Is Christ’s provision everlasting for all true believers?
In other words, can a Christian lose their salvation?
In John 5:24 Jesus says, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent Me, has (posses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but has passed [over] from death into life.”
Paul says in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Paul also said in 2 Corinthians 1:20-22, “For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God. Now it is God who establishes and confirms us with you in Christ, and who has anointed us [empowering us with the gifts of the Spirit]; it is He who has also put His seal on us [that is, He has appropriated us and certified us as His] and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life].”
1 Peter 1:3-5 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [born anew] into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change] and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.”
I believe God’s love and His eternal provision is available to everyone! 1 Timothy 2:4 says, “God wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth.”
I’m so grateful that the Lord has provided us with His Word as a baseline for identifying truth! May we all continue to search the Scriptures, and let it be our guide in every area of our lives.
Is there a distinction between thinking something and believing something?
Just like putting the horse in front of the cart, I think (pun intended) thinking precedes believing. It may be more of a subtle distinction than a substantive difference, but it’s an interesting discussion to consider.
When I made a very conscious choice and believed by faith that Jesus was in reality God, who miraculously entered into this world as a human being, ultimately to die on a cross in order to pay for my sins which I could never atone for by my own efforts (no matter how ‘good’ a life I tried to live) … I most definitely thought about why I would make such a life altering decision.
Soon after graduation from high school, I became a Bible believing Christian. However, it wasn’t because I studied the Bible in search of evidence that Jesus was who He claimed to be. I actually saw first hand a life lived out daily completely and totally transformed! A Biblical definition of being transformed is, “A change of their very nature or a change at the heart of who they are.” All I knew at the time was my mom was changed in an instant, beyond my recognition, and I wanted what she had!
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].”
John 1:12 says, “But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.”
1 Peter 1:22-23 says, “Since by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a sincere love of the believers, [see that you] love one another from the heart [always unselfishly seeking the best for one another], for you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God.”
Acts 2:36-39 says, “Therefore let all the house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart [with remorse and anxiety], and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself.”
Just about every decision we make boils down to whatever our baseline is for identifying truth, before taking action. My baseline for what I believe is true is Jesus, and what the Bible teaches about Him.
Have you personally experienced a change of your very nature, or a change at the heart of who you are? If so, don’t hesitate to share your testimony anywhere and every where you go! If not, please reach out, as we would love to try and answer any questions you may have in order to get you thinking about what it could mean to be transformed through the sacrificial love of Christ.
Avoiding hell
Even though it’s a topic that most of us would prefer not to think about (including believers), if Jesus addressed the reality of hell so much in the Bible, shouldn’t we try to understand why?
The great news is, we all have been given the freedom to decide where we will live forever!
Here are the two options from a Biblical frame-of-reference for us to consider when we think of our own mortality:
For those who choose to reject Jesus and His sacrifice for their sins when He died on the cross for them, Revelation 20:14-15 says this will happen at the final judgment, “Then death and Hades [the realm of the dead] were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire [the eternal separation from God]. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire.”
For those who choose to accept Jesus and trust that He paid the price for all their sins on the cross and are now forgiven, Revelation 21:1-4 says, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
We’re all presented with a clear distinction surrounding where (and how) we will spend our future eternity. Depending upon where you may be in your ‘faith journey’ … what will you do about the following claim from Jesus in John 3:16-18?
“For God so loved and dearly prized the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already, because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
As a Life Member of the PGA of America, I’ve made my fair share of risk versus reward decisions while competing in golf tournaments over the years … but there’s no comparison to what’s at stake when we consider where in fact we will spend all of eternity. My prayer is that you will put your faith and your trust fully and completely into Jesus in preparation for spending all of eternity with Him in heaven.
In case you don’t personally know a christian who you could ask why they believe they’ll be going to heaven after they die … please click on the link below to see and hear a real life testimony about someone very dear to me who has recently ‘relocated’ to heaven.
https://www.mightywind.org/storys
What happens to those who reject Jesus?
If the clear message of the Bible is true, the warning in the following passage (Luke 16:19-31) is a very graphic depiction of what will happen to those who choose to die in their sins without accepting Christ’s free gift of salvation:
Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.
At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.
As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, and he went to the place of the dead.
There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
More on the reality of hell in the next post.
Faith in Christ and every day judgment calls continued …
What makes us think or believe (have faith even) that the chair we’re about to sit in will hold us up and keep us from crashing to the ground? Is it because we’ve taken the time to examine the structure of the chair to gain confidence that it’s sturdy enough to hold our weight? It’s more likely that the law of probability wins the day based on how many times in the past that we’ve successfully sat down in a chair without incident.
If it’s true that the history of Israel showed the reality of Jesus coming to this earth in the flesh (incarnate), along with Him fulfilling over 300 Old Testament prophecies … it’s beyond reasonable to trust our faith in Him to be our Lord and Savior!
If you’re still stuck on whether God actually exists, and if there really is an ‘intelligent designer’ responsible for creating everything, please consider the Teleological argument … which says:
- Things do not design themselves (think, a watch maker), as the law of science essentially means that an object reflects a purpose or a goal, which necessitates it having a designer.
Paul says in Romans 1:16-20, “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”
I don’t pretend to know the entire context of your life and why you currently believe what you believe. But I would encourage you to search the Scriptures, let them be your guide as it relates to who Jesus is … and how you should sincerely consider responding by faith to His free offer to save your soul for all eternity.
How are every day judgment calls and faith in Jesus related?
The reality is that we all put our faith into something (or someone). Whether you believe that God exists or are a skeptic, we all will express a measure of faith in a variety of ways today, as well as every day of our life.
For example, how do I know with 100% certainty that when the light turns green in a very busy intersection, that it will be safe for me to enter and not get creamed by someone who perhaps misjudged the timing of the yellow light and ended up running a red light at full speed? We can’t possibly know every single detail surrounding the soundness and reliability of every driver on the road. Making dynamic (literal moment-by-moment) judgment calls while driving is very much a risk/reward proposition.
As we consider where we place our faith surrounding the question of whether Jesus came to this earth as God incarnate (in the flesh), we’ll have to make a judgment call despite what we don’t know … because of what we do know. Even without an absolute understanding (or proof) that we can know with 100% assurance that the God of the Bible is very much alive and desires a very personal relationship with each one of us, we would be well served to follow the evidence and act on what we do (or can) know.
Hebrews 11:6-7 says, “But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him. By faith Noah, being warned by God about events not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his family. By this [act of obedience] he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.”
A biblical definition of faith goes well beyond mere belief. Many people say they believe that God exists, yet for those of us who choose to look to Jesus as our baseline for what’s true, our faith is more in line with putting complete trust in His promises clearly laid out in Scripture.
Habakkuk 2:4 says, “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by faithfulness to God.”
Consider for a moment the cosmological evidence:
- Whatever begins to exist must have a cause for its existence.
- The universe began to exist.
- Therefore, the universe must have a cause for its existence.
- The attributes of the cause of the universe (being timeless, existing outside of space) are the attributes of God.
- Therefore, the cause of the universe must be God.
Let’s continue this whole fascinating faith & judgment call question in the next post.
Finding purpose & meaning
No doubt there have been hundreds of ‘How To’ books written over the years. When considering specific ‘life questions,’ like our purpose & meaning, we would be best served if we diligently search the ultimate ‘owner’s manual’ … provided by the very Author of life Himself, in this all time best seller, the Bible! Otherwise known as, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
Concerning the choice to continue to live for the ways of the world, in comparison to going all in for Jesus, the Apostle Paul says this in Philippians 3:6-11, “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”
1 Peter 2:21-25 says, “For [as a believer] you have been called for this purpose, since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you may follow in His footsteps. He committed no sin, nor was deceit ever found in His mouth. While being reviled and insulted, He did not revile or insult in return; while suffering, He made no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed. For you were continually wandering like sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”
I sincerely hope you can imagine what it’s like to experience 24/7 harmonious companionship (becoming one with Christ), as well as having Him literally always watching over the very essence of your being (as the Guardian of our souls)!
When God originally created man, our purpose was to glorify Him in everything we do … to enjoy His fellowship … be in good relationships with those around us … to be faithful in our work, and have dominion over all the earth. Unfortunately, when we fell into sin, that close communion and fellowship with God was broken. Only by restoring and redeeming that intimate fellowship with God, through faith in Jesus, can purpose and meaning in our lives be rediscovered.
What did Jesus mean when He said we can’t serve two masters?
During His sermon on the mount, Jesus said this in Matthew 6:19-21, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
A few verses later in Matthew 6:24 Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].”
It really boils down to two choices that we all have to make. Either we live our lives for the Lord with an eternal perspective … or, we live in pursuit of all this world has to offer like; power, money, selfish pleasures, comfort, or whatever else we think will ultimately make us happy.
If your baseline for identifying truth is Jesus, and everything the Bible teaches us about Him … then you have a clear mandate for how you go about every aspect of your daily life. For those who reject Jesus’ offer of paying the price for your sins and being forgiven … I strongly encourage you to reconsider your baseline for how you identify what’s true, and ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you.
Matthew 19:16-30 says, “Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man asked.”
And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’
“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
There is always a risk/reward component to every decision we make, and the reward of an eternity with Jesus in a perfect place forever seems to be worth the risk of surrendering ownership of your life to Jesus here and now, and start enjoying that harmonious companionship with Him that will never ever end!!
Does the Bible address God’s purpose for all the difficult tests & trials we all face throughout our lifetime?
The book of James is for the practical person, and perhaps that’s one of the reasons it’s one of my favorite books in the Bible.
James 1:2-3 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
The subjects that the book of James covers are issues that we all face daily, if not hourly. And the main point of all the questions James raises is that a true and a sincere saving faith, needs to result in changed behavior. The words translated “test” in the Bible (both the Old Testament & the New) means “to prove by trial.” Therefore, when God tests His children, His purpose is to prove that our faith is real.
Not all testing and trials are demonic, but even for those that are, we would be wise to recognize and take to heart in what 1 John 4:2-5 says, “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.”
The reality that the testing of our faith can come in small ways and daily irritations, but also they may be severe afflictions as well as from attacks from Satan, like Job faced. Yet, may we all be encouraged by his response when he said in Job 1:21-23, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.”
Whenever we’re tempted to be mad, or frustrated, or simply just can’t understand why God is allowing (you fill-in the blanks) in our lives … we should learn from Job’s response and consider the very long list of ways he was tested.
Whatever the source of your testing is right now, it is to your benefit to undergo the trials that God allows with a sincere attitude that He ultimately knows what’s best, even if you can’t see or understand why it’s happening to you.
May we all be encouraged by what Paul says in Romans 8:27-28, “And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Our response to everything is everything!
As follower’s of Christ we’re all still subject to living in this world as it is under the curse of sin. However, we’ve been called and equipped by the Lord to live moment-by-moment exhibiting a completely different attitude than unbelievers have. Those who have yet to say “Yes” to Jesus have no hope for anything beyond what this world has to offer.
When we choose to grumble, or complain, or have an attitude of negativity, we’re refusing to see our circumstances from God’s perspective. And consequently, we are reacting the same way unbelievers do. Why would anyone who may be on their own faith journey even reach out to us and inquire about why we’ve put our faith in Christ … if they see us constantly complaining or responding in anger to something we’re not pleased about?
Paul says in Philippians 2:13-15, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”
Paul also encourages us in Ephesians 4:30-33, “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
To be completely honest, I struggle with this pretty much every time I get behind the wheel in the car. If I don’t pray and ask the Lord to help my default attitude of becoming overtly frustrated when other drivers around me don’t drive their cars safely and responsibly … then I can easily become negative and agitated, rather than being kind and forgiving to everyone.
Jesus says in Matthew 5:13-15, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.”
A brief study of the Holy Spirit
There’s actually a term, Pneumatology that means “The study of the Holy Spirit.” I think it’s really important to understand what the Bible says about who the Holy Spirit is, in order to help break through the confusion that many believer’s have surrounding His role. The Holy Spirit described in the Bible is identified as fully God!
Also, it’s clear that the Scriptures identify the Holy Spirit as a person who has been present with the Father and the Son since before time began. Genesis 1:2 says, “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”
2 Peter 1:20-21 says, “But understand this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” It’s super helpful to understand that the Biblical reality is that the Holy Spirit moved the prophets of God with the words of God!
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own? You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.”
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of confusion surrounding what it means to be ‘born again.’ Jesus says in John 3:5-7, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].” According to Jesus, in order to go to heaven after we die, we must be born of the Spirit!
Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit, the Helper, was different from Himself. In John 14:25-26 He says, “I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” I don’t know about you, but I’m over-the-top thrilled, and so very grateful that God the Father provided me with the Spirit of Truth!
Wherever you may find yourself currently in your faith journey, may these words from Jesus in John 16:7-15 just before His crucifixion, encourage you to lean heavily into Him, as you recognize you’re never ever alone if you’ve been born again … “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.”
Can we really know that we’re actually hearing from God?
That’s a fair question! Let’s consider the ways God chooses to communicate with us, to see if we can bring some clarity on this very important issue.
God uses the Bible to directly communicate with us … along with His Holy Spirit after we’ve been saved by repenting and putting our trust in Jesus … as well as using wise counsel through other people (pastor, friend, spouse, or mentor, etc). Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of the fool [who rejects God’s wisdom] is right in his own eyes, but the wise listen to advice.”
Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:14-18, “But as for you, continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced [holding tightly to the truths], knowing from whom you learned them, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus [surrendering your entire self to Him and having absolute confidence in His wisdom, power and goodness]. All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for instruction, for conviction, for correction, for training in righteousness; God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
We know that God will always be faithful in doing His part in this very personal relationship that we have with Him! The bigger question is, ‘will we do our part in searching the Scriptures, and literally allowing His inspired and inerrant Word to lead and guide in our daily lives?’ Effective communication is a two-way street, and if we’ve neglected studying the Bible in order to hear from Him directly, all we have to do is open it up and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s truth to us. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Also, if we neglect going to the Lord in prayer, and find ourselves too busy, or too distracted by the many temptations of the world around us … then we shouldn’t be surprised if we’re not confidently hearing from Him directly.
James 1:5-7 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”
What does Biblical hope look like?
I’m concerned that most people (believer’s included) look at hope like it’s some kind of mystical wishful thinking.
The Apostle Paul says this about hope in Romans 15:13, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” We should expect to be filled with joy and peace because of our real and dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit … not due to wishful thinking! Also, it’s imperative from a Biblical frame-of-reference to remember that we cannot experience this real and sincere sense of joy and peace by our own will power, but only through the power of the Holy spirit who lives within us!
As believers, instead of defaulting to a perspective of saying, “I hope something will happen,” we have every reason to live out on a daily basis the Biblical definition of hope, which is, “Confident expectation.”
Everything we do in our lives comes down to what we do with Jesus! How we identify truth from God’s message to us through His word, as well as through the leading of His Holy Spirit, will impact every aspect of our lives here and now … and for how and where we will live forever in eternity.
1 Peter 2:3-4 says, “God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”
Paul also says in Romans 15:4, “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”
Psalm 119:40-44 says, “I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness. Lord, give me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me. Then I can answer those who taunt me, for I trust in your word. Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope. I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever.”
Please don’t just take my word for this perspective on what hope means … continue to search the Scriptures, let them be your guide in everything!
What does it look like to truly surrender ownership of our lives to Jesus?
Surrendering is a very dynamic action, and not just a one-time thing! It’s evidenced when we intentionally set aside our own plans, in exchange for being obedient, moment-by-moment to following the plans God has for us.
Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
It’s a matter of the choices we make on an ongoing basis to rely on and completely trust in the finished work on the cross, and Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. We must willingly ‘die’ daily to our worldly and fleshly desires, in order to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.
Acts 2:21 says, “And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.” This literally makes all the difference in the world, as we become sealed by the God’s Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) at the moment of our salvation, which gives us unique access to the very Creator of the Universe to help lead us and guide us through the rest of our lives.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:7-18, “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you. But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
I recognize this is a message that runs counter-cultural to just about everything the world throws at us. However, if our baseline for identifying truth is found in Jesus, and is laid out clearly in His word, then we’ve got an eternity to look forward to amidst all of the temporary storms in our lifetime. No matter how severe your current struggles may be, if you’ve surrendered ownership of your life to Jesus … be encouraged, because He’s guaranteed you’ll never be alone ever again!!
Is practical, effective, and life-altering wisdom & revelation available to all Christians?
Hypothetically speaking, from a Biblical perspective, where should one turn to for very specific help under the following circumstances?
Advising a soon to be college graduate daughter who has a heart to serve those who are in desperate need of practical assistance in developing countries, while at the same has a burning desire to have a real influence in establishing life-changing policies for the right non-profit organization here in the States.
Helping a spouse who works unceasingly to provide essential care for children, and who is going through the process of literally having a house built on her property … ultimately to make a long term investment into her families’ future.
Facing a seemingly impossible situation with a mother-in-law who is battling Dementia and lives so far away that it’s heart wrenching not being able to be there to help her through all of her daily needs, having lost the capacity to manage them herself.
Does the Bible speak to these kinds of nitty gritty issues? And if so, what should our response be?
The Apostle Paul says this in Ephesians 1:13-17, “In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit as owned and protected. The Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers; I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
So we too, like Paul can always pray for a spirit of wisdom and of revelation over the above 3 hypothetical scenarios … as well as pray for any other set of circumstance under the sun!
Jesus said in John 14:16-17, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”
I believe the key to understanding better what the spirit of wisdom and revelation that Paul prays for, is clarified in the phrase that immediately follows …“So that you may know Him better.”
When we find ourselves praying on behalf of other believers like Paul was in Ephesians chapter 1 … we can boldly intercede on their behalf and ask the Lord to provide them with His spirit of wisdom and revelation.
I’m so grateful that the Lord has given us a lifelong process to know Him better, as well as to make Him known to a lost and dying world around us. May He receive the glory for all of our sincere prayers as He answers them in His time!
Why choose to trust God?
I’m not sure about you, but I can become pretty frustrated when I don’t understand something. It could be work related, some relationship confusion, some new physical ailment, financial hardship, or why hasn’t a loved one I’ve been praying for put their trust in Jesus.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:9-12, “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].
John 10:24-28 says, “So the Jews surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us so plainly and openly.” Jesus answered them, “I have told you so, yet you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name testify concerning Me. But you do not believe Me [so you do not trust and follow Me] because you are not My sheep. The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand.”
Even (especially) when we don’t fully understand why our circumstances are the way they are … we can put our trust in Jesus and focus on promises like this one in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
Wherever you may find yourself today, I encourage you to consider what Bob Goff said in his 2/19/2025 daily devotional, “The truth is, only faith-infused purpose has the ability to be the great balancer.”
Through all your struggles and challenges here and now, please study the Scriptures and see for yourself why God’s word says that, “He desires everyone to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4
Why not DECIDE … COMMIT … REPEAT?
How, and why is our faith tested?
If we start with the premise that God does in fact test us, it would be wise to identify the Biblical (both the Old Testament along with the New Testament) baseline of what “testing” means … which is “to prove by trial.”
1 Peter 1:6-9 says, “In this you rejoice greatly, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, receiving as the result [the outcome, of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
James 1:3-4 says, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:4-7, “While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
When we consider what Job went through, we see a perfect example of God allowing one of His children to be tested by the devil. However, Job’s testing is proof that our adversary’ ability to try us is limited by God’s sovereignty. Romans 8:27-8 says, “And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Life can be heavy, but remember that our pain is temporary! God’s grace is eternal. The weight of our trials can seem unbearable, but we should take heart as God himself will step in and restore us. The storms we face will not destroy us, they will help to refine us.
1 Peter 5:10 says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
According to the Bible, what kinds of things last, and ultimately have eternal value?
There’s no getting around the fact that we all live in a material world. For those of us who live in the United States, it’s easy to become desensitized and fall into the trap of ‘worshiping’ materialism.
Merriam-Webster defines materialism as, "A tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values."
Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.
While Jesus was teaching using a parable in Mark 4:18-19 He says, “The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. How we actually live (evidenced by the fruit we produce), is more revealing than what we may like to think about how we live.
In Luke 12:13-15 we read in the Parable of the Rich Fool, “Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
Isn’t it interesting that in our culture all too often our lives are measured by how much we own? So it makes sense to be counter-cultural as it relates to the kinds of things that have eternal value.
Isaiah 40:7-8 says, “The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”
1 Peter 1:23-24 mirrors what Isaiah proclaimed, “For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say, people are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.”
If it’s true that both God’s word along with people are going to last and live forever … wouldn’t it make sense for us to invest our time, our talents, and our earthly treasure here and now into the things that are going to last for all eternity?!
Judgment day is coming for everyone, and now is the time to determine our eternal outcome. Here’s what Matthew 25:41-46 says about what’s at stake, “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
According to the Bible, there are only two options regarding where every person will go after their life here is over. Please choose your path wisely, as you’re prepping for eternity!
What does it mean when Scripture speaks of ‘the evidence of our faith?’
1 John 4:10-13 says, “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.”
The photo on our home page with the palm trees obviously being blown by a strong wind, is symbolic of seeing the evidence of God without actually seeing Him … just as we cannot see the wind, we cannot see God.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:6-7, “So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. We walk by faith, not by sight.”
Hebrews 11:1-3 says, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-10, “For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves, but it is the gift of God.”
Since MWM’s baseline for identifying truth is Jesus … we encourage everyone to search the Scriptures and let them be the guide for identifying your baseline for truth.
For those who believe the Bible is true, and who put their trust and faith in Jesus to be forgiven of their sins … you should rejoice to the max here and now, as well as have a peace that surpasses all understanding because Jesus died on the cross for your sins.
For those who have yet to decide where to land on this whole faith thing, and who may have more very real and very valid questions … please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We would love to try and help any way we can. Since eternity by definition is literally forever without end … don’t you think it will be worth following the evidence to see where it leads you?
Can the Bible really affect how we think, and consequently how we act?
My definitive answer to that question is a resounding “Yes!” Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
Keep in mind that Mighty Wind Ministries’ baseline for identifying truth is the Jesus of the Bible. Also, it’s important to note that we believe God’s Word is infallible (incapable of making mistakes or being wrong) … and has the power to transform lives for all those who put their trust and faith in Jesus.
Psalm 119:9-11 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience]. Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”
I was 18-years old when I surrendered ownership of my life to the Lord, and I think it’s impossible to live out what the Scriptures teach us, without an awareness and a relationship with the Holy Spirit.
A good definition of what the companionship of the Holy Spirit living within each believer is, “The fellowship and the reality of His closeness with us 24/7.” It’s a unique relationship to say the least, and one we would do well to not take for granted, as His desire and His constant presence is to help us make wise decisions!
1 Peter 1:21-25 says, “Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever. And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.”
Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.”
May that be our prayer! May we pay attention to what’s within our control, and may we rely upon the greatest companion of all time Who is eager to guide and direct our steps throughout our lifetime.
God’s infallible words to us in Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”