I was very fortunate to have been raised in a Christian home with a solid church foundation. When the doors were open at the church building, we were there. We lived up in a “holler” where most everyone was a Christian and there were very few people, if any, who I did not know. My Southern Baptist background gave me strong conservative views, most of which I accepted, some I did not (at a later age).

The training I and others received from our pastor was exceptional. I was saved at the age of seven, and loved to read and study God’s Word, and even from a young age, I was always self-motivated to study the Bible.

By the time I reached the age to attend college, I enrolled in a Southern Baptist college where I thought my spiritual training would ripen considerably. I assumed that everyone on campus would be carrying a Bible under their arm and discussing its richest depths. To say I was naïve at that ripe young age would be an accurate description, as you probably guessed, since that wasn’t the scene I witnessed upon arrival on campus.

My major eye-opening experience was in an Old Testament class taught by a professor who was also a Southern Baptist minister. I knew immediately something was wrong when he began teaching that the first eleven chapters of Genesis were “debatable” in truth, and then later that the Song of Solomon should not have been included in the Bible. I and a few others asked him if he really believed that stuff, and he replied “that he did not, but since he was paid to teach it, he had to do so.” What little respect I had for him went out the window.

At that young age of eighteen I was very well versed in the Bible and was nobody’s fool. However, being young, I was also shaken by what I was seeing and hearing. It just wasn’t what I imagined. Welcome to the real world.

With the background and training I had up to that point, and the effect this new awakening had on me at such a young age, I can see why so many people today are not taking God’s Word seriously. That was in 1965, and obviously, Satan’s garbage was already being spewed out in what I thought to be conservative circles. I can’t imagine what was being taught elsewhere.

My faith was not shattered, but it was tested for a while, and I knew I would never have peace with this introduction to liberalism until I came to one conclusion. One thing kept coming to my mind; either the Bible is false or it is true, but it cannot be both. The decision I then made was actually quite easy. From that point on, my mind was settled that the Bible is true in every area from Genesis to Revelation and everyone else was wrong. If another contradicted God’s Word, they were a liar but not God. God’s Word is Truth in its entirety and that settled it. After coming to that firm conclusion, my mind was at peace.

We are now in the 21st century and all the “isms” have had many years to foment their lies against the holy Bible. Thousands upon thousands have turned their back upon this Holy book because of the lies that have come from Satan’s schemes. He has watered down colleges, seminaries and pulpits to the point that it is really hard to find the Truth even in most churches. Christians have grown spiritually lazy and as a result excel in Biblical ignorance. I even question if this class is truly saved.

Our world today is so full of spiritual rot; the stench must be gagging the angels in Heaven. “Politically correct” tripe is made to sound saintly, righteous and even godly, but Satan is a great mocker. He will soon attempt to mimic the Son of God through his puppet the Antichrist, making the world think he is God. His trilogy will copycat the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

If you are a Christian having problems in determining what to believe, do yourself a favor and get in God’s Word, the Bible, on a daily basis. Mix it thoroughly with prayer, and then determine as I did as a young eighteen year old, it … is … the … only …Truth. Anything you hear that opposes it is a lie straight from the pits of hell. Cry out with the Psalmist, “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” (Psalm 25:5)

None of us know when our Bridegroom will come, but we must be ready. Those who are attuned to His Word know it may not be very far down the road until He calls out for us to “come up here” and meet Him. This world we now live in is ripe for His coming. Never before in history has His soon return been so obvious. I offer no predictions, for only a fool would try, but He has made it clear that we are to be longing for His return and be ready.

Jesus told the disciples that the fields were white unto harvest. Are we out in the fields telling the world about Him? Do we know anything to tell? We don’t know who God has called, but all who come to Him will be accepted. None will be rejected if they just call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. Are we getting that message out? The fields may have turned brown by now, but there are those who still need to hear about the Savior Jesus. How do I know that? I know that because Jesus hasn’t as yet returned. Since He hasn’t returned, He is still waiting for the remainder who will complete the body of His bride.

Are you facing situations in your life that confuse and trouble you as a Christian? Then get in the Word. The world does not have any answers, but God’s Word does. You say, “I don’t know what to believe.” Believe the Bible. It may sound too simple, but that is the correct answer.

We know by the mouth of Jesus Himself that His Word is Truth, for He said in the Garden of Gethsemane when praying to the Father, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.” (John 17:17 NLT) Do you want the Truth? Get in the Word. Believe it, for it is the only truth.

Grant Phillips

The greatest gift that could be given to anyone at any time is the gift of spiritual re-birth and eternal life in Jesus. It is also the most expensive for the Giver.

Even before our original parents, Adam and Eve, fell prey to the Serpent’s wiles, God knew that his creation would sin against Him. Unlike Adam and Eve, in their innocence, He knew all the ramifications involved and the extent their fall would have upon mankind all down through the corridors of time, to the last person born on earth. God knew the effects sin would have upon the world, and it hasn’t been pretty. One may wonder why God even bothered to create us, when we consider the price He paid to redeem us (Christians).

Sin has brought with it, death, sickness, murder, rape, theft, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bestiality, pedophiles, abuse, pride, fear, doubt, selfishness, hate, greed, worry, wars upon wars, and the list just goes on and on. Sin has turned the beauty of this earth into a wasteland of rebellion against the Creator. It has affected not only mankind, but even the animal life and nature itself. No turn can be made to avoid the far reaching death grip that sin has upon this earth. God knew that all His creation would be tainted, no, saturated with the evils of sin’s effects. Yet, He allowed it, because He was already at work in providing a special gift that would restore everything back to the pure, unadulterated original. “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

Satan, Lucifer, the Devil, Beelzebub whatever you choose to call him, actually started this whole mess. If we really want to blame someone, here is where the accusing finger should point. He had it all, but wasn’t satisfied. He wants to be God, but he is not even a god. He is a fallen angel with a bad attitude. Only Satan could take something that is pure and clean, and contaminate it to the point of being unrecognizably filthy. Mankind now does the same, when their father is the Devil himself. Don’t think so? Consider a man, or woman, who would steal the innocence of a child for instance. That is nothing but Satanic.

The color of sin is black, in that it has deceived and blackened the hearts of mankind. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) It is also red, in that it has spilled blood from the time of Cain. “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” (Genesis 4:8) It has brought nothing but death and destruction as it has pillaged the hearts and minds of mankind and ravaged the earth.

Not one progeny of Adam has dodged the darts of sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) Alas, it is embedded within our souls from the time we are conceived. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalms 51:5) We wrestle with it from cradle to grave (Romans 7). Many just succumb to its poisonous fangs and give in to its alluring call, ignoring the judgment it brings down upon us all. “For the wages of sin is death; but (emphasis mine) the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

I’ve said all this in order that we could get a glimpse of our hopeless situation under the iron boot of Satan and his companion, sin. However, notice that small, three-letter word in the previous verse quoted … “but.” It is cause for jubilation! Why is that? The word “but” is a conjunction in the sentence structure. More importantly, it is a conjunction of contrast, simply meaning that what is said after the word “but” will be the exact opposite of what was said before it. Before, it says, “For the wages of sin is death.” Afterward, it says, “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Sin condemns us with death, spiritually and physically, but faith in Jesus Christ frees us with eternal life!

Since we are born in sin and live in sin, we cannot conquer sin. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10) The good news is that even though we cannot be experientially (daily living) perfect, we can be positionally (the cross of Christ) perfect. Every man, woman and child sins: Christians and non-Christians. However, Christians can point to the cross of Jesus. The non-believer cannot.

The sacrifices of the Old Testament pointed toward the sacrifice of the New Testament. Whether the sacrifice in the Old Testament was a young bull, a lamb, a red heifer, God required the animal sacrifice to meet certain specifications, and one of those specifications was always that it be without spot. Jesus was without spot. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14) “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (1 Peter 1:19) Jesus, the Son of God, was sinless. Even corrupt Pilate said he found no fault in Him (John 18:38; John 19:4, 6)

Therefore, Jesus took our judgment of sin upon Himself. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28)

By His own choice, He paid the price to redeem us (buy us back) and give us eternal life. The greatest gift provider is Jesus Christ the Son of God. The greatest gift giver is God our Creator. If all that we know about Jesus and all that He has said is not true, then we have no hope, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19) But we know that His Word is true, if it just be by the evidence in our own heart. For those who will come to the Lamb of God, He will freely give eternal life.

Grant Phillips