Chapter Three

Seeking The Key to Eternity

Salvation by Works?

The vast majority of people in the United States and probably in the world, believe the key to eternal life in paradise is our good works. The theory goes something like this;

"If I am good enough (don't murder anyone, don't maim, rape, pillage, rob, steal [too much], lie [without justification], generally treat people well and give a little to charity, maybe god [or the higher power] will let me in".

Those unfortunate individuals who fall victim to these misconceptions do not really understand the true nature of God. They do not understand that what God wants is not their efforts but a good relationship with him and each other. Relationships matter much more to God than our works do. Kindness, mercy, generosity, honesty, and fairness are all good things and should definitely be practiced by everyone. Nevertheless, these things, good as they are will not get a person into God’s kingdom because our best efforts can never be good enough.

All of us have become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags ; Isa 64:6; NIV (italics mine).

Both James and Peter taught that works demonstrate that our faith is genuine. Nevertheless, salvation comes by faith not by works. God first desires that we have a good relationship with him and then also good relationships with those around us. Those who truly trust in God, rely on him and have a good relationship with him and with each other.

Both James and Peter taught that works are a vital element of true faith. Our works demonstrate that our faith is real but they do not save us. Salvation comes by faith-- not by works. True faith will produce good works but good works cannot replace true faith. Consider the words Jesus spoke to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus:

I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' Acts 26:17-18 NIV (italics mine).

But how do I gain sufficient faith?

Faith the Essential Element

Paul, in his epistle to the Romans made it absolutely clear that nobody has ever been, or ever will be, saved except by faith. Faith is the key to salvation. It is the means by which our spiritual re-connection to God is established. Sin broke this connection and God wants to reestablish it, but for this to occur, His justice must be satisfied. He cannot just "wink at sin" or act as though his word has not been ignored - his law violated. To do so would put God in the position of condoning sin and implying that his character and values do not matter. It would make him less than God. The penalty for sin is death - physical and spiritual death. But this is not the desire of God. He does not want us to die. That is why he devised a plan for our redemption.

"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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:16-19 NIV (italics mine).

Do not be deceived. Nothing else will suffice! God, himself, provided the way back. Many are trying to find their own way - it will not happen. God gave his only begotten son to die a cruel death on a cross to provide the sacrifice necessary for the redemption of mankind from their sin. He will not permit men, or women, to make light of that sacrifice by allowing them to enter his kingdom by some other means. Would you, if you were in his place?

People today are starving for lack of the spiritual food of God. They are deathly ill with the disease of sin. If you have not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior you are in this group. If you think you are not good enough to deserve salvation – you’re right! The GOOD NEWS is that you don’t have to be. Just believe that Jesus died to save YOU. Don't be one of the starving and sick who refuse to come for help. Don’t take chances regarding where you will spend eternity. Be certain!

Your past deeds won’t prevent you from coming. God doesn’t require that you clean up your act before coming to get the help he offers. Salvation is based upon establishing a relationship with Jesus - not on your past performance. The good news is that HE wants that relationship if you will permit it. The choice is yours to make.

'On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’" Matthew 7:22-23. The New Revised Standard Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1989, (italics mine).

Jesus wasn’t saying that he would not know who these people were. Jesus is God so he knows everyone and everything.

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father . How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? John 14:9-10 NIV (italics mine).

God, as creator, certainly knows who every person is. What Jesus was saying here is that he had no close relationship with them – they were not his friends or part of his family. They chose not to be. You can make the better choice if you will.

Essential Relationships

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:10-13;NIV (italics mine).

Think of it! The God who created the heavens and the earth wants us to be part of his family – not just his created creatures or his servants – but his children! God loves us as a good father loves his children. His desire is for us to love and respect him as children love and respect a good father. It makes no difference whether the child is natural born or adopted, he will love them equally.

When a child truly loves and respects his father he trusts his father and tries to obey his father’s wishes. That doesn’t guarantee that the child will be perfectly obedient. Children are, after all, children. They are in the process of learning. In that process of learning they get into things they shouldn’t. They try things and get into trouble. They do things they shouldn’t do. They mess things up and break things. They get hurt and they hurt others.

Through all of this their father still loves them. Their mistakes and failures do not change their father’s love for them. Their failures do not mean they are no longer his children -- although it may be necessary for him to discipline them from time to time. The discipline is a result of his love for them because he is concerned for their future. Guilt concerning their failures may make them try to hide so they don’t have to face him or face his discipline but their guilt doesn’t nullify his love.

A good father is usually a very good man and such a man is often very caring about other children in the neighborhood as well as his own. He will often be very understanding and patient with neighborhood children and attempt, within proper boundaries, to counsel and guide them. Nevertheless, he is not likely to be as loving, tolerant, and patient with them as he is toward his own children. If neighborhood children tax his patience by destroying his property, injuring his own children, disobeying his house rules, and generally disrespecting him – he will be less tolerant and, if necessary, very likely ban them from his property.

God is such a Father. He is patient with everyone, even those who do not believe in him. Even the worst of the worst are given a chance. They can, if they will, become God’s friends – part of his adopted family. If we are God’s children he loves us – is patient with us and will discipline us as necessary.

Our failures do not change his love for us though our guilt may cause us to try to hide from him. Spiritually speaking, we withdraw, we go into our shell. At such times we may wonder where God is. We may feel estranged from him – but he hasn’t changed – we have.

Endure hardship as discipline ; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline ), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Heb 12:7-11; NIV (italics mine).

Those who depend upon their good works to achieve God’s favor have totally missed the point. When little children try to do the Father’s work by themselves they are bound to fail. They need to ask God to strengthen their faith and love so that their understanding of him can grow to the point of truly depending upon the Lord rather than themselves. A family is not made strong by obedience to rules no matter how upright the intention of the rules. A family is made strong by love. Good rules in a family and obedience to them are positive things but they cannot, by themselves, bind a family together – only love can do that.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love , just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph 5:1-2; NIV (italics mine).

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8; NIV (italics mine).

Know God’s Voice and Know the Truth

Many people, even Christians, struggle with decisions and choices. For the unbeliever it is the struggle of trying to make sense of the world, our existence and the futility of trying to make the best of choices that all seem to lead to disappointment and hopelessness. For the Christian it is the issue of trying to understand what the Lord wants for them and what He wants them to do. Should I go to this college or that one? Should I change jobs? Should I change churches? They often struggle with the issue of knowing whether their thoughts and feelings are their own or from God. How do we know if the sermon we just heard, as good as it may have sounded, is theologically sound?

What everyone needs, to make sense of this world and our place in it, is truth. What the Christian needs, to make confident choices, is truth. What everyone needs in every situation, but very few have, is truth. The only way to find the truth is to know God and know his word.

Sanctify them by the truth ; your word is truth .

John 17:17; NIV (italics mine).

Christians should test every teaching and every spirit. We are instructed to do so. Satan comes as an angel of light and our emotions are deceitful and not to be trusted. The fact that something sounds good doesn’t mean that it is good. Following our feelings is the surest way to go astray.

We are to test the spirits and the things we read or hear by comparing what they say against the scriptures. To do that we must know what the scriptures say. When Satan tested Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus responded, “It is written ---.” He was able to respond this way because he knew the scriptures well – he had studied them from early childhood.

When Jesus was twelve years old Joseph and Mary realized he was missing as they were traveling home after the Passover feast in Jerusalem.

When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Luke 2:44-48; NIV (italics mine).

He felt it was important to be close to God and know his word. He set the example we are to follow.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1 John 4:1-2 NIV (italics and underline mine).

To understand what is really being said here we must know the meaning of the key word acknowledge. Online.com defines acknowledge as follows:

ac·knowl·edge

verb (used with object), ac·knowl·edged, ac·knowl·edg·ing.

1. to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of: to acknowledge one's mistakes.

2. to show or express recognition or realization of: to acknowledge an acquaintance by nodding.

3. to recognize the authority, validity, or claims of: The students acknowledged the authority of the student council.

4. to show or express appreciation or gratitude for: to acknowledge a favor.

5. to indicate or make known the receipt of: to acknowledge a letter.

(emphasis mine).

The Greek word translated as acknowledge is epiginosko.

ACKNOWLEDGE (-MENT)

A. Verb.

epiginosko NT:1921 signifies (a) "to know thoroughly" (epi "intensive," ginosko, "to know"); (b) "to recognize a thing to be what it really is, to acknowledge," 1 Cor 14:37 (RV, "take knowledge of"); 16:18; 1:13,14. See KNOW, KNOWLEDGE, PERCEIVE.

Note: In 1 John 2:23, "acknowledgeth" translates the verb homologeo, "to confess," RV, "confesseth."

B. Noun.

epignosis NT:1922, akin to A, "full, or thorough knowledge, discernment, recognition," is translated "acknowledging" in the KJV of 2 Tim 2:25; Titus 1:1 and Philem 6 (in all three, RV, "knowledge," properly, "thorough knowledge"). In Col 2:2, KJV, "acknowledgement," RV, "that they may know" (i. e., "unto the full knowledge). See KNOWLEDGE.

NT:3670

NT:3670 homologeo (hom-ol-og-eh'-o); from a compound of the base of NT:3674 and NT:3056; to assent, i.e. covenant, acknowledge:

KJV - con- (pro-) fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise.

Many people are deceived by ministers and others who seem very sincere and sound as though they acknowledge Jesus as Lord. There have been many televangelists and guests on popular talk shows, etc. who have messages that sound very persuasive but do not align with God’s word. We can see from this definition that it is not sufficient that the source simply uses the name Jesus or even that the source quotes scripture or says “Jesus, is lord”. This is mere verbalization - not acknowledgment.

There must be true recognition and acceptance of Jesus sacrifice and submission to His deity and authority as well as the verbal confession. Their lives must express the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Their lives and their message must align with God’s word. This is where works produce evidence of true faith.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal 5:22-23 NIV (italics mine).

Therefore, we must look for more than someone merely saying things about Jesus that sound good or someone quoting scripture. Many false prophets claim to be redeemed and seem to praise Jesus and quote scriptures. They may be able to quote long passages of scripture from memory. However, if we really know scripture, careful examination of their message and their life style will reveal that what they teach and what they live does not line up with the truth of scripture.

I am not suggesting that they must be perfect – none of us are. But they must be sincere in their love for, and faith in, Jesus Christ. They must display the fruits of the Spirit.

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Matt 7:15-19; NIV (italics mine).

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Gal 5:22-24; NIV (italics mine).

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:4-21 NIV (italics mine).

Those who have the Spirit of God have God’s love in their hearts. This is not to say that they have as much love as God or even that they all have the same amount of love. We still live in, and wrestle with, the flesh. Nevertheless, when the Spirit of Christ comes to dwell in the heart of the believer, there is a distinct change that takes place and it will show. Christians do occasionally sin but they do not lead a lifestyle of sin.

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to his followers. That wasn’t just for his Apostles, it is promised to us also. He promised that the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth. That is how we are to know what is true and what is false. This is because the Holy Spirit reveals the truth of scriptures to us and aids us understanding scripture and testing what we see, hear, and do against the scriptures as we move toward sanctification.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15; NIV (italics mine).

"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. John 16:12-15; NIV (italics mine).

This scripture speaks of the Spirit guiding us into all truth. It does not say He will pour it into us or even that He will force it upon us. When it says He will guide it implies that we must be willing to follow His leading. How will He guide us into knowledge of the truth if we aren’t willing to pick up the Bible and study.

Go Back the Way You Came

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."

3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

10 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

14 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

15 The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel — all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."

19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 1 Kings 19:1-20NIV (italics mine).

This passage about Elijah’s experience in 1 Kings shows us several important truths. First, God may raise his voice to the ungodly but he generally speaks to his own in a whisper and we must be listening carefully to hear.

Then, notice that although Elijah, a man of faith, ran because he was fearful and for a time showed a lack of faith God does not deal with him harshly. Instead, he helps Elijah regain his faith by pointing out the error in Elijah’s thinking. Finally, God then tells him, "Go back the way you came." He then gives Elijah instructions to anoint and appoint leaders for the people. When we go astray we must be willing to repent and retrace our steps before we can go forward.

Repent and do the things you did at first. Rev 2:5; NIV (italics mine).

We must also be willing and prepared to obey and even to sacrifice and suffer if necessary.

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God . 1 Peter 4:1-2 NIV (italics mine).

For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Cor 1:5-7 NIV (italics mine).

Turn from the world and the things of the world.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17; NIV (italics mine).

You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thess 5:4-11; NIV (emphasis mine).

These guidelines give us a standard to test against.

Seeking to Love God’s Way

People often speak of love using the word as an adjective, that is, as a descriptive term for an emotional feeling. We say things like, “I love her” “I love my dog,” or “I love my car, my country, etc”. With our entire culture using love in this way, it is not surprising that many read the command to love our enemies in scripture with some misunderstanding.

Most people today think of love as an emotion. But God commanded us to love. How can I obey a command to emotionally care for someone when I cannot handle my emotions with anything like real control?

If asked the question, ”Do you love the Lord?” most Christians would promptly respond that they do. The real question here should be, “Do we even understand what scripture means when it says to love the Lord?” The Greek word for God’s kind of love is agapao which means to totally invest ourselves into something, give ourselves to it, commit to it. Notice that we are to invest, give, commit, all actions, not simply a feeling.

When God tells us to love our brothers, our sisters and our neighbors he is not telling us to be emotionally attached to them – he is telling us to be actively involved in their lives. He is telling us; if they are thirsty we should give them something to drink, if they are hungry - feed them, if they are naked- give them clothing, if they are sick - care for them.

I may not have much choice regarding how I feel about something or someone but I do have a choice regarding my actions. I can choose to act in a certain manner regardless of how I feel. I may not feel like going to work but I do so because it is important and provides needed benefits. Likewise, I can choose to act in a loving manner, even if I don’t feel very loving at the moment, because it is important and provides benefits needed by me and by others. There may even be times when I do not feel very loving toward God but I can still act in a loving manner by obeying his commands. Most important of all – I can do it because it pleases the Lord!

"If you love me , you will obey what I command. John 14:15; NIV (italics mine).

The amazing thing is that how I choose to act influences how I ultimately feel. If I choose to treat someone kindly that I don’t particularly like, or perhaps even dislike; if I invest my time, energy and perhaps even my money, into them - over a period of time I will find myself coming to feel more kindly toward them. Jesus, himself, spoke of this concept saying, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6:20-21, NIV (italics mine).

Some might object and say the Lord was speaking of investing our treasure in heaven. I would totally agree. But I would point out that this same Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matt 25:40; NIV (italics mine).

Investing in others is investing in heaven whether it be time, labor, money or any combination of the three.

Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15, NIV (italics mine), The key, here, is that we cannot truly obey without love. Oh sure, we might be able to do some things that seem like obedience such as giving to charity, etc. Nevertheless, it is impossible to really obey the Lord without love. After all, the first and second commands in the Ten Commandments involve loving God and loving our neighbors. If we don’t obey the first and second commandments it is not possible to obey the other eight.

It is easy to say we love the Lord – but do we? I must ask myself, “Do I love the Lord enough to desire his will above my own?” Do I love him enough that I can trust him even though I do not understand what he is doing in my life?

God is the perfect example of agapao the kind of love we are discussing. We humans are selfish, self-centered, often complacent regarding sin, frequently disobedient – even rebellious. Even so, the king of heaven and earth, the creator of all things wants to communicate with us and even wants a close relationship with us. God calls us his children and calls himself our Father. Jesus refers to us as his brothers and sisters.

To understand God’s feeling for us, it may be helpful to consider the relationship of parents to their newborn child. The baby is totally selfish and has never done anything to merit the love of its parents – yet they love the baby and if they are good parents they will, if necessary, sacrifice for it just because it is theirs. God is the best of fathers and views us as his children. If this is the way the God of the universe feels toward each and every one of us how then should we feel about each other and about him?

The Greatest Proof of God and His Love

Of all the evidence available, to me the greatest proof of God’s existence and love for us is changed lives. I have personally experienced this in my own life and I have been witness to it in the lives of numerous others. I am not talking here of behavior modification. I am referring to genuine change of heart.

An angry violent person can be taught to restrain himself and hold in the anger temporarily to avoid getting into trouble. Only God can change the human heart so that the anger is no longer there or a person actually loves those he used to hate. As mentioned before the key to this change is faith in the Lord.

What to do When You Doubt

First and most important – don’t deny your doubt. Admit it to God! He already knows that you have doubt. In fact He knew that you would feel doubt long before you actually did. God’s awareness of your doubt is not the problem. The problem is your need to come face to face with your doubt and admit it to God so that He can help you deal with it and overcome it. So go to Him in prayer and fess up.

"From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."

23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Gen 1:1 - Mark 9:24; NIV (italics mine).

Our Lord understands our weakness, He cares, and He is very willing to help us but we must ask.

2 Listen to my cry for help ,

my King and my God,

for to you I pray.

3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait in expectation.

Ps 5:2-3; NIV (italics mine).

I will exalt you, O LORD,

for you lifted me out of the depths

and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help

and you healed me.

3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave;

you spared me from going down into the pit.

Ps 30:1-3;NIV (italics mine).

Who will rise up for me against the wicked?

Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?

17 Unless the LORD had given me help ,

I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

18 When I said, "My foot is slipping,"

your love, O LORD, supported me.

19 When anxiety was great within me,

your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Ps 94:16-1; NIV (italics mine).

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