When Tragedies strike…!

Recently I read about two accidents that happened within the same week.

In the first, a Pastor and his two daughters drowned as their car fell into a river. This happened at 7.30 in the busy morning hours. Nobody came in time to their rescue.

The second was a few days later. A car with a woman, her son, daughter and four months old grandchild fell into a flooded river. This happened at 11.30 midnight. These people trapped in the car were saved by locals who were awakened by the sound.

Incidents like these affect the dear and near ones who will question why this has happened to their loved one.

Floods take several lives and wash away homes and lands of many each year. Recent flash floods in Pakistan wreaked havoc where 4.6 million people were affected. Over 1000 died and about 300,000 became homeless. 90% crops in Sindh province were ravaged. Believers and non believers alike went through the tragedy. Everyone will have the same question, “why this to us?”

We hear about road accidents causing death of young and old everyday. Good people as well as bad people meet with accidents. You cannot conclude that it happened as a judgement or punishment from God. God allows certain things to happen to achieve His purpose. It is something beyond our understanding. Jesus made it clear to his disciples in John chapter 9.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.
(John 9:1‭-‬3 NLT)

God will accomplish His sovereign will and purpose through all that happens in our  lives. God is good, we can trust Him even though we don’t understand everything. God is love, He will not change.

….For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
(Matthew 5:45 NLT)

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
(Romans 8:28 NLT)

Simply trust God’s goodness and His sovereign authority when doubts and questions arise in your mind. Speak out and say God is always good, He is loving and unchanging.

Human negligence and irresponsible behaviour can be the root cause for several calamities and accidents. Destruction of nature through careless and selfish handling, polluting the air, water and earth, is probably the major reason for natural disasters.

However, nature too came under curse due to human sin, as God’s Word reveals.

And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”
(Genesis 3:17‭-‬19 NLT)

Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
(Romans 8:20‭-‬22 NLT)

The whole earth has been given to deterioration and decay due to the fall of man. Until God restores everything after the final judgement, things will keep going from bad to worse. Even children of God have to go through this experience of pain and suffering looking forward to the day of redemption promised to them. It says the whole creation is groaning and waiting for that day when God will glorify His children, so that they too will experience deliverance from death and decay. Children of God will receive their new bodies which are free from all corruption, which will not experience sickness, pain, suffering, or death.

Until then, God will make everything to work for our good. We may not always see it or understand it but the Word of God says it. Read through the rest of Romans chapter 8. It reminds us that God loves us and is for us. Nothing can separate us from His love. The God who did not hold back His one and only Son and gave Him up to suffer and die on the cross for our sins, will do only good for us.

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
(Romans 8:18 NLT)

If you are grieved, in pain, or in doubt, be assured of God’s love for you that is unchanging. He will not leave you in pain, but comfort you and lead you forward, until you reach your ultimate destination, His glorious presence. But, remember, this promise is only for those who have put their trust in Jesus as their only Saviour and Master. If you haven’t done so, make sure you do it now.

The Eternal Kingdom

I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him; many millions stood to attend him. Then the court began its session, and the books were opened. I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn’s boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire. The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer. As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me. So I approached one of those standing beside the throne and asked him what it all meant. He explained it to me like this: “These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth. But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.” (Daniel 7:9-18 NLT)

Taken in isolation, this is a difficult passage of scripture to explain. This should be read along with the book of Revelation and other prophetic passages that describe the end time events. The book of Daniel contains the historic narrative of the captivity and life in exile of the Jewish boys Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Daniel served under the Babylonian Kings Nebuchadnezzar, his grandson Belshazzar, and the Medo-Persian Kings Darius and Cyrus. In spite of persecution and suffering, Daniel and his friends faithfully followed their Jewish religious disciplines by not eating foods prohibited for them and praying at the appointed times of the day. But God was faithful in protecting and prospering them as they were faithful to Him. The book also contains several dreams the kings and Daniel had, containing prophetic messages. 

Rule of the Antichrist 

Chapter seven records a dream Daniel had of four strange animals which represent four different kingdoms or governments. Some believe it could be contemporary powers. But towards the end a union of governments will come which will bring in the New World order or the One World Government everyone is longing for, nations without borders, promising peace and prosperity. 

From among the leaders of the New World order one will become the ruler of the world government. The Bible talks about this in the first part of Daniel 7, in second Thessalonians 2 and in Revelation 13. He is the Anti-Christ also called the ‘lawless one’, or the ‘son of perdition’.

He will rule the world for seven years promising peace and prosperity. He will be controlled by Satan. He will make agreements with the Jewish people and the Muslims to rebuild the Jewish temple at Jerusalem. Temple worship will be re-established. But by the middle of his rule he will change his agreement and sit in the temple claiming to be god demanding worship. Anyone refusing to worship him and his image will be killed. 

Rapture of the Church 

Our passage for today doesn’t give much of these details but in 2Thessalonians, Revelation and elsewhere we can find them. Daniel sees the Son of Man coming in the clouds in all His glory. This is Jesus coming for His Church and receiving her to Himself. This will precede the Anti-Christ’s coming to power. He will release terrible persecution towards all who will believe in God and worship anything other than himself. At the end of seven years he will be defeated and thrown into the lake of fire. 

Rule of Christ 

After the end of the great tribulation Christ will establish His kingdom. This is the Kingdom promised to the Jewish nation. Jesus will reign as the King of kings and all the nations will surrender to His authority. His saints will rule with Him. Daniel didn’t have any idea of the Church and its place in the prophetic calendar of God. As Apostle Paul says, it was a mystery. 

The next big event in God’s calendar is the rapture of His Church. This can happen any time now because the stage is set as per Bible prophecy. Those who have put their trust in Jesus as their only Saviour and Lord will go with Him at His coming in the clouds. Are we ready?

Don’t lose heart !

You feel life is unfair even though you have been fair to everyone, nothing is going right even after doing your best, you are receiving blame for no fault of yours, others are taking advantage of your simplicity- don’t lose heart.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
(Isaiah 41:10 NLT)

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
(1Peter 5:7 NLT)

Dwell on God’s promises and keep praying those scriptures back to Him.

For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
(Psalms 32:7‭-‬8 NLT)

Trust in Him who called you according to His purpose and keep loving and honouring Him.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
(Romans 8:28 NLT)

Everything ready!?

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
(John 14:1‭-‬3 NLT)

Everything is almost ready, it looks like!

Jesus died on our behalf, was buried, resurrected and went back to heaven. He sent the Holy Spirit as companion to lead and guide us on our life’s journey. He took care of everything, past, present and future.

Troubles

But at that point in time when they listened to Jesus the disciples didn’t fathom the weight of the Master’s assurance. They were troubled, as we often are today. The uncertainty of the future, the pressures of the present, and lingering pains of the past, all leave us troubled. When our hearts are troubled we are unable to really understand what we hear. Jesus told the troubled followers to trust.

Trust

The antidote to the troubled heart is a trusting mind. To trust is to put our full weight upon the object of our trust. It is to lean on or to depend upon something or someone. Jesus told us to lean fully on God and Him.

This world of troubles is not our permanent dwelling place. Jesus is preparing an eternal dwelling place for us in heaven. He assured us that when everything is ready He Himself will come to take us to that new home. That will be a place where the earthly troubles can never bother us. The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee for this. So, until that time let’s learn to trust Him and lean fully on Him.

Everything ready

It will not be too long before “everything is ready” as Jesus said. The signs and signals are everywhere. Our days of trouble are soon going to be over. Let’s live today with that longing to meet our Saviour in the mid air. Hallelujah!

Signs of the Times!

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”
(2Timothy 3:1‭-‬5 NLT)

God’s Word said centuries ago that the end times will be perilous and difficult times. If we turn around we can see that we are living in difficult times. We see that people are utterly selfish. They love money more than anything else. Even within the family we see the result of selfishness. Children grow aimless, Godless and characterless. Elderly are left to struggle and suffer. These days for monetary gains we are ready to sacrifice relationships and principles.

We see that people are very boastful and proud. They are proud about their positions and possessions. They boast about their wealth, which is there today and can vanish tomorrow. People are too haughty so they put down and belittle others. They want fame, honour and glory for themselves. They don’t mind taking credit for what God is doing. They even blaspheme the name of God for the sake of social approval and political correctness. They will openly agree that all faiths are equal and you just need to be a good human being. They may go to the extent of bowing to every other deity.

People these days do not understand the meaning and essence of true love. Everyone talks about it. Counselors and gurus project love as the solution for the world’s problems. They conduct seminars on how to love others but people hate each other more than ever. Hate crimes are on the increase. People are revengeful and can not forgive others. Everyone is ready to return insult for insult and even assault for insult. Violence and crime are escalating day by day. Nobody hesitates to slander others. They carry tales to defame those whom they dislike. They don’t feel guilty at all. We burst out in anger with no self control and humiliate others in public. Brutality is what is seen depicted in the daily news.

Public opinion about what is good and bad, right and wrong has changed. People have started calling ‘good’ evil and ‘evil’ good. They can betray their own kith and kin without the slightest feeling of guilt. Those who dream of authority and power are often the worst traitors.

These are days of camouflage. You won’t know the real person until you get close enough. They appear pious and religious but they deny the truth. They don’t love and obey God but they pretend to be Godly and assume to be followers of Christ. They are pleasure loving and teach and preach what makes people feel good.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
(2Timothy 4:3‭-‬4 NLT)

Followers of Jesus are instructed to turn away from such people. Are we like these end-time-generation Christians who display a fake Christianity?

The Lord God has told us what is right and what he demands: “See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.”
(Mic 6:8 CEV)

Can you believe the Bible?

The answer is an emphatic ‘yes’.

There are many reasons why you can believe the Bible far above any other piece of literature. But if you are a sincere seeker the only evidence you will need is the origin and history of the Jewish people. We are watching the fulfillment of  Biblical prophecies about Israel, the land and its people, recorded centuries ago.

“Israel is the very embodiment of Jewish continuity: It is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago. You dig the soil and you find pottery from Davidic times, coins from Bar Kokhba, and 2,000-year-old scrolls written in a script remarkably like the one that today advertises ice cream at the corner candy store.” (Charles Krauthammer – The Weekly Standard, May 11, 1998)

Birth of the Nation

The Bible says that God called a man named Abram to leave his home and his relatives and go to a place He would show. In obedience Abram started his sojourn with his wife Sarai, nephew Lot and all their servants and livestock. He comes to the land of Canaan and God tells him that it is there  he and his descendants should live. God promised that land for Abram and his posterity for ever. God made a covenant with him promising to bless him and the entire human race through him. Abram worships God there.

Abram and his descendants settle there, but keep wandering due to famine. God renames  Abram as Abraham and reassures him and later his son Isaac and grandson Jacob of His covenant. Jacob was renamed by God as Israel (Gen.32, 35).

Into Slavery

Jacob had twelve sons. His favourite was Joseph. He was an obedient young lad chosen by God for the protection of the family. He had dreams about future events and his brothers hated him for that. They tried to kill him but changed their minds and sold him as a slave and he landed up in Egypt. Joseph was faithful to God and God lifted him up to a position of authority, next to the king, in this foreign land. There was a severe famine. Only the Pharaoh in Egypt had stock of food grains because with Godly wisdom Joseph had stored it up. People came from everywhere to Egypt for food and Joseph’s brothers too had to go there without knowing that their brother is the one in authority. They reunite and the entire family relocates to Egypt under Pharaoh’s favour.

After the death of Jacob and Joseph the new king didn’t recognise Joseph’s contribution to the prosperity of the nation. Israelites were forced into hard labour and slavery for the next four centuries.

Back in the Promised Land

Listening to the cries of His people God raised Moses, born to Jewish parents, adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, trained as a prince, under the most unfavourable circumstances, while Pharaoh’s order to slaughter all Jewish male babies below the age of two was still in effect. After ten plagues that forced the Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go, they set out into freedom. However, because of their disobedience and rebellion God let them wander through the wilderness for forty years. Those who trusted in the God of their ancestors witnessed His covenantal faithfulness and rebellious generation perished in the wilderness. God gave them   the Ten Commandments and specific laws to keep and pass on to their future generations.

After the death of Moses, Joshua led the people back into their promised land, the land that flows with milk and honey. The land was assigned to them according to the tribes named after Israel’s sons.

The most important command God gave them was that:
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”
(Deuteronomy 6:4‭-‬5 NLT)

God promised blessings if they obey, and destruction if they disobey. God gave them rulers, judges, kings, prophets and priests. He promised His glorious presence in their place of worship. God also promised them an eternal kingdom and a king who will rule forever.

Scattered and Persecuted

Throughout the centuries we see that the Jewish people suffered for their disobedience to their God. They didn’t recognise the Messiah their Saviour whom God had sent. They were scattered all over the world, persecuted and massacred everywhere, and the holocaust is part of their history.  (Lev.26, Deut.4)

But God had also promised to bring them back for good. He vowed to destroy their enemies and re-establish them as a nation in their own land. He promised to give them a changed heart and the willingness to obey. These events are in progress as Biblical prophecy unfolds.
(Jer. 31, Amos 9, Joel 3, Eze.11; 36; 37; 38)

Ultimate Victory

The Bible is full of prophecies about Israel, their return and their future. God promised them the kingdom where a descendant of King David will rule. That will be the millennial Kingdom where Jesus will rule in righteousness and justice.

Chapters 36,37 and 38 of the book of Ezekiel describes the final home gathering of Israel through God’s direct intervention. Then one last sifting or cleansing through fire called Jacob’s trouble or the great tribulation. This will be Satan’s last attempt to stop people from worshipping the true God. But the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob will destroy the enemies and establish the kingdom that was promised to Israel. God had promised and He will fulfill it.

Look at the nation Israel, see how true the Bible is and believe it, if you will.

Is God your Father?

“My wife said to me on the day of marriage, “from today I accept you as my husband”, and that is a commitment made from that day. But, will my son come and tell me, “from today I accept you as my father”. I heard a statement like this from a clergyman who was trying to argue that everyone in the world, or at least in the church, are God’s children.

This sounds good but it is a lie from the father of lies, the devil, who wants to misguide people and send them to hell. This is a wrong understanding of the fatherhood of God.

Ownership of God

In a general sense of the ownership of God over the human race and all creation He is referred to as father. This points to His love, concern and care about mankind like every human father. He is the God and Lord of all but He wants you to willingly acknowledge it with your own choice.

Born of God

To be called someone’s child, you should have the life of that someone, or you should be born of him. Simply assuming that God is our father and not having God’s life is living in a fool’s paradise. One who is born of God is a child of God and God’s Holy Spirit comes to dwell in Him. He or she has God’s life in him/her. There is a permanent relationship and constant fellowship between the two, which begins here in this life and will continue into eternity.

Dead and separated

We are born spiritually dead. The Bible says we are all dead in our sins and trespasses.

For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
(Psalms 51:5 NLT)

In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins.
(Ephesians 2:1 GNT)

You were at one time spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were Gentiles without the Law. But God has now brought you to life with Christ. God forgave us all our sins;
(Colossians 2:13 GNT)

New Birth New Life

If we continue in our dead state, ultimately we will go to eternal death which is hell. A dead person needs life, a new life. This life is only in Christ Jesus. His substitutionary death brought eternal life to us. This eternal life starts through a new birth here and now.

In John chapter 3 Jesus made this clear to Nicodemus who was a Pharisee, a Jewish religious teacher, who was expecting the Messiah to come and establish the Kingdom of God promised to Israel. He probably was trying to verify if Jesus was that promised Messiah. But without beating around the bush Jesus comes straight to the point.
Jesus replied, “I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God’s kingdom!”
(John 3:3 CEV)

Born from Above

Then Jesus explains what He said. Just like physical birth there must be a spiritual birth before anyone can enter God’s Kingdom. By the way, water here is not referring to baptism as the context clarifies. How then, is one born ‘from above’ or born of the Spirit?

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
(John 1:12‭-‬13 NLT)

Led by the Spirit

Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children. God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father.
(Rom. 8:14‭-‬15 CEV)

God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.
(John 3:16 CEV)

God offers New Life

Traditional denominations take it for granted that since our God is a triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, He is the Father of all and all people are His children. But this assumption is wrong and God is not responsible for this as His Word makes it clear. God has been waiting patiently all these years for people to come to Him accepting His offer of sonship and salvation. He did everything that was needed for your redemption. All you need to do now is to believe that and willingly accept His Lordship over your life. He will give you a new birth, new life and His Spirit will dwell in you. He will guide you and lead you every day as you listen and obey Him. He will be your father and you will be His child. And when Jesus returns for His children He will take you along and you will be with Him for ever and ever.

Renewing the mind

• Have you become a new creation?

• Why are our thoughts important?

• Why should a Christian meditate on the Word of God?

Our thoughts have a lot to do with our lives. The Word of God says, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23 GNT).

The Bible is not talking about the power of positive thinking. It is talking about the power of Godly character developed through the working of a transformed mind. So the Word of God reminds us to have a renewed mind. “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God-what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect” (Rom.12:2 GNT).

Before surrendering our lives to the Lordship of Christ we have a darkened mind. This mind is incapable of understanding the thoughts of God. “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will” (Rom: 8:5-7 NLT).

“Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him” (Eph.4:17-18 NLT).

So when the average individual talks about the power of the mind it is purely on the sinful human level. A Christian is a transformed person. “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death…” (Colo.1:21-22 NASB).

A Christian is a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2Cor.5:17 ESV).

A Christian has been given the mind of Christ. “…For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ” (1Cor.2:16 ESV).

This newness of our being has to be maintained by a resolute fellowship with the Lord. This requires constant study and meditation of God’s Word, prayer, and obedience.

We have to consciously align our minds with the mind of the Lord. The Lord’s mind is revealed in His Word the Bible. We must fill our minds with the Word of God. Our minds should stay focused on what it says. In other words, we must make efforts to meditate on God’s desires, His plans and promises. What our mind focuses on will determine our thoughts and our thoughts will be reflected as our attitudes. Our attitudes will establish themselves in our words and our speech will give birth to actions. Actions when repeated will become habits and habits behaviour. A mind that is fixed on God’s Word will exhibit Godly character and the power of God’s Word in action.

We are called to do the will of God and demonstrate the power of God’s Kingdom here on earth. What we accomplish depends on what our minds focus on. If we fill it with the mundane and the futile that is what our lives will bring forth.

“In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable” (Phil.4:8 GNT).

Tattoos

• Why did people in ancient days get tattoos?

• What are some Biblical reasons why a Christian should not have tattoos or piercings?

• How would tattoos and piercings dishonour God?

Art is deeply rooted in the cultural and religious background of people. Among the various forms of art, the art of body painting has caught the fascination of the young generation in the west. Like several other things this too would soon make its way into our society.

Body painting had originated from tattoos. Tattoos were used by the ancient cultures from time immemorial. They used it for various reasons. It was part of superstitions and religious rituals for many cultures. For some it was identification of their tribe or group. It did not start as an artistic expression but a permanent mark of identification with some faith or practice. Tattoos were meant to be permanent.

When you are marking your body with a tattoo, because it is a voluntary act, you are identifying with something knowingly or unknowingly. If you are a Christian you have been identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.
“For surely you know that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptized into union with his death. By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life” (Rom.6:3-4 GNT).
“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal.5:24 ESV).
The Holy Spirit has sealed you as a mark of His ownership over you.
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph.4:30 ESV).

Your body has been made the Temple of the living God and you cannot do whatever you want with your body, especially tattoo it to identify it with something else. Remember, once you do it, it is almost impossible to remove it or get your body back to the old condition.

Body piercing too was the mark of allegiance to some deity. People express their devotion to the deity by piercing their body with sharp objects. Some of these may be temporary piercings. In the West this is a symbol of rebellion.

In the Bible God commanded the people of Israel not to cut their bodies to make markings in memory of the departed.

“You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard. You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord”.
(Leviticus 19:27‭-‬28 ESV)

In the New Testament we are reminded that our bodies are the Temple of the living God and we should not do things that would dishonour God. We are also instructed not to follow the customs and practices of the world as we belong to the Lord.

“Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world….” (Rom.12:2 NLT)

If you are a Christian you should seriously consider these things before going for a tattoo or a body piercing. Most of these are permanent modifications mutilating the Temple of God and we are accountable for our neglect of God’s grace that redeemed us.

Addiction

• Are you addicted to anything?

• How can you show your maturity to your friends?

• Do we have any control over addictive behaviour?

Addiction is a behaviour that has become so habitual that you can not stay without it. In most cases, your body gets adjusted to this habit that you get severe discomfort when you try to discontinue the practice.

People give various reasons for their addiction, like, coping with failures and disappointments, overcoming tragedies, escaping feelings of hopelessness, etc. Some of these substances stimulate nerve cells to cause a pleasurable feeling. So once you start on one of these it will make you want more. Thus you are dragged into the habit.

People get addicted to various things, like food, drinks, intoxicants, entertainments, etc. It is our own choices that lead to addiction. It begins as an experiment or fun or prestige factor but it is always our choice that leads to a habit. You may succumb to peer pressure when you are challenged to prove your maturity or manhood. It is your choice whether to prove it that way or to show your maturity by deciding against it. If you want to experiment with some things like alcohol, tobacco or drugs, even after knowing the adverse effects of these things on your body, it is still your choice. Some people are exposed to these in homes as their parents or elders are addicted to the vices. They have chosen the way of destruction and you don’t have to choose the same. Some think it is ‘macho’ to be doing some of these things but it is foolish because of the ill-effects they will have on our body. If you think it is fashionable to have some of these habits, you are fooled. These habits will adversely affect your character and destroy your health.

Christians are admonished to stay away from addictions.

“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life” (Eph.5:18 NLT).

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1Cor.10:31 NLT)

“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1Cor.3:16-17 NLT)

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honour God with your body.” (1Cor.6:19-20 NLT)

So, as Christians we must make wise choices, choices that would lead to healthy habits and build Godly character.