Faith!

    Faith is a very essential part of life.  Yes it is!  But, the basis of our faith must be first and foremost in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Sir Donald Malcolm Campbell, the British car and boat racer and holder of several world speed records, lost his life while racing a fast boat on one of the lakes of Scotland.  The boat exploded and rapidly sank.  The only thing that ever surfaced was a toy stuffed animal which was Campbell's good luck charm.  The stuffed animal was powerless to help him in the fatal and final moments of his life.  Which concludes that faith is only as good as its object is.  The comedian Steve Martin once said, "It's so hard to believe in anything any more…I guess I wouldn't believe in anything if it weren't for my lucky Astrology Mood Watch." 
     In dealing with people I realize that everyone believes in something; they do have faith.  The only difference is in the object of their faith and its dynamics.  Hugh Schonfield's "Passover Plot" is one of the feeble attempts to explain away the events of the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  But it, like all the others, relies on that ancient lie that circulated in the first century by the Roman soldiers who were paid to say that the friends of Jesus had come and stolen His body away.  But no one has ever been able to explain how the massive stone was rolled away from the tomb while the soldiers stood and guarded it.  The truth is, the suffering, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most phenomenal event to ever take place at any given time in history. 
     So dynamic are the occurrences of Christ's life that all civilized nations have set their calendars to B.C. and A.D.  Still there are many who cannot believe that Christ's record is true.  Even one of His own disciples, Thomas, had a difficult time believing that Jesus Christ was resurrected and alive.  After hearing the testimonies of those who had seen Christ up and about he said, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25).  Eight days later Christ appeared on the scene and said to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.  Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and My God.  Jesus said, "Thomas, because you have seen me you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:27-29). 
     For the benefit of our faith there is much more proof that Christ arose from the grave and is still alive.  He appeared to more than 500 men at one time and taught them the principles of the Kingdom of God. And "while He was speaking He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight..." (Acts 1:1-11).  Blessed is the man whose faith and hope is in Christ Jesus.  He shall be like a tree that is planted and flourishing.  For more info you can go to www.JoyChristianMinistries.com

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