Todd Strandberg

The Foundation of My Faith by Todd Strandberg

Published on: by RR2

Biblical Faith
It is absolutely vital for believers to have a solid understanding of why they are members of the Christian faith. Millions of people think they are part of the body of Christ, but they have no idea what it really means to be saved. I’ve known dozens of people who confessed to be Christians for a time, but who later simply wandered away from the flock. It is like their faith in God came with an expiration date.

We tend to view salvation as being a boundless commodity. Jesus warned that it is a finite resource with a limited time offer: “Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:14).

The key reason some people have no grasp of faith is that they never established a meaningful relationship with their Creator. True believers stand firm in both good and bad times because they have a firm foundation for their faith. Carnal Christians will blow away when adversity, comes or even when the Christian experience becomes boring to them.

In June of 2008, I got a first-hand look at the importance of having a good foundation of support. On a Saturday afternoon, severe thunderstorms came roaring through my area with 90 mph gusts. The force of the wind blew down two huge spruce trees in my front yard. After the storm, I was amazed to see that a group of cottonwood trees, which were twice as tall as my spruce trees, had suffered little damage. While surveying the mess, I realized why my spruce trees had fallen and the cottonwoods had remained standing: the trees’ root system. Spruces are big and broad, but they have very shallow roots. Cottonwoods endure the wind because they have deep roots. In fact, I later learned that nurseries warn people not to plant cottonwoods too close to houses because their aggressive root systems can get into sewer lines.

There is a mirror reflection of my tree experience in Luke 6:47 “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”

Don’t Lean on Man
I frequently receive emails from people seeking my support for their particular doctrinal views. They want me to validate their beliefs by agreeing with them. It astounds me that some people base their view of truth on a thumbs-up from someone else. The Bible is the only foundation we should use for our faith.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Josh. 1:8).

One day, I was sorting through a bunch of old teaching tapes I had collected from as far back as the early ‘80s. I pitched many of these tapes in the trash because I know now the people who authored those tapes held to some grievous doctrinal errors. Hobart E. Freeman is one such case. He believed that all sickness was a lie from the devil, and that it was a sin to go a doctor. Despite Freeman’s claims of being able to rebuke all illness, he came to sad end in 1984, when he died of bronchial pneumonia and congestive heart failure complicated by an ulcerated gangrenous leg. One report said that 19 members of his church also died from needless neglect of medical conditions.

I didn’t learn of Freeman’s death until many years later. I had simply lost interest in his teaching because it was in conflict with the Bible. I have found that anyone preaching some new truth is most likely a false prophet. The best teachers are those who stick closely to the Word of God.

Don’t Even Trust a Fool
The devil uses every trick in the book to deceive us. I was once searching through the YouTube site, looking at videos on evolution. I found a series of videos by someone named Edward Current, who was defending creationism. After listening to some of the messages, I was amazed at how poorly Ed was doing at defending his cause. About a month later, I was reading through the mountain of email I get each day, and I ran across a note that alerted me to the fact that Mr. Current was an atheist pretending to be a believer.

Some of the videos produced by this deceiver have been viewed nearly a million times, so I’m sure thousands of people have watched them and concluded that Christianity is a bunch of nonsense. Because even the fool might be working for Satan, we need to confirm everything with the Word of God.

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” ( Psalm 118:8-9).

Firm Foundations
Everyone has their own reasons for placing their trust in the Bible. Some reasons have such strong basic truth, they should be universally applied to the lives of most Christians. Listed below are the top four reasons I believe the Holy Bible is the supreme authority on all matters.

  1. Prophecy Fulfillment
    Many books claim to be the inspired writing of God. What makes the Holy Bible stand out from the crowd is that it is the only religious document that contains historically verifiable prophecies that have consistently been fulfilled. The Koran makes no attempt at predicting the future.I’m at a loss to find a book that can be remotely compared to the Bible. Even the best soothsayer can only claim an accuracy rate of less than 4 percent. The writing of Nostradamus is widely acclaimed for predicting the future, but it’s all based on smoke and mirrors. The success of his book, Les Propheties, rests on the fact that it is nothing but a collection of vague gibberish. For example:“The year 1999 seven months from the sky will come the great King of Terror. To resuscitate the great king of the Mongols. Before and after Mars reigns by good luck.” (X.72).Too much good times, too much of royal goodness, Ones made and unmade, quick, sudden, neglectful: Lightly will he believe falsely of his loyal wife, He put to death through his benevolence. (X 44).

    Any predictions that have come to pass that can be attributed to Nostradamus were made so after the event occurred. The only connection is the resolve of people’s active imaginations.

    The Bible makes clear predictions, and there has never been a case when one of its prophecies has not come to pass. The Good Book has been so successful at foretelling the future, I believe people who scoff at it are making a “Sucker’s Bet.” They fail to realize that 87 percent of end-time prophecy is already in an advanced state of fulfillment.

    The accurate prediction of the rebirth of Israel is Bible prophecy’s most stunning achievement. The Word of God also said that China would rise to be a world power;  Europe would form a single government; the world would someday have a globally integrated financial market; and that there would be a diplomatic struggle (which we’re seeing today) over who should control Jerusalem.

    There is no need for blind faith in what God has said in His Holy Word.  I trust in the Bible because it has proven itself through prophecy.

  2. God’s Deliverance of the Jewish People
    About 150 years ago, the King of Sweden was having personal doubts about the Bible’s divine nature. He called for Count Von Zinzendorf, who was the bishop of the Moravian Church, to provide evidence that the Bible is inspired by God. When the Count arrived, the King told him he had set aside 10 hours to be enlightened on this matter. Zinzendorf said that much time would not be necessary because all he needed to do was to say two words. The King, skeptical, asked, “What words might those be?” Count Von Zinzendorf  replied, “The Jews.”One of the greatest miracles of God is the preservation of the children of Israel. No other group of people has ever been completely annihilated as a nation and then later reborn. The rebirth of Israel in 1948 is the key indication that we are in the end times.”Therefore behold the days are coming, says the Lord, that they shall no longer say ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt’, but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and lead the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I have driven them’ (Jer. 16:14-15).The regathering of Israel is a remarkable task alone, but what makes one have to admit that the hand of God was involved is how the Jews managed to overcome unbelievable persecution.  Each of the following nations and tribes has failed in its attempt to destroy the Jews:

    Amalekites
    Arameans
    Assyrians
    Babylonians
    Canaanites
    Edomites
    Egyptians
    Germany
    Hittites
    Midianites
    Moabites
    Persians
    Philistines
    Romans
    Spain
    The whole Muslim world

    Of course, God is not finished preserving the Jewish people. During the tribulation, Satan will inspire several genocidal attacks against Israel. Anyone reading this article near the end of the tribulation will be able to add a few more names to this list of defeated foes.

  3. Testimony of Jesus Christ
    The Bible verse, John 3:16, is regarded as the one everyone in the Western world knows: “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.” Being familiar with this passage doesn’t make one a believer. Jesus may be a savior, but is he your Savior?What causes people to fail to connect with Jesus is a failure to realize the importance of making him Lord of our lives. You can’t get a firmer foundation than realizing Jesus is your only hope for eternal life. “For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11).Testimony of Jesus in the Gospel is proof enough of His deity, but the Bible has an added bonus. The Old Testament prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah in great detail. They listed several prophecies that Jesus fulfilled.He would be a descendant of Abraham (Gen. 12:3; Gen. 22:18).
    His tribe would be Judah (Gen. 49:10).
    He would be an ancestor of David (2 Sam. 7:12 and 13).
    He would be born in the city of Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2).
    He would enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zech. 9:9).
    The Lord would lay on Him the iniquity of us all (Isa. 53:5-6).
    He would remain silent before his accusers (Isa. 53:7).
    He would be considered a criminal and executed with criminals (Isa. 53:12).
    He would bear the sin of many (Isa. 53:12).
    He would be killed (Isa. 53:8).
    His hands and feet would be pierced (Ps. 22:16).
    His clothing would be divided up and gambled over (Ps. 22:18).
    He would be buried in the tomb of a wealthy man (Isa. 53:9).
    His body would not see corruption (Ps. 16:10).
    He would rise from the dead (Isa. 53:9-12).
    He would ascend into heaven (Ps. 110:1).
  4. The Work of the Holy Spirit
    My last foundation of faith is the greatest one of all, but it is probably the least understood by most Christians. The Bible tells us that one of the missions of the Holy Spirit is to reveal the nature of God to those who seek knowledge. I know Jesus is Lord because the Holy Spirit revealed this truth to me.“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” (1 Jn. 4:13).In Matthew 16:16-18, Simon Peter said to Jesus, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”It is the function of the Holy Spirit to reveal and confirm that we are a part of the family of God, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together ” (Rom. 8:14-17).

    Many people make the error of just assuming that the Holy Spirit is directing them. If you have any doubt about your foundation of faith, seek the Lord’s guidance and He will eventually bring you an assurance of salvation and understanding.

    “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Prov. 3:5-7).

The Disintegration Process

Published on: by RR7

According to the second law of thermodynamics, in any isolated system, the degree of disorder tends to increase with the passage of time. In our world, everything has a natural tendency to move from a higher state of order to a lower state of order. Energy – in the form of some effort or action – is required to prevent this process from taking place.

Entropy is used to measure the degree of disorder in a system. It causes our automobiles to break down and erodes the supports of bridges, leading to their eventual collapse. Entropy is the reason most electric gadgets last only a few years. Human mortality is related to the amount of entropy in our bodies.

The second law of thermodynamics is frequently cited by Christians as a manifestation of the sin nature. God originally created everything in a perfect state; when Adam and Eve disobeyed and fell from grace, the structure of all things was transformed to a flawed state.

We are all born captives of a disintegration process. Since the fall, everything has been affixed with an expiration date. Some material items may have a longer shelf-life than others, but in the end they all fall victim to decay. The next time your water heater goes on the fritz, you can blame Adam for your aggravation.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men”(Rom. 5:12).

Help, I’m Falling Apart

In my early days of youth, I viewed “aging” as something to look forward to. As I grew older, I could accomplish new, exciting feats. Aging allowed me to graduate from school, get a job, drive a car, and have my own living space. Once I hit my 20s, the benefits of aging quickly dissipated.

Now that I’m in my late 30s, I’ve noticed that age has gradually begun to take on a negative connotation. The most noticeable changes have been in the area of my health. During a 12-month period, I’ve observed several subtle signs that entropy is at work in my physical body. Here is a list of some of these minor problems:

My eyes have developed a slight near-sighted condition.
I have a few more lines in my face.
My weight has increased.
The hair on my head is thinning a bit.
In certain situations, I have trouble swallowing food.
My feet swell up more easily.
I get twitches in my right leg.
It seems to take me a little bit longer to remember facts and figures.
Eating starchy foods occasionally leaves me with an upset stomach.

I haven’t turned into a hypochondriac, nor am I suffering from some type of grave illness. All these ailments are part of the natural result of the disintegration process. I could exercise more, stock up on health remedies, or try plastic surgery, but eventually the negative effects of aging will catch up with me. I am like the flower that grows, blooms, then fades.

I consider myself to be quite fit for my age. I’m sure some of you folks might be able to think of a longer list of conditions you are suffering. Many of my friends have developed health problems that have had a more profound impact on their quality of life. Because there is little we can do about the aging process, we generally resign ourselves to accept these aches and pains as a natural occurrence.

We tend to rely on the experience of others as our guide, and most folks are very satisfied with their general state of health. Even up to the very end, a positive attitude tends to reign.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

“Count it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3).

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Lying To Ourselves

It is a wonderment why the average person is not more mindful of the temporal nature of life. The deterioration of our physical condition is a slow process, but one would think it would eventually cause people to reflect on the meaning of their existence.

It is a blessing that God has instilled in us the gift of optimism. Without it we would probably reach a point at which we would decide to put a gun to our head once our health diminished to a certain level. The downside of having a  hopeful outlook, however, is using it as a shield that hides us from the reality of our mortality.

The failure to factor in the chances of one’s own demise is the reason some people make choices that have deadly results. I read a report about a skier who climbed a mountain that was redundantly marked as a  danger zone for avalanches. He walked passed four warning signs, one of which depicted a skull and crossbones beside a message stating, “You can die if you go beyond this point.”

Did the skier go on to have a great time on fresh virgin snow? No, I obviously chose this story to make a point.  It should be no big surprise that the man was swept away by the very disaster he was clearly warned could befall him.  The man died because he lied to himself about the severity of the snow hazard.

We don’t need to put ourselves into an avalanche danger zone to be at risk. The disintegration process puts us in constant peril. We may board an airplane with engine trouble or drive in a car that suddenly blows a tire. Our bodies can suffer similar types of failure. The heart can at any moment develop complications that lead to cardiac arrest.

When it comes to dealing with the subject of death, people who are still in their prime of life are normally the ones who have to confront the issue. The person actually going through the process is often the one least concerned about it. The lack of focus is largely the result of four factors:

Avoidance/denial – Many people avoid dealing with what will likely be their fate. They talk about anything but the subject of death. They may even refuse to believe they are ill and deny any indication otherwise.

Focus on Recovery – Some folks spend much of their final days focusing on the hope of their eventual recovery.   They may talk about what they plan to do when they get out of the hospital. Hope for recovery can be found in the most dismal of situations. Someone who may have a type cancer regarded as 100 percent fatal will still place a tremendous amount of hope in some new wonder drug.

Reminiscing – People who are in the twilight hours of their lives often spend their remaining moments sharing happy thoughts and reflecting on what they have accomplished in life. They use the time they spend reminiscing about the past  to counterbalance their negative experiences in the present.

Being Distracted – Some people become so busy making minor plans that they fail to see the big picture. They could be actively involved in making arrangements for their own funerals and not consider that they will be the ones in the coffins. The ones doing the distracting are often friends and family.  Because of the unpleasantness of dealing with mortality, they tend to divert their loved ones’ attention to secondary issues.

Time Is Running Out

Because many tasks in life take long periods of time to accomplish, time management is an important consideration. It can take someone well over a decade to become a fully licensed doctor. Some folks spend their whole lives trying to achieve a goal. Rapture Ready might be one such project. For me it has been a work in progress for 17 years now.

Many people don’t realize time is running out until it is almost completely gone. In 1983, my father discovered this truth right before he died of emphysema. He gave up cigarettes immediately after he learned he had the disease,  but it was too late.

One day while downtown on business I encountered an elderly man in a walker who was slowly crossing the street. I was struck by how the passage of time had reduced him to moving at a snail’s pace. I have reflected on how ironic it was that, at a point when time was the most precious, this gentleman was restricted to moving through life at a reduced speed.

Because the disintegration process erodes our ability to act and think, we need to make important decisions while we have the opportunity to make them. People who are active in a church will eventually have to give up their duties because of age. The person who thinks he can serve the Lord in his retirement years doesn’t understand how the aging process works.

The Bible is full of examples of people who failed to make wise use of their time. The worse misuse of time is  made by people who put off trusting Christ as their Savior.

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4).

Christians Have No Excuse

When I joined the military in 1987, I purchased a one-year-old Pontiac Sunbird, and drove it for 14 years. I would have happily driven the car forever, but unfortunately, the old sedan finally became unreliable. Because it needed repairs that would cost more than a newer car, I had to send the Sunbird to the junkyard.

The Bible tells us this world will someday be sent to the recycling center for renewal. Once the tribulation and  1,000-year millennium have run their course, God will incinerate all traces of human civilization. He will then establish a new, perfect world free from the stain of sin.

The disintegration process may have been a judgment on mankind, but I think God designed it to be reminder of the brief nature of our earthly existence. With everything in this world doomed for destruction, it is foolhardy for  Christians to solely focus on our earthly existence.

We are the ones who should know this world is of fleeting importance. Unfortunately, believers do not view their mortal lives as having a secondary importance. In about every facet of human activity, the material realm is given priority over nearly all spiritual matters. The Bible strongly advises that we remain heavenly focused, but many of us have a hard time translating that into action.

The best decisions are made when we consider things that have lasting value. Of all our accomplishments in life, the only deeds that matter to the Kingdom of God are the ones that pertain to evangelism, righteous living, and all works deserving of eternal rewards. All other pursuits are, as the Bible says, “wood, hay, and stubble.”

“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall  be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither  root nor branch” (Mal. 4:1).

“For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11).