Love can't stay silent

Recently, my wife and I watched an interesting and challenging movie about the gospel - and also about homosexuality. The movie is called "Audacity - Love can't stay silent".

As the main character in the film, I also am a Christian and believe that homosexuality is a sin. This might be an unpopular thing to say these days, but I don't say this to antagonise anyone. I am well aware of my own sins in other areas.

But why is there a need to even mention this or point it out?

God's Word tells us in Romans 6:23 that "the wages of sin is death". We should not take sin lightly. There is a very costly price to pay for sin.

But that is not the end of the story. The second part of the Romans 6:23 reads as follows:

...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Eternal life instead of death? How? There was also a very costly price to pay in order to make this possible.

Jesus Christ gave the greatest demonstration of love for us by paying the price of death - on a cross - for sinners like me and you.

Maybe you are not homosexual or support homosexuality yourself, but you - like every person - have sinned against God. You need His forgiveness. Jesus Christ offers it to you freely. All you need to do is repent of your sin and place your faith in Christ. The door is open. The time is now.

If my mention of homosexuality caught your attention and you have further questions about God says or thinks about it, I would like to invite you to watch the new movie "Audacity".

You can watch the trailer by following the link below and the full movie below the trailer.






For more information, check out the website http://www.audacitymovie.com.

The light of the world is Jesus

This morning, my wife and I started reading the Gospel of John together. Besides reading about how the Lord Jesus Christ (called "the Word") is God, we also read that He is the light of the world:

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:4-5)

"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (John 1:9)

Jesus Christ is the light of the world - the one who shows us and is Himself the way, the truth and the life - but there are many people who do not see or understand or want to accept this and they remain in darkness and love the darkness more than the light.

J.C. Ryle comments on this passage as follows:

Christ is to the souls of men what the sun is to the world. He is the centre and source of all spiritual light, warmth, life, health, growth, beauty, and fertility. Like the sun, He shines for the common benefit of all mankind -- for high and for low, for rich and for poor, for Jew and for Greek. Like the sun, He is free to all. All may look at Him, and drink health out of His light. If millions of mankind were mad enough to dwell in caves underground, or to bandage their eyes, their darkness would be their own fault, and not the fault of the sun. So, likewise, if millions of men and women love spiritual "darkness rather than light," the blame must be laid on their blind hearts, and not on Christ. "Their foolish hearts are darkened." (John 3:19; Rom. 1:21) But whether men will see or not, Christ is the true sun, and the light of the world. There is no light for sinners except in the Lord Jesus.

(Source: Expository Thoughts on the Gospels)

In John 8:12, Jesus says,

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

I am so thankful that God opened my eyes of my blind heart so that I can see and know and enjoy Christ as the light of the world. There is nothing better than living in His light and experiencing the joy and peace and love and forgiveness and freedom and guidance that He gives!

Together with the songwriter Tim Hughes, I can say and sing:

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

So here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You're my God

And You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

Do you also have this light? Do you know Jesus Christ as your Saviour? The invitation is open. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross for the sins of all who will trust in Him. Come to the light today, repent of your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus!

The whole world was lost
In the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday,
His glory shone in.
The Light of the world is Jesus!

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!

No darkness have we
Who in Jesus abide;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
We walk in the light
When we follow our Guide!
The Light of the world is Jesus!

Ye dwellers in darkness
With sin blinded eyes,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Go, wash, at His bidding,
And light will arise.
The Light of the world is Jesus!

No need of the sunlight
In Heaven we’re told;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
The Lamb is the Light
In the city of gold,
The Light of the world is Jesus!

(Philip P. Bliss)

I do not know

(The following is an article written by Dr. Bob Jones, Jr.)

There is much I do not know; there is much I cannot know.

Picture: sxc.hu

- I do not know what a day may bring forth.
- I do not know what tomorrow has in store for me.
- I do not know what will be the outcome of the things I undertake.
- I do not know where the path of life may lead me before I reach its end.
- I do not know where sorrow awaits along the way or where death lurks.
- I do not know where I may come across something which I would like to escape.
- I do not know when I may be afflicted with sickness or disease.
- I do not know when I may be called upon to pass through a fiery trial or when tragedy may strike.
- I do not know when a loved one may be taken away or when I shall be called to join those who have gone before.
- I do not know why sorrows come into our lives.
- I do not know why innocent people are called upon to suffer for the sins of others.
- I do not know why things which I desire are denied me nor why things which I would avoid are thrust upon me.
- I do not know how the flesh can stand the suffering which it is sometimes called upon to endure.
- I do not know how the soul can go through the waters deep and chill, which threaten to engulf it.
- I do not know how to reconcile God's love for men with the terrible tragedy and suffering which Divine Providence visits upon them.

But, I do not need to know what, nor when, nor how, nor why, because I do know "whom I have believed" (II Timothy 1:12).

I know God. In the Lord Jesus Christ I find Him perfectly revealed. The God I know is a God of love. His love is manifest in the death of Christ on the cross for our sins. He loved us and gave Himself for us.

The God I know is wise. He is the Author of all wisdom and all knowledge. He knows the end from the beginning. The God I know is omnipotent. He upholds "all things by the word of his power."

I can trust Him who is Himself perfect love and power and wisdom. He knows what I need and understands what is best for me, and He will not permit anything else to come into my life. He is able to give me strength to face whatever may come into my life.

Do you know Him?

(Text from "As the small rain" by Bob Jones, Jr., found at http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/BookList/ASTHESMALLRAINbyDrBobJoneJr1945.aspx)