Bible Questions Answered

Man Miraculously Escapes Blazing Car Crash — His Bible Flawless

3/6/2016

A man that was pinned inside a car was rescued from his vehicle minutes before it exploded.

Afterwards his car was completely burned up and miraculously the only thing that was left untouched was the man’s Bible that was found on the front seat.

What a miracle! Watch more Christian videos online at Christ Like Media!

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What Is the Meaning of Life?

12/29/2014

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Meaning in the 21st Century
What is the meaning of life? How can I find purpose, fulfillment and satisfaction in life? What does the Bible say? These questions are age-old questions and as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. Many people in our instant-gratification culture never stop to consider the subtleties of these kinds of questions. Oftentimes, people look at their past and wonder why their relationships have fallen apart and why they fill so empty, even though they have accomplished so much.

It's not uncommon for someone in our culture to work very hard at achieving some goal to find that achieving the outcome they had in mind doesn't bring the satisfaction they'd hoped for. Many athletes and highly successful entrepreneurs report that ruthlessly climbing their way to the top hasn't filled the hole in their hearts. A common refrain is that, "I wasted time following a goal that couldn't ultimately make me happy."

Our materialistic culture caters to instant gratification, on one hand, and the false belief that true happiness entails achieving a career benchmark or getting a promotion. You'll often hear stories about business professionals and entrepreneurs finding almost unimaginable levels of wealth, success, and essentially all the pleasures that this Earth has to offer.

So, what's the catch? These consolations often leave people feeling a void in their hearts in spite of efficiently achieving their goals. Rewards like wealth and a host of toys and a calendar full of entertaining activities leaves people feeling more empty before they set out to achieve their goals in the first place!

Fulfillment Through God's Word
These precise feelings of disenchantment and a lack of fulfillment were talked about thousands of years ago in Ecclesiastes, an Old Testament book. The writing of this biblical book is attributed to Solomon, who reflected on the lack of fulfillment and vanity of many Earthly pursuits. The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the Bible's many Wisdom Books that has been translated from the original vernacular.

Found in Ecclesiastes is the following quote: "Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless" (Ecclesiastes 1:2). This refrain might be taken up by a jaded athlete or rock star wondering why his achievements haven't brought him closer to happiness. The author of the books comprising Ecclesiastes, King Solomon, had an unbelievable level of wealth, dizzying wisdom, sumptuous gardens and wine, and hundreds of women at his beck and call...yet Solomon remained unfulfilled.

Solomon is quoted as saying that he pursued whatever his heart desired without hesitation or excuse. This philosophy of instant gratification seems eerily similar to the way that a lot of our friends and family go about their lives. Nonetheless, King Solomon eventually concluded that human existence was essentially meaningless, and that all life under the sun lacked an intrinsic purpose or reason for living. How can this seeming meaninglessness be reconciled with finding purpose in our lives?

God intended for our ultimate purpose to be beyond the pleasures that can be scooped up in the here and now of everyday existence. Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes that "He [God] has also set eternity in the hearts of men" (Ecclesiastes 3:11). What did Solomon mean by this quote? Perhaps that men feel in their hearts that there's a deeper fulfillment beyond the pleasures of the here and now, and that following the examples of the early disciples and Jesus Christ is the way to a more nourishing fulfilling.

Maybe we're getting ahead of our story, though. The opening book of the Old Testament, Genesis, says that God created humankind in his image (Genesis 1:26). The implication is that humans are actually more like God than any other life form on earth. Genesis further tells us that mankind slipped into a condition of sin and separation from God. Man's betrayal of God's trust created original sin upon mankind.

Engaging with Christ and Finding Meaning
God gave man a wealth of gifts that laid the roadmap for man's fulfillment. God provided the first man, Adam, with work (Genesis 2:15) and camaraderie with his fellow man (Genesis 3:18). God also gave man dominion (rights) over the earth and its creatures (Genesis 1:26). God performed these acts to enrich man's life and ultimately lead to man's fulfillment. The problem is that mankind betrayed God and fell into sin which put a curse upon the land (Earth) and rendered fulfillment more of a commodity and harder to achieve in this life.

We've already discussed the first book of the Bible, now let's look at the last book, the Book of Revelation. God tells us that He will destroy Earth that we identify with, and that the heavens will come down to earth. This reified heaven will, in effect, be a new earth. When the new earth is created, God will restore a "full fellowship" between himself and mankind and simultaneously banish the unworthy to a lake of fire (Revelation 20: 11-15). These actions will effectively reverse the curse of original sin that mankind's progenitors brought into existence. There will be no sin or pain on Earth from that point onward (Revelation 21:4). God will dwell with us and we will be called His Sons (Revelation 21: 7). Man will come back full circle to what He originally created in the beginning.

God has laid the roadmap for finding eternal bliss (Luke 23:43) and finding fulfillment in this life while ensuring a fellowship with Him in the next. Bringing heaven down to Earth depends on living in harmony with God's plan. Real fulfillment in this Earthly life depends on restoring our relationship with God that was lost after Adam and Eve broke God's plan and fell into sin. How can this relationship be brought back into harmony?

God says that restoring our relationship with Him is possible through engaging with His only son, Jesus Christ. (John 1:12). We can only achieve eternal life by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). We do this by repenting of our past sins and submitting or yielding our will and control to Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ Jesus will make you a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and you will become "born again" (1 Peter 1:3). Relying on Christ as our Lord and Savior is the only way forward to experiencing life to its fullest.

We should draw close to Christ and seek to understand His word through prayer and by "whole-heartedly" pursuing God and His will for us. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28).

Psalm 37:4 tells us to “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart”. We can find a cure for our emptiness and the void in our hearts by choosing to whole-heartedly pursue God and His will for our life. Our creator, God, wants the best for all of His children. God created mankind in His image and He wants the best for us. This ultimately means we can find eternal fulfillment by becoming a disciple of Christ and stop pursuing our own desires so that we can pursue God's purpose for us.

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What Should Be the Focus of Christians on Thanksgiving?

11/27/2014

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On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln Read the Original Proclamation of Thanksgiving Day . . .

President Abraham Lincoln read the original proclamation of Thanksgiving Day on October 3, 1863

"I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens,"

- President Abraham Lincoln

In 1941, U.S. Congress passed a resolution making the fourth Thursday of November as the federal Thanksgiving Day holiday, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Today, Thanksgiving Day is one of the most beloved and celebrated holidays in U.S. This uniquely American celebration revolves around family time and giving thanks to God for the better things in life, such as deliciously prepared turkeys and the NFL. It gets us thinking about the vast blessings of this land, and the bravery and struggle of our ancestors who gave their lives to make ours possible.

The Origins of Thanksgiving
Before the English Protestants, also known as Pilgrims or Puritans, came to America, the area where first Thanksgiving took place was occupied by Native American tribes, who knew the land well and thrived in it for thousands of years. When the Europeans came they lacked the survival skills to get through the harsh Massachusetts winters. After the first cold season, almost half of the 102 colonists died. The Indian leaders, seeing the struggles of the new settlers, taught them how to harvest the land, fish, and hunt. The Pilgrims also benefited from a trading ship that accidentally arrived at their shore and traded beaver pelts for the settlers-grown corn. As their one year anniversary approached, deeply religious Puritans celebrated the first "harvest feast" in their new home, giving thanks to God for improved crops and the help of their Indian neighbors. About 80 indigenous people participated in the first Thanksgiving, and the celebration went on for three days. Sadly and famously, the peace between the Indian tribes and the Pilgrims only lasted for one generation (on and off).

Thanksgiving in the Bible
Clearly, the concept of giving thanks is very present in the Scriptures, and it is perhaps one of the core principles of Christianity. References to thanksgiving are seen all across the Old and New Testament.

Some examples in the Old Testament include the following:

In Genesis 8, Noah sacrifices animals and birds on the Lord's altar in giving thanks after his ark survived the flood.
In Exodus 15, the Israelites sing a song of thanksgiving after the miracle of Red Sea parting.
In Exodus 12:15-20, Leviticus 23:15-21, and Leviticus 23:33-36, the Mosaic Law is given to the nation of Israel. The three part law partly covers God's mercy and grace, celebration and praise in thanksgiving.
Psalms 31, 95, 100, 107, and 145 all speak to rejoicing in God's presence with thanksgiving.

In the New Testament, the call to give thanks can be found in:

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 – "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Philippians 4: 6 – "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
1 Timothy 2: 1 – "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for all me."

Certainly, the greatest gift that God bestowed upon us was the life of His Son, Jesus Christ. Paying for our sins in great struggle and suffering, Jesus carried the cross to give us eternal life. This gift is available to all who will recognize Jesus' sacrifice and pray for mercy and forgiveness (John 3:16, Romans 3:19-26, 6:23, 10:13, Ephesians 2:8-10). As Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 9: 15, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

Thanksgiving Today and the Role of Christians
Since Thanksgiving is not considered to be a religious holiday, despite the fact that it was certainly religious to the Pilgrims who spent most of their "harvest feast" in thanksgiving prayer, God is hardly ever mentioned in relation to this historical tradition. As a matter of fact, people across the world often wonder why Americans stop everything they're doing once a year just to engage in this seemingly pointless act of gluttony. This is in part because in our increasingly secular society references to God are avoided at all costs.

Certainly, our goal as Christians should never be to offend. Christ's teachings underscore the importance of putting someone else's well-being ahead of our own, even or especially when they don't deserve it. Selflessness and loving kindness are the principles by which we're suppose to live. But if Christ is ever going to be restored to our Thanksgiving Day, it will have to come from the Christian community. With around 80 percent of Americans labeling themselves as Christian, it's hard to believe that we've failed to lead by example on this issue. Frankly, we don't have to force anyone to spend the day prayerfully; we just have to do it ourselves. As such a large community in this country, the reality of our nation could shift dramatically if we just followed the teachings every day and on Thanksgiving Day; America, being such a powerful nation, could in turn shift realities across the world. "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

What Are Christians Called to Do?
A good and easy start might be sitting out the shopping sprees on Thursday. More stores are planning to open during the holiday this year, and starting little online campaigns against it is not going to do much good. Businesses operate on profits. If 80 percent of the population stays home on Thursday, this year will be the last time the stores opened on this holiday.

Actually giving thanks to God on Thanksgiving is another good idea. While no one but family can see us in our homes, starting church services in most churches across the country, perhaps coupled with a healthy meal for the less fortunate, could show a more united effort to include God in Thanksgiving. Some churches already hold services and Christians flock to them. Taking a couple of hours out of eating and watching TV couldn't really hurt. Football doesn't start until the afternoon anyway.

Charity, especially on this day, could truly show the light of Christ. If someone out there has nowhere to go, nothing to eat, and nothing to wear on this day then we are failing as a Christian community. It's surprising that we don't have more charitable drives across the nation on Thanksgiving Day. Spending just a few hours on Thanksgiving donating clothes or furniture, visiting an orphanage or a lonely elderly person, or delivering meals, all done by tens of millions of people in this country at the same time, could send waves across the world. And no one would have to wonder what this American Thanksgiving Day is all about. It once was, after all, all about God.

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Man Miraculously Escapes Blazing Car Crash — His Bible Flawless

What Is the Meaning of Life?

What Should Be the Focus of Christians on Thanksgiving?

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