FROM THE KEYBOARD

To see the cross exposes our sin and shame. But to believe in the cross covers our sin with grace. In Christ alone, grace is greater than guilt. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1).

What the Bible calls sin is sin. Our feelings toward and our opinions about are irrelevant when the Word of Truth says something against God is irreverent. You see, Scripture, not culture, defines the standard that believers stand under. "Forever, O Lord, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens" (Psalm 119:89).

With so much happening in our world, it is evident that God is giving us a heads up to keep our heads up. You see, God often uses tribulation to get our undivided attention. As C.S.Lewis once said, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

It doesn't matter if we know all the timelines of the Bible if we don't line up our times with the Bible. You see, what good is eschatology without knowing God personally? "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed" (Romans 13:11).

Those who humbly know the Way will boldly go the Way. Also, nothing can get in the way of unashamedly showing others the Way. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

While Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven, He is preparing us for that place here on earth. You see, trials are for us in order to form us into the image of Jesus. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).