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I remember a discussion in my 10th grade English studies class that was posed by our teacher, Mrs. Nelms. As she wrote three words on the board (This-is-fun), she asked the question, “How many ways can you say these three words?” These were the responses: This is fun!, This is fun!, and This is fun! When no other ways were suggested, I raised my hand and said, “This is fun?”, to which Mrs. Nelms signaled her approval as she and the whole class giggled.
And therein lays the point of what I want to share with you today. Are the things about what you think you believe about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, about God and His Word and what it promises, about the days ahead, and about your going to Heaven when you die—do such things end in a question mark(?) or with an exclamation point(!)? When it comes right down to “where the rubber meets the road”, which for the tires on your vehicle is a place of friction between them and the rough and often uneven pavement (potholes, dips, gravel). It is a place of stress because of turns to the left or right, and the hot roadway in the summer. The rubber tires can develop uneven worn spots if not balanced properly, and can become deflated if punctured.
What I hope to impart to you today is that what you think and say you believe today, in what has been the “good times”, may under the severe stress of not-so-good-times become questionable in your mind and heart. That is not a good place to find yourself in! I find that as my relationship with my God and Savior Jesus has grown, it has become no different (in fact) than what is declared in the age-old marriage vows between a man and woman: He is my God and I am His to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, until death takes me and then—“poor” is forever history, there will be no more “bad times”, and I will have a new and perfect body that will last throughout eternity. In large part, my solidarity and marriage union of sorts with my God has come by way of my studentship in His written Word, my often discussions with Him, and His faithfulness to me and the proving of Himself to me over the years of our fellowship. In the past, the things I might have wondered and speak as questions about God have been transformed to thoughts and spoken words that are bold statements often ending in an exclamation point. [Referenced: † Psalm 135:5, 2 Timothy 1:12, Philippians 4:11-13, Romans 8:38-39, Job 19:25-26 & 30:23] For these times that we live in and for what’s to follow there can be no questions about the power, promises and trust-worthiness of God or what His Word tells us. Questions and uncertainties in the mind of a believer are dangerous cracks in one’s faith that make faith in God fragile. Such cracks make for a brittle faith that can begin to crumble and fall apart when serious shakings happen in our lives. [Referenced: † 2 Thessalonians 2:2, Hebrews 12:25-27, Revelation 6:12-16]
[Referenced: † Matthew 24:3-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:2-4, Philippians 1:28-29] When the foreign nations invade, when our planet violently shakes, when ET shows up with lying video of that day on Mount Calvary, or when you have the equivalent of great quakes (the shakings) in your mind or emotions, will you react with questions about God or angry questions shouted at Him—or will you respond with faith-filled declarations about God? Will your composure be shaken and result in question marks or will you stand firm with exclamation points? These following things are essential to your faith-foundation and are things that you absolutely must be convinced of or you will have cracks in your faith, [cracks] that the devil and future circumstances will cause debilitating fears and ever-growing doubts about God to ruin your faith.
The timelessness and inerrancy of the Word of God. That nothing is impossible with God. Mary was a virgin at the time of her conception. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. Jesus-never-sinned! Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected 3 days and three nights later. Jesus is the only way to Heaven—no other ways to God are real. By your repentance, you are forgiven, and by faith in His shed blood, your sins have been washed away. As one born again from Heaven, the Holy Spirit of the eternal God lives within you. The baptism in the Holy Ghost is real and a gift intended for every believer. Spiritual gifts and divine healing continue to be given by God today. When you die as a true Christian you will go to Heaven. No matter what befalls your life, nothing catches God off-guard and He has your back despite any negative events that you encounter! From your mind and heart of hearts, statements such as these and your faith in God must end in an exclamation point—never in a question mark. If you have cracks in your faith in God, for unshakable confidence in the Lord, begin today a personal and daily-consistent spiritual lifestyle that focuses on these basic things: • • • Read your bible and talk to God daily. • • • Be baptized in and stay filled with Holy Spirit for the power to be a strong witness for the Lord. • • • Do not allow disappointments to become discouragement, which can cause small but vulnerable fractures in your faith and commitment to God.
[Referenced: † Hebrews 13:5-6, Romans 8:28-39, Philippians 4:4-7 Do remember what my English teacher taught me about taking a statement and saying it over and over again with emphasis on each word for added meaning! For those uncomfortable or even impossible situations that arise—do not forget but declare with an exclamation point the words of † Philippians 4:13 I. . . can. . . do all things. . .through. . .Christ which strengtheneth me.
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