WHY CHRISTIANITY IS THE PATH ONE MUST CHOOSE AND WHY ONE MUST FOLLOW JESUS

Every once in a while, I hear something explained to me that is So Profound that it is truly a LIFE CHANGING TRUTH ! All People, whether they are Religious or Secular, spend time and effort to find something in their life that has True Meaning. It is something that not only captures their mind and attention, but very often it Defines Who They Are ! Our minds were created to think and determine. I believe that GOD created them that way. God in His Infinite Design gave us FREE WILL ! If you are not a believer in God, and you think we were simply evolved over time, then WHY IS MANKIND SO DIFFERENT THAN ALL ELSE CREATED ? Why can we create, dream, invent, and REASON ? A “ Big Bang” or an “evolution” would seemingly look and feel Uniform and Consistent…NOT UNIQUE….and yet, every single human has certain qualities and gifts (talents), but we are All Different. We create and achieve to different degrees and walk different paths. SO, GOD ! God, a force with amazing Power and Authority, moving with Order and Precision seems like more than just a Possibility. God must be REAL AND ALIVE ! If I break it down to two categories it seems pretty simple. Secular = No God. Religious = God, or some power source, Right ? If I am SECULAR, I am my own source of Life. I establish my rules; I trust in my knowledge, truth, and understanding. I am open to the things and information that seems good for me and society in general. We are a community and it is best if we establish our values and they direct us. The question must arise : What or Who is influencing or directing Your Life and Values ? Well, as a Secular person, I listen to Smart People. I listen to Science. I listen to Philosophy or something similar, because man is truly the source of Wisdom and Knowledge. Seems About Right. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. Why do the pillars that Secular Life is built on Continually Change ? Why is Science so often Wrong and readjusting hypotheses ? Why is Culture so volatile in beliefs and truths ? Why does hatred, division, and violence always surface eventually in Society ? Could it be that there is NO TRUE FOUNDATION FOR ANYTHING….just constant change and Evolution…over and over ? Hmmm. If I am RELIGIOUS, I have a Power or Spiritual Entity that I think I need to generally adhere to in leading my life. I follow its tenants and beliefs; ideas and values; it’s diety or dieties as the case may be. I have a group of “believers” that I generally identify with and a dogma or tradition that we follow. Ever wonder how many religions there are in the world ? AI says there are THOUSANDS ! Some have ideas that are worshipped; paths that are followed; different ideas about life, place, and time (Reincarnation). Some have one God, and some have multiple gods. Suffice it to say, that there are many choices to consider. Secular life is interesting, because though you don’t believe in God, you really have made yourself god. Your will, your wisdom, your path, your journey…but there is this one Sad Piece. When your life is over, What Happens ? No one has a consistent answer…do they. So, I’m a Christian :) WHY ? When I was young, I went to a neighborhood church, because my parents did…and so, I did too. I heard a lot of talking about money and behavior; sang songs that seemed long and boring; Nothing Stuck ! My parents worked hard and valued work and education. We had fun, played sports, and life was good. And as I grew up, at seventeen I had to ask: Why am I feeling alone and confused about So Much ? I Was Searching For Answers And Meaning…..AND JESUS FOUND ME :)

THUS SAYS THE LORD: “ LET NOT THE WISE MAN BOAST IN HIS WISDOM; LET NOT THE MIGHTY MAN BOAST IN HIS MIGHT; LET NOT THE RICH MAN BOAST IN HIS RICHES, BUT LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THIS : THAT HE UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ME, THAT I AM THE LORD WHO PRACTICES STEADFAST LOVE, JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE EARTH. FOR IN THESE THINGS I DELIGHT DECLARES THE LORD. Jeremiah 9: 23-24

YOUR WORD IS A LAMP TO MY FEET AND A LIGHT TO MY PATH. Psalm 119:105

IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. Philippians 3:10

BUT GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. TO HIM BE THE GLORY BOTH NOW AND TO THE DAY OF ETERNITY. AMEN. 2 Peter 3:18

THAT I MAY KNOW HIM AND THE POWER OF HIS RESSURECTION, AND MAY SHARE IN HIS SUFFERINGS, BECOMING LIKE HIM IN DEATH. John 1:1

As I look around the world today, it saddens me to see just how much Mankind Has Not Changed. We so lack a Common Unity without GOD. Men love to pick Sides. WE battle over everything. WE want everything that others have. WE want our own will, our own pleasures, and our own Path. We endlessly look for some kind of Truth or Revelation, when it stares us right in the face ! IT IS A CROSS. As our pastor Jason at Illuminate Church so perfectly describes, “THE CROSS IS WHERE THE JUSTICE OF GOD AND THE MERCY OF GOD COLLIDE, AND FORGIVENESS POURS OUT.” And it is for us. You and Me. No way to earn it. It is a gift from God the Father. WHY ? Because God Loves Us. He wants RELATIONSHIP in a whole and complete way with us. No self driven control; no list of accomplishments. Just two simple things: SURRENDER AND OBEDIENCE. Can I GIVE HIM ACCESS TO MY HEART, AND WILL I SEEK HIM AND TRUST HIM ? Not so simple after all…because surrender and obedience are always A WORK IN PROGESS. The good news ? GOD IS LOVING AND PATIENT. I guarantee you that the Secular World and Many Religions have NONE OF THAT. Do you believe that God’s Word is TRUTH ? Can you ponder why THE BIBLE is the most read book in the world, and why it is so Powerful compared to All Other Knowledge and Truth ? Even a stone cold atheist will admit Jesus existed. History might be manipulated, but the reality of WHO was in it can’t be ignored. “Think about this, says our pastor….Prophecy has been Given, Recieved, and Fulfilled” ! There are things in the writings of the Prophets that seem almost impossible. How can something come true EXACTLY and was written about hundreds of years Earlier ? Take A Spin through the BOOK OF DANIEL. Read it, ask Chat GPT or Perplexity…I think you will gain a New Perspective. Studying the Book Of Micah, it is easy to SEE US TODAY. People haven’t changed much. Micah is kind of like going into a Coutroom. God Is the Judge, Jury, and The Witness. HE shows His People the EVIDENCE of their Corruption and Shallowness. Religious on the Outside, while Morally Corrupt on the Inside. Fake Worship; Fake Piety; Fake Trust. A proximity to God…and yet Unchanged Hearts. Performative Insincerity. And they scramble hard to figure out How To Make It Right ! Bigger and Better Sacrifices ? How about more money or things given ? What about sacrificing our “firstborn”….like all the Pagan gods require ? AND GOD HAS AN ANSWER…FOR THEM AND US.

MANKIND, HE HAS TOLD EACH OF YOU WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IT IS THE LORD REQUIRES OF YOU: TO ACT JUSTLY, TO LOVE KINDNESS, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD. Micah 6:18

From our Pastor: WE DON”T NEED NEW REVELATION…WE JUST NEED SURRENDER AND OBEDIENCE THAT IS ALREADY IN GOD’S WORDS AND HEART FOR US. GOD DETERMINES WHAT IS GOOD, NOT CULTURE. If culture determines what is Good, then Faith and Truth become what is in the eye of the Beholder. Faith becomes man centered and man made…and OBEDIENCE BECOMES OPTiONAL ! The world and many religions will promise a lot, declare a lot, and work you hard to achieve self gain. ONLY CHRIST PROMISES YOU FREEDOM AND ETERNAL LIFE. JESUS ACTUALLY DIED For YOU, AND HE WAS RESURRECTED FROM DEATH UNTO ETERNAL LIFE…and HE OFFERS THAT GIFT TO YOU. Forgiveness, Mercy, Grace, Purpose, Path, LIFE ! Many will reject Him sadly, but know this. Jesus Loves You, no matter your failures. Confess your sins and seek His Love. BELIEVE IT, AND WALK IT OUT IN YOUR LIFE. God truly can see our Hearts…make sure you Give Yours To Him To Guard And Keep:) BE HIS/JAA

AND JESUS SAID, “ I AM WITH WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE SHALL COME TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME. John 14:6

COME NOW, FOR HE IS COMING AGAIN SOON. Hallelujah:)