God Speaks without Words The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. —Psalm 19:1-6 Psalm 19 tells us that God speaks through His written Word (vv. 7-9). But God also speaks—shouts might be a better word—a wordless sermon (v.19:3). And, if we are honest with ourselves, we know that we have all heard it. In fact, every person since Adam and Eve has clearly understood this inaudible sermon. How is this possible? Verse 1 spells it out: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” To declare means to be registered, to be counted. To proclaim means to reveal or report. God proclaims every day, since creation, His inaudible sermon. So many people in our culture see but are blind, hear but are deaf, even though day after day God’s creation pours out, springs forth, bubbles over in glorious declaration. God’s creation overflows with His continuous announcement that He is real, He is amazing and majestic, He is awesome and powerful, and He is present and intimate. Every person on earth sees this. The apostle Paul affirms this truth in Romans 1:19-20: “For what can be known about God is plain to them (everyone), because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world.” Every person, even a self-proclaimed atheist or the most isolated of persons in places where no missionary has ever visited, has seen God and knows He is real and He is Creator every day. But there is a problem! Paul tells us the problem is that all people “by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” Think of a beach ball we try to push under water; it pushes up against our efforts. Similarly, in our sinful state all of us try to suppress truth, yet God’s sermon, His truth keeps pushing back. You know; everyone knows that God is real and has created all that is. However, in our natural state, our suppression of this truth leaves us all guilty and “without excuse” as Paul says in Romans 1:20. Next time you step outside, look up and see and hear God’s ever-present, self-proclaimed sermon, “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). God is real, glorious, majestic, and awesome—we all know it, the only question remaining is will you respond to this glorious God’s personal sermon to you in the Gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ? —Norm Millar Journal: · Have I personally heard God’s inaudible sermon?

Stopped at the Gate Listen to Audio (right click to save) Wow! Talk about so near and yet so far - poor Desmond Bishop. He missed what could have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to the White House and meet the President of the United States! Desmond was a linebacker for the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers that year, and his team met the President. Meanwhile, Desmond took a nap on the team bus. Why? All because he inadvertently left his I.D. on the plane, and the Secret Service wasn't about to make any exceptions on letting someone close to the President. No I.D., no White House, no President. Well, it could be worse. I mean, I can't think of anything more tragic than getting to the gates of heaven, expecting to get in with others who are going and being turned away. And that is not an imaginary scenario. Actually, it's in our word for today from the Word of God, Luke 13. I'll begin reading in verse 24. Jesus said, "Many will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' But he will answer, 'I don't know you.' Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you and you taught in our streets.' But he will reply, 'I don't know you. Depart from me.'" That's disturbing. The folks who are shut out of heaven are apparently church folks, people who've been around Jesus, who know a lot about Jesus. They have Christianity, but they don't have Christ. Jesus made it really clear when He said, "I am the way...no man comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). The way. Because you can't get into heaven with your sin, and our sin can only be forgiven by the One who paid the sin penalty that we deserve. The Bible says, "He carried our sins in His body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). No religion can die for your sins; no spirituality can die for your sins. Only God's sinless Son could do that. So He's the only "I.D." that will get us into God's heaven. I got a picture of that a while back. I was speaking at a large youth event in Canada, and the music was provided by one of North America's most popular Christian bands. And I had a small group of young people who really wanted to meet them. (You know, meeting a speaker - who cares? Meet the band? Freak out!) Well they kept getting stopped by security, until I showed up. I pointed to the first one, and eventually to each of them, and I said the magic words that got them in. I just said, "He's with me. She's with me." You know, that's the only way you and I are going to get into heaven? It takes Jesus saying, "He's with Me. She's with Me." And 2 Timothy 2:19 says, "The Lord knows those who are His." That would be those who have pinned all their hopes on Him and put their life in His hands. Question: "Are you one of them?" I mean, can you remember that there was a time when you said to Jesus, "Jesus, I believe that some of those sins you died for on the cross were mine, and I want to make it personal. I want to pin all my hopes on You. I'm not driving my life any more; You're going to drive from here on." And you actually put your life, and your eternity, and your future, and your soul in the hands of Jesus. If you don't know you've done that, you probably haven't, but today you could. Today could be your Jesus day, so that He will say, "She's with me. He's with me" when you get to the gate of heaven. It's the only way you're going to get in. If you're not sure you're with Him; if you're not sure you belong to Him, get it settled today, "Jesus, I'm Yours." Our whole website is there to help you find Him. And you can go there, and I've put as simply as I can in a way you can either read, or watch, or listen to - the way to know that you belong to Jesus Christ for sure. It's YoursForLife.net. Please go there today.