eternal life - The Text Messages

May 23, 2021

Only One Way

Nearly 20 years ago, my wife and I traveled to Corpus Christi Texas for a weekend stay. After checking into our hotel room near the waterfront we set out for the flagship store of our favorite burger joint – Whataburger. It was already dark when, after settling in that we set out to fill our bellies at what is known as a Texas tradition. The streets around the hotel were under construction that year (probably still are) and it wasn’t long till I found myself going the wrong way on a one-way street. Thankfully, I wasn’t stopped and cited by the city police and more importantly I did not have a life altering meeting with someone actually going the right way on that street. As you might imagine, I quickly found my way out of that mess and headed in the right direction all the while singing to my wife (who was a little put out by my cavalier and seemingly careless driving) the words to a very famous Frank Sinatra song, you guessed it, “I did it my way!”

Believe it or not, life in this world is a lot like the layout of most city’s streets which have been designed with regard to the flow of traffic into and out of the city. Just as there is a deliberate right way and a wrong way to navigate those streets there is a right way and a wrong way to navigate life and that way has been determined by someone with far greater authority in this world – God.

My motive for this article is not to point out the right and wrong associated so much with the life style choices you and I make (that is for another time) but to point the reader in the right direction with regards to a proper relationship with our Creator. This past week, I had a conversation with a man who asked the following question: “Which religion is right, just tell me which one’s Jesus or God is the right one and I will believe in Him.” Perhaps part of the reason for his confusion is the simple fact that the church with its many doctrines and denominations have so muddied the waters that people on the outside don’t know which way is the right way; or perhaps too many in the church have stopped pointing out the right direction altogether. When was the last time someone invited you to church instead of to Jesus?

My answer to the man was simple and straight from the Bible, I quoted Jesus’ words as found in (John 14:6): “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He responded, “Yeah, but which Jesus?” He meant (for example), the Jesus of the Mormons, the Jesus of the Jehovah Witnesses or the Jesus of Islam. Each of these faith groups view Jesus differently and from the perspective of the Bible, erroneously. It became clear however, from our conversation that this man’s concept of Christianity itself may be incorrect. Biblically speaking there is but one way to God and that way is through His Son Jesus Christ as the words in John 14:6 make clear and yet people attempt to come into that relationship or to gain the grace of God in other ways – they are in essence in pursuit of grace but traveling in the wrong direction on an established one-way street.

For instance, Paul the Apostle made it clear in (Romans 3:20) that “by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His (God’s) sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” To be justified is to be declared righteous or good by God Who has already decreed through His word that (Luke 18:19) “no man is good, no not one” and that in fact (Genesis 6:5) “the thoughts and intentions of a man’s heart are evil only always.” We become justified through faith in Jesus Christ Whose righteousness God exchanges with our sin; the Bible says in (1 Cor. 5:21):

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

This justification was made available through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the cross and apart from faith in Him it is impossible to receive it (Romans 4:5):

“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”

The Bible clearly says, “By grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God NOT of works lest any man should boast…” (see Ephesians 2:8-10) yet today people try to earn the grace of God. They are in pursuit of grace through their “good works” but like my wife and I that night in Corpus Christi in pursuit of the world’s best burger they are going the wrong way on a one-way street to find that grace.

Not only does the Bible declare we cannot gain the grace of God and be saved by good works, it also states clearly that salvation is not a determination of our will (John 1:12-13):

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

This is in part where the man I was speaking to was stuck – salvation is not an act of our will alone. You might be thinking “Rich, what do you mean by that because it sounds like it contradicts the Bible?” There is a doctrine that teaches that man is so totally depraved that he would not nor could not ever choose to be saved. I agree and disagree with that position from Calvinistic theology. While I do agree that, like myself prior to my salvation, people do not care to know God let alone to be saved but are content to do whatever their flesh desires; I also believe that once the Spirit of God begins to intervene in a person’s life that mindset changes. Jesus said in (John 6:44):

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

That drawing comes through in two ways which work together, the Word of God – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17) and the Spirit of God who “when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (John 16:8) The reality is that once the word of God and the Spirit of God begin their work in one being drawn by God to Himself their hearts may be led (as the first inhabitants of the early church were) to a time of great anguish for their souls. You may remember the response of those who heard the gospel message preached by Peter on Pentecost: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”” (Acts 2:37) It is at that moment, when a person sees themselves as God sees him or her that he or she may come to God by faith in His Son sent for their redemption and justification. Thus, it is God and not men who initiate the process by which they can be saved.

The man I was speaking to made one more comment that I think is important at this point in our thoughts, He said, “My problem is a comprehension problem” implying that he did not know what to think or how to choose. Having addressed much of that statement already let me say that my response to his statement identifies what may in fact be the larger problem for those struggling with the one right way. The Bible declares the problem in (1 Cor. 2:14):

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Too many people put the cart before the horse when it comes to things of eternal value. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God – but, what word? What word does the natural man need to hear first? Let me just put it like this, if any person is to come to God they need to hear about Jesus – why He came and what He did. Jesus Christ is THE WAY, the truth and the life! No man comes to the Father but by Him! They need to hear about the one way to life God’s way. They need to hear about the one way to eternal life – a way blazed and made possible by Jesus Christ who left heaven for our sakes. They need to hear about Jesus Christ who taught, literally who showed mankind what God was like. They need to hear about Jesus Christ who suffered and was tortured not because of any wrong that He had done but to satisfy the wrath of God for the wrongs – the sins WE HAD DONE! They need to hear about Jesus Christ who died for their sins and three days later rose from the dead to live again making forgiveness and power over sin available to all who believe.

Many there are in this life living the lyrics to Sinatra’s song – their way; we are called to point men to the one right way that leads to everlasting life through the gospel of Christ and the examples of our lives – point the way…lead the way…help them find the one-way that leads to a relationship with Almighty God.

May 13, 2020

Just How Good is “Good Enough?”

There once was a man who came to Jesus asking the question of all questions. The man was young, wealthy, spiritual and yet aware that he lacked something of great spiritual importance; this was his question:

“Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”” (Luke 18:18)

Now, it is assumed that this man presided over a synagogue nearby and that he had heard Jesus speak certain parables about faith (Luke 18:1-8) and humility (Luke 18:9-14) and who had seen Him bless the children (Luke 18:15-17). Unlike the Pharisees and Scribes who always came at Jesus with the intent of discrediting Him or catching Him in some heresy or religious error, this man with apparently good intentions came to ask Jesus a question that of vital importance to him.

But Jesus knew this man perfectly, just as he knows each of us perfectly. He knew the religious background of this man and after correcting the man to understand that (v.19) “NO ONE is good but God,” Jesus zeroed in on the little verb “do” in the man’s question and said:

“You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” (Luke 18:20)

The mans reply is a familiar one,

“…he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”” (Luke 18:21)

Recognize the answer? I can’t tell you how many times I have spoken to someone about the Lord and about sin when they replied, “I haven’t killed anyone. I haven’t stolen anything or committed adultery;” among other things. But if God is the only one who is good, does the doing or not doing of any of those good things make one fit for the kingdom of God – a person who God MUST accept? A. W. Tozer put it like this: If doing good is the way to obtain eternal life, “just how good would that good have to be?”

The religious and moral man saw himself as a good man but, if his question was an honest one, he seemed to think that he still lacked something to make him acceptable and in fact he DID lack something but as to what, he was unsure.

Jesus, using the man’s logic took him a little further saying,

“You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”” (Luke 18:22)

Jesus was NOT giving credence to the mans notion that DOING good would gain for him eternal life (despite what some dispensationalists might suggest) but rather pointing to the one thing which stood between the man and Almighty God – wealth. The last verse in the section makes clear that the man was “rich” or “had great possessions” (Matthew 19:22); he in fact had an idol which (v.23) indicates he loved more than God. In reality, this man neither “loved the Lord his God with all his heart soul mind and strength” nor “his neighbor as himself” – he loved his possessions.

To be fair, love for God does NOT save you – His love for YOU does! The Bible says in (1 John 4:19) “we love Him because He first loved us.” Jesus Himself declared in (John 3:16), “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” We are saved by grace through faith, Paul wrote in (Ephesians 2:8-10) and from His cross, by His blood, Jesus exchanged His righteousness for every believer’s sin (Isaiah 53:6, 2 Corinthians 5:21). As someone once said, “Jesus Christ will NEVER stand at the right side of a plus sign!” It is not faith in Jesus plus good works that saves you and gains for you an eternal inheritance in heaven – it is faith in Jesus Christ alone!

When his idol was revealed to the man, the “rich young ruler” walked away from Jesus unwilling to part with the one thing that kept him from eternal life with God. He didn’t need to DO one more thing – He needed to BELIEVE in Jesus Christ! Is there something in YOUR life that is keeping you from eternal life as well; something you just can’t let go of? If you do but can’t turn loose of it, pray, call on the Lord to help you – to take it from you. To the religious and the irreligious the message is the same – turn from your idols and trust in the living God; eternal life is gained in only one way – only through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

July 11, 2019July 13, 2019

A Good Way to Die

The subject on my mind today is an uncomfortable subject to discuss, some might even say morbid but death is as important an aspect of life as living is and is a subject most often dealt with at the end of someone else’s life.

I was lying in my bed, tossing and turning, unable to really rest when the thought hit me – is there really a GOOD way to die? All sorts of thoughts then flooded my mind, circumstances – reasons or causes which lead to the end of life.

Some die in noble circumstances. Some die running into burning buildings and towers to rescue the injured; some die upholding justice; some as they strive for the safety and protection of their family during natural disasters like floods and earthquakes or from the invasion of some more sinister force; some die for their love whether it be their girl, wife, husband, man or child and some die for freedom.

Some die in ignoble or dishonorable and shameful circumstances. They die in the commission of or as a consequence of committing a crime like theft or murder or for some other evil against another person or people.

To this, the Bible says in (1 Peter 4:15-16):

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”

Peter’s reference to suffering addresses imprisonment whether for noble or ignoble reasons but the verb used for suffering involves experiencing pain ( I would suggest, even the pain of death) as a consequence for an action, belief or behavior.

Death occurs as a result of many things: ignorance, carelessness, recklessness, hate; from a bullet, bomb or a car driven by a drunk. Death occurs from natural causes like old age, illness, diseases like cancer and worse; and from unnatural causes stemming from the abuse of our own bodies – from too much food, too much booze, too many medications and various other addictions. Some die in their waking hours, fully aware and some die in their sleep.

When thinking of the best way to die, many will respond – in their sleep but I want to tell you that the BEST way to die is in the arms of a loving Savior.

You see, the reality is that death is only a pause in our existence rather than a permanent end. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is quoted to have said in (John 5:25-29):

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

My friends, apart from receiving and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, every human being is dead already in a spiritual sense and because each of us is comprised of a body, soul and spirit – spiritual life and death matters. Life is not limited to this realm of existence only, in fact I would say that this life is only important in so much as in your lifetime you may turn to the living God for eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ and then to follow the Lord and live for Jesus, sharing the good news by word and actions…discipling others as you go. That’s a good way to LIVE!

The BEST way to die is as a good person or while doing good but Jesus said – “No one is good but One, that is, God.” (Luke 18:19) Likewise, Paul in (Romans 3:10) says that “there is none righteous, no not one!” (emphasis added) Only by trusting in Jesus Christ can anyone ever be “good enough” to enter into eternal life (see John 14:6). But when Jesus says some will be resurrected to life and some to the resurrection of condemnation He is saying that all who ever saw life in THIS world will also live in eternity either to experience all the joys of eternal life with Him in Heaven (see Matt. 25:21,23) or to suffer all the agony of eternal condemnation in hell without Him (see Revelation 20:11-15).

Is there a good way to die? Yes, Jesus declared it so in (John 5:24):

““Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

July 5, 2019July 5, 2019

Free Indeed!

One of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith is that the servants of Jesus are also free and not just free a little but free to the uttermost.

In reality we exchanged masters when we came to trust in Jesus Christ. But the “bondage” to sin to which we formerly submitted is not the same as the relationship we have with Jesus.

“And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:18 (NKJV)

Jesus Christ set us free from our former task-master to live in a new way and for a new reason. As sinners we lived for the gratification of our own flesh but because we received salvation through Jesus Christ our desire turned to a desire to please and glorify Him who saved us (John 15:8, Philippians 1:11, [2 Timothy 2:4], 1Peter 4:11).

Our slavery comes at the cost of a life…as slaves of sin, our own life is required resulting not only in physical but spiritual death which is eternal separation from God but as slaves of God (Roman’s 6:22) the cost is the life and precious blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 7:23, 1 Peter 1:18-19) resulting in eternal life.

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:11–12 (NKJV)

Because Jesus set us free in such a way we love Him (1 John 4:19) and our servitude is not seen by us as bondage (1 John 5:3) rather it becomes our greatest joy.

All of us want to live life to the full and will spend a lifetime trying to make such abundant living their reality but Jesus made a point to His disciples in (John 8:31-36) that I think those looking for such a life should consider:

He said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

To what have you presented yourself as a servant to obey? Sex? Money? Fame? All of these seek only to TAKE your life but only Jesus GIVES life “and that more abundantly.” In Him, you will be free indeed….