romans 4. In that amazing chapter of God's Word, Paul teaches us about the faith of Abraham. He said that it was by faith alone that Abraham was saved: "Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3). How do we know that the righteousness of God equals salvation? Because Paul would later go on to write that "the Lord shall not impute sin" to those who have placed their faith in Christ (Rom. 4:8).
So we know that Abraham was saved through faith, but how did he live by faith? The Bible answers this question too. It says that Abraham was "fully convinced that what (God) had promised He was also able to perform" (Rom. 4:21). Please don't miss this! Faith doesn't mean that you know what God is going to do. Rather it means that you are completely persuaded that God has the power to do anything you ask or anything He has promised.
Just because you believe God is going to do something, does that mean He is bound to do it? Of course not! That's not faith, that's presumption. Consider this example. Let's say you've got a huge debt that needs to be paid and you don't have the money to pay it. Presumption believes that God is going to pay off all my debts. Faith believes that God is able to pay off all my debts. Does faith require that He will? No, in fact faith may require that God will provide you with a job that will allow you to pay all your debts.
Bottom line: Living by faith means living each moment in full confidence that the all-powerful God of heaven and earth "is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think" (Eph. 3:20). Don't ever presume to know that God will do; just live your life in full confidence that He is more than able to do all things for the glory of His name.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Monday, December 20, 2010
The Encouraging Word - 12/19/10
Can we really be sure that Jesus is God's Messiah? Thank God that the Bible answers that question. Check out the answer here. Have a very Merry Christmas as you celebrate the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
The World That John Lennon Imagined
On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was killed outside his home in New York. Naturally, yesterday marked 30 years since the singer's death. By all popular accounts, John Lennon was perhaps the brightest light in a supergroup that changed the course of modern history. That being said, I'll have to confess I'm not much of a Beatles fan. Their music has never really appealed to me, but I certainly acknowledge the fact that the Beatles are adored by many others. For that reason, I know I run the risk of angering a few folks with what I'm going to write, but it's a risk I'm willing to take.
On October 11, 1971, John Lennon released what may be his most popular song of all-time. The song Imagine soared to #1 in both Canada and Australia, and it would go on to reach #3 on the US Billboard charts. Even Lennon himself hailed the song as being just as good as anything he'd ever written with the Beatles. I just want to ask a simple question: What exactly did John Lennon imagine? Read the lyrics for yourself:
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
John Lennon imagined a world of "no religion" - a world devoid of any concept of heaven or hell. Since heaven and hell are both biblical doctrines, I don't think it's a stretch to say that John Lennon would've eagerly invited a world without the Bible. And of course, in a world with no religion it appears that all references to God would no longer be necessary because apparently no God exists. It's no wonder then that Lennon envisioned a world where all the people were "living for today."
With that being said, it's strange to me that some Christians are attracted to the music of John Lennon. Do we share John Lennon's worldview? If so, then there's no way we can call ourselves followers of Christ. In regard to heaven, Jesus said it was a very real place where He was going to prepare a place for all those who believe in Him (John 14:2). And as for hell, Jesus also said it was a very real place of fire and brimstone - a place where "their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44, 46, 48). And while Lennon may have longed for a world without religion, James (the brother of Jesus) called all Christians to demonstrate pure and undefiled religion: "To visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).
I don't know what kind of world you imagine, but I hope you'll join me in rejecting the world that Lennon envisioned. While peace and sharing are both qualities that we should desire in the world today, we are naive and just dead wrong if we think lasting peace and sharing are going to come apart from Christ Jesus. Everywhere the socialist/communist overtones of Lennon's imaginary world have been tried, they have failed miserably (Nazi Germany, Red China, USSR, etc.). But where the grace of God has been offered through the preaching of the Gospel, souls have been saved, lives have been changed, and the entire world has been transformed.
Lennon once opined: "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right." 30 years after his death, Lennon is gone but our Lord Jesus remains. His Gospel continues to ring out all over the world. And someday soon, Jesus will come back to rapture all those that belong to Him. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20). The coming Kingdom of Christ - that's the world I'm imagining.
On October 11, 1971, John Lennon released what may be his most popular song of all-time. The song Imagine soared to #1 in both Canada and Australia, and it would go on to reach #3 on the US Billboard charts. Even Lennon himself hailed the song as being just as good as anything he'd ever written with the Beatles. I just want to ask a simple question: What exactly did John Lennon imagine? Read the lyrics for yourself:
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
John Lennon imagined a world of "no religion" - a world devoid of any concept of heaven or hell. Since heaven and hell are both biblical doctrines, I don't think it's a stretch to say that John Lennon would've eagerly invited a world without the Bible. And of course, in a world with no religion it appears that all references to God would no longer be necessary because apparently no God exists. It's no wonder then that Lennon envisioned a world where all the people were "living for today."
With that being said, it's strange to me that some Christians are attracted to the music of John Lennon. Do we share John Lennon's worldview? If so, then there's no way we can call ourselves followers of Christ. In regard to heaven, Jesus said it was a very real place where He was going to prepare a place for all those who believe in Him (John 14:2). And as for hell, Jesus also said it was a very real place of fire and brimstone - a place where "their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44, 46, 48). And while Lennon may have longed for a world without religion, James (the brother of Jesus) called all Christians to demonstrate pure and undefiled religion: "To visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).
I don't know what kind of world you imagine, but I hope you'll join me in rejecting the world that Lennon envisioned. While peace and sharing are both qualities that we should desire in the world today, we are naive and just dead wrong if we think lasting peace and sharing are going to come apart from Christ Jesus. Everywhere the socialist/communist overtones of Lennon's imaginary world have been tried, they have failed miserably (Nazi Germany, Red China, USSR, etc.). But where the grace of God has been offered through the preaching of the Gospel, souls have been saved, lives have been changed, and the entire world has been transformed.
Lennon once opined: "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right." 30 years after his death, Lennon is gone but our Lord Jesus remains. His Gospel continues to ring out all over the world. And someday soon, Jesus will come back to rapture all those that belong to Him. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20). The coming Kingdom of Christ - that's the world I'm imagining.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Is Jesus Coming Back on May 21, 2011?
According to Harold Camping, President of Family Radio, that is precisely the date that Jesus is going to come back to rapture His church. He also opines that God will destroy the world on October 21, 2011. You can check out all his predictions and pronouncements by clicking here.
Mr. Camping now stands in a long line of others who have predicted the time of Christ's return. To see just one list of failed predictions, check out this website. What's amazing to me is that people are still trying to predict the date of Christ's return, even after so many failed attempts. What's even more amazing to me is that people are still listening to those that would attempt to predict the time of Christ's return.
What does the Bible say about the time of Christ's coming? Here are just a few samples from Scripture:
"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Matt. 24:24).
"Therefore, if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or "look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matt. 24:26-27).
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matt. 24:36, emphasis mine).
"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming" (Matt. 24:42).
"Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matt. 24:44).
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matt. 25:13).
All of these passages can be found in what is commonly referred to as "the Olivet Discourse" - an extending teaching by Christ in which He spoke specifically to believers concerning the end of time. Clearly, if Christ wanted us to know the date of His coming, He would've surely given it to us somewhere within these verses. Not only did Jesus refrain from providing us with a date, but He said time and again that no man would know the time of His coming. I could've also written out a number of other passages that indicate the very same thing: Mark 13:32, Acts 1:7, 1 Thess. 5:2, 2 Pet. 3:10, and a host of others.
Probably the most often used illustration of Christ's coming employed by Jesus and the other writers of Scripture is "a thief in the night." Has your home, car, etc. ever been broken into? If you had known when the interloper was going to break in, you probably would've been there waiting on him - guns locked and loaded. That is precisely the point that Jesus made in Matt. 24:43. Just as you didn't know when the thief was going to come and steal your things, so we don't know when Christ will come and rapture His church.
So, if you ever hear anyone offer a prediction about the coming of Christ (other than the fact that He is coming), be sure to turn him off as quickly as possible. He is a false teacher and you will be misled if you continue to ingest his false teachings. While we don't know the day or hour of Christ's coming, we praise God that He will return: "This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). When the Day of Judgment comes, I earnestly hope you are counted among those who "have loved His appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8).
Mr. Camping now stands in a long line of others who have predicted the time of Christ's return. To see just one list of failed predictions, check out this website. What's amazing to me is that people are still trying to predict the date of Christ's return, even after so many failed attempts. What's even more amazing to me is that people are still listening to those that would attempt to predict the time of Christ's return.
What does the Bible say about the time of Christ's coming? Here are just a few samples from Scripture:
"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Matt. 24:24).
"Therefore, if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or "look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matt. 24:26-27).
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matt. 24:36, emphasis mine).
"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming" (Matt. 24:42).
"Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matt. 24:44).
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matt. 25:13).
All of these passages can be found in what is commonly referred to as "the Olivet Discourse" - an extending teaching by Christ in which He spoke specifically to believers concerning the end of time. Clearly, if Christ wanted us to know the date of His coming, He would've surely given it to us somewhere within these verses. Not only did Jesus refrain from providing us with a date, but He said time and again that no man would know the time of His coming. I could've also written out a number of other passages that indicate the very same thing: Mark 13:32, Acts 1:7, 1 Thess. 5:2, 2 Pet. 3:10, and a host of others.
Probably the most often used illustration of Christ's coming employed by Jesus and the other writers of Scripture is "a thief in the night." Has your home, car, etc. ever been broken into? If you had known when the interloper was going to break in, you probably would've been there waiting on him - guns locked and loaded. That is precisely the point that Jesus made in Matt. 24:43. Just as you didn't know when the thief was going to come and steal your things, so we don't know when Christ will come and rapture His church.
So, if you ever hear anyone offer a prediction about the coming of Christ (other than the fact that He is coming), be sure to turn him off as quickly as possible. He is a false teacher and you will be misled if you continue to ingest his false teachings. While we don't know the day or hour of Christ's coming, we praise God that He will return: "This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). When the Day of Judgment comes, I earnestly hope you are counted among those who "have loved His appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8).
The Encouraging Word - 12/5/10
All of us will probably finish life in one of two ways - with integrity or in disgrace. Would you like to know what will keep you from finishing in disgrace? If so, click here.
Monday, November 29, 2010
The Encouraging Word - 11/28/10
Have you ever listened to the testimony of a person who has no home, no family, and no transportation? If not, here's your chance. Meet John Ford. God is doing an awesome work in his life and our church has been blessed just to get to know him. Listen to his powerful testimony here. God has literally taken this man off the streets and is using him for His glory. Hallelujah - what a Savior!
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Encouraging Word - 11/21/10
This week's Encouraging Word asks the following question: How do you respond to the truth? Few people seem to want to tell the truth, far fewer seem to want to hear it, and even fewer respond to truth in the appropriate way. I hope we'll all learn a lesson from King Jeroboam and receive the truth with all humility. Have a great week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)