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The
BIBLE, GOD &
Christian Values
by Rev. Max
Solbrekken, D.D. |
Have you ever
wondered what righteous or wicked men and women, now deceased,
would have to tell us - if it were possible - of what they are
NOW experiencing in either Heaven or Hell?
What would they
say? Would they bring us a strong admonition, with dire
warnings? Would they share words of encouragement and
blessing? Would they speak of peace, gladness, sorrow or
regrets? Or might they hurl verbal accusations against
theologians and pastors who had lied to them about ETERNITY
and the wages of sin, which is death? (Rom. 6:23)
SATAN
& HIS EMISSARIES:
TRANSLATED INTO ANGELS OF LIGHT!
I'm not referring
to the hocus pocus antics of spiritualist mediums who
"mutter and peep" (Is. 8:19) during their dubious
séances, supposedly communicating with the dead- in violation
of God's Word- and often conjure up masquerading demons who
dispense only half-truths, lies and deception!
Nor am I
referring to the cacophony of weird, occult spirit guides,
channelers, yoga flyers, pyramid power and crystal balers,
soul travelers and clairvoyants who make up the New Age
Movement!
St. Paul warned
that Satan has the ability to transform himself - as do his
ministers - into “an angel of light” (2 Cor.11:14,15),
seeking to deceive the spiritually ignorant and gullible into
trusting his lies rather than believing in Jesus Christ the
true "light of the world"! (John 8:12)
I am referring to
the words of Jesus Christ Who said, 'I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH
AND THE LIFE, no man cometh unto the Father but by Me."
(John 14:6) "Come unto Me all ye who labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest". (Matt.11:28)
Jesus told the
story of two men who died and what their final outcome was. He
allowed us to look beyond the veil to see what happens at the
time of expiration and 'after death'!
Lazarus was
terminally ill, unable to work and had to resort to begging,
in order to stay alive. The other man whom Jesus did not name,
was very rich with no thought for God or anyone else. He had
no compassion for the poor, as was evidenced by his treatment
of the beggar who was carried daily to his gate and subsisted
only on the crumbs which fell from his table!
THE HOLY BIBLE, WHICH IS THE
WORD OF GOD IS THE ONLY BOOK YOU CAN RELY ON!
Taking his last
breath 'didn't end it' for Lazarus. Jesus stated that "he
was carried by the angels into paradise - Abraham's
bosom" - where he was comforted. When the "rich
man" died, he was undoubtedly afforded a splendid
funeral, but that wasn't the end for him either! Here is 'THE
REST OF THE STORY', as Paul Harvey would put it!
"And in hell
he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and he cried and
said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that
he may dip his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am
tormented in this flame."
Abraham refused
his plea, stating: "Between us and you there is a great
gulf fixed" with no traffic allowed between the Two
Places! Then the 'doomed man' became missionary-minded and
pleaded that Lazarus be sent to urge his five brothers to
repent of their sins, "lest they come into this place of
torment"! Again Abraham had to refuse his request saying,
"They have Moses and the prophets; Let them hear
them".
The rich man
remonstrated, saying: "Nay, father Abraham: but if one
went unto them from the dead they will repent." Abraham
got the last word, however: "If they hear not Moses and
the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, thou one rose
from the dead." (Luke 16:19-31)
What will it
take, to cause people to repent? To forsake their sins and be
converted? To turn from their wicked ways and give their lives
to God through Jesus Christ our Lord? Some are fortunate
enough to get a 'FINAL WAKE-UP CALL', in the form of a
national disaster, a personal bankruptcy, the loss of a loved
one, a marriage break-up, a terminal illness or even a jail
term! And yet
others, will still continue rejecting the Lord, until it is
too late. And they will be lost forever! How sad!
PERSONAL
TESTIMONIES OF INFLUENTIAL MEN!
Some time ago
while preaching in Norway, I was given a copy of the powerful
testimonies of a number of very influential men, who had
expressed their personal beliefs in no uncertain terms. Here
are several of them.
SWEDISH
AUTHOR AUGUST STRINDBERG:
Shortly before
his death, well-known Swedish author, August Strinberg, made
this statement. "Clearly said: I ascribe all my
misfortune to this one fact, that I have been godless! An
individual that has broken contact with God, cannot receive
any blessings. All this talk about 'being your own man and
making your own happiness' is chaff!
"If the Lord does
not build the house, they labour in vain who build it. That is
the whole truth!
"That
misfortune can also strike a person of faith, we know. But the
outcome is not the same. These accidents seem only like trials
that pass over and leave peace in their wake!
"A curse
rests upon everything that an ungodly person puts his hand to.
If money comes his way, it will disappear like it came.
Nothing remains, nothing prospers in the life of the
ungodly!"
SIR WINSTON
CHURCHILL:
When Sir Winston
Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain visited Norway
shortly after World War 11, he spoke at Oslo's University.
Here are some of his remarkable words.
"In order to
make excuses for myself, I could mention the school teachers
of my youth who rejected Christianity. But I will lay the
blame upon myself. Then, maybe I'll find ONE who will carry
that for me. "Nothing
can come against the future of a people who has the Christian
ethic as their leading light. Christianity is the most secure
foundation for a people!"
PRESIDENT
DWIGHT EISENHOWER:
In a radio and
television speech, US President Eisenhower said:
"The Christian
Faith is the surest strength and the greatest preserve that
America has. On the battlefields we learned that there are no
atheists in the foxholes!
"In the
highest sense, the Bible is to us the unique repository of
eternal spiritual truths. In the most tangible sense, it is
the ultimate and indispensable source of inspiration for
America's life in freedom."
PRESIDENT
GEORGES CLEMENCAU:
The French
President, Georges Clemencau was an atheist and God rejecter.
Shortly before his death in 1929, he wrote this letter to his
friend, Gustav Herve (1871-1944), French politician &
publicist:
"Dear
friend! I will soon leave this world. You know that during my
entire life-time I have run roughshod over Christianity, and
similarly, so has my republican government done!
"I am now
convinced, however, that it is impossible to build an ordered
society upon unbelief. If I had understood this earlier, I
would have without fear of being ridiculed stood in the breach
for it, like you are doing.
"I hereby give
you full authority to officially make known my testament, as
an educational lesson for the next generation."
PRINCE
OSKAR BERNADOTTE:
At the conclusion
of a speech, Prince Bernadotte (1859-1958) of Sweden, stated:
"To all here present I wish to testify, that the greatest
thing in my life is to be a witness for Jesus. A person could
easily believe that someone in my position should always be
happy, but that is not the case.
"Being in
possession of the very choicest of what this world has to
offer, wouldn't give an individual peace. The heart of man
longs for something better!
"Immediately,
after receiving the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart, that
restless longing for something more was gone. My desire and
goal in life is to be a witness about His love in word and
deed. "And
I wish to say to all who listen to these words, that it is a
joy to serve Him, a great - great joy."
HERE ARE SOME
MORE POWERFUL WITNESSES FOR JESUS AND HIS GOSPEL, WHICH PROVE
THE ENNOBLING AFFECT CHRISTIANITY HAS HAD AND CONTINUES TO
HAVE UPON INDIVIDUAL LIVES AND SOCIETY AT LARGE!
CROWN
PRINCE HAAKON MAGNUS:
In an interview
with NRK TV Oslo, on July 20, 1991, Norway’s Crown Prince
Haakon stated: “Jesus is my hero, my role model”.
The interview
took place on Haakon’s 18th Birthday and his declaration
about Jesus was in response to a question he was asked about
whether he had any other role models outside his immediate
family.
He said, “I
believe that Christianity is a very fine model, whether people
are religious or not. In many ways Christianity is the
strength that carries us in Norway. Especially when times are
tough and difficult, it is important that people know that
there is a spinal-cord in our faith, nationally”.
When asked if
this faith was important for him personally, Haakon answered:
“Yes, since very young. I have a very strong relationship,
especially with the New Testament. I remember my confirmation
was a strong experience for me - not just the ceremony in the
Palace Chapel, but also preparing for it”.
THE
NORWEGIAN ROYAL FAMILY:
Norway’s Royal
Family has always had a strong Christian influence on that
nation! As the Nazis were invading Norway, during World War
II, King Haakon was forced to flee with his family and the
entire government to England.
Speaking to the
Norwegian people on BBC radio from London on Christmas Eve
1940, the king stated: “Men have removed my name from the
official prayers of the Norwegian Church. I include in my
prayers, my Christmas wishes and thoughts for all the
Norwegian people, that you will join with me and mine in a
red-hot prayer for the future of Norway”.
KING OLAV V:
When this godly
man was crowned in 1958, he said: “It seems only natural to
me that the king should pray for forgiveness for his deeds”.
Several years
before his death, King Olav spoke in ‘King Haakon’s
Cathedral’ in Copenhagen. His closing remarks were: “I
pray that this Church will continue to be a great blessing to
the Danish people, even until the Coming of Jesus Christ”.
When the service was
concluded, the Bishop asked King Olav if he believed in the
‘Second Coming of Jesus Christ’, to which the king
answered emphatically, “JA VIST!” meaning “YES, OF
COURSE”!
HIS
MAJESTY KING HARALD:
During a 1995
interview, King Harald expressed himself thusly: “It is good
to receive letters from people informing me that they are
praying for me. There is power in the ‘folded hands’, and
when that power is concentrated on the work of the king,
clearly it feels good”.
CHARLES LAMB:
In a letter
published after his death, Robert Browning, the famous poet,
quoted the utterances of men of genius concerning the
Christian faith. Here is one from the eminent Charles Lamb,
British author and critic (1775-1834):
"In a gay
fancy with some friends as to how they would feel if some of
the greatest of the dead were to appear suddenly in flesh and
blood once more, on the final suggestion, 'And if Christ
entered this room?' he changed his manner at once and
stuttered out as his manner was when moved, 'You see if
Shakespeare entered we should all rise; if HE appeared, we
must kneel."
VICTOR
HUGO:
The distinguished
French author Victor Hugo (1802-1885), wrote: “England has
two great books, the Bible and Shakespeare. England made
Shakespeare and the Bible made England”.
PRESIDENT
ABRAHAM LINCOLN:
“I believe the
Bible is the best gift God has ever given to mankind. All of
the good from the Saviour of this world is communicated
through this Book; but for this Book, we could not know right
from wrong. All of the things desirable to man are contained
in it”.
ALEXIS
DE TOCQUILLE:
In 1931, Alexis
de Tocquille was given a commission by the government of
France to examine the prisons and penitentiaries of America.
While in that country, he gathered information for a
penetrating study of American society and politics.
This led to the
publication of his two volumes on ‘Democracy in America’
(1835, 1840) which won him a reputation in Europe and a seat
on the ‘French Academy’. The Encyclopedia Britannica says:
“...his writings proved him to be one of the shrewdest, if
more pessimistic, political observers of his century”.
Tocquille wrote:
“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her
commodious harbours and her ample rivers, and it was not
there: in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it
was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America,
and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness, did I
understand the secret of her genius and power.”
EMPEROR
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE:
Fredrick W. Kates’
article in ‘The Churchman’ states: “It is hardly to such
a man as Napoleon Bonaparte one would turn for spiritual
enlightenment: but it is interesting indeed to note what he
said about Jesus of Nazareth and the Christian religion:
“I see in
Lycurgus, Numa and Mohammed only legislators who, having the
first rank in the state, have sought the best solution of the
social problem”, said Napoleon, “but I see nothing there
which reveals divinity...nothing announces them divine. On the
contrary, there are numerous resemblances between them &
myself, foibles and errors which ally them to me and to
humanity.
“IT IS NOT SO
WITH CHRIST”, he continued in this conversation with General
Bertrand, one of his companions during the twilight days of
his meteoric career! “Everything in Him astonishes me. His
spirit overawes me, and His will confounds me. Beside Him and
whoever else in the world, there is no possible term of
comparison. HE IS TRULY A BEING BY HIMSELF. His ideals and His
sentiments, the truths which He announces, His manner of
convincing, are not explained either by human organization or
by the nature of things.
“His birth and
the history of His life; the profundity of His doctrine, which
grapples the mightiest difficulties, and which is, of those
difficulties, the most admirable solution; His Gospel, His
apparition, His empire, His march across the ages and the
realms, is for me a prodigy, a mystery insoluble, which
plunges me into a reverence which I cannot escape, a mystery
which is there before my eyes, a mystery which I cannot deny
or explain. Here I see nothing human.
“The nearer I
approach, the more carefully I examine, everything is above
me, everything remains grand - and of a grandeur which
overpowers."
“His religion
is a revelation from an intelligence which certainly is not a
man. There is a profound originality, which has created a
series of maxims before unknown. Jesus borrowed nothing from
our sciences. One can absolutely find nowhere, but in Him
alone, the imitation or the example of His life.”
IN
ANOTHER PLACE, NAPOLEON WROTE:
“I know men;
and I tell you that Jesus is not a man. Superficial minds see
a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires, and
the gods of other religions, that resemblance does not exist.
There is between Christianity and other religions, the
distance of infinity...”
PRESIDENT
CHIANG KAI SHEK:
Here is the
personal testimony of Taiwan’s President Chiang Kai Shek to
his people, after fleeing the onslaught of China’s communist
chief and mass murderer, Mao Zedong.
“How I wish that
all the people would read the Bible, worship and believe in
the One and Only True God! The Bible which is God’s living,
inspired and true Word teaches us about the triune God:
Father, Son & Holy Spirit".
“The Bible also
declares that we can attain righteousness by our faith in His
Son Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself through His death on the
cross, and shed His blood as an offering for sin. God’s
righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ exalts a nation. That
has been proven historically.
“Christ is
FREEDOM’S rock. His love covers a multitude of sins.
Everyone who believes on Him shall receive eternal life!”
JOHN
NEWTON:
One of the world’s
most beloved hymns was written by John Newton. Here is the
first verse of that song:
“Amazing
Grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see.”
The epitaph of
John Newton’s tombstone, in his own words give a powerful
testimony of GOD’S GRACE in his life: “I was an infidel,
libertine and slave trader, but by the rich mercy of Jesus I
was preserved, restored, pardoned and appointed to preach the
faith I long laboured to destroy.”
CHRIST IS THE
GREATEST PHILOSOPHER:
HE CHANGED MY LIFE ~ GOVERNOR GEORGE W. BUSH:
During the
current Republican primary (Feb/2000), Texas Gov. George W.
Bush made a very profound statement, more intellectually
brilliant than many of the theologians, philosophers and
politicians I have studied for the past forty years!
When asked by
reporters, "Who do you consider the greatest
philosopher"? he answered, "Christ. He changed my
heart!"
I have often used
those very same words, stating unequivocally that the
'PHILOSOPHY OF JESUS' like: "Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you" and "Thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart...and thy neighbour as
thyself", is unparalleled among any group of secular
philosophers or religious gurus you may name!
Ask yourself:
"Could anyone improve upon His parable of the 'Good
Samaritan' which He used to lecture the lawyer who asked,
"Who is my neighbour?" The answer is,
"CERTAINLY NOT!"
Let’s look at
the statements and actions of some of the so-called great
philosophers we have had to study over the years:
PLATO
- (427-348 B.C.):
Plato, the Greek
Philosopher - a student of Socrates, a Greek teacher of wisdom
and ethics - in 375 B.C. stated:
“Our men &
women should be forbidden by law to live together in separate
households and all women should be common to all men.
Similarly, all children should be held in common. No parent
should know its child or child its parent.”
Have you
heard of anything so warped, wanton & twisted, coming from
the pen of a so-called brilliant philosopher? Without doubt,
Plato was a DEVIANT and PERVERT of the first degree!
After reading
such a carnal, lustful and immoral statement about the sacred
state of marriage, love and family, how could anyone trust his
opinions about God, existence, the purpose of life, death or
the ‘afterlife’!
The teaching of
Socrates, who advocated that “virtue is wisdom”, was most
certainly lost on his protégé Plato
JESUS
HAD A LOT TO SAY ABOUT LIFE!
He said, “I am
the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. No man cometh unto the Father
but by Me”. (John 14:6) He stated, “The thief (devil)
cometh not but to steal, kill and destroy. I am come that ye
might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
And He spoke about
ETERNAL LIFE: “For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16)
BERTRAND
RUSSELL:
This supposedly
brilliant philosopher lived to be almost 100 years of age and
died as an unbeliever. And, that is sad!
He wrote the
book, ‘Why I am Not a Christian’, even after having had
the privilege of reading the greatest of all books, ‘THE
HOLY BIBLE’, which is the Word of God.
Jesus Christ
declared that “Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye
have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me”.
(John 5:39), and St. Paul stated that “the scriptures are
able to make thee wise unto salvation”. (2 Tim. 3:15)
We cannot compare
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, with a SPIRITUAL ILLITERATE like
Bertrand Russell, who at an advanced age - when he should have
known better - allegedly dispensed advise about loosening our
moral codes to give more license to “free sex”!
What an “idiot”
to give such advice to a generation of young people - who were
already ‘chomping at the bit’ to kick-over-the-traces
sexually, causing broken hearts, broken homes, aborted babies
and untold suffering for so many for years to come!
They say, “There’s
no fool like an old fool” and I say, “There is no fool
like an old philosopher”!
JAMES
RUSSEL LOWELL:
James Russell
Lowell was a literary genius and one-time U.S.
minister-ambassador to Great Britain. Here is his answer to a
sarcastic critic:
"I challenge
any skeptic to find a ten-square-mile spot on this planet
where they can live their lives in peace and safety and
decency, where womanhood is honoured, where infants and old
are revered, where they can educate their children, where the
Gospel of Jesus Christ has not gone first to prepare the way.
If they find such a place, then I would encourage them to
emigrate thither and there proclaim their unbelief."
I challenge any
pointy-headed University professor, seminary theologian or
media talking-head to come up with a better philosophy than
the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which changes hearts and lives for
the better!
JESUS
REGULARLY QUOTED THE LAW, PSALMS & THE PROPHETS!
Jeremiah stated,
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked (incurably sick): who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9;
Eccl. 9:3)
And Jesus
declared, "For from within, out of the heart of men,
proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an
evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness." (Mark 7:21,22)
Ezekiel stated:
"Repent, and turn yourselves from all your
transgressions...A new heart also will I give you, and a new
spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony
heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
“And will put
My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes,
and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them." (Ezek.
18:31; 36:26,27)
THE BIBLE SAYS:
"Therefore, if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new
creation; behold, old things are passed away; all things
become new." (2 Cor. 5:17)
Jesus Christ is
not only the Savior of the world, the Great Physician and
Healer of broken hearts, minds and families, but He is also
the greatest Teacher and dispenser of Wisdom and Understanding
this world will ever know!
AND YES, THE
WORLD'S GREATEST PHILOSOPHER, AS WELL, BECAUSE HE CHANGES
HEARTS AND LIVES TODAY! AND ISN'T THAT WHAT EVERYONE HOPES AND
LONGS FOR?
By the Person of
the blessed Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ is reaching out even now
to bring forgiveness, love, peace, joy & healing to each
one of us at this very moment!
He said, “Come
unto Me, all ye who labour and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest”. (Matt. 11:28) Amen.
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