What Would You Have Done?

I was asked a question earlier this week by a truck driver that made me stop and really think about what he asked. We were talking about the campus shooting in Oregon and he asked me "what would you have done?" He knows that I am a pastor. In fact he has a nickname for me. He calls me Rev. whenever he comes in. So he kind of knew what my answer would be. I told him of course I would admit that I am a Christian. Then I thought, would I? Having a gun pointed at you, knowing that you are going to die for admitting your faith. I have never had a weapon pointed at me before, so I really can't say for sure what I would do. I believe that I would say yes to being a Christian. It says in the Bible in Matthew 10:33 New King James Version (NKJV)33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. The Apostle Peter also denied Jesus. Not once or twice, but three times when confronted with knowing him. I don't want to be that guy. I want to acknowledge my Savior and King. I want Him to know that I am His and He is mine! No matter what I come up against. No matter what kind of persecution that I may face, it will and has always been Jesus. So my question/challenge to you is.......What Would You Have Done? Think about it.

Dirty Glasses.

I was at work one day and I removed my glasses to scratch my eye. I happened to hold my glasses up so I could see them in the bright lights of the warehouse. I could not believe how dirty they were. Scratches, smears, fingerprints, dust, etc. etc. I must have gotten used to looking through the dirt and smudges to notice anymore. Anyway, the dirty glasses got me to thinking about how dirty and sin stained my life had been prior to Jesus. The things that I had done, the mud and the muck that I was mired in. The sinful nature that I couldn't pull myself out of with my own strength. Little did I know, that I would need Jesus and the strength that He provides to pull me up and out. He pulled me out of my downward spiral and set me upon Him, The Rock. (Psalm 40:2) I thank God everyday that He doesn't look at me like a pair of dirty eye glasses. He see's me clean and spotless. He see's me as His child. He has no recollection of prior sins. "Hey God, remember when I did this?" "No son, no I don't." I am thankful that I am a new creation in Christ. My old life is gone, I am now a new person. (2 Corinthians 5:17). So, just as I use a cloth and some spray to remove any dirt and smudges from my glasses to get them clean. Jesus took my sins upon Him and made me clean. (Psalm 51:2). When I first became a Christian, I thought that all of my past sins had stained me forever. Then I heard/read this verse. Isaiah 1:18. Hallelujah!!! It has been a process for me. To realize that I am forgiven by me Heavenly father. I am redeemed. Thank You Jesus. For everything that you have done for me and continue to do for me. To think. All of this from looking through a pair of dirty glasses. I love when God does that!!