What is your Due North?

You. Are. Here.

And where is that?

Friend, where are you in your life--

mentally, emotionally, spiritually?

And do you like where you are?

Are you influenced by the news, a portfolio manager, social media influencer, or something/someone else entirely?

And to what or to whom do you look for answers? The truth is that we all march to the beat of something, and whether or not we know it, we all live according to some 'code'.

This morning I was getting my hair cut and I asked 'my girl' why she is a Christian ... [yes, I like to test out my material...ha,ha]

'why I am a Christian - well, you've kinda been helping me with that,' she demurely said, not really sure how to answer.

'Well, Amanda, how about this-- if asked why I am a Christian, here are the reasons:

1. Christianity is the best explanation for the way things are: https://conta.cc/46xjyEF
2. The Resurrection is a historical event. If the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is true, and it is, [https://conta.cc/46E5uba] , then Christianity is true.
3. Even science goes hand in hand with Christianity: https://conta.cc/4nmEFiF

Though 'science' in the last couple hundred years has chosen to pit itself against the reality of God, stating that science and religion are incompatible, that is simply not so. Consider that scientific discovery has pointed us to the origin and design of the universe; and how about the 1953 discovery of DNA--the fingerprint of God? And yet, science of course falls woefully short in establishing the reality of a personal God and cannot answer the big questions of life--why we are here, [like why did God create us in the first place?] What is wrong with the world--is there a fix? What happens when we die? Listen to me for a minute: I have sat at the bedside of those who are taking their last breaths--even the most caustic atheist quietly asked me if he had possibly been wrong. 'Could there be something on the other side?' And then, 'how can I get there--if there really is a Heaven?' Then he asked me to pray for him.

Which is why it is so significant to know that 

God reveals himself, his plans for humanity and eternity -

answers all of the big questions of life in his Word ...

the unfailing trustworthy truths of Scripture. 

How can I make such an outrageous claim that the Bible is trustworthy, that it is true...I mean, after all these years handed down and translated? Let's start with prophecy.

Fulfilled prophecies are evidence that the Bible is trustworthy, and more importantly, they establish the record of a trustworthy God, who said, 

"I have declared the former things from the beginning; 

they went forth from my mouth, and I caused them to hear it. 

Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. 

Even from the beginning I have declared it to you; 

before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you....'"1

There are more than 1800 prophecies in Scripture.2 When Jesus Christ was born, he was the fulfillment of about 60 major prophecies concerning the Messiah, promises given to God's people, hundreds of years before his birth. Christianity rides on the fulfillment of these prophecies in our Lord. Jesus said: Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.3

Considering just eight of the prophecies about Jesus--

-that He would be:

-Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2

-Preceded by a messenger (John the Baptist) Isaiah. 40:3

-Riding into Jerusalem on a donkey Zechariah. 9:9

-Betrayed by a friend Psalm 41:9

-Sold for 30 pieces of silver Zechariah 11:12

-Money thrown down, used to buy a potter's field Zech. 11:13

-Dumb before His accusers Isaiah 53:7

-that his hands and feet would be pierced Psalm 22:16

**The chance that any man might have lived and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 10 to the 17th 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,0004

In our generation alone­ we have seen significant prophecies fulfilled. Think of it­: ­the Jewish people had been scattered since A.D. 70, when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple; they did not have a homeland again until May 14, 1948. Unbelievably, Ezekiel prophesied some 2600 years ago that the people of Israel would indeed return: "I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live."5

Then, there is archaeology - The more excavation that is done, the greater the corroboration of Scripture! Indeed in the past 150 years, archaeologists have been verifying the truthfulness of the Bible’s detailed records of various events, customs, persons, cities, nations and geographical locations. Visiting Magdala for the first time in February 2018, I found the live dig riveting--the unearthing of a first century synagogue discovered in 2009. Prior to that, Bible skeptics scoffed because there was no evidence to support the gospel accounts of Jesus teaching on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. And then in December, 2021, a second synagogue unearthed in Magdala--yes on the western shore of the Galilee. Amazing!

The Bible is true and it is a treasure trove of information about the almighty God of the Universe. The Bible shows us the way we ought to go in life, and promises that our Creator God is with us every step of the way.

#4 reason I am a Christian: The Bible, the holy book of Christianity, is true. Backed up by fulfilled prophecy, archaeology, and extra-biblical corroborating sources.

And you - Where are you, and who is influencing you? I am hoping you will look to Scripture to be your Due North, your way pointer, and instruction manual for life.

You will discover verses that lay bare God's heart, like this one: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."6

Love this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqAUNNGZs1o&list=RDZqAUNNGZs1o&a...

Believing in God is reasonable, and trusting in him is Life!

Christine

PastorWoman.net

1 - Isaiah 48:3,5a

2 - Bible prophecy, Ligonier Ministries, https://www.ligonier.org/posts/fulfilled-prophecy-demonstrates-divi...

3 - Matthew 5.17

4 - Science Speaks, Peter Stoner

5 - Ezekiel 34.13 - The Book of Ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 B.C. during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews. Who could believe such a thing? And yet, 2600 years later, Israel became a nation again, and her people have been returning to the land ever since.

6 - Isaiah 41.10