Friday, November 7, 2014

Are you Truly Saved and Born Again?











   For people that get saved and born again, there may come a time(s) when you question yourself as to whether you were genuinely saved or not. I know this question popped into my mind several times this year.

   So how does one know if you are in fact saved? Is there some kind of proof that you've received God's Saving Grace? Well I can tell you how I have come to know.

   For starters, before I was saved, if you would have asked me what my religion was, I would have answered Christian. Yet I had not at that time admitted my sins to God, asked for forgiveness, repented, and understood just exactly what Christ did for me by dying on the cross. I had never actually read the bible (just could not get through it and never considered it's real importance) and it certainly didn't dictate how I lived my life. Yeah, growing up I was told it was the word of God, but it was never impressed on me that I needed to live my life by those words.

   So, I was just living my worldly life like everyone else around me. If you asked me if I was a good person and would I be going to Heaven, I would have answered, Yes! However I continued to sin, do the same things I had always done, and did not really understand what being a Christian really meant.

   Now fast forward to after I admitted my sins, asked for forgiveness, repented and excepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and most importantly truly meant every word of it. A lot of "firsts" began to happen in my life. I started attending a bible based church as an adult, by choice; singing in church worship (something I always resisted in the past); baptized as an adult; enrolled in a college level bible study program; started explaining the gospel to others; led my first prayer in public; began tithing; started actively becoming a good steward of God's money and actively helping others to do so; I make the time to be available to others in need; gave up all forms of pornography; changed the movies, TV and music I consume; my friends have changed; and I'm working on eradicating foul language and using the Lord's name in vain (still in progress).

   All of these things came as a byproduct of being Born Again. When you are truly saved, the Holy Spirit will reside in you and you will begin to evolve spontaneously. You will also take notice of "firsts" happening in your personal life. You will turn from your worldly ways perhaps for the first time in your life.

   All those things started happening to me, not because I sought each of them out, but because when you become a Born Again Christian, you will be living in this world, but not of this world.

   That's how I came to know that I am truly Saved and Born Again :)

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Are You Good Enough?


   My last post hit a note with several people who say they don't understand the whole "Jesus thing." Their belief is that all "good" people go to heaven. My question is usually "Are you good enough to go to Heaven?" By who's standards are you good enough, societies? What if God's standard for you to get into Heaven is just a bit higher than our own standard?

   You see the problem is simply that everybody's thoughts on what is "good enough" will differ. Even Hitler saw himself as a good person trying to make a better world, and millions blindly followed him down his path of madness.

   To understand the Bible's view point and teaching on Jesus Christ being the only way to the Father (Heaven), reading my last post may be a good start. Without rehashing the same post again I have a couple analogies I'd like to share, that may help the people who don't understand the role Jesus plays in regards to Heaven.

   I agree that good people can go to heaven, however I also believe the bible explains that there is a process and path laid out which involves Jesus.

 As with life on earth, everyone chooses paths to take on a daily basis. When you decide you're going to the grocery store or going on a road trip, all of the roads in front of you don't end up where you are looking to go. This is why some people get lost, while other people make it to their destination.


   Lets apply the same principle to the spirit once it leaves the body. I believe so many people take it for granted they will just end up in Heaven, yet if I ask them what path they're taking to get there, they all believe that just being a "good" person is enough.

   We all need guidance and direction in the areas of our lives, this is how we grow and mature. The same holds true when it comes to God and Heaven. God has given us a map, a clearly written set of guidelines and directions so we can all find his house when our time comes. The key is to study and follow God's map now, so when the day comes that our journey is to begin, we know where we're going and who the tour guide (Jesus) is.

   If death truly is a continuation of life outside of our earthly body, why would anyone believe that they will be able to find their way on the other side, without guidance? The Bible clearly shows us the way, and you need to come to, repent, and follow Jesus Christ so you can begin to learn the directions to get to Heaven. Personally, if left without a GPS, I take a wrong turn and get lost every time.


   Here's another way to see it. Let's say a neighbor of yours is throwing the party of the century. You can't wait to go, however you've lived right down the street from them your whole life and have never taken the time to introduce yourself to them in the past. What would happen, if you showed up to their house and tried to walk in unknown, uninvited, and unannounced?

   You would be rejected, barred from entering and asked to leave, or worse.

   Perhaps if one were to try that same technique to get into Heaven, just maybe they might get the same results.

   I simply submit that learning about where one is going and introducing yourself to the home owner in advance, is always the sure way to become accepted and welcomed.

   "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven"


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Jesus is Key







  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6

 Confession Time. There are some things in the bible, I honestly hope the biblical interpreters got wrong. John 14:6 is one of those.

 As we get older if life, people we care about pass away. Awesome people. Parents, Grandparents, Children, Family and Friends. When we lose a loved one, we always have internal conversations about life and death, heaven and hell, and whether we will ever see those amazing people again.

 So many people hold on to their belief that because their loved ones were kind, generous and loving, they surely went to heaven. Even if none of them ever came to know, love and follow Jesus.

 I hope (for your sake) that Jesus really said, "One of the ways, to come to the Father is through me." You see, if they got the translation wrong, then you're right, and everyone we care about will be waiting for us in heaven!

 The reality is that Jesus says "The only way to the Father." His many teachings and followers back this up throughout the bible.

 Most people believe in Jesus the person. An amazing, caring man. The world's greatest spiritual leader. Someone who fought for every soul that he could during his time here on earth.

 Jesus wanted so strongly for you to embrace his message, he laid down his short life so that you could wake up and come to know his truth and the true way to heaven. Jesus was so amazing that everybody on this planet knows who he is and what he claimed to be. I think even most non Christians can agree that to be Christ like is the most noble thing.

 The truth is, as Christians know, Jesus was much more than that.

 You see the reality is that you can't get to Heaven on your good deeds alone and neither did your relatives. As nice as you are, as generous as you are, nobody can make this journey on their own.

   We are all born in sin and break God's Commandments repeatedly throughout our lives. Using God's standard, we are all found guilty and not to be good people. After all, what do you call someone on earth who constantly break the law and does whatever they want, contrary to our laws? What happens to those people when they are brought before a judge? Does the judge care that they claim to be "good" person? Will the judge go easy on them because they seem nice? Why do you suppose it will be any different in Heaven?

 For your sake, and for Heavens sake, I pray you will come to know Jesus as the Son of God also.

 Take that first step and, cometh to him, heareth his sayings, and doeth them.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Conversations with God?













   Years ago I poured myself into a series of books written by Neale Donald Walsch called "Conversations With God" and was enthusiastic with the questions and answers given out in these books.

   When I am researching anything I like to reference different sources and consume as much information as my brain can handle, and for me the word of God was no exception, but here is where the problem lies. How to differentiate what is, and is not the words of God? 

   My first problem came in the fact that I was not well versed in the actual Bible itself, because I hadn't yet started to take the time necessary to study and understand what I now know to be Gods true words. So I highly suggest learning from my mistake and start by studying and understanding the Bible first and foremost. After all, the Bible is considered worldwide to contain the actual and inspired words of God, so without your understanding of the Bible you have no litmus test to subject other more modern writings to.

   Here's an example of what I would consider dangerous material in these books.

   According to Neale, when he asked God...

   Q. "Is there a Hell?"
  
   A. "Hell does not exist as this place you have fantasized, where you burn in some everlasting fire, or exist in some state of everlasting torment. What purpose could I have in that?"

   This goes against what is written in the Bible. Some people believe hell isn't real and is just the absence of God, but I would say if you're not in the presence of God, then you must be some place else.

   Q. "But if there is no hell, does that mean I can do what I want, act as I wish, commit any act, without fear of retribution?"

   A. "I tell you this: You are your own rule maker. You set the guidelines. And you decide how well you have done; how well you are doing. For you are the one who has decided Who and What You Really Are - and Who You Want to Be. And you are the only one who can assess how well you're doing. No one else will judge you ever, for why, and how, could God judge God's own creation and call it bad?"

   This negates a huge theme of the Bible itself as God has judged us in the past and the final judgment day is written about and still to come!

   Neale was also told by God that Hitler went to Heaven, and when asked how that is possible God proclaimed "First, he could not have gone to hell because hell does not exist. Therefor, there is only one place left to which he could have gone."

   Neale's God negates the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus for our salvation. (John 14:6) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

   Since Neale's God does not judge and everybody automatically goes to heaven, there's no need to repent, no need to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior, just being yourself is good enough, even if you commit atrocities as Hitler did.

   Remember the Bible clearly states that: 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).

   I don't mean to condemn these books in whole. They do talk of Jesus often as the world's greatest teacher and provider of truth. There are some very good insights and ideas in this book that deserve deep thought and consideration.

   Q. "How do I know the answer's I'm getting are from God?"
  
   A. Mine is always your Highest Thought, your Clearest Word, your Grandest Feeling. Anything less is from another source." "The Highest Thought is always the thought which contains joy. The Clearest Words are those words which contain truth. The Grandest Feeling is that feeling which you call love."

We should all seek out and create Joy, Truth, and Love in our lives, just be sure it's not at the expense of you soul.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Baptism











   Approximately six years ago I was born again and became a believer of Christ.

   Now, I was baptized as an infant by my parents and went to a Methodist Church as a child, so I've always known about church and Jesus Christ. However it wasn't until about six years ago that the reality of my existence, who Jesus was and what he did, hit me like a bolt of lightening!

   Like most people, I hit a point in my life where I started asking those questions, "why am I here?", "there has to be more then this, we can't all be here just to consume, work, buy stuff and die, can we?" Then I saw something that really got me excited, it made me really question my typical human existence.

   I saw the movie "The Matrix!" This was a slight miracle in itself, because I am not a fan of Keanu Reeves and would not have paid to see one of his movie's. Some friends of mine invited me along to see this new movie everyone was talking about, but I had never heard of. Long story short, the themes and ideas presented in "The Matrix" absolutely was a key puzzle piece to my basic understanding that everything seen and unseen in this world is not what it seems. This flipped a switch in me that put me on the path to learn to truth.

   During the course of the next few years of consuming audio, video, books, and becoming increasingly more spiritual and open, the day came that I was given the truth! While driving home one night from work, "it" hit me like a bolt of lightening!

   I instantly realized there is an actual spiritual war constantly taking place, between good and evil for our souls. I now knew that the mundane day to day grind we are all participating in is just Satan's way of distracting us and keeping us in a stupor. I remember repeating out loud over and over in the car, "No? Oh... My... God" as it all became clear that I was a sheep following the herd off an eternal cliff.

   Since that night several things became crystal clear to me.

1. My time on earth and my soul were being robbed from me by Satan.

2. Jesus Christ existed; was here to show us the truth; teach us about faith; how to live and love and is the only true way to salvation. Nobody comes to the Father except through the Son.

3. My life has so much more meaning and how I spend the rest of it, means everything.

4. I need to change my "s***" now!


   I repented for my sins. I repented for my foolishness. I repented for spending my life worshiping myself and my possessions. I asked for forgiveness and acknowledged that Jesus Christ was my Lord and Savior.

   That's my story. So for the last six years I've been slowly rebuilding my life based on the truth instead of lies. My wife and I have made life changes, financial changes, job changes, we've moved, lost friends and are close to breaking free of the rat race.

   I have rededicated the rest of my life to spiritual growth, striving to become Christ like, and helping others. I'm a work in progress and still unplugging from the matrix, but I'm finally on the right path and moving forward quickly.

   In a few weeks both my wife and I will be Baptized as adults, now with the full understanding of what it means. Life is good.

Links:

Red or Blue Pill?

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Finding the Time











   A situation I find myself in lately is not being "free" to help with the many projects I see going on around me. Recently there was a call out to help paint several rooms in the church, a sign up sheet to attend and support a new church plant, and a call to man a booth at a street festival. All this just in the last couple weeks.

   I did not attend any of these events. Now it's not because I didn't want to, I did, and not being able to participate frustrates me very much at times.

   You see on the days I am not working, I am Mr. Mom, spending the day with my three year old daughter. Currently my wife and I both only work three days per week, and it would seem that leaves four days to fellowship and help others... on paper anyway.

   However we've been working opposite days of each other, so we have effectively managed to tie ourselves up for six days out of the week, leaving no time to break out "sans toddler" and be helpful to others.

   In the future we will be tweaking our work schedules to free up some more time, however I realize the remedy to my situation is to simply find a day job that is all about fellowship and helping others.

   So my quest is to seek out this position in the near future. I don't know what this will look like, however I do know God has always come through for me, and this will be no exception!

   The journey of the second half of my life has started to take shape, and although I regret it took me this long to realize what's truly important, I am very grateful that I have, as to many people never realize the true importance in life at all.

Monday, August 11, 2014

What's Your World View?











   I was just listening to a sermon by Rick Warren which dealt with peoples world views, and the question of "What is your world view?"

   Rick says "If I asked how you picture life, what image would come to your mind? That image is your life metaphor. It's the view of life that you hold, consciously or unconsciously, in your mind. It's your description of how life works and what you expect from it. People often express their life metaphors through clothes, jewelry, cars, hairstyles, bumper stickers, even tattoos."

   An example would be “The one with most toys wins.”

   As I listened, I looked down at my two most noticeable tattoos. On my left wrist is written WWLD? Which stands for "what would love do?" On my right wrist is a picture of the Lorax with the word "Unless" under him. I hold the same world view as the Lorax, which is, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not."

   I had those tattoos put in such plain site in hopes they would spark deeper conversations with strangers I meet, and thanks to Rick Warren I just realized I possibly hold a world view either the same as or similar to one as Dr. Seuss had.

   Not such a bad view to hold.

Links:

Sermon by Rick Warren on World Views
The Lorax
Dr. Seuss