April 3, 2023

Color Me Believing by Gary Rose



At first, I thought this picture was a phony; some manipulated effort to deceive. I did a little research on the internet and found many references to the Peruvian colored mountains, including the following picture…

 


 

Well, color me BELIEVING!

The above led me to think of a passage from the Gospel according to John…


The Bible Says...


John 20 (World English Bible)

19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.

21 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”

22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!

23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace be to you.”

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”

28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”

30 Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;

31 but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.


What does it take to truly believe in God, and in JESUS? First, it takes a rational mind. Why? Because Jesus of Nazareth is probably the most documented person in history; investigate this for yourself and believe truth of it. Secondly, The Bible is founded upon thousands upon thousands of ancient manuscripts in Greek (the predominate language at the time of Jesus), which testify to the truth about this man. Third, from the first century to this very day, millions upon millions of people have died rather than deny him. Fourth, either what Jesus said was true or he was a mad-man. Just read the Gospel account of the Sermon on the mount (Matthew, Chapters 5-7) and you will quickly realize that no mad-man ever spoke like this!


I do not know who you are or what you believe, but believe me when I say that Jesus was exactly who he said was. No, Jesus is not physically here now, so that those who disbelieve can not use their hands to touch him like Thomas, but eventually he will return (and that will be too late for those who disbelieve).


I urge you to both believe in Jesus and obey his Gospel; your very life depends upon it! Consider Jesus’ last message as found in the Gospel of Matthew…


Matthew 28 (WEB)

16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.

17 When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.

18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

19 Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.



Become a disciple by believing in Jesus, repenting of sin and being baptized for the remission of all your sins (see the book of Acts, the second chapter, for the first Gospel Sermon) and obeying his commandments for the rest of your life! Eventually, the age will change and Jesus will return and take his own to heaven.


Start with belief and go from there, it is entirely possible that Jesus will return in our lifetime! Believe these things, for they are absolutely true.


Will you Color yourself as Believing?