Covered Like Chlorophyll

My wife pointed out an interesting article in last Sunday’s Evansville Courier & Press. It was in the Life section. I don’t usually read the Life section. I can’t remember a time I’ve ever read the Life section. If it were possible to subscribe just to the Sports section, and maybe the weather page, and once in a while the opinion page, I’d do it.

Anyway there was a piece on the arrival of autumn, and its beautiful display of fall colors. The interesting thing is something that I learned in this article that I probably should have learned way back in 4th grade, but didn’t. Do you know why leaves change colors?

There’s this stuff called chlorophyll. Webster’s defines it as “the green photosynthetic coloring matter of plants…” (Those dots represent other stuff in the definition that I didn’t understand.) Apparently it’s also a “waxy green chlorophyll-containing substance extracted from green plants and used as a coloring agent or deodorant.” Maybe next time I’m out of Old Spice I’ll grab the nearest green plant and rub it under my arms.

Seriously, I must have been absent the day they covered Chapter 1 in 4th grade science, or maybe I was busy daydreaming about becoming a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. I wanted to be the next Roger Staubach. Still do. Either way, I missed chlorophyll. My 4th grade son, of course, has already learned about it in Chapter 1.

According to the article, the reason the leaves change colors is because their chlorophyll breaks down. The reason the chlorophyll breaks down is because there’s a shortage in food production for the tree. The reason there’s a food shortage is because there’s a decrease in sunlight, which happens when the days get shorter and the nights get longer and cooler.

The breakdown of the leaves’ chlorophyll reveals the colors of brown, yellow and orange which, get this, are already there but are covered by the green chlorophyll in spring and summer! These colors that make for such beautiful fall scenery are always present even through the summer, but are covered over by the green chlorophyll. Mrs. Bush would be so proud that I’m finally getting somewhere.

Now let me take a swing at using this as an illustration (there are a couple of ways to go here – you could probably do better). As long as we stay in the “Son” light, we’re covered like chlorophyll by His life-giving mercy and grace. Our sins are covered by the blood He shed for us upon the cross of Calvary. Our eternal future in heaven is covered by His victory over sin and death and hell. We’re covered by the righteousness of Christ Jesus and the new life He gives to us through faith.

See, unlike the picturesque colors present beneath the chlorophyll of the leaves, there is no beautiful display in us other than Christ Himself. All of our best efforts at righteousness are but filthy rags in the sight of God. Contrary to popular opinion, there’s nothing beautiful in the heart of sinful man that will ever impress a holy God.

Apart from the complete covering of Christ, you and I would be helplessly lost, with no promise of an imperishable, undefiled and unfading inheritance laid up for us in heaven. There would be no sweet anticipation of the glory that is to be given us when Christ Jesus is revealed. There would be no talk of mansion-building in the Father’s house as we await the return of our Savior.

The leaves are beautiful to behold – for short while. But what ends up happening to a leaf when it fails to get the sunlight it needs? It soon falls off the tree and dies. Hmmm. I’ve seen too many “leaves” break down and turn away because they weren’t getting the “Son” light they needed.

We need to stay in the “Son” light! We need to keep feeding daily on the life-giving mercy and grace of our Lord and King by hearing and obeying His Word, by communing with Him in prayer, by uniting in fellowship with His church, by ministering in love to others, and by singing His praises and proclaiming His salvation with a grateful, humble heart day after day.

Fellow leaf, are you covered in the chlorophyll of Jesus Christ?

Child-like Faith, Simple Songs of Praise

“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.”

“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

Aren’t these some of the most beautiful songs you’ve ever sung? Go ahead, sing them out loud. If you’re by yourself right now, sing from your heart to the Lord. If you’re sitting there and others are in the room, invite them to sing along with you. It’ll let the light in.

Here’s another one I remember singing: “My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do. My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do. The mountains are His, the rivers are His, the stars are His handiwork, too. My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do.”

There was a book written several years ago entitled, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. I didn’t read it, and I can’t recommend it. But I’m intrigued by the title. Some of the most helpful lessons in life might just be the things that we learned as small children. Share everything. Play fair. Look both ways before crossing the street.

And some of the simplest songs and most familiar Bible stories we learned as young children might just be the most helpful of all.

Of course, there’s so much more to learn about God than these songs teach. We can’t stay as spiritual infants and toddlers and expect to be able to experience the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. We must grow and mature in the Lord, in wisdom and understanding and knowledge of His will. We must move on to solid food, constantly using the truths of God’s word in to stand strong against sin and to build others up the body of Christ.

But aren’t you thankful for the simple songs that have to please the heart of God when sung from the hearts of His children? Isn’t it a child-like faith that God wants from us?

“And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.’ And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them” (Mark 10:13-16).

Let’s not complicate the matter. The only way to experience the kingdom of God is to receive it with the faith of a child. “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).

You might say it’s all childish stuff but of no value in today’s real world. I’ve got news for you, friend: “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). And I’m just foolish enough to believe it, because I’ve seen what the power of God can do. I’ve seen what love the Father has for His people. I know the indescribable joy and supernatural peace that comes from the assurance of His promises. I’ve experienced His goodness, His mercy and His grace.

And even as I grow stronger in Christ Jesus, I’ll continue to sing the songs that helped lay the foundation of my faith all the way to heaven: “Praise Him, praise Him, all ye little children, God is love, God is love. Praise Him, praise Him, all ye little children, God is love, God is love.”

Manley Beasley: Man of Faith - Instrument of Revival

If you are pathetically content with your spiritual life, then whatever you do, don’t read the biography Manley Beasley: Man of Faith – Instrument of Revival. This book will challenge you to walk in faith unlike you’ve ever walked before. It will drive you into your prayer closet to commune with God more personally than you’ve ever known. And it will lead you to embrace and triumph through your sufferings with greater power and joy than you could possibly imagine.

I had never heard of Manley Beasley until a pastor friend recently recommended this biography. I’m glad he did. And now I’m recommending this book for anyone who believes there ought to be more to the Christian life than what most people experience.

Here’s what Michael Catt, Senior Pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, GA, and executive director of Sherwood Films which produced the movies Facing the Giants and Fireproof, had to say: “Manley Beasley was the greatest man of faith I ever knew. While many of us talk about faith and preach about it, Manley was a living example of the faith life. His ministry and message have greatly influenced me to believe God for the impossible.”

In this book biographer Ron Owens effectively blends multiple testimonies and stories about Beasley with Beasley’s own messages preached at various stages in his life.

One such testimony comes from one of Manley’s closest friends and partners in ministry, Jimmy Robertson: “The first time I had Manley in a meeting, after the service he announced that we were going to stay at the church to pray. We prayed until 1 a.m. Next morning at 5:00, I heard a knock on my door and there stood Manley. I said, ‘Is there an emergency?’ He said, ‘There sure is. We need to pray.’ That was the beginning of a glorious revival in our church and community.”

One of the messages Owens records for us from the preaching of Manley Beasley outlines three kinds of faith: Intellectual faith, emotional faith and volitional faith. He spoke about a time when God began teaching him things about faith that would radically shape his life and ministry. The situation involved a desperate financial matter where Beasley found himself needing a certain amount of money. In his words:

“I tried bargaining with God. I even attempted to play on His sympathy – but God doesn’t respond to either of those approaches. You can wish; you can desire; you can anticipate; you can do all kinds of things but still not have ‘substance.’ Sadly, that is about as far in the walk of faith that a lot of people go. They know intellectually. Their emotions desperately desire. But neither of these in or of themselves move God into action.

“I told God that if He would just solve my problem, I would never doubt Him again. As I look back, I realize that I was getting it backwards; I was trying to get God to meet my need so that I could really believe. I did not realize that anyone can believe ‘after’ they have received. That is not real faith.

“I was finally beginning to see that faith was not only intellectual and emotional, but also volitional. God has given us a will. With that will we make choices – choices to either accept something or reject it…

“I began to realize that God was waiting on me to act on His revealed truth because faith is acting on the Word of God. I must not only believe He can meet a need; I must not only want Him to meet a need; I must begin to act as though the need has been met, even though I might not be able to see it, feel it, smell it, taste it or hear it. I must begin acting as if it is so, when it is not so, in order for it to be so, because with God it is already so.

“This now meant that I had to begin acting as though I had the $30,000 I needed to cover the note and the car. I said, ‘Lord, I don’t understand it.’ He said, ‘That’s none of your business.’ I said, ‘How are You going to do it?’ He said, ‘That’s none of your business either.’ I said, ‘But Lord, what if I fail?’ He said: ‘Who said you were a success?’ I already knew that I was a failure, but that moment I decided that sink or swim, live or die, I was going to trust God.”

You’ll have to read the book to find out what happened next. But only if you’re ready to kiss a boring spiritual life good-bye.

Living in Victory over Evil

"In war there is no substitute for victory." - Gen. Douglas MacArthur

Just as true in spiritual warfare as on the physical battlefield. And infinitely more so.

The devil is real and wants to devour you. He is an enemy of the good, a liar and a thief who comes to kill, to steal and destroy. He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

But in Christ Jesus the Lord, you who are in Him, you have already been given more than enough firepower, more than enough ammunition to live in victory over evil, victory over sin, victory over Satan, victory over hell and victory over the grave.

There's no substitute for victory in this war. It's time for Christians everywhere to resist the devil, standing firm in the faith we're given in Christ Jesus, and live in victory over evil.

O, for the faith to stand strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might!

To Him be the power and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalms of the Day

When I was at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary one of our required classes was "Spiritual Disciplines" taught by Dr. Don Whitney. I took this course in my first semester there, way back in the fall of 2001, but still remember many things from his teachings and still keep up many of the disciplines.

I'm sure anyone who has taken this class will never forget the "Psalms of the Day" reading plan. If you follow it you'll read the entire book of Psalms in one month. It goes like this: You take the day of the month (today is the 24th), and you begin by reading Psalm 24. Then you add 30 and read the next Psalm (Ps. 54). Add another 30 to read Ps. 84, then Ps. 114 and finally Ps. 144. You're reading five chapters each day. At the end of 30 days you've covered the whole book. The only exception concerns Ps. 119, which you know takes a little longer to read. You get to skip that one on the 29th, and read it instead on the 31st of the month.

To drill this plan in our heads, Dr. Whitney would make whoever was the last one into class have to tell the class what the Psalms of the Day are. You always wanted to be prepared with them on the tip of your tongue, rather than having to try to remember what day of the month it was and then doing the math on the fly as you rush into class.

But this discipline of reading through the Psalms each month has also been drilled into my heart. When you start getting into the Psalms like this, you don't want to get out. Have I kept up the discipline perfectly? No. It's more like I've gone in seasons where I'll read through a month or two at a time, then return to it a couple of months later. And often I'll find that I might end up reading just one Psalm of the Day - and as the Spirit speaks that one becomes my focus of prayer throughout the day.

I think the point is not just reading for the sake of completing the exercise or being disciplined enough to do it, but soaking in God's Word and letting the Word of God soak in me. And I have found that to be incredibly rich.

Here's the first Psalm of the Day for today, Psalm 24 (NIV):

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,
the world and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.
He will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God his Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty - he is the King of glory.

"Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you..." (Col. 3:16).

Show Me the Works!

Maybe the question should be: “What does it mean to believe in Jesus?”

People often say they believe in Jesus, but a quick look at their behavior, their speech and their attitudes shows they really don’t know what believing in Jesus means. They’re not concerned to obey Jesus’ commands, they’re not careful with the words they use and their hearts are full of bitterness, criticism and selfishness.

That’s not what it means to believe in Jesus.

Suppose you and I were having a conversation and we both said, “I believe it’s going to rain today.” When we left I grabbed my golf clubs and headed to the links. You went out to roll up your car windows. Which of us really believes it’s going to rain?

Just because someone says he believes in Jesus doesn’t really mean that he believes in Jesus. Talk is cheap. A mental acknowledgement of the historical fact that there once lived a good man named Jesus, a man who called Himself the Son of God, who was crucified on a Roman cross and rose on the third day – what’s it worth? The Bible says that even the demons believe. So what?

Show me the works! Show me that your faith in Jesus compels you to good deeds. Show me that because you’ve been forgiven in Christ you freely forgive others who have wronged you. Show me that because the Truth is in you your lips speak the truth instead of lies. Show me that because of Christ’s love in you your love for others is evidenced by compassion and kindness. Show me that because of the new life Jesus gives you your speech is no longer unwholesome and corrupting but helpful and instructive in building others up. Show me that because of the living hope of an eternal inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading that you have been given by the mercy and grace of God you rejoice greatly in the Lord rather than fret needlessly over the temporary trials of the day.

Show me that because you’ve been born again your life is no longer marked by malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander, but by your craving for the Word of God and your hunger for holiness. Show me that because of what the Prince of Peace has done for you and how the Spirit of peace lives in you you’re filled with a peace that passes all understanding. Show me that because God is your provider you don’t worry about what the unbelieving world worries about, but you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing that all these things you need will be given to you.

Show me that you walk by faith and not by sight. Show me that you rejoice as you share in Christ’s suffering, that you count yourself blessed when others insult you for the name of Jesus, and that when you suffer as a Christian you praise God that you bear His name. Show me that because Christ died for you you’re no longer living for yourself but for the One who died for your sake and was raised. Show me your works!

Now make sure you understand that I’m not saying that we are saved by our works. You can not do one single thing to earn salvation. Jesus has done it all. But what I am saying is this: if our faith is real our salvation will result in works of righteousness as the life of Christ flows through us. The Bible says, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). The late, great, singer-songwriter Rich Mullins said it this way: “Faith without works is like a screendoor on a submarine.” Useless, and dangerous!

To put it as simply as I know how, believing in Jesus means trusting Him and obeying Him as we let Him live His life through us. The result will be great glory to God and great gain to us. Are you believing in Jesus? If not, will you repent of your sins right now and turn in faith to Christ?

Don't Wait for the Concert

“He Is” is the song that will bring you to your feet when The Lesters take the stage at the Popcorn Days festival on Thursday, September 10. Or it might bring you to your knees in praise. I’ve heard them sing this live twice, and both times the effect has been one of those spine-tingling things that brings tears to your eyes and lifts your heart in worship before Almighty God.

You’ll also be encouraged by the message in the song, “He Didn’t Throw the Clay Away.” Encouraged may be too soft a word. The truth of God’s forgiveness in Christ as we come humbly before Him is absolutely refreshing! It’s cleansing and healing. It is blessed and joyful. It might just rekindle (or kindle for the first time) your love for the Lord that translates into a greater measure of thankfulness and trust and devotion to Him than you’ve ever known before. Here are some of the lyrics:

“Empty and broken, I came back to Him / A vessel so unworthy, so scarred by sin / But He did not despair, He started again / And I bless the day He didn’t throw the clay away…Over and over He molds me and makes me / Into His likeness He fashions the clay / A vessel of honor I am today / All because Jesus didn’t throw the clay away.”

Maybe it will just be the smile on Brian Lester’s face as he sings that will have you taking note that this man has a genuine love for the Lord. And you’ll find yourself praying, “God, give me that kind of joy! Let the song of my heart rise before You with such adoration and delight in who You are and for all that You have done!”

Listen, you don’t want to miss this special evening with The Lesters. We are very excited about bringing this Southern Gospel quartet to Ridgway, and we want to urge you to make plans to come and bring your friends and family with you. Here’s a word from Brian Lester about their music ministry as found on their web page:

“Simply put, we love music. . . and we love introducing others to Jesus Christ through our music and personal ministry. It’s a passion that began with our grandparents, Harvey and Opal Lester, in 1925. And it’s one that has endured to the third, fourth and fifth generations. In fact, this year our family is celebrating eighty-four wonderful years of sharing the Good News through Gospel music. And we’re more excited now than ever before.”

And we hope that you will be a part of this special evening on Thursday, September 10. But please, don’t wait for a concert to get your life back on track with the Lord! Don’t wait for an inspiring set of music to move your heart to worship God! Don’t wait for a testimony from someone on a stage to put your trust in Jesus!

We’re planning for a wonderful concert in four weeks, but God may have other plans before then. If you’re living in sin and rebellion against God’s ways as He’s shown us in His Word, then now is the time to confess your sins. If your love for the Lord and for others has grown stale, then now is the time to repent and return to Him wholeheartedly. If you’ve never known what having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is all about, then now is the time to believe in Him for abundant and eternal life!

Why not join us in worship this Sunday morning? No excuses. Just be here. 10:40 a.m. You will receive a glad-hearted welcome from the people of God. We will not judge you or condemn you, but love you with the love of Christ. We’ll sing songs of praise and worship to our Savior, but you don’t have to sing out loud if you don’t want to. We won’t make you sing a solo. We’ll approach our Lord in prayer. We’ll open up His Word and hear the truth of Scripture. We’ll rely on His Spirit and His power and strength and guidance to help us carry out His commands.

I know that you may be thinking, “It’s been so long since I’ve been to church, if I come the walls will fall in.” They won’t. Don’t wait any longer. It’s been too long already and you know that you need to be here. No more excuses. Jesus is worthy. “He’s the Alpha and Omega / Our God and our Savior / He is Jesus Christ the Lord / And when time is no more / He is, He is!”

Judgment Day

“You’re going to Vegas!” And with those words some of America’s most talented citizens move on to the next round.

It’s all pretty subjective, isn’t it? If the three judges like your act, if they’re swayed enough by the audience’s engagement and if you’ve got the style to go along with your skills, then you’re on to Vegas.

I suppose it’s the same with sports like diving, gymnastics and ice skating. Sure the judges are trained. Most are former superstars in their field. But still they’re human. Preferences creep in and weigh into their decisions. It’s subjective.

And don’t even get me started about the college football polls!

Personally I like competitions where the numbers decide the winners. Like the guy who eats the most hotdogs in 10 minutes wins. The team that scores the most points wins. The person who answers all the questions correctly gets to be a millionaire. The driver who crosses the finish line first drinks the milk. There’s no human judge factor there. You don’t walk away saying the judging is unfair.

Listen, do you realize there will be a day of ultimate judgment for every person that’s ever walked the face of this earth? And there will be a Judge, all right, and His judgment will be right and true. There will be no crying foul. None can offer any defense against His verdict. The perfection of His justice will be clear to everyone.

The Bible speaks about two different judgments. One will be at the point where unrepentant sinners will be judged to eternal condemnation in the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12ff. says, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books…If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Please don’t blame God or think Him unkind for judging justly. God has gone to the utter extremes to show His love and salvation to mankind. He has revealed His glory, His power and divine nature in the world that He’s created, so men are without excuse. He has given to mankind His written word, the Bible, by which we might know Him and be saved. He has given us His final Word, the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. He put His love for you on display when He sent His Son into this world to die on the cross for sinners.

This judgment is simple. “Whoever believes in him [Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their works were evil” (John 3:18-19). There’s no subjective bias at all here. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

If you’re not sure where you stand, then you’d better be quick to find out – and come to Christ!

Then there’s the “judgment seat of Christ” judgment day. Standing here will be those who have been called by God, repented of their sins and believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord. This is where Christians will appear, “that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). This is the judgment where “each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:13-15).

Christian, that ought to highly motivate you to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ Jesus! It’s not your works that will save you, but your works will be judged, and those works give evidence of your faith. “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).

That Day is drawing near. May we be ready.

Coming Through in the Clutch

When the game is on the line, who do you want at the plate? Down by one, runners on first and third, two outs, bottom of the ninth. If you could choose any player from any team to step into the batter’s box, who would you take?

This summer I had the privilege of helping to coach my son’s baseball team. If I had a dollar for every time we won this season I’d be flat broke. We’re still working on things like knowing which base to throw the ball to, when you can force a runner out and when you have to tag him, and not swinging at pitches over your heads. We were pretty much out-sized and out-skilled by all our opponents, but I think our boys gave a great effort. I hope they had fun playing and I hope they learned the game, at least a little.

If our team was down by one in the bottom of the ninth and I could have any player I chose up to bat, I would want the kid who would be most likely to take a walk, or hope that he’d get hit by a pitch. But in the Bigs, who wouldn’t want Number 5 from the Cardinals at the plate with the game on the line? Nobody’s going to come through like Albert Pujols. The guy’s an amazing hitter and a terrific clutch performer – without the aid of steroids, I might add. I wonder if I’d be a better preacher if they came up with some PED’s I could take (Preaching Enhancing Drugs)?

If you watched the Major League Baseball All-Star Game from St. Louis, you probably saw how good of a baseball player Pujols is. I’m writing this before the game, so I’m predicting a single and a home run from Albert, though the American League will win its 13th in a row.

But did you know that Albert Pujols is also a devoted follower of Jesus? You may not hear the announcers highlighting that about him, but I want you to read the testimony he has written on his website. It’s quite a lengthy statement of his faith along with an invitation to trust Jesus as Savior. Here’s a portion of his post:

People have said, “Albert, I would give anything to be able to play baseball like you.” They may look at my abilities and think that being a great baseball player is the goal of my life. Believe it or not, baseball is not the chief ambition of my life. Becoming a great baseball player is important to me, but it is not my primary focus. Because I know the Hall of Fame is not my ultimate final destination.

My life’s goal is to bring glory to Jesus. My life is not mostly dedicated to the Lord, it is 100% committed to Jesus Christ and His will. God has given me the ability to succeed in the game of baseball. But baseball is not the end; baseball is the means by which Dee Dee and I glorify God. Baseball is simply my platform to elevate Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. I would also rather be known as a great husband and father than an All-Star baseball player. Perhaps one day I could be honored with an invitation into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. That would certainly be a boyhood dream of mine come true, but it is a far greater honor that one day I will be in heaven with God to enjoy Him forever.

How do I know that I will spend eternity with God in heaven? It goes back to the original discussion – Faith. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” It is my faith in Jesus Christ’s work in my life that grants me eternal life with God. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s why the mission of this Foundation is “Faith, Family, and Others.” It is because our faith is at the heart of everything we are and everything we do.

Wow, now that’s a life lived for the glory of God! Friend, even with Pujols at the dish with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, down by one, you’re not going to win every time. He’s not always going to knock it out of the park. But our God is always faithful and true. His word will never fail you. His mercies never come to an end. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. When eternal life is on the line, why not turn your life over to the One who will come through in the clutch for you?

Every Knee Shall Bow

The Bible says “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11).

One day Jesus will be revealed in all His glory among all mankind, the living and the dead. One day there will be no more doubt about who He is or what He has done. One day it will be crystal clear to all that Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth and the life,” and that “no one comes to the Father except through [Him]” (John 14:6).

One day all other “gods” will be exposed as frauds, all other religions shown to be false and all other “paths to heaven” proved empty. One day all the praise due the name of Christ Jesus will be given to Him from every corner of His creation and from every mouth of every creature. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” (Ps. 150:6).

In the heavenly realms the angels and all who dwell there will greatly rejoice that Jesus Christ is Lord. They will worship in glad adoration, filled with awe and delight as the King of kings and Lord of lords comes to take His throne.

“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’” (Rev. 5:11-13).

Even the demons of hell will acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. Even the most wicked and vile men who have walked upon this earth will know that He is God. They will recognize His power and authority over all things.

This does not mean that they will be offered a second chance at salvation, for “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Heb. 9:27). And it’s not that they desire to serve Him as Lord, but they will indeed realize the utter folly of their ways and will be forced to acknowledge as true the One who is Faithful and True – the One whom they so arrogantly rejected. They will bow their knees in fear and trembling before Him in light of the eternal wrath they shall soon receive and the everlasting shame that shall cover their heads.

Friend, that day may not be far off. Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon” (Rev. 22:7, 20). Indeed He will come again in the twinkling of an eye, like a thief in the night, at the trumpet call of God, and all those who are “in Christ” will rise to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever. “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Heb. 9:28).

The question is this: Are you eagerly awaiting the return of your Lord Jesus Christ? This world seems to be spiraling toward the day of Christ’s return. Will you be found longing for Him, or will you be put to shame? You can bow now joyfully before Christ as Lord, or you will bow later sorrowfully. But mark this: you will one day bow down to Jesus.

Let me urge you, dear friend, to bow now! Acknowledge Jesus Christ as the only One who can save you from death and hell, and turn your life over to Him today. Believe that He is the Son of God who came from heaven to earth, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and died upon the cross of Calvary – the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. Believe that on the third day God raised Him from the dead, because it was impossible for death to keep Him bound. Believe that Jesus is now exalted at the right hand of God and that He will one day – soon and very soon – come again and receive all who believe in Him unto Himself, that where He is, there we also may be.

Will you confess Him now as your Savior and follow Him as your Lord, to the glory of God the Father?