If I Died Today, Would I Go to Heaven? by Martin Wiles

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

Middle School was a difficult period for me. Many things I’d never faced cropped up. Peer pressure grew intense. Pressures to cheat, curse, lie, and jump over other firmly ingrained moral codes pulled at me. Most troubling was my sudden fear of death. I had trusted Christ as my Savior several years earlier, yet this haunting horror seemed to hover over me daily. My only consolation was knowing I’d be safe in heaven if I died. I had made the necessary arrangements. 

Rather than a wide open road to heaven, Jesus said the path was quite exclusive. Comparatively, very few would discover it. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. (Matthew 7:14 NLT)

While it might be nice if I could reach God by any route I wanted, there would be serious ramifications. If only I could arrive there by loving the unlovable, following a lifetime pattern of good works, abiding by moral principles, serving my fellowman through community and political offices, regularly attending church, frequently giving to church. While all of the above are admirable, none in and of themselves have the power to connect me to God. 

Jesus said the gate that leads into heaven’s joy is narrow, and the road is difficult. He himself is both. According to his own testimony, he is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. Whether I go to heaven when I die is gauged by how I respond to him. If I acknowledge him as God’s Son, believe he paid for my sins on Calvary’s cross, accept that God raised him from the dead after three days, and commit myself to love and serve him, then I can rest assured heaven is in my future. 

Making the decision to follow Christ gives me joy and peace in the present. Otherwise, I must live in a state of anxiety and fear. If you died today, would you go to heaven?

Prayer: Thank You merciful Father for making the way possible for everyone to enjoy an eternity in heaven with You. 

Email us with the story of how you came to know Christ.  

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Flashback Friday by Martin Wiles

WELCOME TO FLASHBACK FRIDAY...BECAUSE EVERY DEVOTION DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE. 

Genuine Repentance by Martin Wiles

Sam thinks renewing his wedding vows will solve his problems. He tarnished his first marriage by unfaithfulness and the second isn’t fairing much better. He’s abandoned Mary twice already for another woman, a far off land and wasted living. Sam lives the prodigal’s dream.

Conviction overcomes Sam, and he calls to ask if I will perform the ceremony. I agree. Two weeks later he runs away again with the same woman. He eventually returns, Mary takes him back, but he pays a price. Everyone questions his sincerity and wonders how long before he will repeat his bad behavior. Read more... 

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Is It Fair for God to Forgive Anyone Who Asks? by Martin Wiles

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

David James O’Connor was a volunteer wrestling coach at Curtis Junior High School and later at Curtis Senior High School. Recently two young men accused him of molesting them while they were on the wrestling team at Curtis Junior High. The charges against O’Connor, however, were dropped due to a technicality. Actually another law called the statue of limitations. Since the illegal occurrences transpired in 2005, charges would have had to have been filed by 2008. He was free to go. His release didn’t seem fair…and certainly wasn’t to the young men he molested.

Laws are designed to protect the innocent and the criminal. Both have limited rights. When protecting lawbreakers, they seem unfair. God’s grace might occasionally appear in that same light also. The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT)

Grace by its very nature is unfair. After all, God extends it to people who don’t deserve it. I deserve to pay eternally for my sins against him, yet he steps in if I ask and cleans my slate. When I hear of him saving those who are already somewhat good moral people, I rejoice. I’m even happy when addicts are delivered. But when it’s a murderer on death row who asks for his forgiveness at the last minute—and gets it, I get antsy. Especially if I’ve lived the good life most of my life. Now they get to enjoy the same rewards as I do? 

God’s forgiveness has only one stipulation—and it doesn’t relate to how good I already am, what type of family I come from, or how much I possess. Repentance is God’s only requirement. In any case, my forgiveness is based on Jesus’ payment—not anything I’ve accomplished or how I’ve lived.

God makes the forgiveness rules. Instead of crying “Unfair” when he forgives someone you think doesn’t deserve it, remember no one deserves his forgiveness. Rather, rejoice that it’s available to all who ask.

Prayer: Father in heaven, I recognize I’ve sinned against You. Thank You for allowing Your Son to pay for my sins. I receive that forgiveness and commit my life to You. 

Tell us how you respond to unfair situations. 

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Love and Fear by Martin Wiles

Love and fear. Is it possible for both emotions to inhabit healthy relationships?

I loved my parents but also feared them. I loved them because they brought me into the world and cared for my needs. They fed me when I was hungry, changed my diapers when they were dirty and massaged my stomach when I had colic and cried all night. When I contracted German measles, they worried more about me getting well than them getting sick. 

But as an older child and teen, I feared them. They weren’t satisfied when I strayed into actions or attitudes contrary to what they believed appropriate. They made rules, and I lived by them or was disciplined. Parents also have the law on their side which gives an even greater incentive to obey. 

Should you not fear me? declares the LORD. Should you not tremble in my presence? (Jeremiah 5:22) God dwelled among his Old Testament people. They professed to love him but weren’t demonstrating it through actions. God calls them to account, pronounces their actions foolish and then gives them a few reminders why they should fear him. He made the ocean, set its boundaries and brought the rain making bountiful harvests possible. 

Interaction with God involves both emotions. We love God because he first loved us. When connected to him through faith in Christ, our love grows stronger. But healthy love incorporates an element of fear. Although God won’t remove his love, we should tremble in his presence and respect his position. We are here by his decree. Every breath we take is an expression of his love. Learn to enjoy God’s presence while respecting his power at the same time. 

Prayer: Merciful Lord, may our fear of You drive us to love You more.

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Throwback Tuesday by Martin Wiles

WELCOME TO THROWBACK TUESDAY...BECAUSE WE THINK EVERY DEVOTION DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE. 

Living With Regret by Martin Wiles

I stare out the window on a warm March afternoon of the winter that wasn’t in the southern United States. My garden plot stares back, “Are you going to prepare me?”

I’ve made plans for the initial plowing but wonder… Can I plant it? I have the skills, knowledge and implements. I am capable of buying the necessary seeds and plants. 

Should I plant? An answer not so obvious. In spite of proper care, the plot hasn’t delivered favorable results. What grows well attracts deer. The expense of keeping them away-along with rising prices, makes me question the effort. Read more...

We'd love to hear your story about regret. Email us.  

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Did Jesus Really Rise from the Grave? by Martin Wiles

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

I’ve walked by the caskets of more dead family members than I care to recall. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and a father. As I strolled by each coffer, I longed for their eyes to open and their voices to speak. In some cases, unfinished business lingered. I needed to speak to them. I longed to hear some of the old stories again. And this time I would pen them down somewhere. No matter how sincere my longing, none revived. 

With Jesus, it was different…or so people claim. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. (Matthew 28:6 NLT) On that first Easter morning, nothing was inside the tomb where Jesus was laid three days earlier except the clothes he wore. 

Various reasons have been suggested to explain the empty tomb. Some say Jesus merely fainted on the cross and was later revived by the tomb’s coolness. Yet the guards failed to break his legs while he hung on the cross because they knew he was already dead. Others propose his disciples stole his body for fear of being embarrassed because he didn’t do what he promised: rise from the dead. Still others say the guards confiscated his body. But why didn’t they produce it and thereby prove him a delusional, lying lunatic? 

Mary Magdalene was the first to see the resurrected Christ just outside the vacated grave. According to Paul, she wasn’t the only one. He appeared to Peter, James, the twelve apostles, and to more than 500 people—most of whom were still alive when Paul wrote (I Corinthians 15:6). Luke says these appearances occurred over a period of 40 days before Jesus’ ascension back into heaven (Acts 1:3).

My money’s on Jesus. The evidence seems conclusive that he did what he purported he would. More importantly, his resurrection was God’s validation that my sins were paid for. He became my substitute. By faith, I appropriate his death and resurrection’s benefits: forgiveness and eternal life. Does the risen Jesus live in your heart?

Prayer: God and Father, thank You for the death and resurrection of Your Son for the forgiveness of our sins. 

Do you have a question for God you'd like to share with us? 


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Do People Who’ve Never Heard about God Go to Heaven? by Martin Wiles

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question
My wife and I were visiting Nova Scotia on a mission trip. While there, we rented a car for travel back and forth to the places we would visit and work. We quickly noticed the unfamiliarity of the speed limit signs. Everything was in metric which we weren’t familiar with. Yet we were still responsible. Had we been stopped for speeding, the officer wouldn’t have taken an excuse that we were tourists who were unfamiliar with the metric system. It was our responsibility to learn the laws so we could obey them.

Humans also have a responsibility to their Creator. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (Romans 1:20 NLT)

Jesus proclaimed himself as the only way to the Father, so what happens to those who’ve never heard of him. Are they still responsible? Will they have any chance to spend eternity in heaven? Perhaps I can’t know with absolute certainty, but there are some definite conclusions I can reach. 

People who’ve never heard of Jesus are still responsible to God. Nature proclaims his existence. Theologians term this his general revelation. Though this isn’t sufficient to lead me to Jesus, it’s enough to make me accountable to God. It points me to a supreme Designer. 

Another certainty is the responsibility I have as a believer to share the gospel. When those who’ve never heard hear, they can then see how to connect with the supreme Designer. God has accomplished his part; I must fulfill mine. 

In our world of technological marvels, the numbers of those who’ve truly never heard about Jesus are rapidly shrinking. For those who die having never heard, I must trust God’s love and grace. Perhaps there is no absolute answer. I’m responsible for fulfilling my duty. I’ll leave the rest to God.

Are you doing your part to make sure those in your circle of influence are hearing about Jesus?

Prayer: Prompt us Lord Jesus to spread the message of Your love to everyone we meet. 


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Flashback Friday by Martin Wiles

WELCOME TO FLASHBACK FRIDAY...BECAUSE WE BELIEVE EVERY DEVOTION DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE. 

Tomorrow…The Perfect Day by Martin Wiles

“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” A statement normally used to reprimand procrastination. The practice involves putting off until tomorrow and comes from “pro” meaning “forward” and “crastinus” meaning “belonging to tomorrow.” 

Saturday was my day off from school and church. I looked forward to romping in the woods, playing cops and robbers or cowboys and Indians, or riding my bike. Things kids did before technology took over. Read more...

We'd love to hear your story about procrastination. 

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Why Doesn’t God Stop Sin? by Martin Wiles

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

He was so tough that he would toss a family out in the cold to further his interests.

The Scobeys rented from Ben Weaver, a shrewd local Mayberry businessman. When Lester, the dad, missed one month’s rent payment due to insufficient funds, Weaver was ready to foreclose. No grace…no mercy…merely a get-out-of-my-house notice. Since Andy was sheriff, he had the unpleasant task of serving the eviction notice. Barney, however, conceives the idea for a “Save the Scobey House Fund”—part of which entailed a rummage sale at the jail. As one local farmer mulled over the items, he came upon one gadget he’d never seen before. Perhaps Andy knew. He asked. Andy replied, “If I knew what it was, it’d cost you….” No idea what the identity was…no idea what the purpose was either. (“Andy Forecloses”)

God has a lot to say about sin, but I’ve often wondered what purpose it serves. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT)

That God is sovereign is unquestionably assumed and stated throughout the Bible. Yet if he’s all-powerful as his Word relates, why doesn’t he stop sin? Surely this would be the magic ticket for my success at obeying his commands—which is, after all, what he craves. 

Though I can’t know why God doesn’t squash sin, there are at least two conclusions that help me deal with its presence. First, sin must serve some purpose; otherwise God would eliminate it. Second, sin’s presence gives me a choice. The ability to choose makes me human. It did Adam and Eve and everyone since them. God gave them the choice to obey by avoiding the fruit of the one and only tree he forbade them to eat from. He also left room for their disobedience. 

Sin’s presence is God’s constant reminder that there are healthy and unhealthy choices in life. Choices that either take us in his direction or Satan’s. Which ones are you making?

Prayer: Give us power, holy God, to choose Your ways above all others. 

Do you have a question for God you'd like to share with us? 


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Power To Control by Martin Wiles

All I saw and heard was a brief flash and high pitch whine. Several hundred feet later, I caught up with the culprits at the red light. Two riders on “crotch rockets,” as some refer to these particular makes of motorcycle. As they waited on the green light, one revved his engine and looked around nervously. I imagined the scene before it unfolded.

The light turned and he raced off. His quick start turned tragic when shifting into second gear. The front end rose like an angry wave, whipping him and his bike to the ground with lightning fury. He quickly discovered he lacked control over what he thought he commanded. 

I sometimes feel powerless over thoughts, actions and emotions. Like a motorcycle given too much gas, they careen out of control-rearing up unexpectedly, wobbling in all directions, taking me places I want to avoid. And the ensuing crashes damage me and those close to me. 

But there’s good news: We (can) demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (II Corinthians 10:5)

I can’t control what enters my mind, but I can choose what to do with it and how long I let it hang around. Ungodly thoughts should be captured quickly lest they arouse emotions producing unwanted results. Motorcycles are controlled by balance, brakes and throttle. Minds are fed through eyes, ears, hands, noses and taste buds. Controlling what our senses encounter affects what our minds experience. And mind command delivers power for behavior control. 

Let God equip you to control damaging thoughts before they control you.

Prayer: Lord and Master, enable us to control what harms us and others.

Tell us what you do when life seems out of control. 

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Throwback Tuesday by Martin Wiles

WELCOME TO THROWBACK TUESDAY...BECAUSE WE THINK EVERY DEVOTION DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE.

Stinky Days by Martin Wiles

Carol King sang “I feel the earth move under my feet” in her 1971 hit “I Feel the Earth Move,” but I actually experienced it.

Shortly after moving to an old home, my wife and I explored the overgrown backyard, contemplating how to restore its original beauty. A small area shook every time I walked across it. Clearing the weeds, we discovered a piece of metal which when lifted revealed a hole. Assuming it was an old well, we covered it with a flower bed. Read more...

Tell us about your favorite stinky day. 

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Where Did God Come From? by Martin Wiles

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

Though my father died more than five years ago, vestiges of his presence remain. As I stroll through my house and my mom’s house, I can see his imprints. The sound of his voice has almost faded from my memory, but observable things he left behind keep his memory alive. On one of my bookcases rests a clock whose cabinet was forged by his hands. Almost every bookcase I own, he assembled. On many of his later projects are stamped the words, “Made by Buddy Wiles.” He constructed my mom’s entire bedroom suit. In her kitchen is a tiny what not shelf he formed when he was a high schooler in Shop class. All of these items had a creator. His hands worked diligently. Wood was measured, cut, and assembled. Rough spots were sanded. Varnish and stain were applied. 

When God instructed Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, Moses asked, If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,” they will ask me, “What is his name?” Then what should I tell them? God’s reply was, Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you. (Exodus 3:13, 14 NLT)

Every physical item and every human body I observe has or had a creator. The creator of the item may be long gone, but there was one. Thousand year old artifacts had a creator. These creators had a beginning and an end. With God, the story changes. He is “I Am.” He is what he is and what he will be. He proclaims himself as “The Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation 22:13). He was the beginning, and he will be the end. There was nothing before him, and no force or person created him. 

Believing that someone came from nowhere takes a step of faith—as does many other things the Bible teaches about God. I can’t understand or explain it, but I must believe he was before all things and will remain after all things. He simply was, is, and will be.

Prayer: Thank You Father for the beauty You have created, for the power You exude, and for the Love You freely give. 

Have you read Lee Strobel's, The Case for a Creator?
  

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Is My Faith Only a Crutch? by Martin Wiles

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

Every morning as I arrive at school, I walk into my room, set down my computer bag, and plop in my chair. When each class arrives, I take my position on a stool behind the teacher’s podium and begin instruction. During the hour, it’s not uncommon for me to get up and walk to the white board and then return to my stool. I may even go back to my desk chair several times during each class. I depend on these chairs to do their job. You might say they’re my crutches.

But suppose I was a blind man and couldn’t see these chairs? With assistance, I could still find them. They would serve the same purpose and be just as dependable as when visible. My spiritual journey is similar. For we walk by faith, not by sight. (II Corinthians 5:7 NKJV)

My journey with God is built on faith not sight. With the exception of long distance email relationships, all my interactions are with people I can actually see, touch, hear, feel…and sometimes smell. Even my email-only contacts can send me a picture so I’ll know they’re real people. With God, it’s faith only. No sight permitted. Yet this doesn’t mean my relationship with him is a crutch. 

After creating the first human, God said it wasn’t good for him to be alone. He created a cohort for Adam. Of all the companions I can have—and of all the relationships I can enter, the one with God is most important. If a crutch is defined as something I depend on to get me through and over life’s valleys and mountains, then yes God is my crutch. But the overtone shouldn’t be negative. It’s not that I can’t handle life without falling apart; it’s that I choose to let God help me deal with it. After all, he’s my creator and knows the beginning from the end of my life. For me, the only sensible thing to do is to depend on the One who is stronger and more intelligent than I. 

Faith in God is the best crutch you’ll ever use.

Prayer: Remind us, dear Father, that there’s no shame in letting You be our crutch. 

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Flashback Friday by Martin Wiles

WELCOME TO FLASHBACK FRIDAY...BECAUSE WE BELIEVE EVERY DEVOTION DESERVES A SECOND READ.

The Bitterness Root

Crows know. Perhaps by instinct, eyesight or a combination of both, but they know.
I enjoy watching a variety of birds frequent our feeders and bird bath. In spite of the numerous other places to find water, they love to bathe, drink and socialize at the bird bath.
Filling the fountain is a simple job, but for some reason-laziness I suppose, I let it remain empty for days at a time. When I finally fill it, the crows immediately know. They’re not sitting in the surrounding trees waiting, but they know. And they quickly descend on the bird bath. Water is necessary, and God drives them to what sustains life. Read more...

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Can I Trust the Bible? by Martin Wiles

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

I was teaching at a small private school with a very limited budget in Low country South Carolina. Many of our books often arrived from schools that had funds for updated curriculum. This scenario made teaching history challenging. While most events in history are set in stone, some of the facts I was teaching students had changed. Most notably, the breakup of the former Soviet Union. According to their books, the Empire was still in intact when in reality it wasn’t. I couldn’t trust the book; it needed updating. Things had changed. 

Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about this transpiring with God’s Word. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. (II Timothy 3:16 NLT)

Some doubt the Bible’s validity—or at least portions of it. It’s ancient, it was written by many different authors, the miracle stories seem too good to be true, and there was a great deal of discussion over which books to include in the Old and New Testament canon. Some believe it’s trustworthy in matters of faith only—not in science and history. Others hold to its complete reliability. 

I can trust the Bible because it’s inspired by God. Inspiration is his supernatural influence on the writers so that what they produced was exactly what he wanted written. God’s commands are recorded therein. Frequent stories illustrate the principles he expects me to live by. As I meditate on God’s Word, his Spirit convicts my spirit and shows me where I’m missing his mark. Not only does it show me what’s wrong but it also points me in the right direction so I can repair what’s broken. 

The Bible has survived numerous attempts to destroy it. While written by many authors, the scarlet theme of redemption is woven throughout. It’s impact on people’s lives—and their willingness to suffer and even die for the God it proposes, is evidence of its reliability. Trust God’s Word. More importantly, trust the One it points to.

Prayer: Eternal God, build our faith in Your Word so we will build our lives on its solid foundation. 


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What is Your Plan for My Life? by Martin Wiles

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

At the age of nineteen, he contracted smallpox but survived. His father died when he was eleven. While on a surveying trip, his straw bedding caught fire as he slept. Fortunately, a fellow surveyor doused the blaze. He was chosen as major and district adjutant of Virginia’s colonial troops at the age of twenty-one and commissioned to deliver an ultimatum to a French commander—a duty that entailed a hazardous, wintertime, wilderness trip. 

By the age of twenty-three, George Washington had survived fire, smallpox, Indian ambushes, and battles with the French. Many attributed his achievements and survival to God’s providence. Reverend Samuel Davis, a prominent Presbyterian minister, said, “I may point out to the public that heroic youth, Colonel Washington, whom I cannot but hope Providence has hitherto preserved in so signal a manner for some important service to his country.”

But does God have a plan for me—and everyone, as he did for America’s first president? Many years earlier, God said to the prophet Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

God is the creator of all people and makes the choice to create. It seems ludicrous that he would create me—or anyone, with no purpose in mind. Fulfilling God’s purpose is made possible by appealing to the natural talents, spiritual gifts, and unique personality he has given me. 

Though God has a plan for me, he won’t force it upon me. I must discover it by asking him to reveal it. Through prayer, Bible study, experience, and listening to other believers, I can know God’s plan for my life. And when I finally discover it, I’ll enjoy abundant living. As Washington was preserved by God for service to a young country, my contribution to my historical period will be unique as well if I follow his leadership. 

Don’t settle for less than the best. Discover God’s plan for your life.

Prayer: Thank You Father for creating us with purpose. Reveal Your plan to us individually so we can serve You faithfully and accomplish Your will. 


Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.

Throwback Tuesday by Martin Wiles

WELCOME TO THROWBACK TUESDAY...BECAUSE WE BELIEVE EVERY DEVOTION IS WORTH A SECOND READ. 

Bird Talk

It was a warm March morning when he appeared outside my office window. 
A soft chirp caught my attention as I was trying to write and worry simultaneously. I peered out the window and noticed a male black capped chickadee. My wife had stuffed a maple syrup can with cotton and placed it on a patio table for decoration. I watched as the small bird hopped from one boll to another, stuffing cotton in his beak between chirps. Occasionally he would pause and glance my way as if to say; Take note, God provides for the nest I’m building. Read more...

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How Did the Beginning of Time Happen? by Martin Wiles

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

Some look at nature—including the night sky, and imagine it just happened; others see these things as God’s miracle.

I never believed all the marvels of nature merely materialized through some freak processes that were controlled by an unknown source. Of course, I was reared in a Christian home and taught about a creator God who was responsible for everything’s existence. Had I been brought up in a different culture where my God wasn’t acknowledged or known, I might have arrived at different conclusions. 

To look at all the magic science can show me—and to consider the human body itself, and believe it all simply happened with no guiding hand is inconceivable to me. It was to the biblical writers as well. One said, By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. (Hebrews 11:3 NLT)

The question of how things began has been asked by believers and atheists alike. For the atheist or agnostic, evolution is the only choice. Processes that have taken place over billions of years are responsible for present life forms.

For believers, God is the source—although there are different philosophies about how he brought things into existence. Theistic evolutionists suppose God brought everything into existence but did it through the evolutionary process. Progressive creationists believe there were several incidents wherein God created out of nothing and then allowed evolution to bring the end result. Fiat creationists think God brought everything into existence by a direct act. He spoke—or thought, and it happened. All three deposit God at the beginning. 

However the beginning of time happened, God was there and responsible. Knowing how he did it isn’t as important as believing he did. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. 

When you think about the beginning of time, is God there?

Prayer: We acknowledge You, O God, as the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. 

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