Who Do You Believe Jesus Is? - Acts 17:1-15

Based on Acts 17:1-15 (New King James Version)

“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.’ And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, ‘These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.’ And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.”

As we read, we were able to observe all the various things that took place in response to what the disciples preached. Some were saved, others refused to listen, and others incited an uproar and became a stumbling block to the Gospel. But what was it that provoked such a wide range of emotions and reactions? Was it because they spoke of a universal God? No. In reality, when God is the topic of conversation, people do not feel such strong aversion. Even unbelievers and agnostics are not particularly offended. Most people are accepting—or may even remain neutral—in their sentiments. So, what was it—and what is it—that causes so much trouble?

In the passage, we read that the disciples spoke—more precisely—of Christ Jesus; and they spoke of Him not as if speaking of a good man or a prophet, but as the God He is—the Almighty who was, who is, and who is to come. And the Lord mentioned several times that He would be a cause of division—among all kinds of people, even among family. This is what He said: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:34-37. So, although He is the Prince of Peace—as Isaiah mentions—His very person does not always bring about peace, but rather grave trouble.

Now, why did this happen, and why does it still occur? Why is there so much controversy? For the vast majority of Jews, it is impossible to accept that the very Jesus who was born and walked this earth was the same God who existed from the beginning—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the fearsome and mighty God who performed great wonders through His servant Moses; the very One who revealed Himself as the "I AM." Many cannot accept that this God took on our human form, even though He performed great signs, wonders, and miracles—going so far as to raise the dead. Others could never accept Him—particularly among the most learned religious leaders—not because they were unable to accept who He truly was (and is), but because, incredibly enough, they envied Him. This is what the Word says: “Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’ For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.” Matthew 27:17-18. So—whether out of envy, or because they cannot comprehend many things about Him (such as His birth), or because He took the form of a man, or because He died and they doubt His resurrection, or because some believe He never even existed—in one way or another, His person remains a subject of controversy.

The fact remains that, despite all the controversy the Lord provokes, everyone—without exception—must make a decision regarding what they believe about Him—without exception—because all will eventually have to acknowledge His majesty, reign, and authority: we, for the sake of eternal worship; and others, before receiving their eternal punishment—just like Satan himself. Yes, even Satan and all his minions will one day have to accept, kneel before, and confess God—the Lord Jesus Christ—as He truly is, just as it is written: “… For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romanos 14:10b-12. Those of us who desire salvation and eternal life must acknowledge the Lord, and treat Him as such until the end—not merely with words, but from the heart—so that we may be accepted before God the Father, as it is written: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. We must convince God with our heartfelt faith in the Lord—and with deeds—for it also says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10. And God will allow various things to happen to see if our faith is real and genuine—just as we see in the example of Abraham, the father of faith, as it says: “Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: ‘By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Genesis 22:15-18. Abraham convinced God—and we must do the same—to convince the Father with this faith: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6. So, has the following happened in your life, and will you abide in this faith despite the passage of time and the circumstances: “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” Romans 10:9-10? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

The Practical Side to Following Christ - Mark 9:42-48

Based on Mark 9:42-48 (New King James Version)

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’”

We live in a society that desires everything almost instantly, and without any kind of effort or diligence. Nowadays, hardly anyone likes the idea of ​​working hard to achieve something—the notion that sacrifices must be made, and that things truly worth having require a great deal of time and dedication. Many no longer believe in hard work, sacrifice, or patience—nor in anything related to persistence and diligence. The vast majority seek instant gratification with the least possible effort; and unfortunately, this very same problem is evident even among the people of God.

In many places today, gospels or doctrines are being preached that portray following Christ as something excessively easy, and that reaching heaven should cost nothing. The Gospel itself is not difficult, but the act of walking with and following Christ is not easy. For instance, many teach that the only thing a person needs to do to get to heaven is to believe in Christ—and nothing else—without repentance, and without a life of walking in obedience; they claim that mere belief is sufficient to attain everything. Others teach that, since we cannot earn heaven through our works and because everything is by grace, a person is no longer required to do anything after accepting Christ, and that works are of no value whatsoever. Others teach that the Holy Spirit performs the entire work, and that the moment a person receives the Lord, everything will happen automatically, without the individual having to make any conscious effort or commitment. Furthermore, there are other teachings asserting that if one possesses sufficient faith, everything one sets out to achieve will succeed—that one will enjoy good health and an abundance of material possessions as well, simply because we are children of a King. Thus, there exist various other teachings that are the product of half-truths, designed to attract the masses—or to prevent people from leaving the church—so that the institution may remain financially viable.

We can clarify all of this through the true gospel—sound doctrine grounded entirely in the fullness of the Scriptures, rather than in mere convenience or things that gratify the flesh. The true gospel consists of: complete repentance and conversion from all sins; believing in and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Lord; and following Christ as the Lord He ought to be in our lives—seeking to do His will, not our own—which leads us to the good works spoken of in the Word of God, works that are necessary to perform as an integral part of our obedience. Since this constitutes the complete gospel, it effectively rules out many of the other things currently being taught as truth. Having said this, we can now see the following.

The first thing we can observe in this passage is the existence of the principle of free will, and the necessity of submitting our own will to God’s commands. We read of many things presented as instruction—actions that must be taken—and we are told that these will be difficult tasks. The Lord also issues a warning: if we fail to do these things—or if we fail to avoid certain actions at all costs—we run the risk of failing to reach our eternal destination. The Lord does not state this merely once, but three times: if we are not diligent in our conduct, we will be denied entry into heaven and, instead, be cast into hell. He could not have stated it more clearly or emphatically. He begins by addressing the matter of not becoming a stumbling block to others. This leads us to understand that, by the exercise of our own free will, we must remain vigilant regarding our actions; we cannot live this life in a careless or irresponsible manner. He also declared that unless we are willing to sever ourselves from those parts of our bodies that lead us into sin, we will not enter the Kingdom. Now, this is not to be interpreted literally—as if we were required to physically sever a hand, cut off a foot, or gouge out an eye to avoid falling into sin. Rather, the point He is conveying is that you must make extremely difficult decisions to secure entry into the Kingdom—decisions to cease doing or practicing those things that would prevent you from inheriting eternal life. And these decisions will be difficult. That is the implication of this passage: it will cost you something. Based on your own free will, these are measures you must take—measures He helps you to understand, yet which you yourself must ultimately decide for. It is entirely possible that physically severing a part of your body would be an easier task than making the actual decisions you may be required to make to truly follow Christ. This is the truth: the salvation offered by the Lord is absolutely free—it is a gift of grace—but the act of following Christ does indeed come with a price.

The Bible says this: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12. What does this mean? Since all things are permissible, this clearly illustrates the concept of free will—the fact that we possess the power to do whatever we desire, and that there is nothing to restrain or stop us. God Himself does not hinder us, nor does He refrain us from doing anything. Thus, while everything is permissible—or, in other words, I have the freedom to do whatever I please—not everything is beneficial or serves my best interest. So, while we are capable of doing anything, whether or not we should do a particular thing is an entirely different matter. Furthermore, we must not allow ourselves to be mastered by anything, but only by the Lord. We must have one Lord, not many. This is the true meaning of not allowing ourselves to be mastered by anything. This is what the Word says: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7. God clearly mentions here “sound mind” or “self-control”—which gives rise to free will—and about aligning our will to do His will. If everything in the Lord were on "autopilot," as some describe it, then He would not mention self-control. The passage also says that we must not have fear, which implies overcoming it through His power, and out of love for Him.

Ultimately, this is what the Word says: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2. All of this has to do with submitting our will to God—doing the things He commands us to do. Some of these things will be easy, while others may be very difficult. But, the point is that we must live for Christ and be willing to do whatever He desires of us—and also pay whatever price is necessary to demonstrate our love to Him, as He deserves. Everything is done out of love, after all; and while love can indeed be very difficult at times, nothing compares to the eternal love and hope we have in Christ Jesus. So, do you worship the Lord in spirit and in truth with your life? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

Different Experiences, but One Judgment - Acts 12:1-17

Based on Acts 12:1-17 (New King James Version)

“Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, ‘Arise quickly!’ And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, ‘Gird yourself and tie on your sandals’; and so he did. And he said to him, ‘Put on your garment and follow me.’ So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, ‘Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.’”

Why would there be a difference between the way the Lord acted with James and with Peter? Why did the Lord allow one to be killed by the sword, James, but miraculously deliver Peter from death? What is the difference between the two? Both were apostles, chosen by the Lord Himself. Did James lack faith? Was James somehow less than Peter? Was James more of a sinner than Peter? Was Peter more spiritual than James, and that is why the Lord delivered him? Did Peter have more faith than James? Was there a greater purpose for Peter than for James? Were more people praying for Peter than for James, and was that what made the difference? As always, it is necessary to view all things through His Word, and especially something as relevant to our daily lives as this, because we do not all have the same experiences, the same opportunities, and even less so, the possibility of the same lifestyle. For truth to be true, it must be true everywhere and for all times. Truth is not subject to nations or eras, because Truth is God.

His Word is very clear that there are no great distinctions among us, in general. The only distinction between human beings before God is between those who choose to follow Christ and those who refuse or reject Him. And even in the dispensation of God's grace, the time we are living in today, the Bible says that God sees Jew and Gentile as similar, that there are no longer differences in the sense of separation. Do not misunderstand. The Jew is still the first whom God seeks to save, and the promise remains that whoever blesses them, God will bless, and whoever curses them, God will curse. But the idea that some are better than others does not exist in God's Word, because we are all sinners. Even those of us who have come to Christ are still greatly imperfect. We are forgiven, and that is the great difference with the rest of the world. And now, we are called to obey God's will, to do the things He commands. This is what we see, as an example, regarding whether there is a difference between one sinner and another: “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:1-5. So, with this answer, the Lord makes it very clear that there is no difference between one sinner and another. Neither is better than the other. Therefore, we can easily dismiss the notion that one fared better because they were less sinful, and the other worse because they were more sinful. And, does God love one more than another? The answer is: absolutely not. God loves us all equally. The Bible itself says that: “For God so loved the world…” Without making distinctions between one person and another. He loves us all equally. The same sun rises on all of us. The same rain falls on all of us. And of course, the blood of Christ was shed for all equally.

So, what can we understand from what happened between James and Peter? The only thing that should matter to us personally is what we do for the Lord, whether things go well for us or not, humanly speaking, of course, because those who follow the Lord have the eternal hope in heaven. Those who decide to follow Christ, despite the circumstances, despite the difficulties, in whatever state they may be, must always keep in mind that there is indeed a final judgment, where all of us, without exception, will give an account before the Most High God, and we must place all that we are at His disposal, whether little or much, whether we live a short time or many years, whether we are rich or poor. This is what the Word says, for example: “And the Lord said, ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:42-48. This is what should concern us most and not making comparisons between us, but God will hold us accountable for what we did with our opportunities, resources, and time, whether we sought to do His will or live our own way. This is what Paul said: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14. There was no one with a clearer testimony of conversion and belonging to Christ than Paul, and if he said that he had not yet attained the promise, then what does that tell us? It is written: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10. So, are you more focused on your present circumstances, or are you more concerned that, no matter what happens, God will hold you accountable later, when all this is over? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

Do Not Disobey the Lord - 1 Kings 13

Based on 1 Kings 13 (New King James Version)

“And behold, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the Lord, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord, and said, ‘O altar, altar! Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you.’ ’And he gave a sign the same day, saying, ‘This is the sign which the Lord has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart, and the ashes on it shall be poured out.’ So it came to pass when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, ‘Arrest him!’ Then his hand, which he stretched out toward him, withered, so that he could not pull it back to himself. The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord. Then the king answered and said to the man of God, ‘Please entreat the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.’ So the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored to him, and became as before. Then the king said to the man of God, ‘Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.’ But the man of God said to the king, ‘If you were to give me half your house, I would not go in with you; nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place. For so it was commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’ ’ So he went another way and did not return by the way he came to Bethel. Now an old prophet dwelt in Bethel, and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel; they also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king. And their father said to them, ‘Which way did he go?’ For his sons had seen which way the man of God went who came from Judah. Then he said to his sons, ‘Saddle the donkey for me.’ So they saddled the donkey for him; and he rode on it, and went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. Then he said to him, ‘Are you the man of God who came from Judah?’ And he said, ‘I am.’ Then he said to him, ‘Come home with me and eat bread.’ And he said, ‘I cannot return with you nor go in with you; neither can I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place. For I have been told by the word of the Lord, ‘You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by going the way you came.’ ’ He said to him, ‘I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ’(He was lying to him.) So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water. Now it happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came to the prophet who had brought him back; and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the Lord said to you, ‘Eat no bread and drink no water,’ your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’ ’ So it was, after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back. When he was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse. And there, men passed by and saw the corpse thrown on the road, and the lion standing by the corpse. Then they went and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. Now when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard it, he said, ‘It is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the Lord. Therefore the Lord has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke to him.’ And he spoke to his sons, saying, ‘Saddle the donkey for me.’ So they saddled it. Then he went and found his corpse thrown on the road, and the donkey and the lion standing by the corpse. The lion had not eaten the corpse nor torn the donkey. And the prophet took up the corpse of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. So the old prophet came to the city to mourn, and to bury him. Then he laid the corpse in his own tomb; and they mourned over him, saying, ‘Alas, my brother!’ So it was, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons, saying, ‘When I am dead, then bury me in the tomb where the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones. For the saying which he cried out by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel, and against all the shrines on the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, will surely come to pass.’ After this event Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but again he made priests from every class of people for the high places; whoever wished, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. And this thing was the sin of the house of Jeroboam, so as to exterminate and destroy it from the face of the earth.”

Today's passage is long, but necessary to understand the message: Do not disobey the Lord. Today we read about two people who disobeyed the Lord, and about a deceitful prophet who caused the man of God to stumble. The first we will look at is King Jeroboam. God specifically sent this man of God to the king because Jeroboam was knowingly sinning against God, and not only did he sin, but he also caused many among his people to sin against the Lord by disobeying basic principles of God, clear commands that the Lord had established. And because he persisted in his wickedness, Jeroboam and his entire family were cut off and wiped from the face of the earth.

The second is this man of God who had even witnessed a miracle from God. The Lord had clearly commanded him not to return to Bethel, nor to eat bread or drink water from there. And he allowed himself to be deceived by this old prophet, who was probably one of the corrupt ones appointed by King Jeroboam. One might ask, "Why did the Lord command him not to return to Bethel, and not to eat bread or drink water from there?” And the answer is: What does it matter? Whether it made sense or not, a long explanation or theological dissertation isn't necessary. The Lord simply told him not to do it. And unfortunately for him, he let himself be led astray by someone who had the title but didn't fear God, and it went badly for him.

The Word of God says this: “…Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…” 1 Samuel 15:22b-23a. Everything is sin in this world, but God prioritizes some more than others, and these must be obeyed, whether understood or not. Not everything God commands will make sense to us, much less to our society, but we must simply obey for our own good. The only thing that brings eternal life to humankind is obedience to God. If God clearly commands something in His Word, don't be deceived by anyone who tells you otherwise, nor by your own opinion or needs, but obey for your own good. And if nothing bad happens to you immediately, it's not a sign of divine approval or weakness, but simply of His mercy, allowing for change. So, do you obey the Lord, or do you live in disobedience, thus bringing about your own future destruction? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

If You Look for the Truth, You Will Find It - Acts 8:26-40

Based on Acts 8:26-40 (New King James Version)

“Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this: ‘He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.’ So the eunuch answered Philip and said, ‘I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?’ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’ Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.”

Is it difficult to find the Truth, especially if one is genuinely seeking it? The answer is no. In reality, the Truth is always around us, and we experience it at every moment and in different ways. All the things that our senses detect not only let us know, but proclaim, that there is an Almighty God. This is what the Word says: “Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:19-20. And it also says: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17. So, everything exists, is, and subsists thanks to the Person of God. Therefore, if you are breathing, and your heart is beating, and all your “involuntary” faculties and abilities, as science calls them, are functioning at this moment, it is because God, through His Person, makes it possible and allows it. This is a reality; therefore, it is the Truth.

So why do so many people supposedly fail to find the Truth? The problem isn't that they can't access the Truth, but rather that the vast majority of people aren't seeking it, despite what they claim. The reality is that most people are searching for other things, preoccupied with matters unrelated to the Truth. Most are simply focused on solving their present problems, achieving their goals, or, as many say, fulfilling their dreams, but none of that has anything to do with the Truth, or with God. And that's why almost no one ever reaches the Truth. Furthermore, the vast majority of so-called Christians seek God so God can serve them, to have God fulfill their will instead of them doing His. This is, unfortunately, a sad reality. And those who do this are only content with God when He grants their wishes on their terms. If God doesn't grant their wishes, they become angry with Him and even decide to abandon Him. Many will say they believe in Christ, but unfortunately, it's just words and nothing more, and they don't follow Him as the Lord He is. This is what the Word says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10. So, the problem isn't that arriving at the Truth is difficult, but rather that many, the vast majority, simply aren't seeking the Truth. And when the Truth is presented to them, they either reject it or try to manipulate it for their own purposes, but ultimately, they don't accept the Truth as it truly is. And the worst part is that they dare to speak ill of the Lord, as if it were God's fault that they are seeking answers in illusory things.

This, for example, is clarified in the Word of God: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8. So, if a person sincerely asks to find the Truth, God will provide the means for them to reach it, as He did with the eunuch we read about earlier. This man was seeking God, and he was searching in His Word, and the Lord saw such a hunger in him that He even sent Philip to clarify what was necessary for him to arrive at the Truth, which is the Lord. But we must also be careful, because this word is not only fulfilled for good and salvation, but it can also be fulfilled in other ways. If a person persists in asking for what is useless, in seeking what is not God, in calling out to everything that has nothing to do with God or is opposed to God, it is very possible that their wish will come true. We must understand that just as there is a God, there is also a devil. There is good and there is evil. And if a person persists in seeking evil, they will not see the Truth, they will not see good, but God will allow their desire to be fulfilled, and the devil will do his work. We must always keep in mind that the Lord is worthy, and as such, He does have grace toward us, but He also has limits. He is slow to anger and great in mercy, but that doesn't mean His anger will never come and that His mercy is unlimited. God's grace, as incredibly great as it is, has its limits. And the Lord will never violate a person's free will. Each person is ultimately free to decide their eternal future. This is what the Word says about free will: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19. We all have this freedom, without exception. Neither God nor the devil can force anyone. We are all free to choose. And often, God, in His great mercy, does not allow our evil desires to be fulfilled, hoping that we will realize that nothing else matters, and that He is the only one who is worthwhile. The Lord is the only one who can free us from our sins and cleanse us from them all. The Lord is the only one who can give us life and eternal reward. Everything else, as the Word says, is only vanity. This is what the apostle John said about this world: “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:16-17. So, are you genuinely seeking the Lord, or are you still looking for things that are ultimately useless? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

The Things of God are Different to the Things of the World - Mark 10:35-45

Based on Mark 10:35-45 (New King James Version)

“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, ‘Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.’ And He said to them, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ They said to Him, ‘Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ They said to Him, ‘We are able.’ So Jesus said to them, ‘You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.’ And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

In general, we often fail to grasp, or are not sufficiently zealous, that there should be a separation between the things of God and the things of the world, or our own opinions (which will be explained later). We often allow ourselves to be swayed by worldly opinions when making decisions and conducting our own affairs, and even when managing things within ministries themselves—things that should be entirely dedicated to God, as His Word indicates. There should be no mixing of the things of God with the things of the world, because that brings together the holy with the profane.

In the Word, as we saw today, we saw very clearly that there are great differences between the two kingdoms. We already saw that the Lord explained to His disciples that whoever wants to be great in the kingdom of God, then they must serve, by following the example He Himself set. The Lord Jesus Christ came because God sent Him, and He came to serve to such an extent that He even became the sacrifice for our sins on the cross. On a related note, our soldiers and public servants risk their lives every day for the well-being of the people they serve; and many of them have also sacrificed their lives for the good of others, so that we could enjoy the many beautiful freedoms we enjoy today, as well as the relative security in which we can live. But despite the great value of this public and national service, the Son of God did far more, because He was perfect, holy, and He did it not for some people or nations, but for the whole world. All our sins were placed upon Him. This is how the Lord served humanity, in obedience and for the glory of God the Father. So, there is a big difference between God's way and the way of natural man.

The curious thing is that John and James themselves had this problem of mixing things up on more than one occasion. In the Gospel of Luke, we read the following: “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’ But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.’ And they went to another village.” Luke 9:51-56. So, what was John and James's mistake in their way of thinking? The world always thinks of revenge, displays of power, and inflicting some kind of harm in response to evil. The Lord didn't need John and James to call down fire from heaven. The Lord, as the Almighty God He was (and is), could have done that and much more, but He chose not to. Instead, He proclaimed the grace of God. His mission in His earthly ministry as the God He was (and is) was not to consume His enemies as in the Old Testament, but to extend grace, to give opportunity for repentance and conversion so that there may be salvation. What we must keep in mind is that God's grace does have limits though. His grace is not a license to sin, as many take it today, and some see God's mercy and grace as signs of weakness or nonexistence. The Lord will again be that consuming fire in the coming judgment.

What else is so different about God and the things of the world (and here we enter into the explanation of our opinion, and how we must also avoid that)? It is very common to hear the advice: “let yourself be guided by your heart.” According to God, this is a grave error. We, not even as Christians, should never let ourselves be led by our hearts because our hearts, even though the Lord dwells in them, still have serious problems. The heart is ultimately the center of a person's being, and as such, it remains corrupted by sin, and that is why we must not let ourselves be led by it. This is what the Word says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10. And the Lord said this also: “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Matthew 15:18-19. So, it's not good to let our hearts lead us because only bad decisions will result, and no bad decision brings good consequences, especially when it comes to the things of God.

So, what should we let ourselves be led by and use as the basis for everything in our lives if we want to be right in the eternal things of God? It is necessary to be born again in Christ so that the Holy Spirit can enter our lives. He is the One who should guide us, and not the world, and not even ourselves. The Lord said: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-14. And what does the Holy Spirit use to guide us? He uses the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. If you wish to do God's will and be right in the things of God, you must set aside worldly things and even your own ideas and embrace what God says, for your own good in this present world, and even more importantly, for your eternal future. So, do you follow God's ways or what seems right to you? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

The Problem with Being Unequally Yoked - Ezra 9:1-7

Based on Ezra 9:1-7 (New King James Version)

“When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, ‘The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass.’ So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away captive, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice. At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God. And I said: ‘O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens. Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been very guilty, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to humiliation, as it is this day.” 

We know we live in a world corrupted by sin. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, we have all inherited a world filled with death, destruction, disease, and various other problems, thanks to the sin that entered the world. If we want to pinpoint the root of all our evils, the blame does NOT lie with God, no matter how much some may want to blame Him. Mankind chose to sin against God willingly, based on free will, and since then, we have all followed suit. So, whether it is due to our own sin, the sins of others, or even environmental sin (because we live in a corrupted environment), sin is the root of all our evils. Today we read about one of the main reasons why the people of Israel became corrupt, and why God Himself delivered them into national destruction. As Ezra himself said, only a remnant survived, and this small group of people were either taken captive to Babylon to be servants or left in the land to cultivate it for the kingdom, also as servants. It is estimated that some 4,600 families were deported to Babylon during Nebuchadnezzar's conquest. A great nation was reduced to a small fraction largely because of being unequally yoked. Ezra himself explained in this passage that it was the sin the people committed of not only uniting with pagans but also following their abominations. And what were these abominations? The worship of strange and false gods, committing idolatry and everything associated with it, even sacrificing their own children by burning them alive on a stone altar. This was the serious problem with being unequally yoked or united with pagans.

Now, is this sin still wrong in God's eyes today? Many Christians make the mistake of thinking that the Old Testament or the foundations of God's law no longer apply and that they were abolished through Christ. Being united with pagans or those not converted to the Lord is still sin in God's eyes. This is what the Word says: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. And let's look at something else. There are many so-called believers who practice fornication and think they are not sinning against God, either because they have only one partner (as it's called today) or because they don't marry them, but this is also a serious mistake. The Word explains this: “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For ‘the two,’ He says, ‘shall become one flesh.’ But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:15-19. Whether a temporary or more permanent yoke, any yoke (because yokes are not only sexual, but also those formed when you form an intimacy with the world), with an unbeliever remains a serious sin against God, and it brings many spiritual and natural consequences.

Ezra refers to the fact that this evil was already present long ago among God's people, even among the ancient kings. The Word explains this: “But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites—from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.’ Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel…” 1 Kings 11:1-9a. The problem couldn't be explained any more clearly.

What does God ultimately command? Should we hate the world, as many believers do today? No. This is what God says: “Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘If you return, then I will bring you back; you shall stand before Me; if you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, but you must not return to them.” Jeremiah 15:19. God desires to save the world, and we must help in this endeavor, not by joining the world, but by helping the world come to Christ and experience a true conversion (because religious practices do not save). A true convert to Christ should only unite with, or form close relationships with, another Christian. Otherwise, they will bring many problems upon themselves. So, if you are a Christian, with whom do you share your intimacy: with what belongs to God or to the enemy? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

Mistaking God’s Mercy for Weakness or Non-Existence - Ezequiel 39:1-16

Based on Ezequiel 39:1-16 (New King James Version)

“And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken,’ says the Lord God. ‘And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Surely it is coming, and it shall be done,’ says the Lord God. ‘This is the day of which I have spoken. ‘Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them,’ says the Lord God. ‘It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. Indeed all the people of the land will be burying, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified,’ says the Lord God. ‘They will set apart men regularly employed, with the help of a search party, to pass through the land and bury those bodies remaining on the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search. The search party will pass through the land; and when anyone sees a man’s bone, he shall set up a marker by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog. The name of the city will also be Hamonah. Thus they shall cleanse the land.’ ’ ”

Many would argue that this passage is referring to a great confrontation between God and man in the last days, a time when God Himself will gather the nations against Israel to defeat them horribly and shamefully. According to Scripture, Israel will not have to lift a finger to defend itself, but the Lord will perform wonders, or rather, unleash His wrath in terror upon His enemies. The Word also provides these details: “Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, ‘Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.’ So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city [Jerusalem], and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.” Revelation 14:17-20. To put the measurements of what God is describing here into perspective, the horses' bridles are in their mouths, which are connected to the reins. A horse's mouth is, on average, about four to five feet (or 1.5 meters) high; and a furlong (which is a Greek unit of length) is approximately 208 yards (or 180-190 meters) long, so 1,600 furlongs is about 189 miles (or 304 kilometers) long.  In other words, God's wrath will leave a sea of ​​blood 189 miles long and between 4-5 feet deep. This won't be a massacre; it will be something for which there truly is no word to describe it.

When will this horrible event take place? We don't know exactly, but as things are unfolding, it could happen one day in the not-too-distant future. According to everything that has already been fulfilled in Scripture, the Lord could come at any moment for His people. We are undoubtedly living in the last days. The things that most clearly indicate that we are in the final stages are: the wars that have occurred over the last two centuries (Matthew 24:6), the diseases and plagues that exist today, along with famine (Luke 21:11), the return of Israel to their land and their re-establishment in 1948 (Ezekiel 36:24), the moral decay of the world, calling good evil and evil good (Isaiah 5:20), and the great migrations of the world coupled with the unprecedented advancement of science, as it is written: “…many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12:4b. And finally, corruption and apostasy within the universal church of God, where the Bible is altered with many unacceptable excuses, and where many things are taught and practiced that appear to be the truth but are not (2 Timothy 4:3-4). There should be no doubt that we are very close to the end.

Now, many will ask, "Why hasn't the end come yet?" And the answer is also found in the Word, as it is written: “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9. The great mercy and grace of God are what cause things to be delayed a little longer. He is the one deciding to postpone what is to come. If the world and everything in it have not yet been consumed, it is only because of His patience.

But what is happening with humanity today? Instead of thanking God for His great goodness and taking the opportunity to change, to turn back to Him as they should, today, the vast majority, and even many of those who call themselves God's people, take His great goodness, mercy, and patience as weakness, as inability, or even worse, as proof that He doesn't exist. For many people today, there is no God. They may say they believe in God, but deep down, in the depths of their minds and hearts, they don't. Because if they did believe, their lives would be completely different. Much of humanity, and even many supposed believers, live as if God does not exist, and therefore, as if there will never be a great judgment where we will all give an account. But the truth is that God does exist, and that God will indeed bring calamity upon humanity, sooner or later, for its continued rebellion. And He will not only bring physical destruction, but even more importantly, if people do not individually repent from their sins as they should and obey God, they will experience the greatest horror: condemnation to eternal hell, where the soul will suffer unspeakable and indescribable torment forever. For this is what the Word says, what the Lord Himself said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. The most excellent advice I can give the whole world is to repent with all your heart of all your sins and obey the Lordship of Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal salvation, before it's too late. Our opinions are worthless, both here and, even more so, before the throne of Almighty God. The only thing that matters is what God thinks of us and our actions. So, will you take God's mercy seriously "in time" instead of wandering off into other things that will only lead to your eternal destruction? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

The Faith that Pleases God - Hebrews 11:8-22

Based on Hebrews 11:8-22 (New King James Version)

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.”

What kind of faith pleases God? To begin, we would need to define faith, and we could start by describing what faith is not, at least not the kind of faith that is divine, the faith that the Word of God speaks of. For example, faith is not about positive thinking. Faith has nothing to do with fulfilling our own will. Faith does not control God, nor is it a way to make God do something He does not want to do.  Likewise, divine faith never goes against His Word.  Understanding these things, we would realize that what many people think of as faith actually has nothing to do with what God teaches.  Most of the time, both love and faith are misunderstood and misinterpreted, making them out to be something completely different from what they truly are and what God intends for them to be.

The Bible teaches this concerning faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3. Therefore, upon understanding what is written, we should be able to see more clearly that faith is not within itself a feeling, an idea, or a concept, but something that goes far beyond that. For example, the Word teaches us here that faith helps us understand that the entire universe was created through the Word of God. So, faith is more about being focused on a Person, on the person of God and His actions. Faith is the way we can intellectually grasp or reason, in some way, that the Invisible One is the one who created and made everything visible.  Therefore, faith is the vehicle that somehow connects God with humanity; it is what God has incorporated into human beings so that they have the capacity to go beyond the visible, in short, to have the ability to believe in God.

Now, this leads us to the next point, that faith within itself doesn't have much meaning on its own, but rather, it acquires its great value when we apply it to God. That's when faith truly becomes an unlimited power, where it takes on its true value, which makes all the difference in the world. I'll explain it this way: If a person places their faith in material things, then it actually becomes useless to them, because their trust is placed in something that is finite, corruptible, and limited. For example, what does a person gain by placing their faith in money? It's true that money has a certain value in this world and that it's necessary for many things. But what good is money in eternity? Can money erase sin? Can money give you eternal life? Can money fill the void in a person's heart? Can you buy heaven with money? No. In the same way, what do we gain by placing our faith in other people who are just as fallible and limited as we are? It's true that a relationship between people has great value, but, nevertheless, it has no power in the things that truly matter, in the eternal things. Everything that exists in this world will one day cease to be, even ourselves. Everything that is tainted in some way or another by sin has an expiration date. So, on whom is it truly worthwhile to place our faith? On God who is perfect, who loves us, and who reigns and lives forever and ever. And the Word says this: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.

Therefore, the faith that pleases God is the one that is firmly established on Him and on everything He does, especially on His Word, which is responsible for all of creation. And we understand from the Bible that the Word is Christ, as it is written: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4. The Word (Christ) is the one who makes all things possible, from our daily existence to eternity, as it says: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:15-17. The Lord is ultimately the greatest thing that should nourish our faith, for He is the personification of God. And what did the Lord show us while He was on earth? He performed great and incredible miracles. He taught us about His kingdom and how to attain eternal life. He demonstrated God's great love through His actions, by giving His life as a ransom for us, dying on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for our salvation. And finally, He was resurrected from the dead on the third day and was seen ascending into heaven, to the right hand of God's throne. All of this was witnessed by the people of that time, and they bore witness to this reality. The Lord said: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-6. So, who else has done what the Lord has done? Who can promise us what only He can give? Nothing and no one are like Him. So, have you placed your faith in the Lord as the Bible teaches so that you can please God, or are you still placing your faith in something else, rendering your faith useless? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

God Will Bring Order - 1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Based on 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 (New King James Version)

“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.”

It is undeniable that God is a God of order, as the architect, builder, and Creator that He is. Everything has its place, its function, and its time. There is neither disorder nor confusion in God. And although this world is corrupted by sin, nevertheless, within that corruption, God still maintains order. This is what the Word says about creation and how God is revealed, both His power, His authority, and His order: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17.

The order that God has established, and which He also teaches through His Word, has a purpose, and it is primarily for our good, for the good of mankind, no matter much people may dislike God's order. God created everything, put it in its place, and keeps it there. For example, let's look at our galaxy, something much smaller than the universe, but gigantic to us. All the stars maintain their position just as God placed them one day, and all the planets remain in their established positions as He decreed. To give you an idea, our own science says that there are between 100 and 400 billion planets in our galaxy alone, in the Milky Way. How would it affect us if all those stars and planets took their own course and moved indefinitely from their positions? Today, our world has temperatures and seasons that allow us to survive, thanks to the way everything is arranged: the sun, the planets within our solar system, the careful revolution of our planet around the sun, as well as its rotation on its axis, which is invisible to the eye but immovable, so that we have day and night. All this majestic, glorious, and powerful precision exists thanks to God, and it continues faithfully to this day through His presence. So many things happen that are completely beyond our control, yet we can trust that they work flawlessly thanks to Him.

As we saw in our main passage today, the Lord teaches about order and structure within our congregations, and for what purpose? So that the church may be built up, and also so that the unbeliever, the one who does not know God, may come to know God through the church.  Ultimately, everything is for the good of humanity and for the glory of God. I will not delve into the dilemmas or controversies surrounding certain things mentioned, which the devil himself tries to distort to cause division and disorder, as the agent of sin and chaos that he is. What we should focus on most is that everything, especially within the Church, must be done decently and in order, because if everyone comes to church to show off, to demonstrate to others what they can do, that within itself is disorder, and that's where the problems begin, because it's no longer for edification, but rather to exalt the ego or to take advantage of others. The only clarification I will make is regarding women. The Apostle Paul speaks of women remaining silent at this time because women, in general, were causing a lot of disruption, as we can see in the passage, by making comments or asking questions in the church that distract others. What is the practical application of this? If someone is sharing the Word of God, both men and women should remain silent so that everyone can listen and be edified. This is not the time for conversations, questions, or anything that causes a disturbance. And both women and men were not made to be in competition with each for power, but rather, for mutual edification.

Now, God's order is not only for the local church, but also for every aspect of our lives: in our work or studies, in our family life, in our personal and intimate lives—God's order should be present in everything, if a person has come to Christ. Before we knew the Lord, our lives were completely out of His order.  Whether we like it or not, our reality before coming to Christ was a life of disorder. We were completely far removed from and strangers to the kingdom of God, to His promises, and of course, to the eternal life that is found only in Him.  All of us, without exception, were completely separated from God, as it is written: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. We become children of God only when we consciously receive, by our own choice, Christ as Lord, as it is written: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12. So, when we come to Christ and accept Him as Lord (because this is a requirement for salvation), we must seek His guidance and ultimately do the Father's will, because this too is a requirement for entering His kingdom, as it is written: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. God desires that our lives be in order before Him, for our own good, for the good of our neighbor, and, of course, for His glory.

This is what we must understand. God will absolutely bring everything into His order, undeniably, in the end. Every being, even the devil and his hosts, will have to submit to His order, as it is written: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11. The issue is this: We can either submit to the Lord's order now voluntarily for eternal life and reward, or God will submit you to His will in the end, but for judgment and eternal punishment afterward, when it's too late. The choice is yours. So, will you choose to seek to submit to the Lord in time? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

God’s Righteous Judgment - Isaiah 66:1-6

Based on Isaiah 66:1-6 (New King James Version)

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,’ says the Lord. ‘But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word. ‘He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine’s blood; he who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations, so will I choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight.’ Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word: ‘Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for My name’s sake, said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy.’ But they shall be ashamed.’ The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the Lord, Who fully repays His enemies!”

The first thing we must consider when looking at this passage is: what, or rather, Who, is everything in the universe about? Who is the main character in all of history, in all of existence, in the past, in the present, and especially in the future? We are talking about God, and not a universal god as many believe, one that they say all religions lead to, but the Elohim, the plural God who created the heavens and the earth, of whom the Book of Genesis speaks: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, as the Apostle John also declares, as it is written: “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7. This God is unique, and He is the True God, the Almighty, who reigns forever and ever. We are not talking about just any being, but rather a triune being who possesses all power and authority throughout the entire universe. This is more than important to understand because, as the Being He is, His Word teaches us that He is also the Judge of the universe, who will judge every being in the not-too-distant future.

We understand through the Word of God that God is love, and that love is one of His most important characteristics, and one upon which we all depend.  That is why we were created, why we exist, and despite our utterly compromised state due to sin, He loved us so much that He has given us a way, a means to receive forgiveness and have eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ. But He is not only love, but also holy and a consuming fire when He exercises His judgment. And this is something far too important to overlook or ignore. We must keep in mind that even though He is love, He will not forget or set aside His holiness. It is impossible. And this holy character teaches us that a day will come when the mercy and grace that can be found in Him now will give way to His judgment in the future. This is one of the greatest misunderstandings within our Christian community, that many think God will set aside His judgment because He is love. There is a final judgment where everyone, every person, both the unbeliever and the Christian, will give an account before Him, where He will see what we did, whether we did His will or something else. And this is what the Word says: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7-10.  We cannot deceive God, under any circumstances. Everything will be revealed then. Many supposed believers may try to deceive other people, as they do now, or even try to convince themselves that they won't have to give an account, but it will be impossible to ignore this perfect Being who sees all, knows all, and can do all. For the good of each person, it would be wise for those who deny this coming judgment to stop deceiving themselves and to stop mistakenly thinking that our opinion dictates reality and what is inevitable. This is what the Word of God says: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27. And this is also written: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” 2 Corinthians 5:9-11a.

The Lord taught that religious hypocrisy will not be overlooked in the coming judgment. Many people may try to do religious things, or even supernatural things, but God will see through all of that and will only see our true selves. This is what the Lord said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23. On the day of judgment, there will be much confusion, many surprises, and much sorrow, because those who pretend to be righteous will be completely exposed before God and His heavenly hosts. It is a serious problem if God sees your offerings, your sacrifices, and your works as abominable things, even though they may appear holy and righteous to those who are unaware of the truth that lies deep within a person’s heart. What will matter at that moment is what is evident to God. And as the Word says: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26. It doesn't matter if your works look good in the eyes of men. What matters is whether God sees your faith as genuine, based on the works it produces.

The Word teaches us very clearly that we will give an account of everything we have done, and of course, what we did with the knowledge of the Truth. Did it remain merely knowledge, or did something more happen? No one likes the idea of ​​being held accountable for their actions, but just because we don't like something doesn't mean it won't happen. This is what we read. “And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’” Acts 24:24-25. For your own good, follow this advice: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2 Corinthians 13:5. Ignoring or refusing to believe that there will be a judgment is foolishness, and you could lose everything if you don't take God's warning seriously. The stakes are too high. God will hold you accountable for what you did with the Gospel, with the knowledge of His Word, and ultimately, with Christ. So, are you living a genuine faith in Christ so that you can pass God's judgment, or are you still treating God and His Word lightly and irresponsibly? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

A Call to Repentance and Conversion - Deuteronomy 28:15-30

Based on Deuteronomy 28:15-30 (New King James Version)

“ ‘But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: ‘Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. ‘Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ‘Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. ‘Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. ‘The Lord will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. The Lord will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish. And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron. The Lord will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed. ‘The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth. Your carcasses shall be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten them away. The Lord will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart. And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you. ‘You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall lie with her; you shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but shall not gather its grapes.’ ”

One of the many undeniable truths in this life is that God's Word always comes to pass, in one way or another. The Lord himself said this: “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11. The mistake many believers make in interpreting this verse in Isaiah is that they think it means that if a person hears the Word of God, it will eventually bring about a change in that person, and they will be converted. But we know that absolutely every person, in one way or another, knows who God is, and knows what the cross of Christ means, and has been exposed to the Word of God many times, and yet, many have not been converted and are lost. If their interpretation were correct, evangelizing the world would be very easy. The truth is that the Word of God is fulfilled completely, for blessing and salvation, as well as for curse and destruction, depending on what each person chooses to do with the Truth of God.

Now, why is God's judgment manifesting itself increasingly severe upon the world? Because there is a great difference between the ignorance that once existed in humanity concerning the things of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the access people now have to His Word. God does have mercy on people's ignorance, but such ignorance of the truth has not existed for a long time. Instead of seeking the Lord, humanity has either done the opposite or are attempting to twist or manipulate the things of God to justify their sin.  Furthermore, many of the most wicked people maintain their sinful lifestyles while professing to believe in God, claiming that God made them the way they are. This is what the Word says: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20. Almost everyone knows who God is. Almost everyone knows who Jesus is and what He did on the cross. And the vast majority know that the Holy Bible is the Word of God. The entire world, in general, has been evangelized, but instead of conversion, as there was more of before, people have now turned more towards darkness, towards the delights and pleasures of this world, and ultimately, towards sin. And so, do we expect things to get better? Does humanity expect God to bless them for their rebellion, for their wickedness, and for supporting the abominations of sin? No, impossible. And God has nothing more to give to prove to the world who He is and the love He has shown. The only signs humanity will continue to see are those that come as part of God's judgment, unless they repent. And this leads us to the next point.

Such is the goodness of God, and the love of God, and His grace, that He continues to call for repentance and conversion, so that, even if the body is lost, the soul of man may be saved, and thus obtain eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ. These truths are taught to us in His Word: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9. A person will gain nothing with God if they do not admit their sin, and they must not only acknowledge sin, but also repent with all their heart. It is necessary that they turn from their wicked ways, that they allow God to work in their life to help them change, because we cannot do it alone. But repentance and conversion from sin, the decision itself, belongs to us. This is also what the Word says: “ ‘But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ says the Lord God, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live?’ ” Ezekiel 18:21-23. “…‘Thus you say, ‘If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?’ ’ Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die…?’ ” Ezekiel 33:10b-11a. God's mercy is at the door; and if a person genuinely seeks the Lord, they will find it.  However, if a person persists in their rebellion and wickedness, they will not see good, but will experience God's judgment both here, and worse, in eternity. This is what determines the outcome: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7-8. And the Word says this: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19. So, will you continue to pursue your own will, leading to your own judgment and eternal destruction, or will you repent and turn to the Lord with all your heart before it's too late? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

The Fruit that God Wants from Our Faith - Romans 5:1-11

Based on Romans 5:1-11 (New King James Version)

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

Anyone might ask: Why is it necessary to go through trials and tribulations? Does God enjoy seeing us suffer, seeing us face difficulties? Why would a loving God allow pain, suffering, illness, and death? These questions don't have easy answers, but there are answers, and they are all found in God's Word. Now, receiving answers doesn't necessarily make things easier in the moment. The answer doesn't mean we will avoid all the evils that may occur in this world, but, as the Lord said: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32.

Now, what relief can knowing the truth bring in a world full of suffering and pain? Knowing the truth should create something greater than our present circumstances, something more powerful—faith. And if we grow in faith and practice it as needed, it will help us overcome the present and obtain what is truly worthwhile: eternal life and reward. Faith is what will help us overcome the present and look toward the future, to stop paying so much attention to what is corruptible and instead focus on the incorruptible, and not to concentrate so much on the temporal world but on the eternal.

Continuing, let's clearly understand who our enemy is. God is not our enemy; on the contrary, He is our greatest ally, who loves us incredibly. So, if God is not our enemy, then who is? The obvious answer would be the devil, but we have something even worse to face than the devil, and that is: sin, evil. Obviously, the devil and his forces are a serious problem, but our main enemy is sin. And what makes the devil so evil is that he is an agent of sin; he promotes sin and tries to introduce it into everything he can. Why? Because the enemy is all evil, all sin. When you understand the nature of something, then you understand what it is capable of. That is why God abhors evil and sin, as it is written: “You love righteousness and hate wickedness…” Psalm 45:7a.

So, if God is good, and He is above all, why would God allow something like sin and the devil to exist? Because God is love. And someone might ask, "What does love have to do with sin?" For love to be defined as such, there must be free will, the power to choose. It's impossible for true love to exist or be possible without free will, and for free will to have meaning, there must be distinct and opposing options. That is, there is God and there is a devil. There is justice and there is evil. There is good and there is evil. There is love and there is hate, and so on. Therefore, God, who is love, allows options opposed to Him to exist so that it can be proven whether we love Him or not. This is what God says in His Word: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days…” Deuteronomy 30:19-20a. God allowed for there to be options to give validity to that free will. This is why He allowed sin to exist. God's desire was never for anyone to be with Him out of obligation, but rather out of their own free will.

The Apostle Paul explained that we must go through trials and tribulations, and that we should even rejoice in what these things produce in us, such as hope and patience. But, along with this, he tries to lead us to consider what God has done for us to enable us to endure difficulties, such as the fact that we receive free justification before God through the Lord Jesus Christ. And that God did what He did even when we were sinners, His enemies. This is what the Word says: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:1-8. And it is written: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17.

So, what does the Lord ultimately desire as the fruit of our faith? What He has always wanted, which He gave as a commandment—not as an obligation, but so that we would understand that it is something indispensable. And that is to love Him above all things, in response to His love, His grace, His mercy, and His goodness. It is written: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ‘And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7. God's desire is that we not only come to love Him willingly, but also that we help others to love Him in the same way. He wants His love to be reciprocated by everyone, not out of obligation, but because we have rationally understood, through His truth, all that we owe Him. So, are you learning to reciprocate God's love as the fruit of your faith in Christ for eternal life and reward? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

The Word and the Light of the World - John 1:1-13

Based on John 1:1-13 (New King James Version)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

What good does it do us to know that the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, is the Word and the Light? If we not only learn these truths, but also, and even more importantly, allow them to become a living reality within us, we will receive more than we need; we will receive the infinite nature of God. The entire panorama of who God is would open to us, and we would gain the faith we so desperately need, obtaining answers that go beyond the everyday, beyond this temporary and imperfect world.

The Bible teaches us that this world is very imperfect and fleeting, that nothing in it will last, as it is written: “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:16-17. This is the first glimpse of God's light, which teaches us the reality of things. It is quite possible that we can understand this because we see it everywhere. Good times are few. There are more sadness and emptiness, even shortly after experiencing moments of joy. Everything passes, and everything becomes a memory. Human life in this world is like water slipping through our fingers. The vast majority live to acquire things they believe will bring them joy and satisfaction, but when they finally obtain them, the emptiness may return even stronger, greater, and deeper, because they realize that this life consists only of illusory vanities. I am not saying this to create a feeling of pessimism and sadness, but rather so that we may focus on what is truly worthwhile, on what we truly need.

What is the answer we need to be able to cope with this temporal reality? The first thing is to understand that the Son of God is the Word, who makes everything visible and invisible possible, from the infinity of the beginning, the present, and what remains eternally. God created everything through this eternal Word, and everything subsists and continues to exist thanks to this Word, both what is present and what is to come. This is what the Word says: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17. Therefore, if everything was made by and through Him, we can understand that if we have Him in our lives, within our being, we not only possess the eternal nature of God, but we will also become part of His nature. When God's nature becomes a part of us, then, through His grace, we obtain eternity—a beginning, but without end.

Now, what benefit do we gain from knowing and believing that Jesus is the Light? The Light of God has many meanings, but I believe the primary one is the light of understanding the things of God, from which true faith is born. Without the light of God, it is impossible to have faith. And without faith, it is impossible to please God. Before Christ came, the world was completely dark, even God's own people. Although they had received the law, which is holy and from God, Christ was the one who brought the light of God to the world. God performed the greatest miracle. He took on our human form and lived among us. God dwelt with humanity, and lived like us, and suffered like us, and even died like us. There is nothing greater in the universe, no more sublime act than that He humbled Himself not only to be with us, but to deal with our greatest evil, our sin. And He conquered death so that we might live forever. This is what we learn through the Light of God: who God is and who we are, and what God did to remedy our condition. Divine light is the knowledge and understanding of the divine, but it cannot merely just stay as knowledge and understanding. We need to understand it to such an extent that it becomes a reality within us. And this is what produces faith. And faith in God leads us to the fundamental truth, that we can become children of God. We are not born naturally as children of God. We are His creation, but we are not His children. The Word teaches us that there is only one way to become a child of God, and that happens as it is written: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” Therefore, the light of God's knowledge helps us understand our reality—that we do not belong to God—but it also gives us the answer to how to remedy our problem: that if we receive Him and believe in His name, then we become children of God.

Knowing the Word of God and the Light of God leads us to all truth so that we may live eternally. We will receive all things from God, and they will become a reality in us when we overcome the world and every temptation of the enemy through Christ, as it is written: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13. This is what makes possible the Word and the Light of God: the birth and growth of divine faith, the conviction and patience that endures all affliction, all temptation, and even all tribulation. Ultimately, the Word and the Light of God is what leads a person to fulfill God's supreme commandment for all eternity, as the following passage states: “Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:35-40. The only way a person can come to know the Word and the Light of God is as the Lord Himself taught: by being born of water and the Spirit, through repentance and conversion from all sin, and by receiving Jesus as the Lord of their life. So, do you know the Word and the Light of God intimately? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

The Problem with not Accepting the Lord Correctly - John 6:1-15

Based on John 6:1-15 (New King James Version)

“After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?’ But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.’ One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ‘There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?’ Then Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.’ Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, ‘This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.’ Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.”

Today we read about one of the many manifestations of the Lord's power, how He produced something great from something small. It is believed that there were many more than 5,000 people present at this miracle, because it speaks of 5,000 men, and does not mention the women and children. However, it is very easy to assume that there were also women and children present. The Bible mentions the men at this point to indicate that there were possibly 5,000 families. In short, the Bible gives this account not so that we might engage in a census exercise, but rather to help us understand that there were thousands of people who personally witnessed the Lord's work. What He did was something great, undeniable, and unprecedented, demonstrating who He was (and is). But something happened that might be seen as unexpected by many, as it is written: Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. Many might wonder, "Why did he prevent them from making Him king? Wouldn't He have accomplished more, or wouldn't it have been more advantageous to continue what He was doing as king?" And we can understand through Scripture two general concepts that explain why He withdrew from everyone when they wanted to make Him king.

First, He wasn't seeking the things that are attractive or convenient to most people. Although He was 100% man, flesh and blood, just like us, He didn't have our worldly desires, because the vast majority of people seek high positions, places of prestige, wealth, or power. He had no interest in excelling in the human sense. Second, He didn't depend on human things or positions to fulfill His ministry. Yes, it would have been more practical from a human perspective to have the position of king to influence more people, to have people pay more attention to Him or take Him more seriously. And of course, being an earthly king, the religious leaders could no longer harm Him. And third, as an earthly king, He could have established order to spread the things of His kingdom here on earth.  Humanly speaking, all of this makes sense, but blessed be the Lord that He never allowed Himself to be swayed by earthly things, not even when the devil himself tempted Him in the desert, offering Him all the kingdoms of the earth. If He had yielded to such things, the Father's will, which is perfect, would not have been accomplished.

But the most essential reason why He avoided being made an earthly king was for an even more powerful reason: because the people did not recognize Him for who He truly is. They wanted to make Him king because they saw Him as a prophet, but nothing more, which was (and is) a fundamental and even insulting mistake. Someone who doesn't fully understand God's will, or even lacks basic human reasoning, might argue: It wasn't offensive to recognize Him as a prophet, since being a prophet was a very respectable position or status, especially in Jewish society. Others might think: You should start somewhere. And I will explain it in a very earthly way so that it can be understood why it was an insult. Is it an honor to recognize the president of a nation as a senator or a governor? It's not bad to be a senator or a governor, but these are lesser positions than that of a president, and therefore, even though they are prestigious positions, it would be a great diplomatic insult to treat a president in that manner. Similarly, it would be like seeing the owner of a company as nothing more than a supervisor. So, this matter of recognizing the Lord as a prophet is a mistake of immense proportions, one that goes beyond mere insult. It is blasphemy. The Bible makes this matter of how to recognize the Lord's divinity very clear through its constant repetition. References to "God" as such appear in the Bible more than 4,300 times. And references to "Lord" as such appear in the Bible more than 7,000 times. All other references are far less frequent, even that of Savior, because the primary message of God's Word is to accept Jesus as Lord, and nothing less, under no circumstance.  Furthermore, the only way a person can be saved through Christ is by fully believing in and accepting Him as Lord, as it is written: “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10. It is an absolutely essential condition accepting His Lordship so a person can attain salvation, just as important as complete repentance and conversion from all sins.

Now, the Word of God further clarifies that recognizing and accepting Jesus as Lord must be genuine, literal, and effective.  That is, the title of Lord means that we belong to Him and that we are fully subject to His will and not our own, completely willing to do whatever He says, literally. And if this is not the case in us, then we will not be able to enter His kingdom, as it is written: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. So, what can we understand from this? That it's possible to witness even miracles from God in our lives, things that are truly incredible, but if a person doesn't come to the realization that He must be Lord in their life, sooner or later, He will depart. Recognizing Him as the Lord He is not a favor, or flattery, or a compliment to Him, but rather a universal reality that must be accepted if a person desires to be saved. Otherwise, it's impossible to obtain eternal life. The time will come when every being, even the devil himself and his demons, will have to kneel before His majesty, but when that happens, it won't be for redemption or forgiveness, but rather for eternal punishment. Don't wait until it's too late. Acknowledge Jesus as Lord for your own good now, while you have the opportunity. So, have you decided to submit to Jesus as Lord, or are you still doing something else that will lead you to eternal condemnation? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

The Lord’s Punishment and Restoration - Jeremiah 30:12-24

Based on Jeremiah 30:12-24 (New King James Version)

“For thus says the Lord: ‘Your affliction is incurable, your wound is severe. There is no one to plead your cause, that you may be bound up; you have no healing medicines. All your lovers have forgotten you; they do not seek you; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased. Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you. ‘Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; those who plunder you shall become plunder, and all who prey upon you I will make a prey. For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: ‘This is Zion; no one seeks her.’ ’ ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; the city shall be built upon its own mound, and the palace shall remain according to its own plan. Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as before, and their congregation shall be established before Me; and I will punish all who oppress them. Their nobles shall be from among them, and their governor shall come from their midst; then I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach Me; for who is this who pledged his heart to approach Me?’ says the Lord. ‘You shall be My people, and I will be your God.’ ’ Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goes forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind; it will fall violently on the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord will not return until He has done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the latter days you will consider it.”

Did God punish in the past? Does God still punish today? Many people think that God punished in the past, in ancient times, but that He no longer does so because we are in the dispensation of His grace through Christ. But if we look at God's Word and pay less attention to the sin within us, it is very clear that God still punishes, and beware, even more severely than before. Many don't see it this way because they don't see anything tangible happen the moment they do something wrong, like being struck by lightning from the sky. And also, many take this apparent lack of punishment as a sign of God's weakness, or even worse, they choose to think that He simply doesn't exist.  That is, most people, including many supposed believers, think either that God doesn't punish because He is love, or that God isn't so powerful because He doesn't do anything immediately, or they conclude that God simply doesn't exist, and that's why nothing happens instantly. What, ultimately, is the truth?

To begin, God did punish in the past, and we see this in various parts of the Old Testament, starting with Adam and Eve, who were the cause of all our problems with sin in humanity. The main punishment or consequence of envy and disobedience against God was death, because that is the natural consequence of sin. And why is that? Because God established it that way. God allowed sin to exist so that every rational being would have the option to exercise their right to free will. And God was the One who created the structure or established the universal law that the punishment or consequence of sin would be death. And after that, there are many other instances of punishment, such as the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and so on. And we read today that God punished His people Israel for persisting in the magnitude of their wickedness and the multitude of their sins. God almost wiped off of the face of the earth the people of Israel as punishment for their sin.

Now, does God punish today? Yes, and He does so by allowing the natural consequences of our wrongdoings to occur, or ultimately, as a result of His final judgment on each individual. This is what the Word says: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7-8. Many believers may think, "Nothing bad will happen to me because I am one of God's people, and God loves me, and now that I believe in Christ, everything will be forgiven." And this is a great mistake.  Many argue that if a person practices sin, it's because they were never truly converted, which is very possible. But the Word of God also clearly shows the danger that exists when a supposed believer defies God's grace. It is written: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21. First, to whom is Paul writing, the world or the church? Second, who is in a position to inherit, the stranger or the son?  Clearly, this warning about living a sinful lifestyle, or practicing sin, is directed at God's people, the children of God. What else does the Word say? “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’” Hebrews 10:26-30. To whom is God speaking here? To His people. And He says that He will carry out not only punishment, but also His vengeance against those who mock His sacrifice. And God says this to His church as well: “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:1-5. So, God does punish now, and the punishment is worse because if a person does not repent before it's too late, they may suffer punishment not only now, but even worse, in eternity. God restored His people Israel through the grace they received through repentance, and not automatically. This always applies: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. So, will you continue practicing sin until there is no more time for repentance? Will you turn from your wicked ways in time to still receive the Lord's grace and restoration? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

Raising Children is a Great Responsibility - 2 Samuel 14:1-24a

Based on 2 Samuel 14:1-24a (New King James Version)

“So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was concerned about Absalom. And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, ‘Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel; do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has been mourning a long time for the dead. Go to the king and speak to him in this manner.’ So Joab put the words in her mouth. And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, ‘Help, O king!’ Then the king said to her, ‘What troubles you?’ And she answered, ‘Indeed I am a widow, my husband is dead. Now your maidservant had two sons; and the two fought with each other in the field, and there was no one to part them, but the one struck the other and killed him. And now the whole family has risen up against your maidservant, and they said, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may execute him for the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also.’ So they would extinguish my ember that is left, and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the earth.’ Then the king said to the woman, ‘Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.’ And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, ‘My lord, O king, let the iniquity be on me and on my father’s house, and the king and his throne be guiltless.’ So the king said, ‘Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you anymore.’ Then she said, ‘Please let the king remember the Lord your God, and do not permit the avenger of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son.’ And he said, ‘As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.’ Therefore the woman said, ‘Please, let your maidservant speak another word to my lord the king.’ And he said, ‘Say on.’ So the woman said: ‘Why then have you schemed such a thing against the people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring his banished one home again. For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him. Now therefore, I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. And your maidservant said, ‘I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his maidservant. For the king will hear and deliver his maidservant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the inheritance of God.’ Your maidservant said, ‘The word of my lord the king will now be comforting; for as the angel of God, so is my lord the king in discerning good and evil. And may the Lord your God be with you.’ ’ Then the king answered and said to the woman, ‘Please do not hide from me anything that I ask you.’ And the woman said, ‘Please, let my lord the king speak.’ So the king said, ‘Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?’ And the woman answered and said, ‘As you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab commanded me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant. To bring about this change of affairs your servant Joab has done this thing; but my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth.’ And the king said to Joab, ‘All right, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.’ Then Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself, and thanked the king. And Joab said, ‘Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.’ So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. And the king said, ‘Let him return to his own house, but do not let him see my face.’…”

If there is one thing that is difficult, it is raising children. There is nothing easy about it. Having children happens in many different ways, or for many different reasons. And most of the time, they are had for the wrong reasons, which is why they often become an even greater challenge as the years go by. Some people have children to fulfill personal desires, or because they feel it is a stage of life they need to complete, like a checklist. Some wives have children hoping to fix marital problems. Some people have children because they want to take advantage of them in some way. Some people have them by accident, although we all know it is not an accidental process, but quite the opposite, very deliberate. And there are a few people who even have them as a result of rape. Ultimately, children come into the world for all sorts of reasons.

So, what is the right reason? To arrive at the right reason, it is necessary that both parents (because a child should only be brought into the world within the bond of marriage, unless it is by adoption) have a right relationship before God. Why? Because everything must ultimately be done to fulfill God's will, for His glory. If there is another reason, then it is not right, even if it is done out of love between two people, because even in that circumstance, although it may seem right, it is not, because it is done out of carnality. And according to the Word, everything sown to the flesh reaps corruption. Nevertheless, however a child comes into being, they are ultimately an inheritance from God, and that is a great responsibility, and must be taken as such. This is what the Word says: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.” Psalm 127:3-4. Children can be like arrows, but an arrow can be useful to you or can be used against you. It all depends on its direction. This was the problem King David faced, who had many issues with his children, so much so that one son (Amnon) raped his half-sister (Tamar), and Absalom killed his brother Amnon for this vile act. And although Absalom was brought back, as we read today, he became David's enemy, usurping the kingdom and seeking to kill his father. Absalom died also, killed by none other than Joab, the same Joab who used this woman from Tekoa to bring Absalom back, to lift David’s spirits, because the kingdom was sinking due to his grief.

No matter your reason or the circumstances in which you had children, you have an incredible divine responsibility, and God will hold you accountable. In fact, we will be held accountable for everything, but especially for children, as it is written: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” 2 Corinthians 5:9-11a. The Lord commands this: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ‘And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7. Now, will doing this guarantee a good outcome in this temporary world? Maybe, maybe not. What should matter to you the most is what God thinks of you, and that you have the Lord's support when things get tough. So, are you glorifying God with the way you raise your children? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

The Law and Faith Are Interdependent - Hebrews 10:1-27

Based on Hebrews 10:1-27 (New King James Version)

“For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do Your will, O God.’ ’ Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law), then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,’ then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’ Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”

Are there contradictions in the Word of God? Are there things within it that are supported in one place but not in another? I can tell you with complete confidence in the Lord that there are no such contradictions, and I can say this both from studying it for many years, but primarily, in conjunction with the revelation of the Holy Spirit, because without the Holy Spirit, neither the Word nor its revelation can be understood. But at the same time, intellect must be engaged with the effort because it should all work together which is part of the point of this short message.

To begin, one of the biggest mistakes people make is forming teachings and doctrines based on certain passages of Scripture, instead of verifying them by considering them in conjunction with the rest of the Bible, or by trying to see the whole picture. For example, there are indeed very important details that form the core of certain teachings, but a teaching must harmonize with the entire counsel of God, not just with certain aspects, for it to be valid. The clearest example I can give you is getting to know a human being. Can we truly know a person by focusing only on a hand, or their hair, or their eyes? It's impossible. To truly understand a person, it's necessary to observe them from a distance to see the whole picture, so to speak. And to get a better understanding of their appearance, we can't just see the front, but all angles—that is, see them from behind, from the sides, and so on. So, can we really say we know someone, even if we see their entire physical appearance? Obviously not. Because a human being is more than their body; they also have a mind, a heart, and a soul. And to truly know someone and these aspects, it's impossible to know them in a single moment, because a person's inner self is revealed over time, and through different circumstances and events. Can a wife say she knows her husband 100%, and vice versa? No, even if they've lived a lifetime together. Each person is a world unto themselves, and each person is who they are depending on the circumstances. True love isn't revealed until the end, when beauty fades, when you cannot be of service, when nothing more can be given—but quite the opposite, in fact—when life becomes difficult. That's when you truly know who is who. The one that is with you, day after day, in the hard times is the one who loves you.

In a similar way, the truths of God's Word can be verified by viewing it with a spiritual connection, always striving to see it not from a single angle or through only certain passages, and certainly not trying to find things that support our human convenience. For a teaching or doctrine to be considered true, it must be applicable here and everywhere, as well as applicable to the past, present, and future. God's truth always is, because the Word of God is God, and God is: I AM. For something to be considered sound doctrine, it must alternate with reality as God alternates with it. And if a person feels there is a contradiction in the Word, the simplest explanation is that something is missing, or something is not being understood correctly.

Now, the Lord did not come to abolish or destroy the law. He Himself said: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17. So, if He came to fulfill it, does that mean the law becomes obsolete? No. Impossible. Why? Because the law is the Word of God. The Lord fulfilled the temporary aspects of the law to make them perpetual, like the sacrifices, by dying on the cross, but that doesn't mean we should ignore the rest of the law, because then we would have to forget what God Himself commanded through the law, as the Lord Himself reiterated: “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40. The law is God's instruction, God's warnings (because all His Word is conditional), what teaches us His will, and if we do not fulfill His will literally, no matter how much faith a person claims to have, if they do not do God's will, they will not gain entry into His kingdom. It is written: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:21. God's will begins with faith, continues with works as the fruit of faith, and both must be founded on love for God, which must be lived until our last breath. God was faithful unto death, even death on a cross. To be saved, it is also necessary to be faithful to Him unto death, which is the sum of faith, the law, and works. So, do you love the Lord above all things through faith and the fulfillment of the law in your life? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

We Lose When We Do Not Follow the Lord - 2 Kings 25:1-21

Based on 2 Kings 25:1-21 (New King James Version)

“Now it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and encamped against it; and they built a siege wall against it all around. So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine had become so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. Then the city wall was broken through, and all the men of war fled at night by way of the gate between two walls, which was by the king’s garden, even though the Chaldeans were still encamped all around against the city. And the king went by way of the plain. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and they overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his army was scattered from him. So they took the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and they pronounced judgment on him. Then they killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, put out the eyes of Zedekiah, bound him with bronze fetters, and took him to Babylon. And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month (which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned the house of the Lord and the king’s house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire. And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive the rest of the people who remained in the city and the defectors who had deserted to the king of Babylon, with the rest of the multitude. But the captain of the guard left some of the poor of the land as vinedressers and farmers. The bronze pillars that were in the house of the Lord, and the carts and the bronze Sea that were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried their bronze to Babylon. They also took away the pots, the shovels, the trimmers, the spoons, and all the bronze utensils with which the priests ministered. The firepans and the basins, the things of solid gold and solid silver, the captain of the guard took away. The two pillars, one Sea, and the carts, which Solomon had made for the house of the Lord, the bronze of all these articles was beyond measure. The height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the capital on it was of bronze. The height of the capital was three cubits, and the network and pomegranates all around the capital were all of bronze. The second pillar was the same, with a network. And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers. He also took out of the city an officer who had charge of the men of war, five men of the king’s close associates who were found in the city, the chief recruiting officer of the army, who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city. So Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, took these and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. Then the king of Babylon struck them and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive from its own land.”

Who loses when we do not follow the Lord, God, or us? One of the biggest problems humanity faces today is the perception of reality. Quite simply, people generally make the mistake of thinking that truth is relative, or even worse, subjective to themselves. But if we only understand the vastness and expansiveness of the universe, we would understand that it is illogical to think we have any power over reality, or that reality depends on us in any way. So many things happening all around us clearly show that nothing depends on us, and that we are truly insignificant in existence. Even the beating of our hearts, the air we breathe, and the involuntary functions of our mind and body indicate that we are incredibly dependent beings.

Let's ask ourselves this: Do we have any control over the galaxies and the billions upon billions of stars that exist in our universe? In our galaxy, the Milky Way, it is estimated that there are between 100 and 400 billion stars. Do we exert any dominion over the planets in our solar system, or over the sun itself? And with regard to our planet, is its rotation controlled by humans in any way? Is it our intellect that makes this planet spin on its axis, which is invisible to our eyes? Are we in charge of days and nights? Are we responsible for gravity? Does rain fall because we designed it that way? Are you beginning to grasp the point, and how insignificant we are?

And now let's see, who did all this? God or man? Many want to believe that all this is the product of a cosmic accident that happened approximately 13.8 billion years ago. And I understand why they want that so much, because it justifies their atheism and creates within themselves the illusion that they neither depend on nor owe anything to a being like God. That is their reality, because there is no other reason for their disbelief. And they choose not to understand that the Genesis account primarily focuses on the creation and design of our planet, not the universe. God (Elohim – the Trinity) simply ordered things with the sound of His voice, making existence possible through His Word. This same account tells us that many things already existed in the universe, including our planet, as it is written: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2. Only God knows how much time passed between what is said in verse one and two, but the earth already existed in some form before the seven days of creation. But what tells us most that God made all this possible is His incredible design and order. It is not possible, even after so much time, for an accident to produce so much order and structure. This is what the Word says: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20.

So, if we understand the basics we just explained, who loses when man does not follow the Lord—God or man? The answer should be quite obvious, but the sin within us prevents us from seeing even the most obvious magnificence of God and our great dependence on Him. God loses absolutely nothing when we disobey, when we do not follow His Word. Today we read that Judah was destroyed, its king was blinded and jailed, his sons were killed, and even the Lord's temple was destroyed, all because of rebellion. One might say: God lost because His temple was destroyed. But what does the temple matter if He is the King over all existence? It is written: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord… Isaiah 66:1-2a. But He also says this: “But on this one will I look: ‘On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.’” Isaiah 66:2b. So, quite simply, it is we who lose, and if we do not do as He instructs us, we will lose our souls forever. We need Him to look upon us with grace and compassion always. So, will you follow the Lord as He truly is, for your own eternal good? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!

We Know the Ending - Revelation 22

Based on Revelation 22 (New King James Version)

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. Then he said to me, ‘These words are faithful and true.’ And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. ‘Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.’ Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that for I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’ And he said to me, ‘Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.’ ‘And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.’ Blessed are those who [g]do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. ‘I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.’ And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

I think we can all agree that this world is not perfect, that it is far from perfect. We may have some pleasant moments in this life, but in general, no matter where you live, you have had, you have, or you will have many challenges. For some people, hunger and poverty are their challenges. For others, it might be health problems in family or friends, or even within themselves. Others struggle with loneliness. Others struggle with crime or violence. But no matter where you live, or how much you have, there's always something, or some things, that are not easy to deal with. And this has nothing to do with not being grateful for all that God gives us, because we should be grateful for everything, as Job said: “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” Job 2:10b. But the Lord Himself said: “…In the world you will have tribulation…” John 16:33b. And if we read about the Lord's life here, even before experiencing the sacrifice of the cross, and all that preceded that event, we would realize that God Himself did not have an easy life. They conspired to kill Him at birth and on other occasions as well; He was poor, persecuted, troubled, always facing confrontations with religious authorities, despised, and He felt weariness and even pain, like when He wept for His friend Lazarus who had died. He had a very difficult life. And if this happened to Him, what can we expect for ourselves?

Now, why is this world the way it is? Because of sin. Sin corrupted everything, even nature itself and human life. That is why we suffer all that we suffer today. I was asked the other day: Why are there diseases in places where food is supposedly healthier than in other places, since food is thought to be the root of many of our physical illnesses? And I answered: Because of sin. A person may not be experiencing an illness because of something wrong they directly committed, although we are all sinners without exception, even those of us who try to legitimately follow the Lord. But sin is in the environment, all around us, and of course, deep within our being. So, sin spoils everything in the present. This is why even children die, beings who are completely innocent, because they sin without being fully aware of their wrongdoing. And although the Lord was perfect even in His carnal state (because He never sinned), He suffered all the consequences that sin brings on this earth: hunger, thirst, pain, brokenness, sadness, tiredness, etc., because sin is everywhere and affects everything.

So, what can we take away from all this? Blessed be the Lord for all He has done, is doing, and will do in the future for those who choose to love Him despite sin, despite corruption, despite everything they experience now. As we read today, we know through faith that this entire present world, which is temporary and corrupt, will pass at some point. All the decadence we experience while living in this age will one day end, and we will receive eternity from the Lord, according to our faith and love for Him. We understand very clearly what we are going through today, but we also know and have the certainty in Christ that this is not eternal. You may have problems, suffering, trials, and even tribulation today, but it will pass. And most importantly, we know how it all ends. Those of us who have genuinely decided to love the Lord have conviction in the world to come. We know how the story ends. Our story does not end in sickness, suffering, pain, sadness, or tribulation. And when we die, it is not the end, but quite the contrary, it is the beginning of an incorruptible eternal life, after passing through the great judgment of our God. This is what we read: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” Revelation 21:1-5. That is why the true Christian does not live for this world, nor do they define the direction of their life in this manner. Rather, they live by faith, with their eyes fixed on Christ, seeking to do His will, with their sights set on the future, as it is written: “…‘The just shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:17b. So then, do you live in a way that your future with Christ is the most important thing? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!