Words of eternal life

John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Jesus had just teaching on the Bread of Life, that He Himself is the Bread which came down from heaven. God gave manna in the desert, but now Jesus came to earth and who would eat of this bread shall receive eternal life. But many disciples of Jesus did not understand Him and turned away from Him, they left him. Thus they left the salvation, their only hope in this life to be forever with God. Sad really, because do we not see it happen around us? People do not go to church anymore and want nothing more to do with God.

Jesus then asked his twelve disciples, do you not also want to leave? This draws Jesus. He requires nobody to believe Him and follow Him. The choice to follow is completely free, whether you like it or you do not. We do not read here that Jesus begs them to come back. No, he even puts the choice in the twelve down. The choice is also presented to you and me. Will you also go away? If you do not want, you don't have to. Whatever choice we make?

And Peter's response may also be a confession, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

With Jesus is to find eternal life, He is the Bread of Life. And who eat His body and drink His blood has eternal life, and he or she will raise up on the last day. This Jesus is the Son of God came from heaven to save to world. He humbled Himself and gave Himself to the evil to kill him. But he has conquered death and defeated the evil, so that we are able to come with God again. He did this out of pure love, out of love for His Father but also for us people.

Jesus, Who put his arm around you if you're struggling and you comfort when you're sad. Jesus, Who takes care for you every day and every day and every minute thinking about you. He sits at the right hand of God and calls His children are free with the Father. He is there for you and gives you strength to live here on earth. He is worthy to be served, he is the Christ!

And then the question: Do you want to go away? Want to follow this Jesus? He asks your whole life and your whole heart. Not by constraint, but out of love. And then you can also live show something of life with Him, and you must confess with Peter: You are the Christ. We must make clear to everyone, the show by living according to his commandments and to look after our fellow man.

His words of eternal life and we should hear and let it work in our hearts. Because that will bring us to the last day and we can be sure that we will forever belong to Him. God has given the judgment to His Son, we read in John 5:22. And we will not be judged, but included in the glorious multitude which no man could. We will stand before the throne of God in white clothes, are washed in the blood of Christ. He is the greatest, the Son of the Most High! He will be praised, now and for all eternity. 

Jesus wants your heart

Matthew 15: 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

If I were to ask you: where is your heart is? What would be your answer? You should maybe think about it, because it is the core of the faith. It's all about your heart and whether it actually is to Christ. A serious question, but also a question of vital importance. Because if you later come to realize that this is not the case, it is still time to repent. 

You now have time to bring your heart close to Jesus, because it is good.

Jesus goes to a question from the Pharisees. You know, those people who like to catch him in a mistake. But also the leaders of the people, the spiritual leaders. They were not atheists, but believers who lived as much as possible to the commandments of God. They asked Jesus the question of washing hands before eating. That's where they were apparently doing, and that was to Jesus at the wrong side. You can ask anything to him, you can lay all your heart before him, but pious talk are with Him not in the right place.

For Jesus indicates what is important in life and he says, not what goes into the mouth defiles the man, but what comes out of the mouth. We can do ourselves and others harm with what we say and not what we eat or do. Because what we say affects our heart. But Jesus has said anything before that we should make you think: this people draw near to Him and honor Him with the mouth, but not with their hearts. And that is the problem of many people. Our heart is close to Jesus or away from Him. But our mouth can pretend we are very close to him. Therefore, we must hold ourselves to this mirror.

For when you just mouth talking about Jesus, and it does not come from the heart, then he calls you a hypocrite. Those are not the words of me or of the apostle, but the words of Jesus himself. It makes no sense not to speak pious and just keep pious talk. You can spend hours talking about the Bible and even teach others, but if it does not come from your heart, you are a hypocrite. You can be present in many praise service and to call every sense of the speaker hallelujah, but if it does not come from your heart, you are a hypocrite. Those are harsh words, but spoken by Jesus himself. I need this always to ask: what about my heart? And you, what about your heart?

But this does not make make us sad because Jesus reveals His glory to us and wants to draw us closer to Him so. He shows us his hands and says that I have done for you. I have my blood shed for your show, that should never be forgotten. And that should bring us closer to Christ. When we see our sin and know the grace of Jesus, then our hearts come closer to Him and we can let go of all other earthly trivia.

When we offer empty-handed, it will all come together. Then we will open our mouths and worship and honor Jesus Christ, with all our heart! Then you hear a song of joy on our lips about the great Savior, then we will fall down in worship and praise Jesus. You, Lord Jesus, You did it. Take my heart and to add together, the fear of thy name. Because Lord my God, I will praise and lift my heart up. I will declare your name and glory, honor forever. 

The river of grace

Ephesians 1: 7,8  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

The life of a believer sometimes looks just like a river. A river can be very high in a time of much rain. Sometimes the water flow even over the edge of the river. However, a river can also be very low in a dry time. Sometimes it is even a squabbling stream, while there flows more water in better times. Thus the life of a believer may seem. Sometimes there seems to be a lot of grace and we are sure of our cause, we live close to God. Sometimes it seems that grace has dried up, we doubt ourselves and whether it is all true and if the grace is for us, we live generally further away from God.

But Paul writes about a river of grace that is abundant. It's not a squabbling stream, but a full stream. God's grace is abundant and is not one time a little bit and the other time in abundance. God's grace is always as much and is also distributed in this way. Jesus Christ suffered and died for every sin committed by His children, in Him we receive salvation and forgiveness. That is the grace, reconciliation through Christ with the Father. And we receive for free and that is not always as said as much.

Yet, we can experience it sometimes different. But it is especially because of ourselves. We might live further from God, we doubt who He is and whether forgiveness is also for us. When we think we can do it or if we do not read the Bible and do not call God and talk with him, then we get away from Him. And that affected our feelings and our thoughts. We think that grace is less and that's when there is doubt.

But God speaks to us of the grace that is abundant. It covers all our sins and God has given to all of His children. And that is not random or by chance. No, God gives this in all wisdom and thoughtfulness. God knows what He is doing and has done for us. The riches of His grace was given at Calvary and was determined as He Himself has planned. To eventually bring together all things in Christ. We don't understand God always, but we must rely on his wisdom.

Maybe you have not received grace. Then you read this and it does nothing with you because you do not know what it's like to have received mercy. Then you should know, therefore that you are sinful, sin stands between you and God. You are not reconciled to him since Adam and Eve fell into sin, and you and I share in it. We all have sinned against God and therefore can not enter the Kingdom of God. We miss our goal of life if we do not receive God's grace. But God will give you grace through the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for your sins, and you may even come to Him to receive forgiveness. That may right now! Do not delay, because you do not know how much time you have left to ask forgiveness.

And when we then have surrendered in the saving hands of Jesus Christ, we may share in the abundant river of grace. A grace that always flows and forgives all our sins. So God, and therefore we may be grateful to Him. He shares, and not we ourselves. That's wonderful! 

Make earth great again

Revelation 21: 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

A slogan that we all know in the meantime: make America great again. It is spoken by the president of America, Donald Trump. According to him, America is a mess right now, and the country needs a total makeover. He's right, but we have to take it even further. The whole earth is to be made again great. In America, it is not only a tragedy but throughout the world. Everywhere on earth reigns sin and alive people from war to war, for possession to possession of wealth for wealth or poverty to poverty. The earth is totally corrupted by sin and therefore must be newly created.

God speaks to John and said, See, I make all things new. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. And there shall not be sin anymore! God shall call His children, destroy the heavens and the earth and make it new. That in these uncertain times, this time of all kinds of misery, is our only support and hope. For it is God who says, and his words are true and trustworthy. It will definitely happen. And we must draw our hope, because then will be all sin gone. Do you look forward to it?

It is a huge difference, these words of God with respect to the words of Donald Trump. Because Trump can not live up to his words, not completely anyway. But God will fulfill His words, and that allows us to believe this. When Adam and Eve fell into sin and thus humanity turned away from God, then God came with His promise of salvation. And he has given, by sending His Son. Evil will lose and end up being wiped out. Evil has been lost but will soon also be destroyed because God promised it. That is not yet, we can clearly see around us, but that day is quickly approaching.

And when we sit here in misery and even might not see any future, then we can look up to heaven and  ask God: how long, Lord? Maybe you lost someone in the past year or did you get surrounded with disease and have another setback in your life, this hope will help you to keep going. It will take some time, a number of years, but then will come eternity, and we will be allowed to live forever on the new earth. Take heart and put your trust in the Lord!

Maybe you are reading this and think, how can I come live on the new earth? I do not know God and how can I make sure that I will be there? The answer is: you can not do it by yourself. God sent His Son to die for your sins, and He speaks you free from sin if you believe in Him, in Jesus Christ as your Savior. You can only receive grace and confess your sins, God will accept you as His child, and may also be with Him in the next life.

God makes all things new and that is our future. A wonderful new heaven and a new earth. Everything will shine God's glory and peace will be among men. We may live forever and freely. God keeps His Word and will fill us with His Spirit.

Lord God, I look forward to soon be forever with You in the new heaven and on the new earth. You will surround us there in your glory and we may forever be without sin, worship You. You are worthy, O Lord. Hallelujah! 

Assurance of faith

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Every human being is looking for assurance in this life. The best example of this is a job, because that ensures that you are sure of income and that with income you can live. Other assurance you can search to find a partner, in a large money-box, your hobby or wherever you can find assurance. For yourself it gives a nice feeling and you have something you can build on. So it is in faith, that every believer is looking for assurance of his or her faith. How can you be sure of faith?

We read in Romans 3 that every person is sinful, that even no one can do well. In verse 12 is: they are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable. A man is a joke and can get themselves no assurance of faith. The works of man will never be able to provide salvation, which is reflected in the law. Which shows us that we are sinful and if we delude ourselves to the law, we see that we can not keep it. So we will never find assurance in ourselves.

But if we go to verse 22 we read: even the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ. Man can only be saved, be saved from their sins through faith in Jesus Christ. Man can not save himself, the law can not save the man, only God can save man. Faith in Jesus Christ makes man blessed and saves man from eternal darkness. And there is no distinction among people, which means that anyone who truly believes will be saved. So, that's easy. So I just have to believe? Indeed, the Bible says so.

Further in verse 24 we read: and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. That along with verse 22 gives every believer assurance to be saved. I read in nothing about doubt, there is nothing in these texts that we have to apply ourselves to be attributed with salvation, as we expect the least of Christ. When we believe in Christ, we receive the grace of God. Therefore you do not have to do anything!

Doubt is sown by Satan. He whispers to you: You are not really a child of God or look at your life, you see that you can not live the way God wants it? And in that doubt can we go people, we can be very insecure. But then we do not trust God's Word, because it tells us something else.

Everyone who believes is justified freely. If you doubt this, you doubt the word of God. What is asked of you? Faith! Faith in the mighty work of Jesus Christ. Is that too much to ask? Do you disagree to believe in Him and in His salvation for you? God wants to give you assurance by His Word. Listen to him!

And we may want to live by faith in God. Then we really start to live differently, doing good things and don't do sin. We may increasingly have a holy life, that Jesus Christ is central in our lives. But do not depend for the salvation of your own life and behaviour, because then you better stop. Have faith in Jesus Christ and you are justified frelly.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your redeeming work. Thank You for Your mercy and that You will give me assurance. You give grace freely, I need to do luckily nothing else otherwise I was irretrievably lost. But You give me life, allow me to always believe and hold me tight therein. Lord, make my life to the glory of You. I do not want to sin anymore, help me carry that fight, so I soon may celebrate the victory with You! Thou be the glory, risen Lord!

Great faith

Luke 7: 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Great faith, what is that exactly? When would Jesus say about us that we have great faith? How would our faith be defined in order to be appointed as a great faith? The centurion in Capernaum had it, and Jesus said about him. Not just casually by or against his disciples, but against the crowd. He even turned for ti. Let's take a look to what great faith is and how it looks like.

First of all there was of course the fact that the centurion asked Jesus to help. The doctors had no solution more and the servant of the centurion was sick in bed. When the centurion sent some elders of the people to Jesus to ask him to make his servant better. The centurion was expecting it of Jesus, he had nowhere else to find it. Jesus was his hope and in Jesus his expectations. The relief and rescue had to come from Jesus, and there was even the Roman aware of.

Then Jesus comes to him to heal his servant. But when Jesus comes near his house, he sends some of his friends to Jesus to say, I am not worthy that You come into my house. The important Roman humbles himself to Jesus. He could get Jesus under duress, he could behead every Jew with a snap of his fingers, but he humbled himself by Jesus too important and too sacred to enter his house. Now we do not have to keep Jesus out, but we should welcome him in our homes. But our attitude toward Jesus, an attitude of humility before the Son of God, which is part of the great faith of this Roman. Are also like that upon to Jesus? Or do we find ourselves more important?

And as icing on the cake is that seeing God's omnipotence in Jesus Christ. The centurion knows that Jesus just needs to speak and it happens. But when Jesus will say: get cured, then it will happen. He thinks big of Jesus and believes in His power. How do we do that? Do we believe in the omnipotence of Christ? Can He and will He forgive our sins? Does He has overcome Satan and deprived of his power?

And this Roman was also good for the Jews. He loved them and he even helped to build a synagogue. He was not a ruler, and found himself so important. No, he would love to hand out to the people around him. That too is part of the faith, do good to our neighbor. And how do we do that? What do we do for our neighbor?

Jesus said those who maintain and continue to believe in my name, which I will give you the crown of life in heaven. The faith of the Roman is an example for us. If we follow that example and thus put our full trust in Jesus, humbly bow before Him and see God's omnipotence in him, we too will receive the crown. Therefore fight the good fight and work to a great faith. Not to feel yourself better and to be better than the rest, but because Jesus Christ is worthy to be served by a great faith.

2017: following the example of Jesus?

Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

A new year has now begun and many are talking about good intentions. There's always something to be said for it, but ultimately, they are aimed at what we find ourselves what needs to change. But what is for year 2017, total lies in the hand of God. But our goal should and must be to come in 2017 closer to God. A new year, another whole year to deepen the relationship with God. But how can we actually do it? Then let us look at the great Master, for he has done it like at the age of 12 years.

It was the feast of the Passover, when the 12-year-old Jesus with Joseph and Mary were in Jerusalem. They celebrated the feast and Joseph and Mary were on the way back home. Until they found out that Jesus was gone. They turned around and searched the city to find Jesus. And when they found Him in the temple, Jesus said: Why have you sought me? Jesus is really surprised by the fact that Joseph and Mary had search for Jesus, why do they not understand that he must be in the temple to be busy about His Father? It is normal for Jesus to be in the temple, it is so normal for us to be in the church?

But what does Jesus in the temple? Verse 46 says that He was among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. Jesus, the Son of the Most High, is in the temple and listening to the teachers. That's equal to the first point for 2017. We must listen to the Word of God, to those who want it and can explain it to us. We are allowed to ask questions examine the Word, and thus closer to God. We will always receive more wisdom and to know God better. Jesus teaches us to listen, let us be silent in 2017 and just listen to God's Word and to His servants who interpret Scripture.

But Jesus was also wise by Himselve. All who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. Jesus, of course, has an extraordinary mind, but he was still fully man. Yet the Holy Spirit wants intellect also give to us, He wants us to learn what God's word means and how we can live in it. Then we received some reason, that God will manifest in us. We do not need to be smart or gifted for, but the Spirit of God opens our minds to, and He will give us His wisdom. That does mean that we are there to propose open and to come into the house of the Father and to listen, the Spirit will work in us.

Should I then go every Sunday twice to church? Should I go to catechism, by association, to the circuit or Bible study group? Must I at home read the Bible? You know, it is ultimately your choice. You do not have to do that, but realize that it does have consequences. You can not grow without the Word, so when we do not listen to that Word we will wither. That is the consequence of not doing those things, the things of the Father. What year is it for you in 2017? Do you follow the example of Jesus, or do you go your own way? Two ways to live in 2017, which way is your way?

I pray you all God's blessings and that we should listen a lot to the Word, to the teachers and above all to the voice of God's Spirit.