by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Christmas
William Shakespeare penned these words in his play, As You Like It, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances…”
Most of us have seen a wide variety of Christmas plays and pageants in our lifetimes and perhaps have even been in one or more of them ourselves. For His cast, God the Father signed on and coordinated the innocent and the majestic, the humble and the proud, the unlearned and the scholarly, the good and the evil in widely diverse characters for roles in that first great Christmas drama. God’s choice of players includes.
Jesus Christ: The Key Person of the Christmas story. He was born to die. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning… The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1: 1-2, 14). Jesus willingly gave up the majesty and acclaim of heaven. He humbled Himself so far as to be born a baby in a stable. As He grew, He was tempted in all ways, just as we are, yet was without even one sin. He gave up His life on the Cross. As a Man, he got hungry, cold, and tired.
Then, in the fullness of His time, at the exact moment prophesied, He gave up His life on the Roman cross. The Jews of His day intentionally and wrongfully condemned Him to death; the Romans carried out their dreadful crucifixion; but it was our sins—theirs, yours and mine—that fashioned the nails. The final curtain fell. Jesus was dead. But, the great “Play” doesn’t end there.
For three days all heaven held its breath. Then the Father cried, “ARISE, MY SON!” Jesus is not dead! He rose again to life everlasting and lives today in heaven in the place of honor at the right hand of God the Father! And you too can you live forever with Him because Jesus says in His Word, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die…”
As the “Drama” now continues, what role will you play? At the end of it all, where will you be found? Scripture says, “Today is the day of salvation.” Don’t delay. I urge you to receive Christ into your heart! Live for Christ every day of the year! Anticipate spending an eternity with Christ! He desires you to be with Him. After all, He died so that you could serve and live for Him. He has Spiritual Gifts for you so you can sacrificially serve others as He served and loved others.
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 29, 2016 | Heaven
A Real Place
Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going… I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:1-4, 6)
Sooner or later you are going to experience physical death. You have a specific quantity of days to inhabit this earth and God alone knows their number. God’s Word is clear, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27)
Physical death is part of the curse that has come upon man since Adam and Eve. God told them after their sin, “…you [will] return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19) Until Christ returns, all of mankind will experience physical death. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23) However, Jesus shares a powerful truth that is for all who have accepted Him as Savior and Lord.
Twice in today’s text, Jesus refers to heaven as being a “place.” Heaven is not a surreal, fairy-tale kingdom. It is literal and more real than the house you live in. The New American Standard Bible has the best translation when saying “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places…” “Places” (Greek topos) means places in which one dwells, an abode or a home. These are permanent habitations of eternal rest and peace.
Revelation Chapter Seven records the beloved John’s vision of seeing a “…great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne of God and in front of the Lamb [Jesus Christ].” Matthew Henry in his exposition of heaven in Revelation 7: 15-17 says, “[Christians will be] happy in their employment, for they serve God continually, and that without weakness, drowsiness, or weariness. Heaven is a state of service, though not of suffering; it is a state of rest, but not of sloth, it is a praising delightful rest.”
Jesus is faithful. When He says He is preparing a place for Christians that is what He means. He also states another compelling fact that is a blessing to those who have lost loved ones who were born again Christians and for the children of God who are facing the trial of death. Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die…” [spiritually, to be raised physically at the resurrection of believers]. After saying these words, the Lord asked a question of His listeners that is still relevant to us today, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 29, 2016 | Heaven
Jesus, the Only Way to Heaven
Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going… I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:1-4, 6)
The Holy Scriptures teach clearly that heaven is a real place, a permanent place, a personal place, a holy place, a place only for the born again and a place of reunion. Jesus proclaims that He alone is the way to heaven.
The Holy Spirit moved the apostle Peter in his discourse about salvation to the Sanhedrin (the religious leaders of his day) to boldly proclaim, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). There was no compromise or accommodation in Peter’s preaching. In this anointed declaration, Peter wholly commits to Christ the unique status of being the one and only Savior. Peter and the other apostles never watered down the fact that apart from Jesus there is no salvation for anyone.
From the earliest beginnings of His earthly existence, Jesus was proclaimed to be the Savior. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him that the child conceived in Mary was from the Holy Spirit. He also told Joseph, “She [Mary] will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). (The name “Jesus” comes from the Greek form of “Joshua” which means “Yahweh [the Lord] saves.”)
Some may say that Jesus is a dogmatic and narrow-minded teacher when He says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” As Truth embodied however, the Lord alone can reveal truth to His people and unbelievers alike. He is our guide to living an abundant and fruitful life. His promise to the disciples who followed Him was that they should know the truth, and by the truth should be set free (John 8:32). When the crisis of His ministry and the hour of His sacrifice arrived, he summed up the whole purpose of His mission in the declaration that He had come into the world in order to “testify to the truth” (John 18:37). Jesus’ own declaration is, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25).
Jesus is serious when He says, “…No one comes to the Father except through me.” No one is able to go to God and enjoy Him as their “Father who is in heaven” apart from having Christ as High Priest, Advocate and Mediator of their lives. Unrepentant sinners will face God as Judge, but they will never enjoy the benefits that are available to the children of God, such as eternal salvation, regeneration, and sanctification.
Jesus gives an allegory to particularly represent His ministry that could be named “The Shepherd and His Flock.” In this parable Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep…whoever enters through Me will be saved… I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me…” (John 10:7-8,14). The Lord uses the word “know” (Greek ginosko) which refers to a relationship of trust and intimacy.
Do you know the Christ who is the only way into heaven? Does He know you?
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 29, 2016 | Heaven
Inheritance
Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going… I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:1-4, 6)
The Holy Scriptures teach clearly that heaven is a real place, a permanent place, a personal place and a holy place. It is also an inheritance for those who say “yes” to Jesus Christ.
In his gospel, the beloved John conveys a powerful truth of what one must become in order to inherit eternal salvation. “…I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3) And once more, “…You must be born again.” (John 3:7) Twice Jesus tells Nicodemus, already a Pharisee and religious leader, “I tell you the truth…”
The truth for you is that a preacher saying nice things, nor beautiful hymns being sung at your funeral, nor the local paper announcing that you were a member of such and such church, nor even being in church nearly every Sunday will gain you entrance into heaven. Being truly born again is a necessity.
Many Scripture passages tell what God will do for a person who through repentance accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Ezekiel 36: 26, 27 is one of the most clear. It has been used frequently by Dr. Billy Graham to explain what God wants to do in the hearts and lives of those coming forward to receive the forgiveness found only in Christ. The verses say, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
A “heart of stone” is inflexible, unyielding and insensitive. It is not apt to receive from or have any devoted affection toward its Creator. A man with a heart of stone has no fellowship with the Lord. He does not do the will of God, thus, he does what seems right in his own eyes which will lead to his own destruction. God alone gives physical life and He alone can give spiritual life in what Jesus says is being “born again.”
When God supernaturally gives a repentant person a “heart of flesh” and puts His Spirit in a new believer, that person becomes sensitive and alive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Only then can he determine and do the will of God. This enables him to know the joy that comes from obedience to the Word of God. Once the Holy Spirit of God has entered the heart and life of a repentant person, they are never the same! Guaranteed! The Bible says they are a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Jesus made these truths very clear to Nicodemus, and He desires to make them crystal clear to all who will hear even now. In heaven there will be only those who are born again, those who have trusted Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord.
The Holy Spirit moved the apostle Paul to write to (and about) authentic Christians, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9) Will you receive Christ today?
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 29, 2016 | Heaven
Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going… I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:1-4, 6)
Sooner or later you are going to experience physical death. You have a specific quantity of days to inhabit this earth and God alone knows their number. God’s Word is clear, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27)
Physical death is part of the curse that has come upon man since Adam and Eve. God told them after their sin, “…you [will] return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19) Until Christ returns, all of mankind will experience physical death. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23) However, Jesus shares a powerful truth that is for all who have accepted Him as Savior and Lord.
Twice in today’s text, Jesus refers to heaven as being a “place.” Heaven is not a surreal, fairy-tale kingdom. It is literal and more real than the house you live in. The New American Standard Bible has the best translation when saying “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places…” “Places” (Greek topos) means places in which one dwells, an abode or a home. These are permanent habitations of eternal rest and peace.
Revelation Chapter Seven records the beloved John’s vision of seeing a “…great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne of God and in front of the Lamb [Jesus Christ].” Matthew Henry in his exposition of heaven in Revelation 7: 15-17 says, “[Christians will be] happy in their employment, for they serve God continually, and that without weakness, drowsiness, or weariness. Heaven is a state of service, though not of suffering; it is a state of rest, but not of sloth, it is a praising delightful rest.”
Jesus is faithful. When He says He is preparing a place for Christians that is what He means. He also states another compelling fact that is a blessing to those who have lost loved ones who were born again Christians and for the children of God who are facing the trial of death. Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die…” [spiritually, to be raised physically at the resurrection of believers]. After saying these words, the Lord asked a question of His listeners that is still relevant to us today, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
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