My God and My Country

Evening Reflection

“Furthermore, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are worthy love, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, or if there be any praise, think on these things.” 

The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians 4:8

I found this one day online, and copied it to my documents. To be honest I don't know who wrote it. It was listed as text for an audio sermon. Note the part wherein the speaker(?) has broken up two words for pronunciation. 

The One the Only Way

Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ to all my Brethren:

Today friends, I am going going to make two statements, both of which hold true. 

One – You will never, ever be good enough to work your way into heaven
Two – You will never ever be bad enough to be excluded

Now, you may be asking me, friend how can this be so? I can understand perhaps the first one, but the second one, well doesn't God want only good people? Friends, allow me to say that first of all God wants the sinners, He wants them to repent, and come back to Him, so for the latter part of your query, the answer is no, God doesn't want only good people. In fact, if all God wanted were good people there wouldn't be any people God could have, because, there would be none that could qualify as God wants them to be as He is in His eyes. The Scriptures say, that there is none that does good, no, not one. As for the first part, well, friends I have sort of just answered it, you cannot work your way into heaven, you're just not going to be good enough to do it. I don't care how many lil old ladies you help across the streets. I don't care how many times you've given alms to the less fortunate. It doesn't matter how many soup kitchens you've helped in to feed the homeless, or how much you put in the collection plate every Sunday. None of that is going to get you to the kingdom. 

I know I'm sort of all over the map here, but I am going back to the second statement again. What I mean is that you'll never be so bad that God cannot save you. Again as the scriptures states, His arm is not shortened that He cannot do, what he has said He will do. And what he will do is grant you grace and mercy. 

Now, both statements are conditional. This is to say that God has a certain requirement that MUST be met before you'll be “good enough” for Him. That one condition, is that a person confesses their sins and asks God for forgiveness, and accepts the sacrifice of His Son Christ Jesus as savior. For as is written in the Epistle of James that He Himself is the propitiation (Pro-pish e ay shun) for the sins of all people. This is to say, that He, Jesus Christ made atonement for our iniquities (In Nick quit tees). 

Now friends, If you're hearing my voice, I ask you to join me in a prayer of confession and acceptance. But before we start, I want you to close your eyes, and picture yourself viewing the crucifixion. You have followed Jesus as He walked to His death. He has been beaten, scourged, spat upon, and treated with all the cruelty that the Romans could muster. You watched him being nailed to the cross, and as you stand there at the foot of that cross, a drop of blood hits you. Friend it is this blood that is going to make you right with God. It is this blood that is going to wash you clean. It is this blood that is being shed for your sins, so that you might live in the Kingdom. Would you pray with me now:

Heavenly Father, I come to you today as an unclean sinner. I confess them to you and ask your forgiveness. I accept your Son Jesus as my savior, and invite Him into my heart. 

Friend, if you've prayed with me today, and meant it with all your heart, then I am proud to welcome you as member of God's family. The next step you must now take, is to find a church, big or small, and start to fellowship with others. Read and study your Bible daily. 

In closing, I am leaving with a thought for all that have listened to this audio. There is a singer by name of Billy Joel, whose lyrics include the line;
“I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, the sinners are a lot more fun” Friends, this person doesn't know what he's missing.