(Romans 6:23 NIV) "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Now, that is real love. 

 

Jack Smith

The Breath of God

When God first made man He breathed into his nostrils and he became a living being. When we have been made alive spiritually it is because God breathed life into His word.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV) "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, {17} so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12. The apostle Peter tells us how we are born again. (1 Peter 1:23 NIV) "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." We are born again through the word. The word is alive. The word is inspired. Inspired comes from a word that means "God Breathed." We are alive both physically and spiritually because of the breath of God.

Jack Smith


The Lord Guides Our Steps

It was Jeremiah who told us that mankind needed direction. (Jeremiah 10:23 NIV) "I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps." What a powerful verse this is. Think about it, we are not alone. Not now, not ever. There is a way I can walk so I can be sure about my salvation. (1 John 1:7 NIV) "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
Man has tried his best to be good enough without following God's commands and failed miserably. (Proverbs 14:12 NIV) "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." All of us need direction to get to the promise land. I know of no one who wants to experience wandering in a wilderness for a day let alone forty years. Try as we may, we will never improve on the plan God already has for us. His is the only direction we need.

Jack Smith

God's Word is a Lamp, Light and Direction

In Psalm 119 the psalmist gives three scriptures that allow us insight concerning God's word. (Psalms 119:105 NIV) "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."(Psalms 119:130 NIV) "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." (Psalms 119:133 NIV) "Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me." I must remember that a lamp is only useful when turned on which is the only way to get the light for my life. The direction His word gives is to guide us away from sin. The surest way to remain in darkness without direction and neck deep in sin is to avoid God's word.

Jack Smith

His Word Anchors Our Soul

One man said, "I wish when we became Christians we had an anchor attached to us so we would remain where God wanted us." Sounds nice but it goes against our free moral agency. We have been given the right of choice. God wants willing servants not robots. Besides, He does give us an anchor when we become Christians. It is called the Bible.
(1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {4} and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, {5} who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." Where does this say anything about an anchor? The anchor we have as Christians is the fact that God cannot lie. (Titus 1:2) That being true then all His promises will come true.
(Hebrews 6:18-19 NIV) "God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. {19} We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain," We don't have to drift on life's uncertain sea.

Jack Smith

Will Most be Saved?

I was involved in a survey in a small town that asked only three questions. Do you attend services somewhere? Where do you attend? Will most people be lost or saved? Suprisingly, nine out of ten people polled said they thought most people were going to be saved. This contradicts what Jesus said. (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV) ""Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. {14} But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." I guess the real question then is what is meant by the word "few." I know that out of over 600,000 fighting men who left Egypt headed toward the promise land only two, Joshua and Caleb, made it. Out of the estimated 1.5 million people who lived during the time of Noah only eight were saved. I am not the greatest mathematician but ten being saved out of 2.1 million combining these two instances pretty well defines what Jesus meant by few. There is no quota for heaven that God has to fill. You are either in or out and that's it.

Jack Smith

Does God Really Care About Us?

I cringe every time I hear someone ask that question. The reason is that inherent in the question is an admission that God is. If one believes God is and that He sent His Son to die for us then why the question in the first place. Of course God cares. We may wonder why He cares, but He does. (2 Peter 3:9 NIV) "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." The question isn't whether or not God cares for us, it is whether or not we care for Him.

Jack Smith

It Does Get Better Than This

I watched a commercial during a football game where two men were watching their favorite teams play, drinking their favorite soft drink, munching their favorite snacks and one of them says, "It just doesn't get any better than this." Oh yes it does. This world is not the Christian's home and this is not the best we will see. Jesus said, (John 14:1-4 NIV) ""Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. {2} In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. {4} You know the way to the place where I am going."" If Jesus is preparing it then I want to see it. He helped in the creation of this world and all its beauty but my limited imagination can't fathom the greatness of heaven. Someone asked, "What if when we get there it is plain looking and not what we expect?" First of all, I doubt that will be the case but I will take plain over pain any day, Amen.

Jack Smith