The Richest Poor People in the World

The Richest Poor People in the World

So, who is the richest man in the world? The names of some of them are readily recognized in America—Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg, Michael Bloomberg, the Koch brothers, the Walton family and the Mars Family. We may not know all of them, but who has not heard of Amazon, Microsoft, Walmart, Mars candy bars or Tesla?

money value

What is your value? Who judges that?

It is hard to imagine Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world and the founder of Amazon, increasing his personal wealth of $40,000,000,000 last year. Now compare that with the people you know. It is important for us to see heaven’s list of the “Wealthiest People in America.” When God looks down on this land, who does He see as having great wealth?

Think of the value God places on the heroes of faith throughout the Bible. Hebrews chapter eleven lists so many who served God and lived by faith. How much do you think God values them? Some of them were rich but most of them were often just like we are—common people who are seeking to serve God.

God honored the faith of those who “… through faith subdued kingdoms…stopped the mouth of lions…quenched the violence of fire…became valiant in battle” (Heb. 11:33-34). However, He also honored the faith of those who served Him without any earthly wealth. “Still others had trials of mocking and scourgings, yes of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented…They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth” (Heb. 11:35-38). Contrast these words describing the “poverty” in which they lived with the “luxury” of the wealthiest in America.

How does God see this contrast? What are His values? Our Lord looks at those whom the world would see being worthless and says of them, “Of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:38). We must never forget that the “wealthiest” are the “poorest” and the “poorest” are truly the “wealthiest.”

When your faith brought about the salvation of your soul, you obtained a value worth more than all that exists. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul” (Matt. 16:26). The poorest Christian is wealthier than the richest man on the Forbes list of the richest.

Your worth is not decided by the values used by the ungodly. I recall one poor Man who had no place to “lay His head.” What was He worth? Now apply that to yourself.

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“He Must Increase, I Must Decrease”

“He Must Increase, I Must Decrease”

Toward the end of John the baptizer’s ministry, his disciples came to him with a concern about Jesus. They said, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” (John 3:26). In a lot of ways, we are like John’s disciples. We do things for the protection and preservation of our “tribes,” and when other “tribes” are having success, we become envious and seek to undercut their effectiveness so that our own “tribe” can take the preeminence. However, John’s response to his disciples was not to do this. Instead, he recognized the superiority of Jesus’ tribe for everyone. He said to his disciples, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

envy ice cream

Do you have envy over others success?

As Christians, it is our responsibility to lift up Jesus in our lives, not wave our own banner. Doing this takes humility because we must deny self if we are going to lift Him and others up. Philippians 2:3-4 states, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Why do we do this? Because this is the mind of Christ. He was the only one who practiced perfect humility. Lifting Him up means bringing us low. This can be challenging because it means that we must deprioritize our own desires in favor of the desires of others, and it is hard to tell oneself “no,” when strong desires are coursing through our being. To do this, we must focus the cross and let Jesus’ prayer of “not my will, but thine be done” inform our thoughts and actions.

 

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“GRANDES” ARGUMENTOS ATEOS: (5) ¿QUIÉN CREÓ A DIOS?

“GRANDES” ARGUMENTOS ATEOS: (5) ¿QUIÉN CREÓ A DIOS?

Considero no equivocarme en que esta es una de las preguntas más criticada, discutida y lanzada a los cristianos por parte de los ateos a través de los siglos. Es muy probable que la respuesta pueda parecer “trillada” al igual que la pregunta misma sin embargo sigue siendo nuestro deber presentar respuestas con evidencia y contundencia sobre aquello que se nos demanda respecto a la fe y al Dios  verdadero de la Biblia.

creo dios

¿Quién creó al creador?

En su libro de 420 páginas Richard Dawkins utiliza un argumento tras otro que en mi estimación personal intenta disfrazarlos para que suenen como hechos científicos comprobados relevantes y que plantean una dificultad real e indiscutible para quienes creen en Dios. Nada nuevo puesto que los argumentos son los mismos de siempre. En la página 191 de la edición en español del libro en cuestión; “El espejismo de Dios”, Dawkins dice esencialmente que no desea ser redundante pero esta cuestión ¿Quién creó al Creador? Es el argumento central de su libro y para ello hace un resumen en 6 puntos que no discutiremos en detalle por cuestiones de brevedad y relevancia. 

Para iniciar permítame sugerir que el primer problema radica en las definiciones equivocadas. Al menos el Dios de la Biblia no es un Dios creado como el dios en el cual a menudo están pensando los ateos al hacernos esta pregunta. El Dios de la Biblia es eterno, es decir siempre ha existido al estar fuera del tiempo y espacio en el que usualmente funcionan nuestras mentes. “La materia no se crea ni se destruye solo se transforma”, al menos eso es lo que uno aprende en secundaria con las leyes de la termodinámica y no se necesita ser un científico para entender que algo está extremadamente mal si pensamos que lo creado es mejor que el creador. Pensar que un reloj es más inteligente que el relojero que lo creó es una lógica retorcida y mucho peor aún sugerir que un aparato tan complejo como un reloj pueda crearse a sí mismo ¡Lo sé, suena descabellado porque lo es! Supongo que Steven Hawking plantea algo similar al argumento central del Dr. Dawkins afirma que el universo es tan inteligente por sí mismo que puede (dice este científico en su libro Breves Respuestas a las grandes preguntas pg.96) y de hecho se ha creado por sí mismo. 

J. Warner Wallace explica de su propia experiencia como ateo y abiertamente admite que él creía en un creador no creado personal o  impersonal y más allá de eso afirma que es sano filosóficamente hablando pensar en causa y efecto en términos de un no creado dando existencia a todo lo creado (Video, Cold case Christianity, Who created God? m.1:45).

El Dios de la Biblia por definición es Eterno, no tiene inicio ni tampoco fin por lo que el problema radica en la pregunta ¿Quién creó al creador? Ciertamente surge desde una línea ilógica de procesar información. Es igual a que alguien preguntara: ¿que sonido emite el silencio?.  Por definición el silencio no tiene sonido. La pregunta entonces es irracional. Además de esto otras cosas necesitan ser consideradas en el argumento central de Richard Dawkins ¿Quién creó a Dios?, Considere por un momento:

1.     La pregunta se puede devolver a los ateos. Algunos de ellos creen en que el universo en sí mismo es eterno y no requiere ninguna causa para existir. Es gracioso que los ateos creen de igual  forma que hacen  los cristianos en cuanto a la definición de eternidad ; “causa efecto”. Los cristianos  sin embargo están mal por creer en un ser eterno, personal– esto Dios como origen y causa del universo mientras que los ateos  están bien al creer en algo impersonal (rocas y materia flotantes eternas) que dieron origen a todo lo existente.

2.     Al observar los atributos inteligentes del universo, resulta imposible no pensar en un causante de tipo personal. Para ser honestos realmente tiene mucho más sentido creer alguien extremadamente poderoso con inteligencia propia colocó adecuadamente y con propósito el “cosmos” en su lugar y  No que solo ocurrió como resultado de algunas explosiones Galácticas.

3.      Debe de existir una fuente eterna de vida para poder propagar vida. Esto es una necesidad lógica. Si mi apellido por ejemplo es uno de los apellidos de mi papá, que a su vez fue de su papá, eventualmente se podrá llegar al origen del apellido Montealto. De hecho visto en la Biblia uno puede observar en Mateo 1 y Lucas 3 en la genealogía de Jesús que él realmente era descendiente de la familia de David, el Rey. Si la “vida” existe y ha sido propagada al examinar la genealogía (por decirlo de alguna forma) del origen de esta vida en el universo, inevitablemente uno se encontrará con la fuente que en primera instancia generó todo tipo de vida, pues este “Ser” es vida en sí mismo y fuente inagotable de la misma. Tal principio filosófico expuesto de esta manera tiene “bases” muy fuertes que no pueden ser pasadas por alto con ligereza.

 Permítame concluir con nuestra atención enfocada a dos pasajes de la Biblia. El Texto sagrado  dice en Juan 1:1 “En el principio existía el Verbo, y el Verbo estaba con Dios, y el Verbo era Dios.” Cuando llegó el inicio de todas las cosas el verbo estaba  YA en existencia. También en Juan 8:50-59 cuando Jesús dice “antes que Abraham fuera yo soy” no solamente está afirmando su divinidad sino que en esencia él (Jesús) no ha sido introducido Jamás en el tiempo-espacio (en su esencia divina), simplemente él ha existido. ¿Cómo es eso posible? No sabemos, al mismo tiempo no es necesario y por otro lado lo que importa es conocerlo “hoy” mientras nosotros estemos en este momento de tiempo y espacio. La antigua pregunta de ¿Quién creó a Dios? No presenta mayor dificultad puesto que es el resultado de una mala definición de los ateos con relación al Dios verdadero de la Biblia.

Me gusta mucho la nota en Apologetic Press escrita por Erick Lyons  al final de su investigación con respecto al tema. El dice: “Las leyes de la termodinámica no se aplican a Dios porque como todas las leyes científicas se aplican a lo que es natural. Por definición Dios no es natural, por tanto ninguna de estas leyes se aplican a él”. (Erick Lyons, Apologetic Press ¿De donde provino Dios?.)  Amado Lector, resulta ser una respuesta tan sencilla que probablemente pudo ser respondida en un par de renglones nada más, pero para Richard Dawkings llegó a ser como dice él mismo: “el argumento central” de todo un libro de más de 400 páginas. ¡Juzgue por usted mismo.!

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Know Each Other in Heaven?

Know Each Other in Heaven?

There are some universal truths that I believe are accurate for almost all Christians. First, we all want to know more about heaven—what is it going to be like and what will we do? Second, we all want to go there! (Sadly, many people do not want to go “now” because they are comfortable here on Earth or fearful of the unknown.)

heaven know

Will we know each other in heaven?

Let me begin by admitting the obvious—I have never been to heaven. In fact, I am not going to try to decode the book of Revelation and tell you exactly what I think it is going to be like based on that book.

I believe Paul answered best when he said, “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” I firmly believe heaven will be exponentially better than anything I can put down on paper.

So, will we know each other in heaven? Using Scripture, I believe the answer to this is a resounding “Yes!” I don’t claim to understand fully what that will look like or what our incorruptible bodies will look like, but consider the following passages:
• 2 Samuel 12:23—King King David had a son who died in infancy. When the little boy died, David said, “I’ll go to him” (2 Samuel 12:23). David knew that he would see his son again in the presence of the Lord, and knowing that he would be reunited with the son he loved brought him comfort in his bereavement.
• Genesis 25:8—On the occasion of Abraham’s death we read, “Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people” (Genesis 25:8, emp. added). Noticed he was gathered to his people after his death.
• Matthew 8:11—Jesus healed the Centurion’s servant and marveled at the man’s faith. He went on to say that many will come from the east and the west and recline at table “with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11). Abraham was the father of Isaac and the grandfather of Jacob, and in heaven he enjoys the company of his son and his grandson, while Jacob enjoys the company of his father and his grandfather.
• Matthew 26:29—The night Jesus would be arrested He instituted the Lord’s Supper with His disciples. On that special occasion Jesus told his disciples, “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29, emphasis mine).
The eleven, who shared the Last Supper with Jesus on earth, will eat and drink with him in heaven. Peter, James, John, and the others will be named and known in heaven as clearly as they were named and known on earth.
• Matthew 17:3—When the glory of Jesus was revealed in the transfiguration, we are told that “Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him” (Matthew 17:3). This is fascinating because when Moses and Elijah appeared, they did not have the resurrection body. They were souls made visible, as the angels were made visible to the shepherds, and as the souls under the altar were made visible to John (Revelation 6:9). Furthermore, how did Peter, James, and John know who these men were, they had never met them.
• Luke 16:19-31—This portion of Scripture is a parable about the rich man and Lazarus, and so some would argue we can’t draw anything about heaven from it. However, I believe Jesus—Who had left the throne room of Heaven to come to earth—was peeling back the curtain just a little on what eternity would be like. Notice it says, “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” (Luke 16:23). The rich man was able to identify Abraham and Lazarus, and conscious enough to remember he had five brothers.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:18-20—In this passage Paul makes it clear that the believers he loved on Earth will be his joy in heaven. Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.” (1 Thessalonians 2:18-19, emp. added). When Paul says this, he clearly anticipates that relationships forged on earth will continue in heaven.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17—When Paul writes to believers who grieve the loss of a loved one, he offers them this comfort: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, emp. added). “Them” refers to Christians’ loved ones who have already died. A wife who grieves the loss of her believing husband has the comfort of knowing that when the Lord comes, she will see him again.

There are additional passages we could look at, but I feel these establish
conclusively that we will know one another in heaven.

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God is in Control

God is in Control

How often over the last year were the following words spoken in America? “God is in control.”  These magic words have been used over a wide range of issues that many have faced.  Truly, God is creator of all (Genesis 1).  His words to Job in the final chapters of the book of Job  make it clear the knowledge and wisdom of God is far beyond the scope of man.  However, what is the purpose of uttering the phrase “God is in control.”?

God control

“God is in control” – Is this a password to do nothing?

For some, the acknowledgement of the power of God over all is recognition that He provides, cares, loves, and will ultimately deliver justice to mankind.  God gave Adam and Eve a garden home with a promise.  That promise was rooted in justice.  If they ate of the forbidden fruit, their lives would be forfeit.  God was true to His Word.  God also provided deliverance for Israel under the bonds of Egypt.  His promise was a blessed land of abundance for the children of Jacob.  That promise too was rooted in justice.  If they forsook the commandments of God, curses would come upon them and the land of Israel would vomit them out.  Indeed God was faithful to His promise.  The Lord of heaven and earth has as a foundation for all that He does: truth, love, justice, and righteousness.

Unfortunately, it seems there are those of the Lord’s Body, America, and the world who envision God as a micro manager who takes it upon Himself to control every aspect of man’s life.  This is false.  God has always allowed man freedom to choose his path under the knowledge of the Lord’s faithfulness to justice.  Herein lies a great failure of mankind. Expressing: “God is in control.” currently seems be a ticket for mankind to fail to engage in doing what is his personal duty.  It didn’t work or Adam and Eve or Israel. God will judge inaction and disobedience.  When evil is occurring and man steps aside, he will be called to account by the Heavenly Father.  America was a land founded on the principles that God was to be trusted – that He reigns supreme. However, happiness was not to handed out on a silver platter.  It needed to be pursued.  When the voices of Americans stand silent in the face of abortion, sexual sin, corruption, the censoring of truth, improper application or failure to enforce the law, election fraud, governmental injustice, deceit, treason, and so much more… God will not be appeased by the statement “God is in control.” as one stands by and silently watches evil occur.

If it is not obvious yet, the point is this:  Every individual has the God given responsibility  to do that which Jehovah has commanded.  Man has a responsibility to step forward to care for the physical and spiritual injustices/needs experienced by others. Consider:

James 4:17 – “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

Psalms 82:3 – “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.”

Ezekiel 33:6 – “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”

Galatians 6:10 – “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

1 John 3:17 –“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”

Luke 10:30-37

God is in control.  He has delegated mankind to follow His commandments of justice, love, honor, and righteousness.  God will not do what is required of His creation.  However, He will hold mankind accountable for not acting upon the opportunity to do right.  “God is in control.” is not an excuse to do nothing. This attitude of expectation of reward for failure to act has never been promised by God.  He is a God of justice.  May we, His creation, take this knowledge upon ourselves and engage in what is just for America and the world.

 

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