"The Narrow Road": Blogs By Shane Kastler

Audio Sermon Archive

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Sermons From Psalms

TITLE: Feeling Forsaken - Text: Psalm 22:1-8 - Date: 6/28/09

TITLE: The Heavenly Father's Majesty - Text: Psalm 8 - Date: 6/21/09

TITLE: The Righteous & The Wicked (Pt. 2) - Text: Psalm 1 - Date: 6/14/09

TITLE: The Righteous & The Wicked - Text: Psalm 1 - Date: 6/7/09

 

Sermons From Habakkuk

TITLE: Faith Remains - Text: Habakkuk 3:17-19 - Date: 5-31-09

TITLE: Sovereign Power - Text: Habakkuk 3:8-16 - Date: 5/24/09

TITLE: The Successful Fool - Title: Luke 12:16-20 - Date: 5-17-09

TITLE: A Mother's Day Message For All - Text: 1 Peter 3:1-4 - Date: 5-10-09

TITLE: Our Glorious God - Text: Habakkuk 3:3-7 - Date: 5/3/09

TITLE: Praying For Revival - Text: Habakkuk 3:1-2 - Date: 4-26-09

TITLE: The Glory of the Lord - Text: Habakkuk 2:14 - Date: 4-12-09

TITLE: Woe! Unto the Worldly! - Text: Habakkuk 2:12-17 - Date: 4-5-09

TITLE: The Righteous & The Unrighteous - Text: Habakkuk 2:4-5 - Date: 3-22-09

TITLE: God & The Prophet - Text: Habakkuk 2:1-3 - Date: 3-15-09

TITLE: God & Evil - Text: Habakkuk 1:2-17 - Date: 3-8-09

TITLE: God & Justice - Text: Habakkuk 1:1-4 - Date: 2-22-09

TITLE: Introduction to Habakkuk - Text: Habakkuk 1:1-5 - Date: 2/15/09

 

Sermons From the Book of Philippians

TITLE: Saints By The Grace of God - Text: Philippians 4:21-23 - Date: 2/1/09

TITLE: Giving That Honors God - Text: Philippians 4:15-20 - Date: 1/18/09

TITLE: Content In All Things (Part 2) - Text: Philippians 4:10-14 - Date: 1-11-09

TITLE: Content In All Things - Text: Philippians 4:10-14 - Date: 1/4/09

TITLE: Why Jesus Was Born (Pt. 2) - Text: Galatians 4:4-7 - Date: 12-28-08

TITLE: Why Jesus Was Born (Pt. 1) — Text: Galatians 4:4-7 — Date: 12-21-08

TITLE: How to Think & What to Do — Text: Philippians 4:8-9 — Date: 12-14-08

TITLE: The Cure For Anxiety — Text: Philippians 4:6-7 — Date: 12-7-08

TITLE: Rejoice, Relax, & Remember — Text: Philippians 4:4-5 - Date: 11-30-08

TITLE: Division in a Good Church - TEXT: Philippians 4:1-3– Date: 11-23-08

TITLE: Citizens of Heaven - TEXT: Philippians 3:19-20 — Date: 11-9-08

TITLE: Enemies of the Cross (Part 2) - TEXT: Philippians 3:17-19 — Date: 11-2-08

TITLE: Enemies of the Cross (Part 1) - TEXT: Philippians 3:17-19 — Date: 10-26-08

TITLE: Pressing On (Part 2) - TEXT: Philippians 3:12-16 — Date: 10-19-08

TITLE: Pressing On (Part 1) - TEXT: Philippians 3:12-16– Date: 10-12-08

TITLE: The Supremacy of Christ (Pt. 2) - TEXT: Philippians 3:7-11 — Date: 9-21-08

TITLE: The Supremacy of Christ (Pt. 1) - TEXT: Philippians 3:7-11 — Date: 9-14-08

TITLE: Perishing Pride - TEXT: Philippians 3:4-7 — Date: 9-7-08

TITLE: Be Joyful, But Beware(Pt. 2)— TEXT: Philippians 3:1-4 — Date: 8-31-08

TITLE: Be Joyful, But Beware(Pt. 1)— TEXT: Philippians 3:1-3 — Date: 8-24-08

TITLE: Epaphroditus: A Suffering Soldier of Christ (Pt. 2) — TEXT: Philippians 2:25-30 — Date: 8-10-08

TITLE: Epaphroditus: A Suffering Soldier of Christ — TEXT: Philippians 2:25-30 — Date: 8-3-08

TITLE: Timothy: A Faithful Soldier of Christ (Pt. 1)— TEXT: Philippians 2:19-24 — Date: 7-20-08

TITLE: Joy in Sacrifice & Service — TEXT: Philippians 2:17-18 — Date: 7-13-08

TITLE: Christians In The World (Pt. 3): Spiritual Darkness— TEXT: Philippians 2:14-16 — Date: 7-6-08

TITLE: Christians In The World (Pt. 2): The Light in the Darkness — TEXT: Philippians 2:14-16 — Date: 6-29-08

TITLE: Christians In The World (Pt. 1)— TEXT: Philippians 2:14-16 — Date: 6-22-08

TITLE: The Exaltation of Christ— TEXT: Philippians 2:9-11 — Date: 6-1-08

TITLE: The Humility of Christ — TEXT: Philippians 2:5-8 — Date: 5-25-08

TITLE: The Humility of the Church — TEXT: Philippians 2:3-4 — Date: 5-18-08

TITLE: Surprising Gifts From God: Suffering — TEXT: Philippians 1:30 — Date: 4-20-08

TITLE: Surprising Gifts From God: Salvation — TEXT: Philippians 1:29 — Date: 4-13-08

TITLE: The Testimony of a United Church — TEXT: Philippians 1:27-28 — Date: 4-6-08

TITLE: Life & Death For The Christian — TEXT: Philippians 1:21-26 — Date: 3-30-08

TITLE: The Life & Death of Jesus — TEXT: Acts 2:22-24 — Date: 3-23-08

TITLE: Deliverance, God’s Way (Pt. 2) — TEXT: Philippians 1:19-21— Date: 3-16-08

TITLE: Deliverance, God’s Way — TEXT: Philippians 1:19-21— Date: 3-9-08

TITLE: Motivations For Christian Living — TEXT: Philippians 1:15-18— Date: 3-2-08

TITLE: Suffering For The Gospel — TEXT: Philippians 1:12-14 — Date: 02-24-08

TITLE: The Facts on Spiritual Growth (Pt. 5) — TEXT: Philippians 1:9-11 — Date: 02-17-08

TITLE: The Facts on Spiritual Growth (Pt. 4) — TEXT: Philippians 1:9-11 — Date: 02-10-08

TITLE: The Facts on Spiritual Growth (Pt. 3) — TEXT: Philippians 1:9-11 — Date: 02-03-08

TITLE: The Facts on Spiritual Growth (Pt. 2) — TEXT: Philippians 1:9-11 — Date: 01-27-08

TITLE: The Facts on Spiritual Growth (Pt. 1) — TEXT: Philippians 1:9-11 — Date: 01-20-08

TITLE: God Is My Witness — TEXT: Philippians 1:8 — Date: 01-13-08

TITLE: Christian Hearts United — TEXT: Philippians 1:7-8 — Date: 01-06-08

TITLE: The Successful Church (Part 2) — TEXT: Philippians 1:3-6 — Date: 12-16-07

TITLE: The Successful Church (Part 1) — TEXT: Philippians 1:3-6 — Date: 12-09-07

TITLE: Grace & Peace — TEXT: Philippians 1:2 — Date: 12-02-07

TITLE: Deacons: The Servants of the Church — TEXT: Philippians 1:1 — Date: 11-25-07

TITLE: Overseers: The Stewards of the Church — TEXT: Philippians 1:1 — Date: 11-18-07

TITLE: Slaves & Saints of Christ Jesus — TEXT: Philippians 1:1 — Date: 11-11-07

 

Sermons on Death, Heaven, & Hell

Title: Death & The Knowledge Of Christ — Text: Philippians 3:7-11

Title: The Deathbed Focus — Text: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Title:  A Glimpse Into Heaven — Text: Luke 16:19-31

Title:  A Glimpse Into Hell — Text: Luke 16:19-31

Title:  Final Judgment For The Condemned — Text: Revelation 20:11-15

Title:  Final Judgment For The Christian — Text: 2 Corinthians 5:6-11

Title:  The Eternal City of Heaven — Text: Revelation 21:1-8

Title:  A Description of the Eternal City — Text: Revelation 21:9-21

Title:  The Eternal City: What’s NOT There — Text: Revelation 21:22-27

Title:  The Eternal City: What IS There — Text: Revelation 22:1-5

Title:  The Eternal City: Too Good To Be True? — Text: Revelation 22:6-11

Title:  The Return Of The Judge — Text: Revelation 22:12-21

 

Sermons on the Ten Commandments

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: #10 - Thou Shalt Not Covet–Date: Nov. 4, 2007 — Text: Exodus 20:17

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: #9 - Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness–Date: Oct. 28, 2007 — Text: Exodus 20:16

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: #8 - Thou Shalt Not Steal–Date: Oct. 21, 2007 — Text: Exodus 20:15

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: #7 - Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery–Date: Oct. 14, 2007 — Text: Exodus 20:14

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: #6 - Thou Shalt Not Murder–Date: Sept. 23, 2007 — Text: Exodus 20:13

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: #5 - Honor Thy Father & Mother–Date: Sept. 16, 2007 — Text: Exodus 20:12

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: #4 - Remember The Sabbath–Date: Sept. 9, 2007 — Text: Exodus 20:8-11

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: #3 — Don’t Take God’s Name in Vain (SERMON DID NOT TAPE…SORRY)

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: #2 - No Graven Images–Date: Aug. 26, 2007 — Text: Exodus 20:4-6

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: #1 - No Other Gods Before Me–Date: Aug. 19, 2007 — Text: Exodus 20:1-3

 

Sermons From 1 John

Title:  Supreme Joy In the Gospel of Christ (Pt. 1)  Text: 1 John 1:1-4

Title:  Supreme Joy In the Gospel of Christ (Pt. 2)  Text: 1 John 1:1-4

Title: Walking in Light vs. Living a Lie – Text: 1 John 1:5-7

Title: Ignoring Sin vs. Confessing Sin–Text: 1 John 1:8-10

Title: Jesus-Our Life & Our Lord–Text: 1 John 2:1-2

Title: Limited Atonement–The Lamb Who Died For the Sheep–Text: 1 John 2:2

Title: How To Know You’re Saved–Text: 1 John 2:3-6

Title: Encouraging The Family of God–Text: 1 John 2:12-14

Title: Thou Shalt NOT Love the World–Text: 1 John 2:15-17

Title: Antichrist: The One & The Many — Text: 1 John 2:18-19

Title: The Holy Spirit & Truth –  Text: 1 John 2:20-21

Title: The Christian’s Perseverance –  Text: 1 John 2:24-27

Title: God: Our Teacher –  Text: 1 John 2:27

Title: The Fruit of Perseverance –  Text: 1 John 2:28-29

Title: The Children of God –  Text: 1 John 3:1-3

Title: Spiritual Criminals –  Text: 1 John 3:4-6

Title: The Lord, The Devil, & You –  Text: 1 John 3:7-9

Title: Where Christian Love Will Lead You –  Text: 1 John 3:10-16

Title: The Heart of a True Christian –  Text: 1 John 3:17-24

Title: Spirits: True & False — Text: 1 John 4:1-6

Title: God’s Love For Us — Text: 1 John 4:7-11

Title: God’s Gifts To Us — Text: 1 John 4:12-16

Title: Growing In God’s Love — Text: 1 John 4:17-21

Title: Marks of a Born Again Christian – Text: 1 John 5:1-4

Title: God Is My Witness – Text: 1 John 5:10-12

Title: Assurance of Salvation: God’s Way – Text: 1 John 5:13

Title: Assurance of Salvation: God’s Way (Part 2) — Text: 1 John 5:13

Title: Answered Prayers — Text: 1 John 5:14-17

Title: What We Know—- Date: July 1, 2007 — Text: 1 John 5:18-21

Misunderstanding Prayer

(Note: This article is scheduled to appear in the July 8 edition of the Linn County News.)

Prayer is one of the primary spiritual disciplines that God wants all Christians to be daily involved in. Its also one of the most misunderstood. Many people view prayer as simply a process of people telling God what to do. We know what we want out of life and we expect God to “jump through hoops” and get it done. But such selfish thinking misses the entire point of what prayer is supposed to be.

Prayer is supposed to be a practice whereby we submissively bring our requests before God in a process of discerning and doing His will, rather than our own. Prayer is one part of what should be a multifaceted spiritual life that leads us into God’s will. Prayer works best when done in conjunction with Bible study, church attendance, fellowship, and Christian accountability. Many people simply offer prayers when they’re in trouble and expect God to meet their every whim. But that’s not the way it works. The Bible says: “You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:2-3 NASB) When something is heavy upon our hearts, or we don’t know God’s will in a particular matter, by all means we should come to Him in prayer. But we must look at our own motivation behind the prayer and truthfully ask whether or not we are asking for something that will glorify God, or something that will simply feed our selfish desires. God’s glory should be paramount, but all too often, our comfort trumps God’s glory in our personal prayers and desires.

Is Jesus Christ the Lord of your life? If not, then the first prayer you should offer to God is one of repentance and faith. As sinners, we all need to turn from our sin in repentance and commit our life to Jesus Christ as Lord. Until you’ve done that, other prayers will be useless because you’re attempting to pray to a God who you don’t have a relationship with. It’s only through Jesus Christ the Son that we can access God the Father. Make no mistake, God wants to hear from you; but He wants to hear from you with the right kind of motivation and the right kind of heart.

The Lordship of Christ

(Note: This article is scheduled to appear in the July 1 edition of the Linn County News.)

What does Jesus Christ mean to you? Some see him as a good example of pious living. Others see him as a religious leader that founded Christianity. Still others see him as a misunderstood “do-gooder” who was wrongly accused and executed.

While there may be an element of truth in all of the above, Jesus is much more than these. Jesus was God, “who became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). As the second member of the Trinity, (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), Jesus came to earth and lived a sinless life, thus fulfilling the Father’s law to perfection. As if that’s not amazing enough, God credits Jesus’ perfect life to sinners who repent and place their faith in Him as Lord. Sinners, who are worthy of death and damnation, can receive forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ. But what about our sin? What happens to that?

God doesn’t simply forget about our sin. By his grace, through Jesus Christ, God pays for our sin upon the cross. It was while Jesus hung upon the cross that God the Father poured his righteous wrath out upon His very own Son, who stood in our place. God’s justice demanded a payment, and God’s grace made Him pour out the punishment on Himself.

The question for you is this: Are you a partaker of this amazing gift? Believing in the existence of God doesn’t make you a partaker in His salvation. Nor does simply having an intellectual agreement with the gospel. Jesus said: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23 KJV) A change of heart, mind, and direction is required. We are called to turn from our sin in repentance and place our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord over our life. Jesus must become more than simply a nice guy from the New Testament. He must become our “all in all.” He must become our Supreme Lord. He must become our Master. Are you willing to submit to Him as Lord? If so, eternal life can be yours. If not, eternal Hell will be yours. Regardless of whether you like it or not….that’s the reality of the matter. The question remains….what will you do with Jesus?

My Letter to the Kansas City Star Regarding Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor

I recently wrote a letter to the Kansas City Star regarding the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.  I was writing to concur with a commentary the Star printed by National Review's Jonah Goldberg, who was their "token conservative" for May 28th.  My letter appeared in the June 2 edition of the Star, and can be seen on their website by clicking here.  You can read Goldberg's excellent commentary by clicking here.  If you don't want to click anything, my letter is written below:

Dear KC Star:

Jonah Goldberg (5/28, Opinion, “Empathy, impartiality on judicial collision course”) gave the greatest disqualifying factor for Sonia Sotomayor’s appointment to the Supreme Court. President Obama has vowed to appoint a justice who would break her own oath of office to “administer justice without respect to persons” by appointing someone with “empathy” toward people’s “struggles.” Obama wants a social worker rather than a judge. Sotomayor fits the bill, saying her “Latina” heritage means she would make better decisions than a white male.

We need judges who will do their job and uphold the law, not make decisions based on “empathy.”

I commend Goldberg for pointing out something that should be obvious: Sotomayor is unqualified. But I doubt the Senate has the spine to do the right thing. As usual, they will do what is politically expedient and punish the country with another federal judge who will thumb her nose at American law.

Shane Kastler
Pleasanton, Kansas

George Tiller's Life Was The Greater Tragedy

Today, I can’t help but think about the George Tiller tragedy.  But the tragedy I’m thinking of is not the same one many in the world are thinking of.  I don’t condone the killing of another person, in the way that Tiller was killed.  Anytime a man is shot in the face at church, it is a tragedy.  Even if the man is evil, and the church is a church in name only with no gospel being preached.  I feel bad for those who witnessed the scene.  I feel bad for Tiller’s family and friends.  And I feel bad for the thousands of good, God-fearing, law abiding pro-lifers who will be caricatured by the media and the political left because of this tragedy.  But George Tiller’s life involved a much greater tragedy than his ignominious death.  George Tiller’s entire life was a tragedy of Biblical proportion.

            Like Herod of old, Tiller was famous for killing babies.  I know that many will sweep that “elephant in the room” under the rug now that the killer has been killed.  I know that many will hold vigils and sing the praises of Tiller the humanitarian….but Tiller the Killer, must not be forgotten.  Nor the thousands of babies over the years who were murdered, mutilated, and incinerated in Tiller’s modern day death camp.

            Abortion is one of the greatest moral evils of our day.  In a physical sense, Tiller’s death bore an eerily similar resemblance to the numerous murders he himself committed over the years.  As most know, the abortion of a baby typically involves the removing of the brains by a suction device.  In other words the baby’s brains get sucked out, instead of blown out, but the result is the same.  Tiller performed this heinous act thousands of times over the years.  In fact, he was one of the few abortionists who would even do it on late term babies.  Fully grown, fully developed human beings – who had done nothing to deserve their slaughter.  Yet Tiller slaughtered him.

            Today the political left will sing Tiller’s praises and they’ll gush about how he helped “underprivileged women.”  They’ll ramble on about his bravery, and they’ll gloat about what a humanitarian he was.  This is nothing more than the clear and obvious evidence of how wickedly, twisted and depraved our society has become.  I know that most people don’t want to hear the truth about a man who was just killed…but George Tiller was a slime-ball of the lowest order.  He made his living by murdering innocent children for money.  Liberals can live in their warped dream world from now until doomsday, but the facts remain the same.  Tiller was evil.

            But Tiller shouldn’t have been killed.  Instead, Tiller’s butchery should have been outlawed years ago.  In fact, such savagery should have never been legalized in the first place.  Other options are available for women.  Other options besides killing their young.  Maybe some day the bleeding hearts of the left will stop talking about “standing up for the little guy” and actually have the nerve to do it with the littlest guys and girls our society produces.  The children in the womb, who can’t speak for themselves.

            I also have no doubt that the man who killed Tiller is a nutcase supreme.  He’s an isolated wacko, who will suddenly become the poster child for all who defend the life of the unborn.  I remember very well when Timothy McVeigh blew up the Oklahoma City building, and immediately every right wing gun owner in America was lambasted as a “Timothy McVeigh type”  as if all politically conservative gun owners just set around and dream of Federal buildings to blow up.  In truth the Tiller death seems like a perfect scenario for the Barack Obama administration which has already proven itself to be the greatest foes conservative Americans have ever had. 

            Homeland Defense Secretary Janet Napolitano recently released her “watch list” of potential terrorists that included “right wing pro-lifers” and “military veterans” – strangely absent from her list were left wing radical groups that have proven truly violent in pursing their agenda.  Obama is also no friend to gun owners, threatening to pursue action to severely limit our right to keep and bear arms.  The Tiller death seems to give Obama the perfect chance to move against both pro lifers and gun owners…and I suspect he will.  In fact I might even suggest that Obama set the whole thing up….kind of like Nero setting fire to Rome, then blaming the Christians…..of course if I suggest such a thing, Obama will promptly add my name to his watch list. So I digress.

            I’ll simply close by saying that Tiller’s death isn’t as big of a tragedy as Tiller’s deaths (plural).  The man was a butcher who got butchered.  I don’t condone Tiller’s murders…nor his own murder.  But thousands of innocent babies are a greater tragedy than one guilty and evil man.  It wasn’t the killer’s place to end Tiller’s life…just as it wasn’t Tiller’s place to end the babies’ lives.  But the surest way to assure that our citizens respect the life of adults…is to START RESPECTING THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN…..THE BABIES….THE UNBORN!

            So maybe this death will move us one step closer to valuing all life, and abolishing the barbaric practice of abortion.  I seriously doubt that will happen, but I hope and pray that it will.

Will God Judge America? A Lesson From Ezekiel

(Note: This article is schedule to appear in the June 3 edition of the Linn County News.)

“They will fling their silver into the streets and their gold will become an abhorrent thing; their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetite nor can they fill their stomachs, for their iniquity has become an occasion of stumbling.” Ezekiel 7:19 (NASB)

Some people think that money can solve every problem. It was true thousands of years ago in Old Testament times, and its true today. In fact, it’s probably worse today. With the advancements our society has made in technology, medicine, and scientific knowledge, we have a tendency to think we can solve every problem. At least we can if we have the money to get it done. But money is worthless, when the problem is spiritual in nature.

In the prophet Ezekiel’s day, the nation of Judah had become extremely sinful and idolatrous. Because of their sin, God raised up the nation of Babylon to judge them. Judah saw many of its residents killed or taken into exile. They saw their nation invaded and plundered. And in the end, they even saw their beautiful city of Jerusalem destroyed, along with the Temple that they thought was indestructible.

The people of Judah put more faith in the Temple than they did the Lord; and they had a habit of worshipping false gods…then coming back to the true God in a cold-hearted and superstitious way. They had embraced the world and all of its idols, then they expected God to protect and bless them on a daily basis. But God refused, because God is not mocked. Their status as a nation couldn’t save them. Their meaningless prayers could not save them. Their money could not save them. And they were destroyed.

Hopefully America will learn from Judah’s example. While there are many differences between us, there are also many similarities. America is a nation where the gospel can be freely preached….and where the gospel is largely ignored by a selfish and worldly culture. America is a nation that often disregards God, thinking of Him as an old-fashioned and irrelevant concept, rather than the Creator and Ruler of the universe. America is a nation that thinks it can solve every problem by throwing money at it. A brief glance at the practices of our Federal government proves that. But money isn’t the problem with America. Sin is. And God has promised to judge sin. We are called to repent and place our faith in Jesus as Lord of our life. Apart from that we perish. As individuals, and as a nation.

It’s too late for Judah. They got judged. But what about the nation of America? What about the people of American? What about you?

A World Without Sin

(Note:  This article is scheduled to appear in the May 27 edition of the Linn County News.)

The effects of sin are far more devastating than most people realize. The Bible tells us that when God created the world all things were “good.” But Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and they rebelled against God…making all things bad. Through Adam’s fall, a sin curse entered the world; and now all of us are born into this cursed state before God.

The existence of death, sickness, pain, crime, evil, and all forms of misery are a result of the sin curse. Sin runs rampant, and we all feel its effects on a daily basis. Even people who don’t realize sin is the problem, still struggle greatly under its overwhelming burden. Indeed, it’s almost impossible to envision a world without sin. A world without the curse. But such a world is coming for the people of Christ.

In the very last chapter of the Bible, the book of Revelation speaks of Heaven, saying: “There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:3-5 NASB)

For those who have turned from their sin in repentance and committed their lives to Jesus Christ as Lord, while on earth…a perfect world awaits in Heaven. Not only will we no longer sin…we won’t even have the temptation or desire to sin. No sickness. No pain. No sorrow. No death. Only eternal joy in the presence of the Lord whom we love so much. But there are two sides to every coin.

Those who refuse to submit to Christ in this life will find a world that is far more cursed than this tainted planet. Hell is a place Jesus spoke of often. A place where the curse is intensified, and indeed lasts for an eternity. A place with no second chances. A place of utter misery.

As for me, I’ve experience enough cursing in this world to last me a lifetime. I would prefer to go to a world where the curse is no more. I would prefer to worship forever, rather than writhe in misery. As for me, I’ll take Jesus – and seek to follow Him daily as Lord of my life. I hope you will too.

Would You Defy the King?

Learning to live under authority is a part of life. From the time we’re born, we have someone in authority over us. We are taught how to talk, act, and live as we should. Even as adults, we usually have authority figures in the workplace and in the world in which we live.

We are a nation of laws on local, state, and federal levels. And as such, we have government officials who have the job of seeing that laws are upheld and obeyed. In fact, Romans 13 says that government is an institution ordained by God for the purpose of seeing justice served. But what would you do, if the government was corrupt and began making laws contrary to God’s Word? Or what would you do if the government attempted to ban you from doing some of the very things God commands us to do?

Christians are called to be witnesses to the world. And in order to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with sinners, we must at times define sin. Increasingly, some in our society, and even our own government, have begun to try and dictate to the people what sin is and is not. So called “hate crimes” legislation is seen by many as the beginning of government’s attempt to prevent Christians from speaking out against sins such as homosexuality and abortion. Some political leaders in our nation have even said that they would like to monitor and punish Christians who would say things against these depraved practices.

In all honesty, we shouldn’t be too surprised at the moral weakness of our government. As Christians, this world is not our home; and as Americans we are beginning to see that truth more and more clearly each day. My question for you is this: would you be willing to defy the King, if obedience to your Lord was at stake? In 2 Samuel 12, the prophet Nathan confronted David over his adultery with Bathsheba. And in so doing he literally risked his own neck. But the Bible says: 

"Then the LORD sent Nathan to David." 2 Samuel 12:1 (NASB) 

In other words, his defiance and confrontation of the king was an act of obedience to God.  And King or no King, Nathan was called to speak the truth, and he faithfully did it regardless of the consequences. Would you do the same? 

The time may come in your life in which you’ll have to choose between God and man. Between right and wrong. Between freedom and tyranny. Between this present world, and God’s eternal one. Which will you choose? Like Nathan, will you choose to do right and accept the consequences of your integrity? Or will you cower and go along like sheep to the slaughter? The good will always suffer in a bad world. Are you willing to embrace that suffering for the cause of Christ or will you instead choose to bow to an earthly king and a godless government?

Lessons From The Prodigal Son

(NOTE: This article is scheduled to appear in the April 29, 2009 edition of the Linn County News.)

In Luke 15, Jesus told a story about two brothers who lived radically different lives. One brother took his inheritance; went out into the world and squandered everything he had. He blew his money with wild living, and eventually found himself so hungry and destitute that the only job he could find was slopping hogs. And he was jealous of the food the pigs were getting.

The other brother stayed on the farm and worked hard helping his dad everyday. He lived a clean life and did what he was told to do. Eventually the younger brother came to his senses and returned home begging his Father’s forgiveness. He offers to go back to work as a hired hand, rather than enjoy the privilege of being a son. But the Father was overjoyed that his wayward son had returned and he had a feast to celebrate his lost son’s returning.

Ironically, the older brother didn’t share his Father’s joy. He was angry that such a fuss was made over the wicked son who had turned good. His pride wouldn’t let him rejoice in his brother’s new life. And his selfishness made him jealous of the gifts bestowed upon the younger brother.

All Christians should be able to see themselves in the younger brother. When you first become a Christian you are so happy at being forgiven and eternally saved. But sometimes, after you’ve been a Christian for a while, you may be in danger of becoming more like the older brother. What is your reaction to the wicked being saved? Do you rejoice because of the change in their life and thank God for showing them grace? Or do you quietly grumble about them because you don’t want them around?

The older brother had some good qualities, but he was so prideful that the good qualities were overshadowed by his self-righteousness and arrogance. The younger brother was originally very sinful, but was humbled to the point of brokenness and repentance. We shouldn’t try to emulate his sins, but we should be humble enough to realize our own sinfulness. Then we should turn to Jesus in repentance and faith and walk in the newness of life that was found by the younger brother. Pride kills. But humble repentance and faith in Christ saves. So kill the pride before the pride kills you. And trust in Jesus before it’s too late.

Daily Discipleship

(NOTE: This article is scheduled to appear in the April 15, 2009 edition of the Linn County News.)

“And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’” (Luke 9:23 NASB)

Are you a follower of Jesus Christ? To answer that question, some may point to a specific time in their life when they made a “decision” to become a Christian. Others might point to the fact that they are members of a particular church. Still others might cling to a past event, such as baptism, to prove their Christianity. Making a decision, becoming a church member, and getting baptized are all good things that people should do. But the ultimate test of whether or not you are truly a follower of Christ is to examine your heart and to look at your daily life. The Bible says to: “make your calling and election sure.” (2 Peter 1:10 KJV) And the only way to do this is to honestly examine yourself and be willing to accept what your life says about you.

Jesus never called sinners to make a one-time “decision” for Him. Nor did He ever call sinners to repeat a “sinner’s prayer” after Him. Too many people try to downsize Christianity into a one-time event. When in fact, Jesus called sinners to make a lifetime commitment to Him. Jesus called sinners to deny themselves and to take up their cross “daily” and follow Him.

When Jesus calls us to take up our cross, He doesn’t mean that we are to try and earn our way to Heaven by paying for our own sins. His cross paid for our sins. By taking up our cross daily, we are identifying ourselves with Him. We are telling the world that He is our Lord and Master. And we are living lives whereby the world can see that Jesus is more important to us than anything the world has to offer.

So are you a follower of Jesus Christ? Are you really a follower of His? Search the Scriptures. Seek the Lord. Examine your life. And see where the evidence leads you.