Friday, September 2, 2011

All that’s left of Summer is …

…a 3-day weekend.

By Tuesday, everything will return to normal. Kids will be back in school. Traffic will increase as summer vacationers re-learn how to drive again. Mass transit will return to crowded platforms and standing only between Jamaica and New York. After weeks of sun, fun and hurricanes, reality returns and it’s back to homework, full offices and waiting for the weekend. At least the weather is beautiful.

It’s a time for a new beginning. Of course, this time we’re going to do it right. Like New Year’s Eve, we make promises of reading the bible more often; praying more often; and staying with that bible study class you’ve been wanting to attend.

King Solomon wrote in

Ecclesiastes 1:8-10 (ESV)

All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us.

There is nothing new under the sun: Been there, Done That.

Some will succeed; most will fail. But, when you give it all to Jesus, you are the big winner. Only He can turn your life around. Only He can give you the strength to persevere. Only He can make things NEW!

It’s time for a new beginning. It’s time for Jesus!

And that’s the word of The Day.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

He who has the most toys…

…dies like everyone else.

Nobody likes to bring up the subject of death. People just don’t like to talk about it. Surveys have shown that 100% of the population will die, whether you have the most toys or not.

Atheists believe that once you die, that’s it. That’s all there is; there ain’t no more. Some religions believe that when you die, you are reincarnated until you get it right. Others believe that God would never send a “good” person to hell. They’re all are wrong!

Hebrews 9:27-28 says, “just as it is appointed for man to DIE ONCE, and after that COMES JUDGMENT, so Christ, having been offered ONCE to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

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God’s Word declares that ALL DIE ONCE and then the Judgment. Notice it also says that Christ was offered ONCE for the sins of many. The sin of many not all! Why? Because not all have accepted the sacrifice of Christ to reconcile us to God. Even a “good” person needs to be forgiven. Even a “good” person needs to accept the salvation that only Christ offers through His shed blood.

There is a judgment for sin. But, believers are not subject to that judgment. We have already been judged and redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Non-believers will be judged for their sin and their fate will be sealed to an eternity without God. That’s just a nice way to say the Lake of Fire.

Believers will be judged by the works they did for Christ and His Kingdom. Good works don’t get you to heaven. Good works are a result of your commitment to Christ. But, the end result is still eternity with Jesus.

Make the commitment to Christ now before it’s too late.

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It’s as simple as ABC:

  • A  - Admit to God that you’re sinner and repent and turn away from your sins.
  • B  - Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and accept His gift of forgiveness.
  • C -  Confess your faith in Jesus as your Savior and your Lord forevermore.

Jesus paid it All!

And that’s the word of The Day