For Christians: How to Witness to Muslims

In Acts 17:22–31 the apostle Paul built on areas of "common ground" as he prepared his listeners for the good news of the gospel. Even though he was addressing Gentiles whose beliefs were erroneous, he didn’t rebuke them for having a doctrine of devils— "The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God" (1 Corinthians 10:20). Neither did he present the great truth that Jesus of Nazareth was Almighty God manifest in human form. This may have initially offended his hearers and closed the door to the particular knowledge he wanted to convey. Instead, he built on what they already knew. He first established that there is a Creator who made all things. He then exposed their sin of transgression of the First and Second of the Ten Commandments. Then he preached future punishment for sin. 

There are three main areas of common ground upon which Christians may stand with Muslims. First, that there is one God—the Creator of all things. The second area is the fact that Jesus of Nazareth was a prophet of God. The Bible makes this clear: "And He shall send Jesus Christ,…For Moses truly said to the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brethren, like to me; him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say to you" (Acts 3:20–22). The Qur’an (Koran) says: "Behold! The angel said ‘O Mary! Allah giveth you Glad Tidings of a word from Him. His name will be (Christ Jesus) the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah’" (Surah 3:45). In Surah 19:19, the angel said to Mary, "I am only a messenger of thy Lord to announce to you a gift of a holy son." Surah 3:55 says, "Allah said: ‘O Jesus! I will take you and raise you to Myself." It is because of these and other references to Jesus in the Qur’an that a Muslim will not object when you establish that Jesus was a prophet from God. 

This brings us to the third area of common ground. Muslims also respect Moses as a prophet of God. Therefore, there should be little contention when Christians speak of God (as Creator), Jesus the prophet, and the Law of the prophet Moses. Most Muslims do have some knowledge of their sinfulness, but few see sin in its true light. It is therefore essential to take them through the spiritual nature of the Ten Commandments. While it is true that the Law of Moses begins with, "I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods before Me," it may be unwise to tell a Muslim, at that point, that Allah is a false god. Such talk may close the door before you are able to speak to his conscience. It is wise rather to present the Law in a similar order in which Jesus gave it in Luke 18:20. He addressed the man’s sins of the flesh. He spoke directly to sins that have to do with his fellow man. 

Therefore, ask your hearer if he has ever told a lie. When (if) he admits that he has, ask him what that makes him. Don’t call him a liar. Instead, gently press him to tell you what someone is called who has lied. Try to get him to say that he is a "liar." Then ask him if he has ever stolen something, even if it’s small. If he has, ask what that makes him (a thief). Then quote from the Prophet Jesus: "Whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:27). Ask if he has ever looked at a woman with lust. If he is reasonable, he will admit that he has sinned in that area. Then gently tell him that, by his own admission, he is a "lying, thieving adulterer-at-heart." Say, "If God judges you by the Law of Moses on Judgment Day, will you be innocent or guilty?" 

At this point, he will more than likely say that he will be innocent, because he confesses his sins to God. However, the Qur’an says: "Every soul that has sinned, if it possessed all that is on earth, would fain give it in ransom" (Surah 10:54). In other words, if he possessed the whole world and offered it to God as a sacrifice for his sins, it wouldn’t be enough to provide atonement for his sins. Imagine that a criminal is facing a 50,000 fine. He is penniless, so he sincerely tells the judge that he is sorry for a crime and vows never to do it again. The judge won’t let him go on the basis of his sorrow, or his vow never to commit the crime again. Of course, he should be sorry for what he has done, and of course, he shouldn’t break the law again. The judge will, however, let him go if someone else pays the fine for him. 

Now tell him that Moses gave instructions to Israel to shed the blood of a spotless lamb to provide a temporary atonement for their sin; and that Jesus was the Lamb that God provided to make atonement for the sins of the world. Through faith in Jesus, he can have atonement with God. All his sin can be washed away—once and for all. God can grant him the gift of everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ on the basis of His death and resurrection. 

The uniqueness of Jesus of Nazareth was that He claimed He had power on earth to forgive sins (Matthew 9:2–6). No other prophet of any of the great religions made this claim. Only Jesus can provide peace with God. This is why He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). 

God commands sinners to repent and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior, or they will perish. To try to justify himself, your listener may say something like, "The Bible has changed. It has been altered. There are many different versions, but the Koran has never changed." Explain to him that there are many different versions, printed in different languages and in modern English, to help people understand the Bible, but the content of the Scriptures remains the same. The Dead Sea Scrolls prove that God has preserved the Scriptures.

Tell him that the 100% accurate prophecies of Matthew 24, Luke 21, and 2 Timothy 3 prove that this is the Book of the Creator. Your task is to present the truth of the gospel. It is God who makes it come alive (1 Corinthians 3:6,7). It is God who brings conviction of sin (John 16:7,8). It is God who reveals who Jesus is (Matthew 16:16,17). All God requires is your faithful presentation of the truth (Matthew 25:21).

Source: http://www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/howtowitnesstomuslims.shtml

 

An Example of How to be a Christian Witness to a Muslim

By Paul Ernst

As you know, sharing the Gospel with Muslims is no easy matter. Their concept of God is a distortion of what is revealed in the Holy Scriptures. And although the followers of Mohammed accept Jesus as a virgin-born prophet, they reject Him as the Redeemer and Son of God. 

More than thirty years ago in Muslim Turkey, I asked the Lord to give me an illustration that would help my Turkish friends understand why the atonement of Christ is necessary for man’s salvation. What follows came to me shortly after as I was reading the Matthew 25 account of Christ judging the nations.

Since that day, I have had the joy of personally leading Muslim friends and others to faith in Jesus through the use of this simple illustration. I write this with the hope that it will be useful to others in sharing the Gospel.

I never give this as a "canned" presentation. Instead, I ask God to bring ideas to my mind tailored for the individual I’m sharing with. I often quote scriptures and may even refer to Muslim beliefs that support what I’m saying. So, I’ve never followed the exact words given below. I’m merely trying to share the basic thoughts with you.

With my Muslim friends, I generally use terms that are familiar to them. Also, I avoid speaking of Jesus as the Son of God until His role as Savior is understood.

THE TWO HANDS OF GOD

In the Holy Bible, two sides of the Almighty’s character are shown to us. He is perfect and unchanging in both. In symbol, these are presented as "the two hands of God".

The left hand of the Most High is pictured as a fist and represents His justice and anger. (While speaking of this, I hold up my left hand as a fist.) Because God is perfect and holy, He must judge and punish all evil – even wrong things done in ignorance.

The Holy Word tells us that Adam, the first man and the father of all mankind, disobeyed God. In doing so, he brought the curse of death upon himself, his descendants, and all the creation the Almighty had placed under him.

The Holy Scriptures say that, like our father Adam, all of us have done wrong and fallen short of God’s glory. And it is sad but true that none of our own deeds can erase the evils we have done. God tells us our own efforts to earn His forgiveness and acceptance are like filthy rags.

The writings of the prophets reveal that death and separation from God’s mercy are the just penalty for our corrupt ways. So, the fist is a picture of the terror, shame and rejection belonging to all of us who have earned God’s anger.

The right hand of God is very different. (As I speak of this, I hold out my open right hand.) It is open and inviting, because it is the hand of His mercy and forgiveness. It represents the Almighty’s love, acceptance and protection. It is the hand of favor and eternal life.

It is important for us to know that God is perfect in mercy, just as He is perfect in justice. And He yearns to show His kindness to us. The New Testament tells us that God is full of love for mankind. But, this poses a dilemma. If all of us have done wrong and offended our Creator, how can He shower us with mercy and still be perfect in justice? His perfect and unchanging character requires that all of our misdeeds be judged and punished. And He has already revealed that the punishment is disgrace, torment and death.

The wonderful thing is that God’s mercy has made a provision for another person to take our punishment for us. But, to take our place this person must be one of us. To bear our curse, he himself must be free from the curse. He must also be pure and holy, totally sinless.

But how can this be? To be one of us, our sin-bearer must be a descendant of Adam. Yet, because God commanded that the curse of death pass from father to child this seems impossible. How can any person fulfill these requirements?

There is only one way. In the Book of Genesis, God reveals the coming of a man called the ”seed of woman“ (Gen. 3:15). In the writings of the prophets, we learn that this unique person must be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Since the curse of death passes from father to child, only a virgin-born man can be a descendant of Adam without Adam’s curse. And only such a man can bear the judgment of God for us.

Is there such a man? And, if so, is he sinless? Is it possible He would be willing to die for us?

The amazing answer to all of these questions is, Yes!

Consider Jesus Christ. Unlike other prophets, he alone has been born of a virgin. (This is believed by Muslims as well as Christians.) The New Testament records his sinless life and calls him the Lamb of God. God sent him into the world to be a holy sacrifice in place of all that put their trust in Him.

The fact is, he has already taken the fist of God’s judgment for us. (I emphasize this with a brief hammering motion of the clenched fist.) Two thousand years ago, he suffered disgrace, torment and death at the hand of evildoers. This was in the very manner the great prophet King David had foretold ten centuries before.

Satan and corrupt religious and political leaders thought the death of Jesus was entirely their doing. But, it was the Almighty who allowed it. He chose the time and place of Jesus’ death. The New Testament tells us Jesus gave his life willingly, knowing he could have called thousands of angels to intervene.

The Word of God tells us that, three days following his great sacrifice for us, God raised Jesus from the dead. His early followers met with Him and witnessed this fact. He was then received into Heaven, where He lives today. This sets Him apart from all other prophets. And although He is a prophet, He is much more. At God’s appointed time, He will return to judge and rule the world.

Jesus has become the Bridge between the two hands of God. (As I say this, I draw a bridge from the clenched fist with a motion of my right hand, which I then turn upward as an open palm.) No one else has the right to say, ”I am the way.“ Because of His death in our place, God’s justice has been fulfilled. This means the shame of our wrong-doings can be removed and the gift of forgiveness and eternal life can be ours.

But, such mercy can never be purchased through our own efforts. To think our own deeds can make us worthy is an insult to God and His Holy Sacrifice.

How, then, do we receive this wonderful gift from God?

The Bridge from death to life is of no benefit to us unless we choose to pass from one side to the other. For this living Savior to be our own, we must place our trust in him and what he has done for us. We must then confess our faith in Jesus to God and ask Him to forgive our sins because of Jesus’ death in our place.

When we do this with our whole heart, God begins to change us from within. We are then able to accept His help in turning from any immorality or wrong-doing in our lives. After we have come to God in this way, Jesus tells us to complete our commitment by being baptized.

(At this point I ask questions that help me see if the listener understands, and if he wants to be led into a personal relationship with the Lord.)

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Note: Since Muslims regard Moses as one of the prophets, the Ten Commandments can be used to further illustrate the depravity of mankind by showing them who they are in the mirror of God's law. The law stops the mouth and shows that no one can be justified through works. (Romans 3:19-24)

Forgiveness requires a blood sacrifice and Christ has provided that blood sacrifice, presented it to the Father, and has sat down at the Father's right hand because His work is now complete and all who place their faith in Him will enter into His perfect rest.

May God bless you as you witness to others, obeying the command to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Please pray for me as I have two Muslims I am witnessing to right now. Pray that they will have ears to hear and eyes to see. Thank you so much!

For His Honor & Glory,

The Princess Warrior 

For more info on witnessing to Muslims: http://theprincesswarriorministries.blogspot.com/2012/09/for-christians-how-to-witness-to-muslims.html

Are You Good Enough to Go to Heaven?

A very good question...Are you good enough, dear friend?

Of all the questions you will ask yourself in life, probably the most important is, “Am I good enough to go to Heaven?” The way to find this out is to ask yourself if you have obeyed God's Law, the Ten Commandments. Most would answer the question, “Well, I've broken one or two, but nothing too serious, like murder, etc.” So let's go through them and see how you do:

1.      ‘You shall have no other gods before Me.

Is God first in your life? Do you love God above all else? Many years ago, I purchased a TV. for our children, but the first evening we had it, I arrived home from work and found that they didn't even bother to greet me. They were too busy watching television. I turned it off and explained to them that if they ignored me because they preferred to watch TV. They were setting their love on the gift rather than the giver, a wrong order of affections. In the same way, if we love anything -- husband, wife, children or even our own lives -- more than we love God, we are setting our affection on the gift rather than the Giver, which is a transgression of the First Commandment. In fact, the Bible says that we should so love God that our love for Mom and Dad and brother and sister should seem like hatred compared to the love we have for the God who gave those loved ones to us. We are also commanded to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. Jesus spoke of a Samaritan who found an injured stranger, bathed his wounds, carried him to an inn, gave money for his care and told the inn-keeper that he would pay for his expenses. We call him the good Samaritan, but in reality he wasn't 'good' at all, he merely obeyed the basic command to love his neighbor as himself. That is a picture of how God expects us to love our fellow human beings. We should love them as much as we love ourselves...whether they be friend or foe. Have you loved God with all your heart? Have you loved humanity as much as you love yourself? You be the judge. Will you be innocent or guilty on Judgment Day of breaking that Commandment? I'm not judging you -- I'm asking you to judge yourself before the Day of Judgment. The sentence for breaking this Commandment is death.

2.      'You shall not make for yourself any graven image.'

This means that we shouldn't make a god to suit ourselves, either with our hands or our mind. I was guilty of this. I made a god to suit myself. My god didn't mind a 'white' lie or a fib here and there -- in fact, he didn't have any moral dictates. But in truth my god didn't exist. He was a figment of my imagination, an 'image' which I shaped to suit myself. Is your god the One revealed in Holy Scripture? If not, then you have made your own god to suit yourself -- you have committed the oldest sin in the Book. Scripture warns that no idolater will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

3.      'You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.'

Have you ever taken God's name in vain -- instead of using a four-letter word to express disgust, you've used His name? Hitler's name wasn't despised enough to use as a curse word. If you have used His holy name in that manner, you are a blasphemer and will not enter the Kingdom of God.

4. 'Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy.'

I ignored this command for 22 years. Even though God gave me the gift of life, never once did I ask what he required of me. I was guilty of breaking the Commandment.

5. 'Honor your father and your mother.'

Have you always honored your parents in a way that's pleasing in the sight of God? Ask Him to remind you of the sins of your youth. You may have forgotten them, but God hasn't.

6. 'You shall not murder.'

Jesus warned that if we get angry without cause we are in danger of judgment. If we hate our brother, God calls us a murderer. We can violate God's Law by attitude and intent.

7. 'You shall not commit adultery.'

Who of us can say that we are pure of heart? Jesus warned, 'You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart.' Remember that God has seen every thought you have had and every sin you have ever committed. The day will come when you have to face His Law, and we are told that the impure, fornicators (those who have sex before marriage) and adulterers will not enter the Kingdom of God. Punishment for transgression of this Commandment is the death penalty.

8. 'You shall not steal.'

Have you ever taken something that belonged to someone else (irrespective of its value)? Then you are a thief -- you cannot enter God's Kingdom.

9. 'You shall not bear false witness.'

Have you ever told a lie? Then you are a liar. How many lies do you have to tell to be a liar? Just one. The Bible warns that all liars will have their part in the Lake of Fire. You may not think deceitfulness is a serious sin. God does!

10. 'You shall not covet.'

That means we shouldn't desire anything that belongs to another person. The covetous will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Who of us can say we are not guilty of breaking these Commandments? All of us have sinned, and just as with civil law, you don't have to break ten laws to be a law-breaker, so the Bible warns, 'For whoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.'

A little girl was once watching a sheep eat grass and thought how white it looked against the green background. But when it began to snow she thought, 'that sheep now looks dirty against the white snow!' It was the same sheep, but with a different background. When we compare ourselves to the background of man's standard we look pretty clean, but when we compare ourselves to the pure snow-white righteousness of God's standard -- His Law, we can see ourselves in truth, that we are unclean in His sight. That Law is the holy standard by which humanity will be judged on Judgment Day.

This may sound strange, but the worst thing you could at this point of time is to try and clean up you lifestyle -- you realize that you have sinned, so from now on you will keep the Ten Commandments, do good deeds, say the right things and think only pure thoughts. But should a judge let a murderer go because he says he will now live a good life? No, he's in debt to justice and therefore must be punished.

The Law of God is merely like a mirror -- all a mirror does is show you the truth. If you see egg on your face, you don't try and wash yourself with the mirror; its purpose should be to send you to water for cleansing. Neither should you try and wash yourself with the mirror of God's Law -- that's not its purpose.

The sight in the mirror is not a pretty one, but if you can't face it and acknowledge that you are unclean, then all that 'dirt' will be presented on Judgment Day as evidence of your guilt, and then it will be too late to be cleansed.

Perhaps you think that God is good and will therefore overlook your sins. But if you were guilty of terrible crimes in a civil court and said to the judge, 'Judge, I am guilty but I believe that you are a good man and will therefore overlook my crimes,' the judge would probably respond by saying, 'You are right about one thing; I am a good man, and it's because of my goodness that I am going to see that justice is done, that you are punished for your crimes.' The very thing that many people are hoping will save them on Judgment Day, God's 'goodness,' will be the very thing that will condemn them. If God is good, He should punish murderers, liars, thieves, etc., and Hell will be their dreadful fate.

What a terrible place Hell must be. If you read in the newspaper that a man received a $5 fine for a crime, you could conclude that his crime was insignificant. But if a man received multiple life sentences, you could conclude that his crime was heinous. In the same way, we can catch a glimpse of how terrible sin must be in the sight of God by looking to the punishment given for it -- eternal punishment. Ungrateful humanity never bothers to thank God for His wonderful blessings of color, light, food, joy, beauty, love and laughter, so He will take those blessings away from them. Instead of proving their gratitude by obedience to His will, they use His name to curse. Their punishment will be just but severe to the uttermost. Take the time to read what Jesus said Hell was like in Mark 9:43-48. I am afraid for you…please, look honestly into the mirror of the Law, then seek the 'water' that cleanses every sin. If you don't believe what I am saying about the reality of Hell, it means you think God is corrupt (that He hasn't the moral backbone to seek justice), that Jesus was a liar, that the Apostles were false witnesses, that God's promises are nothing but prefabricated lies, and there is no greater insult to God than to call Him a liar. By doing so, you are adding to your transgressions. Imagine if you reject the Savior, die in your sins and find that what I have told you is the Gospel truth? Then it will be too late, you will be judged for your sins. If that happens, and your eyes meet my eyes on the Day of Judgment, I'm free from your blood. I have told you the truth, but if you choose to ignore it your blood will be upon your own head...you will have no one to blame but yourself.

Can you see your predicament? You are guilty of sinning against God Himself, and because you have a conscience you have sinned 'with knowledge.' Isn't it true that every time you lied, stole, lusted, etc., you did it with knowledge that it was wrong?

Does the fact that you have sinned against God scare you? It should. You have actually angered Him by your sin. The Bible says His wrath abides on you, that you are an 'enemy of God in your mind through wicked works.' But let fear work for your good in the same way that a fear of jumping out of a plane at a great height would make you put on a parachute. Let your will to live open your heart to the Gospel of salvation.

I am not the only one who doesn't want you to end up in Hell. The person who gave you this tract cared enough to give it to you and risk your rejection, and God Himself is not willing that you perish. To make clear what an incredible thing He has done for you in the Gospel, let's look again to civil law: You are standing in front of a judge, guilty of very serious crimes. All the evidence has been presented and there is no doubt about your guilt. The fine for your crime is $250,000 or imprisonment, but you haven't two pennies to rub together. The judge is about to pass sentence...he lifts his gavel, when someone you don't even know steps in and pays the fine for you. The moment you accept that payment, you are free to go. Justice has been served, the law has been satisfied, and what's more, the stranger who paid your fine showed how much he cares for you. His payment was evidence of his love.

That's what God did for you, in the person of Jesus Christ. You are guilty. He paid the fine 2,000 years ago. It is that simple. The Bible puts it this way: 'He was bruised for our iniquities...Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us...God commended His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'

It was no small thing for Jesus to die for us. The only thing that would satisfy the demands of Eternal Law was the suffering death of the sinless son of God. What love God must have for you! He suffered unspeakable agony, so that you wouldn't have to be punished for your sins. His sacrificial death and resurrection mean that you need no longer be in debt to the Law, and God can now grant you everlasting life if you obey Him -- death no longer has a legal hold upon those who belong to Jesus Christ.

Two men were offered a parachute while seated in a plane. The first man was told it would improve his flight, but the second man was informed that he had to make a 25,000 foot jump. When the flight struck severe turbulence the first man took his parachute off because, as far as he was concerned it didn't improve the flight. But during the same violent turbulence, this second man clung tighter to his parachute. Each man's motive for putting the parachute on determined whether or not he would keep it on*. In the same way, the reason you should 'put on the Lord Jesus Christ' shouldn't be to find peace, joy, true happiness, to have your marriage healed or your problems fixed, etc. (to have your flight improved), but it should be to escape the jump to come -- because of the fact that you have to pass through the door of death. Then, when the flight gets bumpy (when problems come) you won't fall away from the faith.

What should you then do? Simply repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Don't put it off until tomorrow. Would you sell an eye for a million dollars? How about both for $20 million? No one in his right mind would. Your eyes are priceless to you, yet they are merely the windows of your soul. Your life (your soul) is of such value Jesus said that you should despise the value of your eye compared to it. He said that if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you, for it is better to enter Heaven blind, than to go to Hell seeing. In other words, of all the things that you should prioritize in your life, it's not your health, your vocation, etc., it's your eternal salvation.

Think of a man who has committed adultery. His faithful wife is more than willing to take him back, so what is the attitude in which he should approach her? It should be one of tremendous humility, asking for forgiveness, and determining in his heart never to even think of committing adultery again. That's how you should approach God. If you are not sure how to pray, read Psalm 51 and make it your prayer. Then put your faith in Jesus Christ in the same way you would put your faith in a parachute. You don't just 'believe' it will benefit you, you actually trust yourself to it by putting it on. Then, once you have made peace with God read the Bible daily and obey what you read.

Written by Ray Comfort (LivingWaters.com)

These links may help you as well:

• Save Yourself Some Pain
• Living Waters.com

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Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please let me know if you have any questions. May God bless you today over and above what you are able to receive! 

For His Glory, 

The Princess Warrior

Copyright Information

Copyright © 2009 The Princess Warrior Ministries. All articles are copyrighted on the date they are posted, unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright and web address. Other uses require written permission. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from the King James Bible.

The Christmas Ten Commandments

The Christmas Ten Commandments

1. Thou shalt give thy heart to Christ.

Let Him be at the top of thy Christmas list

2. Thou shalt prepare thy soul for Christmas.

Spend not so much on gifts that thy soul is forgotten.

3. Thou shalt not let Santa Claus replace Christ,

 thus robbing the day of its spiritual reality.

4. Thou shalt not burden the shop girl, the mailman,

and the merchant with complaints and demands.

5. Thou shalt give thyself with thy gift.

This will increase its value a hundred fold,

and he who receiveth it shall treasure it forever.

6. Thou shalt not value gifts received by their cost.

Even the least expensive may signify love,

 and that is more priceless than silver and gold.

7. Thou shalt not neglect the needy.

Share thy blessings with many who will go hungry and cold

unless thou are generous.

8. Thou shalt not neglect thy church.

Its services highlight the true meaning of the season.

9. Thou shalt be as a little child.

Not until thou hast become in spirit as a little one

art thou ready to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

10. Thou shall not forget to share your joy, peace and faith

 with those around you. 

(c)  firstIMPRESSIONS

MY FIRST POST - Telling "My Story"

Hello, I have something very important to share with you. So important in fact, that it means the difference between LIFE and DEATH.

MY STORY starts here....

When I was six years old, my hero, my oldest brother John, was drafted into the Army during wartime.  I couldn't understand and was very upset that he had to leave, but I reluctantly gave him one of my first grade school pictures to take with him.  He said it would be with him at all times.

About a month after his departure to Vietnam two Army officers arrived at our home very late one night in January, 1969.  When my mother opened the door she fainted.  I didn’t understand what was going on, but mama knew exactly why they had come.  Later, when she told me that my brother was killed in action, as a six year old child I had to wrap my mind around the fact that John would not be coming home….ever. 

For months I had dreams that I could see my brother in an Army jeep, driving down a dusty dirt road trying to get home, but then I would awaken to the grim realization that it was only a dream.  With these dreams I had an increasing fear of death and wondered what happened to my brother when he died….then, I wondered, what would happen to me if I closed my eyes for the last time?

This one question began to burden me so badly that I started asking my family members about life after death.  The main response I got was this, "If you're good you'll go to heaven, if you're bad you'll go to hell."  But, this only troubled me more because how would I ever know if I was good enough.

As fate would have it, about a week later on a Saturday morning, a couple of Sunday School teachers from a little Baptist church in Landrum, SC (that had brought food to us during my family's bereavement) asked me and my cousins if we would like to be picked up for church.  The next day one cousin and I went to church for the very first time. 

It was there, in that little Baptist church, that I finally heard the truth.  The truth was that I could never be good enough to go to heaven on my own.  I found out that according to God's Word I was a sinner on my way to hell, not heaven.

The Bible says in Romans 3:10, "As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one" and Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God". 

I also heard about God's moral law.  It's called the "Ten Commandments".  On judgment day God will measure us by this standard.  I had considered myself to be a good person, and most people do, but in light of Gods law we all fall short. For example, "Have you ever told a lie?"  Yes, of course, we all have. So what does that make you? 

Yeah, you can say it.  It makes you a liar.  Did you know that the Bible tells us in Revelation 21:8 that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire?  Have you ever stolen anything - no matter what the size or value?  If you take a one dollar bill from someone's wallet without asking, it is stealing just the same as if it were a one hundred dollar bill.  So what does that make you?  It makes you a thief.  If you just said that you haven't stolen anything please remember that you just admitted to being a liar.

Friend, have you ever used God's name as a curse word?  When you use God's name in vain it's called blasphemy.  Here's another question, "Have you ever looked at someone with lust?"  A lot of people have done this. Maybe, you have.  Be honest because God knows about it anyway.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 that if you look at someone with lust you have committed adultery in your heart with that person.

One more question, "Have you ever hated someone?"  1 John 3:15 says, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him". So by your own admission, if you're honest, you're a liar, a thief, a blasphemer, an adulterer, and a murderer.  You have broken five of the commandments and we haven't even looked at the other ones yet.  

So now do you see why the Bible says there is none righteous and we all have fallen short? It makes you and I sound pretty hopeless right?

God has said that there must be a payment for the sins we have committed (a murderer is always a murderer so a liar is always a liar, etc).  The first part of Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death (this is eternal separation from God in hell)…"

To get into heaven we must be holy and righteous, sinless. Can we get into heaven by keeping the Ten Commandments?  Do you think you can live the next 10, 20, 30 years and not ever tell another lie or break any of the other commandments? This still sounds pretty hopeless doesn't it?  But wait, we do have hope.  Take a look at the second part of Romans 6:23, "…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD."  Do you see it?  God has given us a gift.  What is this gift?  Eternal life!!

God loves you so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die because of YOUR sins…taking your punishment and death FOR YOU.  Jesus paid such a high price for your sins.  This was God's greatest gift to mankind.  So how do you get this gift?  You get it just like any other gift – you receive it!

Do you know that Jesus Christ is God come to earth as flesh and blood?  …God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.  ~1 Timothy 3:16

Have you placed your trust in Jesus Christ to save you from God’s wrath to come?  Do you believe that Christ died for YOU and took your punishment upon Himself?  Do you know that Jesus rose from the grave and conquered death and hell FOR YOU? 

Have you realized that you are a sinner and will go to hell if you die right now without confessing your sins and believing with your whole heart that He did this just FOR YOU?  If not, I invite you right now to get down on your knees and cry out in faith for Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to save you from their consequences and then to turn from those sins (Luke 13:3).  He will hear your prayer of repentance.  I promise on the authority of God's Word.

The Bible says in Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Also see Psalm 86:5).  

If you just accepted Christ as your Savior there is one last thing I want to say to you my dear friend because I don't want to stop here.  I want you to have the assurance, according to God's Word, that you are eternally saved.  Do you think God would allow His Son to suffer a death as cruel as Jesus did just to let us have doubts as to whether we are really His child or not….to constantly question whether we will be with Him forever.  As a parent I would not do that to my own children.  

I have asked many people the question, "If you were to die right now where would you spend eternity?" only to have them respond, "Well, I hope that I will go to heaven!"  My dear friend, the Bible says WE CAN KNOW…without a doubt!!  1 John 5:13 says, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Dear one, I have written this out of a great love and concern for your soul.  I would love to meet you, your family and friends in heaven one day.  What a day that will be!!!

May God bless you over and above what you are able to receive! 

With Much Love,

The Princess Warrior

P.S.  As a former Marine, "Semper Fi" to all you devil dogs!!  OOH RAH!

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The Princess Warrior Ministries ©2009

http://theprincesswarriorministries.blogspot.com

ADDITIONAL HELPS FOR YOU

"I've already said a prayer in the past to be saved"

Dear one please let me say this gently, yet firmly – If you said a prayer to be saved and there was no change in your life or you soon went back to your old ways then you ARE NOT a member of God's family. 

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new".  ~ II Corinthians 5:17

Salvation comes from a heart knowledge, not a head knowledge of Jesus Christ. A head knowledge does not have the power to change you, but a heart knowledge does through the power of the Holy Spirit!

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble".  ~James 2:19

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation".  ~Romans 10:9-10

You say there is no God! Dear friend have you ever in your life been mistaken about something.  Could this be the biggest mistake you have ever made!!

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God”.  ~Psalm 14:1

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”.  ~Hebrews 11:16

Copyright Information

All blog entries are copyright by The Princess Warrior Ministries on the date they are posted, unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from the King James Bible.