DAILY DEVOTIONAL    TUESDAY OCTOBER 14, 2003
(2 Thessalonians 3:2, John 12:48, 2 Corinthians 4:4, John 3:11, John 8:24)

Pray too that we will be saved out of the clutches of evil men, for not everyone loves the Lord.

"But all who reject me and my message will be judged at the Day of Judgment by the truths I have spoken."

Satan, who is the god of this evil world, has made him blind, unable to see the glorious light of the Gospel that is shining upon him, or to understand the amazing message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is God.

"I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony."

"I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."

SOURCE #1: (2 Thessalonians 3:2, John 12:48, 2 Corinthians 4:4) The Children's Living Bible, ©1970 Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton Illinois 60187
SOURCE #2: (John 3:11, John 8:24) The New Student Bible, ©1992 Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids Michigan 49530

Why the lost are so angry at Christians. In the course of your day to day life, as you have opportunities to share Christ with people you meet, know up front that many who are not Christians will get angry with you for even mentioning the name of Jesus Christ. This anger stems from the fact that those who are lost, deep, deep, down, know that something is missing in their life.

When God created Adam, He created Adam in perfection and with a spiritual connection to God. One of the byproducts of Adam's sin was that spiritual connection with God was broken. There was now a gulf between man and God due to man's sin. Since each person is born with sin, they are born with a void in their life that only being reconnected to God can fill.

This is why people get involved with drugs, with alcohol, with gambling, with sex, or become addicted to work and success. This is why so many people get lost in cults and the false religions of this world. There is a void in a person's life that subconsciously they know is there and are trying to fill. I want to tell you today that this void can ONLY be filled by reconnecting to God. The Good News today is that God loves us so much, He sent Jesus to die for OUR sins so that by putting our faith in Him, we could be reconnected with God and that void in our life would be filled.

That is why a Christian can know joy, despite the pain life has to offer. That is why a Christian can know peace, even in the midst of the fiercest trials. That is why a Christian can enjoy the abundance of this life, even when there is no abundance by this world's standards. The joy, the peace, the abundance of this life comes from having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and being reconnected with God our Creator.

THAT is why the lost are so angry at Christians. They have rejected God's free gift of everlasting life through Jesus Christ and look to the things of this world to try and fill the void only God can fill. From time to time, they must justify in their own mind their rejection of Christ. The way they normally do this is by attacking the Bible, since it is God's Word that condemns them.

They always ask about who Cain and Able married (their sisters, it was when God gave the law to Moses that incest was forbidden), they always ask about the dinosaurs (they were created with the animals and became extinct during the flood of Noah), how people could live to be 900 years old (man was originally created to live forever, and as the generations went on the age of man decreased), and numerous other questions that in many cases only God can answer. They also point out what may appear to be contradictions in the Bible. Let me assure you, there are NO, ZERO, NADA contradictions in the Bible.

All of this is done to try and minimize and discredit the Bible from being God's inspired, inerrant Word, representing absolute truth, and our final authority in all matters. Again, it is God's Word that condemns them for their rebellion, so of course it is God's Word they attack. My advice is to visit a local Christian bookstore and you will find many books that explain in depth why the Bible really is the Word of God and perfect in every way.

I love you and care about you so much. I realize the anger of the lost keeps many people from sharing their faith. Never forget, they are angry at God, NOT you. Your job is simply to tell them the truth, and share with them the hope and love of Christ. What they choose to do with that truth is then between them and God.

Also, don't be intimidated by their questions. If you know the answer, tell them, if you don't, tell them you don't. SOMEONE THAT IS LOST AND SIMPLY TRYING TO JUSTIFY THEIR REJECTION OF CHRIST WILL ALWAYS HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN YOU WILL EVER HAVE ANSWERS. I have never in over 11 years, having dealt with tens of thousands of people, EVER had a person asking a string of questions say, "OK, I am glad you answered that for me, now I will believe." You will never win a debate with someone that is lost since they have no desire to accept what you are saying. Your time is best spent praying for these people rather than debating them.

Many people you meet however, will be honestly open to looking into having a relationship with Christ. Trust me, you will know who these people are. Do your best to answer their questions, and don't hesitate to get others involved in helping you out. But, never forget that how you live your life and what Christ has done in your life will always be your most effective and powerful witness to others.

I will be praying for you today. God has given us a commandment, not a suggestion to share our faith in Christ with this hurting and lost world. We have the only answer there is. The void in the lives of people that has been created by sin can only be filled by accepting Jesus Christ which reconnects a person to God their Creator. Those who choose to reject Christ are angry because they have a hole in their life only HE can fill.

If you want to fill that void in your life today, if you want to be reconnected to God your Creator today, you have the opportunity right now. Simply pray and ask God to open your heart, and read the words at this link, http://www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.html.

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com.

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