Fix Our Eyes on Jesus

The other day, my husband mentioned that there is so much evil in the world.

That is the kind of sentiment that many people often try to keep to themselves so as not to ruin a happy day.

But it is true. It is here...it is there...every single day. The escalation of evil is way too apparent to ignore.

The Bible tells us explicitly, through prophecy, that sin, evil and death would mar our existence here on this earth. Jesus said, "in this world, you will have trouble." The closer we get to the last days, the more trouble we will see and encounter.

But the funny thing is, even people who have wonderful lives (to outsiders, at least), and lots of fame and money, often feel that something is missing.

Take, for instance, what a popular NFL quarterback stated when he was interviewed on 60 Minutes a few weeks ago:

"Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out there for me? I reached my goal, my dream..." He paused and went on, "It's got to be more than this. I mean this isn't, this can't be what all it's cracked up to be."

We have to admire his honesty!

Solomon, the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes came to a similar conclusion.

"When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 2:11, NIV)

Think of others who have achieved great wealth and fame; yet have suffered immensely in spite of their pursuit of what they thought would bring them happiness.

Lindsay Lohan - in and out of rehab.
Owen Wilson - attempted suicide.

The list could go on and on.

What does this tell us?

It tells us that the so-called American dream is broken. It always has been. Money, fame, or personal success doesn't bring enduring happiness.

I know that for me, relationships bring much fulfillment in life. Family and friends mean more than money, fame or success.

There really isn't anything wrong with having such accomplishments as money, fame and success; unless one's satisfaction in life only rests upon them, and them alone. Money, fame and success can only bring temporary and incomplete satisfaction.

Christians know that true joy and satisfaction comes only from knowing Jesus Christ; and recognizing what He did for us on that Cross at Calvary.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

We are meant to have a personal relationship with God through the Person of Jesus Christ. We are encouraged to have right relationships here on this earth. However, the wrong types of relationships can bring much pain, grief, sin, evil and death.

Today, I got an email newsletter from Randy Thomasson, who is president of a pro-life, pro-family organization called Campaign for Children and Families.

He shared some information in that newsletter that I would like to pass along here and comment on.

Stop secret teen abortions in California
Campaign for Children and Families has made a commitment not to waste people's time or money. That's why CCF will not promote proposed initiatives that have deficient legal effect, allowing politicians or judges to "undermine" them. A notable exception is Sarah's Law, the parental notification for abortion constitutional amendment that is working to qualify for California's November ballot.

In California, your teenage daughter can't get a flu shot, a tooth filling, or a nose ring without your permission. But a stranger can perform an abortion on her without even telling you. The well-crafted language of this pro-life, pro-family constitutional amendment will require written parental notification before a surgical or drug-induced abortion can be done on minor girls. Saving a child from a teenage abortion is about saving babies, saving families, and saving vulnerable teen and pre-teen girls from physical and emotional trauma and a lifetime of regret.

There are adult women who have had abortions in the past and can attest to the truth of the statement - "physical and emotional trauma and a lifetime of regret."

Why? Because it's wrong! Killing a baby in the womb may make the "problem" go away, but is such a drastic solution worth a lifetime of emotional pain and regret? I don't think so. Yet, when people speak out for the pro-life cause, they are labeled negatively by the opposite side.

What is wrong with this picture?

Randy continues:

Yet, to succeed, Sarah's Law needs about 200,000 signatures from Californian volunteers who care about families, teenagers, and babies. Now is the time to circulate petitions at your church, at work, in your neighborhood, and at shopping centers. Request your petitions today at http://www.friendsofsarah.com/

Next topic.

Defend marriage with CCF in San Francisco on March 4
The long-awaited California Supreme Court hearing on homosexual "marriages" is finally here. On Tuesday, our attorney Mat Staver, our board president Assemblyman Larry Bowler and I will be seated in front of the seven high court justices as an official party (through my other organization, Campaign for California Families) defending the constitutionality of man-woman marriage. The best thing you can do is pray for me and Mat, who is founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. I'm thrilled we can provide a platform for Staver, who will present evidence that marriage is in the best interest of children. These are winning arguments that attorneys for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown are unwilling to make.

The second best thing you can do is come to San Francisco and stand outside the courthouse with tasteful signs reading "Marriage = 1 Man + 1 Woman" and "Don't Trample the People's Vote on Marriage."

The other day, I sat next to a very confused 18-year-old young man. His father and stepmother, with sad voices and heavy hearts, told me the boy, as a youngster, had been molested by a relative, now considers himself "gay," and frequently wears women's clothes. His stepmom told me she was afraid he was going be killed. She said he goes to bars dressed as a woman, and that someone is going to be very angry to find out the "she" is really a "he." I tried to talk to the young man, but as severely disturbed as he was, he wouldn't talk and only giggled nervously.

I put the parents in touch with a local Exodus International counselor who specializes on helping persons who struggle with homosexuality and gender-identity disorder. I was still thinking about the boy's condition on a particularly busy morning when I missed breakfast and drove through McDonald's for an egg burrito. The girl at the window had on a new, pink uniformed jacket. "Hey, those are good jackets," I told her. "Are the boy's jackets blue?" I asked. "No, they're black," she answered. I was surprised and impressed. Although McDonald's is a pro-homosexuality corporation, it still acknowledges the difference between outer male and outer female.

Do you realize what this means? We now live in a time when most people acknowledge the difference between male and female, but the government schools do not. A Colorado elementary school is teaching all the children there to approve of transsexuality in response to allowing an 8-year-old cross-dressing boy to enroll. And soon, because of new state laws, all California government schools will positively portray homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality to children as young as five years old, without parental permission.

The threat to children's innocence is very real. No one can deny it. Pornography begats molestation, molestation begats homosexuality and transsexuality, and these sexual lifestyles combined with political activism have begat anti-family government and anti-family school policies, and the vicious cycle continues. Please visit and urge your friends to visit www.RescueYourChild.org today to discover how to save children morally, socially, and academically.

I have discussed the above topic several times on this blog. By now, everyone who regularly reads here knows my position on such issues.

However, when I read Randy's next few paragraph, I was astounded!!

$65 million left to sexual anarchists

You probably don't recognize the name Ric Weiland. But everyone who cares for family values will feel his influence from now on. As a young man, Weiland was talented and hard working. A college friend of Bill Gates and Paul Allen of Microsoft, he became a lead programmer and project leader, and eventually, a multimillionaire. But there was a deep hurt in his heart from childhood that plagued him. So, to try to make himself feel accepted, Weiland became a homosexual activist. But clearly, in the end, his sexual confusion was never acceptable to his soul. Two years ago, he commited suicide by putting a gun to his head and pulling the trigger.

This week, homosexual, bisexual, and transsexual activists announced that Weiland had left $65 million to "LGBT" groups that promote sexual anarchy. This is multi-year funding for 10 national gay rights and HIV/AIDS groups, including Lambda Legal; the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays; the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation; the Seattle-based Pride Foundation; and amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research.

Sexual anarchists now have a lot more money to tell the American public, politicians, judges, and impressionable children that marriage is NOT between a man and a woman, children DON'T need a father and mother, and that "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" laws TRUMP religious freedom, parental rights, and private property.

I must admit, until I read that newletter I had not heard of Ric Weiland before; nor, did I know that he left such a huge amount of money to sexual anarchy groups.

I did know that Bill and Melinda Gates gave millions to organizations that promote abortion.

Back to Mr. Weiland.

All of his success, all of his money, all of his campaigning for homosexual causes and activism STILL did not satisfy his soul. The man committed suicide!! Why? I don't know all of the details, but obviously, he was in a lot of emotional pain.

Were any of the causes and/or organization that he supported (and ultimately left his money to) helpful to him?

The answer has to be a BIG FAT NO!! If they were, then he would not have killed himself.

Sin, evil, and death. Each leads to the other in this life. There is no doubt about it. One can claim that what they are pursuing is leading them to happiness, but the soul tells a different story...doesn't it??

Today, the former police officer named Bobby Cutts, who brutally killed his 8 months pregnant girlfriend and her unborn baby was sentenced to 57 years to life in prison. The loved ones of the victim each came up to the podium in the court room and cried out their grief over the loss of Jessie and baby Chloe. Who could not cry while listening to their deep emotional pain and grief?

The sisters shared everything from how much they hurt and miss Jessie, all the way to expressing deep hatred for the man who killed her. The father said something incoherent at the end of his grief-filled speech, but it sounded like he wished he could get his hands on Cutts.

Then, the mother of Jessie got up, went to the podium and spoke. She probably surprised everyone in that court room when she stated that her faith in God has enabled her to forgive Cutts.

You know what? The entire time, Cutts' face maintained an emotionless gaze. However, after the mother spoke, I could see his nose was red and flaring. Perhaps a sign that he finally felt some guilt?

In a previous post, I emphasized the fact that we must feel guilt before we can repent, and then receive the forgiveness that only Jesus Christ can give us sinners (all of us!!) in this world! He is the ONLY HOPE for eternal life with God!

Jessie's mom is an amazing woman. Despite her deep grief, pain and agony, her duty as a Christ follower was to urge Cutts to confess, repent, and seek forgiveness from Jesus.

Cutts will have to pay for his crimes for the rest of his life here on this earth. Yet, even he has the opportunity to be forgiven through repentance, faith, and forgiveness, mercy, grace, and the agape love that cannot be found through anyone else except Jesus Christ!

What have you done that you can't forgive yourself for?

Seek Jesus...he is the only one who can forgive you. He is waiting for you...

What will be your answer to His question:

"Who do you say that I am?"

*******
Add on at 6:23 p.m.

I was thinking about the Bible verses in Matthew 5:14-16. Jesus is speaking about believers:

Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Mat 5:15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Mat 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Bible teaches that we are to let our light shine in the sight of men, always! Not just when we are trying to witness. Not just when we feel like it. Not just when things are going the way we want them to.

Like a candle that is held during a blackout today, a lamp stand can be pictured as being moved from one place to another to give light to a dark room.

Again, I thought of that mom in that court room. What darkness was present in that murdering man! However, that Christian woman refused to "leave her light behind" and just walk on into the darkness of that courtroom today.

Some of the characteristics of light show us how desperately the light and truth of Jesus Christ is needed in this dark world:

* Light is only useful if it shines where needed. It is defintely needed in this dark world!

* Light always dispels the darkness. Just think of the opportunities that we have to dispel the darkness in a brother or sister's life.

* Light makes the path clear and easy to see. There are so many confused, lonely, searching people who want to know how to find peace and contentment. Christians have the answer!

* Light gives comfort and security. When we share God's love with others with a kind, loving spirit, they begin to see that comfort and security are really possible in this world.

2Cr 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.

2Cr 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Jessie's mother shined the light of Christ through her words of forgiveness in that dark court room today.

2Cr 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Her ability to do what she did came from the power of God in her. The "treasure" that we have in our "earthen vessels" is the Holy Spirit of God indwelling our hearts.

Read the rest of this awesome chapter in 2 Corinthians:

2Cr 4:8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

2Cr 4:9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--

2Cr 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

2Cr 4:11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

2Cr 4:12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

2Cr 4:13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke,"[fn1] we also believe and therefore speak,

2Cr 4:14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

2Cr 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

2Cr 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

2Cr 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

2Cr 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.


Footnotes:
4:13 Psalm 116:10