Why Did Jesus Come

The most common answer to this question is probably Luke 19:10 … "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Who was lost? All of mankind from Adam and Eve on. Romans 3:23 … "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God …" That pretty much covers all of us.

The second most quoted answer for why Jesus came is most likely found in 1st John 3:8 … "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

What a wonderful purpose for God to send Jesus … to take care of our arch enemy … the devil. And He did just that according to Hebrews 2:14-15 … "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

A big part of Jesus seeking and saving the lost, as well as destroying the works of the devil … had to do with the fact that Jesus was the Word of God made flesh. That's how Jesus was able to walk among men without sin in His life. I have covered this subject in depth in many of my past articles.

But there is another reason as to why Jesus came that I want to pursue today. In fact Jesus said it was the reason He was born. It has to do with perhaps the most important quality and nature God has other than love.

Jesus tells us why He was born when He speaks to Pilate during His trial in John 18:37 …

"To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth."

To bear witness to the truth. So what's Jesus talking about? Let me present to you another question that Pilate asks in response to what Jesus just said to him. Pilate then asks … "What is truth?"

Truth is a representation of things as they are. The life and teaching of Jesus were the most complete and perfect representation of things in God's kingdom that can be presented to man. All of the ceremonies and feasts of the Jews were just shadows compared to the truth in the life of Jesus.

This is one of those facts … He is not only true, but He is truth itself.

I like the way John Gill puts it in his Bible commentary speaking of Jesus as truth …

"This may regard his person and character; he is the true God, and eternal life; truly and really man; as a prophet he taught the way of God in truth; as a priest, he is a faithful, as well as a merciful one; true and faithful to him that appointed him; and as a King, just and true are all his ways and administrations: he is the sum and substance of all the truths of the Gospel; they are all full of him, and centre in him; and he is the truth of all the types and shadows, promises and prophecies of the Old Testament; they have all their accomplishment in him; and he is the true way, in opposition to all false ones of man's devising."

Jesus is the source of truth ...

John 1:17 … "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

John 8:32 … "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

The last five words of this verse have been placed over the gated entrance of a major university in California. It reads … Truth Shall Make You Free. I have a problem with that. Truth in and of itself is fine and good but must be factually accurate. Here's an example … Mt. Hood usually has snow on its peak during the winter. That's true … but that knowledge won't make you free.

The quote over that university gate left off the most important word in that entire phrase taken from the Bible … "The" … Truth. It's what the whole of the Christian faith is based upon. The truth … that Jesus is … the Son of God.

John 14:6 … "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Whatever God declares becomes truth; it becomes reality. Why? He makes the rules. He is the judge of all things including what is or isn't true. It's just that simple. Only God's word is truth … and Jesus is The Word of God.

Do you want to see what truth looks like? Then look at Jesus and all He did. Jesus said that He was born to … "bear witness unto the truth."

The Apostle Paul's words in Colossians 1:15 (if I understand them right) is saying that Jesus is … "the image of the invisible God."

Hebrews 1:1-3 also states … "God … hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son … Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person … when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high …"

Is there anything else that needs to be added to what Jesus said or did to … "bear witness unto the truth?" No, I don't think so. The truth is … God so loved the world … through Jesus.


Comments welcome.

Being Honest

I have written much in the past about having faith in the promises of God, but today I am writing about some things that "life" has taught me. I know I must be careful how I word what I am going to say or it might be mistaken for a lack of faith on my part.

Over the past 46 years of married life, my wife and I have faced some things that caused us to … if not question what we believe … at least review and confirm our faith and trust in God and His Word.

First of all, I must affirm to you that we never question if God is real. We believe in a creator and that means we believe in God. The Apostle John said His name was Jesus, the Word of God made flesh. John said he handled Him, ate with Him, no doubt laughed with Him, saw Him die on the cross, and most likely helped bury Him. But he saw one more thing … John saw the resurrected, glorified Jesus and heard Him say … "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore." That's good enough for me.

I also believe the Word of God is true … well, most of it anyway … depending on which version you're looking at. Some are better translations than others. I'm being honest with you.

Being honest … may I say that "life" and what I have seen has taught me to question … not God … but how we perceive the promises in the Bible. I say that, knowing we are not supposed to form our beliefs on what we have experienced. But we do … we can't help it. Come on, be honest with me. You do the same thing.

If you have prayed and trusted God to heal a loved one, let's say of cancer … and God didn't … they died anyway; and then later you hear of one person after another dying of cancer … what does that do to your faith when you are asked to pray one more time for someone else who has cancer?

Oh, you can confess all the scripture you want about healing, including what Jesus said about it … but in your heart, do you really believe He will? I'm still being honest with you. Things in "life" affect us. We shouldn't let them, but they do.

One of my favorite promises in the Bible is from the lips of Jesus. He said it, so if anything is true, this should be … right? It's found in …

John 14:13-14 … "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

This is scripture … but is it a promise? May I be honest with you again? I'm not sure that it is a promise. If it is then should I declare with it … "Only if it be God's will?"

But that doesn't seem right does it? There must be some promises in the Word that work every time, in every situation; but I can't say I know of any. Operating with faith is not like solving a simple math problem; two plus two is always four. But when dealing in the faith realm the answer isn't always the same … sometimes it's three, then again it might come up five.

I do know this … we should have enough confidence in God to believe that all His dealings with us are ordered from a heart of love regardless of the answer. Oh, and by the way … if God says it's five, not two … it's five.

I believe in God's providential care, which includes tests and trials for our good which come or are sent according to His design, purpose, counsel, and "will" for our lives. I'm not saying He ever will, but what if He takes away our possessions, and visits us with pain; will we lose all our confidence in Him? He did that with Job.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon placed life itself on trial; whereas I have just observed life, but I have come to almost the same conclusion. The conclusion of Solomon's trial of life is to … "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."

My conclusion is that all of man's efforts in seeking happiness in this life are wasted without complete submission and obedience to God. Even then, we are not really in control of our lives. God is the one who gives the blessings to us as He pleases, and He will be the one who disposes of our life when He is done with us.

But even so … it is this world that is brought into question … not God.

Life, as I have observed it, has in all honesty shaped my doctrine of faith or lack of it. I'll give you an example which has something to do with my understanding of … "the fairness of God." Perhaps I should say my misunderstanding of that fairness.

Several years ago a fifteen year old girl was kidnapped by a vile, evil satanic madman. This precious beautiful young girl was raped and then dumped naked along the side of a highway to bleed to death after this monster chopped off both of her arms below her elbows with an ax he had in his van. She only survived because she stopped the bleeding by sticking the stubs of her arms into the dirt of a plowed field along the side of the road.

I don't have an answer for this except … something called free will. The "fairness of God" question … includes giving these monsters like this madman the free will to mutilate and destroy lives. I have to accept this fact, all free will must be this way … totally free to choose good or evil … but I don't have to like it.

Let me go on with being honest. Find me a scripture or promise in the Word of God to stand on … or find me someone with enough faith in God to pray for this girl … and have God restore her arms and make her whole again.

She doesn't need healed … she needs new arms to grow back.

But as far as I have ever studied or researched … there has never been an amputee who has had a limb grow back or a limb restored by God. Why is that? He has the power.

Brutal honesty.

Sorry … but I'm tired of playing games about the truth that's not found in the Word of God.

The truth is … God heals. The truth also is … not every time. But it is true just the same. God doesn't heal every time in every situation. Our loved ones die. Dreams die. We will die. Now that's the honest truth.

The Word of God teaches the truth. Life also teaches the truth. But life's lessons usually hurt more. I believe what I've written is the truth … at least as I see it. As with all of my opinions … well, they're just mine.

So as you chew on this … spit out the bones … I'm sure you'll find some in it.

The truth has no agenda. It just is.


Comments welcome.

He Is Faithful

One of my favorite scriptures is 1st Corinthians 1:9 in the Amplified Bible.

"God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

The first part of this verse states that God is "faithful." The Amplified Bible in describing two of the ways God is faithful states, He is … "reliable and trustworthy" but doesn't stop there. It goes on with the word therefore (or because of these two) He is … "ever true to His word."

It is my understanding that the Apostle Paul either wrote in Greek or his writings were first translated into Greek and then copied and shared with the various churches around the Mediterranean Sea and Asia Minor.

As I often do, I compare the English with the Greek and usually find that the Greek rendering of a word has more examples describing the meaning … which makes it easier for vocabulary challenged individuals like me to understand.

The Greek had one more meaning of the word faithful that has been left out of the Scriptures' depiction of God, and I know not why. It fits right in with His character and nature. The word is … "sure" … meaning "steady, stable, strong and sure footed."

You can count on God, He's steady, the same every day; and strong … you won't wear down His patience. He's stable like a rock, you can stand on Him … in fact He wants you to. He is sure footed … you can be sure of His steps as He guides you through life, whether in the valley or on the mountain top. He can be … "depended on."

This verse in the King James Bible uses the word "fellowship" instead of the word "companionship" as in the Amplified Version. So, thinking these two words don't really mean the same thing to me, I again checked the original Greek it was written in to find out which one was the closest to the original.

The word fellowship in the original is "koinonia" and means … partnership or (literally) participation.

Paul states that God has called us not just to a "fellowship" but into "participation" with His Son … Jesus our Lord.

Notice the word … "with" … His Son.

We just don't get to hang around with Jesus in fellowship, although that is a wonderful truth; and we should fellowship with Him. But even more so we are supposed to enter into partnership with Him and participate in the things Jesus is doing.

I don't know why, but God has asked believers to partner with Him in ministry. One way is through prayer. That is one of the main ways we have to participate with God … getting involved with prayer, doing spiritual warfare on behalf of others.

Oh, there are other ways, like teaching the Word or reaching out to the lost and hurting humanity all around us as well as any other type of ministry God leads us into. Things like feeding the hungry or giving a warm coat to someone without one. Or as simple a deed as giving a cup of cold water in His name, or showing the love and mercy of God to a stranger.

Partnership and participation with God's Son … Jesus Christ our Lord. That's what Paul said.

Matthew 7:7-11 … "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

Jesus said … "Ask for bread, God won't give you a stone." In other words, be confident in His will for you knowing that everything He allows in your life proceeds from a heart of love.

But what if you don't get it right away? "Ask and keep on asking, knock and keep on knocking, seek and keep on seeking."

I love Psalms 91 … well, who doesn't, right? In it you will find …

The safety of the believer …
Confidence in God …
How he is defended and preserved …
And in the last three verses, what God promises to him …

Psalm 91:14-16 … "Because he (that's you if you choose it to be) hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

Amos 3:3 states … "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

Participation with God means you need to agree with Him and His Word … and that Word says …

"God is faithful … and can be depended on."


Comments welcome.

Looking Unto Jesus

My wife Peggy and I have found lately in times of struggle, when believing God just seems useless, no matter how we pray, nothing, no answer, no change … we come to the point that we want to ask, "why God?" But we don't, remembering that we are the ones that limit God by how we perceive Him, as to His greatness, wisdom, love and mercy. So we go on … not by what we see but by faith alone.

And sometimes it feels like you are alone.

If I may, I would like to give a few thoughts that just might encourage you in the Lord, as you continue in your faith walk. Most of what I write won't even be scripture, but I prayerfully hope it will be from God. All of the words won't be mine only, but from others I have learned from.

Let me give some thoughts for you to think about … well, since thinking involves the mind, maybe I should say some thoughts to ponder; not with your mind but with your heart. Your mind may not understand, but your heart and spirit may.

We need to impress upon our hearts the knowledge of the love God has for us, and to recognize that God is at every moment, intimately present with us. There is no moment when His eye is off us, or His attention is distracted from us, and no moment therefore, when His care falters.

The Lord has been asking me lately, "Do you trust Me?" We need to learn that when we struggle with doubt, worry, fear, or even if we can trust Him, we can come to God with confidence knowing we are able to tell Him what He already knows about us … that we fail … asking Him for His grace and mercy in those times of weakness and then we shall find the strength to overcome those weaknesses.

I am not counseling you to disregard the things you see … that is impossible. The problems are real, the situations that are around you are real. The world, the flesh, and the devil join forces and assault the mind and soul so untiringly that without the ever present aid of God, they drag the soul down in spite of all the resistance against them.

If you are like most people, when you have a need and you go to God in prayer, while you are in prayer faith arises in your spirit and you can see the problem being answered by the Lord. Faith is strong when you are shut away with the Lord.

But as soon as we come away from our prayer time and get back into the real world and we see nothing has changed yet, our faith starts to drop. Why is that?

We stop looking at Jesus and start looking again at the circumstance.

The writer of Hebrews says in the Amplified Bible … "Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus …" (Hebrews 12:2) Looking away from the circumstances of the problems you may be facing, looking away from what distracts our attention from the Lord.

The K.J.V. says … "Looking unto Jesus …" In the orginal Greek it means … "to look and consider attentively, to the end" (indicating the point reached or entered with intent or purpose) "to Jesus."

We need to keep looking unto Jesus and only glance at our circumstances … not glance at Jesus every once in a while during prayer and then spend the rest of our time looking at the circumstances or problems. You can't focus on both at the same time.

Okay, that sounds great. But reality sets in and when it does we find ourselves in what feels like the forth verse of Psalms 23 … "I walk through the valley of the shadow of death." Well, aren't we? Have you ever felt like you wanted to just give up and die? All of us are going to face death someday … and it's likely that most of you have already been confronted with the death of a loved one, a parent, a child or your spouse.

Another word for this valley would be … life. As you travel down this road of life, the vehicle we use is called … faith. This road of life can have many potholes. Some God puts in our way, but most of them are just life itself. Many of them we can drive around, others we can't. Some small potholes will give you a little bump and we go on. Bigger potholes can damage a wheel when you hit them. There are a few people who drive unknowingly (though no fault of their own) into huge potholes that wreck their whole vehicle of faith and need someone to help pull them out. That's why I write … I'm here to help give you a hand if you need it.

The reality is … life is sometimes cruel and difficult as we "walk through the valley" of whatever. But don't miss the most important word in this phrase; the word … through. You won't stay in this valley, you will reach the other end.

Nicholas Herman, a seventeenth century Carmelite monk from French Lorraine wrote the following statement …

"God has many ways of drawing us to Himself. God often permits that we should suffer a little to purify our souls and oblige us to continue walking with Him. The greatest glory we can give God" (during these times in the valley) "is to distrust our own strength utterly, and commit ourselves and our loved ones … wholly to His safekeeping." We must not give up, no matter what comes our way.

Peggy gave me a rule to live by many years ago, and I believe it's true. She says, "If it won't change where you spend eternity, then it doesn't really matter."

Oh, there will still be questions, more questions than answers most likely.

I have some, like … Is God unfair? Is it in His nature to be unfair? Is God silent? What is He telling us when He is silent? How do we reconcile the exalted words of the New Testament with the everyday reality around us? The simple answer is … faith.

Remember I stated earlier that … sometimes it feels like you are alone. Well, you're not. But God wants your heart to be … His alone.

That same old French monk stated that we should … "Cast everything out of our heart, for the heart must be empty of all other things because God will possess the heart alone; so neither can He act there and do in it what He pleases, unless it be left vacant to Him."

The heart's not vacant if we let worry, fear, doubt or concern for the cares of this life dwell there. So, even though your heart may cry out … "this is such a mess" … God knows it's a mess. And He already knows how to fix it.

Let's get out of His way and allow Him to fix the problem we face … without trying to tell Him how to fix it. He knows what needs to be done.

Psalm 25:15 … "Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for He shall pluck my feet out of the net." Confirmation that … it's not mine to fix.

Looking unto Jesus means … keeping our eyes upon Jesus instead of the situation.


Comments welcome.