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Choice and Choices

As human beings we make many choices everyday, little ones and big ones, some with immediate consequences, others with far reaching ones, some with little effect, some with life long lasting results. Upon what basis do we make these choices, and how does this foundation affect that which we choose? In order to achieve fullness of life one's basis of choices affects the outcome, whether enriching or debilitating and possibly catastrophic. It is important to seriously consider one's worldview, since it has a major impact on the choices one makes.

Given the fact that the Bible is God's "manual of operation" for human beings to live by, with very basic principles for living, it is imperative for us to consider what it says. The Old Testament is an illustration of God's chosen people going astray from His revealing Himself to them, and outlining the way of living that would produce fullness of life and blessing from God.

In Deuteronomy 28:13, God told Israel that He would make them the "head and not the tail", if only they would follow His precepts. He promised national inheritance in Israel and blessing without end (Deut. 30:3-10). In Joshua 24:14-16, he admonished Israel to not forsake the Lord, but they did anyway (Judges 3:5-7). The story of the Old Testament is a litany of continuous failure because Israel forsook the Lord, and went in their own selfish way. The conclusion was captivity and an end of their nation. They chose wrong and paid the price.

Choices have consequences, and choosing one thing means you reject something else. The choices one makes are based upon what one believes, which is one's worldview. A worldview is one's philosophy of life, which becomes the track of life upon which one runs. Therefore, it is important for a person to have a philosophy of life that is based upon right principles and then be able to make right choices that are consonant with the principles believed. How then does one formulate right principles that will profit a person throughout life?

Again, we must revert to the Biblical principles, since they are God's way for mankind to enjoy fullness of life, because we all were created to be a reflection of God Himself. Following God's principles for His creation is His guarantee to us that we can be assured of a good life. Fortunately, we are not left without guidelines, since they are abundant in Scripture.

There are three primary principles found in the Bible, that provide a foundation, upon which one is able to formulate a proper worldview. The first is in Joshua 1:8 where we are admonished to meditate (i.e. to thoughtfully consider well) upon the law of the Lord, and observe His ways, then God says He will make our way "prosperous" and then we will have "good success". Everyone desires to be prosperous and successful. Following God's Word brings prosperity (i.e. not necessarily financial, but fullness of life) and success, so that one will be able to say at the end of life, "I have had a fulfilled life". God desires that for us; see John 10:10.

The second principle is found in Psalms 1:2,3, where we see that the happy person has his "Delight in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates (i.e. thoughtfully considers well) day and night". In other words, God's principles thoroughly permeate that person's thinking and choices. God's response to that person is found in His promise that, "Whatsoever that person does will prosper". Again, prosperity is not necessarily bound up in money, but fullness of life, through all the experiences, good and bad. Even the adversities of life can have beneficial results in maturation, and learning.

The third basic principle is in Romans 8:6, where we read, "To be self centeredly minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace". There are many self centered individuals who have existence, but inwardly are dying every day, because they have chosen to live a selfish life. This is most unproductive in society, and certainly devastating to that one who has chosen to live their life that way. For the person who has chosen to be committed to the Lord Jesus Christ, and allowed the Holy Spirit to control their life, God has promised fullness of life and peace. What more can one ask than that?

The finest thing that one can say of themselves at the end of life is, "I have had a fulfilled life", and the worst thing one can say is, "I wish I had it to do over again". Since we are have only one life to live, is behooves us to follow God's principles, so that we can be guaranteed fullness of life when we arrive at the end.

Confusion

As the world approaches the end of the century and millennium, it appears that unrest and confusion increases, rather than a challenging and fulfilling future. Why should that be, when at the beginning of this century people awaited the twentieth-century with optimistic anticipation, that it would bring peace and prosperity through the industrial age? What caused the change?

If one takes seriously the principles of the Bible, as authoritative, it is easily seen that as the world nears the end of existence as has been known, and God's judgement is impending, that Satan is producing more confusion to further enslave mankind. In I Corinthians 14:33 it states that God is not the author of confusion, so it has to be Satan, since there are only two spiritual forces in the world.

Reflection on today's world shows us confusion in almost every aspect of society to produce insecurity elsewhere. The fracturing of the family, which is Satan's primary thrust, has brought personal insecurity to many children, which carries through to adulthood. Children are confused as to identity roles, transsexual identities, homosexuality, single parent families--these are all contributing to this confusion.

Even words are transposed, so that words such as gay, turkey, adult, are no longer understood in their traditional ways. In the workplace there is little, if any, security among the laboring class. Then, the innate wickedness of people (Jeremiah 19:9) which causes road rage, drive-by shootings, family killings, etc., only adds to the confusion. Is it no wonder people are asking, what in the world is going on?

Then too, there is increasing lack of self worth and esteem, so that individuals wonder who they really are. Is life worth living?--and many do succumb to suicide, since there is no hope. Internal confusion does not allow them to order their lives aright, and thus there is lack of fulfillment in life.

Added to all this are the natural disturbances that aggravate people. We hear of "Elo Nino" trade winds coming to produce more weather disturbances that are unpredictable. This is in addition to the already convoluted weather patterns, so that we experience tornadoes, floods, drought, etc. at any time and any place, further disrupting the order of society and adding to the confusions that is already apparent. Is there no answer?

Again, for the person who takes seriously the principles of the Bible, there are answers. In Matthew 24 Jesus Christ stated that all these things would come to pass, just before He returned to establish His kingdom. In Luke 21:25-28 He described the problems that today are besetting us tremendously. In these two passages it is clearly stated that all this would come to pass just prior to Christ's return.

For the Christian there is no cause for consternation or confusion. Not only does God's Word outline all this that is coming, but explicitly tells us how to respond. In Luke 16:8 Christ said that the people of the world are in their generation wiser than the children of the light. Therefore, we are to rely more and more on the pathway of truth in the Bible to be able to overcome.

The Christian should realize the subtleties of Satan as described in II Corinthians 11:14-15, so that we can take countermeasures. The Christian's strength is in the Lord, as seen in I John 4:4; II Timothy 1:7; I Peter 5:7; Hebrews 4:16, 13:5-6; and Philippians 4:6-7.

Not only do the children of God face external problems, we also have inward struggles, that may contribute to our confusion. Christ said in Mark 4:19 that, "The cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful." It is imperative that we not allow Satan to gain a foothold in out lives through these avenues, so that the internal struggles combined with what we see in the world overwhelm us. No, we must keep our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word.

There is a very remarkable statement in Isaiah 5:20 that should alert every Christian as to the confusion that is seen in the world today: "Woe unto them that call evil good; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." Christianity is systematically being squeezed out of every vestige of society; our Christian heritage is fast disappearing. Wickedness is not only rampant, it is tolerated, yea, even accepted as "everyone is doing it!" The darkness and gloom of wickedness is the order of the day. How much longer can God tolerate the sins of society, which cry out for judgement? Can Christ's coming be soon?

Everybody Wants a Full Life

The desire for fullness of life and longevity is inherent within all of us. God did not create mankind to die, but to live. Only the entrance of sin caused death to become a part of one's existence. And, Christ came to overcome that problem, so that all may live not only in the here and now, but for eternity (John 3:16).

Fullness of life is that which everyone desires. God Himself desires that for every person for Jesus said, "I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). The question is not do we want it, the question is how do we achieve it? To have eternal life requires that one make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior for his sins (Romans 10:9,10).

To enjoy fullness of life in the present life, there are number of things one must do. Those who have studied people who have lived to be over one hundred years, have noted five basic characteristics that have contributed to their longevity: 1) Good genes, 2) A goal or purpose for living, 3) An optimistic outlook on life, 4) Ability to handle stress well, and 5) Good diet and health care. Apart from the first one, which no one can control, though exercising the other four can be a contributing factor to the succeeding generations in their genes, the ability to have fullness of life and longevity is achievable by adhering to these factors.

It is interesting to note, that though the Bible is not primarily a book on physical health, nor psychology, or any other science (It is the book of God's revelation to mankind on how to live spiritually, according to God's program for all people), yet it does speak to these five characteristics as woven throughout Scripture. The Bible is basically a book of principles for Godly living, but these principles are illustrated through the lives of human beings, and in the recounting of their lives, the five elements of fullness and longevity are described.

Godly living is basic to God's revelation to mankind. However, humans have been created as threefold beings, Spirit, Soul, and Body. The spirit of the person is the life one has from God; the soul is the greek word psyche, from which we get the word psychology, meaning emotion/will/mind; and the body is the flesh. God is desirous that one be balanced in all three areas, in order to fully function as a whole person. In I Thessalonians 5:2 we read, " - - And I pray God you whole Spirit, and Soul, and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ". Like a three legged stool, in which one desires three equally strong and balanced legs, God wants us to be strong and balanced in all three areas of our life. Therefore, it is important to consider well the whole of one's life.

Consider each of the five characteristics of a full life. One has no control over how long he or she may live, but caring for one's body/soul/spirit, can be a contributing factor in a long life.

Good genes. Though no one has control over their birth, and who their parents are, yet two elements can be considered. First, if one has inherited poorly, caring for one's body properly may help in overcoming, and it is certain that not caring for one's body can only accelerate a poorly inherited constitution. Also, countering poor inherited genes by good living, may contribute to bringing stronger children into the next generation. Certainly all this would be acceptable in God's sight.
A goal or purpose in life. God is a purposeful being, and He created mankind for a purpose (Psalm 8:4-6). The primary purpose of mankind, according to God's standard is for us to live for and bring glory to God. That is universal for each one. In addition, God has given to each of us gifts and talents to be developed (I Corinthians 12:4-31; Ephesians 4:7-15). When we purpose in life to use our talents to serve God, then He honors us with a full life (I Samuel 2:30; Philippians 1:21, 4:13).
Optimistic outlook on life. In the world in which we live today, there isn't much to contribute toward one being optimistic. The reason there are so many suicides among young people is that they have no hope of the future. However, for Christians, who ought to be the most optimistic people in the world, because we have the most going for us, the realization that God is sovereign, that His plan for mankind is on track, and that we are the recipients of life that is eternal, should be reason enough to enjoy the fullness of life, in the midst of a troubled world. God's Word provides us comfort in times like these (John 10:10; 14:27; 16:33; Hebrews 13:5,6).
Handling Stress. There are three basic problems that adversely affect the normal stress that we all have: Fear, Guilt, and Moral conflicts. Stress is a part of life itself. It isn't do we have stress or not, for we all do, it is how do we handle it? When the normal problems of life are compounded with these three adverse elements, the stress becomes unbearable. God's answer to our personal problems and the stress we face is found in His admonitions and promises to us of holy living. (I Thessalonians 4:1-12; Romans 12:1,2; Ephesians 4:1-3; Hebrews 4:16; I Peter 5:7; II Corinthians 1:3,4; 7:1; Psalm 42:11). By following His principles and promises, we can handle the stress of life, without it overwhelming us.
Good diet and health care. Since God's work is done through human instrumentality, it behooves the Christian to care for his body. Profligate living is condemned in the Bible, and caring for one's spirit/soul/body is commended. Since there is constant transference, both negatively and positively among all three parts of us, it is imperative that one seriously consider and care for each aspect of our wholeness. It has been said that the majority of organic diseases in our hospitals have had a psychosomatic origin. The constant stress and strain of life, coupled with lack of proper bodily care, contributes eventually to a serious breakdown. When a Christian considers well the admonition of I Corinthians 6:19,20, then there is no excuse for lack of caring for our bodies.

The resources that every Christian has through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, coupled with discernment of Biblical principles, ought to be the resources to assist everyone to come to wholeness and fullness of life, regardless of one's longevity (Philippians 4:19). The finest comment anyone can say, when he comes to the end of life, is that he has had a full life. The worst comment is to hear one say, "I wish I had it to do over again". When a Christian unconditionally commits his/her life to God and the Holy Spirit's control, then God is the guarantor that one will have fullness of life (John 10:10; 12:26).

Over the past five years, Dr. Stoll has been writing a book on Biblical and Psychological principles of life for Christian maturity. For three years he wrote it in outline form and taught it to his Bible class at the Minneapolis Athletic Club, using the men as his "pilot project", and gaining feedback from them. Then he wrote the chapters of the book.

Currently, the 41 chapters of the book are at the publishers, and should be in print this spring. At this time it is unknown as to cost, which probably will be around ten dollars, in paperback. The contents can be used as individual study of Biblical principles, for group Bible classes, Sunday School teaching, or as foundational instruction in a Christian college Bible course. You may contact our office for further details as to availability, cost, etc.

Foreseeable Future Events

Recently, a major news telecast talked with a group of experts as to their views of world events in the foreseeable future. After skirting the basic issues, and wrangling with effects rather than causes, one reporter said that in ten or fifteen years it would be "no man's land out there". Why would they venture that analysis, and what would be the basic reason as to the pessimistic outlook?

In Matthew 24:6-8, 21, Jesus Christ stated that conditions in the world would become worse and worse just prior to His return to take over the world. He cited both natural disturbances as well as human problems increasing as signs of His coming. It is true that history has had evidences of both, but in the past century and especially so in the past few years, the world has seen and exponential increase in all these areas, in frequency, intensity, and worldwide occurrences.

Furthermore, as of now there are no prophetic events as described in the Bible that must yet be fulfilled before the Lord comes to take the Christians home to Heaven. The formation of Israel almost fifty years ago, has been the last major event. The natural disturbances and human problems have only intensified, which lends credence to Christ's prophecy.

Then in Matthew 24:32-34, Jesus pointed to the fact that the generation that witnesses all these things coming together, would not pass until His coming and the beginning of the great Tribulation. Our generation has seen all of these elements that Jesus recited, and we are about at the end of this generation.

On the other hand, the Christians are working more together, denominational barriers are lowering, the message of God is being telecast to the whole world, evangelism and missionary activity is expanding, and Christianity is more widespread than ever. I have often been asked if we are on the verge of another "Awakening", such as our country has had a number of times in the past two hundred years. In those times, a spiritual revival swept over most of the people of our country, and a return to the Bible and its principles motivated all segments of society. With wickedness prospering at an alarming rate, are we ready and on the verge of another awakening?

Again, in Matthew 13:24-30 Jesus gave a parable of the wheat and the tares. A farmer sowed the grain, but another sowed weeds among the grain. Jesus said the seed was the good word of God; the weeds were the wickedness within the world. And, just as weeds prosper faster than the grain, so wickedness is prospering more than righteousness today. Jesus noted that the two would grow together until the harvest, then the farmer (i.e. Himself) would reap the harvest and separate the grain from the weeds. Today, wickedness is prospering faster than righteousness, though both are doing well.

Since all prophetic events, as described in various places in the Bible, are all evidential in today's world, including Israel in the land, and wickedness and righteousness seemingly headed for a terrible confrontation, it is not likely that the world will witness another awakening, to bring mankind back to his spiritual senses.

What then is the purpose of the righteousness as seen in the body of Christians, apart from carrying out our commission to go into all the world and make disciples for Christ (Matthew 28:19,20)? It seems reasonable that God is strengthening the body of Christians in the faith, to be able to withstand what might be spoken of as the coming Christian holocaust.

In today's world we hear much about "political correctness", and emphasis is upon "tolerance". This is all true with one exception; Christian bashing and snide remarks against God and the Bible are perfectly acceptable. We have almost squeezed God out of every vestige of life itself; our schools, government, the family, and even in some theological circles. We have replaced moral, ethical, and spiritual values with every sort of wickedness, as portrayed on the TV, in pornography, the movies, and especially the lyrics of rock music. We have opened up the mind for all this through the unbridled use of drugs.

The prophet in Isaiah 5:20 said, "Woe unto them that call evil good; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness". The world of today has stood principle on its head, and because we live in a convoluted society, everything is relative, and "everyone does that which is right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). We no longer live in a principled society, and because mankind does not adhere to the standards of the Bible, selfishness prevails.

Revelation 9:21, speaking of things that will happen in the great Tribulation states that, "Neither repented they (i.e. the people of the world) of their murders, nor of their drugs, nor of their immorality, nor of their thefts". Law enforcement is unable to stem the flood of every one of these things today. What will it be like during the coming Tribulation?

Again, in Matthew 24:22, Jesus stated that except these horrendous days should be limited, no person would remain alive. Unless Christ steps in, in judgment, mankind is on a collision course of self annihilation. Just as Moses, leading the nation of Israel out of Egypt, came to an impassable Red Sea, and then realized that the Pharaoh was sending his army to bring them back again to bondage, said to his people, "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" (Exodus 14:13), so it seems reasonable that God is spiritually strengthening His people for the "squeeze" of the world, and we are to await His coming, to escape the coming holocaust that will descend on mankind during the Tribulation (Matthew 24:21).

In I Thessalonians 5:9 we read, "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ". The coming wrath of God upon the wickedness of the world, will not affect the Christian; no, because the child of God will be saved from the wrath that is coming. The Christian's salvation from the wrath to come, won't come too soon, nor will it come too late. It will come before the darkness of unbridled sin encompasses the world. The good news is this for the Christian; stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. God is sovereign, and His plan for the world is in place and on track. Our hope is in Him.

How To Succeed In Life

With all the "How To" books available today, that cover about every desire, it seems imperative to consider what success in life really is, and just how does one attain it. Since there are many ideas on the matter, all of which are subjective in nature, it seems reasonable to consider an objective evaluation that is proper, not aligned with any human views, and provides us with a principled pattern. There can only be one source that fits the desired goal, and that is the Bible.

Since God created mankind, it seems reasonable that He has provided a sourcebook from which we can obtain an answer to our searching, and be guaranteed that one is able to successfully succeed in life. God knows us better than we know ourselves, as well as the fact that God desires that we enjoy success and fullness of life. Therefore He has provided a guide to that end in His Word.

In John 10:10, Jesus stated that, "I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly". The "How To" is also prescribed in the Bible. Much of this understanding comes from illustrations in the lives of various people in the Bible.

When Joshua became the leader of the people of Israel, and before he led them into the promised land, God said to him, "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth: but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (Joshua 1:8). The words "good success" are used only once in the whole Bible, in this verse. Good success was dependent upon allowing the principles of God's word to be the foundation upon which the nation was to build and be successful. So, today it is no different for the individual. God's principles are true, eternal, and as valid for us today, as they were for Israel.

Psalm 1:2,3 further reinforces this thought for it says that the righteous person has, "His delight in the law of the Lord: and in His law he meditates day and night". The result is, "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper". God cares and provides for His children, who trust Him, and follow His Word. Success comes in knowing and following God's principles in His Word.

The contrast in life is seen in Romans 8:6, where it states, "For to be fleshly minded (i.e. self-centered) is death (i.e. to not succeed), but to be spiritually minded is life and peace". Today, people are consumed with a desire to succeed in life, as well as to have tranquility, but with the pressures to succeed, it seems almost impossible to have both at the same time. Yet, God's Word gives us the right prescription.

In order for us to know how to succeed in life, we need to understand how God evaluates success in life. In Exodus 31:3 it recounts how God filled the workman who constructed the tabernacle of Israel with knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, in order to succeed in the building. Knowledge is the acquiring of facts; understanding is the comprehension of the facts; and wisdom is knowing how to properly apply what one knows and understands to life's situations. In James 1:5, he tells us, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all liberally". Therefore, in order to know God's way of success, one must have a knowledge of His Word, and the discernment of understanding by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 2:9-14), then committed to God in prayer for wisdom (See also: Hebrews 4:16, and James 4:13-15). This is God's formula not only for success, but for fullness of life and peace, even in a troubled world.

As a loving heavenly Father, God wants His children to succeed and enjoy life. At the same time, and unlike an earthly father, He knows what is in our future, as well as knowing absolutely what is best for every child of His. Therefore, our response should be absolute trust in desiring His best for our lives. In this way we can be guaranteed success and fulfillment, even in the trials of life, which He allows to strengthen and mature us (see: I Corinthians 10:13 and II Corinthians 12:7-10).

An absolutely positive principle for our admonition is found in I Samuel 2:30, where God states, "For them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed". In John 12:26, Jesus Christ stated a similar principle when He said, "If anyone serve me, him will my Father honor". Prosperity according to God's evaluation (which differs from mankinds: see, Luke 12:15), fullness of life, and success, can be attained not only in this life, but in that which is to come, when we humbly accept the precepts of God's Word, and pattern our lives according to them. Then God guarantees it, unconditionally.

Steps To Healing a Marriage

I. FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT:

Willingly make a re-commitment to each other. This means a new reservoir of TRUST. The initial trust you brought to your wedding has been depleted. To place new trust in your mate is not easy, but ask God to give it to you. It means:

A WILL to unselfishly give to my mate.
A cutting off of all past negative situations and relationships that have been detrimental to our marriage.
Commencing a positive re-building relationship with my mate.

II. WILLFULLY DEVELOP AGAPE LOVE:

This love depends on the will, not the feelings.

This is a willful selfless love, not a selfish one. It is not, what will you do for me, but what I will do for you. It is a will to give, not to get.
Acceptance of each other at face value.
Develop a wellspring to TRUST through daily positive reinforcement.
Exercise the following: Honesty, Openness, Understanding, Encouragement, and Helps to the one I love. See I Corinthians 13.
Refrain from criticism, and develop the positive aspect of marriage.
---DO NOT CAST UP THE PAST---
Never take each other for granted.
Remember: (a) Agape love never arrives, it is always in the process of arriving. (b) the two loves of feeling, that is, companionship and sex, will return when agape love is willfully exercised.

III. CONTINUALLY WORKING ON THE FOUR C'S OF MARRIAGE

A daily continuing COMMITMENT to the one to whom I originally committed myself at our wedding.
Develop an open COMMUNICATION. This takes time and effort. It means accepting each other's thoughts and feelings without attacking.
Provide for loving CONFRONTATION. See Proverbs 15:1.
A willingness to COMPROMISE. God never intended for us to think alike. We may have differences of opinion, but we need to be of the same mind only in loving each other.

IV. Read Dr. Ed Wheat's book, LOVE LIFE.

V. PRAY

Daily, that I may be sensitive to meeting my beloved's needs.

Ground Rules of commitment for Husband & Wife

in Order to Build Communication & Relationship

I COMMIT MYSELF TO:

Love you, because I need you, and I commit myself to build you up, not tear you down in our relationship.
Open up to you and let it all hang out, without fear of being attacked, and I will not attack you, even though we may not agree. Also, casting up the past will not become a part of our discussion. That is past and gone.
Allow you to explain to me your perception of things, and then you allow me to do the same to you. Then together we shall seek resolution to the issue, without attacking each other, and with a willingness to compromise. Furthermore, I am willing to consider your point of view as being equal with mine.
Pray for and with you to give us wisdom for resolution of our situation, in a way that the conclusion to which we come is that with which we both can live.
Being open with you to be: Trusting, Trustworthy, Truthful, Honest, Encouraging, Helpful, Wholeheartedly accepting of you, and to continually affirm my love for you, and need of you.

Two Problems Everyone Faces

Recently a university professor stated that the reason suicide was the second leading cause of death among young people was that they had no hope. Hope for that which lies ahead is the motivating factor that energizes every person.

This is because God created every individual for a purpose, and we were created to live out that purpose that God has for each one. The living out of God's purpose for each of us brings satisfaction, which produces hope for a continuation of that purpose and the resulting fulfillment of life. Why the are people despondent enough o take their own lives, and thereby cut short the fulfilling purpose for which they were created?

The two great factors of life, that adversely affect one's fulfilling all that God intended for each of us, are fear and guilt., There are all kinds of fears that overwhelm a person: fear of the future, of the unknown, illness, death, accidents, failure, relationships, etc. The stress from these adversarial elements can become overwhelming, so that one may even despair of life itself. It is a well known factor of life, that the majority of organic diseases are produced by the inability of people to adequately handle the stress in their lives. This in itself may lead to suicide.

The second great element of life, that adversely affects us, is that of guilt. God has given to each of us a conscience (Romans 1:19), to act as a guide to our behaviors so that we follow the proper principles of life, and when we deviate from them our conscience guides us back into the right way. Everyone has an intuitive understanding of what is right and wrong. That concept can be further developed by proper parental guidance, so that as one's character is molded he may exercise self restraint and discipline to do that which is right. Or, the lack of proper parental guidance may develop within a child the selfish desire to live a self centered life, devoid of the restraints of conscience, and thereby continue to do the wrong things in life.

The constant tug and pull between doing what is right and that which is wrong, coupled with the conscience producing guilt when wrong is committed, can also be overwhelming, so that it may drive one to suicide. People constantly desire to be relieved of both fear and guilt. Isn't there some way by which both of these adversarial elements can be eliminated from one's life, so that we may enjoy the fullness that everyone wants, without fear or guilt.

God's answer to these two concerns is an unequivocal, yes. In order to enjoy freedom from fear and guilt, one must be willing to follow the creator's principles, in order to achieve this freedom, and the blessings of life. God's principles are simple, plain, and absolute, and when followed they bring peace, joy, happiness, and hope.

In the Bible in I John 4:7-21 we have God's formula for eliminating fear from our lives. It is found in loving Him and trusting Him. God states, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment---we love him, because He first loved us." Again in Hebrews 13:6 it tells us, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear, what can man do unto me"? Finally, in II Timothy 1:7 we note, "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind". Fear comes not from God, but from within ourselves when we do not trust Him. Loving Him and trusting Him eliminates fear.

Guilt is produced by sin in the life of the person, through selfish behaviors, and disdaining the principles of the Bible that admonish us as to what is right. God's formula for eliminating guilt when one sins is found in I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". Note two things: confession brings forgiveness, as well as absolute cleansing from the sin. There is a difference between real guilt (from unconfessed sin), and false guilt (which guilt feelings come from Satan and one must reject). Satan delights to hang false guilt feelings on God's children, even when we have confessed our sins. At times we must tell Satan to "bug of", for we owe him noting, and we owe God everything. Trust in God, and His Word, for that eliminates guilt.

Freedom from fear and guilt is refreshing to the child of God. It instills in one hope, and produces peace within, and the truths of Psalm 37:3-7 and Proverbs 3:5,6 are absolute guides for fullness of life (John 10:10).

Whose Side Is God On?

As we approach the end of the millenium, everyone is wondering what will happen in the next century. There has been much speculation in the media, as well as among Christians. What does the future portend, and whose side is God really on?

During the Civil war, President Lincoln was once asked if God was on his side. His reply was, "It is not is God on my side, but am I on God's side?" This important concept should be of more relevance than speculating on future events in the next century. One should consider as to the way of becoming on God's side, what does it mean in light of current events, and how does my being on God's side affect me? These are the important questions.

The Bible is very explicit as to how one becomes on God's side. Christ pointed out that God sent Him into the world to provide eternal life, to everyone who accepts Him for salvation from their sins (John 3:16-18). When asked how one might do the works of God, He replied, "This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom God has sent" (John 6:29).

Once a person has made a commitment to Jesus Christ, as salvation from their sins, and receives the gift of eternal life, what does it mean to be on God's side, in relation to things in the world?

Primarily it means that one is now in the family of God, who is sovereign over the universe, and He controls everything that is going on, both in nature as well as in the kingdoms of the world (Psalm 10:16, 22:28; Ecclesiastes 3:14). Consequently, though we see a marked declension in righteousness and an encroaching sinfulness in society, we can trust our sovereign God, that He is in control, and is working all things after the counsel of His own will (Daniel 4:34-37).

Though we do not understand why God allows the sinfulness, for the Bible forewarns us of increasing sin, we must trust Him that ultimately all will materialize in righteousness, as God has promised (Isaiah 40:15,17; II Peter 3:10-13).

Because God has given mankind a will of his own, he has used it to become self centered instead of God centered, and thus we see the selfishness and greed that the world has experienced all through history. In Romans 1:21-32, it states that God has given up mankind to do those self centered behaviors, that are contrary to the purpose for which he was created. God has allowed humans to extend themselves to the extremes of wickedness, and someday He will bring all mankind into judgment (Romans 3:19).

The Christian may ask, if I am a child of God in a wicked world, that someday will come under the judgment of God, how does that impact me today, and what should I do? First, all God's children are to be subject to the authorities of the land. The Bible tells us that all rulers are under the authority of God (Romans 13:1).

An ancient wicked king Nebuchadnezzar recognized the sovereignty of God over his kingdom (Daniel 4:34-37), and God is King over all (Psalm 22:28). Therefore, our place is to accept the rulership of authorities, even when we may disagree, and trust God's ultimate authority.

Then we are to personally keep ourselves from sliding into the ways of the world, so that we do not become contaminated with sinful things, since we are God's children (I John 2:15-17; I Corinthians 6:19,20).

The Christians resolve to be a light in the world, yet personally to be separate in behaviors, is not easy to balance, yet the Bible says, "If God be for us, who can be against us?". (Romans 8:31). Remember, with God one is a majority.

In Habakkuk 2:20, it says, "The Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him". We see God's sovereignty, His sanctity, and our serenity. In the midst of a convoluted and troubled world, the Christian who is on God's side, is able to enjoy peace and security in Him. What a blessed thought as we enter into the next year, and soon into the next century.

Why Conflict In The World?

Constant and continuing conflicts in life, and in the world, are very troublesome to all. One may wonder as to why these are so constant? The Bible paints a picture to provide the answer, as well as giving one guidelines for personal resolution, and understanding as to the nature of world problems.

The garden of Eden experience gives us a framework as to the beginning of all the problems that the world has ever had. When our first parents turned from being God centered to becoming self centered, they separated themselves as well as us through human sinful nature, from God. Satan, who was the supernatural antagonist against God, not only deceived Adam/Eve, but has been deceiving mankind since. Thus, the conflict in the world is, and always has been, between God and Satan with mankind in between. This is one reason why Jesus Christ came into the world, to destroy Satan's deception of mankind (I John 3:8), and reconcile individuals to God.

Unfortunately, Satan, though he was defeated by Christ's resurrection, has continued to do his evil work in the world. Jesus put his finger on the nature of Satan's work, for He said in John 8:44, " He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is not truth in him." If one studies the Bible it is seen that from the garden of Eden to the cross of Christ, Satan used destruction to try and achieve his work in destroying God's purpose in mankind. Since the resurrection of Christ, Satan has used deception to undermine God's work in the world.

There are three great deceptions used by Satan today, that not only adversely affect individuals, but that cause trouble everywhere in the world. First, in Matthew 24:4,5, Christ said, "Take heed that no one deceive you, for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive" people from acknowledging Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. All false religions, cults and isms have this as their primary goal. The difference between the true Christ and the false ones is the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:10-12). Note also I John 4:1-4.

If Satan cannot deceive one through a false Christ, he then resorts to the second great deception, that of Sin. In today's world "rationalization" and "justification", or "everyone is doing it", are reasons for accepting of all kinds of behaviors that are contrary to God's principles for proper living. The breakdown of the family, with family values, the lack or moral/ethical/spiritual values being taught in our schools, as well as television, have all been contributing factors to sinful behaviors being accepted as the norm in today's society. This has been an acceptable deception by Satan upon people, so that sin is no longer considered contrary to God's principles for proper living. In Hebrews 3:13 we are warned to, "Exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." It is important that Christians stay close to the truth of God's word, as well as to each other in encouraging Biblical living.

If Satan cannot deceive people through the first two ways, he resorts to a third deception, even more subtle than the first two, and that is through humanistic philosophy. In Colossians 2:8 we are told, "Beware lest anyone spoil you through his philosophy and vain deceit, which is after the tradition of mankind, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ." The "me" generation, new age philosophy, and any ideas of mankind that are not in accord with Biblical principles, are all designed by Satan to deceive and confuse people, so that one's worldview is skewed against any commitment to Jesus Christ. Since one's way of life is that track upon which life is run, it is important to find the right the right way of life, as Christ said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one come unto God, but by me."

In II Timothy 3:1,2, it notes that in the last days perilous times would come, for people would become lovers of SELF, and this is what we see in our world today. I Timothy 4:1 tells us that people will give "heed to deceiving spirits, and doctrines that demons teach." All this is rampant in the world in which we live. How then do we counter this deception? God's Word gives us the antidote to Satanic deception, as stated in II Timothy 3:16, 17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine (as the antidote to the false Christs), for reproof and correction (as the antidote to the rationalization of sin), and for instruction in righteousness (as the antidote to humanistic philosophies), that the child of God may be brought to maturity, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

In 1952 the New York Times Sunday supplement noted that from 1850 to 1950 there were 113 books written which they said impacted our nation. As one evaluated this list is was stated that not one of these books was written to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. It is easy to see how and why the chains of deception have been riveted upon our world today. Only God's Holy Spirit, in the lives of people coupled with His applying the truth of God's Word to searching hearts, will be able to break this spell and bring eternal life and freedom, with hope for the future.

ASK, Inc.