Easter: A Gift of Life to The World

The Devil and demons of hell thought He was gone for good, but on Sunday morning the supernatural life in Jesus burst forth! He rose Himself from the dead! - Clint Decker

It was Friday morning in Jerusalem, the Day of Preparation for the Sabbath on Saturday. As the sun rose and people began their normal routine, something in the air felt different. Yes, there was the usual morning light, but dark clouds were slowly moving in, not rain clouds, but ones of a different sort. There was something ominous about it all. (Image by Arnie Bragg from Pixabay)

The whole city was stirred up by one man. He was arrested by authorities the night before and taken back and forth between Jewish and Roman officials. Before the council, the high priest tore his robes in judgement against the man saying, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” (Matthew 26:65-66) He was sentenced to death by crucifixion claiming to be the Son of God. He was Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and His death on Good Friday, nearly 2,000 years ago, had a purpose. Jesus explained this during the Passover meal with His disciples the night before, And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28)

His death was to be a sacrifice for the sins of all humanity – past, present and future. He would pay their penalty of death for them. Why? So they might be forgiven for all their evil deeds and be restored to a relationship with their Creator.

After His death, Jesus’ lifeless body hung on the cross before it was taken down and laid in a tomb. Darkness enveloped Jerusalem. It was finished. Jesus paid the wages of death for the sin of all humanity.

But there is more.

After Jesus’ died, a battle waged in an invisible realm. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…” (John 11:25) Within Jesus, the Son of God, lay the supernatural power of life. It was shown when he spoke into Lazarus’ grave, who had been dead for four days, “[Jesus] cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” (Jn. 11:43) Another time, there was a 12-year-old girl, who had been dead for hours when Jesus came to her. Then witnesses recounted “…taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once.” (Luke 8:54-55) And a similar event occurred when Jesus approached a funeral procession carrying the dead body of a young man. Jesus spoke and he came to life.

How can Jesus’ raise people from the dead? Not because He is a miracle worker, but because He is the source of all life. “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Jn. 1:3-5)

When Jesus lay dead in the tomb for three days, within Him was still that source of divine life. The Devil and demons of hell and all of Jesus’ enemies thought He was gone for good, but on Sunday morning the supernatural life in Jesus burst forth! He rose Himself from the dead! Jesus’ said about His life, “No one takes it from me but I…have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.” (Jn. 10:18)

He was able to live again, because of the supernatural life within Him. His life and light overcame sin, death and darkness. And because He did, He now offers that same supernatural life to you! Turn from your sin. Turn to the living Christ and receive His gift of life!

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray you will bring people to believe in your beloved Son and receive His gift of life. May they be born again into a new and living hope through the work of your life-giving Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Be a Gentleman This Valentine’s Day

Men, are you willing to meet the challenge to treat your lady, like a gentleman would? And not just on special occasions, like Valentine’s Day, but every day? - Clint Decker

When I was a teenager my mom and I were out doing some errands when we stopped to head into a store. As we approached the building, I opened the door and walked in. Moments later I looked to my side, and my mom was not there. I turned around and found her standing outside on the other side of the door. When I walked back to her, I quickly found out what the problem was. Me! My mom was waiting for me to open the door for her. Not that she was injured or weak by any means. Nope! She was a very strong woman in many ways. Rather, she was trying to teach me how a gentleman is to treat a lady. I failed terribly! She also tried to teach me to eat my French fries with a fork. I failed there too. (Image from psychalive.com)

It took a while, but eventually I caught on, and was grateful for what she taught me. We have two great-granddaughters living with us, and I am doing the reverse with them. When we go into a building I say, “Okay girls, I need you to wait beside the door for me.” Then I will come and say, “You are queens and a gentleman always opens the door for his queen.” Sometimes it does not go so well with the older great-granddaughter. She will say, “I don’t need a man to open the door for me!” I need more time to work on that one.

Where does the idea of men acting like gentlemen and treating women like ladies come from? Read these words, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it…” (Ephesians 5:25-29) The concept of being a gentlemen in how a man treats a lady comes from God. He further states, “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman…” (1 Peter 3:7) How is a husband or boyfriend to honor his beautiful lady? Here are three ways that partially come from others.

Courtesy. Open the door for your lady, letting her enter first. Walk on the side closer to traffic, to protect her from any danger as vehicles drive by. Let her order first at a restaurant and always pay the bill. Help her with her coat. Offer to help carry any items she has.

Communication. Put down your cell phone, turn away from your video game and give your wife or girlfriend your full attention when she is talking. Genuinely compliment her to be an encouragement. Never use profanity toward her, or in her presence. Instead, let your words toward her be filled with graciousness and gentleness.

Consideration. Never lie to your lady. Respect her boundaries. When she says “no”, then honor that. Be reliable. When you give your word to her, then keep it. Have a sense of decorum in her presence, by stopping with the bodily noises. Be considerate enough to refuse being drunk in her company. Defend her at all costs from anyone who raises an evil hand toward her or who throws a vile word in her direction.

Men, are you willing to meet the challenge to treat your lady, like a gentleman would? And not just on special occasions, like Valentine’s Day, but every day? Women, are you willing to let him?

I realize what I am writing is controversial in light of the confusing gender roles we have today. What is a man? What is a woman? This is not confusing with God. He provides perfect clarity on this. Through the power of God, you can become the gentleman and lady God has called you to be.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray you will help men to be gentlemen and women to be ladies. Bring us to treat one another with a sense of honor in our relationships. And where we are weak, forgive us and enable us by your Spirit to live as we ought. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Will Muslims, Christians and Jews be in Heaven Together?

We are living in a time where nearly a majority of Christians feel it is not important what religion a person is, what they believe or how they live, but more importantly is that God loves them. - Clint Decker

Once after I finished speaking at a church, a gentleman in the congregation approached me and asked, “Do you think Muslims will go to heaven?” I responded by sharing Jesus’ own words, who said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Then to my surprise he stated, “The way I see it, is God loves everyone, so if people are sincere in their beliefs, they should be able to find their own way to Him.” (Freepik)

The man is not unique among Sunday morning church goers. A survey was taken by Ligonier Ministries that involved U.S. evangelical Christians. Among the participants, 47% agreed that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.” We are living in a time where nearly a majority of Bible believing Christians feel it is not important what religion a person is, what they believe nor how they live. The most important thing is that God loves all people and accepts their worship.

Is this true? About 45 minutes from where I live is a Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall, a Mormon church, a Muslim Mosque, Evangelical Covenant Churches, Southern Baptist churches, Wesleyan churches and many others. Are we all going to heaven? Do we each have our own unique way to God? Does it not matter what we all believe or how we live?

Take a look at what God Himself says, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:2-3) This was not just a message to the Hebrew people, but to all humankind. And replace “gods” with religion. It still means the same thing. He also said, “that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.” (Deuteronomy 4:35) God is clear in condemning all other gods besides Him.

What is the way to the one true God? Jesus, the divine Son of God, made it plain and simple, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn. 14:6) He validated this truth through His teachings, miracles and ultimately His death, burial and resurrection from the dead.

There stands only one God, the Lord God who made the heavens and the earth. And there stands only one Jesus, the one who died and rose again that we might know the Almighty. And it is said about Him, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

The Lord God is above Allah of the Koran. He is the Great Spirit and Great Creator that calls Native Americans to believe in Him. He is the one true God among the thousands of other gods in Hinduism. He teaches Buddha and his followers saying, “I am the Creator, and all knowledge, all truth, all light is found in me.” The Jesus who was resurrected from the dead is greater than the Jesus of the Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Mormon’s. And to the Jews he says, “I am the Messiah you have been expecting. Believe in me.”

God loves the whole world, and to that world He declares He is the only God and there is only one way to Him; through Jesus. In a spirit of love and compassion God proclaims this message to the world through His followers. And He calls all people to turn from their ways and their false gods and to Him by faith before it is too late.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray you will help people to understand there is only one God, only one Jesus and only one way to you. Bring people to believe this truth and yield themselves fully to you this hour. In Jesus’ name. Amen.