Northgate RV Travel Park, Athens, Alabama
We attended First Baptist Church of Athens today. In a state where most of what we’ve seen are small churches, this one is enormous by comparison. They had 1,300 in attendance for Easter. I know. That’s Easter. But there were quite a few today too. It seems to be a large, healthy church with lots of outreach ministries and a very large choir – who were actually wearing robes. We haven’t seen that in years!
This church also ran a list of some of the names of Jesus, making this the second week in a row we’ve been exposed to that – and in different churches/towns, too. Think God is trying to tell us something? It’s also the third week in a row (again different churches) we’ve worshiped to the song, “Glorious Day”. We’d never heard it before, but it turns out that our home church, The Chapel, also introduced the song on Easter. Must be new, but it’s very good!
The pastor was completing a sermon series on “The Case for Christ” which is based on an excellent book by Lee Strobel. If you don’t know the name, he was (is?) an attorney. His wife became a Christian and he set out to prove her wrong, just like he would for a trial case. He ended up convincing himself that he was wrong, and he became a Christian as well. Jesus always comes to the earnest seekers who invite Him in! The book presents his information, but in an easily readable way.
This weeks’ lesson was titled, “Jesus – Liar, Lunatic or Lord?” Scripture focused on Matthew 16:13-17 – ‘Who do You say that I am?’
Is Jesus a liar? If He knew He wasn’t Who He claimed to be (God), then He must have been crazy because growing up in Jewish culture, He knew that making such a claim would lead to His death. The death penalty back then wasn’t nearly as ‘easy’ as it is today. If it was a Jewish sentence, it was stoning, which meant being put in a pit and having people throw rocks at you until you were dead. The other option was a Roman death which, at that time was usually crucifixion. This was even more grueling as you hung by your wrists and feet until you died of asphyxiation after days of excruciating torture. No sane person would make an effort to choose to die. And yet, Jesus did. (John 19:7)
Could someone who knew he was lying or was crazy have been able to teach like He did? No.
Was Jesus sincere in His belief in His identity, but sincerely wrong? He claimed to be I AM. According to the Pastor, a measure of your insanity is the size of the gap between what you think you are and what you really are. In other words, you may think you’re a great contributor to society. Are you really? Maybe, maybe not, but that doesn’t make you insane. You may think you’re always right about everything. Maybe, maybe not, but that doesn’t make you insane. But, if you think you’re a butterfly? . . . . Well, Jesus thought He was God. That’s an even bigger gap than a butterfly – – unless it’s true.
So, is Jesus Lord?
People try to write Him off all the time, even going so far as to say that He didn’t really exist, but there is historical evidence of Jesus’ existence outside of the Bible. And from all walks of life. People like the Roman historian, Tacitus and the Jewish historian, Josephus provide plenty of proof. And there is no evidence that those who opposed Him and His teaching didn’t believe in His existence.
Everything He ever did. Everything He ever said. Every honest scrap of evidence only serves to prove that Jesus is Who He says He is. He is the Son of God. The Way, the Truth and The Life. And no one comes to the Father except through Him. Which means, there is no other way to Heaven. Which means there is eternal life for everyone – and only you can choose where you will spend eternity. With the Father? Or without Him? Heaven? Or Hell? Just remember – choosing not to choose is still a choice. You either make the conscience decision to choose Him, thereby choosing eternal life, or you’ve chosen not to, which is eternal damnation and separation from God.
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. ~ John 20:30-31
We all have a choice. What have you chosen?
They’re mowing today at the campground. A teenager on a riding mower. Riding up and down the rows between us. Knowing Alabama resident’s general driving skills, it made me very nervous! Thankfully, no collisions!
TOTAL HIKING MILES: 0
Year To Date: 253
Daily Average: 2.60