Some time ago I read the following story taken from The Prairie Overcomer magazine.

The man huddled on the cabin floor was slowly freezing to death. It was high in the Rockies in southwestern Alberta, and outside a blizzard raged. John Elliott had logged miles that day through the deep snows of the mountain passes. As he checked for avalanches and as dusk and exhaustion overcame him he had decided to “hole-up.”

He made it wearily to his cabin but somewhat dazed with fatigue, he did not light a fire or remove his wet clothing. As the blizzard blasted through the cracks in the old cabin walls, the sleeping forest ranger sank into oblivion, paralyzed by the pleasure of the storm’s icy caress.

Suddenly, however, his dog sprang into action, and with unrelenting whines, finally managed to rouse his near-comatose friend. The dog was John’s constant companion, a St. Bernard, one of a long line of dogs famous for their heroics in times of crisis.

“If that dog hadn’t been with me, I’d be dead today,” John Elliott says. “When you’re freezing to death you actually feel warm all over, and don’t wake up because it feels too good.”²

How easy it is for those of us, especially in the West, to get lulled into sleep by the pleasures of this world’s riches and what money can do for us … or for others who get lulled into sleep by the pleasures of sin, which as today’s Scripture says, all pass away.

Sometimes God sends or at least allows and uses setbacks or problems that come into our life to awaken us out of our sleep to the reality of the situation we are in—to save us from spiritual bankruptcy and for some, to save from eternal death.

Whenever I am going through difficult times I ask God, “What lesson is there in this experience that you are seeking to teach me. What is it that I need to learn?” I encourage you to do the same.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, if I am asleep in my complacency to the reality of my spiritual condition, please send into my life whatever it takes to awaken me to reality, help me to see exactly what I need to do, and give me the good sense and courage to act accordingly. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

Note: If you have never accepted God’s forgiveness be sure to read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

1. Hebrews 11:24-25 (NIV).
2. The Prairie Overcomer, published by the Prairie Bible Institute, Three Hills, Alberta Canada.

Year after year with “tireless regularity and eternal patience,” God reminds the world every Christmas that he sent his Son, Jesus, to save lost mankind. Christmas is also God’s reminder that Jesus is coming back to earth for all who have accepted him as their personal Lord and Savior.

His first coming is an indisputable fact of history. His second coming to end this world age is just as certain. According to Bible scholars, there are 1,845 references in the Old Testament and 318 in the New Testament about Christ’s second coming to earth. This means for every prophecy in the Bible about Christ’s first coming—every one of which was fulfilled in minute detail—there are eight about his second coming!

Jesus is coming again. God has promised this in his Word, the Bible. Jesus himself promised it as well. And all the signs that Jesus and the Bible said would immediately precede his return are evident today, also reminding us that Christ’s return could be very soon. If it were today, would you be ready?

Christmas is also a reminder to all Christians that Jesus has commissioned all of us to spread his message of salvation to everyone everywhere.² Jesus said that, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”³ Never has this been more possible than it is today because our generation has the greatest means of worldwide communications the world has ever seen.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, how can I ever thank You enough for Your great CHRISTmas love gift to me and to the world. In appreciation for all You have done for me, I surrender my heart and life afresh to You. Please make me usable and use me in whatever way You will to be a part of Your plan to spread the gospel to the world in which I live … and in some way to people around the world. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name. Amen.”

Note: If you have never received Jesus as your Savior I encourage you to read God’s Invitation at: http://tinyurl.com/6k49w or if you would like to make a recommitment of your life to Jesus Christ, do let us know by filling in and checking the appropriate box at: https://learning.actsweb.org/decision.php

1. John 14:2-3 (NIV).
2. Mark 16:15.
3. Matthew 24:14 (NIV).

On a December day back in 1903 at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright, after numerous failures to fly a heavier-than-air machine, made amazing history. They achieved something that no man had ever done before. Ecstatic, they sent a telegram to their sister Katherine: “We have actually flown 852 feet. Will be home for Christmas.”

Overjoyed, Katherine ran down to the local newspaper and pushed the telegram—the greatest news story of the new century—into the hand of the editor. After reading it, he smiled and said, “Well, well! How nice the boys will be home for Christmas.”

The religious people of Christ’s day who were actually anticipating his coming as their Messiah also totally missed the point. They failed to recognize him—and ironically had him crucified—because he didn’t come, and didn’t operate, the way they expected him to.

How sad it is that so many miss the full meaning of Christmas in that they have never thanked Jesus for dying for their sins, nor accepted the most profound and precious Christmas gift ever given … the gift of the Savior and his pardon for all their sins and his gift of eternal life.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank You for the most wonderful Christmas gift ever given—the gift of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Please use me to share Your great gift of salvation with as many people as possible for as long as I shall live. Use me every day to be ‘as Jesus’ in some way to whomever You bring into my life, and grant that they, seeing Jesus in me, will want You for themselves. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name. Amen.”

Note: If you have never accepted God’s gift of forgiveness, for help go to: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. Jesus Christ in Luke 7:32 (NIV).

My friend Graham was only 44 when cancer struck him down. When they discovered the disease, it had gone too far. Not long before he died I asked him, “What does it feel like to be 44 and in your situation?”

He sat in silence for quite a while as he pondered the question. And then he said some things I will never forget. He felt angry in that there was so much more he wanted to do with his life and now it was too late. He felt guilty because he had been too busy too much of the time and hadn’t spent enough time with his wife and children and now that opportunity was gone forever. And then, after more thought, he said, “I wonder if I have ever done anything that has been truly worthwhile with my life.”

Those words certainly made me think—and I’ve never forgotten them.

According to God’s Word, the Bible, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment [of God].”² The good news is that if we have lived for and served God faithfully, we will be rewarded accordingly. If not, we will also be rewarded accordingly.

Hopefully for all our readers when we meet God face to face, it will be a very exciting time as we hear Him say to each of us, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”³

But if we are NOT true followers of Jesus, we will hear God say something terrible: “Depart from me for I never knew you.”⁴ Fortunately, none of us ever has to hear God say this to us for He has provided a full and free pardon for all of our sins and has the gift of eternal life for all who accept His wonderful and FREE gift of forgiveness and salvation.

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to accept God’s pardon and His gift of eternal life today. Whatever you do, don’t leave Earth without it! To help you do this go to: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank You that You gave Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the penalty for all my sins and provide for me a free pardon and the gift of eternal life. Help me to so live for You that when I meet You face to face, I will hear Your wonderful words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of Your Lord.’ Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. The Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 5:10).
2. Hebrews 9:27.
3. Jesus (See Matthew 25:21).
4. Jesus (See Matthew 7:23).

It’s an old parable but still relevant. You’ve probably read about the pastor who was having a difficult time on a Saturday trying to prepare his sermon for the following day. He couldn’t concentrate because his young son kept pestering him because he had nothing to do that would interest him.

His dad thumbed through a magazine trying to get an idea to occupy his son for most of the morning. He found a map of the world, tore out the page, and cut the map into many small pieces, mixed them up and, placing all the pieces facing upwards on the floor, told his son that if he could get all the pieces together, he would give him 50 cents.

The son accepted the challenge. In a very short time the son had all the pieces together. He realized that on the other side it appeared to be a photo of a man, so he carefully turned all the pieces over and in not time had his “jig-saw” puzzle all put together. Placing a sheet of paper over the finished puzzle, he carefully turned it over and there was the map of the world!

“Son, how did you get this done so quickly?” his father asked.

“It was easy,” he replied, “on the other side was a man, I just put him together and turned the paper over, and the world got right.”

The minister smiled and handed his son the promised fifty cents and said, “And you’ve given me my sermon for tomorrow too. If a man is right [made whole], his world will be right.”²

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to live a life that is in harmony with Your will so that my world will also be right and harmonious. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

Note: For help to be sure you’re a real Christian go to: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. John 5:6
2. Source: Encounter magazine (ACTS Int., Australia), June-July, 2007, p. 17.

A Daily Encounter reader asks, “If you have a parent that died and was an abusive, mean person but you still love them, is there a way to pray for them to have another chance and not go to hell forever?”

Sad to say we can only hope that our loved ones made their life right with God before they passed away. I don’t want to give anyone false hope as there is nothing in God’s Word, the Bible, that says that anyone can make a decision to accept God’s forgiveness after they die. As the Bible says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”²

As a poet wisely said:

Only one life
‘Twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ
Will last.

The only thing you and I can do—and the most important thing—is that today we make absolutely sure that we have put our life right with God by asking him for forgiveness for all our sins and accepting Jesus Christ, God’s Son, as our personal Savior. For help to do this read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I admit that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. Please help me to be sure today that I am forgiven and will spend eternity in heaven with You forever. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Hebrews 9:27 (NIV).
2. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV).

I have read how, “Two fellows were driving a delivery truck down a road when they came to a tunnel. The sign above said: ‘Warning: Maximum Height 10 feet zero inches,’ so they got out and measured their truck. Unfortunately, the truck was just over 12 feet high.

“They didn’t know what to do, when finally one of them looked in both directions and said, ‘I don’t see any police, let’s go for it!’”

The result was obvious.

I guess far too many of us knew very well we shouldn’t do a certain thing or commit a certain sin, but we did it anyhow because we thought no one was watching.

We may not have seen the immediate effects but we always reap what we sow—even if it is eventually. Furthermore, acting wrong too often because no one is watching can easily become a habit.

As George Dana Boardman wisely said, “Sow an act … reap a habit; Sow a habit … reap a character; Sow a character … reap a destiny.”

The reality is that we can never hide from God. He sees all. He knows all. And He judges all unless we confess our sins and receive His forgiveness. As God’s Word also says, “Be sure your sin will find you out.”²

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me always to be honest with myself and with You and always do good and refrain from doing bad, not because anyone is watching or not watching, but because I believe in doing right and living in harmony with Your will. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Psalm 139:11-12 (NLT).
2. Numbers 32:23

“A story is told about William Randolph Hearst, the late newspaper publisher. Hearst invested a fortune in collecting great works of art. One day he read about some valuable pieces of art and decided that he must add them to his collection. He sent his agent abroad to locate and purchase them. Months went by before the agent returned and reported to Hearst that the items had at last been found—they were stored in his own warehouse. Hearst had purchased them years before.”²

Sometimes we get so bogged down with the busyness and pressures of life, with the abundance of things we possess, and/or with unresolved baggage from the past that we are either unwilling to claim, unable to appropriate, or simply unaware of the riches in Christ Jesus that God has for us.

We’re not talking about material riches that clutter many of the lives of those of us who live in the West, but about riches of a far greater kind, such as peace with God, forgiveness of our sins and wrongs, freedom from guilt, the assurance of eternal life and a home in Heaven, and the journey in the “here-and-now” to growth, inner healing and wholeness.

God has all these riches [blessings] and many more for all of us. But it’s up to each of us to claim them. To discover what they are, it helps to read and study God’s Word the Bible.

“Suggested prayer: “Dear God, deliver me from the barrenness of a life that is too busy, a life that carries too much baggage from the past, and from the curse of being controlled by materialism. Help me to make my peace with You through Jesus Christ, to resolve every impaired relationship, and to find inner peace, healing and wholeness as You promised to all who truly want it and put their trust in You. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. The Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:19, NIV).
2. From Our Sufficiency in Christ by John MacArthur, Jr.

Several years ago I invited Jennifer, a cousin of mine, and her husband to come to a special week of gospel meetings at our church. During the invitation to accept Jesus as one’s Savior, I could see that my cousin was really struggling with the call to accept Jesus as her Savior. Tragically she resisted and said no to Him. She passed away recently and I don’t know if she ever did accept Jesus as her Savior. All I know is that she had the opportunity to receive God’s forgiveness and his gift of eternal life but at that time she said no to God’s offer.

Motivational speaker, Jim Rohn, said, “I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives.” To this I would add—how unbelievably tragic it is when, even if we do plan for this life carefully, we fail to make plans for the afterlife—which is forever—forever.

I know that when I get to Heaven I will see my mother, my father, and my sisters and friends who have gone ahead of me because they had made their peace with God by asking for God’s forgiveness and accepting Jesus as their Savior, but I don’t know if I will ever see my cousin again. That makes me very sad.

Remember that for all of us, “Opportunity comes to pass—not to pause.” So whatever you do, Dear Friend, make plans for life after death by making peace with God today! We have absolutely no guarantee of tomorrow so be sure to do that—today—for as God’s Word reminds us: “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”¹

Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank You that today You are giving me the invitation and opportunity to receive Your forgiveness for all my sins, and for giving me the gift of eternal life with the assurance of a home in heaven to be with You forever. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

If you have never made your peace with God or accepted His gift of forgiveness, you can do that today. For help read “God’s Invitation” at: http://tinyurl.com/6k49w

For additional help be sure to read the article, “Life After Death” at: http://tinyurl.com/8brzh

1. The Bible (2 Corinthians 6:2, NKJV).

A Daily Encounter subscriber wanted to know how to respond to the person who made the following statement:

“Some people today claim that all religions get you to Heaven. They claim that God is just called by different names, but he’s the same God to all religions. My daughter is going to a Christian counselor who asked her if she believed all roads lead to God. She, of course, replied no. It’s only through believing in Jesus and what He did for us. Her counselor told her she was wrong. All roads DO lead to God. We will all end up on the same road to God, because everyone will stand before Him. After that, the choice will only be two—heaven or hell.”

First, Christianity is the only religion in the world who believes in the God of the Bible who is a Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. One occasion where the Holy Trinity is clearly seen is at the baptism of Jesus. As God’s Word, the Bible, reports: “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.’”² The voice from heaven was from God, the Father.

Second, Jesus Christ is God’s ONLY provision for saving mankind from the just penalty of our sins which is spiritual and eternal death. Spiritual death is not the cessation of life, but eternal separation from the God of all love and life in the place the Bible calls Hell. As the Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”³

Third, even though Muslims believe that Allah is the God of Abraham, Allah is NOT the God of the Bible. The Bible clearly states that Jesus Christ is not only the Son of God, but also the “Second person of the Trinity. He is the Word [the expression of God] who became flesh.⁴ He is both God and man.⁵ Islam states that Jesus is “a very great prophet, second only to Muhammad. Jesus is not the son of God and certainly is not divine, and he was not crucified.”⁶

Fourth, for evidence regarding the validity of the Bible, see the article, “Is the Bible God’s Word” online at: http://tinyurl.com/yulazq.

Fifth, regarding the statement, “All roads DO lead to God,” by the counselor in the Daily Encounter subscriber’s statement above; it is true that at the end of life’s journey every person will appear before God to give an account of his or her life. As the Bible says, “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.”⁷

But let me make it very clear that according to the Word of God, the Bible, ALL ROADS DO NOT lead to God for His gift of forgiveness and that of eternal life to live with HIM forever in Heaven. When Jesus was here on earth, He said to Nicodemus (a very religious Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council), “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”⁸

For emphasis Jesus repeated the same injunction saying, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”⁹

To put it simply, what Jesus was saying to Nicodemus—who was not only a very religious man, but also a very good man by human standards—was that: “Except a man be born again, he will not even see the Kingdom of God let alone enter it.”

What, then, does Jesus mean when He says to every one of us that to enter God’s Kingdom we must be born again? It simply means that when we entered this life we were born physically, but to enter God’s Kingdom of Heaven we need to be born spiritually. So how are we born spiritually? Simply by confessing to God that we are a sinner, that we believe Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died in our place to pay the penalty for all our sins, and accepting Him as our personal Lord and Savior.

If you have never received Jesus as your Lord and Savior and are not sure that you have been born again, the following prayer prayed genuinely will help you: “Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner and am sorry for all the wrongs that I have done. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross to pay the just penalty for all my sins. Please forgive me. I invite You, Jesus, to come into my heart and life as Lord and Savior. I commit and trust my life to You. Please give me the desire to become what You want me to be and to do what You want me to do. Thank You for dying for my sins, for Your forgiveness of all my sins, and a free pardon, for Your gift of eternal life, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer sincerely, be sure to let us know by clicking on: https://learning.actsweb.org/decision.php and we will send you further information to help you in your newfound Christian life. For further help if needed, read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian,” at: https://learning.actsweb.org/christian.

1. John 14:6 (NIV).

2. Luke 3:21-22 (NIV).

3. Romans 6:23 (NIV).

4. John 1:1, 14.

5. Colossians 2:9.

6. See the “Comparison Grid” between Christianity and Islam at: http://tinyurl.com/9khb4vd.

7. Romans 5:10 (NIV).

8. John 3:3 (NIV).

9. John 3:5-7 (NIV).