Sunday, April 22, 2007

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

A good question would be why God made other planets and did not put life on them. It's true what the Bible says in Psalm 19:1:

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.

So what do the planets declare about God? Sure their gravity keeps us in place but what else? They show us just how special the earth is! If the planets weren't there how long would it have taken for us to realize that the earth has to be a perfect distance from the sun? Or, that it has to be the right size, and have the correct gases in our atmosphere to support life?
If we were close like mercury we'd be too hot. If we were larger we'd have too much gravity. If we were smaller we might be like Mars.
Surely the heavens do proclaim the glory of God!

Friday, April 20, 2007

Why is Hell forever.

A very good question some people ask is why Hell is forever. They wonder why God can't just send them there for a little while and then let them out, or why their penalty has to be so harsh. In a previous blog we covered that when we sin, even a small sin, we aren't just being penalized for lying or stealing, but for disobeying the perfect word of God. God is infinite. God's word is infinite. Therefore, if we disobey his word then the penalty is infinite. Even though we are not infinite we still owe an infinite debt. Therefore we must pay for it infinitly. That is, forever. But the good news is that because Jesus IS God He was able to pay the infinite debt in your place once for all. The debt is payed in full by the only one able to pay an infinite debt. His love was willing to pay that debt! Come to him today, tell him you repent (turn away) from your sins and ask him to be your Lord (master) and Savior and to forgive your sins because He has payed the sin debt!

Thursday, April 19, 2007

The parable of the parachute

Kirk Cameron gets the credit for this one.

There was once a man on an air plane. A stewardess tells the man he needs to wear a parachute. When the man asks why she tells him that if he puts on the parachute it will make his flight better. The man doesn't understand why wearing a parachute will make his flight better but puts the parachute on anyway. He instantly realizes that he can't sit up straight in his seat. All the other passengers are laughing at him for wearing this parachute and the stewardess who told him about the parachute comes by and spills hot coffee all over him. Angry and bitter about the parachute the man stands up and yells, "I thought you said this would make my flight better!!??!!" and throws it off.

A few rows down another stewardess gives another man a parachute. She tells him that he needs to wear the parachute because the plane is going to crash and in any moment he will have to jump. The man puts on the parachute. Even though he can't sit up straight in his seat and all the other passengers laugh at him he clings to his parachute. Even after the stewardess spilled hot coffee all over him he still clung tightly to his parachute because he knew it was his only hope to survive the coming doom. In fact he was greatful for the parachute and looked forward to the end of his flight.

Many people become disapointed with the Christian life because they were told they needed Jesus because Jesus would make their life better but t, and surely he does give us abundant life! But, after they become saved they're faced with hard times or hateful church people who "spill hot coffee" on thier hearts. But, we do not become saved to get a better life. We do so to survive the fall. All of the apostles were either killed or exiled for their faith, but their joy came from knowing that Jesus loved them and saved them from the fall.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Why is sin such a big deal?

First of all with all these blogs I don't want anyone to think that I'm setting myself up as a perfect sinless person. I'm not. Not by a long shot.

With that out of the way I'll get to the point! :)

I've derived this from something Paul Washer once said. To understand why sin is a big deal to God, even small sins one must understand the magnatude of sin.

God commanded the universe to exist out of nothingness. It obeyed him.
God commanded entire gallaxies to go where they should, and they went.
God commanded enormous stars where to hang in the heavens and they obeyed him.
God commanded mountains to rise and valleys to fall and they obeyed.
God commanded the ocean to stop and allow the dry land to appear. It obeyed him.

Then, God turned to man and said come to me and man said "NO!".
Mankind is the only creation that has ever disobeyed the word of God, the same word that created the universe. That is a big deal!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

I'm not so bad. Why do I need Jesus?

Alot of people think that they're good enough to go to heaven. They say that they're sins aren't so bad and that there are murderers or rapists who are much worse. Surely God would send me to heaven compared to them!

First of all we need to establish that yes, you are a sinner and deserve God's judgement. Let's take just the Ten Commandments as our standard. God's law is more than just the Ten Commandments, but we'll use it for our purposes. I will present the Commandments in question form so that you man use them as a mirror for yourself.
1. Have you ever lied? Probably. I have.
2. Have you ever stolen? Probably. All though I can't think of an example I probably have.
3. Have you ever commited adultery? Jesus said if you look at a woman to lust after her you have commited adultery in your heart. What man has not done this?
4.Have you ever coveted? Most people have looked at what their neighbor has and wished it belonged to them.
5. Have you ever taken God's name in vain? If you've used his name in any other manner other than talking to Him or about Him you have.

We've only covered half of the Commandments and so far we're probably 5 for 5.  Get the picture? If we continue you'll have to admit that you have violated most if not all of the 10 commandments and one point. If God is a perfect judge he will give you the judgement you deserve.

But you might be saying to yourself, well yeah. I'm guilty. But I'm still not that bad. I mean, I'm not a rapist or murderer or anything. Well my illustration might seem crude but it's effective.


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Above are 4 cups of water. Cup #1 is perfectly pure. Cup #2 has a tiny dingleberry in it. Cup #3 has a great big turd in it. Cup #4 is pure diarrhea. Which one do you want to drink out of? Cup #2 isn't as bad as 3 or 4. Why not accept it and drink out of it? You'd only want to drink out of #1. Even though #2 isn't so bad it's equally disgusting to you as 3 and 4. That's how God looks at sin. You are either #2,#3 or #4. There was only one person who ever qualified as #1. That was Jesus Christ.
God loved you so much that he sent Jesus to take the penalty for your sins on the cross. When Jesus died on the cross he took all your sins on himself.
So God took all your filth and poored it on Jesus. Like this:

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Even though Christ was pure he became sin for you. So when you repent of your sins and ask Jesus in to your life as your Lord and Savior you take on his purity, just as he took on your filth. He payed your penalty.
In a court of law if you were found guilty of violating the law and the judge told you to pay the fine, and you didn't have the money what would you do? You'd go to jail. What if while you were being taken to your cell someone you didn't know had sold all they had and came in and offered to pay your fine? You'd be greatful and accept it! You'd live your live with gratitude for that person's sacrifice. That's what Jesus did. He gave all he had to pay your fine. Repent and turn away from your sins. Accept the gift Christ payed for on the cross. Acknoledge him as your Lord and Savior. He loves you and has provided a way for you to escape your penalty!