Only one road. ( John 14 v 6 .)

I  was watching an old movie, there was an actor who was playing the part of an old man, and he said this, ''There are three roads to heaven''.  I wonder what you think?, one could look out on the world, and you see multiple religions, and you rationalise ,and think,  millions of Muslims, Hindus ,etc ,cannot not be all wrong. Are they not all valid to some degree doing the same thing, worshipping God?, surly they are sincere, and many of there followers are fine people, And yet  the Christian religion says no, there is only one way to God, who is a God of truth, truth is not subjective ,it is objective, it is not a matter of opinion, which  everybody has. The Bible is objective truth, on morals it lets us know what is right, and what is wrong, on salvation it tells us that we all need to be saved, because we are sinners. One of the lessons that Fyodor  Dostoevsky a famous Russian author discovered while in exile in Siberia as a prisoner, ' That man can become , more cruel and bloodthirsty than the animals'. It may surprise us if we could know what other people are thinking, and it would surprise others, if they knew what we were thinking .When the Bible tells us, that all are sinners it is based on objective truth. When it tells us that we all need a Saviour, who can deny it, of course there are none so blind as those who do not want to see. That Saviour is a historical figure Jesus, who came to die on a cross, for crimes he did not commit .A holy God said sin must be punished, Hell awaited, but Jesus took the punishment. He died  on that cross that we may be forgiven. Something wonderful happen  which is an objective truth, He rose from the dead, an historical  fact.

                                                No three roads to heaven, only one,

                                                                    Jesus  

                                                                John 14 v 6  

The backward look ( Jeremiah 29 v 11)

  Let us consider the nation of Israel, I have just been reading Isaiah 26 v 16 -19,it stresses a number of things, Israel's history of failures Leupold writes the following, 'In her entire history up to this time, the nation, the people of Israel, produced nothing that was of general and substantial benefit to the nations of the world. She had a high destiny in this respect. The results achieved were negligible, no inhabitants came to birth through them ,they produced nothing  tangible. All is gloom and despair.' Leupold  further writes ,'The backward look was not too reassuring'. But v 19 brings a message of hope, God speaks of a future were new life would come to them, their deadness will turn to life, he writes of the dead being resurrected, the future looked bright. I would like to apply this to you if you are not a Christian, your past may has been a failure, doom and gloom, it does not give  any hope, God is the God who makes all things new, all can be changed, He can bring  you into a future of  hope, and purpose if you trust Jesus as your Saviour. If you are a Christian ,remember you have destiny in Jesus, you can be used by God,  and be a blessing to others, trust Him, remember God loves you, and God can use you.

Samuel ( 2 ) ( 1 Samuel 2 - 3 )

Let us consider the child Samuel, and the lessons we can learn from him,  he was to be looked after by the High Priest  Eli, he had the awesome responsibility, of caring for Samuel. He appeared to have done a good job, but he had two sons who turned out bad. They would bring judgement on Eli because he never dealt with them, yes he spoke to them, but as High Priest that was not enough. The message of judgement  came  like this, one evening God spoke to Samuel, but he  thought it was Eli calling him, but Eli assured him he hadn't called, this happened three times. On the third time Eli realised it was God ,so he told  him that next time, say,'' Speak Lord for your servant is listening'', so it came to pass. God told Samuel that he was going to judge Eli and his sons, first of all as High Priest he should have dealt with his sons but he didn't ,so God was going to deal with them. The next morning Eli asked  Samuel what God said, Samuel was afraid to tell him, but eventually he told him. There are a number of lessons to be learnt from this, first Eli, he paid a hard price by not dealing with his sons, godly people don't always have godly children, and there are times we have to make hard and painful decisions ,even to those nearest and dearest to us.. Samuel asked God  to speak to him, be careful, for you may not like what He has to say to you.  Samuel was afraid to tell Eli what God had said, so right at the beginning of his prophetic ministry, he would have to learn a very important lesson, to say things to people, that they don't want to hear, ministers of Christ  must especially learn this lesson .

Honour God. ( 1) ( 1 Samuel 2 v 30 )

I think it was the the Victorians who said ,'a child should be seen and not heard', but my thoughts turned to a child his name was Samuel. Samuel had a godly mother called Hanna , godly mothers are very precious, and can leave a lasting influence on their children lives. We read about his mother in 1 Samuel chap 1- 2, she had Samuel in response to her prayers, and when her prayers were answered, she dedicated her child to God. Dedication services should be taken very serious, Hannah meant it, and at a very early age she  gave him  over to the service of God . She had promised that if God would give her a child, she would give him back to the Lord , and she kept her promise.  Ecclesiastes chap 5 v 4 reads ,'When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfil it , He has no pleasure in fools; fulfil your vow'. God expects us to do do what we promise Him, consider ,God always keeps His promises. It is inconceivable to us that He would break his word. The lesson is this,  be careful what you vow or promise God, think seriously about it ,before you do it. In 1 Samuel 2 v 30 , we read God saying,' Those who honour Me I will honour'.

More. ( Ephesians 2 v 1 - 10)

 The word mercy has the meaning of compassion, pity for the underserving and the guilty, that is you and that is me. I continually stand in need of mercy, and the good news is, God is merciful, to all who come to Him through Christ, The cross says it all, at the cross there is mercy for all, who would seek forgiveness, through Jesus. I heard this song recently written by ,Matt Papa, it is called ,''His Mercy  is More''.

                                 ( 1)    What love could remember, what we have done,

                                          Omniscient, all knowing, He counts not their sum,

                                         Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore,

                                          Our sins  are many, His mercy is more.

                                (2 )     What  patience would wait as we constantly roam

                                           What  Father so tender is calling us home,

                                            He welcomes the weakest , the vilest, the poor,

                                           Our sins are many, His  mercy is more.

                                  ( 3)         What rules of kindness, He lavished on us,

                                            His blood was the payment, His life was the cost,

                                            We stood 'neath  a  debt we could never afford

                                            Our sins  they are many, His mercy is more   

                                                                      Chorus

                                                              Praise  the  Lord

                                                              His mercy is more

                                                              Stronger than darkness

                                                              New every morning,

                                                  Our sins are many, His mercy is more

                                                                 

                                                        

Put firt things first. ( Matthew 6 v 33 )

 Our wonderful  Saviour said so many wonderful things ,in Matthew 6 v  28 - 34 ,he  emphasises the importance of not worrying, why?, because we are all inclined to worry. In these verses, he  highlights  not to worry about what to eat, drink, and wear, he points us to our heavenly father, as an example of Gods care for nature. He reminds us how much more valuable we his children  are ,than the birds etc . we alone are the children of God. He points out the fruitlessness of worry v 27,and yet we worry, to our shame, Jesus never worried, you may think it was easy for Him , but it wasn't, to leave heaven and come to earth, was never easy, but he did it. He also emphasised  how our Father in heaven , knows what we need, rest on that. Our worries can shift our focus away from an important  challenge, that is to seek first  Gods kingdom  and His righteousness, if we do, everything we need  God will supply. A.W. Pink  wrote.

                                               'Remember dear reader that  tomorrow

                                               will bring with it tomorrow's God'.

                                                    

Will I make it? . ( Jude v 24 -25 )

Although I have been following the Lord 57 years ,this thought  crossed my mind, 'will I make it '?,will  I be like Demas who was beguiled by the world and became a deserter, or a Judas who betrayed the Lord. There are so many things we have to face, the world with all its allurements, the flesh, that is our fallen human nature, and of course the evil one, known by various  names, the Devil . These are real aspects of what we have to face, everyday, it is ongoing, and will continue to end of our Christian life. While I don't live in fear of not making it, the thought crosses ones mind,  will I make it?. First let me say this. if we are truly saved ,we cannot loose our salvation ( John 10 v 28 - 29 ),that does not mean that we can live in sin, no the evidence that we are a Christian, is shown by the good we do, and by a holy life. Will I be like Paul who wrote,' I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith'.( 2  Timothy 4 v  7 ). That is  the challenge that faces every Christian, so how can it be done?, ( 1 ) Know thyself, recognise that we are weak, that does not gave an excuse when we sin, or that we should give into sin, no, it means we  need to rely upon our God ,everyday and every minute of the day, for with out Him we can do nothing. (2 ) , Pray without ceasing, 24/ 7, ( 3 ) Read Gods word. (4 ) Meet with other believers. ( 5 ) Witness to others. (6 ) Daily repentance.

                                               O rebuke me not in anger!

                                              Suffer not my faith to fail!

                                              Let not pain, temptation, languor,

                                              O'er my struggling heart prevail;

                                               Holding fast Thy word I stand,

                                              None can pluck me from Thy hand.

                                                     Words. C. Elliott.

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