

Created to

Seek God

By Lloyd Owusu Appiah

CREATED TO SEEK GOD

Copyright 2015 @ Lloyd Owusu Appiah at Smashwords

All Rights Reserved

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Table of content

Acknowledgement

Chapter One - God's Testimony

Chapter Two - Embrace God's Love

Chapter Three - Destination?

Chapter Four - Turns

Chapter Five - But Where Can Wisdom Be Found

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

To my family and friends from whom I have learnt so much, and to all readers of this book I pray that  
God will communicate through this book  
to you personally and reveal himself to you.

##  CHAPTER ONE  
GOD'S TESTIMONY

I read a story in a sermon about a young minister who came to a village town to be the pastor. In that village, there was a man who was a skeptic, a scorner and an agnostic. His favorite sport was baiting preachers, teasing preachers, arguing with preachers and ridiculing the gospel. He could hardly wait till the new minister came to town. One day they met in the town square. This man whose name was Burt Olney, met the new minister and said to him, "I understand you're the new minister in town. Is that correct?" The minister said, "Yes sir, I am." He said, "Well I want to tell you something, my name is Burt Olney, and I don't believe in God. I don't believe the bible is the word of God. I believe that heaven is mere sentimentality. To believe in hell is a blunder and foolishness. I believe that you're a pious fraud and an imposter, and I believe that all of the people who go there to hear you preach are hypocrites." The young minister looked at him and quoted a verse of scripture. He said, "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment." Olney said, "Don't quote the bible to me. He said, "I don't believe the bible. What do you say to that?" The young minister said, "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment." Olney said, "that's no argument, don't give me that, I said I don't believe that." He said, "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment." Olney said, "That's stupid! I don't think you know enough to argue." The minister said again, "It is appointed unto man once to die, after this the judgment." It so infuriated Burt Olney that he turned and walked away in disgust. But later on Burt Olney gave a testimony. He said, "As I walked home that night, I walked over the bridge, and as the creek was beneath me, the frogs in that creek were saying, Judgment, Judgment, Judgment. And what that minister said\- 'It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment'- so reverberated through my soul that I could not get it out of my heart and my mind until I gave my life to Jesus Christ."
Have you ever looked at the trees, the stars, the sun, the moon, the sky, your structure and asked yourself, "Where did it all come from? Why does all this exist?" Is it possible to know the truth about life and the reason we all exist? Unfortunately, many people don't believe that it's possible to know the truth about why we are here and the meaning of life. Some say that they are absolutely sure that there is no God and that Jesus could not have been the Son of God. That reminds me of a question or questions God asked Job in Job 38:4-5, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?" I just love the questions God asked Job, "Where is? Have you seen? Have you ever given orders to? Who provides for?" etc. We seem to know a lot for people who haven't travelled to the ends of the universe. We often ask, "Is there life after death?" That is one question many people ask without expecting a convincing answer. Some say, "No there isn't!" Others say, "There can't be!" Those are very confident answers. As if they had been told by someone who died and somehow screamed out to them, "There's nothing here!" God asked Job, "Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?" (Job 38:17) Well, then again, that was a very long time ago. Now we seem to have found all those answers in experiments and over the internet. These days, to avoid the talk about Jesus and there being a creator of the universe, you just have to say, "I don't know" or "It doesn't matter whether there is life after death or there is a God, it's not our fault that we do not believe." Well, if we don't know whether there is a God or not, why don't we seek him. Being indifferent is just telling God, "I don't really believe you exist but if you do I don't care enough to waste my time seeking you." Jesus said, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19) Most of us believe that we are not that bad and that God has no right to send us to hell for such petty crimes. I wonder, "What is a petty crime?" Before I gave my life to Jesus and accepted him as Lord and Savior, I thought I was a "Petty criminal", that my actions weren't that bad. I went to Church and all but I never took the time to cry out to God. The truth is you can never know the truth about sin when you reject God and when you reject Jesus. Jesus is humanity's light and savior. The thing about sin is that those who are deeper in it seem to know less about it. Whose fault is it that we do not believe God's testimony? It is our choice to reject God's Son who gave his life as a ransom for all men, God's testimony and his truth. That Jesus died as a ransom for all men is not only proof of how much God loves us, but also proof of how much God hates sin. Being indifferent towards the things of God is the same as rejecting God. Do we care enough to seek him wholeheartedly? Sin is an affront against God, thus God is the only one who can forgive sin. How was God to forgive the sinner who he loves and yet punish sin? The answer is Christ Jesus who died in our stead. Jesus is the one who brings us to God.

The Brilliant Architect:

If you ended up on an island which you believed to be deserted and saw a huge mansion with a living room, bathroom, food, a refrigerator, a bed and all the basic necessities we as humans need to survive and live comfortably, would it be right for you to say that the house was not built by anyone and that it just got there by chance, even though every tiny detail is structured and arranged to create a conducive living environment? For that individual to go and live in the house, enjoy the food, use the bathroom, sleep on the bed and after all that say that the house just appeared by chance and that all the beautiful walls, the arranged furniture and the food just appeared out of nowhere, unintentionally and without cause would be an insult to the architect and owner of the house, wouldn't it? Considering how incredibly beautiful and well-structured creation is, the trees, the sea and the creatures in the sea and on land, the birds, the earths revolution and rotation, how good the fruits taste, our legs, hands and eyes; honestly I could go on and on. We walk under the light of the sun God gives us, drink his water, breathe his air, eat his food and yet we refuse to give him the glory he so rightly deserves. Why don't we even bother to seek him?

The goal of a testimony is to show that something exists or is true. Generation after generation men and women have asked the question, "Is there a God?" Some believe that it is foolish to believe in God, some believe that there can't be only one God, while others question why an almighty and all loving God would allow so much pain in the world. Some ask without expecting a convincing answer, "Prove that there is a God and I will believe?" When quite frankly, we have been given more than enough evidence and creation alone confirms what the bible says that "the fool has said in his heart, 'there is no God.'" We hear people vehemently oppose the possibility of there being a God, as a result of this they try to rationalize and explain away any evidence they may receive. If we refuse to embrace God's truth, how then can we understand? We forget that we have already received, and continue to receive, day after day, "God's testimony."

Have we sought God wholeheartedly and truthfully? Have we asked God to reveal Himself to us? If not, how can we say that we cannot find something or someone we haven't wholeheartedly sought after or looked for? God is faithful! He will reveal himself to those who seek him with all their heart. Unbelief is not an intellectual problem, it's just a rejection of God. Many these days believe that God was created in the imagination of man. Thus, they are indifferent when it comes to questions about God. The most important decision you will ever make is the decision whether to accept Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for you; the decision whether to accept his call to repentance; the decision whether to accept his love for you and to surrender your life to him.  
"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men-the testimony given in its proper time." (1 Timothy 2:3-6)

Many choose not to come to Christ or to call themselves Christians because they've seen how some who call themselves Christians behave and want nothing to do with Christianity. To anyone who feels the same way, I would like to remind you that there is no justification for rejecting God just because of someone else's way of life, and also, not everyone who calls him or herself a Christian is truly born of God nor do they live the life that God has called us to live.  
In a short film I watched, a prostitute who is just about to give her life to Christ decides not to because she sees the pastor speaking to one of her clients. Like her, so many have turned their backs on God blaming the hypocrisy of other 'Christians.' Does that justify rejecting God? No it doesn't! God has called us to seek him truthfully and not a pastor or a church, but a call to follow Jesus and receive the light of life. He understands our motives and he promises us that if we seek him with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind, we will find him and he will never forsake us. Despite mankind's continuous rejection of God and his Son Jesus, God still holds out his gift of salvation, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. The truth remains that, the holy, just and true God who made all things by his power and will desires that all men be saved and acknowledge the truth. So many people have heard so many times, 'God loves you', yet they look at their environment, their circumstances, their situation, those who claim to be Christians and are not and ask themselves, "Does God really love me?" or/and "Does God even exist?" Jesus said, 'Seek ye the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness.' And God promises in his word, 'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart' (Jeremiah 29:13).

Does God really love you? Answer: Yes (More than anyone has ever, can ever or will ever love you)  
Does God exist? Answer: Yes

God reveals to mankind through his Prophet in Jeremiah 29:13 that if we seek him wholeheartedly, we will find him. He wants to be found, yet few seek him and desire to live a righteous life. GOD LOVES US AND WANTS US ALL TO BE SAVED. The problem exists when we reject his truth (the truth), his call to repentance, his protection, his advice, and his instructions and become self-seeking.

The witnesses who were with Jesus during his time on earth by the guidance, instruction and enablement of the Holy Spirit wrote down some of the things he said: "I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not believe our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe, how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone to heaven except the one who came from heaven- the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:11-17)

Here Jesus clearly states "I tell you the truth;" which means he is telling us that his proclamations are fact and not something that has been guessed or invented.

Over and over again, generation after generation, men and women have testified to not only God's existence but that he loves us and has revealed himself to us time and time again. But many have just refused to pay attention. Samuel, David, Abraham, Moses, King Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah, Paul, John etc. have all proved God's existence and love for us through fulfilled prophecies, fulfilled dreams, incredible miracles like the parting of the Red Sea and the words they spoke. Some believe that these stories are just fallacy (a false idea that many believe is true), but that is not what those who wrote them said. They swore they were telling the truth; they warned us; they were insulted and spat on and yet they persevered even onto death. Definitely these words meant more to them than just fables. God does not force us to believe in him. He has provided us with sufficient proof of his existence for us to willingly respond to him. God wants to be acknowledged. He created us with the intention that we might know him.

In the court of law, a man or woman is punished or released based on evidence and the testimonies of witnesses. You will rarely see a man or woman with a significant number of witnesses testifying that he or she is innocent declared guilty; especially when the witnesses have nothing to gain from these testimonies but rejection and scorn from most people. Jesus Christ preached love and truth. He said, "I am the truth." In him are the answers to all man's questions. He gave us the evidence through the miracles he performed, the words he spoke and the predictions he made and we have written accounts by eye witnesses who testify to what he said and did. The books of Isaiah, Psalms, Jeremiah etc. which were written long before Jesus was born all testify to what the Christ would go through and how he would be glorified.

"By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. And the father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (John 5:30-40)

I was once asked by a lecturer why I believed in God. I did not talk about the experiences I had had (he might not have believed me anyway) nor did I quote scripture. I just said, "Because creation testifies that there is a God (Creator)."

Why does the work say to its creator, "You have no hands; you do not exist"? We should not insult God by saying that there is no Creator or Architect. We cannot say that God has not revealed himself to this generation, that he has left us without any evidence. "For this is what the LORD says-he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited-he says: "I am the LORD and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain.' I the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right"" (Isaiah 45:18-19).

God is the MASTER ARCHITECT. He designed all things visible and invisible. He built the house. He is responsible for transforming his idea (a plan) into reality (actually existing). Before there was anything, there was God. He stepped out into nothing and by his wisdom and understanding created what is in existence.

"By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew." (Proverbs 3:19-20)

Time and time again, Christians have been asked to prove that there is a God or that the Father of Jesus is the one true God. You rarely hear people being asked the question, "Prove that there is no God?" Isn't it more logical (natural, sensible and reasonable) to believe in God than to say that there is no God?

What do we believe? Why do we believe what we believe? I heard a story about a lecturer who once told his students that nothing is absolute; that you cannot be absolutely sure about something and that there is no such thing as absolute truth. One student asked, "Are you sure that nothing is absolute?" The lecturer replied, "Absolutely." Is there such a thing as absolute truth? Please don't say "absolutely not." Therefore, if there is the truth, how do we recognize it?

We all believe something. We either believe that there is no God or we believe that there is a God. The one who doesn't believe in the existence of a God still believes something. We are free to believe whatever we want to believe but we are not free to choose the consequences of the choices we make because there are right choices and there are wrong choices. There is no way that we can be neutral. We either choose Jesus or reject him. We cannot choose not to choose. 'No choice' is still a choice. Let us give careful thought to the choice we make. Some say, "Maybe there is a God and maybe there is no God, how am I supposed to know?" Jesus said, "I have come that you may know the one true God." His statement clearly shows that he expects us to know that there is a God but his goal is that we may have a relationship with, become familiar with, understand, have information about and be enlightened on who the true God is.

Moses was a man who God loved greatly because of his obedience and through whom God spoke to the world. Through him God displayed his awesome power and revealed to all that Jehovah is the one true God. To him God gave the book of Genesis. The first few lines of that book tell the whole story; "In the beginning, God created." The bible says that God is the creator of all things both visible and invisible. Before there was anything, there was God. Without him nothing was made. He created time. It is incredible how great God is. If the one true God was to throw on us the full weight of who he is in one moment, we may not be able to handle it. There are many human interpretations of who God is. Many people ask questions like "Who created God?" and "How does God look?" This is mainly because we haven't paid attention to the information God has given us about himself or we simply just don't believe. The bible reveals to us who God is; the Holy Spirit reveals to us who God is; Jesus reveals to us who God is. God will enlighten us and reveal to us who he is if only we will call upon him, embrace the truth and seek him wholeheartedly. Do you want to know the One for whose glory we were created?

I have heard people ask questions like "Are we alone in the universe?" and also make comments about how a visit from beings from another planet would change our lives. Well, the alien of all aliens, Jesus Christ, visited us, what impact have his words had on our lives?

"To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of God is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it." (Jeremiah 6:10)

According to the bible God has given us all the evidence we need to believe in him and to believe him. He chose where and when each man and woman should be born. He designed and fashioned creation in such a way that men and women might see, understand, acknowledge his existence as well as his greatness and that all might seek him diligently and acknowledge creations testimony.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." (Psalm 19:1-4) Creation displays great knowledge. A kind of understanding that is far greater than ours. Psalm 19:1-4 reminds me of a quote by an astronaut, Astronaut Col. Jack, which read, "I've seen some of the intricate engineering that is necessary before a spacecraft can reach orbit. My experiences with Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz Mission and now in the Space Shuttle reconfirm that nothing worthwhile happens without intelligent planning and design. Nothing creates itself. I don't see God in space as a physical body. But I see all kinds of evidence of His existences, His intelligences and His power. The cosmos is far more complex than any space vehicle. If I can't believe that the spacecraft I fly assembled itself, how can I possibly believe that the universe assembled itself. I'm convinced only an intelligent God could have built a universe like this."

God calls out to all of us to come and have a relationship with him. Abraham didn't have as many witnesses as we have now testifying to the fact of God, but he responded to God's call, acknowledged the fact of God and sought God wholeheartedly and truthfully. He was a man of great understanding and good judgment. He believed that there was but one God, the creator of the universe and that it is by the power of God that all things move and are held in position. He sought God and God revealed himself to him. He walked in love, always acknowledging Gods sovereignty over his life. He understood that God's ways are just, and that all God does, he does out of love for us. He understood that God wants to have a relationship with us; that God wants to be found.

As much as we may deny the obvious truth, God loves us. He loves us more than anyone can or has ever loved us. Someone may say, "Well, I don't think that God loves me more than my spouse or mother; they would even die for me." That's exactly what Jesus did. Even when we were against him even though he had done nothing but protect and reach out to us, he still died for us. Jesus died for us that we might receive life, be born of God, receive forgiveness of sins, have something to look forward to, have a reason to live, gain true satisfaction, gain true joy, that we might know true love (the kind of love that never dies) etc. Jesus said he came so that we might receive life and know the one true God. God wants us to understand, believe and receive life so we will live the life we were created to live.

The question is, "If God wants us to acknowledge his truth (the truth), what has he done to make sure we believe? Did he tell us?" According to the bible, man has no excuse for saying there is no God. The bible says we have been given all the evidence we need: witnesses, miracles, God's Son, the Holy Spirit and creation itself which displays wisdom day after day. Is the bible lying? Answer: No.

A friend of mine once said, "If only God would send an angel to me, only for a few seconds if I could see and touch what I proclaim with my lips, it would change everything. Then I wouldn't doubt anymore." One of the most popular phrases of our generation is "Seeing is believing." If that were the case, we should all believe in God. After all, "Day after day creation pours forth speech; they declare the wisdom and glory of God".

If you were asked, "Where were you born?", and let's say you were born in Ghana; you would most likely say, "I was born in Ghana" and not "I was told I was born in Ghana." If you were asked why you believed so confidently you were born in Ghana, you would most likely say, "because I have a certificate to prove it" or "my parents told me and I don't believe they would lie to me". I don't believe you would ever hear someone say, "I remember coming out of my mother's womb, I saw everything." The man or woman answers with great confidence, "I was born in Ghana" because he or she believes based on words he or she has been told, a certificate he or she has received or the way he or she looks. Most of what we as individuals believe, we have not actually seen. Are you sure there is no God? What makes you so sure that there is no God? How big is the Universe? What happens after we die? Is there an end to the universe? How old is the earth? Why do we exist? Who can answer these questions? Will we ever know why we are here? Some say that ignorance is bliss. A life filled with assumptions, confusion and uncertainty. What a wasted life it would be if life had no meaning, if life had no purpose. Is there hope? Can anyone tell us? Who will reveal the true meaning of life to us?

"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a date when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

God is our hope, our instructor and our teacher. He will reveal the true meaning of life to those who are willing to listen and embrace the truth. What a relief, that life is not a meaningless waste of time; that life has a purpose. God's testimony carries great weight and should not be ignored. It contains all the proof we need to believe and understand.

King Nebuchadnezzar's testimony: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to the people and men of every language who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation." (Daniel 4:1-3) "At the time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I; Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the king of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble." (Daniel 4:36-37)

In the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar clearly acknowledges the God of Daniel as the King of all creation. With his own eyes he saw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego tied up and thrown into a blazing furnace and yet survive and he understood that it was by the power of God that these men were saved. His testimony was written down for our benefit.

In the book of Romans, Paul writes that the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to all, because God has made it plain to all. For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal men and birds and animals and reptiles. (Romans 1:18-23)

In this verse Paul clearly states that:

  * What may be known about God has been made plain (easy to see and understand) to us because God has made it plain to us.

  * That God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.

  * That men and women suppress the obvious truth.

  * That since God's truth is clear, we have no excuse.

"But when you leave the earth, in a spacecraft, I personally think there's a real motivation to look toward God. After being in space, I certainly have a much greater appreciation for the world God has made, the universe He's created. It's very clear in my mind that this universe couldn't have happened by chance." Astronaut Col. Jack Lousma

"The most beautiful system (the universe) could only proceed from the dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being." Sir Isaac Newton

It is surprising how easily some have accepted the notion of a life without meaning and without purpose and choose to believe that we exist just to live for a few years on a planet that will someday be destroyed. What a waste. That all man's toil is for nothing? Don't take it for granted that we exist and are here today.

God did not make us to abandon us. Wisdom cries out and understanding raises her voice to those who are ready and willing to listen. To the man or woman who embraces God's words and is ready to obey his commandments, turning their ear to wisdom and applying their heart to understanding, calling out for insight and crying aloud for understanding, to them he promises understanding and insight.

"And if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:4-6)

We were created to manage our lives properly. A manager is responsible for planning, directing and taking corrective action when necessary. Being responsible means that the manager has a duty to deal with or take care of things. The manager must have a set of things to do in order to achieve a goal and put in place the necessary manpower, tools, equipment, information etc. to help achieve that goal. God created us to manage our lives properly and with great care and not just anyhow. We have a duty to take care of this great gift of life that God has given us and be conscious of the fact that we are to blame if something should go wrong and yet we still don't care. What is our duty? Answer: To revere God and obey his commands. What is our goal? Answer: To fulfill God's plan for our lives.

In truth, success in God's eyes is not about how much money we have or don't have but about having a good relationship with God and fulfilling the true purpose for which we were designed. A man or woman may be termed successful by most men and women and yet be a failure in the eyes of God. According to God, a man's wealth is not in the abundance of his riches but in the size of his heart. So while the world may define wealth one way, God defines it another way (the right way). A good manager pays attention to the information that comes from God. He or she acknowledges the fact that God's word is truth.

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)

One of the most incredible miracles Jesus performed during his time on earth was raising a man from the dead. He could have saved Lazarus before he died yet he allowed it to happen the way it did so that, those who saw what happened would believe his testimony and testify to others what had happened that they also would believe in him.

John's Testimony (Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead)

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light."

After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

Martha answered, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who was to come into the world." And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take of the grave clothes and let him go." (John 11:1-44)

Jesus could have healed Lazarus when he was sick but for our sake he waited until Lazarus had been dead for days. This testimony is difficult for some to comprehend or accept. That a man was raised from the dead seems impossible to some people. Our way of thinking may not accept such things, but the question is, 'Is it true?'

There was a time in my life when I thought I believed in God. I understood that in order to dwell with God you had to obey him but I didn't understand what obedience was. I had gone to church for years and yet in truth I didn't really believe in God let alone understand what Christianity was truly about. I didn't understand that it is salvation that leads to holiness and not holiness that leads to salvation. I was not saved. I just didn't want to go to hell so I tried to do enough to keep me from going there. I never really took the time to ask myself the question "Am I truly saved and does life have a purpose?" and/or "Why have we been told not to believe in God when life itself testifies to the fact of God (that there is a God)?" Contrary to popular belief, the problem with unbelief is not a lack of evidence or proof but with the state of the individual's heart. Once you decide that you don't want to believe in God, unbelief takes control and tries to explain away any proof it receives regardless of what you see or hear. Until you are ready to seek God wholeheartedly, truthfully and without any self-centered intentions, you won't find him. The thing with not believing is that once you make up your mind that it is impossible for there to be a God, no matter what happens to you or how loud God cries out to you, you will always find excuses not to believe. We are told the story of how Jesus healed a man who had been blind since he was born, and how after the man had been healed some of the people denied that it was the same man. They even tried to explain away the man's identity even though he said he was himself. That's what unbelief does; it tries to explain away everything it does not agree with.

"His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man." (John 9:8-9)

For some people the moment they hear that Jesus walked on water or that he ascended into heaven or that Noah built an ark and saved humanity they begin to look for ways to disprove these events without even considering the possibility that they could be true.

Before Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out, he said in his prayer, "I said this for the benefit of the people standing here that they may believe that you sent me." And before that he had said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" That is the promise of the one true God, that if we believe in Jesus and trust him, we will see the glory of God. All God ever did he did for our benefit that we would believe the truth, repent and be saved.

The word "repent" means to think the right way. If we desire to know God, our way of thinking must be right. We must be convinced that God's ways are just, his works are perfect and that he is a faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just in all he does. We must understand that God always tells the truth. He defines reality, and not men nor angels nor any other created thing.

"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15)

Now the question is, for those who without any substantial evidence vehemently oppose the possibility of there being a God, are you ready to repent? Some people ask, "Were you there? How can you tell that these events actually took place?" I ask, "Where you also there? How can you tell that these events never took place? Is it because we don't believe in miracles?" The greatest miracle of all 'Life' stands clearly before all men testifying to our rebellion.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

In order to be transformed, we must renew (renovate) our way of thinking and think the way God wants us to think, then we can live the life we were created to live. God created us that we might live. To live, is to perform the function (the special activity or purpose) that we were created to perform. Thus, the man or woman who lives outside God's plan for his or her life has no life at all. This life that comes from God brings true wisdom, true purpose, true satisfaction, true love and not the counterfeit (made to look exactly like something in order to trick people into thinking they are getting the real thing) idea of love, purpose, peace and happiness that the one who does not acknowledge God's truth may have.

John's declaration: "The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the spirit without limit. The father loves the son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever loves the son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:31-36)

Jesus bore witness to what he had seen and heard. He provided proof of his deity by the miracles that he performed, the prophecies he fulfilled, the words he spoke, his life, his death and his resurrection. Sometimes we pay so much attention to the miracles Jesus performed that we forget what he said. Yet, "the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God." (John 3:34) Jesus once said to a group of people, "If you do not see miracles, you will not believe." The miracles he performed were to help us believe so we would pay attention to, accept, live by and be transformed by his words.

Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep." (John 10:25)

"If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came and the scripture cannot be broken what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's son'? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the father." (John 10:35-38)

"If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles and hated both me and my father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their law: 'They hated me without reason.'" (John 15:24)

In Acts chapter 14 verse 3, Luke writes that Paul and Barnabas spent a considerable time speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed their message by enabling them perform (to do) miraculous signs and wonders. To confirm something means to show that that thing is definitely true or correct by providing evidence. God did things through these men that were deemed 'Impossible' that we would believe their message and be saved. And these things were not done in secret but before numerous eye witnesses that we would be without excuse. Not that we should put our trust in the miracles that were performed but that, we believe God's message of salvation and our hearts be purified.

God's word promises that the man or woman who obeys and embraces (to accept with enthusiasm) God's word, diligently seeking him in all he or she does will receive life.

Marilyn Adamson (a former atheist) wrote, "I was once an atheist at one time and like many atheists, the issue of people believing in God bothered me greatly. What is it about atheists that we would spend so much time, attention and energy refuting something that we don't believe even exists? What causes us to do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my intentions as caring for those poor, delusional people to help them realize their hope was completely ill-founded. To be honest, I also had another motive. As I challenged those who believed in God, I was deeply curious to see if they could convince me otherwise. Part of my quest was to become free from the question of God. If I could conclusively prove to believers that they were wrong, then the issue is off the table, and I would be free to go about my life. I didn't realize that the reason the topic of God weighed so heavily on my mind, was because God was pressing the issue. I have come to find out that God wants to be known. He created us with the intention that we would know him. He has surrounded us with evidence of himself and he keeps the question of his existence squarely before us. It was as if I couldn't escape thinking about the possibility of God. In fact, the day I chose to acknowledge God's existence, my prayer began with, "OK, you win..." It might be the underlying reason atheists are bothered by people believing in God is because God is actively pursuing them."

/There is a verse in the book of psalms that offends a lot of people who don't believe in God: "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Psalm 14:1). Even some church goers who feel God has let them down, that seeking God is a boring waste of time or are beginning to doubt God's existence get offended by this verse. It's like having someone tell you outright, "If you believe that there is no God, you're just being foolish!" That hurts; especially when you feel you have a good reason for doubting God's love and his existence. Note: There is no good reason for doubting the fact of God or his great love for us. Regardless of what you may be going through know that God loves you and he cares about what happens to you.

Before we continue, let us remember what God said in Jeremiah 6:10. "To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their eyes are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it." For some reason, we seem to get offended whenever God tries to explain to us what is actually going on. Why do we get offended when we are told that what we are doing is wrong? Jesus said, "The world hates me because I testify that what it does is evil." Let us remember that God loves us and wants what is best for us.

Now let's go back to the words in Psalms 14:1. There is an 'interesting' phrase used in this verse, "in his heart." This phrase tells us that the individual who says that, there is no God is convinced that what he or she believes is true. He or she feels confident about what he or she believes. In the verse, we are told clearly that the individual who has somehow managed to convince himself that there is no God is being foolish (putting it mildly). In the bible, God uses strong words to condemn those who say, "There is no God." Our lack of acknowledgement, humility, love and understanding amazes him (not in a good way). In truth, God is not pleased when men say he is not there. Even after all the kindness he has shown us, the children he loves so much and provided for, have somehow managed to convince themselves that he is not there, that he doesn't care and that he has made it just too difficult to believe in him. If he didn't care, he wouldn't have sent his prophets in the past and in the last days sent his Son to die for our sins. After all, our conscience and creation provide more than enough evidence of God's existence. Why would a God who does not love us spend so much time warning us to turn from sin which in the end destroys? Why would he send his Son to die for us? Also, he wouldn't have made sure that his Word was available for generations to come. We have received more than enough proof telling us the true meaning of life and what the purpose of all that is; and yet only a few have believed God's testimony.

"The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain." (Genesis 6:5-6)

"The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Will evildoers never learn those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on the Lord?" (Psalms 14:2-4)

Our way of thinking, our reasons for disproving the truth, our points of view, and our love for a lifestyle that opposes and mocks the life God intended for us to live. The idea that we exist for granted, a desire to do what is wrong, a generation that looks out for its own interests forgetting that we were created by God to serve him and him only. A generation that gets offended by statements like 'we were created to serve God.' A creation worried so much about what other people think about us we forget all about God. A people that call what is right wrong and what is wrong right. The Lord looks to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Can we honestly say that we seek God? Who is it who will devote him or herself to be close to God?

As Christians, do we believe in fairy tales, or is there a basis for our belief? Some atheists compare believing in God to believing in the tooth fairy. They have their own idea of what faith is, believing it is just a childish cry for help. But in truth, this faith is much more than an unbeliever can comprehend unless he or she experiences it for him or herself.

Faith is the substance (support, confidence, assurance) of things hoped (expect, trust) for, the evidence (proof) of things not seen. This faith is based on concrete proof, the testimony of God Himself. The Holy Spirit also enlightens us on the truth and makes God real to the Christian. Therefore, "Forsaking All, I Trust Him." Because I trust him, I must obey him, love what he loves and hate what he hates. By nature, I must become who he intended me to be; desiring what is pure and holy and hating what is ungodly.

Time and time again men have tried to explain who we are as humans. But let us remember that God has told us who we are.

"We accept man's testimony, but Gods testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son." (1 John 5:9-10)

For some reason many find it easier to believe and trust what men tell and do for them but when it comes to God, the rebellion starts. To reject God's testimony is to call him a liar.

PAUL'S DECLARATION  
The GOD who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said 'We are his offspring.' Therefore, since we are GOD'S offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or even stone an image made by man's design and skill. In the past GOD overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. (Acts 17:24-31)

Here, Paul was speaking to the people of Athens, but in truth these words were written down that people of every race and tongue would hear. Paul says that God will judge everyone by the man he has appointed (Jesus (The Christ)) and that God has given proof of this to all men by raising Jesus from the dead. After the people had heard Paul, some of them sneered upon hearing about the resurrection of the dead but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."

Which side are we on? Do we want to hear more on this subject or do we have no respect for what Paul said? Fortunately, or unfortunately for us, no matter what opinion we may have, it doesn't change the fact that God says that the judgment of mankind will take place. Hundreds of years before the Christ came, God told the world that the Christ would come. After some time, some believed, some began to lose hope and some just didn't believe, yet it didn't change the fact that it would happen and it did happen. Now, God warns us that everyone will be judged; some believe, some are losing hope and others don't believe, but it will happen.

"The LORD watches over his word to perform it."

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

"Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.'" All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame. (Isaiah 45:22-24)

This is the end of the argument: Regardless of what opinion we may have, we are to revere God and keep his commandments for this is our duty as men and women created by God. God will judge all of US. He swears by Himself (For there is no one and nothing greater than Him) that all he has foretold will come to pass and he asks that we turn to him and be saved. The Lord says, "The word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness and shall not return." He will not revoke what is to come.

"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will" (Hebrews 2:1-4).

## CHAPTER TWO  
EMBRACE GOD'S LOVE

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth" (1 Corinthians 13:6).

True love comes from God and it hates unrighteousness, immorality and falsehood. But it delights in God's truth (the truth). True love acknowledges God's existence, his sovereignty, his holiness, his justice and his love for all creation. God has saved us all through his kindness, it's up to us to be thankful and embrace God's love. He saved us not because of our own righteousness but because of his great mercy and kindness. Forgiveness is a free gift to anyone who believes; to anyone who acknowledges God's love and testimony. God is holding out his gift of salvation to us and it cannot be ours until we reach out and receive it. God cares about you and he wants you to reach out and accept his gift of salvation. We have been saved by the kindness of God. We cannot make up for our sin by doing charity work or by trying to be nice to everyone we meet. The payment for sin is death. Christ paid the price for us so we can be born of God and live in his presence forever. Never doubt God's love. If you are going through trouble or difficulty know that God has not forsaken, you. God doesn't change us so he can love us; he changes us because he loves us.

When you were a child did you ever doubt that your parents loved you because they punished you for doing something only to grow up and find out that what you did was wrong and immature and they only did what they did because they love you?

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John: 7-8)

"I thought life was meaningless and without purpose until God showed me just how valuable and priceless the gift of life is; just how beautiful and wonderful life could be. Oh! A life with God! Can words express or communicate this feeling? I was lost but God came for me. He left his throne just to save us, we who showed him no respect. First I was too proud to accept his kindness, too foolish and arrogant to believe him and embrace his love. Thank God I came to my senses! He took away my shame and clothed me with glory. He forgave me! I do not deserve such kindness from he to whom I have shown such hatred; he whose ways I mocked, whose truth I laughed at. Oh! How wonderful you are God, how glorious you are you whose glory is unending. I made God too small in my eyes. I misunderstood, underestimated and overlooked just how much he loves me. I overlooked what he has done for me and I believed the lies that the world told me. What have we given to God that he loves us so much? What have we done for him that he cares for us? How could he love us so much after all we have done to him, all the insults we have thrown at him? Those who do not know God say, "Where is this God? Have you ever seen him? "They call those who trust in you and obey your commands, longing for more of you, 'mad'. How many have understood your message God? How many have acknowledged the fact that it's all about you and that everything is yours? I heard and now I understand. I'm amazed by how great your love is, your love that surpasses understanding. Be still my soul, listen and obey the Father's instructions. Obey God whose promises have never and can never fail; he who sent his Son to pay for our disobedience. How can we deny the lover of our soul? How can we deny the one true God who has been so kind to us? How can we deny the one who saved us?"

God will save anybody, anytime, anyplace who will repent, acknowledges the truth and calls upon him.

Many have believed the lie that God does not exist. Others believe that if there is a God, he is not good, he is boring, and he is not the definition of true love and does not care about us. Some believe that God has forsaken mankind. That is exactly what the devil wants us to believe; that the God of the bible is a liar and that he promotes hate; that he is boring, wicked and not truthful. Some even believe the lie that seeking God will drive you mad. The devil is the father of lies and the master of deception. He is trying as hard as he can to keep people away from the truth about who God truly is. He doesn't mind whether we say that there is a God or not, or that there is a devil, as long as we do not obey God's commands, we reject God's truth, his Son, his message of salvation, his true nature and his identity, and accept other teachings or notions that reject the truth about God; even if that notion (which is a lie) has a little truth in it. These notions are meant to darken the understanding and harden the hearts of men and women so that they disobey and rebel against the one true God. These notions keep men and women in the darkness, and keep us away from understanding the truth that God loves us and that he wants us to be saved because he loves us greatly. God wants us to come out of the darkness into the light so that we may see the true glory of God and his great love and kindness. He wants mankind to understand the simple truth, that he cares about what happens to us and that he sent his son to die for us because he loves us more than we can understand. "The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness"" (Jeremiah 31:3).

God has not forsaken mankind; mankind has forsaken God.

The one true God is a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate; slow to anger and abounding in love. Despite our rebellion, he did not abandon us nor has he forsaken us.   
"I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.' All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations" (Isaiah 65:1-2).

All day long, generation after generation, God has held out his hand and offered life to mankind. Through his Son, he has revealed himself to the world. Through the earlier prophets and by his Spirit he has spoken to mankind. To people that do not even bother to seek him, that do not ask for him and continuously mock and laugh at his truth he says, "Here am I; come and receive life." To a people who are unrighteous, whose end is death he says, "Come and receive righteousness, be freed from death; be freed from your imaginations and see clearly?" Yet some say that God does not love us enough and that he has not acted justly. "Yet your countrymen say, 'The way of the LORD is not just.' But it is their way that is not just. If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so" (Ezekiel 33:17-19). God sent his Son into the world because he wants us to be saved.

"Not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.' 'But, they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry'." (Zechariah 7:9-12)

Some people say, "I believe in a loving God, a God who will not punish sin (implying that the God the bible teaches us about is not good and that he does not love us because he punishes sin), a God who does not spread hate nor discriminate (implying that the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ spreads hate and discrimination). They say that if God truly loved us, he wouldn't send anyone to hell. Punishment for sin is proof of God's love. If God did not punish the wicked, he would not be love.

"O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with their lying tongues. With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship" (Psalm 109:1-5).

Should the Almighty God pervert justice? Should he pervert what is right? Twisted and deceitful men have spoken against God's truth; they have spoken against the God of truth with lying tongues. With words of hatred they have spoken against God's salvation; they attack God unjustly and without cause. In return for God's kindness they have repaid him with evil. In return for his friendship they have shown hatred.  
They have called God a liar and called wrong right; they have not given thanks to God for his great mercy; they have not humbled themselves; they have chosen not to walk with God and called his ways evil. "He showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). We must love, appreciate and accept the great mercy and kindness that God has shown to us; for this is the right thing to do.

"How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?" (Psalm 4:2). "For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name" (Psalms 97:9-12).

"Why do you bring charges against me? You have all rebelled against me," declares the LORD. "In vain I punished your people; they did not respond to correction"" (Jeremiah2:29-30). "You of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: "Have I been a desert to Israel or a land of great darkness? Why do my people say, 'We are free to roam; we will come to you no more'? Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet, my people have forgotten me, days without number."" (Jeremiah 2:31-32). On your clothes men find the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this you say, 'I am innocent; he is not angry with me.' But I will pass judgment on you because you say, 'I have not sinned'" (Jeremiah 2:34-35).

Many people today question God and say that, if God really does exist and if the bible contains the truth, humanity has done nothing wrong; that we are not responsible for our actions and that circumstances have made us do what we do; that since we are not responsible for our actions, we should not be held accountable. They say that we have not sinned, that we have done nothing wrong.

"On your clothes men find the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this you say, 'I am innocent; he is not angry with me.' But I will pass judgment on you because you say, 'I have not sinned" (Jeremiah 2:34-35). Some people who reject Jesus try to defend every wrong thing they do that God has clearly asked us not to do. Instead of acknowledging their wrong and repenting, they pervert the right way and speak against the way of life that God has commanded us to live. They have spoken harshly against God despite the fact that he has been so kind, merciful and generous to mankind. Honestly, if God was to judge us justly, without grace and mercy, who would stand? Who could confidently say, "I have never done anything wrong?" Let us not take God's kindness for granted nor overlook what he has done for us and how merciful he has been to us all.

Rejecting God is the greatest sin of all. How then can we reject God's testimony and the fact that he has provided us with all the evidence we need to believe and yet say, "I have done nothing wrong?"

God is love, and he is also just. That is the character and nature of God. Our God is a God of order. He cannot let sin go unpunished. God cannot pervert what is right. If God were not just, he would seize to be who he is. He is the Almighty, Most High, Holy, Just and True God. He is the God of truth who does not pervert what is right. God is just because he is love. Because he is love, he punishes sin. If God were not just then he would not be love. Since he is true love, he is righteous and just. God is too good not to punish sin. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne. He will reward those who love the truth and accept his forgiveness and acceptance of us, and punish those who insult and rebel against him; he will punish those who choose death. "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them" (Isaiah 61:8). On the cross, Jesus atoned for the sins of humanity. He was punished, not for his own transgressions but for our transgressions. How then can we say that God does not love us; that he does not care about us? Is it because he does not pervert what is right? By perverting what is right, he would seize to be the Holy and True God that he is. Our God is a righteous God.

God desires that we all be saved. He wants us to be saved; all of us. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise. "This is good, and pleases God our savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4). God doesn't enjoy sending people to hell as many have been led to believe. On the contrary, it causes him great pain when he sees people heading in the wrong direction, on the road to their own destruction. "Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'" (Ezekiel 33:11)

God has provided us with everything we need to believe the truth, and equipped the believer with the ability to overcome sin and live a righteous life. In Christ Jesus he has given us life. We have been saved by the grace of God. "But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"" (Psalm 40:16).

In truth, God's love for us is something that is so great that words cannot completely express or explain it. God is full of immeasurable kindness and grace. He saved us even after we had insulted and rejected him. He still reaches out to us even though we mock him and blatantly deny the truth. He still longs for us, even though we want nothing to do with him. He says to those who are not saved, "Come and live;" and yet, most of us choose death. He says to mankind, "Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life" (Revelation 22: 17). The gift of eternal life is free; salvation is free. God has already paid our debt. We were in debt, dead in sin with no hope, and God reached out to us and offered life, forgiveness of sin and eternal satisfaction. Justice demanded that we pay for the sins we have committed and our unrighteous way of life, but God in his great mercy sent his only begotten Son to die on the cross and take our place; to save mankind whom he loves greatly; to make us righteous by grace. "We have been saved through the kindness of God" (Ephesians 4:32). If you are reading this book and are not saved, have not accepted God's message and his Son, understand that God is calling out to you. If you feel God reaching out and speaking to your heart, please respond to his call. His message of salvation has come to you because he wants you to be saved. He wants you to live, to receive eternal life and not die. Reach out to God, open the door and let him in. Acknowledge the truth and allow Jesus into your life. Jesus laid down his life because he wants you. The question is, "Do you want him?" The choice is yours. Do you love God and appreciate all he has done for you? Do you want to be with him or are you worried about what other people will say? "Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command" (John 15:13-14).

"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him: he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate" (Luke 15:17-24).

God is pleased, and the angels in heaven rejoice when we repent, when we come home, when we come to the Father. When the father saw his son coming back home, he was moved with compassion and he ran to his son. Regardless of what we have done in the past or how terrible some of the things we have done or said may seem, God is willing and ready to accept us. He calls out to us to come back home; he longs for us to come back home. Are you ready to repent and make Jesus your Lord and Saviour?

The devil wants us to doubt God's existence, his true nature and his love for us. He wants us to believe that God's ways and his teachings are boring; that God doesn't want us to be happy, and that he is not exciting enough. The devil is very cunning; he has a way of swaying people away from the truth. Are we going to believe his lies or are we going to pay attention to God who has been so kind to us? Are we going to accept the fact that God loves us greatly and that he has provided us with more than we need and deserve, that we might live a victorious and fruitful life in Christ? Are we going to accept God's acceptance of us? Or are we going to remain skeptical, and doubt God's truth and that the judgment of mankind (both the living and the dead) will take place? God has great and exciting plans for those who love him. To those who accept his acceptance of them and are reconciled to him, he will give the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus.

I have a friend who before he got born again believed that God was to blame for man's rebellion and that for mankind to be punished for actions that he believed we are not responsible for, is unjust. He believed that God had not provided us with enough evidence for us to believe in him nor had he done enough to bring us out of darkness into the light. From his point of view, "If God cared enough about us the world would be a much better place."

Many have forgotten so easily that Jesus took our place on the cross and paid for sins that we have committed and are guilty of that we might be made righteous; that in the past and even today God speaks through his Spirit through many witnesses and directly to our hearts asking us to be reconciled to God; that Christ gave his life that we might be reconciled to God. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). He didn't have to do it, but he did it anyway, because of his great love for us. We have forgotten all the good things that God has done for us. The truth is that everything God does, he does because he loves us. But if we say to him, "I want nothing to do with you," he will not force us to respond to his call to be reconciled to him. He calls out to those who are willing to accept his acceptance and forgiveness of mankind; to those who acknowledge their wrong and accept the fact that God is a holy and true God, and that all he does is right. God still reaches out to those who have rejected his call with the hope that they might see their wrong, turn to God and be saved. When God commands us not to do something, he does it because he doesn't want sin to tear us apart and kill us, he does not want the darkness to deceive us and lead us on the road to our destruction. When God tells us not to do something, he does it because he wants us to live and not die (spiritually). If we choose to live a life that is against the life that God created us to live and say to him that we do not love or enjoy his ways and that, we want nothing to do with him, we set ourselves up for our own destruction and for a life of regret when true life begins. God created everything and it is by his power and will that all things are held in position, so if we say that we want nothing to do with him, we choose the place in creation reserved for those who want nothing to do with the creator and who mock his ways. He has given all those who hear the message of salvation the free will to choose whether to accept Jesus or not. Despite what some have been led to believe, God does love us deeply (more than we could ever love him, and more than we can and have loved anyone else); and because he loves us, he sent us his Son. Everything God does is out of his great love for us. Most people when they pray, say, "God thank you for all the good things you have done" but since everything God does is good and he does nothing evil, we should be saying, "God, thank you for everything you have done." God is good all the time; and he has been very kind, loving and merciful to mankind. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

I have heard some people say that knowing God can change your life. Well, that's an understatement! Knowing God will give you life; a wonderful experience and a state of being that in the darkness we never thought possible.

We have to pay attention to God's message of salvation. Once we are saved, our eyes will be opened and then we will understand what true love is and that God is love. Many have developed the idea that once they have never murdered anyone, do not question people's beliefs and appreciate those who appreciate them and never question what they do, that they walk in love. What about our attitude towards God and his truth, our intentions and our way of life? The bible says that true love rejoices in the truth and rejects falsehood. It embraces the truth and accepts the truth upon hearing it. Do we really believe that we show love to other people by not questioning what they do and leaving them to do what God has warned will end up destroying them? If we say that we walk in love and have not sinned, we must ask ourselves these questions, "What have we done with God's message of salvation? Have we accepted Jesus' sacrifice? Have we mistreated God? Have we lived the life that God called us to live, a life that is in line with God's plan for our life or have we perverted the truth by saying that there is no God? Do we seek God? Are we ready to obey God's commands? What has our attitude towards the God of truth been?" God offers us life and yet some of us choose death. He offers healing and yet we say to him I am not sick, you are. In exchange for his kindness we have shown hatred, laughed at and insulted his truth. Yet we say, "I am not guilty, I walk in love."

"Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect the fruit. The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned the third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.' So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" (John 21:33-40).

The truth is, many have become arrogant and stiff-necked towards God and have not acknowledged God's truth nor obeyed his commands. We have refused to listen to God and failed to remember the miracles that he performed in the past and performs even today. We have refused to acknowledge God's testimony, creations testimony, and have spoken harshly against God who has been so kind and gracious unto us. We have somehow managed to convince ourselves that mankind's idea of love is greater and better than God's love and that God does not know nor understand the meaning of what it means to truly love. "Do what pleases you" some say, "Do what makes you happy. Don't pay attention to what the bible says." Yet, despite the fact that many have abandoned the truth and have embraced falsehood, God has not abandoned us nor has he left us to die spiritually. He has shown us the way out of death and darkness. He has protected us and kept us alive so that we will repent and embrace God's truth and his forgiveness and salvation of mankind. God protects us and watches over us though many want nothing to do with his truth and the state of being, nature and way of life that comes with righteousness. In his compassion, God has delivered us time and time again, yet many have become arrogant and turned against God's commands. He has not destroyed the earth nor has he abandoned those who have chosen death over life. By his Spirit and his Son, he has warned us time and time again, admonishing us to turn and be saved. Yet few have heeded his warning. We have paid no attention to God's warning. Even though we have heard that the punishment for sin is death, we have not cried out to God for forgiveness or reached out to him to save us. Even though we have rebelled against God, forsaken him, hated him and spoken harshly against his truth, we say, "I am not guilty, this is all God's fault." God has given us commands that are just and right and instructions that are good. He made himself known to us though we did not seek him as we should have. God has shown great and incredible patience and love to us. What have we given him in exchange for his love? There are many people struggling with the decision whether to keep Jesus out or to allow him in. Can we not see that the one true God, the Father of the Lord Jesus is love?

Many are offended by the message of salvation. Some laugh at it, some ridicule it, some hate it etc. If only they would accept and recognize the fact that Jesus came from the Father to show us the right way to testify to the truth. He said what He said and did what He did not because He hates us, but because He loves us and he wants us to be saved, reject the darkness that so easily deceives, come into the light, acknowledge our wrong and understand the fact that God is not pleased with the way many people in the world are living.

Some people, including church goers accuse true Christians who are committed followers of Jesus Christ of taking their Christianity too far. They pass comments like, "You spend too much time reading the bible, don't you have anything better to do?" Jesus said, "If you are lukewarm I will spit you out." Why? Because the Christian life is a life of total commitment to God. There is no in-between with God. We are either righteous or unrighteous, holy or unholy, obedient or disobedient, contrite in spirit or unrepentant and arrogant. Jesus said that no servant can serve two masters, either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. We cannot be neither hot nor cold. The Christian is supposed to be totally committed to God. These words are a warning to us all, a Christian must not and cannot be lukewarm. We are either for God and we love His ways and seek to do the right thing or we are against God's truth. As Christians, the life that we now live is Christ. We are the body of Christ called to live a holy and righteous life pleasing to God the Father. Jesus wants completely committed followers. That doesn't mean we will never sin once we become Christians, but as a Christian you cannot live in sin and enjoy it or be indifferent about it. How committed are we to Jesus and to the God of truth? "Then he called the crowd to him with his disciples and said: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels" (Mark 8:34-38). Some preachers and teachers of the gospel these days are told by people around them to water down their teaching. They are asked not to say anything that will offend anyone. Is it right to obey God or to obey people? Is it right to proclaim God's truth and do what He has asked us to do or should we water down the message of salvation because some people feel that what Jesus said is offensive to them? Jesus was crucified because some of the people didn't believe his testimony and they were offended by some of the things he spoke off. They accepted what pleased them and rejected what they were not pleased with. If Jesus had watered down what the Father had told him to say and not said what he was supposed to say just because some of the people would get offended, would he be full of truth and love? "Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God" (John 8:45-47). Jesus came to show us the way of righteousness (the right way), the truth, and expose all evil deeds because he loves us. He spoke the truth because he cares for us; yet instead of paying attention to what God is saying about what we are doing, some are offended by the truth and thus say that the bible does not teach us to walk in love and that what Jesus says about God, about the world, about heaven, about what was and what is to come is not true. Jesus said, "The world hates me because I testify that what it does is evil" (John 7:7). Not that what the people of the world do is good, but that what they do is evil even though they have convinced themselves otherwise. Jesus spoke the message that God wanted His people to hear. He spoke the truth. We must seek to do the right thing all the time, not just when it pleases us.

God is a loving God and a God of truth. Those who are offended by God's truth and hate the message of salvation only do so because they hate the truth and the way of righteousness. They have not acknowledged God's way as the right way. Their idea of love is not love at all because true love cannot exist outside the one true God. What do we mean when we say, "I believe in a loving God, a God who will not punish evildoers?" Is God not a loving God because He does not pervert what is right; because He speaks the truth? If God perverted righteousness, then He would not be a righteous God. We must pay careful attention to what the bible says about our way of life and not just close our eyes just because we may be offended by something that has been written in the bible. The warning we have received is for our own benefit. Jesus warned this generation to repent and acknowledge the truth. Repentance does not benefit God, repentance benefits us. We repent for our own benefit. We have been warned for our own benefit.

"I thank you God that you love me enough to tell me the truth. I mocked you for telling me the truth. I laughed at your word for revealing the facts to me. I thought my motives were pure and I thought I understood. The darkness deceived me and told me to doubt you; it whispered lies into my ears and I believed. I took sin lightly; I took disobedience lightly. I was told that it was ok to sin. They did not tell me that I would die; they did not tell me that I would become darkened in my understanding. I couldn't see God in the darkness. I couldn't see His holiness or sense His presence. My understanding was darkened and my ways were crooked. Yet, though I denied it I could still hear God calling, I could still feel him holding on to me. God touched my heart; He touched my mind and healed me. He pulled me out of the darkness which stole my joy, darkness which stole my light. God bore my burden and rescued me. He cries out to those in the darkness, "Come to me and live." Can't we see that there is no life outside of God?

We cannot say that we love God and not obey His commands nor heed his warnings. We show our love for God by obeying Him. How can we show love for God? Answer: By acknowledging the truth and obeying His commands. If we say that we love God and we do not take pleasure in nor obey his commandments, we lie and the truth is not in us. The one who truly loves God obeys His commands. The one who knows God is the one who takes delight in His righteousness and obeys Him.

Most of the definitions I have come across define love as having a strong feeling of deep affection towards someone or something. They do not mention God, the responsibility that one has to the person or persons they profess to love or the relationship of trust and the way of life that comes with love. What is our definition of love? Better still, what is the definition of love? The bible says that God is love. Whoever does not know God does not know what true love is, for God is love. The definition of true love is the one true God.

## CHAPTER THREE

DESTINATION?

Hell is a subject that many people avoid, a message that many Christians talk themselves out of preaching. "Few people are saved by hearing a message on hell" some Christians say, forgetting that Jesus warned and spoke about hell several times during His time on earth. Hell is a terrible place because eternal separation from God is the worst state you can find yourself in. It is true death. The bible calls it a second death because even though in hell you will still exist, you will have no life because you will be without God. As Christians, the realization that someday we will all be judged convicts us to share the gospel of Jesus Christ because we know that God loves us all and desires that everyone be saved, and we also understand just how terrifying hell is. How can we then not preach on hell? How can we not with tears cry out to the lost? Some see heaven as a way of avoiding hell, but heaven is not about hell. Heaven is surrendering to the Lordship and authority of the one true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. You don't go to heaven because you want to avoid hell; you go to heaven because you've fallen in love with God and His truth. You go to heaven because you love, obey and believe God. God has forgiven our sins through the death of His son and anyone who wants salvation can have it. Never question God's love! God was willing to sacrifice His son in our place that we would have a chance of a life with Him. If it wasn't for the love of God, none of us would have the hope of Eternal Life. Life on earth would really be meaningless if it had not been for God's great kindness. He didn't have to give us a chance, but He did. Are you willing to receive him?

Have you ever asked yourself the question, 'What happens after I die?' Maybe that wasn't clear enough. Let's try again. Do you believe in heaven? Do you believe in hell? Is there a heaven? Will mankind really be judged? If you haven't asked yourself these questions, it's about time you did. Have you made an honest investigation as to whether or not GOD exists? To say that these questions are extremely important is an understatement; to conclude that these questions cannot be answered is a grave mistake. If these questions could be answered, who would you rather believe, the one who died and rose from the dead or the one who has never died and just assumes that there is no life after death? The truth is that GOD has already answered these questions through Jesus and many other witnesses who testify to the fact that there is life after death. Jesus came to save us, to fulfill God's promise and to reveal to us what is to come. The truth is that if you are not saved, nothing else matters! 'Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life' (Revelation 22:17).  
No man was born to go to hell. God does not want anyone to perish. God loves us all and He will forgive anyone who wants to be forgiven. He forgives and restores and does not hold grudges. If you want salvation, you can have it! Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all men, that anyone who wants salvation can have it. You will never know the true meaning of life until you surrender your life to the One True God; until you surrender your life to Jesus. The truth about why we are here and where we are going is found in GOD alone. The greatest day in human history was when Christ Jesus gave his life for mankind. On that day, God reconciled the world to Himself. He stretches out His hand and offers salvation to anyone who wants it.

Many people try desperately to forget the fact that someday they are going to die. Some think it's wrong to ask such questions, others believe that we can never know what happens after death until we die, while others believe it's impossible for there to be life after death.

Jesus taught us that there is life after death, that there is a heaven and there is a hell and that someday all men and women will be judged. Was he talking nonsense or was he telling the truth? Did Jesus die on the cross to save us from a nonexistent destination? Regardless of how hard we try to convince ourselves otherwise we can't change the truth that everyone who has ever lived will stand before God and be judged by him. Jesus taught and proved to us by his death and resurrection that there is life after death. Don't make the wrong choice and deny God's love, salvation is free; it will free you from the bondage of sin and from the deception of sin. God loves you so much and He doesn't want you to choose hell.

We must pay careful attention to God's Warning, his testimony, His commands and His advice; and not just because our actions come with consequences, but because it is the right thing to do. The importance of heeding God's warning cannot be overemphasized. It is vital that we heed God's warning and be saved. Therefore, "Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:7-8).

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us. He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 'No father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and Prophets, they will not be convinced if someone rises from the dead.'" (Luke 16:19-31)

Did you read the verse (Luke 16:19-31) carefully? Do we understand what was said? Do we see the warning? Will mankind heed this warning?

"It's just fairytales and fiction," some say. Can't the Almighty God, who out of nothing made all things and by whose power and will all things are held together and in position, raise the dead? Just as Paul in his defense before Agrippa stated, "Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?" (Acts 26:8)

Was the rich man right in saying that his family would believe if someone was to rise from the dead and testify that there is life after death? Did Jesus not rise from the dead and testify to us all that there is life after death? How many have believed his testimony or taken his words seriously? The attitude of many people towards Jesus' testimony, Moses' testimony and the testimony of the other prophets who warned mankind continuously is proof of what Abraham said; that if the living do not listen to Moses and the other Prophets, they would not believe even if someone rises from the dead. Jesus performed many miraculous signs and rose from the dead on the third day. He was seen after his resurrection by many witnesses who testify to what they saw and heard. He died in public, and the miracles he did were not done in secret but in the open, so that men might see and be without excuse. On the third day, God raised Jesus from the dead and caused him to be seen. Peter testifies in Acts 10:39-43, "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen-by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Why is it so difficult for some people to acknowledge the fact that God exists, that there is life after death and that Jesus is the Christ? He did not leave himself without testimony, for the truth is obvious and clear for all to see.

The rich man who died and ended up in hell did not have the opportunity to go back and do things differently, but we do! Let us pay careful attention to what God says in his word and how he has instructed us to live our lives.

Are you afraid to die? One thing we learn from Luke 16:19-31 is that if you're living a life that rejects God and His commands, you should be very afraid. To reject God and His commands is to tell Him that you want nothing to do with Him and His way of life; and hell is the only place that the one who chooses life outside God can go. I'm not trying to scare you. I'm just telling the truth. To die with God leads to eternal life with him and in His glory but to die rejecting God is true death.

"Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all hands will go limp, every man's heart will melt. Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. See, the day of the Lord is coming-a cruel day with wrath and fierce anger-to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless." (Isaiah 12:6-11)

I could tell you that everyone who has ever lived will go to heaven and that there is no hell, but I wouldn't be telling the truth. Jesus came as a witness to God's truth. He loves us too much to lie to us by telling us that we are all going to heaven and that God is pleased with the way we live our lives. Life on earth is a battlefield not a playground and our souls are at stake. Wake up before it's too late! Life is too short and eternity too long.

For most people, the subject of hell is a difficult message. It is not a happy one. It is terrifying in truth. But hell does exist. Jesus spoke about hell several times. The rich man in Luke 16:19-31 who died and went to hell called the place he was "a place of torment" and that is what hell is – eternal separation from God resulting in unending torment. There is nothing more terrifying than being separated from God. We must stay away from sin and vanity. Living a sinful life will only lead to eternal separation from God. God is just and holy and He will not and cannot accept or embrace sin neither will He treat sin as if it were not a serious offence. Despite the fact that we are sinners, God still loves us deeply. He loves us with a love so great words cannot fully explain. Don't question God's love for us. Day by day He demonstrates His love for all, even to those who hate Him. God is love and because He is love, He must and will punish wickedness. To those who want eternal life and righteousness He is more than happy to give it to them. But for those who want nothing to do with God and His way of life, there is only the second death.

There are some reading this book who have not experienced the love of God. The good news is that God wants you to encounter His love. His love is so real and so great that once you experience it, you will never be the same. An intimate relationship with God is so beautiful, so satisfying, so enlightening and it's really beyond words. Some choose not to come to God because they believe they cannot obey God's commands. God doesn't deem anyone unworthy of salvation and He is able to make men stand regardless of what they have done or what addiction they may have. Anyone anywhere facing any problem can be saved by Jesus. That's the truth. Jesus saves!  
That the world may believe in Jesus, see his glory, understand his great love for us and receive his gift of salvation.

On judgment day which today sounds laughable to many, people are going to wish they had the opportunity to go back and do things differently. All the times they laughed at the notion of there being a God and about mankind's responsibility and duty to fear and obey Him. On that day, many will be filled with terror because they did not heed God's warning nor did they respond to His call to repentance. To some, it may seem like a dream for a while until they realize that what is happening is real, that the day of the Lord spoken about for generations has finally come.  
"Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever.'" (Revelation 5:13)

The things we take for granted, the beauty and magnificence of creation, the detail, purpose, wisdom and intelligence displayed by what has been made. If only mankind would open its eyes and see the majesty of God. If only mankind would seek God wholeheartedly and truthfully. Then mankind would understand that we are not here by accident and that there is a purpose and reason we are here. God cries out to people of every nation to turn from vanity unto God and to worship the one true God and glorify his name; to wake up before it is too late.  
The day is coming when many will wish they had heeded God's wakeup call, a day many will wish they had responded to God. It will be a day of regret for many. There will come a day when we will stand before God and be judged. Are we ready for that? Have you attempted to find God? Do you desire to know God personally? Have you reached out to God? If you haven't done any of these things, know that God is reaching out to you and that he longs for you. His priceless gift is free and available for you. Don't wait till it's too late, till the doors are closed and no one can come in. Your decision will determine where you spend eternity. What the man who does not want to believe in God and hell does is he holds on to his idea that there is no God, that there is no hell and tries to find reasons to support his idea that there is no God continuously ignoring and rejecting God's call to repentance and not because they have honestly, wholeheartedly and truthfully sought God. If they did seek God wholeheartedly, they would have found Him.

Salvation is not a reward for our own righteousness. It is a gift for the guilty. God will not reject anyone who calls upon him and surrenders his or her life to him in repentance and faith. Once we surrender our lives to Jesus, that desire to do evil is replaced by a desire to do good; a desire to live for God. I hear some people claim that they are born again and that they love God and yet brag about their sinful deeds and desires. They brag about their sexual immorality and about other deeds that God clearly warns us against. When you are truly saved and born of God, you won't brag about sin. Your desire will be to obey God's commands and to please Him. One of the traits of a child of God is the desire to be holy.

Many people who reject God's testimony and the testimony of Jesus believe that they are too good to go to hell that is according to them if there is a hell. No man who rejects Jesus Christ is too good to go to hell. Jesus died for us that anyone who hears the message of the gospel and believes in Him will be saved. The word 'believe' here means to embrace God's testimony, His truth and surrender our lives to Him. Do you want to live for God or do you still believe that there is no hell and that if there is a God, He will not punish sin? In the Garden in Eden, the serpent said to Eve if you eat of this tree you will not die, and Adam did eat and he died spiritually. A similar thing is happening today. The devil is telling mankind that there is no hell, that there is no God and that if there is a God, he will not punish sin. But He will! He promises us in his word that He will.  
"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will rise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people-everyone whose name is found written in the book-will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge. Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?" The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed." I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand" (Daniel 12:1-10).

The decisions we make on earth will determine our eternal destination. The goal of the devil is to keep us preoccupied with activities that in truth are of little or no importance and keep us from the truth that someday God will judge us through His son Jesus. We exist to seek God and His righteousness, to worship and serve Him wholeheartedly. On that day when we stand before Jesus to be judged will we look back on our life on earth with regret? Will we say, "I wish I could go back and do things differently!" If you are living in disobedience to God know that this is your opportunity to give your life to Jesus. You are not reading this by chance; God is reaching out to you. Will you respond to His call?

Imagine a man who lives his life on earth believing that it is impossible for there to be a God. He never takes time to seek God or cry out to Him. He never makes an honest investigation as to whether or not there is a God, but he just concludes that there is no God. Now let's use this man as the main character in a story. There lived a man who said to himself, 'I will never believe in God and I won't waste my time trying to find out if He exists because I know he doesn't!' He lived solely for himself, willing to do anything to fulfill his own personal desires. He made a lot of money and was regarded by many as a successful man. But he never believed in God and he never surrendered his life to Jesus. In his eyes there was no way there could be a God so he gave himself over to sexual immorality and a life of sin. Eventually this man died only to find out that there is a God and that there is judgment after death. He begins to panic. Astonished and unconvinced by what is going on, he screams out, "There is no God and there is no judgment!" But despite how hard he tries to convince himself otherwise, he begins to realize that there is a God and that he is about to be judged. Unwilling to acknowledge this fact, he closes his eyes and screams out again, "There is no God and there is no judgment!" An angel walks to him and asks, "Were you not warned you would be judged?" Frightened by what is going on and his impending judgment he starts to run away from the angel. But as he flees, he realizes that there is no place to hide. "You can't hide from God!" he hears someone scream out to him. Frightened, confused and filled with disbelief he stops and begins to think about his time on earth, about the times he rejected and mocked God. He also remembers the opportunities he had to repent. His whole life on earth was an opportunity to repent, but now he's lost that chance. Unable to go back, he reflects on his wasted life. Then he remembers the question the angel asked him, "Were you not warned you would be judged?"

Have we not been warned that we will be judged? Do you want to walk with God?  
"See, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer." (Isaiah 26:21)

I've heard people say, "I'll give my life to Jesus when I am older. I'm too young now; let me enjoy life a little." Well, there may be no tomorrow for you to give your life to Christ. Those who make such statements are basically telling God, "I know you exist but I want nothing to do with you now because you will just make my life more difficult and boring. I'll contact you when I'm older so we can live your boring life." Such a statement is an insult to God. What kind of salvation would that be? We cannot willingly reject and postpone salvation and with the same attitude and nature receive salvation at our own appointed time. We can't deceive God. Salvation comes when we recognize our wrong, change our thinking and surrender to Jesus. It's not something you can postpone. If you're postponing your salvation then you have no idea what salvation is really about. "But there is so much to give up!" you may be thinking. The only thing that God is asking you to give up is that which will harm you and in the end destroy you. Do you believe God when He says that He is the source of true peace and joy? Walking with God is an experience that you can only understand from experience. If you haven't given your life to Jesus, what are you waiting for? Salvation is the greatest gift you can ever receive, and it's free.

Is God lying? Does He really reveal Himself to those who seek Him? The idea that it is impossible to know for a fact that there is a God let alone have an intimate relationship with Him and that seeking God is futile comes from lies the devil wants us to believe. God wants to become real to you. Are you willing to let Him in? If you diligently seek God, he will reward you. God is looking for children who will walk with Him and obey Him. Do you want to know Jesus personally? If you do, open the door and let him in; open the door and experience God's great love for you. Many complain that their environment, body, circumstances, problems, God etc. keep them from seeking God and being faithful to him. Until we stop blaming God and others for our rejection of God's truth and our refusal to seek him wholeheartedly and obey him, we cannot walk with God. God does not cause anyone to sin. We do what we do by our own free will. It's not God's fault, it's ours. Let's not play the blame game like Adam and Eve did. What God wants most from you is for you to walk with Him and experience what it means to truly be alive. Do you believe God or do you believe the lies about God that are being told? What is keeping you from coming to Jesus?

"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again'"" (John 3:5-7). Anyone who rejects Jesus is lost. They are blind to what is actually going on, they cannot see the truth and they cannot see spiritually because they reject God's truth and His testimony about His son who gives light to those in darkness. "For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil" (John 3: 17-19). "Moreover, the father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." (John 5:22). Only Jesus can open your eyes. He is the light of the world that opens blind eyes. He enlightens our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit and reveals to us God's true nature. Jesus is the source of eternal life. He is life and truth from God.

In the book of John, John testifies to the following proclamations of Jesus Christ (If you haven't surrendered your life to Jesus, know that you are very very very important to God and He loves you and wants you to experience His love):  
"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval" (John 6:27).  
"Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent"" (John 6:29).  
"Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty"" (John 6:35).  
"For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40).  
"I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life" (John 6:47).

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12)  
"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free"" (John 8:13)

When we are born again we receive the light of life, we receive Jesus. There is a change of character once we surrender our lives to Jesus. We receive the Holy Spirit who lives with us and in us and testifies to and enlightens us on God's truth. Jesus said in John 14:15-17, "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." The Holy Spirit gives us the power, the ability to overcome sin. Are you battling an addiction? If so, Jesus can save you if you let him take control of your life and surrender your heart to him. He wants to save you. Are you so in love with sinful lifestyle that you don't want to let go and give your life to Jesus? If so, save yourself by letting go and respond to God's call to repentance because He's reaching out to you and He loves you. Remember, the end of a life of sin is death.

Some believe that it is difficult to be a Christian because they assume that when you become a Christian you take your old nature, desires, intentions and thoughts with you. Because they have sinful desires, practices and addictions that they believe they cannot stop, they choose not to come to God since they think they will go back to their sinful lifestyle in no time. Did Jesus not say that the truth will set us free? If you're refusing to come to God because you believe that it's difficult to be a Christian then you don't believe God. The reason you are rejecting salvation is because you don't believe God when He says that He will set you free. Remember, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. " (Romans 8:1-4). Once we are born again we are no longer slaves to sin. We have passed from death to life. We receive a new nature, a desire to be holy and the power to obey God.

You may be going through an addiction that you believe you can never let go of or may have done something that you think is so terrible that God could never forgive you. Regardless of what addiction you may have or what you've done in the past, God loves you deeply. You are very important to Him and He will free you from your addiction if you want to be freed and He will forgive you if you repent, accept his acceptance of you and surrender your life to Jesus. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life that I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). We are God's temple and it is through faith in him that we live a victorious life. Once we willingly give God our heart, he will transform us by nature into the sons and daughters he created us to be. "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel." (Jeremiah 18:6)

Life is a journey and Jesus is the goal to which we run. Faith helps us to find, follow and finish God's will. It is not by our own strength that we live a victorious Christian life but by Christ Jesus who lives in us. God is alive in us through His son Jesus. If you haven't surrendered your life to Jesus, can you not hear God calling out to you? "But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you"" (Ephesians 5:13-14). An experience with God will change you in ways you never thought possible. After I got saved I finally understood what Jesus meant when he said in Matthew 11:29-30, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I heard a story about a man who after being saved said, "I feel like I just let go of a heavy weight that I had been carrying." When Jesus saved me I found rest for my soul and I was literally born again into his love and his wonderful truth. Sin deceived me, but God saved me. He didn't give up on me and he hasn't given up on you. The good news is that if you are not saved, God wants to save you. Don't let your heart be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

"For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." (Ephesians 5:5-17)

We make decisions every day. It's something we cannot avoid. God created us to be moral creatures who would seek Him and long to be holy like He is. He will not force us to do what is right, but we have a duty to do what is right. Whether we like it or not, our decisions will determine our eternal destination. Are you seeking God? Are you seeking life or death? Are you heading in the right direction or in the wrong direction? By not seeking life we seek death; by not seeking God we reject His kingdom and His righteousness; by not heading in the right direction we head in the wrong one. We cannot be neutral. We either receive Jesus or we don't. By not saying yes to God we are simply saying no to Him. Remember, we cannot be neutral. Jesus said, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." (Matthew 12:30) Very frankly, not accepting Jesus as your Lord and savior means you are rejecting Him. You may be saying I am not ready to receive Jesus. If you are thinking this way and believe there is nothing wrong with postponing your salvation that doesn't change the fact that you are still rejecting him. Remember, if you are postponing your salvation, you have no idea what salvation is truly all about. You probably don't understand what it means to be born again. Even if you say, "I'm not rejecting Jesus, I just don't want to surrender my life to him now" you are still rejecting Jesus. Jesus said, "He who is not with me is against me." We cannot run away from making a decision and we cannot run away from the consequences that follow our decisions. Are we going to heaven or hell? That depends on whether we accept Jesus or reject him; on whether we embrace God's testimony or reject it.

I read a story about a group of people who got together to pay their last respects to a friend who had died. They gathered together to drink and swap stories about 'the good old days' of assault, drug running, murder etc. They joked about death and judgment. "Where he's gone, that's where we are going someday," they said in a macho manner referring to hell. "I don't want any preachers ranting and raving over me," they joked. I've heard people joke about how hell will be much more fun than heaven since according to them most of their friends will be there. "It's just a joke," some say. But it is not a joke to God. Some people have actually acknowledged the fact that if there is a hell, they are heading there and they are not worried about it because according to them, most of their friends will be there. If we understand the righteous, just and holy nature of God then we know that such a decision is an affront to God and the consequence of such a wicked choice is devastating. Contrary to the popular belief, hell is not a pleasant place. Make no mistake; the wrath of God is terrifying. Jesus said, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has the power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him" (Luke 12:4-5). Remember, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

God has presented us with the truth. He has provided us with more than enough evidence and proof of His existence. He also testifies to the fact that there is life after death and there are only two destinations, we either go to heaven or we go to hell. Literally, we either choose heaven or we choose hell.

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever." (1 Chronicles 28:9)

##  CHAPTER FOUR  
TURNS

The devils goal is to confuse mankind about the way to God. To turn us away from the truth that God is reaching out to us longing for all to turn to Him and be saved. His goal is to make us believe lies about God and about seeking God. But we should always remember that God is faithful, full of love and mercy and He reveals Himself to those who diligently seek Him.

During His time on earth, Jesus was accused by some religious leaders of being a friend of sinners. He showed His great love for the lost and His desire to see them saved. To the sinner he said, 'You are loved!' To those in darkness He said, 'You are wanted!' He reminds us every day that God has a purpose for us all and that He wants us to be saved because He loves us. The Lord longs to be gracious to us all. Everyone who by grace has been saved and knows Jesus will testify that they love Jesus because He first loved us. He is the one who reaches and cries out to us daily not wanting anyone to perish.

Creation not only testifies to the fact of God, it also testifies to the nature of God. It communicates to us that God is Wisdom, The Most High, a God of detail, holy, righteous and a God of love. But we cannot know God through creation alone. Acknowledgement of the fact of God then leads to the way to God, to Jesus. John 8:12 reads, "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.""  
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:28-29)

What must we do? We must believe in Jesus whom God sent. Do you know Jesus? If not, you can if you want to.

THE WARNING: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight" (Isaiah 5:20-21)

Once we acknowledge Gods truth and live up to the light we have, God will give us more light. Once we obey what we do understand about God, we will begin to understand what we didn't understand before. Light obeyed gives us more light.   
'How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.' (Psalms 119:9-10)

To know God, to love God, to live with God and walk with God, we must obey His commands and how can we obey his commands if we don't embrace His truth, if we are not ready to acknowledge the fact that Jesus came as light to a world in darkness to testify to the truth and to expose the evil deeds and perversions of mankind?

To pervert the truth is to call evil good and good evil. Jesus said, "The world hates me because I testify that what it does is evil." (John 7:7) He bore witness, gave evidence and gave a true, good and honest report of the deeds of the people in the world that do not walk with God, do not embrace God's truth and say that the truth is evil. Instead of paying attention to what Jesus was saying and doing, many rejected his teaching because they did not agree with him. They called the good things that he did evil and even said that he was possessed by a demon. These days, instead of paying attention to what the bible teaches, the truth that God reveals by the power of the Holy Spirit through His word, many have rejected Jesus' teaching and turned to various ideas and notions that pervert God's truth. Many have defined right and wrong in their own way, in ways that suit them and termed many wrong deeds right. God warns us against such things. Even some church goers today have overlooked God's commands and have taken his warnings for granted. God hates sin! It's not something He takes lightly, yet many people are of the notion that God doesn't mind when we sin. The fact that he sent His son to die as an atoning sacrifice for our sins should give us a picture of how great the punishment for sin is. As Christians, we are saved by grace that we may live a righteous life and not take sin lightly. These days, many unacceptable practices that the bible clearly warns us against have become lifestyles for many people. For example, God clearly tells us in His word that He is against fornication and that He hates adultery yet, these sins have become a lifestyle and all sorts of reasons, definitions and scientific explanations are cooked up to try and justify these wrong doings. No matter how hard we try to convince ourselves that practices like fornication, pornography and abortion are not sins against God, the truth remains. "Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them." says the LORD. This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.' I appointed watchmen over you and said, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But you said, 'We will not listen." (Jeremiah 6:15-17)

God never changes. Unrighteousness will never be called righteousness in the eyes of the Most High and Holy God. God commands us, "Ask where the way is and walk in it." We are to seek and walk in the path of righteousness. We were created to live a righteous life. We have been warned in the past by many prophets, angels and by the Son of God that those who pervert, mock and insult God's truth and do not repent of it will not go unpunished. These days, many take sin for granted and take disobeying God lightly. With our actions come consequences. We must seek God and by so doing seek what we ought to do and the way we ought to live our lives and not mock God's commandments. We must go through the bible and ask God to reveal to us the way He wants us to live our lives and what He hates, and not just define right and wrong as we see fit. Jesus came as light to a world in darkness. He came to reveal the truth to mankind and to expose all wrong deeds. He also came to open our eyes, enlighten our spirits and open our ears that we might understand with our hearts, repent and acknowledge God's truth.

Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour."(Luke 4:18-19)

The word gospel means a good message. It is information from God that is meant to transform us into the likeness of His son. It is meant to reconcile us to God, teach us the true meaning of why we exist and pull us out of darkness into the light that we might see clearly. It sheds light on our actions and clearly defines what is right and wrong. It is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking and training in righteousness that those who embrace Gods message may be properly equipped to fulfill their earthly and eternal purpose. It sheds light on our motives and opinions.

Man's greatest sin is that we reject God's truth, that we do not believe God. This rejection has led to a misinterpretation of what is right (morally acceptable) and what is wrong (unacceptable). God's wisdom (true wisdom) helps us discern right from wrong. We live in a time where different people have different opinions of what is right and what is wrong. Some even say that there is no such thing as right or wrong. We hear questions like, "Is there such a thing as right and wrong?" and "If there is such a thing as right and wrong, how can we discern it?" when the question should be, "If I found out that something that I enjoy doing because it brings me pleasure, personal gain or creates a certain sensation is wrong, would I be willing to turn from it and do what is right?"

Contrary to the popular belief, man is not an accident of nature, and there is a fixed standard of right and wrong by which all men and women will be judged. God will judge us. We must be very careful about the decisions we make. When we choose to disobey God, embrace an unrighteous lifestyle and laugh at God's truth and how He has instructed us to live our lives, we must know that there will be consequences for our actions. What the bible calls wrong is seen these days as acceptable. Fornication, abortion, prostitution etc. are all generally accepted practices in most societies today. What the bible calls a perversion is now termed a lifestyle. We laugh at those who desire to obey God's word and by so doing, we laugh at God. We have exchanged God's truth for lies.

'For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him from the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.' (2 Corinthians 5:10)

The truth sounds harsh, wrong, foolish and 'outdated' to some people. "You are overreacting" some say; "Enjoy life because life is too short." Many have the idea that life in God is boring; that God has called us to live a life that is not exciting. This is because they do not know the true nature of God nor his Son Jesus Christ. God is not boring. Those who by the grace of God have come to know him will tell you the truth, that only God can provide true joy, satisfaction and fulfillment. Doesn't the creator know what His creation needs? Does the creation all of a sudden know more than its Creator? The amazing thing today is that many people are denying God's true nature and his true purpose for our lives, and are embracing other ideas that are contrary to what God wants to accomplish in our life. We are trying to gratify the cravings of the sinful nature instead of seeking God, instead of desiring holiness, self-control and righteousness. What has become of God's creation? Why do we hate God's ways and not acknowledge the truth? The defense most people make these days for their actions is, "How can something that feels so good be so wrong." Most of the time they make this defense (which sounds like a question) without any intention of receiving an answer. Let us assume someone sincerely asked us the question, "How can something that feels so good be so wrong?" What would our answer be? What some people seem to forget is, just because an action may create a certain sensation and satisfy our desire for personal gain or pleasure doesn't make that action right. Right and wrong are not defined by sensations, our personal feelings or opinions. God defines what is right and wrong. "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight." Sin is very cunning; it clouds our judgment and makes the unacceptable, unpleasant, shocking and obvious sins look acceptable. It tries to justify wrong doing and keeps us occupied with habits and practices that keep us in the darkness and away from God. It keeps us preoccupied with things that are of little or no importance and keeps us away from having a relationship with God (for whom we were created).

We were created to seek God and by so doing find Him. Yet, we have become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; seekers of pleasure rather than seekers of God. "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-having a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Is it right to murder an innocent child? Is it right to steal? Is pornography a sin against God? Is abortion wrong? Is there a difference between murdering an innocent child who is about three years old and abortion? Is one right and the other wrong? Most people disregard morality when it conflicts with their desires or opinions. We must understand that God has given us the ability to distinguish right from wrong and it is up to us to reject the wrong and embrace righteousness. Some people have lived in a life of unrighteousness for so long that they have somehow managed to convince themselves that their unrighteous way of life pleases God. The word of God is clear on this issue; we must embrace true righteousness and turn from the counterfeit idea of righteousness we have created. Let us not deny the power of God who can save us; let us love what is good and not what is evil. If at some point in time we find it difficult to identify the right way, let us remember that God hears us when we pray and that His word gives light to the eyes. God is always faithful.  
"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous." (Psalms 19:7-9)

"He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, For I am the LORD, who heals you."" (Exodus 15:26)

The scriptures are God breathed and are able to make us wise by the power of the Holy Spirit, but sometimes in our own minds we may flatter ourselves too much to receive wisdom from God and as a result of this the darkness remains.  
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12)

"A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinion." (Proverbs 18:2)

I was watching a preacher on television ask randomly selected individuals if they believed they would go to heaven if they were to die that day. Some said they didn't believe in heaven or hell and others said they believed they would make it to heaven if there is a heaven even though they do not believe in God, heaven or hell. Most of them argued that they were not 'that bad' and that even though they lied once in a while, did not believe in the existence of a God, had nothing against abortion, watched and enjoyed watching pornography and doing other things that the bible clearly asks us not to do, their actions harmed no one and as a result of this they believed it would be unjust for God to send them to hell since what they do harms no one. From their point of view such actions should not be regarded as sin; and because of this, they believe they have not sinned and are not sinners.

"An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong" (Psalm 36:1-4)

Here, the Psalmist clearly speaks concerning the one who rejects God:

  * There is no fear of God.

  * Their words are deceitful.

  * In his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate sin.

  * They cease to be wise and to do good even though in their own eyes this may not seem to be the case.

  * They reject what is right and commit themselves to a sinful course.

Romans 3:22-24 reads, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

Also, 1 John 1:8 reads, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."

The bible clearly states that we have all sinned, thus, we are all guilty and yet we are declared not guilty by the grace of God through the redemption that came from Christ Jesus. Jesus paid the price for sins we have committed that those who hear the message of the gospel and accept His redemptive work on the cross proving their repentance by their good deeds (we are saved by grace not by works to do good works) will receive life (by nature be born of God). In Acts 26:20 Paul said to King Agrippa, "First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." The bible says that we are saved unto (that we may do) good works. Under the control of the sinful nature we disobeyed God but once we repent and turn to God we understand that we have been saved to live a life of obedience to God. To the man or woman who does not acknowledge God's message of salvation, does not accept God's forgiveness and His acceptance of mankind believing that they have done nothing wrong and claim to be without sin. The gospel says, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not sinned, we lie to ourselves and we deny the obvious truth, but if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us and make us righteous. Jesus came to save the oppressed, blind and the prisoners. Who are the oppressed, the blind and the prisoners? They are those in darkness who cannot see what is actually going on and have been filled with false ideas and imaginations believing that they see clearly yet unconscious of the fact that they are deceived. Those who by nature have become enemies of God, doing what should not be done and yet believe that there is nothing wrong with what they do. They are those who desire to know the truth and yet do not know how to find it or where it is. Those fighting addictions and who desire to understand the true meaning of life and yet look for it in the wrong places etc. For all these people who do not know God and have not been set free, Jesus came to open the eyes of those who are blind; to free the prisoners; to release the oppressed; to transform us by nature by the word of truth and the power of the Holy Spirit.

On a planet filled with blind men and women filled with imaginations, Jesus came to teach us the way we must go and who we must become that we might understand the facts. He came to reveal to us the author of life; the one who made us and the one for whom we were made. He came to provide answers to life's questions. He came to set the captives free.  
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Luke 8:5-8)

"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among the thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."(Luke 8:11-15)

In this parable, we see four different things happen:

  * Those who hear the word but do not believe and as a result of this remain in darkness.

  * Those who receive God's message with joy when they hear it but fall away in the time of testing.

  * Those who hear God's message but as they begin their journey are distracted by life's worries and perceived pleasures, doubt and do not grow in God.

  * Those who hear the word, believe, hold on tight in the time of testing and do not allow themselves to be deceived by life's perceived pleasures nor be polluted by man's unrighteous way of life.

Which one are we? We can all relate to this parable one way or the other. We either don't believe in God, have lost all faith in Him because of events that may or may not have taken place, are looking over our shoulder as Christians wondering if we made the right choice, wondering if its actually true that God is good, are not maturing as Christians and yet content with our lack of maturity, dedicating Sundays to God and the other days to ourselves forgetting that on the day we claim we accepted Jesus as Lord and savior we made a promise to serve and worship Him always etc.

Proclaiming to believe in God does not mean that we believe in God. We can proclaim to believe in God and yet in truth have no life at all. Once we are born again, we receive a new nature that desires to be holy. The bible says, "Show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works." It's about surrendering to the authority of Jesus Christ; it's about what we do in public and in private, and also, what our true intentions are (what we truly desire).

The word of God is seed and our heart (our spirit, nature, thoughts, intellect, emotion, center, personality etc.) is the soil. After we surrender our lives to Jesus and as we continue to live by God's word we are transformed more and more into the likeness of His son and we become an expression of God's glory to all creation. About the seed on good soil, Jesus said and still says, "The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it and by persevering, produce a crop." How do we produce a crop? By persevering. We must be determined to achieve the aim despite the difficulties we may seem to face. What is the aim? To know the one true God. Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven." As believers and unbelievers loved by God (for God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11) and his desire is that all men might come to know the truth), our aim, our objective, our goal and what drives us must be to know the one true God and to become by nature who He created us to be that we might fulfill our earthly and eternal purpose. His promise is that if we truly seek Him, we will find Him. We must have a strong longing to know the Creator of all things and give it our all to be close to Him. God tells us that if we diligently search for Him, we will find, obtain, be enlightened on, become one with, see and perceive Him. Jesus said, "Seek and you will find." Such a short statement, yet it means so much.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."(2 Chronicles 7:14)

In the book of John Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." Some Pharisees who were with Him heard Him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?" Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains." (John 9:39-41)  
Pride blocks our ability to see, hear and understand. Since the Pharisees were not willing to listen to Jesus and believed they already understood everything they were unable to be saved. Humility is key when seeking GOD.

"For in his pride the wicked does not seek God; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble."" (Psalms 10:4 and 6)

Pride is an attitude of independence from God. The proud man or woman is always worried about his or her own interests and regards his or her wellbeing above God and others. He or she is never willing to make sacrifices for God or other people and is constantly asking God to give him or her something to help him or her achieve his or her objectives while never asking God what His will is. It is always about what God can do to please him or her and never about what he or she can do to please God. Sometimes this attitude of independence from God simply rejects the idea that God exists or is only willing to accept God if his teachings agree with opinions that he or she may have. This unwillingness to accept God and His teachings if His teachings do not agree with His or her lifestyle may cause him or her to come up with a notion of God that agrees with that lifestyle. Thus, a new and false idea of who God is developed.  
The humble man or woman on the other hand is constantly seeking what Gods will for his or her life is and has an attitude of complete dependence on God. He or she searches for and treasures humility, and understands that it is by God's grace that he or she has what he or she has, and any actions that he or she may take must be in line with Gods will for his or her life.

"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way."(Psalms 25:9)

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."(Proverbs 11:2)

Pride is a path to destruction. A man's pride will lead him nowhere but to destruction because a proud man cannot dwell with God.

"The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished."(Proverbs 16:5)

Some people believe that because they have achieved certain objectives, have certain material possessions, look a certain way or are born into a certain family they are better than those who do not have what they have. They believe that because they have material possessions they are successful, forgetting that success has nothing to do with material possessions but everything to do with God. Who are we to look down on others? Some of us talk as if it were by our own power that we exist. We have developed an attitude of independence from God believing it is by our power that we have what we have.

The bible says we must seek humility. The Lord warns, "Be sure of this: The proud man or woman will not go unpunished."

"Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the Lord. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)

We must humble ourselves, repent and turn to a life that pleases God. Life was never meant to be meaningless and without purpose, God has made the facts plain to us.

God has a purpose for each and every one. God cares about what happens to each and every one of us and that is the truth. His desire is that all men and women will repent and come to know the truth. What sin does is separate us from God. It sweet talks us away from the life God intended us to live only to lead us to destruction. It comes promising fulfillment and yet it never fulfills its promise. Sin is like a virus meant to destroy God's design. Sin disobeys, mocks and insults God. Its ultimate goal is to deceive and destroy Gods creation. God hates sin and we must too. God wants us to turn from sin unto a life of righteousness that we might experience true and everlasting joy. We were created to live a righteous life. Before God created the universe, He had a plan for us. His plan was to create children that would function like Him. Children who would understand what it means to live a holy and righteous life and by so doing mature into the likeness of His Son. Children through whom he would express his unsearchable wisdom to all creation and to whom he would show his great love.

In the book of Ephesians Paul writes, "Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (Ephesians 3:8-12)

In the bible God has given us an idea of what He has planned for those who love him, yet, the same bible says that no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind has fathomed what God has planned for those who love Him. What He has planned for us is much more than we can completely comprehend at this point in time. But that is ok, for who hopes for what he has already seen? What has been revealed to us by the Holy Spirit gives us an idea of the amazing life that God has planned for those who love Him. Let us not miss the opportunity to be with our creator, the opportunity to understand what it means to be alive. The worst thing about hell is separation from God. Eternal separation from God is the worst thing that could ever happen to anyone. Some may not understand this at this point in time but that's the truth.

He that overcomes the challenges of this life shall be rewarded.

We have been told by God that the one who sows to please the spirit will reap eternal life but the one who sows to please the flesh will reap death and destruction.

In order to function the way we were created to function, we must be born again. We must acknowledge our faults (take responsibility for sins we committed in the past and repent of them) and accept Christ's redemptive work on the cross and Lordship over us. Many people ask, "What will God do with those who have not heard the message of salvation?" God is just, and His judgment will be perfect and flawless. We can be confident of the fact that God's judgment will be just, true and perfect. But the one who rejects Jesus rejects God.

Romans 2:14-15 reads, "Indeed, when Gentiles who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them." A good conscience shows a man or woman what is right and what is wrong. It is an inner judge that accuses or defends us. It cannot force us to do the right thing, it only shows the way. We must desire to know and seek the requirements of God. Too many people these days cling to deceit and refuse to turn to God and be saved. Unfortunately, not every conscience is good. It is possible to have a defiled, twisted (evil) and in some cases, a dead conscience. One's conscience can be polluted or destroyed by false notions which reject God's truth and by living a life of constant rebellion towards God. If a person continues to do the wrong thing, without paying attention to God's warning and His truth, his or her conscience becomes twisted and corrupted. He or she begins to deem wrong right and right wrong. The bible warns, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." God's requirements are available to us all, it is up to us to seek Him and find out what the right way is, and Jesus will guide us if only we will let Him in.

When a man or woman is born again he or she receives a new life which takes the place of the old life. By nature he or she becomes a new creation. Even though there is a rebirth or transformation of the born again person to a different state, he or she must understand that in order to participate in the divine nature there must be a renewal of the mind (a change in ones way of thinking to the way God wants us to think). The old thoughts and desires may still linger. The main reason some born again Christians constantly struggle with the old nature is because they stop maturing in the things of God. God's desire for us is that we put on the new nature created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness and to be made new in the attitude of our minds.  
"Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."(Ephesians 4:21-24)

Wisdom and knowledge are the stability of the Christian. The child of God must obey God's word to be able to function effectively. The word of God is wisdom from God for us to live by and the bible is the Christians manual for life. This wisdom is gained by living and meditating on Gods truth. Wisdom from God enlightens us by the power of the Holy Spirit and enables us define what is right and what is wrong. This wisdom goes hand in hand with obedience. For us to truly know and understand who God is, we must listen to, trust and obey Him. We cannot dwell with God if we refuse to obey Him.

"Therefore prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"(1 Peter 1:13-16)

The Christian life is a life of growth and in order to grow, we must feed on and live by God's word. As the word gets into our spirit it becomes a part of us and transforms us by the power of the Holy Spirit. We must spend time meditating on God's word daily. To meditate on God's word means to think on, to think deeply about, to ponder, declare, mutter etc. His word. God wants us to ask the right questions and by so doing hopefully find the right answers.  
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil."(Proverbs 3:5-7)

Most Church goers I have met do not understand what they proclaim to believe in and yet they are content with their lack of understanding. To my amazement, few have taken time to go through what they proclaim to believe in. This lack of understanding has caused many people who are not Christians to misinterpret what Christianity is truly about. There is a huge difference between a born again Christian and a church goer. The fact is that not every church goer is saved. I went to church for more than thirteen years and yet I wasn't saved. We must strive to have a personal relationship with God and not just wait for someone else to do that for us. The unfortunate truth is that not everyone talking about heaven is going to heaven.

I heard a story about a man who stopped believing in God because he was convinced after observing the pastor of the church he attended for a few years that the pastor didn't believe what he was preaching. He said, "If the pastor doesn't believe then why should I?" He may have been right, maybe the pastor didn't believe what he was preaching, but does that justify his lack of faith? To lose faith in God because of another person's lack of faith is a sign that you didn't really believe in the first place. It's not about what the fake preacher or the hypocritical church goer does or says; it is about our personal relationship with God. Have we taken the time to examine what God requires of us, who God truly is and what our purpose is. God has made Himself available to all men and women. We are responsible for our own salvation. After all, God will judge all men and women individually according to what they did and didn't do.

Death (spiritual death) comes with a mindset and this mindset is always looking for something wrong with believing in God and His one and only mediator (Jesus Christ). It does not accept the things of God and deems them foolish. This mindset that does not believe God's testimony tries to disprove what it regards as nonsense without even considering the possibility that it may be true. Sometimes, while trying to disprove God's word, it stumbles on evidence that proves the authenticity of what is being said in God's word, but instead of accepting the fact that previous assertions of God's word being a complete lie and the bible being a book filled with fabricated stories may be wrong, it just tries to explain away any evidence it may have received. This mindset doesn't look for proof but rather tries to prove something it believes to be true.

How much evidence is enough evidence? Most people commit the very basic error of thinking that a lack of archaeological evidence for something recorded in the bible is proof that the entire bible is a lie. Some say that God should just show himself and say, "Here I am, I exist." Well, He did!

Which makes more sense? That this incredibly well designed creation was created by a Holy God who spoke to the entire world through one nation (thousands of witnesses) and in the last days through His Son, saying, "Just as your hands and legs exist for a reason, so I also created you for a reason, not to suffer and die aimlessly but to live a meaningful life of true love and true satisfaction." Or that everything was by mistake, unplanned and is without purpose. It reminds me of a story about a little girl whose father kept telling her there was no God. Unfortunately, the girl got so sick that the doctors said she wouldn't make it. She was going to die. Lying there on her sick bed, weak and fragile, her father held her hand and said to her, "Don't worry, everything is going to be o.k." His daughter replied, "How can you tell me that everything is going to be fine. You told me that God doesn't exist, that means that if I die that's probably the end of me. My entire existence gone in such a short space of time. I have no hope, nothing to look forward to, and if the doctors can't save me, who will?" Jesus brought hope and meaning to a world with nothing to look forward to. This hope is not a 'maybe it's true and maybe it's not' kind of hope but that which we can rely on to be true. An assurance based on the testimony, word and character of God.

The Christians war against sin (maintaining a clean thought life)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

"For we know that our old self (old nature) was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-because anyone who has died has been freed from sin."(Romans 6:6-7)  
"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal bodies so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law but under grace."(Romans 6:11-14)

Note:

  * The Christian must understand that regardless of how he or she may feel, the fact is that, Christ died for us to get rid of the old nature of sin and its desires, that we might no longer be slaves to sin, trying to fulfill its every desire.

  * Though we were slaves to sin when we did not know the one true God, we have now been freed from sin and have been made alive in God (have become servants of righteousness). We have been brought from death to life.

  * Thus, just as under the control of sin we once offered ourselves to all kinds of evil which at that time seemed acceptable but we now understand is shameful, we must now as servants of righteousness obey God who gives us eternal life in Christ Jesus. We must not allow sin to take control of us. Jesus has given us the ability to overcome sin and its desires.

  * The result of sin is death and destruction. But the reward for obeying God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."(Romans 6:22-23)

As Christians, now that we have turned to God, we must guard our hearts and thoughts diligently. We must show care and effort in our duties and responsibilities as children of God. Our body belongs to God; therefore, we must commit ourselves to Him and keep our body decent and pure. We must live for God not for our own selfish desires. We must be clean on the inside and on the outside. For God said, "I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy" (Leviticus 11:44). We have been freed by God not to do what we want to do but to do what we ought to do (the right thing to do).

Sin hates the truth and loves falsehood. It pollutes the mind and darkens the understanding; it produces imaginations and darkens the soul, it separates man from God and makes God look like the enemy, it is the cause of every man's downfall, it deceives and holds man captive, it defines right as wrong and wrong as right, it comes promising satisfaction but all it wants is to destroy, it rejects the obvious and constantly disobeys God and it is the enemy of God.

God loves us and wants us to stay away from sin because He understands its true character and its real intentions. We must hate sin. We can't let go of sin if we are deeply in love with it. When we turn to God, we say to sin, "I'm done with you, from now on, I want nothing to do with you, you disgust me." That part of our life is over. It's dead, and now a new story begins. We've got to let sin go. Is it covetousness, sexual immorality, idolatry, an addiction or something else that you are holding on to that God says you shouldn't? It's time to let go and be free. Begin the journey to freedom. The unfortunate thing with sin is it manages to deceive people into thinking there is nothing wrong with what they are doing. One cannot let go of sin unless he or she admits there is a problem. Once there is a denial, the journey to freedom cannot begin. For example, some church goers I have met seem to think there is nothing wrong with pornography. This shocking way of thinking has led a lot of people I know on the road to destruction. They say, "That's your opinion and this is my opinion." (Referring to whether pornography is right or wrong) Nowadays, it is deemed wrong to tell people that what they are doing is destroying them and is not what God wants for them. True love tells the truth even though it will be hated for telling the truth with the hope that someone will listen and be saved rather than tell a lie that deceives and then destroys.

As Christians, our opinion on every matter must be determined by Gods opinion on that matter (which is the right opinion). He sheds light on every situation we may find ourselves in. He wants us to develop a clean mindset. God is our master and our owner, and we are His servants. As his servants we must obey Him. He is the owner that truly frees us. True freedom is found when we completely surrender our lives to the one true God and live a life of obedience to Him.

I read a prayer by a man who was fed up with repeating and repenting of the same sin over and over again. He wanted to stop doing what he was doing. He understood that what he was doing was a sin against God and that God wanted him to be free of it but for some reason he kept sinning. Sometimes, the individual may want to turn from what he or she understands will destroy him or her but can't seem to do so. It feels like there is no hope. I myself am guilty of having committed such a sin and I thank God that he forgave and freed me. We must understand that on the cross Jesus freed us from the nature of sin that we might live a life that pleases God. What causes us to lose hope so easily and give in to sin? The unfortunate thing with giving in to sin is that, as one continues to do what he or she should not be doing, he or she begins to convince him or herself, "There is nothing wrong with doing that; everyone is doing it; God will forgive you." Before you know it, the unpleasant, unacceptable and shocking become acceptable and you begin to convince yourself that there is nothing wrong with what you are doing and constantly give excuses. We must hold on to God's truth with all our heart, all our mind and all our soul, and the truth shall enlighten our spirit by the power of the Holy Spirit and make us free. God's truth is the truth. God cannot, does not, need not, and is not tempted to (for God cannot be tempted by evil) lie. When God says that in Christ Jesus we have been freed from sin and its desires, it means that in Christ Jesus we have been freed from sin and its desires. It's up to us to take hold of the truth, believe it and run towards God.

The man whose prayer I read took the first step by admitting that there was a problem. Once we admit there is a problem, the next question is whether or not we are willing to take the necessary steps which lead to freedom. Can we honestly say to God, "With my whole heart will I seek thee: Please let me not wander from thy commandments." We must commit ourselves wholeheartedly to God and the goal which leads to sweet freedom, maintain the right thinking and make up our mind to stay clean. We must understand that this is a war, and in this war the Christians strength comes from God. We must continuously think on God's truth and set our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith and not try to copy what others do and say outside of God. Get the word into your mind and into your spirit and it will build your faith and guard your heart and mind against thoughts and desires that destroy. The word of God protects and enlightens those who embrace it and constantly meditate on it.

Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. (Proverbs 2:9-11)

The bible says that as a man thinks so is he. We must fill our minds with thoughts that are pleasing to God and in line with God's will for our life and have reverence for God in everything we do. We may lose a lot of things in our life but we must never lose our faith, never stop growing in the faith and never forget the love that God has for us and how much he wants us to succeed. Confusing thoughts and temptation may come but we must hold on tight and not let go of our faith. Grow in God and then you will understand what the bible means when it says, "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him" (Psalms 34:8).

Sin can be identified in the light, yet it cannot identify in the darkness (which portrays itself as light). The light opens our eyes so we can see clearly. It makes us see things as they really are. Where is the one true light? In Christ Jesus. In Him we have received the ability to detect sin and the power that frees us from the bondage of sin.  
"In him (Jesus) is life and that life is the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:4-5)

But if for some reason we fall and sin, we must get back up. For if a man falls does he not get back up? We cannot continue to do the things we did when we were dead in sin. We were saved unto a life of righteousness not so we might remain in sin. "My dear children, I write this to you so that you sin not. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2). To the man or woman who has fallen and feels like there is no hope, please understand the fact that God loves you deeply and wants you to get back up. No addiction is too strong and no sin is too tempting for the power of God. We should not turn away from God just because things are not going as we expected. Let us continue to seek Him and walk with Him. In Him we will find peace and eternal joy. "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised those who love him" (James 1:12).  
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone." (James 1:13)

The truth is that God loves us so much that He has done all that needs to be done to free us from our sinful desires so that sin will no longer have control over us or be a burden. As believers, our frequent loss in our battle against sin are mainly due to our lack of understanding, our confidence in our own abilities and not in the power of God, our doubt, our lack of self-control, our ability to get distracted easily and our disobedience of God and His guidelines. As Christians, our hope is in Christ Jesus and we must understand that in Him we have the power that frees us from sin. According to the bible we have already been freed from sin. Freedom from sin is not something that God is yet to give to us but something that we have already received. Now it's up to us to play our part. For we know that our old self (old nature) was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with (cease to exist, be destroyed, be rendered entirely useless, disappear), that we should no longer be slaves to sin-because anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:6-7).

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." (Romans 8:1-8)  
"Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8:12-14)  
"Therefore, since Christ suffered in the body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they may be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the Spirit." (1 Peter 4:1-6)

"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world, even our faith." (1 John 5:3-4)

In order to fulfill the desires of the spirit, we must walk in the spirit (walk with God). We cannot walk in the flesh and hope to fulfill the requirements of the spirit. Some attempt to fulfill God's requirements while still walking in the flesh, walking outside of God's advice and his instructions. The product of such an action is always failure because what the spirit desires is contrary to what the flesh desires. The Christian has been born of God; he or she is a new creation, created in Christ Jesus to do the right thing.

There is a battle for control of the thought life (mindset) of every person. Our choices, our actions, our intentions, our points of view, what we worry about etc. are all determined by our mindset. Our mindset determines our response to and interpretation of situations. The devil wants control of our thought life because he understands that, by controlling an individual's thought life, he controls the person. Thus, rendering that individual a slave to sin. "For as a man thinketh so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). Therefore our thought life has the ability to make or break us. What or who influences our thinking? Is it friends, movies, talk shows, doctors or God's Word? Light (truth) and darkness (falsehood) are in a constant conflict for control of our thought life. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the spirit and the spirit, what is contrary to the sinful nature. Thoughts from the sinful nature come with only one intention and that is to destroy us. It deceives us into denying the obvious truth and believing lies, and fills us with false notions so that we do not believe the truth and receive salvation. Let us seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7).

God is big enough to save us from any addiction or problem we may be facing. He can do anything, if only we are willing to let Him in. No situation is too difficult for Him to fix. Regardless of what we have done or where we have been, He loves us and wants us to draw near to Him. He stands at the door and knocks; are we ready to let Him in? He knocks because He cares about us. When we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us, make His home with us and live in us. No situation or circumstance is too difficult for God to fix, but He cannot solve our problems if we don't allow Him in.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 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. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." (Galatians 5:19-26)

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:19-21)

In the Garden of Eden, God commanded man not to eat of one tree; the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Just one out of all the trees in the garden, and yet man chose to disobey God, and with that choice came consequences. Like the first man, we have a choice to make, and like him, there are consequences to the choices we make. We can try to justify why we constantly disobey God without remorse and without repenting. We can try to blame God for everything wrong in this life. But is it true? Is God really responsible for everything or anything wrong in life? After Adam and Eve had disobeyed God, they tried to play the 'blame game'. Eve blamed the serpent and Adam blamed Eve. But what did God say after all the excuses they gave? "What is this you have done?" (Genesis 3:13). Sin brings with it a mental attitude that tries to give excuses for doing things that God has instructed us not to do. After all that God has given us, the power that frees us from sin which is available to all those who hear the message of salvation and are ready and willing to accept and acknowledge the truth. Will we be able to talk our way out of rejecting the Son of God and laughing at God and His truth? Or will we hear the words, "What is this you have done?" Do we really want to take that chance? Jesus said that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it but to save it through Him. God wants us to believe the truth and be saved. He wants us to reject sin and embrace righteousness, have the right approach to life and develop the right mental attitude (the right mindset). He sent His Son to save us because He loves us.  
"I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying "What have I done?" Each pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle" (Jeremiah 8:6).

## CHAPTER FIVE  
BUT WHERE CAN WISDOM BE FOUND?

"But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living. The deep says, 'It is not in me'; the sea says, 'It is not with me.' It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighted in silver. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold. Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed from the birds of the air. Destruction and death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.' God understands the way to wisdom and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. And he said to man, 'The fear of the LORD that is wisdom, to shun evil is understanding.' (Job 28:12-28)

God alone understands the way to wisdom and he alone knows where it dwells. Therefore, without God, one cannot obtain true wisdom. The bible says that Christ Jesus has become unto us the power and wisdom of God, and that in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  
"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (1 Colossians 2:2-3). "but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:23).

A life without God is meaningless. We cannot understand the true meaning of life without God.

Wisdom instructs us to fear and have reverence for God. The fear of God leads to wisdom and keeps us away from sin. To shun evil is wisdom. "Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them" (Psalms 25:12-14). God reveals His secrets to those who revere Him; to those who love Him, obey His teachings and do not forsake His instructions.

To what can wisdom be compared? Is it not more valuable than money? "Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold" (Proverbs 3:13-14). True wisdom is so valuable that it cannot be bought with gold, silver or any amount of money. Yet, though it is so valuable, few seek her (wisdom). Few long for wisdom and desire understanding. Why do so few people seek wisdom? Do we not understand how valuable it is? Our Father in heaven has advised and instructed us to get wisdom. Wisdom guides us as to what we must do and not do, and how we must do what we must do. It teaches us to do what is true, right, just and fair. It leads us in the right path. Where there is a problem, our response must be based on God's truth.

"Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud: "To you, O men I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning, all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her."" (Proverbs 8:1-11).

Wisdom calls out and understanding raises her voice. They command and advise us to choose instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than gold; to turn to God and be saved. God is not just the first and main source of wisdom, He is the definition of true wisdom and the only source of true wisdom.

Wisdom comes from Jesus and is revealed in God's word through prayer and by the Holy Spirit.

The bible is God's word for mankind and his manual for life. It contains God's message of salvation and it enlightens us on what the right choices are. For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of scripture we might have hope (Romans 15:4). All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16).

The bible is useful for:

  * Giving or communicating information for us to learn from, and enlightens us on how to live a righteous life.

  * Training and educating; and reveals to us the truth and the reason for our existence.

  * Rectifying mistakes.

  * Reproof, and tells us when we have done wrong.

  * Helps us discern right from wrong.

  * Giving us the necessary tools we need to live a victorious life in Christ Jesus.

Is the bible really God's Word? Is it historically accurate? Can we depend on the words contained in it? Answers: yes, yes and yes.

The bible is filled with testimonies of witnesses who proclaim to what they heard, what they saw with their eyes, what they looked at and touched with their hands. They proclaim to us the Word of life, that we also will have fellowship with the Father and with His Son; that we also will believe God's message and be saved.

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." (1 John 1-3)

Despite these testimonies, many have overlooked the bible. They refer to its writers as untruthful, insane and delusional for testifying to the greatness of God. They find what God did, is doing and is going to do unbelievable. "Such events cannot take place; it is just superstition." "It is impossible!" You often find them sharing such statements openly or keeping such statements in their thoughts.

"Unbelievable and Impossible;" what do these words mean? I checked the dictionary for the meaning of the words unbelievable and impossible, and it defined them as follows:  
Unbelievable: Something that is very difficult to believe and unlikely to be true.  
Impossible: Something that cannot exist or be done.  
Some people view the recorded events and promises in the bible as impossible and unbelievable. They laugh at those who believe the bible and accuse them of believing in tales and myths. They say that the existence of an Almighty and Most High God is very difficult to believe and unlikely to be true. Some even go to the extent of saying that God cannot exist and that such events cannot take place. They wonder why Christians believe in such things. This, coming from a well-structured and well planned creation that lives on a rotating and revolving sphere. A people that don't know how big the universe is, and were not there when the universe came into being. What is so impossible about there being a Most High God who loves us though we blatantly refuse Him? The writers of the 66 books in the bible did not say, "These words we write to you are just myths." They died for what they were proclaiming. They were stoned, spat on, insulted and even beaten to death, yet they said and warned continuously, "These words are true and trustworthy." We cannot just ignore them. Are we confident enough to say that God cannot exist, Jesus cannot be the Son of God and that there is no judgment after death? If we are, what is the basis of our confidence? What makes us so sure that in the beginning God did not create the universe?

We must give great thought to what we believe in and why we believe what we believe and not take this choice likely. The bible says that, a simple man believes anything but a prudent man gives thought to his steps. Our choices come with consequences. We were brought onto this earth for a much greater purpose than to try to please people, make as much money as we can, die and leave it all behind. Skeptics of the bible claim that there is a lack of evidence to support the bible's claim of being historically accurate. Some even say that, Jesus targeted the poor with His message of salvation because they were vulnerable and desperately desired something to look forward to. "In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For these people's hearts have become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it" (Matthew 13:14-17).

Despite how hard we try to convince ourselves that there is no God, we have got to admit that the evidence points otherwise. According to the bible, the question of there being a God is not up for debate. The truth is obvious for all to see. I've heard some people say that they don't believe in miracles. How can we not believe in miracles when our very existence is a miracle? Where did we come from? If there is an end to all things, what about all that time after the end of all things? Is it possible to live for eternity? When a baby is born, what do we see? When a seed grows to become a tree what impression do we have? When we look around at creation, what do we see? What is possible and what is impossible? Who defines what is impossible? The bible says that God can do much more than we can ask or imagine. God wants to give us a life filled with complete joy, satisfaction, holiness and power that is much greater than we could ever have imagined. Did Moses divide the Red Sea? ["Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left" (Exodus 14:21-22)]. Did Joshua stop the earth from rotating? ["On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Joshua. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day" (Joshua 10:12-13)]. Did Jesus rise from the dead? ["After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of about forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3)]. Did John see a vision of what is to come? ["The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw-that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near" (Revelation 1:1-3)]. Are these testimonies untrue and Impossible? What is impossible? In Matthew 17:17, Matthew testifies to Jesus' amazement at man's unbelief. ""O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?"" (Matthew 17:17)  
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."" (Romans 10:14-18)  
Who has believed God's testimony? Who has believed the Holy Scriptures? God is a God of faith and faith comes from hearing the message of God. The child of God lives by faith, for without faith we cannot please God. We must live by the truth that God's word reveals and oppose what is falsely called knowledge. "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible" (Hebrews 11:3).

"Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you." (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

Critics claim that the bible has been corrupted and tampered with, and that since the original letters and manuscripts have not been found, the bible cannot be trusted. I must point out the fact that most of these critics are of the notion that God cannot exist and that Jesus cannot be the Son of God. What if they had evidence that proves otherwise? What if they had proof that the bible has been well preserved over the centuries and is indeed God's manual for life? Would that change their notions? It is true that the books of the bible have been translated and copied again and again. Have these translations and copies caused us to believe something that is far from the truth? God always watches over His Word to perform it and He preserves His Word for generations to come. God loves us so much that He would not allow the truth to be lost. We have this confidence based on the character and nature of God. The bible is God's Word and we can trust it.

Long before modern space travel, at a time when many believed that the earth was flat, Job 26:7 and Isaiah 40:22 spoke about how the earth hangeth upon nothing and that God sitteth above the circle of the earth. Job 26:7 reads, "He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing." Also, Isaiah writes in the book of Isaiah 40:22, "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth."  
Some say that the bible is filled with contradictions. But readers of the bible who by the grace of God have been enlightened on the truth of God's word and have come to understand the message of God, will testify that the bible in its entirety, from the law to the fulfillment of the law, from the time of Moses to the time of Jesus is without contradictions.  
The bible in its entirety teaches love for God and love for the people around us. The more we learn to love God the more we will love our neighbors. God's word enlightens us on what it means to truly love God and our neighbor, and communicates to us the dos and don'ts of life. It encourages and strengthens us so that sin does not take control of or deceive us. God's word by the power of the Holy Spirit reveals the actual truth to us and exposes all opinions and notions that we believed to be the actual truth that are not truths at all.

As Christians, we are to live by God's Word on a daily basis. We have a responsibility to obey God. We were created not to seek to please and do the will of men but to seek to please and do the will of God. We must feed our souls with the Word of God and not just be hearers and readers of the word, but doers also, since faith without works is dead. The bible contains the message of God that is the power of God for the salvation of anyone who believes. "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). It is the instruction manual we need to stay alive. "Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. Save me for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts." (Psalms 119:89-94)

"You have laid down your precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me" (Psalms 119:4-8). God has given us guidelines on how to behave and what our mental attitude should be. His commands are to be obeyed. We are to learn His ways and obey them, meditate on His Word and consider His ways in everything we do. How can we meditate on His Word if we don't know where His commands are? How can we obey His commands and consider His ways if we don't know what He desires of us? God's Word is contained in the bible, and as we continue to meditate on His word, obey His commands and consider His ways, we are transformed into the sons and daughters He created us to be. By them, He preserves our life. If our ways are steadfast in obeying His commands, we can be confident that we will never be put to shame.  
"You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law. At midnight I will rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts. The earth is filled with your love, O LORD; teach me your decrees." (Psalms 119:57-64)

James 1:21 reads, "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." God's word can save anyone and give him or her life. Do we really want to be saved? Do we want to live?

"See, I set before you life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." (Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

Set before us are two options, life and death. We all have a choice to make. The bible says that the wise man chooses life. If we choose life then we must surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, love God, obey His commands and walk in His ways. We have an instruction manual that teaches us how we must live our life and this manual is the bible. I have read and heard different people comment on how the bible teaches hate, was written by liars and lunatics and creates a God that is a complete fabrication meant to deceive people into believing in things that do not exist. The words contained in the bible testify for themselves, and those on the side of truth acknowledge the fact that what has been done has been done by God, but truth is hate to those who hate the truth.

"He said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you-they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess"" (Deuteronomy 32:46-47). Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world (Psalms 19:4).

What decisions have we made regarding our definition of the meaning of life? When we wake up in the morning what do we look forward to? What are our goals and objectives? What or who motivates us and guides us in our decision making? Are we truly grateful for the gift of life or do we still believe that our existence is unplanned, without reason and without purpose? What do we want most?

We make various choices in different places at different times in life. What or who can we rely on to guide us in our decision making? What or who can guide and instruct us when we don't know what choices to make, what decisions to take and just don't know what to do? Who or what can direct us in the right direction and enlighten us so we make the right decisions?

Various notions of what wisdom is have been developed over the years. Most of these notions reject the one true God, His teachings and Jesus Christ. Some believe that on our own we have finally discovered the meaning of life and who we truly are; that now we know everything, and as a result of this we have become too smart to put our faith in a God we have never seen. What does it mean to see? Are we talking about awareness or an understanding? Our theories have overlooked God's witnesses, His miracles, His gift of life, His Son, creation's testimony and termed the truth foolishness. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength" (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). The world's definition of wisdom says that there is no one true God; that Jesus is not the Son of God and could not have been born by a virgin; that there is no judgment after death; that there must be another explanation to the events recorded in the bible rather than they being God's doing; live to please yourself and not a God who doesn't exist; that even if there is a God, He will not punish sin etc. These ideas reject God's command and testimony and have called God a liar. These false notions create their own idea of God or say that there is no one true God and deem the message of the cross foolishness. The bible says that the world through its teachings and beliefs has rejected the truth and not acknowledged the true God. For the message of the cross which is the power of God that saves and enlightens us is stupidity to those who are perishing because the 'wisdom' which the world teaches which is no wisdom at all has termed the truth foolishness and has called God a liar. This so called wisdom which laughs at God's message has darkened the understanding of many. Are we looking for true wisdom? True wisdom comes from God. Christ Jesus has become unto us the power of God and the wisdom of God. Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say" (John 12:44-50).

About Jesus, the bible says, "the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Since he is full of truth it means that he tells no lies. In fact, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning" (John 1:1-2).  
Since He was with God in the beginning and He is the Word of God, He has got all the answers to all our questions and He knows the way to eternal joy, fulfillment, peace, satisfaction etc. Not only does He know the way to eternal life, He also wants to take us there that we might experience eternal life with God which is the purpose for which we were created. Why? This is because despite what we may have been led to believe, God loves us deeply. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). God wants us to be reconciled to him and be saved. The decisions we make can either give us life with God for eternity or separate us from God for eternity. We must make the right choices.

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual and of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness" (James 3:13-18).

What we do with what we read and hear is of vital importance. Once we listen to God's teachings and His instructions, we must act on what we have heard with the Holy Spirit's guidance.

"Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city." Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment. Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding." (Proverbs 9:1-6)

Wisdom calls out to us from the highest point and asks us to leave our worldly and unrighteous ways and walk in the path of understanding. She offers us life with the one true God. Walking in the way of understanding means that we must not just listen to the Word but also do what it says. If as Christians, we listen to God's Word and we do not obey Him, we deceive ourselves and we are not living in line with God's will for us. "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone" (James 2:24).

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away immediately and forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:22-25)

There is a difference between being well informed and being wise. Many people know about God but do not know God. Wisdom comes as a result of knowing who God is and having an intimate relationship with him. As Christians, we have an obligation to live according to the spirit and not according to the sinful nature. The one who looks into the word of God that gives freedom and does not do what it says will not be blessed nor will he or she receive freedom. But the one who looks into the word of God that gives freedom and continues to do so, does not forget what it says and does what it says-he will be blessed and made free. God's word brings freedom to those who do what it says.

Though the word of God has the ability and power to give freedom and enlightenment, not all who listen to God's message are blessed and transformed by it. This is because some just listen to God's message and do not apply it (do not do what it says); some do not believe what they read; some deny the truth, accept what is in line with their own selfish ambitions and reject what they do not agree with without carefully searching and asking for God's opinion on the matter. The bible by the guidance of the Holy Spirit will either keep us away from sin or sin will keep us away from the bible.

Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27)  
As we put into practice what we have learnt, our spirit begins to be enlightened on who God truly is and just how much he loves us and desires that we come to understand and embrace the truth. Things that at first seemed impossible and unlikely regarding God's testimony all of a sudden begin to make sense. The truth becomes obvious and falsehood is exposed. The Holy Spirit brings to light all wrong doing and imaginations that in the darkness we believed to be truths and facts. The bible is a very powerful book but, it works only for those who believe, surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and put into practice what they hear. Like James wrote, "Faith without works is non-existent (dead)."

"But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is a God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder." (James 2:18-19)

Though the bible contains God's message of salvation and has the power to save, transform and make wise its reader, many underestimate how important a book it is. Few read it with the understanding that what they are reading is God's manual for us to live by. I was walking through a market one day when I passed by bibles which were being sold. I noticed that there was no one buying a bible and I began to think about just what little attention the bible gets these days though it is the most important book on earth. This was at a time in my life when I had just begun to understand what incredible power the words contained in the book we call the bible had; its ability to enlighten and transform its reader. It is not just about reading and memorizing verses, but reading and meditating on it with the understanding that what you are reading is God's Word and is also historically accurate; that the bible is God's manual for life; that we must not just be hearers of the word but doers of the word also.

A lot of people spend a lot of time and money on books on how to make money, how to raise your children properly, how to gain inner peace etc. but the book that gives true understanding, fulfillment and answers to all our questions is the bible. Paul in his letter to Timothy writes, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14-15). People spend a lot of time and effort to succeed at work and in school, and to be accepted and appreciated by people. They give up time with God and spend almost all their time chasing after things that are not as important. The way society is today, it has become in people's eyes more difficult to seek or make time for God and family. What do we seek? What do we want most? Is it money, fame, praise from other people or eternal life with the Creator? Jesus told us what we must seek and want most; he said, "Seek first the kingdom of heaven and all other things will be added unto you." What we must want the most is to please God in everything we do. In order to please Him, we must mature in the things of God and understand what is required of us. If what we want is to mature in the things of God, we have to spend a lot of time and effort reading, meditating on and searching through the scriptures which are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. When I started to read and think on what I had come to understand was God's word, I didn't understand most of what I was reading, but I kept going. After all, God said, "Seek me with all your heart and you will find me" and I believed and still believe Him. Should we stop reading and seeking just because we do not understand a verse or a chapter? Absolutely not! If we say we believe then we are saying that we know for a fact that what we believe is true; and if we know for a fact, how can we give up so easily? We must obey what we do understand then we will begin to understand what we did not understand before. As we listen to, embrace and obey God's word, an incredible transformation begins to take place in us and we become enlightened on just how close God is to us all and how great and unfathomable His love for us is.

Some people say that the bible is filled with mythical stories, false testimonies and historical inaccuracies. To some, it is just another story book. A book filled with false and unreliable promises. In 1896, Dr. David Livingstone whose story has had a tremendous impact on my life rose to speak and was received with respectful silence. Looking very thin and tired, with his left hand which had been crushed by a lion hanging by his side, he announced with great joy his desire to return to Africa. He said, "Would you like me to tell you what supported me through all the years of exile among a people whose language I could not understand, and whose attitude towards me was always uncertain and often hostile? It was this: Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world! On those words I staked everything and they never failed! I was never left alone." On those words he staked everything. He put his trust in the words of God and he testifies that they never failed him. God's promises never fail those who are faithful to Him, diligently seek Him and trust in Him wholeheartedly. As we walk with God, He reveals to us things that before we became believers we could never have thought possible. He answers our prayers, talks to us and teaches us. He fills us with an inexpressible joy. The bible is not just another book, it is the most important book we have on earth. It directs us in the right direction and opens our eyes; it transforms and enlightens us; it encourages and comforts us, and it gives us life.

We must build our life on God's word, for the foundation of every fruitful life is in God. Sometimes, for one reason or the other, the line between right and wrong becomes blurred and the darkness deceives us without us knowing. It may convince us to do certain things that are wrong in the sight of God and make us believe that God is not against what we are doing. God's word exposes the darkness. During times of uncertainty when we are not sure what we should do, we must turn to God in prayer and humbly and truthfully ask Him to reveal to us what we must do. God's word exposes all wrong deeds and enlightens us so we are not easily deceived.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:12-13).

Most church goers I have spoken to say that they would change their attitude to life if they knew with certainty, without a doubt that God is real and that He sent His only begotten Son to save us. To say that is to confess that you are probably not saved and are not certain that there is a one true God. Did Jesus not say, "I have come that you may know the one true God?" The word 'know' here comes with a certainty; to know for a fact without doubt. Jesus came to testify to the truth that we might live our lives with an understanding of who God is and what He desires of us, without doubt. As the Holy Spirit enlightens our spirit, our eyes are opened and we begin to understand who God really is and we become conscious of who He created us to be. God has the ability to give wisdom to, enlighten and transform those who embrace the truth that is revealed by His word. If as Christians, we were to live a life of faith in God reckoning that we have died to sin but now by the grace of God we are made alive in Him and by nature are born of God, what would our impression of life be? I personally believe that most of us would do things differently, since our ideas, feelings and opinions about life would be different. One of the major problems most Christians today face is doubt. Yet, the Christian has been called into a life of certainty and commanded not to doubt God. Wisdom brings with it a certainty, an assurance. We either believe God or we do not.

Most of us have heard the story of Thomas; how he doubted that Jesus had resurrected from the dead. For some reason, some people call him Doubting Thomas. I have often asked myself, "If I was in Thomas' situation, what would I have done? Would I have doubted?" The more I thought about it, the more I felt I would have doubted. After all, we have much more evidence and many more witnesses testifying to the resurrection of Jesus than Thomas did! And despite the fact that God had revealed Himself to me (the truth is that God reveals Himself to all of us because He loves us greatly) so many different times in so many different ways, it took me years to acknowledge the truth and many more to overcome my doubt and respond to His call. At least Thomas believed after he had touched and seen the Son of God resurrected. I have come to understand that God reveals Himself to all of us in many different ways with the hope that we will repent and acknowledge the truth. "Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"" (John 20:24-28). Jesus said to Thomas after all he had heard, and all that had been shown him, "Stop doubting and believe." To those who have heard the gospel of truth and have still not made up their minds concerning the message of salvation; After all that we have heard and all that we have seen, what do we say? Jesus said to Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). He says to this generation, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Once we believe, we have to be relentless in our pursuit of God; in our pursuit of the wisdom of God; in our pursuit of the Son of God. Men and women may fail and disappoint but God never fails nor does He disappoint those who are faithful to Him. We should not stop seeking God; we should not grow weaker; we should refuse to give up, for God has promised us that He will reward those who persevere and seek Him wholeheartedly. And the reward for our perseverance and relentlessness is that we may come to know and have fellowship with God. That the truth may be revealed to us and we might see God as He really is; The Most High and Creator of all things: by whose will and command all things were made. For to know and have fellowship with the Father and the Son is eternal life.

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3)

"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31)

We live in a world where different people have various conceptions, ideas, perceptions and perspectives; in a world where people have differing perceptions of reality, different notions of why we exist and various ideas of what happens after death. But the question remains, "Are these conceptions, ideas, perceptions and perspectives true; are they right?" Who can we trust to educate and inform us on what is real and what is not, what is true and what is not true? Jesus came to reveal the truth to us, and that this truth which sets us free might take us out of the darkness and bring us into the light. God enlightens, educates and informs us on what is real and what the truth is. Like Job said, "In God alone is wisdom." Since God was there before the beginning, and it was by his will and command that all things came into being, he obviously knows much more than any other person, angel or created thing. If we want the truth, we have to look to God and then we will truly be saved. "Casting down all imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5).  
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does" (2 Corinthians 10:3).

"Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the end of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: 'How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you-when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.'" (Proverb 1:22-33)

We should not get offended when God rebukes us. He rebukes us because He loves us. God tells us that if we respond to His rebuke, heed and do not ignore his advice, do not reject Him when he calls; He will pour out His heart to us and make His thoughts known, that whoever listens to Him will live.

"Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, 'Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.' Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; keep your foot from evil." (Proverbs 4:1-27).

Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won't you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer?

Thanks!

Lloyd

