Truth Talks

What to Expect in Heaven

As Christians, we have a lot to be thankful for, including God's goodness and mercy and His sovereignty over all things in our lives.  Mostly, we can be thankful that God sent His Son Jesus to pay the price for our sins so that we can live eternally with God in heaven someday.   Now that is awesome!  But how much do we think about heaven?  Perhaps we don't give enough thought to it.  I know that sometimes I neglect to consider how much I really do have, choosing instead to focus on what I don't. 

Keeping our eyes on the prize of heaven can keep us going through the tough times.  Today I'm going to share a Top Ten list from my pastor's sermon last Sunday.  From Pastor Jason St. John, here's the list.

Top 10 Reasons Heaven Will Be Awesome

10.       A new body.  (2 Corinthians 5:1-5)

9.         Awesome food.  (Mt 8:11, Re 19:9)

8.        Meeting the great characters of history.

7.        The reunions.  (1 The 4:13, 16-17)

6.         No more sin.  (Re 21:27)

5.        The never-ending adventure.

4.         New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem.  (Rev 21:1-5, 10-11)

3.        The "No Mores". (Re 7:16-17, Is 65:17-18)

2.        Awesome Worship. (Re 5:11-14, Re 7:9-10)

1.        Seeing God.  (1 Jo 3:2, John 14:3)

Take some time today and look these verses up in your bible.  Heaven will be awesome.  God promises it will be so.  We all have something to be thankful for.

Bonus: For a Thanksgiving Lesson, click here.

How will you live differently because of the Truth you know?

Christian Attitude toward Homosexuals

Last week’s post on the gay rights activists remains unsettled in my mind. Therefore, I’d like to post some thoughts from Focus on the Family’s social issues page. I encourage you to look around at their site. They have done a thorough job reminding us to be sensitive and respectful to everyone. In response to an email asking, “What should be the attitude of Christians toward those who are gay?” Focus answered:

That is a very important question considering the related turmoil going on around us. I feel strongly that Christians have a scriptural mandate to love and care for all the people of the world.

Everyone is entitled to be treated with respect and dignity, even those who are living in immoral circumstances. There is no place for hatred, hurtful jokes, or other forms of rejection toward those who are homosexual. We cannot hope to win others to Jesus Christ if we insult and wound them.

Remember, too, that Jesus was more compassionate toward the adulterous woman caught in the very act of intercourse — a capital offense in those days — than He was to hypocrites in the church. That is our model for how to respond to a person living in sin. Indeed, we should be trying to reach out to those who don't know Jesus Christ, which is impossible in an atmosphere of hostility and fear.

Also, it should be remembered that there are celibate homosexuals who are trying desperately to live godly lives. Many of them struggle every day to do what is right, fighting inner battles that rage like wildfires. These men and women need every ounce of compassion and support they can get from Christian people who know of their tendencies. Often, however, they are rejected and excluded from the church community because of fear and misunderstanding by those who find them repulsive. This is wrong! These individuals need the community of Christ and the fellowship it can provide. They must be embraced as fellow believers who are trying to please the Lord and conform to a standard of moral purity. How can we do less?

For more information on responding to homosexuality in our culture, please visit Focus on the Family.

God and Prosperity

When we become Christians, God doesn’t promise us a trouble-free life of prosperity & bliss according to our definitions of the terms.  When God says that He has plans for us (Jer 29:11), His plans aren’t what most people think, for God’s thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways.  While it is comforting to know that God does indeed have a purpose for our lives, His ultimate purpose is for the advancement of His kingdom and for heavenly, not earthly, ends.

God does promise prosperity or abundance to believers, but not in the way we often think of it.  While we commonly think of abundance as happiness or material gains,  God promises us a future in heaven as adopted children of God.  He also promises to enable us to be the men and women He wants us to be here on earth through  the power of His Holy Spirit.  God’s promised blessings to us this side of eternity are spiritual & character blessings, not physical blessings (Eph 1:3-6), so that we can be holy and without blame before Him.  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.  (Gal 5:22 NKJV)

These are definitely spiritual blessings, all of which pertain to character, nothing more.  Godly character is highly valued by God because God looks at the heart of man, not his or her exterior.  We will have success God’s way when we allow God to make us into the people He wants us to be so that we can do for Him what He wants us to do.  The fullness of our prosperity, God’s way, will come when we get to heaven, not here on earth, but it will definitely be worth the wait!  While we are waiting, let’s just keep pressing on, pressing into God, and allowing Him to change us from the inside out as He so desires.

Who will you encourage today with the Truth you know?

Gay Rights Activists Trample Cross

There are a few things that render me speechless. However, when I saw the video last week of a gay rights activist snatch a cross from an older woman and stomp on it…my jaw dropped and all I could do was groan.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Rom 1: 18

Please take time to read the rest of Romans 1. It is like reading today’s newspaper, from God’s vantage point. Men are suppressing the truth of a knowledge of God.

25If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. … 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, "and again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb 10:25-31

The audience in Hebrews is believers but serves as a reminder that God will avenge and repay those who trample the Son of God. No, the Styrofoam cross the woman held was not Jesus, but it represents all that he stands for.

Please pray during these times of ungodliness. All of those who are protesting for all the wrong reasons have eternal souls just like you and me. Pray that they will hear the truth and listen. Pray for our new president-elect that he will not suppress the truth of these and other crucial issues.

What will you do with the truth you have heard?

Should a Christian Consult a Fortune Teller?

Throughout all of human history, people have been fascinated with fortune telling.  The bible often mentions instances where kings consulted their sorcerers and soothsayers in order to predict the future.

 

Times haven’t changed all that much.  Sorcery and soothsaying are still alive and well today.  People are fascinated with the spirit world evidenced by major network shows such as “Medium”, “Ghost Whisperer” drawing large followings.  Blockbuster movies such as “Ghost” and “Harry Potter” also featured dabblings into the occult.  

 

Having a Christian worldview calls for us to avoid dabbling in the spirit world.  First of all, the bible is clear about this when it states in Deuteronomy 18:10-12

 

“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD…”

 

God views such behavior as “an abomination”.  He clearly does not like us to practice such things.  Seeking information about the future or seeking help from another spirit can be equated to idolatry.  God says that we should have no other gods before Him.

 

The good news is that as Christians we have direct access to the One who not only knows all that is going on in the world, but the One who created the world and controls all that is going on in the world.  We need not seek the “advice” of any other.  Our trust can be placed in Him whether or not we know what the future holds.  We can trust God’s plan because we know God’s character, and He is all Good.  

 

How will you seek God for the Truth?

 

How Great is Our God

The election dust has finally settled. Some are joyous and jubilant while others are disappointed and downcast. No matter which camp you are in, lift your face to heaven and praise Jesus, the King of Kings (or president of presidents). Ultimately Christ is ruler of all.

He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col. 1:15-17 NIV)

I am sharing with you a song (below) that started rolling through my head this morning. When you have 4 minutes, click the link and praise the Lord through this song.

How might you encourage someone with the truth you know?

 

Chris Tomlin How Great is Our God Worship Video with Lyrics Chris Tomlin song set to video of mountains & the earth from outer space.
© 2008 YouTube, LLC

 

Three Perspectives on the Election

A friend sent me a link to a 4 minute John Piper video that lays out some good perspectives on the election.   I thought I'd share it here since we've been discussing the election lately.  Here's the outline:

1. Prophetic perspective
2. Sovereignty of God
3. Gospel

Now, here's the video:

Any thoughts?  We'd love to hear from you!

Casting Your Vote

Tomorrow is Election Day in the United States.   Voters of all ages, races, religions and socioeconomic status will cast their votes in one of the most heated political contests in recent memory.   At days’ end tomorrow (assuming hanging chads do not get in the way) impatient voters will learn who will guide the future of our country.  Election anxiety will be over.  For better or for worse, we will have made a choice.

With the exception of birth and death, all of life is a choice.   With every action (or inaction) we cast our vote as to how our lives will turn out.   Each day is “election day”.   Each new day provides fresh opportunities to either go deeper in our relationship with God, living for Him, or to stay stagnant in our faith, living for ourselves. 

God delights in us getting to know Him.  He commands us to live all of our lives for Him.  When we do, we will be blessed.  The bible says

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. (Ps 1:1-3 NKJV)

When we cast our votes for Truth—for God—we are sure to receive what He promises.   We will prosper according to God’s way, in God’s time. God is not a politician.  He delivers on His promises no matter what political party rules on Capitol Hill.  

Like Joshua, we have a choice as to whom we will serve.    Joshua chose to serve God.  What will you choose?

How will you choose Truth today?

Stop Trusting in Man

The Old Testament book of Isaiah is a book that unveils the full dimensions of God’s judgment and salvation for Israel, yet there are many principles that are applicable for us today.

Isaiah 2:22 says, “Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. What is he really worth?” In light of the troubling times all around us, this is a timely reminder. I don’t know about you, but it is easier for me to trust in what I can see, touch and hear. Things like my bank statement, dollar bills in my pocket and the evening news tend to take center stage of my thinking if I’m not careful. These are things of man, what are they really worth? God wants us to trust in him.

The prophet offers alternatives to trusting in things of man when he says, “surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid” (Isa 12:2) and “surely this is our God, we trusted in him, and he saved us” (Isa 25:9).

The Psalmist offers fourteen verses reminding the reader that God is trustworthy. In other words, He’s got our back. Daniel trusted in God in the lion’s den and no scratch was found on him (Dan 6:23). Jesus comforted his disciples with, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me” (John 14:1).

No matter what happens on November 4, on Wall Street or around the world, if we know Jesus as our Savior, we can trust God.

Whom can you encourage today with the truth you have heard?

Wall Street vs Main Street: The Blame Game

Everyone is an arm-chair economist these days.  Because of the teetering world economy, the upcoming presidential election has nervous investors all over the world trying to figure out what went wrong and who to blame for the most recent stock market meltdown.  I feel sorry for Alan Greenspan, who is the latest victim of the blame game. 

I think we need to go deeper than Wall Street greed to evaluate what went wrong.  Sure, greedy mortgage lenders gave out funds to high-risk borrowers who coveted homes that perhaps they couldn’t afford.  Credit card companies, probably the next big “chip” to fall in this economic crisis also profited from lending to people living beyond their means.   Most of society is guilty of greed and covetousness because most of us want more than we currently have.  Even Main Street is guilty of greed. 

The real blame for our economic woes resides in society’s departure from a biblical worldview of money and wealth.  As a collective whole, we have put our trust in material possessions rather than in the living God.  The bible says the following about the place of money and wealth in our lives:

 

1. Our real treasure is in heaven, not in material possessions. (Mt 6:19-21)
2. Our security rests in God, not in our earthly riches. (1 Ti 6:17)
3. Our contentment should rest in what God has given us, not what others possess.  (He 13:5)

Where do you place your trust or contentment?  What provides you the most satisfaction?  If your answer to any of these consists of something other than knowing God, you may have some work to do in assessing your worldview.  Perhaps you need to start applying the truth that you know relating to a Christian worldview.  The real blame for the demise exists in each of us and our desire to have more than we currently possess.  Those of us on Main Street also have starring roles in the blame game.

 

How will you change because of the truth you know?