Tenet of Abolitionism—What Works (Part 3 of 6)

The second tenet of Abolitionism is Providential Trust.

Much of the Prolife Movement works according to a pragmatic mindset—claiming to follow what "will bring results", "what the experts recommend", and what they “feel works".  Most prolifers have swallowed this pragmatic mindset in one way or another, many without realizing it.  

This can be seen in various ways: 

• Prolife politicians creating laws that merely incrementally trim and regulate child sacrifice (more on this in another post).
• Prolife assurance that simply being prolife in position—voting for men and women who are labeled prolife, liking life-affirming memes on Facebook, sharing those memes on Facebook, giving to pregnancy centers, and supporting prolife organizations is sufficient to fight abortion.  That THAT is what works.
• Prolife shunning of those who stand and plead outside of the abortion mills. Saying that, "Pleading for parents to not abandon their children to death has never saved a baby! It doesn't work!"   
• Prolife dissuasion of using images of aborted victims in society, of calling abortion "sin" and "murder", and of bringing the Gospel into the arena of abortion.  Their reasoning: "It doesn't work to use those ugly graphic images.  People will just turn away from you. Graphic images will actually drive women inside to abort their baby." "It doesn't work to call abortion 'sin', or mention the judgment of God, or that Jesus is their only hope.  That could greatly offend a pregnant woman and she will turn and not listen to you."

This pragmatic mindset is accepted by most within the Prolife Movement solely because they are focused on what the "experts" (those who lead organizations) advise will save the lives of babies, instead of what the God of all creation proclaims in His word must be done in the face of great evil. 

They, intending to do well, want to do "what works".

Reminds me of those in Judah in the days of Isaiah, who gave the counsel to go to Egypt instead of the Lord. "That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!" Isaiah 30:2).  (Egypt pictures the world)

All this while God warned, "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!" (Isaiah 31:1).

The Prolife Movement has been fighting abortion this way for decades, and YET, it is still "legal" and accepted to kill babies in America.  Despite all their pragmatic thinking, this way is NOT working.  Over a million babies are murdered every year inside of law abiding abortion mills by doctors who are protected by prolife laws.  Over a million! And the culture becomes more calloused (and the church more complacent) over the daily slaughter of their neighbors while Prolife Organizations grow.  Abortion is more deeply entrenched in our society's thought and laws because of prolife legislation and propaganda (I will cover this in greater detail in a future post).  

As I have already stated, abolitionists base their reason for opposing abortion upon the word and attributes of God, rather than the advice and reasoning of man.  

As abolitionists, we also rely on God's infallible providence not the wisdom of the world, the pragmatism of fallible man, or the platitudes of professionals in how we work against the evil of abortion.

Psalm 20:7-9 

7 "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."

8 "They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright."

9 "Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call."

As abolitionists, my family chooses to put our trust in the providence of God not the pragmatism of man.  We rest in the spiritual means and methods that God has laid out for us in His word.  We look to the living and true God to lead us, knowing that He is our ever present, all knowing, and all powerful Guide.  He knows what will work!

It is He that is the sovereign LORD of all,

He that has created and sustained each of us, 

He that has redeemed us from our own wicked sin,

He that has granted life to these little ones in the womb,

He that knows the hearts of people and turns hearts toward the children,

He to whom every one of us will stand before and give account.

Can we not trust Him, "...seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;" (Acts 17:25)?  

• It is the power of God working through His Holy Spirit that changes hearts (Proverbs 21:1; Zechariah 4:6; John 16:8). 
• He has deemed people to be active participants in this arena (Exodus 3:8-10; Matthew 9:38; John 20:21). 
• We are called to be faithful (I Corinthians 4:2), to walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11; Proverbs 2:7), to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and to trust Him above our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-7): 

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

"Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." 

We therefore shun doing wrong "that good may come" (Romans 3:8).  We reject unjust action, dishonest words, and iniquitous laws which purport to "get what we can."  We choose rather to HOLD FAST to righteous, practical means in order to expose the unfruitful works of darkness, warn the wicked, rescue the weak, and effect abolition.  

Instead of embracing the compromised methods of people who say we need to do "what works", we obey God and do right, and we happen to believe that when we do, that God's ways do work.

"Duty is ours.  Results are God's." 

I Chronicles 19:13 "Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight."

 So we go forward, crying out, "Watch what our God will do!"  

God's work done in God's way will work.

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.

Abortion must be abolished.

Wrecks and Reckoning the Truth on Life and Death

Two days ago (Thursday), in the dark misty morning, I was in a dreadful car wreck on the way to work.  A car coming from the other direction, made a curve and came into my lane and hit me.  My car was knocked off the road, and totaled.  I am sore today, but gratefully, both the other driver and I were spared serious injury.

On Facebook, many, many people, having heard of the wreck and seeing the photographs, shared their concern, encouragement, and let us know that they were praying for my family and myself in the days ahead.  A multitude of praises were lifted to God for His protection, and rightly so.

Yesterday (Friday), as I looked at my Buick Century in the back lot of the body shop where I work, I thought over what happened, and how it so easily could have gone fatal.  In a moment, I would have been gone from this life.  Yet, God had shielded me from danger and delivered me.  Someday, He'll call me home, but it wasn't that day.  Here are some of the thoughts that came from those musings:

The Lord knows best.  He giveth "life, and breath, and all things".  If the Lord Jesus had willed for me to die in that crash, if it was my time to leave this earth, He would still be worthy of all praise.  I would praise Him in glory, and would desire for those I left behind to trust and praise my God too, even in the midst of tears.

"Blessed in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" (Psalm 116:15).

"For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's" (Romans 14:8).

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).

These are not just some poetry, or high sounding jargon.  These are the words of the living God, and they are TRUTH.  Therefore I "wreckin" them to be so, or rather RECKON them to be so...

I look forward to being in glory with my Redeemer-King and saved loved ones gone before, 
but I also love being with my family and serving Him here.  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17).

I love all his blessings, including this life, my wife, and children, and I am grateful to be alive, so that I may meet my new son when he is born very soon.  

I RECKON that I need to value not only life but those God has given me with whom to share it.

I love the gift that my precious wife is to me (Proverbs 19:14)!  She is the wife whom I love, who honours me, supports me, forgives me, labors with me, and prays for me.  I desire to live long with her, to love her with Christ as my example, to labor diligently to provide and shelter her, to dwell with her according to knowledge, to lead, teach, and lay down my life in her defense.  I want to treat her with honour and humility.  To be there with her in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in activity and in rest, in joy and grief, in the battle field and the harvest field, in the play room and the war room, in turmoil and in peace, in persecution and in pleasantness, in youth and in age, so long as I have breath.   

I also love the gifts that are my children (Genesis 33:5)!  I desire to see my children come to know, fear, love, and serve Jesus Christ with every fiber of their being.  I pray for their salvation by faith, and their growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour! I desire them to grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, in wisdom and in stature.  I want them to love and hold fast to the truth of Scripture, to allow it to dwell in them richly, and work mightily in their lives.  I desire for them to be counted as those in this next generation who will in boldness and love speak truth in a world that loves lies, to warn the wicked and rescue the weak, to stand at the gates of death with the words of life.  And I'd love to be there to laugh and play and wrestle with them, to read with them, to do chores and explore with them, to cheer them on for Christ and faithfully chasten them when they need it.  I want my children to be straightened, sharpened, fitted, and fired out to hit the target for Christ, to the praise of His glory!  And I'd love to see them, and their children, and charge them to run the course of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus!

I yearn that my household reflect the truths in Psalm 127, 128, 133, and so many others.  Oh, that God would build our house, unite our hearts to fear His name, and send us in harness to His will for the work to which He hath called us; that He would bring forth much fruit in our lives, and that the fruit would remain.  

We are told that in Christ we have been given "all things that pertain unto life and godliness".  You see, the Christian has access to stedfastness in Christ both for this life and the next.  I do not want to go earlier than my time, but I am ready when He calls, and yearn to hear Him say, "Well done."  I know my own flesh, my own failings and fallings well.  I am weak, and baited to serve Self, rather than my Saviour.  I must RECKON truth, and say, "Down, Self, Christ is my King!"  If anything good is seen, or is well done in my life, it is the Lord working in me.  He will finish the work He has begun (Philippians 1:6).  God hath spoken and He cannot lie.  In times of weakness, trial, and pain, trust Him, and watch what our God will do!

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20). 

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13). 

Therefore, my brethren, let us RECKON truth about these matters of life and death.  Christ is victorious over death.  Why shall we, who are saved by the blood of the Lamb, tremble over the grave?  Whether it comes when we are young or old, by "accident" or "incident", martyrdom or in peaceful sleep, Death need hold no fear for the saved soul.  So let us not cower from venturing out for Jesus Christ!  And let us not embrace ease and comfort and neglect the call to battle!  Let us RECKON ourselves already dead in Christ, and thus alive in Christ (Romans 6), living not henceforth for ourselves, but unto Him who died for us, and rose again (II Corinthians 5:15)!

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.

I Corinthians 15:54-58

54 "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 

55 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 

56 "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." 

57 "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

So grateful that God is sovereign, 
even over the "Wreck of the Century"!

I Believe God

Yesterday a year ago, my precious little son William Livingstone Samuel, was born, having already departed this earth.  Today a year ago, I laid his body in the earth.  Each day since, his mother and I have mourned, but not as "others which have no hope" (I Thessalonians 4:13).  "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (II Timothy 1:12).

It is from the Lord through His word that we find comfort.  "This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me" (Psalm 119:50).  

God desires His children to pass on the words of comfort that He gives to us.
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies,and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (II Corinthians 1:4).  This I wish to do today.

That morning a year ago, fresh in the pain and anguish of the loss of a son, we found great comfort from a good many verses in Isaiah 25 and 26, from our regular reading.  Here are a few of them, with some thoughts.

Isaiah 25
 8 "He will swallow up death in victory; and the LORD God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it."  O Death!  Where is thy sting?  O Grave!  Where is thy victory?  I look forward to the promise that God will wipe the tears away for good (Revelation 21:4)!

 9 "And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.  Look what my God will do!  My Lord worketh "all things together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose".  My heart should not depend on the ups and downs of circumstances for its rejoicing, but rather, as Jesus instructed, "...but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven."  No matter my sorrow, my salvation in Christ is secure.  Therefore Job in utter grief could still cry, "The LORD gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the LORD" and "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."

Isaiah 26
 3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, who mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."  When upon life's billows we are tempest tossed, let's not be discouraged, thinking all is lost.  Rather than allow our hearts to be washed overboard, should we not instead seek the face of Him Who stilled the winds and the waves?  Should we not join him in the hinder part of the boat and find rest for our souls? 

 4 "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:"  His strength is EVERLASTING!  I am weak, but His strength is made perfect in my weakness, whereby I can say "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"  Let the weak say, "I am strong!" 

"I hear the Saviour say, Thy strength indeed is small; 

Child of weakness watch and pray, Find in Me, thine all in all."

16 "LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them."  Many have been the prayers poured out in mourning, many the cries in the night.  God hears the supplication of His saints.  We are told that he keeps our tears in His bottle.  Are they not in His book? 

17 "Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD."  
18 "We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen."  How this describes our situation!  To be with child.  To have the expectation of a little babe to hold and cherish.  To prepare for their coming.  To lose that seed.  To go into the pain of delivery, knowing the baby is gone.  To feel empty, as if all that was brought forth was vanity and wind.  Those who have suffered miscarriage know this pain and loss.

19 "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise.  Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out her dead."  What a emotion fills my soul!  To know that the dead shall rise!  That the grave shall give way to victory, and the earth will cast out her dead! That I shall meet my child in glory.  Because of the Gospel!  Because of the Almighty Redeemer, we have the certainty of victory.  What unspeakable joy!  

This evening, Deana (carrying our third little one in the womb), Tirzah, and I went out and laid flowers on the grave of little William Livingstone Samuel.  We thanked the Lord for William, for the honor of carrying him, even for that short while, and for the assurance that we would see him again.  I read verse 19 again, and as we turned back to the house, I considered the words from the verse, "Awake and sing", and so we sang as we walked home,

"When I can read my title clear to mansions in the skies,

I'll bid farewell to every fear, and wipe my weeping eyes.

And wipe my weeping eyes, and wipe my weeping eyes.

I'll bid farewell to every fear, and wipe my weeping eyes."

  So, in all things I am able to declare, even through tears, Jesus Christ is my Saviour!  He it is which giveth "beauty for ashes" (Isaiah 61:3).  As Paul declared, even in the teeth of the storm Euroclydon, "...I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me". 

Be Bold

“Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight” (I Chronicles 19:13).

Joab, captain of the host, has led the mighty men of Israel against the royal city of Rabbah of Ammon. They have come in the name and at the command of David, their king.  The Ammonites have gathered to fight in front of the gates of the fortified city.  Joab and his host set themselves to do battle.

Yet what is this noise behind?  Sounds of feet marching, of hoof beats, and the jostling of chariot wheels?  The men of Israel look over their shoulders and take in the scene.  A huge multitude gathers in the field at their rear, not only footmen, but cavalry also, and 32,000 chariots!  It is a highly trained mercenary army from Syria hired by the children of Ammon to be sure of victory.  It seems as if they will be crushed between the two forces. 

The army of Israel, so far from home, has no chance of gaining reinforcements or aid.  In the face of such numbers and in a grossly disadvantaged position, what can they do?  It is enough to make the stoutest heart hesitate, falter. 

Seeing that the battle is set against him before and behind, Joab has a decision to make.  Retreat?  Make an attack on one side or another, leaving their flank exposed?  Surrender?  Sue for peace?    

The captain of the host swiftly gives orders.  He reorganizes his army into two, and gives the command of the second division into the hand of Abishai his brother.   The two armies must turn to face the enemy at hand—Abishai’s men fighting the Ammonites, while Joab’s men take on the Syrians.  This way they will have each other’s back.  The brothers agree each to send word if one needs help, and pledge to give aid when needed.

Before they turn away to attack the enemy Joab gives this charge to his brother.  “Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.”  They throw themselves into the fray, trusting in their God, and the LORD grants them the victory.

As believers, we also face a war.  It is not one against flesh and blood, but instead for the souls of lost people.  Our King, the LORD Jesus Christ, has sent us to preach the Gospel that sinners may come to know Him and be saved from sin and Satan’s bondage.  He has provided us with armour and a SWORD LIKE NONE OTHER–the quick and powerful word of God–the Bible.

It must be recognized that the enemy does not play fair, and when we set out to share our faith, we find not only the adversary, the devil, endeavoring to tempt and dissuade us, but also the world system, which presses us to compromise and to be silent.  And the flesh itself provides yet another foe, causing us to fear man and shrink from the task.

In the face of all this opposition, let us not lose heart.  Do we not have the LORD of all creation as the Captain of our Salvation?  Has He not promised to be with us?  Are we not more than conquerors through Jesus Christ?  He who redeemed us by His blood, He who commissioned us for service, can He not use us?

Let us then as brethren encourage one another.  Let us be vigilant to watch each other’s back. Let us be swift to pray; swift to ask for help; swift to give aid!  We must consider Whom we serve and be valiant in battle for the kingdom of our God.  Let us do our duty and trust the Lord Almighty with the results.  Souls are heading to destruction.  Let us lift up our voices and speak the words of our Saviour: “Be ye reconciled to God!  Repent and believe the Gospel!” 

And may we, as Joab, shout over the noise of battle to our fellow believers in the fight:  “Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.”

There is a Place By Me

Moses desired to see the glory of God.  This man of faith yearned to know the LORD his God and made his request.  Exodus 33:18-23 relates the account of God answering his prayer.

This is a well-known passage and many believers have heard and read and studied this portion of Scripture, and gained insights on getting to know the God of the Bible.  Some incredible hymns have come from this passage, such as "He Hideth my Soul" and "Rock of Ages".  In Exodus 33:18-23, we can see so much, including...
-the character of God (His holiness, His power, His desire that we know Him).
-the unworthiness of finite and sinful man.
-how we should desire to be close to Him.
-the importance of coming to Him in His way.

I myself have read these verses many times, and yet, this time through the Bible, I am struck by something that I didn't notice before (or have forgotten), to wit, the verse below:

"And the LORD said, Behold there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock" (Exodus 33:21).

The words jumped out at me: "...there is a place by me..."

Moses was NOT told to go up on a mountain to see God afar off through a high-powered telescope.  NOR was he told to catch God's program on the television (tele means "distant").  God wasn't distant in His response at all.  Instead, He said, "There is a place by Me."

All of us are born sinners, and headed for the destruction we deserve in Hell (Romans 3:23).  We are separated from God by our iniquities (Isaiah 59:2).  However, God has made the way of salvation open to all who will come to Him through faith alone in the atoning work of Jesus (II Samuel 14:14).  "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13).

Paul preached to the men of Athens, that God desired lost souls to come to Him, telling them...
"That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us" (Acts 17:27).

Once you know the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour, He "...will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).  As His people, we should stick close to His side in open fellowship.  As we live each day, abiding in Him and in His word (John 15:5,7), we can with great joy proclaim with the psalmist, "Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth" (Psalm 119:151).

  What a challenge to me and every believer, to respond to God's invitation to be "BY" Him!  He certainly "is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).  Often we are tempted to go our own way, and drift from Him, even as believers.  The world lures us, the flesh pulls us, and the devil assures us, that we don't really need to stay THAT close to the LORD.  After all, God doesn't care if we stray a little, does He?  But the truth is GOD DOES CARE!  If we say it doesn't matter, we are "deceiving our own selves" and miss out on truly getting to know Him better and seeing Him work mightily in our lives.

BUT when we learn to trust Him and stay near Him, we find that it beats the life on the brink all to pieces!  It was when Moses was by the Lord, that he saw His glory in a special way!

The last line of verse 21 also jumped out at me: "...thou shalt stand upon a rock" (Exodus 33:21).

How wonderfully assuring it is to know that when we are staying close by the Lord, we can know that we are standing on a good foundation.  Not on sand, not on boggy earth, but "upon a rock".

DON'T Follow Your Heart!

The world says, "FOLLOW YOUR HEART!"  We hear that from the media, scores of movies, friends, books, and other sources.  However, we find that the Scripture gives us warnings about this:

#1 - "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered" (Proverbs 28:26).

#2 - "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).

#3 - "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thought, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:" (Mark 7:21-22).

So, if we are not to "follow our heart", what should we do?  The Bible tells us the answer to this too!

"Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way" (Proverbs 23:19).  We should hear the words of the LORD, wisely heed them, and LEAD OUR HEART, following the way of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This truth is found in the longest psalm in the Bible:

"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek his with the whole heart.
The also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways..." (Psalm 119:1,2,3).  And on it goes for 176 verses!

So, let us turn to the Lord and follow God's ways, not simply our own hearts!

Learning His Longsuffering

I recently came down with a coughing cold.  Yesterday I left for work around 2:30pm.  It is always a blessing to work with Rod and Charles, but I must confess I was glad to see the clock reach the stopping time.  Didn't get home till after 4am this morning.  Showered and laid my head on the pillow just before 5am.

A few hours later, I rose and went to the local abortion mill.  This is something the Lord has put on my heart to do twice a week Wednesdays and Saturdays, speaking for life and witnessing for Christ.  This morning I felt miserable, and could very well have stayed home, being sick and exhausted.  But I chose to go, because those women need to hear a witness and know that their child's life should be defended, not destroyed (Proverbs 31:8).

I stood alone on the sidewalk, pleading with mothers on behalf of their unborn children.  How hard it is to see them refuse to listen, and hear their hard speeches!  I spoke the truth in love and offered help and information, but was rejected and despised.  But, Lord, even when I am despised, I will not forget Thy precepts (Psalm 119:141).  I remember that Jesus my Redeemer has been there before me (Isaiah 53:3).

It must be a horrible thing for a mother to steel herself to do, so that, once decided, they were adamant to cling to their decision.  Some of them were brought by boyfriends, friends, and at least one girl of about 16 was there with her mom.  When hands join in hands, there is often false confidence.  These desperate ladies and their companions were repeatedly making excuses for their actions, cursed at me, and even threatened that I would be beaten up or even killed just for being there.

I think that I have been given a very finite glimpse of a slice of what my Lord describes:

"I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;" (Isaiah 65:2).

"But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people." (Romans 10:21).

"For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not." (Isaiah 30:15).

"Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 29:19).

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37).

How great my awe to know that the almighty God of the Bible so loved the world that He would come to give his own lifeblood (Ephesians 1:7) and seek to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10), while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).

Makes me think of the hymn, which says:

"Wounded and bleeding,
for sinners pleading,
blind and unheeding,
dying for me."

The Saviour of the world was rejected, but gave His life a ransom for all.  Think of it--He died to redeem Adam's rebellious race!  And all who turn to Him in faith can be saved from all their sin.  How can I give up serving in a hard ministry, when He did so much more for me when I was still His enemy?  Only but for His grace, I would still be a hell-bound sinner myself.  Praise the Lord for His mercy and His long suffering.

Therefore, I shall not only continue to stand for truth, and speak for life, and preach the Gospel, but I will also invite and encourage other believers to be faithful and obedient to the word of our God and Saviour.  No matter the heartbreak and rejection, the truth is worth being shared, and you never know when someone will hear and turn to do right.  God will not let his words fall to the ground (II Kings 10:10) or return void (Isaiah 55:11).

I pray that the Lord will use my words today to continue to work in the  hearts of these needy souls, and draw them to Himself.  Fruit from this type of ministry is not always seen by the worker, but God gives the increase.  And occasionally we see it.  For instance, last Saturday, a couple at the same place decide to leave and save their child's life, thanks to the pleading of a sidewalk counselor.

"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalm 126:6).

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.

Abortion must be abolished.

The Nile Turning to Blood

Question asked: "Is there any evidence that remains from the Nile turning to blood during Moses time? Someone was asking me this just the other day and I really have no answer. It does seem odd though, if it were blood that there would still be evidence somewhere in the Mediterranean…"

   Good question!  I do not know of any discoveries of blood found today in the Mediterranean Sea that remains from when the Nile turned to blood.  There may be evidences of this that have not yet come to the surface.

   However it must be realized that the waters of the Mediterranean (and oceans too) are fantastic recyclers, which is an amazing evidence of the earth's design.  Without that feature, the planet would soon be corrupted with blood and multitudes of rotting bodies, and life as we know it would cease to exist.  Of course we know that, whether or not evidence is found, the Bible is true, for God cannot lie.

   I think that the answer to this query can be found in the Bible in both Exodus 4 and Exodus 7.

In Exodus chapter 4, God has told Moses to go to Egypt, and Moses says the people would not believe him.  God gives three signs that would establish that Moses was from God:

"And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee."

First sign:
And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee."

   We find that God turns Moses' rod to a serpent, and then changes it back with no evidence of what it had just been.

Second sign:
And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign."

   We find that God turns Moses' hand to leprosy, and then changes it back with no evidence of the former disease.

Third sign:
"And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land" (Exodus 4:1-9).

   God does not do this with Moses in the wilderness, because the Nile wasn't present to draw from.  However, it is entirely possible that after it was used to give witness of God's appointment of Moses to bring the people out, that the blood would turn back to water, with no evidence of ever being blood.  In Exodus 4:29-31, Moses and Aaron delivered God's message to the enslaved Hebrews and "...did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed..."

   Now let's go to the plague of blood, the first of ten plagues that God did unto Egypt.  Each plague showed God's power and exposing the various Egyptian gods as fake and powerless (Numbers 33:4; Psalm 78:12,43-44, etc.).  The plague of blood was against the fraudulent god of the Nile.  Let's read the passage: "And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river." (Exodus 7: 20-25).    

   During this plague, the Nile waters turned to blood.  The fish died.  The river stank.  The Egyptians could not drink of the river.  And it lasted for 7 days.  By the time of the next plague (chapter 8), the river had returned to water.  Looking at it from the Bible, I see no need of evidence of blood from the river being found in the Mediterranean, for it had done its purpose, and was changed back to water.

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.

A Bible Answer to 10 Questions

   Someone recently brought a video to my notice, challenging Christians with 10 supposedly earth-(and faith)-shattering questions.  The man who brought it up, said he had posted it on many Christian pages, but none of them had addressed it.  I decided to make a note concerning these 10 Questions.

   These are allegations made by people who do not want to believe in God.  Most of them are questions that anyone who is grounded in the word of God can answer readily.  The problem is that these atheists are not really looking for an answer.  They are looking for a reason to NOT believe.  If someone tried to explain the truth to them, they would probably turn on him (Matthew 7:6).  They are without excuse, and are seeking followers (Romans 1:18-20,32).   They are following the devil's scheme of sowing doubt among believers ("Hath God said...?" Genesis 3:1).  Don't fight them according to their plan.  Pray for them, and when ready and armed with the word of God, preach the word.  There is a great book that shows that the only logical worldview is that of biblical creation.  If you are interested, I would recommend that you get "The Ultimate Proof of Creation."  It shows that the biblical creation worldview is the only logical and consistent worldview.  You can find out more here - http://shopping.drdino.com/product-exec/product_id/931/nm/The_Ultimate_Proof_of_Creation/category_id/160.  

   As I looked at their points of question, I was sickened at their blasphemous attacks on the holy God who gave them breath, and then when mankind rebelled, shed His own blood to make the way for them to be saved from Hell.  I was also struck by the utter ridiculousness of some of their arguments, which they seemed to think were unanswerable.  Like the Sadducees, they "do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God" (Matthew 22:29).   I will not spend much time in answering these.  I am not surprised that they think themselves wise, for the Scripture saith of them that they are deceived and professing to be wise are fools (Romans 1:22; Psalm 14:1)  As you continue to let the "word of Christ dwell in you richly" each day (Colossians 3:16), and meditate upon and apply the Book to your life, the Lord will teach you more and more to see life from His perspective.

10 Questions: 

1. Why won't God heal amputees?

   God does what He wants.  He does things for His glory.  Who is to say that He hasn't healed amputees at times?  Multitudes of people came to Jesus and He healed them all (Matthew 4:24; 12:15; Luke 4:40; 6:19).  He healed the amputated ear of Malchus in the Garden (John 18:10-11).  John tells us that Jesus did many things that were not recorded in Scripture (John 21:25).  Some of these could easily have been amputees.  Let's look at one man healed in the Scriptures.  Naaman was a leper.  It was a disease that would often cause people to lose body parts, fingers, toes, hands, etc.  The Bible tells us that when Naaman was healed, "his flesh came again" unto him (I Kings 5:14).

   Conversely, there are many blind people, lame people, etc., throughout history who have not been healed but brought great glory to God.  You have heard of Fanny Crosby?  She was blinded as baby and never saw again in her life.  Yet she accepted it from God and wrote over 10,000 hymns to praise Him and encourage other Christians.  She was grateful for her blindness, and repeatedly said that she was glad she was sightless, because that meant the first face she'd see was the face of her Saviour.  There are many testimonies like this of how God works marvelously and graciously through suffering!

2. Why are there so many starving children around the world?

   We live in a cursed world because of sin (Romans 8:22).  There is suffering indeed, and it is mankind's fault, not God's.  In His love and mercy God has provided what mankind needs, but not everyone uses those resources properly.  In India, for example, many people are starving, but the cattle are kept fat and healthy and no one eats them because they have been deceived by the devil into believing in reincarnation.  The following link deals with this issue and shows that evolutionary thinking has caused much of it.  http://www.answersingenesis.org/search/?q=Starving+children&search=Go#q=Starving+children&site=default_collection 

3. Why does God demand the death of so many innocent people in the Bible?

    There are NO innocent people (Ecclesiastes 7:20).  Sin is NOT a trivial matter.  http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2010/10/08/feedback-is-god-selfish-and-vindictive

4. Why does the Bible tell us so many things that we know are not scientifically accurate?

   After this question, the narrator of the video lists the 6 day creation about 6,000 years ago, the worldwide flood, Jonah in the fish's belly, Adam from dust... He claims the stories are all nonsense.  He does not provide any evidence that shows they are not true.  He merely states that they are not true.  The fact is nothing in the Bible has been disproved.      Additionally, many atheists and evolutionists tout the VERY unscientific religious worldview of Evolutionism as fact!   The man claims that real scientists know the Bible is nonsense, but here are just a few Web sites by real scientists who believe the Bible is true and that science affirms the Bible:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/

http://www.icr.org/

http://creation.com/

5. Why is God such a proponent of slavery in the Bible?

   The man who made this video completely ignores that all societies at that time in history practiced slavery.  God was not condoning it, merely recognizing its existence, and He forbade his people to mistreat their servants.  By the way, slavery in Israel was completely different than that of other nations, including the slave trade in the Americas in the past centuries.  Jesus came and preached freedom from the penalty and power of sin, which is a much greater bondage than slavery (John 8:36).  The truth is that slavery was eradicated from the free world due to the actions of strong Bible-believing Christians like David Livingstone and William Wilberforce.  http://www.answersingenesis.org/search/?q=Slavery+and+the+Bible&search=Go#q=Slavery+and+the+Bible&site=default_collection

6. Why do bad things happen to good people?

   First of all, remember that there is none good, no not one (Psalm 14).  Bad things happen because of the curse that was introduced because of the sin of mankind.  That is not God's fault.  It is OUR fault.  But God can work things together good (Romans 8:38-39).  Then look in the Bible and learn all the good that suffering for righteousness produces.  For information see: http://www.answersingenesis.org/search/?q=Starving+children&search=Go#q=Bad+things+happen&site=default_collection

 7. Why didn't any of Jesus' miracles in the Bible leave behind any evidence?

   This is a ludicrous claim.  Jesus was working great wonders, miraculously providing for people's needs, physical, mental, and spiritual.  The man claims that there is no evidence left of Jesus' miracles.  He is ignoring the mountain of historical evidence.  We have the Bible's testimony, preserved for centuries for us to read, which is the most reliable and trustworthy document of antiquity, affirmed again and again by Archealogy and many other branches of science.  Historical evidence is not to be cast aside lightly.  How do we know that there really was an Alexander the Great?  A Julius Caesar?  A Henry the Eighth?  An Abraham Lincoln?  Because of history's record.  And what's more, we do see evidence of the truth of His life and works.  Especially his greatest miracle, which is still happening today.  We see sinners saved by faith in the dead, buried, and risen Lord of all (Who was seen by recorded eye witnesses I Corinthians 15:3-7)!  I am a sinner saved by grace, a new creature (II Corinthians 5:17).  I was Hell-bound, now I'm Heaven-bound!  There are millions and millions of testimonies from souls around the world and throughout history that have been  changed.  These are His miracles.  Praise the name of Jesus!   

8. How can we explain the fact of why Jesus has never appeared to you?

   Jesus is not under our power.  Why should the God of Heaven come at the behest of any demanding creature?  Let's say that an ant challenged the owner of the railroad to come and step on him to show he was real.  Why should the owner do so?  That is a ridiculous claim of the man who made the video.  Jesus has given us all the proof we need.  He has given His blood for our sins.  He has made His existence self-evident through His creation, and given us the Scriptures that we might know the truth.  He says that those who will believe on Him without seeing are blessed (John 20:29-31).  

9. Why would Jesus want you to eat His body and drink His blood?

   Jesus never commanded us to eat His physical body or drink His physical blood.  The elements of the Lord's Supper are not the actual body and blood of Christ.  They are symbols.  Bread and juice are eaten "in remembrance" of Him (I Corinthians 11:24-25).  Our redemption is based on His shed blood for us, and so we have this ordinance to remember the work of Christ.  To think they are literally the body and blood of the Lord is heresy and may be Catholic dogma, but is NOT Christian, nor is it biblical.  Throughout the Bible and history, God forbade and forbids the eating of any blood.  Jesus did NOT say to disobey the volume of the Book.  

10. Why do Christians have the same divorce rate as nonchristians?

   This is not because God's ways do not work.  This actually shows that God's ways DO work.  God's people are free to follow God's command or go their own way, but not without warning or consequence (Mark 10:9 and the volume of Scripture).  The rise in divorce in the church has happened because the Church as whole are becoming more like the world, following ungodly counsel and thoughts and rejecting or neglecting God's principles in the Scriptures for a godly marriage.  

   These are the answers I have found, and I hope it is a help to those who need it.  I realize that there are those who will scoff and reject the answer.  But I need not fear nor be ashamed, for God is true, even if even man were a liar and refused to believe (Romans 3:3-4). The Lord Himself will bring them into account: "...Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him" (Jude 14).  God has the last word.

Psalm 119:128

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.

Abortion must be abolished. 

My Salvation Testimony

I was raised in a Christian home. My parents were heavily involved in ministry, teaching at church and in Bible clubs around Kansas City . I had always heard the Gospel. My father was preaching to me and reading the Bible to me while I was still in the womb. When I was three and a half years old, I was convicted of my sin. I had lied and disobeyed my parents, and I came to realize that this was wrong and that the punishment for sin was Hell.

One night, I dreamed that I actually went to Hell. The darkness, burning, weeping and gnashing of teeth was all about me. I was quite relieved to wake up and find that it was only a dream. In my little child mind I knew that #1—I deserved to go there and #2—I didn’t want to go.

I went to my father and told him I was a sinner (He wasn’t at all surprised to hear this). He told me that God had made a way for me to be saved from going to Hell. Opening his Bible to John 3:16, Dad showed how God showed His love to me by giving God the Son, Jesus Christ to take my place. Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and came alive again, so that if I turned to Him and believed on Him to save me from Hell He would give me everlasting life.

I bowed my head and simply confessed my guilt and told God what I believed Jesus had done for me.  I turned from anything else, and trusted on Jesus Christ alone.  I asked Him to save me. And He did. Since then, I haven’t always been faithful to my Lord, but He has been faithful to me—directing, providing, protecting and correcting. I know that I am saved, not because of how I feel, but because of what He has promised. A person is not saved by good works, but by the precious blood payment of Jesus Christ. There are many passages that proclaim the truth of salvation, but one of my favorites is the following:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:47).

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.

Abortion must be abolished.