Are you scared? .. Fearful of what lies ahead in these increasingly difficult times? .. Wondering if there is any escape from what appears to be coming disaster upon this world & mankind? …. Well guess what .. so are the vast majority of people out there! ..
So what I would like to do today is give you hope .. show you a way to escape the inevitable disaster that is fast approaching our planet .. an answer you’ve most likely heard before but still am not sure, or have a lot of doubt in your hearts about the real truth of it all .. Of course I’m talking about the one & only hope .. the one & only way to escape it all .. & that through faith in Jesus Christ ..
“Yeah, I know Red, I’ve heard this over & over & over, but He was here some 2000 years ago & look at the mess we are in! .. And do I just believe He, Jesus, is the real answer just because someone .. you for that matter, has told me so?” ..
Well Guess what!? .. That was me not all that many years ago .. Yeah, I’d been studying Bible prophecy for a number of years & went to church, & stuff like that .. But one day I woke up & said to myself … self? … Is it all really true? .. Do I believe it because it was what pastors & teachers told me it was? .. Needless to say, once I truly admitted to myself that I had some deep-down doubts in my heart .. that I truly was not 100% sure of my faith, I decided I needed to find out the ‘real’ truth for myself .. I needed to decide once & for all .. either way .. which way my life’s path would be going forward …….. So ……
In the early 2000s, instead of approaching the Bible as I had been doing in previous studies, I decided to do a ‘Red Letter’ study .. the teachings of Jesus.. & nothing else! .. I needed to end this feeling of uncertainty that dwelled within me ….
Some 3+ years later, after intensely studying the Gospels & every other exposition I could get my hands on, it was finally done! .. And to my complete amazement, I came out the other end a totally changed person! .. I now know for certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus was here on earth, was resurrected from the dead, & is in heaven waiting to take us to be with Him in the soon-coming day of glory! .. Hallelujah! ..
I could not even begin to share all the moments of revelation I experienced, so I would like to share just one of which I believe, in itself, is enough proof of Jesus being the resurrected Son of God .. hopefully, this will help those of you out there that are going through these moments of doubt .. of the true reality of it all .. so here goes ..
Let’s for a moment go back those 2000 years to the time of Jesus’ physical walk here on earth .. Here’s a guy who grew up as a carpenter’s son with what appeared to be a relatively normal childhood in Nazareth .. As He grew older, He began to show signs of being somewhat ‘different’ than most kids His age …. Fast-forwarding to the approximate age of 30, He began His divinely appointed time of earthly ministry .. He began by walking through the towns & villages & while doing so, selected 12 specific men that would quickly evolve into His devoted followers .. His disciples .. The journey that followed for some 3 years was nothing short of amazing! .. Healings, raising people from the dead, casting out demonic spirits from tormented folks, & so much more ..
As a result, of course the ‘politicized’ spiritual leaders during this time became extremely jealous of Him, & after some deliberation, decided that He must be Killed in order to save the ‘order of the day’ .. of His challenge to their religious superiority ..
Now most of you reading this knows how this goes, & that yes, they did succeed in disrupting Him & His work, & secured their positions of power .. But what most all fail to realize is the immense witness, the true testimony of faith that took place during this moment in time .. Well here it is ..
First, think about the twelve disciples who followed Jesus thru His earthly ministry, of which most claimed He was the true Son of God .. What did they do when Jesus was arrested? .. They fled & went into hiding! .. these devout disciples who swore their eternal allegiance to Him! .. Now I ask.. is that a true demonstration of faith or what? .. After witnessing all the miracles of this person Jesus, they obviously still had doubts in their hearts .. they had to have or they wouldn’t have fled! .. Even Peter, the leader of the pack, who claimed to Jesus that he believed He was the Son of God, denied Him 3 times to Roman authorities .. Not a strong demonstration of true faith …. So then what happened?
Three days after the Crucifixion of our Lord, scripture reveals that He was raised from the dead .. A short time following, before His final ascension, He appeared to over 500 living souls! .. Maybe the most classic visitation has to be that of the disciple Thomas .. When Jesus appeared to him & several others, Thomas STILL wasn’t sure it was truly Him .. He even asked Jesus to prove it .. so prove it He did .. So Thomas saw the nail holes in His hands & the spear wound in His side, & that was it! .. He, & all the others who witnessed His post-crucifixion appearances were now completely on board .. They all now knew that He WAS, & IS the true risen Son of God! ..
As time went on & the disciples’ ministries began to spread the Word, each one faced immense persecution, & all except John, met with horrifying deaths .. The point? .. They were ALL willing to die for what was the absolute truth! .. Who does that?! .. Only if there is absolutely no doubt in one’s mind ..
There are so many more moments of truth in those Red Letters, but I think this one is truly all one needs to hear to know the real truth of Jesus .. that He was here, that He walked among the people .. that He died for each & every one of us! ..
My purpose in pointing this out is that, as I said in the opening, many of you are feeling desperate & scared, & everything going forward looks more hopeless by the moment .. But I am here today telling you that NOTHING is further from the truth if you put your trust & faith in Jesus Christ, the one & only true Son of God! .. He is waiting for you right now! .. Revelation 3:20 says it all .. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me”
… It will be the best ‘meal’ you will even have! .. Believe me, I had it! ……
Until next time,
Red