When your physical life is in danger, and you want to keep on living, you want to have the best qualified people to help you. We can/should be very thankful for those who are specialists in their fields and pray for them and others. Have you ever done this? Why should we do this? (Read 1 Timothy 2:1-4)
The Surgical Team
Recently my dear wife of 56 years underwent heart surgery. Naturally we both were very concerned about her having this procedure done. We met with some of the surgical team before the operation and asked many questions of the Doctors and his assistants. They carefully explained to us what would be done during this procedure and told us about how long it would take.
The chief surgeon was the age of our youngest son, Judd (42). But we both felt that he was fully qualified to perform this procedure and had a capable team to assist him.
As a “spiritual physician,” I also wanted to share the Gospel with each of them so they could have “eternal life” (God’s quality of life as a present possession – John 3:16.) I have a “Gospel tract” that I wrote about our son, Bill’s death in Japan at the age of 38. In it I share the Gospel of Christ’s death for our sins…and His bodily resurrection from the dead and the need for each of us to trust in Him alone for our salvation. [1] I was able to give this tract out to most of them. God’s Word doesn’t return to Him void. It will accomplish what pleases God, and it shall prosper in the thing for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11; See Hebrews 4:12).
Just before my wife was to be taken in for the procedure, I asked if I could pray with him and the others who were with him in the room. I thanked God for an opportunity to trust Him and the Doctor along with his team of well qualified individuals. I also humbly asked God to give my wife and me “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding to guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4;6, 7). And God did this for my wife and me.
I don’t know about you, but having an omnipotent and gracious God who can do this for us is very comforting when your life could come to an end by something unexpected or by a slip of a Doctor’s hand. For us Christians there are no “accidents,” only “incidents.” Today Jesus holds “the keys of death” (Revelation 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14; See Hebrews 2:14). Nothing or no one can separate us believers from God’s love (Romans 8:35). Friend, are you safe and secure in God’s hands (John 10:28, 29)? You can be.
The Apostle Paul committed believers “… to [God] who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20, 21).
Although the recovery will take time, it gives us additional opportunities to trust God on a day by day basis. And not only that, but also on an hourly, and moment by moment basis to trust Him more.
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus/ Just to take Him at His Word/ Just to rest upon His promise/ Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord”/ Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him/ How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er/ Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus/ Oh, for grace to trust Him more.” – Songwriters: Canzetta Staton, Louisa M. R. Stead [2]
If you don’t know our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, as your personal Savior, and don’t have assurance of your salvation (Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:13), we’d be happy to assist you if you would like additional spiritual help.
Most of us know a lot more people than we realize. We may not know their names, but we are acquainted with some of them. God has brought these people into our lives for a reason. Many of them are struggling physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually. They are people for whose sins Christ died and rose again so they can be saved from hell to heaven. Ask God to make you a blessing to someone today.
As Christians, our main purpose in life is / should be to glorify God by making Him known to others (1 Corinthians 10:31). We should desire the salvation of all mankind (1 Timothy 2:1-4), help new believers growspiritually (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18), encourage them to use their spiritual gift with love (1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:13). Then help them reproduce themselves (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8).
Think about what your life would be like if you went to a store to purchase something and the people who worked there didn’t show up for work to serve you? It has happened to us. It’s sad when people are paid more (by the government) not to work, than for them to work? Did you know that we can / should intercede for or against others, including our politicians (1 Timothy 2:1-4; Romans 11:2).
When I go to a store, I try to thank the people for their service, and share a “Gospel tract” with them if I can. (It’s usually the tract I wrote about “Our Son’s Death.”) Many of them identify with a loss of a loved one or a friend. I ask them to read it when they get home or are on their lunch break. The Gospel is the power of God unto people’s salvation (Romans 1:16). It’s the same message for Jews and non-Jews.
Here is a list of some of the people who serve us:
Mailman/UPS Driver – Paperboy/Editor – Physician/Nurse – Chiropractor – Optometrist – Pharmacist – Mortician/Funeral Director – Insurance Agent – Stock Broker – Barber/Beautician – Salesman/Clerk – Tax Advisor – Babysitter – President of PTA – Banker/Credit Manager – T.V. Repair Man – Plumber/Electrician – Heating/AC Man – Florist/Gardener – Painter/Welder – Pet Shop Owner – Real Estate Broker – Policeman/Fireman – Dry Cleaner – Auto Mechanic – Travel Agent – Pilot/Flight Attendant – Bus Driver – Piano Teacher – Carpenter – Lab Technician – Computer Programer – Chef/Waitress – Social Worker – Secretary/Librarian – Air Traffic Controller – Grocery Store Clerk – Others.
All of these people have an eternal destiny. Their lives and your life on earth could end today. Make every day count. Don’t boast about tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1; James 4;14).
If they are wearing a name tag say, “Thank you ________. I appreciate your service today.”
“Remember that a person’s name is to that person
the sweetest sound in any language.” – Dale Carnegie
Gospel Tracts – Make sure, if you use them, that they clearly present the Good News of Christ’s death for our sins...and His bodily resurrection from the dead. And make sure that it makes faith (believing in/on Christ alone) as the only condition for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 16:31).
What’s the difference between ignorance and apathy? Don’t know; don’t care. Think about that for a few moments. There are many things about which we know little or nothing. And even if we knew about them, we wouldn’t really care one way or another because we believe other things are far more important to us – the pebble in our shoe. But ignorance and indifference can harm or kill us. (Examples: electricity, gravity, chemicals, etc.)
It’s sad that many people, including children, are being stupefied with all kinds of legitimate and illegitimate drugs instead of with natural remedies that have fewer side effects. This problem will intensify during the upcoming seven years of “The Tribulation.” [1] (See Revelation 9:21; 18:23)
Many people are also mesmerized and lulled into spiritual sleep by the devil and are apathetic toward God and His Word (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19). Many are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people [we’re to] turn away! (2 Timothy 3:2-5).
Maybe the apathetic person you meet has an irritating pebble in his shoe that keeps him distracted so that he rarely, if ever, thinks about God. Perhaps the devil put it there (2 Corinthians 12:7).
A. W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us…Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God….For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous [amazing or intriguing] fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.” – TheKnowledge of the Holy
Here are a few basic perspectives on the question of God’s existence. [2] Which one of these beliefs describes you the best?
Atheism, Agnosticism, Theism, Deism, and Apatheism
1) atheism: the belief that God (or gods) do not exist
2) agnosticism: the belief that there is not enough evidence to prove or disprove the existence of God – ‘we just don’t know’
3) theism: the belief that there is a God (or gods) with whom we may relate
4) deism: belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe.
But here is another one that should be added to this list.
5) apatheism. It is the view that whether or not God (or gods) exist is not that important. An ‘apatheist’ doesn’t take a position on the question of God—he or she simply doesn’t care.
It’s important to note that your belief will affect the way you talk or don’t talk to others about God. Are you a “Professing Christian” who is quite content and comfortable in the life you are now living? Perhaps you expect the “professionals” (Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Deacons) to do the work of evangelism rather than your getting involved in it yourself.
The early Jewish Christians knew what Jesus had told them to do – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
But for a long time they hesitated to reach out to non-Jews with the Gospel until God put “a fire under them” in the person of Saul, the persecutor of Christians (Acts 9:1 ff; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13), who later became the Apostle Paul (Acts 13:9), and the steward (household manager) of the “Dispensation of Grace” in which we now live (Ephesians 3:1 ff). [3]
Carnal Christians, who are manifesting “the works of the flesh,” (which are all perversions of good things – Galatians 5:19-21), usually won’t be interested in being obedient to the Lord’s command. In fact, they shouldn’twitness to lost people until they’ve confessed their known sins to God the Father and have claimed His forgiveness (1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13; James 5:16). Failure to confess all our known sins to Him can result in severe discipline (1 Corinthians 11:27-32; Hebrews 10:31; 12:5 ff; James 5:19, 20; 1 John 5:16).
Once we’ve made things right with God and others whom we’ve offended (James 5:16; Romans 12:18), we need to walk by means of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 25), and be “filled with the Spirit” by allowing Him to make up where we are lacking in Christ likeness (Ephesians 5:18). When we’re rightly related to God the Holy Spirit, He will produce “The Fruit of the Spirit” in our lives (Galatians 5:22, 23). Then we become responsible to direct it toward the right objects, for the right reasons, and at the right time. [4]
Sometimes, when we’re dealing with unsaved people, they will show little or no interest in spiritual things. They’re apathetic. I also have encountered people who were hostile to me when I tried to talk to them about God and the Gospel. If they’re offended, I want them to be offended by the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:14) rather than with me because of my ineptness or carelessness.
Perhaps they’ve had a bad experience with “religion” and “religious people.” Rather than trying to “cram the Gospel down their throat,” showing “agape” love and kindness to them might open up a future opportunity to talk to them about God’s amazing grace and the salvation He provides for all mankind (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2). After all, it’s the goodness [kindness] of God [that] leads [people] to repentance [i.e., a change of mind] (Romans 2:4). [5] Do you love people as God does (John 3:16)?
Sometimes I like to leave a clear Gospel tract with people. (It can be like a “pebble in a shoe.”) I often use a tract that I wrote about the death of our late son, Bill, as an “ice breaker.”[6] I’ve found many people who have had similar circumstances with the loss of a loved one or friend.
If you distribute “Gospel tracts,”[7] make sure that they include the facts of the Gospel – that Christ died for our sins…and rose again bodily on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). Don’t use those that leave out Christ’s bodily resurrection as many Gospel tracts do. Make sure that they clearly state that the only condition for their salvation / deliverance from hell to heaven is for them to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ alone, through the Gospel…” so they can/will be saved (Acts 16:31). When a person believes, he repents (i.e., changes his mind about God, himself, and how he must be saved). Our “good works” have no part in our being saved (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5; Isaiah 64:6).
If you have been saved by God’s grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, through the message of the Gospel, but have been involved in “apatheism,” confess this to God and then, with His help, become a F.A.T.F.R.E.E. Christian. (Faithful, Available, Teachable, Flexible, Evangelistic, and Enthusiastic). [8]
We’re here to assist those who are teachable, willing to change, and who want to grow spiritually. If you’d like additional spiritual help, we can be reached here or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com.
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For further study to show yourself approved to God (2 Timothy 2:15), we invite you to read the following articles:
Do you ever have weird, fearful, or troublesome dreams? I had one just last night but it wasn’t as a result of eating some spicy food before going to bed. Now before I tell you about it and what I learned from it, allow me to tell you about what happened this past weekend.
I was invited to speak in a church on the Minnesota and Canadian border this past Sunday. It was about 300 miles from our home in the Twin Cities. I rented a small car to make the trip up there and we travelled for about 6 hours on Saturday. As usual, I try to get to bed early in the evening and usually wake up in the middle of the night and meditate and/or pray for people and think about the following day and the opportunities that might come my way for me to represent the Lord and share the Gospel with others.
I spoke three times on Sunday – Sunday School, Morning Service, and in an afternoon service. When I speak, I try to put myself into the message and give the people my very best regardless of the size of my audience. By the time I’m done, I’m usually exhausted and ready to crash. But after the afternoon service, I drove about 150 miles to stay at my wife’s cousin’s home overnight before heading home the next day. (My wife doesn’t like to drive on the freeways.)
Even though the roads were in pretty good condition, I was trying to be extra cautious about icy spots on the road. On one of our previous trips back from there in the winter time, we had a tire blow out and we had to wait in the cold for an hour before the tow truck could got there to help us.
When we finally arrived home safely, we thanked the Lord for bringing us home in one piece. We make it our practice to always pray before we go out on the road, even though it might be a short distance. Most accidents, I’m told, happen near people’s homes.
I was also mindful of the horrific and fatal automobile accident that our friend’s daughter was in about a month ago as she and her husband were out on a beautiful fall day enjoying the colorful leaves. They were stopped behind a semi truck that was turning left when a dump truck struck them from behind at a high speed and crushed them to death instantly. [1] We were saddened by the news.
Before returning the rental car, I stopped by the gym to get some needed exercise and sit in the sauna for awhile. As I was leaving the gym, I met a young fellow in his 30s who was in a wheel chair. I asked him how long he had been in it. He said that he had a stroke several years ago that immobilized him. I expressed my sorrow and gave him a Gospel tract that I’d written about our son Bill’s death in Japan. [2]
After getting home I was still very tired and went to take a quick nap at about 4:30 P.M. I didn’t wake up until about 9:30. So I stayed up and worked for a few hours and then went back to bed.
During the night I had this weird and troublesome dream. It took place in Japan where I grew up for 14 years. I got on a train thinking I was going to a destination that I had been to many times before. But somehow I got on the wrong train. So I got off at the next stop and asked someone how I could get back to the station from which I had just come. But no one was able to help me and show me the way. This went on for a long time in my dream as I asked person after person to help me find my way back. I was frustrated and told them that I would fire them if I could.
When I finally woke up from my dream, I went into another room and sat down in the dark and looked out a window. I began to think about how God had given Pharaoh of Egypt and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon dreams that were interpreted by Joseph and Daniel respectively. Those dreams were from God.
Contrary to what some people believe, I know that God isn’t giving out new information (revelation) to people today, but I asked the Lord what He might want me to learn from this weird dream I’d just had. Then a thought came to me as I considered what I had shared with the believers on Sunday.
Many people are like I was in my dream. They feel lost and are fearful of dying and ending up with the devil and his angels/demons in the lake of fire forever (Matthew 25:30, 41, 46). Perhaps they’ve heard a hell fire and brimstone message that scared them. They know they don’t want to go there, but they can’t seem to find someone to tell them the way to heaven.
Maybe you or someone you know is desirous of discovering the right and onlyway to heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). But what does a person have to do to be saved? Before we deal with that, let’s consider what some “professing Christians” are telling lost people to do.
You’d think that people in a church, a Bible college or seminary could give you the answer, wouldn’t you? But suppose you met up with some of these folks sitting around a table and asked them how you could be saved. One might say, “Say the sinner’s prayer.” Another might say, “No, you must ask Jesus into your heart.” Still another person might say, “You must repent of your sins, be baptized, give your heart to God and make Jesus the Lord and Master of your life.” “No, no! You must also deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus.” [3]
Perhaps by now you might be thoroughly confused and thinking to yourself, Do any of these people know for sure that they themselves are going to heaven? If they are so confused, how can I be saved and assured that I will go to heaven when I die?
My friend, has anyone ever shown you from the Bible how to be saved from hell so you can enter heaven? Is it possible for someone to have assurance of salvation before he/she dies? We believe, from Scripture, that there is.
In an article written by Dr. Manfred Kober, he talks about the problem we all have, the provision that God made for all mankind, and the way to procure (receive) eternal life as a present possession. [3] With 24 words he points out how anyone who is about to die can be saved. He wrote, “Friend: You have sinned. [See Romans 3:10, 23; 6:23] But Christ died for sinners and rose again. [See 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4] Trust Him alone and He will save you eternally. [See Acts 16:31; John 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5] Do it now!” [See Proverbs 27:1; 29:1; James 4:14; 2 Corinthians 6:2]
Please reread these 24 words again and let them sink down into your heart and mind. God’s simple plan of salvation is not complicated. [5] It’s by grace alone, through faith alone, in the Christ of the Scriptures (not the cults) alone(Ephesians 2:8, 9).
When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ alone, who died for our sins…and rose again bodily from the grave, we are instantly saved from condemnation and can be assured of a home in heaven. (Read John 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 10:28, 29; 1 John 5:13; Romans 8:1, 16). We are NOT saved by our good works or by our faith plus our good works (Titus 3:5).
If you need additional spiritual help, we’re here to assist you and others who are teachable and willing to change. We can be reached through our website: www.kelseypeach.com.
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If you’re a true Christian, God wants to use you for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31), so that other unsaved people can learn about God and His wonderful plan of salvation that is offered to all of mankind. He wants us to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). Are you willing to be one of them? Would you like to learn how to do this more effectively? You can begin by making sure of your own salvation (1 John 5:13; Romans 8:16). You can use your personal testimony to share the Gospel with others. You might want to share good tracts with others. They need to include the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4) and the way of salvation clearly (Acts 16:31; John 3:16). They must not add “good works” as another requirement for salvation. (See Dr. Ron Shea’s “The Gospel” booklet at www.cleargospel.org or on my website “The Bad News & The Good News.”)
I’ve found that people express their sympathy for me when I share with them the story of our late son, Bill’s death. But rather than let his death be just a sad story, I’ve tried to use it to impress on others the need for them to make every day count and to trust in Christ alone as their personal Savior.
The following is a short article I wrote which I printed up on a half sheet of paper and folded it up into three sections. As the Lord opens up doors for me, I pass them out to others to get their attention so I can share the Gospel in a just few words. I invite you to read Dr. Manfred Kober’s article, “Do We Really Know Gospel” where he presents the Gospel in less than 25 words.
We had a son who lived in Japan for 15 years. He and his sister taught English there. Both of them were there when the great earthquake and tsunami took place in 2011.
I used to tell our son, “Live everyday as though it might be your last day on earth.” Sadly, he died on Easter Sunday, after passing out about 1,000 flyers inviting people to come to church.
No one knew about his death for 6 days until he didn’t show up for class one day. One of his student’s mother called our daughter, who had moved back to the States, and asked her if she knew where her brother was. She didn’t know, but she asked the Japanese lady to go with the police to his apartment.
When they got there they found him dead in his bathtub with the water still running. An autopsy was performed and they determined that he died of a heart attack. He was 38 years old.
Why do I tell you this? Because none of us knows the day when we will die. Our lives are like a vapor that appears for a little while and then it’s gone (James 4:14; Proverbs 27:1).
The “Bad News” is that we’ve all sinned (Romans 3:23; 6:23). But the “Good News” is that “Christ died for our sins…and rose again bodily on the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4).
If we believe on and trust in Christ alone, and not in our good works (Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8, 9), we will be saved from having to spend eternity with the devil and his angels in the lake of fire (Acts 16:31; Matthew 25:41, 46; Revelation 21:8). It’s urgent that we believe on Him now before it’s too late!
If you’ve just placed your faith in Christ aloneas a result of reading this, and would like additional help so you can grow spiritually, please visit our website: www.kelseypeach.com. We’re here to help those who are teachableand willing to change.
“Live today as though it might be your last day on earth.”
To learn more about the life and death of our son, go to –
When faced with a crisis situation, to whom or what do you turn? If you live long enough, you will face trials, tests, and hardships in life just like all the rest of us (1 Corinthians 10:13). They might come from life changing incidents or unpleasant people, but they will come. It is written – “… man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). One Christian author wrote –
“Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best–
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.”
Carolina Sandell Berg
Last Day. It’s important that we treat each day as though it might be our last day on earth, or the last day of someone we love. Why? Our lives are like a vapor that appears for a little while and then it vanishes away (James 4:14). Here today; gone tomorrow.
Weep. We can identify with those who have had parents pass away and with parents who have had a child taken from them as we did when our 38 year old son, Bill was called home to heaven several years ago. [1] Carolina Sandell Berg’s father was a Pastor in Sweden. She was close to him and spent much time in her father’s study as she grew up. One day, when she was 26 years old, she and her father were taking a boat trip to Goteborg in Sweden. While on deck, the boat lurched and her father fell overboard. The crew wasn’t able to save his life.
Result. This incident was instrumental in her writing this song as she thought about God’s comforting presence and the One who would never leave or forsake her (Hebrews 13:5). She went on to write –
“Ev’ry day the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.
“Help me then in eve’ry tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.”
Sooner or later, all of us will leave the stage called “life.” All of us will give an account of ourselves to God for the things we did in life (Hebrews 9:27; Romans 14:12). Our works will determine our pleasure in heavenorour degree of suffering in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:30, 41, 46; Revelation 20:11-15).
Deliverance from the lake of fire to heaven is not based on our works (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5). It is granted to everyone who places his/her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins…and rose again bodily on the third day (Acts 16::31; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). Have you done this yet? Are you relying on your good works, or your faith plus your good works, or in Christ alone to save you? You can know and believe the facts of the Gospel, and still not be saved (1 Corinthians 15:2; James 2:19). True believers can have assurance of their salvation (1 John 5:13; Romans 8:16; John 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 10:28, 29).
Assistance. We’re here to help those who would like additional information and who are teachable and willing to change. We can be reached through our website: www.kelseypeach.com. We also have additional material at www.kelseypeach.wordpress.com. Join us for Facebook and Youtube Bible studies.
Recently, while I was sitting in the sauna at the gym, a fellow came in and started talking to me. We carried on some small talk for awhile and he told me where he worked and about his family. He informed me that his daughter had died several years ago from a seizure. I empathized with him and told him that I too had a 38 year of son who had died in Japan from a heart attack. [1]
Questions. I then asked him if I could ask him a question. He said, “Sure.” I said, “If you were to die today, where would you go?” He said, “I hope I’d go to heaven.” Then I asked, “On what basis should God let you into His heaven?” He responded, “I try to do good things and generally I’m a good person.” I said, “I’m glad that you’re interested in doing good, but the Bible says we can’t gain entrance that way. There is anotherway, God’s way.” Then I quoted for him, “For by grace (unmerited favor) [we are] saved through faith [believing], and that not of yourselves; it [salvation] is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”(Ephesians 2:8, 9). And, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us…” Titus 3:5). “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our [good works] are like filthy [smelly] rags…” (Isaiah 64:6).
Not By Works. Then I told him that I used to believe that way too until I discovered that my getting into heaven wasnotbased on my good works at all but what the Lord Jesus Christ did for me on the cross when He died for my sins…and rose again bodily from the dead on the third day. I also shared this verse with him, “These things I [the Apostle John] have written to you who believe in the name [person and work] of the Son of God [the Lord Jesus Christ], that you may know [right now] that you have eternal life [God’s quality of life]…” (1 John 5:13). When we have genuinefaith, God the Holy Spirit will bear witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).
Beliefs. Since he told me that we went to church, I proceeded to ask him if he believed that Jesus was God, born of the virgin, Mary, who lived a sinless life, and then who went to the cross to die for our sins…and rise again bodily from the dead. He told me that he believed these facts. I then told him that I believed those facts too but I was also depending on my good works to get me to heaven. By the way, there are many people in America who know and say that they believe the facts of the Gospel, but who aren’t truly saved because they haven’t placed their faith in Him exclusively for their salvation. Some people are believing in the wrong Christ(2 Corinthians 11:4, 13-15; Matthew 24:5). What about you? Are you “believing in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:2; See Matthew 7:21-23)? [2] Are you relying on your baptism, church membership, good works etc in addition to your faith? If so, stop! Instead,“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ [alone], and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). The word “believe” is used about 100 times in the Gospel of John to let us know that it is the only thing we can do to be saved from having to spend eternity with the devil and his angels/demons in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41, 46).
Good Works. Once we have been saved, there are many things that God wants His children to do while He keeps us here on earth. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). “As each one [i. e. every Christian] has received a gift [supernatural ability], minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
Help. If you’re not 100% sure that you will go to heaven the moment you die (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-23), and you would like additional help, you can reach us through our website: www.kelseypeach.com. Please read “The Bad News &The Good News” on our site too. To receive future articles as they come out, click on “Follow.”
Whether we want to admit it or not, we all face challenges and problems in life on a regular basis. Some people suffer more than others. Are you, or is someone you know, going through some hard times right now that seem insurmountable? If you’re a true believer in Christ, “give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and then“count it all joy” (James 1:2) for an opportunity to trust God in an unusual way. As the Scriptures say, “…man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). But a Christian’s troubles didn’t come to stay, but to pass. Our best life is yet future (Romans 8:18; See 2 Timothy 3:12) in spite of what one “preacher” tells others. Believe it or not, the unbeliever who dies without Christ as his Savior is experiencing his best life now while he lives on earth. The future is not bright for unbelievers (John 3:18, 36; Matthew 25:30, 41, 46; Revelation 21:8). So, become a true believer right now if you’re not one yet!
Situations. What do you do if, after visiting the Doctor one day, he tells you that you have an advanced stage of cancer, or if you receive a call in the middle of the night from a police officer asking you to identify the body of someone who was in a head-on collision, or if you’re in business for yourself and you learn that your product has become obsolete, or if your spouse tells you that he/she wants out of the marriage? To whom or what do you turn? (Read about “The Death Of Our Son, Bill” in a link below.)
Escapism. Have you tried to escape from the reality of the pain by traveling, getting involved in an immoral relationship, turning to alcohol and/or drugs?
Cynicism. Have you become cynical and grown dark inside? Are you resentful and bitter? Have you tried to get even with those who may have caused you the pain you’re experiencing?
Humanism. Perhaps you’ve spent a lot of money on psychologists or psychiatrists hoping to resolve your problems. Have you turned to self-help books, people’s opinions, or self-realization for guidance and comfort?
Supernaturalism. Maybe you’ve gone so far as to turn to astrology, mediums, witches, and wizards and have opened yourself up to demonic powers without your knowing it.
God’s Word. But, if you haven’t already figured it out, none of these things mentioned above can bring lasting satisfaction and true joy and peace into our lives. Perhaps God has brought you to this place in your life so that you will come to know that He alone is the living and true God (Jeremiah 10:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:9), who has provided salvation (deliverance from hell to heaven) for us by Christ’s dying for our sins…and rising again from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3 4). The only requirement for anyone to be saved is, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ [alone], and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Have you done this yet? If not, why not put your faith and trust in Him now? Our salvation is not based on our good works lest any of us should boast (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Nor is it faith plus good works.
Sufficient. If you’re a true Christian you need to know that, within the pages of the Scriptures, you have everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). If you’re a relatively new Christian, you may need some help so you can learn how to rightly divide the Word of God by using the normal method of interpretation – a consistent literal, historical, grammatical interpretation (2 Timothy 2:15). All of the Bible is for us, but not all of it is addressed to Christians (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Titus 1:9). (See our “Dispensations Chart” for more details.) Much of the Bible will seem foolish to an unbeliever because he is spiritually blind and suffers from natural blindness (1 Corinthians 2:14), Satanic blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4), and the Jews also have a judicial blindness (Romans 11:25). Only God can lift these blinds and give us spiritual eyesight to see and believe in Christ through the Gospel (Luke 24:31; Acts 16:14; Ephesians 1:18).
God’s Attributes. Consider what A. W. Tozer wrote, “The man who comes to a right belief about God is relieved of ten thousand temporal problems, for he sees at once that these have to do with matters which at the most cannot concern him for very long…”The Knowledge Of The Holy, p. 4. Our problems, as Christians, didn’t come to stay but to pass. They won’t last forever. But the unbeliever, who dies without the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, is living his best life now. His future is not bright if he ends up with the devil and his angels/demons in the lake of fire forever (Matthew 25:30, 41, 46). If you’re not a true Christian, now is the time to become one (2 Corinthians 6:2)! Let’s think about God’s attributes.
Good (Mathew 19:17). The three Persons in the Godhead desire and maintain Their own happiness and desire the happiness of others (Matthew 7:1; James 1:17). However, sin brings sorrow and death (Romans 6:23). God made it possible for Christians, who have been judicially forgiven (Ephesians 1:7), to be joyful in every situation (Philippians 4:4-6) and to give thanks to God (1 Peter 4:14; Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 1 Timothy 2:1). There is no premium on being a sad or morose Christian. In the midst of our problems and difficulties, God wants to make us more like His Son (Rom. 8:28-29) and for us to display the “Fruit of the Spirit” at the right time (Galatians 4:19; 5:22, 23). No matter the difficulty, we can/should praise and thank Him for His goodness (Psalm 107:8,15). His mercy (compassion toward those who are suffering) is an extension of His goodness (Lamentations 3:22-24; Titus 3:5).
Righteous (2 Timothy 4:8). God always does what is right (Psalm 119:142; 145:17). We don’t. He allows His children to be tested and tried to give us an opportunity to show our love for Him and do what is right in His sight when others do what is evil or that which is right in their own eyes (James 1:12-15; Judges 21:25). The “Crown of Righteousness” awaits believers who love Christ’s imminent return for them (2 Timothy 4:8; See John 14:1-3). Our belief in the “Rapture” (i. e. catching away) of the true Church is also a “purifying hope” (1 John 3:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Omnipotent (Revelation 1:8). How strong is your God? Do you really believe that He able to solve all of your problems (Ephesians 3:20; See Revelation 1:8; Proverbs 3:5, 6)? Nothing is too hard for Him to do (Genesis 18:14). Through Him, Christians can do everything that He wants us to do for His glory and the good of others (Philippians 2:13; 4:13). Think about God’s power that was on display as He protected Daniel’s three friends from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:17 ff) and Daniel from becoming the lions’ lunch (Daniel 6:20). The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead was the greatest demonstration of God’s power (Philippians 3:10). It’s available to all Christians.
Omniscient (Isaiah 46:10). God knows everything there is to know (John 2:24, 25). This can be comforting to those who are suffering wrongfully (1 Peter 4:14) but it should be disturbing and frightful to those who are doing evil (See Psalms 10:11; Matthew 10:28). He knows all about our particular problems and He knows how to solve them. He also knows how much we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). Don’t be misled by those who teach that God doesn’t know everything – i. e. the “open theism view of God.” Would you want a God who couldn’t tell you what lies ahead?
Truth (John 14:6). God is truth and He always speaks the truth (John 17:17; See Ephesians 4:15). He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). He sees Himself and others as they really are. He saw and sees us in our sinful state (Romans 3:10-23). He made a way for us to be declared right with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins…and rose again bodily on the third day (Acts 16:31; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; See Romans 4:3, 16, 23-25). We can/should claim the promises in God’s Word that are directed to New Testament believers (2 Corinthians 1:20; 7:1). Don’t try to claim those that were given exclusively to the Jews lest you be disappointed. The Church has NOT replaced the Jews (See Romans 11:1). Would you like to be a Christian “at ease in Christ” no matter what happens (Hebrews 4:2; Philippians 4:6-8; See John 15:1-11). You can be.
Holiness (Isaiah 6:3). God is holy; we are not. He abhors anything unlike Himself and demands of His creatures a purity that is identical to His own (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16). Through His death, Christ satisfied God the Father’s outraged holiness against our sin nature (1 John 2:2; 4:10). It tempts us to engage in the “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21) which are perversions of good and wholesome things. He made it possible for Christians so we don’t have to keep on sinning against Him (1 John 2:1 ff; 1 Corinthians 10:13). It’s our responsibility, as Christians, to learn how to overcome the temptations that come from the devil, our sin nature, and the present world system. If you’re teachable and willing to change, we’re here to help you learn how to do this (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17).
Love (1 John 4:8). Divine love involves God’s desire for and delight in the well-being of the object loved, even to the point of self-sacrifice if necessary (1 John 3:16-18; 4:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13:4-6). A believer can be assured of the fact that nothing can separate him/her from God’s love (Romans 8:35-39). God wants to communicate Himself to us through His Word as we face our problems. He wants what is best for His children. But to those who refuse His offer of salvation, and remain children of the devil (John 8:44; 1 John 3:9, 10), there is only eternal condemnation awaiting them in the life to come (John 3:18, 36; 16:8-11; Revelation 21:8). Don’t be one of them!
Questions. Are you absolutely sure you’ll go to heaven if you died today? Why should God let you into His heaven? If you’re quite confident that you will go to heaven, is there anything you could do or fail to do that would cause you to lose your salvation? If so, what would it be? If you are a true Christian, have you been baptized/immersed to demonstrate your faith to others (Acts 8:36)? Have you presented your body to God as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1, 2)? Is there any visible evidence of spiritual growth in your life that others would recognize (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18; James 2:19, 20)? Are you sharing the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4) with others as the Holy Spirit leads you (Romans 8:14) and opens doors for you (Revelation 3:8)? Are you doing everything to glorify God by making Him known to others (1 Corinthians 10:31)? If not, what needs to change? (See our “Dispensations Chart” to discover if you’re doing the things God wants you to do to be pleasing to Him?)
Help. If you have questions and/or comments, we can be reached through our website: www.kelseypeach.com. To receive future articles as they come out, click on “Follow.” We also have Bible studies on Youtube and Facebook.
Portions of this article were adapted from –
Growing Deep In The Christian Life by Charles R. Swindoll, Multnomah Press, p. 53ff
I am an American who grew up as a boy in Japan. I lived there for 14 years of my life from the time I was 4 years old, right after World War II. I attended Gakushuin elementary school for two years with my younger brother to learn Japanese.
To become a better missionary, my father, Timothy Pietsch, went to Waseda University to study Japanese before the war. He became fluent in Japanese and had a radio program there for 35 years to tell people about Jesus. He also started a local church in Japan.
One day, while we were having a street meeting at the Shibuya train station by Hachiko square, he gave some Christian literature to Mitsuo Fuchida. He was the one who led the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II. He became a Christian, was in our home, and then traveled in the United States with my father for awhile to tell other people of his new found faith in Jesus Christ.
My grandfather, C. Kelsey Dozier, went to Fukuoka in 1906 and started the Seinan Gakuin schools. When my wife and I were in Japan in 2014,I spoke in Japanese to the students in the university, grade school, and high school just before their 100th anniversary.
My mother, Helen Dozier Pietsch, was born in Kobe in 1910. She lived most of her life in Tokyo and had a Bible kindergarten for 45 years. She had hundreds of students and graduates during this time. She was well known in her neighborhood.
Our son, Bill lived in Japan for 15 years. For one year he also attended the university that his great-grandfather had started in Fukuoka. He taught English to many Japanese middle school students. He also talked to many people about Jesus as he visited over 50 countries in the world during his vacation time, including the “Seven Wonders Of The World.” He died of a heart attack at the age of 38 in 2016 and is buriedat the foot of Mt. Fuji with his grandparents.
The Greatest Story Ever Told
But I have another, much more important story to tell you about another man, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was not an American. He was a Jewish man who lived in the land of Israel about 2,000 years ago.
His Identity. He was and is the eternal God who came down to earth to live among us and to let us know what God was like. He added to His deity a true human nature and a real body (John 1:1-18).
HisLife. Unlike all others, He was born of a virgin by the name of Mary (Matthew 1:23). He lived on earth for 33 years without ever sinning or disobeying God’s laws (Hebrews 4:15).
Our Substitute. Then He volunteered to go to the cross to die for the sins of the whole world, not just for the Jewish people (John 1: 11, 12; 3:16; 10:11). This means that He died for your sins and mine. He paid the debt for our sins that we all owed to God. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). God the Father was satisfied with the payment that God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ made for us (1 John 2:2). To prove this, He raised Him from the dead (Romans 4:25).
The Proof. The bodily resurrection proves that He was and is the onlytrue and living God. His death and resurrection made it possible for us to go to heaven when we die to be with Him forever (John 3:16).
Same Way. No matter what our nationality may be, or what language we speak, all we have to do to be saved from hell and go to heaven is to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, who was buried for three days in a tomb, and then who rose again bodily from the grave on the third day” (Acts 16:31; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4).
God’s Way. This may sound too simple, but it is the way God wants it to be so that anyone in any country can go to heaven. “For by grace [undeserved favor] we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is a gift from God, not of works lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9). “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have [eternal] life” (John 3:16).
Believe. My friend, are you willing to put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from hell and take you to heaven when you die (John 3:16; Matthew 25:41, 46)? If you will believe on Him right now, I would like to hear about your decision.
Next Step. Once you have done this, we would like to share other information with you so you can grow spiritually and live the rest of your life to please God and tell other people about Jesus.
Contact.You can reach us here or through my website: www.kelseypeach.com. If you would like to receive future articles as they come out, click on “Follow.”
Helpers.If you would like to have a part in reaching Japanese people for Christ, please let us know. We need people, groups, and organizations to help us in this project. Most of all, pray for a great awakening in Japan where our family spent over 100 years trying to reach them for Christ. God is able to do far more than we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). He wants His children to be F.A.T.R.E.E. (Faithful, Available, Teachable, Flexible, Resilient, Evangelistic, and Enthusiastic).
Pictures. If you are interested, we have some pictures of my brother and me in our Japanese uniforms at Gakushuin, our street meetings at Hachiko square, Mitsuo Fuchida, my father making radio broadcasts, my mother’s kindergarten, that go along with “My Life In Japan.” Let us know if you would like to see some of them.
Recently, while our oldest son was flying home from a business trip, one of the passengers on board apparently had a heart attack. The flight attendant asked if there was a Doctor on board. So our son volunteered to help. He went and talked to the man to try to determine what was wrong with him. They were about an hour and a half into the flight over the ocean when the plane had to turn around and go back to the airport. Meanwhile, for the next 40 minutes, he administered CPR on the man hoping to revive him. But sadly, he didn’t survive.Destinies.As I considered what happened that day, I thought about that man’s eternal destiny. I thought about all those on the plane who were planning to do other things that day but who were delayed from making it to their destinations on time as they had hoped. No doubt, there were some folks who were upset by this incident that interrupted their schedules. Others were surprised by the length of time that our son spent trying to revive this man. Some thanked him for trying to help him as they left the plane. Needless to say, it was a traumatic moment for all those on the airplane.Vapor. I also was reminded of the passage in the Scriptures, where Jesus’ half brother wrote, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:13-17).Deo Volente. These two Latin words mean “God willing.” Far too many people, including those who claim to be Christians, live like practical atheists and do not take God into their plans. God wants to be a part of our lives, and for us to rely on Him for wisdom to make good choices in life. “If any of you [Christians] lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). “Trust in the Lord will all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6). “For as many [Christians] as are [habitually being] led by the Spirit of God, theses are the [maturing] sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Does this describe you or not? Death. Having had one of our other sons taken from us unexpectedly two years ago on Easter Sunday, we are very mindful of the reality of death and the subsequent effects it has had on our lives and the lives of others who knew our 38 year old son, Bill. See link below.Questions. Are you living independently of God? Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing”(John 15:5). The Apostle Paul wrote,“…in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). We all are just one heart beat away from death. What are you doing with the life that God graciously has given to you? Have you placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for your sins…and rose again bodily on the third day? If not, why not do this before it’s too late? “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul” (Mark 8:36)? If you are a Christian, are you regularly telling others about Jesus and the salvation that He offers to all mankind (John 3:16; Acts 1:8; 1 John 2:2)?Are you living for fame, fortune, power, or pleasure? Or are you living to glorify God by making Him known to others(1 Corinthians 10:31)?Are you living independently of God and acting like a practical atheist? If so, stop! If you’re a Christian, confess that sin to God (1 John 1:9). Remember, God saves us by one act of faith, but He wants us to live habitually in an attitude of faith (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Romans 1:16, 17). How many of His promises, that are addressed to Christians, do you know and claim? (See below.) Help. We’re here to help you if you are teachable and willing to change (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17). If you’re a Christian, we also want you to have the joy of leading other people to the Lord Jesus Christ so they can be saved too (1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20). To make sure that you are a true Christian, please read “The Bad News & theGood News” that we have on our website: www.kelseypeach.com. See our “Understanding The Times” chart too. To receive future articles as they come out, please click on “Follow.” Also join us on Facebook and Youtube for our Bible Studies.
Friend, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ alone, Who died for all our sins (once and for all) …and rose again bodily on the third day, and you will be saved from hell to heaven (Acts 16:31; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4).
If you’ve never done this before, do it NOW! Once you’ve done this, contact us for more information so we can help you grow spiritually.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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