Random Thoughts on the Really Good News

“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23) “Being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). I know you have seen advertisements which claim they will give you a product for FREE. Then, when you responded, you found out in order to get the so called free gift you had to sign up to pay for more of the product in order to get what they claimed was free. The modern day Protestant evangelical movement began in the early 18th Century. It continues to this day. I was a part of it for many years. I dropped out when I discovered that this movement had an eerie similarity to the offer of a free product from advertisers. Think about it for a minute. How was the gospel of salvation presented to you? Was it presented as a free gift IF you believed, repented, invited, accepted, and received it? And were you told you were doing the right thing (justified) before God IF y

“For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it does NOT DEPEND ON THE MAN WHO WILLS or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” (Romans 9:15-16) Many Christians are convinced by their teachers that obtaining mercy and compassion from God is a matter of their own “free will” choice. They are wrong and do not believe God. Above, God clearly says His compassion and mercy is NOT dependent on the man "who wills”  , or how a man chooses to “run” (how he lives his life). God's mercy and compassion is dictated by who He is and what He wants.  And in Chapter 11 he tells us…. “For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to ALL. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding…” (Proverbs 3:5) I cannot think of anything worse than to watch one of your children suffer when there is little you can do to make it better. We mortal parents are subjected to this from time to time. It tests our faith in God who could intervene and stop the suffering or could have prevented it altogether. So why doesn’t He? I don’t know…I would and you would. Nevertheless, we must deal with what comes our way the best we can. Abandoning God because we do not understand why He allows evil in the world is really not an answer. It will not relieve the pain. Deciding there is no God at all is not the answer for it is obvious to all that someone began the Universe. Listening to the pathetic arguments of religious leaders who blame it all on the Devil, or on sinful men, doesn’t help either.  So what helps?  What I have seen is gentle spirits making their requests known to God for

“In the evening, lamentation may lodge, but in the morning there is jubilant song.”  (Psalm 30:5 CLOT) There are times that people come to my mind. They are usually family and current friends and occasionally those from the past that I shared good times and have fond memories. When they are remembered the following bible verse often comes to mind.  "I am thanking my God at every remembrance of you. Always, in every petition of mine for you all, making the petition with joy." (Philippians 1:3-4 CLNT). In “the evening” of life as the sun begins to set I am sure there will be "lamentation" , yet I also hope to find myself thinking about and continuing to pray this prayer for those I have known… “…that He may be giving you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the realization of Him…” (Ephesians 1:17 CLNT) I am convinced that in time all mankind will come to realize the love of God and what He has done for all his creation.  Then all will give Him glory. Some ar

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9) It appears obvious to me that the word “perish” as used in Scripture simply refers to a person staying dead after becoming deceased. If there is no resurrection then death wins and nothing follows. However, the above Scripture says that the Lord is “not willing that any should perish” and that all “come to repentance” . There will be "victory" over death, our "last "enemy . So, what is God saying in the above verse? He says that NONE will perish and that ALL will come to repentance….because it is the WILL OF THE LORD as Paul tells Timothy... “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for ALL…For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; WHO WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED…For there is one

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-3) Jesus' promise to return is our comfort as we grow older. Jesus spoke these words knowing that the cross, the resurrection, and his ascension were close at hand. After His death and resurrection, and just after his ascension, those who saw him ascend were told… "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). Years later Paul would remind mankind of this promised return…. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are aliv

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of His GRACE, which is able to build you up and to GIVE you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32) Most Christian leaders think they have it all figured out. Everyone is going to hell except them and their particular flock of sheep. Fortunately for mankind, God is not interested in joining that flock and sent Jesus to save those that do along with all other sinners. Mankind is a work in progress, marred by sin, but being molded by the great Potter Himself into His image. So I just relax and "commend them to God” . He will finish His work and when done, He will have reconciled your family, friends and all creation to Himself. So trust God, enjoy life and treat people the way you want to be treated… “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus….grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6; 2

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted… to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified" (Isaiah 61:1, 3). Jesus began his ministry on earth by reading verse 1 of this passage from Isaiah.  Those who have come to the knowledge of God’s salvation should continue to share this good news to the mourning, broken, heavyhearted people of this world. They need to be told the joyful good news that at the resurrection all will all be liberated from death, the wages for our sin.  At the resurrection we will all then understand that… “His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) Si