HEAVEN

 GOD’S WAY OR NO WAY

     In Matthew 7:13-14, JESUS said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it! Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it!” The words of JESUS warns us to look until we find the narrow gate and then to enter in through it! It will not be an easy way, but it is the WAY that leads to LIFE!

     There is a verse in a song that I heard at the beginning of a radio program back in my earlier days. It was, “Heading down the road of life, don’t know what I will find, but I’m searching for the best one and leave the rest behind!”

     In John 14:6, JESUS said, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE! No one comes to the FATHER except through ME!” In Acts 4:12, Peter affirms that JESUS is the WAY and said, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under HEAVEN given among men by which we must be SAVED!” JESUS IS GOD’S WAY AND THE ONLY WAY!

     There is words of an old song that says, “DETOUR...there’s a muddy road ahead! DETOUR! I should have obeyed that DETOUR SIGN!” If you choose any other way, you will be following the crowd through the wide gate and the broad way that only leads to destruction! Too late you will regret not heeding the warnings of JESUS!

     GOD gave us the greatest GIFT that could ever be received...the GIFT OF HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON! “For GOD SO LOVED the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whoever believes in HIM should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)! Why would anyone refuse so great a gift, have everlasting life, and spend eternity in heaven? IT IS GOD’S WAY OR NO WAY! Therefore, choose GOD’S WAY!

     If you have never accepted GOD’S WAY and received GOD’S GIFT, “If you confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that GOD has raised HIM from the dead, you will be saved! For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation! For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved’” (Romans 10:9-10 & 13)!

     THINK ABOUT IT...OK!

     Note…Scripture references from the NKJV BIBLE.

     IN CHRIST...WRT

BORN AGAIN

  "YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN"
“BORN TWICE...DIE ONCE”
“BORN ONCE...DIE TWICE”

     In the past few years, I have noticed the misuse and the incorrect use of the term "born again." There is only one correct use for the words "born again" and ONLY ONE WAY for a person to be "BORN AGAIN."
     We have the record of Nicodemus coming to JESUS one night. John tells us that JESUS “knows what is in man.” Therefore, knowing what was in Nicodemus’s heart, JESUS said, “You must be BORN AGAIN.” Nicodemus wanted to know how a person could be "BORN AGAIN." JESUS explained to him that it was being "BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT" (read John 3:1-8).
     But Nicodemus did not understand and asked JESUS "how can these things be?" JESUS explained that it required looking to HIM "THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE      EVERLASTING LIFE” (read John 3:9-16).
     If I could have only one verse of SCRIPTURE from GOD’S WORD, JOHN 3:16 would be it. This one verse shows us how much GOD LOVES US. We are told that “All have sinned and fall short of the GLORY OF GOD” (Romans 3:23). And “GOD demonstrates HIS OWN LOVE toward us, in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST DIED for us” (Romans 5:8).
     GOD has provided A WAY for us to be SAVED and JESUS said, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. No one comes to the FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME" (John 14:6). We are told that “The SON OF MAN has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). JESUS said, “And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10).
     If you have never been “BORN AGAIN” so that you will have ETERNAL LIFE, don’t you think that it is about time? “Seek the LORD while HE may be found, Call upon HIM while HE is near” (Isaiah 55:6). And “If you confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to SALVATION. For 'WHOEVER CALLS UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED'” (Romans 10:9-10 & 13).
     Note that it says "believe in your heart!" It must be more than head knowledge! A person can know about JESUS and not be saved! We must "believe in our heart" TO BE SAVED and HAVE ETERNAL LIFE! WE MUST "BELIEVE IN OUR HEART" AND HAVE FAITH TO TRUST JESUS FOR OUR SALVATION!
     "He (she) who believes in the SON has EVERLASTING LIFE; and he (she) who does not believe the SON shall not see LIFE, but the wrath of GOD abides on him (her)” (John 3:36). You may say "I believe...but." JESUS said to the father who brought his son to HIM to be healed, "IF YOU CAN BELIEVE, all things are possible to him (her) who believes." And "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, 'LORD, I believe; help my unbelief'" (Mark 9:23-24).
     It is one thing not to understand and to be able to comprehend it all. That will not keep you from being saved and receiving GOD’S BLESSINGS. But unbelief will! You must be sure that you have been “BORN AGAIN” and that YOUR NAME has been WRITTEN in the “LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE.” And the only way that you can have your name written in the “LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE” is to be “BORN AGAIN.”
     John wrote, “Anyone not found written in the BOOK OF LIFE was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE.” The previous verse says, “This is the second death.” And John tells us about a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH. He wrote, “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are WRITTEN in the LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE” (Read Revelation 20:11-15 &21:1- 27).
     JESUS told Nicodemus "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the SPIRIT is SPIRIT. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be BORN AGAIN'" (John 3:6-7). That tells us that there is a physical birth and a spiritual birth. Therefore if you have only been BORN ONCE...you will DIE TWICE, but if you have been BORN TWICE...you will only DIE ONCE!
     To those who have not been "BORN AGAIN" JESUS says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears MY VOICE and opens the door, I will come in to him...” (Revelation 3:20). And "The one who comes to ME I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37b). “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of SALVATION” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Remember that JESUS says “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN” and "CHRIST IN YOU (is) THE HOPE OF GLORY" (Colossians 1:27b).
     THINK ABOUT IT…OK!
     Note...SCRIPTURE references from the NKJV.
     IN CHRIST…WRT

A FRIEND OF SINNERS

ARE YOU A FRIEND OF SINNERS?

     I can just imagine the response of some people if you were to ask them that question. Who me…no…I don’t think so! If this is your response, then you must be a very lonely person because GOD’S WORD makes it very clear that we are all sinners and “There is none righteous, no, not one...For all have sinned and fall short of the GLORY OF GOD” (Romans 3:10 & 3:23). “Just as through one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

     If you do not consider yourself to be one of this group, then this GOSPEL is not for you because JESUS said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32). “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that CHRIST JESUS came into the world to SAVE SINNERS” (1 Timothy 1:15).

     There has never been but one sinless person born of woman who has walked on this earth and that was the SON OF GOD...the LORD JESUS CHRIST! Yet HE is the one whom they called “A FRIEND of tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:34c). I am so thankful that JESUS is a friend of sinners, for I am one, and so are you!

But Acts 16:31a says, “Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and you will be saved.” That I did on February 16, 1975, and GOD SAVED ME! And now, “In HIM I have redemption through HIS BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of HIS GRACE” (Ephesians 1:7).

     And if you are a CHRISTIAN, then like me, you are just a sinner who has been SAVED BY GRACE “For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the GIFT OF GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

     “GOD demonstrates HIS OWN LOVE toward us, in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US” (Romans 5:8). JESUS SAID, “For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE” (John 3:16).

     Have you received GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION by believing on the LORD JESUS CHRIST? “If you CONFESS with your mouth the LORD JESUS and BELIEVE in your heart that GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, you will be SAVED. For with the heart one believes to RIGHTEOUSNESS, and with the mouth confession is made to SALVATION. For ‘WHOEVER CALLS upon the NAME of the LORD shall be SAVED’” (Romans 10:9-10 & 13).

     If you have done that, then thank GOD that JESUS is a friend of sinners! “For there is NO OTHER NAME under HEAVEN given among men by which we must be SAVED” (Acts 4:12b). And now, may you, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. To HIM be the GLORY both now and forever. AMEN” (2 Peter 3:18).

     THINK ABOUT IT...OK!

     Note...Scripture references from the NKJV.

     IN CHRIST...WRT

CHRISTIANITY

CHRISTIANITY IS A RELATIONSHIP

     Religion will not save you nor gain you access to HEAVEN. Only A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST will SAVE YOU and make you a CHRISTIAN. Some people would tell you that they are a CHRISTIAN. Some claim to be a CHRISTIAN because they were born into a CHRISTIAN family, they joined a church, they were baptized, they do good works, they live in the BIBLE Belt, they belong to some denomination, or they are Catholic. Then there are those who practice other religions. None of these makes a CHRISTIAN.

     A person can be religious and still be spiritually dead, lost and without hope! Nicodemus is a good example. He was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. But JESUS told him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless ONE IS BORN AGAIN, HE (SHE) CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless ONE IS BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT, HE (SHE) CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN’” (John 3:3, 5, & 7).

     Three times JESUS had told Nicodemus the necessity of the “NEW BIRTH.” But Nicodemus could not comprehend how a person could be “BORN AGAIN” and in John 3:9, he ask JESUS, “How can these things be?” Read Nicodemus’s encounter with JESUS in John 3:1-21.

     This is the same question that many are still asking today. THE “NEW BIRTH” IS BY THE GRACE GOD and we have to accept it BY FAITH because “Without faith it is impossible to please HIM, FOR HE (SHE) WHO COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM” (Hebrews 11:6).

     JESUS SUMMED UP THE GOSPEL, AND GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION, for Nicodemus in one verse of SCRIPTURE. HE said, “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE” (John 3:16).

     Then read the entire GOSPEL of JOHN because “Truly JESUS did many other signs in the presence of HIS disciples, which are not written in this BOOK; but these are written that YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME” (John 20:30-31). “THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN given among men by which WE MUST BE SAVED” (Acts 4:12).

     “WHOEVER BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST IS BORN OF GOD” (1 John 5:1a). YOU “MUST BE BORN AGAIN” TO BE SAVED AND TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN!

     THEREFORE, “IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THE LORD JESUS AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR WITH THE HEART ONE BELIEVES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE TO SALVATION” (Romans 10:9-10).

     JESUS said, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME” (John 14:6). HE said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears MY voice and opens the door, I will come in to him (her) and dine with him (her), and he (she) with ME” (Revelation 3:20).

     YOU CAN NOT BE SAVED AND BECOME A CHRISTIAN ANY OTHER WAY. CHRISTIANITY IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A RELIGION! IT IS A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS! HE IS THE CHRIST AND “CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY” (Colossians 1:27)!

     THINK ABOUT IT…OK!

     Note...SCRIPTURE references from the NKJV

     IN CHRIST...WRT

A NATION THAT WAS

   

A NATION UNDER...WHO AND WHAT?

     Maybe there was a time that we could say that "AMERICA WAS ONE NATION UNDER GOD." I don't believe that we can say that anymore! Maybe it is under a god but not under the ONE TRUE GOD! I think that we can identify the “who” as the one referred to in the Bible as "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4). The “what” is the gross sin in this nation! And the “who” and the “what” are destroying and sending this nation down fast!

     In my eighty four years, I have seen this nation go through good times and bad times. But in the past this nation overcame the bad times and came out stronger than before. There was a time when our National Anthem or one of the other great patriotic songs was being sung, especially during the time that I was in the military, it would bring tears to my eyes.

     Up until the last twenty years, I had always been proud to be an American! But now it is sad to say that I am ashamed of America and what is happening to this great nation! But, don't misunderstand me because I still think that America is the best place on earth to be...for now! But it is sad to see "America The Beautiful" being destroyed. The beauty is being replaced by the ugliness that is the result of the sin that is destroying this nation!

     A very good example is the greed and corruption of those in positions of leadership and authority, especially those in big business and those in our government! They are the reason behind much of what is sending this nation down the tube! They are more concerned about making the rich richer and the poor poorer! That has really been very evident in the last few years!

     They are the very opposite of Robin Hood who took from the rich and gave to the poor! They take from the poor and give to the rich! Greed and corruption is one of the biggest reasons this nation is in so much trouble and the American people/taxpayers are under so much stress now!

     We have seen a very good example of the greed and corruption in the financial institutions across this nation. Another one and something that has been brought to my attention is the health insurance and pharmaceutical companies and there needs to be some pressure put on them by the federal government to stop them from price gouging!

     The insurance and pharmaceutical companies are one of the primary reasons behind the skyrocketing cost of health care! They have the American people over a barrel and right where they want them. They know that they can do just as they please and continue to make the outrageous profits that they are making! 

     Either by denial or extremely high premiums, they have and are forcing a large number of people to have to go without health insurance! Right now they are raising the premiums for policy holders, especially those who have to buy their own health insurance, by ridiculous percentages. They are just price gouging and trying to get all they can, as fast as they can, and for as long as they can! The federal government needs to put a stop to it!

     Maybe if enough people would use Blogger, Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, e-mail, etc, to put enough pressure on the government leaders it would help. They are the ones that should be put under the stress to get this nation out of the mess that they have helped get it in!

     And the government needs to put a stop to all the outrageous and wasteful spending and especially all of the pork barrel spending that they are doing that is driving this nation deeper and deeper into so much debt and making this nation so dependent on other nations just to keep it from going under! They think that they can just keep spending, spending, spending, taxing, taxing, taxing, and borrowing, borrowing, borrowing! That is not the way to get this nation out of debt! Something has got to change the way the government thinks and handles the affairs of this nation! The taxpayers need to cut up the government's credit cards!

     Maybe what it is going to take is prayer! GOD’S WORD says "If My people who are called by MY NAME will HUMBLE themselves, and PRAY and SEEK MY FACE, and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14) Only a MERCIFUL GOD will be able to save this nation! CHRISTIANS NEED TO BE ON THEIR KNEES IN PRAYER FOR THIS NATION!

     That needs to be preached from every pulpit/platform in America! That is what it is going to take to save this nation! I had rather be at the mercy of a RIGHTEOUS GOD than at the mercy of the greedy and the corrupt who are in positions of leadership and authority across this nation because their eyes have been blinded by the god of this age!

     It would be a terrible tragedy for America to end up as Sodom and Gomorrah...here today and gone tomorrow! My prayer is that everyone who puts their faith and trust in the ONE TRUE GOD will get on their knees and intercede for this nation! Our prayer should be "GOD BLESS AMERICA" and "GOD SAVE THIS NATION" that was once referred to as being "ONE NATION UNDER GOD." AMEN! 

 *UNCLE SAM NEEDS YOU*

TO PRAY FOR THIS NATION

THINK ABOUT IT...OK!

Note...Scripture references from the NKJV.

IN CHRIST...WRT