I’ve see the movie Amazing Grace, but reading this article taught me a lot more about the man William Wilberforce and his walk with the Lord. God doesn’t call all of us to quit what we are doing and become preachers; we can be used for God’s purpose wherever we are.
The story of this man is truly an inspiration to me. Although he became the most hated man in England while even his own body was turning against him, he never turned his back on God. He was joyful, compassionate, and loving toward people he had never even met by fighting for their freedom.
He is a true example of what the Bible talks about when it compares the Christian to salt and light to this world. So many of us are held back because of public opinion and fear of rejection; but why? The God of the universe has saved us from our sins! We should be like the man who found treasure in a field and then sold all that he had to buy the field! We should say “Are you kidding me? I have the Spirit of the God of the universe inside of me! His worth is far greater than anything I have, including my very life!”
I pray that this story inspires you the way it inspires me. I want to be salt and light; not just another casual christian… May the blessing of the Lord be with all of you!
It is better to be a secularist, it is better to be an atheist; to claim nothing of God and from God, than to claim God and enter into that claim half-heartedly.
– Paul David WasherGay or Straight; God’s Commands Are the Same For All
- I’ve wanted to write on the topic of homosexuality for a long time now but I’ve never felt that I knew enough about what God says about it to actually talk about it, but in light of many posts that I’ve been seeing on Facebook I think that I really need to speak up. It’s a very controvercial topic and it can step on a lot of people’s toes so I really want to be careful how I say things.
- My intention is not to offend but to inform. I’m not “homophobic” and I don’t hate gay people. I also don’t agree with the “Christians” who say that God hates gay people because that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I actually have many friends from High School and relatives who are gay. Do I think any less of them because of it? No. In fact, I love them. God loves every person, but hates the sins that they commit. Do I believe that homosexuality is a sin? Yes. Here is why:
- ~Leviticus 18:22
- ~Romans 1:26-27
- Now before people start calling me ignorant and intolerant, God also holds standards for heterosexuals relationships as well:
- ~1 Corinthians 7:2
- ~Ephesians 5:3
- ~1 Thessalonians 4:3
- As you can see by these verses, sex between heterosexuals, in the eyes of God, must come after marriage. Some say it’s old fashioned and stupid, but it is what God desires and expects. Every person has some form of “sex drive”. Is it hard to wait until marriage? Absolutely. But is it possible? Absolutely. Some say that they were born gay. It’s the way they have always felt. How could anyone dare say that it is wrong? Let’s put homosexuality to the same test: Is it hard to abstain from homosexuality if you have those desires? Absolutely. Is it possible to live without fulfilling those desires? Absolutely.
- Heterosexuals also have the desire to have sex before marriage. If that’s how they feel than how can that be wrong? That isn’t the issue. God says that I should wait until marriage to have sex and I love Him enough to put my physical desires on hold to do so. I don’t think it is intolerant to say that homosexuals can love God enough to listen to His commands by abstaining from those desires also.
- Many of you may be saying “Well, that’s all well and good for you, but I believe that God is love and He won’t send them to Hell because I know gay couples that do a lot of good in their lives.” Yes, God is love. But He is also just. One day each and every one of us is going to have to stand before God and give an account of the things that we have done. If a man murdered someone and was caught, do you honestly believe that a good judge would let that person walk because they said “But judge, I’ve done a lot of good in my life.”? God isn’t going to put our good deeds and bad deeds on a scale and see which weighs more to see if we can get to Heaven. He looks at and judges the wrongs, our sins.
- If we could get to Heaven by doing more good deeds than bad, than Christ died for nothing. Christ had to die on that cross because the bridge between us and God was broken by sin. When Christ died on that cross He took upon Himself every sin that we have ever and will commit. He paid it all so that we might have a chance to spend eternity in Heaven with God. Jesus Christ restored and became that bridge between us and the Father. That is why He is THE WAY, the Truth, and the Life. The gift of eternal life was not free. He paid for it, in full, with His very life and spent three agonizing days in Hell so that we might have the chance. How do we recieve eternal life? By repenting of our sinful lives and ways and believing in Him. That is the one and only way.
- I’m saying this because I love you. I don’t know who is reading this and honestly it doesn’t matter. I love you. I want to see you in eternity someday, but that can’t happen unless you live a life of repentance and believe. I don’t care if you are homosexual or heterosexual. I love you and I want to see you in eternity someday.God’s commands apply to all of us. None are exempt. Is it difficult sometimes? Absolutely. We live in a world that tells us to do whatever we are feeling with no regrets. But that’s not reality. I’ve found that God has placed these commandments in our lives, not to restrict us, but to protect us from self-inflicted destruction. You and I have a God who loved us enough to die for us. HE DIED FOR US! Does it really sound like God wants to “hold us back” or “punish us for having fun”? He knows that these actions will lead to death! Everyone in our world is walking toward a cliff that leads to eternal fire and God is trying to call us away from it! He’s done the hard part for us!
- All He asks in return is that we Trust in Him and show Him that we love Him by obeying His directions (John 14:15)! Read the book of 1 John and ask yourself if that describes your life. Do you really believe? Are you really living a life of repentence? This. Is. What. Matters.
- Gay or Straight, God holds you and I to the same standards. If you are gay and would like to seek after God I will be right there beside you to help you in your journey. I don’t care if it is a choice or a biological feeling that makes you attracted to the same sex. God will give you the strength and endurance to follow His commands and seek after Him with your whole heart if you will only ask Him. Again, I say that I, too, will stand beside you in that journey. If you are straight and would like to seek after God I will be right there beside you to help you in your journey. God will give you the strength and endurance to follow His commands and seek after Him with your whole heart if you will only ask Him. God loves each and every one of us and I am here to help any brother or sister find their way. I also need brothers and sisters who love me. We all need each other.
- “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
- Each of us must Love the Lord first with all that we are. When we are doing that, we then know how to love our neighbor.
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.
But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.
For your hands are stained with blood,
your fingers with guilt…
There were some things that I didn’t really agree with in this guy’s last video. But I have nothing to say about this one. I really like the message and believe it to be completely true. I’m so glad that we have people who are willing to stand up and say the things that need to be said to a world who can be so ignorant at times.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
This man takes the words from my very mouth… His message is truly one of love. I pray that you will watch this and pray deeply about what he is saying here. It may just save your life. He said in a video to the public what I have often been afraid to say to close friends. God bless him and God bless his ministry.
About me
If there is one thing that I've learned since I was given the gift of life on April 1, 2010, it is that this life is not about me. This life is about God. This life is about what Jesus Christ did for us all upon that cross. The purpose of this blog is for me to share what God has placed on my heart. Right now I pray for you. I pray that what I've written here can somehow express how truly amazing and irreplaceable God's love is and that you may be able to apply these thoughts to your life. For it has been said that "A smart man learns from his own mistakes, but a truly wise man learns from the mistakes of others." I've made plenty of mistakes in my life, but by His grace I have been and continue to be forgiven. Matthew 22:36-40 says “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Jesus then tells us this in the book of John 14:15-17: “IF YOU LOVE ME (The Lord your God), keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth." Our walk with God should not end after one prayer when we "accept Jesus into our hearts". If we've stood before the throne of God and truly repented of our sins, we should NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. We cannot live as the world does and expect to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The road that leads to life is narrow... 80% of the US population calls themselves a Christian. When Jesus said that the path was narrow, I believe He meant it. A sign of a repentant heart, is a person who realizes that they are continually in need of repentance. I sin often and I am ashamed of my sinfulness. We will sin, but God will always forgive us when we come before Him. Repent and believe. Love the Lord your God by keeping and treasuring His commands with your life. When you fail, come before Him and repent again. This life is a journey; not so much to a destination, but to a transformation. I'm not saying it's easy. In fact in today's world it is the hardest path we can possibly take. But when we take up our cross and follow Christ, He promises life everlasting. That, to me, is worth every trial I will ever face.
