Reign of Terror—Reign of Lies

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ [God]. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”1

Tragically, terrorism (which continues unabated throughout the world) is not only a reign of terror but a reign of lies. And when justified in the name of “god” or “Allah” and religion, it becomes even more deceptive and dastardly. It is evil incarnate!

Today’s extremist Islamic terrorists who are wreaking havoc and murder in various parts of the world (Al-Queada is thought to be operating in as many as 60 countries) are taught and believe that they are waging a just war in the name of “god/Allah” and religion. They have convinced themselves that they have the truth and that Jews and Christians are the infidels and must be destroyed.

The fact is that we live in a world of both good and evil and it seems to me that the bottom line between the battle between good and evil is fundamentally a battle between truth and lies.

God is truth and in him is no darkness. He is symbolized by light. Satan, on the other hand, is the father of lies and a liar from the beginning. He is symbolized by darkness and transforms himself to appear as an angel of light.

Hitler’s reign of terror was a reign of lies. Tragically, too many believed his lies that the Jews were an inferior race and had to be done away with. Millions were slaughtered.

Stalin’s reign of terror was a reign of lies. Communism was claimed to be the greatest way of life and democracy had to be destroyed. Millions were killed.

Every dictator in his lust for power who seeks to destroy and kill all who oppose him (and his self-glorifying ambitions) is a messenger of evil, a master of deceit, and an agent of Satan, the devil.

These masters of deceit dress their lies in an attractive garment fabricated with an element of truth that makes their message appeal to those who walk in darkness and not in the light of God’s truth. Evil’s messengers may be dressed in sheep’s clothes, but inside they are murderous wolves.

Let us not be lulled to sleep: (1) by those whose aim is to be politically correct and whitewash or soften the voice of evil, (2) by those who would have us believe that educated, civilized man is becoming more tolerant and peaceful, (3) by those who think that the Osama bin Ladens and the “would-be Hitlers” of the world are no threat to Western society, or (4) by those who would have us believe the lie that all roads lead to God!

No! All roads do not lead to God, otherwise why would Jesus Christ have to come to earth to die on the cross to redeem lost mankind? Jesus made it very clear that he was the only way to God.2

And no! Educated, civilized mankind is not getting better. Remember Hitler was the leader of one of the most educated and informed people on earth—and a master of deceit.

Evil dictators will stop at nothing—I repeat, nothing—to fulfill their self-centered, lustful, power-monger ambitions.

As the Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”3 This is why our world desperately needs the Savior. Jesus Christ is not only the hope of the world, but the only hope of the world and of lost mankind.

Against all evil and its lies, we need to know the truth of what God’s Word teaches and be on our guard. And may we be reminded once again that “eternal vigilance is still the price of freedom.” And among other things, we need to oppose the message of terrorism by urgently demonstrating and proclaiming to all people the gospel message of God’s forgiveness, hope, healing, love, and peace.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, these very sobering times. Grant that our nation will see that there is a reign of terror and evil throughout the world and may we, seeing our plight and our need, turn to you—the only hope for our broken world and lost mankind. Help us to see all events of terrorism as a wakeup call to turn back to you. I implore you to send us a revival of the Spirit. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 (NKJV).

2. See John 14:6.

3. Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV).

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Life Is Not a Game

“Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.”1

Again today I want to quote Michael Josephson of Character Counts. Speaking about athletes he said the following:

“I was leading a discussion with former elite athletes when someone asked about the ethics of trying to intimidate or injure an opponent. ‘Football’s a physical game,’ said a former NFL star, who went on to extol the advantages of intimidation through the infliction of pain. A former Super-Bowler spoke without remorse about ‘taking players out’ with a particularly dangerous but then legal ‘chop block’ aimed at the knees.

“When an Olympic track athlete said that, legal or not, it is wrong to be intentional or callous about inflicting possible career-ending injuries, he was ridiculed. ‘It’s part of the game,’ was the response, and a room full of … men continued to rationalize brutality.

“Another former football player brought the room to silence. A huge man, he barked, ‘Hold on,’ and held his hand up high. In it was a prosthetic leg. He said his leg was amputated from the knee down due to a chop block. ‘Was it worth it?’ he asked.

“Applying ‘game theory,’ athletes not only injure others but permanently damage their own health pumping up with illegal drugs, politicians breed cynicism and distrust with lies and insincerity, and numbers-manipulating executives disgrace themselves and demolish the jobs and retirement accounts of thousands.

“Declaring a tactic ‘part of the game’ may delude the conscience, but it doesn’t justify vicious, disrespectful or dishonorable conduct—no matter how many people are doing it. Life is not a game.”2

Thank you, Michael, I couldn’t have said it better. Character does count if we want to leave a better world for our children and our children’s children. Plus, we always reap what we sow—always—even if it is eventually!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to always remember that character counts. And please deliver me from the temptation to take any shortcuts that would hurt anybody else in order for any kind of selfish, self-centered, self-gain. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Proverbs 26:27 (NKJV).

2. This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts. www.charactercounts.org

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The power of Appreciation

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”1

In “Character Counts” Michael Josephson shares how the students at Sandy’s high school were badly shaken by the news that a classmate had just committed suicide. He left a note saying, “It’s hard to live when nobody cares if you die.” Realizing this was both a traumatic event that needed to be confronted and a teachable moment, a teacher talked to the students about how important it is that people feel valued. So, he told them to imagine they were about to die. Then he gave an assignment: “Write a note to tell someone how important he or she is to you.”

Sandy, who had a rocky relationship with her mother, was especially moved by the idea that she might die without telling her mom how important she was, so she wrote a note: “We’ve had some rough times and I know I haven’t been a very good daughter but I know I’m lucky to have you in my life. You are the best person I’ve ever known. Thanks for not giving up on me.” She told her mom about the assignment and gave her the note. Her mom cried and hugged Sandy but said little.

The next morning Sandy found a note on her mirror. “Dearest daughter,” it said, “I want you to know how much you are valued. Being your mother is the most important thing in my life. The truth is I’ve felt like such a failure I was seriously considering ending it all. I thought you’d be better off without me. Your appreciation makes my life worth living.”

Be careful not to underestimate the power of expressed appreciation. As Sandy learned, it can make a big difference.2

Need I say more?

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be an encourager to all the people you bring into my life, and help me always to remember and be thankful for all the encouragement I have received from you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Hebrews 3:13. (NIV).

2. This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts. www.charactercounts.org

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Hidden Treasures

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”1

You’ve probably read how the late newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst invested a fortune in collecting great works of art.

On one occasion he read about an extremely valuable painting and was determined to obtain it for his collection. Apparently, his agent searched in art galleries worldwide—all to no avail. Some months later, the prized painting was actually found in one of Hearst’s own warehouses!

Oh the incomparable riches and unlimited blessings that we all have in Christ Jesus—riches that will take eternal ages for us to fully comprehend and appreciate. Today, they are ours for the taking. Above all is God’s full and free pardon for all our sins and the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Have you discovered and accepted these incomparable gifts from God for yourself?

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please open the eyes of my understanding so that I will see all the riches of grace you have in store for me, and accept these. And above all, help me to see my need for and accept your gift of salvation, sins forgiven, and the gift of eternal life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior and are not sure of life after death, be sure to read “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

1. Ephesians 2:6-8 (NIV).

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Lord, Have Mercy

“As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’”1

Down the hot, dusty Jericho Road, leaving with his disciples and a host of followers thronging around him, Jesus was trying to move on from Jericho. Farther down the road two blind men (probably beggars) were sitting by the wayside. Wondering what all the commotion was about, they inquired about what was happening.

“I think it’s the man they call Jesus—that unorthodox religious fellow,” they heard someone say. “They say he goes against many of our religious traditions and the leaders hate him because of it. But he also heals people of all sorts of ills. It will be great to hear him. He’s coming this way.”

The blind beggars knew all about Jesus but they’d never “seen” him this close before. “Now’s our chance,” they said to each other. Somehow they knew that this might be their only chance to ever come anywhere near this man they call Jesus. He would be passing right by them.

As the crowd neared them and they sensed that Jesus was somewhere near, they yelled at the top of their voice, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

The crowd rebuked them and tried to shut them up, but with dignity thrown to the wind, they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

And Jesus stood still! Amazing words. Amazing action. The Son of God stood still.

Imagine it! The winds and the waves couldn’t stop Jesus. The crowds couldn’t block him. The Roman soldiers had no power over him without his permission. King Herod failed to have him killed when he was just a baby. And the religious leaders couldn’t silence him. But the cry of two blind, lonely beggars caused the Son of God to stop dead in his tracks. And listen!

And Jesus called to them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

“Lord, have mercy on me,” is one cry that God always hears and for which Jesus always stands still and listens, and says to you and me through his Word, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that two blind beggars had the power to stop you and you had the power to heal them. Help me to see my deepest need and confess this to you. Have mercy on me and forgive all my sins, and grant to me the healing of my wounded soul and the gift of eternal life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer just as you heard and answered the cry of the two blind me. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: For further help read “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: How to Be Sure: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. Matthew 20:29-30 (NIV).

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Theological Rigidity

“Then Jesus asked them, ‘Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn [hardened] hearts, said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.”1

Can you imagine it? Jesus was in church (synagogue) and he noticed a man who had a withered hand—and the religious leaders watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal this man on what they considered to be “the Lord’s Day”—a day in which people were not to do any unnecessary work. Jesus was angry at them because of their hardness of heart. But he healed the man anyhow, and lo and behold the religious Pharisees planned how they could kill him; Jesus, that is!

And why was Jesus so angry at these bigots? It was because of their non-feeling, stubborn, theologically rigid, cold, hard hearts. Because of this, they loved their ridiculous man-made rules more than they loved people—or God.

For some strange reason, people who are theologically rigid have deceived themselves into believing that their rigidity is a form of spirituality, when in fact, it is a symptom of emotional rigidity, which in turn, is a form of denial (self-deception). This in turn leaves them with a hard, non-feeling, cold heart! They are out of touch with their own reality (their true inner feelings and motives), and being out of touch with their own feelings, are insensitive to everybody else’s. They also tend to be authoritarian and dogmatic.

Sadly, those who are rigid in their personality don’t know or admit that they are rigid. What they also fail to realize is that people who are rigid, dogmatic and authoritarian, are riddled with self-doubts, are insecure, and fearful—and, living in denial, they seek to hide their insecurities behind a phony mask of super-spiritual superiority.

While Jesus was the supreme example of genuine authority and always spoke with authority, he was never an authoritarian. And while he was also the supreme example of Truth, he was never dogmatic about it.

Furthermore, God is not into rules, religion, or rigidity! He is into growth, recovery, wholeness and loving relationships—not only for us to have with him, but also with others and our own selves.

So be very much aware of any religion that is based on rules, religiosity, and rigidity—it is not of God no matter how appealing or plausible it may appear to be. For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty—not rigidity!2

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please deliver me from self-deception, denial and theological rigidity. Help me to always be honest with you and myself so that I will always be real, genuine and authentic in all that I say and do. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Mark 3:4-6 (NIV).

2. See 2 Corinthians 3:17.

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Facing Death Triumphantly

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’; ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’”1

Yesterday I wrote about my friend Graham who died of cancer at age 44. When visiting him in the hospital, he shared with me how he was ready to die and how much he was looking forward to meeting his Heavenly Father. The day following his death, Graham’s wife shared with me how he had made a videotape to leave some thoughts with friends and family and how, with outstretched arms he described how he was longing to meet God face to face.

On Graham’s last day (now at home), seeing him gasping for breath, Jenny, his wife, called for the doctor. As the doc walked into the room, Graham’s almost lifeless body momentarily seemed to come to life. With eyes closed, suddenly he sat bolt upright in bed, and looking upward as if seeing something human eyes couldn’t see, stretched out his arms heavenward—and was gone. His lifeless body collapsed on the bed. Jenny said how there seemed to be a divine presence and aura that filled the entire house.

Graham has been gone from this life for a number of years now, but he lives on with his Heavenly Father in Heaven forever. This is the blessed and most wonderful hope every true believer and child of God has to look forward to. Our death, too, will be swallowed up in victory!

This is because all who have accepted Jesus, the Son of God, as their personal Savior and have had all their sins forgiven, have God’s promise and assurance of eternal life with him in Heaven where there will be no more sickness, sadness, suffering, sorrow, parting or dying. Forever!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you gave your Son Jesus to die on the cross in my place to pay the ransom price for all my sins and to give me the gift of eternal salvation. Thank you too for the blessed hope that I have because I have accepted Jesus as my Savior and I, too, look forward to meeting you face to face. In the meantime, help me to live life to the fullest always with eternal values in mind. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior and are not sure of life after death, be sure to read “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 (NIV).

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Listen Up

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”1

I have read how, in days of yesteryear, people used ice-houses in order to preserve their food. I heard how one man lost his pocket watch while working in one of these ice-houses. He searched diligently for it raking through all the sawdust on the floor—but without success. Fellow workers also failed to find it.

A boy who wanted to know what all the fuss was about went into the ice-house, closed the door, and before long he emerged with the watch.

“How did you do it?” the men asked.

“I closed the door,” the boy replied, “lay down with my ear in the sawdust on the floor, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.”2

Many people ask, “Does God speak to people today?” And how would I know if God spoke to me?

Actually God speaks to us in a myriad of ways. But unless we stand still long enough and listen with our heart, we may never hear him. God may not speak in an audible voice but he “speaks” very specifically through his Word, the Bible. But we need to read and study it to get his message. And God “shouts” to us through creation. As his Word, the Bible, says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”3

God also speaks to us through various circumstances. Unfortunately, some of us don’t stop and listen until a crisis hits us and causes us to slow down and take stock of our life.

Basically, however, in life we see what we want to see, we hear what we want to hear, and we pay attention to what we want to pay attention. Hearing God’s voice is a choice. If we truly want to hear it, we will.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you have revealed yourself clearly to all of mankind especially through your Word, the Bible, and through your creation. Please help me to slow down and listen with my heart to what you are saying to me. Help me to not only hear, but also to obey. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 46:10 (NIV).

2. Story taken from “Directions” by James Hamilton.

3. Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV).

Freedom from Guilt

“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”1

I read a story about a husband who came home drunk late one night and snuck up the stairs as quietly as possible to avoid waking his wife. He looked in the bathroom mirror and bandaged the bumps and bruises he’d received in a fight earlier that night. He then proceeded to climb into bed, smiling at the thought that he’d pulled a “swiftie” over on his wife.

When morning came, he opened his eyes and there stood his wife. “You were drunk last night, weren’t you?”

“No, honey.”

“Well, if you weren’t, then who put all the band-aids on the bathroom mirror?”

If truth be known, most of us want to hide our sins and the wrongs that we have done for fear of being found out and shamed. However, try as we might, we can never hide the accompanying guilt. We may bury it in the unconscious mind but there it is never forgotten—and what we fail to talk out (confess) creatively we will inevitably act out destructively in one way or another. Unresolved guilt can cause serious physical, emotional and/or spiritual distress and major relational conflicts.

When King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband, Uriah, killed in an attempt to hide his sin, his guilt tormented him.

In the Psalms he wrote, “Day and night your [God’s] hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.”2

We have all sinned and we all need God’s forgiveness and healing from guilt and its damaging consequences. The good news is that, as God’s Word says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”3

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, how can I ever thank you enough for giving your Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for all my sins which I now confess to you. Please forgive me and give me the wisdom I need to run from temptation and the help I need to overcome all of my sins. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: For further help to be sure that you are forgiven by God read, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. Proverbs 28:13 (NIV).

2. Psalm 32:4-5 (NLT).

3. I John 1:9 (NIV).

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A Chance to Change the World

“And then he [Jesus] told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach [communicate] the Good News to everyone, everywhere.’”1

Donald William Dotterer wrote, “Steven Jobs is the man who founded the enormously successful company called Apple Computer. Jobs decided that Mr. John Sculley was the man he needed to help him fulfill his dream of building a completely different kind of computer company, one which [Jobs dreamed] would make computers available to every person in the world. However, Mr. Sculley was comfortably and safely entrenched as president of the Pepsico Corporation, the makers of the soft drink Pepsi.

“In this position, John Sculley had achieved everything that a man could want: power, prestige, public recognition, an enormous salary and a secure future. The thought of a career change requiring a move to the West Coast frightened him. He was concerned about losing pensions and deferred compensation and the adjustment to living in California, in other words, ‘the pragmatic stuff that preoccupies the middle-aged.’

“John Sculley knew that he was safe at Pepsico. But he also knew that he had grown to dislike the competitive nature of the business. He also knew how bored he was. Steven Jobs at Apple Computer sensed this. And so he finally confronted his new friend with this pointed question. He said to John, ‘Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?’ That question penetrated deep into the heart and mind of John Sculley. It changed the course of his life. He therefore went to Apple Computer and helped it to grow into one of the most successful corporations in the world. Mr. Sculley’s life was changed because he took the risk and decided to invest. Was it a risk? Yes. But without it, there would be no reward.”2

I’m not suggesting that you should change your job (though some of you may need to), but I am asking, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life doing only what you are doing now, or do you want to help to truly change the world—one person at a time?”

You can. Here are a few of many simple ways you can do this:

First, make yourself available to God every day and ask him to use you to be as Jesus to every life you touch and that people seeing Jesus in you will want him for themselves.

Second, become involved in serving others through your local church or a fine voluntary organization and help make a difference in your local community.

Third, you can send copies of suitable Daily Encounters to friends and loved ones and share with them these non-preachy Christian messages that speak directly to their personal needs. Hundreds of people are being reached with the gospel and Christian message in this way and it, too, is helping to change the world—one person at a time.

Fourth, besides financially supporting your local church, help support faith organizations that are making a difference and those that are spreading the gospel. There are many such organizations that are dependent on the support of concerned Christians for their operation. And in your giving, please consider becoming a partner with ACTS International (publisher of Daily and Weekend Encounter) through your prayer and financial support and therein be a part of a work that is sending the gospel around the world via E-mail and the Internet every day of the year.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for Jesus, the Savior, the hope of lost mankind, and the only one who has the power to truly change the world. I am available—please guide me in how I can best invest my time, talents, and money in your work, and use me today and every day to be as Christ to every life I touch and therein help change the world in which I live—one person at a time. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Mark 16:15 (TLB-NLT).

2. Donald William Dotterer, “Living the Easter Faith,” CSS Publishing Company, 1994. Cited on www.eSermons.com, 2002.

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