What Do You Believe About Jesus?

Have you ever noticed how many people will tell you when asked that they believe in God, but when you ask them which god they believe in their answer is not so spontaneous? Why is it that so many people believe in God but have so little to say about what and who they believe in? Recently, we enjoyed watching the Olympic coverage on TV. Here is a topic that many people will go into long detail over in conversation. Everyone has their favorite event or athlete and they are ready to share their thoughts and recollections with you even if it creates a controversy. But, ask them if they believe in God and what they believe about Him, and conversation for the most part becomes strained.

Ask someone if they believe in Jesus Christ and it takes this whole conversation thing to another level. Some people will turn away from you, some will answer with a simple yes or no. Ask believers what they believe about Jesus Christ and some will struggle to give you an answer that gets beyond the written word; others will give an answer that is shadowed with question. But, there will always be the ones who search your eyes for the sincerity in which you've asked the question, and wonder how much time you have to hear their answer.

So, how about it what do you believe about Jesus Christ? In the gospel of John chapter eight Jesus is telling some Jews who had gathered around Him just what it was that they should believe about Him if they wanted to gain eternal life. I'd like to share with you some of the things He revealed about Himself that if believed would bring men into light and life. Let's look at what He said in John 8:12-24.

Jesus tells those gathered around Him that He is "the Light of the world." That is a powerful statement of truth. It means that He alone possesses the knowledge that this world is in need of. There are and have been brilliant minds in this world that have left an impact in her history. Minds that have contributed to remarkable discoveries in the sciences, doctrines in religions, laws for social order and advancements in technologies. But, Jesus tells the people who are listening that they are in darkness. Their knowledge is restricted to this world. Their knowledge cannot lead them to an eternal application of what they know. Earthly knowledge is without power to give men the light and life that Christ alone possesses.

The Pharisees represented part of the Jewish religious order of Christ's day, and they wanted Him to prove His credentials. They wanted Him to back up what He was saying and doing in the name of His Father with two witnesses. Jesus tells them that they judge truth by human standards. He announces that there is a higher court whose judgments are always true. There is no standard of law truer than the one He possess, and He is not alone in passing judgment from this court of law. The court of law that He was speaking about was made of Himself who was on earth, and His Father who is in heaven. What Jesus said and did was not of Himself, but of He who sent Him into the world to bring His light and life to men.

Finally, Jesus obliges the Pharisees and meets the requirement of their law by saying,"It is written in your law , that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness to myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me." I wonder how many religious people of this day truly believe that Christ was sent from another world by the Father? How many people believe that Christ is the eternal and Spiritual connection between He who is in heaven and men who reside on earth? The true church and body of Christ should be living in His light and life shaping the course of earth's history according to the Father's plan?

Jesus told the Jews and the Pharisees that were gathered around Him,"You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world: I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be." He is telling them who have a long rich heritage of being a chosen people and nation unto God, that they are in a critical condition. They were rebellious toward God in their lives on earth, and without a provision of forgiveness that would grant them an eternal freedom from the darkness of their sins. He was saying that they would have no eternal place with their Father in heaven if they refused to believe in Him, and what He revealed about Himself. Their condition was critical and would remain so throughout eternity if they chose to reject Him.

The words that Jesus spoke then have a direct bearing on the church and all peoples and nations today. There are too many believers today who have a long rich heritage of belonging to a particular church, but when asked what they believe about Jesus Christ will fall short of the answer that will testify to the truth stating why the Father sent His Son into the world. Seek the Lord with all your heart and mind and He will draw next to you. Believe the testimony that Jesus gave about His coming into the world, and leave the sin of unbelief behind you.

God is Greater than Cancer

Nothing says the "Shadow of death" more than when you've been told that you have cancer. Seven years ago I was wheeled back to my hospital room after undergoing my first colonoscopy. I remember seeing my wife sitting in a chair by the window and she wasn't smiling. I asked if the results of the colonoscopy had been given to her yet, and she said they had. She said, "As a matter of fact the doctor just left." In the surest and most loving way she told me that I had cancer.

Several weeks prior to this hospital stay I had brought a few symptoms to the Lord in prayer. I noticed some discomfort near my solar plexis when I bent over to tie my shoes. I would get a little light headed standing up after reaching for something on the floor, and there was some rectal bleeding. None of these symptoms were consistent on a daily basis, but they were present long enough for me to seek the Lord on them. There was no answer to my prayers concerning these things that day.

Days later after a morning prayer time the Lord said to me in a clear manner,"That thing that is hiding in you I will bring to light." Immediately I knew this was the answer to my prayer concerning the symptoms I was experiencing. Instead of going to a doctor I was sure that God was taking me into His care. I did not know that I had cancer, but I believed the Lord would heal me of what ever was hiding in me.

Judi and I saw the Lord's hand moving in order to cut through the long process of consultation, scheduling of the surgery date and the anxious anticipation that normally follows such a revealing colonoscopy. It is as if He swept away all that was in the way to hold me back from receiving prompt medical care. Within a week of my diagnsis I was at Mass. General Hospital going through the pre-operation paper work.

The Holy Spirit gave me two words to cling to and live by before I was operated on. He said to "Submit and surrender." Now was a time of testing. How deeply did I believe that the Lord held my life in His hand? Was my faith in His promise an eternal faith? Whether I was to live or die was I willing to submit to His Lordship over me, and in all circumstances that were about to come my way would I surrender to His sovereign will? I had some fears but I simply said,"Yes Lord."

My first surgery was successful. The surgen removed a stage three tumor from my transverse colon. I had one "hot" lymphnode near the surgery site, so the doctors recommended chemotherapy. Between surgery and my first scheduled therapy complications developed as a result of the surgery, and I headed in for another operation. Submit and surrender remained my key words even though pain and wonder tempted me to launch off in an array of emotions, and carnal talk.

After nine days of living on ice chips I was finally released from the hospital, and glad to be heading home. Can you believe that the determining factor for my release; the very thing the nursing staff and I were patiently waiting for in order for me to go home was for me to pass gas? Ice chips and waiting are you kidding me?But the ruling voice that kept it all together for me was still saying, "Surrender and submit."

I am happy to report that I am cancer free seven years after my first opperation. My oncologist has recently reduced what I like to call the "preventive maintanance program" to a once a year visit for blood work. I want to tell you that God is greater than cancer! Some people have questioned whether He healed me or the opperation performed by the surgen. I say who am I to question His methods?

The fact is most people choose not to hear and believe that I asked the Lord in prayer about the symptoms I was experiencing. I guess they miss the part when He told me that He would bring to light, "the thing hiding in me." The words surrender and submit have brought me into a deeper fellowship with God espescially in the light of understanding His eternal promise. Are you ready to believe this testimony concerning the ways of God? Believe that Jesus Christ is who He says He is and leave behind dependancy on your own understanding.

What is Truth?

Have you ever asked yourself this question? What is truth? Do you ever wonder if there is an infinite number of answers to this question because of the complexity of lives and life in this world? Surely, with all the governments and religions on earth; certainly, with all the philosophies written through the ages the answer to this question must be vast. Sometimes the enormity of the question compresses you and insignificance binds you from posting up an answer. You decide to let greater minds and advanced technologies pave the way for providing an answer.

Before Pilate turned Jesus over to be crucified he asked Him, "What is truth?" He asked Him this question because Jesus had said, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth (Jn 18:37)." Amazing that one looking for truth stood upon the moment of judgement and chose to crucify the One who spoke and revealed truth.

Let's follow Jesus' statement in order to unwrap the mystery and find the answer to the question, "What is truth?" He says that He was born with a singular or very focused purpose. How many of us still wonder at the fullness of our own purpose in life? Is it because we lack truth? As we look at the next portion of His statement Jesus says that He came into the world with a cause. He told Pilate and He tells us all that He came from another "kingdom" from another place, and was born into this world with a mission, and that was to reveal truth. It is provoking to think in a world so advanced as ours, that One from another kingdom, another world, would have to be born into our world to tell us what truth is.

Jesus was crucified by the powers of this world because He spoke the truth. In His death the Messiah confirmed the truth about eternal life. Just three days after His burial Jesus rose from the grave, and several weeks later He physically ascended into the sky until He was out of view from the crowd who stood and watched. He had returned to the place from which He came. He has given hope to all that believe in Him that there is life eternal beyond this world.

So what is truth? It has to be the revelation of eternal life. Why did the world reject the truth then? Why does the world continue to reject the Messiah today? Jesus came into this world to reveal truth. Maybe the better question to ask is why do men choose to live in the lie? Christ spoke and lived the words of truth while here on earth, and He rose from the tomb after His physical death to return to the kingdom He had come from. If truth is the way to eternal life, then why do men still choose eternal death?

What is truth? Is your truth based more upon the thoughts of men? Is it based upon the governments, philosophies and religions of this world, or are you beginning to look for truth beyond what this world is offering? Choose to believe in He who came and follow His words of life and you will leave the lie of this world behind.

Healing That Comes Through Prayer

Close to twenty years ago I had a serious accident that resulted in a severely crushed left foot. The swelling was so bad that the doctor made preparation at the area hospital to take a portion, or possibly amputate my foot. This was a serious and potentially life changing event in our lives. I remember saying to my wife Judi as we drove from the specialist's office to the hospital, "They can't do this. I need my foot!"

Silence filled our car as the gloom and doom of our situation moved in and around us. Do you know that feeling? It is very real. If you fall prey to it fear will come to seize you. It was at this time Judi and I decided to pray. We were young Christians then, but we believed that the Father hears our prayers.
When we looked into the room at the hospital I was to stay in we saw a bed with a tent like fixture at the foot end. Once I was situated in the bed the nurse started a regiment of treatment that required raising my foot, and wrapping it in ice. Periodically she would come in and take my temperature. On one of her rounds she told us that the treatment would last for a certain time frame,and that if the swelling didn't go down within a determined measurement an operation may be necessary. Judi and I began to pray again!

You don't need to be a very religious person, nor do you need to be highly educated in order for the Father to hear your prayers. What you do need to do is believe. You must believe that God knows of your situation, and that He wants to heal you. Jesus Christ was sent into this world to bring healing to all those who would believe and ask.

My foot stopped swelling and the doctor did not have to operate! Were we happy about that news! I spent a few precautionary days in the hospital. When the doctor entered my room with instructions for my release I asked him what was in the future concerning my foot. He said arthritis, deformation of the foot and possibly cosmetic surgery would be the distant future. He mentioned that I'd have to buy two pair of shoes each time I needed a change because the left foot would require a larger and wider shoe. My wife and I prayed again!

Do you see the healing that was taking place as Judi and I prayed? It wasn't instantaneous but more moment to moment. Once you pray and ask the Father you must learn to accept the answer in the way that He provides, and be thankful. There was no way that we could know what plans God had for me as I went through the rehabbing of my foot. I will tell you now that He used me to reveal my faith in Him to others, and they would witness a miraculous healing that came through prayer.

The next step for me was to begin the rehab process of my left foot. I heard prior to my first visit that the therapists used a new form of therapy on all their patients. As I understood it the therapist would move his or her hands over the injury sight without touching the skin, and something like a current could be felt pulsing through the injury sight. I was determined to address this right from the start.

My first visit was more of a fact finding session for the young lady who would later become one of my therapists. She surveyed my foot and took measurements. She reviewed specific goals of reconditioning that she thought my foot would achieve, and then she reviewed the different forms of therapy that she and others there would use during the rehab. I remember her telling me that it would be a lengthy process and, it was not unusual for a crushing type injury like mine to take eighteen months of recovery work.

Then she mentioned the use of this new therapy. The therapist would move their hands over the injury sight, and before she could finish I said, "I don't want you to use that on me." She was a bit taken back, and then asked me why I felt the way I did. I said,"If there was going to be any supernatural healing over my crushed foot it would be through my faith and the healing power of Jesus Christ." She made special note of that request in my folder assuring me that no other therapist would introduce this therapy in my rehab program. Then she asked me several questions about my faith in Christ.

As I waited at the receptionist's window for the paper work stating that I had ended my therapy; we were all smiling at each other. Some of the therapists said again, "I can't believe you are ready. Most people with your type of injury are here for eighteen months or more and experience less success." I reminded them of when I told them that with their professional knowledge and my faith in the healing touch of Jesus Christ I would be healed. I signed out of the office that day seven months after starting therapy. I did not tell them that the day before I had run a quarter mile!

Jesus is my friend. I am writing to you of what I know about Him. I am writing to you of what He has revealed about Himself and His kingdom to me. He is true and He is faithful to His word. If you want to know Him all you have to do is believe, and when you do He will take hold of your life, and you will want to leave the trappings of this world behind!

Do You Remember Christmas?

What an awesome thing it is when we think upon the divine intervention that established the Christmas season most of the world celebrates. At one determined point in time the Father of light sent His Son into the world, and He would be the light of men. The advent of Christ on earth changed the course of history for all men past, present and to come.

It is astounding to know that an eternal being who is from another place, another world, simply chose a woman that He created to birth Him into that lowly manger. You'll notice that the travel from His kingdom to earth required no spaceship or sophisticated computer technology. Elohim willed His purpose and seamlessly intervened in the history of mankind. Is this wonder still part of the reason why you celebrate Christmas?

Imagine He who is the eternal, physical and spiritual embodiment of the invisible God was born into this world so that you could know that He is, and that He is true! The Creator had come to His creation. The Father made Himself approachable in Christ. Almighty God became obtainable thru Chist for everyone who would believe in Him and His word.

What a heavenly gift the Father has given this world in Christ Jesus the Lord. To know Him is to know God. To love Him is to enter a relationship with the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Have you found something of greater value on your shopping list this year? Unfortunately, far too many people will leave the Father's gift wrapped and under the tree this year. It is sad knowing that the gift that commemorates the season of Christmas remains unknown by so many.

Do you know the voice of God? Have you felt His healing touch? Let this year be the Christmas that you open the Father's gift and behold the Messiah. Please receive Him and believe in His words because they give light and the experience of life eternal; life that is truly of another place another kingdom.