All Rise!

I've been working on a Bible Study for our church's youth group. We decided to teach our kids a little bit about giving their personal testimony. As I was sorting through scripture I was struck by the number of legal terms that were popping up. In addition to "testimony" I was seeing words like "evidence," "conviction," "trial," "witnesses," and "judgement." Here are a few examples.

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." - Revelation 12:10

"And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." - John 16:8

Then this "trial" theme really came home when I  read this:

"And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One (Jesus) who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead." - Acts 10:42

Each of us will be put on trial when we stand in front of Jesus one day. I believe our trial will take a split second, if it takes THAT long. Jesus already knows which of us are His. Our names are already written in the Book of Life.

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he wad thrown into the lake of fire." - Revelation 20:11-15

We will be judged by what was written in the books and by what we have done.

Gulp.

Here's one of my favorite songs. In it there are a few lines to consider.

1. "Am I proof that You are who you say You are?"

2. "Is there evidence that I've been changed."

3. "When they see me do they see you?"

Something to consider before we walk into the throne room.

Live Like That - Sidewalk Prophets

Righteous Judgement

A couple of news stories stood out to me amongst all of the post-election hype and blame casting this week. On the surface, both stories involve those evil MAGA Republicans and the unthinkable things they are always doing. Lol!

The first story involves a prominent player from the National Football League, Nick Bosa. Nick is the highest paid defensive player in the league and plays for the San Francisco 49ers. He was fined $11,255  this past Saturday for wearing a MAGA hat at a football game..

There are two interesting things in this story. The first is, Nick knew he was going to be fined by the league - and he didn't care. The second point of interest is this . . .

Although this a clear violation of league policy, the NFL waited until AFTER the presidential election to fine him. They didn't want to get those MAGA-Republicans any more fired up than they already were. Sheesh!

The second story is about FEMA and even more disgusting than the first. A FEMA administrator was fired last week after she instructed her relief workers to skip over any hurricane damaged houses featuring Trump or MAGA signs in their front yards. Even Democrats condemned her actions.

These two stories reflect a "clear and present danger" in our country. Each features a powerful entitee (the NFL and FEMA) using their power to effectively silence people, even denying help to the hurting. Lady Justice is supposed to be blind, not peeking out from under her blindfold to choose who to help or punish.

What does all of this have to do with Jesus? First, just one more example. Check this out.

In 2023, a woman was arrested in the UK for silently praying outside an abortion clinic. She has since been cleared of wrongdoing and has even received an apology and a £13,000 judgement in her favor. The point is this.

Back in Jesus' day there was an oppressive government in power - the Roman Empire. Everyone had to submit to Ceasar's authority. Christians were being crucified for things they were saying and believing in.

We are inching closer to that again today. Governments around the world are persecuting and killing their own citizens for their beliefs, even contrary to their own laws.

It seems that justice is a concept seldom practised these days. What has happened to the world we live in? Well, these unjust things are happening because we have removed Jesus from the judgement seat and replaced Him with our own craving for power.

There is an old saying that goes, "absolute power corrupts, absolutely." That has always proven true - with man. Not so with God.

"God is a righteous judge. I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High." - Psalm 7:11,17

With justice comes judgement for the disobedient. I for one am grateful for God's righteous and just judgements. And I am also grateful that Jesus has already paid the price for the unrighteous things I have done.

Thank you Lord!

Nick Bosa Article

FEMA Worker Fired

UK Woman Arrested

Is He Worthy?

The title of today's story comes from an Andrew Peterson song - Is He Worthy? Perhaps you are familiar with the Chris Tomlin version.

Mr. Peterson, the actual writer of the song, based his lyrics on Revelation 5.

"Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” - Revelation 5:1-5

I love this song for several reasons. One, it is based on scripture. Two, it is prophetic in nature. And three, it is sung like someone is asking questions about Jesus and the church is answering those questions.

"The scroll" referred to in the song contains the seven "seal" judgements against the earth. They are: 

1. White Horse - The Antichrist is revealed.
2. Red Horse - Great wars errupt on earth. 
3. Black Horse - Famine / Inflation
4. Pale/Green Horse - 1/4 of the world's population is killed.
5. Martyrs during the Tribulation cry out.
6. Massive Earthquake / Signs in the heavens. 
7. Silence in heaven.

These are just the beginning of woes. But let's get back to Jesus, our Savior. Believers in Jesus will not have to endure ANY of these judgements.

And Jesus is MORE than worthy to open the scroll. Finally, after all the waiting, the earth will be judged.

"And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” - Revelation 5:13

Amen and amen!

We are living in "The Church Age" right now. At the very end of it. But, as the song says,  "Soon, and very soon, we are going to see The King. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! "

Is He Worthy - Andrew Peterson

Turnovers

No, this story isn't about tasty treats or fumbles and interceptions, or changing jobs. It's about something God often does to us whenever we are disobedient. And it's not good.

I was scrolling through Facebook the other day and I came across a picture of someone who had decided to become a surrogate mom for a couple who couldn't have kids.

She delivered the baby this week and shared some pictures - her, her husband, the baby, and the two parents to be - two men.

My initial reaction was, "Well, that's kind of disgusting." But then that quickly changed to, "How sad. How sad we've become."

Think about that newborn baby, growing up without a mom - a female mom, that is. I'm no psychological expert but it seems to me that that would be extremely detrimental to the child's mental health.

And surrogacy - if the surrogate is already married, isn't she committing a form of adultery by receiving another man's sperm into herself? Just wondering.

If we look at same-sex couples from a Christian perspective, the first verse that comes to mind is from the Book of Genesis.

"God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." - Genesis 1:27

And then, in the New Testament, Jesus expands on this:

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh." - Mark 10:7-8

I suppose one could say, "Well, Jesus says 'wife,' not woman," so as long as one of the men says he's the wife....

Let's go back to Moses and the law that God dictated to him in the Book of Leviticus, remembering that Jesus 'came to fulfill the law, not abolish it' (Matthew 5:17)

"Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." - Leviticus 18:22

'Yeah, but, that's the Old Testament. We are no longer under the law but under grace, right?'

Then what about this New Testament text from the Apostle Paul:

"Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error." - Romans 1:26-27

As much as same-sex couples might seem to be an affront against God, let me assure you of this: Yes, they are. Whether you like it or not. But also notice in verse 26 where it says that "God gave them over.' What does THAT mean? He let them continue in their sin. He turned them over to Satan and their shameful acts. And that was 2,000 years ago!

God has done this before. In the Book of Job we read where God allowed Satan to torment Job. In other words, God 'turned Job over to Satan.' But that was slightly different. Same-sex couples desire to sin. Job did not sin. But it shows that God CAN and DOES turn people over to Satan.

Surely God's wrath is building up against the 'shameful lusts' of us humans. In my estimation, He will return very soon and begin the last seven years of His patient endurance, called the Tribulation.

Thankfully, you and I will not be here to see it. I don't even want to think about what it will be like for those who are left behind.

One thing is for sure - we all must pray. And keep praying.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23

Note: We all sin. "No one is good" as Jesus said. That is why we repent of our sins and place our hope and faith in Jesus. He is our only hope.

It's The Heart, Stupid!

Back in 1992, Bill Clinton was running for president. He had an advisor named James Carville who coined the phrase, "the economy, stupid" as a way to communicate the importance of the economy in the upcoming election. Bill Clinton won.

I'm sure you will see that phrase used again and again this year as we inch towards our November elections. Our economy - the cost of gas, inflation, wages, etc. - is certainly very important to the voters. The candidate who understands the desires of the public will be the most likely candidate to succeed.

If we compare the economy with getting into heaven, we can find similar advice in scripture.

"The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good." - Psalm 14:1

It's the heart, stupid! Everyone wants to succeed in their efforts to get to heaven. Many believe if they are simply "good enough" or if they do enough "good deeds," they will accomplish their goal and "earn" citizenship in heaven. Wrong.

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone." - Mark 10:18

Jesus judges our "hearts" when it's time to enter into heaven. It is nothing that we have done. No deed can earn our way.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9

Perhaps a better title for this story should have been It's God's Grace, Stupid!

Every one of us will be judged by Jesus after we die. It's our hearts that He will examine to see whether or not we are worthy. The following words were spoken BY GOD to the prophet Samuel.

"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7

We will be judged on the condition of our hearts. Nothing more and nothing less. Is our heart right with God? Do we strive to keep His commandments? Do you seek His will in the living of our daily lives? The condition of the heart in God's eyes is the key that unlocks heaven's door.