El Monte Seventh-day Adventist Church

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 

     I have to admit that I have spent far too much time in my life focusing on things that were not noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of any virtue, or praiseworthy.  I used to enjoy watching horror movies, trashy TV shows, and listening to music that denigrated women, elevated self and the pursuit of material goods.  Even now, while I no longer turn my attention to those former things, I probably am not very efficient with my time, frittering my free time away on frivolous and idle things. 

     This verse reminds me to keep my focus heavenward and encourages me to engage in things that would strengthen my character, better fit me for God's service, or are ennobling in nature.  This is partly why I try to keep the habit of reading the Bible in the morning when I wake up and reading the Bible again just before I go to bed.  What things do you choose to mediate on? 

GB!

Psalms 35:11-12 - Fierce witnesses rise up; they ask me things that I do not know. They reward me evil for good, to the sorrow of my soul.

     There will be times where your faith in God will be tested.  Not everyone you meet will joyfully receive the Good News that you share with them.  In fact, if it has not already happened to you, there will be people who react with hostility to the hope that you have in you.  They will ask difficult questions that you may not know the answers to.  They may even cause you to doubt the goodness or even the existence of God.

     These verses remind me to expect such trials in life.  We cannot win every debate with atheists or skeptics, nor should we try to.  As Christians, we need to focus on speaking of God's righteousness and continually giving Him praise.  Though we may not have all the answers, we should be able to rationally explain our beliefs with meekness and fear.  We should be able to point to passages in the Bible to support our beliefs.  Most importantly, we need to tell others the great sacrifice Jesus made at Calvary for all of us - even those who do not believe in Him.

GB!

2 Corinthians 6:2 - For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

     I remember an old song from when I young about a boy who kept asking his father to spend time with him, but the father was always working and was too busy for him.  Years would pass by and the father kept puting work ahead of his son.  When the father finally realized he should have spent more time with his son, he then finds that his son is now too busy to spend time with him.  The father sadly realizes far too late that his son has become just like him.

     This Bible verse reminds me that the time to make the decision for Jesus is now.  I have friends and acquaintances that are interested in Christianity, but want to spend a little more time in the world first before coming to Jesus.  However, this is a very dangerous attitude, as there may be a point where it is too late to accept the priceless gift of salvation God offers us through His Son Jesus.

     There was a preacher over a century who was giving Bible studies to a group of young men and women.  He felt that some of them were close to making a commitment to Jesus, but he didn't push the issue and ask them.  He thought he could wait another week and ask them at the next Bible study.  However, the preacher never saw those young men and women again, as a great earthquake and fire tragically occurred the day before the next Bible study. 

     Who knows what tomorrow will bring?  Why put off such an important issue?  If you are not a Christian, have you considered and investigated for youself the claims of Jesus and the Bible?  If you are a Christian, have you committed yourself completely to following Jesus?  I pray that you do not delay on this matter, else you find yourself in the same shoes as the father in that song.

GB!

Psalms 21:4-5 - He asked life from You, and You gave it to him-- length of days forever and ever. His glory is great in Your salvation; honor and majesty You have placed upon him.

     All Christians, even nominal ones, probably know John 3:16 by heart: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  Even secular sports fans are familiar in passing with John 3:16 as that verse has been seen on placards hoisted by fans at many sporting events around the country.  However, have you ever given serious thought to what that verse meant?

     I will have to admit I, too, took John 3:16 for granted until I came across Psalms 21:4-5.  What is eternal life?  How can we obtain it?  John 3:16 promises that we can have eternal life if we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  However, this verse seems to take on a new, more deeper meaning for me when I read it again in light of Psalms 21:4-5.

     Eternal life is length of days forever and ever.  It is hard to even begin to fathom such a concept.  We as humans only live to about 80, 90, maybe 100 years if we are lucky.  But to live to 1,000?  10,000?  A million years?

     Psalms 21:4-5 only hints at the honor and majesty we would be blessed if we had the opportunity to live in the presence of God for all of eternity.  How do we get such an infinitely priceless gift?  It is our free only if we ask it!

     This concept boggles my mind.  How many millions, if not billions would the wealthiest people in the world be willing to pay to merely extend their lives for another 100 years?  I think it would be safe to say that there are many people out there who would be willing to give up everything they have for a chance to live another 100 years.  But to be able to live forever?  No amount of wealth amassed from the richest people in the history of mankind from the beginning to now could even begin to pay for something like that!

     Can you imagine this?  God is willing to extend us eternity if we simply ask life from Him, if we believe in His Son Jesus Christ.  Would you be willing to ask for life?

GB!

Hebrews 11:16 "But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."

Hebrews 11 is known as the “faith” chapter as it goes through various examples of individuals whose faith was incredible in spite of what they faced.

I always passed by this verse, and never thought too deeply about it. It was not until I decided to stick my nose into a conversation where someone (we’ll call the person – “Person”) was antagonizing one of my other friends for being a Christian. I struggled with how to speak to Person, without entering into a debate, using cheap shots, or saying anything that sounded on the defensive or antagonizing. However, I was frustrated, because I felt so irritated and my pride rose up in me because I wanted to be on the defensive. I wanted to defend God! I was even tempted to find some “cutting” Bible verse like I’ve seen other debaters do with. [“The fool has said in his heart,'There is no God'" – hah! Take that – fool!]

And then… I happened to come across Hebrews 11:16, “But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

Does God really need defending? Since when did God need me to defend Him? Was I looking out for God’s best interest, or was I looking to defend Christianity, because I didn’t want the world to call me a fool for being a Christian?

In this life, our faith is not meant to be understood by the world’s standards. This world isn’t our home, we have a heavenly country waiting for us. To the world, they may say and accuse with “God is failing you! Can’t you see? Your prayers are useless and powerless! Why didn’t God save your uncle from dying? Why doesn’t He stop world poverty?”...etc,etc.

When we come to know God, trust Him, and have faith in Him – while the world only points out their disappointments in God according to its standards – none of those attacks and “insults” will bother us one bit, because it doesn’t bother God. “God is not ashamed to be called their God.”

The world says that believing and following God is a fairytale and a dream, and God only has empty promises. We say, “No, we want to be in that heavenly city.” And God doesn’t back down. He doesn’t worry about whether or not He can meet our expectations. God doesn’t need to prove Himself.

Why? Because He knows what He has in store for us when He comes at that trumpet call will more than satisfy any questions, doubts, needs, or desires we might have or have had.

If anything, we will feel entirely, completely unworthy of receiving it. At the end, it won't be God that need be ashamed for what has taken place in this earthly country. It will be us that will be ashamed, realizing how foolish it was to - for even a moment - actually desire anything else but that heavenly country.