May 2010

Where do we find hope?

This newsletter is going out to your with the realization that it will come to some who are possibly going through some of the most difficult days of your life. Then for others it may be some of the best days of your life. But regardless of where you are at right now, the truth is, we all need the Lord Jesus Christ.

As the quote goes, "For the person without Christ, this world is the best it gets. For the person who knows Christ and has made Him Lord of their life, this world is the worst it get." (my paraphrase)

The hope is this, if we are in the midst of adversity, there is a better day coming through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

And if these are some of the best days you have known, they are still not enough to fulfill the cry of your heart for that which is eternal in Jesus Christ.

ONLY in Christ is there hope and fulfillment.

We are created for eternal life with our Maker, God. Anything less will leave us empty. and to have the hope of eternal life with nothing else, it is enough!

¹³ If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
¹⁵ More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead..."
(I Corinthians 15:13-20)

Where Are Your Looking?

How long has it been since you have really considered and contemplated eternity? That place that begins when we die, and never ends. To really weigh the consequences of whether we will spend eternity in heaven with God, or hell separated from God and everything good.

I know this is not a popular subject in our comfortable culture, but it is still a reality we need to face. In a day and age of "reality" TV, we are avoiding the true reality of eternity. Even in the church.

Understand, I am speaking these truths with a heart of compassion and concern, not in condemnation.

But in all truthfulness how much time do we spend actually investing in our relationship with Christ compared to gaining the things that are temporary.

To prove a point here, let me challenge you to a simple test. For one week, purposefully track how many hours you spend before the TV or computer, and how many hours or minutes you spend before God.

Our hope is in who Jesus is, and who He desires to be in our lives. He is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

The only way to God is the Father.
(John 14:6)

There is a Great Day coming when we will all see Jesus. That should give us hope. Are YOU ready for that day to come?

³⁵ So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
³⁶ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
³⁷ For in just a very little while, He who is coming will come and not delay.
(Hebrews 10:35-37)

May you be encouraged as you behold the glory of God all around you!

Rick Messer / Pastor of a church without walls