Remarkable Faith Before Christ Sacrificed For Us

"Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego." Daniel 3:22

What amazes me is the faith of the Believers who lived before Christ. I am reading Daniel, which I haven't been reading in the Old Testament for awhile. It is an amazing book of great faith displayed by young people. I wish I could learn what led these young men (maybe even late teenagers in age because they are fondly called The Hebrew Children) to possess such a strong, sustaining faith in God. I wish I could follow their lives from childhood. Sometimes, the faith of those who lived B.C. seems to be stronger than what we have today, even though we are indwelt by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

I think that the peoples of the ancient Bible Lands saw more miracles than we do today. Miracles were easier to experience back then. Today it is harder to believe in true miracles. Our lives are so complicated with technology, marketing, material possessions and burgeoning societal issues that miracles are hard to experience. It is not that they don't happen, because we have the same God today that Daniel had back then. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. It is just that the miracles of today get lost in the mix of modern living. 

"Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, anad cast him into the den of lions." Daniel 6:16

The stories of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Daniel always bring tears to my eyes. Why? Because it is very touching to me that anyone's faith would be so great that he/she would profess that God can deliver from a violent, excruciating, prolonged death, and that the person would declare in the same breath that if he doesn't, they will still not turn their back on him. Poignant, profound and powerful (Daniel 3:17-18).

What is even more remarkable is that the king, who stood on his word and enforced the casting of Daniel into the den of lions, would say to him beforehand that Daniel's God would deliver him (Daniel 6:16). Astounding. Many people who did not walk with God in the ancient Middle East believed in his presence and power simply from the witness and experiences of those who did. Oh, what a wonderful life we would live if we walked in that type of faith today. 

Today we have Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who points to God The Father in his admonitions, to thank for restoring our connections to God. As the many great Old Testament stories of faith show though, God is truly the author and finisher of our faith. Without God, we would not have the Blood-bought saving grace of Jesus' sacrifice. Our precious heavenly Father delivered The Hebrew Children, and he is still delivering today. When he doesn't, however, the strong in Christ, though hurting, still do not turn their backs on him, just as those faith-filled children did not.

New Resource Link On Children's Rights Page

A nice lady named Jackie sent me info about the vpnMentor.com article The Ultimate Parent Guide For Protecting Your Kid on the Internet. She said, " I liked the way they summarized each section with actionable items for the parent/teacher."

I added the link to my Children's Rights page at her request, where I also shared my impression of this crucial resource.

Is Knowing God Without Jesus Christ Possible?

Scripture shows that man cannot know God without Jesus Christ.

Decades ago, when I lived in Los Angeles and worked in West Hollywood for a self-employed contractor, he made a pronouncement to me. It was because I was a babe in Christ, and had enthusiastically shared my new conversion with him. One day he stood before my desk with a harsh look on his face and spit out that he knew God and didn't deal with anyone else. I knew he was speaking of Jesus Christ, because he even added a mumbled "that Jesus person"-type of comment. He made me know he was rejecting anything that had to do with the so-called Savior that people like me promote. 

Can man know God without Jesus Christ? If a person believes that, then he/she cannot know the Word of God very well. Scripture plainly shows that we cannot know God without going through His Son. Why would anyone who professes to know God not read what has been revealed as God's Word? Why wouldn't he/she read The Book that has stood the test of time better than any other tome, and is the most popular book on earth?  And when read liberally, how could any person come away still believing that God can be known without acknowledging His Blessed Son Jesus Christ?  I believe that anyone with that stance cannot be reading the Bible.

If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. John 8:42

He that is of God hears God's words. John 8:47

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1

I and my Father are one. John 10:30

He that believes on me, believes not on me, but on him that sent me. John 12:44

He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which sent him. John 5:23

It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes to me. John 6:45

If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honors me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: yet ye have not known him; but I know him. John 8:55
None of God's creation can know him without accepting Jesus Christ, His Son, as the way, the only way to commune with God, to be saved and live forever in peace. God set it up that way out of necessity. So, if you are insisting that you know and love God and that you don't need any of that Jesus Christ stuff, read this,


And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God loved the world so much, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned. John 3:14-18
No matter how strange or bizarre it sounds, Jesus Christ is God's Son and God has made the stipulation that anyone desiring life after death has to ask Jesus to save them. Anyone who wants to approach God and have a relationship with Him has to do it through His Son, Jesus Christ. That's the way it is, that's the way it will be.

It's a simple little requirement, but for which pride and fear makes it almost impossible for a person to submit to. When you feel that tug, though, you know that God is calling through His Son. His Holy Spirit is pressing you to accept the Life that He is offering through His Son. When you feel that inner tug, that means the door is open and you are being encouraged to walk through. You're being invited to partake of life forever. It won't always be so. One day that tug will never be felt again, the door will have closed, and your chance will be gone, forever.

How To Be Saved

Romans 10:9

(NKJV)

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

  If you would like to know that you are saved, say this simple prayer:

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, and the only Savior. Come into my heart, and save me now. Show me the way to understand and turn away from all things that do not help me. I don't have to fear death anymore, and thank you for Eternal Life with You.

Amen.

How God Helps With Problems

God shows me over and over...

...that the answers to most things that trouble me are very small things. These small things are solutions that I would never discover if it was not for Him. These solutions are tiny compared to how I view my problems. 

When God reveals a tiny solution to me, whether it is temporary or permanent, it has always been there all along. Close and within reach, but hidden from me. My solutions, which are usually very involved, always take me in a different direction than where God would take me. That is why I can never see God's solutions. 

Whenever My Heavenly Father reveals a solution to me, I am always so elated! The tiny solution makes such a big difference! I feel hopeful. I feel optimistic. I feel faith-filled! I can rest, while working the solution.

I also feel bad that I worried so much. I feel like I did not trust My Father like I could have. It hurts my heart, but I know that He understands.

 

A Permanent Trip To The Holy Land

While reading about Jesus going to the Mount of Olives, in John 8, and vindicating the woman judged for adultery, I researched the place. Finding a lovely sun-touched image of the hill to the east of Jerusalem, I was suddenly overcome by a desire to go there. That happens often when I view images of The Holy Land, either current or from the far past. I'd love to walk where Jesus walked.

Though the areas where ruins have been unearthed have been modernized, the landscapes I am sure still hold some of the atmosphere and environment of ancient Bible times. Here in America, we don't have the flora or the air quality that exists in the Middle East today. For one thing, there aren't any olive trees near me, and I don't know where any ancient ones exist here in the U.S.

When I am struck with a longing to visit Jesus' land as it exists today, I immediately remember that if I should never make it there in this life, I will see that wondrous place. In The New Heaven and The New Earth I will live there. I will see the beautiful Holy Land whenever I want to. God will have reestablished his beloved Jerusalem, The Holy City, and all will be without blemish, decay, death and evil. I will come and go as I please, sit among the new and refreshed olive trees and Holy Land landscapes. Most of all, I will talk and walk with Jesus. I will ask him questions about his life there, when he came to redeem and save us. We will enjoy together The New Heaven and The New Earth, created for Jesus and those who love him.

If God allows me to tarry more in this world, I would like to visit there today in this flesh. I have to say, though, that when I live in The New Heaven and The New Earth, my visit there will be much, much better. My trip there is guaranteed, because I am locked into my seat in the Kingdom of God. My flight is set, and my ticket is The Holy Spirit. When I leave here, whether I take off before of during The Rapture, I will arrive at my permanent destination. Unlike in the world today, I will never have to go home from my vacation. I will be at home for good, on an eternal vacation in a beautiful new Holy Land that is like the old, but untainted and perfect, as it was meant to be in the beginning. I will be with the person who loved and saved me, so that I can live forever with him in His Holy Land.

 

How To Be Saved

Romans 10:9

(NKJV)

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

Your seat has already been purchased by The Blood of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Your ticket is being held by The Holy Spirit. If you would like to receive your seat in The Kingdom of God, which is to be sure that you are Saved, say this simple prayer:

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, and the only Savior. Come into my heart, and save me. I was born in sin and you died for me so that I can know God and not be blamed anymore. Thank you for my new life. Show me the way to understand and turn away from bad things. I don't have to fear death anymore, and thank you for Eternal Life. Amen 

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Scripture Source: John 8:1-11

Submit Your Christian Poetry To Be Read At A Podcast

J. Todd Underhill is back reading Christian poetry at his SoundCloud podcast Poems of Prayer and Praise. To have your Holy verse considered for reading send it to him at poemsofprayerandpraise@gmail.com

He really has a great voice that he terms euphonious. You won't be disappointed. You'll love hearing him intone your verse and the verse of others as we worship and praise our Lord Jesus Christ and God The Father.

If you are reading this from a feed or email alert, you probably can't see the podcast video player above. To listen to J. Todd's latest poetry reading, click and follow this post to Draw Nigh To Hope. You'll find the SoundCloud player in the post, where you can click the play button and listen.