BPS

Bloggers,

What a Sunday!! Actually, what a weekend!! It was an awesome day (and days) with the Lord! Saturday, we gathered together for a "missional seminar" with Rubel Shelly and learned alot of things from him. I am really thankful for this opportunity to see Rubel. We also had two baptism welcoming two precious souls into the family of God. A glorious day! Then we hosted a Luau party welcoming brother Brian Baell to Fairfax. He began his internship with us last Wednesday and is doing a wonderful job!! :) I'll be sending some pictures later this week. Right now, I'm not able to add pictures through Blogger. Apparently, they're having technical problems now.

Ok.. We just bought a new Honda Civic EX a couple weeks ago and got rid of the gas-guzzling Chrysler 300M!! Now, we're able to save extra gas money with the Honda. The dealer was negotiating with us and wanted to know if we wanted a Honda Civic with a GPS (geographical positioning system) installed. For some of you new to the "GPS" terminology, it is a device that helps you go from one point to another and also tells you exactly where you are! It's a neat device and you will "almost" never be lost. To have it installed in our car would be nice but it does cost extra to have a GPS. So we declined to have the "GPS" added to the Honda. We'll go with the old fashioned way of looking at Rand & McNally's road atlas for directions from one point to another.

Now, I would like to introduce you to the old, old, old device that people (past, present and future) have used for many years called the "BPS". BPS stands for "Bible Positioning System". The device is the very Holy Word of God, the Bible. It's always effective! It has never malfunctioned. You don't need to take it in for repairs. No replacement at all. Guaranteed for eternity! It's always accurate; no flaws. It guides us to the right place; even if you will feel lost without it. It keeps us on the right track. It informs us of warning signs ahead. And it gets you to Heaven! There's no other like "BPS", nothing! Nothing else can get you into Heaven!

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 (niv)

I would like to give you a little breakdown from John 14:6 to help you shred some light in this passage:

1. We must know the "way" (direction) before we have the "truth" and "life".
2. If you're walking in the wrong "way", the "truth" is not in you and there's no "life".
3. Jesus is the only "way", the only "door", the only "gate" to enter into the "truth" leading to "life" everlasting!

"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep." John 10:1-2 (niv)

How do we know which gate is the right gate, or which door is the right door, or which way is the right way? Go through Jesus, His examples and His Word: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1, 14 (niv)

There are many in the world without the divine "BPS" device. Many have created their own "positioning system" to guide them where they want to go. We could call it, "SPS: Self Positioning System", "EPS: Ego Positioning System", "DPS: Denial Positioning System", and many more!

"Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." 2 Peter 2:2 (niv)

How true that is today! Peter had issues with those around him that the "many" follow their shameful ways and while they're living in "shame" without regrets, they argue against the truth!

"If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:6-7 (niv)

And many "claim", by saying "I love God", "I go to church", "I read the Bible", "I fellowship with the church" but walk in darkness (secretly; intentionally). They will be called a "LIAR" by God because they do not "LIVE THE TRUTH"! If you stop walking in the light, the blood of Jesus stops purifying your sins! Look at John's question, "If" we walk, then we're purified. "If" we stop walking with Jesus, sin remains and we'll be judged!

"See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us - even eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray." 1 John 2:24-26 (niv)

Since some of you began your life in Christ after hearing the gospel (good news), believe in Jesus, repenting of your sins, confessing that Jesus is Lord over your life, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and living and walking daily with Jesus, you began your new life with Him. John urged us in the passage above, "See that it... remains in you." Though, John was encouraging Christians whom have been with Jesus at the beginning, heard Jesus and His Word, saw Jesus' example (1 John 1:1-3), he's encouraging us to hold on to the Word of God, the Word of Life with a somber understanding that there are others around you who "ARE" trying to lead you astray!

Satan's goal in two-fold:
1. Invade your hearts.
2. Change the "Positioning System" from "BPS" (Bible) to "'.......'PS", a man-made, flawed positioning system.

Do you have the "BPS"? Are you following God and His will in your daily life? Are you, in the exact position, where God wants you to be? When you prove your point, do you use the Bible? Are you walking with Jesus? Have you passed into the way of Christ?

"BPS", do you have it?