Is There A God?

Is there a God? Is there a supreme being or ruler of the universe? How can I be certain? The answer to this question is of utmost importance because, if there is a God and I ignore Him, what will the consequences be?

There are searching questions that demand an answer. Why am I here? From where did I come? What will happen after death? What is the purpose for my life? There must be a reason for my existence.

Throughout the ages of time, people have felt compelled to worship something or someone greater than themselves. Ancient cultures had sun gods, moon gods, thunder gods, and many others. Some native Americans, when discovered by the Europeans, were worshipping what they called the Great Spirit. The ancient Jewish nation worshipped Yahweh, creator of the Earth. It is apparent that inside every person is something that longs to relate to a higher power.

How can the harmony and balance of nature be explained? Think of the seemingly endless food chains, both on the land and in the water. One animal is food for another, which in turn feeds another. This cycle goes on and on, and always there is food for yet another.

Who put the calendar in the heads of the wild birds so they know when it is time to migrate to a warmer climate? How do they know that spring is returning to the land thousands of miles away? One may say it is instinct. That is true, but who placed the instinct there?

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Consider one of the fish of the sea. Who put the map in the brain of the salmon that tells it how to leave its ocean home and find the river and the very stream where its life began? There it lays its eggs, and soon after dies, making room in the cycle of life for its offspring who will follow the exact pattern of all its ancestors. Do you think this all just happened by chance?

We know the universe is so well ordered that clocks are set by the rotation of the earth and the various stars and planets. So precise is the movement of these bodies that eclipses and passage of comets can be accurately foretold. Who or what set this precise rhythm of the universe in motion? Is it only chance that among the hostile environments of the heavenly bodies this earth has the right mixture of those elements necessary for plant and animal life? There must be a master plan!

The plan for the universe, nature, our bodies, and our inner personal needs has been set in order by the great God of heaven. No mortal man, past or present, begins to have such power. The precision and detail of his plan shows us that He takes great interest in man and his happiness.

Faith is believing something we cannot see. We cannot see God but we see indications all around us that point to his existence. God has intended that we could not see Him but rather that we could accept his existence by the obvious evidences which testify of Him. God reveals Himself to us as we accept his existence.

One of the most convincing evidences that there is a God is the change that takes place in a person’s life as he becomes intimately acquainted with Him. Those who had the nature of a lion become like a lamb. Where there was hate, there is now love. Where there was fighting, there is now peace. Where there was turmoil within, there is now a quiet rest. Where there were endless questions, there is now confidence. He changes the selfish person into one who cares about others.

Dear reader, do you feel a restlessness inside or a longing for something, but you are not sure what it is? Do not stifle that feeling or try to cover it up. It is your soul reaching out to God. The same God that created the earth can be your God. If you have faith and believe in the God of heaven, your life also can be changed. Instead of resenting the trying circumstances of life, you can rest in the knowledge that God sees and hears and cares.

God reveals Himself through his Word, the Bible. The Bible is history; it is prophecy; it is instruction for life. But, it is also the love of God to us, and gives direction for the inner needs of the soul. Read the Bible. Start with Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1-5. Read Psalms 23 and 51. Pray to God. He promises He will hear you.

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Jesus Is Returning Soon

Approximately 2,000 years after creation, God destroyed mankind with a great flood because they had become so wicked that the imaginations of their heart were evil continually (Genesis 6:5). Just as the people of Noah’s day were not expecting a flood to come, many people today are not expecting Jesus to come again. His return will be unexpected—as a thief in the night (2 Peter 3:10). Why do we believe it will be soon? Look around you; what do you see?

The Bible tells us how it will be in the last days. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Look at the conditions in the world today. Many people have forgotten God. There are destructive and hateful uprisings in many cities. Bloodshed and murder are daily occurrences. Youth are uneasy, restless, and rebellious. Parents are leaving children to themselves at the very time they need them most. Atheism, substance abuse, gun violence, and gang activity are prevalent in today’s society. Biblical teachings about marriage and immorality are disregarded and often scorned. Will it get better? Do you see any chance for improvement? What do you think? How long can this go on? God is longsuﬀering and continues to call all people to salvation, but one day He will call all this to an end. There is a day of judgment coming when every person will give an account before God.

Jesus is coming again as the Bible plainly teaches. Jesus said, “Surely I come quickly” (Revelation 22:20). This is one event we will not miss. Everyone will see Him coming, and when He comes He will judge all people (Matthew 25:32, Revelation 20:12). Some will go with Him to heaven; some will be doomed to hell. What about you—where will you go? You must choose.

We Are All Sinners

We are all born with a sinful nature—prone to sin. No one can say he is free of sin because we are all born with a proud and selfish nature that is sinful. It is man’s very nature to lie, cheat, and steal. As children, we did many things we knew were wrong. When we came to adulthood, we found we still tended to do those very same things. Sin includes dishonesty, greed, pride, immorality, and substance abuse. Sin will not go unpunished. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). We cannot rid ourselves of sin, and sin will never enter heaven.

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Someday Jesus will descend and take those who are ready with Him to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Those who are not ready will be cast into the fire of hell. This ﬁre will burn forever, “Where… the ﬁre is not quenched” (Mark 9:44). For those who are not ready, there will be pain and torment, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth for all eternity. “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever” (Revelation 14:11). Our ﬁnite minds cannot fully understand what that means. Lost—cast away with absolutely no hope!

And to think that through stubbornness, neglect, and sin, they missed the reward of eternal salvation! It will be no one’s fault but their own. God, in his love, provided a way of escape, but they neglected to accept it.

God’s Love

There is no better explanation of God’s love than in John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Jesus invites everyone: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

The way out of our lost condition is to repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our Savior. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). The Word of God points us to Jesus, the Lamb of God who shed his blood to take away our sin and rose from the dead to give us eternal life. If you are not ready for the return of Jesus, come to Him today. He is waiting for you with open arms. Those who are ready are looking forward to his return. “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

The prophesies concerning the return of Christ have been fulfilled, and Jesus may come at any time.

Jesus is coming! We know not how soon,
coming at midnight, at morning, or noon;
Evening may bring Him to bear us away;

E.G. Wesley

Will I be watching and waiting each day?

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Ye Must Be Born Again

Jesus said that the only way to be saved is to be born again. What does this mean? The new birth is not any of the following: baptism, church membership, partaking of communion, reforming one’s life, prayer, or good works. The new birth is a change of heart. God gives us the new birth when we turn to Him with remorse for our sinful life and repent. God sees when we are ready for the new birth. We will know when we are born again. We will have a free conscience, a desire to do right, and an assurance of a home in heaven.

Jesus tells us that the gates of heaven are closed to us unless we are born again. Therefore, we ask: Friend, are you born again? Church member, are you born again? If not, then you are lost. For Jesus says, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

You may ask, “What is being born again?” Today there are a lot of misconceptions about the new birth. It is not baptism, for some were baptized and yet not born again (Acts 8:18-25). It is not joining the church, for some slipped in unawares (Galatians 2:4). It is not eating of the Lord’s table, for some ate unworthily and it brought condemnation (1 Corinthians 11:29). It is not reform or trying to live better, “for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24). It is not praying, for Jesus says, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8).

Someone may say if I try and do all I can: giving to the poor, visiting the sick, and being as good as I can every day, then surely I am born again (Matthew 25:41-45). No, we cannot be what we are not: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). We must have a change of heart. For God by the prophet says, “A new heart also will I give you” (Ezekiel 36:26).

Complete text of: Ye Must Be Born Again

“Then what is the new birth?” The new birth consists of a change of the heart from a life of serving self to one of serving the Lord. This comes when we feel remorse for our sinfulness and in faith look to Jesus for forgiveness. When a child is born, a new life comes forth, a new person in the flesh. So likewise, when we are born again, a new life in Christ Jesus after the Spirit comes forth. Therefore, it is called a birth—a new life in Christ Jesus. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

“When may I expect to be born again?” The Scripture says, “To day if ye will hear his voice” (Hebrews 3:7). That means at any age, time, or place, if you hear the call and respond, you can be born again by the Spirit.

“How long will it take? Must I not grow into the new birth?” No, we are born into the kingdom of God and that makes us children and heirs. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). This may take place the moment you surrender all and come to Jesus for pardon.

“How and when do we receive it?” God, who looks on the heart, sees your sincerity. He comes to you through the power of the Holy Ghost and creates within you a right spirit (Psalm 51:10). Thus, you are born again—a new creature in Christ Jesus by faith in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Finally: “How may I know that I am born again?” Paul in Romans 8:1-10 teaches; “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” The Bible teaches that the lost are dead in sin, condemned, and have an evil conscience. They are carnally minded, without hope, disobedient, and without God in the world. But a born-again Christian is a child of God, alive in Christ, saved, without condemnation, and has a good conscience. He is also spiritually minded, filled with the Holy Ghost and faith, and has a hope of everlasting life. His sins are blotted out by the blood of Jesus. His heart is filled with love and the peace of God which passes understanding. He loves, desires, and has the power to do the Lord’s will. He cherishes a hope beyond the grave and the promise of a home in heaven. Could anyone go through such a change and not realize it? Hardly, for “the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).

If you have not had this experience with the peace and joy it brings to the soul, do not rest, for you are trifling with God and your own soul. You must be born again.

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