The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Life

  • Christmas Time is Here

    “For unto you is born this day in the city of David
    a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord”
    Luke 2:11

    This has been a very crazy year. So much has happened. So much has changed. It is hard to believe that the year 2020 is almost over. And it doesn’t really feel like Christmas.

    Do you remember watching A Charlie Brown Christmas? As it opens, Charlie Brown is declaring to Linus, “I think there must be something wrong with me. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel. I just don’t understand Christmas, I guess.” He then continues by telling Linus all of the things he likes about the Christmas season, but that he still isn’t happy. “I always end up feeling depressed,” declares Charlie Brown. Linus tells Charlie Brown that only he could turn a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem.

    If you remember how the show progresses, Charlie Brown is in charge of the Christmas program. He finds that everything he does turns into a disaster. In the midst of it all, he declares that he really doesn’t know what Christmas is all about. He then cries out, “Isn’t there anyone who can tell me what Christmas is all about?!”

    Linus steps up declaring that he knows what Christmas is all about. All should remember what Linus quotes to everyone: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:8-14).

    Most people in the world today seem to forget: What Christmas is all about. In the cartoon A Charlie Brown Christmas, the point is made. It is not the giving and receiving of Christmas gifts, the sending of Christmas cards, the commercialism that Christmas has become, and not even the Christmas programs that people try to make happen. The simplicity of the Christmas message is lost on the masses. It is purely what the angels told the shepherds in the field that night so long ago: “For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ” The good tiding of great joy was the birth of Jesus, the Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. One must understand that Christmas is about the greatest gift ever given: Jesus. God so loved us that He sent His only Son (see John 3:16). Then one must believe in what Jesus did when He came. He came to die (because of our sin). He came to give us life (because we cannot pay the penalty for our sin). Whoever will believe in Him, though they were dead in their sins and trespasses, yet shall he live. (Remember what Jesus declared to Martha, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” John 11:25). Each person must understand that Christmas is remembering the giving of the greatest gift given by God. It is available to anyone. But it must be received.

    Do you know what Christmas is all about?

    Have you received God’s gift (Jesus) into your heart and life?

    How to be Saved

  • The Wrath of God

    “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
    John 3:36

    No one talks about the wrath of God anymore. What exactly is the wrath of God?  It is mentioned most often in the New Testament. One clear understanding of it is found in the reading of Romans chapter one. In that chapter, one can understand that God’s wrath is holy and just in its indignation against sin. It is so much more than just anger at the willingness of people to continue in sin, it is extreme anger mingled with disgust or abhorrence of that sin.

    Doesn’t God love people? See what Jesus said in the following verses:

    • “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
    •  “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).
    •  “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).
    •  “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

    Why would God, who is known for His great love, condemn people? People condemn themselves because they have chosen to not believe in Jesus (the Light) and instead love darkness – because their deeds are evil. John summed up the consequences in the last verse of that chapter. It tells what becomes of one who does not believe that Jesus came to die and take away the sin of each individual who would only believe. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36)

    How can one escape the wrath of God? It is declared simply in the Scriptures: “9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). In doing this, one must turn from idols (anything that is more important than God – including self) and serve the living God. One must also understand that Jesus, God’s Son, is the only One who can deliver one from the wrath to come. “9. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). We are now waiting for Jesus to come and take us out of the world before the wrath of God comes. The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse into the wrath of God that will be unleashed upon the earth one day (not to mention in eternity for those who have already died in their sin). One only needs to read the chapters of fourteen and fifteen of Revelation to understand just how bad the wrath of God that will befall those left on the earth.

    Now having understood from John chapter three that the wrath of God abides upon people who do not believe in Jesus, each person has a choice to make:

    Believe on the Son and have everlasting life

    Or

    Believe not the Son and have the wrath of God abide upon them.

    Have you made the choice to believe in Jesus, choosing life?

    How to be Saved

  • Ponder thy Path

    “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”
    (Proverbs 4:26-27)

    Solomon was a very wise man. When King Solomon asked God to give him an understanding heart to judge God’s people, God gave him great wisdom. “Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.” (1 Kings 3:12). Notice that God said there was no one wiser before or after King Solomon. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs were a thousand and five (see 1 Kings 4:32). Although King Solomon did many foolish things in his kingdom, he recorded many wise words that are relevant even today.

    The book of Proverbs tells us some of wise words from King Solomon. Note that this book is for anyone who wants to know wisdom and instruction that Solomon learned from God (Proverbs 1:2). The introduction to this book is amazing! (See Proverbs 1:1-6.) It very plainly tells of its importance. However, it also tells the response from God to those who reject these words of wisdom. When the rejection of God’s Word is played out in one’s life and calamity comes, God will not be there to help (see Proverbs 1:20-27). Worse yet, God said, “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me” (Proverbs 1:28). What a truly scary thought! Compare this to another Proverb recorded. “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me” (Proverbs 8:17). Can you see the difference?

    Why would God respond in such a way? Continue reading, “29. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30. They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices” (Proverbs 1:29-31). Now do you see whose fault it is? Trouble that comes into one’s life for hating God’s knowledge and His counsel is always the fault of the one who chooses to disregard God’s Word. We should never choose our path in life over what God wants for our life. Chapter 1 ends with an encouraging word to help one understand this. “But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:33). What comforting words! Hearing from and listening to God is most important. After we learn to do that, we know what to do and where to go, and we will dwell safely. This is what one must consider as we read another Proverb King Solomon recorded for our instruction. “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:26-27). Walk straight in the path God has placed before you, not turning to the right nor to the left.

    Jesus later told the people, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). Only God’s Word can lead you to life. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (see John 14:6).

    Have you pondered the path of your feet?

    Where is that path leading you?

  • The Only Way

    Each Christian needs to know, and even memorize, these scriptures in order to tell someone else how to be saved. Tell someone today!

    1. Lostness:  Romans 3:23:  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
    2. Penalty: Romans 6:23:  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
    3. Price:  Romans 5:8:  “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
    4. Response:  Romans 10:9-10:  “9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
    5. Security:  Romans 8:38-39:  “38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
    6. New Life:  Romans 12:1-2:  “1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”