The Will of God and It's Perplexities

"Now Shephatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken to all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord : ‘He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live; his life shall be as a prize to him, and he shall live.’ Thus says the Lord : ‘This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it.’ ” Therefore the princes said to the king, “Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm.” Then Zedekiah the king said, “Look, he is in your hand. For the king can do nothing against you.” So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the court of the prison, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire. So Jeremiah sank in the mire."(Jeremiah 38:1-6, NKJV)

What is the will of God? Seems like a crazy question. One might ask, 'What type of question is this, don't you know that God's will is what He desires, what He wants done, what He prefers?' Of course, but the bigger question is what exactly is His will for our lives, everyday of our lives? There is what I describe as the general will of God (read the Bible, go to church, pray, love your enemies, be responsible, honour your father and your mother, etc. - Romans 12:9-21) and the specific will of God for each person per occasion. It is the specific will of God that I want to write about in this article. 

Suffice it to say that the will of God is at times perplexing. Prophet Jeremiah delivered a message from God to the people of Judah and they did not like the message. Basically, God said that the Babylonian army would conquer the land. Earlier Prophet Hananiah has given a false prophecy, "Hananiah announced in front of everyone, “This is what the Lord says: Just like this, before two years have passed I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.” Jeremiah the prophet left." (Jeremiah 28:11, FBV)

Hananiah died soon after (according to another prophecy of Jeremiah).  Jeremiah was thrown into a dungeon full of mud with no water and he sank into the mud. God allowed that to happen because it was His will concerning Jeremiah for that (for a moment in time) to occur even though it was unpleasant. God promised Abraham a son but Abraham had to wait 25 years for Isaac and then later on God commanded Abraham to kill his son. Yes, it was a test but it did not sound like that to Abraham at the time (Genesis 15, 22). Peter and the apostles was thrown into jail (Acts 5:17-29) for preaching the Gospel and performing miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the night, an angel of the Lord set them free and they continued to preach and teach in the Temple. They were challenged by the custodians of the law and the Bible says - "But Peter and the apostles answered, “We have to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29, FBV). 

The apostles did not sulk at what happened to them, they embraced God's will which included a night spent in jail. Interesting, right? There is a school of thought that promotes the devilish idea that children of God should not and will not face persecution or suffering. That is wishful thinking and many so-called prayers today are simply carnal thoughts spoken out loud. There are other interesting examples in the Bible such as Apostle Paul with a thorn of flesh. Paul called upon God to deliver him from that buffet of satan but God responded by saying, "... “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9). Whatever that thorn in the flesh was, it was unpleasant.

The case of John the Baptist makes one realize that some plans and purposes of God are too deep for us to fathom. John the Baptist was described by Jesus this way - "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11:11). Before he was beheaded, John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah. Remember, John the Baptist had earlier said of Jesus “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me."(John 1:29-30). Yet the Bible says 

"And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” What was going on with John the Baptist? Was it discouragement, despondency, or misplaced expectation? Jesus could have set him free easily but Jesus did not do that. In other words, the imprisonment of John the Baptist was in accordance with the will of God. Oh, God, help us understand. John the Baptist was murdered by Herod but Jesus, the Son of God and God the Son did not make a move to free John the Baptist. 

We often think that God is obligated to give us all we want or to prevent us from encountering pain and suffering. God has never promised anyone a pain-free, suffering-free, tribulation-free, persecution-free life. And interestingly, the adverse situations are very often part of God's plan to make us the people He created us to be. 

"And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy." (Hebrews 11:32-38)

By faith many believers have done exploits for God. They have subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, quenched the violence of fire, defeated armies of enemies, brought back the dead to life, etc. However by faith also, many have been tortured and killed, sawn in two, crucified, beheaded, stoned to death, imprisoned, afflicted, etc in accordance with God's will. The disciples of Jesus were killed except Apostle John known as John the Beloved. 

Oh yes, the will of God is very often perplexing. Presumptuousness will not suffice; wishful thinking is out of order; cheap grace is completely unacceptable. By the will of God, believers emerge victorious in battle but also by His perfect will others suffer death, go through ordeals, are severely tempted, are imprisoned and starved. Jesus Himself went through unimaginable torture and pain to set us free from the bondage of sin and the power of the devil. It was all according the will 0f God. Amazing!

Our preoccupation should then be to do God's will in all circumstances. No wonder Esther said, "If I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:16). Who can understand the mind of God? We cannot put God in a box and expect Him to respond to our whims and caprices. God is not a lottery ticket. He is the Creator of the Universe and He may well allow us to go through pain like Job or conquer Goliath like David. He may empower us to overrun Jericho or suffer in Egypt like the children of Israel did. He may allow us to be born with sight or bring us to this earth blind. Some may see their 90th birthday, other may pass away at the age of 50. 

Our focus should be the will of God. No wonder Jesus taught His disciples to pray as follows:

"Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

Nobody in his or her right mind will pray for pain or suffering, but trusting God in the matter helps us to go through the difficult times. Finding God's will and abiding by it in the situations of life empowers us to be joyous, strong, and to have a testimony. The Bible says, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Revelation 12:11)

We know God is alive, that He is faithful, that He is trustworthy, that He never fails, that He is the Beginning and the End, that He is the Alpha and the Omega, that His ways are perfect, that He is holy, that He is not the author of confusion and that He reigns forever and forevermore. Whatever the situation may be, trust in God. Seek His will and you will never be disappointed. God bless you and keep you safe and strong in Jesus' Name.

God's Order For Supply

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." (Matthew 6:33, NLT) 

In this world, we have all sorts of needs. A need is something that is necessary for existence. For example we all need oxygen to survive; our bodies need food and water; adequate shelter is absolutely necessary; we need clothing. Whatever our needs are, God is aware of them. Hence the order He instituted - seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. It is obvious that we cannot enter God's Kingdom or live righteously if we do not draw near to Him and surrender our lives to Him. The Bible says 

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8)

God wants to draw near to us, but we have to make the first move. He respects us so much that He will not force Himself upon us. He has promised to provide our needs, not wants. The obsession for wants has caused mankind a lot of stress. The attraction of over-indulgence has caused sickness, wastage, financial problems, discriminations, etc. which in turn have had devastating effects on society. The quest for more than is required and/or for what is not needed has ushered many into bankruptcy, divorce, homelessness, redundancies, etc. The list goes on and on. 

Think about it. How many things do you have that you do not need? Why are you still hanging on to them? If we disposed of all the things we do not need, other people would have enough to cater for their needs. Will you commit to give what you no longer need to someone who might need them? I am sure you realize that I am referring to only those things that are still useful. There is no point in giving someone what is not functioning properly. 

The Psalmist said, "Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread." (Psalm 37:25, NLT)

If we live God's way, God will take care of us. We are reminded in Scripture that

"But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." (1 Timothy 6:8, AMP)

Frugality (lack of wastefulness, prudence in saving) is what is required. Think about the times you spent money unnecessarily, the times you ate more than was required, the hours you spent watching TV when you could have done other profitable things, and so on and so on. You see, God's provision is always enough for His people. One of the major problems we face is the tendency to seek more than we need. God will never commit Himself to the supply of our wants.

I am reminded of an occasion in the wilderness when the children of Israel needed food to eat. The problem was that in the wilderness, they had no way of getting the food they were used to in Egypt. It was a new day and a new dawn for them, so to speak. The Bible says

"So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground. This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’ ” And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them." (Exodus 16:14-16,19-20 )

God supplied manna for the children of Israel in the wilderness for 40 years. As long as they needed food to eat, God supplied. Incidentally, some of them decided to take more than was necessary and as a result, the excess manna bred worms and stank. Overindulgence of any form stinks before God and just as the manna took care of all their nutritional needs, God's supply in the 21st century and beyond will be more than adequate. We have a responsibility not to hoard or misuse God's supply. 

God's order for supply is failure-proof. It has never failed and will never fail. Try it today and you will have a powerful testimony in the not-too-distant future. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and you shall not lack any good and necessary thing. The quality of God's supply transcends all man-made standards. When you put God first, He will ensure that your needs are supplied according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). He will guide you by the Holy Spirit so that the talents and gifts He has bestowed on you would be utilised in such a way that His name would be glorified. 

May the good Lord enable you to receive His Word for you today, assimilate it and put it into practice. Have a blessed day.

 

Where Is God?

 "And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Luke 7:19, NKJV)

John the Baptist, the prophet whose birth has been prophesied, who was the forerunner of Jesus, whose powerful ministry drew many people to the River Jordan to repent and be baptized was in prison. The Bible says of John, “for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God.” (Luke 1:15-17, NLT)

John the Baptist demonstrated all that had been prophesied about him. Herod threw him into prison because he spoke the truth about Herod's affair with his brother's wife and challenged Herod to do the right thing. Such forthrightness is missing today in Christendom. In fact like Herod, many are offended when they are corrected. The desire for self-indulgence is a strong one that causes many to act irresponsibly when they are challenged. Many who claim to be Christians in the 21st century would have kept their mouths shut. Their primary goal would be not to rock the boat, be politically correct, be pleasing to all so that none is offended. Compromise of biblical truth does no one any favours; in fact it hides the truth from people and is basically self-centred. Margaret Thatcher (1925 - 2013) and former Prime Minister of United Kingdom once said "If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing"

Jesus described John the Baptist thus:

"For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Luke 7:28, NKJV)

On his own part, John the Baptist said the following about Jesus:

"He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all." (John 3:30‭-‬31, NKJV)

In spite of all this, John the Baptist found himself in prison. He was eventually beheaded. Why didn't Jesus rescue him? Why aren't the brethren who are persecuted delivered from their tortuous existence? Can you hear them wondering and asking, 'Where is God?' What is the answer to that question? Have you ever asked that question? Have you found yourself in a dire situation that makes you wonder what's going on? You look to the left, right, front and back and nothing seems to budge. Everything looks tight and tough. 

John the Baptist felt that way. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 'Are You the Coming One or should we look for another?’  Yet earlier on he had said he must decrease and Jesus must increase. In fact, John the Baptist announced the arrival of Jesus at the River Jordan with conviction, “...“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

It is debatable that John the Baptist doubted who Jesus was. He may have expected deliverance from his imprisonment by Jesus but that was not God's plan. How different things are today in Christendom. Many individuals come to Jesus with a shopping list, expecting this and that. Not John the Baptist. He was totally surrendered to Jesus. Jesus responded as follows:

"... “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Luke 7:22‭-‬23, NKJV)

John the Baptist must have known then that he was going to be killed by Herod. Will you be offended when God does not answer in the way you expect? Sure enough, He does not always answer in the way we expect or want and He makes no apologies for His decisions for He is sovereign, perfect, holy and good. 

Today there is a school of thought that spreads the idea that there is no pain, no suffering, no sickness or no disappointment or no loss in Christianity. God has never promised that we would have a trouble-free existence. In fact He said, 

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. But now, thus says the Lord , who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1-2)

You see, there are times when we will experience difficulties even as Christians. At such times the devil will come whispering untruths so that we may doubt God. I want to assure you today that God is with His people. The Bible says

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Those are the words of God. He will never abandon you. Never. Although we would have tribulation in this world, the peace of God is our portion in the Name of Jesus. 

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

May the Lord God Almighty comfort you with these words through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Be of good cheer, God has your back. Even though you may be experiencing tough times, God is with you and He will make a way where there seems to be no way. Jesus said

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Rest is guaranteed when we turn to Jesus. He is always close by. Jesus has all that we need and in Him is peace and joy beyond anything we could ask or think. Have a blessed day.

Who and What Comes First?

"But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also." (Matthew 6:33, AMP)

Each day we are faced with a number of decisions to make. Some of them appear to be straightforward such as brushing our teeth, taking a bath, going to work and preparing to the best of our ability for our responsibilities in church, at work and/or at home. When driving, we are faced with at least two options - obey traffic laws or drive faster disregarding the speed limit and risk being caught by the police. It's all about choices, right?

In making choices, it is important to have the right frame of mind or mindset. If we do not have the right mindset for each moment of the day, danger lurks round the corner. Decisions based on wishful thinking and/or emotions/feelings will lead us into a quagmire of chaos and confusion. How can we have the right frame of mind? We are admonished in Scripture to seek, aim for, strive after God's Kingdom and His righteousness. Why?

Let's examine what 'God's kingdom and His righteousness' means. God's Kingdom literally means His rule and reign. It is not a physical kingdom but it encompasses all that pertains to God for in that kingdom God is KING. 

"Broadly speaking, the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe.... More narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority. Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast, those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God." (GotQuestions.org)

"...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17) 

It therefore follows that seeking God's Kingdom is really about living a life in which God is the Boss. In such a life, God is fully in charge. When you come to think about it, it is the best policy because God knows us better than we know ourselves. What about those who say they do not believe in God? Well believing or disbelieving are choices. No one is advocating blind faith here, rather it is about faith in the living God, the Alpha and Omega, the Great I AM, the omnipotent God, Jehovah who is unchangeable. His Words are yea and amen and are settled in Heaven. He is incomparable, the Creator of the whole universe; He has the whole world in His hands. Furthermore He is perfect; there isn't an iota of sin in Him for He is holy. God exists and is alive forevermore. He was, is, and will ever be. No wonder the Bible says

"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:" (Hebrews 12:14)

God can only be approached according to His standards not ours. Therefore His rule and reign (Kingdom) manifested in our lives must be demonstrated by holiness and righteousness (basically living right according to God's laws). Righteous living is not relative, it is absolute. God's righteousness 5000 years ago is still His righteousness today because God has not changed and He will never change.

Just imagine what the world would be like if we all followed this simple rule: Seek first God's Kingdom and His righteousness. The world would experience peace, joy, agape love and fathomless humility. Incredible! Wars would cease; hatred, envy, sexual immorality, murder, discrimination, intolerance, tribalism, nepotism would vanish. The right decisions would be made and everyone would be fruitful. Think about it. All that God stands for would be evident in our lives. And we will worship Him in the beauty of holiness. Our needs would be supplied; there would be no lack. Wouldn't that be utopia?

Putting God's Kingdom first demonstrates acceptance of the simple fact that we are incapable of managing our affairs and as Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) 

Without Jesus, we can do nothing but with Him we can do all things (Philippians 4:13). Even when we think we are on top of our responsibilities, we need the input of the Holy Spirit. With God in charge, we have nothing to fear or worry about. Without God, chaos ensues. 

It makes a lot of sense doing the will of God. Right at the beginning, God's will for man was beneficial for man and literally the best option and that has not changed. The Bible says, "Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27-28)

A refusal to seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness results in disaster. Expecting the benefits of God's Kingdom whilst living contrary to His rules and commands is a contradiction in terms. One of the things that really stands out when considering this simple command is that it stipulates a scale of priorities which makes a lot of sense. If I decided to have a bath or shower fully dressed, questions would be raised about my mental state. To take a bath or shower, one must first of all dispose of all clothing in order to derive the full benefits. Similarly in order to benefit from a relationship with God we must "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,"

Will you do that today? The choice is yours and the ball is in your court. Remember we do not seek first the gifts, we seek the Giver. We develop an intimate relationship with God in order to be what He created us to be.  I pray that you will heed the Word of God, obey and put it into practice. That is the only way forward.  Have a blessed day.

What the Political Parties in USA Stand For in 2020

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.' (Colossians 3:17, NKJV)

On November 3rd, 2020, the Presidential elections in the United States of America will take place. This will be the most important political event in the US. Although it is dubbed Presidential Elections, it is really about the survival of the US as God intended and the agendas of the Democratic and Republican parties. As Christians, a lackadaisical attitude towards the elections will not suffice. Christian citizens and non-citizens of USA have important roles to play. 

Citizens of the US who are Christians should pray, exercise their citizenship rights and vote; Christians who are non-citizens of the US should pray. The basic prayer should be that the will of God should be done and for the presidential candidate from the party with the right and godly agenda should win. We must not be complacent; we must be pro-active. If we are going to vote right and pray right, we must know what each political party stands for.  Below are three links to documents that will give you such information. 

Comparison of Party Platforms 1

Comparison of Party Platforms 2

Vote Biblically, Not Politically

It is important to remember that USA wields a lot of influence and for Christians it is important that such influence should be biblical both domestically and internationally. We should listen to what the presidential candidates have to say which would be in line with the party manifestos, and then make up our minds in the light of Scripture. The Word of God gives us an indelible and eternal standard upon which to stand. All agendas, manifestos and statements of the parties and their candidates should be examined and scrutinized in accordance with the Word of God. God never changes and His Word will never change.

"For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob" (Malachi 3:6)

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."(Matthew 24:35)

Even though I am not a US citizen, I know that it is part of my Christian responsibility to pray for the United States of America. That I will do earnestly. Let us join hands to call upon our God who never fails. Let us remember that 

• God is pro-law and order
• God is pro-life
• God is pro-church
• God is pro-nuclear/traditional family
• God is pro-traditional marriage
• God creates two clearly-identified, permanent genders
• God is pro-Israel        (JimFeeney.org)

May the good Lord enable you to make the right decision whether in praying or voting or both. Have a blessed day.

Deceitfulness of Alternatives to Creationism

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. He was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1-3)

The above statements taken from the Bible (the Word of God) are definitive, authoritative and unambiguous. No one who reads them would be left in doubt as to what is being inferred. 

Let's take another statement like: 

'Billions of years ago, there was a big bang and then heaven and earth evolved out of the chaos that resulted from the explosion. Man also emerged via the route of animals and apes, and all this arose from a microscopic chemical molecule' Interesting, right? And the sort of stuff that would make a science fiction movie. The above process has been labelled SCIENCE except that it cannot be replicated and does not really make any sense.  

The complexity of man and the universe makes one wonder how a mindless, inanimate particle would give rise to such precision in our world. Recently, there was a big explosion in Beirut which resulted in hundreds of people killed and injured, buildings and other structures destroyed and life almost coming to a standstill. The explosions did not produce elegant structures, rather for miles around the epicentre, devastation on an unprecedented scale was experienced. 

Let me be blunt here. Can someone please stop this nonsense about macroevolution. Oh yes, scientists worldwide agree that with species, micro evolution exists. In such cases eagles do not become lions and apes do not become human beings. Within that framework, different types of eagles abound; different types of dogs exist; different types of monkeys continue to live and survive. That is the idea.

"...a creationist views microevolution as observable and consistent with biblical truth while macroevolution is theoretical, contradictory to what has been observed in nature, and contradictory to the biblical account of creation. Microevolution involves the alteration of genetic information in a species over a short period of time, sometimes within a human lifespan. Since it happens over the course of a few generations it is easily observable and there is ample evidence to prove its occurrence in nature." (CompellingTruth.org)

“The variation and adaptation sometimes referred to as microevolution does not conflict with the account of creation. God created that variety into all the life we see on earth—all the kinds of plants and animals He created.” (Lifehopeandtruth.com)

Common sense tells us that evolution (macroevolution) makes no sense. [Any further reference to evolution is a reference to macroevolution]. Yet many professors continue to hang on to this ridiculous fantasy. Why? The problem is not just an intellectual one, it is a spiritual problem. The devil always seeks to disparage God's  plans and purposes. He will stop at nothing to create doubt about the existence of God. You see, if there is no God, then we are not accountable to anyone and we are free to do what we like, take on alternative lifestyles and ideologies, and live for ourselves without regard to any rule or order. 

The Bible states that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Hear what God said about Himself:

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” .. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

God's ways are mysterious but beneficial for mankind. He has said:

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord , thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)
In this world of uncertainty, God has declared that His thoughts (which are higher than our thoughts) are designed to give us a future and a hope.  The evolutionists cannot point to a single purpose for the unscientific and crazy hypothesis.

Having said that, there are individuals and group of individuals who have created alternative thought patterns some of which are:

• Humanism - 'a rationalist outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters.' (Oxford Dictionary). It comes from the Latin root word 'humanitas.' meaning human nature, civilisation and kindness. 
• Secularism - 'the belief that religion should not be involved with the ordinary social and political activities of a country.' (Cambridge Dictionary). It is coined from the Latin word, 'secularis' meaning worldly.
• Relativism - 'the belief that truth and right and wrong cannot be judged generally but can be judged only in relation to other things, such as your personal situation' (Oxford Dictionary). It also means 'any theory holding that criteria of judgment are relative, varying with individuals and their environments.' (Dictionary.com)

So if I mention a relativistic secular humanist, you know exactly who I am referring to. This would be someone who does not believe in the supernatural, abhors any reference to religion and rejects the idea of absolutes. The interesting thing is that one just has to be a humanist to reject God. In a sense, the whole idea of humanism is comical because in an attempt to extol human capabilities, the state of our world today would hardly encourage any sort of confidence in the ability of humans to live peacefully, without injustice, and compassionately. Even though there are a considerable number of humans who try to live responsible lives, our world is more of a mess today than ever. Sure enough, technological advances have produced mind-boggling gadgets and machines but we still have hunger, poverty, corruption, perversion, paedophilia, human trafficking, murder, etc in the world today. Why?

The Bible refers to this type of situation with pinpoint accuracy:

"..., although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, ..because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,"(Romans 1:18-19,21-22,28-32) 

What is the point in all this? Simply that the rejection of God has led to the debasement of men, who have become wild, violent and immoral. You see, morality is not found in a microscopic chemical molecule; morality emanates from God. The Bible states without ambiguity that 

"Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."  (Genesis 1:26-27) 

Alternatives to creationism are flawed; they contradict the basic laws of common sense and the laws of God. They simply do not pass the most basic standards of intelligence because they perpetrate extreme folly. The Bible says 

"The fool has said in his heart, “ There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.' (Psalms 14:1)

Rejection of God and by implication His laws is indeed folly.  Unfortunately today, many Christians are embracing the above nonsensical ideologies giving credence to the words of Jesus

"And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." (Matthew 24:10-12) 

The love of many Christians is waxing cold. They are rejecting God's Word (partially or totally) and not only endorsing but living lifestyles that depict these alternative mindsets. They know it is wrong to do such things but they persist in perpetrating error and deception. Interestingly, this trend was embarked upon by some notable characters in the Bible such as Samson (Judges 16), Judas Iscariot (John 13:21-30), Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-12) and Demas (2 Timothy 4:9-10) just to mention a few. 

These individuals walked with God at one time or the other. Samson disregarded God's laws about unequal yoking and indiscipline; Judas Iscariot decided to reject the teachings of Jesus and chose to betray Him, probably hoping that his own version of redemption of the children of Israel would be put in place; Ananias and Sapphira swallowed the bait of deception and relegated all they had learned at the feet of the apostles to the background, holding on to the temporal things of this world; Demas followed the glitter of worldliness, deceived by its false promise, in the process abandoning and betraying Apostle Paul. They all succumbed to the deceitfulness of the devil. No wonder the Bible warns

"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." (I Corinthians 10:12)

We are also admonished to

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (I Peter 5:8) 

My dear brothers, sisters in the Lord, friends and acquaintances, if we do not run to God, whom are we going to run to? Who can deliver us from ourselves apart from God? Who can provide our needs, protect us and give us a meaningful and truthful reason for existence? 

I would admit that we all have choices and that is something that God Himself recognizes and acknowledges. You are free to do what you want but there are consequences. There are always consequences for our actions, good or bad. God loves you and He says He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8, Hebrews 13:5). He cares for you and He has a fantastic plan and purpose for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). You are not an accident like the evolutionists, atheists and agnostics would want you to believe. You are God's creation; let Him guide you and you will never get lost.

Finally, I want to quote 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." 

God's love for you is undisputable. It's so great that He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son to die for you so that you can be reconciled to Him. In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve (the first humans) succumbed to the temptation and deception of Satan and consequently committed sin, condemning the human race to a life dominated by the power of sin and the devil. But glory be to God, that bondage has been broken and destroyed by Jesus (the Way, the Truth and the Life - John 14:6) so that you can be free indeed. 

Jesus will set you free from deception, sin and a purposeless life. Receive Him today as your personal Lord and Saviour as you confess your sin and you shall be a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO GOD. 

"And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.' " (Acts 17:26-28)

May God bless you as you read this article and allow the Word of God to permeate your soul and spirit. Have a blessed day.

The Reality of Leadership - God's Requirements

“Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:17-30‬, ‭NKJV‬‬)

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. … So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭14:26-27‬, 33 ‭NKJV‬‬)

Salient Points:

1. The young ruler had kept the commandments and Jesus did not scold him or condemn him for having wealth. He came running to Jesus which suggests that there was some urgency in his encounter with Jesus. He needed something which his money and religiosity could not obtain.

2. Although the society saw him as a successful and prosperous man, the man had this inward battle for contentment and fulfilment. Jesus knew he lacked one thing. In Luke 10:42, Jesus told Martha, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” It seems there is always one thing - one fundamental issue - standing between us and our eternal destiny. What is that for you?

3. Jesus did not beat about the bush. He identified the problem of the man immediately - his wealth. In addition to wealth or in the absence of wealth, there could be other problems. Idolatry is not object-specific - anything can be an idol. The Holy Spirit ministers to us, not in uncertain terms, but simply, directly, bluntly and without ambiguity. There is no messing around with Gog. If you want to walk with Him, prepare yourself for some old-fashioned directness. god is not politically correct.

4. The young ruler had the good life, everything that money could buy, etc. but he could not give that up for Jesus. You see, it seems probable that he went to Jesus with a proposal like this - 'Tell me whatever You want me to do, but please do not touch my wealth.' If we want God to guide us, we cannot put Him in a box, and limit His dealings with us. Basically, we simply cannot tell God what to do or set certain areas of our lives off-limit to Him.

5. Up to that point when he met Jesus, the young rich ruler was fine. He was comfortable (at least physically and materially) with his status, influence, affluence, etc. He lacked nothing but when He came to Jesus, he was asked to relinquish his wealth.  You see, what God is not asking for today, He may require tomorrow and He has the right to do so. Many people think God cannot or will not ask them to give up their wealth, jobs, houses, locations, etc. and they are greatly mistaken. God has not changed and He may well uproot us from our comfort zones and send us to the hottest zones of the battle. Are you ready?

6. The young ruler's wealth beclouded his vision, compromised his proclaimed allegiance to God, and rendered him ineffective for service on to God. All that because he believed the lie of the devil - significance from material things. Material things are temporal; they come and go. seeking significance from them is, with all due respect, folly.

When you consider yourself, is there anything you are reluctant to give on to God? Why are these points very important? Simply because we cannot, as leaders, children of God, citizens of Heaven, expect commitment from the people if we are not 100% committed. We must lead by example. We must be disciples if we are going to be disciple makers and the conditions are unambiguously laid out as in Luke 14:26-27 - forsaking all and following Jesus. That was the condition that Abraham, Daniel, the prophets, the disciples and others, God's people, had to fulfil. When Jesus met the disciples for the first time, He boldly commanded them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19). The condition for fishing men successfully is following Jesus. That condition has not changed and will never change. 

One of our greatest problems is that we want to win souls without surrendering 100% to Jesus. How can that work? If we are not totally surrendered to Jesus, what our the people we are trying to witness to emulate? Half-hearted, carnal, self-centred, followership? God cannot allow that. So the question before all of us today is - WILL YOU FORSAKE ALL AND FOLLOW JESUS?

GOD REQUIRES EVERYTHING.

You may want to pray as outlined below:

Prayers:

1. That the Lord God Almighty will enable you to be completely unattached to the temporal things of this world.

2. That God will help you by the power of the Holy Spirit to be 100%  committed to Him and to the work He has set before you.

3. That God will help you to do the work excellently and urgently.

If you pray these prayers sincerely, God will hear and answer far beyond what you can ask or think. Have a blessed day.

Where Will You Spend Eternity?

 "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment," (Hebrews 9:27)

"And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:4-5)

It goes without saying that every individual will pass away one day. No one can avoid that day. Possessions, status, education, ethnicity, colour, creed, beliefs, wealth, poverty, etc will not prevent that day from happening. In other words, one day our earthly journey will come to an end. Some people think death is the end of the journey, other claim they believe in reincarnation, others claim they believe in Heaven and they are adamant that they will enter Heaven on their own terms. Wow! It might be an interesting and comforting thought but deep down we all know that cannot happen. We do not have control of Heaven and we cannot get into Heaven on our own terms. We need a pass, visa or permit for admission into Heaven. Don't we? Yes, we do. Now, this raises another question. If we need permission to enter Heaven, who owns Heaven and what conditions must we fulfill? 

In the world we live in, it is not lawful to get into a country without the necessary permits. Even citizens of nations have to tender their passports. A genuine passport is evidence of one's citizenship of a country or nation. In Mathew 5:34-36, Jesus said something very interesting, 

"But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black."

Jesus said Heaven is God's throne. In other words, God is in charge of Heaven; He decides who will be admitted. Screaming, jumping up and down, personal beliefs, so-called sophistication, intellectualism, business acumen, likeability, healthy living, prudence and even being law abiding will not work in our favour as far as admission into Heaven is concerned. Only those who are walking in holiness and righteousness (according to God's standards) can enter Heaven. We can only enter Heaven when we fulfil God's standards for entry. Jesus said,

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

To be admitted into Heaven, one must be born again. The only other destination after death is hell and that is a place you do not want to go to; it is not a place where you would want your worst enemy to go either. It is simply a terrible place and people who end up there are solely responsible for their fate. Why? Because if one lives on this earth without consideration for God, the person will get their wish or desire when they die - a life without God. In hell, God is absent which is why it is such a terrible place. 

One may ask, why bring up such a dark subject? Hmmm, don't you think it is important to talk about your final destination in life especially when it depends on your life here on earth? The fact that our final destination (Heaven or hell) depends to a large extent on us should really make us ponder seriously about it. Talking about hell, Jesus described it this way in Mark 9:44,

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched."

The idea here is that in hell there is everlasting torment while in Heaven, there is eternal bliss. God is so good and fair that He warns us of the possibilities facing us and the options we have. The question is, what would you go for? Remember, when that day comes - the day of death - there is no reversal, no postponement, no annulment, no pausing, no suspension. That day will come with such irreversible finality that no demon in hell or the devil himself can thwart or eradicate. For all of us our days and nights are predetermined. Jesus said in John 9:4, 

"I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work."

For each of us, the night is coming sooner or later. ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THAT DAY? It is important to state at this point that once in hell, there is no return. The sojourn in hell is not temporary, it is everlasting. After a billion years would have elapsed, life in hell will just be starting. What a horrific existence!

This brings us to the question, what can we do to be saved from such a horrible destiny? We need to get right with God. The answer lies in Jesus.  He said in John 14:6

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." 

This statement is definitive and authoritative. Jesus declared that He is the Way, the only Way to God. If you want to go to Heaven, you must go through Jesus. You cannot bypass Him, you cannot bulldoze your way through, you cannot argue your way through, neither can you pull a fast one on Jesus. You see, Jesus knows all about you because He is God the Son and the Son of God (John1:1). Hallelujah!

Will you come to Jesus today? The Gospel is the good news about Jesus, how He came down from Heaven, took upon Himself the form of man (Philippians 2:5-8), was crucified and died on the cross of Calvary, was buried and then rose from the dead on the third day. Jesus is alive today and His tomb is empty. Hear what Apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said,

"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve." (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)

Jesus invites everyone to come to Him. He loves you unconditionally and that's why He died for you on the cross of Calvary. Everyone on earth is born a sinner (because Adam and Eve, our ancestors sinned against God) and without Jesus no one can be saved from the power and bondage of sin. Jesus came to save.

Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:4; 2 Thess. 2:16; (1 John 4:9, 10; Rev. 1:5)"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." (John 3:16)

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

These powerful Words of Jesus are true and give us certain hope. God loves you so much and wants you to have everlasting life. Jesus is the Messiah, in Him there is salvation, abundant life, joy and peace, hope and strength for tomorrow and everlasting life culminating in eternity with God in Heaven. Glory be to God. What this means is that to be born again, one must repent of one's sins and receive Jesus as personal Lord and Saviour (John 1:12)

I pray that as you humble yourself and receive God's Word today receiving Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour or rededicating your life to Him, that the joy, peace and assurance of salvation will be your portion in Jesus' Name. With Jesus in and with you by the power of the Holy Spirit, you cannot fail. Have a blessed day.