The Right Choice

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

-- Acts 4:12

We live in a nation that’s blessed with choices. Need a cell phone? There are dozens of retailers offering hundreds of devices from Apple, Samsung, LG and other manufacturers. Well-stocked supermarkets may offer 10 or more brands of bottled water. And if you’re looking for entertainment, Netflix, Apple TV and Hulu have a program or movie for just about everyone — from cartoons to romantic comedies to horror flicks. Then there’s that ubiquitous online marketplace, Amazon.com. According to the BigCommerce website, Amazon is where you’ll find your choice of more than 350 million different products!

Choice has long been popular in America, so it’s no surprise that we also have

options for religion. There's something for every taste and preference. And making it more confusing is that many well-meaning people contend that which one you choose doesn't really matter — just so long as you're sincere in your beliefs and it makes you happy. After all, one person's truth isn't someone else's. It's all relative. And we're all worshipping the same god anyway. Right?

Not really! The Bible makes several startling claims that collide with the easy-going beliefs of our modern-day culture. And it also backs them up. For example, the Old Testament accurately predicted Jesus' birth — even the name of the tiny village where it would happen — centuries before the fact. And we read that in Jesus' brief time on earth, he cured the sick, raised the dead, forgave sins and became a living sacrifice to pay the price for all the wrongs of the world. His resurrection from the grave, just as he foretold, proved his ultimate power over death. And 2,000 years later, Christ's words continue to change lives and make an eternal difference:

"I am the vine; you are the branches," he proclaims through John's gospel. "If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Many people, even those who aren't Christ-followers, agree that Jesus was a "good" man and a "wise" teacher. But the hot button question is whether or not he's the only way to God. The short answer is ... YES! Jesus declares that no one can come to the Father (God) except through him. But that's a disturbing claim these days because it asserts exclusivity. And many would call it intolerant.

But maybe Jesus’ claim isn’t quite so exclusive after all. Let's consider that his death and resurrection make eternal life possible for anyone who accepts God's free gift. No one who wants a new life through the Savior is turned away. And unlike manmade religions, the way to God isn't about keeping certain rules, saying special prayers or eating (or not eating) particular foods. Instead, being a Christ-follower is about having a personal relationship with Jesus, accepting what he’s already accomplished — and letting him live through us. All we need to do is choose to come to him in faith. 

In a world with 20 major religions plus thousands of related offshoots, Jesus alone is the right choice. 

At Your Service

My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don't do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you?

-- James 2:14

The retail and hospitality segments of America’s economy lost millions of jobs in 2020 following the forced shutdown of businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But as people from coast to coast sheltered in place and worked remotely from home, demand soared for residential deliveries of products and services ranging from groceries to exercise equipment. The result is that companies like Amazon, FedEx, and UPS are constantly hiring more workers to process and deliver it all. And the public’s insatiable demand for these services only continues to grow as we approach the holidays. 

The logistics industry doesn’t have a monopoly on service. The church, in

fact, has 2,000 years of experience with it. So whenever one of those familiar Amazon vans drops off a package in your neighborhood, think about Jesus’ example to his followers about serving others: 

“In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served,” the Savior tells us. “He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

Jesus turns the notion of greatness on its head by emphasizing the server over the one he or she serves. What follows is that Christ-followers are to be Jesus’ hands and feet on earth while we wait for his return — or that day when he calls us back home (whichever comes first). Until then, we’re to help prepare God’s kingdom by making the most of the different gifts and talents he’s given us to serve others. 

But when we serve, it’s not about us. It’s instead about our Creator and his creation. With this in mind, let’s turn our faith into action by accepting Jesus’ invitation to help brighten a dark, dying world that’s so much in need of light, truth and love. 

“Make your light shine,” he says, “so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.”

That’s a prime level of service that Amazon will never deliver.

Pledge of Allegiance

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.

– Romans 12:1

Americans of a certain age will recall that the Pledge of Allegiance was recited each morning in classrooms across the nation — with millions of students placing their right hand over their heart — and all in front of the flag. It was a daily declaration of devotion to the Stars and Stripes and the republic for which it stands.

Being a Christ-follower also calls for allegiance, but to One who's much

greater than any flag or nation. In fact, Jesus requires total devotion from his disciples and would-be followers. Half-heartedness and non-committal don't make the cut.

Believers should therefore demonstrate a Christ-centered faith through their words and deeds. That doesn't mean we must earn God's favor through good works and morality, following a set of rules, or going to church religiously and putting a check in the bucket each Sunday. In fact, we read in Isaiah 64:6 that our so-called good deeds are considered filthy rags when compared to God's high standards of perfection. That's why Jesus — who actually DID live a perfect, sin-free life — was the only one worthy enough to pay the penalty we all deserve for failing our Creator.

Although we're powerless to save ourselves, our Savior did so willingly to accomplish what was planned at the foundation of the world. It's through this sacrifice that he made it possible for his followers in the centuries that followed to serve as his hands and feet on earth. To illustrate the importance of his incredible mission, Jesus told a story about a master, who gave each of his three servants a considerable sum of money to invest while he was away on an extended trip. After a while, the master returned to claim what was his. He was pleased with the first two servants, who had used their funds wisely. Their efforts and willingness to risk their allocations resulted in doubling the money. But it wasn't so with the third servant. He was afraid of his boss' stern reputation and didn't want to risk a loss. So instead, he played it safe and buried his master's money in a hole in the ground.

This is where modern-day Christ-followers enter the picture. Like the three servants in the story, we've also received resources, skills and opportunities to invest in the lives of others. The beneficiaries could be your spouse, sibling or child. They might also be a coworker, neighbor, villagers in Central America ... or maybe someone God puts in your path through unexpected circumstances.

So here's the obvious question: How are we investing what God has given to us? Are we turning our faith into action and changing the world one person at a time, or are we playing it safe? 

The answer depends on our allegiance.

In God We Trust

 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.

– Proverbs 23:4

In 1864, the official motto of the United States — In God We Trust — made its first appearance on the two-cent coin. How ironic that “Godless” money should cite such an important

reminder about the real Source of our security. But if we’re really honest with ourselves, shouldn’t the motto read: In GOLD We Trust? After all, when things get tough in life, it’s only natural to rely on our money, riches and our own efforts rather than the One who makes it possible to earn a living. But reliance on job security, the stock market and our street-smarts is never wise — particularly these days. As comedian Chris Rock once described the so-called reliability of fame and celebrity: You’re here today … and gone TODAY.

It’s an unsettling fact: Our bank accounts and popularity are no defense against life’s hard realities. Terminal illnesses strike, relationships fail, and that which seemed solid turns to dust in our hands. What we desperately need is something — or Someone — who’s dependable. Who never changes. Who we can trust.

Jesus paints a vivid picture of this universal quest through his story about the foolish man who built a house on shifting sands. When the storm struck, the rains came and the winds blew with fury. It’s no surprise that the flimsy structure collapsed with a crash. But the wise man — in comparison — built his house on a foundation of solid rock. So when the storm clouds of life boiled on the horizon, that house withstood even the heaviest downpours.

This leads us to the obvious question: Are you counting on your money to save you when, as that insurance commercial puts it, “life happens”? If so, why not trust in God: The One who made you and knew everything about you before you were even born. You can take that to the bank!

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust,” we read in Psalms, “who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.”