Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Does God Have Faith In You?

Silly concept, ridiculous idea may be your response and that maybe accurate but it is a thought that entered my mind. I am sure the Holy Spirit placed this in my brain to be mulled over and to instruct me and to lead me to a greater knowledge of God.

We often hear people make comments concerning their faith and trust in another person. They may say such things as, “I have complete faith in John, and he is so dependable and always honest in all he does. I am sure he would be very trustworthy in this situation.” The opposite is also true. People respond with distrust about certain people. Their opinion is based on observed or ‘hear say’ evidence. If God does have faith in people, he might have faith in the first but it is very doubtful if He would in the second.

I haven’t found a direct reference in the Bible where God states that He has faith in some person. In a sense he did express confidence in Job. Job was an honorable man and is spoken of very highly in the Bible. Some of the characteristics of Job mentioned in the book bearing his name included: Job was said to be perfect. This means that Job was obedient to God and did as he was instructed to do. Job feared God. Job had a proper and healthy concept and respect for God. He reverenced God. Job avoided evil: Job avoided even the opportunity to do evil. We are not told Job was sinless but that he avoided sin to the best of his ability. Job was a family man: Job had a wife and seven sons and three daughters. Job was active in their lives and taught them in spiritual matters. Job was a businessman that was very successful. And lastly, Job was respected by his peers.

Job is our example of one of God’s children that He had faith in. Job had strong credentials to fulfill this place of trust with God. Makes me wonder if I come remotely close to such a place of faith. Let’s eavesdrop on conversations in heaven and see how God allowed Job to show his makeup to the world and particularly to Satan.

It seems from this story of Job that the angels had the practice of reporting to God from time to time. Remember Satan was once the angel Lucifer. It is the time for the angels to report and it is Satan’s turn to speak with God. God asks Satan what he has been doing to which Satan response that he has been traveling over the earth. God then brings up Job; he asks Satan if he has considered Job. God speaks highly of Job. Now it is Satan’s turn to respond and he does so by asking the question, ‘Does Job fear God without a cause? Have you not protected him and blessed him abundantly?’ Satan makes a wager with God: “Put forth your hand a touch all Job has and he will curse you.”

The gauntlet has been thrown down and God gives Satan permission to touch all he has but not to touch Job physically. Round one of the fight has begun. Satan hurries for the throne room of God and goes directly to Job and begins to take away all he has. If you have ever though you have had it bad; think on what happened to Job. Job first loses his oxen, then his sheep, followed by his camels. His final loss was the sudden death of his seven sons and three daughters. Now hear this: after all this, Job rent his clothes, shaved his head and fell to the earth and worshipped. Not a foolish charge brought against God; Job simply remained without sin throughout this ordeal.

A frustrated, upset Satan returns to God to up the stakes. His first boast had been wrong but he was confident that his next approach would bring the desired results. God agrees to allow Satan access to Job’s body and to inflict him with painful boils. Even with the loss of all material blessings and the loss of his health, Job continued to praise God.

Now back to the original question about God having faith in you. If Satan approached God would God ever consider bringing your name before Satan for such a test? I am sure this testing has happened at other times. Would you be as understand and keep your focus and allegiance on God as all you have and your health disappeared?

I have evaluated myself as I have been typing this and to my shame I find that I would probably fail such a test. An even worse problem is that God would never consider me for such a test. I don’t think it would be recorded of me that I am perfect, or that I have the proper reverence for God or that I always avoid evil. Yes, I have a family and I am a businessman; and for the most part, I am respected by my peers. It is sad to be at this stage in my life and have to honestly grade myself as failing the requirements for a test like this from God. Maybe I have spent too much of my life concentrating on those that speak of relationship with people. Maybe my reputation with man is more than my reputation with God. Does God have faith in you? This is your question to answer.

Spreading His Word, Don

Friday, April 10, 2009

Special Message From A Friend

HAVE YOU MADE THE DECISION TO ACCEPT JESUS? You will make many big decisions throughout your life. Where you will go to college, what career you will have, who you will marry, having children, are just a few. However, there is no decision that you will make during your life greater than where you will spend eternity when this brief life is over.

The Bible teaches us that tomorrow is promised to none of us and that each day is a gift from God. When you die, your body will go back to the dust of the earth as God mandated, but your soul, the part of man made in God's image is eternal. Where your soul spends eternity is a choice each individual who lives will make during their life. It is God's desire that ALL come to repentance and none be lost. He sent His Son Jesus to die for the sins of all mankind so that thru faith in Jesus man could be reconciled back to God and have the assurance of everlasting life with his Creator.

My friend, nobody who is honest will dispute that they will die one day, and nobody who is honest will dispute they commit sin. We ALL sin and fall short of God's glory and it is our sin that separates us from a holy God. GOD LOVES YOU! He is willing to forgive you of your sins if you will simply ask Him. There is nothing you have done in your life that God won't forgive you for if you ask Him. He does not want to see your soul perish for eternity, but wants you to spend your eternity with Him.

Please, take a few moments, the most important few moments you will ever spend and read the following few paragraphs. These words can literally change you for all eternity. I am praying for you!

For God so loved the world, HE GAVE. Today is the day that we celebrate one of the greatest events in human history. We celebrate today the death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God's gift to the world. Today is truly a day of rejoicing. Because of this gift from God, we can be forgiven of our sins and reunited with our Creator for eternity. So much of what I deal with each day in this Devotional is to help you walk through this short journey here
on earth victoriously and productively. But we must never forget that our time here is very short, and there is an eternity waiting for us when this journey is completed.

I want to focus for just a minute on this most special day, to that split second when our life on this earth is finished and we are launched into eternity. Do you have the assurance this very moment that when your life is complete, your eternity is going to be spent in Heaven with God your Creator?

If the answer to that question is anything but a resounding YES, then let me just share this simple truth with you. You see, our God, our Creator so loved this world, so loved His creation, that He sent His Son, His only Son to be part of this world. Jesus had one mission in this life. It wasn't to be a great teacher, though He was a great teacher. It wasn't to be a great prophet, though He was a great prophet. It wasn't to be a great miracle worker, though He did work many great miracles. No my friend, Jesus came to this world to perform only one job...to die.

You see, the reason it was vital for Jesus to be immaculately conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin was so that He was not infested with the same problem you and I are born into this life with, sin. Otherwise, the best He could have done was to die for His own sins. Jesus lived on this earth for some 33 years before it was time to complete His work. That work was finished on a cross on the hill called Calvary where He hung, and then died as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of this world. That is why,
whosoever believes in Jesus, shall not perish, but have everlasting life!

Believing in Jesus is the only way to be saved because it was Jesus who died for our sins. There are no other ways to be saved, no other roads to God, there are no other plans of salvation!!! This is God's one and only plan to reconcile His fallen creation back to Himself. This is the only way that you can escape eternity apart from the God who created you in His own image. It is through His grace and by your faith in Jesus Christ!

There are many incredible mysteries in the Bible. There are many doctrinal issues that will never be fully understood until we are in Heaven. But God made the most important decision of this life very easy and simple to understand. He gave every one the same opportunity to have their sins washed away and be assured of an eternity in Heaven. That is why we celebrate Good Friday today. That is why we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

The most important decision you will make in this life is not who you will marry, or where you will live, or what kind of job you will have. The most important decision you will make in this life is to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. If you have not done that yet, the Bible says that TODAY is the day of salvation. I would invite you to go to, http://www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.cfm. Pray to ask God to open your heart, read the words, pray the prayer, and accept today God's gift to you this Easter season, the gift of everlasting life through His son Jesus.

I love you and care about you deeply. For those of you who already know Christ as your Savior, I would encourage you to forward this to someone that you know who is lost and without hope this Easter. What better present to give someone than the opportunity to know Jesus as their Savior and God's free gift of everlasting life. I pray that you will take time today to focus on the gift that God has given to us in His Son Jesus. He gave His very best gift to us, which is why I will continue to encourage you each day to give your very best to Him.


In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Walk Down The Roman Road

Back in the old days when family or friends came to visit, everyone would either sit on the porch & visit, or more often than not they would take a walk down the road and discuss important issues in their lives.

Take a walk with me down the road …

The Roman Road

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

I hear all too often how if you’re a good person, God wouldn’t send you to hell. The popular thinking is that being kind to family & friends, giving generously to those in need, and trying to live a wholesome life should be enough to get the approval of God. There are several denominations who base their entire teaching on this thinking.

The fact is, we don’t have to be taught how to sin. Mankind is born with a sinful nature. Lying to save ourselves from punishment is as natural to us as eating when we’re hungry. How about being envious of someone else’s possessions? Have you ever looked at a pretty girl or handsome man and entertained lustful thoughts? If we are real honest with ourselves … sinfulness is our very nature.

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

God lovingly created us in His image. God knew that before we were ever born we would need a Savior. Christ the Savior came to earth, lived a sin-free life, and died for our sins ~ before we took our first breath, Salvation through Christ was waiting for us.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ or Lord." (Romans 6:23)

We were created with a fleshly body and a living soul. The fleshly body is just the covering for our spirit. The body grows old, gets sick, and dies. The idea of a physical death scares folks.

Our spirit was created to live forever with God. But God, being loving, simply allows us to choose Him, or not choose Him. Let me ask you something ~ when you love someone and want to have a lasting relationship with them, (be it marriage, a parent-child relationship, or a friendship), do you want that relationship to be forced or do you want them to choose to love you in return? We can program a machine/robot to act the part of a friend or we can seek out to have a real flesh & blood relationship. God could have created us to automatically love & worship Him; but He wants a real relationship with us. In accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior, we are choosing God and in making that choice, our spirits will live forever with Him. That is His free gift to us. But a gift is only appreciated if we choose to reach out & receive it.

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)

This isn’t about religion, it isn’t about becoming like those other Christians. It’s very simple ~ this is just between you & God. Listen to your heart. Does your heart want to have a loving relationship with Him? Do you want the Salvation that He so freely offers? With your heart, believe that Jesus died on that cross for you, believe that God raised Him from the dead, confess Jesus as your Lord & Savior ~ thou shalt be saved.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

Call out to Jesus. Confess your sins to Him. Ask Him to come into your heart and your life. When you do, your name will be written in the Book of Life. When you confess your sins, God promises to cleanse you of all unrighteousness. That means your sins will not only be forgiven, but it will be as if they never even occurred. And when you die, you will forever be with the Lord in heaven.

"For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:11-12)

Either by death or by the passing of this world, we will all stand before the Lord. We will have to give account of our lives, our thoughts, and our words to Him. Even the most arrogant & powerful people on earth will KNOW beyond a doubt that there is only ONE True God, and they will bow in His presence. Will you bow willingly now, while there is still an opportunity for Salvation through Christ, or will you bow later when all opportunity is gone? If you wait until later ~ it’ll be too late.

No one is promised tomorrow. If your life were to end today, would you be ready to stand in God’s presence to give an account of your life?

If you’ve chosen Salvation through Jesus Christ, drop me a line using the comment button, your message won't be posted if you don't wish. I want to celebrate with you the path that you've chosen.

May the Lord bless you.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

He Waits For You

I've wondered about something for years. How can we as people stand up and say that we are the center of our universe? I've been hearing more & more about how many people either deny the existence of a God or believe that mankind evolved from pond sludge to become the master of his own universe. Many subscribe to both beliefs passionately. After alot of thought & some studying, I've come to some conclusions.

I've determined that the atheist viewpoint just simply makes no sense. How can there not be a Supreme God? All it takes is a simple walk outdoors to reaffirm the existence of God. Look up at the stars at night ~ Did man put them there? If not, how did they get there?

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” (Psalm 19:1)

The trees that stand so majestic were created to be self-sustaining. "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so." (Genesis 1:11). Man neither created the tree, nor does the tree need man for survival. Man has tried to imitate God's work by cloning and he's tried to change God's design with 'genetic modification'. But man can not 'create' it himself. The best he can hope for in cloning is a second-rate copy; and in modifying the genetics that God designed in the seeds of our food, we loose the nutrients & benefits that were in the original fruits & vegetables. Is there no God? How can anyone witness the miracle of birth and deny the existence of an Almighty God?

I've noticed that atheist tend to talk about God more than Christians do. I wonder why that is. Is it that they don't actually believe in God or is it because they believe in Him but are rebelling against Him? The Scriptures say, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." (Psalm 14:1) Have you ever seen a child throwing a tantrum? “You’re not my mother!” they often proclaim. “I don’t have to listen to you, you’re not my father!” The patient parent will go along and wait for the child to get over his ‘mad’ and come back to reason. This usually occurs when the child in his/her rebellion either gets hurt or gets into a situation where they are scared & need help. To me, that’s how folks spouting atheism sound. And God in His love & patience allows them time to realize that they truly do need Him. But His patience will be pushed too far.

For those who believe in the pond sludge theory, well, all I can say is they have a lot more faith than I do. I heard the theory described in one sentence a long time ago ~ “From goo to you by way of the zoo.”

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom & instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) and “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snares of his soul.” (Proverbs 18:7)

God loves us so much. How can anyone choose to live a life of complete rebellion when we have a loving Father that just wants to wrap us in His love and tell us again how He is with us through our trials & tribulations?

Are you in a situation today that seems to be bigger than you can handle? Reach out to the Creator of the universe, the One who loves you so much that He waits patiently for you to turn to Him. He loves you. He sacrificed His Only Son so that you can spend eternity with Him in Glory.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

If there were no promise of Heaven, I would still choose God. His love fills me with peace in the time of so much uncertainty. Would you like that peace? Reach out to God. He waits for you.

May the Lord bless you.