SIGNS OF LIFE  

Jesus observed that people can often look into the sky and determine what type of weather is coming but they can not look at this world and read it and understand THE SIGNS that are given to us from God.  (Mathew 16:1-4)

DANGER:  Life can be a very dangerous journey for some, and for others, smooth travel.  There are many cliffs and dangerous pitfalls that can easily trap someone who is not on their guard.  Just like a snare that is carefully hidden in a place to trap an unsuspecting animal, so are there many traps in life that will get you if you are unaware.  Some of these dangers can be fatal and lead to certain death.   

CAUTION:  Be careful!  In order to be careful, you must first not be naïve.  The Bible teaches us to be aware and knowledgeable of the potential dangers and consequences of our choices.  (Ephesians 1-6)  If I am hiking in a dangerous place but do not realize how dangerous it is, I may not be as careful as I should.  Therefore, because I did not take necessary precautions, I may find myself in a whole lot of pain or worse. Not because I like pain, but because I was not aware of the dangers or not taking them seriously.  In life it is the same way.  If I am in a dangerous place, it is better if I am aware of it.  And if I am aware of it, I am no longer naïve but now must choose if I will take actions to avoid pitfalls and pain.  To be cautious is to be aware of the danger and being careful to avoid it.

NO TRESPASSING:  There are some boundaries that are meant to not be crossed.  Many of us have passed a NO TRESPASSING sign to go onto someone’s property that did not give us permission.  We know what it means to trespass. God also has a boundary line that none of us are to cross, this is to leave what is righteous and good and walk into the area of sin and uncleanness.  We have all done it.  That is why the Bible says “there is none good, no not one, there is none that seeks after God, all have fallen away”.   We have all trespassed and crossed over into areas that were wrong therefore proving our disconnection from God and godliness.  That is why Jesus taught us to pray including the need for forgiveness from God and forgiving others.  He said pray this way saying “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”.   God wants to forgive you and restore you to a relationship with Himself.  Further, He also wants to enable you to forgive others who have done wrong things to you (trespassed against you).

STOP: First we must STOP anything that we are still doing that is against what we know God wants from us.  If there is anything in our lives that we are doing that we know God is not pleased with, we must STOP.

U-TURN: Now that we have STOPPED doing that which we know is sin, turn around and go the other way.  Hatred and bitterness is replaced with love.  Stealing is replaced with working for what we need.  Lying is replaced by truth telling.   Gossip is replaced with uplifting speech.  Hard heartedness is replaced with compassion.  Hurting people is replaced by helping people.  This is what Jesus meant when He said “repent”.  To repent means to turn around and go the other way. Any actions, behaviors, or attitudes that were against God’s would be changed to actions, behaviors, and attitudes that reflect true change.

DETOUR: Many people are offering us religions, philosophies, or lifestyles that they claim will get us to Heaven (or Nirvana or Bliss or Happiness).

ONE WAY:  In mathematics we learned that the shortest distance between to points is a straight line.  On the highway, the shortest distance to any destination is a straight path.  When asked by His confused followers to explain simply so they can understand, Jesus put it this way “I AM THE WAY, I AM THE TRUTH, I AM THE LIFE.   NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, EXCEPT BY ME”.   Jesus made it clear.  Just like Jesus’ followers, many sincere people today are still confused regarding the road to heaven.  The answer is simple; JESUS.  He is the road, the vehicle, and the power to get you there.  He is ALL you need.  He is the ONLY ONE you need.  Further, He said He is the ONLY WAY.

YIELD:  To yield means to let another have the “right of way”.  That means to give another the priority or higher importance.  Many times in life we are called to YIELD to another and give up the more important place for another.  There is no more important time that when God asks you to YIELD your will to His. Yield your plans to His.  Yield your mind to His.  Yield your heart to His.  Yield your life to His.  This is what is meant to ask Jesus into your heart.  You are asking for more than His help dealing with life’s dangers.  You are asking Him to drive.  You are choosing to get out of the driver’s seat of your life and asking God to drive.  Not to help you drive, but to drive for you; His way, His thoughts, His path, His destination.   Maybe you are worried if Jesus even wants to drive your life, especially if you are far off course. Yet this is what is meant by Jesus when He says “come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest, take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light”.   Jesus loves you and wants you close to Him.  He wants to forgive you of all of your sin and give you life.  The Bible says that Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  He loves you.

PRAY: Here is a sample prayer that you can pray.  If you mean this from your heart, God is always faithful to keep His promise to forgive you, cleanse you, and give you a new life here and in heaven -

Father in Heaven, I believe that you love me.  I know that I am a sinner, and I believe that you sent your Son to save sinners.  He died on the cross for me and I put my trust in Him.  Please forgive me of my sin; of anything that I have done against You or others.  Cleanse me and come into my life.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to worship and follow You forever.  By Your goodness, and power, and love, save me to be part of Your family and Your Kingdom, forever.  Thank you, in Jesus name, Amen.

I will love You, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.  My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold.  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.  The pangs of death encompassed me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.  The sorrows of hell surrounded me, the snares of death confronted me.  In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.   (Psalm 18:1-6)

With Jesus driving your life, you will surely get to an amazing place.   Scripture says “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the imagination of mankind, the wonderful things the Lord has in store for those that love Him.”   Yes, it does take a miracle.  And God is doing miracles in peoples lives everyday.

GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW HIM AND EXPERIENCE HIS LIFE GIVING POWER

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height -    to know the love of Christ (which passes knowledge); that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.  (Ephesians 3:14-21)