God is real. He is our Creator and He is also our Savior. God had no beginning and He has no end. The first words in the Bible declare that His existence is eternal and He was before all things.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” Genesis 1:1.

From this beginning point the passage goes on to tell us that God spoke all we see into existence in six days. Not surprisingly the New Testament agrees.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” John 1:1-3.

Because God created all things, He knows better than we do how everything works. We cause our own problems by choosing not to follow His instructions. Prior to Adam’s sin there was no death, sorrow or disease…no separation from God. Because Adam chose not to follow God’s instructions, we live in a fallen world.

We consult the owner’s manual of an automobile regarding how to keep it running properly, yet for something as important as eternal life we ignore Scripture, which is God’s instruction manual.

God gave us the Holy Bible as a guide and sin is clearly defined; it is sin that separates us from God. You may think that God’s laws only apply to you if you believe in Him, but that’s wrong. For example, it is a sin to steal whether you have accepted Christ or not. Sin has condemned you, but only through faith in Jesus Christ are your sins forgiven.

Rejecting Christ will forever keep you dead in your sins, but accepting Him will give you eternal life with Him in heaven.

“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.

That is simple and straightforward, yet many people say it’s unfair. Why? Every day we make simple, straightforward choices that give us life while here on earth. For instance, we must eat nourishing food in order to be healthy. If we choose not to eat (reject Christ) we become very ill and die, but it is a choice we make. Or, if we choose to eat poison (follow the lies of Satan) we will also die.

God gives us the right to choose eternal life or eternal death. Most people put more emphasis on buying a new car than where they will spend eternity. The truth is, God Almighty wants to have a relationship with His creation (that’s us). To cultivate an everlasting relationship with Him we must first believe in Him, who He is, and why He chose to enter His creation and die for us. First accept His sacrifice for sin, then follow Him.

There is no other way to spend eternity in heaven with God than to place your faith in the sacrifice Christ made on the cross. Does that seem like too narrow a path for you to follow? Do you want to embrace yoga, New Age doctrines, spiritualism or any other false teaching out there? That is like eating poison.

If you buy into any teaching not found in God’s Word, you have made your own decision to follow the path that leads to destruction.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” Matthew 7:13-14.

According to God’s own words the vast majority of human beings will never come into a saving relationship with His Son. What choice will you make? Which path will you follow? Once we have made the choice to accept Christ’s gift of salvation, that is the time to choose to live your life to please Him. When temptations come along, choose to honor God.

God does not change, nor does His Word. It is up to us to study His Word and make choices based on His truth. What was named as sin when God gave the Law to Moses is still sin today.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein” Hebrews 13:8-9.

There are many strange doctrines around and some may even sound Christian. The unstudied person can be fooled. If you haven’t moved closer to Him in your Christian walk, then something is wrong. God has never changed and if you claim to be a Christian yet choose to follow the broad path that leads to destruction, it just might be that you have not truly accepted Christ. Settle it now before it is too late.

When you accept Christ and by His grace, mercy, and love your sins are forgiven, is it okay for you to continue sinning? Is it okay for you to continue in fornication, drunkenness, pornography, gossip, lying, anger, pride, or any other sin you happen to embrace?

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2.

If you have truly accepted Christ, all your sins are forgiven and your desire will be to take up your cross, deny yourself (your sin nature), and follow Him. Once you have accepted Jesus, the Holy Spirit is sealed in you and that seal can never be broken, not even by you. It is the Holy Spirit who will help you to understand Scripture and draw you out of sin and into a right relationship with God.

When you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, you are then spiritually in tune with the Author of the Bible and He will provide you with the understanding you need. Remember, God’s law is above all of Man’s laws. The governing body of a nation may enact legislation that legalizes sin, but that doesn’t validate sin. Be sure you follow God’s law rather than Man’s.

Only our living God could have stepped into His creation to save us from everlasting damnation. Nothing less than the sacrifice of God Himself would be sufficient to accomplish this reconciliation between the perfect God and sinful man.

“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” John 3:16.

God loves you and does not wish for you to choose eternal death by rejecting Him. Eternal life is a free gift from God. It only comes through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus willingly died in your place; He took your place on that cross and He took the sin of the whole world upon Himself. He took the punishment that was rightfully due you and me because of sin.

He opened that narrow path that leads to salvation. God gave His Son to cover the payment necessary to take away the sin of the world. All you have to do is accept His free gift, Jesus Christ, into your heart and you will live forever. Believe on Him and follow the narrow way that leads to salvation.

You see, right now if you are a non-believer you are dead. You’re dead in your sins. You are basically following the broad path that leads to the second death when you pass from this life into the next. Only faith in Jesus Christ can save you from condemnation.

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” John 3:18.

Born-again believers in Christ only die once. That one death is death to sin. Once you say yes to Jesus Christ your sins are forgiven never to be remembered again and you become born again, born from above, from God. When you pass from this life, it will not be to eternal damnation, but to eternal life.

As a forgiven sinner you will be seen by God as He sees His Son Jesus, perfect. The only way to show your gratitude to Christ is to turn from your sin and live for Him who died for you.

It is your choice to accept Jesus Christ, put your faith in Him, and receive eternal life. Or you can reject Jesus Christ, put your faith in Satan’s lies, and receive eternal damnation. Our human lifespan is short but eternity is forever. If you die without accepting Jesus Christ as the atonement for your sins, you have chosen eternal separation from God.

If you don’t choose Christ while living in this life, then you have chosen to reject salvation.

“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” John 8:24.

You are a sinner and you must acknowledge that fact before anything else. Then accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. There is no other way of salvation. The penalty for unbelief is eternal death. In other words, unbelief results in eternal punishment instead of eternal glory. No, it won’t be one big eternal party with all your friends who also reject Christ.

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” Revelation 20:13-15.

Is that where you choose to spend eternity? God will not force you to love Him, but He loves you so much that He shed His blood for you. You have no more chances to change your mind after death. Once you die it’s done; you make your decision while you are living in this life. Once in Hell there will be no pardons, no reprieves, no commuting of sentence.

On the other hand, if you’ve chosen to accept Christ, heaven awaits you and you won’t want to ever leave.

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

Start living your life for Him now. If you claim to have accepted Him but just won’t turn from your sin, what makes you think you will want to serve Him for eternity. You will not be able to practice your sin in Heaven. None of us are perfect on this side of heaven, but we need to strive to be like the One we serve.

“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” Ephesians 5:14.

The question you need to ask yourself is whether you are dead in your sin or alive in Christ. If you’re dead in sin, then you need to seek eternal life through Christ. If you are alive in Christ, then begin to live for Him.

Ron & Nathele Graham

Scripture is filled with accounts of men who obeyed God. Though none of these men were perfect and sometimes failed, they all are remembered for their service to God. There are many godly men to consider, but let’s look at a few.

Abram lived in a pagan culture filled with idols and false gods. One day he heard the one true God call him out of that way of life. When Abram finally obeyed God, he moved away from that pagan society and that is when God was able to work in his life. Through Abraham (formerly known as Abram) the foundation of the nation of Israel was established and today we see the promise God made to Abraham regarding the Jews entitlement to the Promise Land coming about. God promised that he would be the father of a great nation, and so he was.

It took faith for him to believe that in his old age he would father a son, Isaac. It was Abraham’s twelve great-grandsons who were the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. It would be the privilege of one of those tribes, Judah, to be the bloodline that would produce King David. More important, the Messiah would come through that line.

God had wonderful plans for Abraham and his descendants but until Abraham left the pagan life surrounding him, he was unable to fulfill God’s plan for him. A man of God obeys God and moves away from satanic ways.

Moses was a Jew who was raised in Pharaoh’s court. One day he saw an Egyptian beating a Jewish slave. Instead of ignoring this injustice, he stood up for the one being wronged. Moses sinned by killing the Egyptian, but God can use even a murderer. God chose Moses to lead the Israelites from Egyptian captivity and Moses went boldly to Pharaoh many times demanding that the Jews be set free.

When Pharaoh finally consented, Moses lead the nation of Israel on a journey to the Promised Land. By faith he led them through the Red Sea, received the Law, brought a flood of drinking water from a rock, and much more. One would think of Moses as an outspoken man, big and burley, yet he is described this way:

“Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” Numbers 12:3.

Moses was humble man, but God was his strength.

King David loved the LORD. He wrote many psalms in praise of God, but many were cries for help and for justice. David was not perfect but he stands out as a man of God. Temptation was a failure of David. He lusted after a married woman and when she became pregnant with his child, David had her husband (who was a soldier in David’s army) placed in a position where he would be killed. When his sin was brought to his attention, David wrote a beautiful cry to God.

“…Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions” Psalm 51:1b.

David was grieved by his sin and turned to God.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” Psalm 51:10.
A man of God humbles himself before God, asks for forgiveness, and asks God to change him.
Daniel and three friends were young when the Babylonians captured Jerusalem. They were taken from Jerusalem as captives to Babylon. Even today Babylon stands out as a symbol of demonic idol worship. King Nebuchadnezzar built a huge golden statue and issued a decree that when music was played everyone had to fall down and worship that statue.

When the music sounded Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, would not bow to the statue. The penalty? They were thrown into a fiery furnace. They made it clear that they trusted God and would not bow to idols.

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” Daniel 3:17-18.

Indeed, they were thrown into the furnace, yet God protected them…even walked in the furnace with them. Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace and saw four men walking in there.

“He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” Daniel 3:25.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire healthy with not so much as the smell of smoke on them. Because of this King Nebuchadnezzar decreed that nobody was to speak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. A man of God can be recognized because he does not bow his knee to idols and will always honor God.

Time went on and a new king ruled in Babylon. Daniel’s integrity won favor of the king and he rose high in leadership. This did not set well with the king’s advisors who convinced King Darius to issue a decree that no petition to any god (or God) or man could be made except to the king. In other words, it was illegal to pray to God Almighty.

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” Daniel 6:10.

Daniel didn’t change his routine. He honored God and would not stop his prayers. His obedience to God landed him in a den of lions. The next morning Daniel was alive and well.

“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me: and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt” Daniel 6:22.
A man of God will follow the laws of the land, except when those laws are contrary to God. He chooses to follow God.

The New Testament is also full of examples of godly men. Matthew was in a less than honest business as a tax collector, but left it to follow Jesus. Thomas had doubts until he saw the risen Lord for himself, then he wholeheartedly worshipped Him. Peter was rash and outspoken, but Jesus mellowed him and he became a strong leader of the Christian faith. Paul was on a mission of destruction until he was changed by the living Lord. These men and others are examples of how to recognize a man of God.

God entrusted men with great responsibility. Adam was created first and God gave him the responsibility of tending the Garden of Eden, as well as the responsibility of obedience.

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” Genesis 2:16-17.

Later Eve was taken out of Adam and he was responsible to teach his wife to obey God. Leadership is still man’s responsibility.

“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” 1 Timothy 2:14.

Men, turn your desire toward God and away from the temptations of the world. Seek God first and your needs will be provided for. You will then be qualified to take the place of leadership which God has given to you.

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” 1 Timothy 6:9-10.

A man of God will take leadership seriously.

Young man or old, take your place in the service of God; He has given you a great calling. Put off the desires of the flesh and seek after the character of God. Scripture is clear in what constitutes desires of the flesh. Model your life after God’s standards, not Man’s. You cannot be a leader or example to others if you compromise God’s Word. Are you single? Then abstain from fornication.

“But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn” 1 Corinthians 7:9.
Marriage between one man and one woman is the only acceptable standard, and that is the only place to engage in sexual activity. If you are “sowing your wild oats” and think ‘normal, you are not a man of God. The relationship between a husband and wife is a precious union which God uses as an example of the relationship between Jesus Christ and His ekklēsia…His Bride. You mock Him if you do not respect marriage.

Throughout God’s word, submission to God is a must. When you submit to God then you are walking with Him, not against Him.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” Ephesians 5:25.

How did Christ love us? He gave His life. Pride did not stop the Creator of the universe from leaving heaven, entering His creation, and shedding His blood to redeem us. Men, it is you who are to exemplify Christ by loving your wife and giving yourself to her and for her. She is to submit to her husband, but if you are abusive or rule over her as a tyrant then you are failing as a man of God and as a husband. You are also the example that your children will follow.

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” Ephesians 6:4.

How can you raise a child to respect and obey God if you do not follow Him yourself? Marry the mother of your children before those children are conceived. Provide for your family. Lead them in Bible study.

Base your choices in life on biblical truth and be open in your love for Jesus. Your sons will see how a man of God behaves and will follow that example. Your daughters will see how a man of God behaves and will choose a husband accordingly. Your grandchildren will benefit for your example.

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

Many men today seem to put more emphasis on pursuing the ways of the world rather than the ways of God. Foul language and filthy jokes have become the standard even among those who claim to be Christians. Many men, young and old, claim to be Christian but when you look at their Facebook page the jokes and links found there say otherwise. To many men, women are there for their own pleasure and Christian values have no part in their lives.

“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” 1 Timothy 6:11.

A man of God puts God first in his life.

How do you recognize a man of God? Not by how tall or short he is. His skin color, hair color, and eye color won’t tell you. You recognize him by his character and his integrity. He separates himself from the pagan world around him, he hears God’s voice and meekly obeys, he doesn’t bow to idols, but humbles himself before the Lord God Almighty.

When he sins he asks God to forgive and change him. He is a leader who respects women and loves his wife as Christ loves His Bride. He is a father to his children and teaches them to love their Heavenly Father. You can recognize a man of God because he studies Scripture and applies it to his life.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughtly furnished unto all good works” 2 Timothy 3:17.

God’s ways are his ways. You can recognize a man of God because through his words and actions Christ is seen living in him.

God bless you all,
Nathele Graham