FOUNDATIONS

Everyone has a basic viewpoint of life that effects everything they do and upon which all their decisions are based. Let me suggest these three that have helped me tremendously in getting through my life.

I live in Michigan and it's official motto is, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you". My motto is "If you seek to find the existence of God, look about you". Evidence of a divine designer is everywhere. The intricacy of design, commonness between species and the inter-relatedness of everything strongly suggests that this world didn't just "happen". The universality of belief in the existence of God also lends authenticity to the statement, "THERE IS A GOD". It also gives us comfort in knowing that what we see is not all there is.

Once we agree that there is a God, the next question is, "has He revealed Himself in some way"? I say "YES"-God has revealed Himself in three distinct ways:

1. In nature: as I stated previously, God has displayed His being and His power throughout the creation. This summer you may have enjoyed the outdoors and just marveled at the beauty around you. That beauty is designed to point you to the One who created it all-God Himself.
2. In His Word: the creation is not enough to tell us all we need to know about God. Therefore, He has also given us the Bible, His Word to us. The Bible claims to be God's written revelation to us-hundreds of times the phrase, "Thus says the Lord" appears lending authority to what is being said. The Bible speaks with authority and accuracy on every issue it addresses. The evidence of fulfilled prophecy also lends tremendous credibility to this written revelation. The Bible provides us with an objective measure of right and wrong, and truth. It's teaching is not obscure and not hidden. Read the Bible and take it for what it says, and you'll probably be in basic agreement with anyone who does the same.
3. In His Son: Jesus Christ is the physical revelation of God Himself. You cannot remain neutral about His claims. Many see Him as a good teacher, an excellent moral example, or a martyr. But Jesus went much further than that. He claimed to be equal with God, even God Himself! He is either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord He claimed to be.

If all this is true (and I believe it is with all my heart), then we had better pay attention to what God has said. Living in this world and ignoring what God has to say is like operating a vehicle or other piece of machinery and never following the owners manual. What does God say?

1. We have disobeyed. We haven't done a very good job of obeying God. Take the Ten Commandments, for example. Broken any lately? Not necessarily the letter of the law, but how about the spirit? Maybe you haven't killed anyone recently, but Jesus said that hating someone made you guilty of the spirit of the law (Matthew 5.21-22). Let me ask again, then: Broken any lately? We all stand guilty before God (Romans 3.10-18). This guilt is punishable by spiritual death (Romans 6.23) - separation from God forever.
2. God has provided a solution. Despite the fact that we have ignored God, He has not left us hopeless. Out of His love (even though we don't deserve it), He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die for sin. That's why He died on the cross-to make the payment for sin by taking our place on the cross, and dying for us.
3. We must trust Christ as our solution. We can't resolve this problem of disobedience ourselves (well, we can, but that solution isn't too pleasant-separation from God forever). If we will trust Christ as paying for our sins in full, instead of our own ability to do it ourselves, He will forgive us and give us eternal life with Him (John 3.16; Romans 5.8; Romans 6.23; John 1.12). That's basically it in a nutshell. We can't forgive our own sin, we must have God do it and He will only do so if we come to Him through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Who are you trusting to remedy your situation before God? Don't trust yourself-you can't do it on your own. Trust Jesus Christ alone for forgive your sin, and turn your life over to Him. You'll find forgiveness and answers to life's questions.

If you have more questions, use the "Contact" screen.
We'll be glad to help!