I’m sure most readers will be familiar with the concept of selective exposure, selective attention, selective perception, and selective retention. In other words, most of us tend to expose ourselves and give attention only to messages we want to hear. Furthermore, we see things the way we want to see them, and remember only what we want to remember. Everything else we filter out. We turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to what we don’t want to see or hear.

The fact is we see and hear things not the way THEY are, but the way WE are. We all see things through our mental filter which has been formed by years of past experiences. The more we were hurt or felt disillusioned in the past (unless these are resolved), the more distorted our view of reality will be—and the more selective we will be in what we unconsciously choose to hear and see.

Plus, the more we are into denial about past hurtful experiences and are not being honest with ourselves, the more TRUTH DECAY sets in causing us to distort all other truth (including God’s truth) to make it match our distorted perception of reality. For instance, why do so many people twist God’s Word to make it say what they want it to say?

On the other hand, the more honest and truthful we are with our inner self (our gut level feelings and motives), the clearer we will see—and the less we will distort—all other truth, including God’s truth. Also, the closer our relationships with others will be. People who wear masks to hide their true self cannot have in-depth relationships with others or with God. Masks may look fine on the outside, but masks cannot relate. All maskers have is a masquerade.

Truth decay is destructive to one’s physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational health. It is a destroyer of societies and opens the door for evil to enter. It is not without very good reason why God desires truth in our innermost being—not for his sake, but much more so for ours.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you are the source of all truth. Please confront me with the truth about me, deliver me from the sin of denial, and help me always to walk and live in the way of truth. Help me to be an honest, open, and authentic person. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 51:6 (NIV).

The unanswered question we asked yesterday was, “When did Adam and Eve sin?” Was it when they picked the forbidden fruit from the tree, when they ate it, or just when was it?

Actually they sinned before they took the fruit. Eating the fruit was the result of their decision to elevate themselves above God. They did exactly what Satan did. They set themselves up to be the judge between God and Satan, thus making themselves their own final voice of authority—making themselves as “god” or their own “god.” (This, too, is the essence of the supposed New Age movement, the essence of which is as old as Satan. New Age people speak not of God within, but of “the god” within.)

And that is at the heart of all sin and evil. When we make our own rules and defy those of God’s, we too become our own authority, and exalt ourselves above God, the Creator of us and the entire universe. Instead of being led by the Spirit of God, we are being led by the spirit of, or the example of, Satan, the devil—the original one to defy God, and in so doing he became the creator of evil. For a very poor comparison, making ourselves the final voice of authority by putting ourselves above God would be like an ant telling a man that it, the ant, knows better than the man. Rather absurd to say the least!

What self-proclaimed free-thinkers don’t realize is that it is impossible for any person to be a free-thinker for the simple reason that we all have a sin nature which contaminates our ability to think purely with total honesty and to see the truth as God sees it. Plus we all have prejudices, biases, and mixed motives that contaminate our thinking. And the more dishonest we are with our inner-self, the more we will distort all truth to make it match our perception of reality. The only true freedom we have is the freedom to choose God’s way or our own—to let God be God or make ourselves a “god” unto ourselves.

When you have millions of people setting themselves up above God, becoming their own authority, and deciding what is right and wrong (and justifying what they decide and do), it’s no wonder that evil is running rampant throughout the world. And it will continue to do so unless we quit playing god and let God be God and accept His Word as our final voice of authority, and live in harmony with his will and rules for fully living and fully loving.

Remember, sin is defying God and going our own way. And the fact remains; we cannot defy God and live. He has warned us, the wages of sin is still death … but the gift of God is eternal life. It is our choice which route to take—that of life or that of death.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to see clearly what the nature of sin really is and how totally destructive it is of human personality. Thank you with all my heart for providing an escape from sin’s eternal consequences through the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, who died in my place to pay the penalty for all my sins. Help me to live in harmony with your will and your Word, so that my life will always bring glory to your holy and eternal name. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Isaiah 53:5-6 (NKJV).

NOTE: To be sure you have received God’s forgiveness read, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

A man who calls himself a free thinker wrote to me saying: “Sorry folks, you have to learn a totally new way of seeing if you want to help this earth. According to your teachings your God has sinned. He created everything good and evil. And whoever creates evil is evil. Enough preaching. Enough fairy tales. Santa Claus is OK for children. Jesus Christ was most likely a nice, loving man who tried to help others. He might have even been crazy, with fanatical visions. But he was only a man.”

Quite a judgment—but also very interesting in that it pinpoints that which is at the very core of sin and evil. Note that he has put himself in the position of judging both Jesus and God which means he has put himself above God. Keep this in mind as you read this series.

First, God didn’t create evil. However, he allowed it to happen for the simple reason that he created both angels and mankind not as puppets, but with a free will so they could choose to go God’s way or “create” their own.

Second, keep in mind that the fall of Satan, the instigator of sin and evil, said, “I will become as the most high.” In other words he wanted to dethrone God and set himself up above God and become “god” himself.

Third, God told the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, that they could eat of every tree in the Garden of Eden except for the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.² This was their free-will test to choose for themselves whether to obey God or go their own way. However, God warned them of the serious consequences should they disregard his warning and eat from the forbidden tree—the consequences would be death—both spiritual and physical.³

So when did Adam and Eve sin? Was it before or when they ate the forbidden fruit? Stay “tuned” for we will answer this question tomorrow in Part II.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please open the eyes of my understanding so that I will be able to see clearly what sin is from your perspective, and why it is so totally destructive of human personality and those whom you love—us! Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Genesis 2:16-17 (NIV).

2. Ibid.

3. Genesis 2:17 (NIV).

4. Genesis 3:1 (NIV).

5. Genesis 3:4-5 (NIV).

I have read about “a scene from a movie a few years ago called ‘Nobody’s Fool.‘ There’s a working man named Donald Sullivan. Everybody calls him Sully. He’s about sixty years old, and spent his whole life in the same town. When his parents died, he inherited their house. He never moved in. Instead he left it alone. It was the house where his father beat him as a child. So he has left it alone, and every day he drives by to watch it slowly fall apart. One day he takes one of his friends, a builder, through that broken-down house.

“The builder says, ‘Sully, you could have saved this place. You could have fixed it up a little bit, rented it out. You could have sold it and put the money in your own pocket. Instead you stick it to your old man. What’s it been—thirty, thirty-five years? You’re still keeping score? Well, here’s the good news: you won.’”

Failing to forgive keeps us bound by the past and under the control of the one whom we feel hurt us and towards whom we are still nursing a grudge—even if they are dead! Little by little it will also cause the love in our heart to decay and crumble. Furthermore, nursing grudges can take years off our life.

Jesus, the Master Teacher, knew exactly what and why he was saying to forgive seven-times-seventy—meaning to never quit forgiving. Let’s be realistic and realize that “failing to forgive is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die!”

It’s not only important that we forgive all who have ever hurt us or let us down, but also that we seek forgiveness for ourselves from those whom we have hurt and above all—to ask for and experience God’s forgiveness for all our sins and wrongs.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to face any grudges I may still be nursing, confess it/these to you and to a trusted friend and, in turn, freely forgive all who have ever hurt me. And please forgive me for all my sins and wherever I have hurt others. And where best to do so, give me the courage to ask for forgiveness where I have hurt others. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: For further help see “Forgiveness: The Power That Heals” at: http://tinyurl.com/3bw3q3

A young lady from overseas wrote, “I have been asked a question by one of my non-believing friends:

‘How can you prove if God is real?’ he asked. I didn’t know how to explain because it’s just something I feel in my soul and heart. Can you please help me?”

I shared with her some helpful articles from our web site but also suggested that she might like to ask her friend how he could prove that God doesn’t exist?

For a simple but excellent answer allow me to quote the following poem:

There was a little boy,

On the week’s first day,

Coming home from Sunday School

And wandering on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass

And found a caterpillar.

He found a fluffy milkweed pod

And blew out all the filler.

A bird’s nest in a tree above,

So wisely placed on high,

Was just another wonder

That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his crooked course

And hailed him from the lawn.

He asked him where he’d been that day

And what was going on.

“I’ve been to Sunday School,” he said

As he turned a piece of sod,

And picking up a worm, he smiled,

“I’ve learned a lot from God!”

“That’s a fine way,” the neighbor said,

“For a boy to spend his time.

Now if you can tell me where God is,

I’ll give you a brand new dime.”

Quick as a flash the answer came,

The boy said without complaint,

“I’ll give you a dollar, Mister,

If you can tell me where God ain’t!”

– Author Unknown

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to so live and love that people will see Jesus in me and in so seeing, will want him for themselves. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 19:1 (NIV).

NOTE: For additional helpful articles see the following:

“Where Is God?” http://tinyurl.com/b6dsq

“Astronauts Who Found God” http://tinyurl.com/6mhmuh

“The Stones Cry Out: http://tinyurl.com/6642fh

Here’s an interesting question posed by a Daily Encounter reader: “When a Christian dies, does he go directly to heaven to be with the Lord, or does he remain in the grave until the resurrection and return of Jesus when the ‘dead in Christ’ shall rise?”

My challenger believed that I was in error saying that my friend who died is now in heaven with the Lord.

And certainly the Apostle Paul in today’s Scripture seems to indicate that when we die, we will remain in the grave until the Lord returns.

On the other hand, the Apostle Paul also said, “So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. That is why we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.”²

Again Paul seems to indicate that when a Christian dies, he goes directly to be with the Lord in Heaven. He said, “For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.”³

I don’t claim to be a theologian by any means, but it seems to me that it is our bodies that will be raised at the resurrection and return of the Lord … and that our soul/spirit goes directly to be with the Lord when we die. Keep in mind, too, that heaven is where God is.

As an interesting sidelight, another Daily Encounter reader shared the following: “When my grandmother (who was the strongest Christian woman I’ve ever known) was on her deathbed from cancer in her last moments, I vividly remember her having a smile on her face and saying, ‘Oh my, Oh my!’ I firmly believe that this was because she was seeing heaven. It is truly there!”

Either way, the most important thing of all is that we are ready to meet God face to face. I’m not in a hurry to prove my point as I hope by the grace of God I can keep publishing the gospel for many years to come.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, how can I ever thank you enough for your great love and so great a salvation, and for the blessed hope I have as a Christian, knowing that after this life on earth is over, I will live forever with you in Heaven for all eternity. And because you loved me enough to die for me, please help me to love you enough to live for you all the days of my life or until Jesus comes to take me home to Heaven. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: If you are not sure that you will go to Heaven when you die, be sure to read How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (NIV).

2. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NLT).

3. Philippians 1:21-24 (NLT).

Jesus Christ is not the only religious leader who claimed to be God, but he is the only one who ever convinced a great portion of the world that he is. He is also the only leader who ever claimed that he would rise from death.² According to historical evidence, he did. He was seen by the women who visited his tomb and found it empty, by the disciples, and by more than 500 other witnesses.³

Further evidence to support the deity of Christ is seen in the more than 300 prophecies concerning him and his life that are found in the Bible and were written centuries before his birth.

For instance, 700 years before Christ was born in Bethlehem, Micah wrote, “But you, Bethlehem…though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.”⁴

A thousand years before Christ’s death, David predicted how he would die. “They have pierced my hands and my feet,” he wrote.⁵ This happened at Christ’s crucifixion. This is even more remarkable when considering that in David’s time, death by crucifixion was unknown. This inhuman, torturous death was first used by the Persians centuries later.

David also predicted that Christ would be betrayed by a friend, that people would “throw dice” for his clothes, and that he would die with criminals.⁶ He also predicted the dying Savior’s cry: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”⁷ All of these predictions came true.

Six hundred years prior to Christ’s coming, Daniel predicted when it would be. One hundred years later Zechariah told how Christ would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey; how he would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver; and how this money would be used to buy a potter’s field.⁸

All these predictions about Christ and many more—written hundreds of years before his coming—were fulfilled in detail, giving evidence to show that Jesus Christ was indeed God’s promised Messiah—the Savior of the world.

When Jesus came, he asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”⁹

This is the crucial question that each of us needs to answer. If Christ is who he claims to be, then our response to this question will determine our relationship to God for all eternity.

Jesus himself said, “He who is not with me is against me.”¹⁰ That is, unless we act on our belief and make a commitment to follow Christ in our everyday life, we are automatically against him.

However, if you do believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and have never committed your life to him, you can do so through a simple prayer of faith. Tell Christ that you believe he is the Son of God who died for your sins, and that you would like to become one of his true followers starting today. To assist you in doing this, click on “God’s Invitation at: http://tinyurl.com/6k49w.

Suggested prayer for those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior: “Dear God, thank you for revealing yourself in the heavens and all of nature; in your Word, the Bible; and especially in and through Jesus Christ—the Son of the Living God-my Lord, My God, and my Savior. Help me always to live so my life will be a living example of Christ living in me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 16:21 (NIV).

2. Matthew 16:21.

3. Luke 24:13-43; 1 Corinthians 15:5-8.

4. Micah 5:2 (NIV).

5. Psalm 22:16 (NIV).

6. Psalm 41:9; 22:18.

7. Psalm 22:1 (NIV).

8. Daniel 9:25-26; Zechariah 9:9-10; 11:12.

9. Matthew 16:15-16 (NIV).

10. Luke 11:23, 4 (NIV).

NOTE: Yesterday and today’s Daily Encounters have been adapted from the article, “Jesus Christ: God or Man?” by Dick Innes at: http://tinyurl.com/lu577

Almost 2,000 years ago when Caesar Augustus was ruling the vast Roman Empire, Jesus Christ was born in Palestine in very humble circumstances. Until he was 30 he was virtually unknown.

However, during a brief three-year public ministry, his impact was such that it changed the world—including the change of our calendar from B.C. to A.D.

H.G. Wells, the famous historian, once said about Christ: “I am not a believer. But I must confess, as an historian, this penniless creature from Galilee is irresistibly the center of history.”

No other person ever made the stupendous claims that Jesus did. He claimed to be the Son of God, the promised Jewish Messiah, and the only way to God for all mankind. He claimed to have power to forgive sins and to give people eternal life. Above all, he claimed to be God, saying, “I and the Father [God] are one.”²

Socrates once said, “Oh, that someone would arise, man or God, to show us God.” Four hundred years later Christ came and claimed to be that person.

But was Jesus Christ the Son of God? If not, he would have been the greatest impostor who ever lived!

Lew Wallace, a distinguished general and literary genius, and Robert Ingersoll, a notable skeptic, agreed to write a book that would prove Christianity to be a myth. After two years of research, however, in some of the leading libraries of Europe and America in preparation for writing this book, Mr. Wallace had a transformation of attitude. He was only up to the second chapter when he fell to his knees and prayed, “My Lord and my God.”

After studying the evidence, Wallace became convinced of the deity of Jesus Christ. He then wrote Ben Hur, one of the greatest novels ever written about the times of Christ. Later, Robert Ingersoll had this to say: “In using my speeches, do not use any assault I may have made on Christ, which I foolishly made in my early life.” A similar thing happened to one of today’s leading Christian authors and spokesmen, Josh McDowell. His outstanding book that supports Christianity, Evidence That Demands a Verdict, began as his attempt to deny Christianity.

As another has said, “You can speak of Jesus as prophet, holy man, teacher, or spiritual leader, and few will object. But speak of Him as Son of God, divine, of the same nature as [God] the Father, and people will line up to express their disapproval. A billion Muslims will say: “Prophet, yes. God, no!” Jews scattered around the world will say: “Teacher, yes. Messiah, no!” Liberal Protestants and religionists of various stripes will say: “Exemplary man, yes. Divine, no!”

But as Jesus said to his disciples he also says to you and me, “Who do you say that I am?”

One’s answer to that question will help determine his or her eternal destiny and that of every person alive today.

To be continued…

Suggested prayer. “Dear God, in a world where lies abound and where truth is contaminated by lies, making it more deadly than poison, help me to see the truth about you, the truth about Jesus, the truth about your Word, and the truth about me and the condition of my soul—and help me to see my need of your forgiveness and eternal salvation. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 16:13-16 (NIV).

2. John 10:30 (NIV).

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).

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).