There will be a day …

The day will come when all the stress, problems, and burdens of this life are gone.  Then I will see Jesus face to face.  But for now, I’ll hold on to Him with both hands and run the race that is set before me.

There Will Be A Day lyrics
I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more
fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,
we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you’re walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you’ve walked out all alone

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)
I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will
wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery
this is why this is why I sing

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more
fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,
we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more
fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,
we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day, he will wipe away the tears,
He will wipe away the tears,
He will wipe away the tears,
There will be a day.

Living by faith – by choice

My thoughts are not flowing well tonight.  I’m tired.  I’m stressed.  And that has very little to do with what I’m writing about …

Thinking about what it is to live for Christ and to live by faith.

Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

I live only to serve Him.  I have nothing apart from Him.

No desires for anyone or anything but Christ – who, other than Paul, could say that - honestly?

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

I must crucify my sinful nature.  It has to die so that I can really live.  I must still make proper choices.  However, I do these things by making the choice to allow Christ to live in me. I do this by allowing His Word to dwell in me.  That can only happen as I constantly read His Word. 

This faith that we have will lead us to walk by faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 “The just shall live by faith.”

The just man trusts, not in himself, but in God. His faith is directed upward, not inward.

He knows that God does all things right and all things well. Running the universe is God's business, but the righteous man will live by his faithfulness. He will trust and obey, even if he doesn’t understand all of God's ways.

Faith is not a singular event, confined to a distinct point in time and space; rather, it is a way of living.

How do you live?  Living by faith is a choice - a daily choice.  Are you willing to make it?

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God has your back!

I read Romans 8 today and this really stood out to me ……

I usually use the NIV but today I was in the New Living Translation, just reading this in a different version made some new things stand out to me.

Romans 8

31b. If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

32. Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?

33. Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself.

34. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us.

35. Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?

36. (Even the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep." )

37. No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.

39. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So what …

Where does all of this leave me? It means that God is on my side, and it doesn't matter who or what might be on the other side.

God will hold nothing back when it comes to his love for me. After all, if He gave his son for me, isn't that enough?

There is no higher authority than God. There is no need to fear anything of this earth. Jesus has the Father's attention and He loves me and He is pleading my case. Nothing can stop that love. Even in the midst of suffering and pain, never doubt the outcome. God loves me now and forever. Nothing can come between me and God's love for me.

You know how good it feels to know that “a friend has your back.”  Well – God has your back in all things – what a great truth!

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God’s Will

Have you ever wondered what God’s will was for your life?

There are two key ideas when thinking about God’s will.  The first is what does God’s Word have to say about the situation.  If God’s Word forbids it, then you can be sure it isn’t God’s will for you.  The second thing to ask yourself is - will doing this thing glorify God or help you grow spiritually?

If it isn’t forbidden in God’s Word and it would bring glory to God, then proceed and see how things go.  If it isn’t what God wants, he’ll put obstacles in your path.

Knowing God’s will is sometimes difficult. People want God to tell them specifically what to do — what job to take, where to live, who to marry, etc. God rarely gives people these kinds of specific answers.

God allows us to make choices regarding those things.  Romans 12:2
tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The only decision God does not want us to make is the decision to sin or resist His will. God wants us to make choices that are in agreement with His will.

So, how do you know what God’s will is for you? If you are walking with the Lord and truly desiring His will for your life, God will place His desires on your heart.

The key is wanting God’s will, not your own. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart”  Psalm 37:4.  

If the Bible does not speak against it and it can genuinely benefit you spiritually, then follow your heart. If you truly seek God’s will with a humble spirit and an open mind, He will reveal His will to you.

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Strength

Are you tired?  Do you feel worn out? Are you exhausted?  Are you stuck on a rut and feel like you are going nowhere?  Have you ever thought where is God?

Not only does God know of our struggles, but God also offers strength.

“But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

When you trust in the Lord, then your strength is eternal.  That’s because it isn’t yours, it’s the Lord’s.  Even in difficulty or trouble, your walk will continue because the Lord is guiding your feet.  When you get tired, the Lord will carry you.

There will be moments in your life when it all seems overwhelming.  That’s when you have to trust God to get you through it.  Don’t try to go it alone.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Trust Him to give you strength and hope.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.“  (Psalm 23:1)

“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Be Still

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

This is an imperative.  A command.  What does it mean?

I think it means to be still in our heart.  To recognize God is in control and let Him run the show.  To let go of everything that is troubling you and let God handle it.  That doesn’t mean you do nothing but it does imply that you seek His will. 

Know and acknowledge that He is God.  Reflect on His character.  Be still and think about what you know about God.  Really know that He is God – not just intellectually but practically, spiritually, emotionally.

He is in charge.  He is the Creator of the Universe.  He is the beginning and the end.  He is all powerful and all knowing.  He is above all created thing.  He was, and is, and is to come. 

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,”  (Psalm 46: 1-2)

Rest

I had this song running through my mind today.  It is from an old hymn.

Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as he promised,
Perfect peace and rest.

What is this rest that Jesus has promised?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest .” (Matt 11:28)

If we come and submit ourselves to Christ, then we get rest.  We choose to go to Christ and give Him our burdens. Coming to Christ is suppose to be easy.  Just bring whatever burden you’re carrying and come the way you are.

We are his workmanship.  Our lives are not our own.  It is God who works in me to will and to do according to His good pleasure. 

The biggest struggle I have in the Christian life is to rest.  Hebrews 4:11 says that it takes effort to rest.  (“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest,”)  It means letting go of things that stress me.  It means letting God take control and responsibility for my life.  It means walking by faith and not by sight. 

I can do it.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  (Philippians 4:13)  I can and will work at resting.  Will you?

 

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

“for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13

“We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

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Hakuna Matata

Can’t sleep …….. thought I’d journal for awhile…

I start using Microsoft Live Write to write these.  If you haven’t seen it, and you blog – you need to check it out. 

Hakuna Matata …..

It’s my problem-free philosophy …. (remember the song from the Lion King.)

Does that really exist?  I read that Hakuna Matata translated from the original Swahili means “there are no worries here.” 

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God...shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus"

So what do you think …… should a Christian’s motto be Hakuna Matata …..

"And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?  If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why are you anxious about other matters?  (Luke 12:25-26, NASB).

We worry because we are trying to take God's business into our own hands. We are worried about results, timing, jobs, finances, acceptance, etc., but God has made Himself responsible for all of these things and lots more.

God has his fingers on the very details on my life.  He cares about everything I am going through.  I need His perspective on life.  I need my focus on Him.  I need to leave worries in His hands.

So, for now, Hakuna Matata ……. (and good night)

Thinking about thinking

Just thinking about thinking tonight ….

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."  (Proverbs 4:23)

I think the heart in this verse includes the mind.  I remember someone saying one time that we commit a sin first in our thoughts and then with our actions.  You have to control your mind and what it thinks on. 

Fill you mind with good input.   What goes in comes out.  Train your mind to think on godly thoughts.  Train your mind to come up with godly solutions.  Train your mind to take your problems to Christ first.

“take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

“Don't worry about anything: instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. ....Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.”  (Philippians 4:6-9)

“Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory.” (Colossians 3:2-4)

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

So what are you thinking ……..

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Trust

Ideas and thoughts on trust ….

God is God.  Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience.  I will not rest anywhere but in the center of His will for my life.  His will is beyond my wildest notions of what my life is to be like.  He knows the beginning and the end.  He knows what He has planned for me.  I can trust Him.

There will always be uncertainties in my life, but there is one certainty – God loves me and His will for me is perfect.

I desire to wholly follow the Lord.  I believe that His promises are true and trustworthy. 

Trust is a firm belief.  It is a conscious act.   It is a choice.

He will never leave me or forsake me. 

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Psalm 103:11 “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him”

There is no circumstance, no trouble, no testing, that can ever touch me without God knowing about it first.  If God knows about it, then why should I panic.  After all, God doesn’t make mistakes.  Therefore, he won’t let anything happen to me that isn’t part of His plan for me.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning …”

Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

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Fear

Fear is an emotion that can cripple a person.  Fear can be displayed as worry, guilt, stress, depression, confusion, etc..  The main kinds of fear are the fear of death, sickness, failure, and rejection.  There are hundreds of other fears but I won’t go into all the “phobias” that exist. 

Should a Christian be fearful?  John 10:10 says that the devil loves to operate through fear.  Is fear really a lack of trust?

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

You can’t be fearful and trusting God at the same time.  "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You." (Isaiah 26:3).

Fear anticipates the worst and not the best.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Faith is the opposite of fear.  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for." (Hebrews 11:1)  So fear is what we don’t hope for.

Fear doesn’t come from God.  "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

Fear is a sin.  “Whatever is not of faith is sin." (Romans 14:23)   Jesus spoke of worry. He said six times, "Do not worry." (Matthew 6:25-34).

"Fear always springs from ignorance." (Emmerson) Get hold of the best advisers, get good counsel. Don't try and handle it yourself.  “The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong.” (Psalm 37:30)   “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harms.” (Proverbs 13:20)

Take control over your thoughts.  Don’t let them control you.  “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Recognize that you are in a spiritual battle and the devil would love to distract you and render you powerless by simply causing you to spend your time in fear rather than in prayer or praise.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

Fight the good fight by putting on the whole armor of God.  “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  (Ephesians 6:14–17)

Remember Philippians 4:6-8
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." (Philippians
4:6-8)
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Humility

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What is Christian humility? It has to do with being totally honest with myself about who I am. I need to recognize my shortcomings and my dependence on God. I am dependent on God’s grace, mercy, strength, wisdom, etc… It is admitting to myself that I can’t do it alone. I am not in control.

Pride is the opposite of humility. Pride is wicked and destructive. It causes me to be self-centered. It causes me to think that I can do it myself and that I don’t need anyone. It hurts other people and it destroys my character. (It is easier to see in others than myself – ouch!)

Humility goes against the philosophy of the world. The world tells me that I must sell myself if I want to get ahead. I must learn to be assertive so I am not walked on by others. While a certain amount of self confidence is a good thing, be sure to remember that everything I have comes to me by the grace of God.

How do you “get” humility? I have to have a right attitude toward God. Remember who He is. See God in his majesty, power, and holiness. (That should be enough to humble me.) Recognize that all I have comes from the hand of God.

The main thing is to come before God and just be honest about who I am. Admit how much I need His love and His grace.

1 Corinthians 15:10a “But by the grace of God I am what I am.”

1 Peter 5:5b-7 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Ephesians 4:2 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Micah 6:8 “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
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Scripture Memory

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I struggle memorizing Scripture. I know it would be good for me. I have seen people who can just pull verse after verse from their memory and I wish I could do that. I know a lot of the basic Bible verses. I know where to find lots of verses – in my Bible. I have trouble finding things in someone else’s Bible. I remember things like what color I highlighted it and where it is on the page. Memorizing more Scripture needs to be a goal for me and I believe it needs to be a goal for most Christians.

Chuck Swindoll wrote, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture…No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified.”

There are a few reasons why Scripture memory is essential to the Christian life.

Scripture will help conform you to the image of Christ. As we go through our lives, situations happen and we need our first thoughts to be what does Scripture say about this.

Scripture will help us with our daily victory over sin. Psalm 119:9, 11 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. … I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Paul said that we must put to death the deeds of the body.(Romans 8:13) In Ephesians 6, Paul talks about the armor of God. The only offensive weapon we have is the sword of the Spirit – which is the Word of God. Remember when Jesus was tempted by Satan. He recited Scripture from memory and Satan fled from him. (Matthew 4)

Scripture will help you comfort and council others. There are times when people you know and love need you to counsel and comfort them. A lot of these times either a Bible isn’t handy or bringing out your Bible would “scare” them off. Yet they would sit there and listen to you recite verses from the Bible. Isaiah 5:11 says that God’s word will not return empty but will achieve the God’s purposes.

Scripture will help you communicate the gospel to unbelievers. Opportunities to share the gospel come when we do not have a Bible in our hands. Never forget the power that the Word has. We should be able to sum up the plan of salvation into a couple of verses. Remember to include verses on God’s love, man’s sin, Christ’s death, the free gift of life through faith.

By memorizing Scripture, you can let the Lord talk to you all day. Everywhere you go and in everything you do, the Word is a part of you. Memorize verses like “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) These will help you through tough times. When my husband lost his job just over a year ago, the first thing I thought was “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) This helped immediately put me in the right frame of mind to deal with the situation.

So, pick out a verse that you think will help you get through the day. Write it down and begin to memorize it. Perhaps write it on an index card and carry it with you every day until you learn it. Post it on your mirror so you see it first thing in the morning. Think of ways to keep it in front of you until you’ve mastered that one. Then choose another verse.

Don’t make your goals too tough. Memorize one verse every 2 weeks and you will learn 26 verses in a year. Look for long term gains. I usually start a project like this and want to do it fast. This is not a sprint, it is a life-long marathon. Make goals you can achieve and enjoy the process. Don’t be too hard on yourself. If you don’t make a goal, just try again.

A lot of this post was influenced by some things I've read by John Piper.

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Be Strong and Courageous

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"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

In this verse, Moses reminds the people that God will protect them and bless them. God will fight for them. Jesus made the same promise to the church in Matthew 28:20 when he said that he would be with us to the very end of the age.

Whatever you are facing today, don't be afraid. The Lord has promised to go with you.
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One of "Those Days"

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Ever have one have one of "those days"- a day where everything that could go wrong did go wrong. How do you react? What is your attitude? What if everyone around you is blaming you for things that aren't your fault? What if you are being accused of things you didn't do? How do you take that? What do you say? Do you feel like you are being treated unjustly?

Jesus knows exactly how that feels. Do you remember what all he went through?

He was rejected by his own nation (John 1:11). He was rejected by his friends and family. (Mark 3:21 and John 7:5)

Before he was old enough to have hurt anyone, he was threatened by Herod (Matthew 2:16) The people in his hometown wanted to kill him. (Luke 4:28-29)

He was threatened multiple times by the Jews. The Jews hated him for performing a healing on the Sabbath. (John 5:16) They couldn't deal with his claims to be God. (John 8:58-59 and 10:30-33) They threatened him because of his sermons. (Luke 11:53-54, Mark 12:12, Matthew 26:1-4) They threatened Jesus for performing miracles. (John 11:53, Jn. 12:10)

Have you thought about the idea that Jesus was homeless? (Matthew 8:20)

He was betrayed by one of his own followers. Someone he had been with for three years. He had lived with him, walked with him, talked with him, and shared his life with him. (John 13:21)

He was denied by another follower. Jesus loved Peter and yet when it counted, Peter said he didn't know him. (Matthew 26:58, 69-75)

He was indicted on false charges (Luke 23:1-15)

He was mocked by the Roman soldiers (Luke 23:36-37) He was mocked by the crowd. (Luke 23:35) He was mocked by the chief priests. (Mk. 15:31)

He was slapped (John 18:22), blindfolded (Luke 22:64), spit upon (Matthew 26:67), flogged (Matthew 27:26), pierced with thorns (Matthew 27:29), and he was struck on the head. (Matthew 27:30)

Finally, even though he was innocent of all charges, he was crucified like a common criminal. (Matthew 27: 32-56)

Even though he endured all of these things from the people he created and loved, he willingly went to the cross to die for us. Never forget how much He loves you. Never forget what your salvation cost Him. Never think you are in this alone – He is always there for you and He understands every trial and problem you experience. Never let "one of those days" get you down. Focus of what Christ did for you on the cross and be strong.




Hebrews 12:2–3 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
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What is Joy?

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Today I was thinking about the idea of joy. Christians are to rejoice in all things. We are to be joyful always. All Christians should be displaying joy in their lives. So what is joy and how do we do that?

Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit that Paul talks about in Galatians 5:22-23. (But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.)

What is joy? Is it just a deeper form of happiness? Is it the opposite of sadness? God commands us to be full of joy. (Psalm 37:4, Philippians 4:4) Joy is not an emotion. If joy were an emotion based on our circumstances then how could we have joy in all things? God wouldn’t command his people to do something that was impossible. However, it takes allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through your life. It is not something that we naturally do.

Joy is the outcome of a relationship with Christ. Christians are supposed to express their joy in all circumstances. How do we do that when things are going wrong in our lives? The idea here is not to let your circumstances rule your life. Nehemiah 8:10 says that the joy of the Lord is my strength. Joy doesn’t depend on the conditions of your life. In spite of chaotic circumstances you can still be joyful.

Focus on eternal things. Focus on whether or not things really matter in light of eternity. Things that happen in this life rarely mean anything in light of spending eternity in heaven. Joy is the result of pursuing God. That relationship with God is what gives us the strength to get through the toughest times and the perspective that no matter what happens, we can rejoice because we know where our ultimate destiny is.

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

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How Spiritual Are We?

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Parade magazine ran an article titled, "How Spiritual Are We?"
Included in this article were the following statistics:

69% of Americans believe in God
50% say they rarely or never attend worship services
59% said all religions were valid
12% said their own religion was the only true faith
82% said they would marry someone from a different faith

These statistics help us see the sad situation our country is in.

If all religions were valid then why bother believing at all. Surely there has to be one that is right. After all many of these religions have mutually exclusive beliefs. They can't all be right.

If you believe the Bible then there is only one option. It is divinely inspired and the only source of truth. There is only one way to heaven.

Jesus is the only way to salvation because He is the only One who can take care of our sin problem. (Romans 6:23) No other religion offers a payment for sin. A payment that was made once and for all. Jesus was God and became man. (John 1:1) Jesus had to be God so he could pay our debt. He had to be man so he could die. Christianity is the only religion where God reaches out to man and provides a way of salvation. There is nothing a man can do to earn his way into heaven. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast."

John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it."

John 17:3 "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

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