“This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day”– John 6:40

In his perfect life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection, Jesus proved that He was sent from God. And here John records for us Jesus’ own description of the will of God, which sent Him. This is the will of him that sent me, Jesus says, that everyone who has eyes to see me for Who I am, and believes on me, will have everlasting life.

How do you see Jesus? Do you see Him as a good teacher? As a prophet even? Or do you see Him (as He claims in this very same verse) to be the One who has the power to raise the dead when the world comes to an end?

To truly see the Son, Jesus clearly implies, is to believe on Him. It is one thing to give mental assent to a set of Sunday school lessons, to say “Yes” to the question of Jesus’ deity. But it is another thing altogether to trust Him with your life, your ambitions, your purpose and meaning in life.

Do you see Christ as the Lord of your life? To those who see Jesus as the Son of God, and plant their faith firmly in Him, Jesus promises an everlasting life and resurrection at the last day.

In other words, your faith will not be disappointed; it will be replaced with a greater reality than you could ever have imagined. ( Baptist Bible Hour)

A LESSON IN LOVE
“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,”— Luke 10:33

“O Lord, advertise your love through us!” was the prayer of an earnest Christian. A young Christian, when asked if she loved Jesus, was moved to tears, saying in her heart, “What a dim light mine must be, if others are not sure that I love Jesus!” A Christian writer has recently said, that the deadliest heresy is to be unloving.

God advertised his love through the good Samaritan. Others needed not to ask him if he loved God. He was not guilty of the deadly heresy of being unloving. He had true compassion. He was not content merely to say a few pitying words. His sympathy took the practical form of doing something. He bound up the man’s wounds—that was help of the best kind. He stopped the bleeding away of the sufferer’s life. He rested not until he had him safe in a warm shelter.

He did not even content himself with getting the man into an inn, then throwing off further responsibility. He might have said, “I have done my share; let some other one look after him now.” But he was in no hurry to get the case off his hands. He took care of the man for a time, and then provided for the continuation of the care as long as it would be needed. The good Samaritan is Christ’s own picture of what Christian love should be in everyone of his disciples. ( J. R. Miller)

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

A CONTINUING CITY

“Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”–Hebrews 13:12–15

If you have the opportunity to visit Israel, there are numerous amazing archaeological sites you can see. One of the most revealing is Tel Megiddo. This ancient city predates Israel’s arrival in the land of Canaan, and is located near where the Battle of Armageddon will one day take place. A series of excavations has revealed no less than twenty-six distinct cities built on the site, each one on top of the ruins of the preceding city. It is a stark illustration of the transient nature of things here on Earth. Nothing truly lasts in this world. 

Yet as Christians, we have the hope of a “continuing city.” We are promised a permanent, abiding, unending dwelling in Heaven in a place where there is no sin, no sickness, no night and no tears. Not only is Heaven perfect now, it always will be: “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).

The human mind with its finite understanding cannot grasp the full wonders of Heaven, but we do know that it will not only be perfect, but enduring. This life may be filled with things that do not last, but eternity with God, rejoicing in His presence, and praising and glorifying Him with perfect love will never end. The great glory of Heaven is that it will truly last forever.

The only sure and certain hope is not found in the things of this world, but in the promise of eternity. –Daily in the Word
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“Memento Mori”“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”–James 4:13-14
Since the island nation of Japan is vulnerable to tsunamis, it has developed one of the most sophisticated warning systems in the world.  When a tsunami was approaching the city of Sendai, warning signals were triggered but the citizens who heard it had only fifteen minutes to respond. I watched surreal footage taken from a helicopter as that towering wave swept toward many unsuspecting villagers who hadn’t heard the warning. The coverage showed people in cars and on motorcycles riding casually down the road, having no clue that in a matter of moments they would be swept away by a massive wall of water and debris. Most life-threatening accidents or natural disasters come without warning. And all it takes is one financial hit, one tornado, one illness, and life can change forever. Go to a cemetery and read the dates on tombstones.  While you’re there, consider the fact that the people buried there never planned to die on the date written on their marker. Go to the nearest hospital and walk through the emergency room. Do you think any of those people woke up expecting their day to include a trip to the ER . . . perhaps as they or a loved one battled for their very life? James wants us to remember that since every second is a gift from God and we don’t know how many more He’ll give us, we must make the most of every moment. He compares our lives to steam surging upward from a kettle on a stove—it appears for a little while and then vanishes away. He doesn’t beat around the bush. His words are full of realism and urgency, challenging us to see the aerial view of our lives—see how short they really are. An article in USA Today told of an undefeated high school basketball team that was playing its last regular-season game. The team’s star player was 6’ 2” and 215 pounds. The game was tied in overtime and the clock was running down. The star was given the ball with only seconds left to play. Hundreds of excited fans watched as he dribbled down the court and popped a jump shot right before the buzzer sounded. It was right on target . . . nothing but net. His teammates immediately lifted him onto their shoulders and carried him around the gym as the crowd cheered enthusiastically.  Seconds later, he toppled from their shoulders as he went limp, then died of cardiac arrest. It doesn’t matter how young or old, healthy or sick you are right now. No one escapes death . . . and no one knows exactly when the tidal wave will sweep over our heads. Businessmen during James’ day often wrote the Latin motto Memento mori on the front page of their accounting books. The words meant “Remember your mortality.” They wrote those words to remind themselves that life was not just about commerce and the business of the day. In the spectrum of eternity, we have but a few moments to live. We only have one lifetime to offer our Lord Jesus Christ. While growing up, my father often said, “If you had ten lives, you might choose to waste one of them.  But since you only have one, you can’t afford to throw it away. And James would add one simple, inspired word . . . Amen! (Stephen Davey)