EASTER,JESUS, AND MORE: What Does It Mean to Be Saved

What Does It Mean to Be Saved Psalms 25:12
What makes a person acceptable to God? The path to redemption begins not with the decision to live a better life or to stop doing something wrong, but with the realization that we cannot correct our sinful nature. To find favor with the Lord, we must grasp that it's impossible to make ourselves righteous; instead, we need to depend on the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. When we trust in Christ as our Savior, God the Father applies the benefit of Jesus' atoning sacrifice to our sin debt, thereby making us "saved," or acceptable in His eyes.
Your good works and righteous acts are of absolutely no value in the mind of God. Compared to others' actions, your generosity and good works might seem like enough to bring favor with the Lord, but Jesus said, "Not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Eph. 2:9). When you stand before God, the only way you can be forgiven of your sins is through Jesus Christ and His sacrificial, substitutionary atoning death at Calvary. Jesus came to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
Jesus' public crucifixion was a demonstration of God's hatred for sin and immense love for mankind. He who was blameless bore the penalty for all in order that wicked, corrupt people could be made righteous.

No matter what you've done, you can be cleansed of the stain left by sin. Confess any known transgressions and turn from them; then Jesus will forgive you and write your name in the Lamb's Book of Life (1 John 1:9; Rev. 21:27). By trusting in Him, you are assured of eternity in His presence.
God's Son in the Old Testament
�I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.� (Psalm 2:7)

 

There are many today (especially Muslims, Jews, and Christian �liberals�) who are monotheists, believing in one supreme God but rejecting the deity of Christ. They argue that the doctrine that Jesus was the unique Son of God was invented by the early Christians and that the God of the Old Testament had no Son. Orthodox Jews in particular emphasize Deuteronomy 6:4: �Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.�

 

The fact is, however, that there are a number of Old Testament verses that do speak of God�s only begotten Son. Note the following brief summary.

 

First, there is God�s great promise to David: �I will set up thy seed after thee, . . . I will be his father, and he shall be my son. . . . thy throne shall be established for ever� (2 Samuel 7:12, 14, 16).

 

Consider also the rhetorical questions of Agur. �Who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son�s name, if thou canst tell?� (Proverbs 30:4).

 

Then there are the two famous prophecies of Isaiah, quoted so frequently at Christmastime. �Behold, a [literally �the�] virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [meaning �God with us�]� (Isaiah 7:14). �For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: . . . and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace� (Isaiah 9:6).

 

Perhaps the most explicit verse in this connection is our text. �The LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son� (Psalm 2:7). Then this marvelous Messianic psalm concludes with this exhortation: �Kiss the Son, . . . Blessed are all they that put their trust in him� (Psalm 2:12). HMM
Easter Is for Second Chances - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org

 

But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." -Mark 16:6-7

 

Do you need a second chance today? On the first Easter morning, Peter needed one. There in the Upper Room, he had insisted that he would never deny Christ. But just as Jesus had predicted, Peter not only denied the Lord, but he denied Him three times. The last glimpse Peter had of Jesus before His crucifixion was in the glow of the fire in the high priest's courtyard, where he actually made eye contact with Jesus. And then he went out and wept bitterly.

 

What kind of look do you think Jesus gave Peter when their eyes met? Do you think it was one of those I-told-you-so looks? Do you think it was one of scorn, as if to say, "How could you betray Me?" I don't think it was either one. I think it was a look of love, a look of compassion that said, "I still love you, Peter." And I believe that is why Peter went out and wept bitterly. He had failed the Lord so miserably. He probably thought there was no hope for him.

 

But then a message went out from the empty tomb that Jesus had risen, followed by these instructions, "Go, tell His disciples-and Peter. . . " It was not, "Go tell the disciples, including Peter, James, and John. . ." It was just Peter, because Peter needed a special word of encouragement.

 

Do you need encouragement today? Maybe you have fallen short. You didn't plan on it, but it happened. And like Peter, maybe you ended up with the wrong people in the wrong place at the wrong time, ultimately doing the wrong thing.

 

God gave Peter a second chance. And He will give you one, too-because Easter is for the person who needs a second chance. 

Running to Win - Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com

 

People who compete in marathons or any other type of race prepare themselves long in advance to win. They eat nutritious food and exercise to help build muscles to physically help them do their best. They run daily in order to build up their endurance for the challenge they face. Can you imagine if, on the morning of the Boston marathon, a person who had no training and who was physically out of shape decided to compete. The result would be total failure. Living a Christian life and winning souls for Christ is not a competition, but it does take training and endurance. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain." 1 Corinthians 9:24. Our Christian walk isn't a competition, but we all need to train for Godly living through prayer and Bible study in order to run our race well.

 

How do we prepare for this race before us? Our attitude towards God will affect the way we live. The way we live will affect our witness to others. "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. This is good advice from the Apostle Paul and he practiced what he preached. Rejoice! When things go wrong remember to rejoice. We cannot see God's whole plan from where we stand, but God sees the whole picture. Bad times can strengthen our faith and build our endurance, so rejoice that you're growing stronger. If we allow troubles to stumble us and to steal our joy we'll become bitter and angry. Don't allow that to happen. Prayer helps us to rejoice. When driving your car, talk with God. When cleaning out the refrigerator, talk with God. Talk with Him throughout your day and you'll notice that you're able to hear Him better. He's the coach that will help you win your race, so rejoice, pray, and be thankful in all things. When things go wrong or tragedy comes our way it isn't easy to give thanks to God. Those are the times when we need to understand that God is always with us and thank Him for His faithfulness. It will become a habit to thank Him and we'll grow stronger in our walk with Him. The race set before us will become easier to run.

 

As we train to be stronger in our walk with Christ, we need to pray, but we also need to listen to the urging of the Holy Spirit. "Quench not the Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 5:19. The Holy Spirit is sealed within each Christian and He is our guide through life. If we listen to His urgings we will avoid sin and we will be bold in sharing the Gospel with others. Many Christians say that they are on fire for the Lord, but that fire can be quenched. If we aren't vigilant and tend to the fire it will go out and lose its power within us. If we suppress the Spirit He will stay in the background of our life. We can also quench the Spirit in others by ridiculing their joy in the Lord or telling them to stop being bold in witnessing for Christ. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:25. Don't let the fire go out.

 

Other Christians can help us along in our race to the finish line of life, and we can help them. Prophecy, or a word of knowledge,  is a gift from God. "Despise not prophesying's. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21. All things must be proved through Scripture. For instance, if someone tells you that God said you should give them a large sum of money, prove that through Scripture. Jesus never asked for money, nor did the disciples. Paul did ask for donations to be collected, but those gifts weren't for his own use but to help other Christians in need. The point I'm making is that people who prophesy  may be correct, but always pray and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit. If you are led to help someone in need or to donate to a particular ministry, then by all means do so. Just prove all things by Scripture.

 

In order  to run a winning race a person cannot carry excess baggage. Sin is cumbersome and will hamper your walk with Christ. "Abstain from all appearance of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:22. God's word doesn't sugar coat what constitutes sin and we need to pay attention. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21. Works of the flesh are sin. You might want to get a dictionary or a good concordance that will define each item listed. If you're holding onto these sins or any others, you'll lose the race. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew16:26. If you have truly accepted Christ for salvation then you cannot lose that free gift. If you find sin more rewarding than following Jesus then you may have a problem. You may not have honestly accepted Christ. Be sure before it's too late.

 

We can't run a race if we never leave the starting line. For the Christian, that starting line is when we first truly accept Christ as our Saviour.  "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." John 6:28-29. Simply believe then start running the race. If we continue to be weighted down by sin we cannot run a good race. If we continually look to the left or right while running to the finish line, our eyes will be taken off of the cross and we'll be distracted by the temptation of sin. Keeping our eyes on Jesus will keep our goal in sight and we won't wander off course. He endured the cross in order to purchase redemption for mankind. Don't take that lightly. The cross was a very torturous way to die and the Romans were good at inflicting cruel and painful punishment. Jesus knew that this was the way He would shed His blood for you and me, but Jesus looked beyond the cross. The cross itself held no joy, but what He accomplished that day was joyous. He provided the only way for you and me to be reconciled to God. If you've accepted Him as your Saviour you need to respect what He suffered for you. Get rid of any "weight of sin" that is holding you back from running to win the race before you. Rejoice, pray, always give thanks, don't quench the Holy Spirit, heed what fellow Christians tell you but prove all they say through Scripture, and abstain from evil. These things will help you to run a good race to the glory of God.

 

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2. If the race you're asked to run seems too burdensome then look to the cross. Sin can get in our way and weigh us down, but generations of Christians who have run ahead of us have succeeded by keeping their eyes on Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. Nobody can run your race for you. The choices you make along the way will either hinder your race or help you. Jesus is always our example and if we study the Gospels we can come to know Him better. "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24. Every Christian has a ministry. Some big and some small, but all are important. I regret every time I failed to share Christ with someone. I regret every time I have reacted to a situation in a secular way instead of how Christ would react. As I run the race set before me, I lay these failures at the foot of the cross and run on.

 

In the end, only those things done for Christ will last. If you run a good race you will win rewards.  The Apostle Paul was highly educated, travelled to many places, and saw many wonderful sights. As his life drew to a close he could look back and see that he had run his race the best he could. "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:6-8. How's your race going? Are you running to win, or are you just plodding along?

 

If you're not running a winning race you need to ask yourself why. Today isn't too soon to begin training and running to win, but tomorrow may be too late.

 

God bless you all,

 

Nathele Graham

 

 

How to be inducted into the Hall of Faith - Greg Laurie - http://www.wnd.com/2017/03/how-to-be-inducted-into-the-hall-of-faith/

 

Pastor Greg Laurie calls Hebrews 11 'heroes' ordinary people with faith in God

 

Sometimes the most amazing accomplishments come from the least likely people. Take, for example, the story of how the Oxford English Dictionary came about. In 1879 Dr. James Murray was commissioned to compile a dictionary that was to contain every word in the English language, so Murray invited scholars and literary professionals from around the world to participate.

 

Many people offered their services, including someone known as Dr. William Minor. He was well qualified, so Dr. Murray brought him into the program. And ultimately, Dr. Minor offered 12,000 submissions to the project, more than any other person.

 

As a result, Dr. Murray wanted to meet Dr. Minor, so he wrote him a letter to request a meeting. Dr. Minor replied that he was unable to come and see him, but Dr. Murray was welcome to visit him.

 

Eventually, Dr. Murray went to visit Dr. Minor. He took the train, and when he reached Dr. Minor's address, he trudged up a long road lined with beautiful poplar trees. Arriving at a very large house, he entered through two large green doors and was ushered by a servant up a marble staircase to a vast room on the second floor, where a man of obvious importance was sitting behind a desk.

 

The man, however, was not Dr. William Minor, as his visitor assumed. Rather, he was the superintendent of the Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum, where Dr. Minor was a long-term resident.

 

Some of the most amazing accomplishments can come from the least likely people.

 

The 11th chapter of the New Testament book of Hebrews contains an impressive collection of characters in what I call the Hero's Hall of Faith. Some of the people that made it into this chapter are expected: Moses, Noah, Enoch and, of course, Abraham. Then there are some surprising entries as well, like Abel, Lot, Samson and Jacob.

 

This serves as a reminder that the Hero's Hall of Faith is filled with ordinary people like us who changed the world. They discovered that the secret of staying on top is not talent. It is not opportunities or status. It is faith in God. These people were far from perfect. They failed often. But they are not in the Hero's Hall of Faith because they were great people; they are in it because they had faith in a great God.

 

What I find fascinating is that we don't find a single mention of any of their sins in this chapter. And they sinned. Abraham lied twice about his wife, Sarah, saying she was his sister. Isaac did the same thing. Sarah laughed at the promises of God. The list goes on.

 

These winners did not always collect medals. Sometimes they collected scars. But not one word of their failure is mentioned. Why? They were forgiven, and God gives second chances. They were looked at for what they became, not what they were.

 

When God looks at you, he sees a work in progress, while you probably see your flaws. Sometimes we see our flaws, our shortcomings and our sins, and it isn't a bad thing to see those things. But God doesn't just see you for what you are in the moment. He sees you for what you can become, just as he saw the potential in the lives of each of the world changers named in Hebrews 11.

 

There has to come a moment in every life when we surrender to God. It is not always easy. God's plans are often plans that we love and agree with. But sometimes God's plans are different from ours. It is then that we have to say, as Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Not my will but yours be done."

 

If you were to go to a doctor because you were having unusual pains or some other issue, the doctor may have to give you bad news initially. He might have to tell you that you have cancer, or there is a very serious problem for which you need surgery or some kind of treatment. You wouldn't like to hear that, but you would need to accept the course to change it.

 

In the same way, God will tell us the truth about ourselves: Yes, we are sinners. Yes, we need a Savior. But once we accept that, then we can go from sadness to happiness. The way to find life is by losing life, which means committing it to God.

 

You have your dreams and aspirations, and that is all good. But here is my advice to you: Commit your life to God and understand that his plans for you are better than your plans for yourself. He may say no to this and no to that. But what he will say yes to is so much better, and you will look back and say, "Thank you, Lord."

 

If you want to be strong spiritually at the end of your life, then be strong spiritually right now. The end is determined by the beginning. The evening is determined by the morning. Walk with God now, and you will be walking with him then. One day you will be able to look back reflectively over your life and worship God, recognizing that he was in control all along.

 

 The Death of Death - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org

 

Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? -John 11:26

 

When Jesus died on the cross, He conquered sin. But when He rose again from the dead, He defeated death.

 

Death is not a subject we usually want to discuss. But when you get down to it, that is what Easter is all about. Easter is about the death of death, because Jesus came to conquer death.

 

We don't like to discuss this subject of dying. It is a hard subject for us to talk about. Many don't even want to use the word death. They will use other words, like passed away or expired. We will refer to someone who has died as "the dearly departed."

 

Some, in an attempt to avoid its seriousness, will make light of it with expressions like "kicked the bucket" or "cashed in their chips." We don't want to deal with death. It is a hard subject to grapple with.

 

Easter is a day that marks the death of death. Death died when Christ rose. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die" (John 11:25-26).

 

You may be thinking, "Greg, are you crazy? What are you talking about-death died? People still die. Don't you watch the news? Haven't you heard about all of the horrible things that are happening in our world right now and the deaths of so many people? How can you say that death died?"

 

I understand that we die. I understand that our bodies go into a grave. But here is what I am saying to you: death is not the end. Sure our bodies go into the ground, but the soul lives on forever. The Bible says that one day our bodies will be resurrected as well.

 

This is the hope of Easter. Death is not the end of the road; it is only a bend in the road. When Jesus died and rose, He rendered death powerless.

 

 

Will Jesus Find Faith on Earth? - by Gene Lawley - http://www.raptureready.com/2017/03/14/will-jesus-find-faith-on-earth/

 

That was the question Jesus asked, as He finished telling a story about a judge who finally answered the perpetual cry of a woman's need for justice. He said God would act speedily for His chosen ones, but that question that came next, then, seems to suggest that faith in a God with integrity of character might be missing or limited when He returns in the last days.

 

The context for this issue is found in Luke 18:1-8. It seems to tell us, in our prayers, to ask and keep on asking, as other passages point us in that direction. Of course, 1 John 5:14-15 speaks about the will of God being the conclusive factor in our praying:

 

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us, and if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

 

Perhaps the truth is that as we continue in our prayer, the actual will of God in the matter becomes more clear and our prayer changes to fit that new information from the Holy Spirit.

 

The actual question Jesus raised, in Luke 18:8, was this:

 

"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

 

After launching that question, Jesus introduces the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector and their approaches to prayer:

 

"Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others" (Luke 18:9).

 

The quality of their prayers indicate the quality of their faith, and in the case of the Pharisee, it clearly was not faith in God that he exhibited.

 

But the question Jesus launched, above, opens up a much broader topic than just the quality of faith in our prayers. Will He find faith on earth when He comes? When He comes to the earth, it will be at His second coming, when He plants His feet on the Mount of Olives, wraps up the final phases of the Tribulation, and begins His one-thousand-year reign over the earth (Zechariah 14:4, Revelation 20).

 

In a recent article I quoted the rather consistent rendition of 2 Thessalonians 2:3, which says this:

 

"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition..." (NKJV)

 

The contention is that the Greek words from which the translation "falling away" is obtained really should be a reference to the Rapture, that is, a "calling away," or "departure." I was hammered for using the "falling away" concept of a turning away from God in the last days.

 

As I looked into it, again, it seems that while there is the contention that it is referring to the Rapture (not my issue at the moment), those at that frame of mind also reject any fact of an increasing rejection of God and faith in Jesus Christ. At least it is so in the western world, dramatically so in the societies of America and Europe. Consider the evidence of such in school classrooms and in public situations.

 

It came to mind to look at the various English language versions to see how they each handled the phrase "falling away" in the 2 Thessalonians 2:3 verse. The Bible Gateway software has over fifty English versions and paraphrases accessible. I found, to my surprise, even, that some variation of "falling away" was used consistently in almost all of the versions, such as falling away, of course, then apostasy, rebellion, great rebellion, revolt. Most often were "falling away" and "rebellion."  

 

When "departure" was used a couple of times, it was not clarified if it meant "departure from the faith," or "departure to heaven." There were two sections for "The Message," both paraphrases, and the first one seemed to embrace the Rapture idea. The 1599 Geneva Bible version worded the phrase like this: "that day shall not come, except there come a departing first..." But no translation renders the phrase in specific indication that the meaning is the Rapture of the saints.

 

I have not been one to rely too independently upon the "early church fathers," especially those after the first century, but to look back to the earliest church fathers, such as Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter James and Jude.  It is there that we begin to see how God has woven the "scarlet thread" of the gospel of grace consistently through the writings of those men and His confirmation of that message as they preached it in that first century. Even so, it was  Paul who told the Ephesian elders, "after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you" (Acts 20:29).

 

The question, then, is this: "How is it that the translations in English almost consistently give us the meaning in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 as a 'turning away from God,' not a departure to God?" Are they, those translators, marching to the same drumbeat that was established centuries ago, or is the Greek rendition that Paul used in his original writing actually saying what he meant?

 

Strong's Concordance tells us that the English word for the Greek that is translated "falling away" is apostasia, meaning "defection, apostasy, revolt." So we can properly place Paul's words to Timothy in proper perspective in regard to that verse in 2 Thessalonians as he imparts that same message to his disciple in 1 Timothy 4:1-2:

 

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron...."

 

As well as 2 Timothy 3:1-5:

 

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power."

 

Further in 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul specifically pinpoints the Rapture's occurrence, in verses 6-8, and there is no question there, in my opinion. The issue that seems to be ignored in disbelief and rejection is that matter of a "turning away from God" in these last days.  By the gathering clouds we predict the weather that is coming...what did Jesus say of that in relation to the signs of the times:

 

"Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming'; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, 'There will be hot weather'; and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?" (Luke 12:54-56).

 

So then, I looked again at Luke 17:26-37. That passage tells us that "as it was in the days of Noah, and in the days of Lot, so shall it be when the Son of Man returns." Jesus mentions activities in play that are not directly noted in the Old Testament passages telling of Noah and of Lot. And, He does not mention the sinfulness of those who lived in the times of Noah and of Lot.  

 

Before Noah was given the task of building an ark, God looked at the people of the earth, "Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). After that, God began to prepare for the judgment of the flood.

 

In the case of Lot's time, the Angel of the Lord and two other angels visited Abraham, recorded in Genesis 18, and when Abraham learned of their mission, he bargained with the Angel of the Lord for the lives of any righteous people in Sodom, for the angels were sent to judge the city for its evilness.

 

When the two angels came to Lot's home in Sodom, the whole male population of the town came to his door, demanding release of those two "men" to them that they might degrade them in immorality. The next day the angels could barely get Lot and his family to leave the city before God's judgment fell upon it with fire and brimstone.

 

These are the "as it was" situations before Noah and Lot were taken out of the way of God's judgment. According to Jesus, that is the way it will be when He comes to take believers in Him out of the way of the coming judgment of the last days. Likewise, there will be a turning away from God leading up to that moment. But also, there will be those whose hearts are drawn to Him and they are converted, for God's plan of salvation does not shut down entirely, as shown in those ancient times of Noah and Lot. And note that the judgment came upon those who were left behind, not those who were taken out of the way, that is, Noah and Lot were not taken away to judgment.

 

In these last days the indictment of Romans 3:18 becomes more and more apparent: "there is no fear of God before their eyes." If the words of Solomon carry any weight of truth-"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10)-then the raging rejection of the  results of the recent election has no integrity and reveals a rejection, actually, of right for wrong, good for evil. This has nothing to do with the person who was elected, but the reality of where the nation was headed and whether there is wisdom in the changes of direction so promised.

 

The senseless protests and vile accusations in open declarations, and then, the hidden plans and purposes to return the nation to its planned destruction brings to mind the two times Solomon noted this proverb: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25).

 

Jesus said, "...for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it, because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14).

 

 

Removing the Sting - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org

 

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? -1 Corinthians 15:55

 

Have you ever been stung by a bee? It's not a fun experience. But although it's painful for the person being stung, it's fatal for the bee.

 

When a honeybee stings a person, it can't pull its little barbed stinger back out. This is a one-time experience for them. They had better think carefully about who they are going to sting, because once they do it, they are not going to survive.

 

When a bee stings you, not only is the bee's stinger left in you but also part of its abdomen and digestive tract, as well as nerves and muscles. This massive abdominal rupture kills the bee shortly after it stings.

 

That is what happened when Jesus died on the cross. In his enduring hatred for God's Son, Satan thought it would be a great idea to have Jesus betrayed, arrested, beaten within an inch of His life, and then crucified and put to death on a Roman cross. The devil said, "This is my moment. I am going to sting Him. I will have a role in His death. When He dies, that is the end of Him." Everything went according to Satan's plan, and like a bee, he flew off thinking he had succeeded.

 

But everything went according to God's plan as well, and the sting of death was its own defeat.  As 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 says, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

 

Where is the sting of death for the believer? It is ripped out, because at the cross, Jesus took the stinger out of death. This is a great truth. As Christians, we no longer need to fear death because our souls will live on forever with Christ.

 

 God Always Keeps His Promises - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org

 

From then on Jesus began to tell His disciples plainly that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and that He would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day He would be raised from the dead. -Matthew 16:21

 

I heard about a guy who traveled cross country. After landing at the airport, he went to the luggage carousel and retrieved his bags. Then he hailed a cab and climbed in the back. After cruising along for a few moments, he had a question for the cabbie, so he tapped the guy on the shoulder. The cab driver freaked out, shrieked, and swerved across four lanes.

 

After catching his breath, the guy in the back seat asked the cab driver, "What was that all about?" The cab driver said, "Sir, I am sorry. I have been driving a hearse for forty years. This is my first day as a cabbie."

 

When you are driving a hearse, you don't expect to get tapped on the shoulder. And when someone dies, we don't expect them to be alive again.

 

Jesus warned His disciples that that He would die. He also promised that He would rise again from the dead. In Matthew 16:21, we read that "Jesus began to tell His disciples plainly that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and that He would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day He would be raised from the dead."

 

Could He have been any more specific? And yet, this was lost on the disciples. They collectively missed the memo. But three days after Jesus was crucified, He rose as He said He would.

 

Here is what we need to remember: God always keeps His promises.

 

If God says something is going to happen, it will happen. God told us His Son would come to this earth. That happened. God told us His Son would be crucified. That happened. God told us His Son would be raised again from the dead. That happened.

 

And God has told us His Son will come back again to this earth. That will happen. It will happen very soon, quite possibly.

 

What other promises has God made to you in the pages of Scripture? Think about them today, and know with confidence that He will keep them.