South African Christian Mission

Dogs and Cats

2013-05-16T14:54:45Z

“Owners of dogs have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods!”Anon animal lover

I guess it just depends upon your perspective. At which end of life do you fit? We are taught to be consumers of things we see and hear. We work hard at our jobs to achieve the ‘good life’ and retire someplace warm with a fair income to last us for the remainder of our days on this planet. We like to be pampered; we like to show our successes; we like to be feted.

Sadly, many people become so much part of the consumer living that it stunts their achievements. I can remember for myself, my wife and I bought household appliances on credit, wanting the best for comfort, ease and a little bragging rights. The heavy monthly repayments put a dent in our progress for two longs years. We never repeated that mistake.

There comes a point in life where we must decide who is the god. Is it ourselves, beings to take our ease, pamper and enjoy life to the fullest? Or is it God, our Father in Heaven, who has given us everything we need for life and godliness (II Pet 1:3.)? The decision we make will determine who we are and where we will go, won’t it?

Steve

Tom’s Proof

2013-05-15T11:30:58Z

“You were buried with Christ by immersion. You were also raised with Christ through believing
in the power of God, who raised Christ from death.” Col 2:12 (Simple English Bible)

The lights came on for Tom. He’d been a churchgoer for many years but had never understood how he could have eternal life with God. How would he really know? He’d had to die before he found out. All the nice sounding sermons and standard phrases about the resurrection were all well and fine but how did that translate to him? Would he really be able to enter a nebulous concept like Heaven?

Tom and I discussed this verse from Paul’s letter to the Christians in Colossae, who met in Philemon’s house. I pointed out that Jesus never expected His followers to do what He Himself never did. Christ always led by example. He lived only for sacrifice and after He was crucified, He was raised from death.

And so it would be for every believer and servant of Christ! The proof of Heaven is in Jesus — He also died like we would but that wasn’t the end of the story. He rose again, conquering the worst condition of mankind! No one else has ever done this. Only Jesus!

And so it will be for Tom. And you and me.

Praise God!

Almost?

2013-05-10T14:17:24Z

“The person who believes in the Son of God has the witness in him. The person who does not believe God is really calling God a liar because he doesn’t believe what God has told us about His Son.” I John 5:10 (Simple English Bible)

Jim wasn’t convinced. He said that he believed in God but felt that the New Testament was very biased towards Jesus. Yes, he understood that Christ was an extraordinary man, perhaps even an anointed prophet or even a great teacher but the hype around whether Jesus was God or God’s Only Son was way overblown. Somehow, the follows of Christ had elevated Him to a superhero status.

It still puzzles me that some people believe in God but hardly anything else. Their belief is that most prophets of any stripe or persuasion are God’s messengers for a simpler, less threatening lifestyle. Just love everybody, don’t harm anyone and believe in God, is their creed.

The New Testament writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit never give this impression. The Scripture is clear and concise — Jesus is God, He became a man, He lived among us for a season, He died, rose again and now awaits His believers to join Him. And that is God’s final message!

We either believe it or not — there is no ‘halfway’ or ‘almost’!