1 Life

~ A Grain of Sand on a Huge Beach ~

November 2011 Tuesday Countdown:  4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – 0 

Consider a single grain of sand on a vast ocean beach. Proportionately that speck of sand is huge in relation to its beach when compared to your physical life on earth compared to your eternal future! 

Christian missionary C.T. Studd put it his way in his famous poem:

ONLY ONE LIFE

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, Living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done;”
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “‘twas worth it all;”
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

comment:  Have you considered what a small part of your total life your time on earth is?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Jesus Christ, Matthew 6:19-21).

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” (Jim Elliot, Christian missionary).

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” (Jesus Christ, Luke 9:25, New Living Translation).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 21

~ Messiah is the True Bread from Heaven ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture  

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day’” (Exodus 16:4a).

The Messiah  

“Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'  Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:31-33). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

EXTRA: Carrots – Eggs – Coffee

~ How Big Is Your God? ~

The original source of this material is unknown. 

You may never look at a cup of coffee the same way again. It's one of my favorite beverages—now I know why.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water.

In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.

She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.

She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what do you see?”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.  She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee.

The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked. “What's the point, Mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity—boiling water—but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

Think of this: Which are you?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat but hardens with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle adversity?

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

Don't tell God how big your storm is—tell the storm how big your God is!

2 Births

~ “Born Again” Has Judaic Roots ~

November 2011 Tuesday Countdown:  4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – 0 

One of the basic tenets of Christianity is the concept of a second birth or being “born again.”

Natural Birth  ~  Initially each human being is “born of a woman” as a baby. This natural birth is also known as “born of flesh.” This first birth is outside the realm of individual choice; however, the second birth is a direct result of individual choice (to make no choice is to choose). 

Spiritual Birth  ~   The choice to be born a second time or “born again” results in salvation and eternal life with God. This is only possible because of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ as the penalty for our sin. This supernatural birth is also known as “born of the Spirit.” But individuals must make this personal choice for themselves.    

For many it may be helpful to realize the term “born again” has its roots in Judaism. The term was used in reference to a Gentile who was formally converted to Judaism. The Talmud, or oral law, states, “One who has become a proselyte is like a child newly born” (Yevamot 48b).

Nicodemus was genuinely confused as he interacted with Jesus. Since Nicodemus knew Jesus was not only a Jew but a Master Teacher of Israel, he understood that Jesus was not asking him to convert to Judaism.

Understanding the second birth in Judaism helps explain later verses. “Nicodemus answered and said to Him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?’” ( John 3:9-11).

Jesus was telling Nicodemus he must be born again. His underlying confusion was, “How can I convert to Judaism if I am already a Jew?” Therefore he replies to Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” (John 3:4).

Remember what Jesus, the Messiah, answered, “A man must be born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5). Natural man understands that natural birth is accompanied by the breaking of the water. The man with spiritual understanding knows that the second birth is accompanied by the Spirit of God breaking through their spiritual blindness. 

Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus that he could not rely on his Jewish heritage as a means of entering into the kingdom of heaven.  In a similar way we cannot rely on being born in a Christian nation, church attendance, or any other factor, as a means of gaining salvation. The bottom line is the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ sacrificed for you. Individual conversion of the heart is necessary for salvation.

The Bottom Line  ~  “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:22-25).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 20

~ Not a Bone Would Be Broken ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture  

“Do not break any of the bones” (Exodus 12:46).    

The Messiah  

“Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of His bones will be broken’” (John 19:31-36).

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.