Eternity is a Long Time

  As we read the Gospel accounts of the Crucifixion, we notice Jesus said more than one thing during His time on the cross. In fact, He made seven statements when you add them together from all of the Gospels. Seven represents completion (e.g. a week is 7 days long) and when Jesus says His seventh statement, He dies. His earthly ministry, in His earthly body, is completed. The seven statements are: 1. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. Luke 23:34 2. Today, you will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43 3. Behold your son: behold your mother. John 19: 26-27 4. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Psalm 22                      5. I thirst. John 19: 28 (cf. John 4: 4-26); Psalm 22:15; Psalm 69:21 6. It is finished. John 19:30 7. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Luke 23: 46; Psalm 31:5 The exact order is not known as no one Gospel has them all, although “It is...

  During the Christmas season we often have to remember what the real reason for the season is. That is good and as it should be. However, as we do this, we often just stop with the miracle of Jesus being born in the manger. It’s difficult for our mortal brains to come to grips with the tremendous and total impact of Jesus’s role in God’s Plan of Salvation. All of it had to happen in order for the plan to work. Without it, we would have no hope and would rely on ourselves to save us from this fallen world – which, of course, would fail every time. The plan was for Jesus to have a lowly birth. Then He had a sacrificial death on the cross where He died for all the sins of mankind. Without this sacrifice, we could never truly follow Him. Jesus is our bridge to eternity in Heaven. A fter the cross, there had to be the Resurrection or else our faith is in vain. There are only a few Christmas songs/carols which begin touch on the totality of this plan. The one that I love is “W...

  We misname the last meal Jesus had with His disciples before His crucifixion. We call it The Last Supper when it really should be called The Last Passover. Why? Because Jesus actually says so -  14  And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.  15  And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.  16  For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 22:14-16) Notice when Jesus says He will not eat "it" in verse 16, He is referring to the Passover meal. Why is this important? Well, we have to remember what Passover is. It is the celebration of God passing over the houses of the Children of Israel who had the blood of the lamb over their door sparing their first born sons but killing the first born sons of those who were not covered by the blood of the lamb.  This 10th plague, the Passover, is a foreshadowing of what is to come...

  The Book of Zechariah, in the Old Testament, beautifully shows the First and Second Coming of Jesus. In a passage many will remember from the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem it states: “ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. ” Zechariah 9:9 (NASB) Jesus, the Lamb of God, meekly entering Jerusalem. Jesus, our salvation, comes humbly to do His Father’s will. The next verse is also striking: “ As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. ” Zechariah 9:10 (NASB) It is only through the blood of Jesus that we are cleansed for our sins and have the promise of everlasting life with Him forever. We who believe, are indeed prisoners set free from a waterless ...

  Today is the 19th anniversary of the day I finally gave up depending on me and listened to Jesus to follow Him. In the show #TheChosen , there is a beautiful scene depicting the encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus (Season 1, Episode 7) which is similar in some ways to how I was before this day almost two decades ago. I thought I knew things but I really didn’t. I believed I was a Christian (all you had to do was ask me), but I was a Christian only in my own mind based on very faulty reasoning. If July 22, 2002 had not occurred, I would be one of those Jesus will tell at His second coming ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:23) I had many opportunities prior to 2002 to give my heart to Jesus, but I did not listen. It took the woman who was to become my wife actually talking to me about our Lord (or “dripping Jesus” as Diane says) to get me heading in the right direction. She was not there when I finally made my commitment to God, but she was essential...

The First Great Awakening came circa 1735-1743. It was the first event to draw all 13 colonies together into a common experience. Its deep spiritual message touched everyone from the wealthiest in America to slaves and laid the foundation for our ability to withstand the trials of our War for Independence. The Second Great Awakening came circa 1800-1840. It began in the frontier of Kentucky and spread throughout the land in waves. Charles Finney would lead 500,000 to Christ. This Great Awakening laid the foundation for our ability to withstand the trials of our Civil War. I believe we are on the cusp of a Third Great Awakening. If so, and if the the pattern holds (granted - a couple of big ifs) then, in the next 20-30 years we will have another huge trial to go through. I have said for years that Trump is our King Josiah (see 2 Kings chapters 22 and 23). Trump is poised to continue the tremendous cleansing of the Deep State he started in his first 4 years. Like Trump, King Josiah clean...

  Ever wonder why those who denounce and denigrate God seem to prosper? You're not alone. Malachi in the 4th century BC wrote of the same frustration. Listen to how God answers this concern: "Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not." (Malachi 3:16-18 NIV) The "day when I act" is when Jesus comes again to collect His people, bring them to the mansions He has prepared in Heaven (John 14:1-7) and those left behind are killed and left for the birds (Rev 19:11-21). God is perfect love yet God is also the perfect jud...

We need to keep the main thing the main thing. We need to remember that there are debatable and non-debatable issues in Christianity. What are these non-debatable issues? - Jesus is the Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, 100% God, 100% human - Jesus sacrificed Himself to pay the wages for all of our sins by dying on the cross - Jesus rose on the 3rd day and ascended into Heaven shortly thereafter - He is alive and will come again to judge the living and the dead - Jesus created all that was made - We are saved for eternity with God by faith in Jesus and His works, not by our works - The Bible is the word of God All the other issues such as whether a Christian can drink alcohol, eat non-Kosher foods, speak in tongues, whether there is a rapture before the second coming of Jesus, etc, these are all debatable. It is fine to debate them and to have strong opinions, but none of these opinions should get in the way of the non-debatable issues.  If a person has a belief on a de...

  A friend of mine said something I never expected to hear. He said he was very fearful of our current social situation. This is from a man who has always been rock solid. He's also a believer. But he seems to have forgotten that Jesus told us many times that trouble will happen. We are to cling to the rock and we'll be safe. He (Jesus) also said not to fear since He has overcome this world. He said this before He went to the cross. Of course, to God, time isn't the same as it is to us. Evil will seem to be winning and the pace of evil may seem to be increasing as we get closer to the 2nd coming of our Savior. But, as the old saying goes, "It's always darkest before the dawn". Jesus will come. Evil will perish. What is depicted in Revelation chapters 19-22 will happen. Do not let your heart be troubled.