FAITH... The Keys to the Kingdom!

FAITH. To have FAITH means to believe in something that cannot be "scientifically proven".  It cannot be measured in a lab, viewed under a microscope, or reduced to an equation. In this age where 'scientific materialism' is the 'religion of the day', many have abandoned FAITH as unworthy of consideration. But is it really?

Scientists have theorized that there are as many as 11 different dimensions, but have no clue as to what that might mean for our existence. Just because something is not measurable in the four dimensions that we are aware of (3 dimensions plus time), does it mean that it does not exist? What if it exists in one or more of those other dimensions that we can't measure? Before there were microscopes, a belief that 'germs' existed and acting on that belief and taking precautions saved thousands (if not millions) of lives. Scientists believe in 'dark matter' and proclaim that there is more 'dark matter' in the universe than there is matter, yet, they cannot even define what it is, nevermind measure it. They have spent billions building the Hadron Collider trying to find the "God Particle", but most spend almost no effort trying to find GOD! Scientists often believe in things that they cannot prove scientifically, but have a bias against anything that smells of spirituality, dismissing it as so much 'hocus pocus'. Much of the media and the 'Hollywood elite' treat Christians with mockery and disdain. Despite all of this, around 78%* of Americans identify themselves as Christian. Why?

A person accused of a crime often must be judged as guilty or innocent based on what is called 'circumstantial evidence' (indirect evidence that tends to establish a conclusion by inference, as opposed to 'direct evidence'). Inference is "a conclusion or opinion that is formed because of known facts or evidence". It is possible therefore, to prove something to be true 'beyond a reasonable doubt' based on 'circumstantial evidence'. So if that in which people have FAITH cannot be proven by 'direct evidence', can it be proven by circumstantial evidence? What is the circumstantial evidence that would support a belief in God and in his Son, Jesus Christ? Taken individually, the evidence is compelling. Taken as a whole, it is, I believe, overwhelming.

Let's start with nature. The book of Romans (1:20) states, "...God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made...", meaning nature. The idea that the majesty, beauty, order, complexity, and balance that exists in the nature as nothing more than random luck makes no more sense than the idea that if enough tornadoes pass through enough junkyards, one of them will create a 747! Consider that the second law of thermodynamics states that, "the quality of matter/energy deteriorates gradually over time", yet nature does just the opposite. The human brain is still the most complex object in the known universe! The DNA in one person if strung end to end could go to Pluto and back. The miracle of you and the natural world around you is in itself strong evidence for God. Isn't spending time in nature in itself healing, calming, and restorative?  Nature is not just 'intelligent design'; it is 'genius design'! Evidence #1 submitted for your consideration.

Another compelling piece of evidence is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy by Christ. The number of prophetic descriptions of the coming Messiah (Savior, Redeemer) fulfilled by Christ number in the hundreds. According to the Old Testament prophecies, the Messiah would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, come out of Egypt, be of the tribe of Judah, a descendent of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and King David, and would fulfill Isaiah's prophecies, including (as He himself states), “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” It was also prophesied that he would be falsely accused, betrayed, hated without a cause, crucified, die for our sins, be resurrected after his death, and be a light not just to Israel but to all nations. I could go on, but the statistical probability of him fulfilling even half of the ones I just listed are astonishingly small. He fulfilled hundreds of Old Testament prophecies. What are the odds? Evidence #2.

Another piece of evidence is Christianity itself. Jesus only taught for about three years, never preached more than 30 miles from home, had uneducated fishermen, laborers and a tax collector as disciples, was publicly humiliated and killed, and his followers were hiding behind closed doors after his death, in fear for their own lives. Today, Christianity is the #1 religion in the entire planet. Why? The resurrection of Christ. The power of the Holy Spirit that filled the apostles starting on the day of Pentecost. Martyrs that would rather suffer a horrible death than deny Christ. Countless men and women who have dedicated their lives in service to him. Miracles of healing and deliverance by the thousands, if not millions. Lives changed for the better. Charities formed. Governments founded on its principles. Joy, blessings, prayers answered, and much more, all of which defy natural explanations but is clearly a result of powerful spiritual forces of good at work. Evidence #3.

Then there are the hundreds, if not thousands of personal testimonies of people that have 'died' and come back from death with eyewitness reports of visiting Heaven and/or personally meeting Jesus Christ. Take, for example, the recent book and movie 'Heaven is for Real" about a young boy near death on an operating table that met his unborn (miscarried) sister, his long dead grandfather, angels, and Jesus Christ himself, telling of many things that he had no natural way of knowing. I have posted over 60 videos (and counting) of personal testimonies of people that have personally visited Heaven and come back to tell about it. Some were dead for hours, then came back to life. Some were blind and saw for the first time. Take a look for yourself here. The stories are amazingly consistent and cannot be explained by science. Evidence #4.

Do you need more evidence? Consider the fact that archaeological digs in the Middle East are constantly finding new evidence that supports the Biblical narrative, or that the constellations (properly understood) tell the biblical story. Did you know that scientific and medical knowledge is written in the Bible hundreds or thousands of years before it was accepted as true? Overwhelming evidence indicates that the Shroud of Turin, the apparent burial cloth of Jesus, is actual physical evidence of the resurrection of Christ! For more evidence, consider that many Christians have demonstrated an ability to speak in languages that they don't understand (referred to as 'speaking in tongues'), prophesy, perform miraculous healings, and other 'manifestations of the spirit'. How about the fact that we are living in a time in history that matches a great number of the events described in the Bible as "the last days"... increasing earthquakes, wars and rumors of wars, plagues (like ebola) rapidly increasing 'knowledge', and many more. Could that explain why things are getting so crazy? What about paranormal events and even so-called 'alien abductions'? Did you know that even they have been repeatedly stopped using the authority in the name of Jesus Christ? The Bible itself is another piece of evidence. It remains the best selling book of all time. It has been translated into nearly every language on earth. Written by dozens of different authors over literally thousands of years, it is a coherent and self consistent work without a single demonstrable contradiction.

Ah.... but I have saved the best for last! The best evidence of course, is to experience God and the Lord Jesus Christ for yourself. How, you may ask?  It all begins by first coming to God in prayer, admitting that you need to be cleansed from everything you have ever done wrong, and accepting Christ as both your Lord and Savior! At that point you are washed clean, you receive the gift of the holy spirit, and you have a completely fresh start in life! Next, get to know God and Christ by reading the Bible, the revealed 'Word of God' (I recommend starting with the Gospel of John, then the book of Romans, then reading the New Testament from the beginning to end). Now you can communicate directly with God by praying fervently and frequently with open ears and an open heart! Find a church that teaches Biblical Christianity (ex.ex.ex ex.), and go there; listen to Christian radio, and explore Christian web sites (but remember, the Word of God is the standard, not the opinions of men). If possible, attend the weekly Bible study groups and make some Christian friends (i.e. meet your new family!). Trusting God, change your life for the better (i.e. 'repent'); in other words, be a doer, and not a hearer only. Finally, commit to sticking with this new way of life, no matter what happens, and you will be transformed into a new creation! (note: you may do these in a different order, but each one of them is crucial!)

It is when you truly experience God and Christ for yourself that FAITH becomes FACT. It is then that you will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God is real and Jesus Christ is Lord! By FAITH you will have security of knowing that you will spend eternity in a wonderful place called Heaven, where you will be forever bathed in God's perfect love, His perfect grace, mercy and forgiveness, and be surrounded by a beauty that is beyond description! Yes, FAITH provides you with the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven itself! What joy! What wonder! What love! Eternal life is within your grasp! Don't hesitate. The time is now!

"Without FAITH it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
(Hebrews 11)

"Therefore being justified by FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by FAITH into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
(Romans 5)


FAITH...  it's something you can believe in!!!

(* note: text with a blue hue are links to more fascinating information!)

The Pursuit of Perfection and the Thrill of Victory!

Every few years the Olympics comes around and becomes the centerpiece of global culture. In a world filled with crime, war, poverty, and injustice, the spectacle of seeing people who have dedicated major portions of their lives to excelling at a physical discipline and rising to the highest levels of human achievement is not only a welcome distraction.  It is inspirational, uplifting, and even awe inspiring! Seeing someone spin in the air more times than you can count, then land on a slippery surface on 1/8" wide blade of steel and do it with grace is a stunning sight to see! Watching people sled on ice at 90 mph with no real steering mechanism and their face inches from the ground seems surreal... or downhill racers going at similar speeds standing on two high tech beams at the hairy edge between control and disaster...  it makes you wonder what drives them to put everything on the line with such rare abandon. While motivations vary and are often deeply personal, attaining the 'perfect run' and experiencing the 'thrill of victory' is one common fuel that keeps them focused and driven. There is something in us that longs for perfection, whether we experience it ourselves or see it in others.

There is a paradox of human experience that few people can really explain. When we see something so beautiful, powerful, wondrous and moving that we are filled with joy... why is it a very common response to weep... to be moved to tears? Tears are typically associated with sadness, yet in our most transcendent and happy moments, we often cry. While still in high school, I came across (and wrote a paper on) the writings of a French (first a Protestant, then agnostic, then Catholic) philosopher named Jacques Maritain who had the best explanation I had ever heard before or since. As I recall, his explanation was that we all long for Heaven, for God's reign, for perfection.  When we get a glimpse of perfection in this damaged world, that deep and potent connection with everything we long for is made for a moment, then broken. In that moment of transcendent joy we weep with sadness as we begin to experience the inevitable loss of what we know is slipping through our fingers, knowing that we are powerless to stop it. We have touched Heaven itself, and now we are being torn from it kicking and screaming as the world pulls us back to it's harsh reality. It all happens in a moment, an instant, faster than we can comprehend, and we are left wondering what just hit us as we wipe the tears from our eyes. 

One thing that is interesting about this is that it has a lot in common with 'near death experiences' (NDEs).  Quite often when people 'die' and go to Heaven, they are so overwhelmed with the love and joy and perfection they experience, when they are asked (or told) about coming back to their earthly existence to finish out their purpose, that is the last thing they want! Despite being separated from family and friends and all of their 'stuff', they most frequently want to stay, and are sad, and even angry, when they have to leave Heaven to come back to life. Wanting to understand and experience the joys and wonders of Heaven myself (if not experientially, then vicariously), I started collecting videos of people who have had NDEs (or waking dreams) whereby they went to Heaven and then came back to tell about it. I put together a YouTube channel (check it out here) with this collection which currently has nearly 2 million hits and counting, so I guess I am not the only one intrigued by this phenomenon! 

So what does it all mean? How can we use this information to bring more meaning and purpose to our lives? How can we tap into that powerful force that drives athletes in their pursuit of excellence? How can we 'touch Heaven', achieve that 'perfect run', and experience 'the thrill of victory' again and again in our lives? The first Olympics were held in Greece in 776 BC, so the Apostle Paul (being a Roman citizen and speaking Greek) would have been well acquainted with the Olympics (although 'Winter Olympics' hadn't been invented yet). He states, "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. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air", and "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." He also said, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace", and, near the end of his life, proclaimed, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." Paul saw himself and us as spiritual athletes striving for rewards that will last forever!

Bottom line? Jesus endured the most difficult course (of events) ever imagined... the cross. How?  Like top athletes, by keeping his eyes on the prize of the joy that was set before him (sitting at the right hand of God). We are encouraged to follow His example and keep our eyes on Him, the one who will reward us for all the good we have done as we stand on the podium. A true athlete feels reward from discipline, progress, and incremental success, but ultimately strives for that 'Gold Medal' (historically it was a victory wreath or crown). Christ reminded us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Getting to Heaven is one thing... gathering crowns and other rewards to be held until you arrive is another. Paul refers to a number of 'crowns' (or victory wreaths) to be attained for things like self-discipline, perseverance in difficulty, spiritual leadership, witnessing and discipleship, faithfulness even unto death, and looking forward to the return of Christ. Christ saves us by His grace if we make him Lord and Savior, but if we are faithful in doing good no matter what, we will have great reward in Heaven! We can strive for 'perfection' in our walk with God each day... with our ear open to the guidance of our coach, the Holy Spirit, we can live in faith, hope and love, following the example of our Lord and his most committed spiritual athletes. We can raise our sights toward our heavenly calling and keep our eye on the ​heavenly rewards that not only will outshine anything this world could offer, but they will last for eternity! Perfect everlasting rewards are within our grasp! Lift up your eyes and go for the gold!

But wait... There's more! We who have faith also have daily access to experience perfection, to get a glimpse of Heaven, to live under God's reign through a living relationship with our perfect Creator... through prayer, through study of God's Word, and through Holy Spirit inspired action. We can experience perfection every time we seek and find His holiness. When the Love of God is real to you, you will keep coming back again and again, and find strength, power and wisdom (when you need it most) by dwelling in His presence. As Isaiah said,

"He gives strength to the weary

    and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

    and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not grow weary,    

they will walk and not be faint."

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Big Lie Nobody Challenges... and How to Have Eternal Life!

We don't need to look far to find scandal, abuse, adultery, the use of pornography, lying, drunkenness and other types of reprehensible behavior among people that are supposed to be living good Christian lives. People that call themselves 'Christian' are many times the opposite of what one would consider a Christian to be (I include myself in this group, in times past). While there is an aspect of human frailty and weakness that we all will struggle with to some extent, there is a doctrine that has become a 'pillar' of the vast majority of Christian churches which is not Biblical and has led to a proliferation of immoral behavior among so-called Christians. Worst of all, it risks the eternal destiny of millions, yet it looks so good and has such mass appeal that most don't even think to question it. It is time to face this false doctrine head on, so that people can make enlightened and informed decisions about their lives.

Have you heard the phrase, "Once saved, always saved"? Have you heard preachers talk about how, once we 'accept Christ', we are forever cleansed of all of our sins, so that, no matter how we live our lives, we can be secure that we will go to Heaven? It sounds nice doesn't it? Very appealing... no rules, no self-discipline... just live our lives like we always have but add a little prayer and, voila, we have a free ticket to Heaven. So what is the problem with that? Consider the martyrs who went to their death rather than deny Christ. If one could do anything and be forgiven, why didn't they deny Christ then ask for forgiveness later? The problem is that it is not based on what the Bible clearly teaches. The problem is that people are taught to believe that they can commit all kinds of immoral acts and still get to Heaven... that, no matter what sins they commit, they get a free pass (it is often taught that all of their sins will be cast 'as far as the east is from the west', causing them to think there will be no repercussions for bad behavior, sometimes leading to even worse behavior than before they were 'saved'), so sin abounds unrestrained, and the name of God is disgraced. The problem is that millions of people that considered themselves Christians will stand before the throne of Judgment, and will be shocked and horrified to hear the words, "I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS'. I am sure you don't want to be among those caught by surprise!

So where did this doctrine come from? The most likely source is an early heretical splinter group that broke away from Christianity called the 'Gnostics'. In the book of Acts there is a man called "Simon the sorcerer". As described in Wikipedia (under 'Gnosticism')..."Charges of Gnostic libertinism find their source in the works of Irenaeus. According to this writer, Simon Magnus (whom he has identified as the prototypical source of Gnosticism, and who had previously tried to buy sacramental authority of ordination from St. Peter the Apostle) founded the school of moral freedom ('amoralism'). Irenaeus reports that Simon's argument was that those who put their trust in him and his consort Helen need trouble themselves no further with the biblical prophets or their moral exhortations and are free "to do what they wish", as men are saved by his (Simon's) grace and not by their "righteous works." Eventually, as with many other pagan beliefs, in an attempt to 'win over the pagans', the 'Christianized version' of this doctrine slowly worked its way into the thinking of mainstream Christianity. In addition, Martin Luther's focus on the texts referring to being 'saved by grace through faith and not by works', while true up to a point, is not the complete message. There is more to salvation than a single act on a single day. There is more required than an experience of being 'Born again'. While the 'new birth' is an important first step, and it is the point at which all of our past sins (done in ignorance) are cleansed (and the most poignant demonstration of God's grace in Christ), it is just the beginning. Jesus clearly teaches that, unless we bear good fruit (and stop bearing bad fruit), we will be cut off.

John 15: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.” In Matthew He repeats a very similar analogy with the same message: “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS'." (For further clarification on the Biblically accurate position, consider Hebrews 6:4-15 and 10:22-39).

So what is ‘good fruit’ and ‘bad fruit’? I think the book of Galatians says it most clearly. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh [i.e. the bad fruit] are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Friends, brothers and sisters, we cannot live a life full of sinful behavior and think God is OK with that. He is not. While sin in ignorance is bad, willfully and habitually sinning after “accepting Christ as Lord” is far worse (it has  become deliberate betrayal), and it is clear evidence that we have not truly accepted Christ as Lord… if we had, we would not continue in willful sin. It is to God’s glory and to our benefit that we ‘bear good fruit’. If you have considered yourself a ‘Christian’ but have continued in willful disobedience to God, you still have a choice. Thank God for the story of the prodigal son! We can diligently seek God's mercy in prayer and turn from our self-destructive path (remember the father in the story said  “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.") and live a life striving for holiness and goodness. When we fall, repent (which means being truly sorry and committing never to do it again… then not doing it again!  As Jesus said, “Go, and sin no more”), then rededicate yourself to living right before God. You can do it!


Let us live lives that glorify God! Let us do good to all we meet. Let us love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength! Let us bear the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ by ‘walking in the spirit’. That, my dear friends, will be assurance of Heaven!!!