Tell THE Truth :: By Holly Spate

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Truth is Truth. Period.

Facts are Facts. Period.

Right is Right. Period.

Wrong is Wrong. Period.

Various verses in the Bible make it clear that, although man’s ways may change on a dime to cater to carnal desires and to reflect wants and whims, the Lord’s views and ways do not change… ever!

Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” And Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the Lord, I change not.”

Throughout time, people have tried to persuade themselves and others that it’s natural and permissible to embrace new ideas and beliefs. The lie believed by many is that we all have a different standard of morality and there should be no judgment.

As our society constantly tries to justify the carnal nature and prop itself up on concepts like progressivism, it will forever play the never-ending dance of adjusting values and morality. The reality, however, is that no amount of progressivism, change, or “updating” will ever change the truth. No twisting of a wrong will ever make things right. No amount of spinning or compromise will create a different outcome. Truth will always be truth. The God of all truth makes that point very clear.

Aren’t you thankful that God doesn’t change? His love doesn’t change. His direction doesn’t change. His ways don’t change. He is the only constant that never changes. Praise Him for that!

Not only does God not change, but neither does the very Word He left us with. The Bible is perfect and applies to every person, to every generation, throughout all time. It is the defined and detailed blueprint… the greatest source of direction for living a successful, pleasing, and obedient life. It compiles the greatest lessons, gives the best instructions, and provides all we need to live a life that pleases our Creator.

Hebrews 4:12 describes God’s precious Word this way: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The Bible is a rich source of inspiration and wisdom. It is instrumental in growing and maturing us. It teaches us not only how to live but, as Philippians 4:8 conveys, how to think: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Yes, the truth is not changing. It is by no means relative. Truth is truth… always has been and always will be. No matter how someone tries to spin or convince, no matter how much time passes or how society may change, some things will always be true and will never ever be changed in God’s eyes. And, at the end of the day… at the end of every day, the only thing that matters is solely what He and He alone thinks.

Contemplating the Biblical concept of truth as opposed to the world’s distorted view that many cling to, I would be remiss if I did not share the ultimate truth. The most important truth pertaining to all mankind is also the most important decision one can make in this life… that of salvation.

Many in this life, just like many in the past, think there are numerous paths to heaven. It is the embraced opinion of many that simply being a good person, reaching a certain state of being, following certain methodic steps, or consistently putting good things out into the world is all that’s needed to enter the heavenly realm when death knocks at the door. Satan loves these deceptive ideas as they all mislead and can provide a false sense of security, leading people straight to hell.

But the Bible is crystal clear on this subject. Scripture after scripture makes it very apparent that Jesus is the only way. There are not hundreds of ways or paths to heaven. There are no works good enough that can be performed that will allow access. There is only one way to receive entry into eternity, and that one way, that one path solely comes through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

It is Jesus’ shed blood on the cross that washes away all sin. It was his death, burial and resurrection in which we must believe to come into His kingdom. Ephesians 1:7 states, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

John 3:16-17 states: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 goes on to say, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

Many verses in the Bible make it abundantly clear that calling out to Jesus is the only way to obtain salvation. We are all sinners in need of the Savior. We can never do enough good, and we can never be good enough.

The book of Romans conveys this message beautifully: “As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, no, not one'” (Romans 3:10).

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

If you are a believer, rejoice in knowing that Jesus Christ rescued you, and you’re on your way to a beautiful and bright eternity! And, if you have never put your faith and trust in Christ Jesus, do it today. It will be the best decision you will ever make… ever!

Romans 10:9-12 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”

Romans 10:13 goes on to say, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

I am so thankful our salvation is solely based on what Jesus did… aren’t you? I’m so thankful God loved us enough to send His one and only Son to die in our place and pay the price we could never pay. I’m so thankful His shed blood washes away all of our sin… all of it! We just need to believe, cry out to Him, and accept His precious gift. When we do, He promises we will be saved! And when we’re saved, we’re His forever! Amen!

As our world spirals out of control and appears darker by the day, it is becoming apparent to all paying attention that things are rapidly shifting, and not for the better. Moral decline has reached an all-time high, and selfishness has soared to new heights. Nations are rising against nations, wars and rumors of wars are circulating across the globe, and sin is off the charts. It appears the birth pangs are growing stronger and coming faster. There is definitely an uneasiness in the air felt by both believers and nonbelievers alike.

For the believer, we can confidently walk in truth and feel comforted no matter how dark the world gets. For the believer, we can have calm amidst the chaos. But, for the unbeliever there is no true calm, no real peace. The unbeliever can never have true peace because they haven’t taken hold of the truth. True peace can only be found in Jesus Christ. True rescue can only be found in Jesus Christ. True joy can only be found in Jesus Christ. And entrance into eternity in heaven can only come through Jesus Christ.

God makes it crystal clear that the only way to Him is through His one and only beloved Son, Jesus.

God is a merciful God, and His desire is to see all come to repentance and receive His gift of salvation so none are lost.

2 Peter 3:9 states, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Time is quickly ticking away. God could call us home at any moment. The rapture could literally be at the door. If you haven’t made the decision to surrender and put your trust in Jesus Christ, please do so today. And, if you’re a believer, please make it a priority to step out in love and Tell THE Truth while there’s still time to a lost and dying world.

spate.holly@gmail.com

Finding Christ in the Chaos :: By Holly Spate

Friend,

Are you feeling overwhelmed by life and all its demands? Do you feel drained of energy and in need of refreshment? Are you finding yourself restless and weary in the world that surrounds you?

If so, you’re not alone.

Life has a way of being overwhelming. Life can feel out of control. It’s very easy to feel quickly burdened by so many things constantly vying for our attention… some worthwhile and some completely worthless.

But, through it all, with each new day we are given, we have a choice to make. We can carry the burden or release it. We can make the right things a priority or make insignificant things a priority. We can embrace joy or embrace misery. We can make each minute count or let each minute count for nothing.

In all these things, we have a choice: we have freedom to choose wisely or choose unwisely.

If someone asked me to share my best advice concerning living life significantly and successfully in this chaotic existence, I would not be able to take credit for the answer. The best advice I could ever share comes directly from God’s Word.

  • Come to Christ- Accept Him as Savior.

“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment” (1 John 3:23).

  • Love God. Love Him with all your heart. Make getting to know Him your top priority.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).

  • Love Others

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

All these things will not only help the believer navigate more intentionally in this chaotic world but will naturally bring a better path. When we practice keeping focused on Christ, we tend to have more peace, joy, direction, and hope. Keeping His commandments, spending quality time with Him, loving Him and loving others, puts us in the best position.

It does not mean we will never have trials or difficulties, but it does mean we can better hear, discern, trust, love, persevere, and be more at rest during challenging times because we’ve spent quality time investing in a close relationship with our heavenly Father.

I love James 4:8, which states: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”

What a beautiful promise!

Brother or Sister in Christ-

No matter your schedule, no matter your commitments, no matter your long “To Do” List, one thing stands true. For all who are believers in Christ, time is always best spent investing and drawing close to our heavenly Father.

Truly, every minute spent with the Savior is a win and a minute well spent.

And, every minute we have been entrusted with… every single breath we have been given… every single second we’ve been allotted… are all gifts given by our Creator. We literally cannot draw one single breath without Him.

He is our lifeline to all good things. James 1:17 reminds us of this truth as it clearly states: “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.”

Your very life is a gift.
This very day is a gift.

Now… How will you choose to spend it?

Will you spend it wisely or foolishly? Will you savor every second or squander every second? Will you make it a priority to put Christ at the center… will He be your focus?

Time invested with the Savior comes with so many wonderful blessings.

The enemy knows this, which is why he enjoys our excessive busyness and childlike distractions. He loves to see us waste our time on worthless efforts and enjoys seeing us squander our seconds as our Bibles collect dust on our shelves.

He understands clearly that the closer we grow in our relationship with Christ, the more effective witnesses we will be in the world around us. He is aware if we focus on what’s most important, we will make a bigger impact, shine more light, plant more seeds, and store up worthy treasures in heaven, as Matthew 6:19-21 reminds:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

He knows if we live out Ephesians 6:11, we will be better equipped in a world growing ever darker: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

He is well aware our weariness will be strengthened through resting and trusting solely in our Savior. He understands, when we surrender to the Savior, we are more likely to praise and less likely to complain when we suffer.

The truth is we are always made better and stronger when we keep focused and close to our Maker… always.

Several verses in Matthew beautifully convey some of the natural benefits that come with putting Christ first in our hearts and lives:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

So, friend… will you make Christ a priority?

True success, peace, and contentment in this life only come by surrendering every part of yourself to the Savior and investing quality time with Him. It is growing in relationship with Him and confidently realizing that no matter what happens in life, you will always find Christ close, even in the chaos.

spate.holly@gmail.com