Couple Of Things On My Mind

Now as I am sitting here this morning, I have had this thought that I have been thinking about. The thought is that it is always necessary for us as Christian’s, and especially pastors, to proclaim the truth of God’s Word. There is a myriad of things the Bible speaks of that require our understanding and obedience.  We think that we want to be told what to do but that is not God’s design.  He gave laws and commands.  He made covenants with His people.  Always to provide a direction that man should go and to acknowledge and glorify God.  Yet we have failed terribly as His creation.  It has always been His desire for us to follow His direction and to love Him.  Honestly, that is the very basis of Christianity.

I am writing this because of some things that have occurred just over the last week.  So we can get it behind us, let me say two things that are a recent comment by the President and what is happening in California.

First, the President, as we are all aware, is attempting to end the war between Ukraine and Russia.  He commented that the saving of lives might help him get into Heaven.  I have seen some comments posted and commented on that doing good work is a part of getting into Heaven.  Now that is not the number 1 thing and as a matter of fact it is a byproduct of the thing that gets us into heaven and at the very least should be a byproduct.

What gets us into Heaven is the Grace of God.  God’s riches at Christ expense.  Heaven and eternity are only found through His Son as our savior by faith.  I am going to use Scripture that many of you know.  However, I need to do so on the basis that someone might be reading this today who do not Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  I really want to share this with you and for you to understand and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

My favorite verse in the Bible is John 3:16-17 and Jesus is having a conversation with Nicodemus, a man of the Pharisees as noted in John 3:1.  In the conversation Nicodemus ask questions to which Jesus is responding. 

In this chapter, Jesus gives all mankind the way in which we can come to God.  Nicodemus acknowledges Jesus as teacher and sent from God.  Jesus told Nicodemus in verse 3 that unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus then thinks it means to born again to go back into the mother’s womb.  Of course, Jesus explains it is being born of the water and the spirit.  Flesh is flesh and spirit is spirit.  Nicodemus asks how this can be. Nicodemus is a teacher of the people of Israel but Jesus makes it clear that Nicodemus does not understand.  In verse 16, He unveils the truth of the Gospel-

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Then with clear explanation he tells Nicodemus and all mankind in verse 17-

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

His job was and is to save man from their sins.

Secondly, Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills, CA is bringing to light a California bill he notes on an Instagram post that-

AB 495 is the most dangerous bill we’ve ever seen—and it’s being pushed right now by lawmakers in Sacramento.

This bill would allow any non-related adult, a neighbor, teacher, ex-relative, or even a complete stranger, to take custody of your child without your knowledge or consent. No background check. No court order. No parent’s signature. Just a piece of paper.

We’re calling on every parent, grandparent, and concerned citizen to show up on August 19 at the Capitol steps in Sacramento. This is the hill to die on. Your attendance matters!

You might want to look further into the bill for yourself. It will become clear to you that this bill is wrought with problems and safeguards thus making it a gift for child predators.  California is a beautiful place, and I pray the people can stop this bill from passing.  If I lived there, I would certainly be speaking out but all I can do is pray.  Join with me in prayer for this bill to be defeated.

This thing occurring in California is a reminder of how debased this world has become.  The world is rapidly heading to its end, as we know it.  There will be new earth and new heaven.  That is a subject for another time.  The world in which we have lived and raised our families is coming to end.  There is nothing we can do about that but there is much we can do about what happens in the meantime.

Pastor, I beg you, preach the truth and the message of salvation.  Everything else is important but in and of itself is not what the world needs to hear.  It is not what your church needs to hear.  There are many today, as I have spoken of recently, who say they are Christians but are not.  They have never put their life and trust in the only one who can save them from an eternity separated from God in hell.

In God’s Grace,

Elbert Nasworthy