The best BLACK FRIDAY deal EVER

Today is BLACK FRIDAY, and any of us who live in the western hemisphere know what that means. It means long lines, camp outs, waiting for "door-buster" deals and that one thing our kids want for Christmas. I just read a comic on Facebook that said, "Isn't it ironic that on the day after Americans give thanks for what they already have, they spend the most money on brand new stuff?". I agree. It is Ironic. Now, I first want to say that I don't think there is anything particularly wrong with Black Friday in of itself. I work in retail (restaurant) and Black Friday is just as big for us as it is for the big box retailers. There are some very very good deals out there, and I'm all for saving a buck, doing Christmas on a budget and not borrowing for Christmas. However, just as we Americans, and for that matter, us as humans, we take anything and everything to the extreme. I've participated in Black Friday before. Some years I've gone out with my dad early in the morning, gotten some deals, then eaten lunch. One year it was the midnight of Thanksgiving, attempting to wait in line at a popular toy retailer, only to learn it was a four-hour wait to get in. It was in the 20s where I was (Chattanooga) and so I opted to return in the morning.

Four hour plus waits are a little extreme for me.

So if you're out there, fighting the crowds, rushing to the next place for the next great deal, just keep everything in perspective. Yes, you are getting great deals, and saving a buck. Know that it is just "stuff", especially when the store runs out, or someone rudely cuts you off. If you are a follower of Christ, use this opportunity to share the Hope that is within you, the reason we all rush to get these great deals on gifts. Be extra nice in an unexpected way. If there is only one of that item left, give it to the woman in line behind you. God will reward your generosity. You can NEVER outgive God. If you feel led, donate to the Salvation Army bell ringers (there are one of the few who still say "Merry Christmas" in public). Do everything this Black Friday as if you are doing it for the LORD.

If you're not a follower of Christ, or if you're not sure, I have a better deal than a $200 42" LCD TV or a $150 iPod Touch. In fact, the deal that I know about is the BEST BLACK FRIDAY DEAL EVER! are you interested?

The Bible tells us that "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). God is perfect and therefore His standards are perfect, and no matter how good we are, we will never meet His perfection. That means you and I have all done something to fall short (or sin) of God's standards. Because we are sinners, we are destined to spend eternity away from him. The Bible also tells us that "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus" (Rom 6:23). So here's where the best deal comes into play. See there is no way we could ever earn our way into God's graces, nor can we earn eternal life. Our sin, no matter how big or small, separates us from God forever. However, God has offered us a way to deal with our sin. He gave us the gift of Jesus Christ, His one and only Son. Jesus was fully man and fully God. The Bible says that Jesus lived a perfect life here on earth, but was tempted in every way we are, yet since He's also fully God, He never sinned. Because God loved you so much and wants to spend eternity with you, He allowed His only Son, Jesus to die on a cross for your sins and three days later rose Him from the dead. The Bible says that if you "Confess with your mouth Jesus is LORD and believe that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Rom 10:9). That means if you confess your sins to God, believe that Jesus died on the cross and that his death paid IN FULL the price for your sins, and if you verbally ask Jesus to be your Lord and to save you, that God will save you. You will then get to spend eternity with our creator. So instead of an eternity spent separate from God, you'll get to spend eternity with God in Heaven.

God offers this deal to Everyone! He isn't going to make you trust in Jesus, and He isn't going to force you to believe, but rather in His love for you, He will allow you to read posts like this. He will allow you to hear the Gospel presented at a church service, or on TV, or through a friend. He will give you every chance He can to accept this gift. However, every time you reject it, the Bible says your heart becomes a little bit harder, and therefore, you are more likely to continue to reject His gift of eternal life. But the Good News is that if you feel that tugging on your heart right now, God is calling you to receive his gift. Just like you had to receive that ticket from the clerk for that item you waited in line so long for on Black Friday, you need to receive His Gift. You may be thinking, but Karl, you don't know all the bad things I've done. You're right, I don't. But you don't know all of my bad stuff either. However, the Bible says that when we trust in Jesus, God separates us from our sin as far as the east is from the west. It doesn't matter how much or how bad or how deep your sin may be. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9). All we have to do is place our faith and trust in Him. Now THAT is a good deal! No, it's not a Good deal, it's the BEST DEAL EVER!


If after reading this, you want to receive this gift and take part in the best deal ever, confess your sin to God and pray this prayer:

Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe that you died on the cross as payment in full for my sins. Thank you for dying for me. I believe that God raised you from the dead. Because of that, I want to make you my Lord and my Savior. I repent of my sins and want to turn from my selfish ways. Please change my heart and be the Lord of my life. Thank you for saving me, Jesus. I love you. Amen.

Do you really know the LORD?

 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' -Matthew 7:15-23 (NIV)

Before God reached out and got my attention, I thought I knew Him.  In my head, I thought that I was a believer, but in my heart, I knew that I was not in His will.  I knew that I was not saved.  See all of our lives, as Jesus says in this passage, bear fruit.   All you have to do is look at what kind of fruit does your life bear?  My life was not bearing the "good fruit" Jesus talks about, but rather the "bad fruit."  If you are living only to please yourself, then you will bear selfish fruit that will taste sweet for a season but then become very bitter over time and will never satisfy you.  If your life has nothing to do with God, or you do not believe in Him, then your life will bear bad fruit that will never give you peace and joy, and you'll never feel the love that He has for you.   But if you are in Christ, your life will bear fruit that will abundantly fulfill you.  Jesus said that He came so that we may have "life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).  Paul tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.  Do you see evidence of these things in your life today?   When we give our lives to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts forever and our lives begin to bear the fruit of the Spirit.   If you life does not show any signs of these, you may want to investigate if you really know the LORD.   If you know for a fact you are saved, but don't see much fruit now, you may just be like a young tree that hasn't quite reached maturity for fruit to blossom.  If that is the case,  just keep seeking after God and His will and the fruit will bear in time in your life.

Take this time to test your faith.  The Bible tells us to do so: 

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-- unless, of course, you fail the test?" - II Cor 13:5 

What fruit are you bearing?  If you are bearing the "bad fruit" as Jesus described above, then you might be the one in the end that Jesus says,  'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Don't be one of those in the end.  Check yourself NOW.  If your life is not bearing the fruit of the spirit, test your faith.  Who or what is your faith placed in?  Your works?  Your deeds?  Someone else's faith like your spouse or parent?  Even if you've told others about Christ and have done great works in His name, the Bible says that you are not saved unless you have placed your complete faith in Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for your sins.
 
Here's the beautiful promise - that when you do completely trust in Christ for your salvation, you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and then those good fruits will begin to bear in your life, and you will NEVER be the same.  I haven't been the same since I gave my life to him September 10, 2007!

May God bless you abundantly today, and may you realize how much Jesus loves YOU and wants a relationship with YOU!