Christian The Lion

Well, tonight was the night I had prayed and prepared for a long time. The Rodeo was at the Comcast Arena.

I spread the good word of the gospel.

The security guard came up to me afterward and said, are you going to be here speaking Spanish tomorrow evening. I asked what was going on tomorrow night that I needed to speak Spanish. He told me, they were going to have a Mexican Music Festival. I said, "no, I won't be able to be there". Then he said, I like to hear what you have to say. He said, we get complaints about you, but I just tell them I like to hear you.

Here's what I said...

Hi friends, my name is Keith, and I’m a born-again Christian.   I've been blessed beyond measure.   I have peace with God and a future in heaven; and I’d like to share that with you, so I hope I can have your attention for a few moments.   There's a video on YouTube that recently went viral; It caught my attention.    It's a video about a lion and two Australian travelers.   The video is from 1971, but the story began in 1969 at Harrods department store in London.  Harrods brought a real lion cub into their store as a promotional stunt.  And these two Australian men, Ace Bourke and John Rendall, a couple of bohemian filmmakers actually purchased the lion cub and took it home with them.  They named the cub Christian; Christian the lion.  They fed him and cared for him, and treated him like a pet.  But when the cub grew too big for them to adequately take care of, they made arrangements to have him shipped back to Africa, and reintroduced to the wild, in Kenya.  An entire year went by, after they had Christian shipped back to Africa and Ace and John decided to go to Kenya themselves, to try to find Christian.  Which they did and they were able to find the him, and they filmed the reunion.  The film shows Christian (now full grown) come up over a mound and catch a glimpse of Ace and John;  my fear was, that the lion would begin to stalk them, instead he recognized them and trotted up to them and jumped up on them with his paws on their shoulders and began to nuzzle them like a big old kitty cat.

Two film documentaries were made and a book was written about this whole experience back in 1971.   Now, fast forward forty three years later, the video of Christian the lion has gone viral on YouTube.  You can look it up. It's quite touching.

But think about it, those men should have been lunch for a lion.  It's natural for a lion to eat things that look like food to it. Those men would have looked like food to any lion.  They should have been an afternoon snack for a lion, but Christian wasn't just any lion, he recognized Ace and John as the two men who had raised him, and cared for him over a year before.  Instead of attacking and eating them, Christian was like an over-sized kitten the way he was affectionate toward them.  That same lion, who under normal circumstances would have eaten men, was completely safe and tame toward the two men with whom he was well acquainted.

The story of Christian the lion is a very much a Christian story.  Let me explain…  I’d like to draw a comparison between Christian the lion and God Himself.   As with any analogy, it isn't perfect, it breaks down, but I think it's valuable to illustrate a point.  I’m going to describe God, who He is and what He is like, His Character, Nature, His attributes, and I'm going to use some adjectives of God that He uses of Himself from the Bible.

1 John, chapter 4 says, “God is love”.  That doesn't sound like a lion you say, hang on, I’m not finished.  Mark 10:18 says, “God alone is good”.  That’s nice.  Keep listening.  Ephesians 2:4 says God is rich in mercy.   Isaiah 6:3 says, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory.”  God is holy, which means God is pure, righteous, set apart from you and I, without sin.  This same God, who is love, good, merciful and holy, is also Sovereign.  In other words, God is boss; He is in control.  The Bible describes God as King… Just like we call the Lion, the King of the beasts, God is King of Kings.  He has the authority over our lives.  Now I know we as Americans value freedom and self-determination, I understand that; but according to the Bible, not only is God in control, but He has every right to be in control because He is the Creator of the universe.  Daniel 4:17 ...to the intent that the living may know that the most High [God] rules in the kingdom of men....    Psalm 115:3 Our God is in heaven! He does whatever he pleases!    Psalm 135:6 He does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the ocean depths.   In fact Revelation 5:5 calls Jesus “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah”, so I think it’s fair to compare God with a lion.

Because just as by nature, a lion is not compatible with a person, so also God's nature is not compatible with our nature. The Bible says without holiness no man shall see the Lord.  The Bible says For our God is a consuming fire.  No that doesn't mean God is a blast furnace, but it does mean that people like you and I, who are sinful by nature cannot dwell in the presence of a holy God.  Just like a dry leaf cannot dwell with fire, and a person would not walk into the Lion’s cage at the zoo, we humans, in our sinful state, cannot dwell in the presence of Almighty God.  Psalm 50:21-22 ...you may have thought that God was altogether like you and I, but I’m going to correct that... Consider this, you that forget God, lest He tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.  The Bible says its a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  So contrary to popular religious culture, God is not our good buddy in the sky… He’s not the man upstairs and he is certainly not our Divine Butler.   In fact, the Bible goes so far as saying that we are enemies with God in our minds through wicked works.   The Bible says God’s wrath and anger abides upon us because we've sinned  against Him.   He is the Holy and Righteous, Just Judge of the universe who will judge the secrets of men’s hearts?  We can know why this is true if we examine ourselves under the spotlight of God’s law the Ten Commandments.  The Bible says in Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light…

The Commandments

The Gospel

Repentance and Faith

Just like Christian the lion accepted and loved Ace and John because he knew them, we can be safe with God if He knows us,  Acts 10:35  ...whoever fears God, and works righteousness, is accepted with him.  The only work of righteousness that you can do that will be accepted by God is put your faith in the one He sent to be the sacrifice for your sins.  The Bible says in more than one place, the just [or righteous] shall live by faith.  Ephesians 1:6  [By God’s’] grace, He has made us accepted in the beloved.  That’s Jesus Christ; if you are found in Christ, you will be accepted.   If you are left in your sins, only a fearful judgement awaits you.   Here is a grave warning, from Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said, “Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out demons? and in your name done many wonderful works?  And then will I say to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you worker of iniquity.  John 10:14, Jesus says of Himself, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep , and I am known by my sheep”.  1 Corinthians 8:3   But if anyone loves God, that one is known by God.  2 Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."   Matthew 10:32-33 Jesus said, “Whoever confesses me before men, him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven.  But whoever denies me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”  Ephesians 2:14 For he [Jesus Christ] himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

This is important too, 1 John 3:6  Whoever abides in Christ will avoid sin, but whoever lives in sin, has not seen him, and does not know Him.   Jesus said, Enter by the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the path that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there at, but strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life and few there be that find it.   Jesus said, I am the Way, I am the Truth and I am the Life, and no one comes to the Father, but by me.   1 John 2:3 says, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”  So you will see changes in your life when you come to know Him and He knows you.   Ephesians 5:9 says, “For the fruit of the God’s Spirit being in your life will be goodness, righteousness and truth” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The New Birth

Addendum [9/1/2014]

1 Chronicles 29:11-12

Psalm 115:3

Proverbs 16:9

Job 42:2

Isaiah 46:9-10

Psalm 103:19

Proverbs 19:21

Lamentations 3:37

Ephesians 1:11-12

Ephesians 1:11

Romans 8:28

Romans 9:18-21

Psalm 135:6

Isaiah 45:7

Proverbs 21:1

Ephesians 1:4

Proverbs 16:4

Job 23:13

Ephesians 2:10

Daniel 4:35

1 Timothy 6:15

Isaiah 14:27

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

2 Chronicles 20:6

John 6:44

Job 12:23

Job 12:13-14

Genesis 50:19-21

1 Samuel 2:6

Deuteronomy 32:39

Philippians 2:13

Jeremiah 14:22

Ezra 6:22

Acts 13:48

Lamentations 3:38

Isaiah 43:13

Isaiah 14:24

Proverbs 21:30

Proverbs 16:33

Isaiah 40:23-24

Job 12:13-16

Revelation 13:7

Philippians 1:12

Daniel 2:21

Jeremiah 27:5

Isaiah 46:11

Isaiah 10:5-19

God Stretches out His Hand to Silver Tip Fans

I went and preached outside of the Comcast Arena Everett.

I was so blessed to be encouraged by Alexander the Russian, Jewish Christian who came up and encouraged me.

I was blessed to be scorned by Jimmy, the semi-drunk on his bicycle.   He cussed and cussed and I just kept telling him I cared about him.

Lastly, I was overwhelmed by the encouragement by a mom with her two young girls.  The little girl just said, "I've never seen anything like this before."   They were so sweet.  I gave them Gospels of John and Gospel tracts.

God bless...

That Empty Spot

Before the Silver Tips game today, I preached for an hour and a half.

Here's what I said...

Hi friends, my name is Keith, and I’d like to share a few thoughts with you.  The message is good news; it will only take a few minutes of your time, but I hope the impact will be eternal.   I’m going to ask your patience with me because I need to raise my voice to be heard.   I’m not mad, I’m not angry, I’m not upset, but the message is so important, I have to lift my voice so I can be heard by as many as possible.

I’d like to draw your attention to that empty space directly across the street.   The address there is 1814 Hewitt Ave, Everett.  On the evening of Thursday, November 8, 2012, a three-alarm fire broke out there, in what used to be an historic apartment building.    One person was killed in the fire.   A 68 year old man perished; he lost his life in that fire and nearly 40 residents of the building were displaced.   It’s very sad to think that a man lost his life right there, both for the man himself and for his family.   I'm sure the residents who escaped were relieved.   But, it got me thinking; how would I feel if I were caught in a burning building. I’d want a smoke detector to sound off and warn me. I’d want fire sprinklers to trigger and douse the flames. I’d want the fire department to respond as quickly as possible and put out the fire.  Then I thought, what would I have done if I had been walking down this very street that fateful night. At the very least I would have pulled out my cell phone and dialed 911. But if it were in my power, I’m convinced I would have tried to do more, like maybe I would have shouted from outside the building and tried to alert people who were asleep in their apartments.  Or I’d like to think I'd have even gone inside the building and pounded on people’s doors, to try to warn them to get out while they could.   

With that in mind, I'm going to ask your patience with me, because although none of you are in any danger of being burned alive this very moment, the sad fact is, we will all die someday. The statistic is that the death toll on humanity is 100%.  The Bible says, it is appointed unto man, once to die and then comes the judgement.  None of us knows the day of our death. You may say to yourself I'm OK, I'm going to heaven when I die. I'm a pretty good person. The Bible says examine yourself to see if you be in the faith.   So, I'm going to push the test button on your built-in smoke detector, your conscience. Its not my intention to push any other buttons, but that's why I do ask your patience with me.  This might be a little uncomfortable, but track with me because it only gets better.    The Bible says, God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness; that's the standard, 'righteousness' means God will judge the heart.  He sees the secret things. The things we thought were hidden, the things done in darkness; God sees as though they were done in the light of day.  I’m going to use God’s law, the Ten Commandments like a yardstick, to reach that test button.  If you would, for a moment, listen to your conscience.  You want it to sound off if there’s smoke, because where there’s smoke, there’s fire. So here goes...   The first commandment is “You shall have no other gods before me”; My question to you is, Have you always put God first in your life?   The second commandment is; “You shall not make for yourself a graven image or bow down to it”; I know most of you don’t have a little statue that you bow down and worship, but have you ever even made an idol for yourself in your mind; in other words, have you ever made a god for yourself conceptually, one to suit your own standards?  If you have you'd be guilty of idolatry.   The third commandment is “don’t use God’s name in vain”; Have you used God’s name in vain?   Ever said OMG, or GD or used the name of my Lord Jesus Christ irreverently or disrespectfully?   If so, you'd be guilty of blasphemy.  The fifth commandment is “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land the the Lord gives you.”   This is the first commandment with a promise.   So, have you always honored and obeyed your parents?   The sixth commandment is “Don’t murder”. I’m sure very few of you; hopefully none of you have intentionally, willfully, with malice of forethought murdered anyone.  But Jesus equated hate with murder.   Have you ever hated anyone?   The seventh commandment is “Don’t commit adultery”, but Jesus equated lust with adultery in your heart.  So, have you ever, even so much as looked with lust at someone who wasn’t your husband or wife?  The eighth commandment is “Don’t steal”   Have you ever stolen? If you have you'd be guilty as a thief.  The ninth commandment is don’t lie (don’t bear false witness against your neighbor).   Have you ever lied?   If so, you'd be guilty as a liar.  The Bible says that “God requires truth in the inward parts.”  And all liars will have their part in the lake of fire.   Did the alarm go off in your mind? It should have.  Those were eight of the Ten Commandments.  This should greatly concern you, it's so serious and it leaves us ALL in big trouble on judgement day.    That was all pretty bad news, but here is the good news (the Gospel) of what God did for us so that we can avoid hell.

The Gospel

The Good News is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead on the third day.   When Jesus was on the cross, he experienced the full force of God's anger, wrath and judgement in our place. Jesus was the stand-in for us. He got what we deserved so we can get what we don't deserve. The debt that you and I owed to sin was paid by Jesus, in his life's blood. That’s the Good News, Jesus took the punishment we deserved, so that we could receive forgiveness, cleansing, a pardon for our sins. You and I had been kidnapped by sin and Jesus paid our ransom.  Jesus died on the cross, but three days later He rose from the dead. He walked out of that tomb alive. He died for our offenses and He rose for our justification.

RSVP (Your Response Requested)

God simply commands all men everywhere to repent and trust Him as savior. If you will repent and trust Jesus Christ today God will give you the gift of eternal life. Acknowledge Jesus as Lord and master over your life, you will inherit the kingdom of heaven.   Maybe you're someone who'd say to yourself, I'd never set foot inside a church, they're full of hypocrites, self-righteous, prudes. They're nothing but money-grabbing, pompus, gossiping, haters. First I would say I understand, you're probably right to some degree. But I'd also say the church doesnt need another hypocrite added to its numbers. Thats why I implore you to repent, and be converted by God, that your sins may be blotted out and times of refreshing would come from the presence of the Lord.

Matthew 5:20  Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the most righteous person you could ever conceive of, there's no way you'll enter into the kingdom of heaven.   The only way that will happen is for you to receive the gift of righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 18:3-4 Jesus said, unless you are truly converted, and become as a little child, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. [4] Whoever would humble themself as a little child, will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 13:3 Jesus said, unless you repent, you will perish.

Jesus said you must be born again. He said unless you're born again you cannot see the kingdom of God.  That's good news. It's good news because Jesus didn't say unless you're a good person you can't see the kingdom of God, because if he'd have said that we would have all been disqualified.

New Life

Questions/Objections

After Work Gospel

Wednesday and Thursday after work Thomas and I went out evangelizing.

Wednesday it was with the Holy Bible banner gals.

Thursday it was at the Everett Transit station.

God bless...

Music To My Ears

Today, Julie, Ina and I went to the Everett Gospel Mission with soup, sandwiches and cookies.   The food was well received, and it was nice to speak to multiple homeless men.   I was handing out Gospel tracts to those men as they received their food.   Some men declined, but there was one guy when he accepted a tract, I said, "I'll read it while I'm on the bus".   That was music to my ears.

Then later on I went to the Comcast Arena, to herald the Gospel at the season opener of the Tilted Thunder Rail Birds roller derby, as the snow was falling.   The standout moment there was speaking with the Goth kids, and a couple of them accepted the Gospel of John.

Here's what I said, a couple of times...

I’d like to raise some important issues for you to consider. These are some very serious things I’d like you to think about.   So I'm going to ask you some of life’s BIG QUESTIONS. I’m not here to tell you what to think, and you certainly don't want to get your answers from me, the street preacher, that's why I'm only going to share with you what THE Bible says about these BIG QUESTIONS.

#1 What's the meaning of life? What's the purpose? What's the point of it all?

Is it to earn as much money as possible, so you can buy all the things that you want?   You've probably heard it said, "money is the root of all evil", NOT SO, that's a misquote of the Bible;

1 Timothy 6:10 says, For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. So, there’s nothing wrong with money, it’s useful for buying things you need, like food, clothes… coffee... But instead of loving money...Jesus said in Deuteronomy 6:5, that the greatest commandment is you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.. 1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Mark 8:36-37 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding than silver!James 3:17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and open to reason , full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and without hypocrisy. Proverbs 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 1:7 says The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. So if you say you don’t believe in God, you’re lying to yourself, or you may say you believe in God, but your life doesn’t show it (you’re a functional atheist), Psalm 14:1 says The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good.
But some people live like the purpose of life is to have fun, to be entertained, to have enjoyment, to seek out the next thrill? But Psalm 37:4, says, Delight yourself in the LORD; and he will give you the desires of your heart. Matthew 6:33 says, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. This is really important, because you can accumulate all the money in the world, and have all the excitement, fun and entertainment you could ever want, but its all temporary. James 4:14 says, For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but God’s Word will never pass away.

#2 Why do we die?

Did you know that initially, when God created man and woman, there was no death?  That’s right, Adam and Eve were created directly by God, and they would have lived forever, but they decided to disobey God, that's what sin is; disobedience.  

Romans 5:12,19,21 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: ... For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin has reigned unto death, even so grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Ezekiel 18:20 says, The soul that sins shall surely die. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. So death is not your friend and it was never your intended destiny. Isaiah 59:1-2 Look, the Lord's hand is not short that He cannot save; neither his ear deaf, that He cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. So its our sin that separates us from God, and therefore from eternal life, because: John 1:4-5 In him is life; and the life is the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it.

#3 What happens after death?

These are BIG questions. Again the Bible comes to the rescue with THE answer.    

Hebrews 9:6 says, It is appointed unto man once to die and after that comes the judgement. The instant you die you will immediately go to be in the presence of God. And you will be made to give an account of your life. Hebrews 4:13 says there nothing hidden from his sight: but all things are laid opened and bare before the eyes of him with whom we have to give an account. Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Ecclesiastes 12:4 For God shall bring every work into judgment, even every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 2 Timothy 4:1... the Lord Jesus Christ, shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Revelation 20:13 says the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Romans 2:6 God will render to every man according to his deeds: Psalm 9:8 says, And he shall judge the world in righteousness. Acts 17:31 God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man Christ Jesus, whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

#4 How can we know where we stand with God?

The Ten Commandments...

#5 How can we be made right with God?

The Gospel...

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Ephesians 2:8-9 For by Grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, lest any man boast.

#6 How can you know you have eternal life?

John 20:31 says, But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that by believing you might have life through his name. Acts 3:19 Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, and times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Matthew 7:13 Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 16:24 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I say to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you worker of iniquity (lawlessness). Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

So if you rejoice in God’s Word, then its a pretty sure thing you are heaven bound.

God bless...