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“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

Proverbs 14:12

I was recently driving somewhere I had not been before, and I made a wrong turn and ended up on a dead end street. The only option I had to get where I wanted to go was to turn around and go back to where I made my mistake and get back on the right road to my destination. As I thought about what just happened, it occurred to me that the same thing happens on our journey in life. As Christians we know our destination is heaven. But sometimes we take a wrong turn and end up at a dead end and not on the road to eternal life.

I think that dead ends are a wonderful metaphor for all people who take the wrong path in life and end up where they do not want to be. When that happens, the best option is to turn around and get back on the right path! As Christians, we call that repentance!

But let’s first define a dead end. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a dead end is “a position, situation, or course of action that leads to nothing further.” This can be typically thought of in 3 ways. First, there is no exit, such as a dead end street. You can either stay there or turn around and go back. Second, there is no advancement, such as a dead end job. You are as far as you can go in your company hierarchy, military rank, or current vocation. There is no way to advance from where you are without changing your destination. Third, you have reached a termination point, such as the end of a railway line, a cliff, or an ocean. You must find another way to get to where you want to go.

The same is true for our journey in life. I think it’s somewhat safe to say that most people want to go to heaven when they die. That is true for Christians, but also for Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, other religions. Even those with no religion would still like to go to heaven! However, many people still think that there are many paths in life they can take to get to there. But the reality is that there is only one way to heaven according to Scripture. Jesus said in John 14:6, that “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” As God’s son, He had the authority to say that and He could not have said it any more clearly. He is the only way to God and heaven!

So, we must beware of all the other paths in life that are dead ends that lead us away from God and heaven. I would like to share 4 major dead ends in life that most people encounter.

1. The path of wealth

We live in a materialistic world. It’s a world that offers wealth to those who chase after it. While we need some level of wealth or money to live on, it was never intended to be our focus. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:19-20 not to “store up for ourselves treasures on earth” but to “store up treasures in heaven.” He was warning us about the lure of wealth and the god of money. Jesus also said in Matthew 6:24 that “we cannot serve both God and money”! Money is an idol that can draw us away from God and take us down a path of ruin as well as separation from God. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Since we also cannot take our wealth with us when we die, the path of wealth is a dead end!

2. The path of fame

Many people desire to be famous. They want to do something important or be recognized by the world. In music, it’s to be a top performer with millions of global fans. In entertainment, it’s to be an actor in high demand for movies or television shows. And for others it’s to be a top social media influencer, a top physician, a top author, or dare I say, a popular mega church pastor! Although Jesus is the most famous person in all of history, He never sought fame. Instead, he came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He came to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). And He often told those he encountered or healed not to tell others about him (Matthew 12:16, Mark 9:9) and walked away from crowds that sought to make him king (John 6:15). Seeking earthly fame means wanting our way and earthly praise instead of God’s way and His blessing, and so the path of fame is another dead end!

3. The path of glory

Another path in life that many choose is the path of glory. Usually this occurs in sports where athletes and teams compete to see who the best athlete, player, or team is. The focus is always on winning and was exemplified by legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi who said, “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing!” But athleticism doesn’t last forever, and trophies are forgotten after the next season’s champion is crowned. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24). In other words, the race we want to run is the race to get to heaven, not the race to achieve a world record or a championship that will one day be exceeded by someone else. The glory we receive on earth is always temporary. Jesus said, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1) Earthly glory is fleeting and does not last. The path of glory is also just a dead end.

4. The path of knowledge

In our world of science, technology, and education, many people pursue the path of knowledge. They think the more they learn about our world, the more they can control it and manipulate it for their good or what they believe is the good of others. But this quest for knowledge often excludes God and His Word. They believe that science holds the answers or that humans are capable of knowing everything apart from God. That sounds exactly like what Satan said to Eve in the garden of Eden: “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5) Human knowledge is insufficient without God and His wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). God created the heavens and the earth, and humans can only try to learn what God already knows! Earthly knowledge cannot save us. The path of knowledge is another dead end!

It is obvious that none of these 4 paths lead to anything that lasts. They are truly a “dead” end because they only lead to death (Prov 14:12) and not eternal life. Why? Because the focus is on self and not God! God calls all of us to submit to Him, to worship Him alone, to sacrifice for others, and to serve Him. Whatever we strive for in this earthly world must be for God’s glory and purpose and not our own.

So, beware of dead ends! If we want to go to heaven there is only one way, and that way is to put our faith and trust in Jesus alone. As Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men way by which we must be saved.” Every path other than Jesus will result in a literal “dead” end to our life!

“Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.”

Psalm 106:3

It is abundantly clear that America is more secular today and has moved further away from God and his moral law as summarized in the Ten Commandments. Our country has become more concerned with individual rights and the freedom to do as each individual chooses and is less concerned with whether they are right or wrong for society as a whole.

For example, if we look at the issue of abortion, we will notice that those who are for abortion argue from the viewpoint of the “right” to do what they want with their own body. Those who are against abortion argue that abortion is murder and “wrong” and that it is immoral to take the life of an innocent baby. It is easy to see how this has become such a divisive issue when people look at it from two different points of view. One view looks at the issue from a legal perspective (Rights) and the other from a moral perspective (Wrongs).

Other similar examples include stealing, divorce, and adultery. In some areas of the United States, a person can steal up to $950 from stores without prosecution. Prior to 1963, divorce was only allowed for acts of infidelity (based on Matthew 19:9). Today, divorces are granted for virtually any reason. And when it comes to adultery (sex outside of a marriage between a man and a woman), these actions are essentially encouraged through legalized prostitution, pornography, and homosexuality. And this is supposedly all done in the name of what’s best for society, regardless of the moral issue of right and wrong!

Is there ever a good reason for our laws to make legal what is morally wrong? Let’s look at 2 other important questions that will help us to answer that question.

One question we should first ask is, why do we need criminal or civil laws at all? Aren’t most people basically good? If that were true, which it isn’t (Romans 3:23), there would be no need for laws because no one would break them. As Paul said in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” But we know that humans are sinful and capable of evil, and so we need laws to protect us from each other. Laws are designed to discourage harming another person and to punish those who do so. Without laws and justice, every society will devolve into absolute chaos. So, we need criminal and civil laws to ensure a safe society for all citizens.

For many centuries, western nations based their criminal and civil laws on God’s moral laws, such as do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, and do not commit adultery. These all come from His Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and were the standard that was used to determine what was wrong to do. Consequently, criminal and civil laws mirrored the moral laws and appropriate punishments were set when these moral laws were broken. But over time, western nations and governments have substituted God’s moral laws with what man, or the majority or the people, think they should be. This has only served to create more harm in our society as evidenced by increases in violence, crime, and divorce.

The second question we need to ask is, who determines what is morally right or morally wrong? There needs to be a consistent standard if society is to have a fair and unbiased system of justice that treats everyone the same and holds each individual accountable for their own actions and behavior. To answer this question, consider the 3 main options that are available.

First, each individual can determine for themselves what is right or wrong. This seems to be what many people want in our culture today. As it is often said by many people today, “everyone can have their own truth!” The problem with this option is that there is no standard of conduct that can ever be applied the same to everyone. Trying to construct a legal system based on individual perspectives and arbitrary morals would be impossible! As it says in the Judges 21:25, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.

Second, right and wrong can be determined by each government.  This is what seems to be happening more and more as governments want to establish their own rules for what is considered morally wrong to do. But this is also subjective and often changes due to changing political leadership or changing views of morality by a majority in each society. In either case, there is no objective standard that is consistent over time and applies to everyone equally.

The third option is the only one that makes any sense, and that is where right and wrong are determined by God, the Creator of all human beings. He designed us and therefore only He can truly determine what is morally right or wrong for all people no matter where they live. He sets the perfect objective standard for how people should treat one another because we were all created in His image (Genesis 1:27) and He has written His Law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). And when we disregard God’s moral laws, we end up only harming ourselves (Deuteronomy 11:28). Breaking God’s Law has consequences, whether we acknowledge God or not. There will be a Judgment Day (Romans 14:10-12). As the 1966 song by Bobby Fuller says so clearly, “I Fought the Law and the Law Won!” We will ultimately lose if we continue to go against God’s moral law.

So, is there ever a good reason for our rights under the law to take precedence over God’s moral law? The answer is clearly, NO! Although our freedoms and our civil rights are important for a safe and prosperous society, they should never be used to do harm to others. Morality should always supersede legality. The Apostle Paul confirmed this when he said to the Galatians, “You my brother were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)

The freedoms and rights that Americans or citizens of any nation enjoy should never give us the legal “right” to do what is “wrong”. Our actions and behavior should always follow God’s moral principles. We should always consider our actions as to whether they might harm others, regardless of our legal right to take those actions.

So, let us do what is right, not what we have the right to do. Let’s not turn our Rights into Wrongs!

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Matthew 6:9-13

This month in the USA we will celebrate Father’s Day on June16th. On this day we show our appreciation and thankfulness for our earthly fathers. But it is important to appreciate and be thankful for our heavenly Father on this day as well. It is God the father who gave us life, and He is the one who sustains and provides for us in this life. I am thankful for my earthly father who raised me, took me to church, taught me Godly values, and loved me unconditionally during his 101 years on this earth. He also had a strong influence on who I am today.

One of my favorite movies is Kindergarten Cop. In this 1990 movie, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a tough police detective who must go undercover as a kindergarten teacher in an elementary school to try and locate the ex-wife of a dangerous criminal. The only clue he has is their 5-year-old child who he believes is in his class. To find her through their child, he interviews each student and asks them, “Who is your daddy and what does he do?”

As I think about Father’s Day I am reminded of this movie and this question. Who really is our daddy and what does he do?

My earthly father grew up on a farm and after serving in the Army in WWII, he earned a college degree in dairy technology. He then went to work for Kraft Foods and spent his entire 35-year career there, working first on cheese research and development. He spent the last 15 years supervising Kraft’s global cheese production at their plants around the world. His job was partly responsible for my desire to work internationally as well.

While my earthly father took me to church, taught me Godly values, and served others inside and outside the church, he did not share his faith nor try to disciple me spiritually. He kept his faith private while actively serving in our church and community. That was typical of many people back in the 1960’s. The person who encouraged my faith more than anyone else was my wife, Kim. She had a very strong faith when we met in college and was instrumental in my journey of faith and commitment to serving the Lord in ministry. But I also had some spiritual “fathers”, men who discipled and mentored me in my life and helped me to grow spiritually.

Over the years I have come to realize that while I love and respect my earthly father and my human spiritual fathers, I love and trust my heavenly Father more. God is my true “Daddy” (Abba Father) because He loved me so much that He sent His own Son, Jesus, to die on a cross for my sins so that I might be His child forever (John 3:16)! What God has done, and still does today, is greater than what any human father or spiritual father could do. He created me (Psalm 139:13), has called me to be His child (1 John 3:1), and has made me an heir of His kingdom (Romans 8:17)! He promises to never leave or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5) and to be with me forever (Matthew 28:20).

My heavenly Father also reminds me that my true home is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and that I am only a visitor on this earth. While here on earth He commands me to honor my earthly father and mother (Exodus 20:12) and to take care of the family He has given to me (1 Timothy 5:8). But He also calls me to follow His son Jesus (Matthew 16:24) and to lead others to Him as well (Matthew 28:19). These are things I am more than willing to do because of what He has first done for me!

God has also made me an earthly father and a grandfather and has given me the responsibility to disciple my children and grandchildren (Proverbs 22:6). It can be a challenge in today’s culture, but it is something I strive for every day because my descendants need to know who their true “Daddy” is as well. When I leave this earth and go to join my heavenly Father (and my earthly and spiritual fathers), my descendants need to know where I am and where their true home is as well. They also need to put their faith in Jesus and trust Him with their lives and families so they too can return home and enjoy what our heavenly Father has prepared for them and all who believe in Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:9)!

So, this Father’s Day, when we honor our earthly fathers, let us not forget who our real “Daddy” is and remember to thank God our Heavenly Father and praise Him for His work in our life! Let us also thank God for our spiritual fathers who discipled us and encouraged our faith. And for those of us who are men, let us seek to be spiritual leaders in our family, in our churches, and in our nation, so that God our Father is honored, glorified, and made known to all people!

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:8

There are many voices in our world today that try to tell us what to say, what to think, and how to act. The loudest voices often come from our government, our academic institutions, and our media. They try to convince us that they alone have the knowledge, the truth, and the solutions that will make our lives better. And although most of the nations in our world are democratic and espouse freedom of speech and personal choice, there has been a growing threat of increased control over what people can publicly say, what they are taught to think, and how they are expected to behave. This should be concerning to all people who value their freedom!

At the heart of this threat is the attitude that man has the power to determine what is true, right, or beneficial for everyone. This belief in man’s wisdom and ability to know all things began with the age of scientific discovery and the enlightenment of man in the 17^th century and continues to this day. It was also the beginning of humans turning away from God and relying on ourselves rather than Him and His Word (see my related blog from June, 2015: God or Me? | FaithLife Ministries) When we stop relying on God for truth, wisdom, and behavior, we see the inevitable destruction of our society. The fall of the Roman Empire in the 5^th century is one well-known historical example.

God has spoken about this throughout His Word, but never more clearly than in Micah 6:8 (see above). I remember our pastor giving a sermon on this Scripture many years ago and indicating that this one verse sums up the entire Old Testament. But it also provides us with the 3 things that really matter in our world. And if we want a better world and a better way to live as humans, here is what our Creator tells us about how we should live.

1. Act Justly

The first thing that really matters to God is that we act justly. When God calls us to act justly, He is saying that we must act according to the truth. And it is not our truth, but His truth! In our world today, many people believe that truth is relative and that we can each have our own truth. But that is absurd. There can only be one truth. And the truth that really matters is God’s truth. We find His truth in His Word – the Bible! His truth defines what is right and wrong and is the standard for human behavior. Isaiah 45:19 says, “I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.” When we deviate from His truth, we end up denying Him and hurting one another. When truth becomes relative or subjective, it also becomes a weapon to wield against others who may disagree. God’s Word also says in Leviticus 19:15 that “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” When we decide what is truth, we sin and harm others in the process. We are called to act justly according to God’s truth!

2. Love Mercy

The second thing that really matters to God is that we love mercy. God has been merciful to us by redeeming our lives at the cross through His Son Jesus’s sacrifice for our sins. Consequently, we should be merciful to others. Jesus taught this in the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:21-35. Jesus also said in Matthew 9:13 that “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” When we do not show mercy to others, we who are Christians deny our faith and are no better than pagans who do not believe. Mercy is also a reflection of our character as humans as it indicates our true beliefs. It almost seems as if our world no longer values character. All that seems to matter to some people are race, ethnicity, gender, and social status. In today’s world people are judged by their outward appearance and not their human character. As Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said in 1963, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Whatever happened to that vision for America and the world? When we show mercy to other, we love others and fulfill Jesus’ command to “love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)

3. Walk Humbly with God

The third thing that really matters to God is that we walk humbly with Him. This declares that He is God, and we are not! Even Jesus humbled himself before God, and “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” (Philippians 2:6) When we are humble like Jesus this clearly shows others that it is God, and not us, who is sovereign over all things. Our humility acknowledges Him as the source of truth in our world and is the One we should all trust for our well-being and earthly needs. The Bible teaches us that we are to work for what we receive in this world. 2 Thessalonians 3:10says, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”  But we are also taught that “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” (Colossians 3:23) In other words, we must earn our way in this world and take responsibility for our own lives while at the same time recognize that we can only do that by answering God’s call in our lives, serving others in His name, and allowing His Holy Spirit to work in us and through us. When we humble ourselves before God and put our faith and trust in Jesus, we allow God to make us examples of what it truly means to walk humbly with our God!

We know that the world is corrupt and full of sinful people. But we also know that we were put into this world to not only worship our Creator, but to also Shine His Light to others (Matthew 5:16).

So, as followers of Christ, let us act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. These are the 3 things that really matter if we want to live in a better world!

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

When people ask, “who are you?”, what is your response? How do you identify yourself? Do you define yourself by your name, your family (I am a husband/wife or father/mother), your career (I am a doctor, salesman, etc.), your hobbies (I am a musician, artist, athlete), your politics (I am liberal or conservative), or your faith in Christ? It’s an important question that we all must be ready to answer when it’s asked of us. How we identify ourselves tells people what is truly important about our life and who we are.

The rock group, The Who, wrote a song about it back in the 1960’s, asking the question, “Who Are You?” This song was popular at the time but gained even greater popularity when it became the theme song for the television show, CSI: Las Vegas, a forensic crime drama about determining the identity of a deceased person and their cause of death.

God created every human being as a distinct, unique person. We have unique DNA and fingerprints. No two people are exactly alike, even if they look alike, such as twins. This is the essence of our legal and criminal justice system and how victims and criminals are identified uniquely and not solely on the basis of appearance or witness testimony.

Unfortunately, we currently live in a world that now wants to label people according to their appearance and group affiliation. The world wants to identify people by their race, skin color, ethnicity, wealth, sexual preference, and political affiliation, just to name the most common. People are grouped together so that they can be “labeled” and treated according to their group affiliation and not their individual value, uniqueness, or character.

Here in the USA, we have had a sad history of treating people based on labels and stereotypes. And in my lifetime, we have made tremendous progress on removing these labels and trying to accept all Americans based on their value and worth as individuals. I still remember watching Martin Luther King, Jr’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech on the mall in Washington, DC in 1963 where he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” I doubt if he would be pleased today to see how in the past few years we have gone back to judging people based on their skin color instead of their character.

I believe that our nation is destroying itself from within, and that Satan is using elements of our society to push the Marxist tactic of “labeling” the enemies of the State in order to consolidate political power and force their ideology on all Americans. They want to eliminate political opposition, remove freedom of speech, and draw people away from God to worship the State. And it all begins with labeling people according to groups instead of valuing them as unique individuals and allowing for individual freedom. And while it appears to be more political on the surface, in reality this is spiritual warfare as identified by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:12 where he wrote, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

So, what are we to do as American Christians to combat this menace to our nation and our freedom? I believe there are 3 things that we can, and must, do.

First, we must recognize this as spiritual warfare, and not just political posturing. We must “hate what is evil and cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9). We need to understand how Satan works and rebuke him when we encounter evil. We also need to understand the ideology of Marxism and that it is inherently anti-God. They want to destroy the family, eliminate freedom of speech, eliminate religion, and force people to acquiesce to the State in all matters (Exodus 20:3).

Second, we must “peel off the labels” that society puts on people and refuse to stereotype and group people according to outward appearances or racial differences. This is what the Nazi’s and the Japanese did in World War II, and it resulted in the murder of more than 12 million people! There is only one race – the human race! And when we mistreat others based on their skin color, ethnicity, or religion that is different from ours, we are ignoring God’s call to humility and respect for others (Philippians 2:3-4).

Third, we must lift up the individual based on their own individual character and merit. We must see other people as God sees them, as humans created in His image (Genesis 1:27) and as sinful people in need of Jesus as their Savior (John 3:16). The State does not value the individual nor seek to save people. Instead, they only seek to enslave and control them!

So, who are you? Do you identify yourself as a child of God? Do you acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a Savior? Do you value others as God does, and look at their character instead of their outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7)? If Christ truly lives in us, then we must identify ourselves as His disciple. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

If we want to change our society or our nation, we must begin with ourselves. As Christians, we must be the ones to become Jesus to others. We must “peel off the labels” from others and treat them as we would want to be treated (Luke 6:31). When we do that, we glorify God, we honor His creation, and we show the world a better way!

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.“

Ephesians 4:32

February is sometimes called the month of love because it’s when Valentine’s Day is celebrated. The essence of Valentine’s Day is true love. It is supposed to be a day when people reaffirm their love and genuine affection for others. Valentine’s Day began as a celebration of a Christian Saint named Valentine. He was imprisoned, tortured, and executed for performing and upholding Christian marriage in 269 AD.

But today Valentines Day has become more of a secular celebration of friendship and romantic love. When asked what love means, it is likely that more people today can quote the famous line “love means never having to say you’re sorry” from the 1970 movie Love Story by Erich Segal than what the Bible says about love.

While the secular world may have its definition of love, it is not the same as God’s definition of love. The Bible teaches that “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16). The Bible also says that “we love because God first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 ) As Christians, we acknowledge that our love comes from God. Therefore, it is God who defines what love truly is.

So, how exactly does God define love? The most common Greek word for love used in the New Testament is agape love. This is the highest form of love, and it means to choose to love someone. In other words, it’s loving someone for no other reason than they exist and are human just like us. In 1^st Corinthians 13, Paul lays out several characteristics of God’s love – it is patient and kind, it does not envy or boast, it is not proud, rude, or self-seeking, it is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. And love never fails. We could probably stop right here, and most people usually do.

But the Bible also tells us that love is sacrificial (John 15:13), love is loving our enemies (Matthew 5:44), love is loving others as ourselves (Matthew 19:19), and that love is the fulfillment of the Law (Romans 13:10). These too are great indicators of the kind of love in our hearts that God desires us to have.

So, how do we know if we have God’s love in our heart? Jeremiah said that “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” (Jeremiah 17:9) Jesus added in Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts; murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” We are all born with a sinner’s heart and loving others as God desires does not come naturally. However, overcoming our sinful nature with God’s love is something we must continually strive for as followers of Christ.

But there is one characteristic that exemplifies our love towards others more than any other – forgiveness! The simple, yet difficult, act of forgiveness can only happen if we are humble, kind, not proud or self-seeking, and truly love others as ourselves, including our enemies and those who have done wrong to us. Forgiveness is a choice, and when we choose to forgive, we develop a heart like His. But we first need God’s Holy Spirit in us to make that choice!

God said in 1 Samuel 16:7 that “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  When God looks at our hearts, what does He see? Does He see humility, kindness, a love for others, and forgiveness? Or does He see evil thoughts, anger, malice, and pride? If we are honest, probably both! After all, we are still a fallen race.

God’s heart is a heart of forgiveness. He sacrificed His one and only Son so that we could be forgiven and reconciled to Him (John 3:16). Because he looks at the heart, God uses our ability to forgive as a measure of our love for Him and others. When Jesus was asked by Peter if seven times was enough for him to forgive someone, Jesus said “I tell you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:22) Forgiveness is a priority and a reflection of a heart of love. We are commanded to forgive others as God forgave us in Christ! (Ephesians 4:32)

There was a song written in 1989 by Don Henley (of Eagle’s fame) about forgiveness that captures the essence of forgiveness as an act of love coming from the heart. The song describes a broken relationship that was his fault. The chorus declares “I’ve been trying to get down to the heart of the matter, but my will gets weak, and my thoughts seem to scatter, but I think it’s about forgiveness, forgiveness, even if, even if, you don’t love me anymore.” His lyrics recognize the need we all have to forgive even if we are not forgiven by others. The last line of the bridge declares, “life goes on, you keep carrying that anger, it’ll eat you up inside.” How true that is!

Jesus told a parable about an unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:21-35. In this parable Jesus is speaking to Peter and explaining how God views forgiveness. The parable tells of a king who forgave a large debt to one of his servants. However, this servant would not forgive a small debt a fellow servant owed him. Instead, he had the person thrown in prison until he could repay the debt. When the king found out, he was so angry at this servant whose debt he forgave that he had him tortured and thrown in prison until he could repay his debt. Jesus then says to Peter and his disciples that “This is how my Heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” In other words, God takes our forgiveness of others very seriously and expects us to forgive others as he forgave us.

So, do we have forgiveness for others in our hearts? Have we forgiven people who have wronged us, or are we waiting for them to first apologize to us? God’s love cannot be in us if there is no forgiveness. God indeed looks in our hearts and measures it by our ability to love others and forgive others as He loved us and forgave us. Let us all seek to be forgiving people!

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:12-14

It is now 2024 and the beginning of a new year. Some people look forward to the experiences and opportunities that await them this year, while others are not so enthusiastic about the year ahead. Sometimes that depends upon our individual perspective and what kind of year we had in 2023. But no matter how one views the past year, many believe that the future is trending downward in cultural, economic, and political ways, and are distressed and concerned by the direction our nation, and the world, is going.

There are several reasons why people may not be optimistic about 2024. First, there are 2 major ongoing wars in the Ukraine and Israel that could spread to other nations. Second, there are difficult financial and economic struggles that many people are facing. Third, there is political division in the US and other nations, and the growing desire for socialism, redistribution of wealth, and a focus on group identity rather than individual merit. In addition to these three reasons, it’s also an election year here in the USA (and many other nations as well). Considering our past few elections, this one will likely be even more contentious and uglier. So, with a difficult year ahead of us potentially, some people yearn to return to the “good old days”! They prefer the “then” to the “now”.

I just turned 70 years old and I often think back on the days from my past. These were days when life seemed simpler and less hurried with lots of opportunities. But the reality is, the past is gone forever and we can’t live in the past nor should we try to (see my blog from last November : The Role of History | FaithLife Ministries). While there are some things from the past worth hanging on to, such as our principles and values, we must live in the present and embrace a future filled with both change and opportunity. We must seize the “now” and let go of the “then”!

Consequently, I think it is beneficial for us to consider four things that are better today than in the past that might help to give us some perspective on now vs. then.

First, take personal computers. They have also enabled greater access to information and products & services than ever before. I remember having to go to a library for information if I wanted to know or learn something. Today, we have information and knowledge at our fingertips on virtually anything. We can search for information from all over the world and get answers immediately. Similarly, in the past we had to go to a store if we wanted to buy something. Today, we can buy what we want, when we want, where we want, and how we want without ever leaving our home. When it comes to computers, I do NOT want to go back to the old days when we did not have them!

Second, let’s consider communications. Today we have instant communication around the world through email and cell phones. Before the personal computer, there was only the US mail. You had to write and mail a letter and then wait a week or two for a reply (or longer if it was international). Today we can send emails across the world and get immediate responses. Before the cell phone, there was the phone in your home and payphones in high traffic areas. If you had an emergency while away from home, you had to go find the nearest pay phone. With a cell phone, we can now call for help immediately. We can also use our cell phones to send emails, get directions, take photos, and call from anywhere in the world! We also now have satellite GPS which enables us to plan travel routes, avoid traffic delays, and calculate how long it will take. With today’s communications, I’ll keep my computer and cell phone, thank you!

Third, what about air travel? Back in my younger days airfares were fixed and there were limited destinations, flight connections, and only certain days of travel to certain places (e.g. – weekly or MWF). Today we have an array of choices and costs and can reach virtually every nation in the world on any day and with relative ease. We can also book our seats in advance and earn rewards for our air travel. And after adjustment for inflation, airfares are less expensive today than they were 50 years ago as well. I definitely prefer the air travel of today to the air travel of yesterday!

Finally, while we may lament the increased secularization of our nation, the fourth benefit of today’s world is that we now have more Christian movies, television channels, radio stations, concerts, and websites to deepen our faith and reach others with the gospel than ever before! These are great tools that we now have available today that were not as prevalent or even available 50 years ago. It is certainly easier now to grow our faith and reach others for Christ!

These are four positive developments that offer us some hope for 2024 and the future. And while some things in our culture are getting worse, such as a lack of respect for God and the Church, the negative influence of social media, the increase in drug use, and the growth of all kinds of sexual sin, these things can be overcome over time with the gospel, prayer, and the technology tools the Lord has provided us with in today’s age.

But it is still up to us as individual Christians to share our faith, share the gospel, and to offer this hope to our fellow citizens. But to do so means that we must recognize the opportunities that are before us in 2024. Rather than dwell on the past (Isaiah 43:18), we must go forth into the future, however bad it might appear, to bring God’s truth, God’s Son, and God’s hope to everyone! Then was then, and we can’t change it. But now is now, and we have been given the opportunity to bring about a better future starting today. Let us not shrink back from our call to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) and be the Salt & Light of our generation (Matthew 5:13-16)! There is no better time than NOW!!

And who knows, perhaps God is preparing us “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14)!

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

John 15:18-19

It’s now December and Christmas Day is still 3 weeks away. But the season of Christmas has already begun and is in full swing! Although Christmas has become more and more secular over the years, it’s still about the birth of a little baby in Bethlehem named Jesus who would be the Savior of the world! It’s because Christmas isn’t Christmas without Christ! Christmas is still recognized as a Christian event by over 2.2 billion people around the world. That’s one-third of the world’s population! And yet, Christianity is also the most persecuted faith in the entire world.

Were you aware that according to an Open Doors International report from 2021, 360 million Christians face persecution for their faith every day? For some that means imprisonment, torture, and even death! But for others it means loss of home, loss of job, or loss of family relationships. There are also other subtle forms of persecution, such as silencing of Christian voices and forcing Christians to do things that are opposed to Biblical teaching and their beliefs.

According to the latest Pew Research study in 2018, Christianity leads the list of the most persecuted religions, followed by Islam and then Judaism. And while the war between Israel and Hamas has stirred more antisemitism and anti-Islam feelings the past couple of months, Christianity still leads the world in being the most persecuted faith.

This is truly an amazing paradox when we think of all the good things that Christianity has brought to the world. Christianity introduced the concepts of morality, equality, monogamy, generosity, care for orphans, widows, and the elderly, and to love one’s enemies!  These led to the creation of hospitals, orphanages, homeless shelters, food pantries, not to mention the Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, and Salvation Army, organizations begun by Christians that serve the world’s sick, poor, and hopeless.

So, if Christianity is does so much good, why does the world hate it?

The world hates Christianity because Jesus said it hated Him first (see John 15:18-19 above). Why? Because the world is comprised of people who reject God and His sovereignty over all creation (Exodus 20:3). Satan was the first being to reject God, and when he convinced Adam and Eve to distrust God (Genesis 3), they brought sin into the perfect world God created and it became corrupted from then on. As a result, Jesus was sent to the world to save the world from its own destruction. And although every human can receive this free gift of salvation, many still choose to reject it today.

But it also seems to me that there are 3 primary reasons why people reject or hate Jesus and persecute His followers.

First, Jesus taught that all people should put their faith and trust in Him alone. The Bible says in John 14:6 that the only way to God is through Jesus, His Son. To follow Christ is to submit our will to Jesus and God the Father, and to obey their commands. But many humans don’t want to yield their lives to God by putting their faith and trust in Jesus. They prefer to live according to their own desires or the way of the corrupt world. Either of these choices will end in death (Proverbs 14:12) and eternal separation from God. This is a message that the world does not accept or want to hear because it conflicts with their desires. And they will often do whatever it takes to try and silence that message!

Second, Christianity opposes earthly power structures. Whether it’s a national religion/tradition/culture, a political ideology, or an economic system, Christianity focuses on the freedom of the individual to follow Christ and His commands, which often contradicts the existing power structures. Those in power typically rule according to man-made rules and will often go to extreme lengths to stay in power by eliminating opposition and forcing conformity. History has shown the violence that human rulers have used to hold on to their power (Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Sadam Hussein, etc.).

Third, many people have had bad experiences in churches or Christian communities. This often leaves them hurt, used, and wounded. As a result, they have given up on God, believing He doesn’t truly care about them. Or perhaps they have been misled by false teachers and prideful leaders that have left them bewildered, confused, and doubting God’s Word. They were told that God would take away all their struggles and problems and leave them prosperous and happy. But that is contrary to what the Bible says. Jesus said in John 16:33 that “In this world we will have trouble”, while Paul wrote in 2^nd Timothy 3:12 that “Everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” To believe that the Christian life is easy is a misnomer.

Paul also said in Romans 8:17, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” In other words, to submit to God and follow Jesus we will likely have to endure earthly suffering. They go hand in hand. Christians are never exempt from trials, but we are not alone in them either. God will always be with us (Joshua 1:5)!

I think what this all comes down to is that world hates Christians because they are a threat to their personal pursuit of earthly pleasure, earthly power, or earthly position, just as Jesus was! Many people like their life or their culture as it is and don’t want to conform to God’s design and intent, even for the benefit of a better life or a better world. People who follow Christ reflect their God-created purpose, and the life God wants for all people. So, to eliminate the threat and assuage their guilt, they hate and persecute Christians who remind them of it.

But we Christians should not be dismayed nor fearful. Let us remember the words of the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 3:14 when he said, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

We should also rejoice, because as the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

As you celebrate Christmas this year, remember that Jesus was not only born for you, He also suffered for you and was resurrected for you! He did this so that you may persevere through the inevitable trials of this world and rejoice that you are eternally His!

Hallelujah! Christ has come!