HOW MANY GOOD DEEDS ARE ENOUGH?

"Why Good Works Are Not Enough – and Why That’s Actually Good News"

When I recently listened to Donald Trump speak about the assassination attempt on his life, he mentioned that God had spoken to him and spared him so that he could bring peace to the world. From this, he concluded that he now needed to perform good deeds in order to spend eternity in God’s presence—a presence he currently feels very far away from. His words struck me in two ways: they impressed me, and they unsettled me.

I was impressed because he clearly experienced a divine encounter as something very real. But I was unsettled because he drew the conclusion that he now had to earn eternal life with “good deeds.”

Good Works Are Not a Ticket In

The crucial question would be: how many good deeds are enough? Ten? A hundred? A thousand?

The Bible is clear on this:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, NIV)

Our standard simply doesn’t measure up, because God’s standard is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Even our very best falls short of his holiness.

That’s why good works are not a ticket into God’s presence. They are instead the fruit of faith—the visible outcome of a living relationship with Jesus (James 2:17). They do not prove our worthiness; they show that God’s grace has become active in our lives.

And that is exactly the good news! The door into God’s presence is not opened by our performance, but by faith in Jesus Christ. On the cross, he already paid the price for our guilt (1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21). If we were still trying to earn salvation on our own, his suffering and death would have been completely in vain (Galatians 2:21).

The Criminal on the Cross – A Powerful Example

Whenever I think about this, I’m reminded of the scene at the cross. Next to Jesus hangs a criminal—at the very end of his life, with no chance for restitution. At first he mocks Jesus, but then he suddenly realizes who it is that suffers beside him. In his final moments, he begins to believe. And Jesus gives him the promise: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

No time for good deeds. No possibility for making things right. Only trust.

Nothing illustrates more clearly that God is not after our performance, but our heart—and that he freely gives eternal fellowship with himself, even beyond death.

Faith That Transforms

Of course, this doesn’t mean: “Just believe—and then live however you want.” A real encounter with Jesus always changes a person (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christians remain imperfect and still struggle with weaknesses (Philippians 3:12), but they no longer delight in sin. Step by step, faith transforms life—not out of pressure, but out of love for God (John 14:23).

We are both: declared righteous through Christ (Romans 5:1), and learners still on the journey, making mistakes but moving toward God’s perfection (Hebrews 10:14).

My Conclusion

Hearing Trump’s words reminded me again how widespread the belief is that one can secure eternity with God by piling up good works.

My hope is that many will honestly ask themselves this question: What am I really relying on—my own performance, or on the One who, by his sacrifice, opened the way to God once and for all?

True hope and eternal life are not found in our “good deeds,” but in Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8–9).

WHY THE OLD TESTAMENT MATTERS TO ME

When I first came to faith, I was excited about the New Testament and its good news. But the Old Testament felt far away—often hard to understand and a little overwhelming. But as I’ve grown in my journey, I realized just how important the Old Testament really is. Without it, I don’t think I could fully understand or even believe in the New Testament.

The Old Testament makes up most of the Bible, and skipping it means missing the heart of who God is and how our story with Him unfolds. It’s also the Scripture Jesus read and quoted. When Jesus talked about the Scriptures, He was referring to the Old Testament, saying they “bear witness about me” (John 5:39). To really understand Jesus—who He is and why He came—we need to spend time with these ancient writings.

Both the Old and New Testaments show us the same God—one who is just, loving, merciful, and holy. The Old Testament helps explain big ideas like sin, promises God made (called covenants), and sacrifices. It also shows just how much humanity needs rescue, setting the stage for Jesus’ mission.

The New Testament often points back to the Old, showing how Jesus fulfills the hopes and prophecies from long ago. When I see those connections, the story of Jesus gets so much richer and more powerful for me.

The Old Testament’s stories, poems, and wisdom still speak to the struggles and hopes we face today. Reading both parts of the Bible together has helped me see God’s love and redemption as one beautiful, unified story. That’s why the Old Testament matters to me.

A DROP ON A HOT STONE ?

How God Uses Our Lives

We often think that the impact our lives have on others hardly matters — that it’s nothing more than a drop on a hot stone. “What difference can I really make?”

But if you stop and ask what actually happens to a drop on a hot stone, you notice something surprising: The drop doesn’t simply disappear. It begins to evaporate, rises upward, cools in the heights, joins with other drops, and eventually returns as rain or snow.

That’s exactly how it is with the influence our lives have on the people around us. Even if we can’t see it, God sets something in motion that may only bear fruit much later. Our words, our attitude, our lived-out faith are not wasted — they become part of something much bigger.

We don’t know when or how God will bring these seeds to life. That’s why we shouldn’t get discouraged if we don’t see immediate changes in others. Jesus Himself encouraged us to move on when someone wasn’t open to His message. Faith can’t be forced — but it can be lived: genuinely, honestly, and in love.

Our task is not to count souls or measure results. Our task is to remain faithful: to bear witness to the truth of Jesus and to live out His love — right where we are. The rest is in God’s hands.

FAITH AND FEAR CANNOT COEXIST

It’s fascinating how our fears and faith interact, often in a delicate and challenging balance. We believe every word Jesus says and cling to every promise He makes, yet more often than not, we allow fear to creep in and grow within us. The irony is that Jesus patiently waits for us—waiting for us to hand over that fear to Him right away, to exchange our worries for His peace.

An Unexpected Lesson from 50 Cent

A few years ago, while watching a TV show, I heard a testimony from one of the most unlikely people to speak God’s truth—the rapper 50 Cent. Despite leading a challenging and tumultuous life, he shared how his Christian mother taught him a crucial lesson: fear and faith cannot coexist. We always have to choose one or the other. This insight struck me deeply and has stayed with me ever since.

The Biblical Perspective

Fear and faith cannot coexist because they are fundamentally at odds. Faith is trust—trust in Jesus’ goodness, His promises, and His power to work all things for our good (Romans 8:28). Fear, on the other hand, is doubt disguised as worry, anxiety about what might happen, and a focus on uncertainty instead of on Jesus’ assurance. Jesus calls us to choose faith, to reject fear, and to live in the confidence that God is always with us (Isaiah 41:10).

Struggling with Fear: A Personal Reflection

I must admit, I struggle with this choice constantly. The tension between my human frailties and my born-again spirit often leads me down the path of fear more times than I’d like. But recognizing this struggle is part of the journey. It reminds me that faith is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment, a conscious choice to trust Jesus even when circumstances tempt me to fear (2 Timothy 1:7).

The Power of Journaling in Overcoming Fear

Writing in my journal has been a vital part of this journey. Looking back through its pages, I see countless moments where I faced fears that seemed like towering mountains, yet Jesus’ grace transformed those mountains into molehills. His blessings and peace replaced my anxiety time and again (Philippians 4:6-7). That’s what God does for His children—He turns our fears into testimonies of His faithfulness.

Choose Faith Over Fear

So today, I encourage you and myself to make that choice anew—to let go of fear and embrace faith. The road may be difficult, but Jesus walks it with us, ready to carry our burdens if we but ask (Matthew 11:28-30). With Him by our side, we can face tomorrow with courage and peace.

THE LIGHT OF JESUS REMAINS

When life hits us blow after blow – yet the light of Jesus remains

Life can sometimes feel overwhelmingly hard, as if difficulties and setbacks keep coming one after another. In those moments, it’s easy to lose hope, believing that any joy we find will soon be taken away again.

It can be like being trapped in a trench—unable to lift our head above the edge because we know countless snipers have their sights set on us. And so, we find ourselves living on the dark side of this world—always tense, always on high alert.

But is that really where we, as followers of Christ, are meant to live?

Jesus calls Himself the Light of the world, and He invites us to embrace a light that no darkness can overcome. Though life does not become pain-free or easy, His light offers us hope, peace, and His constant presence—even in the darkest valleys.

For believers, life on the “dark side of the world” is not the end but a crossroads. We must choose: will we remain in fear, or will we cling to the light Jesus gives—a living power that transforms how we see ourselves, our struggles, and our future?

Even when life hits hard, the light of Jesus calls us to look beyond our troubles. It encourages us to believe that joy can bloom again, that the forces threatening us are powerless before His love, and that a brighter path lies ahead.

Yes, we can walk through darkness as followers of Christ—but we never walk alone. And we never walk without a light to guide us safely forward.

“I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12

LOSING YOUR SALVATION

Unfortunately, there is considerable division among believers on the subject of whether one can lose their salvation. However, the overwhelming weight of biblical evidence affirms that once a person is truly born again, their salvation is eternally secure.

I firmly believe that a person cannot lose their salvation once they have been genuinely regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Those who later abandon their faith were never truly born again or saved in the first place. As the Apostle John explains:

"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us." (1 John 2:19)

This shows that falling away is evidence that one was never truly part of the redeemed.

Being saved means your old self has been crucified with Christ, and you now live controlled by the Spirit of God (Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20). This new life in Christ is not temporary or dependent on human effort; it is a sovereign work of God. The Holy Spirit indwells and seals every true believer, guaranteeing their salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14). His presence marks the believer as God’s own, making it impossible for God to lose what He has given.

On the other hand, many associate with “Christianity” as a religion or tradition without having experienced regeneration through the Holy Spirit. They may attend church, quote Scripture, and appear devoted, but their hearts are untouched by God’s transforming power. Such individuals are described as “antichrists” (1 John 2:18) and are likely to abandon their faith because they were never truly saved.

John MacArthur offers a simple yet profound insight:

"If I could lose my salvation, I would, because I don't have the power to hold it."

This underscores the biblical truth that salvation is God’s work, not ours, and that it is God who keeps us secure until the end (John 10:28-29).

The Bible assures us that nothing—including death, life, angels, or any created thing—can separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). Furthermore, the act of justification by faith guarantees glorification (Romans 8:30), meaning our eternal destiny is as certain as God’s promise.

It’s important to clarify that eternal security is not a license to sin. True salvation results in a transformed life that bears fruit (Matthew 7:16; Romans 7:4). Those persisting in unrepentant sin reveal they never possessed genuine faith (1 John 3:6). Saving faith perseveres as evidence of a real relationship with Christ.

Even As Saved Believers, We Still Struggle With Sin

Even as saved believers, sealed by the Holy Spirit, we will still struggle with sin. This is part of living in a fallen world and carrying our human nature (Romans 7:15-25). But for the true believer, sin is no longer our master (Romans 6:14), nor can we embrace or excuse it. When we do fall, sin grieves us because it feels like betraying the One who gave Himself for us. True Christians cannot sin with lasting joy—because the Spirit convicts and calls us back to repentance. And even in our failures, God’s Word reassures us:

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2)

Conclusion

The biblical doctrine of eternal security offers immense comfort. Once saved, always saved is not wishful thinking—it is God’s promise. Our salvation is not lost by human weakness but kept secure by God’s unchanging grace and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

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Common Objections and Answers to "Once Saved, Always Saved"

Objection 1: If salvation is secure, won't people just sin freely?

Answer: Eternal security is not a license to sin. True salvation changes the heart so that believers do not live in willful sin but are convicted and led to repentance (Romans 6:1-2; 1 John 3:6).

Objection 2: What about verses warning about falling away?

Answer: These warnings often concern people who only appeared to be believers. True believers are preserved by God’s power (John 10:28-29; Ephesians 1:13-14).

Objection 3: Isn’t salvation conditional on continued faith and obedience?

Answer: Faith and obedience are evidences—not conditions—of salvation. The believer’s security rests on God’s faithfulness (Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Objection 4: Doesn’t “fall from grace” mean losing salvation?

Answer: In Galatians 5:4, “fall from grace” means turning from faith to law-keeping, rejecting Christ’s work—not losing salvation.

Objection 5: What about those who once believed but now renounce faith?

Answer: Scripture says they were never truly saved to begin with (1 John 2:19; John 6:37-40).

GOD KNOWS

Sometimes, when I come before God, ready to bring everything to Him, all that comes out of my mouth is simply, "Oh Lord." A thousand thoughts, requests, and praises are wrapped into those two words - my pain, my hope, my fear, my joy - it’s all there. And God knows every nuance of my heart behind that utterance.

In those quiet moments, words fail me, but the depth of my soul speaks louder than any prayer I could articulate. There is a sacred comfort in knowing that I don’t have to say it all perfectly; my genuine cry is understood without explanation. It’s a reminder that God sees beyond the surface, understands the weight I carry, and embraces the entirety of my being.

The psalmist reminds us:
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
(Psalm 34:18)

This truth reassures me that, even when all I can whisper is "Oh Lord," God draws near. His presence is not dependent on eloquence or an abundance of words, but on the honesty of my heart. Sometimes, the simplest expression contains the most profound surrender, inviting God to walk alongside me through every twist and turn.

So when all I can say is "Oh Lord," I trust that it encompasses everything I need to share - the burden, the gratitude, the longing, and the love - knowing that He hears and understands it all.

WHY IS GOD SO CRUEL ?

I often asked myself: Why does the Old Testament seem so cruel, and why does God allow such cruelty and evil - both in ancient times and today? Many people wrestle with the mysteries of God and the parts of the Bible that are hard to grasp. 

These are difficult questions, especially when the Bible teaches that "God is love" (1 John 4:8). And while not every question has a complete answer - after all, we’re talking about the Creator of the universe, whom we can never fully understand - there are explanations. There’s enough to offer a general understanding of the “why.”

1. We have to consider the context
The Bible isn’t a history book in the modern sense. It tells the story of God’s relationship with humanity in a specific time and culture. The societies back then were extremely violent - war, conquest, and displacement were everyday realities. God meets people where they are, even in the midst of such cultures.

2. God is just and and patient
Before many of the judgments we read about in the Old Testament, there was a long period of warning and patience from God (see Genesis 15:16). For example, the Canaanites practiced child sacrifice and extreme cruelty. God’s judgment is never arbitrary - it is always a reflection of His justice.

3. The Old Testament versus the New Testament
With Jesus, we see God’s character revealed fully and clearly: “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). In the New Testament, love for our enemies becomes central (Matthew 5:44). The Old Testament shows God’s journey with a flawed humanity - and His goal was always reconciliation.

4. Not a template for violence today
The Old Testament accounts are not instructions for Christian behavior today. Jesus clearly forbids violence (Matthew 26:52).

5. We live in a fallen world
The Bible teaches that evil and suffering entered the world through the fall in Genesis 3. God created us with free will, but humans often misuse that freedom - and the consequences can be terrible.

6. God suffers with us
God is not indifferent to human suffering. In the Old Testament, He laments over injustice (e.g., Hosea 11:8). In the New Testament, God Himself enters into our suffering through Jesus and dies on the cross: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering” (Isaiah 53:3).

7. God limits evil
Even if we don’t always understand how, the Bible teaches that God restrains evil and can bring good even out of painful situations (Romans 8:28).

8. God will ultimately defeat evil
The Bible promises that one day God will completely remove all evil and suffering: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death…” (Revelation 21:4).

Some things remain a mystery. Some passages in the Bible are difficult to understand. But God doesn't ask us to have all the answers - only to trust Him. He is not distant from our questions or our pain. He is near, He is just, and He is good. Even when we don’t understand everything, we’re not walking alone. Keep asking, keep seeking - God is faithful.

I LOST MY FRIEND TODAY

Today I lost my best friend after he battled a short but aggressive illness. He was a friend I felt closer to than my own brother. Someone I thought about and prayed for almost every day. We knew each other for over 50 years, went through thick and thin together, got lost in the dark, were found in the light, tasted good and bad while living our dreams.

Even though we had been separated by two continents for the last 25 years, we never lost sight of each other.

Now he is gone, and so is a part of my life that now has to be filled with only memories. But they are good memories. Memories of overcoming, of redemption.

As we both believed that those who believe will not be parted forever, he will live on in my heart for now, until I see him again.

I'm sad and I miss my friend Thomas, but I hold on to the hope of seeing him again. A hope that brings joy in the midst of grief

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW CATASTROPHES?

Someone asked me the old question, what is God's reason for not preventing disasters like babies getting cancer, terrorist attacks, the Holocaust, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.? 

I believe an answer to this question can only come from a deep understanding of the entire narrative of Scripture, including the nature of God, the significance of His love, and the concept of sin. 

The realization that has brought me some light into this horrible world in which I live is that I exist in a fallen and cursed place where sin has tainted every aspect of life. From our very human nature to the state of the planet itself, everything is damaged by corruption.

The question is, what's the point of living in a world where you're either going to be eaten away by disease or killed by someone or something? And my answer is to find God, to rekindle our perfect relationship with Him that we once had.  That's why Jesus is playing the role that He is playing in this world: a rescuer, Savior, redeemer - the most significant sign of God's love for us.

It comforts me that the ultimate hope and purpose of my life as a believer lies in what comes after this life. The Christian saying that "this is not our home" couldn't be more true if there is indeed a God.

When God permits individuals to pass away "before their time" (though that term can be presumptuous, as it implies we understand what our time should be), He grants them the gift of eternal life in His presence. He protects them from descending into a state of evil from which there may be no escape.

Isaiah 57:1-2 says: "The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.  Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death."

Trying to answer the question of why this world is so "evil" may not be satisfying or meaningful if you are not seeking God.

I believe that in the midst of the pain and suffering of this broken world, we can find hope and meaning in God's enduring love and promise of salvation.

Life's challenges can deepen our faith, draw us nearer to God, and prepare us for the eternal joy that will come when this life is over. When viewed from this perspective, even the most difficult times can serve as pathways to a deeper appreciation of God's grace and the eventual renewal of all creation.

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH

Today is election day, and once the polls close and the results are in, those who think they have “lost” are going to be upset and very unhappy.

But the biblical phrase "The joy of the Lord is my strength" from Nehemiah 8:10 is a powerful truth to remember and live by.

It means that true strength comes from the joy that God gives, not from external sources such as wealth or worldly power.

This joy is rooted in a deep, trusting relationship with God, which provides emotional and spiritual resilience in difficult times.  It acts as a refuge, providing a sense of security and protection. This joy does not depend on circumstances, but on our faith in God's goodness and promises, which enable us who believe to face hardship with courage and hope.

May we embrace the joy of the Lord as our source of strength and not the fleeting happiness that this world has to offer.

LIFE AFTER LOSS AND THE UNEXPECTED GIFTS OF GRIEF

It's been a year since my wife graduated to heaven, and for the past few weeks I've been trying to gather my thoughts to express how out of the rubble of what I thought was my shattered life, God is painstakingly assembling a new foundation of faith, hope, and an eternal perspective that I could have never imagined possible.

A quote came to mind that I've heard many times before.  It goes like this:

"I asked for strength, and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom, and God gave me problems to learn to solve.
I asked for courage, and God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for love, and God gave me people to help.
I received nothing I wanted.
I received everything I needed."  
- Hazrat Inayat Khan

I vividly recall the fateful year of 2021 when our long-time landlord delivered the dreaded notice! After nearly two decades of calling that place home, we were being forced to vacate! We were shocked. Where would we go? How could we possibly find a suitable and affordable new home in such a short time?
Just when all hope seemed lost, God showed us our new home and when I say "God showed us" I really mean it. It is another God story all together.  It was the most beautiful and perfect home for us that we could have ever imagined.  We were both grateful and in my gratitude I prayed the same prayer over and over again: "Lord, let me grow in all aspects of my life, in this new home and in this new chapter of our journey, for Your glory."

For some reason I had certain expectations. I thought, God would push me out of my comfort zone a little, so I would become a stronger person.
Little did I know, that He had a far more profound and transformative journey in store for me. Instead of a gentle nudge, He sent me into the heart of a raging storm. A journey through pain, depression, and fear that threatened to consume me while at the same time offering me a peace that surpasses all understanding.  Being a follower of Christ can really seem like a paradox sometimes - but only if you have unbiblical expectations.

First, I got sick with an extremely painful herniated disc that kept me out of work for seven months. Then, when I was ready to start working again, my equipment broke down and I couldn't afford to buy new equipment (as an independent freelancer, that could be a death sentence).
A friend organized a fundraiser for us and it was slowly making progress, but two weeks into the fundraiser my wife died of a heart attack in the car.
Now the love of my life was gone.  Just like that. On top of that, I had no car, my wife's income was gone, funeral expenses loomed, and so on.  The weight of these challenges, coupled with the intense depression and anxiety that now consumed me, was unbearable.

God's thoughts and ways are far beyond our own limited human understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). He enters the intimate spaces of our lives to shape and refine us. Through trials, challenges, and divine interventions, God works to transform us, strengthening our faith, restoring our brokenness, and revealing more of His glory.
And He does this without compromising His righteousness, His faithfulness, His love, and His goodness.

Just a few weeks ago, after almost a year without the love of my life, having faced the darkness of depression and the fears that threatened to consume me, I had to make the conscious decision to stop giving in to the darkness and instead, start living what I profess to believe - the unwavering truth of God's love and guidance that says: "Rejoice when the world tells you there is nothing to rejoice about."  It is a work in progress - but I'm determined!

Last year I thought I lost everything. But God taught me that this is not the case.  Instead of focusing on what has been taken away, God wants me to shift my perspective and recognize the immense blessings that remain, and new blessings that are being revealed as I walk with Him in this new chapter of my life.

My relationship with my wife has not ended. She is in Heaven, where she wanted to be, healed, waiting for me in the presence of God.
My relationship with God has intensified with a much deeper understanding of who He is.  He has given me a clearer vision of Heaven and my own purpose in this world.
And best of all, He blessed me with the joy that comes from a healthy longing to go home one day.

Don't get me wrong, grief will be a lifelong companion for me. However, I'm trying to view it not as a burden, but as a "welcome visitor" - a reminder of the love I shared with my wife, and the promise of being reunited with her again. I believe that healthy grief honors the one you have lost.

I recognize that I have a choice in how I approach my grief. I could allow it to consume me, making it a kind of false "god" that dominates my life. Or, I can embrace the truth and comfort offered by my Heavenly Father. He calls me to rejoice, promising a peace that transcends all understanding. This divine peace is able to fill me with a joyful anticipation, as I look forward to the day when I will be reunited with my wife in the eternal glory of Heaven.

When I look through the lens of my faith, I have the chance to see that even in the midst of the deepest tragedy, there is a wellspring of hope and joy waiting to be tapped. It is the steadfast love of God that has the power to transform our tears into triumph, and our mourning into dancing.

No matter how deep our sorrow may be, it is ultimately overshadowed by the boundless joy that awaits us in the life to come.

THANK YOU

Today people wish "Happy Thanksgiving" to everyone, not realizing that many recipients of this joyful and well-intentioned wish will not be happy because their thoughts and emotions are clinging to the memory of someone they have lost. Whether it was a few months ago or a few years ago, it doesn't matter. Loss is not a wound that heals, but rather a scab that breaks open every time you touch it.  And today is one of those days.

But thank God, days like this don't have to be just a reminder of what we've lost, but they can be a reminder of what a great blessing we've received.  Even if it didn't last as long as we would have liked.

Those who have faith in Christ know that our relationships aren't just for a little while, but for all eternity.  God may have temporarily interrupted our physical connection with those we love, but He has promised a reunion with them in the future.  His promise is meant to give us hope, peace, and strength right here, right now.  

Whatever pain we experience, this is not the end of the story! I believe that this is a good reason to be thankful for today.

It may not be a "Happy" Thanksgiving, but it can still be a day of gratitude, where tears of hope and joy replace despair. We are "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Corinthians 6:10).
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

SUFFERING

Suffering and death are the harsh realities of this world and this life.  They are an inseparable part of our existence, and no amount of wishful thinking can change that fact. 

Biblically speaking, it is the consequence of sin, which infiltrates every aspect of our lives. A truth that cannot be sugarcoated.

The only hope amidst this suffering is that those who have faith in Christ, will realize that our human existence is very brief in the grand scheme of eternity, and that only through Christ we can see and accept, that this world is not our home, and that our trials and sufferings serve a divine purpose, because there is a greater plan at work.

With this perspective, we are able to face every trial with joy, peace, and hope, and we can develop a healthy, but sincere longing for the life to come.

IS GOD EVIL?

“You are an omniscient, omnipotent Creator of the universe.  You created some people, tied them up, placed them on a railroad track and make a train hurtle towards them. You promise to save them if they accept that You are the creator of this situation. Are You evil?”

Someone posted this on Facebook a few days ago and I wondered if these people were serious or if our culture is now displaying its stupidity with pride.

These are “gotcha” arguments often made by individuals who lack knowledge about God, the story of God, the story of humankind, or the story of salvation. They oversimplify their anti-God sentiment by creating a distorted image based on their irrational perception of what they believe God to be. 

But how do you respond to such nonsense?  And 'yes' I call it nonsense, because these arguments are rarely intended to initiate a genuine and enlightening conversation. Instead, they are used solely to prove a point and win an argument - a typical, flawed strawman argument.

But often it is the silent, curious observer who eagerly awaits a response to this accusation. And as a believer, we better have a compelling one.

First of all, what's wrong with this metaphor is the ‘tied people on the track’.  God did not tie people up and put them on a track to make them believe or go to hell.  No, He told them not to go near the track, but if they felt they had to, they certainly could, because they were created with free will.

God did not create evil, nor is He evil.  God created man into perfection, but man sinned and messed everything up because of their free will. God's creation chose evil, and evil was passed down from generation to generation, destroying the world itself.

We are born into sin and God has offered and not forced the opportunity to be saved from that sin by accepting the gift of salvation that comes only through Jesus.

When we came into this world we were already dead.  But God who loved the world so much wanted to give us life, and He paid a price for that - Jesus. 

What are we going to do with this gift of life? And who is truly the embodiment of evil in this world?

FEARS & WORRIES - WILL THEY EVER GO AWAY?

My fears and worries can be overwhelming at times.  They can feel like a terrifying monster lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce at any moment.

I'm aware that I have to realize that the reason I'm afraid is because I don't consider that God's presence is with me. Once I realize that God is indeed with me, my fears and worries will subside. With God's presence, I also gain access to the comfort of His promises, His peace, His protection, and His provision.  

God knows me from the inside out, and His desire is to inspire me to find my courage and strength in Him alone. But my fallen humanity is stubborn and wants to hold on to its independence and self-sufficiency. It makes it hard to let go of myself and completely fall into the arms of God.  But that's what I must do.

We are given permission to let go of fear because God assures us that there is no need to be afraid when we are with Him. (Isaiah 41:10)

AND WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO NEVER HEARD OF JESUS ?

God doesn't punish people for their lack of knowledge, but rather for their refusal to believe in what they already know. It's a concept that demonstrates God's divine justice. Romans 1:18-23 sheds light on this.

According to this passage, every single person has a deep-rooted knowledge of God. It's not something that can be easily dismissed or ignored. This knowledge is embedded within us through the wonders of creation, the whispers of our conscience, and the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. It's a knowledge that cannot be denied.

Yet, despite this inherent understanding, many choose to suppress the truth. They turn a blind eye to the evidence that surrounds them, refusing to acknowledge the existence of God. It's a deliberate act of denial, a conscious decision to reject what they know deep down to be true.

According to Romans 1:20 these individuals are without excuse. They cannot claim ignorance or plead innocence. They have been given the gift of knowledge, and they have chosen to bury it beneath layers of disbelief. It's a sobering realization, one that forces us to confront the consequences of our choices.

But what about the person on the island who never heard of Jesus as the Messiah, the only way to God, the Savior of the world who gives eternal life?

I firmly believe that those who genuinely seek God, who earnestly pursue Him based on the evidence they find within their hearts, will not be left in the dark (Jeremiah 29:13). They will hear from God, and He will reveal Jesus to them in ways that are personal and profound.  Just look at the Muslim world and the miraculous transformations in recent years, that have taken place through dreams.

God gives everyone a chance to find Him. And that should ignite a fire within us to seek God with all our hearts, to embrace the knowledge we have been given, and to open ourselves up to the heavenly revelation of Jesus Christ. In doing so, we will find a deeper connection with God and an unshakable faith.

I WILL NEVER FORSAKE YOU

For the most part I "walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7), but too often, to my embarrassment, I seem to perceive God's faithfulness only in retrospect, and rarely when I look forward. And I ask myself, do I have faith in God only for what He has done for me?  For what I can see and evaluate, but not for what He has promised? 

Where is my faith that shows confidence in what I hope for. Faith that has assurance for the things I can't see? (Hebrews 11:1).

 

God assures me that He will never fail me, that He will never abandon me (Hebrews 13:5). Scripture is filled with God's positive promises, and I believe every one of them, yet my faith sometimes seems so small.

I guess the world with all its terror and lies can certainly distract and confuse me. That's why I have to constantly remind myself who God is and apply the things He has done in my life to the things He will do. 

 

He will never leave me and never forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:8). This is His promise, and I believe Him.

“All the promises of God find their Yes in him [Christ]. 

That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
(2 Corinthians 1:20)

GOD IS GOOD - ALWAYS

 "Why trust God when he tortured Job, just to win a bet with Satan?"

Someone asked me this question a few weeks ago and I had to try to find an answer. For him, but also for myself.

The problem with finding a satisfying answer to the problem of suffering is that we are trying to figure out who God is by our own human standards of what is good and just.  

I am a follower of Jesus and I have objections and questions especially when it comes to suffering. For some of these unanswered questions that bother me as a mere human being, I will eventually find an answer, but for many other unanswered questions, I won't.  
I have to come to terms with the humbling truth that my knowledge is limited, and admit that "I don't know God, and I'm never going to figure Him out" - at least not in this life.

But here comes the thing that is beyond human understanding - Faith.

When I sum up what God has done, and what he is doing for humanity, I can only come up with the stereotypical Christian phrase: "God is good - always". Because He provided a way out of this present darkness, by suffering Himself.   This, of course, is not satisfying to those who seek to answer the never-ending questions of *why*.

The bottom line is that this life is nothing compared to what comes next for those who have found God, or rather Jesus. This life is a breath, a blip in the grand scheme of eternity. It is over as soon as it begins.  Should we risk waiting to find out if what is written, prophesied, and promised in the Word of God is true, or should we live with the hope, assurance, and joy that there is indeed an eternal life of bliss waiting for those who have walked in God's way?

There is a reason why the book of Job is in the Bible.  It tells us that we will suffer greatly in this life, emotionally and physically, but that God will restore and heal.

The inspired men who wrote the Bible weren't stupid, otherwise they would have removed all the parts that would cause objections, questions, and doubts. But questions and doubts are necessary to find answers, even if the answer is simply to trust in God (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Despite my lack of understanding of God and my many unanswered questions, I still say, "God is good - always".

A SAD GENERATION

This is a generation that cannot deal with the past and therefore cannot see a future.
A generation that claims to live in the moment, but hates the moment it lives in.
A generation misinformed about itself and its human depravity.
A generation that has never understood the power of overcoming and moving forward.
A generation that is now being forced to open its eyes to a terrible reality and its inept efforts to change the world.
A generation that will repeat history because they weren't taught to learn from it.
But it is also a generation that craves authenticity and despises empty clichés.
A generation that is strong in their convictions, but carries a deep sensitivity and profound sadness.

 

I BELIEVE IN EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

Someone told me that as a former Christian whose faith has waned over the years, he now believes in empirical evidence and sound logic rather than "myths" and "wishful thinking".

When I hear such statements, I always doubt the person's claim to have been a Christian at all.  The definition of being a Christian is very narrow and doesn't leave room for interpretation.

First, it is important to distinguish between being "a Christian" and being "a Jesus follower", which can be two completely different things. The latter usually has occasional doubts, which is a normal part of being human, but in the end, their faith is unshakable.

On the other hand many honest "Christians" might write touching sermons or songs, devote themselves to church, do good deeds, and so on, but they may never have experienced the faith that comes from the hope of eternal life that Jesus promised. A faith "in Jesus" that not only hopes for the good things he can give me in this world, but also anticipates the suffering he allows, and despite the prospect of suffering, finds joy in my walk with him. A faith that doesn't need all the answers the world tries to find.  A faith no matter what. (Hebrews 11:1)

When that faith is not there, it's easy to walk away and side with "empirical logic," which seems convincing but has even fewer answers to our existence than faith can give.

If you ask such Christians if they think they will go to heaven, you usually get the answer "I hope so" rather than "absolutely". 

Faith is not dependent on empiricism, it is dependent on Jesus. (Romans 10:17)

NO SIN TOO GREAT...

I was reading about Satan's temptation of Jesus in Matthew, and suddenly I had a lot of questions about unsaved sinners 'in the presence of God'.

I always wondered why God would reach down to me when I was a lost sinner trying to figure out who He was or even if He existed.  I guess the fact that I was looking for Him made Him want me to find Him even more (which is probably not a 100% biblical statement, but close) - Jeremiah 29:13.

So as I read Matthew, I asked God why I was so important to Him that He would even recognize me in my unworthy, sinful state.

In my spirit, God said these literal words: "Sin does not surprise Me, I am the One who let you live in it, but I am also the One who loves you too much to just let you die in it." (Romans 3:23-24)

INTO THE HEART Of GOD

Ever since my wife died a few months ago, I feel like I tripped, and fell into the heart of God.
He is comfort in a seemingly never ending discomfort.
He is there with me just as He promised to be.
Not to prevent all of my calamities, but to carry me through them.
I love You Lord!

PEACE

Have you ever experienced the peace that comes from Jesus?

A peace that surpasses all understanding?  Philippians 4:7

Peace from the man who claims to be God, the person that says before Abraham was even born - I Am!   John 8:58

What is he saying?

He is saying that He was always there, even before the world began. 

He is saying: 'I am God, and I give you peace!'  John 14:27

                         Take it!

IF YOU DON'T

Last year I went through many doubts, hopes and fears, so that I had to surrender yet again and say: "Lord, forgive me! Whatever Your will is in my life, I will still love You, and praise You".  

So I wrote this song "If You Don't", which is inspired by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - (Daniel 3:17-18), and talks about the possibility of suffering and loss etc. but still praising God for who He is in spite of it.

I believe that this year, God tested my claim that I would praise Him no matter what, when He unexpectedly took my wife home to be with Him.
 

I still praise and worship God, even though I am sad now that I am no longer with my wife.  But heaven is our goal, and my hope has just been raised a thousand miles.

 

TEARS & TRUST

My wife unexpectedly went to heaven two weeks ago. I'm in shock, disbelief, and extreme depression. Many well meaning people are trying to encourage me by saying that I just "need time to heal". But I'm thinking what is this even supposed to mean - "healing from what?". My wife is etched into my heart and soul. We both knew that we were a gift from God to each other.  Now God has taken her home, away from me, for reasons that only He knows.

But I embrace my heavenly Father’s plan, which He is revealing only as far as I can see in the dark. I trust Him, and I hope He lets me live with an ever growing love for my wife so that I don't lose the depth of my longing to be with her again. I want my urge to be in heaven with Jesus and her to intensify, so that when God calls me home, I will have truly lived, with His strength and His guidance, for that moment.

Life will never be the same, which doesn't mean it has to be full of sadness. I'm maturing into the person God wants me to be in the end, and that's a good thing!

THE SELFISH SWEETNESS OF DEADLY BLISS

The other day I woke up and felt like I had to call an old friend in Germany that I worked with in the 80's but hadn't talked to in over ten years. So I called. He and his wife were pleasantly surprised that I was calling from the US just to find out how they were doing.

I remembered that their marriage had always been rocky, but here they were, both in their late seventies and still married. They told me that their son had committed suicide some time ago, which I sensed had brought them closer together and made them somewhat spiritual.

When they asked me how I was doing, I told them that Jesus had changed my life, and their reaction was joy and excitement. I thought, "Hallelujah, have they also given their lives to Jesus?"  But their answer was something like this: "It's a good thing to follow Jesus because you have to be spiritual in this life. That's the most important thing. We follow Buddha. It gives us so much joy and peace. We also explore other spiritual things. As long as you're spiritual, in whatever way, you're doing the right thing".

Everything inside me was screaming and I wanted to say, "Wait, you don't even know who Jesus is or what He says and who He claims to be. You know nothing about Him. If you knew who He was, you wouldn't follow anyone or anything else, because then you would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that your next life is something you can count on. An assurance that no one else can give you".
But I didn't say that. There was just no time to be a street preacher on the phone. And so the conversation went on about this and that, and then we said goodbye and hung up.

I felt guilty for not being more forceful, fearing the unpleasant repercussions of promoting Jesus' exclusivity more than their sad eternity without God.  I pray for them now. And that's what God tells us to do, to pray constantly for the lost.
But God has also opened my eyes. I know the unsaved world needs Jesus, but for the first time I experienced firsthand the selfish sweetness of deadly bliss that can only be found in false gods.

LET'S PREPARE OUR HEARTS

On Sunday mornings, we often come to church like an out-of-tune piano. We bring all kinds of baggage that has accumulated during the week, yet we want our worship to be pleasing to God.

 

The "bringing the baggage" part is fine, as long as we leave it at the foot of the cross.

When we enter the throne room, do we come with open hands or clenched fists? How can we receive anything from God if our hands are clenched in anger and/or fear? We must be in tune.

 

God is eager to get our hearts in tune. If we ask Him to empty us of the baggage that fills us up, He will empty us and make room for the worship and praise that is trapped inside but wants to be released before our God.

Our purpose on Sunday morning is to glorify God and express our love and gratitude to Him for all that He has done. This time, we give to Him.

Sunday praise and worship doesn't begin at 10 a.m. when the praise band plays its first notes.  It is a pilgrimage to the throne room of God that begins when we open our eyes that morning.

So let's come together on Sunday morning with our hearts in tune, ready to praise the Lord of our hearts.

I USED TO BE A CHRISTIAN, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME.

Throughout my life as a believer, I have encountered people who claim to have been Christians at one time, but then either through reasoning, social conditioning, or personal disappointment, decided that Jesus was not the right thing for them. But it is only in recent years that I have seen people make this claim more boldly and proudly than ever before. As if being a follower of Christ is a burden to be lifted, a lie to be set free from.
I can't understand why anyone would ever walk away from Christ and declare themselves an unbeliever. I understand that religious pressure from family or the culture we live in can lead to rebellion-but to walk away from Christ, the truth you claim to have once known? It doesn't make sense. 

The apostle John explains why this is possible. He says that because we live in the last days, there are many antichrists among us. These people who once claimed to be one of us were never one of us, otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left us, it proved that they did not belong to us. -1 John 2:19
He is saying that these people were never true to what they claimed to believe. They were/are antichrists. Wow, that's a tough statement!
I have people in my own family that I love dearly that have walked away from Jesus and it breaks my heart.  I wonder if there is a way back for them. Are these people just so-called "backsliders"? I hope so, because if they are, life or death will eventually turn them around and they will run to Jesus again. But I don't think John is talking about "backsliders" here. He is talking about the seed of the Antichrist. And I believe that these people are truly lost forever. Let's hope and pray that none of our unbelieving loved ones are among them.

ISAAC LIVES

The sermon at church today reminded me of a time when God asked me to sacrifice what I love.  A while back, I was on a life-changing 30-day Daniel fast, and on day 27, God led me to a place where I questioned what I loved and what I loved doing in my life.

My profession, love and passion, all of my life was and is being a creative musician.  It is how I express myself, it is my shrink, my tear collector, my bliss and joy and even a blessing to others. And yes, of course I love Jesus.
I love Jesus and I go to church and I love doing my "Christian duties". But what if all the things I love compete with the one who gave me all these things? What if they have become a distraction and not a tool?

I just read my fasting journal and my entry for day 27 was pretty desperate. I knew God was speaking to my heart:

'God is speaking to me ... I now doubt my profession as a musician,  God is asking me "Do you love my gifts more than you love me?"... I can answer this with: "Lord You are my 1st Love", "I can not disobey You when I hear You so clearly" ... I'm pleading not to take music out of my life, but if it is His will, then it needs to be done ... God says: "Isaac lives!'

I was distraught and sad when God spoke to me like this. He made it clear to me that even though I had given my life to Christ, and even though my whole outlook on life had changed when I did, I was still holding on to other things when God says to hold on only to Him.

On the 27th day of my fast I understood that I have to be willing to unclench and be willing to let go of everything I love and instead trust the One who gave me all the things I love.  Even if it makes me sad, I have to let "Isaac die". When I understood this and signaled to God with a heavy heart that I will let go of the things I love if this is really His will, He said: "Isaac lives.

God asks us to be willing to sacrifice the very thing He gave us in the first place, not to destroy it, but to leave us with a space that can only be filled by Him.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son. But he knew in his heart that God would intervene. Abraham thought that God would bring Isaac back to life  after he sacrificed him (Hebrews 11:19), but God didn't let Abraham even go that far. He intervened when He saw Abraham's trust in God's wisdom and plan.

THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE MAN ON THE CROSS

I'm not really comfortable with images of Jesus. I guess the beauty of the man on the cross as it is displayed  in many churches, graphics, paintings and souvenirs, is meant to be a depiction of the beauty of God's love. But I can't really look at these images without thinking that the real image of Jesus is being hidden and even distorted.

No one knows exactly what Jesus looks like, but He certainly doesn’t look like the beautiful, perfectly groomed, long-haired, white man on the cross.
The Word of God gives us a glimpse of what Jesus might have looked like. It is in the book of  Isaiah:

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem” - Isaiah 53:2–3

This is the awesome, selfless appearance of God in the flesh, who didn’t come as a king with splendor and pomp, but who becomes the eternal King for all those who see Him and understand who He is.

TREEHUGGER - A PRAISE

Every morning I go to the park nearby. It has become my meeting place with God over the years. I feel undisturbed and peaceful there and when I arrive I almost immediately start talking to God. The first words that come out of my mouth are usually words of praise and thanksgiving. Gratitude for the beautiful place He has provided for me. A place where I can rest and come to Him just as I am, and praise for His creation that obediently illustrates life and does what it was created to do.
Sometimes on my daily walks the vegetation seems to join in my praise and worship. And other times it seems like it's trying to comfort me when I'm in need of God's help.

The old hymn "In the Garden" comes to mind: "He walks with me and He talks with me". I can see His garden waking up in the spring and going to sleep in the fall. The colors He uses for His pictures are vibrant and comforting, and when you look closely, you begin to wonder if you have ever seen such colors before. Each season has its different sounds, smells, and images that are imprinted on my heart, soul, and mind so that I have a place to go when there is no park available.

The enemy is trying to rob us of these impressions of God. We are distracted by a world that is noisier than ever, an enemy that is more desperate than ever, and an arsenal of pleasures and indulgences at our disposal that no generation before us has ever seen. Our daily lives pull us in a thousand directions away from God's garden.

God's Word is like His garden.  When He tells us to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8), He knows that we need these things as a shield to protect us from a world that wants to destroy us..

I want to focus on the good things around me. They are there for a reason. God is in them every day, every hour, every minute. And if there is no park for us to go to, God is still there where we are.

The beauty of creation is in the Creator Himself. My neighborhood park is a beautiful enclave for which I'm grateful, but God's garden is wherever God is.  Let Him be with you always.

ICE SKATERS

Committing sin as a Christian is like an ice skater in the Olympics who falls during a jump. A seemingly shameful and emotionally devastating event for the professional skater. But have you noticed how they fall? They slide down, across the ice, and immediately, almost gracefully, slide out of their fall to continue their routine.
When we sin, we ask God for forgiveness by giving Him our broken heart and we repent. And that's it. The next step is to accept God's grace and gracefully slide back into our routine. We don't have to work for our forgiveness; Christ did that on the cross..

 “But God demonstrates
His own love for us in this:

 While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us” 

Romans 5:8

BORN TO LOSE

That's a funny title. It sounds like a cheesy rock song from the eighties.
But isn't it true. We are born, we develop patterns and we grow into something we eventually accept and become. Then we live our lives just as we are and find comfort in the idea that God made us this way. The excuse for ignoring our spiritual compass is: "I'm only human".

But when Jesus came into the picture He completely radicalized our ideas about who we are. He basically pointed out that if we rely on our human nature, we were born to lose. The world we were born into is a world ruled by sin and corruption and it only produces sin and corruption.  What Jesus said was so radical that even Christians sometimes have a hard time applying this truth. Jesus said that in order to follow Him and have eternal life, we must deny ourselves (die to ourselves), take up our own cross (Mark 8:34) and be born again (John 3:3).
Jesus' words are so radical that people either can't fathom what He is saying or when they do they just walk away because they don't want to give up themselves. 

Free will is a good thing but the consequences of wrong choices are devastating. The self was never meant to be its own god.