HAPPY NEW YEAR

Today is 2008, a new year and I hope and pray it will be a happy year. Thus far in Pakistan, India, and Kenya 2008 has been a very bloody time. The church in these countries are taking a heavy beating already. What makes us outwardly happy I believe is age dependent. When our kids were young we would buy them small expensive toys, but they seemed to have had more fun playing with the boxes. As our kids got older their toys got bigger and more expensive yet their happiness was not satisfied they still wanted more. This is a desire that is in all kids. Now as grandparents it is not the things we can own that makes us happy, but spending time with our family and good health.

One thing for sure the longer I go with God the more I realize true happiness come not from what we can own, but from the inward strength God can work in our lives. This inward strength is worked in us as we submit to God's dealings and judgments in our lives, as God brings us into narrow and restricted places in our lives. Jesus teaches us, "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: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) The more narrower and restricted we walk the more joy and happiness can be worked in our lives. Please note the, "narrow way leads unto life," not heaven. God is not too concerned about taking us all to heaven this is man's focus, but God sent His precious Son Jesus Christ so that we may be able to enter into eternal life. Jesus said, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) Now the word "thief" here is not Satan or the Devil, but is Strong's' # 2812, translated from the Greek as "an embezzler, pilferer" it has nothing to do with the Devil, it is a thief that, "comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." Now Satan can do this if we allow, but the Bible is not talking about the Devil here. The word "thief" is also transferred to false teachers, who do not care to instruct men, but abuse their confidence for their own gain. Ah, now we see what the "thief" is stealing, killing, and destroying, the word of God that was planted in our heart and lives. Jesus came to bring us into the life of God, not to get the abundance of this earthly life as so many denominations and churches preach. Jesus came to give us life and the thief or false teacher comes to take the life of God from us. God knows if He can put His kind of life in us we will go to heaven some day and while on earth He will be able to bring us and His plan for our lives to completion. Our focus ought not to be about going to heaven, but knowing God. Jesus also taught us, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3) My friend do not be deceived in 2008, by false teachers if so you will lose your joy and the happiness God has been able to work in your life. Worse you will lose the plan God has for your life. In 2008, we must stay in the Bible and allow God's words to abide in us as Jesus said, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)

Well my friend if we want to have a happy new year we must look not to things and outward joy, but to the inward work God must do in our lives. We must desire to know God and His plan for our lives, and most of all we must allow God's word (our choice not God's) to abide in us so that we will know the truth. If not, we will never be able to walk in the restrictions and limitations that leads us to true freedom. We talk of God's grace, (how special and wonderful God's grace is), but do you know walking in God's grace requires us to live a very restricted and limited life? God grace will not allow you to say and do and go where you want and still walk with Him. Now man's definition of grace will let you do and say whatsoever you want to do and say, but not God's. Paul said, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10) Paul's life was a very restricted and limited life ending in prison and yet his revelation of God was second to none. It was God's grace that enabled Paul to pour out his life for his brothers and sisters at the churches he established and it was God's grace that allowed Paul to write almost 2/3 of the New Testament. God's grace will kill us, but if it does we will have real life, God's life. My friend if we desire such a revelation in 2008 we too must live such a life. To all Happy New Year.