Finding God (Part II)

Despite popular belief, people aren't typically saved by going to church.

As controversial as that might sound, if you search the scriptures, you'll find that most people don't have their first real encounter with God in a place of worship.

See Moses (Exodus 3), Jacob (Genesis 32), and Paul (Acts 9).  They all are devout Jews who probably went to synagogue routinely.  However, they all have their first real encounters with God outside of the church during their daily routines. 

That tells us three things:

1. You can be in church all your life and never develop a personal relationship with God.

2. God is not restricted to the four walls of the church.

3. God meets people where they are.

That's why God instructs to "set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity" in 1 Timothy 4:12. He wants us to let our lights shine in all that we do, so that people might have a personal encounter with God wherever we go.

See, He knows that people aren't saved by going church. Rather, people get saved by watching real Christians live their lives for God.

So, don't restrict God to the four walls of the church. He can do ANYTHING with ANYBODY ANYWHERE.

God bless,
J.W.

The Way

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

Yesterday, Tiger Woods made his first public statement since entering rehab for sex addiction after news of various mistresses came out in the news media a few months ago.

In his statement, Tiger said:

"I have a lot of work to do and I intend to dedicate myself to doing it.  Part of following this path, for me, is Buddhism, which my mother taught me at a young age.  People probably don't realize it, but I was raised a Buddhist, and I actively practiced my faith from childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years.  Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security.  It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint.  Obviously, I lost track of what I was taught." 

Well, I hate to break it to Tiger and the millions of other Buddhists out there, but Buddhism is, by no means, the answer to Tiger's problems.  Despite the positive things it might teach, turning to Buddhism will only act as a temporary fix to Tiger's issues. 

Why?

Because, in John 14:6, Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life."

I know it might be controversial to say, especially in this day and age, but there is no true salvation or redemption except that which comes through Jesus Christ.

Like it or not, He is the way, the truth, and the life. Not A way, but THE Way.

As Christians, if we don't believe that, then our entire faith is fruitless.

God bless,
J.W.

Jesus Walks (Part IV)

Today, some 2009 years ago, Jesus sat with His disciples at what’s now called the Last Supper and asked them to remember Him.

Instead, what he got was betrayal, denial, and abandonment.

But still Jesus chose to forgive, and as a result, His disciples would become the foundation of what the Christian church is today. It is become of them that we celebrate this week of Passion.

It just goes to show that Jesus offers the gift of forgiveness to any and every one, no matter how big or small the sin.

Have you accepted His gift today?

God bless,
J.W.

“To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.” ~ Daniel 9:9

Free Gift (Part II): Heart of the Matter

“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.’” ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

The other day, my mom asked me a question.

If a saved person commits suicide, is that person still saved?

We can give all types of reasons why that person may not be saved, but in the end, none of it matters.

All that matters is what’s in his or her heart.

According to the Bible, if that person believed in his or her heart and confessed with his or her mouth that Jesus is Lord, that person is saved.

We may try to impose other criteria for his salvation, but none of it counts.

For we are not his judge.

And we did not die to save his sins.

God bless,
J.W.

Free 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.” ~ Romans 10:9-10

A lot of times, we make salvation hard.

We convince people that if they do this, this, and this, they will be saved.

Likewise, if they do that, that, and that, they will not.

But salvation isn’t a reward you earn.

It’s a gift you accept.

Accept this gift today and you can live eternally.

God bless,
J.W.