It is my goal to stay with the Word of God and help it make sense to you. And it's my purpose for you to make sense out of your life, to understand that God does love and care about you, and to know that He has an answer to life's questions.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

When I was a boy, my family went to visit my grandparents. I go to the barbershop. After asking my name, the barber cries, You look just like your dad did when he was your age!

My father has a good reputation. Do you know that the Bible speaks about a Father with a good reputation? (It also speaks of a father without one.)

The story begins when Jesus is at the temple in Jerusalem for the Feast of Lights. The ceremony commemorates both the cloud and the pillar of fire that led the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt.

At night, two seventy-five foot pillars spread light all around Jerusalem. At the top of each pillar, a bowl of olive oil and wicks is perched. (As all items about the temple are sacred, the worn-out garment of the priests, especially the underwear, are collected and made into wicks. That way, they are destroyed in a ceremonial service.) The Israelites, following the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, are not lost on the desert. Not one will be lost by following Jesus. So, at the feast he declares that He is the light of the world.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.' John 8:12 NKJV

When Jesus declares Himself the light of the world, Who can save sinners, He declares Himself to be God. A confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders ensues.

The people know the story of Jesus birth: Mary, His mother, had been pregnant out of wedlock. The Pharisees, implying that He is a Nazarene born in fornication, claim that He cannot be God. How would God associate with Him like that? John inserts that no man laid a hand on Him because the Pharisees wanted to kill Him then and there.

Then they said to Him, 'Where is Your Father?'

Jesus answered, 'You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known my Father also.'

These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come. John 8:19-20 NKJV

Jesus recognizes the heart condition of the Pharisees. Hardest of all to reach are church members without a teachable heart. The Pharisees believe that the are going to heaven and so, if He goes where they cannot go, He is going to hell. Not at all a sissy like the Hollywood movies portray, Jesus looks right in their eyes and reverses the subject the right way:

Then Jesus said to them again, 'I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.'

So the Jews said, 'Will He kill Himself, because He says, Where I go you cannot come?'

And He said to them, 'You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.' John 8:21-24 NKJV

Even though the Pharisees reject the truth about Jesus' Father, many on-lookers believe in Him. The watching people who accept salvation will be free in God's Word. So, the argument runs its course:

Then Jesus said to them, 'When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.' As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.' John 8:28-32 NKJV

The Jews reply that they are in bondage to no one, but as they speak, they are in bondage to Rome. Jesus discards a discussion of the government and points straight to the problems of the heart.

They answered Him, 'We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, You will be made free?'

Jesus answered them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.' John 8:33-36 NKJV

The Pharisees (servants of sin) believe in a minus balance in the Spiritual bank account, and by sacrificing, memorizing Scripture, tithing, and avoiding the Publicans and harlots, you gain merit raises. But, if you earn salvation, God would be the debtor. Because you earn your paycheck--it is not a gift--you do not say thank you to your employer. In the Pharisees' system, you can get so good that you call the heavenly lawyers and demand the payment of a salvation-paycheck. Salvation--Christ in the heart--is free and cannot be earned, giving you heaven because of your works.

Jesus argument with the Pharisees refocuses on fathers: God the Father and another one; one Father with a good reputation and one without. Escalating loudly, Jesus states that the Pharisees have a father who is neither God nor Abraham; the Pharisees stubbornly claim that He has no father (born of fornication) but they have a Father, God.

'I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.'

They answered and said to Him, 'Abraham is our father.'

Jesus said to them, 'If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.'

Then they said to Him, 'We were not born of fornication; we have one Father--God.' John 8:37-41 NKJV

Since the Pharisees' lives do not witness to the truth, Abraham cannot be the other father. Like father, like son!

Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.' John 8:42-47 NKJV

Jesus is a man's Man. When He is arrested (yet future), tough men are afraid--1,000 Roman soldiers and 300 armed temple guards. Jesus identifies the real father of the church leaders--the devil.

In the last days, truth will be taught, preached, and known. It matters what you believe. You are now in one of four categories of people:

#1 SEALED - You love God and are not turning away from truth.

#2 DOUBTING - You love God but may turn away from Him.

#3 MAJORITY - You have never made a decision about God.

#4 REBELLIOUS - You have turned away from Him.

There will only be two categories when Jesus comes: #1 SEALED and #4 REBELLIOUS. Hopefully, you are moving toward #1 SEALED; the #4 REBELLIOUS, knowing the truth, would rather believe a lie.

You might go to heaven by believing a lie, but never by denying the truth. The devil offers lies cloaked in truth; the works of the devil are lies and murder. Here is a picture story:

TRUTH and LIES go swimming in a lake. LIES returns to the shore first, putting on TRUTH'S clothes. Now, LIES is clothed in garment of TRUTH while TRUTH runs around naked.

The Pharisees, knowing truth but choosing to believe a lie, now oppose Jesus' person.

Then the Jews answered and said to Him, 'Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?'

Jesus answered, 'I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.' John 8:48-51 NKJV

Light is life. It was the first creation and is more powerful than darkness. You can be separated from darkness and given light.

The Father is worthy of worship because He is the Creator. The heavenly beings sing the song:

'You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive gory and honor and power;

For You created all things,

And by Your will they exist and were created.' Revelation 4:11 NKJV

Jesus is worthy of worship. He did the actual creating.

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 NKJV

But the greatest, most powerful creation is a clean heart. I can be free from serving sin!

The Bible tells of a king in whom God created a clean heart. David, the youngest son, does chores that develop his character. Talented in music and poetry, he is also a warrior and king of Israel.

From the palace in Jerusalem, King David spies Bathsheba. He knows her husband, Uriah, who is away at war. Her father once served in David's court. He invites her to the palace that night and she becomes pregnant with his baby. Due to that problem, David calls Uriah home from the battle, entertains him at the palace, and bids him to go home to his wife. Uriah has tremendous character and declines because the other soldiers cannot be home with their wives. So, David writes a letter to General Joab: Uriah is to take his soldiers to a point in the battle and be left alone when they retreat. That is done, and Uriah is hacked to pieces. David brings Bathsheba to live in the palace.

In time, Nathan, the prophet, convicts King David of his tremendous sins. Repentant David falls on his face and prays. Not on probation until he proves himself, he receives a new heart right then. When he asks, he receives. He Who creates the world, re-creates a new heart in David and when Jesus creates, it's magnificent. David prays:

'Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.' Psalm 51:10-11 NKJV

Like Father, like Son. Brothers and sisters, your Father, Who has a good reputation, will create a clean heart in you. Would you like to ask Him for a clean heart today?

"Father in Heaven, Thank You that You are my Father with a good reputation. Thank You that Jesus can create a clean heart in me. In Jesus' name, Amen."