Our little boy’s favorite TV program is Emergency. It is a series from the 1970’s that features two emergency rescue workers and their adventures helping others. The other day our 3 year old was laying in the back yard pretending that he was hurt and trapped in a hole. The 5 year old was tying the dog cable around him so that the 4 year old could hoist him out. I had to caution them not to hurt their little brother as they pulled while smiling under my stern admonition.
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Another one of their imaginary adventures involved a “bad guy.” I did not hear all of what was happening in their role play, but I listened long enough to hear our 4 year old say, “We should tell the bad guy about Jesus. He needs to know that Jesus loves him.” Some would have expected to hear, “We need to shoot the bad guy,” but instead my little man realized what the bad guy really needed.
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In a child’s mind, a bad guy is someone who steals, hurts, or kills, but according to the scriptures we are all bad guys. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23). Although the following list is by no means exhaustive, it gives some examples of the sort of things that prove we are all “bad guys” in God’s eyes. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV)
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Some may look at that list and say, “Well, I’m not a drunk or a thief, so at least I’m all right.” But notice that even being covetous- wanting what someone else has- makes us unrighteous before God. No wonder Romans 3:10 says, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” As I look at my own life, I realize that I truly have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I also realize that the wages of sin is death. I realize that because of my unrighteousness, I do not deserve to be allowed into the kingdom of God. I realize that because of my sin, I am a bad guy.
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But I also realize the truth that my 4 year old shared. I understand that Jesus loves me. I understand that God loves me even though I am a sinner. “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8 NKJV)
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The consequences for my sin are serious, but because of my trust in Jesus Christ, I do not have to face those consequences. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) God’s gift is eternal life through believing on Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
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Remember that list of sins from I Corinthians 6? The Corinthians that the Apostle Paul was writing to in that letter were bad guys, but they had trusted Christ, therefore he is able to say in the very next verse: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11) If you have not yet trusted Christ, you can trust Him now and be washed as well.
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Friday, October 18, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
Our Creator and Savior
Our boys have a new fort. Their uncle came to visit and he gathered up 3 old pallets for walls and then covered them with leaves and branches that he cut off of our willow tree. It looks like a cross between an obstacle course and a duck blind, but our boys love it. I have to admit that it is a cool fort for 4 little boys.
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The fort sits right between the house and the garage- two structures that took much more planning than the fort did. Though the house took much more planning than the garage, I must admit that it is a fairly simple structure compared to the Corn Palace. The Corn Palace might seem impressive until you see Mt. Rushmore. Still, the work Borglum did on Rushmore is nothing compared to the creation of the whole world.
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We do not expect that Mt. Rushmore came about by chance. I do not even look into my backyard and imagine that the wind blew the willow branches and pallets together to make a fort. So how did the world get here?
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One of the most ancient history books states in it’s opening statement, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Then we read later in Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.”
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There are many other verses in the Bible that refer to God as creator. One of the passages that I love the most concerning creation is the passage that shows that Jesus is creator, thus showing that He is God. Colossians 1:16-17 states, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
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The study about what the Bible’s teaches concerning creation shows us many vital truths. Just in this short article we have already seen that God is the creator and that Jesus Christ is God. But why should we listen to what the Bible says over other history books? The Bible claims to be much more than just a history book. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us, “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV)
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The Bible is not just some history book. It is not just some myth made up by some clever author. The Bible is God’s word given to us through the Holy Spirit. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV)
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Look again at Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.” Notice that not only is the LORD our creator, He is also our redeemer. Jesus not only made us, but He redeemed us. That means He paid the price for us as He paid the price for our sins on the cross. That means He saves us from the penalty for our sins if we believe in Him- not just as our creator, but also as our savior.
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As we understand that Jesus is our creator and savior, not only should we believe on Him, we should also worship Him as God. "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:11 NKJV).
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The fort sits right between the house and the garage- two structures that took much more planning than the fort did. Though the house took much more planning than the garage, I must admit that it is a fairly simple structure compared to the Corn Palace. The Corn Palace might seem impressive until you see Mt. Rushmore. Still, the work Borglum did on Rushmore is nothing compared to the creation of the whole world.
-
We do not expect that Mt. Rushmore came about by chance. I do not even look into my backyard and imagine that the wind blew the willow branches and pallets together to make a fort. So how did the world get here?
-
One of the most ancient history books states in it’s opening statement, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Then we read later in Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.”
-
There are many other verses in the Bible that refer to God as creator. One of the passages that I love the most concerning creation is the passage that shows that Jesus is creator, thus showing that He is God. Colossians 1:16-17 states, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
-
The study about what the Bible’s teaches concerning creation shows us many vital truths. Just in this short article we have already seen that God is the creator and that Jesus Christ is God. But why should we listen to what the Bible says over other history books? The Bible claims to be much more than just a history book. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us, “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV)
-
The Bible is not just some history book. It is not just some myth made up by some clever author. The Bible is God’s word given to us through the Holy Spirit. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV)
-
Look again at Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.” Notice that not only is the LORD our creator, He is also our redeemer. Jesus not only made us, but He redeemed us. That means He paid the price for us as He paid the price for our sins on the cross. That means He saves us from the penalty for our sins if we believe in Him- not just as our creator, but also as our savior.
-
As we understand that Jesus is our creator and savior, not only should we believe on Him, we should also worship Him as God. "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:11 NKJV).
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