GOSPEL LIGHT #728

The Doctor's Mother Won't Do 

Jane was a Marian devotee. She believed that whatever the Lord Jesus could do, Mary could also do it just as effectively, being the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. Her friend who read the Bible insisted "No! It's only the Lord Jesus Christ! He alone is the Savior!" But nothing could persuade Jane. 

One day Jane became ill. She called up her friend who worked as the doctor's secretary to arrange an appointment for her. But the doctor was out for several weeks.

Her friend, snatching the opportunity said: "The doctor is not in but we can call her mother." 

"Is she a doctor?" Jane asked.

"Nope, but she's his mother. The doctor's mother will do. She is highly respectable and honorable" her friend replied.

"No! No matter how highly respectable and honorable she is if she's not a doctor..."Jane exclaimed but then paused...And then she got it.

My friend, you see, it has to be Doctor Jesus. Put your faith in Him and what He did on the cross and be made well. 

GOSPEL LIGHT #727

Tracing The Way To Heaven 

The way to heaven began in heaven. From heaven, it made a mark down, down, down toward earth. On Earth, it made a narrow gate to Calvary. At Calvary, it constructed a station at the cross and posted a huge signpost for all to see. Then it created a "tunnel" in the grave. On the third day, it went out in a groundbreaking fashion. Then from that point on, the way began to be steep, ascending higher and higher back to heaven. That’s the way to heaven. Just be sure to be at the station called the Cross of Calvary. Tickets are free.  

GOSPEL LIGHT #726

Lu 15:20 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

The father here is a picture of God's eagerness to save sinners who turn to Him in repentance. In their culture, it was unusual and undignified for an elder, especially a father, to run. Elders were typically respected figures who maintained a composed and dignified demeanor. By running openly, he risked his reputation. 

That's how propitious and favorable God is toward sinners! In front of the watching angels, God, as it were, ran the distance from heaven to earth, willingly risked His reputation on the cross, becoming a spectacle of shame in the eyes of the watching world.

You don't have to beg Him to be in the "mood" to save you. He is already in the "mood." All you have to do now is to run to Him by faith in Christ for salvation. 

GOSPEL LIGHT #725

"Go To Heaven!"

Lots of people have heard enough of being told to "Go to hell!" Whenever someone commits something bad, they are swiftly written off to hell. In this unloving world, we are in, the harsh condemnation "Go to hell!" is readily pronounced.

However, God's viewpoint is markedly different. Currently, God is passionately calling out to us, crying out aloud "Go to heaven! Be saved!" Yes, there will come a time when God will say "Go to hell!" But, right now, this is the time when God is saying "Go to heaven!" to all of us. Yes, it's about time for you to hear "Go to heaven!" You sinner you! You've done so many horrible things! Go to heaven! Be saved! Repent and trust in what the Lord Jesus Christ did for you. He died for all your sins and was raised again from the dead.

GOSPEL LIGHT #724

"I Challenge You To Speak The First Word Against The Lord Jesus Christ" 

Two travelers on a train were involved in a conversation of a religious nature. One was a skeptic who was very outspoken against Christianity. He cited many things that kept him a skeptic all this time. He detailed all the hypocrisy, evil manipulations, greed, and divisions that mark Christendom. He particularly pointed out the corruption of its various leaders.

In front of them was a Christian silently listening to it all and bowed his head in shame and bearing the deserved reproach. He knew that many of the things that were spoken were true. 

Just then, he was addressed by one of the travelers to join in with them in the discussion. The Christian said: "I noticed that you are a man of good judgment. You read people very, very well. I am a Christian myself and I offer no defense for all the things you leveled against us. But there is one thing that I would like to challenge you on. I Challenge You To Speak The First Word Against The Lord Jesus Christ."

The skeptic was surprised and said: "Well, no! I could not find fault with Him. He was perfect."

"Exactly!" the Christian replied. "That's the reason why my heart was attracted to Him. The more I look at Him, the more I discover how poor, guilty, and sinful man I am. All the evils which those who profess to follow Him have done cannot turn me away from Him. My salvation depends on what the Lord Jesus has done and not on what His professed followers are doing." 

My friend, the Lord Jesus Christ has many imperfect Christians, but, Christians have a perfect Christ. You can be a skeptic against many who profess to be Christians but you can't be a skeptic against their Christ. 

You can be disappointed with Christians but you can never be disappointed with Christ, especially when it comes to the salvation of your soul. Trust in Him and what He did on the cross and find salvation in Him.  

GOSPEL LIGHT #723

 A Hindu told a missionary: "I am sure that if lead a good life, do what is right, and give up my bad habits, God will receive me into heaven."

The missionary then pointed to a babool tree. A young babool tree is a captivating sight. The tree is known for its striking thorny features. "Suppose you break off from its branches a hundred or more of the nasty thorns, will the tree cease to be a babool tree?" asked the missionary.

"Certainly not!" the Hindu replied

The missionary then explained: "Even if you stop many of your evil ways and habits, you would still remain the same like the babool tree. You must have an entirely new nature, you must be born again, you must be a new man, in order to please God. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can give you a new heart if you trust in Him alone for salvation."

GOSPEL LIGHT #722

Why are we at war? 

Yes, why are we at war? We have wars without because we have wars within. We don't have peace without because we don't have peace within. We don't have peace within because we don't have peace with God. There is a disturbance in the relationship between God and man. Man is out of joint with God. Sinful man is at war with God.

My friend, lay down your arms. Repent. Be reconciled to God, and have peace with God, through the Lord Jesus Christ. 

GOSPEL LIGHT # 721

Don't Be Saved By The Saved --- Be Saved By The Savior 

Ac 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. NKJV

Take note of the last half of the verse --- "the Lord added to the church daily those who are being saved." 

Many were being saved during this time. Daily, one case after another, saved sinners were added to the church. You see, the church is the company of the saved. 

There are some people who believe that salvation is in the church, of the church, and through the church. Nope. The church is not the way to salvation. Rather, salvation results in being joined to the church in the eyes of God.

Again, the church is the company of the saved. My friend, don't be saved by the saved. Be saved by the Savior! Trust in the Savior who died for your sins and rose again from the dead. 

GOSPEL LIGHT #720

Salvation By Works Requires Being Better Than The Apostles

Ac 15:10 "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

The speaker here is the apostle Peter. He stood up at a conference of Christians along with the other apostles. There were some who did not see clearly the condition of salvation. In verse 5 we read: 

"But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." (Acts 15:5) It was in this conference that the matter was cleared up and settled. 

Now, when Peter says here in verse 10 "neither our fathers nor we were able to bear" he was referring to the Law of Moses. The pronoun "we" here includes the apostles. Peter said that none of them ever kept the Ten Commandments as they should. They all failed at some point in keeping it.

The Ten Commandments is a works-based system. So, if you want to be saved by works, you will have to be better than the apostles! If you think you are better than them then go for it! But, if not, then the only way is what Peter recommended in verses 7 to 9 which says:

Acts 15:7 "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

It's by the principle of faith that sinners are blessed. 

My friend, you and I are no better than the apostles. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross and you will be saved. 
  

GOSPEL LIGHT #719

The Idolatry of Salvation By Works  

Isa 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior.

There is no other God. In order to emphasize this, God had to say: "I, even I, am the LORD."
As such, He alone is the Savior. Here, God holds Himself up as the only object of faith. 

We ought to look for salvation only in God. Sadly, many are trusting in their good works for salvation. They have made it their savior, when, the Lord, yes, even the Lord, alone is the savior. Trusting one's good works for salvation is elevating one's good works to the Lord's level. It is the same as trusting in an idol for salvation. It's idolatry.

Worse, it's holding ourselves up as God!

My friend, honor God. Acknowledge and recognize Him as Lord and Savior, trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

GOSPEL LIGHT #718

Mercy and Grace In Time of Need 

HEB 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Let's zero in on the expression here "mercy and...grace to help in time of need." Let's apply this to salvation: 

As sinners who badly need salvation, we are always in a time of need...moment by moment. Sadly, not many realize their need. Not many realize the beggarly and miserable condition they are in. 

However, if you are reading this and have realized your needy condition, my friend, there is mercy and grace for you. Where? There at the cross of Calvary. In a very real sense, the cross of Calvary is the Lord's "throne of grace" and His "mercy seat." 

All you have to do is to draw near with confidence and faith in it for your salvation. 

  

GOSPEL LIGHT #717

The Christian Triad Of Faith, Hope, and Love

If we are to summarize Christianity in three words, it would be faith, hope, and love. 

Let's apply this to salvation. As sinners, if we pause for a while and take stock of our lives right at this very moment, we are in danger. In danger of past sin, present selfishness, and prospective separation or death. 

The answer to the past danger of sin is faith, that is, faith in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ for our sins. 

The answer to the prospective danger of separation or death is the hope of the glorious resurrection which the Lord Jesus Christ made available by rising from the dead. 
 
The answer to the present danger of selfishness is the love that being united to the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ makes possible. 

It all begins with faith. Once you put your faith in Christ and have your sins graciously hurled to oblivion, you will have a glorious hope for the future and a godly heart for your fellows. 

GOSPEL LIGHT #716

Salvation By Works Requires Some Literal Flying To Accomplish 

The ascension of the Lord Jesus to heaven is not a convenient, cop-out explanation as to why the Lord Jesus is not here on earth if He resurrected. 

One of the reasons for His ascension is this --- Just as the priests in the Old Testament went inside the Tabernacle or the Temple to the Most Holy Place to present the sacrifice for sin so the Lord Jesus had to go to God's presence in heaven to present Himself there as the satisfaction for man's sin. It's the offender who must go to the offended and make amends. The Lord Jesus as the sinner's representative had to go to God. The sacrifice at the cross was the first phase. The ascension and presentation of Himself to God in heaven is the completion phase of the work He started here on earth.

If you want to be saved by your own efforts, you must realize that after your endeavors here on earth, there remains the impossibly daunting task of ascending to heaven and presenting what you did to God. 

If you can't ascend to God then forget it! Why not take the simplest and only way available? Why not simply place your trust in Christ who died on the cross and then ascended to heaven? 


 

GOSPEL LIGHT #716

Through Jesus Christ 

The expression "through Jesus Christ" appears again and again in the New Testament. God's blessings flow down from Him to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. He channels them all through Him. 

In pardoning a sinner, many think that it is simply a matter of God directly exercising clemency to a sinner. They go to God and see no need for the Lord Jesus Christ. They can do without Him. They feel that they can just ask for forgiveness from God and that's it. They go away feeling confident that their forgiveness has been secured...just like that. Salvation without Jesus, forgiveness without Jesus, divine mercy without Jesus are wicked lies brewed in the cauldron of Satan. Satan wants sinners to bypass the cross of Christ in Calvary. No. No. No. Open your eyes. God's blessings have always been through Jesus Christ. God's spiritual blessings are the fruits of the tree of Calvary. You can't have them without the tree. You can't have them without the Lord Jesus Christ. Put your trust in what the Lord Jesus Christ did for you at Calvary Cross. Find salvation, forgiveness of sins and pardon for all your sins through Him.

GOSPEL LIGHT #715

The Saving Merit Is In The Cross-Work Of Christ 

Apart from the grace of God, our righteous works are filthy rags in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6). Apart from His grace, our good works are not good works to God. Apart from His grace, no one has ever done what is good (Romans 3:12). Apart from the grace of God, all our religious achievements and credentials are rubbish (Philippians 3:4-8). All these are shaky foundations to base one's salvation on.  

In the salvation of a sinner, the saving merit is in the cross-work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It has all the sufficient worthwhile and good qualities to save a sinner. 

Grab hold of the saving merits available for you in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ for sinners like you and me. Make good use of it by putting your faith in it. Let His merit be your merit. Trust in His merit, not your own. 

GOSPEL LIGHT #714

You Are Never Busy Enough To Die And Face Eternity 

A lot of people are consumed by busyness. Preoccupied with so many things. Always a hectic schedule. They are engrossed with this and engrossed with that. Too engaged in attaining their goal. Too consumed in making money. Too wrapped up building that dream house. Too immersed in pursuing that car. Too absorbed in the meticulous preparations for retirement.  

In all these things, they forget that they are never busy enough to die...and then face eternity. 

My friend, don't be too busy living for today that you forget to prepare for a tomorrow that never ends. 
Slow down. Make time for things that matter forever. Don't be so taken up with other things that they drown out the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 

Realize that you are a sinner in desperate need of salvation, and come to Christ, the Savior, who was never busy enough to die for all your sins so that you can face eternity. 

GOSPEL LIGHT #713

Jesus --- Your Short Cut To Salvation 

John 6:18 The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
John 6:19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened.
John 6:21 So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

This is a miracle done by the Lord Jesus that is less known. The wind was strong. The rowing was a struggle. They saw the Savior. They received Him into the boat. Suddenly, instantly, immediately, in the twinkling of an eye, they did not have to row any farther, they got to their destination. 

Let's apply this to salvation: 

Many people today, in the troublesome sea of life, are rowing very, very hard to save themselves. They have rowed far enough "about three or four miles in," tired, weary and all, and still they are where they are. Salvation by works and self-effort is a long, never-ending, and interminable voyage. It takes an impossible "long time" to achieve perfection. 

If only they would be willing to receive the Lord Jesus, through faith in His already finished work on the cross, right there and then, they would have been delivered and saved immediately and miraculously. 

So, how about you? Are you willing to take the only way to be saved? Are you willing to receive Jesus into your "boat?" Are you willing to take the Savior's miraculous shortcut? 

GOSPEL LIGHT #712

"That's the Man Who Died For My Sins" 

True Story 

There was this boy who was mentally handicapped with a speech impediment. He could only speak two words at a time. There was this Christian who worked with handicapped children, who took notice of the boy. 

He noticed that the boy, where ever he went, kept carrying with Him a picture of the Lord Jesus knocking on the door. And so, he sat beside him and asked him about the picture: "Who is the Man in the picture?" 

"A Man" was the reply.

"Yes, I know it's a Man, but what Man?" he probed.

"You know," the boy replied.

"But tell me who is the Man?" he insisted. 

"You know," said the boy with a speech impediment.

After several attempts to try to get the boy to articulate to him who was in the picture exactly, finally, the boy replied: "That's the Man that died for my sins."

When it comes to almost everything else, he could but utter two words, but, when it comes to this Man, he was finally able to say "That's the Man who died for my sins." 

How about you my friend? We all have a handicap, a spiritual one. Do you know this Man? Can you say, with faith in your heart "That's the Man who died for my sins?" 

 

GOSPEL LIGHT #711

I Would Rather Owe My Salvation To Christ Than To Myself 

Salvation is by faith alone and not by works. A sinner does not work for salvation but from salvation. That's that.

However, even if there hypothetically existed two ways of being saved—one based on one's works and the other through faith solely in Christ's work on the cross — I would unequivocally opt for the salvation that's freely received through faith in Christ. 

Why? I want to owe everything to Him. I want all the glory to go to Him. I want all the credit to go to Him when it comes to the salvation of my soul. I want to be in a heaven where He is glorified 100%. 

He gave everything for me and left nothing for Himself on the cross of Calvary when He died for my sins. Thus, it is only but right that all the merit and recognition for my soul's salvation should be attributed to Him.

That's how God wants it in salvation. Do you want the Lord Jesus to be glorified 100% in your salvation? Trust in what He did on the cross alone for your salvation. 

GOSPEL LIGHT #710

 "It's Hard Being Good! It's Easy Being Bad!"

That's what a young kid confessed when he was told off by his father for being mean to his siblings.

That right there is what we are essentially. From our experience, good is a long and hard climb to the top laden with effort and exertion. Bad is an easy slide down below. The Bible even says that all our righteous deeds are filthy rags! (Isa.64:6).

God's right! We are sinners; not righteousers! We need a miracle. We need to be born again. We need a whole new life. We need a new nature. A new nature that would reverse the whole thing "It's easy being good! It's hard being bad!" That could only come through faith in Christ.

"He who believes (trusts) in the Son has everlasting life..." John 3:36

GOSPEL LIGHT #709

WHEN JESUS SAID "FAITH ALONE!"

Lu 8:49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher."

Lu 8:50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; ONLY BELIEVE, and she will be made well."

The miracles of the Lord Jesus were called signs (John 20:30-31). As "signs" they point to something else. They are not the end themselves. Signs, you see, point beyond themselves to a greater reality.

That the Lord Jesus physically raised the dead here points to something greater. If He could do this in the physical realm then He could also do this in the spiritual realm.

What did He require in the physical resurrection of the little girl here? ONLY BELIEVE. The Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah would be a conqueror of death. That He would have the power to do it. And so, the father here was urged to "only believe" in Jesus. He will be given a demonstration of His Messiahhood as God promised Israel in the Old Testament.

What is true in the physical dimension is also true in the spiritual dimension. As sinners, we are all spiritually dead. What does He require from us to be made alive spiritually?

Writing to the Colossians who trusted in Christ, Paul said this:

Col 2:12 ... in which YOU ALSO WERE RAISED WITH HIM THROUGH FAITH in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

God is now offering to the Jews and non-Jews alike the promise of spiritual life. Only believe is His requirement! Faith alone in the crucified Christ alone is enough for one's salvation!

GOSPEL LIGHT #708

Faith Alone In The Savior: Simple But Not Insignificant

There are lots of simple and uncomplicated activities and events in this blue planet of ours that carries with it tremendous significance.

Saying "I do" at a wedding ceremony seems pretty simple. But it carries a tremendous lifelong significance. Simple does not mean insignificant. There are simple events that are, in fact, momentous.

Stepping inside a plane and willing to fly in it is simple and yet it is a tremendously significant event. You are entrusting your safety and security to it.

Stepping inside a boat is the same. Depositing your life savings in a bank is another. We could cite other examples.

A lot of people are turned off by the simplicity of the condition of salvation (faith alone) saying: "What? That simple! No! That's too good to be true!"

But simple doesn't have to mean insignificant. Yes, entrusting your eternal destiny to Christ by simply putting your reliance on what He did on the cross is simple enough. But, look, at what you are entrusting and committing to Him --- Your ETERNAL DESTINY! It is something tremendously significant.

Are you willing to do the simple and yet tremendously significant act of the heart of trusting in Christ and what He did on the cross for your salvation?

GOSPEL LIGHT #707

 The Titan Tragedy --- Be Sure Your Faith Is Not Misplaced 

There is no question that the people on board the Titan really had faith, even strong faith, yes, even genuine faith in the submersible. They had faith in it so much that they were willing to deposit themselves in it down into the deep, dark, and deadly ocean.

But what is strong and genuine faith if it is something that's misplaced? Our faith is only as good as the object of our faith. You can't go to Switzerland if your plane is really going to North Korea even if you have strong and genuine faith that it is.   

A lot of people have no problem with regard to the quality of their faith. Their problem, a fatal one, is in the placement of their faith. Many people believe that their good works are "Titan" enough to save them. The Bible says "Nope, it will implode. It will all end in tragedy." 

Here's someone that will never implode ---  The Lord Jesus went through all the pressure of the wrath of God at Calvary for us and came out of it alive three days later.  

If you want to be saved, you must place your faith squarely and exclusively in Him and what He did on the cross and you will be safe...forever safe as the all-powerful God could save you.

* The seminal idea of this write-up came from the ladies in our little church

GOSPEL LIGHT #706

 Christ's Atonement --- The Only Way Out

If God does not take sin seriously then our good works may be able to pay for its penalty. But, if He does it take it seriously (and He does!) then no amount of good works can pay for the penalty of our sins and therefore save us.

We will all have to face a God who takes sin very, very, very seriously. A God who declared that the "wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23).

Only an eternal death can satisfy an absolutely holy and eternal God who takes sin very seriously. It's eternal death or nothing for us. It really looks like it's game over for us. But hope springs eternal when the Lord Jesus Christ came and died FOR us and AS us. His death on the cross for us has an eternal value because He who died on the cross was Himself eternal.

Now, all we have to do is to appropriate His death on the cross for us by relying on it. It was provisionally for us. Now, we must embrace it and cling to it for dear life.

And God who sees you making use of Christ's death on the cross will declare your sins as forever paid and cancelled.

GOSPEL LIGHT #705

 SONRise

MK 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

This verse could have been written like this as well: “Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the SON (yup! S-O-N) had risen.”

That the SUN had risen is the perfect illustration of what happened on this day. Just as the sun rose on this day so the Son rose on this day.

Imagine this --- What would it be like if the S-U-N will not rise anymore? Among other things, we would all be in bleak black darkness. The temperature would drop leaving us in extreme cold. Our mental health will be affected. Darkness is depressing, even maddening. There will be no more flowers; no more plants; they will wither. No more colors. No more beauty.

Now, imagine if the SON did not rise from the dead. We would all be in spiritual total darkness. We would not feel the warmth of God’s love at all. We will all be in grief and sorrow for our sins. We will all wither. We would all be barren and desolate. Spiritually, there will be no flowers, no colors, no beauty.

For the non-resurrection of the Son would have been the divine rejection of the Son's death on the cross for sinners. And if His death on the cross was rejected then there would have been no salvation for anyone at all.

Every time you look at a sunrise think of the SONrise.

Think that one day the long night of sin and darkness will give way to the eternal day of a new universe that knows no night. And you can be there if you repent and trust in the death of the Lord Jesus for our sins and His resurrection.

GOSPEL LIGHT #704

The Bible's Scandalous Message Of Salvation 

One of the reasons why people don't read the Bible is because they think that they know what's written in the Bible already.

They think that the Bible teaches a be-good-and-do-good-to-be-saved method of salvation. "Why bother to read and study it seriously? The point is simple --- just be good and do good and you'll go to heaven!" so they think and say.

Do a survey. Ask around. Almost to a man, people will say that in order to be saved one has to be good and do good.

Ask a young kid, who has never been exposed to the teachings of the Bible, and he'll answer "Do good in order to go to heaven."

Examine all the religions in the world. In fact, almost all of them, except one, teach that salvation is by good works. If all the people in the world today were given 1 million years to figure out how a sinner is saved, they would all come up with a variation of the salvation-by-being-good method, at the end of it.

Why? That's naturally what comes into a man's mind.

The Bible turns heads with its teaching that salvation is not by works but through faith alone in the work of the Savior. It iconoclastically breaks the mold. It controversially presents a paradigm shift. It turns their belief system upside down. It offers a road that's less traveled. It defies the conventional. It shockingly goes against the grain. Scandalous! Bizarre! A sucker punch! Nobody saw it coming! Totally out of this world!

It is something that is completely unlike any other belief system in the world. It could not be the result of man's devices, because it is something that is totally different from anything that humans could create.

My friend, I invite you to unlock the secrets of salvation. Dive into the Bible's pages and discover for yourself the life-transforming truth it contains, finding salvation by faith alone in the work of Christ on the cross. 

GOSPEL LIGHT #703

Ex 1:13 The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; 

Ex 1:14 and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them.

It is often common with the dealings of God with men for God to cause men to become painfully aware of their bondage to enable them to see their need for redemption.

Pharaoh is a picture of Satan. Egypt is a picture of the world. Israel’s bondage in Egypt was a picture of the sinner’s bondage to sin in the world.

The problem with the sinner is that he does not see his deplorable condition. On the contrary, he enjoys the bondage of sin that is breaking him piece by piece, inch by inch.

Often, before God saves a sinner, He makes him painfully aware of his bondage to sin. He makes him aware that sin is a taskmaster and that his service is an affliction and grievous. That he is helpless and hopeless to free himself from this condition.

At this point, God is opening the sinner’s eyes, creating the need in his heart to be freed and redeemed from sin. At this stage, the sinner is ready for “Moses.” Moses is just in the next chapters in his life, so to speak.

When a sinner becomes painfully aware that he is a sinner in bondage to sin, helpless and hopeless to save himself, the Savior is just around the corner. It is at this point that the sinner is ready for His salvation.

 

GOSPEL LIGHT #702

The Sinker's Prayer

Mt 14:30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

Caught in the tempest's might, Peter knew he couldn't fight. With waves dancing wildly, stirred by winds through the night, he beheld before him a fearful, fearful sight. In such a plight, "Lord, save me" was a cry that's no slight.

Peter's "Sinker's Prayer" wasn't a scripted recital, but a heartfelt plea drawn out from within. Desperation, helplessness, and dire urgency gave him the words. He wasn't even urged to sincerely say it. He saw the emergency. It just came, unbidden, upon his realization of the situation and his recognition of the Savior. He knew exactly why he was crying out to Him (his case was dire) and he knew exactly why it had to be Him whom he should cry out for (he knew it was only Him who could save him at that point).

His case is so unlike many today. Many are manipulated to parrot the Sinner's Prayer even without being convicted of sin. Conviction of sin is God making us realize our urgent and critical need for His intervention. After all, how can one truly ask for something when, in reality, he sees no need for it?

Many a Sinner's Prayer today does not qualify as a genuine call. They are actually mere recitals.

The Bible does not say: "Whoever RECITES calling upon the Lord shall be saved." Rather, it says "Whoever CALLS upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." My friend, call upon the Lord. Call upon Him because you have seen your helpless condition. Call upon Him because you know it's only Him who could save you.

GOSPEL LIGHT #701

 Scripture Savvy - Salvation Smart

2Ti 3:15 and that from infancy you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise to obtain salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Knowledge can take you to the stars, but the true wisdom that the Bible gives takes you beyond. There are people who are smart enough to build a rocket but clueless about the way of salvation. Even the brightest minds can be fools if they miss the path to heaven. What does it matter if you are an expert when it comes to the ship's carpeting? What does it matter if you are a connoisseur about the ship's paintings? What does it matter if you are a specialist about the different metals of the ship? Yes, what does it all matter when the ship is sinking? When the world is a ship that is sinking fast, the only knowledge that truly matters is the one that shows you the way to the rescue boat.

The Bible savvies you for it and gives you the smarts - it is through faith in Christ Jesus.

GOSPEL LIGHT #700

Settle Matters With God Without Delay 

Mt 5:25 "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

Let's apply this verse to our relationship with God: 

While it is true that God has become favorable and propitious toward us through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, there is also a sense in which He is our adversary in that He has something against us, if, all the while, we remain unrepentant.

God, as it were, goes with us on the way of life and warns us that if we don't settle the matter with Him He will deliver us over to the Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will have us thrown to prison for all eternity.

Don't put this off. This ought to be an urgent and pressing concern on your part. "Agree with your adversary quickly." Come to terms with Him without delay. Settle the score with Him at once. Don't go to court with Him. You will only lose your case.

Come aside with Him now in Calvary, when His Son died on the cross for all your sins against God. There, by faith in the Savior, avail of the payment He provided for your sins against God and have your case closed for all eternity. 





 

 

GOSPEL LIGHT #699

The Sorry Myth: Debunking The Belief That Being Sorry Is Enough 

One common misconception about salvation is the belief that merely expressing a sincere apology to God is enough to make everything okay. 

Yes, the sinner ought to be sorry. He should be sorry. It would be an act of brazenness if he or she is not.

An apology, however, no matter how heartfelt and sincere could never save us from the punishment we deserve. Not even if we do it a million times. Ask any just law court in the world. 

That's because only the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross could pay for the penalty of our sins. If expressing a sincere apology is all that it takes then why did the Lord Jesus Christ have to die on the cross?

Don't settle for sorry. You need the Savior! You need to repent and trust in what He did on the cross for you! 

GOSPEL LIGHT #698

The Gospel According To "Saint John" The Methodist Circuit Rider 

He is one of the unsung heroes of Church History. His name is not well-known. They just called him "Saint John." He would travel on a regular circuit, visiting multiple towns and settlements, preaching the Gospel to the people he would meet.

One of his methods in sharing the Gospel was this --- He would go out into the mines and inquire for the names of miners who went down sick the longest. And then he would volunteer to work for their shifts. Dark, dusty, and sooty, there he was working hard down in the mine. There, he would preach the gospel to other other miners and then he would emerge out from the mine after some days and then he would go to the sick miner's house and give the money to him. He would sit down with the sick miner by the fire and preach the gospel to him, using what he did as an illustration of what the Lord Jesus Christ did for sinners. Many people came to Christ because of what "Saint John" did. 

The world right now is upside down. People like "Saint John" should be the heroes of the world, acknowledged, celebrated and applauded. And yet "Saint John" rode into the sunset of his life largely unrecognized. In God's kingdom, God will turn it right side up. And nobodies like "Saint John" will forever be somebodies there. I am curious to know his real name.

Here's the gospel according to "Saint John" The Methodist Circuit Rider:

We are the  miners down in this dark, dusty and sooty cave called the world. Down and out, we could not do anything for ourselves. But the Lord Jesus came and took our shift. And there on the cross earned salvation for us. And He comes to us offering us salvation for free. All we have to do is to receive it freely from his hand by faith. 


    

GOSPEL LIGHT #697

 "You have to put yourself in a situation wherein all you have is God and His promises that if He does not deliver on what He said you are sunk." That's what one said when asked as to why he was leaving the United States for Africa. At least that was one of his reasons.

Let's apply what he said to saving faith --- You know, saving faith is like that. Saving faith is depositing and entrusting your self and your eternal welfare on what Christ did on the cross that if what Christ did on the cross was really worth nothing then you are sunk. But, the good thing is this --- you know that it was not worth nothing. You know that it was worth everything to God for the sinner's salvation.

GOSPEL LIGHT #696

The Day When God Lost His Breath

GE 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Mr 15:37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.

Notice here that God breathed into man the breath of life. In order to bless man with life He breathed into Man. But Man fell into sin and God’s justice must be upheld. His justice demanded the breath or the life of Man. So what does God do? Mark 15:37: “Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.”

On the cross, He "lost" His breath; He breathed out His own life so that Man might be blessed with the breath of eternal life. In Genesis, He breathed life into Man. In Mark, He breathed out His life for Man. If it is said in the creation of Man that God breathed into Man’s nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being, so in the new creation of man in salvation it can also be said that God, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, breathed out His life for fallen Man so that Man can become eternally living.

If you are still unsaved, the Lord Jesus wants you to simply breathe in the eternal life He breathed out for you at Calvary. He wants you to trust in what He did on the cross for your salvation.

GOSPEL LIGHT #695

A View From The Top If you could only you see yourself as God sees you (a depraved and helpless sinner unable to save yourself) what despair would have swallowed your heart.

If you could only see how God sees Christ and His work for you on the cross of Calvary (that it eternally satisfied Him) what unspeakable joy and peace would have flooded your heart. The measure of our acceptance with God is directly proportional to the value in which He attaches to the blood shed on the cross for us. My friend, get a right view of yourself and the work of the Savior. View it from the the top through the lens of the Word of God, the Bible.

GOSPEL LIGHT #694

 
The standard required to be justified by works is perfection. The sacrifice required to be justified by faith is that of the Savior. If you are confident enough to achieve perfection then, by all means, work your way to justification. However, if you are convicted enough to realize that you are a sinner who just can't do it then your only chance is the death of the Lord Jesus Christ for all your sins. Trust in it! 

GOSPEL LIGHT #693

Come Before Winter 

2TI 4:21 Make every effort to come before winter.

We have Paul here the prisoner writing with urgency that Timothy should make every effort to come before winter.

The apostle Paul was in Rome about to be killed and martyred for Christ. To go to Rome, Timothy would have to pass through the Mediterranean Sea. But, during winter time, travel by ship would be difficult, if not impossible. By then, large bodies of water would have turned to ice along with violent winter storms that would threaten ships.

So, if Timothy fails to come before winter, all may be too late; Paul would probably be dead by that time. Hence, Timothy should do his utmost best to come before winter.

Let’s apply this to salvation:

If you are still unsaved right now, and you sense the need to repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, don’t put it off.

Come today! Come now! Come this moment! Be urgent in coming to Him! Come now while God has granted the warmth of spiritual summer to your soul.

Don’t delay! The spiritual warmth of your spiritual summer could give way to the chilling cold of spiritual winter; when your heart is freezing cold --- when it is just all too late and impossible to come.

Come! Come before winter!