Monday, April 9, 2007, 05:43 PM
The Mirror
By
Nancy Howe
You look in the mirror and what do you see? Is your nose too big and your chin to prominent? Maybe there are wrinkles that you did not see yesterday. Are there laugh lines or frown lines? Look deeper—do you see Christ in the mirror with you? Are you a reflection of Him? Our body and soul are a reflection of who we are to others. The only way for others to see who we truly are is by how we act and how we respond to situations that occur in our life. Our words can either sooth or destroy others. Our bodies are an active unit that is always a witness to who we are to others. When our actions are a contradiction to our words we present a very distorted view of who we are. When we look in that mirror do we see anger, hatred, distrust, unrest, loneliness, defeat, heartache or pain? And our words are saying, “I love Jesus.” This is very confusing to not only the believer but to the unbeliever. Our actions should say along with our words-- love, compassion, trust, joy and peace when we are a Christian. What we see in a mirror is what others see in us. Our actions will speak louder than our words.
What do you live for? Make a list and read them over to see what is most important in your life? We are usually controlled by the most important thing in our lives. Maybe it is our job, a person, a sport, or it may be an experience that has happened to us. Or maybe our disappointment in something has changed our lives and is now in control of our very being. What you see in your life as important is what others also see. Have you experienced Christ? If so can people see him in you? Are you a mirror of Christ? When we are truly filled with the Spirit of God we are transformed. We are the mirror of Christ’s character. If others cannot see Christ in our character we have not truly experienced him. Most of us have a tendency to stifle God’s Spirit. This is done by stifling God’s presence in our lives. It can be worry or wanting to experience something that is not God pleasing. So much of the time it is our desire to satisfy ourselves. Our emotions may also play a very big part in stifling God’s Spirit.
When we come to faith we have a complete turn around. We personally do not do the turning. God works this miracle in us. It is not a concept of -I will try to do better- but it is something that we do not have any control over. God does it in us. This is when we have received the Holy Spirit and He does the transformation in us and for us. We see our sins for what they are and we experience a deep sorrow and remorse. We come to repentance. We turn from our old ways and again it is not by our own will but the Holy Spirit turns us to His ways. Our life has changed. We are now a witness for Christ. Are you a witness for Christ? Can people see a difference in your desires, goals and life style? This is a strong witness to Christ when people see a huge difference in us. When we are put down for this change by unbelievers it is a strong testimony and we know that we are right with God. Paul only lived for one thing and that was to be a witness. He preached judgment to unbelievers and salvation to those that came to faith. And he did not let anything sway him in any other direction. He carried the cross and suffered greatly for his faith in Christ’s Name. And he saw it as victory and he saw it as a privilege to be able to do this for Christ. Paul is a very strong witness of who and how we should be. You can see Christ in the mirror when you see Paul.
As we grow in our faith we will also fall flat on our face. We look in the mirror and we must ask ourselves- why did I do that thing that God says not to do. We sin every day and that is a part of our character. We are born in sin and because of this our sinful flesh is always at odds with our divine nature. We can not in our own flesh do anything about it. We must put on the full armor of Christ daily. This armor is staying in God’s Word. To win a race we must stay in shape. To win battles of life we must stay in God’s Word. We must have daily prayer and worship. We cannot win this daily battle by anything that we have done or will do. It has been won for us on the cross. All of these sins that we still do were taken to the cross. Christ took them from us when he suffered and died in our place. We are free of them and even though we are free of them we must come to Christ with a contrite heart and repent daily. To put on the armor is to grow in our faith and we strive to live the life that God desires for us to live. He has given us the awesome job of taking His message to the world. And so we are to be a witness to Christ just as Paul was a witness. What do you see in your mirror? What do others see in your mirror?
You can reach Nancy:
Crossing the GAP
PO Box 384
Marshall, IL 62441
Monday, April 2, 2007, 12:44 PM
It is Finished
By
Nancy Howe
I recently talked with some family members about religion. They are of the understanding that all religions are the same and they cannot understand what all of the fuss is about if we all believe the same. And I agree that all religions are basically the same. They base their salvation on their good works. Their belief is that they will go to heaven if they live the kind of life that their particular faith dictates to them. In most cases they are trying to out weigh their sins with their works. They have no way to erase their sins. They carry them and the guilt of them to their grave. They live by the law. This is a religion.
There are so many people that go to Christian denominations and they to only have a religion. They have many good qualities but it is not a substitute for faith in Christ. They do their good works but if they do not trust in Christ for forgiveness of their sins their works are filthy rags (Is. 64:6). Their good works are out of gratitude and love for Christ and not for salvation. They still have their sins. Going to a Christian church does not change the fact that they only have a religion.
How about getting rid of our sins totally? How about having the guilt gone with the sins? Sins and guilt is what takes our joy, peace and contentment. But if they are not there we can have joy, peace and contentment. This is not a religion, this is Christianity. Christianity does good works BECAUSE we are saved—NOT to be saved (Titus 3:5). All other religions are legalist. There is no love in the law (Rom.4:15). We must always strive to be good enough and do enough when we base our salvation on the law. God says man must obey the whole law—we can never sin one time or we are lost (Gal. 5:3; James 2:10). How will anyone know when they have done enough and can anyone ever be good enough? Christianity is a response to Christ’s love and His sacrifice for us. Love fulfills the law (Rom.13:10).
We have Grace. Grace is the underserved love and forgiveness from God for all of our sins. We are no longer under the law (Rom. 6:14). Grace is given to all that will receive it (II Cor. 9:14). We cannot earn it (Gal.2:16). It is free. God’s grace is deeper than anyone’s sins. It is our inheritance (Matt. 19:29; Eph. 1:14; I Pet.1:4). By grace through faith we are saved (Eph. 2:8). And we can do nothing to inherit something (Eph. 2:8, 9). God’s grace is sufficient for us (II Cor. 12:9; Rom. 3:24; 5:15).
God created man in His image—perfect. God did not want a robot so he gave us our freedom to choose. Adam and Eve chose sin over God. They wanted God’s job of being god. We are still doing that. This separates us from God (I Kings 8:46). We have inherited this sinful nature from Adam. God wanted to bring us back to Himself because of His great love for all of mankind. But there was no way that man could redeem himself from his sins (Rom.3:10). How can imperfection become perfection by his own desires and work? There is no way this can happen. You see sin is a disease of the soul and heart. If we have cancer we cannot by our own will and desire make it go away. And by the same token we cannot make our sins go away simply because we do not want them any more. We are born in sin (Rom. 3:23) it is a part of our make up. We do not have a choice about it. God had to do it all Himself. God became flesh and dwelt among us (John 14:9; 1:14; Col. 1:15, 16; 2:9). Christ fulfilled all of His laws in our place (Rom.10:4; Matt. 5:17-18). Christ never stopped being God (John 1:1-5; 1:14; 10:38; Col.1:15-19; I Tim.3:16; I John 5:20). Christ is true man and true God. It is by faith that we know this (Heb. 12:2; I John 5:10). Human reason denies it. Only by the Spirit of God can we see who Christ is and what He has done for mankind (John 7:39; Eph. 2:6-9). The truth is in the knowledge of who Christ is and the truth will set you free (John 8:31, 32). Christ accepted full responsibility for our sins (IICor.5:21). He took all of the punishment that we should have taken. He took all of the guilt that we should experience. He took all of the pain that we should suffer. He took it all into Himself (I Pet. 2:24). He was the victim and He was the perpetrator. He became the thief, the liar, the child molester, the killer, the sex offender. Christ became all things in our behalf (John 1:29). Christ took all of that to the cross. And He died a horrible death. The worst part was not the physical part. The worst part was the spiritual part. God and Christ were separated for the first time in all of eternity. Christ had taken all of the sins of the world. And He cried out, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” And when Christ had done all of this for you and for me He breathed His last (Rom. 6:23). Before he died He said, “It is finished.” And that is the truth. It is finished. Our sins are forgiven (Mk.2:7; Lk.1:77; Acts 10:43; 13:38). Our salvation is sealed by the blood of Christ (Eph.1:7; Heb.9:22). We do not have to do anything for this free gift except to NOT turn away from it. Believe and you will be saved (Mk. 16:16; John 3:17). He loves us beyond our understanding. Salvation is given to us freely, no stings. No good works. Just faith in what Christ did in our place and we are saved by this faith (John 14:6). And on the third day Christ rose from the dead victorious. This says that our bodies will also rise from the dead victorious for all those that believe on His Name (Acts 2:21; Rom.10:13). Our souls go to be with Christ the second we draw our last breath but our bodies will have to remain here until Christ returns for us on resurrection day. (Rom. 7:4-6; John 5:28, 29)
IT IS TRULY FINISHED! We are truly free from the wages of our sins. Happy Easter my friends!
You can reach Nancy at:
Crossing the GAP
PO Box 384
Marshall, IL 62441
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