If we look at the troubles in this world, we can become very afraid. Christians must turn our eyes upon Jesus. In Him, we have nothing to fear in this life. We are saved by the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

That verse should bring peace to all who have repented of the sin in their life and turned to Jesus for salvation. What does that mean? It doesn’t mean that life will be without trials and concerns. Jesus told His disciples, and us, that there will be troubles in life, but He is bigger than any trouble in this world.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world” (John 10:33).

We all have times when we face uncertainty and feel worried, discouraged, and fearful. Those are the times we need to take our eyes off the world and its troubles and turn our eyes upon Jesus.

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

By Helen H. Lemmel.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

The world is very dark, and getting darker. Evil lurks everywhere, and if we focus on the worldly news, we might think that there’s no hope. Granted, there’s much to be concerned about, but Christians have no reason to despair. Satan and his minions are hard at work to put doubt and fear in the minds of all Christians, and steal our joy. We need to be sure that we are focusing on God’s truth, not Satan’s lies.

Evil is all around, and the news media likes to focus upon all things bad. Christians have a better source for truth. We have Scripture. Scripture doesn’t tell us that bad things won’t happen, but it does tell us that no matter what happens, we have hope. Christians can only be discouraged if we look for answers in the darkness of Satan’s lies. Scripture contains prophecy. It tells us that evil will grow strong, that all nations will turn against Israel, that war, famine and perilous times will happen, and that men will become more and more wicked.

That all sounds pretty dark, and it is. It’s dark because Satan is behind all the evil, and prophecy is being fulfilled just as Scripture describes. The Apostle Peter gives us good advice:

“Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

The same darkness can affect both Christians and non-Christians, and if Christians stop seeing the Light of the Lord shining in the darkness, we will become discouraged. You need to understand that God won the battle at the Cross, and if you have faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, then you have nothing to fear.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Turn to Jesus with all your fears and let His light shine through you.

Thru death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion,
For more than conquerors we are!

It’s been said that the only sure things in life are death and taxes. There’s a more sure thing in life, and that is that faith in Jesus will bring eternal life.

A friend of mine has many health problems, and it’s quite serious. Her greatest fear? Dying. I feel sorry for her because she is a Christian, or at least she attends church. There is a difference. I wonder if anyone has explained Jesus to her…really explained Him. I tried to, but others kept interrupting and poo-pooing her fears rather than helping.

Death has been a part of life since Adam chose to sin. When God says not to do something, we shouldn’t do it. Before the cross, people had to work to please God…they had to eat a certain way, wear certain clothing, and make animal blood sacrifices, among other things. After the cross, salvation comes through faith.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:23-26).

Grace is a blessing. Only true faith in Jesus will bring eternal life. I hope my friend learns this truth. I pray I’ll have the opportunity to talk to her about it.

The Apostle Paul was a Jewish man who knew God’s Law inside and out. He met Jesus, and his life was completely changed. He understood that only true faith in Jesus brings eternal life. He gave his life to Jesus and spread the Gospel far and wide. Paul faced jail, beatings, shipwrecks, and more, but never stopped serving Jesus. He had a purpose in life through Jesus, and had no fear of death.

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

Eternal life with Jesus is a promise to all true believers in Christ. Have you repented of sin and given your life to Jesus? You may not be asked to go on missionary journeys or face rejection from family, but then again, you may.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

Only the good things we do in the name of Jesus will bring eternal rewards. Death will come to all of us one day unless the Rapture happens first; but for a Christian, death is just a step into eternity with God. Jesus conquered death when He rose from the grave on the third day after His crucifixion. Don’t let the darkness of the world blind you to the light of Jesus.

“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).

There is no other way. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, and look to your Heavenly life with Him.

His Word shall not fail you, He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Do you believe in Jesus? Do you stand upon His word? If so, then you have a mission. When Jesus was about to ascend to Heaven, He told His followers, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).

Baptism should follow a confession of faith, but baptism cannot bring salvation. It’s faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that brings eternal life. Why do we need Jesus for salvation? We all sin, and sin cannot come before God. The animal sacrifices of Old Testament times could only cover the sin but never take it away. All of creation has blood that is tainted by sin, but only by God’s pure blood can sin be taken away. Only a human could be the sacrifice for human sin. That’s why Mary, a fully human virgin, gave birth to the Son of God. Jesus was fully human and fully God. Put your faith in Jesus to take your sin away. That faith should change your life.

If you’ve repented of sin, then let go of that sin. Joy in the Lord comes from living in the Light of Jesus. We all fail at times, but every Christian has the promise of forgiveness.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).

That’s a blessing. Notice John didn’t say that only small sins can be forgiven, such as white lies or gossip. He wrote that all sin is forgiven. Our confession of sin must be heartfelt; then we must accept His forgiveness. Whether you’ve told white lies or if you’ve murdered someone, forgiveness is there for you. There are still consequences for sin that must be paid on Earth. For instance, if you’ve stolen money, you’re subject to the laws of the land. Your sin is forgiven by God, so you haven’t lost salvation, but there is a penalty you must pay in this life. Repent and don’t continue in sin.

When the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman before Jesus and accused her of sexual sin, they knew the Law required her to be stoned. Jesus knew these religious leaders weren’t innocent of their own sin and allowed them to be convicted by their own consciences. They left the scene, and Jesus asked the woman where the men are who had condemned her.

“She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).

We must not hold onto the sin that condemns us after we have been forgiven by Christ.  Brothers and sisters, go and sin no more. Then share your testimony with the unsaved world around you. Your testimony is something that you can use to bring someone who is on their way to an eternity of death in the Lake of Fire to an eternity of life with Christ. You just might be surprised at who will listen to your testimony of salvation through Christ, then repent of their own sin and begin a new life in Christ. Don’t be shy.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Get your eyes off of the world with its fear and sin. Turn your eyes upon Jesus and be thankful for His love. Study His word and apply His truth to your life. The closer you draw to Jesus, the less you’ll desire worldly things that push you away from Him.

You only need to confess your sin to Jesus and truly repent. Human priests have no authority over sin. Jesus is our High Priest.

“And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:21-22).

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, and let His love and forgiveness draw you closer to Him and away from the world. Give Him your heart and your life.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original Scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

I’ve heard it said that if you can stay calm while everything is falling apart around you, you just don’t understand the situation. Maybe, but the better reason is maybe you know Jesus.

There’s much in this world to upset us. War is everywhere, and prophecy buffs understand what it means as we watch the war in the Middle East rage, along with the Satanic hatred of Israel. These are signs that time is running short.

AI is something to be concerned about, and earthquakes are increasing, both in size and in number. Famine is coming. Why? Because farmers need fuel to plant and harvest crops. Because gas comes from oil that comes from the Middle East, gas is very expensive for everyone, so food prices are on the rise.

People today don’t want to plant a small garden, and many don’t really know how to do that. The food we eat has additives, preservatives, and is genetically altered, which is all unhealthy, and now we’re faced with artificial meat. Humans were created to ingest food that God created, but now the “miracle of science” is telling us cattle cause global warming, so it’s better to eat meat created in a lab somewhere. Hopefully it isn’t created in the lab that gave us COVID or the Russian lab where the test tube broke, and now people are talking about the Russian Plague.

Oh my, what a world! Stress and anxiety are everywhere but very little peace. Today, kindergarteners are taught that little boys can be little girls, and little girls can be little boys, and that it’s not wrong to have two mommies. Rather than saying “no” to premarital sex, women demand the right to murder their unborn baby. The little person growing has no rights in the eyes of these women, and sadly, the law supports this sacrifice to demon gods.

The evil in this world is enough to make a person sick. We’re living in the end times, and Jesus said: “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:26).

Things will continue to worsen. Is it even possible to find peace in this world? Where is God? How much longer until He takes us Home? Be assured, God hasn’t left us, but have we left Him? Maybe that’s why peace is hard to find.

While I was struggling with what to write about this week, I became frustrated. So much is happening, it was hard to narrow the subjects to just one. Then my daughter said, “Let’s go get a hamburger and go eat by Shawnee Mac Lake.” I said OK. Shawnee Mac Lake is beautiful and peaceful. I live in a pretty peaceful home, away from noise and far from city hustle and bustle. Still, it’s nice to go sit by the river or by the lake. We chose the lake. It’s beautiful there.

The Autumn weather has been lovely, and nobody else was there, so there was no “people” noise or barking dogs. Just quiet. The lake was beautiful, and the sky was blue. It was very peaceful. As I sat there, my mind wandered to Scripture, and I wondered if Adam and Eve had peace like this in the Garden before they chose sin. After they were expelled from the Garden, sin became “normal,” and peace was gone. Adam and Eve began to have children, and Cain was their firstborn, then Abel. Cain became a farmer while Abel was a shepherd. These two men each brought a sacrifice to the Lord. Abel brought a sacrifice which pleased God, while Cain wasn’t careful about his sacrifice.

“And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him” (Genesis 4:6-7).

Sin comes from listening to Satan rather than God; listening to Satan rather than God will only bring turmoil. Because God wasn’t pleased with Cain’s half-hearted sacrifice, Cain blamed Abel because God accepted the blood sacrifice while rejecting Cain’s “whatever I want to give” sacrifice. Cain killed his brother. The peace Adam and Eve had in the Garden was gone. Heartache and anger were now part of life.

Sin continued to become worse. “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose” (Genesis 6:1-2).

The “sons of God” were fallen angels who mated with human women, and Nephilim, giant hybrids that were pure evil, were born. Peace was gone. In order to save humanity from the genetic mutations in humans, animals, and plants, God had to destroy everything. Judgment would come in the form of a flood.

Prior to God’s judgment, Enoch was raptured. “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24).

Christians can take heart in Enoch. We will be taken away prior to God’s final judgment.

In that ancient time, only Noah (Enoch’s great-grandson) and 7 other people were genetically pure, and God had directed him to build an ark so they would survive the judgment. Noah was obedient, and when it was finished, Noah, his wife, their sons and their wives, along with animals of God’s choosing, entered the Ark, and judgment came.

It rained for forty days and nights. The Ark was protection, but it didn’t stop the raging waters in which it floated; tribulation was all around, but those in the Ark were safe. Jesus said the end would be like it was in the days of Noah, with genetic tampering and people not paying attention. He also said it would be like the days of Lot, with homosexuality being acceptable.

Noah and his family are symbolic of those who will be saved through the judgment of the Great Tribulation. Christians won’t face God’s wrath, but will be taken to Heaven prior to His judgment. Enoch is a picture of the Rapture. He walked with God and was taken prior to God’s judgment. Lot also was removed prior to God’s judgment. Peace only comes from knowing God and trusting Him.

The Ark came to rest, and life on earth began again. Noah’s sons and their wives began to have children, and the population grew. It must have been very peaceful in those days, but sin took hold again.

Eventually, the nation of Israel was established by God through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Abraham’s grandson, Jacob (renamed Israel), fathered twelve sons who became the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. The nation of Israel is still God’s chosen people, and He will never turn away from them.

As time passed, the Israelites suffered much from the pagan world around them; peace was elusive. God had set judges over Israel, but Israel decided they didn’t want God’s choice for government, and eventually went to the prophet Samuel. His answer to them is wisdom for us today.

“And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 7:3).

In God we can find peace, but chasing after false gods and putting everything ahead of Him will only bring turmoil and chaos.

Let me ask this. Do you celebrate Easter? Easter is a pagan celebration honoring a pagan goddess of sexual perversion with colored eggs and a bunny held on the date of a pagan holiday. We follow the pagans, then we say we’re celebrating the Resurrection. God specifically set the date for Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection when He established the Passover. We follow what the world dictates, not God.

Remember Cain and Abel. Then we celebrate Christmas with Santa Claus and reindeer. I’m not sure many people remember that we’re supposed to be celebrating the birth of Christ, which wasn’t on December 25^th, another pagan holiday. Then we wonder why we have no peace in our lives or in the world. We celebrate Satan every chance we get. I won’t even talk about Halloween.

Israel should have turned to God for leadership, but they wanted to be like the world. That’s always a mistake. God had a king in mind, but David wasn’t ready to reign, so God gave them Saul. He was a very poor leader.

As I sat by the lake, my mind wandered to David. He was a shepherd and spent much time watching sheep graze on the hillside. That must have been very peaceful. David saw God all around him and loved Him. He learned to play music, but he also honed his skills as a warrior. We know that predators tried to kill his flock, and David defended them valiantly. As he looked up into the sky at night, He saw God’s handiwork

“’[[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.]] The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1).

David saw truth, not the lie of evolution. His faith in the Lord was strong.  David came to understand that only God can give true protection and provide for our needs, like a shepherd watching over a flock.

“[[A psalm of David.]] The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

When you trust in the Lord, there’s peace. The fields where David’s sheep grazed would one day be the birthplace of the Lamb of God. David found peace in a world that held danger, but he learned the skills of a warrior in the quiet pastures around Bethlehem. He learned to see God no matter what the situation, and he found peace.

The dangers in David’s life were a little different than the dangers we face, but the same evil is always behind turmoil and chaos. Aside from lions and bears, there were giants in David’s world. When King Saul faced the Philistine army, he and his troops hid in fear of Goliath, who was over nine feet tall. David wasn’t a member of Saul’s army, but he had no fear. Why wasn’t he afraid? Because he had spent time alone with God and learned to trust in the Lord with all his heart.

David volunteered to fight Goliath armed only with his slingshot and complete faith in God. Goliath was loud and filled with pride. David trusted God, so Goliath didn’t have a chance. David loaded his sling with a stone and let it fly. It hit Goliath in the forehead, and he fell. David took Goliath’s sword and cut off his head. The giant wasn’t invincible. The turmoil and chaos we face can only defeat us if we haven’t found peace in God.

It’s important for humans to find time to be quiet and find a peaceful place to talk with God and listen to His answers. When we focus on God, we gain spiritual strength and inner peace. Turmoil in the world comes from Satan and his minions. It’s a spiritual battle, and we need spiritual strength from God to fight.

Where do you find peace? Is it beside a quiet lake in the country, or is it late at night after the kids are asleep and the chores are done? A time in your own home when you can shut off the television and talk with God?

We all need time alone with God. We face many pressures today. Family units aren’t what God intended, and that causes much turmoil. Husbands and wives choose divorce rather than working through problems. Children are shuffled off to a babysitter because parents have no time for them. Both parents work in order to make ends meet. Morals are dictated by babysitters, public schools, movies, television, and music rather than a parent instilling God’s values into their own children.

Is it any wonder peace is hard to find? Where do you find the peace of knowing God loves you?

Most families today don’t care. Everybody is too busy with secular things that pull the family apart. Gone are the days of family time together. Children might see Dad reading the newspaper or watching news on television, but do they see him praying or reading Scripture? Children face the influence of peer pressure and secular lies taught at school, and need parents who are grounded in Scripture.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

If children are taught to spend time with God, they’ll find peace and strength in faith throughout their lives.

Maybe it’s time to look at our priorities. Learn from David, who fought giants but loved God first. We all need to focus on God. We should study Scripture rather than watching television, listen to hymns of praise instead of rap “music,” talk with family instead of finding ways to be away from our loved ones, pray together as a family instead of arguing about pink hair and tattoos.

Peace isn’t out of reach today; it’s just not a priority. The key is God. “Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Wise words from the Apostle Paul.

You will find peace where there is no peace when you fully trust in God.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com

www.prophecyupdate.com

www.raptureforums.com

All original Scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).