Thanks for your favorable responses to this past Sunday’s sermon.  The antichrist is an interesting subject, and I want to share a few more thoughts on what I think it means to acknowledge the presence of the antichrist in our world. There are three basic beliefs about God in the world:  antitheism, deism, and theism.

1.  ANTITHEISM – This belief holds there is no God and that the material universe just happens to exist.  There is no explanation for it.  There is no purpose for it.  It started nowhere.  It’s going nowhere.  It has no creator and does not need to be understood except as something that is material and exists.  This outlook finds the idea of the Christ and antichrist equally unnecessary.  Evil is a behavioral problem.  There are no spiritual problems.
2.  DEISM – There is a God (or gods).  He or they probably made the universe.  He has no personal involvement in its management or preservation, and he does not enjoy it because he is uninvolved with it.  The enemies of the Gospel whom John is confronting in his letters (called Gnostics) were a lot like these deists.  They believed God existed but was uninvolved, distant, and knowable only as we speculated, argued, and disagreed.  Even then we could not be certain.  This outlook also finds no place for antichrist.  Everything here plays out at a behavioral level.  Prayer and the Spirit of God are an illusion.
3.  THEISM – There is a God.  He created, manages, and loves the universe, the world, and all that is in it.  He is personal in nature.  He reveals Himself to people in many ways and is interested in us and how we’re doing.  He not only pays attention to us, but He helps us and intervenes.

             The doctrine of the antichrist reminds me that the material world is governed spiritually and is headed for a spiritual destination.  The problems that come my way are not just a result of the need to reengineer the material world.  There is also a need for me to deal with the spirit of the antichrist in this world of ours.  Other than this being interesting, why should this idea be important to you?

Over the past week, I’ve posted 5 practical helps to anchor your life in Christ.  As a reminder, only a personal, born-again relationship with Christ will ultimately anchor us, but there are some practical steps we can take to compliment our relationship with the Lord.

Here are the first four followed by the final and 5th help.

Anchor 1: A well broken-in Bible

Anchor 2: Calloused Knees

Anchor 3: Worn out Shoes

Anchor 4: Worn out church clothes

Anchor 5:

A CHRIST-CENTERED DATEBOOK OR CHECKBOOK (or on-line account) – I was told early on that what you love you will spend time and money for.  What do your datebook and checkbook say about your love for the Lord?  Pay attention to this when you balance your checkbook.  Could either or both of these books be used as evidence to convict you of being a Christian? 

For more information on how to give click here

To watch previous “Life with God” messages, click here

            The Lord be with you as you enhance your sense of connection to God.  It is His greatest gift to us, and He means for us to experience it and enjoy it.

Anchor 1: A well broken-in Bible

Anchor 2: Calloused Knees

Anchor 3: Well worn Shoes

Anchor 4: – WORN OUT CHURCH CLOTHES – Make sure you are at church.  Hebrews 10:25 says, “Forsake not the assembling of ourselves together.”  In other words, don’t miss church without a real reason.  Church is not an option for the serious believer but a reunion with the body of Christ.  What percentage of time are you at church on Sunday? When you’re not there, what are you doing?  What does that say about your sense of connection to our great Lord?

Anchor 5: A Christ-Centered Datebook/Checkbook

Anchor 1: A well broken-in Bible

Anchor 2: Calloused Knees

Anchor 3:

WORN OUT SHOES – Romans 10:15 says, “How beautiful are the feet of them who bring good news…”  Are you seeking to tell others about the Lord Jesus?  He is the only Savior anyone can ever have and they cannot have Him unless they are told about Him (Romans 10:13-14).  When you tell, you have to leave the harvest in the hands of God.  You sow the seed.  You don’t make it grow.  Not ready to tell?  Then make a list of people you think need the Lord that you wish you could tell. Don’t tell anybody (yet).  Now put some calluses on your knees for the people on this list.  Sometime you might begin saying, “Lord, please give me the opportunity to tell (a particular person) about Christ.  See what happens.  Get trained in faith sharing.  Call Clay Smith’s office (clay@shandon.org or 782-1300 x186) and ask for help in doing so. 

Anchor 4: Well worn Church Clothes