What’s Inside You? Life or Death?

Death is everywhere. Did it have a beginning, or has it always been with us? - Clint Decker 

Have you ever been asked, “Are you saved?” or heard a variation of that from someone or even a preacher talk about it? What exactly does that mean, and strangely as it may sound, how does it relate to life and death? (Image from livingalignment.com)  

Unfortunately, death is all around us. It is part of our personal lives and the culture of our communities. We see it in the form of tragedy when a school experiences the greatest of horrors, where a sadistic killer takes the lives of innocent and defenseless children.

Death can also come in the form of disease or sickness. Whatever it is, all of us, from the moment of birth, are set on a certain path toward our own end. Obituaries, funerals and beautifully manicured cemeteries all remind us of this.

We also observe death in nature through plants, flowers, trees and in the animal kingdom too. Death is everywhere. Did it have a beginning, or has it always been with us? It first appeared thousands of years ago in the lives of our first parents, Adam and Eve. They once lived on earth’s most beautiful place, the Garden of Eden. After God created them, He laid down boundaries with stern consequences about the fruit of a particular tree, saying, “for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)

In history’s most consequential act, they disobeyed God and immediately death entered into our world. Through their sin death came. For God said to man, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen. 3:19)

Death came upon all of creation, which included more than physical death. It also included a spiritual death, where mankind, who once walked with God, became separated from Him. And since God was the author of life, that spiritual life was lost, where though man was alive on the outside, he became dead on the inside. It took the form of an inner darkness that produced slavery to his evil desires, leading to the weight of shame and guilt for His actions that lay heavy upon him. Emptiness. Hopelessness. It all is part of this curse of sin and death.

Yet, God in His perfect wisdom and love, would not leave us to ourselves. Instead, He sent His Only Son to earth that people might be saved from this curse. Jesus, fully God and man, was a perfect being that never sinned. He willingly took the penalty of death, that was due for you and me. He bore upon His shoulders every evil thought, word and deed of the whole world. He became separated from the life of His Father and died a torturous ending on a cruel cross. Then three days later, He rose from the dead! His resurrection conquered sin and death. Then Christ declared that all who turn from their sin and place their complete faith in Him, would have the curse of sin and death lifted, and the life of Christ poured into them. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

For all who trust in Christ and walk in faithfulness with Him, though one day they will die, yet they will live forever in the presence of God. Gone will be the darkness, and present for eternity will be light and life of Jesus. The Bible says, “…there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Have you been saved?

A prayer for you – Lord God, if someone has the curse of sin and death dwelling within them, help them to understand the good news of Jesus today. Bring them to admit their sin before you and call upon you with all their heart. Bring them to fully trust in you and be truly saved. Deliver them from sin and death, and give them the indwelling light and life of Jesus. In His name. Amen.

Violence in Our Land

Escalating crime and violence in society points to a singular issue. We have drifted far from God. We are in a spiritual crisis! - Clint Decker

One news report stated about a horrible tragedy at local church in Michigan, “The man accused of killing four people and burning down a [Mormon church] …reportedly held a long-simmering hatred for [them].” Authorities said that the assassin of Charlie Kirk texted a friend, “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.” And after a man mercilessly slayed a young Ukrainian refugee in front of onlookers a witness reportedly overheard him saying, “I don’t even know the lady. I never said not one word to the lady at all.” (Image by Pixabay)

Michigan. North Carolina. Utah. What is happening? One recent poll communicated a rising number of people seem to believe violence is the only way, “Three in 10 people now say that Americans may have to resort to violence to get the country back on track.” Professor Jon Michaels of UCLA states, “violence is so great right now, and it’s hard to figure out exactly what is causing it and why [we aren’t] able to turn away from it.” He frames the American mindset, “If we can’t solve things [one way, then] we’re going to solve things through intimidation, aggression and murder…”

Many are wondering about the same thing as the professor, which leads people to ask, “Is it a law enforcement problem?” “Is it a political problem?” “Is it a mental health problem?” Escalating crime and violence in society points to a singular issue. We have drifted far from God. We are in a spiritual crisis!

We are not the first to experience this. Thousands of years ago, after God created mankind, they began to drift from Him. When they did, the earth became a dangerous place to live. History says, “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:11) Jesus spoke of the practical effects of rejecting Him when He said, “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12) Today, dark and cold hearts are running our streets. This is what happens when a nation turns from God. Our moral foundations are crumbling while any civility that remains is slowly fading away. Right has become wrong and wrong has become right. Evil doers are praised, and the righteous are vilified. Virtuous laws are subjectively enforced or not at all, while immoral laws are drafted and imposed with vigilance.

God is a God of moral and just laws that transforms individual hearts, which then impacts society. His Word tells us not to murder, not to hate, to love our enemies, to forgive and to have loving marriages and families. When we turn from our ways and place our trust in Jesus, He changes our hearts and enables us to live this way. When that happens, it affects our family and community.

We must return to the Lord God, our Creator, or continue to face the violent crisis at our doors. We have a choice to make. The Bible says, “…if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Today, I hope and pray you and your family will choose Jesus. He died, was buried, then rose again as a sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. He willingly took upon Himself the judgment you deserved. He took your anger, hate, unforgiveness and bitterness. He did it so you could be free and transformed into a new person. Turn from those poisons and place your full commitment in Christ.

A prayer for you – Lord God, we confess, we have fallen from you. We have looked to the gods of pleasure, money and power and become their slaves. In return they have given us violence, death and chaos. Forgive us, O God. Cleanse our hearts, we pray and save us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

You Need to Read This Book!

The Bible has been the Book that held together the fabric of Western civilization. - H.G. Wells

George Washington, the first President of the United States, said about God’s Word, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without the Bible.” The legendary General Douglas MacArthur commented regarding the Scriptures, “Believe me, sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God before I go to bed.” Famous author H. G. Wells observed, “The Bible has been the Book that held together the fabric of Western civilization... The civilization we possess could not come into existence and could not have been sustained without it.” (Image by Unsplash)

The first book printed on the Gutenberg press in 1455 was the Bible. Since then, it has become history’s best-selling book. Over 100 million are printed each year with over 6 billion currently in print around the world. It also is the world’s most widely translated and distributed book. Out of 7,394 languages spoken across all seven continents, 3,658 have either a full Bible or some portion of it.

It is without debate. The Bible has been and continues to be, the world’s most influential book by every measure. And that is against all odds. There is some level of restriction on Bible use in 33 nations, like North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. Historically and even presently, people have been jailed or killed for translating, printing, distributing, reading or even owning a Bible.

Why all this about the Bible? Because you need to read it! It is urgent. It will change your life, like it has millions of people down through the course of history. Here are seven reasons you need to start reading the Bible today.

1. The Bible reveals who your Creator is. “I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens…” (Isaiah 45:12) You did not come from a tadpole or a big bang. You were hand crafted by Almighty God. The Bible helps you to know who you are and who God and His only Son is.

2. The Bible answers your greatest questions. “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) The Bible answers questions like, “What is my purpose in life?”, “Is there life after death?”, “Why is there so much suffering and evil in the world?” and many more.

3. The Bible uncovers your supreme struggle. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.” (Matthew 15:19-20) The Bible teaches how you have a heart problem, and it shows how you can get a new heart through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

4. The Bible teaches you how to live. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16) The Bible teaches about marriage, family, relationships, conflicts, justice, finances, government, confronting evil, doing good to our neighbors and a wide range of other subjects.

5. The Bible is reliable. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16) When you open the Bible, you can trust it. It does not lie.

6. The Bible is your source of truth. “The sum of your word is truth…” (Psalm 119:160) God’s Word tells us what is right and wrong and good and evil. There are no guessing games when it comes to morals. God’s Word lays it out straight.

7. The Bible is your source of hope. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13) When you read the Bible and discover your Creator, find answers to big questions, receive forgiveness for your sins, learn how to live in difficult circumstances and encounter what is true and good – it inspires hope.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray you will bring people to read their Bible today. May they open its pages and discover the abundant riches of your grace and truth you have waiting for them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.