Entries from May 2004 ↓

After being at one place for 13 years, you meet many different types of people. You see a broad range of personalities, characteristics, and demeanor. But no matter how different the people are, they all claim to either be a Christian or they claim not to be. At Grace Academy, most, if not all claim to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, whether they actually do or not. If you claim to be a Christian and yet think you can live how you want, you are sorely mistaken. No neutrality can exist in Christianity. We are either united with Christ to serve and fight His battles, or we are followers of the black prince, Satan. This principle is clear-cut. You are either with one or the other. There is no way around it. You are on one side or another, not both. speaks of David in the wilderness fleeing for his life and he and his men came across a man and they asked him, in verse 13, “To whom do you belong?” That is the question I want to ask you this morning. To whom do you belong? Which master do you serve. Evaluate yourself. says, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.” If you say with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord of your life, but yet your actions show that something else is, then there is a problem that must be dealt with. Here are some questions to help you determine to whom you belong. Thoughtfully ask these to yourself.
Have you been born again? This is a simple question, but yet very critical. If you have, you belong to Christ, but without the new birth, you cannot be His.
In whom do you trust? Simply, those who believe in Jesus are the sons of God. What do you rely on? Who do you run to for answers?
Whose work are you doing? You are serving a master, either God or Satan, and what you do will show to which one you belong.
What friends do you have? If you belong to Jesus, you will or hang around with those who are godly and declare that they are in fact a child of God. Who is you spend the most time with?
What is your conversation? It is it heavenly or is it earthly? What do you talk about? Does it show that you identify with the cross of Jesus.
What have you learned from your Master? Servants learn much from their masters to whom they serve. If you have served your time with Jesus, it will be said of you, as it was of Peter and John in , “They recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Can people say that about you?
Again I ask the question, “To whom do you belong?” Don’t fool yourself, answer honestly before you leave here today. I plead with you, don’t let your heart deceive you, but hold your life up to God’s Word. This issue is not something to play around with. It is a matter of life and death. It is better that you realize that you don’t believe than to believe that you do when you really don’t. Christ said in to the church in Laodicea, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” As I stated earlier, there is no neutrality in Christianity. If you are trying to “get the best of both worlds”, by being a Christian and still living like the world, it isn’t possible, you will get spit out of His mouth. I don’t know about you, but I would rather be in the palm of his hand, then be spit out of his mouth.
If you truly do belong to Christ, let me advise to do four things. (1)You belong to Jesus; therefore, obey Him. Let His Word be your law; let His wish be your will. (2) Since you belong to the Beloved, love Him. Let your heart embrace Him; let your whole soul be filled with Him. (3) Because you belong to the Son of God, trust Him. Do not rest anywhere but on Him. (4) You belong to the King of Kings, so be decided for Him. Do not waver in you loyalty. Although you are not wearing a sign that says “I’m a Christian”, live your life so that all will know to whom you belong.
If know that you do know Jesus, you have a choice, either continue down the same road that leads to death, or accept Christ as Lord and receive a blessed, joyful life. It is a simple decision, but yet one that effects lives. I pray the Lord will continue to work in your heart, so that you may know…to whom you belong.

Recently, I have found it interesting how in Scripture it speaks of two contrasting paths. Matthew 7:12-14 contrasts the wide and narrow gates. “For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” The majority of people in this world choose this gate and love it. They love it not because of the ultimate destination, but because of the self-gratification along the way. People continue to live in sin, make provision for the flesh. The people walking through the wide gate range from prostitutes to hypocritical religious people. They have been blinded by prince of the air and cannot see that path that everyone takes is the one that leads to destruction. The wide gate looks tempting. I mean who would pass up inner-tubing down a river rather than swimming full-force upstream.

Jesus tells us to “Enter by the narrow gate.” And says it “is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” This path is for the few, the chosen, the humble. Those who live a life of righteousness are going against the flow of traffic. The world is swiftly flowing one way, and we are commanded to go in the completely opposite direction. The “narrow gate enterers” are only those whose name is written in the Book of Life. They have been washed by the blood of Jesus and have been set free from their sin. This path has obstacles galore. One cannot take a step with something wanting to stop him in his way. The narrow path requires dedication, faithfulness, and obedience.

Christians are clearly called to walk straight ahead, not swerving to the right or to the left. Our eyes are to be focused on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our salvation. May we all walk with faithfulness the path of our lives, as to not discredit the glory of God.

This world surrounds me,
Throughout this day I smell it’s fragrance,
I see it’s appearance.
Although I yet not let it overtake me,
It torments me day and night.
The thoughts of it creep in, yet I shall fight.
For with your power, O Lord, comes deliverance,
And with your grace comes assurance,
Assurance of your protection and peace.
For with world and it’s evil ever before me,
I shall fight the battle that rages in my head.
As I start each day consuming my life with you,
O God, your wisdom shall protect me
From the ever present evil.
Use me for your glory and your will O Lord.
For yea, what else is there to do on this wretched earth,
But follow after the heart’s true and first love,
For with you there is joy abounding and love everlasting.