salvation – As I was saying…

carve

If I could carve it into something tangible like a mountainside for all the world to see, I would. If I could afford to fly around the world in a crop duster to every city, town and village on earth, to write the truth in smoke against the deep blue sky, I would. We need to understand that “Intelligent Design” is not the same thing as “Creationism.”

“Intelligent Design” is a scientific method of empirically determining the “apparent design” in nature acknowledged by virtually all biologists; that it is genuine design, and that the designer is God. [click on the link for a full detailed explanation]

Now that sounds pretty good to most evangelical/true Christ-followers, but danger lurks in those thoughts and ideals. Allow me to make just a few observations. First, and maybe most importantly, the supernatural beings created for the purpose of worshiping God and doing God’s will (Angels), know that God designed and created this world. Some of those beings were led into rebellion against God by God’s highest angel – Lucifer. These angels turned demon (1/3 of the heavenly host according to John in the Book of Revelation), have spent all of human history trying to convince humanity that God either doesn’t exist, or that He has lost interest in them altogether. Yet, when Jesus came to earth to reveal God’s full and complete loving plan for salvation, Satan (Lucifer) called Him “Son of God” because even Satan knew the truth about creation, and the Garden of Eden… he was there. All the fallen angels of heaven recognize Jesus when they see Him, and cower in fear at His omniscient and omnipotent Creative nature and character.

Second, since these supernatural beings know and believe there is a God and are not saved by Him, we should not presume that just because someone says “I believe there is a ‘being’ of some kind greater than us, that created everything we see,” that this is the same thing as salvation belief. Knowing and/or believing that God exists is only the first step in being in right relationship with your Creator. Let’s use Hebrews 11:6 as our proof text: “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Did you see the “and” there. You might want to read that again.

The simple truth is that just because someone believes in an intelligent designer, does not mean they automatically believe that this designer rewards their efforts to know Him personally. In fact some in this camp suggest that God “may” exist, and “may” be responsible for the design, but cares little or not at all about the humans now inhabiting this planet. See the danger yet?

In the Bible, the authoritative, historically and scientifically proven document that reveals the Intelligent Designer Himself, truth regarding His nature and character is also revealed. Like a huge engraved invitation across the universe of time and space, the words of Jesus ring out…

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. [John 3:16]

The truth is that not only did God design us, but He loves us so much, He is willing to die for us. Which brings me to my last observation.

Finally, regardless of what the world may be shouting at us today, through any means available, there are NOT many paths to find this God of Salvation. The Creator Himself has stated with authority, that only in Himself can a human being have a personal relationship with their Creator. He said it this way: “I AM the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the father but through Me.” [John 14:6]

Believing there is a God, is not the same thing as yielding your life, your mind, your soul, your attitudes, your entire belief system to the authority of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. If you want to know the Designer of Life personally, Jesus says “Come! And See!”

Jesus has already issued to you, your own engraved invitation… it is written in the scars on His back, the thorns in His brow, the holes in His hands and His side.

Come! Come and see, and believe! Come receive life… from the Creator of all things.

Carve

via Record

An obituary typically consists of a brief biographical sketch of the deceased person from the vantage point of a friend or relative. The view received from this information is still an earthly view. While it may have a spiritual synopsis of the person’s life, often it is more about the nature of their character, the sum of past achievements, genealogy, etc. I know a few folks who still read the newspapers, whose favorite section is the Obituaries, because they like reading these short biographies of those who have passed.

obituaries

Some people might even see this tribute as the “scorecard” for a life. However, keeping score this way may not necessarily be the healthiest approach to life here or the hereafter. If we are going to keep score, we might want to think more along the lines of what God keeps recorded in our eternal dossier. Of course, this assumes you know that God does keep records of some things, and those things are defined for us in the Bible. Allow me to give you a list of ten things God records, or has recorded over time; and will record until human history is over.

God records and stores all the tears we shed.
Psalm 56:8
You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your records?
God records my birth, my life, my death in days – before it happens.
Psalm 139:16
Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.
God records the number of the stars and keeps record of their names.
Psalm 147:4
He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.
God keeps a Book of Remembrance of those who regard His name.
Malachi 3:16
At that time those who feared the LORD spoke to one another. The LORD took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared Yahweh and had high regard for His name.
God keeps track of people’s heavenly investments.
Matthew 6:20
But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.
God records the number of hairs on an individual human head.
Matthew 10:30
But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
God records every idle word a person speaks.
Matthew 12:36
I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.
God records every Godly work of a person.
Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name when you served the saints–and you continue to serve them.
God records the general life of all humans.
Revelation 20:12
I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.
God records the name of every person who ever stepped over the line of faith into Christ.
Revelation 20:15
And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

An obituary is the record to be read by those who remain behind in this life, here on this earth. God’s records are for the person who has just passed. Specifically, God keeps a Book of Life where He records all those who have trusted Jesus as their savior. By definition this means there are those who haven’t, and what awaits them is not imaginable or desirable as an eternal destination. Does this give you pause? Because maybe it should. Maybe this is the moment of reflection and contemplation your whole life has been leading up to. In these ten simple statements you may recognize that all of life has meaning and purpose, but will your’s measure up to God’s standard?

What does your eternal dossier look like?

Tag: salvation

An Engraved Invitation

Eternal Dossier