What is the Truth?

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him." (John 18:37-38)

That mankind cannot be trusted to deal with this truth is quite obvious. Pilate found no fault with Jesus but had him crucified anyway. 

What truth did Jesus come into the world to testify to?

“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins…Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord….” (Matthew 120-21; Luke 2:10-11)

The truth is that Jesus came into the world to save sinners, all of them, including Pilot.

"Trustworthy is the saying and worthy of all welcome, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." (1 Timothy 1:15)

He will either do so, or that saying is not trustworthy.  In my life I have encountered two negative responses to this truth.  One comes from those who consider themselves saved by their free will choice of Christ.  Some of these wish it were true but many are indignant that God would save sinners who have not made the same choice and perceived sacrifices for him.  The others are those like Pilate who are indignant that someone would think they needed to be saved at all.

I suppose it remains to be seen whether the Truth that Jesus testified to actually happens. But if all sinners are not saved, his testimony was false.  He has promised to deliver all sinners from death and I trust and find comfort that He can and will do so. Love motivates me to share my faith and my hope in the Truth, in spite of those who ignore or oppose it.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:3)

Doubt - Is That Bad?

“…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 6:11-12; Titus 2:13)

To be honest, I sometimes doubt the gospel. And by gospel I mean the biblical good news that after I die, at some point Jesus will return to resurrect me to immortal, eternal life. 

Is that bad?

No, just common sense working in me questioning something that I have never personally seen. That is, I have never seen someone who has died and was later brought back to immortal, never ending life. Jesus is the only person who has done so according to the bible and that occurred 2000 years ago and he is no longer physically present to prove to us he is alive, or immortal.

“…our Lord Jesus Christ…who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see.” (1 Timothy 6:14-16)

Honesty in our thinking about life, death, and the hereafter is lacking among Christianity for the most part. It is almost as if Christians think that if they ever doubt or question the good news, that doubt might cause it to be untrue.

But the God of the Bible, the one I have chosen to trust knows what is inside my mind and hidden from the view of others, so I might as well be honest. In my later years I have become convinced it is OK with God to confess my doubts from time to time. I suspect it helps those who have had the same doubts feel better, even if they will not express those thoughts for fear of offending, or disappointing others. Feeling better is good, and knowing there are others with faith in God that have doubts can make us feel better.

Faith is not what saves us, faith is simply believing something that we “hope” is true, thus giving us joy. I hope that Jesus will return and resurrect me and my friends and family. If we are to be saved from death by the resurrection then it will have to literally happen…so until then, I “fight the good fight of faith, take hold of eternal life”, and enjoy that “blessed hope”.

The whole world is groaning, unaware of why, but they are groaning for the good news. They want to feel better about life...and death. To often they get condemnation from Christianity, but "hope" in the good news is what will make them feel better.

“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (Romans 8:22-25)

Do Lives Matter?

“For, just like the fool, there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man, since in the days to come both will be forgotten.” (Ecclesiastes 2:16)

Black Lives Matter – All Lives Matter – Blue Lives Matter

Matter in what sense? Matter to Whom? Matter for how long?

It has been my observation over 66 years that the only lives that actually matter to anyone are those they love, or are currently dependent upon. That is not a cynical view of life, but simply common sense reality.

I have been to, or witnessed on TV, funerals where the house was packed, tears were abundant, and eulogies were long. But two weeks later, the deceased did not matter to anyone but those who had really loved them or had been dependent upon them. That is OK. That is life as most men understand it.

Napoleon nailed it for most men when he said... 

“Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever” – Napoleon Bonaparte

Do people really matter?

I think so, but my hope will not be in Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Both have come to glory for this fleeting moment, but neither will matter much to anyone 20 years after they go into the grave. 

My hope is in the biblical truth that mankind matters to God and my understanding of what He has done for mankind through Christ Jesus.  This grace of God which gives hope was beautifully penned by hymn writer Edward Mote…

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean of Jesus’ name. When darkness seems to hide his face, I rest on his unchanging GRACE. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand” – Edward Mote

"For the GRACE of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all." (Titus 2:11)

The Better Hope

“…the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God." (Hebrews 7:18-19)

The "better hope" that we have for becoming perfect is the Gospel of God. The Gospel is the good news that in Christ Jesus all will be “made alive”, all will be “changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye” and all will become a “new creation in Christ Jesus” where God is “All in all”.

“As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet…that God may be All in all…a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come…” (1 Corinthians 15:22, 51-52, 28; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

Perfection is a promise from God which occurs for us when in His GRACE our salvation is complete. And that salvation does not occur as a result of any works or good decisions we make, but is the result of a decision God has made to save sinners. And it does not occur in this life, but in the next. 

For now what we have is “faith, hope and love”. We believe that God will do what Jesus says ("faith") and we expect with assurance that he will do so ("hope") because of His "love" for us.

One day our faith will become sight, and our hope will become our reality for the love that Jesus Christ has for us is perfect - it is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We are "strengthened" by this "Grace"...

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love…Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by GRACE” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13; Hebrews 13:7-9)

Saddle Up

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40)

Let me make an observation. You, I nor anyone else who has ever lived, with the exception of Jesus Christ, love like this. Ergo, you, I and everyone else, with the exception of Jesus Christ, have broken the “Law and the Prophets” which makes us all SINNERS.

“…there is none righteous, no not one…all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:10, 23)

Furthermore, you, I nor anyone else who has ever lived, will ever love as set forth above in this life, even after we become believers of the “gospel of God” (the gospel which few seem to comprehend), even though some come much closer than others.

But we have HOPE. One day, after our resurrection, ALL of us sinners will be changed and will love God and our neighbors, for we will ALL be like Jesus…worth loving.

“…I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart” (Ezekiel 36:26)

And when will this happen? At our resurrection

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.…just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive….Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust (Adam), we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven (Jesus)” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 49)

A final personal observation on living in this present evil age. It is OK to reject the philosophy of pious, self-righteous, politically correct liberal hypocrites who claim we must love and be tolerant of all people and cultures (you know who they are). And it is OK to reject any radical form of religion whose aim is to make others slaves or tolerant to their particular dogma in this life. These are folks who should NOT be loved in this life, but rejected just as Jesus rejected them...

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces...You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are...Woe to you, blind guides!...You blind fools! " (Matthew 23:13-23)

Jesus was addressing the radical Jewish leaders of his day, but the same could be said to the radical clerics of Islam today, or radical Christians for that matter.  

So for the rest of us, and to quote Data in Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), “Saddle up, lock and load”…try to love folks, but when it becomes necessary to protect our families and freedom..."aim and fire."  

The purpose of evil in this world is to humble us, and it does.  But becoming humble does not mean we should become weak and do nothing to defend ourselves. On the contrary, it should make us resolved to protect the weak and fight to set them free.

We Have Hope and a Future

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Timothy 4:9-11)

God's ultimate plan for mankind is to prosper us and not harm us. He will save all mankind.   We have been studying the book of Revelation in Sunday School and this past Sunday we ended that study with the following promise from God...

"...and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away...Behold, I am making all things new." (Revelation 21:4-6)

There is to be a consummation of God's purpose for those ages. At that point in time both friends and enemies, believers and unbelievers will have been reconciled to God and love Him.  All will then be immortal with its abundant, eternal life.  We do not know much about that except that....

“...as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

But we are not there yet.  For now we have all kinds of problems and heartaches.  We just do the best we can with the hand we are dealt...with Hope in a better Future.

Wings Like Eagles

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)

I am reminded daily of my mortality through various aches and pains that were not there when I was a “youth”. And I am reminded in the Scripture that one day I must go “the way of all the earth”.  As King David's time to die drew near, he said to his son…

"I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man….” (1 Kings 2:2)

Good advice for our sons and grandsons.  And in the book of Hebrews the writer reminds each of us of our salvation at the return of Christ…

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once…so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin.” (Hebrews 9:27)

There is a new beginning for us all. One where sin is no longer doing its work of death in our mortal bodies. It is a promise of immortality. You and I will indeed “mount up with wings like eagles”, we will “run and not get tired” and “walk and not become weary”.  We can and should draw comfort from the promises of God which keeps us informed and peacefully resting in the hope of the resurrection…

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

You Only Live Twice

“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14)

One of the most successful TV commercials of all time says ''You only go around once in life, so you have to grab for all the gusto you can get!”

That is a suitable moto for both the believer and unbeliever. God has given that life, so you might as well live it to its fullest potential. Nevertheless the truth of the Scripture is more in line with the title of the 1967 James Bond movie “You Only Live Twice”.

All people will live twice. Once as a mortal where we experience the difference between good and evil and then die and give God an accounting as to how we lived it. I am convinced that perfect attendance in Church won’t count for much. I think that what will matter to God  is whether you left this “present evil age” (Galatians 1:4) a little better just because you lived in it.

“So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God…For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.” (Romans 14:12; Matthew 16:27)

The Second life is a gift from God just as the first, however, it is a “new creation” and never ending in a sinless, immortal body composed of 100% Spirit. As an immortal, we will be blessed beyond measure by boundless "riches of Christ"….and we all will then be "in Christ" and like him!

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life…if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here…this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ… Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” (Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 3:8; 1 John 3:2-3)

So why do people live like the devil…well  in my opinion it is because they have not been told the truth so they have no hope.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed” (Titus 2:11-12)

Dark Times End - Glory Follows Suffering!

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10-11)

Peter was speaking to dispersed Jews who were undergoing severe persecution. But the truth about suffering applies to all mankind in this age. However, GLORY follows the suffering. That is the good news of the Bible. I have become tired of religious doctrine which ignores the good news of the Bible in favor of the bad news of Greek mythology. All have sinned, it is true, and suffer death because of it, and that is by the design of God himself. But what follows the suffering is Glory for all creation.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us…for the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope…for we were saved in this hope…if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Romans 8:18-25)

Throughout history mankind has shown its inability to live in peace, and therefore suffers. Our dark times will end.

“…for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all…weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning” (2 Corinthians 4:17: Psalm 30:5)

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God." (Romans 8:18-19)

There is much suffering in this world. From the homeless in our country to the poor and starving in other parts of the world. Tender hearts are broken and their tears fall when they see such suffering. It all seems so futile and pointless. Why are those suffering...suffering?

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now." (Romans 8:20-22)

The Greek word translated “hope” above is “helpidi” and does NOT mean hope as we understand the word 2000 years later. We say we hope our team wins, knowing that it might not. But the word “helpidi” has the idea of an assured outcome, therefore a confident expectation or the assurance that what is hoped for will come to pass.

In the above verses we are told that it is God who subjected His creation to futility and bondage to corruption....but in the "hope" (assurance) that our bondage to corruption is temporary, and that all creation is to be freed.  It is upon this ASSURANCE that my salvation resides and allows me to love this God who “created evil”.

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

Some of our translations refuse to translate the Hebrew word above as “evil” and instead insert calamity, disaster. Etc. But the Hebrew word is “ra” and is the same word translated evil in Genesis 2:17…

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)

Why do theologians try to hide this fact from people by changing the meaning of the word evil when translating Isaiah 45:7?

To me it is because these same men also believed that hell was a real place God created to punish and torture evil men for all eternity. And if God created this evil knowing that most of humanity would suffer endlessly because of it, then what does that say about their GOD? But God is GOOD, and has a purpose for everything, and all will eventuate in good for all his creation. Paul tells us plainly that God “subjected it, in hope (assurance) that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."

“…we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:10)

I can imagine being asked by a defensive church leader. Robert, assuming that the above verse is true (as if the Bible might not be true) and God is actually the Savior of all men and does so, what exactly are we to do, close all the churches, seminaries and missionary organizations?

I would bow my head in prayer and ask the Father for permission to say YES  – but before I did he would go on to ask:

Doesn’t obeying the 10 commandments, repenting when we sin, joining a church, sacrificially giving, getting baptized, reading the bible, winning people to Jesus, getting involved in AWANA, fighting abortion, bashing Obama for his love of Islam and attending and supporting the local church please God?

So I would swallow my pride and humbly say. I don’t know but it will sure please 20% of the Christians I know who need some help in doing those things.

Let’s be honest, none of those things are specifically said in Scripture to please God. But the Bible does specifically tell us what DOES please Him.

The Old Testament prophet Micah, speaking for God to Israel, tells them as simply as can be said what God required of them (simply is the way God says things that are important to Him like He is “the Savior of all men”)…

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

And just as clearly Paul reminds Titus his friend of what everyone is to do since the grace of God has brought salvation to all men…

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:11-14)

Pretty clear to me. To sum it up from the Bible…rather than the creeds of religious institutions.

Be just, kind, and humble….and love people!

I know, it is not as easy as it sounds….but it is SIMPLE.

The gospel (good news) is for every person and it is really simple. Intellectual religious types stumble over its simplicity and twist it to try to control behavior by bringing guilt and shame. Take the following verses in Hebrews…

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

SIMPLE EXPLANATION: The book of Hebrews presents Jesus as the Savior of the world and the Great High Priest of Israel. He is the AUTHOR of our faith that God will save mankind and that God will FINISH what He promised. We have a great cloud of witnesses that died without having experienced what they had been promised. All those promises will be fulfilled when Jesus returns to resurrect the dead.

RELIGIOUS EXPLANATION: We have a great cloud of witnesses who are looking over the balcony of heaven and watching our every move and cheering us on when we do good and shaking their head in horror when we sin. So we better go to church, quit drinking, smoking, chewing, cursing and having too much fun in the world because Grandma is watching our every move. We are in a race for our eternal destiny and how we live and the choices we make will determine whether we are saved to sit with Jesus at the right hand of God in heaven or burn in hell for all eternity.

One explanation gives peace and hope and is the promise of God - the other is an attempt to scare the hell out of us. Paul, however, opted for peace and hope…

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us” (Romans 5:6-11; Romans 8:30-21)

"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." (Isaiah 25:8-9)

What or whom is your hope in? Mankind has generally depended on the wisdom of men and women. Solomon was the wisest man who had ever lived in his day...yet he found that the wisdom and reason of men cannot change the fact that both good and wicked men have the same fate...death. Utopian ideas of wise men have all been failures. Whether it has been based on democracy or autocracy...philosophy or theology...capitalism or statism.

So what is the alternative to trusting in the reason and wisdom of mankind?

FAITH in God it seems to me.

Faith that there is a good God is a sure foundation for hope. I find in the Bible that He loves mankind and that because of this love, and His Grace, mankind cannot miss His goal of eventual perfection in an age to come, regardless of how much we fail in this age. And this faith in God can sustain us in the midst of a faithless world.

“…we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance and perseverance character; and character, hope…” (Romans 5:2-4)

When I was very young I had regular migraine headaches. I remember them to be so awful that at times I would tell Mom that I wanted to die as she would lovingly rub my temples with my head in her lap. The doctor prescribed a medication for me at the time that would gradually put me to sleep. And when I woke up the headache would be gone and I was glad I did not die.

Over time I learned to focus, not AT the pain, but THROUGH it to the time when it would be gone. Faith that it would subside in time gave me hope and allowed me to endure the pain. I think that is what Paul is talking about above when he says we can boast in our “sufferings” which produces hope of a better life to come when we are glorified in our resurrection.

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54)

“For if the dead are not raised…your faith is worthless…Then those also who have fallen asleep…have perished…. If we have hope in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:16-19)

People are born and live with various problems…ALL have problems. You’re particular problem does not dictate you are more to be pitied than someone else. Many Christians deal with their mental and physical state by seeking and hoping for some miracle from God to cure them….and some get temporary relief and attribute it to prayer …but we all will eventually check out of this present evil age!

Some can’t deal with their problems…so they check out early. Don’t feel sorry for them, and don’t condemn them. They just play the hand that was dealt to them. I have found that there is only one thing that gives HOPE…the biblical promise of life after death, where there is no more tears, pain, sorrow... or pity.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away…and God Himself will be among them…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away…these words are faithful and true." (Revelation 21:1-5)

The above says God “will be” with them. So in a sense He is not with us now. For now we can only….

“…see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known…now faith, hope, love, abide these three…” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)

Evil abides in this present age, but also “faith, hope and love”. I can’t prove the Bible is true and I can’t prove that there is a God. I have never heard from Him or seen Him in person…unlike some folks claim. 

But I do know what the Bible teaches because I read it, and if it is God’s Word, and I have chosen to believe that it is, then the present evil is temporary and the really good stuff is eternal and yet to come...therefore I have HOPE.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:3).

Above is a clear statement of the good news from Peter. As a result of God’s MERCY, mankind will be “begotten again”. This living hope is instilled in us when we both hear and believe…

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24).

Those of us who have heard and believed in this life have the joy of the HOPE of everlasting life. However, most of mankind die before they hear and believe, so they die without the HOPE of everlasting life. But just as all mankind die as a result of Adam’s sin, so shall all mankind be freely given everlasting life as the result of the one righteous act of Christ Jesus, the second Adam.

"Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life" (Romans 5:18).

So tell someone the good news, and leave out the “ifs”, “buts” and “unlesses” added to the good news by religious theologians. Even they will eventually see that…

“…at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

Faith that there is a God is my foundation for hope. I find in the Bible that He loves me and all others...and that because of this love, and His Grace, mankind cannot miss His goal of perfecting us, regardless of how much we fail in this age. I would not trade this faith I now have in God for anything...it sustains me in the midst of an...

"...unbelieving and perverse generation..." (Matthew 17:17)

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)

Sometimes I wonder how many Christians actually believe what the Bible teaches. God has promised to save the world. Is that too hard for Him?

“…God our Savior; Who WILL have ALL MEN to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom FOR ALL, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:1-7 KJV)

How is it that those who claim to believe in Him do not believe what He says? Regardless of what men have taught for 2000 years, I prefer to believe God and hold fast to my hope without wavering.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)

”And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14)

Wouldn’t that be great…or would it?

Ever prayed that your favorite football team would win the game? Well there is someone on the other team praying the same thing. Ever prayed for rain? Well there was probably someone praying it won't rain that day due to something they felt was important. And how about war…we sure want our side to win? Or how about praying for our favorite political party or politician who is going to stand up for what we believe in and want?

Get the picture?

Obviously Jesus did not mean we could ask and get anything we want. Thank goodness! What he did say was anything we ask in prayer that is in agreement with what the Father WILLS and who knows what is in our best interest, we will have it. Ask all you want but God is only going to give you want HE wants. So try praying for what HE wants……like the salvation of ALL…it is His WILL.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for ALL MEN...For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who WILL have ALL MEN to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom FOR ALL, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher” (1 Timothy 2:1-7 KJV)

You can’t save anyone…but God can and will save everyone...”in due time”. As for Paul and a few of us now…

“…we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL MEN…” (1 Timothy 4:10 NIV)