ISN'T IT STRANGE?
                            by  Weyman Zelder

Have you ever thought how strange it is that we hide behind plastic faces
and mask our real lives? You've seen others do this, but let's be honest,
we've all been guilty of this same effort to hide our problems, not only
from others but even from ourselves . . . . husband and wife problems,
children and parent problems, problems with ourselves that we are unable
to conquer. 

Stranger still are the places we look for solutions. Sometimes we seek
professional help from those with impressive titles who often have similar
problems they are hiding. Sometimes we try to 'buy' a solution with gifts
or promises without getting to the heart or the cause of the problem. Some
even turn to religion, thinking that penance or good works or attendance
will atone for the problem. With varying degrees, a sort of truce or a
different type of mask may be effected, but no real solution. 

Isn't it strange that Jesus Christ, who claimed to be God, made this
offer, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give
you rest" (Matt. 11:28)-but most have refused to go to Him for the
solution to their problems. Notice, He said, "Come to ME," not to
religion. 

Isn't it strange that the root cause of our problems - SIN - was paid for
by the Lord Jesus Christ when He died on the cross in our place, and that
God, the Father, is satisfied (Isa. 53:11) with this payment...but you are
not. Think about it, are you satisfied with God's gracious offer of
forgiveness? If you claim that you are, have you consciously called upon
Him as your Saviour, asking forgiveness for your sins? You've tried many
other things without success, but have you called upon the Lord with a
broken, repentant heart in shame, seeking forgiveness and surrendering
your pride? "For Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved"
(Romans 10:13). 

Isn't it strange that you would go on in your sin, for that's the real
problem - sin of pride and self in all its forms - rather than come to the
One (and there is only One) who can give you rest? 

Isn't it time to drop the pretense and forget about what others with the
same plastic lives and problems would say? Listen instead to the Creator
who said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and
thy house" (Acts 16:31). Consider these promises of God...then believe
Him! 

     "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and
     believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you
     will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe
     and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you
     confess and are saved...Everyone who calls on the name of
     the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:9-13)

     "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only
     Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have
     eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to
     condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
     Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does
     not believe stands condemned already because he has not
     believed in the name of God's one and only Son." 
     (John 3:16-18)

     "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the
     Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
     (1 John 5:13)

     "...I (The Lord Jesus Christ) have come that they may have
     life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

IT TAKES ABOUT A MINUTE TO READ THIS . . .
AND MUCH LESS TIME TO PUT IT INTO EFFECT. . .
A SMALL INVESTMENT FOR A CHANGED LIFE . . .
TRY IT!