Are you an unbeliever?

This article is for anyone who doesn’t believe in God or in Jesus as the exclusive way to God. First, know that God’s primary will is for you to know Him and to be blessed. But in order for you to receive the blessings He has planned for you, you must understand the conditions God has put in place. To help illustrate these truths, we will be using a sunflower.

Are you a “flower child”?

Have you ever witnessed a day in the life of a sunflower? It’s a beautiful site to behold. A wonderful change takes place as new life shoots upward from the colorless, lifeless little seed.

This precious, delicate seedling thrives in good soil, with plenty of sunlight and water. It is these two latter elements we will examine: light and water.

While both light and water are necessary for growth, light also exposes hidden things, and water cleanses that which is unclean. These concepts are foundational to critical understanding.

Full Exposure

To understand what this is all about, it is crucial you see yourself as God sees you.

And for that, we will use the light of God’s Law to show you exactly where you stand. It’s simple, fast, and effective! It’s guaranteed to have results.

So, let’s get started:

Test Yourself

Do you think of yourself as a good person?

If you would say, “I’m a pretty good person,” God’s Word says there are none good, no not one… for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Don’t believe it? Take this simple test:

• Have you ever told a lie? If you’re quick answer is, “No!,” please consider that white lies are still lies. Anything that isn’t the truth is a lie. Have you lied about being sick to get out of going to work? Did you ever lie to your parents? To friends? Teachers? This is between you and God, so now is the time to be honest.
• Have you ever taken something that wasn’t yours (regardless of its value)? We can steal time from an employer (playing computer games at work or running an errand “on the clock”), which is the same as stealing money. What about keeping extra change given you in error by a sales clerk? If you didn’t return it, you stole that money.
• Have you ever committed fornication or adultery? Before you answer so quickly, look at what Jesus said:

“But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” [emphasis added]
(Matthew 5:28)

If you’ve answered yes to all three, then by your own admission you are a lying, adulterous thief. This is how God sees you right now in your sin, and as such you are under the wrath of God.

On Judgment Day, if He judges you based upon the Ten Commandments, will you be innocent or guilty? If guilty, do you think you will go to Heaven or Hell at the end of your life?

Not convinced yet?

That was just three of the Ten Commandments. We haven’t touched on whether you’ve loved God with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength yet, nor have we touched on idolatry (making a god in your mind to suit your desires, or worshipping money or things or people).

What about honoring your parents? Have you always done this? What will you do when you stand in judgment before the Living God who created you?

Are you aware that it only takes one transgression of the law, one time to be guilty of sin?

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
(James 2:10)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
(Romans 3:23)

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
(Romans 5:12)

Test What You Hear Against God’s Word

Maybe you’ve heard comforting words from your church or a televangelist and you think that everything is just fine, but consider what His Word says:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
(II Timothy 4:3,4)

Don’t you know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (men acting, dressing like women), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (homosexuals), nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
(I Corinthians 6:9,10)

Consider your future, now, before it’s too late

How will you do when you stand in Judgment before a holy God? By now you should recognize your sin, but you might be tempted to think that God will overlook small sins (white lies) because you’re better than most people. Are you sure?

Beloved, knowing the terror of the Lord, I persuade you to reconsider and keep reading… the Truth will make you free!

Dear Santa…

Don’t be deceived in to thinking that God is a cosmic Santa Claus or Grandpa (which is a form of idolatry). He is holy, perfect, divine, just and wholly righteous. God is not in existence for you, rather you were created for Him; to glorify the Lord and to worship Him.

Don’t be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
(Galatians 6:7,8)

Jesus Christ is coming to judge the living and the dead

The Bible makes it clear that someday we will be judged in righteousness, by God’s Law. If we haven’t perfectly kept His law, we will perish. “The soul that sins, it shall die!,” says the Lord. Since you can no longer claim innocence, will you plead for the Judge to show you mercy and to let you go free? Not even the earthly judges do this, so why would a perfect and just God let you go when the wages of sin is death? It is too late at that point. He will have no option but to sentence you to an eternal death in Hell.

If you’re not convinced of the reality of Hell or Judgment, please soberly consider what God’s Word says:

Hell is Real

Satan’s job is to convince you that Hell isn’t real, and that you won’t end up there. Contrary to popular belief, often he doesn’t come looking ugly, but deceptively spiritual. Let God be true, but every man a liar, including Satan. Read the truth below… which voice will you heed?

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
(Matthew 10:28)

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
(Mark 9:43-44)

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
(Matthew 13:41-42)

The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(Matthew 24:50-51)

If you think that’s bad, listen to what is to come…

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20:11-15)

You can Escape the Wrath to Come

At this point you should be feeling the heat and looking for a way of escape. You should also be deeply grieved at offending the Creator, who has given you life and many other blessings during this life, of which you were not worthy to receive. Why? Because He has been incredibly longsuffering (patient) toward you…

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
(II Peter 3:9)

God is waiting for you to repent – turn away from your sin – and be cleansed by the blood of Christ.

Demand for Payment

Do you now understand that the Law demands a payment for your sin, and you don’t have enough righteousness of your own to make the payment in full? Do you understand this terrifying truth? Your future good works can’t ever make up for or pay for the sins you’ve committed in the past. Your current position before God demands your death; the shedding of your blood for the remission of sins.

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
(Hebrews 9:22)

You are as good as dead in your sins, you just didn’t know it… until now. But Jesus is famous for raising the dead. He can do this for you… today!

Debt Relief

Good News!  There is a Way to the Father – to be cleansed and justified before God. This is the message of reconciliation. Not by having you pray a certain prayer enough times or by paying for prayers. Your debt has already been paid by Jesus’ work on the Cross; His shed blood!

In times past, God’s people sacrificed lambs and other animals, and used the blood as an atonement for past sins. But each year there was a remembrance of sin because the blood offering only pointed to a future, once-for-all sacrifice and offering. The Law had to be kept 100% perfectly for this sacrifice to pay to the debts of sin.

Listen to what John the Baptist called Jesus:

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
(John 1:29)

Why the “Lamb of the God?” He offered His own body for a perfect sacrifice, one that could satisfy the debt. A spotless, pleasing sacrifice to the God.

And how is it that He takes away the “sin of the world?” Jesus’ suffering was terribly intense… and He was unjustly punished. Jesus never sinned while on earth, yet He had to suffer a beating, a crown of thorns pushed into His head, bloody scourging (whip with chunks of metal and bone that tears away flesh with each successive blow), He carried His cross after having endured the scourging, was nailed to the cross (large nails/stakes driven through his feet and hands/wrists) and finally lifted up and crucified. He was in intense agony and pain and He was left to hang and die.

The Weight of the World

A few days earlier, Jesus was in the garden at Gethsemane, praying to His Father. Here is some of what He prayed:

Then came Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane… And He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry (wait) ye here, and watch with He.”  And He went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as You will.  And He came unto the disciples, and found them asleep, and saith unto Peter, “What, could ye not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, Your will be done.”
(Matthew 26:36-42)

In Luke, there is addition detail of just how much agony Jesus experienced as He contemplated was to come:

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
(Luke 22:44)

Could it have been the crown of thorns? What about the scourging? The actual crucifixion? I may have been all, but it is fair to consider that the greatest of all suffering He would and did endure was when the weight of the whole world’s sin was laid upon Him, during which His own Father forsook Him. Can you imagine willingly going through with such a thing? He took upon himself the sin of murders, child molesters, liars, homosexuals, adulterers, idolaters, and the list goes on.

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
(Hebrews 9:28)

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
(II Corinthians 5:15)

After that, He said, “It is finished!” and gave up the Spirit.

The Rest of the Story

Now, if that were the end of the story, there wouldn’t much to tell. Many people were crucified, and many false Christs – even then – were around. Even His disciples were in despair… until, that is, on the third day, as He prophesied, when He rose from the dead and left the tomb! Praise the Lord! He was seen of many and, until His ascension forty days later into Heaven, He performed more miracles and ate and drank with the disciples. He was seen of them and they touched Him!

How do we know this, you might be asking. Couldn’t someone have taken the body? Couldn’t this just be another story rooted in fiction rather than fact?  If it weren’t for the events following His ascension, you might have a case. But what happen afterward changed the world.

Jesus’ disciples, of whom included simple fishermen, as well as educated tax collectors, preached this message to all who would listen… even to the point of death. All but a few of the disciples were martyred. Now, ask yourselves this question: would that many men die horrible deaths, not recanting at the last minute, all for a lie? The obvious answer is, no!

But the story doesn’t end there. Countless others have had a beautiful encounter with the living Saviour and He has radically changed their lives, too. Some have given their  lives in martyrdom and some have experiences miracles up to this very age of ours. Many have set out to disprove Jesus and the Bible and Christianity, and have come back knowing the Saviour. Archaeologists, doctors, children, housewives, farmers, kings, and witch doctors have come to Jesus and been born again. What about you?

Believe, Repent, and Surrender

Do you believe that Jesus is Lord, and that He came in the flesh to offer His body for your sins? Do you believe that you’re a sinner? Do you want to be forgiven and cleansed, to know the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ?

Jesus is Lord of all and you can know Him!  One’s lack of believe doesn’t negate the truth, as we are reminded that it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (Romans 14:11) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
(Philippians 2:10)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(John 3:16)

Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
(Acts 16:30-31)

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
(Acts 3:19)

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(Acts 2:38)

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9,10)

If you are truly repentant, pray to the Lord in your own words, confess your sins, and confess that Jesus is Lord and that you believe He died as payment for your sins. Psalm 51 is a wonderful prayer of repentance:

Psalms 51

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it : thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Basking in the Light

If you have received the Gospel seed in a repentant heart (good soil), you are born again and Christ is in you – you are a new person, and He will give you new desires – that’s His promise!

You will no longer enjoy “evil” things, rather you will now desire to do what His will is for you. You have been bought with a price – a precious, priceless gift of His life for yours, and to willfully sin would be to crucify the Lord afresh. Stay pure and holy (separate from sinful activities, temptations and evil influences).

Now, what will you give in return? Your life! Surrender everything to Him in obedience.

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(Mark 8:34)

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
(Luke 14:33)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(Romans 12:1,2)

This is the just the beginning of a wonderful walk, but you will want to be equipped for this journey. Read our seedlings page for helpful teachings and suggestions on how to stay and grow in the Light of the Lord.

Live your life for Jesus and proclaim this life-saving message, the Gospel, to others!  Gospel tracts are a great way to get started, if you’re worried about what to say or how to approach others. Just find a way to get them the message and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.

If you’re wondering about all those “hypocrites” in the Church, the Lord himself confirmed that many of them would be among true believers along with a stern warning that they would NOT make it into Heaven. Worry about your relationship with the Lord first, then you will be able to encourage others around you.

What’s with the sunflower?

Oh, and you’re probably wondering about the Sunflower, right? It’s simple: as the mighty sunflower reaches its heights due only to much water and sunlight, only those who abide in the Light of the Sun of Righteousness (Jesus), and in His Living Water shall see life.

Thank you for reading this important message, and may the Lord bless and keep you in grace and mercy.

Until we see Him face-to-face,

Jeff