Be Wise

 BE WISE

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” - Matthew 2:1-2

In our country, there is a great emphasis placed on education. It is a good thing to acquire knowledge. Knowledge can help a person go far in a career or trade. The pursuit of knowledge has led to many discoveries and cures.

Yet there is something even better than knowledge. Knowledge is simply the accumulation of information. On the other hand, wisdom includes making good decisions and practicing discernment. To put it in a different way, wisdom is the proper use of knowledge. Wisdom includes doing the right things at the right time and in the right way. Knowledge deals with information but wisdom involves application. Wisdom enables a person to know what the best choice is and leads him to make that choice.

When Jesus was born, men came seeking Him. The Bible refers to them as being wise men. The Bible gives us little information about these men. Most people refer to them as the three wise men, but the Bible doesn't specifically number these men. They did bring three types of gifts, but this does not necessarily indicate that there were three men.

In spite of the fact that there is little information about these wise men, the Bible does give us some insight about them. As we near the Christmas holiday, may we embrace the same actions that they took.

First of all, the wise men sought the Lord. They came looking for Jesus. If we would be wise today, we must do the same. The Bible says, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found.” Jesus said, “Seek and ye shall find.” Few people seek the Lord today. Even among the Christian community, many seek something from the Lord rather than seeking the Lord Himself. Be wise yourself and seek the Lord with all your heart. God says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Be wise and seek Him.

Secondly, the wise men served the Lord. They brought their gifts to Him. Traditionally, we give and receive gifts at Christmas, yet the One who is having a birthday is not on our gift list. Strange, isn't it? The wise person gives to the Lord at Christmas and throughout the year. Whether you give a little extra at the church, make a special financial gift to a favorite ministry or give to a needy family, give it in the Name of the Lord. Also, you can lend your talents and serve your fellow man in the Name of the Lord. Help at a soup kitchen, visit someone in a hospital or nursing home, or call someone who is lonely, like a widow. In Matthew 10:42, Jesus said, “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” Be wise and serve in His Name.

Third, the wise men worshiped the Lord. They knelt before the Lord in act of submission. Where are the worshipers today? It isn't difficult to find people who worship a sports team, a movie star or a musician, but it is difficult to find those who regularly worship the Lord. Why did the wise men worship? They recognized Jesus as being One who is worthy of worship. They knew Him to the Messiah, the King of Kings. They didn't worship Herod, but they did worship Jesus. The reason that few people worship the Lord today is that they fail to see Him as He really is.

The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. God is the source of wisdom. He provides wisdom as a gift to those who ask for it (James 1:5). That is the reason that wisdom is rare these days. Few ask for it.

Despite the consumer mindset that drives much of our Christmas traditions, it is important that we remember the true meaning of the day. Christmas is not really about little children receiving gifts. Neither is it about having a big meal with family. These aren't bad things, but they miss the point.

Christmas is all about Jesus. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth. He was born of a virgin. He came to the tiny town of Bethlehem on a mission of love. He came to redeem us from our sins.

As we approach Christmas, let us be wise and focus on Jesus. Like the wise men, let us seek the Lord. Let us serve the Lord. Let us worship the Lord.

Be wise!

Problems In The Pulpit

 PROBLEMS IN THE PULPIT

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” - Galatians 1:8

I am thankful for the wonderful preachers who faithfully proclaim the truth of God's Word on a regular basis. Some are highly educated and trained to fulfill their calling, while others have little or no formal training, but simply stand and preach with great power. I am thankful for such men of God, who take their calling seriously. They lovingly shepherd their congregation and lead people to Jesus.

While some of these preachers may have regional, national or even international acclaim for their ministries, most are virtually unknown. They simply do God's will in the obscurity of a small church in a community or small town. Many of these obscure preachers are bi-vocational, holding down a regular job while leading a small congregation. Such men deserve our respect.

While I am thankful for such men, I must also confess that there are some in the ministry who give the rest a bad name. They are known for their shady fund-raising schemes, wild extremes of ministry and false doctrine. Some are nothing more than slick snake-oil salesmen, using the pulpit for selfish gain and public notoriety. They bring shame and reproach to the Lord Jesus, misrepresent the Gospel and lead many astray.

When I write about “Problems In the Pulpit,” you're probably thinking about these notorious preachers who make a mockery of the Gospel ministry. While this could be a topic for another message, I wish to dwell on the public pulpits that we tend to overlook.

First of all, there are problems with the classroom pulpit. Over the past century or so, we have transferred the responsibility of teaching children from the parents to the government. Schools and colleges have a strong influence on the worldview your child will have. In spite of the teaching they hear at home and church, most of their views will be formed at a government-funded educational facility.

Yet many young people are enticed to leave the faith after being taught in college. The college lectern has become a pulpit to spread heresy, blasphemy and lies. There is a problem in this pulpit. Rather than teaching young people and preparing them for a professional career, instead they are being molded into thinking like the ungodly world around them. Information has been replaced with indoctrination. Rather than encouraging young people to think, they are training them to be robots of new age ideas. There is a problem in this pulpit. Godly parents need to pray carefully before sending their kids to a secular college. The young person they send off may not resemble the one who returns.

Secondly, there is the political pulpit. A politician will stand behind his or her “pulpit,” and preach a doctrine that is often contrary to the teaching of Scripture. Sometimes these politicians will quote Scripture, then twist the verse to mean something that is absurd or even blasphemous. They are responsible for what they believe, how they live and the doctrine they publicize. They are also accountable for the people who were led astray by their teaching. There is a problem in the political pulpit.

Finally, there is a problem with the newsroom pulpit. When I was growing up, newscasters simply reported the news. Now they gave “analysis,” which is a fancy way of saying that they are going to give you their opinion on the subject. Americans should be fed up with this kind of “reporting.” Newscasters seem to think that the average American is too ignorant to know what a news headline means. They think we can't understand the news of the day without their commentary. In many cases, the news desk has become a pulpit. I am not opposed to newscasters who will honestly “fact check” a politician. However, it is time for people to “fact check,” the newscasters, too. They often have a hidden agenda. They wish to persuade their viewers to share their views and biases. There is a problem in the newscaster's pulpit.

Let me close by reminding you to “fact check,” everything you hear. We need to listen carefully to everything that is said and examine the merits by searching the Scriptures. The Bereans were called “noble,” for “fact checking” the Apostle Paul. Paul actually encouraged people to fact check him. In Galatians 1:9, Paul wrote, “As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

By the way, it is important for us to “fact check,” ourselves. The Word of God probes our minds and hearts and discerns our motives. Open your Bible and read it daily. Let the Word reveal the truth to you.

One day, each one of us will stand before God. On that day, we will be judged by the truth. If you are unsaved, be aware that your issue is not a problem in the pulpit, but a problem in your heart. The new birth is the only solution. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

Bad Love

BAD LOVE

“...I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house ...because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.” - 1 Samuel 3:12-13

Last week, I wrote about “Good Fear.” Those two words typically don't go together. Yet the fear of the Lord is a good fear. It is a fear that all of us should have. As the Scripture teaches, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Today, I am writing about “Bad Love.” Again, these two words don't seem to go together. We think of “love” as a positive word. Certainly, you'd think that love is always a positive emotion, producing positive results. But that simply isn't so.

Eli and his sons served as priests over the people. Yet Eli's sons were evil men. They abused the priesthood with their selfishness and wickedness. Those in authority can be very wicked indeed. Even those in spiritual leadership can be evil. Yet like Eli's sons, the wicked will meet their doom. Judgment lies ahead for such men. Sinful men will reap what they have sown.

Eli also faced God's judgment along with his sons, because “he restrained them not.” Eli was not wicked like his sons, but he refused to restrain them. There's an old staying, “Blood is thicker than water.” That was true in this situation. Eli knew his sons were out of hand, but he permitted them to get that way.

Eli knew better. It is true that he verbally rebuked his sons for their wickedness, but it was too little, too late. Eli probably wouldn't have tolerated such behavior from others, but his sons were a different story. He refused to restrain them. This is “bad love.”

“Bad love,” exists when a parent refuses to correct, discipline and train a child because of sentimental “love.” When a parent says, “I love my child too much to discipline him,” this parent is practicing, “bad love.” Both the child and the parent will pay the price for such “love.” Eventually, the uncontrolled child may end up behind bars, dying from an overdose of drugs or endure a life of alcoholism.

Let's consider Eli and his sons. In our text, the problem was that Eli's sons were now adults. It is obvious that they lacked the proper discipline and direction they needed when they were growing up. “Bad love,” produced unruly children that eventually became wicked adults.

“Tough love,” is the antithesis of “bad love.” We consider “tough love,” to be the stern response of a parent toward a son or daughter that is doing wrong. When parents discipline their children, it is an act of “tough love.” I admit that “tough love,” is unpopular and politically incorrect these days, but it is Biblically correct --- which is all that matters.

Nearly twenty-five years ago, then-Governor Bob Wise signed legislation that made corporal punishment illegal in public schools here in my home state of West Virginia. There are still strong opinions about both sides of this issue. Many, including some teachers, think that the paddle should be brought back to the classroom. Others think that such punishment is barbaric, harmful and unnecessary.

Proverbs 13:24 states, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” This is tough love. “Bad love,” spares the child the discipline he or she desperately needs. It isn't the lack of discipline in the classroom that is ruining the lives of young people, it is the lack of discipline at home that is the cause.

Look at the end result. Eli and his sons died tragically because Eli refused to restrain his sons. His “bad love,” cost them their lives. Today, we wonder why there are riots and increased crime. Children backtalk their parents and show disrespect to elders. Parents allow their little children to decide what gender they are. In America, we are reaping what we have sown. We have sown to the wind, now we are reaping the whirlwind.

Be assured, God uses “tough love.” He takes His children out to the woodshed when they need it. He does not tolerate unruly behavior and rebellion. He can be stern at times. He wants to save His children from future pain and heartache. Because of this, He provides “tough love,” when needed. He disciplines His children because He loves them. We should do the same with our children.

I strongly condemn child abuse. Yet I also object to parents allowing their children to act disrespectful and unruly. The pain of discipline is far less severe than the ultimate heartache that comes from an undisciplined life. When required, love can be tough.

“Bad love,” is not really love at all.

Good Fear

GOOD FEAR

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” - Proverbs 9:10

There are many who teach that fear is always bad. They say that it is important for people to overcome their fears. According to them, unresolved issues with fear brings an unhealthy balance to life.

I agree that there are unhealthy fears. Perhaps the most common unhealthy fear is our fear of others. Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” The fear of public speaking is a variation of this fear. Many people refuse to speak in front of others due to this fear. We resist witnessing to a friend or enter social dialogue with strangers because of our fear of man. Truly, it is a snare to us. It is a bad fear, an unhealthy fear that we need to be liberated from.

Not all fears are bad. I think it is good to have a healthy fear of electricity. Many have died from electrocution because they were careless about electricity and its dangers. While it may be good to have a healthy fear about dangerous situations, they shouldn't paralyze us to the extent of making us bedridden.

Yet there is one fear that most avoid, yet it is the most important fear of all. Proverbs 9:10 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Fearing God is a good fear. Fearing God is not the summation of wisdom, just the beginning of wisdom. Unless a man fears God, he is not wise at all.

I used to think that fearing God was simply having a healthy respect of God. Certainly, fearing God includes this, but it goes far beyond that. When I was growing up, I loved my father. But I also feared him. I knew that if he caught me telling a lie, showing disrespect to others or misbehaving, I would face his discipline. I feared his discipline, so I feared him. Was this a bad fear? I don't think so. He disciplined me because of love.

In a similar manner, God is to be feared because of who He is. He often disciplines His children. His discipline can be rather painful and severe at times. Hebrews 11:6 says, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”

Many well-meaning Christians believe that we should love God, but never fear Him. They believe that fearing God is only an Old Testament teaching. Obviously, this is incorrect. In the New Testament, Hebrews 10:31 says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Fearing God consists of more than just having a healthy respect and reverence of God. Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 10:28: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” When we fear God, other fears pale in comparison.

To many, it is unthinkable that we should fear the Lord. Love Him, yes, but fear Him, no. Yet the Bible teaches us to fear the Lord. Both the Old and New Testaments teach us to fear God.

Our nation is undergoing moral and spiritual destruction right now. One of the reasons for our nation's indulgence in sin is that people do not fear God. I blame this, in part, on many people-pleasing, lukewarm preachers in America. There are preachers who refuse to preach against sin or warn against hell. They may be popular among people, but refusing to warn others of impending judgment is a dereliction of duty. As a result of such weak preaching, many do not fear the Lord.

Furthermore, we must accept responsibility for our own failure to speak the truth about these matters. Are we trying to make God popular, hip, cool and relevant to people, or are we attempting to please Him by boldly sharing the facts? When a watchman is derelict in his duties by failing to warn the people of an approaching army, God held the watchman responsible for the blood of the people. Today, believers are serving in such a capacity. You are a watchman on the wall. I am a watchman. Do we care enough for the people and fear God enough to warn them of the judgment to come?

Yes, unbelievers need to fear God. Unless they repent, they will face His wrath. Yet believers need to fear God as well. A healthy fear of God will cause us to be more circumspect in our living. If we fear God as we should, we will live holy lives. We will live humble, committed lives.

Here's the inescapable truth. All of us must stand before God one day. His judgment will be true and final. If you feel cocky about judgment day, you aren't ready for it. If you think you will arrogantly strut into His presence, you are in for a surprise. The One who sits on the throne is holy and righteous. We should reverence Him. Respect Him. Fear Him.

That is a good fear.

Are You Grateful?

 ARE YOU GRATEFUL?

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” - 1Thessalonians 5:18

Most of us don't appreciate what we have until we lose it all. We tend to overlook the tiny details of life, not knowing that the tiny details add up to much more than we realize.

Take your health, for instance. If you're like me, you have good days and bad days. Yet our worst days could be dramatically worse … and we don't even consider it. We take our eye sight for granted, until the doctor says we have quick-spreading glaucoma. We don't think much about our hearing until we have an inner ear infection. We take our taste for granted until Covid robs us of our taste. Something as simple as rising from a chair seems to be a small task, until you are confined to a wheel chair. I have found that health is a gift that can quickly be taken away. Yet we tend to take it for granted.

Our tendency is to grumble and complain. Things aren't perfect and never will be this side of heaven. We will have our aches and pains. People will disappoint us. Life can be very unfair. We can feel abandoned and alone at times. There is always something we can complain about. For this reason, the Bible often reminds us to give thanks.

Writing to the Thessalonians, Paul wrote, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Notice the wording of this verse: “In EVERY thing give thanks,” (emphasis added). It is one thing to give thanks sporadically, but do we give things for every thing?

As Christians, we love to use the word, “grace.” Grace is God's unmerited favor. Grace is God's mercy and blessings that we don't deserve. Since we don't deserve any blessings, we'd have to classify every blessing as being a love gift from the Father. James put it this way, “Every good and every perfect gift cometh down from the Father of lights...” Every blessing, every good thing, is a gift of love from the Father. We are recipients of overwhelming grace every day. But are we grateful for this grace?

Paul wrote, “In every thing give thanks.” Does that mean we should be thankful even during the bad days? Yep. But it is easier said than done, isn't it?

If we are honest, we'd have to confess that the challenges and problems of life have taught us more about walking with God than anything else. Pain and sorrow have a way of driving us to our knees and drawing us close to God. We learn and grow through the obstacles we face. The greatest fruit grows in the valley and not on the mountain-top. Aren't these things to be grateful for?

Also, we fail to thank God for getting us through the bad days. All of our pain and problems are temporary. Do we show gratitude for God's faithfulness during these difficult times? Do we praise Him for delivering us from them? The bad days also show us how blessed we are when the good days come. Yes, we have reason to give thanks even for the rough times.

We should be grateful every day. Here are three things we should do to express our appreciation to God.

SAY IT

First of all, we need to thank the Lord for His blessings. Gratitude should be expressed verbally. A grateful person is not ashamed to say “thank you.” Have you thanked the Lord for anything today?

SHOW IT

Secondly, we should show our appreciation through our conduct. Gratitude should prompt us to love Him fully, obey Him explicitly and adore Him reverently.

SHARE IT

Finally, we should share our gratitude with others. When was the last time you told someone about God's blessings? Have you ever given God credit for the good things in your life? Do people know you to be a grateful person? Be transparent about your gratitude. God has blessed you liberally, don't be stingy with your gratitude.

When we go through a rough time in life, we are tempted to throw a pity party. We can easily feel sorry for ourselves. Yet a visit to a nursing home or the corridors of a hospital can quickly put everything into proper perspective.

The late evangelist Bill Stafford is noted for saying, “Everything above hell is grace.” I have been a recipient of God's abounding grace. Let me testify that God has been good to me. I can never repay Him for all He has done. Every morning His mercies are new. Each day I get deeper in debt to Him because His blessings continue to flow in my life. I have everlasting life because He died for me. He is worthy of my life.

What about you? Are you grateful?

Beautiful Feet

 BEAUTIFUL FEET

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” - Isaiah 52:7

I'm glad that I wear shoes in public. I have ugly feet. While shoes provide stability and comfort to my feet, they also keep my feet from being a public spectacle. After shattering my ankle in 2003, I had to undergo therapy to regain mobility in my ankle. I pitied the physical therapist that had to work with my right foot. I'll spare you the details, but she should have received combat pay for what she endured.

I am like most Americans. I don't give much attention to my feet unless I have problems with them. While I wash my feet like everyone else, I don't spend much time thinking about them. You probably don't either. If we're honest about it, our feet tend to get dirty often. They may have an odor that is embarrassing.

Yet Isaiah 52:7 talks about beautiful feet: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” Why are these feet so beautiful?

Obviously, television, radio and the internet didn't exist in Biblical times. Newspapers were not in circulation either. Instead, news traveled by means of a messenger. News traveled by foot. It would be great to be a runner who had good news to share!

We have a message to share with a dying world. It is good news. It is the news of everlasting life, available through Jesus Christ. To perishing souls, this is the news they so desperately need to hear. It needs to be shared across this globe. But it also needs to be shared across the street. When God opens the minds of people to understand the good news, it is like giving cool water to a thirsty man. When someone drinks of the living water, it changes them. They have joy in their souls. They are happy in the Lord. They celebrate the event and even thank the person who shared the good news with them.

In foreign lands, missionaries will carry this news to unreached people groups. Upon receiving the news, some of these new converts actually kiss the feet of the missionaries. The feet that had traveled so far just to share this message was honored with a symbol of their gratitude.

So if the Lord directs your feet to visit a neighbor, a relative or even a stranger and they hear the Gospel from your mouth and receive it by faith, they will praise the Lord for such a great salvation. They may also thank the Lord for the beautiful feet that came their way so they could hear the truth.

Paul instructed believers to put on the whole armor of God. Notice that you are to have, “... your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15). We are to be prepared for battle, with the very Gospel that changes lives. Because of the Gospel, our feet will walk the right path. Our feet will go to rescue souls from the enemy's camp. Our feet will march forward in triumph because of the Gospel.

Our feet are led by the Gospel, prepared by the Gospel and used for the spread of the Gospel. Some will even consider them to be beautiful feet.

Yet there is something even greater.

When Jesus cast the demons out of the wild man of the Gadarenes, the residents came and found the new convert in his right mind sitting at the feet of Jesus. When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, Martha was busy preparing the meal, but Mary sat at His feet and heard His word. A sinner woman kissed the feet of Jesus, washing His feet with her tears and wiping them with her hair. Many came to Him, falling at His feet, seeking His aid or simply worshiping Him.

It was His feet that walked to meet the needs of many. His feet walked the shores of Galilee, spreading the Good News. It was His feet that walked up to Calvary. It was His feet that were nailed to the cross.

One day we will see Him face to face. At His feet we will fall in worship. At His feet we will cast our crowns and rewards. There are no feet like His.

Truly, the feet of Jesus are beautiful feet.

The Coast Is Clear

 THE COAST IS CLEAR

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” - Psalm 118:8

Four times, the Bible says, “Now the just shall live by faith.” At our church, we still sing the old song, “Living By Faith.” As I get older, that song means much more to me. But are we living by faith?

The writer of the book of Hebrews described faith this way: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” After giving us a description of faith, the writer goes on to give us examples of faith, all from the Old Testament. As you carefully read Hebrews chapter 11, you can't help but get inspired by the many men & women mentioned in the chapter.

But where are the saints who are living by faith today? Are you among them?

Faith is simply trusting God. Faith is dependence on God. Faith is taking God at His Word. Faith is relying on the Lord.

Every person on the planet has faith. The difference is the object of faith. Just because a person claims to be “a person of faith,” doesn't mean that his or her faith is in Jesus. I've seen movies classified as “Faith-Based” movies, yet never mention God. Some are even based on teachings of a cult. The object of our faith is critical.

The psalmist put it this way: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” In spite of this basic truth, so many trust in politicians, musicians and actors. Many more trust in their own ability and ingenuity. Proverbs 3:5 teaches us, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Faith is simply trusting God.

A while back, I was driving my mother to town. When we got to the bottom of the mountain, I could easily see the traffic coming my way. From the driver's seat, it is more challenging to view the traffic from the opposite position. Mom offered to check for traffic coming her way. When she said, “the coast is clear,” I took off without even looking back at what she saw. I took her at her word. I trusted what she said. I put our lives on the line, depending on the accuracy of what she said. That is acting with faith.

Why did I have such faith is what my mother told me? Well, first of all, she is my mother. She loves me. Can't we have the same kind of faith in God because He loves us? God loves me even more than my mother.

Also, I can trust Mom's word because she has proven herself to be trustworthy. She has a track record of being honest. Yet, can't we take God at His Word? Isn't He honest? Hasn't He proved Himself to be truthful all the time?

Third, my mother has a reputation of telling me what I need to hear, not just what I want to hear. If she had told me that a car was coming, it wouldn't be what I wanted to hear, but it would be what I needed to hear. God is the same way with us. His Word encourages us at times. At other times, His word convicts us. He cares enough to tell us what we need to hear, not merely what we want to hear.

Finally, I can trust my mother's word because, if she is wrong, she will suffer the most by the misinformation. It is true that an accident would total my car, but my mother would be sitting at the very point of impact. She would suffer the most if she didn't tell me the truth. When God makes a promise, His credibility is on the line. His integrity is in question. If He lies, misrepresents the truth or misinforms us, His impeccable character would receive irreversible damage. In fact, He would fail to be God because He would violate the very essence of His deity.

I figure you're like me. If a family member is riding in your car when you're driving and tells you the coast is clear, you proceed without verifying the accuracy of their word. You trust them. You believe in them. You act with faith based upon information provided by a reliable source.

Living by faith is simply that. We act upon information provided by a reliable source, God Himself. Since He cannot lie, we can proceed without worrying whether He will back up His promise or not. We can go forward without visible evidence simply because of what He tells us.

At times, God's Word warns us. At other times, we are corrected. Still, there are times we are told that the coast is clear and advised to proceed. In any case, we know His Word is reliable. Our eternal future hinges on it.

If you can trust Him with life beyond the grave, can't you trust Him with today? Can't you rely on Him when times get tough? He is trustworthy all the time.

Soon each one of us must face death. From a human perspective, death is a dark, lonely, dreary & uncertain time. Yet if our faith is in Jesus, we can proceed with confidence in Him. He will welcome us on the other side. So proceed.

The coast is clear.