The law is integral to life

Many false preachers are going around preaching a gospel of lawlessness. They claim that the death of Christ abolished the Law of God—the Ten Commandments. They argue that because we are saved by grace, we no longer need to keep the Law. This false gospel has resulted in great weakness within Christianity, chaos in the lives of believers, and disorder in the world. This begs the question: Can life exist without laws?

Law is Integral to Life

Law defines how something is intended to operate; you cannot do anything in life without it. To see how vital laws are to every function, we can look at even the most extreme examples: criminal organizations. Even they have laws, and a member's violation of those rules carries severe consequences. For example, in the United States, two infamous gangs—the Crips and the Bloods—use colors to signify their laws. The Crips wear blue and the Bloods wear red; wearing the wrong color in the wrong neighborhood can result in life-threatening trouble.

Laws are codes of conduct that describe how members of a group, organization, or nation should behave to ensure the success of a common endeavor. Even terrorist groups, like the Taliban, have laws, such as the mandate that men cannot shave.

Laws in Every Sphere

• Sports: How do you know when someone scores a goal? The law determines it. Players are ejected, suspended, or even banned when they transgress the rules of the game.

• The Workplace: Your job has laws. There is a specific time to clock in, a time for lunch, and a time to go home. There are dress codes and professional standards. Violating these "laws" leads to disciplinary action or termination.

• The Home: When people enter your home, they must abide by the rules you set. Even if you show them grace for many transgressions, if they continue to violate your peace, they will eventually be cast out. The laws of your home determine how you want it to be run.

• The State: The government sets speed limits to promote the safety and wellbeing of the community. If you continuously transgress traffic laws, your license will be suspended, or you may end up in jail.

Laws are meant to protect life and safeguard the wellbeing of the subject. To transgress them is to invite chaos. Even the Devil has laws, for he has a kingdom. Yet, false preachers continue to teach that God—the Creator of all—does not have a law or that His law has been done away with.

God’s Law is meant to protect and safeguard His creatures. To transgress it is to bring chaos and self-destruction into your own life. This Law is summarized in the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20, which teach us how to love God and our neighbor:

Loving God (The First Four):

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make idols.

3. Do not take God’s name in vain.

4. Keep the Sabbath day (Saturday) holy.

Loving Our Neighbor (The Last Six): 5. Honor your father and mother. 6. You shall not murder. 7. You shall not commit adultery. 8. You shall not steal. 9. You shall not bear false witness. 10. You shall not covet.

The Law defines how we are to live in harmony. The chaos we see in the church, in society, and within our own hearts is the direct result of transgressing God’s holy Law. As the Bible says, "There is no peace to the wicked." Just as a criminal has no peace when he is running from the state, we cannot have peace while violating the laws of Heaven.

God, in His mercy, is willing to forgive our transgressions if we repent. However, His forgiveness does not remove the Law; rather, the Law of God is the "Law of Liberty" and the "Law of Life." Christ died to take away the punishment for our sins, but He also lives to transform us and put us back into harmony with God’s standards.

If you want internal peace and peace with your neighbors, pray for God to write His Law in your heart. The Law is not going anywhere; throughout eternity, it will still command us to love the Lord with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. Obey the Lord, keep His Law, and flee from the teaching that it has been abolished.

May God bless you.

Live for Christ

When you ask someone, "What do you want to be in life?" many will answer, "I want to be successful," "I want to make money," or "I want to be a doctor, a nurse, an athlete, or a politician." Rarely do we find someone who says, "I want to live for Christ and be whatever He calls me to be." We seldom hear people say that because, from our youth up, we have been taught to live for ourselves rather than for the glory of God. For the majority of people, the glory of God is the last thing on their minds—if it is there at all.

Living for oneself will inevitably result in frustration and misery, but living for the glory of God brings true fulfillment and increasing joy. You are too "small" to bring lasting satisfaction to yourself. We are often too ignorant to know what will truly fulfill us; since we didn't create ourselves, we have no inherent idea of what will truly satisfy our souls. This is why the things we thought would satisfy us usually leave us feeling empty and miserable.

You may be beautiful now, and everyone may comment on your pictures, but soon you will grow old and wrinkled, and people may no longer seek them out. Consider the singer Madonna: back in the day, people clamored to see her revealing photos, but now, many make fun of her and say she is "too old to be dressing like this." The day is coming when the beauty you like to flaunt will fade away. What will fulfill you then?

If you live for Christ, you shall have an everlasting beauty found in His glory.

You might think you are "the man" because you have a good job, but all it takes is one sickness or a sudden firing to lose everything. You might think you are "the man" because you are in good physical shape, but a single illness can find you withering away.

Live for Christ; in Him, you are truly "the man"—the new man created in Christ Jesus. The Lord will keep you in perfect peace, will always provide for you, and will make you strong in spirit.

Tis the season! Should we celebrate Christmas?

 The Christmas season is here again, and a joyous mood is in the air. Everywhere you go, decorations are set up, lights are twinkling, and Christmas music is playing on the radio. Store owners are celebrating because, during this time, they receive a "gift" from customers spending money on all sorts of material things for their loved ones. In the workplace, there are gift exchanges, parties, and dinners. At night, you find people going to clubs, getting drunk, and acting recklessly—all while supposedly celebrating the birthday of Christ the Savior.

Christmas seems to be the one celebration involving "Christ" that both the secular world and churchgoers enjoy. On Christmas Day, the world and the church gather together. Christians and worldly people alike dress up and share pictures on social media. In Christmas, we find a union between pagans and Christians—a mixture of truth and error, light and darkness. But God asks in 2 Corinthians 6:14, "What fellowship does light have with darkness?"

The truth is that Jesus did come into the world, born of a woman, to bring salvation to the human race. The error is the date and the customs. Jesus was not born on December 25th; He was most likely born during the fall when the shepherds were still in the fields. Biblical evidence suggests a birth between September and October.

History shows that someone else was celebrated on December 25th: the pagan god Tammuz. By its very nature, December 25th was a pagan festival characterized by gift exchanges and drunkenness. The medieval Roman Catholic Church adopted many of these pagan festivities and gave them Christian names. The birth of Tammuz became the birthday of Christ, just as the pagan day of sun worship—Sunday—came to replace God’s holy seventh-day Sabbath.

Paganism and Christianity formed a union in falsehood, and many have been deceived into accepting the errors of the institutional church. Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus Christ, and the way it is celebrated clearly reveals its pagan roots. The world consistently neglects what God commanded while promoting what He did not.

So, should Christians celebrate Christmas? Should we have fellowship with darkness? The answer is no. Christmas is a pagan celebration masquerading as a Christian festival. God is calling His children out of darkness and into His glorious light. As children of God, we must put away the "unfruitful works of darkness" and stand for the truth.

Walking in the Light

While we can use this time of year to promote the Gospel, we should take no part in godless festivities. In the workplace, consider abstaining from the decorations, the social media spectacles, and the parties filled with alcohol.

Friends, let us as Christians read the Word of God and walk in the light of truth. The world hates Jesus and will never truly celebrate Him. We truly celebrate Jesus by turning away from sin and the love of worldly things. Let us ask God daily to separate us from the world and to stand boldly for His truth, no matter where we are. Celebrate Jesus by letting Him sanctify you with truth, for His Word is truth.

Counsel to those new in the faith

I would like to address those of you who have come to a knowledge of the truth. You are young in the faith, and there is a great need for you to walk humbly with God. You must learn daily in the "School of Christ" by dwelling particularly—through meditation and conversation—upon the lessons He gave to His disciples. Walk with all humility of mind, distrustful of self and seeking wisdom from the God of wisdom. Ensure that all your ways and methods are in firm and close connection with the will of God so that there may be no confusion.

We must never forget how difficult it is to remove long-cherished errors from the minds of men, especially those taught from childhood. Bear in mind that earth is not heaven; there will be discouragements to meet and overcome. However, forbearance, tenderness, and pity should be exercised toward all who are in darkness. If we are to bring them to the light, it will not be solely through arguments. It must be through the work of the grace of Christ in your own heart, revealed in your character with firmness, yet with the meekness and simplicity of Christ.

Through much prayer, you must labor for souls, for this is the only method by which you can reach hearts. It is not your work, but the work of Christ by your side that impresses the heart.

Be determined that you will not be at variance among yourselves. Instead, let the peace of Christ reside in your own hearts; then, it will be an easy task to bring that peace into your own families. When the garden of the heart is neglected, poisonous weeds of pride, self-esteem, and self-sufficiency obtain a rank growth. We must individually "watch unto prayer."

The Responsibility of the Husband

The husband bears a great responsibility. The characters we form will speak loudly in our home life. If there is a sweet accord in the home circle, the angels of God may minister there. If there is wise management at home—kindness, meekness, and forbearance combined with firm principles—then be assured that the husband is a true "house-band." He binds the family together with holy chords and presents them to God, binding himself with them upon the altar of God. What a light shines forth from such a family!

A family that is properly conducted is a favorable argument for the truth. The head of such a family will carry out the very same kind of work in the church as is revealed in the family. Wherever severity, harshness, or a lack of affection are exhibited in the sacred circle of the home, there will assuredly be a failure in the plans and management of the church. Unity in the home and unity in the church reveal Christ’s manner and grace more than any sermon or argument.

Is the advanced truth we have received producing in our hearts the fruits of patience, faith, hope, and charity? Is it leaving a saving influence upon human minds, revealing that we are branches of the True Vine (Jesus Christ) because we bear the rich clusters of the Fruit of the Spirit?

Letter 6b, 1890.

A safe place : grab hold of the Lord

 In a world of uncertainty, we are all in need of something certain—something we can grab hold of. This world is chaotic, and things can change in a heartbeat. In the midst of such turmoil, we all search for security; we look for someone or something that will provide peace and certainty.

For many, that "someone" was a parent. As a child, a parent's arms were our safe place. When we cried, a loving parent rushed to hold us, soothe us, and let us know: "I am here; do not be afraid. You are safe." In childhood, we held onto our parents, and they provided a sanctuary and cared for our every need.

For many of us, the last time we truly experienced a "safe place" was in childhood. As we started school, we began to realize we were no longer the center of everyone’s world. Other children made fun of us; parents had less time for us and eventually began to ignore our tears. Consequently, many of us began to drift into darkness, loneliness, rejection, and anxiety. We started to think, "Unless I grab hold of something sure—unless I find a safe place in life—I will sink into despair and be a nobody."

It is at that time we begin searching for ways to "make a name" for ourselves. We ask: How can I become important again, like I was as a baby to my parents? What can I hold onto so I don’t drift into the abyss?

Different suggestions come our way:

• Good Grades: "They will make your parents and teachers love you."

• Popularity: "It will make your peers accept you."

• Gangs: "You will finally be part of a brotherhood."

• Pleasure: "It will numb your anxieties."

• Romantic Partners: "They will love you for exactly who you are."

• Money: "It will buy you security and status."

We put all our energy into grabbing these things, only to find they are like broken cords. We hold onto a romantic partner, only to find we are not their priority. We reach for fame, only to find it is fleeting. We achieve good grades, only to realize our parents are still unsatisfied. We hoard money, only to find we are constantly afraid of losing it. Everything we grasp for security proves futile, leaving us in a state of constant stress and fear.

There is only one truly safe place in this world, and only one way to find perfect peace: grabbing hold of the Lord Jehovah. The Lord is never too busy to pay attention to your cry. If you are His child, you are the apple of His eye. For the Lord, you are the center of His world; Jesus would have given His life to save just you. Your wellbeing and your salvation are His priorities. He will make you "famous" throughout the universe, for He calls you His own. You can join His "brotherhood," and His angels will encamp around you.

The Lord Jesus is a strong tower into which the righteous run and are safe. He is the heavenly currency that never fails. He is the Rock of Ages upon which you can lay the foundation of your life. He is the ultimate partner who loves you with an everlasting love—the only One who knows the good, the bad, and the ugly about you, yet will never leave nor forsake you.

In a world of chaos, Jesus is the only stability. In a world of uncertainty, He is the only certainty. Lay hold of Him by faith, and you will find hope and security.

Friends, let us do everything in our power to wrestle with God in prayer. Let us study His Word daily and share our anxieties, sorrows, and fears with Him. Let us hold onto Him and say, like Jacob, "I will not let You go unless You bless me." Grab hold of the Lord for all your needs, and He will keep you in perfect peace.

Sexual sins will ruin you

 Sex connects you at a spiritual level with another person. When performed within marriage, it connects you with your spouse and glorifies God. However, when done outside of marriage, it not only ties you to that person but also invites the influence of spirits that encourage immoral acts. Sexual sin is one of the fastest ways to connect oneself with the enemy. After all, sex is an act of worship, and sexual sin brings darkness into your most intimate union.

Sexual sin establishes a deep spiritual bond with the first person you sleep with. This is why breaking up with that first person can have such a devastating impact on you emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. You may feel as if you are being torn apart—as if you are losing a part of yourself. The truth is, you are losing a part of yourself.

There are laws established by God that are as inescapable as gravity. God declared that "the two shall become one flesh." The sexual act brings two people into a union; therefore, separation is always devastating and long-lasting.

After you break up with your first partner, it often becomes harder to truly connect with the next person, even as it becomes "easier" to sleep with others. Your moral perceptions weaken, and the power of the enemy in your life grows stronger. This is why "love" becomes harder to find and relationships become more difficult. People become frustrated and move from one relationship to the next, increasing their spiritual ties with others and "breaking apart" their own souls. This leads to depression, anxiety, and various illnesses as the power of these forces increases within their inner lives.

By the time a person who has practiced sexual sin is ready to get married, they are often already broken. The seeds of a fractured marriage have already been sown. In marriage, it becomes harder to connect with a spouse because you are already fragmented by connections with so many others, making you more vulnerable to adultery. Sexual sin ruins you. This is why marriage is so broken in our society today; it has reduced many to shells of human beings who have nothing left of themselves to give to their spouse.

While sexual sin will ruin you, God can restore you. Friends, the ways of the Lord are meant for your protection and welfare. Sex is designed exclusively for marriage, and only there can you enjoy its true blessings. Any intimacy outside of marriage will ruin you in one way or another by tying you spiritually to darkness.

But God can break you free.

• Bring your past before the Lord: Ask Him to heal you.

• Ask for freedom: Pray that the Lord breaks you free from any immoral lifestyle and gives you the power to overcome.

• Seek self-control: Sexual sin reveals a lack of self-control; ask God to provide this fruit of the Spirit, as its absence will destroy a marriage.

In 1 Corinthians 6:18, it says, "Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body." This is because the body is intended to be a Temple of the Holy Spirit; sexual sin attempts to turn that temple into something else.

Many still carry ties from past sins. Let us confess these before the Lord and ask for victory. Our society is descending into madness as more people get entangled in immorality, and Satan is destroying them mentally, spiritually, and physically. Let us not be stubborn like the majority; let us "flee from sexual immorality" and pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

As the world drowns in marital breakdown and misery, let us return to the Lord. Let us ask Him for the power to break every evil tie and cause us to cling to Him alone—and to cleave to our spouses as God intended.

Flee from immorality, break the ties with darkness, and cling to Jesus.

The Lord God will help me

 Children never ask their parents to be created. You have never heard a child say, "Parents, please make me." It would be a nonsensical statement. Because it is the parents who decide to bring children into the world, it is their fundamental responsibility to take care of the fruit of the womb. A parent who brings a child into this world and refuses to care for them is a wicked parent.

In our society, many people are "giving birth like rabbits," living for themselves while neglecting their children. They leave the burden to grandparents or the government. These are irresponsible and selfish parents. It is better not to have children at all than to bring them into the world and refuse to help them.

However, there comes a time when a child thinks they are "grown" and no longer need a parent’s help. Some want nothing to do with their family; they want total independence to do as they please. In such cases, there is nothing a parent can do but let the child go their own way.

God is the Supreme Parent—the Father of us all. You and I never asked God to create us or bring us into this world; the Lord brought us here by His own will. While many do not survive the womb or infancy, the Lord has allowed you and me to have life.

Therefore, as our Supreme Parent, it is the Lord’s responsibility to take care of us. Because the Lord is my Father and I am His child, I will go to Him for all my needs. He is not like a selfish earthly parent; He is ever-ready to help those who call upon Him.

Because the Lord is my Father, He will help me. In the difficulties of life, I will call upon Him:

• When I am sick, I will call upon the Lord.

• When I cannot pay my bills, I will call upon the Lord.

• When I face a difficult exam or problems at work, I will call upon the Lord.

• When my car breaks down or my relationships are failing, I will call upon the Lord.

• Most importantly, in my struggles with sin and worldliness, I will call upon the Lord.

I will call upon Him in my hour of need because He is a loving Father with tender mercies and compassion for His children. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and the downtrodden. His hand is not "too short to save," nor is He weary of helping.

However, the Lord cannot help those who think they are too "grown" or independent. Those who believe they can handle life on their own will find no help from the Lord, for they have chosen to be independent of Him. God will not force Himself upon those who think they don’t need Him.

No prayer means no help. Those who refuse to call upon the Lord are essentially claiming to be self-sufficient. Many people carry heavy burdens, full of anxiety and stress, simply because they will not bring those burdens to Jesus. Pride keeps them from kneeling to ask for help. Many are perishing while Jesus stands near, ready to save.

Friends, God is your Father. He made you out of love and for a specific purpose. Therefore, no matter what you are going through—big or small, light or darkness—call upon the Lord, and He will surely help you.

As the prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 50:7:

"For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed."

Call upon the Lord today.

God is faithful and true

 God is faithful and true. In a world of falsehood and unfaithfulness, you can always put your trust in the Lord. People often say one thing and do another, but you can always rely on God to do exactly what He says. God cannot lie, and His Word is certain. Even if you do not see its fulfillment yet, wait for it; in due time, it will come to pass.

God is true in His judgment. He declared to Adam and Eve, "On the day that you eat of the forbidden tree, you will surely die." Though the Devil promised Eve she would not die, what happened after they ate? Death entered the world. Through one man’s sin, death passed to all humanity. Every time you attend a funeral or pass a cemetery, remember God’s Word: "In the day you eat of it, you shall surely die."

God’s Word remains true concerning your sins today. The Lord says in the book of Ezekiel, "The soul that sins shall die." When you commit any sin, a form of death comes to your soul.

• Tell a "small" lie, and a piece of your integrity dies.

• Envy what someone else has, and your contentment dies.

• Commit sexual sin or gossip, and your purity is stained and your trust in others is killed. Every sin brings a measure of death.

God’s Word is true even when there is a delay. Many of us continue to do what the Word of God condemns because we do not see the immediate effects of death. Eve didn't see any negative effects the moment she ate the fruit. When Adam saw her, she appeared the same as before. But the truth is, the process of decay was already working within her; it simply wasn't evident to the naked eye.

It is the same with us. You may be "living your best life" in rebellion against God, but the process of spiritual death is already working through your soul. In due time, you will feel the emptiness, the nakedness, and the mental decay.

There is no escape for sinners from God’s judgment. Adam and Eve experienced the nakedness of soul that resulted from sin, and soon they heard the voice of the Lord in the garden. We will all come into judgment. You may enjoy a life of sin now, but the day is coming when you must give an account to the Eternal God. Death in this life does not spare anyone from the judgment to follow. Your money, fame, and good looks will not save you; every person must give an account for the things done in the body.

However, God’s Word is also true in this: there is One who can rescue us from the power of sin—the Lord Jesus Christ. The same God who declared, "You shall surely die," has also declared, "If anyone has the Son, he shall never see death."

Jesus is able to save you from whatever sin you are dealing with—pride, lust, greed, envy, or hatred. Bring your burden to the foot of the cross, and you will surely gain the victory because God is faithful and true.

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. There is restoration in Him. If we see people dying as a result of God's Word being true, we must realize we can also live as a result of His Word being true.

Fortify your mind with the Scriptures. Ask the Lord to purify your thoughts and cleanse you of all unrighteousness. Ask Him, "Renew in me a right spirit; make me a new creature," and He will surely do it.

The last thing you should ask God every day in prayer is: "Lord, keep me from falling back into sin and my former life. Lead me in the path of life, in the way everlasting, and to the gates of Paradise." The Lord will lead you there because He promised to keep us from falling if we daily follow Him and abide in His love. God is faithful and true; put your trust in Him.

Lord, my prayer today is: keep me from falling into sin and lead me in the way everlasting. I trust that You will keep me and lead me. Amen.

The tragic effects of sin : fish out of water 🐳

God is a lover of beauty. He creates various beings to display different aspects of His love and different types of beauty. He made the fish for the water, the birds for the air, human beings for the earth, and angels for heaven. Each part of creation is guided by a specific set of rules, all of which tie back to the great Law of Love.

A fish is beautiful in its habitat in the ocean; a bird is beautiful to behold while flying through the sky. An eagle cannot survive long underwater because it wasn’t made for the sea, and a fish cannot survive long on dry land because it wasn't made for the shore.

Imagine that one day, a whale decides, "I have been living in this ocean for too long. The world is a big place; why does God restrict my freedom to the water? I believe I can have a more fulfilling life on land. I can reach my full potential by going wherever I please. This ocean is a restriction to my liberty."

After much deliberation, the whale leaves the ocean and begins making its way onto the sand. Imagine standing on the beach and seeing this whale swimming out of the surf. You would be deeply concerned. You would think, "Something is wrong with that whale."

If you could speak to the whale, you might say, "Are you okay? Why are you leaving the bounds of the ocean?" And the whale might respond, "I want to be free! I am tired of God’s restrictions and the laws that keep me in the water. I want to enjoy more of life on land." But as the whale speaks and moves further inland, you can see it struggling to breathe. Life is becoming agonizing, and it is in great danger of dying.

Out of concern, you would say, "Mr. Whale, you are dying. You are going the wrong way. God didn't make you for the land; He made you for the ocean. That is where you are most beautiful, where you reach your full potential, and where you find meaning. Land is not for you. By transgressing the laws of your design—the laws of life—you are suffering. Return to the ocean and live!"

Friends, we are that whale. God made us in His image and set bounds (laws) for how we should live. These laws are not meant to restrict our happiness, but to help us fulfill God’s design for us. Yet many of us think God’s laws are a hindrance. Like the whale, we leave the "ocean" of His love to explore grounds He has not approved. As a result, we find the life being sucked out of us, yet we often refuse to return. We hear the warnings of the preacher and reject them as "fanaticism," continuing to seek joy in forbidden places.

We suffer from depression, anxiety, brokenness, and emptiness as a result of leaving the bounds of God’s Law. The further the whale goes from the water, the closer it gets to death.

Now, imagine the whale finds someone to provide him with "wheels" to roll smoother on the land, or an oxygen tank to help him breathe. You might think, "What a good thing!" But I tell you, unless the whale uses those tools to return to the ocean, he will still die.

Many of us seek "wheels" to make our ride in sin smoother:

• The "wheels" might be finding friends who support your sinful lifestyle.

• The "wheels" might be using protection during immoral acts to avoid consequences like STDs or unplanned pregnancies.

• The "wheels" might be listening to motivational speakers to boost your self-esteem while ignoring your soul’s decay.

• The "wheels" might even be going to therapy or attending church services just to feel like a "good person," without actually repenting.

Unless you return to the "water"—unless you return to God—you will die.

God’s laws are for our good. It is within His bounds that we truly enjoy life. For example:

• The Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) provides a mental and physical break—true healthcare for the soul.

• Not committing adultery protects your marriage and your children.

• Not coveting keeps you content and peaceful.

• Not lying keeps your conscience clear and builds trust with others.

Shutterstock

A fish struggling for air on the sand is a tragic sight. Similarly, many around us are "suffering for air" outside of God’s love. Satan will tell you that life is better on the "dry land" of sin, but breaking God's Law is simply a slow, agonizing self-destruction. There is no need to die such a death when Jesus is near, willing to carry you back into the vast ocean of His love.

Will you allow Him to carry you back today?

The goal of life 🥅

If I were to ask you, "What is the goal of life?" what would your response be? Some might say it is to reach your full potential; others would say it is to travel the world, or simply to eat, drink, and be merry. Religious folks might say the goal is to serve God. Some seek a spouse who will make them happy, while others do everything they can just to escape pain and suffering. For everyone, the goal of life is different. What is yours?

I once read about a football player who said one of the worst moments of his life was the day after he finally achieved his life’s goal and won the Super Bowl. He felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness and despair. Many of us experience this. We have a goal that we think will make us happy, but when we finally reach it, we realize its promises were deceitful. Unless we immediately set a new goal, we sink into despondency. This is why people say, "It’s about the journey, not the destination"—because the destination usually disappoints.

You see a beautiful woman or a handsome man and think, "If I can only be with them, I will be the happiest person in the world." You work hard, you pursue them, and you feel a thrill when they text you back. The journey of "capturing" their heart is exciting. But once they are yours, many find themselves asking, "Is this it? Is this why I spent all that energy?" You realize they are a human being just like any other, with their own flaws.

A life of conquest always disappoints because life was never meant to be about conquest. The moment we "conquer" what we thought would bring us joy is the moment we find it to be empty.

The goal of life is not to do this or that, but to love. To understand the purpose of a thing, we must look at the Creator and understand His motivation. The Bible says God is love. God is self-sufficient; He has no needs and is complete in Himself. Why, then, did He create us?

God created us to share His love with us. He created us not out of necessity, but out of an overflow of love. Everything God creates—angels, humans, animals, flowers, and flowing rivers—is an expression of that infinite love.

God’s "goal" is to share His love with created beings. He is always at work to uplift humanity, to bring blessings and beauty into our lives, and to make our tomorrow more beautiful than our yesterday—if we will but allow Him.

Once we understand God’s goal, it becomes easy to see why we are so depressed and dissatisfied. It is because we have set goals contrary to our Creator's design. Nothing but a life of love will bring true satisfaction.

• A life of conquest is a restless life. You are always searching for the next thing to conquer while fearing being conquered yourself. It is a life of fear, short-term thrills, and eventual despair.

• A life of love is a life of peace, beauty, and joy. It is long-term and brings deep satisfaction in seeing others feel appreciated and alive.

If you want to be truly fulfilled, seek to love. Do not wait for others to love you; seek to love them first.

Love requires time and effort. Seek to love by listening, by seeking to understand others, and by accepting them for who they are. The more you love others, the more you will see their hidden beauty beneath layers of brokenness and hardness.

But before we can love others, we must love God first. Only by spending time with Him and understanding His will do we gain the strength to be patient and selfless. As you start loving others, your whole being will be transformed. Life will finally make sense.

The goal of life is not the pursuit of material things or fleeting pleasures. The goal of life is to be like God—and God is love.

Let us seek to love God supremely and to cherish our neighbors. Watch as your life is transformed from despair to hope, from brokenness to wholeness, from a "conqueror" to a lover, and from a selfish individual to a lovable Christian.

Let our prayer be: "Lord, help me to love You supremely and to love my neighbor as myself." Amen.

Seeking for prosperity as the end creeps upon us

 "I need a spouse as soon as possible; a spouse will complete my life and make me whole. I need money—lots of it. My life is miserable because I have no money; I must do whatever it takes to get it to provide safety and security for myself. The more money I have, the more leisure time I will enjoy. Speaking of leisure, I need to start planning my vacations for the next two years. Life is short; I need to have a grand time because I only have one life to live. And what am I going to do for fun this weekend?"

These thoughts represent the modern mindset, but Scripture gives us a warning:

"As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:37-39)

Friends, we are here. As the end creeps up upon us day by day, life has become a relentless round of amusement. Pleasure-seeking is at an all-time high.

The vast majority of people—both in the church and in the world—are primarily concerned with their marriages, their careers, and their entertainment. They strive for prosperity even as the end of time approaches, remaining oblivious to its nearness. Signs of the coming of the Son of Man are increasing all around us, yet the masses ignore them:

• The Pandemic: We recently faced a worldwide pandemic, but many couldn't wait for it to end just so they could return to "life as normal."

• Global Conflict: A major war broke out in Europe between Russia and Ukraine following the shifts in Afghanistan. Violence has escalated in the Middle East with the potential for major escalation, yet many dismiss it, saying, "They are always fighting."

• Civil Unrest: In the United States, mass shootings have become common, and we have seen unprecedented political chaos, such as the breach of the halls of Congress on January 6th. Many brush these off as isolated incidents, yet they point to a deeper instability.

Many churches preach "peace and safety" while chaos rages. We see international chaos in wars, national chaos in inflation and political instability, and family chaos in rising divorce rates and broken homes. Internally, there is a plague of mental illness—depression, anxiety, and instability. People are crying, "Peace, peace," when there is no peace. Like the people in the days of Noah, many continue to live in sin, oblivious that the end is here.

The end is upon us. While we must work, marry (if it is God’s calling), and eat and drink, we must not allow these earthly things to become our priority. To do so is to be blinded to spiritual realities. If we are blinded by the earthly, we will fail to make the final preparations necessary to meet the Lord.

How do we get ready?

1. Confession: Go to God in prayer and confess your sins in detail.

2. Repentance: Ask God to give you a heart of true repentance.

3. The Holy Spirit: Ask for the Holy Spirit to enlighten your mind, open your eyes to spiritual realities, and recreate in you a new heart.

4. Forsaking the World: Ask for the power to let go of worldly idols and cleave to Jesus alone.

5. Crucifixion of Self: With God’s help, crucify the evil inclinations in your life.

Friends, the end is here. Let us enter into the "Ark of Safety"—true fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Calamity is increasing as restraint is withdrawn from the world due to the rejection of God. Evil will grow, but those who hide in an intimate relationship with Christ will remain in perfect peace. They will see these events not as reasons for despair, but as signs of the approaching Son of Man.

Let us seek the Lord and get ready for His second coming.

A way that seems right to a man

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." — Proverbs 14:12

Many people cannot discern the hidden dangers or the fearful ending of the path that seems to them the way of happiness. The direction you are taking in life today may feel like it leads to joy, but if it is a way contrary to God, disaster will be the result.

A strange thing about human beings is that we are often ignorant, yet we think we know everything. It is amazing that the less we know, the more stubborn we become. Young children can be incredibly headstrong. Teenagers, who have barely experienced life, are often rebellious. Even adults living disastrous lives will resist any attempt to be told that their own choices brought that disaster upon them. No wonder the Bible says, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry" (1 Samuel 15:23).

We all desire what is good, but not every lifestyle leads to a good end. A person may enjoy the adrenaline of theft for years, but they are on a disastrous path. Eventually, the "harvest" arrives—whether through a run-in with the law or, ultimately, standing before the Great Judge.

King David saw a beautiful woman, Bathsheba, bathing one night. He could not resist the sight of her. Even when his messengers warned him that she was the wife of Uriah, one of his own soldiers, David refused to listen. All he saw was the immediate pleasure.

David never imagined that a "one-night stand" would bring him years of misery. He never thought he would lose four of his own children as a result of that single night of passion. He saw the pleasure to be gained, but not the misery to follow.

When Bathsheba became pregnant, David tried to cover it up. When his cover-up failed, he resorted to murder—having her husband killed on the front lines. One night of sinful pleasure led to a cold-blooded death.

David thought he could enjoy forbidden fruit and escape the consequences, but the Lord declares, "A man reaps what he sows." We may escape the fallout of our bad decisions for a while, but the harvest eventually comes.

• Family Chaos: David's daughter was violated by his son, Amnon.

• Murder: His son Absalom then killed Amnon in revenge.

• Rebellion: Absalom eventually rebelled against his father, publicly shamed him, and was ultimately killed in battle.

All of this tragedy occurred because David thought he knew better than God. The ways of God are the ways of life, but to transgress His law at any point leads to ruin.

The best way to live is to remain humble, recognizing that we are not wise enough to lead ourselves. The more I learn, the more I see my own ignorance. The height of wisdom is realizing that I know nothing compared to the One who knows everything.

God knows the end of every decision we make. He says, "My son, my daughter, choose this way, for it leads to life; abstain from that way, for it leads to death."

Not only should we listen to God, but we should also listen to those who have more experience than we do. If someone tells you, "I wouldn't take that path; it leads to ruin," pay attention. Learn from the mistakes of others. If even King David—a man after God's own heart—suffered such loss from adultery, do not think you are smarter or stronger than he was.

Let us examine our lives closely. Are we on the path of life or the path of death? Any life that is not dependent on Christ and guided by Him leads to misery. Conversely, a life guided by the Spirit of God through prayer and the Word leads to peace and eternal life.

Let us stop trusting in our own foolish wisdom. Put your trust wholly in God and ask Him to guide your steps daily.

Lord, my prayer today is: Guide my every decision in life. Amen.

Israeli and Palestinian conflict : the search for peace

 War has broken out once again between the Israelis and the Palestinians—the latest flare-up of violence in a long-running struggle. This recent conflict exploded when Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip launched a devastating raid on Israeli border towns, resulting in a tragic loss of life. In response, the Israeli government retaliated with airstrikes, leading to further heavy casualties among Palestinians.

Hamas named their mission "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood," referring to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the third-holiest site in Islam. The mosque is built upon the Temple Mount, the very location where the biblical Temple stood before it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

While Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven from this location, Jews hold the site sacred as the foundation of their ancient Temple. Both Palestinians and Israelis claim Jerusalem as their capital city. This competing claim to the same holy ground is at the heart of the conflict.

The Israeli retaliation was named "Operation Iron Swords." This "blow for blow" mentality has defined the region since the re-establishment of Israel in 1948. Following the horrors of the Holocaust in World War II, many Jews returned to their ancestral land, leading to conflict with the Arab populations who had lived there for centuries since the Muslim conquests.

The Jews claimed the land by ancestral right and conquest, while the Arabs felt they had been robbed of their homes. Because both sides believe their cause is absolutely just, peace remains elusive. Every act of violence becomes a cycle of revenge for a prior offense.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a visible expression of defending "my rights" at the expense of righteousness. It is the deadly result of unforgiveness, hatred, and the spirit of retaliation.

Ironically, Arabs and Israelis are brothers—descendants of Abraham. Arabs descend from Ishmael, the older son, while Jews descend from Isaac, the child of promise. These descendants are unable to live in peace because both are proud, both believe they are right, and both are focused solely on defending their own interests.

Wherever people are bent on defending their rights no matter the cost, bloodshed follows. We see this even in our own homes. Misery grows when every family member believes their way is right and justifies their behavior while condemning others.

• When one side kills, they are called "terrorists" by some and "freedom fighters" by others.

• When the other side retaliates, it is called "defense" by some and "oppression" by others.

Viewing life solely through your own perspective, caring only for your own rights and not the welfare of others, will always leave you in a state of war with your neighbor. You may not use bombs, but you may use gossip, verbal attacks, or mistreatment. The Bible says that whoever hates his brother is a murderer.

The Path to True Peace

Peace is only found when the pursuit of righteousness becomes more important than the pursuit of rights.

• Pursuing "my rights" means hitting back when you are hit.

• Pursuing righteousness means taking the higher road, loving your enemies, and praying for those who abuse you.

We will only find peace when we stop trying to prove we are right and instead seek to be like Christ. Self-sacrificing love is the only way to have a loving home, church, and society. Because most people are more interested in their own interests than in self-sacrifice, chaos remains the lot of humanity until Jesus returns.

The Middle East lacks peace because both sides believe they are right and the other is wrong. We will not find peace until we realize that we are often wrong and that God alone is righteous. When we truly believe that God is the only righteous One, we will live as He commands. We will be slow to anger and quick to reconcile.

When we seek to be like Christ, our presence becomes a light in a dark and selfish world. Let us seek righteousness through God’s power. Sin leads to death, but God’s way—the way of love—leads to lasting peace.

Who are you voting for ?

Following politics in the United States over the last few years has been very educational. If one studies the "War in Heaven"—the great controversy between Christ and Satan—many similarities become apparent. The U.S. political system is adversarial by nature, pitting one party against another: Democrats versus Republicans. While the idea is that different perspectives create a working democracy, a system that constantly pits citizens against each other for the sake of "unity" may work for a while, but it eventually leads to deep division.

It has been said that democracy has a lifespan of about 200 years before it devolves into anarchy, followed by tyranny. Democracy is not inherently sustainable in the long term; it can only function if the people are moral and righteous. When a population becomes unrighteous, democracy can become oppressive—a "tyranny of the majority." Looking at the last few U.S. presidencies, one can see a transition: the nation is slowly descending into tribalism, hatred, and strife.

How does an upcoming presidential election have any semblance to the War in Heaven described in Revelation 12:7-9? Much can be learned. The term used for "war" in this context can be understood as a conceptual or "political" struggle. It was not a physical war of weapons—since you cannot physically attack God—but a campaign for the loyalty of the angels.

In heaven, freedom reigns. However, heaven is not a democracy; it is an absolute monarchy with God as the Monarch. Lucifer, once a high-ranking angel, wanted a change in government. He desired to be part of the ruling Godhead (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). He wanted to be worshipped and thus began a "presidential campaign" to become like God.

Slogans of Rebellion

Lucifer’s campaign was built on the idea that God’s government was unjust and His laws were restrictive. His "slogan" might have been: "Angelic Freedom," or "Make Heaven Truly Great." He preached that the system was crooked and that only he could make things right. This campaign created the first instance of mistrust and division, eventually forming two "political parties" in heaven:

1. The Party of Righteousness: Those who believed Christ was the rightful, righteous ruler.

2. The Party of Rebellion: Those who followed Lucifer, believing that more freedom would be found by rejecting God’s Law.

When reconciliation was no longer possible, the heavenly tribunal judged Lucifer guilty of high treason. He was banished and became known as Satan, the Adversary.

I see this same hardening of positions in U.S. politics today. The division is extreme. One side accuses the other of conspiracy and the overthrow of government, while the other side counters with accusations of deep-seated corruption. Both sides are hardening their positions to the point where they can no longer speak to one another.

In heaven, the angels had to make a choice based on faith. Lucifer claimed to be a freedom fighter while accusing God of being a tyrant. It was difficult for some to know who was telling the truth. God permitted the campaign to continue until every angel had made a final decision. No one could remain neutral; to be neutral was to effectively side with the rebellion.

We are approaching a similar "Election Day" in the Great Controversy. Each of us has a choice to make. We "vote" for a side by the way we live:

• Voting for Christ: Choosing to believe in His Word, confessing our sins, and seeking to live righteously.

• Voting for Satan: Choosing to live in rebellion against God’s Law in the name of "freedom to sin."

Just as voters often make up their minds long before they reach the ballot box, we are making our spiritual decisions now. Human probation is soon to close. Two candidates are running for rulership of your life: Christ, the Prince of Peace, and Satan, the prince of this world.

The candidates are campaigning for your mind and your loyalty. Christ is calling for repentance and obedience, promising eternal life and restoration. Satan is campaigning through deception, promising that "freedom in sin" will bring happiness and that you "shall not surely die."

The real "Election Day" is coming soon. Whether it arrives through the end of your life or the final global crisis, I implore you to cast your vote for Jesus now. Become a member of His Kingdom so that when the final results are in, you are found standing with the Prince of Peace.

Thought I was free in my bondage

 Freedom! Who doesn’t want to be free? America is called the "land of the free and the home of the brave." The cry of this land has long been, "Give me liberty, or give me death!" According to the dictionary, freedom is the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. To be free is to be independent. We all want to be independent from the power of others, but the problem is that such absolute independence simply does not exist in reality.

The truth is there is only one absolutely independent being in the universe: God. He is the self-existent One who sustains Himself. All other beings are dependent upon Him and subject to His laws. Therefore, the idea of being completely independent and doing your own will without restraint is a fallacy. While God allows us the freedom to make choices contrary to His will, we are never free from the consequences. As the scripture says, "The wages of sin is death."

God has a law, and He expects all intelligent creatures to submit to it. This is the Law of Love, also known as the Law of Liberty. It consists of two parts: supreme love for God and loving your neighbor as yourself.

To transgress this law is to place yourself in opposition to the most powerful Being in the universe. Persistence in this rebellion can only lead to death.

Here, the "evil brilliance" of the Devil is revealed. Because God’s law is a constant reminder that we cannot simply do whatever we want, Satan accuses God of being a tyrant. He whispers, "God’s laws are against your happiness; they restrain you from reaching your true potential. Don’t follow them—do what makes you happy, and you will be truly free."

Satan promises liberty in disobedience. He suggests that to be free, you must follow your own will rather than God's. But what is God’s will? It is to love Him through obedience and to love your neighbor by not killing, robbing, lying, or committing adultery. The Devil calls this "bondage" and encourages us to "follow our hearts" instead.

Once the Devil persuades us that God’s way is bondage, he offers his own version of "freedom":

• "Respect no one." * "Be a rebel."

• "Do whatever makes you happy, even if others are hurt in the process." But many of us miss the catch: your "will" becomes the Devil's will. It is the Devil who is directing your life. He convinces us that we are independent, yet we ignore the fact that he has become our guide. By listening to him, we don’t become free—we become his slaves. Satan's brilliance lies in making it appear that you are acting independently when, in reality, you are under his control. He promises liberty while bringing you into cruel bondage.

In the grand scheme of the universe, there are really only two wills:

1. Obey God and do His will.

2. Disobey God and do Satan’s will.

Satan is the leader of rebellion, and all who practice sin are under his control. The most perfect form of slavery is to make the slaves believe their bondage is actually freedom.

We see this today: people go from relationship to relationship because of selfishness, experience mental health crises, and remain enslaved to diverse lusts—all while claiming they are "free." We are often miserable and exhausted, serving the cruelest of masters, yet we cling to the illusion of independence.

"Whoever sins is a slave of sin... but if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:34-36)

Only Jesus can save us from Satan’s power and deception. Many people believe they are doing their own will until the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to the reality of spiritual slavery. Only Christ can break the chains of sin.

Unless you allow Him to set you free, you remain a slave to the Adversary. It is only in obeying God that we find true liberty. Let us proclaim this liberty and point those in bondage toward Jesus, for He is the only One who can set the willing soul free.

God is consistent in His dealings!

 God is consistent in His dealings with us! He can be trusted and relied upon. In this life, we face endless inconsistencies—our jobs change, our neighbors move, and our friendships fluctuate. We never know what tomorrow will bring, but the Lord is the same day in and day out. Consistency builds trust, and you can always trust in God because He never changes.

God is consistent in how He handles rebellion. We see this through three major historical examples:

1. Lucifer: God anointed Lucifer as the covering cherub, the highest created being in the universe. He blessed him with countless gifts and honored him above all creation. Yet, Lucifer became proud. He refused to serve and wanted to be God Himself. Because of his rebellion, the Lord cast him out of heaven.

2. King Saul: God anointed Saul as the first king of Israel, providing the Holy Spirit as his counselor and the prophet Samuel as his guide. Saul began well, but pride led him to act independently of God. He rejected the Word of God, and in turn, the Lord rejected him as king, replacing him with the shepherd boy, David.

3. The Nation of Israel: God called Israel out of Egyptian bondage to be a holy priesthood and a light to the nations. Despite constant rebellion, the Lord pleaded with them through prophets. Finally, He sent His Son, whom they crucified. Because of this persistent rejection, the Lord turned to the Gentiles to form the Christian church—the "True Vine"—while the nation that rejected Him was cast into darkness.

The lesson is clear: God is no respecter of persons. His dealings with angels, nations, and individuals are the same. God calls each of us and anoints us for a specific work—whether as a preacher, a musician, a mechanic, or a medical missionary.

However, if we rebel or seek to act independently of His restraint, He will send warnings to lead us to repentance. If we refuse those warnings, He will cast us off and replace us. We must learn that while God loves us infinitely, we are not irreplaceable. God does not need any specific individual to move His work forward.

Sometimes as Christians, we become fearful of losing people and begin to tolerate sin. But God is not afraid of losing people; He desires an obedient people, not a rebellious mass.

When we start to think the work of God depends on us, we are in the greatest danger of falling into pride. The work will go forward with or without us. As Mordecai told Queen Esther:

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)

God is doing a great work of "replacing" the fallen angels with redeemed humanity. He calls us and anoints us with His Holy Spirit to cooperate in this mission. Those who walk humbly with Him will be exalted and enlarged, but those who rebel will eventually be cut off.

Let us stop worrying about numbers and focus on our own obedience. Let us encourage one another to stay in the way of the Lord, never forcing the work, but always cooperating with the Spirit. God is consistent with us, and He wants us to be consistent with Him.

Lord, keep me humble and faithful in the work You have given me. Amen.

Learning to love: Relationship with God ❤

 Jesus said in John 17:3, "This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." Many people desire to go to heaven or to possess eternal life, but they often ignore one crucial truth: eternal life is a life of relationships—a life of love with God. Without love, eternity would be an "eternal hell." In fact, many of us experience a shadow of that hell on this planet simply because we lack loving connections.

God is love, and heaven is built on relationships. Eternal life means having an everlasting, loving bond with God, Jesus Christ, the angels, and all of creation. We know that sin began in heaven—a place of perfect love. What, then, is sin? Sin is the opposite of love; it is selfishness. It is doing things that destroy our relationship with God for the sake of our own desires.

Lucifer, the covering cherub, was created perfect, meaning he originally had a perfect relationship with the Lord. But he desired to be first. Step by step, he chose his own path over God’s, destroying that bond. The pursuit of selfish desires at the expense of God’s will is what turns a heart toward the path of the Adversary. To enjoy eternal life now, we must put aside selfishness and learn from God what love truly is.

Love is about truly knowing someone. But how do we get to know God? We must learn the definition of love from Him. God shows that He knows us by pursuing us. While I was still in sin and "dead in my trespasses," the Lord Jesus pursued me.

• He showed me kindness for my coldness.

• He blessed me when I didn't deserve it.

• He pleaded with me when I wanted to pursue my own path.

• He forgave me when I wronged Him.

Jesus showed me that loving someone means making that person feel as if they are the only one in the world. He didn't just die for the "whole world" in a general sense; He died for me. He would have died for me even if I were the only one who needed saving. That is what it means to love.

To love someone is to know them, and to know someone involves spending time with them, listening to them, and walking with them. But how do we know God if we cannot see Him?

Think about the frustration of feeling misunderstood. People often misjudge us because they haven't made us a priority; they "hear" us speak only to give a response, not to comprehend. God is different. He listens to help us, and He wants us to do the same for Him.

You get to know the Lord Jesus by reading His "text messages" and sending Him your own throughout the day:

1. Morning Prayer: When you wake up, send Him a "Good Morning text" through prayer. Thank Him for the day, ask Him to wash away your sins, and invite the Spirit to help you understand His heart.

2. Reading the Word: After you "text" the Lord, read His messages to you. Open the Bible and hear what He has to say to your heart today.

Relationships go two ways: God pursues us, and we pursue Him in return. We speak, and He listens; He speaks, and we listen. Throughout the day, you can "text" the Lord in your mind by speaking to Him about your tasks, and He speaks back by placing holy thoughts and peace in your mind.

The more He pursues me, the more I want to pursue Him. The relationship grows stronger. I start to pray, "Lord, help me to love You as You love me. Help me make You a priority, just as You have never been too busy for me."

Jesus is beautiful. The more time I spend with Him, the more I love Him. The more I know Him, the more alive and beautiful my life becomes. To know God is to know love, and to know love is to have eternal life.

As we learn to love God, we naturally learn how to love others. To love is to know, and to know is to pursue. Love is the language of heaven and the very way of life. Let us learn to love God, and we will finally know how to truly love one another.

Do not hide from the Lord!

 God is love! He is compassionate, merciful, gracious, and abounding in goodness and truth. God loves you, and God loves me. He loves me with an infinite love—a love that will take me eternity to even begin to understand. God loves me more than I can ever love myself, and more than anyone else ever could. He so loves you and me that He would rather die than lose us for eternity. God's love is truly incomprehensible. God loves you!

But sin has created a breach of trust between us and God, so we now often see our loving Creator as someone seeking to destroy us. The moment Adam and Eve sinned, their perception of God changed. Whereas they used to come to God, they instead fled from His presence. They used to enjoy His presence; now, they hide for fear that He will destroy them. But God did not come after them to destroy them; He came to save them from ruin, to give them a promise of hope, and to lay down His life for them.

Many of us are continuing on the same path as Adam and Eve. We continue to hide from God, fearing Him and thinking He is out to destroy us or that He doesn't want us to have fun. Many hide because, deep down, they don’t think God has their best interests at heart. We fear that if we surrender our hearts to Jesus, our lives will become boring, we will no longer be "cool" to the world, or we will lose the things we love. So, many run away from the call of God and hide from the loving Jesus.

Many are in the church physically but are inwardly hiding from the Lord. There are pastors, elders, deacons, and praise team members participating in the service while remaining in deep hiding. Adam and Eve were still in the Garden of Eden—the Garden of God—while they were hiding. So, how do we hide from God when He can see all things? We hide by masking our true selves as if He couldn't see us. The Lord does not force Himself on us, and He will not enter our lives unless we invite Him in.

What the world sees is not who we truly are. The world sees our physical exterior, but our true identity is the person within: the thoughts, the feelings, and the heart. We hide from God by keeping these things from Him. A man can be preaching in a pulpit while living a secret life of sin; if he does not speak to God about these struggles, he is hiding from God while standing in His house. Hiding only destroys us because God truly does see us; we are only fooling ourselves and denying ourselves the experience of His love and true freedom.

Recently, the authorities caught an escaped fugitive, Danilo Cavalcante. He was a convicted murderer who had managed to escape from prison. The police hunted him down to return him to justice because he was desperate, armed, and a threat to the public. Many of us are fleeing from God and the justice of His law. We are armed with defense mechanisms, desperate and dangerous to ourselves and each other. Jesus is also pursuing us, but the good news is that He is not pursuing us to lock us up, but to free us from the power of sin that has captured us. Jesus pursues us with love, not with weapons of war. He took the death we deserve to give us His life of joy and freedom. There is no need to hide from such a Pursuer.

Friends, we need to stop hiding! How do we do that? We stop hiding by coming to His presence exactly as we are. We expose our inner selves to Him in prayer. Speak to God about the real you—your real thoughts, your secret sins, and your faults.

For example, if you struggle with lying, come to the Lord and say: "Lord, I am a liar. I lie for no reason. Please purify my lips and help me to speak the truth." We stop hiding when we reveal our secrets to Him: "Lord, I am proud; help me be humble. Lord, I struggle with sexual sin; help me be pure. Lord, I struggle with suicidal thoughts; give me the victory. Lord, I feel like I hate You because of what happened; help me to love You. Lord, I don't think You have my best interests at heart; help me understand that You want what is best for me."

Exposing the inner person to God in prayer is how we draw nearer to Christ. As we draw nearer, we move from darkness to light. As we open up, the Holy Spirit begins to wash us with the blood of Christ and purify us. You will start to feel the burden of guilt and shame lift, and you will experience true freedom. God is not seeking to destroy you, but to set you free from the sin that is already destroying you. He seeks you out to give you abundant, eternal life. Let us be vulnerable with Him; let us open our hearts in prayer, and He will surely heal us.

https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-prison-escape-danelo-cavalcante-brazil-057903609fa9a6815c19d9614988b349

The real issue with us

 What is the real problem with us and with society? Is it mental health? Is it economics? Is it loneliness? Is it a lack of education or physical health? While all these things are problems, they are only symptoms of the real issue. The root of our struggle is not physical at all; it is spiritual and always has been. The real problem is our separation from God, the source of life!

Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned, they realized something they had never felt before. They realized they were naked. Nature seemed to change, and they quickly sought to cover their nakedness with fig leaves. But what was the real issue? Was it a physical issue? Was it mental? Was it an environmental issue? No. Adam and Eve had a spiritual problem, yet they sought a physical solution: "fig leaves."

The real issue was their separation from God. Adam and Eve had disobeyed Him and transgressed His law, resulting in an internal separation. The Spirit of God, who had previously dwelt within them, was gone. The result was emptiness—a nakedness of the soul. They felt naked because the Holy Spirit, who had covered them with the light of God, had departed. Sin causes the Spirit of God to withdraw, and the result is always a nakedness of the soul.

Fig leaves cannot cover sin, nor can they cover our infirmities. Adam and Eve tried to solve a spiritual problem with physical means, and it proved to be a failure. At the approach of God, they fled and hid from His presence. Ever since that day, human beings have attempted to cover spiritual issues with earthly means. Sin leads to separation from God, and that separation leads to all sorts of earthly issues. Mental health struggles, poverty, wars, hatred, and loneliness are all the results of this inward separation.

Like Adam and Eve, we have been deceived into looking solely for earthly solutions. When we commit sins, our mental health is impacted; but instead of going to God for healing, we rely only on the "fig leaf" of therapy. While therapy is good and helpful, it cannot bring a lasting covering on its own. At the approach of conscience, we will still flee. Repentance should go hand in hand with therapy. Repentance from sin is the beginning of true mental healing.

Poverty, political strife, and loneliness are all results of sinful human beings seeking ways to cover their own nakedness, often by taking advantage of one another. Satan is constantly at work to lead us astray, making us think we can find solutions through earthly means alone. His goal is to separate us from God and keep us separated by pointing us toward human solutions. But seeking solutions from humans alone will only leave us more broken and empty.

Friends, our real issue is separation from God, and no human means can solve this. There is only one man who can bridge the gap between us and God: the Man, Jesus Christ. Jesus alone can bring true healing to our souls, and the confession of sin is where the healing process begins. Earthly means can bring temporary relief, but Jesus Christ brings a permanent solution. He will abide in the soul itself and cover our nakedness. Let us come to Jesus and pray for healing and for the Holy Spirit. We will be united with God again and find healing for our souls. Only then will we start to live truly healthy lives, because we have finally found the real solution.

For better or worse

 God is immutable, while we are mutable. Immutable means unchanging over time or unable to be changed. God is unchanging! Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God doesn’t change; there is not even a shadow of turning with Him. It is impossible for God to change since He is eternal and infinite in wisdom. God knows all things. Change implies learning new things or gaining new information, but God doesn’t learn; He already knows all things, created all things, and rules over all things. God is immutable!

All created beings are mutable. Every created being, from the highest angel to the lowest insect, changes—simply because all created beings are finite. It is impossible for a created being to know everything. We are constantly learning and changing as we grow. Because change is a reality for us, we face two simple choices: we are either changing for the better or for the worse. All around us, we see people moving in one of these two directions.

How do we change? We change by what we behold—by what we look at. We change for the better by beholding Jesus, who is infinite in goodness, love, and mercy. We change for the worse by looking toward the "self," which is broken, corrupt, and frail. Lucifer found out the hard way that he was not like God. He thought he could be better by becoming his own god, so he turned away from Christ—the light of truth—and looked to himself, a finite being. He thought he was wiser than God, and so he changed. A once-perfect being transformed into a devil. Even as he was changing into an evil being, he refused to repent because he believed he could improve himself by depending on himself.

Daily, the people around us are changing for better or for worse. Those who look to Jesus daily—meditating on His matchless love, His beauty of character, His compassion, patience, and sacrifice—are being transformed into His image. We slowly but surely become more loving, compassionate, patient, and sacrificial. The more we look at Christ, the more we see His beauty, and the more our own ugliness is revealed. This leads us to cry out, "Lord, change me into Your image; help me to be like You."

The more we behold Christ, the better we become. The angels of heaven keep their eyes upon Jesus, and they become more perfect and lovely every day. Conversely, we become worse by looking to ourselves. We are broken creatures living in a corrupt world; to look to ourselves for improvement is to spiral downward. The angels who fell with Satan became devils when they looked to a created being (Lucifer) and turned away from the Creator. They followed his example and became as corrupt as he was. Created beings, unless they are beholding Jesus, are liable to error and will lead you astray.

People are becoming worse because they look up to everyone but Christ, the Unchanging One. They look to Hollywood celebrities, "Instagram influencers," crooked politicians, arrogant athletes, and deceptive leaders. They look to the broken self for direction and find themselves sinking lower into the pit of moral degradation. Yet, they will not come to Jesus so that He may uplift them.

The reason many of us will not come to Jesus—even as we see ourselves getting worse—is that, like the Devil, we believe we have sufficient wisdom to fix ourselves. We believe that sooner or later, we will "get it right" and then come to Jesus. Friends, if that is your mindset, you will only continue to decline. No fallen being can fix itself. We lack the wisdom to understand what God made. To attempt to fix yourself is like a child attempting to fix a spaceship; you will only make things worse.

The worse we become, the more corrupt our thinking becomes, and the more corrupt our "solutions" become. When David sinned with Bathsheba, his thinking became so warped that his solution was to commit murder to cover his tracks. When Satan rebelled, his corrupt reasoning led him to try to destroy humanity, thinking that if God rescued us, He would have to rescue him too. This is the result of sin: corruption.

To sin is to choose corruption, and we add to it by trying to fix it with corrupt logic. This is why many seek to "fix" a situation by committing another sin, leading to a further loss of light. It is a vicious cycle. But how do we change for the better? We go to Jesus today, acknowledging that our whole being is corrupted and we cannot fix ourselves. Let us say, "Lord, save me, for I perish! Transform my mind and help me see things as You see them."

We are either getting better or worse every day. We get better by looking at Jesus and bringing everything to Him in prayer. Let us repent of our folly and stubbornness, keeping our eyes on His perfection until that perfect day.

Cling to Jesus

This world is getting worse by the day. Temptations, like an overwhelming flood, are sweeping many people into the darkness of the world and toward everlasting destruction. Everywhere we look, we see misery and ruin. Many are looking to politicians to solve the problems of the world, but politicians cannot fix them. The problems of the world are beyond the capacity of human beings to repair. The struggles of our lives are spiritual in nature, and we need a spiritual solution.

We must cling to Jesus when we face alluring temptations; He will keep us standing. We must cling to Jesus when life seems overwhelming; He will hide us under His wings. We must cling to Jesus when we face problems at home, at school, at work, or with family and friends. Cling to Jesus, and you will not be moved. Cling to Him, and He will keep you.

Life is unbearable without Jesus as your anchor. Without Him, fear, anxiety, and depression will overwhelm you. But with Jesus as your anchor, you shall not be moved when the winds of difficulty blow; you will remain firm. Oh, friends, seek Jesus on a daily basis! Do not try to go through life on your own, or you will drown in the deceptions and temptations of this world. Make Jesus your anchor. Cling to Him no matter what, and He will carry you through the stormy seas of this life and onto the shores of eternal life. Cling to Jesus, and you shall have peace.

Who you truly are:how character is revealed!

 In The Story of Redemption, Ellen White wrote of a conversation Satan had with Jesus after being cast out of heaven. In that conversation, Satan claimed he "repented of his sins and wished to be readmitted into heaven, into the presence of God." Jesus wept at Satan’s woe but told him—as the mind of God—that he could never be readmitted because the "seeds of rebellion" were still in him. I have often been puzzled by that phrase: "the seeds of rebellion." It suggests that God allowed the devil and his angels to live so that their true characters could be revealed to all. In heaven, Satan had been so deceptive that even the holy angels could not fully understand his nature; therefore, time was required for his character to mature and be seen for what it was.

The issue of character development is fascinating. What is a "seed" of character? How do we acquire these seeds, how is character developed, and how is it revealed? Character is who you are. It is the makeup of your whole being—your emotions, thoughts, and actions. It is your true identity. Character development began when God created intelligent beings. He gave holy beings righteous seeds to develop righteous characters, but Satan introduced evil thoughts into his own mind—the first evil seeds in the universe. These evil emotions and thoughts allowed for the development of an evil character.

The fall of Adam and Eve introduced these evil seeds into the human race. Now, every person faces an individual struggle: will they cultivate the righteous seeds from God or the evil seeds from the devil? We inherit many of our character "seeds" at birth. We take on many traits from our parents, including a sinful nature and perhaps tendencies toward anger or other weaknesses. As we grow, we acquire more seeds by watching our parents, absorbing what society teaches, and fostering certain thoughts in our minds. As we age, we may not even realize it, but we are making daily decisions that settle our character.

The Process of Character Development:

1. Thoughts and feelings lead to actions.

2. Repeated actions lead to habits.

3. Habits lead to character.

4. Character leads to destiny—in this life and the life to come.

Each person is accountable before God for the character they develop; we cannot blame others for who we have become. While we may be born into the same household, we each experience life differently and develop unique characters based on the thoughts we choose to entertain. Character development takes time.

You can try to deceive others about who you truly are, but circumstances will eventually arise to test and reveal your true nature. A man may claim to be loving, but his true character is revealed by how he reacts when wronged. A woman may claim to be patient, but her character is revealed in slow-moving traffic. A man may claim to love God, but his reaction to the "fiery trials" of temptation reveals his heart. Trials reveal what we truly value. How you treat others—especially those under your power and influence—reveals your true character.

In heaven, Lucifer began to foster seeds of jealousy, envy, self-exaltation, and hatred. Publicly, he professed to seek the good of the universe and the freedom of others, but in his heart, he wanted to rule and be worshipped. He knew he was lying against God’s government, yet he presented himself as a promoter of righteousness. Time was given to demonstrate his true nature, and over time, he was revealed to be a liar, a tyrant, and a murderer. Likewise, God gives us time to reveal our true characters.

We can profess many things to people, but sooner or later, God allows testing situations to reveal our hearts. He allows trials so we can see the evil seeds festering within us and bring them to Him for uprooting. If we bring them to Jesus, He can replace them with righteous seeds. Unfortunately, many make excuses for their evil traits and refuse to seek help. All who continue to water evil seeds and excuse evil deeds are developing their characters in partnership with the fallen angels.

As the saying goes: "True character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure—the greater the pressure, the deeper the revelation." If you want a glimpse into a person’s true character, pay attention to how they react under stress, how they treat others, and which promises they keep. Character cannot be transferred to another. The only thing we take with us to heaven is our character. Only those who have allowed God to develop a righteous character within them will be saved.

In conclusion, while God gave us our nature and we did not choose our sinful tendencies or our parents, our character development remains our sole responsibility. God gave Lucifer a perfect nature in a perfect place with perfect seeds, yet Lucifer chose to develop an evil character. Conversely, being in a sinful world with sinful tendencies is no excuse for failing to develop a righteous character. With God’s help, we can make right decisions in every area of life, small or great.

How to Start Righteous Character Development:

1. Begin your day with right thoughts by spending time in God’s Word.

2. Bring all emotions and thoughts to God in prayer, bringing them into captivity to Christ.

3. Recognize that thoughts and emotions lead to actions.

4. Ask for the Holy Spirit to help you make right decisions daily.

5. Formation: As you make right decisions, you form a character in the image of Christ.

6. Seal the Work: Ask God to seal you in righteousness.

Sooner or later, our characters become fixed and our fate is sealed. Ask God to fix your character in righteousness today, and your destiny will be eternal life. You will be a child of God forever.