October 30, 2020

Time will Tell, but Time is Running Out

Recently, well known Christian leaders have been ratcheting up the rhetoric regarding who, how, and why to vote. As to the effectiveness of this effort and the outcome of the election, all will soon be made clear….maybe! The political perspective of both “person” and “party platform” has never been more clear. It is also clear that ideas have consequences. Neither a utopia nor dystopia seem the inevitable result. However, the nation's moral compass may make a seismic adjustment if a morally progressive party is in power and empowered to change and control all of our nation's government. When a person, a country, or a society decides to descend to the decadent behavior of Romans 1:18ff, you can be assured that the wrath of God is to be revealed. But you can also be sure that the power of the gospel is the only power to save a man or woman from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and the presence of sin in eternity. That is why the Apostle Paul is not ashamed of the gospel. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, 'BUT THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.' Romans 1:16-17 Do Pray. Go Vote. Then Pray Again. And know and be comforted that no matter what happens in the election, eternity is safe and secure and so are you if you believe and receive the free gift of eternal life from Jesus.   Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred Chay

 October 23, 2020

What meets no resistance does not stop. William Jennings Bryan, 1908

Our culture seems to be out of control and has met no resistance. I offer to you what the Lord our God through the Apostle Paul offers to all of us who name the name of Christ. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. (Philippians 4:6-8) Perspective is everything. Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred Chay

 October 16, 2020

"In all you do either in eating or drinking, do all to the glory of God."                                                     I Corinthians 10:31

In case you wondered what your purpose of life is all about - this is it. “Do all to the glory of God.” Glory is one of those words we use quite often but do not know what it exactly means. In both the Old and New Testament it has the idea of heaviness, weight, light, and splendor. We use the term theologically to describe who God is and what man’s purpose is. God is glorious and that being true, the Westminster confession says; “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Do not overlook that the Bible is theocentric. God is the center, not man. The goal of man is to be in a relationship with God, justification by faith alone in Christ alone Ephesians 2:8-9, and experience fellowship with God by faithfulness to God, I John 1-2, Gospel of John 15:1-11. Regarding the person of God the Bible tells us: He is the God of glory - Acts 7: 2 He is the Father of Glory - Ephesians 1:17 The whole earth is full of His glory - Isaiah 6: 3 He is the King of Glory - Psalm 24:7 Regarding Man the Bible tells us: When we share the gospel, we are glorifying God. In Acts 11:18 the missions report resulted in glory to God. In Acts 21:19 the ministry report resulted in glory to God. When we obey God, we are glorifying Him. Good works glorify God. Matthew 5:16  "Glorify God in your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:20 When we confess our sin, we glorify God.    Joshua 7:19 illustrates this regarding Achan's sin, "... give I pray, glory to the Lord God of Israel. Make confession unto Him." We should glorify God in all we do in all of our life, for the Judge is coming. Revelation 14:6-7: And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters." How should we then live? --- In the light of His glory and grace. As Ignatius of Loyola said - “The aim of life is not to gain a place in the sun, nor to achieve fame or success, but to lose ourselves in the glory of God. "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:17 Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred Chay

 October 9, 2020

A Good Death

As happens at my age, another friend passed away and entered into the presence of Jesus. Death did not come unexpectedly. At 90 years old he had a long life. But then again, death in some ways is both unexpected but not unnatural, for in our fallen and finite condition death is, as we say - “one for one” except for Enoch. We seem to have little control over the length of our life, so it seems wise to focus on the breadth and depth of our life. But one day, “that day” will come. The dash on the tomb stone is the great equalizer. The term euthanasia means “Good-Death.” Is there such a thing? I believe there is, and it is dependent upon two considerations. First, it involves taking care of the past. This has to do with our humanity, our horizontal life on earth, and our relationships with people. It also requires us to accept our own humanity and our humble limitations that are at its very core. This allows us to go to our grave with a sense of peace knowing, “as far as it depends on you be at peace with all men.” The second has to do with taking care of your future. This is your vertical relationship and has to do with the Lord and His deity. There is more to life than this life, for the grave is not the end, but the transition to transformation. The Bible reminds us that “it is appointed for man to die once and then comes judgment.” Jesus said that there is a resurrection to life and a resurrection to judgment. (John 5:29) Jesus is the life, and to know Him is eternal life. The way we take care of the future is to receive in the present, the free gift of eternal life that Jesus offers to those who will believe. My days are numbered and so are yours. Have you taken care of your past relationships? If not, work on your humanity.  Do you have a safe and secure future? If you received the gift of eternal life through faith alone in Christ alone, you are all set. Depend on His Deity. Serving Him with you until He comes for us, Fred Chay

 October 2, 2020

VISIT MANY BOOKS BUT LIVE IN THE BIBLE   C.H. Spurgeon

I am a verbivore - I digest books. I do this partly because it is part of my ministry and partly because I like it. The danger for me is that I can forget the truth offered to us by Ecclesiastes - “The writing of many books is endless and wearisome to the soul.” We are living in the information age supercharged by the technology age. Through a variety of technological devices and the unlimited viewpoints that people feel compelled to offer, the result is a never-ending stream creating a flood of data, dictates, and decrees. The plethora of pontification, including pronouncements, principles, and prescriptions is not only endless, but it is also at times overwhelming. It is true that readers are leaders and leaders are readers. However, we must make sure that we only read the best. I encourage us all to make sure that in the midst of our day; as we digest newspapers, journals, podcasts, and email missives, that we not forget to make time to read the Bible. It is the only God Breathed, “inspired” book. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21) Remember the immortal words of Merrill Tenney about the inspired Bible: "This book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book!" Serving Him with you until He comes for us, Fred Chay