Christianity isn’t a Religion

There are key differences between Christianity and the other major world religions. The Hindus believe all roads lead to heaven. In other words, there are a variety of paths you can take to get to heaven. Is that true? First, we must understand that Hinduism is a world religion that has a sketchy origin. It’s origin is by conjecture only and not as a known fact. Buddhism at least has a beginning and a person to point to that started the religion, however, their beliefs are not based on ‘good vs. evil’. No sin, no God, no need for salvation. Islam claims that Christ never really died but rather was sitting at the right hand of God while He only made it appear to the human eye that Christ died. So the Bible would then be full of lies and deceit. I don’t believe that for a second, but I suppose that’s the only way they can legitimize their beliefs. To the Islamists Christ was simply another prophet/teacher like Mohammed. Okay, but Jesus Himself said He was God’s Son (Mark 14:61-62).

Christianity is not a religion; it’s a relationship, personal in nature, intimate at its core. It is the only belief system that offers forgiveness for sin and a singular person who performed the selfless act that provided forgiveness. If any and all paths lead to heaven, then why did Jesus have to die? The notion of there being many ways to achieve heaven minimizes what Christ did for all mankind on the cross. With regard to intimacy, scripture tells us the closer we draw near to God, the closer He draws near to us (James 4:8a). One day we will know even as we are known (1 Corinthians 13:12). I believe the other schools of religious thought are false. I choose to embrace that which I have believed. Whether you agree or not is completely up to you. Choose wisely. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Mark 14:61-62 ... “But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’  Jesus said, ‘I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.’”

James 4:7-8a … “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

1 Corinthians 13:12 … “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

Questioning God

To question God is perfectly fine, but to renounce your faith saying simply that you don’t believe in God anymore seems a little weak. My question is “How diligently did you try to find Him? Or did you feel you might be missing out on something by being a believer?” I’m not judging people who renounce their faith, I’d just like to know how seriously they took being a Christian in the first place? Did they just grow up in a Christian home feeling they had to believe because their parents did? What things influenced them in their life? Do they realize that they, just like all mankind, have a propensity to sin that started with the Fall in the Garden of Eden? 

Questioning God as a true believer is not a problem either. However, don’t be surprised if you end up in His Word to find your answer. Perhaps there IS no immediate answer to your question or perhaps God’s answer is coming, but just not yet. The more we study the Bible and seek reliable sources for answers to our questions, the less questions we are likely to have. 

Familiarizing ourselves with the main tenets of faith will give us a sense of understanding. Feed your mind with ungodly information and you may wind up in trouble. Life isn’t perfect. Even for the Christian life isn’t perfect.  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

NOTE: If you’d like the title of two (2) relatively inexpensive sets of books that can help with questions regarding your faith, seek out the following:

1 – “Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions” by Ken Ham & Bodie Hodge, published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Company.

2 – “The New Answers Book, Vol. 1-4”, by Ken Ham & Bodie Hodge, published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Company.

God Is Our Refuge

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” - Psalm 46:1 NLT

 

REFUGE - a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.

 

            Whenever we feel like we are in danger, remember that our God is all around us and in us by His Holy Spirit. Remember, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” ^{(Psalm 18:2 NLT)}

                  We are told not to worry and not to be afraid, because our Lord protects us from harm and danger and that’s because we are His children.  “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread ..., for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” ^{(Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV)}

                  These are worrisome times. Evil seems to have the upper hand. But God sees all and knows all and is allowing what is taking place for His own purposes. Purposes for ultimate peace, restoration, and the total eradication of evil from the face of the earth. Those who trust in God have nothing to fear. Having said that, we are human. We tend to overreact to that which only appears to be problem. Many times the perceived problem is really nothing more than an obstacle to climb over or go around. Evil will not win. LOVE always wins!! The foundation that evil is built on is already beginning to crumble and will collapse under the weight of itself.

                  Don’t give in to worry and fear. It’s one of Satan’s greatest weapons against us. If we succumb to it we will needlessly stress over nothing. God is far greater than any weapon formed against us. When something bad happens to us, trust God. There is a reason for it. Don’t question it. Trust God. Has He ever let you down thus far? Trust Him. It’s part of having faith. God loved us enough to die in our place and offer us eternal life in exchange for submission to His will for us.  Trust Him with your life. He is our refuge and strength.

                  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

God Hears Us

“I have heard your prayer ….”^{2 Chronicles 7:12 (NIV)}

Nothing on this earth could ever compare to Almighty God. No matter how hard we try to emulate God we fail miserably because we are terminally imperfect. God is the only perfect entity, which is why He is the ‘prototype’, so to speak. The ‘standard’ that should be followed.

Having said all that, what does it mean to us when we read the words “I have heard your prayer …”? If God is ethereal and therefore not of this earth, then how does He hear us? So many of us, and I can tend to be one of them, over think certain things. Rather than focusing on the fact that He hears us, I want to know how He hears us. I am telling you now, the confirmation in scripture that your Heavenly Father actually HEARS YOU when you pray to Him is infinitely more important than HOW He hears you.

How many of you understand that there is a significant difference between listening and hearing? We can listen to someone all day long and not truly hear anything they’ve said. What a comfort to find that our Heavenly Father can be trusted to HEAR our prayers and not just listen to them.

In the movie, BRUCE ALMIGHTY**, God, played by Morgan Freeman, takes a vacation, giving all His powers to Bruce (Jim Carrey). In one scene, Bruce is on his computer, and he starts receiving hundreds, even thousands of prayer requests almost instantaneously. He can’t answer them all individually, because he has determined that it would be too time consuming, so he decides to just give an affirmative answer to all the prayer requests. This of course doesn’t work out so well. Isn’t it a good thing that God not only hears us as an individual, but takes the time to say either ‘no’ or ‘not yet’ from time to time when He knows to rubber stamp our request will lead to negative consequences. We truly do not know what is good for us and normally want the easy way into or out of a given situation. However, it is in the waiting that some of our most important lessons are learned … as long as WE have decided to hear and not just listen. So know that God hears all your prayers and will answer them when the right time for an answer has come. This involves trust and patience. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

*Prototype – An original type, form or instance serving as a basis or standard.

** Bruce Almighty – released in theatres May 14^th, 2003, by Universal Pictures.

Note: I just read a few months ago that Jim Carrey had given his life to Christ. I rejoice in that, for another lost soul has found his way to God. Thank you Lord for wooing him with your Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

The Depths of God

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”- Romans 11:33 _(NIV)

 

                  If you lack wisdom or knowledge, dip into the deep resources of God. You may not receive an immediate answer, but the answer you need is an answer worth waiting for. The conventional wisdom of this world cannot compare to the wisdom of God. He is the embodiment of wisdom and knowledge. His essence is truth. He IS so everything about Him is eternal and everlasting. Nothing else on this earth can be spoken of in such a manner. All of creation is finite … the Creator is not. It is impossible to comprehend that He was and is and always will be. How does a finite mind grasp that concept? It doesn’t. It ‘s not possible. The knowledge and wisdom of God far surpasses anything that can be understood by mortal man.  

God’s wisdom and knowledge doesn’t merely exist, it flows on endlessly. I believe it flows because it is uncontainable. I believe, just like God Himself, His wisdom and knowledge is living, breathing and never ending. I do not pretend to understand a whole lot in this life, but one thing that I believe I DO understand is that God cannot be contained. He cannot be limited. There are no boundaries when it comes to what God is capable of doing. I believe it to be literally true that no matter what situation you find yourself in at this very moment in time, one word from Almighty God and your situation can CHANGE in an instant, a mere Nano-second. Faster than a blink of the eye. As quickly as Christ will appear in the sky when He returns for His church. In the twinkling of an eye, as scripture puts it. 

                  There isn’t anything this side of heaven that makes any sense at all when it comes to God and all the riches He has at His disposal. So, rest in God … rest in the knowledge of knowing that you cannot figure it out. As terrifying as being in a free fall may seem to you, imagine that you are doing just that. You are in a free fall through time and space and yet are seen by a God Who will not allow anything to harm you … those things that take place are pre-ordained or mapped out by the Creator of the Universe. You are safe in His arms, even while you are falling. Instead of stressing about the landing, allow yourself to reside in the peace of God and enjoy the ride. God will never fail you. He will never abandon you. He will never let you down. What you must endure in this life God is aware of and has either prepared you for it or will sustain you through it. Seek His face and reach deep into the richness that is God for His wisdom and knowledge. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

What are you missing?

                Invariably there comes a time when people feel they may be missing out on something. My dog is like that. He could be lying down resting, but if he hears a noise either inside or outside, he UP and checking it out. He doesn’t want to miss anything that’s going on. I wonder what goes thru their minds at a time like that? People can be like that also. At times those who called themselves Christians may feel THEY are missing something by not being OF THE WORLD. (At least we’re cautioned in scripture not to be.)

                What is so attractive about the things of the world? They speak to the baser side of the human mind. They attempt to draw you in and then lock you up. Once you’re hooked you will need to struggle twice as hard to get out. The seedy side of life can appear attractive from a certain point of view, but it will always leave you wanting something more. That is the way Satan’s web of lies and deceit works. Satan is the “prince of the power of the air”. God kicked him out of heaven for insubordination. He was cast down to earth where he has done his level best to disrupt the natural order of things. While God causes or allows whatever transpires in this life, Satan was given rule & reign over earth. Hence the proliferation of evil that takes place EVERY DAY.

                To live according to worldly standards is to play in Satan’s sandbox. Most folks would never consider that reality, but if the Bible is true, and I believe it is, then that is exactly what we’re dealing with each day. The devil’s toys. The devil’s venue. God gives us all the self-control we will ever need to avoid the pitfalls that arise in this sin-sick, dark, evil world, but we must SEEK IT. It doesn’t happen automatically.

                I got saved at the age of 24. I lived my youth in the world. I found no major attraction in the world that captivated my imagination. Nothing. I followed sports and played basketball or baseball whenever the opportunity presented itself. I grew up in a lifeless denominational church that growing up seemed more like a requirement than something I sought to do on my own. I went because my mom went. Dad stayed home. Nothing really drew me in. If I ever had the occasion to look thru a Penthouse or Playboy magazine as a youth, I quickly considered it something unattainable and dismissed it. I never got hooked on anything of that nature. Nothing in this world was alluring to me. I lived my life and did what I was told to do growing up. I suppose I was one of the fortunate ones. 

                How you look at things as an adult has a lot to do with how you were raised. If your parents were heavy drinkers, you probably will continue the cycle that may go on thru multiple generations until someone or something puts stop to it. If all your friends are addicted to gambling you may fall into the same trap. There isn’t much that is worth the time it takes to involve yourself from a secular perspective, and there isn’t ANYTHING that is worth your time from a spiritual and eternal point of view. 

                  God isn’t some cruel task master who wants to rob you of all your pleasure. What it comes down to is the fact that He knows us better than we know ourselves and has presented us with a blueprint for living a life that can be rewarding, generally peaceful and filled with hope for the future. Try not to dwell on what you feel you may be missing and tap into God’s way of living. Dwelling on negatives gets you nowhere. Shed the negativism and seek the joy of the Lord, which is available by asking God for it. Converse with the Lord regularly to maintain a line of communication. By doing so you can experience the presence of the Lord.  

                  Until next time, walk with the Lord & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Abiding in Christ

            To "abide in Christ" means to live in a close, sustained relationship with Jesus Christ, characterized by faith, obedience, and a continuous dependence on Him for life and strength. It's not a temporary state but a way of life for believers. 

Abiding in Christ is synonymous with being saved and being "in Christ". Keeping Christ's commandments, including loving God and neighbor, is a way to abide in His love. Allowing God's Word to shape your mind, will, and affections is essential for abiding in Christ. Recognizing Jesus as your source of life and strength, rather than a supplement. Both Christ and the believer are described as abiding in each other, signifying a close and intimate relationship. Abiding is not a one-time event but a daily practice of remaining connected to Jesus. As a branch on a vine, believers who abide in Christ bear fruit in their lives. Abiding in Christ is also described as "knowing" Him intimately. Continuously trusting in Jesus and His love. Following Jesus' teachings and commandments. Regularly praying and communicating with God. Meditating on God's Word and letting it shape your life. Engaging in fellowship with other believers and cultivating a close relationship with God. Regularly evaluating your relationship with Christ and identifying areas in need of growth.

That’s pretty much abiding in Christ in a nutshell. His death on the cross presented us with a challenge. That challenge is to accept Him for who He says He is, and leave your old life behind. That may not be so easy for some folks, but you will be the winner if you do. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries