Promises that are REAL - Take 3

"I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12 

I once visited Mammoth Cave in Kentucky with my wife and my in-laws on the way to Wisconsin for summer band camp.  Mammoth cave has over 365 miles of passage ways making it the largest cave of its type in the world.  The tour we took of this cave is known as the historic tour.  It comprises a 2 hr trip over 2 miles in length with elevation changes of 300 feet.  The experience I most remember was our walk into the Rotunda...a very large room with giant stalactites and stalagmites!  The room was very well lit with lighting so that you could view the variety of colors associated with the mineral deposits throughout the room.  Our guide asked us to remain perfectly still and not to panic as he turned out the lights.  It was so dark that you could not see anything or anyone.  He then lit one small match and proceeded to light a gas lantern.  The point was to show us what the early cave explorers would have seen with just one small source of light.  The absolute darkness of that room was mind boggling.  When you take away light...there is no sense of depth.  As you stand there you feel very alone, even though you know there are people all around you.  You almost feel like there is nothing you can rely on.  It is easy to loose your sense of balance.  None of your other senses assist you with your physical awareness.  There is no movement of air...nothing.

Complete darkness is depressing, physically limiting, scary, and at best unnatural.  We were not designed for complete darkness 24/7.   Our eyes and other senses allow us to experience the world around us to a degree that no other animal possesses.  Our emotions attach us to the warm responses we feel, especially in the broad daylight hours.  God knew that we were not made for this...Jesus knew that we needed illumination to feel secure.

Understanding the Promise:

The promise is that Jesus is the Light of the World...and if we walk with Him on a daily basis...minute by minute, thought by thought, action by action, we will not walk in darkness.  Instead we will experience the pure excitement of life!  He is our guide.  He directs our steps.  He provides all things!  He can even direct our thoughts and actions.

Responding to the Promise:

So if Jesus is the light of the world and we decide to walk with Him, how do we do that?  First we must abide by His Word.  We must become intimately acquainted with Jesus through the Word of God...the Bible.  Are you reading this book everyday?  Are you talking to Jesus on a regular basis?  Do you consult with Him through prayer prior to taking any action? (that doesn't mean you have to ask Him ridiculous things like...should I brush my teeth today, or take a shower)  This means, that before we make decisions about how we spend our money, allocate our time, speak to others, engage in major events, etc. that we acknowledge His guidance and seek His knowledge so that our steps are guided in harmony with His desire for us. 

Simply put...Jesus loves you more than you love you!  He wants to know you. As a matter of fact He knows everything about you.  His light illumines every detail about you.  Even the yucky stuff.  But He still loves you!  It is up to you to Love Him back!  He died to show you how much He cares for you!  He took all your ugliness upon Himself so that you would appear beautiful and  flawless before the Almighty God.

Commit your life to Him now!

Promises that are REAL...Take 2

Jesus answered, and said to her, " If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

"Everyone who drinks of this water (from the well) will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

Understanding the Promise:

Have you ever been really thirsty?  Mouth feels like a thousand camels just walked through it?  You tongue is so dry you wonder if you could even muster any saliva.  Lips are dry and parched.  You would at this point drink anything just to quench the thirst.  In biblical times food and water were not always readily available like we have it here in the US.  You do not just hop on your donkey and run down to the 7-11 store for some chips and soda.  People had to raise much of their food and carry in all of their water.  Only the very wealthy kings and palace officials had water in their homes.  Good drinking water was not something that was easy to get.  Even wells were not really always good to drink directly from unless you first boiled the water to get rid of the parasites and germs.

Jesus uses food and water in many of His illustrations and promises simply because these were not things that the people of His time took for granted, like we do.  In this passage above Jesus has approached a Samaritan woman at a well.  He asks her for some water.  She wondered at first why He would ask her that because He was a Jew and she was a Samaritan, and Jews were not to speak or associate with Samaritans according to the Law.  Jesus then tells her if she knew who she was talking with she would have gladly accepted his request and then she would receive "living water".

Here is the promise...You will never thirst after receiving the living water from Jesus  for it will spring up like a well to eternal life.


Responding to the Promise:


So what is the living water?  Simply put it is the "Word of God".  We must read and listen to what God teaches us through His Word.  The gospel of John states in the opening statement of the book "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God."  Jesus himself is the Living Word of God...His words are like "living water" and are a powerful promise to us that if we abide in them we will live eternally with Him forever in the Heavenly realms.  We will never again thirst for direction, meaning, answers, love, appreciation, or any other human need...because we rely solely upon Him for all of our needs!  He is LIFE!  Without Him there is no life! 

This samaritan womans' life was forever changed as a result of this short meeting with Jesus.  This is all it takes for anyone!  Gods' will is for everyone to hear the message of Salvation through Jesus...share the good news today!  Share the Living Water!  Fill yourself to overflowing with the power of the Word of God!

Promises that are REAL...Take 1!

Promises - a declaration made about the future, about some act to be done or not done.

We've all made them...thousands of men and women make promises "vows" before even God and yet over 50% of them break their promise.  We make promises to our children, often promises we cannot keep.  Politicians make promises to us so that we vote for them, and many times, probably more than we know, they fail to keep those promises.  Are we setting ourselves up to fail when we make a promise to someone?  Especially someone we truly love and hold close?  Well we all fail at times because we are frail, imperfect beings.  But let's not dwell on our imperfections!  We were created according to the book of Genesis in the "image of God".  

We may be frail and imperfect, but we were formed by the perfect creator whose promises to us never fail and are always fulfilled.  Within this context we are going to explore the Promises that are REAL!

Our first promise is this: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life".  John 3:16 OK...many of us have heard this before but do we believe it?  Jesus said it!  These words were spoken to Nicodemus as he simply asked Jesus to explain to him how a man could be reborn when he is old? (vs.4)

Understanding the promise:  Jesus explains to Nicodemus that He has come to bring newness of life, a life led by the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit).  The Spirit moves in the heart of a person showing them the true and undefiled Love of God!  With that revelation a person is converted into a new being...a "rebirth" occurs.  A new life is essentially begun.  John 3:16 shows us that we as "believers"  those who have experienced a new birth are now starting our journey to "eternal life"! 

Responding to the promise:  When a person who experiences this rebirth "born again", their life takes on a whole new course.  Remember that day?  You have an unquenchable desire for God's Word!  There is a burn within you similar to the burn you get when you see a good movie or have something really special to share with someone.  You want to tell everyone about what has taken place in your life.  You have been put into a correct relationship with the God of the Universe...designed specifically by Him for YOU!  Why wouldn't you want to share that?  Our response as we read this well worn verse should be, "O gracious and loving Father, rekindle within me the excitement and zeal I had when I first came to you!  Ignite me with an insatiable appetite for your Word.  Equip me right now with the courage to share this message with as many as I can until the day I am with you in the heavenly realms.  Thank you Jesus for dying for me so that I can live with you forever! AMEN!

Encouragement from Jesus

One of my favorite passages in the Bible can be found in the Gospel of John Chapters 14-17.  Within these 4 chapters the Disciples are instructed concerning Heaven, the Holy Spirit, Peace, Fruitfulness, the world, and Jesus' eventual return.  As well Chapter 17 is the longest Prayer of Jesus recorded in the New Testament.  Here Jesus prays for His Disciples, not only the 12 but the many who have heard Him preach and teach during his travels.

The opening to Chapter 14 is iconic.  Jesus says "Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe also in Me."  What a statement...very short...to the point...specific...and easy to understand.  Why do the disciples have troubled hearts?  Simply because Jesus just told them about His departure.  They are confused and are not really sure about the meaning of all that Jesus is saying.

What is troubling your heart right now?  Is it our government?  Is it the economy?  Is it the fact that there is so much to do, but seemingly little time?  Are you hurting?  Has someone hurt you?  Do you feel confused, tired, emotionally drained?  What is it?  He wants to know...tell Him all about it!  Then abide by His words..."Let not your heart be troubled!"  If you believe in God and in the Lord Jesus, no problem or circumstance you have or are in can separate you from HIS love.  Jesus wants to handle your trouble!  Give it to Him!   Read all of Chapter 14.  Read it slowly...work on understanding all that is being said directly to you.

Jesus Loves YOU!  He wants you to have His heart, His power, His strength, His Spirit, His resolve and He wants you to be His all the time!  Praise be to God!  Give Him every moment and every thought!  You will be blessed!