Category: FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

  • How Do I Know What God Wants Me to Do?

    How Do I Know What God Wants Me to Do?

    HOW DO I KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO DO?

    One of the most common questions Christians ask is, “How do I know what God wants me to do?” We want God’s direction in relationships, careers, ministry, finances, major decisions, and everyday life. The good news is that God wants to guide His children.

    “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8 ESV)

    But receiving God’s guidance requires humility:

    “He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.” (Psalm 25:9 ESV)

    One of the dangers is making our plans first and asking God to bless them afterward. God warned Israel:

    “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine… who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction.” (Isaiah 30:1–2 ESV)

    Notice the problem: they made their plans without consulting God. When seeking God’s guidance, I have found it helpful to remember that His direction often comes to us in three simple ways: GO — YES, NO — STOP, and SLOW — WAIT.

    • GO — YES. God opens the way and gives us freedom to move forward.

    • NO — STOP. God closes the door, redirects us, or shows us that what we desire is not His will.

    • SLOW — WAIT. Sometimes God isn’t saying no. He is saying, “Not yet.” Waiting is not the absence of God’s guidance. Sometimes waiting is God’s guidance.

    So how do we discern whether God is saying GO, NO, or SLOW? Here are five biblical principles.

    #1: COMMANDING SCRIPTURE

    Start with what God has already said.

    “But first let’s find out what the LORD says.” (1 Kings 22:5 NLT)

    Before looking for signs, feelings, impressions, or open doors, go to Scripture. God will never guide you to do something that contradicts what He has already commanded in His Word. You don’t need a sign about something God has clearly addressed.

    If Scripture says yes, you don’t need to pray about whether obedience is necessary. If Scripture says no, you don’t need to look for circumstances that will give you permission to say yes. God’s Word is our first and final authority.

    #2: COMPELLING SPIRIT

    Pay attention to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

    Paul said, “And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit…” (Acts 20:22 ESV)

    At another time, Paul and his companions wanted to travel into Bithynia: “…they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” (Acts 16:7 ESV)

    In one situation, the Spirit was saying GO. In another, the Spirit was saying NO. There will also be seasons when the Spirit seems to say SLOW — WAIT. As believers, we should learn to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s direction. This may involve conviction, a persistent burden, an unusual sense of restraint, or a growing clarity about what we should do.

    But there is an important safeguard: the Holy Spirit will never contradict the Holy Scriptures. We should always test what we believe the Spirit is saying against what God has already revealed in His Word.

    #3: COMMON SENSE

    Sometimes Christians make God’s guidance unnecessarily mysterious. God has given us a mind, wisdom, experience, knowledge, and the ability to think.

    “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15 ESV)

    “The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way…” (Proverbs 14:8 ESV)

    Jesus even spoke about carefully considering a decision: “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost…?” (Luke 14:28 ESV)

    Sometimes the spiritual thing to do is stop, think, gather the facts, count the cost, and make a wise decision. God’s guidance does not normally require us to abandon the wisdom and good judgment He has given us.

    Ask practical questions: Is this wise? Is this responsible? Have I thought through the consequences? Am I ignoring something obvious because I desperately want a particular answer? God can guide us through sanctified common sense.

    #4: COUNSEL OF MATURE CHRISTIANS

    Don’t make major decisions in isolation.

    “…but a wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15 ESV)

    “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22 ESV)

    Seek the counsel of mature Christians who know God, know Scripture, and know you. But be careful not to simply collect opinions until you find someone who agrees with you.

    Paul warned, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth…” (2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV)

    Good counsel isn’t always the counsel we want to hear. Find people who love you enough to tell you the truth, even when the truth challenges your plans.

    #5: CIRCUMSTANTIAL SIGNS

    Finally, pay attention to what God is doing around you. Sometimes God opens doors:

    “For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” (1 Corinthians 16:9 ESV)

    Sometimes He closes doors: “…they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” (Acts 16:7 ESV)

    But we need to be careful here. An open door doesn’t automatically mean GO, and a difficult road doesn’t automatically mean NO.

    Paul once wrote, “When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.” (2 Corinthians 2:12–13 ESV)

    That’s remarkable. Paul had an open door—and didn’t walk through it. Circumstances matter, but circumstances should generally confirm God’s guidance rather than control God’s guidance.

    PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

    When you’re trying to determine God’s direction, don’t build your decision on one feeling, one coincidence, or one person’s opinion. Bring these things together:

    Commanding Scripture: What has God already said?

    Compelling Spirit: How does the Holy Spirit appear to be leading?

    Common Sense: What does wisdom tell me?

    Counsel of Mature Christians: What are godly, trustworthy believers telling me?

    Circumstantial Signs: What doors does God appear to be opening or closing?

    Then remember the three ways God often directs us. GO — Sometimes God says YES. Move forward in faith and obedience. NO — Sometimes God says STOP. Trust that God’s “no” may be His protection or redirection. SLOW — Sometimes God says WAIT. Don’t force a door God hasn’t opened yet.

    Waiting can be the hardest answer because we would often rather hear yes or no than not yet. But God’s delays are not necessarily God’s denials.

    Ultimately, knowing God’s will isn’t merely about discovering the right answer. It’s about knowing, trusting, and walking with God. Whatever His answer—GO, NO, or SLOW—our responsibility remains the same: trust Him and follow Him..

    Bible References: Psalm 32:8 (ESV); Psalm 25:9 (ESV); Isaiah 30:1–2 (ESV); 1 Kings 22:5 (ESV); Acts 20:22 (ESV); Acts 16:7 (ESV); Proverbs 14:8, 15 (ESV); Luke 14:28 (ESV); Proverbs 12:15 (ESV); Proverbs 15:22 (ESV); 2 Timothy 4:3–4 (ESV); 1 Corinthians 16:9 (ESV); 2 Corinthians 2:12–13 (ESV)

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  • What Is the Book of Enoch and Should It Be in the Bible?

    What Is the Book of Enoch and Should It Be in the Bible?

    WHAT IS THE BOOK OF ENOCH & SHOULD IT BE IN THE BIBLE?

    The Book of Enoch, usually called 1 Enoch, is an ancient Jewish religious work that has generated a great deal of interest among Christians. Because the New Testament appears to draw from it—most notably in the book of Jude—some have wondered whether Enoch was originally part of the Bible or whether it should be considered inspired Scripture today.

    Protestants generally do not receive the Book of Enoch as inspired Scripture. That does not mean the book is worthless or that Christians should be afraid to read it. It can provide valuable historical background for understanding ancient Jewish thought. But there are good reasons to distinguish between a book that is historically interesting and a book that is God-breathed Scripture.

    Here are the primary reasons.

    #1: IT WAS NOT PART OF THE HEBREW CANON

    The Old Testament received by Protestants corresponds to the books recognized in the Jewish Scriptures. 1 Enoch was never part of the traditional Hebrew canon.

    Jesus and the apostles repeatedly refer to the recognized categories of Old Testament Scripture—“the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44, ESV). Enoch was not included among those canonical books.

    Fragments of Enoch discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls demonstrate that some ancient Jewish communities read, copied, and valued the book. However, finding copies of a religious work at Qumran does not make that work Scripture. The community possessed many religious writings that were never considered part of the biblical canon.

    In other words, a book can be ancient, respected, and spiritually interesting without being inspired Scripture.

    #2: THE BOOK WAS NOT WRITTEN BY THE BIBLICAL ENOCH

    The biblical Enoch lived before the Flood and is described in Genesis as a man who “walked with God” (Genesis 5:24, ESV). Yet the Book of Enoch as we have it comes from a much later period. Scholars generally date its various sections to the centuries immediately preceding and surrounding the time of Christ.

    Therefore, when the book presents revelations associated with Enoch, we should not assume that the historical Enoch personally wrote them.

    This gives us an important reason for caution: the name “Enoch” attached to the book does not establish Enochic authorship.

    Ancient literature sometimes attributed writings to significant figures from the distant past. That may seem  unusual to modern readers, but it was not uncommon in the ancient world. Whatever historical traditions may lie behind 1 Enoch, we do not have sufficient reason to conclude that the Enoch of Genesis wrote the book bearing his name.

    #3: JUDE QUOTING ENOCH DOES NOT MAKE THE WHOLE BOOK SCRIPTURE

    This is probably the biggest question Christians have about Enoch because Jude writes:

    “It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied…” (Jude 14, ESV)

    Jude 14–15 closely parallels 1 Enoch 1:9. That tells us that Jude knew an Enochic tradition and, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, regarded the statement he used as true. But it does not follow that the Holy Spirit was declaring the entire Book of Enoch inspired.

    The Apostle Paul does something similar with nonbiblical writers. In Acts 17:28, Paul quotes Greek poets, and in Titus 1:12, he quotes a Cretan writer. Those quotations become part of inspired Scripture because an inspired biblical author uses them. That does not mean that everything those writers ever wrote suddenly becomes Scripture.

    Think of it this way:

    Jude is Scripture. Therefore, what Jude affirms is authoritative. But that does not automatically transfer inspiration to Jude’s source material as a whole.

    The Holy Spirit can inspire a biblical author to use a true statement from outside the Bible without declaring the entire source to be inspired.

    #4: ENOCH CONTAINS ELABORATE MATERIAL THAT GOES BEYOND SCRIPTURE

    One of the most famous portions of 1 Enoch greatly expands upon the mysterious events described in Genesis 6:

    “the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive.” (Genesis 6:2, ESV)

    Enoch develops this brief biblical account into an extensive story involving the Watchers, fallen angels, their names and activities, forbidden knowledge, giants, judgment, and heavenly realms.

    Some of this material may preserve ancient Jewish interpretations and traditions. It can also be fascinating background for understanding how certain Jewish groups around the time of the New Testament interpreted Genesis.

    But Christians need to maintain an important distinction:

    Interesting background is not the same thing as inspired revelation.

    We should be especially careful about using Enoch to fill in details that God chose not to give us in Genesis. When Scripture is silent, a nonbiblical ancient text should not be used to create biblical certainty.

    #5: THE EARLY CHURCH DID NOT ULTIMATELY RECEIVE IT AS CANON

    Some early Christians knew and respected Enoch, and writers such as Tertullian treated it quite favorably. However, the broader church did not ultimately receive 1 Enoch among the canonical books of the Old Testament.

    It is not part of the Old Testament canon received by Protestants or Roman Catholics, nor is it included in the standard Old Testament collections of most Eastern Orthodox traditions. A significant exception is the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, whose broader canon includes 1 Enoch.

    This also corrects a common misconception: Martin Luther did not simply remove the Book of Enoch from the Bible during the Protestant Reformation. Enoch was not sitting in the standard Western Christian Old Testament for centuries and then suddenly removed by Protestants.

    The question, therefore, is not, “Why did Protestants take Enoch out of the Bible?”

    The better question is:

    “Do we have sufficient reason to recognize 1 Enoch as a God-breathed book belonging to the canon of Scripture?”

    The answer is no.

    SO, SHOULD CHRISTIANS READ THE BOOK OF ENOCH?

    Christians certainly can read the Book of Enoch. In fact, for those interested in biblical history and the world surrounding the New Testament, it can be quite useful. But we need to read it in the proper Category.

    A helpful rule is this:

    Read Enoch like you might read Josephus—not like you read Genesis.

    Enoch can help us understand Second Temple Judaism, ancient interpretations of Genesis 6, Jewish thinking about angels and demons, divine judgment, messianic expectations, and some of the conceptual world surrounding New Testament books such as Jude and 2 Peter.

    But it must always remain subordinate to Scripture.

    When Enoch and Scripture are placed side by side, Scripture interprets Enoch. Enoch does not interpret, correct, or add to Scripture.

    And when Enoch supplies details that Scripture itself does not give us, we should be careful to say:

    “That is an ancient Jewish tradition.”

    We should not say:

    “The Bible teaches this.”

    That distinction allows us to appreciate an important ancient document without giving it an authority that belongs to the inspired Word of God alone.

    Bible References:  Genesis 5:24 ESV; Genesis 6:2 ESV; Luke 24:44 ESV; Jude 14–15 ESV; Acts 17:28 ESV; Titus 1:12 ESV; 2 Peter 3:16 ESV

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  • WHAT ARE THE “TRUMPET SOUNDS” PEOPLE REPORT HEARING AROUND THE WORLD?

    WHAT ARE THE “TRUMPET SOUNDS” PEOPLE REPORT HEARING AROUND THE WORLD?

    WHAT ARE THE “TRUMPET SOUNDS” PEOPLE REPORT HEARING AROUND THE WORLD?

    People in different parts of the world have reported hearing strange sounds that seem to come from the sky. They describe a low-frequency hum, a horn, or a trumpet. Reports have come from the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Russia, the Czech Republic, and other places. Understandably, people are puzzled.

    There are all kinds of theories. Some believe the sounds are natural phenomena. Others think they come from aircraft or some other human activity. Some say they are pranks or hoaxes created to attract attention online. Still others believe the sounds are spiritual—either demonic or divine.

    DO THESE SOUNDS HAVE BIBLICAL SIGNIFICANCE?

    Let me tell you what I believe: I do not believe these reported sounds carry biblical significance. The most probable explanation is that they are either natural phenomena or human-made sounds.

    The Bible does teach that the return of Jesus Christ will be accompanied by the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God. First Thessalonians 4:16 says that “the Lord himself will descend from heaven … with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.”

    When that trumpet sounds, you will not miss it. There will be no confusion and no need for an online video to persuade you that something happened. You will know that it is the trumpet of God and that Jesus Christ has come.

    Bible References: 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (ESV)

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  • CAN YOU EXPLAIN GENERATIONAL CURSES AND WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THEM?

    CAN YOU EXPLAIN GENERATIONAL CURSES AND WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THEM?

    CAN YOU EXPLAIN GENERATIONAL CURSES AND WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THEM?

    It is obvious that the sins of parents can affect the lives of their children. Adam, God’s vice-regent in the earth, sinned, and because he sinned, all creation was broken. Sin and death entered the world, and every generation after Adam has lived with the consequences.

    We see the same principle in everyday life. An alcoholic father’s choices can deeply affect his children. He may be unable to keep a job, the family may have to move frequently, or there may not be enough food on the table. Some sins remove a parent from the home; other sins are so destructive that the children must be removed for their safety.

    SIN IS NEVER MERELY PRIVATE

    American culture often treats spirituality as a private matter: It is just me, Jesus, and my Bible. That idea is foreign to Scripture. Sin is never completely private because our choices always affect the people around us.

    Think about someone who runs out of gas inside a tunnel and blocks traffic. You are late for work because another person failed to fill the tank. In a far more serious way, one person’s sin can bring painful consequences to an entire family, workplace, community, or nation.

    David’s sin involving Bathsheba brought devastating consequences to their family. When Israelite parents persisted in idolatry, their children also suffered the upheaval of invasion and exile. A business leader’s poor decisions can cost employees their jobs, and a ruler’s decisions can send other people’s children into war. Yes, one generation’s choices affect the next.

    CONSEQUENCES ARE NOT THE SAME AS AN INHERITED SPIRITUAL CURSE

    However, the usual question about generational curses means something more. It often assumes that a person is trapped in a punishment, sin, habit, or even a demonic power inherited from parents or grandparents—almost as if a spiritual curse were passed down like high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

    In some circles, people are taught that freedom requires identifying the curse, tracing where it began, renouncing it, and breaking it. While I absolutely believe a parent’s sin can affect a child, I do not accept this broad teaching about inherited generational curses. Two passages help explain why.

    EXODUS 20 ADDRESSED ISRAEL’S IDOLATRY

    In the Ten Commandments, God warned Israel not to bow down to idols. Exodus 20:5-6 speaks of “visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children” to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Him, while showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Him and keep His commandments.

    That sounds like a generational curse until we read it in context. This was a specific covenant warning to a specific nation regarding a specific sin: idolatry. God had delivered Israel from Egypt, and He warned that if the people continued worshiping idols, judgment would reach the generations that continued to hate Him.

    The first generation practiced idolatry, and so did the second, third, and fourth. Those generations were not innocent worshipers of God being punished for something they had never embraced. They continued the same rebellion, and the covenant judgment eventually came through exile.

    Do not miss verse 6. God’s steadfast love extends far beyond His judgment. His grace is always greater, longer, and more magnificent than punishment. Even God’s discipline is intended to turn His people back toward His blessing.

    EZEKIEL 18 CALLS US TO PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

    Ezekiel 18 confronts the proverb, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” In other words, the people were saying, Our parents sinned, so we are being punished. We are cursed because of what they did. They used the failures of the previous generation to avoid responsibility for their own rebellion.

    God answered, “All souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.” Each person belongs to God, and each person is accountable to Him. We must be careful not to use therapeutic language, family history, or the failures of previous generations as a way to refuse personal responsibility.

    HOW IS THE POWER OF SIN BROKEN?

    We do not need to discover a secret formula or name an ancestral demon. We repent. We turn to God and say, Jesus, I am sorry for my sin. I turn from my wickedness. I put my hope and faith in what You accomplished on the cross. You died in my place, and I give and consecrate my life to You.

    The consequences of another person’s sin may still be real and painful, but in Christ you are not condemned to repeat the rebellion of the generations before you. God’s grace calls you to repentance, faith, obedience, and a new life in Jesus.

    Bible References: Romans 5:12 (ESV); 2 Samuel 12:13-18 (ESV); Exodus 20:5-6 (ESV); Ezekiel 18:1-4 (ESV)

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  • DID GOD NEED TO REST ON THE SEVENTH DAY?

    DID GOD NEED TO REST ON THE SEVENTH DAY?

    DID GOD NEED TO REST ON THE SEVENTH DAY?

    The Bible says that God rested on the seventh day, but that can sound confusing. God is almighty and all-powerful. Why would He need to rest? Is rest the right translation?

    Isaiah 40:28 gives us an important starting point: “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary.” God does not become exhausted. He did not finish creation, wipe His brow, and say, I have worked so hard; I need a nap.

    GOD’S WORK WAS FINISHED

    Genesis 2:1-3 repeatedly emphasizes that the heavens and the earth were finished, God’s work was done, and then God rested. The Hebrew idea behind Sabbath—shabbat—is not primarily taking a nap. It means to stop, cease, or bring an activity to its appointed end.

    God rested because the work of creation was complete. Genesis 1:31 says that God saw everything He had made and declared it very good. He stopped, looked upon His finished creation, and delighted in what He had accomplished. His rest was a purposeful cessation, not recovery from exhaustion.

    JESUS SAT DOWN BECAUSE SALVATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED

    Jesus did something similar after completing the work of salvation. Hebrews 10:12 says, “When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” The priests under the old covenant remained standing because their work and sacrifices continued. Jesus sat down because His once-for-all sacrifice was complete.

    On the cross, Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). No additional lamb, dove, deed, or sacrifice is needed to accomplish salvation. Christ does not need to be crucified again, and His blood does not need to be shed again. The saving work is done.

    JESUS IS OUR SABBATH REST

    Some people make Sabbath entirely about the correct day or about detailed rules for what counts as work. I once saw a Sabbath elevator in Israel that stopped at every floor so no one would have to press a button. Yet some of the same people were carrying enormous plates from the buffet. We can become very selective about what we call work.

    The greater reality is that Jesus Christ fulfills the Sabbath. Hebrews 4:10 says, “Whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” When we enter God’s rest through faith in Christ, we stop trying to earn salvation by our own righteous acts.

    The good works we do are no longer attempts to make God love or forgive us. We obey because Christ has already loved us, forgiven us, and completed the work of salvation. We cease striving to save ourselves and rest with wonder and gratitude in what Jesus has done.

    Bible References: Isaiah 40:28 (ESV); Genesis 1:31 (ESV); Genesis 2:1-3 (ESV); Hebrews 10:12 (ESV); John 19:30 (ESV); Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV)

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  • IF GOD KNOWS AND SEES EVERYTHING, WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

    IF GOD KNOWS AND SEES EVERYTHING, WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

    IF GOD KNOWS AND SEES EVERYTHING, WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

    If God knows everything and is all-powerful, then when a prayer is answered, was it really answered—or did we simply pray for what was already God’s will? Put another way: if God already knows, why are we praying at all?

    Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer, and we pray it because He taught us to pray that way. Through prayer, God invites us into His story, His life, and His world.

    PRAYER IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE GOD

    We often begin with the wrong idea of prayer. Prayer is not an attempt to change God or manipulate Him into doing what we want. It is not asking God to step onto our stage, where we are the main character and He plays a supporting role.

    Prayer invites us to step off our stage and enter God’s story, where He is the center. Prayer transforms us. It draws us from God, make this happen toward Father, not my will, but Your will be done.

    That is where peace begins to settle into our prayer life. We remember that God is good, powerful, wise, and loving. He wastes nothing. Even when His first answer and His final answer are not what we wanted, we can say, I trust You, God. That is not a flippant statement; many believers have learned it while walking through the darkest seasons of life.

    PRAYER IS WORSHIP AND ALIGNMENT

    Prayer is first and foremost worship. Jesus taught us to begin, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Prayer aligns our lives with God’s purposes: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

    Prayer is not merely submitting a wish list. Prayer is submitting myself to God. Yes, I have a prayer list, but the prayer beneath every request is, Father, not as I will, but as You will.

    JESUS PRAYED, ‘YOUR WILL BE DONE’

    Before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed in the garden, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Some Christians have told me that this is not a faith-filled prayer. But if Jesus prayed it, and Jesus is God and is perfect, then I am safe praying His prayer.

    Jesus honestly expressed His desire to be spared the suffering of the cross, yet He entrusted Himself to the Father’s will. There is tremendous peace, power, rest, and freedom when we stop wrestling with God and simply say, Not my will, but Your will be done.

    Prayer exposes the illusion that we are in control. We think we are in control, but that is a mirage. God is in control. Prayer is not our way of seizing control from Him; it is the place where we gladly surrender control to the One who knows, loves, and rules perfectly.

    Bible References: Matthew 6:9-10 (ESV); Matthew 26:36-44 (ESV)

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  • WHAT IS THE WORST BIBLE OUT THERE?

    WHAT IS THE WORST BIBLE OUT THERE?

    WHAT IS THE WORST BIBLE OUT THERE?

    What is the worst Bible out there? I will give you the three worst Bibles—and then I will give you two of my favorites.

    #1: THE WORST BIBLE IS THE BIBLE YOU DO NOT READ

    A translation cannot shape your life if it remains unopened. The most beautifully bound, academically respected, and expensive Bible in your home is of little practical use when you never read it.

    #2: THE WORST BIBLE IS THE BIBLE YOU DO NOT KNOW

    Reading is meant to lead to understanding. We should become familiar with the story, teaching, promises, warnings, and wisdom of Scripture. A Bible you possess but never learn will not form your thinking.

    #3: THE WORST BIBLE IS THE BIBLE YOU DO NOT OBEY

    Knowing Scripture is not the final goal. We read and study the Word so that, by God’s grace, we can trust and obey what He has spoken.

    MY FAVORITE BIBLE FOR STUDY

    I have many different Bibles in my library, but my favorite for the last fifteen years has been the ESV Study Bible published by Crossway. It places an excellent collection of study tools, notes, articles, maps, and theological resources in one volume. I spent a great deal on seminary training in Greek and Hebrew; for the price of one study Bible, you can have a remarkable amount of help right in your hands. There may be a little hyperbole in that comparison, but it is an outstanding resource.

    MY RECOMMENDATION FOR CLEAR, ACCESSIBLE READING

    For reading—especially for a new believer or beginner—I also recommend the New Living Translation. It is clear and easy to understand.

    If you are beginning to read the Bible, you do not have to start on page one and force your way straight through. Genesis is fascinating. Exodus is fascinating. Then you may reach Leviticus and Numbers and suddenly have enough questions for an entire sermon series.

    Start in Matthew. Begin with Jesus and the New Covenant, then continue reading through the New Testament. Most importantly, choose a faithful translation you can understand, read it consistently, learn what it says, and obey the God who speaks through it.

    Bible References: Matthew 1:1-25 (ESV); 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV); James 1:22-25 (ESV)

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  • WILL I SEE MY DOG, CAT, OR OTHER PET IN HEAVEN?

    WILL I SEE MY DOG, CAT, OR OTHER PET IN HEAVEN?

    WILL I SEE MY DOG, CAT, OR OTHER PET IN HEAVEN?

    My Grandma Midge loved the Lord, and she loved her dog, Mitzi. Mitzi was very fat, very spoiled, and probably ate better than her grandchildren did. Grandma would say, “If Mitzi cannot be in heaven, then I do not want to go there.”

    When I was twelve, thirteen, or fourteen years old, I thought, Grandma, you do not know the Bible. You do not know theology. Mitzi is a dog, and Mitzi will never be in heaven. That is what I thought then. What do I believe today?

    GOD VALUES THE ANIMALS HE CREATED

    Genesis 1:31 tells us that when God looked at everything He had created, He declared it “very good.” God also gave human beings instructions about the way we are to treat animals. Proverbs 12:10 says, “Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast.” A righteous person does not abuse animals.

    Even in the Sabbath command, God told Israel not to work its animals without rest. Jesus spoke about the birds of the air and reminded us that our heavenly Father feeds and cares for them. Yes, human beings are more valuable than the birds, but that does not mean the birds have no value. God cares for His creation.

    ANIMALS ARE LIVING CREATURES, BUT HUMANS BEAR GOD’S IMAGE

    Some people say that animals do not have a soul or spirit. That is how I was taught, but where do we get that idea? Genesis 2:7 says that God formed the man from the dust of the ground, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. The Hebrew word is nephesh.

    Then Genesis 2:19 uses the same expression for the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens: they are living creatures. Animals possess God-given life. What, then, makes a dog or cat different from a human being? Genesis 1:26 gives us the answer: humanity was made in the image and likeness of God.

    Men and women were made to represent God in the earth, exercising stewardship over His creation. That is what gives every human being a distinct dignity and value. We are not merely another kind of animal; we are God’s image-bearers.

    ALL CREATION LONGS TO BE RESTORED

    Romans 8:18-23 is one of my favorite passages. Paul says that creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. Creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because human beings sinned. Animals did not rebel against God. Adam, the image-bearer and vice-regent, rebelled, and death and corruption entered the world.

    Yet creation was subjected in hope. Paul says that creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and share in the freedom of the glory of the children of God. The whole creation is groaning as it waits for the resurrection of God’s people and the renewal of all things.

    When a beloved pet breathes its last, that sorrow belongs to a world still groaning under death. But creation is waiting for the day when Jesus Christ returns, raises His people, defeats corruption, and makes all things new..

    THE HOPE OF THE NEW CREATION

    So, do I believe my dogs and cats will be with me in the renewed heavens and renewed earth? I do. I believe Buster, Wally, Fluffy, Tigger, and Summer Girl will be there.

    That conviction is not merely sentimentality about our furry friends. It comes from a theology that says God is so great, so powerful, and so victorious that He does not lose. One day our King will defeat sin, death, corruption, darkness, and every form of evil. God’s plan of salvation is not merely an evacuation plan to get us away from the earth. His plan is to reclaim and restore the creation He called good.

    Isaiah 65:25 gives us a picture of that renewed world: “The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” God’s holy mountain will no longer be marked by harm or destruction. The Judge and King of all creation will make all things right

    Bible References: Genesis 1:26, 31 (ESV); Genesis 2:7, 19 (ESV); Exodus 20:8-11 (ESV); Proverbs 12:10 (ESV); Matthew 6:26 (ESV); Romans 8:18-23 (ESV); Isaiah 65:25 (ESV)

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  • What About Those Who Have Never Heard About Jesus? Will God Send Them To Hell?

    What About Those Who Have Never Heard About Jesus? Will God Send Them To Hell?

    WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT JESUS? WILL GOD SEND THEM TO HELL?

    One of the most common questions I hear from both thoughtful Christians and skeptics is this: “What about the people who have never heard about Jesus? Will they go to hell?” At the end of the day, the real question behind that question is often this: “Is God good?” Or perhaps even more directly: “Is God fair?”

    The Bible’s answer is that God is indeed good, and God is perfectly just. However, we must also remember that God’s grace is not “fair” in the way we often think about fairness. Fairness would mean that all of us receive exactly what we deserve because of our sin. The wonderful news of the gospel is that God gives grace to those who deserve judgment.

    No one deserves salvation. No one deserves heaven. Salvation is entirely a gift of God’s grace.

    Before we answer the question of those who have never heard, we must begin with this foundational truth: God always does what is right. Abraham asked this very question in Genesis: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25, ESV) The answer is a resounding yes. The Judge of all the earth will always do what is right.

    #1: CREATION TELLS US THERE IS A GOD

    The Bible teaches that God has not left Himself without a witness. David wrote: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1, ESV)

    Paul likewise says: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things …that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20, ESV)

    Paul also explained to the people of Lystra: “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:17, ESV)

    The Bible teaches that creation itself points to the existence, power, wisdom, and goodness of God. Every sunrise, every mountain range, every human conscience, and every breath testifies that there is a Creator.

    Now, this does not mean that creation alone saves anyone. Rather, creation provides enough revelation to make humanity accountable before God. Yet Scripture also gives us reason to believe that when people genuinely seek after the truth God has revealed, God is faithful to provide additional light.

    Throughout the Bible, God consistently moves toward those who respond to the truth they have been given.

    #2: GOD OFTEN USES DREAMS AND VISIONS TO REACH THOSE WITHOUT ACCESS TO MISSIONARIES

    The Bible repeatedly demonstrates that God is not limited by geography, governments, language barriers, or missionary availability.

    One of the clearest examples is found in Acts 10. Cornelius was a Gentile who feared God and sought Him sincerely. God responded by giving Cornelius a vision while simultaneously giving Peter a vision that led him to preach the gospel to Cornelius and his household. God orchestrated both sides of the divine appointment.

    Likewise, throughout the Old Testament, God often revealed Himself through dreams and visions to people. For example, Jacob experienced a divine vision: “And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” (Genesis 28:12, ESV)

    Even today, numerous reports from regions closed to missionaries describe people encountering dreams and visions that direct them toward Jesus Christ and toward Christians who can explain the gospel to them. While such experiences never replace the gospel message itself, they often serve as God’s providential means of bringing people to hear it.

    #3: GOD OFTEN CONFIRMED THE GOSPEL THROUGH SIGNS AND MIRACLES

    When the apostles first carried the gospel into unreached areas, God frequently accompanied their preaching with miraculous signs.

    After Pentecost, we read: “And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.” (Acts 2:43, ESV).

    When Peter healed a lame man, the miracle opened the door for thousands to hear the gospel (Acts 3). In Samaria: “For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.” (Acts 8:7, ESV)

    During Paul’s ministry: “And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul.” (Acts 19:11, ESV)

    The purpose of these miracles was not entertainment or spectacle. Rather, they authenticated the message of the gospel and demonstrated the power of the risen Christ to people who had never heard His name.

    #4: GOD STACKS THE DECK IN OUR FAVOR

    One of the most remarkable truths in Scripture is that God sovereignly arranges human history in such a way as to maximize people’s opportunity to seek Him.

    Paul declared: “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.” (Acts 17:26–27, ESV)

    Think about what this means.

    Your birth was not an accident.

    Your nation was not an accident.

    Your family was not an accident.

    Your historical moment was not an accident.

    God sovereignly placed every human being exactly where and when they would have the greatest opportunity to seek Him. None of us are victims of cosmic chance. We are all recipients of divine providence.

    God is not trying to keep people out of heaven. He is actively working throughout history to draw people to Himself.

    #5: THE CHURCH HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

    The fact that God is sovereign and just does not lessen the church’s responsibility. In fact, it increases it. Jesus commanded: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15, ESV) Before His ascension, He instructed His followers: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, ESV)

    In Romans 10, Paul asked the obvious question: “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone.”

    WE CAN TRUST THE CHARACTER OF GOD

    At the end of the day, the question of those who have never heard about Jesus ultimately brings us back to the character of God Himself.

    The Bible never presents God as unjust, arbitrary, or cruel. Rather, He is perfectly holy, perfectly righteous, perfectly loving, and perfectly just. Scripture assures us that the Judge of all the earth will always do what is right.

    At the same time, the Bible is equally clear that salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone. Jesus Himself declared: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV)

    This means that we should avoid two errors. First, we should never assume that people can be saved apart from Christ. Second, we should never assume that God is somehow unfair in His dealings with those who have not heard. Instead, we rest in two truths: First, God is more just than we are. Second, God is more loving than we are.

    The God who sent His own Son to die for sinners is not looking for reasons to condemn people. He is a God who pursues, reveals, calls, convicts, and saves. He uses creation, conscience, providence, dreams, visions, miracles, missionaries, and above all, the proclamation of the gospel to draw people to Himself.

    This is why the question, “What about those who have never heard?” should not primarily lead us to speculate about God’s fairness. It should lead us to worship God’s goodness and renew our commitment to obey Christ’s command to proclaim the gospel to every nation.

    After all, if we truly believe that Jesus is the only hope of the world, then we have both the privilege and the responsibility to tell the world about Him.

    Bible References: Genesis 18:25 (ESV); Psalm 19:1 (ESV); Romans 1:20 (ESV); Acts 14:17 (ESV); Genesis 28:12 (ESV); Acts 10:1–48 (ESV); Acts 2:43 (ESV); Acts 8:7 (ESV); Acts 17:26–27 (ESV); Mark 16:15 (ESV); Acts 1:8 (ESV); Romans 10:14–15 (ESV); John 14:6 (ESV)

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