WHAT IS TRUTH?

What a strange scene when this thin-clad Galilean, Christ greatly disturbs royalty, the judge, Pilate. Pilate has Jesus in his inner chambers questioning Him concerning His crime.  The Jews have charged Jesus with claiming to be King of the Jews, so Pilate asked Him. “If He was a King.”   Jesus answered, “You say that I am a King. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.  Every one that is of the truth, hears my voice.”

By Jesus mentioning this word, ‘truth’, a responsive cord was triggered in the mind of Pilate, and he asked, “WHAT IS TRUTH?” I do not know whether Pilate is jesting or searching for truth.  But, he doesn’t wait for an answer but leaves Jesus.
Here Pilate is expressing the ceaseless search of man. For mankind from the beginning of time have been seeking humbly, reverently, painfully and persistently for the truth.

Jesus is claiming, in person, to be the truth. We are driven to the dilemma that this Jesus is mad or else divine. Charles Gore said, “If this is not superhuman authority that speaks to us here, it is surely superhuman arrogance.”   With such a claim Jesus is claiming divinity, equality with God.

Here in Jesus Christ, we have God expressed in human life. God delegated divine authority for Jesus to speak and act for Him.  It is sad that Christianity is thought of as theological ideas, philosophical views, creeds written by men.  Christianity is not some fine spun doctrine.  Rather, Christianity is Christ, the living message of God to man.

We are not the truth. The Church is not the truth.  We are just a signpost, a finger, a hand pointing away from ourselves to God through lifting up Jesus.  We point to Jesus. When Henry Thoreau saw the telegraph lines being strung up across the country, he said, “But, what if no one has anything to say.”

WE HAVE A STORY TO TELL TO THE NATIONS.  WE HAVE THE MESAGE, IT IS JESUS.  WE MUST PROCLAIM HIM.

                    

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

THANKSGIVING IS THANKSLIVING

Psalm 100
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

This Psalm is ablaze with grateful adoration. It has been a great favorite with the people of God, singing it with heartfelt thanksgiving. Our happy God should be worshipped by a happy people. Christians should have hearts filled with thankfulness for all that God has done and is doing and has promised for a bright and better tomorrow. Our service to Him is to be done with joyful hearts. We are glad just for the opportunity to serve Him by serving others. Our worship of Him is because He is worthy for He is our God. We need to be constantly reminded of the ownership of our God. He made us and we are His. None of us are self made. His masterpiece in all creation was mankind. He placed His image, likeness, into what He made, when He made man. We are like God. Not only did God make us, but He made us for Himself. Mankind was to be the joy and glory of the Father, God. Isn’t it sad, tragic, that is not always the case. “All we like sheep have gone astray” but God, the Good Shepherd seeks us and leads us, if we will follow, back into His fold. We need to acknowledge that our Creator is also our Owner. We belong to Him. We are His: by creation and also, by redemption. He made us and He bought us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, who died on Calvary. Christians have been twice born; physically and spiritually.

What are God’s people to do? Enter into His presence with thanksgiving and praise. Our lives are to glorify God. We were made for this purpose. How can we do otherwise when we realize that this God of ours is good, loving and faithful? Just contemplate on those three attributes of God. He is good: virtuous-honest-just. He is love: tender-affectionate-passionate. He is faithful: true-loyal-steadfast.

The unchangeableness of God is what we can depend upon. Everyone and everything changes but God changes not. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Trust and praise Him. Be a thankful people. “Thanksgiving is thanks-living.”

WAR AND PEACE

One of the greatest novels ever written was the massive book, “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy. It is some 365 chapters long, around 700 pages, written at the dawn of the 19th century. It is fictional, but a realistic story, against the historical background of the invasion of Russia by Napoleon Bonaparte. No matter it’s brilliance or its length, it is a story of human struggle in the midst of war. We know something about war. September 11th is our generation’s Pearl Harbor.   November 11th is Veteran’s Day. We are face to face with war. Everyday more American soldiers are being killed.

William Tecumseh Sherman in his march to the sea, while Atlanta, Georgia burned on November 15, 1864 said, “War is Hell.” The next day the fires raged through out Atlanta. Sherman and his soldiers cut their ties to the North and headed eastward to the sea. Total war erupted as a path 60 miles wide through Georgia bled the Confederacy to death. Someone as disputed that this statement was first made by Sherman. It is said that Robert E. Lee was the first to make this statement. The South had won several battles, his officers and men were elated. They were feeling invincible. As the story goes, General Lee then said to them, “War is Hell. We should never grow fond of it.”  No matter who said it, it is horribly true.

Lust, evil desire, selfishness have made this earth one great battlefield. In the Revolutionary War, we fought our forefathers. In the Civil War, we fought our brothers. In World War I and II, we fought our neighbors. But, one war we have not fought too successfully and that is the war that rages within our selves. The cause of war is a desire for selfish indulgences as James writes: “Pleasures (evil desires) that war within your members.” James 4:1 Fighting’s within are caused by pursuing selfish ambitions rather than the path of common good. The cause is an unholy desire for anything such as power and authority over others for self-glorification. Such contention is seen in self-advancement rather than advancement of the Kingdom of God. Seeds of distrust and discord are sown out of our selfishness, to get what we want.

Peace can only be obtained as we war against hostile, aggressive, evil, selfish desires within us.  Peace can only come when we seek the spirit of Christ which is the spirit of humility and love.
CHRIST IS THE ANSWER TO PEACE.

“AND THEN SOME”

Some of you may not have seen the three minute inspirational movie titled: “212 degrees…”The Extra Degree.” Here is want it is all about: At 211 degrees water is hot and at 212 degrees it boils. With boiling water, comes steam and steam can power a locomotive. It’s the One Extra Degree that makes all the difference.
This is a very simple but very powerful concept, because when you think about it, it’s that one extra degree of effort in business, and in life, that so many times separates the good from the great.

This made me think of the poem -3 LITTLE WORDS “AND THEN SOME”
“These three little words are the secret to success. They are the difference between average people and top people in most companies.
The top people always do what is expected…and then some.
They are thoughtful of others, they are considerate and kind…and then some.
They meet their responsibilities fairly and squarely…and then some.
They are good friends and helpful neighbors…and then some.
They can be counted on in an emergency…and then some.
I am thankful for people like this, for they make the world a better place.
Their spirit of service is summed up in these three little words…and then some.”

All of this made me think of what Jesus asked the disciples, “What do you do more than these?”
Matthew 5:46-47 “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”

How different are we Christians from the non-christian? Are we more loving than they? Are we more forgiving than they?
Are we more charitable, generous than they? Are we more honest than they? Are we really different from the non-christian?
You know, we were called to be different, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 6:17
“For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 2 Corinthians 6:16 May we really be His people, living like Him
Let us not be seen just doing what we have to, but doing what’s right…and then some. May others see us living the Christ like life…and then some.