Jesus Christ is Coming Soon!! Are you Ready for the Great Day of Judgement?

Jesus promised His disciples He would come again.

It's in the Bible, John 14:1-3, TLB. "Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in Me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with Me where I am. If this weren't so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there." 

Christ's return will be literal and real.
It's in the Bible, Acts 1:10-11, TLB. "It was not long afterwards that He rose into the sky and disappeared into a cloud, leaving them staring after Him. As they were straining their eyes for another glimpse, suddenly two white-robed men were standing there among them, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has gone away to heaven, and some day, just as He went, He will return!'" 

How will Jesus come again?
It's in the Bible, Luke 21:27, NIV. "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." 

How many will see Him when He comes? 
It's in the Bible, Revelation 1:7, NIV. "Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him." 

What will we see and hear when He comes? It's in the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV. "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 

How visible is His coming to be? 
It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:27, NIV. "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." 

Christ's coming will be unexpected and dramatic. It's in the BIble, 2 Peter 3:10, NKJV. " But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." 

What warning has Christ given so we won't be fooled about the second coming?
It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:23-26, NIV. "At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There He is!' do not believe it. For false Christ's and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, 'There He is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here He is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it." 

Does anyone know the exact time of Christ's coming? 
It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:36, NIV. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." 

Knowing how human it is to procrastinate, what does Christ tell us to do? 
It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:42, NKJV. "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." 

What warning has Christ given that we might not be taken by surprise by this great event? 
It's in the Bible, Luke 21:34-36, NKJV. " But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." 

Why is Jesus second coming taking so long?
It's in the Bible, II Peter 3:8-9, NIV. "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 

While we wait for Jesus, how should we live?
It's in the Bible, Titus 2:11-14, NKJV. " For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." 

What will the world be like when Jesus comes? It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:37-39, NIV. "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." 

Will Christ's coming be a time of reward? 
It's in the Bible, Matthew 16:27 and Revelation 22:12, NIV. "For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done." "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." 

Why is Jesus coming back? 
It's in the Bible, Hebrews 9:28, TLB. "So also Christ died only once as an offering for the sins of many people; and He will come again, but not to deal again with our sins. This time He will come bringing salvation to all those who are eagerly and patiently waiting for Him." 

At Jesus' second coming, we will fully experience the reality of our salvation. 
It's in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 1:7-8, TLB. "Now you have every grace and blessing; every spiritual gift and power for doing His will are yours during this time of waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. And He guarantees right up to the end that you will be counted free from all sin and guilt on that day when He returns." 

What is the last promise Jesus gives us in the Bible? 
It's in the Bible, Revelation 22:20, NKJV. "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus



How To Establish Your Personal Relationship With Jesus Christ?

The Bible gives us clear instructions on what to do: 

1) Accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour - 

First, you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. You turn your entire life over to Him, and you agree to follow Him as He leads you. You need to speak these things directly to Jesus with your lips, not just think them in your mind. At this point, you are a Christian, and you are "saved." (See John 3:16, Romans 10:9)

"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." John 3:16 (KJV)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9 (KJV)

2) Accept the Water Baptism - 

Is Water baptism necessary for salvation? - Let the Bible do the talking - 

There are passages in the Holy Scriptures which  imply that a person must be baptized in order to reach Heaven:

Mark 16:15-16: "And Jesus said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." 

This verse implies that person who believes and is baptized will attain Heaven. A person who does not believe in the Gospel will be sent to Hell. The verse is ambiguous about the fate of a person who believes but is not subsequently baptized. 

John 3:5: " Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." 

This verse clearly states that one must be "born of water" in order to attain Heaven after death. 

Water Baptism  means -  To dip, to immerse, to submerge -Signifying union with Christ-Initiation into the Christian community -Ritual commanded by Christ to be practiced in the church -Identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ -A rite signifying one’s cleansing from sin through Christ’s sacrifice -Outward sign of inward regeneration by the Holy Spirit -The immersion or dipping of a believer in water symbolizing the complete renewal and change in the believer’s life and testifying to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the way of salvation! 

3) Receive the Holy Spirit -  

Then, you ask Jesus to fill you completely with His Holy Spirit, saturating your entire being with Himself. He will do this, and when He does, you are "born again." Being "born again" means that you have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, which has now taken over your life. Your old life is over; your new life is here. You will know it when this happens. (See John 20:22; John 3:7; 1 Peter 1:23)

"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:" John 20:22 (KJV)

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."  John 3:7 (KJV)

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of  incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." 1 Peter 1:23 (KJV)

4) Repent and forgive -

Once the Holy Spirit is within you, He will let you see your previous sins clearly, so you can repent of them. You will be ashamed of them, and glad to get rid of them. 

As you repent of them and turn away from them, He will forgive you of each one. At the same time, He will ask you to forgive everyone who has ever harmed or offended you in any way. These two things always go together: He forgives you as you forgive others. (See Luke 13:5, Matthew 6:14-15)

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."  Luke 13:5 (KJV)

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your

heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)

Now you have established your relationship with Jesus Christ! You will be a Born-Again Christian! If you are ready Do the next step to accept Jesus as your Personal Savior. 


How to Accept Jesus Christ As your Personal Savior? 

If you are ready to accept Jesus now, here are the words you can use: Of course, you must agree with these words and say them sincerely, from your heart. Be consciously aware that you are seeking Him, trying and intending to speak directly to Him. Don't say these words to Him unless you mean them.


"Lord Jesus, I give myself to You, for You to be my only Lord and Saviour. I renounce and repudiate all other loyalties, and I desire no other Lord but You. Please come into me and take control of my life. Mold me to Your will and to Your use. I ask that you drive out all other spirits which conflictwith You in any way. I want to belong only to You, to be subject only to You. I make this prayer to You, in Your name, the name of Jesus. Amen."

If you truly mean these words sincerely, you will not need to repeat them very many times before you will have a dramatic reaction! The Lord Jesus WILL accept you,and He will  enter into you and take control of your life. This event is called " receiving the Holy Spirit," and you will know it  when it happens.

After this happens to you . . .

NOW YOU ARE A BORN-AGAIN

CHRISTIAN! CONGRATULATIONS!! :)

What Difference will you Notice?

First, your dominant emotion will immediately become love for all people. You will be at peace with God and the Universe. Nothing will bother you. You have Jesus: He has you. Everything else is secondary.


"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7 (KJV)



Other people will notice differences, too. The Apostle Paul prepared a list of characteristics of the old life in the flesh vs. the new life in Jesus: 

"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities,strife,jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,factions,envying,drunkenness,carousing, and things like these, of which  I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who  practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:19-23 (NASB)



"And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves (or to others) by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes." - I Timothy 2:9 (NLV)



So now, what's next? 

Spend time reading the Bible, Sustain Your relationship with Jesus through Praying, Keep doing good deeds, Love one another and most Importantly SPREAD The gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole World!  - Jesus Is Coming Soon! Jesus Blessings to You! :)

Jesus Christ is Coming Soon!! Are you Ready for the Great Day of Judgement?

Jesus promised His disciples He would come again.

It's in the Bible, John 14:1-3, TLB. "Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in Me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with Me where I am. If this weren't so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there." 

Christ's return will be literal and real.

It's in the Bible, Acts 1:10-11, TLB. "It was not long afterwards that He rose into the sky and disappeared into a cloud, leaving them staring after Him. As they were straining their eyes for another glimpse, suddenly two white-robed men were standing there among them, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has gone away to heaven, and some day, just as He went, He will return!'" 

How will Jesus come again?

It's in the Bible, Luke 21:27, NIV. "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." 

How many will see Him when He comes? 

It's in the Bible, Revelation 1:7, NIV. "Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him." 

What will we see and hear when He comes? It's in the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV. "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 

How visible is His coming to be? 

It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:27, NIV. "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." 

Christ's coming will be unexpected and dramatic. It's in the BIble, 2 Peter 3:10, NKJV. " But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." 

What warning has Christ given so we won't be fooled about the second coming?

It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:23-26, NIV. "At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There He is!' do not believe it. For false Christ's and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, 'There He is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here He is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it." 

Does anyone know the exact time of Christ's coming? 

It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:36, NIV. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." 

Knowing how human it is to procrastinate, what does Christ tell us to do? 

It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:42, NKJV. "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." 

What warning has Christ given that we might not be taken by surprise by this great event? 

It's in the Bible, Luke 21:34-36, NKJV. " But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." 

Why is Jesus second coming taking so long?

It's in the Bible, II Peter 3:8-9, NIV. "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 

While we wait for Jesus, how should we live?

It's in the Bible, Titus 2:11-14, NKJV. " For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." 

What will the world be like when Jesus comes? It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:37-39, NIV. "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." 

Will Christ's coming be a time of reward? 

It's in the Bible, Matthew 16:27 and Revelation 22:12, NIV. "For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done." "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." 

Why is Jesus coming back? 

It's in the Bible, Hebrews 9:28, TLB. "So also Christ died only once as an offering for the sins of many people; and He will come again, but not to deal again with our sins. This time He will come bringing salvation to all those who are eagerly and patiently waiting for Him." 

At Jesus' second coming, we will fully experience the reality of our salvation. 

It's in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 1:7-8, TLB. "Now you have every grace and blessing; every spiritual gift and power for doing His will are yours during this time of waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. And He guarantees right up to the end that you will be counted free from all sin and guilt on that day when He returns." 

What is the last promise Jesus gives us in the Bible? 

It's in the Bible, Revelation 22:20, NKJV. "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus

How To Establish Your Personal Relationship With Jesus Christ?

The Bible gives us clear instructions on what to do: 

1) Accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour - 

First, you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. You turn your entire life over to Him, and you agree to follow Him as He leads you. You need to speak these things directly to Jesus with your lips, not just think them in your mind. At this point, you are a Christian, and you are "saved." (See John 3:16, Romans 10:9)

"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." John 3:16 (KJV)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9 (KJV)

2) Accept the Water Baptism - 

Is Water baptism necessary for salvation? - Let the Bible do the talking - 

There are passages in the Holy Scriptures which  imply that a person must be baptized in order to reach Heaven:

Mark 16:15-16: "And Jesus said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." 

This verse implies that person who believes and is baptized will attain Heaven. A person who does not believe in the Gospel will be sent to Hell. The verse is ambiguous about the fate of a person who believes but is not subsequently baptized. 

John 3:5: " Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." 

This verse clearly states that one must be "born of water" in order to attain Heaven after death. 

Water Baptism  means -  To dip, to immerse, to submerge -Signifying union with Christ-Initiation into the Christian community -Ritual commanded by Christ to be practiced in the church -Identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ -A rite signifying one’s cleansing from sin through Christ’s sacrifice -Outward sign of inward regeneration by the Holy Spirit -The immersion or dipping of a believer in water symbolizing the complete renewal and change in the believer’s life and testifying to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the way of salvation! 

3) Receive the Holy Spirit -  

Then, you ask Jesus to fill you completely with His Holy Spirit, saturating your entire being with Himself. He will do this, and when He does, you are "born again." Being "born again" means that you have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, which has now taken over your life. Your old life is over; your new life is here. You will know it when this happens. (See John 20:22; John 3:7; 1 Peter 1:23)

"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:" John 20:22 (KJV)

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."  John 3:7 (KJV)

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of  incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." 1 Peter 1:23 (KJV)

4) Repent and forgive -

Once the Holy Spirit is within you, He will let you see your previous sins clearly, so you can repent of them. You will be ashamed of them, and glad to get rid of them. 

As you repent of them and turn away from them, He will forgive you of each one. At the same time, He will ask you to forgive everyone who has ever harmed or offended you in any way. These two things always go together: He forgives you as you forgive others. (See Luke 13:5, Matthew 6:14-15)

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."  Luke 13:5 (KJV)

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your

heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)

Now you have established your relationship with Jesus Christ! You will be a Born-Again Christian! If you are ready Do the next step to accept Jesus as your Personal Savior. 

How to Accept Jesus Christ As your Personal Savior? 

If you are ready to accept Jesus now, here are the words you can use: Of course, you must agree with these words and say them sincerely, from your heart. Be consciously aware that you are seeking Him, trying and intending to speak directly to Him. Don't say these words to Him unless you mean them.

"Lord Jesus, I give myself to You, for You to be my only Lord and Saviour. I renounce and repudiate all other loyalties, and I desire no other Lord but You. Please come into me and take control of my life. Mold me to Your will and to Your use. I ask that you drive out all other spirits which conflictwith You in any way. I want to belong only to You, to be subject only to You. I make this prayer to You, in Your name, the name of Jesus. Amen."

If you truly mean these words sincerely, you will not need to repeat them very many times before you will have a dramatic reaction! The Lord Jesus WILL accept you,and He will  enter into you and take control of your life. This event is called " receiving the Holy Spirit," and you will know it  when it happens.

After this happens to you . . .

NOW YOU ARE A BORN-AGAIN

CHRISTIAN! CONGRATULATIONS!! :)

What Difference will you Notice?

First, your dominant emotion will immediately become love for all people. You will be at peace with God and the Universe. Nothing will bother you. You have Jesus: He has you. Everything else is secondary.

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7 (KJV)

Other people will notice differences, too. The Apostle Paul prepared a list of characteristics of the old life in the flesh vs. the new life in Jesus: 

"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities,strife,jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,factions,envying,drunkenness,carousing, and things like these, of which  I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who  practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:19-23 (NASB)

"And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves (or to others) by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes." - I Timothy 2:9 (NLV)

So now, what's next? 

Spend time reading the Bible, Sustain Your relationship with Jesus through Praying, Keep doing good deeds, Love one another and most Importantly SPREAD The gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole World!  - Jesus Is Coming Soon! Jesus Blessings to You! :)

Hurry, Hurry, Fast, Fast

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." - Psalm 46:10 (NIV). 



"I'm not a sociolinguist," writes Karen Carr, missionary psychologist, "but I find languages fascinating. The other day in Ghana I was walking past a Ghanaian man talking on his cell phone in Twi (a local language here). Suddenly, in the midst of a sea of words I could not understand, I heard, 'Hurry, hurry. Fast, fast.'


"Why did he need to switch to English to use those words? In a culture where relationships are valued more than task, where listening to someone is more important than crossing off my 'to do' list, where greeting someone before you get to the point of your conversation is a very high value—hurry, hurry, fast, fast is apparently a value grafted in from the West. I chuckled as I walked away and slowed my pace down just a fraction—reminding myself that I can enjoy the journey just as much as the destination."


Back in college days I used to have a small placard on my desk that said, "Beware of the barrenness of a busy life." Some years ago there was a popular song that said: "Slow down you move to fast, got to make the morning last...looking for fun and feeling groovy."


I don't know about you but I still struggle with being too busy most of the time and need to remind myself that I need to take time to have fun and to smell the roses as life is short. At the same time I also realize that my life is an investment in eternity so I need to make sure my days are balanced and wisely spent. As William Penn said, "I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."


And as another has wisely said, "Only one life 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."

Come Unto Me

"Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light". - (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV). 

I have read that one of Denmark's leading sculptors had a consuming ambition to sculpt the greatest stature of Jesus Christ ever made. He began by painstakingly shaping a clay model of a triumphant, majestic figure. "This will be my masterpiece," he stated on the day the model was completed.


However, during the night, a heavy fog rolled into the area and sea- spray seeped into the sculptor's studio through a partially open window. In the morning, he was shocked to see his model. The droplets of moisture that had formed on the statue created the illusion of bleeding. The head had drooped. The facial expression had melted into compassion. The arms drooped and expressed welcome. The artist was horrified and was aghast at having to start all over again.


As he kept looking at his statue of the Savior, his thoughts began to take a different shape. He realized that this image of Christ was much closer to reality. He then wrote his caption and placed it under the figure: "Come unto me!"


Indeed, that is the call of Jesus to each of us today, "Come unto me."

Float Your Boat Praying

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. - (Romans.8:28). 


Let's face it, we don't always know how to pray, or for what to pray. That's the very reason Romans 8:26 says the Holy Spirit prays the will of God through us. When our intellectual prayers are done, we must be willing to finish by praying "in the Spirit."


During World War II, the British Press Association reported that a British submarine lay disabled on the ocean floor. After two days, all hope of raising her was abandoned. On orders of the captain, the crew began to sing a hymn:


"Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide. The darkness deepens. Lord, abide with me, when other helpers fail and comforts flee. Help of the helpless, Oh, abide with me!"


While everyone was praying, the captain explained to the men that they did not have long to live. There was no hope of outside aid, he said, because the searchers did not know the vessel's exact position.


Sedative pills were distributed to the men to quiet their nerves. One sailor was affected more quickly than the others, and he fainted. As he fell, he hit against a piece of equipment loosening the sub's jammed surfacing mechanism. The submarine floated to the surface and the crew was able to make their way home safely. (from the Gospel Herald).


"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:26-28).

Changing Needs for Changing Times

"Jesus told him, 'Stand up, roll up your sleeping mat and go on home!' Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up the mat and began walking! But it was on the Sabbath when this miracle was done. So the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, 'You can't work on the Sabbath! It's illegal to carry that sleeping mat!' - John 5:8-10 (TLB). 


Imagine that. Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath and the religious leaders "tried all the harder to kill him!"


As we've noted before, tragically, the religious leaders of Jesus' day loved their programs more than they loved people! They were expecting the promised Messiah but because he didn't come the way they expected him to come, and didn't do  things the way they wanted them done, they wouldn't believe in him and refused to change.


It goes without saying that we live in a world of rapid change. Yes, we need to hold fast to that which is permanent and eternal, but in other areas of life if we don't change, we, too, may miss out and get left behind.


Here's a classic example from the business world: "From 1900 to 1967, the Swiss were the leading watchmakers in the world. In 1967, when digital technology was patented, the Swiss rejected it in favor of the traditional ball bearings, gears, and mainsprings they had been using to make watches for decades. Unfortunately, however, the world was ready for this advance, and Seiko, a Japanese company, picked up the digital patent and became the leading watch manufacturer in the world almost overnight. Fifty thousand of the 67,000 Swiss watchmakers went out of business because they refused to embrace this new technology. It was not until years later that the Swiss caught up and regained their position in the marketplace with the creation of Swatch watches."


This principle also applies to each of us in today's market place—if we don't keep up our training with the needs of today's changing market place, again, we may be left behind.


In serving God, while our message never changes, our methods of communicating it need to change with the changing times and the changing needs of people or, again, we may get left behind—as many a business, church, and organization has.