HANDRAILS AND SAFETY NETS

 I climbed the two steps from the garage to enter the house and  neglected to grab the handrail, then suddenly I was falling backwards. A slow motion fall, a helpless feeling as my hips and back hit hard objects on the ground. I called for my daughter and she called a neighbor to help get me up. I have a lot of pain with purple black bruising from side to side, and it was my doing or undoing. I had neglected to grab the handrail.

Some  people depend on the government as a handrail to be responsible for them.  There are laws that act as safety nets, but we also need to be personally responsible for our safety and needs. In the news, our government is at war with the drug cartels.  Our military are gathered on the ocean  near Venezuela.  Boats with drugs are shot down and exploded.  Tons of drugs are found hidden in warehouses and in underground tunnels.  Hundreds of millions of  dollars are stacked in bundles.  There are many of these drug places in our land yet to be uncovered.  Why so many?  Because too many of our citizens are using drugs. Why are they not being responsible? A drug addict will steal to get money to buy their drugs. Actual demons come into them to destroy their family relationships and their ability to be faithful at work. By making drugs an idol they disobey the laws of man and God. By turning away from God they invite in evil powers.  God is our help.  We cannot fight the darkness in our own abilities, we need the grace of God. 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Only God can overcome the spiritual darkness.  He sent his son Jesus, to be our way to overcome sin and death.  The laws are good, but we cannot keep them. They accuse us and the end is our death.  Choose Jesus who was without sin and was sent to be our savior from our sins and evil.  He is our way to forgiveness and restoration, both now and in life eternal with God. 

The government uses tax dollars to help people. These are referred to as handrails and safety nets. We hear in the news that billions of dollars used to support the needy were stolen. The devil is a thief. He comes to kill, steal and destroy. Jesus is come to give us life, more abundant life. (John 10:10)  

If you are a drug user, or if you know some who are users, I pray to God for your recovery. Almighty God, you created us to be in fellowship with you.  You are holy, so much greater than your creation. You spoke the universe into existence. You are a life giver and a loving God. LORD God through your son Jesus, touch hearts and bring people out of the darkness. You are the eternal light, giving mercy and justice. Help us to trust you, in Jesus name, Amen.

Eternal Love

 John 15:12  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 

John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

Jesus tells us that we are to love one another. Love does not kill, so why do  people kill? That is not what God commands; this is the way of the devil. If you go along with the devil he wants to steal your soul from God. In John 10:10 he is called the thief.

Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. however Jesus, the Good Shepherd comes to give you a more abundant life. He came to us to give us life everlasting.   The people following the devil are filled with hate, anger and unforgiveness. They want to remove, to destroy those who they are not in agreement with. Are they reacting from fear?

We must  be careful not to speak destructive words. Our words are not to put down others. Look for the best in those you know. I like peace and seek to keep the peace. An elderly friend spoke to me that if we would shut up then we would avoid conflict. May we know when we should speak and when to be silent. We are to speak up for what is good.  Many have died for our right to speak and for our freedom. Stand for truth, and trust in Jesus. He knows our failings and will forgive you. He gave us his life so that we might live free in him.

Words Of Life

 Recently a well known Christian pastor died; John MacArthur was 86, and he was ten days older than me, He fulfilled his life calling. His father and grandfather were pastors.   John was a pastor in Grace Community Church for fifty five years. He knew what he believed and preached from the Bible that God has made a way for us in heaven through his son Jesus Christ.

People may say that there are many roads to heaven.  They may virtue signal that they are for all religions. Actually this is only confusion. Most people think that they are good people and will go to heaven on their own  merits. We may compare ourselves to others but no one can compare to a righteous  God.

 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Rom 3:23)

All have sinned, all come short of being accepted by God. knowing that no human could ever meet his standards he sent his son Jesus who fulfilled all the law and was without sin.  He died on the cross as our substitute. By believing in him our sins were paid for.  He was risen from the dead and became our way to eternal life with God. We will not be cut off and separated from God.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)