I’m not usually much for “topical” messages, but after hearing about the dismal state of Religion in America, specifically Christian religion, specifically Evangelical religion from the Pew organization this week, this message from Pastor Mullet seemed just a bit timely.

According to Pew, more than 1/4 of Christians, and specifically more than 1/4 of Evangelical Christians aren’t sure that God actually exists. Even worse, more than 50% of religious people in this country don’t believe their religion is the only way to eternal life, and specifically more than 50% of Evanglical Christians don’t believe that their beliefs (specifically belief in Jesus Christ) is the only way to eternal life.

I suppose we’re simply following in the footsteps of Europe, where the figures are much worse.

In contrast, a few reminders from the Word of God tonight:

1) Daniel 2:44 – There is a real heaven and a real kingdom to come.

2) Acts 17:28,31 – God created me, I have my being in him, and I will give an account to him.

3) 2 Timothy 3:16, Isaiah 40:8 – God has spoken (in the scriptures that he has given by his very breath) and what he has said matters eternally.

4) John 3:16 – Without God’s grace, love, and mercy we are doomed to eternal torment.

5) Matthew 25:41,46 – Heaven and hell are real.

6) 1 John 5:10-13 – Jesus Christ, God’s Son died for the sins of the whole world, he has risen from the dead, and he gives eternal life to all those who truly believe in him. You know if you have truly believed in him or not.

7) James 1:22-25 – Only a believer walking in fellowship with and obedience to God will see this world and the next rightly.

Hmmmm. . . I guess that’s 7. I still don’t like topical messages for all kinds of reasons, but I’ll forgive him for this one. :)

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I’ve got a couple. First is Psalm 40:2-3 because that’s the story of what God through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection has done for me.

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

My second is 1 John 3:2.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Here’s the story I submitted for the One Year Life Verse Devotional, which will be published next year. Check back to see if I’ll have my 15 minutes of fame.

During my last two years of high school, I attended church with one of my high school teachers, Mr. G., and his family. Mr. G. would listen to my teenage troubles, and say “Don’t worry. You’ll get there.” After graduation, I joined the Navy and lost contact with Mr. G. for many years. During that time, I became an atheist and spent the next 18 years totally apart from God. But no matter how bad things seemed, I would always hear Mr. G. saying, “Don’t worry. You’ll get there.” Sometimes that was the only hope I had.

Finally, in 1997, just when things couldn’t have been better, God stepped back into my life, and in January 1999, I placed my faith in Jesus Christ. Sometime later I began to understand how unlike Christ I was. It was then that I found 1 John 3:2 and realized that, even though I wasn’t as much like Jesus right now as I wanted to be, there is coming a day when I will be. Then I remembered how Mr. G. would always say, “Don’t worry. You’ll get there.” I didn’t know where “there” was then, but now I don’t worry about how slow my progress seems or how often I fail. God has promised that with one look I’ll finally be there.

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Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus