A Few Wonderful Minutes with Tom and family over Lunch August 2, 2009

Tom Hash Sunday Lunch August 2, 2009 from Kevin Engle on Vimeo.

Aug 2009

Tom & Dotty Hash from 617 Production Group on Vimeo.

March 2009

Tom Hash & Dick Patty - March 26, 2009 from Kevin Engle on Vimeo.

Tuesday morning, December 29, 2009.

Tom finished well by quietly slipping away at 8:45 am this morning.

Dan, Lori and I were at his side releasing him into the arms of Jesus. We sat for an hour at his bedside just enjoying memories of his godly gentle life with us.

Then they dressed him in his suit and tie and burgundy wing-tip shoes--every silver hair in place before we sent him on his way to Denver.

I can't tell you the deep peace I have in my heart...it is now my task to finish well what we have started, with the Lord as my companion.

We will do that with a memorial service at Woodcreek Church here in Richardson, on Friday, January 1 at 3 p.m.

Then we will travel to Denver by car.

We will have a graveside service at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver probably on Monday Jan 4th.

A memorial service will then be at Southern Gables Church in Lakewood (Denver) CO at 6:00 PM. There will probably be a luncheon at the church after the service. These are still rough plans, but maybe it will help if you plan to join us. We are planning to stay at the Holiday Inn on Hampden and Wadsworth in Lakewood. If you travel in, you can make reservations....I don't have the particulars yet, but will follow this up soon.

No flowers, please. We will let you know when a memorial plan is in place. We are resting on your prayer and love and the journey is joyful. The Lord's many, many promises to me are being kept. We have sobbed til we thought our hearts would break, but now the deep peace He promised is being poured out like a flood. I hope I have the privilege of sharing that joy with you at one of the services. If not, we know you are loving us and praying for us. We are deeply grateful.

Seeking to finish well without my sweetheart,

Dotty Hash
326 Highland Ridge Dr
Wylie TX 75098
214-501-2527 cell: 720-480-7487
_______________________________________________

Tuesday Dec 29, 2009

Tom went to be with the Lord this morning. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Please pray for comfort for the family, and for the service on Friday, New Years day in Richardson Texas, and Monday the 4th in Lakewood, Colorado.

Info on Tom & Dotty Hash

Cadence historians
Assistance for banquet ministries
Missionaries at large

Tom and Dotty were among the founders of OCSC/Cadence and have been with the mission since its beginning. They have served in Panama, Headquarters, and the Philippines. They have been house directors and area directors.

1958-61 Panama Canal—Founded ministry
1962-63 Denver CO —Headquarters
1963-68 Philippines—Clark AFB
1968-69 Denver CO —Headquarters
1969-73 Subic Bay—Philippines
1973-78 Fairfield CA —Founded ministry at Travis AFB
1978-84 Colorado—Director of Asia Ministries
1982-94 Colorado—Director of Americas Ministries
1994- Lakewood CO —Historians, Missionaries at Large, Assisting in the Cadence Banquet Ministry

The Hashes' book, Fill These Rooms; A Story of God’s Faithfulness, is an autobiography of the Hashes’ ministry in Hospitality Houses. It is the story of how God took two ordinary people, called them, and placed within their hearts an insatiable love for the men and women in the uniforms of the United States Armed Forces. The book is available through Cadence Press by writing to 13803 W. Amherst Way, Lakewood, CO 80228, or calling 303.989.5659. The book costs $13.00 plus $3.00 postage/handling.

Tom Hash & Ken Engle January 2009

Update by Dotty December 9, 2009

Joy and tears….12-9-09

It has been almost a month since I last wrote and much has happened in our household. Of course, Tom’s health is the most important news. Last Thursday (3^rd) we went to a wonderful Christmas concert…Casey pushed Grandpa in his wheelchair, and he was able to walk to our assigned seats. Yesterday, (Tuesday) he could barely walk unassisted. He uses the walker all the time, and much of the time he sits in it and I push him around (always wanted to do that!! Smile). Christy, our hospice nurse, was here yesterday…she thinks he may make it to Christmas. Dan, Laura, Jacob will be arriving here in TX on Monday night….they very much want to see him too…pray with us about that. His pain level continues to rise, but I have morphine that I drop on his tongue and the pain starts to subside in about 5 minutes. With that and his other pain meds his pain is under control most of the time. He sleeps quite a bit, but when awake he is very alert. We are having some really good times together. Of course, Lori and her family are supporting us in every way. We are sooooo thankful we moved to TX when we did. The Lord certainly was gracious in timing all of that.

My back pain has gotten worse—the injections haven’t helped…pray with me about this. I really want to be at my best for Tom’s care. Last night I had a big-time melt-down…I guess the reality of Tom’s soon home going really hit home…Every day I have willingly surrendered him to the Lord with a deep peace, but last night I just couldn’t do it….Tom prayed that somehow my grief would be lifted. After many tears, I went to the piano and was playing “And I shall see Him face to face and tell the story saved by grace.” The phone rang….it was Elaine Heavner whose husband, Bob, passed away very suddenly in April. “Dotty, are you okay?” she asked. “No!” I sobbed and pretty soon we were both bawling like babies over the phone trying to console one another. I wondered what the Lord thought about these two women sobbing their hearts out. Then suddenly it seemed really funny. So Elaine and I had a good cry and a good laugh, then she gently prayed for us, especially for me. She is so precious…this is her first Christmas without Bob…..mine will be next year. It just isn’t easy, but by faith we KNOW He will see us through—Tom safely to heaven and His presence and me??????...well that’s the walk of faith I shall take as I seek to finish well without my beloved.

Thanks for being dear friends….a Christmas letter will be on the way soon….we love you dearly for hangin’ in there with us and holding us up by prayer. God is answering….as we …

Seeking to finish well in TX....
Dotty Hash (for Tom too)
326 Highland Ridge Dr
Wylie TX 75098
214-501-2527 cell: 720-480-7487

Nov 12 - Tom on Home Hospice - Dotty

Nov. 12, 2009

It has been 10 days since my last update. I shared that Tom was doing better than I emotionally, and that I was having difficulty waiting on the Lord to renew my strength.

Well, dear prayer warriors, rejoice in the Lord with me. Not only did the depression lift, but I am having much less pain and therefore my strength is returning. How I thank the Lord each day for turning my tears into joy.

Our son, Dan, was here from Poland all last week–pure joy! I recorded in my journal “I sat at the piano very early this morning and played softly...then Dan led us in devotions....I can’t think of anything that brings more joy than for your mature, godly, kind, caring son to read and talk about the Word of God with you when you are old. What a precious gift today, Lord!”

We made the decision to stop all radiation treatment and go into in-home hospice care. What a joy that is becoming. We have a nurse, social workers, home help aide, chaplain, and other services available a phone call away 24/7.

Within hours of “signing up” we had a new wheelchair, shower chair, and medications delivered to our door. The Lord has blessed us with dear, caring people whom we love already to help us in our journey. I didn’t realize how encouraging they would be to Tom, Lori and to me.

On Friday, Tom was really weak and I was a physical and emotional basket case. But at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning we loaded his wheelchair and wheeled walker on top of the van, and off we went to John Brown University in Arkansas, a four-hour drive away. Jesse Einfalt, our grandson, was in a Mozart opera and he was fabulous. Tom was able to stay through the entire performance. We drove home the next day and Dan flew back to Poland.

We didn’t know about it, but for three Sundays folks have been gathering between services at our church just to pray for us, then sign a card. Wow, the Body of Christ is marvelous. These dear saints hardly know us yet they care so deeply.

Tom has been doing quite well physically on his new medications. But the last 24 hours he has been in an emotional meltdown. We know this is to be expected, but it is hard. We both are so aware that we have feet of clay, but thankfully we have not both been slogging at the same time.

And, of course, the footprints reveal when the Lord is carrying us. We are so glad He doesn’t grow weary. We want so much to bring Him joy each day of our journey.

Seeking to finish well in TX....
Dotty Hash (for Tom too)
326 Highland Ridge Dr
Wylie TX 75098
214-501-2527 cell: 720-480-7487

Final Destiny

Final Destiny

Every thinking person must sooner or later wonder where he will go when he dies and where he will spend eternity. Take a few minutes to read this and you will find the answers.

What is your authority?

In seeking answers to life’s most important questions, we must have some authority. The choice narrows down to two possibilities. It is either man’s opinion or the Word of God. It’s what people suppose or it’s what God says.

In matters of vital and enduring significance, it must be an infallible authority. There must be no room for error. Human opinion certainly doesn’t qualify here. Just as people’s faces differ, so do their opinions.

Only the Bible, the Word of God, is infallible. It is truth (John 17:17). But how do we know?

·We know it by its fulfilled prophecies. There are over 60 prophecies concerning Christ alone that came true when He was on earth. In addition, there are hundreds of prophecies concerning Israel and the Gentile nations that have come to pass. The probability of all this happening by chance is too small to consider.

·At least 40 men in different countries, at different times, in three different languages, over a period of 1600 years penned the Sacred Word. They had no way of collaborating, yet the Bible has a unified theme. It tells one consistent story. What other book can boast of such intelligent design?

·The Scriptures are unique in their power to transform the lives of people from sin and shame to decency and integrity.

·The words of the Bible are applicable to all times; they are as current as the hourly news broadcast.

·They have universal appeal; they speak to people of every race, tongue, tribe, and nation.

·They are inexhaustible, providing material for endless study, comfort, and guidance.

·Think of all the literature God’s Word has prompted – Bible dictionaries, commentaries, concordances, poetry, and sermons. It has inspired great movements such as the abolition of slavery, civil rights, social justice; institutions such as hospitals, schools, orphanages, homes for the poor and aged; and world agencies to alleviate poverty and hunger. It has exerted a positive influence on human society wherever it has traveled.

·It is pure, exposing sin and warning against it. It does not stoop to popular culture but seeks to elevate it.

·It is a living book. Some people actually fear it, while others would die for it.

·The Bible claims to be inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). That means that the words are God’s words. If they are not, then it is a fraud. But even its enemies do not accuse it of being a hoax.

·The Holy Bible has endured centuries of efforts to burn and banish it. Yet it has survived. When governments forbid it, smugglers risk imprisonment and death to defy such edicts.

·No other book can compare with God’s Word in the number of languages in which it speaks and the number of people who have read it.

·This amazing book records the life of a perfect Person. A mere man cannot write such an account. The French skeptic, Renan, said that it would take a Christ to invent a Christ.

In the literature of the ages, the Bible stands unparalleled and unique. Those who have experienced its transforming power in their lives are not likely to deny that it is the Word of the living God. Or, as someone has said, he who has felt the force of it is not likely to deny the source of it.

There is no risk in accepting the Bible as our final authority.

What does the Bible say about our destiny?

Now let us think about what the Bible says about death and the hereafter.

It says that death is certain. It is appointed to men to die once (Hebrews 9:27). Who can argue with that?

Every cemetery and funeral home bears silent testimony to that fact. Generations come and generations go. “Each one thinks that he will be eternal, and then that one becomes the missing face” (Will Houghton). Death is inescapable.

The Bible not only says that people must die. It adds in the verse just quoted but after this the judgment. Note the words after this. Death is not the end. There is a hereafter. After death there is judgment and an eternity of endless suffering for those who are not ready to meet God. The Bible says and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

The Bible also tells us that there are only two places where a person can spend eternity – heaven or hell. The God who does not lie speaks of only these two destinies for the human race. A man or woman may choose not to believe this, but that does not alter the fact.

Since everyone must die, and since he will spend forever in heaven or hell, the most important thing in life is to know that he will have heaven as his address forever.

Is it possible to know, and if so, how?

Yes, it is possible to be positively sure.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

But first the bad news

Before we get to the how-to of eternal life, we have to talk about sin. What does that word mean and why is it important?

Sin is anything that falls short of the perfection of God (Romans 3:23). It means missing the mark.

It is not only doing wrong; it is failure to do what we know is right (James 4:17). This is known as sin of omission. Sin is lawlessness, the stubborn refusal to do God’s will (1 John 3:4).

When we have a bad conscience about doing something, yet go ahead and do it anyway, that is sin (Romans 14:23).

Finally, all unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17).

The Bible is explicit and emphatic in declaring that everyone has sinned.

It says that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). It also says that there is not a just man upon earth who does good and does not sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

Let’s take a little test to see if you are an exception to the rule. Check the following lists to find out.

We begin with what mankind calls the grosser sins: fornication, adultery, incest, homosexuality, bestiality, murder, and idolatry. Multitudes will plead not guilty to any of these (until they remember that Jesus said that the man who looks on a woman with lust has committed adultery (Matthew 5:28) and the one who hates another person is a murderer) (Matthew 5:22).

We move on to drunkenness, drug addiction, abortion, child abuse, cruelty, witchcraft, swearing, and addiction to pornography. Do you still protest your total innocence?

If so, then check the following: coveting, lust, envy, jealousy, hatred, pride, selfishness, gossiping, lying, cheating, disrespect of parents, promise breaking, and unfaithfulness. Can you now raise your right hand and testify under oath that you have never committed any of the above? If so, check one more point. How about an impure thought life?

The awful truth is that we are not just one-time sinners but sinners by practice. We sin every day in thought, word, and deed. If you deny this, you deceive yourself (1 John 1:8) and make God a liar (1 John 1:10).

We are all depraved, that is, utterly sinful. We may not have committed every sin, but we are capable of doing it. And sin has affected every part of our being (Romans 3:13-18). What we are is a lot worse than anything we have ever done (Jeremiah 17:9).

No sinner can enter heaven (Revelation 21:27) unless his sins have been forgiven. If you have committed one sin, you are a sinner, and as a guilty sinner, you need to be saved.

A divine dilemma

But there is a problem. God is holy (Leviticus 19:2). He must always do what is right and proper. He cannot tolerate sin (Habakkuk 1:12-13) compromise with it, overlook it, or wink at it. His Word is clear that the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:4). God’s law demands the death of the sinner. The debt must be paid. Sin’s penalty must be endured.

Yet if we endure the penalty for our sins, we will be doomed and damned eternally.

The divine dilemma is this. God loves the sinner (John 3:16). He does not want anyone to perish (Ezekiel 18:32; 2 Peter 3:9). He wants him or her to spend eternity with Him in heaven. He didn’t make hell for mankind, but for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). But He cannot allow a person to enter heaven while that person is still in his sins, that is, with sins still unforgiven. Nothing impure, wrong, or evil can ever enter there (Revelation 21:27). How then can God satisfy His love and still be righteous? How can He save sinners and still be holy?

There’s hope for the hopeless

The situation is not hopeless. God has found a way by which He can forgive our sins without compromising His justice (Romans 3:26).

He sent His beloved Son to the earth 2000 years ago to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). The Lord Jesus Christ went to the Cross of Calvary to die as our Substitute. That’s a key word – Substitute. He died in our place (Galatians 2:20). He died the death that we should have died (1 Corinthians 15:3). He paid the debt that we owed because of our sins. He endured the penalty that we should have endured (1 Peter 2:24: 3:18).

We never understand the Good News until we realize that Someone has died for us, and that Someone is no less than our Creator-God (John 1:1,3). Instead of the sheep dying for the Shepherd, the Shepherd died for the sheep. Instead of the creature dying for the Creator, the Creator died for His creatures.

But how do we know that Christ’s work as our Substitute was satisfactory to God the Father? We know it because He raised the Lord Jesus from the dead on the third day (Romans 4:25, 6:4; 1 Corinthians 15:4). This was positive proof that Christ finished the work necessary for our salvation and that God accepted it. If God hadn’t raised Him, His death wouldn’t have been different from any other person’s. Jesus was the first One to rise from the dead in a glorified body that would never die again.

This raises another question. If Christ died for all, then does it not follow logically that all are saved? No, it does not. The work of the Lord on the Cross is sufficient for the salvation of all, but it is only effective for those who accept Him as their Substitute. God is not in the business of taking people to heaven who don’t want to be there. He cannot populate heaven with people who are still practicing sinners. What kind of a heaven would it be if it were inhabited by the world’s worst perverts, murderers, and gangsters?

How not to be saved

Before we get to God’s way by which a person can be sure of heaven, let’s think of various false ways on which men and women are depending.

Most people think that salvation is by good works, by doing the best they can, by living a good life, or by good intentions. This is what most religions teach and most people in the world believe. The Bible says that this way seems right to people but it ends in death and doom (Proverbs 14:12). This is not the way to heaven. Salvation is not by meritorious works of any kind.

The Bible says that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). It doesn’t say all our sins. It’s all our good works that are like filthy rags. The Bible also says that it’s not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us (Titus 3:5). It insists that salvation is not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:9).

It’s not by baptism, church membership, putting money in the collection, or religious rituals. If salvation were by works like these, then Christ’s death would have been unnecessary. He would have wasted His life if there was some other way (Galatians 2:21). And if good works were the way of salvation, no one could ever know he was saved. He would never know if he had done enough good works or the right kind.

Mark Twain said that if salvation was by being good, your dog would go in and you would stay out.

A surprising number of people believe that they will get to heaven by keeping the Ten Commandments. Most of them cannot even recite the Ten Commandments, but they know that they are in the Bible and so that must be the way. What they don’t know is that no one can keep these Commandments perfectly. God gave them in order to reveal sin (Romans 3:20), not to reveal salvation. They are God’s standard to show us how far we fail.

Salvation is not by education, science, philosophy, psychology, materialism, reformation, or an improved environment.

Education teaches a sinner, but he only becomes an educated sinner.

Science can explore outer space but it cannot change a person’s inner life.

Philosophy is man’s wisdom. At the end of his life, American philosopher Bertrand Russell said,“Philosophy has proved a washout to me.”

Psychology cannot explain human behavior, let alone change it.

Materialism may put food in the stomach but it can’t save the soul.

Reformation may put new clothes on a person but it doesn’t put a new person in the clothes.

That is why Jesus said, You must be born again (John 3:7).

Only one true way to heaven

God now offers salvation as a free gift to all who will repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Acts 20:21). Let’s think about those two words, repent and believe. They are like two sides of the same coin. We repent when we acknowledge our need of salvation. We believe when we accept God’s way.

What does it mean to repent? An old Puritan said that repentance is the vomit of the soul. It means that you are repulsed by your sin because it is disgraceful and disgusting. You do an about face – turning to God and away from your sin (Isaiah 55:7).

What does it mean to believe? You do this by accepting Jesus Christ as your only hope for heaven. You say from your heart, “Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and unfit for heaven, but I believe You died for me on the Cross of Calvary, bearing the punishment that should have been mine. Now by a definite act of faith, I take You as my Lord and Savior, from now on to live for You.”

To believe in Christ is to come to Him just as you are, in all your sin. An artist wanted to paint a picture of a prodigal son. One day he saw a beggar on the street and made an appointment for him to appear at the studio the next day. The beggar appeared, neatly dressed and clean shaved. The artist said, “I can’t use you now. You should have come as the beggar that you really are.”

To believe is to open the door to Him (Revelation 3:20). It is to put your whole weight on Him as you do when you sit on a chair.

Faith is like taking a parachute jump. You trust your life to that circular piece of nylon. It is like diving into the swimming pool. You commit yourself to the water without reservation. It is accepting a pardon. A pardon is only a piece of paper. To be effective, it must be accepted.

To believe in Christ is the most sane, sensible, rational thing that a person can do. What is more reasonable than believing in your Creator? There is nothing about Him that makes it impossible to believe in Him.

There is no risk in believing in Him. He is altogether trustworthy and His Word is the surest thing in the universe.

We must never forget the following great truths. Salvation is in a Person, and that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:3). If you have Him, you are as saved as God can make you (1 John 5:12).

Christ is the way to heaven (John 14:6). He is the only Way (Acts 4:12). No amount of sin is too great for God’s salvation (Hebrews 7:25).

Actually it’s your sin that makes you eligible for salvation. Christ didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Mark 2:17).

It’s your unworthiness that makes you a prime candidate for eternal life. The only people who go to heaven are sinners who don’t deserve it but whom God has forgiven.

A key word of the gospel

This is a good place to stop and talk about grace, one of the key words of the Christian faith. Grace is the undeserved favor that God shows to those who deserve the very opposite. It is something you cannot earn or merit. It’s a free gift. The minute you try to earn or merit it, it becomes a debt. The apostle Paul makes this distinction when he writes: Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness (Romans 4:4-5). In another place he again distinguishes between grace and works: And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is not more work (Romans 11:6). It’s not our merits that make us fit for heaven but the merits of Christ. That’s why there are no degrees of fitness for heaven. There is no fitness beyond that which is found in Jesus.

Why some people don’t trust Christ

It seems unreasonable. God wants to give salvation as a free gift to those who will accept His Son by faith, yet people refuse the invitation. Why? There are several reasons.

·In their colossal pride, they are ashamed of Jesus. Christ says to them, whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:38).

·They are afraid of a violent reaction from their family. The Lord Jesus anticipated this when He said, He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:37). In other words, Christ must come first.

·They love their sins more than they love Christ. That is an irrational choice that will be regretted forever.

·They love the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12:43).

·They are not as desperate as they should be. Eternal life is not their top priority.

·They are afraid that the cost is too high, that they would have to give up too much. They should consider the cost of not trusting Christ.

·They are afraid that they wouldn’t be able to hold out. In their own strength, they would not be able. But when the Lord begins a work in a person’s life, He holds that person in His mighty hands.

·They are too busy. When a Christian visited a businessman, the latter asked what he wanted. “Just to speak to you about your soul and where you will spend eternity.”

“But can’t you see that I’m busy?”

The Christian put out his hand to say goodbye and then said, “Suppose I had been death!”

Excuses, excuses, excuses

Well-worn excuses abound whenever the claims of Christ are presented to people.

Here are a few of them and the answers to them.

·“There are so many hypocrites in the church.” The Lord doesn’t ask you to believe in other people but in Him.

·“All the church wants is your money.” Christ doesn’t want your money; He wants your trust.

· “What about people who have never heard the Gospel?” The Judge of all the earth will do right (Genesis 18:25). The question now is not about the heathen. It’s about you who have heard the Gospel. What are you going to do with it?

·“Why does God allow so much evil in the world?” Through the atoning work of Christ, more glory has come to God and more blessing to man than if sin had never entered.

·“If Christians are right, why are there so few of them?” At the time of the flood, only the eight people who entered the ark were saved. All the rest perished in the water. It is not true that the majority is always right.

·“How can a God of love send people to hell?” People choose to go to hell by willfully refusing the offer of salvation.

·“Isn’t it narrow-minded to think there is only one way?” As mentioned already, if there was more than one way, then the Lord Jesus didn’t need to die. Why would He pay the greatest price if a lesser price would do?

·“It seems too easy.” It has to be easy if salvation is going to be available to all. Everyone can believe on Him, whereas not everyone could meet any other condition.

These are excuses. The problem is not in the mind; it’s in the will. Jesus made this clear when He said, You are not willing to come to me that ye might have life (John 5:40).

On another occasion He said to Jerusalem, How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, but you were not willing (Luke 13:34)!

The moment to decide

Christ invites you to repent, believe on Him, be born again, and find rest (Matthew 11:28).

Make no mistake about it, you are either for Christ or against Him (Matthew 12:30). If you are against Him, you take your place with mass murderers, terrorists, rapists, pedophiles, and other sexual deviants. Hardly a desirable circle of companions for eternity, is it?

Why you should trust Christ and be saved

Four compelling facts call for a positive response to the call of Christ:

Your present happiness depends on it.

Your forever welfare depends on it.

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

There is no risk.

Why you should do it now

The present moment is the only time of which you can be sure. God says that now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Life is uncertain. Every day people rise and go to work, little realizing that before evening they will have met God. Today some will leave Planet Earth due to a heart attack, an accident, or criminal assault. The possibilities of sudden death are legion.

The coming of the Lord is near. Jesus may come at any moment. Those who are saved will meet Him in the air and return with Him to the Father’s house in heaven (John 14:1-3). Those who are not saved will remain for a fearful time of judgment on the earth (Matthew 24:21) and a lost eternity (Revelation 20:14-15).

You’ve already kept Him standing outside the door for years. You don’t treat others that way. Why do you treat your God like that? Let Him in.

God has made an unchangeable decree that every knee will bow to Jesus and every tongue will confess Him as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). It is better to do it now voluntarily and be saved than to do it by compulsion later on and be lost eternally.

It is later than it has ever been before. A little boy counted off the chimes on the grandfather’s clock when it struck on the hour in his grandmother’s house. One day it was out of order and it chimed 13, 14, 15 times. The boy ran in to the kitchen and said, “Grandma, Grandma, it’s later than it’s ever been before.” The day of opportunity is almost over.

Someday you will stand before God and the question will be “What did you do with my Son?” Your final destiny will depend on the answer. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36).

How can I know?

When you repent of your sins and trust the Lord Jesus as your Savior from sin it is important that you be well grounded in the assurance of salvation. How can you have utmost confidence that you are now saved?

The first way is through the Word of God. The Bible says that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9). As soon as you have believed in Jesus as your undoubted Lord and Savior, God says that you are saved. He cannot lie, deceive, or be deceived. If He says it, it is true.

Other evidences of salvation appear in the days that follow. You will have a new hatred of sin (Romans 7:24) and a new love of holiness (Romans 7:22) Although you will still commit acts of sin, you will not practice it (1 John 3:9). Sin will not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14) You will love the children of God (1 John 3:14) You will continue in the faith (1 John 2:19).

Some people have a dramatic conversion. They are filled with joy as they are released from the burden of their sins. With others it may be simply the quiet acceptance of God’s gift without any outward signs or fanfare. In either case, a person should not base his assurance of salvation on feelings. They are too changeable and undependable. If Christ alone is your hope of heaven, you are saved whether you feel it or not. Facts are better than feelings.

What’s next?

Baptism. Now that you are saved, you will want to obey the Lord in baptism. While it is not necessary for salvation, it is necessary for obedience (Matthew 28:19). In baptism, you publicly pledge your allegiance to Christ as your Lord and Savior. You identify yourself with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5). Because He died as your Representative, you died with Him. Baptism is also a commitment to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). This means to live the baptized life as one who has died to sin.

There are other important steps in the Christian life.

Confession. You should learn to confess your sins directly to God as soon as you are conscious of them. When you do, you receive forgiveness (1 John 1:9). You received forgiveness from God the Judge for the penalty of sin when you trusted Christ. Now you receive parental forgiveness from God your Father.

Consecration. Begin each day by presenting your body a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2). This means that you exchange your will for His.

The Bible. To grow in the Christian life you must read, study, memorize, and meditate on the Bible. This is how you hear God speaking to you.

Prayer. In prayer you speak to your heavenly Father. It is good to pray at regular times and also whenever some special occasion arises.

Local church. As soon as possible you should associate with a Bible-believing church, one that accepts the Scriptures as the infallible Word of God. A New Testament church is one that is composed of saints, elders, and deacons (Philippians 1:1) and that meets for the apostles’ doctrine (Bible teaching), fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayers (Acts 2:42). Ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice.

Witness. Ask Him for opportunities to witness for Him. This means sharing the Gospel with unsaved relatives, neighbors, friends, and other acquaintances.

A final word

If you have read this far and are still unsaved, we make a final loving appeal to you. Come to Christ just as you are, believe that He died for you on the Cross, and accept Him as your Lord and Savior and your only right to enter heaven. Then claim His promise: That If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10).

© William MacDonald Used by Permission

Oct. 29, Thursday PM

Thurs Oct 29, 9 p.m.

This was a very traumatic day, especially for Lori, Tom and me.

We spent about 2 hours discussing his/our future. Tom feels he "saw" a sign in a hedgrow at Normandy that said "The Battle is Over." He senses the Lord was speaking to him.

Today the doc said no more radiation--it's too damaging to his throat...the throat tumor his shoved his trachia has over and around his esophogus in a semi-circle. However, his breathing and respiration is very strong yet. He has a new tumor on his spine, and the one in his throat is quite large and invasive. ( He finally was given soft foods today--had snacks at 1:30 pm, lunch at 2 and supper at 5 (soup, pudding, ice cream, jello) but it was pretty special since not taking anything by mouth since Sunday. He really perked up.)

We wept a lot, prayed a lot, and talked a lot....got Dan and Dave on the phone...end result: Dan will come to TX arriving tomorrow (Friday) afternoon. Dave will come when ever he can get a break between jobs. Such precious boys, and our dear Lori.

We feel we are at another crossroads...perhaps going to hospice which means no more treatment at all except for comfort--just let the cancer take its course.

With many tears I held Tom up in my hands in prayer and once again gave Him to the Lord to take home. On the 1/2 hour drive home from the hospital I wept and prayed out loud to the Lord. He didn't say much, but listened intently. Tom and I want with all our hearts to finish strong...it's not getting easier, but we are still holding our mantra up to the Lord: Seeking to finish well in TX....

Dotty Hash (for Tom too)
326 Highland Ridge Dr
Wylie TX 75098
214-501-2527 cell: 720-480-7487

Oct 28, 2009 Wed PM - by Dotty

Wed night...10:15p.m.

Dear, dear ones.....what a day. But Tom is going to be okay.

Looked in his throat under anesthesia--there is a narrowing in his throat but they could not stretch it because of his blood thinners. He has an ulcer on his throat caused by the radiation which evidently closed his throat. Otherwise he is doing well. Hopefully they can start him on ice cubes, and work up to soft foods. They will not send him home until he can maintain his intake adequate to sustain his weight. That may take a few days. They will treat him with oral Nexium and heavy steroids. Hopefully he can resume his radiation next week.

I had a series of steroid shots in my back today--won't know full effect until about 8 to 10 days. Praying for permanant relief, but if the Lord can use me better in pain, I am willing. I just love him so much. Please, please pray for our dear friend Russ (Phyllis) Debruine in Denver. He fell Monday (ironically arrived at the hospital just about the time I took Tom into the ER.) He has a very serious brain injury, and this morning his heart stopped. They have him on life support. All of this in the midst of 12-18 inches of snow falling in the area. Phyllis is clinging closely to the Lord. Oh, how we wish we could be there for them.

I wish I could tell you how precious the Lord has been to me today, but I simply can't put it into words. Thanks for your love and prayers.

Seeking to finish well in TX....
Dotty Hash (for Tom too)
326 Highland Ridge Dr
Wylie TX 75098
214-501-2527 cell: 720-480-7487

Oct 27, 2009, 8PM, from Dotty

Wed, 10-27 8 p.m.

Tom is still in the hospital....Lori and I have been there all day. Tom was able to suck ice-cubes and the water went down, so that is good news.

The pheumonia is not caused by bacteria or a virus as normal, but simply by fluids going into his lungs. He has no fever and doesn't feel sick.

His primary doc at the hospital assured us that Tom is NOT dying...this is a little? hump in the road.

He will do a procedure under anesthesia tomorrow and check out his elsophagas/trachia. Maybe there's a blockage and it can be stretched open. Pray about this....The only nutrition he has had is the IV in over 48 hours--he's hungry...If they can't stretch it open, they may put in a temporary feeding tube. Pray that something will work and he won't lose too much weight. By the way, the pain in his neck/head that was so anguishing for him, has subsided...probably prayer and the 10 radiation treatments. Thank the Lord with us for that.

Again, as we read God's word together, the Lord seemed to indicate to Tom that his work is not finished yet. Not sure what that will look like, but we will take it with real joy. I'm very tired
tonight, and have a steroid procedure on my back tomorrow. A friend will take me there and return me to the hospital so Lori can stay with Tom. Psalm 37:7 was precious to us this morning: "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him...." If that doesn't calm the soul, I guess nothing will. Yes, we are calm (though weary) before the Lord, thanking Him for every day we have together. Thanks for praying and caring.

Seeking to finish well in TX....
Dotty Hash (for Tom too)
326 Highland Ridge Dr
Wylie TX 75098
214-501-2527 cell: 720-480-7487

Pray for Tom in Hospital - Oct 26, Monday Evening

Mon.evening, 10-26-09

Again we request prayer for Tom . He had such a bad night and by 4 am could not swallow one drop of water, and we were quite sure he was aspirating into his lungs. The breathing would go next, so we journeyed to the ER. Yes he does have pneumonia. They started on fluids, ativan, and antibiotics; did xrays and a CT Scan of his thyroat and chest. He was admitted to his room around noon, sound asleep from the ativan. They are trying to determine if the swelling in his throat is caused by the tumor or by the radiation which is trying to shrink the tumor. Don't know yet. Lori and I spent all day there, but since Tom was only going to sleep through the night, we felt we could go home for the night. I'm sure we will learn more tomorrow. We are facing the "Five Wishes" advance directives we have filled out--wondering where normal palliative care ends and heroics begin. This stuff isn't black and white--lots of greys in it. Pray for wisdom...Tom has to make the final decision. Our family is all tracking well with us. He is at Rockwall Presbyterian Hospital Room 211.Thanks so much for praying and caring. God is definitely in control, and we are at peace with that.

Seeking to finish well in TX....
Dotty Hash (for Tom too)
326 Highland Ridge Dr
Wylie TX 75098
214-501-2527 cell: 720-480-7487

October 25, Sunday evening from Dotty

Dear Texas/Woodcreek friends.....

You received my update yesterday stating that Tom is so much stronger than he had been. That is still true. But during the night last night he kept dreaming he was suffocating and this morning could barely swallow.

The tumor in his throat (for which he is getting radiation) is evidently swollen and invading his esophogus and trachia. This pressure causes him to choke on almost every bit of food or liquid.

But it also causes him to have panic attacks due to the breathing. We had planned to be at church this morning, but he was much too fragile emotionally so I gave him anti anxiety and pain meds and he slept soundly all morning.

He has spent most of the day trying to get food to go down. I was prepared to rush him to the ER, but it didn't get that far.

We are asking you to pray especially for the feelings of panic. We know the Lord can relieve this attack on his mind.

Thank you, dear friends, for standing with us in this difficult time. We love you and appreciate all of you.

Seeking to finish well in TX
Tom and Dotty Hash
326 Highland Ridge Dr
Wylie TX 75098
214-501-2527 cell: 720-480-7487

October 24, Saturday, 7:32 AM from Dotty

Since Tom returned from Normandy three weeks ago, he is becoming stronger each day. We can only attribute that to the Lord answering your prayers. He has had ten radiation treatments on his throat/neck (the plan is for 25 this series).

He has developed claustrophobia and the treatment requires he wear a mask that is bolted to the table. It is painful and traumatic for him, but he perseveres. His head/neck pain episodes are diminishing, but his throat has become very sore.

His vocal cords are mostly paralyzed now, so is having difficulty being heard, especially on the phone. He has a hard time swallowing as the tumor is invading his esophagus and he feels like he is choking--His muscles don’t react well-- so we are going to softer foods. He is working hard too keep his weight up and is doing well–has gained about 5 pounds. He does not appear to be a sick man....still my handsome sweetheart. Isn’t that great? Our precious daughter, Lori, continues to be here for our every need.

We didn’t expect Tom to be here for the holidays, but now we are making plans for his 80^th birthday (Nov. 22), Thanksgiving and Christmas. What fun!

Erv Meyer was here from Denver, and we all went to Ft. Hood to visit our ministries there–about 3 hours from here.. Tom drove both ways and did well. What a joy to be back in a Hospitality House again....we met lots of precious soldiers whose lives are being changed as they learn to walk with the Lord. Ken and Judi Wooten honored us so graciously. Ken was a 20 year old new believer at Clark, Philippines with us in the 60s and has been serving the Lord ever since. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.” III John 4

Some of you have asked about our finances....we are doing well. We have spent over $12,000 out of pocket this year on Tom’s medical expenses. You sent us the money to pay for it. That is nothing but a miracle from the Lord. (Hope you enjoy being a part of our miracle!) And now it looks like we have been overcharged and may get some refunds–which would be great–we’d put it right back into the medical fund for next year.

I’m sharing this to thank you and to honor the Lord for his amazing provision for us during this difficult time. “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.” Yup! He certainly has kept His word. We are so deeply grateful.

My back pain has been much relieved in the last four days–thanks so much for praying. I will have another steroid treatment next week. During the times of pain, however, my emotional strength weakens. Satan loves that and really zeroes in on me. This spiritual warfare is vicious, but my faith in the Lord has stayed strong and He has given the victory.

Early each morning we make coffee, turn on the fireplace, open our Bibles and bask in the Lord’s love and faithfulness, sometimes with tears and others with songs of joy. (I still love playing the piano.)

Dear friends, you are so very precious to us. You have stood with us through this difficult year.

Seeking to finish well in TX....
Dotty Hash (for Tom too)
326 Highland Ridge Dr
Wylie TX 75098
214-501-2527 cell: 720-480-7487

Final Destiny

Final Destiny

Every thinking person must sooner or later wonder where he will go when he dies and where he will spend eternity. Take a few minutes to read this and you will find the answers.

What is your authority?

In seeking answers to life’s most important questions, we must have some authority. The choice narrows down to two possibilities. It is either man’s opinion or the Word of God. It’s what people suppose or it’s what God says.

In matters of vital and enduring significance, it must be an infallible authority. There must be no room for error. Human opinion certainly doesn’t qualify here. Just as people’s faces differ, so do their opinions.

Only the Bible, the Word of God, is infallible. It is truth (John 17:17). But how do we know?

·We know it by its fulfilled prophecies. There are over 60 prophecies concerning Christ alone that came true when He was on earth. In addition, there are hundreds of prophecies concerning Israel and the Gentile nations that have come to pass. The probability of all this happening by chance is too small to consider.

·At least 40 men in different countries, at different times, in three different languages, over a period of 1600 years penned the Sacred Word. They had no way of collaborating, yet the Bible has a unified theme. It tells one consistent story. What other book can boast of such intelligent design?

·The Scriptures are unique in their power to transform the lives of people from sin and shame to decency and integrity.

·The words of the Bible are applicable to all times; they are as current as the hourly news broadcast.

·They have universal appeal; they speak to people of every race, tongue, tribe, and nation.

·They are inexhaustible, providing material for endless study, comfort, and guidance.

·Think of all the literature God’s Word has prompted – Bible dictionaries, commentaries, concordances, poetry, and sermons. It has inspired great movements such as the abolition of slavery, civil rights, social justice; institutions such as hospitals, schools, orphanages, homes for the poor and aged; and world agencies to alleviate poverty and hunger. It has exerted a positive influence on human society wherever it has traveled.

·It is pure, exposing sin and warning against it. It does not stoop to popular culture but seeks to elevate it.

·It is a living book. Some people actually fear it, while others would die for it.

·The Bible claims to be inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). That means that the words are God’s words. If they are not, then it is a fraud. But even its enemies do not accuse it of being a hoax.

·The Holy Bible has endured centuries of efforts to burn and banish it. Yet it has survived. When governments forbid it, smugglers risk imprisonment and death to defy such edicts.

·No other book can compare with God’s Word in the number of languages in which it speaks and the number of people who have read it.

·This amazing book records the life of a perfect Person. A mere man cannot write such an account. The French skeptic, Renan, said that it would take a Christ to invent a Christ.

In the literature of the ages, the Bible stands unparalleled and unique. Those who have experienced its transforming power in their lives are not likely to deny that it is the Word of the living God. Or, as someone has said, he who has felt the force of it is not likely to deny the source of it.

There is no risk in accepting the Bible as our final authority.

What does the Bible say about our destiny?

Now let us think about what the Bible says about death and the hereafter.

It says that death is certain. It is appointed to men to die once (Hebrews 9:27). Who can argue with that?

Every cemetery and funeral home bears silent testimony to that fact. Generations come and generations go. “Each one thinks that he will be eternal, and then that one becomes the missing face” (Will Houghton). Death is inescapable.

The Bible not only says that people must die. It adds in the verse just quoted but after this the judgment. Note the words after this. Death is not the end. There is a hereafter. After death there is judgment and an eternity of endless suffering for those who are not ready to meet God. The Bible says and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

The Bible also tells us that there are only two places where a person can spend eternity – heaven or hell. The God who does not lie speaks of only these two destinies for the human race. A man or woman may choose not to believe this, but that does not alter the fact.

Since everyone must die, and since he will spend forever in heaven or hell, the most important thing in life is to know that he will have heaven as his address forever.

Is it possible to know, and if so, how?

Yes, it is possible to be positively sure.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

But first the bad news

Before we get to the how-to of eternal life, we have to talk about sin. What does that word mean and why is it important?

Sin is anything that falls short of the perfection of God (Romans 3:23). It means missing the mark.

It is not only doing wrong; it is failure to do what we know is right (James 4:17). This is known as sin of omission. Sin is lawlessness, the stubborn refusal to do God’s will (1 John 3:4).

When we have a bad conscience about doing something, yet go ahead and do it anyway, that is sin (Romans 14:23).

Finally, all unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17).

The Bible is explicit and emphatic in declaring that everyone has sinned.

It says that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). It also says that there is not a just man upon earth who does good and does not sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

Let’s take a little test to see if you are an exception to the rule. Check the following lists to find out.

We begin with what mankind calls the grosser sins: fornication, adultery, incest, homosexuality, bestiality, murder, and idolatry. Multitudes will plead not guilty to any of these (until they remember that Jesus said that the man who looks on a woman with lust has committed adultery (Matthew 5:28) and the one who hates another person is a murderer) (Matthew 5:22).

We move on to drunkenness, drug addiction, abortion, child abuse, cruelty, witchcraft, swearing, and addiction to pornography. Do you still protest your total innocence?

If so, then check the following: coveting, lust, envy, jealousy, hatred, pride, selfishness, gossiping, lying, cheating, disrespect of parents, promise breaking, and unfaithfulness. Can you now raise your right hand and testify under oath that you have never committed any of the above? If so, check one more point. How about an impure thought life?

The awful truth is that we are not just one-time sinners but sinners by practice. We sin every day in thought, word, and deed. If you deny this, you deceive yourself (1 John 1:8) and make God a liar (1 John 1:10).

We are all depraved, that is, utterly sinful. We may not have committed every sin, but we are capable of doing it. And sin has affected every part of our being (Romans 3:13-18). What we are is a lot worse than anything we have ever done (Jeremiah 17:9).

No sinner can enter heaven (Revelation 21:27) unless his sins have been forgiven. If you have committed one sin, you are a sinner, and as a guilty sinner, you need to be saved.

A divine dilemma

But there is a problem. God is holy (Leviticus 19:2). He must always do what is right and proper. He cannot tolerate sin (Habakkuk 1:12-13) compromise with it, overlook it, or wink at it. His Word is clear that the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:4). God’s law demands the death of the sinner. The debt must be paid. Sin’s penalty must be endured.

Yet if we endure the penalty for our sins, we will be doomed and damned eternally.

The divine dilemma is this. God loves the sinner (John 3:16). He does not want anyone to perish (Ezekiel 18:32; 2 Peter 3:9). He wants him or her to spend eternity with Him in heaven. He didn’t make hell for mankind, but for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). But He cannot allow a person to enter heaven while that person is still in his sins, that is, with sins still unforgiven. Nothing impure, wrong, or evil can ever enter there (Revelation 21:27). How then can God satisfy His love and still be righteous? How can He save sinners and still be holy?

There’s hope for the hopeless

The situation is not hopeless. God has found a way by which He can forgive our sins without compromising His justice (Romans 3:26).

He sent His beloved Son to the earth 2000 years ago to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). The Lord Jesus Christ went to the Cross of Calvary to die as our Substitute. That’s a key word – Substitute. He died in our place (Galatians 2:20). He died the death that we should have died (1 Corinthians 15:3). He paid the debt that we owed because of our sins. He endured the penalty that we should have endured (1 Peter 2:24: 3:18).

We never understand the Good News until we realize that Someone has died for us, and that Someone is no less than our Creator-God (John 1:1,3). Instead of the sheep dying for the Shepherd, the Shepherd died for the sheep. Instead of the creature dying for the Creator, the Creator died for His creatures.

But how do we know that Christ’s work as our Substitute was satisfactory to God the Father? We know it because He raised the Lord Jesus from the dead on the third day (Romans 4:25, 6:4; 1 Corinthians 15:4). This was positive proof that Christ finished the work necessary for our salvation and that God accepted it. If God hadn’t raised Him, His death wouldn’t have been different from any other person’s. Jesus was the first One to rise from the dead in a glorified body that would never die again.

This raises another question. If Christ died for all, then does it not follow logically that all are saved? No, it does not. The work of the Lord on the Cross is sufficient for the salvation of all, but it is only effective for those who accept Him as their Substitute. God is not in the business of taking people to heaven who don’t want to be there. He cannot populate heaven with people who are still practicing sinners. What kind of a heaven would it be if it were inhabited by the world’s worst perverts, murderers, and gangsters?

How not to be saved

Before we get to God’s way by which a person can be sure of heaven, let’s think of various false ways on which men and women are depending.

Most people think that salvation is by good works, by doing the best they can, by living a good life, or by good intentions. This is what most religions teach and most people in the world believe. The Bible says that this way seems right to people but it ends in death and doom (Proverbs 14:12). This is not the way to heaven. Salvation is not by meritorious works of any kind.

The Bible says that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). It doesn’t say all our sins. It’s all our good works that are like filthy rags. The Bible also says that it’s not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us (Titus 3:5). It insists that salvation is not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:9).

It’s not by baptism, church membership, putting money in the collection, or religious rituals. If salvation were by works like these, then Christ’s death would have been unnecessary. He would have wasted His life if there was some other way (Galatians 2:21). And if good works were the way of salvation, no one could ever know he was saved. He would never know if he had done enough good works or the right kind.

Mark Twain said that if salvation was by being good, your dog would go in and you would stay out.

A surprising number of people believe that they will get to heaven by keeping the Ten Commandments. Most of them cannot even recite the Ten Commandments, but they know that they are in the Bible and so that must be the way. What they don’t know is that no one can keep these Commandments perfectly. God gave them in order to reveal sin (Romans 3:20), not to reveal salvation. They are God’s standard to show us how far we fail.

Salvation is not by education, science, philosophy, psychology, materialism, reformation, or an improved environment.

Education teaches a sinner, but he only becomes an educated sinner.

Science can explore outer space but it cannot change a person’s inner life.

Philosophy is man’s wisdom. At the end of his life, American philosopher Bertrand Russell said,“Philosophy has proved a washout to me.”

Psychology cannot explain human behavior, let alone change it.

Materialism may put food in the stomach but it can’t save the soul.

Reformation may put new clothes on a person but it doesn’t put a new person in the clothes.

That is why Jesus said, You must be born again (John 3:7).

Only one true way to heaven

God now offers salvation as a free gift to all who will repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Acts 20:21). Let’s think about those two words, repent and believe. They are like two sides of the same coin. We repent when we acknowledge our need of salvation. We believe when we accept God’s way.

What does it mean to repent? An old Puritan said that repentance is the vomit of the soul. It means that you are repulsed by your sin because it is disgraceful and disgusting. You do an about face – turning to God and away from your sin (Isaiah 55:7).

What does it mean to believe? You do this by accepting Jesus Christ as your only hope for heaven. You say from your heart, “Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and unfit for heaven, but I believe You died for me on the Cross of Calvary, bearing the punishment that should have been mine. Now by a definite act of faith, I take You as my Lord and Savior, from now on to live for You.”

To believe in Christ is to come to Him just as you are, in all your sin. An artist wanted to paint a picture of a prodigal son. One day he saw a beggar on the street and made an appointment for him to appear at the studio the next day. The beggar appeared, neatly dressed and clean shaved. The artist said, “I can’t use you now. You should have come as the beggar that you really are.”

To believe is to open the door to Him (Revelation 3:20). It is to put your whole weight on Him as you do when you sit on a chair.

Faith is like taking a parachute jump. You trust your life to that circular piece of nylon. It is like diving into the swimming pool. You commit yourself to the water without reservation. It is accepting a pardon. A pardon is only a piece of paper. To be effective, it must be accepted.

To believe in Christ is the most sane, sensible, rational thing that a person can do. What is more reasonable than believing in your Creator? There is nothing about Him that makes it impossible to believe in Him.

There is no risk in believing in Him. He is altogether trustworthy and His Word is the surest thing in the universe.

We must never forget the following great truths. Salvation is in a Person, and that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:3). If you have Him, you are as saved as God can make you (1 John 5:12).

Christ is the way to heaven (John 14:6). He is the only Way (Acts 4:12). No amount of sin is too great for God’s salvation (Hebrews 7:25).

Actually it’s your sin that makes you eligible for salvation. Christ didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Mark 2:17).

It’s your unworthiness that makes you a prime candidate for eternal life. The only people who go to heaven are sinners who don’t deserve it but whom God has forgiven.

A key word of the gospel

This is a good place to stop and talk about grace, one of the key words of the Christian faith. Grace is the undeserved favor that God shows to those who deserve the very opposite. It is something you cannot earn or merit. It’s a free gift. The minute you try to earn or merit it, it becomes a debt. The apostle Paul makes this distinction when he writes: Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness (Romans 4:4-5). In another place he again distinguishes between grace and works: And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is not more work (Romans 11:6). It’s not our merits that make us fit for heaven but the merits of Christ. That’s why there are no degrees of fitness for heaven. There is no fitness beyond that which is found in Jesus.

Why some people don’t trust Christ

It seems unreasonable. God wants to give salvation as a free gift to those who will accept His Son by faith, yet people refuse the invitation. Why? There are several reasons.

·In their colossal pride, they are ashamed of Jesus. Christ says to them, whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:38).

·They are afraid of a violent reaction from their family. The Lord Jesus anticipated this when He said, He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:37). In other words, Christ must come first.

·They love their sins more than they love Christ. That is an irrational choice that will be regretted forever.

·They love the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12:43).

·They are not as desperate as they should be. Eternal life is not their top priority.

·They are afraid that the cost is too high, that they would have to give up too much. They should consider the cost of not trusting Christ.

·They are afraid that they wouldn’t be able to hold out. In their own strength, they would not be able. But when the Lord begins a work in a person’s life, He holds that person in His mighty hands.

·They are too busy. When a Christian visited a businessman, the latter asked what he wanted. “Just to speak to you about your soul and where you will spend eternity.”

“But can’t you see that I’m busy?”

The Christian put out his hand to say goodbye and then said, “Suppose I had been death!”

Excuses, excuses, excuses

Well-worn excuses abound whenever the claims of Christ are presented to people.

Here are a few of them and the answers to them.

·“There are so many hypocrites in the church.” The Lord doesn’t ask you to believe in other people but in Him.

·“All the church wants is your money.” Christ doesn’t want your money; He wants your trust.

· “What about people who have never heard the Gospel?” The Judge of all the earth will do right (Genesis 18:25). The question now is not about the heathen. It’s about you who have heard the Gospel. What are you going to do with it?

·“Why does God allow so much evil in the world?” Through the atoning work of Christ, more glory has come to God and more blessing to man than if sin had never entered.

·“If Christians are right, why are there so few of them?” At the time of the flood, only the eight people who entered the ark were saved. All the rest perished in the water. It is not true that the majority is always right.

·“How can a God of love send people to hell?” People choose to go to hell by willfully refusing the offer of salvation.

·“Isn’t it narrow-minded to think there is only one way?” As mentioned already, if there was more than one way, then the Lord Jesus didn’t need to die. Why would He pay the greatest price if a lesser price would do?

·“It seems too easy.” It has to be easy if salvation is going to be available to all. Everyone can believe on Him, whereas not everyone could meet any other condition.

These are excuses. The problem is not in the mind; it’s in the will. Jesus made this clear when He said, You are not willing to come to me that ye might have life (John 5:40).

On another occasion He said to Jerusalem, How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, but you were not willing (Luke 13:34)!

The moment to decide

Christ invites you to repent, believe on Him, be born again, and find rest (Matthew 11:28).

Make no mistake about it, you are either for Christ or against Him (Matthew 12:30). If you are against Him, you take your place with mass murderers, terrorists, rapists, pedophiles, and other sexual deviants. Hardly a desirable circle of companions for eternity, is it?

Why you should trust Christ and be saved

Four compelling facts call for a positive response to the call of Christ:

Your present happiness depends on it.

Your forever welfare depends on it.

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

There is no risk.

Why you should do it now

The present moment is the only time of which you can be sure. God says that now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Life is uncertain. Every day people rise and go to work, little realizing that before evening they will have met God. Today some will leave Planet Earth due to a heart attack, an accident, or criminal assault. The possibilities of sudden death are legion.

The coming of the Lord is near. Jesus may come at any moment. Those who are saved will meet Him in the air and return with Him to the Father’s house in heaven (John 14:1-3). Those who are not saved will remain for a fearful time of judgment on the earth (Matthew 24:21) and a lost eternity (Revelation 20:14-15).

You’ve already kept Him standing outside the door for years. You don’t treat others that way. Why do you treat your God like that? Let Him in.

God has made an unchangeable decree that every knee will bow to Jesus and every tongue will confess Him as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). It is better to do it now voluntarily and be saved than to do it by compulsion later on and be lost eternally.

It is later than it has ever been before. A little boy counted off the chimes on the grandfather’s clock when it struck on the hour in his grandmother’s house. One day it was out of order and it chimed 13, 14, 15 times. The boy ran in to the kitchen and said, “Grandma, Grandma, it’s later than it’s ever been before.” The day of opportunity is almost over.

Someday you will stand before God and the question will be “What did you do with my Son?” Your final destiny will depend on the answer. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36).

How can I know?

When you repent of your sins and trust the Lord Jesus as your Savior from sin it is important that you be well grounded in the assurance of salvation. How can you have utmost confidence that you are now saved?

The first way is through the Word of God. The Bible says that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9). As soon as you have believed in Jesus as your undoubted Lord and Savior, God says that you are saved. He cannot lie, deceive, or be deceived. If He says it, it is true.

Other evidences of salvation appear in the days that follow. You will have a new hatred of sin (Romans 7:24) and a new love of holiness (Romans 7:22) Although you will still commit acts of sin, you will not practice it (1 John 3:9). Sin will not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14) You will love the children of God (1 John 3:14) You will continue in the faith (1 John 2:19).

Some people have a dramatic conversion. They are filled with joy as they are released from the burden of their sins. With others it may be simply the quiet acceptance of God’s gift without any outward signs or fanfare. In either case, a person should not base his assurance of salvation on feelings. They are too changeable and undependable. If Christ alone is your hope of heaven, you are saved whether you feel it or not. Facts are better than feelings.

What’s next?

Baptism. Now that you are saved, you will want to obey the Lord in baptism. While it is not necessary for salvation, it is necessary for obedience (Matthew 28:19). In baptism, you publicly pledge your allegiance to Christ as your Lord and Savior. You identify yourself with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5). Because He died as your Representative, you died with Him. Baptism is also a commitment to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). This means to live the baptized life as one who has died to sin.

There are other important steps in the Christian life.

Confession. You should learn to confess your sins directly to God as soon as you are conscious of them. When you do, you receive forgiveness (1 John 1:9). You received forgiveness from God the Judge for the penalty of sin when you trusted Christ. Now you receive parental forgiveness from God your Father.

Consecration. Begin each day by presenting your body a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2). This means that you exchange your will for His.

The Bible. To grow in the Christian life you must read, study, memorize, and meditate on the Bible. This is how you hear God speaking to you.

Prayer. In prayer you speak to your heavenly Father. It is good to pray at regular times and also whenever some special occasion arises.

Local church. As soon as possible you should associate with a Bible-believing church, one that accepts the Scriptures as the infallible Word of God. A New Testament church is one that is composed of saints, elders, and deacons (Philippians 1:1) and that meets for the apostles’ doctrine (Bible teaching), fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayers (Acts 2:42). Ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice.

Witness. Ask Him for opportunities to witness for Him. This means sharing the Gospel with unsaved relatives, neighbors, friends, and other acquaintances.

A final word

If you have read this far and are still unsaved, we make a final loving appeal to you. Come to Christ just as you are, believe that He died for you on the Cross, and accept Him as your Lord and Savior and your only right to enter heaven. Then claim His promise: That If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10).

© William MacDonald Used by Permission