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- Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda
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Jul
4
Twice Born Or Twice Dead
July 4, 2009 | Let Your Minds Speak
Here’s the question, “Will you be born twice, or will you die twice?”
Most of us would like to avoid the topic of “death”. Largely Americans are in denial about death, especially their own. Of course, no one wants to die, but it is a statistical inevitability… 100% of us will die. However, not all will die twice. That depends on your births.
John 3:5-8 “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.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (NIV)
We, all human beings, are born of “water”, when we pass through the womb. That is our first birth. Our second birth must be spiritually.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1 (KJV)
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
Concerning the “second death”:
He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. Rev 2:11 (NIV)
Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. Rev 20:6 (NIV)
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 20:14-15 (NIV)
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Rev 21:8 (NIV)
Most of us are not murderers, nor do we practice magic arts, but many qualify as “the unbelieving”. If we do not believe that Jesus came to deliver us from condemnation then we are “the unbelieving”. All we need to do is believe that the Father has sent Him and rely upon Him and we shall pass from death (the second death) into life eternal.
There are many proofs that the Bible is true. I’ll address some examples in a future post.
Jun
28
Many Ways Or One Way
June 28, 2009 | Let Your Minds Speak
Are there many ways to the Father or to Heaven or is there simply One way? How many ways do there need to be? Can there be as many ways to God as there are people upon the planet? Does there need to be an unlimited number of ways? Alternatively, would just one way simply suffice?
If man is the center of the universe then we should be able to make our own choices, right? Shouldn’t I be able to choose my own way to the Father? Should He who created me have any say so or choice in the matter?
If the God who created me provided the way for me to come to Him, should I become obstinate and say, “No thanks! I’ll find my own way!” What if He made the way and declared it to be the only way, should he, being the Provider of the way possess any right to declare, “This is the way, walk ye in it”?
I know a man who lives down a long curvy lane. When I go there to visit, he provides a nice smoothly paved driveway, which takes me right to his door. Why would I attempt to make that drive off the road and through his lawn? Would he or should he insist that I use the driveway?
The God of the universe who created the earth and everything in it also created you. He has provided the way for you to come to Him and that is the only way, He insists on it. My duty and your duty in this life is to seek Him, reach out for Him and find Him, though he is not far from each of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being.
Jun
27
“…to those who believe on His name …”
June 27, 2009 | Let Your Minds Speak
But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name (the AMPLIFIED version)
What does this mean? Firstly, let’s look at His name, Jesus. “Jesus” is a transliteration of “Yeshuwa” which in the Hebrew means “God saves” or “God’s Salvation”. Remember Palm Sunday when the crowd cried out “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord”? They were literally calling out His name… YESHUWA (Hosanna meaning “save now”) They understood that it is God Who saves… not we ourselves by obeying rules set down by men nor by even keeping the law given by Moses (see Romans). God Himself saves us! Not because of anything we have done nor because we deserve it, but because of Who He is… this is called grace, that is, God’s unmerited favor.
So, to believe on His name is to believe that God Saves, through His Son, Who is His salvation.
Feb
13
The Meaning Of Life
February 13, 2009 | Let Your Minds Speak
Would you like to know “the meaning of life”? Here it is:
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth…he himself gives all 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 where 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.’ (From Acts 17:24-28 NIV)
He, God, determined the time set for you and the exact place where you should live. This means that God created YOU at this exact time and in this exact place because of who He created you to be. Because of “whom” you are, this is the very best time and place for you to “…seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him…”
Most people ask themselves, at some point in their lives, the question, “Why am I here?”, however, few people, I believe, ask, “Why am I now?” I believe the two cannot be separated, that the two questions go hand in hand with the same answer:
“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”.
Simply stated, the meaning of life is to find God. We, you and I, are here and now with the purpose of finding Him, of finding the One who gives us life and breath and everything else. Do not dismiss your purpose! Your eternal future depends on it!
Feb
13
Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda
February 13, 2009 | Let Your Minds Speak
There is at least one thing that I would like to accomplish before the Lord’s return. I would like to feel that I have said and done everything possible and made every attempt I could to make clear to my children their need to “seek…reach out for…and find God, though he is not far from each one of us.” This is the meaning of life!