There IS No Other Way!

   Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man comes to the Father, but by Me." In his last chapter Morgan said that there was no other religion or philosophy that can lead to a meaningful life with consistency, happiness and joy. He started with a story by Columba, a 6th century Irish missionary. The story is about missionaries who asked to preach the gospel to the people of Northumbria. The local tribal king called his wisemen together to discuss if they should let them preach. One of the men said, "Our life is like the flight of a bird through our lighted hall. In comes the bird out of the dark, flies about a little while in the light of our torches, then flies out again into the dark. So with us. We come out of the dark and go into the dark. If these strangers can tell us anything better, let us listen."
   Morgan wrote, "All other philosophies, followed to their logical ends, lead to chaos and irrationality....With other philosophies, you can be either consistent or happy, but not both. Christianity is the only belief system known to man which allows a person to be both logically consistent and spiritually happy."
   He, then, refered to Solomon's search for meaning in Ecclesiastes. All that he did lacked any meaning or satisfaction except when he came back to God and finally concluded, "Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, 'I have no pleasure in them.'" (Ecc. 12:13) Morgan continued, Francis "Schaeffer goes on to say that when you abandon God and Jesus Christ, you cross a frightening and ultimate line of despair. That, he says, is where our post-modern world is now living--below the line of despair.
   Morgan, then mentioned Nietzsche and the tragedy of his life. Having been born into a Christian home he rejected his parents faith and turned to the philosophies of the world. Those philosophies led him to insanity. He died in an asylum where his Christian mother took care of him.
   Finally, Morgan wrote about "The Death of Philosophy". He quoted William Lane Craig, "a brilliant Christian philosopher and apologist, put it this way: 'Modern man thought that when he had gotten rid of God, he had freed himself from all that repressed and stifled him. Instead, he discovered that in killing God, he had also killed himself.' Why? Because only Christianity provides a comprehensive explanation for the reality of death and a satisfying answer for the problem of death; and only Christianity has authenticated its message about death by providing a leader who actually rose from the tomb. The world has never found another answer to death; and therefore death is the death of philosophy. All non-Christian belief systems crash and burn when they come to the subject of death." They have no instruction or advice for us at death. They have no hope.
   Under the toplic of "Hope" Morgan wrote, "If there is no God, there is nothing but despair. If there is no Christ, we are of all men most miserable. Perhaps that is why there is so much alcoholism in our society today and such rampant drug dependence. That is why we are flooded by sexual images and why the entertainment industry is such a global phenomenon. That is why the movie box-office is such a symbol of our weekends and why we want 500 channels on our television cable. Modern humanity can live with neither itself nor its despair, so it drowns itself in diversions.
   But the diversions do not provide real, spiritual satisfaction, and that is why non-Christian world views make it immpossible to live both consistently and happily. Bertrand Russell, for example, admitted that life without God is absurd; but he said we have no choice but to put a good face to it. He claimed we must build our lives on the firm foundation of unyielding despair. We must recognize life's absurdity and then love one another."!
   "Solomon ended Ecclesiastes by declaring there is an answer to meaninglessness and despair. After searching all the philosophies, speculations, and pursuits of mankind, he came to this conclusinon: 'Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.'" (Ecc 12:13b)
   Morgan concluded the chapter with a summary: "Why do we believe Christianity is true? Not only because of the reality of resurrection. Not only because of the complexity of creation. Not only because of fulfilled prophecy, the wonder of Scripture, and the uniqueness of Christ. Not only because of the reliability of the biblical documents and the evidence of archaeology. Not only because of its remarkable ability to transform lives, But because, in the final analysis, all other philosophies, if followed to their logical ends, lead to chaos and irrationality. Only Christianity gives meaning to life. Only with theism in general and Christianity in particular, can one be both consistent and happy. As the Psalmist said 3,000 years ago, 'My soul finds rest in God alone.'(Ps.62:1) Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.' (John 14:6)...Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whosever lives and believes in Me will never die.' (John 11:25-26) Also He said, 'Because I live, you also will live.'(John 14:19)
   If you have never had a personal experience with Jesus Christ, why not follow the evidence where it leads--to the foot of Calvary's cross. Commit your life to Jesus Christ. Place your faith in His shed blood and glorious resurrection. 'For these things are written', said John, 'that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.' (John 20:31)."

Changed lives prove the truth and power of the Bible, II.

   The 4th witness Morgan mentions is Botembo Isako, a man who left teaching to become a soldier. "He lived an evil life, doing drugs, committing immorality, and misusing his authority against civilians."
   One day when he was assigned to lead a security team at a soccer game, he sent the others inside and he stayed outside. There he robbed the people he was supposed to protect. He searched a 17 year old, but only found a small New Testament. He was angry and beat the teen till he broke loose and ran away covered with blood. The teen called out, "God bless you. May the Lord forgive you."
   At home that evening, Botembo began to read it and remembering what the young man had said, eventually he begged God for forgiveness. He left the army that day and is now a pastor serving the Lord, and still looking for that young man. What other book would have such an effect on a man? What book would take one who only thought of his own desires at everyone else's expense and make him into a loving man who is now more concerned about the needs of others? Changed him from one who laughed at religion to one who preaches Christ and Him crucified, buried, risen and coming again?
    Jim Tucker is witness number 5. At the tender age of 7 Jim saw his mother nearly beaten to death by a robber who broke into their house. His mother was hospitalized for some time and Jim was put in foster care. "From there he went to juvenile halls, reform schools, and jails." Morgan wrote. He used drugs and alcohol and turned to a life of crime and, eventually, was put on the FBI's most wanted list. He faced over 600 counts of crime and was sentenced to prison for 90 years. Morgan wrote that he resolved ..."to be even tougher and meaner than ever. Wherever he was placed, he staged 1 man riots, taking on 5 or 6 guards at a time; destroying cells, starting fires, attacking and maiming other inmates. His chest was 54", his waist was 32", and he could press 400#. They called him 'the animal.'"
   The prison had to deal with him in special ways with powerful drugs, shock therapy, and other unusual actions. He was finally put into a solitary, soundproof 5' x 8' steel-doored  box with no bed, mattress or bathroom. Only a drain was in the floor. He was there as long as 3 years, though no one was supposed to be in there more than 29 days.
   After 27 years he was released and started back into crime. Finally he went to the top of a building to jump off and end it all, but couldn't jump. So he went into his hotel room where he found a Bible and started to read it. Although he never cried during his 27 years of prison life, he cried after reading about the love of God. Now he goes to prisons to preach the Gospel of Christ that others may be freed from sin and eternal death. He tells them that, "No one wanted me...But God!"
   Morgan concluded this story with "No one is beyond the power and influence of the gospel, and no one is hopeless in God's sight. The Lord is in the business of transforming the heartless and giving hope to the hopeless."
   His 6th witness is Jacob Koshy. He was determined to have lots of money in life and ended up dealing in drugs and gambling and eventually international smuggling. He was arrested and placed in a government drug rehab prison in Singapore. Knowing that all his goals and desires were stopped, he became extremely frustrated. A no smoking rule caused him to smuggle tobacco into prison and he rolled it up in pages from a Gideon Bible. While smoking one such cigarette he fell asleep and it went out and he read the charred paper that remained. He read, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?" He asked for another Bible to read the story of Saul and realized that God could change him, too! He trusted Christ and wept about his sinful life. He told other prisoners what God had done for him, and upon his release he got involved in a church. He married and became a Far East missionary preaching about what Christ can do for us. Morgan concluded the story with, "What other book possesses such power?"
   He ended the chapter with a summary, "These stories are but representatives of millions upon millions, many of whom have freely laid down their lives for Christ and His kingdom.... Other religions and philosophies may modify behavior, but only Christianity transforms a person's character from the inside out. Only Christianity makes old sinners into new creatures by renewing their minds (Rom. 12:2). Only Christianity offers a never-ending parade of witnesses, millions upon millions, from every tongue and tribe, spanning every era since the cross, covering every age and race, who gladly say, 'Come and see! Come and meet the Master. Come and let me tell you how He changed my life.'
   I should know. I am one among the untold millions whose lives have been touched by the Master's hand. I hope you, too, are among those who have learned that, yes...
   ...it works."
   I, too, am one of those who invite you to come and find the peace and enriched life that trusting in Christ can bring. Won't you join with us, that great number, too big to be counted, and enjoy the wonder of the Christian life, a life that is eternal? It never ends! Praise God!

Sincerely,
Rick

Changed lives proove the truth and power of the Bible

   Some say, "The proof is in the pudding." In other words, If it tastes good and fills the tummy, that is proof that it is good. It results in satisfaction. Are people satisfied by trusting in Jesus Christ and what He and His disciples taught? The answer is an overwhelming, "Yes", from those who really do believe and follow Christ's teaching. If the Bible is true the lives and habits and attitudes of those who believe should change greatly.
   Morgan said that he "...selected a handful of witnesses from a pool of millions...." The first witness he mentioned is Saul of Tarsus. The story of his conversion is given in Acts chapter 9. Read it for yourself and see the great change it made in his life. He was hunting down, arresting, and approving of even the death of Christians. After his salvation he became a powerful preacher of the faith, a wonderful blessing to the Church. Paul (Saul) recounts his conversion before king Agrippa in Acts chapter 26. Morgan asked, "How can you explain that the greatest destroyer of  Christianity became its greatest defender? How can you explain his metamorphosis, as he gladly endured a lifetime of shame, suffering, and the executioner's sword to spread the faith he had once labored to ruin? The mind of Saul of Tarsus was brilliant. His training was superb. His passion was unquenchable. His background and heritage flowed with the Jewish blood of a hundred generations. Yet in one moment he was transformed from the greatest enemy the early church ever faced into the greatest missionary the world has ever known. What power could so change a life? The Gospel! The Gospel's chain of witnesses from the days of Saul of Tarsus to our own is unbroken, and it grows stronger still."
   His second witness was John Nicholson. There were 100's of thousands-maybe millions in each generation between Saul (Paul) and John, but he wanted to skip to the 20th century. John was a Christian. He wanted a room in a hotel which was full so he was asked to share a room with Samuel Hill. These men enjoyed fellowship so much that a second time when they shared a room they started an organization called "The Gideons". Many a man and woman have believed in Christ by reading Bibles placed in hotel rooms by the Gideons without any person there to help! As Morgan implicated, the power is in the Gospel(good news)of Christ.
   One testimony resulting from a Gideon Bible is Gary Fossen, the third witness. Gary killed his parents and sister while he was in college and was sent to prison. He cursed at a pastor who came to see him a number of times and gave him a small Gideon Bible. He took it, spat on it, and kicked it under his bed.
   Sometime later, being lonely, he wanted to take his own life and smuggled in a razor blade. While he waited for the right time to go through with it, he thought it wouldn't hurt to read the Bible and was wonderfully saved! He was still in prison, but his pain and loneliness were gone! Morgan asked, "...can Shakespeare have such an effect? Can Homer or Milton? Or, for that matter, can the writings of Darwin?" He answered his own question,"No. Charles Darwin once wrote a letter to a Christian minister named J. W. Fegan who had conducted a preaching crusade in a village in England. As a result of Fegan's campaign, the alcoholics were converted and the bars closed down. Darwin wrote to Fegan saying, 'We (the evolutionists) have never been able to reclaim a drunkard, but through your services I do not know that there is a drunkard left in the village.'"

Very Sincerely,
Rick